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.

X will soon close its longtime San Francisco office and move employees to offices elsewhere in the Bay Area, according to an email from CEO Linda Yaccarino reported by The New York Times. Yaccarinos note to employees comes several weeks after Elon Musk threatened to move Xs headquarters out of California and into Austin, Texas.Yaccarinos note, however, doesnt seem to mention Texas. According to The New York Times, she told employees the closure will happen over the next few weeks and that employees will work out of a shared engineering space in Palo Alto thats also used by xAI, as well as other locations in San Jose.Twitter, and now X, has had a rocky relationship with its home base since Musks takeover of the company. Musk banned employees from working remotely shortly after taking over the company in 2022, and ordered many Twitter workers back to the office in the mid-Market neighborhood of San Francisco.He later ran afoul of the citys Department of Building Inspection for installing a giant flashing X on top of the building, and for reportedly converting office space into hotel rooms for employees to sleep in. The companys landlord had also sued X over unpaid rent, The San Francisco Chronicle reported earlier this year. The lawsuit was later dismissed.Despite Musks frequent complaints about San Francisco and its elected leaders, he had previously vowed to keep the companys headquarters in the city. Many have offered rich incentives for X (fka Twitter) to move its HQ out of San Francisco, Musk tweeted last year.Moreover, the city is in a doom spiral with one company after another left or leaving. Therefore, they expect X will move too. We will not. You only know who your real friends are when the chips are down. San Francisco, beautiful San Francisco, though others forsake you, we will always be your friend.But, even before Musks recent posts about moving to Austin, there were other signs X may be getting ready to leave after all. The San Francisco Chronicle reported in July that Xs landlord was looking to sublease much of the companys 800,000 square-foot headquarters.X didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/x-is-reportedly-closing-its-san-francisco-office-203650428.html?src=rss

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The seven most-valuable U.S. tech companies lost a combined $1 trillion in market value at the start of trading on Monday.

A federal district court ruled Monday that Google engaged in monopolistic behavior when it paid to supply the default internet search engine on other tech companies mobile devices, handing a win to the Justice Department.Google paid $26.3 billion to other companies, mainly Apple and Samsung, during 2021, Bloomberg reports. Those payments essentially restricted competitors abilities to succeed, the DOJ argued.Apple, which has earned billions from its search engine deal with Google, saw its stock drop 6.7% on the news. The default search engine revenue constitutes a large chunk of Apples Services business, which Apple has relied upon to make up for declining growth in the smartphone market.The court has not yet decided on sanctions against Google, but the decision could be a massive blow to the ubiquity of Google Search. The bulk of Googles revenue comes from its search ads, which brings in an estimated $160 billion to $175 billion per year. As such, Google stock dropped 4.6% when the courts decision was announced.[T]he court concludes that Google has violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act by maintaining its monopoly in two product markets in the United Statesgeneral search services and general text advertisingthrough its exclusive distribution agreements, federal district court judge Amit Mheta wrote in the verdict.The Sherman Act outlaws every contract, combination, or conspiracy in restraint of trade, and any monopolization, attempted monopolization, or conspiracy or combination to monopolize.For years the courts weighed antitrust cases on whether or not consumers were served (usually via lower prices) by the actions of the defendants. But the courts are more willing to view alleged antitrust actions through their effects on competition in the marketplace. In the Google case, the ruling suggests the company used its vast wealth to block smaller search engines from getting exposure to mobile search and search advertising markets.The defeat is the latest in a string of regulatory setbacks for Google. The DOJ (along with a group of state AGs) has also sued Google for anticompetitive behavior in the ad tech space. The plaintiffs claim Google engaged in anticompetitive mergers with other ad tech companies, and bullied publishers and advertisers into using the companys proprietary ad technology products.Google, meanwhile, is already planning out a protracted appeals process.In Europe, the search giant has incurred three anti-competitiveness fines totaling $8.25 billion euros over the past decade. The company was sanctioned for its Shopping comparison service, its Android mobile OS, and its AdSense advertising service.Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar spearheaded an effort in the Senate to retrofit antitrust laws to better deal with the unique kinds of antitrust seen in the digital age. I have long been calling for action . . . the Justice Department took this on and won, Klobuchar said in a statement. This . . . shows the importance of enforcing our antitrust laws and why I am advocating for competition rules of the road for big tech companies. If they keep fighting any sensible rules of the road they will keep getting suedand will keep losing.

UK architecture practice Heatherwick Studio has revealed plans to redesign the Hanwha Galleria shopping centre in Seoul by introducing volumes that resemble "rippled hourglasses".Located on a major crossroad close to the city's Han River, the store's existing structures will be replaced with two near-identical volumes formed of curved glass.The proposal is intended to "redefine the store's connection to the local area", according to Heatherwick Studio.Heatherwick Studio is redesigning the Hanwha Galleria shopping centre in SeoulDeveloped alongside local studio Haeahn Architecture and the local authorities, the distinct shape of the buildings is intended to frame views of the nearby river.Both will each feature undulating glass facades that curve inwards towards their middles, supported by an exposed structural framework and used as backdrops for projections at night.They will be divided at ground level by the crossroad but connected below ground by an updated subway that will also provide access to the shopping centre.Two near-identical structures are designed to resemble "rippled hourglasses"Inside, the buildings will open up to light-filled entrances and landscaped plazas at ground level that are intended to enhance the area's public space.There will also be open-air gardens hosted at the volumes' recessed middle levels, which will contain cafes, restaurants and shops, while rooftop gardens offer viewpoints of the city.Read: Heatherwick Studio reveals plans for island park with "floating islets" in Seoul"Traditionally, department stores are quite inward facing, they feel closed o to the surrounding streets," studio partner Neil Hubbard said."Combined with Hanwha's ambition to bring more activity to the buildings, we wanted to provide a strong overall silhouette that creates a gateway, but also gives Seoulites new garden-like spaces to meet, shop and enjoy their city."Open-air gardens are hosted on the middle levels and rooftopsThe proposal was selected as part of a competition organised by the Seoul Metropolitan Government that called for a design that will "challenge conventional notions of a luxury department store" and "affirm the country's increasingly influential role as a global cultural powerhouse".Elsewhere in Seoul, Heatherwick Studio is set to transform Nodeul Island into a public park with "floating islets".The studio is currently also developing its first South American building, which will feature a colourful facade of undulating columns, while its founder Thomas Heatherwick is developing an architectural master's degree at Loughborough University as part of his Humanise campaign.The renders are courtesy of Devisual.The post Heatherwick Studio unveils plans for rippled-glass shopping centre in Seoul appeared first on Dezeen.

At the Olympics, Great Britain's Tom Pidcock and France's Pauline Ferrand-Prvot each won Gold in the men's and women's Cross Country Mountain Bike event. In addition to having the medal in common, both riders had an unusual feature on their bikes: Plastic spokes. Specifically, Minnesota-based Berd's PolyLight Spokes, which are made from UHMWPE, a/k/a Dyneema:"Berd spokes are made from an advanced polymer called ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) that has 15 times the strength-to-weight ratio of steel and floats on water. Berd spokes have an improved fatigue life compared to steel and are impervious to the elements." The PolyLights weigh 156g per 64 spokes, providing a weight savings of 200g vs. traditional lightweight metals.Interestingly, the spokes are loose and string-like until they're tensioned during the wheel build: The spokes run $8 a pop. (Remember that you need 128 for two wheels.)Here's video of both races:

Ever seen those behind-the-scenes videos of car design where they show the vehicle prototype in a wind tunnel test? These tunnels blast streams of smoke towards a car, and engineers analyze how the smoke lines contour and travel down the cars body its a phenomenal way of accurately analyzing literal air movement or aerodynamism and theres a company thats now selling a scaled-down version of the wind tunnel that is small enough to place on your desk. Starting at just $159, the Windsible is a desk toy that lets you scale down and mimic automotive wind tunnel tests that usually require infrastructure worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Designed to be used with your die-cast car collection (Hot Wheels, Maisto, Fastlane, Matchbox, etc.) or even your small-scale LEGO Technic builds, the Windsible turns your static car into a kinetic art installation, allowing you to actually capture the beauty of wind tunnel tests on a scale compact enough to sit on your workspace tabletop!Designers: Jayden Han and Jarvis JiangClick Here to Buy Now: $159 $239 (33% off). Hurry, only a few left! Raised over $260,000.Miniaturized Wind Tunnel for Your Die-Cast CollectionPerhaps the most exciting way to display your car collection, the Windsible also lets you perform the same tests that engineers did on real cars before they were released. The tabletop gizmo comes in 3 sizes, depending on the scale of your toy cars. The smallest 1:64 scale is perfect for tiny Hot Wheels and matchbox cars, while the mid-size 1:24 scale and large 1:18 scale are for bigger car models.A fogger on the front generates smoke, allowing you to visualize aerodynamic drag in real-time, while lights on the back of the Windsible turn bright red, paying a hat-tip to car taillights. A knob lets you turn the Windsible on and adjust the wind intensity (while a display tells you the wind speed), and the transparent casing gives you a glorious view of the wind tunnel test in action from both the side as well as the top.Visualize Aerodynamics in ActionThe Windsible generates airflow using a series of fans that are precisely calibrated to simulate the real-world conditions of a life-size wind tunnel. Modular smoke cartridges produce a fine mist, which can be adjusted and calibrated to get different shapes and patterns. A knob on the outside lets you adjust wind speed, while LEDs inside the tunnels main chamber illuminate both your car as well as the smoke lines, allowing you to observe fluid dynamics in action.The fogger and fog fluid are designed to be easy to use and maintain, ensuring that the device remains operational with minimal effort. A mild, non-toxic oil-based fog fluid also prevents your expensive car collection from being damaged by mist or water vapor contact.More Than Just a Toy: A Learning Tool for Enthusiasts and ProfessionalsDepending on its size, the Windsible accepts die-cast cars or even 3D-printed models. A linear chamber allows you to place any design of your choice in, and test aerodynamics. Designed to be silent, odorless, and incredibly precise, the Windsible is perfect for analyzing the drag coefficient of your favorite cars or even your design prototypes. The smoke glides seamlessly down smooth surfaces, pooling around at corners and edges to help you visualize how your car would cut through air as it moved down the road. Adjust the wind speed and you can see the tunnels results exaggerate further, depicting accurately what it would be like, driving at high speeds and whether the cars aerodynamic design actually translates to fuel efficiency. Different car designs exhibit vastly different results, allowing you to understand exactly how automotive surface design works.The Windsible was conceptualized at Cranfield University by Steven, an engineer with a passion for aviation and vehicles. Stevens expertise in aviation and vehicle design laid the groundwork for the product. Joining forces with Axia, a vehicle engineering expert from Politecnico di Torino, and Jayden, a skilled vehicle designer, the team combined their talents to create a Windsible that was not only technically sound but also visually striking and extremely user-friendly.Bring Your Collection to Life: A Breathtaking Display PieceThe entire miniature wind tunnel runs on a DC power supply, which provides juice to the fogger system, the aerial LEDs, the display on the front, and the edge-lit futuristic taillights at the back. The Windsibles build is fairly robust, which means you can even use it to display your rare and expensive car miniature models. Whether youre a designer, a collector, an enthusiast with a penchant for cool objects, or even a technical professional who would like to perform small-scale tests on their models, the Windsible makes for an incredibly eye-catching and breathtaking tabletop gizmo. The smallest model starts at $159, while the medium and large variants are priced at $199 and $289 respectively, which includes a 1-year warranty along with global shipping. No matter which size you go for, each Windsible comes with a DC power adapter, 2 modular smoke cartridges, a fogger, a bottle of fog fluid, a cleaning cloth for keeping your Windsible spotless, and a user manual.Click Here to Buy Now: $159 $239 (33% off). Hurry, only a few left! Raised over $260,000.The post Tabletop Wind Tunnel lets you Run Aerodynamic Tests on your entire Die-Cast Toy Car Collection first appeared on Yanko Design.

Lenovo's website may have spilled the beans on a Lenovo Legion Go 'Lite'.Eagle-eyed Lenovo website aficionados have spotted some changes...they exist, right?