The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ next live-action feature film just picked up a pair of writers. Marvel’s What If cast is missing at least one popular actor. Plus, the Munsters are going to be looking pretty swank when they return to the screen. Spoilers right this way…
Apple finally brought Touch ID to its desktop computers earlier this year with an upgraded version of its wireless Magic Keyboard featuring an added fingerprint sensor. To date, it’s been exclusively available with Apple’s new M1-powered iMac, but it now finally appears to be available as a standalone accessory…
Founded in 2017, Arizona-based Aira didn’t waste any time proving out its technology. We’ve written about the company’s wireless charging a few times over the years, including the “FreePower” technology it has baked into Nomad’s charging pads, which brings a more streamlined version of the Apple’s abandoned AirPower. The tech allows for users to charge up to three objects at once, without having to futz with their precise placement on the pad.
Today, the startup announced that it has raised a $12 million seed round, primarily led by private investors, including Jawad Ashan, Lori Greine, Robert Herjavec. The funding will go toward expanding the company’s reach beyond consumer device charging, into the worlds of enterprise, automotive and hospitality, as well as the development of a 2.0 version of its charging tech.
“This new round of funding is a game changer when it comes to accelerating our capacity for innovation,” co-founder and CEO Jake Slatnick said in a release. “With so many partnerships in our pipeline, a 2.0 version of FreePower on the horizon, and Jawad having just joined our board, this is an inflection point for Aira.”
Image Credits: Aira
As we noted late last year, Aira has already made some headway in automotive. Late last year, it announced funding from auto parts supply giant Motherson, which is also part of this round. The deal was a pretty clear indication that the firm was pushing into integrating its wireless modules into cars — a welcome addition, as many automakers have traditionally lacked consumer electronics-friendly amenities.
Neither party announced any specific car partners at the time — or now, for that matter. But Aira notes that it and Motherson are teaming up to create automotive-grade FreePower modules.
Image Credits: Aira
“Current wireless charging technology is not built for moving environments, leaving consumers and automakers underwhelmed,” Aira says in a release issued today. “In-car charging surfaces with FreePower, on the other hand, are able to support devices shifting around while driving, multi-device charging, surfaces of any size, and firmware updates for future enhancements and compatibility. They can also deliver high-power charging while maintaining stringent safety and regulatory standards.”
The news also sees Axon CFO Jawad Ahsan joining Aria’s board of directors.
The country’s soccer and rugby organizations are looking into alleged rowdiness on the 10-hour Japan Airlines flight.
No, I’m not anti-vaccine, nor am I “vaccine-hesitant.” I’m part of a less publicized group: the needle-phobics.
NASA researchers successfully launched a new x-ray solar imager on a very brief suborbital flight. The x-ray solar imager is called MaGIXS, short for Marshall Grazing Incidence X-ray Spectrometer. The instrument was launched on a suborbital flight via a sounding rocket to gather insights on how and why the sun’s corona is so much hotter than the surface of the … Continue reading
Ex-President Donald Trump was fixated on GDP during his time in office. Maybe he shouldn’t have been.
If you’re bidding farewell to internal combustion, say goodbye with a bang. That’s the recipe for the 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, anyway, arriving just in time for the automaker to concede that gas engines have had their moment and electrification is the way forward. Question is, then, is today’s Blackwing just tomorrow’s dinosaur? The answer, as you’d expect from anything … Continue reading
Apple has updated its accessories range, now offering the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID separately as well as redesigning the Magic Trackpad and updating the Magic Mouse. The revamp means more flexibility in how you buy some accessories: for example, it means the Touch ID version of the Magic Keyboard no longer has to be purchased with a new 24-inch … Continue reading
You can now grab the first-gen Echo Show 5 for $45 on Amazon, if you didn’t get the chance to do so on Prime Day in June and on Black Friday last year. The Alexa-powered smart display is also currently available for $45 on Best Buy, but you now have another option if you’d rather purchase it from Amazon for Prime shipping or any other reason. While you can get a refurbished version for less elsewhere, this is the lowest price we’ve seen for a brand new device that originally retails for $80.
Buy Amazon Echo Show 5 (1st Gen) at Amazon – $45
At $45, that also makes this smart display $45 cheaper than the second-gen Echo Show 5. And, as we mentioned in our review of the newer device, its changes are pretty minor. Instead of a one-megapixel camera, you now get 2 megapixels, which isn’t that much of an upgrade. The newer smart display also comes in a light blue option, while its predecessor is only available in black and white. That’s pretty much it, though — the display’s resolution remains the same, and it still doesn’t come with features its bigger counterpart, the Echo Show 8, has.
As we said in our review for the first-gen Echo Show 5, it’s meant for those who want a smaller Amazon smart display that’s also a decent alarm clock. It has a sunrise alarm feature, which slowly brightens the screen 15 minutes before the time you set, and it has ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the screen’s brightness based on your surroundings. You can also use it to display photos and watch videos, though, if you don’t mind the smaller screen. The device supports Amazon Prime, NBC and Hulu, and you can always access YouTube using its built-in browsers.
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