Planning to express your love with flowers this Valentine's Day? While the gesture is timeless, the pricing certainly isn't. Waiting until Feb. 14 to purchase that perfect bouquet could cost you nearly double the regular price. But there's a smart solution that can help you save money while still delivering that heartfelt message. Here's why you should order your valentine's flowers as soon as possible.Order Valentine's Day flowers right nowThe bad news: Ordering back in January could've help you snag the lowest prices of the season. Nevertheless, the sooner you order, the less likely you are to pay the top-dollar prices the last-minute shoppers will shoulder.When properly cared for, roses can stay healthy for five to seven days after purchase. By buying your flowers a few days before Valentine's Day, you can avoid the premium pricing while ensuring your bouquet remains fresh and beautiful for the special dayand hopefully a few days after.For even more value and longevity, consider alternatives to traditional roses. Carnations and orchids are beautiful and tasteful while lasting up to two weeks. Not only will you be choosing something more economical, but also, you'll be showing your valentine that they're more special and unique than a boring old rose. (At least, you should be prepared with a little speech that explains something along those lines.) Finally, you can save money by scheduling those roses for delivery a day or two ahead of Valentines Day, since many services mark up fees for delivery on that particularly busy day.How to keep flowers healthyTo maximize the lifespan of your roses:Keep them in clean water.Trim the stems at an angle every few days.Remove any leaves below the waterline.Store them away from direct sunlight and heat sources.Add flower food to the water.Remember, Valentine's Day is about expressing your feelings, not emptying your wallet. By planning ahead and making smart choices, you can create a memorable floral expression of love without the premium price tag. Your walletand your valentinewill thank you.And if you're looking for gift ideas that aren't a bouquet, check out my Valentine's Day gift ideas here.

If you've considered trying DeepSeekthe hot new AI app from Chinabut been put off by concerns around privacy and censorship, you'll be interested to know there's now a tweaked version of the DeepSeek R1 model available inside Perplexity.Perplexity has long given users a choice of in-house and third-party AIs for answering prompts, and DeepSeek R1 is the latest to make the list. Perplexity cofounder Aravind Srinivas has promised the censorship guardrails have been taken offso yes, you can ask about Tiananmen Squareand that all associated data (like your prompts and their responses) is stored in the U.S. DeepSeek is now an option inside Perplexity. Credit: Lifehacker This is all possible because the DeepSeek models are open-source: Anyone can use and adapt them, free of charge. If you've got the technical know-how, you can modify these AI models yourself, though most of us will want to let the experts (such as those on the Perplexity team) take care of thatif you're interested, there's more on this here.Specifically, it's the DeepSeek R1 reasoning model that's been added to Perplexity, rather than the more general-purpose V3 model, and both Pro subscribers and those using Perplexity for free can access these models: You get five queries per day for free, or 500 per day if you're paying $20 a month. DeepSeek cuts off conversations about some topics. Credit: Lifehacker If you want to see what all the fuss is about when it comes to the speed and performance of DeepSeek, without worrying about your data being piped back to the Chinese government, or finding yourself up against China-centric censorship, this is one of the best ways to go about it. Your data is still held by Perplexity, but in the U.S., and in accordance with the company's privacy policy.It's also worth noting that other AI providers are following Perplexity's lead: Microsoft is bringing DeepSeek R1 to Windows as part of Copilot, and it's also now been introduced to the You.com AI platform, available alongside other models from the likes of Anthropic, Meta, Grok, and OpenAI.Using DeepSeek inside PerplexityYou can use Perplexity on the web, and on Android and iOS. On the web, your prompts can be inputted in the main text box on the Home tab, or by clicking New Thread on the left. To get an answer from DeepSeek R1, turn the Pro toggle switch on, then pick Reasoning with R1 from the drop-down menu.Everything works similarly when it comes to the mobile apps. Tap inside the Ask anything box on the main Perplexity tab (the magnifying glass icon, lower left), then tap the Pro label and choose Reasoning with R1. You can then type out and submit your query for the AI. An answer inside Perplexity produced by DeepSeek R1. Credit: Lifehacker As DeepSeek R1 is a reasoning model, you'll see that it thinks about your promptsand explains how it's thinking as it goes. Answers come with website citations attached, where relevant, and at the end of the response you get icons for copying, sharing, and regenerating the answer Perplexity and DeepSeek have given you.I tested out the Perplexity version of DeepSeek with a few questions that might throw up different answers if they were asked in China, compared to the rest of the worldquestions about Taiwan, for exampleand there was a free and full flow of information in return. Posing the same prompts on DeepSeek proper returned the following message: "Sorry, that's beyond my current scope. Lets talk about something else." You can see DeepSeek R1 'thinking' as it works. Credit: Lifehacker As for DeepSeek R1's reasoning, it seems fairly robust based on the time I've spent with itit certainly makes AI responses more trustworthy if you can see how they've been arrived at, and the web sources that have been consulted along the way. You can look all of this up after the answers have been presented, as well as while they're being generated.We've written before about how well Perplexity stands up to rivals such as Gemini and ChatGPT, blending both generative AI and web search and giving you a choice of different AI models on top. The company has also just launched a Perplexity Assistant feature on Android, so you can use the AI bot in place of Gemini or Bixby.

With the help of modern machine learning technology, The Beatles were able to release their song Now and Then in late 2023. The song contains vocals recorded from around 50 years ago and a guitar track from 1995, but technological limitations at the time prevented it from seeing the light of day without serious audio issues. Today, after being nominated in November 2024 for two Grammys, Now and Then won one for Best Rock Performance.When the demo was first recorded, John Lennons singing and piano were on the same audio track, and separating them was impossible. Fortunately, AI can now do that without much bleed or loss. The surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, were able to complete the song by recording new bass and drum parts and releasing it almost 30 years later.Sean Ono Lennon, the son of the late Beatle, accepted the trophy in his fathers stead. Now and Then was also nominated for Record of the Year but lost to Kendrick Lamars Not Like Us.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/ai-won-the-beatles-a-grammy-55-years-after-they-broke-up-141743908.html?src=rss

The problem with good quality earbuds is that, of course, they don't come cheap. So, when a sale comes along that makes them more affordable, we're all over it. Right now, you can get the Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $169, down from $249 a 32 percent discount. They fell to a record low of $154 over the holidays, but this price is the best we've seen yet in 2025. Apple's AirPods Pro 2 came out in 2022 and yet we still rate them the best wireless earbuds for iPhone. At the time, we gave them a score of 88 thanks to big improvements from their predecessor, including fantastic sound and an amazing transparency mode. They'll last you six hours at a time with ANC on or seven hours without it. Notably, Apple's newest generation of earbuds are also on sale. The AirPods 4 are down to a new all-time low price of $100, from $129, thanks to a 22 percent discount. We also gave the AirPods 4 an 88 in our review, noting their improved fit, comfort and sound quality. Their biggest drawback is the lack of ANC but, if you don't need that, then this is a great deal. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-airpods-pro-2-are-back-on-sale-for-170-140656651.html?src=rss

Hidden in plain sight: Sophisticated malicious PDFs target mobile users worldwide

Looking for NYT Connections answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, plus my commentary on the puzzles.

Imagine this: A team meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. in California. For software developers in Mumbai, its 5:30 a.m. the next dayprime sleeping hours or, at best, the tail end of an exhausting night shift. In Poland, where other team members are based, its already 1 a.m., and the developers are long offline. Awkward timing for a call, to say the least.How do these time zone differences impact overall efficiency? As more projects rely on globally distributed teams with members from every corner of the world, this question is becoming increasingly urgent. This is underscored by a study conducted by Harvard Business School professor Prithwiraj Choudhury. It found that even a one-hour time difference leads to an 11% drop in real-time communication, like calls or video chats, and a 19% reduction in opportunities to connect during the workday. Communication gaps like these ripple through team dynamics, causing stress, forcing employees to catch up outside work hours, and reducing overall efficiency.The cost of poor communication is significant. Grammarly reported that U.S. businesses lose over $1.2 trillion annually due to inefficiencies caused by miscommunication. This is why time zone alignment makes such a big difference. Teams operating within overlapping hours collaborate more effectively, experience less stress, and work more efficiently. This is the driving force behind nearshoringthe practice of outsourcing to nearby regions with overlapping working hours.Harmony across time zones: How nearshoring drives collaborationNearshoring solves the headaches of time zone misalignment. By working with LATAM teams, U.S. companies can collaborate in real time and have fewer scheduling conflicts. The regions expanding tech talent, driven by investments in education and connectivity, makes it an ideal partner. Nearshoring means real-time communication, stronger relationships, and a workforce that boosts both productivity and mental health.As distributed teams strive for efficiency and balance, time zone alignment shouldnt be an afterthought. Prioritizing schedules that support seamless collaboration and reduce stress enables companies to unlock the true potential of remote work. Its about more than convenienceits about creating frameworks that build trust, clarity, and alignment across teams.How? Observing our distributed teams at work, a handful of recommendations come to mind:Implement a collaboration framework: Working remotely across close time zones requires clear guidelines for communication, support, and task ownership. A well-structured framework ensures that responsibilities are clear and minimizes interventionslike being pulled into a late-night Zoom meeting when family time beckons. This clarity and communication allows team members to focus on their work without sacrificing their personal lives.Poor collaboration doesnt just create personal frustration; it can significantly impact business. When teammates are constantly catching up, replying to endless emails, or joining irrelevant calls, stress levels quickly escalate. Stress-related conditions cost U.S. businesses over $300 billion annually due to absenteeism. With the right framework, teams stay productive and maintain mental well-being.Minimize time zone-related challenges: To secure top tech talent, weve expanded our hiring reach to ensure both expertise and seamless collaboration with U.S.-based clients. We focus on time zones that allow overlapping schedules, making nearshoring a clear advantage over traditional outsourcing. Nearshoring eliminates the complexity of scheduling across divergent time zones, enabling real-time collaboration, removing blockers, and supporting time-sensitive solutions.Our team members frequently highlight the mental health benefits of this alignment. Adequate sleep and greater control over their schedules stand out as key contributors to their well-being. Shared schedules also streamline Agile and Scrum methodologies, ensuring planning, daily standups, and retrospectives happen without conflicts.Get Culture Right: While diverse perspectives foster creative problem-solving, mismatched working styles can create friction. In our experience working with distributed teams across LATAM, weve found that clear communication, prompt resolution of blockers, and a strong sense of ownership are critical to success. These traitspaired with a hands-on approach to tackling bottlenecksbuild trust and ensure progress.Nearshoring supports these expectations by fostering a shared work culture where feedback is encouraged, mistakes are treated as learning opportunities, and collaboration thrives. This alignment ensures teams deliver both innovation and reliability.Optimize scheduling with the right tools: As recent studies show, work schedules have a direct impact on mental health. Effective scheduling is key to maintaining mental health and productivity. Tools like Jira and Asana enable asynchronous work by tracking tasks, assigning ownership, and setting clear deadlines. Platforms like Slack and Zoom keep teams connected and ensure communication is well-documented. Integrations between tools, such as Slack notifications for Google Calendar or Jira updates, centralize information and prevent missed tasks. Leveraging these solutions simplifies collaboration and supports balanced, efficient workflows.As we become more attuned to the importance of mental health, its clear that aligning time zones isnt just practicalits transformative. Collaborating with teams in aligned time zones simplifies workflows, reduces stress, and fosters a healthier, more efficient work environment. Thoughtful scheduling, cultural alignment, and nearshoring make remote collaboration effective and enjoyable simply by paying better attention to how we manage the most precious resource at our disposal: time.Nacho De Marco is the cofounder and CEO of BairesDev.

Dozens of employees at the U.S. Education Department were put on paid administrative leave in response toPresident Donald Trumps orderbanning diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal government, according to a labor union that represents hundreds of workers in the agency.Its unclear how many workers were put on leave or for what reasons, said Sheria Smith, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 252. The majority of employees placed on leave do not work in DEI initiatives and span all branches of the agency, she said, from an office that sends billions of dollars to K-12 schools to an office that enforces civil rights laws.The shakeup comes as Elon MusksDepartment of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, pushes to cut programs and federal workers at departments across the government, includingthe U.S. Agency for International Development. A DOGE team was working at the Education Department on Monday to implement Trumps executive orders and agenda, said Madison Biedermann, an Education Department spokesperson.The department did not immediately comment on the personnel changes and would not say how many employees were placed on leave.At least 55 Education Department workers received an email Friday saying they were being put on paid leave effective immediately pursuant to Trumps executive order. It wasnt being done for any disciplinary purpose, according to a copy of the email obtained by The Associated Press.Those placed on leave lost access to their government email accounts and were told not to report to the office. They include a range of staff members and managers across the department, which employs more than 4,000 workers in Washington and regional offices across the country.Most of those on leave appear to have taken a voluntary diversity training seminar offered by the department, Smith said. The Diversity Change Agent program has been promoted by the agency for years, including during Trumps first term in office.Graduates of the two-day program were expected to serve as role models and help improve the departments capacity to attract and retain a diverse workforce, according to an internal email from 2019 obtained by the AP.Smith said hundreds of employees have taken the training, but it was unclear if all of them were placed on leave. She said many people were under the impression the training was strongly encouraged or required.It seems unfair to encourage or require people to take a training and then four or five years later place them on administrative leave, Smith said.Some current employees who are on leave said the action could disrupt the agencys core work, including the management of federal student loans and the FAFSA form for student financial aid. The workers spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., a former teacher and member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said Trump is purging employees for taking a training course that his administration encouraged them to take.This wont help our kids learn or even save us money, Murray said on the social media site X. Hes just breaking services people rely on.Trumps order called for all DEI staff in the federal government to be put on paid leave and eventually laid off. Its part ofa broader crackdownon diversity programs that the Republican president says are racist.Trump campaigned ona promise to shut down the Education Department, which he says has been infiltrated by radicals, zealots and Marxists. He said the agencys power should be turned over to states and schools.Collin Binkley, Associated PressThe Associated Presss education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Findthe APs standardsfor working with philanthropies,a listof supporters, and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Its been more than a decade since Google Glass. Remember that godawful device?! It was promising, but led nowhere as Google shuttered the project soon after. In the following years we got VR, AR, MR, XR, and Spatial Computing, but the idea of a pair of smart glasses that had in-built displays it still is something big tech couldnt crack. Yes, you can buy a $300 clunky VR headset to play Beat Saber. Or you could buy Metas Ray-Bans that click photos or play music but the dream of a truly advanced pair of smart glasses still remained unrealized until the folks at Even Realities pulled back the curtain to reveal their G1 glasses.Designed to look like regular sunglasses, the Even G1 packs an impressive set of features without the usual compromises. They use waveguide technology to project a crisp, full-color display onto the lenses, keeping the digital interface unobtrusive when not in use. Unlike bulkier alternatives, they dont rely on an external phone screen or a massive headset to function. The frames house a Snapdragon processor, built-in speakers, and cameras, yet remain sleek enough to wear comfortably throughout the day. This balance between performance and discretion is what other companies have struggled to achieve.Designer: Even RealitiesClick Here to Buy Now: $599.I cant stress enough how impressive it is that the G1 looks like your everyday pair of fashionable sunglasses, with none of the clunky, tech-heavy aesthetics that have plagued earlier smart glasses. Theres no awkward bulk around the temples, no oversized frames that scream prototype. Instead, Even Realities has crafted something that blends in, making augmented reality feel natural rather than forced. The key to this is the use of waveguide display technology, which allows digital overlays to appear crisp and unobtrusive. Whether youre navigating city streets, glancing at notifications, or following step-by-step instructions, the information stays subtle yet readable.A green monochrome Micro-OLED panel lives inside the lenses, invisible to anyone else. Look straight ahead, and its as if youre wearing standard blue-light-blocking glasses. Tilt your head slightly, though, and a dashboard materializesa clean, unobtrusive overlay showing the time, temperature, notifications, and even a mini-map of your current location. Its crisp, clear, and surprisingly natural, like glancing at a road sign rather than staring at a screen.Notifications appear in real-time, floating briefly in front of you before fading away. Calls, texts, app alertsits all there, but in a way that respects your attention rather than demanding it. Theres no way to reply from the glasses, no voice dictation or awkward tapping on virtual buttons. Its a one-way street: information flows in, but action still happens on your phone.And thats really what these smart glasses are about giving you important updates without the screen time and the unavoidable gravitation towards your phone and its social media apps that absolutely waste your time. Remember pagers? Think of these glasses as having invisible pager displays built into their eyepieces. Without pulling out a phone, you can see messages, reminders, or navigation prompts floating in your field of vision. Picture yourself walking through a crowded airport, luggage in hand, and instead of fumbling with your phone, your gate number and boarding time appear right in front of you. For cyclists, this means seeing speed and turn-by-turn navigation without taking their eyes off the road.Navigation really does feel like a glimpse of the future. Set a destination in the app, and the glasses overlay turn-by-turn walking or biking directions onto the real world. No need to glance down at a phone or fumble with a smartwatchyour next turn just exists in front of you. The green monochrome visuals keep it simple, making it feel more like an enhanced awareness of your surroundings than an extra layer of digital clutter.Then there are the features that sneak up on you, the ones that start as novelties but quickly become essentials. A built-in AI assistantpowered by Perplexity or ChatGPTgives quick answers to questions, displayed right in your lenses. A teleprompter mode lets you load scripts into the glasses, adjusting the text speed based on how fast youre speaking. Content creators and public speakers might find this borderline magical. And for anyone navigating a foreign country, real-time translation converts spoken language into readable text, quietly bridging communication gaps without pulling out a phone.The G1 also supports voice control and gesture-based interactions, cutting down on the need for constant manual input. It syncs with both iOS and Android devices, ensuring broad compatibilitysomething that many competing smart glasses struggle with. The real magic, though, lies in its ability to balance augmented reality with real-world awareness. Unlike bulkier AR headsets that immerse users in digital overlays, the G1 keeps the experience light, ensuring that real-life interactions arent disrupted. This makes it ideal for both productivity and casual use, whether youre answering a quick text, glancing at a to-do list, or getting directions while exploring a new city.Battery life holds its own, lasting about a day and a half per charge. The included case stretches that to nearly a week, meaning you wont be scrambling for a charger every night. Connectivity is strictly Bluetooth, so these glasses always rely on your phone, but that keeps things simple. No extra SIM cards, no data plansjust a clean link between the G1 and your existing setup.The build is a win. Magnesium and aluminum make for a frame that feels premium without unnecessary weight, clocking in at just under 40 grams. Thats heavier than standard glasses but lighter than Metas Ray-Bans, and after a few hours, they just feel like, well, glasses. No pressure points, no constant reminder that theres tech strapped to your face. Most of the hardware tucks behind your ears, keeping the whole thing looking effortlessly normal. And if you want to upgrade from the regular lenses to something tinted for the outdoors, Even Realities sells clip-on tinted lenses as accessories for your G1.With Valentines Day around the corner, Even Realities is running a discount on the G1, positioning it as an unconventional but intriguing gift. While traditional gifts lean toward jewelry, chocolates, or romantic getaways, the G1 offers something differenta way to stay connected without constant screen time. Imagine walking through a new city with your partner, receiving quiet, unobtrusive directions as you explore together. Or capturing candid moments with the discreet built-in camera, storing memories without pulling out a phone. Its not a classic Valentines gesture, but it fits into the modern dynamic of staying present while still engaging with technology in meaningful ways.What makes the G1 particularly compelling is how it sidesteps the pitfalls that have held back other AR glasses. Google Glass tried to be a wearable assistant but suffered from privacy concerns and an awkward design. Metas AR efforts have leaned into social and entertainment use cases, but theyve struggled to balance form and function. The G1 doesnt try to do everythingit focuses on practical, everyday applications that enhance the users life rather than replace reality with digital clutter. No cameras to spy on you, speakers to distract you, or AI assistants to disappoint you with their shortfalls the G1 knows exactly what its good for and performs as intended.Even Realities has managed to achieve what larger companies have struggled withan elegant, consumer-friendly pair of smart glasses that feel practical rather than experimental. The G1 doesnt force users into an overcomplicated AR world; it enhances real life in subtle, thoughtful ways. Whether its for productivity, navigation, or simply reducing the need to constantly check a phone, the G1 presents a version of smart eyewear that feels futuristic yet fashionable, and most importantly, useful.Click Here to Buy Now: $599.The post Even Realities G1: The Fashionable Futuristic Smart Glasses That Google & Meta Wished They Made first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Swatch Cuff Watch was launched in 1997, quite literally blurring the lines between timepieces and fashion. Its been nearly 30 years and weve not seen a single cuff watch since. Its time we brought them back.Simply put, this cuff watch traded metal and leather straps for a literal shirt cuff. The watch was suspended within the cuff, and youd button the cuff around your wrist to wear the watch. Paired with a nice full-sleeve shirt or blazer, the cuff watch would blend in rather nicely, looking oddly appealing without really feeling out of place.Designer: SwatchThe watch features a 32mm case, enveloped in a striped faux cuff that features 2 buttons for wrist adjustment. Its rated for 30mm water resistance, although I dont know if Id be comfortable getting a fabric cuff wet. The watchs face is as minimal as it gets, with absolutely no numerals or branding. Instead, blue hands grace the pure white face, and a crown just about peeks below the cloth, letting you adjust the time. Its minimal on detail, but maximal on expression. Heres my opinion, however, Swatch could do a LOT more and the fact that this watch hasnt been reprised in nearly 3 decades feels like a lot of wasted potential.Imagine launching the watch in a variety of fashion styles. Patterned cuffs, solid cuffs, branded cuffs (maybe LV or Hermes the way Apple does collabs). As someone who doesnt wear formal shirts, the idea of owning a watch with a cuff around it definitely has a quirky fashion appeal. The watch faces could use some exploration too instead of the plain minimal face, make the watch mirror the patterns on the cuffs fabric. You see what I mean by wasted potential?!Crocs (as much of a fashion faux pas they may be) did a brilliant job of leaning into customizations and collaborations to keep their shoes looking fresh. They acquired Jibbits and turned them into a marketing machine Swatch could do this with the cuffs too, leaning into other brands, different styles, fabrics, weave patterns, and a whole lot more.But given that Swatch probably has more on their plate (or their wrist) to revive a 28-year-old model, heres another solution imagine a line of cuff-style straps that could attach to existing watches. A set of cuffs for the Apple Watch, another for the Galaxy Watch, and maybe a few standard straps for watches of 18, 20, or 22mm lug widths. Just remember to keep the base open for smartwatches, so that the health sensors can pick up readings!I call dibs on the potential million-dollar startup idea.The post We Desperately Need More Watches Like This Shirt Cuff Watch from Swatch first appeared on Yanko Design.