Latest news with #July2023
CBC
10-07-2025
- Science
- CBC
Why Earth will spin slightly faster on 3 days this summer
On July 9, July 22, and Aug. 5, Earth will rotate a tiny bit quicker making those days ever so slightly shorter than 24 hours.
CNET
09-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
Anti-Prime Day Laptop Deal: My Go-to Acer Aspire 14 AI Is $200 Off at Costco Today
The Amazon Prime Day sales event is going strong, but other retailers are also offering deep discounts with their own Anti-Prime Day deals. Right now, Costco members can snag the Acer Aspire 14 AI for $500a $200 discount, until July 20 or while supplies last. CNET's key takeaways The Acer Aspire 14 AI is available for $500 at Costco. The Intel Lunar Lake CPU offers good performance for the price and long battery life. The display and design won't wow you. Laptop prices are on the rise -- and the more they increase, the better Acer's Aspire 14 AI looks. When I reviewed it in April, it cost $700 at Costco and was the cheapest Copilot Plus PC I had reviewed. Fast forward two months and it's now $500 at Costco, making it the the cheapest Copilot Plus PC I've seen -- and a great value. Acer cuts the right corners to hit such a low price for the Aspire 14 AI, delivering a well-rounded laptop with modern components. This is no budget laptop with outdated parts. It features the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processor (codenamed Lunar Lake) that serves up competitive application and AI performance along with great battery life and a design that doesn't look all that different from Acer's pricier Swift laptops. The Aspire 14 AI's no-frills, but future-proofed package makes it one of the best budget laptops of 2025. My experience with the Acer Aspire 14 AI I'm still waiting for the killer AI app to make a laptop AI CPU a must but it's nice to know that when it arrives, you'll have a machine that's built for it. Thanks to its Intel Core Ultra 5 CPU that has a neural processing unit capable of 40 trillion operations per second, the Aspire 14 AI hits the minimum requirement for Microsoft's Copilot Plus PC platform. Its AI processor can offload AI workloads -- constantly taking Windows Recall snapshots, blurring backgrounds for video calls and producing live translations -- to its NPU, keeping the CPU and GPU freed up for whatever primary task you're working on. Matt Elliott/CNET Future-proofing is always valuable in any laptop, especially so in a budget model where it's not always a given. You need to be careful when shopping for a low-cost laptop because many offerings are older models with previous-generation components that are discounted in an attempt to clear out inventory for newer units. In testing, the Aspire 14 AI hung with the more expensive Copilot Plus PCs I've tested. Its scores on our application, graphics and AI benchmarks weren't all that far off from those of its pricier competitors. Its integrated Intel GPU doesn't provide much in the way of 3D gaming but the same can be said for any Copilot Plus PC, since I've yet to encounter one with dedicated graphics. With the Aspire 14 AI, you avoid the budget laptop trap of buying a machine with outdated or soon-to-be-outdated parts. And you also skip past the specter of the Creaky Plastic Monster. Many budget laptops have flimsy plastic enclosures, but the Aspire 14 AI has aluminum top and bottom panels with only a plastic keyboard deck. The keyboard deck feels rigid and doesn't bend or flex like the thinner plastic commonly found on other budget models. It's a solidly constructed laptop, and you'd have to look closely to tell it apart from one of Acer's mainstream Swift laptops. The specs CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 226V Memory: 16GB LPDDR5-8533 Graphics: Intel Arc 130V Storage: 1TB solid-state drive Display: 14-inch 1,920x1,200-pixel touch IPS LCD Ports: 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB-A USB 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.1, combo audio Networking: Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 Weight: 3.05 pounds Battery life: 18 hours, 56 minutes Operating system: Microsoft Windows 11 Home Best Prime Day Laptops Deals It's never too early to start shopping for an upgrade to your laptop, and our favorite Prime Day laptop deals are guaranteed to save you time and money. Check out the best savings here. See Now CNET'S buying advice The best part of the Aspire 14 AI is getting a modern CPU that delivers the performance needed for the laptop to act as your primary machine and not just a cheap, underpowered second system. And the efficient Intel Core Ultra CPU also allows the Aspire 14 AI to run for almost 19 hours on a single charge while also offering a bit of future-proofing with its AI capabilities. The uninspired design and meh display are really the only items that scream "budget laptop." The rest of the package is more mainstream than budget, including the 16GB of RAM and the roomy 1TB SSD. You are usually looking at 8GB of RAM and either a 256GB or 512GB SSD when shopping for a $700 laptop. If you are willing to spend a bit more, I have a couple of other Copilot Plus PCs you should check out. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is a winner for its slick and sturdy design and awesome haptic touchpad and the Asus Zenbook A14 boasts an ultralight yet rigid enclosure with a gorgeous OLED display. Plus, both offer even better battery life than the Aspire 14 AI.
Android Authority
09-07-2025
- Business
- Android Authority
Pre-order Samsung's new foldables or watches and get up to $300 in Amazon gift cards
Lanh Nguyen / Android Authority Samsung just launched its latest foldables and smartwatches, and Amazon is marking the occasion with big pre-order perks. If you pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, Watch 8, or Watch 8 Classic before July 24, you'll get an Amazon gift card worth up to $300. Here's how the deals break down: Galaxy Z Fold 7: $300 gift card plus a free storage upgrade to 512GB (normally $2,419.99, currently $1,999.99). $300 gift card plus a free storage upgrade to 512GB (normally $2,419.99, currently $1,999.99). Galaxy Z Flip 7: $200 gift card plus a free storage upgrade to 512GB (normally $1,419.99, currently $1,099.99). $200 gift card plus a free storage upgrade to 512GB (normally $1,419.99, currently $1,099.99). Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: $100 gift card with pre-orders (starting at $499.99). $100 gift card with pre-orders (starting at $499.99). Galaxy Watch 8: $50 gift card with pre-orders (starting at $349.99). All four devices are officially released on July 25, and the gift card offers end on July 24. Both foldables include Samsung's newest design refinements and Galaxy AI features, while the watches come with a refreshed squircle design and improved health tracking. The Watch 8 Classic retains its popular rotating bezel. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 + $300 Amazon Gift Card Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 + $300 Amazon Gift Card Thin, light, high-powered, and it folds! The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers an 8-inch OLED screen, a 200MP camera, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, and a 4,400mAh battery. The Galaxy AI experience is baked in, offering tools across the camera, Circle to Search, and much more. Best of all, Samsung continues to evolve their fold folding hinge assembly, promising reduced visibility of the crease. See price at Amazon Save $420.00 The foldables also include a free storage upgrade, letting you double the capacity at no extra cost. If you were planning to pick up Samsung's latest gear and aren't too impressed with the manufacturer's perks, these Samsung Amazon pre-order bundles are among the best early offers available.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mortgage Applications Jump As Loan Rates Dip
Applications for mortgages jumped 9.4% for the week ending July 4, as purchase activity reached its highest level since 2023. The surge comes as mortgage rates fell to 6.77%, the lowest reading in three months. The average loan size on a purchase application fell to $432,600, the lowest since borrowing costs edging lower and home prices leveling off, buyers in July began returning to the housing market. Demand for mortgages jumped 9.4% for the week ending July 4, adjusted for the holiday break, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data. The rise in loan applications came as rates for the 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 6.77%, the lowest levels in three months. Applications hit their highest levels since February 2023, while refinancing was up 56% from the same time last year. Meanwhile, the average loan size for on a purchase application fell to $432,600, its lowest level since January. 'Homebuyer demand is being fueled by increasing housing inventory and moderating home-price growth,' said Joel Kan, MBA vice president and deputy chief economist. The improving data comes as the housing market cools, with sales near a 30-year low as inventory piles up and prices continue to rise. But economists have said that lower mortgage rates could help improve sales, especially as prices flatten out. Read the original article on Investopedia 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
ABC News
09-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Intensive care doctor Stephen Warrillow details agonising efforts to save Erin Patterson's mushroom murder victims
Doctors who treated Erin Patterson's murder victims have detailed their agonising efforts to save the victims and how one came to form the opinion they were dealing with a killer. Heather Wilkinson and Don and Gail Patterson were killed after they ate beef Wellingtons that were laced with poisonous mushrooms, and served to them by Erin Patterson at her home in Leogantha in July 2023. Ian Patterson survived. All four presented to the hospital with severe symptoms and were treated by a team led by Dr Stephen Warrillow, who is Director of Intensive Care at Austin Health. "They were devastatingly unwell," Dr Warrillow told 7.30. That organ failure began in their livers, which the toxin from death cap mushrooms targets. Dr Warrillow said it was just the beginning of a horrible ordeal for all four of the victims. "Once the liver fails, it tends to drag down all of the other body organs with it," he said. "So whilst the liver is the first organ to be affected, what soon follows is the kidney failure, circulatory failure, and more general metabolic failure. Dr Warrillow said all four patients were then put on mechanical ventilators and dialysis-style machines to try and purify their blood. This was done due to the serious elevation in toxins they all presented with. "We also administered some specific therapies to try and protect the liver from further injury from Amanita toxin poisoning," Dr Warrillow said. "Amanita toxin, once it's been swallowed and has been absorbed from the bowel into circulation, tends to hone in on the liver. "We give multi-dose activated charcoal, so that's ground-up charcoal basically ... we also use other medications such as Silibinin to try and interrupt the toxin poisoning the liver cells directly." While the ICU teams worked overtime, ultimately in three out of four cases their attempts, though immense, proved futile. Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson were deemed too unwell to even attempt liver transplants to save their lives. Don Patterson was given one but ultimately he too succumbed to his poisoning at the hands of triple-murderer Erin Patterson. Dr Warrillow said that surgery takes a huge toll on both the team performing it and the patient. "Liver transplantation is one of the most complex and lengthy surgical procedures that we would ever do," he said. "The patient has to be sick enough to need one, but well enough to get through the surgery. "It takes essentially an entire day and for the theatre team, this is really a marathon. The one person who was able to be saved was Ian Wilkinson and it is something that Dr Warrillow puts down to extraordinary work by the bedside clinical team in the ICU. "He was in multiple organ failure," Dr Warrillow said. "He had very high levels of acid in his blood, higher levels of ammonia toxin in his blood, and looked very much like he was likely to die. "It's quite a remarkable outcome for him that he was ultimately able to survive and could recover so well in the end." Dr Warrillow told 7.30 that he and the treatment team had advised Ian Patterson's family it was likely he would die and credited his fortitude and the work of his nurses for his survival. "Ultimately he stabilised and that took a lot of work from, particularly the bedside nurses, to provide extraordinary measures of support for his circulation, and to try and clear toxins from his blood," he said. "They did a tremendous job with that." He also paid credit to the families for the job they had done in handling a difficult situation. "They are experiencing their tragedy and their catastrophic encounter [in] intensive care," he said. "And they were remarkably gracious and dignified throughout, their attention and love that they expressed towards their critically ill relatives was really very inspiring. "They always expressed considerable gratitude and thanks, particularly to the bedside nursing and medical team who worked so hard to try and save the lives of their loved ones." Despite saving Ian Patterson and the best efforts of the medical teams involved three people are dead. Dr Chris Webster says he has no doubt as to why after his interaction with Erin Patterson at Leongatha Hospital and in the Morwell courtroom but he had also previously treated Heather Wilkinson. He described her death as "particularly distressing" and something that would haunt him. Dr Webster said he had met Heather once before to treat her for a musculoskeletal injury and that both her and her husband Ian were "humble, softly spoken, unassuming and respectful of each other". "The combination of that innate kindness and nice aspects of their behaviour and personality made it particularly distressing for me to see Heather pushed into the ambulance, and just before the door was closed, which then blocked our view of each other, she made sure to make the effort to thank me for the care that the hospital had provided. "That's a very difficult moment because when those words came at me, my mind was [saying], 'But you're going to die.' Dr Webster has previously told the ABC that he felt Erin Patterson was "evil" and that when she presented to him at Leogantha Hospital and told him she had got the mushrooms from "Woolworths" he felt she was "guilty". "There was no doubt in my mind from the moment she said "Woolworths" that she was guilty of deliberately putting these poisonous mushrooms in the meal," Dr Webster told 7.30. The other suspicious part was Erin Patterson leaving the hospital after he had just told her she could have been exposed to poisoning. It caused Dr Webster to turn to a nurse and demand to know where the triple-murderer was. "I said, 'Where the f**k is she'?" he told 7.30. "And Kylie (the nurse) said she left. "I had just told her she's been exposed to a potentially fatal death cap mushroom poisoning ... why would you be anywhere else than hospital?" Shortly after that Dr Webster made a triple-0 call to police. That call would be used as a key piece of evidence in Patterson's trial. He said the moment he dialled the emergency number, he knew it would become a pivotal moment. "When I dialled that last zero and it started to ring, I knew that what I was about to say was going to be evidence in a court trial one day," he told 7.30. "I've heard that call played in court and I've heard it quite a bit in the past 24 hours. "My family is sick of hearing it but I can still hear that stress and tension in my own voice. Asked why he always thought he was dealing with a killer, Dr Webster said it came down to Erin Patterson's action and demeanour. Her unconcerned approach to her own potential situation, her answer to where she got the mushrooms and her indifference to her victims when she saw them in the hospital has seen Dr Webster form a view of her as a sociopathic killer. "She sat quietly in a chair that was only a couple of metres away from Ian and Heather," he recalled. "That absence of concern for the wellbeing of Ian and Heather, I found that quite stark in terms of its oddness. And that contributed to the ongoing tapestry in my mind of her culpability." Dr Webster believes Erin Patterson simply wanted her in-laws and her estranged husband's family out of her life. "She didn't want the in-laws in her life, in particular the ex-husband. "I think because she wanted her children to be her children and not children of a man and a family that she either didn't understand or didn't make efforts to connect with. "For whatever reason, she wanted people out of her life and rather than doing it the way normal person does, she made the very true connection in her mind that, well, if they're dead, they'll be out of my life." The case has captured the attention of media across the globe and seen curious case-watchers descend on the country town of Morwell in Victoria. For Dr Webster that curiosity stems from a disbelief about how Patterson committed the crimes. "I think it's difficult ... to wonder how someone could do what she's done," he told 7.30. "I think the answer is that her brain is not the same as others. "There's an element of sociopathic evil with no regard for how her actions are going to cause pain and suffering." Watch 7.30, Mondays to Thursdays 7:30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV Do you know more about this story? Get in touch with 7.30 here.
