Uber has updated its teen accounts with new and improved features primarily designed for convenience and security. Besides previous functions like tracking trip progress and Uber Eats connectivity, the rideshare company is now announcing several additional features. Parents in charge of teen accounts, which are available in all 50 states and 250+ cities can apply them to their teens’ accounts.
Previously, teen accounts did not support parents booking trips using their own phones, but the new guardian booking feature now allows this. Parents using guardian booking will have access to the same security features a teen account will use. Parents with an Uber One membership can also now share the benefits with teens, such as free delivery and cash back trips. Any cash back funds go to the teen’s account for future use.
Teen accounts can also now use Uber Reserve to request rides up to 90 days ahead. Reserve trips can be at least booked with as little as 30 minutes of advance notice, too. Finally, teen accounts can now use Uber Cash if they receive Uber gift cards. They can use the money on their own for future rides or food.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/uber-teen-accounts-20-revealed-with-more-convenience-and-safety-features-142209566.html?src=rss
Just because summer is ending (yes, I will admit it) doesn’t mean that the day trips or weekend getaways must stop. If you spent the whole season desperately looking for an outlet, then maybe reward yourself this fall with a power bank? Right now, a few of Anker’s best portable chargers are on sale, including the 334 Magnetic Power Bank. The wireless portable charger is down to an all-time low price of $30 from $40 — a 25 percent discount.
Anker’s 334 Magnetic Power Bank provides a 7.5W charge without any need for a wire. I don’t have this one, but I do have another Anker power bank, and being able to connect without worrying about a cord is a game changer. Worth noting: this accessory is solely for iPhone users and is compatible with the iPhone 12 and above. Plus, you can charge the accessory and your iPhone at the same time if you’re only traveling with one plug.
If you’re looking for a power bank with more, well, power then check out some of the other deals on Anker accessories. Anker’s Qi2 Certified 15W MagGo Power Bank is down to $70 from $90 — a 22 percent discount. The accessory is one of our top picks for 2024’s best power banks and portable chargers thanks to features like its fast charging speeds, sturdy kickstand and clear battery percentage indicator. It’s compatible with the iPhone 12 and higher, giving you a full charge and about two-thirds of the way to another.
The other option to consider is Anker’s 200W Prime Power Bank with three ports and a 100W charging case. It’s available for $150, down from $185, and has two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. A clear front display also states how much charge is left (or how long until the power bank is back to 100 percent). It works with laptops and smartphones and can charge two computers at once with 100W each.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/anker-labor-day-deals-including-this-10k-magnetic-power-bank-for-only-30-135615179.html?src=rss
Samsung’s first 5K monitor is now on sale at Amazon for almost half off its original price. The company announced the ViewFinity S9 5K monitor at CES 2023 and released it first in South Korea before bringing it to the United States with a list price of $1,599 in July last year. Now, you can get the 27-inch monitor for only $830, 48 percent less than its list price and the lowest we’ve seen the device go for on the e-commerce website. To note, ViewFinity S9 is comparable to the 27-inch Apple Studio Display, which is also a 5K monitor that will set you back at least $1,599.
The ViewFinity S9 has a 5,120 x 2,880 resolution, 218 pixels per inch, 99 percent DCI-P3 that delivers color saturation and a 60Hz refresh rate. It was designed with creatives in mind and has a matte display to reduce light reflections. The monitor also comes with an Intelligent Eye Care mode that automatically optimizes brightness, reduces blue light and eliminates screen flickering in order to reduce eye strain.
You can connect it to both Windows and Mac devices, thanks to its DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, so you can use it as a monitor for various PCs. If you stream or attend video calls frequently, you can use its built-in SlimFit 4K camera that’s also compatible with both Macs and Windows computers.
The monitor is Apple AirPlay-compatible and will be able to mirror or extend your screen, which you help you boost your productivity. If you’re looking at lengthy documents and a vertical screen would be ideal, you can pivot the monitor 90 degrees to keep reading without scrolling as much. In addition, you can just as easily use it for entertainment, because it comes embedded with several smart TV apps, as well as Samsung’s Gaming Hub.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/samsungs-27-inch-5k-viewfinity-s9-monitor-is-48-percent-off-at-amazon-for-labor-day-123013009.html?src=rss
There’s a good chance your iPhone (or other smartphone) is your primary access point to most of your online activities. Everything from checking email to streaming your favorite shows to shopping online happens on our mobile devices, but that flexibility can come at the expense of privacy and overall security. (Yes, your ISP and mobile carrier can see all the sites you’re visiting by default.) Using a VPN on your iPhone can give some of the privacy back, while also letting you do things like stream foreign Netflix shows more easily. Here’s everything you need to know about using a VPN on your iPhone.
Choosing the right VPN
What VPN you use — or don’t use — makes all the difference. For instance, while Apple offers a VPN-like service in the form of iCloud Private Relay, it’s not really a full-service virtual private network. And with a small handful of notable exceptions, it’s imperative not to avoid most free VPNs, as they’re notorious for collecting your personal data and selling it to advertising networks — the very antithesis of what VPNs stand for. So while you’ll have to shell out some money for a good service, many of the top providers offer a free trial period to start.
I suggest you check out our article on the best VPNs, where we recommend a few options and explain what makes each service attractive. Each one supports iOS, and you can find them easily on the App Store. Do your own research and choose one you feel fits your needs and budget.
John P. Falcone/Engadget
Installing a VPN
Once you’ve decided which VPN to install, head to the App Store on your iPhone and search for it. Go through the download and installation process as you would with any other app.
If you haven’t already purchased a VPN subscription, you can once you install the app. Unlike purchasing on the VPN’s website, buying an in-app subscription is extremely easy and only requires verifying the purchase with your Face ID or logging into your Apple ID.
Again, many of the best VPNs also provide limited free bandwidth, so you can test its servers and functionality before investing in a subscription. Typically, they’ll give anywhere from 1GB to 10GB of monthly data, which isn’t a lot at all.
Using a VPN on your iPhone
Now that you have the VPN installed on your iPhone and purchased the subscription, you’re ready to start using it. Although each app has a different layout, the basic functionality of every iPhone VPN is the same.
There’ll be a list of all the available servers where you can choose the country (or city) you want to connect to. Then, all you need to do is press the big “Connect” button. It’s pretty simple to use an iPhone VPN.
If you’re tech-savvy, you can tweak a few other settings, such as enabling a kill switch, choosing which protocol to use and turning on auto-connect.
While installing the app of your chosen VPN provider should integrate it into your iPhone’s networking options, there’s an alternate configuration route — one that you may need to use if you’re installing a corporate or school VPN. Enter the Settings app on your iPhone, go to VPN & Device Management section under General, and click “Add VPN Configuration.” You’ll need details like the server address and remote ID, as well as your username and password, of course.
Making sure your iPhone VPN works
This screenshot was not taken from London.
whatismyipaddress.com
Once you turn the VPN on, you should see a square VPN sign where all the network icons are in the top right of your iPhone screen. This means that you’re connected to your VPN. However, there are a few things you can do to double-check.
To start, you could check your IP address at a site like whatismyipaddress.com — first with the VPN off, then with it on. If the number (and the location on the map) doesn’t change, that means your VPN is not properly engaged.
Another method is to set your VPN for another country and open your streaming platform of choice. If you notice that the content library differs from what you usually see, your VPN is correctly place-shifting your location. For instance, you’ll no longer find Friends on US Netflix, but (as of the time of this writing) it’s available for streaming when you set your location to the UK.
TL;DR
Installing a VPN on your iPhone is extremely simple. If you already have a VPN subscription, installing it on your phone gives you an additional level of privacy and geographic flexibility. For those new to VPNs, read our best VPNs article, purchase a subscription, install it and you’re ready to start using a VPN on your iPhone.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/how-to-use-a-vpn-on-your-iphone-124543616.html?src=rss
Misinformation is all over the internet, including the — at times — chaos that is X (formerly Twitter). AI bots have a habit of adding to it. Now, with barely two months left until the presidential election, an update to Grok, X’s premium chatbot, could curve some of it (after being called out for said election misinformation). Grok will now direct anyone with an election-related query to Vote.org, a non-partisan website operated through a partnership between the US government, the US Election Assistance Commission and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
The catalyst for change came on July 21, only hours after President Biden announced his decision not to seek reelection, when Grok falsely posted that the ballot deadline had passed in nine states, implying officials couldn’t change the democratic candidate. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon had staff attempt to contact X about the error, to which they received the response, “Busy now, please check back later.” Grok continued to share the response for ten days.
Secretary Simon joined the Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Washington Secretaries of State — all states wrongly named by Grok — in writing an open letter to X and xAI CEO Elon Musk calling for Grok to direct any election queries to CanIVote.org, another non-partisan resource. They claimed Grok’s response, though only available to X Premium and Premium+ subscribers, reached “millions of people” due to screenshots and shares.
The letter also shamed Grok and xAI a bit further, explaining how its competitor, OpenAI, had teamed up with the National Association of Secretaries of State to provide accurate, up-to-date election information. It also mentioned that OpenAI’s bot, ChatGPT, was already programmed to direct users to CanIVote.org if it received questions about the US election.
The update is a start. The bot has also created misleading images of the top party candidates. “We appreciate X’s action to improve their platform and hope they continue to make improvements that will ensure their users have access to accurate information from trusted sources in this critical election year,” the Secretaries of State said in response to the update. “Elections are a team effort, and we need and welcome any partners who are committed to ensuring free, fair, secure, and accurate elections.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/xs-grok-chatbot-now-directs-election-queries-to-votegov-114516549.html?src=rss
Unitree has introduced the updated version of its G1 humanoid robot, now ready for mass production. The G1 robot is highly flexible, capable of performing complex movements like dancing, jumping, twisting, and even landing stunts without losing balance. It can navigate stairs, resist pushes, and detect obstacles using its cameras. The robot’s advanced flexibility is enabled by its 23 to 43 movable joint motors.
The G1 robot uses AI to imitate and learn human behaviors, allowing it to perform tasks such as hammering nails, cooking, and soldering without human supervision. Unitree has equipped the robot with its UnifoLM system, which helps it simulate human hand movements with precision.
The G1 can operate for about two hours on a single charge and features 3D LIDAR and depth cameras for 360-degree vision. It also includes a microphone with noise and echo cancellation, enabling clear communication with people.
The updated version boasts a more robust build and a sleeker appearance. (Image: Unitree)
The G1 robot is Bluetooth and WiFi-enabled and features an 8-core CPU for quick processing. It is priced at $16,000 per unit, which is not very expensive for a robot with such capabilities. No specific delivery dates have been announced yet.
Unitree has introduced the updated version of its G1 humanoid robot, now ready for mass production. The G1 robot is highly flexible, capable of performing complex movements like dancing, jumping, twisting, and even landing stunts without losing balance. It can navigate stairs, resist pushes, and detect obstacles using its cameras. The robot’s advanced flexibility is enabled by its 23 to 43 movable joint motors.
The G1 robot uses AI to imitate and learn human behaviors, allowing it to perform tasks such as hammering nails, cooking, and soldering without human supervision. Unitree has equipped the robot with its UnifoLM system, which helps it simulate human hand movements with precision.
The G1 can operate for about two hours on a single charge and features 3D LIDAR and depth cameras for 360-degree vision. It also includes a microphone with noise and echo cancellation, enabling clear communication with people.
The updated version boasts a more robust build and a sleeker appearance. (Image: Unitree)
The G1 robot is Bluetooth and WiFi-enabled and features an 8-core CPU for quick processing. It is priced at $16,000 per unit, which is not very expensive for a robot with such capabilities. No specific delivery dates have been announced yet.
Google Meet is getting a new AI tool called take notes for me, which will generate summaries of key points during a video call. Rather than offering a word-by-word transcription, this feature uses Gemini AI to record key discussion points in a Google Doc that will appear in the meeting owner’s Google Drive. The document can be automatically sent to the attendees or added to the calendar event after the call. It will also include links to the meeting recording and transcript if those features have been enabled.
Google Workspace customers with the Gemini Enterprise, Gemini Education Premium, and AI Meetings & Messaging add-ons will be the first to have access to this note-taking feature. Its use is currently limited to English language and to meetings on computers or laptops.
The tech company announced plans to include generative AI in more services last year, and has been aggressive in putting AI features into its hardware and software since then. Its Gemini AI assistant is getting baked into Android and into its Workspace apps. As always, the usefulness of these features may vary depending on how well the AI works and how accurate it is. The specter of Google’s AI Overviews telling people to eat glue pizza will likely continue to hang over its ongoing efforts in this space.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-gemini-ai-can-now-take-notes-on-your-meet-video-calls-215741583.html?src=rss
The commercial and community solar developer Solar Landscape’s new rooftop solar panel grid on the NSA’s 1,052 self-storage facilities and properties across 42 states and Puerto Rico are expected to produce at least 100 megawatts of solar capacity. The NSA, headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, is one of the nation’s largest self-storage operators with brands like iStorage, Move It, Northwest and SecurCare.
These solar energy panels won’t just generate power for the NSA’s facilities. The panels will also provide clean power to nearby businesses and homes for a discounted price.
One of the challenges of implementing solar energy is finding enough space for the solar panels. These panels can take up a lot of space, like the Noor Abu Dhabi solar plant that set a world record in 2019 with 3.2 million solar panels taking up over 3 square miles of space.
Solar Landscape and the NSA may have found an interesting solution to solar panel projects’ space problem. If this partnership is successful, it could inspire similar deals for other communities looking to benefit from solar power technology.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/self-storage-rooftops-will-become-a-nationwide-100mw-solar-farm-223004138.html?src=rss
The commercial and community solar developer Solar Landscape’s new rooftop solar panel grid on the NSA’s 1,052 self-storage facilities and properties across 42 states and Puerto Rico are expected to produce at least 100 megawatts of solar capacity. The NSA, headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, is one of the nation’s largest self-storage operators with brands like iStorage, Move It, Northwest and SecurCare.
These solar energy panels won’t just generate power for the NSA’s facilities. The panels will also provide clean power to nearby businesses and homes for a discounted price.
One of the challenges of implementing solar energy is finding enough space for the solar panels. These panels can take up a lot of space, like the Noor Abu Dhabi solar plant that set a world record in 2019 with 3.2 million solar panels taking up over 3 square miles of space.
Solar Landscape and the NSA may have found an interesting solution to solar panel projects’ space problem. If this partnership is successful, it could inspire similar deals for other communities looking to benefit from solar power technology.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/self-storage-rooftops-will-become-a-nationwide-100mw-solar-farm-223004138.html?src=rss
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