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Much of the global economy was able to continue functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to a host of cloud-enabled technologies that powered a new way of remote working. However, the technology industry – which initially championed this new approach to work – has aggressively rowed back on it.

The new normal

Sam Altman, who leads OpenAI, clarified his stance on remote and hybrid working during a fireside chat in San Francisco organized by the startup Stripe.

Quote of the day

This article is part of TechRadar Pro's QOTD project to provide an insight into the minds of the brightest and most recognized figures in the technology industry today and in years gone by. Read the full series here .

During the conversation, he echoed the views of many in tech that remote working was a failure – framing it as an experiment that went wrong rather than a new kind of normality that most of the tech industry was enabling, let alone simply buying into.

Despite several studies suggesting productivity gains and higher employee wellbeing, the logic states that fully remote teams struggle to deliver products in a timely way and that corporate culture erodes. Surveillance and tracking is also much harder.

RTO mandates

Dozens of companies in the tech industry have instigated return to office (RTO) mandates, bringing workers back in-house full-time rather than even adopting a hybrid approach.

Amazon , Dell and Tesla are just three companies that have adopted five-day mandates, while several companies have also adopted four-day and three-day mandates.

Although these companies have decided to bring employees back into the office, the future of work in the tech landscape will remain fragmented, disjointed and varied not just between companies but within companies. Depending on how this trend continues, it could carry ramifications for the design of offices as well as the nature of training and progression.

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BMW’s X2 crossover SUV is getting the brand’s Neue Klasse face.

X2 will also inherit iX3’s pillar-to-pillar Panoramic iDrive system.

Electric iX2 in line for Neue Klasse updates but with blanked grille.

BMW ‘s design overhaul isn’t slowing down. In fact, it’s picking up the pace and the latest model headed for a Neue Klasse-inspired makeover is the X2. Fresh spy shots show the coupe crossover wearing camouflage ahead of a mid-cycle refresh that should bring it into line with its iX3 and X5 big brothers.

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More: 2027 BMW X5 Drops Door Handles For Wings, Adds A 435-Mile Electric iX5

Sightings of this X2 prototype come after we spied facelifted versions of its X1 twin , which isn’t surprising given the two crossovers share so much beneath the skin. Like its more practical sibling, the X2 is set to receive a visual refresh rather than a complete redesign, but the changes should be obvious enough to make it feel much newer.

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The biggest transformation happens up front. Although camouflage hides most of the details, it’s clear BMW is fitting a redesigned fascia inspired by the Neue Klasse family. Expect slimmer headlights with totally new DRL signatures (but probably not like the Elon-loving X5’s “X” DRLs), and a retro-inspired reshaped kidney grille treatment.

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Scoop: BMW’s Hottest X1 Is Getting The iX3’s Face And Maybe A New Name

Nothing major will happen along the flanks, but the rear end is also expected to receive revised lighting with updated graphics, helping distinguish the facelift from today’s X2 without dramatically altering its familiar coupe-like profile. Let’s hope the designers put some real effort into the back end, because the current model’s rump is the worst part of a controversial design many believe is simply ugly.

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One particular detail gives away exactly what’s hiding beneath the camouflage of the prototype rising on the transporter. Unlike BMW’s electric models, this entry-level Sport-grade prototype features a functional lower air intake beneath the kidney grilles, confirming it’s powered by an internal combustion engine. Two rear shots of a different prototype, this time on the road, make it even easier for us. Its four M Performance tailpipes tell us we’re looking at an updated X2 M35i rather than the battery-powered iX2 (or ICE X2) in M Sport trim.

Electric iX2 Follows The Same Path

The electric version won’t be left behind, though. Expect the iX2 to receive essentially the same exterior redesign, only with the smoother, mostly blanked-off front fascia typical of BMW’s EVs. Without a gasoline engine to cool, it simply doesn’t need the same airflow openings.

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Inside, the updates should be more dramatic. BMW will install its latest Panoramic iDrive system, replacing the current layout with the brand’s newest digital interface that’s gradually rolling out across the lineup. That means a pillar-to-pillar digital display at the base of the windshield instead of a conventional gauge cluster, and a tablet-form infotainment touchscreen floating off the main dashboard.

Spied: BMW’s Smallest EV Now Looks Like A Mini iX3

The current 2026 BMW X2.

Don’t expect major mechanical changes when the covers come off, probably this fall, though the engines and motors could gain the odd horsie and a few miles of electric range thanks to the use of the newest battery cell chemistry. The current X2 already offers turbocharged four-cylinder power in xDrive28i and M35i forms, while buyers outside of the US can choose between iX2 eDrive20 and dual-motor xDrive30 electric variants.

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Here at TPG, we love our transferable credit card points and miles . You can use them to book award travel with various airline and hotel partners, even if you're not loyal to said airlines and hotels.

For instance, Rachel once transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt and redeemed them for a weeklong stay in Hawaii — even though she'd never set foot in a Hyatt.

You might be planning to transfer credit card rewards once you've earned a lucrative welcome bonus . Or, if a great redemption option comes up, you could find yourself transferring points or miles unexpectedly. In this case, you'll want to do this as quickly and painlessly as possible, so it's worth doing a little bit of setup now to save yourself time later.

Your point transfers could be slowed down if your partner loyalty account is relatively new, which can affect your redemptions. Here's why we recommend setting up loyalty accounts as soon as possible, even if you don't have any transfers planned.

Related: How (and why) you should earn transferable credit card points and miles

Why transfer times matter

Hana-Maui Resort. ETHAN TWEEDIE/HYATT Even the most well-planned redemption can fall through if award availability gets snapped up while you're waiting for your points to appear in your airline or hotel account.

Transfer times range from a few seconds to several days, depending on the type of credit card rewards and the transfer partner. See our guides to transfer times for American Express Membership Rewards , Bilt , Capital One miles , Chase Ultimate Rewards , Citi ThankYou Rewards and Wells Fargo Rewards to learn more.

But remember, these transfer times can be longer if you recently opened your partner account. The longer you have to wait for the transfer, the more likely award space will disappear before your points or miles make the journey.

Former TPG director of content Andrea Rotondo experienced this when she transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards points to her Air Canada Aeroplan account — which she had opened five days earlier — for a business-class redemption on Swiss .

Although Chase points typically transfer to Aeroplan instantly , Andrea's points took around 36 hours to reach her Aeroplan account. Thankfully, the seats she was trying to book were still available when the transfer was finally completed. If they hadn't been, she would have been stuck with no tickets and thousands of Aeroplan points that she may or may not be able to use.

Related: Who are the Chase Ultimate Rewards airline and hotel transfer partners?

Why you should register for loyalty accounts now

United Polaris business class. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY You can minimize your transfer times (and save yourself a step in the transfer process) by setting up loyalty accounts in advance. If your hotel or airline partner loyalty account is already established before you link your accounts and initiate a transfer, you can expect transfer times to be on par with our guides, and there won't be any added stress or complexity when you are ready to book that dream redemption.

This has the added benefit of helping you search for award availability , since some airlines and hotels make it harder or even impossible to search award rates if you're not logged into an account.

Bottom line

We recommend joining the loyalty programs of all the major U.S. carriers (or the most prominent airlines in your location) and hotel chains now. It's free to sign up, it can help you search for award availability and it will ensure your points or miles transfer as quickly as possible when you're ready to redeem them.

Just keep track of your login info to avoid getting locked out of any loyalty accounts.

Related: The 4 best Chase credit cards to apply for right now

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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I'm making a platform for simple open source games you can play anywhere. Games are all just JavaScript classes and you can read the source of every game on the platform. I started working on initial "games" (mostly rendering tests) in 2018 and eventually built all of the platform stuff around it to make it easy to share games. There's also an in-browser editor available for you to make and publish games all from the browser. Would love some feedback on the games and studio features as well as the platform overall. All of the code is available at https://github.com/homegamesio

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48798153

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Few authors have understood the world of espionage better than the brilliant John le Carré , whose novels are among the greatest works of fiction ever crafted about the Cold War. Although le Carre’s work began by exploring the tension between democratic nations and the Soviet Union during the post-World War II era, The Night Manager was a more recent effort, as it addressed the threat of terrorism in 1993. Even though the perception of what terrorism is has changed radically in the years since the book was originally written, The Night Manager identified the role that arms dealers played within global violence based on their willingness to sell advanced weaponry to the highest possible bidder. The Night Manager was the latest of le Carre’s work to be adapted, and the series transformed a simple cat-and-mouse game into an epic thriller worthy of the James Bond franchise.