Touch and go

November 5, 2024

Touch and go: The iPhone 16 has two new buttons, home appliances are returning to knobs instead of touchscreens, and carmakers are bringing back dials. Why? Well, we like the tactical feedback of a real button, and you don’t have to give them your full attention. Prime example: Car infotainment systems. Look away for too long and hello, fender bender.

Tags: Apple iPhone 16, buttons, home appliances, infotainment systems, touchscreens

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AI window-washing robots make their U.S. debut in Dallas

🧽 Window washing 2.0: Cleaning high-rise windows is risky work, but a spider-like AI robot is about to change that. Named after those gravity-defying mountain goats, Ibex only needs a button press to get to work. It climbs buildings, using cameras and sensors to scan surfaces, dodge window frames and leave no spot untouched. The robots are already in Texas, so don’t be surprised if they pop up everywhere soon.

For only $11

You can get a can of air from beautiful Lake Como in Italy. Sellers think it’ll appeal to American tourists because, ya know, George Clooney bought a villa there years ago. Anyone want to buy a can of air off Camelback Mountain for $5?

Robot plays cello with Malmö Symphony Orchestra at concert

🎻 Keep calm and cello on: A Swedish composer put together a symphony with a robot cellist playing in sync with humans. But there’s good news: Afterward, the composer said, “It will be impossible to replace all human musicians with robots.” Watch the video — it’s really something.

50-plus years

Christmas classics “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman” are moving from CBS to NBC. “Frosty” will air on Dec. 5 at 8:30 p.m., and “Rudolph” will air on Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. If you have cable, both will also be on Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” lineup starting on Dec. 7.

4,000,000 pounds

How many berries the world’s first indoor vertical farm will produce each year. The Richmond farm will do it all with 90% less water and 97% less land than conventional farming. You have to see the pics. It’s a berry good idea.

130,000 feet

How far a Samsonite suitcase fell without taking any damage. The travel brand catapulted the suitcase through the atmosphere to demonstrate its strength, and they captured the whole thing on video.

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'Star Wars: Skeleton Crew' official trailer

🎬 The Wookie’s cookie is a little Chewie: “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” drops on Disney+ on Dec. 3. Set during the same era as “The Mandalorian” and “Ahsoka,” the series follows a group of kids who discover a spaceship and embark on an adventure. It stars Jude Law as a Jedi and looks like a 1980s Steven Spielberg movie. Check out the trailer.

Ready to play (again)?

Netflix dropped an early Christmas gift — the trailer for “Squid Game” season 2. The first season was the most-watched series of all time on the platform. I liked it, despite all the blood. New season drops Dec. 26. How festive.

130-year record

Mount Fuji has never been snowless this late in the year. The peaks are usually white by Oct. 2. Blame unusually high temperatures. My Mount Fuji pun isn’t just funny — it’s hill areas. (Oh, was that a groan I heard, or are you hungry?)

275 million accounts

Using Meta’s Threads, the rival to X. Zuckerberg says it’s on track to be their next major social app, with over 1 million people signing up each day. I think it’s kinda lame …