Oct 04
It’s been close to a decade since Google launched its home app, and the company is finally about to give it a major update. The key to this refresh is Matter.
Oct 04
Google Nest Rolls Out New Wired Doorbell And WiFi Pro As Nest Renew Launches For Everyone
Posted in: Today's ChiliGoogle’s Pixel 7 event is happening this week, but fans don’t have to wait that long for a look at its latest generation of smart home devices.
Oct 04
Elon Musk made a large part of his fortune by building electric vehicles, making him a confirmed “car guy.” Before Tesla, though, the CEO owned this old auto.
Oct 04
Goodbye Lightning: EU Officially Demands Big Tech Use USB-C by the End of 2024
Posted in: Today's Chili
The European Union has officially demanded that all tech companies—but really we’re all still talking about Apple—add support for USB-C charging cables in a move that could make USB-C the dominant cable throughout the world.
Oct 04
McKenna Grace won’t return as a young Carol Danvers in The Marvels, but she’d really like to. Tenoch Huerta discusses Namor’s role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Plus, take a peek at Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches. To me, my spoilers!
Oct 04
The World's Whitest Paint Can Now Be Used to Naturally Cool Cars and Planes
Posted in: Today's Chili
As peak temperatures around the world continue to soar, simply turning up the air conditioning isn’t going to be a long-term solution. We’re going to need other ways to beat the heat, like developing ultra-white paints that can efficiently reflect sunlight for natural cooling, which a team from Purdue University has finally optimized…
Oct 04
The European Parliament has voted to make USB-C the common charging standard in the EU. All mobile devices with up to 100W power delivery (including phones, tablets and earbuds) sold in the region will have to come with a USB-C charging port by the end of 2024. Laptops will need to make the switch by spring 2026. Products that come to market before these deadlines won’t be affected.
The regulation is meant to reduce e-waste by letting people use existing chargers to power new devices. It’s also intended to eliminate technological “lock-in” that keeps users tied to one manufacturer’s proprietary formats. The vote similarly sets expectations for fast charging support — devices will offer at least the 18W from USB-C’s Power Delivery specification.
The EU has long called for a common charger, and helped whittle down the variety of connectors by pushing for standards like micro-USB. However, the Union claims that voluntary efforts didn’t lead to “concrete results” for users. That led to a formal legislative proposal in September last year.
It’s no secret that the requirement will primarily affect Apple, which has stuck to proprietary Lightning ports on iPhones and some other devices despite a broader industry move to USB-C. We’ve asked Apple for comment and will let you know if it responds, although it claimed in 2020 that the charger requirement would “stifle innovation.” This won’t limit sales of current Lightning-equipped products like the iPhone 14 lineup or second-gen AirPods Pro, but it will force the company to switch to USB-C in the future. Multiple rumors have suggested Apple is already testing USB-C iPhones that might arrive in 2023, and the entry-level iPad might use the port this fall.
There are concerns about the long-term impact of the measure. While Parliament rapporteur Alex Agius Saliba said the law would allow the development of future “innovative charging solutions,” companies would need to wait for EU approval before switching. The law also doesn’t cover hardware beyond 100W, so manufacturers won’t need to embrace USB-C 2.1 (with up to 240W of power delivery) for high-performance laptops. Even so, this move might be welcome if you don’t want to buy new chargers and cables just to switch to another mobile platform.
Oct 04
The YouTube comedy troupe said Fulmer, who admitted cheating on his wife with a colleague, will be cut out of future releases.
Oct 04
Someone Is Buying the Real-Life Byers’ House From Stranger Things to Turn It Into a Spooky Airbnb
Posted in: Today's Chili
Despite all the bad things that happen in Hawkins, Indiana, the fictional town made famous by the Netflix hit series Stranger Things, you should know that its real estate is still in very high demand.
Oct 04
Google has decided this is the week it’s overloading us with new stuff. Mere days before another major event where it will announce the Pixel 7 smartphone and Pixel Watch for Android users, the company announced a heap of updates to its smart home ecosystem.
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