Honda and Nissan are reportedly set to discuss a merger. The Japanese publication Nikkei said the two automakers plan to sign a memorandum of understanding to sort out shared equity stakes in a new holding company for the consolidated rivals.
The potential merger would combine the assets of Japans second- and third-biggest automakers, giving them a better shot of competing with the nations market leader, Toyota. Bloomberg adds that it would also put them in a better position against Tesla and Chinese EV makers. Nikkei says Mitsubishi could join the talks later.
Earlier this year, Honda and Nissan said they would work together on software development, batteries and other EV components. That combine-and-compete alliance followed Toyotas acquisition of stakes in Subaru, Suzuki and Mazda. With todays news that the pair are ready to take the next step, the landscape is clearly heading toward fewer (but bigger) legacy automakers competing for customers.
Bloomberg also reported on Tuesday that Honda is stepping up production of hybrid vehicles as demand for electric / gas vehicles remains high outside of China. The automaker is aiming to double its annual hybrid sales by 2030. The goal is still to become carbon neutral by 2050, but demand for hybrids will remain high for the foreseeable future, Honda Chief Officer Katsuto Hayashi said on Sunday. We see most of that growth happening in North America.
Speaking of North America, US President-elect Donald Trump reportedly plans to reverse President Bidens EV policies. His transition team is said to have recommended ending government support for EVs and charging stations and focusing instead on blocking cars, components and battery materials sourced from China. Climate scientists have warned that transitioning from gas-powered to electric vehicles is necessary to reduce carbon emissions and head off the most catastrophic projections for our planet.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/honda-and-nissan-reportedly-open-merger-talks-205454769.html?src=rss
Nima Momeni has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of notable fintech figure Bob Lee. Momeni, an IT consultant and entrepreneur, faces 16 years to life in prison. Best known as the creator and founder of Cash App, Lee was fatally stabbed in April 2023 in San Francisco. Momeni was arrested as a suspect nine days later.
The autopsy report revealed that Lee was under the influence of cocaine, alcohol and ketamine at the time of his death. He had been in the company of Momeni and his sister, Khazar Momeni, that night. Prosecutors argued that Mr. Momeni attacked Lee on the street after discovering that an associate of Lee's had drugged and assaulted Ms. Momeni. Momeni's legal team said he acted in self-defense and was unaware that Lee was injured in their altercation.
Most recently, Lee had been the chief product officer for cryptocurrency operation MobileCoin. He had previously held an executive position at Square and played a role in developing the Android mobile operating system at Google.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/consultant-found-guilty-in-murder-of-cash-app-founder-bob-lee-192430902.html?src=rss
Although Panic paused development on its official Playdate charging dock, an enterprising character artist has swooped in with an open-source kit (via Gizmodo) that transforms the device into an interactive robot pet.
PlayBot is Guillaume Loquins name for the cute add-on, which anyone with the right know-how can build. (For those without know-how, dont be shocked if you eventually see others sell builds on platforms like Etsy.) Made with two wheels, a motor, a microcontroller and a 3D-printed casing, it taps into the Playdates built-in accelerometer, microphone and sensors to turn the indie game console into a charming desktop companion.
Guillaume Loquin / YouTube
Loquin, whose day job is as a character artist at Ubisoft, put those skills to use in bringing the device to life. Although it wont do anything crazy like have a chat, pop wheelies or play fetch, Loquins video below shows it reacting to a wake-up tap, navigating around a corner and getting dizzy after spinning the Playdates crank. It can also scoot around your desk, steering clear of obstacles and avoiding a plummet off the edge.
The developer estimates 45 minutes of play per charge. When you arent playing with the device (in game console or robot form), the robo-dock charges the console.
Loquin provides the 3D printing instructions, companion apps code and firmware for its Teensy 4.1 microcontroller on GitHub.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/unofficial-mod-transforms-the-playdate-into-a-charming-robot-pet-180500961.html?src=rss
Workers at two of Amazon's warehouses in New York City are set to go on strike after the company failed to come to the bargaining table by a December 15 deadline. Unionized workers at the JFK8 facility on Staten Island and DBK4 depot in Queens voted "overwhelmingly" to authorize strikes in protest against "Amazons illegal refusal to recognize their union and negotiate a contract addressing the companys low wages and dangerous working conditions," according to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT). Engadget has contacted the Teamsters and Amazon Labor Union (ALU) for more details about the strikes.
The workers at JFK8 were the first in the US to unionize at an Amazon warehouse. They organized under the ALU, which this June partnered with the Teamsters. The union now known as ALU-IBT Local 1 represents around 5,500 warehouse workers at JFK8.
Our members are ready to do whatever it takes to get a contract, Connor Spence, president of ALU-IBT Local 1, said in a statement. While Amazon continues to disrespect us by refusing to listen to our concerns, our movement is only growing stronger.
As for DBK4 which the Teamsters say is Amazon's biggest delivery station in NYC workers there voted almost unanimously for strike authorization. Meanwhile, workers at the DIL7 delivery depot in Skokie, Illinois, also voted "overwhelmingly" to approve a strike. The Teamsters represent hundreds of workers at that station as well. Amazon is one of the biggest companies on Earth, but we are struggling to pay our bills, Riley Holzworth, a DIL7 worker, said in a statement.
Amazon has lodged legal challenges against the union election win at JFK8, but it has been unsuccessful in its efforts to overturn results thus far. The company has appealed a ruling by the National Labor Relations Board that certified the union. As ABC News reports, workers claim that Amazon is using the challenges as a tactic to illegally delay union contract talks.
"For more than a year now, the Teamsters have continued to intentionally mislead the public claiming that they represent 'thousands of Amazon employees and drivers'. They don't, and this is another attempt to push a false narrative," Amazon spokesperson Eileen Hards told ABC News. "The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them, which is illegal and is the subject of multiple pending unfair labor practice charges."
News of the impending strike comes just after a Senate committee released a report regarding an investigation into safety at Amazon facilities. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions claimed the company ignored internal research indicating that there was a high level of injury rates at its warehouses.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/amazon-workers-at-two-nyc-warehouses-are-set-to-go-on-strike-175236558.html?src=rss
Many of us will be taking to the skies in the coming days as we travel to see loved ones for the holidays. Flying can be stressful at times but once youre in your seat, theres nothing for it but to snooze or find a way to keep yourself occupied. In-flight entertaInment systems are one way to do that but having an earphone wire dangling into your meal isnt ideal. So Twelve South's AirFly SE Bluetooth dongle can come in handy. Its on sale for $30, which is $5 off and a record low.
This is a small Bluetooth transmitter that you can plug into an in-flight entertainment systems 3.5mm audio jack. As such, you can watch movies using your wireless earphones or headphones.
The SE model allows you to connect one pair of headphones and itll certainly do the trick for long-haul flights. It has a promised battery life of over 20 hours (you can use it while charging via USB-C too). It's not just for flights of course, as it'll works with any device that has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The Pro model is also on sale. It has dropped by $11 to $44. You can connect two sets of earphones to this dongle simultaneously, which is handy if you want to watch a show on a tablet with your seatmate. Twelve South claims it has a battery life of over 25 hours.
Most significantly, the AirFly Pro can receive audio wirelessly as well. So you can transmit Bluetooth audio from the likes of your phone, laptop or handheld gaming system to a car without a modern infotainment system, wired speakers and so on. Meanwhile, both models have aptX Low Latency tech to minimize audio lag.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/twelve-souths-airfly-se-bluetooth-dongle-drops-to-only-30-172911330.html?src=rss
OnePlus will launch its new flagship series, the OnePlus 13, on January 7, 2025. The first phone in the series to be revealed will be the aptly-named OnePlus 13, and the company will also show off the new OnePlus Buds Pro 3.
The OnePlus 13 will come in three colorways: Arctic Dawn, Black Eclipse and Midnight Ocean. The Midnight Ocean colorway will also be the first phone to use micro-fiber vegan leather. In contrast, the Arctic Dawn edition has a new glass coating, which is another first in the industry, as claimed by OnePlus.
The firsts dont end there. All models of the OnePlus 13 will have IP68 and IP69 ratings. IP68 certification shows that the device is protected against submerging and dust, but the IP69 rating takes water resistance a step further, promising that the device can withstand high-pressure jets of water. The OnePlus 13 might be the first mainstream smartphone to get IP69 certification.
The screen will have a 2K120FPS resolution and a maximum brightness of 4,500 nits. OnePlus says the display will redefine clarity, brightness, and color vibrancy.
The OnePlus 13 will use OxygenOS 15, the newest version of the companys proprietary operating system. This OS will integrate many AI features, with AI-powered searches standing out. The feature, called Intelligent Search, is supposed to help users locate files using natural prompts instead of manually searching for them. To ensure smooth performance, theres a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset onboard, a newly-released chipset.
As for the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, they will have AI translation powered by the OnePlus 13. The earbuds will come in a Sapphire Blue colorway, but no other information about them is available. Other phones in the series will be announced soon, as well, but as for now we dont have any specifics on prices or release dates for the first phone and buds. Hopefully well get those in January.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/oneplus-will-launch-its-new-flagship-the-oneplus-13-series-on-january-7-165616811.html?src=rss
I can't remember a recent instance in which the final amount I owed, whether it be for a hotel reservation or a concert ticket, didn't make my eyes bug out in shock. Now, a new rule from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) should limit these bait-and-switch pricing tactics. The FTC has announced the Junk Fees Rule, requiring live-event ticketing and short-term lodging businesses to be transparent about the total price owed. Other companies will continue to be monitored on a case-by-case basis for deceptive pricing.
The new rule, first proposed in 2023, should get rid of all those extra "resort" and "service" fees tacked on at checkout that often feel arbitrary. Companies can still technically include them, but they must be factored into the initial price shown. The required disclosure means the first amount you see on displays, advertisements and the like should also be the total amount you pay.
The Junk Fees Rule also requires businesses to display that final amount "more prominently" than any other information. So, it can't say it will cost one thing in big font and then in really small print add that there's a lot of fees on top of it. People deserve to know up-front what theyre being asked to pay without worrying that theyll later be saddled with mysterious fees that they havent budgeted for and cant avoid, said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. "I urge enforcers to continue cracking down on these unlawful fees and encourage state and federal policymakers to build on this success with legislation that bans unfair and deceptive junk fees across the economy.
The FTC claims the Junk Fee Rule will save individuals up to an estimated 53 million hours each year and more than $11 billion over the next decade. The rule will go into effect 120 days after it's published in the Federal Registrar. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/ftc-bans-hidden-junk-fees-on-tickets-and-short-term-lodging-purchases-160702790.html?src=rss
Apple TV+ has renewed its hit sci-fi show Silo for two more seasons. However, the show will end at that point after telling the full story of the Hugh Howey novels on which it's based.
Excited to share that Silo will return for a third AND fourth season! Were thrilled to support the imagination and inspiration out of the UK as they continue to create world-class films and series, Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote on X, perhaps in an attempt to butter up the creative industry in the UK.
Apple doesn't tend to share viewership data for its shows and movies. However, Nielsen said soon after the show premiered last year that Silo was a breakout hit. The series debuted as the platform's number-one drama, per Nielsen data. Viewership is said to have grown in the following weeks. (We dug it early on too.)
The second season of the dystopian drama is streaming on Apple TV+ now with new episodes arriving each Friday until January 17. Silo depicts a future in which there are only 10,000 people left on the planet and they're housed in a mile-deep bunker to protect them from a seemingly toxic surface. Anyone who tries to find out when or why this silo was constructed tends to meet their demise, so clearly there's more going on than might first meet the eye.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/apple-tv-series-silo-will-run-for-two-more-seasons-153830028.html?src=rss
Train operator Avanti West Coast is putting a creative spin on public safety this holiday season. The company has launched Safety Thirst, a limited-edition 0.5% pale ale available on board its trains, aiming to promote responsible drinking among passengers during a time of year when alcohol-related accidents traditionally spike. Data from the Rail Safety and Standards Board reveals that accidents where intoxication was a potential factor increased by 45% during last years Christmas season from tripping down stairs to falling over a platform edge or driving home from the station while under the influence.The low-alcohol brew was created in partnership with Birmingham Brewing Company and comes in a can that draws inspiration from heritage railway wayfinding signage. Safety Thirsts launch was accompanied by an Avanti West Coast staff choir performing a safety-themed version of Jingle Bells (Keeps you steady, light and ready, full of festive cheer.) The campaign has garnered support from both the Rail Safety and Standards Board and harm-reduction charity Drinkaware, which notes that around a third of people now use low and no-alcohol options to moderate their drinking.
NVIDIA has just revealed the Jetson Orin Nano Super Developer Kit, which is the successor to its Jetson Orin Nano kit from 2022. This new compact generative AI supercomputer can fit into the palm of your hand. Included in the developer kit is an 8GB Jetson Orin Nano system-on-module and a reference carrier board.
In terms of performance, the Jetson Orin Nano Super can reach 68 trillion operations per second (TOPS), a 70 percent increase from its predecessor. NVIDIA also claims a 1.7 times improvement in generative AI inference performance and a 50 percent bandwidth increase to 102GB per second. As for CPU frequency, its now 1.7GHz, a modest bump compared to its predecessors 1.5GHz.
NVIDIA also claims that it delivers gains for all popular generative AI models. These include large language models (LLMs), vision language models and vision transformers.
The Jetson Orin Nano Supers software updates can also boost its predecessor, which is great news if you have the original Jetson Orin Nano. All you need to do is to download the software and install the update. That said, NVIDIA didnt give any specifics on how the older devices performance would change.
The Jetson Orin Nano Super Developer Kit is currently available from NVIDIA-approved resellers. Its currently just $249, down from its predecessors $499, making it the most affordable product of its kind right now.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/nvidias-latest-compact-generative-ai-supercomputer-is-also-its-cheapest-153128086.html?src=rss
