Browsed by
Author: dzadmin

First look: Disney introduces ‘Tron: Ares’ overlay to Magic Kingdom ride

First look: Disney introduces ‘Tron: Ares’ overlay to Magic Kingdom ride

Walt Disney World has tweaked its Tron Lightcycle/Run ride at Magic Kingdom theme park. The changes are notable, but neither drastic nor permanent, for the futuristic indoor/outdoor roller coaster.

We made a couple of rounds on Monday, the first day of the revamping. Here are things to know before trekking to Tomorrowland for the “Tron: Ares” overlay.

Light entertainment

Obvious even to non-riders will be the amped up lighting package built into the sloped canopy of the ride. Thanks to adaptable LED technology, there are new hues and effects to absorb as the ride vehicles zoom past, as well as in between the streams of screams.

The colors have subtle changes. What may appear blue can fade into a purple or a teal. The roof can go all red — though those moments seem spread out for maximum effect — or it can present a mashup from its palette.

Along with the ride’s usual streaking-polygram effects, the canopy light show now includes swirling motions, waves of color changes and pulsating intensity.

But it changes quickly. One moment, Tron is very blue, and by the next iPhone click, it’s very red. read more

Target steps up next-day parcel delivery as discounter tries to narrow gap with rivals

Target steps up next-day parcel delivery as discounter tries to narrow gap with rivals

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO

NEW YORK (AP) — Target is expanding its next-day delivery of parcel shipments to 35 of the nation’s top 60 metropolitan markets by the end of next month, marking 22 new cities this year, as the discount retailer aims to narrow the gap with the likes of Amazon.

Related Articles

That means that its next-day delivery expansion will go to 54% of the U.S. population, up from 20%, according to Gretchen McCarthy, Target’s chief supply chain and logistics officer. San Diego and Orlando and Tampa, Florida are on the list. Target plans to add another 20 more cities for next day delivery by next year, the company said. read more

Fed convenes meeting with a governor newly appointed by Trump and another he wants to oust

Fed convenes meeting with a governor newly appointed by Trump and another he wants to oust

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — After a late-night vote and last-minute ruling, the Federal Reserve began a key meeting on interest rate policy Tuesday with both a new Trump administration appointee and an official the White House has targeted for removal.

Stephen Miran, a top White House economist who was confirmed by the Senate with unusual speed late Monday, was sworn in Tuesday as a member of the Fed’s board of governors. He will vote on the Fed’s interest rate decision on Wednesday, when the central bank is expected to reduce its key rate by a quarter-point. Miran may dissent in favor of a larger cut.

Also attending the meeting is Fed governor Lisa Cook, whom the Trump administration has sought to fire in an unprecedented attempt to reshape the Fed, which historically is considered independent of day-to-day politics. An appeals court late Monday upheld an earlier ruling that the firing violated Cook’s due process rights. A lower court had earlier also ruled that President Donald Trump did not provide sufficient “cause” to remove Cook. read more

Wall Street edges back from its record heights

Wall Street edges back from its record heights

By STAN CHOE, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks edged back from their record heights on Tuesday as the countdown ticked toward what Wall Street expects will be the first cut of the year to interest rates by the Federal Reserve.

The S&P 500 fell 0.1% from its latest all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 125 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.1% from its own record set the day before.

Stocks have run to records on expectations that the Fed will announce the first of a series of cuts to rates on Wednesday in hopes of giving the economy a boost. The job market has slowed so much that traders believe Fed officials now see it as the bigger danger for the economy than the threat of higher inflation because of President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The Fed has been holding off on cuts to rates because inflation has remained above its 2% target, and easier interest rates could give it more fuel.

A report on Tuesday said shoppers increased their spending at U.S. retailers by more last month than economists expected. A chunk of that could be due to shoppers having to pay higher prices for the same amount of stuff. But it could also indicate solid spending by U.S. households could continue to keep the economy out of a recession. read more

Why I won’t dip into my savings for an iPhone 17

Why I won’t dip into my savings for an iPhone 17

By Tommy Tindall, NerdWallet

The iPhone 17 models are out and they look slick. I’m not going to lie: I want an iPhone 17 Pro Max and I want it now. I’m kind of feeling the iPhone Air, too (but wonder if I’d break it).

The problem is I really don’t have room in my budget for a new tech toy at this juncture. Maybe you can relate. The everyday stuff — like electricity, groceries, gas and water — is stretching my family to the literal brink. My season of life includes three small kids, a leaky toilet and so many loads of laundry that our latest quarterly water bill was closer to four figures than I ever thought possible.

Plus, my iPhone 13 Pro Max, which I bought new in 2022, is still as snappy as it was the day I peeled off the plastic film. So how can I justify the cost of a new one? Well, I personally can’t right now, but things might be different for you. Looking at what’s new and where you are with your current phone will help you decide.

What’s new with the iPhone 17 lineup

Apple announced four new models at its annual iPhone event Sept. 9. The iPhone Air looks impossibly thin and the Pro models finally have a fresh new look. read more