Rivian announces membership plan with complimentary charging and LTE connectivity

With R1T trucks rolling off the assembly line at its factory in Normal, Illinois, Rivian continues to prepare for the official debut of its first EVs later this month. On Thursday, the automaker introduced a membership program that will grant Rivian owners access to complimentary charging at its soon-to-be-built Adventure Network and Waypoints chargers. It also pledged to match every mile Rivian Membership customers drive with energy from renewable resources such as wind and solar, as well as offer unlimited access to 4G LTE connectivity.

Additionally, the service includes Rivian off-Roadside Assistance, additional coverage that will see the company send a recovery vehicle to you if you get stuck out on the trail or need an emergency battery recharge. The company also promised to add additional perks in the future, including new drive modes, community meetups and in-cabin content. Each new Rivian vehicle will come with 12 months of free access to the service. After that, you’ll need to pay to continue enjoying the perks of the membership. The company hasn’t said how much it plans to charge for the service, so we’ve reached out to it for more information.

This Custom Pac-Man Synthesizer Looks A-maze-ing

You know what? I’m surprised that they never came up with a vaccine for Pac-Man Fever. I mean, I’ve had it for nearly four decades, and it’s not getting any better. I suppose if you’re still a Pac-Man fan like me, you might want something like this sweet Pac-Man-themed synthesizer by Swedish artist and vintage gadget fan Love Hultén.

The custom-built synthesizer is done up in a vibrant color scheme inspired by Namco’s classic maze game. The customized Korg Minilogue synth has Pac-Man yellow keys with orange sharps and flats. Its case has a Pac-Man logo and ghost artwork straight from the game’s original arcade cabinet, and there are other little details like cherries on the keyboard and a pair of blue ghosts with light-up eyes being chased by Pac-Man. Check it out in action and give it a listen in the video below:

Surprisingly, this isn’t the only Pac-Man synthesizer that Hultén has built. He also created a custom synth with a yellow case and blue keys, presumably on Opposite Day.

If you love the retro-modernist look of these pieces, be sure to check out Love’s Instagram page and website for more awesome custom electronic gear.

The FTC Wants To Rein In Your Health App's Privacy Problems

The Federal Trade Commission put health apps on notice this week with a brand new policy statement aimed at protecting the sometimes super-sensitive data that they collect from their users. In a 3-2 vote held on Wednesday, the Commission agreed to clarify a decade-old rule in order to mandate that these apps—and any…

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NYCC and SDCC Set Their Sights on Returning to In-Person Cons

This feel really weird to write considering the state of the world we live in but here goes nothing: two of the biggest comic conventions in the United States are going full steam ahead. New York Comic Con takes place October 7-10 and it just announced its full panel, guest, and exhibitor list along with details on…

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Trump Defends Rioters Ahead Of Rally Supporting Capitol Insurrectionists

He insisted that they were being “persecuted so unfairly” for violently storming the Capitol and attacking officers.

Democratic Lawyer Michael Sussmann Indicted, Accused Of Lying To FBI In Russia Probe

The indictment, as The New York Times reported yesterday, was sought by John Durham.

THQ Nordic serves up two free games on Steam ahead of 10th anniversary event

THQ Nordic is turning 10 years old in 2021, and we already know what the company is doing to celebrate the milestone. Tomorrow, THQ Nordic will host an event in which it plans to reveal six new games. However, before that event gets underway, THQ Nordic has kicked off a publisher sale on Steam, and it’s giving away two games … Continue reading

Watch Rolls-Royce’s all-electric plane ace its first test flight

Rolls-Royce’s experimental all-electric plane, Spirit of Innovation, has successfully flown for the first time, taking the zero-emissions project one step closer to powering “air taxis” in future. Though the single-propeller aircraft may have relatively classic looks, its powertrain is thoroughly modern. Driving that propeller is a 400 kW electric motor, powered by 6,000 battery cells. It’s “the world’s most energy-dense … Continue reading

Star Wars Visions: When and where in the universe

Today we’re looking at the next release in the Star Wars universe from Disney+ called Star Wars Visions. This television show will be released in standalone installments, each created by different creative forces, each with its own angle. We’re looking at what details have been shared by the creators of this series so far, aiming to get a handle on … Continue reading

Study warns COVID-19 is getting better at spreading through the air

Newly published research reveals that COVID-19 is getting better at spreading through the air as it evolves, putting more people at risk of contracting the virus. The study involved the Alpha, not Delta, variant due to its dominance when the research was conducted, but the scientists note that the now-dominant Delta variant is even more contagious than the Alpha variant … Continue reading