Latest news with #SoftLaunch
Hindustan Times
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Hint, hint: How to soft-launch bae, the right way
Millennials were just getting used to the term Situationship. Now they must contend with another Gen Z idea: The Soft Launch. No, it's not related to gently sending up rockets (though with Shubhanshu Shukla on board the ISS, the timing does feel right). The term refers to the act of slowly, consciously, drip-feeding information about your new relationship on your socials, without giving away the story immediately. Zendaya and Tom Holland hinted at their relationship by commenting on each other's stories. (SHUTTERSTOCK) The term dates back to the Dark Ages, aka 2020. It first showed up in a since-deleted tweet by actor Rachel Sennott, who'd spotted the trend. The term borrows from tech companies, which release new devices and software – bugs and all – to a small audience before a formal roll-out. Done right, it's a subtle, confident, clear indicator that there's someone in your life. Executed poorly, it's a pile of mystery limbs, confusing captions and zero context. Here's how to do it right. Tease your new relationship with just the shadow of your partner, or their shoes. (SHUTTERSTOCK) Ease into it. Humans are in their oversharing era. So why go full PDA on a milestone that you're still figuring out too? If you've been single for a while, a soft launch also allows you time to adjust to your own change of status. Besides, half the fun is in drawing out the drama. Announce the presence, not the person: If you two have vacationed together, have them pop up only as a shadow in your posts (You'll have to stage these. They'd better be on board with the crazy). Or get you and your SO in front of a mirror; you facing it, them with their back to it. Then, hold hands and take a selfie of your reflections. It shows all of you, but not all of them, keeping the mystery intact. If even one of you is the cheesy type (we're not judging) have their face obscured by a bunch of flowers. Big petals, people. Big petals! Take tips. Zendaya and Tom Holland didn't post directly about each other for ages, but their comments and appearances in each other's stories started during the Spider-Man: Homecoming press tour in 2017. Tom tagged Zendaya in photos she wasn't even in. Smart fans picked up on the connection months before the paparazzi produced proof. Content creator (@NitibhaKaul) is currently on a vacation with someone. His face is hidden not just on her feed, but on his own too. Who is this guy? Nicely done, Nitibha! Skip the clichés. Soft launches are subtle and sweet. Crucially, they're authentic to the new relationship. Being formulaic will give it away faster than you want. So, avoid heart bombing (suddenly liking and commenting on each other's posts). Go easy on posting random body parts – a hand here, a jawline there – this isn't an autopsy! And don't post romantic quotes with no context: Soulmates Always Find Each Other? Eww! No one wants to read between those lines. When you're ready, make the reveal clear. Post a picture and tag them. Give people the deets. (SHUTTERSTOCK) Keep them real. Once your audience is aware a certain someone exists in the background, let their personality show. Start posting about things they like that didn't make it to your feed before. Suddenly you're watching Korean body horror, posting Coldplay lyrics when your last caption was all Olivia Rodrigo. Your mutuals will soon start connecting the dots. The final move. When you're ready, make the reveal clear. Post a picture with their face, tag them, use a caption that confirms what many may have already suspected. Don't be smug about it; everyone knew what you were up to all along, Sherlock. Expect an aftermath. There will be questions. There will be surprise. Not everyone was clued to every hint you'd been dropping. For the most part, strangers on the internet want to know how long it's been going on and hoe serious it is. You don't owe the world a press release, but maybe a How We Met post might help. Just remember that your relationship, even if it fizzled out before the reveal, is your business. Avoid over-curating and over-explaining. If it feels like you're trying too hard, step back. From HT Brunch, July 05, 2025 Follow us on
Time Out
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
PHOTOS: Magic Hour Rooftop transforms into a sky-high floral fantasy with 1,000s of flowers
If Alice had fallen down the rabbit hole and landed in Times Square, she might have wound up at Magic Hour. This summer, NYC's largest indoor/outdoor rooftop bar is undergoing its most jaw-dropping transformation yet with Full Bloom, an immersive floral fantasia open now through September atop the Moxy Times Square. Created in collaboration with design firm Geo Events and Design House Decor, Full Bloom turns the west terrace into a kaleidoscopic garden in the sky. Expect vines tangled with checkerboards and waves, a whimsical carousel cocooned in oversized flowers and a 12-foot-tall technicolor bouquet at the center of it all—a surreal sculpture garden centerpiece made for Instagram and awe alike. 'We wanted to design something that felt surreal yet joyful—like stepping into the pages of a storybook,' said Azizan Ali of Design House Decor. And from the six-foot-tall daisies to the immersive floral skyline, they nailed it. But the fantasy doesn't stop at the décor. Executive Chef Ben-Galy Cisse and senior director of beverage Nikki McCutcheon have rolled out an all-new garden-inspired menu with dishes like wagyu pigs in a blanket and lobster rolls, plus floral-themed desserts and drinks. Sip your way through a 'bouquet of spritzes' (yes, that's really what it's called) served in iridescent vases, or try the Lavender Haze, made from Prosecco with a dash of lavender syrup and lemon. Non-drinkers can get in on the action too with fizz-forward mocktails like the Soft Launch. Full Bloom will also be hosting a packed lineup of summer programming, from drag brunches and celeb DJ sets to creative pop-ups and collabs with NYC icons. Weekend brunches run Saturdays and Sundays with sweet-and-savory options like crème brûlée French toast and a Dubai chocolate croissant. And if you're planning a bachelorette bash or a rooftop brand launch, the space is available for full buyouts—just be ready for your guests to stop and smell the (gigantic) roses. Reservations for Full Bloom at Magic Hour are now open via OpenTable—just be sure to select the Full Bloom Room when booking. Check out photos of the space and those floral offerings below:
Malaysian Reserve
29-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Liew: Semiconductors, drones to drive Malaysia's transformation
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia needs to transition from being primarily a trading nation to becoming a technology-driven country that develops solutions for real-life problems, anchored by the semiconductor industry and integrated with drone technology. Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong said the shift is necessary as the world currently faces headwinds in global trade, presenting significant challenges. He said that drones could be a key enabler of transformation across various sectors of the economy, particularly when linked to Malaysia's semiconductor industry. 'Our mindset should not be just about selling drones. We must begin asking ourselves how we can move from selling drones to applying and using them in new ways. 'Drones can be linked to semiconductor, as Malaysia has a very interesting and sophisticated semiconductor industry,' he said in his keynote address at the DronTech Asia 2025 Soft Launch Ceremony, here, today. Liew added that drone technology has rapidly evolved to become more efficient and essential, and Malaysia should play an active role in this technological evolution. Meanwhile, he said a programme such as DroneTech Asia 2025 could serve as a catalyst to inspire the nation to take drone technology more seriously. DronTech Asia 2025, jointly organised by Aerosea Exhibitions Sdn Bhd and GML Exhibition (Thailand) Co Ltd, will be held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) from Sept 30 to Oct 2, 2025. Aerosea Exhibitions Sdn Bhd chairman, Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin, in his opening remarks, said the event will host over 100 participating companies from 15 countries and is expected to receive 5,000 trade visitors. 'DronTech Asia 2025 will present an extensive programme of high-level conferences, technical talks by industry experts, live interactive demonstrations, and showcases of the latest in drone technologies,' he said. — BERNAMA
