Nintendo announced on Friday that its live-action The Legend of Zelda movie will premiere on March 26, 2027.Its a little weird to announce this the day after a Nintendo Direct livestream, where the gaming company usually unloads all of its recent news. But that was intentional. The company wants fans to download its new app, Nintendo Today! yes, that exclamation is their own doing to learn the latest news.During Thursdays Nintendo Direct event, Nintendo game director Shigeru Miyamoto closed out the presentation by announcing the Nintendo Today! news app. Those who swiftly downloaded it were rewarded since Nintendo used this channel exclusively to announce the release date of its Zelda movie.The app aims to deliver daily news about various Nintendo games, and users can customize the app to prioritize their favorite franchises.Across the entertainment industry, there are so many new movies and TV shows based on existing IP that this reminder about the Zelda movie may fall flat.For Nintendo, investing in existing IP has proven a financially sound strategy. Its Super Mario Bros movie grossed $1.3 billion at the box office with a $100 million production budget, making it the 18th-highest grossing global release of all time.While Zelda might not have quite the same universal recognition as Mario, keep in mind that the Breath of the Wild game sold over 34 million copies, more than the Pokmon Gold, Silver, and Crystal games.As Nintendo prepares to unveil more information about its highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 system next week, perhaps we should keep a closer eye on the Nintendo Today! app for early details.Topics

Welcome to Startups Weekly your weekly recap of everything you cant miss from the world of startups. Want it in your inbox every Friday? Sign up here.This week reminded us that creative accounting doesnt only happen in Hollywood. Some hopes were dashed, but startups are delivering on all sorts of promises, from nuclear reactors to small EVs.Most interesting startup stories from the weekImage Credits:Courtesy of Hasan SukkarThe startup news this week was very much a mixed bag, with one public exit finalized and another delayed and a flurry of other developments, both promising and disappointing.Churn concerns: TechCrunch learned that several companies with logos on 11xs website were not actual customers of the a16z- and Benchmark-backed startup. Sources also said used 11x used creative ways to calculate annual recurring revenue.Further delays: Cerebras Systems saw its IPO delayed again. The AI chipmaker filed to go public in 2024, but its national security review has been dragging on.Nuclear: Terrestrial Energy, a U.S. nuclear startup that develops small modular reactors, went public via SPAC and is expecting to net $280 million. Meanwhile, Bill Gates-backed Commonwealth Fusion Systems hit a key milestone to construct its demonstration reactor.Not enough: Vertical farming company Plenty filed for bankruptcy after raising nearly $1 billion in funding from investors, including SoftBank Investment Advisers, Walmart, Bezos Expeditions, and Jeff Bezos as an angel investor.Layoffs: Block, the fintech startup co-founded by Jack Dorsey, laid off 931 people, according to a leaked email. The company, which owns Cash App and Square, already conducted layoffs in 2024.Rumors: Nvidia is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire Lepton AI, a startup that rents out servers powered by its AI chips. And FuriosaAI, a South Korean startup that makes chips for AI applications, is said to have rejected an $800 million acquisition offer from Meta.Most interesting VC and funding news this weekImage Credits:Mercury / Left to right: Max Tagher (co-founder and CTO), Jason Zhang (co-founder and COO), and Immad Akhund (co-founder and CEO)From pre-seed to a Series E, here are some rounds that caught our attention this week. Plus, some fresh funding for VCs to invest in new deals.Hot thermometer: Digital banking startup Mercury raised $300 million in primary and secondary funding, including a Series C led by Sequoia. This also more than doubled its valuation to $3.5 billion post-money.Valuation bump: Island, a company that makes enterprise browsers, secured $250 million in a Series E led by Coatue that valued the Dallas-based startup at $4.85 billion a significant valuation bump less than one year after its previous round.Also: Rivian spun out a new micromobility startup called Also, which already received $105 million from Eclipse Ventures. Its goal is to build small EVs, with a flagship product going into production next year for consumers in the U.S. and Europe.Automated: Fast-growing Berlin-based workflow automation startup n8n raised $60 million in a round of funding led by Highland Europe, with HV Capital and previous investors Sequoia, Felicis, and Harpoon also participating. Sources said the valuation was close to $270 million.Ramp for LatAm: Mexico City-based YC alum Mendel raised a $35 million Series B and expects its business to reach profitability by late 2025.Rugs to riches: Arcade, a generative AI marketplace for designing jewelry, simultaneously announced its $25 million Series A funding round and its expansion to home goods, starting with rugs.No free labor:make sure AI agents get paid.More AI:closed a $1 billion seventh fund to back B2B companies, with a keen interest in AI.Blue checks: French VC firm Daphni announced the first closing of its third fund, Daphni Blue, with around $215 million secured out of its overall $270 million target.Beyond voice:broader focus on AI investments.Last but not leastA new report showcased the worlds 20 hottest open source startups. You can find the full listing and more details here. As you may have guessed, more than half of these have AI at their core.

Breakdown & ShowreelsThe Electric State: Filming with RobotsBy Vincent Frei - 28/03/2025 Go behind the scenes with this new featurette about The Electric State, exploring how real actors and cutting-edge VFX brought the films robots to life. Featuring insights from Animation Supervisor Liz Bernard (at Digital Domain), the directors, the cast, and more!WANT TO KNOW MORE?Digital Domain: Dedicated page about The Electric State in Digital Domain website. Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2025

This week, Woods Bagot and ERA-co announce a new integrated network of brands. United under a holding company named 7C, the 7C network, focusing on Total Place Design, is a curation of best-in-class capabilities across placemaking (ERA-co), sustainability (Impact Futures), architecture and interior design (Woods Bagot), and ultra-luxury concepts (Customs Bureau), this innovative new network offers holistic and integrated solutions for an increasingly complex built environment. The 7C network provides clients with access to a unique combination of the worlds best talent, drives interdisciplinary knowledge throughout the network and delivers shared services that contribute stronger, more integrated solutions for evolving client needs. At the helm of the newly announced 7C network is Sarah Kay. Appointed as Woods Bagot Global CEO in 2024, Kays role now expands to Global CEO, 7C, leading the network of brands operating from 18 global cities.Since 2020, we have been growing and adding complementary services towards the launch of our 7C network. The 7C network is fundamentally about solving our clients most complex challenges and delivering their most ambitious projects. Our ambition is to be the most trusted and influential voice shaping the future of the built world.As a networked set of brands, 7C can engage with more phases of our cities lifecycle, beyond architecture from initial visioning, design, and sustainable development to implementation and long-term impact assessment. ERA-co, our second 7C business, has driven 42 percent compound revenue growth in its first five years. Alongside Customs Bureau, who have been working on significant projects since 2023, and our newly established Impact Futures sustainability consultancy, the 7C network also demonstrates significant growth potential in time these new brands will make up to 20 percent of overall revenue, said Kay. We are proudly fueling this growth through retained earningsnot external capital, Kay added. By reinvesting up to 10 percent of our profits annually, we ensure controlled, strategic expansion while maintaining the highest standards of quality, ownership, and direction. Our commitment is to growth that strengthensnot compromisesthe integrity of our design and advisory expertise.The 7C network is strategically aligned with key industry shifts, including the rapid expansion of sustainability consulting and compliance, the evolution of urban planning towards regenerative and climate-responsive models, and the rise of hyper-luxury and experience-driven design. By embedding specialised capabilities that anticipate these trends, the 7C network is poised to lead in a rapidly changing market.This alignment allows us to bring value to our clients by connecting specialist knowledge from across our network to deliver strategic outcomes and long-term impact. Its what we call a Total Place Design mindset teams who think more holistically and whats best for our clients, not individual silos. Something thats only possible given the depth and breadth of expertise sitting within each of our brands, Kay continued. Each company within the network represents a stand-alone entity with the ability to work directly with clients, or part of an integrated solution. Together, the 7C network intends to deliver a collective ambition to be the most trusted and influential voice for the built world.With recent wins showcasing two or more entities within the new network, including Londons mixed-use office tower 85 Gracechurch Street (Woods Bagot and ERA-co) and mixed-used adaptive reuse development Bondi Road (Impact Futures and Woods Bagot) in Sydney, the strategy is already demonstrating its value and is designed to propel the 7C group of companies into their next phase of growth.

Last June, the city of Houston announcedHood Design Studio had been tapped to renovate MacGregor Park, a historic Third Ward public space. This week, the Houston Parks Board and City of Houstons Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) rolled out the firms final conceptual design, with support from Kinder Foundation. Hood Design Studios vision for the revamped park was informed by lengthy community outreach, the city shared in a press statement. More than 2,500 interactions with local community members through 18 public engagement sessions, which included surveys and interactive workshops, were conducted. As previously announced, other firms working with Hood Design Studio on the project include, Talley Landscape Architects, Moody Nolan, and Walter. P. MooreMacGregor Park holds generations of memoriesa place where culture, history, and community converge. We sought to preserve its legacy through the layering of preservation and cultural programming while creating spaces that invite new stories to unfold, Walter Hood said. In doing so, we also will bring forth the recognition that MacGregor sits on the banks of Brays Bayou.The upgraded park will be connected to a series of trails. (Courtesy Hood Design Studio)MacGregor Park is 65 acres. There, Hood Design Studio seeks to integrate nature into the park more effectively, the city shared. The final design acknowledges the native landscapes, which includes prairies and post oak savannah, there before the park was built.The final conceptual design has a central promenade meant to unify the parks various components, offering a central focus point for all activities and park users. A new natural amphitheater will be connected to the central promenade, stocked with open seating for performances and civic gatherings. A plethora of new shade trees will be added to protect visitors from the sweltering Texas heat, making the park comfortable for users year round, an ideal space for quiet reflection. There will also be an expanded walking trail around the park perimeter that connects to the existing Brays Bayou Greenway, a 38-mile uninterrupted trail.The existing tennis center will be renovated. (Courtesy Hood Design Studio)Another important component will be the refurbishment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza. Hood Design Studio was able to keep the monument in its original location near the MLK Tree of Life. Surrounding the monument will be new seating and shading, thanks to a stretch of new grove trees.By introducing new ecologies to the park, the cultural and athletic heritage of the park will become enmeshed with an ecological story, Hood added. The renovated park will act as a bridge between past and future, honoring those who came before while welcoming the next generation to shape its evolving story, all amongst a native ecology.Among the recreation facilities are new pickleball courts (Courtesy Hood Design Studio)A new natural amphitheater is part grass, part stone construction. (Courtesy Hood Design Studio)Hood Design Studio affirmed that the park will have a new, all-inclusive, ADA-accessible playground for all ages and abilities to enjoy. The existing Homer Ford Tennis Center will also be renovated, as per the communitys request.The parks renovation is part of a longterm effort by the city of Houston to address gaps in park equity.Construction will begin in 2026 and wrap up in 2028.

I have been exercising with fitness trackers like smartwatches and smart rings for over a year, and the devices have helped me track my progress over time, check my vitals during workouts, understand my recovery, and motivate me to keep my activity streaks alive. Whether you're dialing into your fitness routine or want to learn more about your activity patterns, a health tracker can uncover the details of your activity and sleep throughout the day, week, and month.While the price of some of these trackers can easily surpass $300, Amazon's Big Spring Sale could reduce select products, and we're already seeing record-low savings on the latest Apple Watch, among other health and sleep trackers. The e-commerce giant kicked off its annual sale event on Tuesday, and the week of deals will run until Monday, March 31. Whether you're investing in your first-ever Apple Watch for step-counting or upgrading that Garmin Forerunner to the latest generation, I've rounded up some of the hottest deals on health trackers, you can take advantage of right now.Shop more deals at AmazonThe best smartwatch, smart ring, and fitness tracker deals for Amazon Spring Sale 2025Oura Ring 3: Save up to $100 on select sizes and finishes: Last year, Oura unveiled its fourth-generation smart ring, which brought down the price of its third-generation smart ring. This applies to both the fully circular Horizon Ring and the indented Heritage Ring. Select sizes and finishes are available from $50 to $100 off.Apple Watch SE GPS 40mm: $169 (save $80): ZDNET's Kayla Solino says this watch is value-packed for anyone within the Apple ecosystem who tracks basic health metrics and wants phone-free notifications. The two discounted colorways are midnight and starlight.Apple Watch Series 10 GPS 42mm: $300 (save $100): Get Apple's latest smartwatch, fit with its new sleep apnea detection feature, at a $100 discount right now. This is the lowest we've seen the Series 10 go since its September debut.Apple Watch Series 9 GPS 41mm: $280 (save $110): If you don't want a thinner and wider watch, which the Apple Watch Series 10 offers, then opt for the Series 9, which is on clearance at Best Buy. This deal applies to the midnight sport loop band.Core Body Sensor: $228 (save $57): This is not an Amazon deal, but it's too good to skip out on. ZDNET's Matt Miller has been using this core body temperature sensor to inform his fitness and recovery. He recommends it most to people who exercise in hotter temperatures.Ultrahuman Ring Air (select sizes): $307 (save $43): This smart ring impressed me with the data it gathered on my sleep and activity, and is a subscription-free health tracker with new features constantly rolling out. Select sizes and finishes are down to $307 at Walmart. Nina Raemont/ZDNET Current price: $250Original price: $300The older generation Oura Ring 3 and the new Oura Ring 4 have a few things in common and a few differences. Both rings have the same app software, so whether you're using the 3 or the 4, you'll get the same data display. The differences come out with comfort and battery life. The Oura Ring 3 has sensors that protrude from the ring's interior, while the Oura Ring 4 has flat sensors that you can't feel as you put the ring on your finger. If you don't mind the feeling of the sensors, I'd recommend the 3 over the 4, since it's cheaper. The Oura Ring 4 gets eight days of battery life, while the Oura Ring 3 gets seven.Select finishes and sizes of the Oura Ring 3 are on sale right now, and you could take up to $100 off on the more expensive finishes, like the rose gold. Show more View now at Amazon Kerry Wan/ZDNET Current price: $300Original price: $400This is the lowest we've seen Apple's latest Apple Watch Series 10 drop to. The tenth-generation smartwatch boasts a bigger display and a thinner design. Plus, the Series 10 offers a Sleep Apnea Detection feature that can track your breathing during sleep and provide you with data for a diagnosis by a doctor.If you own an iPhone and want all your activity, sleep, and health data in one place, the Apple Watch Series 10 could be your best bet for an advanced health tracker at a 20% discount. Show more View now at Amazon Nina Raemont/ZDNET Current price: $129Original price: $190What good is a workout without booming and clear music? As someone who runs outside and works out in a gym, I've found that these are ideal for both environments. The Nothing Ear Open is an open earbud, so the speakers hang right outside my ear canal to deliver music. That keeps me aware of my surroundings, whether I'm running miles on a busy New York City street, or lifting weights at my gym. They hang comfortably and stay put in my ears as I lay on the lifting bench (unlike regular earbuds, which annoyingly fall out as I move through my sets and reps), and while I run I don't have to worry about them loosening from my ears and dropping on the pavement. The earbuds get surprisingly loud and have a 30-hour battery life to last you for at least a week of workouts. Show more View now at Amazon Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET Current price: $169Original price: $250Want a fitness tracker that easily syncs with your iPhone? The Apple Watch SE is your best bet for an affordable smartwatch that tracks activity data and a mini smartphone around your wrist. Reply to texts, set timers, create reminders, and activity track all on one handy (pun intended) device. Show more View now at Amazon Amazon/ZDNET Current price: $150Original price: $200Reviews on Amazon say that this watch is a wonderful entry-level fitness tracker for runners beginning their training journey. It's got up to two weeks of battery life, so you don't have to worry about constant charging, and comes with race time predictions and finish time estimates, so you can keep an eye on your pace per mile. Show more View now at Amazon More Amazon Spring Sale 2025 health and fitness wearable dealsGarmin Forerunner 55: $150 (save $50): If you just signed up for your first half or full marathon, a running smartwatch could help you meet your mile-per-minute goals. There's no need to buy a $300 watch right in the beginning when this $150 watch from Garmin exists. It's one of the more affordable Garmin sports watches for runners tracking mileage.Garmin Forerunner 255S: $228 (save $80): Want to take your training up a notch? This model of the Garmin Forerunner offers a longer battery life compared to the Forerunner 55 above.Garmin Venu 3S: $400 (save $150): This is a great sleep and activity tracker. It's so good that you might even ditch your Fitbit for it.Fitbit Charge 6: $120 (save $40: This step-tracker has a built-in GPS and Google compatibility.Fitbit Inspire 3: $70 ($30): If you want a basic activity tracker, Wirecutter says that this Inspire 3 nails accuracy as a step counter.Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: $229 (save $70): Samsung's latest Galaxy Watch 7 comes with a new energy score feature and is powered by the tech brand's latest AI.Whoop 4.0 with 12-month subscription and flex sports band: $250 (save $49) The Whoop is a discreet health wearable that's more smart band than smartwatch. It's screenless, first and foremost, and it provides deep insight into sleep, activity, and recovery. The deal applies to the band, the 12-month subscription, and an additional sports band.Apple AirPods Pro 2: $170 (save $80): These aren't just earbuds for exercise. The AirPods Pro 2 function both as hearing aids and as hearing loss detectors. You can take a test with the earbuds to learn if you suffer from hearing loss, and bring that information to a doctor.Nothing Ear Open: $129 (save $70): I like using these earbuds in the gym while I'm lifting weights because they stay snug around my ears, are loud enough to fill out my environment with sound, but offer an open-ear design that won't disconnect me entirely. They also have amazing battery life, comfortable fit, and clear sound.Bose Ultra Open: $240 (save $50): Maybe you want open earbuds, like the Nothing ones above, but want expensive, luxurious sound. These Bose Ultra Open offer immersive sound and a unique build -- it's almost like a clip-on earring. The earbuds come in beautiful colors and finishes, and are $50 off right now.Anker A20 Sleep Earbuds: $120 (save $30): I've used these sleep earbuds to listen to brown noise before dozing off in my nosy Brooklyn bedroom that overlooks a busy road, and they work. They're comfortable to wear and have a decent battery.When is Amazon's Big Spring Sale 2025?The second-annual Spring Sale takes place starting Tuesday, March 25, through Monday, March 31.Are deals really better during Amazon sales?You'll find the biggest savings on Amazon devices like Kindles, Fire tablets, Fire TVs, and Amazon Echo devices on sales days like Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Butone studyfound that the average Amazon Prime Day discount is 16.2%. This isn't Prime Day, of course, but several products will be discounted during this deals-palooza, and several retailers, like Walmart, Target, or Best Buy, may offer discounts on products to join in on the competition.How did we choose these Spring Sale deals?ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy -- devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops.We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we're recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing -- in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.What are the best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 deals?ZDNET's experts are searching through Amazon's Spring Sale deals to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals so far:You can also find the best Amazon Spring Sale deals by price:And the best deals from other retailers this week:Best anti-Amazon Spring Sale dealsLooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites withZDNET Recommends.Amazon Spring Sale 2025

When is Amazon's Spring Sale 2025?Amazon's Big Spring Sale runs from now through Monday, March 31.Are deals really better during Amazon sales?Deals on flagship Amazon products are typically the best during Amazon's own sales. These sales are also a great opportunity to scoop up decent savings across dozens of categories. Keep in mind that you'll be able to shop at plenty of other retailers during the same period as Amazon's sale as retailers look to compete.Will other retailers offer spring savings?Yes, other major retailers will likely offer their discounts via competing sales. Often, retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and more directly match (or sometimes outdo) Amazon's pricing during sale events. It's not unusual to see the same products on sale for the same price across many retailers. I expect many competing sale events to precede, overlap, or follow Amazon's spring sale.How did we choose these anti-Amazon Spring Sale deals?ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy -- devices and products we desire, need or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is on sale and how frequently it drops.We also reviewed customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we recommend. Our recommendations may also be based on our testing -- in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.What are the best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 deals?ZDNET's experts are searching through Amazon's Spring Sale deals to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals so far:You can also find the best Amazon Spring Sale deals by price:And the best deals from other retailers this week:Best anti-Amazon Spring Sale dealsLooking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites withZDNET Recommends.

A secure chat app for the privacy-consciousSignal empowers users, but its no substitute for ... More classified communication protocols.NurPhoto via Getty ImagesIf youre keeping an eye on cybersecurityor, frankly, the news cycleyouve likely heard of Signal. The encrypted messaging app has long been the go-to choice for journalists, activists, and privacy-conscious users. But it recently found itself thrust into the political spotlight for a very different reason: a scandal involving Trump cabinet and government officials using Signal to discuss sensitive, debatably classified, military operationsand inadvertently looping a journalist into the conversation.This eyebrow-raising breach of national security has also became a cultural moment for Signal. News of the incident exploded across media outlets and social platforms, prompting a dramatic spike in Signal downloads as the publics curiosity about encrypted communication tools reignited.Yet buried in the noise is a more nuanced truth: while Signal is a phenomenal app for private conversations, it's not invincibleand it was never meant to be used for classified or mission-critical communication.The Rise of SignalSignals story begins with a commitment to privacy at its core.Created by Open Whisper Systems and later championed by the nonprofit Signal Foundation, Signal emerged as the brainchild of cryptographer Moxie Marlinspike. By pioneering the Signal Protocolan open-source end-to-end encryption frameworkthe team paved the way for stronger privacy across the broader messaging ecosystem. In fact, the Signal Protocol is also used in apps like WhatsApp, Skype, and Facebook Messenger for their encrypted messaging modes.But unlike many tech solutions, Signal isnt built to generate profit or harvest data. Instead, it operates thanks to grants, donations, and its dedicated user base. This nonprofit, open-source approach fosters trust and transparency. Anyone with the skills can audit the code, examine its encryption protocols, or contribute to its evolution.Under the Hood: What Makes Signal Secure1. End-to-End Encryption Signals flagship feature is its end-to-end encryption (E2EE), which ensures that only the sender and the recipient can read the messagesno middleman, including Signal itself, can access the contents. Thats a significant layer of protection against interception or surveillance.2. Disappearing Messages Users can configure messages to self-delete after a set amount of time, limiting the risk of sensitive conversations sitting idle on a device. While its not foolproofscreenshots, backups, or physical access can still expose informationit adds another layer of protection.3. Metadata Minimization Signal goes to great lengths to reduce metadata, the often-overlooked byproduct of digital communication. It doesnt store message contents or contact logs and employs techniques like sealed sender to further obscure traffic patterns. Still, complete metadata invisibility isnt technically possible.Why Signal Has Become the Privacy App of ChoiceSignal isnt just popular among tech-savvy usersit has earned the trust of people who have the most to lose from surveillance. Investigative journalists, political dissidents, whistleblowers, and human rights activists rely on Signal to protect sources, organize efforts, and preserve anonymity. It offers peace of mind in countries where expression can carry dangerous consequenceswhich is also why it is currently gaining popularity in the United States.At the same time, its clean, intuitive design makes it equally attractive to the average consumer looking to escape the surveillance economy. Theres no advertising, no data profiling, and no creepy targeted content. Just encrypted chat, voice, and video calling, available on Android, iOS, and desktop computers.The Limitations No One Talks AboutDespite its strengths, Signal is not a silver bullet. And as the cabinet official scandal shows, misusing even the best tools can have serious consequences.1. Metadata Leakage Through Network Observation While Signal tries to obscure user metadata, internet service providers and global surveillance networks can still glean behavioral patternssuch as when youre online, how often you message certain contacts, or your physical location based on IP address. These breadcrumbs can be surprisingly revealing.2. Device Compromise Nullifies Encryption Signals encryption is only effective if your device is secure. If your phone is compromisedwhether via malware, spyware, or someone gaining physical accessattackers can read decrypted messages directly from the screen or memory. Pegasus-style spyware doesnt break encryption; it sidesteps it entirely.3. Human Error Remains the Weakest Link Signal cant save you from yourself. Reusing weak passcodes, falling for phishing attempts, or accidentally adding the wrong participant to a group chat (as seen in the SignalGate incident) can all undermine even the most secure platforms.4. Not Fit for Classified Government Use Encryption is just one aspect of securing sensitive or classified communications. Government protocols require strict chain-of-custody procedures, specialized hardware, and compliance with classified handling frameworksnone of which Signal is designed to support. While it's secure enough for everyday communication, it is not certified for handling state secrets, and treating it as such introduces significant national security risk.Tools Are Only as Smart as the People Using ThemIts easy to conflate privacy with invulnerability. But cybersecurity doesnt work like that. No app can completely remove risk. Even Signals creators have been candid about the platforms limitations. Theyve engineered it for everyday privacynot espionage.That doesnt mean you shouldnt use Signal. In fact, you probably should. Its one of the most secure and ethical options for personal messaging on the market. But treat it as one piece of your security toolkitnot the whole kit. Use strong passwords. Keep your OS updated. Pair it with a VPN if you're especially cautious. And if your communication involves trade secrets or government intel, follow the channels designed to handle that level of sensitivity.The Bigger PictureThe Signal controversy is a case study in how the best tools can still be misusedand misunderstood. Encryption protects content, but not context. Signal doesnt grant anonymity, and it certainly doesnt grant impunity. The viral attention and surge in app downloads after the SignalGate scandal highlight a paradox: as more people become aware of digital privacy, fewer understand its limits.Final ThoughtsSignal remains a standout success in the push for privacy-respecting technology. Its open-source ethos, commitment to user security, and accessibility make it an essential tool in todays digital landscape. But its not built for every purposeand certainly not for classified operations.With heightened digital surveillance and eroding privacy norms, the real challenge isnt finding unbreakable tools. Its developing digital literacy about the tools we have. Encryption is criticalbut so is understanding its boundaries.Signal offers privacy. You have to bring the security mindset.

A phone loading the TikTok app at the foreground with Donald Trump grinning in the background.NurPhoto via Getty ImagesNext week, the White House is expected to announce a high level deal between TikToks Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and some group of U.S. investors, to save the app from enforcement of a law, beginning April 5, that bans TikTok in the U.S.. In broad strokes, the deal will reportedly create a new company (NewCo) to handle TikToks U.S. operations, which will be majority-owned by U.S. investors but it wont get rid of ByteDance completely, which might mean it doesnt satisfy the law.Some reports have characterized the deal under consideration as a version of Project Texas, ByteDances internal name for a set of security protocols it would put in place to keep Americans data out of Chinese control. The Biden Administration considered a Project Texas proposal in 2023, but was so unsatisfied with it that they ended up working with Congress to pass a law forcing ByteDance to sell TikTok or see it banned in the United States.Under binding U.S. law, TikTok should be banned right now. The only reason it isnt is that President Donald Trump ordered his Department of Justice not to enforce the law until April 5, and asked three of Americas largest tech companies Apple, Google, and Oracle to knowingly violate it, on the promise that DOJ wouldnt prosecute them. All three have done so.Unless he extends it, Trumps pause on enforcement of the sell-or-ban law comes to an end next week on April 5. That means we can expect further action from the Trump Administration soon. Whether that action will be legal, however, is another matter. So here are 5 questions well be asking about any deal they announce.Will The Proposed Deal Sever Operational Links Between TikTok and ByteDance? U.S. law prevents NewCo from operating TikTok in the United States if it maintains any operational relationship with ByteDance or any of its subsidiaries. Today, TikTok has an extensive operational relationship with ByteDance: ByteDance controls virtually everything that makes the app run, from its internal databases, documents, and algorithms to its legal and HR departments.NewCo cant have any of that overlap, if it intends to comply with the law. But: the President is the one who gets to decide whether an operational relationship exists or not. So well be watching to see if Trump actually prevents ByteDance from meddling in TikToks operations, or if he just tries to get out of this one by refusing to call a spade a spade.Does the proposed deal give Trump new power over speech on TikTok? When ByteDance pitched Project Texas to the Biden Administration, it also offered White House officials extensive control over TikTok U.S., including veto power over the hiring of executives and the ability to block changes to the apps privacy and content policies as Forbes first reported in 2023. Under the agreement, White House staff could claim national security as a rationale for blocking changes to the apps content policies about social issues like abortion, immigration, or the war in Gaza. They could also invoke national security to prevent someone from becoming a TikTok executive.This raises questions about whether the deal would enable the White House to jawbone TikTok, coercing the company into promoting pro-government messages or demoting dissent. Neither the White House nor ByteDance immediately responded to questions from Forbes about whether the deal under current consideration would allow the White House to control content moderation, policymaking, or executive hiring.What Exactly Will NewCo Control?The deal under consideration will reportedly create a new entity that will be majority owned by U.S. investors. In the proposed deal with the Biden Administration, there was a new entity too called TikTok U.S.D.S. but it only had jurisdiction over a narrow subset of TikToks U.S. operations. Will this NewCo have a broader mandate than the last one? Will it control TikTok U.S.s internal tools? What about its recommendation algorithm?If NewCo doesnt control these things and if ByteDance or a ByteDance subsidiary continues to control any of them then we are back to Question 1.Who Has Ultimate Decisionmaking Authority At NewCo? Youd think the answer to this question would be easy: the US investors who take a majority stake in it! But its not always that simple.When Zhang Yiming founded ByteDance in 2012, he granted himself supervoting shares that would allow him to control ByteDance, even if he didnt continue to own a majority of the company. This is a pretty common maneuver in tech Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, former WeWork CEO Adam Neumann and former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick all gave themselves this power too (though its noteworthy that only Zuckerberg continues to control his company today).If the goal of the TikTok deal is to ensure that TikTok is ultimately not controlled by a Chinese person (who could be forced to act on behalf of the Chinese government), then well want to see details on both who owns NewCo and who gets to make decisions for it. If ByteDance is making any of those decisions, then we return to Question 1.Will The Proposed Deal Obey Chinese Law? ByteDance cant sell TikToks For You algorithm without the Chinese governments permission. But if ByteDance doesnt sell the algorithm, then NewCo cant (legally) use it. Under U.S. law, NewCo cant engage in any cooperation [with ByteDance] with respect to the operation of a content recommendation algorithm.The only way NewCo will be able to use the For You algorithm is if the Chinese government lets ByteDance sell. Trump has suggested he might lift tariffs if Beijing approves a sale. But Beijing could also hold permission back, in an effort to draw further concessions from the U.S. President. After all, Trump was so eager to avoid a ban he asked American companies to ignore the law to keep TikTok online. Who knows what else he might concede to get a deal.

In context: As an old-school single-player gamer, I will never understand the allure of the live-service model. Between the cheaters, the nickel-and-diming microtransactions, and the toxic children you are forced to play with, I just don't see the value as a consumer. I'm in good company. Former PlayStation Boss doesn't get it either. When Shawn Layden left Sony in 2019, it came as a shock to PlayStation fans. Layden had spent more than half of his life with the company (32 years), with the last few in upper executive positions, including president and CEO of SCEA and Chairman of Sony Worldwide Studios.Layden's abrupt departure came just before the PlayStation 5's debut. At the time, there were rumblings of a dispute between him and SIE President Jim Ryan. Layden later dispelled the rumors, telling Bloomberg he had left out of exhaustion and felt it was just a good time to "put the pin" in it.The former PlayStation boss recently sat down for an interview with Save State Plus (above) and said that aside from just being time, he disagreed with Sony's increasing focus on continuous monetization, including live-service gaming. Live-service games and subscription models were not a good fit for him."To be honest, you know, the company was making some strategic decisions about where they want to take the platform in the future with a heavy emphasis in games as a service, live-service gaming, subscription formulas, recurring revenue, whatnot, and that was kind of not my wheelhouse. I just make things like God of War and Spider-Man and Last of Us and Uncharted. Horizon. I didn't have the vision or the energy to try to, you know, take it to this this new area of live-service gaming so, all that considered, it seemed like a good time to step down after 32 years at Sony."Long before the release of the PlayStation 5, Sony was moving its business model to focus more on live service games and subscriptions. Layden had a front-row seat to these changes, so he chose to leave right before all the major shifts in PlayStation Plus and first-party production started.The fruits of this restructuring were a revamped multi-tiered PlayStation Plus that is doing well and multiplayer microtransactional games, which are hit-and-miss at best. Sony invested heavily in Concord, a phenomenal flop with a peak concurrent player count of 2,388. It was so bad that Sony delisted it less than two weeks after launch, making it the third fastest flop in live-service gaming history, according to DualShockers. // Related StoriesHis revelation is not too surprising. Layden has openly criticized the general direction the games industry is headed. Last year at Gamescom, Layden noted that publishers have stopped focusing on making fun games and instead spend all their energy on monetization. He also believes that PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles mark the last of the big leaps in console hardware.That said, Layden and Sony hold no ill will. Layden had 30+ rewarding years with the company and left on good terms for greener pastures. Sony waved him farewell in 2019, saying, "His visionary leadership will be greatly missed. We wish him success in future endeavors and are deeply grateful for his years of service. Thanks for everything, Shawn!"