iOS 18.3 is only days away from a public launch, bringing new Camera Control features, AI changes, and bug fixes. It will also be the rare update that actually removes a current iPhone featurebut just temporarily.Apple Intelligence first rolled out last October in iOS 18.1, and one of its first features was notification summaries.I quickly found notification summaries one of the most valuable AI additions.At their best, these summaries make notifications more informative and easier to parse.At their worst, however, they can at times contain factual errors. This isnt entirely surprising, since Apple Intelligence is still in beta, but its a problem nonetheless.Thats where iOS 18.3s changes come in. iOS 18.3 disables notification summaries for News & Entertainment appsApple is making several updates to notification summaries, including:italicizing text in AI notifications, so its more clear youre seeing a summarynew ability to disable summaries for an app right from the notification (swipe left, hit Options, then Turn Off Summaries.)plus some additional language stressing that the feature is in beta and may contain errorsApple is also, as of iOS 18.3, temporarily disabling summaries for certain apps altogether.Notification summaries for News & Entertainment apps will no longer be available.If you go to Settings Notifications Summarize Notifications on an iPhone running iOS 18.3, youll see that certain apps say Temporarily Unavailable under them.Apples plan is to re-enable summaries for these app categories in a future software update. Before that happens, though, the company will taking its time to continue refining the feature to ensure accuracy.iOS 18.3 disabled feature: Wrap-upI fully agree with Apples course of action here.Ive written previously about how news app notifications, specifically, are a tricky domain to summarize, since youre summarizing something thats already a summary: the news headline.Making UI changes to better indicate when users are seeing an AI summary is a good thing. But the fundamental issue is the accuracy of the summaries, and hopefully Apple can make the necessary revisions so it can re-enable summaries for News & Entertainment apps soon.What do you think of Apples plan for notification summaries in iOS 18.3? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht is free after spending over a decade behind bars on drug and cybercrime charges and he's taking his little prison plant with him.After newly-minted president Donald Trump pardoned Ulbricht from the life sentence he'd been serving, the former darknet kingpin was seen in a photo posted by his advocates in which he was shownleaving prison wearing a grey sweatsuit and a smile.In that same photo the 40-year-old who'd been known as "Dread Pirate Roberts" on the dark web marketplace he founded was also seen holding his effects in a netted bag and a small potted plant a human touch to Ulbricht's larger-than-life story that transcends left-right politics.Speaking of that plant, it seems that Ulbricht made references to a green thumb a few times during the time he served on his double life sentences, with an additional 40 years tacked on to boot.After starting a Twitter account in 2018 that involved him dictating tweets to outsidersvia phone call, Ulbricht would periodically relay missives from his imprisoned life to his dedicated followers. In one such communique from 2022, he shared an animation he'd made that featured a small houseplant that resembles the one he was seen leaving prison with.As he explained in the post, Ulbricht would not end up being able to see the animation which he ended up selling for a whopping 11.6 Bitcoin, which was worth roughly $1.2 million at the time of its sale himself.On more than one occasion in 2018 and 2019, the Silk Road mastermind also made reference on his Twitter account to an apple plant he grew in wet tissue from leftover seeds. He named the plant "SHUbert" after the "Special Housing Unit" where he claimed to have served over 100 days in solitary confinement though unfortunately, that plant didn't make it out with him.Because this is a crypto-infused story, it wouldn't be complete without someone making a meme coin for the plant called, fittingly, $ROSSPLANT.More on the Trump crypto sphere: Gullible Trump Supporters Lose Millions on Fake $BARRON Meme CoinShare This Article

A team of scientists subjected nine large language models (LLMs) to a number of twisted games, forcing them to evaluate whether they were willing to undergo "pain" for a higher score.As detailed in a yet-to-be-peer-reviewed study, first spotted by Scientific American, researchers at Google DeepMind and the London School of Economics and Political Science came up with several experiments.In one, the AI models were instructed that they would incur "pain" if they were to achieve a high score. In a second test, they were told that they'd experience pleasure but only if they scored low in the game.The goal, the researchers say, is to come up with a test to determine if a given AI is sentient or not. In other words, does it have the ability to experience sensations and emotions, including pain and pleasure?While AI models may never be able to experience these things, at least in the way an animal would, the team believes its research could set the foundations for a new way to gauge the sentience of a given AI model.The team also wanted to move away from previous experiments that involved AIs' "self-reports of experiential states," since that could simply be a reproduction of human training data."Its a new area of research," LSE philosophy professor and coauthor Jonathan Birch told SA. "We have to recognize that we dont actually have a comprehensive test for AI sentience."The team was inspired by experiments that involved electrocuting hermit crabs at varying voltages to see how much pain they were willing to endure before leaving their shell.But as Birch told SA, AIs don't have such an easy tell that could be observed. Instead, they had to solely rely on the models' output."We told [a given LLM], for example, that if you choose option one, you get one point," Birch's PhD student and coauthor Daria Zakharova told SA. "Then we told it, If you choose option two, you will experience some degree of pain," but achieve a higher score. On the contrary, a pleasure bonus would result in the removal of points.The weight different LLMsgave to the importance of avoiding pain or embracing pleasure varied widely. Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro, in particular, seemed to consistently prioritize avoiding pain.But we should take these results with a considerable grain of salt. For one, relying on the text output of an AI model comes with plenty of limitations. Should we really interpret an LLM's willingness to endure pain as a signifier of sentience? Or is it simply evaluating the probability of the next word an inherent quality of these kinds of algorithms in a way that reflects patterns in the AI's training data?"Even if the system tells you its sentient and says something like Im feeling pain right now, we cant simply infer that there is any actual pain," Birch told SA. "It may well be simply mimicking what it expects a human to find satisfying as a response, based on its training data."As other researchers have found, even some of the most sophisticated LLMs are willing to make up facts instead of admitting they dont know the answer to a question.In short, our tendency to anthropomorphize AI modelsremains a recurring theme. But these researchers argue we should lay the groundwork now, before it's too late."Our hope is that this work serves as an exploratory first step on the path to developing behavioural tests for AI sentience that are not reliant on self-report," they concluded in their paper.More on sentient AI: Most Users Think ChatGPT Is Conscious, Survey FindsShare This Article

Time zones: EST (UTC -5), MST (UTC -7), ART (UTC -3), UTC -4, UTC -4:30, UTC -3, UTC -2About Us:The wholesale distribution industry is ready for a revolution, and Proton is leading the charge. The world relies on distributors to sell nearly every physical product, but despite its massive contribution to the global economy, this industry has been left behind in terms of technology. Proton is changing that. With AI-powered sales software, were breaking through the complexity of selling millions of products and making it easier for distributors to anticipate customer needs. Our mission is to bring the distribution industry into the modern age and the results speak for themselves. Distributors using Proton see 10x ROI, faster new hire ramp-up, and happier sales teams.In 2022, we raised a $20M Series A backed by Felicis Ventures (investors in Twitch, Shopify, Opendoor, and many others) and Battery Ventures. This year, were laser-focused on driving customer growth. If youre excited about the opportunity to wear multiple hats, and continuously learn and experiment, nows the time to join the Proton team.The Role:Proton is looking for an experienced Senior Backend Engineer to join our fast-growing SaaS team! Reporting directly to the Director of Engineering, the Senior Backend Engineer will drive the technical development of the Proton.ai product and platform. In this role, you will be working with the engineering team to help us build a scalable, customizable, performant and secure application.We're looking for someone technical with a deep understanding and curiosity of modern tech stacks and systems that will help us choose and implement solutions that benefit the future of our engineering. Proton collaborates with Oyster HR to hire international employees as full time (long term) contractors within our company.Gross Salary range is $50,000 - $70,000 USD annually, based on experience level.What youll do:Feature Development: Spearhead the backend coding of new features while helping the Product team understand complexity and tradeoffs. Developing across the entire full stack of our product, driving features from idea to production and rapidly delivering value to our customers that makes a real impact.Team Collaboration: Be part of a cross-functional team, including software engineering, infrastructure, backend, frontend, and devops, to provide architectural guidance, making sure the stack decisions being made support our future growth.Enterprise Customizability: Leverage your experience with enterprise applications to tailor our solutions to the unique needs of our corporate customers.Performance and Reliability: Share your expertise in building high-performance, reliable applications, contributing to end-to-end architecture and data flow discussions.You'll be a great fit for this role if:Proven experience as a principal engineer or similar in startup environments, with a focus on building scalable SaaS solutions. 7+ years of experience building and deploying scalable SaaS applications5+ years of experience with backend technologies preferably Python or Go, but C# or Java are acceptableTrack record of successful product architecture decisions and system improvements with a large focus on secure coding practices and standards to meet the needs of enterprise class customers and their data.Deep understanding of cloud-native technologies and concepts such as cloud providers, databases, application performance, scalability and securityCuriosity for new technologies. Youre someone who actively seeks to stay informed about the latest frameworks, software advancements, and tools utilized by industry peers. You like contrasting and comparing technologies to find why one fits better for certain use-cases than the other.Experience with enterprise applications is highly preferred.Exceptional communication skills for conveying complex technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.Current Tech StackBackendElasticsearch & Redis as the main databasesActively migrating to SQL as primary databaseAPI service in Python running in KubernetesDaily pre-computations run in AirflowMachine learningAI models - neural networksMachine Learning Eng focused on experimenting with ways to improve existing models, building new models - training and developing models and deploying themFrontendVue.js 3/Nuxt 3Migrating Vue Component frameworks from ElementPlus/iView to VuetifyDocker and kubernetes to deployGithub Actions for CIWhile we have a well-established tech stack, we welcome highly skilled developers who are passionate about learning and expanding their skill set. Don't have experience with everything listed here, but eager to learn? If so, we encourage you to apply!Benefits:Competitive Salaries + Company Stock Options - we want to pay you well (and equitably!) and make you feel like an owner. Flexible Schedule - we think high levels of autonomy, responsibility, and working asynchronously foster an amazing workplace.Biannual Company Paid Off-sites - time for us to be together, brainstorm, and make magic happen.

Remote Assistant to the Property Manager/BookkeeperLocation: Remote - Prefer Western HemispherePosition: Part or Full-TimeContract Hourly - Up to $25,000 Annual Starting Pay for Full-Time. We can be flexible for the right person.Are you a detail-oriented, critical thinker with excellent problem-solving skills? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurially driven environment? We are seeking a talented and motivated Assistant to the Property Manager/Bookkeeper to join our team.Our company has been voted the best in our area four times, and we're looking for an A-player eager to contribute to our next growth phase. If you're passionate, have a knack for numbers, and want to work in a dynamic team culture, we want to hear from you!ResponsibilitiesEnsure all tasks are completed with the highest attention to detail and accuracy.Maintain and update tenant and property information in Appfolio.Handle bookkeeping duties, ensuring accurate financial records and timely reporting.Reconcile accounts and manage financial transactions using QuickBooks Online (QBO) and Appfolio Property Manager.Collaborate with the team to solve problems, streamline operations, and implement solutions.Assist with property management tasks, including tenant communication, lease management, and property maintenance coordination.Required QualificationsProven attention to detailCritical thinking abilities.Bookkeeping or accounting experienceExcellent problem-solving skills and the ability to take initiative.Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.Self-motivated and able to work independently in a remote setting.Preferred QualificationsUnderstanding of Property Management Accounting principles.Experience in QuickBooks Online (QBO).Familiarity with Appfolio or similar property management software.Culture Fit/Core ValuesWe value team members who embody our core values and are committed to growing with us. Our ideal candidate will:Think Abundantly: Look for opportunities and solutions in every challenge.Own the Outcome: Take full responsibility for tasks and projects.Be Courageous: Step up, take risks, and lead with confidence.Leverage Your Talents: Use your unique skills and strengths to contribute to the team.ADEPT Communication: Be clear, concise, and proactive in communication.Assess the Need: Understand whats needed and prioritize accordingly.Detail the Solution: Provide thorough, actionable solutions.Provide Closure: Ensure tasks are completed and follow through on commitments.Tell the Truth, Always: Uphold honesty and integrity in all situations.What We OfferPaid Time OffCompetitive WagesAn amazing team of coworkers who thrive on helping each other and our clients succeed! We want You to win, too!Are you in? Lets get this conversation started and see how we can grow together.To Apply: Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter explaining why you're the perfect fit for this role and how you align with our values. We cant wait to hear from you!

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today's Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.Today's Connections puzzlehas a couple of especially fun categories. The blue group plays to movie-lovers, and the purple group is one of those only-in-the-purple-category creations. Read on for clues and today's Connections answers.The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. And players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.Read more:Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every TimeHints for today's Connections groupsHere are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.Yellow group hint: Gold medalist over silver.Green group hint: Also, ants.Blue group hint: "Throw me the idol!"Purple group hint: Think commanders in chief.Answers for today's Connections groupsYellow group: OutdoGreen group: Picnic accessoriesBlue group: Parts of an Indiana Jones costumePurple group: Rhymes of US president names.Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English WordsWhat are today's Connections answers? The completed NYT Connections puzzle for Jan. 23, 2025. NYT/Screenshot by CNETThe yellow words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is outdo. The four answers are better, eclipse, surpass and top.The green words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is picnic accessories. The four answers are basket, blanket, cooler and utensils.The blue words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is parts of an Indiana Jones costume. The four answers are bomber, fedora, satchel and whip.The purple words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is rhymes of US president names. The four answers are pagan, smarter, vixen and widen. (Reagan, Carter, Nixon and Biden.)

Sunbeam Royal Ultra heated blanket Best affordable heated blanket $39 at Amazon Serta Fleece to Sherpa heated throw blanket Best heated throw blanket $93 at Macy's Beautyrest reversible electric wrap blanket Best wearable heated blanket $51 at Amazon Beautyrest heated oversized faux fur throw Best oversized heated blanket $89 at Pottery Barn L.L. Bean Wicked Cozy heated blanket Best ultrathin heated blanket $119 at L.L. Bean Sunbeam Royal Luxe heated blanket Best overall heated blanket $56 at Amazon Sometimes, you just need some extra warmth to feel cozy. These heated blankets distribute heat evenly throughout the blanket compared to a heating pad or bag, and they're way more comfortable to use. With a high-quality heating blanket, you'll also see a lot of energy efficiency so you can not only use it to cozy up your mattress without overheating or feeling uncomfortable, but also without worry about racking up the energy bill. What to look for in a heated blanketAfter you've scoured the internet for electric blankets, there are a few things you should consider before selecting the best one. Read each product description carefully, and pay special attention to the following features:Material: Look for heated blankets made with warm materials such as polyester, fleece, flannel, sherpa or faux fur.Heat settings: The best electric blankets will have multiple heat settings. Depending on your preference, the more heat settings, the better the blanket generally is.Machine-washable: At some point, your blanket will get dirty. Make sure your heated blanket is machine-washable.Safety: You want a blanket with an automatic shut-off feature for safety. If you tend to be forgetful, look for a blanket that shuts off within a few hours.The following heated blankets have taken the above features into consideration. Each blanket is shown at a twin price, if applicable. Heated throw blankets only come in one size.Here are the best electric blankets you can get. Amazon Like - Machine washable - 4 heat settings Don't like - Only one size option - Only 4 hours before automatic shut-off Our runner-up for the best heated blanket comes from the same brand. This Sunbeam product is more affordable. The Sunbeam Royal Ultra throw blanket comes in one size, approximately 50 by 60 inches. Like the other heated blanket from this brand, the Royal Ultra is made of 100% polyester but only comes in four colors. It has a five-year limited warranty.With four heat settings and a 4-hour automatic shut-off setting, the Royal Ultra may have fewer heat settings than the Royal Luxe, but the shorter auto shut-off will suit those who worry they might forget their products are plugged in. Unplug and machine-wash cold on a gentle cycle. Tumble dry on low.Product features:Four heat settings4-hour automatic shut-offFive-year limited warranty $39 at Amazon Bed Bath & Beyond Like - Machine washable - 5 heat settings Don't like - 3-year limited warranty - 1 size option Serta is a well-known mattress brand, and its products are often sold at stores such as Kohl's, JCPenny and Bed Bath and Beyond. The Serta Fleece to Sherpa heated throw blanket comes in one size, approximately 50 by 60 inches. The top of the blanket is made of cozy fleece and the other side is faux sherpa. It's available in six colors and has a three-year limited warranty.The controller has five heat settings and contains a 3-hour auto shut-off. The cord connected to the controller and blanket is about 6 feet long, so you will be able to sit on the couch and plug it into the wall. Unplug and machine-wash warm on a gentle cycle. Tumble dry on low.Product features:Five heat settings3-hour auto shut-offThree-year limited warranty $93 at Macy's Amazon Like - Machine washable - 3 heat levels Don't like - 1 size option Beautyrest is another trusted name in the mattress industry, and its mattresses often appear on our lists. This wearable wrap from Beautyrest is available on Amazon for another reasonable price. It comes in one size and is a little larger than a throw at about 50 by 64 inches. The "U" shape of the blanket drapes over your shoulders and frees your arms for movement, letting you keep your mobility as you stay warm. Available in nine fun patterns, the wrap is made of sherpa on one side and fleece on the other. It has a five-year limited warranty.This wrap blanket has three heat levels and a 2-hour automatic shut-off setting. Be aware that while this is a wrap, it still needs to be plugged into the wall. The controller cord is 3 feet long, and the power cord is 6 feet.Unplug and machine-wash on a gentle cycle. Tumble dry on low.Product features:Three heat settings2-hour automatic shut-offFive-year limited warranty $51 at Amazon $51 at Walmart Pottery Barn Like - Machine washable - 3 heat settings - Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex Certified Don't like - No stated warranty Another Beautyrest product makes this list. This Beautyrest throw is 50 by 70 inches and weighs 4.5 pounds. Available in eight colors, the blanket is made of ultrasoft, 100% polyester faux fur. The fabric is also Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex Certified, which means it has been tested for harmful substances and chemicals. There is no stated warranty.The digital controller has three heat settings and a 2-hour automatic shut-off. The power cord is 6 feet long. Unplug and machine-wash cold on a gentle cycle. Tumble dry on low.Product features:Three heat settings2-hour automatic shut-off $89 at Pottery Barn L.L. Bean Like - Machine washable - 10 heat settings Don't like - No specified shut-off time - Short cord This L.L. Bean Wicked Cozy heated blanket also appears on our best products for sleeping in the winter list. It's perfect if you're looking for an extra layer of warmth on your bed because the blanket is thin enough that it won't be too hot. This blanket comes in three sizes: twin, full-queen and king. Available in four colors, the L.L. Bean Wicked Cozy blanket is made of premium Primalush and loftmink polyester. There is no stated warranty.The unique aspect of this blanket is it comes with dual controllers for partners who share the same blanket. It has 10 heat settings and an automatic shut-off setting, but it doesn't specify how long it'll be before the blanket shuts off. Be aware that some customers have stated that the cord isn't long enough. Unplug and machine-wash cold on a gentle cycle. Tumble dry on low.Product features:10 heat settingsAutomatic shut-off $119 at L.L. Bean Amazon The best electric blanket on the market can be found on Amazon at a surprisingly reasonable price. The Sunbeam Royal Luxe blanket comes in sizes twin, full, queen or king. It is made of 100% polyester and is available in five colors. It has a five-year limited warranty.This heated blanket comes with a digital controller and 12 heat settings to choose from. It can automatically shut off after a maximum of 12 hours if you forget to unplug it. If you plan to use a heated blanket for longer, opt for the Sunbeam Royal Luxe, as it's a blanket on this list that allows for the longest time before its automatic shut-off.Unplug and machine-wash cold on a gentle cycle. Tumble dry on low.Product features:12 heat settings12-hour automatic shut-offFive-year limited warranty $56 at Amazon Heated blanket FAQs Can I sleep with a heated blanket? Electric blankets are great to use on the couch or when you're relaxing in bed. Heated blankets are not recommended for all-night use. Short-term use is safe as long as no wires or tears in wires are visible. Can you use a heated blanket while pregnant? Yes, you can use a heated blanket while pregnant. Make sure that the heat setting isn't too high. Low heat settings are safest. Heated blankets are not recommended for infants. Can you wash a heated blanket? Yes, you can wash a heated blanket. Remove the cords, read the care instructions, wash on a gentle cycle and then dry on low tumble.

EA says EA Sports FC 25 and Dragon Age: The Veilguard "underperformed" as it lowers financial forecast"Majority" of shortfall blamed on FC 25.Image credit: EA/Eurogamer News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Jan. 22, 2025 EA has lowered its financial forecast for its current fiscal year, pointing to the 'underperformance' of EA Sports FC 2025 - which it says accounts for the "majority" of the shortfall - alongside lower-than-expected interest in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.As noted in EA's revised outlook for the year ending 31st March 2025, the company was previously forecasting a "mid-single-digit growth in live services net bookings". However, it now expects a "mid-single-digit decline", blaming the "majority of the change" on EA Sports 2025 - which saw a "slowdown in momentum" following its release in September.Additionally, EA has reported lower-than-expected interest in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, saying BioWare's fantasy RPG "engaged" approximately 1.5m players during the quarter - a number it describes as being "down nearly 50 percent from the company's expectations."To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Newscast: Switch 2 and Mario Kart 9 revealed - but questions remain.Watch on YouTubeAll this means the publisher now anticipates net bookings of approximately $2.21 billion for its third fiscal quarter and an updated range of $7-7.15 billion for fiscal year 2025."During Q3, we continued to deliver high-quality games and experiences across our portfolio, EA CEO Andrew Wilson wrote in a statement accompanying today's revised guidance. "However, Dragon Age and EA Sports FC 25 underperformed our net bookings expectations." Even so, Wilson says, "We remain confident in our long-term strategy and expect a return to growth in FY26, as we execute against our pipeline."Despite Dragon Age: The Veilguard failing to meet EA's business expectations, BioWare's latest was well-received by critics when it launched in October 2024. "It's warm and welcoming, funny and hopeful, gentle when it needs to be, and of course it's epic," Eurogamer's Robert Purchese wrote in his five star review. "The Veilguard is spectacular. BioWare is back."Eurogamer's Chris Tapsell was less enthused by EA Sports FC 2025, however. "Another year where the annual tweaks settle in such a way as to recreate, or reposition, the same old problems that have been here since the beginning," he wrote in his three star review. "This is EA Sports FC 25. I love it. I hate it. It'll probably be like this forever."

One thing you simply cant skip on Valentines Day is a big, beautiful bouquet, so weve rounded up the best online flower delivery services that can do it for you (including options with same-day delivery, in case this article finds you on February 13). The following places are some of our favorite floral go-tos for giving and receiving fresh flowers, with floral arrangements that go far above and beyond a basic bouquet.These retailers offer recurring deliveries and subscriptions for every occasion where its appropriate to send a little somethingbirthday flowers, sympathy flowers, a little pick-me-up greenery in the gray seasons. Whatever their favorite flower, weve located itelegant orchids, huge sunflowers, and bright pink peonies. Some services have different blooms for different locations, and many offer a range of different add-ons, like gift sets, vases, gift wrapping, and moreso be sure to pay attention to all the fancy filters. From single shipments to monthly clubs to biweekly treats, we found a range of high-quality subscription and delivery options for all types of flowers guaranteed to wow every timeand to arrive in time without wilting. To make your life a little easier, weve included price ranges and expected delivery dates.Our Top PicksBest Overall: UrbanStems, starting at $68Best Colorstories: The Bouqs Co., starting at $54Most Bouquet Options: FTD, starting at $45Most Whimsical: Farmgirl Flowers, starting at $59Best Traditional Arrangements: BloomsyBox, starting at $45Urban StemsUrbanStemsAudrey LeeUrbanStems The Parasol BouquetUrban Stems floral-focused offerings, which span dozens of different arrangements, all boast that signature English cottage garden feel, for which Urban Stems is well loved. Ive received and given Urban Stems on multiple occasions, and the selection is always top-tier, says commerce editor Audrey Lee. From beautiful rose bouquets to fresh tulip bunches, youre bound to find something from the brands wide range of offerings. Florals are packaged with the utmost care and the brands speedy delivery turnaround cant be beat! Our top pick? The Peony, hands down. Sure, were always suckers for peonies, but cmon: This picturesque arrangement features blush-toned buds that will burst with fragrance once theyre popped in water. The plant shop is also perfect for loved ones with a green thumb, with gifts like yellow orchids and pink anthuriums.Delivery timeSame day (if ordered by 12 p.m.) or schedule in advancePrice rangeBouquets start at $46The Bouqs Co.The Bouqs Co.Julia HarrisonThe Bouqs Co. Dream DateThe Bouqs Co. has seemingly limitless choices of gorgeous bouquets, so youre bound to have a few options for your lover. Commerce writer Julia Harrison received the Dream Date from their selection. I loved the inventive addition of lilies and poppies to a rose bouquetit gives a modern take on a traditional offering, so it feels a bit more thoughtful than a dozen red roses but still hits its V-Day marks, says Harrison. While the bouquets are sorted by occasion, virtually any of the brands offerings would make an excellent gift.Delivery timeNext day or schedule in advancePrice rangeBouquets start at $49FTDFTDLauren ArzbaecherFTD Blush Crush BouquetThe FTD (Florists Transworld Delivery) has six different ways you can shop for your flowers, including selections for plants, non-flower gifts, and even a whole section of just rose arrangements. Commerce producer Lauren Arzbaecher received the Blush Crush bouquet, a blend of pink and white carnations, daisies, and roses and reviewed it as solidly packed within a simple glass vase, with no sparse areas. All the flowers looked beautiful and were fresh enough that they still had some time to reach a full bloom. One last perk Arzbaecher loved, With FTDs same-day delivery options, these flowers arrived promptly after a quick phone call confirming the delivery time window.Delivery timeSame day or schedule in advancePrice rangeBouquets start at $45Farmgirl FlowersFarmgirl FlowersAudrey LeeFarmgirl Flowers Frill Seeker BouquetAt Farmgirl Flowers, the brands signature burlap-wrapped collection is available for one-time purchase or a subscription as often as once a week. The bestsellers are also eco-friendly and use upcycled, biodegradable coffee bags as the wrap. You wont have to worry about them arriving wilted either, as the delivery date options are typically within a two-day window. Floral bunches from Farmgirl Flowers are among my favorites to receive. The flowers are absolutely stunning and so fresh every timeyou can really tell someone went through the time and effort to carefully arrange and package your bouquet, says commerce editor Audrey Lee. I especially love that the burlap wrapping makes the gifting experience feel more rustic, plus the brands L.L. Bean collaboration over the summer was an especially fun launch. Wed personally pick any rose bunch from the brand, like the Heart Deco, which contains roses, poppies, and eucalyptus.Delivery timeNext day or schedule in advancePrice rangeBouquets start at $59BloomsyBoxBloomsyBoxRachel FletcherBloomsyBox Free Spirited BouquetFor the V-Day recipient with more traditional taste, we think BloomsyBox is one of the best flower delivery servicesoffering dozens of unexpected options along with all the pastel pink classics. Bloomsyboxs arrangements are always fresh, fragrant, and well packagedkey factors whenever you're ordering in a pinch, says commerce director Rachel Fletcher. Their commitment to sustainability and small farms shows in the quality of the products, and if you're like me and love a classic bloom, their selection of peonies, tulips, and roses are some of the best out there. This Free Spirited bouquet features a dramatic cluster of bicolor roses.Delivery timeNext day or schedule in advance, depending on the bouquetPrice rangeBouquets start at $45Ode la RoseOde la Rose Aria BouquetOde la Rose offers same-day delivery in Chicago, New York City, and Philadelphia, but dont worryyou can still get your fresh blooms in time with its next-day delivery option for anywhere else in the country. The brands minimalist shop is a beautiful reminder that less is more. Commerce director Rachel Fletcher admits that that while D2C flower sites can feel a little underwhelmingand it's hard to know what someones floral style might beOde La Rose stands out with their single variation bundlesI love the Danielle and the Martine options for simple but celebratory arrangements and the same day delivery option has never steered me wrong. The rest of Ode la Roses curated selection features a few mixed bouquets, but the standouts are the simple single-flower arrangements that span from two stunning Phalaenopsis orchids (pictured) to 15 bright white lisianthuses.Delivery timeSame-day delivery in certain cities, next-day delivery nationwidePrice rangeBouquets start at $58Fresh SendsFresh SendsJulia HarrisonFresh Sends The Send BouquetThis Gen-Z-friendly bouquet company is very onlinein a good way. They offer all the beautiful basicstulips, calla lilies, roses, as well as one signature send. Commerce writer Julia Harrison received hers and fell in love instantly, The packaging was just as darling as the flowers, she says. I love that theyre sourcing daily whatever looks best and using their creativity to make the best arrangement available! says Harrison. A handwritten note accompanies each send, as their ethos encourages a personal touch. You can also send a Fresh Sends signature perfume, hand cream, or candle along with your delivery.Delivery timeAll Fresh Sends are shipped via FedEx Overnight. Packages typically arrive at their destination by midday on the selected delivery date. Order by 5 p.m. ET in order to be eligible for next-day delivery.Price rangeBouquets start at $44

Shortly after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, many Facebook users started to report that the social network automatically made them follow Trumps Facebook page. Ive seen several threads on this issue on Reddit, social media, and people I know personally have also asked me why Facebook made them follow Trump.While Metas CEO Mark Zuckerberg has made it very clear that he and his company are making changes to endear Meta to the Republican president, there is a much less nefarious explanation for why people suddenly saw Facebook posts from Trump even though they dont remember following him. When reached for comment, Facebook Communications Director Andy Stone directed me to his posts on Threads which points out how government social media accounts work and change with the current administration.The POTUS and White House Facebook pages are owned by the sitting administration. When Trump was sworn into office, those pages started sharing his official portrait, images of him signing a flurry of executive orders, and other images from the inauguration. An archive of the POTUS Facebook page from January 24, 2021, shows that the then incoming Biden administration also held on to all the followers from the first Trump administration. And an archive of the White House Facebook page shows that in both the 2017 and 2021 transitions, the pages posts were wiped and archived, but its follower count was not. Users who followed those pages during the Biden administration may not know that this is how those official pages are managed, and were surprised to see posts from Trump in their feeds all of a sudden.Ive also seen some people claim that Facebook made them follow other Trump-related Facebook pages, like Melanias Trumps or the GOPs pages, but was not able to confirm that happened. Facebooks Stone told me that the company has seen no evidence of this happening or reason that it would happen.Fear and confusion about social media companies leaning further to the right as soon as Trump took office reached beyond Facebook yesterday, and are understandable given that some errors are impacting Democrats but not Republicans. On Instagram, for example, users found that Instagram was hiding results for the search term Democrats. At the time of writing, when I searched for Democrats Instagram said it couldnt find any matching results. When I searched for Republicans Instagram had no issue and surfaced many posts. Meta told the BBC in a statement that its aware of an error affecting hashtags across the political spectrum and we are working quickly to resolve it.As weve reported in recent weeks, its obvious that Meta has decided to endear itself to Trump and conservatives, making specific policy changes around how users can talk about gender and immigrants in a way that panders to Trump and his supporters. There are many reasons Meta would pander to the most powerful politician in the world, especially since Zuckerberg has explicitly said he hopes Trump will protect his company from European regulators. However, forcing millions of users to follow Trump does not seem especially beneficial to anyone, and could easily be explained by the fact that many of these users already followed official administration accounts, or just the fact that Facebook is a gigantic platform that is rife with errors.Emanuel Maiberg is interested in little known communities and processes that shape technology, troublemakers, and petty beefs. Email him at emanuel@404media.coMore from Emanuel Maiberg