• Microsoft and iFixit now sell official Xbox Series X/S replacement parts for DIY repairs
    www.engadget.com
    Xbox has announced a few more sustainability efforts, including an expansion of its repairability program. You'll be able to buy official replacement parts for Xbox Series X/S systems from the Microsoft Store and iFixit so you can repair your console yourself, even if it's out of warranty. Until now, Microsoft had only offered controller parts through its own store, but now you can buy components for the Series S and both the all-digital and disc drive editions of the Series X. Along with various parts and step-by-step repair guides, iFixit also has an Xbox toolkit for sale.Meanwhile, as of January 20, uBreakiFix by Asurion will be the first Xbox Authorized Service Provider. It will repair the consoles at nearly 700 participating locations in the US. Previously, authorized in-person Xbox repairs were only available at the Microsoft Store, so gamers will have many more places where they can go to get their console fixed without breaking the warranty.These are positive steps forward for the right-to-repair movement. They should help reduce the number of games consoles that are consigned to the scrapheap."By expanding the number of ways players can get support and repair for their Xbox consoles, we also help extend the longevity of Xbox devices, reduce waste, promote re-use and ultimately reduce our environmental impact," Trista Patterson, director of gaming sustainability at Xbox, wrote in an Xbox Wire post. In addition, there are no longer any single-use plastics in Xbox Series X/S packaging following a switch to fully paper- and fiber-based materials.Elsewhere on the sustainability front, Microsoft says that, through recent efficiencies in how the Xbox Series S handles video content, there's been an average power reduction of 10 percent while media apps are in use. As for the company's game studios, they've been using the Xbox Sustainability Toolkit to make more energy-efficient games, Microsoft says.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/microsoft-and-ifixit-now-sell-official-xbox-series-xs-replacement-parts-for-diy-repairs-173948884.html?src=rss
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  • LOreals new skin testing suite paid me such a nice compliment, I nearly stole it from the demo room
    www.techradar.com
    I tried LOreals new skin testing device at CES 2025, and it gave me some surprising news about my skin health and aging.
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  • Microsoft launches consumption-based 365 Copilot Chat option for corporate users
    www.cnbc.com
    Microsoft is providing an alternative to the Microsoft 365 Copilot, which has gained some commercial adoption at $30 per user per month.
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  • 7 predictions for where gadgets are going in 2025
    www.fastcompany.com
    CES 2025the biggest tech industry event on Earthhas just closed. The Seymourpowell team navigated endless carpeted aisles and braved the relentless AI buzz to pinpoint the signals that truly matter, making sense of what they mean for our future lifestyles.With a new U.S. administration promising a hands-off approach, the show felt like it was on the cusp of big changesAI popped up in everything from AR glasses to emotional-support robots. Yet beneath the glitz, we saw genuine progresssolar-powered gear already hitting shelves, wearable health tech that shows real promise, and thoughtful solutions for people with disabilities. Weve narrowed down the trends that matter most. Heres what CES 2025 reveals about the tech that will define how we live tomorrow. Age Well: Tech innovation embraces its golden yearsAs Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American Poet, once said, Age is opportunity no less than youth itself. And at CES 2025, that opportunity was hard to ignore. This year, technology finally started to catch up with the needs of older adults, offering personalized solutions that redefine the aging process and bring dignity, independence, and connection into focus.[Photo: LOral]For too long, mature users have been an afterthought, but this years CES signaled a shift in priorities.LOrals Cell BioPrintoffers a rapid, five-minute analysis of your skins biological age, while theWithings Omnia smart mirroruses AI to turn complex health data into easy-to-digest insights and tailored recommendations. By shifting from reactive management to proactive, informed decision-making, these innovations emphasize prevention over cure. The message is loud and clearaging tech is about making life smarter, not harder. [Photo: Withings]Mobility is a key aging concern, and H-Medithe worlds first all-in-one wearable robot for gait disorderspromises a breakthrough. With an AI engine that predicts disease progression at 92% accuracy, it customizes support in under two minutes, boosting walking speed by 10% and improving gait efficiency by up to 21%. Its a precision-driven, holistic approach designed to keep seniors active, independent, and on their feetperfectly aligned with the age well trend by merging cutting-edge tech with compassionate care.[Photo: Hurotics]One standout example of the Age Well trend? EssilorLuxottica, the force behind iconic eyewear brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley, entering the over-the-counter hearing aid space with Nuance Audio. These stylish glasses combine hearing and vision support, offering modes that let users amplify all surrounding noise or focus on specific conversationsfeatures we tested ourselves. For the less tech-savvy, a simple multifunction button switches between modes, while power-saving innovations, like deactivating microphones when the glasses are removed, keep things user-friendly. Presented in a bold burgundy red, these glasses dont just functionthey redefine how assistive tech can look and feel. Its a perfect fusion of practicality and style, transforming aging tech from necessity to luxury.[Photo: Nuance]But the significance of these innovations goes beyond individual empowerment. As global populations age, tech like this can alleviate pressure on healthcare systems and enhance quality of life. In countries like Japan, where nearly a quarter of the population is over 65, technologies like these arent just nice-to-havestheyre becoming vital, societal necessities.The takeawayLooking ahead, these innovations are likely to resonate with younger generations, who already embrace functional foods and antiaging measures in health and wellness. Preserving hearing, vision, and mobility before age-related issues even arise feels like the next logical progression. In other words, the future of aging tech isnt just about managing the process; its about staying one step ahead of it. Techs New look: Gen Z and Gen Alpha are driving demand for a new expressive design aestheticAs technology settled into all our home environments, hardware and interfaces took a humble turn, fitting quietly into the sleek, minimalist interiors we craved. But at CES 2025, a bolder aesthetic has arrived. Devices arent just tools anymore; theyre canvases for personality. From rainbow-hued gaming lights to oddball robots, this new wave of design is vibrant, loud, and sometimes delightfully unnecessaryperfect for a generation thats grown up customizing digital avatars in Minecraft, Fortnite, and beyond.[Photo: Govee]A big part of this shift is fueled bygamer culture, where personalization is everything. Govees Gaming Pixel Light, for instance, transforms play-spaces into neon playgrounds, while bendable screens likeLGs OLED gaming monitor and Samsungs surreal inflatable TVare tearing up hardware design conventions. In a market where one-size-fits-all used to be enough, were now seeing devices that literally reshape themselves to meet users desire for creative freedom.[Photo: LG]That same spirit of self-expression extends beyond the living room. TheQudi Mask 2reimagines the face as a digital canvas, complete with moving expressions that react to your voice. Influencers love it for TikToks and YouTube videos, while users on the autism spectrum have found it surprisingly empowering, offering a new avenue for nonverbal communication. With its softer lines and less intimidating look, the latest model promises to bring even more playful self-expression to the masses.[Photo: Qudi]Meanwhile, the Carbon AI Backpackis turning commutes into catwalks of creativity. Powered by OpenAI, its dynamic LED displays let wearers show off animations, messages, or even reactive artwork. Essentially, its a digital billboard strapped to your shoulders, perfect for content creators who see every sidewalk as a stage. Its one more sign that Gen Z and Gen Alpha see every surfacephysical or virtualas a platform for personal branding.[Photo: CarbonAI]And lets not forget theemotionalside of the equation. In an era of digital companions, Ropet emerges as a pet with personality, while Nkojita Cat FuFu and the Mirumi sloth robot exist almost solely to spark joy. These whimsical gadgets blow on your coffee, cuddle up to your purse strap, or bob their heads in friendly greetingall a testament to a generation craving comfort and genuine connection in their tech. As loneliness rates climb, these playful companions deliver a dash of delight where its needed most.[Photo: Yukai Engineering]The takeawayMae West once quipped, Its better to be looked over than overlooked. At CES 2025, its clear that standing out is the name of the game. From inflatable TVs to LED backpacks, brands are unleashing expressive, personality-driven products that demand attention, and forging a new era of self-expression in the process. The lesson? In a world inundated with sameness, it pays to be unforgettable. The Agency Movement: Personal agency squares up against ambient automationIn his 2014 CES keynote, Sonys then-CEO Kazuo Hirai boldly claimed, This generation wont just use technology, they will bend it to their will. Back then, the promise felt electric,as an extension of our own intent, seamlessly woven into the fabric of our daily life.Fast-forward to 2025, and AI headlines rule. At this years CES, we saw a new vision unfold:Ambient Living, where technology doesnt merely sit in our homes, it learns our habits, makes decisions on our behalf, and quietly guides our actions. On one side, that frictionless convenience is alluring; on the other, it raises vital questions about human agency.[Photo: Biky]While theambient approachmay be pulling ahead, theres a countertrend worth spotlighting tech that champions personal choice. For instance, Biky Smart Bikeis rethinking kids freedom in an era of helicopter parenting. Its second-generation model builds on a lightweight bike concept, adding GPS so parents can map out safe boundaries for playstriking a balance between child independence and parental peace of mind.[Photo: BionicM]Another standout example is Bio Leg, a next-gen robotic prosthetic knee designed to restore mobility for above-knee amputees. Powered by an electric motor and multiple sensors, it reduces discomfort and delivers smoother, more natural movement. By prioritizing user control and adaptability, Bio Leg celebrates the empowering side of technologyextending human capability rather than automating it.[Screenshot: LetMeDoIt]But perhaps the most exciting trend this year was how many free will devices emerged from communities overlooked in mainstream tech. LetMeDoItis a decision-support platform founded by Angad Sahgal, who is a person with Down syndrome. Its mission: empower people with disabilities to live more independently. By refusing to make decisionsforits users, LetMeDoIt supports them in making their own, demonstrating how inclusive thinking can spur groundbreaking innovations.The TakeawayFree will remains one of our most precious human differentiators. As we stand at the brink of monumental technological change, its worth asking whether these new tools enrich our capacity to chooseor quietly corral us into a more passive existence. The hope is that more tech innovations willchooseto put free will first, weaving empowerment into every line of code and circuit they create. The Body as Interface: Glasses and earbuds rewrite the rules of tech engagementAI dominated CES 2025, with every booth buzzing about generative models, neural networks, and data-driven breakthroughs. But beneath the noise, a bigger question emerged: How do wewantto interact with tech? Large language models (LLMs) are quietly reshaping our routines, offering hands-free, intuitive experiences that might finally free us from screens.[Photo: Naqi]This evolution spotlights two parallel paths in wearable design: in-ear devices (like NAQI Neural Earbuds) and head-mounted solutions (like Halliday Smart Glasses). Both aim to reimagine humanmachine interaction, each forging a unique trajectory for our always-on lifestylesand raising crucial questions as we edge closer to the notion of singularity.[Photo: Halliday]Halliday Smart Glasses deliver subtle AI via a sleek frame and a gesture-based Ring interface. Think hands-free multitasking with a low-key, socially acceptable vibe: youre always available, minus the isolating effect of in-ear buds. Meanwhile, Ray-Bans partnership with Meta shows how style and sound can blend seamlessly, shrinking hardware footprints so smart glasses feel more like everyday wear than futuristic headsets.On the other side,NAQI Neural Earbudstake earphones to the next level, detecting brainwaves and muscle impulses for a screenless, camera-free control system. By pioneering accessibility for people with disabilities, NAQIs Invisible UI also hints at broader potential for daily tasksif users can adapt to the learning curve and need for visual feedback.The TakeawayAs AI continues its rapid evolution and we edge closer to the notion of singularity, what if these technologies truly converge? Imagine AR glasses seamlessly integrating NAQIs neural controlblending mind-driven commands with immersive visuals in an Apple Vision Prostyle synergywhile Halliday and Ray-Ban refine the social, stylish side of wearables. The future may well lie in this convergence, creating tools that fuse function, fashion, and accessibility, ultimately reshaping how we interact with technology. Empowering Creation: Generative AI levels the creative playing fieldAt CES 2025, generative AI was on everyones lipsfrom the keynote stages to casual conversations. NVIDIA, the clear AI leader at the show, showcased groundbreaking advancements in developing and running AI models, including tools for generative content creation. These innovations are reshaping the creative industries, but not without a generous sprinkle of skepticism.[Image: Nvidia]As journalist Jonathan Bell observed in a recent article for Wallpaper magazine, Across great swathes of the creative industries, theres a feeling that AI is to innovation as a simmering pan of water is to the future well-being of a frog . . . And yet AI continues to fascinate even as it hollows out all creative and intellectual pursuits. This dichotomy raises the critical question: is AI a tool or a threat to creativity?[Photo: Amazon]AI is democratizing creativity in unprecedented ways. From advanced AI tools enabling professional-grade output to simple, accessible features that empower noncreatives, the barriers to entry for producing art, design, and content are crumbling. Take the Amazon Fire TVs generative art feature, which prompted one attendee to proclaim, I feel like Im a creator now! Its a sentiment that reflects AIs growing role in unlocking creative potential for everyone.Yet, the transformative power of AI isnt without its challenges. The feedback loop inherent in generative AI threatens to dilute originality, with the same recycled data underpinning shinier, faster visuals. This tension is driving innovation but also prompting deeper questions about the future of creative industries and the role of human ingenuity.[Image: Verses]One example redefining creativity is aespa World, an immersive metaverse designed in collaboration with Verses and K-pop icons aespa. In this space, fans dont just watch their idols; they interact, cocreate, and shape the experience. Whether choreographing a virtual performance or remixing a track, fans become creators, bridging the gap between artistry and technology.This collaborative approach transforms spectatorship into active participation, redefining fandom and turning music into a shared adventure.Frances rich heritage in couture and fashion culture takes center stage with imki, an AI tool trained on historical brand archives. Imki enables brands to create designs embedded with their DNA, merging the past with the present. By leveraging AI to enhance creativity rather than replace it, imki raises the bar for innovation while sparking new discussions about the role of tradition in the AI era.[Photo: Imki]As AI tools democratize creativity, enabling personalization and empowering noncreatives, the creative industries face an inflection point. Will AI simply level the playing field, or will it lead to an overreliance on machine-generated ideas? NVIDIA and other leaders are at the forefront of this transformation, driving tools that both inspire and challenge the boundaries of human ingenuity.The World Economic Forum predicts that while 170 million new AI-driven jobs will emerge by 2030, 92 million will be displaceda 22% shift in employment. This evolving job market reflects the wider impact of AI, which is empowering individuals and businesses alike to reimagine the creative process.The takeawayAI is a double-edged sword in the creative industries: a tool for empowerment and personalization, but also a potential threat to originality. As the lines between human and machine creativity blur, the challenge will be finding balanceleveraging AI to amplify, not diminish, the essence of creative expression. Cleaning Gadgets Step Up: the robo uprising and the promise for more timeTime is one of lifes most precious currencies, so its little wonder we got a little too excited about the latest robot helpers at CES 2025. Add in smarter navigation, obstacle-clearing features, and multifunctional designs, and you start to see a robo uprising built around practicality rather than sci-fi. And if you need another reason to cheer for domestic droids, consider this: 25% of recently divorced people cited disagreements over housework as the primary reason for their split. Saving time might just mean saving relationships, too.[Photo: Roborock]Roborocks Saros Z70stole the show with an AI-driven folding arm that doesnt just dodge obstaclesit removes them. Socks, towels, tissues, even sandals under 300 grams are swiftly detected and cleared out of the way, redefining what autonomous cleaning really means. Roborock President Quan Gang believes this signals a broader trendrobot vacuums becoming as indispensable as washing machines.DreameRoborocks rival that debuted at Berlins IFA last yearunveiled its new flagship robot vacuum at CES 2025 for the U.S. market. Instead of employing a robotic arm, theX50 Ultrauses tiny, wheeled legsdubbed the ProLeap Systemcapable of climbing steps and inclines up to 2.4 inches (around 6 cm). While that may be shorter than most standard stairs, it still allows the X50 Ultra to reach areas inaccessible to competing models, giving it a unique edge in navigating tricky corners of the home.[Photo: Mammotion]Meanwhile,Mammotion introduced smaller siblings to its robot mower familythe LUBA and theYUKA, offering more affordable, space-efficient solutions for smaller lawns. Less clutter, less hassle, and zero sweat. The result? More time for the things we wantto do.The TakeawayMore time is a blessing, but what will we do with it? Will we up our working days and productivity or embrace the trend for slow living? Materiality Matters: How material innovation is unlocking tech innovationCES 2025 showcased more than sleek gadgets and AI breakthroughsit underscored a deeper truth:the material choices we make can spark entirely new frontiers in design. Were convinced that the next wave of game-changing products wont just come from advanced software or clever engineering, but from rethinking what theyre made of in the first place.While the world wrestles with plastic pollution, weve been on high alert forgenuinely sustainable substitutes. EnterSilk Fibroin Bio-Resin, which replaces conventional plastic by using heat and pressure to form a durable, moldable material derived from insect pupae cocoons. Its inherent compatibility with the human body opens doors forhealth-consciousapplicationsfrom medical devices to consumer goodspaving the way for a future where plastics no longer must be toxic or everlasting.In a sea of eco-friendly claims,Nana Wasala caught our eye with itsnanobubble technologythat offers chemical-free, deeply efficient cleaning. A simple shower head or pipeline nozzle is all it takes to reduce water usage, strip out the need for detergents, and leave skin pristine. Its aquiet revolutionthat hints at a new era of leave no trace personal care routines.[Photo: Flint]Selected as ourBest in Showpick,Flints flexible paper batterieschallenge everything weve come to accept about power storage. Theyre thin, bendableeven shrinkableopening the door for products that were once impossible to conceive. Thinksmart watchesthat conform to your wrist like fabric, orphonesthat fold seamlessly without the typical battery bulk. Flints innovation doesnt just hint at sleeker devices; it couldredefine entire product categoriesin the years to come.The TakeawayThese new materials arejust the tip of the icebergin reshaping our relationship with productsfrom sustainability and health to design possibilities weve barely begun to imagine. Material innovation isnt a nice-to-haveits central to humanitys survival and growth. As we look forward, were eager to see how future digital materials tackle their own carbon footprintbring on CES 2026.
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  • "LA boasts the world's most important legacy of 20th-century architecture"
    www.dezeen.com
    The wildfires raging in Los Angeles are highlighting the underrated significance of the city's unique urbanism and 20th-century architecture, writes Daniel Elsea.This is a love letter to LA. In life, as in history, it takes a tragedy to appreciate something's value. This is a lesson that as an Angeleno transplant in London, I've been reflecting on these last few days.As of the latest count, 10,000 structures in my hometown have been destroyed. Each one special, whether a home, a shop, or school. Like LA at large, they hover under the radar of architectural history. These are day-to-day buildings like Altadena's Theosophical Society or the cottages of Janes Village, destroyed by fire.LA boasts the world's most important legacy of 20th-century architecture. There is the Japanese influence of the Austrian Rudolph Schindler in the 1920s house that bears his name in West Hollywood. There are the 1940s-50s Case Study Houses that dot many endangered neighbourhoods. In 1949, the designer couple Charles and Ray Eames completed the most emblematic of them in the Palisades on the northwest edge of Santa Monica.It takes a tragedy to appreciate something's valueNow a museum, the Eames House is one of the world's priceless architectural treasures. Its visible structure and lofty living room inspired a generation of architects. It was evacuated last week; rare objects removed for safekeeping. Thankfully, it has so far been spared the devastation that has befallen many of its Palisades neighbours.A particular delight is Pasadena's Bungalow Heaven, a stone's throw away from Altadena. Here, there are hundreds of craftsman homes, many over 100 years old. Small by today's Zillow-charged standards, they are nevertheless highly desirable. Pasadena is also home to The Gamble House, designed by architect brothers Greene and Greene for the family of Proctor & Gamble fame. The mansion was a refuge for the Midwestern magnates escaping the unseemly industrialisation back east.In Malibu, there is the Getty Villa; it thankfully has been spared too. Opened in the early 1970s, it was a re-creation of an ancient Roman villa unearthed in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. As a late 20th century boy, my father would often take me there. It's where an Angeleno might first encounter Europe. It remains a shrine of wonder in my mind.Read: Eames House under threat as more than 1,000 buildings destroyed in "apocalyptic" LA fireLiving in Europe today, I am sometimes told my hometown doesn't have history. That it is rootless. Where is the heritage? Our Malibu villa might be a reproduction, but it houses one of the finest collections of Europe's most ancient and prized possessions.Safety is what gave birth to Los Angeles. The 20th-century world may have been on fire, but you could find refuge in LA. So, little nirvanas took root among other peoples' oases. You could safeguard your treasures here between the sea and the mountains.They came by the thousands, the millions. Armenians, Burmese, New Englanders, Jews, Iranians, Mexicans, Salvadorians, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Koreans, Filipinos, African-Americans and midwesterners. It didn't take us long before we were all Angelenos.I am sometimes told my hometown doesn't have historyWe pioneered the bungalow. We invented the drive thru. We crafted the strip mall. We built chateaux alongside temples. We sexed up main street. Yes, we embraced the automobile because we could. Our architecture is etched with this legacy.In London, my now adopted home, the legacy of fire looms large. The Great Fire of 1666 burned down most of the Square Mile, the commercial core. In the aftermath of the destruction, the starchitect of the day, Christopher Wren, dreamed up a grand plan to rebuild. He imagined grand axes and wide boulevards. It was an ordered and orthogonal vision that would have erased the messy layout of medieval London. Fortunately, the plan was never realised.The irregular streets, the tiny lanes, the totally incomprehensible grid (or absence of grid) stayed intact. Today, it remains not a city of grand gestures like Paris. Nor a city of straight avenues like New York. London stayed bent, quirky, tight. Post-fire, the intrinsic DNA remained. New buildings took the place where ones had burned. Instead of being timber framed, they were a bit taller, built of brick and stone.Read: "The scale of the damage is unfathomable" say Los Angeles architectsThe Great Fire of 1666 wouldn't be London's only major moment of destruction. Nearly 300 years later, it faced the Blitz. German bombardment destroyed so much of the same Square Mile. Again, the oddly shaped plots were left, like little leftovers, polygons of land so misshapen in the eyes of those used to the North American grid. The opposite of broad streets and big lots.People like to think London is ancient, yet 50 per cent of these buildings were built since the second world war. The twin disasters of the 17th-century fire and the 20th-century world war has produced a 21st century city of skyscrapers cohabiting with medieval churches.If a blind man from 14th century London who lived and breathed these streets were dropped into today's milieu, he would still know his way around. Because the fabric remains. The streets are the same. The scale and sense of place lives on. London has stayed London.Many LA neighbourhoods are more compact and characterful than a typical American suburbThe global stereotype of LA is that of a sprawling non-city. Yet many LA neighbourhoods are more compact and characterful than a typical American suburb. Many houses in Bungalow Heaven are around 1,000 square foot. The average size of a new home in the US at large is approaching 2,500 square foot.The exurbia of the Sun Belt cities is crass by any comparison. So, we have in Los Angeles a series of precious moments of a city which had discovered the automobile but had not yet been overcome by it.Built in the 1930s, the four-lane Pasadena Freeway is the world's oldest highway. Today, it feels fragile in comparison to the brutal eight-lane tarmacs which dominate so much of the American landscape. In this early and mid-20th century LA, there is a pre-industrial spirit, albeit one borne in a wholly industrial world full of the possibility of mass prosperity.Read: Charles and Ray Eames changed the landscape of design with "just a few chairs and a house"Designers like the Eameses and Schindler saw in LA a landscape of bounty, but they didn't overdo it. This is an LA to eulogize. In Spanish, our city's mother tongue, the longform name of LA is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Seora la Reina de los ngeles". A town built for a queen and her angels. 'Tis the ring of a gentle paradise. The heart aches for it.What of the process of rebuilding? The temptation will be to go full Wren and try something new, or to simply retreat away. To do either would be to betray the character of that Los Angeles, to forget the moment when its architecture has so far shined brightest. The craftsmanship, the polyglot design language, these are the things that make a rich architectural vernacular.Let LA re-imagine these forms for a contemporary generation. And hopefully through this tragedy better appreciate what remains, and do more to protect it. May the world also now see Los Angeles for what it has long been a precious cultural landscape.Daniel Elsea is an urbanist and design journalist, and a partner at Allies and Morrison architecture studio in London.The photo is by Jessica Christian via Unsplash.Dezeen In DepthIf you enjoy reading Dezeen's interviews, opinions and features,subscribe to Dezeen In Depth. Sent on the last Friday of each month, this newsletter provides a single place to read about the design and architecture stories behind the headlines.The post "LA boasts the world's most important legacy of 20th-century architecture" appeared first on Dezeen.
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  • A Designer Fundraiser for the LA Fires
    www.core77.com
    As fires continue to devastate the Los Angeles area, designers are stepping up to help. UX designer and design writer Hang Xu and writer Lex Roman have created a series of livestream events, running through Friday, to raise money for those who have lost their homes in the fire."Via Hang, these events will share tips 'on how to get hired, promoted and make money as a designer from folks who usually charge top dollars to share their expertise.' Each session will be free, with a suggested donation of $25 to go to families in need affected by the fires (directly, via GoFundMe).You can sign up for the talks here.
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  • Marble kitchen counters and tabletops will charge your phone while you work
    www.yankodesign.com
    Wireless charging didnt just free us from the tyranny of tangles, it also opened the doors to creative charger designs. Especially with the addition of magnetic force, chargers no longer needed to be stuck to walls or power outlets or even lie flat on charging beds. Of course, these still required the presence of often very conspicuous chargers that may look out of place in some situations, no matter how aesthetic they might be.Some furniture makers have started integrating wireless charging into their designs but often end up making the areas too obvious, clashing with the otherwise minimalist and luxurious design of the product. This wireless charging innovation, in contrast, is almost completely invisible, save for a very subtle and elegant halo of light enclosing the charging area. In fact, this technology can be integrated into an equally innovative and sustainable stone-like material that transforms kitchen countertops and luxurious tables into futuristic charging spaces for phones.Designer: Cosentino x FreePowerImagine going to a bar and never having to worry about your phone dying. Simply put your mobile device down in front of you and have it charge while you sip your martini and make connections with the people around you. Or how about placing your phone on the kitchen table while you prepare dinner and listen to your favorite podcast, confident that your phones battery will be full by the time youre done? All of this without a single wireless charger that stands out like a sore thumb.FreePowers technology was already making these James Bond-like scenarios a reality by integrating the wireless charging components in places youd least expect them, specifically materials like marble and stone that youd hardly expect to have embedded chargers. Its partnership with Cosentino, however, adds another twist to that dreamy technology, making it available on materials that are both luxurious and sustainable.Cosentinos Silestone, for example, is a low-silica mineral surface that uses recycled materials to reduce the amount of crystallized silica used. Dekton, on the other hand, mimics the appearance and texture of porcelain while using carbon-neutral materials that also help improve its durability and scratch resistance. Both materials are also produced using sustainable processes that dont sacrifice the planets health in the name of luxury.The collaboration between FreePower and Cosentino opens a new avenue for integrating convenient wireless charging spaces into luxurious but sustainable surfaces that can be used in kitchens, bathrooms, bars, conference tables, and even desks. The only drawback to this ideal situation is that these pieces of furniture have to be custom made, as retrofitting existing counters and tabletops is not yet possible at this time.The post Marble kitchen counters and tabletops will charge your phone while you work first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • My Chinese Spy Memes Show Americans Arent Sold on the TikTok Ban
    www.wired.com
    With a TikTok shutdown all but inevitable, users are dedicating their final days on the app to fictional agents of the Chinese government.
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  • Zuckerberg Will Host a Party for Trumps Inauguration
    www.nytimes.com
    Mark Zuckerberg, the Meta chief executive, is one of several tech leaders expected to play a high-profile role in celebrating the new administration next week.
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