Its giving retro exploitation vibes.

A slew of toolsfrom Iris Dating to Grindrs forthcoming wingmanpromise that they can increase your odds of finding someone with AI. So far, the results are mixed.

For more than a decade, Reddits Am I the Asshole? sub has served as a trove of cautionary tales and (very) real relationship advice. WIRED talked to two OPs about what happened after their posts.

MacworldGood news, everyone! The next version of the iPhone SE is set to arrive sooner than expected. The latest report now puts the launch at sometime in February (it could even be announced today, ruining this articles shelf life), rather than March or early April thats more usual for products that dont fit in Apples fall and summer slates. Given that weve been waiting since March 2022 it feels a little presumptuous to call this early, but lets at least try to be positive and say that our long national nightmare is almost over.If Apple has chosen to bring forward the launch, we dont have to look far for reasons. One is the companys need to increase usage of its AI platform, which makes it vital to get an Apple Intelligence-ready mass-market smartphone in stores. The other is the companys failure to prepare for incoming EU regulations, resulting in it having no budget iPhone on sale across numerous markets since the start of this year. Apple needs the next SE, and soon.I do wonder, though, whether Apple really grasps the importance of the SE to its mission. For one thing, up until this recent injection of urgency, the product has followed a truly glacial upgrade cycle. Since the first model came out in March 2016, almost nine years ago, Apple has managed two further models, neither of which have done much to evolve the form factor. I appreciate that budget buyers are less demanding when it comes to state-of-the-art technology, but you hit a snag when a phone has a dated design and then doesnt change for three years. You cant take customers for granted.Another clue to Apples priorities is the likely lack of fanfare surrounding this launch. Mark Gurman, the leaker who last week predicted the phone would come out in a matter of days, says it wont be unveiled at an event, so were probably looking at a website update and email. It doesnt quite compare to Lana Del Rey at the 2018 iPad Pro unveiling. But why would Apple bother to generate hype for a product it doesnt believe in?The iPhone SE is the sort of product that Apples customers like, but Apple hates. Its profit margin is scant compared to flagship iPhone models, and its more basic design and feature set means it has far less capacity to dazzle an owners friends (or infuriate their enemies) and evangelize the Apple lifestyle. Cupertino is notorious for wanting to control the user experiencethe fact that this is lessening is due to political and regulatory pressure and is in no way a reflection of changed prioritiesand a major reason behind this is a desire to present products, even after being sold, at their very best. Apples customers are its most numerous and frequently most enthusiastic salespeople, and you cant sell effectively if you havent got a top-of-the-line kit.But the tech world is changing, and the philosophies that have brought Apple to this point may not serve it well in the second half of this decade. The days of shifting millions of expensive smartphones may be numbered, as the improvements become less and less worthwhile and each generation blends into the next. Last week I talked about Apples commitment to the long-term pivot away from dependence on the iPhone and towards related products, services, AI, and so on. But it doesnt yet seem to understand the corollary of that plan: that in the future, the number of iPhone owners will be more important than the amount of money they each paid.The iPhone SE, like the 10th-gen iPad now and the iPod long ago, has the power of accessibility. Its easy to use and (relatively) cheap to buy, making it perfect for bringing new customers (and new markets) into the fold and keeping existing customers loyal in periods of economic uncertainty. Given its many benefits, and the three-year gap since the last model, the least Apple could do for the launch of the next SE is throw a party.FoundryWelcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but its cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too.Trending: Top storiesHaving lost its passion for risk-taking, Apple needs to re-discover its weird side.Apples M3 nightmare is coming to an end.Can we still trust Apple? A few recent events give Peter Mller pause.Apple is doomed because it cant see the future, reckons the Macalope.Theres a magical iPhone feature hiding in your new Mac that you need to try!Apple has launched a brand-new Invites app infused with AI and it Invites copycat criticism.Apple killed the wrong Vision Pro project! Stylish smart glasses are the way forward.Apple shares a secret MacBook tip that power users will love.If you owned an early-gen Apple Watch, you could be getting $50.Podcast of the weekAI is all the rage, and Apple Intelligence is supposed to change how we use our Apple devices. But has it? We discuss this question on the latest episode of the Macworld Podcast.You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast onSpotify,Soundcloud, thePodcasts app, orour own site.Reviews cornerClicks for iPhone 16 review: Clever iPhone keyboard case (not) for everyone.Parallels Toolbox review: Dozens of fun, handy utilities.Ugreen CM850 USB4 Enclosure review: Fast 40Gbps with any NVMe SSD.The rumor millA calm month for once? Heres everything we expect from Apple in February 2025.Or maybe not so calm. The new iPhone SE launch might be just days awayForget the M4, the M5 iPad Pro and Macs are on track for release this year.Apple reportedly ends its Mac-connected Augmented Reality glasses project.Software updates, bugs, and problemsI received the worst iPhone text scam ever. Thanks, Apple!Hackers are using AI to attack your Mac and its only going to get worse.Apple rolls out mysterious iOS update for a single iPhone model.And with that, were done for this weeks Apple Breakfast. If youd like to get regular roundups, sign up forour newsletters, including our new email from The Macalopean irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow uson Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

The unemployment rate among tech workers leaped almost a full percentage point from December to January, according to an analysis of US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released Friday.The unemployment rate for tech workers rose from 2.0% to to 2.9%, according to IT industry association CompTIA, even as tech firms boosted employment by a net 6,787 positions in January. Despite the jump, the tech unemployment rate remained significantly below the nations overall unemployment rate of 4.0%, which was down from 4.1% the previous month.Overall hiring slowed in the US, with payroll employment up by 143,000 in January, according to BLS data. The number of unemployed workers nationally remained relatively steady, at 6.8 million.[The] jobs report reflects a market that continues to show sluggishness and remains challenging for those looking for new jobs. 2025 is shaping up to be another year of significant changes, said Ger Koyle, US country manager for global staffing firm ManpowerGroup.CompTIANew employer job listings for tech positions increased in January by 51,756 to more than 220,000, according to CompTIA. Active tech job postings in January totaled 476,000, with 8.4% of those jobs AI-related.There were about 40,000 active AI-related job postings in January, up 1,500 from December. Among all tech roles, 45% of job listings didnt require a four-year degree. And in some areas, college degrees were even less in demand; 83% of network support specialist listings required no degree; for tech support specialists, that number was 71%; for computer programmers, 57%; for web and digital interface designers, 53%; and for network systems administrators, it was 51%.Employers continue to balance the need for foundational tech talent and skills with the push into next-gen fields, said Tim Herbert, CompTIAs chief research officer.One possible explanation for the increase in tech unemployment even as job postings and hiring increased is that some people might have temporarily paused their job search in December and were more actively looking for work in January, according to Herbert.So for BLS purposes, these individuals would not have been counted as unemployed in December when their job search was inactive, but were counted as unemployed in January because they were actively seeking work, he said.Herbert highlighted robust hiring of personnel in IT services and software development occupations (up 13,700) which offset reductions in telecommunication jobs (down 7,900). Overall, tech occupations throughout the broader economy increased by 228,000.Kye Mitchell, head of tech recruitment at IT staffing firm Experis North America, said Januarys jobs report shows a shift in demand as the generative AI (genAI) race goes from wow to how.Elsewhere, executive management positions actually rose 16% from December, and project manager specialists soared by a whopping 587% from last year, which reflects businesses need for leadership to drive and implement AI initiatives effectively, according to Mitchell.CompTIAWhos not in the labor force?Overall in January, 5.5 million people not in the labor force wanted a job, unchanged from the previous month, according to BLS data. The number of workers who wanted a job was steady at 1.6 million, and 592,000 of them were discouraged as they felt there were no jobs available for them.Were entering an era where the traditional career ladder in tech has become a career web, Mitchell said. The most successful organizations will be those that can offer their technology talent not just competitive compensation, but the opportunity to work at the intersection of AI innovation and business strategy. The challenge isnt just hiring its creating an environment where top tech talent can continually evolve their skills and impact.Traditional tech careers followed a linear path: junior developer to senior, then lead, then architect. Success once meant deep technical expertise, but todays top professionals thrive by bridging disciplines, according to Mitchell. For example, a cloud engineer now influences business decisions on data governance, sustainability, and costs. AI developers go beyond building modelsthey collaborate to find impactful use cases and ensure responsible AI deployment.To thrive in this new environment, technology professionals should focus on developing three key areas:Technical Foundation with AI Integration* Maintaining core technical expertise while developing practical AI skills* Understanding how to integrate AI tools into existing systems and workflows* Staying current with emerging technologies like large language models and generative AIBusiness and Strategic Thinking* Building financial acumen to evaluate technology investments* Understanding industry trends and competitive dynamics* Developing skills in translating technical concepts for business stakeholdersHuman-Centric Skills* Leading cross-functional teams and managing stakeholders* Focusing on ethical technology implementation* Developing strong communication and collaboration capabilitiesThe most successful tech professionals will balance execution with strategy, understanding both the how and why of their work, Mitchell explained. That means tackling new challenges, learning from business leaders, and expanding into areas like product management and strategy.This shift creates vast opportunities for those who combine technical skills with strategic thinking and human insight, driving innovation and shaping the future of tech, Mitchell said. Whats particularly notable is how human-centric capabilities have moved from nice-to-have to essential. The ability to lead diverse teams, navigate stakeholder relationships, and champion ethical technology implementation has become as important as technical expertise.

Following our previous visit toBespoke Only, we are moving ourMeet Your Next Employer seriesto Charlottesville, VA this week to explore the work ofTwo Street Studio.With offices in Brooklyn, Charlottesville, and Richmond, Two Street Studio describes itself as a generalist design practice committed to the craft of architecture from small residential schemes to large commercial projects. We believe architecture can elevate the mundane, and work to do so on every project, the firm adds.Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm iscurrently hiringfor an Intermediate Architect to join their Charlottesville team. For candidates interested in applying for a position or anybody interested in learning more about the firms output, we have rounded up five bespoke projects by Two Street Studio that exemplify the firms ethos.Southampton House. Image courtesy: Two Street StudioSouthampton House, Southampton, NYSituated on a small lot with strict environmental constraints, the Southampton Ho...

While the new take on the God of War franchise that started in 2018 was quite successful for Sony, the company might be looking to the franchises past for the next outing. According to Insider Gamings Tom Henderson, the next title in the franchise might take us back to the past featuring a much younger Kratos.In a recent episode of the Insider Gaming Weekly podcast, Henderson reported that the next title will take us back to Greece. While none of these details can be confirmed, Henderson also said that the game might focus on the relationship between a young Kratos and his father.Henderson also spoke about last weeks rumours about the next God of War game taking place in ancient Egypt and revolving around the historic periods pantheon of gods and other mythological stories.We did that God of War rumour last week of it being set in Egypt, and then I got a message a couple of hours before the podcast went live, said Henderson in the podcast. From what Ive been told, it isnt set in Egypt. Its actually set in Greece, and it is going to be a younger Kratos this time.Apparently the storyline has more to do with his relationship with his father and all that kind of stuff, he continued.Henderson also spoke about a potential remaster of the original trilogy of God of War games that first came out on PS2 and PS3. He has reportedly heard rumblings of a remaster, and theorised that the release of this remaster might tie in to the plans of taking Kratos back to Greece.Interestingly, the podcast hosts also brought up a rumoured State of Play event by Sony set for next week. While that part of the podcast revolves around discussing various titles that might show up at this rumoured State of Play, such as Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Henderson and the other hosts of the podcast, however, believe that Sony might be poised for a bigger reveal at the show.Ive been told middle of next week, said podcast host Grant Taylor-Hill about the State of Play. Its a game Im very excited about. Ive not spoken about it anywhere, but there is a brand new title from a new studio being its going to debut at State of Play, which Im very very eager to see.Unfortunately, further details about the studio and its mysterious title havent been revealed. Taylor-Hill did mention, however, that it will be a game that weve never heard about and never seen before.This latest slate of rumours comes a little over week after the previous report about God of War reportedly going to Ancient Egypt as its next main location. Cory Barlog has even suggested the potential for the series to go to Egypt in the past, and the God of Wars 2018 titles development had taken Ancient Egyptian into account as a potential setting for the game.In the meantime, reports from October 2024 have also indicated that the TV adaptation of God of War might be restarting development from scratch. The reports came in after showrunner Rafe Judkins and executive producers Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby left the show, with a new creative direction now planned for the show.

Leenzees Wuchang: Fallen Feathers didnt have the most impressive gameplay showcase back in 2021. However, more recent footage has looked much better, showcasing smoother animations, vibrant locales, and more. A new developer diary sees director and studio founder Xia Siyuan reveal that the title now runs on Unreal Engine 5.Its a significant upgrade from Unreal Engine 4, allowing for more realistic lighting and physics-based effects. Siyuan also praised the more robust framework while confirming the use of scanned models, which adds even more to the fidelity. Overall, the engine has helped Leenzee to highlight the titles cultural essence.Wuchang: Fallen Feathers launches this year for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. It will also be available on day one for Game Pass. The story focuses on pirate Wuchang, who awakens in the Land of Shu without her memories. She inevitably becomes caught up in the madness caused by the Feathering disease, though shell wield multiple weapons and spells to fight back. Check out more gameplay here.

In just ten days time, Oppo will launch the Find N5, the worlds thinnest book-style foldable. I just spent a few minutes with the device and what follows are my early impressions.Oppo is careful to use that book-style disclaimer, because the Find N5 isnt quite as thin as Huaweis trifold Mate XT, launched in China last year. Not when open that is, though the Find N5 is comfortably thinner than Huaweis phone when closed, helped by only having two panels to fold, not three.1/5It feels outstandingly thin, so much so that the USB-C port is separated from the outside of the phone by what feels like a hairs breadth of metal. Without ditching the port entirely, its hard to see how we get phones much thinner than this. Whats striking is that despite that, the phone feels solid, sturdy even. It doesnt buckle under pressure, and while Im sure JerryRigsEverything will find a way to make the phone snap, it doesnt feel like Im at risk of doing it by mistake.Oppo has also tried to reduce the visibility of the displays crease. It is there, and it is visible, but only when it catches the light at just the right angle, and its almost impossible to feel with your finger. The crease isnt gone just yet, but at this point its close enough that its difficult to imagine being bothered by it.The Find N5 is launching in black and white models, though theres a rather nifty looking purple vegan (aka, fake) leather model that seems to be China-only, which is a real shame. It runs Oppos ColorOS Android skin, which means it should boast the same powerful multitasking features that were such a big draw on the previous generation.Im not allowed to say too much more about the Find N5 until its launch on February 20th, beyond what Oppo itself has said already: it will be powered by Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite chip; boasts a full array of IPX6, IPX8, and IPX9 water-resistance certifications; and packs in wireless charging as well as wired.The Find N5 launches in China and internationally next week, though not the US. That could still come later though. The previous-gen Find N3 eventually hit American stores as the OnePlus Open, and so its a safe bet that a version of the Find N5 with a OnePlus logo will be announced Stateside before too long.See More:

T-Mobiles Starlink-powered direct-to-cell satellite messaging service is now open for anyone in the US to try for free including people who arent T-Mobile customers. The service will be limited to text messaging at first but the company hopes to have some apps and even limited multimedia support ready by the time it goes live this summer. It will cost T-Mobile users $15 per month once the free testing period ends in July, or $10 for customers who participated in the beta trial. Verizon and AT&T customers can also try the service for free according to T-Mobiles press release, and will pay $20 a month per line. T-Mobile customers paying for the carriers priciest Go5G Next plan (which starts at $105 per month) will have the Starlink feature baked in at no additional cost. If you watched last nights Super Bowl, then you might have been misled by T-Mobiles ad. While it showcased satellite-supported voice and multimedia messaging capabilities, the public beta test only includes texting in dead zones for now. Support for picture messages, data, and voice calls is coming later. Mike Katz, T-Mobiles president of marketing, strategy, and products told The Washington Post that messages with photos or video clips will be added by the end of the beta period in July. Katz also expects the satellite service to work with apps that dont require super-fast data connections, such as certain trail/mapping services and WhatsApp.Well be working with a bunch of app manufacturers to create features in their apps that can optimize to the available bandwidth of the satellite network, Katz said.Registrations for the free beta opened in December, after T-Mobile and Starlink tested direct-to-cell emergency alerts and texts in disaster zones last year. T-Mobile says its accepting users who register on a rolling first-come, first-served basis, but quietly discloses that there are limited spots available in the fine print. The Starlink-enabled service works on most smartphones from the last four years according to T-Mobile, which lists currently compatible devices from Apple, Google, Motorola, Samsung, and REVVL on its website.SpaceX is partnering with carriers around the world for direct-to-cell Starlink services. In December it launched nationwide in New Zealand. AST SpaceMobile, which is partnering with Verizon and AT&T on their rival satellite-to-cell services, recently received regulatory approval to begin testing.See More: