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Apple’s $59 fake-suede ‘FineWoven’ iPhone case is its biggest dud of 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:31 GMT

By Jessica Nix | BloombergWhen Apple Inc. introduced a new material for phone cases and watchbands earlier this month, the company heralded it as a groundbreaking alternative to leather with “subtle luster and a soft, suede-like feel.”Consumers and reviewers haven’t seen it that way. The fabric, which Apple calls FineWoven, has been panned for being prone to scratches and stains — with an almost-slippery feel that’s off-putting to some. What began as a high-minded effort to make Apple’s products carbon neutral is now threatening to be one of the company’s biggest misfires of 2023.Apple describes FineWoven as an all-new textile that’s made from 68% post-consumer recycled material. It’s part of a push to phase out leather throughout its product line, including iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands, in a step toward being carbon neutral across the company’s entire global operations.But FineWoven has yet to clear its first hurdle: Winning over the Apple fanatics and early adopters who snap...

Who can hang with the 49ers in the NFC? It’s Philly and the pretenders

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:31 GMT

Maybe I’m not buying the whole 17-0 regular season thing, but it’s pretty clear through three weeks the 49ers are the class of the NFC and at worst co-favorites to play in Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas.They’ve scored 30 points in three consecutive games and are a little miffed it hasn’t been more. Their stars, of which there are many, have played like stars. The only injury of note, to wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, shouldn’t be an issue this week when the 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium.While an NFL season doesn’t allow for clear sailing to a conference title game, the 49ers have made good on just about every positive preseason prognostication which came their way.The general public is even apparently becoming dimly aware that Brock Purdy is something more than an undersized game-manager at quarterback.With that in mind, here’s a look at how the NFC teams currently over .500 line up heading into Week 4, and...

Mother of Oakland actor Angus Cloud reveals his last words to her

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:31 GMT

By Lisa Respers France | CNNAngus Cloud’s final words to his mother were filled with love.“I love you, mama. You’re the best,” Lisa Cloud, the late actor’s mother, told People magazine her son said to her on the night he died. “I’ll see you in the morning.”She and others who were close to the “Euphoria” actor talked to the publication about his final days.Cloud died in July of an accidental overdose. He was 25.Cloud, who was known as “Conor” to his family and childhood friends, was tragically found unresponsive by his mother in their Oakland home. Despite attempting to resuscitate her son, Lisa Cloud said she was unable to get him to respond.RELATED: Amid success and sadness, Angus Cloud showed his love for Oakland and its community of artists“I was screaming for my neighbor because I didn’t want to leave him and call 911, and I just kept at it until they took him away,” she recalled. “I miss him so much. He was the love of my life.”Cloud died from a lethal combination of fentanyl, ...

New Museum Los Gatos names Kimberly Snyder as executive director

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:31 GMT

New Museum Los Gatos has named its new leader. Kimberly Snyder, who has been serving as interim director, is stepping up as NUMU’s executive director.“I look forward to both strengthening the museum’s existing programs and launching new and innovative ones with the help of our talented staff and board. I want to thank you for supporting our museum. The individual and collective acts of dedication and care by our sponsors and community highlight the importance of NUMU as a cultural hub for all,” Snyder said.Snyder has served NUMU in various capacities for almost 10 years. The NUMU board said Snyder will focus on opening the Collections Prep Lab, making the museum’s art and history collections accessible to the general public and celebrating the 13th anniversary of ArtNow, the Santa Clara County high school juried art exhibition and educational program.“Kimberly not only has deep institutional knowledge, but a great passion for the museum and the community we serve,” said NUMU B...

Pac-12 bowl projections: Washington on track for CFP as Oregon has a Fiesta look; WSU to the Holiday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:31 GMT

A few helpful reminders on the postseason selection process before we plunge into the latest Pac-12 bowl forecast:— The Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl will host the College Football Playoff semifinals, leaving the Pac-12 champion to participate in the Fiesta, Peach or Cotton bowls unless it qualifies for the CFP.— The Pac-12 is contractually tied to seven games: the New Year’s Six, Alamo, Las Vegas, Holiday, Sun, LA and Independence bowls.— The Alamo, Las Vegas and Holiday bowls can jump one team in favor of another as long as there is no more than a one-game difference in conference record. The second-tier bowls (Sun, LA and Independence) must select teams in order of conference record.The bowl projections will be published in this space each Tuesday.College Football Playoff/Sugar BowlTeam: WashingtonComment: No two-loss team has ever reached the playoff, and the Pac-12 probably won’t be the conference to change the paradigm. Nor has any Pac-12 team gone undefeated in league play i...

California tax collections tumble $30 billion in a year

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:31 GMT

”Survey says” looks at various rankings and scorecards judging geographic locations while noting these grades are best seen as a mix of artful interpretation and data.Buzz: California tax collections are falling so fast that only one state took in more taxes than the Golden State lost.Source:  My trusty spreadsheet reviewed the Census Bureau’s second-quarter tally of tax colletions by state and local government. This yardstick tracks taxes paid by individuals and companies – levies on income, property, sales, etc. It’s both an indicator of statewide economic health – job swings and population growth are big factors – as well as a reflection of varied taxation policies by state.ToplineCalifornia collected $58.5 billion in the second quarter. That’s 15% of $401 billion taken in by states nationally and the largest intake among the states. Next came New York at $31 billion, Texas at $25 billion, and New Jersey and Illinois at $19 billion, and Florida at $17 billion.But California’s rec...

Los Gatos bakery employees harassed by transients

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:31 GMT

Sept. 17GRAND THEFT: 5:49 a.m. at Netflix on Albright Way. Two males cut chains and made entry onto the property, where construction is ongoing. They took a jackhammer, toolbox and other heavy construction items.VANDALISM: 6:12 a.m. on Belridge Drive. A resident received phone call from his neighbor saying someone was trying to break into his truck. The neighbor spoke to the person, and they left the area after trying to get into the tailgate of the truck and damaging the lock.Sept. 19PETTY THEFT: 9:07 a.m. at Los Gatos High School. A blue Specialized Rock Hopper was stolen from the bicycle rack area.SUSPICIOUS PERSON: 2:57 p.m. on W. La Chiquita Avenue. A woman said her third cousin’s son was in her backyard, and she felt he was trying to put her in a nursing home.Sept. 23VANDALISM: 1:21 a.m. at Carry Nations on North Santa Cruz Avenue. A customer threw a glass through the front window.SUSPICIOUS PERSON: 12:27 p.m. at Icing On The Cake on West Main Street. A handful of transients h...

Man texts group that he’s going to ‘shoot it up’ at gathering

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:31 GMT

Sept. 188.18 a.m. in the 2300 block of South Winchester Boulevard: A man, 42, was on the property and refused to leave. He also had a credit card not belonging to him in his possession.Overnight in the 1800 block of South Bascom Avenue: Someone broke the window to a 2019 Honda Fit.3:56 p.m. in the 100 block of Bland Avenue: Someone took money from the victim’s Crypto.com account.6:31 p.m. in the 600 block of Alpha Court: A woman called and said she was involved in a dispute with a man, 38. He had an outstanding warrant and was in possession of drug paraphernalia. The woman had bruising from a previous domestic violence incident in which the suspect is believed to be involved.2143 Bascom and Camden avenues: A man, 54, was stopped for a traffic violation. He was cited for driving with a suspended license and for not having an interlock device on his car.12:16 a.m. in the 900 block of East Hamilton Avenue: Someone pushed a table into a window and broke it.2:36 a.m. in the 00 block of U...

President Biden visiting the Bay Area for campaign events

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:31 GMT

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (KRON) -- President Joe Biden is set to arrive in the San Francisco Bay Area on Tuesday for a two-day stay.The president will be going to several campaign events after arriving in the Bay Area on Tuesday. This is Biden’s third visit in six months. Six months ago, he was touring storm damage, and three months ago, he was meeting with tech leaders to learn more about artificial intelligence as well as campaigning.This visit is expected to work out much the same, mixing business with pleasure. Biden plans to meet with scientists, but there will be a lot of private fundraisers during the stay as he seeks reelection in 2024. Two events Tuesday night will be private fundraisers to add more money to his campaign.Recent polling showed President Biden either tied with former President Donald Trump or drastically behind him, despite Trump’s numerous indictments. According to experts, the indictments have energized Trump’s base. Some of the worries about Biden among those...

Maryland cyclist’s family unhappy with the sentencing of the man who struck her

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:31 GMT

The ghost bike for Sarah Langenkamp. (WTOP/Luke Lukert) The ghost bike for Sarah Langenkamp. (WTOP/Luke Lukert) The family of a Montgomery County, Maryland, bicyclist who was killed after she was hit by a truck, are unhappy with the sentence the driver received.Santos Reyes Martinez pleaded guilty to causing death while operating a motor vehicle in the crash that killed Sarah Langenkamp in August of last year. He received a $2,000 fine and 150 hours of community service Monday, the maximum penalty under Maryland Law.“You don’t feel that justice has been done because the penalties just don’t exist,” Daniel Langenkamp, the victim’s husband told news outlet NBC Washington.Reyes Martinez hit and killed Langenkam...