Monthly Archives: February 2022

Tesla offers free EV charging near Ukraine for those fleeing conflict

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Tesla Superchargers close to the Ukraine border will offer free electric vehicle charging to support those leaving the country following Russia's invasion. Owners of Tesla and non-Tesla EVs will be able to use stations at Trzebownisko, Poland; Košice, Slovakia; and Miskolc and Debrecen (both Hungary) at no cost for a limited time. It's unclear whether Tesla plans to expand the program to other Supercharger sites.

"We hope that this helps give you the peace of mind to get to a safe location," Tesla wrote in an email to local owners, according to Elektrek. It's said to be the first time Tesla has offered free charging to owners of third-party EVs.

Tesla doesn't currently operate in Ukraine, though some people there are said to have imported its EVs and the company wants to open Supercharger sites in the country (it's not clear how the conflict may have impacted those plans). The company has offered free charging during other times of crisis, including when hurricanes struck the US.

Widescape WS250: The World’s First Stand-Up Snowmobile

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Introduced by upstart Canadian powersports company Widescape, the WS250 is allegedly the world’s first snowmobile designed to be ridden while standing up. Wait – who wants to stand? Sitting is where it’s at. And, if I’m being perfectly honest, I’d much rather be lying down. Now, where’s that snowmobile?


Powered by a fuel-injected 242cc 4-stroke engine, the WS250 features a significantly slimmer platform than most traditional snowmobiles (you can fit two in the bed of a truck side-by-side), allowing a rider to access areas larger machines might not be able to. Yeti cave, here we come! Gosh, I sure hope it invites us in for hot cocoa instead of mauling us to death like a wampa.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking? If it involves an annual snowmobile jousting competition, you are! The machines weigh in at just under 200 lbs and start at around $6,750, meaning they weigh even less than I do but are worth almost $6,750 more. That’s crazy to think about — also, more than a little depressing.

[via GearJunkie]

Lightweight and breathable Apple Watch band for mixing comfort with convenience

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Being an active individual means you appreciate accessories high on comfort and flexibility of use. Well, this cool Apple Watch strap is made for such lifestyle craving people. A band that’s so lightweight and comfy, it elevates your Apple Watch’s utility a few notches higher.

The Apple Watch Series 7 is high in style, features and function. The wearable does impress in its aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium skin. While Apple lovers can choose from among the braided loop, solo loop of the sports loop style bands – none of them practically speaking is breathable enough for sweat-inducing physical activities. Even the aftermarket options for the Apple Watch strap don’t solve much of the flexibility of use and breathability requirements.

Designer: JinLong Tu

This is where the Baseus Let’’s go Watch Band comes in to fill the gap. The Apple Watch strap has a smart design that reduces the contact area with the skin to not hinder in any way with athletic activities while still being able to do all the health and fitness tracking to perfection. The design of the strap is such that it lets the wearer adjust the length to millimeter detail – something that every wearable strap can sometimes disappoint with. Especially for users who are very finicky about their wearables. Most of all, the watch band maintains a very high level of comfort and convenience, even with long hours of wearing.

Sadly this Apple Watch accessory is still in the concept stage, and has immense potential to make it to the consumer market. Obviously, the material and finish of the real product need to be on point to ward off any traces of sweat from sticking underneath the band’s surface, while maintaining a very lightweight aesthetic. In fact, it should be so light, the wearer should not even notice it. Not only Apple’s smartwatch, but this cool solution for active individuals could see hyper demand given it is produced in cool color options to go with the trendy wearables of the current era!

The post Lightweight and breathable Apple Watch band for mixing comfort with convenience first appeared on Yanko Design.

Instagram head says iPad ‘not big enough’ to make app a priority

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It's been more than 11 years since Instagram first launched... and there's still no native iPad app. Instagram users are limited to using the web interface or the iPhone version, an app that is definitely not optimized for the iPad's larger screen. And according to Instagram head Adam Mosseri, that's not going to change any time soon. 

In a series of tweets between Mosseri and prolific tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee, Mosseri said that there weren't enough iPad users to justify making a dedicated app. "The year is 2022 and there's still no proper Instagram app for iPad," Brownlee tweeted Sunday afternoon. Mosseri apparently saw it and decided to open up a bit about the decision. "It's still just not a big enough group of people to be a priority," he responded. "Hoping to get to it at some point, but right now we're very heads down on other things."

Mosseri shed a little more light on the situation; in a subsequent tweet, he noted that Instagram's team is "leaner than you think" and said the company was already supporting four platforms (iOS, Android, web and Instagram Lite). He also mentioned Instagram's competitors by name, calling TikTok and YouTube "behemoths." In relation to how people use Instagram vs. those apps, Mosseri said that Instagram users share more in private messages than they do in the feed or through stories, and that the company "need[s] to adapt." 

It wasn't exactly clear what he meant by needing to adapt, but it sounds like he thinks people are sharing more publicly on TikTok and YouTube than they are on Instagram right now. Adapting could either be finding ways to make people share more publicly or to improve the messaging experience that is so popular on Instagram, but Mosseri didn't say more on that point.

Finally, Mosseri indicated that Instagram internally views full iPad support as a "finally feature," something they want to get to but isn't a huge priority. "Things like supporting dark mode, scheduled posts, an iPad app, deleting one photo from a carousel, etc," he tweeted. 

While there are clearly millions of iPad owners who would likely enjoy an Instagram app, the company has done a lot to make the web experience better over the last few years. Messaging has been fully supported for a while now, and as of last fall you can even create Instagram posts from the website as well. Stories are still exclusive to the mobile apps, but the overall web experience is not nearly as compromised as it used to be.

Regardless, people will probably not stop asking for an Instagram iPad app any time soon, but at least the app's leader has been forthcoming about the chances of that happening in the future. Never say never, iPad users, but don't hold your breath. 

Russia withdraws from European spaceport in response to sanctions

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Russia is cutting some of its cooperation with international space programs in response to sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. Roscosmos is "suspending" cooperation with European partners on launches from the Guiana Space Center in retaliation for EU sanctions. As Ars Technicaexplains, the Russian agency also announced that it's pulling staff from the French Guiana-based spaceport.

At the same time, Parabolic Arcnotes Russia is ending NASA's participation in the Venera-D mission to Venus, deeming it "inappropriate" to continue joint work in light of sanctions. Venera-D is meant to revive Russian exploration of Venus by sending an orbiter and lander to the hellish planet in 2029. It's not yet clear how the lack of US involvement will affect the project, although Russia claimed in 2020 that its mission wouldn't have "extensive involvement" from other countries.

EU space commissioner Thierry Breton said in a February 26th statement that Russia's decision on the spaceport wouldn't affect service for the Copernicus and Galileo satellite networks. However, this could complicate future launches for either project. Europe's remaining Ariane 5 rockets are already booked, and Ariane 6 won't be ready until 2023 or later. The EU likely won't have access to Russian Soyuz rockets if it needs a launch on short notice, and might have to turn to companies like SpaceX instead.

Russia hasn't severed all its partnerships. It's still involved in the International Space Station for now, although it might leave to establish its own facility. Even so, it's now clear the country is willing to limit scientific efforts in space to punish its political opponents.

Airbnb offers free housing for up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees

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Airbnb has pledged to work with Ukraine's neighbors to provide free temporary housing to up to 100,000 refugees who are fleeing the country after Russia invaded. Executives are sending letters to the leaders of several European nations — beginning with Poland, Germany, Hungary and Romania — to offer their support. More than 300,000 people have left Ukraine since the invasion commenced on Thursday, as Bloomberg notes.

The Airbnb.org nonprofit will work with governments and local organizations to support the needs of refugees in each nation, which may include providing longer-term housing. The housing costs will be covered by Airbnb, along with donors to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund and hosts. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said that, while partnerships are being forged with nonprofits in European countries, refugees and asylum seekers can seek help from the UN Refugee Agency

The nonprofit last week announced it has facilitated housing for 21,300 Afghan refugees. It said it would house up to 40,000 Afghan refugees on a temporary basis after the Taliban assumed power. Airbnb.org last week set a target of providing free short-term housing to another 20,000 refugees from Afghanistan, Africa, the Middle East, Central and South America and other territories. That goal is separate from the pledge to help Ukrainian refugees.

Realme GT 2 Pro gets unboxed (Video)

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Earlier today we heard about the new Realme GT 2 Pro smartphone and now we get to find out more details about the device in an unboxing video. The video below from Tech Spurt gives us a look at the Realme GT 2 Pro and its range of features, lets find out more details about […]

(Read More ...)

The post Realme GT 2 Pro gets unboxed (Video) appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

Samsung’s 1TB T7 Touch SSD drops to a record low of $140

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While the Samsung T7 SSD has been on sale for a week or two, the T7 Touch portable drive has now joined it in being discounted. The palm-sized SSD in 1TB is down to $140, or 26 percent off its normal price. Only the black model is this low — if you really want the silver version, it'll cost you an extra $20 — but now's a good time to grab an extra drive and save $50 at the same time.

Buy Samsung T7 Touch (1TB) at Amazon - $140Buy Samsung T7 Touch (1TB) at Best Buy - $140Buy Samsung T7 Touch (1TB) at B&H - $140

Storage gadgets can get expensive, especially when you want a 1TB or more of digital space, so we always recommend waiting for a sale like this one before buying. Samsung's T7 series has become one of our favorites in the portable SSD space for their pocket-friendly yet durable designs, fast performance and extra features like Dynamic Thermal Guard, AES 256-bit encryption and optional password protection. On top of all that, the Touch model has a built-in fingerprint reader for an extra layer of security.

The T7 Touch comes with both a USB-C to C and a USB-C to A cable, so you can use it with nearly any device you have — smartphone, tablet, laptop, some game consoles and more. If you have a tighter budget, you can still grab the 1TB Samsung T7 — which is identical to the Touch model, with the exception of the fingerprint reader — for $110, which is 35 percent off and the best price we've seen. And if you're looking for an internal SSD that will work with the PS5 you just got your hands on, Samsung's 980 Pro in 2TB is down to an all-time low of $280 right now, too.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Ukraine raises over $13 million in crypto to help fight Russian invasion

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Ukraine isn't just relying on foreign government aid to finance its defense against the Russian invasion. According to Reuters, Elliptic reports the Ukranian government has raised over $13 million ($13.6 million as of this writing) in cryptocurrency from more than 18,000 contributors after it launched a crowdfunding effort on February 26th to bolster its fight. The country has raised a total of $20.9 million since the invasion began, but got its biggest lift when it published wallet addresses for Bitcoin, Ethereum and Tether on Saturday.

The nation's digital transformation ministry told Reuters it would use the crypto to "destroy as much [sic] Russian soldiers as possible." Unofficial efforts like Come Back Alive and Support Ukranian Sovereignty have also raised cryptocurrency to support the Ukraine military and local charities.

The actions come as cryptocurrency exchanges have partially clamped down on Russia. Finbold and Reuters note Binance has already restricted crypto accounts affected by sanctions against Russia, while Kraken is warning Russians their accounts might be frozen if there's a "legal requirement" to do so. Both exchanges have ruled out blanket bans for all Russian users despite Ukranian Vice Prime Minister Mykhalio Fedorov calling on major exchanges to "sabotage ordinary users" in addition to addresses linked to Russian and Belarusian politicians.

The cryptocurrency donations are tiny compared to the conventional aid Ukraine has received so far. The US government alone contributed $350 million in military support this past weekend. The amount is still significant, though, and it's a novel concept — a country is directly requesting crypto to fuel its military and defend its existence.

Supermarine MM01 Hyper Jet Ski looks like it was designed to fly instead

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There is a great deal of fuss over all-electric vehicles today, but most of those have been focused on vehicles with wheels rolling on land. Electric aircraft is still in the age of their infancy, and you barely even hear about aquatic modes of travel switching to more sustainable sources of power. There are, of course, attempts at designing electric boats and jet skis, but the upcoming Supermarine MM01 might be the most ambitious one of all, both in handsome looks and in luxurious price.

Designers: Germain and Léopold Bouvet

Jet skis aren’t exactly your typical mode of transportation over water. They’re good for crossing short distances, hopping from island to island, but they’re often associated more with sports and sometimes dangerous thrills where speed is the name of the game. It isn’t by accident, then, that this Supermarine MM01 by Bouvet Frères Marine is being branded as a hyper jet ski in line with hypercars on land.

The futuristic-looking aquatic vehicle will be powered by a 300hp electric motor generating 220kw of power. In theory, this would allow the jet ski to blast through waters at a top speed of 75 mph, and the company advertises an “autonomy” of 2 hours tops. It’s powered by electricity rather than fuel, of course, which almost makes it sound like a more sustainable option. But if you thought electric vehicles were more expensive than their gasoline-chugging counterparts, then the Supermarine MM01 easily outclasses those by a nautical mile.

This “hyper jet ski” is ultimately a luxury vehicle if its appearance wasn’t already a dead giveaway. It’s a sporty vehicle, as its rip-roaring specs suggest, but it’s also described as a “lifestyle machine” designed with ergonomics and style in mind. Leather upholstered front trunk, a touch screen for navigation, and a carbon Kevlar monocoque frame all point to something that’s designed for more affluent customers. There’s even a dedicated champagne holder under the two-seater saddle if you still have any doubts.

Interestingly, the form of the Supermarine MM01 seems to take its cue not from luxury cars but futuristic hovercrafts. Although its speed hopefully won’t make you fly out of the water, the jet ski’s aerodynamic design is more similar to sci-fi flying vehicles than your typical water speedsters. And if you add wheels, it wouldn’t look out of place over land either. Coincidentally, its designers have earned their reputation building cars, which is why you can get some amphibious vibes from this electric jet ski.

Perhaps the biggest telltale sign of this vehicle’s luxury DNA is in the number of jet skis that the company will produce. Only 30 Supermarine MM01’s will be made, at least in its first run, split between white “Mother of Pearl” and black edition colors. The designers are well aware that these luxury machines will have a high asking price, but they aren’t as concerned about profitability as they are in creating something that symbolizes a passion for aesthetics and creative freedom.

The post Supermarine MM01 Hyper Jet Ski looks like it was designed to fly instead first appeared on Yanko Design.