Lets be honest: Some apps and services are absolutely worth paying forbut sooner or later, we all reach our limit.With everything from productivity tools to weather apps and even wallpapers shifting to a subscription-style setup, stuff sure can add up fast. (And we wont even get into the whole streaming arena!) At a certain point, youre bound to stumble onto something worthwhile and say to yourself, Meh, enoughs enough.When that happens, remember todays tool. Its a community-run website that makes it laughably easy to uncover free, cheap, or sometimes just flat-out better alternatives to popular apps and services.Andoh, yesyoud better believe its free to use.Unearth all sorts of little-known tech treasures with my free Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence. A spiffy new discovery in your inbox every Wednesday!Your road map to endless app awesomenessMy fellow eager earthling, allow me to introduce you to a handy little somethin called AlternativeTo. An appropriate name, no? AlternativeTo does one thing and does it extraordinarily well: It collects and compiles crowdsourced info on the best alternatives (get it?!) to popular apps and services. Itll take you 20 seconds to start using. Theres really nothing to it: You just open up the AlternativeTo website in whatever browser you like, on whatever device is in front of you, and you type in the name of the app or service youre thinking about in the box at the top of the screen.AlternativeTo will then pull up a detailed dossier of recommendations for exceptional alternatives, based on other folks votes and submissions. And lemme tell ya: Youre bound to discover some genuinely interesting, off-the-beaten-path options you wouldnt have otherwise encountered.AlternativeTo shows you alternatives to all sorts of apps and services, based entirely on other users votes and submissions.Lots of AlternativeTos recommendations are both free and open source. You can see all that info up frontand you can filter by that and a bunch of other variables, too, to limit the results by platform, features, or properties like privacy-focused.You can filter by a variety of variables to find exactly the sort of service you want.Its an incredibly useful resource for finding incredibly useful stuffand for saving yourself from paying for things you might not actually need.AlternativeTo is completely web-basedno downloads or installations needed.Its free to use, with some very light and reasonable ads sprinkled in throughout the interface.The site doesnt require any sign-ins or personal data sharing. (You can create an account if you want to submit, vote, and comment on apps, but it isnt at all necessary for looking stuff up and using the site in general.)Discover all sorts of exceptional productivity-boosting tools with my free Cool Tools newslettera single standout gem in your inbox every Wednesday!

The Cardboard Cathedral in New Zealand by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban is the next building to secure its place in our list of the 25 most significant buildings of the 21st century.Cardboard is unlikely to spring to mind for most when considering materials suited to building a cathedral, yet it is exactly what Shigeru Ban opted for when creating one in Christchurch in 2013.Defined by its steep A-frame, the Cardboard Cathedral, known officially as the Transitional Cathedral, is formed of 98 cardboard tubes combined with wood and polycarbonate.It was designed by Ban as a pro-bono project following the deadly magnitude 6.3 earthquake on New Zealand's South Island in 2011.Remarkably, it was only ever intended to be temporary, but it quickly became one of New Zealand's most iconic buildings, offering citizens a symbol of resilience and hope.The Cardboard Cathedral in Christchurch was the most significant building of 2013The 2011 Christchurch earthquake and its aftershocks tore through the city, claiming the lives of 185 people and destroying numerous buildings, most notably its landmark Anglican cathedral.Ban's replacement for the cathedral, realised with local studio Warren and Mahoney, was the first non-commercial structure to be built in the city centre after the disaster. It was only intended to remain in place until a more permanent cathedral was constructed a controversial subject that divided critics and saw many people call for the original building to be restored.The building's innovative construction and its impact as a first major sign of new life seem to have captured the collective imaginationAndrew Barrie in the Architectural ReviewHowever, despite these circumstances, the cardboard cathedral was soon identified as an icon that encapsulated the city's revival, ultimately cementing its place there.In his review of the building in 2014, architecture critic Andrew Barrie suggested that the impact of the structure on the earthquake-ravaged city was immediately visible."The building's innovative construction and its impact as a first major sign of new life seem to have captured the collective imagination, and the now permanent structure seems set to become an enduring symbol of Christchurch's revival," Barrie wrote in a piece for the Architectural Review.Shigeru Ban designed it as a replacement for the city's earthquake-ravaged cathedral"Even before its completion, it had begun to replace the old neo-Gothic cathedral as a symbol of the city, appearing in national television advertisement among iconic city scenes from around the country," Barrie added."Ban's project serves as a reminder not only of the way that Japan and New Zealand were united in loss, but also of the potential that may yet be unlocked in the common task of rebuilding."Perhaps this outcome was expected by Ban, who previously stated that "if a building is loved, then it becomes permanent"."The lifespan of a building has nothing to do with the materials. It depends on what people do with it," he once told the Guardian."If a building is loved, then it becomes permanent. When it is not loved, even a concrete building can be temporary."Read: Ryue Nishizawa's Moriyama House was the most significant building of 2005The Cardboard Cathedral's A-frame is formed of 98 cardboard tubes filled with wooden structural beams and raised on walls formed from eight shipping containers. A polycarbonate roof crowns the structure.Its structure is animated at one end by a large coloured-glass window, formed from a patchwork of triangles that illuminate the worship space for 700 people.Though it occupies a different plot one approximately a 10-minute walk away Ban based the form and scale of the building on the original cathedral to offer visitors a sense of familiarity.Inside, the worship hall is filled with matching cardboard furniture, designed by Ban, including a cardboard tube pulpit.It is constructed with 98 cardboard tubesFor some, the most striking factor about Ban's choice of cardboard is that the cathedral replaces a Gothic revival-era structure, in a place nicknamed a garden city because of its traditional architecture that bears a resemblance to towns in England.It is perhaps this very juxtaposition that makes the Cardboard Cathedral so impactful, illustrating the value of breaking convention and testing materials and proving that contemporary and traditional design can co-exist.It also demonstrates that architecture does not have to be extravagant and resource-intensive to be valuable and long-lasting."The quality of the building doesn't depend on the quality of the materials," Ban once said when discussing the project. "It depends on the quality of the space that is created by volume, light and shadow."Furnishings including a pulpit are also made of cardboardFinancial Times critic Edwin Heathcote described the building as "remarkable"."It is one of the most remarkable, uplifting and joyful churches I have seen, one that takes an almost childlike pleasure in its chunky tubes, elemental building-blocks form and translucent surfaces," wrote Heathcote.For those familiar with Ban's work, his choice of cardboard for the project will not have come as a surprise.The cathedral is a large-scale evolution of the lightweight and low-cost shelters that he has created with cardboard tubes for disaster victims around the world most recently in Europe to house Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion.It also follows the architect's cardboard-tube chapel in Japan, built after the Great Hanshin earthquake in Kobe in 1995 and later relocated to Taiwan.As demonstrated by his work, cardboard is a material well-suited to these seismic zones, as it can withstand quakes that might destroy heavier structures built from concrete. Additionally, it lends itself easily to disassembly and reassembly.Read: IM Pei's Museum of Islamic Art was the most significant building of 2008"The strength of the materials is unrelated to the strength of the building," Ban once told the Japan Times. "The first time I used paper was for an interior, but I realised it was strong enough to be used as a structural element to actually hold up the building."Today, the cardboard cathedral is arguably one of Ban's most lauded projects and just one year after it was completed, he was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize.In his announcement, the former Pritzker Architecture Prize jury chairman and British property developer Peter Palumbo hailed Ban as "a force of nature"."This is entirely appropriate in the light of his voluntary work for the homeless and dispossessed in areas that have been devastated by natural disasters," Palumbo said."But he also ticks the several boxes for qualification to the Architectural Pantheon a profound knowledge of his subject with a particular emphasis on cutting-edge materials and technology; total curiosity and commitment; endless innovation; an infallible eye; an acute sensibility to name but a few."Did we get it right? Was the Cardboard Cathedral by Shigeru Ban the most significant building completed in 2013? Let us know in the comments. We will be running a poll once all 25 buildings are revealed to determine the most significant building of the 21st century so far.This article is part of Dezeen's21st-Century Architecture: 25 Years 25 Buildingsseries, which looks at the most significant architecture of the 21st century so far. For the series, we have selected the most influentialbuilding from each of the first 25 years of the century.The illustration is byJack Bedford and the photography is by Stephen Goodenough.21st-Century Architecture: 25 Years 25 Buildings2000: Tate Modern by Herzog & de Meuron2001: Gando Primary School by Dibdo Francis Kr2002: Bergisel Ski Jump by Zaha Hadid2003: Walt Disney Concert Hall by Frank Gehry2004: Quinta Monroy by Elemental2005: Moriyama House by Ryue Nishizawa2006: Madrid-Barajas airport by RSHP and Estudio Lamela2007:Oslo Opera House by Snhetta2008:Museum of Islamic Art by I M Pei2009:Murray Grove by Waugh Thistleton Architects2010:Burj Khalifa by SOM2011: National September 11 Memorial by Handel Architects2012: CCTV Headquarters by OMA2013: Cardboard Cathedral by Shigeru BanThis list will be updated as the series progresses.The post Shigeru Ban's Cardboard Cathedral was the most significant building of 2013 appeared first on Dezeen.

Our experts explore the most iconic fonts of the 1940s.

To make progress on one of number theorys most elementary questions, two mathematicians turned to an unlikely source.

The Federal Trade Commission announced on Friday that Genshin Impact developer Cognosphere has agreed to a $20 million settlement and several restrictions on how it sells its loot boxes and manages childrens personal data. According to the FTC, the company actively marketed its loot boxes to children and misled players about their odds of winning prizes.Cognosphere allegedly also deceived children and other users about the real costs of in-game transactions, by requiring them to buy virtual money that involved multiple currency exchanges. Players often spent hundreds of dollars on prizes they stood little chance of winning, according to Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levine. For years, loot boxes have been likened to a form of legal gambling. The complaint, filed by the Department of Justice, also accuses the Genshin Impact developer of marketing to kids using approaches like posts on social media channels and in-game banners. The company then allegedly collected their personal information in violation of the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Rule. Once the settlement is approved, the company is required to delete any data for children under 13 whose parents havent consented to their data being collected.Other requirements of the settlement include that Cognosphere must offer an option to buy loot boxes directly and not just through virtual money. Its also forbidden from misrepresenting pricing, features, and winning odds for loot boxes, and it must disclose exchange rates for multi-tiered virtual currency.

TikTok has officially been banned in the U.S. and the social media app can no longer be accessed by those within its borders.Users who try to hop on TikTok will no longer see videos from creators across the world, but instead will be greeted with a message that begins, "Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now.""A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now," the message continues. "We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned! In the meantime, you can still download your data."Image Credit: Faisal Bashi/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesTikTok made one final appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, but last week it unanimously struck it down despite its understanding that many other apps collect a ton of data to analyze. In their eyes, TikTok had the potential for harm.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 U.S. Supreme Court said. "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. For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the challenged provisions do not violate petitioners First Amendment rights.As TikTok mentioned, the company is hoping that Donald Trump will bring it back online after he officially becomes the next U.S. President on January 20, but there has been no definite word as of yet. He did, however, say to NBC News in an interview on January 18 that he will "most likely" delay the ban for 90 days.This delay would give a buyer from the United States or one of its allies time to purchase the app, which hasn't happened yet and is what led to the ban. What did occur, however, is that other apps with links to TikTok parent company ByteDance have gone dark, including CapCut, Lemon8, and even Marvel Snap.Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.

Who hasn't dreamed of buying a home abroad to live out our unrealized expat fantasies? Over the last few years, living outside the United States has seemed a lot more attractive, whether we're influenced by shows like Emily in Paris, the tumultuous mood of the current political climate, or the desire for a slower lifestyle. Moving to a place unfamiliar to usespecially internationallycan help expand our horizons and give us a new perspective on life, but it can certainly come with its challenges as well. When emigrating, be prepared to go through a lengthy visa process, come up against language barriers and cultural faux pas, and navigate the laws in an unfamiliar land. You'll also want to do plenty of research before you have your heart set on a location because a few countries (such as Thailand and Vietnam) dont allow foreigners to own property. For that reason, you may be better off planning an extended vacation instead of a move there! However, on the other end of the spectrum are the countries actively trying to attract foreign home buyers with enviable incentives (like citizenship!). Ultra-low home prices and an easier customs process and work-visa approval process can make the prospect of moving abroad less intimidating, if not entirely seamless. Ahead, were highlighting the eight countries that are the best for Americans who are looking to purchase a home internationally. These countries offer the most hassle-free buying experiences out there, plus, theyre pretty great places to call home.For more on international real estate:1New ZealandScott E Barbour//Getty ImagesWith a very clear, straightforward, and highly regulated real estate market, New Zealand is a great place to move for those looking for a seamless home-buying process. Samira Easton, a certified international property specialist with Premier Sothebys International Realty, says, There is a strong network of real estate professionals, including agents and lawyers, who are accustomed to working with foreign buyers. The country also regularly boasts one of the happiest populations in the world, ranking 11 in the 2024 World Happiness Report.Book a Trip2Costa Rica Kryssia Campos//Getty ImagesWith clear property rights, a legal system that respects foreign ownership, and a warm, welcoming environment, Costa Rica is a top choice for foreign investors and a simple place to buy property, says Mauricio Umansky, CEO and founder of The Agency, which has offices around the world. This biodiverse country also has a large and bustling expat community so its not just easy for Americans to buy there, its easy for them to live and work there too.BOOK A TRIPRelated: Designer Raili Clasen on How to Master Surf Style Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Dominican Republictodaydesign//Getty ImagesInstead of retiring to Florida, consider this balmy and beautiful Caribbean countrywhich is just a four-hour direct flight from the New York area. Like everything else on the island, the real estate laws are relatively relaxed, which makes buying a house easy-breezy, and you can buy and own property without having to obtain residency status or special permissions, as is the case in many other Caribbean islands. Foreigners can own property outright in the Dominican Republic, with legal protections for foreign investors, Umanksy says. One important consideration is financing: You can certainly get a mortgage in the DR, but it may not be quite as cushy as what you can get in the U.S.so pay cash if possible.BOOK A TRIPRelated: This Dominican Republic Airbnb Is the Perfect Tropical Getaway4Panama BriBar//Getty ImagesThis affordable, below-the-radar Central American country has breathtaking beaches, lush rainforests, and exceptional wildlife. It has many similarities with neighboring Costa Ricaincluding how easy the country makes it for Americans to buy real estate. Its Friendly Nations Visa program offers permanent residency for citizens of 50 countries, and the U.S. is on the list. Plus, Panama doesnt place any restrictions on foreign ownership, and the legal system is efficient and reliable, Easton says, so you can invest with confidence.BOOK A TRIPRelated: Expert Advice on Where to Buy Affordable Beach HousesAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below5ThailandKanok Sulaiman//Getty ImagesThailand is home to beautiful sandy beaches (it has 1,400 islands!), Buddhist temples, ancient ruins, and excellent street food, making it a good place to consider buying if youre looking for an easy investment. Housing prices are relatively affordable and foreigners can own up to 49 percent of the units in a condominium building, offering a straightforward option for property investment, Easton says. There are also plenty of English-speaking real estate agents and real estate attorneys who can walk you through the process. BOOK A TRIPRelated: The Ultimate Design Lovers Travel Guide to Bangkok6MexicoKim Rogerson//Getty ImagesBordering the Southwestern United States and a direct flight from most major cities, Mexico is a geographically desirable spot for a second homeand Mexico makes it especially easy for its American neighbors to buy property. The country has straightforward real estate laws for foreigners, especially in designated restricted zones like beachfront areas where foreign ownership is facilitated through a bank trust, Umansky says. Cities like San Miguel de Allende, shown are just as beautiful, especially for design lovers. Mexicos real estate agents also tend to be very professional and are accustomed to working with Americans and other foreign buyers.BOOK A TRIPRelated: This Mexican Home Is Shea McGees First-Ever International ProjectAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below7Portugal Alf//Getty ImagesThe people in this popular Western European coastal country are famously friendly and inviting, and that extends to real estate. According to Easton, Portugal offers a Golden Visa Program, which makes it simple to buy property and gain residency; clear real estate laws; and a well-established network of English-speaking real estate agents, lawyers, and notaries to help you during the process. In addition to the capital, the seaside city of Porto, seen here, is a popular destination for expats.BOOK A TRIPRelated: The Definitive Design Lover's Guide to Lisbon8Spain Kirill Rudenko//Getty ImagesLike Portugal, Spain offers a Golden Visa Program that enables foreigners to gain citizenship by purchasing real estate. Plus its real estate market is robust and transparent, and there are plenty of professional services in place to help guide you through the process. The are also numerous online resources and property portals available, so its easy to find listings and information, Easton says. This is a boon for those who arent able to make the trip over to Europe to house shop in person.BOOK A TRIPRelated: Everything You Need to Know About the Spanish Colonial Design Style

Last night, TikTok officially went dark in the United States. In addition to TikTok itself going offline, Apple also removed the app from the App Store. Apple has now addressed the TikTok ban for the first time, saying it is obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates. Apple explains TikTok banIn a statement posted to its website, Apple says: Apple is obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates. Pursuant to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, apps developed by ByteDance Ltd. and its subsidiaries including TikTok, CapCut, Lemon8, and others will no longer be available for download or updates on the App Store for users in the United States starting January 19, 2025.Apple also shared the following list of apps that are developed by ByteDance and have been removed from the App Store: TikTokTikTok StudioTikTok Shop Seller CenterCapCutLemon8HypicLark Team CollaborationLark Rooms DisplayLark Rooms ControllerGauth: AI Study CompanionMARVEL SNAP The company explains that if you live in the United States and already have those apps installed, they will remain on your device. If you delete the apps or move to a new device, however, the apps cant be deleted or restored. Additionally, Apple confirms that users in the United States wont receive updates for these apps, which could impact performance, security, and compatibility with future versions of iOS and iPadOS. Finally, Apple says that the apps remain available for download in all other countries and regions where they are available. Heres what to know if you are visiting the United States: Users visiting from outside the United States with their Apple Account set to a country or region that is not the United States are unable to download, update, or make in-app purchases and new subscriptions inside ByteDance Ltd. apps while within the land or maritime borders of the United States.After leaving the United States, youll have access to all functionality.Learn more about the TikTok ban in our full coverage. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

ExpressVPN is currently CNETs pick for the best VPN for Android, and its 8.8/10 score on our VPN rating scale also makes it the best VPN overall. Its a veteran VPN provider that consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to privacy and transparency. In our testing, ExpressVPN was excellent for streaming and the easiest VPN app to use on any platform, including Android. The catch is that ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPN providers currently on the market. The service costs $13 per month, $100 for the first year (then $117 annually), or $140 for the first two years (then $150 annually). This is significantly more expensive than Surfshark, which charges $48 for the first year or $56 for the first two years, with both plans renewing at $60 annually. NordVPN is cheaper than Express but pricier than Surfshark at $69 for the first year or $81 total for the first two years (Nord's one- and two-year plans rise to $140 annually upon renewal). Granted, ExpressVPN does bundle a password manager and identity theft insurance, but if you only need a VPN or don't plan to use Express for anything other than a VPN, you may be able to get cheaper service elsewhere. Nevertheless, it's tough to find a more user-friendly VPN app than ExpressVPN's. Although snappy enough for almost any online activity, ExpressVPNs speeds are not quite as fast as some of its competitors, based on our latest speed tests. In 2024, we measured a 24.8% average speed loss with ExpressVPN. This is still fast, given that many VPNs can cut your internet speeds by 50% or more. We saw substantially better speeds from NordVPN (11% speed loss), Surfshark (17% speed loss) and Proton VPN (21%). Still, ExpressVPNs speeds were largely consistent and aligned with our expectations across protocols and server locations. Overall, we registered the fastest speeds through ExpressVPNs proprietary Lightway protocol, which is engineered for speed and security. Speeds were generally faster to relatively closer server locations like New York City and the UK and slower to distant locations like Australia and Singapore. In any case, ExpressVPNs speeds were still fast enough for general browsing as well as for more data-intensive activities like streaming, gaming and videoconferencing -- especially if you use Lightway.

Marvel Snap has been banned in the US.Whilst 170m American TikTokers were anticipating the app's suspension after the US Supreme Court upheld a decision to ban the Chinese app over security concerns, Marvel Snap players in the US have also been impacted given publisher Nuverse is also owned by TikTok owner, ByteDance.According to developer Second Dinner, the ban was every bit as much a "surprise" to the team as it was to players, too.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart 9 have been revealed - but questions remain.Watch on YouTube"Sorry, Marvel Snap isn't available right now," the app now tells all US players."A law banning Marvel Snap has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately, that means you can't use Marvel Snap for now."Rest assured, we're working to restore our service in the US," the brief statement concluded. "Please stay tuned!"Marvel Snap is now banned in the U.S. seemingly as part of the TikTok ban[image or embed] Wario64 (@wario64.bsky.social) January 19, 2025 at 5:00 AMTo see this content please enable targeting cookies.Developer Second Dinner also addressed players on social media, insisting the "outage" was "a surprise to us and wasn't planned"."Marvel Snap isnt going anywhere," the team insisted. "Were actively working on getting the game up as soon as possible and will update you once we have more to share."To see this content please enable targeting cookies.At the time of writing, it is not clear how long the game will be offline.At the end of 2023, ByteDance restructured its video games business - including Nuverse - calling the changes a "difficult" decision to make.