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How the Lack of COVID Funding is Impacting Health Care

How the Lack of COVID Funding is Impacting Health Care

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the

WHO

and

CDC

websites.

Americans without health insurance may have started to feel the impacts of dwindling COVID-19 funding as federal officials and experts in health care alike continue the call for replenished pandemic resources.

Congress has agreed on a new $10 billion COVID-19 package that would fill some of the holes that have started forming in the country's pandemic response, but it's stalled in the Senate over a Title 42 dispute, an immigration order Senate Republicans want to vote on before passing the package, Roll Call and other media reported. Members of Congress have returned from a spring recess, raising hope that the dispute will be settled soon.

The new bill is much smaller than what federal officials originally requested, but it includes funding for things such as new vaccines, COVID-19 treatments and testing resources. What it doesn't include, however, is funding for the country's pandemic response abroad. 

It also doesn't set aside money for the Uninsured Program, which is no longer accepting claims from health care providers to cover costs for uninsured Americans seeking COVID-19 testing, treatments and even vaccines. This leaves it up to providers to "absorb the cost or turn away people who are uninsured," the White House said. 

Additional funding is also needed to purchase more monoclonal antibody treatments, which the government said will run out as soon as late May, as well as other treatments including Paxlovid. 

Here's what to know about how COVID-19 funding and its impact on health care services. 

Aitor Diago/Getty Images

Can I still get a COVID vaccine or test if I don't have health insurance?

The Uninsured Americans program stopped accepting claims on April 5 from health care providers for vaccinating people without health insurance. The same government program for Americans without health insurance, citing "lack of sufficient funds," stopped accepting claims for COVID-19 tests and treatments on March 22.

How exactly it will unfold without more funding remains unclear and may also depend on your state's resources or other local programs. It can also vary by the provider or clinic, though many still seem to be waiting for more guidance from the White House or action from Congress before turning away patients without health insurance.

COVID-19 vaccines and treatments are purchased by the federal government, so the drugs themselves are free to patients when they're shipped out to states and clinics. The worry is over the administration cost, or what people are charged for actually receiving treatment. 

A spokesperson for CVS told CNET: "At this time, there is no cost for COVID-19 testing or vaccinations at CVS Pharmacy for uninsured individuals." 

A Walgreens spokesperson said the company "continues to provide access to vital COVID-19 services and medications at no cost to patients." They noted the company is waiting for further guidance from federal agencies.

Quest Diagnostics, a large testing provider, may now charge up to $125 for a PCR test without insurance, ABC News reported. 

Even without funding from the Uninsured Program, it is unlikely Americans without health insurance will be stuck with a bill for a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot -- at least right now. The CDC warned pharmacies participating in its Federal Retail Pharmacy Program that COVID-19 vaccines are still to be given out to patients for free, regardless of insurance status, or risk getting kicked out of the program. But as CNBC reported, pharmacies themselves can move out of the program, potentially exposing some uninsured patients to vaccination fees or narrowing their options.

If you need a COVID-19 test or treatment and don't have insurance, you can call ahead to the clinic you plan to visit to see if, or how much, you'll be charged for the administration fee. If you haven't already, you can order a second round of home COVID-19 tests paid for by the government by visiting the US Postal Service website.

If I need a fourth shot or extra booster, will it still be free?

The CDC recently signed off on second COVID-19 boosters for adults over age 50, immunocompromised people and people who've received Johnson & Johnson's vaccine plus booster dose. 

At a recent media briefing with the White House COVID-19 Response Team, coordinator Jeff Zients said there's enough government supply of vaccines to get eligible immunocompromised people a fourth shot, and also enough to secure fourth doses for other vulnerable populations, including seniors.

The bigger booster funding concern is for the general population, for which health regulators could authorize or recommend extra doses ahead of an anticipated fall or winter COVID-19 spike.

Should health agencies call for fourth doses for all adults, or even "if things change and there's a need for a new vaccine," Zients said, the US government won't be able to fulfill the need if Congress doesn't replenish the funding.

Will we still get free vaccines for children?

Zients also said that when a COVID-19 vaccine is available to children under age 5, the US will have the supply needed to vaccinate that age group. Moderna and Pfizer are both pursuing a vaccine for the youngest and last age group to be vaccinated, but neither has received FDA authorization yet.

Alessandro Biascioli/Getty Images

What else will happen if funds run dry? 

In addition to affecting future supplies of monoclonal antibodies and pill treatments for COVID-19, the supply of AstraZeneca's prevention drug for immunocompromised people may also dwindle, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said at a White House COVID-19 briefing. The White House says it also needs more money to fund research on different vaccines, including pan-coronavirus vaccines.

Other countries may also be impacted by a lack of US COVID-19 funding, as some of the money for the pandemic response goes to vaccination aid abroad. Only 15.2% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to Our World in Data. 

Dr. Anna Durbin, a professor in the Department of International Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, suggested at a recent media briefing that the concern in lack of funding extends beyond the current COVID-19 wave, and into future pandemics of different viruses. Will we be prepared? 

"We've had previous examples where we were concerned about pandemics -- whether it be from another H1N1, another avian influenza virus, SARS-CoV-1," she said. "And we realize we didn't put the money into prevention that we could've at the time." 

When COVID-19 came around, the US was not prepared, she said. 

"Now is the time to really cement that funding and think about the future and prevention," Durbin said. "Not just of COVID, but of future pandemics that are surely going to come." 

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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GoPro HD Hero2 review: GoPro HD Hero2

GoPro HD Hero2 review: GoPro HD Hero2

I've had a bit of a love-hate relationship with the GoPro HD Hero that we've used during the recording of the Car Tech Live podcast for the last year or so. On the one hand, the Hero takes phenomenal wide-angle video, is ridiculously durable thanks to its polycarbonate shell, and (when you get the settings right) relatively easy to use. However, that last bit is also my biggest point of contention with the first few generations of the GoPro Hero cameras; I'm a self-proclaimed techie who's recorded hours of footage using the HD Hero and I still have to break out the poorly written instruction sheet to change any of the settings. More often than not, I just leave the settings where I left them and just point and shoot.

So, when the new generation GoPro HD Hero2 landed on my desk boasting an improved interface, I decided to challenge myself to full-test the device without cracking the spine on its (also improved) 90-page user manual.

Old design with a twist
Looking at the GoPro HD Hero2 side by side with the original HD Hero (hereafter referred to as the HD Hero1), reveals remarkably little change in the unit's form factor. Both units are dimensionally identical and feature the same lens, power button, shutter button, and LCD screen placement. This means that any waterproof cases or lens covers purchased for the HD Hero1 will still work with the HD Hero2, which is a good thing for GoPro devotees. Likewise, both units feature the same rear hook and connection port for GoPro's line of removable BacPacs, which we'll discuss later.

Closer inspection reveals that there's more than the addition of the number 2 to distinguish the new model from the old. For starters, the Hero2 features a new glass lens that should be sharper and more durable than the old lens. Where the Hero1 featured only one red recording indicator LED, the Hero2 features four (one enlarged indicator on the front of the unit and smaller lights on its top, back, and bottom edges). On the right edge (when viewed from the front) are the connections for the proprietary video output, the Mini-USB port for charging, and a 2.5mm microphone input. Thankfully, these three connections are actually labeled this go-round. On the left edge are the full-size SD card slot and a new HDMI video output. Onboard microphones are now located on the top and bottom edges of the unit. Finally, the rear panel is where you'll find the battery door that covers the user-replaceable 1,100mAh lithium ion battery.

I mentioned that the HD Hero2 ships with the same waterproof housing as the Hero1. For those unfamiliar with this housing, it's a clear, polycarbonate shell that holds the Hero camera to whatever mounting option you chose to use. Spring-loaded waterproof buttons give users access to the selection and shutter buttons and a clear lens bubble protects the HD Hero2's lens from scratches. In the event that this bubble is damaged, a replacement can be ordered and affixed with a small screwdriver. At the back of the shell is door that locks shut with a plastic latching clamp. (The plastic latch on our HD Hero1 busted after only a few weeks of use, so this bit worries me. Fortunately, it's a relatively simple fix.) Users are given the choice between two easily swappable doors that ship with the HD Hero2. The first is a sealed waterproof door that keeps the camera dry, even when submerged to a depth of 197 feet. The second door is a "skeleton door" with openings that sacrifice waterproofing f or increased sound quality.

The mounting options included in the box will depend on which HD Hero2 kit you pick up. The Motorsports Edition, for example, ships with a suction cup mount on an articulated arm and five adhesive mounts. The Surf Edition packs a pair of surfboard mounts and a special "Floaty" back door that will keep your camera from sinking to the bottom of the ocean in the event of a detachment. Finally, the Outdoor Edition includes a helmet strap, a head strap, and a selection of adhesive mounts. Additionally, additional mounts for handlebars, roll bars, chest straps, etc. are available from the manufacturer for additional cost.

Same screen, new interface
Of all of the changes to the HD Hero, the most drastic is the overhauled interface present on the tiny monochromatic LCD. For starters the HD Hero2 uses larger, bolder icons for identifying the current recording mode. So tapping the selection button on the front of the unit fills the screen momentarily with a large icon for the newly selected mode that is easier to read with goggles on or at an arm's length. When the moment is passed, the screen returns to its default state with a smaller icon indicating the mode and a new text-based setting identifier. So rather than memorizing that "R7" is 1080p video at 30 fps, the unit simply displays "1080-30," which is much easier to decode. Likewise, photo modes are clearly identified with, for example, "5 MP 0.5 sec" which can easily be identified as "take a 5 megapixel shot every half second."

Likewise, the menu system has also been made clearer, with more easily identified icons for each setting that leads to a drop-down menu where the different options can be viewed clearly. Navigating the GoPro's many options with just the select and shutter buttons is still an exercise in patience. For example, setting the date to 11:11am on 11/11/11 can take as many as 60 or more button presses. (Fortunately, the date is something you should only really have to set once.) That's an extreme example, but even simpler tasks (such as changing the video or still-photo resolution) can take as many as 10 button presses.

On the bright side, the fact that the GoPro HD Hero2 even offers granular access to all of its settings right on the camera is an advantage that it holds over simpler camera systems, such as Contour's.

There are still a few icons that don't make much sense. (I doubt many can tell me what this icon means without first checking the manual.) However, the important bits--changing the resolution of photos and video, setting time-lapse intervals--and the options that you're likely to find yourself wanting to fiddle with before bombing down that double-black-diamond slope are extremely easy to understand.

I started the review with the intention of never cracking open the GoPro HD Hero2's instruction manual and I'm pleased to state that I didn't need to use it. (Although, I did flip through the manual and found that it is both more thoroughly written and better organized than the old sheet. So if you do find yourself needing help, it's a great resource.)

Recording modes
So, we've discussed the chassis and we've explained that it's easy to use, but what sort of video and photos can you expect to get out of this camera?

Like the Hero1, the HD Hero2 features a wide range of video and photo modes to chose from. Where moving images are concerned, the HD Hero2's highest recording resolution is 1,920x1,080 pixels (1080p for short) Full HD video at 30 frames per second (fps) with a wide-screen 16:9 aspect ratio. Users can also select a 1,280x720-pixel (720p) wide-screen mode with options to capture at 30 or 60 fps. There's also 1,280x960-pixel Tall HD mode that records at a 4:3 aspect ratio with options to capture at either 30 or 48 fps. Finally, there are the 800×480-pixel (480p or WVGA) modes that capture relatively low-resolution video but at high 60 or 120 fps speeds, which can be slowed down using software to create slow-motion video.

Most video modes capture at the lens' full 170-degree wide-angle field of view (FOV), but users can choose to step down to medium 128-degree or narrow 90-degree FOVs. To my eye, 1080p video captured at these narrower FOVs appears to be grainier with visible pixelation, which leads me to believe that GoPro is using some sort of digital zoom technology to compensate for the lens' fixed focal length. This likely won't bother many, particularly at the medium FOV, but I couldn't unsee the image degradations once I'd noticed them and stuck with the full wide FOV for most videos captured after the official testing had concluded.

Still photos are captured at a maximum of 11MP with space-saving 8MP and 5 MP modes also available. Like the video mode, still photos take advantage of the full 170-degree FOV, but can be set to capture at a medium 128-degree FOV. (The narrow FOV is unavailable for still photos, presumably because the digital zoom artifacts would be too visible in a still shot, but that's just speculation.) Photos taken outdoors at the full resolution with full FOV are sharp and pleasing. The wide angle makes framing shots easy, but without the aid of the optional LCD BacPac, shot composition is a bit of a guess-and-check affair.

When shooting still photos, there are a few trigger modes to choose from. The first is a single shot. Press the button, capture a photo. It's the simplest of the available modes. Next is a self-time mode that captures a single shot after a 10-second delay. The next mode is one of my favorites: Time-lapse mode continuously captures a still photo at timed 60s, 30s, 10s, 5s, 2s, 1s, and 0.5s intervals. (Note: The fastest interval of 0.5s requires a high-speed Class 10 SD card to keep up.) Users can then stitch those photos together into a cool time-lapse video that compresses hours of actions into minutes of video.

Finally, the HD Hero2 gains a new trick made possible by its new faster digital image processor called Photo Burst Mode. In this mode, the camera can capture 10 full-resolution 11MP photos within the span of a single second. Personally, I found timing the Burst to be tricky, particularly because there's a few seconds of lag after a burst is captured while the HD Hero2 writes the contents of its buffer to the SD card. However, with practice this could be another cool tool in your GoPro toolbox.

In sum
About the only think that I didn't like about the previous-generation GoPro HD Hero was that maddeningly difficult interface. And while in my opinion GoPro still hasn't perfected its menu structure and usability, it's gotten pretty damn close within its self-imposed constraints (two-button interface, maintaining compatibility with older hardware). GoPro also states that its low-light image quality has been improved between the two generations, which you can see yourself by comparing the indoor photos below. There's no question in my mind that this is the best GoPro camera yet.

But is it the best HD sports camera? To figure that out, we have to compare it to its most fierce competitors from Contour's lineup, particularly the ContourGPS. (Contour's top tier Contour+ is significantly more expensive, so we're leaving it out of the running for now, but many of the same points I'm about to make will still apply.)

Ease of use is a tie. Both camera systems excel here in different ways. The Contour camera's supersimple slide-and-record interface and laser-pointer aiming makes it easier for first-time users to pick up and shoot with. However, the GoPro HD Hero2 excels where on-device flexibility is concerned. If you're, for example, trackside with the Hero2 and you want to switch capture modes, every still and video setting is available right there on the device itself. The ContourGPS features two user presets that can be selected with the flip of a switch, but if neither of those is what you need at the moment, then you'll need to fire up the Contour smartphone app or bust out your laptop to pick a new preset. Additionally, the Contour cameras give no visual indication of what mode they're in, where the GoPro always displays its capture mode on a display. Trust me, there's nothing worse than getting back from a full day of recording with an SD card full of photos when you wanted videos. To the p oint, users who enjoy constantly fiddling with settings on the fly will prefer the GoPro, but if you're the kind of person who sets up the camera once and never changes modes, perhaps the Contour cameras are a better fit.

One place where Contour has the GoPro system beaten is where applications are concerned. Contour's included desktop editing and uploading software makes it easy to cut the good part out of a long video. Conversely, GoPro's experience is a B.Y.O.-software affair. Contour's top-tier models also capture GPS position, speed, and elevation data that can then be displayed alongside an uploaded video. GoPro does not, but if you don't mind spending a few extra bucks, the GoPro system can be upgraded with longer battery life, an LCD display, or the ability to capture 3D video thanks to its BacPac system.

The GoPro has the Contour cameras flatly beat on ruggedness. The Contour+ and ContourGPS require an additional purchase of a waterproof housing to match the GoPro in the wet. The entry-level ContourRoam is waterproof out of the box, but not nearly to the same depth as the GoPro. And if the HD Hero2 and the ContourGPS fell off of the same car at speed, the GoPro camera would definitely fare better. When you're talking about action cameras, durability is a top-tier attribute.

Deciding which camera system is best is truly a tough decision, and depending on your particular needs, you may disagree with me. At $299, the GoPro HD Hero2 is a slightly better buy than the ContourGPS, which is the same price--provided that the collection of GPS metadata isn't one of your top priorities. The learning curve is slightly steeper (and only just barely thanks to the upgraded interface), but once you're over it, the GoPro HD Hero2 is a much more flexible and durable device.

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These New MacOS Ventura Tricks Make Your Mac Much Better

These New MacOS Ventura Tricks Make Your Mac Much Better

A big change is coming to Apple's Mac computer line, thanks to the new version of MacOS, called Ventura. It's going to change the way you use video-conferencing apps like Zoom, how you juggle multiple apps at once, and even how you dig around the settings menus to make everything work the way you want. 

Some of these new changes are so big, they break my general OS rule -- that operating system updates should be like good cinematography in a movie: an important backbone, but not one that stands out too obviously. Why do I usually say that? Because if you change a device's user interface or features too radically, you lose the muscle memory and personal workflow developed over time. But at the same time, change too little and no one will feel the need to update. 

The new version of MacOS is a bigger deal than most, adding many significant new features and improvements. The official release should be coming later in 2022, but the public beta is available now. 

Everyone always says not to install beta operating systems on your primary devices, and I've offered similar counsel in the past. But honestly, once it hits the public beta phase (as opposed to a locked-down developer beta), things are usually in pretty good shape. 

So with that mindset I downloaded and installed MacOS Ventura on a MacBook and iOS 16 on my phone. Didn't even back anything up, just went for it. Yolo, I suppose. 

The next bit of unspoken OS update truth is that most people will never see, use or even be aware of most of the updates, especially as so many are small tweaks that operate behind the scenes, or add functionality you're probably not even looking for. 

But Ventura does a little more than most OS updates, and when combined with iOS 16 or iPadOS 16, you get access to some really useful features. So, while most of Ventura probably won't make a big difference in your day-to-day life, here are four new features in the beta that stand out the most. 

Stage Manager: A better, faster way to get around the Mac

The single biggest visual change in Ventura is this fresh new way to sort and organize various Mac apps and switch between them. Rather than Apple's traditional Cmd-Tab or swiping up with four fingers, Stage Manager puts your active apps in a thumbnail column on the far left side of the screen. 

Click on the app you want and it jumps to the middle of the screen, making it easy to swap between apps on the fly. Sure, it wasn't hard to jump between apps before, but this is a new, very visual way of doing that. If you have multiple windows open in an app (like multiple browser windows), clicking on the thumbnail on that left rail will jump between those windows. 

Stage Manager puts your open apps along a left side rail. 

Screenshot by Dan Ackerman/CNET

Now that I'm using Stage Manager, I can't imagine going back to not using it. However, it does leave us with what I'd call the Double Dock problem. You've now got a horizontal dock at the bottom of the screen and a second quasi-dock running vertically down the left side of the screen. If you want a really clean desktop view and need to hide Stage Manager, pop open the Command Center (the two pills icon) and toggle it off. 

Using an iPhone as a wireless webcam with Camera Continuity. 

Libe Ackerman/CNET

Continuity Camera: Use your iPhone camera, at last

This is something I've been waiting on Apple to implement for many years. The elevator pitch is that you can now use your iPhone as a wireless webcam for your Mac. Sounds simple enough, but before now you had to use a third-party app like EpocCam, which just isn't simple and bug-free enough to rely on for everyday use. 

Now, with Ventura on your Mac and iOS 16 on your phone (both currently via public beta), it's suddenly easy to do and it works in Zoom, FaceTime and many other apps. Just select your phone as a camera from the app's camera selection menu. You do need to be logged in to the same Apple ID on both devices, and on the same Wi-Fi network with Bluetooth enabled. 

Why would you want this? Unless you have the new M2 MacBook Air or the 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro, your MacBook has a pretty unimpressive 720p-resolution camera. Those newer Macs have much better 1080p cameras, but your iPhone rear camera is still going to be much, much better than that. Looking at the 1080p camera in the M2 MacBook next to the video from an iPhone 13 Pro via Camera Continuity, the iPhone was clearly superior. 

There are some extra tricks available in the Command Center under Video Effects, including Center Stage, which follows your face around the frame; Portrait mode, which blurs the background slightly; and Studio Light, which dims the background and brightens your face.

The iPhone makes a great webcam in MacOS Ventura. 

Libe Ackerman/CNET

Potentially more interesting is Desk View, which uses the iPhone's wide-angle lens to capture what's happening just below the laptop's wrist rest and touchpad, even though the phone is pointed directly at your face. It's a stand-alone video app, so you'd screenshare it in Zoom, for example. It's pretty limited right now in what it shows and how it's implemented, but I'm interested in experimenting with it more. 

But wait, there's more. 

How do I position my phone to use it as a webcam, you ask? I'm sure there will be a lot of mini tripods and phone mounts available to clip your phone to the top of a MacBook. 

This 3D-printed clip helped attach an iPhone to the MacBook lid. 

Dan Ackerman/CNET

But I've gone ahead and designed a simple one via TinkerCad, and printed it on a 3D printer. This specific mount is designed for an iPhone 13 Pro Max, with a case, and the new M2 MacBook Air. You can try downloading and printing it if you think it'll fit your phone and laptop; also I'm making the CAD file available as well, so you can adjust the measurements to your liking. 

If you don't have a 3D printer, our list of the best ones is a good place to start. 

The public TinkerCad file is here, and the 3D STL file is here on Thingiverse. 

System Settings/Preferences: Slightly less confusing 

Am I the only one who finds the Mac's traditional System Preference menu confusing? It's a bunch of icons, which seem to shift around with every OS version, and the tools you want are inevitably buried in submenus. I find some of the organizational choices confusing, and question some of the internal logic. 

System Preferences is now... System Settings. 

Dan Ackerman/CNET

The new look and feel of the menu, now called System Settings, is delightfully basic. It's just a list. The actual functionality isn't really different, but I find it much easier to navigate because you can still see the other list entries while inside a specific menu. The somewhat opaque icons and category names are still there and things like click-and-drag for the trackpad are still buried in a submenu of the accessibility menu, but it's nice to move the UX needle toward utility over design. 

Live captions for videos: Make FaceTime calls easier to follow

As a bonus fourth favorite feature, I like the real-time captioning that works across different apps and audio sources. 

YouTube videos already offer closed captions that are pretty good, but livestreams, for example, can be a problem. Other video or video-related services offer a wide range of captioning and subtitle options, some good, some less so. 

Live Captions adds real-time transcription to almost anything. 

Screenshot by Dan Ackerman/CNET

Live captions adds just that, live captions, in a pop-up box and works with real-time spoken-word content from many video sources, including FaceTime calls. That's great for expanding accessibility, but also handy for situations where the person on the other end of your video call isn't clearly audible, has a bad mic, etc. 

I've tried it a few times, and you really do get a nearly instantaneous onscreen transcription of what the other person is saying. It's not a feature I would use all the time, but it's both impressive and useful. 

Venturing into Ventura 

There are many more features in MacOS Ventura, including improvements to Mail, Safari, Spotlight and how passwords are handled. I frankly found those less interesting than the parts I've highlighted above, considering what would make an actual difference in my everyday workflow. Some of these work well now, while others need more time to fully bake, which is understandable considering this is a beta. 

The official version of Ventura should be available this fall, based on when Apple has issued OS updates previously. 

More Mac tips

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Galaxy Z Flip 3 deal: Save up to $750 off a custom Samsung foldable today only

Galaxy Z Flip 3 deal: Save up to $750 off a custom Samsung foldable today only

This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.

Samsung's line of foldable smartphones are dragging the flip phone into the new decade with their ultra-sleek flexible touchscreens. And today only, you can customize your own Bespoke edition of the compact Galaxy Z Flip 3 for up to $750 off. Plus, you'll get a free pair of Galaxy Buds 2, a $150 value and one of our top pairs of wireless earbuds of the year. The 256GB base model of the Z Flip 3 usually lists for $1,000, with an extra $100 to upgrade to the customizable Bespoke edition. And today that has been cut down by $150 for everyone, no strings attached (so you're essentially getting free customization and then some). And with an eligible trade-in of up to two phones, tablets, or smart watches, you can save an additional $600. It should be noted that the trade-in box claims you can earn up to $650 in credit, but the checkout has it capped at $600.

The Bespoke edition of the Z Flip 3 lets you build a phone that will stand out from the rest. You can select either a white or black frame, and adjust the color of the top and bottom panels independently. There are five panel color options, white, black, pink, yellow and blue. The phone itself features a 6.7-inch display that folds in half, with an intuitive 1.9-inch cover display for quick glances at notifications. 

Despite the drawback of its limited battery life, CNET's Patrick Holland describes the Galaxy Z Flip 3 as "the first foldable you may actually want to buy." You can read his full breakdown of the compact smart phone here.

The deal is only valid until tonight at 11:59 p.m. ET (8:59 p.m. PT), so act fast.

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Apple TV Plus Launching on Comcast Xfinity Platforms

Apple TV Plus Launching on Comcast Xfinity Platforms

Comcast and Apple said Monday that Apple TV Plus will be launching on Comcast's Xfinity platforms in the US. This includes Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex and XClass TV. 

The Apple TV Plus rollout will begin today, and will be available for all eligible devices in the coming days, according to the two companies. 

Alongside the rollout, Apple will also offer Xfinity customers previews of some of the original series and films on its streaming service for one week only. From March 15 to 21, Xfinity customers will be able to watch the first season of Apple TV Plus' most popular original series, as well as Apple's original film Greyhound. 

Xfinity customers who are not currently Apple TV Plus subscribers can get a three-month free trial of Apple TV Plus when signing up through an Xfinity device by April 25. 

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First Bendable OLED Gaming Monitor Announced by... Corsair?

First Bendable OLED Gaming Monitor Announced by... Corsair?

Large, high-quality bendy screens have been around since at least 2014, when LG debuted the first flexible OLED, but even though actual products have shipped over the past few years, we've yet to see one in a monitor -- which is somewhat baffling, unless it's prohibitively expensive to produce.

Now we're finally seeing the first -- from Corsair of all companies -- out of a partnership with LG: the Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 OLED Gaming Monitor. It's a big, 45-inch, 3,440x1,440-pixel OLED display, but also noteworthy because it has a refresh rate of 240Hz, a new top speed for that resolution, and a brightness of 1,000 nits, which is rare in desktop-size OLED.

I say "is" but really mean "will be." The company showed off the display at the Gamescom video game show in Germany, but it won't be providing any details until closer to the end of the year. That means we won't see the monitor until 2023 the earliest, at which point I'm hoping to see similar models from other manufacturers. And that's if we see it at all. It could just be a flashy concept that will never ship.

Corsair

Although my first reaction was, "Why would you need a flexible monitor on your desktop?" I realized that if you're using it for both a console and a PC, you'd want it curved when you're up close, so you can see the sides, and flat for when you're at a distance playing on your console, so that you can see the whole screen properly.

The display has a horizontal spine across the middle of the rear, with handles on either side that you pull forward in order to go from flat to curved. All the electronics are housed in the stand as you'd expect, with connectors on the back and the front. Flexibility aside, I love the idea of the connectors in the front. 

My guess is we'll see more of this at CES 2023. Can't wait.

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Twitter bans ads contradict sci twitter bans ads contradi twitter bans political ads latest banned from twitter climate change committee twitter latest banned from twitter who did twitter ban twitter bans climate twitter bans ads contradict science twitter bans the word groomer twitter bans nypost

Twitter Bans Climate Change Denial Ads

Twitter Bans Climate Change Denial Ads

Advertisers looking to use unscientific language about climate change in their postings on Twitter are about to be out of luck. The social media giant is now banning all climate change denial ads from its platform. 

In an Earth Day blog posting published on Friday, the company states that any advertisement featuring claims about climate change that contradict the scientific consensus will be deemed inappropriate and will be prohibited. 

"We believe that climate denialism shouldn't be monetized on Twitter, and that misrepresentative ads shouldn't detract from important conversations about the climate crisis," the company wrote. 

Prior to Friday, Twitter said ads denying climate change would have been rejected or halted under its inappropriate content policy, but has now formalized the process.

Twitter said that it is using authoritative sources -- such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the United Nations' body for assessing the science of human-caused climate change -- to inform their decisions. The latest IPCC report released earlier this month said the world needs to act now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors in order to limit global warming to the critical temperature change of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Last year, in an attempt to help users find credible information on climate change, the company rolled out a dedicated climate change Topic, along with hubs of credible information in the Explore tab, Search, and Trends sections of the site. The release of the hubs coincided with the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference. 

The news come at a time when the company is trying to avoid a taker-over by the billionaire Elon Musk. Musk has been critical of Twitter's moderation practices in the past, tweeting that platform is a "de facto town square" where "failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy." 

Such protection for free speech, under the First Amendment, applies only to the government censoring speech.

It remains unclear if his feelings pertain to paid advertisements, as well as tweets from individuals.

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