• 0 Kommentare ·0 Anteile ·7 Ansichten
  • Is That Painting a Lost Masterpiece or a Fraud? Lets Ask AI
    www.wired.com
    A dubious Van Gogh has sparked a battle between technology, connoisseurs, and the high-stakes art market. What does AI, which is transforming art authentication, have to say about the verdict?
    0 Kommentare ·0 Anteile ·7 Ansichten
  • 7 Best WIRED-Tested Humidifiers for Home and Away (2025)
    www.wired.com
    Breathe easy with our top WIRED-tested picks for room comfort and preventing illness.
    0 Kommentare ·0 Anteile ·7 Ansichten
  • EU confirms that a portless iPhone would be completely legal
    www.macworld.com
    MacworldIts official: Apple is fully at liberty to make a portless iPhone if it wants to. There is nothing in EU regulations to say iPhones must feature a USB-C charging port, and a spokesman for the body has confirmed this in writing.Journalists are taught that if someone says its raining, and someone else say it isnt, your job isnt to quote both sides. Its to look out of the window. On Wednesday, Ben Lovejoy at 9to5Mac looked out of the window by contacting European Commission press officer Federica Miccoli to ask if a portless smartphone would be allowable under EU regulations.Yes, Miccoli replied. Since, such radio equipment cannot be recharged via wired charging, it does not need to incorporate the harmonised (wired) charging solution.That goes against a theory buzzing around the Apple punditsphere earlier in the week. We covered a report Monday which claimed the rumored iPhone 17 Air had at one stage been envisioned as a portless device, but that Apple had pulled back from this plan in large part because it feared such a development would anger EU regulators. The EU requires that all smartphones sold in its jurisdiction have USB-C charging ports, which is why the iPhone 14 and 3rd-gen iPhone SE had to be dropped from sale there slightly earlier than planned.But it turns out they only have to have USB-C charging ports if they offer wired charging. A Lightning charging port is not allowed. A 30-pin charging port, aside from being insane, would not be allowed. But no charging port at all is legally fine.The EU does encourage standardised wireless charging standards, and if Apple pursued its own tech on this front it could run into trouble. But as 9to5Mac notes, the company effectively gave MagSafe to the world, and MagSafe iPhones are compatible with Qi2 chargers made by other companies. It wouldnt have any difficulties in this respect.Whether a portless iPhone would be successful remains to be seen, of course. I think it would be a sensible development which would make future iPhone models better while catalysing improvements in wireless tech more generally, and said so in an opinion piece which has proved rather controversial. Customers may not be ready to give up their ports quite yet. But when they are, we now know that the law wont present any obstacles either.
    0 Kommentare ·0 Anteile ·7 Ansichten
  • iPhone 16e C1 Speedtest results show how impressive Apples new modem is
    www.macworld.com
    MacworldA few weeks ago, we ran all over town comparing upload and download speeds of the iPhone 16e with Apples new C1 modem against the iPhone 16 with Qualcomms X71M. The results were clear: Qualcomm was winning, hands-down.At the time, we cautioned that this was just in one metropolitan area (in several varied locations) on one carrier and that more thorough results would require testing all over the map on all major carriers. Still, it was better than most of the data we saw in the early reviews, which often ran a single test in a single location and concluded it was close enough.Now, Ookla, the makers of the same Speedtest app we used, have published a report using real-world data on early iPhone 16e adopters, comparing it against the iPhone 16. Across 12 days (March 1-12), using data from Speedtest users on all three major U.S. carriers, Ookla saw different results than our one-city, one-carrier test.In short, according to Ooklas data, Apples C1 modem can beat or match Qualcomms X71M most of the time, but there are some caveats worth nothing.OoklaThe 10th percentileusers in the bottom 10 percent of performance resultsactually had a better mean download speed with Apples C1 modem. Thats the opposite of our findings, where the C1 modem performed especially poorly in areas where the connection was quite weak.Users in the top 10 percent saw significantly faster mean download speeds with the iPhone 16, likely due to its support of mmWave and 4x downlink carrier aggregation. The overall results, the median users, were very nearly even. The upload speed results varied by carrier, with T-Mobile users showing similar performance between the iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 while AT&T or Verizon users saw Apples C1 pull ahead. Again, this differs from our experience using Verizons network.It all just goes to show that cellular testing is messy and complicated. Every variable makes a big difference: location, carrier, weather, how busy the nearby cells are at the moment, whether the test is done indoors or not, and so much more. The best results come from performing the most tests, and in that regard, Ooklas report is likely the most accurate performance measure we have so far.Its also worth mentioning that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro do not have Qualcomms best modems: the X71M is inferior to the newer X80 and X85. At the end of the day, Apples C1 modem has succeeded where it matters most: Its neither faster nor slower enough to make iPhone 16e users comment on it, and reliable enough not to cause a stir. Apple swapped out Qualcomms modems for one of its own, and outside of the tech press and a handful of geeky enthusiasts, nobody noticed.
    0 Kommentare ·0 Anteile ·8 Ansichten
  • The State of ArchViz: Learn What 1,000 Designers Think About AI, Sustainability and the Future of Rendering
    architizer.com
    The world of architectural visualization is evolving rapidly, driven by new technologies and shifting industry demands. To capture the latest trends, Architizer and Chaos surveyed more than 1,000 design professionals worldwide, uncovering key insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the field. The results are now available in the free-to-download State of Architectural Visualization 2024-25 Report a must-read for architects, designers and visualizers looking to stay ahead of the curve.Download the ReportThe new report underlines the critical role of visualization in all areas of architectural design, influencing everything from client decision-making to project approvals. As the industry strives to embrace new tools and creative approaches, professionals must navigate an increasingly complex landscape of software, workflows and emerging technologies.Full of surprising statistics, expert analysis and comparisons with our previously published white paper on the Future of Architectural Visualization, this report provides a roadmap for understanding these changes and preparing for the future.What Youll Learn in the Full ReportBy downloading the report, youll gain exclusive insights into:The role of AI in visualization Find out how firms of different sizes are experimenting with AI tools for image generation, photorealistic enhancements, and efficiency gains, and what this means for the industry moving forward.The future of sustainability visualization Understand how firms are adopting emerging tools for daylighting, energy performance analysis, and operational carbon visualization into their workflows.The enduring power of still visualizations Learn how photorealistic and conceptual renderings continue to dominate client expectations despite advances in visualization technology.Challenges in rendering workflows Reveal the biggest pain-points AEC professionals face with visualization, from long rendering times to rising software and hardware costs, and how they are addressing these hurdles.How different-sized firms are driving innovation Learn which firms, from small to large, are leading the charge in adopting cutting-edge visualization technologies, positioning themselves as key influencers in the industry.Access the ReportWhy This Report MattersArchitectural visualization has always been about much more than simply producing stunning images its about communicating design intent, streamlining workflows, and adapting to new client demands. With the increasing role of AI, real-time rendering and sustainability tools, professionals must stay informed to remain competitive.This report serves as an essential guide for architects, designers, and visualization specialists looking to optimize their processes and embrace the latest advancements.Whether youre a visualization specialist, architect, or industry leader, the white paper provides essential knowledge to help you make informed decisions about your workflow and technology investments.Download it by hitting the blue button below, and stay tuned for more insights on the state of architectural visualization through future Architizer and Chaos initiatives!Download NowThe post The State of ArchViz: Learn What 1,000 Designers Think About AI, Sustainability and the Future of Rendering appeared first on Journal.
    0 Kommentare ·0 Anteile ·5 Ansichten
  • The art of long exposure in city photography
    iso.500px.com
    Long exposure photography isnt just for landscapesits a powerful tool in urban photography that transforms chaotic cityscapes into mesmerizing visual stories. From light trails to motion blur, mastering long exposure techniques can add depth, movement, and emotion to your city shots. The science behind long exposure photographyLong exposure involves using slow shutter speeds to capture movement over time, turning everyday scenes into something surreal. When shooting in the city, this technique allows you to create:Light trails from moving carsBlurry pedestrian motion against still architectureSmooth reflections in rivers or fountainsStarburst or light streak effects from city lightsTo get started, youll need:A tripod to keep static elements sharpA remote shutter or timer to reduce camera shakeND filters for controlling light exposure during the day Shooting light trails for dynamic urban shotsCapturing vehicle light trails at night is one of the most popular long exposure techniques.Best settings for light trailsShutter speed: Start with 5-10 seconds for moderate traffic, increase for longer streaks.Aperture: f/8 to f/16 keeps details sharp.ISO: Keep it low (ISO 100-200) to avoid noise in dark areas.Find a location where traffic flow is steady, such as an intersection or highway overpass, and experiment with different shutter speeds to capture varied effects. Using motion blur for storytellingInstead of freezing people in motion, long exposures allow you to blur them intentionally, creating a ghostlike presence in busy streets or plazas.Position yourself near a static object (e.g., a street performer, bench, or fountain) and let people move around it.Use a shutter speed of 1-5 seconds to create controlled blurjust enough to suggest motion without losing form entirely.Experiment with panning techniques to blur the background while keeping a moving subject (like a cyclist) in focus. Refining your long exposure workflowLong exposure photography requires precision, but small adjustments can make a big difference.Use manual focus: Autofocus struggles in low light, so set your focus manually for sharper images.Shoot in RAW: This preserves details and gives you more flexibility in post-processing.Experiment with exposure time: Adjust between short and long exposures to find the perfect balance between movement and clarity. Final thoughtsMastering long exposure in city photography allows you to create images that feel dynamic and cinematic. Whether capturing glowing light trails, soft streaks of pedestrians, or perfectly still reflections, long exposure is a technique that can transform ordinary urban scenes into something extraordinary.Not on 500px yet? Sign up here to explore more impactful photography.The post The art of long exposure in city photography appeared first on 500px.
    0 Kommentare ·0 Anteile ·6 Ansichten
  • Forever Skies is Exiting Early Access on April 14
    gamingbolt.com
    Developer Far From Home has announced that its co-op survival game Forever Skies will be exiting Early Access on April 14. The release date was announced alongside a trailer which you can check out below.The major update that will accompany Forever Skies alongside its 1.0 release will bring with it a host of new content, including biomes, new locations, and the final chapter to the games story. Details about the some of these new additions were revealed back in February.Two of the new biomes coming to Forever Skies are the Silent City Biome and the Overgrown Ruins Biome. While more details about these new biomes werent revealed, the studio did mention that the 1.0 release of Forever Skies will bring in new technology to the game that helps with the procedural generation of new biomes during play. These biomes will also be home to specific resources that players can target.With the major update, players will also be able to visit many new locations, including the Workshop, where players can find the Laser Cutting Tool. This tool can be used for quite a few things, including cutting open the locks on supply containers that players can find all over the games world.Some of the new points of interest that players will be able to check out, aside from isolated supply containers include strange murals that tell different stories and expand on the games lore, as well as colossal lifeforms that can be an incredible challenge for players that decide to pick a fight.Alongside the big 1.0 release for Forever Skies, the studio has also revealed its roadmap for the rest of 2025. Summer will see the Airship Expansion update, and December will be getting a seasonal event. Between the two, Fall will be also be getting a major content update that has currently not been revealed.For players that might want to check out some of the new content coming to Forever Skies 1.0 release, an early version of the update will be coming to the beta branch of Forever Skies on March 25. Since this is primarily for testing the new features out, expect plenty of bugs when youre playing on the beta branch.Far From Home COO Wojciech Liwanowski had spoken about some of the things the studio had learned from the Early Access launch of Forever Skies. In an interview with GamingBolt, Liwanowski also spoke about competing in a genre that has quite a few other games out there, as well as post-launch support plans for Forever Skies after its Early Access run is complete.We absolutely will be adding to the game post-launch, but the exact what is going to be decided on mainly by the community feedback, said Liwanowski back in April 2024. Were already using community to steer a lot of the development, but post 1.0 launch were going to be leaning towards them even more. Once our planned vision is done, the best we can do is keep asking players to talk to us and tell us what else they want in the game.Forever Skies is currently available on PC as an Early Access title on Steam. The game wis also slated for release on PS5 on the same day.
    0 Kommentare ·0 Anteile ·6 Ansichten
  • 15 Things to Look Forward to in the First Berserker: Khazan
    gamingbolt.com
    In a world stuffed with dark, historical fantasy action RPGS with fast, Soulslike combat, its tough to standout. Whilst numerous games are breaking beyond comparisons with FromSoftwares best Nioh, Lies of P, and Black Myth: Wukong for instance theres still much for games of this ilk to do if theyre to draw in players. The First Berserker: Khazan, first revealed in 2023, looked straight from the off to be one of those games which distinguishes itself from the Soulslike mould. This feature highlights 15 such things that we cant wait to do in The First Berserker: Khazan.Witness the brutal combatLabelled by developer Neople as a hardcore action RPG based on the Dungeon Fighter Online universe, The First Berserker: Khazan is bloody and brutal. Fast paced, stylish hack-and-slash is the aesthetic the team behind DNF Duel have gone for here and whilst, yes, The First Berserker seems like yet another Soulslike, studying gameplay footage both via official trailers and the currently available Steam demo theres evidence the studios inspiration draws more from Team Ninjas Nioh.Wield each weapon typeWeapons in The First Berserker: Khazan come in a wide variety of types, with each offering unique attack patterns, attributes, and special abilities, thus requiring players to adopt wide-ranging skills to use effectively. Weapons sit within three categories: Spears, Dual Wield (in which two distinct weapons combine into a unified whole), and Greatswords, offering thrusting, twirling versatility, aggressive, rapid-fire melee, and overwhelmingly strong sweeping attacks respectively. Weapon categories scale their stats differently too: Spears excel with proficiency, Dual Wield with willpower, and Greatswords with strength.Upgrade weaponsEach weapon category in The First Berserker: Khazan has its own dedicated skill tree, with each avenue for upgrading offering a mix of active skills and passive buffs. Weapon specialisation, then, is clearly a core feature, with the team at Neople strongly pushing the opportunities for players to customise their arsenal and abilities to suit their preferred combat style via five sub-trees within each skill tree. Paths to pursue cover combo proficiency, survivability, or damage, amongst others.Master combo systemWhilst Dual Wield weapons aim squarely at unleashing breakneck combos, all weapon types in The First Berserker: Khazan harbour numerous combos inside three tiers which will need to be understood and practiced during battle to become effective. The first tier covers basic combos, self-explanatory opportunities to affect damage via straightforward combinations. Strategising when and how to unleash combos comes into play via medium combos, with more damaging attacks requiring players balance against stamina expenditure. In the third tier are the games most advanced combos, offering high-risk-high-yield manoeuvres which deal extreme damage at the cost of significant stamina.Acquire Spirit SkillsSpirit Skills grant Khazan access to more powerful skills at the expense of Spirit, a resource collectable via effective blow-landing, parry deflecting fighting. Each weapon tree plus non-weapon specific common skill tree (think dodges, parry abilities, health generation, that sort of thing) harbours six Spirit Skill slots which can then be assigned to a specific button command to execute during battle. With over sixty skills available, the variety with which you can equip and re-spec Khazan is inexhaustive.Customize armorKhazans protective gear will be another important consideration as you play through The First Berserker, with different pieces of armour and their chosen upgrade paths not only giving boosts to defence but also providing resistance to a breadth of status effects. Several categories including helmets, gauntlets, gloves, pants, boots, and body coverings can be mixed and matched depending on preference and playstyle. Therere even numerous armour sets discoverable, from the minimalist Fallen Star Set to the more heavy duty Heros Set.Create buildsWhat do you get if you combine stats, weapons, armour, and abilities together? Builds, of course. And as should be well-established by now creating and equipping your own builds is all about crafting your ideal character based on personal preference and desired playstyle. Furthermore, numerous builds are possible which can be matched to the specific activity, be it exploration or during battle.Take on the bossesOf course, this being a game influenced by Nioh and the games of FromSoftwares oeuvre, players can expect to test their mettle against a host of ruthless, relentless bosses during The Last Berserkers campaign. And, again, being similar in presentation to FromSoft, bosses will demand players learn attack patterns if theyre going to best the games most powerful foe. Blade Phantom, the boss weve had the most extensive look at thus far, unleashes rapid 6-hit combos, conjures formidable weaponry mid-bout, and unexpectedly transitions to grabs mid-attack requiring players react to audible clues in addition to timing their blocks and parries with precision.Experience the revenge storySet 800 years before the events of Dungeon Fighter Online, The First Berserker: Khazan promises a gripping tale of revenge. After being falsely accused of treason, being banished to isolated mountain ranges, and narrowly escaping death, Khazan begins a quest of vengeance against those that have wronged him. Alongside uncovering the conspiracies which led to his wrongful accusations Khazan also discovers the dark truth behind the empire he once called home.Explore the worldThe Last Berserker features a range of diverse environments each littered with treasures, secrets, and their own set of challenges. Mount Heinmach is the desolate, snow-capped mountain which the forsaken Khazan was cast away; The Crevice is a realm between the Neatherworld and the Mortal World where dimensions bleed into one another, whilst Palemion is the breath-taking fortress city which guards the gateway to the wider Pell Los Empire. Ancient villages, abandoned subterranean kingdoms, hell-scaped gothic castles, and harsh forests round out the biomes shared thus far.Witness the cel-shaded graphics in real-timeAn anime Dark Souls, perhaps, one of the most striking elements of Khazan: The Last Berserker is its 3D cel-shaded, comic book style character design. It may be lacking in realism, and be immersion breaking for some as a result, but its inarguable this relatively unique blend of manga style graphics with realistic environments is appealing even if not to everyones taste.Collect lootThe Last Berserkers world is stuffed with loot to collect, be it dropped by enemies and bosses, or out there to discover in the wilds. Therere healing, stat boosting, restoring, or combat enhancing consumables, notes and letters whichll elaborate on the games lore, and materials that are vital for crafting and unlocking more items. One great aspect regarding Khazans loot system is that, like Nioh, the game doesnt flood players with hundreds of items which are only good for selling.Uncover secretsTheres a wealth of obscure and hidden elements scattered throughout the games environments. With levels being inherently linear in design, the opportunity to uncover hidden paths, unlock secret areas, and generally use your intuition and observation to discover tucked-away treasure will give these environments a broader feel.Adopt gesturesAn interesting tool for creativity and self-expression, gestures in The First Berserker: Khazan range from simple movements like bowing or waving, to more unexpected interactions such as singing and sound generation, all deployed as a means to communicate with others.Spend currency with merchantsLacrima is the games in-world currency and its obtainable by defeating enemies encountered throughout the world. Spending Lacrima with merchants situated at Blade Nexus checkpoints upgrades Khazans vitality, endurance, willpower, strength, and proficiency. Much like Bloodborne and, erm, Shovel Knight, worth noting is that dropped Lacrima following death can be recovered by returning to the same location. A unique spin on this tried-and-tested mechanic though is the possibility of gaining bonus Lacrima by damaging a boss by a certain amount, with greater damage yielding more bonus. Taking on a frustratingly challenging boss can have its perks then, with the chance for bonus Lacrima and thus the chance to level up to a suitable strength before finally beating the boss a welcome handicap to exploit for those whore struggling.
    0 Kommentare ·0 Anteile ·5 Ansichten
  • Unity previews Unity 6.1
    www.cgchannel.com
    Thursday, March 20th, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerUnity previews Unity 6.1html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Unity has previewed Unity 6.1, the next version of the game engine and real-time renderer.The update, currently available in beta, and due for a stable release next month, is primarily focused on engine performance and stability, although there are a few new features.For artists, key changes include a new Deferred+ rendering path in the Universal Render Pipeline, support for variable-rate shading, and improved DirectX 12 rendering performance.The new features were shown during a session at this weeks Game Developers Conference, the recording of which is available on YouTube.Deferred+ rendering in the URP, and Variable Rate Shading in the URP and HDRPFor artists, Unity 6.1 brings improvements in rendering performance, including a new Deferred+ rendering path in the Universal Render Pipeline (URP) for mobile and web games.It improves performance over the existing Deferred rendering path in complex environments, using advanced cluster-based culling to support more real-time lights.Both the URP and High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP) get support for Variable Rate Shading, making it possible to set the shading rate for custom passes, improving performance without significantly affecting visuals.Variable rate shading is supported via Vulkan on Android and PC, via DirectX 12 on Xbox and PC, and on the PlayStation 5 Pro.Improved DirectX 12 rendering performanceDevelopers of Windows and Xbox games also get improvements in DirectX 12 performance, with a new split graphics job threading mode submitting commands to the GPU faster.According to Unity, it leads to a reduction in CPU time of up to 40%.DirectX 12 ray tracing performance has also been improved via Solid Angle Culling, to avoid rendering very small or distant instances, improving CPU performance by up to 60%.There are also a number of more general optimizations, leading to a reduction in ray tracing memory usage of up to 75%.New Project Auditor to troubleshoot project performanceThe other new features primarily affect programmers as opposed to artists.They include a new Project Auditor for static analysis, which analyzes scripts, assets, and projects settings to help identify performance bottlenecks in a project.Build automation is also now integrated into the Unity Editor.Platform changesThere are also changes to platform support, particularly for Android games, including support for the larger 16KB page sizes introduced in Android 15.It is also now possible to match Vulkan graphics configurations to different Android devices, filtering by vendor, brand, product name, and OS, API and driver versions.Developers of extended reality experiences on Android get a number of changes, including integration with key Unity toolsets like AR Foundation and the XR Interaction Toolkit.Unity 6.1 also introduces support for Instant Games on Facebook and Messenger, and WebGPU support for mobile web games.Price, system requirements and release dateUnity 6.1 is currently in public beta. The stable release is due in April 2025. The Unity Editor is compatible with Windows 10+, macOS 11.0+ and Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 Linux.Free Personal subscriptions are now available for artists and small studios earning under $200,000/year, and include all of the core features.Pro subscriptions, for mid-sized studios, now cost $2,200/year. Enterprise subscriptions, for studios with revenue over $25 million/year, are priced on demand.Read an overview of the new features in Unity 6.1 on Unitys blogDownload the Unity 6.1 betaHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsUnity previews Unity 6.1Check out the key artist features in the next version of the game engine, including support for Variable Rate Shading and better DX12 ray tracing.Thursday, March 20th, 2025Character Creator to get new MetaTailor pluginAdd-on will let you send characters from Character Creator to MetaTailor with one-click, fit 3D clothing to them, then send them back to CC4.Wednesday, March 19th, 2025NVIDIA unveils Blackwell RTX PRO GPUs with up to 96GB VRAMNew series of pro workstation and laptop GPUs include the 'most powerful desktop GPU ever created'. See its key specs for CG work.Wednesday, March 19th, 20255 key features in Blender 4.4Check out the key changes in the latest version of the open-source 3D app, including important updates to animation and the CPU compositor.Tuesday, March 18th, 2025Sketchsoft releases Feather 1.1Promising 3D sketching app for iPad gets time-saving new workflows for Apple Pencil users, including support for haptic feedback.Tuesday, March 18th, 2025GIMP 3.0 is out after seven years in developmentLong-awaited update to the open-source image editor adds non-destructive layer effects and better interoperability with Photoshop.Tuesday, March 18th, 2025More NewsAdobe releases Substance 3D Modeler 1.21Adobe releases Substance 3D Painter 11.0Free tool: Lens Cap for BlenderCelsys releases Clip Studio Paint 4Assetify 2.1 converts Blender assets to game-ready formatsTutorial: Creature Combat Animation in MayaWonder Studio becomes Autodesk Flow StudioPolygonflow releases Dash 1.9Get KitBash3D's Gaea fantasy architecture asset pack for freeCheck out open-source Blender character generator MPFB 2Check out neat AI-trained hand mocap tool HandCraft ProTutorial: Creating Production-Ready Hero Assets Using MariOlder Posts
    0 Kommentare ·0 Anteile ·5 Ansichten