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Meta wants to revive Facebook’s old-school appeal by introducing a new Friends Tab, which will focus solely on posts shared by a user’s friends and family. This Friends Tab will replace the section in the app that previously displayed friend requests and suggested friends. Instead, users in the United States and Canada will now see a scrolling feed featuring photos, videos, friend requests, birthday reminders, and text posts. “Over the years, Facebook evolved to meet changing needs and created best-in-class experiences across Groups, Video, Marketplace and more, but the magic of friends has fallen away,” the company wrote in an unattributed blog post. “We’ll be adding several ‘OG’ Facebook experiences throughout the year, beginning with the revamped Friends tab.” Importantly, the new Friends Tab won’t replace the Home feed, which still includes recommended content. However, Facebook may see this as a way to offer the best of both worlds. The company received significant backlash in 2022 after announcing plans to introduce recommended content from users who weren’t added as “friends.” Although Meta scaled back that content, users continued to see their feeds flooded with posts from creators and brands over time. This algorithm-driven approach has generally been seen as a strategy to boost engagement. Instead of checking in occasionally to stay connected with friends, many users turned to social media for endless scrolling. “Social media should feel social,” the company wrote. “In that spirit, we’ll be adding more fun, simple experiences to help you connect and share on Facebook throughout the year.” Facebook’s user base continues to skew older. A Pew Research Center survey from fall 2023 found that only a third of American teens ages 13 to 17 reported using Facebook—a steep drop from the 71% who said they used it in a 2014–2015 survey. It’s unclear how many young users will actually see the latest updates. Still, the move could appeal to users weary of algorithms and brand-driven content. Meta CEO and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said during a January analyst call that there are many opportunities to make the app “more culturally influential than it is today.” 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. I've used earbuds to help me sleep for a while now, but I never expected a company to actually make earbuds specifically for sleeping. Anker's Soundcore Sleep A20 are exactly that: earbuds designed to block out excess noise without pressing uncomfortably against your ear. I've been using them for a year and can't recommend them enough. Right now, these sleep earbuds are on sale for $119.99 (originally $149.99) during Amazon's Big Spring sale—that's the lowest price they've been, according to price tracking tools. Soundcore Sleep A20 Noise Blocking Sleep Headphones, Small Earplugs for Side Sleepers, 80H Playtime, Sleep Monitor. $119.99 at Amazon $149.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Get Deal $119.99 at Amazon $149.99 Save $30.00 The Sleep A20 are not active noise canceling earbuds, which is how they're able to have such a small, unobtrusive form factor. Instead, they use the in-ear seal to create a natural noise blocker, which, in my opinion, works well enough to block out sounds. They fit very comfortably and don't press against your ear when you sleep on your side. Very rarely do I wake up with one of them lost in the covers after falling off during the night, but it does happen occasionally. The battery life is 14 hours on sleep mode, which includes sounds from the Soundcore app (think like white noise or relaxing sounds). If you have it in Bluetooth mode, where you can listen to Spotify or whatever you want, it's eight hours, but the charging case gives it a total life of up to 80 hours between plug-ins. The companion app is great, with many useful features for sleeping. You can turn your earbuds off after a set amount of time, have a sleep tracker that records your sleep data, a smart volume feature that increases or decreases in volume depending on the sound in your room, full EQ, and other features. Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including: The Best Over-Ear Headphones The Best Wireless Earbuds The Best Adjustable Dumbbell Sets The Best Projectors View the full article

Top US banking regulators plan to withdraw an overhauled rule meant to tackle redlining and boost lending to lower-income areas after industry groups sued to block the updated legislation last year. View the full article

Auto groups told ministers on Friday they wanted more support for the sector domestically View the full article

When I reviewed the Kindle Colorsoft, one of my biggest points of criticism was how simple the tablet itself is. There's no stylus support or page turn buttons, even though Amazon previously had buttons on the now discontinued Kindle Oasis, and competitors like the Kobo Libra Colour and Boox Go Color 7 are still using them. Until now, that meant that turning the page required you to physically touch the screen, potentially leaving behind a distracting fingerprint. Personally, that's not a major issue to me—I just tap the margins. But it's a major distraction to my husband, who's taken to reading all of his books on his Kobo instead. With its most recent Kindle update, though, Amazon has now introduced an alternative way to turn your page, albeit with some limitations. As part of the 5.18.1 Kindle Software update, the Kindle Colorsoft and the 12th Generation Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition now let you turn the page by double-tapping pretty much anywhere on the device itself, whether that's the sides or the back. After updating, you'll get a brief intro screen, and then you're free to open a book and try it out. And don't worry—tapping once on the screen instead still works. It can be a bit tricky to get the timing down at first, but keeping the window for a double tap short also helps prevent accidental skips forward. It only took me a couple of minutes to land on a cadence that works every time, and I wouldn't say double tapping requires too much force or is too uncomfortable. That said, I mostly tested it out on a novel. If you advance your pages more frequently than once every minute or so, I could see the gesture getting tiresome. As for the downsides, double tapping only lets you move your page forward. There's no double tapping to go back, which is a bit of a bummer. My guess is that the Kindle just doesn't have the tech to differentiate between taps on the left side of the device vs. taps on the right side, so Amazon opted to map all double taps to moving forward a page instead. Still, you might have to retrain your muscle memory a little bit—using your left hand for this won't suddenly make you start rewinding. If you're on your Kindle's home screen, the double tap gesture will also scroll down slightly, which is a nice touch. The 5.18.1 software update is available now, and you can theoretically access it under Settings > Device Options > Software updates. That said, my Kindle didn't show it as an over-the-air update option, instead saying I was "on the latest software" when I was clearly still on version 5.18.0.01. If this happens to you, you can instead manually download the update to a computer through Amazon's website, then transfer it to your Kindle using the instructions below. Download the 5.18.1 software update for your device using the above link. Turn on your Kindle. Connect your Kindle to your computer (Amazon suggests using the included charging cable, but this wasn't necessary for me). Using your computer's file manager app, drag and drop the software update to your Kindle. Note that, if you're on Mac, you might need a separate app to actually see your device. Tap "Disconnect" on your Kindle (or eject it from your computer) and unplug it from your cable. Navigate to Settings > Device Options and tap Software Updates. Your Kindle will restart and apply the update. With that, you should be all set. Your Kindle will show the double tap tutorial and automatically enable the feature. That said, if you do find yourself accidentally double tapping a little too much, you can toggle it off under Settings > Device Options > Double tap. View the full article

The new state law can't ban the calls outright, but requires solicitors to disclose to mortgage consumers their identity and how they purchased the lead. View the full article

Investor enthusiasm for companies linked to artificial intelligence boom has waned this yearView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Dutch ovens are heavy duty cast iron behemoths ready to take on your next cooking challenge whether it’s steamed, braised, boiled, or fried. But usually with that much power comes (you guessed it) a ridiculous price tag. It’s important to note, while Staub and Le Creuset can retail for $200 to $500, other brands are just as effective. Here are three good options—well below $100—on sale right now for Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. For a smaller Dutch ovenI’m a fan of Lodge—I’ve had a 12-inch cast iron skillet that’s been a fabulous helper for nearly a decade—and their 3-quart Dutch oven has been deeply discounted. Normally this petite Lodge Dutch oven retails for over $100, but you can get it for $55.17. (Note that some of the different colors might come up at $60.) While a 3-quart pot isn’t very large, you can still cook three to four servings of side dishes, stews, and soups in this size pot. Here are some of my favorite things to cook in my Dutch oven. This size is great for smaller storage situations, and considerably lighter if you’re not interested in hoisting a 15-pound hunk of metal onto your stove. This heavy duty piece of cookware can last a generation if you take care of it, and look snazzy while doing it. Larger options Overmont. While I’m not familiar with Overmont, this Dutch oven is a good option if you’re looking for a larger pot. This highly rated Dutch oven is a 5.5-quart pot, which is better for baking loaves of bread or making six to eight servings of soups and stews. It’s also good for braising roasts or thick cuts of meat, and can withstand temperatures up to 500°F, moving seamlessly from stove top to oven for braising, or high-temperature bread baking. It’s $59.49 with a $5 coupon right now. Lodge. If there’s a Lodge option for a bigger pot then I’m going to find it—and I have. This is their 6-quart Dutch oven on sale for $67.49. Granted, it’s a few bucks more expensive than the 3-quart above, but with that extra space you can do a whole lot more. The Best Amazon Spring Sale Deals You Can Get Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds — $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced — $169.00 (List Price $189.99) soundcore by Anker Q30 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones with Multiple Modes, Hi-Res Sound, Custom EQ via App, 40H Playtime, Comfortable Fit, Bluetooth Headphones, Multipoint Connection — $55.99 (List Price $79.99) Blink Mini 2 (White, 2-Pack) — $37.99 (List Price $69.99) 2024 Apple iPad mini A17 Pro chip, Built for Apple Intelligence, Wi-Fi 128GB - Blue — $399.00 (List Price $499.00) Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm, Black, S/M 130-180mm, Sports Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00) Sonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker - White — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model) — $39.99 (List Price $59.99) Fitbit Inspire 3 Health & Fitness Tracker (Midnight Zen/Black) — $69.95 (List Price $99.95) Roku Express 4K+ HDR Streamer with Voice Remote — $30.22 (List Price $39.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Facebook wants to be your friend again, by showing you what your real friends are up to. In an attempt to save itself from the AI slop and clickbaity images that are all over its algorithmic feed, Facebook is now updating its mobile app's dedicated Friends tab to be a whole feed, showing you updates only from the real people that you actually care about. That's a pretty big change, since before, all the Friends tab did was show you friend requests and people you may know. According to Facebook, the new Friends tab is one of "several 'OG' Facebook experiences" that are set to be released throughout the year, so this is just the beginning. That said, while the new feature started rolling out yesterday in the US and Canada, there's no timeline for a global rollout yet. How does the new Friends feed work? Credit: Meta In addition to having buttons up top for viewing friend requests, birthdays, and suggestions for people to follow, the Friends tab will now let you scroll down to see your friend's stories, reels, and posts, just like in the good old days. It still doesn't seem entirely chronological—Facebook hasn't been clear about how posts on this tab are organized—but hey, it's a start. How to pin the Friends feed to the tab barBy default, the new Friends feed is quite hidden. Don't expect to see it front and center simply because you updated the Facebook app. You should find it in your home feed's navigation bar on the very bottom of your screen, hidden behind an icon depicting one person standing in front of another. But if you don't see it, you can also pin it your navigation bar manually. To do that, click your Profile picture and go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Tab Bar. Here, click the button next to Friends and choose the Pin option. Credit: Meta Now, the Friends feed will be available in the tab bar. You can press and hold the Friends tab to unpin it if you don't want to use this feature down the line. Hey, you can't turn off Meta AI, but getting to see your friend's life updates is at least something. View the full article

Consumer sentiment darkens while Federal Reserve’s inflation gauge risesView the full article

Fannie Mae increased its mortgage volume and home sales predictions, but that comes from cutting its forecasts for U.S. gross domestic product growth in 2025. View the full article

The Treasury Department told the OMB that all 11 programs in the CDFI Fund are statutorily mandated. The White House said "no final decisions have been made" about the programs. View the full article

The Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency say they will move to rescind a 2023 reform to the Community Reinvestment Act, citing litigation concerns about the rule. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Right before the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, I noticed a trend in robot vacuums. The suction power these robots were reporting were astronomical. Where Pa (suction power is measured in pascals) in 2024 was considered “high” at 8,000 or 10,000, the Ecovacs x8 is 18,000, the Dreame x50 is 20,000, and the Roborock Saros 10 is 22,000. In calls with the marketing reps and engineers of these machines I would routinely ask, “Is there a limit to how much suction is realistically useful?” And on more than one occasion, engineers revealed that the reason Pa levels had gone sky high was primarily because internal studies had revealed suction power was the primary way consumers chose robot vacuums. While I disagree that suction power translates to a good vacuum, I understand why consumers use this basis to choose: What other criteria would be important? Suction is only one factor in getting debris off the floorTo understand why suction power isn’t a good determining criteria, you first have to understand how robot vacuums function. Regardless of brand, almost all robots work like a regular vacuum does. On the bottom of the robot are a roller or series of rollers, like a regular vacuum. As the rollers go over debris, the suction from the robot pulls the debris off the rollers and sucks the debris into an internal, bagless chamber. To move debris toward these rollers, most robots have brushes that sweep the debris. In a perfect situation, all debris is picked up by the rollers, suctioned off of them into the chamber, and the floor is left clean. On this Roborock Saros, you can see underneath the robot, the sweep at the front of the robot is designed to move debris towards the rollers. This split design roller is meant to help debris move through the rollers without clogging. Credit: Amanda Blum The reality is that certain types of debris, such as hair, tie up the rollers, which wraps around the roller and can slice the silicone on it. Larger debris, like a receipt or even a small piece of mulch can get stuck in the roller, requiring a human to dislodge it. Debris can also be sucked up but clog the pipe because it gets stuck on the way to the internal chamber. In some of these cases, more suction might help, but how straight a suction tube is designed, or even how big the flapper is on the internal chamber make a difference, too. In truth, the entire design of the system, and all the parts working in concert is what makes a robot vacuum successful (or not). Even on this Roborock QRevo, you can see that the rollers occasionally get stuck with debris like floof, despite having high suction power. Credit: Amanda Blum For instance, while recently testing the Eureka J15, which has over 16,000Pa, I noticed that even though the sweepers were moving debris directly towards the rollers, the debris wasn’t making it up into the roller, so the robot left the debris behind. The Dyson 360 Vis Nav, which has over 20,000Pa, rides so low to the ground that some debris can’t get to the rollers to be affected by the suction and is instead simply pushed around the floor by the robot. Meanwhile, the original Switchbot K10+ had only 3,000Pa and did a spectacular job grabbing debris off the floor because it rides a little higher, allowing the rollers to access more debris, and the rollers are designed so that debris doesn’t get stuck as often. My favorite robot vacuum and mop of all time, the Roborock MaxV Ultra Vacuum, has only 10,000Pa but is undeterred by any type of debris and gets floors cleaner than any other vacuum I’ve tried. Roborocks have a very effective roller design that doesn’t seem to suffer from getting beat up by debris, and their sweepers are always being redesigned to be more effective at sweeping debris toward the rollers. Navigation, AI and the robots size matter, tooIt’s not only the rollers, sweeper, and suction that determines how well it will suction debris off the floor—the robot also has to be able to access the space where the debris is. Robots are now getting slimmer so they can slide under more furniture, but they’re generally still 12-13 inch objects trying to squeeze themselves into spaces, and if you have a lot of floor furniture, the robot will have trouble getting between those objects to effectively clean. Robots do best in big, open spaces, with walls that have no toekicks. The AI on board most robots can sometimes identify debris as obstacles, and tell the robot to avoid the debris altogether. (This is a repercussion of a few robot vacuums accidentally rolling over pet waste years ago and smearing it all over a room; now, robots are overly cautious about anything that could be remotely interpreted as such by AI). Debris also has to move through the dockThere’s another point where suction matters, though most product listings don’t discuss it: the robot dock. This is where, in most cases these days, the robot will be auto-emptied into a real vacuum bag that has to be changed every few months. The value of the auto empty is infinite; it’s what makes robot vacuums autonomous. If the dock gets clogged, it’s a lot more work to solve than if the robot does. Recently, I’ve seen mentions of docks like the Narwal Freo Z getting redesigned so there’s less turns in the suction pipe that receives the debris in the dock, since that will translate to less clogs. Ultimately, there likely isn’t one “best” robot vacuum, but rather the best robot vacuum for your home, since each house is different. For example, if you have a lot of large debris in your home, you would likely want a Roborock, since they handle that type of debris better than most. If your house has a lot of obstacles, you might consider the Switchbot K10+ Pro, which is much smaller than most robots, and can navigate into smaller spaces. If you have high thresholds in your home, a robot that can navigate those thresholds, like the Dreame x50 or the Roborock Saros line would be important. While suction is a factor of robot success, it shouldn’t be the only or determining factor when making a buying decision. View the full article

Arguments for slashing overseas development assistance in favour of defence fail on their own termsView the full article

If you’ve bought the antihistamine medication Benadryl from Amazon in the past few years, you’ll want to make sure to carefully check its packaging to make sure it is not part of the recall that was posted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) this month. That’s because a select Benadryl product sold on the e-commerce giant’s website has a fault that could lead to the risk of a child being poisoned. Here’s what you need to know. Benadryl Liquid Elixir sold on Amazon.com is being recalled On March 20, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission posted a recall notice on its website for Benadryl Liquid Elixir imported by Arsell Inc. of Brooklyn, New York. The medication was manufactured in Canada. While the medication itself is safe, the Benadryl Liquid Elixir’s packaging is not child-resistant as required by law. This means that the product poses a safety risk to young children. If they open the product and swallow the medicine inside, they could be poisoned. “The Benadryl contains diphenhydramine, which must be in child-resistant packaging as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. The packaging of the products is not child-resistant, posing a risk of poisoning if the contents are swallowed by young children,” the notice posted on the CPSC website warns. What Benadryl product is being recalled? According to the notice posted on the CPSC website, only one specific Benadryl product is being recalled. The details of that product are: Product name: Benadryl Liquid Elixir, 100 mL bottles Product packaging: paper box with a round dark plastic bottle inside. Label code: X003VRIGUL In total, about 2,300 bottles are being recalled. Images of the product packaging can be viewed here. Where was the recalled Benadryl product sold? According to the notice on the CPSC website, the recalled product was sold online at Amazon.com. It was sold between July 2023 and October 2024. The price of the product ranged from $16 to $19. Have any children been harmed by the recalled Benadryl product? Thankfully, no. As of the March 20 posting date, the recall notice says that there have been no reported injuries or incidents so far. What do I do if I have the recalled product? The CPSC notice says the recalled product should be immediately secured and kept out of sight and reach of children. People with the product should contact the importer, Arsell, for a full refund. You will be asked to provide proof of your Amazon purchase and proof that you have disposed of the bottle and its contents. Those with the recalled Benadryl can contact recall@arsellsupport.com to begin the recall process. Full details of the recall can be found on the notice here. View the full article

Three leading indicators for your firm to move toward. By Samantha Mansfield Go PRO for members-only access to more Samantha Mansfield. View the full article

Three leading indicators for your firm to move toward. By Samantha Mansfield Go PRO for members-only access to more Samantha Mansfield. 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. Amazon's Big Spring Sale is almost over, but there are still deals you can take advantage of, including Lifehacker Associate Tech editor Michelle Ehrhardt's favorite tech deals. One deal you can take advantage of right now is the Dangbei Freedo, a portable projector with an official Netflix license and a 1080p resolution. You can get it for $399 (originally $549), the lowest price it has ever been, according to price-tracking tools. Dangbei Freedo 1080p resolution, 2.5 hours of battery, a display of up to 180 inches, 450 ISO lumens of brightness. $399.00 at Amazon $549.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Get Deal $399.00 at Amazon $549.00 Save $150.00 Portable projectors, obviously, must work independently of an outlet and be easy to carry around. They don't get the best brightness, since they're meant to be light and portable and rely on a limited battery, so keep that in mind. This projector does all of the basics well. It's light, portable, has a 2.5 hours of battery life, which is on par with the competition, has 450 ISO lumens of brightness, which is good for its price, and has Dolby Audio and HDR10, nice perks that not all portable projectors have. With 450 lumens of brightness, you'll need to keep a room relatively dark to get the best picture. However, it is usable in a backyard with some low ambient light (with some sacrifices in color and contrast). Since it's officially licensed by Netflix, the app comes pre-installed, and it uses the Google TV operating system, which is my favorite because it means you get to cast your phone using Chromecast. The Dangbei Freedo has a full HD 1080p resolution, but it supports 4K, meaning it'll receive the signal but it will scale it down to 1080p. It's also impressive that it can cast a screen of up to 180 inches. The auto focus and keystone correction automatically kick in and work well, which is important for a portable projector. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on any work-related questions that you want to talk about (that includes school). If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best bet*, but this is a chance to take your questions to other readers. * If you submitted a question to me recently, please do not repost it here, as it may be in my queue to answer. View the full article

One of China’s largest server makers, H3C, has flagged potential shortages of Nvidia’s H20 chip, the most advanced AI processor legally available domestically under U.S. export controls, in a client notice seen by Reuters. The potential supply crunch could create obstacles for China’s artificial intelligence ambitions at a time when its tech firms are aggressively expanding their investments in AI. “H20’s international supply chain faces significant uncertainties,” the company said in Tuesday’s notice, adding that current inventory was nearly depleted. Geopolitical tension that is roiling global trade and supply of key materials was responsible for the uncertainty, it added, saying new shipments were expected by mid-April this year. After publication, a Nvidia spokesperson said the company declined to comment. In a statement to Reuters following publication, H3C said “after verification, neither the company nor any of its departments have issued this notice or its related content.” Demand for H20 chips has surged in recent months as companies rush to adopt Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s cost-effective AI models. Tencent, Alibaba and ByteDance have significantly increased orders of the H20 since the Chinese AI startup burst into the global public consciousness since January, Reuters reported last month. The Chinese server maker said supply plans beyond April 20 also face uncertainties from raw material policy changes, shipping disruptions, and production challenges. In the notice, H3C said it would distribute incoming H20 chips on the basis of a profit-first principle, prioritising stable, long-term customers with higher profit margins on their orders. H20 processors are currently scarce in the Chinese market, said an industry source, who distributes AI servers including those that make use of H20 chips. “We were told the chips would be available, but when it came time to actually purchase them, we were informed they had already been sold at higher prices,” added the source, who sought anonymity given the information is private. U.S. officials were considering curbs on sales of H20 chips to China, Reuters reported in January. H3C is a major OEM partner for Nvidia’s AI chips in China, alongside others such as Inspur, Lenovo and Huawei’s spin-off x86 server unit, xFusion. The primary chip Nvidia is legally permitted to sell in China, the H20 was launched after the latest round of U.S. export restrictions took effect in October 2023. Washington has banned exports of Nvidia’s most advanced chips to China since 2022, concerned that its rival could use advanced technologies to build up its military capabilities. Analysts estimate Nvidia shipped about 1 million H20 units in 2024, generating revenue of more than $12 billion for the company. Huawei and Cambricon offer domestic alternatives to the H20. —Liam Mo, Che Pan, Fanny Potkin and Brenda Goh, Reuters View the full article

Business projects are key to improving operations and meeting strategic objectives over time. They may not generate revenue in the short term, but they are vital for extending the life of your business. The post The Ultimate Guide to Business Project Management appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

Once regulatory clarity emerges, the home equity investment space will attract more investors and potential new originators, a panel of industry experts said. View the full article

The past week's most important Wi-Fi news from around the world. Enjoy. The post Roundup: Aprecomm joins Nokia’s DAC, Nokia’s latest Wi-Fi 7 gateway, Comcast’s new MDU gateway, & Houston teenagers attack mother for lack of Wi-Fi appeared first on Wi-Fi NOW Global. View the full article

Doing great work is no longer enough to ensure client retention. Gear Up for Growth With Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines Go PRO for members-only access to more Jean Marie Caragher. View the full article