The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an antitrust investigation into Microsoft, scrutinizing its cloud computing, software licensing, cybersecurity, and AI businesses.The inquiry follows over a year of informal interviews with competitors and business partners, Bloomberg reported. FTC antitrust lawyers have sent Microsoft a detailed information demand, spanning hundreds of pages, after receiving approval from FTC Chair Lina Khan, the report said quoting sources familiar with the matter.In the second week of November, Computer World reported that the FTC was preparing to investigate the business practices of Microsoft. The allegations were on whether Microsoft is abusing its market dominance by deploying restrictive licensing terms, which is not a fair practice.Focus on market dominance and security practicesThe investigation centers on Microsofts bundling of office productivity and security software with its cloud services, a practice critics argue disadvantages competitors in the authentication and cybersecurity markets. The FTC is particularly examining Microsoft Entra ID, its user authentication service, amid complaints that licensing terms and integration with its cloud offerings impede rival companies.Microsofts role as a major government contractor and recent cybersecurity incidents involving its products have added urgency to the probe. The company provides billions of dollars in services to US agencies, including the Department of Defense, making its practices critical to national security.In November 2023, FTC flagged concerns about the concentrated nature of the cloud market, warning that outages or performance issues could ripple through the economy. The authority had then collected feedback from civil society, industry stakeholders, and academia to prepare its report. As per the feedback, the majority of the concerns were related to competition and licensing practices.In the UK too, Microsoft is facing a similar antitrust investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority. The investigation follows AWSs complaint to the CMA against Microsoft for unfair trade practices.Leadership transition and regulatory uncertaintyThe investigation is among the final actions of Lina Khan, who has led one of the FTCs most aggressive campaigns against corporate consolidation in decades. Khan is expected to step down as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office though there is no official confirmation yet.Trumps regulatory stance remains unclear, but his administration could mark a shift from President Joe Bidens focus on reining in Big Tech. Under Biden, the FTC pursued cases against Amazon and Meta, while the Department of Justice sued Google and Apple.This renewed scrutiny comes more than 25 years after the governments landmark antitrust case against Microsoft over bundling its Windows operating system and browser, which ended without a breakup.The FTCs investigation could have far-reaching implications for the tech giants market practices and the broader cloud and cybersecurity sectors.Queries to FTC and Microsoft remain unanswered.

There are important accounts to secure, and then there are important accounts to secure. Your Google account falls into that second category, maybe even with a couple of asterisks and some neon orange highlighting added in for good measure.I mean, really: When you stop and think about how much stuff is associated with that single sign-in your email, your documents, your photos, your files, your search history, maybe even your contacts, text messages, and location history, if you use Android saying its a sensitive account seems like an understatement. Whether youre using Google for business, personal purposes, or some combination of the two, you want to do everything you possibly can to keep all of that information locked down and completely under your control.And guess what? Having a password that you hastily set seven years ago isnt enough. With something as priceless as your personal data, that single key is only the start of a smart security setup. And even it might be due for an upgrade.Take 10 minutes to go through these steps, then rest easy knowing your Google account is as guarded as can be.Part I: Reinforce your front doorStep 1: Check up on your Google account passwordWell start with something simple but supremely important that aforementioned Google account password. Consider the following questions:Is your Google password based on your name, the name of your partner or child, your birthday, your street address, or anything else someone could easily figure out by Googling you?Does your Google password revolve around a common word or easily guessable pattern?Is your Google password short less than eight characters, at a minimum?Do you use your Google password (or any variation of it) to sign into any other app, website, or service?If the answer to any of those questions is yes, first, bop yourself firmly on the nose. Then use this link to go change your password immediately preferably to something long, complex, and not involving any easily discoverable personal info, any common words or patterns, or anything you use anywhere else.(And note: This is also where a reliable password manager whether the basic Google Password Manager or a more fully featured third-party option can make all the difference in the world.)Got it? Good. Next:Step 2: Give your Google account a second layer of protectionNo matter how strong your Google account password is, theres always still the chance someone could crack it but you can exponentially reduce the risk of anyone actually getting into your virtual property by enabling two-factor authentication on your account.With two-factor authentication, youll be prompted for a second form of security in addition to your password ideally something that requires a physical object thatd only ever be in your presence. In its simplest effective form, that could be a prompt or a code generated by your phone. If you want to get really fancy, it could be a button pressed on an actual key you carry (which could be a special USB- or Bluetooth-based dongle or even something built into your phone) sometimes even called a passkey, which is basically just a confusing and overcomplicated way to say the same thing. Theres also an option to have codes sent to you via text message, but that method is relatively easy to hijack and thus not generally advisable to use.Whatever path you choose, having that second layer in place will make it incredibly difficult for anyone to get into your Google account, even if they do somehow know your password.Two-factor authentication makes it significantly more difficult for anyone to get into your Google account.JR Raphael / IDGIf you dont have it set up yet, go to Googles 2-Step Verification page to get started.Step 3: Make sure youre prepared to prove your identityIf Google ever detects some sort of suspicious activity on your account, it might require you to verify your identity before it lets you sign in. And if you havent looked at your account verification settings in a while (or ever, for that matter), theres a decent chance the necessary info might be out of date or missing altogether.Take a minute now to open up Googles account security site and look in the section labeled How you sign in to Google. There, among other things, you should see two options:Recovery phoneRecovery emailIf the value next to either option is not current and correct, click it and update it immediately.And with that, were ready to move on to our next level of Google account protection.Part II: Clamp down on connectionsStep 4: Review the third-party services with access to your accountWhen you set up an app that interacts with Google in some way on your phone, on your computer, or even within a Google service such as Gmail or Docs that app gets granted a certain level of access to your Google account data.Depending on the situation, that could mean its able to see some of your activity within specific Google services; it could mean its able to see everything in your Gmail, Google Calendar, or Google Drive; or it could mean its able to see everything across your entire Google account.Its all too easy to click through confirmation boxes without giving it careful thought so look back now and see exactly what apps have access to what types of information. Visit Googles third-party app access overview and look through the list of connected services. If you see anything there you no longer use or dont recognize, click its line and then click the button to remove it.Review your third-party app list and remove any items that no longer need access to your Google account.JR Raphael / IDGAllowing apps you know and trust to access your account is perfectly fine, but you want to be sure to revisit the list regularly and keep it as current and concise as possible.Step 5: Review the devices with access to your accountIn addition to apps, youve almost certainly signed into your Google account on a variety of physical devices over the past several months (and beyond). And often, once youve signed in at the system level, a device remains connected to your account and able to access it no matter how long its been since youve actually used the thing.You can close that loop and take back control by going to Googles device activity page. If you see any device there that you no longer use or dont recognize, click the three-dot menu icon within its box and sign it out of your account right then and there.Step 6: Look over app permissions on your phoneAnother important app-related consideration: If youre using Android, some system-level permissions such as those connected to your contacts and calendar can effectively control access to areas of your Google account data, since services such as Google Contacts and Google Calendar sync that data between your phone and the cloud.Head into the Security & Privacy section of your phones system settings and look for the line labeled Permission manager. (Depending on your device, you might have to tap a line labeled Privacy controls before you see it.) If you cant find it, try searching your system settings for the phrase permission manager instead.Once you get there, you can look through each type of permission and see which apps are authorized to access it and, with a couple more taps, revoke the permission from any apps where that level of access doesnt seem necessary.Android makes it easy to review and adjust an apps permission, if you know where to look.JR Raphael / IDGStep 7: Look over extension permissions in your browserOn the desktop, extensions added into Chrome or any other browser have the potential to expand your browsers capabilities but they also have the potential to put your privacy at risk.Extensions could require access to anything from your complete browsing history to your system clipboard. They can often read and change data on sites youre actively viewing, too either any and all sites or only specific pertinent URLs, depending on the specific permissions requested.None of this is necessarily bad, so long as the extension in question is reputable and requesting only the permissions it genuinely requires for the function it provides. But sometimes, even the most well-intending developers can get lazy and go with a broader permission than what their software actually needs. And in such an instance, an extension that does something as simple as enhancing the Gmail interface or allowing you to save articles for later could have access to everything you do in your browser and the sort of broad data thats typically kept under lock and key inside your Google account could be shared with external entities for no good reason.So lets do a quick little assessment, shall we? If youre using Chrome, type chrome:extensions into your browsers address bar. If youre using another browser, look in its main menu to find the equivalent option for managing extensions or add-ons, as theyre sometimes also called.Once youre looking a list of all your installed extensions, click the Details or Options button for every extension on the page. Peek at the Permissions section within each one and then take a close look at the Site access section, in particular. Think carefully about the level of access thats granted there and whether its genuinely needed or whether itd make sense to bring it down a notch and make it more limited in nature.With Chrome and other Chrome-based browsers like Microsoft Edge and Vivaldi if the extension seems like it really only needs access to a specific site or domain and its requesting access to your activity on all sites, click the dropdown menu in that area and change its setting from On all sites to On specific sites (which lets you provide a specific, limited list of URLs on which the extension will have full visibility).Chrome and other Chrome-based browsers make it easy to view and adjust the permissions for any browser extension youre using.JR Raphael / IDGJust remember that many extensions do legitimately need certain levels of access in order to operate so make these changes cautiously and only after carefully thinking through the potential implications. Worst-case scenario, though, if you bring an extensions access down and then find its no longer working as expected, you can always come back to this same area of your browsers settings later and change it back.Firefox, incidentally, doesnt allow this level of granular permission-granting so if you find an extension there is accessing more than youre comfortable with, your only real option is to uninstall it entirely.Speaking of whichStep 8: Get rid of any mobile apps and browser extensions you dont needWhile youre thinking about third-party add-ons for your computer and phone, take a moment to review everything you have installed on both fronts and consider how many of those programs you actually still use. The fewer cracked windows you allow on your Google account, the better and if you arent even using something, theres no reason to keep it connected.And with that, were ready for our final two parts of account-protecting possibilities.Part III: Plan for the worstStep 9: Set up or confirm your virtual Google willThinking about worst-case scenarios is never particularly pleasant Id much rather be eating crumpets, myself but just as its important to have a plan in place for your physical and financial possessions, creating a virtual will for your Google account will make matters infinitely easier for your loved ones if and when you ever develop a mild case of death.For company-managed Google Workspace accounts, someone at your organization would be able to take control of your account in the event that you were no longer able to access it. But with an individual Google account, no such system for passing along access exists.Google has a simple system in place to manage this: Open up the Inactive Account Manager, and youll find tools for determining exactly what should happen if your account ever becomes inactive for a certain period of time. You can specify the number of months that must go by without any sign of your presence, along with the email addresses and phone numbers Google should use to contact you for confirmation. And then, you can give Google the email addresses of any people you want to be notified once its clear that youre no longer available.From there, you can specify exactly what types of information your chosen contacts will be able to access. Youll even be able to leave a message for those people, if you want, and optionally create a broad autoreply thatll be sent to anyone who emails you once your inactive period has begun (creepy!).Googles Inactive Account Manager is like a virtual estate planning tool for all of your account-associated data.JR Raphael / IDGEven if youve gone through this process before, its worth going back in and revisiting your preferences occasionally to confirm the info is all still complete and accurate not only in the specific contacts you have set to be notified but also in what specific areas of your account those people will be able to access, if this situation ever actually arises.For that latter piece of the puzzle, be sure to click the pencil-shaped icon next to the email address of each person you have listed. After you confirm their address, thatll show you a list of account-related areas everything from Contacts and Calendar to Google Chat, Google Photos, and even your location history (if youre using a device that contributes to such a collection).Virtually every time Ive ever looked at that, Ive found a handful of newer account-related areas werent selected to be shared presumably because they didnt exist when I had last reviewed the options. I had to manually check them all to be sure theyd be included in any post-consciousness account sharing.Part IV: Turn your protection up to the maxStep 10: Think about Googles Advanced Protection ProgramLast but not least is a step that wont be right for everyone but could be hugely consequential for certain types of Google users. For anyone at a higher risk of a targeted attack, Google offers an elevated form of account security called the Advanced Protection Program.The program is described as being appropriate for business leaders, IT admins, activists, journalists, and anyone else whos in the public eye and likely to be sought out by someone looking to do damage. It puts a series of heavy-duty restrictions on your Google account to make it especially difficult for anyone else to gain access but as a result, it also makes things a bit more difficult for you.The core part of the Advanced Protection Program is a requirement to have a physical security key the first time you sign into your account on any new device. That means in addition to your password, youll need that specific form of two-factor authentication either an approved key built into your phone or a standalone dongle in order to access your email, documents, or any other area of your Google account.As part of the added security, you also wont be able to connect most third-party apps to your Google account including those that require access to your Gmail or Google Drive in order to operate. That could create some challenges (such as signing into an Android TV device, curiously enough) and require some compromises (such as no longer being able to use most third-party email clients with Gmail). And if you ever cant get into your account for any reason, youll have to go through an extra-involved, multiday recovery process in order to restore access. You can read more about what the Advanced Protection Program is like to live with in this thoughtful overview.Ultimately, only you can decide if the added inconveniences are worth the extra assurance. If you want the utmost in security for your Google account, though and particularly if youre someone whos at a higher-than-average risk of being targeted its something well worth considering.If you do want to make the leap and add this extra layer of intense security onto your Google account, head over to Googles Advanced Protection Program website to get started. With a personal account, youll be able to get yourself up and running in a matter of minutes. With an account thats part of a paid company Workspace plan, your plan administrator will have to enable Advanced Protection for the organization before youre able to do it. Once you start the enrollment process, youll see pretty quickly if its already available for your account or not and if not, you can contact your company admin to ask about the possibility of allowing it.And with that, give yourself a pat on the back: Now that these 10 steps are behind you, your Google account security is officially in tiptop shape and you shouldnt have to devote an ounce of thought to this area again anytime soon.Just set yourself a reminder to revisit this page and review the steps within it once a year for good measure. (Ill continue to update and expand the specific instructions as needed over time.) Do the same with security smarts in other areas like your Android security settings, if youre using an Android device of any sort and then rest easy knowing your most important digital info is as secure as it can possibly be.This article was originally published in February 2020 and updated in November 2024.

This is todays edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of whats going on in the world of technology.Whats next for NASAs giant moon rocket?NASAs huge lunar rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), might be in trouble. As rival launchers like SpaceXs Starship gather pace, some are questioning the need for the US national space agency to have its own mega rocket at allsomething that could become a focus of the incoming Trump administration, in which SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is set to play a key role.SLS has been in development for more than a decade. The rocket is huge, and about 15% more powerful than the Saturn V rocket that took the Apollo astronauts to the moon in the 1960s and 70s. It is also expensive, costing an estimated $4.1 billion per launch.It was designed with a clear purposereturning astronauts to the moons surface. And while it seems likely the rocket will at least launch Artemis II next September, beyond that its future is less certain. Read the full story.Jonathan OCallaghanThis piece is part of MIT Technology Reviews Whats Next series, looking across industries, trends, and technologies to give you a first look at the future. You can read the rest of them here.This startup is getting closer to bringing next-generation nuclear to the gridThis is a busy time of year for all of us, and thats certainly true in the advanced nuclear industry.MIT Technology Review released our list of 15 Climate Tech Companies to Watch less than two months ago. Since then, awardee Kairos Power has had three big announcements about its progress toward building next-generation nuclear reactors.Each of these bits of news represents an interesting aspect of the process. So lets dig into the announcements and what they mean for where nuclear technology is going. Read the full story.Casey CrownhartThis story is from The Spark, our weekly newsletter giving you the inside track on all things climate and energy. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday.The must-readsIve combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.1 A Chinese ship may have sabotaged critical data cablesBy dragging its huge anchor along the Baltic seabed for over 100 miles. (WSJ $)+ Swedish authorities are investigating the bulk carrier. (FT $)2 The FTC is probing MicrosoftIts a wide-ranging antitrust investigation into its cloud computing, AI and security arms. (NYT $)+ The FTC has been preparing for this for a full year. (WP $)+ Its notable its been signed off in the Biden administrations dying days. (The Information $)+ Meanwhile, Google is hoping to have its recent antitrust ruling thrown out. (Bloomberg $)3 RFKs Make America Healthy Again movement is in troubleJust days into the project, cracks are already beginning to show. (FT $)+ The MAGA policy agenda is extremely skeptical of actual scientific evidence. (NYT $)+ Americas opioid crisis probably played a role in Trumps reelection. (New Yorker $)4 TikTok is blocking beauty filters for teenagersBut the restrictions arent exactly difficult to circumvent. (The Guardian)+ Filters will be required to specify the nature of the tweaks they make, too. (The Verge)+ The fight for Instagram face. (MIT Technology Review)5 Who is applying to join Elon Musks DOGE?Everyone from students to tech CEOs, apparently. (Forbes $)+ The division is highly likely to clash with the US governments budget office. (WSJ $)6 Interpol has arrested 1,000 potential cyber criminals across AfricaTheyre suspected of extorting victims using ransomware, phishing schemes and scams. (WP $)7 Heres all the tariffs Chinas tech industry is facingIts not just the US thats increasing its restrictions. (Rest of World)+ Buckle up: China is likely to face even greater chip restrictions from next week. (Wired $)+ How Trumps tariffs could drive up the cost of batteries, EVs, and more. (MIT Technology Review)8 Mark Zuckerberg has been hobnobbing with Donald Trump at Mar-a-LagoWhich is interesting considering that Trump has threatened him with life imprisonment. (The Information $)+ Zuckerberg has been on a charm offensive to repair their relationship for almost two years. (NYT $)+ But the President-elect has a history of holding grudges. (NY Mag $)9 Distributed computing is the next big thingWe can achieve more when we work together, after all. (Quanta Magazine)10 How those massive Macys Thanksgiving parade balloons stay afloat The greater the mass, the greater the weight. (Wired $)Quote of the dayThe main advice I have to give is stay true to yourself and hit post.TikToker Leah Halton dispenses some sage advice after winning an award for video of the year at Australias TikTok awards, the Guardian reports.The big storyA day in the life of a Chinese robotaxi driverJuly 2022When Liu Yang started his current job, he found it hard to go back to driving his own car: I instinctively went for the passenger seat. Or when I was driving, I would expect the car to brake by itself, says the 33-year-old Beijing native, who joined the Chinese tech giant Baidu in January 2021 as a robotaxi driver.Liu is one of the hundreds of safety operators employed by Baidu, driving five days a week in Shougang Park. But despite having only worked for the company for 19 months, he already has to think about his next career move, as his job will likely be eliminated within a few years. Read the full story.Zeyi YangWe can still have nice thingsA place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or tweet em at me.)+ If youve ever admired the incredible Co Rentmeester picture of Michael Jordan leaping through the air, heres the story behind the iconic image.+ If you look to the skies in Alaska, you might just see a Thanksgiving turkey being thrown out of a plane.+ Talking of Thanksgiving, if you want to cook the ultimate turkey, look no further.+ Move over, the hot artists are coming.

This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Reviews weekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here.This is a busy time of year for all of us, and thats certainly true in the advanced nuclear industry.MIT Technology Review released our list of 15 Climate Tech Companies to Watch less than two months ago. Since then, awardee Kairos Power has had three big announcements about its progress toward building next-generation nuclear reactors.Each of these bits of news represents an interesting aspect of the process. So lets dig into the announcements and what they mean for where nuclear technology is going.First, a quick refresher on Kairos Power: While nuclear plants today overwhelmingly use pressurized water to keep reactors cool, Kairos is using molten salt. The idea is that these reactors (which are also smaller than those typically built today) will help generate electricity in a way thats safer and more efficient than conventional nuclear power.When it comes to strategy, Kairos is taking small steps toward the ultimate goal of full-size power plants. Construction began earlier this year on Hermes, the companys first nuclear test reactor. That facility will generate a small amount of heatabout 35 megawatts worthto demonstrate the technology.Last week, the company announced it received a construction permit for the next iteration of its system, Hermes 2. This plant will share a location with Hermes, and it will include the infrastructure to transform heat to electricity. That makes it the first electricity-producing next-generation nuclear plant to get this approval in the US.While this news wasnt a huge surprise (the company has been working with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for years), any day that youre getting a permit or a license from the NRC is an unusual and special day, Kairos CEO Mike Laufer told me in an interview.The company is developing a plan to work on construction for both Hermes and Hermes 2 at the same time, he added. When I asked if Hermes is still on track to start up in 2027 (as we reported in our profile of the company in October), Laufer said thats an aggressive timeline.While construction on test reactors is rolling, Kairos is forging ahead with commercial dealsin October, it announced an agreement with Google to build up to 500 megawatts worth of power plants by 2035. Under this agreement, Kairos will develop, construct, and operate plants and sell electricity to the tech giant.Kairos will need to build multiple reactors to deliver 500 MW. The first deployment should happen by 2030, with additional units to follow. One of the benefits of building smaller reactors is learning as you go along and making improvements that can lower costs and make construction more efficient, Laufer says.While the construction permit and Google deal are arguably the biggest recent announcements from Kairos, Im also fascinated by a more niche milestone: In early October, the company broke ground on a salt production facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that will make the molten salt used to cool its reactors.Salt is one of the key areas where we do have some unique and specialized needs, Laufer says. And having control over the areas of the supply chain that are specialized will be key to helping the company deliver electricity reliably and at lower cost, he adds.The companys molten salt is called Flibe, and its a specific mix of lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride. One fun detail I learned from Laufer is that the mixture needs to be enriched in lithium-7 because that isotope absorbs fewer neutrons than lithium-6, allowing the reactor to run more efficiently. The new facility in Albuquerque will produce large quantities of high-purity Flibe enriched in lithium-7.Progress in the nuclear industry can sometimes feel slow, with milestones few and far between, so its really interesting to see Kairos taking so many small steps in quick succession toward delivering on its promise of safe, cheap nuclear power.Weve had a lot of huge accomplishments. We have a long way to go, Laufer says. This is not an easy thing to pull off. We believe we have the right approach and were doing it the right way, but it requires a lot of hard work and diligence.Now read the rest of The SparkRelated readingFor more details on Kairos and its technology, check out our profile of the company in the 15 Climate Tech Companies to Watch package from October.If youre dying for more details on molten salt, check out this story I wrote in January about a test system Kairos built to demonstrate the technology.STEPHANIE ARNETT/MIT TECHNOLOGY REVIEW | GETTY, ADOBE STOCKAnother thingDonald Trump pledged to enact tariffs on a wide range of products imported into the US. The plans could drive up the cost of batteries, EVs, and more, threatening to slow progress on climate and potentially stall the economy. Read more about the potential impacts for technology in the latest story from my colleague James Temple.Keeping up with climateThe UN climate talks wrapped up over the weekend. In the resulting agreement, rich nations will provide at least $300 billion in climate finance per year by 2035 to developing nations to help them deal with climate change. (Carbon Brief) This falls well short of the $1 trillion mark that many had hoped to reach. (MIT Technology Review)Utilities might be spending a lot of money on the wrong transmission equipment on the grid. Dollars are flowing to smaller, local projects, not the interstate projects that are crucial for getting more clean energy online. (Inside Climate News)Sustainable aviation fuel is one of the only viable options to help clean up the aviation industry in the near term. But what are these fuels, exactly? And how do they help with climate change? Its surprisingly complicated, and the details matter. (Canary Media)Automakers want Trump to keep rules in place that will push the US toward adoption of electric vehicles. Companies have already invested billions of dollars into an EV transition. (New York Times)Theres a growing chasm in American meat consumption: The number of households that avoid meat has increased slightly, but all other households have increased their meat purchases. (Vox)Trump has vowed to halt offshore wind energy, but for some projects, things take so long that a four-year term may not even touch them. (Grist)

As the holiday season approaches, its the perfect time to upgrade your creative toolkit without stretching your budget. Whether youre diving into 3D modeling, refining your animations, or exploring digital painting, theres something for everyone in this years Pre-Black Friday sales. From powerful tools like Cinema 4D plugins and Blender add-ons to versatile software like Clip Studio Paint and Cascadeur, these deals are tailored for designers, artists, and game developers eager to elevate their projects.In this guide, weve organized the best discounts under the top categories3D Design Tools, 2D Design Tools, and Rendering & Visualizationwith direct links to the offers. Dont miss these limited-time deals!Pre-Black Friday sales: Available earlier in November3D Design Tools3dtools.infoWhat: Packs of PBR materials and Cinema 4D pluginsDiscount: Up to 50%BproductionWhat: Population 2 (crowd animation add-on for Blender)Discount: 30% (use code NEWCROWD)Daz 3DWhat: Selected products (3D characters and assets for DAZ Studio)Discount: Varies, with daily dealsFlippedNormalsWhat: 3D models, materials, and brushesDiscount: Up to 50%FoundryWhat: Mari Individual subscriptions (monthly or annual)Discount: 50% (new subscribers only)LotPixelWhat: Access to 3D models and textures (subscriptions and credit packs)Discount: Up to 29% (subscriptions), 32% (credit packs)NekkiWhat: Cascadeur (Indie and Pro subscriptions)Discount: 25% (Pro, use code PRO25), 30% (Indie, use code Indie30)VinziWhat: Atlux (visualization plugin for Unreal Engine)Discount: 20% (perpetual licenses), 50% (first month of subscriptions)2D Design ToolsCelsysWhat: Clip Studio Paint (Pro and Ex editions)Discount: 40% (Ex), 60% (Pro)ExpresiiWhat: Expresii (digital painting software)Discount: 25% (use code IEBD0YY)Paintstorm StudioWhat: Paintstorm StudioDiscount: 50%Rendering & VisualizationRebusFarmWhat: Online rendering servicesDiscount: 50% (get the same number of render credits purchased for free)Black Friday sales: Available on or until 29 November3D Design Tools3D Scan StoreWhat: 3D scans of heads and entire peopleDiscount: 55%CGTraderWhat: Selected 3D modelsDiscount: Varies, up to 50%GameDev MarketWhat: Game assets, including 3D modelsDiscount: Up to 60%KitBash3DWhat: Cargo subscriptions (access to kitbash asset kits)Discount: 50%Nouvelle Mesure LabWhat: 3D models, plants, and Forest Pack assetsDiscount: 40%Friendly ShadeWhat: Subscriptions to 3D scanned material libraryDiscount: Up to 60%DimensivaWhat: Pro membership (access to architectural 3D models)Discount: Up to 50%Globe PlantsWhat: 3D plantsDiscount: 45%The Pixel LabWhat: VFX assets, materials for OctaneRender, Redshift, and UE5Discount: 30%2D Design ToolsAdobeWhat: Creative Cloud All Apps subscriptionsDiscount: 50% (new annual subscriptions)CorelWhat: Painter, PaintShop Pro, AfterShot ProDiscount: Up to 42%SerifWhat: Affinity products (Photo, Designer, Publisher)Discount: 50%SkylumWhat: Luminar Neo (image editing software)Discount: 80%Lost MarbleWhat: Moho (Debut and Pro editions)Discount: 40%Rendering & VisualizationiRenderWhat: Online rendering servicesDiscount: 50% bonus (over $575), 100% bonus (over $1,500)Soft8SoftWhat: Verge3D (Blender, 3ds Max, Maya)Discount: 25%ThinkineticWhat: Pulldownit for 3ds Max and MayaDiscount: 25%VizPeopleWhat: Photographic cutout people, 3D models, and texturesDiscount: 50%3D and 2D Tools & SoftwareGlobe PlantsWhat: 45% off plant assets.When: Black Friday.Soft8SoftWhat: 25% off Verge3D licenses (including version 7).Discount Code: BlackFriday.AffinityWhat: 50% off Photo, Publisher, and Designer.Topaz LabsWhat: Up to 54% off AI-powered image tools and plugins.AnastasiyWhat: Up to 50% off Photoshop plugins.NevercenterWhat: 15% off Silo & Milo, CameraBag Photo, CameraBag Cinema, and Pixelmash.Discount Code: SAVENOW.3D Models, Libraries, and TexturesFlipped NormalsWhat: Up to 50% off assets.CGTraderWhat: Discounts up to 50% on 3D content.Hum3DWhat: Up to 80% off 3D models.HDRI HubWhat: 50% off all products.Discount Code: BLACK.MaxTreeWhat: 40% off high-quality tree and plant libraries.When: November 21 to December 2.3D Scan StoreWhat: 55% off all 3D scans.Friendly ShadeWhat: 60% off subscription plans for scanned textures.Game Design & Animation ToolsKitBash3DWhat: Discounts on Cargo subscription plans.Cascadeur ProWhat: 30% off until November 21.iToo SoftwareWhat: Discounts on Forest Pack, RailClone, and other assets.When: November 21 to November 28.JangaFXWhat: 30% off licenses.Discount Code: BLACKFRIDAY.Plugins, Scripts & UtilitiesKstudioWhat: 30% off Project Manager, Spline Flow, and other plugins.When: November 20 to December 6.ArchvizToolsWhat: 50% off Maxscripts.Discount Code: black24.When: November 22 to December 7.Spline DynamicsWhat: 50% off 3ds Max plugins and scripts.Discount Code: black50.When: November 25 to December 2.CGProceduralsWhat: 30% off RailClone assets for 3ds Max.Discount Code: BLACKFRIDAY.When: Until December 2.EKDToolsWhat: Free Ecollapse script and 30% off other tools.Discount Code: blackfriday30.When: Until December 6.PULZEWhat: 25% off Scene Manager, Render Manager, or Project Dream.Bonus: Includes 500 Project Dream credits.Discount Code: BF2024.Dont Miss Out on These DealsThese incredible Black Friday deals are perfect for anyone looking to elevate their creative projects. Whether youre working on a 3D game environment, creating stunning visuals, or refining your designs, these offers will save you money while unlocking powerful tools and resources. Act nowmost deals are only available for a limited time!

Amazon is taking $150 off the price of a new M4 iMac, with a special, limited-time coupon deal for Black Friday.Apple's iMacDon't spend too long picking which color you want Amazon's Black Friday discount on the M4 iMac cannot last long. Currently three iMac colors are available (blue, green and silver), and the base model is just $1,149.99 if you clip the on-page coupon.Buy M4 iMac for $1,149.99 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple Black Friday deals continue to pour in across every product line, but these M4 Max MacBook Pro discounts are especially enticing thanks to record-breaking price drops.Every 2024 MacBook Pro is on sale, but there are two configurations in particular that are especially attractive due to their high-performance upgrades and staggering $400 price cuts.Shop the BF dealsThe first is the 14-inch model in Space Black. Marked down to $2,799 after at $400 instant rebate at both Amazon and Best Buy, this configuration has an upgrade to Apple's M4 Max chip with a 14-core CPU and 32-core GPU. Memory comes in at 36GB and the laptop has a good amount of storage at 1TB. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The Kkekmece Djemevi project in Istanbul, designed by EAA in collaboration with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, was awarded the prize for Future Project Of The Year at WAF 2024https://www.e-architect.com/istanbul/kucukcekmece-djemevi-istanbul-turkey#conceptdesign #istanbul #architectureawards #worldarchitecturefestival #architectureThe Kkekmece Djemevi project by EAA, was awarded the prize for Future Project Of The Year at WAF 2024

Canopy House has been meticulously designed, by studio mk27, not to disturb the surrounding nature, and to respect the strict construction footprint in So Paulo, Brazilhttps://www.e-architect.com/saopaulo/canopy-house-guaruja-sao-paulo#canopy #house #saopaulo #brazil #architectureCanopy House has been designed, by studio mk27, not to disturb the surrounding nature, and to respect the strict construction footprint

Faster cladding, stunning design! SlenderWall offers lightweight precast panels for 50% quicker installation on high-rise projects. #FacadeDesign #Architecture #Cladding #SlenderWall #ZondaMediaIntel #Sponsored https://bit.ly/3UWBHW2How they achieved cladding distinction with up to 50% faster installation.