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Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Felix Mallard
What Felix Mallard has grown to appreciate about living in L.A. is that there's a pocket of town to match every vibe — even if that vibe is 'Aussie,' which his proudly is, having moved from Melbourne seven years ago. 'There are a lot of places that remind me of home,' says the 27-year-old actor, who plays tough-shelled Marcus in Netflix's 'Ginny & Georgia,' which returns for its third season next week. 'The coastal cities and certainly some parts of Silver Lake and Echo Park feel very Melbourne. They feel very hipster. I mean, that word has changed so much — I don't know if bohemian is the right word either. But there's a sense of wanting to engage with good food, good coffee and good art. That kind of thing is very important to people from Melbourne.' As he carves his own space in Los Angeles, Mallard has been captivating Gen Z audiences with his nuanced roles, ones that tend to resonate with young men amid all of the distinct pressures they face. Last year, he starred in the romantic drama 'Turtles All the Way Down,' the film adaptation of John Green's young adult novel that explores the complexities of obsessive-compulsive disorder. He's now set to headline 'Nest,' a movie about a young family whose home is invaded by deadly arachnids. ('It's a quiet meditation on masculinity and being a father, wrapped up in a really fun spider horror movie,' he explains. 'A real one-two punch.') For Mallard, a perfect Sunday in L.A. involves surfing (a must), playing music loudly (he knows his way around the guitar, bass, piano and drums) and trekking from West L.A. to the Eastside in the name of adventure. Here's a play by play. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. 5:30 a.m.: Chase the wavesI'd get up early and have a surf. The funny thing with surfing in L.A. is that you have to go where the waves are good. So it could be anywhere — Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Huntington Beach, Malibu or Ventura. You've got to check the Surfline app and kind of know the seasons as well, like how winter brings north swells and summer brings south swells. But it's a guessing game. You kind of throw a dart and follow it, you know? There's a nice crew of Aussies, Kiwis and Americans. We all try and surf together, which is really sweet. 8 a.m.: Post-surf burritos Now I'll probably be in a raggedy flannel top and some track pants and some Birkenstocks. Really just kind of half asleep. But it's mandatory after a surf to get a breakfast burrito. There's a really, really good place in Hermosa Beach called Brother's Burritos. They don't do the typical kind of massive breakfast burrito. Theirs come in two little bite-size burritos, which is perfect for breakfast, you know? And then there's another place in West L.A. called that's just off the Culver loop. It's a really cool, funky little coffee shop and cafe with a little record store next door — the perfect kind of vibe after having a surf and being in nature all morning. I really try to enjoy the peace that comes after that. 9:30 a.m.: Catch up on showsI'm going home and catching up on the week's shows. Right now, I'm really deep into 'Hacks' — obsessed with it. I feel like I came to it quite late and I've had to make up for lost time. And I'm really, really loving 'Everybody's Live With John Mulaney,' and 'Last Week Tonight With John Oliver.' I feel like if you're going to check in with the news these days, it's got to be in a format that's digestible. I think John Oliver has a really great way of doing that, presenting the outrage and the absurdity in a fun context. Noon: Try to find the joy of cooking I've always found it such a challenge to see cooking as the expression of love that I know it is — I just haven't had the inspiration. But Jamie Oliver's books have really helped me because he explains recipes in a way that teach you the fundamentals. He's got this cookbook, 'One-Pan Wonders,' with an herb-y chicken tray bake that's really simple. You can put the vegetables at the bottom of the tray — and a lot of rosemary and a lot of lemon — and put the chicken on the bars above the tray, so that when it cooks, the chicken fat drops into the vegetables and creates this really lovely flavor in the veggies. And then you finish it off with some lemon and olive oil. So that's the one I think I can do. But if anyone has seen that recipe, they'll know it's the easiest one in the book, so I'm not trying to brag here. 1 p.m.: Get lost in the music It's always a struggle to get up off the couch, but once there's been some food, I'm off to play some music. There was this beautiful, really fun, cheap, grungy rehearsal studio in Culver City called Exposition Studios. It would be, like, $25 or $30 an hour, and you could rent instruments and rent a room and just play as loud and as long as you want. It's not there anymore, but there are a few other places like that around town. I've gone to Pirate Studios in West Adams a couple times, and just anywhere I can play some music, really, really loud. I've got an EP of songs that I'm working my way through. It's very grungy, very emotion-based. It's probably quite angsty. There's a lot of anger in there, and then I think maybe a lot of sadness. It's touching on a lot of the uglier sides of our psyche that we all have. 4 p.m.: Car entertainment Now we start preparing the journey east. Because it's L.A., you can't pretend that you're not going to spend some part of your day in traffic. So a podcast is a must. I'll be listening to Louis Theroux. I just love how he asks questions, how he kind of gives a space for his guests to either showcase who they are or maybe unknowingly reveal parts of themselves they may not even intend to. How he holds the space for that is quite impressive, and it's a good distraction while you're driving. 5 p.m.: Fuel up with burgers We're going to Burgerlords. They do a really simple menu. You can get a smashburger, I think a vegan burger, and something else, and they've got a really nice selection of craft beers. And it's kind of like a redone version of a '50s diner inside. 7 p.m.: Let loose at a punk show From there, we'll go to Zebulon. I love it. I don't see too many venues with an indoor-outdoor kind of space. They have a big garden, so you can go and take a break outside and then come back in and enjoy that change of pace. It's one of my favorite spots in L.A. to go and watch music, for sure. The last time I went, we saw the Spits. They're, you know, really proper punks. And then another time, we saw a band called Spy, and they were supported by Fentanyl, Blood Stained Concrete and Yard, which is a Polish hardcore band. So any time we're out there, it's usually for a bit more of a hardcore kind of scene. And they're the most fun gigs to go to. Everyone's there to release some tension, some energy. The fans are always super, super, super die-hard fans. Midnight: Straight to bed I'll make the trek home and tuck into bed. That's usually about midnight. I'd like to say it's earlier and that I'm, like, healthy, but I'm not.
CNET
2 days ago
- Business
- CNET
I Hesitated at This Thermostat's Price Tag, but It's Paying for Itself by Cutting My Energy Bills. Here's My Experience
CNET's key takeaways $250 for a smart thermostat may sound like a tough deal, but mine is set to pay for itself this summer thanks to lower heating and cooling payments. Automated Eco Modes make energy saving easy, even if you don't have time to plan out your schedule. Local utility rebates may also help make the thermostat more affordable. My Nest Learning Thermostat Gen 4 is astonishingly beautiful -- I've had people stop in my hallway just to look at the shifting rain and sunset animations. But that beauty, and all the smart features inside, is pricey: At around $250, it's one of the most expensive smart thermostats I recommend. So why take the plunge? Because Nest's Eco modes are so effective, my Nest smart thermostat is set to pay for itself this summer through electricity savings -- and I barely had to do anything except set it up. Here's how it all works, and why I'm glad I kept this Nest smart thermostat around. Read more: One Tiny Gadget Is the Unsung Hero of Today's Smart, Energy-Saving Home My experience with the Nest Learning Thermostat 4th-gen A Nest Thermostat showing lightning. Google Nest With a larger dial than ever, the Nest Learning Thermostat 4 is well-suited to showing off, both aesthetically and with data-backed insights on indoor and outdoor temperatures, humidity and more. My favorite customization is putting the outside weather at the forefront of the display, which shows moving weather graphics that capture the current state of the skies, from falling snow to twinkling stars. Google's research indicates people save around 10% to 15% on their energy bills with a smart thermostat, which works out to an average savings of $132 to $145 per year. Nest's reports help you chart savings and troubleshoot energy problems. Tyler Lacoma/CNET Those numbers reflected my results fairly well. From early fall to the colder winter months, I saved around $10 to $15 per month with Nest's tweaks and by balancing my electricity usage with less costly natural gas heating. As the months warm up that number is growing higher, and I expect to save around $20 per month in the summer heat -- enough to pay for my thermostat sometime this year. After that, it's all gravy. Smarts behind a pretty face Nest Thermostat 4th-gen showing app controls, sensor settings and more. Tyler Lacoma/CNET Given permission, the thermostat learns my habits and adjusts heating and cooling levels in response. Auto-Eco mode, for example, will turn the thermostat down automatically if it senses there's no activity in the house, which saves more money. Adaptive Eco will take care of the details for me, while Eco Hold will stick to a money-saving temperature that I choose manually. The Auto-Scheduling function does something similar, since it learns how I adjust the thermostat throughout the day and mimics my comfort preferences over time so I don't have to keep tweaking the settings. Google Home makes it easy to apply weekly schedules in moments. Tyler Lacoma/CNET Adjust the temperature manually at any time and when you see the green leaf icon appear, you'll know you're in savings mode. That makes it easy to adjust on the fly when the temperature feels about right, but you'd like to squeeze more savings out of the thermostat. Nest's Eco Modes also generate reports so I can see monthly progress and note any sudden problems or unexpected energy use. If there's a strange jump in energy use, the scheduling may be off, or you may be using electricity-hungry devices too much (my space heater and I are guilty of this). There's also a gamified "leafs" competition against other users that I don't care much about, but it's there for those interested. Satellite sensors and other ways to save Thermostat satellite sensors are one of the best inventions for home heating. Tyler Lacoma/CNET My Nest model also came with a satellite sensor, a little white puck that wirelessly transmits the temperature where it's placed to the thermostat. I can tell the Nest Learning Thermostat 4 to turn on or off based on its own built-in readings, on the readings of the satellite sensor, or a combination of both. Sensors like these help thermostats be more accurate based on where you actually spend time. For example, if I'm going to be spending the evening in a movie session at my TV or computer, I can bring the sensor along and when those heat-exhaling electronics heat up my personal space, the thermostat will take that as a sign to shut off early. The Nest thermostat smart home integrations are very limited, but that does make it easier to set up. Tyler Lacoma/CNET Then there are the peak hours programs, under names like Peak Perks, Rush Hour Rewards, Nest Renew from Google and other labels that indicate a partnership with utility companies. If your local utility supports these programs, you can join up and your Nest thermostat will make additional small changes throughout the day, avoiding the often-pricier peak hour energy use when possible. You give up some control of your thermostat with programs like these, which may displease some users, but it does enable you to save more. Many energy providers will also offer bonuses or rebates you can use to recoup the cost of an expensive thermostat even faster. A quick note about setup: If you're worried about installing the thermostat in your home, there's not much to fear from the process. I have a full guide here, but as long as you practice electrical safety and snap a picture of your current thermostat wiring, setting up the Nest Thermostat Gen 4 and getting it connected to Wi-Fi shouldn't be a problem, especially with Google Home app walkthroughs. The specs for the Nest Learning Thermostat 4th-gen Diameter: 3.9 in (98 mm) Depth: 1.1 in (29 mm) Weight: 5.7 oz (161.8 g) Display: 2.7 inch (68 mm) diameter circular liquid crystal display (600 x 600 pixels) Sensors: Soli sensor for Motion Sense, Temperature, Humidity, Ambient light Power consumption: Less than 1 kWh/month Power source: HVAC system wiring C (common) Wire: Not required Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11n (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz) HVAC system compatibility (Check your Nest compatibility here): Most 24V systems, including gas, electric, oil, forced air, heat pump, and radiant. It can control: Heating 1, 2, and 3 stages (W1, W2, W3); Cooling 1 and 2 stages (Y1, Y2); Heat pump with auxiliary and emergency heat (O/B, AUX, E); Fan (G, G2, G3); Power (C, RH, RC); Humidifier and dehumidifier (HUM, DEHUM); Ventilation (VENT). Smart home: Works with Google Home and Matter Warranty: 2-year standard for retail, 5-year standard for HVAC Pros Certifications: Energy Star-certified CNET's buying advice Nest's thermostat is one of the best high-end models I've seen. Tyler Lacoma/CNET It turns out a $250 to $280 smart thermostat isn't such a tough sell when I can see how mine will pay for itself in just about a year. It offers a plethora of energy-saving modes that users can pick from to rack up monthly savings -- most of them automated without requiring tinkering or calculators. I've even seen it available with rebates and free installation to speed up that payoff date. While Nest's circular thermostats have always had a flair for the dramatic, the Gen-4 model blows away the competition with a larger design that makes the most of its beautiful LED lighting and presence sensing to light up whenever someone walks past. The bright green leaf icon always shows instant savings for those who don't want to dive too deep into app management. Those who do want to explore the app will find settings for seasons, learning behaviors, weekly schedules and lots more.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business Standard
Google Meet to fully replace legacy Google Duo calling in September 2025
Google will reportedly remove all remaining features of its former Duo calling service from the Meet app by September 2025. Although the Google Duo brand officially ended in 2022, some of its functionalities continued under the 'Legacy calls' section in Google Meet. Now, the company is set to unify its calling experience entirely under the Google Meet platform. According to 9to5Google, users of the Google Meet app are being informed that legacy Duo technology still powers some features, but 'Meet calls' is now the standard experience. This updated calling environment includes enhancements such as in-call chat, live captions, screen sharing, stackable visual effects, add-ons, and improved interfaces for tablets and foldable devices. Additional capabilities like hand-raising and access to premium features are available depending on the user's Workspace or Google One subscription. Features not moving to Google Meet Some popular Duo-specific features are not expected to be carried forward into Google Meet. These include: Family Mode Mirror Mode Knock Knock Sending emojis from the pre-call screen Additionally, smart displays such as the Nest Hub Max and other Nest devices currently support only legacy Duo calls. These devices will not receive the Meet calling update. Data backup instructions To export video messages: Go to Settings Tap on Message settings Select Export messages A 'Meet' folder will be created on the device To export legacy (Duo) call history: Go to Settings Tap on Calling settings (Legacy) Select Legacy calling account Tap on Manage Legacy calling history Choose Export legacy call history Users will receive a copy as a .CSV file
CNET
4 days ago
- Business
- CNET
The Smart Video Doorbell I Recommend to Everyone Is Still On Sale After Memorial Day
A video doorbell is the perfect security accessory for monitoring your front door, porch, driveway and all around your home. It's even ideal to put at the entrance to your small business. This device can help with little things like greeting visitors and seeing when package arrives. It can also come in handy if something bad were to happen, since you'd have everything recorded on the doorbell. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Whether you're traveling, hosting family and friends, want to keep a closer eye on your property or you want to protect someone who is elderly or just starting out on their own, this Google Nest Doorbell is one of my favorite devices in home security. After reviewing a dozen doorbell models, I still use a version of the Nest Doorbell myself. And right now, you can snag one in the color Snow (white) for only $129 at Walmart. It's a great deal, especially given that Memorial Day has come and gone, so we wouldn't expect the discount to last much longer. If you're interested in a different color for the Nest Doorbell, others are discounted as well, but not as much as the Snow variant. Snow - $129 ($51 off) Ash - $140 - ($40 off) Ivy - $150 ($30 off) Linen - $170 My testing of video doorbells revealed two important qualities of the Nest doorbell. First is its AI-powered object detection. Most doorbells have it, and many even offer it free, like Nest does. But I found Nest's doorbell recognition abilities to be especially accurate. It can recognize people and packages flawlessly, while avoiding triggers from vehicles (you can also set motion zones to ignore passersby and others). Those recently updated AI recognition qualities are getting even better as Google incorporates its Gemini AI into Google Home. That now allows me (in the beta program, at least) to ask specific questions about when the trash was taken out, and also to get AI descriptions of exactly what happened to trigger an event. Those are fascinating features, if you're willing to pay for a Nest Aware subscription. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. I also love how Nest handles cloud video storage. I get three free hours of storage without needing a subscription before the video expires. That's unusual in the doorbell world and gives me plenty of time to check on an event, even if I can't get to the live view right away. That makes this doorbell a solid pick for people who want to avoid monthly fees. Nest cams continue to get new features, including Google Home for the web, which allows you to view the camera feeds through any online device. This video doorbell is also tough enough to work in all kinds of weather. It isn't perfect -- the resolution is a bit low, for example, and I wish Nest would release a third-gen model -- but it is still my preferred front door device so far. Technical specs for the Google Nest Doorbell Dimensions: 0.95 by 1.8 by 6.3 inches 0.95 by 1.8 by 6.3 inches Weight: 7.3 ounces 7.3 ounces Video resolution: 960x1,280 pixels 960x1,280 pixels Video format: H.264 H.264 Video frame rate: 30 fps 30 fps Field of view: 145 degrees Why this deal matters Many video doorbells, including this one from Nest, are available in wired and battery forms, with the battery model usually costing a little more. In this case, it's no contest: I highly recommend getting the battery doorbell whenever possible. While wiring a doorbell in yourself is usually easy (and gives you access to the built-in chime), a battery model allows you to adjust height and placement of your camera, so you get the exact view you want. Video doorbells usually need to be placed right beside the door, around 4 feet up. Not all doorbell wiring allows for this (my house doorbell certainly doesn't). Also, the Nest Doorbell comes with an angled attachment you can use to point the doorbell away from nearby walls so it covers more of the action. For more, don't miss the remaining Memorial Day deals still going on Walmart.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Google store at The Domain is opening this week
Google is opening its newest retail store in Austin this week, bringing its lineup of tech products and services closer to local shoppers. Located at the Domain, the store opens Friday, May 30, marking Google's first retail location in Texas and its seventh worldwide. Similar to an Apple store, the storefront will feature Google products and tech for Austinites to try out such as Gemini Live, the company's AI assistant, on a Pixel phone or its Nest cameras and FitBit trackers. The store also will have pickups for online orders and have experts in person to help troubleshoot issues or provide repairs. Google has experts on hand to help visitors get the most out of their device, such as troubleshooting an issue, providing Pixel phone repairs and more. The Domain storefront will open at 10 a.m. Friday, May 30, and is at 11701 Domain Blvd, Suite #164, which is in the same building as the Shade Store, EVEREVE and Tecovas near Nordstrom. The store will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Google's Domain storefront to open this week
