Meta is developing a version of Instagram for iPad, according to The Information. Currently, running Instagram on an iPad is just a blown-up version of the iPhone app, so an official Instagram app from Meta would be a very welcome change. Why would Meta do this now, after ignoring Apple’s tablet for over a decade? According to The Information, the uncertain legal status of TikTok amid the divest-or-ban law and Trump’s tariffs might be the push required. The company has publicly resisted building an iPad Instagram app before. In February 2022 (more than three years ago!) Instagram boss Adam Mosseri replied to a post from Marques Brownlee about Meta still not having an Instagram app for iPad to explain why. “We get this one a lot,” Mosseri said. “It’s still just not a big enough group of people to be a priority. Hoping to get to it at some point, but right now we’re very heads down on other things.” Yup, we get this one a lot. It's still just not a big enough group of people to be a priority. Hoping to get to it at some point, but right now we're very heads down on other things.— Adam Mosseri (@mosseri) February 27, 2022 In 2023, Mosseri said something similar. “Not working on it right now,” he said. “I think it’s a good thing to do at some point. But we have only so many people working at Instagram, so we’ve got to pick the most important things to do to improve Instagram at any given moment. And right now, it’s not quite making the cut.” Using the Instagram app in Stage Manager on supported iPads is a decent experience, and the web app has improved in recent years. But a native version that takes full advantage of the large display is long overdue. Meta didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.

For anyone who is constantly fiddling with small electronics, Hoto is offering a nice discount on an interesting product that they just released. You can save 20% off the Hoto Snapbloq, a modular collection of precision powered tools, with a set of three tools currently selling for $209.99 after a $50 discount. That brings each set down to $69.99, and they normally retail for $99.99 apiece. Hoto is a pretty well known brand that's popular on Amazon and even sold at Costco.20% Off Hoto's New SnapBloq Modular Electric Tool KitsHoto SnapBloq Electric Mini Screwdriver, Drill, and Rotary Tool SetsHoto's introductory SnapBloq combo includes an electric precision screwdriver set, an electric mini drill set, and an electric mini rotary set. They're all contained in separate boxes that snap together for convenience. Right now, these three tools are the only ones in the SnapBloq lineup, but Hoto plans to release more tools in the future.The precision screwdriver is more powerful than the Hoto variants you'll find on Amazon, with a 0.5Nm torque rating (vs 0.3Nm). It features a brushless motor, an 800mAh battery with up to 60 minutes of runtime and USB Type-C charging, and a built-in LED for handy illumination. It's perfect for those tiny screws that require specialized miniature bits.The mini drill features a 0.1Nm torque rating, three adjustable speed settings up to 1,200RPM, and twenty drill bits. It's pretty obvious this drill won't replace your full sized power drill or impact driver, but it's powerful enough to poke through plastics, wood, PCBs (like circuit boards), and resin.The mini rotary drill features stepless speed adjustment and can spin up to 22,000RPM. The battery can last up to 30 minutes on a single charge. Rotary tools have many different practical uses and so this kit includes a variety of bits for different tasks like drilling, routing, sanding, and polishing.I've owned a Hoto mini screwdriver and they're really great at what they do, but you'll have to come to terms with their limitations. These are very small (think pocket flashlight sized), and simply won't replace your heavy duty power drill and driver. I don't have the exact screwdriver included in this set (mines has a weaker 0.3Nm rating), but here's my experience when dealing with small screws. You'll need to use your own manual force to start unscrewing and then let the mini screwdriver finish the job. On the flip side, you let the scewdriver drive the screw all the way back in, but you'll need to use manual force for that final secure turn. When you're dealing with a lot of screws at one time, this tool is a time saver and your wrists will thank you, but just be mindful that a small tool can only pack so much power.Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

A UK startup wants to build a cosmic radio station in the Moon’s orbit to listen to radio waves from the early universe.   Blue Skies Space has secured a contract from the Italian Space Agency to design a fleet of tiny satellites that could orbit the Moon and listen for signals from the cosmic “dark ages.” That’s the time before the first stars lit up, when the universe was mainly a swirling mass of hydrogen gas.  Hydrogen atoms naturally emit radio waves at a very specific frequency: 1420MHz  – known as the hydrogen line. When you stretch that signal across 13 billion years of cosmic expansion, it gets redshifted down into the FM radio band (about 88-108MHz). These ancient radio signals are almost impossible to detect from Earth, thanks to all our radio chatter. But parking some satellites on the far side of the Moon – away from that interference –could help scientists cut through the noise and unravel clues from the early universe.  That’s what Blue Skies Space, the Italian Space Agency, and space contractor OHB Italia will investigate under the joint project, dubbed RadioLuna.  Blue Skies Space will study whether small, low-cost CubeSats — built from commercial, off-the-shelf parts — can survive and do real science while orbiting the Moon. OHB Italia will figure out how to build the spacecraft. Mapping these signals could fill in the missing piece between the Big Bang and the first stars — showing how the universe evolved from smooth hydrogen fog to the cosmic web of galaxies we see today.  Dr Marcell Tessenyi, CEO and co-founder of Blue Skies Space, told TNW that if the idea proves feasible, it could result in a commercial service.  “Depending on the technical feasibility, the funding landscape, and the appropriate infrastructure, we anticipate being able to deliver such a system within five years of the end of the study,” he said.    RadioLuna isn’t the only project Blue Skies Space is working on. In October, the startup is set to launch its first satellite into orbit. The probe — Mauve — is a stargazing satellite that will gather data on stars in the visible and UV parts of the spectrum. Scientists and academics will then be able to access the data for a small membership fee. Europe’s spacetech strategy is on the agenda for TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event are now on sale. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out to get 30% off the price tag. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Siôn is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Siôn has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week. Also tagged with

Apple Intelligence has been off to a rocky start, especially when it comes to Siri. The assistant still has a lot to be desired, and that should definitely be at the forefront of Apple’s priorities. Regardless, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple plans on expanding current Apple Intelligence capabilities to additional apps in iOS 19, and I figured I’d throw out some ideas I’d like to see. Summaries in more places I think providing summaries is probably one of the better use cases of on-device large language models. Apple introduced notification summaries in iOS 18, and while there were some major inaccuracies early on, things seem to be mostly fine. Apple recently enabled Apple Intelligence on compatible devices by default, rather than making it an opt-in feature. For one, I think it’d be neat if there were an API for developers to use summarization models in their apps. I’m sure Apple would put strict guardrails on it, but allowing third-parties to utilize Apple’s summarization models would be a big win. It’d empower indie developers to create AI features without having to worry about an OpenAI bill. On top of that, I’d really like to see some summarization improvements in the Messages app, particularly in group chats. If you missed out on a 100-message conversation, Apple should provide a more detailed summary than what can fit within two lines. Or, say you’re a student – imagine being able to summarize the notes you took in a class after the fact. You’d still need to read the notes to get a thorough understanding, but a note summary could serve as a great way to jog your memory if you’re quickly trying to recall something. Genmoji for everyone Genmoji is probably one of the most popular Apple Intelligence features unveiled at WWDC24. Unfortunately though, it’s only available on some of the most recent iPhone models: iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16/16 Plus, and iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max. If you have anything older, including the one-year-old iPhone 15, you can’t use Genmoji. I don’t expect Apple to make its models run locally on less capable hardware, as nice as that would be. However, they did announce Private Cloud Compute – a private server for handling Apple Intelligence requests in the cloud. Those servers were likely low capacity when they just begun rolling them out, but it’ll have been over a year since the rollout begun by the time iOS 19 releases to the public. While I don’t expect Apple to give out Private Cloud Compute usage for free, I think it’d be pretty neat if they bundled Genmoji in iCloud+ subscriptions for users with older devices – giving people a taste of what Apple Intelligence offers. More customizable focus modes One of my favorite features in iOS 18 has been the new Reduce Interruptions focus mode. In short, it analyzes every notification that comes through, and only presents what it thinks is important. The rest just stay in notification center. I’d really like to see Apple offer additional granularity here. For example, you could configure a focus mode that only triggers on key words that you set up. I could also see the inverse being useful, where you’d normally allow an app to notify you, but you’d like notifications with matching key words to be muted. That’s just scratching the surface, but I really think there could be a lot of opportunity for AI to enable more granular notification management. The new “Reduce Interruptions” focus is just the start. My favorite Apple accessories on Amazon: Follow Michael: X/Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Billionaire White House advisor Elon Musk is escalating his spat with Trump's trade advisor Peter Navarro, who's widely credited for architecting the president's disastrous tariff war.In a series of tweets, Musk cussed him out for being "truly a moron" and "dumber than a sack of bricks," after Navarro told CNBC that Tesla was "not a car manufacturer" but a "car assembler" that relies on parts from China and Taiwan."What he says here is demonstrably false," Musk said, arguing in a followup that "Tesla has the most American-made cars.""By any definition whatsoever, Tesla is the most vertically integrated auto manufacturer in America with the highest percentage of US content," Musk seethed."Peter Retarrdo," Musk tweeted, a pun based on a slur against the intellectually disabled that the entrepreneur has grown increasingly fond of.The escalation highlights growing tensions between Musk and Trump amid the White House's tariff war, which has caused global markets to plummet — and may well drag Musk's businesses down with it.The tariffs could hit Tesla, whose brand has already suffered greatly due to Musk's controversial behavior, where it hurts. And it's clearly starting to test the CEO's relationship with the president.Over the weekend, Musk started to break rank, accusing Navarro of having an inflated ego because of being Harvard-educated.Since then, the Washington Post reported that Musk had personally implored Trump to reconsider the tariffs.The mercurial CEO also told attendees at a meeting with Italian right-wing populist political party Lega on Saturday that he'd like to see more free trade — effectively the polar opposite of what Trump has been advocating for."I hope it is agreed that both Europe and the United States should move, ideally, in my view, to a zero-tariff situation, effectively creating a free trade zone between Europe and North America," he said."That's what I hope occurs, and also more freedom of people to move between Europe and North America if they wish, if they wish to work in Europe or wish to work in America, they should be allowed to do so, in my view," Musk added.But considering Trump has since doubled down on his tariff war, threatening China with an additional 50 percent tariff on Monday, Musk's pleas have seemingly fallen on deaf ears.Instead of picking a public fight with the president directly, Musk has aimed his sights at Navarro instead, in what feels like a proxy target.The stakes are substantial, even for the richest man in the world. Late last year, Musk sat down for an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan in which he directly addressed the issue."I think you need to be careful with tariffs," Musk told Rogan. "I deal a lot with supply chain issues — like, the global automotive supply chain for Tesla is incredibly complex. So when there are sudden changes in tariffs... it messes everything up, you know?""You want to have tariffs be predictable," the Tesla CEO said at the time. "I think companies are more than happy to increase manufacturing in America, it’s just that you can’t do it instantly."More on Musk and Trump: Elon Musk Reportedly Begged Donald Trump to Reverse the TariffsShare This Article

We're looking for a full-time Marketing Associate to help us create, manage, and evaluate marketing campaigns across email, social media, and paid channels. You’ll work directly with the founders and contribute to a wide range of marketing efforts—from content planning to analytics. If you’re detail-oriented, self-driven, and excited to help shape the future of a growing SaaS brand, we want to hear from you.You'll be our second hire (first in marketing) and bring our team to a total of four.What You’ll Do:Plan, schedule, and publish content on Instagram, TikTok, and FacebookEdit and repurpose video content for social (using tools like CapCut)Monitor social media accounts and engage with followersAssist with outbound marketing and lead-nurturing effortsBuild and send marketing emails via MailchimpHelp create onboarding content and support materials for new customersCreate marketing reports to track performance, identify trends, and suggest improvementsAssist with managing PPC campaigns and basic SEO tasks (we’ll provide training as needed)What We’re Looking For:1–3 years of experience in marketing or a similar roleClear and effective communicator with strong writing skillsComfortable with basic video editing for social mediaAnalytical mindset—you like digging into data to see what’s workingOrganized and proactive with the ability to manage multiple tasksFamiliarity with tools like Mailchimp, Google Ads, or basic SEO platforms is a plusMost importantly: you’re a fast learner who’s excited to growWhy You’ll Love Working Here:Work directly with founders—your ideas will shape the direction of our marketingRemote-friendly with flexible work hoursFull-time position with paid time offBig impact, small team—no bureaucracy, just resultsOpportunity to grow your role as we scale

Since it’s handled regularly, cleaning the remote is a must-do chore to prevent the spread of germs. This is the one time when harsh chemicals can be used sparingly. Follow the manufacturer owner’s manual instructions first, but if sanitizing is needed, use a cleaner that’s at least 70% alcohol, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations. (Basic drugstore isopropyl alcohol works well for this.)Step 1: Remove the batteries from the remote control.Step 2: Dampen a clean microfiber cloth and rub gently on the top and the underside of the remote control. As with the TV screen recommendations, you’ll want to avoid spraying directly onto the surface, as this could cause the device to malfunction.Step 3: Use a cotton swab dipped in a small amount of the cleaning solution to reach and clean any gunk that’s jammed between the buttons.Step 4: Let it dry thoroughly before replacing the batteries and using it again.What is the safest thing to clean a flat-screen TV with?When figuring out how to clean a TV screen, selecting the safest cleaning solution is key, but it’s also important to know what cleaning products to avoid. Keep in mind that not only should you skip cleaning with certain products, you should also avoid spraying them in close proximity to the TV.Both Panasonic and Samsung both have lengthy “avoid” lists that include harsh chemicals such as wax, cleaning fluid, acetone, benzene, alcohol, thinner, mosquito repellent and insect spray (really!), lubricant, solvent, and undiluted mild dish soap. These can, as Williams says, “cause clouding and can wear away your TV’s anti-glare coating.”In terms of what to use, Samsung recommends “monitor cleaner only” (also called TV screen cleaner). Panasonic suggests “one part mild liquid dish soap diluted by 100 times the amount of water.” To make this cleaning solution, add a scant teaspoon of liquid dish soap to two cups of water, stirring well to dissolve.Williams likes TV cleaning kits for their ease of use. “A TV kit will be your safest option for cleaning a TV,” he says. “These kits will come with everything you need to get your TV looking new, like screen-cleaning solvent and a fast-drying microfiber cloth.” You can find TV cleaning kits and cleaning products designed for flat-screen TVs at electronics stores or on Amazon.Some people swear that only distilled water is useful as cleaning spray for their delicate electronics. Although Williams does not necessarily recommend using distilled water, if you know for a fact you have hard water in your area, you may want to try the distilled water route and see if you notice a difference. Hard water, which has high levels of calcium and magnesium, may leave a film or residue when it’s used for cleaning. Before you spray water to clean TV screens, try experimenting with tap water on a less-important screen, like an old cell phone, to assess the results.Can I use Windex on my TV screen?If you can picture the hulking tube TVs (also known as CRTVs) of yore, you may also remember how delightfully easy they were to clean—a few spritzes of window cleaner and some wipes with paper towels and you were good to go—no special microfiber cloth required. But modern TVs with fancier technologies like LCD, OLED, and plasma call for gentler techniques. “Avoid using chemicals like alcohol, ammonia or acetones when cleaning your TV. These cleaners were safe to use for previous generations of TVs with glass panels, but as the hardware changes with time, the cleaning methods do too,” says Williams. Since some multi-purpose and glass cleaners are made with ammonia, skip the Windex.Can I use glasses cleaner on my TV screen?While glasses cleaner is designed for delicate lenses, it’s not ideal for TV screens. Most glasses cleaners contain alcohol or ammonia, which can damage the anti-glare coating on modern TVs. Instead, opt for a TV screen cleaner (easily found in TV cleaning kits, mentioned above) or diluted mild dish soap (a scant teaspoon of liquid dish soap stirred into two cups of water) for stubborn smudges. If your glasses cleaner is specifically labeled “electronics safe,” it may be an acceptable option, but always check your TV manufacturer’s guidelines first to determine how to proceed safely.How do you clean a smart TV screen?Modern TVs are often smart TVs but the cleaning tips are the same as the ones for LCD, OLED and plasma TVs. The microfiber cloth is your TV screen’s best friend. “The majority of TVs you purchase today will be smart TVs, and the cleaning process is the same as TVs without smart capabilities,” Williams says.How do I keep my TV screen clean?Prevention is key to keeping your TV screen looking spotless. There are a number of ways to minimize buildup; dusting regularly, even just quickly wiping your screen weekly with a dry microfiber cloth, will prevent dust from accumulating. More generally, controlling the room’s dust levels by cleaning nearby furniture and carpets will help reduce airborne debris that may end up settling on your screen. Consistently dusting keeps your TV screen clean—and keeps complaints to a minimum during family movie nights. Avoid touching the screen, as fingerprints and smudges can appear quickly on the display. Additionally, avoid placing your TV near open windows or heating vents where dust and debris may gather more frequently. Lastly, for the extra-cautious (or for those with young children or pets), using a screen protector is a sure-fire way to safely shield your TV from pesky fingerprints and accidental scratches.

Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former Facebook employee who alleged misconduct and sexual harassment at the company in a memoir published last month, will testify before Congress on Wednesday that Meta executives undermined U.S. national security and briefed Chinese officials on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.In her introductory statement, obtained by NBC News, Wynn-Williams will tell the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism that Meta executives “lied about what they were doing with the Chinese Communist Party to employees, shareholders, Congress, and the American public.”“I saw Meta executives repeatedly undermine US national security and betray American values,” she will say, according to the prepared remarks. “They did these things in secret to win favor with Beijing and build an $18 billion dollar business in China,” her statement says, referring to China-based advertisers. Wynn-Williams, a former New Zealand diplomat, worked at Facebook from 2011 to 2017. She believes she was fired in 2017 as retaliation for accusing her boss, Joel Kaplan, who at the time was a vice president for global public policy, of sexual harassment. Meta, which owns Facebook, said that an investigation cleared Kaplan in 2017 and that Wynn-Williams’ book, “Careless People,” included “false accusations about our executives.” Meta also said other claims in the book were “out-of-date and previously reported,”In a statement Tuesday night, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone criticized Wynn-Williams’ planned remarks. “Sarah Wynn-Williams’ testimony is divorced from reality and riddled with false claims,” Stone said in a statement. “While Mark Zuckerberg himself was public about our interest in offering our services in China and details were widely reported beginning over a decade ago, the fact is this: we do not operate our services in China today.” Wednesday’s hearing is an indication of the scrutiny that Meta continues to receive in Washington, despite a monthslong effort by Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, to pivot the company’s politics to the right, aligning more closely with the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., a fierce critic of the major tech platforms who is chairing the hearing, said earlier this year that conservatives should not trust the Big Tech companies simply because some of their leaders, including Zuckerberg, have now more openly embraced President Donald Trump.“No, I don’t think so for a second,” he said. “I’m deeply concerned about their monopolistic power. That hasn’t changed at all, their ability to turn right back on the control of news and information, their control over our personal data — none of that has changed.”Separately, Meta is preparing for another major fight in Washington next week, when the company is scheduled to go to trial against the Federal Trade Commission in an antitrust case that could potentially see the breakup of Meta if it loses. The company owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. Meta has sought to stop Wynn-Williams from speaking about her book, winning an interim decision last month from an arbitrator finding that she violated a nondisparagement clause in her severance agreement. The arbitrator ordered her to cease promoting her book and retract claims she had made that were “disparaging, critical or otherwise detrimental.” But her book has still become a hit, with three weeks on The New York Times’ bestseller list for nonfiction books. In her introductory statement for Wednesday’s hearing, she wrote that she was testifying despite the arbitrator’s order because “the American people deserve to know the truth.” Stone, from Meta, said that while the company objects to Wynn-Williams’ giving media interviews, the company’s position is that she’s not barred from testifying before Congress, by either her separation agreement or the arbitration award. Wynn-Williams is expected to face questions both about Meta’s past and about its future plans, including with China and artificial intelligence. “Facebook’s secret mission to get into China was called ‘Project Aldrin’ and was restricted to need-to-know staff,” Wynn-Williams is set to say in her testimony. “There was no bridge too far. Meta built a physical pipeline connecting the United States and China. Meta executives ignored warnings that this would provide backdoor access to the Chinese Communist Party, allowing them to intercept the personal data and private messages of American citizens. The only reason China does not currently have access to US user data through this pipeline is because Congress stepped in.”The “physical pipeline” she mentions is a reference to a plan Facebook and Google announced in 2016 to build an undersea internet cable connecting Hong Kong and Los Angeles. They abandoned the idea in 2020. Wynn-Williams will add that Meta began “briefing” Chinese officials “as early as 2015.”“These briefings focused on critical emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence,” she will say. “The explicit goal being to help China outcompete American companies. There’s a straight line you can draw from these briefings to the recent revelations that China is developing AI models for military use, relying on Meta’s Llama model. Meta’s internal documents describe their sales pitch for why China should allow them in the market by quote ‘help[ing] China increase global influence and promote the China Dream.’”Wynn-Williams appears to be referencing a report from Reuters published in November that said researchers linked to China’s People’s Liberation Army said that Meta’s Llama was used to build an AI tool for potential military use. At the time, a Meta spokesperson said that any use of Llama by the People’s Liberation Army would violate its policies. In her book, Wynn-Williams said Facebook ignored concerns about expanding into China and plowed ahead with its efforts, writing that Zuckerberg committed to the idea of re-entering China in 2014 to grow the company’s user base. But by 2019, Zuckerberg said he had largely given up on breaking into the Chinese market because it was too difficult to come to an operating agreement. The company ultimately never released a mainstream consumer app in China.In a 2019 speech, Zuckerberg all but ruled out the possibility and pivoted instead to attacking China’s record on free expression. “I wanted our services in China because I believe in connecting the whole world and I thought, maybe we could help create a more open society,” he said. “This is something that I worked hard on for a long time. But we could never come to agreement on what it would take for us to operate there, and they never let us in.”But Wynn-Williams, in her testimony, will challenge Zuckerberg’s credibility on issues of free speech. Various parts of the “Project Aldrin” effort, named for astronaut Buzz Aldrin, have leaked over time. That includes the building of China-specific censorship tools.“Meta’s dishonesty started with a betrayal of core American values,” she will say, according to the advanced copy of her remarks. “Mark Zuckerberg pledged himself a free speech champion. Yet I witnessed Meta work ‘hand in glove’ with the Chinese Communist Party to construct and test custom-built censorship tools that silenced and censored their critics.”

Image: Nintendo The Switch 2 has been officially confirmed to be arriving this June, and ahead of the big launch, Nintendo is offering a brand-new themed item on the My Nintendo Store in North America. Yes, before the actual system even arrives, you can now get your hands on a Nintendo Switch 2 "Wristlet Keychain". This red wristlet will set you back 600 Platinum Points and features the system's new logo. Here's the full description, along with some additional photos: Show off your love for gaming on the go with this handy keychain featuring the iconic Nintendo Switch 2 logo. The lanyard features a red wristlet designed for maximum comfort and functionality, making it a stylish accessory for any fan. This physical reward is available while supplies last. Images: Nintendo Once again, this stylish accessory will be available in North America "while supplies last" so grab it before it's gone. Shipping fees also apply. If we see any Switch 2 items pop up on My Nintendo Stores in other locations, we'll let you know. Two months to go! Will you be redeeming this latest My Nintendo Reward? Tell us in the comments. [source nintendo.com] See Also Share:0 0 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Switch 2 Games Cost A Bit More Than You're Probably Expecting You'd better sit down for this... Upgrade Pack Price For Zelda: BOTW And TOTK Has Been Confirmed A pleasant surprise! Hollow Knight: Silksong Will Launch On Switch 2 In 2025 Still no specifics, mind you Nintendo Delays Switch 2 Pre-Orders In The US Amidst New Trump Tariffs Release date remains unchanged

Last week, details emerged about an application that fintech giant Stripe had submitted for a U.S. banking license. There was a lot of chatter on X about whether this meant Stripe — already the largest privately valued fintech in the world — would now be adding “bank” to the list of descriptions of what it does. The short answer is: No. What is true is that this marks the first time that Stripe has applied for a banking license. But what may not be as clear is that the scope of the license is a very narrow one. This license does not mean that the fintech company will be accepting deposits. What it does mean is that if approved, Stripe will be allowed to process its own payments in addition to having partners that process payments on its behalf. A Stripe spokesperson told TechCrunch: “Over the past few years, as Stripe’s business has grown, we’ve significantly expanded the number of banking and other partners we work with. This application helps us ensure we have an even broader range of options to support our users—and complements the work we do directly with banking partners across the US. Stripe is already a direct network member in multiple markets, including the UK, and this step follows in this strategic direction.” A source familiar with the reasons for the move to become its own BIN said it gives Stripe “a little extra resilience to process payments” directly. Currently, its BIN sponsors (or sponsor banks) vary depending on geography. In 2024, Wells Fargo (a former partner of Stripe’s) abruptly exited the BIN sponsorship business — where banks help fintechs access payment networks like Visa and Mastercard. When banks do this, it leaves companies such as Stripe at risk for service disruptions. By being able to process its own payments, Stripe is less dependent on its partners. If approved, Stripe could have this banking license by the third quarter of 2025.