Your furnace isn't going away, it's becoming the backup
Newer cold-climate heat pumps keep heating at much lower outdoor temperatures than older models. In a dual-fuel setup, that means the heat pump handles more of the winter and the gas furnace only kicks in on the coldest days. Daikin now makes an add-on that lets one of its inverter heat pumps work with a furnace you already have. The point they make is a good one: the outdoor unit and the furnace rarely wear out at the same time, so you don't always have to replace both.
If your outdoor unit is failing but your furnace is in good shape, ask about pairing a heat pump with the furnace you have instead of replacing everything. A $79 diagnostic tells you which piece actually needs attention.
Source: ACHR News
DJI Flip firmware update resets your camera settings
DJI pushed a new firmware update for the Flip drone. It fixes known bugs and doesn't add new shooting modes, despite some early reports. The catch is that your camera settings get wiped during the update.
After updating, recheck your resolution, frame rate and color settings before you fly, and update the drone, the controller and the DJI Fly app together so everything matches.
Source: My Electric Sparks
Samsung's smarter sleep apnea check starts rolling out
Samsung upgraded the sleep apnea feature on some of its wearables. It now looks at your breathing and other data overnight and sorts disturbances as mild, occasional or frequent. The Galaxy Ring and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 get it first, starting in South Korea, with more watches later. There's no date yet for the US.
A watch can flag a problem, but it isn't a diagnosis. If it keeps warning you, or someone says you snore and stop breathing, talk to your doctor. A dry, stuffy bedroom can also make sleep worse in winter, so keep your furnace filter fresh.
Source: iDevice
Motorola's next flagship phone has a very bright screen
An early hands-on video shows the Motorola Signature 27 with a stacked OLED screen built for extra brightness and contrast. Motorola says the phone launches November 5. Battery details haven't been shared yet.
A brighter screen is easier to read outside, which helps if you use your phone on the job or in the yard. Brighter screens can drain the battery faster, so wait for battery reviews before you buy.
Source: 9to5Google
Big AI companies agree on one opt-out switch for websites
OpenAI, Google, Microsoft and Anthropic say they'll respect a single setting in a website's robots.txt file that keeps the site out of AI training for all of them at once. Today, site owners have to block each company one at a time.
If you run a small business site or a family blog, ask whoever manages it whether you want this setting turned on. It's one line in a file, and it's your call either way.
Source: The Verge
Safety reminder from me
Cold nights are when furnaces, water heaters and space heaters work hardest. If you smell gas, leave the house first and call your gas company from outside. Never open up gas lines, refrigerant lines or your electrical panel yourself. For anything electrical inside the panel, call a qualified electrician. For heating trouble, I can help with a $79 diagnostic or a $79 tune-up.
