His complaint? “Apple has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter,” Musk wrote. “Do they hate free speech in America?” Musk then alleged that Apple threatened to remove Twitter from its App Store and criticized the company for charging fees to developers who create apps for its products.

Musk’s Supposed Free Speech Crusade

Going so far as to claim that the “future of civilization” was at stake, Musk theorized that Apple might ban the Twitter app in response to his new content moderation policies. A self-described free speech absolutist, Musk first said he would set up a “content moderation council” with diverse viewpoints to manage decisions like whether or not to ban users who posted hate speech.

He then changed his mind, offering to reinstate formerly banned users like ex-President Donald Trump and neo-Nazi Andrew Anglin. He also reinstated Kanye West (now known simply as Ye) only to ban him again days later for posting a Star of David with a swastika inside of it.

Musk is receiving support from several conservative and alt-right figures for his decisions, especially since publicly aligning himself with the GOP. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis piped in with comments in support of Musk during a press conference, saying any attempt to remove Twitter from the Apple App Store would be a “huge mistake” that would “merit a response from the United States Congress.” Senator-elect J.D. Vance of Ohio also weighed in, tweeting that “no civilized country should allow” Apple to remove Twitter from its App Store.

Apple’s (Non) Response

Thus far, the conflict has been pretty one-sided. Apple hasn’t publicly responded to Musk’s accusations. Data from Pathmatics, a research firm that tracks digital marketing spending, found that although Apple had cut back on its Twitter ad spending since the summer, it was still paying the company about $1 million per month.

The Twitter app has remained available for all iOS devices, but both Apple and Google have stringent policies against misinformation, hate speech, and other misconduct, having previously booted apps like Parler for breaking them.

On November 30th, Musk tweeted that his war against Apple was over, at least for now. “Good conversation,” he wrote in reference to a meeting with Cook. “Among other things, we resolved the misunderstanding about Twitter potentially being removed from the App Store. Tim was clear that Apple never considered doing so.”

How Musk’s Behavior Could Affect Twitter in the Future

Musk’s choices about content moderation on Twitter have thus far complied with U.S. laws. However, the laws are a little different in the European Union, and last month a senior EU official warned Musk that Twitter would have to improve its efforts to combat hate speech and misinformation in order to avoid massive fines.

Thierry Breton, the EU’s Commissioner for Digital Policy, said that Musk agreed to comply with the rules during a video call, adding that: “Twitter will have to implement transparent user policies, significantly reinforce content moderation and protect freedom of speech, tackle disinformation with resolve, and limit targeted advertising.”

Musk’s tweets about Apple follow an erratic stream of conspiracy theories, threats, and complaints posted in the wake of his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, finalized on October 27th. They include a since-deleted post containing baseless anti-LGBTQ theories about the attack on Paul Pelosi, and threats of a “thermonuclear name and shame” offensive against companies that have paused advertisements on the platform.

Meanwhile, the number of tweets containing hate speech and racial epithets has soared since Musk took over and fired much of Twitter’s staff, according to a report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate.

The post Elon Musk’s Beef with Apple is Just Making Him Look Worse first appeared on Dornob.

All About Pink

Barbiecore became a trending hashtag on TikTok earlier this year, and a quick look around will tell you it involves a whole lot of pink (and the brighter the better). Valentino’s Fall ’22 Ready to Wear collection highlighted a very specific shade of pink that has become emblematic of Barbiecore, called “Valentino Pink PP” after the fashion house’s creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli. Verging on magenta, this neon hue is impossible to ignore, and used alone, it could be a bit much. For interiors, Barbiecore enthusiasts often layer different shades of pink for a slightly softer effect.

Decorating Your Dream House

For inspiration, start with the source. Barbie’s actual Dream House has evolved many times since its first debut in 1962, but since the 1980s, it has typically featured at least four shades of pink, often accented by white, purple, and turquoise. It’s never crammed full of stuff, so despite the loud colors, it doesn’t feel too chaotic. Accent pieces like overstuffed armchairs, chandeliers, and playful wallpaper patterns make a big impact. To mimic this effect without transforming your entire home, look for eye-catching accent pieces like a giant spray of feathery pink pampas grass in a vase, a vivid framed print like this Riot Grrrl-inspired piece, or a graphic pink wallpaper like this banana leaf motif.

If something about Barbiecore appeals to you but you’re not quite ready to go full Barbie, try integrating a little pink into your life for a touch of fun. You might be surprised at how well it can integrate into all kinds of color schemes and decor styles. Even in dark, somber spaces, a pop of salmon, bubble gum pink, or fuchsia can be a breath of fresh air. The softest, palest pinks paired with gold and white can evoke the old-school glamor of 1950s Barbie without being too in-your-face. A pink accent wall, faux fur throw pillows, and a cute side table would be enough to capture the trend’s intrinsic mood-lifting qualities without going overboard.

Don’t Be Afraid to Be Extra

Of course, if you want to go full-throttle Barbie, have at it. House Beautiful recently interviewed Adora, the owner of Nashville’s infamous The House of Adora, which truly feels like somebody cast a spell on Barbie’s home to expand it to human proportions. From the front walkway to the kitchen, it’s meticulously curated and very pink.

“I only very recently heard the term Barbiecore, and I love it,” Adora says. “Barbie pink is glamorous and unafraid. I’ve had people on social media tell me they used to be embarrassed that they liked the color pink but that they aren’t anymore. It makes me sad they were ever made to feel that way. But I’m so happy the tide is turning. Pink is such a wonderful color, and I love that more people are embracing it. Like how could I not be happy every time I walk onto my pink porch? Barbie-inspired design feels like the ultimate meaning of living your best life!”

The post Barbiecore: How to Decorate Your Very Own Hot Pink Dream House first appeared on Dornob.

Frequent winners of prestigious international design awards like the Pinnacle Award from the International Society of Furniture Designers, Phillips Collection creates pieces you’re going to want to see in person. The summer Las Vegas Market, running from July 24th to 28th, 2022, is a great opportunity to do that.

The furniture design firm unveiled a newly expanded showroom with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the first day of the market. This expansion adds 13,000 square feet to the exhibition space, allowing it to showcase a greater variety of pieces, as well as larger-sized items. Hundreds of products are available for purchase each day of the event.

“Our Vegas showroom is how we access the West Coast design community, and we are thrilled by how the expansion turned out,” says Jason Phillips, the company’s Vice President of Sales. “It will help our sales team showcase our full range of products more effectively, and the variety of finish options to the customers we expect this summer.”

“Our showrooms provide a welcoming space for the residential and hospitality communities to connect,” says Phillips Collection Director of Marketing Serena Martin. “In addition, our expanded space allows us to host events, tours, and trend talks — a place where our team will inspire and offer expert advice and keep buyers at the forefront of what’s next in our home furnishings industry. There are even curated Instagrammable moments throughout the showroom for added fun. I can’t wait for the design community to join us at Las Vegas Market and share what they think of our new space!”

It’s hard to choose standout items from Phillips Collection when everything they create is so remarkable, but a few noteworthy picks include the brand’s Colossal Gray Cast Woman sculptures; its Diver sculptures in a variety of poses; beautiful Lotus three-dimensional wall art cast in copper and silver; poppy flower and birch leaf wall art measuring four feet across each; cast tree root tables; various furniture items carved from huge natural chunks of wood; 85-inch-tall liquid silver sculptures; and so much more.

Phillips Collection’s furniture and decor is sold through dealers all over the United States, so if you don’t make it to Las Vegas, you can still see some pieces with your own eyes. Find your closest dealers at the Phillips Collection website, where you can also shop for a selection of striking in-stock items like agate bowls, tabletop sculptures, framed wood burl side tables, and natural gemstone lamps.

The post Phillips Collection Shows Off Its Most Instagrammable Furniture and Decor in Vegas first appeared on Dornob.

The “friendly flying camera” acts as companion to the Snapchat app. Unlike most drones, there’s very little learning curve to overcome in order to master the device. Instead of a controller, the app has a single button and four pre-programmed flight patterns accessed through a dial on top of the drone. That means nobody has to fuss with their phone or a separate video screen to navigate it (which would defeat the purpose of taking selfies and videos altogether).

https://youtu.be/cqIsDo-f670

In Hover mode, the Pixy floats in front of the user. Reveal mode pans the drone backwards at an upward angle to capture the scene, perfect for when you’re trying to show off a trip to a beautiful locale. In Follow mode, the Pixy will trail you as you walk, run, bike, or drive. Finally, in Orbit mode, the drone flies high up into the air and spins in a 360-degree circle around the user.

The propellers are firmly ensconced within the body of the device, reducing the potential for getting tangled. When the user wants to call the drone back, all they have to do is hold out their hand, and it’ll automatically land on their outstretched palm. It’s also compact and lightweight enough to tuck into a pocket or purse, and charging is easy with a standard USB cable. Just pair the Pixy to your phone, and you’re ready to go.

Pixy can float, orbit, and follow wherever you lead, with videos wirelessly transferred and saved into Snapchat Memories. “From there, use Snapchat’s editing tools, Lenses, and Sounds to customize what you capture,” the company explains. “With a few taps, you can automatically crop into portrait and apply quick Smart Edits, like Hyperspeed, Bounce, Orbit 3D, and Jump Cut. Then, share to Chat, Stories, Spotlight, or any other platform.”

Combining the functionality of a drone with the user-centric focus of a selfie stick is a smart move. The design of the Pixy is accessible and attractive, making it a great entry-level choice for the drone-curious. While many higher-powered drones capable of flying much higher in the air require licenses to operate, the Pixy does not. It’s also much quieter, which could make it more of a pleasure to use.

All of these factors could make the Pixy enticing to Snapchat’s 293 million active daily users around the world. The company says it’ll only be available as long as supplies last, and it’s only available in the U.S. and France. If you want one, you’d better order through the Pixy website ASAP.

The post Snapchat’s $230 Pixy Drone Goes Where Selfie Sticks Can’t first appeared on Dornob.

Taking Over Twitter

Musk says he doesn’t care about the economics of buying Twitter. As a prolific user of the site, the Tesla CEO claims the deal is all about championing free speech, though he also believes he can turn Twitter’s fortunes around by taking the company private. In April, Twitter reported disappointing quarterly revenue growth and profits, and its shares have been sinking for months, along with many others in the technology sector. User activity has slowed down, too.

In a pitch to investors, Musk said he wants to quintuple Twitter’s revenue and grow its users to 931 million by 2028, up from 217 million at the end of 2021. The Twitter board unanimously approved the sale at $54.20 a share, but the deal will still need to be approved by shareholders and complete a regulatory review, a process Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal says will take three to six months. In the meantime, Agrawal is already making big changes, firing top executives, freezing new hiring, and drastically cutting the company’s spending. Musk has suggested more layoffs in the future.

Musk’s Plans for the Social Media Giant

Musk has indicated that his first order of business would be to loosen Twitter’s content moderation policies, which he believes are too strict. He announced that he’ll overturn Donald Trump’s lifetime ban from the site and disallow permanent bans for anyone, noting that users who post illegal or destructive tweets might get a temporary suspension or have their tweet made invisible instead. He has also called for the addition of an edit button, wants high-profile users to pay a fee to use the site, hopes to eliminate the spam bots that plague the site, and plans to make Twitter’s algorithm open-source to “increase trust.”

Of course, the potential overturn of Trump’s ban is big news that has conservatives celebrating and others worrying about the potential for more violence-condoning tweets as we approach the 2024 presidential election. Trump has claimed he’ll remain at his own social network, Truth Social, but that seems unlikely. Truth Social has been plagued by problems from the jump, and Trump’s engagement there is low, especially compared to his Twitter following, which peaked at about 90 million.

For years, Musk held his own political beliefs close to his chest. The 50-year-old has disparaged Trump and President Joe Biden alike on Twitter. He has donated almost equally to both Democrats and Republicans while calling himself a “moderate” who is “socially liberal and fiscally conservative.” However, his recent tweets have sent another message: one told followers to “take the red pill,” a phrase used by white supremacists and anti-feminists to describe being radicalized into their worldview, and another called California’s COVID lockdown policies “fascist.” He also tweeted “pronouns suck,” an apparent dig at transgender people.

An Uncertain Future

Plenty of things could still go wrong in Musk’s Twitter takeover bid. His plan to fund the purchase depends partially on how Tesla shares are doing. They’ve plummeted about 20 percent since Musk first announced his plans to buy the platform and take it private. Musk is also being investigated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission over an improperly filed form required when investors accumulate more than 5 percent of a company.

The terms of Musk’s deal to buy Twitter are another potential foil, as they require him to avoid disparaging the company or its representatives in tweets. Plus, Musk himself might just decide not to go through with it after all, paying the $1 billion fee to terminate the deal.

The post What’s Elon Musk’s Endgame with Twitter? first appeared on Dornob.

“The idea is simple: recovering projects by little-known and unknown architects, works that remain in the shadow of the great masters, looking into ‘minor figures,’ and combining different backgrounds in the history of architecture to complete students’ university studies,” The Forgotten Architecture Facebook page explains. “It is a collective experience that goes beyond the purely architectural, a virtual world peopled by more than 27,000 members from a variety of different professional backgrounds.”

The book is a compilation of many of the site’s exciting finds, with each page listing the Facebook contributor that introduced it to the group. It went on sale from March 7th to June 7th only, never to be sold again as a way of turning it into an instant collector’s item.

In case you can’t get your hands on a copy, here are some of our favorite highlights:

Casa Saldarini

Nicknamed the “Dinosaur House” or “Whale House,” the zoomorphic residence was designed by architect Vittorio Giorgini in 1962 in Piombino, Italy. Giorgini’s objective was to create an animal-like building that looked like it was at home in its own natural environment. Evocative curved walls flow organically through the unique house’s interior and exterior.

Complesso Rezidenciale di Piazza Grande

Built over the course of a decade starting in 1979, the Piazza Grande in Naples, Italy was designed by native architects Aldo Loris Rossi, Donatella Mazzoleni, Annalisa Pignalosa, and Luigi Rivieccio. Its influences were a mashup of Italian rationalism (like the Royal Crescent and Circus of Bath) and the organic architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. The circular complex includes private residences, offices, and commercial spaces, as well as schools, gyms, and public outdoor gathering areas.

Aquila Petrol Station

Originally constructed in 1949 in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, this architectural treasure has since been demolished, but pictures of its undulating vaulted roof make clear that it must have been a striking sight for drivers along the Serenissima highway back in the day.

Chiesa del Sanatorio

Perhaps the first rationalist religious architecture in Italy, the church of the Vittorio Emanuele II sanatorium in Alessandria was built in 1926. Its concrete design sticks to only the essential geometric elements.

Arnaldo Pomodoro House

Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro had this “non-house” designed by renowned architect Ettore Sottsass Jr. in 1968. It was to be a place for welcoming clients and friends at social events. The geometric lines and emptiness created a “metaphysical” and “entropized” space that invited people to “stay but not to live.”

Roybal Comprehensive Health Center

Of course, not all the featured architecture in the book is from Italy. Known as “La Clínica de Colores” by the Spanish-speaking inhabitants of Los Angeles, California’s Roybal Comprehensive Health Center was designed in 1979 with a heavy Latin influence showcased in its colorful tiled facade and inset Aztec imagery.

The post Forgotten Architecture You Have to Check Out first appeared on Dornob.

Coastal Grandma

Image via Purple Cherry Architects

You just never know what’s going to blow up on TikTok next. Would you have thought, for instance, that teenagers would see Diane Keaton’s home in the 2003 movie Something’s Gotta Give as interior design inspiration? The trend is called “coastal grandma,” and it’s all about creating a beachy, relaxed yet clean and organized vibe that says “yes, we have money.” 26-year-old TikToker Lex Nicoleta claims to have coined the phrase, and her channel is loaded with both tips for achieving the aesthetic and surprising references ranging from Reese Witherspoon to Oprah.

Natural linen textiles and neutral tones form the backdrop for this style, which is accented with vaguely coastal themed accessories like throw pillows and wicker baskets. Amber lamps, fresh floral displays, and lightweight curtains softly billowing in the breeze complete the effect. Much of this trend actually draws from Hamptons-style decor, so be sure to check out our guide to the classic coastal style.

#Cluttercore

Image via The Apartment Copenhagen

Hold onto your hairpin legs, because midcentury modern is over, according to Gen Z. Considering that it’s been the ultimate interior design style goal for several generations now, we shouldn’t be too surprised. Also out is the kind of aseptic minimalism that makes you feel like you’re in a hospital instead of a home. Instead, young trendsetters are embracing a kind of lived-in maximalism that conveys the fact that a real person occupies the space.

The point isn’t to fill your house with a bunch of junk you don’t need. It’s to surround yourself with things you love and use. The goal is a sort of curated mess, or a feast of eye candy that gives your guests something new to look at each time they visit. #Cluttercore has been a thing for a while now, and it’s not showing any signs of going away. But don’t fret, minimalists — the pendulum will undoubtedly swing back in your direction sooner or later.

The Cloud Couch

After it was spotted in the homes of Kendall Jenner and other celebrities, Restoration Hardware’s Cloud Sofa spurred a frenzy of TikTok lust. There’s just one problem: it retails at over $4,000 per section, and if you want the whole thing, it clocks in at $12,000. Designer Timothy Oulton envisioned it as the ultimate sofa with a corner, an armless section, and an ottoman, and central to its coziness is a set of oversized pillows to nestle into. The couch exudes both comfort and luxury, and it fits right into the Coastal Grandma aesthetic.

If the price is too high, you can find some considerably more affordable Cloud Couch duplicates (or “dupes,” as they’re known on TikTok). One of the best is the Ever Slipcovered Sofa by Leanne Ford, available at Crate + Barrel for $2,199.

DIY Paint Hacks

Paint is the ultimate way to transform a space: it’s cheap, anyone can pull it off, and it makes a massive impact. Designers like Danielle Nagel of Dani Dazey LA and duo @verygaypaint demonstrate how color and pattern can make even the most uninspiring spaces pop and express loads of personality. Nagel’s aesthetic also incorporates maximalism and 70s decor, two more popular TikTok trends.

One specific example is the painted fridge trend that’s currently inspiring TikTokers to turn their boring kitchen appliances into custom creations. At Home with Ashley demonstrates with a pastel striped theme, and Jess Maple gives hers a chalkboard paint makeover.

#PlantMom

Young millennials and Gen Z have taken older generations’ love for houseplants and turned it into a lifestyle. Just check out the hashtag #plantmom on TikTok to get an idea of what this means. There are two components to this trend: using large quantities of houseplants as decor, and caring for them like you would beloved pets. We’re not talking about tucking a plant in here or there for visual interest. The idea is to fill the space with enough greenery to almost feel like you’re outside.

The popularity of this trend exploded during the pandemic, when people were stuck indoors with little to do and lacking a connection to the natural world outside. On TikTok, the #plantmom hashtag will not only net inspiration for incorporating live plants into your interior decor, it’ll teach you how to meet their needs and diagnose problems like nutrient deficiencies. TikTokers Laneys First and Regan Kastner are great places to start for all the plant content you crave.

The post Top 5 TikTok Interior Design Trends of Spring 2022 first appeared on Dornob.

Instead, the app would be a safe place for MAGA lovers and their tweets and retweets – err, “Truths” and “ReTruths.” A place where people of “all viewpoints” have the freedom to post all the unpopular opinions they want, as long as they don’t violate a long, vague list of rules.

But the long-awaited app, first expected to launch last October, immediately failed to live up to expectations when it was finally released on February 20th. Truth Social became the number one most-downloaded free app in the Apple App Store within hours of its debut, but many users reported either having trouble registering for an account or getting a message that they were on a waitlist to join. Weeks later, many are still waiting.

Those who do have access report that the site is slow and oddly empty, considering the demand. Trump himself has only posted a single message reading “Get Ready! Your favorite President will see you soon!” Conservative lawmakers like Matt Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, and Marjorie Taylor Greene appear to be simply posting copies of the content they publish on more popular platforms like Twitter.

In fact, Truth Social appears to be a carbon copy of Twitter, which was Trump’s favorite way to disseminate messages to the public before he was banned for life following the January 6th, 2021 invasion of the U.S. Capitol. (Facebook and YouTube also banned Trump, accusing him of glorifying and inciting violence).

Parler, another far-right Twitter clone, was delisted by the Apple and Google app stores for hosting comments of a similar nature, so it remains to be seen whether Truth Social will suffer the same fate. If, that is, it ever actually functions at all. The botched roll-out of the app, helmed by former Republican U.S. Representative Devin Nunes, has reportedly enraged Trump. According to The Daily Beast, sources have heard the former president on the phone saying things like, “what the f#$% is going on?”

Those who do stick with Truth Social despite its “performance bottlenecks” will find welcome messages proclaiming that the platform does not “discriminate against political ideology” alongside lists of suggested users that include Fox News host Sean Hannity, white nationalist Nick Fuentes, “Stop the Steal” organizer Ali Alexander and Kenosha, Wisconsin shooter Kyle Rittenhouse. If they read the fine print of the user agreement, they’ll also see that their use of the app hinges on rules limiting speech on the “free speech” platform, forcing users to agree not to “disparage, tarnish or otherwise harm, in our opinion, us and/or the Site.”

The origins of the app’s funding are also in question. Truth Social was founded under parent company Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG), for which former Rep. Nunes is chief executive. TMTG raised $1 billion from undisclosed private investors prior to its release. In 2021, the group announced a merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC), through which it will receive $293 million in cash. The Securities and Exchange Commission is now investigating whether the firm violated securities laws, including whether they sufficiently disclosed when deal talks began.

As of March 7th, Truth Social had sunk to the 123rd most popular free app on Apple’s App Store.

The post The Truth About Trump’s “Truth Social” Social Network first appeared on Dornob.

With ultra-saturated oil on canvas paintings, Southwick shows laborers installing pool tiles, lifting non-native plants into gardens, and climbing ladders on second-story ledges among other scenes that emphasize the messy reality behind luxury houses. As he says on his website, the paintings invite viewers to see these fantasy homes “at an incomplete and less imposing state.”

“At the crux of my work are considerations of ownership, domestic spaces, and the environment,” Southwick said in an It’s Nice That interview. “These three topics tend to be intertwined within my paintings, which, despite appearing on the surface as simple depictions of expensive homes, actually attempt to highlight the disparity that exists between these spaces and the workers who build them.”

Southwick titled his collection “Querencia” after a Spanish word referred to in Ernest Hemingway’s 1932 novel Death in the Afternoon meaning “a preferred locality.”

“Querencia is a Spanish phrase which at its core means a space where you feel most comfortable and draw energy from,” explains the artist. “For example, in bullfighting, a bull will often circle the ring until it finds a place where it feels safe and strong – this is its querencia.”

Humans, and especially the wealthy, spend much of their time trying to create these retreats from the world – but inherent in the friction between the art’s subject and title is the idea that the workers producing these extravagant spaces cannot call such spa-like havens home because of their economic situation.

“Their inclusion in these paintings highlights the disparity in aspiration and needs between worker and owner,” adds Southwick. “The laborers involved in the building projects are often an invisible workforce made up of immigrants, and I play on this invisibility.”

The source material for Southwick’s Querencia series comes from personal and commercial photographs from private-property construction sites in the Balrearic Islands off the coast of Spain. Swimming pools and exotic plants take the stage in many of the paintings, themselves status symbols of luxury and sanctuary. “I wanted to focus on the ideals that pools represent, their relationship to the Roman Empire, and how these classical notions have retained their relevance and prevalence,” the artist says.

In all the scenes, he uses vivid colors and dramatic contrast to depict both the warmth of the climate and also the visual conflict between bright, exciting hues and the actual life conditions of the laborers. Ultimately, the large-scale pieces ask viewers to confront the fact that the “perfection” of social media doesn’t actually exist, and to pay more attention to the real issues of life.

Southwick’s background includes attendance at the Glasgow School of Art, as well as a Fine Art degree with honors from Leeds Art University in 2018. He has showcased his work in over a dozen exhibitions since 2015.

The post Artist Reframes Luxury Homes with Images of the People Who Build Them first appeared on Dornob.

Working with retailers like West Elm, Walmart, and Crate & Barrel, Pinterest will offer a new feature on its app’s “Lens camera” that lets you see a virtual product against the backdrop of your space.

This isn’t Pinterest’s first time using AR technology. The image sharing service introduced its “Try On” feature in 2020 for beauty products, allowing users to test makeup shades through the camera, purchase the products directly, or save the image for later reference. Last year, Pinterest also launched “Idea Pins,” an interactive way for creators to share videos of their recipes or projects layered with shoppable content. The new “Try On Home Decor” app feature is the biggest attempt to monetize Pins the company has come up with yet, offering over 80,000 pieces of furniture to test.

Here’s how it works. When browsing Pinterest, look for Pins that have a cube icon displayed on the upper left corner. When you click it, you’ll see an option to “try in your space.” This opens your outward-facing camera, which you’ll be prompted to move around the room until you find the spot where you want to test the object. Once it’s in the right spot, click the check button to save the photo. From there, you can choose to click a link to the retailer’s website to purchase.

IKEA’s version of this service dropped way back in 2013, so it’s not exactly a new idea. But Pinterest offers a different experience. Users aren’t limited to the offerings of a single store. “Retailers are happy to work with us because they know people don’t typically buy their entire bedroom set from one company,” says Jeremy King, senior Vice President of Engineering at Pinterest. “They want a chance to mix and match.”

Obviously, viewing these items through the tiny screen of your phone isn’t the same as seeing them in real life. Once augmented reality technology is more widely available, perhaps headsets or glasses will offer a way of viewing the scene that feels more natural. Virtual objects that respond to the ambient light and shadow in the room would help, too. Many brands consider AR to be the next big thing in shopping, and they’re investing a lot of resources into making it work, so improvements like these could be on the way soon.

A 2021 Bizrate survey found that about half of adults in the United States are at least somewhat interested in augmented reality shopping, and young people are already leading the way by using copious AR filters on Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. Pinterest says the number of Pinners engaging with shopping features on Pinterest has continued to increase over the last year, and “Try On for Beauty” usage by Gen Z and Millennials increased by 28 percent and 33 percent, respectively.

“Since the pandemic began, we’re seeing more digitally savvy shoppers than ever before, as millions of people now expect virtual and mobile options to try before they buy, see personalized recommendations, and gather information as part of their decision making process,” says King. “These behaviors are happening across Pinterest every day, which is why we’re continuing to advance technologies like AR Try On and make Pinterest a full-funnel shopping destination that takes people from inspiration to purchase anywhere in the app.”

The post Pinterest’s New AR Feature Lets You “Try On” Home Decor first appeared on Dornob.

Even if you haven’t traveled down the once-daily rabbit hole of Worldle-dom yourself, you’ve most likely seen those little green and yellow tiles all over your social media feed as people post their prowess with the word of the day like clockwork. Rather than being annoying, however, this little quirk is just one of many things that makes Wordle so charming.

But what exactly is it?

A cross between Boggle and a mini-crossword (sans clues), Wordle’s underlying charm lies in its simplicity. Basically, you have six tries to guess a five letter word. As you fill in your guesses on the grid, the letters light up after each turn – gray for incorrect, yellow for correct but in the wrong place, and green for right place, right letter. That’s it. That’s the game.

So how has such a seemingly banal word game taken social media (and by extension, the whole world) by storm?

While many have issued their hypotheses in the past weeks over what it is that makes Wordle so appealing, the answer may be as simple as the game itself. It’s fun, it hits that sweet spot of logic and luck, and it’s easy to incorporate into your daily routine. Plus, it only takes a couple of minutes out of your day – a couple minutes to just focus on the soothing grid without being inundated with outside stimulus (COVID! News! COVID!) No pop-ups, no muss, no fuss. Just a website that you visit daily for a soothing word balm.

Like the game itself, Wordle’s origin story is surprisingly simple. Looking to create a word game for his partner (who like many of us, loves word games), software engineer Josh Wardle created the game with a pun on his name: Wordle. After sharing it with friends and family, it became clear that the game was something special, prompting Wardle’s decision to go public with the great grid game in October 2021.

And with millions of daily users, it was only a matter of time before Wordle took a leap into further pop-culture fame. At the end of last month, the online sensation was sold to the New York Times for “a low seven figures,” according to a statement from the newspaper. A perfect fit for NYT games like the daily crossword and Spelling Bee, Wordle will, unlike some of its NYT Games fellows, remain free for the time being, and fans will be happy to know their wins and streaks will be preserved, too. It’s unclear if the game will end up behind a paywall in the future, but what is certain is that Wordle isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

It’s hard to say what exactly has made Wordle so popular, but it may be down to the fact that in these uncertain times, a game like Wordle adds a much needed break from reality while still, despite its internet popularity, managing to keep its charm and appeal. And that, more than anything, is a great reason to tip your cap to Mr. Wardle for a job well done.

The post Wordle Wows with Wonderful Wordplay first appeared on Dornob.

“It is time for us to adopt a new company brand to encompass everything we do, to reflect who we are, and what we hope to build,” said CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the company’s Connect conference. The new name, “Meta,” is meant to signal a future in which Facebook has slithered away from recent patterns of bad news to an exciting new identity as a “metaverse” company rather than simply a social media giant.

What is the “Metaverse?”

First coined by author Neal Stephenson in his 1992 cyberpunk novel Snow Crash, the “metaverse” is essentially a shared “imaginary place” where we use technology to perceive a layer of virtual objects and information on top of the reality we perceive with our senses alone. But the term is also subjective, and exactly how Facebook (the company responsible for the Cambridge Analytica scandal) interprets it remains to be seen.

As Zuckerberg said at the conference, “The best way to understand the metaverse is to experience it yourself, but it’s a little tough because it doesn’t fully exist yet.” However, he did note that it’ll be an “even more immersive and embodied internet” where “you’re gonna be able to do almost anything you can imagine – get together with friends and family, work, learn, play, shop, create – as well as entirely new categories that don’t really fit how we think about computers or phones today.”

It’s expected that all of this will include augmented reality that we experience through headsets or contact lenses, and that in the metaverse, we’ll all be represented by customizable 3D avatars that can move, speak, and appear anywhere in the world, sort of like a video game made much more real. In a utopian vision of this technology, we use it to enrich our lives, helping everyone from surgeons to construction workers do their jobs better, revolutionizing technology, and virtually erasing physical distances. But there’s a darker side that has much to do with who controls the metaverse and what their motivations are.

A Potentially Dark New Era of Facebook History

Louis Rosenberg, an early pioneer of augmented reality technology, is warning that whether the metaverse is in the hands of Facebook or another company, it could be a lot more dangerous than social media as we currently know it. The physical and the virtual will merge so convincingly that the boundaries “will disappear in our minds,” filling with people, places, objects, and activities that don’t really exist. And just like social media, it could serve as a potent way to disseminate disinformation and inflame political divisions.

What if, for instance, the things we perceive as we walk past people on the street include very private, defamatory, or false information, possibly as a paid filter layer? Rosenberg warns that it’s all too possible. “And no, you won’t just take off your AR glasses or pop out your contacts to avoid these problems. Why not? Because faster than any of us can imagine, we will become thoroughly dependent on the virtual layers of information projected all around us. It will feel no more optional than internet access feels optional today.”

Whether or not the general public perceives the depth of this threat, they’re definitely not comfortable with the “Meta” change. A report from the Harris Brand Platform showed that Facebook’s rebrand led to a sharp drop in public trust, falling from 16 percent in the aftermath of Haugen’s leaked documents to just 6.2 percent after the announcement. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg continues to insist that the rebrand has nothing to do with bad press.

The post Facebook’s “Meta” Name Change Isn’t Going Over Well with the Public first appeared on Dornob.

Poster @katallen8 uploaded 43 seconds of video reviewing her new Super Deal Portable Washer-Dryer from Amazon, and it quickly garnered 3.7 million views. It’s compact nature, ability to be used in a bathroom, and under-$200 price point caught the attention of laundromat-weary consumers all over the world.

Here are the specs that make this machine so attractive:

Size

The Super Deal Portable Washer-Dryer is small enough to be tucked into a coat closet at just 23 inches long by 13.5 inches wide by 26 inches tall. And weighing just 26 pounds, it can easily be moved around an apartment, or even carried around on a long-distance RV trip.

Capacity

The washer drum has a 13-pound clothing capacity, which according to @katallen means one load can hold “six pillowcases, two sets of scrubs, and socks.” While that’s certainly not a full traditional load, when you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home, doing several small loads suddenly seems like much less of a hassle.

The dryer, however, only holds a five-pound load, so some clothes may need to hang on the shower bar or similarly be split up into multiple loads. Some reviewers do warn that the dryer really doesn’t get clothes completely dry – rather, they come out just slightly damp and often still need to hang for a few hours to fully dry out.

Ease of Use

Another plus for this unit is how easy it is to use in any space with waterlines. You don’t even need any kind of insulation. Just connect the hose to a sink, fill the machine with water, and let the rinse water drain into a bathtub, sink, or bucket at the end of the cycle. The controls are also super straightforward, allowing users to choose washer times up to 15 minutes with a five-minute spin cycler timer.

Cost

@katallen told the world she bought the washer-dryer for $196, but interested buyers are in even more luck, as Amazon has since dropped the price to just $154. That makes it a super affordable option for both college students and apartment dwellers across the U.S.

Of course, some of the comments on TikTok reveal that this type of machine has been standard fare for people around the world for many years now.

“It’s so funny seeing people buy this now a days [because] I remember seeing this in my grandma’s house in the Dominican Republic in the countryside,” laughed one commenter. Another said, “Imagine them being ‘in wow’ when that’s what we use in the Caribbean,” while another still added: “Do Americans not know that twin tubs like these are the standard washing machines in most of Africa?”

Even if the U.S. is a little slow to the portable, affordable washer-dryer party, we’ve caught on now and people are excited. One Amazon reviewer raved, “I didn’t believe this machine could do so much. I love it!” and another gushed “We LOVE it! Sure beats sitting in a laundromat and I can get a couple of loads in before I begin my day!” The Super Deal Portable Washer-Dryer is available here for those eager to ditch the laundromat for good.

The post Amazon’s Mini Washer-Dryer Frees Apartment Dwellers from Laundromat Letdowns first appeared on Dornob.

Smoky Swirls

Wisps of swirling smoke snaking across nude nails like these from Instagram’s @imarninails are having a moment right now. Best of all, the swirls can be any color, creating gorgeous abstract art.

Pastel Tips and Cuticles

Pastel colors are trending hardcore. People can’t get enough of those baby blues and yellows, sage greens and light lavenders. One way to enjoy the pastel palette in a fresh way is to paint just the cuticles and tips like in this photo from @moshbeautystudio on Instagram.

Velvet Nails

Nails that look like they have the texture of shimmering velvet fabric took over the 2020 holiday nail scene, and they’re still going strong. This incredible technique is all about choosing the right products. Getting the perfect velvet nails requires gels with fine metallic particles and chromo powders to blend into the perfect consistency.

Texture

Instead of just making your nails look like they have texture, give them the real thing. This orange and green set by @nailsbybleona on Instagram offer a prefect, vibrant mix of slick and ridged textures.

Abstract Geometry

All things 90s are back in (i.e. scrunchies and the proliferation of Friends merchandise). Instagram’s @charlotteemilybeauty posted these geometrically painted nails that are also on trend with that pastel scheme.

Playful Art

After a year of isolation and pandemic, 2021 is the time to have some fun, let loose, and let your nails show your sense of humor. Each nail in this set posted by @top_nails_bar on Instagram is completely unique, featuring bright colors and eye-catching designs and patterns.

Checkerboard

Perhaps thanks to the 90s comeback, checkerboard prints are very “in” right now. This cool set from @primpedandpolished on Instagram adds a twist by turning the pattern on its side for the pinky nails. You can also tone down the busy-ness of the checkerboard craze by painting just one or two nails in the classic squares while giving the rest a solid color treatment.

Cow Print

Nails decked out in cow print from are popping up all over the internet. This set by @madelineelizabethx on Instagram is flashy but classy in its pink, black, and white hues.

Turquoise

Taking inspiration from timeless turquoise jewelry, these nails posted by @chisatochee on Instagram almost look like the real thing. To avoid overkill, the two first nails are perfectly balanced by the last two, which are painted in creamy orange and lined with gold.

Fading Foil French

Putting a spin on the classic foil French manicure, this set by @nailstampingqueenuk on Instagram features a pretty pink base with organically lined gold foil tips. You could even riff on this theme by using a foil in an on-trend color like emerald green or rust.

Vertical Stripes

Up and down lines are a smart choice in 2021, and these nails posted by @xjuliatalisman on Instagram are so flawless with their summer rainbow of stripes. To glam up this look, you could add in some metallic lines and daring colors for extra weekend flair.

This summer’s nail trends represent a desire for freedom of expression after a year of lockdown. Above all else, colorful, playful, and bold are the nail trends to follow in 2021.

The post 2021’s Hottest Summer Trend? Bold, Playful Nail Art first appeared on Dornob.

Nicholas Ferrara of Orlando is one of the TikTok users who first sparked the trend. In early 2020, the 22-year-old happened upon a YouTube tutorial for creating rugs with a tufting gun, a yarn stitching tool that looks sort of like a handheld drill. He ordered one and started experimenting, and before long he was churning out one brilliant creation after another, posting clips of his process to TikTok and Instagram. Suddenly besieged by followers requesting custom rugs, he set up shop under the name RugSoda, selling his designs for up to $250 a pop.

Ferrara’s rugs are definitely unique. Where else are you going to find a “Flat Tom” rug featuring the cat from classic cartoon Tom and Jerry? Other designs include “Squashed Squidward,” inspired by the character from SpongeBob Squarepants, the Grateful Dead dancing bear, Converse sneakers, and Ferrara’s own abstracted designs.

https://www.tiktok.com/@pennyiech/video/6871073214676733190?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

https://www.tiktok.com/@clairemolenda/video/6894438006174895366?lang=en&is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

https://www.tiktok.com/@miffyhornsby/video/6853225266588699910?lang=en

Other users who have skyrocketed to TikTok fame with DIY tufted rugs include Claire Molenda @clairemolenda, Anfernee Abad @pennyiech, and Miffy Hornsby @miffyhornsby. Abad has an endearingly cartoonish style, and Molenda has since expanded her vintage rug-making style to tufted jackets, with some of her videos getting upwards of a million views and her designs often selling out within minutes of posting. And of course, Hornsby’s “F#ck 2020” rug probably did the best job of capturing how we all feel about the year of the global pandemic.

If your style leans more toward midcentury modern than anime, you’ll want to check out Tim Eads @tufttheworld, a designer who founded an online community for tufters and started selling tufting guns and yarn back in 2018. TikTokers eager to participate in the new trend often flock to Eads’ website TuftingGun.com to order supplies, get help, and discuss the craft in greater detail than a social media comments section allows.

Trish Andersen is another artist credited with reigniting interest in the craft of tufting before it was cool. Hailing from Dalton, Georgia, where the tufting gun was invented, Anderson is an alum of the fiber program at the Savannah College of Art and Design. After her first rug went viral on social media, she launched a career making highly sought-after, large-scale painterly pieces. “Me and my fiancé were just fixing up our apartment and I just made that for the hell of it. I don’t even make rugs,” she tells Metropolis. Compared to other forms of fiber arts, “tufting, for me, is much more like painting and drawing. You’re able to jump around the canvas, play with your colors, and move around your piece as a whole rather than line by line.”

This is one TikTok trend all generations of crafters and the crafting-curious should get on ASAP. Check out all the DIY rugs TikTok has to offer and discover your new favorite makers through the hashtag #rugtiktok.

The post Gen Z’s DIY Tufted Rug Obsession Spurred by TikTok and COVID first appeared on Dornob.

“We often hear from creators that they’d love just a little more time to bring their cooking demos, elaborate beauty tutorials, educational lesson plans, and comedic sketches to life with TikTok’s creative tools,” the company explained in a blog post. “With all the ways our community has redefined expression in under 60 seconds, we’re excited to see how people continue to entertain and inspire with a few more seconds — and a world of creative possibilities.”

TikTok famously began with ultra-short 15-second time limits for its clips, which it then extended by allowing users to string together up to four video segments for a 60-second total. Those limitations might have been annoying for people who struggled to fit anything meaningful into a 15-second time period, but it also challenged people to get creative with how they filled that time. Back then, the clips were little more than flashes of content designed to intrigue or make you laugh. Users who skyrocketed to popularity in those days mastered the art of getting to the point as quickly as possible.

https://www.tiktok.com/@chowderthebulldog/video/6955396439560244486?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewsroom.tiktok.com%2F&referer_video_id=6955396439560244486&refer=embed

https://www.tiktok.com/@asta.darling/video/6954805082588269829?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewsroom.tiktok.com%2F&referer_video_id=6954805082588269829&refer=embed

Now, with a three-minute limit, users will be able to do a lot more with TikTok. Tutorials, guides, promotional videos, short films, and whatever else users dream up will be far more convenient to create and consume, potentially making TikTok feel similar to competitors Instagram and YouTube, for better or worse. Part of what makes the app so addicting for many users is how quickly the content streams by as you watch, holding your interest no matter how short your attention span may be. But longer content could change that dynamic, making us all more likely to skip clips that drag on a little too long.

The outrageously popular Chinese social media company will also begin using automated reviewing systems to hunt down videos with graphic content, sex, violence, nudity, and illegal activities, as well as content that violates its minor safety policy. The system will remove any videos suspected to contain such content and the creators will be given opportunities to appeal to human moderators if they believe the removal was an error. TikTok previously used all human moderators in the U.S., many of whom reported developing PTSD-like symptoms from the “volume of distressing videos” they were forced to watch.

Of course, computers still make mistakes, so TikTok users will likely see a period of heavy-handed automated takedowns before the system gets a little better at deciding what to remove. There’s also the fact that TikTok has a history of discriminatory moderation, intentionally deleting or shadow banning videos with LGBT-related hashtags and suppressing content by disabled, queer, and overweight creators, and it remains to be seen whether these problems continue or worsen using AI.

The post TikTok is Encouraging Longer Videos With a New 3-Minute Time Limit first appeared on Dornob.