Okay its happening are we switching to Lemon8 or whats the plan? posted one TikTok user back in December. With a potential U.S. ban just days away, content creators scrambling for an alternative are turning their attention to the platforms sister app, Lemon8. @lillydowns lemon8 just seems so lame ugh but Instagram is even worse imo sooo we are doomed #tiktokban #lemon8 Messy Lola Young Like TikTok, Lemon8 is owned by China-based ByteDance, the tech giant behind popular apps such as the video editing tool CapCut and the creative editing app Hypic. Launched in the U.S. in 2023, the app combines TikToks scrollable For You page and short-form video with the curated aesthetic of Instagram and Pinterest. Though it sparked some media and user interest in its early days, the app hasnt taken off as much as TikTok, which has more than 170 million U.S. users, with just over one million daily active users in the U.S., according to data from the research firm SimilarWeb.However, over the past month it has climbed Apples free app charts. Sensor Tower data shows global downloads jumped by 150% in December 2024, with the U.S. accounting for 70% of those downloads. The largest spike occurred on December 19, coinciding with the Supreme Courts announcement that it would hear oral arguments over the constitutionality of the federal law that could ban TikTok.Sponsored posts have since emerged on TikTok, with creators describing Lemon8 as a backup app for TikTok users. A viral video by @strawberriredd, with nearly three million views, encouraged viewers to download Lemon8 in case of a ban. (Though labeled as sponsored, the video doesnt disclose who funded it.) Another TikTok creator, @giannamjoyce, posted a video last month urging her followers to make Lemon8 accounts, informing users that ByteDances integration of the two platforms allows TikTok users to transfer their followers to Lemon8 simply by using the same login. @giannamjoyce Lmk what you guys think about all this and if you will try it out! #trend #app #tiktokban #grwm #makeuproutine #fyp original sound gianna The bridge between the two apps has left some users scratching their heads. Can someone please tell me what Lemon8 is and why people are following me on it when I dont even have it? one confused user posted on TikTok in December. ByteDance began integrating the platforms backends last year, linking profiles and enabling data sharing by defaultthough users could opt out. While ByteDance claims the timing of Lemon8s promotional surge is unrelated to TikToks regulatory challenges, the wave of sponsored posts suggests otherwise. Lemon8 must be replacing TikTok the way they shoving it down our throats, one user posted on X.Lemon8 must be replacing TikTok the way they shoving it down our throats de$ii (@user13715171891) December 18, 2024 But theres a catch. The law, which would wipe out TikToks U.S. operation if its not sold to an approved buyer, states the divest-or-ban requirement applies generally to platforms owned or operated by ByteDance, TikTok, or their subsidiaries. While Lemon8 isnt explicitly mentioned in the legislation, its safe to say its future in the U.S. is on shaky ground. Plan C, anyone?

Five years ago,police officers stopped Jose Armando Escobar-Lopez while he was driving to his home in Daly City near San Francisco with his partner and her brother. Without giving a reason for the stop, the officers questioned him about his immigration status and facilitated his transfer to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention.The ICE transfer, which happened during Trumps first term, was a violation of Californias recently enacted sanctuary law, which prohibits local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE. Immigration advocates rallied around Escobar-Lopez, who sued the city and won a settlement. He still lives in California today. But his brush with ICE illustrates the obstacles the second Trump administration may face in pursuing mass deportations of immigrants. Such violations of Californias sanctuary laws are now less frequent, said Angela Chan, a former senior staff attorney with the Asian Law Caucus who worked on his case and coauthored areporttracking sanctuary law violations. Weve shifted the practice statewide where the default is to not turn someone over to ICE, she said.Trump has vowed to carry out mass deportations on his first day back in office. However, that agenda will likely face significant obstacles in jurisdictions like California, where sanctuary laws limit cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE. During his first term, immigrant advocates secured the passage of a sanctuary law known as Senate Bill 54, or the California Values Act. Today,11 states, including Oregon, Colorado, and New York, have sanctuary laws that prevent information sharing with ICE, to varying degrees. Immigrant advocates are hopeful that these laws will thwart Trumps agenda.But the incoming administration is already devising ways to get around these laws, including increasing the presence of ICE agents in sanctuary jurisdictions. Trumps second term is likely to spark a cat-and-mouse game between the administration and sanctuary states, with federal officials ramping up immigration enforcement and threatening to withhold funding from states, while states prepare legal defenses and bolster policies to shield undocumented residents.Still, the lack of cooperation from sanctuary cities is significant. Local and state law enforcement officers act as a force multiplier for ICE agents. More than 70% of ICE arrests made inside the U.S. are the result of handoffs from other law enforcement agencies, according to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, a national nonprofit that advocates for immigrant rights. Sanctuary laws prevent these handoffs by blocking local and state agencies from sharing information or cooperating with ICE.Chan believes sanctuary laws will continue to throw a wrench in Trumps plans. Under Trumps first term, he was not able to deport as many people as he wanted, and he actually deported less people than under the Obama administration, because of local and state sanctuary laws like Californias that prevented him from being able to do that, Chan said.How the Trump administration could attempt mass deportationsEven before Trump takes office, his administration is clashing with sanctuary jurisdictions.In November, Trumps appointee for border czar, Tom Homan, lashed out at Los Angeles city officials for adopting a sanctuary policy. If you dont wanna help, get the hell outta the way, he said on Newsmax. If I gotta send twice as many officers to L.A. because were not getting any assistance, then thats what were going to do.Homan also threatened to slash federal funding to sanctuary states that oppose deportationssomething Trump tried in 2020. California won its lawsuit blocking the Trump administration from placing immigration enforcement conditions on federal law enforcement grants. The state is preparing for a repeat; during a special session in early December, lawmakers introduced a bill to set aside $25 million for legal fees to respond to the administrations attacks on state policies, including immigration.Still, there are actions Trump can take on day one to roll back protections for immigrantseven for people in sanctuary states.One of his earliest moves could be canceling Biden administration orders. He could reverse anorderthat prioritized deporting undocumented immigrants who committed serious crimes, or had recently arrived, while deprioritizing those deemed non-threatening, according to Muzaffar Chishti, senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute. That will happen reasonably close to day one, Chishti said.Trump could also cancel a Biden-era order directing ICE to avoid arrests at sensitive locations like courts, schools, hospitals and places of worship, warned Jehan Laner, senior staff attorney for the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.The Trump administration could end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which allows undocumented individuals brought to the U.S. as children to stay and work, but in aninterview with NBCin early December, Trump said he was open to working with Democrats to pass legislation to allow them to stay in the country. Trump has also repeatedlythreatenedto scale back Temporary Protected Status, which provides temporary residency to people from countries experiencing conflict or natural disasters.Trump is likely to prioritize deporting people who have final removal orders, as they have exhausted most of their legal options. Where is the lowest-hanging fruit of low resistance? That will be people with final orders of removal, Chishti said.These actions will shrink protections for certain groups, but the Trump administration will still confront significant impediments in its efforts to arrest, detain and deport people, Chishti said. Those who are likely to be targeted are spread out across the country, and workplace raids and home arrests require a warrant or consent to enter. Also, immigrants are entitled to due process.Another major challenge is a lack of detention capacity. Building detention facilities requires funds appropriated by Congress and time to construct the necessary facilities. The American Immigration Councilestimatesthe cost of building detention centersand alternative detention programs such as ankle monitors with GPS trackingat more than $700 billion. That makes a mass deportation, from a logistical point of view, not an easy sell, Chishti said. He added that deportations require the cooperation of countries that may refuse to accept deportees.Trumps deportation agenda will be easiest to carry out in Republican states that are eager to offer their resources, including deploying their National Guards. Texas, for instance, is already using the National Guard for border enforcement. The administration can also send the military to provide logistical support, such as transportation and maintaining infrastructure, Chishti said. But blue states are vowing legal challenges if the administration attempts to federalize the National Guard or send troops across state lines.Trump said in theNBC interviewthat his deportations would begin by targeting undocumented immigrants who have committed a crime, and then branch out to include people without criminal backgrounds. Coordinating with jail and prison systems is one way to identify undocumented immigrants with criminal records, Laner said. Many sanctuary states, including California, still allow prisons and jails to facilitate transfer of prisoners to ICE.How Sanctuary Jurisdictions Can Limit Trumps PlansOne way sanctuary states can get ahead of the administration is to pass new laws to close loopholes that allow prisons and jails to cooperate with ICE. These stronger laws already exist in Oregon and Illinois, Chan said. California State Attorney General Rob BontatoldThe Guardianin November that officials should explore options to reinforce and strengthen the states sanctuary law.Although were very proud of the California Values Act and the impact its made in protecting Californians, at this point, its not the strongest policy in the country, Chan said.She suggested that Gov. Gavin Newsom use his pardon power to prevent deportations. In 2021, Newsom pardoned two formerly incarcerated firefighters who were at risk of deportation to Laos. They were released from ICE detention and returned to their homes in California.Although sanctuary laws prevent local and state officers from cooperating with ICE, Chan said immigrant advocates still must play a watchdog role to ensure agencies comply with the law. In California, Chan and other advocates filed records requests and sued noncompliant police agencies until the sanctuary law SB 54 became the status quo.What I learned from SB 54 is that laws dont implement themselves, Chan said. We breathed life into that law by being so organized in how we implemented it. . . . Were going to need to do the same under Trump 2.0.If that all goes well, I think we will have a pretty strong defense against the Trump administrations attacks on our communities, she added.But Trumps threats are already creating a chill. What he will definitely accomplish is instilling a real sense of fear in immigrant communities, Chishti said.People who fear that they or their family members are at risk will not report crimes or assert their rights. They will live in the shadows. Thats a dark outcome, without even lifting a finger, he said.Hilary Beaumont, Capital & MainThis piece was originally published by Capital & Main, which reports from California on economic, political, and social issues.

If you try thinking about the most important smartphone accessory, youd probably first think of protective cases and power banks. In reality, a charger is probably the most critical sidekick to a mobile device, to the point that there were a lot of ruffled feathers when Apple, followed by other manufacturers, started excluding it from smartphone boxes. Admittedly, there is an overabundance of chargers out in the wild, justifying that sustainability strategy, but chargers have seemingly been ignored by designers despite their popularity.With the emergence of charging technologies like GaN (Gallium nitride), chargers can be even more compact or, conversely, take on less conventional shapes, appearances, and even materials. Designers now have more wiggle room to craft a charger that you wont hide away in embarrassment but even proudly display on your desk, even when youre not charging anything.Designer: Gazelle (Wise Integration)Like many simple electronics, smartphone chargers are commonly boxy in shape to maximize the space inside while also making the design compact. The last thing you need is to take out a bulky charger that sharply contrasts with your thin and luxurious smartphone but even then, charger designs often look either uninspiring or too technical. Apple mastered the art of minimalist charger design, of course, but not everyone subscribes to that aesthetic.The Gazelle TheOne offers an alternative that turns the charger into a sleek and elegant design object. Its curvy, pebble-like shape makes it look quite appealing, and the layer of color on top adds a bit of character to the design. Its definitely larger than your average phone or laptop charger, and it might compete for space on cramped power outlets or strips, but it makes up for that by looking good while being rather visible.TheOne charger also challenges the status quo by offering a design thats also more sustainable, attacking the problem of e-waste from a different angle. The chargers base is made from recycled resin, for example, and the casing makes use of recycled plastics as well. Interestingly, the packaging for the charger, in addition to being fully recyclable, can also be used as a boxy phone holder in the meantime.Gazelle is able to pull off this unconventional charger design thanks to the use of Wise Integrations GaN technology. That said, despite the chargers large size, it is capped at a maximum of 65W. Thats plenty fast for a smartphone or tablet, but it will struggle to keep up with many laptops. At the end of the day, TheOne is a challenge to long-held mindsets that chargers have to be bland and downright unattractive.The post Gazelle TheOne GaN charger offers a more stylish and sustainable way to power up first appeared on Yanko Design.

Apples products and features are built from the ground up with innovative privacy protections, including Siri.

A judge in Brazil believes that Apple and Google distributing an app called FaceApp in their respective app stores is enough to charge them for the app's blatant disregard for user privacy.FaceApp is a popular app for manipulating photos with filtersChances are you've heard of FaceApp, and if you haven't, you've at least seen the results of the creepy manipulation of users' faces on social media. The app lets users alter photos to extreme extents, from changing skin tone and lip size to aging a person.According to a report from UOL shared by 9to5Mac, Apple and Google have been fined about $3.1 million in Brazil after allowing FaceApp to be distributed on their app stores. Even though Apple and Google aren't responsible for the development of the app, its availability in Brazil is, and it is allegedly violating the law. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Ill see your arm and raise you an arm and two legs. It was the battle of the bots on the CES show floor as robot vacuum manufacturers Dreame and Roborock each added limbs to their rival robovacs.Dreame launched its X50 Ultra at the show earlier this week, debuting the first robovac that can use its legs to navigate steps and room transitions up to 6cm high. But elsewhere at the show, competitor Roborock was showing off its latest flagship, the Saros Z70, which has an arm that can pick up items like socks.Not to be outdone, Dreame then showed off a soon-to-be-released model at its CES booth, combining those two step-climbing legs with a robotic arm of its own.Dreames model has a chunkier-looking arm than the Roborocks, and it says it can pick up items up to 500 grams, whereas Roborocks can only tackle items up to 300 grams. Dreame says its arm can pick up sneakers as large as mens size 42 (a size 9 in the US) and take them to a designated spot in your home. The concept could apply to small toys and other items, and youll be able to designate specific areas for the robot to take certain items, such as toys to the playroom and shoes to the front door.However, I didnt see the robot picking up a sneaker or anything at all apparently, the infamous CES show floor Wi-Fi couldn't hack it. Instead, they showed the robust-looking arm moving up, down, and around while the robot lifted itself up on its two small legs. It looked like a tiny horse.The robot vacuum lifting itself up on its legs while its arm stretches out. Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The VergeAnother interesting invention is a separate toolbox with various brushes that Dreame says the arm can connect to, enabling it to reach into corners and tight spaces where the bot itself cannot go and sweep out the dirt and dust. They also had a new base station that dispenses multiple mopping pads. This allows the robot to choose different pads for different jobs around your home one for the kitchen another for the bathroom to help avoid cross-contamination around your home. Dreames Longdong Chen told The Verge that the step-climbing, tool-using, arm-touting bot should be available later this year. A price hasnt been announced, but its a safe bet that itll cost an arm and a leg.

Microsoft is rolling back a model upgrade to its AI-powered Bing Image Creator, reports TechCrunch. The rollback came after weeks of complaints by users that the tool just didnt work as well after Microsoft upgraded to a new version of the DALL-E 3 model on December 18th.Microsoft declined to comment on its decision to roll things back or offer specifics on what may be causing the gap between users expectations and its output.Today, Microsofts head of search, Jordi Ribas, tweeted that they could reproduce some of the issues reported and are reverting to an older version of the DALL-E model for now, although it could take a few weeks until its complete.As soon as Ribas posted about the change in December, there were complaints that Bing Image Creator was producing less-detailed results or images that didnt accurately reflect their prompts. In his initial replies, Ribas said the models output quality should be a bit better on average than before. RelatedIt was the same story in posts and comments on Reddit and OpenAIs community forums. On OpenAIs forums, a person complained about the models handling of fabric on an anime-style characters dress. The person who posted the below images says the one on the left is perfect quality while the one on the right is over-lit. Screenshot: OpenAI community forumAnother didnt like the way Bing placed starburst effects: Screenshot: OpenAI community forumAll of these things are subjective, and I cant claim to think any of them look better than any others. If anything, it feels like an indication that Microsoft doesnt just have to deal with complaints about bugs or people upset about feature changes now it has to deal with AI art critics comparing the machines output to what they imagine it should create. Perhaps they should ask the artists whose work the generators were trained on for tips about managing a clients expectations?

Microsoft is preparing for a major Surface announcement later this month. The software giant has started teasing a major announcement from Surface for Business this week in a LinkedIn post spotted by Windows Central. The announcement will be made during Microsofts AI tour in New York City on January 30th.Microsoft is rumored to be launching Intel-powered variants of its Surface Laptop 7 and Surface Pro 11 devices soon, and a prototype of a Surface Laptop 7 with Intels Lunar Lake chips appeared on a Chinese second-hand marketplace in October. Its likely that Microsoft will announce Lunar Lake versions of the Surface Laptop 7 and Surface Pro 11 that are designed for businesses.TheSurface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6both shipped with Intels Meteor Lake processors earlier in 2024, before Microsoft went on to launch refreshed Surface Copilot Plus devices with new designs and Qualcomm chips. The Surface Laptop Studio is also due for an upgrade from the current models 13th Gen Intel chips, but thats less of a business-focused device so its unlikely to be part of this event. There are also rumors of an 11-inch Surface Go / Surface Laptop Go hybrid device powered by a Snapdragon X Plus processor, but again thats unlikely to be targeted to businesses.Well be following Microsofts AI tour live later this month, so stay tuned for details on the Surface major announcement.

We're not even 10 days into 2025, and the gaming deals are heating up already. At the tip of that spear are the cheapest preorder prices for the next big upcomings on my radarMonster Hunter Wilds, Sniper Elite Resistance, and Kingdom Come Deliverance II. Without saying too much too soon, I've played parts of at least two of those three titles, and I think they're coming along quite well. And now I'll shut right up.In retro news, Im celebrating the 22nd birthday of Street Fighter Alpha 3 on GBA, a pretty incredible port of the PS One version. Though the BGMs and voice SFX werent always authentic, and the fighters had fewer animation frames, Crawfish Interactive otherwise shoryukened this shoehorned-down port out of the park. I got much RSI of the thumbs playing this on the go (especially using the portable only fighter additions of Yun, Eagle, Ingrid, and Maki). That progressed to early-onset arthritis when a mate got his own cart and a Ryu/Ken rivalry ensued via Game Link Cable.As a general rule, I Maki no friends with Dan. (Note: this is a PSP version screen.) This Day in Gaming Aussie birthdays for notable games.- Street Fighter Alpha 3 (GBA) 2003. Redux- Story of Seasons (3DS) 2016. GetTable of ContentsNice Savings for Nintendo SwitchSlay the Spire9/10, Amazing. Slay the Spire takes some of the best parts of deckbuilding games, roguelikes, and dungeon crawlers, and mixes them into a wholly new and extremely satisfying package.It Takes Two (-43%) - A$34Mario & Luigi: Brothership (-15%) - A$68Prince Of Persia: TLC (-43%) - A$28.89The Messenger (-80%) - A$6Wolfenstein II: TNC (-85%) - A$8.24Expiring Recent DealsOr gift a Nintendo eShop Card.Switch Console PricesHow much to Switch it up?Switch OLED + Mario Wonder: $539 $499 | Switch Original: $499 $448 | Switch OLED Black: $539 $479 | Switch OLED White: $539 $479 | Switch Lite: $329 $299 | Switch Lite Hyrule: $339 $299See itBack to topPurchase Cheap for PCMeta Quest 3S + BatmanTake it from a more than happy owner of one of these. The 3S a brilliant bit of kit and Batman is more or less a killer app (although you dont actually kill as him).Elite Dangerous (-79%) - A$6.20Monster Hunter Wilds (-18%) - A$104.95Civ VII (-12%) - A$105.55Helldivers 2 (-23%) - A$49.85Logitech G502 X PLUS (-40%) - A$178 Expiring Recent DealsBorderlands Pandoras Box Col. (-94%) - A$52.28Chess Ultra (-70%) - A$5.55Road Redemption (-88%) - A$4.34FFVII Rebirth (-30%) - A$73.46Star Wars Bounty Hunter (-50%) - A$14.75Far Cry 5 (-85%) - A$13.49Far Cry 5 Gold (-85%) - A$20.24Far Cry 5 + New Dawn (-85%) - A$22.49Or just get a Steam Wallet CardPC Hardware PricesSlay your pile of shame.Official launch in NovSteam Deck 256GB LCD: $649 | Steam Deck 512GB OLED: $899 | Steam Deck 1TB OLED: $1,049See it at SteamBack to topExciting Bargains for Xbox256GB version!Metaphor: ReFantazio9/10, Amazing. The Archetype system and all the new wrinkles Atlus has added to the turn-based battles build upon a strong foundation, and the social elements are streamlined to better deliver the most important aspects of the stories they tell.Monster Hunter Wilds (-17%) - A$99CoD: BLOPS 6 (-20%) - A$89Undisputed (-37%) - A$57Metal Gear Solid: Master Col. (-41%) - A$50.39Expiring Recent DealsOr just invest in an Xbox Card.Xbox Console PricesHow many bucks for a 'Box? Series X: $799 $729 | Series S Black: $549 $545 | Series S White:$499 $471 | Series S Starter: N/ASee itBack to topPure Scores for PlayStationMonster Hunter WildsPlay as a professional monster hunter, protecting the balance of the ecosystem (by...er, slaughtering monsters). Use the resources you gain from hunts to craft ever more powerful weapons and armor in your quest to unravel the mysteries of the new lands.Crisis Core: FF7 Reunion (-22%) - A$66.34Top Spin (-66%) - A$34F1 24 (-46%) - A$59.95CoD: BLOPS 6 (-20%) - A$88Granblue Fantasy: Relink (-45%) - A$47Expiring Recent DealsPS+ Monthly FreebiesYours to keep from Jan 7 with this subscriptionSuicide Squad: KTJL [PS5]NFS Hot Pursuit Remastered [PS4]The Stanley Parable: Ultra [PS4/5]Or purchase a PS Store Card.What you'll pay to 'Station.PS5 Slim Disc:$799 $759 | PS5 Slim Digital:679 $678 | PS VR2: $899 | PS VR2 + Horizon: $899 | PS5 Pro $1,199 | PS Portal: $329See itBack to topLegit LEGO DealsLEGO Botanicals SaleAmazon AU seems to have a few of these flower sets (Cherry Blossoms, Sunflowers, or Daffodils) that are all going for the same price. And heythey beat the hell out of having to water plants.Animal Crossing: Dodo Airlines (-45%) - A$33Technic: Mercedes-Benz G 500 (-38%) - A$249Architecture: London (-27%) - A$43.95Expiring Recent DealsSonic: Knuckles Emerald Shrine (-42%) - A$35City: Fire Station (-34%) - A$99Botanicals Wreath (-29%) - A$119.95Back to top Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.

Production on some of Hollywood's biggest shows, including the next season of Fallout, have come to a screeching halt after several major fires broke out across Los Angeles county.Variety reports that filming permits across fire-stricken areas have been withdrawn, which means that the re-start of production for Fallout Season 2 has been potponed, though just until Friday. NBCUnviersal says that production Hacks, Loot, Ted, Suits: LA, and Happy's Place have been suspendended as well.Elsewhere, CBS has halted production on NCIS, NCIS: Origins, and After Midnight, while Disney has paused Doctor Odyssey, Grey's Anatomy, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. Lastly, Warner Bros. studio in Burbank was closed, affecting Abbot Elementary among other shows.Amazon will be looking to get Fallout up and running soon as the first season was a surprise hit for the streamer, and maybe even for fans who were not provided with a lot of details about the show before it premiered.Produced by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy of Westworld fame, Fallout tells an original story in the post-apocalyptic RPG series following three characters: Vault Dweller Lucy MacLean, Brotherhood of Steel squire Maximus, and Cooper Howard, a ghoul who survived The War that destroys America.Fallout recorded 65 million viewers in the first 16 days, becoming the second most-watched show on Prime Video behind The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The show kicked off a renewed interest in a new Fallout game, though Bethesda themselves are committed on a new Elder Scrolls game first.Check out IGN's full review of the first season and we'll hope that production can resume quickly for these shows.Matt Kim is IGN's Senior Features Editor.