• GAMINGBOLT.COM
    Indiana Jones and the Great Circle PS5 Graphical Analysis – An Outstanding Port
    Roughly a year ago, Microsoft began its initiative to roll out first-party Xbox titles to other platforms. Rumors were rife with all the big games coming to PS5 and Nintendo Switch, and while Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves were notable, there was some disappointment over the titles that didn’t make it. However, within a few months, the overall sentiment changed – suddenly, nothing was off the table for Microsoft and it proved so by announcing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle for PS5. Sure, it would launch several months after the PC and Xbox Series X/S versions, but the quantum shift had finally occurred. Cue the announcement of Forza Horizon 5 and the resurgence of rumors around titles like Starfield, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and more. PS5 players could finally experience franchises restricted to Xbox for years and, in some cases, decades. However, now that the Great Circle is almost here, launching on April 17th for Sony’s console, how does this version compare to other platforms? Let’s get this out of the way immediately – Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a gorgeous game. Developed on a fork of id Tech 7, it looked utterly gorgeous on PC and Xbox Series X when it launched, even with some players facing issues with the former’s system requirements at launch. Does all that visual splendor carry over to PS5? How about the performance? Thankfully, as with other Xbox releases on PS5, the Great Circle is an excellent port. There are some notable things to nitpick with the visuals, which can still be seen on the PC and Xbox Series X versions. Nevertheless, this is a great-looking game out of the box and the performance is rock-solid. The latter is notable primarily because Indiana Jones and the Great Circle runs at dynamic 4K resolution and targets 60 frames per second. The biggest attraction is the implementation of ray-traced global illumination and the results are truly exceptional. Indirect lighting naturally illuminates indoor locations, be it in buildings or caves, and the resulting shadows are sharp. Even if the resolution shifts during heavier scenes, the overall image quality and pixel count remain fairly high. Considering many other developers have struggled to deliver excellent visual fidelity and solid performance while implementing ray tracing, the Great Circle is definitely a stand-out. I have no idea how MachineGames optimized it to such an incredible extent on consoles, but that carries over to PS5 with nary a hitch. How do the console versions measure up to each other? For that matter, does the PS5 version beat out the Xbox Series X, when compared to the PC version, or are they more or less on the same page? Let’s find out. PS5 vs. Xbox Series X As you might have guessed by now, the differences are negligible. Such is the porting work that you’d be hard-pressed to notice many differences between the game on either console. The frame rate stays at a near-constant 60 frames per second during gameplay – some very minor drops can be observed rarely, but they hardly impact the overall flow. Loading times are also fairly similar – once you’ve chosen your settings and default difficulty, the transition to gameplay is nearly instant. Quitting to the main menu and resuming a save is seamless and takes no time on both platforms. Perhaps the most notable blemish is the pop-in, with some shadows and a few assets loading as you get closer. The overall draw distance and level of detail are still extremely impressive on consoles, and some may be hard-pressed to notice it during the more intense sequences. It’s during the exploration sequences, like walking through the jungle in the Prologue and venturing into the ruins or running around the larger open maps, that it becomes noticeable. Once again, it’s far from a deal-breaker – you’re still guaranteed immense amounts of fidelity backed by incredible performance. PS5 vs. PC It’s here the dynamic resolution vs. native 4K comparison becomes more noticeable. First off, our test rig consists of an AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, an Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti, and 32 GB of RAM. For the settings, we set almost everything to the highest settings wherever applicable, be it Supreme or Ultra (though Volumetrics Quality is limited to Medium). Nvidia DLSS is employed and set to Quality Mode, with Dynamic Resolution not enabled. Needless to say, the PC version is the clear winner. Though some very minor frame drops are noticeable in certain areas, it stuck to 60 frames per second for most of our hands-on time while delivering a crisp resolution and excellent image quality. Some pop-in issues were still noticeable at times but didn’t hamper the experience. Though the dynamic resolution puts the PS5 (and, by extension, the Xbox Series X) version at a disadvantage, it’s only really apparent when directly matched up against a native 4K image like this. Otherwise, you’d be hard-pressed to notice any earth-shattering differences in visual fidelity. Which is a good thing, mind you. Another note on the PC version – despite not meeting the requirements for all Supreme/Ultra settings, it still offered an incredible visual experience. It speaks to MachineGames’ optimization in this regard, and though your mileage may vary, you’re still assured of excellent fidelity and performance. Conclusion However, the best part about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is that, besides being an excellent game, you’re not forced to choose a version (though maybe avoid playing on Xbox Series S). It performs well on Xbox Series X, PS5, and PC, balancing stellar performance with a nearly-locked 60 frames per second with incredible graphical quality that makes id Tech 7 shine. That it’s able to achieve all this with ray-traced global illumination enabled and sticking reasonably close to 4K on consoles makes it a technical marvel in many ways. Beyond the technical aspects, the Great Circle is notable for its art direction and cinematic presentation. The shot-for-shot remake of the opening for Raiders in the Prologue, the sheer visual splendor of locations like Egypt and the Himalayas – it’s a treat for fans of the franchise and action-adventure titles alike. Even in places with differing weather conditions like snowfall and rain, MachineGames is showing off with the sheer amount of detail that it stuffs into scenes. However, above all else, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a phenomenal game that’s faithful to the character and atmosphere of the films. It’s nostalgic yet stylized, incorporating that trademark Indy kitsch and charm while delivering a fun, original story with plenty of adventure, puzzle-solving, and mystery. If you haven’t played it on Xbox Series X or PC, there’s never been a better time now that it’s finally coming to PS5.
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  • RandomControl releases Maverick Indie and Maverick Studio 2025.1
    html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" RandomControl has begun its 2025 updates to Maverick Studio and Maverick Indie, its physically based GPU renderers for industrial designers and entertainment artists.The 2025.1 releases extend the software’s animation toolset and support for USD workflows, with USD becoming the recommended format for importing non-CAD data for rendering. Streamlined GPU renderers for visualization and entertainment work Developed by Arion renderer creator RandomControl and launched in 2019, Maverick Studio is a streamlined renderer aimed at product and automotive visualisation.It provides a drag-and-drop workflow for assigning PBR materials, and for setting up lighting and a render camera, plus a physically accurate spectral render engine with built-in denoising. The software is CUDA-based, and supports out-of-core rendering. It was later joined by Maverick Indie, a lower-priced edition aimed at entertainment work, which lacks support for CAD file formats, plus features like NURBS and cross-section rendering. Maverick Studio and Indie 2025.1: updates to animation and USD workflows Maverick Studio and Maverick Indie 2025.1 expand two of the key toolsets introduced in the 2024 releases: the new animation system and USD support.The animation toolset gets a new set of easing modes for keyframes, the option to clone keyframes by [Shift]-dragging in the timeline, and undo support for “most” timeline operations. It is also now possible to import deforming meshes as well as rigid body animation, making it possible to import and render rigged and skinned characters. USD import – described as still “very preliminary” in last year’s releases – has been improved, and is now the recommended way to import non-CAD data into the software. Other workflow and quality-of-life improvements The update also revamps the Move tool, updating both the design of its viewport gizmo and its underlying mechanics, “squash[ing] some long-standing bugs”.Other changes include the option to change the UI theme, and localization of the interface text into 11 languages, including Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Spanish. Pricing and system requirements Maverick Indie and Maverick Studio are available for 64-bit Windows only. Both are CUDA-based, and require a RTX-compatible NVIDIA GPU. You can see a feature comparison table for the two editions here. Perpetual licences of Maverick Indie cost €395.99 (around $449), up €146 on the previous release; rental starts at €19.99/month ($23/month). Perpetual licences of Maverick Studio cost €795.99 ($902), up €296 on the previous release; rental starts at €39.99/month ($45/month). Read a full list of new features in the online changelog Have 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 don’t post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.
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  • WWW.THEVERGE.COM
    You can hot swap the battery on Samsung’s new rugged tablet
    Samsung has announced new versions of its rugged tablets and smartphones designed for use in environments where they’re going to get dirty, wet, and knocked around. Both the Galaxy XCover7 Pro and Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro feature improved battery life, but the tablet goes one step further with a “dual hot-swap” feature allowing the battery to be swapped out without having to first completely power down the device.The Galaxy XCover7 Pro smartphone will be available starting on May 8th, 2025, while the Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro tablet will launch a bit later sometime in June 2025. Samsung hasn’t announced pricing for either device.The Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro tablet features a 12-megapixel rear camera and an eight-megapixel front-facing camera. Image: SamsungPowered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 mobile processor paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage, the Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro tablet sports a 10.1-inch 120Hz LCD touchscreen display with increased sensitivity so it can be used with gloves.The previous version of Samsung’s rugged tablet featured a removable battery and could be instead plugged into a USB-C power source and used in warm environments where there was a risk of the battery overheating and expanding. That feature has been carried over to the new Galaxy Tab Active5 Pro but expanded with the dual hot-swap capabilities so the tablet can be powered indefinitely as long as fully charged batteries are available.But while the tablet doesn’t have to be completely powered down to install a fresh battery, Samsung notes that it will be mostly unusable during a swap. “Battery replacements are limited to one battery at a time. If a battery is removed while the device is turned on, the screen will be turned off, and certain features may be limited. After the battery is replaced, the screen will turn back on and all features will be reactivated.”The Active5 Pro also sports a robust IP68 dust and water resistance rating. The tablet can survive being submerged in water to a depth of 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes. It runs Android 15, and includes a 12-megapixel rear camera and an eight-megapixel front-facing camera.The Galaxy XCover7 Pro smartphone includes an upgraded stereo speaker system designed to reduce audio feedback when using it as a speakerphone. Image: SamsungThe Galaxy XCover7 Pro smartphone also runs Android 15 and is powered by the same Snapdragon processor with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage that’s expandable to up to 2TB using a microSD card. Its 6.6-inch, 120 Hz LCD touchscreen display features increased touch sensitivity so it can also be used with gloves, while a “Vision Booster” mode makes the screen easier to see outdoors in bright conditions.Other features include an upgraded stereo speaker system with anti-feedback technology to reduce echoes when using the XCover7 Pro as a speakerphone, a larger 4,350mAh battery, and in addition to an IP68 water and dust rating, it has been tested for use with workplace sanitizers making it useful in environments like hospitals.See More:
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  • GAMEFROMSCRATCH.COM
    Rust Game Engines in 2025
    Skip to content Rust Game Engines in 2025 / News / April 14, 2025 Today we have compiled a list of the best Rust game engines and game frameworks (and popular language bindings) for game development in 2025. This is the third in a series of posts exploring the game engine options available for the most popular programming languages. We have a Python Game Engine resource here, Lua Game Engines here, Haxe Game Engines here, JavaScript/TypeScript and a C/C++ Game Engine resource here, with guides for other programming languages in the works. 3D Bevy Engine https://bevyengine.org/ Space Editor for Bevy https://github.com/rewin123/space_editor Fyrox https://fyrox.rs/ Piston https://www.piston.rs/ Blue Engine https://github.com/AryanpurTech/BlueEngine Notan https://github.com/Nazariglez/notan Ambient https://ambient.run/ Godot Rust https://godot-rust.github.io/ 2D Chuột https://github.com/tversteeg/chuot ggez https://github.com/ggez/ggez macroquad https://github.com/not-fl3/macroquad Binding raylib https://github.com/raylib-rs/raylib-rs SDL2 https://github.com/Rust-SDL2/rust-sdl2 SDL3 https://github.com/vhspace/sdl3-rs SFML https://github.com/jeremyletang/rust-sfml Learn more about Rust programming language based game engines, frameworks and gamedev bindings in the video below. Post navigation ← Previous Post GameDev Archives GameDev Archives Select Month April 2025  (12) March 2025  (21) February 2025  (22) January 2025  (17) December 2024  (29) November 2024  (25) October 2024  (26) September 2024  (22) August 2024  (14) July 2024  (20) June 2024  (20) May 2024  (21) April 2024  (23) March 2024  (30) February 2024  (23) January 2024  (17) December 2023  (18) November 2023  (17) October 2023  (30) September 2023  (30) August 2023  (13) July 2023  (17) June 2023  (20) May 2023  (24) April 2023  (20) March 2023  (25) February 2023  (22) January 2023  (19) December 2022  (15) November 2022  (25) October 2022  (18) September 2022  (19) August 2022  (18) July 2022  (13) June 2022  (22) May 2022  (23) April 2022  (28) March 2022  (29) February 2022  (21) January 2022  (21) December 2021  (18) November 2021  (26) October 2021  (22) September 2021  (21) August 2021  (23) July 2021  (24) June 2021  (23) May 2021  (24) April 2021  (28) March 2021  (35) February 2021  (26) January 2021  (28) December 2020  (33) November 2020  (38) October 2020  (34) September 2020  (38) August 2020  (30) July 2020  (33) June 2020  (34) May 2020  (27) April 2020  (34) March 2020  (31) February 2020  (26) January 2020  (22) December 2019  (20) November 2019  (23) October 2019  (34) September 2019  (30) August 2019  (17) July 2019  (25) June 2019  (22) May 2019  (26) April 2019  (21) March 2019  (28) February 2019  (24) January 2019  (27) December 2018  (14) November 2018  (19) October 2018  (22) September 2018  (23) August 2018  (23) July 2018  (30) June 2018  (32) May 2018  (33) April 2018  (21) March 2018  (29) February 2018  (16) January 2018  (18) December 2017  (15) November 2017  (15) October 2017  (15) September 2017  (20) August 2017  (12) July 2017  (15) June 2017  (25) May 2017  (20) April 2017  (16) March 2017  (30) February 2017  (31) January 2017  (24) December 2016  (32) November 2016  (42) October 2016  (27) September 2016  (34) August 2016  (32) July 2016  (35) June 2016  (37) May 2016  (48) April 2016  (83) March 2016  (56) February 2016  (43) January 2016  (54) December 2015  (44) November 2015  (49) October 2015  (17) September 2015  (13) August 2015  (13) July 2015  (17) June 2015  (27) May 2015  (20) April 2015  (15) March 2015  (18) February 2015  (9) January 2015  (11) December 2014  (17) November 2014  (22) October 2014  (47) September 2014  (9) August 2014  (5) July 2014  (14) June 2014  (17) May 2014  (12) April 2014  (13) March 2014  (18) February 2014  (13) January 2014  (15) December 2013  (6) November 2013  (8) October 2013  (8) September 2013  (21) August 2013  (13) July 2013  (16) June 2013  (17) May 2013  (13) April 2013  (21) March 2013  (18) February 2013  (13) January 2013  (13) December 2012  (15) November 2012  (22) October 2012  (24) September 2012  (24) August 2012  (41) July 2012  (16) June 2012  (32) May 2012  (28) April 2012  (19) March 2012  (12) February 2012  (18) January 2012  (11) December 2011  (12) November 2011  (13) October 2011  (22) September 2011  (7) August 2011  (11) July 2011  (5) June 2011  (7) May 2011  (16) April 2011  (10) January 1970  (1)
    0 Commentaires 0 Parts 50 Vue
  • WWW.MARKTECHPOST.COM
    Small Models, Big Impact: ServiceNow AI Releases Apriel-5B to Outperform Larger LLMs with Fewer Resources
    As language models continue to grow in size and complexity, so do the resource requirements needed to train and deploy them. While large-scale models can achieve remarkable performance across a variety of benchmarks, they are often inaccessible to many organizations due to infrastructure limitations and high operational costs. This gap between capability and deployability presents a practical challenge, particularly for enterprises seeking to embed language models into real-time systems or cost-sensitive environments. In recent years, small language models (SLMs) have emerged as a potential solution, offering reduced memory and compute requirements without entirely compromising on performance. Still, many SLMs struggle to provide consistent results across diverse tasks, and their design often involves trade-offs that limit generalization or usability. ServiceNow AI Releases Apriel-5B: A Step Toward Practical AI at Scale To address these concerns, ServiceNow AI has released Apriel-5B, a new family of small language models designed with a focus on inference throughput, training efficiency, and cross-domain versatility. With 4.8 billion parameters, Apriel-5B is small enough to be deployed on modest hardware but still performs competitively on a range of instruction-following and reasoning tasks. The Apriel family includes two versions: Apriel-5B-Base, a pretrained model intended for further tuning or embedding in pipelines. Apriel-5B-Instruct, an instruction-tuned version aligned for chat, reasoning, and task completion. Both models are released under the MIT license, supporting open experimentation and broader adoption across research and commercial use cases. Architectural Design and Technical Highlights Apriel-5B was trained on over 4.5 trillion tokens, a dataset carefully constructed to cover multiple task categories, including natural language understanding, reasoning, and multilingual capabilities. The model uses a dense architecture optimized for inference efficiency, with key technical features such as: Rotary positional embeddings (RoPE) with a context window of 8,192 tokens, supporting long-sequence tasks. FlashAttention-2, enabling faster attention computation and improved memory utilization. Grouped-query attention (GQA), reducing memory overhead during autoregressive decoding. Training in BFloat16, which ensures compatibility with modern accelerators while maintaining numerical stability. These architectural decisions allow Apriel-5B to maintain responsiveness and speed without relying on specialized hardware or extensive parallelization. The instruction-tuned version was fine-tuned using curated datasets and supervised techniques, enabling it to perform well on a range of instruction-following tasks with minimal prompting. Evaluation Insights and Benchmark Comparisons Apriel-5B-Instruct has been evaluated against several widely used open models, including Meta’s LLaMA 3.1–8B, Allen AI’s OLMo-2–7B, and Mistral-Nemo-12B. Despite its smaller size, Apriel shows competitive results across multiple benchmarks: Outperforms both OLMo-2–7B-Instruct and Mistral-Nemo-12B-Instruct on average across general-purpose tasks. Shows stronger results than LLaMA-3.1–8B-Instruct on math-focused tasks and IF Eval, which evaluates instruction-following consistency. Requires significantly fewer compute resources—2.3x fewer GPU hours—than OLMo-2–7B, underscoring its training efficiency. These outcomes suggest that Apriel-5B hits a productive midpoint between lightweight deployment and task versatility, particularly in domains where real-time performance and limited resources are key considerations. Conclusion: A Practical Addition to the Model Ecosystem Apriel-5B represents a thoughtful approach to small model design, one that emphasizes balance rather than scale. By focusing on inference throughput, training efficiency, and core instruction-following performance, ServiceNow AI has created a model family that is easy to deploy, adaptable to varied use cases, and openly available for integration. Its strong performance on math and reasoning benchmarks, combined with a permissive license and efficient compute profile, makes Apriel-5B a compelling choice for teams building AI capabilities into products, agents, or workflows. In a field increasingly defined by accessibility and real-world applicability, Apriel-5B is a practical step forward. Check out ServiceNow-AI/Apriel-5B-Base and ServiceNow-AI/Apriel-5B-Instruct. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also, feel free to follow us on Twitter and don’t forget to join our 85k+ ML SubReddit. Asif RazzaqWebsite |  + postsBioAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences.Asif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/A Coding Implementation for Advanced Multi-Head Latent Attention and Fine-Grained Expert SegmentationAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/A Coding Implementation on Introduction to Weight Quantization: Key Aspect in Enhancing Efficiency in Deep Learning and LLMsAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Allen Institute for AI (Ai2) Launches OLMoTrace: Real-Time Tracing of LLM Outputs Back to Training DataAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Can LLMs Debug Like Humans? Microsoft Introduces Debug-Gym for AI Coding Agents
    0 Commentaires 0 Parts 52 Vue
  • WWW.IGN.COM
    Switch 2 Around the World: High Game Price Is a Universal Pain
    What a year for Nintendo to finally release the Switch 2. While the hardware itself looks to be what anyone could have hoped for in a Switch successor — a more powerful version of the console millions of owners already love — the economic uncertainty gripping the world has made the Switch 2 a much more complicated prospect.And that’s before we even consider the trade war the United States is currently engaged with China in. The $450 USD console price point and $80 USD sticker on Mario Kart World has made the Switch 2 something of a flashpoint amid the rising cost of games and gaming hardware, both here in the US and abroad. To get a better idea of how the world is reacting to the Switch 2, I spoke with editors from IGN brands across the world to get a sense of the Switch 2’s impending release.How the Rest of the World Feels About the Switch 2After consulting with editors from IGN sites abroad, including those based in Europe, South America, and Asia, the reception to the Switch 2 has been, well, mixed. The hardware improvements like 120hz refresh rate, HDR, and 4K output are praised, but missing features like not having an OLED screen are seen as serious drawbacks. “As far as reception goes, IGN Italia’s readers are predominantly dissatisfied with the Nintendo Switch 2,” says IGN Italy editor-in-chief, Alessandro Digioia. “Among hundreds of comments across news articles and social media, the main concerns revolve around the price point, the lack of an OLED screen, the absence of a trophy/achievement system, and a modest launch line-up. While some third-party announcements were welcomed, many readers expected more from Nintendo’s first-party titles.”IGN Portugal’s Pedro Pestana shared similar sentiments from their readers – sentiments they agreed with: “Personally, I'm not that impressed with Switch 2, as it is basically a souped up Switch 1 - better in every sense, but without the novelty factor of the original. That being said, I reckon it's gonna come down to the games, and Mario Kart World looked damn nice.”PlayOther regions are seemingly more receptive to the Switch 2’s hardware improvements. IGN Benelux’s Nick Nijiland says the site has been getting mostly positive feedback, despite the price of the console. “We have seen in our region that the console has been received very well. People complain about the price, but at the same time the console sold out within hours. We put up a post on our website stating that we would let our readers know through our Discord server when pre-orders went live and our Discord got so many new members that day, it was insane.”IGN Turkey’s Ersin Kilic also shared positive views from the region’s readers. “When I look at the comments, it is seen as positive that Nintendo corrected the points criticized on [the first] Switch. Although the console is stylish and uses LCD, the fact that the screen is much better was received positively.” However, Kilic says “the most criticized point was that Hall Effect was not used in Joy-Con 2,” which some gamers hoped could minimize the risk of Joy-Con drift. IGN China’s Kamui Ye gave both sides of reader reactions to the Switch 2. “The reveal event has been met with widespread disappointment due to its lackluster launch title lineup and perplexing regional pricing strategies,” they explained. Furthermore, Ye says the launch lineup that didn’t include a new Mario, Legend of Zelda, or Animal Crossing was another negative.“However, optimism persists among core fans regarding Nintendo's long-term plans,” Ye adds. Along with the belief of a better software lineup down the line, any of the horsepower and battery concerns for the Switch 2 “appear secondary to loyalists prioritizing backward compatibility, hardware refinements like magnetic Joy-Cons, and Nintendo's legacy of iterative software support.” “Ultimately, the brand's entrenched fanbase seems willing to tolerate short-term missteps, betting on Nintendo's historical ability to refine its platforms through compelling games over time,” Ye says.Hardware Price and Tariff FearsNintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 Console SlideshowThe Switch 2 is expected to launch at a $450 USD price point in the United States when it is made available to pre-order some time in the future. The reason pre-orders have yet to happen in the United States and Canada, despite the rest of the world already registering their purchases with retailers, is of course due to an ongoing tariff situation from President Trump. It’s a state of affairs that’s seemingly making Nintendo reconsider how to roll out the console properly in time for its June 5 release date.Naturally, IGN editors from Europe aren’t particularly impacted by the tariffs in their regions, where pre-orders are already up and running.“In Germany, nobody is really worrying about the tariff situation regarding the Switch 2,” says IGN Germany’s Antonia Dressler. However, the actual retail price of the Switch 2 is a separate matter.“There are a lot of complaints about the pricing of the console… and [readers are making] direct comparisons with the pricing of the PS5 [which] is seen as the better console,” explains Dressler. Despite the complaints, though, pre-orders do seem to be coming in for the region.The pricing of the Switch 2 firmly places it in direct competition with consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X in many regions, making the choice of which console to get even harder for global buyers. “At the moment, Nintendo's official website is taking pre-orders and the price is R12,499,” says IGN Africa’s Zaid Kriel. “It is not crazy pricing, but it's now in the same bracket as the PS5 and Xbox Series X. It's no longer a cheaper alternative, and that could be a problem, especially with the increase in game prices Nintendo has introduced.”Buying the Nintendo Switch 2 with a number of accessories will not be cheap. “The pricing problem pretty much overshadowed everything going on around the Switch 2 reveal, good or bad,” IGN France editor-in-chief, Erwan Lafleuriel, says. “The debate is raging mainly about prices, but I believe because it was kind of easy to overshadow a reveal lacking in many other aspects. Part of that is... we already knew most of what was revealed from the leaks. And there is no impressive 'one more thing' to add. Even in terms of games, it's good, but it feels like something is missing.” Other regions outside of the United States, however, are contending with the fallout of the tariffs. IGN Brazil’s Matheus de Lucca says, “The current tariff war initiated by the United States makes the scenario even worse for Brazil, since the Real is a weak currency compared to the dollar and an increase in the price of the Switch 2 in the United States will most likely have a huge impact on the whole of Latin America. The scenario of uncertainty and a possible increase in the price of the console could make the Switch 2 accessible to only a very small group of players in the Brazilian market.”There is also the unique situation in Japan where Nintendo is launching a region-locked version of the hardware at a lower pricepoint to protect its domestic market “I think Nintendo knew they couldn’t go over 50,000 yen in Japan – the weak yen means the relative pricing scale is very different here,” says IGN Japan’s executive producer, Daniel Robson. “But presumably they also realised that if the console was much cheaper here than anywhere else, people would try to import it or buy all the stock when they visit Japan. Hence the region lock – our cheaper Switch only plays Japanese games and supports only Japanese accounts. I’m sure this is a direct result of the global trade situation.”Robson also says that, “The price is still high, and will be tough for many families here, but it's far more competitively priced than the 77,000 yen PS5. Not to mention that Japan is firmly a Nintendo country – the house of Mario dominates the console Top 10 week in, week out, so I doubt families here will be able to go without a Switch 2. That said, as a parent, I’m secretly relieved that my daughter hasn’t asked for a Switch 2, as the price puts it comfortably over the bounds of a birthday present.”Software Price Remains the Biggest Pain PointPlayDespite the issues of hardware costs and tariffs, the biggest bugbear affecting the general feeling regarding the Switch 2 announcement has been the price of software. Some of that pain is to be expected: Nintendo games have always been expensive and held their price, and it’s only natural that Nintendo would join the trend of increasing game prices. But it seems the company may have jumped the gun by pricing Mario Kart World at $80 USD. While Nintendo says pricing will be determined on a game-by-game basis, with other Switch 2 launch window games priced at $70 USD or as low as $10 USD, the move has prompted fears that the gates are now fully open for even more expensive software.“Game pricing is by far the biggest issue raised, not only by our readers but by the Italian gaming community at large,” says IGN Italy’s Digioia. “Many feel that Nintendo's new pricing structure is unjustifiable, especially in light of recent increases that came with the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S era (when AAA titles moved from €70 to €80). Now, Nintendo is pricing some first-party games at €90, which has caused considerable concern - particularly given the company's historically conservative approach to discounts. The €9.99 price for Switch 2 Welcome Tour sparked additional backlash, and even the paid upgrade paths for existing Switch games are widely seen as another way to extract money from loyal customers.”“People are pissed,” IGN Germany’s Dressler says plainly. “Especially with the 90 Euro for Mario Kart World, that is a record for a video game in Germany; not even titles like Assassin’s Creed cost as much (talking about the base version). It also seems ridiculous that the tutorial game will cost anything — Nintendo just looks absurdly greedy right now.”While Mario Kart World's $80 is the main offender, fans are also annoyed by the $10 charge for Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Take a look in any Switch 2 comment thread on IGN.com and you’ll find similar sentiments; the high price of games is unwelcome, especially in a time of increased living costs. A more unusual perspective can be found in mainland China, however, where there are no current plans for an official release. As a result, Switch 2 shoppers there may have to look to the gray market, with stock coming from Japan and Hong Kong – places where prices for games look to be a bit cheaper.“Regarding pricing, game prices in Hong Kong and Japanese editions are relatively lower compared to Western markets. Observations from social media comments under our content show most players find the official price acceptable,” IGN China’s Ye says. “While the console itself has seen some price hikes, users generally consider it more cost-effective than handheld PCs like Steam Deck, especially with backward compatibility support. Based on our data, Chinese mainland Nintendo Switch 1 players appear largely receptive to the official Nintendo Switch 2 price increase.”Right now it seems sensible to bet that the Switch 2 will be a success – it’s a safe, recognizable upgrade to one of the most popular and beloved consoles of all time. But what kind of a success story Nintendo has on its hands remains to be seen. The threat of an era of $80 games during a time of economic hardship has clearly put a substantial amount of prospective buyers into a negative headspace. Plus there are still many unknowns surrounding the console, especially in the United States where tariffs stand to negatively impact the North American launch. Then there’s the question of how international politics may result in potential stock shortages and impact the system’s launch around the globe. For all those unknowns, what is clear from chatting with IGN’s global staff is that Nintendo has whipped up excitement around the world. It’s just excitement with a few more caveats than you’d expect from Nintendo. Matt Kim is IGN's Senior Features Editor.
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  • NEWS.XBOX.COM
    How to Recreate A Minecraft Movie in Your Minecraft Game
    ‘A Minecraft Movie’ has proved that everyone yearns for the mines – not just the children. Now that the film based on the best-selling video game of all time is a smash-hit success, Minecraft players new and old might be wondering how they can recreate iconic movie moments in their own worlds – or maybe just run around yelling “I am Steve!” Thankfully, we have the answers (well, apart from the “I am Steve!” one – you can probably just do that for yourself). Read on to find out: Taming a Wolf If you want to be like Steve, taming a wolf has to be your first task. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy – you’ll need bones to feed a wild wolf, and the easiest way to get those is by killing skeletons. But if you don’t want to risk life and limb fighting skeletons all night, there’s another, much safer way to get them – go fishing! Finding a Village Many Minecraft players start their journey by building houses from common materials like dirt and wood. But if you want to step up your game like Steve does in ‘A Minecraft Movie’, you’re going to want to find a real village to call your own. After all, villagers make great neighbors. There are many ways to find a village. One thing to remember is, in most worlds, you generally won’t have to wander too far from your initial spawn point. But if you’re really feeling lost, you can always use Creative Mode to fly around without a care. Venturing to the Nether One of the pivotal moments in ‘A Minecraft Movie’ occurs when Steve enters the Nether for the first time. Players who are looking to live dangerously can do the same as soon as they find some diamonds and iron in their Minecraft worlds. Using iron to make buckets, you can pour water on lava to create obsidian. Then craft a diamond pickaxe to mine that obsidian, build it into a five-by-four rectangle, and ignite the center using flint and steel (“Flint and steel!”). Ruined portals can also be found, just like you might have seen in the movie. Getting Elytra and Firework Rockets If you’ve seen ‘A Minecraft Movie’, you’re probably interested in recreating the thrilling elytra flight using firework rockets to propel you at breakneck speeds. Fireworks are easy enough to craft using gunpowder from Creepers and paper crafted from sugarcane. But finding your own elytra is a different story – you’ll need to locate a stronghold in the overworld, jump through the portal to the End, defeat the Ender Dragon, and venture out to distant End islands until you find an End City. Easier said than done – but it’s worth the effort once you’re flying through the sky. If you’d like to skip straight to the flying, you can take a sneak peek at the new happy ghast in Minecraft’s upcoming game drop. Curious about how the ghast became happy? Check them out in our most recent Minecraft Live broadcast! Chicken, Creeper, and More Farms ‘A Minecraft Movie’ showcases some of the different farms that players might build in their Minecraft worlds. For example, Steve’s lava chicken cooker is based on a real contraption that uses Minecraft items including a dispenser, chicken eggs, and a bucket full of lava to automatically hatch, cook, and harvest chickens. Likewise, the “Creeper farm” that the movie characters venture through on their minecart ride is a useful build for players who need lots of gunpowder – if, say, they wanted to craft a lot of fireworks for some reason (wink). If you want to build these in your own world, the Minecraft community has created countless wonderful, in-depth tutorials on YouTube and elsewhere. Applying Official A Minecraft Movie Marketplace Content For those who don’t just want to recreate ‘A Minecraft Movie’ moments in their worlds, but want to really live them, the Minecraft Marketplace has several movie-inspired downloadable items – and the best part is that they’re all free. A Minecraft Movie: Add-On and Lava Chicken Add-On can be applied to any world, including existing ones, to bring items and entities from the movie into your game; while A Minecraft Movie DLC is a full-on standalone movie-themed adventure. Of course, you can always simply download A Minecraft Movie Hero Pack to play as Steve, Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, and the other movie characters in any Minecraft world. ‘A Minecraft Movie’ is in theaters worldwide now.
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  • WWW.HOUSEBEAUTIFUL.COM
    7 Outdoor Rug Trends for Summer 2025, According to Designers
    In case you hadn't noticed, temperatures are finally rising, and interior designers are taking note, focusing their attention from indoors to outside. When decorating your patio, porch, or pergola, it's easy to spend all of your effort (and budget) on outdoor furniture, but what about the accessories—specifically, the rugs? As designer Bethany Adams points out, "These days, there are so many high-quality outdoor rugs in colors and styles that would be at home in your home that there's really no reason to settle for anything less," and she's not wrong. Don't forgo a rug in your outdoor area.In fact, we'd go so far as to say that decorating the entire space with furniture, lighting, and accessories, but skipping the rug is like putting on your A-game outfit and opting out of a purse, the finishing touch that ties the whole look together. So, as forward-thinking shopping editors obsessed with all things home, we asked a few interior designers based all around the country to predict the outdoor rug trends that we can expect to see this summer. Their answers may surprise you.Related StoriesFloral Focus Justin JordanWhile plenty of outdoor spaces wear a more neutral palette in order to let the natural surroundings really shine, Louisville, Kentucky–based interior designer Bethany Adams likes to have some fun with color. "A front porch is, in warmer weather, the first room your guests experience in your home," she says. "I like the rug to set the stage of the deck, patio, or porch by opting for a fun color that doesn't compete with the colors in the natural surroundings, but rather complements them." Rifle Paper Co. x Loloi Perennial Mint Indoor/Outdoor Area RugNow 53% Off$220 $104 at WayfairPlow & Hearth Hydrangeas Hand Hooked Blue Area Rug$60 at WayfairAnthropologie Violette Indoor/Outdoor Rug$498 at AnthropologieChevron StripesWilliam WaldronFor anyone who prefers to spend more time outdoors than in, dressing up your patio, deck, or poolside is always a good idea. New York–based interior designer Stewart Manger certainly doesn't like his outdoor spaces to look quiet and muted; rather, he prefers to introduce a touch of color and pattern. "I love outdoor spaces because they have become much more comfortable and easier to furnish with the help of performance fabrics," he notes. "I love the chevron pattern because it's graphic and adds energy to a space that may otherwise feel ordinary. The boldness coordinates well with the floral prints and other fabrics."Annie Selke Safety Net Indoor/Outdoor Rug$488 at Annie SelkeSafavieh Courtyard Outdoor Rug$65 at AmazonLahome Ligne Chevron Outdoor Rug$100 at lahome.comUltra-PlushJoshua McHughWhen most people picture an outdoor rug, a natural-hued jute or sisal tends to come to mind, which makes sense because both materials are meant to stand up to the outdoor elements. However, New York–based designer Elena Frampton believes that not all outdoor rugs need to be thin and scratchy. In fact, for this Amagansett home, she opted for a highly plush outdoor rug that's UV-resistant, heatproof, waterproof, and easy to clean. "Ocean views are the focal point at this Amagansett roof terrace, and so we simplified the furnishings palette and injected a water-inspired blue gradient rug that is cushy to the bare foot," she explains. "I regularly employ unexpected elements, and exterior rugs add personality to outdoor living spaces that often lean neutral, especially with the common outdoor 'sets.'"AllModern Kenno Stripes Indoor/Outdoor RugNow 58% Off$309 $129 at AllModernFrontgate Porter Indoor/Outdoor RugNow 30% Off$499 $349 at FrontgateWest Elm Reflected Diamonds Outdoor Rug$399 at West ElmTurkish KilimGray Walker InteriorsWhen it comes to color and pattern, Gray Walker, who owns her eponymous firm in Charlotte, North Carolina, doesn't see the need to set boundaries. "Outdoor rugs are a favorite of mine as they make an outdoor room as cozy as being indoors. The sky is the limit with design options as outdoor rugs now look much like indoor rugs," she explains. "I especially love a typical indoor design like this Turkish kilim used for an outdoor room. The warm colors create a comfortable coziness for chic outdoor living." Rugs USA Washable Southwestern Medallion RugNow 81% Off$390 $75 at rugsusa.comRejuvenation Cleary Indoor/Outdoor RugNow 15% Off$599 $509 at RejuvenationUnion Rustic Kaede Southwestern Indoor / Outdoor RugNow 64% Off$749 $270 at WayfairGeometric PatternsEric LuceroThe bold, attention-grabbing motifs of geometric patterns are always a good idea, especially if you want to draw people outside. "This spring, we're all about outdoor rugs with bold geometric designs. They bring a fresh, modern energy to patios, porches, and decks," says Denver, Colorado–based Miranda Cullen. "With their clean lines and eye-catching shapes, these rugs add personality and visual interest while still standing up to sun, rain, and everyday wear. It's the perfect way to extend your home’s design aesthetic into your outdoor spaces." Cullen isn't the only designer who is a fan of geometrics. Winnetka, Illinois–based Marli Jones says, "Pattern is key for an outdoor rug. The busier, the better to help hide any irregularities nature may throw your way. Whether it is pollen or just a careless guest, you want something cleanable. But also a forgiving pattern in a high-contrast palette can help hide small imperfections without too much effort."Rugs USA Sabrina Soto Prescott Indoor/Outdoor RugNow 62% Off$518 $199 at rugs.comAnnie Selkie Diamond Indoor/Outdoor Rug$228 at Annie SelkeDash and Albert Rugs Paver Indoor/Outdoor RugNow 57% Off$398 $172 at PerigoldMonochromaticMadeline HarperIf you can't decide on a pattern that encompasses an array of colors you like, go for a more monochromatic area rug that features a few shades of the same underlying hue. "Monochrome is a good idea for anyone who likes simplicity because this specific type of palette doesn't compete with the furniture or decor. Because of the interesting nature of monochrome, it's never boring or dull," says Austin, Texas–based Laura Williams, founder and principal designer of Living Oak Interior Design.Quince Marlowe Indoor/Outdoor Rug$80 at quince.comWest Elm Reflected Diamonds Indoor/Outdoor Rug Now 71% Off$699 $200 at West ElmRoom & Board Mojave Outdoor Rug$499 at roomandboard.comMismatched RugsLindsay BrownSomething is so enticing about interior design that isn't perfect, but rather elegant and livable. When Austin, Texas–based Annie Downing outfitted this patio, unapproachable perfection was definitely not her goal. "I'm noticing with outdoor rugs that it's becoming less about perfection and more about patina, charm, and personality, which layering and mismatching can achieve," she explains. "There's something so inviting about the mix. After traveling to Turkey and Morocco, I've seen firsthand how they're being used everywhere: Layered over stone terraces, in courtyards, even spread out across rooftops to create more of an indoor-outdoor vibe."Pottery Barn Olivya Jute Scallop Rug$139 at Pottery BarnAnthropologie Fraser Fringed Indoor/Outdoor Rug$398 at AnthropologieFrontgate Kian Indoor/Outdoor RugNow 20% Off$259 $207 at FrontgateFollow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.
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  • 9TO5MAC.COM
    Deals: Best Buy spring Apple sale, M4 iPad Pro up to $465 off, Apple Pencil from $66, gift card offer, more
    Monday’s best Apple deals are kicking off with the now live, weeklong Best Buy Spring sale featuring deals on iPad Pros, MacBooks, AirPods, and more. These offers join the return of nearly 25% in savings on Apple Pencil Pro alongside the USB-C model from $66 as well as a massive open-box discount on Apple’s 1TB 13-inch M4 iPad Pro at $465 off with a full Apple warranty. We also have discounts on black Apple Watch Ultra models, Apple gift cards, the new ecobee 2025 Smart HomeKit Thermostat Essential, and more waiting down below.  Best Buy launches massive Spring Sale: iPads $600 off, AirPods, MacBooks, LEGO, Switch/PS5 games, more up 70% off Best Buy has now launched its massive spring sale with thousands of items on sale across giant selection of product categories. From iPads and AirPods through to smart home gear, LEGO sets, Samsung Galaxy tablets, Bose headphones home theater, major appliances, and much more. The sale goes live right now, carries through until week’s end, and we will touch on some highlights down below. Joining its Deals of the Day, the Best Buy spring sale mostly up this morning out of nowhere without much fanfare in terms of prepping folks for the sale event, but it is nonetheless now live and there are some notable deals to scope out here. Firstly let’s take a look at the Apple offers. While we are not seeing deals on AirPods (and Apple gear in general) that are quite as deep as the Black Friday and holiday offers, there are still some solid savings on both AirPods Max ( USB-C) as well as AirPods Pro 2 alongside $200 off M4 iPad Pro models (as well as up to $600 off select previous-generation M2 iPad Pro models), up to $500 off MacBook and iMac, and $60 off Apple Watch Ultra 2. Black Apple Watch Ultra $739 (Reg. $799) Also matched on Amazon AirPods Max (USB-C) $480 (Reg. $549) Also matched on Amazon AirPods Pro 2 $190 (Reg. $250) Also matched on Amazon M4 iPad Pro from $899 ($200 off just about all configs) Also matched on Amazon M2 iPad Pro 11-inch 2TB $1,199 (Reg. $1,899) M2 iPad Pro 13-inch 2TB $1,599 (Reg. $2,199) MacBooks and iMac models from $799 (up to $500 off) Previous-gen M2 MacBook Airs, M3 MacBook Pro, M3 iMac, and more And even more… As noted above, many of the better, current-generation Apple gear deals are also matched on Amazon and you’ll pay close attention to our Apple hub for particularly notable offers on select gear and configurations. We will will leave you with some highlights to get started below: Both Amazon and Best Buy are now offering a straight $200 off the 1TB 13-inch M4 iPad Pro today. That’s drops it from its regular $1,899 list price down to $1,699 shipped, including both the silver and Space Black colorways. This is on par with the lowest price we have tracked this year, but you’ll find some serious savings opportunities on this configuration by way of Best Buy open-box listings right now as well. While we love opening a brand-new Apple purchase as much as just about anyone, we also love to save you and ourselves money – Best Buy’s open-box listings are a great way to do it. There’s no denying how pricey Apple’s M4 iPad Pro lineup is, but it is also the best series of tablets anywhere if you ask me and we just spotted a wild deal on the Space Black 1TB 13-inch model down at $1,433.99 shipped. This is the “excellent” condition open-box unit with a full 1-year Apple warranty at a massive $465 off – this is easily one of the lowest prices we have tracked anywhere on this 1TB configuration and one that might not stick around for long. More details on Best Buy open-box listings – this is specifically for the “excellent” condition price we are featuring here today as those are the only units we tend to recommend: Geek Squad Verified Works and looks like new. Restored to factory settings. Includes all original parts, packaging and accessories (or suitable replacement). If the 1TB model is still a bit much for you or just overkill in the storage department, scope out the deals we featured a couple days ago on the 512GB 13-inch model – it is still $200 off in brand-new condition with open-box listings starting at $1,104, or $395 off the list price. And here’s how brand-new pricing shakes out across the lineup right now: Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 256GB $899 (Reg. $999) Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 512GB $1,099 (Reg. $1,199) Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 1TB $1,499 (Reg. $1,599) Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 2TB $1,874 (Reg. $1,999) Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 256GB $1,099 (Reg. $1,299) Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 512GB $1,299 (Reg. $1,499) Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 1TB $1,699 (Reg. $1,899) Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 2TB $2,099 (Reg. $2,299) Apple Pencil Pro now nearly 25% off at $99, while Apple Pencil USB-C falls to $66 After a brief hiatus up close to the full $129 MSRP, Amazon has bought the flagship Apple Pencil Pro back down to the official 2024 Black Friday price at $99 alongside a deal on the more affordable USB-C Apple Pencil at $66.13 shipped. Head below for more details. Amazon is now offering Apple Pencil Pro down at $99 shipped, or nearly 25% off the regular $129 list price – this is matching the lowest price we have tracked in new condition in several months. The regularly $79 Apple Pencil (USB-C) has now fallen down to $66.13 shipped – this is an Amazon 2025 low and within less than $1 of the $65 holiday price last year. While the Apple Pencil Pro did find its way down to $94 range a couple times last fall, these deals are on par with the best we have tracked in roughly 5 months now. While there have been some options to score these current-generation Apple Pencil models for less as part of the Best Buy open-box program, both models are actually selling for even more there when it comes to the “excellent” condition options. Apple Watch Ultra 2 up to $164 off with deals from $635 (Best Buy open-box w/ full warranty), more Score a $100 Apple gift card with a FREE $10 Target credit for Switch 2 games (or anything else) ecobee’s new 2025 Smart HomeKit Thermostat Essential sees very first price drop at $119 Today’s accessories and charging deals: Upgraded M4 MacBook Air models hit new Amazon lows from $1,144, more from $890 While the M4 MacBook Air open-box deals with full Apple warranties are (mostly) still live over at Best Buy, we did spot a couple of new all-time low deals at Amazon this morning for folks who prefer a brand-new unit. While you’ll still find the most affordable 16GB/256GB model starting from $949, or $50 off, some of upgraded configurations have now dropped even lower to deliver the best new prices we have tracked to date. Details below. The new all-time low pricing we spotted this morning is limited to a few colors on the upgraded 13-inch 24GB model and the 15-inch variant with the upgraded 512GB internal SSD: 13-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/256GB $1,144 (Reg. $1,199) 13-inch M4 MacBook Air 24GB/512GB $1,329 (Reg. $1,399) 15-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB $1,334 (Reg. $1,399) As you can see above, these two options are the lowest prices we have tracked online to date for these particular configurations. They are also very close in price right now – for me, I’d take the more compact 13-incher with the 24GB of RAM, but for folks who need the extra screen real estate it’s hard to go wrong with the 15-inch deal here too. As mentioned above, there are some lower prices available on the 13-inch entry model in the aforementioned open-box Best Buy deals, but those prices are starting to jump up slightly now since we posted them – only the Starlight model remains at $110 off from $890. 13-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/256GB $949 (Reg. $999) 13-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB from $1,179 (Reg. $1,199) 13-inch M4 MacBook Air 24GB/512GB $1,329 (Reg. $1,399) 15-inch M4 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB $1,339 (Reg. $1,399) 15-inch M4 MacBook Air 24GB/512GB $1,556 (Reg. $1,599) Apple’s most affordable new iPad A16 just hit its best Amazon price ever at $320 shipped Burton Goods offering 50% off all leather iPhone accessories this weekend w/ our exclusive code, deals from $30 Tested: UGREEN’s Finder Tag is a reliable and budget-friendly AirTag alternative at half the price Tested: Journey’s Find My leather key organizer multi-tool – much more elegant than an AirTag keychain [20% off] New Sony XM6 buds expected this year, but the brilliant XM5 set just dropped back to the $180 Amazon low (Reg. $300) Bose’s Diamond Ultra Open Bluetooth Earbuds return to $229 shipped at Amazon ($70 off), more 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
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  • FUTURISM.COM
    Chat Relentlessly Mocks Katy Perry's "Space Trip"
    Tens of thousands of people tuned in to watch a crew of six women, including pop star Katy Perry, and Blue Origin CEO Jeff Bezos' girlfriend Lauren Sánchez, launch to the outer reaches of the Earth's atmosphere.The 11-minute mission — which the media breathlessly and erroneously described as the "first all-female space flight" — saw Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket take off from its facility in the West Texas desert, soaring to the very edge of the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space.To call it a revolutionary day in the history of space exploration would be a vast overstatement. While plenty of flattering things can be said about Blue Origin's engineers who developed and built a reliable rocket that has taken dozens of mostly rich people to the edge of space, today's charade was a mostly vacuous media circus.Basically, it was a bunch of zillionaires enjoying a meaningless thrill ride, put on by the second-richest man in the world. No cutting-edge science, no meaningful victory for womankind — not even the kind of weightlessness experienced by astronauts on board the International Space Station as they orbit the Earth.The timing in particular was not great, with public sentiment for the ultra-rich — who are currently plundering the federal government, being accused of insider trading on an unprecedented scale, and driving inflation and living costs for average Americans higher — reaching historic lows.In particularly ironic context, Trump's new administration is forcing NASA to undermine the history of women's spaceflight by taking down web pages about women in leadership and comics about women astronauts.As such, those who tuned in to watch today's event unfold were left largely unimpressed."​​Leave them locked in there," one user pleaded in the chat of a livestream hosted by the Associated Press after the crew returned to Earth."Intense waste of taxpayer dollars," another wrote."Two days of training," one user argued. "I thought one needed to train for going into space for months!!!"Meanwhile, the one percenters on board the capsule appeared emotionally shaken by their journey into space."So I didn't expect to be this emotional, but it's also all the love that was in that capsule and all the heart, and the feelings, and all the things, and like seeing Jeff [Bezos], I went like..." Sánchez said in an interview after stepping out of the capsule and kissing the dirt beneath her feet.But the chat wasn't seeing it that way."​​You have no idea what the world is going through… so disconnected," one user wrote.Perry, who has already been on the receiving end of plenty of criticism for her Blue Origin thrill ride, also appears to have enjoyed the experience."I feel super connected to love," Perry said in an interview, beaming. "I think this experience has shown me you never know how much love is inside of you, like, how much love you have to give."CBS News broadcast journalist and TV personality Gayle King, who was also on board the rocket, appeared to be aware of the ongoing narrative that billionaires were simply going on an extremely expensive thrill ride."What happened to us was not a 'ride,' this was a bonafide freakin' flight," a defensive King said in an interview, admitting that she went into it terrified of flying. "I'm so proud of me right now, I still can't believe it."To King, it was a moment of self-reflection."And you look down at the planet, and you think, that's where we came from?" she said. "To me, it's such a reminder about how we need to better, be better. Do better, be better, human beings.""People are dying, Gayle," one user in the chat wrote.More on Blue Origin: Olivia Munn Disgusted by Rocket Blasting Katy Perry Into SpaceShare This Article
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