Pixelfed is now available as a mobile apps for both iOS and Android. The open source, decentralized platform offers image sharing similar to Instagram. However, Pixelfed has no advertisements and does not share user data with third parties. The platform launched in 2018, but was only available on the web or through third-party app clients. The Android app debuted on January 9 and the iOS app released today.Creator Daniel Supernault posted on Mastodon Monday evening that the platform had 11,000 users join over the preceding 24 hours and that more than 78,000 posts have been shared to Pixelfed to date. The platform runs on ActivityPub, the same protocol that powers several other decentralized social networks in the fediverse, such as Mastodon and Flipboard.Many Instagram users have been seeking out alternatives to the Meta-owned platform after the company said it would eliminate third-party fact checking and revised its "Hateful Content" policy to allow denigrating comments against women and trans people, among other changes. Meta also blocked some links to Pixelfed on Facebook, treating them as spam and deleting those posts. A representative from the company said this was an error and that the posts would be reinstated.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/pixelfed-instagrams-decentralized-competitor-is-now-on-ios-and-android-205059236.html?src=rss

The world's biggest tech show had lots of AI humanoid robots, but also some affordable gadgets you can buy right now too.

Bitcoin bounced on Tuesday, rising with other risk assets as traders digested a light inflation reading.

A U.S. watchdog is suing Capital One for allegedly misleading consumers about its offerings for high-interest savings accounts and cheating customers out of more than $2 billion in lost interest payments as a result.In a complaint filed Tuesday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau took aim at Capital Ones promises and handling of its 360 Savings accounts. Despite promoting 360 Savings as an account that provides one of nations highest interest rates, the CFPB alleges that Capital One froze its rate at a low level for at least several years, even as rates rose nationally.At the same time, the CFPB adds, the bank created 360 Performance Savings, which saw a much higher rate grow. But the agency says that Capital One did not notify 360 Savings accountholders about this new offering and instead worked to keep them in the dark alleging that the company marketed the products similarly to obscure their distinction and forbade employees from proactively telling those with 360 Savings accounts about 360 Performance Savings.These actions mean Capital One illegally avoided paying billions in interest to millions of consumers, the CFPB wrote in its Tuesday complaint. The agency says its seeking to impose civil penalties and provide financial relief to those impacted.Banks should not be baiting people with promises they cant live up to, CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a prepared statement.In response, Capital One said that it strongly disagreed with the CFPBs allegations and plans to vigorously defend itself in court. The banking giant added that it was deeply disappointed to see the CFPB continue its recent pattern of filing eleventh-hour lawsuits ahead of a change in administration.Capital One also maintained that all of its 360 banking products offer great rates and have always been available in just minutes to all new and existing customers without any of the usual industry restrictions.According to disclosures on the Capital Ones website, 360 Savings accounts currently carry an interest rate of just under 0.50%. 360 Performance Savings accounts have an interest rate of about 3.74%.That means the rate for 360 Performance Savings is nearly 7.5 times higher than that of 360 Savings today. But the CFPB says theyve been farther apart in the past. In July 2024, the agency notes in Tuesdays complaint, the 360 Performance Savings rate was more than 14 times that of 360 Savings.The CFPB alleges that Capital One kept the rate for its 360 Savings accounts at 0.30% between December 2020 through at least August 2024. The rate for 360 Performance Savings, by contrast, climbed from 0.40% in April 2022 to as high as 4.35% at the start of 2024 falling slightly to 4.25% by August, the agency noted Tuesday.The CFPBs complaint against Capital One comes less than one week beforethe Jan. 20 inaugurationof President-electDonald Trump. Despite the change in administration, some say this litigation could still survive. Analyst commentary from TD Cowen on Tuesday noted that the CFPB still brought enforcement actions under Trumps first term, for example, although such litigation may also be easier to settle under the incoming administration.Wyatte Grantham-Philips, AP business writer

Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass has issued an executive order that expedites or negates permit requirements, expands ADU usage and provides for the cataloguing of damage to historical buildings as unprecedented wildfires continue to destroy lives and property.Named Return and Rebuild, the executive order seeks to clear away bureaucratic red tape in order to aid residents who have lost homes or businesses in the wildfires, which have destroyed more than 12,000 structures and caused the deaths of at least 24 people.The order was issued to provide a "streamlined path for the rebuilding of the City of Los Angeles' fire-devastated communities".It deals mostly with the expedition or waiving of permit requirements for rebuilding for those affected by the Palisades, Hurst, Kenneth, Archer, and Sunset Fires, fires that took place fully or partially within the city limitsThe order covers three main categories: clean up, rebuilding, and government assistance programs. It adds details to a state-wide executive order issued by governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday, which "suspended" aspects of California permitting such as the California Coastal Act and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for affected residents.Cleaning and rebuildingFor cleaning up efforts, the Return and Rebuild order establishes a "debris manager" role within the city government office and a Watershed Hazards Task Force to protect infrastructure against flash floods and mudslides.The rebuilding section of the executive order is extensive and provides details on the waiving of environmental reviews first announced by Newsom.Read: "The scale of the damage is unfathomable" say Los Angeles architectsIt also expedites all necessary reviews, including a 30-day limit on any building permit reviews for structures affected by the fires.It substantially decreases limitations of demolition, and waives permit requests for the demolition of affected structures, as long as someone "notifies" the Department of Building and Safety and properly disposes of waste.The order also states that a status report of all historic properties within the affected zones will be released within 10 days of "safe access" to the areas.Tiny homes and temporary occupancyThe order also allows for the unpermitted use of "recreational vehicles, tiny homes, modular structures and mobile homes" on affected properties for three years, or as long as building permits are in effect.It also proposes an "interdepartmental task force" to allow for multi-family projects to obtain Temporary Certificates of Occupancy (TCOs) that would allow occupation of buildings before they are complete in order to "create more available units in the market".The latter is specifically important for many evacuees as reports of spiking rents in the area are being released, despite emergency bans on price gouging in Newsom's executive order.Read: Richard Neutra house among iconic homes lost during LA firesThough the order points to a return home for some, the fires in the city and county are still active, with strong winds and continued droughts worsening conditions in some places with an "unprecedented" extreme fire alert being declared in some areas.In light of the foreseen need to rebuild, a number of organisations and working groups have formed to provide engineering, architecture and legal resources to the community, and are calling for volunteers.The AIA is currently offering a course on how to apply for FEMA relief, while the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority has released a long list of resources that support those affected by the fire.Past executive directivesreleased from Bass' office have revolved around temporary structures relating to the housing and homelessness crisis in the city.The photography is by Kelvin ChengThe post Los Angeles mayor issues executive order for "residents to rapidly rebuild" appeared first on Dezeen.

At first blush this might seem silly, but I say the thinking behind it is good. Inventor Charles Harris reckoned that a spatula would be more useful if the angle between blade and handle could be adjusted. To realize the design, he bent the handle so that it comes into the blade's heel from the side. It friction-fits via a finned extrusion, which corresponds with fins within the blade heel, allowing for adjustability of angle. I'd have guessed silicone, but Harris says the blades are made of more expensive PPSU, a heat-resistant plastic used in medical sterilization trays (it can withstand repeated autoclaving). It's nontoxic, FDA-compliant and also used in baby bottles. My worry with this object would be longevity; might not those plastic fins become stripped over time? If so it would render the tool useless. That said, Harris states that he will sell replacement blades (and presumably handles).As per usual, Kickstarter backers have no such fears about long-term use. The $25 Adaptchula and a sister product, the $35 Nottadrip Utensil Rest (see vid below) have been successfully crowdfunded with $193K in pledges and four days left to pledge.

Remember when Interstellar gave us a first look of what a black hole could look like, base SOLELY off of Nolans research? And then NASA released a black hole photo years later and it looked very similar to the one in the movie? Thats how impressive Interstellar is, not just on a cinematic level, but on executing with knowledge and perfection. The movie (although youve probably seen it) ends with Matthew McConaughey falling into a black hole, only to realize hes entered a new dimension where time is represented as space. Its a mind-boggling scene, and this LEGO set captures its beauty perfectly.At first glance, this models dramatic flair springs from its tesseract-inspired core, which is tilted at a distinctive angle. Constructing it demanded more than simply stacking bricks; it required careful attention to geometry, balance, and aesthetics to capture that surreal feeling of being inside a black hole. Every twist and turn in the design showcases subtle intricacies, creating a mesmerizing structure that mirrors the films daring scientific concepts.Designer: KoalaBrickWithin that angled base, there are two dioramas: Millers planet and Manns planet, each boasting unique terrain elements for an authentic cosmic feel. Front and center sits Murphs room, where Cooper leaves messages for his daughter from beyond by manipulating dust falling on the ground. The inclusion of Gargantua, the all-consuming black hole, and the Endurance ship helps elevate the display, tying all these iconic scenes together in one cohesive, movie-inspired tribute to deep space exploration.The build comes from the mind of KoalaBrick, who created this 4,650-piece masterpiece as a submission for LEGOs Ideas forum. The structural framework was meticulously planned to ensure stability despite the sets unusual angles, so casual builders and seasoned fans alike can trust in its sturdiness. Attention to weight distribution, hidden supports, and interlocking connections ensures a smooth building process, while still letting advanced users delve deeper into sophisticated techniques.What draws me is how each detail echoes the films themes of exploration, sacrifice, and that hope. The tesseract structure frames these moments like a curated gallery, encouraging reflection as you peer at each segment. The multiple corners of the tesseract have something to capture your gaze. Cooper floats in between, with Brand, Mann, CASE, and TARS on the left and right. The Endurance spaceship can be found on the top, while a paranormal scene from the movie where books fall off the bookshelf can be found below. At the center lies the movies biggest prop the black hole into which Cooper disappears towards the end of the movie.The LEGO set manages to distill the vastness of the story into a single, model. Key points in the movie get conveyed brilliantly into this compact yet highly detailed build. To be honest, 4,650 bricks may sound daunting, but it feels less so when you realize that a lot of those bricks are just the striated timelines that make up the tesseract. Cooper can basically travel through time simply by moving forward or backward.Dr. Brand with CASEDr. Mann with TARSAlongside its visual flair, this build thrives on user engagement. People can move the minifigures around or imagine their own dialogues between TARS and Cooper. That interactive aspect matters, because it encourages hands-on play that goes beyond pure display. The heft, the details, and the broad scope combine into something that might spark a conversation about imagination and design.The Interstellar build is a submission on the LEGO Ideas website, an online forum where LEGO fans and enthusiasts get together to share their creations and vote for their favorites. This particular build has just over 1,500 votes as of writing this article, but its sure to pick up soon, given that LEGOs staff gave it a Staff Pick badge too. Plus, KoalaBrick (the creator behind this kit) is a LEGO veteran with multiple builds under their belt including even the iconic E.T. LEGO Ideas set from last year! If you want to vote for the Interstellar MOC (My Own Creation), head down to the LEGO Ideas website now!The post Interstellars Most Mind-Bending Tesseract Scene Gets Recreated Using 4,650 LEGO Bricks first appeared on Yanko Design.

Honors new ultra-tough smartphone really lives up to its rep.

The space agencys Spinoff project displays the countless everyday technologies that were spurred by space-related research.

MacworldJust like iPhones and iPads, Apples chargers and cables also have tiny computers inside that need occasional updates. Today its the MagSafe Chargers turnfor the first time since May 2023.Apple has issued an update for the 25W MagSafe Charger to bring the accessory to a new firmware version from the previous version (128.0). This is the fifth firmware update the accessory has received but the first for the newest 25W model. There doesnt appear to be a separate update for the older charger.Apple released the original MagSafe Charger, topped out at 15W and had a 1-meter cable, in 2020 alongside the iPhone 12. This updated model with 25W charging and a 2-meter cable arrived in September 2024 with the iPhone 16.Theres no way to directly update the MagSafe Charger. When it is attached to your iPhone, the firmware will be updated at some point, usually overnight. To check the firmware of your charger, attach it to your iPhone, then head to the Settings app, then General > About and tap the Apple MagSafe Charger tab near the bottom of the page. If the firmware version is later than 128.0, you are on the newest version.