First-edition Jane Austen novels in a special display case at her former home Jane Austen's HouseFirst-edition copies of Jane Austens completed novels are on display in the home where the beloved author spent years writing and revising. The rare books are part of a new permanent exhibition, Jane Austen and the Art of Writing, at her familys formercottage in Chawton, a village located some 50 miles from London.Austen lived in the house during the last eight years of her lifebetween 1809 and 1817with her mother and sister Cassandra. She wrote or revised all six of her completed novels there:Sense and Sensibility,Pride and Prejudice,Mansfield Park,Emma,Northanger AbbeyPersuasion.This is the first time that all six first-edition novels will be on display together at Jane Austens House, which is now a museum. They include a copy of Emma that Austens brother Frank owned, copies of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion from her brother Edward, and a copy of Sense and Sensibility with the publishers original binding.The new exhibition presents them as real treasuresalmost as relics of Jane Austens life in this house, Sophie Reynolds, the head of collections, interpretation and engagement at the museum, tells theGuardians Steven Morris. Some of these are copies that Austen would have handled, including those owned by her brothers Frank and Edward. It is very special to see them all together like this.The novels appear on display in a 12-sided case built for the new installation, a nod to Austens small 12-sided wooden table she often worked at. The rare books are part of the museums preparations for the beloved authors 250th birthday celebrations in December 2025. Jane Austen's House in Chawton is showcasing first-edition copies of her celebrated novelsincluding some that were once owned by her siblings. Dan Kitwood / Getty ImagesLizzie Dunford, director of the museum, is excited for visitors to have the unique opportunity to be quite literally surrounded by the books and objects that influenced Austen, per the Farnham Heralds Paul Coates.The show also features other objects from Austens life that are connected to her writing. For example, topaz crosses that Jane and Cassandra received from their brother Charles likely inspired the amber cross that Fanny Price receives from her brother William in Mansfield Park. Charles, like William, was a sailor who would often bring back trinkets from his travels, writes Artnets Tim Brinkhof.Additionally, some of Austens letters are on view at the exhibition, which examines how her correspondence and love of letter-writing informed her fiction. Visitors will also see a film about The Watsons, one of Austens unfinished novels, and how the original manuscript sheds light on her writing process.This exhibition is a deep dive into Jane Austens creative process, says Reynolds, per the Farnham Herald. We hope that it will unlock a new way for our visitors to understand Jane Austen as a dedicated, driven and professional writer, and to explore how her life and living arrangements affected her writing in the very house in which she lived and wrote.Jane Austen and the Art of Writing is now on view at Jane Austens House in Chawton, England.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Arts, Books, British Writers, England, Exhibitions, Exhibits, Fiction, Jane Austen, Museums, Writers

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Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn MoreMicrosoft has launched a new suite of specialized AI models designed to address specific challenges in manufacturing, agriculture, and financial services. In collaboration with partners such as Siemens, Bayer, Rockwell Automation, and others, the tech giant is aiming to bring advanced AI technologies directly into the heart of industries that have long relied on traditional methods and tools.These purpose-built modelsnow available through Microsofts Azure AI catalogrepresent Microsofts most focused effort yet to develop AI tools tailored to the unique needs of different sectors. The companys initiative reflects a broader strategy to move beyond general-purpose AI and deliver solutions that can provide immediate operational improvements in industries like agriculture and manufacturing, which are increasingly facing pressures to innovate.Microsoftis in a unique position to deliver the industry-specific solutions organizations need through the combination of the Microsoft Cloud, our industry expertise, and our global partner ecosystem, Satish Thomas, Corporate Vice President of Business & Industry Solutions at Microsoft, said in a LinkedIn post announcing the new AI models.Through these models, he added, were addressing top industry use cases, from managing regulatory compliance of financial communications to helping frontline workers with asset troubleshooting on the factory floor ultimately, enabling organizations to adopt AI at scale across every industry and region and much more to come in future updates!Siemens and Microsoft remake industrial design with AI-powered softwareAt the center of the initiative is a partnership with Siemens to integrate AI into its NX X software, a widely used platform for industrial design. Siemens NX X copilot uses natural language processing to allow engineers to issue commands and ask questions about complex design tasks. This feature could drastically reduce the onboarding time for new users while helping seasoned engineers complete their work faster.By embedding AI into the design process, Siemens and Microsoft are addressing a critical need in manufacturing: the ability to streamline complex tasks and reduce human error. This partnership also highlights a growing trend in enterprise technology, where companies are looking for AI solutions that can improve day-to-day operations rather than experimental or futuristic applications.Smaller, faster, smarter: How Microsofts compact AI models are transforming factory operationsMicrosofts new initiative relies heavily on its Phi family of small language models (SLMs), which are designed to perform specific tasks while using less computing power than larger models. This makes them ideal for industries like manufacturing, where computing resources can be limited, and where companies often need AI that can operate efficiently on factory floors.Perhaps one of the most novel uses of AI in this initiative comes from Sight Machine, a leader in manufacturing data analytics. Sight Machines Factory Namespace Manager addresses a long-standing but often overlooked problem: the inconsistent naming conventions used to label machines, processes, and data across different factories. This lack of standardization has made it difficult for manufacturers to analyze data across multiple sites. The Factory Namespace Manager helps by automatically translating these varied naming conventions into standardized formats, allowing manufacturers to better integrate their data and make it more actionable.While this may seem like a minor technical fix, the implications are far-reaching. Standardizing data across a global manufacturing network could unlock operational efficiencies that have been difficult to achieve.Early adopters like Swire Coca-Cola USA, which plans to use this technology to streamline its production data, likely see the potential for gains in both efficiency and decision-making. In an industry where even small improvements in process management can translate into substantial cost savings, addressing this kind of foundational issue is a crucial step toward more sophisticated data-driven operations.Smart farming gets real: Bayers AI model tackles modern agriculture challengesIn agriculture, the Bayer E.L.Y. Crop Protection model is poised to become a key tool for farmers navigating the complexities of modern farming. Trained on thousands of real-world questions related to crop protection labels, the model provides farmers with insights into how best to apply pesticides and other crop treatments, factoring in everything from regulatory requirements to environmental conditions.This model comes at a crucial time for the agricultural industry, which is grappling with the effects of climate change, labor shortages, and the need to improve sustainability. By offering AI-driven recommendations, Bayers model could help farmers make more informed decisions that not only improve crop yields but also support more sustainable farming practices.Beyond the factory: Microsofts AI tools reshape cars, banking, and food productionThe initiative also extends into the automotive and financial sectors. Cerence, which develops in-car voice assistants, will use Microsofts AI models to enhance in-vehicle systems. Its CaLLM Edge model allows drivers to control various car functions, such as climate control and navigation, even in settings with limited or no cloud connectivitymaking the technology more reliable for drivers in remote areas.In finance, Saifr, a regulatory technology startup within Fidelity Investments, is introducing models aimed at helping financial institutions manage regulatory compliance more effectively. These AI tools can analyze broker-dealer communications to flag potential compliance risks in real-time, significantly speeding up the review process and reducing the risk of regulatory penalties.Rockwell Automation, meanwhile, is releasing the FT Optix Food & Beverage model, which helps factory workers troubleshoot equipment in real time. By providing recommendations directly on the factory floor, this AI tool can reduce downtime and help maintain production efficiency in a sector where operational disruptions can be costly.The release of these AI models marks a shift in how businesses can adopt and implement artificial intelligence. Rather than requiring companies to adapt to broad, one-size-fits-all AI systems, Microsofts approach allows businesses to use AI models that are custom-built to address their specific operational challenges. This addresses a major pain point for industries that have been hesitant to adopt AI due to concerns about cost, complexity, or relevance to their particular needs.The focus on practicality also reflects Microsofts understanding that many businesses are looking for AI tools that can deliver immediate, measurable results. In sectors like manufacturing and agriculture, where margins are often tight and operational disruptions can be costly, the ability to deploy AI that improves efficiency or reduces downtime is far more appealing than speculative AI projects with uncertain payoffs.By offering tools that are tailored to industry-specific needs, Microsoft is betting that businesses will prioritize tangible improvements in their operations over more experimental technologies. This strategy could accelerate AI adoption in sectors that have traditionally been slower to embrace new technologies, like manufacturing and agriculture.Inside Microsofts plan to dominate industrial AI and edge computingMicrosofts push into industry-specific AI models comes at a time of increasing competition in the cloud and AI space. Rivals like Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud are also investing heavily in AI, but Microsofts focus on tailored industry solutions sets it apart. By partnering with established leaders like Siemens, Bayer, and Rockwell Automation, Microsoft is positioning itself to be a key player in the digitization of industries that are under growing pressure to modernize.The availability of these models through Azure AI Studio and Microsoft Copilot Studio also speaks to Microsofts broader vision of making AI accessible not just to tech companies, but to businesses in every sector. By integrating AI into the day-to-day operations of industries like manufacturing, agriculture, and finance, Microsoft is helping to bring AI out of the lab and into the real world.As global manufacturers, agricultural producers, and financial institutions face increasing pressures from supply chain disruptions, sustainability goals, and regulatory demands, Microsofts industry-specific AI offerings could become essential tools in helping them adapt and thrive in a fast-changing world.VB DailyStay in the know! 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The Ricochet anti-cheat system for Call of Duty games can block cheaters before they play or as they play a match and before they can win.Read More

Ubisoft appoints new chief people officerSbastien Froidefond will "lead Ubisoft's global people strategy, driving excellence in human resources across the company" News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Nov. 13, 2024 Ubisoft has appointed a new chief people officer: Sbastien Froidefond.The megacorp says Froidefond will assume the role a week today, November 20, and "lead Ubisoft's global people strategy, driving excellence in human resources across the company." Froidefond will report to EVP of communications, Ccile Russeil.Froidefond's expertise "spans HR strategy, performance management, culture building and employee engagement." He joins Ubisoft following a position as human resources Americans lead at Lactalis Americas.Previously, he has worked at senior HR positions across a number of sectors, including beauty, pharma, and life sciences.Froidefond replaces Anika Grant, who left the publisher back in November 2023.Last month, over 700 Ubisoft France staff walked out on a three-day strike in a dispute over home working and pay. Ubisoft's France-based workers were called to participate in a three-day strike over a dispute around the company's return to office policy. French game workers union STJV (Syndicat des Travailleurs et Travailleuses du Jeu Vido) said the diktat to be in the office at least three days per week going forward was "the straw that broke the camel's back."

Casual studio Funstop Games secures $5 million in Series A fundingFunding will be used to "ramp up" development efforts and expand portfolioImage credit: Funstop Games News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Nov. 13, 2024 Casual gaming studio Funstop Games has secured $5 million in its Series A funding.As reported by The Economic Times, the funding round - led by 360 One Asset - will be used to "ramp up" Funstop's development efforts, expand its portfolio, and build its ad-tech systems.With 360 One Asset coming onboard, we aim to be truly global with rapid expansion across the genres and doubling down on the India growth story," said co-founder Prashanth Vijay."The 360 One Asset team would bring in a [sic] depth understanding about the gaming ecosystem, a playbook on global expansion, and most importantly, the know-how on scaling up rapidly, making them ideal partners for us at this stage.India's gaming industry is on the cusp of global recognition, and Funstop Games is here to drive that momentum. This investment gives us the resources to scale our operations, expand our portfolio, and bring uniquely Indian storytelling to a global audience," added additional co-founder Tamesh Sharma.

Justin Carter, Contributing EditorNovember 13, 20242 Min ReadImage via Microsoft.At a GlanceSpencer believes Xbox still needs to enter the mobile and Asian markets, and is determined to make both happen.Microsoft has made plenty of acquisitions in recent years, and its games division head Phil Spencer believes there are still more to come.Speaking with Bloomberg, Spencer said the company is still looking at third-party studios for potential purchase. No one specific developer was cited, but he did say large-scale purchases like Activision Blizzard and Bethesda were on pause, at least for now. By his own admission, there was "a lot of time" spent acquiring the Call of Duty publisher, which became complicated by local and international regulators initially stepping in to block it.The acquisition went through last year, and resulted in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 becoming a big success as a day one Xbox Game Pass title. However, Xbox has also seen its share of controversial layoffs and closures across its subsidiaries, with one of the most recent being 650 roles eliminated this past September.While Spencer stated no acquisitions were "imminent," he expressed interest in both non-US and mobile studios. The former interests him because of "geographic diversity:" previously, Xbox attempted to get Chinese hits like Genshin Impact on the platformwhich it will, next weekand he told Bloomberg there's a "real opportunity to partner with creative teams in China for global [reach]. Its been a good area for us to learn from creative teams that have real unique capability."As for mobile, the platform is part of the reason why Microsoft wanted to snatch up Activision Blizzard and Candy Crush creator King. In October, Tencent-owned TiMi released a mobile version of Xbox's Age of Empires series, and he said Xbox "definitely wants to be in that [mobile] market. When we can find teams, technology, and capability that add to what were trying to do in games, absolutely we will keep our heads up.""To reach new players, we need to be creative and adaptive of new business models, new devices, new ways of access," he continued. "Were not going to grow the market with $1,000 consoles.According to Spencer, Xbox's previously reported mobile store has been pushed back as the company continues researching the market. Despite recent progress that's allowed for third-party app stores to exist on iOS and Android platforms, he said Microsoft is still exploring how to get the eventual Xbox mobile store on phones. A web store would get around the problem, but he acknowledged to Bloomberg that Microsoft "still has to have a way to find the store. I think just hoping 'if we build it, they will come' doesn't work."Spencer's full thoughts on expanding the Xbox platform, and its potential hardware future, can be read here.Read more about:[Company] XboxAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Ubisoft has found a new chief people officer, following the departure of previous CPO Anika Grant after a brief two-year stint. On November 20, "seasoned HR executive" Sbastien Froidefond will take over the role.With over 30 years of experience, his duties will include handling the studio's talent and leadership development and global recruiting, along with "ensuring that HR contributes significantly to the company's overall strategic objectives." As CPO, Froidefond will be a part of Ubisoft's executive committee and report directly to Ccile Russeil, the EVP who runs its communications, HR, and legal departments.In the announcement, Ubisoft notes his prior work "demonstrated his versatility and impact across diverse industrieswhether in sectors with long, innovation-driven investment cycles, or in fast-paced environments requiring operational agility." Previously, Froidefond worked in dairy and healthcare at companies such as Lactalis Americas and Sanofi, where he managed their respective HR departments across multiple countries.His hiring marks the newest executive shakeup for Ubisoft this year. In April, Russeil was appointed to her current position after previously operating as its chief legal advisor since 1995. That same month, publishing VP Brenda Panagrossi was made general manager for its larger United States team.Froidefond's predecessor, Grant, was brought on shortly after reports surfaced of harassment and other inappropriate conduct from high-level Ubisoft workers. Ubisoft then promised to improve its culture, and she was said to be "instrumental" in that process.He joins Ubisoft at an equally tumultuous time: not only is the company facing a potential buyout between Tencent and it longtime owners, the Guillemot family, workers at its France and Milan offices have recently gone on strike over its return-to-office mandates. The studio has also been twice-sued in recent times, and is in mid-development on its next big release, Assassin's Creed Shadows for February 2025.

Apple launches Final Cut Pro 11 with even more AI featuresApple launches Final Cut Pro 11 with even more AI features / The update adds automatic masking, autogenerated captions, and spatial video editing.By Vjeran Pavic, a supervising video producer who also reviews gadgets and photography gear. He has over a decade of experience as a reporter and photojournalist, previously at Recode. Nov 13, 2024, 11:00 PM UTCShare this storyIts been 25 years since the first Final Cut Pro was announced.More than a decade after the launch of Final Cut Pro X, Apples video editing software is taking a step forward. The appis now being updated to Final Cut Pro 11, after dropping the number in its name for the past few years. The update includes new AI masking tools, the ability to generate captions directly in your timeline, spatial video editing features, and a set of workflow improvements.The new version is free for existing users and a $299 one-time purchase for new users. Final Cut Pro for iPad and Final Cut Camera are also getting some updates today, too.Ive spent the last week testing out these new features, and many of them are great improvements. Ive been particularly impressed by the speed and accuracy of one new feature coming to the desktop: Magnetic Mask. With one click, you can easily isolate a subject, like a person, from the background and apply different color adjustments to that part of the footage.I tested Magnetic Mask in various scenarios, like static talking head videos and fast-moving snowboarding footage. In each scenario, Final Cut Pro did a very good job of isolating the subjects. But dont expect a pixel-perfect mask each time. I still had to jump in and do a few smaller adjustments to help it out. You can either manually fine-tune your mask with a brush or add or remove tracking points and let Final Cut Pro analyze the footage. One thing that was impressive is that it automatically detected my flapping backpack straps.I was impressed by the speed of the whole process. Granted, these were fairly short clips (about 45 seconds each), but each mask took less than a minute on my four-year-old 10-core M1 Pro MacBook Pro a lot less time than the tedious and exhausting process of manually rotoscoping in After Effects.I did notice that analysis slowed down significantly once I started screen recording my process. This feature will work on Intel-based Macs as well. I am an avid user of Adobes Premiere Pro, but features like these always make me want to give Final Cut Pro another shot. I may not be left behind for long, though: Adobe announced a similar feature for Premiere earlier this year. DaVinci Resolve also already has a similar feature called Magic Mask.The next new highlight is the ability to autogenerate captions in your timeline. Final Cut Pro does this using an Apple-trained language mode, and the whole process takes place locally on-device without sending information to the cloud. The process is fast but not always accurate and often misspells common words. It fumbled at proper nouns like The Verge and even more common nouns like machine, where it would just write macine instead. Those are just a few of many examples. Theres also no way to stylize your captions if you were hoping to add them to your TikToks. For that, youll need to look into some third-party plug-ins. 1/4Final Cut Pro would frequently make spelling errors in the generated captions.1/4Final Cut Pro would frequently make spelling errors in the generated captions.It is a good update, but I wish Apple went a step further and added text-based editing, which lets you edit videos solely by using text instead of on the timeline itself. Text-based editing in Premiere has helped me immensely when working on longer documentaries or sit-down interviews, and I wish it were possible in Final Cut Pro 11.Other changes include the ability to edit spatial videos for the Vision Pro and some new keyboard shortcuts. My favorite is Option + Arrow Up / Arrow Down to move clips between layers. Its the little things!Final Cut Pro for iPad is also getting a few new updates. The AI-enabled enhance light and color tool that was initially released in Final Cut Pro 10.8 for the Mac is making its way to the iPad app. It is the fastest way to quickly improve the color, contrast, and overall tonality of your footage.The AI-enhanced light and color tool originally came out for Final Cut Pro for Mac but has made its way to the iPad version in this update.In a few tests that I ran, the tool did a really good job of getting me started on my coloring process. It cleans up the overall exposure nicely and adds very subtle stylistic color choices. For far less subtle color grades, Apple is expanding the number of presets available in the app. In addition to those presets, Apple is also adding new modular transitions and new songs to its soundtrack library.If youre using the Apple Pencil Pro to edit, youll finally be able to unlock all those new brushes that were released alongside the M4 iPad Pro and features like tilt recognition and take advantage of the haptic feedback. Haptic feedback works particularly well on the iPad, and Im enjoying it more than I thought I would. It really makes the editing process feel a lot more tactile. In fact, I wish more gestures had some haptic feedback.Lastly, there are some minor but significant workflow improvements. You can now resize the height of your clips in your timeline by using the pinch gesture, you can edit in 120fps timelines, and the picture-in-picture mode is dynamic. Apple also mentioned there are new keyboard shortcuts, but Ive only found one: Render Entire Timeline.Im glad to see more frequent updates coming to the iPad version of Final Cut Pro, but there are still features that are desperately needed to really make this app worth the $4.99 a month subscription plan. At the top of my wish list are things like custom LUTs, better file management, and some of the other AI-powered features that have already made their way to the desktop version. Since my initial review, Ive mostly started using DaVinci Resolve on the iPad, which continues to impress me with how similar it is to its desktop equivalent.The trifecta of updates ends with the Final Cut Camera, which can now film HEVC files in Apple Log no need to stick with storage-hungry ProRes files anymore. HEVC Log capture will work for both standalone capture or as part of the Live Multicam session. Final Cut Camera will also include LUT previews during recording, meaning you can monitor your exposure and color while filming in Apple Log.Final Cut Camera can shoot in 120fps in Apple Log and has a new leveler to help you frame up your shots.And in order to make sure your framing is correct and aligned, Apple is adding a new level indicator to the app. The new leveler includes tilt and roll indicators and crosshairs for your top-down and bottom-up shots, too.The introduction of new AI features and workflow improvements mark significant steps forward for content creators, but they dont address some of the communitys requests to fully compete with the likes of DaVinci and Adobe. Id still like to see text-based editing, more robust coloring options, and custom captions. It will be interesting to see if these new updates convert any new users. Magnetic Mask alone could be enough of a reason to switch.Most PopularMost Popular

Apple today announced some minor updates to Logic Pro for both the Mac and the iPad, including the ability to search for plug-ins and sources and the addition of more analog-simulating sounds. In Logic Pro for Mac 11.1 and Logic Pro for iPad 2.1, you can now reorder channel strips and plug-ins in the mixer and plug-in windows to make it easier to organize the layout of an audio mix. As for the new sounds, Apple added a library of analog synthesizer samples called Modular Melodies, akin to the Modular Rhythms pack already found in Logic. A more exciting sonic addition is the new Quantec Room Simulator (QRS) plug-in, which emulates the vintage digital reverb hardware of the same name, found in professional recording studios all over the world. Apple has acquired the technology for the classic QRS model and the later YardStick models to integrate into this software. I wish the QRS plug-in looked like the real life reverb unit Image: AppleSpecific to Logic Pro for Mac, you are now able to share a song to the Macs Voice Memos app which may be a great feature for when Voice Memos gets that multitrack option on the iPhone in iOS 18.2 Added to the iPad version of Logic Pro is the ability to add your own local third party sample folders to the browser window, to make it easier to bring external audio files into tracks and sampler plug-ins.These upgrades are small for current Logic users, but they do overall make the digital audio workplace easier to use and adds to the plethora of useful tools for no additional cost. Users will have access to upgrade to Logic Pro for Mac 11.1 and Logic Pro for iPad 2.1 today.