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The list of inconsistencies goes on and on. Nobody should have designed such an absurdityView the full article

Since the days of Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer, you've always have a choice when it comes to the program you use to access the internet—but we now have a whole new breed of software to consider: The AI browser. These browsers place AI models front and center, even more so than integrations like Gemini in Chrome or Copilot in Edge. These browsers give you AI-powered search, AI-powered answers to just about any question you can come up with, and even agentic AI control—so the browser can actually do some browsing and complete simple tasks for you. A future where we never have to manually fill out another web form or compare prices on sixteen different flights is nearer than you think. Or is it? To gauge the current state of the AI browsers available today, I gave four of them a test: Perplexity Comet, Opera Neon, ChatGPT Atlas, and Dai (from the makers of the Arc browser). It's early days for all of these programs, but here's what you can currently do with them, and how they compare to one another. The pros and cons of AI browsingBefore we get to the details of specific browsers, it's worth mentioning some of the pros and cons involved. The main pro, at least in theory, is more useful AI assistance: Some types of web searches can be ably handled by an AI bot (if you watch out for inaccuracies), and there are plenty of tedious, time-consuming browsing tasks that could be offloaded to an AI agent. For example, you could pick something you want to make for dinner and have your AI browser order all the groceries for you—a lot of clicks saved. Or perhaps you could get your AI browser to bring up all the job listings you were looking at last week, sorted by their relevance, or have it compare the best gaming keyboards available on Amazon. Comet is one of the AI browsers now available. Credit: Lifehacker In theory at least, you can offload quite a bit of work to your AI browser—but of course, giving your browser more control comes with security and privacy concerns. We've already seen demonstrations of how hackers can embed malicious code into websites to take control of the AI agent and potentially get at your data and your accounts. What's more, these browsers typically remember everything you've done, so you can come back to a task later, if need be. That's not too different to how standard browsers work, and it is possible to disable this tracking, but it's a potential issue with AI browsers—you're putting your trust in another company and another piece of software to respect the privacy of your browsing data and take good care of it. Those are the general considerations to bear in mind when looking at AI browsers. With that all said, here's what I found when I dug a bit deeper into the options currently available to try out. Perplexity CometPerplexity Comet is available for Windows and macOS Clean and polished look AI agent capable of the basics Something you can say for sure about Comet is that it's cheaper than it used to be: Previously, you had to be subscribed to Perplexity Max for $200 per month to even try it. Now, anyone can—you don't even need a Perplexity account—but AI usage limits apply if you're not a subscriber. A couple of interesting features stand out immediately—the article summary feature and the voice mode feature, both available on the toolbar. They work well, for those times when reading full articles and typing on a keyboard seems like too much effort, while features like AI search and writing assistance are only a click away. Comet summarizes content with a couple of clicks. Credit: Lifehacker The Perplexity Assistant chatbot is always available from the sidebar or the new tab page, ready to help. I successfully got it to aid me in replying to a thread in Gmail—it even clicked the reply button for me. I also used the AI agent to create a Google Keep note with three motivational quotes inside. I am capable of achieving great things, apparently. When it comes to the agentic AI, Comet tells you the steps it's taking in the Assistant window as it works on your task. It can occasionally get tripped up by even the simplest of web interfaces, but seems to do well at understanding how to fix issues it encounters and assessing what's actually on screen. Opera NeonOpera Neon is available for Windows and macOS Wide range of AI capabilities No free tier for the AI features Unlike the other browsers on this list, Opera Neon isn't yet open to the public—though you can sign up for early access. When you do get in, you'll need to pay $20 a month for the advanced AI features, with models supplied by OpenAI and Google (Opera says it switches between them as and when needed). Opera obviously knows what it's doing when making browsers, and the usual Opera innovations are here, such as sidebar integrations for your chat apps. When it comes to the AI aspects, there's all sorts of functionality to experiment with, from article summarizing and image generation, to deep research and coding generation. Neon successfully picked out cheap flights. Credit: Lifehacker While the subscription fee might put you off, you get plenty for your money. There's agentic AI to take actions in the browser, though with mixed results: Opera Neon managed to create my inspirational Google Keep note when asked, but didn't properly save it. When I complained, it tried its best to make amends, but again couldn't work out what to do to actually save a note. The browser was better at assessing what was on particular pages, and was able to give me a summary of the cheapest flights between two destinations across the next month—all by itself. I'd say the AI here still needs some work (perhaps why this remains a limited preview), but it scores highly on versatility and on actually being a functional browser. ChatGPT AtlasChatGPT Atlas is available for macOS Sticks to the browsing basics Advanced agentic AI interface OpenAI has now joined the AI browser party, such as it is, and ChatGPT Atlas takes a minimal approach to browser design: It's basically just the essentials in terms of on-screen furniture, with a few quick links to settings and an Ask ChatGPT button up in the corner that you can click on whenever you need a hand from AI. ChatGPT in Atlas can do just about everything it can do everywhere else, though I did like the way it picked out the Lifehacker stories "aligned to my interests" from the homepage—one benefit of giving the bot access to all your chatting history, amidst all the privacy drawbacks. As with the main ChatGPT app, you can use the browser for free, with higher usage limits if you decide to subscribe to a plan. Atlas does well at figuring out where to click and when. Credit: Lifehacker Where Atlas starts to diverge from the main ChatGPT is in the agentic AI capabilities: ChatGPT can actually jump in and take actions on your behalf. And on that score, it's the most advanced of the browsers I tried—it reliably picks out the right elements within sites, accurately follows your instructions, and animates its actions so you can see what's being done. You can also jump in and interrupt at any time. It still makes mistakes though—while it successfully created my motivational quotes note in Google Keep, it needed several goes at the formatting, and I suspect it would've been quicker for me to do it myself. DaiDia is available for macOS Polished AI chat interface Deep analysis works well Dia is a little bit different to the other browsers I've tried out here, in that it's very much built with AI at the forefront. In its original form, it didn't have many traditional browser features at all—though it has recently started adding in some elements from its Arc predecessor, including pinned tabs and favorites. The premise is you can use AI to "chat with your tabs"—summarize text, compare items, ask questions about what's on screen, generate fresh text where needed, and lots more besides. What you won't encounter (yet) is agentic AI, which means Dia isn't going to be able to jump into websites and take actions for you. Dia's AI chat integrates tightly with what you're looking at on the web. Credit: Lifehacker That said, it's particularly good for learning: You can quickly turn videos and essays into bullet points or flashcards, for example. I also like the way Dia can summarize threads and pull information from Gmail: Even if it's not able to actually click around for you, it can dig deep into websites and web apps and pull out what you need. You also get Dia Skills, prepackaged shortcuts for fact checking, picking out the right clothing to match your style, creating transcripts of YouTube videos, and finding something to watch on streaming services. It's a good early prototype of how AI can actually help make sense of the web at large. The AI browsing futureIn my testing, these browsers all performed well in different ways: Comet at integrating AI into the interface, Neon in its broad feature set, Atlas in the strength of its agent mode, and Dia in its deep understanding of sites and their data. This is undoubtedly the direction all browsers are headed in the future, to a greater or lesser extent. How will this change how you interact with the internet? Personally, I would never let AI write anything for me—not even notes or emails—and I'm reluctant to hand over jobs like booking hotel rooms or creating and formatting documents to AI either. I'm wary of AI making the wrong choices and making serious mistakes, which is why I didn't put these tools through anything too demanding here (and that's before we get into the sticky privacy issues). AI can be useful (though not infallible) in terms of searching and summarizing, and that's where I think these browsers show the most promise—by taking the tasks AI is already good at, and integrating them more tightly with web-based workflows. Fully automated AI browsing may arrive one day, but based on what these browsers can do right now, it's still a long way off. View the full article

Here’s a guide to the most notable features of the top AI chat apps. ChatGPT: Your Conversationalist 🗣️ iOS & Android Advanced Voice Mode is the ChatGPT app’s most distinctive feature. Ask it to play a tough interviewer or a skeptical client as you prepare for a difficult conversation. Or have it ask questions to help you make a decision. Most of what you can do on your laptop you can do in the ChatGPT mobile app. Create an image. Ask for an infographic, a cartoon, or a photo illustration. See examples of seven ways I use these images. Ask for deep research. Get a detailed analysis with dozens of sources. See examples of nine ways I use this research. Study & learn. This new mode helps you strengthen your skills & knowledge. Analyze files or images. Turn a handwritten note into digital text, or make sense of any document, diagram, or manual. When I can’t figure out how to assemble or operate something, this offers faster help than a Google search. Use integrated apps. You can now access Canva, Figma, Spotify, Expedia, and other tools inside ChatGPT. Try prompting for a graphic within ChatGPT while waiting in line with your phone, then edit it later in Canva.👇 Pulse is ChatGPT’s best new pro mobile feature. It creates customized notes for me every morning. The AI assistant synthesizes info from my chat history, my Google Calendar, and what I’ve expressed an interest in learning. This morning’s Pulse note, for example, included tactics for using new Substack features, Penguin stories for sharing with my daughter, and breakfast ideas I had asked about for my rice cooker and bread machine. These aren’t news updates—they’re personalized resources prepared by an AI assistant. I don’t use or recommend relying on AI assistants for news searches, especially given AI’s struggles with news accuracy. Caveat: Pulse isn’t yet available for free accounts. Gemini: Your Creative Partner 🧑‍🎨 iOS & Android The Gemini app has five special features, in addition to its core chat capability. “Nano Banana” image generation model. Edit photos, blend multiple images, or design a poster. Worth trying: ask it to turn any image from your phone into a record album, book cover, or billboard poster. Deep Research. Generate exhaustive reports with citations whenever you need thorough background on an issue. Try this prompt: “Create a step‑by‑step plan to adopt [tool/technology] in a team of [size]. Include costs, training time, change‑management risks, and how to measure success. Cite case studies.” See a few of my tips for strengthening deep research queries. Veo 3 video generation. Paid accounts only. Create 8-second clips with Veo 3.1, Google’s new video model. Experiment: create a slick moving background for a slide. Canvas. Make an infographic, a quiz, or a simple game. Quick test: make a self-grading quiz to challenge yourself on something you’re learning. Guided Learning. Put Gemini in teacher mode to help you gradually strengthen your understanding of anything. Try this: ask it to walk you through the history of any concept or tech you’re curious about. When I choose Gemini: I use it as an alternative to ChatGPT and Claude when I want particular kinds of image edits and creative image designs. I also use it to experiment with generating short video clips, for guided learning, and for research reports. Claude: Your Mobile Studio 👷 iOS & Android Claude’s app has a new voice mode I like. It waits for me to tap the screen to signal I’m done, so it rarely cuts me off when I pause to think—unlike ChatGPT, which often assumes I’ve finished talking. You can choose from five voices. Create on the Go Create Artifacts—interactive little applications—from your phone. You can make games, learning resources, document templates, or other useful mini programs. You can also now use Claude Code from your phone. What I most value about Claude is its excellent Projects feature, which lets me organize relevant documents and instructions for each distinct area of work. I use other tools (like ChatGPT, Gemini) for images and video, which Claude doesn’t do, but I rely on Claude for assistance with alt-text, SEO text, project planning, and other tasks where understanding my context is crucial. Copilot: A Flexible Assistant 🧑‍💼 iOS & Android Microsoft’s Copilot app is a good free option that’s similar to ChatGPT and based on the same OpenAI models. One distinction is a new “real talk” mode that will sometimes challenge you. This helps address the sycophancy problem of AI chatbots blindly affirming your statements. Other useful features: Copilot can generate a podcast episode on any subject (like this one about Wonder Tools). It can also generate an image, run a deep research report, quiz you on a subject of your choice, and conduct a voice chat. Like ChatGPT, it can even help you understand something in your environment. Turn on your camera or load something onto your screen, then ask Copilot questions about something you’re looking at. Ask it about fine print in a document, a confusing gadget, a troubled plant🌾, or anything else. Perplexity: The Quick Researcher 🧑‍🔬 iOS & Android I rely on Perplexity for help understanding complex concepts. The mobile app’s voice mode is especially useful for quick searching and getting a summarized response instead of a list of links. For niche searches, adjust Perplexity’s settings to focus only on finance info, academic sources, or social sites for Reddit results. You can also use Perplexity to search your Outlook email or your Gmail and Google Calendar📆 for messages on a particular subject. Tip: Turn on incognito mode in settings anytime you’re searching on a sensitive or private subject. And as with all AI tools, avoid giving a thumbs up or down to a query because rating it signals that you’re okay with it being read and analyzed. Read more about why I find Perplexity so useful 🎯 Free & Low-Cost AI App Alternatives Locally AI 📍 iOS | Free Benefits: Free. No log-in required. Fully private. No data tracking. Easy to use. Getting started. Pick a compact open-source large language model suited for your phone’s processing power. I considered options from Qwen, Meta, and Google. Qwen 3 supports 100 languages and Meta’s Llama excels at summarization. I picked Gemma 3 QAT from Google. If you’re a tech novice or don’t care about those details, just pick Gemma as your model and you’ll be fine. Brief wait to get started. I had to keep the app open for about two minutes to download the language model to my phone. You only have to do that once. How I used it: I recently asked for a custom workout, given my constraints (no equipment, limited time) and personal fitness priorities. The result was helpful and similar to what I got from ChatGPT. Nice features Customize or personalize your responses by inputting a prompt that will guide the app across all the individual chats. You can explain your personal or professional circumstances, for instance, or your preferences for concise or detailed answers, or any other needs you have for how the AI responds to you. Set up Siri shortcut. You can activate Siri and say “Hey Locally AI . . .” to run a local AI search privately with your voice. Well-reviewed. People seem to like it: 4.8/5 average rating with 208 reviews. Vision tools. You can use this private AI app for text recognition, object recognition, or image comprehension. That’s useful if you want to use your phone privately to understand secure documents or convert personal handwritten notes into text. To get that benefit, within the app download the Qwen 2 VL model recommended for iPhone 15 or newer phones. Caveats Not the top models. ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini perform better for image analysis than the small mobile models this app enables. Slow start. Expect to wait several minutes each time you download a new model, including the first time you use the app. No plug-ins. I couldn’t connect this app to other services. Private LLM | iOS and Mac | $5 Nice features One purchase for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Family sharing means you can share the app with five family members for free. Choose from 60+ models. Lots of models available in this app aren’t options in Locally AI. That may not matter, unless you’re eager to use a very specific model. Change AI models’ creativity level. Unlike Locally AI, this app allows you to adjust the “temperature” setting of your AI models to control how predictable or creative responses are. A model set to a low temperature sticks to more consistent, predictable answers, while one set to a higher temperature will generate more varied, imaginative replies. Caveats Single chat stream. You can’t create multiple distinct chats in this app. Most other AI tools, including the Locally AI app, let you separate conversations into distinct threads for different subjects. No help picking models. Figuring out which one to try is tricky with this app. You can click a tiny information button that links to a separate Hugging Face web page about the model, but there’s no easy-to-understand summary for novices. Locally AI has helpful concise summaries showing each model’s strengths. PocketPal AI | iOS and Android | Free Nice features Fully Private. No conversations, prompts, or data leave your device. Create custom “pals.” Set up multiple AI assistants or “personalities,” with different settings and system prompts. Access models from Hugging Face. Choose from many small AI models. Caveats May not work well on all Android phones. Depending on your phone’s age, the app might feel slow. A lot of Play Store reviewers reported this problem. Mediocre ratings. 4.1 out of 5 with 1,200 reviews is OK, but not stellar. The user interface lacks polish. The design isn’t as elegant as what you’ll find on Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or other top-tier apps. But it’s free, and if the AI responses are useful, you may tolerate a lower-quality interface. View the full article

Artificial intelligence company Stability AI mostly prevailed against Getty Images Tuesday in a British court battle over intellectual property. Seattle-based Getty had accused Stability AI of infringing its copyright and trademark by scraping 12 million images from its website, without permission, to train its popular image generator, Stable Diffusion. The closely followed case at Britain’s High Court was among the first in a wave of lawsuits involving generative AI as movie studios, authors, and artists challenged tech companies’ use of their works to train AI chatbots. Tech companies have long argued that “fair use” or “fair dealing” legal doctrines in the United States and United Kingdom allow them to train their AI systems on large troves of writings or images. Tuesday’s ruling provides some clarity but still leaves big unanswered questions over copyright and AI, experts said. According to the judge’s written ruling, Getty narrowly won its argument that Stability had infringed its trademark, but lost the rest of its case. Both sides claimed victory. “This is a significant win for intellectual property owners,” Getty Images said in a statement. Shares of Getty dipped 3% before the opening bell in the U.S. Stability, based in London, said it was pleased with the ruling. “This final ruling ultimately resolves the copyright concerns that were the core issue,” Stability’s General Counsel Christian Dowell said. Getty had accused Stability of both primary and secondary copyright infringement. Legal experts said the first one involves the act of reproducing something without permission — similar to a dodgy factory churning out counterfeit Chanel handbags or pirated CDs — while the second involves importing those copies from another country. In this case, Getty said Stability’s use of its image library to train and develop Stable Diffusion’s AI model amounted to breach of primary copyright. Stability responded that the case doesn’t belong in the United Kingdom because the AI model’s training technically happened elsewhere, on computers run by U.S. tech giant Amazon. During the three-week trial in June, Getty dropped its primary copyright allegations, in a sign that it didn’t think they would succeed. But it still pursued the secondary infringement claims. Even if Stability’s AI training happened outside the U.K., Getty said offering the Stable Diffusion service to British users amounted to importing unlawful copies of its images into the country. Justice Joanna Smith rejected Getty’s claims, ruling that Stable Diffusion’s AI didn’t infringe copyright because it doesn’t “store or reproduce any Copyright Works (and has never done so).” Getty also sued for trademark infringement because its watermark appeared on some of the images generated by Stability’s chatbot. The judge sided with Getty but added that the case only partially succeeded, and that her findings are “both historic and extremely limited in scope.” “While I have found instances of trademark infringement, I have been unable to determine that these were widespread,” she said. Experts said Getty’s move to drop part of its copyright case means AI training is still in legal limbo. “The decision leaves the U.K. without a meaningful verdict on the lawfulness of an AI model’s process of learning from copyright materials,” said Iain Connor, an intellectual property partner at law firm Michelmores. Smith said there was “very real societal importance” in deciding how to strike a balance between the creative and tech industries. But she added that the court can only rule on the “diminished” case that remained and couldn’t consider “issues that have been abandoned.” A Getty spokeswoman declined to say whether there would be an appeal. Getty is also pursuing a copyright infringement lawsuit in the United States against Stability. It originally sued in 2023 but refiled the case in a San Francisco federal court in August. The Getty lawsuits are among a slew of cases that highlight how the generative AI boom is fueling a clash between tech companies and creative industries. AI companies are now fighting more than 50 copyright lawsuits — so many that a tech industry lobby group has called on President Donald The President for help stop the court fights, saying they threaten AI innovation. Among the cases, Anthropic agreed to pay $1.5 billion to settle a class-action lawsuit by authors while a federal judge dismissed a similar lawsuit from 13 authors against Meta Platforms. Warner Bros. has sued Midjourney for copyright infringement, as have Disney and Universal in seperate lawsuits, alleging that its image generator creates copyrighted characters. —Kelvin Chan, AP business writer AP Technology Writer Matt O’Brien contributed to this report. View the full article

Shares in two closely watched AI-adjacent companies, Nvidia Corporation and Palantir Technologies, are falling this morning. Currently, Nvidia shares are down more than 2.2% and Palantir shares are down more than 6%. The share price drops of two of the most prominent AI companies come as investors seem increasingly worried that the AI boom is starting to look more like an AI bubble, reminiscent of the dotcom bubble of the late ’90s and early 2000s. In part due to these concerns, an increasing number of investors have recently begun betting against the stocks of companies benefitting from the artificial intelligence boom—including Michael Burry, the investor who became famous for betting against the housing market before the 2008 financial crash. Here’s what you need to know. “Big Short” investor bets against Nvidia and Palantir In the years leading up to the 2008 housing market crash, investor Michael Burry made a killing by shorting housing-related stocks after seeing signs of the then-upcoming housing market crash that few others noticed. In 2015, Burry was immortalized in The Big Short, the Oscar-winning film about the 2008 financial crash, in which he was played by Christian Bale. Burry has since gained a substantial following among some investors, and so his investment moves often gain widespread attention. Recently, his move has been to bet against the stock prices of Nvidia (Nasdaq: NVDA) and Palantir (Nasdaq: PLTR). As noted by Bloomberg, Bury’s Scion Asset Management recently revealed in a 13F regulatory filing that it bought put options on NVDA and PLTR. The news of Scion’s puts followed a Halloween post from Burry on X in which the hedge fund manager issued a cryptic post reading “Sometimes, we see bubbles. Sometimes, there is something to do about it. Sometimes, the only winning move is not to play,” along with an image of his Big Short character played by Bale. Burry’s puts seem to have struck a nerve with Palantir CEO Alex Karp, who on Tuesday told CNBC’s Squawk Box that the companies Burry is betting against “are the ones making all the money, which is super weird.” Karp added that “The idea that chips and ontology is what you want to short is batshit crazy.” Then again, plenty of people thought Burry was crazy for shorting housing stocks in the years ahead of the 2008 crash. Palantir’s Tuesday share slide comes after the company reported Q3 earnings yesterday, in which it saw revenue climb 63%. The software company has been among the highest-growth stocks of 2025. Fears of an AI bubble loom large Regardless of whether Burry’s puts against Nvidia and Palantir end up being the right move, his move seems to have spurred at least some investors to offload NVDA and PLTR shares, as of the time of this writing. It should also be noted that Burry is far from the only one who sees signs of an AI bubble. Many investors and industry experts have begun to question whether the industry is in a bubble—and what would happen if that bubble pops. For instance, an October Bank of America Global Research survey found that 54% of investors believe AI stocks are in a bubble, as Reuters recently reported. Even so, today’s share price drops in NVDA and PLTR are minuscule compared to their surging stock prices in recent years. Year-to-date, Nvidia has seen its stock price surge more than 50% and PLTR is up more than 150%. Over the past 12 months, NVDA has risen more than 48% and PLTR has risen more than 350%. View the full article

Bullish comments come amid increasing uncertainty over EV models’ impact on luxury-car maker’s remarkable profit growthView the full article

A new look is coming to the National Mortgage News homepage, writes Editor-in-Chief Heidi Patalano View the full article

A second food recall has been initiated after a California-based fruit supplier discovered that some of its yellow and white peaches might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause potentially deadly infections. Here’s the latest and what to know: What’s happened? On October 29, Moonlight Companies voluntarily recalled “California-grown conventional” yellow and white peaches due to a risk of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Some items were sold under the Kroger name, the company said in its announcement. Listeria was found in the packing facility. To date, no illnesses have been reported. However, the impacted fruit was sold at retail stores across the country. A day later, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the recall notice on its website. A second peach-related recall was later announced due to potential Listeria contamination. On October 30, Supreme Produce—whose supplier is Moonlight Companies—said it recalled one peach salsa product. To date, no illnesses have been reported. The FDA published this second recall notice on Monday. Which products are included in the recalls? Recalled peaches were sold at retail stores nationwide between September 16 and October 29, 2025. They were sold individually with PLU stickers or in multi-packs. Peaches with packaging or PLU stickers with the words “Organic” or “Washington” aren’t included in the recall. Recalled Moonlight Companies peaches include the following: Moonlight Yellow Peaches Moonlight White Peaches Moonlight White Peaches (“Peppermint Peach”) Kroger Yellow Peaches You can see a full list of lot codes, PLU sticker numbers, and packaging images on the FDA’s website. The following Supreme Produce peach salsa product has been recalled: Product: Peach Salsa Barcode UPC: 85006540364 Best by dates: 10/12/2025 to 10/29/2025 These products were packaged in 14-ounce clear, plastic grab-n-go containers and were sold in Kroger retail stores under the Supreme Produce brand. They were distributed in the following states: Arkansas Colorado Georgia Illinois Indiana Michigan Mississippi Oregon Tennessee Washington Discard remaining products Customers should not consume any of the above recalled products. While they’re no longer for sale, if you have any of the above products, discard them. If you have any questions about the recall, call Moonlight Companies at (855) 215 -5017. What is Listeria? Listeria infection is an illness caused by bacteria that can spread through contaminated food. According to the Mayo Clinic, healthy people rarely become seriously ill from Listeria infection. However, the disease can be fatal for unborn babies, newborns, and those with weakened immune systems. Pregnant women, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk for infection. View the full article

If you've joined a private Facebook group—counting on your membership and posts to be visible only to those approved to join—and receive a notification that said group is about to go public, you don't need to panic. While Meta is now allowing admins of previously private Facebook groups to change the status to public, it is also assuring users that past activity will remain private. Private Facebook groups can be made publicAccording to Meta's post announcing the update, the option to transition from private to public allows small groups to grow into larger communities that are more easily found, with content visible to anyone (even people who aren't on Facebook). Any admin can set their group privacy settings to public, which will trigger a three-day review period in which all admins have the opportunity to decline the conversion. If no one cancels the request, the group will go public. Groups can revert back to private at any time, at which point new members will again require admin approval. (These members will be able to see all content from before the conversion.) Your private posts are still protectedWhen a private group goes public, all existing posts, comments, and reactions will remain visible only to members, admins, and moderators who were already in the group but be hidden to new members and the general public. Member lists will also be hidden to everyone except admins and moderators. Any content added after the conversion will be visible to anyone. If a group you're in is converted from private to public, you'll get a notification about the change. You'll also see a notification the first time you post or comment in the newly public group reminding you that your activity is now visible. When you go to post, look for the globe icon, which indicates that your content is public. 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. The Google TV Streamer 4K is Google's latest iteration of the smart TV stick. No longer is it hiding behind your TV, but now it takes center stage with a hub on your TV stand. Right now, you can get the Google TV Streamer 4K for $74.99 (originally $99.99), the lowest price it has been since its last summer, according to price tracking tools. Google TV Streamer 4K 32GB With Voice Search Remote (Porcelain) $74.99 at Amazon $99.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal Get Deal $74.99 at Amazon $99.99 Save $25.00 Google first released the Chromecast, an HDMI device that let you cast your phone to your TV. Then it released the Chromecast with Google TV in 2022, which incorporated the Google OS into the Chromecast. Now, Google seems to want to go a new route after discontinuing the Chromecast altogether—this new device is powered by Gemini (Google's AI), has more storage, and better performance for twice the price. The Google TV Streamer 4K comes with 32GB of storage space, 4GB of memory, and the ability to run HDR streams at up to 4K@60 FPS. It also has support for Dolby Vision and Atmos, and it has ports for things like Ethernet. The Google OS is identical to older models, but performance is much better, according to CNET's review. While you already get more storage than previous models, you can also expand it with the USB-C port. This is my personal favorite streaming stick and has the best OS of all the ones I've tried. I have it on my TV at home and recommend it to anyone looking for the best TV experience, especially at its lowest price. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam, White with Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen), White — $59.99 (List Price $99.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $69.99 (List Price $69.99) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $27.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 with Ring Chime Pro — $149.99 (List Price $259.99) Introducing Amazon Fire TV 55" Omni Mini-LED Series, QLED 4K UHD smart TV, Dolby Vision IQ, 144hz gaming mode, Ambient Experience, hands-free with Alexa, 2024 release — $699.99 (List Price $819.99) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p 2-Camera Kit With Sync Module Core — $129.99 (List Price $129.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Japanese video-game maker Nintendo’s net profit jumped 85% in April-September from the year before, as its sales more than doubled following the launch of its hit Switch 2 console in June, the company said Tuesday. Nintendo, based in Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto, said its profit for the half-year totaled 198.9 billion yen, or $1.3 billion, up from 108.6 billion yen the year before. Sales for the first half of this fiscal year rose to nearly 1.1 trillion yen ($7.1 billion) from 523 billion yen in the same period of 2024. Nintendo, which makes Super Mario and Pokemon games, did not provide a break down of quarterly data. Nintendo’s video game sales were solid, although with no new movies revenue from its content business slowed. Nintendo raised its profit forecast for the full fiscal year through March 2026 to 350 billion yen ($2.3 billion). Previously, it had expected a 300 billion yen ($1.9 billion) profit. It also raised its forecast for Switch 2 machine sales to 19 million units from the earlier 15 million. Nintendo says it had sold more than 10 million Switch 2s by the end of September. Popular Switch 2 game software include “Mario Kart World” and “Donkey Kong Bananza.” Sales of the older Nintendo Switch have fallen, but Switch game sales are still going strong because they can be played on Switch 2 machines. Analysts expect Nintendo’s earnings to stay strong with the upcoming holiday season, when it tends to do well. They also expect key new games in the Pokemon and Kirby franchises. Nintendo stocks, which have been rising relatively steadily over the past year, fell 0.8% on Tuesday. Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama —Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer View the full article

As the marketing landscape undergoes a seismic shift, small business owners face new challenges—and opportunities—largely driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. HubSpot, a leader in marketing software, has announced its agreement to acquire XFunnel, a platform designed to help businesses optimize their visibility in the era of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). The timing couldn’t be more critical. As consumers increasingly rely on AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude for information, businesses must adapt their marketing strategies to ensure they appear where their customers are searching. HubSpot reports that leads generated from AI-driven strategies convert three times better than those from traditional search methods, highlighting the necessity for small businesses to reconsider their digital strategies. One of the core advancements in HubSpot’s recent updates is the introduction of Loop Marketing, a modern framework designed to attract, engage, and convert customers in a manner that aligns with today’s digital behavior. Angela DeFranco, GM and VP of Product for HubSpot’s Marketing Hub, underscores the intent behind the acquisition: “As AI changes how people find and engage with businesses, we want to make that shift easier to navigate for our customers.” With XFunnel’s integration into HubSpot’s marketing suite, small business owners can expect insights and strategies aimed at enhancing their online presence across various AI platforms. XFunnel helps marketing teams monitor their business’s digital performance across AI-generated answers, providing data-driven recommendations for improving visibility. This level of understanding can empower small businesses to target and connect with their audiences more effectively. The capabilities offered by XFunnel can be particularly beneficial for small business owners who often juggle various responsibilities and may lack the resources of larger enterprises. The platform’s design focuses on experimentation and rapid testing, enabling users to identify effective strategies efficiently. “We’ve admired HubSpot for their leadership in marketing and for their consistent innovation with AI across the platform,” said Neri Bluman, Co-Founder of XFunnel. The collaborative spirit between the two companies signals a shared vision for helping businesses adapt to ongoing changes in the marketing landscape. For small business owners keen on leveraging these new AI-enhanced tools, there are practical applications worth considering. Businesses can use insights from XFunnel to optimize their content, improve website visibility, and tailor their marketing messages to meet customer queries head-on. In an age where first impressions can be influenced by how businesses appear in search results, developing a data-informed strategy has never been more critical. However, potential challenges are tied to the integration of this new technology. For smaller businesses that may not have extensive marketing teams or budgets, the learning curve associated with implementing AI-driven tools could feel daunting. Additionally, the rapidly evolving nature of AI and AEO means that staying current with best practices may require an ongoing investment in training and development. Nevertheless, the benefits of adopting these tools are clear. By positioning themselves in the AI ecosystem through AEO strategies, small businesses stand to gain a competitive edge. More than just improving visibility, these tools offer the chance to refine customer relationships and enhance overall marketing effectiveness. With the acquisition of XFunnel, HubSpot aims to equip small business owners with the necessary tools and insights to thrive in this evolving landscape. In time, as the capabilities become fully integrated, small businesses will receive a vital resource to navigate changes in how customers discover products and services. As this trend develops, staying informed and adaptable will be crucial for small business owners looking to harness the power of AI in their marketing efforts. You can read more about this exciting acquisition and HubSpot’s ongoing innovations in marketing at the original post here. This article, "HubSpot Boosts Marketing with XFunnel Acquisition to Enhance AI Visibility" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

As the marketing landscape undergoes a seismic shift, small business owners face new challenges—and opportunities—largely driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. HubSpot, a leader in marketing software, has announced its agreement to acquire XFunnel, a platform designed to help businesses optimize their visibility in the era of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). The timing couldn’t be more critical. As consumers increasingly rely on AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude for information, businesses must adapt their marketing strategies to ensure they appear where their customers are searching. HubSpot reports that leads generated from AI-driven strategies convert three times better than those from traditional search methods, highlighting the necessity for small businesses to reconsider their digital strategies. One of the core advancements in HubSpot’s recent updates is the introduction of Loop Marketing, a modern framework designed to attract, engage, and convert customers in a manner that aligns with today’s digital behavior. Angela DeFranco, GM and VP of Product for HubSpot’s Marketing Hub, underscores the intent behind the acquisition: “As AI changes how people find and engage with businesses, we want to make that shift easier to navigate for our customers.” With XFunnel’s integration into HubSpot’s marketing suite, small business owners can expect insights and strategies aimed at enhancing their online presence across various AI platforms. XFunnel helps marketing teams monitor their business’s digital performance across AI-generated answers, providing data-driven recommendations for improving visibility. This level of understanding can empower small businesses to target and connect with their audiences more effectively. The capabilities offered by XFunnel can be particularly beneficial for small business owners who often juggle various responsibilities and may lack the resources of larger enterprises. The platform’s design focuses on experimentation and rapid testing, enabling users to identify effective strategies efficiently. “We’ve admired HubSpot for their leadership in marketing and for their consistent innovation with AI across the platform,” said Neri Bluman, Co-Founder of XFunnel. The collaborative spirit between the two companies signals a shared vision for helping businesses adapt to ongoing changes in the marketing landscape. For small business owners keen on leveraging these new AI-enhanced tools, there are practical applications worth considering. Businesses can use insights from XFunnel to optimize their content, improve website visibility, and tailor their marketing messages to meet customer queries head-on. In an age where first impressions can be influenced by how businesses appear in search results, developing a data-informed strategy has never been more critical. However, potential challenges are tied to the integration of this new technology. For smaller businesses that may not have extensive marketing teams or budgets, the learning curve associated with implementing AI-driven tools could feel daunting. Additionally, the rapidly evolving nature of AI and AEO means that staying current with best practices may require an ongoing investment in training and development. Nevertheless, the benefits of adopting these tools are clear. By positioning themselves in the AI ecosystem through AEO strategies, small businesses stand to gain a competitive edge. More than just improving visibility, these tools offer the chance to refine customer relationships and enhance overall marketing effectiveness. With the acquisition of XFunnel, HubSpot aims to equip small business owners with the necessary tools and insights to thrive in this evolving landscape. In time, as the capabilities become fully integrated, small businesses will receive a vital resource to navigate changes in how customers discover products and services. As this trend develops, staying informed and adaptable will be crucial for small business owners looking to harness the power of AI in their marketing efforts. You can read more about this exciting acquisition and HubSpot’s ongoing innovations in marketing at the original post here. This article, "HubSpot Boosts Marketing with XFunnel Acquisition to Enhance AI Visibility" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The cloning industry is contracting—ironically, perhaps. On Tuesday, Colossal Biosciences announced that it has acquired ViaGen Pets and Equine, an animal cloning firm, marking Colossal’s first acquisition since it launched in 2021. Texas-based Colossal Biosciences is best known for its controversial “de-extinction” endeavors, which involve efforts to recover species that have died out. Earlier this year, the company claimed to have “brought back” dire wolves, an assertion that was disputed by some experts, as the animals were created by modifying the DNA of existing gray wolves. The company has also sparked debates about the ethics of bringing species back from extinction, or if what it’s doing is in fact “de-extinction” at all. Either way, Colossal has attracted significant interest from high-powered investors, recently raising $120 million to try and resurrect the dodo. Its acquisition of ViaGen adds even more genetic firepower to its arsenal. “Colossal is thrilled to welcome ViaGen, the world’s leading cloning company, into our portfolio,” said Ben Lamm, founder and CEO of Colossal, in a statement provided to Fast Company. “No other company comes close to what ViaGen has achieved. Their unmatched expertise and cloning technology stack have become the world’s standard and their application of these critical and proprietary technologies to endangered species conservation makes them an invaluable partner in advancing our global de-extinction and species preservation mission.” Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Access to breakthrough technologies ViaGen, a Texas-based company founded in 2002, will continue to operate under its existing leadership and expand its endangered species cloning activity. Perhaps the most interesting element at play is ViaGen’s exclusive licensing and access to the breakthrough technologies developed by the Roslin Institute of Edinburgh—such as those that cloned Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal. “Partnering with Colossal Biosciences presents an extraordinary opportunity to apply our advanced cryopreservation and cloning techniques to the ambitious goals of de-extinction and species restoration,” said Dr. Shawn Walker, Ph.D., ViaGen’s chief science officer and known cloning expert, in a statement. Colossal has also attracted a stable of celebrity investors. Retired NFL star Tom Brady, for instance, worked with the company to clone his family’s dog, and said in a statement that he is “excited how Colossal and ViaGen’s tech together can help both families losing their beloved pets while helping to save endangered species.” The potential to save endangered species is something that has others excited, too. Colossal shared a statement from filmmaker Peter Jackson, who said, “These two companies together give humanity a real shot at saving the planet’s biodiversity.” View the full article

Whether you're hosting a party or just cleaning the house, sometimes it's nice to have audio in multiple rooms. You could do that by running wires through your house, or by purchasing a multi-room audio system, but if you have a Mac you don't have to do any of that. There's a feature that makes it possible to send your Mac's audio to multiple speakers, including Bluetooth ones. The feature is a little obscure, though—you won't find it in System Settings, or anywhere obvious. No, to send audio to multiple devices on your Mac you need to open an application called Audio MIDI Setup, which you can find using Spotlight or by browsing to Applications > Utilities in Finder. Credit: Justin Pot Open the application and click the + button in the bottom-left corner, then click Create Multi-Output Device. You will see a list of all audio devices, including the built-in speakers, any wired audio outputs that are connected, any Airplay-compatible devices on your network, and any Bluetooth devices that support audio. Credit: Justin Pot Check as many of these as you like. You can give a name to your combined audio device, if you like, by clicking and holding the current name in the left-hand sidebar. Then you can switch to your new combined audio device by clicking the audio icon in your menu bar and selecting it. I recommend putting on some music and testing things out, adding or removing devices. I had the best results by checking one device connected to my Mac using a wired and another that is connected by Bluetooth. Multiple Bluetooth devices tended to get out of sync quickly, though you can alleviate the syncing issues by checking the Drift Correction box for your wireless devices. This isn't a perfect replacement for a proper multi-room audio system, but it works surprisingly well without the need to buy anything, run wires in your walls, or even purchase any software. Try it out the next time you feel like walking around your house listening to music. View the full article

Denny’s said Monday that it’s being acquired by a group of investors in a deal that will take the breakfast chain private. Denny’s board unanimously approved the deal, which values Denny’s at $620 million including debt. Denny’s will be purchased by private equity investment company TriArtisan Capital Advisors, investment firm Treville Capital and Yadav Enterprises, which is one of Denny’s largest franchisees. Under the agreement, Denny’s shareholders will receive $6.25 per share in cash for each share of Denny’s common stock they own, or a total of $322 million. That represents a 52% premium to Denny’s closing stock price Monday. Denny’s shares jumped 47% in after-hours trading Monday. Denny’s was founded in 1953 in Lakewood, California, as Danny’s Donuts. The name was changed to Denny’s Coffee Shops in 1959 to avoid confusion with another chain. Denny’s began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1969. Like many casual chains, Denny’s saw its sales plummet during the COVID pandemic. Once the pandemic eased, it found itself dealing with changing customer dining patterns, including a heavier reliance on delivery. Denny’s has also struggled as newer chains like First Watch promoted healthier breakfast options. Last fall, Denny’s said it planned to close 150 of its lowest-performing locations. At the end of the second quarter, Denny’s had 1,558 restaurants worldwide, including 1,422 Denny’s restaurants and 74 Keke’s restaurants. Denny’s acquired the Keke’s brand in 2022. Denny’s CEO Kelli Valade said the company reached out to more than 40 potential buyers and received multiple offers. Valade said Denny’s board believed the deal announced Monday was in the best interest of shareholders and the best path forward for the company. TriArtisan Co-Founder and Managing Director Rhohit Manocha called Denny’s “an iconic piece of the American dream” with a strong franchise base and loyal customers. “We look forward to working with Kelli and the rest of the Denny’s team and franchisees to provide resources and support the Company’s long-term strategic growth plans,” Manocha said in a statement. If it’s accepted by Denny’s shareholders, the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. —Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Business Writer View the full article

Improved pitches from both large pharma groups expected to be revealed later on TuesdayView the full article

A new open AI platform from the nonprofit created by the late Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen aims to make satellite imagery and other data about the earth more available and useful. The Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Ai2) on Tuesday unveiled the OlmoEarth Platform, backed by a family of AI foundation models trained on roughly 10 terabytes of data derived from millions of observations of the planet, including satellite images, radar readings, and existing maps of features like forest cover. The OlmoEarth models can then be fine-tuned for specific purposes, like detecting changes in vegetation, with the help of a companion software tool called OlmoEarth Studio. Details on model performance are included in a new scientific paper. Ai2 has already been working with a variety of organizations harnessing the AI, including groups looking to better assess and respond to wildfire risk. The International Food Policy Research Institute is using the technology to more frequently update maps of crops grown in one region of Kenya. Amazon Conservation is using the AI system to quickly spot deforestation. And a project called Global Mangrove Watch is harnessing the technology to more comprehensively track mangrove populations and quickly detect threats to those critical coastline trees. Patrick Beukema, lead researcher on Ai2’s OlmoEarth team, says the project grew out of a realization that while AI can help put earth imagery and data to use by quickly analyzing both new and historic images, actually deploying the technology could be a challenge for many organizations, including government agencies and nonprofits doing important work. “I think there’s a recognition that this kind of technology can be very valuable, but it’s so difficult to use, so we haven’t seen widespread adoption of these kinds of models, as we’ve seen, for example, within natural language processing or with [large-language models],” he says. “And we haven’t really seen the transformative power of artificial intelligence within this domain.” State-of-the-artTo fill that gap, Ai2 created not only what Beukema calls state-of-the-art models, built using vision transformer technology similar to the large-language models that power tools like ChatGPT and Claude, but a set of companion tools making them practical to use. Those include OlmoEarth Studio, which simplifies the process of training the models for specific tasks by uploading human-labelled sample data showing relevant features like lands growing specific crops, areas of mangroves, or bits of forest vulnerable to wildfire. Once OlmoEarth models are fine-tuned, they can be used to analyze areas of the earth at a particular moment in time, selected as easily as finding a neighborhood on Google Maps and scheduling an event on a calendar app. “They can just tell the system, ‘I want mangroves, I want them in Indonesia over the last six months,’ or ‘I want a global inference over the last four years,’” Beukema says. “The idea is to build in that flexibility so that users can choose whatever they need.” Then, users can publish or privately share maps illustrating their findings, which can be viewed in an OlmoEarth Viewer app that can support interactive maps with options to select places and time ranges. The Studio and Viewer tools can be used without the need to write any code, though Ai2 also released a suite of automation tools and APIs for easy programming of its technology. Providing the toolsThe organization also released documentation and examples on its GitHub page for the project, along with existing fine-tuned models that can immediately be put to use or even run offline on an organization’s own computers. And OlmoEarth follows other recent software releases from Ai2, including a package of science-focused AI tools called Asta released in August, and a set of language models known as OLMo, for open language models. Overall, Beukema says, the goal with OlmoEarth is to give organizations free technology that compares favorably to existing commercial and academic AI projects, letting them efficiently analyze and visualize planetary data they often already deeply understand, even when they don’t have the resources to build their own AI models from scratch. “These people are often experts, so they know exactly what they’re looking for,” he says. “They just don’t necessarily have, or want to build, these complicated foundation models that are expensive to train, expensive to inference, expensive to really work with.” Global Mangrove Watch—which tracks those coastal trees that are environmentally important as fish habitats, carbon stores, and as barriers to erosion, storm surge, and even tsunamis—is already working to improve its mapping and analysis processes with OlmoEarth. An existing machine learning and mapping system could already track mangroves with relatively high accuracy, but organizing training data and verifying the output still requires a lot of manual labor, says Lammert Hilarides, senior technical officer at Wetlands International, one of the organizations behind Global Mangrove Watch. A plan to scale upHilarides says OlmoEarth should allow the organizations to spend more time on other tasks, including working with governments and organizations around the world that are working to preserve mangroves and protect them from often-illegal deforestation. Critically, it will allow the project to update mangrove loss maps more quickly and let them cover a greater extent of the planet, catching disturbances to mangroves faster and more comprehensively. “We really hope that as of next year, we can scale up our work from covering not just half the world’s mangroves but all of the world’s mangroves,” he says. Ai2 plans to make OlmoEarth accessible to a wide range of organizations, with most features free for anyone to use, though a few features like fine-tuning elements will generally require groups to coordinate with Ai2 to make sure the product isn’t used for harmful purposes. Beukema says the nonprofit institute encourages organizations that think the technology could be useful to be in contact. “If you think this tech is going to help you accelerate your mission, please reach out,” he says. “We really want to help you.” 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. The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds take a sharp turn from the brand’s usual noise-canceling dominance. Instead of sealing you off from the world, they sit outside your ears, letting in ambient sound while still delivering rich, detailed audio. Priced at $199 (down from its original $299), this is their lowest price yet (according to price trackers), and they cater to people who prefer awareness over isolation. Think cyclists, runners, or anyone who doesn’t want to miss the honk of a car while listening to music. Bose Ultra Open Earbuds $199.00 at Amazon $299.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $199.00 at Amazon $299.00 Save $100.00 The fit takes a minute to figure out. The silicone band adds just enough tension to keep them in place, but how you clip them changes the sound more than you’d expect. Too high and it gets tinny; too low and you lose stereo balance. Once you find the alignment, though, they stay put through walks or light workouts and handle sweat or drizzle without a fuss, thanks to their IPX4 rating. Sound-wise, Bose mostly nails what’s hard to get right in open audio: clarity. The Ultra Opens avoid the hollow sound that plagues similar models, keeping vocals crisp and highs bright. The low mids have a pleasing warmth, though the deep bass doesn’t hit with much punch. You’ll notice that most in EDM or hip-hop, where the kick feels restrained. Still, for casual listening, podcasts, and calls, the balanced tuning works. Also, they use Bluetooth 5.3 and support AAC, AptX Adaptive, and SBC codecs, which means Android users get slightly better audio quality than iPhone users. Volume holds steady even outdoors, and there’s minimal distortion at full blast—per this PCMag review, the earbuds sound their best around 70 percent volume, delivering a full, detailed mix while still keeping you aware of what’s happening around you. If you prefer a more low-end presence, the adjustable EQ in the Bose app lets you tweak the sound. Battery life holds up nicely, too, around 7.5 hours on a charge and about 27 hours with the case. That said, wireless charging isn’t built in, though there’s a separate case for that if you prefer it over the USB-C setup. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam, White with Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen), White — $59.99 (List Price $99.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $69.99 (List Price $69.99) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $27.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 with Ring Chime Pro — $149.99 (List Price $259.99) Introducing Amazon Fire TV 55" Omni Mini-LED Series, QLED 4K UHD smart TV, Dolby Vision IQ, 144hz gaming mode, Ambient Experience, hands-free with Alexa, 2024 release — $699.99 (List Price $819.99) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p 2-Camera Kit With Sync Module Core — $129.99 (List Price $129.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

The U.S. IPO market in 2025 has been relatively busy, with plenty of household names going public, including Klarna, eToro, and Chime. But as you can tell from that brief list, many of the most closely watched IPOs this year have been companies operating in the fintech space. In a change of pace, one company operating in the aerospace sector is expected to make its market debut today. Here’s what you need to know about Beta Technologies and its initial public offering: What is Beta Technologies? Beta Technologies is an aerospace company that specializes in electric aircraft, electric charging systems, and electric propulsion systems. The company was founded in 2017 by pilot and engineer Kyle Clark, who is Beta’s current CEO. It is based in South Burlington, Vermont. As far as aircraft go, the company has developed two electric vehicles. The first is a conventional fixed-wing take-off and landing (CTOL) electric aircraft. This aircraft uses a conventional runway to take off and land. The second is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) electric vehicle. This one uses rotating propellers to take off vertically. Both the CTOL and VTOL versions of the electric aircraft are known as the Alia. Beta says its Alia aircraft have now flown more than 83,000 nautical miles on trips across the United States. Last year, Beta Technologies was named as one of Fast Company’s most innovative companies operating in the transportation space. At the time, Fast Company highlighted Beta’s flight milestones as well as its deliveries of its aircraft to the U.S. Department of Defense, with which the company has contracts. In its Form S-1 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Beta Technologies highlighted the energy efficiency of its Alia CTOL vehicle. A flight into John F. Kennedy International Airport required just $7 in fuel costs. That represented an approximate 95% savings over combustion aircraft, the company says. As of the end of June, the company reported having 828 full-time employees. For the fiscal year that ended on December 31, 2024, Beta said it generated just over $15 million in revenue. For the six-month period ending on June 30, 2025, the company generated $15.5 million in revenue. When is Beta’s IPO? Beta Technologies announced the pricing of its shares on Monday. It plans to list its shares today (Tuesday, November 4) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). What is Beta’s stock ticker? Shares will trade under the stock ticker “BETA.” What is the IPO share price of Beta? The initial public offering price for Beta shares is $34 per share. That was above its marketed target range of $27 and $33 apiece. How many Beta shares are available in its IPO? Upon its IPO listing, Beta Technologies made roughly 30 million shares of its Class A common stock available, according to the company’s press release. How much will Beta Technologies raise in its IPO? Beta Technologies raised just over $1 billion in its IPO. How much is Beta Technologies worth? After its IPO, Beta Technologies has a potential valuation of $7.44 billion, according to Reuters. Beta is the latest aerospace startup to go public While the electric aerospace market is a relatively small one compared to other industries like technology or finance, a number of aerospace startups have gone public in the past few years, in some cases merging with special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs. Electric aircraft companies that have gone public in recent years include Joby Aviation and Vertical Aerospace in 2021, Surf Air Mobility in 2023, and Firefly Aerospace in 2025. View the full article

Dick Cheney, the hard-charging conservative who became one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in U.S. history and a leading advocate for the invasion of Iraq, has died at age 84. Cheney died Monday night due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, his family said in a statement. “For decades, Dick Cheney served our nation, including as White House Chief of Staff, Wyoming’s Congressman, Secretary of Defense, and Vice President of the United States,” the statement said. “Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing. We are grateful beyond measure for all Dick Cheney did for our country. And we are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man.” The quietly forceful Cheney served father and son presidents, leading the armed forces as defense chief during the Persian Gulf War under President George H.W. Bush before returning to public life as vice president under Bush’s son George W. Bush. Cheney was, in effect, the chief operating officer of the younger Bush’s presidency. He had a hand, often a commanding one, in implementing decisions most important to the president and some of surpassing interest to himself — all while living with decades of heart disease and, post-administration, a heart transplant. Cheney consistently defended the extraordinary tools of surveillance, detention and inquisition employed in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Years after leaving office, he became a target of President Donald The President, especially after his daughter Liz Cheney became the leading Republican critic and examiner of The President’s desperate attempts to stay in power after his election defeat and his actions in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol. “In our nation’s 246-year history, there has never been an individual who was a greater threat to our republic than Donald The President,” Cheney said in a television ad for his daughter. “He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him. He is a coward.” In a twist the Democrats of his era could never have imagined, Dick Cheney said last year he was voting for their candidate, Kamala Harris, for president against The President. A survivor of five heart attacks, Cheney long thought he was living on borrowed time and declared in 2013 he now awoke each morning “with a smile on my face, thankful for the gift of another day,” an odd image for a figure who always seemed to be manning the ramparts. His vice presidency defined by the age of terrorism, Cheney disclosed that he had had the wireless function of his defibrillator turned off years earlier out of fear terrorists would remotely send his heart a fatal shock. In his time in office, no longer was the vice presidency merely a ceremonial afterthought. Instead, Cheney made it a network of back channels from which to influence policy on Iraq, terrorism, presidential powers, energy and other cornerstones of a conservative agenda. Fixed with a seemingly permanent half-smile — detractors called it a smirk — Cheney joked about his outsize reputation as a stealthy manipulator. “Am I the evil genius in the corner that nobody ever sees come out of his hole?” he asked. “It’s a nice way to operate, actually.” The Iraq War A hard-liner on Iraq who was increasingly isolated as other hawks left government, Cheney was proved wrong on point after point in the Iraq War, without ever losing the conviction that he was essentially right. He alleged links between the 2001 attacks against the United States and prewar Iraq that didn’t exist. He said U.S. troops would be welcomed as liberators; they weren’t. He declared the Iraqi insurgency in its last throes in May 2005, back when 1,661 U.S. service members had been killed, not even half the toll by war’s end. For admirers, he kept the faith in a shaky time, resolute even as the nation turned against the war and the leaders waging it. But well into Bush’s second term, Cheney’s clout waned, checked by courts or shifting political realities. Courts ruled against efforts he championed to broaden presidential authority and accord special harsh treatment to suspected terrorists. His hawkish positions on Iran and North Korea were not fully embraced by Bush. Cheney operated much of the time from undisclosed locations in the months after the 2001 attacks, kept apart from Bush to ensure one or the other would survive any follow-up assault on the country’s leadership. With Bush out of town on that fateful day, Cheney was a steady presence in the White House, at least until Secret Service agents lifted him off his feet and carried him away, in a scene the vice president later described to comical effect. Cheney’s relationship with Bush From the beginning, Cheney and Bush struck an odd bargain, unspoken but well understood. Shelving any ambitions he might have had to succeed Bush, Cheney was accorded power comparable in some ways to the presidency itself. That bargain largely held up. “He is constituted in a way to be the ultimate No. 2 guy,” Dave Gribbin, a friend who grew up with Cheney in Casper, Wyoming, and worked with him in Washington, once said. “He is congenitally discreet. He is remarkably loyal.” As Cheney put it: “I made the decision when I signed on with the president that the only agenda I would have would be his agenda, that I was not going to be like most vice presidents — and that was angling, trying to figure out how I was going to be elected president when his term was over with.” His penchant for secrecy and backstage maneuvering had a price. He came to be seen as a thin-skinned Machiavelli orchestrating a bungled response to criticism of the Iraq War. And when he shot a hunting companion in the torso, neck and face with an errant shotgun blast in 2006, he and his coterie were slow to disclose that extraordinary turn of events. The vice president called it “one of the worst days of my life.” The victim, his friend Harry Whittington, recovered and quickly forgave him. Comedians were relentless about it for months. Whittington died in 2023. When Bush began his presidential quest, he sought help from Cheney, a Washington insider who had retreated to the oil business. Cheney led the team to find a vice presidential candidate. Bush decided the best choice was the man picked to help with the choosing. Together, the pair faced a protracted 2000 postelection battle before they could claim victory. A series of recounts and court challenges — a tempest that brewed from Florida to the nation’s highest court — left the nation in limbo for weeks. Cheney took charge of the presidential transition before victory was clear and helped give the administration a smooth launch despite the lost time. In office, disputes among departments vying for a bigger piece of Bush’s constrained budget came to his desk and often were settled there. On Capitol Hill, Cheney lobbied for the president’s programs in halls he had walked as a deeply conservative member of Congress and the No. 2 Republican House leader. Jokes abounded about how Cheney was the real No. 1 in town; Bush didn’t seem to mind and cracked a few himself. But such comments became less apt later in Bush’s presidency as he clearly came into his own. Cheney’s political rise Politics first lured Dick Cheney to Washington in 1968, when he was a congressional fellow. He became a protégé of Rep. Donald Rumsfeld, R-Ill., serving under him in two agencies and in Gerald Ford’s White House before he was elevated to chief of staff, the youngest ever, at age 34. Cheney held the post for 14 months, then returned to Casper, where he had been raised, and ran for the state’s lone congressional seat. In that first race for the House, Cheney suffered a mild heart attack, prompting him to crack he was forming a group called “Cardiacs for Cheney.” He still managed a decisive victory and went on to win five more terms. In 1989, Cheney became defense secretary under the first President Bush and led the Pentagon during the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War that drove Iraq’s troops from Kuwait. Between the two Bush administrations, Cheney led Dallas-based Halliburton Corp., a large engineering and construction company for the oil industry. Cheney was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, son of a longtime Agriculture Department worker. Senior class president and football co-captain in Casper, he went to Yale on a full scholarship for a year but left with failing grades. He moved back to Wyoming, eventually enrolled at the University of Wyoming and renewed a relationship with high school sweetheart Lynne Anne Vincent, marrying her in 1964. He is survived by his wife, by Liz and by a second daughter, Mary. Associated Press writer Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming, contributed to this report. —Calvin Woodward, Associated Press View the full article

There are myriad ways to prioritize your to-do list, but even if you find one that works for you, you might find they can be a little weedy and overcomplicated. That means when it comes to tasks that don't quite require that level of involvement, your productivity method can actually manage to stress you out. If you're tired of your to-do list feeling like such a heavy lift, you can make simplifying things, well, simpler by prioritizing your tasks with the "must, should, want" technique. What is the “must, should, want” technique This technique was developed by Jay Shirley about a decade ago. The blogger set out to enhance not only people’s productivity, but their daily enjoyability, too, This is important, as if you're miserable and unmotivated, you're not going to be especially productive. With this system, instead of prioritizing tasks only based on productivity or results, you also incorporate some of what you want to do, which helps round out your day without grinding you down. Similar to systems like Agile Results, “must, should, want” requires you to spend a little time every morning planning out your day. Setting aside a few dedicated minutes to figuring out the day’s plan is a good way to get in the zone and stay on track, but you have to remember to write down your goals to stay motivated and organized. In your planner (or in an app like Notion, if you want), create three columns: must, should, and want. Under “Must,” write down what you must do on a given day, whether it’s a smaller piece of a larger, long-term project or an item that is due in a few hours. (If you need help figuring out those pieces and when they need to be done on time to best serve your larger goals, try incorporating the kanban method.) “Should” tasks are those you ought to do for the future, but aren’t down to the wire on yet—or those that won’t be earth-shattering if you don’t get them done right away. Finally, “want” tasks are those that you’d simply like to do, whether they have to do with your immediate responsibilities or not. "Want" is where this method differs from all others—plenty of methods out there ask you to prioritize your to-dos by level of "must" or "should" level urgency, but only this one leaves room for enjoyment. You complete each list in order. Getting through the things you must and should do leaves room for the things you want to do, and that pending reward can motivate you through the more rigid stuff. When and how to use the “must, should, want” methodThis works well for an overall day plan, incorporating work and responsibilities with after-hours hobbies. But it’s also helpful for specific projects, as it changes every morning. Today’s “should” tasks might be tomorrow’s “must” tasks, so there’s room for variability and a more fluid approach, as long as you stick with the habit of redoing your lists every morning. Getting a "should" done early can be motivating, but even identifying what is a "must" and what is a "should" can alleviate some of your stress and keep you engaged. It’s also helpful for budgeting. Before you get paid or go shopping, make a list of what you must buy, what you should buy, and what you want to buy. Even seeing it written out like that will help you make better purchasing decisions. To keep it all doable and manageable, challenge yourself to only put three to four things in every list on a given day. You’ll never get to the “want” column if you have nine “must” activities and seven “should” tasks, which defeats the point of the technique. Be discerning and if something isn’t a “must,” don’t pressure yourself; just make it a “should.” This approach is designed to inject some fun and reduce the stress from your typical to-do list, but it won’t work if you treat every task like an end-of-the-world necessity. View the full article

In an era where data privacy is paramount, small business owners are constantly seeking ways to secure their communications and sensitive information. WhatsApp’s latest announcement promises to bolster data security by introducing passkey-enabled encryption for chat backups—a move that could transform how small enterprises manage their digital communications. WhatsApp has long been a go-to messaging app, acclaimed for its emphasis on user privacy. Now, with this new feature, the platform takes a significant step forward, making secure communication simpler and more user-friendly. Business owners can leverage this enhanced security to safeguard not only their conversations but also invaluable customer interactions, project discussions, and sensitive business information. The introduction of passkeys means users can protect their WhatsApp chat backups simply by using biometric authentication such as a fingerprint or facial recognition. No longer will small business owners need to remember complex passwords or a cumbersome 64-digit encryption key for backup security. Instead, accessing chat backups becomes as simple as a tap or glance, ensuring quick retrieval when needed. As small businesses often juggle various tasks and tight schedules, ease of use is crucial. The new feature streamlines the backup process, making it easier than ever to maintain data security without sacrificing productivity. Business owners can enable end-to-end encrypted backups by navigating to WhatsApp settings, tapping on Chats, selecting Chat backup, and opting for the new end-to-end encrypted backup feature. This straightforward setup allows for immediate implementation without requiring extensive technical knowledge. However, challenges may arise as businesses begin to utilize this feature. While passkeys enhance security, they also depend on the reliability of biometric technology. If a user’s fingerprint or facial recognition fails to recognize them, accessing backups could prove cumbersome. Additionally, as small businesses grow and possibly transition to team communications, ensuring that all members understand and utilize these encryption methods will be essential. Given that various employees may have different levels of technical proficiency, business owners might need to invest time in training or troubleshooting. It’s also worth noting that small businesses often handle sensitive customer information, making the need for secure communication even more critical. The ability to encrypt backups will help mitigate the risk of data breaches or unauthorized access, reinforcing trust with customers. As data protection regulations tighten worldwide, compliance could also be enhanced by adopting these better security practices. While WhatsApp’s new feature is gradually rolling out over the upcoming weeks and months, small business owners who wish to stay ahead of the curve should consider adopting it promptly. Engaging in conversations about privacy and data handling with employees can help develop a culture of security within the organization. Additionally, as customer interactions increasingly move to digital platforms, prioritizing data security is not just a precaution—it’s a competitive advantage. As WhatsApp continues to innovate and respond to user needs, small businesses stand to gain significantly. By integrating such advanced security features into everyday communication practices, owners can not only protect their proprietary information but also enhance customer relationships built on trust and transparency. For more details, visit the original announcement here. This article, "WhatsApp Boosts Privacy with Passkey Encryption for Chat Backups" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In an era where data privacy is paramount, small business owners are constantly seeking ways to secure their communications and sensitive information. WhatsApp’s latest announcement promises to bolster data security by introducing passkey-enabled encryption for chat backups—a move that could transform how small enterprises manage their digital communications. WhatsApp has long been a go-to messaging app, acclaimed for its emphasis on user privacy. Now, with this new feature, the platform takes a significant step forward, making secure communication simpler and more user-friendly. Business owners can leverage this enhanced security to safeguard not only their conversations but also invaluable customer interactions, project discussions, and sensitive business information. The introduction of passkeys means users can protect their WhatsApp chat backups simply by using biometric authentication such as a fingerprint or facial recognition. No longer will small business owners need to remember complex passwords or a cumbersome 64-digit encryption key for backup security. Instead, accessing chat backups becomes as simple as a tap or glance, ensuring quick retrieval when needed. As small businesses often juggle various tasks and tight schedules, ease of use is crucial. The new feature streamlines the backup process, making it easier than ever to maintain data security without sacrificing productivity. Business owners can enable end-to-end encrypted backups by navigating to WhatsApp settings, tapping on Chats, selecting Chat backup, and opting for the new end-to-end encrypted backup feature. This straightforward setup allows for immediate implementation without requiring extensive technical knowledge. However, challenges may arise as businesses begin to utilize this feature. While passkeys enhance security, they also depend on the reliability of biometric technology. If a user’s fingerprint or facial recognition fails to recognize them, accessing backups could prove cumbersome. Additionally, as small businesses grow and possibly transition to team communications, ensuring that all members understand and utilize these encryption methods will be essential. Given that various employees may have different levels of technical proficiency, business owners might need to invest time in training or troubleshooting. It’s also worth noting that small businesses often handle sensitive customer information, making the need for secure communication even more critical. The ability to encrypt backups will help mitigate the risk of data breaches or unauthorized access, reinforcing trust with customers. As data protection regulations tighten worldwide, compliance could also be enhanced by adopting these better security practices. While WhatsApp’s new feature is gradually rolling out over the upcoming weeks and months, small business owners who wish to stay ahead of the curve should consider adopting it promptly. Engaging in conversations about privacy and data handling with employees can help develop a culture of security within the organization. Additionally, as customer interactions increasingly move to digital platforms, prioritizing data security is not just a precaution—it’s a competitive advantage. As WhatsApp continues to innovate and respond to user needs, small businesses stand to gain significantly. By integrating such advanced security features into everyday communication practices, owners can not only protect their proprietary information but also enhance customer relationships built on trust and transparency. For more details, visit the original announcement here. This article, "WhatsApp Boosts Privacy with Passkey Encryption for Chat Backups" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

I'm always harping about how everyone should familiarize themselves with and start using time boxing and time blocking, the techniques that call on you to pre-plan your entire day down to the minute, filling up every space on your calendar with defined tasks. I stand by my enthusiasm for the methods, but even when you’re time boxing your whole day, you’ll notice you end up with a few random pockets of time sprinkled throughout your schedule. If you don’t have a plan for what to do with these, they’ll become unproductive—so start thinking of how you can maximize your productivity with “time pockets.” What are time pockets?Time pockets are small amounts of time throughout your regular day that aren’t really occupied with anything, but can give you a major leg up when it comes to getting big projects done. They're generally unreliable and don't come around at the same time each day, if they come around each day at all. Say you set aside the first 45 minutes of every workday to tackle your email inbox. If you finish in 30 minutes one day, you have 15 bonus minutes available. That’s a time pocket. Because taking breaks and having downtime are essential to staying productive, you might think that's a great time to relax, scroll social media, or otherwise loaf, but I am not a big proponent of using time pockets for chilling out. First of all, in the example above, The time pocket appears just 30 minutes into the work day. You probably don't need to take a break at that point. Second, you should actually be scheduling your downtime. You should know when it's coming in advance because it's also a major part of being and staying productive. Leaving it up to the unpredictable time pockets is a bad idea. Two better ways to use time pocketsThe first way you can use little spare moments to get things done is by committing to the two-minute rule. This works well for time pockets you aren’t expecting, like the example above, when you finish another task before the time you allotted for it expires. Keep a list of simple tasks that you could reasonably accomplish in two minutes, regardless of how important the tasks are—such as gathering the dishes from your workspace or filling out a form. Whenever you have an unexpected time pocket, refer to your list right away, pick the first item, and bang it out. Whenever another simple, two-minute task pops up throughout the day, add it to the list so you always have a supply of little things to do during unplanned downtime. The other way you can use time pockets is by noting in your schedule when you have a small break and capitalizing on it. Sometimes, you’ll have 15 or 20 minutes between meetings or activities. Instead of looking around for something to do with them in the moment, you should tackle a smaller chunk of a larger project. The best way to do this is to create a Kanban board or something similar, breaking down big tasks into smaller, more manageable ones. Slip the smaller tasks from bigger projects into those obvious time pockets in your schedule, which will help you stay more productive and focused during the day and will also lessen how overwhelmed you feel when you’re working on long-term activities. Instead of doing it all at once, portion out the work, doing it in those pockets where you have nothing else to do. In these instances, you should still rely on timeboxing to make a clear record and schedule, noting firmly in your calendar that during those 15 or 20 minutes, you’ll be working on a small task. View the full article