Smartphones, computer monitors, semiconductors, and various other electronics will be exempt from U.S. President Trump’s tariffs, reports CNN, “according to a US Customs and Border Protection notice posted late Friday.”
And several other products also received an exemption which “applies to products entering the United States or removed from warehouses as early as April 5, according to the notice.”
Roughly 90% of Apple’s iPhone production and assembly is based in China, according to Wedbush Securities’ estimates. Counterpoint Research, a firm that monitors global smartphone shipments, estimated Apple has up to six weeks of inventory in the United States. Once that supply runs out, prices would have been expected to go up…
Semiconductors and microchips are among the products heavily outsourced to factories in Asia due to lower costs. Those electronic parts are now exempt, according to the Friday notice. That could help Asian chipmakers, such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), South Korea’s Samsung and SK Hynix.
The exemptions also include solar cells, memory cards, and computers, according to the BBC. “It was not clear whether technology imports from China would still be hit by a 20% tariff that was not part of the reciprocal tariffs announced on 2 April…”
Thanks to Slashdot readers Alain Williams and Mr. Dollar Ton for sharing the news.
US Customs and Border Protection has published a list of products that will be excluded from Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, including smartphones, computers, semiconductors and memory cards, along with other electronic devices and components. The move comes shortly after Trump imposed a 125 percent tariff on goods from China, which the administration confirmed to CNBC and other outlets is in addition to the 20 percent tariff put in place earlier this year, bringing it to a total of 145 percent.
Trump had previously announced higher reciprocal tariffs for other countries, too, but walked this back with a 90-day “pause” earlier this week. The pause does not apply to China, though, and there’s still a 10 percent tariff on imports from almost all countries. Electronics imports in particular are expected to be hit hard by the new rules, and we’ve already seen companies like Nintendo and Razer changing up their plans around upcoming product launches in the US.
The newly published exclusions would exempt many devices and parts from both the 10 percent global tariff and the steeper tariff on China, according to the notice published on Friday. But at the rate this has all been going, who knows how long that will last.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/smartphones-computers-and-other-electronics-are-exempt-from-trumps-reciprocal-tariffs-for-now-153139830.html?src=rss
The Linux 6.16 kernel this summer will likely see the new SNP SVSM vTPM driver introduced for further enhancing the AMD EPYC confidential computing capabilities atop the mainline Linux kernel…
This week, all eyes continue to be on the Switch 2, Trump’s tariffs, and how the latter could impact the former. With the president putting a 90-day pause on the bulk of his announced tariffs and instead maintaining a 10-percent across-the-board tax, Nintendo is stockpiling consoles in the U.S. in advance of the…
ASUS is rolling out some new high-speed gaming monitors through its enthusiast Republic of Gamers (ROG) division, and one of them is capable of hitting a blistering 610Hz refresh rate. Yeah, you’re going to need a meaty graphics card to come anywhere close to taking full advantage of that kind of speed. For those equipped to do so, however,
Meta has announced that Patrick Collison and Dina Powell McCormick are joining its board of directors on April 15. Collison is the co-founder and CEO of Stripe, the payment processor and financial services company that he started with his brother. He is also the co-founder of the Arc Institute, a biomedical science and technology institution. Meanwhile, Powell McCormick was a partner at Goldman Sachs and ran its Global Sovereign investment banking business. She also worked for the US government and served as Deputy National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump during his first term.
Powell McCormick helped shape the Trump administration’s foreign policy, especially in regards to the Middle East as an Egyptian-American. She served as an Assistant to the President and Senior Counselor for Economic Initiatives during Trump’s first term, as well. Her Trump-era appointments weren’t the first time she worked in the US government, though: Back during the George W. Bush administration, she served as the Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs and Deputy Undersecretary of State for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy. She is married to Republican senator Dave McCormick.
“Patrick and Dina bring a lot of experience supporting businesses and entrepreneurs to our board. Patrick is deeply committed to expanding economic opportunity, and Dina has a long career advocating for economic development and supporting entrepreneurs. Their perspective will be extremely valuable to businesses that rely on our services to grow,” Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement.
In January, Meta also welcomed UFC CEO Dana White, who’s a known friend and associate of Donald Trump and a supporter of his re-election bid, to its board of directors. White’s and Powell McCormick’s additions to Meta’s board are signs that the company is tacking right now that Trump is back in power, and perhaps one of the ways the company is ingratiating itself to the current administration.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/metas-new-board-members-include-former-trump-security-advisor-121510374.html?src=rss
Abstract of a paper on NBER: There is much disagreement about the extent to which financial incentives motivate study participants. We elicit preferences for being paid for completing a survey, including a one-in-twenty chance of winning a $100 electronic gift card, a guaranteed electronic gift card with the same expected value, and an option to refuse payment. More than twice as many participants chose the lottery as chose the guaranteed payment. Given that most people are risk averse, this pattern suggests that factors beyond risk preferences — such as hassle costs — influenced their decision-making. Almost 20 percent of participants actively refused payment, demonstrating low monetary motivation. We find both systematic and unobserved heterogeneity in the characteristics of who turned down payment. The propensity to refuse payment is more than four times as large among individuals 50 and older compared to younger individuals, suggesting a tradeoff between financially motivating participants and obtaining a representative sample. Overall, our results suggest that modest electronic gift card payments violate key requirements of Vernon Smith’s induced value theory.
The Lidl-Trek team has been spotted using a specially modified SRAM Red XPLR gravel rear derailleur at the start of Paris-Roubaix Femmes.
Modified as a one-off solution at the team’s request, the 13-speed, 1x-specific derailleur is being used with SRAM’s Red 10-33t road cassette, a 12-speed model.
Speaking to BikeRadar outside the team bus before the start, SRAM’s Alvise Rizzi revealed the reason for the modified 1x drivetrain.
“The SRAM RED XPLR AXS rear derailleur is purpose-built for gravel and rough road riding, and Lidl-Trek saw an opportunity to leverage its full-mount design and superior impact resistance for the unique demands of Paris-Roubaix.
“The course is known for its brutal cobbles, along with dust, dirt and potentially mud – conditions that mirror what XPLR was designed to handle.
“Because Paris-Roubaix is nearly flat, the team wanted to pair the XPLR derailleur’s performance benefits with a tighter-range 12-speed road cassette instead of the standard XPLR cassette. To support this setup, we made a minor change to a spare part of the derailleur.”
Lidl-Trek’s Paris-Roubaix drivetrain combines a 12-speed SRAM Red road cassette with a 13-speed SRAM Red XPLR gravel rear derailleur Felix Smith / Our Media
Such a change is only possible because the team’s Trek Madone bikes use SRAM’s UDH dropout design, which allows Trek’s aero road bike to be used with SRAM’s gravel components.
We first saw this in action when Emma Norsgaard, and then Mads Pedersen, used gravel gearing for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Gent-Wevelgem, respectively. For this hilly Classics (including the Tour of Flanders), the team used the Red XPLR rear derailleur and cassette in its standard 13-speed configuration, paired with a road 1x crankset.
This gearing combination provided wide-ranging gearing at the rear, suitable for the cobbled bergs of Flanders, thanks to the 10-46t XPLR gravel cassette, while the road crankset still provided a race-worthy top gear.
For Paris-Roubaix, Lidl-Trek has evolved that setup with this hacked arrangement, to offer the apparent benefits of XPLR with a tight road cassette.
But while the change to make XPLR 12-speed and road-worthy seems simple enough, it doesn’t sound like the solution will be publicly available any time soon.
Apple’s new Passwords app (introduced with iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia) is a big leap forward in making password management simple and user-friendly for Apple users, even if it’s not as robust as other password managers. If you’ve ever fumbled through Safari settings to find a saved login or toggled through iCloud Keychain menus to edit credentials, the Passwords app is for you. It’s designed to give you a dedicated home for all your saved login credentials, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords and two-factor authentication codes, all in one secure, easy-to-navigate interface.
What is the Apple Passwords app?
The Passwords app is Apple’s standalone password manager. While Apple users have long been able to save passwords using iCloud Keychain, the actual management experience was buried within Settings or Safari. With the Passwords app, Apple has turned what was once a tucked-away feature into a full-fledged application that works across iPhone, iPad and Mac.
The app holds all your saved login credentials, plus passkeys, verification codes and Wi-Fi passwords. Everything is securely stored, synced via iCloud and protected by Face ID, Touch ID or your device passcode. With it, you can more easily search for logins, get security recommendations, share credentials with family members and store two-factor authentication codes all in one place.
Rob Webb for Engadget
How to access the Passwords app on iPhone
To access the Passwords app on your iPhone:
Make sure your device is updated to iOS 18 or later.
Find the Passwords app using Spotlight Search, the App Library or your Home Screen.
Tap the app icon and authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID or your device passcode.
Once you’ve opened the app, you’ll see your saved accounts organized alphabetically. A search bar at the top makes it easy to find what you’re looking for. Logins are grouped by category, including:
Passkeys (passwordless login credentials)
Codes (verification codes for methods like two-factor authentication)
Wi-Fi
Security (compromised or reused passwords)
Tapping any item shows detailed information, including login URLs, usernames, passwords and any associated notes.
How to add and edit passwords manually
Most passwords are saved automatically when you use Safari to log in to websites, but you can also add entries manually, including verification codes and passkeys. To manually add a login:
Open the Passwords app.
Tap the + icon in the bottom-right corner.
Choose New Password.
Enter the site or service name, username and password.
Add any optional notes using the Notes field.
Tap Save to finish.
To edit a saved password:
Open the relevant entry.
Tap Edit.
Update any details as needed.
Select Set up code (if required), where you will be prompted to enter a setup key or scan a QR code with the camera.
Tap Save to save your changes.
How to enable and use Autofill with the Passwords app
Autofill makes logging in fast and seamless. Instead of typing out usernames and passwords, your iPhone can automatically suggest saved credentials when you visit a login page.
To enable Autofill:
Go to Settings > Apps > Passwords.
View Autofill Settings.
Make sure Autofill Passwords and Passkeys are turned on.
Choose Passwords as your default autofill provider.
Once Autofill is enabled, Safari and many third-party apps will offer login suggestions from the Passwords app when you tap into a username or password field. If there are multiple logins for a site, you’ll be prompted to select the right one.
When creating a new login in Safari, you’ll also be asked to save the new password to the Passwords app. This ensures it’s available across all your Apple devices.
How to sync passwords to your devices with iCloud Keychain
The Passwords app uses iCloud Keychain to sync your saved credentials across your Apple devices. If you use multiple devices like an iPhone, iPad and Mac, enabling Keychain ensures your logins stay consistent everywhere. To enable iCloud Keychain:
Open Settings.
Tap your Apple ID at the top of the screen.
Tap iCloud > Passwords and Keychain.
Turn on Sync this iPhone (or iPad).
You may be prompted to authenticate or confirm your identity with a verification code. Once it’s set up, all your saved credentials will be securely synced via iCloud. This also allows the Passwords app to work in harmony with macOS and iPadOS, meaning you can view and edit your saved data from any of your Apple devices.
Rob Webb for Engadget
How to use passkeys and verification codes
The Passwords app supports two newer authentication features that improve both security and convenience: passkeys and verification codes.
Passkeys
Passkeys are a new way to sign in without using a traditional password. Instead, they use Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode to confirm your identity. They are intended to be more phishing-resistant since they can’t be reused or copied across services.
If a website or app supports passkeys, Safari will prompt you to create one when signing in or registering. Once saved, the passkey is stored in the Passwords app.
To view and manage passkeys:
Open the Passwords app.
Tap Passkeys.
You’ll see a Passkey section if one has been saved.
Passkeys work across Apple devices and can even be used on non-Apple platforms by scanning a QR code when prompted.
Verification codes
Verification codes are used in two-factor authentication (2FA) systems. The Passwords app can now generate these codes automatically.
To set up a verification code:
Open the Passwords app.
Tap the login entry you want to edit.
Tap Edit > Set Up Code.
Scan a QR code provided by the website, or enter the code manually.
The app will generate a six-digit code that refreshes every 30 seconds. The code will also autofill when you log into a compatible website or app, saving you the hassle of switching to a separate authenticator app.
How to share passwords securely
You can share saved credentials with others using iMessage. This is helpful for families or teams who need access to shared accounts. The passwords are sent via end-to-end encrypted messages, ensuring privacy and security. To share a password:
Open the Passwords app.
Tap the entry you want to share.
Tap the Share button (a square with an arrow).
Choose a recipient in Messages.
How to check for weak or compromised passwords
Apple includes built-in security checks for your saved credentials.
To view security recommendations:
Open the Passwords app.
Tap Security.
You’ll see a list of passwords that are:
Reused across multiple accounts
Easily guessable
Involved in known data breaches
You can tap any entry to update the password directly. This feature helps improve your overall security hygiene with minimal effort.
How secure is the Passwords app?
Apple uses end-to-end encryption for everything in the Passwords app. That means your data is encrypted on your device and can only be decrypted by your device. Even Apple doesn’t have access to your credentials.
Accessing the app requires authentication via Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. And if someone steals your device, your saved passwords remain locked behind biometric security.
Additionally, Apple participates in the FIDO Alliance, promoting secure, passwordless logins and helping drive adoption of technologies like passkeys.
Using the Passwords app on iPad and Mac
The Passwords app is also available on:
iPad tablets running iPadOS 18 or later
Mac laptops and desktops running macOS Sequoia or later
On iPad, the app works the same way as on iPhone, offering full management of your saved credentials. On Mac, you can find Passwords in System Settings or by using Spotlight Search.
Syncing is handled automatically through iCloud Keychain. If you’re logged into the same Apple ID on all your devices, your passwords will stay in sync.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/how-to-use-the-apple-passwords-app-120026715.html?src=rss
A request for comments (RFC) patch series sent out this week for the Linux kernel is working on the notion of Virtual Swap Space support. The notion of Virtual Swap Space has been talked about for years and even going back to 2011 there’s been efforts to redesign the kernel’s swap cache along similar lines…
In the past few days there has been an uptick in patches merged for the LibreOffice 25.8 open-source office suite around “Qt Weld” that has been seeing an increasing number of patches over the past few months for enhancing the Qt toolkit integration…
One of many Linux kernel patch series that NVIDIA has been working on recently to upstream to the mainline Linux kernel are the adjustments needed for Linux running on their newest Smart Switch networking products for the data center…
So far my testing this week of the Linux 6.15 kernel in its early, post-RC1 state has been going well. No major upsets, yet to uncover any significant performance regressions, and overall has been going smoothly with the many new features/changes in Linux 6.15…
Facebook Marketplace has emerged as the dominant feature within the social media platform, amassing 1.2 billion monthly active buyers by 2023 and overtaking eBay as a peer-to-peer selling platform. According to recent data, approximately 16 percent of Facebook’s monthly active users now access the site exclusively to participate in Marketplace.
The feature’s growth accelerated following the pandemic’s supply chain disruptions and subsequent inflation, which increased demand for used goods. Facebook reports that Marketplace is attracting younger demographics who have otherwise abandoned the platform’s social features.
This shift represents a fundamental transformation of Facebook’s core function from “digital connector” to “digital bazaar,” with the platform increasingly hosting transactions rather than social connections.
