Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) loans have become increasingly popular in recent yearsoriginations grew tenfold between 2019 and 2021, for instance. Last year, roughly 20% of American consumers used one to make a purchase.Despite their increasing usage, BNPL loans are still not used to calculate credit scoreswhich may have effects for lenders, and could be costing some consumers with good credit habits some valuable points. FICOthe creator of the FICO Score which is used by 90% of U.S.-based lending institutions to make lending decisionsrecently published an analysis in tandem with the BNPL company Affirm to get a sense of what the results would be if those loans were used to calculate FICO scores. The results? Mostly good for both consumers and lenders.The analysis looked at data from a 12-month period and compared the FICO scores of more than 500,000 people who used Affirm to open a BNPL loan against those who had not. FICO then simulated the inclusion of the BNPL data into its model and found that most people saw an increase or no change in their credit scores.Affirm gave us data that would be the same data they would furnish to a credit bureau, says Julie May, vice president and general manager of B2B scores at FICO. With the simulated study, we would see positive benefits for approximately two-thirds of consumers, particularly for those with utilization of five or more BNPL loans, she says.In all, incorporating BNPL loan data into credit scoring models would benefit consumers, and the lenders who use the FICO score to make lending decisions, she says.In all, the analysis found that using the BNPL data to generate a FICO score was generally consistent with the opening of a new account, with a slight (plus or minus 10 points) change in their score for 85% of the individuals analyzed. For those who have better credit habitssuch as making on-time payments, and keeping their overall credit utilization lowthe BNPL data helps increase scores to a degree.With the simulation complete, May says that FICO will be looking to roll out a new FICO scoring model in the future that will incorporate BNPL data, effectively the first model to do so. We know what the actual solution would be; were in final discussions with stakeholders in terms of how that would roll out, she says. Theres no hard date yet, but May adds that when it does ultimately happen, FICO is excited to introduce the proprietary technique to the marketplace.

Major changes are afoot behind-the-scenes at Walmart. The retailer is cutting hundreds of jobs and shuttering its North Carolina office. Employees from certain locations are also being asked to move to its newly opened headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, and other central hubs.News of the shake up was first reported by Fox Business after Walmart Chief People Officer Donna Morris sent a memo detailing the cuts and other changes to employees. We are making these changes to put key capabilities together, encouraging speed and shared understanding, the memo, viewed by Fox read. Through this review process, we have eliminated some roles as we streamline how we work.According to the memo, Walmart is also opening offices in Sunnyvale, California, Bellevue, Washington, and expanding offices in Hoboken, New Jersey and New York City.The cuts arent the first to hit Walmart, which is both the worlds largest employer and the worlds largest retailer. In May, the company cut hundreds of jobs and asked Dallas, Atlanta, and Toronto workers to relocate to central hubs, too. At the time, it also asked that all remote employees come back to the office full time. That move came shortly after the company said it would shut down its virtual health care service, and close its 51 in-store health centers.Some experts believe that Walmarts efforts to streamline operations, including continued cuts and relocating employees to headquarters, are about staying competitive with the worlds largest online retailer: Amazon. I think this is the year where Walmarts assault on Amazon gains serious momentum, Fox Business market analyst Keith Fitz-Gerald said per Newsweek in January. I think the stock is going to radically outperform it, and were going to see a renewed customer confidence in that particular brand.Walmart is not alone in its 2025 layoffs. Salesforce, a cloud-based software company, announced this week that it would cut 1,000 roles at the company. Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, have each had their own rounds of major layoffs already this year, too. And when it comes to retailers, 2025 is likely to be another big year for store closures. According to a January report from Coresight Research, as many as 15,000 U.S. retail locations could shutter this year. Party City, Big Lots, and Macys are among the brands that have already announced closures this year.News of the latest cuts comes shortly after the Walmart faced blowback for rolling back its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program just months ago. After the brand announced it would end the initiative, 30 investors sent a letter to CEO Doug McMillian, voicing their collective disdain for the move. Walmart has sent a clear signal to all underrepresented and marginalized groups that Walmart will not fight to protect their rights, the letter stated.Walmart didnt provide details on how many employees would lose their jobs, or how many its asking to relocate. But it did specify that employees would have a month to let Walmart know if they will move in order to keep their job with the company.

Swiss architect Giona Bierens de Haan has reinterpreted the spiked bark of the South American Ceiba tree to create a furniture collection as part of a collaborative exhibition in Geneva.The Ceiba series, which comprises two shelves, a table and four chairs, incorporates the conical thorns that the tree is known for into its designs.Giona Bierens de Haan has created a furniture collection inspired by the Ceiba treeThe idea for the collection came from Bierens de Haan's first encounter with the Ceiba tree on the streets of Buenos Aires."The tree's striking expressiveness captivated me so completely that I stood in front of it mesmerised," Bierens de Haan told Dezeen. "Years later, when a close friend working at the Geneva Botanical Garden asked me to design a shelf, the memory of that unforgettable tree resurfaced and the Ceiba collection was born."The furniture pieces can be arranged to form a "spiky bush"Bierens de Haan approached the design with the intent of "blurring the boundaries between sculpture and functionality". Each furniture piece has an organic form that is kept deliberately simple."The design needed to be as pure and elemental as possible almost like the direct translation of a child's drawing," he explained.The tree's conical thorns were incorporated into the designsInfused with humour and a cartoon-like quality, the collection can be arranged into a cohesive formation resembling a "spiky bush"."I appreciate how the pieces stand with an awkward charm, as if clumsily trying to conform to the conventions of traditional furniture but never fully succeeding," Bierens de Haan said.Read: SF-SO folds steel sheets to create "paper-like" shelving systemEach piece was crafted from oak and finished in a water-based paint that preserves the material's natural texture, adding tactility to their bold forms.Made in natural oak, green oak and black oak, each finish was chosen to complement the others while evoking different emotions.The oak furniture pieces are finished in a water-based paintAs part of the exhibition, Bierens de Haan partnered with Swiss-Argentinian ceramist ngeles Rodrguez to create Sombra, a complementary collection of black sandstone ceramics. This collaboration was the result of the designer's desire for a more engaging presentation."I wanted something beyond a typical furniture exhibition, which can easily become monotonous," Bierens de Haan said. "Rodrguez's pieces add an enchanting, irrational layer of meaning to the entire exhibition."Like the furniture it accompanies, the ceramic pieces mimic the spiky texture of the Ceiba tree bark. The collections come together to engage in a dialogue of shared materiality and form.The ceramic collection also mimics the spiky texture of the Ceiba treeDespite the sculptural qualities of the series, the furniture pieces were designed to be functional."While the Ceiba series disrupts monotonous interiors and challenges the predictability of conventional furniture, I chose to focus on familiar forms because I wanted these designs to be accessible for everyday use," Bierens de Haan said.Based in Geneva, Bierens de Haan founded his eponymous studio in 2018. His previous works include the renovation of a 1960s mountain chalet located in Zinal, Switzerland.The photography is by Dylan Perrenoud.The post Giona Bierens de Haan designs spiked furniture informed by Ceiba tree appeared first on Dezeen.

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MacworldAI is all the rage, and Apple Intelligence is supposed to change how we use our Apple devices. But has it? On this episode of the Macworld Podcast, we talk about what Apple Intelligence offersand does it matter?This is episode 920 with Jason Cross, Michael Simon, and Roman Loyola.Watch episode 920 on YouTubeListen to episode 920 on Apple PodcastsListen to episode 920 on SpotifyGet infoFor more information about the topics discussed on the show, click on the links below.Apple Intelligence FAQ: What it is, what it does, and when youll get itWhere is Apple Intelligence on my iPhone?Where is Apple Intelligence on my Mac?If Apple Intelligence is so great, why doesnt Apple trust us to turn it on?2025 will be the year of Apple Intelligence (again)Subscribe to the Macworld PodcastYou can subscribe to the Macworld Podcastor leave us a review!right here in the Podcasts app. The Macworld Podcast is also available on Spotify and on the Macworld Podcast YouTube channel. Or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader at: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/macworldTo find previous episodes, visit Macworlds podcast page or our home on MegaPhone.Apple

FromRedfall toStarfieldtoSenuas Saga: Hellblade 2, several major first-party Xbox releases have failed to run at 60 FPS on the Xbox Series X upon release in recent years. Fortunately, it looks like Avowedwont be following in those games footsteps.Speaking in a recent interview with MinnMax, game director Carrie Patel confirmed thatAvowedwill run at up to 60 FPS on Xbox Series X. Of course, what we dont know is whether the game is going to have multiple graphics modes available, or what resolution and frame rates it will target on the Xbox Series S. Hopefully, Obsidian Entertainment and Microsoft will shed more light there ahead of the games looming launch.Avowedis due out for Xbox Series X/S and PC on February 18. Reviews for the action RPG will begin going live on February 13, which is also the day that advanced access will begin for Premium Edition owners.

When the Switch 2 was (finally) officially unveiled last month, Nintendo also confirmed that it would be revealing further details on the upcoming console with a dedicated Nintendo Direct presentation on April 2. Now, the company has revealed further details on the specific timing for the event.The Switch 2 Direct will happen on April 2 at 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET, Nintendo has officially announced. What we can expect to see during the presentation is, of course, something we can only speculate at for now. A newMario Kartgame was glimpsed in the Switch 2s reveal trailer, so thats likely to be one of several titles that Nintendo will showcase for the console. Additionally, one would presume information will also be shared on the Switch 2s release date and pricing.Meanwhile, leaks have claimed that Nintendo has another Direct presentation scheduled for sometime this month that will focus on upcoming games for the Switch 1.Join us on April 2nd at 6am PT for #NintendoDirect: Nintendo Switch 2 4.2.2025, where we will share a closer look at #NintendoSwitch2. https://t.co/XCecVa9Zid pic.twitter.com/ACu5pZUd0D Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 5, 2025

Voldex acquires Roblox title BrookhavenAcquisition of life simulation title was funded by capital investment led by Raine PartnersImage credit: Voldex News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Feb. 6, 2025 User-generated content (UGC) studio Voldex has acquired the Roblox life simulation game Brookhaven.As reported by Pocket Gamer, the title was bought for an undisclosed sum and funded through capital investment led by Raine Partners. Makers Fund, QIA, MIT, Tirtra Ventures, and Lalotte Ventures contributed to the acquisition.Voldex also had debt financing from Shamrock Capital, including participation from Ares Management Credit funds and Cadma Capital Partners."This acquisition is transformational for Voldex," said Voldex CEO and founder Alex Singer. "We're honored [Brookhaven creator] Wolfpaq has entrusted us with Brookhaven."We're committed to being great stewards of the incredible world he has created and the vibrant community that makes it special."Voldex has acquired other games from Roblox in its catalogue, including Driving Empire, Zo Samurai, and Ultimate Football. It acquired the latter in April 2024 in a "multi-million dollar deal."The studio also has titles from Fortnite Creative and Minecraft.

The Zenfone 12 Ultra officially launches today, but unlike previous generations, this one wont be sold in the US.As expected, the 12 Ultra is a de-gamer-ified ROG Phone 9 Pro with a big screen, a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and a unique gimbal-like stabilizer in the main camera. Its the same formula Asus followed with the Zenfone 11 Ultra, which was a fine device but failed to stand out in a sea of other big Android phones. Now, this edition isnt even making landfall on our shores.As youd expect of a phone with gaming DNA, the 12 Ultra offers a big 5,500mAh battery. It supports 65W wired charging and up to 15W wireless charging via the Qi 1.3 standard no Qi2 here. The 6.78-inch screen is an LTPO panel with variable refresh rates from 1 to 120Hz, and its 1080p resolution is a little low for a panel of this size.The 12 Ultra, naturally, comes with a load of AI features. Theres AI background noise removal for video recording, AI-powered semantic search in the photo gallery, AI voice memo transcription, and AI document summarization. AI, AI, AI. These are all very familiar and seemingly a pre-requisite for any phone in 2025.Image: AsusImage: AsusThe 12 Ultras less familiar feature is its gimbal-like image stabilization, which is in its fourth iteration. Like previous versions, it offers hardware-based shake correction, combined with an updated electronic stabilization algorithm. In previous models, its been a genuinely cool feature and very effective at smoothing out bumpy camera footage.Outside of the stabilization upgrade, the 12 Ultras camera hardware is unchanged from the 11 Ultra with a 50-megapixel main camera, 32-megapixel 3x telephoto, and a 13-megapixel ultrawide on the rear panel. On the software side, theres a set of iPhone Photographic Styles-like color grading adjustments to adjust your preferred preset for color temperature and saturation in your shots.Believe it or not, theres a headphone jack on the bottom of this phone. Image: AsusAsus spokesperson Anthony Spence says that the decision to not bring the Zenfone 12 Ultra to North America does not rule out the possibility of future Zenfone models being made available in the US, so maybe this isnt the end of the Zenfone line in the states. But it does seem to be further confirmation that the small Zenfone is dead. Long live the small phone.The Zenfone 12 Ultra will start at 1,099 (about $1,145).See More: