Key TakeawaysBitget Wallets $20M grant aims to fuel the development of Telegram Mini Apps. This offers developers an opportunity to create innovative crypto projects within the messaging platform.$TONs Total Value Locked (TVL) has dropped by nearly 50% since July. Factors like the Hamster Kombat tokens ($HMSTR) disappointing launch contributed to the downturn.The grant could help revamp Telegrams blockchain platform, sparking new projects that combine crypto with everyday functionality to attract more users.Bidget Wallet has just dropped a $20M bombshell a grant dedicated entirely to supporting developers creating Mini Apps for Telegram.Telegram Mini AppIf youre not quite sure what a Mini App is and havent heard about Hamster Kombat, think of it as a handy bite-sized app within Telegram.Like a mini-browser within the messaging app, it allows you to do everything from checking the weather to making crypto trades.The new grant program is designed to encourage fresh projects in the Mini Apps ecosystem. This could offer developers funding and open doors to innovative possibilities.$TON TVL Plummets Nearly 50% since JulyPopular Telegram Mini Apps like NotcoinThis Telegram-linked blockchain saw a sharp rise in growth throughout 2024.However, since Julys peak of $776.6M, $TONs Total Value Locked (TVL) nearly halved as users pulled funds from its ecosystem.Source: DefiLlama$TON first took a hit when Telegram founder Pavel Durov was arrested in France, causing widespread concern.$HMSTRs listing further added to the instability, as initial excitement around the token quickly changed to disappointment.$HMSTR was listed in September 2024 with an approximate $0.014 price but quickly dropped to lower values like $0.0069 within days (now its around $0.0045).Source: CoinMarketCapFor players who earned tokens through in-game activity, this translated to very modest earnings, often around $8$12 after months of gameplay.Considering the hype surrounding the tokens launch on popular exchanges like Binance, many people felt let down.Whats Next for Telegram Mini Apps and Bitget?Bitgets $20M grant is well-timed.Developers have a chance to build Mini Apps that might revitalize the platform and capture a new wave of user interest.With sufficient funding, they can push the boundaries of whats possible within Telegram. Whether thats creating new games, finance tools, or enhancing user interaction in chats.And Bitget is no stranger to the industry. Earlier in 2024, they launched initiatives to expand theirwallet capabilities, like new features for decentralized finance (DeFi), and increased token support.Bitgets approach hints at a new trend: integrating wallets directly into social media platforms.This grant could be the next phase in Bitgets ambition to lead in the crypto wallet space.Can Mini Apps Reignite Interest in $TON?While $TONs popularity was boosted by its Telegram integration, the platforms future may now depend on how developers leverage this grant.Ideally, it will create a fresh lineup of Mini Apps that make blockchain technology more accessible, relevant, and engaging to everyday users.With user-friendly Mini Apps and Bitgets backing, TONs TVL might recover yet. But its up to developers to make it happen.ReferencesClick to expand and view referencesThe Guardian: Pavel Durovs Arrest in France (The Guardian website)Binance: Hamster Kombat Token Listing (Binance website)Bitget: TONs TVL has risen to $776M (Bitget News)DeFiLlama: TONs TVL (DeFiLlama website)Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Anya Zhukova is a tech and crypto writer with 8+ years of experience creating practical, easy-to-understand content for top publications like MakeUseOf, Online Tech Tips, Help Desk Geek, Switching to Mac, and Make Tech Easier.An advocate for financial freedom, Anya covers the latest in cryptocurrency, tech trends, and product reviews to keep readers informed and empowered.Through her work with brands like Framework, Insta360, Redmagic, Inmotion, Secretlab, Kodak, and Anker, she brings a hands-on perspective to her reviews, helping people get the most out of new tech. View all articles by Anya Zhukova Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key TakeawaysCathie Wood advocates reducing SEC and FTC regulatory powers to boost innovation and attract crypto talent back to the U.S.a16z emphasizes that the crypto industry should leverage the current political climate to secure innovation-friendly regulations.Charles Hoskinson plans to open a policy office in Washington, D.C., to lobby for clear, bipartisan crypto regulations, aiming for impactful legislative changes by 2025.Premature celebration, or well-earned victory?With Donald Trump heading back to the Oval Office, a wave of euphoria has gripped the crypto world.And big name after big name is adding fuel to a crypto fire that buoyed Bitcoin to a new all-time-high over $82K.Charles Hoskinson plans to open a lobbying office in Washington.Andressen Horowitzs a16z sees the current environment as a prime time to invest in crypto.And Cathie Wood of ARK Invest thinks todays environment compares favorably to investment opportunities in the 1980s and 1990s.Time for a closer look at how far the growing crypto momentum could go.A New Dawn for Crypto InvestmentIn a post-election video overview of the crypto landscape and broader economy, Cathie Woods of Ark Invest sees many opportunities.Perhaps the most profound thing thats going to happen in the very near term is a changing of the guard at some of the regulatory agenciesthe SEC and the FTC.Cathie Wood, ARK InvestGary Genslers notoriously anti-crypto regime at the SEC is likely to end, potentially replaced by a far more pro-crypto voice like Hester Pierce.Lina Khans term as chair of the FTC will also give way to a voice far less threatening to big tech companies.Wood anticipates that Donald Trumps future administration will adopt a more favorable approach toward cryptocurrencies.That would go a long way towards reversing the damage ofthe SECs current stance, including the loss of talent to other countries.Crypto venture capital firm a16z echoed this sentiment in a blog post.It is significant for the industry. Were very optimistic that the government will now foster innovation, accelerate progress, and enable the crypto ecosystem to thrive in the U.S.a16z CryptoAndressen Horowitzs firm emphasized the importance of establishing a regulatory environment that supports innovation in the crypto sector.Mr. Cardano Goes To Washington $ADA to Explode?In a proactive move, Charles Hoskinson (founder of Cardano ($ADA) and co-founder of IOHK), plans to open a policy office in Washington, D.C., and build bipartisan support for crypto-friendly regulations.Hoskinson aims to collaborate with lawmakers to develop clear and sensible regulations. The kind that could unlock significant economic value and promote job creation within the crypto industry.The goal is to have the office operational by January 2025, focusing on initiatives like repealing SEC Accounting Bulletin 121 and supporting Senator Cynthia Lummis crypto bill.Whether or not Hoskinson succeeds in developing a successful lobbying arm is less significant. More importantly, the move indicates how major crypto players see Washington becoming far friendlier for crypto under Trumps second administration.Theres even a growing push for Hoskinson to serve as a Trump crypto advisor, though theres no official statement yet.Meanwhile, Hoskinsons move reinforces what a16z sees. Soon, crypto advocates in Washington will be able to:Provide opportunities for crypto growth with improved regulatory clarityEncourage crypto founders to innovateAdvocate for clear regulatory frameworksClarify guidance on token usage and legal structuresWith the anticipated regulatory clarity, the U.S. could become one of the most favorable environments for building and growing crypto projects.Verdict: 25 Years of Germinating Gives Way to GrowthCathie Wood stated that crypto technology finally seems ready after decades of initial development and growth.Trumps reelection could trigger a regulatory environment that provides everything crypto needs to grow.And when even Tim Cook considers crypto a normal part of investing, things are looking up.A young digital assets market is about to grow up.ReferencesClick to expand and view sourcesAdd Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Aaron covers crypto topics with an emphasis on providing accessible, informative perspectives. His background includes over a decade in higher education and 5+ years as a freelance writer in crypto & SEO.When he's not writing professionally, Aaron enjoys writing for fun, volunteering for a local charity, and boxing. View all articles by Aaron Walker Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

In context: The AI boom has had its share of controversy. Whether it's the accuracy of large language models or companies rushing shoddy AI products just to be the first with something, no matter how bad, there are two sides to every issue. The fears over AI replacing human labor are arguably one of the more volatile sub-topics of the continuing AI debate. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick thinks the ongoing AI revolution will not significantly affect the game production industry from an employment or creative standpoint. Although ChatGPT has proven it can write functional game code, Zelnick doesn't think it can improve game design or make the development process exponentially more efficient."I would love to say that it's going to make things cheaper, quicker, better, or easier to make hits," Zelnick told CNBC in a Squawk Box interview. "I don't think that's the case."He pointed out that Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most successful entertainment products ever released. He says GTA6 is set to continue that legacy, but neither game relied on AI in the sense that we think about it today. Zelnick reminds us that game studios have been in the AI business all along a lot longer than the current LLM craze and that will not change. Every game we However, as far as AI taking over coding duties and other aspects of game design, he doesn't see that happening."The interactive entertainment business has been in AI forever. Let me just remind you that AI stands for artificial intelligence. Which is an oxymoron," the CEO said. "There is no such thing. It's just a description of a digital toolset."He believes AI in gaming will be no different from current toolsets like Blender and Unreal Engine. It will just be another software package that developers can use to help them in their work. It will not lead any company to be more successful than any other because everybody will have access to the same tools. It is still going to be humans who come up with creative ideas that will determine the success of a game."All of our tools do help us become more efficient ... that said, it's going to become commoditized. Everyone is going to have access to the same tools. That is the history of toolsets. What it means, though, is our creative people will be able to do fewer mundane tasks and turn their attention to the really creative tasks. The machines can't make the creative decisions for you."Nvidia and others do not see it that way and are betting the house that AI will replace humans at specific tasks, including writing and coding. Fable creator Peter Molyneux recently stated that people will soon be able to create a game with a simple, plain language prompt. Modders are already adding AI NPCs to games that will improve as language models evolve. Still, other companies are working on toolsets similar to those Zelnick imagines. // Related StoriesI would argue that the games industry has lacked true creativity for several years. I offer all the rehashed, remixed, remastered, and remade games we've had to stomach over the last several years. Maybe AI could do better. It certainly can't do worse at this point. Your thoughts?

Facepalm: Microsoft occasionally releases rare, out-of-band security updates for its older operating systems when a vulnerability is particularly severe. In contrast, companies like D-Link seem content to leave former users exposed to potentially disastrous network security risks. A recently disclosed security vulnerability impacting D-Link NAS devices will remain unpatched, as the Taiwanese manufacturer confirmed these models have reached their end-of-life / end-of-service status. This means they are likely to stay permanently vulnerable, a situation that has raised concerns among security analysts.The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2024-10914, affects the DNS-320, DNS-320LW, DNS-325, and DNS-340L NAS systems with firmware up to version 20241028. This critical flaw is located in the "cgi_user_add" command and can be triggered via a specially crafted HTTP GET request. The command fails to properly sanitize the "name" parameter, allowing an attacker to inject shell commands.While the National Institute of Standards and Technology noted that the attack complexity is "high," exploitation is possible, as researchers have already disclosed a working exploit online. These NAS devices were once popular among small businesses, but D-Link has since discontinued this line of network storage products.The company recently published a security bulletin regarding the matter, acknowledging the "Command Injection Vulnerability" discovered by NetSecFish in the DNS-320, DNS-325, DNS-340L, and other NAS models. D-Link advised owners of these affected devices to retire them and consider replacing them with newer alternatives.In the bulletin, D-Link reiterated its policy that end-of-life and end-of-service products are no longer supported and that firmware development for these models has ceased. NetSecFish estimated that over 61,000 vulnerable devices remain connected to the internet, putting them at risk of exploitation through malicious HTTP GET requests, which could result in data breaches or botnet activity. // Related StoriesD-Link offered some general advice for users who continue to connect these critically vulnerable NAS devices to the internet. They recommended ensuring the latest firmware is installed, using a unique password, and enabling Wi-Fi encryption. While these steps provide some basic security, they do little to mitigate the CVE-2024-10914 vulnerability itself.Earlier this year, the same researcher identified an additional command injection vulnerability and a hardcoded backdoor in the same NAS models (CVE-2024-3273). D-Link did not issue a fix or firmware update for that vulnerability, either.

Netflix is practically swimming in animated hits right now, none of which are Netflix originals. While Netflix has heavily invested in making some truly fantastic animated movies, the titles that break into the list of the 10 most popular movies on the streamer are often the films that had big runs in theaters. Two of our picks this month, Kung Fu Panda 4 and Chicken Run, fall under that category.Our third film, Kubo and the Two Strings, may not have had the same level of success in theaters, but its a truly beautiful animated movie that returns to Netflix after a long time away. These arent just the best animated movies on Netflix; these are some of the films that redefined what an animated movie could be, like the Oscar-nominated Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. You can find all of those films and more below.Recommended VideosLooking for something else? Weve also rounded up the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, and best shows on Amazon Prime.New movies to stream at a glanceKung Fu Panda 4pg2024Kubo and the Two Stringspg2016Chicken Rung2000RelatedEditors Recommendations

Update 11/8/24: Since our early Black Friday coverage began weve seen a 75-inch TV deal or two come and go, but were keeping things updated regularly here. Weve found some great replacement deals that have popped up, and well have our eye on everything that changes as the official Black Friday event gets closer.ContentsTV deals have been rampant among all of the early Black Friday deals, with early Black Friday 55-inch TV deals and early Black Friday 65-inch TV deals being some of the sizes that stand out the most. But there are also a lot of early Black Friday 75-inch TV deals to shop, and thats what were focusing on here. A 75-inch TV is perfect for a large space or a home theater with immersive aspirations. Theres lots to choose from across many of the best TV brands, so read onward for all of the best early Black Friday 75-inch TV deals. And if youre in the market for something smaller dont miss all of the early Black Friday 32-inch TV deals going on.$60025% offInsigniaThis is one of those Best Buy Black Friday deals that you have to pay attention to.Insignia, which is a Best Buy brand, is known for producing quality low-end TVs that people like. You probably arent going to find a cheaper 75-inch TV thats of this quality, especially while it is $150 off.Related$700 24% offHisense gets on the Black Friday 75-inch TV deals board here with the QD6, a QLED TV thats seeing a 24% discount right now. That will save you $170 off its regular price of $700, and bring the QD6 to Black Friday price of just $530. This is pretty good savings for a TV that was released this year. Its powered by the Google TV platform so youll get access to plenty of content, and the TVs QLED picture quality makes it a steal at this price.$600 4% offRoku / RokuIt isnt the largest discount youre going to find during Black Friday deals, but the Roku 75-inch Select Series 4K TV is a pretty good deal even at its regular price, so seeing it here with $20 in savings makes it worth considering right now. Youll get all of the great features Roku is known for packed into a 75-inch screen, and this deal also includes three free months of Apple TV+ and 30 free days of FuboTV to help you break it in.$70010% offSamsungSamsungs 2024 DU7200 gives you access to Samsungs Gaming Hub and Q-Symphony for excellent pairing with Q-series and S-series Samsung soundbars. And right now it is all just $630.$1,05024% offAmazon / AmazonNaturally, Amazon will be throwing their own products into the deals pile early, and this is their tier-2 Fire TV offering, right after the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED, with which it shares similarities (though this isnt a QLED). Amazon considers this TV to be best for a home theater experience and, at 21% off, it comes out to be a rather affordable one.$1,35026% offTCLThe TCL QM7 is a QD-Mini LED that tends to stay pretty affordable, and especially so after deals like this that take $400 off of its price. It also has a 120Hz refresh rate for a quality gaming experience.$2,50032% offLGThis TV is technically 77-inches, but we dont think youll mind the extra all that much. Its a 2024 TV production and comes with LGs Alpha 8 AI processor, capable of specific and precision upscaling. Notably, this TV is $200 and 6% cheaper than when I first reported on it just a few days ago. Were seeing prices change in real time. Get this current-year giant TV before theres a course correction and the price is raised again.$3,00027% offSony / SonyThis 77-inch Sony TV is a premium TV that does its best to not break the bank. The key to this TVs brilliance is great colors and excellent HDR performance. Its worth noting that, in the buy page, you can pop this TV down to the 65-inch version (which isnt much smaller) and get it for as low as $1,500.$4,59924% offZeke Jones / Digital TrendsAnother LG TV that is technically 77 inches. But again, we dont think youll care about getting the extra inches as this is considered the overall best OLED TV. It uses the powerful Alpha 11 AI processor to look at the image on a pixel-by-pixel basis, which gives bright details and nice contrasts. Our LG G4 review tells us that The G4 is the finest television LG has ever made and we think youll love it, too, especially at $1,099 off.One of the hardest things about choosing a TV is figuring out what size TV to get. If youve already got that figured out (and we presume you have, since youre here) then youve got half the battle figured out.The next thing is to figure out how much quality youre going to try to squeeze out of your TV. Obviously, with a TV so large, it can be quite expensive to get a premium panel. And thats where youll really want to consider the differences between size and quality of TVs. If you dont get intensely worked up over things like OLED and QLED tech, you can actually get a decent, modern 75-inch TV for just a few hundred during Black Friday. But this all comes down to your preferences, budget, and interests.Also, consider reading out long-form reviews on the TVs mentioned above. If we have one, well always link to it.As was just mentioned, we know there are going to be people that just want a big TV and others that want a big, premium TV. Both are okay and both style are represented above. TV prices can get almost logarithmic at the ends, though, so we did pay careful attention to getting a selection at each price tier while also finding our favorite TVs. We want customers of all types to have a good selection here.Speaking of our favorite TVs, youll see plenty of mentions to our best TVs, best OLED TVs, and best QLED TVs lists, and for good reason. These highly-researched articles represent a lot of time with TVs from experts that frequently write reviews, go to trade shows, and more. Throughout them, you will see links to our hands-on reviews of the TVs, full of highlights, (a few) complaints, and all of the interesting quirks of the TVs. You can see why we like to line up many of our deals recommendations with these articles and reviews.Editors Recommendations

The clinical trials 23andMe intends to wind-down include its two main therapeutic programs. The restructuring is expected to result in expenses of up to $12 million, and savings of more than $35 million per year, 23andMe said.

Shailesh Prakash departs after two years at the tech giant. Relationships between Google News and publishers remain strained.

A show at the New York Historical looks beyond the runway to stitch together an overview of practical womens clothing.

The Criterion Collections release lets viewers revisit the directors 1932 vision of ambition and violence in the Prohibition-era underworld.