Get the most out of Foundry’s 3D update with tips from Modo’s Greg Brown

Only four of the 21 robots in the race crossed the finish line, highlighting just how far humanoids are from keeping up with their real human counterparts.

A new post from leaker Majin Bu shows off iPhone 17 Pro's camera bar yet again in possible case marketing material.Alleged photo of the case colors for the iPhone 17 Pro - image credit: Majin BuThe new photos from Bu show the iPhone 17 Pro in marketing material for an unknown company's cases. The pictures show the elongated and long-rumored "camera bar" type design for the back, that places the cameras on the left side, while the flash and LiDAR sensor move to the opposite side.The colors shown in the photos posted by Bu suggest case colors of off-white, light blue, light green, a light purple, and a charcoal gray. In one photo, the camera bar is shown in a dark gray, but most images show the camera bar as white — suggesting Apple will keep the color choices for the 17 Pro models themselves the same as the iPhone 16 Pro. Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Synology is preparing to roll out new restrictions on third-party hard drives in its future network attached storage (NAS) devices later this year, the company confirmed to Ars Technica. The changes could make it much harder to use third-party drives in Synology’s devices for typical use cases, like backing up household computers or as local media servers. The good news is that if you already own a Synology NAS, the company says the change won’t affect you.Synology says in an EU press release that “starting with Plus Series models released in 2025,” only Synology-branded drives and those the company has certified to meet its specifications will “offer the full range of features and support.” According to Ars, Synology plans to update its compatibility lists to reflect which third-party drives that it has certified.The new restrictions mean that without Synology-approved drives, you might not be able to do things like pool storage between disks or take advantage of drive lifespan analysis offered by the company’s software. The change doesn’t apply to Synology J- and- Value-series devices, and won’t affect consumer-grade Synology Plus devices that were released in 2024 and earlier. Nor will it affect hard drives that are migrated to this year’s devices from its existing NAS systems, according to Synology’s press release.As for why it’s making this change, a Synology spokesperson told Ars, “Extensive internal testing has shown that drives that follow a rigorous validation process when paired with Synology systems are at less risk of drive failure and ongoing compatibility issues.” The company says similar things in its press release, writing that the restrictions will “reduce compatibility issues and increase system reliability and performance.” Synology did not immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.Restrictions like this are irritating. To Synology’s credit, it’s introducing them in a way that’s less egregious than something like a printer company blocking third-party ink with a software update. But that doesn’t fix the fact that owners of its future NAS devices will have fewer choices — and therefore fewer chances to save money — when it comes to buying the drives to stick into them.See More:

Latest   Machine Learning Important LLM Papers for the Week From 07/04 to 14/04 0 like April 19, 2025 Share this post Last Updated on April 19, 2025 by Editorial Team Author(s): Youssef Hosni Originally published on Towards AI. Stay Updated with Recent Large Language Models Research Large language models (LLMs) have advanced rapidly in recent years. As new generations of models are developed, researchers and engineers need to stay informed on the latest progress. This article summarizes some of the most important LLM papers published during the Second Week of April 2025. The papers cover various topics shaping the next generation of language models, from model optimization and scaling to reasoning, benchmarking, and enhancing performance. Keeping up with novel LLM research across these domains will help guide continued progress toward models that are more capable, robust, and aligned with human values. LLM Progress & Technical ReportsLLM ReasoningLLM Training & Fine-TuningAI AgentsVision Language Models Most insights I share in Medium have previously been shared in my weekly newsletter, To Data & Beyond. If you want to be up-to-date with the frenetic world of AI while also feeling inspired to take action or, at the very least, to be well-prepared for the future ahead of us, this is for you. 🏝Subscribe below🏝 to become an AI leader among your peers and receive content not present in any other platform, including Medium: Data Science, Machine Learning, AI, and what is beyond them. Click to read To Data & Beyond, by Youssef Hosni, a… youssefh.substack.com We present Kimi-VL, an… Read the full blog for free on Medium. Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming a sponsor. Published via Towards AI Towards AI - Medium Share this post

The weekend is officially here, and we've rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for April 19 below:Dragon's Dogma 2 for $30Dragon's Dogma 2 - PS5You can score Capcom's massive RPG for just $30 this weekend at Amazon. We gave the game an 8/10 in our review, stating, "It is a retelling and reimplementation of all of those wonderful ideas from the 2012 cult-classic, including an awesome dynamic world and some of the best combat in the genre that integrates a subtle but amazingly complex physics system."Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii for $49.99Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii - PlayStation 4Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii - Xbox Series XThe latest Like a Dragon game stars everyone's favorite ex-yakuza, Goro Majima, on an adventure to sail the seas as a pirate. When Majima wakes up unable to remember anything about himself, he embarks on a quest to regain his memories, and of course, in true Like a Dragon fashion, things get crazy. This is the lowest we've seen this game so far, so be sure to pick up a copy while you can.Save 55% Off The 4K Middle-Earth 6-Film CollectionMiddle-Earth 6-Film Collection (Extended & Theatrical) (4K Ultra HD + Digital)The Lord of the Rings trilogy is simply one of the greatest experiences you will ever have. I try my best to watch through the extended editions once each year, but the fun doesn't stop there. There's also The Hobbit trilogy, which is another incredible set of films. This weekend at Amazon, you can score all six films in beautiful 4K for only $94.68. Previously, both trilogies were priced just below this separately, so this is a great deal.Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin for $19.99Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin - PlayStation 5$19.99 at AmazonStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is arguably one of the most unique entries in the entire Final Fantasy series. Developed by the team behind Nioh, this action RPG is one you won't forget anytime soon. There are references to numerous Final Fantasy games, with a significant link to a certain character. Oh, and expect plenty of Chaos. Super Mario Party Jamboree for $44.99Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo SwitchWith the recent reveal of Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games, it's no question that you are going to want to save anywhere you can. The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree is set to cost $79.99, but you can upgrade from a Nintendo Switch copy for presumably $20. This weekend, save your cash and pick up a copy of Super Mario Party Jamboree from Woot for only $44.99.Paradise Killer for $25Paradise Killer - PS4This weekend, you can save $15 off a physical PS4 copy of Paradise Killer. In our 9/10 review, we wrote, "Paradise Killer marries a beautifully repulsive world with a gratifyingly open-ended approach to detective work, but its real achievement is in how it ties everything you’ve learned together."Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection for $39.99FINAL FANTASY I-VI Collection Anniversary Edition (2024)The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection has hit a new all-time low at Woot, priced at just $39.99. The first six Final Fantasy titles paved the way for the series as we see it today. Many fans still regard both Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy VI as some of the best that Final Fantasy has to offer, with gripping narratives and engaging gameplay. This package includes all six Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters, which feature updated graphics, soundtracks, font, and more.Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble for $19.99Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble Launch Edition - Nintendo SwitchSuper Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is the return to form many Monkey Ball fans have waited years for. You've got over 200 courses, tons of guest characters, and all sorts of modes—what's not to love? In our 8/10 review, we wrote, "Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a brilliant return to form. Monkey Ball has finally found its way home again with a set of 200 fantastic courses that range from delightfully charming to devilishly challenging, backed up by tight mechanics and predictable physics that put me in total control of my monkey’s fate."Save on LEGO FlowersLEGO SunflowersLEGO DaffodilsFinally, you can save on select LEGO Flowers this weekend ahead of Easter! If you're on the hunt for a last-minute gift, these are a perfect choice for any family member, friend, or significant other.

Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact. Ping Pong Club is a realistic table tennis simulator for Apple Vision Pro. It supports spatial audio and offers dynamic lighting for an authentic gameplay experience. Despite relying solely on hand tracking, it actually works quite well. Top features Ping Pong Club offers a number of options for all sorts of players. You can play by yourself casually, against a variety of AI players. There are four difficulty levels, so there’s something for every type of table tennis player. On top of that, there’s also real-time multiplayer with Game Center – allowing you to play against your friends, presuming they also own an Apple Vision Pro. You can also play in rally mode, allowing you to push your skills to the limit. There’s a number of settings for your paddle as well, allowing you to dial things in as you’d like. Ping Pong Club is available for free on Apple Vision Pro running visionOS 2.0 and later. No additional in app purchases are required, you truly get the full experience for free. In the future, the developer plans to add a number of neat capabilities, including additional game modes, Game Center leaderboards and achievements, as well as a refreshed UI. H/T: Dylan McDonald for grabbing these screenshots as I do not personally own a Vision Pro 🫡 My favorite Apple accessories on Amazon: Follow Michael: X/Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram 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

Image by Getty / FuturismDevelopmentsThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) quietly opened and closed an investigation into an outbreak of a particularly virulent strain of Escherichia coli, better known as the deadly bacteria E. coli — and never revealed the investigation to the public.As NBC News reports, the 89 people sickened from the outbreak last November ranged in age from four to 90, and were spread across at least 15 states and killed at least one person. The FDA, subsequently, investigated the outbreakIn lawsuits filed by families affected by the outbreak, the California-based bagged salad giant Taylor Farms was named as the source of the E. coli-tainted lettuce, but the FDA under Donald Trump and Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., refuse to do the same.In statements to the outlet, Taylor Farms insisted that third-party investigations had cleared it of any responsibility. Just a few weeks before the lettuce-derived outbreak began, however, the same company voluntarily recalled yellow onions it had grown that were linked to a separate rash of E. coli infections that sickened more than 100 people and killed one.As with Taylor Farms, the FDA has also issued some very mixed messaging about the November E. coli outbreak.In an internal document obtained by NBC, the FDA appeared to pinpoint the farm that grew the lettuce and the brand that sold it, but those names, as well as other information, have been redacted. In a statement to the news outlet, a spokesperson said those names were not disclosed because it had already ended by the time the source of the outbreak was confirmed — but in a separate comment to Albany's 13News, another FDA representative claimed that the lack of disclosure was to protect "trade secrets."Beyond the obfuscation and politicking, this outbreak — which involved a dangerous strain known as 0157:H7, which can cause organ damage, long-term illness, and even death — seems to really have freaked out the people tasked with handling it.In Missouri, St. Louis County senior epidemiologist Amanda Brzozowski told NBC that as soon as the cases in the November outbreak began coming in, she knew it was no normal rash of foodborne illness. High schoolers who all lived in the same area of the county were the first infected, and food from a local catering company was ultimately identified as the likely origin. Ominously, the kids who got it became incredibly sick, incredibly fast.From bloody diarrhea to and severe stomach cramping to dehydration and vomiting, the illness the epidemiologist had on her hands was, as she put it, "really scary.""This type of situation we’ve never seen before," Brzozowski said.Using genetic sequencing technology and other health information about people infected, federal investigators determined that those who fell ill did so after eating romaine lettuce — and that the lettuce had come from a "sole processor."When it came to naming that source, however, the FDA remained mum until the parents of 10-year-old Colton George, one of the victims of the outbreak who nearly died from his infection, filed a records request with the agency to get the unredacted information.In the wake of this E. coli news, FDA insiders told CBS News that the agency plans to stop doing its routine food and drug safety inspections entirely. Though HHS denied that claim through a spokesperson, even the suggestion of such a thing portends poorly for food safety in this country — especially at an agency intent on protecting the anonymity of an allegedly disease-spreading company.Share This Article

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“No other vendor could meet these timeframes of having the infrastructure in place to meet this urgent requirement and deliver a prototype in less than six months,” ICE says in the document.ICE’s document does not specify the data sources Palantir would pull from to power ImmigrationOS. However, it says that Palantir could “configure” the case management system that it has provided to ICE since 2014.Palantir has done work at various other government agencies as early as 2007. Aside from ICE, it has worked with the US Army, Air Force, Navy, Internal Revenue Service, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. As reported by WIRED, Palantir is currently helping Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) build a brand-new “mega API” at the IRS that could search for records across all the different databases that the agency maintains.Last week, 404 Media reported that a recent version of Palantir’s case-management system for ICE allows agents to search for people based on “hundreds of different, highly specific categories,” including how a person entered the country, their current legal status, and their country of origin. It also includes a person’s hair and eye color, whether they have scars or tattoos, and their license-plate reader data, which would provide detailed location data about where that person travels by car.These functionalities have been mentioned in a government privacy assessment published in 2016, and it’s not clear what new information may have been integrated into the case management system over the past four years.This week’s $30 million award is an addition to an existing Palantir contract penned in 2022, originally worth about $17 million, for work on ICE’s case management system. The agency has increased the value of the contract five times prior to this month; the largest was a $19 million increase in September 2023.The contract’s ImmigrationOS update was first documented on April 11 in a government-run database tracking federal spending. The entry had a 248-character description of the change. The five-page document ICE published Thursday, meanwhile, has a more detailed description of Palantir’s expected services for the agency.The contract update comes as the Trump administration deputizes ICE and other government agencies to drastically escalate the tactics and scale of deportations from the US. In recent weeks, immigration authorities have arrested and detained people with student visas and green cards, and deported at least 238 people to a brutal megaprison in El Salvador, some of whom have not been able to speak with a lawyer or have due process.As part of its efforts to push people to self-deport, DHS in late March revoked the temporary parole of more than half a million people and demanded that they self-deport in about a month, despite having been granted authorization to live in the US after fleeing dangerous or unstable situations in Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela under the so-called “CHNV parole programs.”Last week, the Social Security Administration listed more than 6,000 of these people as dead, a tactic meant to end their financial lives. DHS, meanwhile, sent emails to an unknown number of people declaring that their parole had been revoked and demanding that they self-deport. Several US citizens, including immigration attorneys, received the email.On Monday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s move to revoke people’s authorization to live in the US under the CHNV programs. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt called the judge’s ruling “rogue.”