Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass has issued an executive order that expedites or negates permit requirements, expands ADU usage and provides for the cataloguing of damage to historical buildings as unprecedented wildfires continue to destroy lives and property.Named Return and Rebuild, the executive order seeks to clear away bureaucratic red tape in order to aid residents who have lost homes or businesses in the wildfires, which have destroyed more than 12,000 structures and caused the deaths of at least 24 people.The order was issued to provide a "streamlined path for the rebuilding of the City of Los Angeles' fire-devastated communities".It deals mostly with the expedition or waiving of permit requirements for rebuilding for those affected by the Palisades, Hurst, Kenneth, Archer, and Sunset Fires, fires that took place fully or partially within the city limitsThe order covers three main categories: clean up, rebuilding, and government assistance programs. It adds details to a state-wide executive order issued by governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday, which "suspended" aspects of California permitting such as the California Coastal Act and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for affected residents.Cleaning and rebuildingFor cleaning up efforts, the Return and Rebuild order establishes a "debris manager" role within the city government office and a Watershed Hazards Task Force to protect infrastructure against flash floods and mudslides.The rebuilding section of the executive order is extensive and provides details on the waiving of environmental reviews first announced by Newsom.Read: "The scale of the damage is unfathomable" say Los Angeles architectsIt also expedites all necessary reviews, including a 30-day limit on any building permit reviews for structures affected by the fires.It substantially decreases limitations of demolition, and waives permit requests for the demolition of affected structures, as long as someone "notifies" the Department of Building and Safety and properly disposes of waste.The order also states that a status report of all historic properties within the affected zones will be released within 10 days of "safe access" to the areas.Tiny homes and temporary occupancyThe order also allows for the unpermitted use of "recreational vehicles, tiny homes, modular structures and mobile homes" on affected properties for three years, or as long as building permits are in effect.It also proposes an "interdepartmental task force" to allow for multi-family projects to obtain Temporary Certificates of Occupancy (TCOs) that would allow occupation of buildings before they are complete in order to "create more available units in the market".The latter is specifically important for many evacuees as reports of spiking rents in the area are being released, despite emergency bans on price gouging in Newsom's executive order.Read: Richard Neutra house among iconic homes lost during LA firesThough the order points to a return home for some, the fires in the city and county are still active, with strong winds and continued droughts worsening conditions in some places with an "unprecedented" extreme fire alert being declared in some areas.In light of the foreseen need to rebuild, a number of organisations and working groups have formed to provide engineering, architecture and legal resources to the community, and are calling for volunteers.The AIA is currently offering a course on how to apply for FEMA relief, while the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority has released a long list of resources that support those affected by the fire.Past executive directivesreleased from Bass' office have revolved around temporary structures relating to the housing and homelessness crisis in the city.The photography is by Kelvin ChengThe post Los Angeles mayor issues executive order for "residents to rapidly rebuild" appeared first on Dezeen.

At first blush this might seem silly, but I say the thinking behind it is good. Inventor Charles Harris reckoned that a spatula would be more useful if the angle between blade and handle could be adjusted. To realize the design, he bent the handle so that it comes into the blade's heel from the side. It friction-fits via a finned extrusion, which corresponds with fins within the blade heel, allowing for adjustability of angle. I'd have guessed silicone, but Harris says the blades are made of more expensive PPSU, a heat-resistant plastic used in medical sterilization trays (it can withstand repeated autoclaving). It's nontoxic, FDA-compliant and also used in baby bottles. My worry with this object would be longevity; might not those plastic fins become stripped over time? If so it would render the tool useless. That said, Harris states that he will sell replacement blades (and presumably handles).As per usual, Kickstarter backers have no such fears about long-term use. The $25 Adaptchula and a sister product, the $35 Nottadrip Utensil Rest (see vid below) have been successfully crowdfunded with $193K in pledges and four days left to pledge.

Remember when Interstellar gave us a first look of what a black hole could look like, base SOLELY off of Nolans research? And then NASA released a black hole photo years later and it looked very similar to the one in the movie? Thats how impressive Interstellar is, not just on a cinematic level, but on executing with knowledge and perfection. The movie (although youve probably seen it) ends with Matthew McConaughey falling into a black hole, only to realize hes entered a new dimension where time is represented as space. Its a mind-boggling scene, and this LEGO set captures its beauty perfectly.At first glance, this models dramatic flair springs from its tesseract-inspired core, which is tilted at a distinctive angle. Constructing it demanded more than simply stacking bricks; it required careful attention to geometry, balance, and aesthetics to capture that surreal feeling of being inside a black hole. Every twist and turn in the design showcases subtle intricacies, creating a mesmerizing structure that mirrors the films daring scientific concepts.Designer: KoalaBrickWithin that angled base, there are two dioramas: Millers planet and Manns planet, each boasting unique terrain elements for an authentic cosmic feel. Front and center sits Murphs room, where Cooper leaves messages for his daughter from beyond by manipulating dust falling on the ground. The inclusion of Gargantua, the all-consuming black hole, and the Endurance ship helps elevate the display, tying all these iconic scenes together in one cohesive, movie-inspired tribute to deep space exploration.The build comes from the mind of KoalaBrick, who created this 4,650-piece masterpiece as a submission for LEGOs Ideas forum. The structural framework was meticulously planned to ensure stability despite the sets unusual angles, so casual builders and seasoned fans alike can trust in its sturdiness. Attention to weight distribution, hidden supports, and interlocking connections ensures a smooth building process, while still letting advanced users delve deeper into sophisticated techniques.What draws me is how each detail echoes the films themes of exploration, sacrifice, and that hope. The tesseract structure frames these moments like a curated gallery, encouraging reflection as you peer at each segment. The multiple corners of the tesseract have something to capture your gaze. Cooper floats in between, with Brand, Mann, CASE, and TARS on the left and right. The Endurance spaceship can be found on the top, while a paranormal scene from the movie where books fall off the bookshelf can be found below. At the center lies the movies biggest prop the black hole into which Cooper disappears towards the end of the movie.The LEGO set manages to distill the vastness of the story into a single, model. Key points in the movie get conveyed brilliantly into this compact yet highly detailed build. To be honest, 4,650 bricks may sound daunting, but it feels less so when you realize that a lot of those bricks are just the striated timelines that make up the tesseract. Cooper can basically travel through time simply by moving forward or backward.Dr. Brand with CASEDr. Mann with TARSAlongside its visual flair, this build thrives on user engagement. People can move the minifigures around or imagine their own dialogues between TARS and Cooper. That interactive aspect matters, because it encourages hands-on play that goes beyond pure display. The heft, the details, and the broad scope combine into something that might spark a conversation about imagination and design.The Interstellar build is a submission on the LEGO Ideas website, an online forum where LEGO fans and enthusiasts get together to share their creations and vote for their favorites. This particular build has just over 1,500 votes as of writing this article, but its sure to pick up soon, given that LEGOs staff gave it a Staff Pick badge too. Plus, KoalaBrick (the creator behind this kit) is a LEGO veteran with multiple builds under their belt including even the iconic E.T. LEGO Ideas set from last year! If you want to vote for the Interstellar MOC (My Own Creation), head down to the LEGO Ideas website now!The post Interstellars Most Mind-Bending Tesseract Scene Gets Recreated Using 4,650 LEGO Bricks first appeared on Yanko Design.

Honors new ultra-tough smartphone really lives up to its rep.

The space agencys Spinoff project displays the countless everyday technologies that were spurred by space-related research.

MacworldJust like iPhones and iPads, Apples chargers and cables also have tiny computers inside that need occasional updates. Today its the MagSafe Chargers turnfor the first time since May 2023.Apple has issued an update for the 25W MagSafe Charger to bring the accessory to a new firmware version from the previous version (128.0). This is the fifth firmware update the accessory has received but the first for the newest 25W model. There doesnt appear to be a separate update for the older charger.Apple released the original MagSafe Charger, topped out at 15W and had a 1-meter cable, in 2020 alongside the iPhone 12. This updated model with 25W charging and a 2-meter cable arrived in September 2024 with the iPhone 16.Theres no way to directly update the MagSafe Charger. When it is attached to your iPhone, the firmware will be updated at some point, usually overnight. To check the firmware of your charger, attach it to your iPhone, then head to the Settings app, then General > About and tap the Apple MagSafe Charger tab near the bottom of the page. If the firmware version is later than 128.0, you are on the newest version.

Enterprise computers are often the ugly ducklings of the PC world, viewed as dull, slow and less feature-rich than their consumer counterparts. But vendors at last weeks Consumer Electronics Show launched a selection of business machines (alongside their consumer offerings) hoping to capitalize on the rise of generative AI (genAI).Despite the focus on AI PCs or Copilot+ PCs, analysts said the vendors might be a bit ahead of the market.I liken it to the dot.com era, said Tom Butler, executive director of portfolio and product management for Lenovos worldwide commercial notebook business. When the dot.com era kicked off, companies immediately said, I need a dot.com instance. So, its very much like that right now. Companies, as we move into this AI PC era, [say] I need an AI PC.Heres a look at some of the noteworthy business PCs announced at CES 2025 and analysis of whether vendors are hitting the mark for enterprise customers.AsusIn addition to its Zenbook and Republic of Gamers (ROG) offerings, Asus unveiled the enterprise-focused ExpertBook B5, ExpertBook B3, ExpertCenter P400 AiO, and ExpertCenter P500. Although theyre notCopilot+ PCs(their neural processing unit (NPU) isnt powerful enough), they qualify asAI PCs; both B5 and B3 laptops include Intel vPro for manageability and have passed the MIL-STD 810H durability tests. Neither is super light, tipping the scales at about 3 pounds.The B5 supports up to 64GB of RAM and up to a 2TB SSD with RAID support, has an all-metal design, 16-in. screen, and security features including a fingerprint reader, facial recognition, and a smart card reader.The B3 has either a 14-in. or 16-in. display, supports up to 64GB of RAM and up to 1TB storage in dual SSDs. And it offers a variety of ports USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, and even an Ethernet port. (The B5 lacks Ethernet, unless you have a USB dongle.)On the desktop side, the ExpertCenter AiO (all-in-one) comes in two models, one with a 27-in. display, the other with a 24-in. screen. The P500 is a mini tower supporting up to 64GB of RAM and up to 4TB storage on one SSD and one hard drive.DellWhileDells rebranding plans, announced at CES, might be a bit perplexing, the company did introduce several new Dell Pro models designed for professional-grade productivity. They come in several flavors: Base, Plus, and Premium, and all qualify as Copilot+ PCs, based on their specs.At the Base level, there are the Dell Pro 14 and Dell Pro 16, designed to deliver essential performance for everyday productivity, Dell said. They feature Intel Core Ultra 5 processors, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and screen resolution of 19201200 pixels.The company also announced Dell Pro desktops, powered by either Intel or AMD processors, available in micro, slim, and tower form factors. They are, Dell said, the companys first commercial desktops with NPUs.One step up are the Dell Pro 13/14/16 Plus, with up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. They come in laptop or 2-in-1 form factors and use the same system BIOS to make ordering and management easier for IT departments. Dell claims up to 18.2 hours of battery life for the Pro 14 Plus, and 12.6 hours for the Pro 16 Plus.At the top of the heap are the Dell Pro 13/14 Premium models. Theyre the slimmest and lightest member sof the Pro portfolio, starting at 2.36 pounds. The Dell Pro 13 Premium offers up to 20.8 hours of battery life; the Pro 14 Premium provides up to 21.2 hours. Each can be ordered with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, up to 32GB RAM and up to 1TB of storage.HPHPs EliteBook line expanded with the companys announcement of a trio of Copilot+ PCs. The HP EliteBook Ultra G1i Next Gen AI PC is, HP said, designed for executives, with its 14-in. UWVA OLED screen on the Intel-powered model. (The Qualcomm model offers WLED screen technology.) They can have up to 32GB of RAM and up to 2TB of storage for the Intel version, or 1TB of storage for the Qualcomm version. HP touted studio quality microphones and a 9-megapixel camera for high quality video calls.The HP EliteBook X Flip G1i Next Gen AI PC has multiple use modes, including laptop, tablet, and tent configurations, with up to 32GB of RAM and up to 2TB of storage. Like the Ultra G1i, it has a 14-in. screen, although touch comes standard (its an option on the G1i) and its a WLED display, not OLED.The HP EliteBook X G1i Next Gen AI PC is powered by either Intel or AMD chips. The Intel model can hold up to 32GB of RAM; the AMD version offers up to 64GB. Both models can have up to 2TB of storage.The EliteBook X machines will be available in March, with HP saying only that the Ultra G1i is coming soon.LenovoLenovo launched an impressive array of devices, and the two models specifically aimed at businesses both contained surprises.The ThinkPad X9 14- and 15-in. Aura Editions are sleek, thin and light notebooks tested to meetMIL-SPEC 810H standards. Lenovo claims all-day battery life,and says the machines are designed to allow easy servicing of the battery and SSD. They offer up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.One thing, however, is missing: the X9 is the first ThinkPad to forego the trackstick. Lenovo hastened to note that its just for this model other ThinkPads will continue to have the trademark red nub in the middle of their keyboards.Two years ago, Lenovo showcased a laptop concept with a rollable screen; this year, that concept became a reality. The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollables 14-in screen expands upwards at the touch of a button, growing to 16.7 inches and providing 50% more screen space. As with the other new models, it offers up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.It is not a budget-friendly device, though; prices start at $3,500.AI a gimmick?As for whether these systems meet enterprise needs, analysts weighed in on what theyre seeing in the current PC market and they were somewhat dismissive of the AI hype.Current AI features are over-hyped and largely invisible or are seen as thats nice to have tobusiness unless the users are proactive in finding more detailed features, saidRanjit Atwal, senior director analyst at Gartner. All in all, businesses are unlikely to pay more than 5% above normal prices for an AI PC.I think the AI laptops are a gimmick for the most part, efforts by the OEMs to stay relevant and bottle lightning if they can, said Jeremy Roberts, senior research director at Info-Tech Research Group. I have yet to have any of my enterprise or mid-market clients profess to be excited or tell me theyre changing their refresh cycle or anything to incorporate AI features at the PC level.IDCsRyan Reith, group vice president, Worldwide Device Trackers, said he saw some interest in AI PCs early in 2024, but noted it has since waned.What we gathered throughout most of last year, especiallyaround the middle of the year, is that large enterprises and most developed markets around the world were allocating budget for these genAI PCs, Reith said. That enthusiasm declined in the second part of 2024 amid concerns that Microsoft and its partners had not delivered on expectations.Whats important to enterprisesAccording to Roberts, genAI features have not excited the enterprises he deals with. Things that excite enterprises are Autopilot compatibility for seamless deployment, TPM chips for encryption, specialized screens to limit viewing angles, decently powerful CPUs/GPUs depending on the use case, and repairability, he said.I dont think AI features even make the top 10, Roberts said. Most organizations wont be consuming AI features locally anyway theyll use cloud services like CoPilot or Gemini.Reith cited feedback from the head of commercial sales for a large OEM who said with tightened budgets and uncertainly about what can be achieved with genAI PCs, companies are shifting their spending to mid-range computers. They dont qualify as Copilot+ devices, but are still very good PCs.If you get 200 PCs at a mainstream level, as opposed to 50 at a premium level, theyre going more towards the 200, he said.Roberts agreed: Modern laptops are generally more than capable of handling the typical knowledge workers day-to-day. A Dell Latitude 5000 or 7000 (Dell Pro now?) series or a run-of-the-mill ThinkPad from Lenovo wont struggle with Slack, Teams, or PowerPoint.As for what corporate users want, size and weight are often key, Reith said and companies are now listening to their employees rather than choosing what they think they want.The thin and light PCs are the trend, Atwal said, adding, businesses essentially want to future proof their PCs with AI capabilities so [want to] have them include an NPU.Lenovos Butler said the configuration sweet spot has shifted; its now 32GB of memory and a minimum 512GB of storage. And screen sizes have edged up.Most business laptops are in the 14- to 16-in. range, said Roberts. Anything smaller is quite cramped. Anything larger can be cumbersome to lug around not to mention more expensive.Whither AI PCs, then?Reith and Roberts differ on the fate of the AI PC/Copilot+ PC.AI PCs are a solution looking for a problem, Roberts argued. Most end user computing managers wont be swayed by this branding and additional feature set. AI will continue to be delivered primarily via the cloud. I expect the CoPilot+ PC will go the way of the Ultrabook: branding attached to computers that are only marginally relevant to the people who buy and use them.Reith, however, believes its more an issue of timing. Theres a necessity to have on-device AI, he said. Its just getting pushed forward a little bit to when that inflection point really starts to kick in.Im trying to use my words cautiously, because we do not believe that this is dead in the water. It was a good chance that then passed. Its just that the timing was really bad, which no one could have predicted. But nobodys really backing off of the developments. Supply side is now just shifting some of their business plans around products.Whatever we thought was going to be the genAI PC volume in 2025, itll be slightly less than that, in our opinion, Reith said. But a lot of that will just get pushed forward to a ramp up thats maybe more towards the end of this year, and certainly into 2026.

The Apple Watch Series 10 has been on my wrist for three months now and it's clear that it's the best smartwatch Apple ever made. But that doesn't mean there aren't things that a future Series 11 could do better.The Apple Watch Series 10 looks great, if a little familiar.At this point, so early in the review, you're probably ready to scream "Apple Watch Ultra 2" at your screen. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten it, but the Apple Watch Ultra models are different and I'd argue the Series 10 is the better watch.For most Apple Watch buyers, the Ultras are just too big, too bulky, and too expensive. They come with features they don't need like cellular connectivity and a huge, rugged design that's built to deal with the great outdoors in ways the standard models aren't. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Construction input prices decreased by 0.2% for the month of December, according to a new Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices decreased 0.2% for the month, and overall construction input prices are 0.9% higher than a year ago.Decembers nonresidential construction input prices are now also 0.6% higher. Prices for steel mill products (-3.0%) and iron and steel (-2.5%) dropped while the price of softwood lumber (1.1%) and hot rolled steel bars, plates, and structural shapes (2.5%) increased.Chart credit: Associated Builders and ContractorsConstruction materials prices declined slightly in December and are virtually unchanged over the past two years, ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu said. Of course, there is significant variability across input categories. Much of the recent moderation can be tracked to lower energy prices; diesel prices, for instance, are down rou...

Arrowhead Game Studios has a new patch for Helldivers 2, addressing crashes and jittering that occurs when ADSing with scopes. The crashes resulted from Illuminate ships despawning or when a player would quit the game and should thus be gone.Other miscellaneous issues that occurred include the targeting for STA-X3 W.A.S.P Launcher not working if you used one belonging to another player. Those who faced disconnects in Illuminate missions can also breathe easier as theyve been reduced.Helldivers 2 is available for PS5 and PC check out our review here. Its had a successful first year with over 15 million players (despite some bumps with the whole mandatory PSN linking and balance). With its first anniversary in February, one has to wonder if the developer has anything special planned. Stay tuned for updates.In the meantime, Arrowhead has a new project with creative director Johan Pilestedt stating hes working on the high concept. Sony also recently greenlit a movie based on the franchise.PATCH 01.002.005OverviewCrash fixesADS jitter fixMiscellaneous fixesFixesCrash Fixes and Soft-locks:Fixed a crash caused by Illuminate ships despawningFixed some potential crashes when the player quits the gameMiscellaneous fixesFixed an issue with jitter when aiming through scopesFixed an issue with the STA-X3 W.A.S.P Launchers targeting not properly working when using one owned by another playerReduced disconnections in Illuminate missions