Stricter guidance means fewer EVs will qualify for $7,500 federal tax credit

The US Treasury Department issued updated guidance today about which electric vehicles qualify for the federal $7,500 EV tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that President Biden signed last year. Although the new guidelines add more confusion than clarity, it’s evident that fewer EVs will be eligible.

The updated rules target mineral sourcing in EV batteries, stating that they must be sourced from the US and approved trading partners. That rules out China, which is labeled as a “foreign entity of concern.” Although it’s understandable for the US to limit its dependence on its most powerful adversary, most EVs today run on Chinese-made batteries, making the path forward for receiving the credit on purchases made after April 18th as clear as mud.

To receive tax credits, battery makers must source a significant portion of their materials and manufacturing from North America. Battery components must be 50 percent made or assembled in North America to qualify for a $3,750 credit; critical minerals must be 40 percent sourced from the US or free trade partners for another $3,750 credit. The requirements grow stricter over time, as batteries must be made 100 percent in North America by 2029.

Although some EVs may qualify for partial credits, it’s unclear which models will be eligible after the deadline. “Some EVs will certainly qualify for a partial credit,” said John Bozzella, president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, in a statement to Autoblog. “Given the constraints of the legislation, Treasury's done as well as it could to produce rules that meet the statute and reflect the current market.” However, US officials admit some models will either be reduced or eliminated from the program. The government will publish a revised list of qualifying models by April 18th.

The US and Japan signed a trade agreement on Tuesday that could help long-term by adding the Pacific power to the list of approved partners. In October, the Biden administration announced $2.8 billion in grants for 20 companies to spark domestic EV battery materials and production. The funding, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support the new “American Battery Materials Initiative,” which aims to secure critical EV minerals and boost battery supply to meet Biden’s goal of making EVs half of US vehicle sales by 2030.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/wXdmWnB
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Waymo brings its fleet of new self-driving SUVs to Austin

Waymo is bringing a fleet of driverless cars to Austin, Texas as a test of its new fifth-generation automated driving system. The vehicles will be tested all over the city, including downtown, the Capitol, Market District and other locations. The vehicles that Waymo is testing in Austin are new all-electric Jaguar SUVs, a switch from the hybrid Chryslers it previously used.

Waymo, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet, chose Austin as its next city for testing as an homage, of sorts, as it hosted the first prototype driverless car in 2015. Back then, the tests were conducted on Waymo’s retired Firefly prototype vehicle, which ran the first generation of Waymo’s Driver system. Nowadays, they use a fifth-generation system that has been refined and adjusted throughout the past seven years.

We're headed back to Austin—this time with our fifth-generation Waymo Driver! Read about our latest testing efforts in the city that keeps it weird. 🦇🤠 https://t.co/lKeCrUrLyWpic.twitter.com/4bLI9bS2Mk

— Waymo (@Waymo) March 31, 2023

Another likely reason they chose Austin? A Texas state law passed in 2017 dictates that cities cannot regulate self-driving cars. To that end, the city already hosts a couple of competitors. Ford started testing its Argo driverless system in Austin last year and GM-backed startup Cruise has also set up shop. The city also plays host to plenty of autonomous delivery bots.

Waymo will also take advantage of its presence in the city to make connections with and provide services for local community organizations, such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

This is a technology test and not a full-fledged rollout of a self-driving taxi fleet like the company already operates in Phoenix and San Francisco. Still, if the test goes well, Waymo could eventually bring legitimate driverless ride-hail services to Austin.

Update, 1:35PM ET: This story has been updated to reflect that Waymo will not be picking up passengers in its cars in Austin. Instead, they're doing testing to improve and evaluate their self-driving technology in more locations.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/iqbdH4G
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GM is phasing out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in EVs

Many car makers tout smartphone connectivity as a selling point, but GM won't in the future. In a Reutersinterview, GM digital chief Edward Kummer and executive cockpit director Mike Himche say GM will phase out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with upcoming electric cars, beginning with the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV. Instead, you'll have to rely on Android Automotive and its apps.

Users will get eight years of free Google Assistant and Google Maps use at no extra charge, GM says. The company doesn't mention what you'll pay if you still need those functions afterward. We've asked GM for comment. It will still offer CarPlay and Android Auto in combustion engine models, and you won't lose access on existing EVs. GM plans an all-electric passenger vehicle line by 2035.

The company argues that Android Automotive provides more control over the experience. There are upcoming driver assistance technologies that are "more tightly coupled" with navigation features, Himche says, and GM doesn't want them to require a smartphone. Kummer also acknowledged that there are "subscription revenue opportunities." Don't be surprised if you're paying a recurring fee for certain features like you already do with some brands.

Android Automotive has a growing footprint. On top of GM, companies like BMW, Honda, Polestar, Stellantis, Volvo and VW are adopting it with or without Google apps. However, the platform doesn't preclude support for CarPlay or Android Auto. GM is deliberately dropping those features. While this could lead to some innovative driver aids, it could also force you to mount your phone if there's an app or function the EV's infotainment system doesn't support.

The decision is a blow to Apple. Its services may not have native support in GM EVs. The iPhone maker is also developing a next-gen CarPlay experience that can take over the entire dashboard — GM just ruled itself out as a potential customer. If Apple is going to have more control over your drive, it will have to turn to other marques.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/d1tDVsB
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Waymo's driverless taxi fleet will soon be completely electric

You won't have to worry about burning fossil fuels if you hail a Waymo One ride in the near future. Waymo is phasing out its hybrid Chrysler Pacifica vans in the Phoenix East Valley area in favor of the Jaguar I-Pace EV, making its autonomous ride-hailing fleet completely electric as of late April. The company's fifth-generation Driver AI is coming to the region at the same time.

The Alphabet-owned brand is unsurprisingly eager to tout the environmental perks. As Waymo's cars are much more active than the typical personally-owned ride, the switch to EVs should have a noticeable impact on emissions. Waymo adds that it exclusively uses renewable energy to power the EVs.

There are also practical advantages, Waymo claims. The move to rely solely on the I-Pace helps "optimize" operational and technical support while the company prepares to add future EVs like Geely's custom-built Zeekr. The consistency should also improve the trustworthiness of Driver as Waymo grows.

Waymo launched One in Phoenix in 2018, and went completely driverless in the area in 2019. Service didn't start expanding in earnest until 2021, when the company started offering rides in San Francisco using the I-Pace. It began testing service in Los Angeles just last month. The switch to an all-EV fleet now provides a familiar experience regardless of where Waymo operates — Phoenix-area passengers won't feel left behind.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/yqvtrPh
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Twitter's new API pricing is killing many Twitter apps that can't pay $42,000 per month

Twitter has officially announced its brand new API plans for developers. And looking over the details, it's clear Elon Musk sees indie developers as acceptable losses in Twitter's latest cash grab.

Unfortunately but not unexpectedly, a slew of indie developers have already announced they'd have to shut down their Twitter-based apps due to the new pricing. After all, how many indie developers can afford $42,000 per month?

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On Wednesday, the official Twitter Developer account shared details regarding pricing of its new API plan. The API basically provides third-party applications and developers with access to the social media platform's data and features. The company also emailed details of the new AI plan to developers.

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According to Twitter, free access to the API ​will only allow developers to write 1,500 tweets per month. The new free tier of the API no longer includes the ability for developers to access tweets, only create them.

To compare, Twitter's old free plan, called "Elevated," currently allows developers to access 2 million tweets per month.

Twitter offers two plans at wildly different price points

As for the paid plan, there is one tier called Basic, which Twitter classifies as being for hobbyists or students. This plan costs $100 per month and only allows access to 10,000 tweets per month. One can also write 50,000 tweets per month with this plan.

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Again, this new paid plan is much less than the previous free plan's limits. Most apps using the Twitter API that have a few regular users are going to exceed these limits rather quickly, if they aren't already.

So, what's the next step up? The Enterprise plans, which Mashable previously reported on, which start at $42,000 per month.

That's right. There's currently no announced plan between the $100 per month Basic tier and the $42,000 per month starting price for the Enterprise plans. As of now, if you outgrow the $100 plan, you'll need to upgrade to the $42,000 per month plan.

The email from Twitter sent to developers breaking down the subscription options for Twitter's new API plans. Credit: Mashable Screenshot

Elon Musk says the new API pricing is being implemented to kill off the bots, but looking at the reaction on Twitter, it's more like armageddon for any indie developer who runs actually useful Twitter apps. Numerous developers have already announced that the new API pricing structure basically forces them to shut down their Twitter-based apps.

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"With new Twitter API prices I'm sad to announce the end of TwittExplorer 😢," tweeted @Pauline_Cx.

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"Updated my Twitter bio to reflect current events," tweeted @adamlyttleapps, alongside a screenshot of his new Twitter bio indicating he will no longer be working on his TopFollowers.io Twitter app.

Many apps will change or disappear completely

Developers running apps that use the Twitter API, but are not entirely based on it, also announced some major changes.

"This is sad 😓," tweeted @SimonHoiberg, who runs a social media management app called FeedHive. "To all of our Twitter users, I apologize for the inconvenience! $42,000/month is simply beyond what we consider financially viable or reasonable to pay."

SEE ALSO: Half of Twitter Blue subscribers have less than 1,000 followers

The FeedHive founder followed up his post with a tweet from his app's official Twitter profile announcing that they would have to remove Twitter from the social media platforms that can be managed via its app.

As of Thursday afternoon, one Slack community for Twitter app developers to discuss these changes already ballooned to more than 700 members. At publishing time, only five app developers said they could afford to stay open under Twitter's planned API changes.

Killing off the third-party app ecosystem is a shortsighted move from Musk and company. Many of these apps encourage more usage of the Twitter platform by making it easier for users to create more content. 

Some apps like @remotejoeclark's Twitter HP, motivated users to use Twitter more by allowing them to better track their analytics on the platform. Unfortunately, Twitter's new API pricing plan has now killed his app.

And unlike some others who are waiting to see what happens as Twitter closes the old API access over the next 30 days, @remotejoeclark was forced to shut down his app and issue refunds to customers immediately. Why? Because he upgraded to the new Basic API plan as soon as he could and Twitter immediately locked him out because the app already had exceeded that month's tweet allotment under the prior API offering. At that point, he already had to make a choice: pay $42,000 or close up shop.

How much do indie developers earn?

Many indie developers don't make all that much from their apps. On Twitter, you'll often find developers trying to hit a goal of making $1,000, $2,000, $5,000, or maybe even $10,000 per month from their project in the hopes of being able to make it a self-sustaining full-time job.

At $42,000, Twitter is not just making those goals unattainable for indie developers, it's also making its chances at a profitable future more difficult too. By killing the very tools that make people want to use the platform. 

Third-party developers will now just move on to other platforms that are more friendly to their needs. And while there, they'll create the tools that users want, making Twitter's social media competitors more popular. 

via IFmashable.com

Oh great, Microsoft's Bing AI chatbot is getting more ads

Prepare to see to more ads within Bing's AI chatbot.

On Wednesday, Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's corporate VP announced new goals to drive traffic and revenue to publishers through Bing and Edge. Ideas the tech company is exploring include links to more articles from a publisher when you hover over a link to that publisher, as well as a "rich caption" of licensed content from Microsoft partners next to chat answers.

SEE ALSO: Bing vs. Bard: The ultimate AI chatbot showdown

An example of where a "hover experience" might show up in Bing chat. Credit: Microsoft

Since Microsoft launched the new Bing in February, it has grown to over 100 million daily active users. It was only a matter of time until it began monetizing its newfound popularity. To be clear, Bing already includes ads in some of its responses. For example, if you search "iPhone 14" it will show you a product listing linked to its shopping tab. But the announcement means efforts to drive traffic and increase revenue to publishers is definitely ramping up.

Mehdi didn't give much detail beyond that, saying the conversations with publishers and partner brands are "early days." So, we don't know how many ads we'll start seeing, or when. But we do know that it's coming and that Bing chat's ad-free (or ad-sparse) days are numbered. Enjoy it while it lasts.

via IFmashable.com

Luxury for less: The Dyson Corrale straightener is now $100 off

SAVE $100: As of March 30, the first generation Dyson Corrale hair straightener is on sale for $399 at Dyson, down from $499. That's a discount of 20%.

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Credit: Dyson

First generation Dyson Corrale hair straightener (opens in a new tab)

$399 at Dyson (save $100)

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Spring brings many special occasions — graduations, weddings, and other events — where you'll want to look your very best. Hair straighteners and other styling tools can go a long way in giving you options to change up your look at your leisure. And there's a great deal on a cult-favorite straightener today.

As of March 30, the first generation Dyson Corrale hair straightener is on sale for $399 at Dyson. That's $100 off its usual price of $499, or a discount of 20%.

SEE ALSO: Almost every cordless Dyson vacuum is on sale — save up to $170

This hair straightener is cordless so you won't have to worry about standing near an inconveniently placed electrical socket as you style your hair. It's made with manganese copper flexing plates that work with the shape of your hair and allow you to have more control while using less heat, thus preventing damage to your tresses.

The Corrale's intelligent heat feature adjusts the straightener's temperature to the user's hair type and length, and you can style your hair for up to 30 minutes on a full charge. Love traveling abroad? The Dyson Corrale includes universal voltage, a heat-resistant travel pouch, a magnetic 360-degree charging cable, and a convenient charging dock. Finally, it shuts down after 10 minutes of inactivity for battery power conservation and better peace of mind .

This is a great deal for style aficionados who love the convenience of wireless beauty gadgets.

via IFmashable.com

Serve up quick and healthy meals with a Ninja Foodi air fry oven for $130 off

SAVE $130: As of March 30, the Ninja Foodi Dual Heat air fry oven is on sale for $159.99, down from $289.99, at Best Buy. That's a savings of $130.

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Credit: Ninja

Ninja Foodi Dual Heat Air Fry Oven (opens in a new tab)

$159.99 at Best Buy (save $130)

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Hankering for a home-cooked meal, but don't want to bust out all those kitchen gadgets to whip one up? Air fryers and convection toaster ovens are excellent options for delicious food in a flash, and there's a great deal on an 11-in-one kitchen gadget today.

As of March 30, Best Buy has the Ninja Foodi Dual Heat air fry oven on sale for just $159.99. That's $130 off its regular price of $289.99.

SEE ALSO: Add the Lomi composter to your kitchen appliance lineup for less than $370

This Ninja Foodi model boasts a whopping 11 functions: air fry, rapid bake, frozen pizza, fresh pizza, sear crisp, air roast, griddle, bake, broil, bagel, and toast. That just about covers whatever you might need to cook up, even if it does double up on a couple of functions (yes, frozen and fresh pizza are pretty similar).

You can fit a variety of foods inside, from fries to veggies to meats, and feed hungry folks in a reasonable amount of time with this oven. Plus, it won't heat up the entire kitchen, a bonus for the hot summer months ahead. It'll need plenty of counter real estate, but it can likely take over the duties of some of your other cooking mainstays if space is at a premium.

Ready to add this bad boy to your kitchen lineup? Grab one fast, because the sale is only valid for today.

via IFmashable.com

A new Twitter alternative is trying to lure users about to lose their old checkmark

With Elon Musk set to pull verification from thousands of users who were verified under the company’s previous leadership, one Twitter alternative is hoping to lure some of those “legacy” checkmarks to its platform. T2, an invite-only service led by two former Twitter employees, says it will allow users to carry over their “legacy” Twitter verification to its site

T2 is part of a growing crop of Twitter alternatives that have sprung up in the wake of Musk’s takeover. The platform is smaller than some more established rivals, like Mastodon, but is intent on recreating the “public square” associated with the pre-Musk Twitter. In fact, founder Gabor Cselle has been pretty clear that he intends to create “a pretty straightforward copy of Twitter with some simplifications” rather than an entirely new experience.

So maybe it’s not surprising that the site now known as T2 — the company is eventually planning on taking a new name — is launching a “Get the Checkmark” feature that will rely on Twitter’s legacy verification program. With it, users can fill out a brief form to go through a fast-tracked verification process for T2. The feature will also work for those on T2’s waitlist.

T2

For now, users only have a couple days to take advantage of the program, since legacy verifications are set to disappear from Twitter on April 1st. But the company has a plan to offer verification via other means once Twitter’s legacy checks go away. (T2’s form-based verification won’t work for those who paid for the new, Twitter Blue-enabled check.)

Along with the new verification features, T2 is also announcing a couple other milestones. The company has hired a former Discord exec as its new CTO, and is launching a much-needed redesign that will look familiar to Twitter users.

As with all of the new Twitter rivals, T2 has a long way to go before it reaches anywhere close to the size of the platform it’s trying to emulate. But, as Mastodon founder CEO Eugen Rochko has pointed out, Twitter’s more influential users — like those with legacy verification — are incredibly valuable to any upstart platform. If T2 can snag more of those users, it could make it easier to recreate the public square they’re looking for.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/R2fWlnI
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Almost every cordless Dyson vacuum is on sale — save up to $170

UPDATE: Mar. 29, 2023, 3:15 p.m. EDT This post has been updated to reflect the current availability and sale pricing of Dyson vacuums, air-purifying fans, and hair tools. Shop our top picks below:

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Our top picks this week:

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Best cordless vacuum deal

Dyson V12 Detect Slim (opens in a new tab) — $519.99 $649.99 (save $130)

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Best upright vacuum deal

Dyson Ball Multi Floor Origin (opens in a new tab) — $199.99 $299.99 (save $100)

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Best hair tool deal

Dyson Corrale (opens in a new tab) — $399.99 $499.99 (save $100)

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The automated convenience of a robot vacuum is undeniably sweet, but for some, a Roomba just can't compare to the rush or attention to detail of manual vacuuming. That's where Dyson comes in. Shop this week's deals on Dyson vacuums below. For help comparing models, check out our guide to Dyson's current stick, ball, canister, and handheld vacs.

Our top pick

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Credit: Dyson

Our pick: Dyson V12 Detect Slim (opens in a new tab)

$519.99 at Walmart (save $130)

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Why we like it

Dyson's best bang for your buck, the V12 Detect Slim, is seeing a wickedly-good silent deal at Walmart: Though the $519.99 listed doesn't have the usual strikethrough or "new" sale price, peeping Dyson's website shows that the vac's actual MSRP is $649.99 — and that Walmart is beating Dyson's own sale price by $30. The lightweight Mashable Choice winner comes with two cleaning heads, one being the iconic laser head that points out microscopic dust the naked eye won't catch.

More cordless Dyson deals

• Dyson V7 Advanced — $229.99 $399.99 (save $170)

• Dyson V8 Fluffy — $249.99 $424.89 (save $174.99)

• Dyson V8 Absolute — $349.99 $499.99 (save $150)

• Dyson V10 Animal — $449.99 $549.99 (save $100)

• Dyson V11 Torque Drive — $531.49 $699.99 (save $168.50)

• Dyson V15 Detect Absolute — $699.99 $799.99 (save $100)

• Dyson Outsize+ — $849.99 $949.99 (save $100)

Upright Dyson deals

• Dyson Ball Multi Floor Origin — $199.99 $299.99 (save $100)

• Dyson Ball Animal 2 Total Clean — $407.99 $599.99 (save $192)

Dyson fan deals

• Dyson Purifier Cool Autoreact TP7A — $379.99 $549.99 (save $170)

• Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP01 — $399.99 $519.99 (save $120)

• Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Autoreact — $599.99 $799.99 (save $200)

Dyson hair tool deals

• Dyson Corrale (first generation) — $399.99 $499.99 (save $100)

• Dyson Airwrap (first generation, refurbished) — $429.99 $499.99 (save $70)

via IFmashable.com

The Series 8 is still $70 off, plus more of the best Apple Watch deals this week

UPDATE: Mar. 29, 2023, 1:30 p.m. EDT We've updated this post to reflect the most recent pricing and availability on Apple Watches.

• BEST OVERALL DEAL: The Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm, GPS) is the best upgrade choice if you also want standard fitness features — $329 $399 at Amazon and Walmart (save $70)

• BEST LUXE DEAL: The Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, GPS + cellular) with graphite stainless steel case comes with an extra fancy case and band — $429 $650 at Walmart (save $220)

• BEST BUDGET PICK: The Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS) is the watch to get if you're looking for a basic experience that doesn't break the bank — $239.99 $249 at Amazon (save $9.01)

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It's been over seven years since the first generation Apple Watch began to grace people's wrists. In that time, the Apple wearable has evolved in size and power, and naturally, because it's Apple, price. If you're into the idea of having a fitness tracker, an extension of your phone, and all the world's conveniences (or, at least a few more than you're used to) wrapped around your wrist, but aren't into shelling out the max amount of cash, you've come to the right place. Every week, we'll keep a watch out (too much?) and update this post with the best Apple Watch deals from across the internet.

Apple Watch Series 8 deals

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Credit: Apple

Our pick: Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm, GPS) (opens in a new tab)

$329 at Amazon (save $70)

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Why we like it

The Series 8 discounts have been fluctuating these past few weeks, but with $70 off at Amazon and Walmart, now is the time to buy. While it's not an essential upgrade for everyone, for those who like their health trackers and are on the last legs of an older watch, or investing in one for the first time, the Series 8 is a great pick, especially at this price.

More Apple Watch Series 8 deals

• Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm, GPS) — $329 $399 at Amazon (save $70)

• Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm, GPS) — $359 $429 at Amazon (save $70)

• Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm, GPS + cellular) — $459 $529 at Amazon (save $70)

Apple Watch Series 7 deals

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Our pick: Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, GPS + cellular) (opens in a new tab)

$299.99 at Target (save $69.01)

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Why we like it

$300 for a watch that nearly resembles the Series 8 isn't a bad deal. You'll get your pick of colorways (which are more extensive than that of the newer gen), the same 18 hours of battery life as the Series 8, and the same CPU (aka you won't notice a processing speed difference). The only reason we wouldn't jump on this deal is if you're not looking for a blood oxygen sensor or ECG monitoring, in which case you can get the experience you're looking for in the second-gen SE for about $60 less.

More Apple Watch Series 7 deals

• Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm, GPS) — $329.99 $399 at Target (save $69.01)

• Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, GPS + cellular) with graphite stainless steel case — $429 $650 at Walmart (save $220)

Apple Watch SE deals

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Credit: Apple

Our pick: Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS) (opens in a new tab)

$239.99 at Amazon (save $9.01)

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Why we like it

Unless you're into the blood oxygen and ECG sensors, we're betting you won't really notice the difference between the second-gen SE and the Series 8 (or the Series 7, tbh). The watch comes equipped with the same S8 chip, the same 18-hour battery life, and the same basic tracking features (steps, irregular heart rate notifications, etc) that got most people on the smartwatch train in the first place. Although $9 off isn't bad, it's not uncommon to see this watch drop to $30 off, so if you're able to wait, we recommend being patient until a bigger price cut comes along.

More Apple Watch SE deals

Second generation

• Apple Watch SE (44mm, GPS) — $269.99 $279 at Amazon (save $9.01)

First generation

• Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS) — $199 $249 at Walmart (save $50)

Apple Watch Ultra deals

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Credit: Apple

Apple Watch Ultra (49mm, GPS + cellular) (opens in a new tab)

$779.99 at Amazon (save $19.01)

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Why we like it

We wouldn't recommend this watch for everyone, but if you're looking for a watch for the hardcore outdoor adventurer in your life, the Ultra is it. Its hefty price tag reflects an array of top-of-the-line features, including the largest watch face Apple's ever made, built-in cellular, 36 hours of battery life, a titanium case, 100m water resistance, and a host of advanced fitness metrics. We know that $19 off is far from the best markdown we've seen for this watch, but it still beats paying full price.

via IFmashable.com

Lamborghini's plug-in hybrid supercar runs for a cool six miles in electric-only mode

Luxury sports cars aren’t exactly known for being eco-conscious, but Lamborghini just announced the company’s first plug-in hybrid supercar. The Lamborghini Revuelto, which translates to “scrambled,” should satisfy anyone’s need for speed, so long as they don’t look too hard at the battery life.

In other words, engaging this vehicle in all-electric mode won’t get you very far, just 6.2 miles from a full charge. That is likely not enough juice to get you to the grocer and back, but this is a hybrid vehicle not exactly intended for all-electric usage. With that said, the combustion engine charges the rather minuscule 3.8kWh battery on its own in just six minutes via regenerative braking on the front wheels, the company announced in a press release.

Battery life isn’t the main reason people buy luxury sports cars (it probably doesn't crack the top ten) so the engine here is designed for power, acceleration and max speeds. The relatively light engine (480 pounds) pumps out 814 horsepower at a blistering 9,250 rpm. This is a Lamborghini through and through, with a multitude of air intake ducts located throughout to increase airflow for the engine, resulting in a power level of 126 hp per liter. The company says this is the “highest output in the history of Lamborghini’s 12-cylinder engines.”

The design is heavily influenced by aerospace engineering, with sculpted surfaces, pointed lines and hexagonal exhausts. Lamborghini also took design cues from its own past, like the vertically opening scissor doors from 1970s Countach models and the floating blade on the rear fender often associated with the Diablo line.

Lamborghini

Of course, the interior is outfitted with all kinds of tech-forward components, like a 12.3-inch digital cockpit with a large center display, an equally large 9-inch passenger-side display and plenty of affiliated infotainment options. This is also the first Lamborghini ever with an advanced driver-assist system. Finally, there is an associated smartphone and smartwatch app that monitors aspects of the car’s status, such as fuel level, battery, range and GPS location. This app even performs basic tasks remotely, like activating the horn, lights and locks.

This is the first step in Lamborghini and parent company Volkswagen's plans to release an all-electric luxury vehicle by 2030. However, the brand hopes to continue making combustion engines into the 2030s that run on synthetic fuel. The Lamborghini Revuelto ships later this year at the eye-watering price of $542,165, as reported by Automotive News Europe (requires a free sign-up to read.)

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/XSNJcI1
via engadget.com

Apple's WWDC 2023 begins June 5th

Apple has set the dates for WWDC 2023. The company's developer conference will run between June 5th and June 9th. It's still in an online format despite the pandemic fading into the background, but there will be a "special experience" at Apple Park on the 5th for developers and students. The company isn't saying much about what to expect (does the graphic hint at a lens?), but this may be one of Apple's most important events in recent years.

Rumors have swirled that Apple will finally debut its mixed reality headset at WWDC 2023. The device, potentially called Reality Pro or Reality One, is believed to be a stand-alone device with an M2 chip, dual 4K displays, advanced body tracking and controller-free input — you'd use hand gestures and Siri commands. While the hardware may be aimed at developers and professionals (with a possible $3,000 price tag), it could include health features, full-body avatars in FaceTime calls and wearable versions of many iPhone and iPad experiences. It might not ship until later in the year.

Other announcements at WWDC 2023 may be more pedestrian. It's virtually certain that you'll see previews of iOS 17, macOS 14 and watchOS 10, among other platform updates. There may be service updates, too. While we wouldn't count on updates to Apple's existing hardware lineup, we wouldn't rule out introductions for some of the first M3-based Macs. The company did unveil the MacBook Air M2 at last year's conference, after all.

If history is any indication, you should see beta versions of operating system updates soon after WWDC. Finished versions should arrive in the fall. As with past conferences, most of what you'll see is a sneak peek of what's coming in the months ahead.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/rbQ5lRg
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The best Amazon Big Smile Sale deals for March 2023 – live now

Amazon Australia's twice-a-year sales event—Big Smile Sale—is back for its Autumn 2023 incarnation. From now until 11:59pm AEDT on Sunday, April 2, you'll find some of the biggest discount prices available on Amazon all year, rivalled only by Amazon Prime Day in June/July, and Black Friday in November. Thankfully, you don't need to wait another three or six months to pick up that high-ticket gadget you've been chasing on the cheap; you can do it right now!

If you enjoy trawling through hundreds (even thousands) of deals, be sure to check out the official Big Smile Sale page on the Amazon Australia store. Otherwise, we've done the hard work for you, and listed the top deals we've seen across a range of product categories, including robot vacuums, laptops, headphones and speakers and more. Happy hunting!

Best Robot Vacuum Deals

• ECOVACS DEEBOT N8 Robot Vacuum Cleaner – A$419 (was $999, save 58%)

• ECOVACS DEEBOT N8+ 3-in-1 Robot Vacuum Cleaner – A$719 (was $1,499, save 52%)

• eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim) Super-Thin – A$194.99 (was $349.99, save 44%)

• ECOVACS DEEBOT OZMO T8+ Robotic Vacuum Cleaner – A$799 (was $1,299, save 38%)

• iRobot Roomba 692 Robot Vacuum – A$349 (was $499, save 30%)

• Roborock S7+ Robot Vacuum and Mop with Self-Empty Dock – A$1,298.99 (was $1,799, save 28%)

• Roborock Q7 Max Smart Robot Vacuum and Mop – A$699 (was $1,099, save 36%)

Best Laptops & Accessories Deals

• Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ for Business – A$1,599 (was $3,049, save 48%)

• 2022 Apple MacBook Pro, 13-inch – A$1,797 (was $1,999, save 10%)

• 2021 Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch – A$3,104 (was $3,595, save 14%)

• Lenovo Slim 3 Chromebook – A$347 (was $499, save 30%)

• Logitech G G502 Lightspeed Wireless Mouse – A$142.22 (was $269.95, save 47%)

• Netgear Orbi Whole Home WiFi 6 Dual-Band Mesh System – A$239 (was $379, save 37%)

Best Headphones & Speakers Deals

• Sennheiser Over Ear Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones HD 450BT – A$139 (was $299, save 54%)

• Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 – A$414 (was $599.95, save 31%)

• Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) – A$185 (was $219, save 16%)

• JBL Charge 4 Portable Waterproof Speaker – A$113.05 (was $229.95, save 49%)

• Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker – A$159 (was $229, save 31%)

• Tribit Bluetooth Speaker, Waterproof – A$71.99 (was $135.99, save 47%)

• JBL Tune 215 True Wireless Earphone Black – A$35 (was $76.30, save 54%)

Best Gadgets Deals

• Renpho Muscle Massage Gun – A$119.99 (was $189.99, save 37%)

• Vantrue N2 Pro Dual Dash Cam – A$202.49 (was $299.99, save 33%)

• Philips Airfryer Essential – A$129 (was $199, save 35%)

• Furbo 360° Dog Camera – A$239 (was $359, save 33%)

• SKYMEE Smart Automatic Pet Feeder – A$149.99 (was $219.99, save 32%)

• Fitbit Versa 3 – A$289 (was $399.95, save 28%)

Best Beauty, Fashion & Apparel Deals

• Save up to 54% off RRP on select New Balance shoes and apparel

• Save up to 38% off RRP on select Birkenstock shoes

• Save up to 63% off RRP on select Sketchers shoes

• Save up to 52% off RRP on select Calvin Klein men's, women's & kid's apparel & underwear

• Save on select Nike clothing, shoes and accessories

• Save on select Crocs styles

• Save up to 40% off RRP on select Skin Care from Aveeno and Neutrogena

• Save up to 30% off RRP on select Bondi Boost haircare products

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What is the Big Smile Sale?

The Big Smile Sale is an Amazon-exclusive sale that takes place twice a year in Australia, across all categories, but with a huge amount of tech products available. The only other major Amazon sale is, of course, Amazon Prime Day (which normally goes down around June or July). While Prime Day is a bit bigger and features more deals, it is only available to Prime Members in Australia. Meanwhile, you don't need an Amazon Prime membership to access the Big Smile deals, though it may be beneficial to get one, as they come with a 30-day free trial and include free shipping on a huge range of the available Big Smile products. Learn more about Prime memberships in Australia here.

When is the Big Smile Sale?

Amazon's first Big Smile Sales went down in 2022, and took place in Autumn and Spring, respectively. The first 2023 event kicked off suddenly at midday on March 27 (with no prior warning), and runs for a week, until 11:59pm AEDT on April 2. While there is no word yet on the dates for the second 2023 Big Smile event, it's likely to also have similar timing, so should take place some time this Spring.

What are the best items to buy during the Big Smile Sale?

The sale covers all of Amazon's categories, but you can expect the biggest discounts (from a dollars perspective) on big-ticket tech items like robot vacuums, laptops, hi-fi, headphones and more. The timing of the current Autumn event is just in time for Mother's Day 2023, so be sure to check out some cool 'high-tech' gadgets for mum.

There are, of course, also some great prices to be found on beauty, fashion and apparel, so it's worth having a scroll down the official brand deals listed above, such as Calvin Klein and Nike.

Finally, not all of the Big Smile deals are listed on the official Big Smile page on the Amazon store. However, there are literally thousands of deals across Amazon this week. If you're after a specific item, we would recommend simply searching for it on main Amazon storefront, as you may get lucky and snag it for a discount price.

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Microsoft's new Security Copilot will help network admins respond to threats in minutes, not days

Humanity took another step towards its Ghost in the Shell future on Tuesday with Microsoft's unveiling of the new Security Copilot AI at its inaugural Microsoft Secure event. The automated enterprise-grade security system is powered by OpenAI's GPT-4, runs on the Azure infrastructure and promises admins the ability "to move at the speed and scale of AI."

Security Copilot is similar to the large language model (LLM) that drives the Bing Copilot feature, but with a training geared heavily towards network security rather than general conversational knowledge and web search optimization. "This security-specific model in turn incorporates a growing set of security-specific skills and is informed by Microsoft’s unique global threat intelligence and more than 65 trillion daily signals," Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Security, Compliance, Identity, and Management, wrote Tuesday. 

“Just since the pandemic, we’ve seen an incredible proliferation [in corporate hacking incidents],"Jakkal told Bloomberg. For example, “it takes one hour and 12 minutes on average for an attacker to get full access to your inbox once a user has clicked on a phishing link. It used to be months or weeks for someone to get access.”

Security Copilot should serve as a force multiplier for overworked and under-supported network admins, a filed which Microsoft estimates has more than 3 million open positions. "Our cyber-trained model adds a learning system to create and tune new skills," Jakkal explained. "Security Copilot then can help catch what other approaches might miss and augment an analyst’s work. In a typical incident, this boost translates into gains in the quality of detection, speed of response and ability to strengthen security posture." 

Jakkal anticipates these new capabilities enabling Copilot-assisted admins to respond within minutes to emerging security threats, rather than days or weeks after the exploit is discovered. Being a brand new, untested AI system, Security Copilot is not meant to operate fully autonomously, a human admin needs to remain in the loop. “This is going to be a learning system,” she said. “It’s also a paradigm shift: Now humans become the verifiers, and AI is giving us the data.”

To more fully protect the sensitive trade secrets and internal business documents Security Copilot is designed to protect, Microsoft has also committed to never use its customers data to train future Copilot iterations. Users will also be able to dictate their privacy settings and decide how much of their data (or the insights gleaned from it) will be shared. The company has not revealed if, or when, such security features will become available for individual users as well.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/xt9JZ3c
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FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried accused of bribing Chinese officials

Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (aka SBF) now faces a total of 13 criminal charges. Per Reuters, a newly unsealed indictment accuses the disgraced entrepreneur of conspiring to pay a $40 million bribe to Chinese government officials. Federal prosecutors allege Bankman-Fried ordered Alameda Research, FTX’s sister company, to transfer the funds to a private wallet, in hopes of convincing Chinese authorities to unfreeze Alameda accounts with more than $1 billion in crypto assets. It is illegal for US citizens to bribe foreign government officials in order to obtain business.

The new charge adds even more pressure on the 31-year-old Bankman-Fried. It was only last month that federal prosecutors added four charges to his then 8-count indictment, accusing SBF of fraudulent activity involving FTX and Alameda Research and violating federal campaign finance laws by making secret donations. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to eight of the 13 criminal charges he faces. He has yet to be arraigned on the remaining ones. Separately, the former entrepreneur faces civil lawsuits from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). 

SBF has acknowledged FTX employed inadequate risk management. However, he maintains he's not criminally liable for the crypto exchange’s downfall. A trio of former FTX executives – Caroline Ellison, Zixiao "Gary” Wang and Nishad Singh – have pleaded guilty to their own fraud and conspiracy charges, and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. According to Reuters, SBF is expected to be arraigned on the new charge on Thursday. That same day, Judge Lewis Kaplan will also consider tweaks to Bankman-Fried’s $250 bail package, including a provision that could limit him to using a dumb phone while he waits for the outcome of his trial.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/Qi0ht8k
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Microsoft’s redesigned Teams app is faster and less of a memory hog

Microsoft is overhauling Teams to make it faster and easier to use. In a blog post published Monday, the company said Teams users can look forward to a redesigned app that is up to two times faster than the current release, with tasks like launching the program and joining video calls taking half as much time. The overhauled app also offers smoother scrolling while avoiding the use of placeholder assets. At the same time, Microsoft says the new Teams uses 50 percent less memory.

Separately, the company has redesigned the interface to reduce the number of clicks it takes to do things like manage your notifications, search for information and organize channels. It has also added more robust authentication, synchronization and notification systems to make jumping between different accounts and tenants easier.

Naturally, the new Teams will support AI features, starting with the intelligent recap and Copilot ones Microsoft announced earlier this year, and with more to come in the future. “We will use AI to take the work out of working together by getting you up to speed on what happened before you joined a meeting or chat and answering your questions all in the flow of the discussion,” the company said. “We’re only just beginning to see the potential of AI inside of Teams, and we will have lots more to share in the future.” 

Not mentioned in Microsoft's blog post are the 3D avatars the company has been testing for more than a year. The company recently said it anticipates those will become publicly available sometime in May, so expect them to be part of the new Teams experience too. 

A public preview of the new Teams is rolling out on Windows today, with general availability to follow sometime later this year. A Mac preview should arrive before the end of 2023 as well. If your organization uses Teams, your IT department will need to enroll you in the preview before you can try out the new experience. Notably, the redesigned app will ship with a toggle at the top that will allow you to switch between the two versions of Teams. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/KbFAeJD
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Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for March 27

Yikes, it's Monday again. Hopefully, a brand new Wordle can brighten your day. If you're struggling, don't worry — we're here with our daily hints and tips to help you figure out the solution.

If you prefer to just be told the answer, you can scroll to the end of this article for March 27's Wordle solution to be revealed. But if you'd rather work through it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans have even sprung up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you're after? Here's the Wordle answer for March 25.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that brings joy to your heart. But if what brings you joy is strategy, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?

Though usually Wordle will only accept one correct solution per day, occasionally it will rebel against the norm and deem two different answers acceptable. This is due to changes the New York Times made to Wordle after it acquired the puzzle game.

The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it's a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Highly prized fertilizer harvested from above.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

Not today!

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter G.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL.

What's the answer to Wordle today?

We're finally about to reveal the answer to today's Wordle, so get your guesses in now!

Are you ready?

The solution to Wordle #646 is...

GUANO.

Don't feel discouraged if you didn't get it this time. The beauty of Wordle is that there's always a new one to try the next day, and we'll be here again with more helpful clues and hints.

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Portions of Twitter's source code were reportedly leaked online

In yet another embarrassing development for new Twitter boss Elon Musk, court filings published Friday reveal that portions of the social media site's source code — the base programming that makes Twitter possible — have been leaked online, the New York Times reports.

Per court filings, Twitter claimed copyright infringement in an effort to have the offending code taken down from the Github collaborative programming network, where it had been posted. While the code was removed the same day, details as to how long the code had been left up were not made available, nor were the leak's scope or depth. As part of the takedown request reminiscent of Raytheon's famous -- failed -- attempt at court-sanctioned doxxing, Twitter also asked the US District Court for the Northern District of California to order Github to reveal both the identity of the user who posted the code and those who accessed and downloaded it. 

The NYT reports that, per sources within the company privy to the internal investigation into the leak, Twitter executives strongly suspect it's the work of a disgruntled employee who had left, "within the last year." Coincidentally, Elon Musk purchased Twitter last October for the eye-watering price of $44 billion and proceeded to lay-off and otherwise lose 80 percent of the company's staff, not the 75 percent that everybody feared Musk would enact in the run-up to his purchase.  

The executive who spoke with the NYT are primarily concerned that revelations gleaned from the stolen code could empower future hacking efforts, either by revealing new exploits or allowing bad actors to access Twitter user data. If the increasingly temperamental page functionality wasn't enough to send the site's user base running for the hills that the site's resurgence of scammers and white nationalists since Elon's takeover didn't already scare off, will the threat of outright hacking be the final straw for advertisers and users alike? 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/iDEIs01
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Netflix strikes last-minute deal to retain ‘Arrested Development’ streaming rights

Good news, Arrested Development fans. You can continue watching the highly acclaimed sitcom on Netflix. As The Verge outlines, all five seasons of the show, including the two financed by Netflix, were set to leave the service on March 15th. However, the series is now staying put, thanks to a licensing agreement the company reached with Disney-owned 20th Century Fox, the show’s original rights holder.

The Bluths aren’t going anywhere!

Arrested Development is staying on Netflix! And there’s only one way to celebrate: pic.twitter.com/NlrSoBYk8t

— Netflix (@netflix) March 24, 2023

According to Vulture, the new deal will see Netflix gain exclusive streaming rights to the series. As a result, the show’s first three seasons will not be available to watch on Hulu as of later this year. Notably, the deal reportedly gives Disney the option to sell the linear TV rights for all five seasons of Arrested Development. That means the show could end up on network television, much like BoJack Horseman did in 2018. Losing Arrested Development would have been a tough blow for Netflix. After Fox canceled the series in 2006, it found a home on the streaming service and was one of its early draws. It was also one of the first Netflix Originals after the company and Fox commissioned a new season in 2011.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/kY7gtN2
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