Tag Archives: Control

Technology

‘Hunter-Killer’ Drones Explained: How They Work, And How It’s Changed Warfare

A drone’s human pilots carry out missions from a ground control station, which can be located anywhere in the world, thanks to satellite communication. This ensures the safety of soldiers, as they are not physically present in the drone. If a drone is shot down or becomes inoperable, the Air Force can simply deploy another drone with the same pilot on the ground.

Hunter-killer drones enable militaries to operate deep within enemy territory, monitoring battlefield developments and carrying out targeted strikes if necessary, all while remaining nearly invisible. This technology has been particularly valuable in places like Afghanistan, where groups such as the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and eventually ISIS lacked the means to counter or even detect drones like the MQ-9 Reaper. It’s important to note that drone systems like the MQ-9 Reaper do not replace fighter jets, ground troops, or naval fleets. Instead, they provide a significant advantage in reconnaissance and executing necessary but risky strikes.

Cars, Technology

How To Remove Apps on Apple CarPlay

If you want to have more control over your CarPlay menu even when you’re not in your car, Apple has made it possible for you to uninstall apps. However, it may not be clear where to start, especially since there is no dedicated CarPlay app pre-installed on your phone. Here are the steps you need to follow:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Select the General menu, then tap on the CarPlay menu.
  3. From the provided menu, tap on the name of your car and then hit Customize.
  4. To remove unwanted apps from the CarPlay menu, tap on the red minus symbol located to the left of the app’s name, and then click on the Remove button.

If an app does not have a red minus symbol next to it, it means that it cannot be removed from CarPlay. The next time you connect your iPhone to your car and start it, the app you deleted will no longer be displayed on the CarPlay screen.

If you change your mind, you can restore these apps at any time using the same process mentioned above. Additionally, you can also rearrange the order of the apps on your CarPlay display by tapping and dragging them using the three-line symbol on the right. Now that you know how to remove apps from CarPlay, you may want to explore nine other CarPlay tricks.

Technology

How To Share A Photo Album On iPhone

When you create a shared album on your iPhone, you have complete control over all the activities that take place in that album. You can delete any media or comment added by a subscriber, and any edits you make to the photos in the album will be reflected on all contributors’ devices. However, subscribers have the ability to delete their own media or comments, and any media they have saved or downloaded to their devices will remain unaffected.

It’s important to note that you can only upload pictures to the shared album from your Photos Library, and they must be in one of the following formats: HEIF, JPEG, RAW, PNG, GIF, or TIFF. For videos, shared albums support file formats like HEVC, MP4, QuickTime, MPEG-4, and H.264, with a maximum length of 15 minutes.

That’s all there is to it! Shared Albums provide a convenient and efficient way to privately share a large number of photos. Now you know how to take advantage of this feature. In addition to photo-sharing, you can also use iCloud to back up your photos and access them from an iPad or Mac, or restore them in case of device loss or damage. If you want to learn more about accessing your iCloud photos, you can check out this article.

Car review

BYD Dolphin

The BYD Dolphin, introduced in 2023, comes with standard adaptive cruise control and lane following. However, the system is not as smooth as some other options available in the market. One annoying feature of the Dolphin is its bongs and spoken message that scolds you for exceeding the speed limit, even if you actually haven’t. Unfortunately, turning off this feature can be a hassle. It would be better if there was a simple button to disable it.

Now, let’s talk about the Dolphin’s potential impact on the small EV market. Looking at its pricing, it seems that the Dolphin could be a game-changer.

The base Active model is priced at £25,490. However, we recommend avoiding it due to its torsion-beam suspension and lack of power. For an additional £1000, you can get the Boost model. The Comfort model, which comes with a larger battery, is priced at £29,490. Finally, the fully loaded Design model will set you back £30,990. Comparing to other options in this price range, such as the MG 4 EV, which has a different character, the Dolphin either offers a considerably larger size or a significantly longer range.

Speaking of range, the Dolphin impresses with its excellent range for a car of this size. In a road test of the Atto 3, we found that the efficiency indicator was overly optimistic. Therefore, we take the Dolphin’s claimed efficiency of 4.1 miles per kilowatt-hour (which translates to 249 miles of range) with skepticism. Nevertheless, achieving a comfortably doable range of 200 miles should not be a problem.

BYD aims for people to buy its cars based on style and individuality rather than just affordability. However, the current version of the Dolphin lacks the refinement in terms of multimedia, chassis, and some interior materials to truly impress. Nevertheless, its attractive pricing may make up for some of its flaws.

Mazda

Statement on Safety Recall 5823D

ABS Hydraulic Control Unit Damage in Certain 2022~2023MY CX-30 and 2023MY CX-50 Vehicles

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO), on behalf of Mazda Motor Corporation, has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a safety defect affecting certain 2022-2023MY CX-30 and 2023MY Mazda CX-50 vehicles.

The defect involves internal damage in the Anti-lock Braking System Hydraulic Control Unit (ABS HCU) which can cause an increase in brake pedal travel length. This increased travel length may lead to a feeling of reduced braking ability when attempting to stop, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

No accidents or injuries have been reported due to this defect.

A total of 2,566 vehicles in the US and Canada are affected:

  • 2022-2023MY CX-30 – 2,556 units built at Mazda Motor Manufacturing de Mexico
  • 2023MY CX-50 – 10 units built at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing U.S.

Owners of affected vehicles will receive notification by mail. To stay updated, please visit mazdarecallinfo.com or nhtsa.gov.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and is responsible for sales, marketing, parts, and customer service support for Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, and Mexico through approximately 780 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario, while operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. Operations in Colombia are managed by Mazda de Colombia in Bogota, Colombia.

For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

Follow MNAO on Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and on Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.