The following article discusses adult themes.There was a legend in my high school about turning your PlayStation 2 into an ersatz vibrator by creating a custom skate park in Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3. Build a circular grind rail, turn off the ability to fall, jump on it and your DualShock would launch into a never ending frenzy of haptic feedback. Its an idea the team at Motorbunny is taking to its logical conclusion, adding a wireless controller for its eponymous ride on sex toy that can connect to a DualSense controller. Its pitch is that youll be able to combine getting your game on with getting off. And yes, I am ashamed for writing that sentence.The company was at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, showing off PlayMate, its wireless dongle that can control the beefy saddle-style toy. In its demo, the PlayMate was plugged into the USB-C port on the back of a DualSense controlling a PS5 playing Rocket League. Except theres no way to pull the haptics data from the DualSense, or any other gaming handset, for that matter. Instead, it has a built-in gyroscope that will track how aggressively you pitch and tilt your controller, and uses that information to control the Motorbunny. This isnt as good as the Tony Hawk plan from 2001, but will at least enable some folks to merge both of their hobbies at the same time.PlayMate is one of a suite of products the company is releasing, including a series of less expensive vibes under the Fluffer label. This is a sub-brand designed to tie in the worlds of gaming and sex, with the app even having some arcade games that you can use to control your toys. In one demo, there was a Flappy Bird clone that would increase the intensity of the vibration the longer you were able to keep the bird in the air. Sadly the company wasnt ready to share details of pricing and availability just yet, but said a whole host of products would be hitting the market in the following months.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/motorbunnys-playmate-lets-your-console-kinda-control-your-vibe-233001475.html?src=rss

Meta is continuing to overhaul its moderation and content rules. Instagram head Adam Mosseri posted today that Instagram and Threads will start including political content in recommendations. It's a reversal from the policy the two platforms adopted last year, which made political content something users had to choose if they wanted to see. Now, Mosseri said that there will be three levels of political content that Instagram and Threads users can pick to see: less, standard (which will be the default) and more."Its proven impractical to draw a red line around what is and is not political content," Mosseri wrote. The change will begin rolling out this week in the US and in the rest of the world over the coming weeks. This announcement is the latest in a series of shifts Meta is making that seem like efforts to curry favor with President-elect Donald Trump. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the company would eliminate third-party fact-checkers in favor of a Community Notes model for Facebook, Instagram and Threads, mimicking the approach taken at X (formerly Twitter). Nick Clegg stepped down as Meta's president of global affairs to be replaced by Joel Kaplan, who is well-connected to Republicans in Washington DC.Yesterday, Instagram was also discovered to have blocked several LGBTQ hashtags and treated them as "sexually suggestive material" for months. The company said this was an error.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/threads-and-instagram-will-recommend-political-content-after-all-232343107.html?src=rss

Automotive heads up displays (HUDs) have been around as far back as 1988, and while theyve gotten brighter and more colorful over the years, even todays most sophisticated implementations still feel a bit primitive. But after seeing what Hyundai Mobis (which makes auto parts for Hyundai, Kia and Genesis) is calling the worlds first full-windshield holographic display at CES 2025, it felt like I was looking at a major evolution in-car infotainment.Unlike traditional reflective HUDs, Hyundai Mobis holographic windshield display (HWD) consists of two main components: a projector (or in this case multiple projectors) hidden beneath the dash and a special optical film with a carefully tuned wavelength sensitivity embedded inside the windshield itself. This combination allows the HWD to pump out brighter and more colorful images with much shallower viewing angles. Unless youre sitting in the right spot, you may not even see the HUD at all.Because of the HWD's narrow viewing angles, Hyundai Mobis set up a separate demo to better show what it looks like. When installed in a car, the HWD's small sweet spot means the passenger's displays is not visible from the driver's side and vice versa, which is good for eliminating distractions.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetOn the Hyundai Mobis Kia EV9 demo vehicle, the HWD isnt limited to just a small corner at the bottom of the windshield. Instead, its split up into three different zones that span the entire width of the car: two for the driver and one dedicated to the passenger. For the driver, the HWD can display basic stuff like the cars speed, directions and more. But where things get interesting is when it shows holographic 3D maps that can adjust in real-time based on your position, adding an entirely new dimension to help you reach your destination.For passengers, their dedicated section of the HWD can be used independently for checking vehicle information or simply watching a video or playing games. Critically, because of the limited viewing angles of Hyundai Mobis tech, the driver cant see the passengers side of the HWD, so theres no distraction risk. The whole system is rather impressive, because so much of the tech is hidden beneath the dashboard. The only evidence that this HWD is different from more traditional implementations is that if you look really closely at the windshield when its off, you can see a faint outline where the optical film is sandwiched between the glass.After checking out Hyundai Mobis demo, I also got a chance to talk to one of the engineers behind the HWD, Dr. Minho Shin, who added additional context and insight about the tech. Through a translator, Dr. Shin told me that the company envisions its HWD as a way to augment the main display found in most modern cars, which will most likely serve as the main control center for manipulating what you see on the windshield. And for passengers, its possible they will be able to control what they see on their side of the HWD simply by casting content from their phones. Furthermore, the placement and size of the holographic display makes it easier for the driver to see and interact with helpful tools like real-time 3D maps compared to current tech. Dr. Shin even said that its possible to create a version of the HWD that would cover both the entire width and vertical height of the windshield, which seems like something straight out of every sci-fi or cyberpunk movie ever made. However, due to laws in many countries, that kind of functionality isnt widely permitted.A passenger-side view of Hyundai Mobis' HWD. Notice how you can't see the two sections of the display on the driver's side of the car.Photo by Sam RutherfordNow it must be mentioned that at CES 2025, BMW demoed similar technology with its Panoramic iDrive system. The Bavarian automakers approach is arguably a bit further along, at least when it comes to being integrated into its existing infotainment system and its availability, which is slated to arrive on all new models by the end of 2025. However, when you look closer, it almost seems like BMW is cheating a bit by using a black film that goes along the bottom of the windshield instead of being completely transparent like with the HWD, which may give Hyundai Mobis tech significantly improved driver visibility and awareness.While BMWs panoramic HUD is slated to arrive first, Hyundai Mobis wont be far behind as the company hopes to put its HWD into production by the end of 2026.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/a-holographic-windshield-from-hyundai-mobis-is-a-big-upgrade-for-in-car-huds-at-ces-2025-230050196.html?src=rss

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Bank tellers, cashiers, postal workers, and the jobs of administrative assistants are among those forecast to decline by 2030, according to the World Economic Forums Future of Jobs Report, which was released ahead of the groups annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, later this month.In all, the World Economic Forum (WEF) estimates new job creation and job displacement will amount to 22% of todays total jobs, and specifically, 170 million jobs will be created, equivalent to 14% of current employment. This growth is expected to be offset by the loss of 92 million jobs, resulting in a net growth of 78 million jobs by 2030.The report is based on data from more than 1,000 leading global employers, representing more than 14 million workers across more than 20 industries in 55 global economies. The data looked at how macrotrends impact jobs and skills, and what strategies employers plan to implement to meet the emerging jobs landscape in 2030.Technological advancements, demographic shifts, geo-economic tensions, economic uncertainty, and the green transition are key drivers of these changes, and are expected to reshape industries and professions worldwide, according to the report.Heres a summary of some of the key findings:Jobs in declineClerical and secretarial workers, including cashiers, ticket clerks, administrative assistants, and executive secretaries are expected to see the largest decline in absolute numbers. The fastest-declining roles are also expected to include postal service clerks, bank tellers, and data entry workers.Jobs predicted to growFrontline job roles are predicted to see the largest growth in terms of absolute volume, including: farmworkers, delivery drivers, construction workers, salespeople, and food-processing workers. Care economy jobs, such as nurses, social workers, counselors, and personal care aides are also expected to grow significantly over the next five years, alongside teachers.Tech roles in the age of AITechnology-related roles are the fastest-growing jobs in terms of percentage, and include: big data specialists, fintech engineers, AI and machine learning specialists, and software and application developers. Green and energy transition roles, including autonomous and electric vehicle specialists, environmental engineers, and renewable energy engineers, also feature within the top fastest-growing roles.Most in-demand skills for employersThe report also found that the top in-demand skills and areas of growth are in technology within AI, big data, and cybersecurity, and 41% of employers intend to downsize as AI automates existing tasks.But human skills like critical and creative thinking, including resilience, flexibility, and agility remain highly sought after. In fact, analytical thinking is the most sought-after core skill among employers, with 7 out of 10 companies calling it essential.On average, workers can expect 39% of their existing skill sets will be transformed or become outdated in the next 5 years. However, skill instability has slowed from 44% in 2023, as determined in the WEFs last Future of Jobs report. This is likely due to the fact that workers are upskilling, or getting additional training.

Weve been told that the future is now, but it seems its not quite here yetat least for quantum computing.Quantum computing, a relatively niche sector of the tech industry, saw solid gains in the stock market last year, as companies such as Rigetti Computing (Nasdaq: RGTI), D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS), IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), Quantum Computing (Nasdaq: QUBT), and others saw share values soar. But the party is coming to a crashing halt, at least for now.On Tuesday, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said that he thinks any practical use for quantum computing technology was a long way off, and likely decades away, according to reporting from Reuters. Its worth noting that Nvidia, a chipmaker which has likewise seen share values soar largely due to increased interest and adoption in artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. Even so, when Huang speaks, investors listenand quantum computing stocks took it on the chin on Wednesday morning after digesting his comments.As of roughly 11 AM ET on Wednesday, shares of Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, IonQ, and Quantum Computing were all down roughly 50%.However, its worth keeping things in perspective: Rigetti stock is up 735% over the past year, D-Wave Quantum shares are up 467%, IonQ shares are up 115%, and Quantum Computing shares are up almost 900%.In effect, while quantum computing may have been seen as a tech sector that could keep propelling the market, much like AI stocks did last year, the quantum rally may be a bit further off than some investors anticipated. The segment is complicated, tooquantum computing operates on the principles of physics, rather than the classic binary system, and the technology is still largely experimental and theoretical.As such, there arent commercial quantum computers available to the typical consumer on the market, and theres no guarantee that they ever will be.

Kevin OLeary of Shark Tank fame and billionaire Frank McCourt, ex-owner of the Dodgers, are teaming up to save TikTok from a looming U.S. ban. Their coalition, the Peoples Bid for TikTok, aims to buy the apps U.S. operations, promising a platform that prioritizes the privacy of TikToks roughly 170 million American users.This isnt just about buying TikToks U.S. assets, OLeary said in a statement on X on Monday. Its about something much bigger: protecting the privacy of 170 million American users. Its about empowering creators and small businesses. And its about building a platform that prioritizes people over algorithms.OLeary insists he cant do it alone. Trump will be who we have to work with to close the deal in the months ahead, he said during a recent appearance on Fox News The Story with Martha MacCallum. So, I wanted to let him knowas well as others in his cabinetthat were doing this, and were going to need their help.TikToks future currently hangs by a thread as a January 19 deadline approaches. A 2024 bipartisan law mandates ByteDance, TikToks Chinese parent, to sell the platform to a U.S. company before the deadlinethe day before Trumps inaugurationor face a nationwide ban.In December, McCourt, founder of Project Liberty and executive chairman of McCourt Global, unveiled plans to assemble a team to acquire TikTok. Dubbed the Peoples Bid for TikTok, this consortium is spearheaded by Project Liberty with a mission to empower users by giving them control over their own data. According to the Project Liberty website, McCourt has reportedly secured verbal commitments of up to $20 billion to back the purchase.But OLeary and McCourt are not the only ones throwing their hat in the ring. Some have suspected Amazon as one of the potential buyers, especially after the two companies teamed up this year to let users browse and buy Amazon products on TikTok. Oracle and Walmart might also try again to buy TikTok, after their 2020 attempt was stopped by the Biden administration due to security concerns. Whether or not Microsoft reenters the picture remains to be seen, even though CEO Satya Nadella said he was happy with what I have when talks initially fell through in 2020.Just last year, after news of the upcoming ban broke, a number of bids were made. Video-sharing site Rumble offered to buy TikTok in March and said it would join a group of companies looking to acquire it. Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also has shown interest, telling CNBC in March that he planned to form a group to make an offer. Whether someone can save TikTok, we will have to wait and see.

Wildfires in Los Angeles and surrounding areas have destroyed thousands of structures including residential and commercial real estate and caused two known deaths since its start on Tuesday.Driven by high-velocity winds, the fire has spread to cover more than 11,000 acres, causing massive destruction and forcing more than 50,000 people to evacuate, as well as covering much of the LA metropolitan area in smoke and ash.According to the LA Times, thousands of structures have already burned down in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood, an affluent area tucked between the hills and the Pacific Ocean.Modernist icon the Eames House (Case Study House No. 8) and Case Study House No. 18 sit in the south of the fire's incident zone and as of Wednesday morning, staff had evacuated and taken several articles of furniture. While currently "at risk" the site has so far been unharmed by the fire, according to the foundation."We are closely monitoring the situation and the Eames Foundation has taken every precaution to protect the site," said Eames Foundation executive director Lucia Dewey Atwood at 1:00 pm local time today."Yesterday, the foundation's team worked quickly to remove a small number of objects from the house before they had to evacuate the building."As of today, the local firefighting efforts have been constrained by grounding orders for firefighting aircraft due to high winds and dwindling water resources. On Wednesday morning, LA fire chief Brent Pascua called the scenes at the fire "apocalyptic".Reportedly, officials have had to use bulldozers to clear cars abandoned by fleeing people for emergency vehicles to pass."Total destruction" in MalibuHundreds of homes, restaurants and other structures have been consumed by the fire, including the Palisades Library and Palisades Charter High School, according to the New York Times.The Pacific Palisades fire has spread as far north as Malibu and burning buildings were recorded along the Pacific Coast Highway as of this afternoon.NBC news correspondent Liz Kreutz posted on X Wednesday afternoon that there was "total destruction" in Malibu along the Pacific Coast Highway.Tens of thousands of structures remain at risk, including the home of US vice president Kamala Harris as well as several notable works of architecture including Getty Villa, which closed to non-essential personnel on Tuesday after fire spread to the property. Current reports claimed the 1950s home of tycoon John Paul Getty, which also has a museum, "narrowly" avoided the fire.The Julius Ralph Davidson-designed Thomas Mann House is also under threat, as is Ray Kappe's Keeler House, near the worst of the fire in Pacific Palisades.Late this morning, major fires in Eaton and Hurst also began. The fire in Eaton grew almost fourfold to cover more than 10,000 acres in a matter of hours, driven by the high winds, spreading into nearby Altadena and threatening Pasadena. Other, smaller fires were also reported late Wednesday afternoon.Read: "The design professions are not stepping up to address the wildfires problem"The Pasadena Jewish Temple was reportedly destroyed in the blaze.Other structures at risk by the Eaton Fire include the early-20th-century Arts and Craft-style Gamble House.Throughout the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, hundreds of schools and businesses were closed. Local design studio Ravenhill Studio noted some of its staff was "under evacuation orders", and big-ticket events such as an NHL game and the awards broadcast Critics Choice Awards were cancelled.Blame has been levied at the local government and mayor, citing their slashing of the fire budget by $17.6 million last year.Some pointed to the changing climate and out-of-date building practices as primary drivers of the disaster."American homes were built for an environment that no longer exists. This like all of the disasters this century, from Florida to Hawaii must be a call to action," said CBS news correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti on X.Fires in January are not unprecedented, but the fire season usually lasts between the summer months and October, but this year the city has been experiencing a drought, allowing for the unseasonable intensity of the fire.Photo by Ariam23 via Wikipedia CommonsThe post Eames House under threat as more than 1000 buildings destroyed in "apocalyptic" LA fire appeared first on Dezeen.