 |
|
|
|||||
In a few days, TikTok could be banned in the US, rendering the app unusable and removing it from app stores. Instead of making do with Instagram Reels, people looked for a closer alternative and found Chinese social media app "RedNote" or Xiaohongshu, which translates to "little red book." It shot to the top of the Apple App Store download list, and according to Reuters, more than 700,000 users joined the service within just a couple of days. Apparently, though, RedNote isn't the only app that has benefited from TikTok's looming ban. The language learning app Duolingo has revealed that it has seen a "216 percent growth in new Chinese (Mandarin) learners in the US compared to this time last year." Learning Mandarin out of spite? You're not alone. Weve seen a ~216% growth in new Chinese (Mandarin) learners in the US compared to this time last year. https://t.co/9hzwBxfTgD pic.twitter.com/qWM9f5oFYA Duolingo (@duolingo) January 15, 2025 While RedNote has an English interface, most of its content is in Chinese, and American users are probably hoping to be able to interact with more videos. As TechCrunch notes, the graph Duolingo posted clearly shows a big uptick in new learners at the same time RedNote shot up in popularity. On TikTok, Duolingo posted videos with the hashtags #rednote and #tiktokban. In one video, someone wearing a mask of the app's green owl mascot is teaching Mandarin Chinese for beginners, starting with "Welcome, TikTok refugees." Meanwhile, RedNote's original Chinese users are getting language lessons from the app's American imports. They're now apparently getting schooled on gen Alpha American slang and TikTok trends, like "my shayla" and "Raw. Next question." Chinese users are also having fun with the new users, telling them that they're their "Chinese spy" and jokingly asking for their data to give to China's government. TikTok's owner, ByteDance, only has until January 19 to sell the app's US assets to prevent a shutdown. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/tiktok-refugees-are-learning-mandarin-chinese-on-duolingo-for-rednote-140032557.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
The long wait is finally over. In a YouTube video with little fanfare, Nintendo officially introduced the long-awaited Switch 2. The first true next-gen follow-up to the original Switch includes backwards-compatibility for owners of existing Switch hardware and we'll learn more about the console in a Nintendo Direct presentation on April 2, 2025. There's still no firm release date, though. Nintendo is also planning to host first-look experience events in cities around the globe starting in April, the first of which take place in New York City and Paris from April 4 to April 6. More cities around North American, Europe, Oceania and Asia will follow. This trailer and accompanying press release are truly light on details. We see how the Switch 2 evolves from the original, with a larger screen and accompanying Joy-Con controllers that do appear to be attachable via magnets and a tiny port on the side of the controller. That's it, though no price, specs or any details on what games are coming to the Switch 2. That said, we did see a few shots of a Mario Kart game running on the Switch 2 so all the rumors surrounding a Mario Kart 9 launching alongside the Switch 2 got another shot in the arm today. The announcement of the Switch 2 has been a long time coming. Today's news caps off months of speculation about when the company would unveil new hardware. The community interest in a Switch 2 was vocal enough that president Shuntaro Furukawa posted on X ahead of the June 2024 Nintendo Direct not to expect any new console news, although he did confirm that the Switch's successor would be introduced by March 2025. Nintendo has given players some minor upgrades over the years since the Switch first arrived on the scene in 2017. The Switch Lite offered a more compact handheld ideal for gaming on the go, and the Switch OLED delivered a premium screen. But even within the limitations of a portable gaming device, the Switch has lagged far behind other consoles when it comes to power and performance. Of course, trying to compete with Sony and Microsoft's consoles on pure power hasn't been Nintendo's concern for decades at this point. Once we get our hands on the Switch 2, we'll know whether it delivers enough oomph to feel worth the wait.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-arrives-on-april-2-2025-131325195.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
Insta360 is back with another smartphone gimbal and it looks pretty darn great. The Flow Pro 2 is an upgrade over its predecessor in nearly every major way, and we already loved the original. This is another great tool for any content creator to have at the ready. First of all, the Flow 2 Pro offers a sturdier build, for enhanced durability, and a much stronger tripod. The unit also includes an exterior selfie mirror, so users can quickly get a fit check in the middle of a vlog or whatever. Insta360 The new design allows for something called Free Tilt Mode, which means that users can angle the gimbal in unique ways to get creative shots. The company says folks will be able to use this mode to get crane shots, tilt shots and multiple combinations thereof. The stabilizer also supports 360-degree pan tracking. The software suite has received a major upgrade. Just like the original iteration, the Flow 2 Pro integrates with Apple DockKit for automatic tracking. However, theres also something called Active Zoom Tracking, which can close in up to 15x while following a moving subject. The company says this will ensure that shots are crystal clear and perfectly framed, no matter the distance The companys Deep Track AI-powered tech has also gotten an update. Deep Track 4.0 brings new capabilities and quality-of-life features to make sure that all shots are perfectly framed and effortlessly smooth. The software even allows for multi-person tracking. The gimbal can be controlled via an Apple Watch or a secondary smartphone and the battery lasts around ten hours per charge. The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro is available right now for $160, with availability in gray and white. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/insta360s-flow-pro-2-gimbal-offers-a-sturdier-build-and-a-selfie-mirror-130016865.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
All news |
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||