Marvel Rivals' current roster of characters includes some of the heaviest hitters in Marvel Comics canon. Plenty of the companys most popular superheroes have made the jump to the shooter, though a few stand-out heroes have yet to have their own time to shine. As NetEase considers which games to add next and players create their own character wishlists, both parties need to be considerate of the superpowers already present in Marvel Rivals.

Early in the main story of Assassins Creed Shadows, youll be tasked with a choice: Should you let the young Junjiro stay in your Hideout or should you tell him to scram? Are there ramifications of kicking this young boy out, leaving him to the wolves? Is this that type of game?Below we answer your query on whether or not you should let Junjiro stay at your Hideout in Assassins Creed Shadows. That said, very light spoilers are ahead.Should you let Junjiro stay at your Hideout?Not to burst your bubble or shatter your immersion, but your choice doesnt actually matter. If you tell him to stay, well, hell stay.If you tell him to leave, the young rapscallion will stay in your Hideout regardless, excitedly exclaiming Yatta! as he runs in, after Sorin insists on him staying.So no, you cant actually kick Junjiro out. Hes here to stay, whether you want him to or not. A hideout probably isnt a safe space for a little kid to hang out, but neither is the wilderness with no adult supervision in Sengoku era Japan. Anticlimactic, we know, but thats just how it is.If youre playing with canon mode an optional setting that removes all dialogue options and choices turned on, Junjiro will stay in your hideout as well. While we havent tinkered with every single branching choice in Assassins Creed Shadows, weve found that many choices like this are often presented as a choice but are really just an illusion of choice.For more Assassins Creed Shadows guides, heres our full Assassins Creed Shadows walkthrough, plus explainers on how long to beat the game and when you unlock Yasuke,

Knowledge points help you progress in Assassins Creed Shadows, and are necessary for opening up which skills are available to Naoe and Yasuke. There are a lot of different activities you can do to earn knowledge points, with some being more common than others.Below we explain what knowledge points are used for in Assassins Creed Shadows and how to find more of them.What are knowledge points in Assassins Creed Shadows?You need knowledge points to unlock additional tiers in your mastery skill trees, though dont confuse knowledge points with mastery points.As you earn knowledge points, youll automatically level-up your knowledge rank. There are six knowledge ranks, with each rank opening up an additional row of skills across all 12 your skill trees (six for Yasuke, six for Naoe). Your mastery points are then used to actually unlock those skills once they become available.How to get more knowledge points in Assassins Creed ShadowsParticipating in optional activities marked with red-orange icons give you knowledge points. You can find these locations by approaching areas on your map indicated by question marks, though not all of them will be an activity that rewards knowledge points. Completing the following will unlock more knowledge points:Kuji-kiriShrinesTemplesKofunHidden TrailsKataHorse ArcheryBelow, we get into what each activity entails.Kuji-kiriKuji-kiri are quick-time events that you can only complete while playing as Naoe. Additionally, the first four you complete will reveal segments of Naoes backstory, which youll then have to play through. To find these, see our running list of Kuji-kiri locations.ShrinesShrines require you to find and pray at three locations in a general area, all identified by an icon indicating each prayer spot. Thats it!TemplesIn temples, youll need to track down three Lost Pages in a general area. Theyre often hidden off the beaten path in ponds, on banisters, on rooftops, and sometimes even stuck in trees. Or just see our running list of Lost Pages locations.KofunKofun are labyrinth-like tombs that youll have to crawl through, usually in the dark, to find a chest. Depending on which Kofun youre in, you may only be able to complete it as Yasuke or Naoe.Hidden TrailsHidden Trails are platforming segments that, in our testing, you can only complete while playing as Naoe, as her grappling hook is necessary for navigating many of them. Youll need to parkour across a marked path to eventually get to a chest containing rare gear. Often, these chests contain some of the best armor in the game.KataKata, an activity only available when playing as Yasuke, is a quick-time event requiring you to input the correct button prompts at the correct time. You have to complete three series of prompts for each Kata.Horse ArcheryHorse Archery is another activity thats only available to Yasuke. Its exactly what it sounds like: While riding on horseback, you have to use your bow and arrow to shoot a number of targets.For more Assassins Creed Shadows explainers, heres how to get more mastery points, how to get more rations, how to get more scouts, and how to get all companions and romance options. Plus, see our all weapons and all armor lists.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Bang & Olufsens Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) is a speaker that packs a serious punch for its size. Normally priced at $299.99, its down to $139.99 on Woot for the next 13 days or until stock runs outand if you have Amazon Prime, shipping is free. Non-Prime members will have to pay $6, but either way, its only available to the contiguous U.S. (no shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, or PO boxes). Bang & Olufsens Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) $139.99 at Woot $299.99 Save $160.00 Get Deal Get Deal $139.99 at Woot $299.99 Save $160.00 PCMag gave this Bluetooth speaker an Editors Choice award when it launched in 2020, and its still a strong contender today. At just 1.2 pounds, the Beosound A1 is not exactly light for its size, though it comes with a leather lanyard for easy carrying. With an IP67 rating that can handle dust, sand, and submersion, it's ready to accompany you on outdoor adventures. Setup is handled through the Bang & Olufsen app, which also enables its built-in Alexathough youll need to link accounts first. It's Bluetooth 5.1-compatible with support for AAC and AptX Adaptive codecs, though it doesnt have LDAC support for high-res listening. The battery life of the Beosound A1 is rated at 18 hours, but thatll depend on your volume settings.This little speaker gets loud, driven by a 3.5-inch woofer and a 0.4-inch tweeter, both powered by dedicated 30-watt Class D amps. The result is a deep bass (enough to shake a table but without the speaker itself moving around) that stays full even at moderate to high volumes. Its a bass-heavy tuning, which makes sense given its sizethough at max volume, the DSP kicks in to prevent distortion, thinning out the sound slightly, notes the PCMag review. Its frequency range of 55Hz-20kHz means youll get solid lows and clear highs, but dont expect a perfectly balanced studio monitor sound. The apps EQ adjustment isnt the most intuitive, using a circular chart instead of sliders, but it offers some control over tuning.If youre looking for something newer with the latest Bluetooth tech (and one that's a little more budget-friendly), the Beats Pill is currently $99.99 (down from $149.95) and might be worth considering instead.

Buying a house is a stressful, expensive projectsomething most people understand. That's why they do their diligence. The research the property and the area, they hire a home inspector, they pay a lot of money for title insurance, and they ask questions. Lots and lots of questions.Most of those questions are common sense, concerning the history of the house, the age and condition of the roof or the HVAC system, and the neighborhood. But there are some not-so-common questions that are also worth asking. These eight questions might seem a bit random, but they can alert you to big problems before you sign your life away.Was the home ever used as a business?A lot of people use their homes for their livelihood. If that means a home office for telecommuting, its nothing to worry about. But if the previous owner ran any kind of physical business out of the house, you need to know, because it could impact your enjoyment of the property in a few ways:Old customers might show up unannounced, unaware that the house has been sold, as happened to this unhappy new homeowner. This could potentially include folks who are upset with their experience with the business, or to whom the business owes money.Shipments, bills, and other deliveries or correspondence might continue to arrive, forcing you to deal with someone elses businessespecially if the previous owner demands that you forward materials and mail to them.Has the house ever been hit by a car?This might seem like a crazy question to ask, but if the house youre considering buying is located at an intersection, at the bottom of a hill, or around a blind corner, it's worth asking if its been hit by carsand if so, how often. Homes being hit by cars isnt common, but if the house has been hit once, theres a good chance the conditions that caused the accident still exist, and it could be hit again.For example, this house in San Jose has been hit 23 times in 50 years. This house in Ohio has been hit three times (plus one near-miss). And this house in North Carolina was hit by cars six times over the course of a decade. The worst time to find out that a nearby highway exit ramp or dangerous curve slings cars into your home on a regular basis is after youve bought it.What exactly will I own?Most of the time you can safely assume that what you see in and around the house will be yours once the checks clear and the deed is transferred. That usually includes the outdoor spaces, like a backyard, the appliances, and, say, the finished basement. But you should never assume, because sometimes what you see is not at all what you get.This couple in Washington and bought a house only to discover that the back yardstarting at their back stepswas actually a separate lot. They only learned this when the lot was put up for auction, and they found themselves desperately trying to buy their own backyard. And if you want the appliances in the kitchen or laundry room, you should make sure their inclusion is specified in the contract, or you might be in for a few extra expenses when you move in to find the fridge missing.Theres even a story about a seller who literally removed an entire finished basement from the house, leveraging the fact that below-grade areas are usually not considered part of the living space. You might not need to worry about the basement in your dream home, but it underscores the wisdom of making sure you know everything that is included in the sale.Do all the outlets work?Older homes often dont have enough power outlets. They were often designed and constructed in a different era, when people didnt have TVs in their bedrooms or a dozen gadgets charging at all times. One of the easiest upgrades people put into older homes is additional outlets, often as part of an overall upgrade to the electrical wiring.But an unscrupulous homeowner might add nonfunctional outlets to give the appearance of such an upgrade, leaving it to you to actually connect them. Or, maybe the house has old wiring that only looks like it was upgraded and modernized. Either way, asking if the outlets all actually workor, better yet, testing them with a volt meter yourselfis a good idea.Is it considered historic?If youre buying an older home, its often a good idea to ask if its located in a historic district or designated a historic building, and if there are any restrictions that come along with that designation. Homes that are considered historic in some way often come with limitations to the kind of renovations you can do without explicit approval, and may come with extra expenses or responsibilities.Youd assume something like that would be disclosed before the sale, and it usually is if its the house itself that has officially been deemed historic. But if you move into an area considered historic, you might be subject to rules regarding how you can alter or update a home that haven't been previously disclosed to you, just like this unlucky homeowner. If your new house has old charm, its worth asking, or checking directly with the local government.Why exactly was the basement renovated?If youre touring a house that obviously hasnt had a major renovation in a while, you might be okay as long as the bones are good and you have a vision (and a budget) for renovations. But if you head down to the basement and discover a brand-new, just-finished renovation its time to ask one question: Was there a flood? While many homeowners tackle their home renovations in stages, if only the below-grade areas of the house that have been updated, its time to worry about significant water damage thats been erased or hidden. If the basement flooded once, it will likely flood againso you need to know why it was singled out for a rehab.Is there a buried tank on the premises?Old houses sometimes have ancient oil tanks buried underground. If a house had oil heat in the past, burying the tank hid it from viewno one wants an ugly, rusting tank sitting in their backyard. And if the tank was properly decommissioneddrained, filled with foam, and cappedits nothing to worry (at least until you decide to dig up the yard).But if the tank wasnt decommissioned, it could be a huge problem. If it leaks, your health could be impacted, and if the leak spreads and poisons your neighbors property, youll be liable. And removing a tank can be expensivearound $10,000 if youve got an environmental disaster on your hands. Best to ask about it before you assume that responsibility.How are those trees doing?Trees are terrific, and offer a lot of benefits to a property. But trees can become a real hazard if theyre not cared for properlythey can fall and damage the house, become a home for insects and rodents that infiltrate the house, and can cause conflict between you and your neighbors. Taking care of trees can be expensive, so many homeowners prefer to just enjoy the shade and assume that nature will take care of itself.It pays to ask about the trees on your potential propertyhow often were they pruned and trimmed? Has an arborist inspected the trees for diseases, infestations, or damage? If the trees are old and havent been properly cared for, you might be buying a lot of work and problems instead of a beautiful, shady yard.

If you can't open a window for whatever reason, an air purifier can help make the air in your home a bit more comfortable. One of our favorites, the Levoit Core 400S air purifier, is on sale for $187 thanks to the Amazon Spring Sale. While that's not a record low we've seen it as low as $177 last year it's still a good discount on one of the most convenient air purifiers for large spaces. Weve featured Levoit in our list of the best air purifiers for its strong performance and smart features. The Core 400S can cover rooms up to 1,980 square feet using a three-stage filtration system to capture allergens, dust, pet dander and smoke. It also includes a smart sensor that adjusts fan speed based on air quality, so youre not running it at full blast when you dont need to. One of the Levoit Core 400S biggest selling points is its low noise output, which makes it a good fit for bedrooms or home offices. If you need to knuckle down and get some work done without distraction whilst keeping your rooms air clean and fresh, even at higher speeds, it stays relatively quiet compared to bulkier purifiers. It also supports smart controls via the VeSync app, allowing you to tweak settings, set schedules or monitor air quality from your phone. If you have a smart home ecosystem in place, you can connect the purifier to third-party voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant an added layer of convenience that allows you to control the Core 400S with simple voice commands. Its 360-degree filtration system uses activated carbon to remove gases and odors, while an efficient middle filter captures 99.97 percent of pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. The built-in air quality sensor continuously monitors pollution levels, automatically adjusting performance as needed. You can track real-time air quality data on the LCD screen or through the VeSync app, which is handy (and interesting) to have access to at all times. At night, sleep mode keeps things extra quiet and subtle, dimming the display and operating at the lowest settings or you can turn off the display completely for total darkness. If youve been looking for an air purifier that can handle larger spaces without taking up too much room, this deal is worth considering, saving you over $30 on its usual price thanks to the Amazon Spring Sale.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/levoits-core-400s-air-purifier-is-33-off-for-the-amazon-spring-sale-133052543.html?src=rss

A couple of weeks ago, Apple released a more affordable take on its flagship handsets with the iPhone 16e. But now Google is hitting back with the Pixel 9a and from what I've seen, it looks like a way better deal. From the front, the 9a looks a lot like the standard Pixel 9. Its screen is the same size at 6.3 inches across, while also offering a 120Hz refresh rate and a surprisingly strong 2,700 nits of peak brightness. On the inside, the 9a packs a Tensor G4 chip, just like you get on its more expensive siblings, along with other handy features including an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance and Googles standard seven years of OS updates, feature drops and security patches. But Google did something a bit surprising by giving the 9a a 5,100mAh battery, which is technically the biggest power pack in any member of the Pixel 9 family. That includes the Pixel 9 Pro XL (5,060mAh), though only by just a tiny bit. Regardless, Google says this gives the 9a the best longevity of any Pixel on sale today. If you flip the phone around, there are some other changes such as a new iris purple hue, which joins the existing peony, porcelain and obsidian color options. But the thing that jumps out the most is the lack of a camera bar, which has been present on practically all of Googles phones dating back to the Pixel 6. Instead, you get a simple window that sits almost flush against the back of the device a window which Google says was inspired by the shape of a water drop. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Unfortunately, you dont get a dedicated optical zoom (though it does support up to 8x digital SuperRes zoom). There is a 48MP main sensor that is similar, but slightly different to the one used on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and a 13MP sensor for its ultra-wide cam. The 9a also includes a built-in AI macro focus feature so you can get really close to things, on top of support for tons of Pixel-specific camera tools like Add Me, Best Take, Magic Editor and more. Notably, because it's powered by the Tensor G4, the 9a has access to all of the same AI features available on the rest of the Pixel 9 line. This includes Gemini Live Video, the Pixel Recorder app, and Pixel Studio not to mention security and safety offerings like Google VPN, car crash detection and so on. Sadly, I only had a brief time with the phone so we weren't able to test out many of its new features. Google seems to be feeling pretty confident about this phone, with the company saying that it will have the best cameras on any handset under $500. That's a pretty big claim, but its not entirely outlandish as Google's camera processing has been top-notch for quite some time. And with a starting price of $499, the Pixel 9a is skating in right under that line. So what's the catch all this for $300 less than a regular Pixel 9? From what I've seen so far, the biggest differences between the standard Pixel 9 and the 9a are that Google hasn't improved the latter's 23-watt wired or 7.5-watt wireless charging speeds, both of which are rather slow compared to a full-priced flagship. You also get less RAM, with the 9a featuring 8GB instead of 12GB. And while the 9a has Gorilla Glass covering its screen in front, around back there's a plastic panel made from around 85 percent recycled materials. But again, for three Benjamins less than the standard model, those are compromises I'm mostly willing to put up with. The Google Pixel 9a will be available sometime in April starting at $499 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (the 256GB model is an optional upgrade). Purchases include free three-month subscriptions for Google One and YouTube Premium along with a six-month trial for Fitbit Premium. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-google-pixel-9a-might-be-the-new-midrange-smartphone-king-140021156.html?src=rss

The official trailer for the John Wick spin-off movie Ballerina implies Keanu Reeves' hitman may have a big supporting role to play.

Oppos new leading midrange handset brings a few key upgrades that push ahead of its immediate competitors including a 3.5x telephoto camera and IP68 rating, which Oppo seems to be inviting users to put to the test.

At around 11 p.m. Saturday night, James Spann was winding down his ninth hour of live news coverage of a deadly storm system that spawned 16 suspected tornadoes across central Alabama.The National Weather Service in Birmingham has confirmed at least nine tornadoes touched down in central Alabama, with damage surveys still underway. The weekend storms killed three in Alabama, andat least 40 nationwide.Through it all, Spann, 68, held his post on the air in his traditional white dress shirt, tie and suspenders, as he has throughout nearly every major storm event in central Alabama for the last 47 years.A fair number of adults living in the Birmingham area have watched Spann their entire lives. Many saw him in person at countless elementary school visits hes conducted across the region since at least the early 1990s.He has become the face of Alabamas weather safety operations and has also made himself into possibly the most famous local weatherman in America, with 1.3 million Facebook followers, plus another 300,000 on Instagram and 565,000 on X.Now, with the life-saving Weather Service inthe crosshairs of President Donald Trumpandchainsaw-wielding billionaire Elon Musk, weather forecasters like Spann are speaking out to defend the agency that provides the backbone for their work.I think they need a publicist, because people just dont understand, Spann told Inside Climate News in an interview conducted before the weekends severe weather events.On April 27, 2011, when a widespread outbreak of deadly tornadoes ravaged the state, Spann wasreportedly on the air for more than 10 hours straightfor central Alabamas ABC affiliate as62 confirmed tornadoestouched the ground,killing 252 people.The death toll for the tornadoes this week and in 2011 likely would have been higher if not for warnings provided by the National Weather Service and broadcast by Spann and others.People say, Well, if they shut it down, Ill just use my app, Spann said of the possible Trump cuts. Well, where do you think the information on your app comes from? It comes from computer model output thats run by the National Weather Service.And then they say, Well, we rely on James Spann. Well, James Spann is using the same computer models.In addition to the global computer forecast model forecasts, Spann said the Weather Service provides local model output that is invaluable for local forecasts.Those are extremely helpful when youre approaching a tornado threat, a snow storm, winter storm, flood, hurricane, he said. And if those models are degraded in any way, that will really hurt, and thats just a small part of what they provide.The NWS also operates weather satellites, runs radar stations around the country, and launches weather balloons that provide the data for those models.If you ever watch us when there are tornadoes flying, youre going to see a whole lot of radar, he said. Where do you think that comes from? The National Weather Service.And even as it is now, weve got some really severe radar gaps in the state. And this is nothing new, this has been going on for a while. Weve got some spots in west Alabama where the radar beam is 10,000 feet off the ground, which means we cant see whats going on down near the surface. So if any radars are decommissioned or taken away, thats a real problem.Outlook Hazy on Weather Service CutsTrumps so-called Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Musk, has reportedly alreadyfired hundreds of people working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which includes the NWS, and DOGE may not be done yet.The Associated Press reported that NOAA, at DOGEs behest, ispreparing to cut another 1,000 jobs, an additional 10% reduction in its workforce.A NOAA spokesperson declined to provide details on how many people had been let go, or where those cuts had taken place.Per long-standing practice, we are not discussing internal personnel and management matters, NOAA spokesperson Susan Buchanan said via email.NOAA remains dedicated to its mission, providing timely information, research, and resources that serve the American public and ensure our nations environmental and economic resilience, Buchanan said. We continue to provide weather information, forecasts and warnings pursuant to our public safety mission.The National Weather Service Employees Organization, a union representing NWS employees, said it was still trying to determine the extent of the cuts, but that at least 100 probationary NWS employees had been fired and more than 200 had taken a deferred resignation plan offered by DOGE.300 employees may not sound like much but when combined with regular planned retirements, this attrition is a major impact all at once, Tom Fahy, the unions legislative director, said via email.Fahy said that while the union was still assessing the situation, we do know that staffing cuts are impacting almost every NWS Weather Forecast Office across the country. Alabama will also feel staff shortages.In a press call, Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington said that 650 NOAA employees had already been fired by Trump and Musk with no rhyme or reason, with no clue or concern how it will seriously harm our economy and our communities.On the same call, former NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad said the cuts ordered by Trump and Musk were misguided, ill-informed, often illegal, and just plain stupid.This administration has chosen to basically enter the room, turn out the light and start shooting, Spinrad said. For no reason beyond the theater that it will produce.In addition to personnel cuts, the DOGE website lists 19 NWS facilities among those in which they plan to terminate the lease, including the national Radar Operations Center in Norman, Oklahoma, which maintains and updates the countrys Doppler radar network.Spann said the uncertainty itself is hurting the NWS, with employees not knowing their fate.Its not a good atmosphere when youve got critical work that you have to do, not knowing if youre going to have a job the next day or next week or next month, he said.A Weather Celebrity Speaks OutSpann, perhaps the most famous non-football coach in Alabama, is routinely listed as one of the states top social media personalities, and one of the most followed weather forecasters in the country.He often posts dozens of times per day, sharing weather forecasts, announcements from local first responders, severe weather information, reflections on past weather events, or simply reposting his fans vacation photos. He hosts a weekly podcast called Weather Brains and has written two books: Weathering Life, a memoir, and All You Can Do Is Pray, recounting his experiences in the 2011 tornado outbreak.Meteorologist James Spann explains the impact of the tornadoes hitting Alabama during an ABC 33/40 broadcast on March 15. [Image: ABC 33/40]His encyclopedic knowledge of Alabamas backroads, towns, churches, and barbecue restaurants is the stuff of legend, and inspired at leastone comedy parody video, which he starred in.Before his afternoon and evening broadcasts, but after his morning blog posts and daily forecasts, he regularly ventures out to elementary schools throughout the state speaking about weather.Third graders deeply understand me, Spann said. They understand sarcasm, they think youre funny, theyre sweet, dont smell bad yet. The third grade, thats the perfect grade.He built his following, mostly, by avoiding hot-button political topics that might divide his audience. That includes climate change, or at least it does now.Spann was criticized in 2007 for rejecting the scientific consensus that climate change is primarily driven by human activity, specifically burning fossil fuels. He made anappearance on Glenn Becks CNN showin response to those criticisms, in which he said human carbon emissions were like a pop gun compared to atomic bomb issues like volcanic dust in the stratosphere, the position of the sun, the temperature of the sun, the structure of the Earths magnetic poles.Numerous studies have shown thatfossil fuels contribute far more carbon emissionsto the atmosphere than volcanoes. ANASA analysis, among other sources, shows that the average global temperature has continued to increase since 1980, even as solar irradiationenergy from the sun reaching Earthhas decreased.In 2010, Spann signed the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creations Evangelical Declaration on Global Warming, which states, We deny that carbon dioxideessential to all plant growthis a pollutant. Reducing greenhouse gases cannot achieve significant reductions in future global temperatures, and the costs of the policies would far exceed the benefits.Since then, Spann has mostly refrained from talking about climate change in public, calling it a no-win situation.My job in life is mitigating loss of life when there are tornadoes flying around here, Spann told Inside Climate News. Because if you come out and start talking climate, then you lose half the population, whether its right wing or left wing.So I leave that to climatologists.But in this situation, hes willing to speak up for the National Weather Service.Many high-level politicians follow this page, both Democrats and Republicans, Spann said in aFebruary 25 Facebook post. I would encourage them and all of you to support my colleagues at the National Weather Service during this time. Their service is absolutely invaluable.Spann told Inside Climate News that he saw the post as a way to advocate for NWS workers who cant publicly advocate for themselves.I think one of the things we can do to help them is kind of tell their story, Spann said. I dont have any interest in politics. I dont like to dabble in it, but I just thought it was important to write a support piece for these guys, because they dont have a voice.ByDennis Pillion, Inside Climate NewsThis article originally appeared on Inside Climate News. It is republished with permission. Sign up for its newsletter here.