An Apple spokesperson told CNBC that Apple was working on improvements to the software that are coming in a future update.

Hinge launches AI tool for writing dating profiles.

Pre-orders are now open for four new PlayStation 5 accessories in a new colorway: Midnight Black. That's better than other types of black because it stays up past bedtime. The collection includes the DualSense Edge wireless controller, the Portal remote player and the Pulse Explore wireless earbuds each going for $200 and the Pulse Elite wireless headset, which is selling for $150. All four are expected to ship February 20.Sony announced the collection earlier this month and the new accessories join the already-available Midnight Black standard Dual Sense controller ($75) and PS5 console cover ($55). Like PlayStation's 30th Anniversary collection, the Midnight Black accessories let you add a bit of personalized flair to your gaming setup, but these are far more sleek and brooding. If previous PlayStation releases are any indicator, there's a chance these new accessories will sell out before everyone gets one, so if Midnight Black feels as sexy to you as the video makes it look, you might want to start adding things to your cart.Pre-order the DualSense Edge wireless controller for $200: Compared to the standard DualSense controller, the Edge model gives you a few more features and options for customization. Buttons below the sticks change button assignments while switches adjust the triggers' pull length. It comes with two sets of rear paddles as well as extra joysticks, all magnetically swappable. A matching case is also included. Also direct from PlayStation.Pre-order the Portal remote player for $200: The Portal remote player got a lukewarm assessment from us back in 2023, but we started to come around once Sony started cloud gaming. The gateway has an 8-inch LCD screen (1080p at 60fps), haptic feedback and connects to your PS5 over Wi-Fi.Pre-order the Pulse Explore wireless earbuds for $200: The earbuds connect both via Bluetooth and Sony's own PlayStation Link tech, that promises ultra-low latency connection to a PS5, PC, Mac and the Portal remote player. AI-powered noise rejection technology will make sure your banter is heard clearly. A Midnight Black charging case is included. Also direct from PlayStation.Pre-order the Pulse Elite wireless headset $150: The Elite headset comes with a headset charging stand so you can show off your new accessory properly, while making sure it's ready for next time (and yes, the stand is the same late-night hue). These have the same dual-connection tech and AI-powered noise cancellation as the earbuds. Also direct from PlayStation.Most of the accessories are limited to one per customer from Sony's site.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/heres-how-to-pre-order-the-ps5-midnight-black-accessories-012150262.html?src=rss

We may earn a commission from links on this page.We all have those money tasks that make our stomachs churn. You know the oneschecking your credit card balance after a spendy month, finally opening that medical bill, or diving into your retirement account settings. Enter "Scary Hour," a trending productivity technique that's helping me transform financial anxiety into actionable progress.What is Scary Hour?The concept is beautifully simple: set aside one hour to tackle tasks you've been avoiding due to anxiety or fear. While the term is trending on TikTok (RIP), it's a fresh spin on established time-blocking techniques. But there's something powerful about naming this dedicated time for facing our fearsit acknowledges that these tasks are indeed scary, and that's okay.My financial Scary Hour approachI started implementing this Scary Hour for my finances after realizing I had a growing pile of "I'll deal with that later" money tasks. Hey, there's nothing like writing about personal finance all day to make you procrastinate your own personal finances. Here's how I structure my financial Scary Hour:I schedule it for Tuesday mornings, when my energy is high and my mind is already in productivity mode from starting the work weekMy phone goes on Do Not DisturbI make my favorite ginger tea (a small reward helps!)I keep a physical notepad handy for action itemsI set a timer for exactly 60 minutesWhat I actually do during Scary HourIn my first session, I tackled the immediate anxiety-inducing tasks:Reviewed all account balancesCategorized last month's "miscellaneous" purchasesCalled about an incorrect charge I'd been avoiding (I had accidentally overpaid my credit card and created a negative balance)Finally calculated my true monthly restaurant spending (ouch!)You can work on your deeper financial planning, too:Reviewing and adjusting investment allocationsComparing insurance quotesReading through employee benefits documentationCreating debt payoff scenariosAnalyzing spending patterns in traditionally "scary" categoriesWhy this productivity hack worksThe beauty of Scary Hour lies in its constraints. Knowing I only have to face these tasks for 60 minutes makes them feel manageable. Plus, the timer creates a sense of urgency that helps overcome analysis paralysisa common obstacle I know I face in all things financial decision-making.Most importantly, this approach creates a dedicated space for financial self-care. Not only do you get to reduce anxiety by making scary tasks routine, but you can actually turn scary tasks into small wins. If you're looking to transform vague money worries into concrete actions, this is the hack for you.Tips for your own financial Scary HourBegin with quick wins like unsubscribing from tempting retail emails, making that one phone call you've been avoiding, checking the balance on a neglected account, or filing away important financial documents. From these bite-sized action items, you can build yourself a little momentum. As you get comfortable, tackle bigger tasks, like creating a new budget, consolidating debt, or maybe even researching estate planning.Make this habit sustainable by keeping a running list of tasks for future scary hours. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small, and be easy on yourself if you miss a week. After all, I find the real magic happens outside of Scary Hour. By regularly facing financial fears in a controlled setting, you'll likely find that money matters become less scary overall. I've noticed myself making quicker financial decisions, feeling more confident in money conversations, and experiencing less anxiety about day-to-day money management.The bottom lineMoney doesn't have to be scary all the time. By dedicating just one hour a week to facing financial fears, you can transform anxiety into action. Remember, the goal isn't to eliminate financial stress completelyit's to build the confidence to handle it effectively.Start your own financial Scary Hour this week. Your future self will thank you for facing those fears, one hour at a time.

Nintendo finally released a first look at the highly-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 on Thursday. The brief trailer zoomed in on the hardware design (literally) in a sleek animated video and gave us a look at new features of the console like a mysterious C-button and its new snap-in Joy-Con controllers. But unlike the trailer that announced the original Nintendo Switch, this trailer lacked footage of actual humans playing the games and ditched the goofy scenarios showing people using the console. Nintendo released the first trailer for the Nintendo Switch in 2016. The roughly three-and-a-half-minute-long video focused largely on people playing the console in different scenarios in the real world. Although the trailer likely aimed to showcase the flexibility and adaptability of a console with both handheld and TV connectivity capabilities, it ended up showing some pretty goofy and seemingly unlikely scenarios where people could play the Nintendo Switch. At one point two women bust out a Switch at a rooftop party in the fading daylight of early evening to play a game as a crowd of people holding red plastic cups huddles around to watch. In another moment, a person plays a Switch in the park as he walks his dog.Nintendo has shared very little about the Switch 2 and has left experts to speculate on important questions regarding its price point and internal hardware specs. But out of all the important questions that currently linger, Im focused on burning ones like: Would an outdoor rooftop party be a suitable setting for my Switch 2? and Would my dog be OK if I brought my Switch 2 to play along for a walk? Questions like these seem silly, and they are a little bit, but theyre also not. Showing the console being used is a clear way to demonstrate its main features and show how the creators imagine people will use a console. Sure, the idea that someone would play the original Switch in a loud outdoor setting might have seemed silly at the time, but it at least underscored its portability and show how the individual Joy-Con controllers would work when shared. If we saw people play the Switch 2, we could get key insight on lingering ambiguities, like whether or not its Joy-Con will have the functionality of a computer mouse, and just how big the console will be.So while the scenarios seemed a bit off at the time, I was finding myself missing all those weirdos who play Nintendo Switch on the rooftop as I watched the Switch 2s big reveal.

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Netflix has established itself as a powerhouse of original content, boasting a diverse and compelling catalog that caters to every taste and genre. The streaming giant consistently delivers stories that captivate global audiences, from thought-provoking dramas like The Crown and Stranger Things to thrilling action-packed hits like The Night Agent. The Night Agent, in particular, stands out as one of Netflix's finest achievements, blending high-octane action with intricate storytelling and unforgettable characters. From the very first episode, it lays the perfect foundation for the thrilling ride that follows. The series chronicles the journey of an FBI agent named Peter Sutherland (played by Gabriel Basso) who gets to know that there is a mole at the highest levels of the United States government, making things really difficult for the President and other important ministers. However, things turn upside down when he finds out that a lot of lives are in danger, and if he doesn't unravel the conspiracy soon, a lot of people will lose their lives, including former Tech CEO Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan).

One of the Final Fantasy series' few recurring settings is the world of Ivalice, where games like Final Fantasy XII, Vagrant Story, and Final Fantasy Tactics take place. Ivalice has many recognizable elements that set it apart from the many other Final Fantasy settings, including its unique rabbit-like Moogles and focus on monster-hunting clans--and a new official board game from Square Enix will soon let players team up as a team of monster-hunting Moogles in the world of Ivalice. Final Fantasy Moogle Bounty Mayhem launches on October 22 for $45 and is available for preorder now. Final Fantasy Moogle Bounty Mayhem $45 | Releases October 22 Final Fantasy Moogle Bounty Mayhem is a board game for up to six players, where each player takes on the role of one of six unique Moogles and embark on 15-minute missions where you battle monsters and even team up with recognizable characters from Final Fantasy XII. The game features original artwork from Ryoma Ito, whose previous works include other games set in Ivalice, including Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and Final Fantasy Tactics A2. Preorder at Amazon Final Fantasy has spawned several other board game spin-offs over the years, including games based on Final Fantasy's other cute mascot, the Chocobo. Chocobo's Crystal Hunt is designed for three to five players and sees each player compete to gather--and steal--the most crystals. There's also Chocobo's Dungeon: The Board Game, which is based on the Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon video games, and tasks players with guiding Chocobo through a dangerous monster-filled labyrinth that changes each time you play. Both are available at Amazon.Chocobo's Crystal Hunt -- $42.80Chocobo's Dungeon: The Board Game -- $80If you're looking for more Moogle- or Chocobo-themed merchandise, there are several new official plushes and figures launching soon based on both of the adorable creatures, as well as another Final Fantasy monster, the Cactuar.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Last two were a quick recreation but its not as good submitted by /u/Teton12355 [link] [comments]

Archaeologists have unearthed a unique stone structure in East Jerusalem, providing evidence of cultic activity and possibly animal sacrifice in the Kingdom of Judah during the First Temple period.

Nature, Published online: 17 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00141-zResearch also suggests how to make homes more resilient in the aftermath of Californias deadly blazes.

ShareWe may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more The Nintendo Switch is still the best handheld gaming machine running. Nick WareThe Nintendo Switch is undoubtedly a less powerful games machine than the PS5, Xbox Series S/X, or a top-of-the-line gaming PC. But for Nintendo, power has never really been the point. Games developed for the Switch series never lacked for visual innovation or the artistic flourishes necessary to create inarguably beautiful worlds whose visuals fully justify playing on a really large TV. From 2.5D to watercolors, living animation to sci-fi universes, the Nintendo Switch can easily be a feast for the eyes. Almost three years ago, the Nintendo Switch OLED upped the aesthetics ante for handheld gaming. Now, with the Nintendo Switch 2 (and its backward compatibility) officially confirmed for a 2025 release, youre revisiting the age-old question: What are the best Nintendo Switch games that justify playing on your big screen? Well, weve collected the best games to buy now right here.The best Nintendo titles for the Nintendo SwitchNintendos first-party games are legendary for their quality and often take advantage of their respective consoles better than most third-party titles. The Switch has no shortage of games designed by Nintendo, and most rank amongst the best this system offers.Finally, after nearly 40 years, theres a Legend of Zelda game that actually stars Princess Zelda. Echoes of Wisdom puts you in control of Zelda as she saves Hyrule from destruction caused by Ganon. Link, the green tunic-clad hero who typically takes care of the job, has been imprisoned, which is why its up to the princess to set things right. While hes not totally absent here, Zelda is absolutely the protagonist. Her weapon of choice is called the Tri Rod, which allows her to absorb and summon Echos of hundreds of objectsincluding enemies youve defeated in combat. The emphasis here is on puzzles, which is a great change of pace for the typically action-combat-oriented series. Dont worry, therere still plenty of common enemies and bosses to take down, but navigating and progressing through the world will require thinking on your feet.Nintendo distilled the sense of freedom found in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom into a top-down entry in the series. In most instances, there are multiple ways to solve a puzzle, so its up to you to figure out which one will work best given the echoes you have to work with. Youre limited by how many echoes you can have active at once that number grows throughout the gamewhich adds another layer of fun and complexity. We were very pleased that Echoes of Wisdom never felt like a watered-down or lesser entry in the Legend of Zelda series. The story deals with the same themes but with a fresh gameplay style and perspective. Theres always a new area to explore, optional challenges to complete, and a story section to unlock. The world of Hyrule feels alive, and its great to see Nintendo bring back the same art style it developed with its remake of The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening. If youve been eagerly awaiting a Legend of Zelda game that requires a little more brain than brawn, youll find it here.The latest entry in Nintendos take on a board game is a breath of fresh air. The main gameplay loop is the same: Roll a die, land on a space, play a mini-game at the end of each turn, buy items, and eventually buy more stars than other players to win the game. However, Jamboree augments this by introducing a number of different mechanics, including the presence of Jamboree buddies, optional characters that can become temporary companions. Getting a jamboree buddy requires winning a longer-form mini-game thats unique to each optional character; once theyve been acquired, they offer a number of benefits. Each jamboree has a unique ability, such as the ability to buy items at the shop for a lower price or automatically get an item at the beginning of each turn. However, every jamboree buddy has identical benefits, such as the ability to buy two items or stars at a time. The instruction of jamboree buddies makes each round of Super Mario Party: Jamboree feel more dynamic.Similarly, Nintendo has addressed the criticism that too many minigames are reliant on luck to win by introducing a new pro mode, which removes these minigames from the game for the following round. You also have the option to remove any motion-based minigames before playing a round. The biggest change to Super Mario Party: Jamboree is the introduction of different game modes. For example, Koopathlon allows you to play mini-games against 20 CPU players to see who can collect the most coins, while Bowser Kamboom Squad, has you playing with people in person or online to shoot cannonballs at Bowser. The game incentivizes you to play these modes by offering up achievements, which ultimately lead to unlocking new characters and game boards. If youve waffled on Mario Party games because they feel one-note, this is the entry that may change your mind.A flagship series for Nintendo, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild helped sell the Switch when it launched in 2017. Even in 2025, its graphics still impress. The expansive vistas and intricate boss designs set the tone for a fantasy adventure that players find highly addictive. Additionally, the ability to climb on nearly every surface in the game means that if a little mountaineering feels like it should go on the agenda, it can, giving the player an opportunity to appreciate a graphics style that is part anime, part fairy tale, and part coloring book. A truly beautiful game that youll want to play before you enjoy the equally beloved sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.Luigis Mansion is an under-appreciated franchise for Nintendo, just as the taller, more slender Mario brother doesnt get the love he deserves. While the puzzles and action of his franchise can be an acquired taste, theres no question that the graphics taste delicious, like cloying, artificial fruit flavors in 2-percent milk. Luigis Mansion 3s graphics style espouses the most cartoony elements of Nintendos Mario aesthetic, with characters being pushed and pulled by supernatural (and super-suction) forces. Incredible transition and transparency effects give the Scooby Doo-esque g-g-g-g-ghosts a really c-c-c-c-cool look. Best enjoyed sitting cross-legged on the floor in underoos, this is one of the best Mario games for Switch by being different from the rest.A love letter to the family-friendly Nintendo franchise that has persisted for generations, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an updated and improved version of the Wii U Mario Kart 8, and features tracks from all the previous iterations of the games, updated with higher-definition graphics that really shine. The characters are big and animated, and the levels include many familiar foes and obstacles from Mario and other Nintendo series. The gameplay is a sophisticated evolution of classic kart racing with drift-boosting and the use of power-ups key to victory. In multiplayer, where Mario Kart 8 Deluxe truly shines, the signature balancing mechanics of the series give stronger power-ups to players who are lagging behind, allowing for some frantic finishes as players jockey for position. Good in single-player but great in multiplayer, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of the best and most beautiful games to bust out at a party, family game night, or sleepover.A series that has gone from cult favorite to big blockbuster, the beauty of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is that its entirely inoffensive and impossible to lose. You play simply to live in the space of the game, adding to your virtual home and interacting with your neighbors. The writing and animation make these interactions really fun, with great humor and wordplay sprinkled throughout. Theres nothing here that wouldnt be appropriate for kids and nothing that wouldnt appeal to adults. Its a kid-friendly game that isnt childish, and it encourages kindness, consideration, and community. Those are lessons kids of any age can afford to learn. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a warm hug and a great, cute way to spend 20-30 minutes a daydefinitely one of the best Switch games for kids.Fun for casuals and competitors, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the newest in the genre-defining platform fighting franchise. Featuring characters and stages from not only Nintendo but also Sega, Namco, SNK, Square Enix, and other big game-makers, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the, excuse the repetition, ultimate crossover game. Any player with a deep play history will want to try out the characters that they remember, and the frantic, fun, and fierce battles will make them want to improve their skills (and possibly upgrade to the best Nintendo Switch controllers to do so). A bit of a beautiful nostalgia trip as a single-player game, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate blooms as a multiplayer game, blowing away the very stiff competition on a system known for great multiplayer gaming. While the game can be intimidating for first-timers against veterans, once you get the Smash bug, youll put dozens, if not hundreds, of hours into your battles.The best role-playing games for the Nintendo SwitchRole-playing games have been a popular genre on Nintendo systems since the original Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games were released in the 1980s. The Switch is home to newer entries in those series, along with many others. If youre the type of gamer who likes to get lost in lore, these are the games you should check out first.If youve been looking for an old-school-feeling Japanese role-playing game, no modern title will scratch that itch quite like Fantasian: Neo Dimension. That shouldnt be surprising, considering it was conceived by the person who invented the venerated Final Fantasy series. Fantasian is set in a world thats slowly being taken over by Mechteria, a robotic substance thats slowly draining the world of its resources. Its up to the protagonist Leo and his companions to figure out exactly whats going on to save the world. Make no mistake, this game may look modern and gorgeous, but its got classic RPG roots, which means its difficulty curve is pretty sharp. Winning each turn-based battle will require you to know which characters abilities are best for the job, and often necessitates equipping the correct equipment before a boss battle.Youre rewarded by watching an epic story unfold around you, with a surprising number of twists and turns. Theres a feeling of accomplishment as you progress through the game, especially if you elect to take on side quests for better equipment and other loot. The initial map looks small, but it expands thoroughly over the course of the 60 hours or so itll take to complete the game. We wouldnt recommend Fantasian: Neo Dimension to those unfamiliar with Japanese role-playing games of the late 90s and early 00s because they may find some parts of the game to feel punishing or opaque. It requires persistence, especially if you find yourself running up against a quest or story objective that cant be completed without a particular in-game skill. Overcoming these obstacles is part of the fun, and the excellent throwback to games of another era from one of the genres original architects has earned Fantasian: Neo Dimension a well-earned spot in this guide.Nintendo waited nine years to revive the Mario & Luigi series with a new title, and its a good option for young role-playing game fans. The game follows Nintendos popular plumbers as they hop from island to island, helping inhabitants reclaim their spaces and reconnecting them to a central hub. The action-infused turn-based combat the series is known for returns, adding a little bit of challenge to each match. Pressing the correct button at the right time will allow you to deal more damage to enemies or reduce the effectiveness of their attacks on you.The Mario & Luigi games have traditionally been known for their engaging (and oftentimes very funny) dialogue, and that continues with Brothership. One character in particular speaks a little too much, but the interactions each brother has with NPCs are almost always pleasant. The art style Nintendo chose for this game is very sharp, and we hope they reuse it for the next entry. The colorful, comic book-like look made opening up new islands to explore new environments exciting. The one area where this game is lacking is challenge. You wont have to try very hard to beat bosses or cruise through combat with lesser enemies. This is why we recommend it to newer players who may be unfamiliar with Japanese role-playing games before progressing to more difficult titles in the genre. Still, its good to see Nintendo resurrect a long-dormant franchise and reinvigorate it.Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door was originally released in 2004 for the Nintendo GameCube and has been a cult classic for 20 years. This Nintendo Switch remake updates the visuals but leaves the rest of the game alone, which, in this case, is a very good thing. The paper-like world of The Thousand-Year Door looks beautiful, and its story and combat system have held up brilliantly. Mario (and a continually expanding group of misfits) explore the world looking for medallions hinted at on an ancient map sent to the mustached plumber from Princess Peach. The kidnapped princess has her own side story that makes the characterpardon the punless two-dimensional than the typical damsel in distress. Her deepening relationship with a robot in search of meaning is genuinely touching in and of itself, and the scenes between the two characters between major main story beats are satisfying in and of themselves.Its easy to progress through Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, but we never felt bored thanks to the games incredibly brisk pacing, funny dialogue, and engaging combat. Hitting a button at the right time to inflict more damage or deflect an enemys attack will keep you on your toes. Game remakes can feel like an unnecessary cash grab, but that couldnt be farther from the case with Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Making the game easily accessible to new and old fans alike is a treat because the title isnt bogged down by the trappings and tropes that befall other RPGs. Theres no inflated inventory system, necessary level grinding, or opaque game mechanics to bog down the experience. Whether you play for an hour at a time or in large chunks, youll always feel like youre making a decent amount of progress without having to go on any wild goose chases. Whether youve played Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door before or not, the title has more than earned a place in your Nintendo Switch game library.Octopath Traveler II builds on the success of the original title with an even grander story while maintaining everything people loved about the original title. Its turn-based battle system stays engaging thanks to a plethora of different spells, weapon types, and character classes. The sprites for both enemies and player characters are smooth and gorgeous, evoking the 16-bit era, but with some wonderful scaling and twisting bells and whistles to keep them from seeming staid. Lighting and spell effects, focus shifts, and particularly the tapestry-esque hues employed in the games color palette become a character unto themselves. Octopath Traveler II differentiates itself from most JRPGS by giving equal weight to eight individual stories that inevitably intertwine in continually interesting ways. While the game is just as lovely in handheld, your big screen will really allow you to savor the details.Square Enix had its work cut out for it to bring the latest Dragon Quest game to the Nintendo Switch, but all that effort paid off. The beautiful, cell-shaded turn-based JRPG (Japanese Role Playing Game) never overstays its welcome, which is quite something considering its 100+ hour campaign. Quality of life improvements like increasing your battle speed and a tactical skill progression system will keep you engaged as the games story unfolds before you. A big part of what makes the Dragon Quest series special is its pacing; each section of Dragon Quest XI plays out like one story in a fantasy anthology. The characters in your party change over the course of the game, and youre rewarded for doing optional side quests with an additional backstory for each. As if that wasnt enough, a 16-bit version of this game is also available on the same cartridge, so you can have a truly old-school JRPG experience with you on the go.Tales of Vesperia was the first entry in this long-running JRPG franchise to be released in HD, but this definitive edition adds an extra layer of visual polish that makes it even easier to appreciate. The standout feature of each Tales game is the fast-paced real-time battle system, which relies on constant movement and on-the-fly strategy to master. Special moves are mapped to different button combinations, and you can switch between the characters in your party to suit your play style. Melee characters will attack enemies up close with weapons, magic users can inflict damage from afar, healers will keep the rest of the party fighting fit, and so on. This version of Tales of Vesperia earns the definitive distinction by including characters and items previously exclusive to the Japanese version of the game, as well as improved graphics.There are three entries in the Xenoblade Chronicles series available on Nintendo Switch, but this HD remastering of the first title is the place to start. The game takes place on the Bionis, a giant biological warrior engaged in an all-out war with the Mechonis, a technological rival. As you progress through the massive open-world game, youll scale the Bionis to discover why the two warriors were fighting in the first place. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition will awe you with its sheer scale, with huge environments that dont require you to go through multiple loading zones. While the games story is great on its own, the Definitive Edition features an additional chapter that fills in some plot holes. By the end of the adventure, youll be happy there are two more games that continue the story even further.Both of the games included in this collection were relatively obscure upon their original release on the Nintendo Gamecube in the mid 2000s, but theyre JRPG gems well worth revisiting. The calling card of the Baten Kaitos game is, well, its card-based battle system. As battles progress, youll receive different cards, which allow you to perform actions (attacking, using spells, etc.) and use items. Its up to you to build your deck so as not to be at the mercy of a lucky opening hand. Bandai Namco Entertainment did a great job overhauling the visuals of both games, which is great because the unique areas really benefited from the extra polish. Some may quibble with the fact that the original voice acting, which has admittedly aged poorly given the production value in games today, was left intact, but it has a sort of period-piece charm. There are a lot of excellent role-playing games on the Nintendo Switch, but the Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster is well worth a look.Square Enix hit it out of the park with its HD2D remaster of the second Star Ocean title, which first debuted in the mid-1990s on the original PlayStation. The lovingly recrafted game improves not only the games graphics but also includes hours of voiced dialogue, an updated battle system, and quality-of-life improvements like auto-saving. The story picks up years after the original Star Ocean and centers on the story of Claude Kenny, the son of the first games protagonist. Over the course of a roughly 40-hour adventure, Claude and a cast of diverse characters that you can recruit uncover literal mysteries of the universe and seek to save billions of people in the process. The story remains engaging throughout, with solid pacing and enough unexpected twists to keep you on your toes. Optional sequences allow you to get closer to certain characters, which impacts the post-credits sequencesthere are 99 of these vignettes, and you can unlock them all by replaying the game and making different choices. In an era where many game remasters are simply a nicer coat of paint on the original title, Square Enix went above and beyond to make Star Ocean: The Second Story R stand toe-to-toe with titles released this year.The best indie games for the Nintendo SwitchIndependent studios have done a fantastic job supporting the Nintendo Switch and filling out its library with titles that can stand toe-to-toe with games released by gigantic studios. Some of the systems best indie games are downloadable only, which means you should be sure to keep a Nintendo Switch eShop card on hand so you can pick them up.The Nintendo Switch has been a boon to indie game developers. Tons of previously PC-bound titles made by small teams with shorter gameplay times have performed exceedingly well as download-only titles for the Switch. It has given gamers an alternative to Nintendos stream of AAA-budget dozens-of-hours-long mainline franchises. GRIS rises above the rest with a moving picture-book design that may be the best Switch art to date. The story of a girl and her magical dress (but much more than that, to not spoil anything), GRIS scales and moves like an animated film more than a videogame, with colors that are simultaneously luxurious, sad, and a little ominous. Its the storybook combo that draws young and old alike to the works of Hans Christen Anderson, the Brothers Grimm, and the 1001 Arabian Nights. Of all the games in this list, GRIS may be the one that is as enjoyable to watch as it is to play.With Tunic, developer Finji managed to create the ultimate homage to top-down Legend of Zelda games while creating a unique, vibey game that can hold its own. While this is primarily an action game, much of Tunics fun comes from solving puzzles and traversing the mysterious environment. As you progress, youll begin to fill out a manual reminiscent of the ones that came with video games in the 1990s. The game relies on environmental storytelling to help you intuit how to solve problems rather than offering up a lengthy tutorial. Theres no voice acting and limited textsome of which is in an original language. Theres nothing quite like Tunic on the Nintendo Switch, and its ability to distill the best elements of classic games with some modern sensibilities makes it well worth trying.Sea of Stars is the Japanese role-playing game that gamers have been clamoring for since Chrono Trigger was released on the Super Nintendo in the mid-1990s. In fact, the same composer (Yasunori Mitsuda) worked on the music for both titles. What sets Sea of Stars apart from most of the other indie JRPGs on the Switch is the sheer attention to detail. Its graphics pop, its story is compelling, and the game never feels like its overstayed its welcome. While Sea of Stars influences are clear, the games developers made quality-of-life tweaks that separate it from titles released in the original 16-bit era. Deaths dont feel punishing, movement feels more fluid, and the games controls are smooth. Sea of Stars is a special game, and its earned its place among the best indie games released on any platform.Fashion Police Squad is what you get if Doom was less about demons and more about denim. The colorful first-person shooter puts you in the shoes of a police officer whos hunting down unfashionable people and upgrading their wardrobe with a belt whip, sewing gun, and assortment of other weapons. Making a lighthearted shooter is difficult, but developer No More Robots struck the right balance between gameplay and style. Fashion Police Squad feels like it belongs in the Sega Dreamcasts library due to the sheer originality of its concept, its frantic-but-fun gameplay, and genuinely funny sense of humor. While the game is lighthearted, it still requires the same skills as any first-person shooter, so dont expect a cakewalk.The best retro collections for the Nintendo SwitchA big part of the Nintendo Switchs appeal is its extremely deep library, which includes more than just the latest games. Retro game buffs, or those who want to learn more about the best games of yesteryear, are well served by the Nintendo Switch, thanks to a plethora of collections available on the system. Retro game collections are a bundle of several titles from the same series or franchise on a single cartridge. Having a few retro game collections in your Switch library will help you relive some of gamings previous glory days on a modern system.The Nintendo DS was home to three of the most venerated Castlevania games of all time: Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia. The Castlevania Dominus Collection makes these games accessible for the first time in a decade or more. These games were originally developed for a system with two displays, but Konami has found a clever way to deliver them on a single-screen system, as you see in the screenshot above. While all the titles in this collection are distinct, including the ultimate goal of preventing the resurrection of Dracula, each has a distinct set of locations and characters. Each game remains as engaging as ever, thanks to an engaging level progression system, weapon and enemy variety, and fun stories.Its possible to run through the games in this collection in a dozen or so hours, but getting through every nook and cranny can double your playtime. Konami has augmented the original games with helpful quality-of-life improvements, like the ability to rewind time if you make a mistake or save your game at any point. These changes make the games more accessible, though theyve aged very well on their own. The Dominus Collection is a must-have for anyone who played the Nintendo DS-era Castlevania games or younger gamers interested in checking these titles out for the first time.Capcoms Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a love letter to fighting game fans who have been clamoring to play these long out-of-print titles. The collection includes Marvel Vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes, Marvel Vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, The Punisher, X-Men: Children of the Atom, Marvel Super Heroes, X-Men Vs. Streetfighter, and Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter. There are two astounding features that set this collection apart from most retro compilations. First, getting the rights cleared for all of the Marvel characters, which is a lot more difficult now than it was in the pre-Marvel Extended Universe era. Each title is oozing with creativity and allows you to create dream faceoffs with dozens of characters in the Marvel and Capcom character rosters. I mean, how often would you see Mega-Man and Spider-Man face off against Wolverine and The Hulk?Second, and most importantly, the immense effort taken to present these games with as many options as possible to give players an authentic experience with modern amenities. If you want to enable scanlines to replicate the experience of playing on a CRT TV or arcade cabinet, theres a setting for that. If youd like to play the Japanese versions of these games, complete with changes to a games box art in the main menu, you can. If you want to play any track from a games soundtrack, theres a digital jukebox. A move list in the options menu makes the games more accessible for non-fighting game players like myself. You can even customize the action for each button if it makes the games more comfortable to play. What makes this collection so fun to play is that theres an enormous amount of depth, regardless of the size of each games roster. Putting in dozens of hours to memorize the move list of your favorite character will pay off immensely, especially if you plan to face off against players online. That said, you dont need to be a fighting game master to appreciate the creativity that went into the creation of each title.Mega Mans Battle Network Legacy Collection is a one-stop-shop for playing the first six games in the series, which were all released on the Game Boy Advance in the early to mid-2000s. Unlike traditional Mega Man games, the Battle Network series is more than an average platformer. Battles take place on a grid system and incorporate strategy and light RPG elements. Outside of battle, youll control a character who can walk around freely, advance the story, and jack in to computer terminals computers to engage in battles. Fans of the original Mega Man series shouldnt expect more of the same from this game, but the Battle Network Legacy Collection lets players experience one of the franchises most successful spin-off series.Sega has repackaged early titles in the Sonic The Hedgehog series a number of times, but Origins Plus is a worthwhile pickup, even if you have an earlier collection. This collection contains the first four Sonic The Hedgehog games and allows you to play them in their original 4:3 aspect ratio or newly remastered in widescreen. Quality of life improvements from earlier collectionslike the ability to spin dash in the original entryare present. Additionally, Sega has included new modes and the option to play as different characters in the original games. Were grateful Sega allows you to switch between the original and remastered versions of these games for the sake of preserving the classics while tastefully modernizing them, too.The Collection of Mana is another important game for fans of JRPGs who want to bone up on some classics. This collection contains Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy: Legend, and, crucially, Trials of Mana. That final title went unreleased in the United States for over 20 years but is finally accessible through this gameit was also remastered as a standalone title a few years later. These games are well-loved because of their action RPG mechanics, charming stories, graphics, and, in some cases, local multiplayer. If you find turn-based role-playing games boring or want to find the missing links between Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger, youll find it here.The first six Final Fantasy games are responsible for keeping Squaresoft (now Square-Enix) afloat and popularizing JRPGs the world over, and theyre essential for fans of the genre. The Pixel Remaster collection features these games with easier-to-read text, updated translations, and tweaked visuals. These games retain their pixelated iconic look but sport a widescreen aspect ratio. Other quality-of-life improvements, like the ability to fast-forward through battles, make level grinding a lot more manageable. Gamers returning to these games for the first time in 30 years will feel immediately at home playing these titles, while those who are new to the franchise wont feel lost. This collection wasnt available on the Nintendo Switch for a long time, but were very pleased it has finally come.The best Nintendo titles for SwitchThe best role-playing games for SwitchThe best indie games for SwitchThe best retro collections for Switch

They dont always own up to it, but many parents play favorites, treating their more favored children differently than their less favored. According to recent research in the Psychology Bulletin, certain children tend to be the favorites, as parents may be more inclined to treat their daughters, as well as their agreeable and conscientious children, better.Differential treatment from parents can have lasting consequences for children, said Alexander Jensen, a study author and an associate professor at Brigham Young University, in a press release. This study helps us understand which children are more likely to be on the receiving end of favoritism.Read More: The Secret Reason Why Parents Play FavoritesThe Consequences of Choosing FavoritesPsychologists have revealed, through decades of research, that differential treatment can cause damage to children. Studies show that those who receive favored treatment from their parents tend to have better mental health and healthier relationships, for instance, while non-favored children tend to have unhealthier minds and relationships, along with reduced academic success and self-regulation skills. But which children tend to be more favored, and which children tend to be less favored? To determine what makes a favorite, a team of researchers scrutinized 30 separate studies and dissertations, as well as 14 databases, to see which characteristics in children were associated with better treatment from parents. Looking to traits like gender, birth order, temperament, and personality (including attributes like extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism), they found that parents tend to treat their daughters better, as well as their agreeable and conscientious children.Understanding these nuances can help parents and clinicians recognize potentially damaging family patterns, Jensen said in the release. It is crucial to ensure all children feel loved and supported.Correcting FavoritismAccording to the team, parental favoritism can alter parents interactions with their children, as well as their spending and allowance for autonomy. Covering more than 19,000 participants in total, the teams meta-analysis considered differences in overall treatment, as well as differences in positive and negative interactions, resource allocation, and control. Concerning gender, parents are more likely to favor daughters, the analysis concluded, and concerning personality, they are more likely to favor children who are agreeable and conscientious. The team says it is possible that parents may see the latter children as more manageable, treating them more favorably as a result of their trustworthiness and responsibility.While birth order and temperament are not as important to parental favoritism, the analysis indicates that the oldest child is treated better when favoritism is considered only in terms of parental control. Parents tend to loosen their constraints on their oldest children, the team says, possibly on account of their perceptions of maturity.Indicating the complexity of the issue, the researchers also found that other factors, such as the age of children and the gender of parents, may also play a minimal role in impacting favoritism.It is important to note that this research is correlational, so it doesnt tell us why parents favor certain children, Jensen said in the release. However, it does highlight potential areas where parents may need to be more mindful of their interactions with their children.Hoping that the results help parents to treat their children fairly, the researchers say their analysis can increase parental awareness of their own favoritism. The next time youre left wondering whether your sibling is the golden child, remember there is likely more going on behind the scenes than just a preference for the eldest or youngest. It might be about responsibility, temperament, or just how easy or hard you are to deal with, he said in the release.Article Sources:Our writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Journal of Marriage and Family. Linkages Between Parents Differential Treatment, Youth Depressive Symptoms, and Sibling RelationshipsSam Walters is a journalist covering archaeology, paleontology, ecology, and evolution for Discover, along with an assortment of other topics. Before joining the Discover team as an assistant editor in 2022, Sam studied journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Creating stylish trailer graphics isn't an impossible mission if Sapphire is your weapon!Download the After Effects project and follow along with Design Director John Dickinson as he breaks down his approach for creating impactful trailer graphics using 12 Sapphire effects in After Effects.\\CHAPTERS\\00:00 Introduction00:56 Text setup and colorization02:27 Smokey Italicized text03:56 Modified S_LensFlare preset05:47 Building a looking using multiple lens flares08:14 Using S_Grid08:57 Integrating the grid using S_UltraGlow Adjustment Layer10:21 Distortion element using S_WarpWaves and S_WarpDistort15:26 Faking particles with S_Dust16:54 Animating "With BORISFX" Text23:08 Adding an enhanced S_DigitalDamage element.28:01 Building an S_Effect preset from individual effect presets32:42 Final thoughtsDownload the Project File: https://cdn.borisfx.com/download_files/sapphire-mission-possible.zip Learn more about Sapphire and download a free trial: https://borisfx.com/products/sapphire/ #borisfx #sapphire #contentcreator #videoediting #vfx #aftereffects #premierepro #avidmediacomposer #foundry #autodesk

Cinema lost a great today. While the news of David Lynchs passing seems still more unreal than anything the director has made, we mourn the loss along with the rest of the filmmakers and actors who had the privilege to exist during the Lynchian era. And were pouring out a cup of damn fine coffee for him. Contemporary and fellow cinema titan of the modern era Steven Spielberg, shared a statement with Variety about the tremendous loss of his peer: I loved Davids films. Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, and Elephant Man defined him as a singular, visionary dreamer who directed films that felt handmade, Spielberg remembered. I got to know David when he played John Ford in The Fabelmans. Here was one of my heroesDavid Lynch playing one of my heroes. It was surreal and seemed like a scene out of one of Davids own movies. The world is going to miss such an original and unique voice. His films have already stood the test of time and they always will. Longtime friend and collaborator Kyle MacLachlan paid tribute to Lynch on Instagram:Forty-two years ago, for reasons beyond my comprehension, David Lynch plucked me out of obscurity to star in his first and last big budget movie. He clearly saw something in me that even I didnt recognize. I owe my entire career, and life really, to his vision. What I saw in him was an enigmatic and intuitive man with a creative ocean bursting forth inside of him. He was in touch with something the rest of us wish we could get to.Our friendship blossomed on Blue Velvet and then Twin Peaks and I always found him to be the most authentically alive person Id ever met.David was in tune with the universe and his own imagination on a level that seemed to be the best version of human. He was not interested in answers because he understood that questions are the drive that make us who we are. They are our breath. While the world has lost a remarkable artist, Ive lost a dear friend who imagined a future for me and allowed me to travel in worlds I could never have conceived on my own. I can see him now, standing up to greet me in his backyard, with a warm smile and big hug and that Great Plains honk of a voice. Wed talk coffee, the joy of the unexpected, the beauty of the world, and laugh.His love for me and mine for him came out of the cosmic fate of two people who saw the best things about themselves in each other. I will miss him more than the limits of my language can tell and my heart can bear. My world is that much fuller because I knew him and that much emptier now that hes gone.David, I remain forever changed, and forever your Kale. Thank you for everything. Actor Nicolas Cage shared to Deadline: He was brave, brilliant, and a maverick with a joyful sense of humor, Cage continued, I never had more fun on a film set than working with David Lynch. He will always be solid gold. David Lynch said that filmmaking should be fun & joyful. Of course it can be hard work. Of course the work itself can encompass all kinds of pain & painful truth. But the act of creation itself should be full of joy. I think about that all the time. RIP David Lynch. You are immortal. Kumail Nanjiani (@kumail.bsky.social) January 16, 2025 at 10:40 AM From Coralie Fargeats Instagram stories: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/DE5chxrRipJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Nintendo may never reveal detailed specs (YouTube)There might not have been any official information about the Nintendo Switch 2 tech specs but a series of leaks may hold the answer.The Nintendo Switch 2 console has now been officially announced but inevitably the brief reveal trailer has raised more questions than its answered.Insiders had already warned not to expect much in terms of game reveals (although we did get Mario Kart 9) and the lack of any price or release date info, beyond it being out this year, was also not a surprise.It also wasnt a shock that Nintendo failed to provide any detailed technical information, something theyre never very interested in talking about at the best of times. But much of that info had leaked out earlier and it certainly seems as if the leaks about the consoles size have now been proven true.How big is the Nintendo Switch 2 console?One of the first things to leak about the Switch 2 was information about its screen size, because that has to be handled by a particular component provider. The rumour all along has been that it has an 8 inch LCD screen, which is an increase from the 6.2 inch original Switch, and the 7 inch OLED Model.Although Nintendo has provided no measurements that does look to be about the right level of increase, to judge by the trailer which focuses heavily on the differences between the new console and the old, and emphasises that every element of it is bigger.More TrendingThe leaks get a little less reliable when it comes to the dimensions of the Switch 2, but the mock-up made by Genki for CES earlier in the year measured 10.5 inches (26.7cm) wide, 4.5 inches tall (11.4cm), and 5 inches (12.7cm) thick, which also seems about right based on the reveal trailer.To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a webbrowser thatsupports HTML5videoUp NextWhat are the Nintendo Switch tech specs?The thing about technical specifications is they dont really matter, not for any console. No matter how good or bad things may look on paper that rarely has any impact on how the games perform, as thats much more dependent on the skill of the developers.An analysis of leaked images of the Switch 2 motherboard suggests that the console is roughly equivalent to a base PlayStation 4, but with enough special features and modern components that it should still be able to run modified versions of PlayStation 5 games just as the original Switch had ports of a number of PlayStation 4 titles.Since no third party games have been announced yet it remains to be seen just what the Switch 2 is capable of, especially when Nintendo is not the developer, but in the meantime these are believed to be the accurate specs for the Switch 2:Nintendo Switch 2 specsCPU: Arm Cortex-A78C 8 coresGPU: Nvidia T239 Ampere 1 graphics processing cluster (GPC) 12 streaming multiprocessors (SM) 1,534 CUDA cores 6 texture processing clusters (TPC) 48 Gen 3 Tensor cores 2 RTX ray-tracing coresRAM: 12GB LPDDR5Storage: 256GB UFS 3.1 (up to 2,100MB/s)Handheld Mode:CPU: 998.4 MHzGPU: 561 MHz (~1.72 TFLOPS)Memory Frequency: 4266 MHzMemory Bandwidth: 68.256 GB/sDocked Mode:CPU: 1100.8 MHzGPU: 1007.25 MHz (~3.09 TFLOPS)Memory Frequency: 6400 MHzMemory Bandwidth: 102.4 GB/sEmailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Fortnite keeps getting weirder, and this week players can become Gozilla itself in the new Titan Takedown event and unlock the Godzilla Evolved skin for their troublesTech16:17, 16 Jan 2025Titan Takedown brings Godzilla and Kong to Fortnite(Image: Epic Games)Fortnite Chapter 6 is still rumbling on, and Epic Games' popular shooter is continuing to push what's possible in a live-service title as it pivots to becoming somewhere to play a whole host of experiences.The game's latest event, Titan Takedown, will let players step into the big, scaly feet of Godzilla, King of the Monsters, as he wreaks havoc on other players. Players can even unlock a Godzilla Evolved skin for their troubles.Here's all you need to know about the Fortnite Godzilla event, including when you can play.Fortnite's latest event kicks off on Friday, January 17 at around 2PM GMT (that's 9AM EST or 6AM PST) for players to jump into.It's part of the massive v33.20 patch which arrived earlier this week, so be sure your game is updated to take part.Despite the hype around Godzilla, he's not the only titan joining the fray with this update as Kong will also be stomping his way onto the island.Players can become Godzilla by heading through a small portal somewhere on the map. Godzilla has three abilities to use:Mighty Stomp - send enemies flyingHeat Ray - ranged attack that deals damage to enemies and structuresRoar - reveal nearby enemiesPlayers that don't get to play as Godzilla will have plenty of help to take him down, though. The Rail Gun has been unvaulted, and there's a Shield Bubble to help prevent damage.The player that deals the most damage to the big lizard will earn the Godzilla Medallion and Burst Quad Launcher weapon, too.Article continues belowLooking for a longer-lasting reminder of your time fighting Godzilla? Players that own the Hunters Battle Pass can complete a series of quests to unlock the Godzilla Evolved outfit and a series of accessories.Completing them all will unlock the Energized Godzilla style, but quests are only available until February 21 so you'll need to move quickly.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Did Donald Trump deliver the Gaza ceasefire that Joe Biden couldnt?After many long months of inconclusive talks, a ceasefire deal between the Israeli government and Hamas appears to have finally been reached just as Biden is set to leave office and Trump is set to take credit.Bidens team of course would point out that they spent many months engaged in painstaking diplomacy to deliver this outcome. The deal itself (which is still awaiting final approval from the Israeli government) resembles a proposal crafted by officials from the US, Egypt, and Qatar and announced by Biden in May. However, there indeed seems to be widespread agreement among diplomats and officials involved that Trump-related factors were quite important in finally spurring the deal to come together though there are some dueling narratives about exactly why.Trump intervened in two main ways. First, in early December, he made a public demand that the hostages be released before his inauguration and that, if they werent, there would be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East. He did not clarify what that meant, but this effectively set a deadline: Trump wanted a deal by January 20.Second, in recent days, Trumps team most notably incoming Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff became involved in the process directly, pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make concessions and agree to a deal.Left critics of Bidens Israel policy have responded by arguing that Trumps interventions prove he could have produced a ceasefire far earlier, if only he had been willing to push Israel more, and that he and his team were either too weak, too incompetent, or too in hock to Israel to do so.Yet major developments in the war in recent months likely also made both Israel and Hamas more willing to end it.Between September and November, Israeli forces not only killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, but also drastically escalated their war against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, doing grave damage to the group and killing many of its leaders before an eventual ceasefire in Lebanon. This likely helped Israel feel like it would be ending the war from a position of greater strength, while leaving Hamas more isolated and ending any hopes theyd be helped by foreign intervention.So the context for the war had recently changed in ways that paved the way for a ceasefire. But the combination of Trumps deadline and his teams pressure on Netanyahu indeed seems to have been important in getting the deal across the finish line.Major developments in the war late last year may have paved the way for a ceasefireSince Biden endorsed this ceasefire proposal back in May, there has been endless finger-pointing about who deserves most blame for the lack of an agreement on it.Publicly, US officials have blamed Hamas as the main obstacle for the lack of the deal. This narrative was complicated somewhat by Netanyahus repeated public rejections of Bidens ceasefire proposals.Indeed, according to the Washington Posts Ishaan Tharoor, Arab interlocutors and US officials in private have also pointed the finger at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who repeatedly scuppered deals with new demands that Hamas was unwilling to accept.All along, Netanyahu faced pressure from his far-right governing partners who have the power to unmake him as prime minister to continue the war further. And he eventually responded by launching devastating attacks against Hezbollah, which had regularly been firing rockets at northern Israel since late 2023, displacing tens of thousands of Israelis from their homes. Hezbollah had claimed they would not stop the rocket attacks until the Gaza war ended. Israels escalation in Lebanon was brutal but successful in dismantling Hezbollah. And while that was going on, Sinwar was found and killed in southern Gaza, handing Israel a symbolic victory by eliminating the architect of the October 7, 2023, attacks. This put Netanyahu in more of a position of strategic and political strength, which may have made him newly open to wrap up the war. We have less insight into Hamass decision-making, but the defeat of a main ally in Hezbollah may have also made them more willing to agree to a negotiated settlement.Indeed, reports throughout December claimed that a ceasefire deal was drawing closer. But both sides haggled hard over the details, and agreement remained elusive.So Trumps December 2 demand that the hostages be released by his inauguration may have mattered mainly because it served as an action-forcing deadline for two parties who were already increasingly inclined to reach a deal.How much did Witkoffs pressure on Netanyahu matter?Steve Witkoff speaks during a Trump campaign event on October 27, 2024. Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesBut Trumps other major intervention came in recent days, when he sent Witkoff to the Middle East to join the talks and reiterated that he was quite serious about his deadline and that it applied to Israel too.Once in Israel, Witkoff reportedly told Netanyahu in blunt terms that he needed to compromise more. Multiple reports claim that this pressure, and Trumps involvement generally, made a difference:Two Arab officials told the Times of Israel that one meeting with Witkoff did more to sway Netanyahu than Biden did in the past year.An unnamed diplomat told the Washington Post that this was the first time there has been real pressure on the Israeli side to accept a deal.One US official told Axios that Trumps involvement was the 10 cents missing for the dollar in getting the deal done.Trump and Witkoffs pressure on Netanyahu may also have helped the prime minister argue to his far-right coalition partners that the deal on the table was the best he could get though it is so far unclear whether Netanyahu will keep his governing coalition together.So its a matter of dispute whether Trump deserves full credit for the deal, 10 percent, or something in between. But it does appear pretty indisputable that he played a helpful role in getting it done.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

SpaceX launched its Starship mega-rocket for the seventh time on Thursday.It performed an epic booster catch for the second time but the Starship exploded shortly after.The launch marked the first flight of a new-generation Starship.SpaceX Starship mega-rocket has stumbled on the road to commercial use, unexpectedly dropping out of communications and exploding as it screamed toward space for its seventh flight on Thursday.After liftoff, theSuper Heavy booster heaved the Starship spaceship toward space, separated itself, and fell back toward Earth. As the falling booster approached SpaceX's Texas facilities, it nailed a complex maneuver that's only happened once before. SpaceX successfully caught its Super Heavy booster for the second time. Screenshot via SpaceX webcast The booster fired its engines to lower itself to a catch tower, where a pair of giant "chopstick" arms closed around its trunk and caught it.This technological feat is key to reaching SpaceX's goal of building a fleet of rapidly, fully reusable rockets to help slash spaceflight costs, advance the company's business model, and ultimately build a city of people on Mars.However, shortly after the epic booster catch, SpaceX said the upper stage of the system, Starship itself, was lost and later confirmed on X that it had suffered a rapid unscheduled disassembly, which is another way of saying it exploded."We were just coming up to the end of that ascent burn for the ship when we started to lose a couple of the engines," Dan Huot, one of the hosts of SpaceX's livestream of the launch, said in the broadcast.Then the ship dropped out of communications, meaning there was some kind of anomaly and Starship was lost, Huot said."This was a brand new vehicle essentially," he added. "With that, there's a lot of things you're upgrading, but there's a lot of things you're going to learn as all those systems are now interacting with each other for the first time."Elon Musk, the company's founder and CEO, posted on X shortly after that "improved versions of the ship & booster already waiting for launch."SpaceX's Starship flight 7 didn't achieve all it set out toFor the first time, SpaceX flew Starship with a reused Raptor rocket engine.The Super Heavy booster runs on 33 Raptor engines. For the entire rocket to be reusable, as Musk has said he intends, then those engines must be recycled and reused too. A picture of the Raptor engine SpaceX reused during its latest launch. Screenshot via SpaceX webcast Aboard Thursday's flight, one of those engines was the same one that SpaceX flew on its October flight.Also flying for the first time was SpaceX's new generation second-stage Starship. This new generation comes with significant upgrades designed for "bringing major improvements to reliability and performance," the company wrote on its website.For example, the flaps on this upgraded Starship are smaller and reoriented so they're not exposed to as much heat upon reentry. These flaps are designed to eventually help Starship fly back and touch down on land, making it reusable. The new-generation Starship that flew on SpaceX's latest launch has significant upgrades, including to its flaps highlighted here. Screenshot via SpaceX webcast However, SpaceX has not yet recovered a Starship from spaceflight. So far, every Starship that has flown to space has sunk into the Indian Ocean. The ship on Thursday's flight was slated for the same fate before it was lost shortly after launch.Starship was scheduled to deploy a set of 10 Starlink simulators, or dummies. They were about the same size and weight as SpaceX's next-generation V3 Starlink satellites. Deploying them was practice for eventually the real thing, which is a key part of SpaceX's business plan.Starship is set to make other SpaceX rockets obsolete SpaceX's Super Heavy booster hangs in mid-air between giant "chopsticks" arms. Screenshot via SpaceX webcast In its final form, Starship should be able to release up to 100 second-generation Starlink satellites at a time, increasing SpaceX's internet coverage and a core pillar of its income.Once Starship is operational, its sheer power will likely make it the cornerstone of SpaceX's business, which has long hinged on the comparatively wimpy Falcon 9 and its hefty counterpart, Falcon Heavy."Starship obsoletes Falcon 9 and the Dragon capsule," SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell said at the Baron Investment Conference in November, according to Ars Technica."We'll be flying that for six to eight more years," she added, "but ultimately, people are going to want to fly on Starship. It's bigger. It's more comfortable. It will be less expensive. And we will have flown it so many more times."

Oh my god, this arm is part of me, says Scott Imbrie, who was able to use it to feel objectsCharles M. Greenspon, University of ChicagoTwo people with paralysis in their hands were able to temporarily regain their sense of touch and feel the shape of objects, thanks to electrical brain stimulation. The approach could one day help people with spinal cord injuries to better carry out everyday activities by controlling a robotic arm that feels like their own.There have been previous efforts to restore touch through brain stimulation, but they were fairly crude. These were

FCC not the president's speech police (yet) FCC chair makes one last stand against Trumps call to punish news stations Chair: Complaints "seek to weaponize the licensing authority of the FCC." Jon Brodkin Jan 16, 2025 4:51 pm | 20 FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel testifies during a House hearing on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Credit: Getty Images | Tom Williams FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel testifies during a House hearing on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Credit: Getty Images | Tom Williams Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreTaking action in the final days of the Biden administration, the Federal Communications Commission dismissed three complaints and a petition filed against broadcast television stations. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the action is important because "the incoming President has called on the Federal Communications Commission to revoke licenses for broadcast television stations because he disagrees with their content and coverage.""Today, I have directed the FCC to take a stand on behalf of the First Amendment," she said. "We draw a bright line at a moment when clarity about government interference with the free press is needed more than ever. The action we take makes clear two things. First, the FCC should not be the president's speech police. Second, the FCC should not be journalism's censor-in-chief."President-elect Donald Trump's chosen replacement for Rosenworcel, Commissioner Brendan Carr, wants the FCC to punish news broadcasters that he perceives as being unfair to Trump or Republicans in general. Backing Trump's various complaints about news stations, Carr has threatened to revoke licenses by wielding the FCC's authority to ensure that broadcasters using public airwaves operate in the public interest.Rosenworcel said the complaints and petition she is dismissing "come from all cornersright and leftbut what they have in common is they ask the FCC to penalize broadcast television stations because they dislike station behavior, content, or coverage." After Trump criticized CBS in October, Rosenworcel said the agency "does not and will not revoke licenses for broadcast stations simply because a political candidate disagrees with or dislikes content or coverage."Chair: Complaints aim to weaponize FCC authorityThe Center for American Rights filed complaints supporting Trump's claims of bias regarding ABC's fact-checking during a presidential debate, the editing of a CBS 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, and NBC putting Harris on a Saturday Night Live episode. Separately, the Media and Democracy Project filed a petition to deny a license renewal for WTXF-TV in Philadelphia, a station owned and operated by Fox, alleging that Fox willfully distorted news with false reports of fraud in the 2020 election that Trump lost.Rejecting all four, Rosenworcel said "the facts and legal circumstances in each of these cases are different. But what they share is that they seek to weaponize the licensing authority of the FCC in a way that is fundamentally at odds with the First Amendment. To do so would set a dangerous precedent. That is why we reject it here."Dismissing complaints isn't likely to end the cases, said Jeffrey Westling, a lawyer at the conservative American Action Forum who has urged Congress to "limit or revoke the FCC's authority to impose content-based restrictions on broadcast television."Westling said he agrees "substantively" with Rosenworcel, but added that "the DC Circuit Court has made clear that the FCC has to consider news distortion complaints (see Serafyn vs FCC) and not just dismiss them outright. If I am the complainants, I challenge these dismissals in court, win, and get more attention."When contacted by Ars today, the Center for American Rights provided a statement criticizing Rosenworcel's decision as "political and self-serving.""We fundamentally believe that several actions taken by the three major networks were partisan, dishonest and designed to support Vice President Harris in her bid to become President," the group said. "We will continue to pursue avenues to ensure the American public is protected from media manipulation of our Republic. The First Amendment does not protect intentional misrepresentation or fraud."The group previously touted the fact that Republican FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington urged FCC leadership to take its complaints seriously.Fox ruling will be challengedThe Media and Democracy Project criticized Rosenworcel's decision to dismiss its complaint against the Fox station in Philadelphia."We look forward to presenting on appeal the multiple court decisions that raise serious questions about the Murdochs' and Fox's character qualifications to remain broadcast licensees," the Media and Democracy Project said in a statement provided to Ars. "As renowned First Amendment scholar Floyd Abrams stated in his filing with the Commission, the First Amendment is no bar to Commission action given the facts of this case. Our petition is clearly distinct from the other politically motivated complaints."The group's petition pointed to a court ruling that found Fox News aired false statements about Dominion Voting Systems. Fox later agreed to pay Dominion $788 million to settle a defamation lawsuit."Our Petition to Deny is based on judicial findings that Fox made repeated false statements that undermined the electoral process and resulted in property damage, injury, and death; that Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch engaged in a 'carefully crafted scheme' in 'bad faith' to deprive Lachlan's siblings of the control to which they are entitled under an irrevocable trust; and that 'Murdoch knowingly caused the corporation to violate the law,'" the Media and Democracy Project said today.The FCC order denying the petition also granted the station's application for a license renewal. The order said the allegations regarding "material carried on a cable network under common control with the Licensee that a state court found to be false" aren't grounds to deny the individual station's license renewal. While some "non-FCC-related misconduct" can be considered by the FCC in an evaluation of a licensee's character, the finding in the defamation suit doesn't qualify, the order said.Former FCC official objectsGigi Sohn, a longtime advocate whose nomination to the FCC was rejected by the Senate, also criticized the FCC today. Sohn, who also served as counselor for FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler during the Obama administration, called the dismissal of the Fox petition a "failure to lead.""As [Rosenworcel] herself points out, the facts of these petitions are very different," Sohn wrote. "The [Media and Democracy Project] petition seeks a hearing on Fox Philadelphia licenses because they allege that Fox lacks the character to hold them because it lied to the American people about the 2020 election. The conservative complaints are all based on disagreements with editorial judgments of the various broadcast networks.""The decision to lump these filings together and overturn years of FCC precedent that broadcasters' character is central to holding a license is contrary to the Communications Act's mandate that licenses be granted in 'the public interest, convenience and necessity,'" Sohn also wrote. The FCC rationale would mean that "anything and everything a broadcast licensee does or says would be a First Amendment issue that warrants automatic license renewal," she added.Media advocacy group Free Press agreed with the FCC's decision. "We have an incoming administration quite literally threatening to jail journalists for doing their jobs, and an incoming FCC chairman talking about revoking broadcast licenses any time he disagrees with their political coverage," the group said.Free Press sided with the FCC despite noting that the Fox case involved "false information [that] had devastating consequences in the January 6 attack on the peaceful transition of power four years ago.""Lies knowingly aired by Fox News Channel and some Murdoch-owned Fox affiliates present a significantly different challenge to regulators than merely fact-checking, editing or scheduling equal time for candidates in ways that displease the president-elect," Free Press said. "Yet we agree with the urgent need to prevent the weaponization of the government against journalists and media companies on the eve of the inauguration, and in light of the dire threats the new administration poses."Jon BrodkinSenior IT ReporterJon BrodkinSenior IT Reporter Jon is a Senior IT Reporter for Ars Technica. He covers the telecom industry, Federal Communications Commission rulemakings, broadband consumer affairs, court cases, and government regulation of the tech industry. 20 Comments

Fernanda Torres stars in Walter Salless drama about the disappearance of a dissident under the nations military dictatorship in the 1970s.

The activist firm run by Jeff Smith owns a 7.7% stake in the chip maker that competes with the likes of Broadcom and Qualcomm.

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsThe Jetty (2024)Dark Side of the 90s (2021-Present)High Potential (2024-Present)Hulu has an advantage over many of its streaming rivals in that its the exclusive home to new shows from both ABC and Fox. So if youve been looking to sample the programming from either broadcast network, Hulu is the best place to do so. However, Hulu isnt just limited to American programs. Case in point, our first pick for the three underrated shows on Hulu that you need to watch in January is a British mystery series that premiered last year on BBC.Our other choices include a very entertaining documentary series about the 90s, as well as a crime drama that premiered on ABC last fall. Between these three shows, you should have more than enough to binge-watch your way through the month.Recommended VideosNeed more recommendations? Then check out the best new shows to stream this week, as well as the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, the best shows on Amazon Prime Video, the best shows on Max, and the best shows on Disney+.RelatedBBCFormer Doctor Who co-star Jenna Coleman leads the cast of The Jetty as Detective Ember Manning, a single mother mourning the death of her husband. Her small town in Lancashire doesnt seem to have a crime problem on the surface, but her investigation into an arson committed around a boat that her late husband owned opens up an unexpected can of worms for Ember.True crime podcaster Riz Samuel (Weruche Opia) has come to town hoping to solve a 17-year-old missing persons case regarding Amy Knightley (Bo Bragason). Amy disappeared under murky circumstances, and as Ember is drawn into the case, she discovers that the grooming and abuse that Amy suffered when she was a child have some parallels with Embers own experiences in the town.Watch The Jetty on Hulu.Vice TVMany of us lived through the 1990s, but not everyone is familiar with the dark underbelly of that decade. Dark Side of the 90s is a documentary series that looks back at a different topic every episode, many times with commentary from the people who had first-hand experience with the issues at hand.The third season of the Vice TV original series recently arrived on Hulu with episodes focused on the rise and fall of Mike Tyson, Friends, NYPD Blue, Saturday Night Live, Robert Downey Jr., the Spice Girls, and more.Watch Dark Side of the 90s on Hulu.20th TelevisionHow does Kaitlin Olson have the time to star in Its Always Sunny In Philadelphiaand High Potential? The former is still going, but it has fewer episodes to shoot. High Potential is a more recent addition to ABC that casts Olson as Morgan Gillory, a cleaning lady for the Los Angeles Police Department who is also an unconventional genius. Morgan gets herself in trouble when she notices something in the evidence of a case that the police dont, but her successful deduction leads her to a new career as a police consultant.Morgans services come at a price, and shes not just interested in the money that comes with the position. She wants the police to help her find Roman, the father of her oldest daughter, Ava (Amirah J), who disappeared 15 years earlier. Somehow, we suspect that case wont be solved for a long time.Watch High Potential on Hulu.Editors Recommendations

What just happened? All of Google's AI features for Workspace are now available at no extra cost. This decision marks a significant shift from the previous model, where users had to pay an additional $20 per user, per month for the Gemini Business plan to access these capabilities. However, this change comes with a caveat. As Google integrates these AI features into the standard Workspace subscription, it's also implementing a price increase across all Workspace plans. Jerry Dischler, Google's president of cloud applications, said companies can expect to pay approximately $2 more per month per user for the AI-enabled Workspace compared to previous pricing. The base subscription price will increase from $12 to $14 per month.The newly included Workspace AI suite offers a range of tools designed to boost productivity and creativity. Users will now have access to email summaries in Gmail, generated designs for spreadsheets and videos, an automated note-taker for meetings, the NotebookLM research assistant, and writing tools across various apps. Perhaps most notably, users will also gain access to the Gemini bot, which Dischler describes as Google's most powerful AI tool to date.Dischler emphasized the strategic importance of this move, highlighting that Google's AI product is currently the most vertically integrated option available in the market. By making these features accessible to all users, Google aims to demonstrate the value of its AI capabilities on a broader scale. He noted that cost has been a significant barrier for companies considering AI adoption, and this decision directly addresses that concern.The integration of AI features is expected to have a profound impact on the development of Workspace apps. Dischler indicated that app roadmaps are already evolving, with new features set to be released at an accelerated pace.Other providers of AI-powered office suites have made similar moves. For instance, Microsoft announced late last year that its Copilot Pro AI features, which were previously a $20 monthly upgrade, would now be included in standard Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions, albeit with limited availability.This shift in pricing strategy reflects a broader trend in the tech industry. Giants like Google and Microsoft are prioritizing the widespread adoption of their AI tools, even at the cost of short-term revenue. The underlying strategy is to familiarize users with new ways of interacting with their products and potentially attract new customers. These companies are betting that the initial investment in rolling out these AI features will yield significant long-term benefits. // Related Stories

Honor Magic 7 RSRPrakhar KhannaHonors collaboration with Porsche Design is expanding to the Magic 7 series. After launching the Magic 7 Pro in the UK and Europe, the company has announced the availability and price of the Honor Magic 7 RSR. It which will be joining the likes of the luxe Magic V2 RSR and the Magic 6 RSR in Honors Porsche Design series.The Honor Magic 7 RSR is heavily inspired from the Magic 7 Pro but its better in a few ways.First, it features a bigger battery than the global variant. You get a 5,850mAh cell with Honors third-gen silicon-carbon battery tech, which is similar to Magic 7 Pros China variant. For the unaware, the global model of the Magic 7 Pro houses a smaller 5,270mAh battery capacity.Second, theres a new design that looks sharper, bolder and features a redesigned camera module. The rear panel is said to be inspired from a real Porsche, while the camera housing is meant to resemble sports car headlights. In person, it looks gorgeous, especially in the Provence color that has a purple hue. The phone will also be available in Agate Grey color variant.Third, you get more RAM and storage. The Honor Magic 7 RSR will come equipped with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, which is double than than the Magic 7 Pro. But itll cost a lot more, too.MORE FOR YOUWhat Else Does The Honor Magic 7 RSR Offer?Honor Magic 7 RSR colorsHonorLike the Honor Magic 7 Pro, the Magic 7 RSR features a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display with support for a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate, a 4,320Hz PWM dimming frequency, a 5,000 nits of peak brightness for HDR-supported content, and Dolby Vision certification. It sports a proprietary NanoCrystal Shield for protection.The Honor Magic 7 RSR is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, also found on the recently-launched OnePlus 13. You get the same camera setup featuring a 200MP periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, a 50MP primary camera and a 50MP ultrawide sensor with a 122-degree field of view. It also sports the same IP68 and IP69 for dust and water resistance for added durability.The Honor Magic 7 RSR will go on sale in Europe next month, starting February 21, 2025. It will set you back at 1,799, which translates to approximately $1,850. Despite the luxe price tag, its cheaper than the Magic 6 RSR, which was priced close to $2,000. However, its still 500 more expensive than the 1,300 Magic 7 Pro in Europe.

Maria Diaz/ZDNETWhat's the deal?The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet is on sale for $140. You can save $50 on this kids tablet right now at Amazon.ZDNET's key takeawaysThe Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet is available for $190.Designed for older children aged six to 12, this kids' tablet features a slimmer design, better performance, strong parental controls, and a free screen repair or placement within two years of purchase.While it's better than other Amazon Fire Kids tablets, the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet doesn't outperform an iPad -- but it's also a fraction of the iPad's price.What makes a good tablet? It's easy to draw up criteria of features to look for: A fast processor, user-friendly platform, portability, and battery life, to name a few. What makes a good kids' tablet? Amazon appears to be in the running to figure that out, and they're on track to nail the formula.I've been testing the new Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet since it was announced last year during Amazon's Devices and Services event. This is the latest generation of the Fire HD 10 Pro, a kids' tablet aimed at children from six through 12.Also: The best tablets for kids, according to parentsThe Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet promises a 25% faster performance than the Fire HD 10 Kids, a longer battery life, and a higher-quality front-facing camera at 5MP, up from 2MP. details View at Amazon Why choose a Fire tablet? Many parents get their kids an older-generation iPad, like the 9th-gen iPad, as their first tablet. If you have a younger kid and are afraid an iPad won't hold up to their handling, consider an Amazon Fire Tablet.Since my oldest of three is in second grade, I've tried several Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablets. iPads are great, and my husband and I each have one. But ever since my iPad screen got cracked by a cheap case a couple of years ago, I'm less than enthused about giving an eight-year-old such a fragile tablet. Maria Diaz/ZDNETThis is why I prefer Amazon Fire Kids' tablets for my little ones. Plus, Amazon replaces them if they break within two years. They're also eligible for trade-ins when you want to upgrade to a new device you're buying on Amazon.Also: The best Amazon deals right now: January 2025At the ripe age of eight, my oldest is craving "big kid" devices. I'm not one to get my kid a smartphone just yet, but we had considered graduating her with a big kid tablet in the form of an iPad this Christmas.I thought the problem was in the other two: a kindergartner and a toddler who lacked an understanding of personal property or space. It felt like the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet was built for this reason, but after almost a year of testing, my oldest was the one to break her tablet's screen. Maria Diaz/ZDNETMy kid's bad habit of leaving the tablet on the floor was finally curbed when I accidentally tripped over it and cracked the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet's screen. After quelling the tears, I contacted Amazon customer service to see what could be done. A representative instructed me to send the tablet in to assess whether the screen could be replaced or if a new tablet was necessary. In the end, Amazon sent us a new Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet to replace the broken one, with the whole process taking under two weeks.Also:The best iPad cases for kids you can buyThis bigger, 'Pro'-level tablet has been the perfect upgrade from the smaller Fire 8-inch model, which is cloaked in a chunky protective case. Aside from having a larger 10-inch display, the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet is protected by a slim case that is more kid-friendly than kid-proof, as Amazon's listing describes. Maria Diaz/ZDNETLike other Fire Kids tablets, the Fire HD 10 Pro kids tablet also includes the Amazon Kids+ subscription. This can be renewed after one year, but the timer resets whenever you buy a new Fire Kids tablet or another device that includes the subscription.The Fire HD 10 Kids Pro has proven to be faster than both generations of our Fire HD 8 Kids tablets. Since the older ones were passed down to a five-year-old and a three-year-old, that hasn't been a problem, but the eight-year-old who owns the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro definitely noticed the difference. Maria Diaz/ZDNETThough my firstborn is getting on in years and looking for more grown-up tech, she is still eight. In almost a year of use, the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro has been dropped countless times and stepped on at least a dozen times. Like the older models, it has remained completely unaffected, except for the abovementioned event (which was promptly resolved by Amazon).Also: I used Amazon's Echo Show 21 as my smart home hub - and it's almost perfectI appreciate that Amazon's Kids Tablets have strong parental controls. I can easily control what my kids watch, approve their app and purchase requests, and set up time limits from the app on my phone. When it's time for bed, and my kids are stalling on their tablets, I can quickly access the app on my phone and block them, which oddly results in fewer groans than if I decide to take them away. Maria Diaz/ZDNETAside from access to thousands of apps and games, Amazon also has collaborative games that kids can play with others. My kids and I often play Sketch 'n Guess, a virtual word-guessing game in which one person draws something and the other tries to guess it. I play from my phone, and the kids play from their tablets.Like Sketch 'n Guess, there's also Memory Match, Jigsaw, Chess, Checkers, Dessert Decorator, Chain Reaction, and more "Play Together" games included with Amazon Kids+. Even my five-year-old can play since the games can be read out loud what the kids can't read.ZDNET's buying advice Maria Diaz/ZDNETIf you're trying to choose between an iPad or a Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet, much will depend on your kid's age and how they will use it. Amazon has refined the Amazon Kids platform into a kid-friendly user experience that doesn't feel childish for older kids but that younger kids can still navigate.Also, This tablet solved my biggest problem as a smart home enthusiastThis tablet can handle multiple profiles, including young children, older children, and adults, so it can grow with the kids. However, it is still limited by its 3GB of RAM and slower processor than an A13 Bionic chip.An iPad has more high-end features, like a better processor and camera, and is a grown-up platform that is perfect for older kids, those who like to do more intricate play, like editing photos, and even those in the Apple ecosystem.Even if we are an Apple family, I'll continue getting my youngsters Fire kids tablets until they can appreciate the value of a device you can't walk on. When will this deal expire? While many sales events feature deals for a specific length of time, deals are on a limited-time basis, making them subject to expire anytime. ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best offers to help you maximize your savings so you can feel as confident in your purchases as we feel in our recommendations. Our ZDNET team of experts constantly monitors the deals we feature to keep our stories up-to-date. If you missed out on this deal, don't worry -- we're always sourcing new savings opportunities atZDNET.com. Show more Featured reviews

Outgoing United States president Joe Biden has signed a cyber security executive order (EO) promising to build on the foundational steps taken earlier in his administration by ordering additional actions to improve the US cyber security.In one of his last official acts before the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump next week, Biden detailed actions intended to improve accountability for software and cloud service providers, strengthen the security of US government IT infrastructure, promote security modernise security best practice, promote innovation, and address malicious cyber threats to the US and by extension her allies emanating from other jurisdictions.Significant malicious cyber-enabled activities pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, said Biden, presenting the EO to Congress.He wrote: These campaigns disrupt the delivery of critical services across the nation, cost billions of dollars, and undermine Americans security and privacy. More must be done to improve the nations cyber security against these threats.Among some of the provisions of interest to the security industry are the imposition of new reporting requirements on software suppliers to the US government, including the introduction of secure software development attestations, to be overseen by the Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).The order also requires federal government bodies to adopt industry best practice, especially in identity and access management (IAM) to improve threat visibility and strengthen cloud security, and to implement strong authentication and encryption across its infrastructure.It also supports the modernisation of said infrastructure and where it supports critical government work, and enforces the use of cyber best practice in areas such as zero-trust, endpoint detection and response (EDR), encryption, network segmentation, and phishing resistant multifactor authentication (MFA), as well as around procurement and use of government contractors.Elsewhere, it calls on the government to accelerate research at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and security, and post-quantum encryption.Finally, the EO sets out additional steps to combat cyber threats, providing that any property or interests in property in the US are blocked and may not be transferred or paid to any individuals determined by the US government to be complicit or to have engaged in malicious cyber activities.Illumio public sector chief technology officer Gary Barlet, who previously held US government CIO posts at multiple organisations, said: Bidens executive order introduces several promising proposals that could significantly enhance the nations cyber security posture, including stricter software requirements, guidance on leveraging artificial intelligence for cyber defenses, and the adoption of endpoint detection and response tools.Its encouraging to see a focus on addressing critical issues that align with the pressing need to counter nation-state threat actors, and Im particularly encouraged by the emphasis on collaboration, which will be essential to the success of these measures.However, with Bidens time in the White House now measured in hours, Barlet said that the success of the EO would depend on policy priorities set forth by the incoming Republican administration.The next administration has an opportunity to bring renewed focus and energy to government technology. By building on the existing foundations and progress, we could see meaningful progress in federal cyber security posture and collaboration efforts that lead to impactful results, he said.Echoing his actions in the wake of his 2016 victory, Trumpis expected to sign a pile of new EOs after taking office on 20 January, many of them likely to focus on issues such as immigration that activated his voter base in November.Whether or not Trump will take any immediate action on cyber security remains to be seen, and speaking to journalists before Biden signed the order, Anne Neuberger, deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology, said Bidens team had not discussed the content of the EO with Trumps transition team in advance, but that they were open to such discussions once Trumps team is in place.According to reports, Trump is close to picking cyber veteran Sean Plankey to run CISA, replacing the outgoing Jen Easterly.Plankey, who currently works with post-quantum encryption firm Indigo Vault, among other things, served in security roles at the Department of Energy (DoE) and was director for cyber policy on the National Security Council during Trumps first term. He has also worked in security roles in Americas armed forces, including naval intelligence and the Coast Guard.Neuberger said she hoped that the broad brush aims of the EO were bipartisan enough that they should be taken forward by the next president.Read more on US tech policy under TrumpPresident-elect Donald Trump's tech policy team at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy will strongly influence the administration's direction on AI.A proponent of AI's use in HR, Keith Sonderling has been nominated by president-elect Donald Trump for the No. 2 position in the Department of Labor. Few government programs have affected US IT workers as deeply as H-1B. As Trump takes office, his administration must weigh worker concerns against Elon Musk's agenda.

Boston has notoriously bad traffic, but does it have to be that way? Economists, planners, transit advocates, and politicians in Massachusetts are closely monitoring whats happening in New York, now that congestion pricing has gone into effect. Many view congestion pricing in Boston as a potential panacea for resolving what amounts to the fourth worst traffic problem in the world. Were looking very closely at what New York City is doing with congestion pricing, Brian Kane, executive director of the MBTA Advisory Board, told WBUR this week. Im not saying thats going to happen in Massachusetts any time soon, but I do think we have a real world example of what could potentially happen if its allowed to continue after Inauguration Day, Kane said. That I think will be a good test to see if it could work here.Congestion pricing, or congestion relief, seems to be clearing up Manhattan gridlock, making for a more pleasant pedestrian and cycling (and driving) experience. It will unlock money for capital improvements to the subway. Many New Jersey commuters have come on board: Those who rely on Port Authority Bus Terminal to get to work say commutes have been cut substantially. Could Boston be next? If so, how would congestion pricing work in the City on a Hill?The Wu administration is using the No. 28 bus for a fare-free bus pilot program, which could be expanded with congestion pricing. (IliketrainsR211T/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 4.0)I think Greater Boston is about ten years from a congestion pricing system, said Chris Dempsey, a Boston planner and partner at Speck Dempsey, who previously helmed Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA), a local riders alliance. Dempsey also teaches in Harvard GSDs real estate program and prides himself on never having owned a car.I dont think anything is going to happen quickly here, but I do think that the progress, and what I would call success in New York is very helpful and beneficial to the conversation here, Dempsey told AN. All the technology is in place. You could basically snap your fingers and do peak and off-peak pricing overnight, if you wanted to. What were missing is the politics to make it happen. Politics, and other factors, are indeed at play, just like New York. Former Boston City Council President and District2City Councilor Ed Flynn, and others, say the additional tax may be burdensome, especially to the working class and seniors in a city thats already expensive. I think its unfair to have this type of commuting and add a tax to people struggling to make ends meet, Flynn told AN. Congestion pricing is inequitable. It would negatively impact working families and communities of color.Yay or Nay?Theresa Carr, a planner at Nelson\Nygaard with an economics degree, has been studying congestion pricings feasibility in Boston for decades. Previously, Carr has conducted congestion pricing studies for Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and other cities. She also thinks Boston is ripe for following New Yorks footsteps. Sustainability, equity, climate resiliency, you name it. Congestion pricing pays dividends, Carr said. She alsobelieves congestion pricing in Boston could fill a widening hole in funding for mass transit in the city. As a transit planner, I am always trying to make mass transit competitive with driving, Carr told AN. This is where we need to consider economics, because it ultimately comes down to peoples willingness to pay for that competitiveness, right? Also, the T has a hole in funding, and I know the Millionnaires Tax will help with that, but theres so much more revenue we need to invest in transit. And congestion pricing can help with that enormously. It will benefit drivers, too, because it will make their commutes way more predictable.View of downtown Boston from South Station sidewalk (Sharon Hahn Darlin/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0)Joe Poirier is an associate of Carr and previously studied congestion pricings feasibility in Seattle. Congestion pricing is such a massive revenue generator, which cannot be understated, Poirier added. Poirier said too that, as many commuters shift over from gas guzzling cars to electric vehicles, and revenue from the gas tax shrinks, congestion pricing can make up for that shortfall. If gas tax revenue keeps falling, he said, theres going to be an even bigger hole in funding for fixing roads. Revenue from congestion pricing can help with that.Flynn, whose district includes Downtown Boston, the South End, Chinatown, South Boston, and other neighborhoods, sees things differently. Many of our commuters are hotel workers, janitors, nurses, and teachers, so I dont think we should make it harder for them, Flynn said. Our city is already facing shortages in public safety and traffic enforcement. Its not hard to imagine the labor and skills well lose if we burden commuters who drive into the city and provide these services, he said. Likewise, Flynn raised concerns about the MBTA, which is riddled with financial problems, and whether or not the T can handle the influx of riders congestion pricing would create. We have a struggling MBTA system. Many people need their cars because the transit system doesnt run 24 hours, Flynn said. Late night train service is non-existent, and bus service is limited and infrequent. Low income workers and first responders that work between midnight and morning have no choice but to drive into Boston so I think wed be hurting them the most. If congestion pricing forces people off roads onto our already fragile public transit system, the T is unlikely to perform effectively.Howd We Get Here?Talks about congestion pricing in Boston date back to the early 2000s, around the time then Mayor Bloomberg and his planning tsar Dan Doctoroff were weighing its application in New York. It was in 2005 when Paul Scapicchio, a former Boston City Councilor who represented East Boston and Chinatown, first floated the idea, which he continuously advocated for.T4MA took the baton from Scapicchio when, around 2017, Dempsey started courting then Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, who historically had been opposed to congestion pricing. Governor Baker was a skeptic of increased tolling his entire political career, Dempsey said, but he eventually endorsed the concept of high-occupancy toll lanes (HOT), where you pay dynamic prices to move more quickly on free lanes.HOT lanes decreased traffic congestion, and many enjoyed the new capital it brought for infrastructure improvements. Things seemed to be going in the right direction for Bostons pro-congestion pricing bund until COVID-19 happened, when other things took priority for Governor Baker. Our momentum was totally killed by COVID, Dempsey said.South Station is one of the Ts most vital hubs. (IliketrainsR211T/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 4.0)Incumbent Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey took office in 2023. Healey previously said she opposed congestion pricing but eventually changed her tune in 2024 when she created a task force responsible for generating transit revenue. The T has a $700 million funding gap, and the task forces job was finding ways to rectify that, which put congestion pricing back on the table.Congestion pricing was subsequently endorsed by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu after Healeys announcement, although Wu has concerns thanks to shaky MBTA leadership. Boston City Councilor At-Large Ruthzee Louijeune is also a strong proponent of congestion pricing. In response, Boston Herald pundits dismissed the idea as woke after Wus endorsement, much like what Joe Borelli did in New York.Borelli, a New York City Councilmember from Staten Island, has fought hard against congestion pricing, and continues to fight it hard. (But not as hard as Vickie Paladino, a Queens lawmaker who recently encouraged people to sabotage congestion pricing by aiming lasers at the sensor boxes.) New York conservatives have opined against congestion pricing for the supposed hardship it would mean for motorists. Dempsey however disagrees, and believes motorists have much to gain from the system. Anyone who drives into the city for work actually stands to benefit the most from congestion pricing, Dempsey told AN. Because congestion pricing creates much more predictability in your commute as a motorist. It can literally shave hours from your drive, giving you more time at home and with family.Flynn recognizes the need for reducing traffic but doesnt think congestion pricing is the right solution. Instead of a fee on our drivers I think its critical we invest in a more reliable public transit system, Flynn said, and increase bus routes and frequency to incentivize people to take transit.How Will It Work?On January 14, Governor Healey released a landmark $8-billion transportation plan which is meant to stabilize the MBTAs troubled finances and supercharge other transportation investments. Transit advocates had long awaited the plan because, previously, Healey said she may include resources in the budget for planners to study congestion pricings implementation in Boston, although the eventual budget inevitably had no such language.Like New York, it seems that constraints at the state level hinder congestion pricings employment in Massachusetts. In many ways, Boston could easily copy New York Citys playbook, Dempsey said, precisely because both cities are tightly governed at the state level, but there would need to be some differences in approach.Dempsey noted that there are two types of congestion pricing: Theres whats called cordon pricing and corridor pricing. Cordon pricing is what New York implemented, where 60th Street became a line, or a cordon, where tolls are extracted using sensor boxes (designed by Dattner Architects). Corridor pricing is a bit different, Dempsey said, and is probably the kind of system that would work best in Boston, which has a different urban layout than New York. Corridor pricing would mean sensor boxes installed above lanes on key arteries which feed into Bostons CBD like the Tobin Bridge, as opposed to a line like Manhattans 60th Street, although Dempsey said the project isnt advanced enough yet to know what the boundary would be, or where exactly the tolls should go.Moreover, Bostons subway system isnt as robust as say New Yorks, so instead of moving people onto trains, many Boston commuters would take bus service to avoid tolls. The added revenue congestion pricing unlocks could help Mayor Wu expand her fare-free bus pilot program, which is currently underway in Roxbury, among other benefits. Urban design aside, however, political bottlenecks are the real issue at hand.View of downtown Boston (SounderBruce/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0)As a planning consultant, I can confidently say Mayor Wu is the best transportation mayor in the entire country, Dempsey said. She is a transit rider herself, and she understands how important transportation is for equity. But ultimately, I do really think that this is going to require state leadership. Because today, the city does not have the power to do tolling itself, right? And so the state, at a minimum, would have to give the city power to do this. And I just dont see that happening right now. Nevertheless, Dempsey remains optimistic. I get why people are skeptical in Greater Boston, Dempsey said, but polls show that approval for congestion pricing is always very low before its implemented, just like what we saw in New York. Dempsey pointed to a similar instance that occurred in Stockholm when the Swedish government held a referendum on keeping congestion pricingthe public voted overwhelmingly to retain it because of the capital improvements it untapped, and better commutes.For now, it seems as though congestion pricing is on the Massachusetts Governors backburner, but that could change after a positive phone call with the New York Governor. So for many, now is a good time to start thinking about congestion pricings feasibility in Boston, and whether or not its a good fit. The Massachusetts Governor is waiting to see what happens in New York, Dempsey said, and to gauge the political temperature from Governor Hochul.