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TikTok has officially shut down in the United States, leaving the influencer community in absolute chaos. The app, which dominated the social media world with its viral trends and short-form content, ceased operations late yesterday, putting millions of creators in an uncertain position. Many influencers have relied on TikTok as their primary source of income, and its sudden closure has left them scrambling to find alternatives.

Adding to the intrigue, reports are swirling that Donald Trump, set to be inaugurated tomorrow, may intervene to bring the app back. Trump’s relationship with TikTok has been a rollercoaster, from previous attempts to ban it to now rumored talks of a revival. The speculation gained traction when it was revealed that TikTok’s CEO will attend Trump’s inauguration, hinting at potential behind-the-scenes discussions about the platform’s future.

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Donald Trump’s influence in the world of politics is undeniable, but did you know he’s now making waves in the cryptocurrency space too? Recently, I decided to dive into the hype surrounding Trump’s Solana-based $TRUMP memecoin to see what all the fuss was about. The process was surprisingly straightforward, even for someone who’s not a crypto expert.

I’ll admit, I only invested about $20 as a small test. This experiment is purely exploratory and doesn’t represent any political affiliation on my part. Memecoins like $TRUMP are fascinating, not because of their functionality but because of the communities and narratives they build.

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Football fans are gearing up for the Super Bowl, and while the teams aren’t yet finalized, now is the perfect time to grab a massive TV for the ultimate viewing experience. Starting today, January 19, TCL is launching a series of can’t-miss Super Bowl TV deals, with prices so good they’ll make upgrading your setup a no-brainer.

TCL, the official TV partner of the NFL, is slashing prices on its lineup of massive QLED TVs. With stunning color accuracy, deep contrast, and bright, vivid displays, these TVs deliver an experience that puts you right on the field. The headline offer? TCL’s 98-inch Q6 QLED TV is dropping to just $1,499 -- that’s a jaw-dropping 50 percent off. If bigger is better, the enormous 115-inch QM89 is discounted to $14,999, a solid 44 percent savings.

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Datacolor has introduced the Spyder Celebration Kit to mark 25 years since the launch of its first Spyder calibrator. The kit includes the 2024 Spyder, Spyder Checkr 24, and Spyder Cube, providing creative professionals and beginners with tools to manage color accuracy throughout the photography and editing process.

The 2024 Spyder supports the latest screen technologies, including OLED, mini-LED, and Apple Liquid Retina XDR, ensuring accurate calibration across modern devices. Its Device Preview™ Beta feature lets users simulate how images will appear on tablets and mobile devices, giving creators confidence in the final presentation of their work. The kit is intended to cater to photographers, digital designers, and content creators who value precision in their visuals.

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deepin 25 preview is now available here, offering a glimpse into a beautifully designed and highly secure Linux-based operating system that challenges Windows 11. Developed in China, deepin demonstrates how open source software can unite global communities and deliver innovation that transcends borders. While some might be wary of software made in China, there’s no need for concern -- deepin is largely open source, transparent, and a reminder that collaboration across nations fosters progress.

It’s important to note that this is a pre-release version, and users should expect potential bugs and incomplete features. Deepin’s development team recommends the preview version for those with technical expertise and advises against using it in production environments. Beginners are encouraged to stick with the stable deepin 23 release until deepin 25 is finalized.

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According to new research only 13 percent of businesses are monitoring their AI’s energy consumption despite escalating power demands.

The study from SambaNova Systems gathered responses from 2,012 business leaders (1,004 in Europe and 1,008 in the US) finds that 49.8 percent are concerned about the energy and efficiency challenges posed by AI.

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The world is a pretty unstable place at the moment, which can lead to problems when it comes to making decisions on whether to invest in new technologies -- particularly in the context of a rapidly changing landscape for supply chains.

We spoke to Jonathan Barrett, CEO of Kallikor, to discuss how a new generation of AI-powered digital twin technology can help businesses to anticipate changes brought about by events outside their control, and adopt efficiency-driving technologies, such as robotics and automation, with confidence.

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Austria-based data protection and privacy advocating NGO noyb (none of your business) has filed a series of complaints against AliExpress, SHEIN, Temu, TikTok, WeChat, and Xiaomi for violating European general data protection regulation (GDPR).

The six firms stand accused of unlawfully transferring user data to China. In its complaints, noyb says that “given that China is an authoritarian surveillance state, companies can’t realistically shield EU users’ data from access by the Chinese government”.

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Microsoft has been testing a new Windows 11 security feature called “administrator protection” for a few months, and now the company has rolled it out to more users to try out.

Currently available to Windows Insiders who are beta testing preview builds of the operating system, the new security feature introduces important new protections by only assigning standard user permissions to administrator accounts. Authentication prompts appear when higher privileges are needed to complete a task.

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While Apple was excited to roll out news summaries powered by artificial intelligence, the reception has been somewhat muted because of some serious issues. The Apple Intelligence notification summaries were found to be sharing misleading or incorrect news headlines.

The BBC and other news outlets complained that their names were being used to spread misinformation, and Apple responded by promising an update to the service. For now, though, the company seems have to changed its mind, opting instead to simply disable notification summaries.

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Traeger, a well-known name in wood-pellet grilling, is introducing the Woodridge Series, a new lineup of grills designed for every level of outdoor cooking enthusiast. The series includes three models -- Woodridge, Woodridge Pro, and Woodridge Elite -- each offering a range of features to make grilling more efficient and enjoyable. These new grills aim to combine convenience and innovation, bringing a touch of sizzle to backyard cooking routines. And yes, they all include smartphone app support, so you can grill smarter, not harder.

The Woodridge Series is designed to handle multiple cooking methods, including grilling, smoking, baking, roasting, and even braising. Each model features a durable, modern design and Traeger’s WiFIRE technology, which connects the grill to the Traeger App. This integration allows users to monitor temperatures, adjust settings, and access recipes remotely, making it easier to achieve consistently great results.

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Nintendo has officially announced the Nintendo Switch 2, set to launch in 2025. With promises of exclusive games, enhanced hardware, and backward compatibility with most Nintendo Switch titles, the new console is sure to attract attention. However, for some gamers, including myself, the real question is how easily the system will support homebrew development.

The original Nintendo Switch became iconic not just for its innovative design but for how quickly the homebrew community embraced it. Unlocking the system to run custom software, emulators, and other non-official programs was surprisingly easy. This ability allowed users to customize their consoles and experience gaming in a whole new way. For many, the possibility of running homebrew made the system even more appealing.

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Linux Mint 22.1, codenamed “Xia,” is finally available, offering three desktop environments -- Cinnamon, Xfce, and MATE. This long-term support release will receive updates through 2029.

Cinnamon is the flagship desktop environment of Linux Mint and is the primary focus of this release. Version 6.4 of Cinnamon introduces a refreshed visual design, complete with darker tones, smoother rounded elements, and modernized dialogs. Wayland compatibility has also been improved, ensuring better performance and usability on newer hardware. Enhanced features include redesigned system dialogs, refined multitasking options, and the new Night Light feature, which reduces blue light exposure to improve sleep quality and reduce eyestrain.

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The transition from 2024 to 2025 brings a lot of uncertainty, speculation, and hopefully some optimism for the world of data privacy.

As technology continued to innovate, securing data grew more complex and consumers grew more concerned over how their information was being used. Regulatory changes are coming soon, with several states providing their own data privacy standards in anticipation of a shifting focus within the U.S. federal government, creating an important inflection point to set the tone for the future of data privacy and security.

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The EU's Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) comes into force tomorrow (Jan 17th) but new research shows that 43 percent of the UK's financial organizations are set to miss the deadline for compliance, with 20 percent expecting to do so by at least four months.

Although the UK is outside the EU its strong financial ties with Europe mean firms operating in or interacting with EU markets will need to align with DORA standards to continue their business relationships.

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