January 9, 20254 min readLos Angeles Fires Could Push Californias Insurance System to the BrinkDamages from the recent fires in the Los Angeles area could overwhelm Californias already stressed insurer of last resortA cyclist pedals along Pacific Coast Highway past burning homes in Malibu, CA on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. High winds escalated the spread of several blazes across Southern California. David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty ImagesCLIMATEWIRE | LOS ANGELES Wednesday's firestorm in a wealthy area of Los Angeles could be the final straw that breaks California's insurance market.The state's insurance market has been teetering on the edge of insolvency for years thanks to catastrophic wildfires that have driven many insurers to stop writing new policies and drop existing ones. Wednesday's wind-driven wildfires in a part of Los Angeles packed with multimillion-dollar homes could accelerate its collapse.Its obviously going to be bad, said Rep. Brad Sherman, the Democrat who represents the neighborhood between Malibu and Santa Monica where the Palisades Fire one of six burning uncontained across the region had destroyed more than 1,000 buildings as of Wednesday afternoon. Weve already seen big increases. And weve seen these increases not only in houses that are close to the brush, but in areas where youre surrounded by other homes.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.President-elect Donald Trump called out the issue Wednesday as he bashed Democrats for the deadly, wind-fueled conflagrations that forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. The fires in Los Angeles may go down, in dollar amount, as the worst in the History of our Country, he wrote on Truth Social. In many circles, theyre doubting whether insurance companies will even have enough money to pay for this catastrophe.The states insurer of last resort, known as the FAIR Plan, predicted that it would be able to pay out. We are aware of misinformation being posted online regarding the FAIR Plans ability to pay claims, spokesperson Hilary McLean said in a statement on behalf of the FAIR Plan. It is too early to provide loss estimates as claims are just beginning to be submitted and processed, McLean wrote, noting the plan was prepared for this kind of a disaster and has payment mechanisms including reinsurance, to cover claims.But California faces a double-barreled threat: Private insurers could continue to drop policies and decline to write new ones, as they've been increasingly doing since a series of severe fires beginning in 2017 with the Tubbs Fire in Northern California. And the FAIR plan, which has been absorbing the shrinking private market, could run out of money to pay its claims.That wouldnt mean going bankrupt, as McLean noted. Instead, it would draw from primary insurers to recoup its costs under state law, raising rates across all private policies and sending rates skyrocketing across the state.This is sort of what everybody's been preparing for, said Karl Susman, an insurance broker in West Los Angeles who's filing dozens of claims on behalf of clients. This is why rates are going up. This is why carriers are freaking out.State Farm dropped nearly 70 percent of its policies in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood last year, according to a state filing more than any other ZIP code in the state in a sign it saw the neighborhood as risky. That forced more people onto the FAIR Plan, which was originally created in the 1960s to insure riot-scarred Los Angeles neighborhoods but has since found more demand in rural and suburban fire-prone regions.In Pacific Palisades alone, the FAIR plan insures nearly $6 billion worth of property, according to September figures more than all but four communities in California. Across the state, the total value of FAIR-insured properties was $458 billion, triple the total insured value in 2020, according to FAIR Plan data.The damages, which AccuWeather estimated Wednesday at $52 billion-$57 billion, could continue to rise as hurricane-force winds forecast through Wednesday and Thursday put thousands more homes at risk."Should a large number of additional structures be burned in the coming days, it may become the worst wildfire in modern California history," AccuWeather chief meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a statement.State officials who have been trying to stanch insurers' exodus said they were prepared to limit the impact, including by passing a temporary year-long moratorium on nonrenewals in areas recently burned."Insurance companies are pledging their commitment to California, and we will hold them accountable for the promises they have made," Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said in a statement.Susman called the fires a proving ground for rules Lara finalized just weeks ago to entice property insurers back to the market and force them to write more in fire-prone areas.The rules gave insurance companies permission to pass along the costs of reinsurance to customers and use forward-looking so-called catastrophic models that take into account the likelihood of the type of climate-fueled fires raging in Los Angeles to raise rates, in exchange for meeting a certain quota of policies in disaster-prone areas. Insurers like Allstate have promised to return to the market following the changes.If they hadnt gone into effect in December, I could see the carriers literally saying, OK, we're leaving. We're done, Susman said about the rules. Now, because they can properly underwrite, because they can offer certain types of discounts, and they can be more granular in how they're coming up with rates and underwriting, they can find a path back into the market.But that might be optimistic. Michael Wara, director of Stanford's Climate and Energy Policy program and consultant to the states Public Utilities Commission on wildfire issues, said the new rules may not be enough to keep insurers around if the insurance payouts get too high.We may have crossed a threshold now where we need larger measures in order to essentially create a solvent insurance system, he said. And those measures are going to be politically difficult. They may create substantial risk for the balance sheet of the state of California.Reprinted from E&E News with permission from POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2025. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environment professionals.

If your outdoor furniture could use a refresh, you dont have to wait until warmer temperatures come back around or shop in-store to save big. The winter (a.k.a. the off-season for outdoor furniture for most of us) is an ideal time to shop must-haves for your patio, deck, or backyard at a discount. And even better, some of the best outdoor furniture stores are hosting winter sales now on some of their most highly coveted collections.What types of items are on sale, you ask? Patio umbrellas, dining sets, sofas, and daybeds are all in the mix. Even essentials like fire pits and weather-resistant furniture covers are available at huge markdowns to help you enjoy the great outdoors and protect your furniture when its not in use. Without further ado, scroll below to find the best outdoor furniture sales and get a head start on revamping your backyard oasis.Our Top Picks:Best Sofa Set: Outer Brown Wicker Outdoor Sofa with Armless Chairs, $6,950 $4,170Best Fire Pit: Tiki Smokeless Fire Pit, $395 $295Best Bistro Set: Corrigan Studio 3-Piece Patio Bistro Set, $195 $160Best Lounge Chair: Knoll Risom Outdoor Lounge Chair, $1,655 $1,324Best Dining Set: Castlery Sorrento Outdoor Dining Table Set, $1,598 $1,519Best Sectional: Crate & Barrel Batten 5-Piece Teak Outdoor Sectional, $9,590 $5,895Outer: Up to 50% OffThanks to their sustainably made furniture and ease of delivery and assembly, Outer has long been an AD-favorite outdoor furniture brand. From patio furniture sets with deep seating to spacious ottomans and furniture covers, you can nab up to half off the brands open box, overstock, and clearance items during the sale. Plus, save 20% on orders of $12,000 or more with code OUTERYARD at checkout.Outer Brown Wicker Outdoor Sofa with Armless ChairsOuter Teak Outdoor OttomanAmazon: Up to 40% OffHidden in Amazons many storefronts is its winter sale with up to 40% off cozy must-haves like adirondack chairs. An outdoor living space during the cold weather months is hardly complete without heaters or fire pits to keep warm. When it comes to the latter, this Tiki fire pit offers a smokeless design and a durable metal frame built to last.Tiki Smokeless Patio Fire PitSerwall Foldable Adirondack ChairSerena & Lily: 20% Off SitewideWelcome coastal chic design to your outdoor space with Serena & Lily. We love the brand for its beach-inspired furniture and outdoor decor. With code NEWFINDS, take 20% off everything you add to cart.Serena & Lily Outdoor Riviera Dining ChairSerena & Lily Blithedale Dining TableWayfair: Up to 45% OffWayfair is a key destination for some of the biggest furniture sales youll find year-round (like the aptly named Way Day that takes place in May), but the brands daily sales page isnt one to overlook. Youll find outdoor bestsellers like rattan bistro sets and whimsical outdoor umbrellas up to 45% off right now.Corrigan Studio 3-Piece Bistro Rattan ChairBirch Lane Iago Outdoor UmbrellaDesign Within Reach: Up to 20% OffIf you want to create a high-end, design-forward space, look no further than Design Within Reach. Save big and add a sophisticated touch to your homes exteriors with 20% off during the brands New Years Sale event. Pull out your credit card to shop our favorite finds like a stylish outdoor chair and outdoor chaise lounge to relax poolside this summer.Knoll Risom Outdoor Lounge ChairDesign Within Reach Terassi ChaiseCastlery: Up to $470 OffCalling all minimalists: Castlery brings an elevated, cozy feel to the outdoors with clean lines and weather-resistant materials. (Think teak lounge chairs with an included end table and wicker dining table sets.) Right now, snag $400 off sitewide and an extra $70 off when you spend above $2,000 with promo code WINTVX while supplies last.Castlery Sierra Outdoor Dining Table and Chair SetCastlery Rio Outdoor Lounge Chair and Table SetWest Elm: Up to 50% OffFor a contemporary touch to your outdoor furniture, dont skip West Elms offerings. At this moment, you can take advantage of the brands outdoor furniture sale for 50% off au courant furniture and decor, like a ceramic planter or expandable dining table.West Elm Marta Ceramic PlanterWest Elm Hargrove Outdoor Expandable Dining TableCrate & Barrel: Up to 60% OffDuring Crate & Barrels End of Year Warehouse Sale (which, yes, is still running), you can score outdoor furniture for up to 60% off to outfit your space. Another brand with contemporary, traditional picks, youll find nature-inspired seating like outdoor teak sectionals. Plus, picks with functionality like a kitchen island that can double as an outdoor bar.Crate & Barrel Batten 5-Piece Teak Outdoor SectionalCrate & Barrel Batten Teak Outdoor Kitchen IslandCB2: Up to 60% OffA modern spin on items youll see at Crate & Barrel, sister site CB2s End of Year Warehouse Sale also includes 60% markdowns. Were eyeing the brands collection of unique armchairs and teak planters to incorporate in any avant-garde outdoor area.CB2 Ferrat Teak Outdoor PlanterCB2 Cabra Teak Outdoor Corner ChairRove Concepts: Up to 25% Off and 20% Back in Vouchers for MembersWith modular silhouettes and furniture materials like concrete, Rove Concepts is one of our top picks for modern outdoor furniture designed to withstand inclement weather. Shop the site for up to 25% off items like coffee tables and sectionals and 20% back in vouchers for members while the sale lasts.Rove Concepts Maria Coffee TableRove Concepts Dresden Outdoor Modular Sectional

Sellers looking to off-load properties in the Midwest, Northeast, and South in the next 12 months may be in for a good year, according to Zillow. The real estate website recently released its forecast predicting the hottest housing markets for 2025and most of the top 10 cities are in these regions.These hot housing markets are where demand for housing is not matched by supply, explains Kara Ng, a senior economist at Zillow. This means competition is often fierce among buyers, and homes sell quickly at or above asking price. To calculate its rankings, Zillow considered forecasted home value growth, recent housing market velocity and projected changes in the labor market, home construction activity, and number of homeowner households. These were the cities anticipated to warm up in 2025.Zillows Hottest Housing Markets for 2025Buffalo, New YorkIndianapolis, IndianaProvidence, Rhode IslandHartford, ConnecticutPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaSt. Louis, MissouriCharlotte, North CarolinaKansas City, MissouriRichmond, VirginiaSalt Lake City, UtahA closer look at the 10 hottest housing marketsFor the second year in a row, Buffalo, New York ranked first on Zillows list. Buffalo is expected to be the hottest market for the second consecutive year because it offers relative affordability, and housing supply there is limited, Ng says. Thats expected to fuel continued strong competition among buyers.Further, the city has a strong job market, which often means new residents to drive up demand. Buffalo has the most new jobs per new home permitteda key component thats kept Buffalo at the top of the list for two years running, along with expected appreciation, the report explains.Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana.Photo: Ron and Patty Thomas/Getty ImagesIndianapolis, which ranked second on the list, is expected to see houses appreciating faster than the typical US home. In fact, Zillow forecasts that home values will rise by 3.4% in the Midwest city in 2025. This signals a healthy demand for homes, driven by relative affordability and job growth, Ng says. While home prices are expected to rise, the market remains affordable compared to other major metro areas, and thats a big reason why its so attractive to buyers.Demand in cities like Providence, Hartford, and Philadelphia is driven by relative affordability compared to nearby metros, such New York City or Boston. These markets offer job opportunities and all the amenities of big-city living at a more affordable price, Ng adds. Plus, hybrid or remote employees may find they can occasionally manage an extra-long commute when they need to be in the office. That makes these markets very attractive to first-time home buyers who want to put down roots in the Northeast and find they can have a similar quality of life at a lower cost.What to expect in hot housing marketsThe metro cities will largely be sellers markets this year. If they hire a great agent who can help price and market their listing correctly, sellers can expect to command a strong price and sell their home quickly, Ng says. However, most will likely re-enter the market as buyers and will face heightened competition, so it will be important to time a sale with the purchase of a new residence well.

Google searches for how to cancel and delete Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts have seen explosive rises in the U.S. since Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company will end its third-party fact-checking system, loosen content moderation policies, and roll back previous limits to the amount of political content in user feeds.Critics see the move as an attempt to cater to the incoming Trump administration and avoid political retaliation, suggesting the consequences of Metas new policies could have serious implications for the types of posts, hateful and violent speech, and misinformation that can spread even faster than they already do across Metas platforms.The backlash has been swift. Interest in searches related to getting off Meta platforms soared this week, particularly in the last two days. Google searches for terms like how to permanently delete facebook hit a maximum score of 100 the highest level of interest possible on Google Trends.Image Credits:Google TrendsAccording to Google Trends, related searches like how to delete all photos facebook, alternative to facebook, how to quit facebook, how to delete threads account, and how to delete instagram account without logging in have become breakout searches, with popularity suddenly increasing by over 5,000% compared to previous periods.The explosive growth underscores a recoil against Metas decision to roll back protections against hateful speech and inflammatory political content.Meta had put fact-checking and content moderation policies into place after years of misinformation and violent speech proliferating on its platforms, which have caused real-world harm. Case in point, the attempted insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, which was fueled by coordinated calls for violence on Facebook and Instagram. Internal documents revealed that Facebook did not act forcefully against the Stop the Steal movement pushed by Trumps allies, even though the company had identified ways to diminish the spread of political polarization, conspiracy theories, and incitements to violence.A Breakout means that the search term grew by more than 5000%.Image Credits:Google TrendsMeta has also admitted that its platforms were used to incite violence in Myanmar, where members of the Burmese military committed genocide against the Rohingya people.In 2021, Zuckerberg said that the Meta community doesnt want politics and fighting to take over their experience on our services, leading to the companys push to scale back political discourse. Last year, the company also stopped proactively recommending political content to users on Instagram and Threads, a move that was controversial among creators and users. Now Meta will phase back in political content to feeds.Zuckerberg said that the new policies are an attempt to restore free expression on Metas platform, parroting comments made by Elon Musk on his platform X. The Meta CEO noted that his platforms would replace third-party fact-checkers with a community notes system akin to Xs, in which users can flag posts they think need more context.Searches for Bluesky also explode following Metas content moderation and fact-checking changes.Image Credits:Google TrendsOver the same period, Google searches facebook alternatives have also skyrocketed, as have searches for Bluesky and Mastodon, two decentralized social media platforms that have been gaining in popularity since Elon Musk took over Twitter and renamed it X.Mastodons CEO Eugen Rochko spoke out this week about Metas content moderation changes, calling the changes a concern to anyone with a conscience. He also noted that users who cross-post from Threads to Mastodon via Threads fediverse-sharing feature will be monitored on Mastodon for hate speech and violation of the platforms policies.

ICON Technologies Inc., which builds homes using 3D printing, is laying off 114 people, according to a WARN letter filed with the Texas Workforce Commission.A spokesperson for the company confirmed the news to TechCrunch, providing a statement that ICON had recently made a difficult decision to re-align its team and team size to focus on our highest priorities and continue to invest in our best growth opportunities.ICON was founded in late 2017 and launched during SXSW in March 2018 with the first permitted 3D-printed home in the U.S. That 350-square-foot house took about 48 hours (at 25% speed) to print.Over the years, Austin-based ICON has raised over $450 million in funding from investors such as Tiger Global Management, Norwest Venture Partners, 8VC, and others. At the time of its last raise in February of 2022 a $185 million extension of a Series B round ICONs valuation was said to be approaching $2 billion.It is unknown just how many employees ICON will have after the layoffs take place, which according to the letter, will occur on March 8. The Austin Business Journal reported that ICON had about 400 employees at last count, so a layoff of 114 people would be more than 25% of its workforce. A spokesperson for the company said only that ICON had less than 400 employees prior to this workforce reduction.At the time of its last raise, the startup said it had delivered more than two dozen 3D-printed homes and structures across the U.S. and Mexico. More than half of those homes were built for the homeless or those in chronic poverty. For example, in 2020, ICON delivered 3D-printed homes in Mexico with nonprofit partner New Story. It also completed a series of homes serving the chronically homeless in Austin, Texas, with nonprofit Mobile Loaves & Fishes.The startup broke into the mainstream housing market in early 2021 with what it said were the first 3D-printed homes for sale in the U.S. for developer 3Strands in Austin, Texas.Then, in October 2021, ICON announced a partnership with Lennar, one of the nations largest homebuilders and an investor in the startup through its venture arm, LENx.An ICON spokesperson on Thursday told TechCrunch the companys priority now is to accelerate the development of Phoenix, its line of multi-story 3D printers and begin putting the robotic technology into the hands of builders.While our mission remains to develop these intelligent machines to build humanitys future, we will continue to design and build a selection of key projects across residential, hospitality, social/affordable and those within the Department of Defense with a more streamlined team, the spokesperson added.Want to reach out with a tip? Email me atmaryann@techcrunch.comor send me a message on Signal at 408.204.3036. You can also send a note to the whole TechCrunch crew attips@techcrunch.com. For more secure communications,click here to contact us, which includes SecureDrop and links to encrypted messaging apps.

In BriefPosted:3:41 PM PST January 9, 2025Defense startup Epirus in talks to raise over $150M, potentially cutting valuationDefense tech startup Epirus is reportedly raising between $150 million and $200 million in a new funding round led by Joe Lonsdales venture firm 8VC, Bloomberg reports. The round could give the company, which develops technology to intercept drones, a valuation of about $1 billion. If thats the final valuation, it would be a decrease from the companys previous $1.35 billion valuation.(Epirus did not comment to Bloomberg.)Lonsdale co-founded the company in 2018 with Bo Marr, Max Medni, Nathan Mintz, Grant Verstandig and John Tenet. The startup has already raised nearly $300 million from investors like DCVC and Bedrock, according to PitchBook. Its also one of the few American-based defense tech unicorns, alongside companies like Anduril, Shield AI and Rebellion Defense.Only time will tell if 2025 defense funding will reach the highs of last year, where startups in the space had scored almost $3 billion by November.Topics

CES 2025 has been a mixed bag for humanoid robots. The form factor had a watershed moment, as images of the top players flanked NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang during his Monday keynote.Of these, Agilitys Digit also showed up alongside a miniature conveyer belt at a closed access NVIDIA booth. It was a nice return for the bipedal robot, an older form of which appeared at CES 2020 as part of Fords showcase.Beyond this, humanoid representation has largely been limited to smaller companies, with the exception of Apptronik. The Austin firms Apollo robot made an appearance as part of Texas Instruments presence at the show. The humanoid utilizes some of the Dallas-based semi-conductor giants modules internally.After a few near misses, this was the first time Ive seen Apollo in-person. When Apptronik showed TechCrunch the first footage of the robot in 2023, I had to double check that it wasnt an animated render. Theres something other worldly about the robot. Its honestly refreshing, as so much of the competition has offered similar aesthetic visions for humanoids: dark, sterile, even apocalyptic. Apollo is bright and almost cartoony, with a pair of big eyes and a head shape that brings back warm memories of early iMacs. Like other first-gen humanoids, Apollo will largely focus on factory work, but just because its destined for an industrial setting doesnt mean it has to be unwelcoming and cold.Image Credits:Brian HeaterApollos movements were smooth, and the robot even hammed it up for the camera as I snapped some photos. It should be noted, however, that this was an extremely limited pick-and-place demo that exists for demonstration purposes only. This was not the intelligent, autonomous version of the robot set to be deployed in factories.Notably, Apptronik began factory pilots with Mercedes in March, following the announcement of similar deals between Figure and BMW and Agility and Amazon.

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ZDNET's key takeaways The Viture Pro Neckband is available now for $299 for the Classic model and $399 for the Elite modelIncreased RAM and twice the storage are provided in the Elite modelThis accessory has a refined design with easy controls, supports hand gestures, provides multi-screen support, and lets you take content on the go without using your phone batteryThe accessory is rather expensive, the battery lasts about four hours, and it's another device to charge and carry with you. View now at Neckband.viture Last year, Xreal launched itsBeam Pro Android devicethat pairs with Xreal's XR glasses to serve as a standalone media hub and spatial video creation device. Viture upgraded its Android companion, the Neckband, with the Neckband Pro, which also serves as a content hub for its XR glasses. Both Xreal and Viture incorporate a spatial UI with Nebula OS and SpaceWalker, respectively, to provide a modern visual environment.Also: CES 2025: The most advanced smart glasses we tried on - and lovedViture's updated Pro Neckband improves upon the original Neckband in nearly every way, with more CPU and GPU power, increased RAM, double the battery life, decreased weight, and improvements in heat and noise management. I've been using the Pro Neckband with the Viture Pro XR glasses for more than a week, and I look forward to my upcoming flights with the Pro Neckband. details View at Neckband.viture A dedicated Android deviceThe Viture Pro Neckband is a dedicated Android device and is treated as another Android in the Google Play ecosystem. You will need an iPhone or Android smartphone to set up the Pro Neckband, and I found setting it up with an Android phone to be a smoother experience after installing the Neckband Remote app. With the Neckband Pro not having a display, I was wondering how I was going to input usernames and passwords for various accounts in order to download video content.Three input options are supported: your connected phone through the Neckband Remote app, hand gestures, and game controllers. The trackpad on the Neckband Remote app installed on your phone is the default input method, and that works well for initial configuration, especially for entering media content passwords. I highly recommend the rather inexpensive 8BitDo controller that Viture sells since it is awesome for navigation and also lovely for seamless gaming.The hand gesture support is currently in beta form, with the final release and more gestures scheduled to launch in March or April this year. Currently, you can move the cursor around, select items (simply pinch gesture), go back, and open quick settings with your hand. A camera on the front of the right neckband arm is used to capture and track the movement of your hand and fingers, so I highly recommend you go through the tutorial and try it out. Hand gestures have been working well for me, and I look forward to continued development of this input method.Also: CES 2025: The 17 most impressive products you don't want to missThere are three buttons on the top of the left side for power, volume, and settings. The bottom settings button has four functions using various press and press/hold actions for opening the quick settings, using the Vizard AI assistant, recentering the view, and toggling ambient mode. Since I commuted with the headset and moved around quite a bit, I often used the double press to recenter the view of the glasses. Matthew Miller/ZDNETVideo, gaming, and productivity usesWhile I have primarily been using the Viture Pro XR glasses for watching video content while traveling and using SpaceWalker for productivity while on business trips and commuting, gaming is a major function of the Pro Neckband. PSPlay and XBXPlay are provided for free to Pro Neckband users so you can enjoy your PlayStation or Xbox games on the Viture Pro glasses.Also: The Best of CES 2025 awards are inVizard is the voice assistant for the Viture Pro Neckband, so you can use it to perform simple system tasks with just your voice, saving you from having to use your phone as a trackpad or make gestures in the air. Supported voice command functions include adjusting the brightness or volume and opening or closing apps. Vizard also functions as an AI-powered game assistant that can provide you with guidance and instruction for single-player console or PC games.There is a USB-C port on the bottom of the right arm, so you can charge in advance or while using the Pro Neckband. The connection to your glasses includes the magnetic attachment for the Viture Pro XR, so if you have a USB-C port on your XR glasses, you will need the small magnetic connector to USB-C port sold by Viture. Matthew Miller/ZDNETThe SpaceWalker spatial UI has a similar look and feel to an Apple Vision Pro launcher and the Nebula OS from Xreal. It's a visually appealing launcher that also supports up to three virtual displays, three degrees of freedom, and smooth follow. You can also scale the screen to match your preferences for watching content, all in the Quick Settings utility that is just a button press away on the Pro Neckband. Matthew Miller/ZDNETOne cool function that I just recently figured out is Ambient Mode. This function works with select content, including Netflix, and when you triple press the bottom settings button, Netflix will appear and play in a small window in the right corner while the glasses switch to ambient mode so you can see through them and also multi-task to view the content. This can be handy for talking with flight attendants while continuing to play your content or maybe moving around your house to another viewing location. Matthew Miller/ZDNETI like the appealing launcher, self-contained wearable form factor, and nearly four-hour battery life of the Pro Neckband, but for my use cases, I still think connecting directly to my phone is my preferred solution. I don't stream games from a PlayStation or Xbox, but I understand this functionality is very compelling for gamers looking for a big-screen intimate experience with the glasses.The Viture Pro XR glasses remain my absolute favorite thanks to the comfort, diopter dial support, bright vivid display, and quality. There is now a new feature for the Viture Pro glasses that is supported by iPads and iPhones with USB-C ports, where Viture's AI agent can now transform all 2D content into 3D via the SpaceWalker for iOS application. You can now enjoy 3D views of your family holiday photos, YouTube videos, streaming content, and much more. Photos and videos captured in standard methods from your phones can be viewed in 3D, and the AI does a solid job with very few artifacts, so I highly recommend you try this out with your Viture Pro XR glasses.ZDNET's buying adviceThe Viture Pro Neckband is a good choice for XR glasses customers looking for a self-contained media and gaming hub that allows them to keep their phone separate from the viewing experience. The modern spatial UI, SpaceWalker, looks fantastic and simulates the interface found in Apple's expensive Vision Pro glasses. Load up your favorite apps, download video content for viewing on the go, and set up your favorite games to play on the big screen via the glasses on your face.Featured reviews

The world today was engineered to be ephemeral and noisy. This is a terrible combination for an investor.On Twitter alone, there are 456,000 messages sent every minute. On Facebook, there are 510,000 comments posted every minute and 293,000 status updates. Outside of social media, there are 16 million text messages sent every minute and 156 million emails.NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 27: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during ... [+] afternoon trading on March 27, 2024 in New York City. Stocks closed out high with the Dow Jones leading closing over 400 points and is on pace to end March with its fifth straight positive month, the longest streak since August 2020 and the S&P snapping a three day streak of losses. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)Getty ImagesFor an investor, the antidote to noise is quality stock analysis. Due diligence requires dozens of hours per equity, and it takes hundreds of hours every year to produce a free newsletter with quality analysis. My firm, the I/O Fund, strives to offer some of the teams best analysis for free, and I believe the consistency and depth of what my firm provides for free is hard to replicate.My firm offers this in the most challenging sector for investors, which is hands-down the tech sector. The tech sector is unusually difficult because it involves many different verticals artificial intelligence, crypto, consumer, media, cloud, and more. Its also the highest risk and highest reward sector in the market. Due to sudden price movements in both directions, the stakes are high. Perhaps I am biased, but quality analysis particularly in the tech sector can be hard to come by.Below are highlights from my free analysis on Forbes during a strong year for AI and crypto. Although numerous investor favorites rose more than 100% during the year, many other popular tech stocks declined significantly. My firm offered our readers clues and insights for the leading stocks in AI semiconductors and software, providing unparalleled depth and quality to our free readers.MORE FOR YOUNvidia to Surpass Apples ValuationRight out the gate in 2024, I expanded on my highly regarded 2021 prediction that Nvidia would surpass Apples valuation within 5 five years; which at the time, this prediction was inconceivable as it would require not only Nvidia to go up more than 300%, but also for the tech leader Apple to plateau.I explained why Nvidia would deliver on this prediction a whole 2 years early in the February 2024 analysis, Nvidia Stock Gained $1.5 Trillion To Surpass The FAANGs - Apple Is Next. In the analysis, I pointed out that it was not just the consistency and magnitude of Nvidias multi-billion dollar revenue beats, but the expansion of its margins and earnings as revenue grew >200% for multiple quarters as it approached a $90 billion annualized scale.From that August 2021 prediction to the February 2024 update, Nvidia posted some staggering growth numbers: Data center revenue grew 676% to $18.4 billion. Data center revenue scaled from a $10 billion run rate to a $75 billion run rate in 2.5 years, a feat that took AWS 6 years to accomplish. Nvidias total revenue increased 240% during the period driven by blazing data center growth, versus a 43% increase for Apple, with iPhone revenue rising just 4.5% from fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2023. Nvidias quarterly EPS grew nearly 400% during the period, versus just 14% for Apple. Nvidias operating margin increased from 47% to nearly 67%, while Apples expanded from 28% to 34%.My firm provided a handful of reasons that would propel Nvidia to quickly become the worlds most valuable company. This included the long runway for AI accelerators AMDs executives forecast the market to reach $400 billion by 2027 with Nvidia taking the lions share. Nvidias accelerated product roadmap to a one-year release cadence lets it continue to pry away Big Tech capex, while the software opportunity beckons, already reaching a $1B+ run rate. These tailwinds combined with a valuation that was eerily low at the time considering the rapid ascent shares had made through 2023.Supply chain and demand signals point to 2025 being another strong year for Nvidia as Blackwell comes to market, with my firm tracking these data points to assess Nvidias growth potential in the year to come. I published numerous free analyses on Nvidias Blackwell; some of this explaining back in May why there was still room in the stock price as I called out institutional analyst estimates being too low (which later materialized). I also boldly wrote that delays on Blackwell were overblown, and we have gotten yet another confirmation from Nvidias management team at CES that Blackwell is shipping on time. My firms ongoing consistency and accuracy on this stock dating back to 2018 for up to 4,000% returns has been unparalleled premium members received nine real-time buy alerts below $20 in 2021 and 2022; learn more here. Nvidia Q1 Earnings Preview: Blackwell And The $200B Data Center Nvidia Stock: Blackwell Suppliers Shrug Off Delay Ahead Of Q2 Earnings Heres Why Nvidia Stock Will Reach $10 Trillion Market Cap By 2030 Nvidia Stock Is A Buy On Dips Before Blackwell Arrives In 2025 Nvidias Stock Has 70% Potential Upside For 2025Bitcoin to $100K+My firm provided two crucial updates on our game plan for Bitcoin, with his first update from April 2024 increasing our target price zones. At the time, Bitcoin was an overlooked asset compared to the over-hyped Mag 7, yet the asset has delivered superior returns compared to all of the great large-cap tech stocks in this bull cycle, minus Nvidia, while having a low inverse correlation to tech.Utilizing technical analysis and on-chain data in the analysis We Are Raising Our Bitcoin Targets To $106K - $190K, my firm explained that it was now raising its target zones for Bitcoin to $106,000 to $190,000, up from the previous zone of $75,000 to $130,000. Bitcoin was trading in the mid-$60,000 range at the time, as my firm noted that the $42,750 support region holds on any ongoing volatility, then we have no reason to doubt the uptrend in place.My firm provided another update to the Bitcoin thesis at the end of July 2024 in the analysis, Bitcoin Update: Next Stop $100,000; Bitcoin finally surpassed that historic level as 2024 came to a close. My firm explained that Bitcoin had a full corrective pattern in place that ended around $54,000 in early July, which suggests we are in the early stages of the next rally.My firm had systematically been accumulating since the start of this cycle while raising our critical supports along the way below is the history of Bitcoin buy alerts that my firm issued to our subscribers in real-time since early 2023.The I/O Fund sent out numerous buy alerts for BTC below $60,000 since early 2023.Source: I/O FundNotably, my firm assisted readers in capturing immense upside from the two top-performing large-cap tech positions in 2023 and 2024 with Nvidia and Bitcoin; the fact my firm also provided ongoing entries and risk management for these mega-winners should not be understated in terms of the value my firm has delivered. To refer my newsletter to your friends and family, please click here.Meta to Outperform SnapchatIn the January 2024 analysis, Social Media Stocks: One Metric Shows Metas Clear Leadership, I pointed out what separated Meta as a clear social media leader and why Snapchat would struggle with monetization. Since then, Meta shares have risen nearly 65%, while Snapchat has declined -28%.Meta was demonstrating improvements in ad pricing with strong ad impressions growth of >30% in Q2 and Q3 2023, while average revenue per user (ARPU) accelerated in those quarters; whereas Snapchat was struggling to effectively monetize its user base. Additionally, I explained that Meta was much more efficient with spending, maintaining R&D spending below 40% of gross profit while improving ARPU, significantly improving operating margin, and investing in AR/VR and AI technologies. Snapchat was spending around 80% of its gross profit dollars on R&D, a disproportionately high amount on R&D relative to peers while failing to increase ARPU and monetization within its user base.I pointed out that what makes Meta a clear leader is that it can maintain a high level of R&D spend while remaining a cash cow with strong operating cash flow and free cash flow growth, with OCF margin nearing 60% in Q3 2023 and OCF tracking for 50% YoY growth to $75 billion in 2023.In a follow-up analysis in March 2024, Top 3 Ad-Tech Stocks For 2024, I said that Metas key metrics [were] supporting a return to >40% operating margin for the full year and a possible >33% net margin, driven by increasing ad pricing, strong engagement trends and impressions growth, aided by the release of numerous AI features. Q3 2024s results put this prediction very close to coming true, with 9M operating margin at 39.6% and net margin at 35.8%.Amazons Cloud AccelerationIn the February 2024 analysis AI Driving Acceleration For Big 3 Cloud Stocks, I discussed how AI was impacting cloud growth at Microsoft, Amazon and Alphabet. For Amazon, I explained that in Q4 2023, AWS finally accelerated in Q4 for the first time in 2 years, with Amazon reporting 13.2% growth in Q4, up just over 1 point from Q3s 12%. However, the more important metric was AWS operating leverage improving in the second half of 2023, with operating income growth at 3x the rate of revenue in Q4.At the time, AWS was generating the majority of Amazons company-wide operating income (67% of 2023) due to its higher operating margin (27% in Q4 2023), which I had said was a trend that can strengthen with AI driving accelerated customer and revenue growth and decreased costs. This has played out, with AWS reporting a 37.8% operating margin in Q3 2024.What I had seen in February 2024 was a combination of increased customer migrations, larger and longer duration contracts, increased incremental revenue QoQ, and opportunities to better monetize the suite via AI. These factors were the necessary ingredients for AWS to show a sustained AI-driven acceleration, even though its quarterly growth rates lagged Azure and Google Cloud. AWS growth has now re-accelerated to 19%.In a follow-up article in May, Amazon Stock: Nearing $2 Trillion Club From AWS Growth & Ads Catalyst, I provided evidence that AWS was a primary contributor to Amazons push to the $2 trillion milestone. I noted that AWS was contributing more than 60% of Amazons total operating income despite contributing less than 20% of total revenue, one reason that corporate gross profit margin has quickly approached 20% and operating margin reached double-digits for the first time ever, at 10.7%. Growth from AI quickly reached a multi-billion dollar run rate, while improvements in operating leverage at AWS aided Amazons bottom line and stock price shares have risen nearly 30% since the February 2024 analysis.Honorable MentionsMy firm was also early to call out a fundamental acceleration for one of 2024s best performing AI stocks, alongside another AI-exposed ad-tech winner and an AI theme that quickly came to the forefront thanks to Nvidia.1) Palantirs Revenue AccelerationIn December 2023, my firm outlined four cloud stocks set to see revenue accelerate in 2024, with Palantir one of the four. My firm had said that Palantir was exhibiting multiple signs of acceleration heading into 2024 with an improved fundamental backdrop driven by increasing AI demand. Palantirs Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) is driving a significant acceleration in its US commercial business, while underlying metrics and the bottom line are rapidly improving: Palantir posted its first GAAP profitable quarter in February and has since reported four consecutive GAAP profitable quarters.My firm explained that revenue growth is poised to accelerate in Q4 and through 2024, boosted by AI demand, a reacceleration in Palantirs US government segment, and continued strength in the US commercial segment stemming from [AIP].Palantirs shares ended 2024 as the S&P 500s best performer with a 341% return.2) Taiwan Semiconductors AI RevenueIn April 2024, my firm discussed Taiwan Semiconductors (TSMC) revenue acceleration stemming from the strength of AI/HPC revenue, with April sales surging after Q1 showed strong advanced node revenue growth and record HPC revenue.My firm discussed how TSMC was riding the enormous wave of demand from Big Tech, with HPC revenue rising 3% QoQ to $8.68 billion in Q1 2024, a fresh record despite the first quarter typically being seasonally weaker. Additionally, my firm said reports of Nvidia and AMD fully booking out TSMCs advanced packaging capacity through the end of 2025 lent to a strong AI-driven outlook.Aprils sales numbers gave my firm confidence that TSMC was on track to land in the upper half of or above the guided range for Q2 revenue it ultimately beat estimates by $500 million, the largest in more than two years.3) AI Power ConsumptionIn June 2024, my firm published a thematic analysis on AI power consumption, and the rising power draw from next-generation GPUs. This analysis was underpinned by the rise of generative AI and surging GPU shipments [which] is causing data centers to scale from tens of thousands to 100,000-plus accelerators, shifting the emphasis to power as a mission-critical problem to solve.My firm explained how Nvidias Hopper and AMDs MI300X accelerators consume 50% to 75% more power than the prior generation, while Blackwell represented up to a 300% increase in power consumption across one generation of GPUs with AI systems increasing power consumption at a higher rate.With power draw now quickly becoming mission-critical for data centers to address due to each generation of GPUs becoming increasingly more powerful than the last, my firm pointed out that this was driving a shift to liquid cooling.For 2025, my firm has worked to identify key Nvidia suppliers with Blackwell on deck to ramp significantly, sharing our in-depth research on the AI networking stack. Sign up to join our upcoming webinar, held every Thursday at 4:30 pm EST, where we discuss buy zones for the stocks we cover plus a special, one-hour 2025 webinar held on January 14th. Learn more here.If you would like notifications when my new articles are published, please hit the button below to "Follow" me.