The Chinese government is considering a plan for Elon Musk to acquire TikTok's U.S. business, Bloomberg News reported on Monday.

American TikTok fanatics are migrating over to another Chinese short-form social media platform ahead of next weeks potential TikTok ban. On Monday, Xiaohongshu, which translates to little red book but is being called RedNote, shot up to become the most-downloaded app on the Apples U.S. App Store.The app, which has 300 million monthly active users, is similar to Pinterest with a mix of Instagram and TikTok. It also boasts several social shopping features.Xiaohongshu launched in 2013 and is flush with investor attention. Its raised roughly $917 million in venture funding and is reportedly valued at $17 billion. But the American attention has come on suddenly, especially considering Xiaohongshu/RedNote has done little outreach to the U.S. market. Users have to switch the language over from Mandarin to English in the settings. @ferrethybrid because I keep seeing comments about needing a translator you will for chinese users captions and some searches but not app functions now! #fyp #trending #creatorsearchinsights #tiktokban original sound alex TikTok is now being flooded with content from users who are posting their experiences on Xiaohongshu. A large part of the user interest amounts to general pettiness: The government takes a highly addictive app away due to its host countrys national security threats, and users just find another one from said host country.Its actually the funniest turn of events ever, one TikTok user posted in the comments of a video. I made my username my social security number just so my red note guy would get promoted faster, a user joked in the comments on another TikTok, referencing the meme that Chinese spies curated users highly specific TikTok feeds. @annapaigemorgan We petty and I love it, see you on rednote #rednote #tiktokban original sound Kristen The future of TikTok is, for now, still undecided. The Supreme Court is expected to rule by the end of this week as to whether the app can continue operating in the U.S. unless it divests from its parent company or is sold to an approved buyer.Right now, its set to be banned in the U.S. on January 19, and all signs point to the Supreme Court upholding the ban.TikTok would likely be removed from app stores immediately, so that companies like Apple and Google dont have to pay hefty fines. This doesnt mean that the app will disappear from American users devices. But the apps quality would eventually degrade or TikTok could pull users from having access to videos on the platform.President-elect Donald Trump could also try to thwart the bans implementation once he takes office on January 20, but its unclear whether those efforts would actually work.

Enough plastic and metal give me a wooden keyboard. Bringing a furniture-like art-deco-level classiness to a world saturated by either minimalism, technofuturism, or hyper-ergonomics, this little wooden keyboard from Epomaker and Feker comes with a split layout, wooden armrests, and a separate numpad. Dubbed Alice, it sports a 60-key layout (not including the numpad), designed like your average mechanical keyboard complete with SA-style keycaps that clack with a unique audio signature, thanks to the wooden construction.At first glance, you might dismiss a wooden keyboard as a novelty. But then you touch it. The grain under your fingertips, the muted depth of every keystroke, the way it seems to breathe character into every letter you typethis is more than a tool. Its an encounter with design that feels personal, almost intimate, as if someone built it with your desk in mind.Designers: Epomaker & FekerThe appeal of wood in a keyboard isnt solely about looks, though. The material choice enhances the acoustic properties of the device, producing a pleasingly muted clack with every keystroke. Think of it like a concert hall engineered to amplify and refine sound; here, the wooden frame dampens noise while creating a satisfying tactile experience. Its the kind of detail you notice the moment you start typing, and its hard to go back once youve felt it.The ergonomic design is another feature that sets the Alice 60 apart. Split keyboards have long been hailed for their ability to reduce strain and improve typing posture, but this model takes things further. The magnetic attachment allows users to adjust the keyboard to suit their personal comfort, whether thats aligning it with desk space or tailoring it for shared workstations. Its an approach that prioritizes adaptability without compromising the aesthetics or performance of the device.Typing on the Alice 60 feels intuitive, thanks to its 67-key layout and gasket mount structure. The gasket mount absorbs vibrations, making the typing experience smoother and quieter. The inclusion of hot-swappable switches is a dream for keyboard enthusiasts, allowing for endless customization. Whether youre a gamer, a writer, or someone who simply appreciates the finer things in life, the Alice 60 caters to your preferences with an impressive degree of flexibility.Connectivity options are as diverse as the keyboards audience. With support for wired Type-C, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz wireless, youre covered no matter how or where you work. Its a detail that highlights the thoughtfulness behind this productits designed to fit into your life rather than forcing you to adapt to it. The robust battery ensures extended use, so you wont find yourself tethered to a power source during critical tasks.The detachable numpad is a subtle yet impactful feature. For those who rely on numerical inputs or shortcuts, its a game-changer. The numpad isnt just an accessory; its a fully programmable tool that can be tailored to suit workflows. Whether youre crunching numbers or executing complex commands, the numpads flexibility transforms it from a nice-to-have into a need-to-have.While the Alice 60 clearly caters to a discerning audience, it doesnt alienate newcomers. The approachable manual and intuitive setup make it easy for anyone to dive in and enjoy. The hot-swappable feature, for instance, simplifies the process of experimenting with different switches, letting you discover the exact feel and sound that match your style. Its a gateway to the world of mechanical keyboards, but its also a destination in itself for seasoned enthusiasts.The practicality of the Alice 60 is matched by its sense of nostalgia. The retro design elements are a nod to the past, reimagined for the modern era. Theres something inherently comforting about its aestheticits as if the keyboard belongs to a workspace where creativity and productivity thrive side by side. That balance between the old and the new is what makes it feel timeless.The post This Wooden Mechanical Keyboard is the New Must-Have for Tech Aesthetes first appeared on Yanko Design.

From tunnels to Tesla factories to SpaceX launch facilities, theres barely a place on Earth that doesnt feel the gravitational pull of humanitys wealthiest reply guy.

MacworldIn his latest Power On newsletter (subscription required), Bloombergs Mark Gurman says Apples 2025 will be loaded. That includes the Mac, and Gurman cites the timeframe for when Apple will release new Macsmost of what Gurman reports has been stated before, but its worth reiterating, especially if you have plans to invest in a new Mac this year.The M4 MacBook Air will get the Mac rolling in 2025, with a release happening relatively soon. Gurman previously reported that the M4 MacBook Air would start shipping between January and March, and now he states that the new laptop is already in production. Besides an M4 chip, the new Air is rumored to get a 12MP Center Stage camera, like the one in the M4 MacBook Pro.One interesting new tidbit: Gurman doesnt think that the M2 MacBook Air, Apples most affordable laptop, will be replaced by an M3 Air, citing production issues with the M3. Since Apple still makes M2 chips (used in the iPad Air and Vision Pro) it makes sense for Apple to keep the M2 MacBook Air around. Gurman doesnt address whether it would get a price reduction, but Apples history suggests that it wont.In October, Gurman reported that the Mac Studio was originally scheduled to be released at the same time as the M4 MacBook Air, but Apple rescheduled it to a time between March and June. Gurman now states that the Mac Studio release could occur during the first half of the year, a statement thats less specific than before but covers his bases should Apple reconsider a joint release with the M4 MacBook Air. The Mac Studio will be upgraded to the M4 Max and Ultra chips and incorporate Thunderbolt 5.That brings us to, as Gurman puts it, later in the year when Apple releases the M5 MacBook Pro. If Apple sticks to previous release dates, it will happen in late October or early November. Besides an M5 chip update, Apple isnt going to introduce any other new features; the company is saving those for 2026 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the MacBook Pro.Gurman also reports that the M5 Mac Pro is on track to be ready before the MacBook Pro, though the timing isnt yet clear. It will feature the M4 Ultra, which goes by the code name of Hidra. No design changes have been reported, but the upgrade to an M4 Ultra will include Thunderbolt 5 implementation.Notably, the only Mac not mentioned in Gurmans report is the iMac. Apple waited two years to upgrade the M1 iMac to the M3, but upgraded to the M4 after only a year. In this case, the upgrade was seemingly part of the companys desire to reduce production of the M3, so it may be back on a two-year cycle and may not get upgraded until 2026. No mention of an iMac with a larger display was mentioned in Gurmans report, either. Rumors have stated that a 32-inch iMac could be released in 2025.

Nobody could accuse the British Government of lacking enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI). According to its newly published AI Opportunities Action Plan, the technologys blossoming will remake the British economy, boost productivity, smooth bureaucracy, and transform the quality of state services such as healthcare.Through this, the government wants the UK to become an AI superpower, consolidating its position as the worlds third largest AI market, behind the US and China, the report said.Part of the initiative is a 14 billion investment ($18 billion) by Vantage Data Centres, Nscale, and Kyndryl to build new data center infrastructure, on top of the 25 billion in AI investment announced at the International Investment Summit last October.Its deeper theme is that the UK should be able to produce as well as consume AI technology, because receiving technology from others is a recipe for dependence.There is barely an aspect of our society that will remain untouched by this force of change, said Prime Minister Keir Starmer in his report foreword.This government will not sit back passively and wait for change to come. It is our responsibility to harness it and make it work for working people, he said.AI Growth Zones (AIGZs)Many of the 13,250 jobs the reports says will be created in the near term will be in AI growth zones, the first of which will be in Culham, Oxfordshire, also the HQ for the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).Thats significant because all of the data centers housing AI will consume huge amounts of power, at least 100MW to start with and eventually 500MW. Unfortunately, while Culham is the home of research into nuclear energy, there is no power station onsite, which explains why the report proposes a new AI Energy Council to fill the gap.Cooling the new data centers could also be an issue in a potential drought zone, despite Thames Water promising to build a new reservoir nearby.Additional requirementsNational Data Library: AI, of course, needs data lots of it. Thats becoming harder to source. The Reports answer is a National Data Library, underpinned by strong privacy-preserving safeguards. The deeper detail of this has yet to be announced, but issues of privacy and copyright lurk. Public compute: The UK needs another supercomputer, somewhere. This is despite the new government ditching plans as recently as October to build precisely this type of computer at Edinburgh University. The UKs other supercomputer centers include Bristol (Isambard AI), and Cambridge (Dawn).People: The plan proposed working out how many people the UK needs and then developing plans to fill gaps. That includes importing skills by exploring how the existing immigration system can be used to attract graduates from universities producing some of the worlds top AI talent.Regulatory oversight: AI has yet to grapple with its daunting ethical concerns. The reports answer is to turn the UKs AI Safety Institute (AISI) into a statutory body with the power to intervene where it thinks fit.White hotThe idea of a bold national plan for AI echoes that of another Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, who in a famous 1963 speech proposed overhauling the UK through the white heat of technology.This parallel isnt necessarily happy; although the UK embraced Wilsons white heat in pockets, it failed to capitalize on the wider opportunities offered by that eras early development of computing and software. That was despite having plenty of clever people in the field, a decent education system, and big companies willing to invest.The new plan is also uncomfortably similar to the recent Conservative administrations championing of everything AI under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, right down to his rhetoric about matching AI superpowers AI and China.One difference is that the reports vision was authored by industry figure Matt Clifford, an entrepreneur and investor appointed as the administrations AI adviser after Labours election win in July.He authored the plans 50 recommendations, all of which the government plans to implement. That suggests that the UKs AI overhaul is not being driven as a pet project by politicians alone. Another backer is Demis Hassabis, co-winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his AI-aided work on protein folding.Making not takingIn many ways, the challenges faced by the UK in enabling AI indeed, all future computing projects mirror what every country faces. Energy and cooling are problems, and tooling up to fill infrastructure and skills gaps is competitive and resource intensive.One reason Wilsons 1960s plan struggled was that the state and public services ignored the computing innovation going on around them. However, given that AI is already being experimented with in the NHS, perhaps attitudes have changed.But what will really count is that private companies can make money out of AI in the UK in the long run. Governments plans and infrastructure are helpful and set the mood, but only go so far.While the focus on investing in infrastructure such as computing power and a national data library is welcome, said Dr Pia Huesch, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) research fellow, the UK Government must not forget the risks posed by AI technologies or the international partnerships that are needed to secure long-term benefit from AI technologies.

Mobile gamers rejoice, the Abxylute S9 is an affordable controller that can stretch to fit your cased iPhone or iPad mini with a powerful set of customization features.Abxylute S9 controller review: a controller for your entire Apple ecosystemA controller manufacturer called Abxylute has finally built the perfect mobile gaming controller for iPhone and iPad mini owners. If all it did was stretch to fit an iPad mini and cost under $100, that would be enough, but it's so much more than that.The Abxylute S9 is a wraparound controller that connects to the iPhone or iPad mini over USB-C while gripping it from either side. The end result is a mobile gaming solution similar to a Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

As sprawling fires continue to devastate Los Angeles, the latest reporting estimates that more than 12,000 structures (including houses, cars, and outbuildings) have been damaged or destroyed.Since the first fires erupted on January 7th, 2025, social media timelines have become saturated with images and videos showing warzone-like destruction across Pasadena, Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and beyond. Amid the tragic footage, one home has gone viral for more positive reasons.No words really - just a horror show. Some of the design choices we made here helped. But we were also very lucky. pic.twitter.com/kpqfiRj49M g chasen (@ChasenGreg) January 9, 2025In an image that has been viewed on X over 14 million times, a brand new home in Pacific Palisades stands alone, seemingly unscathed, amid a landscape of charred and ruined structures. The image was posted by Greg Chasen, who claims to be the architect responsible for the design of the scheme. According to Bloomberg, the Malibu-bas...

The Nintendo Switch has boasted solid support from Ubisoft over the course of its prolonged lifetime, and it looks like the publisher is set to step up its efforts further still with the consoles imminent successor. That the Switch 2 will likely boast stronger third-party support owing to its allegedly stronger hardware has looked likely for some time, and as per insider NateTheHate, Ubisoft will be one of the publishers leading the charge in that department.Speaking during a recent podcast episode, the leaker claimed that Ubisoft has more than half a dozen games in development for the Switch 2, including ports of upcoming games, recent releases, and older titles.Assassins Creed Miragewill allegedly be available for the console within its launch window, while a version ofAssassins Creed Shadowsis also in development. Allegedly, however, the latter wont be ready for release until later.The insider also claims Switch 2 versions ofRainbow Six SiegeandThe Divisionfranchise are in development, and that the idea of a combinedMario + Rabbidspack containing both titles has also been internally considered.Past leaks have claimed that Ubisoft also intends to release the nextFar Cryfor the Switch 2.Given the publishers support for the Switch, it wouldnt be surprising to see it stepping up its efforts for its successor. The Switch 2 itself is allegedly going to be revealed later this week, so we might have more official details sooner rather than later.Meanwhile, as per NateTheHate, other major third-party titles likeMetal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthare also headed for Nintendos next console.

The trees became visible as an ice patch melted on the Beartooth Plateau, which is part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Daniel StahleA melting ice patch in the Rocky Mountains has revealed the remains of up to 5,900-year-old trees that could offer insights into past climate conditions, according to new research.Scientists discovered more than 30 dead whitebark pine trees (Pinus albicaulis) that were entombed in ice for millennia, according to a new paper published late last month in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.They found the previously hidden stand of trees on the Beartooth Plateau in northwest Wyoming, which is part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The whitebark pines were lying flat but had been preserved in good condition, suggesting they were rapidly enveloped by ice.The trees were recently exposed when the ice patch began melting due to hotter temperatures related to human-caused climate change, reports New Scientists Taylor Mitchell Brown. In the same area, receding ice patches have also revealed fragments of wooden hunting weapons, including one that was more than 10,000 years old.The plateau seems to have been the perfect place to allow for ice patches to establish and persist for thousands of years, recording important information on past climate, human activity and environmental change, says study lead author Greg Pederson, a paleoclimatologist for the United States Geological Survey, in a statement. The ice patch has previously revealed fragments of wooden hunting weapons. Joe McConnell / Desert Research InstituteThe trees are located 10,140 feet above sea level, which is roughly 590 feet higher than the regions current tree line. (The tree line, also known as timberline, marks the edge of a high-elevation habitat that can support trees. Above this invisible marker, the conditions are too harsh for trees to grow.) This suggests the regions climate was once warmer than it is today.By studying the trees rings and using radiocarbon dating techniques, researchers were able to determine that they lived 5,950 to 5,440 years ago. Then, they looked at data from Arctic ice core samples to understand what the climate was like during that time, a period known as the mid-Holocene.The trees were alive during an era of falling temperatures, which have been linked with ongoing volcanic eruptions. As volcanoes in the Northern Hemisphere erupted, they spewed so much debris into the air that they blocked sunlight from reaching the surface, which caused temperatures to drop.Eventually, around 5,100 years ago, it seemingly became so cold that the trees at that high elevation could no longer survive. The chilly weather also caused a nearby ice patch to expand and engulf the whitebark pines.The trees are a valuable time capsule that tells us not only about these mountain forests 6,000 years ago, but about the climate conditions that allowed them to exist, says Kevin Anchukaitis, a paleoclimatologist at the University of Arizona who was not involved with the research, to New Scientist.By learning more about the regions past climate, scientists say they can more accurately predict the future. If global temperatures continue to rise, for example, they expect trees to start growing at higher elevations, so long as they have enough moisture.Year-over-year records, as well as decadal records and even century-level records are exceedingly important, study co-author Craig Lee, a researcher of environmental archaeology at Montana State University, tells the Billings Gazettes Brett French. They provide comparative data points for allowing us to contextualize our more nuanced observations of the current climate that we experience today.Today, the whitebark pine is considered threatened under the Endangered Species Act. These trees face several stressors, including rising temperatures, drought and wildfires. Theyre also battling a pest called the mountain pine beetle and a deadly invasive fungus called white pine blister rust.Healthy whitebark pines can live for hundreds of yearsand sometimes survive up to 1,000 years. They grow at high elevations throughout the western United States and Canada, providing food for red squirrels, grizzly bears, Clarks nutcrackers and many other creatures. They also play an important role in their high-elevation ecosystems, as they provide shade that helps keep snow cold and stable.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Climate Change, Ecology, Environment, evolving climate, Mountains, New Research, Plants, Trees, Wyoming