Phanteks, has introduced a new PC chassis and a set of high-resolution displays designed to strike the perfect balance between style and performance, enhancing both the visual appeal and the cooling efficiency of custom PC setups. The centerpiece of Phanteks’ new releases is the NV9 chassis, a sleek and modern case that combines elegant glass panels […]
Half of London's black cab fleet is now made up of zero-emission vehicles, manufacturer LEVC and Transport for London (TfL) announced. Of the 14,690 licensed taxis in the capital, 7,972 are battery electric vehicles (BEVs), with most manufactured by Geely's LEVC, according to the latest figures. The number of those models grew a fairly dramatic 10 percent in the last month alone.
"Reaching this milestone is a great reflection of how London is working hard to be a greener, more sustainable, environmentally friendly city," said TfL's Helen Chapman. "London's black taxis are recognized worldwide and we are proud to see that so many drivers are helping clean up the air."
New drivers haven't had a choice in the matter, though, as since 2018, TfL has required that all new cabs licensed in the city be zero emissions cable (the rule was extended to private minicabs last year). Cabbies with existing licenses have been motivated to change, too, as any still using less efficient vehicles have been required since 2020 to pay a daily rate (now £12.50) to operate in central London's Ultra Low Emission Zone.
Many of London's larger taxi and minicab operators have committed to fully-electric fleets by 2025. That includes the city's largest operator, Addison Lee (which uses VW ID 4s) saying it would reach that goal by 2023. London's Black Cabs are generally independently owned and licensed under strict rules by TfL. Uber recently announced that London's black taxis would be listed on its app and while some drivers have signed up, many decried the plan.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/half-of-londons-famed-black-cab-taxi-fleet-are-now-evs-134015907.html?src=rss
As a controversial COP28 continues in Dubai, a new report emphasizes that "the world is on a disastrous trajectory." The Global Tipping Points report emphasized the need for an immediate phasing out of fossil fuels and a commitment to beneficial solutions. Tipping points are small thresholds that, when crossed, spark a series of events, including the passage of other tipping points.
The report, led by the University of Exeter and the Global Systems Institute, looked at 26 negative tipping points and the Earth's chances of breaching them as it heads towards a global warming of 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit. Scientists from the European Union have declared 2023 as the hottest year on record. As things stand, researchers found five tipping points are currently at risk of being hit, such as major ice sheets collapsing and warm-water coral reefs dying off. Another three are possible in the 2030s (when that 2.7 F marker is crossed).
The Global Tipping Points report bluntly states: "The existence of tipping points means that 'business as usual' is now over. Rapid changes to nature and society are occurring, and more are coming. If we don't revise our governance approach, these changes could overwhelm societies as the natural world rapidly comes apart." It also emphasizes the importance of pursuing positive tipping points, such as the massive rollout of EVs.
The report lays out six key recommendations to avoid negative tipping points and pursue positive ones:
Phase our fossil fuels and land use emissions now, certainly way before 2050
Strengthen adaptation and loss-and-damage governance, with a particular focus on vulnerable communities
Include tipping point risks, positive tipping point possibilities and related action in the Global Stocktake and Nationally Determined Contributions
Coordinate policy efforts on activating positive tipping points, especially ones that could create a beneficial domino effect
Have the UN Secretary General convene a meeting on tipping point risks and activating positive tipping points
Invest in deepening the scientific knowledge of tipping points and helpful actions
The controversies surrounding the ongoing COP28 are one of the barriers to implementing these initiatives. Reports have indicated that the United Arab Emirates planned to use the conference to make deals for its oil and gas companies with other countries. In fact, at least 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists have access to COP28's climate negotiations, the Guardian reports. This number is larger than any country's delegation other than Brazil and UAE and more than those traveling from the top ten most climate vulnerable countries.
Then there's Sultan Al Jaber, COP28's president and the chief executive of Adnoc, UAE's state oil company, who added fire to his already controversial opinion. In a livestream conversation with Mary Robinson, the chair of the Elders group and a former UN special envoy for climate change, Al Jaber stated, "There is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is what's going to achieve 1.5C." His comment came after Robinson told Al Jaber that he had the "credibility" as head of Adnoc to work towards ending fossil fuel use.
Robinson then questioned Al Jaber about reports that Adnoc is increasing its fossil fuel use, which he denied. "Please help me, show me the roadmap for a phase-out of fossil fuel that will allow for sustainable socioeconomic development, unless you want to take the world back into caves," Al Jaber added and told her to stop pointing fingers. He later called out the press for misinterpreting his statements.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/new-report-says-the-world-is-on-a-disastrous-trajectory-due-to-climate-change-132508138.html?src=rss
This guide is designed to show you how you can organize your digital life with the help of ChatGPT and Google Bard. In today’s digital age, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information we’re constantly bombarded with. From emails and social media to work documents and personal files, keeping track of […]
When you step into the world of PC gaming, you’re greeted with some undeniable perks. One of the biggest draws is that online play often comes without the extra cost of a subscription service, which can save you money in the long run. The selection of games available to PC gamers is not just vast; […]
AI is swiftly altering the video production landscape, empowering creators to animate and optimize content in ways previously unimaginable. This amazing new technology is enabling those with limited technical skills to produce intricate animations and even full-length films and we are only at the start of the very beginning of the journey. We’re witnessing a […]
Apple’s MagSafe magnetic wireless charging technology has literally changed the face of charging accessories. Freed from the shackles of multiple cables, manufacturers have come up with creative designs that marry aesthetics and functionality in ways not possible before. And yes, there are even portable MagSafe chargers that let you bring that convenience anywhere you go. This category is still a bit young, and there haven’t been that many designs apart from foldable squares or small cubes. The latest entry from Twelve South, however, pushes the envelope of portable wireless chargers with a rather cute design that adds some unexpected functionality that you’ll come to appreciate, even if you can’t charge three devices all at once.
The Twelve South Butterfly is hardly what you’d expect to be a charger of any sort with its elegant circular design. Made from durable anodized aluminum on the outside, the Butterfly looks more like an accessory designed for MacBooks rather than a charger. Open up the two halves of the circle and you’re greeted with vegan leather material that’s meant to both add class to the product but also protect the devices you’ll be placing on top of them. These two halves are joined by a stylish leather strap to complete the rather posh picture that it paints.
Each half, of course, hides a wireless charger inside. One side can charge compatible iPhones with 15W power as well as AirPods with wireless charging cases. The other half holds a 5W Apple Watch Charger that can be flipped up to let you see the watch even while it’s charging. This Watch charger can also juice up the AirPods Pro 2nd gen so that you can charge it and an iPhone at the same time. Yes, this design’s biggest flaw is that it can only charge two devices simultaneously, though that might not be such a problem for most people.
The Twelve South Butterfly, however, has another secret feature. If you fold the halves in the opposite direction and make the outer covers touch, you can use the charger as a makeshift stand as well. This lets you activate the iPhone’s Standby mode or the Apple Watch’s Nightstand Mode without having to use a different accessory. Of course, you can also use this method to prop up the iPhone for watching videos and whatnot even if you won’t be charging it.
Twelve South packs a 30W power adapter in the box for good measure, but you can also use power banks for the ultimate portable charging experience. There’s a braided 1-meter USB-C cable that matches the charger’s elegant looks while also providing durability. The Twelve South Butterfly 2-in-1 MagSafe Charger sells for $129.99 and definitely carries a design that matches that price tag.
In the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI), knowledge graphs stand as a crucial innovation, particularly influential in areas like machine learning and natural language processing (NLP). These structures serve as complex maps, illustrating the intricate relationships between different data elements, thereby equipping AI systems with a deeper understanding and more nuanced processing capabilities. Understanding Knowledge […]
Suzuki has launched its new Suzuki Swift in the UK and the car will come with a new 1.2L engine with a 12V mild hybrid system, the car gets a range of design updates over the previous model. The new Swift exudes confidence and adventure with a piano-black grille and L-shaped signature lamps that flow […]
Microsoft says its Copilot AI chatbot is integrating with OpenAI’s latest GPT model and the image generator DALL-E 3, among other upgrades. GPT-4 Turbo integration will help Copilot users tackle even more complex tasks. While the last generation allowed for up to 50 pages of text as a data input, GPT-4 Turbo accepts up to 300 pages, which should make for more meaningful (and accurate, I hope) responses to queries. The newest DALL-E 3 image generation model should generate higher-quality images, with better accuracy for your prompts.
Beyond the OpenAI collaborations, Copilot’s Inline Compose tool now includes a rewrite menu, so you can select a block of text (in Edge) and get a bot-edited version. Code Interpreter will apparently help users perform complex tasks like “data analysis, visualization, math” and plain old coding.
— Mat Smith
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Lenovo is putting its spin on the handheld gaming PC category with the Legion Go. It combines high-level performance with an 8.8-inch OLED display and with some design traits from the Nintendo Switch. The result is a powerful, though somewhat bulky, $700 gaming machine. It has a big 49.2Wh battery, which lasts between an hour and a half and three hours, depending on your power settings. But boy, is it big.
Fiat will soon start selling the 500e hatchback EV stateside in 2024 for $32,500 ($34,095, including the destination fee). It hasn’t been available in the US since 2019, but the latest model is a big update with more range, a nicer interior, better tech and more. The 500e is tiny by EV standards, particularly in the weight department. It puts just 3,000 pounds on the pavement, making it what the manufacturer calls “the lightest passenger BEV in the segment.” Still, it’s more expensive than Tesla’s Model 3 after federal tax credits.
You can catch Soul, Turning Red and Luca in cinemas in early 2024.
Many major movies skipped US theaters and went straight to streaming services. Pixar somehow released three titles: Soul, Luca and Turning Red, all of which debuted on Disney+. In 2024, though, you’ll get the chance to see those animated films on the big screen. Soul will get a theatrical release on January 12, Turning Red will hit cinemas on February 9 and Luca launches on March 22.
The mindfulness app Calm, already known for its Sleep Stories read by celebrities, including Harry Styles and Idris Elba, has digitally revived Jimmy Stewart’s iconic voice to ‘read’ “It’s a Wonderful Sleep Story” for its Premium subscribers. Tina Xavie, chief marketing officer of CMG Worldwide (the company that manages Stewart’s estate) said that makes this AI recreation a great fit for Calm’s bedtime series — the project received the green light from both Stewart’s family and his estate.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-microsoft-upgrades-its-copilot-chatbot-121515889.html?src=rss