Anker’s Eufy robovacs are up to 48 percent off at Amazon

Anker’s Eufy brand robotic vacuums are already affordable and they just got even cheaper via a new Amazon sale. The most interesting model is the Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30 that’s available for just $130, for a savings of $120 or 48 percent off the regular price. Other models also have steep discounts like the advanced RoboVac X8, RoboVac 11S Slim, RoboVac 30C MAX and RoboVac G30 Hybrid. 

Buy Anker Eufy RoboVacs at Amazon

Anker launched Eufy back in 2016 as a budget robotic vacuum brand with an emphasis on technology. The cheapest model in this sale is the BoostIQ RoboVac 30, available for $130 or $120 off the regular price. It offers features like a slim profile, 1,500Pa suction levels, included boundary strips, automatic cleaning and 100 minutes of endurance on hardwood floors. It lacks WiFi and other advanced features, but if you don’t need those, it’s a steal at that price.

On the other end of the scale is Eufy’s RoboVac X8, on sale for $400 or 33 percent off the regular $600 price. It generates 2,000Pa of suction, while offering advanced tech features like iPath laser navigation to scan and map your home using LiDAR; AI Map 2.0 tech that can save maps for multiple floors; and smartphone control via WiFi. 

In addition, you can grab the RoboVac 11S Slim for just $140, or $90 (39 percent off). While vacuum power is limited to 1,300Pa, it’s small enough at 2.85 inches to fit in spaces other vacuums can’t reach. Upgrade to WiFi and more powerful 2,000Pa of suction with the RoboVac 30C MAX, on sale for $180 or $80 off the regular $260 price. 

Another powerful WiFi-equipped model is the RoboVac G30, offering Smart Dynamic Navigation 2.0, 2,000Pa of suction and Alexa compatibility. It’s on sale for $178, or $140 off the regular price via a coupon used at checkout. And finally, the RoboVac G30 Hybrid offers the same features but can also do mopping is on sale for $200, or $170 (46 percent) off the list price. 

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Lyft will pay $25 million to settle claims it hid safety issues before its IPO

Lyft has agreed to pay $25 million to settle shareholders’ allegations that it failed to disclose safety issues in its Initial Public Offering (IPO) paperwork. According to Reuters, shareholders accused the company of concealing known problems, such as sexual assaults by its drivers, to cultivate an image of a more socially responsible alternative to Uber. They also accused Lyft of not disclosing safety issues regarding its bikeshare program, specifically the problem the company faced with its brakes that forced it to pull its bikes from various cities in the US. While Lyft has agreed to settle, it denied any wrongdoing. In a statement sent to CNN Business, company spokesperson Gabriela Condarco-Quesada said:

“This settlement resolves a shareholder class action related to statements in Lyft’s initial public offering and its financial impact on investors — it’s not about safety-related claims on the platform.”

In their complaint, the shareholders said reports of sexual assaults by Lyft drivers that came out after the IPO represented an “existential risk” to the brand that should have been disclosed beforehand. Further, they said Lyft used promotions to boost its market share against Uber. 

Lyft officially filed to go public in 2019, but it wasn’t until 2021 that it had published its first safety report. In it, the ride—hailing firm revealed that it received a total of 4,158 sexual assault reports from 2017 until 2019. Lyft divided the cases in different categories for its report, with the most common incidents falling under the non-consensual touching of a sexual body part category. It’s worth noting, however, that the money for this settlement will go to shareholders and not to any of the passengers who reported being sexually assaulted by the firm’s drivers.

SpaceX reportedly fired employees behind letter criticizing Elon Musk

SpaceX has fired employees who participated in writing and distributing an open letter criticizing Elon Musk, The New York Times has reported. First revealed yesterday, the letter called Musk’s behavior on social media “a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment” and asked SpaceX to condemn his actions. 

According to three unnamed employees and an email from SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell seen by the NYT, SpaceX fired some of the letter’s organizers, but there’s no indication of how many were let go.

 “[SpaceX has] terminated a number of employees involved” with the letter, she wrote. “The letter, solicitations and general process made employees feel uncomfortable, intimidated and bullied, and/or angry because the letter pressured them to sign onto something that did not reflect their views. We have too much critical work to accomplish and no need for this kind of overreaching activism.”

The open letter from the employees referenced recent accusations of sexual misconduct involving Musk that reportedly prompted a $250,000 settlement. Musk said the allegations were “utterly untrue” and made a crude joke about some of the details on Twitter. SpaceX defended Musk, with Shotwell saying she “personally” believed the accusations were false.

Another subject in the letter was distractions due to Musk’s Twitter use. In February, the SEC opened an investigation into Musk over possible insider trading, and a court recently ruled that Tesla company lawyers must continue to approve his tweets. (Earlier this week, Musk appealed that decision). Prior to the letter, Musk reportedly told SpaceX employees that they must spend at least 40 hours a week in the office or risk being fired.

In her email, Shotwell added that “blanketing thousands of people across the company with repeated unsolicited emails and asking them to sign letters and fill out unsponsored surveys during the work day is not acceptable. Please stay focused on the SpaceX mission, and use your time to do your best work. This is how we will get to Mars.”

Employees are protected against retaliation by OSHA’s whistleblower rules, but those generally apply to issues like safety, fraud, environmental issues and health insurance. Still, the firings are likely to create another round of controversy involving Musk. 

Snapchat starts testing a paid subscription tier

Snap has started testing a paid subscription tier for Snapchat that will give users early access to new features, a company spokesperson has confirmed to The Verge. “We’re doing early internal testing of Snapchat Plus, a new subscription service for Snapchatters. We’re excited about the potential to share exclusive, experimental, and pre-release features with our subscribers, and learn more about how we can best serve our community,” the spokesperson said. While they barely revealed anything about the service, reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi has found some hidden information in the app that gives us an idea of what Snapchat Plus could offer. 

Apparently, it’ll let users pin one friend as their #1 BFF and will give them access to some exclusive icons. Snapchat Plus users will also get a badge on their profile, will have the means to see their friends’ locations over the past 24 hours — if those friends are sharing their location with the user — and will see how many friends have rewatched their stories. Based on the details Paluzzi has unearthed, the service will cost users €4.59 ($4.83) a month or €45.99 ($48.41) a year. 

Those features and prices could change by the time the feature is ready to launch, if Snap does decide to offer the service. Seeing as other social networks and apps are also offering or working on paid tiers of their own, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Snapchat Plus does become available. Twitter Blue made its debut in a US last year as a $3 option for users who want additional features, such as the undo button. Telegram also confirmed that it will launch a Premium tier sometime this month to give its most ardent fans access to bigger uploads, as well as more speed and resources.