Save $100 on This 128GB 11-inch iPad Pro During Early Prime Day Deals
Save $100 on This 128GB 11-inch iPad Pro During Early Prime Day Deals
While it can be difficult to find direct discounts on Apple items, a number of authorized Apple retailers have offered some products, including iPads, at big bargains. With Prime Day on the way, Amazon's biggest members-only sale of the year, you can expect to see markdowns on everything from top tech to everyday essentials.
Prime Day may not start until July 12, but early Prime Day deals have already begun, including $100 off the 2021 11-inch iPad Pro with 128GB of storage, which brings the price of the M1-powered iPad Pro to just $699.
The 2021 iPad Pro was selected as one of our picks for best iPads available, particularly if you're a creator. This iPad has improved performance and battery life over its predecessor, and it comes equipped with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM.
The M1 chip allows you to use intensive apps with ease, including graphics apps like those in Adobe Creative Cloud. However, if you're going to be working on massive projects, you'll probably want to opt for a larger 1TB iPad Pro, which also comes with an increase to 16GB of RAM. But keep in mind, those upgrades will cost a lot more.
For the average user who just wants better, faster performance, with lightning-fast app launch, fast downloads and high-quality streaming, this iPad Pro is still a major upgrade, with the iPad Pro's M1 processor putting its processing power on par with M1 Macs. It also features an 11-inch Liquid Retina display with ProMotion, True Tone and P3 wide color.
Video calling is great on the iPad Pro as well. The device is equipped with four-speaker audio and five studio-quality microphones, along with a 12-megapixel wide camera and a 10-megapixel ultra wide camera. It has a lidar scanner for photos, video and immersive AR. It's also compatible with helpful accessories like the second-gen Apple Pencil, the Magic Keyboard and the Smart Keyboard Folio.
If a different iPad model is more appealing to you, be sure to check out all the best Prime Day iPad deals available now.
Read more: iPad Air 2022 vs. iPad Pro 2021: Which M1 Tablet Is Best?
Tesla Autopilot under federal investigation for crashes with emergency vehicles
Tesla Autopilot under federal investigation for crashes with emergency vehicles
Tesla's Autopilot system is under federal investigation. On Monday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it is formally looking into the safety of Tesla's Autopilot Level 2 driver-assistance functions. In particular, federal investigators say this new probe will look into Tesla crashes with parked emergency vehicles. The government agency is aware of at least 11 crashes or fires, resulting in 17 injuries, as well as one fatality. Some 765,000 cars from Tesla, including the Model Y, 3,S and X, are covered by this new investigation.
According to an Office of Defects Investigation document, NHTSA describes the core problem as "subject vehicle crashes with in-road or roadside first responders." Tesla vehicles have "encountered first responder scenes and subsequently struck one or more vehicles involved with those scenes," the preliminary report said. "The involved subject vehicles were all confirmed to have been engaged in either Autopilot or Traffic Aware Cruise Control during the approach to the crashes." The reported crashes took place between 2014 and 2021, with four of them occuring this year.
NHTSA did not immediately return Roadshow's request for additional comment. Tesla does not operate a public relations department to field requests for comment.
NHTSA and the National Traffic Safety Board have for years investigated various Tesla crashes involving the company's driver-assistance technology. The system is a Level 2 technology on the SAE's scale of autonomy, and does not provide any sort of autonomous driving technology. The National Transportation Safety Board last year spoke up about a lack of accountability for Tesla, but also regulators, including NHTSA, in the wake of high-profile fatal crashes in which drivers were apparently not in control. It also called on NHTSA to implement more regulations surrounding driver-assistance technology and self-driving cars in the wake of Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" beta.
This past June, NHTSA took its strictest stance yet on these new technologies as it mandated crash reports for self-driving cars and driver-assist systems. If any vehicle equipped with one of these types of technologies is involved in a crash, the agency will require a report from the automaker within 24 hours, plus updates with additional information over the following days.
Apple's Mostly Virtual WWDC 2022 Keynote Is Set for June 6
Apple's Mostly Virtual WWDC 2022 Keynote Is Set for June 6
This story is part of WWDC 2022, CNET's complete coverage from and about Apple's annual developers conference.
What's happening
Apple's announced plans to hold a public keynote presentation for its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, June 6, at 10 a.m. PT.
Why it matters
Apple typically uses its WWDC presentation to announce major software updates coming later in the year and sometimes to tease new hardware efforts as well.
What's next
CNET will be covering WWDC live, with analysis and perspective you can only get here.
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC, was already set to begin on Monday, June 6. Now the company's confirmed it plans to kick off the event with a keynote address at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET.
Similar to WWDC over the past two years, Apple plans to hold its annual developer confab online and "free for all developers to attend." The event will run from June 6 through June 10.
This year, Apple's added plans for an in-person watch party for the keynote address at its Apple Park campus. Apple said it would choose a small group of developers to attend, and otherwise broadcast the event online.
Read more:What We Expect in iOS 16
Apple traditionally uses its WWDC keynote address to announce new features and major changes to its software in free updates typically made available the following fall. This year, those software updates are expected to include iOS 16, as well as updates to iPadOS, MacOS for the company's computers and likely WatchOS for the Apple Watch as well.
Apple's also increasingly rumored to be preparing new software supposedly called rOS, or "RealityOS," according to recent reporting by Bloomberg. The new software would help to power the company's eventual augmented reality and virtual reality headsets, which have reportedly been in development for years. In 2018, CNET reported on specifications of the device, such as dual-8K displays, which since has been supported by reporting from other outlets as well. Apple hasn't commented on the device's existence, but it's expected to be shown off at some point in the next year.
Aside from new hardware like the headset, Apple's also expected to announce the last in a series of redesigns it's performed on Mac computers over the past couple years. Among the changes, Apple has switched out the computer's microprocessing brains from those it relied on from Intel for more than a decade to new M-series chips designed by the teams creating chips powering the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
Apple has since remade its desktop computers, such as the Mac Mini desktop and iMac all-in-one, as well as its laptops, the MacBook and MacBook Pro, with positive response to each of the releases so far. It's also released a new desktop computer, called the Mac Studio, designed for video and audio editors.
The next major update, Apple has said, will likely include the Mac Pro, its highest-performance computer, which is designed with software programmers, digital artists and computer researchers in mind. Whether it'll be shown off at WWDC is yet to be seen. But regardless, the company's software updates will offer a hint of what Apple's planning for the coming year.
This story is part of Home Tips, CNET's collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out.
Air purifiers are fairly straightforward appliances with minimal installation and upkeep. Still, you want to make sure your unit continues to work correctly -- and lasts as long as possible. That's why we're going to walk through the process of cleaning a plug-in portable air purifier here, so you know how to keep yours in good shape as it takes on the allergens in your home.
Read more:Best Air Purifiers
How to clean an air purifier
I took a look at user guides for Honeywell, Winix and Levoit air purifiers to come up with this cleaning overview. Here are the basic steps to follow to clean your air purifier:
Unplug your air purifier
This is always the first step. Make sure your air purifier is unplugged before you begin.
2. Check the filters
Most air purifiers come with two different filters: a prefilter and a HEPA filter. Some even have a third filter. Each manufacturer's recommendations will vary in terms of cleaning the filters. Honeywell, Winix and Levoit all say not to wash or otherwise clean their HEPA filters, but instead to replace them regularly.
Levoit suggests replacing its HEPA filter every six to eight months, while both Honeywell and Winix say their units last up to one year.
Levoit's prefilter should be cleaned every two to four weeks with a gentle brush or vacuum. You can wash the Winix prefilter every few weeks; just make sure it's completely dry before you put it back. And Honeywell says not to wash it's prefilter at all, but instead to replace it every three months.
3. Wipe off the air purifier
All of the manufacturers I checked suggested wiping off the air purifier with a dry cloth about once every few months. Do not use water or any cleaning solvent to clean off your air purifier.
4. Store the filters when not in use
If the air purifier isn't going to be used for a month or more, Honeywell says it's best to remove and store its filters in tightly sealed bags.
One final note
Keep in mind that the specific cleaning requirements might vary slightly depending on the brand and model of air purifier you purchase. Make sure to check the printed or online user's guide that comes with your air purifier to confirm its maintenance needs. Regardless, your air purifier will need some sort of upkeep and it will likely follow the information detailed above (or very close).
Take a look at our guide on where to install your air purifier to get more information on how to position it in a room so it runs optimally.
Elon Musk Makes Tesla Superchargers Free for People Fleeing Ukraine
Elon Musk Makes Tesla Superchargers Free for People Fleeing Ukraine
Tesla owners fleeing Ukraine can use its Superchargers for free in four cities in bordering Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, according to a report from Electrek, which cited an email to local owners. This comes after Russian forces invaded Ukraine last week.
Both Tesla and non-Tesla electric vehicles can use the chargers at no cost in Trzebownisko, Poland; Košice, Slovakia; Miskolc, Hungary; and Debrecen, Hungary, the email reportedly said.
There are about 30,000 electric vehicles are on Ukraine's roads, the Kyiv Independent reported in January, compared to millions of non-EV cars in the country.
Around 660,000 refugees have fled Ukraine following the Russian military's invasion, the United Nations Refugee Agency estimated Tuesday.
Tesla no longer operates a public relations department to field requests for comment.
Read more: Russia Invades Ukraine: Latest Updates as Biden Bans Russian Planes From US Airspace
Ukraine Is Fighting Russia With Drones and Rewriting the Rules of War
Ukraine Is Fighting Russia With Drones and Rewriting the Rules of War
This story is part of War in Ukraine, CNET's coverage of events there and of the wider effects on the world.
Ukrainian nonprofit Come Back Alive has collected ammunition, rifle stands and radios to help the country's soldiers fight Russia's invasion. Last week week, it also delivered items more commonly used to pep up YouTube videos than fight a war: 24 DJI Mavic 3 drones.
"Our drones are our eyes," said one Ukrainian military officer who's worked with drones since 2015 and spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons. The Ukrainian military has no official drone unit, the officer said, but soldiers and civilians use them to see what's in the next village or along the next kilometer of road. "If Russian artillery is preparing to strike, we can shift civilians. ... It's a possibility to make a preventive strike and to save Ukrainian people."
From commercial quadcopters to fixed-wing military models, drones have proved important to Ukraine, giving its outgunned defense better chances against the huge Russian military. Early in the war, a civilian drone team called Aerorozvidka worked with military units to help Ukraine stall a convoy of armored vehicles headed toward Kyiv, the country's capital. During a nighttime ambush, the unmanned aircraft dropped small explosives on the lead vehicles, which along with mines caused a pileup. The team also helped Ukraine repel Russia's initial attempt to seize the airport near Kyiv.
Unmanned aircraft have been used in warfare as far back as 1849. Japan sent balloon bombs over the Pacific Ocean to the US during World War II. The term "drone" became mainstream when General Atomics' hulking MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper drones caught on in US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. By 2011, the US military had 11,000 of the big, expensive systems.
Rarely, however, have drones played the role they're taking on in the asymmetric war between Ukraine's low-budget forces and Russia's gargantuan military. Miniaturization has improved the cost, flight time and range of commercial drones, while Ukrainians have used military drones successfully against Russian armored vehicles that can cost millions of dollars.
Drones are rewriting the rules of war.
"The tank was key at one point," said John Parachini, a Rand Corp. military researcher. "Now drones may be the more decisive weapons system."
In 2021, the Ukrainian military conducted an exercise involving the Baykar Tech Bayraktar TB2 drone that's now being used to fight Russia's invading force.
Getty Images
Though commercial drones are useful mostly for reconnaissance, Ukraine's fleet of military drones has proved important to delivering the actual attack. The large Turkish builtBayraktar TB2 has been used to destroy Russian resupply vehicles and surface-to-air missile launchers. One Ukrainian company, UA Dynamics, makes the low-profile surveillance drone called Punisher that can carry a 4-pound bomb.
The US Defense Department has given Ukraine's military more than 700 AeroVironment Switchblade drones, a "loitering munition" model that can circle a battlefield then become a missile aimed at a target. And on Tuesday, AeroVironment said it has donated to Ukraine more than 100 Quantix drones, reconnaissance models that take off vertically like a quadcopter but then level off and fly faster with a fixed-wing design to survey for up to 45 minutes per battery charge.
Ukrainians are using about 1,000 drones in the war effort, the military officer estimated. Many are mere "toys," he said, "but we have what we have."
Sales of military drones are expected to increase about 7% per year, to $18 billion in 2026 up from $13 billion in 2021, according to Business Research Company.
US drone makers get involved with Ukraine
Other US drone makers are delivering drones to Ukraine for humanitarian or noncombat uses:
Draganfly has sold 10 drones and donated three more for delivering blood, vaccines, antibiotics, insulin and other medical products that must be refrigerated. Partners for that work include Coldchain Delivery Systems and Revived Soldiers Ukraine. Some are being fitted with lidar and magnetometer sensors to detect landmines, too. Draganfly plans to send 200 drones by August, said CEO Cameron Chell.
Aquiline Drones has donated 40 of its $3,000 Spartacus Hurricane drones to Ukraine for inspections, search and rescue, and sending relief items like medication and water, said CEO Barry Alexander. With a boost from donations, it hopes to send 1,000 of the drones to Ukraine.
Skydio, whose drones dodge trees and houses using autonomous navigation , has donated dozens of drones and training worth about $300,000 in total to support humanitarian and relief efforts in Ukraine, said CEO Adam Bry.
Though Skydio focuses on commercial uses, it also sells drones to the US Army for surveillance.
"If you're taking fire, the first thing you do is take cover and understand where the fire is coming from," said Chuck McGraw, who leads Skydio's federal sales and deployed drones as a Navy SEAL in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world. "You can pop up a drone in 60 seconds or less and put eyes on the threat."
Drones meet counter drones
The Russians have their own drones and air defense systems for counteracting Ukrainian drones. Ukrainian photos show that Russians have the same DJI Mavic 3 drones Ukraine is using. But when it comes to Russian military drones, careful accounting in the open-source intelligence movement has shown significant losses, with 26 downed or captured Russian drones so far.
"The Russians are a little behind in this game, and the Ukrainians have proved extremely inventive," Rand's Parachini said.
The drone advantage in Ukraine isn't permanent, as militaries add new abilities to destroy drones or jam the radio transmissions they rely on. And though Russian air defense systems apparently didn't work as well as expected in Ukraine, militaries are investing in counter-drone technology, Parachini said.
Drones are dangerous to use in war, the Ukrainian officer added. Enemy forces can fire on operators when they see a drone take off and can use DJI's AeroScope technology to locate drones.
"In Ukrainian we have a joke: Every time we have a new mouse, someone will construct a new mouse catcher," the officer said.
DJI didn't respond to a request for comment but tweeted in response to Ukrainian criticism that military use of its drones is "inappropriate."
Expect the technological escalation to continue. One likely development is developing swarms of many interlinked drones that collectively will be harder to track and completely foil.
"You swarm 5,000 drones at $2,000 each into an area," said Draganfly's Chell. "How do you stop it?"
AeroVironment military drones head to Ukraine
Drones can occupy a middle ground between human piloted aircraft and missiles. AeroVironment's Switchblade 300 and 600 models are "loitering missiles" that unfold their wings like a pocket knife with a lot of blades and can stay airborne until a targeting system tells them where to go.
The 300 weighs 5.5 pounds, fits into a backpack and is launched from a compact tube. It can fly for 15 minutes – covering more than 6 miles – before colliding into its target. The 50-pound Switchblade 600 is designed for more serious targets like armored vehicles. It can fly up to 25 miles and loiter for 40 minutes.
AeroVironment also sells the Puma line of reconnaissance drones that can stay aloft for as long as six and a half hours. After being launched with a throw, catapult or truck, they can be used to spot targets and transfer coordinates wirelessly to Switchblades for an attack.
"A two-person team with a Switchblade drone can be miles away and take out a $50 million piece of equipment with five people in it," said Michael Robbins, head of government affairs for a US industry group called the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International.
The US military began by sending 100 Switchblades to Ukraine in late March as part of an $800 million military aid package, then announced a further $300 million package on April 1 that includes both Pumas and Switchblades.
The Pentagon declined to comment on which models, but the latter package includes Switchblade 600s, according to Bloomberg. AeroVironment declined to comment for this story.
AeroVironment's fixed-wing Quantix Recon drones fly faster than conventional quadcopters and can survey more than a half square mile of area in a 45-minute flight. AeroVironment is helping with training to use the drones, too, and the US military is delivering them.
"This donation will provide operators with a tool that can fly undetected by enemy forces and unaffected by radio frequency jammers to deliver accurate and rapid reconnaissance of remote, inaccessible areas," AeroVironment CEO Wahid Nawabi said in a statement.
One advantage of fixed-wing drones is they fly faster and are therefore much harder to shoot down than quadcopters, the Ukrainian officer said.
The Turkish Bayraktar TB2, with a 40-foot wingspan, can navigate without GPS and carry laser-guided munitions. They cost about $1 million each, Robbins said.
"The Bayraktar TB2 has been used to fairly devastating effect against ground forces," Robbins said. "It's become a rallying cry in Ukraine."
The huge drone has become so successful in frustrating the Russians that a Ukrainian company is selling stuffed toy versions. And it's inspired a music video to sing its praises.
"Russian bandits are made into ghosts by Bayraktar," says a translation of the lyrics.
You Only Have 2 Days Left to Order Your Free At-Home COVID Tests. Here's How
You Only Have 2 Days Left to Order Your Free At-Home COVID Tests. Here's How
For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the
WHO
and
CDC
websites.
Time is running out to get your free at-home COVID-19 test kits because the US federal government is ending its program soon. USA Today first reported on Aug. 26 that the decision was made due to a limited supply of tests. This comes just as the fall season approaches and as students start the new school year.
Over the weekend, US Postal Service updated its page for at-home COVID tests with an announcement that says the "order for free at-home COVID-19 tests program will be suspended on Friday, September 2, 2022."
The last day to order free COVID tests is Friday, Sept. 2.
USPS/Screenshot by Peter Butler
In January, the government launched CovidTests.gov, a website that let households order four free rapid antigen COVID-19 tests shipped by the US Postal Service. The site added four more free tests in March, and then another eight more in May.
If you haven't received any tests, you can still get all 16 free tests, but you'll need to act quickly. Luckily, it only takes two minutes to order your tests. See below to find out how to get test kits, when they'll arrive and what to do if you have problems.
How to get free COVID-19 tests
You only need to provide the US Postal Service with a few bits of information to get your free test kits. You won't be asked to provide any credit or debit card details, as both the tests and the shipping are free. Here's how to get your free test kits.
1. Visit special.USPS.com/testkits. You can also get there via covidtests.gov.
2. Enter your contact details and shipping information.
3. Click Check Out Now.
4. Verify that your information is correct and select Place My Order.
All orders will be shipped via First Class Package Service.
People who can't access the website or who have trouble ordering online can call 800-232-0233 to order their free tests.
How can I track my order?
Once you place your order, you should receive a confirmation email. When your package ships, you'll receive email notifications providing you with shipping updates, including a tracking number and estimated delivery date. Note that for the third round, you'll receive two packages that'll likely arrive on different days, so look for two confirmation emails with your tracking numbers.
Once you receive it, you can either click the tracking link or copy and paste the tracking number into the Postal Service's website's tracker.
More free COVID-19 test kits are coming.
Sarah Tew/CNET
How many test kits can I get?
According to the USPS, each residential household is eligible for three rounds of free at-home rapid antigen COVID-19 tests, for a total of 16 kits.
Only one person per address will be able to place an order for the free tests, even if you have multiple people living in your home.
Can I choose which brand test I get?
No, there isn't an option to choose which brand of test you will receive. All tests are rapid antigen tests authorized by the Food and Drug Administration, like iHealth.
When will the test kits arrive?
Tests are typically sent out within seven to 12 days of an order being successfully placed and are delivered by the USPS within one to three days of shipping.
iHealth COVID-19 rapid antigen tests are supplied for free via USPS.
Angus Mordant/Getty Images
What if I haven't received my first or second batch of test kits?
The USPS says its site has had some difficulties recognizing certain residential addresses, especially apartment buildings, multifamily homes and residences connected to commercial properties.
If you have had issues placing an order, you can file a service request online or call the USPS Help Desk at 800-ASK-USPS.
Is it OK to use a test kit that was left outside?
According to the FDA, manufacturers have ensured that the tests remain stable at various temperatures, "including shipping during the summer in very hot regions and in the winter in very cold regions."
But a test may be damaged by being left outdoors in freezing temperatures or being used immediately after being brought inside from freezing temperatures.
The ideal temperature to store rapid antigen COVID-19 test kits is between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
The FDA has warned about the effect of extreme heat on COVID tests, saying that, "long exposure to high temperatures may impact the test performance," but also recommends simply confirming the test line on the kit.
"As long as the test line[s] appear as described in the instructions, you can be confident that the test is performing as it should," the FDA site says.
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.
