So it looks like the TikTok ban may actually be happening, barring a last-minute Supreme Court decision. In this episode, Senior Writer Karissa Bell joins Devindra and Ben to discuss the potential finale of TikTok in America, as well as why some users are finding refuge in RedNote, a Chinese Instagram clone. They also dive into why Meta is giving up on third-party fact checkers, and how this relates to Mark Zuckerberg's descent into the right-wing world. Finally, we explore the tidbits of information from Nintendo's Switch 2 unveiling.Stay tuned to the end of this episode for Devindras chat with Dan Erickson, the creator of Severance, about season two of his hit show.Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!Subscribe!iTunesSpotifyPocket CastsStitcherGoogle PodcastsTopicsRIP TikTok, Part ??? 2:24Meta abandons fact checking, loosens hate speech rules on its platforms 22:21We finally have confirmation of the Switch 2, full unveil scheduled for April 2 40:57Pop culture picks 49:29.187CreditsHosts: Devindra Hardawar and Karissa BellProducer: Ben EllmanMusic: Dale NorthThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/engadget-podcast-the-tiktok-ban-zucks-lost-soul-and-nintendos-switch-2-reveal-123027317.html?src=rss

Looking for NYT Connections answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, plus my commentary on the puzzles.

The high-octane action film Customs Frontline, directed by Herman Yau and produced by Emperor Motion Pictures, is a visual spectacle brought to life by Free-D Workshop Limited. This VFX breakdown highlights the studios dynamic work, including intricate cityscapes and explosive action sequences that elevate the narrative. Their expertise in crafting immersive effects ensures every frame is packed with intensity and realism, perfectly complementing the films thrilling storyline. Experience how Free-D Workshop transformed Customs Frontline into a visually stunning cinematic journey.The post Customs Frontline VFX Breakdown Free-D Workshop appeared first on Vfxexpress.

This article is republished with permission fromWonder Tools,a newsletter that helps you discover the most useful sites and apps.Subscribe here.A dozen tabs open. Notifications pinging. I just opened my laptop and unread emails are already calling my name.Sound familiar?To break this routine, Im relying on a carefully chosen stack of tools and tactics that protect deep work from daily distractions. Rather than hunting for a perfect productivity app, Ive curated a three-layer system for planning, focus, and analysis. In todays video and the post below Ill show you how it works.Feel free tosteal any of these tacticsas youre refining your own workflow for the new year.My focus stack has three layers:Planning toolsthat help me decide where to direct my concentration.Focus toolsto help my wandering mind return to the task at hand.Analysis toolsfor tracking progress and observations about my work so I can improve my focus over time.1. Planning: Design your dayThink of focus setup like a chefs mise-en-place: organizing your workspace before diving into complex work.Start by collecting and prioritizing a handful of core tasks so you have a short menu to choose from. Include time estimates. That helps you be realistic about what will fit on that days calendar.I often fall victim to the planning fallacy. I overestimate how many things I can get done on a given day. That leads to end-of-day disappointment when I havent completed everything on my list.To avoid that issue, assess your time estimates at the end of the day. After two weeks of doing that, youll get better guessing how much youll actually accomplish in a day.Keep it simple: power tools that workFor me, task software should be as simple as possible. [See more ofmy philosophyon this]. I prefer to get stuff done rather than spend hours mastering software menus. Thats why I recommend simple, free task software tools.The bottom line:Workflowy,Apple Reminders, andGoogle Tasksall help you do the four basic things you need to do with to-dos:Createsimple lists,organizeandaddto them, and reliably and quicklyaccessthe tasks on multiple devices.For a more advanced software tool, considerTodoistorThings, which allow you to categorize tasks in a more sophisticated way with projects and multiple views.Pro tools, minus the complexityYou may prefer a pro tool that combines planning with managing tasks and calendaring. Teams aiming to put all their projects, tasks and plans in one spot can use a hub likeClickUp,Monday, orBasecamp.But if youre working independently and want something simple, I likeSunsama.Sunsamahas a variety of useful features for planning your day. It works well fortimeboxing. Here are some key features that make it so useful:Planning and review modes let you prepare for and conclude the day with reflection and intention, avoiding the temptation to work reactively.Estimate how long tasks will take, add notes or substasks, then schedule the tasks directly in your calendar.Optionally use AI for time estimates and to categorize tasks. That helps analyze how youre allocating time.Employ focus mode to time your current task. When you complete it, the next task appears in the corner of your screen. I use this for deep work to block out everything but my current project.Time design: Intelligent schedulingVimcal,Akiflow,Fantastical,andMotionare among the best-designed calendar tools. They sync to your existing calendar (e.g. Google or Outlook).Use natural language to schedule things. Say something like Meet Pat at 3pm Tuesday at HeyTea to talk about our AI summit. Avoid a minute of manual data entry a dozen times daily and youll save an hour each week.Calendar magic: AI-assisted planningReclaim,likeMotion,can automatically put time on your calendar between your appointments for priorities that youve set in advance. For example, you may want to routinely find time for meditation, calling a loved one, stretching, or praying.Reclaimadds those moments to your calendar between existing appointments on your calendar. They show up privately on your calendar. If you choose to let it, Reclaim can move your self-care slots if a meeting gets scheduled into that time slot.2. Focus: your concentration kitFor background focus music, I rely on bothHeadspaceandCalmwith noise-cancelling headphones. Both offer instrumental tracks that block distractions without becoming distracting themselves.Coffitivityis a good free alternative if you prefer the background hum of a coffee shop.Brainy headphonesNeurable MW75 Headphones($699) blend premium audio with an unexpected superpower: they measure your brains focus levels while you work. Unlike clunky EEG headbands, these look and feel like luxury noise-cancelling headphones.Why theyre useful:These noise-blocking headphones measure your brain focus like an EEG machine, without having to strap all those wires on your head. Neurable has somehow made one of the first consumer brain-computer interfaces that actually works so you can track your focus.Ive been impressed with how they monitor my level of focus. Like a fitness tracker encouraging me to move, they subtly encourage sustained concentration with a daily deep focus target of one hour.Despite minor data syncing glitches and a lofty price tag, Im pleased with their look, feel, and functionality. The first version of the app provides limited actionable insight about your focus level. Based on my conversations with the founder, I expect the app and the usefulness of its data to improve over time. A foldable design would also be nice, but thats a small quibble for what they deliver. For now theyre available only in the U.S. and Canada.Cheaper:Want a lower-cost alternative to get some quiet? WriterA.J. Jacobs recommendsthese $10noise-blocking earmuffsand Ive foundLoop earplugs(starting at ~$25) to be helpful.3. Analysis: measure what worksRizeis a time tracking app that charts how you spend time. It monitors what software youre using and tallies which projects or hobbies your hours are flowing to. (Get afree monthto try it).Googles Time Insightssimilarly helps you see where your time is going. Rather than monitoring your actual computer behavior, it relies solely on your calendar. Available only on certain Google Workspace plans.As noted in mytimeboxingpost, a simple spreadsheet or paper and pen record will also do fine for documenting time allocation. Just jot down learnings about how your actual time spent diverged from your plans.How AI can helpAI tools can help you analyze your time allocation. FeedClaude,GeminiorChatGPTa list of your tasks and how much time you estimated they would take, alongside estimates of actual time spent. Or snap a photo of your handwritten schedule and notes and feed that to your AI of choice for summary insights.By feeding some time tracking info into a Claude or ChatGPT project, aNotebook LMnotebook, or a Gemini Gem, you can design your own custom timeboxing coach. This AI coach will understand how long things typically take you and your indicated priorities. It can then assist you with planning more effectively and making better time estimates based on your own past behavior.This article is republished with permission fromWonder Tools,a newsletter that helps you discover the most useful sites and apps.Subscribe here.

Frontier Tiny Homes had unveiled their extra-wide and super spacious Felicity model some time ago. It had impressed us with its spaciousness and openness, but now the firm has designed a home that is the complete opposite! Say hello to Agatha a compact tiny home with more in common with the smaller European models, but is still right for full-time living. The Agatha shares a similar styling with Felicity but in a more compact body. The tiny home is based on a double-axle trailer and features a length of 20 feet. It is finished in tongue and groove cedar siding and metal. A metal roof tops off the house.Designer: Frontier Tiny HomesAs you enter the home, you are welcomed by a well-designed kitchen that serves as the heart of the home. It is stocked with modern appliances like a fridge/freezer combination, a sink, and a two-burner propane-powered stove that delivers efficient cooking capabilities. A microwave is added as well, as well as plenty of cabinetry to maximize storage space for kitchen essentials and utensils. The living room is adjacent to the kitchen, and it has a cozy and inviting atmosphere.A wall-mounted TV provides entertainment options, making the space perfect for movie nights or catching up on favorite shows. To further enhance comfort, an electric fireplace adds a touch of warmth and ambiance, while a mini-split air-conditioning unit is installed to ensure the interior temperature remains pleasant throughout the year.The lovely tiny home makes the most of its compact footprint. It is equipped with two loft spaces that serve as the primary sleeping areas. The lofts feature low ceilings, which offer limited headroom, but also create an intimate and cozy space. The first loft functions as the master bedroom, and you can enter it via a wooden ladder. The ladder slides to the side when not in use, which saves space, while also adding a touch of elegance and functionality to the design. The master bedroom includes a double bed, serving as a private sanctuary within the tiny home.The second loft is positioned on the opposite end of the Agatha and can be accessed via a removable ladder. This loft is designed to be versatile and can be used as a secondary bedroom or an additional storage area, depending on the residents requirements. This room is smaller than the master bedroom and accommodates a double bed. Its dual-purpose nature makes it quite valuable and functional, showcasing flexibility in how a space can be used.The lofts in the Agatha tiny house demonstrate smart design and efficient use of space, providing functional sleeping areas without compromising on style or comfort. The inclusion of innovative ladder systems and adaptable layouts ensures that the tiny house meets the different needs of its occupants, making it a practical and attractive choice for those seeking a compact yet comfortable living environment.The post This Tiny Home For A Small Family Fuses An American Design Style With A European-Inspired Size first appeared on Yanko Design.

Chinas internet companies and their hard-working, resourceful professionals make world-class products, in spite of censorship and malign neglect by Beijing.

Rebel Wolves, comprised of former CD Projekt RED developers who worked on The Witcher, recently revealed its next project: The Blood of Dawnwalker, a vampire-centric open-world action RPG. It stars Coen, a newly created Dawnwalker in the 14th-century Carpathian Mountains. Though its full gameplay will be revealed this Summer, one may initially think this to be a vampire power fantasy.However, thats not quite the case. In a recent Twitch stream (transcription by MP1st), studio CEO and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz said that Coen wont be a superhero or overpowered. What I love in Coen is that hell never be a superhero. Hell never be overpowered. During the day, as a human, he can fight with a sword. He can use and discover dark magic, but he can be killed by anyone.You also shouldnt expect a Geralt-like demeanor to his character. Writer and narrative director Jakub Szamaek says Coen is at the beginning of his adventure, which I think is really cool, and in general, he is so much fun to write and flesh out because hes not your typical game protagonist.Hes not a grizzled veteran whos seen it all, who is cynical about the world, who comments on the world with, like, one-liners. Hes a young guy who, at heart, is emotional; he can get vulnerable, and hes honest about how he feels.The Blood of Dawnwalker doesnt have a release date, but its coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. One of the core gameplay elements is a 30-day time limit, though this is not a hard timer that requires players to rush, per the developer. How this works remains to be seen, so stay tuned for further updates and information.

Reconstructing unmeasured causal drivers of complex time series from observed response data represents a fundamental challenge across diverse scientific domains. Latent variables, including genetic regulators or environmental factors, are essential to determining a systems dynamics but are rarely measured. Challenges with current approaches arise from data noise, the systems high dimensionality, and existing algorithms capacities in handling nonlinear interactions. This will greatly help in modeling, predicting, and controlling high-dimensional systems in systems biology, ecology, and fluid dynamics.The most widely used techniques for causal driver reconstruction usually rely on signal processing or machine learning frameworks. Some common ones include mutual information methods, neural network applications, and dynamic attractor reconstruction. While these techniques work well in some situations, they have significant limitations. Most demand large, high-quality datasets that are rarely found in real-world applications. They are very prone to measurement noise, resulting in low reconstruction accuracy. Some require computationally expensive algorithms and thus not suited for real-time applications. In addition, many models lack physical principles, reducing their interpretability and applicability across domains.The researchers from The University of Texas introduce a physics-based unsupervised learning framework called SHREC (Shared Recurrences) to reconstruct causal drivers from time series data. The approach is based on the theory of skew-product dynamical systems and topological data analysis. Innovation includes the use of recurrence events in time series to infer common causal structures between responses, the construction of a consensus recurrence graph that is traversed to expose the dynamics of the latent driver, and the introduction of a new network embedding that adapts to noisy and sparse datasets using fuzzy simplicial complexes. Unlike the existing methods, the SHREC framework well captures noisy and nonlinear data, requires minimal parameter tuning, and provides useful insight into the physical dynamics underlying driver-response systems.The SHREC algorithm is implemented in multiple stages. The measured response time series are mapped into weighted recurrence networks by topological embeddings, where an affinity matrix is constructed for each time series based on nearest neighbor distances and adaptive thresholds. The recurrence graphs are combined from individual time series to obtain a consensus graph that captures collective dynamics. Discrete-time drivers have been linked to decomposition by community detection algorithms, including the Leiden method, to provide distinct equivalence classes. For continuous drivers, on the other hand, the graphs Laplacian decomposition reveals transient modes corresponding to states of drivers. The algorithm was tested on diverse data: gene expression, plankton abundances, and turbulent flows. It showed excellent reconstruction of drivers under challenging conditions like high noise and missing data. The structure of the framework is based on graph-based representations. Therefore, it avoids costly iterative gradient-based optimization and makes it computationally efficient.SHREC performed notably well and consistently on the benchmark-challenging datasets. The methodology successfully reconstructed causal determinants from gene expression datasets, thereby uncovering essential regulatory components, even in the presence of sparse and noisy data. In experiments involving turbulent flow, this approach successfully detected sinusoidal forcing factors, demonstrating superiority over traditional signal processing techniques. Regarding ecological datasets, SHREC revealed temperature-induced trends in plankton populations, notwithstanding considerable missing information, thus illustrating its resilience to incomplete and noisy data. The comparison with other approaches has highlighted SHRECs increased accuracy and efficiency in computation, especially in the presence of higher noise levels and complex nonlinear dependencies. These findings highlight its extensive applicability and reliability in many fields.SHREC is a physics-based unsupervised learning framework that enables the reconstruction of unobserved causal drivers from complex time series data. This new approach deals with the severe drawbacks of contemporary techniques, which include noise susceptibility and high computational cost, by using recurrence structures and topological embeddings. The successful workability of SHREC on diverse datasets underlines its wide-ranging applicability with the ability to improve AI-based modeling in biology, physics, and engineering disciplines. This methodology improves the accuracy of causal driver reconstruction and, at the same time, puts in place a framework based on the principles of dynamical systems theory and sheds new light on essential characteristics of information transfer within interconnected systems.Check out the Paper. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our65k+ ML SubReddit. Aswin Ak+ postsAswin AK is a consulting intern at MarkTechPost. He is pursuing his Dual Degree at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He is passionate about data science and machine learning, bringing a strong academic background and hands-on experience in solving real-life cross-domain challenges. Meet 'Height':The only autonomous project management tool (Sponsored)

Though I was very much raised by the teachings of one Pete "Mach 2 with his hair on fire" Mitchell, I chase something more rabidly than Maverick's need for speedmy next gobsmack of force feedback. The more you can shake me, like the 12Nm-producing topic of today, the happier I am. Frankly, that's an intimidating amount of pushback on paper, which makes Moza's optional E-stop Safety Switch seem like a perfectly understandable purchase.I'm already quite familiar with Mozas brilliant efforts in the car (and even truck) racing space; this is the first time Im seeing them deliver something for the stick jockeys. The claim from this peripherals powerhouse is that its marrying some already impressive proprietary force feedback tech with state-of-the-art engineering. A lack of actual Gs notwithstanding, I can early confirm that todays setup gave me probably the most physically engaging flight experiences Ive felt since that time I was a RIO for an hour in an L-39C Albatros.Well turn and burn into the specific reasons why in a second. For now, though, let me provide some prices for the impulse buyers who wish to eject to a purchase without further info. If thats not youbecause that certainly isnt how I barrel rollthen click here to skip to my continued hands on thoughts.Moza Flight Test GearMoza AB9 FFB BaseA$999.00 at MozaMoza MH16 FlightstickA$299.00 at MozaMoza MA3X Side StickSee itBase Table ClampA$69.00 at MozaAll About That BaseWith the AB9 Base, Moza is hoping to become the untouchable Iceman of moderately-priced flight peripherals with these dual servo motors which deliver 12Nm of peak torque. Through those beasts, youll not just feel the expected jolts like explosions when you bite it in a dogfight or get out of control sausage roll below the hard deck. No, the AB9 can also make the subtler, more incidental stuff feel amazing, too, like taxiing, takeoff, landing, and turbulence (where you may or may not get into a flat spin and get NPC Goose killed).Impressive to look at and constructed from aviation-grade aluminum alloy with a quiet, fanless design, the AB9 is smoother than a Pete Mitchell karaoke pickup maneuver, and it resisted the mild beating I gave it during some high-stress sorties in an FA/18 in DC World. I also love the faux leather insert that reeks of quality, is rigidly built while not being restrictive to movement, and basically just makes me miss every manual car I ever owned. Otherwise, the stick connector here grips whatever you slot/screw into it like a gorilla, and the plug supports third-party flight sticks primarily of a Thrustmaster or similar design. Moza AB9 FFB BaseConnection is a cinch with one USB-A and a power cord running to a sizeable brick bearing a needlessly neon 'Moza' logo light. As for physical installation, you'd be nuts to try and use this without screwing it to a sim rig or using the optional extra desk bracket. It lets you top mount on a desk (with screw holes located under the base) or slung off desk and lower, near your hip/crotch (using the bases' rearward screw mounts).If you're going with the more ideal latter config, definitely make sure your desk suits the two wind clamps and their 70mm attach allowance completely. No not-quite-flush "half-screwed-on" approach is going to work for long. This 157 x 227 x 204 mm chonk is already 5.5 kg without a stick attached (6.3 kg with). And that's before you the FFB tries to give your wrist a run for its moneydepending on how extreme you set things in the user-friendly Cockpit Control software suite. Incidentally, said software plays remarkably nicely with MSFS2020, X-plane 12/11/10, DCS, IL-2, and War Thunder. You can click from a range of presets quickly and be chocks away in no time.The Stick SelectionMy current favourite pick of sticks to use with AB9 Base unit is the MH16, pretty much a fighter pilot's dream choice. As I'd expect from Moza (and the asking price), it feels the goods in your grip and is quite weighty due to its aviation-grade aluminum alloy construction. Better yet, it's bristling with 30 input functions that can be easily remapped. That includes an 8-way ALPS hat switch, which feels nice and responsive, plus a trigger with an endearing, slightly ker-chunk surety to it.If you're like me, you can always do with more buttons and customisability; Moza has got your back like a good wingman here, too. The MH16 flightstick utilises detachable expansion modules that are extremely easy to remove or attach via a system of pogo pin connections. I also appreciate that there's an adjustable wheel to raise the mini hand rest up as well, and in terms of comfort, I had no complaints after hours of intense dogfighting.Moza MH16 StickIf you're not an ace out to scratch off bogies, your next best option is the MA3X Side Stick. Obviously, it's more based upon traditional passenger aircraft controls with a smooth resin-like finish (which means fingerprints aplenty), and you're down from 30 input signals to a more manageable 12. The MA3X's simple good looks are matched by its reasonable comfort. Much like its fancier dogfighting brethren, I couldn't find a bad input in this bunch eithereverything is lovely and clicky, though the responsive trigger, expectedly, only has one stage of fire when you yank it.Moza MA3X SidestickLogging Flight Hours InWhen I snap on the MH16 and strap into an FA/18 in DCS World, I'm pretty impressed with the feedback. The shake of the cockpit is communicated quite decently through both the base and the stick during takeoff; both the rumble of the wheels and throttling up make their presence known. There's also a pretty magical moment when you shake off the surly bonds of gravity, the ground vibration and thrust falls away, and you feel the manipulation of control surfaces like ailerons and/or elevators as your bird levels and the AB9 stops trying to vigorously shake hands with you. Flying through feel. Oh, how I've missed this.Obviously, when you tilt and bank into a sharp turn from there, that G-force pressure comes right back as the servo motors tighten around the stick. That expected result might sound like a simple and obvious thing, but it's also satisfying and long overdue. FFB is a sensation I've missed in flight sims since my Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 died about a decade ago. Hell, even just having a subtle cruising speed engine rumble coursing through the AB9, against my forearm, and through my fingertips is a treat.I decide to shift gears by trying something less military and more sedate (but with a twist for optimal force feedback testing). I boot up MSFS2020, clip on the MA3X Side Stick, pick an appropriate aircraft to suit it, like an Airbus A320, and then go trying to recreate Sully Sullenberger's water landing in the Hudson River. We can blame Netflix for putting that film in my recommendations for this unorthodox testing idea.Again, thanks to some preset selections beforehand, MSFS2020 instantly plays nice with the AB9, and taking off from LaGuardia in a 75-ton beast (instead of a nimble fighter) feels as weighty and colossal as I'd hoped. Even though this is a fly-by-wire aircraft, I still marvel at the tension on the stick and the FFB accents that are coming through; things like stall buffeting, elevator drop, deceleration effects, flap rotations, gear motion/buffeting, and, of course, damage (in this case catastrophic, because I'm not skilled enough to repeat the miracle that was).At the end of the day, I was left extremely impressed with the Moza Flight Simulator Ecosystem. Now that those opportunistic patent trolls have moved away from FFB flight sim materials and the door's reopened for moderately priced peripherals to re-enter the space, the AB9 represents a game-changing bit of kit. Also, if you combine this long-missed, "prodigal child returns" tech with more modern hardware advancements, like VR, the immersion level can truly go stratospheric. Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.

Yes, you're reading that correctly.Meme StreakPresident-elect Donald Trump may have spent his career playing the role of a wheeler-dealer businessman, but his actual financial track record has always been dodgy he inherited a vast sum, declared bankruptcy at ventures ranging from a hotel to a casino, and estimates of his wealth have been a frequent topic of speculation for decades.Underscoring that tenuous real-world performance, it appears that Trump has now accumulated vastly more wealth in the past 24 hours than he did in his entire life previously. Yes, you're reading that correctly: since launching a meme coin called $TRUMP on the eve of his second presidency about a day ago, Axiosestimated earlier today that 89 percent of Trump's net worth was tied up in the cryptocurrency, putting it north of $60 billion and making him on paper, at least one of the world's 25 richest people.In a preview of Trump's certain-to-be-chaotic adventures in the world of blockchain, though, the coin subsequently crashed by about 50 percent meaning it still represents the overwhelming majority of Trump's worth, but makes him substantially poorer than he was this morning.Wallet InspectorWe should point out that none of this is remotely fair in any normal sense of the word; the only reason for $TRUMP's explosive growth is the fact that Trump is about to be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States.In that position, two things will be true. First, Trump will have immense regulatory power over the crypto industry; after slamming the tech for years, he reversed his position when it became financially convenient to him, and has now nominated crypto advocate Paul Atkins as head of the Securities and Exchange Commission. And second, any wealthy people who need a favor from Trump will now be able to buy caches of his meme coin to earn influence.Add it all up, and the whole thing reeks to high heaven. Trump's crypto isn't shooting up in value because of any intrinsic technical or business acumen; it's doing so because investors believe rightly, in all likelihood that it will be a lucrative conflict of interest over the next four years.More on Donald Trump: Trump Pledges Information About Mystery Drones on Day One of PresidencyShare This Article