Places and Things

The first Mercedes-Benz EV fast-charging stations will open this fall Mercedes-Benz is launching its high-power charging hub network in the fourth quarter of 2023 with speeds as high as 400kW — more than any EV on the market can handle, the company announced. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/the-first-mercedes-benz-ev-fast-charging-stations-will-open-this-fall-075912626.html

Amazon CEO reportedly told remote employees: ‘It’s probably not going to work out’ Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has a message to employees who don’t want to return to the office: “It’s not going to work out for you.” That’s according to a report from Insider, which says Jassy made that statement during a meeting earlier this month. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/28/23849754/amazon-ceo-andy-jassy-remote-employees-return-to-office

The Apple Watch Ultra is $100 off with a couple colorful strap options We’re inching closer to September’s Apple event, and along with a rumored iPhone 15 lineup, we’re likely to see a new Apple Watch. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/24/23844109/apple-watch-ultra-sony-linkbuds-earbuds-google-nest-doorbell-deal-sale

Meta approved hate-filled Facebook ads that called for violence in Europe Meta is again facing allegations it’s not doing enough to prevent the spread of hate speech and violent content in Facebook ads. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/meta-approved-hate-filled-facebook-ads-that-called-for-violence-in-europe-030015537.html

Scientists strengthen concrete by 30 percent with used coffee grounds Humans produce around 4.4 billion tons of concrete every year. That process consumes around 8 billion tons of sand (out of the 40-50 billion tons in total used annually) which has, in part, led to acute shortages of the building commodity in recent years. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/scientists-strengthen-concrete-by-30-percent-with-used-coffee-grounds-221643441.html

WD refused to answer our questions about its self-wiping SanDisk SSDs What’s the fuss? For months, the company has been laughably silent about how its pricey portable SanDisk Extreme SSDs might lose all your data. It happened to my colleague Vjeran Pavic twice. It happened to Ars Technica. It happened to PetaPixel. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/23837513/western-digital-sandisk-ssd-corrupted-deleted-questions

GM invests in ‘AI-enabled’ battery startup that could help build cheaper EVs GM is leading a $60 million investment round for battery research company Mitra Chem. The California-based startup could help spur the development of more cathode active materials (CAM) for GM’s electric vehicles. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/16/23834197/gm-mitra-chem-electric-car-battery-lfp