Los Angeles Times
The 'Shohei economy' is something to bank on
Japanese companies wanting to get the word out in America about their products have eager audiences at Dodger Stadium
3 min |
August 30, 2025
Techlife News
APPLE ANNOUNCES SEPTEMBER 9 LAUNCH EVENT IPHONE 17 EXPECTED TO HEADLINE WITH MAJOR DESIGN CHANGES
Apple has officially confirmed its next big product launch event for September 9, 2025, and all signs point to the unveiling of the iPhone 17 lineup.
3 min |
Techlife News #722
Techlife News
APPLE STUDY FINDS LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS BENEFIT FROM CLASSIC "CHAINING" PRODUCTIVITY TRICK
Apple has published new research suggesting that large language models (LLMs)—the same kind of systems that power AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Apple's own in-house models—can see measurable performance improvements when applied with a decades-old productivity method: breaking down big tasks into smaller, structured steps.
2 min |
Techlife News #722
Los Angeles Times
Southwest to change extra-seat policy for plus-size passengers
The airline plans to remove the refund guarantee for eligible customers in 2026.
3 min |
August 30, 2025
Los Angeles Times
College is expensive. And worth taxpayers’ investment
WHEN IT COMES to paying for college, retired NBA player Matt Barnes is like any other Gen X dad in America.
8 min |
August 30, 2025
Los Angeles Times
Removal of the acting U.S. attorney in L.A. is demanded
The federal public defender's office says Bill Essayli is illegally occupying the post.
4 min |
August 30, 2025
Los Angeles Times
Trump's death penalty threat is dangerous to all of us
It's less about crime than consolidating control
5 min |
August 30, 2025
Los Angeles Times
Dezeurn shows he can run — and catch passes as well
Demare Dezeurn has already established himself as one ofthe fastest high school sprinters in California.
1 min |
August 30, 2025
Los Angeles Times
Man held in Peru after body of his wife is found
The slaying suspect is accused of dumping remains in Angeles National Forest.
2 min |
August 30, 2025
Los Angeles Times
Man who says U.S. agent shot at truck is charged
Francisco Longoria, a San Bernardino man who was driving his truck when a masked U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer shot at it, has been arrested and charged by federal authorities.
4 min |
August 30, 2025
Los Angeles Times
Winery's role in fire at center of probe
California fire investigators appear to be investigating what role, if any, a prestigious Napa Valley winery played in the start of the almost 7,000-acre Pickett fire, which is still threatening hundreds of buildings and dozens of wineries.
1 min |
August 30, 2025
Techlife News
SPACEX'S STARSHIP DEPLOYS FIRST MOCK STARLINK SATELLITES ON 10TH TEST FLIGHT, MARKING A MAJOR PROGRAM MILESTONE
The flight, launched from the company’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, was closely watched by both industry insiders and regulators, as Starship is central not only to SpaceX’s long-term commercial plans but also to NASA's Artemis program, which is counting on the vehicle to land astronauts on the Moon later this decade. A NEW MILESTONE IN STARSHIP DEVELOPMENT Starship has steadily improved since its fiery early flights in 2023, with each launch designed to test different components of the system. The 10th mission marked the first demonstration of Starship’s ability to carry and release payloads into orbit, simulating what a future operational mission would look like when deploying hundreds of Starlink satellites in a single launch. SpaceX confirmed that the payload bay doors opened successfully in orbit and that a set of mock Starlink units—essentially mass simulators designed to mimic the size and weight of the satellites—were released smoothly. The test verified mechanical systems critical for future missions and provided valuable telemetry on how the rocket performs when transitioning from ascent to payload deployment. WHY STARSHIP MATTERS TO STARLINK Starlink, SpaceX's global satellite broadband service, currently relies on Falcon 9 rockets to place satellites into low-Earth orbit. But Falcon 9 can only carry about 60 Starlink units at a time, requiring a steady cadence of launches to maintain and expand the network. Starship, by contrast, is designed to deploy hundreds of satellites per flight, massively scaling the constellation at lower cost per unit. With over 6,000 Starlink satellites already in orbit, the service has become a critical revenue driver for SpaceX. The shift to Starship could accelerate global coverage, improve bandwidth, and make the business model more sustainable. “Starship is essential for Starlink’s long-term economics,” said one industry analyst. “It turns what is currently a heavy logistical effort into something far more efficient.” TECHNICAL PROGRESS AND REMAINING HURDLES In addition to payload deployment, the 10th test flight gathered data on booster recovery maneuvers and heat shield performance during reentry. While full reusability remains SpaceX’s ultimate goal, the company is still refining the ability to recover both the Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage intact. The flight built on the successes of the ninth mission, when both stages demonstrated controlled flight for the longest durations yet. With each incremental improvement, SpaceX inches closer to its vision of rapid-turnaround reusable rockets, similar to commercial airliners. BROADER IMPLICATIONS: FROM MOON TO MARS NASA has contracted SpaceX to develop a lunar version of Starship as part of the Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon in 2026. Demonstrating payload deployment capability strengthens SpaceX's case that Starship can support complex missions beyond Earth orbit, including delivering cargo modules, lunar landers, and eventually human habitats. Elon Musk has also repeatedly emphasized Starship’s role in enabling Mars colonization, arguing that only a fully reusable, heavy-lift rocket can make interplanetary settlement economically feasible. Successful orbital payload operations mark a critical step toward proving Starship’s viability for such ambitions. ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRY IMPACT The 10th test flight reinforces SpaceX’s dominance in the commercial space sector. Rivals such as Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance are developing heavy-lift rockets, but none have demonstrated the kind of rapid iteration SpaceX is applying to Starship. The potential to launch hundreds of satellites at once could reshape the economics of the broadband industry, raising competitive pressure on terrestrial internet providers and even on Amazon's Project Kuiper, which is also deploying a satellite constellation. LOOKING AHEAD With this milestone achieved, SpaceX is expected to attempt more ambitious missions in 2026, including tests of in-orbit refueling—a capability that will be essential for long-duration lunar and Mars missions. Future flights may also carry real Starlink payloads, paving the way for Starship to transition from experimental flights to operational workhorses. For now, the successful deployment of mock satellites confirms that Starship is no longer just a test vehicle—it is evolving into the spacecraft that SpaceX has long promised, one capable of reshaping satellite broadband, deep space exploration, and the future of commercial spaceflight.
3 min |
Techlife News #722
Techlife News
APPLE'S FIRST FOLDABLE IPHONE SET FOR 2026 WITH FOUR CAMERAS, TOUCH ID, AND A FUTURE WITHOUT SIM SLOTS
Apple is preparing to enter the foldable phone market in 2026 with a device that promises to be one of its boldest iPhone redesigns in over a decade.
3 min |
Techlife News #722
Techlife News
NVIDIA UNVEILS $3,499 ROBOTICS CHIP FOR "PHYSICAL AI” AS IT EYES THE NEXT COMPUTING REVOLUTION
Nvidia, fresh off its meteoric rise as the defining company of the artificial intelligence boom, is turning its focus from the digital world of language models to the physical world of robotics.
3 min |
Techlife News #722
Techlife News
APPLE REPORTEDLY WEIGHED ACQUISITIONS OF MISTRAL AND PERPLEXITY AS AI RACE INTENSIFIES
Apple, which has been steadily accelerating its artificial intelligence strategy under the “Apple Intelligence” banner, reportedly held internal discussions about acquiring fast-growing AI startups Mistral and Perplexity.
3 min |
Techlife News #722
Los Angeles Times
Be prepared for the haboob, the mother of all dust storms
Climate change has increased heat and dryness in the Central Valley and SoCal, adding to health risks
2 min |
August 30, 2025
Los Angeles Times
Israel declares Gaza’s largest city a combat zone
As military announces resumption of fighting, officials say death toll has surpassed 63,000.
4 min |
August 30, 2025
Los Angeles Times
Protection, or imposition?
Some desert property owners argue that state safeguards for Joshua trees have created an unfair financial burden
7 min |
August 30, 2025
Techlife News
CYBERSECURITY RESEARCHERS WARN OF FLAW IN GOOGLE'S GEMINI CHATBOT THAT COULD LET HACKERS SEIZE SMART HOME DEVICES
A team of cybersecurity researchers has uncovered a serious flaw in Google's Gemini AI chatbot that could potentially allow hackers to take control of connected smart home devices.
3 min |
Techlife News #722
Techlife News
TESLA'S ROBOTAXI GEOFENCE EXPANSION ENTERS "PLAID MODE" - AND COMES WITH AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE
Tesla's long-promised robotaxi service is taking a dramatic leap forward.
3 min |
Techlife News #722
Techlife News
AT&T TO ACQUIRE ECHOSTAR SPECTRUM LICENSES IN $23 BILLION DEAL TO BOOST 5G FOOTPRINT
AT&T has struck a deal to acquire spectrum licenses from EchoStar for about $23 billion, a move that could significantly expand the telecom giant's 5G network capacity at a time when demand for high-speed mobile data is surging.
3 min |
Techlife News #722
Techlife News
U.S. AIR FORCE'S X-37B SPACEPLANE LAUNCHES AGAIN WITH MYSTERIOUS 'QUANTUM GPS' PAYLOAD
The X-37B, the U.S. military's secretive robotic spaceplane, is back in orbit after lifting off for its seventh mission—this time carrying an experimental navigation system dubbed “quantum GPS.”
2 min |
Techlife News #722
Los Angeles Times
Rental subsidies for L.A. homeless vets often unused
Bureaucracy has left more than 4,000 vouchers for housing gathering dust.
7 min |
August 30, 2025
Los Angeles Times
S. Korean president turns on the charm for Trump
A ‘Zelensky moment’ averted, leader must deal with unresolved issues involving U.S.
5 min |
August 30, 2025
Los Angeles Times
The new math in LAUSD: Too many schools
Campus closures and staff cuts haven’t kept pace with the district’s declining enrollment.
6 min |
August 30, 2025
Los Angeles Times
O.C. rejects voter data request
County leaders refuse a federal demand for registration records, citing privacy and law.
3 min |
August 30, 2025
Los Angeles Times
Beverly Hills schools won't display Israeli flags after all
The superintendent of the Beverly Hills Unified School District overruled a plan approved by the Board of Education to display Israeli flags on all campuses during Jewish American Heritage Month, citing concerns about student safety.
3 min |
August 30, 2025
Los Angeles Times
Anxious farmers reduce spending in threat to rural economy
Sunny skies and mild temperatures this week greeted the biggest U.S. farm show of the year.
3 min |
August 30, 2025
Los Angeles Times
Fire victim can probe insurer payouts, judge says
State Farm’s push for higher premiums now faces review of claims handling practices.
3 min |
August 30, 2025
Los Angeles Times
Gen Alpha's fave franchises are video games
Want to get Generation Alpha into movie theaters? Look to video games.
3 min |