White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called TikToks threat to go dark tomorrow a stunt, and said there is no reason that TikTok or any other companies should take any actions under the ban before the Trump administration is sworn in Monday morning, several news outlets are reporting.It is a stunt, and we see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump Administration takes office on Monday, MSNBC quotes Jean-Pierre as saying. We have laid out our position clearly and straightforwardly: actions to implement this law will fall to the next administration.So TikTok and other companies should take up any concerns with them.The statement comes one day after TikTok threatened to go offline if the Biden administration doesnt offer reassurance that companies like Apple and Google wont be held liable for defying the ban, which the Supreme Court upheld yesterday. Company CEO Shou Chew also appealed to Donald Trump, saying the company is grateful for his support of the platform. Trump said that a 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done during an interview with Meet The Press moderator Kristen Welker for NBC News. That followed reporting earlier this week that the incoming President plans to issue an executive order doing so. Given that the bans deadline is up before hes sworn in, its not clear whether Trump can actually extend it. He can choose not to enforce the ban, just as Biden says he will, but that still leaves Apple and Google to decide if Trumps word is worth the legal risk that would come with defying the ban by leaving the app available for download.

In BriefPosted:12:48 PM PST January 18, 2025Image Credits:Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto / Getty ImagesFTC says partnerships like Microsoft-OpenAI raise antitrust concernsThe Federal Trade Commission said in a staff report issued Friday that there are potential competitive issues in partnerships between big tech companies and generative AI developers specifically, Microsofts backing of OpenAI and Amazon and Alphabet/Googles partnerships with Anthropic.The FTCs report sheds light on how partnerships by big tech firms can create lock-in, deprive start-ups of key AI inputs, and reveal sensitive information that can undermine fair competition, said FTC Chair Lina Khan in a statement. (President-elect Donald Trump plans to replace Khan as chair.)The report focuses on Microsoft, Amazon, and Googles roles as cloud service providers working with OpenAI and Anthropic; among other things, it suggests that these partnerships could affect access to computing resources and engineering talent, increase switching costs for companies working with AI developers, and might give cloud providers unique access to sensitive information.Microsofts deputy general counsel Rima Alaily told Bloomberg that the companys partnership with OpenAI has enabled one of the most successful AI startups in the world and spurred a wave of unprecedented technology investment and innovation in the industry.Topics

This site, in the heart of Cornwall village, was once occupied by an early 19th century Federal style residence, built by the wealthy Pierce family in town. The Pierces large home was acquired by John E. Calhoun (1859-1940), a successful New York businessman, who retreated to his fathers hometown for summers away from the city. In 1911, a fire destroyed the home, which was wood-frame construction. This event mobilized Mr. Calhoun, who was untrained but interested in architecture, to begin planning a new summer residence, but of fireproof construction. Calhoun is said to have designed (and funded) the towns library just years before, and modeled his home in line with the Colonial-era residences in the village, just larger and of brick. From the 1950s through the 1990s, the house was occupied by the headmaster and administration of the local Marvelwood School, but was re-established as a private home, a use that remains today.

Tick-tock for TikTokAnadolu via Getty ImagesSo here we arethe long-running TikTok ban saga finally enters what could be its end-zone just hours from now. All 170 million U.S. users will be questioning what happens next, and what they can expect when they wake up Sunday morning.While we originally expected the app to continue working for existing users post a ban coming into effect, that now seems not to be the case. TikTok has essentially warned that it will go dark in the U.S., given that service providers underpinning the platform wont be able to continue doing so lawfully.The inside track from TikTok appears to be that you will be directed to a website with a message and explanation from the platform, and perhaps an option to download your data. Although for all 100-million-plus users to do that all at once might stretch the ecosystem, so be ready for some chaos and delays. Theres no confirmation on timing. It could be midnight or some time shortly afterwards. Theres still a chance a last minute deal will let it run until the change of administration next week.Many users have asked whether a VPN will resolve the issue as has been the case with state-wide porn shut-outs across the U.S., where users turn to VPNs to pretend theyre somewhere else. That seems unlikely to work here, given the platform itself is going dark as opposed to being blocked. But well know more on Sunday.MORE FOR YOUIts critical that you do two things before the ban comes into effect. First make sure your account has been secured, which will help you restore it if and when it comes back. You can find details on doing that here. And second, dont fall for any lures coming at you by email or message or social media post, promising to restore yoiur account or provide a workaround. They will be dangerous scams.Most expect some form of fudge if not tomorrow then early next week, with the new Trump administration giving TikTok a pass for 60-90 days, time for the situation to resolve. That could still mean 24-72 hours of darkness though, so just make sure youre prepared. With unfortunate timing, TikTok is now under fire in Europe, with a new privacy lawsuit claiming it unlawfully sends data to China. TikTok tells me it strongly denies the claim and I dont expect it to make any difference in the U.S.Your app wont disappear from your phone tomorrow and you dont need to delete it. But it wont work if the platform goes dark until it is restored and it wont be available in any of the app stores. The risk of an app with no access to security updates running on 170 million phones does seem to have passed with the latest turn of events, which is good, but for millions of users this new dark reality could be worse.Above all, dont do anything rash. And keep your fingers crossed.

In context: Intel Core Ultra 200 desktop processors failed to impress some reviewers (including us) when they launched last October as the company's new flagship Arrow Lake-S lineup. While they performed adequately in compute tests, gaming was a mixed bag, with the chips being outperformed in multiple titles by the previous Raptor Lake generation. Fixes do nothing Update (Jan 18): We have yet to test Intel's claimed fixes for its Arrow Lake chips, however Tom's Hardware was quick to run a few gaming benchmarks on the flagship Core Ultra 9 285K. In short, the updates fail to address the underwhelming gaming performance for such a high-end chip.In some cases, performance even decreased after the updates, while previous-gen Raptor Lake Refresh chips benefited more from the required OS update, further widening the gap. Ultimately, we can't justify how Intel is trying to spin this story beyond what can be proven and making false promises does more harm than good.The original story follows below:Intel quickly investigated the situation, and by December, it had a good idea of what was causing the performance hiccups. It turned out to be a combination of power plan problems, anti-cheat settings, and other random issues though the biggest was a missing Performance & Power Management (PPM) package.The first series of fixes landed before the holidays in a mandatory Windows 11 update alongside some publisher patches. But Intel said we'd have to wait until CES in January for the second wave a crucial BIOS update to really unlock the Ultra 200's untapped potential. Well, that update just dropped, and according to Intel's internal tests, it's put the performance woes to bed in a big way.There are some sizable gaming gains in Intel's numbers. For instance, in Cyberpunk: 2077, Intel claims the fixes could net a staggering 26% increase in frames per second on patched Ultra 200 systems, as reported by PC World. Meanwhile, Far Cry 6 could see up to 16% more FPS.However, the performance hikes don't stop at games. Intel also ran the popular 3DMark TimeSpy synthetic benchmark and said patched Ultra 200 systems could see their overall scores skyrocket by up to 97%. // Related StoriesWe'll have to run some tests ourselves before we can corroborate Intel's lofty numbers. But all the software and BIOS fixes are available now, so if you've got an underperforming Arrow Lake build, it's time to load up those updates. Just make sure you're running the latest Windows version and check in with your system or motherboard manufacturer for that all-important BIOS update.Now that the desktop Ultra 200 has (hopefully) been dealt with, Intel can turn its attention to ensuring a smooth, high-performance release for its new Core H and HX laptop CPUs aimed at gamers and creators. Those chips are expected to start shipping soon, so we hope Intel can ensure a smooth release this time.Masthead credit: Madness727

When we think of the best PS5 games, best Xbox series X games, or best Switch games, we tend to go to the big blockbuster titles. These experiences take teams of dozens or perhaps hundreds of developers years to craft. As great as those are, and there are plenty of upcoming video games that fit that description, there are also solo developers who manage to build their own passion projects all on their own. These indie games tend to be smaller in scale but pack in more unique mechanics, experimental art and writing, and a level of personality and charm that is only possible when one person is in complete control. Making a game by yourself is incredibly hard, and yet weve seen more and more people release amazing games with little to no outside help. Here are our picks for the best games made by just one person.Recommended VideosRelatedEditors Recommendations

The platform has provided a surge in discovery and revenue for companies that may not be able to replicate it elsewhere.

I was hesitant to invite my in-laws on family vacations but I don't regret it.My children get to see a can-do, adventurous attitude modeled by their grandparents.Traveling together has many benefits, including shared memories and built-in babysitting.Several years ago, my husband and I invited his parents to take an eight-day trip to Montana and Wyoming with us and our two children. I worried eight days could be too long to spend together in confinedWe went for it anyway.My in-laws jumped at the opportunity to spend extended time with their grandkids. The trip had only minor hiccups whining and little meltdowns from the children but it went so smoothly that we've invited my in-laws on every family vacation since.This year marked our 10th trip with the abuelitos (grandparents). Here's what we've learned.Spending time together strengthens our bondRiding for five- to 10-hour stints in an SUV has promoted heart-to-heart conversations with my mother-in-law about her family and childhood that I'm not sure we would have heard otherwise. Thanks to these long, uninterrupted hours, we know she grew up in a one-bedroom house in Mesa, Arizona, with five of her nine siblings, a backyard garden, and the chickens they raised to eat.These trips have also revealed another side of my father-in-law. He's quiet by nature but my husband and I discovered he loves meeting new people. In a jacuzzi in Jackson Hole, we listened to him crack jokes and engage in small talk with other retirees. Outside of Mexico City, he befriended a man who grew up in the same region of Mexico as he did. The two shared tales of a Quinta (large estate) that housed exotic animals and the area's best watering holes.Traveling together has forged a deeper understanding of each other and our roots. And although it's fun to reflect on the past, these trips also provide opportunities to create new narratives.Our children build memories with their grandparents"Remember that time we" begins many of our conversations. It's one of the best parts of taking vacations together.I'm glad we invited my in-laws on trips when the kids were young, even if whining and tantrums happened. If we'd waited for our kids to be a more "ideal age," my in-laws would have been older and some of those trips to far-off places may not have happened had we waited.Sometimes my children pull out our travel albums and point to photos with their grandparents in front of a geyser or a historical site. These memories are priceless.My husband and I enjoy introducing his parents to places and activities outside their comfort zone.My husband and I have encouraged my in-laws to hike or crawl into caves with us. We've so often pushed them past their boundaries that my mother-in-law admits they start a walking regimen months before our trips to prepare for whatever nonsense I plan.I love that they can count on us for an adventure, and I'm always impressed at their willing attitude.My father-in-law's favorite part of our trip to Yellowstone was the 1.5-mile out-and-back hike to the Grand Prismatic Spring. With a gradual 105-foot climb, he huffed and puffed up that trail and nearly gave up until a couple older than passed him on the path, calling out, "You've got this!"He said their words bolstered him and the Prismatic Spring view was worth the effort. Similarly, at the Teotihicuan Pyramids outside Mexico City, my mother-in-law found the steep, narrow climb nearly impossible. But she said the experience of standing on ancient stones and overlooking the plaza was unforgettable.Unconsciously, but powerfully, my children's abuelitos are modeling a "can-do attitude" to them and that it's never too late to try new things and embrace adventure.Besides the inward gains of traveling together, there are also practical benefits.Traveling in a group is more economicalWe always look for Airbnbs or hotels that accommodate a party of seven. We rent vans or SUVs, allowing us to split the cost of a rental vehicle, making one of the most expensive items on a travel budget more economical.Admittedly, this works more in our favor than theirs, but I appreciate it when they also offer to split a meal with us or add one of the kid's meals to their tab. Meals out are expensive and their willingness to share some of that cost means our family can better afford travel.Another practical aspect of traveling that benefits us is the free babysitting my husband and I receive.Grandparents can be the best built-in babysittersTraveling with three kids has its challenges.On our last trip, my husband and I were so worn out from two long adventure days that we needed a reset."We'll take the kids this morning," my mother-in-law volunteered. "Go, have fun. Don't come back for five hours!"Finally, my husband and I could relax and reconnect.Family dynamics can differ for some, traveling together may be unwise. But if you have extended family willing to adventure with you and you with them, invite them along. These trips might reward you with a trove of stories and photo albums while also deepening priceless ties with each other.

The recent finale for Star Wars: Skeleton CrewJod Na Nawood. Growing up as a poor kid, he was taken in by a Jedi and trained in the ways of the Force. Hes been on the run ever since he watched her die, and it turns out we wouldve met her during the sequence. On Instagram, actor Yasmine Al Massri (who youve heard as Morana on Castlevania) posted photos of herself as Jods master, Jedi robes and doing some brief lightsaber training that wouldve presumably been her putting up a fight before her death. According to her, it was the shortest active job Ive done, but impactful nonetheless: after her single scene wrapped production, she recalled telling the Skeleton Crew team they just created the first Arab female Jedi.To Massris dismay, the scene wasnt part of theSkeleton Crewfinale, but shes taking it in stride. These things happen, she continued. It was the most meaningful [job] to the child in me. [] I cant not share my experience and feelings. Now that Jods officially confirmed to have been a Jedi-in-training and had a master at one point in his life, it raises some questions. Who between them was the Order 66 survivor, or could they both have escaped the Jedi Purge? Additionally, who is sheneither Skeleton Crews finale or Massris post name the character, and it feels like she should have one. If the show gets another season, maybe well learn more about her and Jods relationship, and how he grew from Jedi survivor to pirate with a lot of false identities. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Path Art Studio and Personalized Residence / Dishna Thilanka ArchitectsSave this picture! Ganidu BalasuriyaHousesBoralesgamuwa, Sri LankaArchitects: Dishna Thilanka ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:3149 ftYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Ganidu Balasuriya Lead Architects: Dishna Thilanka More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Nestled amidst the lush greenery of Maharagama's urban fringe, this project embodies a harmonious blend of art, nature, and architecture. Conceived as a residence and art studio for a renowned metal sculptor, the design captures the essence of the artist's creativity while respecting the natural surroundings. Balancing built form and unbuilt space, the project is a testament to thoughtful design that nurtures artistic expression and tranquility.Save this picture!From its inception, the primary goal was to create a passive-cooled structure seamlessly integrated into the existing environment. Preserving the site's mature trees and green cover played a pivotal role in the design strategy. The structure weaves through the foliage, offering a minimal ecological footprint while maintaining an ideal microclimate. Solar orientation guided the building's placement, ensuring optimal natural light and mitigating excessive heat through careful alignment with the solar axis. This integration fosters a cooling environment while promoting energy efficiency.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The material palette draws heavily from natural and earthy finishes, employing granite, textured cement, natural wood, and metal. These materials celebrate the rugged, expressive nature of the artist's sculptures. The ground floor's stone-clad walls merge into the surrounding landscape, complemented by water features that enhance cooling and create a serene atmosphere. These water bodies, along with strategic fenestration, facilitate cross-ventilation and natural cooling, contributing to the overall comfort of the interior spaces.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The structure adopts a simple geometric language of intersecting linear planes and cubes, articulating a design that reflects clarity and functionality. The pavilion-style open layout fosters an uninterrupted connection with the environment, enabling the artist to draw inspiration directly from nature. The interplay of light and shadow enhances the experience of the space, while concealed services maintain a clean, minimalistic aesthetic. The roof design accommodates solar panels, emphasizing sustainability without compromising the form. Beyond aesthetics, the project addressed broader environmental and societal goals. By minimizing the building's footprint, it aimed to counteract the loss of vegetation and the urban heat island effect prevalent in urbanized regions. The preserved landscape benefits the local microclimate, positively impacting neighboring properties and setting an example for sustainable urban living.Save this picture!The design achieves a balance of robustness and elegance, drawing parallels to the client's artistic philosophy. The earthy materials and openness to the outdoors create an ambiance conducive to creativity and relaxation. It serves as both a sanctuary and a workspace for the sculptor, blending functionality with artistry. The preserved green surroundings inspire a deep connection to nature, enhancing the artist's ability to craft evocative works that reflect his themes of human anatomy, nature, and abstract forms.Save this picture!Ultimately, this project embodies a sensitive response to its natural and social context, balancing sustainability, artistry, and livability. It illustrates how architecture can elevate an artist's journey, offering a canvas for their creativity while inspiring a community to adopt environmentally responsible practices. The residence and studio stand as a tribute to the client's vibrant personality and profound artistic vision, encapsulated in a thoughtfully crafted architectural narrative.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePublished on January 19, 2025Cite: "Path Art Studio and Personalized Residence / Dishna Thilanka Architects" 18 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025785/path-art-studio-and-personalized-residence-dishna-thilanka-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream