Category: feature

The future is now and the latest tech news is below. Stay current on what’s happening across the globe in tech. From Tesla’s Humanoid Robot to a Multi-Billion Dollar Boost to U.S. Cybersecurity and more!

Google and Microsoft to Provide Billions to Bolster U.S. Cybersecurity

In an effort to bolster U.S. cybersecurity tech companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft have made a pledge to spend billions on cyberinfrastructure. The cyber security pledge also includes offering supply-chain aid and education. Apple has announced that it will work with suppliers to “drive mass adoption of multi-factor authentication” and provide new security training, among other things. Amazon will work to offer a multi-factor authentication device to all Amazon Web Services account holders for free. The company will also make all of its employee security awareness training available to the public at no cost. Google pledged that it would spend more than $10 billion over the next five years as a part of its efforts. They have also promised to train more than 100,000 Americans in data analytics and IT support through the company’s Career Certificate program. The move comes as cyber-attacks have increased worldwide over the last couple of years.

Otter.ai can transcribe Your Teams and Webex Meetings When Your Not There

If you’re RSVP’d to a virtual meeting but are unable to attend, Otter.ai is here to assist. The Assistant tool has a number of features, that include plugging into your calendar and automatically joining and transcribing meetings if you cannot attend. Until recently, the tool only worked for Zoom meetings, but the company has announced their expansion to integrate with Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Cisco Webex Meetings. The paid service also allows users to join meetings simultaneously and keep transcriptions all in one place. Generated notes are able to be viewed live, letting users search the transcription even while the meeting is still in progress. The features described are available via the Otter Business plan. Other features include custom vocabulary, audio imports, and more.

Walmart to Launch White Label Delivery Service

Joining the vast arena of delivery service providers is Walmart and their planned white label delivery service. The company announced plans to offer its logistics and delivery services as part of a new last-mile delivery business. Called Walmart GoLocal, the service hopes to serve as a white label delivery offering for businesses big and small. Pricing for the service will be based on “the needs of the client and based on what they want to offer to their customers.” Customers can order directly from a business, with delivery then dispatched to the business itself with a white label delivery service worker fulfilling the order. The service will be similar to Postmates and DoorDash, which offer white label solutions that work more or less the same.

Elon Musk Seeks to Debut Humanoid Robot by Next Year

As most would have expected, Elon Musk has unveiled his plans to debut a humanoid robot by next year. This week the Tesla CEO announced the Tesla Bot. The robot will run on the same AI used by Tesla’s autonomous vehicles. While a functioning version of the robot was not on display, the announcement did come during Tesla’s AI Day presentation. The Tesla-vehicle-esq bot will stand at a height of 5-foot-8-inches and weigh 125 pounds. According to Musk, the robot will be built from “lightweight materials”.  It will also contain a screen to display information. Internally, the robot will be operating through Tesla’s Full Self-Driving computer. “It’s intended to be friendly,” Musk joked, “and navigate through a world built for humans.”

Kitchen robotics startup Spyce Bought by Salad chain Sweetgreen

In more robot news, Sweetgreen has plucked up kitchen robotics startup Spyce. The move to automation by the California-based fast-casual chain follows an accelerated interest in automation following the pandemic. Sweetgreen will soon begin plans to incorporate Spyce’s technology into its restaurants. Sweetgreen CEO and co-founder Jonathan Neman hopes the tech will allow further connection.  Stating, “By joining forces with their best-in-class team, we will be able to elevate our team member experience, provide a more consistent customer experience and bring real food to more communities.”

Waymo Begins Autonomous Rides in San Francisco

If you happen to be visiting San Fran, you may be lucky enough to hail a ride from one of Waymo’s autonomous vehicles. You’ll just need to sign an NDA first. The company announced it will begging shuttling a wider group of passengers around in its autonomous vehicles in San Francisco. There still will be a human safety driver behind the wheel. This will mark the second city where the company has expanded its autonomous vehicle offering.  People can apply to ride through the Waymo One smartphone app “Trusted Tester” program.

Whether you work full-time from home or spend some days in the office and others working from home, a good home office encourages productivity. It can be hard at times to separate work from leisure when working at home, but the best home offices help you get your head right into work mode.

As well as having all the equipment you need to be able to do your job, a great home office is also an eye-catching and comfortable space that inspires you. After all, you’ll likely spend a significant amount of time each day in your office.

Here are five terrific ways to upgrade your home office to be more stylish, modern, and appealing.

1. Pick a Color Scheme to upgrade your home office 

Effective use of color can transform a space from drab to cool and creative in just a few coats of paint. Aim to harmonize rather than clash to prevent distractions. Think fresh and stylish when it comes to luxury home office décor, and experiment with colors like coral, peach, aqua, and emerald green, for example.

Don’t limit colors to just the walls—coordinated colorful accents on furnishings can enhance the overall aesthetics. Think painted panels on drawer fronts, colored shelving, etc.

2. Get Artsy to upgrade your home office

Well-selected art pieces can stimulate creativity and encourage productivity. Pick a few favorite pieces and display them where you’ll see them regularly throughout your working day. You could perhaps consider a feature wall, with various striking artworks displayed, along with photographs and any other ornamentation that helps you feel energized.

Get creative with accessories, too, with organizers, pen holders, and other items that compliment your color scheme. The goal is to have functional items and make your day-to-day life in the office more convenient and look good.

3. Divide the Space to upgrade your home office

Room dividers can be a great way of effectively splitting your space for different purposes. If, for example, you don’t have a dedicated room for your home office but instead use space in your dining room, living room, or other room, dividers can give you a greater sense of being in your workplace upon entering the defined office space.

As well as traditional screens, you can divide your space in several other ways that both look elegant and help you maximize your space. For example, you could use dividing bookshelves or cabinets.

4. Upgrade Your Lighting

Having plenty of lighting not only makes productivity easier, but it’s also much better for your eyes … especially if you’ll be looking at screens all day long. Move your desk closer to the window, if possible, to make the most of the natural light.

Make sure you have enough focused lighting, such as desk lamps and ambient lighting. You can really get creative with your light choices for a beautiful look. From hanging lights to wall lamps, and from desk lamps to floor lamps, there are lights to match your available space and your luxury home office décor aesthetic.

Color-changing lights can be perfect for an office. Research has found that blue shades enhance concentration, while yellow tones increase creativity.

5. Grow Some Plants to upgrade your home office

Add some plants to your home office to create a welcoming and relaxing ambiance. Aim for those that need minimal care to reduce distractions but still thrive indoors. You can use luxury pots that match your design scheme and have fun combining large floor-standing plants with smaller plants for shelves and window ledges.

Stay current on the latest news in your area with our City News blog. From Los Angeles to the Westside, and SFV to Conejo Valley, we have you covered. Read on for this week’s news on new developments, local aid, and festival returns!

Los Angeles City News

The Amanda Foundation Seeks to Expand Philanthropic Effort

After over 35 years of providing love and care to animals in need, the Amanda Foundation is seeking to expand its pawprint. In a recent profile by The Beverly Hills Courier, the foundation shared its goal of opening a new facility. The foundation has helped in rescuing, nursing, and housing hundreds of animals from the city’s shelters and streets. Among other things, the Amanda Foundation also provides pop-up free mobile veterinary clinics in low-income neighborhoods and a paid work-study vet tech licensing program. Likewise, as the foundation has expanded over hope to raise $10 million to build a brand new animal hospital. The facility would be at the same Foothill Road location. Likewise, the new building will allow for more spacious animal boarding, new equipment, and the establishment of a full-service teaching hospital

Old-Hollywood Retreat Reopens as Glamping Haven

The Paradise Trout Club, formerly owned by Charlie Chaplin and movie actor brothers Noah and Wallace Beery is getting a new lease on life as Huttopia Paradise Springs. From Clark Gable to John Wayne, the elegant mountain retreat provided a reprieve for Tinsel Towns film stars. Located in the Los Angeles National Forest, the property is now a French-owned glamping resort with a preopening this month. The luxury vacation post will feature a dozen spacious, utilitarian, and canvas tents starting at $210 per night. In addition, guests will be able to cool off in the restored Paradise Springs-filled pool or enjoy the resort’s al fresco bistro. The resort will have a grand opening in spring 2022 that will feature 70 tented and wood-decked accommodations and spaces for leisure. 

Westside & Beach Communities City News

Santa Monica 3rd Promenade to Possibly Allow for Housing and Hotel Development

The 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica may soon offer more than just shops and bites. A new proposal submitted by Downtown Santa Monica Inc., a nonprofit entity that manages the Third Street Promenade seeks to rezone for housing and hotel development. The area, which serves as 15% of the city’s annual sales tax revenue, currently has around 40% of its storefronts empty as a result of the pandemic. A portion of the proposal called the Third Street Promenade Stabilization and Economic Vitality Plan would also aid restaurants. The measure would allow restaurants to expand their outdoor dining spaces at street level and allow for more rooftop dining. In addition, the proposal also suggests plans for a “town square” at the intersection of Arizona Avenue. Likewise, the space would be closed for large gatherings and includes the creation of an arts center for live performances and events. 

New Federal Rule Offers Protections for West Coast Orca Whales

A new federal rule will provide protection for endangered southern resident orcas down the West Coast. The protections reach from California’s Point Sure, all the way up to Washington and Oregon. The Center for Biological Diversity advocated for the measure, which will allow for 15,910 square miles of habitat to be protected for wildlife. In addition, the rule will also protect foraging areas, rover mouths, and migratory routes. The orcas historically have spent their summer along our coast and number around 75 among three pods. “This is an opportunity for not only Oregon but California to recognize these whales are not Washington’s whales,” said Deborah Giles, a research scientist at the University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology. “The Southern Residents are not local, they really are a widely ranging animal all the way down to Monterrey.”

San Fernando Valley City News

Sportsmen’s Lodge Plans for Residential Development

As the retail center at the site of Studio City’s Sportmen’s Lodge nears completion, Midwood Investment and Development are hoping to add apartments to the complex. The revised development plans seek to demolish the 190-room hotel property and replace it with a 520-unit complex. The New York-based firm expects the approval process for the new addition to take around two years. With the slated period of time, the firm stated they may reopen the hotel in the interim. The hotel, which opened in 1962, was once frequented by the likes of Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart as former celebrity hotspot of the era. Architecture firm Marmol Radziner has designed the apartment complex renderings submitted for approval. The designs include three buildings with a mix of studio to two-bedroom apartments.

West Valley Food Pantry Receives $3.5M to Construct Permanent Facility

The West Valley Food Pantry, which has provided a helping hand to those in need, will now receive their own well-deserved help. This past month, Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel presented the organization with a $3.5 million grant. The money was allocated to the organization through a recent appropriation in the state budget. The money will help the pantry in constructing a new facility. The funds will also help to expand outreach and services in West SFV. The new 7,000 square-foot facility will also include an upgraded commercial kitchen. The aid will help with the pantry’s efforts to assist those individuals who are experiencing homelessness. 

Conejo Valley City News

Harvest Festival to Return this Fall

Ventura families and locals nearby can be excited for the return of fall’s Harvest Festival. The Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show will return this autumn for three days of fun in October. Likewise, this large-scale, on-the-road-gifts-and-more extravaganza features a bevy of fall-themed items from crafts to snacks. Taking place at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, the event will have over 24,000 handmade creations available for purchase. The Harvest Festival has long been the source for local community members to get their holiday shopping down early. Likewise, after a year off due to the pandemic, the festival will help celebrate fall ahead of its 50th anniversary in 2022.

Amazon Distribution Center Arrives in Moorpark

As construction continues at the massive fulfillment center in Oxnard, Amazon will be adding another Conejo Valley location to its list. The new center will be 202,421-square-feet and located at 6000 Condor Drive. While the Moorpark site has not yet opened, it can be expected to increase job growth in the area. The recently refurbished warehouse includes 16 trucking docks and 24-foot ceilings. The property also has a fenced yard with parking for up to 405 cars, according to the news release.  In addition, other distribution centers in Ventura County include distribution centers in Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Camarillo.