2024 has seen a string of unlikely events. Eternally in-fighting Britpop band Oasis reformed and set its sights on a world tour, human-sized Cheeto Donald Trump secured a second term in the White House, and Valve announced that it was finally releasing the Steam Deck into the Australian market, delighting Aussie gamers and likely putting the noses of grey importers firmly out of joint. As of earlier this week those Aussie Steam Decks have started shipping out directly from Valves local warehouse complete with an Aussie power supply and sold at a price point that substantially undercuts the inflated charges of every grey importer we checked at the time of writing. So, if you were planning on getting a Steam Deck then buying one directly from Steam is a no-brainer, but two and a half years after the systems original launch do you want to buy one at all?Lets rewind a little. When the original LCD Steam Deck launched in February, 2022, IGNs reviewer Seth G. Macy said:Steam Deck (LCD) ReviewPlayWhen the Steam Deck is living up to its promises, it's absolutely incredible. Playing GTA 5, God of War, and other modern games on the go is an absolute joy, and the hardware and controls feel good to hold even though its a big chubby boy of a handheld. It seriously impressed me with how nice some demanding modern games look on its 7-inch screen. But those dizzying highs are all too often snapped away by insurmountable compatibility issues with SteamOS, and installing Windows to get around those comes with its own set of problems. Ive lost count of how often Ive been left frustrated and annoyed to have to troubleshoot issues when trying to play a game for the first time. Battery life is another major buzzkill if youre not careful with each games settings you can blow through a full charge faster than a train ride from Boston to Manhattan. Sure, itll last a lot longer if all you want is to play low-power indies, but in that case the Switch is a smoother experience for less money. So while I can certainly recommend the Steam Deck with some major caveats, including a noisy fan and comparably long loading times, Im definitely not as head-over-heels in love with it as I hoped Id be when I first opened the box. Seth G. Macy, February 26, 2022Score: 7Read the full Steam Deck (LCD) review hereIts worth pointing out that a lot has changed in the couple of years since. Valve has rolled out hundreds of system updates to the Deck, improving everything from software compatibility to increasing battery life and even minimising the whine of the internal fan, no hardware mods required. In late 2023 it also introduced a second SKU, the Steam Deck OLED, which introduced a slightly larger and eminently more vibrant screen, as well as a slightly beefier battery among other tweaks to the hardware. Heres what IGNs reviewer Bo Moore said at the time of the Steam Deck OLEDs North American launch:Steam Deck (OLED) ReviewPlayThe Steam Deck OLED is a clear, across-the-board improvement on what was already a fantastic gaming handheld. Steam Deck has matured greatly since it launched, and though there will always be some holes in its catalog that dont work out of the box, the fact that you can easily play 2023 games like Diablo 4, Baldurs Gate 3, and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty on the go with few compromises make it a fantastic way to clear your backlog when youre away from your main PC. The OLED model brings hardware tweaks beyond the absolutely gorgeous screen. The real star of the show is the improved battery life, which puts the Steam Deck significantly more clearly in the portable category than simply a handheld device that youll need to keep plugged in most of the time. Add in a slew of small but altogether significant improvements, combined with twice as much storage at the same price, and the Steam Deck OLED is a fantastic device thats an obvious choice for anyone looking to get into handheld PC gaming. Heck, if youre constantly running down the battery on your current Steam Deck, it might even be a big enough deal to consider upgrading. Bo Moore, September 12, 2023.Score: 9Read the full Steam Deck (OLED) review hereThe Steam Deck is launching in Australia with three different SKUs: the 256GB LCD model for $649, the 512GB OLED model for $899, and the 1TB OLED model for $1049. The 512GB OLED model would appear to be the sweet spot, since it boasts both the better screen and larger battery capacity, and should 512GB of SSD storage prove to be too restrictive in this era of ever-growing game installation sizes its worth noting that all three Steam Decks can be expanded with increasingly affordable microSD cards. You can also open up your Steam Deck and swap out the SSD if youre tech savvy enough, although Valve doesnt recommend it and doing so may void your warranty even within the comfy embrace of Australias considerable consumer protection laws.The OLED models provide a number of other advantages over the base LCD model too theyre around 50g lighter which translates to a surprisingly more comfortable system to hold, the back paddle buttons feel a little firmer, and the speakers sound a little clearer at higher volumes. But beyond these tweaks (and there are a number of others), the OLED screen is just a substantial step up from LCD, and one worth paying the additional $250 for.PlayWhat About the Competition?A lengthy delay to the Steam Decks local launch has given a headstart to the likes of ASUS and Lenovo to make a play for the commute-based gaming time of Australians. However, despite the fact that the ASUS Rog Ally and Legion Go may promise higher resolution displays and terror-inducing terraflop counts, most of them are hamstrung by their reliance on Windows for their operating system. And to speak plainly, Windows might be okay powering your desktop PC or Xbox, but its presently pretty unwieldy to work with on a gaming handheld. Updates to make its UI better optimised for handheld gaming are supposedly on the way, but at the moment these devices are just too painful to use compared with the more console-like experience of SteamOS on the Deck.SteamOSs UI is snappy and easy to navigate, and to be honest so many of its initial rough edges have been smoothed out by this point that its very difficult to find fault with it. Since receiving a review unit from Valve a couple of weeks ago, the Steam Deck has quickly become a terrific tool for trawling back through my gaming pile of shame. Games that Ive pushed to the side in recent years in favour of making time on the couch for hardware-pushing AAA titles have finally grabbed my attention either in short bursts on the couch while Im waiting for a pot to boil or in lengthier sessions on train rides, and Ive finally been able to make time for the likes of Dave the Diver, Dead Cells, as well as more recent releases like Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. Steam Deck OLED PhotosAt the same time, Ive also been chipping away at Rockstars recently released Red Dead Redemption PC port, which runs brilliantly on the Deck with visuals that are substantially sharper than those found in the comparatively smudgey Switch version. Surprisingly, despite the fact that only around 10 per cent of games on the Steam store are deemed either playable or verified on the Deck, Im yet to find many games that I want to play that dont work officially verified or not. Even both Silent Hill 2 and Horizon Forbidden West, which are currently listed on Steam as being unsupported, seem to run fairly smoothly on the Steam Deck with a little bit of tweaking to the settings, for example. That said, there are some obvious limitations to the hardware. The screen resolution is only 1280x800, which is certainly sharp enough for the Steam Decks seven-inch screen, and it also means the systems GPU doesnt have to push as many pixels as your desktop PC or gaming console. However, some more graphics intensive games struggle to hit even that relatively low resolution, with the likes of Hogwarts Legacy a little soft in their presentation. Even so, while you cant go into the Steam Deck expecting it to handle absolutely everything you can throw at it, but if youre anything like me you might be surprised at just how capable this sexy lapwarming slab can be in most cases.PlayThere is of course the question of a potential Steam Deck 2. Valve has indicated that its working on a handheld successor, but in an interview with Reviews.org last month, designer Lawrence Yang said that his team wants to wait for a generational leap in compute without sacrificing battery life before we ship the real second generation of Steam Deck. Just how long this generational leap will take to arrive is anyones guess, but youd have to assume that the shiny new Steam Deck you pickup in November 2024 is unlikely to be superseded any time within the next couple of years at least. (Or indeed, dull new Steam Deck if you spring for the top of the line 1TB OLED model with the matte finish on its display.) So is the Steam Deck still worth it as of November, 2024? I would argue yes. Though it may lack the power to run some of this years beefiest titles like Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 at a playable framerate, it still supports a staggering number of games enough to fill up thousands of train rides or trips to the toilet and, should you opt for an OLED model, it runs them with enough battery life that youll rarely feel the need to be tethered to a USB power cord. Australians should rightly feel aggrieved that weve had to wait this long to buy a Steam Deck without resorting to eBay sellers or relying on American friends to ship one over to us, but theres an upside here two and a half years of system updates and one hardware refresh means that those of us who waited will be getting our first hands on with the Steam Deck in its most optimal form. Tristan Ogilvie is a senior video editor at IGN's Sydney office. He's increasingly afraid of social media, but on the rare occasion he does tweet you can find him here.

When audiences return to Romes Colosseum for Ridley Scotts Gladiator II they will surely be entertained by the spectacle of warriors fighting for their livesand for the fickle attention spans of Roman emperors and an angry public. Its WWE 200 A.D.. Much like its Oscar-winning predecessor Gladiator, Gladiator II is a story of an unlikely hero from humble beginnings who wants to rain bloody vengeance upon an empires elite. In that regard, Paul Mescals Lucius is not so different from Maximus, the titular gladiator played by Russell Crowe. But what many fans might not know is that Maximus was almost Gladiator IIs main character. despite his death at the end of the first movie.There were indeed several attempts to get a sequel to the 2000 blockbuster made over the years, but one script gained special notoriety for its religious themes, which were characteristic of Scotts other output post-Gladiator. But it took that subject matter to a heightened and supernatural extreme. Yes, there is a completed Gladiator II script that continued Maximus quest for revenge beyond his own death, beyond ancient Rome, and against the most unlikely adversary of all Jesus Christ.And it all began with a phone call between Russell Crowe and fellow Aussie and friend, rock singer Nick Cave.Nick Cave Goes to RomeCave is most known for fronting Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, whose biggest hit song is Red Right Hand, a dark, sexy tune familiar to anyone who loves the Scream franchise, The X-Files, or Peaky Blinders. Caves songs were often full of Old Testament fire and brimstone, and his script for The Proposition, a 2005 gory neo-WesternAround that same time, Scott was working on a Gladiator sequel with original screenwriter John Logan that had nothing to do with Maximus or even gladiators. Crowe, however, was eager to present the director with a sequel he could still star in. The Academy Award-winning actor was so taken with Caves writing he enlisted the songwriter to sort out the little matter of Maximus death and come up with a new fight for the resurrected Roman general.Maximus Is the Christ-KillerChrist-Killer, the 2001 screenplays working title, began with Maximus waking up in a dark purgatory on the shores of a black ocean where the dying Roman gods fight one another. It is these petty deities who also tell Maximus that he must kill Hephaestos. While in the Roman-Greco tradition Hephaestos is the God of Fire and Blacksmithing, he has lately been spreading the troublesome gospel of a new monotheistic Christian God. So Hephaestos (and Christianity) must die if Maximus is to be reunited with his wife in the wheatfields of Elysium, where the sun always shines and Lisa Gerrard forever warbles. If that sounds bizarre already, wait until you and Maximus learn that his wife was able to plead with the gods to restore their seven-year-old son back to life!This all sets up Maximus returning to Ancient Rome 20 years after his death in the arena. There he reunites with his best friend Juba (Djimon Hounsou would ideally reprise his role) and his son Marius, now a grown man and Christian convert, at a time when Rome was executing followers of the new religion. Maximus gets embroiled in the war between the persecuted Christians and Roman authorities and faces off against Lucius, now a corrupt leader like his Uncle Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Lucius is especially determined to stamp out Christianity after his mother Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) was stoned to death for her new religious fervor.While Maximus, disappointingly, never actually crosses swords with Jesus, he does double-cross the Greco-Roman gods by training Marius and the Christians as soldiers to rebel against the Roman Empire, and thus the old gods. Because Maximus choice allows the teaching of Jesus to spreadand especially because Maximus trained the Christians to use violence instead of peaceful resistanceMaximus is forbidden to return to Elysium and reunite with his wife. Instead he is gifted immortal life as an eternal warrior that will forever doom humanity by encouraging warfare.This concept is visualized literally with a frenetic montage of Maximus leading an army not only in Ancient Rome, but Persia during the Crusades, among tanks in World War I, and into the jungles of Vietnam. The final scene leaves Maximus sitting at a head of a meeting table in the Pentagon, hunched over a laptop and planning a present-day war.Why It Didnt Get MadeDont like it, mate, Crowe reportedly told Cave, who harbors no regrets.Speaking with Marc Marons WTF podcast, Cave called the rejected story a stone cold masterpiece, made with wild creative abandon because he was so certain that the screenplay would never actually get made. Cave continued to poke fun at his Gladiator experience, culminating in the outlandish music video for Heathen Child from his side project Grinderman, which features Cave and company dressed as gladiators, dancing over explosions.As utterly anti-commercial as Caves script was, one could see how it would fit alongside Scotts work in his post-Gladiator period, which seemed increasingly concerned with confronting faith. The director has described himself as an atheist, but his post-Gladiator output seems to be less against spirituality than against corrupt organized religion as films like Kingdom of Heaven, Robin Hood, and Exodus: Gods and Kings suggest. Prometheus and Alien: Covenant similarly place spiritual faith as equal to scientific knowledge, perhaps even marking it as more important. Those recent Alien movies also depict the divine originating away from human-adjacent creatures, whether its off-world Engineers or the incalculable intelligence of a sentient android.Scott himself recently called the Christ-Killer script bloody silly, but Gladiator II does share some distant DNA with it. Caves script also revisited the Roman Colosseum with a naval battle in the flooded arena, where crocodiles replaced the final movies sharks. Scott also gives a more overt nod to one Cave idea he genuinely enjoyed: the moonlit shores of the river Styx where Lucius dreams of his dead wifes soul. This provides a new, darker vision of the afterlife.Read more As epic as Maximus versus Jesus might have been, for all the bombast and pageantry a Ridley Scott sword and sandals already drama contains, perhaps Scotts depiction of eternity doesnt need its own competing storyline, with a large cast of gods and audience-fave characters like Maximus transformed into pawns for an evil, unwinnable forever war.The emotional core of the Gladiator is a simpler, more universal story of grieving warriors where brief visions of the afterlife exist to remind the hero that he must fight for the concepts that represent the best of humanity: strength and honor, family and love.

SummaryPlay Genshin Impact, the open-world adventure RPG for free today on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming and claim the Wings of Fates Course Intertwined.Game Pass Ultimate members can enjoy recurring bonuses with each major version update.Explore the newest map expansion of Natlan, and command the power of the skies to move and fight in mid-airGenshin Impact, the open-world adventure RPG, has officially arrived on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming, launching alongside Version 5.2 Tapestry of Spirit and Flame. Travelers can now begin or continue their journey through the world of Teyvat on Xbox, experiencing the latest stories and gameplay updates, along with exclusive, limited-time rewards! Plus, Game Pass Ultimate members can begin to claim recurring bonuses that will come with every major version update from here on out. Read on for all the details.An Immersive Adventure on XboxAs a Traveler from another world, your journey begins in the visually stunning and culturally rich world of Teyvat. In search of your long-lost sibling, youll explore the seven major nations of Teyvat, each with its unique landscapes, history, people, creatures, mysteries, and gameplay.Xbox Series X|S is now ready to bring this massive fantasy world to life with vivid details, offering world-class console experiences, where players can enjoy HDR support on both consoles and 4K resolution on the Xbox Series X. Additionally, Game Pass Ultimate members can play on a variety of devices they already own via Xbox Cloud Gaming.Special Bonuses for XboxSpecial rewards are also available for Xbox players. Travelers who reach Adventure Rank 2 will receive the Wings of Fates Course Intertwined as a gift in their in-game mailbox upon logging into Genshin Impact on Xbox.Furthermore, Game Pass Ultimate members can enjoy special bonuses, with recurring rewards available with each major version update. These rewards can be claimed from your in-game mailbox, starting today with a bundle of useful items:Intertwined Fate 2Northlander Billet Trove 1Heros Wit 10Mora 100,000Mystic Enhancement Ore 15Please note that rewards will be subject to change with future updates.Play Genshin Impact Your WayGenshin Impact offers a vast world, and the journey is yours to shape. The seven Elements that flow throughout the world are key to defeating powerful enemies, solving challenging puzzles, reaching various locations, and uncovering the rich lore of Teyvat. By triggering Elemental Reactions combining specific elemental effects on targets you can deal extra damage or affect your surroundings in creative ways.The world of Genshin Impact is constantly evolving, with new landscapes, playable characters, stories, events, and diverse gameplay styles being introduced regularly. In addition to world exploration and Story Quests, players can enjoy limited-time challenges, mini-games, and long-term gameplay like card games and housing systems. Meanwhile, you can journey alongside over 90 playable characters, each with unique abilities and personalities.While Genshin Impact offers an immersive single-player experience, you can also team up with friends for multiplayer adventures. The game supports cross-play and cross-progression across platforms including Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Android, iOS, and the Epic Games Store. The game now supports 15 text languages and 4 voice-over languages, allowing players to enjoy it in their preferred language.Fly and Play Like DragonsThis summer, Genshin Impact introduced its sixth major nation, Natlan, where humans coexist with powerful local dragons known as Saurians. Known as the Nation of War, Natlan offers unique gameplay opportunities, allowing you to recruit elite warriors or transform into Saurians to enhance your movement abilities whether its swimming swiftly through liquid and lava, soaring through the air, burrowing underground, or scaling cliff walls.With the release of Version 5.2, new Saurian companions and powerful warriors Chasca and Ororon are introduced, along with the tribes and lands they hail from. Soon, youll command the power of skies to move and fight in mid-air, and explore an ancient, ruined city that towers into the clouds.Genshin Impact is now available on Xbox, with more waiting for you to discover in the world of Teyvat. We look forward to seeing you very soon!Genshin ImpactCOGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.Get it nowXbox Game PassGenshin Impact is an open-world adventure RPG. In the game, set forth on a journey across a fantasy world called Teyvat. In this vast world, you can explore seven nations, meet a diverse cast of characters with unique personalities and abilities, and fight powerful enemies together with them, all on the way during your quest to find your lost sibling. You can also wander freely, immersing yourself in a world filled with life, and let your sense of wonder lead you to uncover all of its mysteries Until you are at long last reunited with your lost sibling and bear witness to the culmination of all things at the end of your journey. Genshin Impact is a free-to-play game. You do not need to purchase Game Pass Ultimate or Core to play the game in Co-Op Mode. Players with a Game Pass Ultimate subscription can receive in-game bundles upon the game's launch and after subsequent version updates, as well as play Genshin Impact on Xbox Cloud Gaming.

If youre not too busy taking off for the skies in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 today, may we interrupt your flight with these games? We have a selection of day one games, game benefits, indies, and more. What can we get started for you (aka: what will you put in your download queue first)?Available TodayMicrosoft Flight Simulator 2024 (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) November 19Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassAvailable on day one! From Xbox Game Studios and Asobo Studios, pursue your aviation career with dynamically generated missions, compete against other pilots, and explore the most detailed digital twin of the world to date. Set out on your global adventure with our largest fleet of aircraft as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 takes simulation to new heights of authenticity and realism.Coming SoonS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) November 20Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassAvailable on day one! Discover the vast Chornobyl Exclusion Zone full of dangerous enemies, deadly anomalies, and powerful artifacts. Unveil your own epic story as you make your way to the Heart of Chornobyl. Choose your paths wisely, as they will determine your fate and shape the future of humankind in the end.Little Kitty, Big City (Console) November 20Now with Game Pass StandardAvailable with Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and now coming to Game Pass Standard members. In this open-world playground, youre a curious little kitty with a big personality on an adventure to find your way back home. Explore the city, make new friends with stray animals, wear delightful hats, and leave more than a little chaos in your wake. After all, isnt that what cats do best?PlateUp! (Console) November 20Now with Game Pass StandardComing soon to Game Pass Standard, PlateUp! brings classic cooking action with permanent rogue-lite progression. Cook and serve your dishes, design and decorate your restaurants, and expand your culinary kingdom with unlocks, abilities and dishes in procedurally generated layouts. Take on the challenge solo or hire up to 3 friends.Nine Sols (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) November 26Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassNine Sols is a lore-rich, hand-drawn 2D action-platformer with Sekiro-inspired, deflection-based combat. Embark on a journey through an Asia-inspired fantasy world, explore a land once ruled by an ancient alien race, and follow a vengeful hero on a quest to slay the 9 Solsthe powerful rulers of this forsaken realm.Aliens: Dark Descent (Cloud, Console, and PC) November 27Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass StandardIn Aliens: Dark Descent, command a squad of hardened Colonial Marines to stop a terrifying Xenomorph outbreak on Moon Lethe. Lead your soldiers in real-time combat against iconic Xenomorphs, rogue operatives from the insatiable Weyland-Yutani Corporation, and a host of horrifying creatures new to the Alien franchise.Genshin Impact Benefits Coming to Game Pass Ultimate on November 20Go on an adventure in the fantasy world of Teyvat in this free-to-play open-world adventure RPG on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) with Game Pass Ultimate including full native touch-controls. Game Pass Ultimate members will receive recurring rewards via their in-game mailbox, starting off with 2 Intertwined Fate, 1 Northlander Billet Trove, 10 Heros Wit, 100,000 Mora, and 15 Mystic Enhancement Ore in-game to celebrate the release on November 20!In Case You Missed ItSpyro Reignited Trilogy (Cloud, Console, and PC) Available nowGame Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass StandardThe original roast master is now on Game Pass! Same sick burns, same smoldering attitude, now all scaled up in stunning HD! Rekindle the fire with the original three games, Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Riptos Rage!, and Spyro: Year of the Dragon, all in fully-remastered glory.DLC / Game UpdatesCall of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone Season 01 Available nowReady to wreak havoc? The Black Ops 6 era is here with Season 01. Prepare for a vast new season of content with six Multiplayer maps including a festive Nuketown variant, seven new weapons, a brand-new Zombies map, and full Call of Duty: Warzone integration alongside the debut of Area 99 in the new Resurgence map.New League of Legends Champion: Ambessa, the Matriarch of War Available nowFrom Arcane to the Rift, Ambessa is ready to dominate all in her path. Unlock League of Legends newest top laner instantly with Xbox Game Pass.Celebrate Arcane Season 2 in Valorant Available until December 5Celebrate the release of Arcanes second season on Netflix by putting on Vis Atlas Gauntlets or causing some chaos with Jinxs Fishbones-themed Vandal skin.Xbox Game Pass Ultimate PerksThe Elder Scrolls Online: 10-Year Anniversary Pack #4 Available NowCelebrate 10 years of ESO with the 10-Year Anniversary Pack #4! This bundle includes 2 Grand Gold Coast Experience Scrolls, 1 Major Instant All Research Scroll, and 500 Seals of Endeavor. Claim your Perk today!Sea of Thieves: Festive Fighter Pack Available NowFor a limited time, claim the Festive Fighter Pack! Along with four weapons (blunderbuss, cutlass, pistol and Eye of Reach) themed around the Festival of Giving, youll also receive the Humble Gift and Mistletoe Emotes to express your holiday spirit.Leaving November 30Dont let the following games leave without a proper farewell! Dont forget to use your membership discount to save 20% on your purchase to keep them in your library.Conan Exiles (Cloud, Console, and PC)Coral Island (PC)Hello Neighbor 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)Remnant: From The Ashes (Cloud, Console, and PC)Rollerdrome (Cloud, Console, and PC)Soccer Story (Cloud, Console, and PC)Spirit of the North (Cloud, Console, and PC)The Walking Dead: The Final Season (PC)While the Irons Hot (Cloud, Console, and PC)As always, keep an eye on Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox for reminders when these coming soon announcements turn into play today! In the meantime, enjoy your time in the skies and well be back here soon. Cheers!

Jump to:Architecture in the 20th century was defined by a single dominant style: modernism. This design movement transformed the built environment by moving away from ornate, historical styles and embracing simplicity and functionality. In fact, the entire movement can be summed up by the adage form follows function.Modern architecture has given rise to some of the world's most distinctiveand sometimes polarizinglandmarks, from iconic skyscrapers to intimate residences. With insights from industry professionals, let's take a closer look at the enduring influence and significance of modernism architecture.Related StoriesWhat Is Modern Architecture?Modern (or modernist) architecture is the preeminent design movement of the 20th century in the Western world. It demonstrates a radical shift from historical architectural styles in favor of functional minimalism, using materials like steel, glass, and concrete. Its popularity peaked between the 1930s and 1970s, between the design movements of Art Deco and postmodernism. However, the roots and influence of modern architecture extend well beyond these dates. Modernism also encompasses quite a few subgenres of architecture, among them Bauhaus, International Style, and Brutalism.Related StoryWhat Is the History of Modern Architecture?Though modern architecture is a 20th-century movement, its roots can be traced back to the late 19th century, specifically to American architect Louis Sullivan. In an 1896 essay about skyscrapers, he coined the phrase form follows function, which eventually became the rallying cry of modernist architects everywhere. Modern architecture is rooted in the principle that the design of a building should prioritize the experience of those inhabiting it, focusing on simplicity, practicality, and minimal ornament, says architect and interior designer Lisa Welch.The rise of modern architecture was heavily influenced by the Industrial Revolution, which introduced new materials and technologies that allowed for innovative construction methods. Previously, the Victorian period of architecture of the late 1800s and early 1900s was dark, compartmentalized, and heavily ornamented, says architect Diana Melichar. The modern style of architecture embraced technology and the capabilities of the Industrial Revolution to provide a simpler architecture, devoid of costly detailing, and provided lots of light and air.European architects Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe were among the pioneers of modernism; they brought the movement to the United States as they fled World War II. Additionally, American architects, including Philip Johnson and Frank Lloyd Wright, championed modern architecture at home.Related StoryWhat Are the Key Characteristics of Modern Architecture?Le Corbusier codified modern architecture in his manifesto Five Points of Architecture. Those five points encompass the following: Pilotis, or concrete pillars that lift a building off the ground to provide circulation beneath itFree design of the floor plan, or an open floor planFree design of the faade, or reduced structural constraints in exterior wallsHorizontal windowsRoof gardensWhile other architects took liberty with these points, they were largely influenced by them. In addition to those mentioned in Le Corbusier's design credo, modernist architecture generally includes the features listed below.Minimal Ornamentation In modern architecture, ornamentation is minimized or eliminated, as are any references to traditional styles of architecture. This is a new design movement that represents the new, industrial world.New MaterialsModern architecture prioritizes industrial materials like steel, concrete, and glass. While these materials provided advanced structural capabilities, they were also considered beautiful.Clean, Horizontal Lines and Open Floor PlansNew materials and engineering techniques allowed modernist architects to employ clean, horizontal lines throughout their open-plan spaces.Connection With NatureGlass exterior walls allow for a great connection between inside and outdoor spaces, says Melichar. Hence, this style became quite popular in California and other locations where homes were being built after World War II. Related StoryHow Is Modern Architecture Different From Contemporary Architecture? When discussing architectural movements, it's important to distinguish between modern and contemporary, as these terms are not interchangeable. Modern architecture refers specifically to the 20th-century design movement and isn't related to current trends. Meanwhile, the term contemporary describes what is currently happening in architecture and design, reflecting present-day innovations and styles.Related StoryFamous Modern Buildings Around the WorldBauhaus Dessau, Dessau, GermanyVanni Archive//Getty ImagesMany of the leading modernist architects lectured at the Bauhaus school, housed in this building designed by Walter Gropius.Villa Savoye, Poissy, FranceThierry PERRIN//Getty ImagesVilla Savoye is widely regarded as a pure manifestation of Le Corbusiers vision for modernist architecture; all five points from his manifesto are exemplified here. The Glass House, New Canaan, Connecticutpicture alliance//Getty ImagesPhilip Johnsons Glass House is a striking example of minimalism, with expansive glass walls that bring nature directly into the living space. Melichar calls it a favorite, citing its humble simplicity and connection to nature.The Seagram Building, New York City, New YorkBarry Winiker//Getty ImagesThis iconic building, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson, is an example of the International Style, used frequently in skyscraper design. Interestingly, the architects didn't only use steel in its constructionthey used bronze on its faade.Maison de Verre, Paris, FranceRaphael GAILLARDE//Getty ImagesThe Maison de Verre by Pierre Chareau showcases an innovative use of glass blocks and open, flexible spaces. As Welch notes, the residence highlights the dynamic relationship between architecture and natural light.Fallingwater, Mill Run, PennsylvaniaArchive Photos//Getty ImagesPerhaps Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous work, Fallingwater is an ode to modernism, between its clean, horizontal lines and deep connection to nature. It's built directly above a waterfall.Eames House, Los Angeles, CaliforniaMark Boster//Getty ImagesThe Eames House by Charles and Ray Eames, also known as Case Study House No. 8, comprises two glass-and-steel structures: one is a residence and the other is a studio. Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

British scaleup Tokamak Energy has secured $125mn as it looks to harness fusion the same clean, virtually limitless energy source that powers the Sun and stars.Tokamak spun out from the UKs Atomic Energy Authority in 2009. As its name suggests, the company is building a tokamak reactor, the most common kind of fusion design, first pioneered in the 1960s. Tokamaks use giant magnets to keep plasma moving in a loop while running an electrical current through it.The funding brings the companys total raised to $335 million, comprising $280m from private investors and $60m from the UK and US governments. This makes it Europes most well-funded private fusion energy venture.Tokamak Energy said the fresh capital will help bolster its commercialisation plans. The company aims to have its first fusion power plant up and running somewhere in the 2030s.Register NowHowever, the funds will also go toward growing Tokamaks side hustle, TE Magnetics. The subsidiary develops superconducting magnets using rare earth barium copper oxide (REBCO) tape, enabling stronger magnetic fields to confine the plasma. Superconducting magnets are in demand not just in the fusion industry but in science, mobility, and renewable energy.East X Ventures and Lingotto Investment Management led the funding round with participation from new investors including British Patient Capital, Furukawa Electric Company, global maritime company BW Group and US-based Sabanci Climate Ventures.Our mission is to make fusion energy a reality, and we believe the only way to achieve that is through strong, global partnerships, said Tokamak Energy CEO Warrick Matthews, adding that the raise comes at a critical and exciting time for fusion development. To fulfil its ambitious timeline, Tokamak is hastily developing, testing, and validating its approach using its pilot reactor the ST40 housed at its headquarters in Oxford. The ST40 is a spherical tokamak, which is more compact than traditional donut-shaped reactors like the ITER fusion plant under construction in France. According to the company, this shape allows better confinement of the super-hot plasma where fusion occurs, making the reactor smaller, cheaper, and easier to build. In 2022, the ST40 became the first privately owned fusion reactor to reach 100 million C six times as hot as the core of our closest star. This is generally regarded as the temperature threshold whereby fusion reactions can become self-sustaining.Despite huge progress, fusion energy has always seemed to be that 20-years-away technology. But the tides might be changing. According to a poll at the International Atomic Energy Agencys (IAEA) forum in London earlier this year, 65% of insiders think fusion will generate electricity for the grid at a viable cost by 2035, and 90% by 2040.Once up and running, Tokamak intends for each of its reactors to produce around 500MW of clean electricity enough to power approximately 85,000 homes. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

For the past few months, Meta has been sending recipes to a Dutch scaleup called VSParticle (VSP). These are not food recipes theyre AI-generatedinstructions for how to make new nanoporous materials that could potentially supercharge the green transition.VSP has so far taken 525 of these recipes and synthesised them into nanomaterials called electrocatalysts. Metas algorithms predicted these electrocatalysts would be ideal for breaking down CO2 into useful products like methane or ethanol. VSP brought the machines predictions to life using a nanoprinter, a machine which vaporises materials and then deposits them as thin nanoporous films.Electrocatalysts speed up chemical reactions that involve electricity, such as splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, converting CO2 into fuels, or generating power in fuel cells. They make these processes more efficient, reducing the energy required and enabling clean energy technologies like hydrogen production and advanced batteries.The problem is that it typically takes scientists up to 15 years just to create one new nanomaterial until now.Weve synthesised, tested, and validated hundreds of nanomaterials at a scale and speed never seen before, Aaike van Vugt, co-founder and CEO of VSP, told TNW. This rapid prototyping gives researchers a quick way to validate AI predictions and discover low-cost electrocatalysts that might have taken years or even decades to find using traditional methods.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!VSP put each batch of the new materials in an envelope and shipped it to a lab at the University of Toronto for testing. The findings were then integrated into an open-source experimental database, which can now be used to train AI models to become more better at predicting new material combinations.Larry Zitnick, Research Director at Meta AI, said the research is breaking new ground in material discovery. It marks a significant leap in our ability to predict and validate materials that are critical for clean energy solutions, he said.The Alphafold of nanomaterial discovery?But to really crack the code for material discovery, AI models need to be trained on much larger datasets. Not hundreds but tens or even hundreds of thousands of tested materials.Van Vugt said that VSPs machine is the only technology available today that could synthesize such a large number of thin-film nanoporous materials in a reasonable time frame about two to three years, said the founder. This could create an AI that is the equivalent of Google Deepminds Alphafold, but for nanoporous materials, said Van Vugt. Hes referring, of course, to the breakthrough algorithm that cracked a puzzle in protein biology that had confounded scientists for centuries. If thats true, then it puts the company in a pretty sweet position. The worlds tech giants think Google, Microsoft, Meta are all racing to build bigger, better forms of artificial intelligence in a bid to find solutions to some of the worlds greatest challenges, including climate change. Ironically, these models could also think up solutions for their endless appetite for energy. For companies like Meta, investing in material discovery using AI is a win-win.VSP is working with many other organisations to build out its dataset and mature its technology. These include the Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, the San Francisco-based Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the Materials Discovery Research Institute (MDRI) in the Chicago area, and the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER).The Dutch firm is also fine-tuning its nanoprinters to be faster and more efficient. The current machines are powered by 300 sparks per second, but the team is working on a new printer that would increase this output time to 20,000 sparks per second. This could supercharge material discovery even further. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Compared to the iPhone and iPad, Apple Vision Pro has a limited number of apps available in the App Store. Even so, developers have been exploring the devices capabilities with different projects, one of which is the Formula 1 app Lapz. Unfortunately, the app may not even make it to the App Store.Developers create F1 app for Vision Pro, butFor those unfamiliar, Lapz is an app that lets Apple Vision Pro users watch F1 races on a virtual big screen while also being able to see the position of the drivers on a floating 3D model. The app was based on a concept video made by VFX artist John LePore to show what Vision Pro is capable of.Lapz has been distributed via TestFlight, as the developers still want to improve the app before making it available to everyone. Even so, the app has gotten a lot of attention since the beta version was released. However, as reported by UploadVR, the dream seems to be over or at least put on hold.Thats because the developers have been asked to pull the app from TestFlight. Not by Apple, but by Formula One Group. The most likely reason is the unlicensed use of F1 content and branding even though the app uses web views to let users log in to the official F1TV stream.The team behind Lapz say theyre working on securing a digital license to get the app working again. But for now, Lapz has been removed from TestFlight and current users will no longer have access to the app after February 8 when the current build will expire. The developers say they plan to license the app to other motorsport groups if they dont reach a deal with Formula One Group.Although Formula One Group has the right to ask for the app to be removed, its unfortunate that Vision Pro owners will lose another option for streaming content on the headset. Last month, the popular YouTube client Juno for Vision Pro was removed from the App Store after a request from Google.Its worth noting that neither F1 nor YouTube have official apps for visionOS.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

pCloud is a Switzerland-based cloud storage company with a security specialty. It offers lifetime options for its storage plans, and in an early Black Friday special its bundling cloud storage with client-side encryption and a truly encrypted password manager at a heavy discount.Features of the security-focused pCloud file storage, encryption, and password managerAmong cloud storage providers, pCloud has built a base of more than 20 million users with its high focus on security and ease of use.Every cloud storage plan includes 256-bit AES encryption for all files, plus TLS/SSL channel protection. pCloud runs two data centers, one in the US and the other in Luxembourg.Fortunately, you dont have to sacrifice convenience for the sake of security with pCloud. pCloud includes key features with its file storage service like:dedicated desktop apps for Mac, Windows, and Linuxmobile apps for iOS and Android with automatic upload featuresweb accessautomatic backupsrobust collaboration and file sharing optionsinstant sync across all platformsFor users who want an extra layer of protection, the add-on pCloud Encryption offers client-side encryption that locks your files right on your device. That means even pCloud itself cant access them.To test its client-side encryption software, pCloud held a hacking challenge with a $100,000 prize. The challenge ran six months, involved nearly 3,000 participants, and resulted in zero hacks.pClouds expertise in security also lends itself well to pCloud Pass, the companys dedicated password manager. pCloud Pass comes with autofill, browser extensions, a military-grade encryption algorithm, and easy access across all devices and platforms.Limited time Black Friday deals on lifetime plansBlack Friday is coming up, and from November 13-30 pCloud is running an extended offer on its services lifetime plans.The best offer is a 3-in-1 bundle of pClouds 5TB storage plan plus pCloud Encryption and pCloud Pass. You can get a lifetime package of all three for just $599, a massive 60% off.Alternately, these lifetime pCloud storage plans are also on sale:1TB: $199 (-54%)2TB: $279 (-53%)10TB: $799 (-58%)You can learn more about pClouds products and access these special offers via the companys website.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

"Our Hammer of Justice." He Said, She SaidFreshly-minted politico Elon Musk is throwing his weight behind Donald Trump's attorney general nominee amid damning allegations related to his sexual conduct.In a post on the social network he purchased and subsequently tanked, the billionaire referenced but did not namethe accusations against former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz: that he paid for sex from two young women on multiple occasions, and that one of them was 17 at the time of the first encounter (Gaetz has vehemently denied reports of his sexual misconduct for years.)"As for these accusations against him, I consider them worth less than nothing," Musk tweeted. "Under our laws, a man is considered innocent until proven guilty."That's true, of course but it seems reasonable to fully investigate the allegations before putting Gaetz, or anyone else, in charge of the Justice Department.Open and ShutMusk went on to reference, again without spelling it out, that Gaetz has been under investigation for years regarding these allegations."If AG [Eric] Garland (an unprincipled douchebag) could have secured a conviction against Gaetz, he would have, but he knew he could not," the multi-hyphenate business owner tweeted. "Case closed."That bit does seem partially true. Last February, the Department of Justice under Garland reportedly told Gaetz's attorneys that he would not be charged with any crimes related to its investigation into sex trafficking claims against him.To refer to that case as "closed," however, is likely inaccurate given that the DOJ hasn't announced any such closure.It also ignores theother investigation into Gaetz by the House Ethics Committee, which saw the two women at the heart of these allegations testifying behind closed doors earlier this year. That investigation is also, per the lack of any announcement of closure, seemingly still open as well.With an attorney for the two Gaetz accusers agitating for the House Ethics Committee to release its report on Gaetz to the public amid news that a hacker had obtained copies of the allegedly damning testimonies, no less all of Musk's attempts to sway the court of public opinion may soon be nil.Nevertheless, he insists that the Florida Republican is the right guy for the job."Gaetz will be," Musk enthused, "our Hammer of Justice."Share This Article