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Donnerstag, 21. September 2017
#WeLovePhoto Highlight Video - ZenFone 4 Series | ASUS
Watch the ZenFone 4 #WeLovePhoto highlight video here.
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CPSC Votes To Ban New And Potentially Dangerous Flame Retardants
Flame retardants in our furniture, clothing, and electronics seem like a positive thing, right? Generally, no one wants their home or their clothes — or their kids’ clothes — to catch fire. Yet the Consumer Product Safety Commission had safety in mind when it voted yesterday to outlaw a new type of flame retardants from use on certain products.
The Chicago Tribune reports that the five-person panel voted in favor of banning a specific type of flame retardant chemical from use in products for babies and toddlers, mattresses, upholstered furniture, and enclosures for electronics.
The halogenated class of flame retardants has been linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and neurological problems. These substances are under study by the Environmental Protection Agency, a process that could take years, but some have already been taken off the market after further testing showed that they were harmful and accumulating in our bodies.
“The more evidence accumulates, the stronger we see the case against the use of these chemicals,” Commissioner Robert Adler, who voted to ban the substances, told the Tribune.
It’s rare for the CPSC to ban a substance without Congress asking it to do so, but a 2008 law, the Consumer Safety Improvement Act, gave the Commission the power to act without Congress when a product poses an “unreasonable” risk to the public.
While the safety of people, particularly children, shouldn’t be a political issue, it has become one. Next month, the term of Democratic Commissioner Marietta Robinson will be up, and President Trump will most likely appoint a Republican to the Commission, shifting the panel from three Democrats and two Republicans to the other way around. The current Republican commissioners have already suggested overturning this decision once their new colleague is appointed.
You may have already seen a warning label about halogenated flame retardants if you’ve bought new furniture recently, since it’s required to have a warning label about the substances. However, mattresses don’t have to have a warning, and items for babies and toddlers don’t, either.
If you want to learn more about the use of flame retardants and how they came to be in so many household items, read the Chicago Tribune’s multi-part 2012 investigation of how tobacco lobbyists got flame retardants into our homes as a tactic to shift the blame for house fires from smokers to allegedly flammable furniture.
by Laura Northrup via Consumerist
5 Things We Learned About How Aldi Can Compete With Grocery Stores
The battle between Aldi and other grocery chains has been raging for a while now; from the price war with Walmart to earmarking $1.6 billion to upgrade stores to be more Whole Foods-esque. But just how can the relatively small supermarket chain compete with bigger chains and win over customers?
That’s the question The Wall Street Journal set out to answer. By looking at Aldi’s sparse public fillings, executive interviews, and internal documents, The WSJ was able to chip away at the chain’s secretive playbook, uncovering just how it plans to conquer its competition.
The WSJ offers a fairly full look at Aldi’s history and business plan. You should check out the full post, but in the meantime, here are five things we learned.
1. A Different Grocery Store
Aldi has long been known for its low prices and sparse product choices.
This was always the plan, the WSJ reports, noting that brothers and founders Karl and Theo Albrecht knew they wanted to offer something different from traditional grocery stores.
The duo relied on simplicity and streamlined processes to keep overhead costs low, and in turn, the costs for customers low.
For instance, the brothers aimed to keep waste — and costs — low at their stores; from asking employees to turn off lights when the sun was out to reconfiguring bathroom hand dryers to use less energy.
2. Fewer Name Brands = Lower Prices
One way the company has been able to keep its costs down is by offering a small stock of name brand products.
The WSJ reports that by only offering one or two name brands of any select product, Aldi is able to negotiate lower prices with suppliers.
Additionally, limiting their inventory has allowed the company to sell products for less. Things that cost less, often sell faster.
3. Keeping Overhead Low
Unlike chains like Walmart or Safeway, which offer tens or hundreds of thousands of products, Aldi typically offers just a few thousand or less, The WSJ reports.
With fewer products on its shelves, Aldi doesn’t have to operate giant stores. This allows the company to pay less in overhead — rent, energy costs, and other expenses.
Less overhead means there is less of a chance that Aldi is passing on its own costs to customers.
4. All About Quality
By keeping its product selection lower, The WSJ reports that Aldi is able to carefully choose and test each item it offers.
For instance, the company’s headquarters houses a test kitchen where executives and buyers can sample the products sold in stores and compare them to the competition.
Ensuring that the products it carries are of high quality is just another way the chain is able to court and attract customers with a higher level of discretionary spending.
5. Just Good Timing
Aldi’s expansion in the U.S. is also just a matter of good timing, analysts tell The WSJ.
Now more than ever, shoppers are looking for a convenient, quick shopping experience. That’s something Aldi is suited to offer.
With smaller stores and fewer brands to choose from, customers are able to run into an Aldi, walk down the pasta aisle and grab spaghetti, check out, and return to their car in just a few short minutes.
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist
The Network. Intuitive. Explained. (:40 pt. 1)
Think what it would be like if a network used intuition to drive itself. If it had insight and context; if it could adapt; if it could predict. The Network. Intuitive. Learn more: http://cs.co/600882W0i #networkintuitive
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The Network. Intuitive. Explained. (:40 pt. 2)
What if it saw threats, even the ones hiding in encrypted traffic, before they happened? The Network. Intuitive. Learn more: http://cs.co/600282o6r #networkintuitive
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The Network. Intuitive. Explained. (:40 pt. 3)
As human beings, how is it we come to know when something is right or wrong? Is it intellect? Or something more? The Network. Intuitive. Learn more: http://cs.co/600182o8X #networkintuitive
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What is a Robot? | Rethink the hard drive.
You may not think of a hard drive as a robot. But inside the box, you'll find an assemblage of actuators, sensor arrays, and mechanical technology that are just as complicated and smart as any robot in the world. Seagate has put together a crew of over 33,000 robots that precision-manufacture our finely tuned products all over the globe. Welcome to the frontier of transformative nanomanufacturing, where we produce and assemble highly critical parts, some smaller than a grain of pepper. http://ift.tt/2wFeag2 Connect: Linkedin | http://ift.tt/2vJvT8P Facebook | http://ift.tt/1eTAUa0 Instagram | http://ift.tt/2vJmAWg Twitter | https://twitter.com/seagate Support: Web | http://ift.tt/1phbNn9 Twitter | http://twitter.com/AskSeagate Thanks for reading this far. You are a good person.
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People of Seagate | Harnessers of the Datasphere
We are problem solvers who believe in data's ability to shape a better world. While we come from varied backgrounds and inhabit different worlds all over the globe, one vision unites us at Seagate: harnessing the datasphere in order to maximize human potential. Learn how the global datasphere will skyrocket to a projected 163 zettabytes (ZB) http://ift.tt/2nFT1wZ Connect: Linkedin | http://ift.tt/2vJvT8P Facebook | http://ift.tt/1eTAUa0 Instagram | http://ift.tt/2vJmAWg Twitter | https://twitter.com/seagate Support: Web | http://ift.tt/1phbNn9 Twitter | http://twitter.com/AskSeagate Thanks for reading this far. You are a good person.
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LSI Tellusâ„¢ LED Area Light (TEL)
High-performance Tellus™ brand LED Area Lights by LSI Industries are well-suited for both retrofit and new construction projects. They are ideal for a wide variety of commercial & industrial applications such as: parking lots, strip malls, auto dealerships and general site lighting. Multiple mounting options, energy management features and lumen packages make the Tellus™ an ideal choice to meet customer requirements. • DLC Qualified • 16†and 22†sizes • Wattage packages range from 72W - 360W • Lumen packages range from 8,000 - 40,000 lms • Precision Engineered Individual Optics • Distribution Type III, IV, V, FT & SC (All Distributions are Rotatable) • Internal Cut Off Shield (optional) • Universal Bracket System • Integral Motion Sensor - IMS (optional) • Photo Cell Receptacle – PCR (optional) • 4500K, 72 CRI • 0-10V Dimming • 5-Year Warranty • Quick Ship 10-Day • Manufactured in USA Visit here for spec sheets and other details: http://ift.tt/2hm5SSQ Music courtesy of Jay Matsueda. All rights reserved. www.jaymatsueda.com
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GamerLink | Disrupt SF 2017
GamerLink helps video game players find a community to connect with cross-platform and around the world.
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General Mills Bringing Back “Vibrant” Trix, Including Artificial Flavors & Colors
Two years ago, General Mills joined other food companies by declaring it would cut artificial flavors and colors from all of its cereals. But some customers actually like those additives, at least in their Trix. To that end: The company is making the ultimate “throwback Thursday” offering by announcing it will once again offer Trix with artificial colors and flavors.
General Mills announced today that “Classic Trix” — complete with “vibrant colors,” artificial flavors and coloring — will soon return to grocery store shelves.
The cereal will come in addition to General Mills’ current version that features no artificial flavors or colors, meaning there’s something for everyone when it comes to Trix.
General Mills says that the decision to re-create Classic Trix came as a response to customers’ requests.
“Consumers have differing food preferences, and we heard from many Trix fans that they missed the bright vibrant colors and the nostalgic taste of the classic Trix cereal,” the company said in a statement.
While artificial colors and flavors might be returning to Trix, the company says the fruit shapes that once littered the cereal won’t be back just yet. However, General Mills hopes to make that dream come true soon.
“We are always listening to our consumers and we continually innovate and renovate our products to ensure we’re meeting consumer preferences,” the company said.
Artificial Changes
General Mills announced back in 2015 that it would work to eliminate artificial flavors and colors from its cereals.
At the time, the company noted that Trix would undergo quite the transformation. Specifically, the cereal lost its green and blue puffs, as it’s tough to make blue food colors with natural ingredients. And without blue, it’s impossible to create green.
“Trix is known for color, so this hit Trix pretty hard,” Kate Gallagher, a General Mills cereal developer, said in 2015.
The natural ingredients the company tried to get those same colors didn’t work out so well, delivering muted colors and a flavor the company didn’t want.
General Mills said at the time that more than 60% of the company’s cereals were already free of artificial colors or flavors, with 90% of its cereals expected to be free of such ingredients by the end of 2016. The rest were expected to be knocked off in 2017.
With the addition of Original Trix that doesn’t look to be the case any longer. The company’s Lucky Charms continues to use artificial ingredients for its marshmallows.
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist
Anthropologie Cancels Orders After Accidentally Listing $8,000 Couches For Free
A couch is a big investment — a really nice piece of furniture can cost thousands of dollars. So you can imagine how excited some shoppers were to find Anthropologie selling an $8,000 couch online for… nothing. Alas, that excitement was short-lived, after the company explained that it had all been a mistake.
Too good to be true
Business Insider reports that shoppers were snapping up the “Edlyn” two-piece chaise sectional — which usually costs up to $7,798 — after it was listed as costing $0, with only a $149 delivery charge.
One shopper told BI that he’d successfully purchased the couch for no money, and was only charged for shipping and delivery. Others on Twitter gleefully reported the deal.
Like everything else that sounds too good to be true, the free couch turned out to be an apparent website glitch: The shopper who talked to BI says his couch order was cancelled 39 minutes after he’d received his order confirmation.
“The item(s) below reflect product(s) that are no longer in stock, or are cancellations that you have requested,” the email reads.
The online listing for the couch now reflects the correct price as well.
Despite outrage on from some on Twitter claiming that the couch order should be honored, the company pointed BI to a company policy included in its terms of use that allows the retailer to refuse or cancel orders for products listed at “an incorrect price due to photographical error, typographical error, or error in pricing information from our suppliers.”
“We sincerely regret that a technical glitch on our website caused some furniture pricing to be listed incorrectly,” a spokesperson told the site.
Déjà vu
If this sounds familiar, perhaps it’s because this kind of thing isn’t uncommon, from the airline industry to the gift card business.
Last year, for example, customers complained when Walmart wouldn’t honor a pricing error that listed a 70″ TV for $99.
Just in 2015, both United and American accidentally offered free or cheap tickets when they didn’t mean to. The Department of Transportation didn’t make United honor super-low first-class fares that resulted from a glitch, but American decided to offer some travelers free flights to China after a similar hiccup.
That same year, Sears accidentally sold $700 playhouses for $12, while Best Buy sold $200 gift cards for $15, later canceling orders.
Not bait-and-switch
As we’ve explained many times before, these kinds of mistakes are not examples of “bait and switch,” despite what customers may say.
To qualify as a scam, the “bait” part requires a deliberate intention to deceive the customer, while the “switch” portion involves the retailer taking the lured-in customer and getting them to buy a more expensive product. By canceling orders, Anthropologie and other companies are not forcing anyone to pay up.
There is is no law requiring businesses to honor honest pricing mistakes. Some do honor these goofs, because they believe that the initial loss will result in a net positive gain in the long-term, but they are under no obligation to do so.
by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist
VW Drivers Claim Company Didn’t Warn Them That Sunroofs May Spontaneously Explode
You’re cruising happily down the highway with the sun streaming through your sunroof when suddenly, there’s a loud noise and glass is exploding everywhere. Sounds scary, right? That’s what Volkswagen owners say in a new lawsuit accusing the company of failing to warn them that this could possibly happen in a slew of vehicles.
A lawsuit [PDF] seeking class-action status filed in a California district court claims that Volkswagen has known sunroofs installed in many of its car models may spontaneously explode, and allegedly failed to warn customers of this before they purchased vehicles.
Noting that “sunroofs pose a significant engineering challenge” — replacing metal parts of the car’s roof with large plates of glass “requires precision in the strengthening, attachment, and stabilization of the glass” — the lawsuit claims that VW has failed to meet those challenges, “and as a result, many of the vehicles designed, and distributed by VW have sunroofs which spontaneously shatter.”
“The shattering events are so powerful that startled drivers compare it to the sound of a gunshot, after which glass fragments rain down upon the occupants of the vehicle, sometimes while driving at highway speeds,” reads the complaint.
Here are the VW models equipped with factory-installed sunroofs mentioned in the case:
• 2005 – 2017 Jetta models
• 2015 – 2017 Golf models
• 2006 – 2015 GTI models
• 2009 – 2010 CC models
• 2007 – 2016 Eos models
• 2006 – 2009 Rabbit models
• 2012 – 2017 Passat models
• 2004 – 2006 Touareg models
• 2011 – 2017 Touareg models
• 2008 R32 Base
• 2009 – 2017 Tiguan models
A litany of reports
The plaintiff in the lawsuit says she purchased her 2013 Jetta at the end of her lease in June 2016. Recently, she says she was driving on the freeway when suddenly, “a loud ‘BOOM’ like a gunshot/explosion went off in her car, followed by a hail of glass falling on her head and the interior of the vehicle.”
The complaint says she noticed a large hole in the center of her windshield, with the edges “pointing outward/upward, indicating that the break came from the inside.”
She had to pay out of pocket for some expenses related to the incident.
She’s not alone, the lawsuit says, claiming VW knew about the alleged sunroof problems before the plaintiff leased her vehicle in 2013, citing reports from “at least” 57 owners and lessees of VW vehicles who have reported similar sunroof-explosion incidents to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, starting back in 2009.
“I was driving on the interstate at about 60 mph and I heard a loud bang, like a gun shot,” one complaint from the driver of a 2010 VW GTI reads. “I looked around, and looked up, and noticed my sunroof had exploded into a million little pieces,” the driver adds, writing that a large chunk of the sunroof fell on them after they drove to an exit, and that they had glass “in the car, hair, and ground into my skin a bit — some of it is very fine and sharp, like sparkly powder.”
The driver says that the dealership said it was likely that a rock hit the sunroof, “but I don’t think a rock could have a velocity in the vertical direction at that speed to hit and smash the glass,” they added.
“Sunroof shattered while driving in the country,” the driver of a 2013 Jetta wrote in another complaint, “no other cars nearby, nothing overhead, no apparent reason, it just blew up, throwing glass everywhere. Luckily my five- and six-year-old were not in the backseat.”
One recall isn’t enough
Not only has VW known of the defect through NHTSA complaints and consumer complaints lodged directly with the carmaker and its dealerships, the lawsuit claims that VW is aware of the issue through its own testing. To that end, the car company has already issued a recall [PDF] related to shattering sunroofs for its 2013-2015 Beetle.
In that recall, VW noted that “glass sunroofs in the affected vehicles may break when the vehicles are operated over a hard road surface or strike a pothole.”
Despite issuing a recall for just that model, the lawsuit claims that VW “has done nothing regarding the far more predominant problem relating to all regular and panoramic sunroof shattering that affects potentially hundreds of thousands or more VW vehicles.”
And while the carmaker has “at times taken the position that the sunroofs in question have shattered as a result of impact from roadway objects,” the lawsuit reads, rocks and other objects thrown up by cars and trucks “would not impact the sunroof with sufficient force to cause it to shatter, let alone shatter outward, a fact that appears in many consumer complaints and of which VW is aware.”
Additionally, the lawsuit claims that driver reports have contradicted VW’s position, noting that “some VW sunroofs have spontaneously shattered (‘outward’) while the vehicles were parked.”
It’s not just VW owners who have had vehicles with sunroof problems, the lawsuit notes: Audi (which is owned by VW) and Hyundai have voluntarily initiated safety recalls as a result, “notifying drivers of the danger and offering to repair the sunroofs free of cost.”
Staying mum
The complaint argues that “a reasonable person considering whether to purchase or lease a VW vehicle would want to be informed” about the alleged sunroof issue, “so that he or she could opt against paying thousands of dollars for a ‘luxury upgrade’ which is clearly unsafe, or simply forego purchasing or leasing the vehicle altogether.”
If VW had told the plaintiff about the alleged sunroof defect, she would not have leased and subsequently purchased the vehicle or she would have paid substantially less for it,” the lawsuit reads. She also wouldn’t have “suffered the economic damages she sustained” from repairs.
But despite the the high number of complaints and the danger posed by the alleged defect, “VW continues to conceal its existence from current drivers and potential customers alike,” the complaint claims, saying that VW doesn’t warn consumers at the point of sale or lease, nor when drivers who have experienced a shattered sunroof bring a car in for repairs, “thus making no effort to alert consumers of the risk.”
“VW knows of the defect yet continues to profit from the sale and lease of vehicles to unwitting consumers,” the suit reads.
In addition, although the plaintiff claims her vehicle was still within the period covered by VW’s new vehicle warranty, she had to pay for repairs herself. The lawsuit alleges that the company has “systematically denied coverage with respect to the defective sunroofs,” and that she and others “have been forced to incur substantial repair bills and other related damages, including being forced to make claims under their automotive insurance policies and incurring substantial deductibles.”
The lawsuit is seeking a jury trial, class-action status, damages and other losses to be determined at trial, and an order requiring VW to adequately disclose and repair allegedly defective sunroofs and one to cease distributing cars with such sunroofs in the future, pending an investigation.
We’ve reached out to VW for comment on the lawsuit and will update this post if we receive a response.
by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist
CVS Limiting Opioid Prescriptions Amid National Addiction Epidemic
Opioid prescription rates have more than tripled in the last two decades contributing to the nation’s current opioid addiction crisis, according to CVS. Now, the country’s largest pharmacy chain plans to do something about it by limiting opioid prescriptions.
CVS announced today a slew of initiatives intended to curb opioid abuse, including limiting the supply of opioids dispensed in each prescription, expanding drug disposal collection programs, and investing in education and treatment programs.
The measures are CVS’ way of making an impact amid the ongoing opioid epidemic, an issue the company says it sees firsthand.
“Today we are announcing an expansion of our enterprise initiatives to fight the opioid abuse epidemic that leverages CVS Pharmacy’s national presence with the capabilities of CVS Caremark,” Larry Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Health said.
Limiting Opioids
Starting Feb. 1, CVS — which is a pharmacy benefit manager administering prescription drug programs — says it will roll out an enhanced opioid utilization management approach for all commercial, health plan, employer, and Medicaid clients, unless they opt out.
Under this program, CVS will limit the supply of opioids dispensed to new patients for certain prescriptions to just seven days worth of medication.
Pharmacists will also be directed to consult physicians when a prescription appears to contain more medication than necessary for a patient’s needs.
Additionally, the company will limit the daily dosage of opioids dispensed based on the strength of the medication, and require patients use versions of medication that provide pain relief for a shorter time before providing medication that releases pain relief for extended amount of time.
More Education & Disposal
As part of the initiatives, CVS says it will strengthen its counseling for patients filling an opioid prescription, providing them with a “robust” education program.
Pharmacists will counsel patients about the risk of dependence and addiction tied to duration of opioid use, the importance of keeping medications secure in the home, and methods of proper disposal of unused medication.
Speaking of proper disposal, CVS says it will increase disposal options for customers, adding 750 in-store disposal units to the company’s 805 units already at pharmacies across the country.
Treatment & Recovery
Finally, CVS announced today that it put $2 million toward federally qualified community health centers that deliver medication-assisted treatment and other addiction recovery and prevention services.
The company says it will also expand its commitment to opioid abuse prevention education.
Through the Pharmacists Teach program, CVS will connect pharmacists with schools in order to provide students with information about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.
What Are Others Doing?
CVS’ largest rival, Walgreens, is also taking steps to mitigate the ongoing opioid epidemic. USA Today reports that Walgreens plans to launch a marketing campaign to educate teens on the dangers of opioids.
The chain has also already issued more than 600 disposal kiosks at stores around the county.
However, USA Today points out that because Walgreens doesn’t have a pharmacy benefits manager like CVS, it can’t limit dosages of opioid prescriptions.
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist
Google is buying HTC's Pixel team | Engadget Today
Just $1.1 billion later. http://ift.tt/2xoGzJ8 After weeks (months, and years) of speculation, HTC has announced that its "Powered by HTC" R&D division -- the team behind Google's Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones -- will be purchased by Google for $1.1 billion in cash. According to HTC's CFO Peter Shen, this will mean about half -- yes, half -- of the 4,000 people in his company's R&D team will be joining Google, but he emphasized that HTC will continue developing its own range of smartphones, including its next flagship product. The agreement also grants Google a non-exclusive license for a large part of HTC's intellectual property. The deal is expected to be approved and closed by early 2018. Subscribe to Engadget on YouTube: http://engt.co/subscribe Get More Engadget: • Like us on Facebook: http://ift.tt/1k1iCZT • Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/engadget • Follow us on Instagram: http://ift.tt/1k1iCZV • Add us on Snapchat: http://ift.tt/1UqS18a • Read more: http://www.engadget.com Engadget is the definitive guide to this connected life.
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Wonder Woman Drone Light Show | Intel
Witness the warrior princess take flight in a dazzling drone light show above the LA skyline. With help from 300 Intel® Shooting Star™ drones, Intel and Warner Bros. celebrated the Wonder Woman home entertainment release with a night to remember. About Intel: Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Founded in 1968 to build semiconductor memory products, Intel introduced the world's first microprocessor in 1971. This decade, our mission is to create and extend computing technology to connect and enrich the lives of every person on earth. Connect with Intel: Visit Intel WEBSITE: http://intel.ly/1WXmVMe Like Intel on FACEBOOK: http://intel.ly/1wrbYGi Follow Intel on TWITTER: http://intel.ly/1wrbXC8 Follow Intel on INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/1OJuPTg Visit iQ: http://intel.ly/1wrbXCd Wonder Woman Drone Light Show | Intel https://www.youtube.com/user/channelintel
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Jackie Chan & Olivia Munn Answer Martial Arts Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED
'The LEGO Ninjago Movie' stars Jackie Chan and Olivia Munn use the power of Twitter to answer some common martial arts questions. Jackie also teaches Olivia how to karate chop some pieces of wood and defend herself from knife attacks. Still haven’t subscribed to WIRED on YouTube? ►► http://wrd.cm/15fP7B7 CONNECT WITH WIRED Web: http://wired.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/WIRED Facebook: http://ift.tt/1dBz3Oa Pinterest: http://ift.tt/1JeJD7O Google+: http://ift.tt/1Ch4gR7 Instagram: http://ift.tt/1lUgynY Tumblr: http://WIRED.tumblr.com Want even more? Subscribe to The Scene: http://bit.ly/subthescene ABOUT WIRED WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. Through thought-provoking stories and videos, WIRED explores the future of business, innovation, and culture. Jackie Chan & Olivia Munn Answer Martial Arts Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED Jackie Chan and Olivia Munn, stars of THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE
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Everyone Hates Newest Obamacare Repeal Bill; Senate Plans Vote Next Week Anyway
After a politically chaotic summer where their first attempt met a dramatic late-night demise, Republican members of the Senate are mounting one last effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Basically every major stakeholder in the country has announced its opposition to the new bill, but the Senate is racing to squeeze in a vote before a hard deadline at the end of the month just the same.
The bill
Sens. Lindsey Graham (SC), Bill Cassidy (LA), Dean Heller (NV), and Ron Johnson (WI) released the latest proposal to reverse the ACA late last week.
The Graham-Cassidy bill, as it is generally known, is actually technically a budget resolution — so for procedural reasons, it’s got a hard make-or-break Sept. 30 deadline.
There is a hearing on Graham-Cassidy scheduled for Monday, Sept. 25, and a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell confirmed to Politico that McConnell does indeed intend to bring the proposal to the Senate floor for a vote before the cutoff.
That means, among other things, that the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office will not have time to issue a proper score on the bill before the Senate has to move on it.
However, several independent, non-partisan third-party groups have released analyses in the last day sussing out what the effects of Graham-Cassidy would likely be.
The Kaiser Family Foundation released a report looking at the effect on Medicaid funding to the states the Graham-Cassidy bill would have. Overall, KFF estimates that 35 states plus D.C. would lose Medicaid funding, with states that accepted a Medicaid expansion as part of the ACA losing an average of 11% of their funds.
READ MORE: HOW THE LATEST ACA REPEAL PLAN COULD AFFECT YOU
The Commonwealth Fund also issued a report, estimating that at least 32 million people who currently have coverage would lose it under Graham-Cassidy. And based on an analysis from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Fitch Ratings has determined that Graham-Cassidy would be “more disruptive” than even other ACA repeal proposals.
Even the Republican Senators championing the bill don’t seem particularly enamored of it, Vox notes — they’re just planning to vote for it because it’s the bill they’ve got, they all ran on “repeal and replace,” and time is running out.
In the last week, dozens of groups representing basically everyone you can think of — retirees, children, doctors, nurses, hospitals, patients, and even insurers — has come out in opposition to the bill. You name a stakeholder, and they’re probably against it.
Insurers
The health insurers are the big moneybags corporations in the room, when it comes to healthcare — and they are not happy with the Graham-Cassidy proposal.
America’s Health Insurance Plans, the industry’s largest trade and lobbying group, sent a letter [PDF] to McConnell, as well as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, outlining some of the ways in which they expect Graham-Cassidy would hurt consumers, and asking the Senate to approach healthcare differently.
“The Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson proposal… would have real consequences on consumers and patients by further destabilizing the individual market; cutting Medicaid; pulling back on protections for pre-existing conditions; not ending taxes on health insurance premiums and benefits; and potentially allowing government-controlled, singly payer healthcare to grow. … We cannot support this proposal.”
AHIP is joined by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, which said in a statement that it has “significant concerns” with the Graham-Cassidy bill, due to its Medicaid cuts and “provisions that would allow states to waive key consumer protections, as well as undermine safeguards for those with pre-existing medical conditions.”
Kaiser Permanente CEO Bernard J. Tyson also opposed Graham-Cassidy in a statement, saying, “At Kaiser Permanente, we believe that changes to our nation’s health care laws should increase access to high-quality, affordable care and coverage for as many people as possible. The Graham-Cassidy bill does not meet any of those tests.”
Practitioners
The American Medical Association, which represents physicians and medical students, wrote a letter [PDF] to the Senate opposing the bill.
“Unfortunately, the Graham-Cassidy amendment … violates the precept of ‘first do no harm,’ the organization’s CEO writes.
“Similar to proposals that were considered in the Senate in July, we believe the Graham-Cassidy amendment would result in millions of Americans losing their health insurance coverage, destabilize health insurance markets, and decrease access to affordable coverage and care,” he continues. “We also urge the Senate to reject any other legislative efforts that would jeopardize health insurance coverage for tens of millions of Americans.”
The doctors are joined here by the nation’s registered nurses: The American Nurses Association is calling Graham-Cassidy “the worst healthcare bill yet,” and urging ANA members to contact their Senators in opposition.
Hospitals
Insurers aren’t the only giant corporate entity in healthcare; hospitals, too, are a booming (and increasingly concentrated) business.
The American Hospital Association — the national lobbying group representing, as you’d think, the interests of hospitals — issued a statement opposing Graham-Cassidy in no uncertain terms.
“We believe that coverage could be at risk for tens of millions of Americans under the Graham-Cassidy proposal,” AHA CEO Rick Pollack said. “This proposal would erode key protections for patients and consumers and does nothing to stabilize the insurance market now or in the long term. In addition, the block grant to provide support for the expansion population expires in 2026, thereby eliminating coverage for millions of Americans.”
“For these reasons,” Pollack concluded, “We oppose the Graham-Cassidy plan.”
Health and Medical Issue Groups
There are a large number of groups in the country dedicated to promoting the interests of patients and families impacted by certain medical conditions. Sixteen of the largest — including the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the Arthritis Foundation, the March of Dimes, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society — issued a statement opposing the bill.
“Affordable, adequate care is vital to the patients we represent. This legislation fails to provide Americans with what they need to maintain their health,” the groups said.
They added, “This bill would limit funding for the Medicaid program, roll back important essential health benefit protections, and potentially open the door to annual and lifetime caps on coverage, endangering access to critical care for millions of Americans. Our organizations urge senators to oppose this legislation.”
Schools, Educators and Civil Rights Groups
A massive coalition of more than 70 groups representing schools, teachers, education administrators, civil rights advocates, and disability rights’ advocates sent a letter [PDF] to the Senate expressing opposition to the bill.
The coalition is “concerned that the Graham-Cassidy bill jeopardizes healthcare for the nation’s most vulnerable children: students with disabilities and students in poverty,” the letter reads.
“The projected loss of hundreds of billions in federal Medicaid dollars will compel states to ration health care for children,” as well as cutting off “basic health screenings for vision, hearing, and mental health problems for children,” the coalition explains. “Considering these unintended consequences, we urge a ‘no’ vote on Graham-Cassidy.”
The long list of signatory groups includes the ACLU, the National Association of Elementary School Principles, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Association of Social Workers, the National Association of State Boards of Education, the National Education Association, and the United Way.
And more!
The AARP has published a report finding that Graham-Cassidy would endanger coverage for older Americans, and sent a letter [PDF] to senators urging them to vote no.
“We are deeply concerned these cuts will endanger the health, safety, and care of millions of individuals who depend on the essential services provided through Medicaid,” the AARP notes. “Should this bill be brought to the Senate floor for a vote, we strongly urge all Senators to vote NO.”
A genuinely bipartisan group of states’ governors, including the top executives of Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Virginia, also urged the Senate to reconsider. In a letter [PDF], the governors “Ask [the Senate] not to consider the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson amendment and [instead] renew support for bipartisan efforts to make health care more available and affordable for all Americans.”
And last but not least, we have comedian and late night host Jimmy Kimmel:
by Kate Cox via Consumerist
The iOS 11 Control Center Doesn’t Really Turn Off WiFi Or Bluetooth
During Apple’s announcement earlier this month of new products, there was also something for users who are happy with their old devices: A new version of the company’s operating system for phones and tablets, iOS 11. However, one handy feature of the new operating system — a menu that lets users quickly access certain functions at any time by swiping up — doesn’t actually work the way it appears to.
Just kidding
You can see an enlarged version of this menu at the top of this post. The blue buttons with WiFi and Bluetooth symbols look like they toggle those functions on and off, don’t they? They did in previous versions of iOS.
Now, they do not. We learned from Motherboard that security researchers have already discovered that all they do is disconnect you from networks and accessories that you’re connected to quickly, but they don’t actually turn off Bluetooth and WiFi. What, exactly, is this feature for?
To conserve battery power and for security reasons, it’s a good idea to turn WiFi and Bluetooth off if you aren’t actually using them, and this menu would be a quick and handy way to do that if it actually worked.
It’s not a bug
If you’re one of those people who actually reads the documentation before you jump in and play with a new operating system, you would know that Apple did this intentionally.
“In iOS 11 and later, when you toggle the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth buttons in Control Center, your device will immediately disconnect from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth accessories,” the support documents say. “Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will continue to be available.”
Apple says that this is so users can keep using certain accessories and features, all of which happen to be accessories that Apple makes, or services that let users share files, tasks, and media between multiple Apple devices.
The site lists them: AirDrop, AirPlay, Apple Pencil, Apple Watch, Continuity features, like Handoff and Instant Hotspot, and Location Services.
Oh, and no matter what, security researchers have also found that if you turn off Bluetooth and WiFi using the Control Center (that menu you get when you swipe up) they will turn back on at 5 A.M. Why? No one knows.
If you want to actually turn WiFi and Bluetooth off and keep them off, you’ll have to go through your device’s Settings app and switch them off. It’s not as simple as swiping up from the lock screen, but it does actually toggle the wireless technologies off indefinitely.
by Laura Northrup via Consumerist
ZenFone 4 Pro Design Story | ASUS
#ZenFone 4 Pro is the world’s first smartphone to incorporate three high-end Sony image sensors, and the ASUS SuperPixel™ Engine ensures up to 8x brighter photos in low light. Powered by the latest Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ S835 mobile platform and 6GB RAM, ZenFone 4 Pro delivers a smooth and responsive camera experience, and the best performance with today’s apps and games. Learn more about ZenFone 4 Pro: http://ift.tt/2wSyM3X
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Introducing ZenFone 4 Pro | ASUS
ZenFone 4 Pro is the ultimate expression of ASUS smartphone design, crafted to provide luxury in every detail and featuring dual cameras to deliver an unparalleled mobile photography experience. ZenFone 4 Pro has a standard camera with the Sony flagship IMX362 image sensor, an F1.7 aperture lens and a 10x total zoom capability, plus a front-facing selfie camera with fast phase-detection auto-focus, enabling you to capture gorgeous photos that rival professional cameras. Learn more about ZenFone 4 Pro: http://ift.tt/2wSyM3X
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This security robot can detect weapons
A new wave of Knightscope crime-fighting robots is rolling out to patrol malls and airports alongside human security guards. Subscribe to CNET: http://cnet.co/2heRhep Check out our playlists: http://cnet.co/2g8kcf4 Like us on Facebook: http://ift.tt/1930vfU Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/cnet Follow us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/2icCYYm Add us on Snapchat: http://cnet.co/2h4uoK3
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What a Wonderful World #WeLovePhoto - ZenFone 4 | ASUS
It's a wonderful world whenever you are with your favorite people, so celebrate your happiness with ZenFone 4's amazing camera functions. ZenFone 4 is equipped with 120° wide angle dual lenses (and 10x maximum Zoom for ZenFone 4 Pro) to capture things and people you love. With its upgraded low light capabilities, let the photography craze begin! #WeLovePhoto #WhatAWonderfulWorld Learn more about: ZenFone 4: http://ift.tt/2x6QDn9
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What A Wonderful World #WeLovePhoto (ft. David Belle) - ZenFone 4 Max | ASUS
It's a wonderful world whenever you are with your favorite people, so celebrate your happiness with ZenFone 4 Max's 5000mAh high-capacity battery and amazing camera functions. The ZenFone 4 Max is equipped with 120° wide angle dual lenses to capture things and people you love. Spend more time with them without worrying of running out of battery. The reverse charging feature also allows you to use your phone as a power bank. Let's go further with the ZenFone 4 Max! #WeLovePhoto #WhatAWonderfulWorld
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What a Wonderful World #WeLovePhoto - ZenFone 4 Series | ASUS
It's a wonderful world whenever you are with your favorite people, so celebrate your happiness with ZenFone 4 Series' high-capacity battery and amazing camera functions. The entire ZenFone 4 Series is equipped with 120° wide angle dual lenses (and 10x maximum Zoom for ZenFone 4 Pro) to capture things and people you love. With its upgraded low light capabilities, let the photography craze begin! #WeLovePhoto #WhatAWonderfulWorld Learn more about: ZenFone 4 Pro: http://ift.tt/2wiWWb4 ZenFone 4: http://ift.tt/2x6QDn9 ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro: http://ift.tt/2x6U1yg ZenFone 4 Selfie: http://ift.tt/2wcMhP8 ZenFone 4 Max Pro: http://ift.tt/2x6S6d6 ZenFone 4 Max: http://ift.tt/2wcXL4P
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The Disturbing Truth about Vitamins - Sharp Science
According to the Council for Responsible Nutrition, vitamins and dietary supplements are $122 billion industry. However, most people don't know that the FDA doesn't regulate supplements as strictly as prescription medications. In fact, supplement companies don't even need to prove that the actual ingredients match the label. Most of the time, if you have a balanced diet, supplements are at the very least placebo, and at the most something that might kill you. Watch more Sharp Science: http://on.mash.to/SharpScience New episodes every other Thursday. MASHABLE ON YOUTUBE Subscribe to Mashable: http://on.mash.to/subscribe Best of playlist: https://on.mash.to/BestOf MASHABLE ACROSS THE WEB Mashable.com: http://on.mash.to/1hCcRpl Facebook: http://on.mash.to/1KkCTIP Twitter: http://on.mash.to/1Udp1kz Tumblr: http://on.mash.to/1NBBijY Instagram: http://on.mash.to/1U6D40z Google+: http://on.mash.to/1i27L5R Mashable is a leading global media company that informs, inspires and entertains the digital generation. MASHABLE ACROSS THE WEB Mashable.com: http://on.mash.to/1hCcRpl Facebook: http://on.mash.to/2lyOwmZ Twitter: http://on.mash.to/1Udp1kz Instagram: http://on.mash.to/1U6D40z Mashable is for superfans. We're not for the casually curious. Obsess with us.
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Cisco Solution for Microsoft Azure Stack
Introducing Cisco Integrated System for Microsoft Azure Stack. To learn more, visit http://cs.co/600682mlQ.
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FreshDeal | Disrupt SF 2017
FreshDeal connects farmers and food distributors in the US and Europe with partners they can trust.
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Is Experian Letting Anyone Access Your Credit Freeze PIN?
Placing a credit freeze on your accounts following a hack or issue with identity theft is only effective if the credit reporting agency you’re working with doesn’t give ne’er-do-wells the ability to unfreeze the accounts by providing the same information that any good ID thief already knows about you. This is a lesson some victims of Equifax’s recent data breach are learning after freezing their accounts with fellow credit reporting agency Experian.
Krebs On Security reports that a possible security flaw in Experian’s credit freeze process could leave victims of Equifax’s breach open to further fraud.
What’s The Freeze?
Ever since Equifax’s breach came to light, consumers have been urged to take steps to protect their credit histories and their private information.
In addition to placing fraud alerts on their accounts and signing up for credit monitoring, many consumers have chosen to freeze their credit.
A credit freeze — generally free for identity theft victims — prevents lenders and others from accessing a consumer’s credit report in response to a new credit application. With a freeze in place, even the bona fide account holders will need to take special steps if they want to apply for any type of credit or unfreeze the account.
Companies like Experian — and many others that deal with customers’ personal information — provide a PIN that a consumer must provide in order to access or make changes to their accounts.
What’s My PIN?
Unfortunately, humans are fallible and sometimes they forget their PINs. To make sure these folks aren’t forever frozen out of their own accounts, many companies offer a work-around.
In the case of Experian, the company allows customers to request their PIN by providing their personal information, such as name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number.
But in the wake of Equifax’s breach — and any number of other hacks in recent years — this is a problem. Namely because we know that most hacks involve the leak of this very same personal information.
So, to that end, a fraudster who is able to get their hands on this data could theoretically input that information into Experian’s PIN request form to obtain the code to unfreeze one’s credit.
Isn’t There A Fail-Safe?
Krebs points out that Experian does in fact employ a second verification method in which customers requesting a PIN must answer four personal questions.
The problem is, the type of questions asked for these kinds of verification tests — “Which of these streets have you lived on?” “Which of the following phone numbers have you previously had?” — are often the sort of thing that a good ID thief
Additionally, Krebs notes that many companies relying on these types of questions to authenticate a user have been hacked in the past, meaning that some customers’ answers are already out there.
In the case of Experian, Krebs asked readers who have placed freezes on their account with the CRA to test process.
Nearly a dozen readers told Krebs they were able to retrieve their PINs by submitting the information and answering the questions, which included “Please select the city that you have previously resided in,” and “according to our records, you previously lived on XXX street. Please choose the city from the following list where this street is located.”
Both of these questions could easily be answered by someone who has previously stolen your identity or can look you up on any number of social media networks.
Sounds Familiar
Krebs’ discovery is reminiscent of an issue Consumerist covered last year when reader Chuck discovered that credit reporting agency TransUnion had allowed the fraudster who stole his mother’s identity to lift the credit freeze on her account over the phone, even though she’d taken the precaution of setting up a unique PIN to protect the account.
“What is the point of issuing a PIN if you’re not going to require it for a lift of credit freeze? Especially on an account with an existing fraud alert?” Chuck asked Consumerist.
In the case of TransUnion, a locked-out customer can get around the PIN requirement by answering a slew of personal questions. A rep for TransUnion told Consumerist at the time that “it’s possible that someone else could fraudulently complete this process if they already had significant personal financial information about a consumer.”
Unfortunately, for Chuck’s mother, she was one of those rare cases, where the fraudster did have a wealth of information about her and was able to lift the freeze, thereby gaining access to her accounts again.
A rep for TransUnion noted that the authentication process is “constantly evolving and the questions are created in a way that would make it difficult for a fraudster to answer.”
The TransUnion spokesperson said that the company does have another layer of security built-in when customers can’t remember their PIN: After unfreezing an account and providing a new PIN, TransUnion sends a written confirmation to the user by mail.
Because of this written confirmation, the company would expect to hear back from a consumer if a PIN change was not initiated by him or her.
However, not everyone is obsessed with checking their email, and many people have multiple accounts that they check at varying intervals, so it could be hours or even days before an affected account-holder is aware someone unfroze their account.
It’s unclear if Experian has such a system in place. We’ve reached out to the company for more information on the possible security issue. We’ll update this post when we hear back.
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist
Brad Anderson's Lunch Break / s7 e1 / Jeff Teper, CVP, Office
Brad kicks off Season 7 with his old friend, and “the father of SharePoint,†Jeff Teper (CVP, Office). Brad and Jeff discuss the fascinating origin story of SharePoint (including what they almost named it instead), and Jeff takes a quiz to determine how good he is at sharing. To learn more about how top CIO’s stay secure + productive, check out this new report: http://ift.tt/2fPxP2z Next week, Jeff and Brad wrap up their conversation by talking about what Minecraft and malware have in common. Subscribe and watch past episodes here: www aka.ms/LunchBreak
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Is the Apple TV 4K for you? (The 3:59, Ep. 288)
Our own TV guru David Katzmaier breaks down all the details of Apple's latest set-top box. Apple TV 4k: http://cnet.co/2ye4W9U Good morning from CNET NY Studios while we record the daily news-bite podcast: The 3:59. Hangout while we cover a multitude of stories from around the tech world and then David Katzmaier, Carrie Milhalcik and Roger Cheng will take your questions and comments in the chat. Watch more episodes of 3:59 on Youtube: http://bit.ly/29LVP7F Livestream: http://ift.tt/2jPXbF8... Periscope: http://ift.tt/2qU1nTf Subscribe to the audio podcast: iTunes: http://apple.co/29T3fbf Google Play: http://bit.ly/2hkXp5P Feedburner: http://bit.ly/2tVTkqw Soundcloud: http://bit.ly/2hlanQK TuneIn: http://bit.ly/2uVg9vN Stitcher: http://bit.ly/2vfeHXE Cnet: http://bit.ly/2veEfEw Subscribe to CNET: http://bit.ly/17qqqCs Watch more CNET videos: http://bit.ly/1BQxrGw Follow CNET on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CNET Follow CNET on Facebook: http://ift.tt/UQQ9wc Follow CNET on Instagram: http://ift.tt/1YieDuO Subscribe to CNET: http://bit.ly/17qqqCs Watch more CNET videos: http://ift.tt/1Lg5Xzr Follow CNET on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CNET Follow CNET on Facebook: http://ift.tt/UQQ9wc Follow CNET on Instagram: http://ift.tt/1YieDuO Follow CNET on Snapchat: CNETsnap
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So, The Equifax Hack Actually Started Back In March
Two weeks ago, credit agency Equifax announced an unprecedented breach of consumer personal data where records for 143 million customers in the United States alone were stolen. Equifax told the world that it discovered the breach in July, and it began in May. Turns out that the second half of that statement isn’t quite true.
Memo leak
The Wall Street Journal obtained a confidential memo to Equifax from the company investigating the breach, FireEye’s Mandiant group, which details when the hackers gained access to Equifax’s systems.
Intruders used the Apache Struts vulnerability, which was discovered in March 2017, to gain access to the Equifax system in March, not in May as previously stated.
While the theft of data took place sometime between May and when Equifax learned about the breach in July, the baddies were moving about in Equifax’s systems undetected, even creating backdoors on secret web pages so they could log in from anywhere even after the breached IDs were discovered and stopped working.
The March access may have been information-gathering missions to find out which areas of the system are vulnerable to attacks, and could have been an effort on the part of the hackers to to cast a wide net and find websites that hadn’t yet been patched after the vulnerability was discovered.
After gaining access to Equifax’s web interface, the hackers went after the sensitive data like Social Security numbers, birth dates, and driver’s license numbers,
Equifax left that back door open for four months even after a patch became available. It normally takes around 100 days for companies to go public about a breach, and Equifax took 140 days.
What the experts still don’t know
The person or group behind the attack still hasn’t been identified, but we do now know that their methods and tools don’t match up with any other group known to be hacking sites for personal gain now. It’s also not clear what the hackers plan to do with the data.
To find out whether you were affected, visit the official Equifax site at http://ift.tt/2xdYnYt. Just be careful not to fall for one of the hundreds of fakes out there.
by Laura Northrup via Consumerist
UPDATE: Company Apologizes To Customer Who Found Employee ID Badge In Her Jerky
Earlier, we brought you the tale of a Consumerist reader who was stymied by the presence of what appeared to be an employee ID badge in a bag of beef jerky she’d purchased. After our story ran, the company reached out to our reader with apologies for her “very negative experience” and something of an explanation about what happened.
Kim tells Consumerist that she received an email from an Oberto executive who apologized not only for the “unacceptable product quality” she’d received, “but also for our lack of response despite your attempt to contact us directly.”
“This is not at all acceptable and we are relooking at our processes in both manufacturing and how we address these issues with Oberto consumers,” the executive wrote, adding that he has brought the issue to the company’s head of operations as well as the CEO.
“Further steps are being put in place that ensures this won’t happen again,” he wrote.
Despite the lack of communication, he says her issue was forwarded to the appropriate people and the incident was investigated.
The team found that the badge did, in fact, belong to an Oberto employee, “and that employee was not following proper badge protocol at the time of the incident.”
The executive says he learned that the worker has since left the company, but did not elaborate.
“As I stated above, we take this incident as well as the lack of communication with great gravity,” he wrote.
In closing, he offered Kim a $50 gift card and an assortment of jerky, as well as a return shipping label for the original product.
“Thanks again for your original purchase, and hopefully you will give our beef jerky another chance,” he wrote.
Kim tells Consumerist that she thinks the gift card is “fair recompense,” and says she’s grateful they finally responded.
by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist
Death Wish Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Recalled Over Botulism Risk
There’s strong coffee, and then there’s really strong coffee. If you were planning to drink a can the world’s purported strongest coffee, you might want to think again: Death Wish Coffee has issued the recall of certain cans of its nitro cold brew after discovering they could contain a deadly toxin.
Death Wish Coffee announced this week that it would recall its 11-ounce cans of Death Wish Nitro Cold Brew Coffee after discovering that the production process could lead to botulism, which can be fatal in serious cases
According to a notice posted with the Food & Drug Administration, Death Wish, along with an outside processing company, found that the current process of bottling the cans could lead to the growth and production of botulin, a deadly toxin.
Botulin can lead to botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, that can cause general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing.
Death Wish says that after learning of the potential issue, it has halted production of its Nitro Cold Brew until it can revise its manufacturing processes.
“Our customers’ safety is of paramount importance and Death Wish Coffee is taking this significant, proactive step to ensure that the highest quality, safest, and of course, strongest Coffee products we produce are of industry-exceeding standards,” Mike Brown, founder and owner of Death Wish Coffee Co., said in a statement.
Cans of Death Wish Nitro have been removed from the company’s online store, and pulled from shelves at retailers, such as Price Chopper and Market 32, Healthy Living Market & Café, and independent retailers.
So far, Death Wish says it is unaware of an illness related to the issue.
Customers who have purchased the Nitro Cold Brew should not consume it and either dispose of it or return the product to the location with proof of purchase for a full refund.
Customers with questions or concerns should contact Death Wish at recall@deathwishCoffee.com or call toll free 1-844-303-2290.
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist
Apple Admits Its Brand-New Watch Has Trouble Connecting To Cell Service
While Apple has been busy bragging about the fact that its new Series 3 smart watch has integrated cellular communication capabilities — meaning you don’t need to connect it with your phone anymore — just before it starts shipping those devices, the company is admitting that they’re having LTE connectivity problems.
The Verge’s Lauren Goode reports that she experienced unreliable cell service while writing her review of the Apple Watch Series 3: When she was out and about without her phone, the watch seemed to be struggling to connect to unknown WiFi networks instead of cellular service.
Apple replaced her review unit, and yet, the problem persisted.
She’s not alone: Other reviewers reported similar problems, including Joanna Stern at The Wall Street Journal. She writes that she and her colleague “experienced cellular connectivity issues on three separate pre-production models, in two different states, on two different 4G LTE carriers.”
At the time, Apple told her they hadn’t seen those issues in testing, and that the company was “looking into it.”
After that review and others were published, Apple eventually admitted that there’s an issue, giving both The Verge and WSJ the same statement.
“We have discovered that when Apple Watch Series 3 joins unauthenticated Wi-Fi networks without connectivity, it may at times prevent the watch from using cellular,” Apple said. “We are investigating a fix for a future software release.”
It’s unclear at this point when that software release will happen.
by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist
AMD Ryzenâ„¢ PRO Launch Event Highlights
AMD proudly launched their AMD Ryzen™ PRO processors August 29th 2017 in New York City. The attendance was outstanding, including several top customers and executives, press, analysts and key worldwide partners. This is the first-time AMD has ever done a launch of a new commercial processor with all three tier one commercial PC OEMs on stage together. Dell, HP, and Lenovo were all on stage during the Ryzen Pro launch to show off their own Ryzen PRO processor-based systems and how they differentiate from one another as well as how they harness the power of Ryzen PRO. In addition, several top customers joined on stage for an outstanding panel discussion and shared insights regarding their experience with AMD’s Ryzen PRO processors. The key factors that AMD believes are crucial to their commercial customers and accentuated with Ryzen PRO are performance, security, and reliability, all things elevated by Ryzen PRO. See how AMD Ryzen™ PRO makes a difference. *** Subscribe: http://bit.ly/Subscribe_to_AMD Like us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/AMD_on_Facebook Follow us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/AMD_On_Twitter Follow us on Twitch: http://Twitch.tv/AMD Follow us on G+: http://bit.ly/AMD_on_GooglePlus Follow us on Linkedin: http://bit.ly/AMD_on_Linkedin Follow us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/AMD_on_Instagram ©2017 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. AMD, the AMD Arrow Logo, and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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Nest shows off home security tech, Amazon may be working on smart glasses
The most important stories in tech include Nest introducing a series of new products that aim to make home security simple. Meanwhile, Amazon is rumored to be working on a new device that will let you interact with Alexa whenever you want. Subscribe to CNET: http://cnet.co/2heRhep Check out our playlists: http://cnet.co/2g8kcf4 Like us on Facebook: http://ift.tt/1930vfU Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/cnet Follow us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/2icCYYm Add us on Snapchat: http://cnet.co/2h4uoK3
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Albertsons Buys Plated, Plans To Bring Meal Kits To Grocery Stores
Just when you thought the popularity surrounding meal kits was cooling down, grocery stores have jumped into the ring, creating their own version of the convenient pre-selected, pre-proportioned boxes of ingredients. But Albertsons Co. — operator of supermarkets like Safeway and Jewel-Osco — is taking a different road: It’s simply buying an existing meal kit service, Plated.
Idaho-based Albertsons announced Wednesday that it would acquire meal kit service Plated in an attempt to “reinvent the way customers discover, purchase, and experience food.”
Under the deal, for which financial terms were not released, Albertsons will begin offering Plated meal kits in “many” of its 2,300 stores — operating under the Albertsons, Safeway, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, and other names — across the country.
Plated will be able to leverage its new position to acquire fresh ingredients to create new offerings, while also reaching more than 35 million customers each week, Albertsons says in a statement.
“We are excited to offer our customers more online options and fresh, quality ingredients along with distinctive recipes at their doorstep or through traditional shopping trips,” Bob Miller, chair and CEO of Albertsons Companies, said in a statement.
READ MORE: So Many “Meal Box” Options, But Are They Any Different From Each Other?
Plated is one of a handful of subscription meal kits that send fresh, pre-proportioned ingredients to customers’ homes. The service, which launched in 2012, offers customers a variety of pre-selected dinners to choose from each week, as well as deserts.
The meal kit company will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Albertsons.
Expanding The Brand
Albertsons’ foray into the meal kit business comes after several other grocery chains have experimented with offering their own kits or have teamed up with existing services to offer meals in stores.
For instance, Whole Foods has created displays that feature a recipe and all the raw ingredients needed to make the meal. The new meal kit-like option is currently being tested at select stores.
Speaking of Whole Foods, the chain’s new owner, Amazon, has started to dip its toes in the meal kit pond with Amazon Meal Kits. While the service isn’t yet available nationally, AmazonFresh customers in Seattle can buy the kits as part of an AmazonFresh membership.
Kroger, on the other hand, offers customers the option of picking up an actual meal kit, complete with pre-measured ingredients.
The kits, which cost between $7 and $18 depending on the number of servings, are currently only available in select Cincinnati stores.
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist
Introducing Cisco Intersight - Be anywhere. Act Everywhere.
Cisco Intersight is a new cloud-based systems management platform that will transform IT operations. It is the cloud-powered intelligence for Cisco UCS and HyperFlex. Experience more: http://cs.co/600482Tos
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Using HyperFrame Director Mode
Learn how to use the new HyperFrame Director Mode in VIRB Edit when working with footage from your VIRB 360 camera.
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Garmin VIRB 360: HyperFrame Director Mode offers more creative control.
Unleash the possibilities when you use VIRB Edit to reframe content after filming using smooth camera pans, extra wide angles, and tiny planets. Learn more at Garmin.com/virbedit
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International Day of Peace
Nothing looks as good as peace feels. #PeaceDay #BetterTogether
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Teddy Ruxpin's strange, Disney-infused origin story
The iconic teddy bear has ties to Disney, Atari and even Chuck E. Cheese. The team behind the bear tells the story behind the beloved toy. Subscribe to CNET: http://cnet.co/2heRhep Check out our playlists: http://cnet.co/2g8kcf4 Like us on Facebook: http://ift.tt/1930vfU Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/cnet Follow us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/2icCYYm Add us on Snapchat: http://cnet.co/2h4uoK3
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Lots of little touches elevate LG's Quad Wash dishwasher
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It’s Not Just You: Writing A Check Can Be Tricky
Between credit cards, online payment services, and good ol’ cash, many consumers have sequestered their checkbooks into cupboards and drawers that seldom see the light of day. Still, not everyone has left their checkbooks to waste away; many consumers use the notebooks from time to time, whether it be paying a bill, rent, or other expenses where plastic or cash aren’t options.
Writing a check — even infrequently — is a pretty straightforward endeavor: Put someone’s name down, add a date, write an amount both numerically and spelled out, and sign on the bottom line. But even the most seasoned check writer — are there any out there still? — might run into a few problems, some of which could cost them.
First, The Basics
Unsurprisingly, in order to learn how to and then actually write a check you must first open a checking account.
Opening an account is a fairly straight-forward endeavor. Perhaps start by getting a recommendation from friends or family members who already have such accounts.
While looking at different banks, make sure to examine the fees they charge, services they offer, and any minimum requirements for accounts, such as a monthly deposit or minimum monthly balance, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau suggests.
For more tips on what to consider when opening a checking account, the CFPB provides an easy to follow checklist.
Once you open your checking account, you’ll get a debit card, but also checks.
Whether or not you use these checks, that’s your choice. In fact, it’s a choice that many consumers are passing on.
Declining Check Use
According to the Federal Reserve’s 2016 Payment Study [PDF], the number of checks and their value have fallen significantly in just three years.
For instance, the 17.3 billion checks written in 2012 were valued at $26.83 trillion. In 2015, consumers wrote just 2.5 billion checks worth about $380 billion.
The change, the study notes, is related to the transformation of non-cash payment systems; as Americans once relied on checks, they now rely on credit cards.
The annual number of check payments is estimated to have declined by 800 million per year since 2012. That’s a smaller decline than the previous decade, when check payments declined by about 1.9 billion per year.
With fewer Americans using checks as their most common mode of payment, it might not come as a surprise that many consumers don’t know how to write the darn things.
A 2013 survey from WePay, a payment solution company, found that 52% of millennials have never used a check. Likewise, a study from Bank of America suggests that likely won’t be changing, as 71% of Americans believe that children under the age of 10 won’t know how to write a check in the future.
How To Write A Check
In order to properly write a check, you first need to know what each part of the check means and how it should be filled out.
1. The Date: Near the top right hand corner of a check is the date line. Here is where you will write the current date.
In the event you want the check to be cashed at a later time, you can write a future date on the line — this is a practice known as post-dating. However, this post-dating doesn’t always work, we’ll get into this later.
2. Payee: The top middle potion of the check includes the “Pay to the order of” line. Here is where you would write the name of the person or company you are paying.
3. Courtesy Box: On the right, middle portion of the check you’ll find a number sign followed by a small box. This is where you write the amount of the check numerically. Make sure you fill the entire box with your amount, lest a fraudster add to the amount.
4. Pay Line/Legal Line: The middle line of the check is known as the pay line, the place where you write the amount of the check using words. This serves as the official amount of your check, as we’ll learn later.
5. Memo Line: In the left bottom corner of the check, you’ll find the optional memo line, where you can add details about the payment. For instance, if you’re writing a check for rent, you could add “Rent For May.”
6. Signature: The right bottom corner of the check serves as the signature area. Here you would sign your name. Without doing so, the check is invalid and can not be cashed.
Simple enough, right? Maybe, but with more and more consumers ditching checks, or never learning how to write them in the first place, they might not be aware of some of the nuances that come with making out the form of payment.
The Check Date Doesn’t Mean Much
Because they might not always have enough money in their accounts on the day they write those checks, some folks will postdate their checks so that they aren’t deposited or cashed until after a certain date.
Unfortunately, the fact is that there’s generally no actual obligation to honor the date on a check.
Although it might not seem right for a bank or credit union to disregard the date written on a check, they aren’t legally required to honor the request to postpone processing a transaction unless certain conditions are met by the check issuer.
That’s because once a check is signed it becomes legal tender, and, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, banks and credit unions can generally use their own discretion when deciding when to process a check – all without regard to the check’s printed date.
The only way to possibly prevent a postdated check from being processed early is to let everyone involved know in advance — and in a format that goes beyond just postdating the check.
Of course, even this preventative measure isn’t foolproof, as rules governing banks vary from state to state depending on the two types of notification given, the CFPB says.
In some states, if a consumer gives the financial institution reasonably timed written notice about a postdated check before the check is received, then the notice is valid for up to six months.
That means the bank must wait to cash the payment until the date stated on the paper or until six months is up, whichever comes first.
But if the consumer gives oral notice to the bank, the institution must only wait 14 days before processing the note – even if that happens to be before the date on the check.
Additionally, the only time a bank can be held liable for processing a postdated check before the indicated date is if that notice is still valid. In which case, the CFPB says the institution may be on the hook to cover damages such as the cost of overdrafts and other fees.
Further complicating matters is the fact that many retailers and service providers now use remote deposit capture, Adam Rust, director for Reinvestment Partners, tells Consumerist.
“If you have ever noticed how a cashier runs a check through the register, you should realize that the terminal is making a photograph of the check and send it to the retailer’s bank,” he notes. “The money could be debited from your account by the end of the day.”
Consumers should be careful to know their balance before they post-date a check, as doing so may not protect them for an overdraft fee, Rust says.
Words > Numbers
When filling out a check, you include the value in not one, but two places. In a box on the left side of the check you write the value numerically, then on the second line in the middle of the form you write out the cost in words.
Simple enough, right? While it might seem that way, there is one hiccup you could encounter. If the numbers you write and the words you fill in don’t match, what happens?
According to the CFPB, the check is still valid, and the written words are considered to be the correct amount.
But why? Under the Uniform Commercial Code, a set of rules for business transactions, if there are “contradictory terms, typewritten terms prevail over printed, handwritten terms prevail over both, and words prevail over numbers.”
The Balance points out that the actual names for these parts of a check echo this reasoning. For instance, the box you write digits in described as the “courtesy box,” but the pay line is called the “legal line.”
Watch Out For Fraudsters Changing Check Amounts
As we just found out, words trump numbers, but what if someone trumps both by changing the value of a check all together?
Sure, this might not be an easy feat, but it is possible: A ne’er-do-well could turn a $20 check into a $120 check by cramming an extra “1” before your value and writing “one hundred” before the “twenty” on the written line.
This action is considered check forgery, a felony in all 50 states that is punishable by a range of penalties.
For instance, under Washington state law, this practice would be considered an alteration of a written instrument:
“To ‘falsely alter’ a written instrument means to change, without authorization by anyone entitled to grant it, a written instrument, whether complete or incomplete, by means of erasure, obliteration, deletion, insertion of new matter, transposition of matter, or in any other manner.”
If this were to occur, the CFBP urges customers to contact their bank or credit union immediately.
If your bank or credit union cashed the check, individuals may be able to have the difference restored to your account. However, they would still be responsible for the original amount of the check.
The CFPB notes that if the check was processed as an electric transfer, customers may have additional protections under federal law.
There Are Two Names On My Check; What Now?
From time to time you might receive a check addressed not only to you, but to someone else, as well.
Perhaps you just got married and your grandma — the one who still writes checks — gifted you with a little something. But to ensure you knew the gift was for both of you, she included your name and your husband’s.
According to the CFPB, there’s nothing wrong with this. In fact, it’s totally fine, the only thing you need to know is whether or not you both need to endorse the check.
To determine this, the CFPB notes that individuals must first read the check.
For instance, if the check says John AND Jane Doe, then both individuals must sign the check. If the check is made out to John OR Jane Doe, then either person can cash or deposit the check.
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist
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