Dating apps are a notoriously hostile space towards transgender users. If they list their transness in their profiles, theyre outing themselves to the world. If they dont, matches could accuse them of catfishing. Picking the right time to tell matches can feel impossible.With Match Note, Hinge wants to help these daters out.The feature, which launched this morning, lets users send a must-read note to their match before starting a conversation. The use cases extend far beyond trans users: The tool can also benefit neurodivergent daters, daters with children, and more. Listing these sensitive identity traits on a public profile can feel daunting; now, Hinge is offering a chance for users to keep some of their privacy.When youre dating, it can be vulnerable to open up to others, Hinge CMO Jackie Jantos writes in an email to Fast Company. Match Note gives all daters an opportunity to share what they feel is importantprivately and directlywith people theyve matched with.Hinges ploy to help minority datersIts a hard time to be trans in the United States. President Donald Trump has rolled back trans civil protections and encoded anti-trans language into his executive orders. His actions have also fed into an increasingly anti-trans corporate culture, as American companies continue to cow to Trump by cutting DEI initiatives. Even more companies, it seems, are afraid to say the word trans nowadays.Thats why its meaningful when Hinge announces new features specifically trying to help their trans customers. Match Note gives them more options, choosing exactly when and how they want to disclose their gender identity to other matches. Its popular, too: Of 2,000 daters who tested Match Note, 83% of trans and non-binary respondents thought the feature improved their ability to show up as their authentic self on Hinge, per Jantos.In the LGBTQIA+ community, trans, nonbinary, and queer+ folks used Match Note during testing to share more about their gender identity upon matching like highlighting from their profile that theyre trans or reminding matches about their pronouns, Jantos writes. Other members of the community, such as gay men, are using this surface to share more about their preferred sexual positions because it feels important to align on from the beginning.The tool could be useful for neurodivergent daters, too. Hinge users may not want the swiping world to know that theyre on the spectrum, for example. But that could affect their messaging patterns; with Match Note, that user could disclose their neurodivergence after matching. Or, imagine the single parent who needs their partner to love children, but doesnt want to breach the childs privacy by listing them on a public profile. With Match Note, they could save that information for just those they match with.How much do we share on dating apps?Even for traits that arent as personally sensitive, disclosures are becoming increasingly difficult. Think of the sober dater. While they may not care whether the world knows about their sobriety, its difficult to cram that into Hinges witty prompt boxes. (Generally, users dont look close enough to see a No next to Hinges glass icon.) Those disclosures also break the feeling of nonchalance that many users seek to create. What if they come off as overly earnest? Now, they can list their sobriety in a Match Note.[Animation: Hinge]Knowing when to share or repeat or go into detail about certain information can be tricky, Jantos writes. We hope this optional moment can save daters from any unnecessary confusion or heartache down the line and help you get on dates with the people youre excited about.

Here's an unusual barbecue cooking implement that fittingly comes from Asia. This mesh frying pan, by Japan's Noridomi Iron Works, was designed to allow you to cook rice and noodles over an open flame. While you could do this with a skillet or wok, this mesh design permits the flavors of the wood smoke to directly permeate the food. The mesh is stainless steel, and the pan comes in two sizes: A Small at 21cm x 38cm (8.3" x 15"), and a Large at 32cm x 48cm (12.3" x 18.9"). They run 17,820 (USD $119) and 21,450 (USD $144) respectively.

Good product designs solve a user problem, occasionally a problem the user didn't realize they had. Other product designs emerge when companies try to apply some technology they've mastered to a new market, answering a question no one asked.I think this product falls in the latter category, but I'd rather hear directly from the target market, which is musicians.Cooler Master is a Taiwanese company that makes gaming accessories, like chairs that deliver haptic feedback. They've repackaged that technology into this Throne X, a stool targeted at musicians.It uses "sound-to-vibration" internals to essentially serve as a haptic metronome. It can be set to keep its own beat, or provide the sensation of the beat that is already being played. "Sitting on the Throne X, musicians can feel the rhythm pulsing through their bodies, intuitively performing on the beat, better synchronizing with their bandmates, and immersing themselves in the art of music," the company claims. Musicians among you: Does this actually seem useful? And would you pay the $1,000 this will reportedly retail for?

How can one forget the 1993 movie Jurassic Park which brought prehistoric creatures to life in an exhilarating, action-packed storyline? The flick by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment was the first movie I watched in a jam-packed theatre that immediately sparked my interest in CGI and animatronics. The intimidating presence of Tyrannosaurus Rex just blew me away and for days I was daydreaming about the world when the dinosaurs ruled the planet.Back to the present day, LEGO Group has just revived my good old memories with a gargantuan T Rex set that is one of the largest so far in the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World series revealed by the Denmark-based toy builder company. They call it the Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex, and it is pretty huge by LEGO standards measuring over 41 inches in length and standing 12.5 inches tall. It beats the LEGO T-Rex set by a long margin, but if you have just a few inches of desk space that could be your thing.Designer: LEGO GroupThe 3,145-piece LEGO set (numbered #76968) is highly detailed and you would need a lot of living room or bedroom space to flaunt. Being a detailed set, it is going to be both a challenging and a rewarding experience for builders. The good news is, that this T-Rex can dominate your interior, virtually changing it from a humble abode to a prehistoric museum of sorts, available for LEGO Insiders from March 12. Other passionate collectors and Jurassic Park fanatics can buy the set starting March 15. LEGO Jurassic World Dinosaur keeps the realism very Real as it has a movable head, posable arms and tail, an opening jaw, and a lifelike skeletal structure. Everything right from the carnivorous tooth and ribs to the detailing of the feet and skeletonized hands is something worth appreciating. The movable nature of the joints gives you the freedom to pose the T-Rex in different configurations.This set comes with a display stand, hidden Easter eggs, and a plaque displaying the information about the set. Another nostalgic element of the LEGO build is the inclusion of the most loved Dr. Ellie Sattler and Dr. Alan Grant Minifigures. It comes with a coffee table-style instruction manual which makes the building process even more interesting. That is because it has captivating design details, facts about the T-Rex, and clips from the movie. If thats not your thing, theres a compatible LEGO builder app with a progress tracking feature, 3D rotating models, and interactive zoom to get even closer to the details of the build.76968 Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex is going to be exclusively available at lego.com and the authorized LEGO Store worldwide. Priced at $250, this is a must-have for collectors and Jurassic Park fanatics. However keep in mind, that it is going to take a chunk of your indoor space.The post LEGO Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus Rex is a highly configurable skeletal model of the carnivore first appeared on Yanko Design.

When youre out to dinner with a friend or a loved one or a potential partner, there can be some several awkward moments. Theres that moment when you dont know if someone will foot the bill or if you all go dutch. There are times when youre bored and youre waiting for your meal to finish. Theres also that usual awkwardness of the first date. Sometimes, you want to pull something out of your bag just to fill in that lull or weird moment. But what if your bag is the thing that can actually break the ice?Designer: Nik Bentel StudioThe RC Car Bag is one such bag that will surely be a conversation stopper or starter especially once the RC part comes out. As its name says, its a remote controlled car that also acts as a bag. Well, if you can still fit anything into it as its pretty tiny. Known for pushing the boundaries of design, Nik Bentel has crafted a piece that transcends the traditional role of a handbag. Its not just an accessory; its a kinetic, interactive experience. A bag that can roll across the table or any flat surface may just be one of their weirdest but also most interesting. We normally dont think of bags as kinetic accessories but this one is definitely designed to be that kind of fun item. Basically, the RC Car Bag is a genuine leather handbag that comes with four wheels that are not just for design but can actually move since they are motorized. They can even handle small obstructions like crumbs or even discarded napkins. It can move drift style up to 9MPH across flat surfaces with its silver reams with rubberized tread. Its perfect for sending notes to another person, or if several of you are carrying the bag, having a mini car race just for fun. It comes with a pistol grip style controller that can work from up to about 30 feet away. Just be careful when pulling it out of the bag as some might mistake it for an actual pistol. The RC will take up a lot of space in your bag though so youll have just a little space for a small trinket or two. Even though its made from genuine leather, the price tag might be too much if you cant even put anything in it and youll have to carry an extra normal bag for your actual things. The post Rev up your night out with the RC Car Bag first appeared on Yanko Design.

A Technicolor tragedy that many saw coming but couldnt prevent

AI slop is sadly here to stay.

MacworldOne of the best things about owning a Mac is the fact that you are less likely to be a victim of malware than with a Windows PC. However, macOS isnt foolproof and you shouldnt be too lax about protecting your investment. Here are our tips for keeping your Mac safe from day one:1.Choose a strong login passwordFoundryThe first thing you should do with your Mac is set up a good password. You might think that there is no need to password-protect your Mac if youre only going to be using it at home, but there are various reasons why you need this layer of protection.For one thing, without a password on your Mac, nothing on your Mac is secure and someone could gain access to your email, photos, and more. macOS has a number of security features that keep your data safe, but if someone gets past your login screen, they can still gain access to sensitive information.You can choose your password during setup, but if you haventor just want to change the one you pickedheres how:macOS Ventura and later Open System Settings.Select Touch ID & Password.You can now set up a password or change your existing password to something safer.If your Mac has Touch ID, you can also enter multiple fingerprints and select which can be used for Apple Pay and other purchases, and auto-filling passwords.macOS Monterey or earlierOpen System Preferences.Select Security & Privacy.Click General.You can now set up a password or change your existing password.Make sure you choose a sensible password that wont be easily guessed as your Mac can also be used as part of Apples two-factor authentication for iCloud.2.Change your Lock Screen settingsFoundryYou can set your Mac display to turn off when inactive after some time, which will not only protect your data, it will also save power if you are running on battery.When you select the amount of time you are happy to leave your Mac unprotected keep in mind that if the screen saver doesnt start for half an hour and then your Mac waits another 15 minutes before requiring a password, your Mac will be unprotected for 45 minutes.To choose the length of time you are willing to let pass before having to enter the password after the screen saver starts or the screen turns off, follow these steps:macOS Ventura and laterOpen System Settings.Click on Lock Screen.Select Start screen saver when inactive and choose 10 minutes.Select Turn display off when inactive we recommend you choose 10 minutes.Select Require password after the screen saver begins or display is turned off and choose 5 minutes.macOS Monterey or olderOpen System Preferences.Click on Battery (MacBook) or Energy Saver (desktop).On a MacBook, click Battery and select 10 minutes using the Turn the display off after slider.On a desktop, click on Power Adapter and select 10 minutes using the Turn the display off after slider.Go to Security & Privacy and beside Require password after sleep or screen saver begins, choose 5 minutes.In both cases, this will mean your Mac is locked down after 15 minutes of inactivity. If youd like that time to be less adjust the settings accordingly.3.Use Apples Password appClick on See All to see Passwords & Keychain if you dont see them.FoundryWe all know the importance of a secure password, but remembering them all can be frustrating. Thats why Apple offers a way to secure all your passwords so you only have to remember one. Apples Passwords app (originally part of iCloud Keychain) is a built-in password manager that works with all your Apple devices and will log you into all your software and services.You just need to make sure you have it set up:Open System Settings in macOS Ventura or later (or System Preferences on older versions of macOS).Click on the Apple Account information section at the top.Click on iCloud.Click the Password & Keychain toggle to turn it on (you may need to click on See All to see this section).Now when you need to enter a password, your Mac will offer to autofill the fields after Touch ID or password authentication. The new Password app launched with macOS Sequoia at the end of 2024.There are alternative password managers that arent just limited to Apple devices, such as LastPass and 1Password, see: Best Password Managers for Mac for even more options.4.Turn on Find My MacFoundryFind My is an Apple app that can help you locate a lost Mac or erase it remotely if its been stolen. Heres how to set it up:Open System Settings/System Preferences. Click on the Apple Account/Apple ID section.Click on iCloud.Click on See All and scroll through the options until you find Find My Mac and turn it on.Click Allow on the pop-up box when asked to Allow Find My to use the location of this Mac.Enter your Mac password.If Location Services is turned off you will need to turn it on, so go to Privacy & Security (or Security & Privacy) and turn it on.Now, youll be able to track your MacBook if its lost and completely wipe away your data if its stolen or if your Mac is compromised. Find My is an invaluable tool that we hope you never have to usebut youll be glad you set it up if you do.5.Set up multiple usersFoundryIf other people will be using your Mac, its a good idea to set them up as with their own User login so they cant access your data. Additionally, if someone needs access to your Mac you can set up a temporary Guest User.macOS Ventura and laterOpen System Settings.Choose Users & Groups.Click on Add AccountEnter your password to unlock.Enter the full name and account name of the user.Create a password.Click on Create User.macOS Monterey or earlierOpen System Preferences.Choose Users & Groups.Click the lock icon and enter your password.Click on the plus symbol.In the New Account section, choose Standard (not Administrator).Give them a name, account name, and password.If you want to set up a Guest User, select the option in the list of names and choose Allow guests to log into this computer. You wont need to set a password as they cant change user or computer settings and all saved files are deleted once they log out.6.Lock down your MailFoundryLocking your email down is also important if someone else might have access to your Mac. For example, you can stop scammers from being able to use tracking pixels hidden in images to tell them you have opened the email, thereby confirming a live email address. To protect yourself, follow these steps: Open Mail.Click Mail > Settings (Preferences in Monterey or earlier).Click Privacy.Make sure that Protect Mail Activity is selected. This will hide your IP address and load remote content privately so that senders cant see your activity.Another thing you can do is hover over links and email addresses in the message to see the URL so you can see if they are really what they appear to be. Read about How to protect yourself from phishing emails.7.Limit your app downloadsFoundryOne of the most powerful security features on your Mac is Gatekeeper. Designed to keep you safe by stopping you from installing anything that hasnt been verified by Apple, itll warn you any time your try to install an application from the web and block installation of some apps. The safest way to install apps on your Mac is to only download from the Mac App Store, but if you venture outside the store, your Mac can warn you before installing the app.Open System Settings/System Preferences. Click on Privacy & Security.Select App Store under the Allow applications downloaded from section.This wont prevent you from downloading apps outside the App Store, but it will require a couple of extra steps before it installs.See: How to open a Mac app from an unidentified developer for help if you then need to open an app that wont open, but be careful! 8.Keep your software up to dateScreenshotFoundryAll of Apples protections will be no good to you if you dont update your software when updates are issued so be sure to always update your Mac if Apple issues an update many of which have a security component.To update your Mac follow these steps: macOS Ventura and laterOpen System Settings.Click on General. Click on Software Update.Your computer will check for updates.If one is available, click Download and Install.macOS MontereyOpen System Preferences.Click on Software Update.Your computer will check for updates.If one is available, click Download and Install.To automatically install updates overnight, turn on Automatic Updates on Ventura or check the box beside Automatically keep my Mac up to date on macOS Monterey or older.9.Augment Apples XProtect antivirus a good Antivirus appFoundryIf malware or a bad app gets past Gatekeeper, macOS includes its own antivirus software called XProtect, which blocks and removes any malware detected on your Mac. XProtect is on by default and is updated by Apple regularly, but its not foolproof, so you might want to check out a Mac antivirus app to give yourself another layer of protection.Weve looked at a number of options in our best antivirus for Mac roundup, many of which offer additional features such as ransomware protection, anti-phishing, email protection, parental, controls, and VPNs. Our top recommendation is Intego Mac Internet Security, but we recommend checking out all of the options to see whats best for you.10.Use a VPNFoundryYou can add another layer of protection by using a VPN on your Mac. A VPN will encrypt all your data and route it to an endpoint operated by the folks who run the VPN service keeping your data completely private.Apple offers its own pseudo-VPN called iCloud Private Relay for anyone who pays for iCloud+ that encrypts your web traffic but doesnt hide your region and only works with Safari. So if you want a VPN that works with other browsers (and one that allows you to access region-locked content), youll need a dedicated VPN.A variety of companies offer VPN services and theyre usually paid for via monthly subscription fees. We have a round-up of the best VPNs for Mac with the top choices being NordVPN and Surfshark.11.Bonus tip: If the worst happens, turn on Lockdown ModeFoundryLockdown Mode isnt a setting most people will need to use. Apple says the extreme security measures are for the very few users who, because of who they are or what they do, might be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats, such as those from NSO Group and other private companies developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware. When activated, it will block most attachments in Messages, disable complex web technologies, and block incoming FaceTime calls, among other high-level security measures.To turn it on, youll need macOS Ventura or later. Head over to System Settings, then Privacy & Security, and click Turn on next to Lockdown Mode.

Separating AI reality from hyped-up fiction isnt always easy. Thats why weve created the AI Hype Indexa simple, at-a-glance summary of everything you need to know about the state of the industry.The past few months have demonstrated how AI can bring us together. Meta released a model that can translate speech from more than 100 languages, and people across the world are finding solace, assistance, and even romance with chatbots. However, its also abundantly clear how the technology is dividing usfor example, the Pentagon is using AI to detect humans on its kill list. Elsewhere, the changes Mark Zuckerberg has made to his social media companys guidelines mean that hate speech is likely to become far more prevalent on our timelines.

U2 frontman Bono's "Stories of Surrender" show is to premiere on Apple TV+ as the first-ever feature-length film to be shown in 180 degree and 8K video on Apple Vision Pro.Teaser poster for the first-ever full-length Apple Vision Pro documentary film image credit: AppleBono and U2 go back a long way with Apple, starting with their 2004 partnership that included iTunes ads and the black and red iPod. Ten years later, things went less well with Tim Cook popping U2's "Songs of Innocence" album onto everyone's iPhones in 2014, and just over ten more years later, frontman Bono is back.Bono later took the blame for Apple pushing the U2 album onto everybody, and he did so in his memoir, "Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story". He then turned that book into a one-man show, and this is what Apple has now filmed for both Apple TV+ and Apple Vision Pro. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums