We love a good indie here at Xbox, and ID@Xbox continues to fuel and deliver unique, incredible titles to millions of players. Now in its 13th year, ID@Xbox has distributed over five billion dollars in funding to developers all around the globe, and the mission to bring amazing games right to you remains stronger than ever. Last week, we got to see brand-new gameplay for ten independent titles currently in development across the globe as part of two Xbox Developer sessions. We also spoke to the teams working on each project to find out how they’re doing, and to share one major thing they want you to know about their game. Many of these titles will support Xbox Play Anywhere, which allows players to access eligible games across Xbox consoles and Windows PCs with one singular purchase.  You’ll also be able to share saves, progress and achievements across devices too, for seamless play anywhere. Here’s what you can look forward to, all heading to Xbox and Windows PC in the near future. Winter BurrowXbox Play Anywhere We saw some new gameplay for Winter Burrow, described by developer Benjamin Salqvist as a combination of Don’t Starve and Animal Crossing. A cozy survival experience where you play as tiny mouse searching for a lost relative, Winter Burrow combines relaxing activities like baking and knitting with the perils of adventuring. With minimal map features, you’ll rely on landmarks and your own snowy footprints to navigate the wilderness, and the help of woodland NPCs dotted around the landscape to aid you on your journey. One thing to know: “It’s a game that really lets you explore the contrast between cozy and harsh and that this contrast enhances each other, something that we spend a lot of time nailing, but now that it is coming together it makes the game a very special experience.” One thing you’re proud of: “We are very proud of the atmosphere and setting that we have created with the hand-drawn art style and all the amazing details, and the way the team has implemented all that into a fascinating game world that you can’t help wanting to explore and enjoy.” – Benjamin Salqvist, CEO and Creative Director, Pine Creek Games. Outbound  Next, we got a fresh look at Outbound, an open-world exploration game that lets you take to a distant, utopian future in your very own eco-friendly camper van. As you adventure, you’ll find materials to upgrade parts of the van, as well as build your own cozy outdoor cabin that can travel with you. It’s a peaceful, jaunty journey through an idyllic world with lots of secrets to uncover, either alone or with friends. One thing to know: “The one thing people should know about Outbound, is that you can build on top of your vehicle! You can customize and build both on top and inside your vehicle, while also being able to easily pack everything up and get back to the road again. This makes Outbound one of the first games in which you can take your base with you virtually everywhere you go!” One thing you’re proud of: “The idea and fantasy that the game portrays. The fantasy being that you can go out into nature at any time with your own customizable camper van. Our fans and community responded so strongly to that idea, that this has shown to be one of the biggest sources of the success of Outbound to date. This makes us very proud as a studio, both about the game, but also about our fans and community.” – Tobias Schnackenberg, Co-founder, Square Glade Games. HelaXbox Play Anywhere A new game from the team behind Unraveled, Hela is a 3D co-op adventure where you play as mouse familiars belonging to a witch. When the witch falls ill, its up to her tiny rodent buddies to venture into the wilderness and scavenge potion supplies to restore her strength. The game combines exploration and adventure with clever cooperative puzzle solving, all wrapped up in a vibrant setting inspired by the gorgeous Swedish countryside. One thing to know: “We want people to know they can play the game with friends—either in two-player local split-screen or with up to four players online.” One thing you’re proud of: “We’re most proud of how deeply playful the game is, and how lovely the world feels to spend time in.” – Martin Sahlin, Creative Director, Windup Games. The AltersXbox Play Anywhere Next, an update on The Alters, a sci-fi survival idea with a fascinating twist from the minds behind This War of Mine. As the lone survivor of a crashed expedition, you must use a mysterious substance to create alternate versions of yourself to run an abandoned space station. Each ‘clone’ will have a different experience of your past life, and you’ll need to build and maintain good relationships with every version of yourself to survive. One thing to know: “While The Alters may seem worlds apart from This War of Mine, the two share more than just a part of the dev team. At their core, both games are about survival. Both games force you to step out of your safe space—whether it’s a bombed-out shelter in This War of Mine or the expandable, circular base in The Alters. In both, venturing into a hostile environment isn’t just a risk—it’s a necessity in a world where resources are scarce. Where This War of Mine gave you a group of survivors to manage, in The Alters you “build” your crew in the most unique way—by revisiting your own past and altering the choices you made.” One thing you’re proud of: “I just read on Reddit: ‘Absolutely stoked for this game. Day one purchase on Xbox,’ so I guess some already are. In short though – The Alters is high-concept sci-fi with mind-breaking implications, wrapped in a deep space survival simulation that leaves you with a deep impact: both emotional and simply as thrilling game. What else gives you possibilities to alternate yourself in order to survive?” – Tomasz Kisilewicz, Game Director, 11 bit Studios. Moonlighter 2Xbox Play Anywhere A sequel to popular roguelike Moonlighter, Moonlighter 2 brings back the game’s combination of adventuring and shopkeeping with a trove of charming improvements. Embark on perilous dungeon crawls to find rare relics and shiny loot, and bring it home to help build the store of your dreams. The sequel also boasts a lovely new 3D art style, alongside a brand-new setting and story. One thing to know: “If you loved the first Moonlighter, you’ll find everything that made it special here—but taken to a new level. This is a deeper, more layered take on what it means to live that double life: adventurer by night, shopkeeper by day. From refined dungeon design to more meaningful shopkeeping choices and a richer world, Moonlighter 2 expands on the original in every direction. It’s familiar—but bolder, darker, and more ambitious in all the right ways.” One thing you’re proud of: “Moonlighter 2 builds directly on the legacy of the first game—but it’s not just more of the same. We’ve revisited every system and improved it across the board. One of our biggest technical and artistic achievements is the transition from 2D to full 3D. It’s a bold step, but we made sure to preserve the charm and identity of the original while unlocking new possibilities for worldbuilding, animations, and storytelling. It still feels like Moonlighter—but now it breathes with even more life.” – Israel Mallen, Communications Manager, Digital Sun. 13Z: The Zodiac TrialsXbox Play Anywhere Embark on a quest to become the 13th Zodiac in this vibrant hack-and-slash roguelike, inspired by the legendary tales of the 12 Eastern Zodiacs. Built for replayability, 13Z fuses frantic combat with a deep upgrade system that lets you craft powerful builds across a cast of mystical animal spirits. Take on thrilling trials—solo or in co-op with friends. Along the way, you’ll encounter the 12 Zodiac Guardians: powerful and unique characters whose stories unfold as you rise through the Trials. One thing to know: “Ultimately, we want 13Z to be a game where the challenge goes beyond combat. Every Zodiac you face represents more than a fight – they’re characters with history, values, and something to prove. And as a player, you’re not just trying to defeat them – you’re navigating a system built on tradition, trying to carve out your place in it. The more you engage – through your build choices, your curiosity, your adaptability – the more the game reveals.” One thing you’re proud of: “We’re proud of the depth we are aiming for across both gameplay and storytelling. 13Z takes inspiration from the Eastern Zodiac – but instead of treating the signs as symbols, we built an entire world where the Zodiac Guardians are living, flawed, and evolving characters. Each one represents a different challenge, not just mechanically, but thematically. Their personalities and values shape the Trials they host, and each boss fight is designed to reflect who they are and what they stand for. At the same time, the story asks what happens when these ancient roles no longer fit the modern world – and what it takes to earn a place among them.”  – Kriegsfront Tactics Kriegsfront Tactics is a procedural turn-based game that combines familiar elements from classic tactical strategy with mecha combat. As the commander of a mecha squad sent behind enemy lines in an alternate 1970s Southeast Asia, you’ll need to manage your squad, strategize smart battleplans, and maintain your mechs and pilots. The game is also wrapped up in nostalgic, lowpoly retro-style visuals, harking back to classic isometric strategy titles like Front Mission, a big inspiration for Kriegsfront Tactics. One thing to know: “There is no hit chance in Kriegsfront Tactics, so there should be no more frustration where players have a 98% hit chance but still miss the shot. And, because Toshiro Tsuchida enjoyed the demo, we hope players who like mecha turn-based tactical RPGs like Kriegsfront Tactics will also enjoy the demo and buy the game when it’s out.” One thing you’re proud of: “With Kriegsfront Tactics, we are not only bringing back mecha turn-based tactical RPG and ambitiously modernizing the game mechanics, but we are also setting the game in a world inspired by the history and culture of Southeast Asia and taking the players to see the perspective of Southeast Asians. Front Mission is one of the inspirations of this game, and as a developer, I am a huge fan of this series. When we found out that the original creator of Front Mission, Toshiro Tsuchida, tried the demo of Kriegsfront Tactics and was impressed, I was so happy, and it truly motivated me and the team!” – Ivander Emlingga, Project Manager, Toge Productions. Agni: Village of CalamityXbox Play Anywhere Agni: Village of Calamity is a cinematic survival horror experience that puts you in the shoes of an Indonesian investigator from a secret covert unit. Tasked with uncovering a case beyond human comprehension, every step you take brings you closer to the truth, but at a cost. A relentless, unkillable entity lurks in the shadows, stalking your every move, ready to strike if you make a single wrong decision. One thing to know: “Inspired by the eerie, unsettling nature of Lynchian horror, the game goes beyond fear and suspense. It delves into the personal struggles of each character, revealing how their fates intertwine with the case you are unraveling. As the lines between reality and nightmare blur, the true horror isn’t just what hunts you, it’s what you uncover.” One thing you’re proud of: “We know we’re not the first Indonesian game studio to explore cinematic storytelling in games , but we believe we are among the best in Indonesia. What sets us apart is the seamless fusion of authentic talent from both the animation and game development industries, coming together to create something meaningful and push the boundaries of what’s possible in both fields.” – Leo Avero. Creative Director,  Separuh Interactive. Nightmare Circus Xbox Play Anywhere Become a member of a wandering circus troupe in Nightmare Circus, a top-down, platforming adventure where your goal is to make it back to the real world. Trapped in a quaintly spooky world full of mysteries, you’ll need to take down enemies and plot your escape using the game’s puppeteer mechanic – a slick tool that’ll allow you to attack foes and traverse this whimsical realm. One thing to know: “If you’ve seen our game trailer, we would love for our players to try our unique ‘Collision Combat’ system firsthand to truly get a feel of Nightmare Circus‘ unique mechanics. We will make sure our demo is ready for you to experience even more than what our trailer has previewed. We hope you look forward to it!” One thing you’re proud of: “We are proud that Nightmare Circus is the most ambitious game our studio has ever made to date. Our game’s key feature, the ‘Puppet String’ mechanic is another component we are very proud of. The puppeteer’s string is used to traverse, manoeuvre, and attack using our unique ‘Collision Combat’ system. Players can employ an array of tools to create satisfying collisions, smashing, crashing, and slamming into enemies, obstacles, and danger; create your playstyle to deal with the many nightmares that roam the land!” Kachain Puttiwarawut, Co-founder and CEO, Fairplay Studios. Vapor World: Over The Mind The final game we saw at the sessions took a spookier turn – Vapor World: Over The Mind is a narrative driven platformer that sees a young boy dragged into a twisted dream. With souls-like mechanics and a focus on deflection combat, you must take on enemies known as “traumas” in boss fights that steadily increase in scope and difficulty. The surreal, 2D world is also completely hand-drawn, bringing a unique atmosphere to a setting both foreboding and magical.One thing to know: “Vapor World is not just a visually unique action platformer, it is a narrative-driven adventure that explores inner fears, traumas, and the hidden truths buried deep within. We will immerse you in this dream-like world from start to finish. If you love exploring rich stories with challenging battles, challenging the nightmare of Vapor World will be a lot of fun.” One thing you’re proud of: “We are especially proud of how Vapor World successfully combined our own dark, moody, painterly art style with intense souls-like battles. I think we’ve done a good job of this seemingly impossible challenge of having to create every scene without recycling any resources, which has created a unique and original feeling that we haven’t felt in existing games. It’s a great achievement for our team to see players get pulled into this seamless, alive illustration and then experience the challenge of our dynamic battles.” Young Kim. CEO, Alive Inc. Keep an eye on the ID@Xbox channels for updates on all of these exciting titles, coming to your Xbox and PC very soon.

iOS 18.4 arrived late last month packed with a variety of new features, including an upgrade you might have missed that provides a fast way to open your go-to conversations in the Messages app. Here’s how it works. Messages now supports shortcuts to launch specific conversations Apple’s Messages app has received some solid upgrades in recent months, such as Genmoji, Image Playground, emoji tapbacks, scheduled messages, and more. In iOS 18.4, there’s another new Messages feature that’s enabled via the Shortcuts app. Shortcuts has gained a handy ‘Open Conversation’ action, which lets you directly open a specific Messages conversation. It works fast, and makes for a great way to open go-to conversations. The feature also benefits strongly from various iOS customization features—like Control Center and Home Screen options—which offer convenient access to your Messages chats anywhere on your iPhone. Setting up iOS 18.4’s Messages shortcut and making it easy to access To set up the new Messages shortcut in iOS 18.4, there are a few simple steps: Open Apple’s Shortcuts app Hit the ‘+’ button to create a new shortcut Search for the ‘Open Conversation’ action and add it Then tap the ‘Conversation’ field and select a Messages thread If you want quick access to multiple Messages conversations, just follow the above steps to create each separate shortcut. Having a button in the Shortcuts app alone isn’t necessarily more convenient than just opening the Messages app and finding the thread you need. That’s where Control Center, the Home Screen, and Lock Screen come into play. After creating your Messages shortcuts, you can add them to a variety of places on your iPhone. Your shortcuts can be added to: Control Center iPhone’s Action button the Lock Screen, replacing Camera or Flashlight your Home Screen via widgets or widgets on the Lock Screen You can also, as seen above, turn each shortcut into a Home Screen app icon—perhaps customized with the conversation’s photo. In other words, Apple provides a ton of flexibility in where your Messages shortcuts live. If you want quick access to your most important Messages chats, iOS 18.4 makes that possible in a variety of ways. How do you plan to use Messages’ new shortcut feature in iOS 18.4? 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

Late last year, billionaire Elon Musk vowed to cut $2 trillion from the government's budget with the help of his so-called Department of Government Efficiency.It didn't take long for that number to drop to $1 trillion, indicating little thought had gone into the original calculation.And judging by the latest news, DOGE is woefully behind even that target. As the New York Times reports, Musk told president Donald Trump this week that DOGE anticipated "savings in '26 from reduction of waste and fraud by $150 billion," referring to the fiscal year that runs from October 2025 to the end of September 2026. (It's even unclear if Musk meant that the so-called department had saved $150 billion so far, or if that was how much he's now predicting it would save in total.)Needless to say, that would mean DOGE had missed its targets by an overwhelming trillions of dollars, though a Trump administration official told the NYT that $1 trillion is still "the goal."Either way, DOGE's existing claims of how much it has cut from the government's budget so far remain hotly contested. Earlier this year, experts found that DOGE's public ledger, or "wall of receipts," was riddled with errors.The ledger double- or triple-counted some contracts, massively inflated some totals, and included claims that entire projects had been cut, even though they had only been partially reduced. And some contracts it took credit for were already terminated during George W. Bush's administration, decades ago.In late February, DOGE claimed it had already saved the federal government $55 billion, raising plenty of eyebrows among experts. Less than a week later, DOGE tried to make its mistakes harder to find by obscuring its calculations on its website, revising its tally to just $10 billion from a total of 3,489 cut federal grants.As of mid-March, that number rose to $115 billion, claims that were also met with widespread skepticism.Earlier this month, Bank of America Securities analysts contested DOGE's claims that it had cut $24.8 billion from canceled or renegotiated contracts alone, arguing that they were "overstated."Put simply, nobody really knows how much money DOGE is saving, including the operatives in charge of slashing budgets.Musk's repeated claims of having found widespread fraud in government have also been challenged. The billionaire has accused the Social Security Administration of being an "immense waste," promising to address "extreme levels of fraud."However, as the Washington Post reported last month, that fraud is proving extremely hard to find, as less than one percent of the agency's payments in recent years were determined to be improper in a 2024 audit.In short, DOGE appears to be dramatically far off of Musk's original target of $2 trillion, indicating the billionaire has massively oversold on his promises yet again.The mercurial CEO has already garnered a reputation for making overreaching and misleading claims when discussing his businesses — and it appears that the same goes for his efforts to make the lives of Americans as miserable as possible.Share This Article

Apr 11, 2025Ravie LakshmananSpyware / Mobile Security Cybersecurity researchers have found that threat actors are setting up deceptive websites hosted on newly registered domains to deliver a known Android malware called SpyNote. These bogus websites masquerade as Google Play Store install pages for apps like the Chrome web browser, indicating an attempt to deceive unsuspecting users into installing the malware instead. "The threat actor utilized a mix of English and Chinese-language delivery sites and included Chinese-language comments within the delivery site code and the malware itself," the DomainTools Investigations (DTI) team said in a report shared with The Hacker News. SpyNote (aka SpyMax) is a remote access trojan long known for its ability to harvest sensitive data from compromised Android devices by abusing accessibility services. In May 2024, the malware was propagated via another bogus site impersonating a legitimate antivirus solution known as Avast. Subsequent analysis by mobile security firm Zimperium has unearthed similarities between SpyNote and Gigabud, raising the possibility that the same threat actor or actors are behind the two malware families. Gigabud is attributed to a Chinese-speaking threat actor codenamed GoldFactory. Over the years, SpyNote has also seen some level of adoption by state-sponsored hacking groups, such as OilAlpha and other unknown actors. The clone websites identified by DTI include a carousel of images that, when clicked, download a malicious APK file onto the user's device. The package file acts as a dropper to install a second embedded APK payload via the DialogInterface.OnClickListener interface that allows for the execution of the SpyNote malware when an item in a dialog box is clicked. "Upon installation, it aggressively requests numerous intrusive permissions, gaining extensive control over the compromised device," DTI said. "This control allows for the theft of sensitive data such as SMS messages, contacts, call logs, location information, and files. SpyNote also boasts significant remote access capabilities, including camera and microphone activation, call manipulation, and arbitrary command execution." The disclosure comes as Lookout revealed that it observed over 4 million mobile-focused social engineering attacks in 2024, with 427,000 malicious apps detected on enterprise devices and 1,600,000 vulnerable app detections during the time period. "Over the course of the last five years, iOS users have been exposed to significantly more phishing attacks than Android users," Lookout said. "2024 was the first year where iOS devices were exposed more than twice as much as Android devices." Intel Agencies Warn of BadBazaar and MOONSHINE The findings also follow a joint advisory issued by cybersecurity and intelligence agencies from Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States about the targeting of Uyghur, Taiwanese, and Tibetan communities using malware families such as BadBazaar and MOONSHINE. Targets of the campaign include non-governmental organizations (NGOs), journalists, businesses, and civil society members who advocate for or represent these groups. "The indiscriminate way this spyware is spread online also means there is a risk that infections could spread beyond intended victims," the agencies said. Both BadBazaar and MOONSHINE are classified as trojans that are capable of gathering sensitive data from Android and iOS devices, including locations, messages, photos, and files. They are typically distributed via apps that are passed off as messaging, utilities, or religious apps. BadBazaar was first documented by Lookout in November 2022, although campaigns distributing the malware are assessed to have been ongoing as early as 2018. MOONSHINE, on the other hand, was recently put to use by a threat actor dubbed Earth Minotaur to facilitate long-term surveillance operations aimed at Tibetans and Uyghurs. The use of BadBazaar has been tied to a Chinese hacking group tracked as APT15, which is also known as Flea, Nylon Typhoon (formerly Nickel), Playful Taurus, Royal APT, and Vixen Panda. "While the iOS variant of BadBazaar has relatively limited capabilities versus its Android counterpart, it still has the ability to exfiltrate personal data from the victim's device," Lookout said in a report published in January 2024. "Evidence suggests that it was primarily targeted at the Tibetan community within China." According to the cybersecurity company, data collected from the victims' devices via MOONSHINE is exfiltrated to an attacker-controlled infrastructure that can be accessed via so-called SCOTCH ADMIN panel, which displays details of compromised devices and the level of access to each of them. As of January 2024, 635 devices were logged across three SCOTCH ADMIN panels. In a related development, Swedish authorities have arrested Dilshat Reshit, a Uyghur resident of Stockholm, on suspicion of spying on fellow members of the community in the country. Reshit has served as the World Uyghur Congress' (WUC) Chinese-language spokesperson since 2004. Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter  and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post. SHARE    

Disney+ has a new feature-length documentary called Not Just a Goof, a look at the making of A Goofy Movie, which has become one of the most improbable nostalgic favorites of the Disney company’s ’90s output. A big reason why the film remains so beloved, the doc argues, is the passion and perspective of its director, Kevin Lima, who is interviewed at length in the movie.The whole documentary is worth a look if you enjoy A Goofy Movie (and who doesn’t enjoy A Goofy Movie???) but one sequence really stands out because it immediately enters the ranks of all-time classic stories about absurd studio executive ideas.As Lima tells it, then-Disney chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg felt that because A Goofy Movie was going to be a big-screen release that it needed big-screen talent to help anchor it and attract audiences. So he proposed casting Steve Martin.Yes, as Goofy. I mean, I guess he is a wild and crazy guy ... but Goofy???Katzenberg thought so. “Wouldn’t that be fabulous?” Lima says Katzenberg exclaimed. “Imagine how you could sell that! That would be great!”“So that means you want Steve Martin to do the Goofy voice?” Lima replied.“No no no no no, he’s going to do his own voice, so that we know who he is,” Katzenberg replied.In the words of a great dog man cartoon creature, gawrsh that sounds like a horrible idea.You can watch this whole sequence from the documentary below:READ MORE: The Most Underrated Disney Movies of the Last 25 YearsLima was able to talk his boss out of this potentially calamitous concept by recording a test of longtime Goofy voice actor Bill Farmer playing the character in his own normal speaking voice rather than his distinctive Goofy drawl. (Farmer backs all this up in his own interviews in Not Just a Goof, by the way.) Lima’s stated goal: “We [had] to prove to Jeffrey that it was a bad idea.”The gambit worked. Katzenberg disliked the results of Farmer playing Goofy in his natural voice. But the mere fact that this was entertained at all — and it had to be shot down by showing it was a bad idea — is unbelievable. I will never again claim any storyline on Seth Rogen’s new TV show The Studio, about the exploits of a group of bumbling Hollywood executives,Not Just a Goof is now streaming on Disney+. So is A Goofy Movie and An Extremely Goofy Movie. Neither one stars Steve Martin as Goofy, unfortunately.Sign up for Disney+ here.Get our free mobile appGreat Disney+ Movies You Might Have MissedThese excellent films are all waiting to be discovered on Disney+.

Join Tether and Shape the Future of Digital FinanceAt Tether, we’re not just building products, we’re pioneering a global financial revolution. Our cutting-edge solutions empower businesses—from exchanges and wallets to payment processors and ATMs—to seamlessly integrate reserve-backed tokens across blockchains. By harnessing the power of blockchain technology, Tether enables you to store, send, and receive digital tokens instantly, securely, and globally, all at a fraction of the cost. Transparency is the bedrock of everything we do, ensuring trust in every transaction.Innovate with TetherTether Finance: Our innovative product suite features the world’s most trusted stablecoin, USDT, relied upon by hundreds of millions worldwide, alongside pioneering digital asset tokenization services. But that’s just the beginning:Tether Power: Driving sustainable growth, our energy solutions optimize excess power for Bitcoin mining using eco-friendly practices in state-of-the-art, geo-diverse facilities.Tether Data: Fueling breakthroughs in AI and peer-to-peer technology, we reduce infrastructure costs and enhance global communications with cutting-edge solutions like KEET, our flagship app that redefines secure and private data sharing.Tether Education: Democratizing access to top-tier digital learning, we empower individuals to thrive in the digital and gig economies, driving global growth and opportunity.Tether Evolution: At the intersection of technology and human potential, we are pushing the boundaries of what is possible, crafting a future where innovation and human capabilities merge in powerful, unprecedented ways.Why Join Us?Our team is a global talent powerhouse, working remotely from every corner of the world. If you’re passionate about making a mark in the fintech space, this is your opportunity to collaborate with some of the brightest minds, pushing boundaries and setting new standards. We’ve grown fast, stayed lean, and secured our place as a leader in the industry.If you have excellent English communication skills and are ready to contribute to the most innovative platform on the planet, Tether is the place for you.Are you ready to be part of the future?About the job:In this role, you will require a deep understanding of technology, excellent stakeholder management, and the ability to guide cross-functional teams through the product lifecycle. You’ll collaborate with developers, designers, and leadership to define product roadmaps, align on requirements, and launch new products. This is a great opportunity for someone with great experience, to contribute to impactful product launches in a highly dynamic environment.Key responsibilities:Product development and Roadmap: Lead the end-to-end product lifecycle from ideation and requirements gathering to delivery and post-launch analysis. Define user stories, acceptance criteria, perform backlog management and workflows for development teams.Technical Expertise: Translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable product requirements. Evaluate technical solutions and prioritize features based on technical feasibility, business impact, and customer value.Conduct extensive market research, including customer discovery to understand the value proposition of our product.Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with developers, designers, and other stakeholders to gather requirements, validate and deliver solutions.Quality & Delivery: Ensure product features are delivered on time and meet quality standards; organize testing and feedback loops.Job requirementsMandatory:5+ years of product management experience with at least 3 years in a technical product management role.Excellent communication skills for bridging technical and non-technical stakeholders.Expertise in agile methodologies - Jira, Asana etc.Strong understanding of microservices, peer-to-peer systems, javascript.Strong organizational skills to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced, remote environment.Skilled in defining, tracking, and reporting on product KPIs to measure success; expertise in A/B testing or similar experimentation methods is a plus.Preferred:Experience leading AI and peer-to-peer (P2P) projects.Hands-on development experience with JavaScript (e.g., frameworks like Node.js, React, or Angular)

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" International design and innovation office CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati has revealed the design for the Sea Beyond Ocean Literacy Centre, located on San Servolo Island in Venice, Italy. This project is realized in a collaboration with UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the Prada Group. Science and storytelling, both driven by data, connect the Venetian Lagoon to the oceans.The Centre utilizes data science, data visualization, and storytelling to create an educational hub centered on ocean learning. This hub is part of Sea Beyond, a project initiated by the Prada Group in collaboration with UNESCO-IOC since 2019 aimed at promoting awareness of sustainability and ocean preservation.The experience of the visitor takes place in three rooms linked by the ocean. This approach, inspired by the “Power of 10” concept from Charles and Ray Eames’s 1977 film, guides visitors through various scales—starting with the immense global oceans (scale 10^9), then focusing on the detailed microbial biodiversity of Venice’s lagoon (scale 10^5), and culminating in user-led interactions on San Servolo Island (scale 10^1).The Ocean Literacy Centre, drawing on scientific studies and data, communicates the effects of individual and collective actions on the hydrological cycles of Earth, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all aquatic ecosystems at various scales. It encourages visitors to engage directly with marine ecosystems and the processes of aquatic science.Every room, created in collaboration with the multimedia design agency Dotdotdot, showcases the potential of data-driven storytelling to facilitate learning about water as both a resource and a living system. The first room showcases data regarding ocean currents and variations in water temperature, projected onto tables of water basins. The table is designed to resemble a world map, with oceans as the focal point, depicting them as a single interconnected entity. In the second room, water tables become interactive stations where visitors can scrutinize natural specimens from the Venetian lagoon under actual microscopes, linking them to marine environments both nearby and distant. The third room rounds out the experience with an Ocean Literacy Floor Game inspired by San Servolo island, where players confront marine conservation challenges through playful interactions and learning."Redefining our relationship with water is one of the greatest challenges of the climate crisis," said Carlo Ratti, Founding Partner of CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati, Director of MIT Senseable City Lab, and Curator of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. "We're proud to collaborate with UNESCO-IOC on the SEA BEYOND Ocean Literacy Centre on the island of San Servolo, merging environmental advocacy with data-driven science and storytelling. Venice, with its fragility, can serve as a laboratory for the future–the challenges facing Venice today will soon be the world’s," he added.The project has utilized special approaches to materials. The floors inside are made from crushed oyster shells and seashells. The interactive water tables employ a closed-loop filtration system to save water, continuously recycling and purifying it without generating waste. This encourages visitors to contemplate approaches for safeguarding the delicate ecosystem of the Venice Lagoon.This initiative is based on CRA's continuous investigation of educational environments and museum design, which includes partnerships with the MEET Digital Culture Center in Milan and AGO Modena. It also questions the limits between natural and artificial, as seen during Milan Design Week 2019 with CRA’s Circular Garden installation, the largest structure ever created using mycelium. In the same vein, the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai—crafted by CRA in collaboration with Italo Rota, Matteo Gatto, and F&M Ingegneria—functioned as a “living lab” to promote circularity in architecture. It was built using nontraditional materials like coffee grounds, recycled plastic, and algae, bolstering sustainability through the inventive reuse of materials.Image © DotdotdotImage © DotdotdotImage © DotdotdotImage © DotdotdotImage © DotdotdotImage © DotdotdotImage © DotdotdotImage © DotdotdotThe 19th International Architecture Exhibition will take place from 10 May to 23 November 2025 at the Giardini, the Arsenale and various venues in Venice, Italy. Titled Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective, the exhibition is curated by architect and engineer Carlo Ratti.  Recently, Carlo Ratti said that: "Architecture Must Rethink Authorship And Become More Inclusive, Learning From Science". In addition, Carlo Ratti Associati has completed an earthy and sunken business canteen for Mutti, global leader in tomato-based products. Project factsA project: by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati for The Prada Group and UNESCO-IOC CRA team: Carlo Ratti, Francesco Strocchio (partner-in-charge), Nicolette Marzovilla, Davide Scaglia; CRA Strategy: Luca Bussolino, Camilla Nicolini, Giulia d’AleoMultimedia Design and Research: DOTDOTDOT (Alessandro Masserdotti, Laura Dellamotta, Martina Merigo, Davide Bruno, Francesco Garavaglia, Nicola Buccioli, Martina Esposito)Gamelogist: Luca BorsaGraphic Design: Omnicom PR Group ItaliaFurniture, Contractor, and Electricity: EUROFIERE (Luca Bertoletti, Alessandro Bruno)Multimedia Systems: AVUELLE (Paolo Carresi, Tommaso Carovani, Claudio Cantini, Damiano Palagi)Security: INTERCONSULTING (Davide Bacchin, Cinzia Grandin)Technical on-site support: SAN SERVOLO TECHNICAL OFFICE (Eleonora Porcellato)All images © Giuseppe Miotto, Marco Cappelletti Studio unless otherwise stated. > via CRA 

Simpson Haugh’s 76-storey Viadux 2 tower and Sheppard Robson’s 44-storey Whitworth Street scheme among approvals Salboy’s 76-storey Viadux 2 tower, with an adjacent 23-storey affordable housing tower Manchester city council has approved another tranche of high-rise schemes including a 246m residential tower designed by Simpson Haugh which will be the UK’s tallest outside London. The £350m Viadux 2 scheme, designed for developer Salboy, consists of a 76-storey tower containing 452 apartments and a 160-bed hotel operated by Nobu, a brand part-owned by Robert De Niro. When complete it will be the UK’s fourth tallest building after The Shard, the yet-to-built 1 Undershaft and 22 Bishopsgate. The scheme also includes an adjacent 23-storey tower containing 133 affordable homes. The two blocks are the latest additions to a cluster of towers in the southern side of Manchester city centre which include the first phase of the Viadux development, a 40-storey building also designed by Simpson Haugh. View of the Viadux 2 tower’s base This was completed last year by Salboy’s construction partner Domis, which is also set to build both towers in the second phase.  The project team for the scheme includes Renaissance as structural engineer, Artal as project manager, WSP as facade engineer, SLR on transport, Ridge on building services, Deloitte on planning, GIA on daylight and Planit as landscape architect. The council’s approval for Viadux 2, made by seven votes to three at a planning committee yesterday afternoon, comes a month after the taller tower was reworked following the deal with Nobu, which will operate the entire building. The committee also signed off a 44-storey tower designed by Sheppard Robson at a site just south of Viadux, adding further to the area’s tall building cluster. Glenbrook’s 2-4 Whitworth Street The 2-4 Whitworth Street scheme for developer Glenbrook, approved by nine votes to one, will include 364 build-to-rent homes and 7,800 sq ft of commercial space. It features a podium faced with a ring of three-storey terracotta-coloured arches, framing the building’s street-level retail space, and surrounded by around 700 sq m of public realm. The project team includes Deloitte on planning, Quartz Project Services on costs, AKTII as structural engineer, Futurserv as M&E engineer, OFR Fire Consultants on fire and landscape architect Layer Studio. The plans replace a now-lapsed consent on the site for a seven-storey Travelodge designed by Glenn Howells for Aberdeen Asset Management which was approved in December 2020 but never implemented. Street-level view of the Whitworth Street scheme, showing the building’s arched podium The fourth tower approved yesterday, also located in the cluster, is a 33-storey scheme on First Street designed by Tim Groom Architects for student accommodation developer Vita, which will contain 841 student beds. Deloitte is again on the project team as planning consultant, with ROC Consulting acting as structural and civil engineer, Abacus as QS, Futerserv as M&E engineer and TPM Landscape as landscape architect. The south Manchester cluster currently includes a total of 12 completed towers and 19 which have been approved.

T-Mobile is boosting some fees that it says are for governmental or telco uses.

April 11, 20252 min readDolphins Communicate with ‘Fountains of Pee’This discovery adds to a growing list of how animals talk with their urineBy Gennaro Tomma edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier EriCatarina/Getty ImagesHumans typically consider peeing a private act. But for many animals, it’s a crucial way to share information—one that goes way beyond simply marking territory. Scientists are increasingly aware of urine communication in all its startling forms.“Animals in general want to learn as much as they can about other animals, such as their sex, dominance, species, and so on,” says Thomas Breithaupt, a sensory ecologist at the University of Hull in England, “and a lot of information is in the urine.”Recently researchers documented Amazon River dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) performing a curious behavior: aerial urination. A male turns on its back at the water’s surface and ejects a stream of pee into the air—and almost 70 percent of the time, the team reported in Behavioural Processes, a nearby male “receiver” approaches this spontaneous fountain.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.The researchers speculate that male dolphins might use aerial peeing to deliberately communicate their “social position or physical condition,” says study co-author Claryana Araújo-Wang, a biologist at Botos do Cerrado Research Project in Brazil. Further experiments are needed to pin down precisely what’s happening, says Joachim Frommen, a behavioral ecologist at Manchester Metropolitan University in England, who was not involved in the study.But this is just the latest in a long and varied list of the stories that urine can tell. In primates, it can provide clues about an individual’s species, gender and group membership “and could support both individual recognition and the finding of mating partners,” says Marlen Kücklich, a behavioral ecologist at Leipzig University in Germany. Some primates even wash themselves with their own pee. This behavior is not fully understood, but the authors of a study on capuchin monkeys proposed that males might attract females via urine’s testosterone content.In aquatic environments, some fish use urine to communicate their size and aggressiveness before fights. For a few crustaceans, such as lobsters—which pee from their heads—urine can also convey information about social status and readiness to mate. Female stickleback fish get information on a male’s immune system by sniffing its urine, and they tend to choose males with “immune systems that are very comparable to or compatible with their own,” Frommen says.“When it comes to communication, humans always focus on visual cues and acoustic cues because we are visual animals and acoustic animals,” Frommen adds. But smell is a crucial sense, too, though understudied in some species, and urine is a major provider of olfactory information. In recent years, he says, “people became more aware that we are focusing on a very limited area of communication, and more and more studies started thinking about smell.”