The original WH-1000XM4 launched in 2020 for $349.99, while the WH-1000XM6 debuted at a much steeper $449 last year. The new 1000XM4C’s features will include ANC powered by Sony’s QN1 chip (the 1000XM6 use its newer QN3 chip), spatial audio, support for hi-res audio, and earcup touch controls. The only compromise, according to the leaks, is slightly reduced battery life on the new version. The original 1000XM4 maxed out at up to 38 hours with ANC off, or up to 30 hours with noise-canceling on. The 1000XM4C will only offer up to 34 hours of playback, or up to 27 with ANC.
Although there have been two major updates to Sony’s 1000X headphone line since the 1000XM4 first launched, there are still devoted fans of the older model’s design. Sony introduced a major redesign of the line with 2022’s 1000XM5 that eliminated the folding earcups necessitating a much larger carrying case. The company reintroduced the folding mechanism with last year’s 1000XM6 that also added a wider and more comfortable headband, but some (myself included) still prefer the 1000XM4’s design. For those of us with the aging older models suffering from reduced battery life, the 1000XM4C could be a solid replacement.
The original WH-1000XM4 launched in 2020 for $349.99, while the WH-1000XM6 debuted at a much steeper $449 last year. The new 1000XM4C’s features will include ANC powered by Sony’s QN1 chip (the 1000XM6 use its newer QN3 chip), spatial audio, support for hi-res audio, and earcup touch controls. The only compromise, according to the leaks, is slightly reduced battery life on the new version. The original 1000XM4 maxed out at up to 38 hours with ANC off, or up to 30 hours with noise-canceling on. The 1000XM4C will only offer up to 34 hours of playback, or up to 27 with ANC.
Although there have been two major updates to Sony’s 1000X headphone line since the 1000XM4 first launched, there are still devoted fans of the older model’s design. Sony introduced a major redesign of the line with 2022’s 1000XM5 that eliminated the folding earcups necessitating a much larger carrying case. The company reintroduced the folding mechanism with last year’s 1000XM6 that also added a wider and more comfortable headband, but some (myself included) still prefer the 1000XM4’s design. For those of us with the aging older models suffering from reduced battery life, the 1000XM4C could be a solid replacement.
#Sony #release #cheaper #version #WH1000XM4 #headphones #leaksAudio,Gadgets,Headphones,News,Sony,Tech">Sony could release a cheaper version of its WH-1000XM4 headphones, according to leaks
The WH-1000XM4C are expected to launch in early September 2026 in black, silver, and lavender color options for €249.99 or £219.99, which is around $289 to $297 after currency conversion.
The original WH-1000XM4 launched in 2020 for $349.99, while the WH-1000XM6 debuted at a much steeper $449 last year. The new 1000XM4C’s features will include ANC powered by Sony’s QN1 chip (the 1000XM6 use its newer QN3 chip), spatial audio, support for hi-res audio, and earcup touch controls. The only compromise, according to the leaks, is slightly reduced battery life on the new version. The original 1000XM4 maxed out at up to 38 hours with ANC off, or up to 30 hours with noise-canceling on. The 1000XM4C will only offer up to 34 hours of playback, or up to 27 with ANC.
Although there have been two major updates to Sony’s 1000X headphone line since the 1000XM4 first launched, there are still devoted fans of the older model’s design. Sony introduced a major redesign of the line with 2022’s 1000XM5 that eliminated the folding earcups necessitating a much larger carrying case. The company reintroduced the folding mechanism with last year’s 1000XM6 that also added a wider and more comfortable headband, but some (myself included) still prefer the 1000XM4’s design. For those of us with the aging older models suffering from reduced battery life, the 1000XM4C could be a solid replacement.
The WH-1000XM4C are expected to launch in early September 2026 in black, silver, and lavender…
Apple bumped up its trade-in offers for iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and certain Android phones, with some devices now worth over $100 more, 9to5Mac reports. The Mac Studio’s trade-in value increased the most, going up by $260. While some devices’ offers are unchanged, most got an increase of around $5 to $20, with a few seeing an increase of over $100:
Additionally, Apple is now offering trade-in credit for a handful of new Android devices:
While some new Android phones have been added to the list, Apple lowered its trade-in credit for a few others, including:
The higher trade-in credits on most devices follow a wave of price hikes Apple announced earlier this year, with increases ranging from $30 to $4,200. Apple also launched a new “Upgrade” leasing program last month aimed at making its increasingly-pricey devices easier to afford.
Apple bumped up its trade-in offers for iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and certain Android phones, with some devices now worth over $100 more, 9to5Mac reports. The Mac Studio’s trade-in value increased the most, going up by $260. While some devices’ offers are unchanged, most got an increase of around $5 to $20, with a few seeing an increase of over $100:
Additionally, Apple is now offering trade-in credit for a handful of new Android devices:
While some new Android phones have been added to the list, Apple lowered its trade-in credit for a few others, including:
The higher trade-in credits on most devices follow a wave of price hikes Apple announced earlier this year, with increases ranging from $30 to $4,200. Apple also launched a new “Upgrade” leasing program last month aimed at making its increasingly-pricey devices easier to afford.
#Apple #increases #tradein #offers #adds #Android #devicesApple,iPad,iPhone,News,Tech">Apple increases trade-in offers and adds new Android devices
Apple bumped up its trade-in offers for iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and certain Android phones, with some devices now worth over $100 more, 9to5Mac reports. The Mac Studio’s trade-in value increased the most, going up by $260. While some devices’ offers are unchanged, most got an increase of around $5 to $20, with a few seeing an increase of over $100:
Additionally, Apple is now offering trade-in credit for a handful of new Android devices:
While some new Android phones have been added to the list, Apple lowered its trade-in credit for a few others, including:
The higher trade-in credits on most devices follow a wave of price hikes Apple announced earlier this year, with increases ranging from $30 to $4,200. Apple also launched a new “Upgrade” leasing program last month aimed at making its increasingly-pricey devices easier to afford.
The company calls the suite of tools “Rules Hub,” and the tools let mods decide what rules should be automatically enforced and what should happen when a rule is triggered. Rules Hub relies on LLMs to evaluate “whether a post or comment matches the intent of a rule,” which “allows Rules Hub to better handle nuance, natural language, and edge cases while preserving moderator control,” Reddit says in a blog post. Right now, many subreddits use tools from a feature called Automoderator (aka Automod) to take action on rules, but Automod’s tools “depend on exact keyword and pattern matching.”
Reddit says that Rules Hub has been in testing for “the past few months” with “new and experienced moderators from over 700 communities, including members of Reddit’s Mod Council Network.” That test of Rules Hub is now expanding to “all newly created communities” and will be “widely available” at some point later in 2026.
Rules Hub will be optional for new communities, spokesperson Rosa Kim tells The Verge. However, it does sound as if Reddit plans to retire Automod’s enforcement features down the line: In its post, Reddit says that “Looking ahead, we believe Rules Hub, together with newer systems like Post & Comment Guidance and Safety Filters, can eventually replace many of the enforcement workflows that communities rely on from Automod,” Reddit says in its post.
The updated mod tools are just one of a few big platform announcements Reddit is making on Wednesday. The company is also planning big changes that will affect developers: It’s going to require new third-party apps to use the developer platform instead of the API.
“We envision a future where all good, trusted automation on Reddit runs within an ecosystem that allows us to offer support and enforce our policies consistently,” Reddit says. “To achieve this, we will continue supporting limited public API access, but we will gradually restrict new requests and require third-party apps to transition to and operate on Reddit’s Developer Platform.”
The shift follows Reddit’s major API changes in 2023 that it put in place to get AI companies to pony up for Reddit’s data but also caused widespread backlash in part because they forced many beloved Reddit apps to shut down. (Currently, if a developer wants to make a Reddit mobile app, they have to get permission from Reddit to get public API exemptions, and that will continue to be the case, Kim says.) Reddit doesn’t have a “set timeline” yet for requiring the developer platform, but the company will give “give the community ample notice” and provide a clear timeline, Kim says. The upcoming change will affect “all API apps except the ones we explicitly grant exceptions to,” according to Kim.
Reddit is also saying today that it’s planning more changes to old Reddit as part of its ongoing efforts to fight unauthorized scraping of its content. Those efforts already include blocking Reddit results from search engines that don’t pay, suing Anthropic and Perplexity, and blocking the Internet Archive to stop AI companies from using it to scrape data, and in June, the company announced that people would have to be logged in if they wanted to use the old Reddit interface.
Reddit doesn’t specify what the changes to old Reddit will be, but Kim says the company is “exploring different options” and notes that “in the short term we will limit access to logged-in users and migrate critical bots and moderator workflows.”
The company calls the suite of tools “Rules Hub,” and the tools let mods decide what rules should be automatically enforced and what should happen when a rule is triggered. Rules Hub relies on LLMs to evaluate “whether a post or comment matches the intent of a rule,” which “allows Rules Hub to better handle nuance, natural language, and edge cases while preserving moderator control,” Reddit says in a blog post. Right now, many subreddits use tools from a feature called Automoderator (aka Automod) to take action on rules, but Automod’s tools “depend on exact keyword and pattern matching.”
Reddit says that Rules Hub has been in testing for “the past few months” with “new and experienced moderators from over 700 communities, including members of Reddit’s Mod Council Network.” That test of Rules Hub is now expanding to “all newly created communities” and will be “widely available” at some point later in 2026.
Rules Hub will be optional for new communities, spokesperson Rosa Kim tells The Verge. However, it does sound as if Reddit plans to retire Automod’s enforcement features down the line: In its post, Reddit says that “Looking ahead, we believe Rules Hub, together with newer systems like Post & Comment Guidance and Safety Filters, can eventually replace many of the enforcement workflows that communities rely on from Automod,” Reddit says in its post.
The updated mod tools are just one of a few big platform announcements Reddit is making on Wednesday. The company is also planning big changes that will affect developers: It’s going to require new third-party apps to use the developer platform instead of the API.
“We envision a future where all good, trusted automation on Reddit runs within an ecosystem that allows us to offer support and enforce our policies consistently,” Reddit says. “To achieve this, we will continue supporting limited public API access, but we will gradually restrict new requests and require third-party apps to transition to and operate on Reddit’s Developer Platform.”
The shift follows Reddit’s major API changes in 2023 that it put in place to get AI companies to pony up for Reddit’s data but also caused widespread backlash in part because they forced many beloved Reddit apps to shut down. (Currently, if a developer wants to make a Reddit mobile app, they have to get permission from Reddit to get public API exemptions, and that will continue to be the case, Kim says.) Reddit doesn’t have a “set timeline” yet for requiring the developer platform, but the company will give “give the community ample notice” and provide a clear timeline, Kim says. The upcoming change will affect “all API apps except the ones we explicitly grant exceptions to,” according to Kim.
Reddit is also saying today that it’s planning more changes to old Reddit as part of its ongoing efforts to fight unauthorized scraping of its content. Those efforts already include blocking Reddit results from search engines that don’t pay, suing Anthropic and Perplexity, and blocking the Internet Archive to stop AI companies from using it to scrape data, and in June, the company announced that people would have to be logged in if they wanted to use the old Reddit interface.
Reddit doesn’t specify what the changes to old Reddit will be, but Kim says the company is “exploring different options” and notes that “in the short term we will limit access to logged-in users and migrate critical bots and moderator workflows.”
#Reddit #introducing #moderatorAI,News,Reddit,Tech">Reddit is introducing a new moderator: AI
Reddit is enlisting AI to help moderate new subreddits — and eventually the rest of site. The company is introducing automated moderation tools that rely on LLMs to help mods manage their communities, and it’s expanding who can use those tools today ahead of a full launch later this year.
The company calls the suite of tools “Rules Hub,” and the tools let mods decide what rules should be automatically enforced and what should happen when a rule is triggered. Rules Hub relies on LLMs to evaluate “whether a post or comment matches the intent of a rule,” which “allows Rules Hub to better handle nuance, natural language, and edge cases while preserving moderator control,” Reddit says in a blog post. Right now, many subreddits use tools from a feature called Automoderator (aka Automod) to take action on rules, but Automod’s tools “depend on exact keyword and pattern matching.”
Reddit says that Rules Hub has been in testing for “the past few months” with “new and experienced moderators from over 700 communities, including members of Reddit’s Mod Council Network.” That test of Rules Hub is now expanding to “all newly created communities” and will be “widely available” at some point later in 2026.
Rules Hub will be optional for new communities, spokesperson Rosa Kim tells The Verge. However, it does sound as if Reddit plans to retire Automod’s enforcement features down the line: In its post, Reddit says that “Looking ahead, we believe Rules Hub, together with newer systems like Post & Comment Guidance and Safety Filters, can eventually replace many of the enforcement workflows that communities rely on from Automod,” Reddit says in its post.
The updated mod tools are just one of a few big platform announcements Reddit is making on Wednesday. The company is also planning big changes that will affect developers: It’s going to require new third-party apps to use the developer platform instead of the API.
“We envision a future where all good, trusted automation on Reddit runs within an ecosystem that allows us to offer support and enforce our policies consistently,” Reddit says. “To achieve this, we will continue supporting limited public API access, but we will gradually restrict new requests and require third-party apps to transition to and operate on Reddit’s Developer Platform.”
The shift follows Reddit’s major API changes in 2023 that it put in place to get AI companies to pony up for Reddit’s data but also caused widespread backlash in part because they forced many beloved Reddit apps to shut down. (Currently, if a developer wants to make a Reddit mobile app, they have to get permission from Reddit to get public API exemptions, and that will continue to be the case, Kim says.) Reddit doesn’t have a “set timeline” yet for requiring the developer platform, but the company will give “give the community ample notice” and provide a clear timeline, Kim says. The upcoming change will affect “all API apps except the ones we explicitly grant exceptions to,” according to Kim.
Reddit is also saying today that it’s planning more changes to old Reddit as part of its ongoing efforts to fight unauthorized scraping of its content. Those efforts already include blocking Reddit results from search engines that don’t pay, suing Anthropic and Perplexity, and blocking the Internet Archive to stop AI companies from using it to scrape data, and in June, the company announced that people would have to be logged in if they wanted to use the old Reddit interface.
Reddit doesn’t specify what the changes to old Reddit will be, but Kim says the company is “exploring different options” and notes that “in the short term we will limit access to logged-in users and migrate critical bots and moderator workflows.”
Samsung’s press release didn’t mention which titles will have support initially, or how many there are, other than including a press image showing off Amazon’s series Ride or Die. The news also comes just after Disney Plus in Europe briefly lost Dolby Vision support due to a patent dispute.
It has similar features to Dolby Vision 2, but without Samsung paying Dolby’s fee for the stamp, and also promises to add “Intelligent Motion Smoothing” that can adjust scene by scene. Hisense, Philips, and TCL have said their new TVs will support Dolby Vision 2, while Peacock and Canal+ are on board for content, but it’s not available for use yet and will likely require a software update for supported TVs when it does start to roll out.
Both formats are promising to make use of motion smoothing when it can benefit the viewing experience on fast-moving action like sports, while also backing off from adding the unsettling “soap opera” effect to film and TV content, but we’ll have to see it in action to know how well it works. The HDR10Plus Advanced FAQ explains more about how its metadata tags can cover both genres (Movie, Sports, Animation, News, or General) and specific details like lighting, motion, or perspective to inform how your TV processes what’s going on.
Samsung’s press release didn’t mention which titles will have support initially, or how many there are, other than including a press image showing off Amazon’s series Ride or Die. The news also comes just after Disney Plus in Europe briefly lost Dolby Vision support due to a patent dispute.
It has similar features to Dolby Vision 2, but without Samsung paying Dolby’s fee for the stamp, and also promises to add “Intelligent Motion Smoothing” that can adjust scene by scene. Hisense, Philips, and TCL have said their new TVs will support Dolby Vision 2, while Peacock and Canal+ are on board for content, but it’s not available for use yet and will likely require a software update for supported TVs when it does start to roll out.
Both formats are promising to make use of motion smoothing when it can benefit the viewing experience on fast-moving action like sports, while also backing off from adding the unsettling “soap opera” effect to film and TV content, but we’ll have to see it in action to know how well it works. The HDR10Plus Advanced FAQ explains more about how its metadata tags can cover both genres (Movie, Sports, Animation, News, or General) and specific details like lighting, motion, or perspective to inform how your TV processes what’s going on.
#Samsungs #HDR10 #Advanced #launching #month #Prime #VideoGadgets,News,Samsung,Streaming,Tech,TVs">Samsung’s HDR10 Plus Advanced is launching this month on Prime Video
After previewing HDR10 Plus Advanced late last year, Samsung’s not-Dolby Vision 2 spec will launch globally on Amazon’s Prime Video this month. The first TVs announced with support are Samsung’s 2026 lineup, which will be able to make use of the extra metadata to deliver more precise HDR that is optimized for what you’re watching, and tone mapping that can adjust for specific areas of the screen instead of applying one setting to the whole frame.
Samsung’s press release didn’t mention which titles will have support initially, or how many there are, other than including a press image showing off Amazon’s series Ride or Die. The news also comes just after Disney Plus in Europe briefly lost Dolby Vision support due to a patent dispute.
It has similar features to Dolby Vision 2, but without Samsung paying Dolby’s fee for the stamp, and also promises to add “Intelligent Motion Smoothing” that can adjust scene by scene. Hisense, Philips, and TCL have said their new TVs will support Dolby Vision 2, while Peacock and Canal+ are on board for content, but it’s not available for use yet and will likely require a software update for supported TVs when it does start to roll out.
Both formats are promising to make use of motion smoothing when it can benefit the viewing experience on fast-moving action like sports, while also backing off from adding the unsettling “soap opera” effect to film and TV content, but we’ll have to see it in action to know how well it works. The HDR10Plus Advanced FAQ explains more about how its metadata tags can cover both genres (Movie, Sports, Animation, News, or General) and specific details like lighting, motion, or perspective to inform how your TV processes what’s going on.
The sale includes the 10-inch Skylight Calendar for $119.99 ($50 off), the 15-inch Skylight Calendar 2 for $259.99 ($20 off), and the 27-inch Skylight Calendar Max for $479.99 ($90 off). The 10-inch model takes up the least amount of space, though the newer, larger 15-inch Calendar 2 features faster performance, a brighter display, and swappable magnetic frames. The 27-inch Calendar Max, meanwhile, offers the sharpest and largest screen and must be mounted to the wall (the other models can stand on a table or be mounted), making it the easiest option for large families to view from across the room.
Regardless of which model you choose, every Skylight Calendar includes the same set of organizational features. Each member of your household can have their own color-coded profile, and each can sync events from Google, Outlook, Apple, Cozi, or Yahoo calendars. You can also create shared lists for groceries, chores, and other to-dos that everyone can access from the calendar or the companion mobile app, and even send your grocery list to Instacart with a couple of taps. Built-in weather forecasts also can help you plan around upcoming events, and you can also share calendar access with family members and trusted contacts.
You get even more perks if you subscribe to the $79 per year Plus Plan (the first month of the service is free to try). Skylight uses AI to automatically turn emails, photos, flyers, and spreadsheets into calendar entries. It also adds meal planning, tools for assigning and rewarding completed chores, and a mode that displays your photos like a digital picture frame.
The sale includes the 10-inch Skylight Calendar for $119.99 ($50 off), the 15-inch Skylight Calendar 2 for $259.99 ($20 off), and the 27-inch Skylight Calendar Max for $479.99 ($90 off). The 10-inch model takes up the least amount of space, though the newer, larger 15-inch Calendar 2 features faster performance, a brighter display, and swappable magnetic frames. The 27-inch Calendar Max, meanwhile, offers the sharpest and largest screen and must be mounted to the wall (the other models can stand on a table or be mounted), making it the easiest option for large families to view from across the room.
Regardless of which model you choose, every Skylight Calendar includes the same set of organizational features. Each member of your household can have their own color-coded profile, and each can sync events from Google, Outlook, Apple, Cozi, or Yahoo calendars. You can also create shared lists for groceries, chores, and other to-dos that everyone can access from the calendar or the companion mobile app, and even send your grocery list to Instacart with a couple of taps. Built-in weather forecasts also can help you plan around upcoming events, and you can also share calendar access with family members and trusted contacts.
You get even more perks if you subscribe to the $79 per year Plus Plan (the first month of the service is free to try). Skylight uses AI to automatically turn emails, photos, flyers, and spreadsheets into calendar entries. It also adds meal planning, tools for assigning and rewarding completed chores, and a mode that displays your photos like a digital picture frame.
#Skylights #smart #calendars #backtoschool #saleDeals,Gadgets,Smart Home,Tech,Verge Shopping">Skylight’s smart calendars are up to $90 off during its back-to-school sale
The start of a new school year can feel hectic, as parents juggle their kids’ classes, extracurriculars and sports on top of work, appointments, and other responsibilities. It’s easy for things to slip through the cracks, but Skylight’s shared smart calendars can help keep everyone on track, and from August 2nd through August 9th they’re up to $90 off.
The sale includes the 10-inch Skylight Calendar for $119.99 ($50 off), the 15-inch Skylight Calendar 2 for $259.99 ($20 off), and the 27-inch Skylight Calendar Max for $479.99 ($90 off). The 10-inch model takes up the least amount of space, though the newer, larger 15-inch Calendar 2 features faster performance, a brighter display, and swappable magnetic frames. The 27-inch Calendar Max, meanwhile, offers the sharpest and largest screen and must be mounted to the wall (the other models can stand on a table or be mounted), making it the easiest option for large families to view from across the room.
Regardless of which model you choose, every Skylight Calendar includes the same set of organizational features. Each member of your household can have their own color-coded profile, and each can sync events from Google, Outlook, Apple, Cozi, or Yahoo calendars. You can also create shared lists for groceries, chores, and other to-dos that everyone can access from the calendar or the companion mobile app, and even send your grocery list to Instacart with a couple of taps. Built-in weather forecasts also can help you plan around upcoming events, and you can also share calendar access with family members and trusted contacts.
You get even more perks if you subscribe to the $79 per year Plus Plan (the first month of the service is free to try). Skylight uses AI to automatically turn emails, photos, flyers, and spreadsheets into calendar entries. It also adds meal planning, tools for assigning and rewarding completed chores, and a mode that displays your photos like a digital picture frame.
We’re covering items that make writing easier and more satisfying, alarm clocks that can rattle even the most sleep-deprived students from a deep slumber, bags that are just as great for the gym as they are for the weekend away, and more. We wish the students in your life (or you, if you’re the student in question) a prosperous year, and we hope that our curation makes things a little easier during your studies and your downtime a lot more fun.
We’re covering items that make writing easier and more satisfying, alarm clocks that can rattle even the most sleep-deprived students from a deep slumber, bags that are just as great for the gym as they are for the weekend away, and more. We wish the students in your life (or you, if you’re the student in question) a prosperous year, and we hope that our curation makes things a little easier during your studies and your downtime a lot more fun.
Knowing exactly what your student needs for the school year ahead is next to impossible. Sure, you’ll probably nail the essentials, but there will likely be a few items you forgot to buy, or didn’t think they’d need to have. We’re pulling our weight during the back-to-school season with a new shopping guide that’s a mix of practical and aspirational products for students to use in and out of the classroom.
We’re covering items that make writing easier and more satisfying, alarm clocks that can rattle even the most sleep-deprived students from a deep slumber, bags that are just as great for the gym as they are for the weekend away, and more. We wish the students in your life (or you, if you’re the student in question) a prosperous year, and we hope that our curation makes things a little easier during your studies and your downtime a lot more fun.
In its decision, the NHTSA says it determined that Zoox robotaxis “have an equivalent or greater level of motor vehicle safety” compared to vehicles compliant with federal vehicle safety standards. Under the exemption, Zoox will be subject to “an enhanced oversight condition” that “may update and expand” as the company’s self-driving technology evolves. Zoox issued a software recall for its vehicles earlier this month over concerns that they may not detect smoke.
In its decision, the NHTSA says it determined that Zoox robotaxis “have an equivalent or greater level of motor vehicle safety” compared to vehicles compliant with federal vehicle safety standards. Under the exemption, Zoox will be subject to “an enhanced oversight condition” that “may update and expand” as the company’s self-driving technology evolves. Zoox issued a software recall for its vehicles earlier this month over concerns that they may not detect smoke.
#Zoox #charge #rides #steeringwheelfree #robotaxisAmazon,Autonomous Cars,Electric Cars,News,Tech,Transportation">Zoox can now charge for rides in its steering-wheel-free robotaxis
Zoox just got permission to charge for robotaxi rides in its boxy, steering-wheel-less vehicles. On Thursday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it has granted the Amazon-owned Zoox a temporary exemption, allowing it to deploy up to 2,500 vehicles annually over the next two years, as reported earlier by Reuters.
In its decision, the NHTSA says it determined that Zoox robotaxis “have an equivalent or greater level of motor vehicle safety” compared to vehicles compliant with federal vehicle safety standards. Under the exemption, Zoox will be subject to “an enhanced oversight condition” that “may update and expand” as the company’s self-driving technology evolves. Zoox issued a software recall for its vehicles earlier this month over concerns that they may not detect smoke.
DoorDash said it has received a Part 135 air carrier certification from the FAA that enable it to delivery small packages via drone. Other companies to receive this designation include Alphabet’s Wing, Zipline, and Amazon.
Previously, DoorDash worked with Alphabet’s drone delivery division Wing on a number of pilots in places like Dallas-Fort Worth, Virginia, and Australia. Now the company says it will deploy its own drones, designed specifically for food delivery. The drones will be designed and assembled within the company’s DoorDash Labs division, which houses its robotics and AI teams responsible for building its Dot sidewalk delivery robots.
“We’re designing an aircraft purpose-built for the gaps we see in local commerce, and it complements the short- and long-range designs our partners are scaling,” the company said in a press release. “Our drone is also proudly American-designed and built, with the majority of components made right here in the U.S.” (To be sure, the vast majority of drones are manufactured in China.)
In addition, DoorDash says it will also build all the necessary ground-level infrastructure to enable restaurants to hand off their deliveries to drones. As seen with other drone delivery pilots, there is a complex system of structures and additional equipment that needs to be built on the ground to enable drones to pickup their payloads before embarking on their deliveries. And there are flight plans, airspace management, and drop-off logistics that needs to be established to track the drones in flight. DoorDash says its committed to building all that infrastructure itself.
“The aircraft is what everyone sees,” the company says. “The harder problem is the infrastructure and integration on the ground, and that’s our advantage. Solving hard physical-world problems for local businesses is our focus, from real-time inventory reconciliation to universal handoff systems for drive-throughs, rooftops, or merchant back doors. We are building that complete end-to-end system.”
DoorDash says drone delivery could solve the problem of midrange deliveries that still end up taking longer because couriers are hard to find. The company says more than 20 percent of its orders involve distances of three to five miles, but that those orders can take on average nearly 25 percent longer than shorter deliveries, largely because finding a courier takes longer for these mid-range trips.
“Routing mid-range deliveries to drones lets Dashers focus on the orders they often favor: shorter deliveries that can be done quickly, staying near a high concentration of merchants for optimal routing, and maximizing their earning potential by getting them to their next order faster,” the company says.
DoorDash didn’t reveal which markets it was targeting for its initial launch, noting that it would announce more details in the months to come.
DoorDash said it has received a Part 135 air carrier certification from the FAA that enable it to delivery small packages via drone. Other companies to receive this designation include Alphabet’s Wing, Zipline, and Amazon.
Previously, DoorDash worked with Alphabet’s drone delivery division Wing on a number of pilots in places like Dallas-Fort Worth, Virginia, and Australia. Now the company says it will deploy its own drones, designed specifically for food delivery. The drones will be designed and assembled within the company’s DoorDash Labs division, which houses its robotics and AI teams responsible for building its Dot sidewalk delivery robots.
“We’re designing an aircraft purpose-built for the gaps we see in local commerce, and it complements the short- and long-range designs our partners are scaling,” the company said in a press release. “Our drone is also proudly American-designed and built, with the majority of components made right here in the U.S.” (To be sure, the vast majority of drones are manufactured in China.)
In addition, DoorDash says it will also build all the necessary ground-level infrastructure to enable restaurants to hand off their deliveries to drones. As seen with other drone delivery pilots, there is a complex system of structures and additional equipment that needs to be built on the ground to enable drones to pickup their payloads before embarking on their deliveries. And there are flight plans, airspace management, and drop-off logistics that needs to be established to track the drones in flight. DoorDash says its committed to building all that infrastructure itself.
“The aircraft is what everyone sees,” the company says. “The harder problem is the infrastructure and integration on the ground, and that’s our advantage. Solving hard physical-world problems for local businesses is our focus, from real-time inventory reconciliation to universal handoff systems for drive-throughs, rooftops, or merchant back doors. We are building that complete end-to-end system.”
DoorDash says drone delivery could solve the problem of midrange deliveries that still end up taking longer because couriers are hard to find. The company says more than 20 percent of its orders involve distances of three to five miles, but that those orders can take on average nearly 25 percent longer than shorter deliveries, largely because finding a courier takes longer for these mid-range trips.
“Routing mid-range deliveries to drones lets Dashers focus on the orders they often favor: shorter deliveries that can be done quickly, staying near a high concentration of merchants for optimal routing, and maximizing their earning potential by getting them to their next order faster,” the company says.
DoorDash didn’t reveal which markets it was targeting for its initial launch, noting that it would announce more details in the months to come.
#DoorDash #airborne #drone #delivery #divisionDrones,Food,News,Science,Tech,Transportation">DoorDash is going airborne with new drone delivery division
DoorDash is launching a new drone delivery program called DoorDash Air. The largest food delivery app in the US said that it has approval from the Federal Aviation Administration that clears the way for drone delivery in the near future.
DoorDash said it has received a Part 135 air carrier certification from the FAA that enable it to delivery small packages via drone. Other companies to receive this designation include Alphabet’s Wing, Zipline, and Amazon.
Previously, DoorDash worked with Alphabet’s drone delivery division Wing on a number of pilots in places like Dallas-Fort Worth, Virginia, and Australia. Now the company says it will deploy its own drones, designed specifically for food delivery. The drones will be designed and assembled within the company’s DoorDash Labs division, which houses its robotics and AI teams responsible for building its Dot sidewalk delivery robots.
“We’re designing an aircraft purpose-built for the gaps we see in local commerce, and it complements the short- and long-range designs our partners are scaling,” the company said in a press release. “Our drone is also proudly American-designed and built, with the majority of components made right here in the U.S.” (To be sure, the vast majority of drones are manufactured in China.)
In addition, DoorDash says it will also build all the necessary ground-level infrastructure to enable restaurants to hand off their deliveries to drones. As seen with other drone delivery pilots, there is a complex system of structures and additional equipment that needs to be built on the ground to enable drones to pickup their payloads before embarking on their deliveries. And there are flight plans, airspace management, and drop-off logistics that needs to be established to track the drones in flight. DoorDash says its committed to building all that infrastructure itself.
“The aircraft is what everyone sees,” the company says. “The harder problem is the infrastructure and integration on the ground, and that’s our advantage. Solving hard physical-world problems for local businesses is our focus, from real-time inventory reconciliation to universal handoff systems for drive-throughs, rooftops, or merchant back doors. We are building that complete end-to-end system.”
DoorDash says drone delivery could solve the problem of midrange deliveries that still end up taking longer because couriers are hard to find. The company says more than 20 percent of its orders involve distances of three to five miles, but that those orders can take on average nearly 25 percent longer than shorter deliveries, largely because finding a courier takes longer for these mid-range trips.
“Routing mid-range deliveries to drones lets Dashers focus on the orders they often favor: shorter deliveries that can be done quickly, staying near a high concentration of merchants for optimal routing, and maximizing their earning potential by getting them to their next order faster,” the company says.
DoorDash didn’t reveal which markets it was targeting for its initial launch, noting that it would announce more details in the months to come.
At the start of the summer, I impulse-purchased a pair of JisuLife Life10 S fans from Costco, which at CDN $25 each (or $32.99 through Amazon), are among the most basic offerings from the company. JisuLife’s extensive lineup includes some fan models costing close to $100 with features like reverse-charging to power your phone and 100 different speed settings. I want all those features, but my goal was to not spend several hundred dollars on personal cooling devices that could easily go missing or get damaged during the chaos of summer activities.
On the back of the fan is a USB-C charging port and a sliding power switch that prevents the fan from accidentally turning on while it’s being jostled around inside a bag.
The Life10 S’ functionality is comparatively basic, but also easy to use. A sliding power switch on the back prevents it from accidentally turning on while banging around inside a backpack, and a single button on the front cycles through five different fan speeds. There’s also a basic LCD display showing the battery’s remaining charge when the fan is first powered on and the current speed setting. It’s simple, but the Life10 S does its one job quietly and for a surprisingly long time.
A single button cycles through the fan’s five different speed settings.
When Dyson announced its first handheld fan in April, I assumed the company that had developed an expertise in moving air had created a personal cooling device that would outperform everything else on the market. My spouse loves their Dyson hair dryer, and I was sure the HushJet Mini Cool would be my secret weapon for surviving hot and humid summers, even if at $99 it was a splurge. But having used both Dyson’s personal fan and JisuLife’s $25 alternative, I only reach for the latter when braving the world without AC.
The basic LCD display on the front of the fan is sometimes hard to see because it’s hidden behind a reflective black cover, but the fan is easy to use without being able to see it.
Dyson’s HushJet Mini Cool wraps impressive engineering in an eye-catching design, and at its highest setting, it easily out blasts JisuLife’s even with the Life10 S set to full power. But even at its lowest setting, the HushJet is loud with a high-pitched whine reminiscent of Dyson’s vacuums. I don’t mind that sound when it’s limited to short bursts of cleaning at ground level, but not when coming from a tiny fan designed to be used close to your face and ears. The JisuLife fan produces sound at a much lower frequency, making it easier to tolerate for hours, even if it’s far from whisper quiet at full power.
What impresses me more about the JisuLife fan is how long its 5,000mAh battery keeps it running. At half power, which we find is strong enough to cool us down on even the hottest days, the fan ran for just over 16 hours before needing a charge. That’s far longer than my son lasted at the water park. For comparison, Dyson estimates the HushJet Mini Cool will run for up to six hours at its lowest setting, and at full power, I had it die after just over an hour.
I haven’t tested the even pricier Shark ChillPill that combines a fan with a metal cooling plate the company claims can lower skin temperature by up to 16 degrees Fahrenheit in seconds. You can cool down by pressing it all over your body, but it only cools for as long as the fan has power. SharkNinja estimates the ChillPill will run for up to 11 hours at its lowest setting, or just an hour-and-a-half at max power. That approach could be very effective, but I’m not spending $150 to find out.
I’ve also tested the wearable neck fans that seem to be very popular among the cashiers at my local Costco, but I didn’t find them to be as effective as I’d hoped. The breeze is spread out across the length of the fan and doesn’t feel as intense as a handheld fan, and wearing it positions the motor right below your ear at all times, so it’s a constant drone. I see why they’re useful, but it’s not an experience anyone in my family enjoyed.
After a successful summer with these fans, I’m already keeping an eye out for sales on other JisuLife models, including a hands-free version you wear hanging from your neck. But I’m also expecting these cheaper alternatives will continue to be the first thing we pack when heading out on adventures for the rest of the summer and probably for years to come.
Photography by Andrew Liszewski / The Verge
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
At the start of the summer, I impulse-purchased a pair of JisuLife Life10 S fans from Costco, which at CDN $25 each (or $32.99 through Amazon), are among the most basic offerings from the company. JisuLife’s extensive lineup includes some fan models costing close to $100 with features like reverse-charging to power your phone and 100 different speed settings. I want all those features, but my goal was to not spend several hundred dollars on personal cooling devices that could easily go missing or get damaged during the chaos of summer activities.
On the back of the fan is a USB-C charging port and a sliding power switch that prevents the fan from accidentally turning on while it’s being jostled around inside a bag.
The Life10 S’ functionality is comparatively basic, but also easy to use. A sliding power switch on the back prevents it from accidentally turning on while banging around inside a backpack, and a single button on the front cycles through five different fan speeds. There’s also a basic LCD display showing the battery’s remaining charge when the fan is first powered on and the current speed setting. It’s simple, but the Life10 S does its one job quietly and for a surprisingly long time.
A single button cycles through the fan’s five different speed settings.
When Dyson announced its first handheld fan in April, I assumed the company that had developed an expertise in moving air had created a personal cooling device that would outperform everything else on the market. My spouse loves their Dyson hair dryer, and I was sure the HushJet Mini Cool would be my secret weapon for surviving hot and humid summers, even if at $99 it was a splurge. But having used both Dyson’s personal fan and JisuLife’s $25 alternative, I only reach for the latter when braving the world without AC.
The basic LCD display on the front of the fan is sometimes hard to see because it’s hidden behind a reflective black cover, but the fan is easy to use without being able to see it.
Dyson’s HushJet Mini Cool wraps impressive engineering in an eye-catching design, and at its highest setting, it easily out blasts JisuLife’s even with the Life10 S set to full power. But even at its lowest setting, the HushJet is loud with a high-pitched whine reminiscent of Dyson’s vacuums. I don’t mind that sound when it’s limited to short bursts of cleaning at ground level, but not when coming from a tiny fan designed to be used close to your face and ears. The JisuLife fan produces sound at a much lower frequency, making it easier to tolerate for hours, even if it’s far from whisper quiet at full power.
What impresses me more about the JisuLife fan is how long its 5,000mAh battery keeps it running. At half power, which we find is strong enough to cool us down on even the hottest days, the fan ran for just over 16 hours before needing a charge. That’s far longer than my son lasted at the water park. For comparison, Dyson estimates the HushJet Mini Cool will run for up to six hours at its lowest setting, and at full power, I had it die after just over an hour.
I haven’t tested the even pricier Shark ChillPill that combines a fan with a metal cooling plate the company claims can lower skin temperature by up to 16 degrees Fahrenheit in seconds. You can cool down by pressing it all over your body, but it only cools for as long as the fan has power. SharkNinja estimates the ChillPill will run for up to 11 hours at its lowest setting, or just an hour-and-a-half at max power. That approach could be very effective, but I’m not spending $150 to find out.
I’ve also tested the wearable neck fans that seem to be very popular among the cashiers at my local Costco, but I didn’t find them to be as effective as I’d hoped. The breeze is spread out across the length of the fan and doesn’t feel as intense as a handheld fan, and wearing it positions the motor right below your ear at all times, so it’s a constant drone. I see why they’re useful, but it’s not an experience anyone in my family enjoyed.
After a successful summer with these fans, I’m already keeping an eye out for sales on other JisuLife models, including a hands-free version you wear hanging from your neck. But I’m also expecting these cheaper alternatives will continue to be the first thing we pack when heading out on adventures for the rest of the summer and probably for years to come.
Photography by Andrew Liszewski / The Verge
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
Andrew Liszewski
#dont #splurge #expensive #handheld #fan #beat #heatDeals,Gadgets,Hands-on,Reviews,Tech,Verge Shopping">You don’t need to splurge on an expensive handheld fan to beat the heat
Despite what influencers may say, you don’t need to spend $99.99 on Dyson’s HushJet Mini Cool or $149.99 for the Shark ChillPill to survive the summer whenever you leave the comfort of air-conditioning. My family has found all the comfort it needs to survive humid baseball games, sweltering concerts, and sweaty hikes with a couple of affordable handheld fans from a Chinese company called JisuLife that has spent the past decade honing its hardware.
At the start of the summer, I impulse-purchased a pair of JisuLife Life10 S fans from Costco, which at CDN $25 each (or $32.99 through Amazon), are among the most basic offerings from the company. JisuLife’s extensive lineup includes some fan models costing close to $100 with features like reverse-charging to power your phone and 100 different speed settings. I want all those features, but my goal was to not spend several hundred dollars on personal cooling devices that could easily go missing or get damaged during the chaos of summer activities.
On the back of the fan is a USB-C charging port and a sliding power switch that prevents the fan from accidentally turning on while it’s being jostled around inside a bag.
The Life10 S’ functionality is comparatively basic, but also easy to use. A sliding power switch on the back prevents it from accidentally turning on while banging around inside a backpack, and a single button on the front cycles through five different fan speeds. There’s also a basic LCD display showing the battery’s remaining charge when the fan is first powered on and the current speed setting. It’s simple, but the Life10 S does its one job quietly and for a surprisingly long time.
A single button cycles through the fan’s five different speed settings.
When Dyson announced its first handheld fan in April, I assumed the company that had developed an expertise in moving air had created a personal cooling device that would outperform everything else on the market. My spouse loves their Dyson hair dryer, and I was sure the HushJet Mini Cool would be my secret weapon for surviving hot and humid summers, even if at $99 it was a splurge. But having used both Dyson’s personal fan and JisuLife’s $25 alternative, I only reach for the latter when braving the world without AC.
The basic LCD display on the front of the fan is sometimes hard to see because it’s hidden behind a reflective black cover, but the fan is easy to use without being able to see it.
Dyson’s HushJet Mini Cool wraps impressive engineering in an eye-catching design, and at its highest setting, it easily out blasts JisuLife’s even with the Life10 S set to full power. But even at its lowest setting, the HushJet is loud with a high-pitched whine reminiscent of Dyson’s vacuums. I don’t mind that sound when it’s limited to short bursts of cleaning at ground level, but not when coming from a tiny fan designed to be used close to your face and ears. The JisuLife fan produces sound at a much lower frequency, making it easier to tolerate for hours, even if it’s far from whisper quiet at full power.
What impresses me more about the JisuLife fan is how long its 5,000mAh battery keeps it running. At half power, which we find is strong enough to cool us down on even the hottest days, the fan ran for just over 16 hours before needing a charge. That’s far longer than my son lasted at the water park. For comparison, Dyson estimates the HushJet Mini Cool will run for up to six hours at its lowest setting, and at full power, I had it die after just over an hour.
I haven’t tested the even pricier Shark ChillPill that combines a fan with a metal cooling plate the company claims can lower skin temperature by up to 16 degrees Fahrenheit in seconds. You can cool down by pressing it all over your body, but it only cools for as long as the fan has power. SharkNinja estimates the ChillPill will run for up to 11 hours at its lowest setting, or just an hour-and-a-half at max power. That approach could be very effective, but I’m not spending $150 to find out.
I’ve also tested the wearable neck fans that seem to be very popular among the cashiers at my local Costco, but I didn’t find them to be as effective as I’d hoped. The breeze is spread out across the length of the fan and doesn’t feel as intense as a handheld fan, and wearing it positions the motor right below your ear at all times, so it’s a constant drone. I see why they’re useful, but it’s not an experience anyone in my family enjoyed.
After a successful summer with these fans, I’m already keeping an eye out for sales on other JisuLife models, including a hands-free version you wear hanging from your neck. But I’m also expecting these cheaper alternatives will continue to be the first thing we pack when heading out on adventures for the rest of the summer and probably for years to come.
Photography by Andrew Liszewski / The Verge
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
