Tag Archives: commission

Government to analyze whether or not headlights are too shiny

The Department for Transport (DfT) has introduced that it’ll fee an impartial report on headlight dazzle, acknowledging that “further evidence” is required on the difficulty.

The announcement got here in response to a parliament.uk petition calling for MPs to assessment laws about the brightness of automobile headlights receiving greater than 10,000 signatures.

In response, the DfT introduced the plan for the report, saying: “We know that lots of people raise concerns about headlight glare – but also that the police collision statistics don’t show any underlying road safety issue.”

Given the “lack of evidence” on the problems of dazzle and headlight brightness, the report might be used to tell “any further appropriate mitigations”.

The DfT has already moved to sort out the difficulty of headlight misalignment, having raised the difficulty on the United Nations’ professional group on car lighting.

“Proposals to amend headlamp aiming rules were agreed in April 2023, together with requirements for mandatory automatic headlamp levelling, which automatically corrects the aim of the headlamps,” added the DfT.

It mentioned that tightened guidelines on headlight beam alignment are anticipated to return into pressure in September 2027 and these “will help alleviate the number of cases where road users are dazzled”.

The announcement of the report comes simply months after the RAC known as on the DfT to “urgently” look into the difficulty of dazzle.

A survey of some 2000 motorists by the organisation discovered that 28% believed most headlights to be too shiny.

Of those that complained about brightness, 74% mentioned they had been repeatedly dazzled whereas driving and 85% mentioned they believed the issue was getting worse.

RAC security spokesperson Rod Dennis hailed the DfT’s acknowledgement of the difficulty as “a real turning point”.

“The topic has undoubtedly struck a chord with motorists up and down the country, with many people contacting us directly to call for something to be done,” he added.

This Trick Will Save You Over $30 A Year On Spotify

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While there are a number of main streaming music platforms to select from, there are many the explanation why many individuals go along with Spotify. In addition to an enormous library of songs, podcasts, and audiobooks from in style artists and authors, Spotify provides options that many audiophiles have latched onto, comparable to Spotify Wrapped, which uses data each December to indicate customers their most listened-to tracks, or the AI DJ that you can use to personalize your playlists.

Of course, to get essentially the most out of Spotify, that you must subscribe to its ad-free Premium tier, which prices $10.99 monthly within the U.S. Unlike another in style subscription providers, there isn’t any annual possibility, which not solely saves you the difficulty of getting to pay each 4 weeks however typically comes with a reduction in alternate for committing to an extended subscription.

However, there’s a hack that can mean you can pay for Spotify upfront for one yr. Even higher, this technique will prevent over $30 over the course of 12 months. How does this trick work? It’s fairly easy, truly — you simply want to purchase your self a Spotify Gift Card. Spotify Gift Cards can be found from many brick-and-mortar and on-line retailers, comparable to Walmart or Amazon, and they are often nice presents on your family members, as they’re simple to slide right into a greeting card and/or mail throughout the nation.

They are available in one, three, six, and 12-month choices. The 12-month possibility is $99, which is over $32 cheaper than paying 12 particular person month-to-month installments. By buying an annual Spotify Gift Card for your self, it can save you that cash for a wet day or a pleasant meal or use it to purchase a beloved one their very own reward card.

How to redeem a Spotify Premium annual reward card

If you are subscribing to Spotify Premium for the first time, you need to use this reward card hack, however it is best to reap the benefits of the corporate’s free trial beforehand for extra financial savings. Also, these reward playing cards can solely be utilized to particular person accounts — so in the event you’re utilizing a discounted plan such as Spotify Duo, Family, or Student — this trick will not work (although you are already saving cash anyway.) Here’s tips on how to redeem an annual reward card to economize in your Spotify Premium Individual account:

  1. Buy a 12-month Spotify Gift Card from the retailer of your alternative. If you purchase a bodily card, the cashier might want to activate it beforehand.
  2. If you obtain a bodily card, gently scratch off the duvet to disclose your PIN code. If you bought a digital reward card, examine your e mail for the PIN code.
  3. Go to the Spotify web site along with your laptop or cell gadget. If you have not already, you may be requested to log into your account.
  4. Enter the code out of your e mail or the again of the reward card.
  5. Click or faucet Redeem.

Once you’ve got redeemed the code, you may have 12 months of Spotify Premium entry, which is over $32 cheaper than paying for a similar time month by month. Spotify solely lets you stack as much as 18 months of reward playing cards at one time, so you possibly can redeem a number of reward playing cards if you would like. However, if you wish to maximize your financial savings, it is best to do it annually as a result of 12-month reward playing cards supply the most important low cost.

Troubleshooting ideas when redeeming a Spotify reward card

When you redeem a present card you simply paid $99 for, do not freak out if Spotify tells you that it is not appropriate along with your account. This error message would possibly seem as a result of reward playing cards might not work in the event you’re in the course of a subscription that you just’re paying for along with your bank card or different technique. Simply go to your Spotify account settings and, cancel your subscription, after which strive redeeming the reward card once more (the PIN code will not expire after it is rejected the primary time). 

This will renew your account for an additional yr, ranging from the purpose of your subsequent billing cycle. When you cancel your subscription, you do not lose Premium entry till your subsequent billing date, so you will not lose any saved playlists or different data, and canceling your subscription after which renewing it with a present card will not interrupt your Spotify entry in any respect.

Another motive you might have points with redeeming your PIN code is that if your account’s nation or area settings do not match the place the reward card was bought — so ensure you’re utilizing a appropriate reward card based mostly on the place you’ve got purchased it. You additionally must ensure you’re getting into the PIN code appropriately — do not combine up any I’s and O’s for ones and zeroes, for instance. Finally, in the event you do not see an e mail along with your PIN code shortly after buying a digital reward card, examine your Promotions or Spam tabs — there is a good likelihood it might have been despatched there moderately than your major inbox.

If you get irritated or annoyed with any of those minor inconveniences, simply do not forget that — by utilizing this trick to save lots of over $30 in your Spotify subscription — you will not have to fret about doing it once more for an additional yr.

Government Pauses Ban On Shady Dealership Upcharges

Late final 12 months, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) finalized a rule meant to curtail shady dealership practices and shield customers from last-minute charges. This rule, often called the Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) rule, was accredited unanimously by the FTC, and was written to enter impact on July thirtieth of this 12 months. But now it has been paused due to vendor lobbyists.

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) wasn’t happy with the CARS rule’s improvement, apparently, so it and the Texas Automobile Dealers Association filed a petition with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals difficult the legislation. The Court agreed to listen to the case difficult the FTC, and consequently, the CARS rule has been postponed.

The primary problem within the authorized battle is whether or not the legislation is definitely throughout the FTC’s jurisdiction to impose. The dealership teams, within the petition to the Fifth Circuit, referred to as it “an abuse of discretion” and search the courtroom to dam its implementation. The FTC maintains that the rule “does not impose substantial costs, if any” on law-abiding dealerships, and as a substitute merely ensures a extra even taking part in discipline for each dealerships and customers by eliminating junk charges and hidden prices.

The petition in opposition to the CARS rule was filed for expedited consideration, which implies that it is probably {that a} resolution will come from the courts throughout the 12 months. If the courts resolve in favor of the FTC, the FTC believes that the CARS rule will likely be delayed by just a few months at most, which implies it is attainable it would nonetheless be enacted earlier than the top of 2024.

Even if the FTC wins this battle, there could also be extra forward, as dealership teams have additionally pursued Congress to make legal guidelines instantly curbing the FTC’s means to manage automobile gross sales. The potential prices of breaking the CARS rule would possibly give perception as to why: violating a commerce regulation rule prices $50,120 per offense.

CES 2024: 1MORE’s Smart Earbuds Help Runners Stay Safe With Improved Sound Awareness

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SlashGear is on the ground at CES 2024, the place we spent a while hanging out on the 1MORE sales space to get a take a look at its newest earbuds. Designed with runners in thoughts, the 1MORE Fit Open Earbuds S50 contains a wrap-around earbud design that retains the consumer’s music remoted whereas permitting exterior sounds — such because the noise of a automotive passing — to succeed in the runner’s eardrums, serving to them keep protected whereas on the path or asphalt. 

Though the wrap-around design might depart some customers nervous about weight and luxury, 1MORE says to not fear — the S50 is versatile and weighs solely round 10 grams (0.35 oz) per bud. One of essentially the most spectacular components of the earbuds is their totally waterproof design, nonetheless, which 1MORE demonstrated by placing the tech in a vat of water. If you want what you see, we now have excellent news: the 1MORE Fit Open Earbuds S50 is obtainable from Amazon now for $139.99. 

CES 2024: Insta360’s Ace Pro Action Camera Makes Editing Videos Easier Than Ever

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SlashGear was in a position to tour Insta360’s sales space at this yr’s CES and take a look at the Ace Pro Action Camera in particular person. Co-engineered with Leica, the Ace Pro Action Camera can shoot 8K footage and report audio in 48 kHz 16-bit AAC. It may report gradual movement in 4k, make the most of Active HDR, and use its new PureVideo mode for unbelievable low-light capturing. It comes filled with “best-in-class” AI that may present real-time picture processing.

Insta360 was proud to indicate off the Ace Pro Action Camera’s giant, 2.4-inch flip display screen, which might make capturing in “blog mode” a breeze. The digicam additionally comes with a “suite of features that have never been built into an action camera before,” together with hand-gesture controls to function the digicam at a distance.

The producer went to nice lengths to take the effort out of video modifying for its motion digicam customers with a easy setup and interface, in addition to an AI highlights assistant. It additionally features a one-touch button that pauses recording — moderately than stops it — so you’ll be able to resume recording footage into the identical clip. Insta360’s presenter gave the instance of pausing video at a stoplight, modifying out the boring footage straight on the supply moderately than later. This could make modifying far much less cumbersome by decreasing the quantity of clips recorded throughout any given session.

The Ace Pro Action Camera can also be rugged, durably constructed, and in a position to shoot underwater footage. Insta360 identified through the tour that it is the solely motion digicam firm that provides a free lens restore program, as effectively. The Insta360 Ace Pro is on the market for $450 on Amazon.

Apple Watch Sales Ban Paused: Here’s What We Know

Back in October 2023, the United States International Trade Commission dominated that Apple had infringed upon a patent owned by Masimo, an organization concerned within the improvement and manufacturing of medical units. Masimo alleged that the expertise utilized by Apple’s newest smartwatches for detecting the blood oxygen stage used their patented expertise. While Apple denied this, the U.S. International Trade Commission discovered that Masimo’s declare had credence and handed over a ban in opposition to the import and gross sales of the latest Apple watch fashions — the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra.

With the gross sales ban scheduled to go dwell in December, Apple was left with no possibility however to tug each the affected Apple Watch Models from all its official gross sales channels, together with bodily retail areas. As a end result, Apple first pulled each these watches from its on-line shops on December 21, then eliminated these fashions from Apple Stores on December 24. Another last-ditch try to halt the gross sales ban failed when President Joe Biden declined to veto the ban earlier this week.

There isn’t any denying that this latest improvement permitting Apple to renew gross sales of the affected Apple Watch fashions will supply the corporate a vital reprieve and supply the corporate with respiratory room to navigate the authorized proceedings and doubtlessly search a everlasting answer.

Shady Dealership Upcharges Are Now Illegal

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized its new rule designed to fight nefarious vehicle dealerships utilizing shady techniques when promoting vehicles. Called the Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Rule, it can get rid of junk charges which can be generally added to buy agreements and current prospects with a clearer up-front image of what the ultimate worth will likely be. In concept, anyway.

According to the FTC, the rule will prohibit sellers from misrepresenting pricing on autos, reminiscent of promoting a worth for a particular trim that might not be accessible for buy. Dealers will likely be required to tell prospects of add-ons that are not required, reminiscent of prolonged warranties. Toyota was recently fined $60 million for a plethora of infractions by way of Toyota Motor Credit, together with allegedly telling prospects some elective add-ons have been required.

The rule additionally goes after bogus add-ons, which the FTC describes as charges for gadgets or companies that serve no objective or deliver no added worth to the desk. Extended warranties that mirror a producer’s guarantee, or built-in service visits for oil adjustments on electrical vehicles are listed as examples. Dealers will likely be required to get customers’ consent for any fees paid which can be a part of the acquisition. And the FTC particularly mentions youthful members of the navy, whom the company believes are focused by unscrupulous sellers greater than most.

“When Americans set out to buy a car, they’re routinely hit with unexpected and unnecessary fees that dealers extract just because they can,” stated FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. “The CARS Rule will prohibit exploitative junk fees in the car-buying process, saving people time and money and protecting honest dealers.”

The rule handed by a vote of 3-0 and is ready to enter impact July 30, 2024. As you would possibly anticipate, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) will not be in the slightest degree glad about it.

“This regulation is heavy-handed bureaucratic overreach and redundancy at its worst, that will needlessly lengthen the car sales process by forcing new layers of disclosures and complexity into the transaction,” NADA President and CEO Mike Stanton stated in an announcement. “The FTC made up data to support its claims, then rejected calls to slow down the process and test the effectiveness of its proposal with real consumers. We are exploring all options on how to keep this ill-conceived rule from taking effect.”

Motor1 contacted NADA to ask particularly concerning the made-up information to which Stanton referred. A spokesperson defined it was listed within the ruling, claiming “the FTC clearly states that it assumed – not ‘determined,’ ‘calculated,’ or even ‘estimated;’ assumed – that the regulation would save consumers $30 billion a year by somehow reducing time during the vehicle shopping process.” 

Perusing the 372-page FTC CARS Rule, the one point out of $30 billion comes on this part on web page 303:

The Commission’s preliminary evaluation estimated that the proposed rule would permit customers to spend 3 fewer hours finishing every motorized vehicle transaction and end in (quantifiable) total time financial savings valued at between $30 billion and $35 billion.

It’s price noting that NADA’s 364-page document submitted to the FTC in the course of the remark section claims that legal guidelines exist already relating to the problems in query. NADA additional claims that the rule violates the FTC’s already established procedures, and violates the First Amendment, and even then, automobile consumers are “generally very happy” with the method as it’s now:

Despite many unfounded stereotypes on the contrary, the general public file comprises ample information demonstrating that customers are typically very proud of their experiences buying cars. For instance, the Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) compiled by famend market analysis agency J.D. Power exhibits that total buyer satisfaction with all sellers (each these the place they purchased and people they interacted with however didn’t purchase from) is excessive, scoring 789 on a 1,000-point scale in 2021.

With 736 mixed pages between the FTC and NADA, clearly, all sides has one thing to say. We suspect there could possibly be extra to return on this earlier than July 20, 2024, arrives.

‘THE PEARL CULLINAN’: A BIRTHDAY GIFT LIKE NO OTHER

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Private Office Dubai presents one-of-one Bespoke commission, ‘The Pearl Cullinan’

Commissioned by a son as a surprise birthday gift for his father: fascia motif features the Arabic symbol for ‘father’ inlaid in stainless steel

One of the most extensive uses of mother-of-pearl ever seen in a Bespoke Rolls-Royce motor car, including central rotary dial and clock surround

Rear Picnic Tables handmade at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, each including 1,351 individually selected pieces of mother-of-pearl

Bespoke paint finish inspired by the colours of most prized pearl in the owner’s collection

“The Middle East region has long been the source of many of the most technically complex, creatively ambitious Bespoke commissions ever undertaken by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. ‘The Pearl Cullinan’ stands at the very summit of those achievements and is a supreme example of the marque’s creativity and craftsmanship. It is also the very first client Bespoke project to be commissioned through our Private Office Dubai. This is an extension of the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood and gives clients direct access to our talented Bespoke designers, together with the full support of their local dealer partner. As the motor car is a birthday gift to the father of a longstanding patron, it adds a very special dimension to the project: it has been a privilege to create such a magnificent motor car to mark this auspicious occasion. ‘The Pearl Cullinan’ not only has a deep personal meaning to both father and son, it also commemorates the great heritage story of the family. At Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, highly Bespoke commissions have always been crafted with deep emotional connections in mind and each motor car has its own tale.”
César Habib, Regional Director Middle East & Africa, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is delighted to present ‘The Pearl Cullinan’ – a magnificent, one-of-one Bespoke motor car commissioned by the owner’s family to mark a significant birthday. It is also the first Bespoke project to be revealed by the Private Office Dubai, which works with local Dealer Partners to bring the authentic Goodwood experience to clients across the Middle East and Africa region.

‘The Pearl Cullinan’ was commissioned in early 2022 by a longstanding Rolls-Royce client, to mark his father’s 90th birthday. Regional Director, César Habib, and Bespoke Lead Designer, Michelle Lusby, were originally introduced to the father with the purpose of understanding his passions and life story; these meetings provided valuable insights to inform the design direction for the commission.

BESPOKE PEARL ROSE EXTERIOR FINISH
The Bespoke Pearl Rose finish is inspired by the colour of the owner’s most prized pearl in his extensive, world-class collection and is reserved exclusively for this motor car: it will not be available to any other client in future. Paint specialists at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood used carefully selected pigments to replicate a delicate hint of pink rarely found in natural pearls. Unusually, the paint combines both metallic and pearlescent effects to give exceptional depth and lustre.

Perfecting the finish required around 30 different iterations, each applied to a full-sized body panel. These were pre-checked under daylight simulation lamps in the Atelier at Goodwood, then sent to the client to make sure the colour was correct when viewed under the Middle Eastern sun. The paint also underwent extensive technical testing to ensure it will remain unaltered by heat or UV light over its lifetime.

The Pearl Rose finish is complemented with a single coachline, applied by hand in Rose Gold paint, to match the rose gold-plated Spirit of Ecstasy mascot. The rose gold theme also extends to the Bespoke treadplates, which are revealed on each of the four door sills upon opening.

INTERIOR: THE ART OF PRESENTATION
The interior of ‘The Pearl Cullinan’ features two different leather colours. The front seats – where the father prefers to travel as a passenger – are finished in his favourite Cashmere Grey. In reference to the family’s heritage, the rear seats are trimmed in Ardent Red which takes inspiration from the colour of the material on which pearls are presented to customers, to best highlight their subtle natural colour variations. In a similar vein, the burr walnut veneer echoes the wooden presentation boxes in which pearls are traditionally handed over to customers upon purchase.

Bespoke embroidery detailing includes ‘RR’ monograms in Rose Gold thread on the headrests, and rear seat inserts in Grace White, inspired by the symmetrical growth patterns of an oyster shell and angled at the same precise 55 degrees as the veneer.

A CELEBRATION OF MOTHER-OF-PEARL
‘The Pearl Cullinan’ features one of the most extensive uses of mother-of-pearl ever seen in a Rolls-Royce motor car. The natural variations of this beautiful material created opportunities and challenges in equal measure for the marque’s designers and craftspeople.

This is particularly apparent with the detailed design of the Picnic Tables, fitted to the rear of the front passenger seats. The upper surface features an intricate, circular pattern inspired by traditional Arabic design that draws the eye inwards to a central point. Each tabletop is then inlaid with 1,351 separate pieces of mother-of-pearl, every one individually selected and placed by hand in the surrounding burr walnut marquetry and sealed with clear lacquer. The natural shade and colour differences in both the mother-of-pearl and the wood mean each tabletop is a unique work of art.

The burr walnut fascia incorporates an exquisite mother-of-pearl inlay inspired by traditional Middle Eastern art. At its centre is the Arabic word for ‘father’, inlaid in stainless steel. In a first for Rolls-Royce, the Bespoke dashboard clock is set in a mother-of-pearl surround; the dial and hands are in rose gold. The centre rotary dial is also finished with mother-of-pearl, giving it a tactile, jewel-like quality.

Above the occupants, the Bespoke Starlight Headliner shows the sky as it appeared on the night and at the very place the commissioning client’s father was born.

Michelle Lusby, Bespoke Lead Designer at the Private Office Dubai, said, “For me, there was a huge emotional connection with this Bespoke project. I had the privilege of spending time with the commissioning family, which allowed me to discuss details of the design directly with them, and really understand their true significance. Their unique use of mother-of-pearl was a great creative and technical challenge for us: to see the Picnic Tables go from my original digital designs to those beautiful, highly detailed finished works of art was fantastic. This is a truly special commission in so many ways, and a project we aspire to have as Rolls-Royce designers. Emotions inspire our imaginations.”

NEDCcorr (combined) CO2 emission: 348 g/km; Fuel consumption: 18.6 mpg / 15.2 l/100km. WLTP (combined) CO2 emission: 377-368 g/km; Fuel consumption: 17.1-17.5 mpg / 16.5-16.1 l/100km.

Things to Consider Before Purchasing an Air Fryer

In 2023, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a recall notice for over 2 million Cosori air fryers due to a faulty wire connection that poses a fire and burn hazard. The CPSC has also recalled air fryers and air fryer ovens from other brands like Insignia and Newair. To ensure your safety, it is advisable to check the CPSC website for any known recalls before buying an air fryer, as some retailers may continue selling faulty units.

It is also important to be aware of the return policies offered by the retailer. If you encounter any issues with your air fryer, such as it not functioning properly, a generous return policy can be very helpful. While some issues may be due to manufacturing defects, like faulty wiring, the risk of burns can also be reduced by maintaining your air fryer properly.

Food particles or leftover marinades can cause fires, so it is crucial to clean the air fryer basket and coils after each use. Additionally, it is recommended to plug the air fryer directly into an outlet instead of using an extension cord and to unplug it when not in use.