Bluesky is certainly having a moment. The platform now has over 21 million users, and those users are active: posting, sharing, following new accounts, and creating starter packs for other users to join, too. Meta is, no doubt, seeing this success, and wants a piece of it for its similar platform, Threads. While Threads has way more users at the moment (275 million as of November), the platform of choice in online discussions is, no doubt, Bluesky. We've been covering it accordingly.Big changes to Thread's "For you" feedLikely in an effort to compete with Bluesky's current popularity, Threads is making some big changes this week. First and perhaps most importantly, the service is adjusting its default "For you" algorithm, to prioritize accounts you follow over accounts you don't. Instagram head Adam Mosseri posed on Threads announcing the changes: View on ThreadsIt's a good change, and resolves a problem Threads itself created. Threads, like other social media platforms, offers users two feeds. "For you," which displays algorithmically sorted content from both accounts you follow and those you don't, and "Following," which only shows posts from accounts you follow. The problem is, Threads always defaults back to the "For you" tab, even if you last left off on "Following." So each time you open a new Threads session, you're seeing content from people you don't follow, whether you like it or not. These new changes to the algorithm, then, should make the situation better. You'll still see posts from accounts you don't follow, but less often, as posts from accounts you do follow show up more frequently. While you're still stuck with the "For you" feed by default, maybe the algorithm will be tuned enough where you won't feel the need to switch over to "Following" every time. Plus, as noted by Mosseri, the changes will emphasize engagement from followers rather than from unconnected accounts. Hopefully, that inspires more Threads posters to create content tailored more towards their audience, rather than towards what they think will blow up on Threads in general. That should shift content towards more localized interests, rather than sensationalized bogus.In addition to algorithmic changes, Threads also rolled out custom feeds this week. These feeds let you choose a specific topic or set of accounts to follow, rather than simply scroll through the general For you or Following feeds. As it happens, Bluesky also has custom feeds, and has for some time now. Fancy that. The Best Black Friday Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 64GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet $149.99 (List Price $219.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) $21.99 (List Price $49.99) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p Security Camera (3-Pack) $99.99 (List Price $259.99) Dell Inspiron 15 3535 Ryzen 7 1TB SSD 16GB RAM Laptop $449.99 (List Price $699.99) Seagate Portable 4TB External USB 3.0 Hard Drive $99.90 (List Price $124.99) Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones $199.00 (List Price $349.00) Deals are selected by our commerce team

Early Black Friday deals are in full swing with retailers like Home Depot, Amazon, Target, and others officially starting their sales a week before the official shopping holiday. Walmart also has its own sale, and you can find some deals not offered at the other retailers that are worth checking out. You'll find deals on tech gadgets like AirPods, iPads, Xbox bundles, 100-inch Hisense TVs, Sony, Beats, and Bose headphones, and other products all at their lowest prices ever, according to the price tracking tools I use. Here are the best early Black Friday deals from Walmart I have found so far. Apple AirPods 2 $89.00 at Walmart $159.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Get Deal $89.00 at Walmart $159.00 Save $70.00 2022 Apple iPad 10.9-Inch Wifi Only, 64GB $279.00 at Walmart $349.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Get Deal $279.00 at Walmart $349.00 Save $70.00 Beats Solo3 Wireless Apple W1 Chip Headphones (Black) $99.00 at Walmart $129.95 Save $30.95 Get Deal Get Deal $99.00 at Walmart $129.95 Save $30.95 Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones $290.00 at Walmart $399.99 Save $109.99 Get Deal Get Deal $290.00 at Walmart $399.99 Save $109.99 Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones $229.95 at Walmart $349.95 Save $120.00 Get Deal Get Deal $229.95 at Walmart $349.95 Save $120.00 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones $329.00 at Walmart $808.20 Save $479.20 Get Deal Get Deal $329.00 at Walmart $808.20 Save $479.20 Samsung Q-Series Dolby Atmos Soundbar $199.00 at Walmart $379.00 Save $180.00 Get Deal Get Deal $199.00 at Walmart $379.00 Save $180.00 Extra Controller Bundle. Edition Digital Edition, Data Storage 1 TB, Color Robot White. Xbox Series X 1TB Digital Edition + Extra Controller $489.98 at Walmart $509.99 Save $20.01 Get Deal Get Deal $489.98 at Walmart $509.99 Save $20.01 TCL 43" Q Class 4K HDR QLED Smart TV $198.00 at Walmart $278.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal Get Deal $198.00 at Walmart $278.00 Save $80.00 Hisense 100" Class U7 Series QLED 4K Smart TV $1,798.00 at Walmart $2,998.00 Save $1,200.00 Get Deal Get Deal $1,798.00 at Walmart $2,998.00 Save $1,200.00 SEE 7 MORE AirPods and iPads up to $70 offThe 2nd generation AirPods are down to their lowest price of $89 (originally $129). It's a good time to get a pair if you've been waiting around for a good price drop. Back in September, the 10th generation iPad dropped to $299.99, its then lowest price, only to reach a new record low this Black Friday of $279 (originally $349). Even though it came out in 2022, it is still the latest and best base iPad model available.Beats, Bose, Sony, and Sennheiser headphones up to $120 offIf you're looking for a new pair of headphones, Walmart has a good selection to choose from right now. For those looking for the best ANC, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are $329 (originally $429), a great deal at the moment. The Sony WH-1000XM5, another great option, are down to $298 (originally $399.99). The Sennheiser Momentum 4 strikes a good balance between audio and ANC for a slightly cheaper price of $229.95 (originally $349.95). For those looking to spend less than $100, the Beats Solo3 are $99 (originally $149.95) but they won't offer the same quality of features as the previous three headphones.The Samsung HW-Q6CC soundbar is $180 offThe Samsung HW-Q60CC came out in 2023 as a mid-range option with a seven-band graphic EQ so you can customize the sound just how you like it. It does well overall for general use, but its ability to handle dialogue jumps out as one of its strengths. It is Bluetooth-compatible with your phone and other devices, and it can get very loud without sacrificing quality. You can get it for $199 (originally $379).The Xbox Series X Digital Edition with an extra controller is $110 offFor those waiting for a good deal on an Xbox console, Walmart has the 1TB Digital Edition Xbox with an extra controller (two total) for $489.98 (originally $599.99). At the time of this writing, no other major reputable retailer has this bundle, and the regular Digital Edition Xbox goes for the same price. So why not get the extra controller?A massive Hisense 100" TV is $1,200 offA 100-inch QLED TV is a statement. They are massive, and will likely need to be installed by a professional, but they will impress anyone who walks into your living room. The Hisense U76 QLED Google Smart TV was announced this year during CES 2024. Surprisingly, Walmart has it for $1,798 (originally $2,998), the lowest price since its January announcement. It has a native 144Hz resolution, Dolby Vision, and of course, local dimming to make the contrast and colors pop. If you're looking for a more budget option, the 43-inch TCL Q51BG, which came out this year, is $198 (originally $278). The Best Black Friday Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 64GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet $149.99 (List Price $219.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) $21.99 (List Price $49.99) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p Security Camera (3-Pack) $99.99 (List Price $259.99) Dell Inspiron 15 3535 Ryzen 7 1TB SSD 16GB RAM Laptop $449.99 (List Price $699.99) Seagate Portable 4TB External USB 3.0 Hard Drive $99.90 (List Price $124.99) Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones $199.00 (List Price $349.00) Deals are selected by our commerce team

iPhone users who want the smartwatch experience without shelling out a fortune have a great option in the Apple Watch SE, and the wearable is cheaper than ever right now thanks to a Black Friday deal. The Apple Watch SE has dropped to $169 at Amazon. That's a discount of 32 percent or $80. This is a new record-low price for the 40mm GPS variant. However, it's an all-time-low only by one dollar. The wearable was on sale for $170 during the October Prime Day event. The Apple Watch SE is a good choice for iPhone users who have yet to hop into the smartwatch ecosystem or perhaps are clinging onto a much older Apple Watch but don't need a flagship model. If you're looking for something more advanced, you'd be better off with the Apple Watch Series 10, which is also currently sitting at a record low price for Black Friday and is our pick for the best smartwatch overall. The second-gen Apple Watch SE is our pick for the best budget Apple Watch and we gave it a score of 89 in our 2022 review. It has the same chipset as the Apple Watch Ultra and Series 8, and it should feel faster if you're coming over from, say, a Series 6 or earlier model. The SE shares some, but not all features with flagship Apple Watches. It supports crash detection, heart rate monitoring and emergency calling, and it is water resistant to 50 meters. We felt that the screen was easy to view, even when the sun was shining brightly. Fitness tracking is accurate (which is pretty important!). Perhaps most crucially, the Apple Watch SE is light and easy to wear. The Ion-X glass isn't quite as robust as the sapphire crystal on other recent Apple Watch models, so you'll likely want to be extra careful with it. Other features present on other Apple Watch devices that are missing here include an always-on display, blood oxygen monitoring and temperature sensor. The very handy Double Tap feature isn't available here either. While we feel that this is a good price for the second-gen Apple Watch SE, it's worth bearing in mind that a new model could arrive in the coming months. Apple is reportedly working on an Apple Watch SE with a plastic casing in a bid to reduce the price and allow for bolder color options. It's unlikely that Apple will announce this model before next year, though. There are plenty of other Black Friday deals available on Apple products. We've put together a list of the best ones from across the web. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-apple-watch-se-hits-a-record-low-price-of-169-for-black-friday-183924884.html?src=rss

Apple devices are some of the most sought after this time of year as Black Friday deals bring their prices down to some seriously enticing lows. At the moment, one such deal is on the Apple Watch Series 10: Apples newest wearable is on sale for $329, which is $70 off and a record low. That price is for the smaller 42mm model without LTE functionality, and the 46mm size is also $70 off and down to $359. The Apple Watch Series 10 is our pick for the best smartwatch overall, but it's probably best to look at other options if you're an Android user. After all, you'll need a compatible iPhone to set up the wearable and get the most out of it. For Apple users who are after something a little simpler than the flagship model, the Apple Watch SE has also dropped to a record low price ($169) for Black Friday. We gave the Apple Watch Series 10 a score of 90 in our review. Apple redesigned the smartwatch to offer a larger screen and thinner frame, both of which were plus points in our book. The wide-angle OLED panel offers better viewing angles. The wearable has in-depth fitness and health tracking too, with new functions including sleep apnea detection. We found that there was a slight increase in battery life thanks to efficiency improvements, but some alternative smartwatches run for much longer on a single charge. Overall, this is a somewhat iterative update compared with the Series 9 and 8, but if you're upgrading from an older Apple Watch (or buying one for the first time), you may find the features, performance and charging speed to be impressive. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-apple-watch-series-10-is-70-off-during-amazons-black-friday-sale-180028994.html?src=rss

Check out promising lightweight Blender crowd animation tool Population. Version 2 of the add-on - for quickly adding 3D crowds to animation and visualization projects - makes it possible to paint crowd characters directly into your scene.https://www.cgchannel.com/2024/11/check-out-blender-crowd-animation-add-on-population-2/

Free tools: download SideFX's Project Greylight for Houdini. The toolkit, created by VFX Supervisor Andreas Weidman, makes it possible to set up a professional, collaborative USD-based multi-shot workflow without the need for a custom pipeline.https://www.cgchannel.com/2024/11/download-sidefxs-free-project-greylight-toolkit-for-houdini/

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