Top tracking software company suffers data breach, leaving thousands of customers vulnerable.

Cristiano Amon, CEO of Qualcomm, said TSMC's investment in U.S. chip manufacturing will be important for the economy.

As cars are becoming more connected, automakers see access to space as an important investment.

The worlds biggest fast-food chain by locations isnt Starbucks, KFC, or even McDonalds. Its Mixue Ice Cream and Tea.The Chinese quick service restaurant chain currently has about 45,000 storefronts across Asia and Australia, according to the research firm Technomic. Thats about 2,000 more than McDonalds global store count and 5,000 more than Starbuckss.But the boba tea purveyor really picked up broad attention when it debuted on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Mondayand raised an IPO of $400 million. Shares surged by around 43% before by the end of the day, bringing the companys total valuation to $10 billion. (Storefronts aside, McDonaldss market cap is over 20 times that size at almost $223 billion, and Starbuckss market cap is over 10 times at $129 billion.)Mixue was founded almost three decades ago in 1997. But for many Americans, its massive stock market debut might be the first theyre hearing of the company. Heres what to know about the beloved chain.Whats on the menu?As the name suggests, Mixue specializes in ice cream and bubble tea, offering a curated selection of sundaes, ice cream cones, smoothies, milk tea, and fruit tea. Popular options include treats like the super boba sundae (vanilla ice cream, sweet caramel or brown sugar syrup, and boba topping), brown sugar bubble tea, and lemon black tea.Why is Mixue so popular, and what sets it apart from U.S. chains?The main driver of Mixues popularity is its competitively low prices. Drinks and ice cream typically range between six and 10 Chinese yuan, which converts to around 83 and $1.40, respectively. Even in Chinas highly saturated bubble tea market, those kinds of numbers stand out. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Ernan Cui, a Beijing-based analyst for research firm Gavekal Dragonomics, noted that Mixues low prices have helped attract customers during an economic downturn: People are chasing more cost-efficient products, she said.Another key element of Mixues success is its expansion strategy. Several analysts have noted that Mixues tend to be relatively small by square footage but located in areas of high foot traffic, like near a university campus or squeezed between other popular shops. As the chain grows, this helps give the company a sense of ubiquity and build brand trust among repeated customers. Both Starbucks and McDonalds have tried their hands at incorporating a more trendy menu that somewhat reflects Mixues strategy. Starbucks launched boba offerings in the summer of 2024. McDonalds launched spin-off snack and bev concept store CosMcs in December 2023. But aside from featuring significantly lower prices than either Starbucks or CosMcs (a grande Starbucks boba cost around $7, while most of CosMcs beverages land around the $5 range), Mixue stands out due to the relative brevity of its menu. Despite continuously expanding its locations, the company has kept its selection limited to the beverage and ice cream space, steering clear of any actual food for the time being.What about the branding and mascot?Mixue has gotten its branding down to a science. It centers around three main elements: sound, color, and character.To start, the chain has found a way to live rent-free in the minds of its regulars by blasting its signature jingle on a loop in many of its stores. The earworm is set to the tune of Oh! Susannah with lyrics that translate to, I love you. You love me. Mixue Ice Cream and Tea.While this strategy has created a sort of Pavlovian effect in customers, its unsurprisingly less pleasant for workers. I worked in Mixue for two months and this song is killing me, one former employee wrote under a lyric video of the tune. If I hear this song one more time Im going to die, this song is haunting me everywhere, another commenter wrote.The Mixue branding stands out in storefronts and on socials with its simple, bright red-and-white color palette and bubbly font. Perhaps most recognizable, though, is the brands mascot: A somewhat confounding snowman-slash-superhero figure named Snow King. Hes pleasantly round, wears a red cape, and holds an ice cream cone on a stick like a scepter.Both Snow King and the brand jingle debuted around 2018, and the mascot has since become integral to the brands image and social media channels.Across Mixues various local accounts, Snow King can be seen in a mascot suit interacting with members of the public and participating in various trendssort of like the Duolingo bird, but for bubble tea.

CEOs who rushed to support Donald Trump after the election may have awoken this morning to the painful realization that they made a mistake. Its not just that business leaders were wrong to assume President Trump would never follow through on his threats to impose stiff tariffs on Canada and Mexico. They misjudged the man and the moment, failing to learn lessons from both politics and business. Now, clear-eyed CEOs should break from the herd mentality, steer clear of Trumps orbit, and plan for the likelihood that the pendulum will swing back to the center.Every day theres more evidence that the business communitys stampede to Trump was a miscalculation. Think of it as a Trump bubble, where enthusiasm overshot reality and undervalued risk. When the bubble bursts it will seem obvious that publicly aligning with a divisive, mercurial president was bad politics and bad business.Heres what many in the business community got wrong about Trump.Loyalty only goes one wayAmericas allies have learned this the hard wayjust ask Ukraineand business leaders should catch up. Its true that Trump is transactional. He has a history punishing corporate critics while shifting policy to reward financial backers. Former advisors say he is easily manipulated by flattery. But Trump is a fickle friend.Look at Mark Zuckerberg. After the election, the Meta CEO shut down fact checking on Facebook, allowed attacks against trans people and immigrants, and paid $25 million to settle a Trump lawsuit for suspending his account after the January 6 insurrection. But according to the tech journalist Casey Newton, Metas concessions to the right may have backfired. By bowing to Trump and giving credence to conservatives complaints about online censorship, Zuckerberg didnt quiet his criticshe emboldened them. Now Trumps Federal Trade Commission is launching a new probe of Facebooks content moderation policies. Voluntarily giving the bully your lunch money rarely works out.Trump is not as strong as he claims and is getting weaker every dayIts true that Teflon Don defied political gravity by rebounding from his 2020 loss and still manages to shake off scandals that would sink most other politicians. But that doesnt make him invincible.Trump wildly exaggerated the size of his victory. While he started this term in a stronger position than he did in 2017, hes still the least popular new president in modern history and his chaotic first weeks have damaged his standing further. Approval of Trumps handling of the economy, long his strong suit, is rapidly declining. Consumer confidence is dropping and inflation fears are rising.Things are likely to get worse for Trump, not better. Public opinion usually shifts away from the presidents party over time. And Republicans preparing to slash funding for health care to pay for big tax cuts for the wealthy are repeating the same playbook that cratered Trumps approval ratings in his first term and led to Democratic victories in the midterms. Business leaders fawning over Trump may hope theyre hitching a ride on a shooting star, but its more likely theyve tied themselves to a sinking stone.CEOs are underestimating the risks that come with cozying up to such a polarizing figureYou can look at the politics, as Republicans face angry town hall meetings and sinking poll numbers. But you can also look at the bottom lineand not just the costly tariffs that are likely to snarl supply chains and reignite inflation.Dumping diversity goals and retreating from sustainability targets may win points with MAGA critics in the short term, but research and experience both suggest it will be bad for business and the wider economy in the long term. Remember that companies did not embrace environmentally and socially responsible practices because of altruism, they did it because diverse talent leads to better outcomes, energy efficiency saves money, and because employees, customers, and investors demanded it.College-educated corporate workers and blue state consumers havent disappeared. Were already seeing some consumers start to vote with their feet. After Target joined the crowd abandoning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments, one study found foot traffic dropped nearly 10%. By contrast, it went up for Costco, which stood firm.Global companies face additional risks. They should expect cross-pressure from other governments and consumers around the world as Trump alienates allies and abandons shared concerns like promoting clean energy and AI safety. The same choices that help a CEO score a dinner invite to Mar-a-Lago may spur investigations in Brussels and boycotts in Toronto. Tesla sales are plummeting in Europe thanks in part to backlash against Trumps right-hand man Elon Musk.Theres business value in stabilityAnd even if you love tax cuts, they wont be worth much if the federal government is shattered and the rule of law is shredded. A healthy democracy, stable trading relationships, and a liveable planet are necessary for a thriving economy. This is starting to dawn on investors, who are warning of a Trump slump. The stock market has struggled since Inauguration Day. Even before the latest tariffs caused panic, the Wall Street Journal reported that for CEOs and bankers, the Trump euphoria Is fading fast. The Financial Times asked, Is corporate America already souring on Trump?Trump may cave to market pressure and roll back his new tariffs, but theres surely more chaos and uncertainty to come. He will have good daystodays State of the Union could provide onebut his honeymoon is ending faster than many expected. Looking ahead, business leaders should try to avoid controversy but be prepared for it to find them anyway. Smart CEOs are consistent in their long-term vision and arent swayed by passing political winds. You dont need to pick fights with a vindictive administration, but leaders arent afraid to tell the truth. Look at Ford CEO Jim Farley warning about the costs of Trumps trade policies, Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert highlighting the cost of selling off Americas public lands, and Coca-Cola continuing to make the business case for diversity.As hard as this moment is, theres an opportunity waiting for those brave enough to seize it. Over the next four years, many consumers and talented workersand some investors, toowill be looking for businesses that refuse to be complicit in cruel and potentially illegal policies. If youre not going to stand up for whats right, at least dont bend the knee to whats wrong.

Although Phillip Potthast has been reading Core77 since his time as an industrial design student, he never anticipated that he might one day appear in its pages talking about bees. "I was more into automotive and car design, actually," he reminisces. "And I've just pivoted, one hundred and eighty degrees, into tree hollows."Phillip Potthast's novel beehive design, HIIVE, evolved out of an industrial design thesis that originally sought to create a more ergonomic hive. After venturing into the field, however, Potthast witnessed first-hand the beekeepers' treatments against Varroa mites - a common honeybee parasite - and the aftereffects that these treatments had on the bees themselves. Ergonomics, he quickly realized, may not be the most pressing challenge that many beekeepers faced.When you're so happy with your molded parts you show them the beach at sunset.Honey bees help to pollinate as much as three-quarters of all flowers, and a third of the world's crops. These crucial critters, however, now find themselves also facing modern stressors like climate change, pesticides, and industrial food systems. In response, Potthast's designs aim to improve a beehive's overall health by harkening back to the era before humans developed the squat, utilitarian, honey-farming bee boxes that now dominate your average apiary. Left to their own devices in nature, honeybees often set up shop in the hollows of centuries-old tree trunks."Bees actually behave a bit like a power plant," Potthast explains. "In summer and winter alike, they manage a relatively complex thermodynamic and hydrodynamic system. They constantly create a microclimate, which we specifically support through our product." Even when the outside temperature drops to freezing, this cluster of bees can maintain a core temperature as high as thirty degrees Celsius while safely nestled in HIIVE's 44-liter cavity. The bees enter through an angled "flight hole" at the bottom, which enables both easy entry and defense against intruders."The first prototypes, actually, had been just for the bees. It was a nightmare to use," Potthast recalls, sitting within arm's reach of a HIIVE in the company's offices, on the outskirts of Berlin. "It only became human-centered and user-friendly in the second phase."Some of HIIVE's current design stems not just from human usage, but human regulation (under German law, for example, beehives must provide access to the breeding room to allow testing for American foulbrood, a spore-forming bacterium that can be fatal to colonies). Compared to classic hives, HIIVE also does not aim to maximize extraction of honey for human consumption. This novel model, however, has occasionally resulted in a significant learning curve for novice beekeepers."We have a really, really low Varroa mite pressure in our beehives," Potthast says, referring to the degree of infestation (for which beekeeping guidelines typically suggest a treatment every few months, to keep the infestation below two mites for every hundred bees). "For some people, it's even hard to believe if they don't try it themselves. We have the customers thinking they don't have Varroa pressure, and therefore some of them think they don't need treatments. But you have to read the bees in a much different way than in a box." Since its launch, HIIVE been working to release a full tutorial for their users: "You can do so much wrong with bees," Potthast cautions.Early on, Phillip Potthast found a willing collaborator in his partner, Fabian Wischmann, whose knowledge of business and startups became a key ingredient of HIIVE's success. Together, Potthast and Wischmann launched a Kickstarter in 2022 that exceeded their goals more than fifteen-fold - raising over 140,000 Euros, from hundreds of backers. Their success, however, did not come about purely organically. "You really have to invest substantial amounts to gain necessary visibility," Potthast notes. "It's a pay-to-win system. You need an advertising agency. Otherwise, you're just going totally under."The HIIVE team did, unfortunately, encounter multiple production delays over the following two years (suppliers that ordered the incorrect steel, for instance). But HIIVE remains quite satisfied with their partners: some of their 2023 updates, for instance, included videos of the injection molding at Irmamolde facilities in Portugal; the HIIVE's fabric cover, meanwhile, comes from a German mountaineering company, VAUDE, that already had experience making waterproof, UV-resistant PFAS-free gear (PFASs, or "per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances," are a group of synthetic chemicals notorious as persistent organic pollutants, also known as "forever chemicals"). Backers' orders began to ship early last year.The vast majority of HIIVE's supporters - ninety-six percent, at HIIVE's count - consider themselves hobbyists. One such backer, Thomas Zimmerling of Frankfurt, has a day job as a managing director of a consulting firm, but happily testified to his experiences with the HIIVE after almost a year of use. "The materials are extremely high quality," Zimmerling reported, in an email to Core77. "HIIVE requires less effort [than traditional hives]: I can check the condition of the bee colony very quickly, don't have to worry about additional insulation in winter, and can treat against the Varroa mite very easily."Another one of HIIVE's most compelling features, however, is still waiting to be released. "This is our sensor," Potthast says, dangling a small collection of circuit boards and wires in his fingers. "It's beautiful," he muses, admiringly. "A masterpiece of electrical engineering. The result of cross-disciplinary collaboration - which is not solely my achievement."Although each HIIVE can function without the sensor and accompanying gateway - a palm-sized device with three finger-sized antennas - the electronics would allow keepers to monitor a swarm's activity, arrival, or even level of vibrations within the hive (as a proxy for the brood's health and mood).These electronic components, however, have taken significant time to perfect. "The sensors have a runtime of one year," Potthast says. "Taking something to such a low power is a lot of work, and also a lot of engineering." HIIVE has also been saddled with having to certify three different radio signals - LoRaWAN, WiFi, and BLE - across multiple countries. This array of signals aims to cover multiple use cases - from HIIVEs kept within wifi range in a back garden, to a keeper who keeps them on a distant property and would utilize a GSM module (as used in cell phones) to monitor them from afar. As a result, HIIVE is currently in the process of launching a second Kickstarter - but this time, purely for the electronics.Going forward, Potthast feels especially excited to have their work officially assessed by animal scientists, whose research he'd heavily incorporated into HIIVE's design. "All the bullet points from the scientists that they'd gathered over the years," Potthast explains, "by observing tree hollows, the most natural home of honeybees: we took these scientific findings, shaped them, and turned this knowledge about bee tree hollows into a product/tool to make it accessible for beekeepers and their animals." Just this year, HIIVE has partnered with a consortium of bee scientists who have undertaken observations on a set of ten hives, which would help grant legitimacy to the company's claims of having such low Varroa mite pressure."Normally, as an industrial designer, you take care of usability: things have to look nice, and shiny, and the most ergonomic," Potthast opines. "But to mimic a 200 to 300-year-old tree hollow? That was quite a task."

It's been a few years since we asked "Why are wi-fi routers so darned ugly?" This Vibrant WiFi router, by Seoul-based industrial design firm Intenxiv, aims to change that. "Wireless internet routers have traditionally been hidden away due to their unconventional shapes, limited design options, and complex connections. To overcome this, we have conceptualized, designed, and manufactured a Switchable Skin System that allows users to freely customize the color, material, and finish (CMF) of their router, seamlessly integrating it into their space." "With this system, routers are no longer just functional devicesthey become a harmonious part of interior aesthetics while maintaining optimal performance." "For this project, we took charge of the entire CMF design, visualization (rendering), exhibition planning, booth design, and installation, bringing digital representations to life with hyper-realistic details while ensuring a seamless physical presentation. This approach enables us to propose a new direction where connectivity and aesthetics coexist effortlessly." The Vibrant WiFi router is in production by Korea Telecom.

Apples mid-tier tablet has received a significant update with the introduction of the M3-powered iPad Air. Available in both 11-inch and 13-inch variants, this latest iteration brings desktop-class performance to a more affordable price point while introducing several key improvements across the board. The new models hit store shelves on March 12, with pre-orders already open.Designer: AppleTwo Sizes, More ChoicesFor the first time in its history, the iPad Air now comes in two distinct screen sizes. The standard 11-inch model continues the Airs tradition of lightweight portability at $599, while the new 13-inch version offers a more spacious canvas for $799. Both models come in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray finishes.The larger display on the 13-inch model provides obvious benefits for creative work, multitasking, and media consumption. Educational institutions receive special pricing: $549 for the 11-inch and $749 for the 13-inch models.M3 Silicon: A Substantial Performance BoostThe heart of this update is Apples M3 chip, which represents the first time the iPad Air has received Apples latest-generation silicon architecture. The 8-core CPU delivers 35% faster performance in multithreaded tasks compared to the previous M1 iPad Air, while the 9-core GPU offers 40% faster graphics.The M3 brings several technical improvements, including dynamic caching, hardware-accelerated mesh shading, and ray tracing. These technologies enable more realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows in games and professional applications. Graphics-intensive rendering tasks see up to 4x performance gains over the M1 model.The Neural Engine also received attention, with AI workloads running up to 60% faster than on the M1 chip. This acceleration benefits the numerous machine learning features built into iPadOS.AI Features Take Center StageThe new iPad Air fully supports Apple Intelligence, the companys AI system designed to enhance productivity and creativity. The Photos app now includes a Clean Up tool for removing unwanted elements from images, while natural language search lets users find photos by describing their content.In the Notes app, Image Wand transforms rough sketches into polished images when users circle them with the Apple Pencil. The feature can even generate contextually relevant images when circling empty space within a note.Other AI capabilities include Image Playground for visual expression, Genmoji for custom emoji creation, and enhanced writing tools. ChatGPT integration with Siri and writing features allows users to access AI assistance without switching applications.Apple emphasizes privacy with these featuresIP addresses are obscured, OpenAI doesnt store requests, and users control when to use ChatGPT and what information to share.Redesigned Magic Keyboard Adds Function RowThe iPad Airs accessory ecosystem expands with a redesigned Magic Keyboard featuring a larger trackpad and a new 14-key function row. These keys provide quick access to screen brightness, volume controls, and other frequently used functions.The keyboard maintains the floating design of previous models while adding a USB-C port in the hinge for charging. It attaches magnetically and connects via the Smart Connector, eliminating the need for Bluetooth pairing or separate charging.Available in white, the new Magic Keyboard costs $269 for the 11-inch model and $319 for the 13-inch version, with education pricing at $249 and $299, respectively.Environmental ConsiderationsApple continues its environmental efforts with the new iPad Air, which contains at least 30% recycled materials overall. The aluminum enclosure uses 100% recycled material, as do the rare earth elements in all magnets.The battery incorporates 100% recycled cobalt andmarking a first for iPadover 95% recycled lithium. The packaging is entirely fiber-based, supporting Apples goal to eliminate plastic from all packaging this year.All Apple facilities, including the data centers powering Apple Intelligence, run on 100% renewable electricity. The company is also investing in renewable energy projects worldwide to offset the electricity used to charge its devices.iPadOS 18 Brings New CapabilitiesThe software experience on the new iPad Air benefits from iPadOS 18s new features. Math Notes lets users write mathematical expressions and see them instantly solved in handwriting that matches their own. The feature supports variables and graphing equations.Smart Script makes handwritten notes more flexible by allowing users to add space within text or paste typed text that converts to their handwriting. The system also automatically refines handwriting in real time for improved legibility.Audio Recording and Transcription captures lectures or conversations with synchronized transcripts, making it easy to search for specific moments by keyword. The Home Screen now supports dark or tinted effects for app icons and widgets, and the Control Center has been redesigned for easier access to common functions.Pencils, Storage, and Getting Your Hands on OneArtists and note-takers have their choice of stylus options with the new iPad Air. It works with both the feature-packed Apple Pencil Pro ($129) and the more basic Apple Pencil USB-C ($79). Students and educators get a small discount on either option.Storage wont be an issue for most users, with options ranging from a decent 128GB to a massive 1TB for digital pack rats. If you need connectivity everywhere, the cellular models will set you back an extra $150.Got an older iPad gathering dust? Apples trade-in program might knock a chunk off the price of a new one. And if dropping $599+ at once feels painful, Apple Card holders can spread payments over time without interest while getting a little cash back.While this update doesnt completely reimagine what an iPad Air can be, it does meaningfully improve the experience with better performance, a size option for everyone, and smarter software. The M3 chip and AI features keep it feeling modern, while the price remains in that sweet spot between basic tablets and pro-level devicesmaking it a solid choice whether youre taking notes in class, sketching on the couch, or editing photos on a plane.The post The iPad Air Gets a Major Refresh: M3 Chip and Two Size Options first appeared on Yanko Design.

Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets have become a critical part of our modern lives. Even though we know how harmful they can be to our bodies when used excessively, few of us can tear ourselves away from these screens, especially if our work and hobbies depend on them. The least we could do is to minimize the damage to our eyes, which is where alternative display technologies come in.E Ink or E-Paper Displays (EPDs) are the darling of eye-friendly screens, often used in e-book readers and some monitors. But while these screens have started to adopt some color, they still pale in comparison to regular displays, figuratively and literally. TCLs NXTPAPER technology is offering a middle ground, and its bringing the latest iteration of that eye comfort tech to its newest tablet that could become your favorite all-rounder entertainment and productivity device.Designer: TCLTechnically speaking, TCLs NXTPAPER is still based on the same LCD we know and love, except it adds a few extra goodies like nano-etch glass to recreate the look and feel of paper without going into E Ink territory. Along with other features that help reduce eye strain, NXTPAPER tries to offer the best of both worlds of eye-friendly EPD and colorful screens. The new NTXPAPER 4.0, in particular, steps up the game with nano-matrix lithography glass etching to improve display clarity and color accuracy, one of the biggest pain points of these types of displays.Flicker-free DC DimmingThe first device to enjoy this new tech is the TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus, the brands first 11-inch tablet that slots in between its 14-inch and 10-inch NXTPAPER slates. In terms of raw specs, its easily outclassed by the competition, running on a mid-range MediaTek Helio G100 processor with 8GB or 12GB of RAM and an 8000mAh battery that feels a bit too modest for a tablet of this size.Of course, the real reason youd even want to get your hands on this device would be its screen. The 11-inch 22001440 NXTPAPER screen promises multiple modes to fit your needs, from full to muted colors. Whether automatically set by AI or personally calibrated to your tastes, it offers no small amount of settings to tweak for a comfortable reading experience. And with the optional stylus, you can enjoy writing down your thoughts or sketching out ideas with some of the familiar scratchy texture of paper.There are also some AI features pre-installed, unsurprisingly, though the ones TCL is advertising revolve mostly around translations, note summaries, and other activities related to reading or productivity. No launch date has been revealed yet, but the TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus is expected to retail for 249 (around $260), which puts it squarely in the realm of affordable E Ink readers.The post TCL NXTPAPER 11 Plus could give e-book readers a run for their money first appeared on Yanko Design.

CorelDRAW Go aims to make graphic design more intuitive.