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  • WWW.TECHRADAR.COM
    Everything new on Hulu in January 2025
    Hulu is gearing up to launching another load of movie and shows to the platform to kick off the new year. Here's everything new on Hulu in January 2025.
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  • WWW.FASTCOMPANY.COM
    How the H1-B visa is causing strife within Trumps coalition
    An online spat between factions of Donald Trumps supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House.The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trumps movementwealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry and people in Trumps Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies.The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer, a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trumps selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S.Loomer declared the stance to be not America First policy and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves.Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns.Loomers comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks, whom Trump has tapped to be the White House A.I. & Crypto Czar. Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government, weighed in, defending the tech industrys need to bring in foreign workers.It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trumps world and what his political movement stands for.Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment.Musk, the worlds richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect, was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trumps movement but his stance on the tech industrys hiring of foreign workers.Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded.Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industrys need to bring in foreign workers.There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent, he said in a post. It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.Trumps own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement.His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration, including family-based visas.As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program very bad and unfair for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a Buy American and Hire American executive order, which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers.Trumps businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club, and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers.During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are poisoning the blood of our country and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges.I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country, he told the All-In podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world.Those comments came on the cusp of Trumps budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.Michelle L. Price, Associated Press
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  • WWW.FASTCOMPANY.COM
    Netflix sets NFL streaming record with festive Christmas Day debut
    Netflix (NFLX) entered the NFL live-streaming arena with a spectaculardebuton Christmas Day, setting a new streaming record for the league. Preliminary Nielsen data shows an average U.S. audience of more than 24 million for each of the two holiday matchups.The Kansas City Chiefsswinover the Pittsburgh Steelers pulled in 24.1 million viewers on average, while 24.3 million tuned in to see the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Houston Texans. Adding to the excitement, the Ravens-Texans game featured a show-stopping halftime performance by Beyonc alongside her daughter, Blue Ivy.While Netflix was the primary platform for viewers, some tuned in through local broadcasts in team markets or via the NFLs NFL+ streaming service. The event surpassed the previous NFL streaming record of 23 million viewers for a January playoff game on Peacock.Smooth steaming and big wins for NetflixThe success of Netflixs NFL debut wasnt just about the numbers. The stream was free of major technical glitches, a marked improvement over issues faced during last months Jake Paul-Mike Tyson boxing event on the platform.Bringing our members this record-breaking day of two NFL games was the best Christmas gift we could have delivered, saidBela Bajaria, Netflixs chief content officer.NFL executives were equally enthusiastic. The quality of the stream was fabulous, the production went off tightly, said Brian Rolapp, the leagues chief media and business officer. This further convinces us that Christmas is a great football day.Expanding horizons in live-event streamingNetflixsNFL deal is part of the streaming giants broader push into live events to bolster its advertising revenue. The leagues agreement with Netflix spans three years and allows for one or two games to be streamed next Christmas, depending on the schedule.The move into live sports streaming is just the beginning for Netflix. In January, the platform will start live-streamingWWE Rawas part of a decade-long partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment.Netflix has hada strong year, with its stock up 91% year-to-date, positioning it for its best performance since 2015. This growth reflects increased revenue and profit, with projections indicating a $39 billion in 2024 revenue and $8.7 billion in net profit, up 15% and 60% respectively from 2023. The companys expansion into live sports, such as NFL games and the FIFA Womens World Cup, has contributed to its solid performance, making it one of the top-performing stocks on the S&P 500.
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  • WWW.FASTCOMPANY.COM
    Florida condo owners will see higher costs in 2025 due to this law
    Florida condominium owners are looking at higher costs from condo associations in the new year, a consequence of a safety law passed by state lawmakers in 2022.It requires associations to have sufficient reserves to cover major repairs and to conduct a survey of reserves every decade. Because of the law, older condosfound largely in South Florida, according to state recordsare facing hefty increases to association payments to fund the reserves and repair costs.Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the law in response to the partial collapse of Champlain Towers South, which killed 98 people in Surfside in June 2021. New regulations require condo associations for buildings with three or more stories to file an inspection report focused on structure, maintenance, and expected costs for repairs or renovations by Dec. 31.The report is just a small sector of the large-scale issue in Floridas condo and property insurance crisis. A May report from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation noted that the average homeowners insurance premium is approximately $3,600, about $1,000 more than the national average, according to the National Association of Realtors.In Hallandale Beach, condo owner Kelli Roiter sympathizes with people having trouble paying the higher fees, but she said she supports rules requiring associations to maintain reserves for repairs if it means her oceanfront buildingbuilt in 1971gets the repairs it needs.She said her building, a few miles from Champlain Towers South, is showing some of the same problems that were visible before that building collapsed.Im concerned that this building will collapse, Roiter said. There are nights I wake up hearing a creak, and I jump. And then I remind myself that, no, no, no, were safe. But am I safe?Rick Madan, president of the Biscayne Neighborhoods Association, which represents 22 condo associations, said the law is bringing condo owners strife by forcing buildings to take full coverage and bringing forth a blanket solution that doesnt holistically address the crisis.Madan said the law puts newer condos in the same category of needing reserve funds, inspection reports and recertifications as much older buildings at the expense of the condo owners.Thats especially tough for people who retired in South Florida on fixed incomes, Madan added.Youre making us do all these reserve studies. Youre making us fund our reserves more, so we have to come up with more money, Madan said of the Florida Legislature. On top of that, youre not giving us any flexibility on the insurance side where the insurance companies are basically making so much profit because they write a policy for $100 million, which they know theyll never have to pay a claim on.Democratic State Sen. Jason Pizzo, who represented Surfside at the time of the collapse, said he agrees with Madans point about property insurance.Pizzo and state Sen. Jennifer Bradley, a Republican, held a condo summit in early December where he warned of transparency among associations about the required projects for repair costs to prevent structural damage.Pizzo told The Associated Press it is important for associations to have that transparency with condo owners to ensure that the rising payments are truly related to repairs and not to amenity costs, and that it is done within a reasonable timeframe for residents safety.He said its understandable to worry about anticipatory costs but that is why objective inspections of older buildings are necessary.Nearly 90% of the 1.6 million condos in Florida are more than 30 years old, and Pizzo said it is concerning that they havent had critical inspections.Theyre going to get a milestone inspection, and they may find some immediate repair or replacement requirements as a result of it, Pizzo said. Thats not really by operation of law. Thats by operation of common sense.Luis Konski, a Miami attorney who deals with construction and commercial liability cases, said previous condo regulations kept fees low by failing to save money for future repairs, and then owners were hit with special assessments when repairs finally needed to be done. Konski said this encouraged many associations to ignore necessary but expensive maintenance, which is what likely led to the Surfside building collapse.He said hes not sure whether the state has committed enough staff to actually make sure associations are following the new rules. Pizzo echoed similar concerns, saying the states Department of Business and Professional Regulation might require legislative changes so it can start reviewing structural integrity and inspection reports while continuing to regulate all parts of business in Florida, including licensing and enforcing rules.Konski said that if associations can continue to delay maintenance with inaccurate surveys and minimal oversight, its only a matter of time before another disaster.Its a question of do you save money or do you save lives? Konski said. You cant do both.Real estate agent Rebeca Castellon, who owns a condo in Coral Gables, said she agrees with the idea of requiring condo associations to maintain reserves for future repairs but acknowledges that the timing is bad when the increased fees are combined with higher insurance costs and recent inflation.I think part of the challenge is that right now there is tsunami of things that are really making it very challenging for condo owners, Castellon said.The condo market has cooled with the uncertainty created by additional fees and regulations, but Castellon said condos are still the most affordable form of home ownership and the new regulations will just give buyers more information going forward.I would not be surprised if in the future buyers are going to demand to see the structural inspection that the towers are going through right now and take that into consideration, as far as whether or not thats the right property for them to move forward and put an offer, Castellon said.Real estate agent Gatien Salaun, who owns a waterfront condo in Miami Beach, said what appears to be a recent reduction in average sale prices is largely just buyers negotiating with sellers to eat some of the costs.They are simply asking for price reductions that are commensurate with that exact amount that they will have to pay over the next 20 years, 30 years in assessments, Salaun said. And the sellers are somewhat stuck in terms of negotiating with the buyer or just paying for the cost themselves.Stephany Matat and David Fischer, Associated Press
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  • WWW.YANKODESIGN.COM
    Breggz Zohn-1: The Custom-Fit Wireless Earphones Stealing the Show at CES 2025
    Every CES or consumer electronics show is brimming with ambitious ideas that claim to change everything, yet most of them fade away before fulfilling even a fraction of their bold promises. Occasionally, however, a product emerges that reignites excitement and curiosity.Breggz has introduced the Zohn-1, a set of custom-fit earphones that has captured my attention in a meaningful way. Described as a harmonious blend of modern design, advanced materials, and meticulous hand assembly, the Zohn-1 sets high expectations. The brand promises remarkable audio fidelity paired with a personalized experiencea combination few hearables have achieved.Designer: Xander + BreggzThe Importance of Custom Fit: Personalized Comfort and PerformanceCustom fitting does more than provide comfort or stabilityit revolutionizes audio performance. When the Zohn-1 is precisely tailored to your ears unique contours, acoustic leaks are eliminated, enhancing bass response and delivering crystal-clear sound clarity.Balanced armature drivers, carefully positioned closer to the eardrum, amplify immersion by creating a direct sound path. This design enhances audio richness and allows for lower volume levels to achieve the same perceived loudness, reducing strain on your ears over time. By combining these elements, custom fitting becomes a critical factor in both audio quality and long-term ear health.The ear-scanning technology used in the Zohn-1 enables precise placement of the balanced armature drivers, which is key to achieving superior audio quality. During my chat with Breggz founder Xander, he revealed that they have incorporated a hearing test into the app. This test identifies missing frequencies in the users hearing, particularly in the high and low ends, and compensates for them through tailored sound adjustments. This thoughtful addition ensures a richer and more balanced listening experience, making the Zohn-1 highly personalized for each user.The scanning process transmits data to specialized companies that convert the visual information into 3D-printable files. These files are used to create a custom-shaped earphone shell, perfectly aligning with the unique contours of the users ears. This precise fit enhances comfort and significantly improves audio isolation and performance, creating a listening experience tailored to individual needs.Revolutionary Product Concept: Modular Approach Featuring the PebbleThe product design centers around the innovative combination of custom ear shells and a small, interchangeable module known as the pebble. This module supports modularity and significantly enhances the user experience by housing critical electronics in a compact, replaceable unit.The pebble ensures that components can be easily upgraded or repaired, providing convenience while maintaining seamless integration with the custom-fit ear shells. Its design also allows for personalization, with options for different materials and finishes, enhancing its appeal as a stylish accessory.Beyond aesthetics, the pebble holds most of the electronics and clicks securely into the personalized shells. This thoughtful design creates a handcrafted, ergonomic piece that fits snugly and rests in the ear with minimal pressure. By adopting this approach, Breggz achieves scalable production of the universal core while delivering a bespoke fit for each user.Comparing to My Current Setup: JH Audio 16My current setup is the JH Audio 16, which has long been regarded as a gold standard for audiophiles. Its sound quality is undeniably exceptional, with detailed highs, balanced mids, and a dynamic bass range that few products can rival. However, the Bluetooth ear module that pairs with the JH Audio 16 leaves much to be desired.The module is bulky and awkward, making it uncomfortable for extended use. Its design feels like an afterthought, lacking aesthetic appeal and cohesiveness with the rest of the product. Additionally, the modules high price point detracts from its overall value, despite the stellar sound quality of the JH Audio 16.The Zohn-1 promises to address these shortcomings through its integrated design and advanced features. By offering a modular approach with the pebble and focusing on comfort, aesthetics, and functionality, Breggz aims to deliver a more cohesive and user-friendly experience without compromising on audio fidelity.Battery Life and Charging FeaturesBreggz has designed the Zohn-1 with an impressive battery life of eight hours, making it suitable for a full day of listening. This functionality is further enhanced by a stylish charging case that adds to its practicality and serves as a piece of functional art. The case extends the total playtime to 40 hours before needing a recharge, making it ideal for long flights or weekend getaways.The charging case itself is a key component of the Zohn-1 experience. Featuring a gull-wing door systema nod to upscale automotive designit balances visual appeal with practicality, enhancing its functionality as a premium accessory. Beyond its style, the case can recharge the Zohn-1 up to five times, eliminating the need for frequent access to a power outlet. This functionality is particularly beneficial for users who often find themselves on the move.Additionally, the Zohn-1 supports a rapid charge function, allowing the battery to refill to 50% capacity in just five to ten minutes. This quick boost reduces the stress of forgetting to charge overnight, ensuring the earphones are ready to go with minimal downtime. Together, these features emphasize both convenience and thoughtful design, making the Zohn-1 a reliable companion for any lifestyle.Unboxing and AccessoriesUnboxing the Zohn-1 is an experience that emphasizes both personalization and aesthetic appeal. At the heart of the package are the custom-shaped earphones, designed to attach seamlessly to the balanced armature drivers. These earphones are crafted to fit uniquely to each user, reinforcing the tailored approach Breggz has taken with this product.Surprisingly, the package also includes a set of five silicone ear tips. While this might seem unusual for a custom-fit device, these tips are included to refine the fit further for those who may need subtle adjustments. They help seal small gaps or add extra comfort, ensuring that every user achieves a snug and optimal fit right out of the box.The charging case stands out as a highlight. Featuring a gull-wing door system, it combines design flair with functionality. This case supports both USB-C and induction charging, providing up to 40 hours of additional playtime. Its thoughtful design complements the premium positioning of the Zohn-1.To complete the unboxing, Breggz includes a proprietary cleaning kit and a leather carrying case. These accessories underline the brands commitment to quality and practicality, offering users a stylish and protective way to maintain and transport their earphones.Sustainability and MaterialsThe sustainability story is a big part of Breggzs approach, even though it exists underneath the flashier features. By constructing the earpieces through an on-demand 3D printing pipeline, the company avoids wasting materials on unsold stock. Breggz has pointed out that glue-free assembly makes recycling more straightforward, and the shell and pebble design could theoretically be taken apart for future upgrades. This is meant to reduce the electronic waste that builds up when entire devices are discarded every year. The extended battery life and ability to replace or repair smaller components reinforce that direction. Breggz is pushing the notion that luxury and eco-friendliness can coexist, which could set them apart if they manage to turn these broad claims into everyday reality.The materials used in this design reflect a premium direction, with an emphasis on sustainability and luxury. Breggz has revealed that the Zohn-1 meets CE and FCC standards for safety and performance. The shell is 3D-printed to order, and there is potential for those who want to go all out with metals such as gold. The pebble itself gets a leather covering that can be swapped with other textures or colors, turning the functional electronics into something that can be personalized for style.Anticipating the Breggz Zohn-1 ExperienceIn my discussion with the Breggz founder, Xander, he highlighted the unique combination of advanced personalization, modular design, and sustainability at the core of this product. The custom ear-scanning process, which eliminates the need for audiologists, and the 3D-printed shells tailored to each individual user are just the beginning. Features like the interchangeable pebble, high-quality, balanced armature drivers, and eco-conscious materials reflect the thoughtful design philosophy behind the Zohn-1.I am eagerly waiting to test the Zohn-1 and discover whether it truly lives up to its promise. By maintaining a consistent focus on easy assembly, upgradable electronics, and 3D-printed customization, Breggz has already distinguished itself from the chorus of wireless earbuds at CES. If this product delivers as envisioned, it could redefine what consumers expect from personalized audio technology.The post Breggz Zohn-1: The Custom-Fit Wireless Earphones Stealing the Show at CES 2025 first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • WWW.NYTIMES.COM
    Trump Backers, Including Elon Musk, Clash With Far Right Over Immigrant Workers and H-1B Visas
    A fierce dispute erupted in the president-elects camp between immigration hard-liners and tech industry leaders including Elon Musk.
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  • ARCHINECT.COM
    The most-liked Instagram posts of 2024 on @archinect
    With 2024 coming to an end, we're taking a look back at some of the highlights on Archinect's Instagram feed over the past year.Whether you're already one of @archinect's 98K followers or not (yet) check out the most popular posts of 2024, showcasing stand-out projects from various firm profiles on Archinect as well as from here, our news and features editorial sections.Also, if you want to stay up-to-date on the latest architecture firms hiring right now, make sure to follow our dedicated @archinectjobs account as well.9. California College of the Arts Campus Expansion in San Francisco, CA, by Studio Gang / @studiogang; Photos: Jason O'Rear @jasonorear View this post on Instagram A post shared by Archinect (@archinect)8. Hollywood Forever Cemetery Gower Court Mausoleum in Los Angeles, CA, by Lehrer Architects / @lehrerarchitects and Arquitectura y Diseo / @arq_y_di; Landscape Architecture: Studio-MLA / @studio_mla; Photos: Tim Griffith @timgriffithphoto ...
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  • GAMINGBOLT.COM
    15 Upcoming Sci-Fi Shooters of 2025 and Beyond
    Video games where you predominantly spend time shooting stuff continue to be a favourite genre amongst players the world over, with the evocative fantasy of well-realised science fiction a common backdrop to support gunplay. Its no surprise then that therere heaps of upcoming shooters which embrace sci-fis aesthetic, with the fifteen on show here a small selection of sci-fi shooters that are on the horizon for 2024 and beyond.Earth From Another SunResembling the birthchild of Halo, Destiny 2, Starfield, and Mass Effect is Earth From Another Sun, an upcoming open-world MMO promising 1000-strong battles across an array of intergalactic locales, fought via highly customisable weapons, powers, gadgets, and a fleet of super-cool traversal tools and vehicles including portable jetpacks and hovering tanks. This brief summary is the tip of the iceberg though; Earth From Another Sun has a ton of features. However, time will tell if chucking a smorgasbord of gameplay mechanics at a hero shooter minimises its risk of failure a la Concord.
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  • VENTUREBEAT.COM
    Game industry predictions for 2025 | The DeanBeat
    This years best prediction for the game industry in 2025 already came from Swen Vincke, CEO of Larian Studios, maker of Baldurs Gate 3, the Game of the year in 2023. At The Game Awards this year, Vincke got to announce the new Game of the Year (Astro Bot), and he made a prediction. The oracle told me that the Game of the Year 2Read More
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