Last week, we asked you to share moments from a new game you started in 2025 using#PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this weeks highlights:issinn_ shares a cream colored outfit from Infinity Nikki.Amianan_NiRaGuB shares a close up portrait from Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.NeoGamer95 shares Geralt riding into a sunset in The Witcher 3.CarrotsCaptures shares Aloy framed by tree limbs in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.BBSnakeCorn shares a ghostly street view in Ghostwire: Tokyo.xenobitz shares dishes being delivered to characters in Wuthering Waves.Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this weeks theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?THEME: Wuthering WavesSUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on January 22, 2025Next week, were exploring the world of Wuthering Waves. Share adventurous moments meeting different Resonators using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Chants of Sennaar, the 2023 language puzzle game from Rundisc, uses fictional languages but was developed in French and English. Our choices of vocabulary, riddles, and puzzles were made from the outset to suit both languages, creative director Julien Moya told Polygon, referencing how players who speak these languages might approach the translation puzzles in the game. Yet plenty of other languages have different structures, which means localizing Chants of Sennaar required a careful process.I know that things were a lot trickier later with certain languages, such as Chinese, which have very different structures and principles and required a lot of adaptation, Moya said.This week on Polygon, were looking at how cultural differences affect media in a special issue were calling Culture Shock.Naturally, this became a challenge for translators dedicated to translating a game about translating different languages. While Rundisc handled English and French internally, it turned to narrative localization studio Riotloc for help expanding the games reach. Translators for the Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, and Spanish versions of the game spoke to Polygon via email about the process of translating the translators mindset, as Russian translator Anna Kiseleva put it, for Chants of Sennaar.This interview has been edited for length and clarity.Polygon: Whats it like to localize a game with an invented language? Im sure its both intriguing and challenging.Anna Kiseleva, Russian translator: Strictly speaking, in Chants of Sennaar, the source language is still English. There are four artificial hieroglyphic languages but the goal of the game is for the player to translate these vocabularies into their own language. This game is more about a translators mindset than about invented languages. The authors spoke English so they created the process of translating into English, and if your player speaks another language, you need to carefully adapt this process with this new language in mind. In my case, its Russian.Thankfully, we ourselves are translators, so we understand this process well, thats what we do for a living. First, you decode words. Then, you combine these words. And then, you try to make sense out of this combination. These three stages are implemented in the game itself: you see a sequence of hieroglyphs first, then you start to understand some of them and they are shown as words. And finally, when you have decoded all the words in a sentence, thats where things get even more interesting.This third stage making sense out of the words is the most difficult. So difficult that the developers needed to keep it relatively simple compared to the real thing, while making this part of [the] puzzle interesting. I think they did a wonderful job, found the ideal balance.For example, let me show you a line of hieroglyphs and its official English translation from the game:ME ME SEEK/WANT GO/PASS UP/GREAT means We want to go up.About the ME ME part: to make the player think, the developers included peculiarities into the invented languages. For example, the Devotees language creates plural words by repeating a singular symbol (WE = ME ME), while the Warriors etc. have a separate symbol that means plural.The Bards use you as a synonym of me and have an inverted word order:BROTHER PLURAL YOU PLURAL BE means Brothers, we are.To attract a bit more attention to this stage and to the fact that a translator needs to create a sentence out of the words, not just mix them up like ingredients in a salad, I went a tiny step further and made two translations for strings with peculiarities, showing both of them to the player after full decoding. It looks like this (all in Russian, of course):Stupid, Warriors are! [Warriors are stupid!]Seeking, Im not. [Im not seeking.]Camila Fernandes, Portuguese translator: It surely is! As the translation work took place, we didnt have access to all of the characters used in each language created for Chants of Sennaar, but we dealt with the concepts transcripted into English. So, for the Brazilian Portuguese localization team, it was a EN-PT translation. The main challenge was to understand the context and choose the right words in Portuguese in a way that no message would lose its meaning. Luckily, the clients team was available to provide all the information we asked for. Along the process, the story unraveled through words, sentences and half-sentences, making me eager to see the game being launched in my language so I could explore it as if I hadnt helped translate it (LOL).Iori Honda, Japanese translator: At the early stage of this project, I felt that this game might be difficult for general players. For Japanese players, learning English can be particularly challenging due to the significant differences in language structures. This concern applied to all the languages featured in CoS, making me worry that the game might not be suitable for Japanese players.Since not every player is adept at learning foreign languages, my translation approach focused on being easy for beginners and player-friendly.One of the most challenging aspects was a task where players act as interpreters between groups, creating sentences based on single pictures. The translation tone for this was intentionally neutral, using simple words that players could use to deduce the appropriate terms, while also considering the word order of each language. Anticipating that some players might forget the grammar rules by the end of the story, I included tips in the translations, offering grammatical and word hints whenever possible.To my surprise, many players enjoyed CoS after its release. They had fun guessing words and forming sentences, and some players and reviews even mentioned that the translations were well-done. I didnt expect such a positive reaction from the players and was pleasantly surprised by how much they enjoyed the language-learning aspect of the game.Fernando Moreiras, Spanish translator: Newly invented languages are really commonplace in cultural products. As a fan, I had some knowledge of languages like Quenya or Klingon, and had read about the processes the authors went through to create them. My first hard contact as a translator with invented languages was as a literary translator, when they commissioned me George Orwells 1984, featuring Newspeak. The use of Newspeak in English was perfectly documented by Orwell, so first I needed to adapt the rationales leading to changes in English to the needs of my target language, which was Galician. After establishing the Galician Newspeak grammar and neology, everything went actually pretty smooth.Are there different ways to translate these invented languages for different countries/markets?Kiseleva: In this particular case, the whole issue was just to show how you translate these hieroglyphs into Russian, using Russian words and grammar constructs. For example, Russian does not have modal verbs, so a construct like Seeking, you are is even less understandable for the Russian player because we never say you are seeking, we say you seek. Here, I used the same method as above, because for the Russian player, the Bardic and the English are equally foreign, so it made sense to handle them the same way.Moreiras: Personally, I think that the actual difference does not pivot on countries or languages, but on genres. Artificial languages for drama, like the ones I already mentioned, tend to have some strict rules that you need to follow, or at least mirror or adapt, in your target language. On the other hand, artificial languages for comedy (thinking of Smurf or Minion languages, or even some Fake Latin uses) dont really have any mandatory rules, there you just crack jokes that work for the target audience and get some laughs.What sort of expertise and research goes into your work on Chants of Sennaar?Kiseleva: In this particular case, we were to make our own work process public, so all it takes is to be a professional translator, I guess.Fernandes: In addition to knowledge of the source and target languages, it is necessary to always be on the lookout for ambiguous words taken out of context. But that goes for most game localization projects.Moreiras: Actually, knowing several grammatical systems pretty well and reading or watching works where artificial languages are featured. I already had that base covered since I was a teenager, not only for full languages like Quenya or Newspeak, but also for involutions or evolutions of languages like those appearing on films like Quest for Fire or A Clockwork Orange. Being a nerd prepares you for this kind of work.

Simplicity is often thought to be one of the most elusive design traits, a product of a vast amount of trial and error until the least does the most. The Rider Range by Objects for Thought embodies this ideal, combining mechanical knowledge with minimalist design to create a cohesive lighting collection that can live comfortably in any interior. The Rider Range features wall lamp, table lamp, and sconce mounting options, as well as floor lamps for a balanced and elegant collection.Prose Large Table LampLike switchboards or control panels over a century ago, metrics of the human body were considered to create signals, sounds and colors that would make operations easier for technicians across all industries. These design styles resurfaced again in Moog synths and Roland drum machines first released in the 1960s, providing easy ways to delineate synthetic sounds and create loops. The soft glow and regularity of the Rider Range recall these style cues in a way that is completely fresh. Upending the scale and dimensions of technology most are familiar with, and pairing these notions with unconventional lighting materials such as wood, allows the collection to stand on its own as a brilliant example of simplistic elegance, adding a modern accent to the floor, wall, or table.Prose Small Table LampExpertly machined, the Prose light comes in Small and Large, with a wall mounting option for those that dont need their lighting hardwired. Made from cast metals, woods, and glass, the Prose fixtures feature a flat top glass shade situated within the ringed base. Also available in outdoor and ceiling mount variations, choose from a large array of finishes for a look that will suit any preexisting style with ease.Prose Large Wall LampProse SmallRider DoubleThe Rider Range, with glass domes that rest within a thin, deep aluminum base, is perfect for use in residential or commercial spaces alike. This piece is available in Single, Double, Triple, and Quad variants, as well as a cheeky Nude version, the inviting aesthetic that Objects for Thought brings here is delivered in a compact and clever way. The glass domes rest within a thin, deep aluminum baseRider DoubleRider DoubleRider SingleRider DoubleRider TripleRider QuadRider QuadSequence LampThe Sequence Lamp is a showstopper, rows of round bulbs extending upward on a raw aluminum base designed to reflect some of the warm, glowing light the repetitive orbs throw off. The soft white light is reminiscent of the sun peeking out after a long night out, and the untreated black backdrop resembles the industrial interior of a club, picking up wear naturally over time.Sequence LampObjects for Thought is born from the minds of Jay Jermyn and CJ Anderson, Australian designers and artists earnestly exploring the collaborations that heighten and define the brand. Bound by intuition, we operate with the freedom to create what may look different, but feel right,through the use of industrial shapes, materiality, and a refined vision, they explain, leaning in to the holistic nature of their craft. Offering a broad range of lighting, some of which is rated for outdoor use, were excited to see whats next.Objects for ThoughtTo learn more about the full Rider Range by Objects for Thought, visit of-t.com.

How harnessing user feedback made Material 3 the worlds most popular designkit.Its an internet truism that if you want to maintain your sanity, you should never read the comments.More than 1 in 4 Americans have had their day ruined by a mean online comment, and many influencers and brands are shutting off comments entirely. However, research suggests thats not the best approach. A study from the Harvard Business Review found that turning off comments can actually make people see influencers as less likable and sincereeven more so than if they just left the negative commentsup.As a UX Designer and the manager of the Material 3 Design Kita Figma library with 3.5 million users and countingIve had to learn the hard way not to take negative feedback personally. Today, Ive fully embraced comments. I believe that reading and considering this feedback is an essential part of making a valuable design resource. Whether positive or negative, user feedback helps me and the Material team get people what theyneed.Read on for the most helpful comments Ive received on our Figma library, and what I learned along theway.The switch component is amess.This comment alerted me to a major bug with Materials switch componenta small but surprisingly complicated UI element that had 40 possible variants. We dug into the switch and found out that the component was not set up properly, with issues from inconsistent icon logic to incorrect actions and state layers. Once we got the greenlight, we restructured the switch from scratchand then realized that this issue was symptomatic of the kit as awhole.I used this comment to help make a case for why my team should take ownership of the M3 Design Kit. We needed a cohesive approach to structuring all the other components in the kit. We also created a QA process to catch mistakes in component construction and functionality before theyre published.Please add the keyboard &numpad.When working on a complex system like Material Design, its easy to get caught up in our own bubble. This feedbackthat keyboard and number pad elements were missing from the kitlet us know that there were gaps in our offering. Since things like keyboards are part of the Android System UI, we didnt think about them as part of Material Design. But this comment helpfully reminded us that Figma users dont care about the nitty gritty distinctions between internal Google teams. Theyre just looking for the UI elements they need to make their product! By adding these utility elements to the kit, we could make it more helpful to our users. Weve since added other utilities such as avatars, device frames, example screens, andmore.I dont get updates from Google, so whats thepoint?This comment raised an extremely valid provocation: How do you deliver a design system outside of your own Figma organization? Yes, Figma has community files, but they can only be used by making a copy of themand those copies dont receive updates when the original file is changed. If I added a new feature to the community file, users had to make a new copy of the file and manually port over the update into their existing designsit just wasnt working. Material Design is ever-evolving, and we want all makers to be able to use the latest and greatest that Material has tooffer.I took this comment to heart, deeply considered the available options, and filed a feature request with Figma. As a result, Figma developed the UI Kits feature, which was unveiled in June of 2024. The Material 3 Kit, Apples iOS UI kit, and Figmas Simple Design System are all now default kits in new Figma files, and users can inherit updates from theauthors.The file is corrupted! Everything is blank! Where are the components?After the UI Kit feature was rolled out, the prompt on our page changed from Get a copy to Open in Figma. An influx of comments like the above let us know that something was not right with the new experience of getting to the kit. Clicking Open in Figma opened a new untitled file with the kit enabledbut the users couldnt see that it was enabled, because the file was blank and the assets panel wasnt immediately visible. We worked with Figma to improve the UI Kit flow and wording, and made it so that when you create new files with the UI kit, the assets panel is revealed. I could tell this effort helped when the incoming comments were about other things.TakeawaysWith all this experience in mind, here are tips for anyone making a Figma Community File or UIKit:Listen to your customers. Whether they are helpfully pointing out bugs or angrily remarking that something sucks, its feedback! Take ego out of it and use the feedback as a tool for improvement.Test everything. When you make a new component or add properties and variants, test to make sure they are working properly. As a user, try to pull in an instance of your component and apply it to every option. Is the instance operating as intended when you select different properties? Consistency and quality will always lead to a better experience for your customers, and its worth investing in.Design Systems are not set it and forget it. They take careful tending, like a garden, as things evolve and the seasons change. Dont expect to be able to set up a file and then neglectit.Building a design system for millions is a constant conversationone that requires listening, iterating, and embracing the unexpected. But Ive learned that when we design with the community, the results can be truly transformative for everyone.A huge thank you to every single person who has left a comment, reported a bug, or requested a feature. Your feedback fuels the evolution of MaterialDesign.Euphrates DahoutUX Designer, GoogleHave a question, suggestion, or wild design idea? Let usknow:Material 3 DesignKit@GoogleDesign on Instagram@GoogleDesign onXImages by Arthur RibeiroVergani.Designers: always read the comments was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

If youve been on TikTok over the past few days, youve no doubt witnessed your favorite creators saying their goodbyes and telling you where you can find them next. With Congress' impending ban on the social media app set to take effect in the U.S. on Sunday, it seems like theres little the platforms users can do. On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that it is upholding the ban, citing Congress' concerns over Chinese access to American user databut that might not be the end of the story.The Supreme Court upholds the TikTok banIn a per curiam opinion posted Friday morning, the Supreme Court decided to uphold the TikTok ban that's set to remove the platform from app stores starting Sunday, Jan. 19. The move marks the heaviest blow yet to the hope that the app could continue operating as usual, but despite acknowledging that "TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression" for "more than 170 million Americans," the Court ultimately decided to stand by Congress' "well-supported national security concerns."However, the opinion did offer one silver lining for users as they flee to other apps. While acknowledging that TikTok represents "new technologies with transformative capabilities," the court cautioned that its ruling should be "understood to be narrowly focused," rather than serving as precedent for future cases. The justices also argued that their reasoning is "content neutral," attempting to ease concerns that the real reason behind the TikTok ban might be what users are seeing rather than how their data is being handled.Will TikTok shut down?Technically, the terms of TikTok's ban don't require the site to shut down operation in the U.S., but rather keeps its app from being distributed by app stores. In this state, the platform would slowly become unusable over time, but the loss of the platform would be a more gradual transition. However, reports say that TikTok is willing to go a step further, threatening to shut down altogether as a sort of nuclear option to protest the ban now that it's been upheld.The idea, it seems, is to play chicken with the government. American users have already shown their willingness to use similar Chinese app Xiaohongshu (or RedNote) as a replacement-for-TikTok-slash-act of protest, and TikTok users have been quick to shut down the possibility of moving to Instagram reels or American alternatives. In taking the app away from these users entirely, TikTok might be able to spur them into political action (don't be surprised if opening the TikTok app on Sunday prompts you to call your representatives).Essentially, TikTok parent company Bytedance clearly doesn't want to sell to an American company, which is the only way the current ban would allow TikTok to keep operating. Overcoming the Supreme Court is a tough job, but in swaying public opinion towards its side, the company seems to be looking to do just that.In fact, it's already seen some success, as key government officials across both aisles have already expressed desire to backpedal on Congress' legislation.Biden and Trump have reportedly both changed their stancesOne of the most surprising people said to be changing their mind about a TikTok ban is President Biden, who signed it into law and has only a few days remaining in his term. Speaking to NBC News, three people familiar with the discussions indicated the Biden administration is currently working on ways to keep TikTok from going dark on Sunday, although this has been contested.Americans shouldnt expect to see TikTok suddenly banned on Sunday, an administration official told NBC, saying that Bidens team is exploring options to keep that from happening. Its all a bit vague, but a White House official did clarify that the options being considered wouldnt include deferring enforcement of the ban, as the administration doesnt believe we have the authority to do that.But before you get your hopes up, this insider info has been contested by ABC, which says an administration official is now expecting the Biden administration to leave action on the TikTok ban to the incoming Trump administration.It's perhaps good news for TikTok users, then, that President Trump has already vocally expressed his opposition to the ban, and reports indicate he's ready to act to stop it. The Washington Post reports Trump is considering penning an executive order that would delay the bans enforcement by 60 to 90 days. Such an extreme measure would perhaps be Trumps only play here, as the ban is set to go into effect one day before he takes office. Trump's stance marks a similar change in attitude to President Biden's: During his first term, Trump signed an executive order that attempted to force TikTok to shut down operations in the U.S., something the company avoided by partnering with U.S.-based company Oracle to protect the data of American users.A last ditch bill to save TikTok (for now)Realistically, the most stable way to get the ban struck down, save by the Supreme Court, would be for the members of congress who voted for it to change their minds. The biggest governmental backswing weve seen on the TikTok ban so faror at least the biggest one that doesnt rely on hearsay and anonymous sourceswould be a new bill from Democratic Senator Ed Markey. Introduced this week, Markey's bill would have extended the deadline for the ban by 270 days, giving TikTok more time to find a buyer or provide lawmakers an opportunity to reevaluate the situation. Unfortunately, it was quickly struck down by Republican lawmakers, but the reasoning behind it does show that at least parts of Congress are beginning to waver.In four days, TikTok goes dark, Markey said while introducing the legislation. My bill just says, we need more time.As part of his justification for the bill, Markey argued that TikTok has been central to our economy and the way in which we communicate, arguing that the communities its creators and small businesses have established there cannot be replicated on another app.We need time to have a deeper conversation about how to address the national security risks caused by Bytedances ownership of TikTok. Markey continued. We need time to understand the bans implication on TikToks creators and users. We need time to consider alternative ideas.This bill also marked something of a change in attitude from Markey, who originally spoke out against banning the platform but nonetheless voted for the current banalthough it should be noted that the ban was included in a bill also providing aid to Ukraine and Israel.For his part, in a post on X, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed to continue "working to keep TikTok alive," even in the face of Republican opposition.Support for the ban remainsWhile politicians across both aisles and two branches of government have now spoken about reversing or delaying the ban, some in government are sticking to their original decision.They had all the time in the world, Republican Senator Rick Scott said. Theyve had an opportunity to sell it to make sure the Chinese government doesnt control it and they decided not to do that.Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who led the charge on blocking Markey's bill, said, "We didn't pull the rug out from under TikTok, and we didn't ban it. Instead, Congress simply demanded that the app could no longer be owned and controlled by our nation's worst enemy, communist China."For now, all eyes are on Trump, who takes office on Monday. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will be present at his inauguration, and while there's little Trump can do to keep the ban from going into effect, we could see some quick action just one day later.But even if legal pressure from the highest office in the land fails to bring back your favorite influencers, there's also the question of public opinion. Depending on how TikTok responds to the Supreme Court's decision, Americans could have a very different response to the ban. With enough public fervor, it's possible we'll see more attempts from either Congress or the presidency to keep this saga from being finished quite yet.

Samsungs first big launch of 2025 is right around the corner. Galaxy Unpacked is confirmed for January 22 at 1PM ET in San Jose, CA, where Samsungs Next Big Thing (to borrow a 14-year-old marketing slogan) will be revealed. What exactly will be on tap? Well, apart from a few sure bets and some likely leaks, only those sworn to a blood oath under an NDA know for certain. But here are the most likely products and features well see. Spoilers: There will be phones.Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 UltraGalaxy S24 UltraSam Rutherford for EngadgetMuch like Apple reveals its latest iPhones at its first fall event, Samsung typically launches its mainline Galaxy S flagships at its first Unpacked shindig of the year. You can bet the farm that there will be Galaxy S25 phones at this event. And given Samsungs recent trend of launching three tiers of flagships standard, Plus and Ultra you can bet well see that again. (Samsung could technically change the brand names, but the three-layered lineup is practically guaranteed.) Theres even an FCC certification (first spotted by 91Mobiles) to dispel any doubts.The degree of certainty falls sharply once we dig into the phones features. A subtle redesign with rounded corners, flatter edges and thinner bezels appears likely based on a leaked video posted to Reddit and images from reputable tipster Ice Universe. But this isnt expected to be the generation where Samsungs hiring of a former Mercedes-Benz designer will lead to drastic aesthetic changes.Android Headlines also posted plenty of pictures of the purported Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra that confirm the relatively minor redesign. The site also claims the screen size for the Galaxy S25 and S25+ are unchanged from last year at 6.2 and 6.7 inches, respectively. The Ultra gets an ever-so-slightly bigger display at 6.9 inches.QualcommAt least in the US, the phone is practically guaranteed to use Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, which the chip-maker revealed in October. (Qualcomm even listed Samsung among the companies launching devices with that processor in the coming weeks.) Like just about every flagship processor these days, the Snapdragon 8 Elite is built for on-device generative AI, which aligns with Samsungs Galaxy AI blitz in recent models.We dont know whether the company will split its S25 processors between Snapdragon (US and other markets) and Exynos (everywhere else), but Ice Universe has claimed it will be all Snapdragon this generation. That would be a good thing, given whats often a glaring performance and battery life disparity favoring Qualcomm. There would be precedence, too: although the vast majority of Galaxy S generations have had different processors regionally, the S23 had the same "Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy" chip globally.Samsung is rumored to stick with last-generation OLED displays (made with M13 organic materials) instead of the brighter and more efficient M14 OLED panels used in the iPhone 16 Pro and Google Pixel 9. Logic suggests Samsung would want its best homemade screen in its best phones especially when its competitors are already using it. But it could stick with the cheaper panels to keep the bill of materials down. Perhaps it calculated that better displays dont make for better generative AI (the obsession of nearly every tech company right now), while the latest Qualcomm chip does.Speaking of AI, expect Samsung to devote a perhaps agonizingly long portion of the event to generative AI features. The hit-or-miss DigiTimes reported last month that the Galaxy S25 series will include an AI Agent that provides personalized clothing suggestions and transport information. What that would look like in practice is anyones guess, but Im not sure I want to know.SamsungThe phones will run Samsungs One UI 7 on top of Android 15. We know this because Samsung said in October that its user experience (based on Android 15) will launch on the next Galaxy S flagships. Its already available in beta for Galaxy S24 phones. Samsung has said that One UI 7 will be its "first integrated AI platform." It added that Galaxy phones "will become true AI companions" that are able to understand natural language derived from speech, images and text.On the camera front, Ice Universe claims (via Android Headlines) its confirmed that only the ultra-wide sensor will see an upgrade in the Galaxy S25 Ultra to 50MP from 12MP in last years model. The leaker says the S25 Ultra will stick with a 200MP main sensor, 10MP 3x zoom and 50MP 5x zoom.Galaxy S24 UltraSam Rutherford for EngadgetSamsung will add the Qi2 wireless charging standard to its new flagships and that comes straight from the horses (aka, the Wireless Power Consortiums) mouth. However, leaker chunvn8888 (aka yawn) says Samsungs phones wont have built-in magnets for Qi2s native MagSafe in everything but name charging. Given that's the main benefit of Qi2, this would be disappointing news. Instead, the leaker says Samsung will sell a first-party case with a Qi2 magnetic ring to enable that. (Gotta move those accessories, baby!) Is it really Qi2 if you need a case?Rumors have buzzed about an alleged Galaxy S25 Slim with a you guessed it slimmer design joining the trio at some point this year. Thats something Apple is also rumored to be working on. However, given the FCC certifications only appear to cover the familiar trio of flagships, that phone (if its in the pipeline at all) may not arrive until later in the year.Galaxy Ring 2, Samsung XR and AR glassesGalaxy RingSam Rutherford for EngadgetDigiTimes reported in December that Samsung would show off (or maybe just tease) the Galaxy Ring 2 and augmented reality (AR) glasses during its January Unpacked event.The Taiwanese publication says the Galaxy Ring 2 will add two more sizes to the nine from the original model, which only launched in July. The second-gen wearable health tracker is said to add new AI features (surprise!) and updated sensors for more accurate measurements. The Galaxy Ring 2 is also rumored to last longer than the current models maximum of seven days.GoogleDigiTimes also claims Samsungs AR glasses which the company has confirmed its working on will look like regular prescription glasses and weigh around 50g. It says the futuristic glasses would use Googles Gemini AI, which aligns with what we already know about Samsungs partnership with Google and Qualcomm on Android XR. But given the lack of supply chain rumors surrounding the glasses, its likely that any mention at the event would amount to little more than a teaser, a la its grand reveal of... a stinkin render for the first Galaxy Ring at Unpacked 2024.We also know Samsung is co-developing an Android XR (extended reality) headset codenamed Project Moohan alongside Google and Qualcomm. The lightweight and ergonomically designed headset will have a state-of-the-art display, passthrough video and natural multi-modal input. Googles renderings show a wearable reminiscent of Apples $3,500 Vision Pro.Project MoohanGoogle / SamsungSince Google only recently began offering a developer kit and API for the platform, any glimpse of it at Unpacked wouldnt likely include an imminent release or deep dive into its hardware.Engadget will have full coverage of Samsungs first Unpacked event of 2025. More to come on January 22!Update, January 13 2025, 12:58PM ET: This story has been updated with purported images and more details on the Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra from Android Headlines.Update, January 14 2025, 3:20PM ET: This story has been updated with some more information about One UI 7.Update, January 17 2025, 12:45PM ET: This story has been updated with more details on the Galaxy S25's processor and the history of processors in the Galaxy S series.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s25-unpacked-2025-event-what-to-expect-on-january-22-202024350.html?src=rss

The Apple Mac mini (M4) is undoubtedly one of the best mini PCs available, but recent issues with its USB-C ports have left users frustrated.

Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd is returning to the company as CEO in mid-March.

BUF has released the VFX breakdown for Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, demonstrating how they helped in the creation of this masterpiece. The movie that has managed to attract more than 9 million viewers boasts breath-taking visuals to complement its amazing storyline. As a matter of fact, it is nominated in the Best Visual Effects category in the Digital Creation Genie Awards and is eligible for the Csar Ceremony in all its categories. The breakdown highlights the mastery of BUF in creating immersive cinematic experiences for this timeless tale.The post Le Comte de Monte-Cristo VFX Breakdown by BUF VFX appeared first on Vfxexpress.

Today, the United States Supreme Court announced its ruling to uphold the TikTok ban. The ruling means that on Sunday, January 19, Apple, Google, and other tech companies will be liable for heavy fines if they continue to host the app on their respective app stores.But conventional wisdom says the ruling will also benefit American social media giants, most notably Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook and Instagram. Yet shares in Meta (Nasdaq: META) and Snap Inc (NYSE: SNAP), parent company of Snapchat, have dropped in the wake of the SCOTUS ruling, suggesting the companies may not see the dividends some expected them to see from the TikTok ban. Here are two likely reasons why.The TikTok ban still may not happenThe SCOTUS ruling definitely isnt doing TikTok or its owner, ByteDance, any favors. But its not the final nail in the coffin for TikToks American operations yetdespite the company saying the platform will go dark in America this weekend if the ban is upheld.Thats because Washington lawmakers have been scrambling in recent days to try to undo, or at least delay, their own law. As Politico reported before the SCOTUS ruling, Democrats, who widely supported and passed the ban, have been trying to allow TikTok a reprieve.However, those plans were seemingly squashed shortly after, as Politicos reporting indicates that the president doesnt have the authority to grant an extension.Still, Bidens White House has also suggested that it will not enforce the ban, which means companies like Apple and Google wouldnt be held liable for the massive fines the TikTok ban law authorizes for companies that host the app.This would leave it to the incoming Trump administration, which takes over on Monday, to either enforce the ban, keep it unenforced, or find another solution to keep TikTok alive in the United States. President-elect Donald Trump has said he is open to keeping TikTok going in the U.S.All this means that just because the ban has now been upheld by the Supreme Court, it doesnt necessarily mean that TikTok is going away in the United States, which means there may not be a flood of additional users to American social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.Many TikTok fans have eschewed Meta anywayBut even if TikTok is banned and does go dark in America, many of TikToks most loyal users may still be unwilling to jump ship to American platforms, particularly those owned by Meta.Instead, American TikTok users who call themselves TikTok refugees have begun fleeing to an alternate social media app in recent daysand one owned by another Chinese company. That apps Chinese name is Xiaohongshu, but its known as RedNote in America. The app has seen as many as three million Americans join it in recent daysboth as a middle finger to U.S. lawmakers and because American users blame Meta for stirring up anti-TikTok sentiment among lawmakers.META and SNAP shares fallAs of the time of this writing, META shares are currently down about half a percent in Friday tradinghardly the direction one would expect if the TikTok ban were to benefit Facebook and Instagram.Snapchat owner Snaps share price is down even more, currently falling over 2.8%. However, Snaps stock price fall seems more connected to a complaint that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is set to refer to the Department of Justice. According to Reuters, the complaint alleges that Snaps AI chatbot may harm young users. Snap has countered that the complaint is based on inaccuracies and does not identify any specific harm. Still, if the incoming administration does delay the TikTok ban, or even if it is upheld but users dont flee to Metas or Snaps platforms, neither company may benefit from TikToks demise as they likely once hoped.