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22 Ago 2025

SF’s Market Street Will no Longer be Car-free - Planetizen

SF’s Market Street Will no Longer be Car-free Diana Ionescu Fri, 08/22/2025 - 06:00 Primary Image Primary Image Caption Market Street has been closed to most vehicles since 2020.

San Francisco banned cars on Market Street in 2020. Now, some cars, including autonomous Waymo taxis and Uber and Lyft black cars, are coming back, prompting concerns from transit and safety advocates that any new car traffic will slow buses.

As Rachel Swan explains in the San Francisco Chronicle, “The companies have agreed to a controlled ‘evaluation’ period, during which they will limit service to off-peak hours, and to designated pick-up and drop-off zones.”

The move is touted by Mayor Dan Lurie as an effort to revitalize the corridor by providing easier access to local businesses. “Though the mayor and other city officials define ride-hails as commercial carriers, and insist that these vehicles should have always been exempt from the ban, opponents of the move fear that adding cars of any kind will cause congestion and slow Muni. Transit and cycling advocates who crusaded for years to push cars off Market have accused the city’s new administration of undercutting their work.”

The mayor’s office predicts allowing ride-hailing in the area will have minimal impact, only adding roughly two vehicles per hour.

Geography California Category Transportation Tags

Publication San Francisco Chronicle Publication Date Thu, 08/21/2025 - 12:00 Publication Links Cars will soon return to section of San Francisco’s Market Street 1 minute

SF’s Market Street Will no Longer be Car-free - Planetizen

SF’s Market Street Will no Longer be Car-free Diana Ionescu Fri, 08/22/2025 - 06:00 Primary Image Primary Image Caption Market Street has been closed to most vehicles since 2020.

The mayor’s office predicts allowing ride-hailing in the area will have minimal impact, only adding roughly two vehicles per hour.

Geography California Category Transportation Tags

Publication San Francisco Chronicle Publication Date Thu, 08/21/2025 - 12:00 Publication Links Cars will soon return to section of San Francisco’s Market Street 1 minute

Awe-inspiring science reporting, technology news, and DIY projects. Skunks to space robots, primates to climates. That's Popular Science, 150 years strong.

Ketchup was once a diarrhea cure - Popular Science

Quick: Picture the contents of a typical U.S. refrigerator. Did you imagine a half-used bottle of ketchup sitting on a shelf? If you did, well done. Since at least the 1920s, ketchup has been the condiment of choice for millions of Americans. It is estimated that 97% of U.S. households consume ketchup with the average American ingesting roughly three bottles of the sauce each year. A pillar of fast food culture, ketchup is affordable, versatile, and a kids-favorite.

Yet, this ubiquitous kitchen staple has a surprising and weird history. From ketchup’s origins in ancient China to its reinvention as a medicinal cure-all, it has taken a millennia for the condiment king to land in your humble refrigerator. Along the way, it’s passed through the hands of eccentric doctors, quixotic salesmen, and savvy food moguls who transformed the sauce from controversial medical remedy to a condiment of choice.

China: the birthplace of ketchup

Ketchup’s unlikely origin begins in 300 BCE China, where Chinese seamen made a fermented fish sauce called “ke-tchup.” In the 17th century, Chinese traders sold this ancient, tomato-less condiment to European traders. That’s when the first records of “ke-tchup,” “ge-tchup,” or “kue-chiap” sauce are found in trading documents and recipes. One of the earliest records of ketchup is a 1732 English recipe entitled “Ketchup in Paste, From Bencoulin in the East Indies” (modern day Indonesia).

By the 18th century, imported ke-tchup made its way onto European tables where it got mixed with local ingredients like mushrooms, walnuts, and elderflower. A 1787 English recipe for ketchup included anchovies, shallots, horse-radish, mace, and nutmeg. None of these early recipes contained what we now consider ketchup’s main ingredient, tomatoes. Indeed, tomatoes did not make their way into ketchup until at least the 18th century.

Spanish conquistadors brought the first tomato plants to Europe in the 16th century: This late 16th century illustration shows a tomato, moth mullein (yellow flower), forget me nots (blue flower), and a small insect. Image: Public Domain

In the 16th century, when tomatoes were first introduced to Europe and North America from South America, they were considered poisonous—partly because the plant’s leaves contain toxic compounds. So, how did a “poisonous crop” become the central ingredient of America’s beloved condiment? According to food historian Andrew F. Smith, tomatoes benefited from a sort of “rebranding” in the mid 1700s. English and American doctors led this unlikely 18th century PR campaign, as Smith wrote in a journal article entitled “Tomato Pills Will Cure All Your Ills.”

Tomatoes gets medicinal

The first doctor to shift people’s perception of tomatoes was English physician, John Gerard, who in the late 16th century posited that cooked tomatoes, rather than raw ones, could be edible. By the mid 1700s, English doctors were not only embracing “love apples,” as tomatoes were called due to their reputedly aphrodisiac properties, but prescribing them as medicine, mostly to treat digestive and liver-related conditions.

British physicians travelling to America took the tomato-as-medicine concept to the other side of the Atlantic. As Smith wrote, Thomas Jefferson credited British doctor John de Sequeyra for introducing tomatoes to Virginia. According to Jefferson, de Sequeyra would claim that “a person who should eat a sufficient abundance of these apples would never die.”

Soon, the buzz about “medicinal love apples” started to pick up. Doctors in other parts of the U.S. started to prescribe tomatoes to cure indigestion and diarrhea. Indeed, as Smith wrote, it was doctors and physicians, rather than chefs or cooks, that authored the first tomato-based recipes in U.S. cookbooks. James Mease, a scientist and horticulturist from Philadelphia, was one of the first cookbook authors to include tomatoes in a ketchup recipe. His 1812 recipe included thinly cut tomatoes, brandy, mase, allspice, and salt.

English botanist John Gerard erroneously believed the tomato plant’s stalk and leaves were poisonous, but that the plant’s fruit was not. Image: Public Domain The Mormon doctor who prescribed ketchup for diarrhea

Of the many doctors that rebranded tomatoes, no one played a bigger role than John Cook Bennett. Bennett was a “quixotic figure,” wrote Smith, and spent decades of his life promoting the supposed cure-all properties of tomatoes.

During an inaugural lecture at Willoughby University in Ohio, Bennett declared that tomatoes could treat diarrhea, bilious attacks, and indigestion. He urged people to eat tomatoes raw, cooked, or “in catsup.”

In 1840, Bennett moved to Illinois, helped establish the state’s Medical Society, and became a Mormon. During his time in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he continued to promote tomatoes, authoring an article on the benefits of the fruit for the Mormon newspaper Time and Seasons published in Nauvoo, Illinois. By the time Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, excommunicated Cook in 1842 for adultery, the Mormon community had already embraced tomatoes as a stomach ache remedy.

After his excommunication, Bennett kept defending tomatoes, writing about their medicinal qualities in American, English, and Australian publications. But, according to Smith (the historian, not the Mormon), it was in the U.S. where the “tomato craze” really took off. In 1835, doctor A.J. Holcombe introduced the first “tomato pills” in Glassboro, Alabama. Other tomato pills salesmen soon followed, including Cleveland-based Archibald Miles and Yale-educated doctor Guy R. Phelps. Advertised as a pure extract of tomato fruit, these capsules were sold in pharmacies and grocery stores and promoted with the jingle “tomato pills will cure all your ills.”

But not all doctors endorsed the tomato pills craze, wrote Smith. During an 1869 debate hosted by the American Medical Association, some physicians disputed tomatoes’ medical properties and criticized tomato pills—which later investigations found contained no tomato at all. By 1865, medical myths about tomatoes started to fade, but tomatoes had already become a favorite American vegetable. Their popularity coincided with innovations in commercial bottling that helped pave the way for ketchup’s future ascent.

Enter H.J. Heinz

In the late 19th century, glass-makers introduced inexpensive, mold-formed flasks. These made it much easier to transport and store sauces, allowing food companies to bring their products to market more easily. And that’s when the ketchup titan, Henry John Heinz, got involved.

Henry J. Heinz, the founder of the H. J. Heinz Company, became an icon of the American food industry through his focus on product purity and his famous “57 Varieties” slogan. Image: Public Domain

Heinz founded the H.J. Heinz Company in 1869, initially selling horseradish, sauerkraut, vinegar, and pickles. In 1876, Heinz added “catsup” to its list of products. While not framing catsup as medical, Heinz cleverly marketed the sauce as a wholesome, reliable product. Initially sold in clear-glass bottles, Heinz wanted to showcase the high quality ingredients used in the company’s catsup. The word “tomato” was later added, highlighting catsup’s plant-based ingredients. Then, in 1890, Heinz patented an octagonal-shaped bottle for their sauce and changed the spelling to ketchup. Tomato ketchup had finally been born.

Ketchup’s final leap into American food culture wasn’t driven by taste, but by law. The 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act, introduced the idea that industrial food had higher standards of hygiene, safety, and consistency compared to homemade products, Maryann Tebben, author of Sauces: A Global History, tells Popular Science. Food companies doubled down on this idea with ads framing their products as safe and reliable. Soon enough, consumers started to prefer commercially bottled sauces to homemade ones. Ketchup’s consumption took off in the 20th century with the explosion of fast food restaurants, when it found its perfect pairing with french fries and burgers. The introduction of easy-to-squeeze plastic bottles further cemented its place as a household staple in the 1980s.

Today, ketchup has lost some ground to newcomers, such as salsa. Salsa now outsells ketchup by dollar amount, says Tebben, yet American households still purchase more tomato ketchup by volume. Two centuries after its medical rebranding, ketchup has yet to be dethroned as king of American condiments.

The post Ketchup was once a diarrhea cure appeared first on Popular Science.

Awe-inspiring science reporting, technology news, and DIY projects. Skunks to space robots, primates to climates. That's Popular Science, 150 years strong.

Bluetti Elite 100 V2 review: Arguably the best portable power station in its class - Popular Science

In recent years, Bluetti has emerged among the leaders of the portable power station pack. With last year’s release of the Elite 200 V2, the company surged to the front with what we named the best solar generator of the year. Now they’ve released the much-anticipated Elite 100 V2, and after thorough testing, I can report that it delivers everything we loved about its bigger brother in an even more portable package.

Bluetti Elite 100 V2

Nick Hilden

See It Pros

Outstanding capacity to portability ratio
Excellent output power for its size
Lifting power allows for temporary overexertion
Super fast charging
Long lifespan
Whisper quiet
10ms UPS for instant automatic backup power
Sturdy build quality

Cons

Not intended for powering high-draw appliances
Not large enough to power an RV, not small enough to carry in a backpack
App can be glitchy

Specs

Capacity: 1,024Wh
Output: 1,800W running/3,600W surge/2,700W lifting
Life Cycles: 4,000
Solar Input: 1,000W
Charge Time: 70 mins
UPS: 10ms
Noise Level: 30dB
Dimensions: 12.6 x 8.5 x 9.8 inches
Weight: 25.3 lbs

How we tested the Bluetti Elite 100 V2

I put the Elite 100 V2 through its paces by running it from full to flat, charging it back up, then doing it over again and again, testing to see how it handled different combinations of power demands along the way. That meant charging small devices like phones and laptops, but also more power-hungry electronics like a hair dryer, espresso machine, and electric air pump, among a whole lot more. I brought it along on a couple of camping and outdoor day trips, and really got a sense of what it’s like to use it out in the field. And I compared this experience against the countless other portable power stations I’ve reviewed over the years, judging how it fared in terms of factors like performance, features, portability, and all-around build quality.

Why should you trust me? I’ve spent nearly 30 years using solar and mobile power gear in both amateur and professional capacities, and I’ve tested dozens and dozens of portable power stations from all the top manufacturers. This firsthand experience has informed nearly a decade of reviewing solar generators for the likes of Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, and many more.

The build

Something I’ve really come to appreciate about Bluetti is the sturdiness of their products. I test a lot of these power boxes from just about every company out there, and most tend to have a cheap, plasticy feel. Not so with Bluetti; the Elite series, in particular, has represented a step forward, even from the previously solid craftsmanship.

Let me put it this way: I never hear anything rattling around inside the Elite 100 when I move it, which can not be said for all portable power stations.

Features

The Elite 100 V2 offers a competitive array of outlets, including four AC plugs, two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, and a DC car plug. While this isn’t the most expansive selection out there, it’s pretty standard for its capacity and will suit the needs of most users.

A 10ms UPS function means that it can switch on backup power automatically the moment your home loses municipal power. While its modest capacity isn’t going to let it function as a whole-home backup (for that, look toward something like the Apex 300 we reviewed), this instant switchover does ensure that vital medical equipment, computer gear, and other essential electronics continue to operate uninterrupted.

And while portable power stations never get loud, the Elite 100 V2’s 30 decibels is one of the quietest I’ve heard. One typical sign that a unit is straining to keep up with demand involves excess noise, and I never heard it rev louder than a whisper.

Portability

I’d argue that the Elite 100’s main benefit involves its superior portability. It was released to replace the Bluetti AC180, which delivered comparable capacity and output but with slower charging and UPS response, but the Elite 100 does it in a package that’s 12 pounds lighter and 30% smaller. That’s a major improvement on capacity-to-size ratio, providing roughly the same watt hours and better performance in a unit that’s the size of a shoebox. Its 25-pound weight still may be too much for carrying in a backpack, but it’s perfect for packing in a car trunk or moving around the house or yard.

The performance

With its 1,024Wh capacity, the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 sits at the lower end of the mid-sized capacity range. While that’s not enough to power an entire RV or van, let alone a house, it’s perfect for keeping a portable cooler going for a couple of days of camping, powering several devices on the go, or keeping a few essentials on during a blackout. It’s the capacity I aim for when I need a decent amount of mobile power but still want to maximize portability, like when using tools or devices for a project outdoors or car camping for the weekend. To these ends, the Elite 100 V2 is excellent, providing substantially more juice than a smaller power bank while managing to remain surprisingly compact.

It also delivers surprisingly high output for its size. Its 1,800W running output is more than enough to keep a TV, lamp, and coffee maker going if your home power goes out for a few hours, or to power your electric cooler, lights, and air mattress pump while camping. Its 3,600W surge capacity allows it to handle the sudden increases in power needed to turn certain appliances and electronics on, and its 2,700W lifting power gives it the ability to maintain a higher output for a brief duration, like when using an electric kettle.

When it comes to going the other direction—charging—I found that the marketing’s boast of 70-minute charging to be roughly accurate. It’s slightly faster via the wall versus solar, but in both cases, it charges more rapidly than most equivalent-sized power boxes.

So, who should buy the Bluetti Elite 100 V2?

The thousand-watt-hour capacity of the Elite 100 V2 makes it the perfect size if you’re looking for something larger than a pocket-sized power bank, but still want something fairly portable that isn’t heavy to lift and won’t take up much space. It’s great to have around the house if you worry about blackouts, or if you simply like having a convenient source of mobile power on hand. It’s also great for outdoor day excursions and short camping trips when you need off-grid power for an electric cooler, lights, devices, and a few other small electronics.

The post Bluetti Elite 100 V2 review: Arguably the best portable power station in its class appeared first on Popular Science.

Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors

Apple One Just Became More Valuable Than Ever - MacRumors

Apple One allows you to subscribe to a bundle of up to six of Apple's services for a discounted all-in-one monthly price, and its value just went up in an artificial way.

The reason why Apple One just became more valuable is because Apple TV+ received a price increase this week in the U.S. and select other countries. In the U.S., for example, the cost of the service increased from $9.99 per month to $12.99 per month. However, Apple One plans with Apple TV+ did not receive any corresponding price increases.

There are three Apple One tiers, all with Apple TV+ included:

Individual ($19.95/month): Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ (50GB)

Family ($25.95/month): Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ (200GB)

Premier ($37.95/month): Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, and iCloud+ (2TB)

All in all, you can now potentially save even more money by switching to Apple One as opposed to paying for Apple TV+ and other services separately.

Alternatively, you can switch to the annual Apple TV+ subscription, which also avoided a price increase. In the U.S., that plan remains available for $99 per year.

Many streaming services like Disney+ and HBO Max offer annual plans at a discount compared to paying for 12 months individually, although it is worth keeping in mind that there is an opportunity cost to paying in full upfront.

This is a win-win situation for Apple, which gains an instant revenue boost from customers who stick with the monthly Apple TV+ plan, while boosting the appeal of its Apple One and annual Apple TV+ plans with a higher spend or longer commitment.Tag: Apple One
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Apple One Just Became More Valuable Than Ever - MacRumors

Individual ($19.95/month): Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ (50GB)

Family ($25.95/month): Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ (200GB)

Premier ($37.95/month): Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, and iCloud+ (2TB)

Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors

Apple Celebrates National Parks With Apple Pay, Apple Watch, and More - MacRumors

Now through August 29, Apple will donate $10 to the National Park Foundation for every purchase made in the U.S. using Apple Pay on Apple.com, in the Apple Store app, or at an Apple Store, up to a maximum of $1 million.

Apple has supported the National Park Foundation with this annual charitable initiative since 2017.

The non-profit organization "generates private support and builds strategic partnerships to protect and enhance America's national parks for present and future generations."

Apple celebrates U.S. national parks every August with special content across services like the App Store, Apple Maps, Apple Fitness+, and Apple Podcasts. Apple Maps has a Discover America's National Parks guide for hikes, Apple Fitness+ is offering a selection of Time to Run episodes inspired by national parks, and Apple Podcasts is featuring "The Wild with Chris Morgan" episodes that spotlight various national parks.

Apple also promoted the National Park Service app as App of the Day in the App Store.

Additionally, on August 24, Apple Watch users can unlock a special national parks award in the Fitness app, and animated stickers for the Messages app, by recording a workout of 20 minutes or more with any app that adds workouts to the Health app.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is a national parks enthusiast. In 2022, he said the parks provide a "sense of awe, tranquility, and quiet reverence only nature can inspire," and he emphasized that they are "well worth protecting, today and for every generation to come."

All of these initiatives are timed with the National Park Service's birthday on August 25.Related Roundup: Apple PayRelated Forum: Apple Music, Apple Pay/Card, iCloud, Fitness+
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Apple Celebrates National Parks With Apple Pay, Apple Watch, and More - MacRumors

One-Way Streets Have Worse Crashes, Higher Crime and Lower Property Values — Why do we Still Use Them? - Planetizen

One-Way Streets Have Worse Crashes, Higher Crime and Lower Property Values — Why do we Still Use Them? Diana Ionescu Fri, 08/22/2025 - 05:00 Primary Image Primary Image Caption A one-way street in San Francisco, California.

One-way streets may move traffic more efficiently, but did you know they contribute to a decline in road safety and local economic development? In his newest video on the City Beautiful YouTube channel, Dave Amos explains why more cities are returning one-way streets to two-way.

According to a piece by Aysha Khan in Next City, “Not all one-way streets are bad; sometimes they work well for narrow corridors or pedestrian-heavy areas.” But Amos argues that many downtown one-way streets are unnecessary, create dangerous conditions for people outside of cars, and reduce connectivity. “Research even suggests they can depress property values and raise crime rates — impacts that often reverse when cities restore two-way traffic.”

In the video, Amos outlines the history of one-way streets, which began popping up in urban areas in the 1940s and 1950s, often effectively serving as connections between highways. Amos explains how different street patterns impact traffic speeds, safety, and flexibility. One-way streets offer a quick way to get to major roads and freeways, but make it more difficult to access local businesses or make unplanned stops. Meanwhile, “Two-way streets create safer spaces and provide more connectivity.”

Geography United States Category Transportation Tags

Publication Next City Publication Date Wed, 08/20/2025 - 12:00 Publication Links The Hidden Costs of One-Way Streets 1 minute

One-Way Streets Have Worse Crashes, Higher Crime and Lower Property Values — Why do we Still Use Them? - Planetizen

Geography United States Category Transportation Tags

Publication Next City Publication Date Wed, 08/20/2025 - 12:00 Publication Links The Hidden Costs of One-Way Streets 1 minute

Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors

Add $25 to Apple Account Balance, Get 2 Months Free Apple Music - MacRumors

Apple has an upcoming promotion that gives users up to two months of free Apple Music when they add funds to their Apple Account balance, according to code found by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.

The offer will provide two months of free Apple Music for new subscribers and one month for qualified returning subscribers when adding $25 or more to an Apple Account balance. Users receive a bonus code immediately after adding the required amount.

The promotion is set to run through March 16, 2026, and is available only in the United States for users 13 and older. Gift card purchases from third-party retailers and Apple stores are excluded from the offer.

After the free period ends, Apple Music automatically renews at $10.99 per month unless canceled. Users can manage their subscription through the Apple Account section at the top of iPhone's Settings app menu (then tap Payment & Shipping ➝ Add Money to Apple Account). To avoid being charged, users must cancel at least one day before renewal.

The offer, which has yet to go live, will be limited to one per Apple Account and cannot be combined with other Apple Music promotions.Tag: Apple Pay Promo
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Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors

Add $25 to Apple Account Balance, Get 2 Months Free Apple Music - MacRumors

Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors

Apple Stops Signing iOS 18.6, Downgrading No Longer an Option - MacRumors

Apple is no longer signing iOS 18.6, making downgrades from iOS 18.6.2 or iOS 18.6.1 to iOS 18.6 impossible. iOS 18.6.1 was released a little over a week ago, swiftly followed by iOS 18.6.2 on Wednesday.

Apple often stops signing an older version of iOS, usually within a week or two after a new version is released. When an update is no longer signed, it can't be installed on an ‌iPhone‌ due to a server-side software verification check.

By no longer signing a software version, Apple ensures that customers have the latest security improvements and are not vulnerable to known attacks.

Apple's iOS 18.6.1 update re-enables blood oxygen monitoring in the United States for the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 running watchOS 11.6.1, which was released concurrently. That was quickly followed by iOS 18.6.2, providing important security fixes.
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Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors

Apple Stops Signing iOS 18.6, Downgrading No Longer an Option - MacRumors

Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors

Apple to Simplify iPhone 18 Camera Control Button, Not Remove It - MacRumors

An established Chinese leaker has pushed back against recent rumors suggesting Apple plans to eliminate the Camera Control button from the iPhone 18, instead claiming the company is working to simplify the component to reduce costs.

According to Weibo leaker Instant Digital, the Camera Control's pressure-sensitive modules for the iPhone 18 series currently remain in trial production. However, Apple is reportedly removing the capacitive sensor from the current dual-sensor design, and opting instead to rely solely on pressure sensing to achieve all button functions.

The current Camera Control button on iPhone 16 models uses both capacitive and pressure sensors beneath a sapphire crystal surface. The capacitive layer detects touch gestures, while the force sensor recognizes different pressure levels for taps, presses, and swipes.

Instant Digital says Apple's revised approach is similar to designs found in devices like the OPPO X8 Ultra and vivo X200 Ultra, where pressure sensors alone can recognize light taps, firm presses, and sliding gestures.

The leaker suggests cost concerns are driving the change, noting that the current solution is "genuinely very expensive" for Apple and is generating costly after-sales repairs. This is said to be creating "significant internal cost pressure" for Apple, especially since not all of its AI-powered Visual Intelligence features have fully rolled out yet, which is limiting the button's perceived value.

iPhone 16 Camera Control: Everything You Need to Know

Instant Digital has a decent track record for leaks, suggesting this is a genuine debunk of the recent report from another Weibo account indicating that Apple would drop the Camera Control from the iPhone 18 lineup due to low user engagement. Its removal would have been quite the reversal – Apple only debuted the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 series last year.Related Roundup: iPhone 18Tags: Camera Control, Instant DigitalRelated Forum: iPhone
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Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors

Apple to Simplify iPhone 18 Camera Control Button, Not Remove It - MacRumors

iPhone 16 Camera Control: Everything You Need to Know

Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors

Apple Loses Another Key AI Leader to Meta's Superintelligence Labs - MacRumors

Apple has had yet another AI executive poached by Meta, despite reports that the social networking company is slowing hiring (via Bloomberg).

Frank Chu, one of Apple's team leaders focused on cloud infrastructure, training, and search, will join Meta's Superintelligence Labs, a division tasked with building advanced AI systems capable of performing at or beyond human-level intelligence.

Chu was involved with managing Apple's cloud-based large language models (LLMs), and was also influential in developing search features for Siri and Apple's entertainment services. For Meta, Chu will work on a new team called MSL Infra, responsible for AI infrastructure development.

Meta has spent billions of dollars on recruitment for its Superintelligence group in recent months, but the company is said to be slowing down hiring over concerns of an overheated market. The pause went into effect last week amid a broader restructuring of the group.

Fears that investments in AI are moving too fast weren't helped by reports earlier this week that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told a group of journalists that he believes AI is in a bubble. There was a broader sell-off of U.S. technology stocks following the news.

Apple has hemorrhaged around a dozen artificial intelligence staff to rivals since January. The exodus of staff from Apple's AI team over the last seven months has seen senior researchers leave variously for Meta, OpenAI, xAI, Cohere, and others.

One of the most notable recent departures was Ruoming Pang, head of Apple's Foundational Models team, who joined Meta last month after being lured by CEO Mark Zuckerberg with a $200 million pay package.

The talent drain coincides with Apple's struggle to update Siri by integrating LLMs. A chatbot-like version of the virtual assistant was one of the key Apple Intelligence features that Apple promoted at last year's WWWDC, but it has yet to arrive.

Apple is said to be considering using third-party AI models for Siri rather than its in-house technology, following an executive restructuring. During Apple's recent earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company is "making good progress on a more personalized Siri" that is powered by Apple Intelligence, and he reiterated that the features will be available next year.Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Bloomberg, Meta
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Apple Loses Another Key AI Leader to Meta's Superintelligence Labs - MacRumors

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Using AI to Search Maps - Google Maps Mania

The magnificent David Rumsey Map Collection now has an AI Search Assistant that can help you find maps, learn more about individual maps, and even query specific elements within maps.The David Rumsey Map Collection is one of the largest online collections of maps, and its new AI Search Assistant is a fantastic resource. It not only helps you search and discover maps in the collection Keir Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07052313829398691711noreply@blogger.com0

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Using AI to Search Maps - Google Maps Mania

Il miglior Blog in Italia "a proposito di" Apple

iPhone 16 Pro, cala vertiginosamente il prezzo su eBay - TheAppleLounge

L’iPhone 16 Pro si conferma una scelta vincente per chi cerca un nuovo smartphone Apple,

Il miglior Blog in Italia "a proposito di" Apple

iPhone 16 Pro, cala vertiginosamente il prezzo su eBay - TheAppleLounge

L’iPhone 16 Pro si conferma una scelta vincente per chi cerca un nuovo smartphone Apple,

Awe-inspiring science reporting, technology news, and DIY projects. Skunks to space robots, primates to climates. That's Popular Science, 150 years strong.

Walmart is blowing out Greenworks electric mowers as low as $198 with a battery and charger - Popular Science

If you’re still pull-starting your lawn mower (or any of your yard tools), it’s time to bring your yard care routine into the modern era. Right now, Walmart has a wide assortment of Greenworks lawn care tools for their lowest prices of the year. That includes mowers, as well as blowers and chainsaws, both of which will be very helpful when the leaves start falling in just a few short weeks.

Greenworks 40V 21" Brushless Walk Behind Push Lawn Mower with 5Ah Battery and Charger $198 (was $324) The kit includes the mower, battery, and charger.

Greenworks

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Despite its low price, this model has a few upgraded features you’d typically find in higher-end models. It has a 21-inch deck, which is wider than the 19-inch decks offered by many budget-oriented models. A wider mowing area means it makes quicker work of your chores. It offers seven different cutting heights, which is surprisingly precise, especially considering that it adjusts with a simple lever. It comes with both a charger and a battery, but it has two battery ports, so you can add an extra cell and double your running time if you have a larger yard.

This is a great basic mower with plenty of power and an impressive selection of upgrades that you don’t typically find under $200.

Greenworks 60V 450 CFM at 125 Mph Cordless Leaf Blower with 2.0Ah Battery & Charger $85 (was $199) This deal drops the price to less than half of retail.

Greenworks

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This blower is more than half-off right now, which is a fantastic deal. It comes with a 60V battery and a charger, which basically makes the actual tool free. It’s easy to handle, powerful enough to clear large spaces, and quieter than gas-powered competitors.

Greenworks battery and charger deals

Greenworks 60V 4.0Ah UltraPower Battery $144 (was $179)
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Greenworks 60V 21″ Brushless Self-Propelled Battery Powered Lawn Mower + (2) 4.0Ah Batteries & Dual Port Charger $480 (was $599)
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Greenworks 40V 20″ Brushless Push Lawn Mower with 4.0 Ah Battery & Quick Charger $224 (was $298)
Greenworks 60V 25″ Self-Propelled Lawn Mower with (2) 4.0 Ah Batteries & Rapid Charger $591 (was $749)
Greenworks 60V 19″ Cordless Battery Push Lawn Mower with 5.0Ah Battery & Charger $274 (was $389)
Greenworks 60V 25″ Cordless Brushless Self-Propelled Mower + Two (2) 4.0Ah Batteries & Dual Port Charger $549 (was $749)

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Greenworks 60V 630 CFM 170 MPH Leaf Blower with 2.5 Ah Battery & 3 Amp Charger $164 (was $198)
Greenworks 60V 750 CFM 180 MPH Leaf Blower with 4.0 AH HC Battery and 6 Amp Charger $248 (was $278)

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Greenworks 60V 16″ Carbon Fiber Shaft String Trimmer with (1) 2.5 Ah Battery & 3A Charger $198 (was $248)
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The post Walmart is blowing out Greenworks electric mowers as low as $198 with a battery and charger appeared first on Popular Science.

Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors

Y Combinator Files Brief Supporting Epic Games, Says App Store Fees Stifle Startups - MacRumors

Startup accelerator and venture capital firm Y Combinator (YC) today filed an amicus brief supporting Epic Games in Epic's continued legal fight with Apple. Y Combinator says that Apple's "anti-steering restraints" have long inhibited the growth and development of technology companies that monetize goods and services through apps.

The company calls on the court to deny Apple's appeal and uphold the order that required Apple to change its App Store linking rules in the United States.

Back in April, Apple was found to be violating a 2021 injunction that required it to let developers direct customers to third-party purchase options on the web using in-app links. Apple had implemented a system for developers to link to external websites in their apps, but it charged an up to 27 percent fee to do so.

Apple was found to be in "willful violation" of the anti-steering injunction, and it was ordered to allow developers to freely link to purchase options outside of the ‌App Store‌ with no fees or restrictions on link format. Apple implemented those changes, but also filed an appeal, so there is potential for the decision to be walked back. ‌Epic Games‌ and now Y Combinator are aiming to prevent Apple from being able to revert to its old ‌App Store‌ rules around linking.

Y Combinator says that it has "long been hesitant" to support app-based businesses subject to "the Apple Tax" because they were poor investments.
A 30% revenue share can easily be the difference between a company that can afford to scale, hire new employees, and reinvest in its product, and one that is perpetually struggling to stay afloat. Understood in this light, the 30% Apple Tax protected from erosion by Apple's anti-steering restraints is not merely a cost of doing business, it is a profound and often insurmountable barrier to entry that stifles competition and innovation at its source.
The enforcement order that's currently in place has already created renewed investor interest in app-based business models that were previously not feasible, according to Y Combinator. The company believes that Apple adds minimal value for the fees that it collects.

Y Combinator suggests that the court end Apple's anti-steering restraints permanently to promote innovation and to allow tech startups to freely compete.

Tag: App Store
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Y Combinator Files Brief Supporting Epic Games, Says App Store Fees Stifle Startups - MacRumors

21 Ago 2025

Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors

Colors for Alleged 'TechWoven' iPhone 17 Cases Shown Off in New Images - MacRumors

Apple is designing new "TechWoven" cases for the iPhone 17, with photos of some of the alleged case colors shared today by leaker Majin Bu.

The cases feature a muted, fabric design in colors that appear to include black, blue, green, purple, and orange. The TechWoven cases will reportedly replace the fabric-like FineWoven casesthat Apple discontinued with the iPhone 16 launch. The FineWoven cases were not popular with customers due to their penchant for staining and issues with durability. The fabric of the TechWoven case has supposedly been "redesigned for greater durability."

Majin Bu claims that the cases will include metallic buttons with "improved tactile feedback," a Camera Control button, MagSafe compatibility, and two small holes at the bottom for attaching a crossbody strap or accessories. The cases appear to be for the iPhone 17 Pro models that are rumored to have a horizontal camera bar given the size of the camera cutout, but Bu says the TechWoven cases will be available for all of the ‌iPhone 17‌ models.

It is unclear as of yet if these cases are real, but we will find out in less than a month when Apple unveils the new ‌iPhone 17‌ models.Related Roundup: iPhone 17 ProRelated Forum: iPhone
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Colors for Alleged 'TechWoven' iPhone 17 Cases Shown Off in New Images - MacRumors

Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors

Apple CEO Tim Cook Featured in Latest South Park Episode - MacRumors

Popular cartoon series South Park has been satirizing U.S. President Donald Trump, and the latest episode, titled "Sickofancy," includes Apple CEO Tim Cook.

A cartoon version of Cook is depicted visiting Trump in the White House to provide him with a gift, which is poking fun at the glass and gold Apple plaque that Cook presented to Trump earlier in August.

"Mr. President, your ideas for the tech industry are so innovative and you definitely do not have a small penis," said the fake Cook. "Please accept this gift on behalf of Apple."

Cartoon Trump proceeds to take Cook's gift into bed with him. "Another great day getting presents," said cartoon Trump while climbing into bed with Satan. "Look at what some dipshit tech CEO gave me," he adds, before suggesting the duo do something X-rated with Cook's gift. Cook was just one of several notable figures shown presenting Trump with high-value gifts in the South Park episode.

“Mr. President, your ideas for the tech industry are so innovative. And you definitely do not have a small penis.” pic.twitter.com/anVvOSIVb0

— South Park (@SouthPark) August 21, 2025
In real life, Cook gave Trump a glass plaque with an Apple logo engraved on it, which was manufactured by Apple supplier Corning in Kentucky. Beneath the glass plaque, there is a 24-karat pure gold base that Cook said was sourced from Utah.

Cook was at the White House to announce Apple's plans to invest an additional $100 billion in U.S. manufacturing over the next four years, bringing Apple's total investment to $600 billion.

Cook was derided on social media and in news articles for his bootlicking, but it has been successful for Apple. Apple continues to be largely exempt from the high tariffs that have been imposed on countries like China and India, and at the Cook and Trump White House event, Trump said that companies like Apple that are "investing" in the U.S. will not have to pay forthcoming semiconductor tariffs.Tags: Donald Trump, Tim Cook
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Apple CEO Tim Cook Featured in Latest South Park Episode - MacRumors

“Mr. President, your ideas for the tech industry are so innovative. And you definitely do not have a small penis.” pic.twitter.com/anVvOSIVb0

Awe-inspiring science reporting, technology news, and DIY projects. Skunks to space robots, primates to climates. That's Popular Science, 150 years strong.

These New Orleans lizards are full of lead - Popular Science

Lead is highly regulated today, but that wasn’t always the case for the toxic heavy metal. In fact, the industrial ingredient was at once so pervasive that experts estimate around 90 percent of Americans born between 1951 and 1980 amassed problematically high levels of the element in their bloodstreams during childhood. While lead pollution remains a major public health and environmental hazard across much of the world, at least one species is stunning researchers with its unexpected resilience.

The Cuban brown anole lizards (Anolis sagrei) of New Orleans, Louisiana, contain the highest blood-lead levels ever seen in a vertebrate, according to a study published in the journal Environmental Research, The percentage is so high, that a similar concentration would likely kill most other animals. However, the anoles aren’t only unfazed by it—they’re continuing their invasive spread across the region.

“These lizards aren’t just surviving, they’re thriving with [a] lead burden that would be catastrophic for most other animals,” study co-author and Tulane University evolutionary biologist Alex Gunderson said in a statement.

Unlike the city’s native green anole (Anolis carolinensis), experts believe brown anole arrived by way of the Caribbean as recently as the 1990s. Their numbers have particularly exploded over the past two decades, with a population that now surpasses its indigenous reptile relative. Contrary to these comparatively new arrivals, however, New Orleans was established as a French colonial settlement in 1718. Today’s city and its over three centuries’ worth of civic infrastructure, technological advances, and industrialized living provides an excellent backdrop to study lead’s longterm environmental effects on wildlife

“New Orleans is an old city, which means it has a long history with things like lead paint and leaded gasoline, and lead from those sources made their way into the dirt,” Gunderson tells Popular Science.

He says that studying lead levels requires studying the soil itself, and lizards are a great animal to use as a reference point. “The lizards live close to the ground, so they are breathing in dust with lead in it and eating insects that have lead on and in them,” explains Gunderson.

In their paper, Gunderson and project lead Annelise Blanchette also wrote that brown anoles are particularly useful because they “already serve as a model system in urban, physiological, and evolutionary ecology.”

“My goal was also to understand how living in cities impacts wildlife, and these lizards are well adapted to cities so I was curious if we would see any anthropogenic effects,” Blanchette tells Popular Science. The results of her curiosity soon left her “absolutely shocked.”

After collecting wild brown anoles and analyzing biological samples, Blanchette and colleagues discovered that the lizards displayed the highest mean and individual blood-lead concentrations of any known vertebrate. What’s more, they showed little-to-no impairment to abilities often affected by lead poisoning, such as sprint speed, endurance, and balance. Further experiments showed that the brown anoles required a lead intake around 10 times higher than their already intense levels to result in any noticeable deterioration. Examinations of the anoles’ brain and liver tissues also only revealed “minor effects” from lead exposure.

“I saw that the levels were high but it didn’t really click with me until we had confirmed the first round of data,” Blanchette says. “Once I realized the blood lead levels other free-living wildlife tend to cope with are much lower, I was astounded by the anoles. I knew we had kind of stumbled upon something special.“

It remains unclear exactly how or why the brown anoles of New Orleans treat lead like it’s no big deal, although researchers noted the lizards displayed multiple altered genes tied to metal ion regulation and oxygen transport. That said, the researchers cautioned against thinking that all bioengineering human genetics to tolerate larger amounts of lead is a viable path forward. Instead, they say their discovery underscores the importance of further exploring lead’s wide-ranging ecological effects.

“We need to reevaluate what we know about toxicity thresholds in vertebrates,” Gunderson said. “If we can figure out what’s protecting them, we might uncover strategies that could help mitigate heavy metal poisoning in people and other species.”

The post These New Orleans lizards are full of lead appeared first on Popular Science.

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Review: Ecovacs' Matter-Compatible Deebot X9 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum Put to the Test - MacRumors

The Deebot X9 Pro Omni is the latest flagship robot vacuum from Ecovacs. At $1,300, it doesn't come cheap, but it is one of the most full-featured automated vacuuming and mopping options on the market right now.

I reviewed the X8 Pro Omni earlier this year, and I've been using the X9 Pro Omni for over three months now. For something this expensive, I wanted to make sure that I extensively tested it before sharing an opinion. The X9 Pro Omni is a Matter-enabled robot vacuum, so it connects to the Apple Home app. It can be controlled with the Home app, the Ecovacs app, or Siri voice commands.

Design
In a lot of ways, it's hard to distinguish the X9 Pro Omni from the X8. The actual design of the robot is similar, though there are several changes. There are some minor updates to the design of the mopping pad and the main brush, and the side brush has a new design. There's also an update to the design of the top cover, but the two vacuums are otherwise identical in size and are close in function.

The X9 Pro Omni is 13.9 inches wide and 3.85 inches tall, and these are important dimensions to consider. If a lot of your furniture is shorter than that, the robot isn't going to be able to get underneath it. And 13.9 inches is the width that it needs for navigating doorways, around tricky furniture, and in other tight spaces. This isn't the smallest robot vacuum on the market, and it is taller than the Saros 10R from Roborock. The Saros 10R can get underneath all of my furniture, but I have a TV stand and a couple other pieces of furniture that are too low for the X9 Pro Omni. I've learned that slimmer and smaller definitely helps for a thorough clean, but there still has to be space for a dust bag and water, so it's a balancing act.

The X9 Pro base station received a much more significant design update than the robot, and it's the reason why I'd absolutely choose the X9 over the X8 if I were going to buy a robot vacuum from Ecovacs. The X9 base station is several inches smaller than the X8 version, and it has a modern, streamlined look. It takes up less vertical space, and the two water containers are hidden away. It's also not quite as wide.

Design wise, the X9 Pro Omni base station makes the X8 Pro Omni base station look clunky and outdated. These base stations can't be hidden away because they need to be easily accessible for the robot, so I appreciate the refined design for something that has a prominent place in my bathroom. It's a major improvement.

Function
Ecovacs says the X9 Pro Omni has 16,600 suction Pa, which on paper is lower than the X8 Pro Omni. I haven't noticed a difference in performance, though. It's still able to get all the dust, dirt, and cat hair off of my floors and out of my rugs.

I have wood flooring and no carpet, so I can't thoroughly review how it performs on carpeting. If you have carpet, you're going to want to read additional reviews from people who have used it extensively on carpet. I have a couple large rugs and some smaller rugs scattered throughout the house, and it's able to clean them well. I have a rug that sheds like crazy, and I feel like the X9 Pro is able to do a better job than my Dyson vacuum, which just gets clogged. Ecovacs says that the X9 Pro Omni gets 137 percent more dust out of carpets than the X8, but I can't quite tell because of how little carpet I have.

I do not like how the X9 Pro Omni performs with smaller rugs. It really struggles with a thinner rug that I have that has fringe on the edges. It gets stuck constantly in that rug, so much so that I eventually just made that rug a no-go zone. On more substantial rugs that have a rubber backing to hold them in place, it's able to perform better and doesn't get itself stuck, but like most of the robot vacuums, it'll move the rugs around a little.

If you have thinner rugs that do not have a rubber backing on them (I have several of these because I don't want to damage my wood floors), then the X9 Pro Omni will be a headache. I blocked it from some of my rugs and others I pick up before it runs. The X8 Pro was the same way, so there's been no improvement. For comparison's sake, the Saros 10R from Roborock is able to navigate those kinds of rugs well enough not to get itself tangled up constantly.

I have no other issues with the vacuuming. I have a lot of houseplants and I have had a dirt spill or two, and it has no problems with that. It also leaves no trace of cat hair. The side brush is designed to get into corners and around furniture, and it works well keeping the area near the baseboards clean. I haven't noticed a major difference between the cleaning of the X9 Pro and the X8 Pro despite the updated side brush design.

There's also a new main brush that Ecovacs is calling ZeroTangle 3.0, up from 2.0. I have never had the brush on one of the Ecovacs robots tangle up. I have long hair, my partner has long hair, and one of my two cats has long hair, but I haven't had to pull out the brush to remove hair wrapped around it.

Ecovacs uses a unique roller mop design for its robots, which I am a fan of. The roller mop gets constantly washed as it cleans, and I like the idea of clean water washing my floor rather than dirt being spread around. The roller mop is an alternative to the dual spinning heads that other robots have, which have to be washed at the base station.

For mopping, the X9 Pro Omni does a good job. If you have something stubborn like dried ketchup or dried cat food on the floor, it's often not able to get it all in one go, but it does get smaller stains and it is able to remove stubborn stains with multiple passes. With robot vacuums, the idea is to run them multiple times a week so that the floor is cleaned over time and stays clean. For small messes, it's great. For a huge sticky stain on the floor? I have to clean that myself unless I want to run the X9 Pro Omni over that area several times, which is an option.

Prior to using the X9 Pro Omni, I mopped once a week and had my house thoroughly cleaned once a month. When the robot first started mopping the floor, the water would come back gray. Now, it's a little dirty some of the time, but it's close to clear. I'm a thorough mopper, but 3x per week mopping with the X9 Pro Omni's roller mop made a difference, especially in areas where I didn't regularly clean like under the couch. My floors never looked dirty before, but now they feel much cleaner.

I should add that the X9 Pro Omni is almost always cleaning my floor with just water. There is a slot for adding cleaning solution, but you need to be careful what you use. Ecovacs recommends using its solution to avoid gumming up the internals, but I've also successfully used Bona's robot vacuum cleaning solution. Water is totally fine and gets the floor clean.

Noise
When vacuuming, the X9 Pro sounds like a vacuum. I can tolerate being in the same room with it if I wear noise canceling headphones, but I wouldn't want it to vacuum at night. The mopping is quieter, and I don't hear much when the vacuum isn't on.

The X9 Pro Omni is designed to mop and vacuum at the same time, and that's as noisy as vacuuming alone.

Battery
The X9 Pro Omni has decent battery life, but how long it lasts when cleaning will depend on the parameters that are set and how often it needs to return to the dock to empty the dustbin or wash the mop.

I've seen it last for a little over three hours before it needs to recharge, and in that time period, it's able to clean around 1,000 sq ft, but that also varies based on the type of cleaning that it's doing.

If the X9 Pro Omni runs out of battery life in the middle of a task, it will recharge and then resume when it's done.

I find the best way to use robot vacuums is to have a set it and forget it cleaning schedule. I assign it to clean one area of the house per day, so it's not running out of battery. With a cleaning schedule, I don't have to think about the robot much at all. It goes off and does its thing, and the house stays clean. I add in spot cleanings when needed, and have it clean high traffic areas a couple times a week.

Dock
The dock is a charger, plus it holds clean and dirty water tanks and a dust bag. The X9 Pro Omni has to return to the dock to empty the dust it's collected and it also washes the mop with hot water.

Since the X9 Pro Omni's dock is smaller than the X8 Pro Omni, it has a smaller dirty water tank (2.2L vs. 4L). I do need to empty it more often, but it's quick to do so it hasn't been a hassle. The clean water tank is still 4L.

AI Features and Obstacle Avoidance
I've found that the high-end robot vacuums are good at navigation, and the X9 Pro Omni hasn't gotten stuck or had problems getting to different rooms of my house. It seems to be better at avoiding obstacles than the prior-generation X8 Pro Omni, and I've never had it wander off and get lost.

I have seen the X9 Pro Omni push lightweight items like my cat's food bowl out of the way to clean, but it's somehow never sucked up a small cat toy. It's surprisingly good at getting itself out of entanglements with tricky furniture, and it will try several avenues to exit a tight spot.

There is a "sensitive" setting that will make sure it avoids pets and people, but I have that turned off because if it stopped every time my cat approached it, it wouldn't get anything done.

This model has an "Intelligent Hosting" cleaning mode, where the robot decides what to clean and how to clean it. With this mode, the robot uses AI to determine where to clean and how much to clean an area. I've primarily been using this mode to give it a solid try, but sometimes I'm not sure why it makes a particular decision. I've noticed that it will do extra passes in doorways and around pet areas, which is smart, but then sometimes it will also skip entire rooms, or only clean half of a room.

The most recent time I used it, it cleaned most of my office, skipped my bathroom and closet, cleaned one small section of my living room, thoroughly cleaned two bedrooms, cleaned half of the craft room, and skipped the kitchen and living room entirely even though those are the rooms most in need of cleaning. If there was a reason for that chaotic pattern, I don't know what it was.

It is supposed to be able to detect dirty areas on the floor, and it will sometimes go over a spot a bunch of times. I think sometimes that it sees the darker knots in my wood floor as dirt, but I have also seen it successfully scrub dried cat food off of the floor, and spend a good 15 minutes mopping up a craft area with clay on the floor.

You don't need to use the intelligent mode, and can instead elect to have the robot use standard cleaning methods that aren't directed by AI.

Ecovacs App
Setup and management of the X9 Pro Omni is done with the Ecovacs app, and that's also where all of the more advanced features are available. Getting the robot up and running takes less than five minutes, and then it's ready to go. When first activated, the X9 Pro Omni will do a complete 3D home scan to learn the layout of your house.

The robot maps out individual rooms and separates them out for the most part, but some manual management is necessary. I labeled each area and used the in-app tools to clarify that my bathroom and my closet are separate areas.

There is a detailed map editor for setting boundaries, creating no-go zones, labeling rooms, labeling furniture, merging rooms, separating rooms, and more.

The app has basic start, pause, and stop controls, but there are also multiple cleaning options to choose from. You can adjust the suction power of the vacuum (which impacts noise level), choose the water flow for mopping, and select cleaning patterns. There's standard clean with one pass, a deep clean with two, and a quick clean with more space between the back and forth rows the robot cleans in.

There is a built-in voice assistant activated with an "OK Yiko" wake word, but I use it very little. It's responsive and it works well for things like pausing cleaning or continuing to clean when the app is not at hand. It's more capable than ‌Siri‌ for cleaning-specific commands because it understands multi-step instructions like vacuum the bedroom and then mop the bathroom.

I appreciate that Ecovacs has detailed privacy controls with toggles to disable data sharing. There are also some fun little add-ins in the app, like the ability to view whatever the robot is seeing through its camera, and send it off through the house so you can keep an eye on things when you're not home.

There is one aspect of the cleaning that gets on my nerves, and that's the voice narration. The X9 Pro Omni will narrate what it's doing, such as letting me know when it's going to wash the mop, or that there will be noise when it's emptying the dust bag.

Home App
The X9 Pro Omni has Matter integration, so if you have iOS 18.4 or later, it can be added to the Home app and used with ‌Siri‌.

When I first tested the X8, I wasn't sold on ‌Siri‌ integration, but I've come around to it and it's more useful than I first thought. I can say "Hey ‌Siri‌, clean the kitchen," and it works. I have HomePods in my living room and office, so it's more convenient for me to ask ‌Siri‌ to do spot cleaning than it is to open the Ecovacs app or use the robot's voice command capabilities.

There are fairly basic controls for the X9 Pro Omni in the Home app. You can start/stop, choose between vacuum or mop modes, select a specific room to clean, and toggle between deep clean and quick clean.

I actually like some of the Home app automation options better than the cleaning schedules I can set in the Ecovacs app. With HomeKit, I can set the X9 Pro Omni to start cleaning when everyone leaves home, or schedule it to be activated alongside other ‌HomeKit‌ devices.

Maintenance
The X9 Pro Omni hasn't required much maintenance so far, but there are components that have a limited lifespan and that will need to be replaced. Ecovacs recommends replacing the main brush after 300 hours, the roller mop and side brush after 150 hours, and the filter after around 120 hours.

Sensors need to be cleaned every so often, the dust bag needs to be swapped out about once a month, and the water tanks need to be managed. I have to refill the clean water every two or three cleanings, but with the smaller dirty water tank, I need to do that with almost every cleaning. The app sends alerts when the tanks need to be addressed, and it keeps track of when components need to be replaced.

With heavy use, it would probably cost $100 a year to swap everything out. Three filters are $15, the main brush is $20, the mop roller is $30, three dust bags are $25, and the side brush is $15.

The other bit of maintenance that I have to do is moving the robot when it eats a rug, or gets something stuck in the brush. I had a little felt ball get caught once, but it's good enough at object detection that it's a rare occurrence. I haven't run into mechanical issues or performance problems with the exception of the robot's poor rug handling.

Ecovacs has a point system where you earn points for using the app's features, so there are discounts for accessories available. For any issues that arise, there is a one-year warranty.

Bottom Line
After a few months with the X9 Pro Omni, I have mixed feelings about it. It's $1,300, while the prior-generation X8 Pro Omni is $900 (currently on sale). I think the X9 Pro Omni and X8 Pro Omni are similar enough in performance that it's worth going with the more affordable model, unless you want some of the features that are unique to the updated version.

The X9 Pro Omni's dock is much more aesthetically pleasing, and the look is worth considering if it's going to be in a spot central to the home. I didn't notice a lot of difference in the cleaning ability between the X8 and X9 on wood floors, but I did appreciate the stronger force of the mop and some stains did seem to come up quicker. This version is supposed to be much better on carpet, so with carpet in the home, the upgrade is probably worth it.

If you already have an X8 Pro Omni, the X9 is not worth upgrading to, but if you're new to robot vacuums, it's a good one to get. The X8 and X9 Pro Omni from Ecovacs are both impressive vacuuming and mopping robots. With the exception of some poor performance on lightweight rugs, the X9 Pro Omni is an automated cleaning machine that requires little user interaction, and it just works. It does what Ecovacs says it will do, and it does it well.

I was skeptical about robot vacuums before I was able to try one, but now I am sold. This isn't a product that I want to be without because it saves me so much time and mental effort. I basically never have to think about cleaning my floors, and it's a job that just gets done.

I don't think Matter and ‌HomeKit‌ integration are necessary for a robot vacuum, but it's functionality that's nice to have if you use ‌Siri‌ for home tasks or want to set up complicated automations.

How to Buy
The Deebot X9 Pro Omni can be purchased from the Ecovacs website for $1,299.99.

Note: Ecovacs provided MacRumors with a Deebot X9 Pro Omni for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
This article, "Review: Ecovacs' Matter-Compatible Deebot X9 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum Put to the Test" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Review: Ecovacs' Matter-Compatible Deebot X9 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum Put to the Test - MacRumors

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Balloon-equipped ‘wearable robot’ could help stroke survivors - Popular Science

A first-of-its-kind, soft, vest-like wearable designed by Harvard researchers could help stroke survivors and people living with ALS regain crucial upper limb movement. The researchers call the device a “wearable robot,” which uses inflatable balloons positioned under a patient’s arm that bulge and contract based on the desired movement. A combination of machine learning software and a separate physics-based model helps the robot interpret the patient’s intended movements and personalize actions accordingly.

In testing, the robot was able to correctly identify the user’s intended shoulder movement 94.2 percent of the time. After the device activates, it helped reduce the amount of force a patient needed to exert to lower their arm back down 31.9 percent compared to an earlier model. That means less exertion and fatigue for patients.

The study included five people who had experienced a stroke and four living with ALS, a nervous system disease also known as Lou Gherig’s disease. Overall, each participant reported improvements in shoulder elevation and wrist extension, as well as a decrease in fatigue when asked to perform tasks like reaching for or holding objects.

These results suggest the wearable could play an important role in augmenting physical therapy for patients working to regain mobility. For some with severe limb impairment, it could offer a path toward regaining the ability to perform everyday tasks like brushing their teeth or simply taking a sip of water. The findings of the experimental study were published recently in Nature Communications.

The fabric-based device is worn over the upper body like a long-sleeve vest and powered cordlessly by a battery. Multiple sensors collectively powered by a machine learning model are embedded across the device’s surface.. The sensors detect subtle movements made by the wearer. Then, the machine learning model determines whether each movement was intentional or not. That determination is sent back to the device, which inflates or deflates balloons with air to assist in raising or lowering the arm.

“This technology is quite simple in its essence,” Harvard professor Tommaso Proietti said in a statement earlier this year. “It’s basically a shirt with some inflatable, balloon-like actuators under the armpit. The pressurized balloon helps the wearer combat gravity to move their upper arm and shoulder.”

The version of the wearable robot featured in the new Nature Communications study improves on a previous model shown earlier this year by incorporating what the researchers call an additional physics-based model. This second model calculates the minimum pressure needed to hold a patient’s limb in place, making the assistance feel less rigid and more natural for movement. In theory, that should make the device less awkward to use for people using it in rehabilitative settings.

To test this, the team asked the study participants to wear the device and attempt various arm movements. They measured the device’s performance using a motion capture system similar to those used in body tracking for video games and movies. Overall, the motion capture data showed a notable increase in range of motion around the shoulders, wrists, and elbows. This increased mobility also meant patients were less likely to overexert themselves by twisting or shifting other parts of their body to compensate for the movement of their impaired limb.

Kate Nycz, one of the study’s volunteers who has ALS, said the researchers also listened to and incorporated feedback from the device’s users.

“They’re not sitting in the lab just playing with the robot,” Nycz said in a statement. “I felt like they were really engaged with me. I didn’t feel like a lab rat or a cog in a wheel.”

Prabhat Pathak and James Arnold demonstrate the wearable robot in the lab. CREDIT: Eliza Grinnell / Harvard SEAS Communications ELIZA GRINNELL A softer, more accessible exoskeleton

Larger, more rigid body-assistance devices, broadly referred to as “exoskeletons”, are already being used to help some people regain limb functionality. Initially proposed by the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as a way to help soldiers lift heavy objects, the technology has since been adopted by multiple researchers and private companies focusing on improving mobility for a wider audience. These devices have proven effective in helping patients with disabilities improve their walking abilities. They also have the potential to help prevent falls in older adults by functioning like a high-tech, sci-fi-inspired walker.

The soft wearable robot explored by the Harvard researchers is less complicated (and less capable) than a full-body exosuit, but that may also be part of its appeal. By trading in metal backbones for a soft familiar-feeling vest, the wearable robot offers a more cost-effective and approachable solution for the millions of individuals worldwide who could possibly benefit from moderate limb support.

The post Balloon-equipped ‘wearable robot’ could help stroke survivors appeared first on Popular Science.

Awe-inspiring science reporting, technology news, and DIY projects. Skunks to space robots, primates to climates. That's Popular Science, 150 years strong.

Stopping fatbergs before they cost millions to remove - Popular Science

They’re chunky, sticky, and a sewer system’s worst nightmare. Solid masses of fats, oils, and grease called fatbergs can gum up drains and sewers around the world and can be incredibly costly to remove and repair. For example, New York City spends roughly $18.8 million removing fatbergs each year.

Now, a new wastewater treatment system may help prevent them from building up in the first place. The prototype uses a redesigned grease interceptor and smart chemical treatment that work together to optimize how water flows. The experimental process is detailed in a study recently published in the journal ACS ES&T Water.

Fatbergs are usually made out of the fat, oil, and grease (FOG). FOG substances do not break down within the sewer system, and can often glom onto other objects that shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet, including baby wipes. All of those non-biodegradable objects stick together and then harden. The result? An almost immovable clog.

According to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, sanitation engineers typically use high-powered water jets, saws, and pick-axes to break fatbergs into smaller pieces.This way, the pieces can be removed by hand or with an industrial vacuum. Clearing one fatberg can take an extraordinary amount of time and money. In 2019, a 40-ton fatberg in London took three weeks to clear with eight people working nine hours each day on the task.

To answer this growing plumbing problem, engineers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia looked at fatberg prevention rather than removal.

“Traditional grease traps aren’t designed to catch the finer particles and emulsified fats in modern kitchen wastewater,” study co-author and civil engineer Biplob Pramanik said in a statement. “Our system targets all fat types, even hard-to-remove emulsified fats that slip through conventional traps.”

Nilufa Sultana and Biplob Pramanik next to their anti-fatberg innovation in their lab at RMIT University. CREDIT: Will Wright, RMIT University

Their new design uses a series of physical barriers (called baffles) placed inside of a grease interceptors in drains. The interceptor slows wastewater flow while separating the larger fat particles from the water. A small dose of a common water treatment chemical called alum (aluminum sulfate) is added. The alum then clumps the smaller, suspended fats together for easy removal.

According to study co-author and civil engineer Nilufa Sultana, this new system works effectively even in real-world conditions that have high temperatures and detergent use.

“While traditional interceptors only remove around 40% of fats, our system achieved up to 98%—even when tested with actual kitchen wastewater,” Sultana said.

The team says that this technology could be scaled for use in kitchens of all sizes, even commercial kitchens, which are large contributors to fatbergs. It can also be retrofitted to existing grease management systems. If implemented in an already established grease management system, it could be a more cost-effective way to protect sewer infrastructure.

“Fat, oil and grease blockages can lead to sewage spills in our streets and waterways,” added co-author and chemical engineer Felicity Roddick. “This research shows we can stop the problem at its source, with a simple upgrade to the systems food businesses already use.”

The post Stopping fatbergs before they cost millions to remove appeared first on Popular Science.

The Case for a Walkable Honolulu - Planetizen

The Case for a Walkable Honolulu Diana Ionescu Thu, 08/21/2025 - 08:00 Primary Image Primary Image Caption A busy street in the Chinatown neighborhood in Honolulu, Hawaii.

In an opinion piece in Honolulu Civil Beat, Paul Lam calls on the city to amend Bill 7, an ordinance that supports affordable housing construction in Apartment Mixed-Use and Business Mixed-Use zones. Along with supporting next-generation mobility and enhancing redevelopment incentives, this could “unleash a wave of affordable rentals,” Lam writes.

According to Lam, allowing all new projects to include ground-floor retail could make a significant impact on how the city’s neighborhoods look and feel, improving walkability and making it easier for residents to get around without a car.

As Lam explains, “Redevelopment must be financially appealing to landowners, which means expanding city and state incentives — tax abatements, expedited permitting, infrastructure cost-sharing, and pre-construction grants available not only for fully permitted projects but also for projects ready to break ground under the Special Assignment Inspections process.”

Lam argues that active ground floors create a more vibrant streetscape and “bring light, safety, and vibrancy to neighborhoods, encouraging residents to walk, interact, and engage with one another.” With 95 percent of the Honolulu housing stock over 40 years old, it’s a good time for the city to ensure it builds new, resilient housing.

Geography Hawaii Category Housing Land Use Urban Development Tags

Publication Honolulu Civil Beat Publication Date Sun, 08/17/2025 - 12:00 Publication Links From Apartments To Active Streets: A New Vision For Housing In Honolulu  1 minute

The Case for a Walkable Honolulu - Planetizen

The Case for a Walkable Honolulu Diana Ionescu Thu, 08/21/2025 - 08:00 Primary Image Primary Image Caption A busy street in the Chinatown neighborhood in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Geography Hawaii Category Housing Land Use Urban Development Tags

Publication Honolulu Civil Beat Publication Date Sun, 08/17/2025 - 12:00 Publication Links From Apartments To Active Streets: A New Vision For Housing In Honolulu  1 minute

Awe-inspiring science reporting, technology news, and DIY projects. Skunks to space robots, primates to climates. That's Popular Science, 150 years strong.

Walmart’s ‘radioactive shrimp’ recall isn’t a reason to fear irradiated food - Popular Science

Even if you’re not tracking the latest in food safety, you’re likely aware of the FDA’s advisory concerning Walmart’s radioactive frozen shrimp. If not, here’s a quick recap. The Great Value brand seafood originated from the Indonesia-based company PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (also known as BMS Food), and recently arrived aboard container ships at multiple US ports.

Authorities subsequently detected elevated levels of the radioisotope Cesium-137 (Cs-137) in containers in Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, and Savannah. The FDA explained that although no package registered above derived intervention levels for Cs-137, “the level detected in [their] breaded shrimp sample could represent a potential health concern” in certain situations.

The crustaceans in question made it to stores in 13 states before a full recall was implemented. While there isn’t any evidence that customers purchased the unsafe food, the FDA advised Walmart and recent customers to discard any BMS Food products.

The strange seafood scare is certainly concerning, but here’s the thing: food is irradiated all the time. And it’s usually in our best interest.

Irradiation practices for decontaminating food were codified by the FDA in 1963. Credit: Energy.gov Why is food irradiated?

Irradiating food is a safety measure aimed to decontaminate it. It actually dates back over a century. In 1918, David Gillett received the first US patent for an “apparatus for preserving organic materials by the use of x-rays.” After decades of technological and scientific advancements, irradiating food is now a common practice around the world.

The FDA approved its irradiation policies in 1963, the same year that NASA started irradiating astronaut meals to stave off food-borne illnesses during space missions. Millions of people also reheat their leftovers every day by bombarding them with microwave radiation in miniature ovens called—well, you can probably guess.

“The key point is, yes, food is irradiated to make it safer, but the type of radiation that caused this contamination was not… used for food safety,” public health policy expert Peter Pitts tells Popular Science. Before co-founding the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, Pitts was a former member of the FDA’s Senior Executive Service and Associate Commissioner. While there, he served as a senior communications and policy advisor to the commissioner, and contributed to multiple working groups and task forces.

“It’s true that the FDA allows seafood and other types of food to be irradiated, and that kills things like E. coli and other bad things we don’t want to eat,” Pitts explains. “ [But] the radiation that was found in the shipping containers had nothing to do with irradiating seafood at all.”

Currently, the FDA allows three sources of radiation for use on commercial consumables: electron beams, X-rays, and certain gamma rays. The frozen shrimp situation stems from gamma rays which originated from the radioisotopic metal Cs-137.

What is Cs-137?

The Environmental Protection Agency describes Cs-137 as a flexible, soft, and silvery-white metal that liquifies near room temperature. Typically used in medical devices and gauges, the FDA notes that the radioisotope is a byproduct of nuclear reactions. While trace amounts of Cs-137 are detectable around the world in our food, soil, and air, the Walmart-bound shipment was flagged because at least one shrimp sample contained a higher-than-expected level.

“Even though Cs-137 is approved for irradiation of crustaceans, it seems unlikely the shrimp at issue here were treated with irradiation, because foods that are treated with irradiation don’t typically have the residues remaining on them,” Laurie Beyranevand tells Popular Science. Beyranevand is currently a professor of food and agricultural law and policy at Vermont Law and Graduate School and the director of its Center for Agriculture and Food Systems.

Beyranevand says it’s possible that a particular food product could become contaminated if it was raised or farmed somewhere with elevated levels of Cs-137. Either way, she believes the breaded frozen shrimp recall is “definitely a cause for concern” for the food industry-at-large.

“If we consider this in conjunction with the recent widespread lead contamination in cinnamon, it signals that food is being produced in environments that increase the chances of contamination,” she says.

But because the FDA has only confirmed the presence of Cs-137 in one sample of breaded shrimp, Pitts offers an alternative hypothesis.

“It seems to me that the radiation that was found was because of contaminated containers, not because of contaminated food products,” he says. Even so, he cautions that the amount of radiation in the container was, “not the kind used in food safety.”

“So the question then becomes, ‘How did this food get shipped in contaminated containers?’” he says.

Unfortunately, it’s a question that currently lacks an answer. The FDA says it will continue its investigation while also monitoring for any additional, implicated products from BMS Food before “tak[ing] action as appropriate.”

The Great Value frozen shrimp originated from an Indonesian company called BMS Food. Credit: Walmart Whey food safety regulations matter

To Pitts, the situation is both a testament to the FDA’s importance and efficacy, as well as its vital role in society.

“Food safety isn’t necessarily a sexy thing…. [but] it speaks to the need to do more,” he says. “The FDA caught this and did its job—well done. But it also speaks to the need for more and better processes, and more consistent funding.”

In a statement provided to Popular Science, a Walmart spokesperson reiterated that none of the products removed from its store shelves tested positive for radiation, and none of the contaminated food ever “entered commerce.”

“The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” they said, adding that customers are encouraged to discard any recalled frozen shrimp and visit a local store for a full refund.

But even after a decades’ long career in public health, the event stands out for Pitts.

“I’ve never heard of shipping containers being contaminated from radiation. That’s a new one for me,” he admits.

Update, August 22, 7:04 am EDT: On August 21, the FDA expanded its recall to include raw and cooked frozen shrimp products sold by Southwind Foods, LLC. The FDA and Southwinds Food said that the company is “voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of frozen shrimp” due to possible contamination with Cesium-137.

The bagged, frozen raw and cooked shrimp were sold under the brand names Sand Bar, Arctic Shores, Best Yet, Great American, and First Street. They were sold between July 17 and August 8 in nine states.

The post Walmart’s ‘radioactive shrimp’ recall isn’t a reason to fear irradiated food appeared first on Popular Science.

LA Bus Ridership Keeps Dropping as ICE Raids Continue - Planetizen

LA Bus Ridership Keeps Dropping as ICE Raids Continue Diana Ionescu Thu, 08/21/2025 - 07:00 Primary Image Primary Image Caption Metro bus ridership fell by 13.5 percent in June.

Los Angeles bus ridership is down slightly from June, when it dropped sharply due to widespread fears over immigration raid, reports Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times. Latinos make up over 60 percent of Metro bus riders.

In July, Metro bus ridership dropped by close to 2 percent after declining by 13.5 percent in June. Meanwhile, rail ridership went up by 6.5 percent. “While it’s possible that concerns over safety have persisted as immigration raids continued to play out in the Los Angeles region, a drop in bus ridership from June to July in years past has not been uncommon, according to Metro data.”

June’s ridership was the lowest for a June since 2022, before ridership began recovering after the pandemic, prompting concerns about the agency’s health. “Metro, which recently approved a $9.4 billion budget, faces a deficit of more than $2.3 billion through 2030.”

Geography California Category Social / Demographics Transportation Tags

Publication Los Angeles Times Publication Date Tue, 08/19/2025 - 12:00 Publication Links Metro bus ridership continues to dip. Are fears over ICE raids partly to blame? 1 minute

LA Bus Ridership Keeps Dropping as ICE Raids Continue - Planetizen

LA Bus Ridership Keeps Dropping as ICE Raids Continue Diana Ionescu Thu, 08/21/2025 - 07:00 Primary Image Primary Image Caption Metro bus ridership fell by 13.5 percent in June.

Geography California Category Social / Demographics Transportation Tags

Publication Los Angeles Times Publication Date Tue, 08/19/2025 - 12:00 Publication Links Metro bus ridership continues to dip. Are fears over ICE raids partly to blame? 1 minute

Il miglior Blog in Italia "a proposito di" Apple

Ricomincia a scendere il prezzo dell’iPhone 13 su Amazon - TheAppleLounge

Ulteriori indicazioni per chi cerca opportunità con il proprio iPhone 13

Il miglior Blog in Italia "a proposito di" Apple

Ricomincia a scendere il prezzo dell’iPhone 13 su Amazon - TheAppleLounge

Ulteriori indicazioni per chi cerca opportunità con il proprio iPhone 13

Loss of SEPTA Funding Could Kill Amtrak’s Fifth Busiest Line - Planetizen

Loss of SEPTA Funding Could Kill Amtrak’s Fifth Busiest Line Diana Ionescu Thu, 08/21/2025 - 06:00 Primary Image Primary Image Caption Amtrak's Philadelphia-to-New York City line is the system's fifth most popular.

Amtrak’s Keystone Service could lose over $71 million in payments from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) due to that agency’s significant budget gap, a move that could “severely impact” Amtrak operations on one of the nation’s most popular intercity rail lines.

According to an article by Peter Hall in the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-2nd District) said the cuts to SEPTA commuter rail lines and funding could lead to the closure of the line and impacts on other Northeast Corridor services. “The train makes 13 daily round trips between Harrisburg and New York with stops in Lancaster, and several smaller communities in southcentral and southeastern Pennsylvania, in addition to Philadelphia. The trains, which are primarily funded by PennDOT, carried 1.27 million passengers last year, according to Amtrak.”

This reveals the rippling impacts of cuts to transit funding and service. An Amtrak spokesperson said “This could lead to a deterioration in infrastructure condition and authorized train operating speeds, negatively impacting Amtrak-operated, PennDOT-sponsored Keystone Service and Pennsylvanian service between Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh, as well as Northeast Corridor services.”

Geography New York Pennsylvania Category Transportation Tags

Publication Pennsylvania Capital-Star Publication Date Mon, 08/18/2025 - 12:00 Publication Links SEPTA funding crisis could affect central Pennsylvania’s Amtrak service, congre… 1 minute

Loss of SEPTA Funding Could Kill Amtrak’s Fifth Busiest Line - Planetizen

Geography New York Pennsylvania Category Transportation Tags

Publication Pennsylvania Capital-Star Publication Date Mon, 08/18/2025 - 12:00 Publication Links SEPTA funding crisis could affect central Pennsylvania’s Amtrak service, congre… 1 minute

NYC's Plan to add 9500+ Housing Units to Midtown - Planetizen

NYC's Plan to add 9500+ Housing Units to Midtown Diana Ionescu Thu, 08/21/2025 - 05:00 Primary Image

The New York City Council approved the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (MSMX), which rezones four areas amounting to 42 square blocks of Manhattan to allow for residential and mixed-use development that could yield over 9,500 new housing units in neighborhoods that contain some major job centers but little housing.

As Cozen O’Connor explains in JD Supra, “The newly adopted zoning districts, together with the newly created Special Midtown South Mixed-Use District, will permit housing in an area with exceptional public transit access and job opportunities that has, for decades, generally prohibited housing development.” New developments will be required to include income-restricted units as 20 to 30 percent of a building’s floor area.

“The new Special District, which governs the four quadrants, allows floor area exemptions for the construction of public schools on qualifying sites, a floor area bonus for the provision of covered pedestrian spaces, and an extension of an existing floor area bonus for mass transit station improvements.” The plan also includes $120 million in investments in the garment and fashion industries and “more than $325 million in investments to transform Broadway between 21st and 42nd Streets into a fully pedestrianized, park-like promenade.”

Geography New York Category Community / Economic Development Housing Land Use Urban Development Tags

Publication JD Supra Publication Date Tue, 08/19/2025 - 12:00 Publication Links New York City Council Approves Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan 1 minute

NYC's Plan to add 9500+ Housing Units to Midtown - Planetizen

NYC's Plan to add 9500+ Housing Units to Midtown Diana Ionescu Thu, 08/21/2025 - 05:00 Primary Image

Geography New York Category Community / Economic Development Housing Land Use Urban Development Tags

Publication JD Supra Publication Date Tue, 08/19/2025 - 12:00 Publication Links New York City Council Approves Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan 1 minute

Il miglior Blog in Italia "a proposito di" Apple

iPhone 17, spuntano le nuove cover TechWoven con un particolare accessorio - TheAppleLounge

Appena un anno fa, Apple ha detto addio alle sue controverse custodie in FineWoven, ritirate

Il miglior Blog in Italia "a proposito di" Apple

iPhone 17, spuntano le nuove cover TechWoven con un particolare accessorio - TheAppleLounge

Appena un anno fa, Apple ha detto addio alle sue controverse custodie in FineWoven, ritirate

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12570125

Tourist Minesweeper - Google Maps Mania

Tourist Minesweeper is a twist on the classic puzzle game, using a gridded map of real locations to highlight the spread of Airbnb in popular Spanish tourist destinations. If you’ve ever played Minesweeper (and who hasn’t?), you’ll recognize the rules - but here, instead of dodging bombs, you’re “sweeping” for zones of tourist pressure.Currently you can play Tourist Minesweeper on gridded maps Keir Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07052313829398691711noreply@blogger.com0

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12570125

Tourist Minesweeper - Google Maps Mania

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Il miglior Blog in Italia "a proposito di" Apple

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SF’s Market Street Will no Longer be Car-free - Planetizen

SF’s Market Street Will no Longer be Car-free - Planetizen

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One-Way Streets Have Worse Crashes, Higher Crime and Lower Property Values — Why do we Still Use Them? - Planetizen

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Add $25 to Apple Account Balance, Get 2 Months Free Apple Music - MacRumors

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Apple Stops Signing iOS 18.6, Downgrading No Longer an Option - MacRumors

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iPhone 16 Pro, cala vertiginosamente il prezzo su eBay - TheAppleLounge

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Balloon-equipped ‘wearable robot’ could help stroke survivors - Popular Science

Stopping fatbergs before they cost millions to remove - Popular Science

The Case for a Walkable Honolulu - Planetizen

The Case for a Walkable Honolulu - Planetizen

Walmart’s ‘radioactive shrimp’ recall isn’t a reason to fear irradiated food - Popular Science

LA Bus Ridership Keeps Dropping as ICE Raids Continue - Planetizen

LA Bus Ridership Keeps Dropping as ICE Raids Continue - Planetizen

Ricomincia a scendere il prezzo dell’iPhone 13 su Amazon - TheAppleLounge

Ricomincia a scendere il prezzo dell’iPhone 13 su Amazon - TheAppleLounge

Loss of SEPTA Funding Could Kill Amtrak’s Fifth Busiest Line - Planetizen

Loss of SEPTA Funding Could Kill Amtrak’s Fifth Busiest Line - Planetizen

NYC's Plan to add 9500+ Housing Units to Midtown - Planetizen

NYC's Plan to add 9500+ Housing Units to Midtown - Planetizen

iPhone 17, spuntano le nuove cover TechWoven con un particolare accessorio - TheAppleLounge

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