Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor’s ninth inning game-tying homer on Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays was just another big moment for him during his MVP-caliber campaign.
September 2024
Joe Buck fractures wife’s ankle with golf drive in ‘freak accident’
Michelle Beisner-Buck apparently did a headstand near the tee box while the ESPN announcer was teeing off.
White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf releases statement surrounding ‘historically difficult season’: Report
Following the White Sox‘s 114th loss of the season coming against the Guardians on Wednesday, chairman Jerry Reinsdorf issued a statement to the media at Guaranteed Rate Field. “Everyone in this organization is extremely unhappy with the results of this season, that goes without saying,” Reinsdorf said, according to multiple outlets. “This year has been very painful for all, especially…
Robert Kraft reportedly wants to know why Jerry Jones is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and he isn’t
Kraft’s Patriots have won six Super Bowls since the Cowboys last reached the NFC title game.
Five New Features Coming to AirPods Pro 2 (and How to Update Them)
iOS 18 is nearly here: When you update your iPhone next week, you’ll have access to total Home Screen customization, a better texting experience with friends on Android, and a new password manager app. (Apple Intelligence is coming with iOS 18.1.)
If you have a pair of AirPods Pro 2, you’ll also get five new features when you update to iOS 18. The thing is, your AirPods also need to be updated in order to try them out. Apple dropped that AirPods update this week, which means if you’re running iOS 18 early, you can try out these new changes right now.
New AirPods Pro 2 features
You’ve been able to control Siri with your voice for a decade, but following the firmware update, you will be able to control Siri with head movements as well. A head nod indicates a positive command, while a head shake denotes a negative command. For example, you can shake your head side to side to decline an incoming call, or nod your head to confirm you want to send the message you dictated to Siri. If I had a pair of AirPods Pro 2, I’d be excited for this feature: It’d be convenient to interact with Siri in public without having to start talking to myself out of the blue.
There’s also a new Voice Isolation feature for these AirPods that should make it easier for people to hear you on the other end of a phone call. iOS and macOS already have a built-in Voice Isolation mode for iPhones, iPads, and Macs, but now the feature is extending to AirPods Pro 2, when you take a call while wearing them. This will also work with both pairs of AirPods 4.
The other three features are all about gaming: Developers can now take advantage of a new API to add Personalized Spatial Audio to their games. The idea is playing these games with AirPods Pro 2 will deliver “the most immersive audio experience.” I don’t know about all that, but if it games sound more realistic while wearing your earbuds, I’m all for that. This feature will also work with AirPods 3 and newer, all AirPods Pro models, as well as AirPods Max.
In addition, Apple has reduced the latency (or delay) for high-quality audio (now up to 16 bits at 48 kHz) when live-streaming or communicating with friends. In-game audio is also upped to 16 bits at 48 kHz while live-streaming and talking with friends.
As someone with both an OG pair of AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, it’s a bummer that so many of these features are exclusive to the latest AirPods models. I’m not likely going to take advantage of Personalized Spatial Audio on iOS games, but head nods with Siri? Voice Isolation? Those would be great.
How to update your AirPods’ firmware
To try out these features today, you need to be running iOS 18 or macOS Sequoia. Those updates are due to release on Monday, Sept. 16, so you don’t have to wait long. That said, Apple has seeded the release candidate (RC) for both of these OSes: While technically beta software, an RC is meant to be the final build of the OS, barring any unforeseen issues. As such, there’s a much lower risk installing the RC on your devices than a typical beta. If you want to try these features early, you can install the RC on your compatible iPhone and/or Mac today.
From here, you need to update your AirPods Pro 2. That is easier said than done. For some reason, Apple doesn’t let users manually update their AirPods firmware. Unlike other software updates, it just kind of happens on its own. That’s usually fine for smaller updates, but when you want to try out new features, not being able to update your AirPods yourself is bizarre.
The internet has plenty of tricks to try to force the firmware update installed, but, in general, your AirPods update their firmware when stored in their case, and paired to your Apple device. So, pop your earbuds in their case, move them over to your iPhone, and open and close the lid. You can check whether your AirPods updated by heading to Settings, tapping on your AirPods, and scrolling down to Version under ABOUT. The new firmware version is 7A294, from 6F8.
If you’re not sure what type of AirPods you have, check out the model number in the ABOUT section, and cross-reference it with the list on this Apple support page. If you have a pair of AirPods Pro 2, that will be model numbers A2931, A2699, A2698, A3047, A3048, or A3049. Alternatively, just look at your case: A second-generation pair of AirPods Pro will have a lanyard loop on the side and a speaker on the bottom, and may have a USB-C port. A first-generation case will have a Lightning port, and neither a speaker nor a lanyard loop.
Francisco Lindor’s MVP moment, Francisco Alvarez’s blast highlight huge ninth inning in 6-2 win over Blue Jays
The Mets turned being no-hit through eight innings into a dramatic 6-2 win, taking Wednesday’s rubber match from the Toronto Blue Jays in improbable fashion.
MLB suspends Rays pitcher and manager after Castellanos HBP
Major League Baseball reacted quickly on Wednesday afternoon, suspending Rays pitcher Edwin Uceta and manager Kevin Cash for the Nick Castellanos HBP.
Why It Matters If You Have ‘Dense’ Breast Tissue
This week, a new FDA regulation went into effect that requires mammogram facilities to notify patients about the density of their breasts. Thirty-nine states (and D.C.) already had some sort of notification requirement, but the new rule makes the messaging consistent nationwide and will bring these notices to states where they are not currently required.
What is “dense” breast tissue?
Breasts contain fat, glandular tissue, and connective tissue. On a mammogram, fat appears as dark areas, and the other tissue types tend to appear as white areas.
This matters because tumors and calcifications also appear in white, which means a mammogram is easier to read on a person whose breast tissue is less dense. The National Cancer Institute has images here of the four different categories of breast density. Breasts that are “fatty” or that only have “scattered” areas of denser tissue appear darker. Breasts that are “heterogeneously dense” or “extremely dense” have more of the white areas. If you’re told you have dense breast tissue, you fall into one of these last two categories.
Who has dense breast tissue?
Dense breast tissue is common; the FDA estimates that “almost half” of women over 40 have dense breasts. You may be more likely to have dense breasts if you have used hormone therapy for menopause, or if you have a lower body mass index.
People who are older or who have had children are less likely to have dense breasts. But your chances of having dense breasts are also likely inherited; some people just have denser tissue than others.
Is it bad to have dense breast tissue?
Dense tissue isn’t bad by itself, but there are two reasons why it’s considered important to know whether you have it or not. One is that mammograms are less likely to pick up early signs of cancer, because it’s hard to tell normal dense tissue apart from tumors or calcifications.
The other is that breast cancer seems to be more common in people with dense breasts. We aren’t sure why. That said, it seems that having dense breasts does not make you any more likely to die of breast cancer if you do turn out to have it.
How will I find out if I have dense breast tissue?
According to the new FDA rule, your mammogram report must tell you which of the four types of breast tissue you have. If your breast tissue is “almost entirely fatty” or has “scattered areas of fibroglandular density,” it is considered to be not dense and the report will include this message:
Breast tissue can be either dense or not dense. Dense tissue makes it harder to find breast cancer on a mammogram and also raises the risk of developing breast cancer. Your breast tissue is not dense. Talk to your healthcare provider about breast density, risks for breast cancer, and your individual situation.
On the other hand, if your breast tissue is dense, you will be told that it is “heterogeneously dense, which may obscure small masses” or “extremely dense, which lowers the sensitivity of mammography.” In that case, you will see this message:
Breast tissue can be either dense or not dense. Dense tissue makes it harder to find breast cancer on a mammogram and also raises the risk of developing breast cancer. Your breast tissue is dense. In some people with dense tissue, other imaging tests in addition to a mammogram may help find cancers. Talk to your healthcare provider about breast density, risks for breast cancer, and your individual situation.
What happens if I am told I have dense breast tissue?
This is the tricky part. We don’t yet have enough evidence to say whether people with dense breast tissue should go on to get more or different kinds of screening, or if it’s fine to go ahead with the normal screening schedule and not do extra tests.
Ultimately, it should be up to you and your doctor, experts say. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force declined to make a recommendation, saying that “the current evidence is insufficient” to properly weigh the harms and benefits of breast ultrasound, MRI, or another technology called digital breast tomosynthesis in people who have dense breasts.
The benefits of extra imaging might include detecting cancer earlier, but the downsides might include getting sent for biopsies or additional procedures that you don’t need. Insurance doesn’t always cover extra imaging if you’re getting it done because you have dense breasts.
Whether you decide to get extra screenings will depend on things like your risk for breast cancer and your personal preferences—some people would rather err on the side of caution, while others might feel more strongly about avoiding unnecessary procedures. Your doctor can help you understand your risk and talk to you about the pros and cons of extra screening.
Former Milwaukee player, North Carolina standout John Henson confirms his retirement from NBA
Henson has been out of the league since 2020 and is focused on a broadcasting career.
Blue Jays’ Bowden Francis loses another no-hit bid by allowing 9th-inning HR for the 2nd time in 3 weeks
Francis gave up a ninth-inning home run to end another no-hit bid against the Angels in August.