Match Group announced Zillow co-founder Spencer Rascoff as its new CEO in a release Tuesday.

Covering environments, creatures, flying, the train, the Wizard and so much more.Go in-depth into the VFX of Wicked in befores & afters dedicated print magazine to the film.issue #26 WickedThe post Wicked VFX supe Pablo Helman breaks down the films effects in this new video appeared first on befores & afters.

This week, President Trump adviser Elon Musks newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) seems to have gained full access to the Department of Treasurys payments system responsible for processing trillions of dollars of spending, and containing sensitive personal data about hundreds of millions of Americans including bank accounts, tax data, Social Security numbers, tax refunds, Medicare benefits, and home address.If this concerns you, youre not alone. Judging from social media, many Americans are overwhelmed with the sheer volume of changes coming from the Trump administration, and are worried about what is happening with our federal government.In short, people are creeped out, according to Senator Ron Wyden, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, who along with Senator Elizabeth Warren called on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessents decision to grant Musk and DOGE access to sensitive government payment systems.It is difficult to know all the things that Elon Musk is doing inside the Treasury Department because of a lack of transparency, Barbara McQuade, who served as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan under President Barack Obama, told Fast Company. Now, DOGE, whose staff has largely operated in secret, communicating through encrypted messages on Signal, according to the Wall Street Journal, is starting to rack up legal challenges.On Monday, a coalition of labor unions and the Alliance for Retired Americans filed a lawsuit suing the Treasury Department, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service to halt the unlawful ongoing, systematic, and continuous disclosure of personal and financial information to Elon Musk and other members of DOGE, or to any other person. The lawsuit alleges all three defendants illegally allowed the coalitions members records to be shared with Musks DOGE.The Alliance for Retired Americans and the labor unions, which include the American Federation of Government Employees and the Service Employees International Union, are represented by lawyers from Public Citizen Litigation Group and State Democracy Defenders Fund.What is DOGE and what kind of authority does it have?Trump created DOGE through anexecutive order on his first day in office, creating a temporary government organization with a mandate to moderniz[e] Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity. But there are many questions about who actually works for DOGE, if the agency is hiring existing government employees or employees from Musks various companies, and if DOGE staff are overstepping their legal authority. (Wired recently reported a 25-year-old engineer at DOGE now has administrative privileges over the code that controls Social Security payments, tax returns, and more.)DOGE was originally a joint project that Musk would run with Vivek Ramaswamy (who ran against Trump in the Republican presidential primary before endorsing him), along with Bill McGinley,who was named DOGEs legal counsel. Both Ramaswamy and McGinley have since left, which some have suggested could signal infighting and perhaps a disagreement over how DOGE would function among the group.Musk, meanwhile, was recently classified as a special government employee, which basically allows him to work at the White House for some 130 days before hes required to file the necessary financial disclosure forms required of White House employees. This is concerning for a number of reasons, as he hasnt been properly vetted yet, and because as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, which both rely on government contracts, Musk potentially has a number of conflicts of interest.

The AI search firm Perplexity routinely lets users try out state-of-the-art large language models on its site, but the company moved quickly to put Chinese company DeepSeeks new R1 model front and center in its user interface. That offers users a chance to find out what the buzz is all about, without sending their data through the DeepSeek app, which is hosted in China.While some AI thought leaders such as Thrive Capitals Josh Kushner, Scale AIs Alexander Wang, and Andurils Palmer Luckey hurried to debunk or downplay DeepSeeks achievements, Perplexitys CEO Aravind Srinivas believes the Chinese companys models are something special. In the past few years, there have been a handful of revolutionary moments in AI that have transformed the landscape, Perplexity cofounder and CEO Aravind Srinivas wrote in a subscriber email Tuesday. I wholeheartedly believe that this is yet another moment.Users of Perplexitys free and premium tiers can now choose to use DeepSeek via a menu button within the search bar. (Users can also select OpenAIs o3 mini model.) Its one of the core models, says Perplexity chief business officer Dmitry Shevelenko. And whats really neat about it is weve also developed a user interface . . . where you can actually see the chain of thought, so you can actually see how the model is thinking in real time, and thats something that was never possible before.Because DeepSeek operates within the Peoples Republic of Chinas regulatory framework, the company had to prevent its models from talking about politically sensitive topics, such as the Tiananmen Square protests. Perplexity was able to remove those guardrails from the open-source version of DeepSeek-R1.Perplexity also says any user data shared with the chatbot stays with the companys servers in the U.S. and Canada; nothing is shared with DeepSeek or China.Of the models available on Perplexity, DeepSeek R1 is unique in that it shows the chain of thought the LLM followed to reach an answer. Some of the innovations the DeepSeek researchers put into its models were driven by a need to economize on computing power. The company said it trained its models, for example, using less-powerful Nvidia H800 chips after the U.S. chip bans cut off access to Nvidias most powerful GPUs. The end result was the creation of models that show state-of-the-art intelligence while requiring far less computing power than comparable models to run.Thats good for Perplexity. There are efficiencies, says Shevelenko. I mean, I think were still too early to know the exact inference cost breakdown, but just the fact that its open-source and youre not paying the private model provider, thats already the major efficiency.

Apples new Invites app makes event planning effortless, turning digital invitations into something more meaningful than a calendar reminder. Whether its a birthday, a housewarming, or an impromptu dinner party, the app simplifies the process, letting users craft invitations with personalized images, share event details seamlessly, and even set the tone with collaborative Apple Music playlists.Designer: AppleAt its core, Apple Invites is an extension of iCloud, and it expands beyond a simple utility. The app lets users select images from their photo library or a curated gallery of backgrounds, incorporating location details through Maps and Weather integrations. This means guests know when and where to show up, but also what kind of weather to expect. iCloud+ subscribers can create invitations, while anyoneregardless of whether they use Apple devicescan RSVP, ensuring broader accessibility.Apple InvitesBeyond event planning, Apple Invites enhances the experience by allowing attendees to contribute to a shared digital memory. Each invite includes a Shared Album where guests can upload photos and videos, creating a dynamic archive that captures the event as it unfolds. Apple Music integration takes it further by allowing guests to contribute to event-specific playlists, ensuring the atmosphere is as curated as the guest list. Hosts can even preview their invitations with real-time editing features, adjusting visuals, text, and event details before sending them out.Apple InvitesApple Intelligence makes creating invitations feel effortless and personal. With the Image Playground feature, users can generate unique visuals by describing their ideas, choosing themes, and selecting styles that reflect the events atmosphere. This tool ensures that invitations look as polished as they feel meaningful.Apple InvitesIn addition to visuals, Apples Writing Tools help refine invitation wording, offering suggestions that suit the occasion. For those who need inspiration, the AI assistant can recommend event titles and descriptions based on past invitations and trending themes, making the process feel more natural and less like filling out a form.Design and User InterfaceApple Invites is designed with a visual-first approach, allowing users to create engaging invitations with minimal effort. The apps interface follows Apples signature design principles, focusing on clarity, ease of navigation, and seamless integration with the broader Apple ecosystem.Apple InvitesThe home screen presents a streamlined dashboard with upcoming events displayed in a card-style format, offering an at-a-glance view of details like event name, date, location, and guest list. The typography is clean and modern, ensuring legibility, while dynamic transitions add a layer of fluidity to interactions.Customization is at the heart of the experience, allowing users to make each invitation uniquely theirs. With vibrant images, dynamic animations, and Apple Intelligence-generated designs, every invite is tailored to match the occasion, making it feel personal and visually engaging. The intuitive layout makes it easy to adjust event details, switch backgrounds, and preview invites before sharing them.Dark mode support provides a seamless visual experience in any lighting, while subtle motion effects add fluidity without becoming distracting. Interactive elements, such as tappable guest lists and real-time RSVP updates, make participation more engaging and intuitive.Managing Events with PrecisionHosts can track RSVPs, control visibility settings, and even share invitations via link. They can choose which details appear in the event preview, from the background image to the events address. Guests arent locked into the Apple ecosystemanyone can view and respond via the web. Privacy settings give attendees control over how their details appear and the ability to leave an event at any time. If necessary, hosts can report events for security concerns, preventing unauthorized users from accessing invitations.Apple InvitesApple Invites is part of iCloud+ and comes with additional premium features. Subscribers get expanded cloud storage to keep high-resolution event photos and videos accessible. Private Relay enhances browsing privacy by shielding online activity from network providers and advertisers. Hide My Email creates random email addresses for secure communication. HomeKit Secure Video provides encrypted home security monitoring. Custom email domains offer a personal touch for invitations, while Family Sharing lets up to five people access these benefits at no extra cost.Apple Invites refines digital invitations, making them more intuitive and connected. The app integrates smoothly into Apples ecosystem, streamlining event planning and enhancing how users organize, share, and experience gatherings. AI-powered personalization, privacy-focused guest management, and multimedia collaboration tools help set the stage for an event long before it begins and preserve memories well after it ends.The post Youre Invited: Apple Makes Event Planning Effortless first appeared on Yanko Design.

Somewhere in the heart of London, on a quiet street lined with neatly kept townhouses, lives a small bear with a love for marmalade and a talent for finding trouble. Paddington has charmed generations, from the pages of Michael Bonds books to the stop-motion magic of the 1970s cartoon and the warmth of the 2014 live-action film. Now, hes found a new homeone built brick by brick, capturing his world with the unmistakable charm of LEGO.This fan-designed LEGO Paddington set brings the popular book and show to life, recreating a portion of Paddington station with impressive detail. The MOC features an ornate section of the station with Paddington mid-adventure, sandwich in his hand, and suitcase at his side. The architecture balances simplicity with authenticity, using clever brickwork to mimic the charmingly old-fashioned London aesthetic.Designer: Bricked1980The blast from the past (more so for British fans) honors the series wonderfully with a 1300 brick construction. It stands at an impressive 30 centimeters (12 inches) tall, capturing the first glimpse we get of our favorite Marmalade-eating bear arriving at Paddington in search for a home and a loving family.A LEGO Paddington wouldnt be complete without the bear himself, and this minifigure version is as charming as youd hope. His red hat and blue duffle coat are recreated with printed details, capturing the look that has made him so instantly recognizable. A small suitcaselikely packed with a marmalade sandwich for emergenciesrounds out the figure, making him ready for any adventure. Other details include pigeons, two streetlamps, and the Paddington sign seen at the station.Peer in and youll notice all the smaller details that make this build so captivating. A note on Paddington the Bear says Please look after this bear, thank you, while the suitcase comes with stickers from all of the bears past destinations. Youll notice a marmalade sandwich in the bears hand, and just in case that doesnt satiate it, theres one more kept away on the side, right beside a jar of marmalade!For LEGO fans, this build strikes a perfect balance between nostalgia and design. The details make it a rewarding project, while the Paddington figure is surprisingly lifelike by LEGO standards. The builds truly a love letter to Paddingtons world, designed with the same warmth and humor that has made his stories endure for decades. Whether displayed on a shelf or gifted to a loved one, this set celebrates the bear who reminds everyone that kindness (and a good sandwich) can make any place feel like home.For enthusiasts, the LEGO Ideas Paddington The Bear set is currently gathering votes on the LEGO Ideas forum. With a staff-pick badge and well over 2,500 votes in the bag already, its gradually making its way to the top of the site. You can vote for the build on the LEGO Ideas website here.The post This LEGO Paddington Bear Set Is So Charming, Youll Want a Marmalade Sandwich first appeared on Yanko Design.

Developers and enthusiasts continue to find new ways of running Doom on increasingly unusual hardware, the latest of which is an Apple HDMI adapter cable.Doom can run on an Apple Lightning to HDMI adapter.In a video uploaded on February 2, first shared by MacRumors, developer nyan_satan showed off a port of the classic video game Doom running on Apple's Lightning to HDMI adapter. The YouTuber is known for their work in creating tools and dual-booting different versions of iOS.This is only possible because the Lightning to HDMI adapter features a dedicated system-on-chip with a processor inside. It also runs a basic version of iOS, stripped down to only the most basic of features, allowing the dongle to process video signals but not much else. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

North Korean hackers are using fake job offers and disguised app updates to sneak malware onto Macs, and while Apple's latest XProtect update blocks some threats, others are still slipping through.MacBook ProSecurity researchers from SentinelLabs have identified fresh variants of a North Korean malware family, dubbed "FlexibleFerret," which is actively exploiting macOS users. The malware is part of a broader campaign known as "Contagious Interview," where attackers pose as recruiters to trick job seekers into installing malicious software.Apple responded with an XProtect signature update to counter these threats, blocking several variants, including FROSTYFERRET_UI, FRIENDLYFERRET_SECD, and MULTI_FROSTYFERRET_CMDCODES. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

After an uneventful Capcom Spotlight, the Monster Hunter Wilds team took over with 15 minutes of new gameplay and details. It began with a fresh trailer highlighting a new locale Iceshard Cliffs. Check it out below.As cold and serene as it may seem, various threats abound, including a new monster Hirabami. Floating gracefully in the air while assailing players in groups of three, isolating and picking them off is essential. Poster monster Arkveld appears, showcasing some of its moves and a Turf War with Rey Dau.Theres a sequence where its imbued with energy similar to Alatreon, perhaps leading to a transformation. Capcom also confirms the return of two more classic monsters Nerscylla and Gore Magala.The second open beta goes live starting on February 6th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC with cross-play enabled. Alongside the first betas content, it includes a Training area in the Base Camp, Private Lobbies, and online single-player. You wont see other players in the latter, but using an SOS flare will switch to multiplayer.While you can take on Gypceros in a new hunt, Arkveld is also available, though its a dangerous quest for advanced players. Characters created from the previous beta will carry over, and participants can unlock bonuses for the game.Monster Hunter Wilds launches on February 28th. Head here for reasons on why its one of this years biggest games.

Capping off the recent Capcom Spotlight, the publisher announced that Onimusha 2: Samurais Destiny is getting a remaster. It will launch later this year for Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC check out how it looks in the announcement trailer below.Unfortunately, further details on its features have yet to be revealed, so stay tuned for updates. Hopefully, it follows up on its predecessors remaster, which added redubbed voice lines, widescreen support, and new movement options. Check out our review.Onimusha 2: Samurais Destiny launched in 2002 for the PlayStation 2, where its since remained exclusive. It saw newcomer Jubei seeking revenge against Oda Nobunaga for the death of his clan. Alongside several returning gameplay elements, it introduced features like gifts for various characters, who can assist him later.In other news, Capcom revealed new information on Onimusha: Way of the Sword, the next mainline title in the franchise. Launching in 2026 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, it unfolds in Kyoto during the Edo era with a new protagonist. Head here for more details.