html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" For millions of Android users in Asia, glancing at their phones doesnt just reveal the usual clock against the background of a favorite vacation spot or the family pet. Instead, its a collection of news headlines, weather conditions, or sports scores, interspersed with ads.That experience, known as Glance, made its way to U.S. Android handsets in 2024 and was greeted by what could be diplomatically described as a lukewarm reception.Recommended VideosIt doesnt add anything of real value, and it also just looks bad, wrote our Motorola Moto G reviewer after spending time with Glance.Please enable Javascript to view this contentGlances creator (a Google-backed company that goes by the same name) either didnt read our review, or, more likely, wasnt bothered by it, because its president and COO Piyush Shah invited me to see a preview of the companys next big idea, while I was at CES 2025: Glance is coming to our TVs.An AI-generated image accompanies a GlanceTV headline from The Herald. GlanceDuring my 30-minute briefing (which turned into an hour), Shah and his team showed me their vision of TVs future and you may not be surprised to learn that it looks a lot like Glance on a phone lock screen.Its a new experience that transforms idle, ambient TV screens into dynamic, AI-powered smart surfaces that deliver live, personalized content when the TV is not in active use. Thats the official description for GlanceTV, a set of visuals that take over your screen when youd normally see a screensaver.And sure enough, during my demo, thats exactly what I saw: a carousel of enticing news headlines with accompanying images, supplemented with a widget that offered a persistent display of major league sports scores, and a clock.You might choose to leave your TV on all the time.Shah says Glances partnerships with hundreds of content providers will drive the content we see. There are no plans to scrape content from the web to supplement those deals. Most of the time, when a headline is accompanied by an image, the image will come from the same source. However, he did note that on occasions when a provider hasnt included an image, the GlanceTV platform will use generative AI to create one.The demo didnt include any ads, but it did have something far more compelling, and a little unsettling.Those arent my glasses and Im pretty sure my pecs arent that big, but otherwise, the AI kinda nailed it. Simon Cohen / Digital TrendsWith my permission, Shah uploaded a photo of my face into the GlanceTV platform. A cloud-based generative AI model then inserted my likeness, wearing casual outfits, into a variety of Instagram-worthy locations. The resemblance was uncanny except for my AI doppelgangers unerring sense of how to pose for the camera.Youve probably guessed the point: Each image is a shoppable outfit that can be ordered with a click of the remote. I dislike shopping for clothes. The time, the crowds, the salespeople (sorry) no thanks. But I am exactly vain enough that seeing an idealized version of myself looking good in a set of clothes might be all it takes to get me to buy.Simon Cohen / Digital TrendsI was also struck by how easy it was to get sucked into GlanceTVs swirl of content. It reminded me of the screens you sometimes see in elevators, or while waiting in a doctors office the ones you end up staring at simply because theyre there.This highlights the biggest difference between Glances mobile and TV experiences. Our phones are tools digital swiss army knives that run much of our lives. For most folks, lock screen notifications are like a peephole into the apps we rely on. And when we arent checking that screen, our phones are either actively in use or shoved in a pocket or purse.In other words, its valuable real estate that already serves a purpose. TVs are different. Except for gaming, theyre for passive content consumption. When a show ends or weve been distracted by our smaller screens while looking for something else to watch, we dont mind when they shift into screensaver mode.Shah hopes that GlanceTVs mix of personalized content will be so enticing so watchable you might choose to leave your TV on all the time.Whether you end up with GlanceTV on your TV, set-top box or any other TV-attached device will depend on the manufacturer. Like Glances mobile experience, GlanceTV cant be downloaded and installed from an app store. It needs to be embedded in a devices operating system. Some existing devices may receive Glance TV via a software update, but new devices are likely to be the main way GlanceTV enters our lives.If I were to place a bet, Id say the odds of Glance striking a deal with Apple are zero. If anyone is going to extract value from idle time on an Apple TV, it will be Apple itself.Still, few manufacturers have Apples combination of deep pockets and an obsessive control over user experience. Given the possibility of monetizing screentime that would otherwise be lost to a screensaver, I expect Glance wont have much trouble getting other companies to give it the access it needs. One only needs to look at Roku and Amazons business models for their streaming devices to see that GlanceTV is a good fit.In fact, just before CES, the company announced its first GlanceTV integration with Indias Airtel. The experience is now turned on by default for over one million Airtel Xstream set-top box devices, and the partnership expects this to grow to four million devices by June 2025.If the GlanceTV concept makes you uncomfortable, you can disable it on your device much as you can with Glance on Android phones. But I have a feeling GlanceTVs idle-time screen show will prove much more popular than its lock screen experience.Editors RecommendationsA Sonos TV without a remote? No thanks

The European Commission has ramped up its investigation into Elon Musks X social network after the tech mogul criticized European governments in recent weeks, and just days before President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to the White House.

The transformation of Anne Frank, the early days of the Federal Reserve, why matter still mystifies and more.

Ownership, now that's a tricky word Camera owner asks Canon, skies: Why is it $5/month for webcam software? Just because it's a good rig doesn't mean you can use it on Zoom. Kevin Purdy Jan 17, 2025 2:36 pm | 31 The Canon PowerShot G5 X II, which is either less valuable than a $50 USB webcam or far better, depending on your Canon subscription software. Credit: Canon The Canon PowerShot G5 X II, which is either less valuable than a $50 USB webcam or far better, depending on your Canon subscription software. Credit: Canon Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn morePhotography enthusiasts pay a lot for their very powerful cameras. How much more should they pay to put them to much, much easier work as a webcam? However many hundreds of dollars you paid, Canon thinks you should pay $5 per monthor, heck, just $50 per yearto do that.Roman Zipp detailed his journey from incredulousness to grim resignation in a blog post. He bought his Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II for something like $900 last year. The compact model gave him the right match of focal length and sensor size for concert pics. What it did not give him was the ability to change anything at all about his webcam feed using Canon's software. (The "$6,299 camera" referenced in Zipp's blog post title is his indication that all models of Canon's cameras face this conundrum, regardless of price point.)Ah, but that's because Zipp did not pay. If you head to Canon's site, provide a name and email, and manage to grab the EOS Webcam utility when Canon's servers are not failing, you can connect one camera, with one default scene, at 720p, 30 frames per second and adjust everything on the camera itself if you need to. Should you pay $5 per month, or $50 per year, you can unlock EOS Webcam Utility Pro (PDF link), which provides full 60 fps video and most of the features you'd expect out of a webcam that cost hundreds fewer dollars. Comparison of webcam software features available to Canon's "PRO" and "Free" users. Credit: Roman Zipp/Canon Comparison of webcam software features available to Canon's "PRO" and "Free" users. Credit: Roman Zipp/Canon "Software development isnt free, and Im happy to pay for software I use regularly," Zipp writes. "However, Canon is a hardware company, not a software company, and they shoulddue to the lack of standardsprovide software that allows you to use their cameras as intended. Aside from development costs, theres no justification for a subscription model, particularly from a company earning nearly $3 billion in profit."Zipp's pointed complaint made the front page of Hacker News, where commenters immediately got sidetracked into a discussion of UK tariff laws on video equipment, sneakers, cookies, and ethanol. But further in, recommendations appear for the open source Magic Lantern camera add-on software, or possibly CHDK (Canon Hack Development Kit) firmware. Whether or not Zipp can better use his camera as a webcam is somewhat beside the point, or at least the point he's making.Many higher-end (or at least better-than-smartphone) cameras output video in formats that computers and web conferencing software cannot natively accept. HDMI output is an option, but using that typically requires a capture device and specialty software to mix and use it and that the camera provide "clean" HDMI out, with no overlays. The G5 X Mark II does seem to offer that and has a USB-C port. It also seems to work fine once the software is paid for. It's an open question whether Canon should provide this as part of the cost of the camera, one for which Zipp and many commenters have an answer.Ars has reached out to Canon for comment and will update this post if the company responds.Kevin PurdySenior Technology ReporterKevin PurdySenior Technology Reporter Kevin is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering open-source software, PC gaming, home automation, repairability, e-bikes, and tech history. He has previously worked at Lifehacker, Wirecutter, iFixit, and Carbon Switch. 31 Comments

Lisa Morgan, Freelance WriterJanuary 17, 20255 Min ReadAndriy Popov via Alamy Stock This may well be a sobering year when it comes to AI adoption, use and scaling. On the demand side, organizations will be pulling investments back prematurely because theyre not seeing the value they expected. On the supply side, supply shortages, unmet expectations and investor pressure have caused one big tech company to reduce AI infrastructure investments and others will follow, according to Forrester.To date, organizations have been investing heavily in AI and GenAI, not necessarily with a view toward ROI, though ROI can be difficult to quantify from a hard dollar perspective, which senior executives and boards now want. The anticipated shortage of infrastructure will also likely have an impact.Whats Happening on the Demand SideOrganizations will not continue to increase investments in AI if theyre not seeing the value they expect.[C]ompanies are scaling back on their AI investments or too impatient in terms of ROI. They will [likely] scale back on their AI investment prematurely, which is not a good strategy, says Jayesh Chaurasia, analyst at Forrester. The other factor that might be fueling this is the current economic climate. In the last three months, almost everyone is trying to cut back on any type of investment that is not generating a clear ROI, and not only the AI-related stuff.Related:Executives are asking for ROI numbers on analytics, data governance, and data quality programs, and they are demanding dollar values as opposed to improving customer experience or increasing operational efficiency.In 2023 and this year too, we are seeing more focus on ROI related to generative AI, says Chaurasia. Almost every executive was talking about how generative AI is going to just change the world, but it's not as easy as just deploying a model or a generated AI function and then say your job is done because there is a foundational data analytics requirement that will eventually enable it, and which means you need to have proper privacy and security protocols, [such as] access management and data governance. You also must supply better data quality [because] these models are trained on the entire data set from the internet.The fact that people know the models are trained on internet data has inspired internet postings that are intentionally inaccurate or misleading, so the models wont work right.The better answer is, of course, to use your own industry enterprise data, which gives the AI model more information about your company, says Chaurasia. You can very easily set up a connection with your data warehouse and get all the data into the model, but its not that easy because privacy, security, and governance are not in place. So, you're not 100% sure whether you're sharing your data with the model or the entire world.Related:Organizations have expected quick returns but not realized them because the initial expectations were unrealistic. Later comes the realization that the proper foundation has not been put in place.Folks are saying they expect ROI in at least three years and more than 30% or so are saying that it would take three to five years when weve got two years of generative AI. [H]ow can you expect it to perform so quickly when you think it will take at least three years to realize the ROI? Some companies, some leadership, might be freaking out at this moment, says Chaurasia. I think the majority of them have spent half a million on generative AI in the last two years and havent gotten anything in return. That's where the panic is setting in.Explaining ROI in terms of dollars is difficult, because its not as easy as multiplying time savings by individual salaries. Some companies are working to develop frameworks, however.Some managers are reaching out to every business unit to ask the benefits that they have received with proper understanding of ownership, where the data exists [and] lineage of particular data set. They are using some custom surveys to reach out to all the employees in the organization to for their suggestions as well as their metrics, says Chaurasia. Unfortunately, there is no single framework that I would suggest works for every company.Related:Jayesh Chaurasia, ForresterChaurasia is working on KPIs for the various domains, in terms of quality, governance, MDM, data management, data storage and everything that companies can track over the time to see the improvement, but theyre not connected to dollar value.What I'm recommending is find at the tactical, managerial, and executive levels what matters to them [and have] KPIs for each of those different layer levels to maintain and calculate that ROI regularly, so that they can use that KPI those metrics to show the benefit of whether they have improved over time or not.View From the Supply SideIf enterprises are reducing AI investments because the anticipated benefits arent being realized, vendors will pull back. Meanwhile, China has banned the export of critical materials required for semiconductors and other tech-related technologies in response to President-elect Donald Trumps planned tariffs, not to mention the downstream impacts of tariffs -- higher production costs and therefore higher tech prices IT departments will have to bear when budgets are already tight and may become tighter.Bottom LineInfrastructure shortages due to reduced AI investments on the demand side combined with higher prices and a potential US chip shortage due to lack of materials on the supply side would in turn impact the calculus of AI ROI. There are also broader impacts of the incoming administrations policies such as mass deportation, which could impact tech workers, including AI talent, and their employers.About the AuthorLisa MorganFreelance WriterLisa Morgan is a freelance writer who covers business and IT strategy and emergingtechnology for InformationWeek. She has contributed articles, reports, and other types of content to many technology, business, and mainstream publications and sites including tech pubs, The Washington Post and The Economist Intelligence Unit. Frequent areas of coverage include AI, analytics, cloud, cybersecurity, mobility, software development, and emerging cultural issues affecting the C-suite.See more from Lisa MorganNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports

Flooding in Atlanta, Georgia, in September 2024S LESSER/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockIn 2024, Earth received about 2.9 millimetres of rain per day. That may not sound like much, but it could represent a new record amount of precipitation for the planet.Last years global average precipitation was about 3 per cent greater than the average since records began in 1983, and it just surpasses the previous record, set in 1998. The 2.9-millimetre number, based on preliminary data compiled by researchers at the Global Precipitation Climatology Project, may still change slightly as the data is finalised. But if it holds, it

"Severance"Tramell Tillman, Zach Cherry, John Turturro, Britt Lower, and Adam Scott in "Severance." Apple TV+ "Severance" is probably Apple TV+'s most popular show its highly anticipated second season premieres January 17, almost three years after the first season ended in April 2022.The sci-fi thriller takes place in a world where employees of the Lumon corporation can choose to undergo the "severance" procedure, which completely separates their consciousness between their work selves and their home selves (or "innies" and "outies" in the show's parlance).The cast is packed from top to bottom with amazing actors, but we can't say enough about Adam Scott's dual performance as Mark Scout/Mark S. It's clear that while the two share an underlying goodness, they each have distinct personalities and mannerisms.Fans of shows like "Lost," "Mr. Robot," and "Westworld" should tune in immediately."Slow Horses"Jack Lowden in "Slow Horses." Apple TV+ "Slow Horses" is a British spy thriller based on the Mick Herron books series called "Slough House."A far cry from the slick halls of James Bond's MI6, "Slow Horses" follows a team of reject MI5 agents who, rather than get fired or quit, are sent to Slough House, a junky outpost run by the slovenly Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), a former Cold War super-spy who has become jaded with the entire service.Of course, even though these are supposed to be the most incompetent agents in the intelligence community, things just keep happening to the Slow Horses that keep them in the action.There are four seasons with six episodes each, with at least two more on the way, so it's a perfect weekend binge."Bad Sisters"Eve Hewson and Sharon Horgan in "Bad Sisters." Apple "Bad Sisters" is a black comedy starring Sharon Horgan, Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, and Eve Hewson as five sisters living in Dublin. One of them, Grace (Duff), is married to a controlling, abusive man named John Paul (Claes Bang).Each of the Garvey sisters has their own problem with John Paul, so when he dies mysteriously, each becomes a suspect in a case involving John Paul's life insurance.The first season told a relatively complete story, so it was surprising when the show returned for season two. While it didn't live up to the highs of season one, it's enough to be in the company of the Garvey sisters for another eight hours.Plus, you can always pretend it's a perfect limited series if you really don't want to watch season two."Hijack"Idris Elba in "Hijack." Apple TV+ "Hijack" seemed to come out of nowhere, but what a pleasant surprise it was. The show stars Idris Elba as Sam, a corporate negotiator who happens to be on a flight from Dubai to London that gets hijacked midair.The series is a tense thriller set in real time. It is seven episodes long, and the flight is seven hours.It was renewed for season two last summer, and we can't wait to see what Sam does next."Shrinking"Harrison Ford in "Shrinking." Apple TV Plus "Shrinking" is a comedy starring Jason Segel as Jimmy, a therapist grieving the loss of his wife after a drunk-driving accident. Sick of listening to people complain to him about their problems without doing anything about it, Jimmy begins to cross ethical lines and tell people what he thinks they should be doing.It's a comedy, we promise.The cast is rounded out by Jimmy's coworkers Gaby (Jessica Williams) and Paul (a locked-in Harrison Ford), his best friend Brian (Michael Urie), and his daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell).If you're a fan of the heartwarming, gentle comedy of "Ted Lasso" (more on that later), the two seasons of "Shrinking" will go down easy, and we're sure the upcoming third season will too."Black Bird"Taron Egerton in "Black Bird." Apple TV Plus The first true-crime series on this list, "Black Bird" is the real story of Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton), a low-level criminal who agreed to a two-year plea deal with a chance of parole that turned out to be a 10-year deal with no chance of parole.But his fortunes begin to change when the FBI approaches him with a proposition: befriend fellow inmate and suspected serial killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser) and get him to confess to as many murders as possible, and get out of prison immediately with an expunged record."Black Bird" also stars Ray Liotta in one of his final performances as Jimmy's father, Big Jim.Anyone who was a fan of Netflix's "Mindhunter" should tap into "Black Bird" as soon as possible."Presumed Innocent"Jake Gyllenhaal and Renate Reinsve in "Presumed Innocent." Apple TV+ This is the second adaptation of Scott Turow's novel of the same name, after the 1990 film starring Harrison Ford and Brian Dennehy.In the show, Jake Gyllenhaal plays Rusty Sabich, a Chicago prosecutor who is accused of murder himself after a coworker he was having an affair with, Carolyn (Renate Reinsve), turns up dead.This show is, in a word, chaotic. But it is extremely watchable, and we don't get enough legal thrillers in movies or on TV anymore, so it's great to see one as successful as this. Season two was confirmed in July 2024."For All Mankind"Michael Dorman in "For All Mankind." Apple TV+ "For All Mankind" is an alternate history show that asks what would have happened if the Soviet Union had beaten the US to the Moon in 1969. You might not think that would change a lot, but the four seasons of "For All Mankind" suggest it would've changed NASA and the space program in all sorts of ways.Each season of the show takes place in a different decade, allowing us to check in with our characters in the '70s, '80s, '90s, and 2000s. A fifth season in the 2010s has already been confirmed.In addition to being thrilling sci-fi, it's also a compelling look at the personal relationships between the astronauts and their families. There's something for everyone."The Morning Show"Reese Witherspoon in "The Morning Show." Apple TV Plus You might be asking, "Is 'The Morning Show' actually good?" And our response to that would be: Must a show be good?Is it not enough to cast some of the best TV actors of all time (Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Jon Hamm, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Steve Carell, Greta Lee, Karen Pittman, Billy Crudup, Julianna Margulies, Nicole Beharie, Holland Taylor, Tig Notaro the list goes on) to spout some nonsense about how important TV ratings and morning shows are to American culture?Ultimately, "The Morning Show" is extremely watchable. Season four is set to drop this year."The Buccaneers"Aubri Ibrag, Josie Totah, Imogen Waterhouse, and Kristine Froseth "The Buccaneers." Apple TV+ "The Buccaneers" is one of Apple TV+'s few teen-focused shows, but it's a great one. Based on Edith Wharton's unfinished novel of the same name, "The Buccaneers" is a more progressive take on what it was like to be a young woman in society during the Gilded Age.Our titular buccaneers are a group of American friends who travel to England during debutante season to secure advantageous matches. But someone in the writer's room was clearly watching "Bridgerton," because there's racial diversity, a compelling queer storyline, love triangles, and tons of modern music."The Buccaneers" ended on a tantalizing cliffhanger, so thankfully, it was renewed for a second season in December 2023."Bad Monkey"Vince Vaughn in "Bad Monkey." Bob Mahoney/Apple TV+ Vince Vaughn stars in another crime series after "True Detective"; this time it's a more comedic one based on the Carl Hiaasen novel "Bad Monkey."All of Hiaasen's novels are characterized by the easy-breezy Florida mentality of its lead characters, and "Bad Monkey" is no different. In the series, Vaughn plays Andrew Yancy, a motor-mouthed cop turned restaurant inspector.When Yancy is tasked with some busy work by a former colleague (transporting a severed arm to the morgue), he gets dragged into a conspiracy spanning Florida, Key West, and the Bahamas.It was renewed for season two in December 2024."Pachinko"Lee Min-ho in "Pachinko" Russ Martin/Apple TV+ "Pachinko" is a generational epic based on Min Jin Lee's 2017 novel of the same name. It follows a Korean family living in Japan across four generations and 74 years. Part of the show's central tension is the treatment of Korean immigrants in Japan throughout the 20th century, and it is sure to both warm and break your heart.Fans of Anna Sawai from "Shogun" should check out the two seasons of "Pachinko," as she's equally wonderful in both shows."Five Days at Memorial"Vera Farmiga in "Five Days at Memorial." Apple TV+ The second true-crime limited series on this list, "Five Days at Memorial," is based on the five days immediately following Hurricane Katrina at Memorial Medical Center, a hospital in New Orleans. It's based on the 2013 book of the same name.If you don't know the true story already, we recommend going blind. Vera Farmiga gives a truly harrowing performance as Dr. Anna Pou, an overworked surgeon who makes stomach-churning decisions about how to help her patients best as they await rescue."Platonic"Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne on "Platonic." Paul Sarkis/Apple TV+ For some lighter fare, we turn to "Platonic," a sweet, decidedly not rom-com about two best friends who reconnect after one gets divorced.Why'd they stop being friends? Because Sylvia (Rose Byrne) accidentally told her best friend Will (Seth Rogen) that she hated his his now-ex Audrey (Alisha Wainwright).The stakes are low in "Platonic," but the chemistry between Rogen and Byrne, first established in the "Neighbors" films, remains as charming as ever.Season two was announced in December 2023, so it's expected to be released this year."Manhunt"Damian O'Hare, Tobias Menzies, and Brandon Flynn in "Manhunt." Apple TV+ "Manhunt" went somewhat under the radar upon its release last March, but we don't know why. It's a genuinely riveting portrayal of the 12-day manhunt for Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth (Anthony Boyle), led by Lincoln's secretary of war, Edwin Stanton (Tobias Menzies) and the conspiracy led by some in the South to protect Booth.In the series, Lincoln is played by an unrecognizable Hamish Linklater (who is never anything less than stellar).The series is just seven episodes long, so it's another great weekend show to binge."Dickinson"Hailee Steinfeld and Wiz Khalifa in "Dickinson." Apple TV Plus "Dickinson" is one of the most inventive shows on this list, starring Hailee Steinfeld as the 19th-century poet Emily Dickinson. The show follows her as a young woman living in Amherst with her sister Vinnie (Anna Baryshnikov), her brother Austin (Adrian Blake Enscoe), and her parents Edward (Toby Huss) and Emily (Jane Krakowski).Complicating matters is that Austin's fiance Sue (Ella Hunt) is Emily's secret lover.While fans of Dickinson's might know that she didn't have the happiest adult life, the show manages to inject hilarity, biting social commentary, and a decent amount of magical realism into the show for example, Emily is friends with a personification of Death played by Wiz Khalifa.It ran for three seasons from 2019 to 2021 and is one of few shows today that actually has a satisfying conclusion."Mythic Quest"Charlotte Nicdao and Rob McElhenney in "Mythic Quest." Apple "Mythic Quest" is a workplace sitcom about a team of employees working at a video game studio that created a hugely popular MMORPG game of the same name.The cast is an all-star lineup of comedians, including "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's" Rob McElhenney as Ian, the creative director and creator of "Mythic Quest"; Danny Pudi as Brad, the head of monetization; David Hornsby as David, the executive producer; Jessie Ennis as Jo, David's assistant; and Charlotte Nicdao as Poppy, the lead engineer.If you're not sure about the show at first, give it until the fifth episode, "A Dark Quiet Death," which completely upends its structure and introduces two entirely new characters, played by Cristin Milioti and Jake Johnson.Season four will premiere on January 29, giving you enough time to catch up."Servant"Nell Tiger Tree in "Servant." Apple If you happened to catch "The First Omen," one of 2024's best horror films, you're probably wondering where else you can watch Nell Tiger Free be delightfully creepy.Look no further than "Servant," a psychological horror show produced by one of the kings of horror, M. Night Shyamalan."Servant" is the story of a married couple, Dorothy (Lauren Ambrose) and Sean (Toby Kebbell), who are dealing with the tragic death of their 13-week-old son Jericho in an unorthodox way they've purchased a realistic baby doll, and Dorothy is treating it like it's her actual, living son.So much so that Dorothy and Sean (who knows that the doll isn't real) have hired a nanny to care for Jericho. Enter: Free as Leanne, the creepiest nanny to grace the small screen in quite a long time."Servant" is up and down, as Shyamalan projects can be, but the four seasons keep the tension up the entire time. All horror fans should at least try it out."Ted Lasso"Jason Sudeikis in "Ted Lasso." Apple TV Plus We couldn't round up Apple TV+'s best shows without including "Ted Lasso," arguably the show that put the streamer on the map and was nominated for a record-breaking 20 Emmys for its first season.The show, born from a character created for an NBC Sports ad, starred Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, a college football coach from Kansas hired to coach a Premier League soccer team in England. For reasons revealed later in the show, Ted is very game to uproot his entire life.But the reason for his hiring isn't altruistic the team's new owner, Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), got ownership of the team in a bitter divorce and now wants to take the team down to piss off her ex-husband.Much has been said and written about the quality of "Ted Lasso's" three seasons, but we maintain that the first season is as perfect as TV gets.It's a beautiful story about meeting new people, what it means to be a leader, opening yourself up to love, and radical kindness and optimism. We needed it upon its premiere in 2020, and we're certain we'll need it again in 2025."Silo"Rebecca Ferguson in "Silo." Apple TV+ "Silo" is a dystopian thriller based on a series of novels by Graham Yost. It takes place on an Earth ravaged by warfare that has left the surface poisonous. Humanity has moved underground into a giant solo that's 144 levels deep.Rebecca Ferguson plays Juliette, an engineer who works deep inside the Silo. She becomes curious about why everyone is forbidden from learning about the outside world and the death of her lover George (Ferdinand Kingsley) and begins to investigate what's actually going on in the Silo."Silo's" second season concludes on January 17 but fear not, it's already been renewed for a third and fourth season to conclude the story."Schmigadoon!"Kristin Chenoweth in "Schmigadoon!" Robert Falconer / AppleTV+ We're still bitter about the cancellation of "Schmigadoon!," a love letter to classical musicals.The show follows Josh and Melissa, a couple played by Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong, who happen upon the magical town of Schmigadoon while on a hike.In the town, all the residents act like they are living inside a 1940s musical and break out into songs of course, since the cast is made up of musical theater icons like Kristen Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Ariana DeBose, Jane Krakowski, Aaron Tveit, Tituss Burgess, Patrick Page, and more, it's an absolute hoot.Season two, subtitled "Schimago," spoofs the darker musicals of the '60s and '70s. Since it was canceled after that, we'll never know what was set for season three, but it's made clear from the finale that it probably would've been poking fun at the mega-musicals of the '80s and '90s like "Cats" and "Phantom of the Opera."However, "Schmigadoon" isn't gone for good. A stage adaptation is set to premiere in Washington, DC, this month, and hopefully, it will be transferred to Broadway."Loot"Joel Kim Booster, Maya Rudolph, and Ron Funches in "Loot." Apple TV+ All you need to know about "Loot" is that it stars Maya Rudolph as Molly, the wife of a billionaire who gets cheated on and is suddenly left with a lot of money, a lot of time, and zero purpose.To fill her time, she decides to become involved in a foundation bearing her name instead of just being a figurehead. Hilarity ensues.It was renewed for a third season in July 2024, meaning we'll have more of Molly's antics soon."The Afterparty"Sam Richardson in "The Afterparty." Apple "The Afterparty," while being a TV show, was a true love letter to movie fans everywhere, as each episode took turns poking fun at a different genre with razor-sharp accuracy.The first season of the show focused on the murder of pop star Xavier (Dave Franco) at the after-party of his high school reunion. As Detective Danner (Tiffany Haddish) asks each person to take her through the night, each person gets to tell their story in their preferred way.For example, an episode from Xavier's former bandmate Yasper's perspective is an upbeat musical, while another classmate's night seemed straight out of "The Fast and the Furious."Season two has a similar format, except it's about a wedding after-party, during which the groom was murdered.It was canceled after two seasons, but at least we'll always have "Yeah Sure Whatever.""Sugar"Colin Farrell in "Sugar." Apple TV+ We don't want to spoil the midseason twist of "Sugar," a seemingly straightforward LA detective story starring Colin Farrell as John Sugar, a private investigator.But rest assured: This show is bonkers. It is worth watching the eight episodes and Apple agreed, as season two was greenlit in October 2024.

On Friday, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld a federal law that effectively bans the social media app TikTok in the United States, unless the platforms China-based owner sells TikTok. Though Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch disagreed somewhat with the unsigned majority opinions rationale, no justice dissented.Its also worth noting that all three of the lower court judges who heard this case, known as TikTok v. Garland, agreed that the law should be upheld. That means that no judge has determined that the law is unconstitutional.Despite that, its uncertain what the decision means longterm for TikTok and its users. Congress passed a law banning the app that the Supreme Court has now upheld, but its not clear whether the government will actually enforce it, which prohibits US companies including Apple and Google, which make the TikTok app available on their app stores from providing services to TikTok. The law takes effect on Sunday, one day before President Joe Biden leaves office. Biden has said that he will not enforce the ban in his final day as president, and it would be unrealistic anyway to expect the federal government to bring an enforcement proceeding to completion in a single day. Incoming President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has made vague noises suggesting that he may not enforce the ban, but its unclear how he intends to proceed with TikTok after he takes office on Monday. Trump filed a brief in the Supreme Court claiming that he alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Government.That said, the law will now take effect on Sunday, and the statute of limitations for the government to enforce the law is five years. So US companies that decide not to comply with the law even if they are shielded by an executive branch that ignores the law face extraordinary risk. Even if Trump does not enforce the law, his successor might.So why did the Court uphold the law?A short summary of the Courts holding in TikTok v. Garland is that the justices believed that the risk of China using TikTok to spy on Americans is so great that it dwarfs any free speech concerns that arise out of this law. As the Court repeatedly notes, about 170 million people in the United States use TikTok. And the app collects a vast array of information from its users that could potentially be obtained by the Chinese government. As the Court writes, TikToks Beijing-based owner, ByteDance, is subject to Chinese laws that require it to assist or cooperate with the Chinese Governments intelligence work and to ensure that the Chinese Government has the power to access and control private data the company holds.Among other things, the Court cites a congressional report that found that TikToks data collection practices extend to age, phone number, precise location, internet address, device used, phone contacts, social network connections, the content of private messages sent through the application, and videos watched. This information could potentially be used by the Chinese government to target or even blackmail federal officials or high-ranking corporate executives suppose, for example, that TikToks data revealed that a Cabinet secretary was repeatedly in the same hotel room with a woman that is not his wife.It should be noted that the government has long prohibited foreign nations and companies from owning key US communications infrastructure, so the Courts decision is consistent with that history. The Radio Act of 1912, for example, only permitted US citizens to obtain a radio operators license. And current US law includes similar prohibitions on foreign control of broadcast radio stations.RelatedTikTok should lose its big Supreme Court caseDespite this law and precedent, the Court did go out of its way to emphasize that its decision is narrow and should not be read to broadly permit the government to decide who should own media companies. As the Court says, TikToks scale and susceptibility to foreign adversary control, together with the vast swaths of sensitive data the platform collects, justify differential treatment from other such companies.The Court adds that a law targeting any other speaker would by necessity entail a distinct inquiry and separate considerations.One important legal question in TikTok was what level of scrutiny should apply to the TikTok ban. In First Amendment cases, courts apply a particularly skeptical legal test (known as strict scrutiny) to any law that attempts to regulate the content of speech meaning that the law targets which message a particular speaker intends to convey. Courts give less rigorous review to laws that do not target the content of speech, even if that law has some incidental effect on free speech.Though the TikTok opinion does not fully resolve this question, it does conclude that the TikTok ban is facially content neutral and is not subject to strict scrutiny. As the Court writes, the law is justified by the governments desire to prevent China from collecting vast amounts of sensitive data from 170 million U.S. TikTok users. It is not motivated by a desire to suppress any particular idea or viewpoint. If TikTok sells itself to an American company tomorrow, the law will permit any speaker to convey any message they want on TikTok.In any event, the upshot of Fridays opinion is that the courts will not intervene in this dispute over whether TikTok should be allowed to operate in the United States so long as it is subject to Chinese control. That does not mean that the law will be fully enforced. And it does not mean that incoming President Trump will not find some way to neutralize the law, if he wants to.But, for now, the TikTok ban is set to go into effect on Sunday.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Prepare for a particularly spooky Zombies map with Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Season 2, which will add 'The Tomb' which takes place underground here's all we knowTech15:28, 17 Jan 2025The Tomb is the next Black Ops 6 Zombies map(Image: Activision)Call of Duty Black Ops 6 was reportedly one of the biggest launches in the series' long history, but fans are now itching for updates as Warzone players continue to complain about cheaters.One audience that's been well-served, however, are the Call of Duty Zombies fans. The classic mode was off to a great start in the base game, before Season 1 Reloaded added Citadelle des Morts.Now, Activision has revealed that Season 2 will bring another Zombies map as the masses, like their zombie opponents, continue to be well-fed and this time, we're going underground to tackle the undead threat.Activision has revealed these black and white teaser images(Image: Activision)The Tomb is a new subterranean map for Zombies fans to navigate and stay alive in. Here's what the Call of Duty blog has to say:"After surviving the horrific events at Citadelle des Morts, Weaver, Grey, Carver, and Maya follow Gabriel Kraffts final words to a nearby excavation site to secure the Sentinel Artifact.""Built on the remains of ancient burial grounds with suspected origins dating back to 2500 B.C.E., these catacombs went undisturbed for centuries until the early 1900s... and what lies beneath may run deeper than anyone ever imagined."According to Activision, the map will "provide an experience similar to Liberty Falls" through "tighter play spaces with a focus on replayability". The team says Liberty Falls is the most-played Zombies map in recent years.Activision has promised one of the most iconic SMGs is returning(Image: Activision)The team has teased a big weapon reprisal, too."As a reminder, every Zombies map in Black Ops 6 is an original location built from the ground-up for the mode... but that doesnt mean we cant enjoy a wink and a nod here and there.""On that note, were going for something a little more evocative with our Pack-a-Punch camos this time around and what if we told you one of the most iconic SMGs in Zombies history was coming along for the ride?"Music is also a big part of the Zombies experience, and Activision regularly collaborates with guest artists. This time around the teaser video, which you can see below, seems to suggest Matt Heafy from Trivium will be the vocalist for The Tomb.Article continues belowCan't wait for Season 2? To celebrate the Zombies mode's infamous '115 Day', Activision is doubling GobbleGum earn rate, player XP, weapon XP, and Battle Pass XP.Season 2 of Black Ops 6 (and Warzone) is expected on January 28 as a free update for all players. In case you missed it, players weren't best pleased about the most recent patch notes.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Should we be worried? (Nintendo)The Nintendo Switch 2 has only just been revealed, but some are already worried that one particular part of it is going to very prone to breaking.While the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal didnt confirm many specific details, one of the key takeaways was the new Joy-Cons and all their new features.The Switch 2 controllers are officially bigger in size, have mysterious new buttons, can be used as computer mice, and connect to the screen display through a protruding port instead of the original consoles rail sliders.However, the way the Joy-Cons connect to the display has sparked some concern in fan circles, even though the console isnt even out yet.As highlighted on Reddit by Salesmunn, the Switch 2 Joy-Cons lock into place through magnetic connectors which stick out from the recessed sides along the console.I really hoped the controllers would charge and communicate wirelessly, the user wrote. I can tell that this little nub on the Switch 2 will be bending and cracking immediately. For parents of young kids, RIP this controller nub.Others in the comments have expressed concern too: That was what I was thinking. And since its part of the main body, good luck replacing that.Another added: The connector looks like it wouldnt hit anything due to that being recessed. But kids are going to fiddle with it or jam controllers on, etc. And thats what will break it over time [sic].Its important to note that its unclear what the connector is made of, so it could be very sturdy and more reliable than the slide rails on the original Switch. Or it could be purposefully flexible to avoid exactly what the fans are describing.Also, there is a long history of fans deciding various consoles and controllers are unworkable, just by looking at photos or videos, and it never proves accurate. These images arent even of an actual console, just a CGI render of it.Nintendo consoles are always designed to be durable in the hands of kids, but these premature concerns might stem from the trauma around the Joy-Con drift issue on the original Switch, which caused the control sticks to move on their own without any input.This issue inflated to the point where Nintendo offered free repairs in certain countries, and it even led to a lawsuit. Although all modern joypads suffer from the issue to some degree.More TrendingIts likely Nintendo has learnt from these mistakes around Joy-Con drift with the Switch 2, but well have to see if this new connector does become a sticking point. While theres no launch date for the console yet, were set to learn more during a Nintendo Direct on April 2, 2025. The console is set to be released this year (YouTube)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.ArrowMORE: Whats new in Mario Kart 9 for Nintendo Switch 2? GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy