Latest news with #Pinwheel
The Onion
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Onion
Jane Birkin's Original Birkin Bag Sells At Auction For $10 Million
The very first of the famed Hermès Birkin handbags, made for the late actress, musician, and model Jane Birkin, sold for $10.1 million, claiming the title of the most valuable handbag ever to be sold at auction. 'Well I bought the original Birkin bag from a guy on the 4 train, so somebody's lying.' Louie Shawky, Pinwheel Assembler 'I didn't realize Jane Birkin was named after a bag.' Zoltan Potoka, Weathervane Installer 'Just wait until I put my Vera Bradley duffle on eBay.' Lana Denheld, Stanza Redactor
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PNC Bank automates direct deposit switch for customers
PNC Bank is looking to increase its direct deposit market share by automating the payroll deposit switch process for consumers. The Pittsburgh-based national bank announced the launch of its new digital direct deposit manager on Tuesday. It gives PNC Bank customers the ability to automatically set up direct deposits for payroll, Social Security payments, gig work payouts or other regular income from the bank's mobile app. The upgraded deposit feature, referred to by the $554.7 billion-assets bank as PNC Direct Deposit, removes barriers to updating or changing the primary bank account for payroll deposits by combining the roles of the employer, the payroll provider and the bank into a single interface. PNC Bank built the feature through a partnership with the account-switching fintech Atomic, a company representative told American Banker. "This integrated direct deposit solution is just another example of how PNC is continuously enhancing and improving the client experience," Alex Overstrom, head of retail banking for PNC Bank, said in a statement. "By embedding direct deposit functions directly within the mobile app, our clients can seamlessly update and manage their direct deposit preferences without the hassle of filling out paperwork." In most cases PNC consumers using the direct deposit manager won't need to manually enter their routing and account numbers, which could reduce the risk of user errors and delays in receiving payments. The automated deposit switching feature covers about 85% of U.S. payees, according to a company representative. The bank still provides a manual direct deposit enrollment form option for any consumers whose employers aren't integrated into the PNC Direct Deposit platform. The bank previously offered this manual option for all users before launching its digital feature. Other account-switching fintechs such as Pinwheel and ClickSwitch have also been filling the direct deposit switching gap. Citizens Bank partnered with Pinwheel in 2023 to simplify payroll deposit switching for its customers as well. "Being our customers' primary bank is core to our relationship-oriented strategy, and the key to that is making it easy for our customers to manage their direct deposits," Overstrom said. "When we make it seamless for clients to choose PNC as their primary bank, they respond."
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pinwheel introduces a smartwatch for kids that includes an AI chatbot
As a parent, it can be daunting to hand over a smart device to their tween when a myriad of online dangers exist. Pinwheel, a kid-friendly tech company, is introducing a new solution for parents who want to stay connected with their children without giving them a phone. The Pinwheel Watch is a recently launched smartwatch designed specifically for kids aged 7 to 14, offering a child-safe alternative that prevents access to social media and the internet. It features parental management tools, GPS tracking, a camera, voice-to-text messaging, fun mini-games, and — here's a surprise — an AI chatbot. The smartwatch itself features a sleek black design and a screen that is slightly larger than that of an Apple Watch. It's currently priced at $160, with a $15 monthly subscription. It became available for purchase on last week, and we've been testing it over the past few days. In addition to a more standard set of parental controls, the feature some parents might be wary of is the watch's AI assistant, 'PinwheelGPT.' PinwheelGPT is designed as a safer alternative to typical AI chatbots, enabling kids to ask questions about various topics, including everyday curiosities, social interactions, and homework-related questions, the company claims. However, parents may already be cautious about AI chatbots, as they can produce misinformation. Parents could also argue that the friendly nature of chatbots can lead to unhealthy patterns, where children rely on these digital companions for interaction instead of engaging in face-to-face interactions with family and friends. The company explained to us that safeguards are in place; the AI is trained to recognize topics that may be sensitive or inappropriate for children, opting out of these conversations and encouraging kids to discuss such matters with a trusted adult instead. During our limited testing, we confirmed that PinwheelGPT successfully avoided answering inappropriate or violent questions. Additionally, parents have full visibility into all interactions with the chatbot, including both current and previously deleted chats, so they can step in if any red flags arise. 'We have not received any pushback from parents because it's possible, if they are concerned, to remove the PinwheelGPT from the watch or turn it off via your own controls,' said founder Dane Witbeck, who is a father of four. 'We do not use any personal data provided by any users, minors, or adults, in training AI models,' he noted. Witbeck's company launched its first child-safe phone in 2020 and, four years later, ranked No. 212 on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America for 2024. Entering the smartwatch market seems like a natural progression, allowing the company to better compete in the approximately $100 billion smart wearable market against major brands like Apple and Fitbit. Pinwheel believes it's strategically positioning itself by focusing specifically on the kids category. It also differentiates itself from other similar devices, such as Fitbit's Ace LTE, which focuses more on tracking location and health metrics. In addition to the AI feature, kids and tweens can make calls and send texts on the watch by using voice commands or a keyboard. There's also a camera for video calls and selfies, along with a voice recorder app. Other apps include an alarm, calendar, calculator, and mini-games, such as a Tetris-like game. The parent-monitoring features are available through the 'Caregiver' app. This allows parents to create a 'Safelist' of contacts that their children are permitted to talk to, as well as reject certain phone numbers from being added to the list. Additionally, a Schedule tab lets parents set up different modes to ensure that kids stay off their devices during specific times, like when they're at school or summer camp. For instance, they can choose to limit contacts to only emergency numbers during the day and switch to 'All mode' later in the day, allowing their kids to access everything freely. If desired, parents have the option to monitor text messages, which could be particularly useful for those with younger children. Here, an AI text summary feature offers parents concise overviews of kids' text message threads. The Pinwheel Watch is available now in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and the U.K., with plans to expand into additional markets soon. It will be available on Amazon later this summer, though the company has not provided a specific date. 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
TechCrunch
03-07-2025
- TechCrunch
Pinwheel introduces a smartwatch for kids that includes an AI chatbot
As a parent, it can be daunting to hand over a smart device to their tween when a myriad of online dangers exist. Pinwheel, a kid-friendly tech company, is introducing a new solution for parents who want to stay connected with their children without giving them a phone. The Pinwheel Watch is a recently launched smartwatch designed specifically for kids aged 7 to 14, offering a child-safe alternative that prevents access to social media and the internet. It features parental management tools, GPS tracking, a camera, voice-to-text messaging, fun mini-games, and — here's a surprise — an AI chatbot. The smartwatch itself features a sleek black design and a screen that is slightly larger than that of an Apple Watch. It's currently priced at $160, with a $15 monthly subscription. It became available for purchase on last week, and we've been testing it over the past few days. In addition to a more standard set of parental controls, the feature some parents might be wary of is the watch's AI assistant, 'PinwheelGPT.' PinwheelGPT is designed as a safer alternative to typical AI chatbots, enabling kids to ask questions about various topics, including everyday curiosities, social interactions, and homework-related questions, the company claims. However, parents may already be cautious about AI chatbots, as they can produce misinformation. Parents could also argue that the friendly nature of chatbots can lead to unhealthy patterns, where children rely on these digital companions for interaction instead of engaging in face-to-face interactions with family and friends. Image Credits:Pinwheel The company explained to us that safeguards are in place; the AI is trained to recognize topics that may be sensitive or inappropriate for children, opting out of these conversations and encouraging kids to discuss such matters with a trusted adult instead. During our limited testing, we confirmed that PinwheelGPT successfully avoided answering inappropriate or violent questions. Techcrunch event Save $450 on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $450 on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW Additionally, parents have full visibility into all interactions with the chatbot, including both current and previously deleted chats, so they can step in if any red flags arise. 'We have not received any pushback from parents because it's possible, if they are concerned, to remove the PinwheelGPT from the watch or turn it off via your own controls,' said founder Dane Witbeck, who is a father of four. 'We do not use any personal data provided by any users, minors, or adults, in training AI models,' he noted. Witbeck's company launched its first child-safe phone in 2020 and, four years later, ranked No. 212 on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America for 2024. Entering the smartwatch market seems like a natural progression, allowing the company to better compete in the approximately $100 billion smart wearable market against major brands like Apple and Fitbit. Pinwheel believes it's strategically positioning itself by focusing specifically on the kids category. It also differentiates itself from other similar devices, such as Fitbit's Ace LTE, which focuses more on tracking location and health metrics. Image Credits:Pinwheel In addition to the AI feature, kids and tweens can make calls and send texts on the watch by using voice commands or a keyboard. There's also a camera for video calls and selfies, along with a voice recorder app. Other apps include an alarm, calendar, calculator, and mini-games, such as a Tetris-like game. The parent monitoring features are available through the 'Caregiver' app. This allows parents to create a 'Safelist' of contacts that their children are permitted to talk to, as well as reject certain phone numbers from being added to the list. Additionally, a Schedule tab lets parents set up different modes to ensure that kids stay off their devices during specific times, like when they're at school or summer camp. For instance, they can choose to limit contacts to only emergency numbers during the day and switch to 'All mode' later in the day, allowing their kids to access everything freely. If desired, parents have the option to monitor text messages, which could be particularly useful for those with younger children. Here, an AI text summary feature offers parents concise overviews of kids' text message threads. The Pinwheel Watch is available now in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and the U.K., with plans to expand into additional markets soon. It will be available on Amazon later this summer, though the company has not provided a specific date.
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Explained: light's ability to travel vast cosmic distances without losing energy
My telescope, set up for astrophotography in my light-polluted San Diego backyard, was pointed at a galaxy unfathomably far from Earth. My wife, Cristina, walked up just as the first space photo streamed to my tablet. It sparkled on the screen in front of us. 'That's the Pinwheel galaxy,' I said. The name is derived from its shape – albeit this pinwheel contains about a trillion stars. The light from the Pinwheel travelled for 25 million years across the universe to get to my telescope. My wife wondered: 'Doesn't light get tired during such a long journey?' Her curiosity triggered a thought-provoking conversation about light. Ultimately, why doesn't light wear out and lose energy over time? Let's talk about light I am an astrophysicist, and one of the first things I learned in my studies is how light often behaves in ways that defy our intuitions. Light is electromagnetic radiation: basically, an electric wave and a magnetic wave coupled together and traveling through space-time. It has no mass. That point is critical because the mass of an object, whether a speck of dust or a spaceship, limits the top speed it can travel through space. But because light is massless, it's able to reach the maximum speed limit in a vacuum – about 300,000 km per second, or almost 9.6 trillion km per year. Nothing traveling through space is faster. To put that into perspective: In the time it takes you to blink your eyes, a particle of light travels around the circumference of the earth more than twice. As incredibly fast as that is, space is incredibly spread out. Light from the sun, which is about 150 million km from the earth, takes just over eight minutes to reach us. In other words, the sunlight you see is eight minutes old. Alpha Centauri, the nearest star to us after the sun, is about 41 trillion km away. So by the time you see it in the night sky, its light is just over four years old. Or, as astronomers say, it's four light years away. With those enormous distances in mind, consider Cristina's question: How can light travel across the universe and not slowly lose energy? Actually, some light does lose energy. This happens when it bounces off something, such as interstellar dust, and is scattered about. But most light just goes and goes, without colliding with anything. This is almost always the case because space is mostly empty – nothingness. So there's nothing in the way. When light travels unimpeded, it loses no energy. It can maintain that 300,000-km-per-second speed forever. It's about time Here's another concept: Picture yourself as an astronaut on board the International Space Station. You're orbiting at about 27,000 km per hour. Compared with someone on the earth, your wristwatch will tick 0.01 seconds slower over one year. That's an example of time dilation – time moving at different speeds under different conditions. If you're moving really fast, or close to a large gravitational field, your clock will tick more slowly than someone moving slower than you, or who is further from a large gravitational field. To say it succinctly, time is relative. Now consider that light is inextricably connected to time. Picture sitting on a photon, a fundamental particle of light; here, you'd experience maximum time dilation. Everyone on the earth would clock you at the speed of light, but from your reference frame, time would completely stop. That's because the 'clocks' measuring time are in two different places going vastly different speeds: the photon moving at the speed of light, and the comparatively slowpoke speed of the earth going around the sun. What's more, when you're traveling at or close to the speed of light, the distance between where you are and where you're going gets shorter. That is, space itself becomes more compact in the direction of motion – so the faster you can go, the shorter your journey has to be. In other words, for the photon, space gets squished. Which brings us back to my picture of the Pinwheel galaxy. From the photon's perspective, a star within the galaxy emitted it, and then a single pixel in my backyard camera absorbed it, at exactly the same time. Because space is squished, to the photon the journey was infinitely fast and infinitely short, a tiny fraction of a second. But from our perspective on Earth, the photon left the galaxy 25 million years ago and travelled 25 million light years across space until it landed on my tablet in my backyard. And there, on a cool spring night, its stunning image inspired a delightful conversation between a nerdy scientist and his curious wife. Jarred Roberts is project scientist, University of California, San Diego. This article is republished from The Conversation.
