This is a short film project that I am working on. If you are a fan of anime or the Shogun series this might be for you. This is also my Unreal Engine for Film Makers end of class project at CG Pro . It…

Why the World Became So Obsessed With William Morris’ Colorful Floral Prints The British artist’s designs appear on mugs, plates, shoes and more. A new exhibition explores how his signature style became so ubiquitous—and how Morris would feel about his 21st-century legacy Lillian Ali - Staff Contributor April 10, 2025 4:05 p.m. Compton printed cotton, designed by Morris in 1896 © William Morris Gallery, London Borough of Waltham Forest You’ve seen the patterns: branches of colorful flowers and fruits unfolding across solid backgrounds. Nearly 130 years after his death, the British artist William Morris’ designs are everywhere, from wallpapers and dinnerware to phone cases and hand cream. The ubiquity of Morris’ intricate style is the subject of “Morris Mania,” a new exhibition at the William Morris Gallery in London. The show, which will be on view through September 21, explores Morris’ designs, beliefs and legacy. Hadrian Garrard, the director of the gallery, tells the London Times’ Nancy Durrant that “seeing Morris products everywhere” inspired him to develop the exhibition. “I thought it was time that we addressed how we got here,” he adds. “How did William Morris, Britain’s greatest designer, go viral?” The museum put out an open call, encouraging members of the public to send in any Morris-decorated objects in their possession. The gallery ended up with toys, mugs, chopsticks, shoes, face masks and more—all covered in Morris’ signature flowers and fruit. Dr. Martens with a Morris design © William Morris Gallery, London Borough of Waltham Forest Sam Jacob, who designed the exhibition, compares Morris’ patterns to the science fiction film Alien. “The patterns can land on anything and completely inhabit their host, whether that’s a mug or a submarine,” he tells the Guardian’s Oliver Wainwright. Morris was a key figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, an artistic style that proliferated in Britain in the late 19th century. The movement’s artists believed that industrialization had undermined the role of craftspeople, decreased the quality of manufactured goods and worsened working conditions. Morris, who was also a socialist, wrote in 1894 that “the leading passion in my life has been and is hatred of modern civilization.” But since then, Morris’ designs have been embraced by luxury and discount retailers alike. His work has even landed on the online Chinese retailer Temu, which sells A.I.-generated Morris merchandise. The exhibition examines the conflict between the artist’s beliefs and his legacy. “We see what capitalism has done to his work,” Garrard tells the Financial Times’ An eye mask decorated with a Morris pattern © William Morris Gallery, London Borough of Waltham Forest Morris pushed against the pursuit of profit at the expense of workers’ well-being. However, he embraced technology to the extent that it could be “freeing,” as the English artist Jeremy Deller tells the London Times. “[Morris] would be fascinated to see how machine-made things are because there’s not much manual labor involved in a lot of the objects that we’re going to see in this show; iPhone case covers are not hand-printed,” he adds. “But of course he would recognize some aspects of production as being similar to the Industrial Revolution in terms of how people were treated and workers’ wages and so on. It would inspire him and anger him at the same time.” However, the popularity of Morris’ style aligns with his belief that beauty ought to be accessible to everyone. For instance, he produced linoleum for customers who couldn’t afford his carpets, Deller tells the London Times. As Morris famously said, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” “Morris Mania” will be on view at the William Morris Gallery in London through September 21, 2025. Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

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Japanese devs like Sony and Bandai Namco fold winter bonus into base salary in a bid to attract new talent It's thought the salary boost comes as companies compete for staff Image credit: GamesIndustry.biz News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on April 10, 2025 Sony and Bandai Namco have abolished employee bonuses in Japan in order to raise base salaries. As reported in Nikkei Business and spotted by Automaton, the winter bonus - one of two yearly bonuses typically shared with Japanese workers - has reportedly been folded into monthly compensation, effectively increasing salaries. According to Automaton, the starting salary for certain entry-level positions at Sony Group has increased by around $330 per month. For Bandai Namco, starting salaries increased from around $1500 a month to $1980 in 2022, and have recently increased again by another $100 per month. It's thought the salary boost comes as companies compete for talent. Bandai Namco reportedly shed over a hundred staff between April 2024 and February 2025. The news follows reports that last October, the Tokyo-based company took a "traditionally Japanese approach to reducing staff by sending workers to rooms where they are given nothing to do, putting pressure on them to leave voluntarily". At the time, it was alleged 200 of its then 1300 employees have been moved into these "expulsion rooms" – or "oidashi beya" – and almost half of these have since voluntarily resigned.

Bluesky is updating its app to version 1.100, and the update includes a more comprehensive search page and new chat reactions. The search page is now known as “Explore,” where you can find trending topics, suggested accounts, and starter packs to jump-start stuff for you to follow on the app. This new Explore page still lets you search from the top, but now, the first thing you see under the search bar are a list of top trends and that may have a tag emphasizing how “hot” or “new” something is. There’s also a shortcut at the top to edit interests that inform what you see on the Explore page, but you can hide that and adjust your interests later in Settings > Content and media. 📢 App Version 1.100 is rolling out now (2/2)Trying to find more on Bluesky? The search page is now "Explore," with updated trends, suggested accounts, and more!— Bluesky (@bsky.app) 2025-04-10T18:00:06.172Z As for the chat reactions, you can now hold down on a direct message and select an emoji to react to it with. The feature looks and works similarly to many other chat apps like iMessage. Previously, holding down on a message brought up a menu on the bottom of the screen to transla … Read the full story at The Verge.

When Nintendo announced the Nintendo Switch 2 last week, it said that the console only supports expansion through MicroSD Express cards. This is a huge pain for anyone with a collection of existing MicroSD cards, but it actually makes a ton of sense – MicroSD Express is leagues faster. Because of the way these cards interface with the device, they’re able to unlock read/write speeds similar to the UFS (Universal Flash Storage) of the Switch 2’s internal storage. This is incredibly important, because it allows games stored on your expansion card to load just as fast – at least in theory – to games stored internally. It just comes at the cost of not being able to use cheaper non-Express MicroSD cards. MicroSD vs. MicroSD ExpressOver the years, there have been six different speed ratings for MicroSD cards. Initially, SD cards launched with just 12.5MB/s, which is incredibly slow by today’s standards. However, over time, faster speeds started coming out, beginning with SD High Speed at 25 MB/s, all the way through SD UHS III, or Ultra High Speed, at 312MB/s. However, five years ago, the SD Association released the SD Express standard, which greatly increased speeds. The big difference this time around is that SD Express uses a PCIe 3.1 interface, rather than the slower UHS-I interface. PCIe is the same interface that faster NVMe SSDs use, and unlocks much higher potential performance. Full-sized SD Express cards can now hit data transfer speeds up to 3,940MB/s, which is exponentially faster than older SD cards. MicroSD Express cards can’t reach the highest speeds of their full-sized counterparts, but they are still incredibly fast, hitting speeds up to 985MB/s, which is three times faster than the fastest non-express MicroSD card. Why Does the Switch 2 Require MicroSD Express?Nintendo isn’t exactly known for sharing its specific reasoning behind its hardware requirements, but there are a ton of reasons why the Nintendo Switch 2 should require MicroSD Express cards for expansion. Really, the biggest one is speed. If you have the same game installed both on a traditional UHS-I MicroSD card and a MicroSD Express card, the latter is going to load way faster thanks to the PCIe 3.1 interface – which is a sign this requirement could be coming to handheld gaming PCs soon, too. Given that the internal Nintendo Switch 2 storage was also updated to UFS (universal flash storage) from eMMC, it makes a lot of sense for Nintendo to require its expansion storage media to have similar speeds. It’ll be a while before we know exactly how fast the internal storage can load games like Breath of the Wild, but early demos have suggested that load times are significantly faster – from just 35% when fast traveling, according to Polygon, to a 3x initial load improvement measured by Digital Foundry. These load time improvements could come down to the faster internal storage, but it could also be due to the faster CPU and GPU, which can unpack data faster. The point is: Nintendo needed its external storage to have similar speeds, so future games that require a faster disk don’t get bottlenecked by virtue of being on an SD card. It also gives room for faster storage in the future. Right now, the fastest standard for SD cards is SD 8.0 Specification, which allows full-size SD Express cards to reach speeds up to 3,942MB/s. MicroSD Express cards can’t get that fast yet, but in a few years it’s totally possible – at least if the Nintendo Switch 2 supports that kind of speed on its side.MicroSD Express Capacity OptionsMicroSD Express cards have been slow to take off, and while that will likely change when the Nintendo Switch 2 launches, only a few options are available right now. For instance, Lexar only offers one MicroSD Express card, and it comes in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB variants, with the latter costing $199. Lexar Play Pro MicroSD ExpressSee it at AmazonSanDisk, on the other hand, only has one MicroSD Express card on its site, and that one peaks at just 256GB, which would mirror the internal storage of the Switch 2. By the time the Nintendo Switch 2 actually launches, I wouldn’t expect too many MicroSD Express cards to be available with more than 512GB of storage. Luckily, that should quickly change as time goes on and companies like Samsung start pumping out memory cards.SanDisk MicroSD Express 256GBSee it at AmazonJackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra

SummaryOne-of-a-kind blend of cozy puzzle adventure and sticker collecting.Unlock abilities, track progress and explore the farthest reaches of space through Holobook stickers. Mind-bending mechanics, and vibrant hand-drawn visuals optimized for Xbox. Step into the vibrant universe of Pilo & The Holobook and embark on a heartwarming adventure where exploration meets sticker collecting. Available on Xbox Series X|S, this cozy journey introduces a unique way to document your space travels – with stickers! Turn Discovery into a Collection – One Sticker at a Time Join Pilo, a curious apprentice explorer, on a unique scientific mission. Sent by his mentor, the Professor, and armed with a powerful tool – the Holobook – Pilo sets off across the far corners of the XOP-642 star system to uncover its secrets and solve puzzles. At the heart of Pilo & The Holobook lies the Holobook itself: a powerful tool designed to catalog all the wonders Pilo encounters. But it’s not just a diary or encyclopedia – though it has a bit in common with both. It’s a… dynamic sticker album! Every creature you meet, every plant you analyze, and every mystery you unravel becomes a beautifully designed sticker in your Holobook. Why Stickers? The developers experimented with different collectibles before landing on stickers – and it was the perfect choice! Stickers are fun, nostalgic, and a delightful way to visualize Pilo’s discoveries. They serve as snapshots of the universe through his eyes, making exploration feel personal and rewarding.  More Than Just Decoration The sticker system isn’t just for show – it tracks your progress and even unlocks new abilities! The more you explore and interact with the world, the more your collection grows, enhancing your adventure. Some stickers are easy to find, while others require patience and a keen eye. Can you collect them all? Psst! Ready to unveil a shred of mystery? There’s even a way to collect a sticker of Pilo himself! But since the Holobook doesn’t come with a “selfie” function… how will you do it? That’s a riddle you’ll have to solve on your own! A Forgotten World Waiting to Be Uncovered… and Saved Every planet you visit feels completely unique – in mood, design, and atmosphere. Levels are easy to navigate, yet full of hidden surprises, encouraging you to explore at your own pace. As you unlock new tools and tech, new areas and secrets become accessible. Keep an eye out for secret stickers and clever puzzles that reward your curiosity. But beware – a strange substance called Tar is beginning to spread across the galaxy, threatening its delicate balance. With the help of your Holobook and growing knowledge, you’ll slowly uncover the origins of this mysterious force and try to save the stunning universe from creeping destruction. A Relaxing Adventure for Curious Minds With its hand-painted worlds and peaceful exploration at its core, Pilo & The Holobook is perfect for players who love taking their time to uncover every little detail. The joy of discovering engaging, detailed, and charming environments – and expanding your sticker collection – makes every step of the journey feel meaningful and rewarding. Rather than battling threats, Pilo approaches challenges with kindness, clever thinking, and empathy. Every obstacle is met with compassion and respect for the life forms affected by the spreading Tar. His greatest tools are not weapons, but friendships, positivity, and the wise support of Professor. Start your sticker-filled adventure today and let the Holobook guide you through an unforgettable cosmic experience! Pilo & The Holobook is available digitally on the Microsoft Store. Don’t miss your chance to step into this mesmerizing storybook world on day one! Stay tuned for more updates and follow Pilo & The Holobook on social media for the latest news! Pilo and the Holobook ©RedDeer.Games ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $12.99 Get it now Pilo and the Holobook is an exploration-based adventure game set in a colorful galaxy where you guide Pilo, an apprentice explorer, on a journey to document the universe’s wonders and solve mysteries. Using the Holobook, a powerful encyclopedia-like tool, Pilo collects stickers to record his discoveries and uncover the story behind a mysterious dark force known as the Tar. KEY FEATURES: – Holobook Sticker System: Collect and customize stickers that document your findings in the Holobook, creating a personalized in-game encyclopedia. – Beautiful, Hand-Painted Planets: Immerse yourself in visually stunning environments that tell the story of each unique world. Explore Floral Asteroid, sunny SRTOM and play along Prof in Labship. – Environmental Puzzles: Use the Holobook’s abilities to solve light environmental challenges and uncover hidden areas. – Thematic Depth: Dive into a heartwarming story about mentorship, friendship, and confronting environmental decay through compassion and creativity. – Evolving Holobook: As you progress, the Holobook gains new capabilities, allowing deeper interactions with the world around them. – Engaging Story: Unravel the mystery of the Tar and its impact on the planets, with meaningful encounters and touching character moments. Discover more about Pilo and the Holobook Cosmic Odyssey Set in the mystical XOP-642 star system, players guide Pilo through vibrant, hand-painted worlds filled with strange creatures and ecosystems. Each planet is teeming with unique flora and fauna to discover. Instead of combat, Pilo uses observation and creativity to explore these planets, collecting valuable knowledge through the Holobook. The Holobook: Your Gateway to Knowledge The Holobook serves as your main tool throughout the journey. Players use it to interact with the environment and creatures, turning their findings into collectible stickers that populate an ever-growing encyclopedia. These stickers record your progress, unlock new abilities, and help solve environmental puzzles. The Shadow of the Tar An ominous, mysterious substance called the Tar has begun to spread across the galaxy, threatening the beautiful worlds Pilo explores. Along the journey, players will uncover the origins of the Tar and work to save the planets from its corruption. The Holobook can also temporarily repel the Tar, allowing deeper exploration and interaction with affected creatures. A Heartfelt Adventure Pilo and the Holobook emphasize creativity, kindness, and curiosity over combat. The game encourages peaceful problem-solving and compassion as Pilo helps the creatures affected by the Tar and works to restore balance to the galaxy.

With a new generation comes new tastes in everything, from fashion to interior design. Generation Z is already disrupting the housing market and bringing their taste in decor with them. With about 18 million Gen Z homeowners in the U.S. as of 2023, there's a new wave of home design influence. “Gen Z has truly redefined home design with a fresh, creative approach that sets them apart from older generations,” Audrey Scheck, principal designer at Audrey Scheck Design, says. It can be tricky to tell the difference between trends that'll fade in a few years and timeless design that you can be proud of. In fact, it can be extra stressful to make your home too trendy. Generally, as long as you feel authentic in your space, you can't go wrong. Below, three expert designers reveal the design features that have captured Gen Z's heart. Chances are, you'll want to add them to your own home, too. Related StoriesEverything CurvedDeni + Dove InteriorsFrom the squiggly furniture taking over bedrooms to the revival of curved couches, Gen Z home design is filled with rounded furniture. Any generation can find something about this style to love, but Gen Z is particularly fond of its whimsical nature, embracing lots of oval and wavy shapes. “The roundish silhouette looks both chic and playful, while also providing added comfort because it 'feels' like you’re being hugged,” says Olma Fuentes, founder and principal designer of Deni + Dove Interiors. “While it nods to other established design styles—namely midcentury modern and Scandinavian—curved furniture and decor still maintains a whimsical appeal that feels fresh and modern.” Neutral ColorsPaul DyerIt's easy to associate Generation Z with a love for bright colors and eclectic decor, but surprisingly, the newest generation of homeowners has a love for neutrals. The shades create a blank canvas to build upon, and it's more adaptable to changing tastes over time.“Neutrals are one aesthetic that Gen Z is very attached to,” Jennifer Jones, principal designer at Niche Interiors, says. “Ivory, beige, almond, tan: You name a warm neutral, they are all over it. It can be hard to sneak in color with Gen Z clients, and if we do, it’s typically a muted color in a small dose.”Related StoryPlayful DesignDeni + Dove InteriorsOne design trait that sets Generation Z apart is a willingness to be whimsical. Scheck says they love to infuse their designs with personality, "in a way that older generations often shy away from." “While previous generations favored traditional shapes, textures, and colors, Gen Z is shaking things up,” Scheck says. “We’re seeing a rise in playful shapes, timeless patterns, and bold color choices. This generation is bringing character back to home design, boldly making spaces that truly reflect their individuality.”Lounge-y FurnitureDeni + Dove InteriorsCreating dedicated recharge zones is a major trend in design right now, and Gen Z is not the exception to the rule. Jones has noticed an increased love for low furniture that invites you to relax, from bulbous armchairs and platform beds to low-slung coffee tables. “Think groovy 1970s meets beach boho,” Jones says.Do-It-Yourself Attitude Ekaterina Goncharova//Getty ImagesWhen Gen Z can't find the furniture or decor that suits their vision, they're quick to make it themselves. Not only can it help them save money, but it's the best way to build a special, personalized aesthetic. “Gen Z approaches DIY projects with fearlessness, and I’m always amazed by their creativity and resourcefulness,” Scheck says. “Whether it’s building custom built-ins, applying wallpaper, or restoring furniture, they’re never hesitant to roll up their sleeves and dive in.” Curated ArtDeni + Dove InteriorsGone are the posters and word art plaques of Millennial first apartments. Gen Z's approach to wall art is sophisticated and curated. They're quick to scan marketplaces like Minted and Etsy, finding original artwork to display that feels beautiful. “Gallery walls are especially popular because they create a unique focal point and offer an opportunity to seamlessly blend different art forms and styles,” Fuentes says. “In terms of aesthetics, abstract expressionism and bold graphic design prints are two standout choices among the Gen Z crowd.”Related StoryLight-Colored WoodsPaul DyerIn the same breezy and relaxing vein, Gen Z loves light woods in their furniture, flooring, and cabinetry. It's a bit more modern than mahogany or walnut furnishings might feel. “Light woods such as oak and maple are preferred over medium to darker woods, along with natural materials such as marble and travertine in creamy hues,” Jones says. “In most cases, Gen Z falls hard for the light and airy look.”Secondhand SourcingCate BlackFacebook Marketplace is Generation Z's best friend. It's the modern flea market. They love to thrift unique finds from each other, and it's often more affordable than an antiques show would be. Whether they opt for vintage retailers like 1stDibs, flea market hunting, or even a garage sale, they love all things pre-owned and pre-loved.“They have an incredible knack for curating spaces with secondhand treasures, often incorporating vintage and antique furniture that adds character and charm into their homes,” Scheck says. “Whether it’s styling with repurposed vintage trunks to antique wooden china cabinets, I’m always inspired by how this generation breathes new life into old pieces.”Related StoryOrganic MaterialsErin KonrathJust as Gen Z loves calming neutral colors, organic furniture is in high demand. Abstract shapes are reminiscent of elements found in nature, from live-edge wooden tables to sculptural vases. “Gen Zers are deeply passionate about well-being, and their design choices reflect a desire to cultivate environments that are both soothing and restorative,” Fuentes says. “Natural materials such as stone, plaster, jute, and walnut are very on-trend because they elicit feelings of tranquility.”Related StoryFollow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

I used to change up task managers often, always looking for a new app that could make keeping up with todos just a little bit better. But for years now I’ve stuck with Apple’s Reminders app, and a tiny new iOS 18 feature has turned out to make a big difference for me. Reordering your Today list in iOS 18 Apple’s Reminders app has become much more powerful than a simple list app. There are new features added all the time, including a variety in iOS 18 last fall. Out of those additions, an especially small new feature has been my favorite—not counting what’s technically a Calendar upgrade. In iOS 18 you can now reorder sections in your Today list, something that was impossible before. When viewing Today, tap the three-dot icon in Reminders’ top-right corner to reveal an ‘Edit Sections’ button. Here, you’ll see that Today includes three main sections: Overdue All-Day Timed Reminders Essentially, your Today list sorts reminders based on their time status. If they’re overdue from a previous day, they’ll show up first. These are followed by all-day reminders, meaning they don’t have a specific time but are due today. Finally, the Timed Reminders section includes everything with a specific time—and it’s sorted into Morning, Afternoon, and Evening. These same main sections existed before iOS 18, but you couldn’t change their order. You always saw overdue tasks at the top, followed by all-day, then timed. Here’s why reordering has been such a valuable upgrade for me. Why Reminders’ default Today setup doesn’t work for me Most of what I put into the Reminders app doesn’t involve hard deadlines. I’ll assign due dates, but in most cases if I don’t complete something on a given day, it’s not a huge deal. As a result, it’s not uncommon for me to let tasks become ‘overdue’ in the app. And before iOS 18, that meant my Today view was always very poorly organized. Why? Because overdue reminders got front-and-center treatment at the top of my list. The problem is, these reminders are almost never the most important tasks on my agenda. If they were, I’d likely have completed them already. Tasks assigned to the current day, and those with specific times, are more important to me 99% of the time. So in iOS 18, I was able to move ‘Overdue’ reminders to the bottom of my Today view. This way, the new tasks for the day don’t get lost under the clutter of overdue reminders. Rather, they get the prominent placement they deserve. And when I’m ready to tackle overdue items, they’re waiting right at the bottom of the list. I completely understand why Apple’s default sorting puts overdue tasks at the top, since for plenty of users I suspect overdue items merit more attention. But for me, customizing the Reminders app to de-prioritize overdue items has been a very welcome upgrade. Have you reordered your Today list in Reminders on iOS 18? Let us know in the comments. Best iPhone accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Much like Tesla's owner, the official Cybertruck X account appears to be having a normal one on "the everything app."Responding to "Dirty Tesla," an aggrieved YouTuber who took to Elon Musk's social network to kvetch about his Cybertruck losing half its value in a single year, the person running social media for the janky electric truck — and let's be real, it just might be the company's micromanagement-prone CEO, Elon Musk — seemed to freak right out."One more post like this," the Cybertruck account said, "and you will be getting $0 when I do an Irish exit in the middle of the night."Unlike the similarly-named and arguably offensive drink, an "Irish exit" or "Irish goodbye" is the idiomatic act of ducking out of a party or function without saying goodbye. If you're confused, you're not alone — using "Irish exit" in this context makes absolutely no sense, if only because cars generally don't have parties, at least outside of the movies.Unfortunately, the cringe didn't end there. It seems that whoever runs the Cybertruck account has taken a page out of the Tesla owner's posting manual and has become wont to respond to pretty much anything it wants.When Cybertruck engineer Lars Moravy queried X users about what they think could "make Teslas better" in the coming year on April 4, the swiftly-devaluing truck's account responded, days later, in a manner that seems at first blush more befitting a middle schooler than a social media manager."ASS!" the account bellowed. "I JUST WANT ASS."In that post and others using "ASS" in all caps, the Cybertruck account tagged Tesla AI and autopilot VP Ashok Elluswamy. While it's pretty apparent that the account is referencing Tesla's "Actually Smart Summon" feature, which Cybertrucks don't yet have, the account is obviously enjoying deploying the double entendre acronym for comedic effect.While the ASS posts did, unfortunately, elicit a chuckle on our end, the account's overall cringey-cutesy tone sounds way too much like Musk to be anything but creepy.Amid the mass Cybertruck recall expanding to Canada due to its issues with parts randomly flying off, the car's official account is clearly posting through it — and like with Musk, those dumb, lighthearted posts aren't fooling anyone.More on Cybertruck nonsense: Women Reveal Whether They Find Cybertruck Drivers AttractiveShare This Article