Is the cake a lie?Hollow Knight fans have been waiting over five years now for Silksong, so when will we hear more about it? While the best guesses have been shared time and time again, the next date fans have discovered actually lines up with Nintendo's Switch 2 Direct.Hollow Knight fan and YouTuber 'fireb0rn' highlights how a member of Team Cherry has changed their social media profile to a picture of chocolate cake after also teasing in a post how "something big is coming". Long story short, someone ended up reverse image searching the picture of the cake and the first search result was for a recipe with the date "2nd April" at the top of the page. See where this is going here?Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Apple launched its dedicated Apple Store app in India on Friday, deepening its retail presence in the worlds most populous country as the iPhone-maker seeks to capitalize on growing consumer demand.The app, available for download on Indias App Store, lets customers purchase Apple products directly while receiving personalized shopping recommendations, the company said in a statement. Through the app, users can also customize their Mac with more powerful chips, extra memory or additional storage features long sought by Indian customers and arrange for delivery or pickup of their purchases.The move comes as Apple works to strengthen its foothold in India, where it opened its first physical stores in Mumbai and Delhi in 2023. The company plans additional four stores in tech hub Bengaluru, Pune and other parts of Delhi and Mumbai. (Apple launched its online store in India in 2020.)At Apple, our customer is at the centre of everything we do, and we are thrilled to introduce the Apple Store app to reach even more users in India, further deepening our connections, said Karen Rasmussen, Apples head of retail online, in a statement. The app features separate tabs for products, personalized recommendations and post-purchase support including online setup sessions with Apple specialists. Customers can also sign up for free training sessions at physical Apple stores and learn about Apple trade-in and financing options as well as add free engravings to devices such as AirPods and iPads in eight languages.India, the worlds second largest smartphone market, is slowly becoming a significant geography for Apple as it looks to expand its manufacturing bases outside of China. The company began assembling iPhones in India in 2017 and has since expanded production through partners including Foxconn and Indian conglomerate Tata.

The problem with Apple products -- includingMacBooks, iPads, andApple Watches-- is that they usually carry a hefty price tag and are rarely on sale. And with Black Friday and holiday sales in the rearview, you may be thinking you've missed out on a chance to save. But there are always deals and discounts, even outside of sales events, if you know where to look.Apple frequently refreshes its product ranges -- one of the latest being the iPad lineup -- and this can open the path to discounts in the form of new, promotional deals for the latest gadgets alongside price reductions for older designs as retailers seek to move old stock. Typically, third-party retailers such as Walmart, Best Buy, Newegg, B&H Photo, and Amazon are the best places to find a discount on many Apple products.Below, you'll find the best sales and discounts on several Apple products, including MacBooks, Apple Watch, AirPods, and more for the month of January.Best Apple deals of January 2025Apple Pencil Pro: $99 (save $30 at Best Buy)Apple AirPods Pro 2: $199 (save $50 at Walmart)Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen), 40mm GPS: $199 (save $50 at Walmart)Apple Watch Series 9, 41mm GPS: $309 (save $90 at Amazon)Apple Watch Series 9, 45mm GPS: $279 (save $50 at Walmart)Apple Watch Series 10, 42mm GPS: $383 (save $16 at Amazon)Apple Watch Series 10, 46mm GPS: $412 (save $17 at Amazon)Apple AirPods 4: $119 (save $10 at Amazon)Apple MacBook Pro: $1,490 (save $109 at Amazon)Apple Studio Display: $1,439 (save $160 at Amazon)Apple AirTag 4-Pack: $70 (save $29 at Amazon) Kayla Solino/ZDNET Current price: $309Original price: $329If you're looking to purchase one of Apple's latest smartwatches, there's a deal over at Walmart worthy of your consideration. You can save $120 on an Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) 45mm, with a Midnight band. Deals on smartwatches tend to come along every month or so, and this remains one of our favorites.Also: Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Series 8: Which model should you buy? Show more View now at Best Buy Apple Current price:$1,490Original price:$1,599Over at Amazon, you can take advantage of a $150 discount on an Apple MacBook Pro. Powered by Apple's M3 chip, this laptop sports a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD storage. Show more View now at Amazon Jason Cipriani/ZDNet Current price: $399Original price: $549If you want to take advantage of a discount on Apple AirPods Max earbuds, Best Buy is offering $150 off the premium product line.Apple's AirPods Max lightning headphones are stylish, over-ear, and wireless. For those who like the design, you'll enjoy personalized spatial audio options, active noise canceling, and the power provided by Apple's H1 chip. You can expect up to 20 hours of use on a single charge. Show more View now at Amazon Jason Cipriani/ZDNet Current price: $264Original price: $329One of the best deals we could find for an iPad is at Amazon. You can save $65 on a ninth-gen iPad equipped with a 10.2-inch Retina display, A13 chip, front and back-end cameras, and 64GB SSD storage. Show more View now at Amazon Kerry Wan/ZDNET T-Mobile has a great deal for customers hoping to grab the latest iPhone. Right now on most plans, if you add a voice line and trade in an eligible device, you'll score the iPhone 16 for free.Full terms per T-Mobile: "Limited-time offer; subject to change. Qualifying credit, service, and trade-in (e.g., Save $830: Apple iPhone 11 Pro / Save $415: Apple iPhone 6) required. If you have cancelled lines in past 90 days, you may need to reactivate them first. Up to $830 via bill credits; line with promo must be active and in good standing to receive credits; allow 2 bill cycles. Max 4 discounted devices per account. May not be combinable with some offers or discounts." Show more View now at T-Mobile June Wan/ZDNET You can order an iPhone 15 directly from Apple, which is an excellent option if you don't want a carrier lock.The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are thinner than their legacy counterparts. They come equipped with a USB-C port, 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, and the Dynamic Island camera design. The Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max come with Apple's new A17 Pro CPU, a faster neural engine, and camera improvements, including a 5X telephoto lens on the Pro Max.You can receive up to $514 in credit when you trade in an older device and purchase through Apple. Apple Card cashback is also available. If your device doesn't meet trade-in standards, Apple will do the legwork to ensure you can recycle your device for free. Show more View now at Apple Apple We can't expect many deals to appear for the newer 2024 Apple iPad Pro, powered by the firm's M4 chip. However, it's worth noting any savings.Right now, you can save $80 at B&H Photo, and snag the M4 Wi-Fi only version of the M4 iPad Pro for $919.Also: iPad Pro (2024) vs. iPad Pro (2022): Which flagship Apple tablet should you buy? Show more View now at B&H Photo More Apple deals Can I buy an iPhone without a plan? Yes, but you must ensure that your new iPhone is not locked to a specific carrier. You can buy unlocked iPhones, both new and pre-owned, from sources including Apple itself, Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Show more What is the cheapest Apple product? Apple's AirTag, a tracking device that connects to your account and allows you to find lost objects such as your keys, is Apple's cheapest product. Typically, a single AirTag retails for $29, whereas you can also purchase four-packs for around $99 outside of sales and promotions. Show more Is there a monthly fee for Apple iPads? This depends on the type of iPad you decide to purchase. If you opt for a Wi-Fi-only iPad -- regardless of whether you have bought a classic iPad, iPad mini, or iPad Pro -- then there will be no monthly fee or subscription.However, if you choose an iPad with Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity, then you will need to pay for a mobile data plan to take advantage of the iPad's cellular features. Show more How did we choose these Apple deals? While researching the best Apple deals, we scoured the web and checked out promotional prices offered by major US retailers, including Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart.We wanted to ensure we found the best deals on Apple products, including MacBooks, iPads, and iPhones, so we've shown you the latest discounts available -- but remember that stocks can be limited and sales pulled at any time.Factors influencing our recommendations include:Price: The main factor we consider is the price. If the discount isn't noteworthy relative to the original price point, we don't consider it worthy of inclusion.Use cases: We have included a range of Apple devices on sale suitable for different uses, including work, study, entertainment, and sports.Variety: Here at ZDNET, we want to provide you with various products and accessories in the Apple ecosystem. We've selected deals spanning laptops and smartphones to smartwatches and more.Availability: If we come across a great Apple deal but only a few units are in stock unless it is a stellar saving you only see once in a blue moon, we will discount it and select a product with better stock levels instead. Show more When will these deals expire? Deals are subject to sell out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We're sorry if you've missed out on a deal, but don't fret -- we're constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you atZDNET.com. Show more ZDNET Recommends

Mini CrosswordNYTIn case you missed Thursdays NYT Mini, you can find the answers here:The NYT Mini is a quick and dirty version of the newspaper's larger and long-running crossword. Most days, there are between three and five clues in each direction on a five by five grid, but the puzzles are sometimes larger, especially on Saturdays.Unlike its larger sibling, the NYT Mini crossword is free to play on the New York Times website or NYT Games app. However, youll need an NYT Games subscription to access previous puzzles in the archives.The NYT Mini is a fun daily distraction that usually takes no time at all. I try to beat the standard weekday grid in less than a minute. But sometimes I can't quite figure out one or two clues and need to reveal the answer.To help you avoid doing that, here are the NYT Mini Crossword answers (spoilers lie ahead, of course):MORE FOR YOUNYT Mini Crossword Clues And AnswersACROSS1) Owner of a shop called The Bun Also Rises, most likely - BAKER6) Kind of oil served with bread - OLIVE7) Throw in the ___ - TOWEL8) "Fine" dishware for a dinner party - CHINA9) Very quick - HASTYDOWN1) Bungle, as plastic surgery - BOTCH2) ___ State, nickname for Hawaii - ALOHA3) Fuzzy fruits or flightless birds - KIWIS4) 4 x 400-meter race, e.g. - EVENT5) 4 x 400-meter race, e.g. - RELAYMiniNYTNew puzzle today, and its a total 5v5 grid, which they tend to do from time to time. I did think this was on the easy side, but there are a few tricky ones in here. The meter race ones were a bit tough and it took me until the end to get those. The rest? Less so. I also think Aloha has been a clue like five times at this point.Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.

SpaceX performed the seventh test flight of the Starship rocket on Thursday, but the upper-stage uncrewed Starship spacecraft blew up in midair soon after separating from the first-stage Super Heavy booster.Footage of the debris falling over the Caribbean started to show up on social media, with SpaceX boss Elon Musk posting that entertainment is guaranteed with each Starship launch.Recommended VideosBut the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may have found it to be more troublesome than entertaining, with the agency forced to alert pilots to a dangerous area for falling debris of rocket Starship, according to a CNBC report, which added that a number of flights above the Caribbean deviated from their intended route and, according to flight-tracking software, appeared to be turning around, including commercial and cargo planes of JetBlue, Spirit, and FedEx. The affected airlines have yet to make any public comment about the disruption caused to their flights.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe FAA later confirmed that it had briefly slowed and diverted aircraft around the area where space vehicle debris was falling, adding that normal operations have resumed.According to some of the footage that landed on social media, the rocket debris was spotted coming down close to the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean, around 1,600 miles (2,600 km) from SpaceXs Starbase launch facility near Boca Chica, Texas.SpaceX said it lost contact with the Starship soon after it separated from the Super Heavy booster, but its now investigating what caused the spacecraft to disintegrate during its flight. Had it gone to plan, the Starship would have performed a landing burn over the Indian Ocean about an hour after launch. But it wasnt to be.The first-stage booster, meanwhile, achieved SpaceXs mission goal of returning to the landing site and nestling in the launch towers giant mechanical arms.NASA is planning to use the Starship for flights to the moon and possibly even Mars as part of the Artemis program. In one of his final comments before leaving his post as NASA chief in a few days time, Bill Nelson said: Congrats to SpaceX on Starships seventh test flight and the second successful booster catch. Spaceflight is not easy. Its anything but routine. Thats why these tests are so important each one bringing us closer on our path to the moon and onward to Mars through Artemis.Editors Recommendations

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20240424943 GM patents a dual-port charging system for EVs with vehicle-to-load I'm not sure why you'd want to do both at the same time, but this EV could. Jonathan M. Gitlin Jan 16, 2025 3:00 pm | 98 Credit: Chevrolet Credit: Chevrolet Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreThe battery system on an electric car can either chargefrom regenerative braking or an external power supplyor dischargepowering the EV's motor(s) or supplying that power via so-called vehicle-to-load. As a rule, it can't do both at once, but General Motors has some thoughts about that. The patent analysis site CarMoses spotted a recent GM patent application for a system that is capable of charging and discharging simultaneously.The patent describes a "charging system" with a pair of charging ports. One is for drawing power from an external source, just like every other EV. The second charge port is connected to a bi-directional charger, and the battery management system is able to charge the battery pack from the first port while also supplying power from the second port.That second port could be used to charge another battery, including the battery of another EV, and the patent includes an illustration of three EVs daisy-chained to each other. Credit: USPTO The idea of two charge ports on an EV is not unheard of; Porsche's Taycan (and the related Audi e-tron GT) have one on each side, and it's an option on the newer PPE-based EVs from those brands, if I'm not mistaken. I have no idea whether GM's patent will show up on a production EVcar companies patent many more ideas than they ever get around to building, after all.And I must admit, I'm not entirely sure what the use case is beyond seeing how long of an EV-centipede you could make by plugging one into another into another, and so on. But I am intrigued.Jonathan M. GitlinAutomotive EditorJonathan M. GitlinAutomotive Editor Jonathan is the Automotive Editor at Ars Technica. He has a BSc and PhD in Pharmacology. In 2014 he decided to indulge his lifelong passion for the car by leaving the National Human Genome Research Institute and launching Ars Technica's automotive coverage. He lives in Washington, DC. 98 Comments

Climate change can increase the frequency and severity of droughtsZhang Yu/VCG via Getty ImagesSevere droughts that persist for years have grown hotter, drier and larger since the 1980s. These long-lasting droughts some of which are extreme enough to be classified as megadroughts can be especially devastating to agriculture and ecosystems.Rising temperatures linked to climate change have increased the risk of drought because warmer air can hold more moisture, boosting evaporation from the land. Combined with changing precipitation patterns that lead to less rain, this can exacerbate and lengthen periods of drought as witnessed in the recent worst-in-a-millennium megadroughts in parts of North and South America. AdvertisementDirk Karger at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research and his colleagues identified more than 13,000 droughts that lasted at least two years between 1980 and 2018 to reveal long-term trends. They found that, since the 1980s, the most severe multi-year droughts have become even drier and hotter.The droughts have also affected a larger part of the globe, with the area affected by the 500 most severe drought events each year expanding by about 50,000 square kilometres annually. Thats an area bigger than Switzerland, says Karger.Satellite images of greenness in the areas affected by drought also showed some ecosystems became browner, indicating the drier conditions were having an effect. The most dramatic shift was in temperate grasslands, which are more sensitive to changes in water availability, while tropical and boreal forests showed a smaller response. Unmissable news about our planet delivered straight to your inbox every month.Sign up to newsletterThe researchers did not do a formal analysis to define how much human-caused climate change has contributed to the trend, but the patterns are consistent with what researchers expect to see with rising temperatures, says Benjamin Cook at Columbia University in New York, who was not involved with the research.The work highlights how long-term drought can have consequences just as severe as climate disasters like destructive wildfires or powerful hurricanes, says Cook. For both people and ecosystems, the cumulative impact of droughts is really what matters.Journal reference:Science DOI: 10.1126/science.ado4245Topics:

Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos exchanged friendly tweets after rocket launches on Thursday.The billionaires have had a long-standing rivalry over space ambitions and more.Their recent interactions suggest a possible end to their long public feud.Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos may no longer be enemies. In fact, a friendship may be budding between the two billionaires, judging by tweets they recently posted on X.Both tech founders own rocket companies that launched missions on Thursday, with mixed results.SpaceX's huge Starship spaceship exploded, although its Super Heavy rocket booster successfully returned to a platform on Earth."@elonmusk Kudos to you and the whole SpaceX team on the flawless booster catch! Very impressive." Bezos wrote on X.Earlier in the day, Bezos' Blue Origin launched its 32-story-tall New Glenn rocket into orbit. It lost its booster during the test flight."Well done, @JeffBezos, and the Blue Origin team!" Musk wrote.Is their long feud over?Followers on X formerly Twitter were quick to notice the seaMusk and Bezos have been embroiled in a years-long feud.They've argued over their space ambitions at SpaceX and Blue Origin as they've repeatedly leapfrogged each other for the title of the world's richest person. That's a title Musk currently holds by a massive margin: With Bloomberg estimating his net worth at $439 billion, he's by far the richest person in the world. Bezos is second, with an estimated net worth of $240 billion.Musk has said Blue Origin has tried to poach talent from SpaceX, and he's taunted Bezos repeatedly about the status of their respective businesses.In 2015, when SpaceX landed its Falcon 9 spacecraft, Bezos needled Musk on Twitter by suggesting Blue Origin had already accomplished a similar feat.Bezos has also subtly criticized Musk's mission to colonize Mars over the years. When NASA picked SpaceX for a major contract in 2021, Blue Origin was furious and protested the decision.Less than two months ago, they were at it again.In an X post, Musk said BezosDonald Trump was bound to lose the presidential election.Hours later, Bezos said the claim was "100% not true."Billionaire"Step Brothers"This history is what has made Thursday's friendly repartee between the billionaires so jarring.Musk posted a gif on X from the movie "Step Brothers," with the main characters saying,"Did we just become best friends? Yep!""Step Brothers is the perfect meme for @JeffBezos& me," Musk wrote.He posted another clip from the same movie, implying his relationship with Bezos was now harmonious.Of course, all of this is unfolding on social media, which has its limitations. But one thing is for sure: No matter what's happening behind the scenes or offline, Thursday's exchanges mark a change in Bezos and Musk's online rapport.