Yesterday's Pokmon Legends: Z-A gameplay reveal flooded us with new information about the upcoming Pokmon games set in a futuristic Lumiose City, including looks at dozens of Pokmon we should expect to see there. But one trio of monsters that fans were really hoping to see did NOT appear: the elemental monkeys Panpour, Pansage, and Pansear.Why are fans so hung up on the monkey trio? It's a bit complicated. The three monkeys and their evolutions have been a part of an increasingly shrinking list of Pokmon that are currently unavailable in any Nintendo Switch game. If you want to truly catch 'em all, you still can, by transferring them from other Pokmon games pre-Switch to Pokmon Home. But at the moment, the following Pokmon are unavailable for capture natively in any Nintendo Switch Pokmon game:PanpourPansagePansearSimipourSimisageSimisearPatratWatchogFurfrouThis list used to be much longer, but Game Freak added a ton of new Pokmon in the DLC for Pokmon Scarlet and Violet that culled the list down to these nine. What's more, the trailer we saw yesterday showed both Patrat and Furfrou, confirming these two at least will be available in Legends: Arceus. And since Watchog evolves from Patrat, it's a safe bet it will be in the game too. So that just leaves the three monkeys.The elemental monkey trio was first introduced in Pokmon Black and White, and are somewhat beloved by fans due to the unique way the player obtains them. In Black and White, the first Gym the player encounters will use a typing that the player's starter Pokmon is weak against. However, if the player visits a certain person in the Dreamyard, they'll receive the monkey that has an advantage against that Gym, making it easier to tackle. Their designs are also memorable for being based on the "Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" wise monkeys of Japanese folklore.Furfrou lets out a lakeside howl in Pokemon Legends Z-A.Realistically, the odds of the monkey trio showing up in Legends: Z-A are actually pretty good. It would be very surprising for Game Freak to leave them out of what could possibly be the last major Pokmon game on Nintendo Switch, and given that they appeared in the Kalos region PokDex back in the day, it only makes sense for them to still be there in Z-A.Even if the monkeys are included, there's still one other problem Game Freak needs to solve: Spinda. Spinda is catchable on Nintendo Switch in Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, but due to an error in how the game reads its spot patterns, it cannot be transferred to Pokmon Home. You can still get a Spinda from pre-Switch games transferred to Home, but the weird stuck nature of Spindas on Switch means that the dizzy little bear could probably use a functional Z-A appearance too, if Game Freak feels amenable.Our first real look at Pokmon Legends Z-A gave us a lot to take in, and we're still dissecting the footage to find all the connections between this and other, past Pokmon games. You can catch up on everything we saw at yesterday's Pokmon Presents right here.Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 developer Saber Interactive and publisher Focus Entertainment have published early 7.0 update patch notes, while teasing the long-awaited Horde mode.In a community post, the companies said the 7.0 update is in the works and a release date is coming. But it also outlined several awaited features itll bring:Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Update 7.0:One Chapter PackOne Champion PackPrivate PvP lobbiesA new weapon (only in PvE for now)New OperationWeapon perks rebalanceClass weapon loadouts reworkPvE Prestige RankThe PvE Prestige Rank is perhaps of most interest to veteran players of Space Marine 2 looking for a new challenge or goal to work towards. Heres how it works: once you reach level 25 on a class, you can buy a Prestige Level that will unlock a unique Prestige Perk.Choose them wisely, Focus and Saber said, because you wont be able to change your selected Prestige Perks before unlocking the four Prestige Levels. On top of that power boost, each class will have a unique cosmetic reward that emphasizes the class iconic armour part.Space Marine 2 will get Public Test Servers (PTS) on Steam only in March before Patch 7 comes out. This will give fans early access to the upcoming features and the chance to share feedback so the developers can refine the content ahead of launch.Meanwhile, Focus and Saber teased the upcoming launch of Horde mode, a feature Space Marine 2 players have been looking forward to ever since the game came out last year.Youre very eager to get more info on the Horde Mode, its one of our top priorities right now, Focus and Saber said.One thing we can say is that it will be very different from the Space Marine 1 Horde Mode, and that there are surprises we cant wait for you to find out about.Once we get really interesting things to show you about it, we will do it!Bear with us.In the same post, Focus and Saber also stamped out live service game talk amid a backlash to 'FOMO' Community Events. Last month, Focus and Saber addressed growing frustration over a lack of content and outlined what players can expect from Space Marine 2 in the coming months.Space Marine 2 enjoyed a record-breaking launch late last year, eventually shifting 5 million copies while becoming the fastest-selling Warhammer video game of all time.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Rey Skywalker.With those two words, the final words spoken in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, many fans threw up their hands in disgust. Honestly, no part of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker worked beyond clunky fan service that, ironically, only further alienated viewers. But even by those standards, Reys nonsense turn to adopt the Skywalker name made the universe feel smaller, reducing a vast a galaxy into just supporting players in the lives of two bloodlines and family dynasties.Given the sour taste that Rise of Skywalker left in the fandoms mouths, news of a new film by Shawn Levy, set maybe five or six years after the Sequel Trilogy, is being received with skepticism in some corners. After all, Levy most recently made Deadpool & Wolverine and Free Guy, two movies defined by their in-jokes and easter eggs for fans. Yet, we would argue, Levy might be the best chance to deliver a wide-ranging crowdpleasing Star Wars movie, one that doesnt get shackled by the Skywalker name.If only Lucasfilm will take it.After starting out as an actor in the Mystery Science Theater 3000 classic Zombie Nightmare, Levy transitioned to directing, soon finding success with middle-of-the-road and family-friendly comedies such as Big Fat Liar and the Night at the Museum trilogy. Even when moving into other territory, such as the raunchier comedies The Internship and Deadpool & Wolverine, or the dramedy This is Where I Leave You, Levy has maintained his broad sensibilities. He tries to appeal to as many people as possible. And when he gets to the galaxy far, far away, he will find another just like him.Levy will indeed be joined in his Star Wars film by Ryan Gosling. Although Gosling can certainly get weird (just watch the trailer for his lone directorial effort Lost River), he fundamentally remains the kid from the Mickey Mouse Club: a born entertainer. Gosling has leaned into that showmanship for recent turns in Barbie and The Fall Guy, proving that he can charm audiences in genre fare.Together, Levy and Gosling offer a crowdpleasing movie set in the shadow of the Sequel Trilogy; thats a rare energy for this era of Star Wars. Although the trilogy began with the J.J. Abrams-directed The Force Awakens, a movie that works precisely because it refuses to try anything new and largely just repeats the beats of the original Star Wars, the second two entries diverted course.Rian Johnson used The Last Jedi to get self-reflective about Star Wars, explicitly arguing that the franchise need not be about just the Skywalkers. Abrams subsequent return to the franchise for Rise of Skywalker seemed like an attempt at course correction. No, no only the Skywalkers (as well as the Palpatines!) matter! But it was too pleased with itself and its own callbacks to be effective. The familiarity that made The Force Awakens feel like a warm hug suffocated in Rise of Skywalker.Levy and Gosling often aim for likability and inoffensiveness, which is a good thing in this case. Star Wars is, fundamentally, a big blockbuster franchise. While theres certainly room for deep cuts and weird characters, the series has gone too far in that direction. The shortcomings of that approach are abundantly clear with one of the other movies in the works right now, The Mandalorian and Grogu. Where The Mandalorian started out as a favorite that people loved for its Western-style approach to sci-fi stories, the series soon became a string of references to cartoon shows, completely turning off those who cannot distinguish Dave Filoni from other cowboy hat enthusiasts.In fact, that first season of The Mandalorian provides Levy and Gosling with the best model to follow. The movie had plenty of recognizable Star Wars iconography, from the armor that Mando wears to Baby Yoda to the distinct sound of automatic doors in the universe. But it wasnt just about Luke Skywalker and his famous family. The first season struck the right balance of recognizable elements and new things, making viewers feel safe and entertained.With Rey Skywalker off setting up a school that will be the focus of her own trilogy, Levy and Gosling dont have to worry about Skywalkers at all. Instead they should just play around in the world of Star Wars. Thats a worldor galaxy, evenof space battles, cool aliens in a bar, and other strange sights or sounds we almost certainly have never experienced before. And sure, there will probably be a Jedi or two.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!But there cant be a Skywalker because people dont want them. And Levy and Gosling know how to give the people what they want.

A few years ago, I left a furniture store in New York City with a light gray fabric swatch and instructions to try to ruin it. That night, my kids, two and six at the time, went wild dousing the swatch in ketchup, finger-painting on it, and, of course, dunking the poor, soft square in the toilet bowl (which was, I promise, cleanish). After all their upholstery debauchery was done, the swatch remained good as new. The fabric was indeed indestructible. I ordered the couch that night, and sure enough, it has held up like a champ.But guess what? I hate that couch. And I hate my living room. Everything is so kid-friendly and stain-proof that it lacks any sophistication or edge. I love ceramics, and with a now five-year-old boy, I cant have ceramics. I love antique rugs, and because of my hot-cocoa-crazed kids, I deploy only Ruggables (an excellent brand, I might say). As a woman who identifies as an artist and individualist, I find it humiliating to tell friends that, I really, honestly, seriously do have great taste, as they recline on a Good Vibes Only pillow from Five Below. So when I recently found myself in a friends newly designed living rooma milieu of Parisian upholstery, formal drapes (freakin drapes!), silk rugs, and sexy coffee table books that had nothing to do with Dork Diaries or Ramona and Beezus, I was dead with envy. The room was decidedly kid-unfriendlyand she definitely has kids, who she definitely loves. So when I asked what kind of phenomenon I was experiencing, she said, Oh, the off-limits living room is back! The off-limits living room. What a genius idea. Related StoriesIts not entirely foreign to me. I have an off-limits bedrooma rule I imposed after my daughters friend was found under my Brooklinen Luxe Sateen sheets sheets eating chicken nuggets. And I grew up with a mother who had strict boundaries around rooms: Shoes and coats must live in the mudroom; no TVs in the bedrooms; no food outside the dining areas; and when the kitchen is closed, THE KITCHEN IS CLOSED. But the living roomas in, the thing commonly known as the family room?designated for grown-ups only? Could this glorious trend be real? Why We Want Very Adult SpacesNate SheetsThe living room in a Kansas City home designed by Annie Kern.According to Joan Barzilay Freund, author of I was shocked to find out that furniture brands are feeling the off-limit living room popularity too. There might even be a low-key backlash against the shiny, inherently depressing (to me, at least) performance fabrics that have been all the rage in my mom friend circles. Phantila Phataraprasit, cofounder andCEO of Sabai Design, says, Were seeing a rise in our hemp fabrics, which are 100 percent natural and untreated. We were initially concerned that people would shy away from the hemp due to it being less stain-resistant. However, its sales continue to increase rapidly. I think perhaps stain-resistant fabric is taking a back seat to the beautiful, organic materials.Lauren Martin-Moro of the design firm Alchemy Collective thinks all this could be post-Covid related. Post pandemic, weve definitely seen a shift in clients wanting spaces to feel more aesthetically elevated. Its a priority Im hearing more than family friendly these days. Our clients want to feel inspired at home. They want style. Theyre ready to design for THEM and enjoy every ounce of it.When I asked if there are other factors that could play into the adultification of our living rooms, Martin-Moro suggested it could have something to do with the current real estate climate. Since no one can afford to level up these days, theyre taking what they have and making it better, more aspirational. Our clients want to feel inspired at home. They want style. So whether its a bold stripe on an unexpected chair silhouette, a sophisticated wallpaper, or a coffee table with the long-feared sharp edgestheyre ready to design for THEM and enjoy every ounce of it, which I wholeheartedly encourage. The Fantasy Versus RealityThomas KuohA gallery wall curated from the familys art collection in a San Francisco home designed by Emilie Munroe. Martin-Moro might have this kind of agency because its how she grew up. My mother did not change one ounce of our family home to accommodate the wilder child-rearing years. She had open shelves full of china, a metal and glass coffee table, antique rugs in each room, and special artwork everywhere. She instilled in me a respect and awareness for the finer things within a home, and how much joy a personalized, beautiful space can bring. Preach. However. Im not sure how practical any of this is for my family. We live in a tiny Brooklyn apartment (its about 900 square feet). If I dont let my kids in the living room, they literally have nowhere else to go. If I do let them in the living room, and its filled with gorgeous, fragile things, someone will wind up in the emergency roomwith either stickers (the kids) or a nervous breakdown (me). So either the Off-Limits Living Room is an option thats only available to people with big homes, as if theyre not lucky enough already, or theres a way to implement some of these lessons into our particular, smushed-together lifestyle.For example, Ill never have the space or lifestyle for a snazzy bar cart, but I can enhance my glassware game by replacing our cups that may or may not say Chuck E. Cheese on them with gorgeous drinkware that feels very me, and very cool, like these Etched Thistle Recycled tumblers, plus a matching pitcher, from East Fork, which I recently purchased with delight. Little upgrades like that definitely make me less embarrassed to entertain adults. I can also put up more art from artists who I personally respond to, like this evocative collage by James Gallagher, and another framed print I found on Etsy with the words to live by: Get Your Shit Together. And once and for all, I can burn that soul-sucking, boring gray couch and go with something dangerously chic and recklessly beautifulalthough as I currently watch my daughter eating Nutella without a spoon on said sofa, I think the design gods might be telling me, not quite yet.East Fork Etched Thistle Recycled Glassware$18 at eastfork.comDavid Shrigley Framed Pop PrintNow 25% Off$33 $25 at EtsySanderson Sanderson x Giles Deacon Regency Aperigon Pillow Cover$259 at Williams SonomaMaison Louis Marie No.04 Bois de Balincourt Home DiffuserFollow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

While we are still tracking a host of big-time deals on major Apple releases, including the latest Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Pencil Pro, M3 MacBook Air configurations at up to $420 off the original prices, and more, todays deals are largely focused on big-time accessory offers. Firstly, the 4-pack of AirTags has now dropped to its best price ever at $64.50 (thats $16 per AirTag). Next we move over to official Apple Watch bands the Solo and Braided Solo Loops are now starting from $15 (thats over 70% off) while the army green-style Alpine Loop is seeing a massive 55% price drop at $45. Youll also find some M4 MacBook Pro deals and moreawaiting below in todays 9to5Toys Lunch Break.Amazon has now dropped Apples 4-pack of AirTags down to its very best price ever. Regularly $99, you can now score four of them for $64.49 shipped thats 35% off and a new Amazon all-time low to deliver a price at just over $16 per AirTag.While Amazon still has its single AirTag listing down from $29 to $22.99 (within a few bucks of the lowest price to date), the 4-pack has never sold for any less than this. In fact, we have never tracked the 4-pack down this low from any retailer ever outside of some extremely limited YMMV deals that very few folks would have had a shot at. Black Friday sales at the end of 2024 had this bundle package going for $69, for the record.All things considered, at just over $16 per AirTag here, youre looking at prices much closer to a third-party Find My tag from a budget brand.However, Apples AirTag remain atop the list of the best item trackers out there to this day. They also just received a notable software update in the form of the new Share Item Location feature it allows users to enlist the help of trusted friends and businesses (like approved airlines) to track down their misplaced AirTag (and the gear it is attached to). The complete details on this are waiting for you over at 9to5Mac.AirTag 2 is expected to be launching at some point this year with better range and an improved ultrawide band chip, which is quite possibly the reason we are seeing such a fantastic deal here today. But the AirTag on sale right now remains the best in the business and theres no denying the price tag here at just over $16 a pop.Hello! Massive deals now live on official Apple Watch Solo/Braided Loops from just $15 Prime shipped (Orig. up to $99)Woot has now re-stocked its deals on the official Apple Solo Loops and Braided Solo Loops. Originally $49 and $99, respectively, youre looking at up to 70% price drops to mark a return of the lowest cash deals we have tracked on these bands, outside of a limited bundle offer. The silicone Solo Loops are now starting at $19.99 and the braided models are listed at $29.99, both free Prime shipping (a $67 delivery fee will apply otherwise). That said, new Woot customers can take an additional $5 off these bands using code APPLEFIVE at check out right now even if you arent a new customer give the code a try anyway.After going over the terms and conditions on the bonus coupon offer, it doesnt seem to explicitly say anything about new or returning customers, so youll want to give the code a shot either way. The price even without it is already rock-bottom so its not a huge deal, but at $15 and $25 a pop here, we are talking about the lowest prices we have ever tracked.You will find a giant selection of colors available on these official Apple Solo Loops, ranging through shades of greens and blues as well as reds, oranges, yellows, and more neutral options black, gray, tan, and so on. We are also noticing that Woots stock of size optionson many of these bands has been refreshed, but with prices like this youll want to get in there as soon as possible if youre interested.Score a massive 55% price drop on the green Apple Watch Ultra Alpine Loop at $45 (Orig. $99, small)Apples upgraded 1TB M4 MacBook Pro is up to $210 off today, 512GB model still down at $1,399While the major $200 price drop on the entry-level M4 MacBook Pro are still live on both colors at $1,399, we are also tracking the upgraded 1TB model starting from $1,589 shipped right now. This is a regularly $1,799 configuration that is now up to $210 off the 16GB/1TB model is Space Black is still at the $1,589 Amazon all-time low, and it has just dropped the silver model back to its best price at $1,599 shipped.But how does this deal price compare to the more powerful M4 Pro machines? While we have seen the 24GB/512GB M4 Pro model as low as $1,699 in the past, that was indeed a doorbuster offer and it hasnt dropped below $1,749 since it is currently on sale for $1,779 at Amazon.That leaves the aforementioned entry-level M4 MacBook Pro as the closest option in terms of price and specs. Again, it all goes back to how much you value the internal storage upgrade here. Is double the storage worth spending an extra $190 for you? For me it isnt, and in this case I would go with the sweet deal still live on the 16GB/512GB M4 model at $1,399 instead, but some folks like to have the expanded storage capacity built-in and the price is right here as far as Apples internal SSD options go.Apple 15-inch 16GB M3 MacBook Air with upgraded SSD now even lower at $1,279 ($420 off original price), more from $899Launch deal now live on Journeys new leather Apple Find My Key Organizer tool with box cutter at 20% offBelkins Apple MagSafe Duo-style 2-in-1 15W MagSafe charger now seeing a major 40% price dropTodays accessories and charging deals:Official M4 iPad Pro Magic Keyboards now up to $114 off (Best Buy open-box, full Apple warranty)Apple Pencil Pro holiday pricing now live again at Amazon, grab one for $99 (Nearly 25% off)Just about every Apple Watch Series 10 config is now back at Black Friday pricing from $329Best Buy launches Travel Tech sale: iPad 10 $279, AirPods Max USB-C, Beats, and moreLevels ultra-discreet Apple/Google Home smart Lock Connect bundle is now $249 in all colors (Up to $100 off)While we did happen to coincidentally spot some of these deals popping yesterday (that is what we do after all), Nomad has now officially launched a wide-ranging overstock sale featuring a number of its newer releases for iPhone 16 alongside some bundle offers that combine its wonderful MagSafe chargers with its premium cables and wall chargers too. Head below for a closer look.Again we already detailed some of these deals yesterday, and we will leave you with links to those posts for additional insight on the value there, but there are plenty more now going live in the official Nomad overstock section of the site.Here are the details from Nomad on the standout deals youll find some new bundle options up top followed but a selection of one-off deals on Apple Watch Bands, iPhone 16 cases, charging gear, and more:Bundle offers:65W Adapter & Universal Cable $51 (Additional 20% off)30W Adapter & Base One Max Carbide $132 (Additional 20% off)More featured deals:Sport Case iPhone 16 Pro Max | Naval Blue $30 (40% off)Sport Band 46mm/49mm | Black $48 (20% off)Modern Band 46mm/49mm | Silver Hardware | Black | Horween $64 (20% off)Base One Max MagSafe Carbide 2nd Gen $128 (15% off)AC Adapter 30W | Carbide $21 (30% off)USB C Cable 0.3M | USB-C | Kevlar | V2 $13 (50% off)And even moreAll of these items might be temporarily sitting in the brands Overstock section, but they all still come with the full warranty and are eligible for returns if needs be.More of the latest from Nomad:Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple has a big goal of making all its products carbon neutral by 2030. But the company is now being sued over claims that its first such product to hit that goalApple Watchisnt actually as carbon neutral as Apple says. Heres what you should know about the new Apple Watch carbon neutral lawsuit. Updated 2/28 11:45 a.m. ET to include Apples statement in response below.Watch buyers believe they were misled by Apples carbon neutral claimsJonathan Stempel writes at Reuters:Apple has been sued by consumers who said its claim that three versions of Apple Watches are carbon neutral and environmentally friendly is false and misleading.In a complaint filed on Wednesday in San Jose, California federal court, seven purchasers of the green-tagged Apple Watch Series 9, SE and Ultra 2 said they would not have bought their watches or would have paid less had they known the truth.Applelaunchedthe watches in September 2023, saying they would be carbon neutral through a combination of lower emissions and purchases of carbon offsets.But the plaintiffsfrom California, Florida and Washington, D.C.said two carbon offsetting projects on which Apple relied to meet its corporate emissions target did not provide genuine carbon reductions.Two specific offsetting projects are named as not genuine:Kenyas Chyulu Hills ProjectChinas Guinan ProjectPlaintiffs argue that neither of these should actually qualify for providing carbon offsets to Apple:In both cases, the carbon reductions would have occurred regardless of Apples involvement or the projects existence, the complaint said. Because Apples carbon neutrality claims are predicated on the efficacy and legitimacy of these projects, Apples carbon neutrality claims are false and misleading.Maybe I dont understand how carbon offsets work, but isnt the point that Apple purchases them as some sort of credit towards the carbon produced by the manufacturing of their products?So of course Apple would have no hand in the reductions produced by those projects. The point is that theyre buying those offsets produced. Not funding the project as an investment, or managing it themselves. View all commentsThe lawsuit seeks damages from Apple and an injunction blocking Apple from using the term carbon neutral in any of its product marketing.Since the 2023 launch of the first carbon neutral Apple Watch models, Apple has also launched the M4 Mac mini as its first carbon neutral Mac, and also expanded the options for carbon neutral watches with the Apple Watch Series 10 line.Update 2/28 11:45 a.m. ET: Apple has provided the following statement to 9to5Mac:We are proud of our carbon neutral products, which are the result of industry-leading innovation in clean energy and low-carbon design. Weve drastically cut emissions for Apple Watch by over 75 percent, and we are investing significantly in nature-based projects to remove hundreds of thousands of metric tons of carbon from the air. That innovation and progress is important to us and to the planet, which is why we detail our work prominently and transparently for our users.What do you think of Apples new carbon neutral lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.Best Apple Watch deals and accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Fresh off the heels of the AI-powered accent adjustmentsin the Oscar-nominated 2024 film "The Brutalist," the French company that owns the largest call center in the world has announced that it's using similar technology to "soften" its India-based agents' accents.As Bloomberg reports, the Paris-based outsourcing company Teleperformance which works with clients including Apple, Samsung, and TikTok invested $13 million earlier this year in Sanas AI, a "real-time speech understanding platform" that boasts a so-called "accent translation" feature that uses machine learning to scrub the accents of overseas customer service workers.In an interview with Bloomberg, Teleperformance deputy chief executive officer Thomas Mackenbrock said that Sanas' technology, which his employer has gained exclusive rights to through its partnership, can "neutralize the accent of the Indian speaker with zero latency.""When you have an Indian agent on the line, sometimes its hard to hear, to understand," Mackebrock said. Translating agents' accents to make them easier for native English speakers on the other end of the line "creates more intimacy, increases the customer satisfaction, and reduces the average handling time," he added."It is a win-win for both parties," the deputy CEO enthused.Despite those sentiments, however, the markets seem to disagree.As Investing.com reports, Teleconference stock fell 11 percent after the company announced in an investor call earlier in the week that it was investing up to $104 million in AI technologies.Though Teleperformance reported a consolidated revenue of $11 billion in 2024, per that call, investors seem to think the outsourcing company "missed expectations despite higher-than anticipated synergies," JPMorgan analyst Sylvia Barker wrote in a note viewed byBloomberg.Reading between the lines, it sounds like investors aren't impressed with that big spend on AI technology or, perhaps, are displeased by the optics of "neutralizing" call center workers' accents.In classic C-suite-speak, the deputy CEO spun Teleperformance's accent translation investments as a boon for human labor in the age of AI."AI will be ubiquitous, it is already today," Mackenbrock told Bloomberg. "But in order to build connections, customer experience, branding awareness, the human element will be incredibly important."More on AI in the workplace: Study Finds That People Who Entrust Tasks to AI Are Losing Critical Thinking SkillsShare This Article

Elon Musk has long been the linchpin of Tesla's appeal, commanding unbelievable hype that has elevated the automaker to a stellar valuation while making it a household name.But as Musk unravels amidst his active role in far-right politics, his deteriorating public image is beginning to have the opposite effect on Tesla's brand. And you don't have to look much further than his own customers."The pride and the good feeling I had driving in it is gone for me," Tae Helton, the owner of a Tesla Model 3 who lives near the automaker's factory in Fremont, California, .The tipping point for Helton, a political moderate, was when Musk performed a Nazi salute at president Donald Trump's inauguration celebration. Before that went down, he was considering getting a second Tesla for his family. Now, Helton plans to pay off his car loan early and trade in the vehicle, per Bloomberg.Souring sentiments like Helton's come as Tesla sales plunge worldwide, and in Europe especially, where he has inflamed public opinion by backing far-right factions like Germany's AfD party, leading to protests, acts of vandalism, and political stunts decrying Musk's flirting with Nazism.In January, the number of Tesla vehicles sold in the continent nosedived by 45 percent compared to the same period last year, down to a meager 9,945 sales, according to new datafrom the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association.The trend continues what was a rough year for Tesla globally in 2024, in which its total automotive revenue the money made by selling vehicles, basically declined by over $5 billion, with its profits falling by a staggering 71 percent."Tesla's biggest challenge in 2025 isn't technology it's perception," Jacob Falkencrone, global head of investment strategy at Danish bank Saxo, told Bloomberg. "Elon Musk's political baggage is now weighing on sales, brand loyalty and investor confidence."Stateside, Musk's role in the Trump administration, ruthlessly cutting federal spending through his so-called Department of Government Efficiency, has led to demonstrations and, more pervasively, countless Tesla cars getting trashed by disgruntled citizens."I couldn't handle what Elon Musk was doing anymore," San Francisco bay resident Eric Thurber, who bought a Model 3 in 2021, told Bloomberg. Thurber said he sold his car at a hefty loss following the inauguration, buying another EV, the BMW i4 sedan.Helton, the other Model 3 owner, also turned to one of Tesla's competitors, purchasing a Hyundai Ioniq 5.And if once enthusiastic customers are turning up their noses, you can bet that potential ones are going to start looking elsewhere, too like one Micah Barber, a college professor in Austin who wants to make the switch to EVs, and who once admired Tesla's accomplishments. The stink of Musk, though, has proved too powerful of a deterrent."He's become one of the most dangerous people in our country," Barber told Bloomberg at a demonstration outside a Tesla showroom in Austin.Share This Article

Feb 28, 2025Ravie LakshmananMobile Security / Zero-DayA 23-year-old Serbian youth activist had their Android phone targeted by a zero-day exploit developed by Cellebrite to unlock the device, according to a new report from Amnesty International."The Android phone of one student protester was exploited and unlocked by a sophisticated zero-day exploit chain targeting Android USB drivers, developed by Cellebrite," the international non-governmental organization said, adding the traces of the exploit were discovered in a separate case in mid-2024.The vulnerability in question is CVE-2024-53104 (CVSS score: 7.8), a case of privilege escalation in a kernel component known as the USB Video Class (UVC) driver. A patch for the flaw was addressed in the Linux kernel in December 2024. It was subsequently addressed in Android earlier this month.It's believed that CVE-2024-53104 was combined with two other flaws CVE-2024-53197 and CVE-2024-50302 both of which have been resolved in the Linux kernel. They are yet to be included in an Android Security Bulletin.CVE-2024-53197 (CVSS score: N/A) - An out-of-bounds access vulnerability for Extigy and Mbox devicesCVE-2024-50302 (CVSS score: 5.5) - A use of an uninitialized resource vulnerability that could be used to leak kernel memory"The exploit, which targeted Linux kernel USB drivers, enabled Cellebrite customers with physical access to a locked Android device to bypass an Android phone's lock screen and gain privileged access on the device," Amnesty said."This case highlights how real-world attackers are exploiting Android's USB attack surface, taking advantage of the broad range of legacy USB kernel drivers supported in the Linux kernel."The activist, who has been given the name "Vedran" to protect their privacy, was taken to a police station and his phone confiscated on December 25, 2024, after he attended a student protest in Belgrade.Amnesty's analysis found that the exploit was used to unlock his Samsung Galaxy A32 and that the authorities attempted to install an unknown Android application. While the exact nature of the Android app remains unclear, the modus operandi is consistent with that of prior NoviSpy spyware infections reported in mid-December 2024. Earlier this week, Cellebrite said its tools are not designed to facilitate any type of offensive cyber activity and that it works actively to curtail the misuse of its technology.The Israeli company also said it will no longer allow Serbia to use its software, stating "we found it appropriate to stop the use of our products by the relevant customers at this time."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Enterprise Customer Success Manager | WEVOLATAM (Fully Remote)About WEVOWEVO is an AI-powered, venture-backed startup revolutionizing how companies create digital experiences. Instead of relying on slow, expensive in-market testing, WEVO enables businesses to knowbefore launchwhether a product, webpage, or campaign will succeed. Were replacing the old fail fast mindset with a new standard: succeed on day one.The market opportunity? Any company with a website that wants to deliver better experiences to its customers.At the core of WEVO is an AI platform, fine-tuned with over 1 million user studies and protected by 12 patents. Our proprietary AI simulations predict user behavior with unparalleled precisiondown to micro-segmentsempowering businesses to create high-value digital experiences.Leading brands, including Mastercard, LinkedIn, Goldman Sachs, and Ford, trust WEVO to optimize their digital strategies. Having recently achieved profitability and secured new funding, we are entering our next phase of growth. This is an extraordinary opportunity to join a company that is not just reshaping an industry but defining the future of AI-powered digital experiences.About the opportunityThis is an opportunity to join WEVOs growth team and to manage a book of enterprise accounts. You will lead the relationship with key customers, ensure their success and help grow their WEVO usage and revenue. Many of the companies you will work with are leading brands and Fortune 500 firms.ResponsibilitiesThe customer success manager acts as a main point of contact for all account activity with major enterprise-level customers. Responsibilities include:Partner with customers to support their user research initiativesOnboard and train customer teams on how to be successful with WEVOCreate and deliver quarterly business reviews (QBR)Lead success planning for Tier 1 & 2 customersServe as customer escalation point for support or service issueMonitor account health metrics (adoption, active users, etc.) and use data to inform actions or interventionsCollect and monitor use case and value realization intelligence as part of customer value management programProvide customer insight to the product team and help shape product strategyRequirementsAt least 3 years in a customer success or account management role, at a SaaS company. Working with enterprise customers (at least $500M in revenue) is a must.Industry expertise in UX research, website testing/optimization, and/or digital marketing.Strong presentation and communication skills.A self-starter capable of working independently, managing their own deadlines and deliverables.Comfortable in an entrepreneurial environment.Fully fluent in EnglishBenefitsWe believe that great outcomes are achieved by remarkable people working closely together.WEVO offers an environment that emphasizes personal growth and empowerment.Competitive base salary and bonus plan.Equity stake.Unlimited vacation days.Paid parental leave.If you are passionate about working on a team that is changing an entire industry, and growing rapidly, we want to hear from you. Reach out to us today.