Get hundreds of tips from the new Unity 6 optimization guides for console, PC, mobile, web, and XR! Learn how to optimize assets for different platforms, manage memory, reduce thermal throttling and battery drainage on mobile devices, achieve high-fidelity graphics on consoles, and much more. Theres something for every Unity developer in these guides. Read more about whats in the guides: https://on.unity.com/4emOKah

Facebook and Instagram users in Europe will get the option to see less personalized ads if they dont want to pay for an ad-free subscription, social media company Meta said Tuesday, bowing to pressure from Brussels over privacy and digital competition concerns.Meta Platforms has been offering European Union an ad-free subscription option for about a year to comply with the continents strict data privacy rules, but regulators had accused the company of giving people a false choice.The company said in a blog post that while people will still be able to choose between the subscription and existing free versions, it would also start giving free users an extra option over the coming weeks to see digital ads that are less personalized.This means ads will be targeted at users based only on what they see during their current session on Facebook or Instagram going back no more than two hours, plus minimal personal information such as age, location, gender as well as how they engage with ads.Data from all of a users previous time spent on Facebook or Instagram, which is typically combined to precisely target an individual with tailored ads, wont be used.While this new choice is designed to give people an additional control over their data and ad experience, it may result in ads that are less relevant to a persons interests, Meta said in a blog post. That means people will see ads that they dont find as interesting. This drop in relevance is inevitable given that drastically reduced data is being used to show these less personalized ads to people.People who choose the new option will see ad breaks that cant be skipped for a few seconds, Meta said.European Union regulators had accused Meta of breaching the 27-nation blocs digital rules when it gave user the option to pay a monthly fee to avoid being targeted by ads based on their personal data.The U.S. tech giant had rolled out the option after the European Unions top court ruled Meta must first get consent before showing ads to users, in a decision that threatened its business model of tailoring ads based on individual users online interests and digital activity.The company also said Tuesday its slashing monthly subscription prices for the ad-free option. Web users will pay 5.99 euros ($6.36), down from 9.99 euros previously, while iPhone and Android users will be charged 7.99 euros instead of 12.99 euros, which includes commissions charged by the Apple and Google mobile app stores.Metas new subscription model could hit the companys lucrative digital ad business in one of its biggest markets. The company said it has already factored the new offering into its most recent business outlook and financial guidance.The options are available to users 18 and older in the EUs 27 member countries, plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.Kelvin Chan, Associated Press business writer

President-elect Donald Trumps pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to pursue energy dominance to make the United States the artificial intelligence capital of the world, he said in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday.Looking forward to getting straight to work as part of President Trump's Cabinet to unleash US energy dominance, make America the AI capital of the world, bring American auto jobs back home, and so much more. pic.twitter.com/zGGLIRMrd6 Lee Zeldin (@leezeldin) November 12, 2024 Trump announced Monday that he would nominate former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to helm the nations top environmental agency, which regulates emissions, when he takes office in January. During Trumps third presidential campaign, he spoke often of deregulating industries and ensuring environmental protections arent hampering businesses.[Zeldin] will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards,Trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social, when announcing the appointment. Trumps last go-round in office had wide impacts on the environment. He picked a coal lobbyist to lead the EPA, rolled back more than 100 environmental protections, and exited the Paris climate accord.It now appears that making sure AI and its energy-sucking data centers wont be held back are top of mind for the incoming leader. Artificial intelligence is notorious for requiring massive compute to train systems. That, in turn, increases carbon emissions. Goldman Sachs Research estimated in May that data center power demand will grow 160% by 2030 as the AI revolution gathers steam and efficiency gains wane.The Biden administration has also embraced artificial intelligence. The Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security conducted AI pilots to address vulnerabilities in government networks, the Department of Justice and Department of Education worked to combat AI-generated image-based sexual abuse, and the administration issued a first-ever National Security Memorandum on AI to ensure the United States leads the worlds development of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI.

New York studio Parts and Labor Design and Brad Guidi of Boston real estate company Blue Flag Capital have renovated the Beachside Hotel on Nantucket to reflect the local craft and design scene of the 1960s.Located outside of Boston on Nantucket island, the 45,000 square-foot (4,180 square metres) Beachside Hotel encompasses a motel-style property originally built in the 1960s, with five low-lying buildings encircling a central pool deck.Parts and Labor Design and Blue Flag Capital have completed a hotel renovation on NantucketParts and Labor Design and Blue Flag Capital largely focused on the renovation of the property's interiors, as its grey shingle facade is historically relevant and typical to Nantucket.The hotel includes guestrooms, an adult and children's pool, a gym, a restaurant and bar and other public spaces, such as a meeting space and game room that branches off a central lobby.The project encompasses five motel-style buildings that encircle a pool deckThe design involved creating a family-friendly hotel that could accommodate children while being design-forward, according to the team."It's somewhere that we feel like families would feel confident and comfortable and that was really our main goal," Parts and Labor Design partner Danu Kennedy told Dezeen.The project pulls from the craft movement on the island from the 1960s and 70s"It's very approachable, it's very fun. It's full of energy but it's chic."The team outfitted the interiors in a palette of terracotta, cream, dark greens and natural wood to achieve a "nostalgic" feeling, using custom furniture and fixtures pieces designed by Jay Edward Group, Light Annex, Majestic Mirror & Frame.These details also play into a hand-crafted feel a nod to the artists and craft movement of 1960s and 1970s Nantucket."There's this real crafted, hand-built, hand-touched, feel to it," said Kennedy.Terracotta, wood, creams and dark greens were used for the palette"We chose furniture, fabrics, and materials that are reminiscent of our childhood, even pulling from movies like the Sandlot for inspiration," said Blue Flag Capital chief development officer Brad Guidi."There is something comforting and nostalgic when watching Sandlot so we asked ourselves, how do we evoke this feeling at our hotel?"Read: Thompson Washington DC hotel subtly draws on city's nautical pastThe hotel's lobby features a collection of deeply cushioned lounge sofas and woven chairs centred around a tiled fireplace. Plinths by Parts and Labor off-shoot Known Work and vessells by Maxine Metbo and Diego Olivero Studio fill the space.Pieces by artists Sean Spellman and Gayle Fitzpatrick are among the works that hang on the walls.The hotel is designed to be family-friendlyThe space is clad with wooden trim and a tiled floor and expands outwards from the bar area, which features light-green tiling and a wooden counter.It is also directly connected to the pool deck, which makes for a connected indoor-outdoor interior conducive to families.A quilt was placed on each bed"If you're looking to be in the lobby, or if you're lounging by the pool, you're in this space where it's contained and that's really important, because kids will just run and go crazy, so that the layout is great for that," Kennedy told Dezeen.The guestrooms also cater to families with sofas large enough for children to sleep on, and an "approachable" feeling brought in by details like an individual quilt on each bed.The interior branches outwards from the poolThe hotel is now open, although some areas are still undergoing construction according to the team.Other projects by Parts and Labor design include a "nautical" hotel in Washington DC and a Chicago restaurant with a coastal California feel.The photography is by Matt KisidayThe post Parts and Labor Design and Blue Flag Capital create "nostalgic" Nantucket hotel appeared first on Dezeen.

The latest edition of our Dezeen Debate newsletter features a mass-timber building by Studio Gang in San Francisco. Subscribe to Dezeen Debate now.The addition at the California College of the Arts San Francisco campus consists of threemass-timber buildings featuring an exposed, black-toned bracing system and a large, elevated board-marked concrete terrace.Commenters debated the project, some calling it "possibly Studio Gang's best work", while others decried it as "a remarkably inelegant solution". What do you think? Join the debate in the Dezeen comments section Neom has, for the first time officially, confirmed the architecture studios designing The LineOther stories in this week's newsletter that Dezeen readers were quick to comment on was the latest news from Neom in Saudi Arabia as they named The Line architects and Alex Chinneck's distorted street furniture, which was designed to bring "surrealism into the public realm".Dezeen DebateDezeen Debate is sent every Tuesday and features a selection of the best reader comments and most talked-about stories. Read the latest edition of Dezeen Debate or subscribe here.You can also subscribe to our other newsletters; Dezeen Agenda is sent every Tuesday containing a selection of the most important news highlights from the week, Dezeen Daily is our daily bulletin that contains every story published in the preceding 24 hours and Dezeen In Depth is sent on the last Friday of every month and delves deeper into the major stories shaping architecture and design.The post Dezeen Debate features "possibly Studio Gang's best work" appeared first on Dezeen.

This Mambapod was invented by Taiwanese photography accessory company Silence Corner. It's a mini tripod that can also be used on non-flat surfaces, thanks to an innovative feature in one of the legs. Two small jaws can be unfolded from the leg, and dialed towards each other by rotating a handle at the bottom of the leg, essentially becoming an F-style clamp.Alternately, just one of the jaws can be flipped out and used as a hook. The clamping arrangement provides a lot more security than bendy legs, allowing you to hang your expensive SLR or smartphone in precarious places. The Mambapod is a hit on Kickstarter, with over $200K in pledges at press time and 25 days left to pledge. Pricing starts at $129.

The message from Autodesk and the many companies that presented and exhibited at Autodesk University (AU) last month in San Diego was clear: for the product design and manufacturing (D&M), architecture, engineering, construction and operations (AECO), and media and entertainment (M&E) industries, AI is a driving force behind productivity.Autodesk University MainstageData, data, dataAI-driven productivity is customized to the specific needs of each industry, with various generative and multimodal AI models providing solutions for tasks like workflow optimization, manufacturing quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and design visualization. However, the value of AI across these sectorsand beyondis determined by the quantity and quality of data used.Quantity matters because more data enables AI systems to learn and improve. Quality, however, is more complex. It requires obtaining relevant data, ensuring data accuracy, and verifying that data usage complies with ethical standards.Dell demonstrated how their workstations can run generative AI 3D content with NVIDIA Edify trained on Shutterstock ethically sourced content.Customers are keyThe importance of AI and data was evident throughout AU, with presentations and product demonstrations highlighting customer-centric solutions. Hardware providers showcased high-performance workstations equipped with powerful processors, optimized to support AI workloads. Meanwhile, data and asset management providers emphasized AIs capabilities in extracting valuable information, managing metadata, and monitoring workflows in real time.Lenovo displayed next generation workstations designed with a customer-centric focus. Partnering with Intel, NVIDIA and Aston Martin, they offer high-end graphics, memory and processing power.Autodesks Design & Manufacturing team showcased how they are addressing their customers' needs by delivering AI-powered efficiencies through Fusion, a cloud-based, unified platform for design and manufacturing. They also introduced Project Bernini, a research initiative focused on a new approach to generative AI. Unlike many generative models that prioritize the appearance of 3D objects, Bernini emphasizes generating structural 3D data from the inside out, which aligns closely with real-world production needs.Experimental research project Berninimodel generates shape and texture separately and does not confuse or meld those variables.AI provides a wide range of possibilities based on industry-specific needs. For entertainment and gaming, AI can generate lifelike product and character models, while in manufacturing and design, it lays the foundation for real-world production. With tools like Fusion and research projects like Bernini, Autodesk aims to empower creators and makers to leverage AI for both efficiency and innovation.

Designed by Alabamas TimberCraft Tiny Homes, the Big Sky is a rustic not-so-tiny tiny home with a spacious interior that can sleep four people. Timbercraft Tiny Homes are known for their luxurious cottage-like models, and the Big Sky lives up to their reputation. It is based on a quaint-axle trailer and features a length of 41.4 feet.It is on the larger spectrum. The home is based on the firms Denali model, but a few western Montana architecture-inspired changes were made. The exterior of the home features a western cedar finish, and a horizontal metal siding, topped with a metal roof.Designer: TimberCraft Tiny HomesThe interior occupies 399 sq ft and is equipped with shiplap walls, hardwood floors, and a tongue and groove ceiling. The main entrance leads to an L-shaped kitchen, which includes a breakfast bar for two people, an oven, a propane-powered four-burner stove, a fridge/freezer, a dishwasher, a hammered copper sink, and plenty of cabinetry. The living room is closely located, and is quite spacious owing to a high ceiling and generous glazing. This room contains a sofa, and optional French doors that lead to the outside. A porch area can be installed if needed.The kitchen in this tiny home leads to a hallway, which in turn connects to a bathroom. The bathroom contains a shower with subway tiles, a vanity sink, a flushing toilet, and a stacked washing machine and dryer. The opposite end of the house includes the master bedroom. Since, it is a downstairs bedroom, it has plenty of headroom to stand upright. It includes a king-size bed with integrated storage space, a spacious closet, and a stained black feature wall.You can install a second loft bedroom in the home if needed. This can be accessed via a staircase from the hallway that is linked to the master bedroom. The second bedroom is a conventional loft-style room as found in most tiny homes. It features a low ceiling, and can sleep one or two people.The post Not So Tiny Tiny Home Offers A Peak Cottagecore Aesthetic On The Road first appeared on Yanko Design.

Apples efforts to shape the future of technology go well beyond the devices we use every day. The companys New Silicon Initiative (NSI), started in 2019, aims to nurture talent in chip design, computer architecture, and integrated systems. With Georgia Tech now joining as the eighth university in this initiative, it helps bridge the gap between academic theory and industry practice, setting up future innovators for success in hardware engineering.The partnership between Apple and Georgia Techs School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) builds upon a collaboration that introduced a digital circuit design course in 2022. This expanded initiative gives ECE students valuable access to Apples expertise in multiple ways. Students will have expanded coursework in integrated circuit (IC) design and the tapeout-to-silicon process, along with mentorship from Apple engineers, guest lectures by industry experts, networking events, and direct project reviews.The final chip designed by ECE 4804 student groups embedded in a PCB.A great example is the ECE 4804 VLSI Design: Theory to Tapeout course, created in partnership with Apple. This two-semester course takes undergraduates through the complete VLSI design cycle. In the first semester, students design a digital System on Chip (SoC) using industry-standard Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools. The second semester focuses on testing the fabricated chips manufactured using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)s 65nm CMOS process. This hands-on experience gives students practical insights into chip design and manufacturing.On October 3, 2024, a kick-off event at Georgia Tech attracted over 600 students, showing a strong interest in this collaboration. The initiative provides students with hands-on experience in integrated systems and silicon chip design, skills that are fundamental to the development of modern technology. The NSI program at Georgia Tech offers several benefits to students. These include scholarship and fellowship opportunities, such as a Ph.D. Fellowship in Integrated Circuits and Systems announced in October. The curriculum has been enhanced to focus on circuit technology, electronic devices, computing hardware, and emerging architectures. Students will receive direct feedback from Apple engineers on IC design course projects, giving them invaluable industry insights. Moreover, they will gain exposure to new technologies and industry practices, preparing them for an evolving tech landscape. These elements give students a valuable view of industry practices, preparing them for the tech landscape.More than 600 Georgia Tech students joined the Apple NSI kick-off event at the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons in early October, highlighting the excitement around this partnership.Apple engineers will collaborate with ECE faculty to present guest lectures in various integrated system design courses. The engineers will also participate in project reviews in several IC design courses and offer practical feedback to help students refine their designs during the tape-out process. In the inaugural run of the VLSI Design course, every student design was validated as fully functionala success that highlights the value of direct industry involvement.ECE Professor Visvesh Sathe teaching the first VLSI Design: Theory to Tapeout cohort in Spring 2023.Working with Apple as part of its New Silicon Initiative allows us to bridge the skills gap for a workforce in IC design and computer architecture by preparing students with the technical abilities and skills to enter a rapidly evolving, always in-demand industry, said Arijit Raychowdhury, professor and Steve W. Chaddick School Chair of ECE.This collaboration represents an important investment in the future of hardware engineering and chip design. By bringing real-world challenges and professional feedback directly into the academic setting, Apple is helping to accelerate the growth of the next generation of talent. This initiative impacts Georgia Tech students and the broader future of technology development and innovation.Looking ahead, there are plans to expand this course and explore new courses in other chip development areas, like analog and packaging. As technology advances, initiatives like NSI are crucial in preparing tomorrows workforce to meet the industrys challenges.The post Apple and Georgia Tech Team Up to Design the Future of Chip Engineering first appeared on Yanko Design.