ResidentialBusiness

Key Takeaways Location Matters: A restaurant’s proximity and accessibility significantly influence diners’ choices, emphasizing the need for optimal placement and visibility.Menu Variety and Quality: Diverse menu options and high-quality dishes enhance customer satisfaction and encourage repeat visits.Social Media Impact: Platforms like Instagram and Yelp shape dining preferences through user-generated content and reviews, making online reputation management crucial.Atmosphere Influences Experience: The ambiance, decor, noise levels, and comfort of a restaurant play a vital role in shaping diners’ experiences and satisfaction.Effective Marketing Strategies: Promotions, discounts, and loyalty programs serve as powerful tools for attracting new customers and retaining existing ones.Engagement Through Feedback: Actively responding to customer reviews and feedback on social media can strengthen relationships, boost reputation, and enhance overall service quality. When you’re hungry and craving a meal, the choice of where to eat can feel overwhelming. With countless options available, how do you decide which restaurant deserves your time and money? Understanding the factors that influence your decision can make the dining experience more enjoyable and satisfying. From the ambiance and menu variety to online reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations, several elements play a crucial role in shaping your preferences. Whether you’re in the mood for a cozy café or an upscale dining experience, knowing what drives your choices can enhance your culinary adventures. Let’s dive into the key factors that impact how diners like you choose their perfect restaurant. Factors Influencing Restaurant Choices Understanding the factors that influence restaurant selection enhances your ability to attract and retain customers. Several key elements contribute to diners’ decision-making processes. Location and Accessibility Location plays a critical role in diners’ choices. Restaurants situated in high-traffic areas or near popular attractions attract more foot traffic. Quick access, visible signage, and ample parking options improve accessibility. Your restaurant’s convenience factor can enhance customer retention, making it essential to evaluate the location regularly. Menu Variety and Quality Menu variety and quality significantly impact diners’ satisfaction. Offering diverse options caters to different dietary preferences and increases customer appeal. Quality ingredients and well-prepared dishes build a positive reputation. Conducting regular customer feedback sessions can pinpoint menu effectiveness and make informed adjustments. Price and Value Perception Price influences diners’ perceptions of value. Competitive pricing, aligned with the quality of food and service, creates a favorable impression. Implementing strategic pricing models can enhance affordability. Focus on delivering exceptional customer service to support your pricing strategy, as this can elevate perceived value and encourage repeat visits. The Role of Social Media Social media significantly influences how you choose restaurants. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Yelp create an engaging environment for discovering dining options through enticing visuals and user-generated content. Online Reviews and Ratings Online reviews and ratings shape your perceptions as a diner. More than 50% of consumers base their restaurant choices on social media feedback. Positive reviews improve your trust in a restaurant, while negative ones can deter you. Small businesses benefit from maintaining a strong online reputation. Engaging with customer feedback demonstrates commitment to quality control and customer service, encouraging repeat visits through effective relationship management. Influencers and Food Bloggers Influencers and food bloggers play a crucial role in directing your dining preferences. These individuals showcase restaurants through authentic experiences and compelling narratives. By leveraging their platforms, small businesses can expand their reach and enhance brand management. Collaborating with influencers creates marketing campaigns that attract new customers and drive sales. Maintaining a consistent online presence with high-quality content can set your restaurant apart, fostering customer retention and supporting business growth. The Impact of Atmosphere The atmosphere of your restaurant significantly shapes your customers’ dining experiences. It sets the tone for how patrons perceive your establishment, influencing their satisfaction and likelihood of return. Ambiance and Decor Ambiance blends sights, sounds, and smells, along with the decor. An inviting decor scheme can elevate the dining experience and encourage longer stays and higher spending. Focus on lighting design and furniture quality to enhance comfort. Cozy seating arrangements and visually appealing elements can create a warm environment that encourages diners to unwind. For small businesses, investing in your restaurant’s ambiance contributes to brand management by creating a memorable visual identity and increasing customer retention. Noise Levels and Comfort Noise levels heavily impact diners’ comfort. A bustling environment can generate excitement, but excessive noise might deter guests from enjoying their meals. Strive for a balance that allows for conversations without overwhelming distractions. Consider soundproofing enhancements, music selection, and layout adjustments to manage noise levels effectively. Prioritizing comfort through appropriate seating and maintaining a pleasant temperature can improve the overall dining experience. By addressing these elements, you foster a welcoming atmosphere that promotes repeat visits and builds customer loyalty. Marketing Strategies That Work Effective marketing strategies play a crucial role in attracting diners to your restaurant. Implementing well-planned initiatives can enhance visibility, improve customer engagement, and drive repeat visits. Promotions and Discounts Promotions and discounts serve as enticing incentives for potential customers. Offering limited-time deals, seasonal offers, or special discounts can attract new diners while encouraging existing customers to return. Highlighting these promotions through social media posts or email newsletters enhances customer acquisition and engagement. Utilize platforms like Instagram and Facebook to showcase your discounts visually, fostering excitement and increasing foot traffic. Create clear calls to action that drive immediate responses, positioning these promotions as must-have experiences for diners. Loyalty Programs Loyalty programs foster customer retention by rewarding repeat business. Implementing a straightforward loyalty program that offers points or discounts for frequent visits encourages diners to choose your establishment over competitors. Engaging your patrons with personalized rewards enhances their experience and promotes brand loyalty. Consider leveraging technology solutions, such as mobile apps, to track customer purchases and deliver targeted promotions. This approach streamlines data analysis, allowing you to assess the effectiveness of your loyalty programs and adapt them to meet your business goals. Focus on offering rewards that resonate with your audience, like exclusive experiences or limited-edition menu items, to strengthen their connection to your brand. Conclusion Choosing a restaurant can be a daunting task with so many options available. By understanding the key factors that influence your decision—like ambiance, menu variety, and online reviews—you can make choices that lead to more enjoyable dining experiences. Pay attention to location and accessibility as they play a significant role in your dining convenience. The atmosphere of a restaurant also impacts your satisfaction, so consider how elements like decor and noise levels affect your comfort. Finally, don’t underestimate the power of social media and word-of-mouth recommendations in shaping your restaurant choices. By being mindful of these aspects, you’ll enhance your dining adventures and find places that truly meet your needs. Frequently Asked Questions What factors should I consider when choosing a restaurant? When choosing a restaurant, consider factors like ambiance, menu variety, location, and online reviews. Assessing these elements can significantly enhance your dining experience and help you make satisfying decisions. How important is the restaurant’s location? Location is crucial for attracting customers. Restaurants in high-traffic areas with good visibility and parking options tend to perform better and ensure customer retention. How does menu variety affect dining choices? A diverse menu caters to different dietary preferences and enhances customer satisfaction. Quality ingredients also contribute to a restaurant’s reputation and influence dining decisions. Why are online reviews significant for restaurants? Over 50% of consumers base their dining choices on social media feedback. Positive reviews build trust, while negative ones can deter potential customers, making a strong online reputation essential for restaurants. How does atmosphere impact dining experiences? The restaurant’s ambiance plays a significant role in customer satisfaction. Elements like decor, lighting, and seating arrangements contribute to the overall experience and can encourage repeat visits. What marketing strategies can attract more diners? Effective strategies include promotions, discounts, and loyalty programs. Showcasing these offers on social media can drive engagement, while personalized rewards can strengthen customer connections. How can small businesses benefit from food bloggers and influencers? Collaborating with food bloggers and influencers can help small businesses expand their reach. By showcasing authentic dining experiences, they can attract new customers and enhance brand management. Image Via Envato This article, "Understanding How Diners Choose Restaurants for a Memorable Dining Experience" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Location Matters: A restaurant’s proximity and accessibility significantly influence diners’ choices, emphasizing the need for optimal placement and visibility.Menu Variety and Quality: Diverse menu options and high-quality dishes enhance customer satisfaction and encourage repeat visits.Social Media Impact: Platforms like Instagram and Yelp shape dining preferences through user-generated content and reviews, making online reputation management crucial.Atmosphere Influences Experience: The ambiance, decor, noise levels, and comfort of a restaurant play a vital role in shaping diners’ experiences and satisfaction.Effective Marketing Strategies: Promotions, discounts, and loyalty programs serve as powerful tools for attracting new customers and retaining existing ones.Engagement Through Feedback: Actively responding to customer reviews and feedback on social media can strengthen relationships, boost reputation, and enhance overall service quality. When you’re hungry and craving a meal, the choice of where to eat can feel overwhelming. With countless options available, how do you decide which restaurant deserves your time and money? Understanding the factors that influence your decision can make the dining experience more enjoyable and satisfying. From the ambiance and menu variety to online reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations, several elements play a crucial role in shaping your preferences. Whether you’re in the mood for a cozy café or an upscale dining experience, knowing what drives your choices can enhance your culinary adventures. Let’s dive into the key factors that impact how diners like you choose their perfect restaurant. Factors Influencing Restaurant Choices Understanding the factors that influence restaurant selection enhances your ability to attract and retain customers. Several key elements contribute to diners’ decision-making processes. Location and Accessibility Location plays a critical role in diners’ choices. Restaurants situated in high-traffic areas or near popular attractions attract more foot traffic. Quick access, visible signage, and ample parking options improve accessibility. Your restaurant’s convenience factor can enhance customer retention, making it essential to evaluate the location regularly. Menu Variety and Quality Menu variety and quality significantly impact diners’ satisfaction. Offering diverse options caters to different dietary preferences and increases customer appeal. Quality ingredients and well-prepared dishes build a positive reputation. Conducting regular customer feedback sessions can pinpoint menu effectiveness and make informed adjustments. Price and Value Perception Price influences diners’ perceptions of value. Competitive pricing, aligned with the quality of food and service, creates a favorable impression. Implementing strategic pricing models can enhance affordability. Focus on delivering exceptional customer service to support your pricing strategy, as this can elevate perceived value and encourage repeat visits. The Role of Social Media Social media significantly influences how you choose restaurants. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Yelp create an engaging environment for discovering dining options through enticing visuals and user-generated content. Online Reviews and Ratings Online reviews and ratings shape your perceptions as a diner. More than 50% of consumers base their restaurant choices on social media feedback. Positive reviews improve your trust in a restaurant, while negative ones can deter you. Small businesses benefit from maintaining a strong online reputation. Engaging with customer feedback demonstrates commitment to quality control and customer service, encouraging repeat visits through effective relationship management. Influencers and Food Bloggers Influencers and food bloggers play a crucial role in directing your dining preferences. These individuals showcase restaurants through authentic experiences and compelling narratives. By leveraging their platforms, small businesses can expand their reach and enhance brand management. Collaborating with influencers creates marketing campaigns that attract new customers and drive sales. Maintaining a consistent online presence with high-quality content can set your restaurant apart, fostering customer retention and supporting business growth. The Impact of Atmosphere The atmosphere of your restaurant significantly shapes your customers’ dining experiences. It sets the tone for how patrons perceive your establishment, influencing their satisfaction and likelihood of return. Ambiance and Decor Ambiance blends sights, sounds, and smells, along with the decor. An inviting decor scheme can elevate the dining experience and encourage longer stays and higher spending. Focus on lighting design and furniture quality to enhance comfort. Cozy seating arrangements and visually appealing elements can create a warm environment that encourages diners to unwind. For small businesses, investing in your restaurant’s ambiance contributes to brand management by creating a memorable visual identity and increasing customer retention. Noise Levels and Comfort Noise levels heavily impact diners’ comfort. A bustling environment can generate excitement, but excessive noise might deter guests from enjoying their meals. Strive for a balance that allows for conversations without overwhelming distractions. Consider soundproofing enhancements, music selection, and layout adjustments to manage noise levels effectively. Prioritizing comfort through appropriate seating and maintaining a pleasant temperature can improve the overall dining experience. By addressing these elements, you foster a welcoming atmosphere that promotes repeat visits and builds customer loyalty. Marketing Strategies That Work Effective marketing strategies play a crucial role in attracting diners to your restaurant. Implementing well-planned initiatives can enhance visibility, improve customer engagement, and drive repeat visits. Promotions and Discounts Promotions and discounts serve as enticing incentives for potential customers. Offering limited-time deals, seasonal offers, or special discounts can attract new diners while encouraging existing customers to return. Highlighting these promotions through social media posts or email newsletters enhances customer acquisition and engagement. Utilize platforms like Instagram and Facebook to showcase your discounts visually, fostering excitement and increasing foot traffic. Create clear calls to action that drive immediate responses, positioning these promotions as must-have experiences for diners. Loyalty Programs Loyalty programs foster customer retention by rewarding repeat business. Implementing a straightforward loyalty program that offers points or discounts for frequent visits encourages diners to choose your establishment over competitors. Engaging your patrons with personalized rewards enhances their experience and promotes brand loyalty. Consider leveraging technology solutions, such as mobile apps, to track customer purchases and deliver targeted promotions. This approach streamlines data analysis, allowing you to assess the effectiveness of your loyalty programs and adapt them to meet your business goals. Focus on offering rewards that resonate with your audience, like exclusive experiences or limited-edition menu items, to strengthen their connection to your brand. Conclusion Choosing a restaurant can be a daunting task with so many options available. By understanding the key factors that influence your decision—like ambiance, menu variety, and online reviews—you can make choices that lead to more enjoyable dining experiences. Pay attention to location and accessibility as they play a significant role in your dining convenience. The atmosphere of a restaurant also impacts your satisfaction, so consider how elements like decor and noise levels affect your comfort. Finally, don’t underestimate the power of social media and word-of-mouth recommendations in shaping your restaurant choices. By being mindful of these aspects, you’ll enhance your dining adventures and find places that truly meet your needs. Frequently Asked Questions What factors should I consider when choosing a restaurant? When choosing a restaurant, consider factors like ambiance, menu variety, location, and online reviews. Assessing these elements can significantly enhance your dining experience and help you make satisfying decisions. How important is the restaurant’s location? Location is crucial for attracting customers. Restaurants in high-traffic areas with good visibility and parking options tend to perform better and ensure customer retention. How does menu variety affect dining choices? A diverse menu caters to different dietary preferences and enhances customer satisfaction. Quality ingredients also contribute to a restaurant’s reputation and influence dining decisions. Why are online reviews significant for restaurants? Over 50% of consumers base their dining choices on social media feedback. Positive reviews build trust, while negative ones can deter potential customers, making a strong online reputation essential for restaurants. How does atmosphere impact dining experiences? The restaurant’s ambiance plays a significant role in customer satisfaction. Elements like decor, lighting, and seating arrangements contribute to the overall experience and can encourage repeat visits. What marketing strategies can attract more diners? Effective strategies include promotions, discounts, and loyalty programs. Showcasing these offers on social media can drive engagement, while personalized rewards can strengthen customer connections. How can small businesses benefit from food bloggers and influencers? Collaborating with food bloggers and influencers can help small businesses expand their reach. By showcasing authentic dining experiences, they can attract new customers and enhance brand management. Image Via Envato This article, "Understanding How Diners Choose Restaurants for a Memorable Dining Experience" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

If you've seen news stories claiming that more than 89 million Steam user records leaked, don't panic. Social media posts currently circulating suggest that Steam credentials are up for sale on the dark web, but those claims appear to be untrue. Of course, even if your data hasn't actually been compromised, it's a good idea to have additional authentication set up on your Steam account. What happened with Steam? Short answer: Probably nothing. As XDA reported, X user MellowOnline1, a games journalist, called attention to a post on LinkedIn from Underdark.ai alleging that 89 million Steam user records were up for sale on a dark web forum for $5,000 via a threat actor known as Machine1337. MellowOnline1 suggested that the leak came not from Valve Corporation—Steam's owner—itself, but from Twilio, a platform that provides two-factor authentication (2FA) for apps like Steam via methods like SMS, voice, email, WhatsApp, passkeys, push notifications, and time-based one-time passwords. Upon further investigation, Bleeping Computer received a statement from Twilio denying involvement in any breach (and according to an update from MellowOnline1, Valve has indicated that it does not use Twilio anyway). The data allegedly included SMS messages with one-time Steam passcodes and user phone numbers, but Bleeping Computer could not verify the source, nor could it confirm the threat actor's claims. What Steam users need to doWhile this supposed threat doesn't actually necessitate alarm, it doesn't hurt to ensure you have additional security set up on your Steam account. You can change your Steam password (found under Settings or Preferences) and enable Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator, Steam's 2FA feature. You should also be on the lookout for unauthorized login attempts and use caution when engaging with any messages about your account that appear to come from Steam support, as these may actually be phishing attempts capitalizing on user panic. View the full article

Shares of semiconductor manufacturer Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) rose 6% Wednesday on news the company is issuing a $6 billion stock buyback, which represents about 3.3% of the company’s current market value, according to data from Bloomberg. The $6 billion stock buyback authorization comes in addition to a $4 billion existing buyback, for a total of $10 billion in share repurchases, CNBC reported. The news comes after AMD announced a multi-year $10 billion AI partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Humain, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, focused on developing advanced AI infrastructure and technology, in order to diversify the nation’s economy beyond just oil. Nvidia announced a similar, but separate, multi-year deal. “At AMD, we have a bold vision to enable the future of AI everywhere – bringing open, high-performance computing to every developer, AI start-up and enterprise around the world,” AMD’s CEO Lisa Su told Fast Company in a statement. “Our investment with HUMAIN is a significant milestone in advancing global AI infrastructure. Together, we are building a globally significant AI platform that delivers performance, openness and reach at unp recedented levels.” The announcement comes in conjunction with President The President’s visit this week to Saudi Arabia as part of his tour of the Gulf region. “This is not just another infrastructure play – it’s an open invitation to the world’s innovators,” Tareq Amin, CEO of Humain, said in a statement. “We are democratizing AI at the compute level, ensuring that access to advanced AI is limited only by imagination, not by infrastructure.” Analysts at Bank of America noted it marks the first time AMD is on a “similar”footing as rival Nvidia in terms of “engagement in large projects” and reiterated buy rating for both companies, as reported by Investing.com. View the full article

High-performance computing, or HPC for short, might sound like something only scientists use in secret labs, but it’s actually one of the most important technologies in the world today. From predicting the weather to finding new medicines and even training artificial intelligence, high-performance computing systems help solve problems that are too hard or too big for regular computers. This technology has helped make huge discoveries in science and engineering over the past 40 years. But now, high-performance computing is at a turning point, and the choices the government, researchers and the technology industry make today could affect the future of innovation, national security and global leadership. High-performance computing systems are basically superpowerful computers made up of thousands or even millions of processors working together at the same time. They also use advanced memory and storage systems to move and save huge amounts of data quickly. With all this power, high-performance computing systems can run extremely detailed simulations and calculations. For example, they can simulate how a new drug interacts with the human body, or how a hurricane might move across the ocean. They’re also used in fields such as automotive design, energy production and space exploration. Lately, high-performance computing has become even more important because of artificial intelligence. AI models, especially the ones used for things such as voice recognition and self-driving cars, require enormous amounts of computing power to train. High-performance computing systems are well suited for this job. As a result, AI and high-performance computing are now working closely together, pushing each other forward. I’m a computer scientist with a long career working in high-performance computing. I’ve observed that high-performance computing systems are under more pressure than ever, with higher demands on the systems for speed, data and energy. At the same time, I see that high-performance computing faces some serious technical problems. Technical challenges One big challenge for high-performance computing is the gap between how fast processors are and how well memory systems can keep up with the processors’ output. Imagine having a superfast car but being stuck in traffic – it doesn’t help to have speed if the road can’t handle it. In the same way, high-performance computing processors often have to wait around because memory systems can’t send data quickly enough. This makes the whole system less efficient. Another problem is energy use. Today’s supercomputers use a huge amount of electricity, sometimes as much as a small town. That’s expensive and not very good for the environment. In the past, as computer parts got smaller, they also used less power. But that trend, called Dennard scaling, stopped in the mid-2000s. Now, making computers more powerful usually means they use more energy too. To fix this, researchers are looking for new ways to design both the hardware and the software of high-performance computing systems. There’s also a problem with the kinds of chips being made. The chip industry is mainly focused on AI, which works fine with lower-precision math like 16-bit or 8-bit numbers. But many scientific applications still need 64-bit precision to be accurate. The greater the bit count, the more digits to the right of the decimal point a chip can process, hence the greater precision. If chip companies stop making the parts that scientists need, then it could become harder to do important research. This report discusses how trends in semiconductor manufacturing and commercial priorities may diverge from the needs of the scientific computing community, and how a lack of tailored hardware could hinder progress in research. One solution might be to build custom chips for high-performance computing, but that’s expensive and complicated. Still, researchers are exploring new designs, including chiplets – small chips that can be combined like Lego bricks – to make high-precision processors more affordable. A global race Globally, many countries are investing heavily in high-performance computing. Europe has the EuroHPC program, which is building supercomputers in places such as Finland and Italy. Their goal is to reduce dependence on foreign technology and take the lead in areas such as climate modeling and personalized medicine. Japan built the Fugaku supercomputer, which supports both academic research and industrial work. China has also made major advances, using homegrown technology to build some of the world’s fastest computers. All of these countries’ governments understand that high-performance computing is key to their national security, economic strength and scientific leadership. The United States, which has been a leader in high-performance computing for decades, recently completed the Department of Energy’s Exascale Computing Project. This project created computers that can perform a billion billion operations per second. That’s an incredible achievement. But even with that success, the U.S. still doesn’t have a clear, long-term plan for what comes next. Other countries are moving quickly, and without a national strategy, the U.S. risks falling behind. I believe that a U.S. national strategy should include funding new machines and training for people to use them. It would also include partnerships with universities, national labs and private companies. Most importantly, the plan would focus not just on hardware but also on the software and algorithms that make high-performance computing useful. Hopeful signs One exciting area for the future is quantum computing. This is a completely new way of doing computation based on the laws of physics at the atomic level. Quantum computers could someday solve problems that are impossible for regular computers. But they are still in the early stages and are likely to complement rather than replace traditional high-performance computing systems. That’s why it’s important to keep investing in both kinds of computing. The good news is that some steps have already been taken. The CHIPS and Science Act, passed in 2022, provides funding to expand chip manufacturing in the U.S. It also created an office to help turn scientific research into real-world products. The task force Vision for American Science and Technology, launched on Feb. 25, 2025, and led by American Association for the Advancement of Science CEO Sudip Parikh, aims to marshal nonprofits, academia and industry to help guide the government’s decisions. Private companies are also spending billions of dollars on data centers and AI infrastructure. All of these are positive signs, but they don’t fully solve the problem of how to support high-performance computing in the long run. In addition to short-term funding and infrastructure investments, this means: Long-term federal investment in high-performance computing R&D, including advanced hardware, software and energy-efficient architectures. Procurement and deployment of leadership-class computing systems at national labs and universities. Workforce development, including training in parallel programming, numerical methods and AI-HPC integration. Hardware road map alignment, ensuring commercial chip development remains compatible with the needs of scientific and engineering applications. Sustainable funding models that prevent boom-and-bust cycles tied to one-off milestones or geopolitical urgency. Public-private collaboration to bridge gaps between academic research, industry innovation and national security needs. High-performance computing is more than just fast computers. It’s the foundation of scientific discovery, economic growth and national security. With other countries pushing forward, the U.S. is under pressure to come up with a clear, coordinated plan. That means investing in new hardware, developing smarter software, training a skilled workforce and building partnerships between government, industry and academia. If the U.S. does that, the country can make sure high-performance computing continues to power innovation for decades to come. Jack Dongarra is an emeritus professor of computer science at the University of Tennessee. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

The streaming service Max is officially reverting to its previous name, HBO Max, which is great news for people who never stopped calling it HBO Max in the first place. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) announced today that the streaming platform would be again called HBO Max this summer as part of a shift in strategy to focus on HBO programming and other premium content that distinguishes the streamer from its competitors. WBD first removed the name HBO Max in favor of the simplified Max in 2023, when it merged with Discovery+. After two years of testing it out, it seems viewers really just want more of the shows they like, not more of absolutely anything possible. Some viewers might’ve noticed the quiet rebrand of Max’s visual identity last month, with set its logo and UI in a neutral HBO-style black-and-white color scheme, and which turned out to be an Easter egg of where the platform was headed. The overhauled identity now has the addition a new “HBO Max” name and logo, which stacks the HBO and Max logos together into one. “We will continue to focus on what makes us unique—not everything for everyone in a household, but something distinct and great for adults and families,” WBD president and CEO of streaming JB Perrette said in a statement. The company said returning to the HBO brand will “amplify the uniqueness that subscribers can expect” and comes as the streaming landscape grows increasingly crowded. WBD is planning a CNN streaming service to launch this fall, and Disney on Tuesday announced its own all-access ESPN streaming service, expected to launch around the same time. Meanwhile, Netflix is piloting features that could allow its user interface to better compete with video content on social media platforms like TikTok. All this competition means a clearly defined value proposition is increasingly important to winning consumers and owning part of the market. So with more options than ever for what to watch, WBD is going back to betting its library is what keeps consumers subscribed. As Perrette said, “our programming just hits different.” That positioning marks a big shift from when the streaming service originally added a massive quantity of Discovery+ content, including guilty pleasure unscripted shows, to its catalogue two years ago. Now, WBD has made the decision to let other streaming platforms fulfill viewers’ basic needs with quantity, and position HBO Max as the quality choice, with prestige shows like Succession, Game of Thrones, and The White Lotus alongside box-office movies, docuseries, and other top-performing, top-tier content. There’s some recognition that the switch to Max a few years ago led to real brand dilution that company now wants to correct, if you read between the lines of WBD executive statements. “The powerful growth we have seen in our global streaming service is built around the quality of our programming,” WBD CEO David Zaslav said in a statement. “Today, we are bringing back HBO, the brand that represents the highest quality in media, to further accelerate that growth in the years ahead.” Indeed, branding experts were flummoxed by HBO Max changing its name to Max when it happened, reasoning the streaming service had gotten rid of a valuable piece of brand equity. Going back to the old HBO Max name is an admission that’s the case. Warner Bros. Discovery did not reply to a request for comment by time of publication. View the full article

"I'm Feeling Lucky" has been a core feature of Google Search since the company launched in 1998. Most of us, of course, choose the typical Search experience, scrolling through the various links until we find the URL we're looking for. But when you're feeling confident that your search query has a clear destination, I'm Feeling Lucky can direct you straight there. I admit, I haven't used the button much through all my years of googling. Truth be told, I hardly ever go to google.com—once browsers integrated Google Search with the address bar, I began searching directly from there. But whenever I do find myself on Google's homepage, it's nice to see I always have the option—if I am, indeed, feeling lucky. That might not be the case for much longer, however. As reported by The Verge, some Google users are missing the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button. In its place is something else entirely: AI Mode. Google first introduced AI Mode back in March. Don't confuse this for AI Overviews, the AI-generated summary that appears at the top of some Google searches. Instead, AI Mode turns Google Search into a bit of a chatbot, allowing the user to ask multi-part questions in one go. The feature is meant to combine multiple searches into a single, complex query. For example, you could ask AI Mode something like, "when is the best time to book a flight to Hawaii, and what should I pack for the trip?" You then get breakdowns of each question in your query—"Best Time to Book Flights," "Tips for Booking Flights," "Packing Essentials for Hawaii," with links to sources you can check yourself. If you've ever used an AI chatbot like Gemini or ChatGPT for web search, it's remarkably similar—down to the warning that "AI responses may include mistakes." Credit: Lifehacker AI Mode is not rolling out in full yet (it seems to be available to Google Labs testers first) nor is it replacing I'm Feeling Lucky for all users who see it. On my personal Google Account, for example, I still see I'm Feeling Lucky. AI Mode just happens to be situated on the right-end of the search bar. But the fact that Google is experimenting with swapping the legacy button with yet another AI feature is disappointing. There is some irony in replacing an I'm Feeling Lucky button with AI Mode: If you're relying on AI to do your search, you probably are feeling lucky, as AI systems can either make mistakes or make up facts altogether—as Google's disastrous AI Overviews rollout proved. In fact, as AI models advance, they're "hallucinating" more than ever, and no one really knows why. Use AI to assist your web searches as you wish—just understand what you're getting yourself into. View the full article

Burberry, the brand best known for its iconic checkered pattern and fashionable trench coat, announced Wednesday that it may cut around 1,700 jobs worldwide in a major cost-reducing effort. The news comes as British luxury brand reported a staggering 117% drop in annual profits, or around $87.8M (£66m), over the last financial year. Burberry employed about 9,300 people across the world last year, meaning the cuts could take out about 20% of the brand’s workforce. In a statement on the company’s website, CEO Joshua Schulman said Burberry is not looking to make any major store closures, and explained that the cuts will primarily come from the group’s head offices and the reorganization of in-store duties. It will also drop the entire nighttime shift at its trench coat factory in Castleford. “For a long time we have had overcapacity at that facility, and that is simply not sustainable,” Schulman said of the Castleford cuts, per the announcement. “But I want to be very clear that we are making this change to safeguard our UK manufacturing, and in fact we will be making a significant investment to renovate this factory in the second half.” While the layoffs are a major move for Burberry, it’s not the first of its recent cost-saving initiatives. In November of 2024, it announced a $53.2M (£40m) cost-savings program. Last July, the struggling company replaced CEO Jonathan Akeroyd after just two years in the role, in hopes of resuscitation. Amid price hikes, inflation, and an uncertain economy, customers have tightened their purse strings, and demand for luxury goods has been falling. Burberry is not the only luxury brand making tough choices. Tapestry, the parent company of Stuart Weitzman, Coach, and Kate Spade nearly acquired Capri, the owner of Michael Kors, Versace, and Jimmy Choo last year, in an effort to revive the struggling brands. In its 2025 third quarter fiscal results, revenue decreased by 11.6% on a reported basis and 11.4% in constant currency. At the time, John D. Idol, the company’s chairman and chief executive officer, said, “Overall our business remained challenged during the quarter and we were disappointed with our results. We are reevaluating our strategic initiatives to improve current sales trends. Looking ahead, we expect our performance to improve throughout fiscal year 2026 positioning us to return to growth in fiscal 2027 and beyond.” In January, founder and editor-in-chief of The Business of Fashion, Imran Amed, also spoke to the immense struggles luxury fashion brands are facing in modern times. “This is probably the most severe crisis that I’ve seen on the luxury side of the fashion industry since the Great Recession of 2008–2009, after the collapse of the global financial system when everything almost fell apart everywhere,” Amed said. In Wednesday’s announcement, Schulman said Burberry may continue to see room for improvement even as they cut workforce numbers. “We are still in the early stages of our turnaround,” he said. “The current macroeconomic environment has become more uncertain in light of geopolitical developments.” View the full article

The Financial Technology Association will now defend the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's open banking rule after the The President administration sided with banks that sued the agency. View the full article

A range of investment residential properties, including single-family homes, condominiums and multi-unit properties, will secure the debt. View the full article

Where you work affects your risk of dying by suicide. For example, loggers, musicians and workers in the oil and gas industries have much higher rates of suicide than the rest of the population. But on the flip side, some professions have very low rates of suicide. One of them is education. National and state data shows that educators in the U.S., including teachers, professors and librarians, are among the least likely to die by suicide. We’re a team of researchers at the Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety at Arizona State University. We manage Arizona’s Violent Death Reporting System, part of a surveillance system sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with counterparts in all 50 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. We collect data on violent deaths, including suicide, thanks to agreements with local medical examiners and law enforcement. When public health researchers like us look at suicide data, we often focus on high-risk populations to learn where intervention and prevention are most needed. But we can learn from low-risk populations such as educators too. Why some professions have higher suicide rates Over the past 25 years, the suicide rate in the U.S. has increased significantly. The age-adjusted rate in 2022 was 14.2 suicides per 100,000 people, up from 10.9 a little over two decades earlier, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Epidemiologists often adjust data for age to allow for a fairer comparison of incidence rates across populations with different age distributions. But not all populations are affected equally. For example, military veterans die by suicide at higher rates than civilians, as do men, older adults and American Indian and Alaska Natives, to name a few demographics. In 2022 the suicide rate for men, for instance, was 23 suicides per 100,000, versus 5.9 for women. The rate of suicide among the working-age population is also growing. Over the past two decades it has increased by 33%, reaching a rate of 32 suicides per 100,000 for men and eight for women in 2021. And workers in certain occupations are at higher risk of dying by suicide than others. The reasons why are complex and diverse. Workers in construction, an industry with some of the highest suicide rates, may face greater stigma getting help for mental health issues, while people in other fields such as law enforcement may be more exposed to traumatic experiences, which can harm their mental health. In short, some explanations are directly tied to one’s work, such as having low job security, little autonomy or agency, and an imbalance of work efforts and rewards. Other factors are more indirect, such as an occupation’s demographic makeup or the type of personality that chooses a profession. Together, factors like these help explain the rate of suicide across occupations. Teachers, professors and librarians Educators, on the other hand, have relatively little suicide risk. By educators, we mean workers classified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as “educational instruction and library,” which includes teachers, tutors, professors, librarians and similar occupations. Nationally, about 11 in 100,000 male educators died by suicide in 2021, with the figure for women being about half that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By contrast, the rate for male workers in arts, design, entertainment, sports and media was 44.5 suicides per 100,000, and the rate for male workers in construction and extraction was 65.6. Data from our state of Arizona follows the same pattern. From 2016 through 2023, a total of 117 educators died by suicide, mostly primary and secondary school teachers. This works out to be an incidence rate of 7.3 suicides per 100,000 educators − one-third the rate for all Arizona workers and the lowest among all occupations in the state. Why educators have a low suicide rate So why are educators at such a low risk of suicide? After all, educational professions certainly present their own challenges. For example, many teachers experience high amounts of burnout, which can cause physical and mental health problems such as headaches, fatigue, anxiety and depression. A good place to begin is the profession’s demographic composition. A disproportionately high share of educators are women or are married − traits associated with lower suicide rates. Educators also tend to have high educational attainment, which may indirectly protect against suicide by increasing socioeconomic status and employability. Another factor is workplace environment. Workplaces that offer increased access to lethal means such as firearms and medications are associated with higher suicide rates. This helps explain why workers in law enforcement, medical professions and the military tend to show high rates. The comparatively low availability of lethal means in schools may help keep educators’ rates low. In addition, educators’ workplaces, typically schools and campuses, offer rich opportunities to form strong social relationships, which improve one’s overall health and help workers cope with job stress. The unique, meaningful bonds many educators form with their students, administrators and fellow educators may offer support that enhances their mental health. Finally, based on more contextual information in our Arizona database, we found that a lower proportion of educators who died by suicide had an alcohol or drug abuse problem. Alcohol or substance abuse problems can increase suicidal ideation and other work-related risk factors such as job insecurity and work-related injury. In short, educators may live a healthier lifestyle compared with some other workers. Improving worker health So, what can workers and employers in other professions learn from this, and how can we improve worker health? One lesson is to develop skills to cope with job stress. All professions are capable of producing stress, which can negatively affect a person’s mental and physical health. Identifying the root cause of job stress and applying coping skills, such as positive thinking, meditation and goal-setting, can have beneficial effects. Developing a social network at the workplace is also key. High-quality social relationships can improve health to a degree on par with quitting smoking. Social relationships provide tangible and intangible support and help establish one’s sense of purpose and identity. This applies outside the workplace, too. So promoting work-life balance is one way organizations can help their employees. Organizations can also strive to foster a positive workplace culture. One aspect of such a culture is establishing a sense of meaning or purpose in the work. For educators, this feature may help offset some of the profession’s challenges. Other aspects include appreciating employees for their hard work, identifying and magnifying employee strengths, and not creating a toxic workplace. It is worth noting that continued research on occupational health is important. In the context of educators, more research is needed to understand how risk differs between and within specific groups. Despite their overall low risk, no person or demographic is immune to suicide, and every suicide is preventable. If you or someone you know is experiencing signs of crisis, the free and confidential 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available to call, text or chat. Jordan Batchelor is a research analyst at the Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety at Arizona State University. Charles Max Katz is a director of the Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety at Arizona State University. Taylor Cox is a program coordinator at the School of Criminology & Criminal Justice at Arizona State University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

Love watching Netflix for hours on end? There’s a lot more you can do with it if you spend just a few quick minutes in the settings section. You can improve your binge-watching weekend by customizing subtitles, home screen previews, download settings, and more. Here are 18 of the best Netflix tips and tricks. Download your shows and movies offline Credit: Khamosh Pathak Like every other popular streaming service, Netflix lets you download movies and TV shows for offline viewing. Ad-free plans can download up to 100 items per device, while ad-supported plans can download 15 items. And as long as you go online once every 30 days, you can keep that media on your device. To adjust quality, open the Netflix app, go to your Profile, tap the Menu button at the top (the three horizontal lines), then go to App Settings > Downloads > Video Quality. Here, choose between Standard or Higher based on your storage space or network. Now, just tap the Download button next to an episode, season, or movie to download it. You’ll find downloaded media in the Downloads section in your Profile tab, where you can watch and delete shows. Sign out of one, or every other device Credit: Khamosh Pathak Netflix has an option that lets you log out of any device from the website. This includes every device that all members of your account are using. So if you want to knock off TV access for a friend, or someone who's not part of your shared plan, this is the place to go. Click the Profile icon and go to Account. Here, switch to the Devices tab and choose Access and devices. Then, find a device you want to log out from and click Sign Out. You can also click the Sign Out of All Devices button to log out all devices together. Stop Netflix from sharing your private data to third parties Credit: Khamosh Pathak Netflix has an obscure setting that's so weirdly worded that you'd never take it to be about data collection. Netflix, by default, shares your privacy-protected contact information with third parties to display ads on third-party services. That is something you should disable, and it's done on a per-profile basis. Click the Profile icon, go to Account, switch to the Profiles tab, choose your profile, and go to the Privacy and data settings option. Finally, disable the Allow matched identifier communications feature. Repeat this for all the profiles on your account. Transfer your profile to a new account Credit: Khamosh Pathak Netflix's password sharing crack down is in full swing. If you cannot get around it, it might be time to create your own account. But that doesn't mean you need to start fresh with the algorithm. Netflix has a feature called Transfer Profiles that can help you take all your data from an old account to a new one. Open the Netflix website and choose your profile. Then, click the Profile icon at the top and go to Transfer Profile. This will open up a wizard that'll walk you through the next steps. Click Start Profile Transfer and choose if you want to transfer to a brand-new account or to an existing one. Netflix will help you set up a new account with all your data. If you're transferring to an existing account, you'll need to know the email and the password for the account. Follow the instructions to transfer your profile to a new account. Get rid of unwanted content from your watch history and recommendations Credit: Khamosh Pathak Want to get rid of an embarrassing title from your watch list? Or perhaps a title that you’re never going to finish? The only way to clear your Watch List (and the subsequent recommendations) is by removing a title from your Viewing Activity. Go to Netflix’s Viewing Activity page (you can also get there from Account > Profiles > Your Profile > Viewing Activity). Click the little Hide button next to the title that you want to remove. Confirm in the next step, and the title will disappear from your watch list. Enable smart downloads for your mobile devices Credit: Khamosh Pathak If you watch Netflix on the way to work, or if you have a spotty internet connection, the Smart Downloads feature definitely helps. Once enabled, this will automatically delete completed episodes and replace them with subsequent episodes when you’re back on Wi-Fi. You can also turn on "Downloads for you," which automatically downloads content Netflix thinks you'll like. You can enable these features on the iOS and Android apps from Profile > Menu > App Settings > Smart Downloads. Stop Netflix from using too much of your mobile data plan Credit: Khamosh Pathak If you like watching Netflix when you’re out and about, it can eat into your mobile data plan pretty easily. Netflix’s data saver mode can help with that. In the Netflix app, go to Profile > Menu > App Settings > Cellular Data Usage. Here, disable the Automatic feature and switch to the Save Data option. This will adjust quality while off wifi to allow for about six hours of playback per GB of data. Make sure you’re watching in HD or 4K Credit: Khamosh Pathak It would be a shame to pay the 4K plan but only watch in 720p because you didn’t adjust your settings. Go to Netflix’s playback settings page, and from the Data Usage Per Screen option, switch to the High option. Now you’ll get the best quality for the device or screen that you’re on. Stop Netflix from automatically playing next episodes and previews Credit: Khamosh Pathak Netflix loves autoplay. Whether it’s playing the next episode or movie right after you’re done watching something, or playing previews on the home screen, it can get pretty annoying. You can disable both features on a profile-by-profile basis. After opening the Netflix website, go to the Profiles screen. Here, click the Manage Profiles button and choose the profile where you want to disable these features. Now, uncheck Autoplay next episode in a series on all devices and Autoplay previews while browsing on all devices. Click the Save button to save your preferences. Customize your subtitles to be way better Credit: Khamosh Pathak Finding the default subtitles too hard to read? You can change the subtitle font, color, and size. From the Netflix website, click the Profile icon and choose Account. Here, switch to the Profiles tab and select your profile. Now, choose the Subtitle Appearance option. From here, you can change the subtitle font, text size, shadow, background color, and window color. Once you’re done, tap the Save button to save your settings. Choose original dubs in your shows and movies Credit: Khamosh Pathak When you’re watching a foreign language film, Netflix has a habit of defaulting to English language dubbing. Sadly, there’s no setting to stop Netflix from doing that, but there’s always a way to switch to the original audio in the Netflix player. When you’re watching something, go to the Subtitles menu, and from the Audio section, switch to the Original audio. Lock your profile to keep it private from other users Credit: Khamosh Pathak If you share your Netflix account with your friends or family members, your profile isn’t exactly private. Others can see what you’re watching, and they can also use your profile and mess up your recommendations. If you want to protect your profile (especially if you share your account with your kids), click the Profiles icon and choose the Account option. Switch to the Profiles tab, choose your profile, and go to the Profile Lock section. Enter your account password, and from the next page, enable the Require a pin to access (user) account option. Then enter the four-digit pin and click the Save button. The next time you open Netflix, you’ll need to enter this pin to access your profile. Block adult content, if you want Credit: Khamosh Pathak If you’re sharing your Netflix account with your kids or teenagers, you might want to block adult content. To do this, go to the Profiles tab in your Account and choose your profile. Here, go to the Viewing Restrictions section and enter your account password. From the top, you can change the profile's maturity rating (7+ to 18+). If you want, you can also turn the current profile into a children’s profile, only showing content suitable for children. From the bottom, you can even choose to block a particular TV show or movie. Once you’re done, click the Save button. Switch to dialogue-only subtitles Credit: Netflix Netflix has finally added a dialogue-only subtitles option. They're starting out with Netflix original series like the latest season of You. But they'll be supported on every new Netflix Original going forward. This new subtitle option removes commentary and stage directions from the subtitles. So you won't see details about the background music or heavy breathing. You'll just see character dialogue. To switch to this option, start streaming a compatible show or movie on Netflix and head to the Subtitles section. Here, choose English (or any language of your choice) in the Audio section, and English in the Subtitles section as well. If you want to revert to the classic subtitles style, switch to the English (CC) option. Browse better using Netflix's secret codesNetflix's search feature is pretty great, but its organization kind of sucks. On the home screen, you might keep seeing the same popular content repeated in different sections. If you want to discover new content in a particular genre, style, or language, there is a better way. And that's to use Netflix's secret codes. Netflix has codes for every kind of movie category and subcategory that you can imagine. There are 20 broad categories to start with, but there are 267 categories in total, each with their own unique code. You can find a list of all the secret codes at Netflix-Codes.com. Then, just enter the code in the Netflix search bar. Alternatively, you can also use URL to go directly to the category page. An example: In the following URL, replace (xx) with the desired Netflix code: https://netflix.com/browse/genre/xx. So, to view "Asian action movies", you'd navigate to https://netflix.com/browse/genre/77232. A workaround for downloading movies and TV shows on WindowsNetflix's Windows app used to let you download movies and TV shows for offline use. But now, Netflix has deprecated the old dedicated Windows app, replacing it with a web wrapper that's nothing more than a glorified website in app form. A side effect of this change is that you can no longer download content like you can on mobile devices. But there is a workaround, which is to downgrade to the older version. Because this is Windows, where you can install apps from outside of the Windows Store, this is easy and safe to do. To download the old app directly from Microsoft, go to this Adguard store page and paste Netflix's app link. After the download is completed, open the Terminal app on your PC and paste in the following command: Add-AppxPackage .Downloads4DF9E0F8.Netflix_6.99.5.0_neutral_~_mcm4njqhnhss8.AppxBundle That should do the trick. For detailed instructions, check out our guide on the topic. Clean up your Continue Watching rowWe all have a tendency to start a movie or a TV show, only to get tired of it halfway through. Though, Netflix keeps reminding us of our lack of commitment with its Continue Watching feature. I usually end up ignoring this, while a show from three years ago keeps crowding my Continue Watching list. But if you're annoyed by this, there is a way out. If you don't plan to go back to a movie or TV show, simply hover over the thumbnail and click the "X" button to remove it from the list. Get notifications for upcoming contentIf you like watching the latest season of hit Netflix shows the day they come out, this feature is for you. Head over to the Coming Soon section in the Netflix app, find an upcoming movie or TV show that you want to watch, and click the "Remind Me" button. Netflix will now send you a handy reminder when the content launches. View the full article

Unbox and power up a brand new iPhone and you'll find there are plenty of apps already on there—which, broadly speaking, is good! You can start browsing the web, checking your email, streaming music, making notes and much more without visiting the App Store. However, you're not necessarily going to make a lot of use of all of these apps. Uninstalling the ones you don't actually need means they won't take up space on your phone and won't take up bandwidth with app updates. In recent years Apple has made more and more apps optional, and you can now get rid of more apps than you may have realized. If you find you do need them again, you can easily grab them from the App Store. To remove an app from your iPhone, tap and hold on its home screen icon, then choose Remove App > Delete App > Delete. You can also uninstall apps from the App Library: Tap and hold on an icon, then choose Delete App > Delete. Here are the preinstalled iOS apps you can get rid of (it's almost all of them, in fact): Books: Apple's depository of e-books can be uninstalled from your iPhone if you're not interested in any digital reading. It's been bundled with iOS since iOS 8 in 2014. Calculator: If you prefer an alternative calculator app or you're just great at math, you can say goodbye to the Calculator app. It's been around since the first iPhone in 2007. Calendar: The built-in Apple Calendar app may feel pretty essential to iOS, but it isn't, and you can get rid of it. It's been preinstalled on iPhones since the 2007 original. Clock: The Clock app has been around since day one on the iPhone, back in 2007, but iOS can run fine without it. You might need to find an alternative alarm app, however. Compass: One of the lesser-known apps, Compass can be safely removed if you're confident you won't need it. The app was introduced with iPhone OS 3 in 2009. Contacts: Surprisingly, you can delete Contacts, an app that debuted in 2008, from iOS. However, your contacts will still show up in the Phone app, which can't be removed. If you remove FaceTime, you can still make calls via the Phone app. Credit: Lifehacker FaceTime: FaceTime, on the iPhone since iOS 4 in 2010, can be safely removed from your iPhone—you'll still be able to make calls through the Phone or Contacts apps. Files: A files app may seem pretty fundamental to a phone, but you can remove the iPhone's built-in option. This app was introduced with the launch of iOS 11 in 2017. Find My: A core app you'd assume can't be uninstalled, but in fact it can be. Find My has come preinstalled since iOS 13 in 2019, combining Find My iPhone and Find My Friends. Freeform: The virtual brainstorming app developed by Apple first made its appearance on iOS late in 2022, and you can safely take it off your iPhone without breaking anything. Health: If you don't need the Health app, introduced in 2014, you can delete it. However, your existing health data will remain on your phone, under Health in iOS Settings. Home: Apple's smart home platform hasn't been its biggest success, and you can get rid of this app without any issue. The Home app was first added to iPhones back in 2016. The iTunes Store app is still going. Credit: Lifehacker iTunes Store: Did you forget about the iTunes Store? It predates the iPhone, and showed up in iOS in 2008. If you don't want to buy any digital goods, you can remove it. Journal: We've had Journal on our iPhones since 2023, letting you record memories day by day. If journaling isn't for you, or you've found a better option, this app can be deleted. Magnifier: You might have never noticed the Magnifier app on iOS, but it has been a standalone app preinstalled on iPhones since 2020—and you can remove it without issue. Mail: There are plenty of good email clients for iOS, and if you're not using the default one that has been preinstalled since 2007 on every iOS version, you can delete Mail. Maps: Apple Maps has been with us since 2012, and while it's improved a lot in that time, you might decide you prefer an alternative option—in which case, you can delete it. If you're not keen on Apple Maps, you can remove it. Credit: Lifehacker Measure: One of the minor utilities that comes free with every iPhone since 2018 and iOS 12. If you don't need to do any measuring on your iPhone, it can be removed. Music: This is an app category where there are lots of alternatives—and if you're using one, you can remove this. The app first appeared in 2011, replacing the earlier iPod app. News: If you're not getting your news fix through Apple's own News app, this can be uninstalled without a problem. It first made an appearance in 2015. Notes: For many of us, Notes is an essential app, but if that's not the case for you then you can remove it from iOS. It's been around since the first iPhone back in 2007. Playground: If you've enabled Apple Intelligence when setting up your iPhone, you'll have the Playground app for making AI images, launched in 2024—but you can uninstall it. No need for AI imagery? Remove the Playground app. Credit: Lifehacker Passwords: This is one of the newer Apple apps, launched in 2024. If you don't need this for managing your logins and other data on your iPhone, then it can be safely uninstalled. Podcasts: There are a host of great podcast players out there, so if Apple Podcasts isn't your app of choice for this, get rid of it. Podcasts launched as an app in 2012 with iOS 6. Reminders: If you're using a different app for this job (or you're just great at remembering everything), you can remove Reminders, which has been included with the iOS software since 2011. Shortcuts: Some people find Shortcuts indispensable, but if you're not one of them, this app can be safely uninstalled from your iPhone. It became a preinstalled app in 2019. Stocks: Stocks has been on iPhones since the very beginning, the first iPhone in 2007. If you don't need it to keep up with current stock prices, you may safely delete it. Tips: Ever since iOS 8 in 2014, Tips has been there, ready to serve up tips and tricks for using your iPhone. If you feel you don't need the app, there's no problem with deleting it. The Tips app gives you ... tips. Credit: Lifehacker Translate: Apple Translate has been around on iPhones since 2020, and it's definitely improved since then—but it's also possible to safely uninstall it. TV: The Apple TV app is where you get all your movies and shows from Apple, and it's been a standalone app since 2016. If you source your content from elsewhere, you can delete it. Voice Memos: There's no doubt this can be a useful app, but it's not for everyone, and can be uninstalled. Voice Memos made its debut on the iPhone all the way back in 2009. Wallet: You can uninstall the Wallet app from iOS, which is something of a surprise. The app for payments, cards, and tickets arrived on iOS under its current name in 2012. Watch: If you're not an Apple Watch user, feel free to uninstall the Watch app, available since 2015. If you have a connected Apple Watch, you'll be asked to unpair it first. Weather: Finally, the trusty Weather app, on iPhones since the very first one in 2007, can also be deleted from your iPhone, if you're sourcing your forecasts from elsewhere. View the full article

Oil-rich Gulf state gains plaudits for buying into ‘America first’ as White House announces $243bn in business dealsView the full article

Microsoft has released its latest monthly Patch Tuesday update, this time offering fixes for 72 security vulnerabilities across its systems. Five of the malicious bugs addressed are zero-days that have been actively exploited, and two have been publicly disclosed. As Bleeping Computer reports, the May update addresses 17 elevation of privilege flaws, two security feature bypass flaws, 28 remote code execution flaws, 15 information disclosure flaws, seven denial of service flaws, and two spoofing flaws. In addition to the zero-day exploits, six of the remote code execution vulnerabilities are labeled "critical" along with one information disclosure flaw. If you're a Windows or Microsoft user, you should ensure your systems are up to date. Patch Tuesday updates for May 2025While all of Microsoft's security updates are important to maintain the integrity of your devices and data, this Patch Tuesday is particularly heavy on zero-days—flaws that are actively exploited or publicly disclosed before the developer issues an official fix. Four of the five actively exploited zero-days fixed with this update are elevation of privilege flaws. CVE-2025-32701 and CVE-2025-32706 both affect Windows Common Log File System Driver, while CVE-2025-30400 affects Microsoft DWM Core Library, and CVE-2025-32709 Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock. All allow attackers SYSTEM privileges locally. The fifth active exploit is a remote code execution vulnerability (labeled CVE-2025-30397) in Microsoft Scripting Engine. The flaw can be exploited if an authenticated user clicks a fraudulent link in Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer, allowing attackers to execute code over a network. CVE-2025-30397, CVE-2025-32701, and CVE-2025-30400 were discovered by the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center. CVE-2025-32706 was disclosed by the Google Threat Intelligence Group and the CrowdStrike Advanced Research Team, while CVE-2025-32709 came from an "anonymous" researcher. Microsoft has not disclosed how these flaws were exploited. One of the publicly disclosed zero-days patched this month is a spoofing flaw in Microsoft Defender (CVE-2025-26685) that allows unauthenticated attackers with LAN access to spoof another account. This was discovered by Joshua Murrell with NetSPI. The final zero-day (CVE-2025-32702) is a remote code execution vulnerability in Visual Studio—Microsoft has not revealed any additional details. How to protect your PC You should always install security updates as soon as they become available to minimize the risk to your system. Windows and Microsoft patches are usually downloaded and installed automatically, but you can make sure your PC is good to go via Start > Settings > Windows Update and selecting Check for Windows updates. View the full article

Japanese technology and entertainment company Sony logged an 18% rise in profit for the fiscal year through March on healthy results at its music and video-game operations. Its chief executive, Hiroki Totoki, outlined the company’s strategy for growth Wednesday, stressing that collaboration among Sony Corp.’s various segments, like animation and music, were crucial to deliver the “kando,” or emotional engagement, that lies at the core of the company’s vision and strength. “Building on our momentum and results to date and working with a laser-like focus to realize our long-term Creative Entertainment Vision will be at the core of our corporate strategies moving forward,” he told reporters. Sony’s movies division has strong offerings in the pipeline, including Spider-Man films and biopics about The Beatles, while animation remains a driver of growth centered around the popular anime streaming service Crunchyroll, Totoki said. Tokyo-based Sony reported a record annual profit of 1.14 trillion yen ($7.8 billion), up from 970.6 billion yen in the previous fiscal year. Annual sales were virtually unchanged, inching down to 12.957 trillion yen ($88 billion) from 13.020 trillion yen. One area that lagged among Sony’s sprawling businesses was the financial segment, where revenue stalled. But its film division and its imaging and sensor solutions segment did well. Sony officials said they were studying how to respond to President Donald The President’s tariffs, although that was a challenge because of uncertainties and constant changes. But they said the negative impact from U.S. trade policy will be kept to 10% of Sony’s operating profit in the coming fiscal year by adjusting the allocation of shipments, among other measures. Totoki stressed that Sony plans to leverage its content creating technology, like virtual reality and image sensors, to feed into its entertainment products, including working on immersive experiences. Sony also has powerful collaborative relations with various entertainment companies like Kadokawa, which includes publishing as well as films and animation, and Bandai Namco, a video game maker, he added. Sony will emphasize the “diversity” of its workers, helping bring out people’s creative potential, Totoki said. Among the Sony movies that fared well at the box office for the fiscal year through March were “Venom: The Last Dance,” featuring the Marvel Comics superhero, and “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” an action comedy, where Will Smith and Martin Lawrence return in their popular cop roles in the fourth installment in the series. Sony, which makes the PlayStation console and game software played on that machine, also posted healthy results in the gaming business. Its music operations, which also held up, include recordings, streaming services and music for games. The top-selling recorded music projects for the latest fiscal year globally was SZA’s “SOS Deluxe: LANA,” followed by Beyonce, Future & Metro Boomin and Travis Scott. The top seller in its Japan music business was Kenshi Yonezu’s “Lost Corner” album, followed by offerings from Stray Kids and Six Tones. For the January-March quarter, Sony posted a 197.7 billion yen ($1.3 billion) profit, up 5% from 189 billion yen the same quarter in the previous fiscal year. Sales were 2.6 trillion yen ($17.7 billion), down 24% from 3.48 trillion yen. Sony is forecasting a nearly 13% drop in profit for the fiscal year through March 2026, to 930 billion yen ($6.3 billion), on 11.7 trillion yen ($80 billion) sales, down 2.9% on-year. Sony Group Corp. stocks, which fell in Tokyo morning trading, rebounded to finish 3.7% higher after its financial results were announced. Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama —Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer View the full article

For 20-year-old Mayank Yadav, riding a crowded bus in the summer months in this western Indian city can be like sitting in an oven. That makes it a treat when he steps off and into a bus stop outfitted with sprinklers that bathe overheated commuters in a cooling mist. “Everyone is suffering from the heat,” Yadav said. “I hope they do more of this across the city.” Rising heat is a problem for millions of people in India. In Ahmedabad, temperatures this year have already reached 42 degrees Celsius (107 Fahrenheit), a level usually not seen for several more weeks, prompting city officials to advise people to stay indoors and stay hydrated. And yet, coping with that heat is a familiar challenge in Ahmedabad. After a 2010 heat wave killed more than 1,300 people, city and health officials rushed to develop South Asia’s first heat action plan. The plan, rolled out in 2013 and now replicated across India and South Asia, includes strategies for hospitals, government officials and citizens to react immediately when temperatures rise beyond human tolerance. Public health officials said it’s helped save hundreds of lives every summer. City officials, with help from climate and health researchers, have implemented two simple yet effective solutions to help those affected most by heat: the poor and those who work outdoors. By painting tin-roofed households with reflective paint, they’ve reduced indoor temperatures, which otherwise might be up to 5 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than outside. More recently, the city hung curtains woven of straw and water sprinklers at one bus stop so commuters can get relief from the sun and heat. Officials said they plan to expand the idea to other bus stops in the city. Residents said both measures have been a relief even as they brace for at least three more months of sweltering summer. A simple coat of paint makes all the difference Throughout the city’s low-income neighborhoods, hundreds of tin-roofed homes have been painted with reflective paint that helps keep the indoors cooler. Residents said their houses were so hot before the roofs were painted that they would spend most of their time outdoors under any shade they could find. “Earlier, it was really difficult to sleep inside the house,” said Akashbhai Thakor, who works as a delivery van driver and lives with his wife and three-month-old child in Ahmedabad. Thakor’s roof was painted as part of a research project that is trying to measure the impact of the so-called cool roofs. Early results have been promising. “After the roof was painted, the house is much cooler, especially at night,” said Thakor. People like Thakor are much more vulnerable to extreme heat because their houses aren’t insulated and, since most of them depend on a daily wage, they must work regardless of the weather, said Priya Bhavsar of the Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar, who is working on the project. Bhavsar said low-cost solutions could be the only respite for thousands of people in the city who can’t afford to buy an air conditioner. Veer Vanzara, who lives in the same area as Thakor and works in a nearby garment factory, said the heat makes his job much worse, especially since his factory has no ventilation. So his family is grateful for the cool roofs. “The evenings and night are much cooler than before inside our house,” he said. A bus stop that’s become an oasis from the heat In Ahmedabad’s city center, a 25-meter stretch of a bus stop has been draped with mats made of straw which, when sprinkled with water, immediately cool the hot wind. Sprinklers installed on the bus stop roof lightly spray cool water on the commuters below, providing instant relief from the blazing heat just a step away. “When nothing like this was here, it was really hot. What they’ve done is really good. Senior citizens like me can get some cooling from the heat,” said 77-year-old Ratilal Bhoire, who was waiting under the sprinklers with his daughter. Bhoire said when he was younger, Ahmedabad was hot, but it was still possible to walk many kilometers without feeling dizzy, even at the height of summer. “Nowadays you can’t do that,” he said. Heat is the city’s biggest problem and heat waves—continuous days of extreme heat—are increasing, said Dr. Tejas Shah of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, who oversees the city’s heat action plan. “We are in the period of climate change, and it has already shown its effect,” said Shah. Shah and other city officials said the onset of summer has become a testing time and efforts such as cool roofs and cool bus stops are reducing heat-related illness and deaths. As climate projections predict only hotter and longer summers for his city, Shah said being prepared is the only thing to do. “It (the heat) needs to be addressed in the proper way,” he said. The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. —Sibi Arasu, Associated Press View the full article

The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose slightly to 6.86% last week, as economic volatility calmed following the Federal Reserve's recent inaction. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Whoop’s new 5.0 hardware launched this week, along with a premium version of the device that they’re calling the MG. Along with the launch came a new upgrade policy, requiring users to pay for what many thought would be a free upgrade. The company has walked back some of the new policy, but most users will still need to pay to get the new device. Here’s what you should know. WHOOP Peak – 12-Month Membership – 5.0 Health and Fitness Wearable – 24/7 Activity and Sleep Tracker with Heart Rate, HRV, Stress Monitor, Personalized Coaching, Healthspan – 14+ Days Battery Life $239.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Get Deal Get Deal $239.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Whoop’s official, current upgrade policyHardware comes bundled with Whoop’s subscriptions, which are typically sold in 12-month or 24-month memberships. Whoop said upon launching the 5.0 and MG that you can get the new hardware in two ways: You can pay to add 12 months to your subscription (a “membership extension”) and receive the new device. You can pay a $49 fee and receive the new device without changing the term of your membership. (There was also a mention of a $79 fee for upgrading to the MG hardware, but that hardware requires a more expensive subscription, so people who plan to upgrade to MG would be expected to pay more for their subscription anyway.) After some backlash, Whoop published an article “clarifying and updating our upgrade policy” in which they announced a policy to send upgraded hardware to some customers without any further payment: Members who already have more than 12 months left on their membership (for example, someone who bought a 24-month membership and still has 13 months left) can get the new hardware for free. Members who purchased a 12-month (or more) membership or renewal in the 30 days before the 5.0 was announced on May 8 can also get the new hardware for free. Why people are madThis new upgrade policy is different from how Whoop handled upgrades in 2021, when the previous device—the 4.0—came out. And until the launch of the 5.0 earlier this month, at least two pages on Whoop's website appeared to say that members would get to upgrade to the next generation of hardware for free. Whoop has addressed one of these as a mistake—a blog post referencing a six-month commitment—but hasn't commented directly on the other, a FAQ that seems to say everyone gets free upgrades. I'll start with the FAQ. Until recently, that FAQ stated “WHOOP is a membership, which means you get the latest and greatest technology as soon as it's available as long as you are an active member. No need to buy a new device each time it is released; you can upgrade for free.” Here is an archive of that page that I made on May 2, 2025, still showing that language less than a week before the 5.0 launched. The date on the page says that it was published in April of 2020. The page still exists on Whoop’s website here, but now says something very different: “WHOOP is committed to a membership model where hardware is always included. When new devices launch, you’ll have the opportunity to upgrade by extending your membership and you'll receive the new device at no additional cost. If you're not ready to extend at that time, you can receive the latest hardware by paying a one-time upgrade fee.” There is no indication on that page that it has been changed, and it still bears the April 2020 date. (Here is an archive of how it looks today, for future reference.) I wrote to Whoop asking if they had any comment on that change, along with a few other questions. In response, they sent me the new upgrade policy (also found here), addressed a different blog post that had changed—more about that below—and later sent along this statement: "We've always tried to make it as easy and accessible as possible for our members to get on WHOOP. Since 2021, we've required members have a certain number of months remaining on their membership to receive a free upgrade. That remains true today. You can receive a free upgrade to WHOOP 5.0 with 12 months remaining on your membership. Alternatively, you can also pay a one-time upgrade fee if you'd prefer not to extend. You can also choose to renew your subscription when it is up, and you’ll be eligible to upgrade to WHOOP 5.0 at that time for free. With this launch, we introduced two new devices -- 5.0 and MG -- both of which offer 14+ day battery life, a 7% smaller size, and the Wireless PowerPack. Given MG is our most premium offering with different medical-grade capabilities, it does come with more premium cost. We ensured members could still receive a free upgrade to WHOOP 5.0, but have a different option if they were looking for different features and functionality." Whoop has also been criticized for a blog post, found here by Whoop users on Reddit, that shows another discrepancy in stated policies. That blog post, which bears a date of September 30, 2024, said that the policy was to give upgraded hardware to anyone who had been a member for at least six months. The blog post was still live as of March 28 of this year, as shown on this Wayback Machine archive. Whoop says that “was never our policy and should never have been posted,” saying instead that they had offered free upgrades to anyone with six months or more remaining on their subscription at the time of the 4.0 launch. This appears to be correct—emails sent in 2021 mentioned that Whoop users with “6+ months left on their membership” were eligible to upgrade for free. Whoop showed me screenshots from such emails, and I dug into my own inbox (never delete anything, folks) and found the same. The screenshot below is from an email I received in 2021. From an email dated Sep 17, 2021. Credit: Whoop So that historical fact about six-month memberships checks out, but I see why many Whoop users say they feel misled. Meanwhile, the FAQ's statement about free upgrades for all active members certainly influenced my long-term review of the 4.0, published just last month, in which I reported (based on that FAQ on Whoop’s own website) that “you don’t have to pay for new hardware to get new hardware.” Angry Whoop users are discussing on Reddit and other forums the question of whether the company’s actions may run afoul of truth-in-advertising laws in Australia, the UK, the EU, and/or the U.S. Some are suggesting that U.S.-based customers consider submitting a complaint to the FTC (here is the form) or to your state's attorney general. Is it even worth upgrading from the 4.0 to the 5.0? After all that, it’s not even clear whether the move from 4.0 to 5.0 is worth paying anything. If you’re happy with your current membership (now known as Peak), all you’d gain with 5.0 is a longer battery life. But you’d lose the ability to use any straps or accessories you bought for your 4.0. The new device is 7% smaller, Whoop says, which smacks of “we wanted you to buy all new accessories.” It sure seems like they could have easily stuffed those seven-percent-smaller internals in the same size housing as the 4.0 and had everything still be compatible. Heck, fill the extra space with an even bigger battery! I would only pay to upgrade if you feel the longer battery life is more important than back-compatibility with your old straps and accessories. (And if you have a lot of Whoop Body clothing, you may want to wait for more 5.0 users to weigh in before you toss it all—I saw at least one Reddit comment saying that the old boxers fit the new device just fine.) Should you "upcycle" your old 4.0? There’s another strange thing going on with Whoop’s upgrade plans. If you upgrade from the 4.0 to the 5.0, they’ll send you a gift box with a sanitizing wipe and a brand-new strap, so that you can pass your old 4.0 on to a friend. They call it “upcycling,” and the full details are here. But why would your friend want your old 4.0? They would still have to sign up for a Whoop membership, and any new membership comes with a free 5.0 (or MG). Whoop attempts to sweeten the deal by giving you (the gifter) a $50 credit that can be used for accessories for yourself—but not put toward membership. You only get this once your giftee signs up for a paid membership. As for the person you gift your old device to, there are a few ways for them to get a discount on membership with the used 4.0: You (the gifter) can prepay for a 12-month Peak membership for them, for $190 rather than the usual $239. They can join for $199 for a 12-month Peak membership They can use the 4.0 for a two-month free trial, which automatically rolls over into a full-price $239 12-month Peak membership. As soon as you pay for a membership, and have 12 months remaining, you can upgrade to the 5.0 or MG—so that gifted 4.0 may have a short lifespan indeed. This doesn’t feel like upcycling at all to me, just a way to pretend you’re doing something useful with a device that will shortly get thrown away. For devices you actually buy, like a Garmin or an Apple Watch, going with an older model can often save you some cash. With the Whoop’s cost being baked into any new subscription, it seems strange to recommend that some users forgo the brand-new hardware that would otherwise be included. If you have a friend getting rid of an old 4.0, you might as well use the upcycling program to get a small discount on the membership with 5.0 that you were planning to buy anyway (using one of the two options above). Or if you already have a 4.0, you might as well ask your friend to get the re-gifting kit just for the free spare band—those things still cost 49 dollars. View the full article

Uber is on Wednesday launching its own version of a bus system along busy routes, calling it its most affordable ride option yet. The rideshare company has introduced Route Share, a new service offering pickups every 20 minutes along busy corridors during weekday commute hours. Available from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. local time, the service will launch in New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston, and Baltimore Riders can select the Route Share option to see nearby routes and book a seat anywhere from seven days to 10 minutes before their intended pickup. They’ll then be prompted to walk to the set pickup area where the driver will wait for a maximum of two minutes. Customers will share those rides with up to two other passengers. Rides will be “up to 50% less than an UberX,” the company said. The new service was announced as part of Uber’s annual GO-GET product event, where the company spotlighted more affordable options for cost-conscious consumers navigating today’s economic pressures. Here’s what else Uber unveiled at GO-GET 2025: RIDE PASSES Similar to how airlines have monetized the ability to lock-in prices while airfare is low, Uber is introducing a feature that allows riders to secure a fixed price for a one-hour window each day on select routes. For instance, someone commuting daily to the gym can lock in a fare to avoid price surges from weather or traffic. The pass costs $2.99 and will last for 30 days or until they hit $50 of savings, whichever comes first, the company said. Uber is also launching an option for users to prepay for 5, 10, 15, or 20 rides on regular routes in exchange for discounted fares. SHARED AUTONOMOUS RIDES In a major step toward autonomous mobility, Uber and Volkswagen announced in April a partnership to deploy thousands of all-electric, fully autonomous vehicles across the U.S. over the next decade. Uber said Wednesday that a shared autonomous ride option is expected to launch in Los Angeles early next year. OPENTABLE PARTNERSHIP Additionally, Uber is rolling out a new “Dine Out” feature, which lets users access in-person dining deals directly through the Uber Eats app. It’s also partnering with OpenTable in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Ireland, and Australia to enable restaurant reservations within the app. UBER ONE MEMBER DAYS Uber is introducing a promotional savings event akin to Amazon’s Prime Week. The Uber One Member Days will run from May 16 to May 23, featuring “tens of thousands of deals across the platform and its partners” for subscribers paying the $10 monthly fee. “Think 50% off shared rides, 20% off Uber Black, and 40% off Comfort Electric, with new deals each day of the week,” Uber said in a press release. View the full article

The cost of flying is becoming increasingly out of reach for the average American in 2025. The President of the United States, however, is gearing up to accept a $400 million super jet, complete with nine bathrooms and a master bedroom, as a gift from the Qatari government. News of the proposed gift broke this week, when ABC News reported that the royal family of Qatar plans to present President The President with a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet next week during his trip to the region. ABC News also reported that The President is preparing to accept the gift and retrofit it to use as Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office. At that point, ownership of the plane will be turned over to the The President presidential library foundation. Overhauling the jet would be at taxpayer expense. This follows a stalled deal with Boeing to update two 747-8 jets for use as Air Force One planes in 2018. The President’s potential acceptance of the opulent gift comes as, for the average American, the price of a standard airline ticket has shot up by 25% in the past year. The news also comes mere weeks after The President chastised critics for concerns over how his global trade war might impact prices of everyday goods, encouraging Americans to embrace a more frugal lifestyle by cutting down on purchases like dolls for their children. Aside from the dystopian optics of the situation, experts have warned that The President accepting the colloquially named “palace in the sky,” which is believed to be worth $400 million, could present very real security consequences—and sparks concerns around foreign bribery. Here’s what we know about the design of the super luxury plane so far. What kind of plane is it? The plane in question is a Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental jumbo jet. According to a design overview published by Boeing, the 747-8 Intercontinental (747-8I) has a wingspan of about 225 feet, which is double that of Boeing’s fastest-selling commercial plane, the Next-Generation 737. Boeing also claims that the 747-8 is the world’s fastest commercial jet, capable of traveling at 0.86 Mach or roughly 660 miles per hour. The double-decker plane is designed with luxury in mind, including a “flowing grand staircase” to connect the first and second floors, sculpted ceilings, and dynamic LED lighting throughout the cabin. What amenities does it have? Details about the specific plane that The President is set to receive have not been officially revealed. However, based on images of the aircraft published by MSNBC, it appears likely that the $400 million jet’s interiors have been customized beyond Boeing’s specifications to suit the needs of a wealthy client. Amac AerospaceInternet Archive An aircraft specification summary of the Boeing 747-8I model published by the Swiss aviation company Amac Aerospace provides more insight into the amenities available on board this type of aircraft. According to the summary, the jumbo jet, which is the same model as the Qatari plane, is more like an airborne mansion. It comes with five galley kitchens, nine bathrooms (including several showers), and a master bedroom suite. Amac AerospaceInternet Archive A few business class seating sections are sprinkled throughout the plane, but, for the most part, it’s divided into a series of swanky lounges and one private office. For entertainment, the plane is equipped with live TV and radio, 13 Blu-ray players, speakers, and subwoofers. When the aircraft specification summary was published back in 2020, the plane was decked out in a color scheme of red, tan, and gold. What are the security concerns? To meet security standards for carrying the President, the current Air Force One planes are equipped with radiation shielding, anti-missile technology, and multiple communication systems that allow the President to communicate with the military from anywhere in the world. According to information provided to The Wall Street Journal, the defense contractor L3 Harris has already been contacted to retrofit the Qatari plane to serve as a presidential aircraft. L3 Harris declined to comment for this story. Further, a The President administration official told the AP that “it would be possible to quickly add some countermeasures and communications systems to the Qatari plane,” but that it would be less capable that the existing Air Force One aircraft or the Boeing replacements. Now, many experts are raising the alarm that this “gift” could present major security risks and ethical concerns. One anonymous former government official told The Washington Post that Air Force One is “a flying nuclear-hardened command post,” and that the Qatari plane would need to be literally ripped open to bring it up to an acceptable security standard. Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall added that bugs on the plane would be a top concern, concluding that the only way The President will be flying on the plane while he’s in office is if he waives “a lot” of the security requirements needed to deem it safe. Meanwhile, several politicians have condemned the idea of accepting the plane. Even The President allies have cast doubt on the idea, with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham telling reporters Monday that he wanted to make sure the gift was “kosher,” while the far-right conservative activist Lara Loomer said the plane would be a “stain” on The President’s legacy. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the concept in no uncertain terms in a string of tweets posted to his X account, calling the Qatari plane “shameless self-enrichment” and a “national security betrayal.” “Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar,” Schumer wrote. “It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.” View the full article

California’s top insurance regulator said Tuesday that State Farm can soon start raising premiums by 17% for all of its home insurance customers in the state to help the insurer rebuild its capital following the Los Angeles wildfires. State Farm has argued the emergency rate hikes are necessary to help the company avoid a “dire” financial crisis that could force them to drop more California policies. The state’s largest home insurer said it was already struggling financially before this year but the LA fires, which destroyed more than 16,000 buildings in January, have made things worse. The increase will apply to all of the roughly one million homeowners State Farm insures in the state. The decision comes as California is undergoing a yearslong effort to entice insurers to continue doing business in the state as wildfires increasingly destroy entire neighborhoods. In 2023, several major companies, including State Farm, stopped issuing residential policies because of high fire risk. Last year, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara unveiled a slate of regulations aimed at giving insurers more latitude to raise premiums in exchange for more policies in high-risk areas. Those rules kick in this year. State Farm initially asked for a 22% rate increase for homeowners but revised it to 17% during a recent hearing before an administrative judge. The request also includes a 38% hike for rental owners and 15% for tenants. The new rates will take effect in June. In exchange, State Farm will get a $400 million cash infusion from its parent company and agree to halt some nonrenewals through the end of this year. On Tuesday, administrative Judge Karl Frederic Seligman ordered a ruling supporting State Farm’s request, calling it “a rescue mission to stabilize State Farm’s financial condition while safeguarding policyholders.” Lara adopted the recommendation the same day. The new rates are temporary until the state has a chance to consider State Farm’s request from last year for a 30% rate increase for homeowners. The hearings for that request are set for October. “I expect State Farm provide the highest level of service to its California customers and to fulfill its promises. State Farm must now justify its financial condition and detail its recovery plan in a full rate hearing before a neutral judge and my Department’s experts,” Lara said in a statement. State Farm said in a statement that the approval “is a critical first step for State Farm General’s (SFG) ability to continue serving our California customers.” The company received a financial rating downgrade last year and has seen a decline of $5 billion in its surplus account over the last decade. The company said it has paid more than $3.51 billion and is handling more than 12,600 claims as of this week. “Today’s decision that would make consumers pay now but allow State Farm to wait months before having to show its math is a great disappointment for consumers,” Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, said of the ruling. The group opposes State Farm’s request for higher premiums. State Farm said it plans to refund the emergency rates if California later approves lower rates. The insurer last received state approval for a 20% rate increase in December 2023. —Trân Nguyễn, Associated Press View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’re getting excited for spring and summer home improvement projects, or if you plan to expand your yard care equipment collection, the expense of new tools can be an important consideration. Getting deals on new cordless tools is a game-changer for DIYers everywhere, and the following deals can get you up to 67% off right now. Ryobi cordless tools are a go-to for many DIY enthusiasts because of the variety of tools they make that fit their batteries, their affordability, and their quality, so saving some money on this brand will allow you to add to your quality cordless tool kit as you go. DriversPower drivers have come a long way from back when you only had a drill with one or two speeds and a few attachments. These days, you can use power drivers on much larger hardware and on a wider range of parts, including nuts and bolts. The 18-volt Ryobi ⅜ inch impact wrench is on sale for $99, 67% off its regular price. The driver kit comes with 2-amp-hour battery and one 4-amp-hour battery and a charger. This is a good deal if you need batteries or if you are planning on building a larger kit—it comes with everything you need to operate the tool as well as batteries you can use with all other 18-volt Ryobi tools. The Ryobi 18-volt powered ratchet is on sale for $99, 65% off its usual price. This set comes with two 4-amp-hour batteries and a charger, and it’s good for driving nuts in tight spaces where a larger tool wouldn’t fit. 18-volt Ryobi ⅜ inch impact wrench $99.00 at Home Depot $302.94 Save $203.94 Get Deal Get Deal $99.00 at Home Depot $302.94 Save $203.94 Cutting and trimmingHaving the right type of cutting tool for your job and material is crucial for DIY success. Here are some deals of cutting tools that will get you through almost any DIY job. The Ryobi 18-volt jig saw is on sale for $99, 60% off its usual price. This saw comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and one 4-amp-hour battery and a charger. A jig saw is good for making cuts that aren’t in a straight line and can be handy for trimming pieces that need custom shapes, like flooring cut to fit around a doorway. The Ryobi 18-volt, 18-inch hedge trimmer is on sale for $99, 65% off its usual price. This trimmer comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and one 4-amp-hour battery. The Ryobi 18-volt oscillating tool is on sale for $99, 65% off its typical price. This tool comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and one 4-amp-hour battery and a charger. The oscillating tool is more than just a cutting tool that can be used for plunge cutting and trimming, it can also be used for sanding and buffing, making it one of the more versatile tools in your cordless kit. The Ryobi 18-volt angle grinder is on sale for $199, 41% off its usual price. This kit comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and two 4-amp-hour batteries. An angle grinder can be used for cutting metal or nipping off screw tips that poke out. The Ryobi 18-volt reciprocating saw is on sale for $199, 59% off its regular price. This kit comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and two 4-amp-hour batteries. A sawzall can take a variety of blades for cutting many materials and can be used to trim material in tight spots where a circular saw might not fit. Sanding and finishingGetting a polished look on your DIY projects can feel satisfying after all your hard work, and smoothing everything out can also help to avoid splinters. Here are some deals on sanding and finishing cordless tools. The 18-volt Ryobi hand planer is on sale for $99, 69% off its regular price. This kit comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and one 4-amp-hour battery, and a charger. A hand planer can be used to smooth and shape rough boards The 18-volt Ryobi orbital sander is on sale for $99, 62% off its usual price. This kit comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and one 4-amp-hour battery, and a charger. A random orbital sander can help smooth rough surfaces and prep for paint. 18-volt Ryobi hand planer $99.00 at Home Depot $223.94 Save $124.94 Get Deal Get Deal $99.00 at Home Depot $223.94 Save $124.94 Batteries, chargers, and accessoriesWhile it might be an afterthought when investing in cordless tools, batteries and accessories can really make a difference in the amount of time and effort it takes to complete a project. Having extra fresh batteries means you can use multiple tools at a time without stopping to swap batteries, allowing you to work faster. The Ryobi 18-volt battery starter kit is on sale for $99, 67% off its regular price. It comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and two 4-amp-hour batteries. This is a good kit if you're starting out or if you’re expanding your kit to allow you to use multiple tools simultaneously. The Ryobi gutter cleaner attachment for your Expand-It yard maintenance tool allows you to use the base edger/string trimmer handle to clear leaves and debris from your gutter. It’s on sale for $79, 39% off its usual price. The Ryobi 18-volt 7 and ½ inch fan is on sale for $99, 62% off its typical price. The fan comes with one 2-amp-hour battery and one 4-amp-hour battery, and a charger. Having a fan can do more than just cool you down while you’re working. You can use it to help dry paint faster or blow dust away from where you’re working to keep your paint dust-free. View the full article

Apple just announced new accessibility features coming to its operating systems. There’s a redesigned braille input experience, and a new reader that allows you to customize your text so it’s more legible. But there’s one that will be great for anyone attending any lecture or presentation: Magnifier for Mac. The iPhone and iPad got their Magnifier apps back in 2016. It worked pretty much like the iOS camera: You point your device anywhere you want and zoom in to the desired level. It also allows you to apply real-time filters to enhance readability depending on your vision’s condition, like turning a book’s black text over white page into white text over blue, as well as changing the image’s contrast and brightness. It also can detect objects around you. The new Mac version takes all that up to an 11 with its new features. To get the view of the world the new Magnifier needs, you will need to use a USB camera or an iPhone. The latter automatically connects to your computer using MacOS’s Continuity Camera feature, allowing you to use your phone as the eyes for your Apple desktop or laptop. Zoom in to focus on something far away, apply the same filters, and adjust the image, just like in iOS and iPadOS. A matter of perspectiveWhat makes the update brilliant is the new perspective adjustment. Since you can’t move your Mac around like with Apple’s handheld devices, you need a way to frame the text you want to read correctly. Like Apple’s introductory video shows, you can point your Mac with the attached camera to a whiteboard. Since you are probably not going to be looking at it from a fully perpendicular perspective, the app allows you to draw a polygon by clicking on each corner of the whiteboard in your screen. Then, applying some image deformation magical maths, Magnifier will automatically correct the perspective, turning the skewed whiteboard with deformed text into a perfect flat image that gives you the best view in the class, auditorium, or conference room. From there, you can do whatever you want with that text, including transforming handwriting into a typeface for easier reading. Magnifier uses Apple’s new Accessibility Reader, too, which allows you to customize how a page looks with the colors, fonts, and sizes you prefer—as well as copying and pasting from the whatever text the camera is looking at, regardless of it being handwritten or not. It’s similar to what you can do now with other Apple apps, like Preview, but in one continuous, seamless experience. Bonus points: Magnifier also supports reading any paper-based media using Desk View, the feature that uses your iPhone’s wide-angle lens to capture what’s flat on the table in front of your screen. Just put that novel on the table and transform its small type into something you can read easily (or have your Mac’s text-to-speech abilities to read it for you). It’s easy to imagine every single student, office person, and TED Talk drone using the new Magnifier to get a better experience possible at a presentation—sleeping pills notwithstanding—once it comes out “later this year” (according to Apple). This new little jewel will make your Macbook the best seat in the house no matter where you are sitting. View the full article

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has spent its first 100 days slashing government programs and firing employees. Yet Musk views DOGE not just as a downsizing force, but also as a team of technologically elite shock troops tasked with rapidly modernizing outdated government systems. One of DOGE’s primary targets on that front is the Office of Personnel Management’s antiquated retirement application system, which still relies on paper forms and manual processing. The system handles retirement applications and manages benefits for former federal employees and their families, coordinating closely with agency HR teams and payroll centers. DOGE and its allies inside the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) say they’ve now built and tested a fully digital, AI-enhanced replacement system, which they plan to launch across federal agencies on June 2. But the plans rely heavily on a product built during the Biden administration called the Online Retirement Application (ORA) system, say two former OPM employees who recently left the agency. A leaked planning document shared with Fast Company shows the ORA pilot launched in 2023 with a handful of agency HR and payroll offices, serving “a few hundred” retirees. The plan under Biden was to roll out the ORA system government-wide in 2025. The first source, who worked on retirement systems at OPM and spoke to Fast Company on the condition of anonymity, says that ORA is still just a prototype, and not built to support tens of thousands of real retirees. Yet one of the first actions OPM took when The President came into office was to interrupt the development of ORA. “They reduced support contracts and added a team of DOGE developers,” adds the second source, who until recently worked at OPM and also spoke on the condition of anonymity. “There is now a ‘war room’ to accelerate the work.” DOGE has kept its version of the ORA system largely under wraps. It remains unclear whether the team changed the original system’s architecture or user experience, or how the system’s AI components were developed, trained, or integrated. A White House official told Fox News that the AI met Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) requirements for securing and monitoring cloud-based services used by government agencies. (Neither DOGE nor OPM responded to Fast Company’s requests for comment.) The first ex-OPM source fears that DOGE, without fully understanding the federal retirement workflow, will simply roll out the ORA system as is. “I think instead of testing it with some Department of Interior retirees, they’re just slapping the system into being a requirement,” the source says. This would put the onus entirely on all retiring federal employees to correctly input their data and documents into the system without help from their agency HR department, according to the source. Few dispute the need for modernization. The current system processes around 100,000 retirement applications annually—in a literal underground mine in Boyers, Pennsylvania. The paper-based workflow is infamously slow and prone to error, often causing months-long delays that can be devastating for retirees who depend on timely benefits. While DOGE cites a The President executive order from February 11 as the mandate behind its work, the OPM’s original ORA and digital records systems were responses to a 2021 Biden executive order aimed at modernizing federal technology. To spearhead the retirement-focused effort, Musk reportedly tapped Airbnb cofounder Joe Gebbia, a close friend and fellow The President supporter. Gebbia joined DOGE in late February, vowing to apply his “designer brain and startup spirit” to build a paperless solution. Since then, a team of DOGE agents has been working out of a command center at OPM, collaborating with Retirement Services personnel and select staff. OPM acting director Charles Ezell said in a May 7 memo that the new system had already processed 25 retirement claims without generating paper—a claim that Gebbia then echoed on X. Notably, Ezell referred to the system in the memo as the ORA, the system built under Biden. Some experts suspect DOGE’s version is little more than a minimum viable product (MVP)—a rough prototype meant to demonstrate potential. Former U.S. Digital Service engineer Kate Green notes that MVPs often depend on manual work-arounds and aren’t ready for large-scale use. “These MVPs often have manual steps or work-arounds for difficult parts of the app, and future development eliminates these steps to create something fully automated,” she tells Fast Company. The second ex-OPM source says DOGE may be emphasizing flashy features—like ditching paper—while ignoring the real pain points, such as retirement applications with missing documents, missing signatures, or errors. “Personally,” the source says, “I think they are focusing just on paper because it seems like an easy win.” View the full article