So, I love drawing birds with code. Inspired by my brothers love for birdwatching, I admire the uniqueness of their feathers, colors, and sounds. But what I notice most is the way their bodies curve and different birds can have dramatically different curves! So, I took my love for drawing with SVG graphics and used it to experiment with bird shapes. Over time, Ive drawn enough to become incredibly adept at working with arc shapes.Here are a few of my recent works. Inspired by designs I came across on Dribbble, I created my versions with code. You can browse through the code for each on my CodePen.But before we dive into creating curves with arcs, please pause here and check out Myriam Frisanos recent article, SVG Coding Examples: Useful Recipes For Writing Vectors By Hand. Its an excellent primer to the SVG syntax and it will give you solid context heading into the concepts were covering here when it comes to mastering SVG arcs.A Quick SVG RefresherYou probably know that SVGs are crisp, infinitely scalable illustrations without pixelated degradation vectors for the win! What you might not know is that few developers write SVG code. Why? Well, the syntax looks complicated and unfamiliar compared to, say, HTML. But trust me, once you break it down, its not only possible to hand-code SVG but also quite a bit of fun.Lets make sure youre up to speed on the SVG viewBox because its a key concept when it comes to the scalable part of *SVG. Well use the analogy of a camera, lens, and canvas to explain this concept. Think of your browser window as a camera and the SVG viewBox as the camera lens focusing on the painting of a bird youve created (the SVG). Imagine the painting on a large canvas that may stretch far beyond what the camera captures. The viewBox defines which part of this canvas is visible through the camera.Lets say we have an SVG element that were sizing at 600px square with width and height attributes directly on the <svg> element. <svg width="600px" height="600px">Lets turn our attention to the viewBox attribute:<svg width="600px" height="600px" viewBox="-300 -300 600 600">The viewBox attribute defines the internal coordinate system for the SVG, with four values mapping to the SVGs x, y, width, and height in that order. Heres how this relates to our analogy:Camera Position and SizeThe -300, -300 represents the camera lens left and top edge position. Meanwhile, 600 x 600 is like the cameras frame size, showing a specific portion of that space.Unchanging Canvas SizeChanging the x and y values adjusts where the camera points, and width and height govern how much of the canvas it frames. It doesnt resize the actual canvas (the SVG element itself, which remains at 600600 pixels). No matter where the camera is positioned or zoomed, the canvas itself remains fixed.So, when you adjust the viewBox coordinates, youre simply choosing a new area of the canvas to focus on without resizing the canvas itself. This lets you control the visible area without changing the SVGs actual display dimensions.You now have the context you need to learn how to work with <path> elements in SVG, which is where we start working with arcs!The <path> ElementWe have an <svg> element. And were viewing the elements contents through the lens of a viewBox.A <path> allows us to draw shapes. We have other elements for drawing shapes namely <circle>, <line>, and <polygon> but imagine being restricted to strict geometrical shapes as an artist. Thats where the custom <path> element comes in. Its used to draw complex shapes that cannot be created with the basic ones. Think of <path> as a flexible container that lets you mix and match different drawing commands.With a single <path>, you can combine multiple drawing commands into one smooth, elegant design. Today, were focusing on a super specific path command: arcs. In other words, what were doing is drawing arc shapes with <path>.Heres a quick, no-frills example that places a <path> inside the <svg> example we looked at earlier:<svg width="600px" height="600px" viewBox="-300 -300 600 600"> <path d="M 0 0 A 100 100 0 1 1 200 0" fill="transparent" stroke="black" stroke-width="24" /></svg>Lets take this information and start playing with values to see how it behaves.Visualizing The PossibilitiesAgain, if this is the <path> were starting with:<path d="M 0 0 A 100 100 0 1 1 200 0"/>Then, we can manipulate it in myriad ways. Mathematically speaking, you can create an infinite number of arcs between any two points by adjusting the parameters. Here are a few variations of an arc that we get when all we do is change the arcs endpoints in the X (<ex>) and Y (<ey>) directions.See the Pen Arc Possibilities b/w 2 points [forked] by akshaygpt.Or, lets control the arcs width and height by updating its radius in the X direction (<rx>) and the Y direction (<ry>). If we play around with the <rx> value, we can manipulate the arcs height:See the Pen Rx [forked] by akshaygpt.Similarly, we can manipulate the arcs width by updating the <ry> value:See the Pen Rx [forked] by akshaygpt.Lets see what happens when we rotate the arc along its X-axis (<rotation>). This parameter rotates the arcs ellipse around its center. It wont affect circles, but its a game-changer for ellipses.See the Pen x-axis-rotation [forked] by akshaygpt.Even with a fixed set of endpoints and radii (<rx> and <ry>), and a given angle of rotation, four distinct arcs can connect them. Thats because we have the <arc> flag value that can be one of two values, as well as the <sweep> flag that is also one of two values. Two boolean values, each with two arguments, give us four distinct possibilities.See the Pen 4 cases [forked] by akshaygpt.And lastly, adjusting the arcs endpoint along the X (<ex>) and Y (<ey>) directions shifts the arcs location without changing the overall shape.See the Pen endx, endy [forked] by akshaygpt.Wrapping UpAnd there you have it, SVG arcs demystified! Whether youre manipulating radii, rotation, or arc direction, you now have all the tools to master these beautiful curves. With practice, arcs will become just another part of your SVG toolkit, one that gives you the power to create more dynamic, intricate designs with confidence.So keep playing, keep experimenting, and soon youll be bending arcs like a pro making your SVGs not just functional but beautifully artistic. If you enjoyed this dive into arcs, drop a like or share it with your friends. Lets keep pushing the boundaries of what SVG can do!

High above Amsterdams bustling Zuidas district, the Apartment with a view redefines city living. Located on the 19th floor, this 3,229-square-foot residence by design studio i29 offers not only sweeping views of the city skyline but also a tranquil escape from the urban pace. Its a blend of contemporary design, tactile luxury, and mindful craftsmanship.The apartments layout strikes a careful balance between openness and intimacy. Designed with a flow that feels effortless, the space features bespoke elements that delineate functional areas without sacrificing cohesion. From the moment you step into the dark-toned entryway, youre greeted with a sophisticated contrast to the bright and airy living areas that follow. This transition establishes the apartments refined aesthetic a hallmark of i29s creative vision.Expansive wood surfaces and textured finishes dominate the interiors, grounding the space with natural warmth. Complemented by a muted color palette, these elements foster a calm, inviting atmosphere. Each room is carefully curated to maintain a sense of elegance and functionality, making the home a serene retreat amidst the energy of the city.The apartment features a range of spaces designed for both relaxation and productivity. The kitchen, custom-crafted with precision, serves as the heart of the home, connecting seamlessly to the large open-plan living area. Elsewhere, two bedrooms, an office nook, and two spa-like bathrooms offer spaces for unwinding and recharging. With clean, modern lines and bespoke cabinetry, every detail enhances the apartments understated sophistication.A front entry hallway greets visitors with dark wood tones leading to the contrasting open space filled with lighter shades. A black grand piano is seen from the start floating in the living rooms window-filled corner. Throughout the apartment, select furniture from companies like Arco, Hay, and Dum adds layers of contemporary comfort, while lighting fixtures from Italian brand Flos helps capture the homes subtle interplay of light, texture, and design.For more from i29, visit i29.nl.Photography by Ewout Huibers.

Have you ever been at the airport, jet lag setting in, desperately trying to find your bag among a sea of nondescript luggage? CASETiFY is the tech case company housing your most precious gadgets from ruin, and has the answer for our baggage claim conundrum. With their new line, CASETiFY Travel, theyve worked in a host of nifty features to keep you traveling in style, and never suffer a lost bag again. Their latest addition, the Bounce Suitcase, is a carry-on fully equipped with their signature Bounce bumpers for a lifetime guarantee.And what color is your bag again? asks the airline employee, searching through the crowd. The days of black, hunter green, and charcoal gray are out. Three base colors are more than CASETiFY usually offers, choosing to focus on the customization of their products. But with the Bounce Suitcase, you get an extra level of choice with Matte Black, Cobalt Blue, and Cherry Red. On top of this, the side panels are endlessly customizable with colors, graphics, first names, or initials. This offers a level of personalization unmatched within most luggage brands, perfect for the frequent jetsetter and casual weekender alike. Cherry Red with my name on it, thanks!Every angle is considered in the Bounce Suitcase, utilizing the same technology in their phone and laptop cases. Slightly speckled softer overmolds make up the handles and bumpers, adding to the fresh, modern look. The wheels are frictionless, offering 360-degree mobility while staying silent and moving smoothly. The suitcase features a locking mechanism with code and key options to keep your items secure, wherever you happen to travel.Minimal yet bold branding can be seen at the upper left and lower right corners of each face, tying the case in with the rest of the CASETiFY collection. With a similar form language, the Bounce Suitcase rounds out their offerings now protecting everything you travel with, not just the tech. The brand was originally launched in response to the release of the iPhone in 2011, with a huge swath of companies vying to offer a way to keep the screen-heavy phone safe. However, they were usually bulky, and ruined the form factor of the product. Thus, CASETiFY was born, offering consumers security with style. As a designer, I wanted to create something thats protective and beautiful at the same time. Its a blank canvas. Something a person can express their individuality, passion and personality with, remarks Wes Ng, Co-founder and CEO of CASETiFY.For more on the Bounce Suitcase from CASETiFY Travel, visit casetify.com.This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

This is the end for Bialettian immortal design that outlived and buried (literally) its owner.Continue reading on UX Collective

Weekly curated resources for designersthinkers andmakers.The change were discussing here is not a revolution, just an evolution. Its simply a change in how many roles will be needed and what they will entail. Jorge Arango recently wrote that Digital systems, not people, will do much of the craft of (screen-level) interaction design.Every time such shifts happen, the industry rearranges itself to fit the newmold.The State of UX in 2025: a love letter about changeEditor picksShe and He arent the only ones buying clothes Challenging binary norms in ecomm UX.By YouvnaSalianThe world doesnt need more managers It needs people who care enough to lead.By Himanshu BharadwajThe digital soul of tomorrows cars Learning from leading Chinese brands.By Ruoyong (Eli)HongThe UX Collective is an independent design publication that elevates unheard design voices and helps designers think more critically about theirwork.CourseHero: a character by HervMake methinkStrategy is not war; its gardening When most people think of strategy, they think of war. And its no wonderour history books, leadership courses, and even popular business books are filled with military metaphors.15 lessons from 15 years of indie app development Obviously, as I got older and left university, my expenses went up and I needed to make more money, but still, the way I see it is this: I make money so that I can do what I love for work, not the other wayaround.Inside design at Carl Friedrik From here we conduct early concept sketches digitally and by hand. We would then have a group meeting to align on the direction before moving into digital renders using Keyshot for hard goods and Clo3D for softgoods.Little gems thisweekStop wireframing (but still start low-fidelity) By JasonBarronsI was laid off from Spotify one year ago: heres what Ive learnt By SophiaOmarjiData is good. Data with a story is better. By RyanRevillaTools and resourcesPrototyping with data Advanced string formulas and dynamic customization.By Nicols DelRealGenAI suggestions for analogous data color schemes Can AI help in data color scheme design?By Theresa-Marie RhyneThe importance of hover states Exploring UI details with technical-academic rigor.By FilipeNzongoSupport the newsletterIf you find our content helpful, heres how you can supportus:Check out this weeks sponsor to support their worktooForward this email to a friend and invite them to subscribeSponsor aneditionState of UX, we dont need more managers, prototyping with data was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Earlier this year, OpenAImakers of ChatGPTannounced Sora, an AI video generator. Some of the demos the company showed off were hyper-realistic, from puppies playing in snow to the view from a subway car traveling through a cityscape. In short, it was both impressive, and terrifying, as I explained in my initial thoughts here.Since then, Sora news has been largely quiet: The company hasn't made the platform available for public testing, so we haven't had too many first-hand experiences to work from. That's changing this week. Not only is OpenAI making Sora more broadly available, they're opening up their AI video generator to anyone with a ChatGPT Plus account. Things are about to get wild.What's new with SoraOpenAI made the announcement on Monday, following an early reveal by Marques Brownlee. If you followed the original Sora announcement closely, none of the examples here are going to shock you: Long story short, Sora can be prompted to generate photorealistic, short videos in a number of different situations: OpenAI and Marques Brownlee both have demoed drone shots of cliff sides, animals in nature, and people performing tasks "on camera." But what's really new today are a number of features OpenAI has added to the Sora program in general. There's "Storyboard," a sort of video editor that lets you stitch together different video prompts to create longer videos of a single subject. For example, you can have one prompt that asks for a crane standing in water, and another asking to have that crane dip its head into the water. Then, Sora will combine those two prompts into one continuous video. "Recut" also acts as a video editor, only here, you can isolate a specific part of your video, and ask Sora to extend it. "Remix" opens a new prompt field, which lets you request changes to an existing video. (You can choose the "strength" of the remix, too, which affects how much of the video is actually changed from your prompt.) Finally, "Blend" lets you choose to turn the subject of one video into another. Sora's example is to have a butterfly from one video turn into an orchid from a second clip. Credit: Jake Peterson Of all these new features, Storyboard seems to be the most interesting. It appears to be a clever workaround to get the AI to generate a complex scene with multiple actions, as trying to cram all that into a single prompt will likely fail. Remix, too, could be useful in theory for fine-tuning elements of a video, without having to throw out the initial generation. But at the end of the day, our collective interest in the model comes from its basic function: You prompt Sora with a video idea, and it generates it for you. Or, you upload a photo from your library, and Sora animates the inanimate subjects into a moving scene.Sora in action When you submit a prompt, your video is added to your "queue" for processing. The amount of time a video takes to generate depends on your settings, including resolution, duration, and the number of variations you generate: I have a standard ChatGPT Plus plan, so I'm limited to a maximum resolution of 720p and a maximum duration of five seconds. ChatGPT Pro users can bump that resolution up to 1080p, create videos as long as 20 seconds, and generate as much as four variations of their video.Unfortunately for me, it seems everyone and their mother is currently trying to use Sora at this time. My first and only prompt attempt ("tracking shot of a taxi driving through a city center") hung in processing limbo for the entire time I was writing this piece. In fact, OpenAI has halted account creation for now, as too many people are trying to access the video generator. My video did finally generate, and it was rough. The video quality of the taxi and the city were quite good (again, very photorealistic), but the taxi's movements were all over the place. First, it drove in reverse, then transformed into a car that was facing a different direction, before speeding away as another taxi drove into the foreground. (My original taxi also disappeared into thin air, while the new taxi did not have a trunk; rather, two fronts.) Since it's taking so long for Sora to generate videos, for now, it's helpful to look at someone, like Marques Brownee, who has spent some time testing out this tool. In his review of Sora, he finds that the tool still struggles to avoid the typical pitfalls of AI-generated videos: Videos might look photorealistic, but they lose realism in movement. Sora will often mix up which leg should be in front and which should be in back during walk cycles, or "forget" about objects altogether. When Brownlee asked for a video of a tech reviewer covering a smartphone, the reviewer holds two smartphones in their hands, and one simply disappears without reason. Some aspects of a video may run in slow-motion, while others run at typical speed, which looks weird to the eye. These glitches are prevalent in most of the Sora outputs I've seen: If you're looking for them, you'll see them, and they draw attention to the artificiality of the video.This is true with "low-quality" videos, too, such as generations of CCTV or security cam footage. Cars drive into one another and disappear, or people move in unrealistic ways. But I will say, the low quality of these videos makes it easier to fake: If Sora can figure out the physics, people are going to have a field day inventing CCTV footage that doesn't exist. This CCTV video is 100% AI. Credit: Marques Brownlee/YouTube In Brownlee's experience, the things Sora currently does best are not realistic at all: Motion graphics, for example, generally look good, as do some clips of animations and animated characters. An animation of a sketching of the Empire State Building looks like something out of a Netflix series intro, for example. And when Brownlee uploaded an image of animated leaf characters that DALL-E generated, Sora animated the image in a somewhat believable way. It's a bit easier to ignore the imperfections when the video isn't purporting to be real at all. Sora also appears to be decent at generating drone and tracking shots: A drone shot of Mount Fuji, or the Golden Gate Bridge, appears smooth and photorealistic. If you look close, you might notice glitches and imperfections, like waves that aren't behaving quite like they should, but you could probably slip these shots into shows and movies without many (or most) people noticing. Where do we go from here?Sora scared me back in February when it was announced. In the ten months since then, I'm still scared, but not because the videos are that much better. In fact, just based on what I see today, the quality seems about the samealbeit with some new AI features you can use to tweak those videos. The realism is still there when it's there, as are the flaws, of which there are many. What scares me is accessibility: Once OpenAI works through the demand, Sora will be available to anyone with a ChatGPT Plus subscription. For $20, you have access to a tool that can generate up to 50 five-second videos per month. Five seconds isn't very long, of course, so without some cleverness, these videos likely aren't going to be the ones doing the most damage. That's where ChatGPT Pro comes in. This plan is much more expensive ($200 per month), but for that $200, you can create up to 500 videos, each of which can be up to 1080p and up to 20 seconds in length. OpenAI says you can also download these videos without a watermark, which will make detection that much more difficult. Sure, most of us won't subscribe to Pro for this, but $200 isn't much of a deterrent for bad actors who want to spread misinformation. Imagine the next major polarizing crisis, fueled by a flood of videos that "prove" what happened one way or another, when in fact those videos aren't real at all. OpenAI does have some safety features baked in here, like blocking copyrighted materials or notable figures from being incorporated in a video, but we'll see how well these roadblocks work in practice. How to try Sora At this time, account creation is not available for Sora, but that may change imminently. If you're interested in trying Sora out for yourself, head to sora.com. From here, click log in, then authenticate yourself with your ChatGPT account. Remember, you need either a ChatGPT Plus account ($20 per month) or a ChatGPT Pro account ($200 per month) to use Sora.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.There are some holiday decorating essentials you don't want to cheap out ona quality tablecloth that isn't made from synthetic fibers, for instance, so you can actually get stains outand then there are those that don't warrant overspending. Sure, it may be worth splurging for fancy tableware for the big family dinner or high-quality outdoor lights that will last more than a season. And artificial trees can be pretty great, but you're going to have to spend a little more to get one that isn't going to look sparse and sad. But where can you save some money after you've invested in these better decorations? Let me tell you how I do it.Spend less on Christmas tree decorationsAs far as I'm concerned, there are really only two schools of thought when decorating a Christmas tree: Some people like uniform, unsentimental baubles in similar colors and textures, which create a look straight out of an interior design magazine. Others prefer trees stuffed with eclectic ornaments obtained throughout years' worth of life events and "baby's first" Christmases. I'm not a sentimental person (nor a parent), so I don't really go for the second option, but I respect the game of anyone who has the commitment to see it through and keep those memory-laden ornaments safe in storage year after year. I myself prefer color-coordinated, aesthetically pleasing ornaments, but have learned the hard way there is no good reason to buy expensive ones. When I started decorating my own tree some years ago, I paid a lot for fancy gold ornaments. This did not stop them from breaking, nor did it stop me from getting bored with them. Now, each year, I instead pick a new color for my decor and buy ornaments in that color as cheaply as possible. A 24-pack like this one, which costs about $15, is just right. XmasExp 24 Count Christmas Ball Ornaments $14.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $14.99 at Amazon Other tree essentials you can get for cheapGet the cheap garland at the dollar store, since even the more expensive stuff is still going to look bad in a few years and even after carefully examining a $129 (!) garland I saw for sale, I am positive I would not be able to pick the cheap or expensive one if these were put in a lineup together.A fancy tree-topper is only going to break your heart by sustaining inevitable damage in storage, and no one can even see it that high off the ground anyway; opt for two glittery stars for $6.25 instead.If you want more than colorful balls on the tree, try 36 snowflakes for $9.99 instead of something more specifically Christmas-y. These can be made more worthwhile by using them to decorate your home into January and February.The same goes for glittery sprigs and twigs, which I've seen going for $59 at higher-end retailers but are just $9.99 on Amazon. These are easy to bend and break and aren't even necessary for a nice tree, so absolutely do not spend $60 on them. But don't cheap out on...The one thing I do think is worth a splurge for when it comes to the tree is a quality tree skirt. Whether you have a real tree and need it to stop needles from getting all over your floor or a fake one with an unsightly base that needs covering, a scratchy felt skirt won't lay nicely and will be hard to clean. A higher-quality fabric skirt will have a prettier drape and fold better for storageand you still don't have to spend a ton (especially if you consider this year a wash and pick one up during after Christmas sales).Cheaper decorating around the homeSaving money don't always mean compromising on aesthetics. In general, I gravitate toward decorations that are easy to clean and easy to put up and take down, but plastic can look cheap, and I only want to spend cheap, so I try to find a happy medium. Snowflake window clings (around $5 for 138) are ideal, as they can bring some festive flair to windows, mirrors, and tile all around the house, replacing the need for room-by-room specialty decor that is bound to set you back way too much money.If you're into the gnome trend that's popped up on Pinterest in recent years, I recommend resin figurines instead of fabric dolls because they're cheaper and easier to maintain.Target has a section of "$5 decor" that features a lot of homey, old-timey looking decorations for cheap, so you can still inject some charm into the scene. The deals include little wooden light-up house, for instance, which is the kind of thing you'll pay a lot more for at home decor shops. This offering from Target is actually perfect if you are craving some pieces that could become a tradition for your family or give a classy appearance.Don't overspend on indoor wreaths, either. Outdoor ones need to be sturdy, so spend your money there. An artificial, 20-inch wreath is under $4 at Walmart. For that price, you can toss it when the season ends instead of trying to come up with a way to store the giant thing without squishing it. Time your shopping (and get creative)Beyond that, the general consensus around cheap decorating is that, if possible, you should start about a year in advance. That is to say, according to decorators in the know on forums around the internet, make use of post-holiday sales to get quality items on markdown for next season. If you don't want to wait 12 months to put your goods in play, I have another idea: Thrift stores. If you go that route, don't look for garland, wreaths, or anything prone to falling apart. Do aim to round out your collections of figurines, trinkets, and ornaments. Decorate year-round items and make them Christmassy All of these money saving tips aside, I'm not a big believer in keeping a bunch of holiday-specific decor lying around 11 months of the year. To me, the best money-saving technique is making use of what you already own. So instead of buying a lot of Christmas items, choose some nice year-round pieces, and make them festive for the season. I have LED strip lights all over my apartment. For about $14, you can get a strip of them 130 feet long and they can be controlled by an app on your phone. I keep mine pink for most of the year and transition them to red or green for the holidays. The same goes for puck lights, which are about $20 for six. I have these all over and, again, at holiday time, I turn them the appropriate colors. This reduces the need for me to buy holiday-colored lights and waste money.You can also opt for green or red refills for your air fresheners (you can get five Bath & Body Works Wallflowers for $27 right now). These replace holiday-specific night lights (which are spendy!) without raising suspicions. They blend right in.When in doubt, tie some bows everywhere and anywhere you can. Grab 50 yards of one-inch ribbon for $6.99 and put it around your everyday candles, storage boxes, tissue boxes, and anything else. Everywhere you go, you'll see yuletide-looking candles, tissue boxes, towels, and baskets. The look of these can be replicated with a bow and, as a bonus, ribbon takes up virtually no storage space, unlike those money-wasters.You don't need to spend a bunch on specialty items for these purposes, especially when there are decorations you don't want to compromise on.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan have proposed a new bill, AB 56, that would require social media companies to put a warning label on their platforms to disclose their mental health risks.Citing social media platforms harnessing of addictive features and harmful content for the sake of profits, Attorney General Bonta says that consumers should have access to information about platforms that could impact their mental health. The current bill lacks detail on how much information these warning labels should have or how they should appear, but mentions the Cyberbullying Protection Act and the Online Violence Prevention Act as possible precedent for such a requirement. Those bills required social media platforms to disclose their cyberbullying reporting features in the terms of service, and clearly state whether they have a way of reporting violent posts for users and nonusers on the platform, respectively.Bonta and Bauer-Kahans new bill follows an open letter signed by 42 attorneys general (Bonta included) that called for Congress to require a surgeon generals warning label on social media. The US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy proposed the idea himself in an essay for The New York Times Opinion section in June. A surgeon generals warning label requires congressional action to actually be put in place, but could prove effective in changing behavior in the same way it has for tobacco products, according to Murthy.You can trace a lot of the recent commotion around children and social media to an advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health that the US Surgeon General published in 2023. The advisory claimed that social media could have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents and that children and adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of mental health problems. A warning label is unlikely to completely fix things and social media isnt the sole cause of all childrens problems, but labels are another level that can be pulled to change things.A wider reaching Texas bill that required social media companies block teens from seeing harmful content was struck down a few months ago in 2024, but requiring social media warning labels, especially given Californias legal history, seems much more feasible. Mental health impacts are just one of the risks children face online, though. According to the Federal Trade Commission, theres still mass surveillance to deal with, too.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/a-new-california-bill-would-add-warning-labels-to-social-media-platforms-233653838.html?src=rss

Rode just announced the latest iteration of its well-regarded Wireless GO microphone system. The third-gen kit brings plenty of new features to the table, especially when compared to 2021s Wireless GO II. The microphone allows for 32-bit float on-board recording and audio can be captured directly to the receiver. The system allows up to 40 hours of footage, stored internally, and includes a new technology called GainAssist. This is a compression algorithm, of sorts, that will dynamically balance audio levels on-the-fly. Rode says the system eliminates the wild fluctuations typically found in a raw recording. The company even says that there should be little-to-no editing required in post when using this system. If the algorithm makes a mistake, the microphone includes a secondary storage channel that records a dry copy of the audio. Rode Most users will use these microphones connected to a camera of some kind, so on-board storage wont be needed. Rode says that the new Wireless GO system can operate up to 260 meters from the receiver, so long as it's in the line of sight. The company also says that it is compatible with all Rode Series IV devices, including the RodeCaster Pro II and Rodecaster Video. This is in addition to offering universal compatibility with cameras, smartphones and computers. There are locking lavalier connectors and an integrated LCD screen for keeping an eye on battery and audio signal levels. Finally, this system is available in a whole bunch of limited-edition colors, including red, orange, pink and purple, among others. The Wireless GO II was only available in black and white. Rode This updated Wireless GO microphone kit comes with one receiver, two transceivers, a charging hub, a few windshields and plenty of cables. It's available for $300. Theres also a dedicated charging case, which is sold separately for $90. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/rodes-latest-wireless-go-microphone-system-boasts-40-hours-of-on-board-storage-230014651.html?src=rss

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