There are a few things I carry with me at all times in the winter: a hat, gloves, scarf and thermos. The latter provides me with that extra bit of warmth on the coldest days and stops me from buying tea while I'm out. If this sounds like you — and you're looking for an upgrade — then check out the 30 percent discount on the Ember Travel Mug 2+. We're big fans of Ember and have put its products in a few out our gift guides. 

The Ember Travel Mug 2+ is currently down to $140, from $200, bringing it down to the same price as the mug without Apple Find My. That's right, if you didn't know, one of the biggest perks of the Ember Travel Mug 2+ is that you can locate it through the Find My app on your Apple device. It will also ping if you're trying to locate it. Android users: this is likely a gift rather than something for yourself. 

Along with Apple's Find My technology, the Ember Travel Mug 2+ offers three hours of keeping your drink at a set temperature (between 120 degrees and 145 degrees) or all day if it sits on the charging coaster. Ember also claims the Travel Mug 2+ is leakproof and allows you to drink from any side. Plus, it's IPX7 rated and safe to hand wash — do not put it in the dishwasher. 

I have to admit that $140 is still a lot of money to spend on a travel mug that only keeps drinks warm for three hours. I've spent over $100 less than that on a thermos that keeps my tea hot for 12 hours, no coaster needed. But, if the perks Ember's Travel Mug 2+ brings are worth it then definitely pick one up during this deal.  

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/embers-smart-travel-mug-with-find-my-integration-is-30-percent-off-154735829.html?src=rss

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Airbnb has announced it’s deploying “anti-party technology” to prevent “unauthorized and disruptive parties” from happening at homes on its platform for New Year’s Eve. If you were planning on hosting a get-together, start thinking of a Plan B.

The company says it’s using machine learning to identify and block high-risk, whole-home bookings in advance based on a variety of criteria. Airbnb’s assessment takes into account things like the length of a trip, how far a listing is from your current location, and when you’re trying to book to weed out potentially disruptive parties. If you’re booking a two-night stay a week before New Year’s Eve, you’re likely to tingle Airbnb’s anti-party senses. The company will either block your reservation entirely or direct you to different accommodations.

Party detection technology will be used in countries and regions globally, according to Airbnb. If you’re trying to book an entire home in “the US, Puerto Rico, Canada, the UK, France, Spain, Australia and New Zealand,” you’ll also have to be willing to stay for more than three days and agree to a “mandatory anti-party attestation” to be allowed to book.

Airbnb’s transformation into the party police has been happening for a few years at this point. The company claims that it blocked 74,000 people globally from booking an entire home listing for a party in 2023. It’s also deployed its machine learning tech to weed out unauthorized events before. Airbnb’s stricter stance towards events started in earnest during 2019, when it banned “party houses” after five people died in a shooting at an Airbnb listing. Airbnb banned all parties outright in 2020, and the company now offers hosts multiple tools for tamping down noise complaints, including a free sensor that can be placed in homes to detect noises over a certain volume.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/airbnb-is-deploying-anti-party-technology-to-ruin-your-nye-party-193356056.html?src=rss

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United Airlines announced that it is integrating the Share Item Location feature from Apple into its mobile app. This development could make it easier to track down baggage equipped with AirTags or a Find My network accessory when it somehow winds up in Paris rather than arriving with you in Perth.

The United integration will allow passengers to send information about their bag's location directly to the company's support staff in the mobile app. If a traveler isn't using the United app and their bag takes a detour, they will receive a text notification from the airline prompting them to submit a Share Item Location report.

Share Item Location is part of Apple's iOS 18.2, which just began rolling out this week. When the resource was initially introduced in the public beta, air transport tech company SITA said that it would use the feature in its WorldTracer system for tracking airline baggage, so this isn't the first time travel brands are realizing the potential of Share Item Location. However, it will only be available to customers who are using an iPhone running at least iOS 18.2.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/united-airlines-will-integrate-apples-share-item-location-feature-into-its-mobile-app-130049823.html?src=rss

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Uber is rolling out some new features for the holiday travel season. On Wednesday, it announced a new, super-duper-sized option with extra trunk space for airport travel. In addition, there will be a third shuttle route for NYC travelers.

UberXXL is the company’s new extra-spacious rideshare option. These airport-only rides offer more trunk space and plenty of “comfortable” seating room “for you and your group.” Uber says pricing for the new jumbo-sized service will fall somewhere between UberXL and Uber Black. Upfront pricing will be available in the app.

The service is launching at 40 airports in the US and Canada, including New York’s Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark. Other participating UberXXL airports include (among others) LAX, SFO, Reagan National, O’Hare, DFW, Miami and Atlanta. It will be available at over 60 airports globally.

Uber

Holiday travelers will also have new ways to save a few bucks on their trips this year. UberX Share is launching at eight US airports and two international ones. The service lets you book a trip with “just one other airport traveler” to save up to 25 percent compared to UberX fares. The company says the cheaper rates will apply even if you aren’t matched with a random stranger.

UberX Share for flights will launch at Austin, Denver, Newark, Dulles, Miami, New Orleans and Phoenix airports.

Uber Reserve, the company’s schedule-ahead feature, is adding Flight Capture, which lets you enter your flight info and schedule your trip around it. The app will recommend the best time to leave and ask if you want to adjust your drop-off if your flight is delayed. In addition, Uber Reserve will now give you the option of adding multiple stops when setting up your ride.

After launching in New York City last month, Uber Shuttle has added an extra stop to and from LaGuardia. The $18 shuttle service, which lets you save some money on its preset routes, will now include a third stop at the World Trade Center site at 198 Fulton St. It joins the previous two shuttle pickup and drop-off points: Midtown Manhattan (with stops at Port Authority Terminal and Grand Central) and Penn Station.

Finally, the Uber app for iPhone has added a widget that could shave a few seconds off the time it takes to schedule a pickup. Starting today, the iOS app has a new Home Screen widget that lets you request a ride “in as little as two taps.” You can check the App Store for the update today. The company added a ride-tracking Live Activities feature last year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/ubers-new-xxl-rides-will-have-extra-room-for-your-big-ass-suitcase-110027241.html?src=rss

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