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Amazon Closes Operations in Quebec, Laying off 1,700 Workers

NYT Technology - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 22:13
Unions had gained a foothold in one of the company’s warehouses in the province, though Amazon would not say if there was a connection.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 23, 2025

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 22:00

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 23 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: The act of exceeding or surpassing others

  • Green: Brought for an outdoor meal

  • Blue: Iconic archaeologist's outfit and gear

  • Purple: Words that rhyme with former heads of state

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: Outdo

  • Green: Picnic Accessories

  • Blue: Parts of an Indiana Jones Costume

  • Purple: Rhymes of U.S. President Names

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #592 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Outdo: BETTER, ECLIPSE, SURPASS, TOP

  • Picnic Accessories: BASKET, BLANKET, COOLER, UTENSILS

  • Parts of an Indiana Jones Costume: BOMBER, FEDORA, SATCHEL, WHIP

  • Rhymes of U.S. President Names: PAGAN, SMARTER, VIXEN, WIDEN

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 23

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 23, 2025

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 22:00

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for January 23 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 23, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Higher or superior.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter P appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter U.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

UPPER.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 23

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 23

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 22:00

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: Football mascots

  • Green: How to get in the pool

  • Blue: Like _______

  • Purple: Types of races

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: NFL teams in singular form

  • Green: Diving positions

  • Blue: Famous Mikes

  • Purple: ______ race

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #122 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today
  • NFL teams in singular form - BEAR, BILL, DOPLHIN, PACKER

  • Diving positions - FREE, PIKE, STRAIGHT, TUCK

  • Famous Mikes - BOSSY, EVANS, PIAZZA, TROUT

  • _____ race - HORSE, PENNANT, RELAY, ROAD

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

NYT Strands hints, answers for January 23

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 22:00

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 23 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 23 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Udderly delicious

These words are not for the lactose-intolerant.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are foods produced by cow by-products.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is DairyProducts.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for January 23
  • Milk

  • Yogurt

  • Cheese

  • Butter

  • Gelato

  • Custard

  • DairyProducts

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

How Trump Decided to Pardon Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht

NYT Technology - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 20:06
Libertarian and crypto allies of Ross Ulbricht, who was serving a life sentence for distributing drugs on his Silk Road website, leveraged President Trump’s desire for political support to secure his release.

Drop trailer: Murderous memes threaten to ruin Meghann Fahys first date

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 17:46

First dates are a near-universally stressful experience, but I can guarantee you've never had as bad of a first date as The White Lotus star Meghann Fahy has in the upcoming horror film Drop.

SEE ALSO: 2025 movie preview: All the films you'll want to know about

From director Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day) and Blumhouse (M3GAN, Five Nights at Freddy's), Drop introduces us to widowed mother Violet (Fahy) as she embarks on her first date in years. Her date in question is Henry (Brandon Sklenar, It Ends With Us), who winds up being lovely and charming. Yet despite Violet's chemistry with him, the date goes south when she begins to receive airdropped memes that threaten the lives of her son (Jacob Robinson) and babysitting sister (Violett Beane). Soon, she learns that a masked intruder is in her house and monitoring the restaurant's security cameras. With the intruder monitoring her every move, the only way Violet can save her family is by killing Henry. Will she go through with the plan? Or is there any way to salvage this date and stop the criminal mastermind engineering everything?

Drop hits theaters April 11.

Elon Musk Casts Doubt on Trump’s $100 Billion Stargate A.I. Announcement

NYT Technology - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 16:33
Mr. Trump had claimed the A.I. announcement as an early trophy, taking credit for the companies’ decision to spend up to $500 billion building data centers.

NFL bars teams from using Bluesky

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 16:22

The NFL is sticking to its guns about how its team members use social media — namely, by keeping teams off of X competitor Bluesky.

This tidbit comes courtesy of the sports media site Awful Announcing, which caught an exchange on Patriots Unfiltered. In response to a fan suggestion that the team expand its social media footprint to Bluesky, Patriots VP of content Fred Kirsch revealed that "right now we’re not allowed to."

SEE ALSO: Reddit sports mods, users calling for a ban on X links in posts

Kirsch explained that while the Patriots had briefly tested the waters on Bluesky, "the league asked us to take it down because it’s not an approved social media platform for the NFL yet," he said.

Bluesky, now boasting over 28 million users, has emerged as a leading alternative to X in the wake of Elon Musk’s and Mark Zuckerberg’s apparent shifts toward far-right politics. Sports teams are increasingly exploring life beyond X, with Bundesliga clubs like FC St. Pauli taking the leap as early as November, following the U.S. presidential election.

More recently, several major sports-focused subreddits have floated the idea of banning X links entirely, even though much of their content relies heavily on posts from the platform. At the same time, prominent sports journalists and media personalities have started building active presences on Bluesky, making X’s role as a go-to hub for sports fans feel increasingly redundant.

As for the NFL's presence on Bluesky? It’s basically nonexistent. The league maintains active partnerships with Meta and X, and despite the wave of sports fans and media personalities migrating to Bluesky, the NFL has yet to follow suit. The decision seems to stem less from ideological alignment with Musk or Zuckerberg and more from the league's business interests and active brand partnerships with both platforms.

An NFL spokesperson did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

That said, a handful of NFL teams appear to have a foothold on Bluesky — kind of. The Detroit Lions (53.8k followers at the time of publication), New York Giants (13.5k), Minnesota Vikings (22.7k), and Philadelphia Eagles (50.6k) all have accounts that look legitimate. But based on Patriots VP Fred Kirsch’s recent comments, these accounts are likely fan-run, as they’re unverified and unofficial.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: The ultra-slim smartphone teased at Unpacked

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 16:14

Samsung spent the bulk of its Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event this year talking about its brand-new AI features. In fact, it took about 30 minutes into the presentation to get to the new S25 line of smartphones before the company once again pivoted to the new AI features packed into the phone.

However, no matter how hard Samsung tried, the thing everyone is buzzing about from Unpacked isn't AI but a surprise Samsung tucked away at the very end of the event: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.

We don't know much about the new ultra-slim smartphone from Samsung officially. Samsung only showed a short teaser video that provided zero information about the Galaxy S25 Edge.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 live blog: Galaxy S25 series, AI tools, and more

However, rumors have been spreading about a super slim smartphone from Samsung. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is rumored to be only 6.4mm thick. That's really thin. It would be the thinnest Galaxy smartphone so far.

It's unclear if there are any differences between the S25 Edge and the other S25 models' capabilities that can be attributed to the S25 Edge's thinness. Being that it is part of the S25 series, we assume it'll be able to handle all the AI capabilities that the rest of the line was built for.

SEE ALSO: Samsung briefly teased XR headset 'Project Moohan' at Galaxy Unpacked

While the newly announced Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra models are all open for pre-order starting today and have a Feb. 7 release, the S25 Edge has no such launch date slated. The word is that Samsung is aiming for a release later this year for the S25 Edge, possibly in May 2025.

The only thing we can confirm from Samsung directly is what they showed in that short teaser video at the end of Unpacked. And the message we got from that is that the S25 Edge is indeed svelte.

Resources for people worried about Trumps anti-LGBTQ executive orders

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 16:11

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued executive orders that transgender rights activists described as "hateful."

Invoking biological definitions of sex that are contested, one order effectively argues that "trans-ness is not real," and directs federal agencies to change their policies accordingly, said Chase Strangio, co-director of the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Project, in a media briefing Tuesday.

He noted that the State Department, which issues passports, had already removed existing directions for how to update one's sex designation on a passport. During the Biden administration, the department began issuing passports with an X gender marker, and did not require applicants to submit medical certification to change their gender marker on the document. (A Trump administration spokesperson told The Washington Blade that current passports with an X marker would not be invalidated.)

SEE ALSO: All LGBTQ pages already deleted from White House website

Strangio said other real world implications of the order would become clear once federal agencies enacted new policies. Advocates are concerned that the order could be fear-reaching, and potentially devastating, affecting access to health care, protection from discrimination, and safety in school environments, among other things.

Additionally, Trump rescinded two executive orders, both signed by President Biden, that lifted the ban on transgender service members, and attempted to address discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex individuals.

"We see these executive orders for what they are—an attempt by hateful extremists to make it impossible for us to participate in public life," Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, executive director of Advocates for Trans Equality, said in a statement.

Heng-Lehtinen said that many of Trump's executive orders cannot go into effect immediately, and that the organization would closely monitor their implementation.

"We will use every resource at our disposal, from Capitol Hill to the courts, to hold the line against these attacks," Heng-Lehtinen said.

The ACLU and Lambda Legal also plan to mount legal challenges to Trump administration policies that implement the orders.

For transgender people worried about what happens next, Advocates for Trans Equality and GLAAD shared with Mashable a list of resources they can consult:

Legal Guides
  • Trans Legal Survival Guide, published by Advocates for Trans Equality. This 17-page report provides guidance on how to conduct a "legal checkup" for readers. Though it is not legal advice, it offers tips on planning for health care decisions, updating legal identification and documentation, and finding legal help.

  • Protecting Your LGBTQ+ Marriage and Family, published by COLAGE, Family Equality, GLAD Law, Movement Advancement Project, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, this resource guide provides information about existing legal protections for LGBTQ+ families.

  • Keeping LGBTQ Families Safe: Recommendations and Best Practices, published by GLAAD. These "commonsense" tips are aimed at helping LGBTQ families and people can ensure that their "identities, families, and wishes are legally clear and respected."

Crisis Lines

Samsungs new Galaxy S25 smartphones come with free gift cards worth up to $200 at Amazon and Best Buy

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 15:55

PREORDER BONUS ALERT: As of Jan. 22, shoppers who preorder an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S25 series smartphone from Amazon or Best Buy (starting at $799.99) will receive a free gift card worth $50 to $200, depending on the model.

Quick links: Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25 (128GB) $799.99 + free $100 Amazon gift card Pre-Order Here Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25+ (256GB) $999.99 + free $100 Amazon gift card Pre-Order Here Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB) $1,299.99 + free $200 Amazon gift card Pre-Order Here Best Buy Samsung Galaxy S25 (128GB) $799.99 + free $50 Best Buy gift card and 1-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership Pre-Order Here Best Buy Samsung Galaxy S25+ (256GB) $999.99 + free $100 Best Buy gift card and 1-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership Pre-Order Here Best Buy Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB) $1,299.99 + free $200 Best Buy gift card and 1-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership Pre-Order Here

Almost as soon as Samsung announced them during its Galaxy Unpacked livestream, the new Galaxy S25 series smartphones went up for preorder on Wednesday (Jan. 22). Several major phone carriers are giving them away for cheap or free, provided you trade in an older phone and/or sign up for a new line first. But for shoppers who prefer an unlocked device with no strings attached, two retailers are offering hefty preorder bonuses in the form of free gift cards.

Reserve an unlocked Galaxy S25, S25+, or S25 Ultra through Amazon or Best Buy ahead of the series' formal launch on Feb. 7, and you'll receive a gift card worth up to $200 that you can put toward a future purchase there. (A phone case, perhaps: Best Buy has select Galaxy S25 cases on sale for half off.) Best Buy's offer further includes a free one-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership worth $19.99, for those who want to give mobile gaming a shot.

SEE ALSO: Every Samsung Galaxy Unpacked announcement, including S25 phones

If you're planning on buying the 1TB configuration of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, though, reserve it directly through Samsung's website instead: It was randomly on sale for $240 off there at the time of writing.

Starting at $799.99, $999.99, and $1,299.99, respectively, the Galaxy S25, S25+, or S25 Ultra are priced the same as their Galaxy S24 series counterparts from early 2024. That's not the only thing they have in common with their predecessors: Their storage configurations, batteries, displays, and camera setups are mostly identical, save for a couple small tweaks in the higher-end S25+ and S25 Ultra variants. (Both have new "ProScaler" display technology for a bump in image quality, for example, while the latter has a new 50MP ultrawide camera sensor and a Corning Gorilla Armor 2 screen.)

Anyone coming from a Galaxy S24 phone (or even a Galaxy S23 model) is mainly getting more RAM, a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor that's probably faster, and a slew of new agentic AI software features. That's our initial take on the Galaxy S25 series, at least — keep an eye out for Mashable's forthcoming reviews of all three phones.

The 6.2-inch Galaxy S25 and the 6.7-inch Galaxy S25+ both come in navy, mint, icy blue, and silver shadow finishes, while the 6.9-inch Galaxy Ultra is available in titanium black, titanium blue, titanium gray, and titanium silver.

South Carolina Utility Wants to Sell Unfinished Nuclear Power Site

NYT Technology - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 15:42
The utility, Santee Cooper, is trying to sell two nuclear reactors that it abandoned in 2017 as tech companies seek new sources of electricity for data centers.

Reddit Users Boycott X Links After Elon Musk’s Gesture at Inaugural Event

NYT Technology - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 15:40
A boycott of links to Mr. Musk’s social media platform spread on Reddit this week, after he made a gesture that some likened to a Nazi salute. Others worried about censorship.

Winter storm warnings: How to see online if more snow is heading your way

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 15:08

A massive winter storm is blanketing large swaths of the Southern U.S. in snow and ice, leaving millions eager to track its path and prepare for what’s ahead. With warnings stretching across multiple states, from Florida to Texas, keeping tabs on the storm’s movement has become essential.

SEE ALSO: Florida snow looks otherworldly. See the wildest photos on social media from the winter storm How to see online if more snow is heading your way

Tools like the National Weather Service’s interactive snow maps and Windy.com’s real-time rain and snow tracking feature make it easy to see if more snow is in the forecast.

These platforms offer essential information, from snowfall predictions to wind patterns, helping residents stay informed and ready.

The National Weather Service offers detailed storm data, including state-specific warnings and localized snowfall totals, through its website and mobile app. Meanwhile, Windy.com provides an intuitive weather map that overlays rain, snow, and wind conditions for a comprehensive view of the storm’s impact.

Office of Gun Violence Prevention website goes dark under Trump

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 14:59

In the first 28 hours of Trump's second term, the president rescinded the climate conscious Green New Deal, shut down the vital CBP One app used by undocumented migrants, accidentally declared that all Americans are female, and removed all LGBTQ-related content and pages from the White House website.

Representatives and advocates have pointed out another major casualty in Trump's executive-order driven, DOGE-led streamlining: The Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

The inter-agency office's website — which now displays a 404 error — was quietly pulled on Jan. 21, shortly after the new president finished signing a long list of executive orders repealing Biden administration declarations. The office was established by Biden in 2023, under the landmark Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and overseen by former Vice President Kamala Harris.

SEE ALSO: The Stargate Project: Trump and OpenAI announce $500 billion AI venture

"We fought for years to make this office a reality and lives were saved because of it," wrote Democratic Florida congressman (and resident Gen Z member) Maxwell Frost. "Stay tuned because we’re not giving up on this. Trump might be okay with dissolving a life-saving office but the people aren’t."

Many online ironically referenced the office's apparent shuttering in light of the nation's most recent mass shooting, in which at least one student was killed at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee on the morning of Jan. 22. In response to the outrage, others argued the office's mandates could be subsumed under the Department of Justice, part of its previous mandate.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

National gun violence prevention organizations also cried out against the website's demise. Brady, formerly known as Brady United and the the nation’s oldest gun violence prevention organization, issued a statement articulating the potential impact of losing the office and its mandates. "While gun violence in the U.S. surged under President Trump’s first term, the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention led a cross-agency public health approach to preventing gun violence," the organization wrote. "This contributed to a significant drop in the proliferation of unserialized and untraceable ghost guns, the largest-ever decrease in the homicide rate, and historic funding for Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs."

Brady president Kris Brown wrote: "The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention wasn’t about politics – it was about strengthening the government’s ability to protect Americans (more than 300 of whom are shot every single day) from guns. By shuttering it, Trump is putting the interests of the gun lobby above our kids, our communities, and our country. Trump can claim he will 'make America safe again.' But these words are empty without action on guns. Trump’s decision today – coupled with the release of gun-wielding domestic terrorists back on our streets – will make all of us less safe."

Tweet may have been deleted

Taking to X, youth-led gun violence prevention organization March For Our Lives added: "This is what happens when you abandon progress. People will die."

Every Samsung Galaxy Unpacked announcement, including S25 phones

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 14:55

Alright, Samsung fans. Strap on in because this year's Samsung Galaxy Unpacked was a ride.

Samsung delivered at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025, with a multitude of big announcements. Of course, there were the mobile announcements regarding the next generation Galaxy S25 line of smartphones – but we also saw AI take the spotlight and even some surprises. 

Here's everything you need to know about this year's Samsung Galaxy Unpacked.

Samsung Galaxy S25 series

Say "hello" to the Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. 

The new Galaxy S25 line was officially launched at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked today. However, it took Samsung a long time to get to the main event. Unlike previous events where the latest smartphones kicked things off, it took 30 minutes for Samsung to start talking about the S25 and a whole hour to eventually even show off the S25 line. 

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Anyway, the new phones are officially available for pre-order and will be on the market in just a few short weeks on February 7.

The biggest upgrade on these new Galaxy smartphones? That's easy. It's the Qualcomm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip that powers the S25 line. This chipset was designed to handle intense processes required by Samsung's newest and latest AI features. It'll also be a boon for gamers looking for a smooth mobile gaming experience. According to Samsung, the S25 line will receive a 40 percent NPU boost when compared to its predecessor.

Samsung also highlighted its ProScaler display technology found in the S25 line which reduces noise and enhances images and videos on the screen.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S25 vs S24: Comparing price, specs and features

After its chipset, the next biggest S25 series upgrade is likely its camera capabilities. The S25 models have an upgraded 50MP ultrawide camera sensor, which is a leap above the 12MP ultrawide camera found in its predecessor. The line also features Galaxy's next-generation ProVisual Engine for superior camera range and control as well as a new virtual aperture. 

Samsung also announced log video shooting, the ability to create photo filters based on the color profile of existing photos, and an AI-powered noise detection feature to provide automatic audio corrections to video shot on the phone.

One UI 7

While it's been in beta for a bit, Samsung has now given its custom interface built on Android an official release.

"Our most personalized interface" is how Samsung described it.

And the big draw for One UI 7? All the AI features packed into it such as AI agents.

Galaxy AI

AI might steal the headlines out of Samsung Unpacked. And Samsung certainly made sure of it.

Surprisingly, Samsung began Unpacked with its AI announcements, bumping the usual smartphones announcement back to much later in the show.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy AI adds agentic features. What it will do for you.

AI agents with multimodal capabilities played a leading role in Samsung's AI announcements. These AI agents enable its new Galaxy S25 line to interpret text, speech, images and videos for wholly immersive interaction.

Samsung kicked things off by talking about its AI integrated platform and showcased its partnership with Google in integrating its AI model Gemini to provide AI agent features. Google showcased screen sharing and live video sharing capabilities with Google Gemini, allowing users to talk with AI agents regarding the content in screenshots and livestreams.

Thanks to Google Gemini integrations, users can have live conversations about specific photos, videos, websites, and more with AI. Samsung showed off an example of Google Gemini giving photography advice based on a photo that the user took.

Google Gemini will be accessible with the touch of a button on the S25 line. Gemini will also be able to connect with Samsung apps like calendar and clock.

Speaking of Google, Samsung also demonstrated new Circle to Search capabilities like how it can now automatically identify phone numbers, web addresses, music being played, and more.

Samsung also shared that generative AI works like AI-generated photos will be watermarked and its metadata will signal that the piece was created by AI.

Galaxy AI: Personal Data Engine

Probably the biggest AI-related feature is the Personal Data Engine that enables personalized AI services that live locally on device and not in the cloud. Samsung came back to this multiple times and cited it as powering many of its new AI features.

For example, Samsung debuted Now Brief, a personalized AI-powered lock screen page with notifications, news, and reminders for the day ahead. The Now Bar located at the bottom of the screen provides real-time updates throughout the day. Galaxy AI is able to do this thanks to the personal data engine, which allows Samsung to tailor features for the individual user while still keeping their data private and secure.

These capabilities also allow Galaxy AI to automatically provide AI tools based on what the user is doing on screen. For example, by just writing a text, a user's S25 will automatically open AI writing tool options without the user having to do anything.

In addition, Samsung highlighted other new AI features such as Galaxy AI's ability to provide transcripts and summaries for phone calls live in real-time on the call screen.

Samsung also showcased a feature where a user can search for a specific photo by just talking to their phone and describing the content of the picture.

The company provided updates for its health and connected home capabilities as well, showing how the personal data engine can provide personalized insights and recommendations.

Surprises Unpacked

There were two surprises at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked this year.

SEE ALSO: Samsung briefly teased XR headset 'Project Moohan' at Galaxy Unpacked

The company teased an Android XR based headset, including a photo of the device, and ended the show with a brief clip of its upcoming ultra-slim Galaxy S25 Edge.

The company kept both devices shrouded in mystery and didn't mention either specifically beyond what was shown on screen.

Samsung briefly teased XR headset Project Moohan at Galaxy Unpacked

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 14:41

The rumors are true. Samsung did have a few surprises in store at its Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event – and one of those surprises was its "Project Moohan" XR headset.

However, the surprise was nothing more than a brief mention of a XR headset and a teaser photo, which I guess is better than nothing at all!

Codenamed Project Moohan, Samsung's XR headset is a joint venture between Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm and it signals Samsung's intent to get into the currently booming immersive 3-D content business.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Samsung's new Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra smartphones

Samsung's XR headset hasn't really been much of a secret in the industry as the companies have been demoing the device. However, this appears to be the first time the company has publicly acknowledged its existence to consumers.

When Mashable covered CES earlier this year, AR/VR glasses and headsets were everywhere. We tried out hardware from big names like Sony to a multitude of known and upcoming AR/VR startups in the space. The industry is definitely having a moment right now.

Samsung's XR headset is reportedly powered by an upgraded Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 chipset – the chip that's currently found in Meta's Quest 3, which makes Samsung's offering more powerful than arguably the most popular headset currently on the market.

Project Moohan is built on Google's Android XR operating system, which should further Apple and Google's ongoing mobile device feud among consumers that pit iOS and Android smartphones against each other. Samsung's XR headset is clearly the company's answer to the Apple Vision Pro, which has struggled after a highly-anticipated launch.

Samsung didn't mention any product names, but that XR headset said to be codenamed "Project Moohan" officially made its debut at Samsung Unpacked. Mashable will continue to monitor news regarding specs, pricing, and possible pre-order and launch dates.

Why You Might Suddenly Be Following Trump on Instagram and Facebook

NYT Technology - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 14:36
Many Instagram and Facebook users say they are confused about why they are seeing posts from the president and vice president in their feeds. Here’s what to know.

Samsung Galaxy AI adds agentic features. What it will do for you.

Mashable - Wed, 01/22/2025 - 14:35

Samsung is charging ahead with its plan to pack AI into every nook and cranny of its devices.

At Samsung Galaxy Unpacked on Wednesday, the tech giant unveiled a slew of AI-powered features for its Galaxy S25 lineup that are both user-facing and operate behind the scenes to automate various tasks. Notably, this includes a step further into agentic AI with features that can perform actions on the users behalf.

The Galaxy S25 series weaves AI into practically every function

Underpinning the Galaxy S25 series as what Samsung describes as a "true AI companion," is the One UI 7 operating system. In partnership with Google, the Galaxy S25 series uses the Gemini AI model to provide contextual awareness and personalized actions based on a user's behavior and data.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 live blog: Galaxy S25 series, AI tools, and more

New features include customizable multimodal agents, the ability to activate Gemini with the side button, on-screen awareness, Google Circle to Search, and natural language search. That's on top of pre-existing AI features introduced with the S24 series, like writing and summarization tools, live translation and transcription, and Circle to Search.

Via Giphy Samsung and Google deepen partnership for agentic AI capabilities

Samsung kicked off the event by touting its Google partnership which integrates the Gemini AI model with Samsung Galaxy devices. Based on Google's Project Astra which develops agentic AI, the new S25 lineup showcases Gemini's reasoning capabilities with screensharing and live video streaming, which enables the device to understand what's on your screen, like whether dough has been kneaded enough or shopping for the right pants size.

With Gemini Live, users can share images, files, and videos with the AI assistant and have a conversation in real-time for things like troubleshooting or asking specific questions about whats on the screen.

The event also showed off the side button to invoke Gemini, which brings up a way to interact with the model and recommended next actions to take.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S25 announced: Price, release date, and upgrades for each model Galaxy AI agents working on your behalf

Users can also check in realtime updates with the Now Brief, and AI-powered report, throughout the day, which compiles information from third-party apps and can be customized with suggestions accessible in the Now Bar. Kind of like Apple's Live Activities for iPhone, but with more AI features.

Google's Circle to Search capabilities on the S25 series are getting an upgrade by being able to recognize phone numbers, email, and URLs on the screen "letting you call, email or visit a website with a single tap," according to the announcement.

Speaking of searching, with the S25 series, Samsung also introduced something called AI Select, which makes suggestions based on highlighted information like adding a calendar event for a friend's birthday party from an invitation that was texted to the user. Generative edit can suggest and execute ways to summarize, proofread, and generate images based on what's on your screen.

Galaxy AI's multitasking and proactive suggestions is made possible Gemini's ability to work across apps. Gemini works with Samsung Calendar, Notes, Reminder, and Clock and third-party apps to perform tasks for the user without having to switch between apps.

The S25 series has improved searching for image, documents, etc. on the device by understanding natural language. For example you can find recent pictures of a wedding you attending by saying, "show me pictures of wedding in Pittsburgh," or finding a picture of your beloved dog getting a bath.

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