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Buyers face decreased return on investment as home prices and rates remained at challenging levels while economic uncertainty clouded the outlook, Redfin said. View the full article

When Google rolled out AI Overviews for Search last year, it didn't go over so well. The company's AI made some pretty massive mistakes with its results, many of which went viral. In response, Google pulled back the feature, reworked it, and slowly reintroduced it to the masses. You've probably noticed. This month, Google is continuing its work of adding AI to Search—whether you want it or not. First, it's rolling out a new version of AI Overviews that's powered by Gemini 2.0, the company's latest AI model. Google says this update will help with "harder questions," like coding, math, and multimodal (prompts using different types of media) requests. In addition, teens can now see AI Overviews, as can users without a Google Account. Yippee. Introducing AI ModeBut the larger AI announcement from Google is something the company is currently testing: AI Mode. See, Google says that they've heard from "power users" that they are looking for AI responses from more of their Google searches. In response, AI Mode lets you ask the AI multi-part questions, that offers more advanced reasoning, thinking, and multimodal functions. On paper, it sounds like a more complex AI Overview, but it's a bit more nuanced than that. AI Mode is its own tab in Search, that turns the UI into more of what you'd expect from ChatGPT or Gemini. Google says this experience is supposed to combine what would've taken multiple searches into one: You ask the AI something complicated, it reasons through it (showing its thinking along the way) and delivers a full answer with multiple results, claims, and summaries—citing its sources for each of its generations. Credit: Google Google says AI Mode uses a “query fan-out” technique to generate its results. Essentially, it searches for multiple related things at the same time, combining those results together into the response you see at the end. AI Mode pulls from many different data points for its results, including web results, Google's Knowledge Graph, and shopping data. Google uses the following query to demonstrate this approach: “What's the difference in sleep tracking features between a smart ring, smartwatch and tracking mat?" AI Mode supposedly takes that multi-part question, develops a multistep "plan" to conduct a number of searches to find the information, and changes that plan according to the results it returns. This is still obviously a work in progress (as AI search is across the board) so Google says AI Mode won't get it right all the time. In fact, you may simply see a result of just web links, if the program thinks the AI result isn't good enough. I'm not sure how useful AI Mode actually is, especially when compared to either searching with Gemini, or a traditional Google Search (especially one without the AI). I'll need to wait until Google lets me try the feature out for myself before making any judgement calls. My guess, though, based on my current experience with AI, is that I'll prefer the usual Search method. How to try Google's AI ModeIf you have any interest in trying Google's new AI Mode, there are a couple ways to get in. First, if you are a Google One AI Premium subscriber, you'll be among the first to be invited to try out AI Mode in Labs. If you aren't a subscriber, however, you'll need to jump on the waitlist. Sign into your Google Account, then head to Google Labs. Under "Introducing the AI Mode Experiment," choose "Join waitlist." Google will then bring you to a page advertising the feature, where you can confirm you are on the waitlist. View the full article

Mental health resources have become a crucial corporate benefit among employers who are looking to recruit the best talent, with more and more companies now offering access to therapy and wellness apps. Even so, many workers report feeling like they don’t have the support they are seeking—particularly as they encounter rising levels of stress in and out of the workplace. In a new report from mental-health-benefits provider Lyra Health, 89% of the 7,500 employees surveyed said they had faced at least one mental health challenge over the past year, citing stress and anxiety as the biggest issues. In many cases, work was the leading source of their stress—namely, overwhelming workloads and staff shortages—and 73% of employees believed that those work-related mental health issues were, in turn, impacting their performance in the workplace. There are, of course, other factors driving these mental health challenges, from the political climate to financial stress. Women were more likely to cite caregiving responsibilities as a reason for their stress—though in comparison to their male counterparts, they also reported higher levels of anxiety and mental health struggles on the whole. Despite all this—not to mention, the growing investment in mental health benefits across corporate workplaces—many employees claimed to have limited access to the support they need or want. While the majority of workers said their employers care about their mental health and take stock of their well-being, only 29% of respondents think their workplace provides adequate mental health resources. (Of the 500 HR and benefits leaders who were surveyed, however, 45% argued that their companies offer those resources.) More than half of younger workers are likely to switch jobs in the next year to find more comprehensive mental health support, with millennials being the most likely to take advantage of those resources. But nearly all employees surveyed said they strongly consider mental health benefits when looking for jobs. There are signs that employees don’t always use mental health benefits even when they are available to them; also, that there can be a disconnect between which benefits employers typically offer and what their workers might be looking for. But companies have also seen the effects of securing these benefits for their workers: 81% of HR and benefits leaders said that mental health offerings had boosted their company’s reputation and made it a more appealing opportunity for job candidates. It’s clear that workers are clamoring for more mental health support—and that along with fertility and family-building benefits, these resources can be a real differentiator for employers who are looking to attract and retain top talent. View the full article

Los Angeles County said Wednesday that it’s suing Southern California Edison, alleging the utility’s equipment sparked January’s Eaton Fire, which destroyed more than 9,400 structures and killed 17 people in the Altadena area. The lawsuit seeks to recover costs and damages sustained from the blaze that damaged “essential community infrastructure” and “massively impacted the County’s natural resources, harmed the environment and wildlife, and threatened public health,” LA County said in a statement. Additional costs have been incurred by county departments for ongoing support in assisting residents recovering from the fire’s destruction, according to the lawsuit. “The County’s case is essential to the restoration and rebuilding process for the community, including residences and businesses, to recover from the devastation,” the statement said. Edison was reviewing the lawsuit and “will address it through the appropriate legal process,” utility spokesperson Kathleen Dunleavy said Wednesday. The fire’s cause is still under investigation. The complaint alleges that witnesses, photos, and videos indicate the fire started directly under Edison transmission lines in Eaton Canyon. The county seeks to recoup costs and receive compensation for destroyed infrastructure, recreational areas, parks, road damage, cleanup and recovery efforts, flood and mudslide prevention, workers compensation claims, overtime for workers, lost taxes and more. Costs and damage estimates were expected to total hundreds of millions of dollars, the county said, adding that assessments were ongoing. “We are committed to seeking justice for the Altadena community and the taxpayers of Los Angeles County,” County Counsel Dawyn R. Harrison said in a statement. The County, the County Flood Control District, and the County’s Consolidated Fire Protection District are the plaintiffs in the case. The cities of Pasadena and Sierra Madre are also filing suits against Edison for damages to taxpayer resources and public infrastructure incurred from the Eaton Fire, according to the county. —Christopher Weber, 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. Bone conduction headphones are ideal for activities where it is vital to your safety to hear your surroundings. That's because they use a technology that sends audio vibrations through to the inner ear while leaving your ear canals open. Shokz is one of, if not the best, brand making bone conduction headphones right now; at the high end of Shokz's offerings is the OpenRun Pro 2, which I got to review and put to the test. But the OpenRun Pro are also quality headphones and are currently discounted on Best Buy for $99.99 (originally $179.95), the lowest price they've been, according to price-tracking tools. SHOKZ OpenRun Pro Sound: Stereo, Connection Type: Wireless, Connectivity: Bluetooth, Maximum Wireless Range: 33 feet. $99.99 at Amazon $179.95 Save $79.96 Get Deal Get Deal $99.99 at Amazon $179.95 Save $79.96 If you've never used bone conduction headphones, they're worth a try, and the Shokz OpenPro are a great introduction. The technology has come a long way since their early days. The major downside of the way they work has been that the bass doesn't sound as good as their in-ear counterparts. The OpenRun Pro is designed to compensate for some of that—you won't get the same thumpy bass you'd get from regular headphones, but it'll be the best you can get from any other bone conduction headphones. As the name implies, these are meant to be used on runs outdoors. They have an IP55 rating for dust- and water-resistance, are lightweight and comfortable, and, because of their design, can be worn with bicycle helmets and sunglasses. You can use these as everyday headphones around the house as well since they can take calls; just be mindful that they don't block any sound. If you plan to use these in a location with a loud music or has a lot of ambient noise, you'll hear everything, so you might prefer taking regular headphones—but that will defeat the purpose of the "open ear" headphones. View the full article

Former UK prime minister takes up part-time, paid advisory role at ex-Florida governor’s Finback Investment Partners 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. Testing the Ikarao Shell S1 karaoke speaker during my review has been one of the highlights of my job as tech reviewer. Now that it's $100 off, reaching the price of $249.99 (originally $349.99) after the on-page coupon, it's at its lowest price ever, according to price-tracking tools. While you might've never heard of the brand before, I can attest that this speaker is quality, and now, it's a bargain for its price. Ikarao Shell S1 Smart Karaoke Speaker Battery Life: 9 hours, Connectivity: USB, AUX In/Out, HDMI, Wifi, OTG, and Bluetooth V5.4. $349.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $349.99 at Amazon It bewilders me why no company before thought of doing what Ikarao has done with the Shell S1: Combine a touchscreen tablet, two Bluetooth microphones, and powerful sound to a small portable speaker. None of those things are new technologies, yet it took until Ikarao thought of it to make it happen. The Shell S1 is their newest and most affordable karaoke speaker. And it's loud enough to host a house party with its 104dB stereo speaker (it fills my whole 1,300 square foot home with sound loud enough to have a party). The two wireless microphones have a 20-hour rechargeable battery life while the speaker itself lasts about nine hours if you're using the screen. The screen is a 10.1-inch touchscreen tablet that lets you control the music. It comes with an integrated Spotify app but unfortunately no YouTube app (it does have a direct link to it using a web browser). You can hook up the speaker to a TV to have more people sing along with you, but you'll need to hook up an HDMI cable. There is a casting option but it's done through a third-party app that you need to download. It's not as easy as AirPlay or connecting an HDMI cable. If you're looking for a reliable and compact karaoke machine that you can hook up to your TV and play for hours, the Shell S1 at $250 is the best you can get right now. View the full article

Izzy Englander still owns 100% of one of the world’s top hedge fundsView the full article

Digg, the dominant link aggregator of the mid-2000s, is attempting yet another comeback. Kevin Rose, one of Digg's original founders, has acquired the brand name for an undisclosed sum and is teaming up with Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian to build a new-ish social network. The plan was announced this morning in articles on Techcrunch and in the New York Times. There aren't many concrete details in these articles about what the site will look like, though they do note it will use AI as a key moderation tool. "Online communities thrive when there’s a balance between technology and human judgment,” Ohanian told Techcrunch, adding that, "AI should handle the grunt work in the background while humans focus on what they do best: building real connections." Rose surveyed current Reddit moderators in an attempt to learn what improved moderation tools could look like. That's about it in terms of specifics—both pieces focus less on the tech and more on the founders themselves. But we do know the new Digg won't look like an "old school forum" according to Rose. He said that, in a few years, it "will be an interface that is unlike any other that you've seen." Whatever that means. Digg was founded in 2004—more than two decades ago, an eternity in internet terms—by Rose and other collaborators. Reddit arrived on the scene around a year later, in 2005, founded by current CEO Steve Huffman, the late hacktivist Aaron Swartz, and Ohanian. The two websites fought to be the dominate link aggregator for a half-decade, a competition Reddit eventually won. One way of looking at this history is that Reddit ultimately won over users, though you could also argue that Digg destroyed itself: An extremely buggy and widely unpopular 2010 redesign, launched under Rose's leadership, prioritized the posts of certain contributors and ultimately led to a mass exodus of users. The site never recovered and was soon more or less sold off piecemeal in 2012. How to sign up for early access to the new DiggInvitations to the new version of the site will be sent in the next few weeks—you can sign up here to try it if you're curious. With any luck it won't just be yet another place to yell about screenshots taken from other social networks; the internet sure could use something that's actually new. Only time will tell, though. View the full article

Discussions with militant group come as efforts to extend ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have stalledView the full article

France’s president proposes discussions with European allies amid fears about US pullback and Russia’s threatView the full article

The private sector added 77,000 jobs in February while annual pay increased by 4.7% year-over-year, according to the latest ADP National Employment Report released in collaboration with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab. The report, based on payroll data from over 25 million U.S. employees, offers a high-frequency measure of employment trends in the private sector. The February report indicates a slowdown in hiring, marking the smallest job gain since July. “Policy uncertainty and a slowdown in consumer spending might have led to layoffs or a slowdown in hiring last month,” said Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP. “Our data, combined with other recent indicators, suggests a hiring hesitancy among employers as they assess the economic climate ahead.” The job gains in February were led by the goods-producing sector, which added 42,000 positions. Within this category, the construction industry saw the highest increase, adding 26,000 jobs, followed by manufacturing with 18,000 jobs. The natural resources and mining sector, however, reported a loss of 2,000 jobs. Service-providing industries added 36,000 jobs, with strong gains in leisure and hospitality (+41,000), financial activities (+26,000), and professional and business services (+27,000). However, declines were recorded in trade, transportation, and utilities (-33,000), information (-14,000), and education and health services (-28,000). Regionally, employment gains were concentrated in the Northeast (+55,000) and Midwest (+56,000). The South (-12,000) and West (-27,000) saw declines, with the South Atlantic (-26,000) and Pacific (-25,000) regions reporting significant job losses. Small businesses saw a net decline of 12,000 jobs, with firms employing 1-19 workers shedding 17,000 jobs. Medium-sized businesses (50-499 employees) added 46,000 jobs, and large businesses (500+ employees) contributed 37,000 jobs to the overall increase. Annual pay growth remained stable in February, with job-stayers seeing a median pay increase of 4.7%. For job-changers, year-over-year pay gains slightly decreased from 6.8% in January to 6.7% in February. By industry, the highest pay gains for job-stayers were in financial activities (5.1%), manufacturing (4.8%), and construction (4.9%). Small firms with fewer than 20 employees reported the lowest median pay growth at 2.8%, while large firms with 500 or more employees saw a 5.0% increase. The January total for job additions was revised upward from 183,000 to 186,000, reflecting slight adjustments to previously reported data. This article, "ADP National Employment Report: Private Sector Adds 77,000 Jobs in February" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The private sector added 77,000 jobs in February while annual pay increased by 4.7% year-over-year, according to the latest ADP National Employment Report released in collaboration with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab. The report, based on payroll data from over 25 million U.S. employees, offers a high-frequency measure of employment trends in the private sector. The February report indicates a slowdown in hiring, marking the smallest job gain since July. “Policy uncertainty and a slowdown in consumer spending might have led to layoffs or a slowdown in hiring last month,” said Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP. “Our data, combined with other recent indicators, suggests a hiring hesitancy among employers as they assess the economic climate ahead.” The job gains in February were led by the goods-producing sector, which added 42,000 positions. Within this category, the construction industry saw the highest increase, adding 26,000 jobs, followed by manufacturing with 18,000 jobs. The natural resources and mining sector, however, reported a loss of 2,000 jobs. Service-providing industries added 36,000 jobs, with strong gains in leisure and hospitality (+41,000), financial activities (+26,000), and professional and business services (+27,000). However, declines were recorded in trade, transportation, and utilities (-33,000), information (-14,000), and education and health services (-28,000). Regionally, employment gains were concentrated in the Northeast (+55,000) and Midwest (+56,000). The South (-12,000) and West (-27,000) saw declines, with the South Atlantic (-26,000) and Pacific (-25,000) regions reporting significant job losses. Small businesses saw a net decline of 12,000 jobs, with firms employing 1-19 workers shedding 17,000 jobs. Medium-sized businesses (50-499 employees) added 46,000 jobs, and large businesses (500+ employees) contributed 37,000 jobs to the overall increase. Annual pay growth remained stable in February, with job-stayers seeing a median pay increase of 4.7%. For job-changers, year-over-year pay gains slightly decreased from 6.8% in January to 6.7% in February. By industry, the highest pay gains for job-stayers were in financial activities (5.1%), manufacturing (4.8%), and construction (4.9%). Small firms with fewer than 20 employees reported the lowest median pay growth at 2.8%, while large firms with 500 or more employees saw a 5.0% increase. The January total for job additions was revised upward from 183,000 to 186,000, reflecting slight adjustments to previously reported data. This article, "ADP National Employment Report: Private Sector Adds 77,000 Jobs in February" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Tax season is the perfect time to review your Roth IRA contribution strategy. While Roth IRAs offer incredible tax advantages, they come with specific rules that can trip up even savvy investors. After all, the humble Roth IRA is one of your most powerful retirement savings tools—when used correctly. You have until the April tax return deadline to set up and fund an IRA for the prior tax year. This means you have until April 15, 2025 to open and contribute to a Roth for 2024. We're also in the window where you can fund your 2025 IRA at the same time. Additional contributions for 2025 can be made until April 15, 2026, and so on. Keep in mind, filing for an extension to submit your return does not extend the deadline for IRA contributions. Here key contribution guidelines to know about Roth IRAs right now, so you can maximize your retirement savings and avoid potential penalties. Rule 1: Earned incomeThe most fundamental rule for Roth IRA contributions is simple: You can only contribute money you've actually earned. This means your contributions must come from: Wages from a job Salary Tips Commissions Self-employment income Bonuses Alimony Important nuances to remember: Investment income, Social Security benefits, and pension payments do not count as earned income If you're a stay-at-home spouse, you can still contribute based on your working spouse's earned income For students or part-time workers, your contribution is limited to your actual earned income for the year Rule 2: Annual contribution limits The IRS sets specific limits on how much you can contribute to a Roth IRA each year. For 2024, these limits are: Under 50 years old: $7,000 maximum annual contribution 50 and older: $8,000 (includes a $1,000 catch-up contribution) These limits are aggregate across all your IRAs. So if you have multiple Roth or traditional IRA accounts, the total contributions cannot exceed the annual limit. Attempting to contribute more than the annual limit will result in a 6% penalty tax on the excess amount unless promptly removed. If you exceed the Roth IRA contribution limits, you have until the tax filing deadline, plus extensions, to withdraw the excess contributions and any income they earned. Rule 3: You can't contribute more than you earnThis rule is a direct extension of the earned income requirement. Your Roth IRA contribution cannot exceed your total earned income for the year. For example: If you earned $5,000 in part-time work, your maximum Roth IRA contribution is $5,000 If you only earned $3,000, you can only contribute up to $3,000 If you earned $0, you cannot make any Roth IRA contributions Pro tips for Roth IRA contributionsAs a rule of thumb, keep detailed records of your earned income. I know I rely on automated contributions to stay within limits, as well as make sure I'm maxing out my fund. Remember that contribution limits can change annually, so stay informed. Tax season is an excellent time to review your Roth IRA strategy. For me, this means making contributions as early in the calendar year as I can. I highly recommend getting ahead by maxing out 2025 as soon as you can, and then contributing larger lump sum right at the start of 2026. At the end of the day, compound interest is the name of the game, and early investing means more time for compounding to work. View the full article

The megalender revealed it employed 14,200 team members at the year's end. View the full article

There used to be a clear progression in home ownership: You bought a “starter” home when you were young, built equity, then cashed in when prices rose and leveled up to something bigger, newer, or with the features you really want. And if you bought a house that didn’t live up to expectations, or if your situation changed without warning (hello, unexpected third child!), you would list the place and move to a better option. But increasingly, that seems like an artifact of a bygone age. It’s easy these days to feel “stuck” in your current home—because of that amazing mortgage rate you locked in years ago, the eye-watering cost of a house these days, or some other issue. If that’s you, don’t despair: Maybe you can’t sell and move right now, and an expensive whole-house renovation or addition might not be in the cards, but there’s a lot you can do with your current home to make it work for your family and lifestyle without needing to launch a Kickstarter. Work with itIf you’re stuck in your current house, your first step is to assess what you have and look for ways to make it work for you. This doesn’t have to involve an expensive major renovation or addition project—there are probably a lot of resources already in your current home that you’re not using to their full potential, such as: Closets are potentially versatile spaces that can become home offices, pantries, or even small spare bedrooms. Home offices don’t have to be their own room—aside from that tiny closet, you can fit an office under a lofted bed, in the corner of your bedroom, or under a flight of stairs. Hallways are often overlooked as usable space, but if yours are wide enough, you can cram seating or library space and even a sleeping area into your hallways. Second (or third) bathrooms might not be in the cards if your house (and budget) are small, but if you just need a practical solution, you can actually create a usable bathroom just about anywhere in your home without any plumbing whatsoever. Storage is one of the biggest reasons people feel like they’ve outgrown their homes, but you might be surprised at how much extra storage you can carve out of your house if you put your mind to it. Laundry facilities in the house are one of the greatest gifts of the modern age. If your current home lacks a washer, a portable washing machine might make things more tolerable for you until you can find a place with laundry hookups. By using every inch of your home’s potential you can find ways to make it meet your needs—at least for a while. Start overSometimes all you need to make a house work for you is a reset. A cluttered, crowded house can have a negative impact on your mental health in general, which will obviously affect your feelings toward your home. Rooms filled with boxes can’t be used for their intended purpose, and the constant sense of disruption and unfinished business can make a home feel less than comfortable. Decluttering and organizing your home can make it feel almost new. And this doesn’t have to be a monumental project requiring time off from work and an extra therapy session—start with one room. Clear it out completely, clean and freshen it up (a coat of paint can make a room feel brand-new), then re-imagine it. Even if it remains a storage room, making it neat and tidy will make it usable, which will make you more positive toward it and thus toward the house. Repeat for each room at your own pace, and you’ll slowly gain back that sense of pride, control, and ownership you had when you first bought the place. Look outwardMaybe you’ve explored the spare square footage and decluttered like a champ, and there are just things your current home can’t give you. Space is finite, after all, and there may be no super creative solutions to give you that space or functionality you need. If you’re stuck in your home for the time being, you might find contentment by looking elsewhere for what’s missing in your house. No space for a workout? A gym membership’s got you covered. No spot for even a tiny office? A co-working space nearby might work. If your closets are bursting, hauling seasonal stuff to a local storage unit can give you your house back. While the ideal might be to have all these things conveniently in your house, stashing them away temporarily will at least meet your needs until you can make some real estate moves. PersonalizeIt’s funny: You go through all the trouble and expense of buying a house, and then you work very hard to keep the place “neutral” for potential resale. You never use the bathtub, but you keep it because it’s “good for resale value.” You choose paint colors and design elements that are broadly in line with what “most people” want in a house. This can result in a house that never feels like yours—it’s like living in someone else’s house. If you’re going to be in this house for the time being, one way to feel better about it and make it work for you is to go in the opposite direction: Lean into personalizing the space. Choose colors and furniture pieces that make you happy, display your collections and art pieces, DIY whatever you want or need to in order to use the space the way you want to. If part of what’s driving your desire to move is a sense of not being comfortable in your current home, working to make it as comfortable as possible—resale value be damned—might solve the problem. View the full article

Many layoffs so far have been in the Small Business/Self-Employed Division, but the Large Business & International Division has also been affected. View the full article

How can a razor brand market their products online when the word “razor” is shadowbanned. Start an OnlyFans, of course. London-based razor brand Nimbi, which launched at Erewhon in January 2024, began posting on TikTok last summer but noticed their views were disappointingly low. Turns out, it’s because they were using the word razor, which is on TikTok’s list of shadow-banned (meaning TikTok was limiting who could see their content). So, Nimbi got creative. Co-founder Anna Reid first suggested the idea of making an OnlyFans account as a joke. But it made a lot of sense. Most brands would steer well clear of posting on a platform infamous for sexually explicit content. But OnlyFans is not just a site for adult creators, and brands might just be missing out on its marketing potential. Rather than posting sexualized content for a male audience, Nimbi’s OnlyFans content is instructional and made to answer questions consumers might never have the courage to ask. One of their posts, for example, is an in-depth shaving tutorial. “It’s much more like, ‘How do we show that we all share a lot of the same needs?’” Reid told Inc. in a recent interview. “Let’s share better educational techniques that aren’t [for] our skin on our face, but other body parts that we just can’t show on social media.” While OnlyFans isn’t the brand’s major marketing channel, still with under 100 subscribers, Reid tells Inc. they’re “having a lot of fun with it”. Their bold approach appears to be paying off. Nimbi is now Erewhon’s number one seller in the personal care category, and is expanding into more than 900 Target stores March 1. Unlike traditional razors, Nimbi’s plastic-free disposable razors are made from a first-to-market material made of waste wood pulp, pine oil and clay. OnlyFans might not work for the Estée Lauders of the world. But for a razor brand, it simply makes sense. View the full article

So, you want to buy a MacBook? You have no shortage of options. If you go directly through Apple, you can pick between the Air or the Pro, in two different sizes, across a seemingly endless number of configurations. If you're shopping from a third party retailer, the issue only compounds. There are a lot of MacBooks out there. Which machine you should purchase is entirely up to you and your unique needs. However, unless you have demanding or specialized work to do, there is one model that makes more sense than most. Before today, I recommended the M2 MacBook Air to most people. Its combination of price, portability, and power made it not just the best MacBook for most people, but the best laptop overall. (Sorry, PCs.) There were and are cheaper options out there, but that M2 MacBook Air was simply, in my opinion, the best overall value on the market. I no longer think this, because Apple just dropped a new MacBook Air, and it's my new pick for the best MacBook for most customers. Here's why. The price is rightLet's kick things off with what makes the MacBook Air great: the price. The MacBook Air has been Apple's entry-level machine for a long time, presenting a very clear trade—you spend $999, you get a solid Mac. You could pay more to acquire additional features and a power boost, but you didn't have to. A cool grand was all you needed. Apple changed that deal a bit starting with the launch of the M2 MacBook Air. Rather than offer it as the $999 entry-level model, it kept the previous generation M1 in that spot, and priced the newer model a few hundred dollars higher. Now, the "old" MacBook Air was your entry into the Mac line, and if you wanted the latest MacBook Air, you needed to spend more. Lucky for consumers, the M1 MacBook Air was great. It's still pretty great, in fact. Despite Apple continuing to release new Macs with new chips, I argued the M1 MacBook Air was the best MacBook for most people up until early 2024. It was only when Apple replaced the M1 with the now "old" M2 MacBook Air, pricing it at $999, that I proclaimed that to be the best option. The M4 MacBook Air only continues that tradition, but with a bit of a twist. The M4 is brand new, and yet it's also the entry-level machine in Apple's lineup. That $999 doesn't get you the model from last year, or the year before that: This is the freshest MacBook Air you can buy. It doesn't feel like any kind of compromise, and that makes it easy to recommend to just about anyone looking for a great MacBook for a reasonable price. The M4 chipIf the argument was just about money, it wouldn't hold water. Now that Apple has dropped both the M2 and M3 MacBook Airs from its lineup, those machines are likely going to be on sale from other retailers. If the M2 MacBook Air was the best Mac for most people yesterday for $999, shouldn't it definitely be the best Mac for most people if they can pick it up for? That's part of my argument against buying the latest iPad Air after all—it's a great tablet, but so are the older Airs that are now likely going to be less expensive than ever. Yes, a discounted M2 MacBook Air is a fantastic value, and I wouldn't stop anyone from buying it. But I feel that $999 is an even better value for the M4 MacBook Air. For that price, you get Apple's latest chip—the M4—which represents the highest performing chip in Apple's laptop lineup. The M4 in the MacBook Air has 10 CPU cores, compared to eight in the M2, and its NPU (the chip responsible for running AI tasks) has a 120GB/s memory bandwidth, versus 100GB/s on the M2. The M2 is still a very capable chip, and you won't notice as big of a difference between the two as you would between the M1 and M4 (Apple says the M4 Air is up to twice as fast as an M1 Air) but there will be gains, as evidenced by independent benchmarking of other M4 chips. We won't know exactly how well the M4 Air performs until reviewers put it through its paces, but it will undoubtedly run better than a chip that came out in 2022. Beyond performance, Apple will almost assuredly support the M4 chip longer than the M2. I have no doubts that M2 still has many years of support ahead of it, but when the time does come for Apple to eventually stop issuing updates for these machines, the M4 will likely receive them for at least an extra year or two—if not longer. Apple is also continuing the trend of starting each MacBook off with at least 16GB of RAM. Previously, Apple's base MacBooks included 8GB of RAM, which, while enough for simple tasks, wasn't always enough for more intensive applications—and didn't bode well for their longevity. You needed to spend an extra $200 to upgrade to 16GB, which completely erased the value aspect of the MacBook Air. Last year, Apple made the decision to bump all Macs up to 16GB of RAM to start, without raising the price. Maybe $999 for a laptop with 8GB of RAM is a tough pill to swallow, but for one with 16GB? It's an excellent value. The perks you expect from a MacBook AirApple hasn't broken the mold with the M4 MacBook Air, and that's a good thing. This design is functionally identical to both the M2 and M3 MacBook Airs—which is to say, it's excellent. The base M4 MacBook Air still comes with a 13.6-inch "Liquid Retina" display, with a resolution of 2560x1664, a P3 wide color gamut, and a maximum brightness of 500 nits. It weighs the same 2.7 pounds, comes with the same great speakers and microphones, and ships with an excellent backlit keyboard with Touch ID. (The days of the butterfly keyboard are long gone.) Like the M3 MacBook Air, this M4 comes with Wi-Fi 6E support (one generation newer than the M2's Wi-Fi 6 support). You also get MagSafe charging, which is among the best MacBook features. Why Apple ever rid itself of magnetic chargers, I'll never understand, but at least it has corrected itself in recent years. Various smaller advantagesWhat the company did change from previous MacBooks are minor, but notable. First up, the camera. The M4 sports a 12MP camera, which should improve the quality of video calls. However, the bigger perk with this higher megapixel count is the addition of Center Stage. This feature, introduced on iPad and found on the M4 MacBook Pro, follows your face as you move around the frame during calls. That lets you walk and talk in front of your MacBook Air, while still remaining in focus. The M4 MacBook Air still comes with two USB-C ports, but they're different than the two found on previous MacBook Airs. These ports are Thunderbolt 4, not USB-4, which means there are higher minimum speed requirements here. That enables the M4 MacBook Air to extend to up to two 6K external monitors. The colors have shifted a bit this go around, too. Gone is the iconic Space Gray option that many know and love, which isn't necessarily a "small advantage." However, the new Sky Blue color looks great. Ever since Apple revamped the iMac line with fun new colors back in 2021, I've wanted them to adopt the same with their laptops. This is the closest we've come yet, and I hope they keep it up with future models. Older MacBooks are still an excellent value (with a caveat)Apple will let you preorder an M4 MacBook Air today, and the machine will go on sale on Wednesday, March 12. But if you have any interest in an older Mac, I'd recommend waiting to buy it if you can: Once this new MacBook is out, the discounts on older machines should follow. M3 MacBook Air, 16GB RAM (2024) $1,099.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $1,299.00 Save $200.00 Shop Now Shop Now $1,099.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $1,299.00 Save $200.00 M2 MacBook Air, 16GB Ram (2022) $799.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $999.00 Save $200.00 Shop Now Shop Now $799.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $999.00 Save $200.00 SEE -1 MORE Apple won't be selling new M2 and M3 MacBook Airs, but outlets like Amazon and Best Buy certainly will. If you're looking to pick up a new MacBook Air for under $999, that's the way to do it. I imagine these companies will take $100 or $200 off these models at least, if not more. If Apple is selling new M4s for $999, these stores can't justify keeping older models at the same price. Apple will likely sell used M2 and M3 models in its refurbished store, too, so keep an eye out there. Like I said above, the M2 and M3 chips are still excellent, and Apple will likely support them for years. No matter which of these three machines you buy, they'll feel functionality the same, since the design hasn't changed, so you'll snag a modern MacBook experience for a great price. Check your RAMMy one caveat is to watch out for the RAM: You will likely find deals on MacBooks with 8GB of RAM, which I can't recommend in 2025. These Macs will generally work well, and may run the tasks you need to run, but you will hit limitations with that amount of memory sooner rather than later. Your Mac won't work as well as machine with 16GB of RAM, and, in all likelihood, Apple will drop support for it sooner than the models with more memory. These machines aren't worthless by any means (Apple currently fully supports all M-series Macs with 8GB of RAM) but if you're looking to buy a new MacBook this year, it's important to prioritize that 16GB of RAM. View the full article

Carve-out applies to groups operating through the US-Mexico-Canada trade pact View the full article

Justice department said suspects were involved in extensive ‘hacker-for-hire ecosystem’View the full article

Former bank boss is trying to clear his name over ties to dead sex trafficker Jeffrey EpsteinView the full article

It’s tough enough bringing the first major redesign of a commercial jetliner to fruition—especially when it looks more like something out of The X-Files than a travel brochure. So, to streamline that journey, JetZero—the first commercial blended-wing body (BWB) aircraft—is teaming with Delta as an eventual buyer to troubleshoot operation and design issues from the ground up. “Our biggest challenge is, `How do you bring an aircraft to market as quickly as possible so that you can have the most impact for your customer?’” says CEO Tom O’Leary, who cofounded JetZero with CTO Mark Page. “We don’t want to zig-zag our way to entry into service. We want to take the cleanest, most direct shot. Because, ultimately, saving time means you’re saving money.” Not to mention, the environment. The aircraft’s lighter weight and superior aerodynamics aim to deliver the same speed and range as existing midbody jetliners on half the fuel, potentially saving airlines billions of dollars and bringing them closer to an industry goal of zero-carbon flight by 2050. In contrast to the conventional tube and wing design, the tailless BWB combines the wing structure and passenger area, making it look a bit like a flying manta ray. Its shape reduces drag and increases lift, so the plane can cruise at higher altitudes in thinner air on less fuel. ‘We want to think about a world in 2050’ JetZero is targeting the underserved midbody, 250-seat class of carriers, which it plans to manufacture domestically. Since its 2021 founding, the Southern California startup has raised $300 million from investors including NASA, Airbus, Alaska Air, and EasyJet, plus a $235 million award from the U.S. Air Force for a demonstrator plane in 2027. The partnership with Delta gives JetZero access to its Sustainable Skies Lab, an R&D and testing accelerator for more sustainable air travel, and Delta TechOps, which streamlines fleet maintenance management. There, experts help refine the economics, engineering, and workflow through the operations and passenger experience lens, such as airport and gating constraints, loading and unloading, cabin configuration, and interior design. [Rendering: JetZero] “It’s really expensive and challenging to bring a new aircraft to market,” says Delta CSO Amelia DeLuca. “What we can do is, from the ground up, say, `This is what you need to be the best-in-class from a customer experience, to work for our employees, to maintain this aircraft when it flies. We look at how we would deploy it, and the specs and seat count we would need to put this into market.” Adds O’Leary: “It’s figuring out what’s going to work or not as quickly as possible. We don’t see any other way to do that other than have a deep interaction with the customers. Delta knows its products better than the manufacturers because they’re operating them days, weeks, months, years, decades; they’re the real experts on all the things we need to get the plane to a point where you fundamentally de-risk it.” JetZero and Delta have been collaborating since the startup’s inception in 2021 but opted to publicize their partnership in the wake of Delta’s March 3 Centennial and its message for greater sustainability and customer service during the next hundred years. Jet Zero’s fuel-efficiency also enables greater potential range, opening Delta to more destinations. “We want to think about a world in 2050 where we are flying more sustainably, more efficiently, but also opening up new markets and points of connection,” says DeLuca. Engineering catnip A working commercial BWB would realize a long-held aviation dream that began decades ago but never progressed past prototypes—many involving future JetZero engineers. Page, a chief engineer with NASA’s BWB program in the `90s, is considered one of the fathers of BWBs alongside Robert Liebeck, who developed the first prototype for NASA, and Blaine Rawdon, both JetZero technical advisors. “Delta’s made up of so many aerospace engineers who learned about Mark Page and BWB technology when they went through school,” says DeLuca. “So as soon as you say that we’re talking to Jet Zero—you know, with Mark Page with BWB—they’re like, `Oh my gosh, I’ve always wanted to make this thing fly.’” View the full article

Banosian will work with Victor Ciardelli, who remains as the president and CEO of the Chicago-based parent, Rate Cos., overseeing 15 businesses. View the full article

If your Mac's close to running out of space, don't ignore the problem. These machines can run into issues when their storage is 100% full: Updates may struggle to install; the machine may slow down; apps might not work well; and you may notice that some stop backing up their data to the cloud, too. To avoid all of these issues, free up space. It's not as daunting as it seems. Use built-in tools to free up space on your Mac Credit: Pranay Parab Apple gives you plenty of easy tools to start clearing unwanted files from your computer. To get started, you should identify where the problem lies. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your Mac's screen and go to System Settings > General > Storage. Wait until all the loading signs disappear, and you'll see why your Mac is running out of space. The Recommendations section offers an easy way to start the cleanup process. Here, you can quickly offload unused apps, delete local copies of files stored in iCloud, automatically delete old files from Trash with a click, among other useful functions. Once you've followed these steps, you should have some breathing room, but you can take it even further by clicking the i buttons next to each item in the list below the Recommendations section. For instance, you can click the i button next to Applications to see a full list of installed apps sorted by size, and quickly delete apps you don't use. Once you're through with this, you should've reclaimed a lot of space. Use DaisyDisk to clean up your Mac Credit: Pranay Parab Apple's built-in method is usually quite good at getting you started, but if you want to get every last unwanted bit of data out of your Mac, consider using the excellent DaisyDisk ($10). This app has been around for well over a decade and has earned itself a reputation for making it easy to free up space. Once you open the app, you can run a scan to see which apps are taking up storage space. Once that's done, you can easily browse through various folders and drop things in the collector area, which is like a shopping cart for things you want to delete. DaisyDisk lists all of your folders by size, and finds files that the built-in tool misses. In my case, I discovered 80GB of data in WhatsApp—files shared in a large group that I'd muted long ago and forgotten all about. Once all files are collected, you can click the Delete button to erase them quickly. Try Hyperspace to clear out the stragglers Credit: Pranay Parab Hyperspace should be the last stop in your Mac cleanup process. It clears up storage space without deleting any files. Here's how it works. Apple Filesystem (APFS) has a neat space-saving feature that lets multiple files share a single copy of data. For instance, if you duplicate a 1GB file on macOS, you'll notice that a copy is created instantly. Try to copy the same file to an external drive and no matter how fast the drive is, it'll take a while to copy it over. This happens because APFS just creates a new file with fresh metadata and doesn't actually create a second copy of the data underneath. This saves you a lot of space. Hyperspace uses this APFS feature to locate identical files and converts them into clones of each other. This means that you will continue to see the same number of files in the same original locations, but the app will use the APFS feature to free up space. The explanation is slightly complex, but this app does seem to work. Hyperspace is a free download, and you can also scan your folders without paying. If these scans show the app can save you a significant amount of space, you can then pay to clear those files. The app costs $10 per month, $20 per year, or a one-time purchase of $50. View the full article