Tech

Generation Gap: Ranking each and every Mazda MX-5 Miata – Driving

Published

4 years ago

October 11, 2020

Let’s get this out of the way: there’s no such thing as a ‘bad’ Miata.

When you set out to rank every generation of a specific automobile, however, there’s always going to be a model that sits at the bottom of the ladder.

It’s not so much that any version of Mazda’s iconic roadster is a victim of its own shortcomings, but rather that in our estimation it pales somewhat when compared to the absolute best iteration of one of the purest representations of sheer driving joy every built.

With all that said, which generation of the Mazda MX-5 Miata stands out to us as the shining beacon of everything the car was meant to be, and which one has seen its glow dull just a little in contrast? Check out our take on the best versions of the Mazda Miata ever built, and let us know whether we got it right or wrong.

1. 1989-1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata NA

The first Miata was a tour de force interpretation of the classic British sports car concept, a vehicle just as notable for what it left on the table as for what it brought to the game. In an era when the Japanese sports car game was dominated by exotic technologies like four-wheel steering, twin-turbos, and even Mazda’s own rotary engine, the Miata went in the opposite direction.

Presenting itself as a simple, rev-happy four-cylinder roadster with an ultra-low curb weight (right around 2,100 lbs) and minimal complications between the driver and the asphalt below its 14-inch wheels, the MX-5 made a plus out of its modest 116 horsepower (later elevated to 128, then 133 when the 1.6-liter motor was punched out to 1.8-liters in 1995). It was responsive enough to keep the momentum-car moving at a brisk pace, yet never a threat to overpower either the rear wheels or the driver, and its supremely balanced chassis rewarded every input, no matter how minute.

All of the above, plus the NA Miata’s svelte shape (a lovely jelly bean with pop-up headlights), simple manual top, and inexpensive running costs set it well on its trajectory to being the best-selling two-seat convertible in history. It’s yet to have been equaled.

2. 2006-2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata NC

The third-generation Miata was brave enough to try to expand the roadster’s mission statement without losing sight of what had made it great to begin with. Somewhat larger, and a few hundred pounds heavier, than the sprightliest NA, the NC was still one of the least weighty sports cars on the market when it appeared in 2005. It continued the four-cylinder formula (now a 2.0-liter unit rated at 170 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque), and buyers could choose between a five- and six-speed manual gearbox. A refresh mid-way through the car’s production run would bump the redline by 500 rpm and boost its grin-factor.

The NC was significantly more comfortable and refined than the generation that preceded it and featured the availability of a power retractable hardtop. Whereas past versions of the Miata had required a lift-off design for anyone seeking four-season security, the NC’s built-in feature dragged new customers into the Mazda showroom, even if critics complained about the hundred pounds or so it added to the mix.

Most importantly, however, the NC drove exceptionally well. More insulated from the road than the NA of decades past, it was nevertheless a blast when pushed hard, and in an era where most of its rivals were at least 500 lbs heavier, it never came across as portly. It was the first time Mazda had strayed from the original simplicity-is-everything mantra that had guided the first MX-5, and it was a risk worth taking that did indeed change the character of the car, but not for the worse.

3. 1999-2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata NB

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Why does the NB come in behind the NC on our ranking of every Mazda Miata generation? Whereas the third iteration of the roadster gave us something new, the second was more accurately described as an attempt to civilize certain aspects of the first, without alienating its core fan base. It was just as ‘good’ but not appreciably ‘better’ in terms of driving experience, and that keeps it from climbing higher.

Wider, and lacking the rad pop-up headlights of the NA, the NB’s cabin was more accommodating to taller drivers and its overall styling was more sleek than round. The 1.8-liter engine was retained, and power remained at 140 horses (143 by 2001) but a six-speed manual transmission was now in the mix and helped the car shame the NA in a straight line. A five-speed also remained on the order sheet.

Aside from the above, there wasn’t much about the NB that set it apart from the original Miata. A Mazdaspeed turbocharged model came online for 2004, but its 178 horses and 166 lb-ft of torque were matched with unusually aggressive gearing that conspired to keep the car feeling more frenetic than fantastic, and it never found a widespread following among MX-5 fans.

4. 2016-current Mazda MX-5 Miata ND

When the ND was launched as a 2016 model, Mazda went out of its way to compare it to the classic NA. In some ways the parallels were there: the car stepped down to 155 horsepower and cut major weight compared to the NC, which at its core is the same formula applied by the very first vehicle to wear the Miata badge.

What keeps the current version of the MX-5 at the bottom of our list is something that wasn’t even dreamed of when the NA first hit showrooms. Electric power steering has managed to deaden the feel for so many modern sports cars, and compared to the hydraulic – or even unassisted – setup available in early Miatas, the ND comes across as remarkably numb.

Still, there’s a lot to like about the ND Miata. Its suspension tuning remains top-notch and the car is a lot of fun to drive, especially once the revised 2019 engine’s 181 horsepower and 7,500 rpm redline injected substantial life into the chassis. The interior also offers far more modern infotainment and comfort options than any previous model. The RF model’s power retractable targa panel is a bit of a puzzler, but like the NC’s experimentation it at least tries to take the Miata concept in a different direction.

Too bad about that steering, though.

LISTEN: This week on our Plugged In podcast we talk all things Polestar with North American boss.

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Tech

Ottawa orders TikTok’s Canadian arm to be dissolved

Published

3 days ago

November 6, 2024

Anne Joseph

The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.

“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.

The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.

However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”

Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.

A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.

“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.

“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”

The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.

At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.

A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”

Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.

Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.

Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.

Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.

While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.

Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.

The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.

— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.

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Health

Here is how to prepare your online accounts for when you die

Published

2 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

Anne Joseph

LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?

It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.

Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:

Apple

The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.

For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.

You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.

Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.

Google

Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.

When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.

You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.

There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.

Facebook and Instagram

Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.

When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.

The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.

You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.

TikTok

The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.

Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.

It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.

Passwords

Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?

Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.

But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.

___

Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.

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Tech

Google’s partnership with AI startup Anthropic faces a UK competition investigation

Published

2 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

Anne Joseph

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.

The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.

The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.

“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”

San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.

Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”

“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.

The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.

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