The Nintendo Switch 2 announcement could happen at any time, so here are my last predictions.

2025-04-04 05:54:56 By James Rodriguez

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All signs are pointing towards an imminent Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, with our first look at the upcoming console expected to drop in the coming days. Even so, the near-constant stream of leaks and rumors in the last few weeks has left me feeling like I already know almost everything that the Japanese hardware giant intends to show off. Still, the details are far from set in stone which makes now a fantastic time to get some last minute predictions in.

I’ve distilled my thoughts into five crucial points that I believe will be the most significant insights from the reveal. This isn’t merely guesswork; I have been closely monitoring developments related to the Nintendo Switch 2 for the past two years. Drawing from my expertise and personal insights, I’ve identified what I think is most likely to materialize.

While I would be shocked if most of my predictions turn out to be incorrect, there's always a possibility that Nintendo might throw us a curveball. If you're reading this in the future and I happen to be wrong, feel free to chuckle at my speculations with the clarity of hindsight. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me share my thoughts on what lies ahead.

New social functionalities have been launched, shedding light on the enigmatic C button.

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It seems all but certain that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be more powerful than the original Nintendo Switch, but I wonder if that’s going to be enough of a unique selling point for Nintendo. Whether its glasses-free 3D on the 3DS, the unapologetically unique Nintendo 64 controller, or whatever the hell the Wii U was supposed to be, Nintendo always seems to tie its new releases to some kind of major gimmick.

The latest leaks suggest that the revamped Joy-Con controller of the Nintendo Switch 2 will feature a mysterious ‘C’ button. Supposedly, dataminers have managed to uncover some kind of social functionality known as Nintendo Campus - presumably something to do with that button judging by the name. This would seemingly include a range of social features, such as text and voice chat functionality, a party system, and even screen sharing.

While the credibility of the source behind these assertions is quite questionable, I must admit that this is the most believable theory regarding the 'C' button that I've encountered to date. Additionally, it could effectively resolve one of the most common grievances regarding the Nintendo Switch: the noticeable absence of meaningful social features. Yes, there's the outdated Nintendo Switch Online mobile application, which is compatible with only around 15 games, but it is incredibly cumbersome and a real hassle to navigate.

I’ve been eagerly anticipating a replacement for Miiverse, and I believe that launching something akin to it with the Nintendo Switch 2 could provide current Nintendo Switch users, like myself, who aren't particularly focused on higher framerates, a strong incentive to make the upgrade.

It seems that the latest Joy-Con has some exciting features and innovative uses.

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Sticking with the new Joy-Con for a moment, I’m also expecting a few other hardware changes. The most notable of these would be the introduction of an optical sensor, which has been indicated by a handful of leaked photos.

This could allow the new Joy-Con to function very similarly to the controller found on the Lenovo Legion Go PC handheld, which can be positioned upright and dragged along a flat surface to effectively emulate a mouse.

This could significantly transform the experience of playing while docked, enabling you to access functionalities that are usually restricted to the handheld mode touchscreen right from your desk. Just think about how much simpler it would become to adapt Wii, DS, or Wii U titles with this setup, as it would nearly remove the hassle of reconfiguring touch screen or motion controls to the less reliable gyroscope or standard buttons.

It might even be a boon for those predicted social features and opens the door for much more advanced user interfaces than we’ve seen from Nintendo before. That’s not even beginning to consider the many ways in which it could be implemented in upcoming games. A Splatoon sequel would shine with the control scheme and I’d love a new Super Mario Maker that takes full advantage of it. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal gives us our first glimpse of the feature in action.

We will witness a larger, less portable handheld device.

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If the Nintendo Switch 2 comes with enhanced specifications, it will probably require a significantly larger battery to ensure it can operate for a reasonable duration.

Realistically, this means we’re looking at a much larger handheld than before with a larger display to boot. I think an 8-inch screen, up from the original’s 7 inches, is definitely plausible. Paired with bigger Joy-Con and a thicker design to accommodate more effective cooling, you’ve got a system that’s much closer to a handheld PC like the Steam Deck in size.

This isn’t going to be a problem for those who enjoy docked play, but I’ll be a little sad if it really is that big. I love taking the Nintendo Switch out and about and suspect that portability was a big reason that many people picked one up, too. I’m sure that the Nintendo Switch 2 will still be able to fit in a rucksack, but it might take existing owners, especially those with the Nintendo Switch Lite, a bit of time to get used to the added heft.

The unveiling will give us our initial glimpse of several undisclosed games.

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This is a highly reliable prediction, considering Nintendo's history in this area. You may remember that the Nintendo Switch was initially introduced through a brief trailer lasting about three and a half minutes, which showcased its use in diverse environments such as a household, an airport, and even inside a vehicle.

Plenty of then unannounced games were visible on screens throughout, including a few seconds of Super Mario Odyssey footage in addition to some clips of Splatoon 2 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. This was then later followed by a more comprehensive announcement, which gave us concrete details about these games.

Recent rumors suggest that the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal will follow a similar format, with an initial trailer that focuses on the hardware first. I think it’s likely that a couple new games will show up in it. Previously announced titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will almost certainly be there, plus maybe our first footage of the long-awaited next Mario Kart in addition to some surprising third-party games such as Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

The typical color scheme consists of black, orange, and blue.

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Various reports have mentioned the color scheme of the Nintendo Switch 2, which appears to feature a mainly black design accented with orange and blue details.

Initially, I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about this concept, but my perspective has shifted in the past week. It appears that the orange and blue accents will primarily feature on the Joy-Con, especially where they connect to the console, so it shouldn't end up looking overly flashy. While I still appreciate the classic blue and red of the Nintendo Switch, these updated colors could assist casual consumers in distinguishing between the older and newer models.

Certainly! I anticipate that the Nintendo Switch 2 will come in two color options, just like the original model. It's likely that one of the choices will be a simple black or a neutral dark grey. However, I would be thrilled to see a more unexpected color option. How about navy blue and salmon pink for a fun twist?

Is there anything I overlooked?

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What are your thoughts on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2? I'm curious about the types of games it might support, any potential groundbreaking hardware features, or even the name you think the console will ultimately carry. Share your insights in our brand-new comment section!

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What is Lemon8? Here’s what you need to know as the Supreme Court considers a ban on TikTok.

2025-04-04 05:54:56

Amid a looming U.S. ban on TikTok, content creators have been pushing the platform's sister app, but what is it and what role could it soon play? View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Have you been noticing all the buzz around Lemon8 recently? You're certainly not alone in that! Amid a looming U.S. ban on TikTok, content creators have been pushing the platform's sister app, but what is it and what role could it soon play? Here are the key points to consider: Lemon8 is a social media platform that focuses on sharing visual content, similar to other platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Users can create and share photos, videos, and lifestyle content, often emphasizing aesthetics and creativity. It caters to a community interested in discovering new trends, products, and experiences, providing a space for users to express themselves and connect with others who share similar interests. Lemon8 resembles an amalgamation of the types of short-form videos found on TikTok and the picture-perfect aesthetic of Instagram and Pinterest. Like its popular relation, Lemon8 is owned by China-based ByteDance, whose collection of internationally available apps also includes the video editing app CapCut and the photo and art editing app Hypic. In addition, the company operates Douyin, the Chinese sibling of TikTok that follows Beijing’s strict censorship rules. Lemon8 launched in the U.S. in 2023, a few years after it first popped up in Asian markets. Though it garnered some media and user interest in its early days, the app hasn’t taken off as much as TikTok, which has more than 170 million U.S. users. But more people have downloaded the app in the past month, making it one of the top-ranking free apps on Apple’s app store. Lemon8's popularity could potentially soar further depending on the outcome of a U.S. Supreme Court hearing Friday over a law requiring TikTok to break ties with ByteDance or face a U.S. ban. What are creators discussing regarding Lemon8? Influencers have collaborated with Lemon8 to raise awareness of the relatively obscure app on TikTok. In the past few weeks, numerous influencers have touted Lemon8 as the go-to alternative in the event that TikTok faces a federal ban. Additionally, some have been promoting it through paid advertisements labeled #lemon8partner, indicating a recent corporate effort to boost user acquisition. However, there's a catch. The legislation, which mandates the shutdown of TikTok's U.S. operations unless it is sold to a sanctioned buyer, specifies that the divest-or-ban clause broadly pertains to applications owned or managed by ByteDance, TikTok, or any of their affiliates. 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According to Sensor Tower, the app experienced a remarkable surge in global downloads in December, with a staggering 150% increase compared to a typical 2% decline month-over-month observed last year. Notably, the United States contributed to 70% of the downloads for that month. The largest number of U.S. downloads were performed on Dec. 19, according to Sensor Tower. That was the day after the Supreme Court said it would hear this week's oral arguments over the constitutionality of the federal law that could ban TikTok. The law passed with bipartisan support last year after lawmakers and Biden administration officials expressed concerns that Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over U.S. user data or sway public opinion towards Beijing’s interests by manipulating the algorithm that populates users’ feeds. 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Incorrect: The Whole State of Texas is Unlikely to Experience Negative Temperatures Anytime Soon.

2025-04-04 05:54:56

Ok, so far the Texas Snowpocalypse of 2025 has turned out to be a bit of a bust. Some of us got enough snow to make a mini snowman that lasted 12 hours before melting completely, but that's about it. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. TikTok/Canva Nonetheless, the locals can't seem to stop discussing the weather, and currently, a viral video is circulating that suggests Texas is set to experience a drop into subzero temperatures in the near future. Before I explain why this assertion is entirely inaccurate, take a moment to check out the video below. @anttsinc “️ We thought this storm was going to be rough, but keep an eye on the 19th-23rd! ❄️ A cold front from Canada is heading our way, and it’s looking like DFW and all of Texas are in for a much chillier experience in about 10 days. Bundle up, y’all! #TexasWeather #ColdFront #DFW #WinterIsComing #StayWarm #WeatherUpdate ♬ original sound - P- Paw & Mima - Antts Inc Understanding the Context is Essential At first glance, it's simple to observe a map filled with negative numbers and assume they represent temperatures. However, those figures could signify a variety of other things, and in reality, they do not indicate temperatures at all. Variation in Mean Temperature What that map is showing, dear friends, is the difference in average temperature for that area. What does that mean? If it shows a -10 on the map, that means the temperature will be about ten degrees less than it normally is at that location at this time of the year. So if it's normally 50 degrees, it will be 40. That's it. It's one of those maps that meteorologists throw up on the screen to waste time, and this guy trolled us with it. Nicely done, my friend! Texas Department of Public Safety Winter Weather Safety Guidelines for Homeowners The Texas Department of Public Safety has shared some helpful advice to ensure safety during winter weather conditions affecting your area. Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins 10 'Hidden Areas' Burglars Target First When Breaking into Texas Homes Many individuals have secret spots in their Texas homes where they store valuable items to protect them from potential burglars. But are they truly secure? Gallery Acknowledgment: Tara Holley 32 Long-Term Fugitives from Texas As 2025 began, the Texas Department of Public Safety identified 32 long-term fugitives, with some individuals evading capture for more than two decades. Gallery Acknowledgment: Danny Merrell

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Are we on the brink of energy shortages as we accelerate towards net zero emissions?

2025-04-04 05:54:56

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2025-04-04 05:54:56

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Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth are said to be heading to the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.

2025-04-04 05:54:56

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Community members come together to dig out their neighbors during an unprecedented snowstorm.

2025-04-04 05:54:56

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Report indicates that Disney Plus will soon offer HDR10+ support.

2025-04-04 05:54:56

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2025-04-04 05:54:56

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HHS Draft Regulation Aims to Strengthen Cybersecurity Standards for Electronic Health Information

2025-04-04 05:54:56

View pictures in App save up to 80% data. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released a proposed rule to better protect electronic health data from cybersecurity threats. The proposed rule would apply to health plans, healthcare providers, healthcare clearinghouses, and their business associates, such as billing companies, third-party administrators, and pharmacy benefit managers. Rapid Insights HHS has proposed a rule to shore up cybersecurity protections for electronic health records under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The new rules would apply to HIPAA-regulated entities, such as healthcare providers, hospitals, and others that handle electronic medical data. The public can submit comments on the proposed rule until March 7, 2025. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule has remained largely unchanged since its last significant revision in 2013. In light of increasing cybersecurity risks within the healthcare sector, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a proposed rule on January 6, 2025, aimed at enhancing cybersecurity measures for personal health information gathered by healthcare entities, including providers, hospitals, insurers, and related organizations. The public has until March 7, 2025, to provide feedback on this proposal. Should these changes be finalized, they would affect all entities covered by HIPAA as well as their business associates, enforcing tougher regulations regarding risk assessments, data encryption, multifactor authentication, and additional areas. Notably, the suggested rule would remove the differentiation between "required" and "addressable" implementation specifications, rendering all specifications mandatory. 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The suggested regulation would additionally mandate: written documentation of policies, procedures, plans, and analyses related to complying with the HIPAA Security Rule; covered entities to develop and update a technology asset inventory and a network map that illustrates the movement of electronic health information throughout the electronic information system; covered entities to conduct a more robust risk analysis than under the current rule, including incorporation of the entity’s technology asset inventory and network map; identification of all reasonably anticipated threats to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic health information; and an assessment of the risk level for each identified threat and vulnerability, based on the likelihood that each threat will exploit vulnerabilities; encryption of electronic health information at rest and in transit; the use of multifactor authentication; covered entities to use anti-malware protections and remove extraneous software from electronic information systems; an audit at least once per year to confirm compliance with the HIPAA Security Rule; covered entities at least once per year to obtain written certification from business associates that they have deployed the technical safeguards required by the HIPAA Security Rule; covered entities to review and test the effectiveness of certain security measures at least once every twelve months; vulnerability scanning at least every six months and penetration testing at least once every twelve months; network segmentation and separate technical controls for backup and recovery of electronic health information and electronic information systems; covered entities to establish written procedures to restore the loss of certain electronic information systems and data within seventy-two hours, and document how employees should report security incidents and how the regulated entity will respond to security incidents. Business associates would have to notify covered entities upon activating their security contingency plans no later than twenty-four hours after activation; covered entities to cut off a former employee’s access to personal health information no later than one hour after the employment has been terminated; and group health plans to include in their plan documents requirements for their plan sponsors to comply with the administrative, physical, and technical safeguards of the HIPAA Security Rule. Future Actions Employers and the public have until March 7, 2025, to submit comments about the proposed rule. The final rule would take effect sixty days after being published in the Federal Register. The existing HIPAA Security Rule remains in effect while the rulemaking is underway. Entities covered by HIPAA, along with the employers who support them, should consider reassessing their cybersecurity strategies and policies concerning electronic health information. They ought to identify any discrepancies between their current practices and the proposed regulations. Although some of these proposed modifications align with security measures already adopted by numerous HIPAA-covered entities, if the new rules are enacted, employers should be prepared for additional expenses to ensure their practices comply with the outlined requirements. This is particularly relevant for larger employers providing self-insured health plans, as they hold the primary responsibility for HIPAA compliance regarding the plans they sponsor.

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