Elon Musk claims Tesla’s solar roof will cost less than a regular roof

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says his company’s solar roof will cost less than a regular roof. And no, we’re not just talking about the long-term effects that come into play with producing your own energy via the roof. Musk says the upfront cost will be less, both when it comes to manufacturing and installing the roof. Musk was quoted in a Bloomberg report saying this after Tesla shareholders approve the acquisition of Solar City. He says electricity is now “just a bonus.”

But don’t expect these to be dirt cheap. These will still come at a premium price (which we don’t know yet). The terra cotta and slate roofs Tesla mimicked are considered among the most expensive roofing materials on the market—sometimes costing as much as 20 times more than cheap asphalt shingles. The cost savings though might be seen in the shipping of the materials. These new tempered-glass roof tiles are said to weigh as little as a fifth of current products and are easier to ship.

Firefox Focus for iOS simplifies web browsing, acts as ad blocker

Firefox just released a new browser for iOS users, which it hopes gives people more control over what information about them gets shared. Firefox Focus is a new private browser designed to not leave record on the phone. It has no tabs, menus, or pop-ups. It’s set by default to block many of the trackers that are seen around the web. This is also said to contribute to the performance boost of the browser, since trackers are also said to slow down the loading of web pages. The app is also said to work as a content blocker for Safari on iOS and you can enable Tracking Protection on both Safari and Firefox Focus.

United Airlines’s new ticket tier won’t give access to overhead bins

Airlines charge for a lot of things these days and it seems that’ll include the use of overhead bins, too. Major U.S. carrier United Airlines released a new policy for its “basic economy” tickets a.k.a. those who paid the lowest fare and are only allowed to bring one small personal item—such as a purse or laptop bag—that they can stow away under the seat in front of them. The change in policy hopes to raise profitability for the airline as it targets to raise around US$4.9 billion by the year 2020.

Starting in January, the other restrictions for the basic economy tickets include not getting pre-assigned seats, not being able to carry roller suitcase, and won’t be given the capability to upgrade tickets to another fare class. You will also board last in a new boarding group or group 5. So, bigger luggage needs to be checked in. What you do get access to are free snacks, TV, and access to (paid) Wi-Fi. Now, if you’re regular economy, you still get access to ticket upgrades, overhead bins, and pre-assigned seating. Charlie Leocha of traveler advocacy group Travelers United disagrees with this new tactic as mentioned in an interview with CBC News: "These airlines are claiming that they are offering more choice and better service, while they eliminate amenities and charge more and more fees."

Source: Mashable

New Google Spotlight Story reminds us of summer

It’s been three years since Google started releasing its immersive Spotlight Stories. This year, it gets a bit more playful with Rain or Shine. A cute tale of a young girl and what looks like a cursed pair of sunglasses. It’s cursed in the sense that every time Ella puts it on, it starts to rain around her. Directed by Felix Massie, it shows how Ella has been able to put the accessory to use.

These Spotlight Stories have been started by Google’s ATAP group and has featured work from talents like Fast & Furious director Justin Lin and Disney animator Glen Keane.

Source: The Verge