Cooper & Hunter adds new inverter AC and heat pump lines
Cooper & Hunter rolled out two new home systems: the Omni air conditioner series and the Alto heat pump series. Both use variable-speed inverter compressors, compact outdoor units that blow out the side, and the newer R-454B refrigerant. They come in six sizes, from small homes up to larger ones, and can pair with the company's own indoor air handlers or with other matching R-454B indoor units.
Many new systems now use R-454B, which is a mildly flammable refrigerant, so installation and repairs need someone trained for it. If you're shopping for a replacement, ask what refrigerant the system uses and make sure the indoor and outdoor units are a matched pair. Refrigerant work is never DIY.
Source: ACHR News
Mitsubishi Electric shrinks the heat pump with "The Little One"
Mitsubishi Electric announced The Little One, a compact Ecodan heat pump that heats water for radiators and floor heating in new homes in the UK. It's a good bit smaller, lighter and quieter than the model it's based on, and it's due in 2027. It's a UK product for now, but it shows where heat pumps are heading: smaller boxes that are easier to place and quieter for the neighbors.
Whatever size your outdoor unit is, it needs room to breathe. Keep about two feet clear around it, pull leaves and pine straw away after windy days, and never stack anything on top of it.
Source: Installer Online
Blue Phone puts an AI assistant in charge of a Pixel
A startup called Blue opened a public beta of Blue Phone, a Pixel 10 Pro running Blue's own version of Android. Its AI assistant works across your apps, can handle a few jobs at once, and turns rambling voice notes into clean messages, like finding an old receipt without hopping between apps. Android Authority points out the obvious privacy question. Blue says it keeps your data in an encrypted vault and blocks ad tracking by default.
Before you let any AI assistant into your email, texts or accounts, read what it can see and where that data goes. Turn on two-step login for your main email first, since that account is the key to everything else.
Source: Android Authority
United won't let your AI agent book your flight
United Airlines is blocking unapproved AI assistants from buying flights. The bots can still show you United flights, but you have to finish the purchase yourself. United says the reasons are privacy, accidental purchases, and federal rules that require the passenger to confirm certain things in person. The CEO also said he doesn't want another middleman, according to The Wall Street Journal, as reported by The Verge.
With holiday travel coming up, book directly and double-check names, dates and airports before you pay. And before you leave for a trip, set your thermostat a few degrees lower instead of off, so the pipes stay safe while you're gone.
Source: The Verge
Huawei's MateBook Fold S folds down to book size
Huawei teased the MateBook Fold S, a laptop with a single 14.7-inch screen that folds in half, plus a small display on the back that shows notifications when it's closed. Pre-orders open in China on Nov. 14. Huawei hasn't shared full specs or any plans for other countries yet.
Folding screens and laptop batteries don't like heat. Don't leave devices charging under a pillow or blanket or in a hot car, and charge them on a hard, flat surface.
Source: Tech Prolonged
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.
