With a Simple Twist, Audemars Piguet Revolutionizes Perpetual Calendar Watches
Pursuits
The Swiss brand introduced a range of new timepieces in honor of its 150th anniversary—including the calibre 7138 movement, which solves a pesky problem with perpetual calendars.
Watch brands love an anniversary, big or small, and treat them as a way to showcase their technical skill. This year, Audemars Piguet celebrates its 150th, so it's no surprise its research and development teams worked for five years to create something they believe might change watchmaking for the next 150.
On Feb. 17, AP showcased the fruits of that labor at the Arc, the watchmaker's nearly 194,000-square-foot new manufacture in Le Brassus, Switzerland. The futuristic building (which is still only partially open) curves around the existing Manufacture des Forges and brings much of AP's production across the Vallée de Joux under one roof. Here, Chief Executive Officer Ilaria Resta and her team showed new watches and celebrated the brand's history.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Browser Company launches its AI-first browser, Dia, in beta
Traditional web tools are facing an existential crisis as AI products and tools increasingly eat up attention — and therefore market share and money — from a wide swathe of products that people have used for years to interact with the internet. At least, that's what The Browser Company seems to think is happening. The company last year decided to stop developing its popular web browser Arc, acknowledging that while Arc was popular among enthusiasts, it never hit scale as it presented too steep a learning curve to reach mass adoption. The startup has since been heads-down on developing a browser that bakes in AI at the heart of the browser. That browser, called Dia, is now available for use in beta, though you'll need an invite to try it out. The Browser Company's CEO Josh Miller has of late acknowledged how people have been using AI tools for all sorts of tasks, and Dia is a reflection of that. By giving users an AI interface within the browser itself, where a majority of work is done these days, the company is hoping to slide into the user flow and give people an easy way to use AI, cutting out the need to visit the sites for tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity and Claude. Up front, Dia presents a straightforward interface. The browser is based on Chromium, the open-source browser project backed by Google, so it has a familiar look and feel. The marquee feature here is the AI smarts, of course. Besides letting you type in website names and search terms, Dia's URL bar acts as the interface for its in-built AI chatbot. The bot can search the web for you, summarize files that you upload, and can automatically switch between chat and search functions. Users can also ask questions about all the tabs they have open, and the bot can even write up a draft based on the contents of those tabs. To set your preferences, all you have to do is talk to the chatbot to customize its tone of voice, style of writing, and settings for coding. Via an opt-in feature called History, you can allow the browser to use seven days of your browsing history as context to answer queries. Another feature called Skills lets you build small snippets of code that act as shortcuts to various settings. For example, you can ask the browser to build a layout for reading, and it'll code something up for you — think Siri shortcuts, but for your browser. Now, we have to note that chatbots in browsers are not a new feature at all. Several browser companies have integrated AI tools into their interfaces — for example, Opera Neon lets users use an AI agent to build mini-applications or complete tasks on their behalf, and Google is also adding AI-powered features to Chrome. The Browser Company says all existing Arc members will get access to Dia immediately, and existing Dia users will be able to send invites to other users. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
8 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Costco quietly pulls popular product, upsets fans
One of the nice things about Costco is that the company likes to keep things fresh and interesting for members. Costco knows that consumers have plenty of options to shop for groceries and other essential items without having to pay an annual membership fee. But Costco also relies on those fees for a large chunk of its revenue. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Because of this, Costco goes out of its way to make sure it's giving members great value for their money. Related: Costco CEO admits warehouse club may change its hours Sometimes, that means introducing new perks. But often, it means bringing new products to shelves. In fact, Costco's management team enjoys likening the shopping experience to a treasure hunt. The company is well aware that many consumers come in with a small shopping list only to walk out of the store with loaded carts. And the reason is that members frequently get enticed by new products at seemingly unbeatable prices. Image source: Boyle/Getty Images Unlike traditional supermarkets, which may stock 40,000 SKUs (stock keeping units) or more at a time, Costco typically limits its inventory to 4,000 different items. There's a reason for that. Costco wants to make sure every item on its shelves meets its standards for quality. It's easier to do that with a narrower selection of goods. Related: Costco brings back huge perk members have missed Costco also strives to offer the lowest prices in retail. Having fewer items means the company can spend more time negotiating with suppliers. The flip side of all of this, of course, is that to introduce new items, Costco has to rotate products outof its lineup. That often forces members to say goodbye to products they love. Earlier this year, Costco made the decision to stop selling its Kirkland Signature soy milk. Fans of the product were very upset to see it go, especially since many relied on it as a non-dairy alternative. Costco also recently did away with its Sweet Heat snack mix. The blend of spicy and sweet nuts was a big hit with customers, and many were surprised to discover that it was suddenly gone. While Costco stocks its share of fresh grocery products, the store also sells a host of frozen entrees that can be heated up for a quick, convenient meal. Last year, Costco members were excited to see smoked ham and Swiss cheese pockets hit the freezer section. The "pockets" were actually a flaky croissant that served as a delicious breakfast, lunch, or snack. Related: Costco makes major investment to fix member problem But now, Costco users are taking to Reddit to complain that their beloved ham and Swiss pockets are nowhere to be found. And while some Costco locations may still have them, a number are reporting that the item has been discontinued. Needless to say, fans aren't happy. "I liked them, but now I can't find them in my Costco," one Reddit user said. "So good! My Costco had them for a couple months then they were discontinued," another user said. Unfortunately, the nature of Costco products is that they can appear suddenly without fanfare but disappear just as quickly. The takeaway? Members who fall in love with a given Costco product may want to stock up in case the company makes the decision to pull it without warning. More Retail: Walmart CEO sounds alarm on a big problem for customersTarget makes a change that might scare Walmart, CostcoTop investor takes firm stance on troubled retail brandWalmart and Costco making major change affecting all customers That said, one Reddit user had a hack for those bemoaning the disappearance of the ham and Swiss pockets. They suggested buying a box of Costco bakery croissants, filling them with ham and cheese, and heating them up in an air fryer or toaster. It may not be an exact replica, but the taste could be pretty darn close. Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco. Related: Costco plans new checkout option members should love The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Missouri governor signs stadium aid package intended to keep the Chiefs and Royals in the state
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a legislative package on Saturday, approved by Missouri lawmakers earlier in the week, that includes hundreds of millions of dollars of financial aid intended to persuade the Chiefs and Royals to remain in the state. Kehoe, a Republican, had called lawmakers into special session and they approved of the package Wednesday. The Chiefs and Royals currently play at the Truman Sports Complex on the east side of Kansas City, where Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium share parking facilities. But their leases with Jackson County, Missouri, expire in January 2031, and the two franchises have been trying to decide the best route forward for the past several years. Last year, Jackson County voters defeated a sales tax extension that would have helped finance an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead Stadium — the home of the Chiefs — and a $2 billion ballpark district for the Royals in downtown Kansas City. The slow movement by those on the Missouri side of the state line in supporting the franchises prompted lawmakers in Kansas to authorize bonds for up to 70% of the cost of new stadiums in their state. The Royals have bought a mortgage for property in Kansas, though the team also has continued to pursue other possible sites in Missouri. The offer from Kansas is scheduled to expire June 30, and both teams have indicated they will hope to have a plan formulated by then. Missouri's legislation authorizes bonds covering up to 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums, plus up to $50 million of tax credits for each stadium and unspecified aid from local governments. If they choose to stay in Missouri, the Chiefs have floated plans for a $1.15 billion renovation of Arrowhead Stadium. The Royals have insisted all along that they intend to build a replacement for Kauffman Stadium. The stadium subsidies already were a top concern in Missouri when a deadly tornado struck St. Louis on May 16, causing an estimated $1.6 billion of damage a day after lawmakers had wrapped up work in their annual regular session. Disaster relief tied to stadium funding had widespread support. On Wednesday, Democratic state Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins described to lawmakers how she had witnessed the tornado rip the roof off her house and damage her St. Louis neighborhood. 'Homes are crumbled and leveled,' said Collins, adding: 'It hurts me to my core to see the families that have worked so hard, the businesses that have worked so hard, to see them ripped apart.' The Chiefs, in a statement to The Associated Press, described the legislative vote this week as a 'significant step forward' that enables the team to continue exploring options to remain in Missouri. The Royals described the legislation as 'a very important piece of our decision-making process' but made no site-specific commitment. 'Our focus remains the same: to prioritize the best interests of our team, fans, partners and regional community as we pursue the next generational home for the Kansas City Royals,' the team said in a statement to the AP. Though they have no specific plans in the works, the St. Louis Cardinals also would be eligible for stadium aid if they undertake a project of at least $500 million. They built their existing Busch Stadium nearly 20 years ago. 'We have the chance to maybe save what is the symbol of this state,' said state Rep. Jim Murphy, a Republican from St. Louis County. The legislation did face some bipartisan pushback from those who described it as a subsidy for wealthy franchise owners. Others raised concerns that a property tax break for homeowners, which was added in the Senate to gain votes, violates the state constitution by providing different levels of tax relief in various counties while excluding others entirely. 'This bill is unconstitutional, it's fiscally reckless, it's morally wrong,' Republican state Rep. Bryant Wolfin said. ___ Associated Press writer David Lieb contributed to this report. ___ AP sports: Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
