The term stagebound is familiar to anyone whos seen enough Hollywood adaptations of Broadway musicals. In the desire to get everything people like about a stage show into the movie, producers move heaven and boards to squeeze it all onto the screen, no matter how antithetical it might be to another medium.Jon M. Chu and Universal Pictures extravagant transfer of Stephen Schwartzs beloved Wicked musical is the opposite of that. Its something new. Not in terms of fidelity. Wicked the Movie is slavishly faithful about duplicating your favorite moments from Wicked the Showbut only half of that show. Aye, despite being marketed as simply Wicked, full-stop, this is actually an adaptation and expansion of merely Act One of the stage version. In a modern world where popular novels with mega-fanbases like Dune, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and the final Hunger Games installment all got divided by two, Wicked has essentially become the first expanded musical universe.The show is there, but so are elements taken directly from Gregory Maguires 1995 novel which never wouldve worked on the stage. For isntance, Professor Dillamond (Peter Dinklage) is a full-on goat now, organizing a talking-animal resistance against the rise of fascism in Oz. Meanwhile elements which were always part of the show, such as the cliquey nature of the Wicked Witch of the Wests academy days at Shiz University, are greatly built upon in a way apropos for a media landscape which has already taken 20 years worth of inspiration from Wicked and Harry Potter (see: Wednesday or Percy Jackson).So from a certain point of view, Wicked is the most thoroughly modern musical to come out of Hollywood in this century. But lest you read that as glib, rest assured it also remains as emotionally, and more importantly audibly, breathtaking as fans of the show will remember. With two powerhouse vocal performances by Ariana Grande and an especially devastating Cynthia Erivo, Wicked: Part One manages to levitate above whatever cynical commercial considerations weigh it down, or for that matter what any critic might have to say about those limitations. This thing is built to last as a monument to theater kids for generations to come, right down to a grandiose finale that will leave the youngest audiences feeling like theyre walking on air out of the theater.That magic begins by inverting the original Wizard of Oz story so thoroughly that its easy to speculate that this will become the definitive telling of Oz for millions to come. Like the stage show, Wicked begins where we traditionally associate the ending of L. Frank Baums story (and its 1939 movie). The Wicked Witch of the West is dead, and all of Oz is celebrating her melting. Munchkins dance along the Yellow Brick Road, children laugh and play in the poppy fields, and effigies of the green woman are all but burned by a crowd that gives Glinda the Good Witch (Grande, who is credited as Ariana Grande-Butera in the movie) serious pause. See, Glinda more than knew the Wicked Witch; she was her best friend back in college at Shiz, and she comes down from her flying bubble to tell the mob all about it.When Glinda met the woman who would become Wicked, things were different. For starters, Glinda went by her full-name of Galinda, and the Wicked Witch was simply Elphaba (Erivo), a studious and lonely young woman who initially is only on campus to see her sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode) off on her first day. Nessarose is wheelchair-bound and eager to conform. Elphaba claims to have zero interest in any such frivolity. She does, however, feel seen for the first time when headmistress Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) takes keen interest in Elphabas evident magical abilities. She recruits Elphaba to the school and forces her to be the roommate of the most popular, and seemingly shallow, girl in the freshman class, Galinda.Much of the rest of the film is about a mutual disdain between Galinda and Elphie (Galindas nickname for her roomie) gradually thawing into admiration and friendship. Galinda belts bubbly pop ballads about making Elphie Popular, and gets her to dance with the roguish bad boy of the school, Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), who doth protest too much when he sings a catchy anthem about setting low expectations by Dancing Through Life. Yet it all becomes radically secondary as Elphaba learns that Ozs talking animals are being scapegoated and worse by authorities. When she and Galinda are offered a chance to go to the Emerald City and meet Oz the Great and Terrible (Jeff Goldblum), Elphie hopes it is an opportunity to stop the rise of hate crimes against minorities. What she finds, however, is a revolution.Visually this is the most sumptuous Oz has looked onscreen since 1939. Director Chu and his production designer Nathan Crowley lean into the iconography of Hollywoods Golden Age when echoing the elements we are more than familiar with: yellow bricks and poppy fields that might as well be growing rubies. But when getting to color outside the lines, and even in spite of Wickeds stagey origins,Paul Tazewells costumes are similarly stunning, particularly in all the shades of pink applied to Grandes wardrobe, which runs the gamut from the familiar Good Witch gown to designer peignoirs. Its a luscious production, albeit the color-grading strangely seeks to mute a film that should have leaned harder into its oversaturated MGM influences.The designs of the film provide a beatific backdrop. Yet it is the movies old-fashioned theatrical impulses that prove to be its real superpower. Or, to put a finer point on it, Erivo and Grande can really sing, and they do so often in live and spectacular fashion. A friend I saw the picture with was even surprised to learn that most of their singing was performed in-camera, even when Erivo is being flung on wires and a broom 40 feet above the soundstage floor.Theres of course been live-sung movie musicals before, including the uneven Les Misrables adaptation from about a decade ago. Yet that movie made the seeming gimmick both obvious and lamentable when more than a few actors proved beneath the material (and that includes more than just Russell Crowe). Yet you might not even notice the singing is being done on the day by Wickeds two leads since one is a pop star with a sopranos range, and the other a Tony winner for her work in The Color Purple musical.In terms of character performance, however, theyre far less evenly matched. While Grande has proven herself to be an adept comedian with lightning-quick timing on Saturday Night Live, Wicked is the first time in her adult life shes returned to playing full characters on the screen, and it shows. A more seasoned thespian might have brought Glindas nuances and manic joy to bear. However, Grandes Glinda is flatter and comes across as a self-loathing Regina George, lost in her own doe eyes, rather than Carole Lombard reborn. The character is obviously meant to be the incandescent comic relief of the musical, yet this Glinda is perhaps a little too mean and self-conscious of her defects to steal the show like Kristin Chenoweths infectious hair-flipping did on the stage 20 years ago. Intriguingly, whether by accident or design, this does make the adaptation much more Elphabas storyand Erivos movie.Erivos Elphie is more forlorn than I recall the character being in the mid-2000s. Shes steelier too. Once this Elphaba gets going and starts climbing her crescendos, shes like a sword sheathed in half-chipped crystal thats finally exploded from its damaged wrapping. The loneliness at the beginning is palpable; the rage at the end transcendent.Read more That ending really does fly, too, not least of all because the movie has the dubious fortune of coming out in a moment where the musicals anti-fascist allegory no longer seems quite so distant or childlike. While the musicals political trappings were always heavy-handed in a way befitting its 2000s and YA-adjacent origins, the more heightened elements of racism and bigotry in the movie land different in 2024. Yet getting there remains the movies biggest challenge.As aforementioned, Wicked is only half the story. And it handles that detriment better than many other incomplete Part Ones littering Hollywood, including the similarly themed Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. But at two hours and 41 minutes, the Wicked movie is just a few minutes shy of the stage shows entire length. And like most part ones, that expansion ultimately leads to the film having a rather padded and meandering pace. We spend so long on the note of Elphaba and Galinda being enemies that their sudden friendship at around the 100-minute mark comes too little, too late. Its hard to care about the mean girl when shes mean for over half the movie.Other supporting characters, like Fiyero, also feel strangely underdeveloped because too much of their arcs are dependent on Act Two of the show. Bailey certainly has charm and his one big musical number is a crowdpleaser, but the character is ultimately superfluous to a film that has no use for him beyond standing in for Elphies secret crush.Still, I recognize these sizable narrative problems will be completely nullified (if noticed at all) after audiences get enraptured by the films spectacular climax. Wicked takes too long to get to the Emerald City, but when its there, the thing erupts exactly in time with Erivos magnificent rendition of Defying Gravity. Much of it, again, is achieved while the actress is hanging by literal threads. It is the definition of a showstopperthe show indeed stops!and it is achieved by Chu and company creating enough oomph to ensure it goes down as a classic movie moment for its target audience.Wicked is a big Hollywood undertaking, with many of the modern pitfalls therein. But like its emerald witch, it defies the laws of gravity and conventional wisdom. Occasionally, it even soars.Wicked opens in theaters on Friday, Nov. 22. Learn more about Den of Geeks review process and why you can trust our recommendationshere.

This article contains spoilers for Superman & Lois season 4 episode 8.The Arrowverse may finally be coming to an end as Superman & Lois airs its final season, but that doesnt mean the show doesnt still have a few surprises up its sleeve. Season 4 episode 8 Sharp Dressed Man sees Lois (Bitsie Tulloch) and Lex Luthor (Michael Cudlitz) go head-to-head in a battle of wits on national television. As riveting as it is to watch the two debate each other, the real treat of this episode lies in who Superman & Lois brought in to play the host of this televised exchange Arrowverse veteran Tom Cavanagh.Tom Cavanagh first appeared in the Arrowverse as Harrison Wells, the brilliant scientist behind Star Labs, and Barry Allens (Grant Gustin) mentor in The Flash. We soon find out, however, that Wells is no longer Wells, but rather Eobard Thawne, the Reverse Flash, in disguise. After this reveal in season 1, Cavanagh continued to make appearances in The Flash as well as appearances in other Arrowverse shows, as Thawne and Wells.Cavanagh not only played the original Wells and Thawne Wells, he also played Earth-2s Harry Wells, Nash Wells in the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, Sherloque Wells, Harrison Orson Wells, and H.R. Wells, among others. Even though his character technically dies in season 1, the Arrowverse kept finding ways to bring back Cavanagh.His appearance in Superman & Lois is the first time that Cavanagh has played an Arrowverse character that isnt a version of Wells or the Reverse Flash, instead playing Gordon Godfrey. There have been a few different versions of Godfrey in comics and media over the years, but the character is most known for being a charismatic and manipulative television host.Also known as Glorious Godfrey, the character first appeared in The Forever People #3 (1971) and was created by Jack Kirby. Godfrey is one of Darkseids Elite, and possesses mind control powers. In most iterations of the character, Godfrey is portrayed as a sensationalist media personality, like a pundit or televangelist. Superman & Lois version of the character is similar, with Godfrey hosting his own show (titled Godfrey! of course), but Cavanagh still manages to put his own twist on it.When asked why they brought Cavanagh back to the Arrowverse for this role, co-showrunner Todd Helbing told TVLine that It was the no-brainer of all time. According to co-showrunner Brent Fletcher, [Cavanaghs] hilarious and has more energy than a 10 year old. [The character is] not like him at all, but he can play that guy perfectly.Even though Godfrey may be an entirely different character than Cavanagh has played in this universe before, Arrowverse fans on Reddit cant help but notice a few similarities in mannerisms between Godfrey and his previous characters. Cavanagh has played both the villain and the good guy, a line that a man like Godfrey has to walk very carefully to keep up his public persona. We may know that hes basically in Lex Luthors pocket Lex Corp. does own his show after all but that doesnt mean Godfrey can show all of his cards to the general public.Cavanagh is a good fit for this role, regardless of his past with the Arrowverse, and his appearance makes for a fun homage. Superman & Lois may be the end of an era for superhero television and the CW, but its nice to know that the Arrowverse is ending on such a strong note.New episodes of Superman & Lois premiere Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on The CW, culminating with the series finale on December 2.

Today marks the release of the official trailer for A Minecraft Movie and those with keen eyes might have already noticed some familiar elements from the game. The cast and crew have put a lot of work into staying true to Minecraft, and that includes bringing to life beloved features that have shaped players adventures throughout the years.If youre new to the Minecraft universe, some of these references may have left you scratching your head, but fret not! Im here to explain some of the most iconic elements from the trailer, what they do, and how theyre useful to Minecrafters.The PickaxeIn Minecraft, you can build almost anything. But in Survival mode, you need to start somewhere, and for most players, one of the first steps of that journey is crafting a humble wooden pickaxe. However, try to mine diamonds with it and youll watch that precious ore crumble into voxel dust. Youll have to work your way up to stone, and then an iron pickaxe much like the one that Steve has in the movie to mine most materials in the Overworld. But to reach other dimensions, youll need a couple more upgradesThe Crafting TableFew blocks are more recognizable than the crafting table, which unlocks countless recipes, from more durable tools to refined materials and various contraptions. You can place a crafting table in your base like Steve does in the trailer, or you can carry it around with you in your inventory to use as needed in your adventures. Crafting tables are often accompanied by furnaces for smelting ores, as well as enchanting tables that add special properties to your gear in exchange for experience points.You could technically play Minecraft without ever making a crafting table, if you wanted to. Would it be difficult and keep you from discovering many cool things? Absolutely. But theres no wrong way to play Minecraft, so you do you! Or would it just be Mine then?CreepersTo this day, the sight or hissing of a creeper sends chills down the spines of Minecrafters everywhere and thats no different in A Minecraft Movie. Unlike skeletons or zombies, creepers dont have any upper limbs to use against you, so its understandable if you assume they cant hurt you. However, at close range, youll discover the creepers devastating attack: a literal explosion. Many playthroughs have been cut short by these stealthy ambushers so keep your head on a swivel when exploring the darker corners of the Overworld.PiglinsNative to the Nether, these bipedal pig-like creatures normally cant live in the Overworld, as they become zombified by the clean, spore-less air. However, in A Minecraft Movie, theyve apparently found a way to not only enter the Overworld but also cause major trouble. What can you expect from them when playing Minecraft? The piglins youll encounter in the Nether are a bit more receptive to the idea of not attacking you on sight as long as youre wearing a piece of golden armor. Bring some gold ingots and theyll even trade various items for them! And if youre lucky, you might even get to see a baby piglin riding a hoglin. Awww!VillagesIn A Minecraft Movie, the protagonists pass through a village where Steve demonstrates his favorite way of cooking chicken. Were still recovering from that one. And while you dont get to witness any creative culinary feats in the in-game villages, theyre a huge boon for Survival mode players in need of resources, especially sustenance. The villagers might hrrrm and haaaaah as you raid their homes and farms, but they dont really care! Thats just how they talk. In fact, theyll also trade various goods for emeralds; the cartographer will even sell you maps to hidden treasures but that doesnt mean finding them will be easy.Ender PearlsYou may have noticed Garret accidentally using a curious item called an Ender pearl in the official trailer the last one in Steves stash, no less! In-game, Ender pearls are dropped by defeated Endermen and work in the same way: you throw them, and you get teleported to where they land. An even more interesting use for them is to craft eyes of Ender, which help you locate portals to the End dimension. This is an odd, desolate land of floating islands populated by Endermen, at the center of which lives the Ender Dragon, the largest mob in Minecraft and what is considered to be the final boss of the game.Why would you even want to start a fight with the Ender Dragon? For the heaps of experience points but also for the rare dragon egg, which you can display in your base for bragging rights. If you just want to see the egg up close without fighting, you can always switch to Creative mode and place one from your unlimited inventory! I wont tell if you dont.RedstoneAh, redstone! Hard to learn and even harder to master in my experience but the payoff is worth it! This crimson element can transmit signals between different components to create various automations, such as Steves minecart system from the trailer. Using redstone is one of the most technical skills to master in the game, but it unlocks a world of possibilities in terms of both functionality and creativity. Minecraft players have used redstone to create firework shows, automate resource farms, and even build actual computers inside of Minecraft then played games on them! I wasnt joking when I said you could build almost anything in Minecraft.I hope this brief deep dive helped you understand a bit more about how Minecraft works and why Steve yearns for the mines. But the Minecraft universe is literally endless, and Ive barely scratched its pixelated surface so why not grab a virtual pickaxe and see what secrets you can uncover for yourself? Theres plenty of time to practice until A Minecraft Movie comes out in theaters on April 4!

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is by far our most ambitious simulator to date, and we are incredibly excited for all of you from our core sim fans to all gamers and those who want to explore the world with us to join us on this journey. With authentic realism of all environments, aviation careers to pursue and the ability to explore our beautiful world with various kinds of aircraft, there is something amazing for everyone in this version of the simulator.We feel very fortunate that Microsoft Flight Simulator has a vibrant, highly informed and passionate community which has been invaluable on our journey to continually improve the simulator. Our motto is for the community with the community, which means that we will continue to carefully listen to your feedback and suggestions to help guide our development efforts and it also means that we will continue to work with teams from the community to help us produce the best aircraft, airports, scenery, missions, and other features.The team at Asobo is very much the core with the engine and key innovations all coming from the team in Bordeaux. We were able to substantially enhance the breadth and quality by inviting other creator teams from the flight sim community to help and bring focus to the many areas of this vast simulator. Aircraft were built by well-known and loved community teams like iniBuilds, Carenado, Got Friends, Blackbird, Hype Performance Group, MilTech, S&H, FlightFX, DC Designs, ATSimulations, BlueMesh and others to create the largest and most detailed fleet we have ever had (70 aircraft) for the base simulator. Other areas like airports, heliports, glider airports were mostly built by the talented team at Gaya, worldwide obstacles by Orbx & Puffin Flight, animals by Lakshya and via a collaboration with Frontier Developments, air racing by Climax, and many other elements like avionics and flight planning from Working Title. In total, we had over 800 people contributing to the sim and the result is beautiful and incredibly impressive.The dream of flight is ingrained in us yet many people have been unable to pursue that dream due to a lack of opportunity to pilot their own plane MSFS 2024 provides 70 highly diverse aircraft, our entire beautiful Earth, and many activities to suit your aviation desires.Thank you for embarking on this incredible adventure with us. We hope you enjoy Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.The Sky Is Calling.Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is now available in a variety of editions. The Standard Edition available with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass comes with 70 aircraft and 150 upgraded airports; Deluxe Edition includes 10 additional aircraft and five extra airports; the Premium Deluxe includes another 15 aircraft (total of 95); Aviator Edition includes everything from the Premium Deluxe Edition plus the entire fleet of 30 Microsoft-published Marketplace aircraft developed for Microsoft Flight Simulator between 2021 and 2024. If you own Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) Deluxe Edition or Premium Deluxe Edition the additional aircraft and airports unique to these editions will automatically work in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Standard EditionXbox Game Studios99$69.99Get it nowStandard EditionExplore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The Standard Edition includes over 65 aircraft and 150 handcrafted airports.Fly with Purpose Launch your aviation Career wherever you choose in the world. Gain experience, build your reputation, and complete certifications to gain access to authentic aviation activities ranging from Medevac, Remote Cargo Ops, Aerial Firefighting, Search & Rescue and more, all the way to becoming an Airline Passenger Transport Pilot. Set out on a truly global aviation adventure with virtually unlimited missions across the planet. Compete against other pilots in the all-new Challenge League mode or hone your skills in dozens of Activities ranging from exciting Rally Races and Precision Landings to Low-Altitude challenges and more. Fly head-to-head in the iconic Red Bull Air Races and the legendary Reno Air Races, including the new Roswell courses. Be a World Photographer and travel across our beautiful planet to capture awe-inspiring natural vistas, visit famous landmarks, and record these adventures with pictures in your travel book. Unique photo challenges test your creative eye along with your piloting skills while you strive to capture the perfect moment.Advanced Simulation Enhanced physics system allows 10,000+ rigid-body surfaces that enable the simulation of any shape of aircraft. Soft body physics supports cloth, ropes, balloons, and more. Improved ground and water handling further enhance realism. New, highly accurate aircraft systems including electrical, pneumatic, fuel and hydraulic systems, payload and passenger systems, and avionics like the Universal UNS-1 FMS and Honeywell Primus Epic 2. Preflight inspections and walkaround checks add to immersion. Plan your flights with a groundbreaking flight planner which supports both IFR and VFR map layers, IFR charts, route planning, fuel and payload planning, vertical profile planning, and ETOPS planning. It also provides airport information including weather and NOTAMS and is available native in the sim, on mobile devices or web browsers for flight planning outside the simulator.Explore Our Visually Stunning Digital Twin Explore our most detailed re-creation of planet Earth to date. Enhanced digital elevation maps, over 500 TIN (triangular irregular network) cities and more than 100,000 square kilometers of countryside photogrammetry allow for visually stunning digital twin experiences. More than 150 airports, 2,000 glider airports, 10,000 heliports, 2,000 points of interest, and 900 oil rigs have been carefully hand-crafted while a procedural system generates all 40,000 airports, 80,000 helipads, 1.5 billion buildings, and nearly 3 trillion trees our planet. Land anywhere and, for the first time in Microsoft Flight Simulator, exit your aircraft to explore 27 highly detailed biomes with hundreds of species of vegetation, dynamically created details including grass, rocks, and flowers all influenced by seasonal changes.The all-new photometric lighting system renders the world more accurately than ever before, and enhanced weather features such as new cloud types, auroras, and other weather phenomena produce fresh and compelling atmospheric experiences. The world comes alive with a vast array of land-based wildlife in their natural habitats and free-ranging livestock across the entire globe. The oceans and waterways are teeming with live, worldwide maritime traffic ranging from large tankers and cargo ships to trawlers, tugs, and more. A richly diverse, regionally accurate representation of humanity brings life to the airports, aircraft, and passenger cabins of the world. Enhanced real-world air traffic populates the skies and airport tarmacs with hundreds of accurately depicted aircraft models and dozens of officially licensed liveries.Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Deluxe EditionXbox Game Studios156$99.99Get it nowDeluxe EditionExplore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The Deluxe Edition includes everything from the Standard Edition plus 10 additional aircraft and 5 additional handcrafted international airports.Fly with Purpose Launch your aviation Career wherever you choose in the world. Gain experience, build your reputation, and complete certifications to gain access to authentic aviation activities ranging from Medevac, Remote Cargo Ops, Aerial Firefighting, Search & Rescue and more, all the way to becoming an Airline Passenger Transport Pilot. Set out on a truly global aviation adventure with virtually unlimited missions across the planet. Compete against other pilots in the all-new Challenge League mode or hone your skills in dozens of Activities ranging from exciting Rally Races and Precision Landings to Low-Altitude challenges and more. Fly head-to-head in the iconic Red Bull Air Races and the legendary Reno Air Races, including the new Roswell courses. Be a World Photographer and travel across our beautiful planet to capture awe-inspiring natural vistas, visit famous landmarks, and record these adventures with pictures in your travel book. Unique photo challenges test your creative eye along with your piloting skills while you strive to capture the perfect moment.Advanced Simulation Enhanced physics system allows 10,000+ rigid-body surfaces that enable the simulation of any shape of aircraft. Soft body physics supports cloth, ropes, balloons, and more. Improved ground and water handling further enhance realism. New, highly accurate aircraft systems including electrical, pneumatic, fuel and hydraulic systems, payload and passenger systems, and avionics like the Universal UNS-1 FMS and Honeywell Primus Epic 2. Preflight inspections and walkaround checks add to immersion. Plan your flights with a groundbreaking flight planner which supports both IFR and VFR map layers, IFR charts, route planning, fuel and payload planning, vertical profile planning, and ETOPS planning. It also provides airport information including weather and NOTAMS and is available native in the sim, on mobile devices or web browsers for flight planning outside the simulator.Explore Our Visually Stunning Digital Twin Explore our most detailed re-creation of planet Earth to date. Enhanced digital elevation maps, over 500 TIN (triangular irregular network) cities and more than 100,000 square kilometers of countryside photogrammetry allow for visually stunning digital twin experiences. More than 150 airports, 2,000 glider airports, 10,000 heliports, 2,000 points of interest, and 900 oil rigs have been carefully hand-crafted while a procedural system generates all 40,000 airports, 80,000 helipads, 1.5 billion buildings, and nearly 3 trillion trees our planet. Land anywhere and, for the first time in Microsoft Flight Simulator, exit your aircraft to explore 27 highly detailed biomes with hundreds of species of vegetation, dynamically created details including grass, rocks, and flowers all influenced by seasonal changes.The all-new photometric lighting system renders the world more accurately than ever before, and enhanced weather features such as new cloud types, auroras, and other weather phenomena produce fresh and compelling atmospheric experiences. The world comes alive with a vast array of land-based wildlife in their natural habitats and free-ranging livestock across the entire globe. The oceans and waterways are teeming with live, worldwide maritime traffic ranging from large tankers and cargo ships to trawlers, tugs, and more. A richly diverse, regionally accurate representation of humanity brings life to the airports, aircraft, and passenger cabins of the world. Enhanced real-world air traffic populates the skies and airport tarmacs with hundreds of accurately depicted aircraft models and dozens of officially licensed liveries.Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Premium Deluxe EditionXbox Game Studios155$129.99Get it nowPremium Deluxe EditionExplore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The Premium Deluxe Edition includes everything from the Standard Edition plus 25 additional aircraft and 10 additional handcrafted international airports.Fly with Purpose Launch your aviation Career wherever you choose in the world. Gain experience, build your reputation, and complete certifications to gain access to authentic aviation activities ranging from Medevac, Remote Cargo Ops, Aerial Firefighting, Search & Rescue and more, all the way to becoming an Airline Passenger Transport Pilot. Set out on a truly global aviation adventure with virtually unlimited missions across the planet. Compete against other pilots in the all-new Challenge League mode or hone your skills in dozens of Activities ranging from exciting Rally Races and Precision Landings to Low-Altitude challenges and more. Fly head-to-head in the iconic Red Bull Air Races and the legendary Reno Air Races, including the new Roswell courses. Be a World Photographer and travel across our beautiful planet to capture awe-inspiring natural vistas, visit famous landmarks, and record these adventures with pictures in your travel book. Unique photo challenges test your creative eye along with your piloting skills while you strive to capture the perfect moment.Advanced Simulation Enhanced physics system allows 10,000+ rigid-body surfaces that enable the simulation of any shape of aircraft. Soft body physics supports cloth, ropes, balloons, and more. Improved ground and water handling further enhance realism. New, highly accurate aircraft systems including electrical, pneumatic, fuel and hydraulic systems, payload and passenger systems, and avionics like the Universal UNS-1 FMS and Honeywell Primus Epic 2. Preflight inspections and walkaround checks add to immersion. Plan your flights with a groundbreaking flight planner which supports both IFR and VFR map layers, IFR charts, route planning, fuel and payload planning, vertical profile planning, and ETOPS planning. It also provides airport information including weather and NOTAMS and is available native in the sim, on mobile devices or web browsers for flight planning outside the simulator.Explore Our Visually Stunning Digital Twin Explore our most detailed re-creation of planet Earth to date. Enhanced digital elevation maps, over 500 TIN (triangular irregular network) cities and more than 100,000 square kilometers of countryside photogrammetry allow for visually stunning digital twin experiences. More than 150 airports, 2,000 glider airports, 10,000 heliports, 2,000 points of interest, and 900 oil rigs have been carefully hand-crafted while a procedural system generates all 40,000 airports, 80,000 helipads, 1.5 billion buildings, and nearly 3 trillion trees our planet. Land anywhere and, for the first time in Microsoft Flight Simulator, exit your aircraft to explore 27 highly detailed biomes with hundreds of species of vegetation, dynamically created details including grass, rocks, and flowers all influenced by seasonal changes.The all-new photometric lighting system renders the world more accurately than ever before, and enhanced weather features such as new cloud types, auroras, and other weather phenomena produce fresh and compelling atmospheric experiences. The world comes alive with a vast array of land-based wildlife in their natural habitats and free-ranging livestock across the entire globe. The oceans and waterways are teeming with live, worldwide maritime traffic ranging from large tankers and cargo ships to trawlers, tugs, and more. A richly diverse, regionally accurate representation of humanity brings life to the airports, aircraft, and passenger cabins of the world. Enhanced real-world air traffic populates the skies and airport tarmacs with hundreds of accurately depicted aircraft models and dozens of officially licensed liveries.Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Aviator EditionXbox Game Studios151$199.99Get it nowAviator EditionExplore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The Aviator Edition includes everything from the Premium Deluxe Edition plus the entire fleet of 30 Microsoft-published Marketplace aircraft developed for Microsoft Flight Simulator between 2021 and 2024.Fly with Purpose Launch your aviation Career wherever you choose in the world. Gain experience, build your reputation, and complete certifications to gain access to authentic aviation activities ranging from Medevac, Remote Cargo Ops, Aerial Firefighting, Search & Rescue and more, all the way to becoming an Airline Passenger Transport Pilot. Set out on a truly global aviation adventure with virtually unlimited missions across the planet. Compete against other pilots in the all-new Challenge League mode or hone your skills in dozens of Activities ranging from exciting Rally Races and Precision Landings to Low-Altitude challenges and more. Fly head-to-head in the iconic Red Bull Air Races and the legendary Reno Air Races, including the new Roswell courses. Be a World Photographer and travel across our beautiful planet to capture awe-inspiring natural vistas, visit famous landmarks, and record these adventures with pictures in your travel book. Unique photo challenges test your creative eye along with your piloting skills while you strive to capture the perfect moment.Advanced Simulation Enhanced physics system allows 10,000+ rigid-body surfaces that enable the simulation of any shape of aircraft. Soft body physics supports cloth, ropes, balloons, and more. Improved ground and water handling further enhance realism. New, highly accurate aircraft systems including electrical, pneumatic, fuel and hydraulic systems, payload and passenger systems, and avionics like the Universal UNS-1 FMS and Honeywell Primus Epic 2. Preflight inspections and walkaround checks add to immersion. Plan your flights with a groundbreaking flight planner which supports both IFR and VFR map layers, IFR charts, route planning, fuel and payload planning, vertical profile planning, and ETOPS planning. It also provides airport information including weather and NOTAMS and is available native in the sim, on mobile devices or web browsers for flight planning outside the simulator.Explore Our Visually Stunning Digital Twin Explore our most detailed re-creation of planet Earth to date. Enhanced digital elevation maps, over 500 TIN (triangular irregular network) cities and more than 100,000 square kilometers of countryside photogrammetry allow for visually stunning digital twin experiences. More than 150 airports, 2,000 glider airports, 10,000 heliports, 2,000 points of interest, and 900 oil rigs have been carefully hand-crafted while a procedural system generates all 40,000 airports, 80,000 helipads, 1.5 billion buildings, and nearly 3 trillion trees our planet. Land anywhere and, for the first time in Microsoft Flight Simulator, exit your aircraft to explore 27 highly detailed biomes with hundreds of species of vegetation, dynamically created details including grass, rocks, and flowers all influenced by seasonal changes.The all-new photometric lighting system renders the world more accurately than ever before, and enhanced weather features such as new cloud types, auroras, and other weather phenomena produce fresh and compelling atmospheric experiences. The world comes alive with a vast array of land-based wildlife in their natural habitats and free-ranging livestock across the entire globe. 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Theres nothing quite like the magic of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree to capture the holiday spirit. Its radiant glow can turn even the darkest winter night into a warm, festive haven while also serving as a beacon for Santas arrival. But a trees greatest asset is its endless decorative possibilities, whether you choose a real one or an artificial option, go for a classic style, or embrace a bold, maximalist theme. And if youre feeling extra festive, follow the lead of the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey, and place a tree in every room!However you choose to spruce your spruce, virtually anything goes. But even still, there are a few tips and tricks to making your Tannenbaum showstopping this year. Twin Citiesbased designer Bria Hammel, for instance, recommends between 15 and 20 ornaments per foot of tree to achieve a balanced look. She advises piling on additional garlands and baubles if youre going with a lighter color palette. More is better, or else it will look too spotty, she adds.If youre decorating as a first-timer this year or are merely one to switch things up, fortunately youll find ideas aplenty out there to help you achieve your dream living room scheme. You could take a page out of ELLE DECOR A-List designer Darryl Carters book and festoon your tree in citrus-colored ribbon. If its fantasy you seek, cover your Tannenbaum in whimsical animals or, in the case of party planner Bronson van Wyck, swans! Below, weve selected 82 awe-inducing Christmas tree ideas to keep your home merry and bright all season long. 1Lunar Christmas TreeHenry BourneIf you peer closely at this tannenbaumcourtesy our favorite gothy-c00l design studio, House of Hackneyyou'll see ornaments with various sized moons on thema fitting theme for a bedroom tree. We're also loving the whole green monochromatic moment that's happening. 2Ribbon-Happy Christmas TreeCourtesy Birch LaneWe're loving the elongated ribbons that nearly drench this tree. A three-color theme (red, yellow, and green) on this Birch Lane Christmas tree brings a festive and vibrant touch to the holiday season. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Maximalist Christmas TreeCourtesy House of HackneyNobody does maximalist Christmas quite like House of Hackneyand this Christmas tree, a smattering of effortlessly-tied ribbons and character figurine ornaments, is proof. If your wallpaper isn't the statement piece of the room, your wrapping paper could stand to be more pattern-happy to compensate.4Less is More Christmas TreeCourtesy ArhuasGrandeur doesn't always require excessiveness, as Arhaus's artificial Christmas tree proves. This 90-inch tree features faux branches, gold ornaments, and copious lights for a look that is as simple as it is jaw-dropping. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Christmas Village TreeShaun SullivanEvery now and again, we like to turn standard Christmas decor practices on their head. This charming faux tree, Pottery Barn's pre-lit, flocked Vermont tree, looks fabulous with Christmas village houses interspersed between its branches. Because putting them on the mantel is so last year. 6Big-Bowed Christmas TreeCourtesy AnthropologieFeeling coquettish? You're not alone. Bows are having a moment, trending on TikTok and rippling across the fashion and design world. So, of course, we are putting them on our Christmas trees. This year's Anthropologie house revealed a festive display of Christmas trees with larger-than-life bow toppers that had us rethinking our traditional star adornments. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Tall and Skinny Christmas TreeCourtesy AnthropologieWhoever said a tree needed to take over 10 square feet at the base? For urban dwellers, two tall and skinny trees can offer just as much personalitywithout overtaking basic seating options. 8Glowing Glass Christmas Tree Courtesy Soho HomeThis towering parlor room, decorated with furnishings and fixtures from Soho Home, is the epitome of Art Deco elegance, with its Venetian glimmering chandelier, velvet seating, and deep tones. Needless to say, it doesnt need much to get us into the holiday spirit. The tree, therefore, was kept relatively simple, with a string of twinkling lights and jewel-toned glass baubles, which nod to the delicacy of the glass fixtures and the hues of the surrounding room. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Lush Greenhouse Tree Lacey SombarIts no secret that we love a green room. Clearly, interior designer Bradley Odom does too. In this light-filled apartment, he took evergreen to the next level with coordinating fabrics and lots (and lots) of plants. The Christmas tree was hung with similarly natural items, like dried orange slices, faux mushrooms, and simple wood garlands. But its the cheeky details in the rest of the room that heighten the fantasy: Look closely and youll even spy mini mushrooms in the planter on the cocktail table!10Pretty-in-Pink Christmas Tree Katie Nixon PhotographyCaitlin Wilson literally wrote the book on pretty, so its no surprise that her Christmas decor would be like a sugar plum dream. Here, she decked out everythingfrom presents to boughs to treein pastel ribbons. The tree, meanwhile, with its frosted branches, feathery birds, and poodle ornaments, looks straight out of a confectioners window. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Winter Whites Christmas Tree Courtesy The Enchanted HomeAre you dreaming of a white Christmas? So is Enchanted Home founder Tina Yaraghi. She opted to deck out her tree entirely in delft-inspired blue-and-white baubles, with a few cutesy dog ornaments thrown in for good measure. With its matching rug and a mantel resplendent with pine cones and paper whites, this look is keeping us staunchly indoors. 12Celestial StunnerCourtesy AnthropologieICYMI, a Christmas tree in the bedroom is a total thing, and we cant get enough of boudoir beauty from Anthropologies holiday house. For some night-before-Christmas magic, its style experts hung this conifer with star garlands, moon-shaped ornaments, and wintry birds and pine cones. A sprinkling of flocked snow makes this look the stuff of midwinter dreams. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Full Glam Christmas Tree Balsam HillIt doesnt get more luxurious than New Yorks Plaza Hotel. Which is why the experts at Balsam Hill decorated one of its suites with dazzling holiday decor. The show-stopping tree features a combination of gold, silver, and white ornaments and is artfully draped with glittering crystal garlands. Feathers, lights, and a wide gold ribbon add extra twinkle to this uptown tree. Bonus: For a starlit backdrop, drape the wall behind your tree with cascading lights! 14Decor of YoreLucy CallNostalgia and the holidays go hand in hand, so why not bring a little old-world magic to your tree this year? Shea McGee of Studio McGee festooned her tree with handmade ornaments (we love the dehydrated orange slices), bead garlands, wicker bells, and whimsical ribbons. Relaxed ribbons tied or draped onto the trees branches add a softness to the overall look, she tells ELLE DECOR. Loose, flowing textiles like velvet or silk feel fanciful and romanticlet them hang long or used oversize ribbon for an extra dose of drama.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Silver, Gold, Something New, Something OldJulie SoeferLooking to bridge old and new? We love how Houston interior designer Chandos Dodson Epley decked out her tree with a mix of vintage and contemporary baubles. Our trees color scheme blends with our living rooms interior, filled to the brim with neutral metallics that glimmer and festive baubles in antique glass, she says. I wanted it to be festive while still being classic. I prefer lights that have a warm glow, and I draped beads to give it a more collected and unique aesthetic."16Woodland WonderSpacecrating PhotographyWhimsical, woodsy touchesthink forest creatures, mushrooms, and other adorable plucked-from-nature elementsare trending in a big way for Christmas this year, and interior designer Bria Hammel nailed the look in this festive forest tree. Here, birds perch on branches chock-full of acorns, pine cones, and berriesjust how Mother Nature would want it. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Regal Roost Christmas TreeSpacecrating PhotographyFor a more sophisticated variation on the nature theme, Hammel layered neutral-colored elements, like the white bells, light brown pine cones, and cream-colored birds. We love to either wrap real (or faux!) garland around the tree or pop stems and branches into our trees for added fullness, she tells us. Its incredible how much more lifelike your tree will feel.18Velvet GoldmineMichael SinclairLeave it to the Gothy-cool design duo behind House of Hackney, Frieda Gormley and Javvy M Royle, to create a tree look straight out of a Victorian tableau. Here in their London home, the pair decorated their Christmas tree with tiger-emblazoned ornamentsa reference to House of Hackneys signature velvet pillows. And (our favorite part) they piled complementary cushions high beneath the tree in place of a traditional skirt. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Whimsical WonderlandCourtesy Houses & PartiesRebecca Gardner, the tastemaker behind Houses & Parties, always has a few fanciful decor tricks up her sleeve. In the case of her Christmas tree, that means going all out with old-timey ornaments collected over the years. I love to hang the ornaments and unwrap each with the excitement of seeing an old friend, she tells us. One of my favorites is a giant blown-glass moon. Hes magic. Follow suit by sourcing whimsical vintage ornaments and festooning your tree with tinsel and strands of beads. 20Chic Charlie BrownJohn DerianLike our favorite Peanuts character, John Derian knows that a little love (and a chic design sensibility, of course!) can transform even the scrawniest of trees into something special. Here, the decoupage artist set a charming mini tree into an antique urn and packed it with tinsel and metallic vintage ornaments. Other treasures, like the shell, print, and sculpture, give the mantel tableau a cabinet of curiosities vibe. Rachel SilvaAssistant Digital EditorRachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publications feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the best spa gifts to the best faux florals on the internet right now. She has more than 12 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.Anna FixsenDeputy Digital EditorAnna Fixsen is the deputy digital editor of ELLE DECOR, where she oversees all facets of ElleDecor.com. In addition to editing articles and developing digital strategy, she writes about the worlds most beautiful homes, reviews the chicest products (from the best cocktail tables to cute but practical gifts), and reports on the most exciting trends in design and architecture. Since graduating from Columbia Journalism School, shes spent the past decade as an editor at Architectural Digest, Metropolis, and Architectural Record and has written for outlets including the New York Times, Dwell, and more.

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.When it comes to decorating for the holidays, your mantel is one of the most important features in your entire display. It's where your family gathers to open presents under the Christmas tree, and it's typically the perfect backdrop for holiday pictures. While stockings and garlands are classic decorations that will always look cozy and inviting, there's definitely more you can do when it comes to styling your fireplace. Updating your mantel can provide your home with an immediate design revamp. And the emerging seasonal trends from this year are highlighting both the appeal of timelessness and the allure of fresh styles. While it may feel daunting to move away from your usual holiday decor scheme, these gorgeous ideas from interior designers will help guide you in the right direction.Read on to see how to craft a stunning holiday mantelscape like a designer, ensuring a vibrant and exciting look year after year.Related StoriesOver-the-Top GreeneryJUSTIN L JORDANGreenery is a central theme in many holiday decorationsthe more coniferous tree branches you can use, the better. Designer Bethany Adams suggests embracing this element when decorating your mantelpiece, as layered branches are effortlessly attractive. The lush mantel displayed above is from her own home. She crafted this stunning holiday display using four floral foam cages, foraged greenery, and a selection of florals.To add some festive orange color, I added branches of live persimmons I purchased from Trader Joe's, but you could also use faux branches and use them year after year, Adams tells House Beautiful. Nestled between the branches (and with a fire extinguisher within reach!), I placed brass candlesticks of multiple heights from H&M Home with candles in varying, rich hues.If you keep the floral foam moist, this display can last you through the New Year. Faux Pomegranate Branch$54 at afloral.comTall Candlestick$18 at H&M2-Pack Glossy Taper Candles$6 at H&MFloral Foam Cages, Pack of 4$29 at AmazonMinimalist EleganceNicole Dianne PhotographySometimes, the best way to highlight specific architectural features in your home, like your mantel, is by going the minimalist route. This Christmas, we are going to be embracing a more minimalist, gentler, and yet very elegant approach to holiday styling, Ashley Macuga of Collected Interiors says. To create a warm, inviting atmosphere that counterbalances the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, Macuga suggests leaning into decor that feels more edited and scaled down. The designer lists softer hues like blush pinks and creams with hints of gold and Champagne to add a subtle sparkle. Rather than add on a huge garland, try touches of eucalyptus here and there (as long as your house is feline-free) with minimal wreaths and simple pillar candles or tea lights to add a calming warmth. This will create a more refined mantelscape that doesn't leave you feeling overwhelmed just by stepping into the room. Leaf Garland Embroidered Napkins, Set of 4$70 at Williams SonomaStacked Wood Trees$29 at West ElmBarga Taper Candleholders$129 at Pottery Barn18pcs Artificial Eucalyptus StemsNow 17% Off$12 $10 at AmazonA Touch of GrandeurBuff StricklandDesigner Bambi A'Lynn Bratton doesn't like holding back when it comes to decorating the mantel for the holidays. Add sparkle, brightness, and a sense of grandeur to make your fireplace feel truly luxurious. I love decorating a living room mantle with silver decor, candles, antique pink balls, and ribbon (silk, satin, and velvet are my favorite festive options), Bratton says. Or, if you'd rather something a bit more natural, bring elements of the outside in by layering noble fir, eucalyptus, cedar, and juniper branches on your mantel.10-Yard Velvet Ribbon Spool$8 at AmazonThe Holiday Aisle Silver Deer Statues, Set of 2$77 at WayfairTonal Blush Glass Boxed Ornaments. Set of 9$39 at West Elm6-Foot Jingle Bell Faux Garland$50 at Williams Sonoma Modern and MetallicMolly CulverA general rule of thumb for designer Meredith Owen when decorating mantels is taking into account the overall design style of the home. For example, having an ultra glamorous mantel in a home with a more rustic aesthetic would look out of place and awkward. In this particular home, she and her team went for a more modern garland using metallics mixed in with greenery to give an understated but elegant look, Owen says. They layered ribbons with berries, branches, and florals to bring in elements of nature, enhancing the design with bronze accents and lights that emit a soft glow. We kept this mantle design simple because of the more modern nature of this home, Owen adds.9-Foot Flocked Berkshire Spruce Garland$42 at WalmartDeluxe Faux Smoke Berry Branch in Dusty Plum$42 at afloral.comAlcott Hill Mini Christmas Tree String Lights With Brown Cord$54 at Wayfair3D Silver Glitter Star Christmas Tree Ornaments$47 at Crate & Barrel Holiday-Everyday BlendCourtesy of R. Higgins InteriorsA top tip from designer Roger Higgins of R. Higgins Interiors is to incorporate the holiday arrangements with the existing mantel decor. Though this will look different in each home, Higgins always uses fire-retardant materials to enhance the mantels. I love to combine faux and real elements together for a balanced look, he says. 6-Foot Faux Red Mini Berry Garland$149 at Crate & BarrelLarge Natural Pine Cones, Set of 20$24 at Amazon9-Foot Wood Beaded Burgundy Garland$10 at AmazonBalsam Hill Fraser Fir Foliage$139 at Balsam HillFollow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

If you just picked up a new M4 Mac or plan on performing a fresh install of macOS, youll need to change and configure many settings to meet your needs. In this updated Mac getting started guide, I walk through 60 different tips and tricks to help optimize your setup.Even if youre an experienced macOS user, chances are youll find a handful of new tips. Watch our video walkthrough, and subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more.In this written post, Im including just a few of the items I cover in the video, but it will give you a good idea of what type of content you can expect to find in the full video. Here are a few of my favorite Mac tips:Configure App Store to install large apps to external diskThis is a new feature for macOS Sequoia and one thats a massive win for users looking to get by with minimal disk space. After all, the base Mac mini, although an incredible value, only comes with 256GB of flash storage. The good news? You can add storage via external USB-C and Thunderbolt drives, and then install large apps from the App Store to an external drive.Step 1: Open the App Store.Step 2: Open App Store settings via the menu bar.Step 3: Click the check box next to Download and install large apps to a separate disk.Step 4: Select your external drive.Any app that you download from the App Store greater than 1GB in size will now automatically be downloaded and installed to external storage. But make sure its fast external storage I recommend Samsungs speedy T9 drive, which provides a great bang for the buck otherwise, it could affect the apps performance.Video: 60 Mac Tips for new setups (2024 Sequoia edition)Sponsor: Download Orka Desktop today the best modern Apple app development solution!Subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more videosAdd web apps to the DockmacOS Sequoia lets you easily add web apps to the Dock via Safari, which is handy for adding Threads or BlueSky links directly to the Dock.Step 1: Open Safari and open the website you wish to convert to a web app.Step 2: Click File in the menu bar and select Add to Dock.Web apps are stored permanently in the dock and act as standalone applications apart from Safari with separate cookies. They feature their own app icons, appear in LaunchPad, can receive notifications, and customize preferences.Remove window tiling marginsSequoia added a much-needed native window tiling feature that lets you quickly create tiled layouts by dragging your windows to the side of the screen or using keyboard shortcuts. By default, tiled windows feature margins that result in small gaps between each window. Heres how to get rid of the window tiling margins.Step 1: Open System Settings.Step 2: Click Desktop & Dock.Step 3: Scroll down and disable the Tiled windows have margins setting under the Windows heading.Double-click the title bar to maximize a windowAnother macOS Sequoia first: you can now double-click a windows title bar, and instead of performing the weird zoom feature, you can make it maximize the window to fill the screen.Step 1: Open System Settings.Step 2: Click Desktop and Dock.Step 3: Under the Dock heading, click the drop-down box next to double-click a windows title bar to and select Fill.Stop showing desktop when clicking wallpaperIts one of the most annoying recent features added to macOS: you click the wallpaper, and the desktop automatically shows, hiding everything else. Its a cool feature, but it has bad implementation. Instead, its better to use a Hot Corner shortcut to do that. At any rate, heres how to stop this.Step 1: Open System Settings.Step 2: Click Desktop and Dock.Step 3: Under the Desktop & Stage Manager heading, click the drop-down box next to Click wallpaper to reveal desktop, and select Only in Stage Manager.9to5Macs TakeAgain, thats a look at just five tips that help improve macOS overall. If youre just getting started with a new Mac, or youre reinstalling macOS Sequoia, then be sure to watch the video for a walkthrough of an additional 55 handy tips and tricks.What do you think? Sound off in the comments below with your thoughts.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

Microsoft on Tuesday announced a new product called Windows 365 Link, which is essentially a desktop PC similar in size to Apples M4 Mac mini launched a few weeks ago. However, while the Mac mini is a full computer, Microsofts alternative runs exclusively in the cloud.Microsoft now has a Mac mini competitor sort ofThe device was announced at Microsoft Ignite 2024, a conference focused on developers and IT professionals. From the outside, it kind of looks like the latest Mac mini, at least in terms of size. Its a small black box with a few ports on the back. However, both computers differ significantly on the inside.Despite being almost as small as an Apple TV, Mac mini is a proper computer powered by the M4 or M4 Pro chips. Windows 365 Link, on the other hand, has very light specifications. Thats because the device streams Windows through the cloud instead of running a local operating system.Microsoft sees Windows 365 Link as an ideal device for corporate customers. Rather than spending on large, expensive hardware, the idea is to have a super-small, much cheaper device that is connected to the internet to stream Windows with the power of a much better computer. Essentially, a computer for running cloud virtual machines.There arent many details about the technical specifications. All we know so far is that the internal hardware has 8GB of RAM, 64GB of storage and an undisclosed Intel processor. Again, the specifications dont matter much, as the built-in hardware is only used to stream whats in the cloud.On the back, the Windows 365 Link has a USB-C port along with two USB-A ports, DisplayPort, HDMI, and Ethernet. Its also equipped with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity.As explained by The Verge, Microsoft believes that the new device brings security benefits to IT consumers, as all data is encrypted in the cloud and theres nothing stored offline that can be stolen or hacked. Of course, this also means that the PC becomes useless when theres no internet connection.Windows 365 Link will be available next year, and it will cost $349. It also requires a Windows 365 subscription, which starts at $28 per month.Although the idea sounds interesting, its hard not to compare it to the Mac mini, which costs only $250 more but has much better hardware (and runs a local operating system). As I recently wrote here on 9to5Mac, the latest Mac mini is an unbeatable desktop computer for most people. Its powerful, sleek, compact, and its at a great price.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

We're in trouble.The Sky Is FallingNew York City has declared its first drought warning since 2002, adding to the long list of portentous climate-related events afflicting the US and world more frequently, and forcefully, than ever before in recorded history.Floridians recently endured Hurricane Milton, which one meteorologist described initially as reaching the "mathematical limit of what Earth's atmosphere over this ocean water can produce." On the West side of the US, at least 28 people were killed this summer in a lethal heatwave, a byproduct of what could become the hottest year ever recorded. The last "hottest year," unsettlingly, was 2023.All that not to mention the Big Apple's new drought warning melt into a flashing sign as world leaders at the COP29 climate summit: that absent an implausibly radical reshaping of humankind's activities on Earth, things are only going to get worse.Rain or ShineNew York City's drought advisory which also impacts several New York State counties doesn't come with any mandatory restrictions, though residents are urged to conserve water.That said, a drought advisory is no small thing. It's the final step before a drought emergency, which New York last experienced in 2002. And if the weather doesn't relent, an emergency could be inevitable."The ongoing and historic lack of rainfall, both in the city and in the upstate watershed where our reservoirs are located, has become more critical," said New York City chief climate officer Rohit T. Aggarwala in a press release"Climate change caused an exceptionally warm fall, leading to our reservoir system being at only 63% capacity," added New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. "As New Yorkers always do in a crisis, we are coming together to face this challenge."Share This Article

Banana for scale.Banana for ScaleSpaceX's latest test flight of its Starship spacecraft carried a highly unusual payload into orbit in its massive hold: a single banana.Footage showed the interior of the behemoth rocket being adorned with a single lonely piece of fruit.It also conveniently puts the size of the spacecraft to scale and it'sa hilarious choice for a "zero gravity indicator," a long-held tradition that has conventionally involved sending small stuffed toys up alongside astronauts to the International Space Station.Emergency SplashdownDuring SpaceX's fifth orbital test flight last month, the company pulled off an incredible feat, catching the booster of the world's largest and most powerful rocket ever built with a giant tower.But today's test launch didn't quite go as smoothly. Starship's Super Heavy stage successfully lifted the spacecraft into orbit, but appeared to sputter during its descent.Instead, SpaceX made a call minutes into the launch to drop the booster into the Gulf of Mexico as part of a "booster offshore divert" maneuver, instead of catching it once again.Live footage showed the massive booster successfully slow its descent, dipping gradually toward the water before erupting in a massive fireball.The Elon Musk-led company, however, remained optimistic, likely collecting plenty of data along the way."Super Heavy initiates its landing burn and softly splashes down in the Gulf of Mexico," the company wrote in an update on X-formerly-Twitter.It's still unclear why SpaceX chose to call off the tower catch today.But given the fact that SpaceX has yet again managed to launch the behemoth into orbit in one piece is an incredible feat of engineering in and of itself, highlighting just how far the space company has come.Whether the banana is still edible following Starship's landing remains to be seen.Share This Article