Month: August 2024
Refi Rates Are Easing for Homeowners: Mortgage Refinance Rates for Aug. 23, 2024
Multiple key refinance rates have moved down. Refinance rates change daily, but experts say rates will stabilize in the coming months.
Multiple key refinance rates have moved down. Refinance rates change daily, but experts say rates will stabilize in the coming months.
Small Improvements in Mortgage Rates: Current Mortgage Interest Rates on Aug. 23, 2024
A couple of key mortgage rates moved down. Lower mortgage rates could bring positive news to the housing market in 2024.
A couple of key mortgage rates moved down. Lower mortgage rates could bring positive news to the housing market in 2024.
Apple is pushing out an important AirPods 2 update ahead of the full launch of iOS 18
Make sure your AirPods Pro 2 earbuds are updated ahead of the roll out of iOS 18 sometime next month.
Next month we’re almost certainly going to see the iPhone 16 series get its grand unveiling, and alongside the handsets, Apple should push out iOS 18 to the masses too – and ahead of that software update, the AirPods Pro 2 are getting an update of their own.
As reported by 9to5Mac, Apple is now pushing out new firmware for the wireless earbuds. These firmware releases typically fix bugs and sometimes apply security patches, but this particular update also seems to be preparing the way for iOS 18.
Back at Apple WWDC 2024 in June we got the news that when iOS 18 arrives on your iPhone, it will enable some new head gestures on the AirPods Pro 2. For example, you’ll be able to accept or reject a call by nodding or shaking your head.
If you’re interested in the technicalities, we’ve got you covered: this latest firmware upgrade is 7A5290a, replacing 7A5266c. While there are no official release notes for it, it’s likely that the finishing touches are being made to iOS 18 compatibility.
New features on the way
Apple has demoed how head gestures will work (Image credit: Apple)
If you’re wondering how to update your AirPods Pro 2, there’s actually no way to do it manually. Everything happens automatically in the background when the earbuds are connected to an iPhone that’s connected to the internet.
As for iOS 18, this will appear as an update on your iPhone under General and Software Update in Settings. You should be prompted to install the new software when it’s ready (it’s already gone through an extensive beta testing process).
There’s lots more coming with the big 2024 update of course. Apple is adding some new home screen customization options, texting via satellite and RCS support, the ability to lock and hide apps, a revamped Control Center, and plenty more besides.
It seems as though the much anticipated Apple Intelligence features are going to be a little slower to roll out on top of iOS 18 , but we should hear more at the official iPhone 16 event – which should be announced any day now.
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Cruise Partners With Uber To Offer Driverless Rides
Uber and General Motors’ Cruise have partnered to offer driverless rides to Uber users as early as soon as next year. CNBC reports: Both Cruise CEO Marc Whitten and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi hailed the partnership in a press release, stressing that the companies believe autonomous vehicles can be deployed safely. “Cruise is on a mission to leverage driverless technology to create safer streets and redefine urban life,” Whitten said in the release. “We are excited to partner with Uber to bring the benefits of safe, reliable, autonomous driving to even more people, unlocking a new era of urban mobility.” Khosrowshahi said in the release that Uber is “thrilled to partner with Cruise and look forward to launching next year.”
On Uber’s most recent earnings call, analysts asked the company how the emergence of robotaxis would likely impact the ridehailing giant’s business long-term. Khosrowshahi said on the call that “AV players” experience much higher utilization with Uber than they do “without a network on a first-party basis.” He also predicted there will be a “pretty long hybrid period as autonomous is developing and regulators are trying to figure out exactly how to regulate it.” He added, “We don’t think this will be a winner-take-all market.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Uber and General Motors’ Cruise have partnered to offer driverless rides to Uber users as early as soon as next year. CNBC reports: Both Cruise CEO Marc Whitten and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi hailed the partnership in a press release, stressing that the companies believe autonomous vehicles can be deployed safely. “Cruise is on a mission to leverage driverless technology to create safer streets and redefine urban life,” Whitten said in the release. “We are excited to partner with Uber to bring the benefits of safe, reliable, autonomous driving to even more people, unlocking a new era of urban mobility.” Khosrowshahi said in the release that Uber is “thrilled to partner with Cruise and look forward to launching next year.”
On Uber’s most recent earnings call, analysts asked the company how the emergence of robotaxis would likely impact the ridehailing giant’s business long-term. Khosrowshahi said on the call that “AV players” experience much higher utilization with Uber than they do “without a network on a first-party basis.” He also predicted there will be a “pretty long hybrid period as autonomous is developing and regulators are trying to figure out exactly how to regulate it.” He added, “We don’t think this will be a winner-take-all market.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Major iPhone 16 leak hints at the camera upgrades to expect next month
There’s rumored information on the exact specifications of the iPhone 16 series cameras, and the new Capture button.
We’ve heard a whole lot of leaks and rumors in the run up to the iPhone 16 launch, which is expected to be happening sometime next month – and the latest leak is a pretty major one, potentially revealing key camera specs for all four iPhone 16 models.
This comes from sources speaking to AppleInsider, and the details here suggest the upgrades for 2024 in the camera department will be fairly significant, especially for the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
First though the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus: apparently these phones are keeping the same primary 48 megapixel camera with an f/1.6 aperture and 2x optical zoom, but the ultrawide camera is getting upgraded from an f/2.4 aperture to f/2.2, while keeping the same 12 megapixel rating as we saw on the iPhone 15.
Essentially, it means more light will be allowed into the camera lens, meaning sharper shots (and especially in low light). Macro photography is apparently going to be supported on these phones for the first time, and as previously rumored, the cameras will be stacked vertically to enable the recording of spatial video.
Going Pro
The rear cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)
On to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, and AppleInsider says they’re going to be sticking with a triple-lens rear camera again this year. The 48MP, f/1.78 aperture primary sensor is apparently staying the same, and will still be capable of taking 2x optical zoom 12MP snaps as it is on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
The 12MP, 5x optical zoom telephoto lens from the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be kept, but this year it’s said to be going into the iPhone 16 Pro as well, which is a key upgrade. Meanwhile, the ultrawide lens is jumping from 12MP to 48MP, and getting pixel binning capabilities (combining pixels for better shots) as well as ProRAW support.
According to AppleInsider, the new iPhones will introduce a new photo format too, called JPEG-XL. At the same time, the highest quality Pro and Pro Max video recording will be upped to 3K at 120 frames per second, with Dolby Vision support.
Finally, there’s confirmation that a new Capture button is indeed on the way. As well as a full press, it’s apparently going to support half-press and slide actions too, giving you more flexibility inside your favorite iPhone camera apps.
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ElevenLabs’ AI Reader app can now narrate text in 32 languages
Image: The Verge
AI audio startup ElevenLabs has now made its text-to-speech Reader app available across the world, adding support for 32 different languages — including Spanish, Portuguese, French, Arabic, Mandarin, and Hindi.
The app, which is available on both iOS and Android, was first released in June in the US, UK, and Canada. It allows users to listen to PDFs, articles, newsletters, ePub files or “any other text content” according to the developer, but that support seemingly doesn’t extend to files from Kindle or Apple Books.
There’s a good selection of AI-generated voices available for the text-to-speech tool, including deceased celebrities like Judy Garland, James Dean, and Burt Reynolds. The few I’ve listened to are impressive enough to avoid sounding overly robotic. ElevenLabs said their respective heirs were “excited to see their’ legacies live on” at release, so these voices are presumably licensed.
The reader app is free to download and use, and won’t consume credits from the broader ElevenLabs web-based subscription plan. The company is, however, planning to “eventually launch some premium version of the app,” but is promising to have a “generous free plan” available when that happens.
Image: The Verge
AI audio startup ElevenLabs has now made its text-to-speech Reader app available across the world, adding support for 32 different languages — including Spanish, Portuguese, French, Arabic, Mandarin, and Hindi.
The app, which is available on both iOS and Android, was first released in June in the US, UK, and Canada. It allows users to listen to PDFs, articles, newsletters, ePub files or “any other text content” according to the developer, but that support seemingly doesn’t extend to files from Kindle or Apple Books.
There’s a good selection of AI-generated voices available for the text-to-speech tool, including deceased celebrities like Judy Garland, James Dean, and Burt Reynolds. The few I’ve listened to are impressive enough to avoid sounding overly robotic. ElevenLabs said their respective heirs were “excited to see their’ legacies live on” at release, so these voices are presumably licensed.
The reader app is free to download and use, and won’t consume credits from the broader ElevenLabs web-based subscription plan. The company is, however, planning to “eventually launch some premium version of the app,” but is promising to have a “generous free plan” available when that happens.
Jon Stewart brutally roasts Fox News’ reaction to the DNC
Jon Stewart has roasted Fox News reporters for their reaction to the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
Jon Stewart has roasted Fox News reporters for their reaction to the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
Best CD Rates Today — APYs Are Falling Fast, Aug. 23, 2024
Don’t wait to lock in a high APY. That great rate may not be here tomorrow.
Don’t wait to lock in a high APY. That great rate may not be here tomorrow.