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Tesla’s $300 wireless charger uses coils from a company called FreePower

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Tesla’s $300 wireless charger uses coils from a company called FreePower

Tesla has opened preorders for a wi-fi charging mat that may accommodate as much as three gadgets positioned nonetheless you need, and that is available in a type issue “impressed by the angular design and metallic styling of Cybertruck.” The gadget is named the Wi-fi Charging Platform, and it prices $300. For that hefty worth you get the mat, a detachable magnetic stand that allows you to prop the pad up at an angle or lay it flat, and a few tech that we as soon as referred to as “probably the most promising AirPower different.”

Beneath the alcantara material cowl, Tesla’s charger has a whopping 30 Qi charging coils, which can cost your system it doesn’t matter what orientation it’s in, or the place you set it on the platform. In line with Tesla’s website, the system was “engineered with FreePower wi-fi charging know-how.” If that identify doesn’t ring a bell to you, it could be as a result of it’s new — the corporate used to go by Aira, and in 2020 we referred to as its (buggy on the time) system “the closest factor to AirPower” that we may discover.

This photograph isn’t precisely illustrative of the capabilities Tesla is promising, but it surely does look good.
Picture: Tesla

Talking of AirPower… lots of people have in contrast the Wi-fi Charging Platform to Apple’s now-canceled product, and I completely get why. The iPhone-maker additionally promised an adjunct that will cost as much as three gadgets without delay, irrespective of the place they had been on the pad. However that was actually solely a part of what made AirPower so attention-grabbing; throughout its announcement, Apple stated you would additionally use the mat to cost your Apple Watch, and that it and your gadgets would “intelligently work collectively and talk with one another to handle the charging via another environment friendly charging system.”

In the meantime, Tesla isn’t promising any of these issues. Which means you gained’t have the ability to use the platform to cost your Apple, Galaxy, or Pixel Watch, since most wearables aren’t appropriate with the Qi normal. And Tesla’s web page makes no point out of gadgets having the ability to talk to realize most charging effectivity.

It’s debatable whether or not that final level is that necessary, although. With a 65W energy adapter, and the flexibility to pump out as much as 15W to all three gadgets, does Tesla must optimize for effectivity like Apple deliberate to do in 2018? I don’t assume that’d be a make-or-break characteristic for me, although the smartwatch factor is an enormous bummer — the entire level of this sort of product is to have one place to cost all of your gadgets, and this will’t do this for lots of people. (I think there are extra wearable homeowners than individuals who should cost two telephones on the common, however I could possibly be flawed.)

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Image of the Tesla charging pad with two iPhones and a set of AirPods on it.

You’d most likely be hard-pressed to suit a 3rd telephone on right here, and people AirPods usually are not drawing the total 15W.
Picture: Tesla

Not that I’d’ve thought of dropping $300 on a wi-fi charging pad anyhow. I simply don’t have sufficient gadgets to wish one thing like that, and even when I did I really feel just like the charger’s dimensions could be limiting. If you wish to match three gadgets onto it, they’re going to be fairly packed collectively, making the flexibility to place these gadgets anyplace much less helpful. And if I’m simply charging a tool or two, this sort of charger fairly overkill. Plus, an “built-in” USB-C energy cable on such an costly system is totally a dealbreaker for me, contemplating that I’ve a cable-munching gremlin living in my house.

The excellent news is that Tesla’s charger isn’t fully distinctive — Nomad’s Base Station Professional made fairly related guarantees years in the past and used Aira’s tech, although it supplied considerably slower charging. (The corporate appears to have moved in the direction of utilizing magnets to align your gadgets within the newest model of the Base Station.) And for those who’re keen to surrender the flexibility to put your system down anyplace, you’ll be able to simply get chargers for 3 or 4 gadgets for considerably lower than $300. This one from Mophie even provides you little cutouts that ought to take the guesswork out of the place to place your system for optimum charging.

However for those who’re the kind of one that needs to have the ability to wirelessly quick cost three gadgets without delay, or hate having to rigorously place your telephone and earbuds down on a charging pad (and also you’re okay with giving cash to Elon Musk), it’s cool to see FreePower’s tech exhibiting up in additional chargers. And hey, even with its eye-watering worth, Tesla’s charger continues to be means cheaper than this luxurious three-device FreePower charger.

Tesla says the Wi-fi Charging Platform will begin transport in February 2023.

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New Teslas might lose Steam

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New Teslas might lose Steam

Tesla might be dropping Steam support on some new deliveries of Model X, according to a message from the company shared by a Reddit user who is expecting to take delivery of the long-range version of the electric SUV.

Tesla’s message alerts the customer that the company is “updating the gaming computer” in the Model X and says it’s “no longer capable of playing Steam games.” The message ends with a button for the customer to confirm they will proceed with the delivery.

There’s no indication that other Tesla models will be affected. And we’re not seeing any signs that the automaker plans to remove Steam from current owners’ vehicles through a software update. However, Tesla’s already seems to be leaning toward dropping Steam support for some other models.

Steam isn’t available in the Cybertruck, for example, and Tesla hasn’t said whether it plans on bringing the gaming platform to its bestselling Model Y and Model 3 vehicles, despite newer models sporting improved AMD Ryzen processors. The company has already removed some games over the years, including Sonic the Hedgehog.

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Is this autonomous security guard robot the protection you need?

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Is this autonomous security guard robot the protection you need?

They’re not your typical office workers. Standing at 5 feet tall and cruising through the corridors at a leisurely 3 mph, these robotic guards are the latest addition to workplace security. 

Gone are the days of the traditional security guard. Now, robots are taking over the night shift and beyond.

How do these security robots work?

Cobalt’s robots are custom-built to navigate the unique challenges of each building, from ramps to elevators. They patrol the hallways, vigilant for signs of trouble – be it an unusual motion after hours or a door left ajar – and report their findings to a human-staffed call center.

CLICK TO GET KURT’S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK VIDEO TIPS, TECH REVIEWS AND EASY HOW-TO’S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER

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These robots can even spot things that might escape the watchful eye of a security camera. They can do this because they are equipped with a depth camera, heat-detecting thermal sensors, 4K cameras that can see 360 degrees, Lidar, as well as a Microphone array for listening and PA system for announcing.

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Interactivity and assistance of the security robot

With a simple tap on the screen, employees can summon a 24/7 specialist to address concerns ranging from spills, unwelcome visitors or suspicious activity. This seamless integration of technology and human oversight lets real-life guards spend more time responding and less time observing now that Cobalt is carefully watching on patrol and reporting back what it detects.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

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MORE: ELECTRIC HUMANOID ROBOT TO SHAKE UP THE JOB MARKET

Case study: DoorDash

DoorDash has embraced Cobalt’s robotic guards across its corporate sites. The result? Enhanced security operations with fewer sick days, no HR complaints, and a boost in both accuracy and response times for security and safety-related incidents.

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MORE: THE SHAPE-SHIFTING UNDERWATER ROBOT PIONEERING THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA

Robots vs. humans: The numbers

The driving force behind this robotic revolution is money. It’s far more economical for companies to deploy robots for round-the-clock security than to rely solely on human guards. According to Forrester Research, opting for a robotic guard over a human can lead to substantial savings – around $79,000 annually. That’s a figure that’s hard to ignore for any business looking to optimize its operations.

MORE: APOLLO THE ROBOT JOINS MERCEDES-BENZ ASSEMBLY LINE PRODUCTION

The competitive landscape of the security robot

The security robot market is heating up, with competition between indoor and outdoor models. While Cobalt’s robots are indoor specialists, others like Knightscope and SMP Robots are venturing into both terrains, including malls, hotels and industrial sites. And let’s not forget drones, which are starting to make their mark in the security domain.

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Challenges and considerations of security robots

Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. Security robots have had their share of mishaps, from minor accidents to malfunctioning in critical situations. And there’s the human factor to consider. Sometimes, nothing can replace the reassurance of a human presence in times of distress.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Despite the occasional glitch, the consensus is clear: Security robots are here to stay, and their presence is set to grow as the technology continues to advance. They may not replace human guards entirely, but they’re redefining the role and allowing humans to focus on more strategic tasks.

What’s your take on these new robot guards? Do you think they’re as trustworthy as human security or are we moving too fast into a tech-driven safety zone? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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Twitter is officially X.com now

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Twitter is officially X.com now

The social network formerly known as Twitter has officially adopted X.com for all its core systems. That means typing twitter.com in your browser will now redirect to Elon Musk’s favored domain, or should. At the time of publication, we’re seeing a mix of results depending upon browser choice and whether you’re logged in or not.

A message also now appears at the bottom of the X login page that reads, “We are letting you know that we are changing our URL, but your privacy and data protection settings remain the same.”

Musk has a long history with the x.com URL, launching a business under the name in 1999 that eventually merged with what would become PayPal. For this modern-day version of the company, Musk envisions that it will become a WeChat-like “everything app.”

Maybe, but one thing’s for sure: it’s not Twitter anymore.

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