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The Key Takeaway: These 20 Target Products Are Set to Enhance Your Life in 2025

2025-03-18 20:29:38 By Robert Smith

2025 is the year for your little enhancements.

1. An Unbrush detangling hair brush that has dual rows of long and short bristles designed to undo the knots in your or your kiddo's hair without pain or tugging. It even works on both wet and dry hair!

2. A 12" cast-iron skillet for anyone who has promised themselves that 2025 is the year they seriously learn to cook. The skillet can be used on the stove, in the oven, or on a campfire or grill — plus, it's affordable, so it's great for beginners who are still learning the basics (or aren't totally sure they want to give up that Grubhub life for the world of home cooking).

3. A dry-erase calendar that will be a true game changer for freelancers or folks working with lots of complex deadlines — there's something about seeing it all laid out on your wall, instead of a day-by-day breakdown on your computer or phone, that just makes planning way easier. Plus, this one has a bottom corkboard strip, so you can tack up any bills, tickets, or dry cleaning receipts you need to keep track of.

4. A pack of seven Disney Princess-themed Makeup Eraser pads, because all the hype is TRUE! Just wet these small cloths and they'll eliminate all traces of makeup, without leaving a goopy residue like many gel removers, or creating a lot of waste like disposable wipes. I use these, and they cut through red matte lipstick and heavy layers of mascara like buttah.

MakeUp Eraser 7-Day Set featuring illustrations of Disney princesses: Ariel, Tiana, Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Pocahontas, Jasmine

5. An ultrasonic skin-scrubbing spatula that helps deep clean with high frequency vibrations that can lift blackheads, whiteheads, and grime out of your skin, and improve product absorption.

Person using an electric facial exfoliating tool on their cheek, demonstrating skincare routine

6. A portable Bluetooth Polaroid printer, because in just about 60 seconds, it will turn your phone photos into stickers. Stickers of you and your friends, whenever you want! We live in a time of wonders!

Polaroid printer printing a photo of a person with dyed hair blowing a bubble, wearing a striped sweater

7. A Hatch Restore 2 sleep machine that isn't just a sunrise alarm clock — it's also a nightlight and a white noise machine, so it can help improve every single part of your sleep routine.

Semi-circular speaker and smartphone on a wooden table; phone displays an app with color swatches

8. A Kitsch satin pillowcase, because satin pillowcases can help you cut down on hair frizz and breakage, especially if you have color-treated or chemically damaged hair. Plus, satin pillowcases are less likely to make you wake up with weird creases on your face than cotton ones.

Person smiling, sitting in bed while hugging a satin pillow, next to a small plant on a bedside table

9. A cold brew coffee maker that can whip up a quart of java, in an airtight container that keeps it fresh for up to two weeks. (Also, if you take two whole weeks to drink just a quart of coffee...please, teach me your caffeine-minimalist ways.)

Person pouring coffee into a blue Takeya thermos in a kitchen setting with a towel and a container in the background

10. A seven-piece set of packing cubes, so that the next time you travel, you can actually make the most of your space — a biggie, now that airlines are charging approximately $100,000 for every checked bag.

Seven organized packing cubes with clothes and shoes, neatly arranged, showcasing efficient travel packing

11. An adorable puppy spoon-holder that works equally well sitting on the counter or clipped to a pot's edge. Now that deserves a treat and a belly rub.

Dog-shaped spoon holder with a wooden spoon on a kitchen counter, surrounded by corn, rice, and parsnips

12. A rotating bathroom organizer so you can finally clean up that cluttered mess of bottles that are teetering ever-so-unsteadily on the edge of your counter.

Bathroom vanity with a marble counter, gold-accented organizer holding skincare products, and a potted plant nearby

13. A retro-chic, Bluetooth-compatible AM/FM radio and speaker, because you shouldn't have to mess up your perfect vintage home aesthetic just because you want to play some music while you do dishes.

Vintage-style tabletop radio with a mesh speaker front, tuning dial, and three control knobs

14. A clip-on reading light with a flexible neck and four brightness settings, so you can stay up reading that mystery novel long after your partner has gone to sleep (also, not to spoil, but: the neighbor totally did it).

Book clip-on reading light attached to an open book, illuminating the pages

15. An Ember smart mug that will keep your coffee or tea warm no matter how long it takes you to drink it. Using the connected app, you can keep your drink at your preferred temperature for two hours — or even longer if you place it on the included coaster.

A mug of coffee with latte art sits next to a tray with three croissants

16. A boucle storage ottoman with a tray top, so you can spiff up your living room, hide your extra throws and pillows, and have a place to set down your after-work cocktail all at once.

Stylish living room with a white sectional sofa, assorted pillows, and a round coffee table topped with a potted plant and a glass. Art on grey wall

17. A 2-quart air fryer that's perfect for folks who live on their own or anyone who is looking for a way to get their snacks perfectly crisp.

A hand pours batter into a cake pan next to an air fryer on a kitchen counter with eggs, flour, and berries

18. A car backseat organizer, because if your 2025 resolution is to finally get a handle on all the umbrellas, tissue boxes, water bottles, tote bags, and snacks floating around your back seat...the solution has arrived. Plus, if you have any little backseat passengers, the organizer has a spot to hold a tablet.

Car seat organizer with tablet, sunglasses, pens, headphones, water bottle, and snacks neatly stored in pockets

19. An "Introvert" scented candle to fill your home with the scent of vanilla while you experience JOMO (joy of missing out).

Lit candle labeled "Introvert" on a table, surrounded by minimal decor including a plant and woven chair

20. A Nintendo Switch, because it's great for family together time...or alone time. Basically, any time you want to play some fun games.

Two kids are happily playing on handheld gaming consoles in the backseat of a car. An adult is smiling in the background

Highly Recommended

The OnePlus 13 and 13R have received their initial updates, with the flagship model now featuring Gemini Nano integration.

The latest updates introduce comparable enhancements and corrections for both models. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. (Image source: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central) Essential Information You Should Be Aware Of OnePlus 13 and the OnePlus 13R global models get their first firmware updates after launch. Both firmware brings tons of improvements and fixes, as well as December 2024 security patches. The OnePlus 13, however, gets generative AI in Google Messages, which is Gemini Nano-based. The flagship OnePlus 13 and the OnePlus 13R debuted last week globally. Both OnePlus phones have already started getting their first notable updates. The OnePlus 13R, which launched with Android 15-based OxygenOS 15, has started receiving its first OxygenOS 15.0.0.403 update for the regions including India, Europe, and North America with corresponding build numbers CPH2691_15.0.0.403(EX01), CPH2645_15.0.0.403(EX01), and CPH2647_15.0.0.403(EX01). View pictures in App save up to 80% data. (Image source: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central) On the other hand, the OnePlus 13 at Android Central has also started getting the CPH2655_15.0.0.402(EX01) build number. Per the corresponding community post regarding the OnePlus 13R, it is an incremental rollout being rolled out in batches. If you are already on the latest Android handset, expect it as soon as the rollout has just begun over the weekend. The exclusive features included in the OnePlus 13 are new AI features to Google Messages, and according to Mishaal Rahman's findings (via Android Authority), evidently it is the inclusion of Gemini Nano. The firmware update for the handset in the U.S. brings a corresponding Android AICore app, which is required to download the AI model. Image 1 of 2 View pictures in App save up to 80% data. The OnePlus 13 will now feature a new Magic Compose button in Google Messages. This experimental tool leverages generative AI to offer suggested replies based on the context of the ongoing conversation in the chat. As detailed in the comprehensive changelog released by OnePlus, the newest firmware for the OnePlus 13R includes several similarities with the firmware update for the OnePlus 13. Notably, it introduces a fresh feature for photos that allows users to add personalized watermarks. Similar to Android's Quick Share, the OnePlus 13 and 13R are equipped with a Touch to-share function that now includes compatibility with iOS devices following the latest update. This enhancement is expected to significantly improve the process of sharing files and photos between devices. Users of both smartphones will experience a range of enhancements in the photos taken using Photo mode. Images captured with the main camera and telephoto lens of both devices are expected to have improved quality, thanks to the inclusion of color enhancements in the latest update. Moreover, the OnePlus 13 showcases enhanced clarity in 4K videos recorded at 60fps. There is also a solution implemented for the issue of photos appearing overly bright when taken with the rear camera, applicable to both the OnePlus 13 and 13R models. Additional significant enhancements feature the reliability of Wi-Fi connections and Bluetooth link stability. To enhance user experience, the company is introducing charging status notifications in Live Alerts for both devices. Both firmware versions include the December 2024 Android security update, with the most recent release providing boosts in system stability and overall performance. The OnePlus 13 comes with several exciting features, such as the option to add a new 1 x 2 Weather widget to your home screen. Additionally, users will notice improvements in the step tracker and storage cleaner widgets. This flagship model also offers enhanced audio quality for an improved listening experience. Phone deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Verizon | AT&T

22 Surprising Items People Discovered in Their Parents' Closet

View pictures in App save up to 80% data. If you go looking through your parent’s closet, there’s a possibility that you’ll find something explosive. One Redditor went snooping in his mother’s closet for his gaming system, which she was known to hide in there. He searched the usual spots, sifting through clothes and rummaging through drawers before being stopped dead in his tracks by a live grenade. He looked at it for “a good 20 seconds” before putting it back and continuing on his search for the console. But this is the kind of discovery that likely prompted a lot of internal questions about what his mom was up to.  Other users on Reddit have recounted the bizarre discoveries they made while rummaging through their parents' closets, which included an intriguing pile of lottery tickets, revelations about the family pet, and a month-old roast.

With a potential TikTok ban on the horizon, US users are turning to the Chinese app Xiaohongshu in large numbers as a form of protest.

View pictures in App save up to 80% data. HONG KONG (AP) — As the threat of a TikTok ban looms, U.S. TikTok users are flocking to the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu – making it the top downloaded app in the U.S. Some of the “TikTok refugees,” as they call themselves, say the TikTok alternative, a Chinese app, is being chosen in protest of the TikTok ban. The U.S. Supreme Court is due to rule on a law that stipulates TikTok must be divested from its Chinese parent company ByteDance by Jan. 19 or face a ban in the U.S. over national security concerns. After the justices seemed inclined to let the law stand, masses of TikTok users began creating accounts on Xiaohongshu, including hashtags such as #tiktokrefugee or #tiktok to their posts. Since Monday, Xiaohongshu has become the top downloaded free app on Apple’s App Store in the U.S. Xiaohongshu, translated as "Little Red Book" in English, is a Chinese social media platform that integrates features of e-commerce, short videos, and user-generated content. In recent years, the app has seen significant popularity in China and among regions with a Chinese diaspora, including Malaysia and Taiwan. It boasts 300 million monthly active users, predominantly young women who turn to it as a primary search engine for finding recommendations on products, travel, restaurants, and tutorials for makeup and skincare. The #tiktokrefugee hashtag has garnered more than 160,000 posts on Xiaohongshu, with a significant number featuring American users sharing videos to introduce themselves and seeking advice on how to use the app, which they refer to as "RedNote." Xiaohongshu has yet to provide a response to a comment request from The Associated Press. Alexis Garman, a 21-year-old TikTok influencer from Oklahoma, boasts nearly 20,000 followers. She recently signed up for Xiaohongshu on Tuesday after observing others joining the platform. Garman mentioned that she doesn't have significant worries regarding data privacy. Garman expressed, “My experience on (Xiaohongshu) has been truly wonderful and welcoming,” having shared two posts on the platform. "I love your makeup!" a Xiaohongshu user from Beijing writes on one of her posts, and Garman responds with a thank you. Meanwhile, a user from Sichuan jokingly remarks, "I am your Chinese spy… please share your personal details or pictures of your cat (or dog)!" “Garman expressed that the potential ban of TikTok is more than just losing an app; it means the loss of jobs, friendships, and a sense of community. ‘For me, the connections and relationships I've built with my followers will be lost,’ he stated.” Other American users who have started using Xiaohongshu have expressed their reasons for joining the platform as a form of protest against the potential ban on TikTok. An American user known as Definitelynotchippy created a video specifically for the Chinese audience on Xiaohongshu, detailing the reasons behind the increasing number of American users downloading the app. “She stated, ‘The reason our government claims they are prohibiting TikTok is that they are asserting it’s owned by you, the Chinese people or government, whatever. They want us to believe that you are the enemy.’” "Many of us are more intelligent than that, which is why we chose to annoy our government by downloading a genuine Chinese app," she remarked. "We refer to this as trolling… essentially, we're here to defy our government, gain insights about China, and spend time with all of you." Users in China on Xiaohongshu have generally embraced American users, with several extending offers to teach them the Chinese language. Additionally, some have provided guidance on how to navigate the Chinese internet, cautioning newcomers against mentioning or discussing politically sensitive topics, as this could lead to censorship. In certain instances, Chinese students have even sought assistance from Americans with their English assignments. Similar to many applications and online services in China, Xiaohongshu faces censorship regulations. These platforms usually implement censorship by removing or shadowbanning content that the Chinese government considers politically sensitive. Major Western platforms like Google and Facebook are inaccessible in China. Though Xiaohongshu has seen an influx of users, it is not clear if the app could replace TikTok, which has created an ecosystem that allows for e-commerce and advertising. Before TikTok was under threat, the overwhelming majority of Xiaohongshu’s users were Chinese, and the app, which lacks translation features, is not optimized for an international user base. Even though U.S.-China tensions remain high over trade and national security, many Chinese and American Xiaohongshu users have pursued friendly cultural exchanges on the app. Those interactions range from live chat rooms to comments on posts. A TikTok user named Amanda, who has recently relocated to a new platform, shared a video expressing her joy at discovering the Xiaohongshu app. She mentioned how welcoming the Chinese community has been. In response to her post, a Chinese user commented, “We are not enemies; we are all human beings living in the same world!” "Another person mentioned, 'We've never really had the opportunity to connect with you international users directly on the same app or platform, so we share that sentiment since you are here on this app.'" 在一条用中文发布的评论中，Amanda，这位TikTok“难民”，表示她未来会努力在视频中添加中文的字幕和说明。 "I'm thrilled to engage with Chinese individuals and discover more about your culture and personal stories," she expressed.

Elon Musk Claims His Boring Company Can Construct a $20 Trillion Tunnel Linking America and Europe for '1000 Times Lower Cost'

View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Elon Musk Claims His Boring Company Can Construct a $20 Trillion Tunnel Linking America and Europe for '1000 Times Lower Cost' Elon Musk is back with another bold claim. This time, he says The Boring Company could build the long-discussed trans-Atlantic tunnel for “1000X less money” than the staggering $20 trillion price tag being floated around. But before you start dreaming of zooming from New York to London in under an hour, let's unpack what's really going on here. A $20 Trillion Vision Lacking a Clear Path Forward The concept of a tunnel linking America and Europe has been proposed for many years, but it has mostly remained in the realm of science fiction. Reports from Newsweek and other sources suggest that the estimated cost of such a project could soar to $20 trillion, a figure that nearly matches the entire GDP of the United States! This staggering price tag presents a significant barrier to making the idea a reality. Make Sure to Catch: With 100+ historic trademarks including some of the high grossing characters in history, like Cinderella, Snow White and Peter Pan, this company is transforming the $2 trillion entertainment market with patented AR, VR, and AI tech. — For a short window, investors are able to claim $2/share ($980 min). Despite some flashy headlines, no plans exist to build this tunnel. Governments haven't approved it, no budgets have been allocated and no construction companies have been hired. In short, it's just a concept. Musk's claim to do it for a fraction of the cost adds to the spectacle, but he isn't even breaking ground on it anytime soon. The @boringcompany could do it for 1000X less money https://t.co/IXJY63xUCo — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 10, 2024 From Dream to Disappointment Musk’s comment also ties into his promotion of hyperloop technology, which uses vacuum-sealed tubes to propel trains at incredible speeds. In 2013, Musk popularized the idea with a white paper that excited people about futuristic travel. But more than a decade later, hyperloop has been anything but groundbreaking. See Also: ‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can invest today for just $0.26/share with a $1000 minimum. Despite some test tracks by Musk’s Boring Company and pilot projects by other companies in places like India and China, no commercial hyperloop system is operational today. Many experts have criticized the technology as impractical and overly expensive. In fact, The Boring Company quietly shifted its focus away from hyperloop projects, opting instead for much simpler underground tunnels for cars. The Concept of Tunnels Is Not a Recent Innovation For decades, engineers and visionaries have contemplated the construction of a tunnel linking the U.S. and the U.K., a concept that predates Musk's rise to fame. This notion began to gather momentum in the early 1900s but was ultimately rejected due to its perceived high costs and complexities. Even now, the logistical hurdles are staggering. We’re discussing the construction of a tunnel exceeding 3,000 miles, either suspended in the ocean or hidden beneath the ocean floor. In contrast, the Channel Tunnel linking France and the U.K. spanned just 23 miles and required six years for completion. If a trans-Atlantic tunnel were to be constructed at the same time, it might take hundreds of years to complete. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today. What’s the main point? Musk's claim that The Boring Company could do it for a fraction of the cost is classic Elon – bold and headline-grabbing but with little substance behind it. While breakthroughs in vacuum train technology make high-speed trans-Atlantic travel sound exciting, there's no clear plan, funding or timeline for making it happen. Plus, Musk's track record with hyperloop doesn’t inspire confidence. At this point, the concept of a trans-Atlantic tunnel is still purely imaginative. While Musk's remarks might spark interest, they do little to alter the fact that this notion is more of a fantasy than a feasible undertaking. Therefore, don't expect to take that 54-minute journey from New York to London in the near future. Would you like to receive the most recent stock analysis from Benzinga?

Speculation surrounding a potential upcoming announcement for the Switch 2 suggests it may not fully meet expectations.

View pictures in App save up to 80% data. The Nintendo Switch 2 is going to be revealed as soon as January 16 according to credible reports from gaming industry insiders. The next-generation handheld is tipped for a launch later this week, amid a flurry of leaks that emerged last week during CES 2025. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. The price of Hollyland Lark M2 microphones has just dropped even further. Our top pick for budget-friendly wireless microphones is now available at a 35% discount! Elevate your content creation with the Hollyland Lark M2 kit. Amazon Was £129.99 Now £84.99 It's uncertain if Nintendo accelerated its launch plans in response to the leaks, or if a mid-January release was already part of their strategy. Nintendo had set itself a target of the end of March this year to unveil the console, so a launch in three days without much prior notice would betray industry convention around building excitement. However, Nintendo is no stranger to springing announcements on us. Today’s whisperings do make it seem like the Switch 2 launch is inevitable this week. The Verge’s Tom Warren commented it “should be the Switch 2 reveal this week” while the podcaster NateTheHate is also going public for a prediction (via Eurogamer). The podcaster mentions that Nintendo is likely to prioritize showcasing the console's hardware over unveiling significant new first-party titles. This could indicate that Nintendo is wary of recent leaks and has opted to present the new system instead. Perhaps we'll gain some understanding of the extra features that have contributed to the anticipation surrounding the Switch 2. The podcaster believes that information about games could start to emerge by late February or early March.

Have You Come Across the Sled Launcher That Someone Constructed in Their Backyard?

A few years back, a family in Grand Rapids put their creativity to the test and constructed an incredible sled launcher for their children. It appears to be a blast and works remarkably well! Sledding Has Evolved Significantly Since My Childhood View pictures in App save up to 80% data. canva.com As a child, I remember having two choices for sledding: the iron rail sled on the left and the wooden toboggan on the right. My sister and I wore out the rail sled, although we discovered that steering it wasn't very effective. Our family also owned the toboggan, but it required a steep hill to be fun. The downside was that after sliding down a big hill, we had to trudge back up to take another turn, which really limited how many times we could enjoy the ride down. 👇HERE: Top Sledding Hills in Grand Rapids for a Fun Snowy Day👇 View pictures in App save up to 80% data. canva.com The next iteration of the sled was the saucer style. The sled depicted in the image above appears to be a more recent model, featuring plastic handles, whereas the original versions had simple rope handles that were prone to breaking. One major drawback of this sled design was its tendency to spin you around backwards while descending a hill. This issue becomes particularly problematic when navigating jumps, trees, and other people on the slope. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. canva.com The introduction of plastic and tube sleds revolutionized the winter fun for children. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. canva.com Nowadays, there are numerous sledding options available, ensuring that children can enjoy sliding down the hills in parks throughout Grand Rapids. One inventive family decided to take matters into their own hands and constructed a launch system for their kids' sleds right in their backyard. Have You Spotted the Sled Launcher That Someone Constructed in Their Backyard? View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Grand Rapids Reddit Community This may look like an eyesore to some, a fort, or a deer blind gone bad, but its a brilliant piece of work.  A family south of Grand Rapids built this monstrosity to launch their kids down a sled hill in their backyard. Even though I am long from being a kid this looks like amazing fun. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Grand Rapids Reddit Community The person who designed this launcher clearly had some understanding of kinetic energy, as the acceleration becomes apparent when the child approaches the bottom of the launcher. Anyone who has crafted pinewood derby cars for scouting knows just how crucial kinetic energy is in that context. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Grand Rapids Reddit Community As you can see this sled launcher has turned a modest hill into a much more fun experience for kids going down it. See the full experience in the video below. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Grand Rapids Reddit Community There are two Reddit threads the sled launcher came from. In one thread posters point out you may need to sign a waiver to go down it while another point out the ladder being a death trap. On the other thread posters are commenting on what fun it is while other want to know if the kid hit the tree. https://www.reddit.com/r/grandrapids/comments/1i0lp3q/a_winter_fun_follow_up_this_is_the_video_of_my/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button Aside from the challenge of getting up there to start the sled, it seems like an absolute blast! Top Sledding Hills in Grand Rapids for a Fun-Filled Snowy Day Sledding is arguably the Michigan experience. Every kid looks forward to sledding when it snows, and these hills are some of the best options for the whole family. Gallery Credit: Tommy McNeill

The release date for GTA 6 is already causing sleepless nights for publishers.

It's hard to overlook. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. We’re finally getting GTA VI this year, and it will be a game-changing event in the world of video games. The upcoming Rockstar Games title is the most anticipated game of all-time and is sitting high on most people’s list as the game to play in 2025. GTA VI is keeping publishers 'up at night' as its release will be a 'disrupting event'. The thought of facing off against the gaming giant is intimidating for many, and it's understandable that publishers have their concerns. Speaking on GTA VI, KRAFTON advisor and professor of interactive media at the University of Southern California Mike Fischer said, “GTA VI is going to be so big and so successful it may suck up all the time and all the money of all gamers.” He commented in the interview with Game World Observer that the upcoming launch is actively keeping him “up at night”. Certainly, I can think of several reasons for this, I would suppose. Firstly, it’s a game that will eclipse so many others that release around the same time, pulling eyes from potential games as players flood over to GTA VI. Additionally, the precise release date remains unknown, prompting publishers to make educated guesses regarding when they might launch their own titles. Fischer continued, “When GTA VI ships, it will be a challenging disruption.” It's difficult to determine if publishers are indeed attracting more players, given the overall rise in gaming's popularity. In response to this, Fischer remarked, “I’m optimistic that this will attract a bigger audience, but it’s truly uncharted territory for us, so we’ll just have to wait and observe what happens.” Although the gaming industry has seen its fair share of monumental titles over the years, none have sparked the level of excitement and enthusiasm that this one has, making it feel truly unique. At this point, publishers are likely to proceed cautiously and avoid committing to any release dates until Rockstar Games unveils the second trailer, ideally revealing a launch date at the same time.

On behalf of my son, I ventured to find the intelligent eyewear that 'provides vision to the visually impaired.'

View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Luke Larsen / Digital Trends News View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Like most 4-year-olds, my son is absolutely obsessed with cars. Even though I have no real interest in them myself, he can accurately recognize the make and model of vehicles from quite a distance, thanks to his expanding assortment of Matchbox and Hot Wheels. His enthusiasm for cars is truly impressive! But as we’ve had to explain to him, we still don’t know if he’ll be ever to drive one himself. The brain tumor that he was born with left him with stunted vision, particularly in one eye, with little hope of improvement. That’s why one startup’s CES pitch this year promising a pair of prototype smart glasses that could grant “sight for blind people” caught me off guard. Determined to see if it could really be true, I had a new agenda for my week in Las Vegas; to attempt to reinvigorate my own belief that tech advancements are still capable of transforming lives — and rediscover hope for my son’s future. An optimistic prototype View pictures in App save up to 80% data. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Our 4-year-old son was diagnosed with an extremely rare pituitary brain tumor called a craniopharyngioma. It was identified when he was just 10 months old, at which point the tumor was exerting pressure on his optic nerves and constricting his pituitary gland. This situation led to a deficiency in the normal hormonal functions that regulate essential bodily processes such as thirst, growth, cortisol production, and thyroid activity, in addition to causing vision impairment. As we tried to map out the path forward, our world seemed to crumble around us, especially when we thought about his future. It wasn't a deadly cancer, and it seldom led to fatal outcomes. Yet, the tales of suffering we had heard were enough to haunt our nights, leaving us anxious about the quality of life that lay ahead. However, there's no need for concern — I vowed to share a tale of hope, and that is precisely what this will be. When I first opened the email containing the company's pitch, my mind immediately went to my own family. I thought of my mother, who is battling Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), and my son, who suffered vision loss due to a brain tumor. So, there I was, wading through the sea of people in Eureka Park, the Wild West of CES, attempting to find a small booth for a startup that went by the strange name, Solid!. The company was there showing off its prototype smart glasses, known as Solid! Vision, a piece of technology that aims to recover sight to people with low-vision conditions, including macular degeneration. The claim is huge: think of it like hearing aids for your eyes. Or, according to its ambitious CEO, Neal Weinstock, “giving sight to the blind.” As a kid, it’s poor vision that affects our son’s daily life most. Despite being tumor-free since his miraculous surgery in 2023, he still requires daily supplementary hormone replacements and experiences poor vision in one of his eyes. You’d never know it from his attitude on life, but he’s been patching one eye for four hours a day for most of his life, and lack of vision affects lots of daily kid activities, like playing hide-and-seek or being able to spot an airplane in the sky. Yet again, there is hope. I slipped on the fragile prototype glasses, and at this moment, they resembled a compact headset rather than traditional eyewear. However, the technology embedded within them could truly be game-changing. The frames are equipped with two outward-facing cameras to observe the environment, alongside two inward-facing ones designed to track the movements of your eyes. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Solid! The footage captured by the external cameras is projected onto the micro display located on the lens, but this process occurs multiple times. In fact, the lens features a series of displays, each presenting the identical image. The company's founder and CEO found that the human eye can be deceived into combining these high-resolution images from the array into one cohesive picture. Weinstock is an engineer with a background in 3D work, and the early prototypes of the Solid! Vision were actually an example of autostereoscopic, or glasses-free 3D. But after working with Rich Muller, a physicist at University of California, Berkeley, he came upon the realization that there was an application for restoring vision. "Weinstock explained to me, 'The way the brain interprets these various images is something that computer scientists understand more thoroughly than ophthalmologists. For starters, ophthalmologists often believe that the resolution in the peripheral areas of the eye is significantly lower than that of the fovea. However, it's well-known that devices like iPhones or Samsung phones combine multiple images from different cameras to enhance visual clarity. This is essentially what the brain accomplishes as well.'" This technology enables the brain to perform visual tasks just as it has always been capable of doing. Phone manufacturers had actually unknowingly mimicked the operation of the brain, and now that understanding is being reverse-engineered. By creating an array of Maxwellian displays, also known as retina-projection displays, Solid! can aim a pinhole light through the natural lens of the eye without engaging the focusing mechanism, as Weinstock explained. The brain does what it’s always done — take the vision from your left eye and your right eye and add them together to create the single clearest image. With Solid! Vision, the brain is taking this array of images from the lens and projecting them to the entirety of the retina — and self-selecting to create a perfectly in-focus image. “We divide the content coming in from the cameras into an array of all the same image, which goes through the lens and delivers to the eye in perfect focus — directly to the retina,” the chairman of Solid!, Derek Myers, explained to me. “Those optic nerves are then capable of reading that and constructing a single image — in perfect focus. Therefore eliminating the areas of the eye that are degenerative.” Even though putting on the glasses didn’t instantly grant me flawless vision, I understood his point. Looking through the lens of various screens, and after making a few minor tweaks, I was finally perceiving them as one cohesive image. With that realization came a flicker of hope. Initial experiments show encouraging results. Solid! says it’s already working with early patients with conditions such as AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration) and even coronary dystrophy, which can affect much younger people. One early patient is just 19, and after using the prototype glasses, reported fully restored central vision. The form factor is important, of course, which Solid! admitted. After all, if a pair of glasses was inconvenient, uncomfortable, or socially obtrusive, people would be far less likely to adopt them into their daily lives. Solid! says it will be benefitting from all the advancements happening in the wider industry around compact form factors, which remains one of the biggest hurdles to adoption of smart glasses. We’ve all seen the success of glasses like the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, and much of that has to do with form factor. I was presented with visual representations of what the company anticipates the consumer version of this product will resemble, and they definitely appeared to be quite promising. Watch this simulation of how Solid!Vision glasses corrects vision for macular degeneration. pic.twitter.com/HOoq7DhsHg &mdash; Solid! Corp. (@Solid!Corp) December 23, 2024 The organization is evaluating the complete product offering as well, taking into account factors such as resolution and image quality, along with ergonomics, privacy, and security issues. These elements are crucial, especially when enhancing a person's vision. Even more thrilling, Myers mentioned that upcoming enhancements to the product might feature a more precise approach to mapping a patient's unique retina. This could be particularly beneficial for individuals like our son, who experiences a loss of peripheral vision in one eye. While he was sharing his insights, I found myself reflecting on my son — likely a teenager or in his twenties by then — and the life he might lead. I want to clarify that after his surgery, I feel a deep sense of hope and positivity about what lies ahead for him. Still, I can't help but wonder how the technology that is just beginning to develop now will evolve over the next decade or two. It would be unrealistic not to be hopeful, particularly since we have already experienced significant benefits from technological advancements that have supported his treatment journey. His brain surgery was successfully performed entirely through his nasal cavity, utilizing cutting-edge technology and methods that were unimaginable just a few decades ago. This advancement is attributed to the use of endoscope cameras and miniature instruments. Remarkably, it was only four years prior that a child of his age had undergone the same procedure, carried out by the same surgeon, who incorporated a 3D-printed skull and virtual reality to facilitate the operation. In the case of our son, the outcome was a successful removal of the tumor with minimal repercussions. On one side — a well-established miracle. On the other, further evidence that technological advancements truly make a difference. A future that isn't too far away View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Solid! Solid! is currently fundraising, but it already has plans to put out a consumer product in the near future, as early as the first quarter of next year. But let me clear: As of now, I don’t know for sure that something like Solid! could help my son’s vision. He may have damage to his actual optic nerves from the tumor, which is wholly different from retinal deterioration. Furthermore, this first version of smart glasses may only have a few hours of battery life, designed for limited, at-home use. Visual impairments that could potentially be alleviated by these glasses are prevalent in my family. My mother suffers from age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and my nephew might be dealing with some type of retinal damage too. AMD is believed to be a hereditary condition that can be transmitted through generations. It's possible that I might face this issue in the future, and it’s certainly a risk that could be inherited by our children as well. From my observations of my mother's struggle with AMD, I've come to realize that there is no simple solution for this condition. As I described my son’s condition to another Solid! representative, he gave me a knowing grin. "I've lost count of how many individuals have mentioned that while passing through here. You engage in the business talk, and then it shifts to my mom, my dad, my uncle, my grandfather." From my observations of my mother's struggle with AMD, I've come to realize that there is no simple solution for this condition. It tends to progress over time, and the best treatments we have now can only hope to slow the deterioration of the retina. Technology like Solid! provides an alternative solution. But for me, it’s less that Solid!’s specific solution is the end-all-be-all. It’s that CES and the tech world at large are full of ideas just like this. A smart walking cane with GPS and AI built into it for the blind, advanced smart hearing aids, and even an at-home AI stethoscope. While I usually don’t place all my faith in technological advancements for the future, attending CES this year shifted my perspective. I left the event feeling more optimistic and less skeptical about the groundbreaking technologies being developed that could significantly enhance our lives in just a few years. Perhaps one day, it might actually allow our son to fulfill his dream of being behind the wheel of a car. I feel a greater sense of hope today than I ever have before.

U-Haul Reports That Massachusetts Has Lost Its Status as the Top Destination for Movers, According to Recent Data

View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Getty Images/Canva图库 For those that know me, I've lived in the Baystate all my life. Growing up for the most part was pretty decent. I've never really had any huge complaints about this state other than winter being unpredictable at times. Let's put it this way, us "Northerners" can handle winter more than anyone else can no offense to any of my south friends. While this new data is not weather related, many are concerned what future holds for Massachusetts in terms of population due to this new data surveyed by U-Haul. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Getty Images These growth rankings are configured by each state’s net gain (or loss) of customers utilizes one-way U-Haul equipment in a calendar year. The U-Haul Growth Index is compiled from well over 2.5 million one-way U-Haul truck, trailer and U-Box® moving container transactions that occur annually. Massachusetts came in at #49 in the ranking out of all states in growth and this ranking has remained the same since 2023. U-Haul customers last year coming to Massachusetts only accounted for 48% of one-way traffic with 52% leaving the state. What Factors Contribute to Massachusetts Ranking at #49? There have been concerns about the state’s healthcare, high cost of living combined with relatively higher taxes all playing a key factor. Residents like Nicky Santiago spoke with WWLP22News about how this is sending him to Connecticut which was ranked at #41. Reasons to Relocate to Connecticut: "Since Covid, things have become more budget-friendly, particularly over there. The difference may not be huge, but it's enough to notice," - Nicky Santiago. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Getty Images The positive aspect is that other states in New England have a significantly higher ranking for relocation. For instance, New Hampshire was placed at #33, whereas Maine achieved a ranking of #13. Meanwhile, South Carolina topped the list as the #1 state for moving in the United States. 6 Unwritten Guidelines for Newcomers to Massachusetts Gallery Attribution: Ryan Pause By the year 2100, these 11 locations in Massachusetts might become ghost towns. By the year 2100, it is projected that over 25% population declines could occur in these 11 locations within Massachusetts: Gallery Attribution: Ryan Pause 5 Haunted Locations in Massachusetts You Should Steer Clear of at All Costs Massachusetts is home to numerous haunted sites, attracting those intrigued by the supernatural while prompting others to steer clear of such eerie spots. Gallery Attribution: Ryan Pause The 10 Most Commonly Mispronounced Cities and Towns in Massachusetts Gallery Credit: Google Maps This Charming Cabin in Massachusetts is Ideal for Your Winter Glamping Retreat This cozy cabin Airbnb in the heart of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, may be just the glamping getaway you're looking for. Gallery Credit: Megan

The alternative app to TikTok, named 'Red Note', is rapidly attracting users in the US as the possibility of a TikTok ban approaches.

View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Image captured by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto through Getty Images. As TikTok anxiously awaits a Supreme Court decision that could determine whether it will be banned in the United States, users are preemptively fleeing the app and migrating to another Chinese social media platform called Xiaohongshu, which literally means “little red book” in Mandarin. As of Monday, Xiaohongshu was the number one most-downloaded app in Apple’s US App Store, despite the fact that it doesn’t even have an official English name. The second app on the list is Lemon8, another social media app owned by TikTok’s parent company ByteDance that is also experiencing a traffic surge from exiled TikTok users. During the weekend, a surge of individuals flocked to Xiaohongshu, a platform in China renowned for its travel and lifestyle content, boasting over 300 million users. These new users, who often refer to the app as “Red Note” or liken it to “the Chinese version of Instagram,” identify themselves as “TikTok refugees” and are utilizing translation tools to navigate the predominantly Chinese interface of Xiaohongshu. Some are looking to recreate the communities they had on TikTok, while others have joined the platform out of defiance, aiming to counteract the US government's ban on TikTok due to concerns regarding potential surveillance by the Chinese government. “I would rather stare at a language I can't understand than to ever use a social media [platform] that Mark Zuckerberg owns,” said one user in a video posted to Xiaohongshu on Sunday. There are a countless number of similar clips in which TikTok refugees introduce themselves and explain why they decided to come to Xiaohongshu, many raking up thousands of likes and comments each. A spokesperson for Xiaohongshu could not immediately be reached for comment. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Friday from TikTok and the US government, which respectively made their cases for and against a law passed last year that would force TikTok to sell its US operations or be banned by January 19. Experts said the justices appeared to think the law was constitutional and would likely allow it to stay, leaving many users feeling that the app’s days are numbered. While TikTok is unlikely to immediately disappear from people’s phones who have already downloaded it, it could be deleted from US app stores, causing many to panic and look for the next place to go. Some users are predictably going to Instagram or YouTube, but others say they would like to stick to a platform developed by a Chinese company to protest the decisions by US lawmakers that lead to this situation. “Telling me to download Rednote out of spite over the TikTok ban was the only push I needed actually,” one person wrote on Bluesky. Internet culture journalist Taylor Lorenz also shared a link to her Xiaohongshu account on Bluesky, calling the platform “the hottest new social app in America.”