• Diamond Age to Sell Assets in New Online Auction
    3dprintingindustry.com
    Assets from construction 3D printing company Diamond Age have been put up for sale in an online auction.The extensive listing features 353 lots ranging from office chairs, desks, air conditioning units, TVs, and filing cabinets, to cranes, custom assembly lines, Fanuc robotic arms with controllers, and an AXYZ 4010 CNC Router Machine.The breadth of the auction has raised questions over the Arizona-based companys future after it successfully raised $58 million in two funding rounds between 2021 and 2022.The online-only auction, delivered by Silicon Valley Disposition, will run from January 28-30. All items are being sold as is, with no option for returns, exchanges, buybacks, or refunds. Full listing details can be viewed hereDiamond Ages Machine Guardian Cage is up for sale in the asset auction. Photo via Silicon Valley Disposition.Diamond Age to execute major asset saleDiamond Age was founded in 2018 to address the US housing markets single-family home shortage. It sought to build a suite of 26 end-of-arm robotic tools that integrated 3D printing, mechatronics, and robotics capabilities.This Robotic-as-a-Service (RaaS) system was designed to automate construction processes, reportedly offsetting more than half of the manual labor needed to build new homes. The construction 3D printing technology seeks to cut cycle time from nine months to just 30 days. Ultimately, the aim was to turn home building into an on-demand product, unlocking greater customization when designing homes.This value proposition has attracted interest from investors. In 2021, Diamond Age raised $8 million in a seed funding round. This capital was used to advance its robotic 3D printing capabilities and build a 1,100-square-foot demonstration house.Prime Movers Lab and Alpaca VC led the funding round, which also drew participation from Dolby Family Ventures, Calm Ventures, Gaingels, Towerview Ventures, GFA Venture Partners, and Suffolk Construction. At the time Suzanne Fletcher, General Partner at Prime Movers, stated that Diamond Age is building a truly transformative system that will change the buying and building of new production homes forever.Diamond Ages robotic 3D printing gantry system. Photo via Diamond Age.Following this investment, the construction 3D printing firm continued to gain momentum. Diamond Age scaled up the build envelope of its robotic technology, allowing it to 3D print a 2,000-square-foot single-story home.Soon after, the first full-scale system was successfully delivered to a customer, and a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house was constructed four months ahead of schedule. In 2022, this success saw the company secure $50 million in a Series A funding round led again by Prime Movers Lab. It also secured its first-ever contract with a national homebuilder.Another significant update from Diamond Age came in December 2023, when the company announced an agreement to 3D print military bunkers to aid Ukraines war efforts. Under the partnership with Ukraines Ministry of Strategic Industries (MSI), the construction firm aimed to complete the bunkers within six to nine months.At the time, Diamond Age claimed that the agreement would allow the company to seek funding for additional 3D printed bunkers. However, just over a year later, the company appears to be conducting drastic cost-cutting efforts at its Phoenix facility.Amid the comprehensive array of office equipment, furniture, tools, and other amenities, the auction listing features several items of industrial equipment. Notably, five Fanuc M-710iC/70 Robots with R-30iB Plus controllers and a Fanuc M-900iB Robot with R-309B Plus controller feature in the listing. Several Keyence SZ-VH1X scanner heads, used for industrial health and safety, are also included alongside machine guardian cages, conveyors, assembly lines, and CNC machinery.Diamond Ages Fanuc M-900iB 90 Robot with R-309B Plus Controller. Photo via Silicon Valley Disposition.3D printing asset auctionsDiamond Age is the latest additive manufacturing company to auction off assets. A 3D printing trends survey conducted in early 2024 revealed a common consensus among industry experts: business consolidation and asset reductions are being driven by ongoing challenges within the sector.This was reflected at the end of last year when industrial manufacturing service provider Zeda, Inc. put $20 million worth of its assets up for sale in a 3D printing asset auction. The sale, running until January 22, features industrial 3D printers from the companys 75,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Springdale, Ohio. These include four Velo3D Sapphire metal 3D printers, four AddUp FormUp 350 LPBF machines, and a GE Additive Arcam EBM Q10plus Electron Beam Melting System.The auction came as a surprise. Zeda appeared to have been performing well, having raised $52 million in Series B funding in March 2023. Following this, the firm invested $20 million in new equipment for its Springdale facility. However, the listing describes the assets as Very Low Hour Equipment, indicating the machinery has seen minimal use and remains in excellent condition.Elsewhere, February 2024 saw 3D printing service provider Shapeways auction off $5 million of Desktop Metal 3D printing hardware. This included P1 Production System 3D printers, Shop System binder jet 3D printers, BMD 3D printers, powder stations, powder blenders, sintering furnaces, and drying ovens.This auction followed Shapeways poor financial performance since its $605 million SPAC deal with Galileo Acquisition Corp (GLEO) in 2021. At the time, the company was valued at $410 million, generating $195 million in net proceeds. However, the company soon began to underperform, generating just $8.4 million in revenue and $3.4 million in gross profit by Q3 2023. Cost-cutting measures followed, including a 5% workforce reduction. By July 2024, Shapeways bankruptcy was confirmed. However, Shapeways re-launched as Manuevo BV, which purchased the companys additive manufacturing assets soon after.Diamond Age has been contacted for comment, this article will be updated if a reply is received.Who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards?All the news from Formnext 2024.Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news.You can also follow us on X, like our Facebook page, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content.Featured image shows Diamond Ages Fanuc M-900iB 90 Robot with R-309B Plus Controller. Photo via Silicon Valley Disposition.
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  • AN rounds up mutual aid and relief efforts by architects in wake of Southern California fires
    www.archpaper.com
    Now thatfires in Southern California have ravaged a land area equivalent of three Manhattans, at least 27 people have been killed. Several homes by Richard Neutra, Gregory Ain, Eric Owen Moss, and other prolific architects in Los Angeles are gone. Rent prices in Los Angeleshavesurged by up to 12 percent, as landlords cash in on the disaster. California Governor Gavin Newsom has tried to stop rent gouging. He also waived two environmental review lawstheCalifornia Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Actto spur quick construction, which drew criticism from legal experts. Hundreds of firefighters in the line of duty are incarcerated individuals, many of them teenagers, making less than $5 an hour. Architects have been actively involved in the relief effort. Zeina Koreitem, of MILLINS, is coordinating a volunteer fire patrol in Topanga, and Office of Office, an architecture, urban planning, and policy non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, is offering its services pro-bono to residents of color who have been impacted by the fires in Southern California.Design for LA quickly organized as a free and public directory of architects, designers, landscape architects, contractors, engineers and other experts related to the building process, particularly in Southern California. It is based on a shared Google spreadsheet for built-environment professionals who are willing to provide services.The list is spearheaded by Joanna Grant, who partnered with Meara Daly of NelsonDaly, a public relations firm. Grant, who lives in Altadena, has offered her architectural services to neighbors.Im a resident of Altadena. Last week, I nearly lost my home. We have been evacuated ever since, Grant told AN. My neighbor, a firefighter, his brother, and son got a truck and saved about eleven houses on our block. But everything else on our block is completely destroyed.Shane Reiner-Roth, who previously lived in Altadena, described his experience with the fires for AN.Palisades Fire (CAL FIRE OFFICIAL/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)Dori Tunstall has helped put together a new group of volunteers, Design for Disaster Response. Jobi Blachy at Roger Thomas has started a Go Fund Me to support architects and designers in distress.The team at Hello Human encouraged people to donate to Tristan Louis Marshs Los Angeles Fire Charity Art Auction, or consider partnering withLA Wildfire Relief Free Market.Lost HeritageKatie Horak, Docomomo US President, issued a statement of solidarity with the people of Los Angeles on January 14. Collectively, we mourn the loss of countless heritage sites, many of them icons of the modern movement, that tell the stories of our great city: stories of its people, its optimism, its creativity, and its ingenuity. The very things that drew modern architects to these parts of the city during the postwar periodhilly terrain, breathtaking views, the beauty of the natural environment, and temperate climateare also what made them vulnerable. As a result, these fires have claimed the largest concentration of modern heritage sites of any disaster in Los Angeles history, Horak continued. Kevin Keim, executive director of the Charles Moore Foundation, has been diligently protecting Moores Burns House. Keim also said firefighters from Idaho are in his neighborhood, helping with disaster relief. There is no more wind, which is the best thing ever, because that was half of the ingredient in this cataclysm, Keim said. Peter Harper of Breland Harper lamented whats been lost, but emphasized the need to move forward. So many people we know are displaced and several have lost everything. We feel incredibly, incredibly luckynow it is time to help, Harper told AN.The Palisades has been one of the hardest hit communities so far. (CAL FIRE OFFICIAL/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)Clients houses and several commercial buildings we did in the Palisades burned to the ground, all truly, truly devastating. Questions of preservation, community, rebuilding, fire preparednessthe futurebeauty, are of course occupying us, Harper elaborated. In the space of a single week we have seen people go from total loss and devastation to planning the rebuilding. I can only attribute this to a strength of characterfull of resolve and imagination, one that is distinctly Californian.Coming TogetherThe heartache is palpable and the devastation is beyond anyones ability to calculate, Harper Halprin and Aaron Leshtz of AAHA Studio told AN. So many are hurting, so many lives, and livelihoods, lost. At the end of the day, the only way forward is through and, as architects, we are uniquely positioned to be on the front lines.Leshtz and Halprin continued, We will never be able to replace or recapture what we have lost, but we must rebuild. Our outreach has painted a picture of resiliency and love for our city and for our neighbors that we had forgotten. The road to recovery is going to be challenging, but we are ready for the uphill battle.There will be endless metaphors about the city being reborn and rebuilt from the ashes, and the architecture community is ready to help lead the charge.The disaster has touched students and academics as well. SCI-Arc faculty member Erik Ghenoiu and his family lost their home. Theyve since started a Go Fund Mefor support.The recent events have deeply impacted our community: two of our faculty members lost their homes, and one student lost their parents home, SCI-Arcs communications director Stephanie Atlan told AN. Additionally, projects created by our faculty and founders were tragically destroyed. Atlan added that SCI-Arc faculty are regrouping and rewriting curricula to better equip our students to confront these evolving realities.Folks at RIOS have opened their office doors for members of the design community affected by the fires to come work, access Wi-Fi, and find community, a spokesperson noted.On February 8, the Asian American Pacific Island Design Alliance (AAPIDA) Los Angeles Chapter will host a working session at RIOSs office to discuss rebuilding after the fire.
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  • Dinosaurs Overrun a World Post Climate Disaster in Michael Kerbows Paintings
    www.thisiscolossal.com
    Late Capitalism. All images Michael Kerbow, shared with permissionDinosaurs Overrun a World Post Climate Disaster in Michael Kerbows PaintingsJanuary 17, 2025Jackie AndresAfter ending another year of record-breaking climate statistics, we stand at the precipice of 2025, which has already revealed its own devastating challenges. As the window for meaningful change continues to narrow during the next several years, were left to wonder what the world might look like if we stay on this path. Through the lens of hyper-consumerism, San Francisco-based artist Michael Kerbow (previously) envisions the future in his wry and imaginative landscape paintings.Swarming decayed gas station roofs, perching atop abandoned vehicles in forests, and sauntering past crumbling highways and fast food joints, the dinosaurs in Kerbows paintings govern a world overrun by the effects of late-stage capitalism. Hints of climate devastation reveal themselves through small details in the background, such as volcano eruptions, dense, hazy skies, and pools of floodwater.BypassKerbow scatters familiar signage and advertisements from recognizable chains within his scenes to introduce humor and make his work more approachable. However, the artist emphasizes the gravity of the issue at hand:We like to believe everything we currently have will always be there for us, but I suspect it could just as easily fall apart and slip away. I try to stay optimistic about the future, but the truth is I am troubled by where I see things appear to be headed, specifically with the health of our ecosystem. Each passing year seems to bring more alarming statistics, and this comfortable place we call home seems to grow more precarious. It is sobering to consider my artwork as foreshadowing a future reality.As Kerbow continues to make new paintings, you can follow along on Instagram and see his website for more.Adaptive ReuseVestige (Golden Arches)Black MondayHighwaterGladeEconomic DeclineSiren SongShadowplayOasisNext article
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  • These mistakes could tank your credit score
    www.foxnews.com
    close New high-tech tools can help purchase a home A new platform leverages AI to help potential buyers find an affordable home and earn bonus points on the purchase. Do you know the difference between 550 and 780? Yes, theyre 230 digits apart, but theyre also examples of bad and good credit scores, respectively.Win a pair of $329 Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.Enter here, no purchase necessary!If you dont check yours regularly, nows the time to start. Small mistakes are a lot more common than you think, and they can do some serious damage to your credit score. Ill let you in on some of the most common credit report mistakes and what you can do to fix them.5-MINUTE CLEANUP FOR YOUR PHONE AND COMPUTERStep 1: Get your free credit reportThe three credit reporting agencies (TransUnion, Experian and Equifax) are required by law to provide you with one free credit report a year. Sweet. There are a few ways you can request a copy from each agency.Online is the fastest route. If you submit a request via phone or mail, expect to wait two weeks after the paperwork is received.Online:www.AnnualCreditReport.comPhone: 877-FACTACT (877-322-8228)Mail: Download and complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form. Send it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281Pro tip: Grab your report from thefourth credit bureau, Innovis, too. Close up of a man with a smartphone and laptop computer on January 31, 2019. (Neil Godwin/Future via Getty Images)Step 2: Look for the most common mistakesTypos or wrong info: Anything from your name spelled incorrectly to your address or your birthdate off by one number. Tiny mistakes can mix up your credit with someone elses.Accounts you dont recognize: If you see something you dont recognize, dont ignore it! This includes credit cards you never applied for, loans in your name or purchases you didnt make.Duplicates: Its not normal to see a debt twice on a credit report. This includes things like the same collection account, transferred debts showing as separate accounts or paid-off debts still sitting there.Incorrect account info: Sometimes, payments can mistakenly show up as late, or closed accounts may still show as active. Other times, reports may show the wrong credit limit or mess up your payment history.AI ISNT GOING ANYWHERE: PROMPTS TO MAKE LIFE EASIEROutdated info: Bankruptcies older than 10 years, late payments older than seven years and outdated collections accounts should not be showing on your credit report.Make sure websites are following your rules: How to check permissionsStep 3: Report anything strangeDont panic! Write down and make copies of anything that looks off, then file a dispute with the credit reporting company by mail, phone or online.If youre filing online or by mail, explain in writing exactly whats wrong and why, and include copies of documents with proof. Make sure to include your contact info, credit report confirmation numbers and a copy of your version of your credit report.Equifax:Here online or call 866-349-5191Experian:Here online or call 888-397-3742TransUnion:Here online or call 800-916-8800Innovis:Here online or call 800-540-2505 Close-up of the upper corner of a consumer credit report from the credit bureau Equifax, with text reading Credit File and Personal Identification, on a light wooden surface, September 11, 2017. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)And always follow up! Bureaus are required to look into your disputes within 30 days. Track its progress until you have a resolution in writing. If your dispute is valid, the bureau has to fix it and tell the other bureaus as well.A lot of these issues boil down to good old-fashioned human error. It happens, but dont let that stop you from taking charge.Related:How to run a 5-minute privacy check on your phoneWhile youre at it, find your job numberEquifax also runs a database of 716 million income and employment records, including, potentially, yours. Its called The Work Number, and employers use it to make sure you are who you say you are.Your Employment Data Report (EDR) includes things like where youve worked, when you worked there and your exact past salary numbers.TECH TIP: SAVE YOUR MEMORIES BEFORE ITS TOO LATETrying to get a new job? An employer could use your EDR to find your past salary range and lowball you in negotiations. And, of course, Equifax will sell your EDR to anyone whos buying, including debt collectors.Money smarts:Its not just bogus calls and emails putting your bank info at riskHow to stop itYou canfreeze your EDR just like a credit report. You can also see whos tried to access it within the past two years. Youll need to make an account with The Work Number to do it.Search for your current or former employer(s) using their name or employer code (the nine-digit number on your W-2).Click their name, followed by Register Now. Heads-up: Itll ask for your Social Security number.Once you register, look over your report and make sure its accurate. Fill out thisdata dispute form if you find anything fishy. A credit card is pictured alongside a restaurant bill. (iStock)Then, head back to the dashboard and click Freeze Your Data.Fill out the Data Freeze Placement Formand submit it.The Work Number will send you a freeze confirmation letter, along with a PIN. Save your PIN in your password manager. Youll need it if you ever want to unfreeze your report.You can always log into The Work Number or call them to unfreeze your report.If you cant find your employer: They may not be registered with The Work Number. Call the freeze helpline at 1-800-367-2884 to double-check.Unless youre actively applying for a loan or government benefits, or unless an employer actively requests your EDR, its a no-brainer to freeze it. And if a potential employer insists on checking your EDR to hire you, maybe its not the right fit after all.Get tech-smarter on your scheduleAward-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.National radio:Airing on 500+ stations across the US -Find yours or get the free podcast.Daily newsletter:Join 600,000 people who read the Current (free!)Watch: OnKims YouTube channelPodcast: "Kim Komando Today" - Listen wherever you get podcastsCopyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved. Related Topics
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  • US Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban
    www.computerweekly.com
    Video-sharing platform TikTok will go dark in the United States at midnight on Sunday 19 January after the Supreme Court upheld a nationwide ban on the Chinese-owned social media on national security and data privacy and protection grounds.In a unanimous decision, the conservative majority court sided with the lower courts, outgoing president Joe Biden, and both houses of Congress, which passed the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act last year with broad support from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.The law requires TikToks parent ByteDance to either divest the service altogether or be cut off from US app stores and hosting services this weekend, with the likes of Apple and Google facing significant fines if they do not comply.In its unsigned opinion, the Supreme Court said: There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community.But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well reported national security concerns regarding TikToks data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary. For the foregoing Per Curiam reasons, we conclude that the challenged provisions do not violate petitioners First Amendment rights.Craig Singleton, senior China fellow and senior director of the China programme at Washington DC-based thinktank the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, said the nine-nil decision upholding the laws constitutionality validated the security risks posed by Chinese-owned social media apps.ByteDance was afforded due process in our courts something Chinese companies would never extend to US firms. This is about reciprocity, fairness, and protecting American interests, he said.China is adapting in real-time to the ruling. Prior to today's verdict, Beijing began urging TikTok users to migrate to other Chinese-owned apps, like Lemon8 and Little Red Book. This underscores the risks of a whack-a-mole approach and highlights the need for constant vigilance. Beijing isnt just building apps; its building a discourse power ecosystem to shape global narratives and influence societies.Although TikTok has been banned in other countries, most jurisdictions, including the UK, have confined their restrictions to government-owned devices. The US ban marks the first time that a service as widely used as TikTok which boasts 170 million users in the country and many times that number globally has been banned outright in such a significant market.From a business perspective, the TikTok ban will be most keenly felt by smaller businesses, creators and influencers in the US, but organisations located in the UK, Europe, and other countries will also be affected by the sudden loss of thousands, if not millions, of potential customers.However, TikToks goose may not yet be cooked. Following the publication of the Supreme Courts decision on the matter, the Biden administration signalled it would not immediately enforce the ban on 19 January, leaving the matter up to the incoming president-elect Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated on Monday 20 January.Trump, who towards the end of his first term in 2020, attempted to ban TikTok himself, has since changed his position on the issue and now credits it with activating younger voters in his favour.Trump has previously hinted that he would move to save TikTok, which could mean he might delay enforcement of the law in order to give ByteDance time to find a buyer for the service.Posting on his Truth Social network earlier today, the president-elect said: The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it. My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!In a video message, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said: I want to thank president Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States. This is a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship.We are grateful and pleased to have the support of a president who truly understands our platform one who has used TikTok to express his own thoughts and perspectives, connecting with the world and generating more than 60 billion views of his content in the process.Singleton said: A Trump-brokered divestiture that secures US control over TikToks algorithm and ensures US user data is safeguarded from Beijing would not only save the app but also send a clear message: Washington can negotiate deals that advance US security and economic interests.This would reflect Reagans principles: firm on protecting American values while engaging thoughtfully with adversaries on our terms. Its about advancing security without sacrificing strength, he added.Read more about TikTokThe Supreme Court upheld the US TikTok ban, which means businesses that have used the app to reach and grow audiences will no longer be able to do so.A TikTok ban in the US won't crush recruiting efforts. While the platform has reach, employers still prefer LinkedIn, Instagram and niche tools to find top talent.
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  • Bye bye, Wi-Fi: This low-cost adapter lets you set up a wired network without running ethernet
    www.zdnet.com
    Running ethernet wiring can be messy and expensive. If you have cable outlets, you can use a Trendnet Ethernet over Coax adapter to set up a high-speed wired connection with minimal effort.
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  • With TikTok Ban Set, American Tech Giants Can Monopolize Social Media Again
    www.forbes.com
    Participants hold signs in support of TikTok outside the U.S. Capitol Building on March 13, 2024 in Washington, DC.Getty ImagesTikToks social media rivals are set to pounce but exactly which one will win remains an open question.Domestic tech firms now stand to greatly benefit following Fridays Supreme Court decision declining to overturn the federal law that will see TikTok removed from app stores on Sunday over national security concerns.Industry analysts like EMarketer determined earlier this month that Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads, along with Alphabet, which owns YouTube, could capture around half of the ad dollars that might flee TikTok once the app goes dark. (The entire American annual social media ad spend in 2024 was around $80 to $90 billion, according to EMarketer.)Still, its not a done deal: Once inaugurated, President Trump could grant TikTok a reprieve while it looks for a buyer, fulfilling his promise to save the app for a short while. If and when TikTok is fully banned, it will be hard for any rival to completely capture the apps userbase."Its not that these companies havent been trying to pick up TikTok users there is something about how the service works that makes it hard to duplicate, Jim Lewis, the senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Forbes.TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 23, 2023 in Washington, DC.Getty ImagesImplementation of the federal law now forbids American companies from doing business with TikTok starting on Sunday. A ban would last until the Chinese-owned ByteDance, TikToks parent company, sells its U.S. division to an American firm. So far, numerous buyers ranging from Elon Musk to Mr. Beast, the popular YouTuber, have been floated but none have materialized.The Biden administration has said that it would not enforce the law in the waning hours of its tenure. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration, which takes office on Monday at noon Eastern Time.ByteDance, TikToks parent company, did not respond to Forbes repeated request for comment.In a TikTok video released Friday, CEO Shou Zi Chew called the law arbitrary censorship, and added his thanks to President Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States.If you had a dollar, where would you see the most upside? If you invested it in Meta or Snap, all else equal, the Snap dollar should appreciate more.TikTok has captivated the attention of millions of Americans in recent years. Pew Research found in December 2024 that approximately one-third of U.S. adults use the app. Nineteen percent of American teen girls say they use it almost constantly. Analysts have found that the average 18- to 24-year-old TikTok user spends nearly 80 minutes per day on the app.The question is: where will they go?The hypothesis is that people will go somewhere else to scratch the same itch, said Evan Horowitz, the CEO of online ad agency Movers+Shakers, who has been preparing its clients to translate their TikTok videos to other platforms. Its not like the traffic will go to Twitter as thats a different form. YouTube Shorts skews younger, while a millennial is more likely to prefer Instagram and Reels.Benjamin Black, the co-head of internet equity research at Deutsche Bank, told Forbes that one rival is poised to see the most relative benefit: Snap.Because Meta is a significantly larger company (around $1.55 trillion market capitalization) relative to Snap (around $20 billion market capitalization), even a small bump for the Santa Monica-based app would translate into a much greater relative revenue.Most people assume that Meta is going to get the lions share, but given the size of Snap, even if it gets 10% or so of TikToks minutes, and they monetize it at traditional Snap rates, that would have huge ramifications for the business in a positive way, Black said.If you had a dollar, where would you see the most upside? If you invested it in Meta or Snap, all else equal, the Snap dollar should appreciate more.Snap has been preparing for TikTok to go offline for months. In September, the company announced Simple Snapchat, an app redesign debuting later this quarter thats clearly meant to mimic TikTok. Simple Snapchat would have what the company called its first-ever unified recommendation system, which eliminates some the Snap Map and Stories tabs, making it much closer to a TikTok-like design where short-format videos immediately load.Snapchat on the App Store displayed on a phone screen and a laptop keyboard are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on August 10, 2022.NurPhoto via Getty ImagesOther ad firms are also looking at redistributing their spending to other kinds of social media apps, and not just ones that mimic TikToks style and format.Were also considering platforms like Pinterest and Reddit who have a strong social search presence and search targeting functionality, enabling us to stay agile in capturing real-time conversations and demand, Toni Box, the executive vice president of brand experience at Assembly Global, a media agency, emailed Forbes.Also in the mix are Chinese apps like Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, which has a similar short-form video format and saw an influx of so-called TikTok refugees this week as it shot to the top of the app store downloads. . But if it grows quickly enough, it could ultimately face a similar ban.Unlike TikTok, RedNote does not have a separate U.S. app, which poses similar, if not more serious, issues for lawmakers concerned about user privacy and national security, Jasmine Enberg, an analyst at EMarketer, emailed Forbes.Whats clear is that the law doesnt solve the problems that lawmakers have said it is aimed to fix. Its narrow scope (ie. singling out ByteDance and TikTok) doesnt address the larger privacy and security risks on social media, posed by both U.S. and foreign-owned apps.MORE FROM FORBES
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  • Everything Trump Has Said About the TikTok Ban
    time.com
    A smartphone displaying an image of the Chinese social network TikTok which is used extensively by teenagers and a ban sign in Paris in France on January 16, 2025.Hans LucasAFP/Getty ImagesBy Solcyr BurgaJanuary 17, 2025 4:24 PM ESTThe fate of Tiktok is now in the hands of President-elect Donald Trump after the Supreme Court upheld the ban on the viral video app Friday. The Biden Administration announced it would not enforce the ban, which was set to go into effect on Sunday, Jan. 19, the day before Trumps inauguration.The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it, Trump said in a Truth Social post on Friday. My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation.Trump previously asked the Supreme Court to pause the ban from going into effect so his Administration could look for a political resolution. But the President-elects current position on TikTok is a reverse from his 2020 stance, when Trump sought to ban TikTok. A federal judge blocked the act in December 2020. You know, I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points and there are those that say that TikTok has something to do with it, Trump said in a post-election news conference in December. The U.S. first began investigating TikTok in 2019, two years after the Chinese company ByteDance acquired Musical.ly, which was then merged into TikTok. The ban comes after President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan law last April forcing TikToks parent company ByteDance to divest from the app or be banned in the U.S. citing national security concerns given the apps connections to China. During Supreme Court arguments, Department of Justice Solicitor General Elizaveth Prelogar claimed China could harvest the data of U.S. users which could then be used to harass, rescruit, and spy on the United States. ByteDance has said that it will not sell TikTok and claimed that the law infringes on the First Amendment rights of the company and the 170 million American users. "There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community," the court said in its decision. "But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikToks data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary.In a statement Friday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that given the timing of the ban, actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration, which takes office on Monday.Earlier on Friday, Trump announced that he had spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the two talked about TikTok, along with other topics. President Xi and I will do everything possible to make the World more peaceful and safe, he said.Negotiations regarding the future of the social media platform appear to be in motion. In December, Trump met with TikTok CEO Shou Chew. While the Supreme Court result did not fall in favor with the desires of TikTok executives, Chew still thanked Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States, in a video posted after the Supreme Court decision Friday, in which he shared that there had been more than 60 billion views of Trumps content on the app. Chew also shared that the company was still working hard to ensure the app would still be available to its users in the U.S. "TikTok itself is a fantastic platform," Mike Waltz, Trump's pick for a national security adviser, told Fox News Special Report with Bret Baier on Wednesday. "We're going to find a way to preserve it but protect people's data."More Must-Reads from TIMEL.A. Fires Show Reality of 1.5C of WarmingHome Losses From L.A. Fires Hasten An Uninsurable FutureThe Women Refusing to Participate in Trumps EconomyBad Bunny On Heartbreak and New AlbumHow to Dress Warmly for Cold WeatherWere Lucky to Have Been Alive in the Age of David LynchThe Motivational Trick That Makes You Exercise HarderColumn: No One Won The War in GazaContact us at letters@time.com
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  • TSMC CEO is optimistic about Arizona chip quality despite challenges, most advance tech will remain in Taiwan
    www.techspot.com
    In context: TSMC is facing significant challenges in its efforts to establish advanced chip production facilities in the United States. Despite a $65 billion investment in three massive factories in Arizona, TSMC's CEO, C.C. Wei, has reiterated that the company's most advanced chip technology is likely to remain in Taiwan for the foreseeable future. Speaking at a National Taiwan University event, Wei outlined a series of obstacles that have slowed progress and increased costs for TSMC's U.S. expansion. These challenges include complex compliance issues, local construction regulations, and various permitting requirements that have significantly extended the project timeline."Every step requires a permit, and after the permit is approved, it takes at least twice as long as in Taiwan," Wei said, highlighting the stark contrast between the regulatory environments in the two countries. Other challenges include a shortage of skilled workers, gaps in the supply chain, and a lack of established regulations specific to chip plant construction.To address these issues, TSMC has taken extraordinary measures. Wei revealed that the company invested $35 million to establish 18,000 rules in collaboration with local governments, hiring a team of experts to navigate the complex regulatory landscape. Additionally, TSMC has faced significantly higher costs for essential supplies, such as chemicals, which are five times more expensive in the U.S. than in Taiwan.To mitigate the labor shortage, TSMC has resorted to relocating half of its construction workers from Texas to Arizona, incurring additional costs for relocation and accommodation.Despite this, Wei remains optimistic about the quality of chips that will be produced at the Arizona facility. At a recent earnings conference, he expressed confidence in achieving the same level of quality as in Taiwan and anticipated a smooth ramp-up process. // Related StoriesDuring the call, Wei noted that TSMC had accelerated the production schedule for its first fab in Arizona, which began high-volume production in the fourth quarter of 2024. The fab utilizes N4 process technology with yields comparable to TSMC's facilities in Taiwan. "With our strong manufacturing capability and execution, we are confident we can deliver the same level of manufacturing quality and reliability from our fab in Arizona as we do from our fabs in Taiwan," he said.Plans for a second and third fab in Arizona are also on track, Wei confirmed during the earnings call. "This is where we will utilize even more advanced technologies, such as our N3, N2, and A16 nodes, based on our customers' needs," he added.The U.S. government has thrown its full support behind TSMC's investment, offering a $6.6 billion grant as part of its strategy to diversify the geographic distribution of chip manufacturing, which is currently heavily concentrated in Asia, particularly Taiwan.However, at the event, Wei noted that the most cutting-edge chip technology might not reach American shores as quickly as some in the U.S. had hoped. This is not new information: TSMC has consistently maintained that the majority of its chip manufacturing, especially for the most advanced chips, will remain in Taiwan.
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  • 3 underrated (HBO) Max movies you should watch this weekend (January 17-19)
    www.digitaltrends.com
    MGMTable of ContentsTable of ContentsShowing Up (2023)Pathology (2008)Being Mary Tyler Moore (2023)Are you in the mood to be scared? January may seem like an odd time to watch a horror movie, but for the last few years, the genre has thrived in the first month of the year with such recent hits as M3GAN and Night Swim. 2025 brings us Wolf Man, a modern retelling of the classic werewolf tale, and all signs point to another winter horror hit.But those movie fans who want something more mellow this weekend arent out of luck. Streaming has plenty of options, with Max being one of the best out there. In addition to such current popular movies like Juror #2 and Furiosa, the streamer has the following three movies that, for one reason or another, have been overlooked and underrated.Recommended VideosWe also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max,andthe best movies on Disney+.RelatedShowing Up | Official Trailer HD | A24When we first meet Lizzy (Venom: The Last Dances Michelle Williams), her life is a bit of a mess. A sculptor who works part-time at a local art school, shes preparing for an upcoming art show. Well, shes supposed to be preparing, but life always gets in the way. Her water heater is broken, and her landlord, Jo (The Whales Hong Chau), wont fix it. It doesnt help that Jo is also showing her art at the same show Lizzy needs to get ready for. To make matters worse, her father has surrounded herself with a bunch of untrustworthy hippies and her brother is showing early signs of mental illness.In anyone elses hands, Showing Up could be a comedy or a drama, but Kelly Reichardt, director of such modern classics as Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy, and First Cow, manages to make it a bit of both. Slice of life is a phrase commonly used to describe the directors films, and while accurate, it fails to capture the strange beauty each one of her films has. Showing Up doesnt have a lot going on, but in its depiction of the day-to-day joys and disappointments of everyday life, it captures something elusive and essential.Showing Up is streaming on Max.MGMThey cant all be winners, but movies like Pathology are the reason why guilty pleasure was invented as an excuse to enjoy less-than-stellar movies. In this medical thriller, Milo Ventimiglia, fresh off his multi-year sentence in Stars Hollow on Gilmore Girls, is Dr. Teddy Grey, a recent Harvard School of Medicine graduate who joins a sort of Skull and Bones-type secret organization for medical interns with a taste for committing the perfect murder. Teddy thinks these perfect murders are theoretical until he discovers, nope, they are real deaths.Led by Jake Gallo (Michael Weston), the group sets its sights on Juliette, who happens to be Gallos unfaithful fiance. As Teddy struggles to keep his horror concealed so he can expose the group and stop Jake, he may be putting himself, and his fiance, Gwen (Alyssa Milano), in danger. Whats a hunky, somewhat dim-witted doctor-to-be to do?Pathology TrailerPathology is silly and stupid, but its oddly watchable in an are-they-really-doing-this? kind of way. To his credit, Ventimiglia plays this straight, which only highlights all the absurdity around him. The ending is ridiculous, but also perfect, with karma as a medicine best served with a cold, sharp scalpel.Pathology is streaming on Max.Being Mary Tyler Moore | Official Trailer | HBOI never watched The Dick Van Dyke Show or The Mary Tyler Moore Show, but I knew how beloved our Mary was to her fans. But she was always that bright, distant TV icon with the million-dollar smile, and the woman behind that image was always an enigma to me.Being Mary Tyler Moore changed that, and for the better. The 2023 documentary by James Aldophus chronicles the entire life of the actress, from her childhood in New York City to her early work as a TV actress in such programs as 77 Sunset Strip and, later, The Dick Van Dyke Show. But its when she branched out on her own, forming her own production company with then-husband Grant Tinker, that Moore emerged as an icon, making The Mary Tyler Moore Show one of the defining programs of the 70s and a key moment in the womens movement during that time.HBOTheres more to her life than just that show, and the documentary is particularly fascinating when it focuses on after her marriage to Tinker ends and she navigates life as a single, older woman working in both Hollywood and the New York theater industry. Being Mary Tyler Moore is an in-depth look at someone you think you knew, but didnt; it also will make you want to watch Ordinary People again, so make sure you have tissues ready to soak up those tears.Being Mary Tyler Moore is streaming on Max.Editors Recommendations
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