Although you can already track hotel prices at the city level, the new update lets you do so for a specific hotel that you’re interested in.
Lawmakers Divided Over Warrantless Surveillance as US Spy Laws Near Expiry
Some lawmakers are calling for widespread reforms following years of surveillance scandals and abuses across successive U.S. administrations. But even if the spy law known as Section 702 expires in April, the government’s spy powers will not automatically lapse.
iOS 27 Anticipated to Bring Design Modifications in Two Key Domains
### Upcoming Features in iOS 27: Improvements to Liquid Glass Aesthetic
The eagerly awaited iOS 27 is expected to be revealed on June 8, with speculation indicating major enhancements to the Liquid Glass aesthetic. This article examines two key modifications that users can look forward to.
#### 1. New Universal Liquid Glass Slider
At present, iOS 26 provides limited personalization choices for the Liquid Glass interface, featuring just two styles: Clear and Tinted. The Clear choice delivers a completely transparent appearance, while the Tinted variant boosts opacity, reminiscent of the design from iOS 18.
As reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has been developing a universal Liquid Glass slider that would enable users to fine-tune the level of transparency and contrast. During the iOS 26 development process, Apple encountered engineering hurdles in executing this feature systemwide, including within app folders and navigation bars. If implemented successfully, this slider could transform how users engage with the Liquid Glass design, allowing for a more tailored visual experience.
#### 2. General Modifications and Improvements to iOS 26’s Design
Beyond the slider, Gurman has suggested that iOS 27 will feature a range of modifications to the Liquid Glass design, though these updates are not expected to be as comprehensive as the introduction of Liquid Glass in iOS 26. He foresees a series of gradual enhancements akin to those observed following the release of iOS 7.
While numerous users value the Liquid Glass design, certain interface choices have garnered critique. For example, concerns have been raised about the Music and Podcasts apps, where the MiniPlayer diminishes and essential controls become hard to access. Users have voiced a wish for increased control over the navigation tab bar, specifically the option to stop it from minimizing.
### Conclusion
As iOS 27 nears, the possibility of a new Liquid Glass slider and overall design modifications presents thrilling opportunities for users wishing for a more customizable experience. Community feedback will likely shape future updates, making it crucial for Apple to take user preferences into account as they enhance the Liquid Glass design.
The Creative Software Industry Launches Offensive Against Adobe
All empires eventually fall, and it seems the creative software industry has collectively decided that Adobe’s time has come. The Creative Cloud provider’s suite of design tools have been considered the industry standard for decades – despite unpopular decisions to fully embrace generative AI and abandon software licenses in favor of expensive, complicated subscriptions. Pricing […]
The ‘AI is Inevitable’ Trap
In the latest sign of AI silly season, Allbirds, the shoe company, told the world it was now an AI company and briefly managed to septuple its stock price. The Newbird AI story is really just one of a bunch of things this week that made us wonder: have we reached the peak of AI, […]
Loop Secures $95M to Develop AI for Predicting Supply Chain Disruptions
The San Francisco startup closed a Series C funding round led by Antonio Gracias’ firm Valor, which is a major backer of xAI.
SaySo: A New Short-Form Video App Restoring Trust in News
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Bluesky Attributes Ongoing App Outages to DDoS Attack
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32-inch 4K OLED ASUS ROG Swift Gaming Monitor Drops to Under $900 from $1,299 at Amazon
Get the ASUS ROG Swift 32-inch 4K OLED monitor for $899.99 at Amazon, down from $1,299 with dual-mode 240Hz/480Hz play.
Sci-Fi Moon Ring Idea Suggests Endless Clean Energy Provision for Earth
California’s Project Nexus faces obstacles from weather factors and, naturally, the inevitability of nighttime. This situation has consistently vexed advocates for solar energy as a substitute for fossil fuels. However, the Japanese firm Shimizu is championing a distinctive approach to supplying continuous, high-quality solar energy for the entire globe.
Per the information on Shimizu’s site, the proposal involves constructing a band of solar cells that would encircle the moon’s equator. This band would stretch approximately 11,000 kilometers in length and vary from a few kilometers to 400 kilometers in width. The concept of transmitting solar energy from the moon is aptly named the Luna Ring.
Operating in perpetual sunlight, Shimizu’s solar cells could potentially generate 13,000 terawatts. For context, the global demand currently stands at 18–20 terawatts of consistent power. This indicates that the lunar ring could significantly diminish the reliance on fossil and nuclear fuel for energy production.
How the lunar ring would function
Vitaly Kusaylo/Getty Images
As stated on the Shimizu website, the Luna Ring concept remains in the development phase. It is a multifaceted initiative. The initial phase would necessitate the involvement of both humans and automated systems on the moon’s surface. Indeed, lunar robots are currently being developed, supported by NASA funding.
The construction process would utilize lunar materials such as moon soil alongside hydrogen sourced from Earth. By using these resources, it would be feasible to produce the components necessary for the solar cells. Luckily, water—a crucial element for the initiative—is already present on the moon.
A significant portion of the robotic operation would be overseen from
