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Chris Wright, an oil and gas executive whos Donald Trumps nominee for Energy Secretary, faced questions about his climate change denialism during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday.Throughout his decades-long career, Wright has called for more fossil fuel use, said there is no climate crisis, and has denied the link between climate change and more severe wildfires. During Wrights confirmation hearing, Senator Alex Padilla of California called out the last comment directly, saying to Wright, Youve written the hype over wildfires is just hype to justify more impoverishment from bad government policies. Given the devastation that were currently experiencing in Los Angeles, do you still believe that wildfires are just hype?Wright began by responding that hes been watching the fires with great sorrow and fear. After Padilla reiterated his question, Wright said I stand by my past comments.Wright made the original statement in the summer of 2023, when smoke from Canadian wildfires was blanketing the East Coast. He wrote the sentence on LinkedIn while sharing a link from Wall Street Journal opinion writer Bjorn Lomborg that argued climate change hasnt set the world on fire.Climate experts, understandably, took issue with Lomborgs op-ed, calling his argumentthat the total acreage burned by wildfires has been declining, which shows that climate change isnt igniting the planet misleading. Acreage does not tell the whole truth, Andrew Dessler, a climate scientist at Texas A&M University, told the Washington Post. Scientists have also consistently found that climate change does play a role in making wildfires more frequent and more extreme. The warming of the world is fueling something scientists call weather whiplash, which creates perfect fire conditions. In 2022 and 2023, L.A. saw record-breaking rain after years of drought, which spurred vegetation growth. Then another drought hit, drying out all that vegetation and turning it into fuel for the fires.Wildfires are not just hype, as Wright has claimed; they are catastrophic events fueled by the worsening climate crisis, Lena Moffitt, executive director of the climate nonprofit Evergreen Action, said in a statement. His refusal to acknowledge the real forces contributing to the profound toll of these disasterson families, first responders, and communitiesis deeply troubling.Amid the L.A. fires, Trump and other Republicans have threatened to withhold disaster aid from California, and also discussed tying wildfire aid to the debt ceiling. During his hearing, Wright did concede that climate change is a real issue. However he also said that he would work tirelessly to pursue Trumps agenda to expand fossil fuel use. It is widely understood that fossil fuels are the leading driver of climate change.

UK architecture studio Foster + Partners has unveiled designs for the "undulating" Tempo development in Brazil, which encompasses a hotel and apartments facing a central garden.Located outside of So Paulo along Praia Brava in the state of Santa Catarina, the Tempo project is designed to offer guests and residences a view of the nearby beach while incorporating nature throughout its two main buildings.Foster + Partners have unveiled designs for a beachfront hotel and residence in Brazil"The undulating development is designed to capture the best views of Praia Brava a spectacular beach that is frequented by surfers and the mountainous landscape," said the studio.Renderings show two irregularly-shaped buildings made up of stacks of amoeboid floor plates lined with terraces. An expansive garden is pictured at the centre of the buildings, while plants are shown covering each private deck.The development will have private terraces for each guest"The Tempo hotel and residences capture the spirit of this vibrant coastal location," said Foster + Partners head of studio David Summerfield."Nature is woven through every part of the development, which will take residents and guests on a truly spectacular journey from the beach to their whole-floor residences and private suites,"According to the studio, each hotel room will feature a terrace that faces the oceanfront, divided from the interior by timber screen sliders.Read: Foster + Partners unveils Dubai skyscrapers linked by penthouse swimming poolAt ground level, a valet area will connect to a "striking" lobby and restaurant containing a central, sunken outdoor seating area.Interior images show a palette of predominantly dark timber and neutral-coloured concrete. Fluted glass is pictured running along exterior balconies.The development's residential building will contain single, whole-floor condominiums, while amenities such as pools, nature trails, pavilions and water trails will be interwoven throughout the development.The buildings will be predominately made of concrete and timber"Every element of our scheme has been carefully designed to establish new connections with the spectacular surroundings while providing the highest level of comfort and luxury," said Foster + Partners partner Juan Frigerio."Tempo will be a new global destination that offers an entirely unique oceanfront experience."Other recently completed projects in Brazil include a penthouse redesigned by Philippe Starck and two skyscrapers by UNStudio, both in So Paulo.The images are courtesy of Foster and PartnersThe post Foster + Partners unveils design of beachfront residences in Brazil appeared first on Dezeen.

Tech isnt boring. At least, it shouldnt be. Were living in a world where pocket-sized wonders connect us to everything humanity has ever created, yet unboxing these marvels can feel like opening a pack of bland stationery. Unboxing videos which were once the highlight of every tech youtubers career is now practically an afterthought.Why? Companies have ruined unboxing experiences to prioritize profits. Youd get chargers, earphones, cases, screen protectors, and sometimes even brand stickers (looking at you, Apple) inside smartphone boxes. Now, merely a phone and if youre lucky, a braided cable. Designer Andrea Copellino has a solution to fix this problem Bring back excitement, curiosity, and storytelling to technology using trading cards. Yes, trading cards. And its not as random as it sounds. Its the perfect intersection of nostalgia, storytelling, and fun.Designer: Andrea CopellinoTo demonstrate this, Copellino chooses tech startup Nothing to demonstrate this idea. Nothing, a tech brand with a quirky ethos of transparency and an obsession with reintroducing joy into technology, is exactly the kind of company that could pull this off. Their design language already reads like a conversation with an old friend: clear materials that show the guts of the product, a marketing team that doesnt mind poking fun at itself, and a YouTube channel where their designers casually break down creative decisions. Its approachable and refreshingly human. But Francesco and his collaborator Francesco (yes, another Francesco), think the brand could do even more. They believe Nothings biggest untapped potential is right there in the unboxing experience.Now, unboxing isnt typically a topic that gets pulses racing, but its where Francescos storytelling brilliance shines. Hes reimagining unboxing as a chance to weave narrative into the very first interaction you have with a product. Instead of the usual manuals and filler paper, Francesco envisions collectible trading cards tucked into Nothings products. Imagine this: you open your new earbuds, and alongside them is a sleek card adorned with abstract art that hints at the products creative inspiration. Flip it over, and theres a short story about the quirky origins of the designlike how pharmaceutical packaging inspired the bubble-like Ear (A) case.These cards arent just gimmicks. Theyre thoughtfully crafted artifacts. Each card would feature high-quality illustrations, metadata like product names and release dates, and captivating anecdotes. Even the cards material and packaging echo Nothings aesthetic: semi-transparent paper, subtle textures, and a pierced detail that nods to their love for transparency. The goal isnt just to inform but to delight. Its tactile, personal, andmost importantlymemorable.And the brilliance of this idea? Its collectible. Francescos design aligns perfectly with how Nothing already connects with its audience. The company actively invites its community to participate in its creative process, from forums to YouTube comment sections. These cards could take that engagement to the next level. Imagine Nothing hosting design contests where fans create illustrations for the cards or special edition collectibles handed out at launch events. Its a way to keep the community invested without the logistical nightmares of overly ambitious projects like Nothings Community Edition Phone.But Francescos concept goes even deeper. Trading cards tap into something bigger than tech; they tap into culture. Millennials and Gen Z grew up with Pokmon cards, Magic: The Gathering, and other collectible phenomena. The resurgence of physical trading cards, fueled by their nostalgic and tactile appeal, isnt slowing down. Francesco sees these cards as an opportunity to blend Nothings bold industrial design with the emotional pull of cherished childhood memories. Its a way to bridge the cold utility of tech with the warmth of human experience.And its practical too. The cards dont rely on apps, servers, or any digital infrastructuretheyre yours forever. No subscriptions. No updates. Just a simple piece of art and story that fits perfectly in your hand (or a Pokmon binder, for those inclined). Even better, theyre scalable. Every Nothing device could come with a unique card, offering a new piece of the brands story to collectors with each purchase. Its an idea that feels premium but doesnt break the bank.The most exciting part? This idea could redefine how we think about unboxing. Instead of it being an afterthought, it becomes an eventa chance to connect with the product and its creators on a deeper level. Francescos trading cards arent about adding unnecessary fluff; theyre about reminding us that technology isnt just functional. Its personal. It has stories, quirks, and, thanks to Nothing, a sense of humor.Nothings ethos is rooted in challenging conventions, and Francescos trading card concept feels like an extension of that mission. Its a bold, fun, and slightly eccentric idea that fits seamlessly into their brand DNA. It would be fun if Nothing entertained the concept theres really little to lose given how simple the execution is with something as basic as a trading card. At least itll revive the unboxing experience, turning it into something that has a little touch of intrigue and suspense and everyone loves a little suspense, right?The post This Designer Has A Wild Idea To Make Tech Companies Great Again Tech Trading Cards first appeared on Yanko Design.

Mark Zuckerberg said content moderation teams in California will relocate to Texas to help reduce bias. In practice, employees aren't expecting many forced relocations.

The company is awaiting a decision over the constitutionality of a new law that aims to force a sale of the app to a non-Chinese owner under the threat of a ban.

MacworldThe iPhone comes with a number of ringtones you can use for calls and text notifications, and even added a lot of new ones in iOS 17. But its your iPhone, why not use a custom ringtone that only you have? You can even set certain ringtones for specific contacts, so you immediately know who it is when they call. For example, you can set a song thats special to you and your spouse, so when your spouse calls, youll hear the song and know immediately who it is.You can make a custom ringtone right on your iPhone with GarageBand or use your Mac, as long as you know the steps. Heres how it works.How make and install ringtones from songs on your MacIf your music library is on your Mac, you can create ringtones using Apple Music. However, you must own the physical song filestreamed songs cannot be made into ringtones. Also, the files must not be copy-protected.How to make a ringtone from a song in Apple Music1. Launch the Music app.2. Go to your music library and find the song you want to make into a ringtone. Play the song and keep an eye on the elapsed time at the top of the app. Note the time stamp where you want the ringtone to start, then note where you want it to end. (Note: Ringtones cannot be longer than 30 seconds.)2. Right-click on the song and in the pop-up menu, select Get Info.3. A window with the details of the song file will appear. Click Options.4. In Options, there are timecodes for Start and Stop. Check the Start checkbox and enter the starting time from step 2. Then check the Stop box and enter the end time. Click OK.IDG5. Select the file, and then click on the File menu and select Convert > Create AAC version. (If the only option you see is Create MP3 version, select that.)6. A new copy of your song file will appear under the original. Right-click on it and select Show in Finder.IDG7. A Finder window with the song file should appear on your desktop. Look at the files extension (the extension appears after the file name and a period .). If you dont see the extension, right-click on the file, select Get Info, and then look for the Name & Extension section. Then do one of the following:If the extension is .m4a change it to .m4r.If the extension is .mp3, the file needs to be converted to .m4a. Open the file in QuickTime Player, which is in your Applications folder. Then in QuickTime Player, click on the File menu and select Export As > Audio Only. Name the file, choose a place to save it, then click Save. Then change the extension of the newly exported file to .m4r.Now you have a suitable ringtone file, and you just need to install it on your iPhone.How to load the ringtone from the Mac to your iPhone1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac via USB.2. Open a Finder window (press -N on the desktop).3. In the sidebar under Locations, you should find your iPhone. Select it.4. Find your ringtone file (the one with the .m4r extension), and drag it over to the Finder window that has your iPhone selected.5. A green + icon should appear on your cursor and the file that you are dragging. That means you will be adding it to your iPhone. Drop the file to install it.IDGAnd thats it! To see the ringtone, open the Setting app on your iPhone, then tap Sound & Haptics > Ringtone, and it will appear at the top of the list with other custom ringtones (if you have others).How to make a ringtone with GarageBand for iPhoneNote that you dont have to use Apple Music for this. Almost any audio file in AAC format, with the file extension changed to .m4r, and a maximum length of 30 seconds will work. You can use other audio editing software to produce one. Fortunately, Apple gives you GarageBand for free, and its available on both Mac and iPhone.Heres how to use the iPhone version of GarageBand to make a ringtone.You can start from scratch (were not going to show you how to make a song in this tutorial) or you can edit an existing sound file, which well demonstrate here. The ringtone must be no longer than 30 seconds.Before you edit in GarageBand, heres how to prep for the file you want to edit.If you have an existing sound file, copy it to iCloud Drive.If you want to edit a song, you must have the song file, either by buying it online or ripping it from a CD. If you have the actual song file already on your iPhone, you will be able to access it through GarageBand.Copy-protected song files cannot be edited.Streamed Apple Music songs or songs from another streaming service cannot be used as ringtones.Heres how to edit a sound file in GarageBand for iPhone and then save it as a ringtone.How to make custom ringtones on your iPhoneIf you dont have or want to use your Mac, you can create a custom ringtone right on your phone with a little work. You can import a pre-recorded songagain, it needs to be an unprotected track that you ownor create something original using GarageBands instruments. Heres how to get it done:1. Launch GarageBand. If you dont have it, its free in the App Store. Its a big application, so give it some time to download.2. Tap Tracks at the top of the screen.3. Swipe through the screen left or right until you find the Audio Recorder section. Tap it.4. At the top left of the screen tap the Tracks button. Its the third button from the left.Left: the Tracks button.Right: the Loop Browser button.IDG5. Tap the Loop Browser on the upper right. Its the button with a loop icon.6. A file browser window opens and you can navigate to the file you want to edit.If your file is on iCloud Drive, tap Files and then tap the Browse items from the Files app link at the bottom.If you want to edit a song file, tap Music, then navigate to your song file.Songs can be imported into GarageBand, but they must be on your iPhone and not copy protectedIDG7. Press and hold the file, then drag it from the browser window to the GarageBand workspace.8. Now its time to edit the track down to 30 seconds.If you want a visual cue to help you with the time, tap the Settings button and turn on Time Ruler. This will display the time in seconds at the top of the workspace.Tap the Play button at the top to hear the song. Tap it again or tap the Stop button next to it to stop playing.To trim a song, tap the track and trim bars will appear at the ends. Tap and drag a bar to the stop where you want to trim the song.While were not going into greater detail here, you can perform other edits if you want. You can cut sections out, add effects, etc.8. Once youve edited the song, you can save it as a ringtone. Tap the Navigation button in the upper left. Its the arrowhead pointing downward.Tap and hold, then drag the bar at the end of the song to trim it.IDG9. In the pop-up menu, select My Songs. A window called GarageBand Recents will open, and your saved GarageBand Project will display as My Song.If you want to rename it, tap and hold on the project, and in the pop-up menu, select Rename. Give it a new name.To export the song as a ringtone, tap and hold on the project, then in the pop-up menu, select Share. The Share Song window will appear; select Ringtone. Youll need to give the ringtone a name (the default is the name of the project). The tap Export to save the ringtone.Apple10. After the export is done, a window will appear that will ask you how you want to use the ringtone. You can set it now, or do so later in the iPhone Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone. To set a ringtone for a specific contact, you need to do that in the contacts entry in the Contacts app ([your contact] > Edit > Ringtone).How to buy ringtones from AppleApple sells ringtones that you can buy directly on your iPhone. Heres how to shop for ringtones.1. Launch the iTunes Store appnot the Apple Music app or App Store. If you cant find the iTunes Store, do a search on your iPhone or tell Siri, Open the iTunes Store. You can also get to the iTunes Store through the Settings app by tapping Sound & Haptics > Ringtone > Tone Store.2. Tap the More button at the bottom of the screen. Its the button with three dots.3. On the next screen, tap Tones.4. Now youre in the section with ringtones. Most ringtones are $1.29, while others are $0.99. Tap the icon to hear the tone, and tap the price button to buy it.When you buy a ringtone, youll be given options to set it. The ringtone will be available in the iPhone settings and you can always adjust it to your liking.IDG

The whole world was watching when legendary Apple CEO Steve Jobslaunched the iconic iPhone in 2007. Mobile was the future. Apple knew it (and rebranded itself to reflect it). And Nokia had a fight on its hands. So, what did Nokia think about the iPhone launch?Now we know.Nokia, at one time the worlds leading mobile phone company, has made a huge archive of corporate assets available through a website curated by Finlands Aalto University, theNokia Design Archive. The fascinating collection provides deep insight into how the company operated; in particular, a 2007 Nokia Confidential report caught my eye, as it captureswhat the company thought when Apple introduced iPhone in 2007.Much of the document focuses on price Nokia believed the cost of the iPhone would put consumers off.The company was also less convinced about Apples touch interface; Nokia execs thought consumers would want to stick with those dinky little QWERTY keyboards everybody used at that time. But in the end, cost and keyboard didnt form the competitive moat Nokia anticipated, because the iPhone was all about the user experience, and the report shows Nokia executives were concerned.You and your UIUser interface has been a big strength for Nokia, the post-iPhone introduction report authors wrote, warning that at that time consumers were falling out of love with the UI Nokia provided. Urgent action needed to prevent further erosion of this position, they said.Apples new UI may change the standards of the superior user experience for the whole market, Nokia executives explained, noting it had been called visually stunning and incredibly responsive. Nokia also saw that Apple had protected its product with more than 200 patents, and once again argued that UI may be the biggest threat that iPhone presents.Nokia needs a chief UI architect to re-energize Nokias IO innovations across platforms and businesses, they wrote.Apples product also introduced an innovative user interface built around the companys powerful OS X system, something which integrated seamlessly with PC, Mac and the Internet, the executives noted.Be cool, like AppleApples cool factor was seen as another challenge. And the fact Apple had delivered a full-fledged internet experience in its phone was seen as an even bigger threat. The company confessed that its own high-end N-series devices, including the brand-new N800 it introduced just before iPhone in 2007, were challenged in comparison.Nokias executives delivered a strong and, in the end, accurate set of predictions about how iPhone would affect the wider smartphone industry at that time:A price war may emerge by Motorola trying to push their new models.It did. Apple did not lose and didnt shift prices much, either.iPhone will also hurt Sony Ericssons momentum and coherent music strategy.It did just that. iTunes was the dominant music service.N-Series and SEMC Walkman probably need to clearly undercut iPhone pricing to succeed in the market.They tried, but consumers were not prepared to compromise on user experiences, and the integration with the Mac added a front that no mobile incumbent was able to match certainly not Microsoft.Expect RIM and Palm to suffer their stock prices have been most badly beaten.Apple ate their lunch.All the high-end devices attract the enterprise segment expect that also for iPhone.Arguably, iPhone and iPad are what have led to Apples huge resurgence in the enterprise. Almost every company worldwide now users Apple products.Nokia introduced its own iTunes competitor,Ovia few months later, but this never really challenged iTunes.The fascinating document confirms that Nokia understood some of what was coming when Jobs introduced Apples mobile phone. It could see that the iPhone had the potential to stimulate demand for high-end devices, which it did and still does. iPhones became the de facto high-end market leader.When Android stole the marketEven today, Apple scoops up a vast share of industry profits as its customers continue to invest in the best model iPhone they can afford. They do this because they continue to enjoy the user experience Apple provides.But even back in 2007, Nokia saw that the exclusive US iPhone distribution relationship Apple reached with Cingular (later acquired by AT&T) was both a strength and a weakness. To compete, the industry was famously forced to rally round Googles Android, an operating systemSteve Jobs once vowed to destroy.However, the embrace of Android proved ill-judged. It led the market into homogeneity, eternal price wars, and enabled Google, rather than the mobile device makers, to take the lions share of any services-related income. Apple did this too, of course but Apple also took the risk of making and selling the hardware, software, and services used. Now, it sellsone in every four smartphones, and perhaps almost one in five of those sold is nowmade in India.The problem for Nokia was that it didnt make Android, either. Arguably, it failed to find a response in user interfaces and (looking through the online archive) seemed limited in its outlook when it came to designing operating systems to compete with Apples own. But I guess execs from around that time can console themselves in thinking that they accurately read the room. Its a fascinating archive (and theNokia research document about iPodis also interesting).You can follow me on social media! Join me onBlueSky, LinkedIn,Mastodon, andMeWe.

Apple CEO Tim Cook will join other big tech executives at the inauguration as they seek to avoid being targeted by incoming regulation and tariffs.The US Capitol building. Image source: Visit the Capitol government websiteDifferent United States presidents call for different tactics. With the incoming administration, gone are the days of sending a few hundred lobbyists to Washington.Instead, the companies and the CEOs themselves must curry favor from the one in charge. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Mayor Karen Bass has released a detailed plan for the rebuilding of key commercial and residential structures destroyed in last weeks devastating fires in Los Angeles County.The plan, which follows an earlierexecutive order signed by Governor Gavin Newsom that eliminated CEQA reviews and other building requirements for future developments in those areas, essentially establishes a "one-stop shop" to rapidly issue building permits and allow for "like-for-like"rebuilding by waiving the discretionary review processes.The citys Department of Building and Safety will also be directed to expedite approvals for 1,400 units of housing pro forma in order to accommodate the tens of thousands of Angelenos who are estimated to have lost their homes due to the catastrophe. The important debris removal process will also be streamlined.Bass says its aim is to "organize around urgency, common sense and compassion." Some other key lines included as bullet points in the order as they apply to ...