When is Amazon's Spring Sale 2025?This year, Amazon's Big Spring Sale begins on March 25 and ends on March 31.Are headphones and earbuds really cheaper during Amazon sales?Yes, you can find many headphones and earbuds at cheaper prices during Amazon's sales. However, the spring sale typically offers smaller discounts than Amazon's fall and holiday sales later in the year. During Amazon's sales, headphone and earbud brands also slash prices on their sites to compete for your dollars. Sometimes, prices are lower at other retailers, so you should compare factors like prices, return policies, and free items included with your purchase before buying. If you want all-time low prices on the latest headphones and earbuds, wait until later in the year.How did we choose these Spring Sale deals?I spend most of my time testing the latest headphones and earbuds and revisiting headphones and earbuds released in past years to provide our readers with the most sound buying advice. I also noticed products' retail prices and when the lowest prices were offered, typically later in the year.Additionally, by retesting products, I can determine if they're still worth hundreds of dollars a year or two later. If they are, I will still recommend them during significant sales. Another factor I consider is when newly-released products are on sale; if a product I recommended was released six months ago and is already on sale, I'll notify our readers to take advantage of the sale price.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.

TheAmazon Big Spring Saleends tonight, so you don't have much time left if you've been on the fence about picking up any upgrades for your gaming space for less. Other retailers like Best Buy and Walmart are also offering their own discounts on gaming tech like laptops, desktops, and gaming monitors, so even if you do miss out, there's a chance you can still catch it on sale somewhere else.Also: The best Amazon Big Spring Sale deals live nowNot only can you find discounts on everything you need for PC gaming, but you can also find markdowns across Amazon for PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch games, console bundles, and accessories. And with new deals going live almost every hour, I've created a list of the best deals for gaming PCs, consoles, and accessories to help you find the right fit for your budget.See at AmazonBest gaming deals for Amazon Big Spring Sale 2025Sony InZone H9: $198 (save $102): The official wireless headset for the PS5 with 360-degree spatial sound, noise-canceling tech, and support for PC use.HyperX Alloy Origins 60: $53 (save $47): A compact, ten-keyless gaming keyboard with HyperX linear red switches, RGB backlighting, and Ngenuity software support.Asus TUF A17 gaming laptop: $1,179 (save $321): An excellent midrange gaming laptop with a 17.3-inch display, 144Hz refresh rate, RTX 4060 graphics card, and AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor.Samsung T7 Shield 2TB portable SSD: $150 (save $135): Expand your game storage with this rugged 2TB portable SSD, with IP65 moisture and dust resistance and protection against shocks and drops.Gigabyte Aorus 16X: $1,500 (save $450): A high-end gaming laptop with a 165Hz refresh rate, RTX 4070 GPU, and Intel Core i7-14650HZ processor.Great gaming deals at other retailers Asus/ZDNET Current price: $1,180Original price: $1,500A mid-range gaming laptop with a 17-inch display that supports a 144Hz refresh rate, and is built with an RTX 4060 graphics card, AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor, 1TB SSD, and 16GB of RAM. Show more View now at Amazon Samsung/ZDNET Current price: $150Original price: $285A rugged portable SSD with 2TB of storage and an IP65 rating for moisture and dust resistance to help protect your data from corruption and loss. Show more View now at Amazon Gigabyte/ZDNET Current price: $1,500Original price: $1,950A high-end gaming laptop with a 16-inch display that supports a 165Hz refresh rate and 2560 x 1600 resolution. The device is built with an Intel Core i7-14650HX CPU, RTX 4070 graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD. Show more View now at Amazon Sony/PlayStation/ZDNET Current price: $200Original price: $300The official wireless headset for the PlayStation 5 features 360-degree spatial audio for better immersion and a noise-canceling microphone for clearer in-game chat. Show more View now at Amazon Amazon Spring Sale 2025 gaming accessories deals HyperX/ZDNETHyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless: $143 (save $57): TheCloud Alpha Wirelessis one of my favorite gaming headsets. It has a 300-hour battery life, DTS Headphone:X spatial audio support, and a noise-canceling mic.Razer Viper V2 Pro HyperSpeed wireless: $100 (save $50): An excellent wireless gaming mouse with a 30K DPI sensor, 90-hour battery life, and 5 programmable buttons.SteelSeries Aerox 3 wireless: $60 (save $40): This is a great wireless gaming mouse with an 18K DPI sensor, an ultra-lightweight design, and IP54 moisture and dust resistance.Corsair Void RGB Elite wireless: $70 (save $40): This is a high-end wireless gaming headset with 7.1CH surround sound, 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, and an integrated microphone.Corsair HS80 RGB wireless: $100 (save $50): A premium wireless gaming headset with an integrated, broadcast-quality microphone, Dolby Atmos support, and iCUE support for custom RGB lighting.Logitech G915 TKL: $120 (save $110): A compact, tenkey-less gaming keyboard with integrated RGB lighting, low-profile switches, and 40 hours of playtime.Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed: $100 (save $100): A tenkey-less, wireless version of Razer's flagship BlackWidow gaming keyboard with Phantom Pudding keycaps, a 200-hour battery, and linear silent switches.Logitech G502 Hero: $39 (save $40): A midrange wired gaming mouse with 11 programmable buttons, adjustable weights, integrated RGB lighting, and a 25K DPI sensor.Asus ROG Harpe: $90 (save $60): This ultra-lightweight gaming mouse weighs just 54 grams and features 5 programmable buttons, a 36 K DPI sensor, and a 90-hour battery life.Govee RGBIC floor lamp: $60 (save $40): This RGB-capable floor lamp adds a bit of color to your live streams or gaming space.Sony InZone H3 wired headset: $58 (save $42): Sony's officially licensed gaming headset for the PS5 with 360-degree spatial audio, Discord-certified microphone, and 3.5mm audio connection.Razer Kaira HyperSpeed wireless: $87 (save $43): This wireless gaming headset for the PS5 features a 30-hour battery life, Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity, and an attached microphone. Razer/ZDNET Current price: $110Regular price: $150A high-quality wireless gaming mouse with a 90-hour battery life, 30K DPI optical sensor, 5 programmable buttons, and a total weight of just 63 grams. Show more View now at Amazon Amazon Spring Sale 2025 gaming laptop deals HP/ZDNETAcer Nitro 16: $719 (save $280): An entry-level gaming laptop with an AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS processor, RTX 4050 graphics card, and a 16-inch display that supports up to a 165Hz refresh rate.Lenovo Legion 5i: $1,400 (save $200): A mid-range gaming laptop with a 14th gen Intel Core i9 CPU, RTX 4070 graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD.Acer Predator Helios Neo 14: $1,170 (save $330): A mid-range gaming laptop with an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU, RTX 4060 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, and 14-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate and G-Sync VRR. Acer/ZDNET Current price: $1,150Regular price: $1,500A creator-grade gaming laptop with a 14-inch OLED display, Intel Ultra Core 7 155H CPU, RTX 4060 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD. Show more View now at Amazon Amazon Spring Sale 2025 gaming desktop deals MSI/ZDNETMSI Aegis Z2: $1,050 (save $200): A mid-range gaming desktop built with an AMD Ryzen 7 7700 CPU, RTX 4060, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD.MSI Aegis RS2: $1,900 (save $250): A high-end gaming rig with a 14th gen Intel Core i7 CPU, RTX 4070 Super GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB SSD.Skytech Nebula: $564 (save $136): An entry-grade gaming desktop built with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, Nvidia GTX 1650 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and 500GB SSD. Corsair/ZDNET Current price: $2,200Regular price: $2,500A creator-grade gaming desktop built with an Intel Core i7-14700KF processor, Nvidia RTX 4070 Super graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Show more View now at Amazon Amazon Spring Sale 2025 PlayStation 5 deals Sony/PlayStation/ZDNETMadden NFL 25: $30 (save $40): The latest entry in the long-running Madden NFL franchise with updated team rosters and streamlined controls.Star Wars Outlaws Amazon Exclusive Limited Edition: $46 (save $24): This Amazon-exclusive version of the game includes character cosmetics for Kay and Nix.Assassin's Creed Mirage Deluxe Edition: $27 (save $33): A return to form for the Assassin's Creed franchise that has players journey to Alamut, the home of the Assassins to uncover mysteries and take down the Templars.Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: $40 (save $30): Ratchet & Clank are back in an all-new adventure to stop an interdimensional robotic emperor from conquering the universe.Dead Island 2 Ultimate Edition: $40 (save $30): This version includes the base game, both Haus and SoLA expansions, three weapons packs, and 7 character cosmetics packs.Final Fantasy VII Rebirth exclusive Amazon Edition: $50 (save $10): The second half of the highly-anticipated FFVII remake, and includes an exclusive Cloud and Sephiroth skin for your PS5 controller.Silent Hill 2 (2024): $60 (save $10): A remake of the PS2 classic with updated visuals and modern mechanics.Dragon Age: The Veilguard standard edition: $35 (save $35): Enter the world of Thedas and join a team of seven companions to stop corrupt gods from destorying the world.Diablo IV standard edition: $30 (save $40): With both solo and co-op play modes, you can tackle bosses and dungeons and even PVP zones; supports cross-play and cross-progression.Sid Meier's Civilization VII deluxe edition: $90 (save $10): This version includes the base game, Tecumseh and Shawnee pack, Crossroads of the World Collection, 2 bonus leaders, 4 extra profile customizations, and an alternate scout skin. Atlus/ZDNET Current price: $35Regular price: $70A modern remake of the classic Persona 3 with updated visuals, streamlined mechanics, and a revamped story. Show more View now at Amazon Amazon Spring Sale 2025 Nintendo Switch deals Nintendo/ZDNETSonic X Shadow Generations: $35 (save $15): Modern and Classic Sonic team up with Shadow the Hedgehog to take on Dr. Eggman and the Time Eater.Star Wars Heritage Pack: $45 (save $15): This bundle includes seven classic Star Wars game titles, including Republic Commando and Knights of the Old Republic.The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom: $53 (save $18): Link returns to Hyrule with new abilities and allies to take on Ganon.Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: $50 (save $10): The ever-popular kart racing game lets you take on friends in local or online matches or test your skill against several race modes.Super Mario Odyssey: $45 (save $15): Mario's new ally Cappy gives him all-new powers to solve puzzles and save Princess Peach from Bowser's wedding plans. Nintendo/ZDNET Current price: $50Regular price: $60Play as Princess Zelda as she embarks on a journey across Hyrule to save Link and the kingdom from the evil of Ganon. Show more View now at Amazon Amazon Spring Sale 2025 Xbox Series X|S deals Microsoft/Xbox/ZDNETMetaphor ReFantazio Launch Edition: $45 (save $25): A turn-based RPG from the developers behind the popular Persona series.Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl: $40 (save $20): Explore the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and shape your own destiny as you fight dangerous enemies and collect powerful artifacts.Star Wars Jedi Survivor deluxe edition: $50 (save $40): This version includes the base game and 6 in-game cosmetic items.Starfield standard edition: $48 (save $20): Bethesda's first new universe in over 25 years has players jet-setting across the stars to settle new planets and try to answer humanity's greatest mystery.Alone in the Dark (2022): $33 (save $27): A remake of the cult-classic 90s horror game with two playable characters to choose from, ramped-up psychological horror, and a great doom-jazz soundtrack. Microsoft/Deep Silver/ZDNET Current price: $40Regular price: $70Choose from one of 6 characters to fight your way through the streets of HELL-A in this zombie melee sandbox. The ultimate edition includes the base game, Haus and SoLA expansions, 6 character packs, weapons packs, and other exclusive in-game cosmetics. Show more View now at Amazon Amazon Spring Sale SSD and storage deals Samsung/ZDNETWD_Black 8TB SN850P M.2 SSD: $660 (save $360): Instantly add 8TB of storage to your PS5 with this officially licensed SSD.Samsung 990 Pro 2TB with heatsink: $180 (save $90): This 2TB internal SSD features an integrated heatsink to help keep the drive running at optimal temperatures.Samsung 990 Evo Plus 4TB M.2 SSD: $250 (save $95): This internal SSD gives you read and write speeds up to 7250MB/s and is great for desktops, laptops, and consoles.Samsung Pro Plus microSD 512GB: $40 (save $35): This microSD card includes a full-sized adapter and is perfect for expanding storage on your gaming smartphone or Nintendo Switch.Kingston Fury Renegade 4TB M.2 SSD: $280 (save $104): An excellent choice for expanding your desktop, laptop, or PlayStation 5 storage with 4TB of space and read/write speeds up to 7300MB/s.Samsung 870 Evo SATA III 1TB SSD: $97 (save $50): A budget-friendly SATA SSD with 1TB of storage, making it perfect for smaller game libraries.SanDisk Extreme 4TB portable SSD: $240 (save $120): A ruggedized portable SSD with 4TB of storage and an IP65 rating for water, dust, and shock resistance.SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB SSD flashdrive: $90 (save $55): Get the speed and reliability of an SSD with the portability of a flash drive with this 1TB option. Samsung/ZDNET Current price: $180Regular price: $300A tough portable SSD with an integrated thermal guard, AES 256-bit encryption, and a case that can handle drops up to 10 feet. Show more View now at Amazon Amazon Spring Sale gaming monitor deals Acer/ZDNETAlienware AW3423DW 34-inch curved monitor: $700 (save $400): This curved gaming monitor uses a QD-OLED panel for better color accuracy and contrast as well as 1440p resolution, a 175Hz refresh rate, and 0.1ms response time.Acer Predator X27U 27-inch: $500 (save $500): This high-end gaming monitor is built with an OLED panel for better color and contrast and up to a 240Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium VRR support, and a 0.01ms response time.Samsung Odyssey G6 curved 32-inch: $400 (save $400): A mid-range gaming monitor with a 32-inch display, 1440p resolution, and 240Hz refresh rate.Samsung Odyssey Ark 2nd gen 55-inch: $1,800 (save $900): A truly impressive 55-inch Mini-LED gaming monitor with a 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, HDR10+, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR support.LG UltraGear 34-inch curved gaming monitor: $260 (save $140): This widescreen gaming monitor gives you a 160Hz refresh rate, HDR10 support, and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR to prevent screen tearing and stuttering.LG UltraGear OLED 54-inch curved gaming monitor: $1,050 (save $650): A high-end OLED gaming monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate. 0.03ms response time, and support for both AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync VRR.Acer Predator X32 OLED 32-inch: $900 (save $300): This high-end gaming monitor uses an OLED panel for better contrast, detailing, and color accuracy. You'll get 4K resolution, a 250Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time, and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR support.Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 34-inch curved gaming monitor: $780 (save $420): A premium OLED gaming monitor with 1440p resolution, a 175Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync VRR support, and 0.03ms response time. Samsung/ZDNET Current price: $720Regular price: $1,300A high-end gaming and content creation monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and support for both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR. Show more View now at Amazon Amazon Spring Sale 2025 deals on streaming gear Razer/ZDNETLogitech G Yeti Studio: $230 (save $120): A high-end XLR microphone with a built-in preamp, dual-diaphragm capsule, and internal shock mount.Elgato Stream Deck Neo: $80 (save $20): A redesign of the Stream Deck featuring 8 customizable keys, 2 touch points, and compatibility with both Windows and Mac.Logitech StreamCam: $130 (save $40): A premium webcam with 1080p capture and 60FPS output as well as support for both Windows and Mac.Logitech Brio: $120 (save $80): A premium 4K webcam with HDR support and three field-of-view settings. Elgato/ZDNET Current price: $220Regular price: $250This version of the Stream Deck features 32 macro keys as well as compatibility with both Windows and Mac PCs. Show more View now at Amazon FAQs When is Amazon's Spring Sale 2025?Amazon's Spring Sale runs from March 25 through March 31. This gives you almost an entire week to snag deep discounts on everything from SSDs and gaming laptops to digital game titles and headsets.Are games, consoles, and gaming accessories really cheaper during Amazon sales?They can be. While we usually see the best discounts on all things gaming during the winter holidays, Amazon's Spring Sale and competing events at retailers like Best Buy and Walmart mean you can compare prices and discounts to get the best deals.How did we choose these Spring Sale deals?While plenty of gaming laptops and accessories are discounted for the Amazon Spring Sale, not all sales are created equal. I focused on reputable brands like PowerA, SteelSeries, HyperX, and more to find the best value in accessories and peripherals. I also focused on top brands like HP, MSI, and Asus for gaming laptops and desktops with higher-end builds to help you find the best configurations for the best prices.What are the best Amazon Spring Sale 2025 deals? ZDNET's experts are searching through Amazon 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. Show more Amazon Spring Sale 2025

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: The headquarters of the Department of Education are shown March 12, 2025 ... More in Washington, DC. The Department of Education announced yesterday that it will reduce its staff by nearly 50 percent, leaving the department with 2,183 workers, a reduction from 4,133 when U.S. President Donald Trump took office for his second term. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)Getty ImagesAI agents will transform every industryand one industry I know well is education. So, how will AI agents change how we teach and learn?To explore this question, I created the Lutz-Clone, an AI version of myself designed to teach my online certificate about AI with eCornell. This clone looks like me, but more importantly, it contains my knowledge and teaching style. It can help students code, discuss AI applications, and raise awareness of ethical challenges all without me being physically present.eCornell was one of the first universities to offer such a clone, but this is only the beginning. The shift to AI agents is a broader trend that will reshape every industry.Also In Education - AI Is Just A Tool To Serve Our PurposeIf you follow me on LinkedIn, youve probably heard me say: AI is just a tool. Theres no magic, and no Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)at least not yet. Like any tool, AIs value lies in how we use it and what purpose it serves.AI Is Changing EducationToday, students and educators alike use tools like Perplexity, You.com, and ChatGPT to write emails, research topics, and summarize texts. These Large Language Models have become essential, trained to predict the next best word in a sentence, enabling smooth text generation and summarization.For students, Large Language Models have become indispensable. And while some institutions attempt to restrict their use saying "don't use ChatGPT" this is as unrealistic as banning the internet or books. The real question is: What are the meaningful changes in education?AI in Eduction: Conversations Instead of QuizzesTraditional quizzes are becoming obsolete. Standardized tests like the Medical College Admission Test can now easily be solved by AI. In my own courses, I built a library of multiple-choice questions over the years to test students on machine learning and real-world AI applications. Since 2023, ChatGPT has consistently passed every single one of them.If AI can answer the questionwhy even ask?Instead, we should shift from quizzes to conversations. In a world where knowledge is instantly accessible, education should focus on critical thinking and dialogue. I now use AI to discuss outcomes with students, encouraging them to evaluate, question, and apply their knowledge something multiple-choice tests could never achieve.Transformation Of Education Towards AIThis change isnt limited to my course. Every teacher can implement this. The simplest way is to use a GPT-based assistant. But, like any change, it comes with challenges:AI Curated Key PointsTeachers cant just post articles anymore. To enable meaningful AI discussions, we need to highlight the key takeaways. For example, when we created a GPT to discuss Marc Andreessens article Why AI Will Save the World, we focused the conversation on three points:There is hype.It makes sense for Marc to talk about the hype.Technology needs integration.AI Access:Not every student has access to paid versions of ChatGPT or similar tools. Thats why the team at eCornell did the incredible work of seamlessly integrating my Lutz-Clone and ChatGPT into the Canvas learning platform. This ensures teaching assistants can follow all student discussions and step in when needed.AI Guided Questions Instead of ChecklistsIve long used checklists in my teaching whether its launching a product, building an AI model, or cleaning up data. But not every situation requires every step in the checklist.Now, we use AI co-pilots to make checklists dynamic. These co-pilots guide students to focus on what matters most, adapt when conditions change, and skip unnecessary steps. The AI does the heavy lifting, while students stay focused on decision-making and learning.Personalized Feedback An AI Teacher Available 24/7In my course, AI-based teaching assistants provide tailored feedback on student projects. Students upload their capstone work, and the AI critiques itjust like I would. This gives students access to a personalized teacher anytime, anywhere. Its a game-changer.Am I truly replaced? Not entirely.What Ive done is scale myself. The AI mirrors my teaching style and follows the courses learning path. Unlike generic AI tools, this clone is fine-tuned to introduce concepts logically and progressively. For example, I often explain that neural networks are just stacks of logistic regressionsa simplification that only makes sense after students learn about linear functions and activation functions.The future of education is not about letting ChatGPT teach students directly. Its about educators designing learning pathsand then using AI to scale their impact.AI in EducationAI is a powerful tool, but its still just a tool. It will change our workflows and how we teach, but the core responsibility remains with educators.We must focus on two essential skills:How to use AI effectivelyHow to recognize its limitsAI models like ChatGPT excel at predictable, patterned tasks but struggle with novelty and edge cases.For instance, when you start the phrase Life is like a box of, AI will almost always suggest chocolatesbecause thats what it has seen most often. But real learning happens when we move beyond the obvious.Similarly, when asking AI to do advanced, context-specific tasks, like writing firewall code, the output is often outdated or generic. Educators must help students recognize these limitations and teach them how to use AI critically.AI In Education - A New Way of InteractionAI tools are revolutionizing how we interact with information and technology. In my course, students now use AI co-pilots to:Analyze dataBuild machine learning modelsDiscuss business strategiesExplore ethical challengesHowever, this transition wasnt automatic. Many students were hesitant at first, sticking to manual methods. But with training on prompting and understanding AI behavior, they became faster, more efficient, and more confident.Just like learning to use a calculator or Google effectively, learning to collaborate with AI takes practice.The Future Of Education is AIAI is reshaping educationmoving us away from memorization toward reasoning, understanding, and critical thinking.With personalized AI tutors, students can learn at their own pace, anytime. The challenge is clear: Educational institutions must equip both students and educators with the tools and skills to harness AI effectively.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services requires those applying for asylum, permanent residency or even naturalization to provide their social media handle

Despite a last-minute save by President Donald Trump in January, the fate of TikTok remains murky as the deadline to save the app approaches. TikTok, which boasts more than 170 million users, has been under fire by U.S. legislators over concerns about data privacy and national security. In order to save the app, Trump gave the social media site until April 5 to divest and find a U.S.-based owner. Under his previous term, Trump was the acting force seeking to ban TikTok in the U.S. But the President seemed favorable towards the app following his election win, citing it as part of why he secured support from young voters."We have a lot of potential buyers," Trump said on Air Force One Sunday. "I'd like to see Tiktok remain alive." Trump indicated that he would extend the deadline if a deal was not finalized. China has indicated that it would not support the forced sale of TikTok.The latest tussle is just the most recent development in the long legal battle to keep TikTok available in the U.S. Efforts to ban TikTok in Montana were overturned by a federal judge in 2023 after creators filed suit against the state.TikTok did not immediately respond to TIMEs request for comment.Heres what to know.Who currently owns TikTok?TikTok is owned by its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance. Sixty percent of the company is owned by investors including Carlyle Group, General Atlantic, and Susquehanna International Group, according to TikToks U.S. Data Security page. The remaining 40% is divided between ByteDance employees and the founder of ByteDance.TikTok is not available in mainland China and has headquarters in Los Angeles and Singapore.But its parent company does have to comply with Chinese law because it operates other video first platforms such as Douyin, the Chinese-equivalent of TikTok. The Chinese government therefore has a golden share of one of its subsidiaries, Douyin, owning about 1% of that app.Why is the U.S. banning TikTok?Congress passed a TikTok ban as part of a foreign aid supplemental package, citing national security concerns. Lawmakers were particularly concerned that the company could share data with the Chinese government or interfere with users algorithms in a way that would benefit the foreign government. Chinese national security laws require any companies or organizations to cooperate with the countrys national intelligence efforts.Congress is not acting to punish ByteDance, TikTok or any other individual company, Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell said in April 2024. Congress is acting to prevent foreign adversaries from conducting espionage, surveillance, maligned operations, harming vulnerable Americans, our servicemen and women, and our U.S. government personnel.Already, the app is not permitted on any government-owned devices in the U.S. Other countries, including India have banned TikTok for all users since 2020, while Australia and Canada similarly forbade TikTok from operating on any devices issued by the federal government.What can Trump do to extend the deadline?The current April 5 deadline was issued via Executive Order. Trump could possibly issue another such order to extend the deadline. Can you still use TikTok if it is banned?The last time the app was banned, U.S.-based users were unable to comment, share, or view any videos. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you cant use TikTok for now, a message on a gray background read during the one-day TikTok pause. Even when the app was restored, TikTok was unavailable for download on the Apple and Google Play stores until mid-February.It is unclear whether another potential ban would function similarly to the previous one.

In context: As sickening as it is to admit, data breaches have become a fact of life. We cannot go more than a month without one company or another announcing that a hacker or poor security hygiene left its clients exposed. As annoying as that is, it's even more irritating when the company tries to hide the intrusion. Earlier this month, a threat actor going by Rose87168 claimed to have breached Oracle Cloud's federated SSO servers and exfiltrated around 6 million records, affecting over 144,000 Oracle clients. The hacker provided an internal customer list and threatened to sell the data unless clients paid to remove their data from the trove, which included single sign-on credentials, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol passwords, OAuth2 keys, tenant data, and more. Rose87168 has also solicited help from the hacking community to crack the hashed password in trade for some of the data.A day after the threat actor posted a small sample of the data, Oracle told Bleeping Computer there was no breach of its cloud service. Upon Oracle's denial, Rose87168 began leaking "proof" to the media and security researchers. Security group Hudson Rock and experts at CloudSEK concluded that the data and credentials are legitimate.CloudSEK said that the hacker appears to have used a zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2021-35587) in an access manager software related to Oracle Fusion Middleware to breach Oracle Cloud systems without authentication."Pretty crazy Oracle just denied this leak, which has been verified independently by many cybersecurity firms," Hudson Rock CTO Alon Gal posted on LinkedIn on Monday.Trustwave SpiderLabs also reviewed the evidence and concluded that the data was definitely from Oracle Cloud servers. // Related Stories"The dataset described by the provided headers represents a highly detailed and sensitive user directory, likely extracted from a corporate Identity and Access Management system or HR-integrated directory such as Microsoft Active Directory, Oracle Identity Manager, or a similar platform," Trustwave's security advisory read.The security firm also confirmed that the cache included personally identifiable information such as first and last names, full display names, email addresses, job titles, department numbers, telephone numbers, mobile numbers, and even home contact details. The hacker also uploaded a recording of an internal Oracle meeting."Such data in a leaked format poses severe cybersecurity and operational risks to the affected organization," Trustwave added.Furthermore, cybersecurity specialist Kevin Beaumont noted that Oracle "rebadged" legacy Oracle Cloud services as "Oracle Classic." He claims that the company's careful wording in its response is a technically factual but disingenuous denial. The company appears to be attempting to situate the incident as insignificant or that it didn't leak current Oracle Cloud records. For reference, here is Oracle's statement to Bleeping Computer:"There has been no breach of Oracle Cloud. The published credentials are not for the Oracle Cloud. No Oracle Cloud customers experienced a breach or lost any data."Beaumont found the repetitious use of "Oracle Cloud" suspicious as if it might be setting up Oracle Classic to take the fall. However, regardless of the age of the breached servers, CloudSEK confirmed through some of its clients that the data was accurate and current. This conclusion debunks any notion that the breach was insignificant or contained outdated information.Despite multiple researchers reporting that the data breach is seriously concerning, Oracle has remained silent since it denied the attack. Beaumont says the company's silence is irresponsible. Likewise, Gal called Oracle's lack of transparency and guidance "crazy." Lacking any advice from the company, Gal directed affected customers to CloudSEK's mitigation recommendations to minimize any potential damage from the leak.

Typically used to describe a product that was announced but never launched, "vaporware" was reportedly coined by a Microsoft engineer (either John Ulett or Mark Ursino) when asked about the status of the company's Xenix operating system. The term was popularized by technology writer Esther Dyson, who featured it in the November 1983 issue of her newsletter RELease 1.0.The term "vaporware" is a portmanteau of vapor and software, evoking the image of something promised but never materializing something that seems to disappear into thin air. It is often used to describe products that are announced with great fanfare but are either indefinitely delayed or never released at all.The concept also extends to products announced far in advance of their anticipated release dates, which then seem to vanish into thin air.The word first gained traction in the context of Xenix OS, a version of Unix that Microsoft developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Unix was developed by Bell Labs and licensed by AT&T to various outfits, including Microsoft, who had to choose a unique name for their version later called Xenix. Microsoft licensed Xenix to other companies such as IBM, Intel, Tandy, and SCO, though it was never sold directly to end users. Xenix became particularly popular in the corporate world due to its support for multi-user and networking capabilities.In 1987, Microsoft sold Xenix to SCO, which later ported it to the 32-bit 386 CPU. SCO continued to develop and support the operating system for several years. Despite its corporate popularity, Xenix never gained mainstream traction. Microsoft reportedly continued to use Xenix internally on Sun workstations and VAX minicomputers as late as 1992, further highlighting its niche role in the company's broader software strategy.In the early 1980s, before the term vaporware became widely known, several high-profile products in the tech industry faced similar fates. For example, IBM's planned but never-released Future Systems project and various other ambitious software projects contributed to the industry's understanding of vaporware. Other infamous vaporware product include:Half-Life 2: Episode 3 (2007 - TBA?) - The continuation of the popular Half-Life series has become one of the most famous pieces of vaporware in gaming history. Despite numerous hints and fan expectations, it's never been released.Apple AirPower (2017 - Canceled 2019) - Apple's wireless charging mat was announced in 2017 with the promise of charging multiple devices simultaneously. However, it was canceled in 2019 due to technical difficulties.Google Glass (2013 - 2015, revived later for enterprise) - Google Glass was highly anticipated as the next big thing in wearable technology. Despite its initial launch, it never gained widespread consumer adoption, and the product quietly faded away. It later returned as a niche product for enterprise use.Duke Nukem Forever (1997 - 2011) - The video game became a symbol of vaporware and became infamous for its extraordinarily long development cycle. It was announced in 1997, but after years of delays and multiple changes in direction, it wasn't released until 2011 and it flopped hard.Phantom Game Console (2002 - Canceled 2006) - A gaming console from Infinium Labs that promised to revolutionize the gaming industry with digital distribution. It never launched, and the company was embroiled in lawsuits and controversy.Microsoft Courier (2008 - Canceled 2010) - This dual-screen tablet concept was highly anticipated as a potential competitor to the iPad. Microsoft canceled the project in 2010 before it could ever be released.Psion NetBook Pro (2003 - Canceled) - An early attempt at a portable computer aimed at professionals. Announced with much fanfare, it was discontinued soon after its release.Google Wave (2009 - Canceled 2010) - Google Wave was hyped as a revolutionary communication and collaboration tool. However, it was too complex for many users, and Google discontinued it within a year of launch.Solar Roadways (2014 - TBA?) - This concept promised to replace traditional roads with solar panels that could generate electricity. While prototypes and crowdfunding campaigns generated significant interest, the project has yet to deliver on its promises at a large scale.

Are you sick of the lackluster audio coming out of your TV speakers? Well, spring has sprung, dear readers, which means its time to start looking at soundbar deals for your home theater! Fortunately, brands like Bose are at the forefront of plug-and-play audio technology, giving us products like the incredible Bose Smart Dolby Atmos Soundbar.Speaking of which, its also on sale this week for $400 ($500 MSRP) at Amazon, Crutchfield, B&H Photo-Video, and a few other sites and stores.Why you should buy the Bose Smart Dolby Atmos SoundbarThe first thing you might be thinking when you look at the Bose Smart Soundbar is, Where are the other speakers? Thanks to some genius engineering, Bose was able to include five main drivers and two side-firing speakers on this soundbar, allowing the system to virtualize surround and height effects when needed. Boses TrueSpace technology seals the deal by upmixing 5.1 and stereo signals to make everything sound a little more like a three-dimensional Atmos setup.RelatedYour ears will thank you for the incredible sound quality the Bose Smart delivers, and thank you again for Boses AI Dialogue Mode, which hones in on vocals and dialogue. (No more missing critical plot points!) The Bose Smart can be connected to Wi-Fi, too, which gives you access to Alexa and Google Cast capabilities. Theres even a Bluetooth input if you dont feel like connecting the bar to the Internet.Were always excited to see Bose deals like this one, but were not sure how long this markdown is going to stick around. So, today might be the last day to save $100 on this phenomenal Bose soundbar.We also suggest looking through our lists of the best Bose headphone deals, best soundbar deals, and best Bluetooth speaker deals.Editors Recommendations

Production on House of the Dragon season 3 has begun.Emma DArcy, who plays Rhaenyra Targaryen, announced the news in a video posted onHouse of the Dragonssocial media channels. The fight for the Throne is far from over, the caption reads.Recommended VideosDArcy is one of the many returning cast members for season 3. House of the Dragon stars DArcy, Matt Smith, Emma DArcy, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, Rhys Ifans, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sonoya Mizuno, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall, Matthew Needham, Tom Bennett, Kieran Bew, Kurt Egyiawan, Freddie Fox, Clinton Liberty, Gayle Rankin, and Abubakar Salim.Please enable Javascript to view this contentHBO also announced the addition of two new cast members: Tommy Flanagan as Ser Roderick Dustin and Dan Fogler as Ser Torrhen Manderly. The duo joins James Norton as Ormund Hightower as the third seasons additions.The fight for the Throne is far from over. S3 of #HOTD is now in production. pic.twitter.com/NUe4POwIJM House of the Dragon (@HouseofDragon) March 31, 2025One of the major events that will kick off season 3 is the Battle of the Gullet, a massive naval clash that will result in many casualties. While speaking with EW, House of the Dragonco-creator Ryan Condal said this battle has been on the minds of production for about three years. It will be a massive undertaking that could result in one of the shows most memorable moments.Its a stunning thing, Condal said. I would like to think that this is probably the most complex sequence thats ever been done for television, not necessarily the most expensive or the longest shoot or anything like that, but just based on the number of moving pieces, the amount of different disciplines, media that have to be blended together to achieve success because youre talking about sea and ships and dragons and action.Condal created the show alongside author George R.R. Martin, who penned the shows source material, Fire & Blood. Season 3s directors are Clare Kilner, Nina Lopez-Corrado, Andrij Parekh, and Loni Peristere. Executive producers include Condal, Martin, Sara Hess, Melissa Bernstein, Kevin de la Noy, Vince Gerardis, David Hancock, and Philippa Goslett.House of the Dragonis expected to premiere in 2026.Editors Recommendations

Preparing update... Apple updates all its operating systems, brings Apple Intelligence to Vision Pro Updates bring new emoji, Mail organization for Macs, easier Mac setup, and more. Andrew Cunningham Mar 31, 2025 4:26 pm | 0 Credit: Apple Credit: Apple Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreApple dropped a big batch of medium-size software updates for nearly all of its products this afternoon. The iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, macOS 15.4, tvOS 18.4, and visionOS 2.4 updates are all currently available to download, and each adds a small handful of new features for their respective platforms.A watchOS 11.4 update was also published briefly, but it's currently unavailable.For iPhones and iPads that support Apple Intelligence, the flagship feature in 18.4 is Priority Notifications, which attempts to separate time-sensitive or potentially important notifications from the rest of them so you can see them more easily. The update also brings along the handful of new Unicode 16.0 emoji, a separate app for managing a Vision Pro headset (similar to the companion app for the Apple Watch), and a grab bag of other fixes and minor enhancements.The Mac picks up two major features in the Sequoia 15.4 update. Users of the Mail app now get the same (optional) automated inbox sorting that Apple introduced for iPhones and iPads in an earlier update, attempting to tame overgrown inboxes using Apple Intelligence language models.The Mac is also getting a long-standing Quick Start setup feature from the Apple Watch, Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad. On those devices, you can activate them and sign in to your Apple ID by holding another compatible Apple phone or tablet in close proximity. Macs running the 15.4 update finally support the same feature (though it wont work Mac-to-Mac, since a rear-facing camera is a requirement).The Mail features are part of Apple Intelligence and so won't be supported on Intel Macs, but it's not clear whether Quick Start will be available.The Mac version of Apple Intelligence continues to trail the iPhones version by an update or two. Apple isnt adding the Priority Notifications feature from iOS 18.4 to the Mac just yet.The VisionOS 2.4 update brings Apple Intelligence features to the Vision Pro headset, which has always had the hardware necessary to support them (it uses an Apple M2) but didn't get them at the same time as iPhones, iPads, and Macs did. This makes it the fourth of Apple's software platforms to support generative AI features like Genmoji, Image Playgrounds, Writing Tools, notification summaries, and more. The update also adds a demo-friendly Spatial Gallery app that will show off a rotating Apple-approved gallery of sample spatial images.For people more interested in digging into the guts of the updates and finding out about security patches, Apple published release notes for developers (iOS/iPadOS, macOS) and security researchers that are more granular than the public release notes you'll see when you grab the updates.Andrew CunninghamSenior Technology ReporterAndrew CunninghamSenior Technology Reporter Andrew is a Senior Technology Reporter at Ars Technica, with a focus on consumer tech including computer hardware and in-depth reviews of operating systems like Windows and macOS. Andrew lives in Philadelphia and co-hosts a weekly book podcast called Overdue. 0 Comments