Compared to Android, only some of Googles iOS apps use the latest version of Material Design. Gmail for iPhone and iPad was finally updated with a Material 3 redesign today.On the homepage, the search bar is now pill-shaped instead of a rounded rectangle.The bottom bar, if you have the integrated Google Chat and/or Meet experience enabled, notes your current tab with another pill instead of just filling in or highlighting the icon. Blue is used as the accent color throughout the app, with red being mostly retired.Different shades are used depending on light or dark theme.On Android, Material You takes things a step further and creates a Dynamic Color theme based on your phones wallpaper. Thats applied across first-party apps and OS elements for a visually cohesive experience. No such mechanism is in place on iOS after all these years. It would have been interesting if Google built an Account-level picker for these platforms (or synced it from Android in the case of the web). Old vs. newThe Compose floating action button (FAB) becomes a rounded rectangle with a pretty vibrant shade of blue when dark mode is enabled.The hamburger menu/navigation drawer does not appear to have been updated today.When opening an email, youll notice that the top-right corner overflow icon goes from three vertical dots to horizontal ones placed in a circle. Google Chat for iOS was also recently updated with Material You, though it already leveraged the floating bottom bar. Other Workspace apps like Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet are unchanged today.Other first-party apps with Material 3 include Google (Search) app, Maps (bottom bar), Photos, Home, Translate, and Gemini.Version 6.0.250119 of Gmail for iPhone and iPad with this Material 3 redesign rolled out today via the App Store.More on Gmail:Add 9to5Google to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Google experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google 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

Apple Maps is about to get a notable upgrade that will lead to more efficient EV routing suggestions for Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning drivers.As a refresher, the Apple Maps EV routing feature can help you plan trips by automatically inserting necessary charging stops along your route. The feature tracks your cars charge level and takes into account a number of different factors to determine when and for how long youll need to charade. This includes variables like the availability and speed of chargers, elevation changes, your driving speed, and more.The Apple Maps EV routing feature is only supported by three cars: the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Ford F-150 Lightning, and the Porsche Taycan.Last year, Ford began the process of delivering adapters that allow Mach-E and Lightning drivers to charge at Tesla Superchargers. Ford EVs include the CCS charging port, and this adapter converts that CCS connection into the North American Charging System (NACS) plug type.Apple Maps EV routing, however, hasnt been updated with knowledge of this change. Currently, the feature works based solely on the plug type of the car itself. In this case, that means Apple Maps EV routing will only route Mach-E and Lightning drivers to CCS charging stations, as the feature has no knowledge of the fact that those cars can also charge at NACS stations.In a post on the Mach-E Forums today, however, Fords chief Mustang Mach-E engineer Donna Dickson said this is about to change.You will also now be able to find compatible Tesla Superchargers in the Connected Built-in Navigation system in the MY25 Mustang Mach-E. As a reminder, the locations of compatible Tesla Superchargers are also available when usingGoogle Maps EV Routing for Android Auto, and will be coming to Apple Maps EV Routing for Apple CarPlay.As of right now, Ford and Apple havent shared any additional details on how this will work. Presumably, Ford drivers with a NACS adapter will simply be able to tell Apple Maps that they can charge at CCS and NACS stations. Apple Maps can then provide more accurate and efficient routing suggestions based on that knowledge. As a Mustang Mach-E driver myself, I very much look forward to this enhancement. Hopefully we get more details from Ford and Apple soon.If youre an electric vehicle owner, charge up your car at home with rooftop solar panels. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing on solar,check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, its free to use and you wont get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and youll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way.Get started here.Add 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

After getting epically roasted by an upstart competitor, OpenAI is seemingly refusing to reevaluate its approach, asking investors to close their eyes and give them another $40 billion anyway, pretty please.As the Wall Street Journal reports, the Sam Altman-led company is in early talks for a new round of funding that would value it at a gargantuan $340 billion which would put it among the 30 biggest companies in the world by market cap, not to mention more than twice the $157 billion it was valued at in October.Despite its sky-high valuation, it bears repeating that OpenAI isn't expected to make virtually any profit until 2029, at the very earliest and even that's a highly optimistic read of the situation, given the many shortcomings still plaguing the tech.For evidence, look no further than theWSJ's diplomatic phrasing: the "startup also expects to use the cash to fund its money-losing business operations."OpenAI is looking to raise funds at least in part to fulfill its promise of committing roughly $18 billion to president Donald Trump's shiny AI infrastructure initiative. The project, dubbed Stargate, is aiming to raise as much as half a trillion dollars in a matter of four years plans that were met with plenty of skepticism.Fellow Stargate signee SoftBank is said to lead OpenAI's latest round of funding, contributing anywhere from $15 to $25 billion, according to the WSJ.The timing of the latest revelation is striking, to say the least. Earlier this week, a new hyper-efficient model by Chinese AI startup DeepSeek flipped the entire AI industry on its head, triggering amassive tech selloff that wiped out over $1 trillion in market capitalization.The company's latest "reasoning" AI model, dubbed R1, caught investors by surprise, demonstrating that the proficiency of OpenAI's most powerful models can be matched at a tiny fraction of the cost.DeepSeek's efforts clearly challenged OpenAI's modus operandi, demonstrating that stuffing as many billions of dollars as possible into massive data centers for extremely power-hungry models may not be the most economically savvy approach.Is the latest round of funding yet another warning sign of staggering bloat suffocating the AI industry and limiting innovation? Investors are bound to have a very close look before committing even more cash, following this week's immense financial and logistical reality check.It certainly wouldn't be the first major misstep for SoftBank. The company has a troubled history with past investments remember WeWork? posting a record $32 billion loss for its Vision Fund in 2023, for instance.In short, OpenAI just doubled its already lofty stack of chips, vowing to go all in. Altman has promised that OpenAI will "obviously deliver much better models" than DeepSeek, without giving any more details."But mostly we are excited to continue to execute on our research roadmap and believe more compute is more important now than ever before to succeed at our mission," he added in a Monday tweet.Put differently, Altman is fully committed to pumping as much money into AI datacenter infrastructure as possible efficiency, environment, and economic edge be damned."The world is going to want to use a LOT of AI, and really be quite amazed by the next-gen models coming," he wrote.Share This Article

Youwill be hosted on the day by representatives fromAuckland University of Technology,Jasmax, and Naylor Love. The event will highlight the innovative use of mass timber and adaptivereuse.Key dates andtimes:Tuesday 11February5.00 pm - 7.30pmTukutuku, AUT - Akoranga Drive, Northcote,AucklandTukutuku is AUTs most energy-efficient and lowest-carbon development to date. The new four-story learning facility creates a vibrant social and academic hub, featuring a striking atrium that seamlessly connects to the refurbished AF building. With a design focus on connectivity, sustainability, and wellbeing, Tukutuku sets a new standard for future-ready, sustainabledevelopment.Tukutuku is designed to enhance student success by providing an integrated hub that brings together essential services, study and social spaces, a caf, library, and academic staff offices, all adjacent to a variety of learning environments. More than just a lecture venue, Tukutuku fosters a connected and dynamic learningecosystem.The building reinforces client leadership. Jasmax says, As Aotearoa New Zealands most energy-efficient university, AUT has further cemented its leadership with Tukutuku, which is its most sustainable building to date. This project reinforces AUTs position as the university with the lowest CO2 emissions per square meter of built space across Australasia. The combination of mass timber construction and an adaptive reuse approach has been pivotal in reducing embodied carbon by half compared to a conventional newbuild.Registerhere fortickets.Free forUDINZ membersNon-members: $150Prospective members:$80ArchitectureNZfeatures a review of Tukutuku by Nick Roberts in theJan/Feb 2025 issue. Buy the issuehere.

NASA astronauts Sunita "Suni" Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore have been on the International Space Station since June, even though they initially expected to stay for just eight days. They'll be back on Earth in late March.But because their stay was extended, Williams set a new record on Thursday. She went on a 5 hour, 26 minute spacewalk with Wilmore, and with that walk, surpassed the record set by a woman for time spent on spacewalks. According to Space.com, Williams now has 62 hours and 6 minutes of spacewalking, surpassing former astronaut Peggy Whitson, who had 60 hours and 21 minutes.On this most recent spacewalk, the two worked to finally remove a faulty radio-communications unit, one that astronauts on two previous spacewalks were unable to remove.Williams previously teamed up with astronaut Nick Hague for a spacewalk onJan. 16. On that spacewalk, Williams and Hague replaced a rate gyro assembly that helps maintain the orientation of the orbital outpost, NASA said. The astronauts also installed patches to cover damaged areas of light filters on the Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer X-ray telescope, replaced a reflector device on one of the international docking adapters, and checked access areas and connector tools that astronauts will use for future Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer maintenance. NASA astronaut Suni Williams is seen outside the International Space Station during the Jan. 16, 2025, spacewalk. NASATrump and Musk Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. The astronauts are scheduled to come home in March. But that might not be fast enough for President Donald Trump."I have just asked Elon Musk and SpaceX to 'go get' the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration," Trump wrote on Truth Social,according to NPR. "Good luck Elon!!!"The astronauts are far from abandoned. The delay was caused because NASA and Boeing engineers discovered issues with the spacecraft that brought the astronauts into space, and chose to return that vehicle to Earth without a crew.And it's unclear what Musk could do, since the two are already scheduled to fly home on a capsule made by his company, SpaceX, and that capsule is already docked at the ISS. So technically, the astronauts could go home at any time, but that would leave the space station short-staffed and jeopardize projects, NPR says.The two astronauts say that while they miss their families, they've still got work to keep them busy."Eventually we wanna go home," said Williams in a recent news conference. "We left our families a little while ago, but we have a lot to do up here and we have to get that stuff done before we go."February return is now MarchRecently, NASA pushed back Williams and Wilmore's return to Earth from February to late March."NASA and SpaceX assessed various options for managing the next crewed handover, including using another Dragon spacecraft and manifest adjustments," according to a NASA press release issued on Dec. 17. "After careful consideration, the team determined that launching Crew-10 in late March, following completion of the new Dragon spacecraft, was the best option for meeting NASA's requirements and achieving space station objectives for 2025.The delay is so NASA and SpaceX teams can complete work on the mission's new Dragon spacecraft. That new craft will launch four crew members to the ISS -- commander Anne McClain, commander, pilot Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. Once the new crew is settled, Williams, Wilmore, NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will return to Earth.But Williams and Wilmore aren't complaining about their extended stay."I like everything about being up here," Williams saidin early December. "Living in space is super fun."The astronauts are keeping busy, with Williams and Wilmore assisting the other ISS residents in space botany studies and other research,according to NASA's ISS blog. They have aided in more than 60 scientific studies in their nearly six months on board,the Washington Post reports.Here's what you need to know about what the two astronauts are up to.Who are the astronauts?Wilmore, 61, and Williams, 58, are veteran astronauts and are both naval officers and former test pilots. Williams has been a NASA astronaut since 1998, and Wilmore since 2000. Both have plenty of experience in space.Williams is the former record holder for most spacewalks by a woman (seven) and most spacewalk time for a woman (50 hours, 40 minutes), and in 2007, she ran the first marathon by any person in space.In 2009, Wilmore piloted the Space Shuttle Atlantis on its mission to the ISS, and in 2014, he was part of the ISS crew that used a 3D printer to manufacture a tool -- a ratchet wrench -- in space, the first time humans manufactured something off-world.What was their original mission in space?Wilmore, as commander, and Williams, as pilot, traveled to the ISS on a 15-foot-wide, Boeing-made capsule called Starliner. They launched on June 5 and docked with the ISS on June 6. NASA hopes Starliner will give the organization a new way to get crews to and from the ISS, and the fact that it's Boeing-made is another sign that NASA is starting to lean on the private sector for its human spaceflight options, The New York Timesreported.Wilmore and Williams' ISS mission was supposed to last a mere eight days, during which they'd test out aspects of Starliner and see how it operates with a human crew in space. But due to complications with Starliner, the two astronauts are still up there.What are the astronauts saying?The astronauts have been positive about their experience. At alive news conferencein September, Williams said that despite knowing their mission was scheduled to take only eight days, they'd both been "training for a number of years" for it. They're fully qualified to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to help pilot the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that'll bring them home next year."It's very peaceful up here," Williams said on Sept. 13, though she added that they miss their families back on Earth.The astronauts are working on research, maintenance and data analysis during their extended stay."We are having a great time here on ISS," Williams saidin a news conferenceheld from orbit in July. "I'm not complaining. Butch isn't complaining that we're up here for a couple of extra weeks." Wilmore and Williams responding to media questions back in March. Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers/Getty ImagesHow did they get stuck in space in the first place?The Starliner was delayed in May due to a problem with a valve in the rocket. Then engineers had to fix a helium leak. That's all bad news for Boeing. It's competing with SpaceX, which has been transporting astronauts to the ISS since 2020, making over 20 successful trips to the space station. Starliner finally launched, atop an Atlas V rocket, on June 5, but some problems came along with it. NASA announced that three helium leaks were identified, one of which was known before flight, and two new ones. In addition to the leaks, the crew had to troubleshoot failed control thrusters, though the craft was able to successfully dock with the ISS. SpaceX has had failures too. A Falcon 9 rocket exploded on the launchpad in 2016. In July of this year, a Falcon 9 rocket experienced a liquid oxygen leak and deployed its satellites in the wrong orbit, The New York Times reported. And a Falcon 9 rocket in late August lost a first-stage booster when it toppled over into the Atlantic Ocean and caught fire.But that said, SpaceX has more than 300 successful Falcon 9 flights to its credit.Stuck in space: A timelineMay: Starliner launch delayed due to a problem with a valve in the rocket, and then a helium leak.June 5: Starliner launches with Williams and Wilmore on board.June 6: Starliner docks with ISS despite dealing with three helium leaks and failed control thrusters.Sept. 6: Starliner departs ISS and lands in New Mexico, leaving Williams and Wilmore behind.Sept. 28: SpaceX Crew-9 mission launches with Hague and Gorbunov on a Dragon spacecraft.Sept. 29: SpaceX Dragon docks with ISS.Dec. 17: NASA announces the launch of four crew members to the ISS will be delayed from February to late March.March 2025 onward: SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will return to Earth with Williams, Wilmore, Hague and Gorbunov.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk told investors last year that the companywas aiming for a 2025 launch of its self-driving service in California and Texas. The company appears to be on track to hit that target. Musk said during Tesla's fourth-quarter earnings call on Wednesday that the automaker is on pace to launch its self-driving service as early as June 2025, with Austin, Texas, as the test market."We feel confident in being able to do an initial launch of unsupervised, no one in the car, full self-driving in Austin in June," Musk said. "We already have Teslas operating autonomously unsupervised, full self-driving at our factory in Fremont, and we'll soon be doing that at our factory in Texas."A representative for Tesla didn't respond to a request for comment.News that Tesla was working with Austin to gain the city's regulatory approval first appeared in emails obtained by Bloomberg in December, but Tesla had not yet chosen Austin as the launch city as the company was attempting to gain regulatory approval.Musk was light on details, stating only that there were "thousands of cars" driving around the company's Fremont factory in California "with no one in them." He did say that the company was prepared to launch its unsupervised Full Self-Driving tech "in many regions of the US" by the end of the year, with the first markets most likely being California and Texas.The original expectation was that Tesla would use its long-awaited Cybercab. However, the company instead plans to use its Model Y and Model 3 cars until the Cybercab launches in 2027."So, in conclusion, 2025 is a really pivotal year for Tesla," Musk said. "I think we may regard it as the biggest year in Tesla history."Rough start for self-driving carsMusk stressed that Tesla was going to take its time with the rollout."We just want to put our toe in the water, make sure everything is OK, then put a few more toes in the water, then put a foot in the water with (the) safety of the general public and those in the car as our top priority," he said.Tesla's emphasis on safety comes amid a rough couple of years for self-driving taxi services. While the statistics show that self-driving cars are safer in general than human drivers, it hasn't stopped accidents from making the news.California pulled Cruise driverless cars off the road in 2023 due to safety concerns, and Waymo made the news in early 2024 after two of its autonomous vehicles hit the same pickup truck as it was being towed two times in the same day.According to Musk, Tesla's AI won't use high-precision local maps like most autonomous driving tech. Instead, Teslas will use AI that will analyze the road and make decisions as it drives. Thus, while it can drive anywhere, Austin will serve as the test market to make sure that the cars can drive without issues before they spread to other regions. Tesla anticipates a wider launch shortly after Austin, provided there are no issues. Watch this: Everything Announced at Tesla's 'We, Robot' Event 07:31

January 30, 20255 min readHow Plane Accidents, like the DC Crash, Are InvestigatedThe accident that resulted in a commercial airplane crashing into the Potomac yesterday will require air safety investigators to dig deepBy Gary Stix edited by Dean VisserEmergency response units inspect airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport. Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesA video camera at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., captures a chiaroscuro image of the night landscape in the nations capital. A banking airplane approaches above. It moves toward the camera and then passes uneventfully out of view. Off in the distance, a bright blip in the sky moves slowly forward. A much smaller pinpoint of light approaches from behind at a quicker pace. Within a few seconds, the smaller aircraft overtakes the larger one and a brilliant flash illuminates the night sky hundreds of feet above the Potomac River.Last nights collision of a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with American Eagle Flight 5342 is feared to have resulted in the deaths of the commercial airplanes 64 passengers and crew, as well as the helicopters three U.S. Army service members. Understandably, the incident astonished both experts and the flying public. Traveling in U.S. airspace has generally been a remarkably secure experience for many years. The last domestic accident that involved a commercial airliner and resulted in major fatalities dates back to 2009.Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport remains a challenge for pilots, who must contend with both the heavy traffic and the restricted airspace near areas such as the White House and the Pentagon. The Potomac is the site of one previous major accident: in 1982 an Air Florida flight crashed into a bridge while taking off in a storm and then plummeted into the frozen river, killing 74 of the 79 people onboard and four motorists on the bridge. In recent years, near misses at Reagan National have occurred on the ground, with plane paths intersecting dangerously on the runway in multiple incidents recorded by the Federal Aviation Administration.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.How do air safety officials proceed with investigating such a major accident? Scientific American put that question to Kristy Kiernan, associate director of the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.[An edited transcript of the interview follows.]Accidents in commercial aviation are rare, and I think a lot of people are wondering how we will find out what really happened in yesterdays incident.There are very clearly defined processes for this. The NTSB [National Transportation Safety Board] has a go team that is launched immediately, and once the rescue and recovery operations are winding down, the attention turns to perishable evidencethings that might be affected by the environment or by the movement and recovery of the wreckage. So thats a very important thing, to collect the perishable evidence. Obviously, once the scene has been secured and its possible to operate safely, there are a lot of hazards at an accident scene, so protection of the people who are doing the rescue and recovery and the investigation is also an important factor.iSo what comes after that?Obviously, the so-called black boxes, the voice and data recorders, are very important to recover. Those would be present on the regional jets. I dont know what type of recording devices are on the UH-60 [helicopter]. But in general, the black boxes are a big focus. Then there are various groups that are convenedoperations, maintenance, air-traffic control, weatherand all of these groups, including human factors experts investigate their particular area.So, for instance, in air-traffic control, you would be securing all the air-traffic control radar and the tape of all the communications. Similarly, for operations, for both the Army and for PSA Airlines [the regional American Airlines subsidiary involved in the crash], there will be a collection of evidence related to the people involved in the operation of the aircraft, including their training records. If things are not as they should be, the effort in a particular area is proportional to the role that a particular fact plays in the investigation. So more and more resources will be deployed toward the areas where the investigation is progressing. All that takes time. We have a fast news cycle, and the public should get information as soon as they can, but its better to wait for good information than to give in to speculation and opinion, which frankly, have absolutely no place in aviation.Can you describe what has been learned from pursuing past investigations?I would say is that we have layers of safety that exist. And so, for example, there are procedures in terms of where airplanes are in the sky and what altitudes they are at. Then we have technologies. We have collision avoidance systems. We have whats called ADS-B, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast. Thats another tool that is used to help in situational awareness of where other aircraft are in the airspace. We have highly trained air-traffic controllers, and in numerous instances in the past, theyve been instrumental in avoiding midair collisions. Then we have highly experienced pilots on the flight deck of the regional jet and highly trained and experienced aviators in the Army helicopter.But that isnt always enough, is it?So we normally have all of these layers. However, we also have to recognize that we ask a lot of our systems. We have that area in Washington, [D.C.], which is high-density, high-volume and has a high pace of operations. And while we have different margins of safetyso that when youre driving on a slick and snowy road in the dark, you can maintain safe operationsyour risk profile and your safety margin is different than on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. So there are areas where our safety margins are thinner, and those are the areas that we really have to be vigilant for.If people could see all of the activities that go into keeping the airspace safe, I think they would be reassured. But the last thing that I would say is that we should be comfortable where we are now. We should always, as aviation safety professionals, be uncomfortable. For the traveling public, I think they can take comfort because of all these activities that go on every single day. But even one accident, when there are 40,000 operations in the U.S. domestic airspace every day is too many.Air accidents with mass fatalities are rare. Doesnt that in some ways make them more difficult to investigate? I dont know that it makes [such accidents] more challenging to investigate. It definitely makes [them] more challenging to predict because there is a lot of modeling that is done in the industry to try and understand the different things that go into an accident. There is not a smoking gun; there is not just one causal factor. Even if you found one thing, there is a reason for that one thing, and that reason is more complicated. And if you just identify the one thing, youre really not solving anything. You have to go deeper and look at the why behind it. These accidents are very rare. So the likelihood of the same one recurring, especially after we take action, is extremely low. But we cant stop there. We want to use each thing we discover as an opportunity to examine all the factors that went into itso that we are not just being reactive but [are also] able to look forward and identify the risks and hazards that we have to mitigate.

The time between the holidays and Valentines Day is often a blurmeaning you could probably use a primer on the best last-minute Valentines Day gifts. (Thatll arrive as early as tomorrow if you dont dawdle!)Your significant other deserves something, well, significanteven if you only have a few days left to shop. Same goes for any loved one you hold near and dear, so we also sourced gifts that are Galentines Dayapproved. If your deadline is fast-approaching, theres no better source for quick shipping than Amazon. Whether you want to promote a restful night of sleep with a best-selling alarm clock, inspire a new weeknight recipe from an award-winning cookbook, or provide a heart-shaped home decor item, there are so many Amazon Primeeligible gift ideas for your Valentine. (And, of course, you cant go wrong with a sweet or savory treat).Below, a curated selection of 17 last-minute Valentines Day gift ideas to snag before February 14. Each one is thoughtful, well-reviewed, and, best of all, guaranteed to ship ASAP. For even more ideas, check out our guide to the best Valentines Day gifts for her.Top Picks:The Best Candle Gift: Apotheke Scented Candle, $78An Amy Astley-approved Gift: "Colu Cooks: Easy Fancy Food" by Colu Henry, $35A Not Cheesy Heart-Shaped Gift: Le Creuset Mini Heart Pinch Bowls, $50The Best Chocolate Gift: La Maison Du Chocolat Artisanal Chocolates, $60A Gift For Sleepy Valentines: Hatch Restore 3 Sunrise Alarm Clock, $170The Best Gift For Cozy Sweethearts: Cozy Earth Luxe Bath Robe, $180Apotheke Scented CandleFebruary 14 is a time where you shouldnt be afraid to go big, which makes this extra large soy wax candle a great gift idea. Its from Apothekea brand that nabbed one of the top spots in our best candles guideand available in delectable scents like apricot red currant, hinoki lavender, and saffron vanilla."Colu Cooks: Easy Fancy Food" by Colu HenryADs own Amy Astley ranked this award winner among one of her current favorite gift ideas. Complete with 100 recipes and photographs, renowned food writer and cook Colu Henry guides you through elevating everyday meals. At the time of publishing, it was also a whopping 50% off.Cozy Earth Luxe Bath RobeV-Day welcomes the warm and fuzzies, and this best-selling robe from one of our most-reviewed brands can serve as an extension of that comfy, cozy feeling.Bearaby Hand-Knit Weighted BlanketThis comforting weighted blanket is made for a more relaxing snooze, with enough heft to feel like youre being spooned. Weight options range from 10 to 20 pounds, and its available in three neutral colors that wont distract from your duvet cover.Hatch Restore 3 Sunrise Alarm Clock and Sound MachineGiving the gift of sleep hygiene is easy with the Hatch Restore 3: an alarm clock, sound machine, and smart light rolled into one handy device. (It also scores bonus points for its chic design, so you dont have to worry about it clashing with your interiors.)Polaroid Now 2nd Generation I-Type Instant Film CameraIf a picture is worth a thousand words, a new instant camera is worth millions. You can also bundle the camera with two bonus gifts: a double pack of film and a small photo album.KitchenAid KSMPRA Stand Mixer and Pasta Roller & Cutter AttachmentsDate night idea: Purchase this stand mixer attachment and whip up a fresh pasta dish together. The perfect gift for home chefs, this set includes a pasta roller, fettuccine and spaghetti cutter, and a cleaning brush.La Maison Du Chocolat Artisanal ChocolatesValentines Day and chocolate just make sense, and this heart-shaped treat box is backed by five-star reviews from several AD staffers. Happy customers say the treats are delectable, and the seasonally appropriate gift case makes it feel extra special.Brooklyn Biltong Air Dried Grass Fed Beef JerkySavory snackers, have no fear. Give the unique gift of sustenance and proteinmaxxing with a bag of jerky snacks in flavors like peri peri chicken or lemon pepper.Candle Warmer LampGet all the warmth and light from a candle without the flame or smoke (any votive from our list might make a nice companion gift). This lamp also comes with a timer and adjustable brightness, so you can fully customize your candlelight experience.Artificial Peonies Silk FlowersFlowers for Valentines Day? Sure, its not exactly groundbreaking, but these delicate faux peonies are a nice deviation from red roses. The realistic-looking stems are available in several shades of pink, purple, red, and white. For fresh Valentines Day flowers, there are quite a few top-notch online flower delivery options too.The New York Times Crossword Page-A-Day Calendar 2025Is your best friend a wordsmith? This calendar will challenge them each day, and its proof that you can find a great gift for less than $25.Kitsch Satin Sleep SetThis self-care set says, I love you and I want you to sleep like a queen, while also helping your other half combat frizzy hair and fine lines.DASH Mini Waffle Maker MachineWhy not start V-Day with heart-shaped mini waffles? To sweeten the deal, it comes highly recommended by a whopping 195,000-plus five-star reviews.LEGO Ideas A-Frame Cabin Collectible Display SetIf a romantic upstate getaway is in the cards for Valentines Day, this Lego gift set is the perfect indoor activity youll be able to tackle together and bring back home as a sweet reminder of the trip.Le Creuset Stoneware Mini Heart Pinch Bowls (Set Of 4)Lets be honestgifts that scream Valentines Day can feel a little on the nose. Luckily these heart-shaped Le Creuset dishes strike the right balance of sweet and sorta kitschy.Frida Whip Stitch Shortie PJ SetLast, but certainly not least on our list of last-minute Valentines Day gifts, a new pair of pajamas for your resident bedfellow is always a bright idea. This whip-stitched shorts set is a sweet find for Valentines in a holiday-appropriate hue. Psst there are mens versions available too.

Whats more, this three-in-one stick, handheld, or high-reach vacuum, which is Williams favorite part. It can easily convert to a handheld model, allowing me to use the crevice tool, combination dusting brush, and upholstery tool, says Williams. Run time is only 35 minutesbut at this price, you can purchase an additional battery and swap them out.Best Robot Vacuum on Amazon: Eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 Pro with All-in-One Stationeufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 ProUpsides:Thorough 3D mapping technologyVersatile vacuum and mopping capabilitiesSelf-emptyingDownsides:Its only recommended to use the brands cleaning solutionSpecsPower: CordlessDust container: BaggedHEPA filter: NoAttachments: Two sets of side brushes, rolling mop, dust bag, all-in-one stationLike taking a more hands-off approach to cleaning? Weve got you covered with the best robot vacuums on the internets superstore. This Eufy is our top pick for a robot vacuum that can do it all. Williams gave it a whirl and immediately loved its 3D mapping technology that helps the vacuum avoid furniture during its cleaning process.The robot vacuum also works wonders as a mop. Williams appreciates how it cleans without sloshing and smearing water on the floor. The cleaner also boasts dual water tanks so it doesn't leave a trail of murky water on her hard floors. Once youre done cleaning altogether, the vacuum cleaner can hold and auto-empty the sealed dust bagwhich can hold over two months worth of dirt and debrisin the dock. As for the mop, the robot vacuum uses the auto-washing function and ozonated water and hard floor cleaner to clean the rolling mop.Bottom line: Its quite expensive, but if you have the budget, the Eufy Omni S1 Pro Robot Vacuum is one of the best robot vacuums you can buy, Williams says. It has a plethora of features and functions that can make your life and your floor care process much easier.Best Cordless Stick Vacuum on Amazon: LG CordZero Cordless Stick VacuumLG CordZero All in One Cordless Vacuum CleanerUpsides:Sleek designLong run timeIntensive, five-step filtration processDownsides:Slightly large cleaning portSpecs:Power: CordlessDust container: BaggedHEPA filter: YesAttachments: Crevice and combination toolsAs for the best cordless vacuums, Williams cant get enough of LGs CordZero Cordless Stick Vacuum. After testing LG CordZero cordless vacuums for several years now, she calls this one her favorite because of its sleek and stylish design. Its 60-minute run time is another huge plus with the two included swappable batteries. From there, you can swap between three suction power modes (standard, power, and turbo) for a personalized clean. In terms of accessories, standouts include the adjustable telescopic wand, which Williams appreciates for allowing her to choose the right height to be comfortable. She also likes to swap out the power nozzle to use it to vacuum the HVAC vents on her ceilings and above her kitchen cabinets.If youre constantly battling allergies, you can find relief in knowing that this vacuum has a five-step HEPA filtration system that seals allergens and fine particles inside the vacuumeven when emptying it. I merely place the vacuum on the All-in-One Tower, which has a separate three-step filtration system, that automatically empties the dust bin into a disposable dust bag, she says. Extra perk: The tower keeps the crevice and combination attachment tools out of sight.Best Wet-Dry Vacuum on Amazon: Shark HydroVac MessMaster Wet-Dry VacuumShark Wet Dry Vacuum MopUpsides:Self-cleaning designPivoting motorheadSmall charging stationDownsides:Loud when in useSpecs:Power: CordlessDust container: BaglessHEPA filter: YesAttachments: Combination tool, docking station, wand clip, digital motorbar cleaner head, hair screw tool, drip tray, wand, charger, Fluffy Optic cleaner head, crevice toolIf you want a multifunctional vacuum thatll mop and vacuum at the same time, turn to Sharks HydroVac MessMaster wet-dry vacuum. Since my home is covered with tile, this Shark vacuum has been a big help in picking up and scrubbing virtually any mess that makes its way to my floors, says senior commerce editor Nashia Baker. I seamlessly navigate it through my home with its narrow, cordless design and pivoting motorhead to get in tight spaces.Baker notes that this upright vacuum is incredibly intuitive to use. It has a smart display that monitors the battery life and status on how much cleaning solution you have left in the vacuum. The manufacturer recommends using the self-cleaning cycle after every use of the wet-dry vacuum. Baker says that its pretty quick (about 10 minutes or so) and helpful to keep the vacuum in good condition, but do keep in mind that the process is a bit noisy. While the vacuum is most helpful on hard floors, it can also help clean area rugs with ease.Best Handheld Vacuum on Amazon: Temola Handheld Car VacuumTEMOLA Handheld Car Vacuum CleanerUpsides:Washable filterSmall designStrong suction powerDownsides:Only one cleaning modeSpecs:Power: CordlessDust container: BaglessHEPA filter: YesAttachments: Crevice toolFrom the car to the corners of your home, this handheld vacuum can allow you to keep it all clean. Baker has had hers for over a year and raves about its suction power and small design. I appreciate its narrow mouth that can allow it to grab dirt and dust along the baseboards in my home and lightweight design that allows me to pick up the vacuum to clean areas like my windowsills, she says. It comes with a charger to load up the battery and has a 20-minute run time on a full charge.Out of all of the vacuums on our list, this one is the easiest to clean by far. You can simply detach the handle from the mouth of the vacuum to dump out debris. The Hepa filter inside is also removable and washablejust be sure to let it air-dry before putting it back in the vacuum to keep it in its best condition.Best Vacuum on Amazon for Hardwood Floors: Dyson Gen5detect Cordless VacuumDyson Gen5detect Absolute VacuumUpsides:Polishes hardwoodsComes with a wide nozzle to clean large surface areasDownsides:Only has a wall-mount designSpecs:Power: CordlessDust container: BaglessHEPA filter: YesAttachments: Combination tool, built-in dusting and crevice tool, hair screw tool, digital motorbar cleaner head, Fluffy Optic cleaner head, charger, docking station, wandIf youre in search of an Amazon vacuum thats gentle enough for your hardwood floors, Dyson is our recommendation. The Gen5detect is known for having the brands most powerful HEPA cordless vacuum and longest battery life (70 minutes, for the record). Williams notes that its single-button power control is one of her favorite features, along with the fluffy optic cleaner head that cleans and polishes her hard floors.

Federal Communications Chair Brendan Carr has ordered investigations into NPR and PBS with the goal of slashing the money given to the government-funded organizations, The New York Times reports. The investigations are ostensibly about PBS and NPRs member stations sponsorships, according to a letter from Carr obtained by the Times. I am concerned that NPR and PBS broadcasts could be violating federal law by airing commercials, the letter reads. In particular, it is possible that NPR and PBS member stations are broadcasting underwriting announcements that cross the line into prohibited commercial advertisements. Both PBS and NPRs chief executives told the Times that their advertising complies with the FCCs underwriting regulations. To the extent that taxpayer dollars are being used to support a for profit endeavor or an entity that is airing commercial advertisements, the letter continues, then that would further undermine any case for continuing to fund NPR and PBS with taxpayer dollars.Carr is already facing pushback. In an emailed statement to The Verge, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez says the investigation is yet another Administration effort to weaponize the power of the FCC. The FCC has no business intimidating and silencing broadcast media.Carrs move is in line with other Trump administration efforts to cut funding for public goods and services. Carr who Trump appointed to the commission in 2017 wrote the Project 2025 chapter on the FCC. While Carrs chapter largely focused on using the commission to rein in big tech, a separate chapter on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting called for cutting off the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the government-funded nonprofit that supports PBS and NPR. The document, written by Heritage Foundation senior fellow Mike Gonzalez, called out public medias demonstrated pattern of bias against conservatives.The Heritage Foundation is by no means the only conservative organization to target with NPR. The public radio station and its local affiliates have long been targets of the right. Most recently, in 2024, on the heels of his successful ouster of Harvard president Claudine Gay, right-wing strategist Chris Rufo launched a campaign to expose NPR CEO Katherine Mahers anti-speech, anti-truth philosophy. As writer Renee DiResta pointed out, Rufos beef with Maher began with an essay by now-former NPR editor Uri Berliner published in the Free Press about how his employer had gone woke. Rufo then accused Maher of following the Claudine Gay playbook, and published two posts about Maher in City Journal, the Manhattan Institutes in-house magazine including one in which he implied Maher was a CIA asset.Update, January 30th: Added comment from FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez.See More: