Discover the Art of Julian Bauer, a freelance illustrator and designer based in Germany. His work includes, but is not limited to, matte painting for animated films, various music album artworks and designs, and game concepts and 2D assets. Julian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian BauerJulian Bauer

Good ColoursI'd forgotten how stylish the original GTA: San Andreas was until the latest Definitive Edition updateAh yes, this game had what the kids call 'aura' these days.Image credit: Rockstar Games Article by Fran Ruiz Contributor Published on Nov. 17, 2024 GTA: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition's launch in 2021, three years ago, was infamously rough. From badly upscaled textures, to shoddy character models, to broken animations (and plenty more), the three games that defined modern open worlds were butchered. Now, Rockstar Games has wowed everyone by pulling off a complete 180.The November 12, 2024, update to the Definitive Edition collection across PC and consoles (with the old gen and Switch getting it a day later) doesn't just fix a lot of what was broken. It also brings back the classic lighting (now enabled by default) that tied the entire visual presentation together in the original console releases.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. I promptly jumped into GTA: San Andreas, the one installment I'd been meaning to quickly revisit for a while, to check what was new, and found myself quickly absorbed by its world for a couple of magical hours during which, as it was back in my high school days, I barely made any story progress. Just driving around and enjoying the refreshed vistas was a blast from the past.I've actually played a lot of San Andreas over the years, but mostly on PC through the original release from 2005. That version was always regarded as the most solid one (plus it nurtured a vibrant modding community), yet it always missed the vibrant color hues from the OG console versions, and thus felt far flatter visually, or at least more 'realistic' in a way that felt weird for anyone who'd played the 2004 release on PS2 (or later on Xbox). Image credit: Rockstar Games, VG247For some weird reason, despite all the ports and re-releases the classic GTA trilogy has enjoyed over the years, Rockstar has always managed not to deliver an 'ultimate' way to enjoy these games. The original console releases has a framerate which was rough and could only be 'fixed' through advanced emulation. The aforementioned PC port wasn't exactly the same, something and that also applied to GTA 3 and Vice City. Later ports in modern consoles always screwed something up, with the 360 one being the sole exception. And you know how the Definitive Edition originally went.Now, with original developer Grove Street Games removed from the collection's credits and Video Games Deluxe taking over, the Definitive Edition feels several steps closer to definitive. The vibes are restored, and even if you could argue the modern lighting looks better at times (especially at night), restoring the fog and giving each city its own unique weather and set of skies, alongside much-needed color grading, has truly made a world of difference. Image credit: Rockstar Games, VG247After so many years playing the PC version of San Andreas, I'd simply forgotten how great the true original release looked. Sometimes (far too often, I'm afraid), in the pursuit of a clearer image and realism with remasters and remakes, a good chunk of the original artistic vision is erased, and the Definitive Edition collection was a prime example of that. Even if it had felt okay-ish for a while now - as in not utterly broken - this giant rework and visual refresh is a reminder of everything that was lost.Los Santos simply 'pops' in a way that a brutish approach to more modern graphics couldn't achieve, and it was just a matter of getting the colors right and that moody fog back in the game. Perhaps younger players who never played the original releases will be turned off with the highly saturated look that San Andreas sported back in the day, but it's hard to back to a sauceless visual presentation after realizing the older GTAs were never meant to look clean or realistic. After this patch, looking at the upscaled textures and UE4-rendered models that still remain rusty as hell through the very de-saturated modern filter is hilarious, and I can't believe we've been stuck with these bangers looking like that for so long. Image credit: Rockstar Games, VG247Mind you, I'd already warmed up to at least Vice City Definitive in recent times, as that game and GTA 3 always felt far less post-processed, yet this patch also made me realize they were missing an extra 'otherworldly' spark. Now, the modern lighting also looks way too clean on them, with the lack of a misty horizon making their admittedly small maps feel even smaller. I don't want the full thing rendered on my screen at once, it was never meant to look like that!Other small but welcome improvements include walking around while aiming heavier weapons than pistols and submachine guns in GTA 3 and Vice City, which essentially makes many of their missions easier, but it's all in the service of making the right upgrades where needed, which should be the main driving force behind every remaster. Preserve the past while preparing the games for the future...without diluting their identities. Image credit: Rockstar Games, VG247I'd say this Definitive Edition is still a couple of smaller patches away from reaching perfection, and it's hard to predict whether Video Games Deluxe will stick to working on it for much longer, but it's suddenly become an easy recommendation for old and new players alike. As long as you overlook some leftover jank and a few plasticky, too UE-ish textures, this feels like the best, most painless way to experience these games two decades after their original launches.The most hilarious thing about this whole story is that we have to thank the recent Netflix port (yes, really) of the Definitive Edition for these updates to the console and PC releases, as most of the new improvements have been brought over from that version. Gaming is so freakin' weird right now, man.

Indian omni-channel nutrition startup HealthKart has raised $153 million in one of the countrys largest consumer startup transactions this year, valuing the business at about $500 million, according to a source familiar with the matter. The new investment was co-led by private equity firms ChrysCapital and Motilal Oswal, with Avendus Capital serving as financial advisor. A91 Partners and asset manager Neo Group also participated in the new investment. Some existing investors sold their shares to the new backers, according to people familiar with the matter. HealthKart counts Peak XV, Temasek, Sofina and wealth manager IIFL among its backers. Gurugram-based HealthKart reported revenue of $118.5 million for the year ending March 2024, cementing its position as Indias largest consumer nutrition platform. The startup sells protein supplements and health accessories.The 13-year-old startup, which spun out of online pharmacy startup 1MG, said it is also buying back shares worth $6.5 milion from employees. The startup was EBITDA profitable in the financial year ending March.The Indian sports nutrition market, currently underpenetrated, is expected to expand due to a rise in fitness awareness and the increasing importance of nutrition and protein, said Arpit Vinayak, VP at ChrysCapital, in a statement.This is a developing story. More to follow.

In BriefPosted:8:44 PM PST November 17, 2024Image Credits:Akio Kon / Bloomberg / Getty ImagesOyo founder seeks new investment at $3.8B valuationAn investment vehicle backed by Oyos founder, Ritesh Agarwal, has proposed to inject another $65.1 million into the Indian hospitality startup, according to notices to shareholders that were reviewed by TechCrunch.The investment, through Redsprig Innovation Partners, would value the SoftBank-backed company at $3.8 billion, according to terms shared in a notice to shareholders.While this represents a 38% premium to Oyos recent $2.3 billion valuation in June, the implied price tag remains significantly below the startups 2019 peak of $10 billion. Oyo has raised more than $3.4 billion in equity and debt since its inception, according to Tracxn.Redsprig invested about $100 million in the June funding round, in which Oyo raised $175 million.It remains unclear who else is backing Redsprig and whether Agarwal has settled the $2 billion loan he took in 2019 to repurchase Oyo shares from Peak XV and Lightspeed India.The hospitality group is preparing to file for the third time for an initial public offering within two months, according to a person familiar with the matter.Topics

Yuichiro Chino/Getty ImagesI have been a DigitalOcean customer for years. When I first encountered the company back in 2016, it provided a very easy-to-spin-up Linux server with a variety of distros as options. It differentiated itself from web hosting providers by offering infrastructure -- rather than software -- as a service. Dillon Erb, DigitalOcean VP Image: Dillon ErbMost web hosting providers give you a control panel to navigate the web hosting experience for your site. You have no control over the virtual machine. What DigitalOcean does is give you a virtual bare-metal server, letting you do whatever the heck you want. This appealed to me greatly. Also: I've tested a lot of AI tools for work. These 4 actually help me get more done every dayDigitalOcean was essentially Amazon Web Services (AWS) but with a much more understandable pricing structure. When I first started running servers on it, it was substantially more expensive than AWS for the kind of work I was doing. DigitalOcean has since expanded its service offerings to provide a wide variety of infrastructure capabilities, all in the cloud.Beyond bare-metal virtual Linux servers, I haven't used its additional capabilities, but I still appreciate the ability to quickly and easily spin up and down a Linux machine for any purpose, and at a very reasonable price. I do this to test out systems, run some low-traffic servers, and generally as a part of my extended infrastructure. With the big push into artificial intelligence (Al), it makes sense that DigitalOcean is beginning to provide infrastructure for Al operations as well. That's what we'll be exploring today with Dillon Erb, the company's vice president of AI advocacy and partnerships. Let's dig in. ZDNET: Could you provide a brief overview of your role at DigitalOcean?Dillon Erb:I was the co-founder and CEO of the first dedicated GPU cloud computing company called Paperspace. In July of 2023, Paperspace was acquired by DigitalOcean to bring AI tooling and GPU infrastructure to a whole new audience of hobbyists, developers, and businesses alike.Also: How to use AI for research the right way - responsibly and effectivelyCurrently I am the VP of AI Strategy where I am working on both exciting product offerings as well as key ecosystem partnerships to ensure that DigitalOcean can continue to be the go-to cloud for developers. ZDNET: What are the most exciting AI projects you are currently working on at DigitalOcean?DE: Expanding our GPU cloud to a much larger scale in support of rapid onboarding for a new generation of software developers creating the future of artificial intelligence. Deep integration of AI tooling across the full DigitalOcean Platform to enable a streamlined AI-native cloud computing platform. Bringing the full power of GPU compute and LLMs to our existing customer base to enable them to consistently deliver more value to their customers. ZDNET: What historical factors have contributed to the dominance of large enterprises in AI development?DE: The cost of GPUs is the most talked about reason for why AI has been difficult for smaller teams and developers to build competitive AI products. The cost of pretraining a large language model (LLM) can be astronomical, requiring thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of GPUs. Also: Sticker shock: Are enterprises growing disillusioned with AI?However, there has also been a tooling gap which has made it hard for developers to utilize GPUs even when they have access to them. At Paperspace, we built a full end-to-end platform for training and deploying AI models.Our focus on simplicity, developer experience, and cost transparency continues here at DigitalOcean where we are expanding our product offering substantially and building deep integrations with the entire DigitalOcean product suite. ZDNET: Can you discuss the challenges startups face when trying to enter the AI space?DE: Access to resources, talent and capital are common challenges startups face when entering into the AI arena. Also: Building complex gen AI models? This data platform wants to be your one-stop shopCurrently, AI developers spend too much of their time (up to 75%) with the "tooling" they need to build applications. Unless they have the technology to spend less time tooling, these companies won't be able to scale their AI applications. To add to technical challenges, nearly every AI startup is reliant on NVIDIA GPU compute to train and run their AI models, especially at scale. Developing a good relationship with hardware suppliers or cloud providers like Paperspace can help startups, but the cost of purchasing or renting these machines quickly becomes the largest expense any smaller company will run into. Additionally, there is currently a battle to hire and keep AI talent. We've seen recently how companies like OpenAI are trying to poach talent from other heavy hitters like Google, which makes the process for attracting talent at smaller companies much more difficult. ZDNET: What are some specific barriers that prevent smaller businesses from accessing advanced AI technologies?DE: Currently, GPU offerings, which are crucial for the development of AI/ML applications, are widely only affordable to large companies. While everyone has been trying to adopt AI offerings or make their current AI offerings more competitive, the demand for NVIDIA 100 GPUs has risen. Also: Organizations face mounting pressure to accelerate AI plans, despite lack of ROIThese data center GPUs have improved significantly with each subsequent, semi-annual release of a new GPU microarchitecture. These new GPUs are accelerators that significantly reduce training periods and model inference response times. In turn, they can run large-scale AI model training for any company that needs it. However, the cost of these GPU offerings can be out of reach for many, making it a barrier to entry for smaller players looking to leverage AI. Now that the initial waves of the Deep Learning revolution have kicked off, we are starting to see the increased capitalization and retention of technologies by successful ventures. The most notable of these is OpenAI, who has achieved their huge market share through the conversion of their GPT 3.5 model into the immensely successful ChatGPT API and web applications. Also: Employees are hiding their AI use from their managers. Here's whyAs more companies seek to emulate the success of companies like OpenAI, we may see more and more advanced technologies in Deep Learning not being released to the open-source community. This could affect startups if the gap between commercial and research model efficacy becomes insurmountable. As the technologies get better, it may only be possible to achieve state of the art results of certain models like LLMs with truly massive resource allocations. ZDNET: How does DigitalOcean aim to level the playing field for startups and smaller businesses in AI development?DE: Creating a level playing field in AI development is something that we, early on, recognized would be critical to the growth of the industry as a whole. While the top researchers in any field can justify large expenses, new startups seeking to capitalize on emerging technologies rarely have these luxuries. Also: Want a programming job in 2024? Learning any language helps, but only one is essentialIn AI, this effect feels even more apparent. Training a Deep Learning model is almost always extremely expensive. This is a result of the combined function of resource costs for the hardware itself, data collection, and employees. In order to ameliorate this issue facing the industry's newest players, we aim to achieve several goals for our users: Creating an easy-to-use environment, introducing an inherent replicability across our products, and providing access at as low costs as possible. By creating the simple interface, startups don't have to burn time or money training themselves on our platform. They simply need to plug in their code and go! This lends itself well to the replicability of work on DigitalOcean: it's easy to share and experiment with code across all our products. Together, these combine to assist with the final goal of reducing costs. At the end of the day, providing the most affordable experience with all of the functionality they require is the best way to meet startups needs. ZDNET: How important is it for AI development to be inclusive of smaller players, and what are the potential consequences if it is not?DE: The truth of the matter is that developing AI is incredibly resource-intensive. The steady, practically exponential rate of increase for size and complexity of Deep Learning datasets and models means that smaller players could be unable to attain the required capital to keep up with the bigger players like FAANG companies [Facebook/Meta, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google/Alphabet]. Also: Gen AI as a software quality tool? Skepticism is fading as more organizations implement itFurthermore, the vast majority of NVIDIA GPUs are being sold to hyperscalers like AWS or Google Cloud Platform. This makes it much more difficult for smaller companies to get access to these machines at affordable pricing due to the realities of the GPU supply chain. Effectively, these practices reduce the number of diverse research projects that can potentially get funding, and startups may find themselves hindered from pursuing their work due to simple low machine availability. In the long run, this could cause stagnation or even introduce dangerous biases into the development of AI in the future. At DigitalOcean, we believe a rising tide raises all ships, and that by supporting independent developers, startups, and small startups, we support the industry as a whole. By providing affordable access with minimal overhead, our GPU Machines offer opportunities for greater democratization of AI development on the cloud. Through this, we aim to give smaller companies the opportunity to use the powerful machines they need to continue pushing the AI revolution forward. ZDNET: What are the main misconceptions about AI development for startups and small businesses?DE: The priority should always be split evenly on optimizing infrastructure as well as software development. At the end of the day, Deep Learning technologies are entirely reliant on the power of the machines on which they are trained or used for inference. Also: Why data is the Achilles Heel of AI (and every other business plan)It's common to meet people with fantastic ideas, but a misconception about how much work needs to be put into either of these areas. Startups can compensate for this with broad hiring practices to ensure that you do not end up stonewalled by the lack of development in a certain direction. ZDNET: How can smaller companies overcome the knowledge gap in AI technology and development?DE: Hiring young entrepreneurs and enthusiasts making open-source technology popular is a great way to stay up on the knowledge you need to succeed. Of course, hiring PhD level senior developers and machine learning engineers will always give the greatest boost, but the young entrepreneurs popularizing these technologies are scrappy operators on the bleeding edge. In the realms of popular technologies like Stable Diffusion and Llama LLM, we can see this in real time today. There are a plethora of different open source projects like ComfyUI or LangChain that are taking the world by storm. It's through the use of both senior level, experienced engineers and newer developers of these entrepreneurial minded, but open source projects that I think startups can guarantee their future. ZDNET: What advice would you give to entrepreneurs looking to integrate AI into their business models?DE: Consider open-source options first. There are so many new businesses out there that are essentially repackaging an existing, popular open-source resource, especially LLMs. That means it is relatively simple to implement for ourselves with a little practice. Any entrepreneur should learn the basic Python requirements needed to run basic LLMs, at the very least. Also: Businesses must reinvent themselves in the age of agentic AIZDNET: What future advancements in AI do you foresee that will particularly benefit startups and growing digital businesses?DE: The cost of LLMs (especially for inference) is declining rapidly. Furthermore, the tooling and ecosystem of open-source model development is expanding rapidly. Combined, these are making AI accessible to startups of all scales, regardless of budget. ZDNET: Any final thoughts or recommendations for startups looking to embark on their AI journey?DE: The emergence of LLMs like GPT signaled a major leap in AI capabilities. These models didn't just enhance existing applications; they opened doors to new possibilities, reshaping the landscape of AI development and its potential. The scientists have built something that the engineers now can run with. AI is having an "API" moment and this time the entire development process has been upended. There are still big open questions [like], "How does one deal with non-deterministic APIs? What types of programming languages should we use to talk to this new intelligence? Do we use behavior-driven development, test-driven development, or AI-driven development?" And more. Also: Open source fights back: 'We won't get patent-trolled again'The opportunity, however, is massive, and a whole new wave of category-defining startups will be created. What do you think? What do you think? Did Dillon's discussion give you any ideas about how to move forward with your AI projects? Let us know in the comments below. You can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly update newsletter, and follow me on Twitter/X at @DavidGewirtz, on Facebook at Facebook.com/DavidGewirtz, on Instagram at Instagram.com/DavidGewirtz, and on YouTube at YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV.Featured

PM Images/Getty ImagesUpdate: As of October 1, 2024, Microsoft has made it more difficult to bypass these compatibility checks, but there are workarounds for most modern PCs. Some older devices, especially those built using AMD processors, might be out of luck, however. I've updated the instructions in this post to account for the changes.On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will stop delivering security updates to your Windows 10 PC unless you're willing to pay an exorbitant price to join the Extended Security Updates program.Also: Microsoft will start charging for Windows 10 updates next year. Here's how muchIf you try to upgrade to Windows 11 on a PCthat's more than a few years old, you'll be told -- in no uncertain terms -- that your old PC doesn't qualify because its CPU isn't on the official list of compatible processors. Microsoft has made it abundantly clear that it will not revise those requirements. You will also hit roadblocks if your PC doesn't have a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.That might be the official policy, but -- as with everything Windows-related -- it pays to read the fine print.Those pesky restrictions prevent you from automatically upgrading to Windows 11 using Windows Update or the Windows 11 Installation Assistant. Yet there are fully supported workarounds for most PCs that are capable of running Windows 10, as I document inZDNET's Windows 11 FAQ.Also: You can still upgrade old PCs to Windows 11, even if Microsoft says no: Readers prove itOf course, everything in this article requires that you be signed in as an administrator on the PC you want to upgrade.Which option should you choose?Please don't skip over this section.To take advantage of the workaround described in option 1 below, your computer must meet all the other requirements for Windows 11.It must be configured to start up using UEFI, not a legacy BIOS configuration.Secure Boot must be supported, although it does not need to be enabled. (But seriously, folks, you should enable it.)A TPM must be enabled; version 1.2 is OK, but a system without any TPM or with the TPM disabled will fail.To check these details on a PC you're considering upgrading, run the System Information utility, Msinfo32.exe, and look at the System Summary page. Pay special attention to the BIOS Mode value. If it says "Legacy," you'll need to reconfigure your system to UEFI mode (and convert your system disk from MBR to GPT partitioning) before you can install Windows 11 as a normal upgrade.To see whether your PC has a TPM enabled, run the Trusted Platform Module Management tool, Tpm.msc. If your computer includes a TPM and it's turned on, this app will display information about it. If there's no TPM, or if the TPM is disabled in firmware settings, you'll see a message that says "Compatible TPM cannot be found."Also: Your Windows 10 PC can't be upgraded? You have 5 options before support ends in 2025If you're unable (or unwilling) to change from Legacy BIOS to UEFI, or if you have an older PC that doesn't have a TPM option at all, you'll need to use an undocumented hack that allows you to bypass the compatibility checks and complete the upgrade. See option 2 at the end of this post for details on how to use the free Rufus utility to perform this upgrade.Note that a new set of restrictions, introduced as part of the Windows 11, version 24H2 update, require a CPU that supports specific instructions -- SSE4.2 and PopCnt. Most PCs with Intel CPUs that are from 2009 or later will meet this standard. AMD CPUs from 2013 or later should also meet these requirements. For details, see"Microsoft blocked your Windows 11 upgrade? This trusty tool can (probably) fix that."If you plan to perform a clean installation of Windows 11, you can boot from installation media and run Windows Setup. That option skips the CPU compatibility check completely (but still requires a TPM and Secure Boot support). After the installation completes, you'll need to reinstall all your apps, restore your data files, and tweak settings to personalize your system preferences.Want to avoid all that hassle? Choose the option that's appropriate for your hardware.Option 1: Use this simple registry editBypass CPU checks and accept any TPM version with this registry edit. This process requires four steps. 1. Change one key in the Windows registry You need to make one small change to the Windows registry, as documented in thisMicrosoft support document. This change tells the Windows 11 Setup program to skip the check for compatible CPUs and to allow installation on a PC with an older TPM (version 1.2). The usual warnings apply when working with the registry; I recommend you make a complete backup before proceeding.Open Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) and navigate to the following key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetupIf the MoSetup key, doesn't exist, you need to create it. Right-click the node for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup in the left-hand navigation pane, then choose New > Key. Name it MoSetup and press Enter.Also: Wiping your Windows laptop? Here's the simplest way to erase all personal dataSelect the MoSetup key and then right-click in any empty space in the pane on the right. Choose the option to create a new DWORD value. (Don't choose the QWORD option!)Replace the default name for that key by typing the text AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU and then press Enter. Then double-click the new value and change the "Value data" box to 1. The result should look like this: Use this registry tweak to override the Windows 11 CPU compatibility check. You must have a TPM (any version) and Secure Boot must be enabled. Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNETClick OK to save your change, and then restart your PC. 2. Download the Windows 11 ISO On the PC you want to upgrade, go to the Windows 11 Download page (aka.ms/DownloadWindows11) and choose the option at the bottom of the page, "Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices." Save the ISO file in your Downloads folder.Note that this is a big file. Depending on the speed of your internet connection, the download could take a while. 3. Mount the ISO file in File Explorer After the download completes, open File Explorer and double-click the ISO file you downloaded in the previous step. Doing so mounts the file as a virtual DVD drive in its own folder, with its own drive letter. 4. Run Windows Setup In File Explorer, find the Setup.exe file and double-click it to begin the upgrade. You'll see a stern warning about compatibility issues, but you can safely click Accept to move past it. (For details on what that warning message really means, see "Is Microsoft really going to cut off security updates for your 'unsupported' Windows 11 PC?") After you click OK on that dialog box, your upgrade should proceed without any serious issues.Also:The best Windows laptop you can buyYou'll have three options: You can keep your apps, settings, and files (Full Upgrade); keep your data files but start fresh with apps and settings (Keep Data Only); or start completely fresh (Clean Install). Option 2: Use the free Rufus utilityOn older PCs without a TPM and on PCs that don't support Secure Boot, you'll need to use an undocumented hack to bypass the compatibility checker. You can do this manually by replacing the Appraiserres.dll file (in the Sources subfolder on the Windows 11 installer drive) with a zero-byte version and then making a series of registry edits. But it's simpler to use the free, open-source Rufus utility to make a USB drive that includes this file.Important note:In early October 2024, Microsoft made some changes to its compatibility checking tools. Those changes prevent Rufus version 4.5 or earlier from working properly. Make sure you have version 4.6 or later, which incorporates the necessary changes. For details of how the new version works, see "Microsoft blocked your Windows 11 upgrade? This just-released tool can get the job done."In addition, be aware that using Rufus will not allow you to bypass the new CPU restrictions that require SSE4.2 and PopCnt instruction support.Also: Why Windows 11 requires a TPM - and how to get around thatTo get started, you'll need to download the Windows 11 ISO and supply a USB flash drive of at least 16 GB in size. You will reformat this drive as part of the process, so back up any data on that drive first.Download Rufus from the developer's site and run the app. (The version of Rufus availablefrom the Microsoft Storewill not work for this task.) Choose the USB drive and then choose the "Disk or ISO image" option.Click the Select button, choose the Windows 11 ISO you downloaded earlier, and then click Start.In the Windows User Experience dialog, select the first checkbox to remove hardware requirements, as shown in the screenshot below.Click OK to begin creating the drive. Be sure to choose the top checkbox here to bypass the compatibility check for the Windows 11 upgrade. Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNETAfter Rufus successfully creates your installer, open that USB drive in File Explorer, and double-click Setup.As is the case with the other option, you'll see a warning about compatibility issues. It's a scare tactic. (For details on what that warning message really means, see"Is Microsoft really going to cut off security updates for your 'unsupported' Windows 11 PC?") After you click Accept on that dialog box, your upgrade should proceed without any serious issues.Also:Microsoft blocked your Windows 11 upgrade? This trusty tool can (probably) fix thatMy ZDNET colleague Lance Whitney has more details on the other options available with Rufus in "How to install Windows 11 the way you want (and bypass Microsoft's restrictions)." If you've tried this upgrade, I want to hear about your experience. If it worked, please share the details. If you run into snags, send me an email so we can figure out what's going wrong. Be sure to include details -- the make and model of your PC and screenshots of any error messages. I've set up a special inbox just for this feedback: Win11Upgrade [at] realworldwindows.com.This article was originally published on April 9, 2022, but has been updated multiple times since then. It was last updated on November 18, 2024.Windows

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 15: Jake Paul prepares in the locker room at LIVE On Netflix: Jake Paul ... [+] vs. Mike Tyson at AT&T Stadium on November 15, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images for Netflix 2024)Getty Images for Netflix 2024Jake Paul easily out-boxed 58-year-old Mike Tyson in the main event of a historic live sports extravaganza on Netflix on Friday. Now, another boxing legend says hed be interested in entertaining an offer to fight Paul.Former light heavyweight, super middleweight, and pound-for-pound champion Andre Ward has said hed talk about a fight with Paul. However, Paul has to say my name, Ward said, to start things.Ward said this while he went live on Instagram as he was walking back to his hotel from AT&T Stadium after the Tyson-Paul fight. Ward was a part of Netflixs massive crossover panel.In the video, he gives his take on the fight but discusses what it would take for him to come out of retirement for a scrap with Paul.Ward retired at the age of 33 back in 2017.While the 40-year-old is considered an all-time great, Id contend he is one of the most underrated fighters of the past 30 years. The Oakland, California native walked away from the sport with a record of 32-0 with 16 KOs. As a professional, Ward scored victories over world champions like Sergey Kovalev (twice), Sakio Bika, Carl Froch, Chad Dawson, Arthur Abraham, and Mikkel Kessler.MORE FOR YOUWard won the Super Six World Boxing Classic for 168-pounders, which saw him solidify his place among the elite fighters of his generation. As an amateur, Ward won an Olympic gold medal at the 2004 Athens Games. He is the last American male to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport.Ward is now the chief content officer for All The Smoke Sports, a fast-rising YouTube-based platform that spun off from Showtime Sports. On the ATSS YouTube channel, Ward hosts an interview show that has already had major guests like Terence Crawford, Eddie Hearn, Devin Haney, and others. While not nearly as famous as Tyson, Ward is well known, and his current platform could provide enough push to get Paul to entertain the fight.The one issue folks who are hoping to see the clash is the risk factor. Paul has been highly selective with opponents in his boxing career. Hes only fought three active boxers in his professional career and is 2-1 against those opponents. Paul scored KO wins over Andre August and Ryan Bourland but lost a split decision to Tommy Fury in February 2023. While Ward hasnt fought since 2017, he still might be the favorite over Paul.Ward has seemingly stayed in excellent shape despite his absence from the ring. He was also one of the slickest and most technically sound boxers in the world. Unless his skills have vastly eroded, he would be far and away the best fighter Paul will have faced. Would Paul risk taking a loss against a 40-year-old retired fightereven one as good and respected as Ward? I have my doubts. It seems more likely Paul fruitlessly chases a fight with Canelo Alvarez.Despite the easy and massive payday Canelo could take home, it doesnt seem possible he will take Pauls bait. Well wait to see if Paul picks up what Ward is putting down.

Dyshidrosis, also known as acute vesiculobullous hand eczema, is an irritation of the hands or feet, ... [+] characterized by blisters on the skin. (Photo by: BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesIndustrialization might have spurred economic development and technological advancements in some parts of the world but it has also left billions of people breathing in polluted air. While air pollution is most commonly associated with respiratory issues, a new study has found that it might also wreak havoc on your skin. The study findings revealed that people who live in places with high levels of air pollution are more likely to have eczema. They particularly identified fine particulate matter as a risk factor. Particulate matter pollution refers to a combination of soil or dust particles, acids, organic chemicals, and metals floating around in the lower atmosphere of any region.The prevalence of eczema has increased with industrialization. Industrial practices generate ambient air pollution, including fine particulate matter of diameter less than 2.5m (PM2.5), the researchers wrote in the study. The odds of eczema increased with greater PM2.5 concentration in our large, diverse, adult American cohort. Ambient air pollution is an environmental hazard that influences inflammatory skin disease.The researchers analyzed the data of 286,862 adults from the All of UsBoth PM2.5-exposed skin cells and skin of patients with eczema exhibit oxidative damage. Our finding of an approximately two-fold increased risk of eczema per 10 g/m3 rise in PM2.5 is clinically relevant as well as actionable, as the United States Environmental Protection Agencys Air Quality Index (AQI), they explained.Individuals with eczema may be at elevated risk for disease exacerbation or acute flares when AQI reaches the moderate category (12.135.4 g/m3 ) compared to the good category (0-12 g/m3), with risk increasing at even higher AQI, the authors added. When AQI reaches levels of moderate or worse, patients may be advised to stay indoors, filter indoor air, or cover exposed skin outdoors.MORE FOR YOUThe study was published in PLoS One on November 13, 2024.According to the World Health Organization, ambient air pollution exposure was associated with 4.2 million deaths in 2019. Prior studies have reported that high concentrations of PM2.5 and particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less (PM10) in the air could also lead to the development and exacerbation of atopic dermatitis, skin aging, and skin allergies.In a 2021 study published in the Annals of Dermatology, researchers based in South Korea highlighted that increased particulate matter concentrations might contribute to facial redness and uneven skin tone even in healthy human skin."As the largest outermost surface of the human body, the skin is constantly exposed to the environment. Overall, particulate matter is related to inflammatory skin diseases via skin barrier dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation," wrote a group of Chinese researchers in a 2023 study."The effects of antioxidants, vitamin D, and microbiota regulation strategies on inflammatory diseases caused by PM are beneficial," they added.

Key takeawaysA smart whale sold 850,000 Dogwifhat (WIF) tokens, sparking market speculation and a 15% price drop.The whale swapped WIF for SOL, booking $7.5 million in profits.Despite the large sale, the whale still holds 50,000 WIF, worth $175K.Whale Dumps 850,000 Dogwifhat TokensA large Dogwifhat (WIF) token holder created a buzz in the crypto market by selling a significant portion of its holdings.According to on-chain data from Lookonchain, the whale dumped 850,000 WIF tokens, causing an intraday price crash of 15%. This large-scale sell-off caught traders attention and sparked conversations about whether WIF has reached its peak in the current market cycle.The whale didnt just dump the tokens and walk away. Instead, they swapped the 850,000 WIF for 15,987 Solana (SOL) tokens, worth approximately $3.4 million at the time.The trade allowed the whale to book an impressive $7.5 million profit, a clear sign of a strategically planned exit. Despite selling a huge chunk of their holdings, the whale still retains 50,000 WIF, valued at about $175,000.Investors Speculate Over Future of WIF After Whales ExitThis massive profit-taking move has caused some concern among investors, making many wonder if this marks the top of WIFs price rally.Some traders fear that this whale move could be a signal that the meme coins recent bull run is coming to an end.However, others are still optimistic, noting that the whale still holds a portion of WIF, which may suggest that they havent fully given up on the tokens potential.Adding to the speculation, the whale has also recently made profits on other tokens. They bought 1.74 million PNUT tokens using 3,800 SOL, resulting in an unrealized profit of $2.07 million.This success with the PNUT token, alongside holdings in GIGACHAD and Chaos and Disorder, shows that the Whale is actively managing their crypto portfolio.Despite the uncertainty surrounding WIF, the crypto market optimism following Donald Trumps victory may support WIF and other meme tokens.WIFs Price Action and Market ReactionsFollowing the whales sell-off, Dogwifhats price plummeted 16% in just 24 hours. The tokens trading volume also dipped by 55.50%, down to $1.79 billion for the day, according to CoinMarketCap.This sharp decline reflects the sudden loss of market confidence partly triggered by the whales massive sale.Additionally, Coinglass data showed a significant drop in Dogwifhat futures open interest (OI), which fell by 11% to $639.02 million. The derivatives trading volume also plunged 49%, signaling a broader loss of interest from investors in both spot and futures markets.While these numbers may seem alarming, its important to note that the token has remained bullish in the past week. CoinMarketCap data recorded an increase of more than 54% within this period.The recent whale action serves as a reminder of how quickly things can change in the volatile world of meme coins. Nevertheless, with the crypto market still largely bullish, the potential for future gains cannot be entirely ruled out.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Rida is a dedicated crypto journalist with a passion for the latest developments in the cryptocurrency world. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to thorough research, she delivers timely and insightful news articles that keep her readers informed about the rapidly evolving digital economy. View all articles by Rida Fatima Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Key takeawaysSG-FORGE is launching EURCV, a MiCA-compliant euro stablecoin, on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) next year.Despite having regulatory backing, EURCV has faced challenges in adoption, with a total issuance of just 38 million compared to Circles 92 million EUR Coin.Many financial institutions are exploring stablecoins, and SG-FORGEs move reflects a broader shift toward blockchain-powered global payments.Socit Gnrales SG-FORGE to Launch EURCV Euro Stablecoin on XRP LedgerSG-FORGE, the digital asset arm of prominent French bank Socit Gnrale, is preparing to launch a euro-pegged stablecoin called EUR CoinVertible (EURCV). EURCV will comply with the EUs MiCA regulations.The company announced its plan to launch this stablecoin on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) next year. This move is part of a larger strategy to make EURCV available on multiple blockchains.Currently, EURCV operates on Ethereum and Solana, and by adding the XRP Ledger to its list, SG-FORGE aims to expand its reach across different platforms.SG-FORGE first launched EUR CoinVertible (EURCV) on Ethereum in 2023. It aimed to compete with popular dollar-pegged stablecoins like Tethers USDT and Circles USDC.In September, the firm expanded to Solana and is now introducing the MiCA-compliant stablecoin to the XRP Ledger (XRPL).Despite having regulatory backing, EURCV has faced challenges in gaining broad adoption. Its total issuance stands at just 38 million, much smaller than the 92 million in EUR Coin issued by Circle.However, SG-FORGE has continued to expand, focusing on the XRP Ledger as part of its multi-chain strategy. It decided to integrate EURCV on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) to help boost its adoption.The XRP Ledger is known for its scalability, speed, and low transaction costs. SG-FORGE believes these features will help expand EURCVs use, especially for cross-border payments and tokenization.The XRP Ledger offers fast settlement times and affordable transactions, which SG-FORGE considers necessary for institutional use cases like payments. The network is already home to over 1,750 unique applications and exchanges.Ripples XRP Ledger Boosts Institutional Use with EURCV IntegrationSince its launch in 2012, the XRPL has processed over 2.8 billion secure transactions and supports more than 5 million active wallets. Following its deployment on XRPL, EURCV will use Ripples custody services for its issuance, ensuring security and reliability.Markus Infanger, Senior VP at Ripple, said integrating trusted, banking-grade stablecoin like EURCV on the XRPL is key for supporting institutional use cases, especially payments.Moreover, payments are still a major focus for Ripple, and adding stablecoins helps enhance this area.SG-FORGEs decision is part of a larger trend where traditional financial institutions are exploring stablecoins to make global payments easier and faster. Therefore, as regulations around stablecoins continue to evolve, more institutions are interested in issuing their stablecoins.For example, Ripple is developing its own stablecoin, RLUSD, backed by the U.S. dollar. This stablecoin is reportedly ready for use and awaits approval from the New York Department of Financial Services.Also, Spanish bank BBVA plans to issue a stablecoin on Ethereum next year via a partnership with Visas tokenization platform.In October, the Central Bank of the UAE approved AED Stablecoin LLC to launch AE Coin. This will be the UAEs first dirham-backed stablecoin. AE Coin aims to offer blockchain-powered payments with transparent reserves.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Rida is a dedicated crypto journalist with a passion for the latest developments in the cryptocurrency world. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to thorough research, she delivers timely and insightful news articles that keep her readers informed about the rapidly evolving digital economy. View all articles by Rida Fatima Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.