• Kickstarters post-pandemic tabletop slump slowed in 2024
    www.polygon.com
    Brooklyn-based crowdfunding platform Kickstarter recently shared some of its year-end data with Polygon. The public benefit corporations 2024 numbers appear to show a 2.7% decline in initial funding for successful tabletop game projects, dramatically slowing its post-pandemic slump. Meanwhile, the games category overall was buoyed by a reported 28% increase in initial funding for successful video game projects. As a result, the companys revenue in the games category overall was more or less flat for 2024. However, it appears that individual tabletop creators earned on average less from initial funding than in years previous.Digging into the numbers, initial funding for successful tabletop projects declined by just $6.2 million in 2024, compared to a $10.2 million decline in 2023 (as reported last year by Tabletop Analytics) and a $33.6 million decline in 2022. Meanwhile, initial funding for successful video game projects reached $26.1 million, the highest level since 2015. The games category overall has traditionally accounted for roughly one third of Kickstarters total revenue from crowdfunding. Overall, the company said that 83% of game campaigns were successful, representing the highest success rate in the companys 15-year history.Dollars pledged to successful tabletop versus video games through 2024InfogramThere were also a lot more successful campaigns in 2024. Kickstarter claims 5,314 successful tabletop campaigns, or an 8% increase from 2023. However, the amount earned by each tabletop campaign continues to fall. In 2019, successful tabletop campaigns earned $67,350 on average. In 2023, that number appears to have fallen to $45,982. Last year, Kickstarter says it dropped to just $41,400. Remove the biggest campaign from the equation Brandon Sanderson and Brotherwise Games $15.1 million campaign for tabletop role-playing games based on the authors work and its just $38,566 on average for successful tabletop creators.The Kickstarter platform continued to evolve with new features in 2024. Chief among them is the ability for creators to solicit late pledges directly on its platform. Kickstarter has traditionally hosted limited-time campaigns, which tend to run for about a month. Those who missed the cut-off in the past were simply out of luck unless creators had partnered with third parties like Gamefound or Backerkit for late-pledge campaigns hosted on those platforms. As of May 21, 2024, Kickstarter now offers a similar service.Successful tabletop Kickstarters through 2024InfogramKickstarter took care to point out the continued strength that its platform provides due to the many different kinds of projects launched there. Nikki Kria, Kickstarters director of communications, noted in an email to Polygon that 70% of all backings to Games projects in 2024 came from backers who also supported projects in other categories like Design & Technology, Comics, and Publishing.In 2024, when you look at all the Games projects launched across all crowdfunding platforms, 78% of those that raised $100K or more were launched on Kickstarter, Kria continued. Its a testament to the fact that we remain the platform of choice for creators big and small. These major, six-figure campaigns dont just succeed individually they bring more active backers to Kickstarter, fueling discovery and support for a wider range of projects across the platform.More new Kickstarter features are expected to come online in 2025, including additional pledge management tools leaving beta soon.We recognize that 2024 was a shifting year for the industry, but Kickstarter remains the place where new and established creators launch and grow their careers, Kria said. Our focus remains on delivering the best possible crowdfunding experience for game makers of all kinds.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·31 Views
  • All Pokmon TCG Pocket sleep cards and how to get them
    www.polygon.com
    Sleep in Pokmon TCG Pocket officially named Asleep in the game is a special condition which makes Pokmon unable to attack or retreat until the player successfully flips a coin landing on heads.Depending on your luck, your opponents or your Pokmon might be asleep the entire game making Asleep decks one of the most fun or aggravating decks to play in Pokmon TCG Pocket.As of the Space-Time Smackdown expansions release, there are eight cards that can put other Pokmon to sleep, so there arent many options to choose from.Below, weve created a table outlining every Pokmon card with the Asleep ability along with their card number, typing, HP, attack/ability, and which pack you can get them from. And if youre constantly losing the coin flip, here are a few ways to cure the Asleep condition.All sleep cards in Pokmon card list in Pokmon TCG PocketHeres every Pokmon TCG Pocket card that can put other Pokmon to sleep with the Asleep condition, laid out in a handy table:Card #CardTypeHPAttack/AbilityObtained fromA1 13VileplumeGrass140Soothing Scent (80) — Your opponent's active Pokémon is now Asleep.Genetic Apex Charizard packA1 93FrosmothWater90Powder Snow (40) — Your opponent's active Pokémon is now Asleep.Any Genetic Apex packA1 125HypnoPsychic100Psypunch (50)   Sleep Pendulum (Ability) — Once during your turn, you may flip a coin. If heads, your opponent's active Pokémon is now Asleep.Genetic Apex Pikachu packA1 195Wigglytuff exColorless140Sleep Song (80) — Your opponent's active Pokémon is now Asleep.Genetic Apex Pikachu packA1a 8ShiinoticGrass90Flickering Spores (50) — Your opponent's active Pokémon is now Asleep.Mythical Island packA1a 36FlabébéPsychic40Hypnotic Gaze — Your opponent's active Pokémon is now Asleep.Mythical Island packA2 109DarkraiDarkness110Dark Void (60) — Your opponent' active Pokémon is now Asleep.Space-Time Smackdown Dialga packP-A 22JigglypuffColorless50Sing — Your opponent's active Pokémon is now Asleep.Venusaur Drop EventHow to cure the Asleep condition in Pokmon TCG PocketThere are four ways to cure Asleep in Pokmon TCG Pocket:Land heads on the coin toss Each time the turn passes from one player to the other, youll flip a coin. If it lands on heads, your active Pokmon will wake up. If it lands on tails, your Pokmon will stay asleep.Evolve your active Pokmon Evolving your active Pokmon removes all special conditions.Return your active Pokmon to the bench Returning your active Pokmon to your bench will remove any special condition the Pokmon has, but retreating your sleeping Pokmon is not possible. However, there are Supporter cards, such as Koga, that can return your active Pokmon to your bench.Attach a Lum Berry to the active Pokmon The Lum Berry Pokmon Tool can recover any special condition that is affecting the Pokmon its attached to.If youre looking for more to collect, we have a list of all available Promo A cards in the game.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·30 Views
  • Karimoku Furniture Unveils a New Creative Initiative + Hub in Tokyo
    design-milk.com
    In this day and age, the way we live is evolving faster than ever, with rapid advancements in technology, a growing focus on sustainability, and shifting lifestyles reshaping how we design our spaces and interact with the objects around us. Its never been more important to consider how design can adapt to these fast-moving changes.Recognizing this, Karimoku Furniture, Japans leading wooden furniture manufacturer with over 80 years of craftsmanship, has launched Karimoku Research. This forward-thinking initiative seeks to explore new ways of living by surveying, archiving, and innovating how people live. Through collaborations with global creatives, Karimoku Research reimagines the role of design in everyday life. With the opening of the Karimoku Research Center in Tokyo, the brand blends its rich woodworking heritage with fresh, boundary-pushing ideas to spark dialogue and create meaningful designs for the future.The debut survey, Survey 00: WOOD, highlights Karimoku Researchs commitment to rethinking the role of wood in contemporary design and sustainability. Curated in collaboration with Copenhagen- and Singapore-based design studio Christian+Jade, The Age of Wood exhibition builds on their previous exploration of woods materiality, first showcased during 3daysofdesign 2023. Expanding their research to Japanese forests, Christian+Jade present a series of artistic objects and sculptures that celebrate the beauty, diversity, and aging process of Japanese wood. Through the display of various wood specimens in different stages of weathering, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on time, transformation, and the evolving relationship between humans and natural materials.The forest bears witness. To a time before us, stretching into a future beyond us. The tree grows in layers around dead cells of heartwood, their structure and spine-it stands on the shoulders of yesterday. In an era where many of us are losing access to or pining for a more meaningful connection to nature, The Age of Wood seeks to investigate ideas of age, time, and patina in the context of Japanese woodland. Alongside Karimoku, Christian+Jade chisel out a new vision for timelessness, as human beings, stewards, and formgivers. Christian+JadeIn this library of trees, youll meet 63 unique species, gathered by Karimoku from Japans diverse landscapes. Each tray holds a piece of their story a leaf, a seed, and a part of their body. All introductions to a variety of different characters and personalities that will transform the way you see wood and its trees. Christian+JadeThe exhibition was hosted at the new Karimoku Research Center, a dynamic space designed by Tokyo-based architect Keiji Ashizawa to foster exploration and collaboration. Housed in a renovated three-story building in Tokyo, the center is thoughtfully divided into distinct areas, each with a unique purpose. The first floor, known as The Archive, functions as a gallery space for exhibitions like The Age of Wood. The second floor features the Materials Lab, a hands-on space for seminars and workshops where visitors can explore material samples. Finally, the third floor, called The Study, is dedicated to in-depth discussions and ideation. With these spaces, the Karimoku Research Center provides an immersive experience that invites visitors to engage with prototypes, materials, and design concepts.Looking ahead, Karimoku Research will continue its mission of creative exploration, with upcoming collaborations featuring Los Angeles-based studio Waka Waka and New York Citys Lichen.The folding screen traces this story across ancient times to the early Edo period, through the Meiji era, and into modern and contemporary periods, introducing key events that characterize each era while highlighting six types of wood that have played prominent roles throughout time. Christian+JadeChristian Hammer Juhl and Jade Chan of Christian+JadeChristian Hammer Juhl and Jade Chan of Christian+JadeTo learn more about the January 2025 exhibitions and beyond, visit karimoku-research.com.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·41 Views
  • Trot Pets Unveils Chic System To Feed Your Furry Friends
    design-milk.com
    We love our pets at Design Milk, and not just because studies show that keeping pets reduces our risk of heart disease and stress. We always want to do whats best for them, and make sure theyre cared for to the best of our ability. From pet beds to toys, weve always curated the top products for your pet, with the highest safety restrictions and quality materials it also helps if theyre cute, too. Trot Pets presents the Elevated Complete Set, available in 12 modern colors (even though most of our furry friends are colorblind). The set comes with a water bowl, a puzzle slow feeder, a no-mess silicone mat, two no-leak bowl lids, and an elevated stand. The bowls come in three sizes, perfect for any size of pet, and two elevation heights, made with shorter family members in mind.The lids are a nice touch, allowing for travel and diet restriction if necessary. Some pets go through different eating habits, and its important to keep up with minute differences in appetite. They communicate differently than we do, and it helps as a pet owner to be aware of what they might be saying with their behavior. To help out fast eaters even further, the Puzzle Slow Feeder makes it a bit more difficult to chomp down huge amounts of food at once, allowing for better digestion and retention. This keeps pets much happier and well fed, making for a more harmonious home.Trot Pets was founded by a group of dog lovers frustrated with the lack of high quality, stainless steel, aesthetically pleasing pet bowls were on the market. Pleased with the amount of pet owners that were looking for the same thing, they started with steel bowls and expanded from there, with a whole line of pet accessories. With a revamped look and new product line, and a portion of proceeds going to Hearts & Bones, a shelter with dual bases in New York City, New York, and Dallas, Texas, Trot Pets is making a name for itself in the industry.To learn more about Trot Pets and their line of modern pet accessories, visit trotpets.com.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·39 Views
  • Googles Latest Android Update Patches 47 Security Flaws
    lifehacker.com
    It's Android security patch time again, and in the Android Security Bulletin for February 2025, Google has addressed 47 different bugs affecting its mobile operating systemone of which "may be under limited, targeted exploitation." In other words, hackers may already be taking advantage of it in the wild.As usual, the patches here cover all kinds of different issues, from attacks that could take advantage of the AutoFill function on Android, to exploits in Qualcomm chips that could create corruptions in the memory on a device. Each bug is ranked in terms of its severity, and linked to a particular part of the system.Google doesn't offer too much detail about potential hacks in the interests of security, but the vulnerability that may have already been exploited is labeled CVE-2024-53104. As per The Hacker News, it relates to "privilege escalation" that could be triggered through an externally attached USB video device.That means malicious code could trick Android into giving it VIP access to the system, and to settings and data access that are normally closed off from third-party apps. It would need some clever manipulation of video frame data to work, and it's reportedly been present in the Linux kernel since 2008.According to GrapheneOS, one way the security hole could be taken advantage of is to pull data off a phone or tablet without permissionthough physical access to the device would be required. There are no public details of how this might have been actively exploited, or by whom, but this latest update will fix the problem.What Android users need to do Check for security updates for your Android phone. Credit: Lifehacker As well as issuing updates for its own Pixel phones and applying patches to the core Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code that all Android manufacturers use, Google also gives the likes of Samsung, Motorola, and OnePlus at least a month's advance warning that these fixes are coming, so Android phone makers should be prepared.Security patches are usually pushed out fairly rapidly for obvious reasons, and in most cases all you need to do is sit and wait for an alert that an update is ready for your phone or tablet. These updates work in tandem with the real time security protection offered by Google Play Protect.If you're on a Pixel phone, you can check for updates by heading to Settings then tapping System > Software update > System update. Whether or not an update is available, you can see the version of Android you're on and when the last update was applied.Samsung Galaxy phones work along similar lines: Again, you'll find a Software update entry in Settings, and you can choose Download and install if there are any updates in the pipeline. Android devices from other manufacturers will offer a similar option.Google has actually split this security update into two, so its Android partners can address the most critical bugs more quickly before moving on to the second batchso you may find you've got a couple of updates coming your way. "Android partners are encouraged to fix all issues in this bulletin and use the latest security patch level," says Google.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·30 Views
  • These Beats Studio Buds Are at Their Lowest Price Ever Right Now
    lifehacker.com
    We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.The Beats Studio Buds + are currently down to $119.99 (from $169.95), their lowest price to date, according to price comparison tools (in fact, all Beats headphones and speakers are seeing Black Friday and Prime Day equivalent discounts right now). Beats Studio Buds + $119.99 at Amazon $169.95 Save $49.96 Get Deal Get Deal $119.99 at Amazon $169.95 Save $49.96 Available in black/gold, cosmic silver, and a transparent finish, these earbuds come with four pairs of silicone ear tips (XS, S, M, L) for a customizable fit. Pairing is seamless with Bluetooth 5.3, with Apple users getting one-touch pairing across iCloud devices, plus Handoff support for quick audio transfers. For Android users, Google Fast Pair syncs them instantly with any linked Google account.Each earbud packs three microphones to enhance voice clarity, block noise with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and let in ambient sound with Transparency mode. Custom two-layer dynamic drivers power the audio, delivering a bass-heavy, crisp sound that remains distortion-free even at max volume. However, theres no adjustable EQ, so you'll have to rely on iOS presets (if you use an Apple device) or the earbuds' default tuning. ANC performance of these earbuds is solid for the price, effectively cutting out low-frequency hums like airplane noise and reducing mid-range background chatter. Transparency mode is equally strong, making external sounds feel natural. Additionally, the on-ear button controls on the Studio Buds + are fairly straightforward, and according to this PCMag review, they're responsive without being overly sensitive, reducing accidental presses.For Apple users, the Studio Buds + integrate seamlessly with iOS, including support for Find My, which helps locate lost earbuds. That said, it only shows the last place your case (with the buds inside) was connected. If the buds were removed and the case was left sitting there, the location of the buds wouldnt update. Android users get a solid experience as well, but they miss out on hands-free Siri and deeper system-level controls. These earbuds come with an IPX4 rating, meaning they can handle sweat and light splashes but theyre not built for heavy water exposureif waterproofing is high on your must-have list, the JBL Reflect Aero ($99.95, down from $149.95) has a stronger IP68 rating and could be a better fit.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·30 Views
  • Best Super Bowl TV deals: Get up to $630 off sets from Samsung, LG, Sony and others
    www.engadget.com
    With Super Bowl LIX only a few days away, it's a decent time to grab a new TV at a discount. If you're hoping to upgrade your living before the Chiefs and Eagles square off (again), you may need to pay extra to get a new set shipped in time. Nevertheless, we've searched through Amazon, Best Buy and other retailers to find a few Super Bowl 2025 TV deals that might actually be worthwhile.To be candid, many of the deals we've found are the result of TVs naturally falling in price this time of year more than any Super Bowl-specific sales. Most TVs tend to follow a similar pricing timeline: arrive in the spring, drop a bit over the summer, receive a larger price cut around the holidays, then gradually become cheaper until being discontinued the following year. We're in the last step of that pattern now, and with TV makers like Samsung and LG unveiling their 2025 models during CES last month, last year's sets are likely to fall even further in the months ahead.That said, if you must shake things up today, a number of well-reviewed TVs from LG, Sony, Samsung, TCL and Hisense are back down to the prices we saw around Black Friday. A few are even cheaper. We've also found a couple of deals on other living room gadgets from Roku and Sonos. Though we at Engadget do not formally review TVs, we've scoured feedback from other reviewers we trust and checked price histories to ensure the deals below are genuine.LG B4 OLED TV (48") for $600 at Best Buy ($200 off MSRP): This ties the lowest price we've seen for the 48-inch LG B4, which is the entry-level model in LG's 2024 OLED lineup. While it's not as bright or color-rich as some higher-end alternatives, it still offers the essential perks of any good OLED TV: superb contrast with deep black tones, clear motion, wide viewing angles and the like. It's also a nice value for gaming, as it has four HDMI 2.1 ports that support refresh rates up to 120Hz. It's just better off in a darker room, and this particular model is relatively small.Hisense U7N QLED TV (65") for $698 at Amazon ($300 off): Several reviewers we trust say that the U7N delivers better brightness, contrast and HDR performance than most TVs in its price range. It's built with most of the features expected from pricier LED sets, including quantum-dot color, mini-LED backlighting and a 144Hz refresh rate. It also runs on the handy Google TV platform. Its viewing angles are poor, so it's not great for watching shows with a large group, and you may need to tinker with settings to get an optimal image. But the 65-inch model should be a strong value at this price, which is only about $20 more than the all-time low we briefly saw around Cyber Monday. Also at Best Buy. If you'd prefer a smaller size, the 55-inch model is also back within $20 of its best-ever price at $498.The Samsung Frame TV.Amy SkorheimSamsung The Frame 2024 QLED TV (55") for $868 at Woot ($630 off): This deal from Amazon subsidiary Woot has been live for a few weeks, but it ties the best price to date for the 55-inch version of Samsung's stylish Frame TV outside of a one-off eBay coupon deal. You'd buy this set for its design above all else: It can't match the contrast and color volume of other TVs in its price range, as it lacks local dimming altogether, but it's convincingly built like a framed piece of wall art that can blend in with your home decor. Its matte panel helps it fend off glare in a bright room, and you can display actual artwork onscreen when you're not watching something. It's worth noting that Samsung unveiled a new and improved "Frame Pro" TV at CES, but we'd expect that to cost more whenever it arrives.TCL Q651G QLED TV (65") for $370 at Amazon ($180 off): The Q651G is a fairly basic LED TV that might appeal to gamers on a budget, as it can play at a fast 120Hz refresh rate albeit only when you drop the resolution from 4K to 1440p or 1080p. It's another one without local dimming, so its contrast is limited. Most reviewers suggest that the Hisense U6N (which isn't majorly discounted) provides a brighter and much more dynamic image for not much more. However, while the U6N can also play in 1440p/120Hz, the TCL model has a wider variable refresh rate (VRR) range in that mode. In simpler terms, that means it'll have an easier time allowing your PS5 or Xbox games to run smoothly. This discount marks a new low for the 65-inch model. Also at Best Buy.The Samsung S90D.SamsungHisense U8N QLED TV (65") for $898 at Amazon ($602 off): The U8N's picture quality is a broad step-up from the U7N above, with better contrast, more vibrant colors and supremely high peak brightness. It still has most of the same drawbacks mediocre viewing angles, minor blooming in a dark room, just decent upscaling of lower-res content but it should be a worthy upgrade if you have more cash to burn. This is another discount we saw for much of November and December, but it ties the all-time low for the 65-inch variant. Also at Best Buy.Samsung S90D QD-OLED TV (55") for $1,198 at Amazon ($600 off): The S90D stands out for its QD-OLED panel, which mixes the benefits of an OLED display with quantum dots to boost color performance. Most reviews say that it can put out a wider gamut of more vibrant colors and brighter HDR highlights than more traditional OLED TVs like the LG C4. It also has four HDMI 2.1 ports that can play up to 144Hz. It doesn't support Dolby Vision HDR, however, and Samsung's Tizen interface can be clunky. The company has also made the aggravating step of using both QD-OLED and more standard WOLED panels within the same product line, but this 55-inch version comes with the superior display in North America. (The 65- and 75-inch models do as well.) This deal is the second-best price we've seen and about $150 off this variant's average street price in recent months. Also at Samsung and Best Buy.The Sony Bravia 7.SonySony Bravia 7 QLED TV (55") for $1,198 at Amazon ($100 off): The Bravia 7 isn't as strong of a value as the Hisense U8N, but some reviews suggest that it's a decent alternative if you're willing to trade some contrast and peak brightness for a more accurate picture out of the box. Like the Hisense TV, its image washes out when viewed from an angle and it only has two HDMI 2.1 ports for gaming. In general, most people will be happier with a good OLED TV around this price. But if you want a brighter LED TV that looks great right away, this one might be worth a look. This is a new low for the 55-inch model. Also at B&H and Best Buy.Roku Ultra (2024) for $79 at Amazon ($21 off): Roku's Ultra set-top box is overkill for most, but it might be worthwhile if you prefer the simplicity of Roku's interface and need built-in Ethernet and USB ports. It supports just about all the major apps and HDR formats, plus it lets iPhone owners cast video from their phone via AirPlay. Unlike the cheaper Roku Streaming Stick 4K, it also comes with a rechargeable remote that has backlit buttons, built-in voice controls and a lost remote finder. We call it the best Roku player in our guide to the best streaming devices. This deal was available for much of the holiday season, but it ties the latest model's all-time low. Also at Roku, Walmart and Best Buy.Sonos Beam (Gen 2) for $399 at Sonos ($100 off): Yes, the recent overhaul of the Sonos app has been an abject disaster, to the point where the audio brand's CEO and other execs have left the company entirely. However, if you're not already tied up in the Sonos ecosystem and just want a clean-sounding soundbar that won't take up a ton of space in your living room, the Sonos Beam's hardware still does enough right to be worth a look. We call it the best midrange option in our guide to the best soundbars. It only has one HDMI port, and it's too small to deliver truly room-rattling bass, but it still compares favorably to most alternatives in its size range. This deal is $30 above the device's all-time low but still $100 off its typical street price. Other Sonos home theater gadgets are similarly discounted, including the more compact Sonos Ray for $179 and the Sub 4 subwoofer for $679. These offers are also available at Amazon and other retailers. Sonos says they'll run until February 9.TV deals that are no longer availableLG C3 OLED TV (65") for $1,197 at Amazon ($303 off): The LG C3 was released in 2023, but it's not a huge downgrade from last year's LG C4, so it's still worth considering when it's available for less. The C4 should be slightly better in terms of brightness and color volume, plus it supports refresh rates up to 144Hz rather than 120Hz, though the latter is only really useful for PC gaming. Neither model can quite match the QD-OLED panel on the Samsung S90D, but the C3 will still look excellent if you're not comparing the two side-by-side and just want to save some cash on a larger premium display. This discount ties the lowest price we've tracked outside of a handful of in-store-only and eBay coupon deals.Sony A95L OLED TV (65") for $2,498 at eBay via BuyDig ($500 off): The A95L is wildly expensive even with this discount, but many reviewers agree that it's the best TV on the market if money is no object. It's another QD-OLED TV like the Samsung S90D, but it's more color-accurate out of the box and should be better at preserving details in shows that aren't presented in 4K. It also supports Dolby Vision, unlike Samsung's TVs, and its Google TV software is generally easier to navigate than Tizen. The only serious drawback is that it's limited to two HDMI 2.1 ports, which may be annoying for those who own a soundbar and multiple game consoles. This discount from ties the lowest price to date for the 65-inch model; just use the code SAVEBIG20 at checkout. It comes from eBay via BuyDig, which Sony lists as an authorized seller.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/best-super-bowl-tv-deals-get-up-to-630-off-sets-from-samsung-lg-sony-and-others-161012987.html?src=rss
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·29 Views
  • USPS backtracks on suspending packages from China
    www.engadget.com
    Update, February 5, 2025, 10:02AM ET: The USPS swiftly backtracked on its suspension of Chinese packages.In an updated statement published Wednesday morning, the agency said, "Effective February 5, 2025, the Postal Service will continue accepting all international inbound mail and packages from China and Hong Kong Posts. The USPS and Customs and Border Protection are working closely together to implement an efficient collection mechanism for the new China tariffs to ensure the least disruption to package delivery."The original story follows...The United States Postal Service has temporarily stopped accepting inbound parcels from China and Hong Kong, and according to Wired, it's already causing huge problems with e-commerce shipments to the US. USPS posted the notice on its website, announcing that the suspension will be in place "until further notice." As Wired notes, the international parcel suspension is a direct result of the Trump administration's order to end import tax exemption for small packages shipped into the US worth less than $800. The administration also imposed an additional 10 percent tariff on goods imported from China.The "de minimis" import tax exemption rule allows e-commerce companies like Shein and Temu to sell to customers in the US while keeping prices on their platforms low. It was originally intended to make it easier to send gifts stateside, but the US government has been considering removing or altering it in recent years due to the rise of e-commerce shipments. Now, the Trump administration has removed it completely, and so quickly, that shipping companies are apparently scrambling to find a way to get packages into the US.A Canadian trucking company owner told Wired that his trucks were turned away at the border because they contained packages from China. The owner said that border control was "actually going through the trucks and randomly checking the packages." He explained that it won't be easy to sort packages to remove everything coming in from China, so this development would most likely cause delivery delays.According to US Customs, there were over 1.36 billion de minimis shipments to the US within the 2024 fiscal year. If the agency decides to hold all de minimis shipments at the border, that means they may have to process around 3.7 million packages a day to check how much import taxes and other additional fees the receiver or buyer has to pay. That could cause a massive backlog in shipments. A customs and trade management business executive told Wired that the government could choose to keep packages moving instead and to charge people for the fees retroactively. In the future, though, China's e-commerce platforms could start adding those fees, along with the 10 percent tariff now required for Chinese goods, to a customer's total amount, making it more expensive to buy from websites like Shein and Temu.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/usps-backtracks-on-suspending-packages-from-china-140013986.html?src=rss
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·30 Views
  • Bring it on Nvidia - AMD confirms new Radeon RX 9000 series GPUs will launch in early March, rivaling Team Green's rumored RTX 5060 Ti and 5060 launch
    www.techradar.com
    The race is finally on between AMD and Nvidia, with the Radeon RX 9000 series GPUs set for launch in early March.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·29 Views
  • Netgear urges users to patch major router security issues now
    www.techradar.com
    Two flaws affecting multiple products were addressed with a new firmware version.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·29 Views