The Daily Valet. - 10/12/21, Tuesday

✔️ A Modular Phone

Tuesday, October 12th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

I wouldn’t mind a phone that stuck around a little longer ... or just an iPhone that folds.

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

A Modular Phone?

Could a sustainable smartphone free us from the never-ending upgrade cycle?

I may not have heard about this before because I’m such an unapologetic Apple fanboy, but this sustainable, modular smartphone concept is pretty cool.

Fairphone is an “ethical smartphone” from the Netherlands that has been making waves in tech circles for its smart design and ability to be repaired at home. Unfortunately, it remains limited to overseas availability, but the fact that every tech site is reviewing the new model certainly says something.

Now on its fourth iteration, the new Fairphone is a big step forward, reports The Verge. It comes with an incredible five-year warranty, and will be able to be updated for at least six years after purchase. “It’s every bit as sustainable, with a modular repairable design, but it feels much more like a modern smartphone.”

According to Gizmodo, the Android phone has a large 6.3-inch Full HD+ Gorilla Glass display. It runs on a Snapdragon 750G chip with 6GB of RAM inside and 128GB of storage. “The extra bit of memory helps the device feel more responsive than its mid-range processor suggests.” (The reviewer also mentioned the ability to bring along a spare battery because you can easily swap them in on this phone.)

Engadget reports that the Fairphone 4’s double-camera setup, utilizing Sony’s sensors and lenses, produces remarkably good images that will only get better with updates.

Fairphone has said that it has learned a number of valuable lessons from the launches of its last few handsets. That’s why this new model has such a strong warranty and guarantees software support until 2025 at the earliest, but pledges to keep that going to 2027 at best. The company told Ars Technica that it wants to continue the industry-leading update work it has been doing, but a lack of support from basically everyone else in the industry means the future is unpredictable at best.

↦ Buy: Currently, the phone will cost you about £499, or a little less than $700.

Anti-COVID Pill?

Merck applies for emergency authorization for what would be the first pill to treat the virus

Merck said on Monday that it had submitted an application to the Food and Drug Administration to authorize what would be the first antiviral pill to treat COVID-19.

If cleared by the FDA—a decision that could come in a matter of weeks—the pill could be taken at home to reduce symptoms and speed up recovery.

Merck last week said the drug cuts the risk of hospitalization or death in half among those at high risk when taken early in an infection. It's also a more affordable alternative to infusion centers and monoclonal antibodies, which require medical professionals to administer.

Ahead of a decision by American regulators, the companies have already begun producing the pill, and have agreed to sell courses of the treatment to the United States and other countries if they get the green light.

↦ Meanwhile: What would a COVID memorial look like? Designers share ideas for an unprecedented tribute.

Southwest Cancels More Flights

There’s now a backlog of passengers from nearly 2,000 canceled flights since Friday

Southwest Airlines canceled more than 350 flights Monday following a weekend of major disruptions that it blamed on bad weather and air traffic control issues. It was the third straight day of canceled and delayed flights left passengers stranded and steaming from California to the East Coast.

According to the Washington Post, it's a sign of airlines' struggles to capitalize on a growing appetite for travel and mirrored disruptions that travelers encountered over the summer. Airlines have shed staff during the pandemic, and analysts say scheduling problems can more easily snowball, leading to mass flight cancellations.

Monday's cancellations amounted to 10% of Southwest’s schedule, and at least 1,400 other flights, or roughly 40%, were delayed, according to the FlightAware tracking service.

The widespread disruptions began shortly after the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, representing 9,000 pilots, asked a federal court on Friday to block the airline’s order that all employees get vaccinated. But the union said the cancellations were not part of a planned labor demonstration.

↦ Dig Deeper: What are you entitled to when your flight gets canceled? Here’s what you need to know.

Lego to Remove Gender Bias

Research reveals harmful stereotypes still hindering girls, boys and their parents

The toys we were given as children and the traits they are assigned can often have lasting impacts on the rest of our lives, according to the latest research. Science journalist Melissa Hogenboom put it this way: “Blocks encourage building whereas dolls can encourage perspective taking and caregiving,” Hogenboom wrote. “A range of play experiences is clearly important.”

On Monday, legendary Danish toymaking giant Lego said they were taking that advice. The decision came after a global survey the company commissioned uncovered sobering conclusions about toys and perception.

The company, whose colorful building blocks and figurines sell in more than 130 countries, said it wants to make its products more inclusive and “will work to ensure any child, regardless of gender identity, feels they can build anything they like.”

According to The Guardian, researchers found that while girls were becoming more confident in a wide range of play, the same was not true of boys. 71% of boys surveyed feared they would be made fun of if they played with what they described as “girls’ toys”—a fear shared by their parents. The study found that parents still encouraged sons to do sports or Stem activities, while daughters were offered dance and dressing up.

↦ By the Numbers: There are over 400 billion Lego bricks in the world. That currently breaks down to roughly 86 Lego bricks for every person on earth.

In Other News

↦ Gas Prices Skyrocket As the Global Energy Crisis Worsens

↦ Here are the highlights From a Historic Boston Marathon

↦ Jon Gruden Resigns As Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach After Report of Anti-Gay, Misogynistic Language Used in Emails

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

‘That ’90s Show’ is coming

These Halloween displays

Bizarre human body facts

Up Your Probiotics

The surprising benefits of adding good bacteria to your diet

Probiotics have been on the rise for a while. Of course, like any wellness fad, there was oversimplification and misinformation.

But over the past few years, there has been a lot more research done, evolving them from something to promote more regular bowel movements to a bonafide scientifically-backed way to boost your overall health—from a stronger immune system to better skin and a faster metabolism.

What are probiotics, exactly? They're good bacteria that are either the same as or very similar to the bacteria that are already in your body. Your lower digestive tract alone teems with a complex and diverse community of these bacteria. And these probiotics have a positive effect on your gut's microbiome as well as your immune system.

We spoke with some experts to get all the info you need, along with rounding up some tasty ways to incorporate probiotics into your daily diet (including my favorite kimchi).

↦ Read: What you need know about probiotics and how to get the most from them.

Revive Your Space With a Candle

St. Pauls candle, $57 by Frama

Candles are one of my favorite ways to unwind. The ritual of lighting the wick and watching the flickering flame serves as a great reminder to relax. You have so many different scents—floral, earthy, spicy and sweet, all mixed and mingled together. You may ask yourself; how do I find my favorite scent? Piece of advice: Always go with a smell for the season. So for Fall, you would want one that's earthy and woody, with a spicy punch.