Google is in deep trouble after a federal judge ruled that the company illegally abused a monopoly over the search industry. The ruling follows a 10-week trial held in 2023 that stemmed from a 2020 lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice and several states.Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly, Judge Amit Mehta of the US District Court for the District of Columbia wrote in the ruling. "It has violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act."Mehta has not imposed any remedies on Google at the time of writing. The judge may order Google to change how it operates or even sell parts of its business.The lawsuit claimed that Google illegally acted to maintain its dominant position in search through a number of actions, such as paying the likes of Apple, Samsung and Mozilla billions of dollars per year to be the default search engine on their phones and web browsers. The DOJ argued that Google facilitates almost 90 percent of web searches and that by paying to be the default option, it prevented rivals from achieving the kind of scale needed to compete. As such, Google is deemed to benefitted in terms of both revenue and data collection."Those search access points are preset with a 'default' search engine," the ruling reads. "The default is extremely valuable real estate. Because many users simply stick to searching with the default, Google receives billions of queries every day through those access points. Google derives extraordinary volumes of user data from such searches. It then uses that information to improve search quality."According to Mehta, Google has acknowledged that losing its position as the default search engine on various platforms would harm its bottom line. "For instance, Google has projected that losing the Safari default would result in a significant drop in queries and billions of dollars in lost revenues," the ruling states.Google released the following statement from Kent Walker, President of Global affairs, on X regarding the judge's decision:"This decision recognizes that Google offers the best search engine, but concludes that we shouldnt be allowed to make it easily available. We appreciate the Courts finding that Google is the industrys highest quality search engine, which has earned Google the trust of hundreds of millions of daily users, that Google has long been the best search engine, particularly on mobile devices, has continued to innovate in search and that Apple and Mozilla occasionally assess Googles search quality relative to its rivals and find Googles to be superior. Given this, and that people are increasingly looking for information in more and more ways, we plan to appeal. As this process continues, we will remain focused on making products that people find helpful and easy to use.During the trial, Google argued that its significant slice of market share was due to having a better product that consumers appreciated.In addition, the DOJ claimed that Google held a monopoly over ads that appear in search results. It argued that Google artificially inflated the prices of ads beyond what they'd cost in a free market.In his ruling, Mehta agreed that "Google has exercised its monopoly power by charging supracompetitive prices for general search text ads. That conduct has allowed Google to earn monopoly profits." However, the judge added that Google does not hold monopoly power in the broader market of search advertising.Meanwhile, Mehta declined to impose sanctions on Google for failing to preserve employee chat messages that may have been pertinent to the case. The ruling notes that, since 2008, Google deletes chat messages between its employees by default after 24 hours."The courts decision not to sanction Google should not be understood as condoning Googles failure to preserve chat evidence," Mehta wrote. "Any company that puts the onus on its employees to identify and preserve relevant evidence does so at its own peril. Google avoided sanctions in this case. It may not be so lucky in the next one."Google and the DOJ are set to return to federal court in September over an ad tech case.Update, August 5 2024, 4:40PM ET: This story was updated to include Google's statement on the ruling.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-is-a-monopolist-in-search-us-judge-rules-in-antitrust-case-193358356.html?src=rss

Check out MPC's VFX breakdown for Season 3 of Netflix historical drama series Vikings: Valhalla, including this sequence of falling rocks sinking a shipWatch the full video on the MPC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Rp3mWuapc

The emergence of NPUs could rival Nvidia's semiconductor monopoly.

Schulman said OpenAI executives remain committed to backing efforts to ensure that people can control highly capable artificial intelligence models.

House of the Dragon Season 2 - 4K Blu-ray Steelbook Edition $57 Preorder 4K Steelbook Preorder 4K Blu-ray Preorder Blu-ray House of the Dragon Season 2 is now available to preorder on 4K Blu-ray at Amazon ahead of its November 19 release, which is perfect timing for the holiday gift-giving season. Before placing your preorder, you should also check out Amazon's deal on the steelbook edition of House of the Dragon Season 1, which drops the price to only $30 for a limited time.Season 2's finale aired over the weekend, and the wait for new House of the Dragon episodes will probably be a long one. Production on Season 3 is expected to begin early next year, and we now know the Game of Thrones prequel series will run for four seasons. But judging by the nearly two-year wait between the first and second seasons, it seems unlikely Season 3 will debut before 2026. Fans can fill at least some of that wait time by rewatching the first half of the show on 4K Blu-ray. Plus, if you're like us, you'll want to refresh your memory with a rewatch right before Season 3 kicks off. House of the Dragon Season 2 - 4K Blu-ray Steelbook Edition $57 House of the Dragon Season 2 is getting multiple physical editions, including a special 4K steelbook edition, standard 4K Blu-ray, and 1080p Blu-ray. Though Amazon has not yet added full descriptions to the listings, the two 4K versions have different cover art. The steelbook edition is shown above.You can preorder House of the Dragon Season 2's 4K steelbook edition for $57. Meanwhile, the non-steelbook edition is $50 at the moment. Blu-ray prices at Amazon often starter higher than the retailer will actually sell them for at launch. Your order comes with Amazon's preorder price guarantee, which means you'll only pay the lowest price offered and won't be charged until your order ships. The 1080p Blu-ray edition is available to preorder for $45. Preorder 4K Steelbook Preorder 4K Blu-ray Preorder Blu-ray Here's a closer look at House of the Dragon Season 2's 4K steelbook editionContinue Reading at GameSpot

The New York Times Games Connections is a daily word-sorting puzzle with an interesting twist: you need to sort all the words into mystery categories without making more than three mistakes. To top it all off, some of these words seem to fit into more than one category.

Image: Arrowhead Game Studios/PlayStation PC LLC The Anti-Tank Mines Stratagem is finally in sight Continue reading

Marantz audio products have long been at the forefront of high-end audio equipment. The luxury audio brand is known for building premium gear both inside and out, able to deliver among the best-sounding audio in the industry, while offering a stunning design and build-quality that does away with some of the traps that the rest of the industry can fall into.Youre likely well aware of the brands audio products without even knowing it. Since its inception in 1953 by pioneer Saul Marantz, the company has refined unique and iconic design elements like the Marantz Porthole, an aspect of their design language that blends form with function. Even the Marantz logo typeface is iconic, looking just as great in bright red or blue as it does in the glossy gold that adorns many of their modern products.Over the years, Marantz has become the master of giving nostalgic designs a modern take. Its latest-generation gear shares many of the design elements that made its original products so iconic, adding modern features and constantly improving on the amplifiers under the hood. Thats arguably much-needed in the industry. The speaker industry as a whole has shifted from the hi-fi approach of 20 years ago, to the tiny-cheap-speaker approach embraced by consumer tech companies like Amazon. To be clear, theres room forboth approaches, but it sure is nice to still see the likes of Marantz working on ways to help make music sound as great as it possibly can.Begm TomrukKeeping Marantz modern while ensuring an embrace of the past is no small feat, but the brand is seemingly in good hands. Last year, Marantz brought on design guru Begm Tomruk, who now serves as the companys Industrial Design Director and Creative Director. Tomruk has a rich history in industrial design, having worked on everything from luxury faucet and shower heads at GROHE SPA, to home appliances for Beko and Grundig. While shes new at Marantz, shes already put her stamp on the industry through some of its latest launches, like the Marantz MODEL M1 and MODEL M4.TT-15S1So whats next for Tomruk at Marantz? And whats her overall approach to blending iconic design elements like the Marantz porthole with new and fresh ideas? We recently had an opportunity to ask Tomruk herself.Design Milk: Where did your love of design come from?Begm Tomruk: My love of design and creativity was deeply influenced by my upbringing and education. Growing up in a technically developed environment with a touch of artistry shaped my perspective. My grandfather, a senior electrical engineer, my father, an architect, and my mother, a chemist, surrounded me with projects and drawings, immersing me in a world where science and creativity intersected. My fathers passion for architecture inspired me to follow in his footsteps and attend Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, his alma mater. In the Industrial Design Department, I was guided by esteemed teachers who taught me design sketching, industrial design principles, and design history. The culture of Istanbul, where old and new coexist harmoniously, taught me the importance of honoring the past while pushing for change. This dynamic city, with its historic architecture and modern developments, continually inspired my work. My time at Mimar Sinan was transformative, solidifying my passion for design. Opportunities to work in esteemed design studios exposed me to the intricacies of the industrial design process from rigorous research and ideation to meticulous design development and production. These experiences, both during and after university, brought clarity and deeper meaning to my journey as a designer.DM: How would you describe Marantzs approach to design?BT: For Marantz, this delicate balancing act is a daily effort when designing its high-end audio products. Marantz is designed for discerning consumers with a passion for incredible sound and long-lasting quality. Marantz offers a tactile, luxurious audio experience you can see, hear, and feel. Founded in 1953 in New York, the company has seven decades of history behind it, from the first Audio Consolette to the Hi-Fis and CD Players of the 1980s and 90s, to the home entertainment of the 21st century. Today, Marantz aims to create continuity of design through a recognizable, traceable aesthetic. This approach manifests itself with subtle cues. Marantz products, originally made with wood and brass, retain a warmth, in sound and materials, using earthy colors and a textured feel. As such, every Marantz piece delivers a rewarding and satisfying tactile user experience a hallmark characteristic of nearly every Marantz product since 1953.Marantzs design echoes the very first products designed by Saul Marantz, with the distinctive porthole identifier, warm design language, and iconic brand mark and logo. The artistry and craftsmanship of our products are expressions of our love for music, with precise details that reinforce quality, and a symmetrical design philosophy that sets Marantz products apart, offering sonic benefits. Marantzs design DNA, articulated through a puristic form language, harmoniously blends geometric purity with direct intersections, evoking the brands storied heritage and ethos.MODEL M1By embracing honesty and high-end materials as core principles, Marantz ensures each creation reflects its unwavering commitment to quality and authenticity. Central to this design philosophy is the iconic circle, a tribute to the porthole motif that has adorned their classic collections. This signature element continues to evolve, taking on new shapes and interpretations in contemporary and future designs, seamlessly paying homage to the past while innovatively looking ahead.SACD 30nDM: Whats old seems new again. How much does nostalgia play a role in your approach to design, as it relates to Marantz?BT: At Marantz, we are deeply immersed in the brands rich heritage dating back to 1953. We meticulously study the hallmark attributes and qualities of our legacy products, seeking to elevate and integrate these timeless elements into modern Marantz collections. Certain materials possess enduring properties that remain as relevant today as they were seven decades ago, and we continue to utilize these materials. However, what has evolved is our capability to shape, manipulate, and enhance these materials through advanced manufacturing processes and sophisticated design tools. This approach allows us to maintain a seamless continuity with our heritage while embracing innovation to meet the demands of todays discerning Marantz collectors.DM: How do you balance nostalgia with innovation, from a design perspective?BT: Balancing nostalgia with innovation is a critical aspect of design that allows a brand to honor its legacy while embracing the future. Each brands journey in defining its design vision often starts with cues from the past, but these alone are insufficient to keep pace with the latest technologies and appeal to new audiences. This is where innovation comes into play, finding the sweet spot between nostalgic charm and forward-thinking design. For some brands, sticking to their history and invoking nostalgia is essential. However, we look beyond this to seize opportunities for revitalization and use the nostalgic part for storytelling. Take, for example, our Marantz AMP 10. The classic analogue dB meter, a hallmark of nostalgic design, is presented with ultra-precise modern execution. This blend of past and present creates a design that feels both familiar and fresh.MODEL M4In future high-end products, we will continue to explore fresh and innovative interpretations of nostalgic details. This approach ensures that our designs remain relevant and captivating, seamlessly integrating the cherished elements of our past with the exciting possibilities of the future.MODEL 40nDM: What do you see as the future of design at Marantz?BT: Marantz today embodies heritage performance transformed into contemporary luxury, marking a bold step into new territory and specifically targeting a new, non-traditional Hi-Fi audience. This is an investment in excellence, distinct from fast fashion or disposable tech. Crafted by the worlds finest engineers and Sound Masters, backed by 70 years of industry-leading heritage, Marantz promises exceptional sound quality that sets a new standard for luxury consumers. Each piece is designed to be a stunning statement in luxury homes, offering moments of surprise and delight with opportunities for proud display and admiration.MODEL M1DM: Marantz has some very distinct design elements, like the porthole. Is incorporating design elements like that ever limiting or challenging? How or how not?BT: The iconic porthole is one of the most significant signature design elements and differentiators of Marantz. While designing new products and collections, we draw inspiration from this symbol without being bound by its past iterations. Instead of repeating the same design, we reinterpret the porthole in fresh and innovative ways. Today, it serves as a symbol of continuity, evolving into new shapes and interpretations that resonate with contemporary aesthetics and future trends. This approach seamlessly pays homage to Marantzs heritage while pushing boundaries in design innovation. A compelling example of this transformation will be unveiled towards the end of this year.DM: Are a new generation of music-lovers interested in premium design from their audio equipment, in a world of cheap wireless speakers?BT: Today, a significant shift is evident among a new generation of music enthusiasts who prioritize premium design in their audio equipment, particularly amidst a market flooded with inexpensive mass market wireless speakers. There is a burgeoning appreciation for the craftsmanship and heritage associated with esteemed brands. This evolution transcends mere aesthetics to embrace the notions of longevity and uncompromising quality. Discerning consumers now recognize the enduring durability and superior performance offered by premium design and heritage brands like Marantz. They are drawn to products that not only deliver impressive sound but also enrich their living environments with timeless elegance and enduring value. Consequently, there is a growing demand for audio equipment that seamlessly blends aesthetic appeal with exceptional craftsmanship, reflecting a broader cultural trend towards investing in enduring quality and distinguished design.DM: You have experience designing many different types of products. What are the similarities in your approach to designing a speaker amplifier compared to something like a pair of headphones or a watch?BT: For me, design is design. Whether Im working on a speaker amplifier, a pair of headphones, a faucet collection, or a watch, I look at each project through the lens of the brand and its individual philosophy, but the core principles of my approach remain consistent, even as the specifics of each product vary. For me, design needs to have a holistic process that considers each brands identity, values, and design language. The design should tell a story. Understanding the essence of the brand allows me and the design teams to create forms that resonate authentically with its audience. My experience across different industries has only broadened my horizons, enriching my design process with diverse insights and techniques. At the heart of every project, I focus on user-centered design, ensuring I understand the needs, preferences, and behaviors of the end-user. Aesthetic consistency is essential, as a strong visual identity must be visually appealing and cohesive with the brands identity. Ergonomics play a key role, ensuring each product is intuitive and seamless to use. Functionality and innovation are paramount, as each design must meet high standards of functionality and incorporate innovative features where possible. Material selection is also crucial, as choosing high-quality, durable materials enhances the user experience and longevity of the product.CINEMA 30For more information on everything Marantz has to offer, head to marantz.com.This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

KIRI Innovations expands the horizon of cloud-based 3D scanning with Featureless Object Scan 2.0 and Auto-Rigging, along with major quality of life changes in version 3.9 of KIRI Engine. This revolutionary update reimagines what a 3D scanner app can do, bringing versatility to solidify the most fundamental aspects while stepping into the future of this comprehensive tool.First off, the KIRI Engine app UI has received a major rework, drastically improving accessibility and intuitiveness for users, with features now categorized neatly in a simplistic manner. While KIRI has always featured the best scans laid out one by one on a dedicated explore page, the new update has condensed the explore-page UI to showcase the highlighted stunning scans and other standout projects from the community, making accessing and engaging with these inspirational 3D models more straightforward than ever.KIRI Engine always strives to provide high-quality 3D scanning solutions with affordability and ease of access, and the latest update fully embodies this mission statement. Photo limits have been increased for both plan options: from 70 to 100 for the free plan, and from 200 to 300 for the Pro plan. In addition, free users of the app can now upload photos for Photo Scan mode from their local library for processing on both the mobile versions and the web platform.Figure 2: Photo Limit IncreaseNow, for the really exciting stuff: KIRI Engine now supports Auto-Rig Generation, made possible with AI. For a long time, 3D scanning has been a rather static tool in 3D content creation, providing merely 3D assets. While tried and true, the limited functions of 3D scanning also meant limited usability in workflow pipelines for many creators. Auto-Rig Generation reimagines what can be extracted from a simple 3D scan, offering more versatility in 3D scanning creation than ever before. Users can now export 3D scanned models with automatically generated skeletal rigs, allowing them to directly use these digital replicas of real-life objects in lively animations. In essence, anything can now come to life and start moving!Figure 3: Auto-Rig GenerationAs a proprietary scanning technology, Featureless Object Scan is one of KIRI Engines proudest and most advanced features to date, and this revolutionary scanning method has received another update! The newly improved Neural Surface Reconstruction (NSR) algorithm drastically improves the overall quality of the mesh outputs, significantly decreasing the input requirement threshold while simultaneously increasing the details of the output. Its previous generation, despite its strong capability of combating the limitations of traditional photogrammetry, still often struggled with highly reflective surfaces, especially transparent ones. With continuous intensive training of the algorithm after its initial release, the updated Featureless Object Scan is now more powerful and reliable than ever.Figure 4: Featureless Object Scan 2.0(1)Figure 5: Featureless Object Scan 2.0(2)KIRI Engine has also added quality improvements to its existing algorithms such as PBR texture generation and quad-mesh retopology, allowing for versatile output selections with a redesigned advanced export menu.This is by far KIRI Engines biggest update, bringing features and improvements unlike any 3D scanner software ever before.For more information regarding this update, please check out the official release video on KIRI Engines YouTube channel.To find out more, visit https://www.kiriengine.app/Join other KIRI Engine users on our DiscordFollow KIRI Engine on InstagramFollow KIRI Engine on Twitter/XTry KIRI Engine now for free:Download KIRI Engine on Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kiriengine.appDownload KIRI Engine on App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kiri-engine-3d-scanner-lidar/id1577127142KIRI Engine WEB Version: https://www.kiriengine.app/web-version/Brought to you by KIRI Innovations:This article is part of the befores & afters VFX Insight series. If youd like to promote your VFX/animation/CG tech or service, you can find out more about the VFX Insight series here.

Theres a little game I like to play sometimes, and it seems to be popular with other folks who tend to work out at home: What equipment would I buy if I were starting a new home gym from scratch? Or you can play the advanced version: if you already have (insert common items here), what would you buy next?What follow are my picks for anybody starting a new home gym or looking to expand the one they havewhether that means a corner of your bedroom or a full-on garage-based weightlifting paradise. I'll start with space- and budget-friendly items, then move on to some bigger-ticket buys. Kettlebells If I had to put together a home gym from scratch, I think I would start with two kettlebells: one light enough to strict press or snatch, and one heavy enough to make swings and goblet squats challenging. If I had a smidge of extra cash, Id buy them as adjustable kettlebells, like this one from Bells of Steel, so they could get heavier as I got stronger. Competition-style adjustables are by far the best kind. Bells of Steel Adjustable Kettlebell $249.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $249.99 at Amazon A pull-up barPulling exercises are some of the hardest to improvise outside of a gym (although if you took my advice about kettlebells, you could do rows with those). A doorway pull-up bar like this one barely takes up any space, but it opens up a ton of possibilities. If your doorframes don't allow that type of bar, try a pull-up tower like this one. Ally Peaks Pull-Up Bar $25.99 at Amazon $31.89 Save $5.90 Shop Now Shop Now $25.99 at Amazon $31.89 Save $5.90 A spin bikeCardio is good for you. I keep telling myself this, and Im almost starting to believe it. With a spin bike, you can do intervals or steady state work while staying comfortably indoors when the road outside is dark, or wet, or icy. The price range of options here is wide: you can splurge on a top-of-the-line Peloton or go for one of the budget bikes (like a Sunny) that are less than a fifth of the price. Sunny Health Indoor Exercise Bike $242.90 at Amazon $379.00 Save $136.10 Shop Now Shop Now $242.90 at Amazon $379.00 Save $136.10 A rowing machineMy first choice for a cardio machine is the bike, as mentioned earlier. But if you want another device, Id vote for a rower. Rowers involve your full body, and theyre great for interval training. The Concept 2 is probably the best-known (and, many would say, the best) brand in this space. (Not a rower person? My third choice would be a treadmill.) Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine $1,259.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $1,259.99 at Amazon DumbbellsDumbbells are a great way to lift weights at home. Theyre smaller than a barbell, less specialized than a set of kettlebells, and you can do a ton of different workouts with them. As with kettlebells, youll need to decide if you want to get a few pairs at specific fixed weights (cheaper to start), or go for a pricier adjustable set. Powerblock and Bowflex are the fancy kind, if you have the money but want to save space. POWERBLOCK Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbell (2020 Model) $359.99 at Amazon $449.00 Save $89.01 Shop Now Shop Now $359.99 at Amazon $449.00 Save $89.01 A benchIf you have dumbbells or want to do any sort of bro workout, youre going to need a bench. Im more of a barbell person, so I just got a flat bench that can fit in my rack when I want to bench press. But people who do more dumbbell work often prefer a sturdy adjustable bench that can be configured for incline or upright seated work.A barbellIf youre into powerlifting or weightlifting, or just want to go heavy in your general strength workouts, theres really no substitute for a good ol barbell. Standard bars with a one-inch hole are common in budget sets, but your purchase will have more longevity if you opt for an Olympic style bar with two-inch collars. Get a 45-pound or 20-kilogram bar like this one unless you have a specific reason to get something else.Iron weight platesYouve got a few options for plateswell discuss another in a minutebut iron plates are the classic choice. Theyre sturdy, appropriately heavy, and up to almost any job. Get any kind that appeals to you: regular metal plates, plastic-coated ones, vintage-style deep dish. Anything but hex plates. Cast Iron Weight Plates, 45 lbs $49.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $49.99 at Amazon Bumper platesNot everyone needs bumper plates, but if youre one of those people who does, skip the iron plates entirely and go for the good stuff. Bumper plates are essential for Olympic lifts (the snatch and the clean and jerk) and theyre also nice to have for other lifts, like deadlifts. In general, the cheapest kind are made of black rubber and are labeled in pounds; expect to pay a premium if you want them in kilos with international standard color-coding.A squat rack or cageYou know youve Made It as a home gym owner when you have your own squat rack. Consider the amount of space you have available, since some racks require tall ceilings and all require a good bit of space around the sides so you can get to the bar to change the plates. There are folding racks, half racks, and full racks. You can also go the DIY route with one of those concrete-bucket-and-lumber squat stands everyone was using during lockdown. (Mine held up great for years, and only broke down when the buckets got too much UV damage from being in the sunlight so long.) Signature Fitness Squat Rack $499.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $499.99 at Amazon Resistance bandsThrow a band on your pullup bar and you have a way to do assisted pullups; hold a band in your hands instead and you can do band pull-aparts. Bands are also a great addition to your barbells if you dont have quite enough plates (or if youre a fan of conjugate training, in which case youre probably already putting bands and chains on everything that isnt nailed down.) If you want to use bands with barbells, look for the long loop type; if you want to use them on their own, look for the kind that clip to handles. SandbagsSandbags are the under-appreciated workhorses of many a home gym. Sand is dirt cheapalmost literallybut expect to pay a few bucks for a really quality fabric sandbag to put it in. (That said, you can DIY this, and we have instructions.) Start with a bag that weighs maybe half as much as you do, and practice picking it up, carrying it, and generally doing anything people do with weights. Yes, you can even press it overhead if youre careful. If thats all too easy, go for a bag that weighs as much as you do, or more.A plyo boxA box is a handy thing to have around, and one of the few things Ive always wanted in my home gym but never found the space for. With one box, you can do box jumps or box squats. With two, you can do dips or stand on top of them and set up a belt squat. The possibilities are endless.Specialty barsIf youre shopping for the person who has everything, Ill tell you what they dont have: another specialty bar. After a normal barbell, a typical next purchase is a safety squat bar. You could also go for an axle, which is great for practicing strongman events, or a cambered or duffalo bar (honestly, Im not sure why powerlifters love these so much, but they do). A dedicated deadlift bar is perfect for the deadlift specialist in your life, and a football bar or Swiss bar gives you lots of options for pressing. A log is great for the spoiled strongman or strongwoman in your life, or an EZ-curl bar for the bodybuilder. Or grab a trap bar to do deadlifts on easy mode.