January 4: Colonial Repression Martyrs' Day in Angola (1961)Solomon Northup1853 Solomon Northup (pictured) regained his freedom after having been sold into slavery in the American South; his memoir Twelve Years a Slave later became a bestseller.1970 A magnitude-7.1 earthquake occurred in Tonghai County, China, killing at least 15,000 people.1977 The English punk-rock band Sex Pistols' lewd and disruptive behaviour at Heathrow Airport prompted the record label EMI to end their contract.2010 The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest structure, officially opened in Dubai.2020 Sembawang Hot Spring Park in Singapore reopened after being redeveloped by the National Parks Board.Louis Braille (b.1809)Brian Josephson (b.1940)Albert Camus (d.1960)Brian Horrocks (d.1985)More anniversaries: January 3January 4January 5ArchiveBy emailList of days of the yearAbout

Date Everything is one of 2025's most unusual titles. Sassy Chap's Robbie Daymond speaks about the game's creation and launch.Read More

Some people rarely lose things. Wallets are always exactly where theyre supposed to be, keys never go missing, and remotes never slip between the couch cushions. And then theres the rest of us the folks who cant ever seem to find the thing that was right there a few seconds ago. For us, there are Bluetooth trackers.Bluetooth trackers have been around for a long time, and they all generally work the same way. You stick the tracker onto an object, pair it with your phone, and then, when you lose said object, you can go into an app and ring the tracker. But these days, Bluetooth trackers can do a lot more. Some have ultra-wideband chips that enable precision tracking, so you can find exactly where in a room your item is. Others tap into large networks that make it easier to find lost items outside the home. Many will notify you if they detect youve left the device behind or come with QR codes that link to your contact information so people can easily return lost devices.What Im looking forRange and soundAre you limited to Bluetooth range, or can you make use of wider networks like Apples Find My, Googles Find My Device network, or Amazon Sidewalk? Is it hard to hear the tracker when you ring it? Anti-stalking featuresA technology that lets you track small objects can be abused to track people without their consent. Tracker companies know this, and an increasing number now come with anti-stalking features. These features may never prevent abuse 100 percent of the time, but I investigate whether these features were crafted with care, how well the company educates users about them, and if the company is proactive about updating them according to feedback from experts.Subscriptions Do you need to pay a subscription to get all available features? If so, is it worth the moolah?BatteryMost Bluetooth trackers last at least a year, but not all of them let you replace the battery. That means you have to buy a whole new tracker when the battery dies. I prefer the ability to replace batteries whenever possible.These features are incredibly handy but also have the potential for misuse. Take AirTags. When Apple launched the trackers, it hadnt anticipated theyd be used to track people or stolen items but thats exactly what happened. Its since beefed up its anti-stalking features, and companies like Tile have also followed suit. The good news is that Apple and Google recently announced theyre working together to create a standard that enables unwanted tracking alerts across both Android and iOS devices and major players like Tile, Samsung, and Chipolo are on board. But until this standard is up and running, it pays to be aware of each trackers current approach when youre deciding the best option for you.As a consummate Loser of Things, Ive tested my fair share of Bluetooth trackers on wallets, keys, and luggage. Heres what Id recommend if you, too, have a hard time finding things.AirTags: best tracker for iPhone usersApple AirTag$24$2917% off$24$24$2917% offApples AirTags can help you find your lost items with their ultra wideband technology. Youll get the best compatibility with an iPhone, though Apple released an Android app that can detect an AirTags location and notify you if one seems to be following you.When Apple launched AirTags in 2021, it really did shake up the category. Thats because AirTags are equipped with Apples Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip and tap into Apples vast Find My network. Thats a potent combo. Basically, UWB enables precision tracking while Find My compatibility expands range far, far beyond Bluetooths limitations. With precision tracking, all you have to do is open the Find My app, tap Find, and you should see an arrow pointing you in the exact direction you need to go to find your item. Using the Find My network also means that so long as theres an Apple device nearby, a lost AirTag can ping its location to Apples iCloud servers without notifying the owners of those other devices. And there are over a billion Apple products out there. That accuracy is super convenient. My keys fell out of my pocket while running once, and I didnt notice until my phone pinged me to say my keys were no longer with me. While I wasnt able to use the precision tracking outdoors, I could see the last reported location in the Find My app. Twenty minutes had already passed, but I still was able to find my keys. I havent had that degree of success with any other item tracker.AirTags come with UWB-powered precision tracking. Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The VergeHowever, this accuracy is a double-edged sword. In 2022, I ran a test to see whether I could track a friend and my spouse (with their consent) in real time. And I could, to a disturbing degree. While Apples unwanted tracking prevention measures worked, there were also inherent flaws. (You can read about our testing in full here.) However, Apple has since improved unwanted tracking alerts by shortening the time before youre notified an unknown AirTag is in your vicinity, making chimes louder, and creating a separate app that lets Android users scan for unknown AirTags. Apple also now informs users during setup that unwanted tracking is a crime and that AirTags are intended solely to track items that belong to you. Apple has also added more ways to share AirTag locations with trusted people. iOS 17 introduced AirTag sharing, which means shared items wont trigger unwanted tracking alerts. In iOS 18.2, you can now share the location of a lost AirTag with other people via a temporary link. So if an airline loses your luggage, you can send them a link that shows them an interactive map of your items last known location. (Apple is partnering with over 15 airlines for this particular use case.)The only thing I really dont like about AirTags is they arent truly $29. Theyre $29 plus the cost of whatever accessory is needed to attach them to the item you want to track. For example, youll need a holder to attach it to your keys or luggage. Thankfully, theres a robust third-party accessory market, so you dont have to pay Apples prices if you dont want to. The fact that you can easily replace the battery with a regular CR2032 coin cell battery helps take the sting out, too. I just did it for two of my AirTags, and it was much, much cheaper than having to buy two new ones.Read our AirTags review.Tile: best Bluetooth tracker for Android usersTile Pro$28$3520% off$28$28$3520% offThe Tile Pro is the companys loudest Bluetooth tracker and has the widest range at 400 feet. It also has a user-replaceable battery, unlike other Tiles.For Android users (or households with both iOS and Android), a Tile tracker is your best bet. Not only are they platform-agnostic but theyre also much more versatile than AirTags because you can choose from four different shapes. The $24.99 Tile Mate is the OG and is a square tracker with a hole so you can stick it on a key ring or carabiner. The $34.99 Tile Pro is a bit larger and shaped like a key fob; it can also be attached to other items in the same way as the Mate. The $34.99 Tile Slim is card-shaped, so it can fit in your wallet, and the $29.99 Tile Sticker is a small disc that comes with a sticky backing so you can put it on remotes, pet collars, and anything else you can stick it on. Like AirTags, Tile devices can tap into a larger network in this case, Amazon Sidewalk to help you find your devices outside of your phones Bluetooth range. The best Tile will depend on what youre looking to track. The Slim, for example, is the best option if youre constantly losing your wallet, while the Mate is probably the most versatile. My personal pick, however, is the Tile Pro. Of the four, it has the longest Bluetooth range at 500 feet and the loudest ring. Its also the only one that has a replaceable one-year CR2032 battery. The Mate and Slim have a 350 foot range, while the Sticker has a 250 foot range. All three have a three-year built-in battery. That means after three years, youll most likely have to buy a whole new device. Functionally, Tile trackers can do just about anything an AirTag can minus precision tracking, as there still isnt a Tile with UWB capability yet. The company announced one back in 2021, but were still waiting, partly because Apple is effectively blocking UWB compatibility for third parties in iOS and because Tiles priorities shifted once it was acquired by Life360.Since Life360 took over, Tile trackers have gotten a bit of a refresh. They now integrate with Life360s SOS services. When you press them three times, it triggers an alert that gets sent to your emergency contacts. You can also designate people as being in your Circle. Those folks then have permission to see where Tile items are on a Life360 map, as well as ring nearby items like remotes. If youre a Samsung Galaxy phone user, the $29.99 Samsung SmartTag2 does get you UWB tracking and can tap into the Galaxy Find network, which operates similarly to Apples Find My network. Its a great alternative but isnt our overall pick for Android because its limited to Samsung Galaxy users. But for Samsung users, the latest SmartTag2 includes an improved Compass View, longer battery life, and a better app experience. Its also got a newer oblong design with a larger key ring than the original SmartTag.The back of the Tile Pro now has a QR code. If you find a Tile, you can scan the code to see the owners contact information so you can return it. Photo by Victoria Song / The VergeAll Tile trackers can tap into both the Tile Network all phones with the Tile app installed and Amazon Sidewalk. Its not as extensive a network as Apples, but Sidewalks reach has improved significantly. Its much easier now to view a Tile trackers location history, though you still cant really track an item in real time. For anti-stalking measures, Tile has a Scan and Secure feature, which allows you to use the Tile app to scan for unknown Tile devices in your vicinity. While better than nothing, its a flawed measure, as it requires the potential victim to proactively scan their surroundings. Tiles may be the better pick, however, if you want to track a stolen item. The company just rolled out a new anti-theft feature, which renders Tile devices invisible to unwanted tracking detection in the event someone steals your item. Just know that to use it, Tile requires you to submit a government ID for verification, agree to Tile working with law enforcement without a subpoena, and consent to a $1 million fine if you misuse this feature.My gripe with Tile is it puts its best features behind a $29.99 annual fee though new members get a one-year free trial. Those features include alerts for when you leave a Tile behind, 30-day location history, unlimited sharing with friends and family, free replacements for damaged Tiles, and a $100 reimbursement if any of your Tile devices cant be found. The plus side is you only have to pay one subscription for all your Tile devices. Without a subscription, you can still find your Tile within Bluetooth range, see its last known location on a map if outside Bluetooth range, ring your phone from the Tile, and share Tiles with one other person.If youre not keen on either Tile or Samsung, theres good news. Earlier this year, Google finally launched its Find My Device network. It works similarly to Apples Find My network: youll be able to share trackers with family members, and there are also unwanted tracking alerts. Third-party makers like Chipolo and Pebblebee have since put out compatible trackers, and more are expected. Were still in the process of testing how well the Find My Device network works, so stay tuned. Best AirTag and Tile alternativePebblebee Clip$30The Pebblebee Clip supports Apples Find My network but also has a 500-foot Bluetooth range, LEDs that flash to help you locate it, and a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 12 months on a single charge.$30 at Google StoreIf youre looking for an AirTag or Tile alternative, the Pebblebee Clip is an excellent choice. Its compatible with Apples Find My network, but it can also work with the Pebblebee app so Android users arent left out. The company has a version compatible with Googles Find My Device network.The thing I like best about the Pebblebee Clip is its rechargeable battery. A single charge lasts up to six months though you may get longer than that depending on your usage. Ive been using mine for about three months as of this writing, and Im only down to 85 percent. It has a USB-C port so you dont have to sweat it if you lose the charger it comes with. You love to see it.The Pebblebee Clip also has an LED strip at the bottom that lights up when you ring the tracker. Thats helped me spot my car keys more quickly when theyve fallen under the car seat or other dark areas. The ringtone is also quite loud, and the 500-foot Bluetooth range is actually about 100 feet more than the Tile Pro, our pick for Android users. Unlike AirTags, the Pebblebee Clip also comes with a snap-on key ring so you dont have to buy another accessory to attach it. Its also IPX6-rated for water resistance. The Pebblebee Clip is much larger than an AirTag, but at least it comes with a snap-on key ring so you dont have to buy an additional accessory. Photo by Victoria Song / The VergeFor iOS users, setup with Find My is easy as pie. However, its not hard to set up with the Pebblebee app, either and there are good reasons why you might want to opt for that instead of Find My. (You cant use both at the same time.) For example, if you want to share the tracker between family members on different platforms, youll have to use the Pebblebee app since Find My is limited to iOS.The Pebblebee app has more customizable geofencing features than Find My. You can set up custom areas on a map and be notified whenever a device enters or leaves the area which may be useful if you want to use this as a pet tracker. You can also designate safe zones so you dont get unnecessary alerts that somethings been left behind when youre in a known location like your home or office. Pebblebee also allows you to set voice tags so you can ask Alexa or Google Assistant to help find your device. It doesnt have precision finding, though there is a similar window that pops up that lets you know whether youre distant, nearby, or very close to the item youre looking for. If you lose a Pebblebee, you can mark it as lost. The Pebblebee app also has a Crowd GPS network, which functions similarly to the Tile Network. Its not going to be as robust as Apples Find My network, however, simply because there arent as many Pebblebee users in the world. Its not a perfect tracker. Its bigger than an AirTag, and I had an easier time ringing the tracker when using it with Find My than with the Pebblebee app. As for unwanted tracking, Pebblebee isnt the best on its own. You can only get alerts for unwanted tracking if youre using it with Find My (or Find My Device whenever it launches), not if youre using it with the Pebblebee app. Pebblebees site says you can, at the very least, disable the tracker without resetting it if you find one on you meaning its still possible to figure out who put it on you if you choose to go to the authorities. Still, thats not the most comforting.Best AirTag alternatives for walletsPebblebee Card$29The Pebblebee Card has a rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 12 months. It supports Find My, but you can also use the Pebblebee app instead for geofencing, voice tagging, and cross-platform sharing.$29 at Amazon$30 at Best BuyYou could be like my spouse, who stuffs an AirTag in their bifold wallet and then makes a surprised Pikachu face every time it falls out. Or, you could opt for a Find My-compatible alternative specifically designed for wallets like the $35 Chipolo Card Spot, the $29.99 Eufy Security SmartTrack Card, or the $29.99 Pebblebee Card. None come with precision tracking because they lack UWB, but they make up for it with super loud ringtones. As part of the Find My network, they also support unwanted tracking alerts. You could also opt for the Tile Slim, though that wont leverage the Find My network. The Pebblebee Card is the one Id recommend for most people. First off, it has a rechargeable battery and lasts up to 12 months on a single charge. Like the Pebblebee Clip, the Pebblebee app supports geofencing, sharing, left-behind alerts, and voice tagging. You could also choose to use it with Find My alone and get the benefits of that network plus a louder ringtone. You can also press it to help find your phone. The only thing I dont love is that it uses a proprietary charger so youll have to keep it in a safe place.Eufy Security SmartTrack Card$17$3043% off$17$17$3043% offThe Eufy Security SmartTrack Card works with Apples Find My network, comes with a clip, lets you know when youve left it behind, and can ring your phone even if its in silent mode.$17 at Eufy (with code WS24T87B2011)$30 at B&H PhotoThe Eufy SmartTrack Card is another versatile pick. It comes with a little clip attachment so it doesnt have to be stuffed in your wallet. You could clip it onto a laptop case, for example. This also has the same benefits when used with the Find My network as the Pebblebee Card. On the back, theres also a QR code similar to the ones Tile uses that helps good samaritans return your item to you. Like the Pebblebee Card, you can share it with multiple people if you set it up via the Eufy Security app. The bummer here is it doesnt work with Android, lacks a replaceable battery, and isnt rechargeable like Eufys new SmartTrack Card E30. That said, though, the built-in battery should purportedly last you three years.The Chipolo Card Spot is also another good wallet-shaped alternative to AirTags. Photo by Victoria Song / The VergeThe Chipolo Card Spot or Card Point is also a good option if you want something a bit simpler, though it lacks the QR code, and its battery only lasts two years. If you do opt for Chipolo, double-check that the specific tracker youre buying works on the network you want to use. For example, the Chipolo Card and Chipolo Card Spot can both be used with iPhones, but the Chipolo Card only works with the Chipolo app, while the Card Spot only works with Find My. The Chipolo Card Point is for Android users, and works with Googles newly launched Find My Device network.Read my Chipolo Card Spot review.Update, January 3rd: Updated prices and availability

Large language models (LLMs) have brought significant progress to AI applications, including code generation. However, evaluating their true capabilities is not straightforward. Existing benchmarks, such as LiveCodeBench and USACO, have limitations. They lack robust private test cases, do not support specialized judgment systems, and often work with inconsistent execution environments. These gaps make it challenging to fairly compare LLM performance with that of human coders. A standardized framework that aligns with real-world programming challenges is essential to reliably assess the reasoning abilities of LLMs.To tackle these challenges, the Qwen research team has introduced CodeElo, a benchmark designed to evaluate LLMs competition-level coding skills using human-comparable Elo ratings. CodeElos problems come from CodeForces, a platform well-regarded for its rigorous programming contests. By directly submitting solutions to the CodeForces platform, CodeElo ensures accurate evaluations. It addresses issues such as false positives and supports problems requiring special judgment. Moreover, the benchmarks Elo rating system reflects human performance rankings, enabling meaningful comparisons between LLMs and human participants. CodeElo offers a new way to measure LLM performance in competitive coding.Technical Details and BenefitsCodeElo builds on three key elements: comprehensive problem selection, robust evaluation methods, and standardized rating calculations. Problems are categorized by contest divisions, difficulty levels, and algorithmic tags to provide a thorough assessment. Submissions are tested on the CodeForces platform, ensuring accurate judgments using its special evaluation mechanisms. This approach eliminates the need for hidden test cases and provides reliable feedback. The Elo rating system evaluates correctness, considers problem difficulty, and penalizes errors. By incentivizing high-quality solutions, CodeElo offers a nuanced and effective tool for assessing coding models.Results and InsightsTesting CodeElo on 30 open-source and three proprietary LLMs has yielded valuable insights. OpenAIs o1-mini model performed the best, achieving an Elo rating of 1578 and surpassing 90% of human participants. Among open-source models, QwQ-32B-Preview was the top performer with a score of 1261. However, many models struggled with simpler problems, often ranking in the bottom 20% of human participants. Analyses showed that models excelled in categories like math and implementation but found dynamic programming and tree algorithms more challenging. Additionally, models performed better when coding in C++, a preference shared by competitive programmers. These results highlight areas where LLMs need improvement.ConclusionCodeElo is an important step in evaluating LLMs coding abilities. By addressing the limitations of earlier benchmarks, it provides a reliable and standardized framework for assessing competition-level code generation. The insights from CodeElo not only reveal the strengths and weaknesses of current models but also guide future development in AI-driven code generation. As AI continues to evolve, benchmarks like CodeElo will be essential in helping LLMs meet real-world programming challenges effectively.Check out the Paper, Dataset, and Leaderboard. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our60k+ ML SubReddit. Asif RazzaqAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences. Follow us on X (Twitter) to get regular AI Research and Dev Updates here...

This Black Friday deal is back for 2025. Amazon has just dropped the price of the recently released Apple iPad Pro M4 13" tablet to $1,099 after a $200 discount. This matches the lowest price during Black Friday. The new iPad Pro was released on May 15, 2024, and boasts a couple of significant upgrades over its predecessor, including a powerful M4 chip and, for the first time ever, a gorgeous tandem OLED display.$200 Off 2024 iPad Pro M4 13"iPad Pro (M4) 13"In our 2024 iPad Pro M4 review, Jacqueline Thomas wrote, "For creative professionals, the 2024 iPad Pro is the most powerful tablet on the market and is going to shine if your work revolves around a touchscreen. For the rest of us, though, the iPad Pro is simply the most beautiful display you'll find in a tablet, with hardware that's powerful enough to be a top-end device for years to come."The 2024 iPad Pro is the best tablet on the market, iOS or otherwise, thanks to the new M4 processor which is both powerful and power efficient. Compared to the previous generation iPad M2, it performs about 20% better. However, the biggest update of the iPad Pro is not the M4 chip, but instead the tandem OLED panel which hadn't previously been seen on an Apple product. Tandem OLED is better than traditional OLED in two ways: 1) it's far brighter, and 2) it's less prone to burn-in. If you're wondering why this technology hasn't found its way into TVs, the answer is simply because it's not cost effective at larger sizes. The iPad can get away with it because the 11" screen is much smaller, but that's also a major reason why the iPad Pro is priced considerably higher than the other iPads in Apple's 2024 lineup.Looking for more iPad resources?If you're not sure which iPad is best for you, we have an iPad guide which details which iPad is ideal for which use case. If you intend want to get an iPad for schoolwork, we have an iPad guide for students as well. If you're looking for options outside of iOS, check out the best Android tablets of 2025.Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?IGN's deals team has a combined 30+ years of experience finding the best discounts in gaming, tech, and just about every other category. We don't try to trick our readers into buying things they don't need at prices that aren't worth buying something at. Our ultimate goal is to surface the best possible deals from brands we trust and our editorial team has personal experience with. You can check out our deals standards here for more information on our process, or keep up with the latest deals we find on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

At last, it's time for the most exciting live competitive event of the year. No, I don't mean the Super Bowl - it's time for Awesome Games Done Quick, the annual charity speedrunning marathon that features a week of talented gamers showing off the wildest things they can do with video games.Games Done Quick (GDQ) has been running for 15 years now, since 2010. The event is a live broadcast speedrunning marathon, during which speedrunners take turns showing off beating video games as fast as possible, and often in wacky and especially impressive ways. In recent years, the events have shown off increasingly ambitious performances, including blindfolded or one-handed runs, two players using a single controller, showcases of tricky arcade games, and even speedruns performed by dogs. The annual event is held to raise money for the Prevent Cancer foundation, having previously raised a record high of $3,442,033 in 2022, and $2,539,832 just last year. And this year's marathon has some pretty ridiculous runs on the docket. There's a run of Crazy Taxi backed by a live band, someone playing Elden Ring with a saxophone, new Super Mario Bros. Wii run while simultaneously playing piano, a two-players-one-controller run of Breath of the Wild, loads of randomizer races, and it all wraps up with a Map Randomizer Race between some of the best Super Metroid runners out there. If you've never watched GDQ before, it's really worth tuning in.AGDQ 2025 kicks off at 9:00 AM PT on Sunday, January 5 with a run of Pikmin on Nintendo Switch, followed by Portal 2. In fact, Sunday's full of bangers: Kirby's Air Ride follows, there's an Astro Bot run, then The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, a run infamous for appearing at GDQ every years and getting shorter each time as the community discovers new, run-changing skips.Awesome Games Done Quick 2024, photo by Wes "Fish" ChanIf I keep going I'll just list every single run in the entire event, so here's a quick list of highlights you should definitely check out. Definitely peak at the official website for a look at the full schedule, because there's tons of great runs I didn't list here, and the timing will be subject to change constantly throughout the week.Sunday9:00 AM PT: Pikmin - All Parts10:24 AM: Portal 2 - Single player No SLA1:56 PM: Ori and the Blind Forest - Randomizer World Tour 113:30 PM: Astro Bot - Any%6:19 PM: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker - Any%9:14 PM: Alan Wake 2: Night Springs - All Episodes10:01 PM: Alan Wake 2: The lake House - Any%Monday9:54 AM PT: UFO 50 - Various Games Showcase10:51 AM: Super Meat Boy - Any%11:37 AM: Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS - SMC Any% No Auto3:00 PM: Metroid Prime - Any% Inbounds Race4:42 PM: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Any% 2 Players 1 Controller6:45 PM: Horizon: Forbidden Rest - NG+ StoryTuesday7:47 AM PT: Unicorn Overlord - Any% Story8:26 AM: Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana - All Story Bosses10:18 AM: Spyro: Reignited Trilogy - Spyro 1, Any% NBS1:25 PM: Super Mario Bros. - Any% STA6:20 PM: The Last of Us: Left Behind - Remake - Grounded8:05 PM: Silent Hill 2 (2024) - New Game Light RestrictedWednesday8:51 AM PT: Sonic X Shadow Generations - Any%10:23 AM: Pokemon Let's Go, Pikachu!/Eevee! - Any% Pikachu/Eevee1:43 PM: New Super Mario Bros. Wii - Any% While Playing Piano3:30 PM: Donkey Kong Counry: Tropical Freeze - Any% Original Mode5:07 PM: Fallout: New Vegas - All Romances5:52 PM: Super Mario 64 - A-Button Challenge TAS Showcase6:27 PM: Rocket League - Workshop Map Speedrun Showcase7:24 PM: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Main QuestAt 8:24 PM PT, GDQ will kick off a block of games that have been affectionally referred to in past years as "Awful Games Done Quick" or the "Awful Block." These are games that are silly, janky, broken, or otherwise of questionable quality, and always make for some hilarious speedruns. The first run, Superman 64, you've probably heard of before, but the rest you may have not. The Awful Block runs throughout the night on Wednesday into very early Thursday morning. Speaking from experience, I highly recommend having insomnia and staying up all night to watch it. The block concludes with Kevin Costner's Waterworld at 3:11 AM on Thursday.Thursday10:55 AM PT: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - All Dungeons3:00 PM: Lies of P - Any% Glitchless5:02 PM: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Any%6:55 PM: CHUNITHM LUMINOUS PLUS - Arcade ShowcaseFriday2:36 AM PT: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - Any% Easy9:21 AM: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - Tightened Vice3:00 PM: Tetris: The Grand Master - Multi Game Showcase4:00 PM: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - 48 Tracks (DLC) 200cc, No Items5:45 PM: Kaizo Mario World 3 - 100%6:52 PM: jubeat copious APPEND - Showcase8:07 PM: Super Mario World - 96 Exit RaceSaturdaySeriously, just stop sleeping and watch the entire day Saturday. I want to list every game here. It starts with Peggle Extreme and Metal Gear Solid, for pete's sake! There's not a bad thing on the schedule! Fine, fine, my editor said I have to narrow it down:6:57 AM PT: Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire - Any% Race10:32 AM: Elden Ring - DLC Lockout Bingo12:52 PM: Elden Ring - Saxophone Controlled Boss Showcase1:27 PM: Crazy Taxi with Live Backing Band - Crazy Box2:30 PM: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - No Logic Randomizer6:35 PM: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom - Any%7:55 PM: Super Metroid - Map Randomizer RaceRebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Apple on Friday confirmed that it will release its Q1 2025 earnings report on January 30, 2025. The report will cover iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10 sales more extensively, as well as giving us a hint about sales performance during the holiday season.Apple to report Q1 2025 earnings later this monthIn Q4 2024, which covered the months of July to September, Apple reported $94.93 billion in revenue, up 6% year-on-year. The company recorded growth in most of its categories, except for Wearables, Home, and Accessories which includes Apple Watch, AirPods, and HomePod.Since new products such as the iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10 were launched in mid-September, the Q4 2024 report only includes data on the first two weeks of sales for these products. With the Q1 2025 report, which covers sales from October to December, well have a clearer picture of how the new devices have been performing so far.Heres what Apple reported for Q1 last year:iPhone revenue: $69.70B Services revenue: $23.12BMac revenue: $7.78BiPad revenue: $7.02B Wearables, Home & Accessories revenue: $11.95B On a related note, Apple today made official that Luca Maestri has stepped down as the companys CFO, and will now lead the Corporate Services teams. Apples new CFO is Kevin Parekh, who has worked at the company for 11 years and previously led Financial Planning and Analysis, G&A and Benefits Finance, Investor Relations, and Market Research.As always, Apple will live stream the investor call on its website to discuss the results. The call will be held at 2PM PT/5PM ET with Apple releasing its full earnings report 30 minutes before that. This will be Kevin Parekhs first call as CFO.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

About Sweat Pants Agency:At Sweat Pants Agency, we are the only agency behind multiple INC #1 fastest-growing companies, including the INC #1 fastest-growing consumer product in 2020 and healthcare company in 2022. We are a results-driven team committed to driving exceptional growth for our clients through innovative and strategic marketing.Role Overview:We are looking for a passionate and experienced Email Marketing Strategist to join our dynamic team. As an Email Marketing Strategist, you will be responsible for developing and executing email marketing strategies that align with our clients' goals and drive measurable results. You will work closely with clients, copywriters, designers, and project managers to deliver creative and effective email campaigns.Key Responsibilities:Collaborate with clients to understand their goals and develop tailored email marketing strategies.Create and manage monthly email marketing plans and calendars.Analyze campaign performance data to identify opportunities for optimization and improvement.Work with copywriters and designers to ensure all campaigns align with brand voice and objectives.Develop segmentations, automation flows, and launch series to maximize engagement and conversions.Stay up-to-date with email marketing trends and tools to drive innovation in campaigns.RequirementsQualifications:Proven experience in email marketing strategy, preferably in an agency setting or as a freelancer.Strong understanding of email marketing platforms, with experience mainly in Klaviyo.Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.Ability to analyze data and create detailed reports and presentations.Knowledge of email copywriting and design principles.Familiarity with tools like Notion and Slack. Core Values:Stay Curious: Always learning, testing, and improving.Stay Humble: Open to feedback and being a good teammate.Own It: Taking responsibility for problems, results, and processes.Be Transparent: Open and honest communication.Be Fearless: Thinking outside the box for big wins.BenefitsWhy Sweat Pants Agency?- Join a team that is behind two INC #1 fastest-growing brands.- Enjoy a collaborative and innovative work environment.- Be part of a remote-based team with top marketers from around the world. Related Jobs See more Sales and Marketing jobs

Today, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts announced their longlists for the 2025 EE Film Awards. 10 films will advance in the Special Visual Effect category. Members of the SVFX chapter vote to determine the longlist and the nominations. In the final round of voting, all film-voting members will vote for the overall winning film.ILM contributed to 4 of the ten films that have advanced to the next round of voting including Alien: Romulus, Deadpool & Wolverine, Gladiator II, and Wicked.The next round of voting, to determine the nominations, takes place between January3rd and 10th. The final round of voting, to determine the winners takes place between January 22nd, and February 11th.

If you live in the central US or mid-Atlantic regions, you may soon experiencea major winter storm and a polar vortex. And if the severe winter weather causes a power outage, one of your first concerns might be the food in your refrigerator. Though a sudden loss of electricity can threaten your groceries, you don't have to let them go to waste: A little preparation can help keep your food safe and fresh until the power returns. CNETLosing a fridge full of food is costly, inconvenient and can be dangerous if you're running low on rations and can't make it out to buy more. While you may not be able to save everything, depending on the length of the outage, there are ways to keep most of your perishables from perishing when the fridge stops running.Read on to learn how to save your refrigerator's food in the case of a power outage.For more power outage tips, learn everything you need to know about home generators, and consider whether a home battery backup might be a better option.Make a plan to save your food before a power outage strikes Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. Before you face a power outage, it's best to take a few steps to prepare in case you need to save your food. The recommendation from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to have the following items on hand:Appliance thermometers for both your refrigerator and freezer, so you can monitor if their temperatures rise and you need to start removing food. The fridge should not rise above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and the freezer should not rise above 0 degrees F.A cooler and frozen gel packs, in case you have to take food out of the fridge to keep it cold.Dry ice or block ice to keep food cold inside the fridge, if you think the power will be out for a long time.Read more: Best Coolers for 2022 Do this first to save your food when the power goes outWhen an outage hits, keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed -- don't open them up unless you absolutely need to, and even then, try to do so quickly so as not to let the cold air out. If the doors stay closed, your food can stay safe for up to four hours in a refrigerator, 48 hours in a full freezer and 24 hours in a half-full freezer, according to the CDC.Once you've passed the four-hour mark (or if you see the temperature inside the fridge has risen to over 40 degrees F) and the power is still out, it's time to start moving food out of the fridge. If perishable food has been left in the fridge after that point, you'll have to throw it all out.The exception here would be if you have dry ice. You can put the dry ice on the top shelf of your freezer and the bottom shelf of your refrigerator, and it will keep your perishables cold. You need about 3 pounds of dry ice per cubic foot of freezer space, which should keep food cold for at least two days. Just make sure you're aware of how to safely handle dry ice before using it. If the power is out for more than four hours, you'll likely want to move your perishable food to a cooler. fishysam/Getty ImagesSeparate your food into two groupsFirst, you're going to make two piles: Food that absolutely must be kept cold, and food that is safe to leave on the counter until the power is back on.Foods that do not need to be kept coldThe following foods can be safely kept out of the fridge:Butter (for 1-2 days)Peanut butterMost cooking oils, with the exception of nut oilsHerbsPotatoesMost fruits and vegetablesBreadCoffeeHoneyKetchup, mustard and hot sauceFoods that need to be kept coldThe following foods must be kept at 40 degrees F or lower to prevent bacteria growth and spoilage:Dairy products (cheese, milk, whipped cream, sour cream)EggsMeats, poultry and fish (cooked or uncooked)Cut fruit and vegetablesLeftoversHow to keep your perishable food cold without a refrigeratorOnce you've got your pile of perishable food, it's time to pull out your cooler and ice packs. Put a layer of frozen food at the bottom. Then put a layer of foods from the fridge on top of that layer. Top it off with another layer of frozen foods. If you don't have any ice or ice packs, go to the store and buy some if it's safe to do so.Layer ice or ice packs around the food in the cooler -- don't just throw it all on top or bottom. Distributing the ice will keep the food at a more consistent temperature. Move your fridge thermometer inside the cooler to keep an eye on the temperature.If you don't have a cooler, you can use your freezer instead -- it's insulated and will keep your food cold as long as you leave the door shut and keep a fresh supply of ice in it. To prevent melting ice from turning your freezer into a pond, put ice in bowls and place them around the food.You should never taste food to see if it's gone bad -- when in doubt, throw it out, the CDC advises. Throw away any food with unusual odors, colors or textures right away. In terms of frozen foods, you can safely refreeze or cook thawed frozen food that is at 40 degrees F or below, or that still contains ice crystals. For more tips on how to prepare for natural disasters, check out how to pack an emergency bag, and how to recover important documents after a natural disaster.