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YouTube says its ecosystem created 490k jobs and added B to the US GDP in 2024

YouTube says its ecosystem created 490k jobs and added $55B to the US GDP in 2024

Tech-news ,

YouTube released a report on Tuesday that shows just how influential the creator economy has become.

YouTube says that its creative ecosystem contributed over $55 billion to the US GDP and supported more than 490,000 full time jobs, according to research by Oxford Economics.

When YouTube talks about its creative ecosystem, it’s not just talking about creators. This includes anyone who works with YouTube creators (video editors, assistants, publicists), as well as people who work for creator-oriented companies (Patreon, Spotter, Linktree, etc).

But these figures continue to grow, even in a time when venture capitalists are no longer pouring money into the industry like they were about four years ago.

In 2022, YouTube and Oxford Economics reported that its creative ecosystem about 390,000 jobs and contributed over $35 billion to the US GDP, meaning that these 2024 figures jumped by 100,000 jobs and $20 billion.

These numbers are so large because YouTube provides the most consistent and lucrative opportunities for creators. Those who qualify for YouTube’s Partner Program can earn 55% of revenue earned from ads; even for mid-range creators (not the MrBeasts of the world), that can amount to several thousand dollars a month. While TikTok and YouTube Shorts have tried to monetize their platforms, the industry hasn’t figured out a way to reliably distribute ad revenue among short form creators.

As both a fast-growing and often misunderstood sector, creators have been advocating for American institutions from banks to the government to better serve their industry. Some creators struggle to qualify for business credit cards or get certain business loans, regardless of their demonstrable financial solvency.

These issues have become common enough to draw attention. Just last week, U.S. Representatives Yvette Clark (D-NY) and Beth Van Dune (R-TX) announced their bipartisan Congressional Creators Caucus to support and recognize the potential of the creator economy.

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Gudtrip is a cannabis vape pen from blockchain hardware manufacturer Puffpaw that is touting its ability to allow consumers to earn bitcoin while they smoke weed. Each of the company’s individual vape pen products has $2-3 worth of bitcoin attached to it, which can be redeemed via a QR code or NFC connection within the company’s associated mobile app. While Gudtrip has been criticized for effectively gamifying smoking marijuana, they claim that there is no direct reward tied to hitting the vape pen and seemingly have changed language on their website that previously claimed “Every hit earns crypto.”

Currently, Gudtrip’s vape pen is sold only in California, where recreational cannabis is legal. Buyers activate the pen by scanning a QR code or tapping via NFC to connect it to the Gudtrip app, which unlocks the bitcoin reward as an upfront loyalty payment. The app then tracks puff-seconds of usage and displays the data purely as a personal awareness feature, much like a step counter or sleep tracker on a fitness device. Users can check in daily to build streaks that boost non-monetary virtual points awarded in the app, but according to Gudtrip, those points exist only for record-keeping inside the app and cannot be redeemed for cash, products, or any other value. Puffpaw describes Gudtrip as building a user-powered network that mixes cannabis, Bitcoin, and artificial intelligence.

Gudtrip has opted for using bitcoin for their crypto rewards program rather than creating their own crypto token out of thin air. Many marketing gimmicks have been tried around crypto rewards that turned out to be nothing more than pump and dump schemes by many businesses over the years, including in the marijuana industry. Perhaps the most notorious crossover between the crypto and marijuana industries was Potcoin. Dennis Rodman infamously went to North Korea on a trip that was sponsored by the marijuana-themed altcoin. The promotion drove an immediate price surge, with the coin jumping nearly 97% to more than $0.18 shortly after Rodman arrived in Pyongyang on June 13, 2017, lifting its market capitalization near $40 million. However, after Potcoin hit an all-time high of roughly $0.51 in late 2017, it has since lost more than 99% of its value and now trades around $0.0008.

With all that said, reporting from DL News has indicated Puffpaw did at one point explicitly tell customers that a token would be launched in the future in a now-deleted post on X. Additionally, reward points in crypto-related apps are oftentimes eventually converted to crypto tokens with real monetary value. Previous reporting from Protos also indicates Gudtrip previously said rewards would be made via a token known as VAPE.

Gudtrip has also faced some backlash due to the perceived gamification of vaping (a characterization that the company explicitly rejects). Health researchers raised specific concerns to DL News after reviewing the product’s marketing. Joshua Gowin, an associate professor who studies frequent cannabis use, said gamifying cannabis use certainly sounds like habit-formation is the goal. Janna Cousijn, who leads the Neuroscience of Addiction Lab at Erasmus University Rotterdam, called it potentially a very dangerous and unethical device that could stimulate the development of addiction. Other experts warned that incentives tied to frequent use could impair health decisions and increase risks such as anxiety, memory issues, and respiratory effects.

In response, Gudtrip founder Reffo Tse posted on X to correct what he called factual errors in media coverage. Tse wrote that the product records puff-seconds for user awareness only and that there is no financial reward of any kind tied to consumption. He emphasized that the bitcoin loyalty payment is issued upfront to every customer and is not scaled to, gated by, or associated with the level, frequency, or duration of use. “We believe that an adult in a legal market who has visibility into their own consumption is better positioned to avoid problematic use than one who does not,” Tse added.

The gamification of everything is becoming an increasing concern of many, and crypto often plays a key role in this trend of turning the entire world into one big casino. One recent example is Tuyo, a DeFi-powered Visa debit card that runs on crypto and includes a “buy now, pay maybe” feature that randomly waives fees on selected purchases through an undisclosed algorithm. The system frames ordinary spending as a game of chance, with critics describing it as engineered addiction that preys on the same psychological triggers found in casinos and loot boxes.

Prediction markets have drawn similar scrutiny. Platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket allow bets on real-world events including elections, but reports show campaign staffers have used non-public internal polling data to place profitable trades before the information reached the public. A U.S. soldier is also facing federal charges related to prediction market trades surrounding the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro. These prediction market platforms have suspended users for suspected insider activity and are increasingly cooperating with law enforcement, but regulators and lawmakers continue to highlight the uneven playing field that favors those with inside information.

Gudtrip itself also includes the ability for awarded bitcoin to be seamlessly transferred to other more speculative, AI-directed investments such as decentralized finance (DeFi) and prediction markets. The website claims, “Users can choose to allocate eligible rewards into open-source AI agent tools that explore opportunities across DeFi (decentralized-finance), Gudtrip-native incentives, prediction markets, and selected RWA (real world assets) strategies.”

#Smoke #Weed #Earn #Bitcoin #Vape #Pen #Increasingly #Dystopian #NightmareBitcoin,Crypto,gamification,vaping,weed">‘Smoke Weed and Earn Bitcoin’ With This Vape Pen in Our Increasingly Dystopian Nightmare Gudtrip is a cannabis vape pen from blockchain hardware manufacturer Puffpaw that is touting its ability to allow consumers to earn bitcoin while they smoke weed. Each of the company’s individual vape pen products has -3 worth of bitcoin attached to it, which can be redeemed via a QR code or NFC connection within the company’s associated mobile app. While Gudtrip has been criticized for effectively gamifying smoking marijuana, they claim that there is no direct reward tied to hitting the vape pen and seemingly have changed language on their website that previously claimed “Every hit earns crypto.” Currently, Gudtrip’s vape pen is sold only in California, where recreational cannabis is legal. Buyers activate the pen by scanning a QR code or tapping via NFC to connect it to the Gudtrip app, which unlocks the bitcoin reward as an upfront loyalty payment. The app then tracks puff-seconds of usage and displays the data purely as a personal awareness feature, much like a step counter or sleep tracker on a fitness device. Users can check in daily to build streaks that boost non-monetary virtual points awarded in the app, but according to Gudtrip, those points exist only for record-keeping inside the app and cannot be redeemed for cash, products, or any other value. Puffpaw describes Gudtrip as building a user-powered network that mixes cannabis, Bitcoin, and artificial intelligence. Smoke weed and earn @Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/sj8jHFETQy — Gudtrip (@Gudtrip) October 24, 2025 Gudtrip has opted for using bitcoin for their crypto rewards program rather than creating their own crypto token out of thin air. Many marketing gimmicks have been tried around crypto rewards that turned out to be nothing more than pump and dump schemes by many businesses over the years, including in the marijuana industry. Perhaps the most notorious crossover between the crypto and marijuana industries was Potcoin. Dennis Rodman infamously went to North Korea on a trip that was sponsored by the marijuana-themed altcoin. The promotion drove an immediate price surge, with the coin jumping nearly 97% to more than alt=

touting its ability to allow consumers to earn bitcoin while they smoke weed. Each of the company’s individual vape pen products has $2-3 worth of bitcoin attached to it, which can be redeemed via a QR code or NFC connection within the company’s associated mobile app. While Gudtrip has been criticized for effectively gamifying smoking marijuana, they claim that there is no direct reward tied to hitting the vape pen and seemingly have changed language on their website that previously claimed “Every hit earns crypto.”

Currently, Gudtrip’s vape pen is sold only in California, where recreational cannabis is legal. Buyers activate the pen by scanning a QR code or tapping via NFC to connect it to the Gudtrip app, which unlocks the bitcoin reward as an upfront loyalty payment. The app then tracks puff-seconds of usage and displays the data purely as a personal awareness feature, much like a step counter or sleep tracker on a fitness device. Users can check in daily to build streaks that boost non-monetary virtual points awarded in the app, but according to Gudtrip, those points exist only for record-keeping inside the app and cannot be redeemed for cash, products, or any other value. Puffpaw describes Gudtrip as building a user-powered network that mixes cannabis, Bitcoin, and artificial intelligence.

Gudtrip has opted for using bitcoin for their crypto rewards program rather than creating their own crypto token out of thin air. Many marketing gimmicks have been tried around crypto rewards that turned out to be nothing more than pump and dump schemes by many businesses over the years, including in the marijuana industry. Perhaps the most notorious crossover between the crypto and marijuana industries was Potcoin. Dennis Rodman infamously went to North Korea on a trip that was sponsored by the marijuana-themed altcoin. The promotion drove an immediate price surge, with the coin jumping nearly 97% to more than $0.18 shortly after Rodman arrived in Pyongyang on June 13, 2017, lifting its market capitalization near $40 million. However, after Potcoin hit an all-time high of roughly $0.51 in late 2017, it has since lost more than 99% of its value and now trades around $0.0008.

With all that said, reporting from DL News has indicated Puffpaw did at one point explicitly tell customers that a token would be launched in the future in a now-deleted post on X. Additionally, reward points in crypto-related apps are oftentimes eventually converted to crypto tokens with real monetary value. Previous reporting from Protos also indicates Gudtrip previously said rewards would be made via a token known as VAPE.

Gudtrip has also faced some backlash due to the perceived gamification of vaping (a characterization that the company explicitly rejects). Health researchers raised specific concerns to DL News after reviewing the product’s marketing. Joshua Gowin, an associate professor who studies frequent cannabis use, said gamifying cannabis use certainly sounds like habit-formation is the goal. Janna Cousijn, who leads the Neuroscience of Addiction Lab at Erasmus University Rotterdam, called it potentially a very dangerous and unethical device that could stimulate the development of addiction. Other experts warned that incentives tied to frequent use could impair health decisions and increase risks such as anxiety, memory issues, and respiratory effects.

In response, Gudtrip founder Reffo Tse posted on X to correct what he called factual errors in media coverage. Tse wrote that the product records puff-seconds for user awareness only and that there is no financial reward of any kind tied to consumption. He emphasized that the bitcoin loyalty payment is issued upfront to every customer and is not scaled to, gated by, or associated with the level, frequency, or duration of use. “We believe that an adult in a legal market who has visibility into their own consumption is better positioned to avoid problematic use than one who does not,” Tse added.

The gamification of everything is becoming an increasing concern of many, and crypto often plays a key role in this trend of turning the entire world into one big casino. One recent example is Tuyo, a DeFi-powered Visa debit card that runs on crypto and includes a “buy now, pay maybe” feature that randomly waives fees on selected purchases through an undisclosed algorithm. The system frames ordinary spending as a game of chance, with critics describing it as engineered addiction that preys on the same psychological triggers found in casinos and loot boxes.

Prediction markets have drawn similar scrutiny. Platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket allow bets on real-world events including elections, but reports show campaign staffers have used non-public internal polling data to place profitable trades before the information reached the public. A U.S. soldier is also facing federal charges related to prediction market trades surrounding the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro. These prediction market platforms have suspended users for suspected insider activity and are increasingly cooperating with law enforcement, but regulators and lawmakers continue to highlight the uneven playing field that favors those with inside information.

Gudtrip itself also includes the ability for awarded bitcoin to be seamlessly transferred to other more speculative, AI-directed investments such as decentralized finance (DeFi) and prediction markets. The website claims, “Users can choose to allocate eligible rewards into open-source AI agent tools that explore opportunities across DeFi (decentralized-finance), Gudtrip-native incentives, prediction markets, and selected RWA (real world assets) strategies.”

#Smoke #Weed #Earn #Bitcoin #Vape #Pen #Increasingly #Dystopian #NightmareBitcoin,Crypto,gamification,vaping,weed">‘Smoke Weed and Earn Bitcoin’ With This Vape Pen in Our Increasingly Dystopian Nightmare‘Smoke Weed and Earn Bitcoin’ With This Vape Pen in Our Increasingly Dystopian Nightmare Gudtrip is a cannabis vape pen from blockchain hardware manufacturer Puffpaw that is touting its ability to allow consumers to earn bitcoin while they smoke weed. Each of the company’s individual vape pen products has $2-3 worth of bitcoin attached to it, which can be redeemed via a QR code or NFC connection within the company’s associated mobile app. While Gudtrip has been criticized for effectively gamifying smoking marijuana, they claim that there is no direct reward tied to hitting the vape pen and seemingly have changed language on their website that previously claimed “Every hit earns crypto.” Currently, Gudtrip’s vape pen is sold only in California, where recreational cannabis is legal. Buyers activate the pen by scanning a QR code or tapping via NFC to connect it to the Gudtrip app, which unlocks the bitcoin reward as an upfront loyalty payment. The app then tracks puff-seconds of usage and displays the data purely as a personal awareness feature, much like a step counter or sleep tracker on a fitness device. Users can check in daily to build streaks that boost non-monetary virtual points awarded in the app, but according to Gudtrip, those points exist only for record-keeping inside the app and cannot be redeemed for cash, products, or any other value. Puffpaw describes Gudtrip as building a user-powered network that mixes cannabis, Bitcoin, and artificial intelligence. Smoke weed and earn @Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/sj8jHFETQy — Gudtrip (@Gudtrip) October 24, 2025 Gudtrip has opted for using bitcoin for their crypto rewards program rather than creating their own crypto token out of thin air. Many marketing gimmicks have been tried around crypto rewards that turned out to be nothing more than pump and dump schemes by many businesses over the years, including in the marijuana industry. Perhaps the most notorious crossover between the crypto and marijuana industries was Potcoin. Dennis Rodman infamously went to North Korea on a trip that was sponsored by the marijuana-themed altcoin. The promotion drove an immediate price surge, with the coin jumping nearly 97% to more than $0.18 shortly after Rodman arrived in Pyongyang on June 13, 2017, lifting its market capitalization near $40 million. However, after Potcoin hit an all-time high of roughly $0.51 in late 2017, it has since lost more than 99% of its value and now trades around $0.0008. With all that said, reporting from DL News has indicated Puffpaw did at one point explicitly tell customers that a token would be launched in the future in a now-deleted post on X. Additionally, reward points in crypto-related apps are oftentimes eventually converted to crypto tokens with real monetary value. Previous reporting from Protos also indicates Gudtrip previously said rewards would be made via a token known as VAPE. Gudtrip has also faced some backlash due to the perceived gamification of vaping (a characterization that the company explicitly rejects). Health researchers raised specific concerns to DL News after reviewing the product’s marketing. Joshua Gowin, an associate professor who studies frequent cannabis use, said gamifying cannabis use certainly sounds like habit-formation is the goal. Janna Cousijn, who leads the Neuroscience of Addiction Lab at Erasmus University Rotterdam, called it potentially a very dangerous and unethical device that could stimulate the development of addiction. Other experts warned that incentives tied to frequent use could impair health decisions and increase risks such as anxiety, memory issues, and respiratory effects. Today we received a media request from @dlnews @DefiLlama regarding ethical concerns raised about @Gudtrip. To set the record straight, we’re publishing our response openly – for our users, and for the public. Hi @dlnews team, Thank you for reaching out and for offering… — Reffo (@web2reffo) April 30, 2026 In response, Gudtrip founder Reffo Tse posted on X to correct what he called factual errors in media coverage. Tse wrote that the product records puff-seconds for user awareness only and that there is no financial reward of any kind tied to consumption. He emphasized that the bitcoin loyalty payment is issued upfront to every customer and is not scaled to, gated by, or associated with the level, frequency, or duration of use. “We believe that an adult in a legal market who has visibility into their own consumption is better positioned to avoid problematic use than one who does not,” Tse added. The gamification of everything is becoming an increasing concern of many, and crypto often plays a key role in this trend of turning the entire world into one big casino. One recent example is Tuyo, a DeFi-powered Visa debit card that runs on crypto and includes a “buy now, pay maybe” feature that randomly waives fees on selected purchases through an undisclosed algorithm. The system frames ordinary spending as a game of chance, with critics describing it as engineered addiction that preys on the same psychological triggers found in casinos and loot boxes. Prediction markets have drawn similar scrutiny. Platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket allow bets on real-world events including elections, but reports show campaign staffers have used non-public internal polling data to place profitable trades before the information reached the public. A U.S. soldier is also facing federal charges related to prediction market trades surrounding the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro. These prediction market platforms have suspended users for suspected insider activity and are increasingly cooperating with law enforcement, but regulators and lawmakers continue to highlight the uneven playing field that favors those with inside information. Gudtrip itself also includes the ability for awarded bitcoin to be seamlessly transferred to other more speculative, AI-directed investments such as decentralized finance (DeFi) and prediction markets. The website claims, “Users can choose to allocate eligible rewards into open-source AI agent tools that explore opportunities across DeFi (decentralized-finance), Gudtrip-native incentives, prediction markets, and selected RWA (real world assets) strategies.” #Smoke #Weed #Earn #Bitcoin #Vape #Pen #Increasingly #Dystopian #NightmareBitcoin,Crypto,gamification,vaping,weed

Gudtrip is a cannabis vape pen from blockchain hardware manufacturer Puffpaw that is touting its ability to allow consumers to earn bitcoin while they smoke weed. Each of the company’s individual vape pen products has $2-3 worth of bitcoin attached to it, which can be redeemed via a QR code or NFC connection within the company’s associated mobile app. While Gudtrip has been criticized for effectively gamifying smoking marijuana, they claim that there is no direct reward tied to hitting the vape pen and seemingly have changed language on their website that previously claimed “Every hit earns crypto.”

Currently, Gudtrip’s vape pen is sold only in California, where recreational cannabis is legal. Buyers activate the pen by scanning a QR code or tapping via NFC to connect it to the Gudtrip app, which unlocks the bitcoin reward as an upfront loyalty payment. The app then tracks puff-seconds of usage and displays the data purely as a personal awareness feature, much like a step counter or sleep tracker on a fitness device. Users can check in daily to build streaks that boost non-monetary virtual points awarded in the app, but according to Gudtrip, those points exist only for record-keeping inside the app and cannot be redeemed for cash, products, or any other value. Puffpaw describes Gudtrip as building a user-powered network that mixes cannabis, Bitcoin, and artificial intelligence.

Gudtrip has opted for using bitcoin for their crypto rewards program rather than creating their own crypto token out of thin air. Many marketing gimmicks have been tried around crypto rewards that turned out to be nothing more than pump and dump schemes by many businesses over the years, including in the marijuana industry. Perhaps the most notorious crossover between the crypto and marijuana industries was Potcoin. Dennis Rodman infamously went to North Korea on a trip that was sponsored by the marijuana-themed altcoin. The promotion drove an immediate price surge, with the coin jumping nearly 97% to more than $0.18 shortly after Rodman arrived in Pyongyang on June 13, 2017, lifting its market capitalization near $40 million. However, after Potcoin hit an all-time high of roughly $0.51 in late 2017, it has since lost more than 99% of its value and now trades around $0.0008.

With all that said, reporting from DL News has indicated Puffpaw did at one point explicitly tell customers that a token would be launched in the future in a now-deleted post on X. Additionally, reward points in crypto-related apps are oftentimes eventually converted to crypto tokens with real monetary value. Previous reporting from Protos also indicates Gudtrip previously said rewards would be made via a token known as VAPE.

Gudtrip has also faced some backlash due to the perceived gamification of vaping (a characterization that the company explicitly rejects). Health researchers raised specific concerns to DL News after reviewing the product’s marketing. Joshua Gowin, an associate professor who studies frequent cannabis use, said gamifying cannabis use certainly sounds like habit-formation is the goal. Janna Cousijn, who leads the Neuroscience of Addiction Lab at Erasmus University Rotterdam, called it potentially a very dangerous and unethical device that could stimulate the development of addiction. Other experts warned that incentives tied to frequent use could impair health decisions and increase risks such as anxiety, memory issues, and respiratory effects.

In response, Gudtrip founder Reffo Tse posted on X to correct what he called factual errors in media coverage. Tse wrote that the product records puff-seconds for user awareness only and that there is no financial reward of any kind tied to consumption. He emphasized that the bitcoin loyalty payment is issued upfront to every customer and is not scaled to, gated by, or associated with the level, frequency, or duration of use. “We believe that an adult in a legal market who has visibility into their own consumption is better positioned to avoid problematic use than one who does not,” Tse added.

The gamification of everything is becoming an increasing concern of many, and crypto often plays a key role in this trend of turning the entire world into one big casino. One recent example is Tuyo, a DeFi-powered Visa debit card that runs on crypto and includes a “buy now, pay maybe” feature that randomly waives fees on selected purchases through an undisclosed algorithm. The system frames ordinary spending as a game of chance, with critics describing it as engineered addiction that preys on the same psychological triggers found in casinos and loot boxes.

Prediction markets have drawn similar scrutiny. Platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket allow bets on real-world events including elections, but reports show campaign staffers have used non-public internal polling data to place profitable trades before the information reached the public. A U.S. soldier is also facing federal charges related to prediction market trades surrounding the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro. These prediction market platforms have suspended users for suspected insider activity and are increasingly cooperating with law enforcement, but regulators and lawmakers continue to highlight the uneven playing field that favors those with inside information.

Gudtrip itself also includes the ability for awarded bitcoin to be seamlessly transferred to other more speculative, AI-directed investments such as decentralized finance (DeFi) and prediction markets. The website claims, “Users can choose to allocate eligible rewards into open-source AI agent tools that explore opportunities across DeFi (decentralized-finance), Gudtrip-native incentives, prediction markets, and selected RWA (real world assets) strategies.”

#Smoke #Weed #Earn #Bitcoin #Vape #Pen #Increasingly #Dystopian #NightmareBitcoin,Crypto,gamification,vaping,weed

Irrigreen apps: You create a zone, then use the app to define its boundaries. Similar to the aforementioned systems, Oto’s sprinkler is designed for precision watering, firing water in a beam in a single direction instead of a wide spray. That said, Oto’s spray is comparably narrow, only hitting a single, designated patch instead of producing a two-dimensional curtain of water like Irrigreen’s “water printing” system. You get a nice preview of this as you set the boundaries of your yard.

Like its competitors, Oto lets you set each zone as a spot (for watering a single tree, perhaps), a line (for a flowerbed), or a 2-D area (for a yard). I tested all of these modes but spent most of my time working with area zones, which are the most complex option. When defining an area zone, I found Oto’s system to be virtually identical to that of Irrigreen and Aiper, though ever so slightly slower to respond to commands. Even so, it’s very easy to use: A simple interface lets you drop points around the sprinkler to define the boundaries of the zone. When you’ve made a full circle around the sprinkler, the area is complete.

Once configured, you can assign each zone a schedule, with copious options available around which days to water (odd days, even days, select days of the week, every day), and designate a start time (though there is no tying time to sundown or sunrise). Each schedule also gets a weekly watering limit (in inches of depth), which you’ll then parse out over each week’s watering runs. Weather intelligence features let you elect to skip watering if your zip code receives measurable rainfall or if winds are high (both based on internet reports); the user can tweak both the amount of rain and windspeed needed to trigger a skip. The app logs the 20 most recent runs and includes a calendar that details upcoming events.

When watering an area, Oto takes a novel approach to covering the lawn, first moving in circular arcs directly around the sprinkler, then slowly increasing in range with each successive swipe. When finished, it does additional “clean-up” runs to hit any areas that the initial watering arcs didn’t reach. The speed is slow enough and the size of the water’s beam is large enough that the resulting coverage is solid. After test runs, I found the yard to be plenty wet across the entire zone, with no dry patches.

As with all sprinklers, changes in water pressure can make for occasional over- or underwatering of areas, but I found this to be a minimal problem when using the Oto. However, when watering at the terminus of Oto’s range, the power needed to throw the water that far can make for a strong splashdown, which may result in some soil erosion or damage to more sensitive plants.

The Oto also has a “play mode” option that lets you use the sprinkler for a watery game of chase or a more random “splash tag” mode, aka “try to avoid getting hit by the water.” Pro tip: It’s impossible not to get hit.

#SolarPowered #Smart #Sprinkler #Lawn #Watered #Power #Cablesshopping,review,reviews,household,home,smart home,backyard">This Solar-Powered Smart Sprinkler Keeps My Lawn Watered Without Any Power CablesOnce configured, setup proceeds much like the Aiper and pricier Irrigreen apps: You create a zone, then use the app to define its boundaries. Similar to the aforementioned systems, Oto’s sprinkler is designed for precision watering, firing water in a beam in a single direction instead of a wide spray. That said, Oto’s spray is comparably narrow, only hitting a single, designated patch instead of producing a two-dimensional curtain of water like Irrigreen’s “water printing” system. You get a nice preview of this as you set the boundaries of your yard.Like its competitors, Oto lets you set each zone as a spot (for watering a single tree, perhaps), a line (for a flowerbed), or a 2-D area (for a yard). I tested all of these modes but spent most of my time working with area zones, which are the most complex option. When defining an area zone, I found Oto’s system to be virtually identical to that of Irrigreen and Aiper, though ever so slightly slower to respond to commands. Even so, it’s very easy to use: A simple interface lets you drop points around the sprinkler to define the boundaries of the zone. When you’ve made a full circle around the sprinkler, the area is complete.Once configured, you can assign each zone a schedule, with copious options available around which days to water (odd days, even days, select days of the week, every day), and designate a start time (though there is no tying time to sundown or sunrise). Each schedule also gets a weekly watering limit (in inches of depth), which you’ll then parse out over each week’s watering runs. Weather intelligence features let you elect to skip watering if your zip code receives measurable rainfall or if winds are high (both based on internet reports); the user can tweak both the amount of rain and windspeed needed to trigger a skip. The app logs the 20 most recent runs and includes a calendar that details upcoming events.When watering an area, Oto takes a novel approach to covering the lawn, first moving in circular arcs directly around the sprinkler, then slowly increasing in range with each successive swipe. When finished, it does additional “clean-up” runs to hit any areas that the initial watering arcs didn’t reach. The speed is slow enough and the size of the water’s beam is large enough that the resulting coverage is solid. After test runs, I found the yard to be plenty wet across the entire zone, with no dry patches.As with all sprinklers, changes in water pressure can make for occasional over- or underwatering of areas, but I found this to be a minimal problem when using the Oto. However, when watering at the terminus of Oto’s range, the power needed to throw the water that far can make for a strong splashdown, which may result in some soil erosion or damage to more sensitive plants.The Oto also has a “play mode” option that lets you use the sprinkler for a watery game of chase or a more random “splash tag” mode, aka “try to avoid getting hit by the water.” Pro tip: It’s impossible not to get hit.#SolarPowered #Smart #Sprinkler #Lawn #Watered #Power #Cablesshopping,review,reviews,household,home,smart home,backyard

apps: You create a zone, then use the app to define its boundaries. Similar to the aforementioned systems, Oto’s sprinkler is designed for precision watering, firing water in a beam in a single direction instead of a wide spray. That said, Oto’s spray is comparably narrow, only hitting a single, designated patch instead of producing a two-dimensional curtain of water like Irrigreen’s “water printing” system. You get a nice preview of this as you set the boundaries of your yard.

Like its competitors, Oto lets you set each zone as a spot (for watering a single tree, perhaps), a line (for a flowerbed), or a 2-D area (for a yard). I tested all of these modes but spent most of my time working with area zones, which are the most complex option. When defining an area zone, I found Oto’s system to be virtually identical to that of Irrigreen and Aiper, though ever so slightly slower to respond to commands. Even so, it’s very easy to use: A simple interface lets you drop points around the sprinkler to define the boundaries of the zone. When you’ve made a full circle around the sprinkler, the area is complete.

Once configured, you can assign each zone a schedule, with copious options available around which days to water (odd days, even days, select days of the week, every day), and designate a start time (though there is no tying time to sundown or sunrise). Each schedule also gets a weekly watering limit (in inches of depth), which you’ll then parse out over each week’s watering runs. Weather intelligence features let you elect to skip watering if your zip code receives measurable rainfall or if winds are high (both based on internet reports); the user can tweak both the amount of rain and windspeed needed to trigger a skip. The app logs the 20 most recent runs and includes a calendar that details upcoming events.

When watering an area, Oto takes a novel approach to covering the lawn, first moving in circular arcs directly around the sprinkler, then slowly increasing in range with each successive swipe. When finished, it does additional “clean-up” runs to hit any areas that the initial watering arcs didn’t reach. The speed is slow enough and the size of the water’s beam is large enough that the resulting coverage is solid. After test runs, I found the yard to be plenty wet across the entire zone, with no dry patches.

As with all sprinklers, changes in water pressure can make for occasional over- or underwatering of areas, but I found this to be a minimal problem when using the Oto. However, when watering at the terminus of Oto’s range, the power needed to throw the water that far can make for a strong splashdown, which may result in some soil erosion or damage to more sensitive plants.

The Oto also has a “play mode” option that lets you use the sprinkler for a watery game of chase or a more random “splash tag” mode, aka “try to avoid getting hit by the water.” Pro tip: It’s impossible not to get hit.

#SolarPowered #Smart #Sprinkler #Lawn #Watered #Power #Cablesshopping,review,reviews,household,home,smart home,backyard">This Solar-Powered Smart Sprinkler Keeps My Lawn Watered Without Any Power Cables

Once configured, setup proceeds much like the Aiper and pricier Irrigreen apps: You create a zone, then use the app to define its boundaries. Similar to the aforementioned systems, Oto’s sprinkler is designed for precision watering, firing water in a beam in a single direction instead of a wide spray. That said, Oto’s spray is comparably narrow, only hitting a single, designated patch instead of producing a two-dimensional curtain of water like Irrigreen’s “water printing” system. You get a nice preview of this as you set the boundaries of your yard.

Like its competitors, Oto lets you set each zone as a spot (for watering a single tree, perhaps), a line (for a flowerbed), or a 2-D area (for a yard). I tested all of these modes but spent most of my time working with area zones, which are the most complex option. When defining an area zone, I found Oto’s system to be virtually identical to that of Irrigreen and Aiper, though ever so slightly slower to respond to commands. Even so, it’s very easy to use: A simple interface lets you drop points around the sprinkler to define the boundaries of the zone. When you’ve made a full circle around the sprinkler, the area is complete.

Once configured, you can assign each zone a schedule, with copious options available around which days to water (odd days, even days, select days of the week, every day), and designate a start time (though there is no tying time to sundown or sunrise). Each schedule also gets a weekly watering limit (in inches of depth), which you’ll then parse out over each week’s watering runs. Weather intelligence features let you elect to skip watering if your zip code receives measurable rainfall or if winds are high (both based on internet reports); the user can tweak both the amount of rain and windspeed needed to trigger a skip. The app logs the 20 most recent runs and includes a calendar that details upcoming events.

When watering an area, Oto takes a novel approach to covering the lawn, first moving in circular arcs directly around the sprinkler, then slowly increasing in range with each successive swipe. When finished, it does additional “clean-up” runs to hit any areas that the initial watering arcs didn’t reach. The speed is slow enough and the size of the water’s beam is large enough that the resulting coverage is solid. After test runs, I found the yard to be plenty wet across the entire zone, with no dry patches.

As with all sprinklers, changes in water pressure can make for occasional over- or underwatering of areas, but I found this to be a minimal problem when using the Oto. However, when watering at the terminus of Oto’s range, the power needed to throw the water that far can make for a strong splashdown, which may result in some soil erosion or damage to more sensitive plants.

The Oto also has a “play mode” option that lets you use the sprinkler for a watery game of chase or a more random “splash tag” mode, aka “try to avoid getting hit by the water.” Pro tip: It’s impossible not to get hit.

#SolarPowered #Smart #Sprinkler #Lawn #Watered #Power #Cablesshopping,review,reviews,household,home,smart home,backyard

TL;DR: This Babbel lifetime promotion gives you access to 14 languages, offline lessons, AI conversation tools, and 10,000+ hours of language education for a one-time $159 payment with the StackSocial code LEARN.

$159
$646.20 Save $487.20

 

Most language-learning apps are really good at helping people feel productive for about six days before the notifications start getting ignored. Babbel feels different because the lessons were actually designed by professional linguists and educators with real-world conversations in mind.

On the flip side, Babbel takes a different approach. New U.S. users can get a Babbel Language Learning Lifetime Subscription for $159 (reg. $646.20) with StackSocial’s code LEARN, giving you permanent access to all 14 languages on the platform.

Mashable Deals

By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

And honestly, the biggest reason people stick with Babbel is that it feels built for real humans with jobs, schedules, and functioning attention spans. Lessons are short — usually around 10 to 15 minutes — and focus heavily on practical conversations. Topics include travel, dining, work, shopping, introductions, and everyday communication that actually matters.

Babbel was also developed with input from more than 100 linguists and language educators, and the teaching approach leans heavily into conversation and retention rather than gamified gratification.

You can learn on your phone, tablet, desktop, or laptop, and your progress syncs automatically across devices. There’s also offline access, which makes it easy to keep practicing during flights, commutes, or anywhere Wi-Fi becomes questionable.

The lifetime access angle is really what makes this deal stand out, though. Instead of paying another monthly subscription indefinitely, this is a one-time purchase that gives you ongoing access to all 14 languages for as long as you want to keep learning.

For people who travel often, work internationally, love learning new skills, or simply want to stop saying “I should really learn Spanish someday,” Babbel feels like one of those purchases that you will be happy you made well into the future.

Get lifetime access to Babbel Language Learning for a one-time $159 (MSRP $546.20) with the StackSocial code LEARN for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

#Language #learners #humanbuilt #lessons #Babbel #special #promo">Language learners who value human-built lessons should get Babbel during this special promo TL;DR: This Babbel lifetime promotion gives you access to 14 languages, offline lessons, AI conversation tools, and 10,000+ hours of language education for a one-time 9 payment with the StackSocial code LEARN. 9 6.20 Save 7.20   Most language-learning apps are really good at helping people feel productive for about six days before the notifications start getting ignored. Babbel feels different because the lessons were actually designed by professional linguists and educators with real-world conversations in mind.On the flip side, Babbel takes a different approach. New U.S. users can get a Babbel Language Learning Lifetime Subscription for 9 (reg. 6.20) with StackSocial’s code LEARN, giving you permanent access to all 14 languages on the platform. Mashable Deals By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. And honestly, the biggest reason people stick with Babbel is that it feels built for real humans with jobs, schedules, and functioning attention spans. Lessons are short — usually around 10 to 15 minutes — and focus heavily on practical conversations. Topics include travel, dining, work, shopping, introductions, and everyday communication that actually matters.Babbel was also developed with input from more than 100 linguists and language educators, and the teaching approach leans heavily into conversation and retention rather than gamified gratification. Mashable Trend Report You can learn on your phone, tablet, desktop, or laptop, and your progress syncs automatically across devices. There’s also offline access, which makes it easy to keep practicing during flights, commutes, or anywhere Wi-Fi becomes questionable.The lifetime access angle is really what makes this deal stand out, though. Instead of paying another monthly subscription indefinitely, this is a one-time purchase that gives you ongoing access to all 14 languages for as long as you want to keep learning.For people who travel often, work internationally, love learning new skills, or simply want to stop saying “I should really learn Spanish someday,” Babbel feels like one of those purchases that you will be happy you made well into the future.Get lifetime access to Babbel Language Learning for a one-time 9 (MSRP 6.20) with the StackSocial code LEARN for a limited time.StackSocial prices subject to change. #Language #learners #humanbuilt #lessons #Babbel #special #promo

Babbel lifetime promotion gives you access to 14 languages, offline lessons, AI conversation tools, and 10,000+ hours of language education for a one-time $159 payment with the StackSocial code LEARN.

$159
$646.20 Save $487.20

 

Most language-learning apps are really good at helping people feel productive for about six days before the notifications start getting ignored. Babbel feels different because the lessons were actually designed by professional linguists and educators with real-world conversations in mind.

On the flip side, Babbel takes a different approach. New U.S. users can get a Babbel Language Learning Lifetime Subscription for $159 (reg. $646.20) with StackSocial’s code LEARN, giving you permanent access to all 14 languages on the platform.

Mashable Deals

By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

And honestly, the biggest reason people stick with Babbel is that it feels built for real humans with jobs, schedules, and functioning attention spans. Lessons are short — usually around 10 to 15 minutes — and focus heavily on practical conversations. Topics include travel, dining, work, shopping, introductions, and everyday communication that actually matters.

Babbel was also developed with input from more than 100 linguists and language educators, and the teaching approach leans heavily into conversation and retention rather than gamified gratification.

You can learn on your phone, tablet, desktop, or laptop, and your progress syncs automatically across devices. There’s also offline access, which makes it easy to keep practicing during flights, commutes, or anywhere Wi-Fi becomes questionable.

The lifetime access angle is really what makes this deal stand out, though. Instead of paying another monthly subscription indefinitely, this is a one-time purchase that gives you ongoing access to all 14 languages for as long as you want to keep learning.

For people who travel often, work internationally, love learning new skills, or simply want to stop saying “I should really learn Spanish someday,” Babbel feels like one of those purchases that you will be happy you made well into the future.

Get lifetime access to Babbel Language Learning for a one-time $159 (MSRP $546.20) with the StackSocial code LEARN for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

#Language #learners #humanbuilt #lessons #Babbel #special #promo">Language learners who value human-built lessons should get Babbel during this special promo

TL;DR: This Babbel lifetime promotion gives you access to 14 languages, offline lessons, AI conversation tools, and 10,000+ hours of language education for a one-time $159 payment with the StackSocial code LEARN.

$159
$646.20 Save $487.20

 

Most language-learning apps are really good at helping people feel productive for about six days before the notifications start getting ignored. Babbel feels different because the lessons were actually designed by professional linguists and educators with real-world conversations in mind.

On the flip side, Babbel takes a different approach. New U.S. users can get a Babbel Language Learning Lifetime Subscription for $159 (reg. $646.20) with StackSocial’s code LEARN, giving you permanent access to all 14 languages on the platform.

Mashable Deals

By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

And honestly, the biggest reason people stick with Babbel is that it feels built for real humans with jobs, schedules, and functioning attention spans. Lessons are short — usually around 10 to 15 minutes — and focus heavily on practical conversations. Topics include travel, dining, work, shopping, introductions, and everyday communication that actually matters.

Babbel was also developed with input from more than 100 linguists and language educators, and the teaching approach leans heavily into conversation and retention rather than gamified gratification.

You can learn on your phone, tablet, desktop, or laptop, and your progress syncs automatically across devices. There’s also offline access, which makes it easy to keep practicing during flights, commutes, or anywhere Wi-Fi becomes questionable.

The lifetime access angle is really what makes this deal stand out, though. Instead of paying another monthly subscription indefinitely, this is a one-time purchase that gives you ongoing access to all 14 languages for as long as you want to keep learning.

For people who travel often, work internationally, love learning new skills, or simply want to stop saying “I should really learn Spanish someday,” Babbel feels like one of those purchases that you will be happy you made well into the future.

Get lifetime access to Babbel Language Learning for a one-time $159 (MSRP $546.20) with the StackSocial code LEARN for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

#Language #learners #humanbuilt #lessons #Babbel #special #promo

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