The years top films include thrilling adaptations and original dramas, such as Wicked and The Brutalist, as well as ideal showcases for actors Austin Butler and Glen Powell, who are deservedly ascending to the A-list.

"Double your villains, double your fun!" Keanu Reeves voices archvillain Shadow in Sonic 3 trailer "With Shadow's power, we can rule humanity." Jennifer Ouellette Nov 25, 2024 12:36 pm | 0 Credit: YouTube/Paramount Pictures Credit: YouTube/Paramount Pictures Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn more Ben Schwartz voices the titular character in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Some lucky folks got a heads-up last week that a trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was about to drop when Paramount Pictures released a playable Sega Genesis gaming cartridge to select individuals. Hidden among a mini-game and character posters, and accessible by entering a cheat code, was the trailer release date. True to its word, Paramount just dropped the final trailer for the third film in the successful franchise. All our favorite characters are back, as well as a couple of new ones, most notably a new villain familiar to fans of the games: Shadow, voiced by Keanu Reeves.(Spoilers for the first two films below.)As previously reported, in the first film, Sonic (Ben Schwartz) teamed up with local town sheriff Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) to stop the sinister mad scientist Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey). Robotnik wanted to catch and experiment on the hedgehog, and if he could also frame Tom as a domestic terrorist, even better.Sonic the Hedgehog 2 picked up with a defeated Robotnik trapped on a faraway mushroom planet and plotting revenge. Robotnik escaped and teamed up with Knuckles (Idris Elba), a Sonic-like CGI echidna, to track down Sonic. Oh, and they were also hunting for an emerald with the power to destroy civilization. Sonic teamed up with his own sidekick, Tails (Colleen O'Shaughnessey), to find the emerald before it fell into the wrong hands. They naturally succeeded and decided to live a life of ease with the Wachowskis. As noted in our 2022 review, while the film wasn't exactly a cinematic triumph, it was still an enjoyable, family-friendly option.All the main cast members have returned for this third outing: Schwartz; Marsden; Carrey; Elba; O'Shaugnessey; Tika Sumpter as Tom's wife Maddie; Natasha Rothwell as Maddie's sister, Rachel; Lee Majdoub as Agent Stone, evil sidekick to Robotnik; Tom Butler as Commander Walters; Adam Pally as dim-witted deputy sheriff Wade Whipple; and Shemar Moore as Rachel's husband, Randall.In addition to Reeves, new cast members include Krysten Ritter as Director Rockwell; Alyla Browne as Maria, a young girl from Shadow's past; and Sofia Pernas, Cristo Fernandez, James Wolk, and Jorma Taccone cast in as-yet-undisclosed roles. Sonic 3 will also introduce the Chao creatures of Chao Gardens.A tragic backstory Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are captured. YouTube/Paramount Pictures Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are captured. YouTube/Paramount Pictures Jim Carrey plays both Ivo Robotnik and Ivo's grandfather, Gerald Robotnik. YouTube/Paramount Pictures Jim Carrey plays both Ivo Robotnik and Ivo's grandfather, Gerald Robotnik. YouTube/Paramount Pictures Sonic and friends end up in the living room of Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter) Wachowski. YouTube/Paramount Pictures Sonic and friends end up in the living room of Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter) Wachowski. YouTube/Paramount Pictures Jim Carrey plays both Ivo Robotnik and Ivo's grandfather, Gerald Robotnik. YouTube/Paramount Pictures Sonic and friends end up in the living room of Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter) Wachowski. YouTube/Paramount Pictures Keanu Reeves signed on to voice Shadow. YouTube/Paramount Pictures Blast from the past: Shadow was besties with Maria (Alyla Browne). YouTube/Paramount Pictures Maria's death meant Shadow vowed revenge. YouTube/Paramount Pictures The film comes out just in time for the Christmas season, so naturally Gerald Robotnik disguises himself as Santa. YouTube/Paramount Pictures It's no surprise that Carrey is back once again as "Eggman" Robotnik, and this time, he's playing a dual role: Robotnik and the character's grandfather, Professor Gerald Robotnik, a genetic engineer who created Shadow while trying to cure his daughter Maria from a deadly disease. In the games, Shadow suffers from past trauma associated with Maria's death; the two were close friends.When she is killed by the Guardian Units of Nations (GUN), Shadow sets out for revenge before remembering his promise to Maria to prevent the destruction of the world. He eventually becomes an anti-hero ally to Sonic. We already knew that the third film would probably feature Shadow, thanks to a mid-credits scene in Sonic 2 informing us about the discovery of a secret research facility for something called "Project Shadow." (Director Jeff Fowler once worked as a character animator, and Shadow was one of his first jobs.)It's clear from the new trailer that Shadow is in his early villain phase here. The trailer opens with Sonic and pals in a kid-friendly eatery, where one child mistakes Tails for Pikachubefore they are rudely attacked. Cut to Roobotnik Sr. intoning, "It's time, Shadow"time for revenge. The trio is captured by the Robotniks but they escape and end up in the Wachowskis' living room, and naturally the couple joins them on a super dangerous top-secret mission. We see a flashback to Shadow's friendship with Maria as well as Sonic and Shadow getting ready to throw down ("This ends now"). The smart money, as always, is on Team Sonic.Sonic the Hedgehog 3 opens in theaters on December 20, 2024.Jennifer OuelletteSenior WriterJennifer OuelletteSenior Writer Jennifer is a senior reporter at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series. Jennifer lives in Baltimore with her spouse, physicist Sean M. Carroll, and their two cats, Ariel and Caliban. 0 Comments Prev story

PS5P? Sony is reportedly working on a PS5 portable Miniaturized hardware is still "likely years away from launch." Kyle Orland Nov 25, 2024 11:34 am | 21 Artist's conception of God breathing new life into the sadly neglected PlayStation Vita. Credit: Sony Artist's conception of God breathing new life into the sadly neglected PlayStation Vita. Credit: Sony Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreBloomberg reports that Sony is "in the early stages" of work on a fully portable console that can play PlayStation 5 software. The device is still "likely years away from launch," according to "people familiar with its development" that spoke to Bloomberg anonymously.The report comes less than a year after the launch of the PlayStation Portal, a Sony portable device designed to stream PS5 games running on a console on the same local network. Recently, Sony updated the Portal firmware to let PlayStation Plus subscribers also stream PS5 games from Sony's centralized servers at up to 1080p and 60 fps.Sony's reported PS5 portable plans also come after months of rumors that Microsoft has also been working on a new Xbox console with a portable form factor. In June, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer added fuel to those rumors by directly saying, "I think we should have a handheld, too... I like my ROG Ally, my Lenovo Legion Go, my Steam Deck... I think being able to play games locally is really important."Nintendo's follow-up to the Switch, which will be formally announced in the next few months, is also widely expected to mimic the hybrid portable/console design of Nintendo's last console.Sony first dipped its toes in the portable gaming arena with 2005's PlayStation Portable, which is still the only major handheld console to make use of optical discs (in Sony's own proprietary UMD format). Sony followed that up with 2012's PlayStation Vita, a well-loved console that brought a full analog stick and a larger high-resolution screen to the portable console space. But both efforts struggled to find much market success compared to the sales juggernauts of Nintendo's cheaper Nintendo DS and 3DS hardware lines.Honey, I shrunk the PS5A portable PS5 would continue a trend toward portable console design kicked off by Nintendo's hugely successful Switch in 2017 and supercharged by the Steam Deck in early 2022 (and its many PC-based and Android-based imitators). The ability to play games on the go at the lower-end of HD resolutionswithout the need to take up the living room TVhas proven popular with a market segment that's seeing diminishing returns from the push for even higher-fidelity graphics in many games and genres. The massive PS5 might seem like one of the hardest consoles to squeeze into a portable form factor. Credit: Reddit / GREB07 Squeezing the entire PS5 hardware stack into a portable form factor might seem difficult considering the PS5 was among the largest consoles ever released when it launched in 2020. But Sony has already made strides in shrinking the form factor somewhatthis year's more powerful PS5 Pro was distinctly smaller than the original console, for example.A portable PS5 might also not need to push the original console's full 4K resolution graphics eithereven the largest portable-sized gaming devices still max out at 1080p resolution these days. The hardware needed for this kind of "scaled down" PS5 software could end up taking up much less physical space, much like the reduced hardware power and overall size of Microsoft's Xbox Series S compared to the higher-end Xbox Series X.Sony revealed in May that the PS5 had sold a healthy 56 million units since launch. Still, the number of PS5 units in active use each month was matched by active use of the decade-old PS4, suggesting many gamers are still hesitant to upgrade.Kyle OrlandSenior Gaming EditorKyle OrlandSenior Gaming Editor Kyle Orland has been the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica since 2012, writing primarily about the business, tech, and culture behind video games. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He once wrote a whole book about Minesweeper. 21 Comments

In the absence of federal law, how will state-based data privacy laws due to take effect in 2025 and beyond affect business operations?

An enterprises culture is defined by a lot of different things: shared organizational values, how leaders behave, the way teams interact. A companys culture can make or break its business. Increasingly, cybersecurity is a risk that enterprise culture cannot ignore. Phishing scams. Zero-day vulnerabilities. Ransomware. Threat actors can levy various tools in their arsenal at anyone in an organization, from executives to members of the help desk.InformationWeek spoke to security leaders from three different companies about how they approach building a security-first culture across their organizations and what that can look like for different companies.Recognizing ObstaclesCulture is a complex concept, not easily built and maintained. What are some of the biggest obstacles cybersecurity leaders face when establishing security as a core cultural value?First of all, enterprises have a lot of priorities: driving revenue, marketing products and services, supporting customers and employees, and, of course, security. While each priority plays an important role in sustaining a business, they may compete with one another for talent, time, and budget.How do you get the organization to put security on par with increasing EBITDA or trying to maximize your revenue? asks John Cannava, CIO atPing Identity, an identity management and governance company.Related:Thats a tough question to answer, especially when enterprise teams view security as a stumbling block rather than a business enabler. Often security protocols, and with good reason, force people to slow down.As soon as employees think that it's an obstacle to overcome, they may look at creative ways to bypass that security control, Monica Landen, senior vice president and CISO at Diligent, a board and governance software company, says.Cybersecurity cannot be the sole responsibility of security and IT teams, but it is the responsibility of these team leaders to demonstrate its value to everyone in an organization.There is continuous need to not just come up with the right control set but also to figure out what are the best ways to scale those controls across such a heterogenous, large landscape, says Sebastian Lange, CSO at software and technology company SAP.Identifying Security ChampionsIdentifying the right security controls, scaling them across an organization, and threading that security-first mindset throughout an entire organization requires security champions. Oftentimes, the CISO and CIO wear that mantle, but the person or people who fill that role will vary depending on the size, structure, and maturity of an organization. At SAP, Lange and Marielle Ehrmann, the companys global security compliance and risk officer, co-lead global security and cloud compliance.Related:SAP has more than 100,000 employees around the world. Each line of business in SAP often [has its] own architectural uniqueness, sometimes even their own execution culture. How do you fit around that? asks Lange.The company has business information security officers for each line of business. They do the line of business-specific security implementation. So, within that model, we are spreading our security and compliance strategy into each and every line of business, Ehrmann explains.SAP also identifies employees throughout the business as security champions, people who teammates can turn to with security questions related to their everyday work. There are quite a few embedded in all of the different areas of the business to help further the availability of people with expertise but also context [and] knowledge of the day-to-day work [of] employees, says Lange.At Ping Identity, the head of product plays a big role in championing security initiatives. We've taken the security team and embedded it within our engineering organization so that it's not a high-friction interaction between those organizations, says Cannava.They're part of the same team who's delivering a solution that has security as part of its core value. Related:Whoever leads security efforts should be accessible to everyone in the company, from the board and C-suite on down. [Make] sure that the cybersecurity leader is visible and approachable and really sets clear organizational priorities across the company in easy-to-understand terms, says Landen.Securing Buy-InWhoever is championing enterprise-wide security needs to secure buy-in from everyone within an organization. At the top, that means getting the C-suite and board to throw their weight behind security.At the end of the day, if you don't have the CEO on board and the CEO isn't voicing the same level of prioritization, then it will be something that's viewed as a half step back from fundamental business priorities, Cannava warns.Effective communication is a big part of getting that buy-in from leadership. How can security leaders explain to their boards and fellow executives that security is an essential business enabler?Really [convert] the technology language or cyber language or jargon into how will that risk potential impact revenue or reputation or our compliance? says Landen.Tabletop exercises can be a powerful way to not just tell but show executives the value of cybersecurity. Walking through various cybersecurity incident scenarios can demonstrate the vital connection security has to operations and business outcomes. Ping Identity periodically engages multiple members of the C-suite in these exercises.Not only do you know learn what the gap is, you also learn by doing you're pulled in and engaged as a member of the C-suite, and now you're invested, he says. So, when you goback to your teams, you can share with them why this is so important.Executives can and should talk about the importance of security, but employees throughout an organization are busy with their day-to-day responsibilities. Cybersecurity can easily slip through the cracks.It requires regular communication, not a single training done as a part of onboarding and quickly forgotten. We find it really important to explain to our employees the why of security and what it means to the overall companys success or brand, says Cannava.Explaining that why can come in the form of education. For example, teams can discuss real-life cybersecurity events and their consequences, like downtime and lost revenue.Security leaders can also help their enterprises adopt various ways to make security more engaging and less like a check-the-box item to be forgotten. So, we have various excellence awards in place, but we are also making it a fun topic, like with a capture the flag competition. So, gamification factors in there, Ehrmann shares.Building a Strong, Adaptable CultureCompany culture and security strategy are not one-size-fits-all. While different approaches will work for different organizations, successful security-first cultures share some commonalities. Security initiatives need to be actionable, measurable, and governable across an enterprise in order to be effective. Using an established framework, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework, can help security leaders build and track the success of that security-first culture.Technology and cyber threats are constantly changing, which means that cybersecurity culture must be adaptable. Today, security leaders are contending with the GenAI boom and its power to both defend and fuel nefarious cyber activity.As security practitioners, we do have to get ahead of it and ensure that we have adopted the right policies and practices within the organization, so we don't inadvertently expose sensitive data or potentially impact any privacy policies, says Landen.As security leaders work to ensure security-first culture keeps up with shifting technologies and threats, they need continuous engagement with employees. Does every employee know about their companys cybersecurity risks and their role in mitigating them? Do they know where to go to with questions and where to report anything suspicious?When it comes to reporting a security incident or what they might view as suspicious activity, make it really low barrier for participation, for them to be able to report that, Cannava suggests.A strong cybersecurity culture ties security to the overall goals of a business, and it lives in the everyday actions of the people who work there.It's rather like swimming or like riding a bike. The moment you need it, you should know how to do it. It needs to come naturally, says Ehrmann. You can't create that ad hoc. It needs time, the right leadership and that goes across all levels of the company from the supervisory board over to the executive board to all senior executives down to each and every employee of the company.

Gene editing could be more effective before birthLeigh Prather/AlamyDoing CRISPR gene editing while fetuses are in the womb could make it easier to treat inherited conditions, especially those affecting tissues such as the heart or muscles.Kiran Musunuru at the University of Pennsylvania and his colleagues have tested gene editing in monkeys, and found that it was far more effective when given before birth. What we found was astounding, he says. It opens up the opportunity to treat diseases that have been very hard to treat after birth.

COP President Mukhtar Babayev (second from right) applauds the end of the climate summitSean Gallup/Getty ImagesAfter a long and fraught night of talks, COP29 in Baku finally concluded in the early hours of 24 November with a deal that will see wealthier countries funnel billions of dollars to poorer countries over the next decade to pay for climate action. Despite the high numbers involved, it is a deal that seemingly pleases no one, and has called the entire COP climate summit process into question.The finance deal was the main focus of the meeting in Azerbaijans capital, with

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. How Trumps tariffs could drive up the cost of batteries, EVs, and more President-elect Donald Trumps America First plan to enact huge tariffs on imported goods threatens to jack up the cost and slow down the development of US cleantech projects. These plans could easily add billions of dollars to the prices that US companiesand therefore consumerspay for batteries and electric vehicles, as well as the steel used to build solar farms, geothermal plants, nuclear facilities, transmission lines, and much more. Here are three areas where the costs of materials and products that are crucial to the energy transition could rise. Read the full story. James Temple Googles antitrust gut punch and the Trump wild card Last week, the US Department of Justice released its recommendations for proposed remedies in its antitrust case against Google. While no one thought the DOJ would go easy on Google, the remedies it did suggest are profound and, if enacted, could be catastrophic to its business. Next, Google will make its own set of proposals to the court. Finally, Judge Amit Mehta, who has been presiding over the case, will have to decide which, if any, of these remedies to enact. So what is the DOJ proposing, and what role will the incoming Trump administration play?Mat Honan This story originally appeared in The Debrief with Mat Honan, your weekly take on the tech news that really matters. Its subscriber-only, so sign up here to get the next one in your inbox. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Developing countries arent happy with Cop29s climate finance deal They claim the $300 billion annual pledge isnt anywhere near enough. (The Atlantic $)+ Thats despite the sum tripling the current annual pledge to aid them. (Bloomberg $)+ Heres how the money stacks up. (Reuters)2 Theres no way Elon Musk is going to balance the US governments books His ambitions to slash $2 trillion in annual spending are highly unlikely to be realized. (Vox)+ Musks cost-slashing department is interviewing applicants. (WP $)+ What tech broligarchs really want from Trump. (The Atlantic $)3 One of the worlds biggest battery startups has filed for bankruptcyNorthvolt was one of the industrys brightest hopes. What happened? (WSJ $) + Its struggles demonstrate how Europe is losing the battery race with Asia. (FT $)+ Super-light materials that help suppress EV battery fires just got a big boost. (MIT Technology Review)4 Huawei is poised to launch a phone running its own software The Mate 70 device would be its first flagship device devoid of Android code. (FT $) 5 Meta is struggling to respond to Blueskys success Its tweaking Threads in a bid to make it more attractive to displaced X users. (WP $)+ Bluesky has rapidly overtaken Threads in daily user numbers. (FT $)6 Tesla violated environmental rules in Texas Its factory dumped toxic pollutants in Austin for months in 2022. (WSJ $)7 Is it still worth learning to code these days?The creep of AI-powered coding assistants has recent graduates worried. (NYT $) + How AI assistants are already changing the way code gets made. (MIT Technology Review)8 Singapore is a self-driving car paradiseThe past decade has seen the island state reinvent itself as an autonomous vehicle hub. (Rest of World) + Baidus new robotaxis are hitting Chinas roads. (The Verge)+ How Wayves driverless cars will meet one of their biggest challenges yet. (MIT Technology Review)9 This Etsy witch will curse Elon Musk for you For the bargain price of $7.99. (Wired $) 10 Stuck for Christmas gift ideas? Ask ChatGPT Choosing the perfect present is tough. AI could help to lighten the load. (The Guardian)+ Heres how people are actually using AI. (MIT Technology Review)Quote of the day This document is little more than an optical illusion. Chandni Raina, a negotiator for India during the Cop29 climate negotiations, condemns the $300 billion pledge agreed to help developing nations cope with the effects of climate change, the Guardian reports. The big story Who gets to decide who receives experimental medical treatments? August 2023 There has been a trend toward lowering the bar for new medicines, and it is becoming easier for people to access treatments that might not help themand could even harm them. Anecdotes appear to be overpowering evidence in decisions on drug approval. As a result, were ending up with some drugs that dont work. We urgently need to question how these decisions are made. Who should have access to experimental therapies? And who should get to decide? Such questions are especially pressing considering how quickly biotechnology is advancing. Were not just improving on existing classes of treatmentswere creating entirely new ones. Read the full story. Jessica Hamzelou We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or tweet 'em at me.) + The forgotten history of the worlds very first cyber cafe is fascinating.+ If youre looking to plan a holiday for 2025, this is the ultimate guide to help you decide where to go.+ What happened when Ridley Scott met Paul Mescal.+ Stop! Whatever you do, dont do this to your Thanksgiving turkey.

This story originally appeared in The Debrief with Mat Honan, your weekly take on the tech news that really matters. Sign up here to get the next one in your inbox. Last week, the US Department of Justicereleased its recommendations for proposed remediesin its antitrust case against Google. While no one thought the DOJ would go easy on Google, the remedies it did suggest are profound and, if enacted, could be catastrophic to its business. First, some background. The case was first filed back in 2020. Then in August, Judge Amit Mehta ruled in favor of DOJ (and against Google), finding that Google ran its business as an illegal monopoly. Now, the DOJ has made its case for what it thinks Google should have to do in the wake of that verdict. Next, Google will propose its own set of remedies to the court. Finally, Judge Mehta will have to decide which, if any, of these remedies to enact. So what is the DOJ proposing? Buckle up. The government starts by calling for an end to third party payments. This means Google would have to stop paying the likes of Apple and Mozilla to make Google search the default engine in those companies browsers and devices. This is not surprising. These agreements were at the heart of the matter that led to the ruling in August. Google would also be required to disclose data sufficient to level the scale-based playing field it has illegally slantedincluding syndicating search results to its competitors. This basically means it would have to share its treasure trove of search data to the likes of Microsoft, OpenAI, DuckDuckGo, Brave, and on down the line. The DOJ also argues Google should be forced to divest control and ownership of Chrome and Android. In the case of Android, Googles mobile operating system that most of the phones in the world run on, Google would either have to sell it, or no longer require manufacturers, like Samsung or LG, to use its services on their devices. And if it was the latter, any deal would be subject to oversight and couldstillpotentially result in a forced sale of Android if the government found Googles actions insufficient. If the other remedies are body blows, this one is more like losing a limb. Selling off Chrome and/or Android would have massive, massive consequences all across Googles lines of businesses. Its also worth noting that before he was tapped to oversee all of Google (and then Alphabet), Sundar Pichai ran Chrome and then Android. These are his babies. But wait, theres more! Google would also be prohibited from investing in or buying outright any search or search text ad rival, search distributor, or rival query-based AI product or ads technology. Thats big because there are a lot of companies in the AI spacetrying to become the search engineof the future right now. (Though it was cleared, Google was already under scrutiny for such investments in the UK, which wasinvestigating its $2 billion investment in Anthropic.) Google could even be prohibited from using any properties it already owns and operates from favoring its own search or ad products. This would force the company to present users with choices of which search engines to use in its own hardware devices, like the Google Pixel phone, as well as on services like YouTube. Theres still more on the DOJs wish list. But you get this picture. Its a heavy hammer. So now what? You can think of where we are a little bit like the stage of a criminal trial when a defendant has been found guilty and a prosecutor suggests a sentence. The judge still has the final word here (at least until an inevitable appeal) and could choose to enact more lenient penalties along the lines of what Google will likely propose, or take up the Justice Departments set of proposals in whole or in part. (He could also just go his own way.) In short, now we know what the DOJ would like to see happen. And of course the whole thingcouldwill go to appeal. So, what will actually happen remains to be seen. What will Trump do? A little bit of a wild card in all this is that by the time Judge Mehta gets around to a ruling (he has set a two week hearing for April with a rulingprojected in August 2025) there will be an entirely new administration in office. In theory, the Trump administration could drop the case altogether or push for lighter remedies. While we dont yetknowwhat it will do, its worth considering that Google does not have many friends in Trumpworld. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance has said bluntly that its time to break Google up. Trump has long aired grievances about the company. And the suit began, remarkably,four years ago under the first Trump administration. But, then again, inan interview last month,Bloomberg Newseditor in chief John Micklethwait asked Trump if Google-parent Alphabet should be broken up. After a series of complaints and digressions about how he appeared in its search results, Trump more or less equivocated. He called breaking up Google a very dangerous thing and noted that China is afraid of Google. And then: Sometimes you have to fight through these threats. Im not a fan of Google. They treat me badly, but are you going to destroy the company by doing that? he said. What you can do without breaking it up is make sure its more fair. So maybe Trump will see Google as a bulwark against China. If theres one thing he seems to like less than Google, its China? Or, well, who knows, it could come down to who Trump talked to last. AsThe Vergeeditor in chief Nilay Patel pointed out, some of Trumps allies in tech are already strongly in the anti-Google camp: The problem for Google is that Andreessen, Vance, Musk etc all sort of love this idea,he skeeted on Bluesky.(Yeah, thatswhat you call it. Sorry, I dont make the rules.) I would add Peter Thiel to that list as a very notable etc. Thiel has been extremely critical of Google, and has come down in particular on its relationship with China. Heswritten an op-ed in theNew York Timesabout it, and has gone so far as to call the company seemingly treasonous. So, theres that. What do I think? Im not a lawyer! This is not investment advice! Blah blah blah! But Ive been covering Google for a long, long time. Nearly my entire career. Do I think Google has grown too big and too powerful? Absolutely! No one company should have as much market dominance as it does. Not Google. Not Apple. Not Meta. Not Amazon. Not Microsoft. Which means its especially messed up that they all are that big. Big Tech reminds me of the famous political cartoon(s) of the great colonial powerscarving up their own spheres of influence, except in this case we are all China. Still, Ill say something that may be a little contrarian here: I think Googles control over Chrome and Android are more or less beneficial for consumers, or at least help provide a goodexperience. The data collection practices are horrendous and potentially dangerous. And yes, product ecosystems are most often swamps that are meant to make it hard to get out of any given system. But the way Google has made so many of its productsChrome, Gmail, Search, Maps, Gemini, Android, Photos, etc.highly interoperable is kinda nice when you look at it from a purely user-centric perspective. It means you can share your data and log in and history and, to some extent, personality across lots of different products in ways that make life at least a tiny bit more convenient. This may seem trivial, but when you get an email confirming a doctors appointment, which Google then automatically adds to your calendar, alerts you with a notification on your phone that its time to depart in order to arrive on time, and then helps you navigate to the new office, its pretty helpful. That said, I think any remedies should target the agreements Google has with other companies to keep its engine as the default. For the first time in decades, were starting to see real search alternatives emerge and they should not be stifled by secret multi-billion dollar agreements among the great powers. I also think a good ruling would limit Googles ability to prioritize its own products and services in search resultsfor example, when I search for a good Thai restaurant near me, Google displays the actual results with a list of restaurants from its database with its user reviews, plotted out on its own Maps product, and this is all above a link to Yelp that might actually have better review data and the same mapping. Maybe you disagree! Well, there is still plenty of time to argue with me and tell me Im wrong. The only thing thats certain at this point is that this case is going to drag on for a long time. Programming note: The Debrief will be off next week. See you in December. If someone forwarded you this edition of The Debrief, you cansubscribe here. I appreciate your feedback on this newsletter. Drop me a line atmat.honan@technologyreview.comwith any and all thoughts. And of course, I love tips. Now read the rest of The Debrief The News Elon Musk joined Trumps call with Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Open AI gives us a view of how it safety tests its large language models. Several of the big crypto companies are campaigning for seats on Trumps new crypto council. Threads begins rolling out Bluesky-esque updates as that network starts to surge. Incredible graph of the output of global climate emissions by nations over time. A look at the legal and ethical issues surrounding uterus transplants. Turns out a two-hour interview will enable AI to create a pretty accurate replica of your personality. The Chat Every week Ill talk to one of MIT Technology Reviews reporters or editors to find out more about what theyve been working on. This week, I talked to Eileen Guo, our senior reporter for features and investigations. Mat: Hey Eileen, I loved your story on Clear. Its such a strange company. What does it do exactly? Eileen: Thanks! That its so ubiquitous but also under the radar is why I wanted to write about it. Clear is a biometric identity company. Initially, it allowed members to go through airport security a little bit fasterby submitting to background checks and then, once at the airport, verify their identities with their biometrics. But for the past few years, its been aggressively expanding outside of airports. Mat: How did this private company get to take responsibility for identity verification at airports? Eileen: Clear started in the aftermath of 9/11, when airport security was a mess and everyoneCongress, the newly created TSA, travelerswas looking for a solution to speed up the process without (theoretically) sacrificing security. Verified Identity Pass, as the company was then known, was one of a few companies that stepped up and it was the most successful by far. I think that was because it was really good at public-private partnerships. It really grew by renting space from the airports where it operated; for every person that signed up, the airports would also receive a portion of revenue. Mat: Youve written about biometrics several times now. Are we on an inevitable journey to using our faces and fingers as identifiers? Like, at some point if I want a Big Mac, am I going to have to scan my eyeballs into the drive thru camera? Eileen: I think the companies selling the technology want it to feel inevitable, and more companies are certainly trying to push pay by palm or iris or face, so we'll see more of it, but we're also seeing other ways of proving our digital identities. Biometrics is one solution (with a lot of problems). But it's not the only one. Mat: Anything surprise you when you reported this out? Eileen: I guess I hadn't understood how much the biometrics and identity space is really commoditized. One of our early questions was, what is Clear's technology? But Clear doesn't write the facial verification or other algorithms that it uses; it chooses the best ones, and then its real differentiator is packaging it all together in a platform that is easy to useboth for its business customers (like LinkedIn or Home Depot) and us, its human customers. The Recommendation As a sad old GenXer, nothing makes me feel sadder or older than seeing bands I loved as a kid, bands that sometimes felt dangerous or revolutionary or deeply weird, shuffling around on stage in orthopedic shoes selling nostalgia to graying, pot-bellied old people wearing the same Ben Davies pants they bought at the community thrift in 1994. Dont get me wrong! I was swooning with all the other aging hipsters on statins at the Magnetic Fields and Bikini Kill and Smashing Pumpkins and Green Day shows this year. And I fully intend to see Kim Deal come tour next year, especially because it will give me a chance to once again talk about how I saw her open for Nirvana. But all these things just remind me that Im gonna die. Which is why I have been extremely behind the times in listening to The Cures new album, Songs of a Lost World. But as everybody has been saying, it is easily one of their best albums, period, and one of the best albums of the year as well. Maybe it helps that their music has always been the kind of stuff that reminds me Im gonna die, but in a good way! Anyway. If you have not already, go give it a listen. Endsong in particular is really beautiful. (And, uh, maybe about getting old and dying.)

Garten's recipe uses a few simple ingredients, including Yukon Gold potatoes.Yukon Gold and russet are both used in mashed potatoes. Paige Bennett The recipe has just six ingredients: Yukon Gold potatoes, unsalted butter, whole milk, salt, pepper, and lemon zest.It serves four to six people, so I cut all the measurements in half for my household of two.I was interested in Garten's choice of potato for this recipe. Some mashed potatoes call for russet, others call for Yukon Gold, and others still include a combination of both.Russet potatoes have a higher starch content, which makes for lighter, fluffier potatoes. Yukon Golds have a medium starch content, which makes for denser, creamier potatoes with a natural buttery flavor.I was excited about the prospect of adding lemon zest.Creamy mashed potatoes could use a little acidity. Paige Bennett I figured with all of the butter in this recipe, plus the creamy Yukon Gold potatoes, the lemon zest would be pretty handy in balancing the richer flavors. The cooking method was pretty standard.I started by boiling my potatoes. Paige Bennett The cooking directions were straightforward and similar to many other recipes I've made.I started by peeling and cutting the potatoes into about 1 -inch chunks.I placed them in a pot and covered them with cold water and salt before bringing everything to a boil. Once boiling, I cooked them for 20 minutes until they were soft enough to pierce easily with a fork.I had to improvise one of the steps.I used a ricer to mash the potatoes. Paige Bennett Garten calls for a food mill to puree the potatoes. I don't have one, so I used my trusty ricer for that step. Garten warms the milk to avoid gummy spuds.Cold milk can alter the texture of warm potatoes. Paige Bennett Just before the potatoes were done cooking, I put cup of whole milk in a small pot to simmer on the stove.By using warm milk instead of cold, the potatoes can absorb the liquid better, which evidently keeps them from becoming too gummy.There is a lot of butter involved.The recipe called for unsalted butter. Paige Bennett While the potatoes were cooking, I cut a full stick of butter into -inch pieces and kept them in the fridge. It's important to keep the butter cold.As opposed to the milk, the butter goes in cold. Paige Bennett Unlike the milk, the butter was meant to be whisked into the potatoes while it was still very cold and fresh from the fridge.Had I warmed up the butter like the milk, it might have separated. The butter really made a difference in the texture of the potatoes.I added the butter in slowly. Paige Bennett After ricing the potatoes, I started whisking in a little bit of butter at a time.It was impressive to watch how quickly the potatoes became silky and creamy even before I started pouring in the warm milk. The potatoes looked incredibly creamy.I didn't have to add all the milk. Paige Bennett Once the full stick of butter was incorporated, the instructions said to pour in just enough milk to make the potatoes "creamy but still thick."Ultimately, I only needed about of the milk to reach my desired consistency before stirring in the salt and pepper.It was soon time to add the star ingredient to the potatoes.I added the salt, pepper, and lemon last. Paige Bennett Once the salt and pepper were thoroughly mixed into the potatoes, I whisked in the zest of one lemon. These mashed potatoes had an incredibly silky-soft texture.I was surprised at how quickly everything came together. Paige Bennett Unsurprisingly, the full stick of butter and warm milk turned the potatoes into a silky-smooth, buttery-soft pile of fluff on my plate.They were ultra-creamy without being soupy, and they were still able to hold their shape and form peaks when I spooned them into a dish.These potatoes had an amazing texture that was both light and decadent at the same time. The lemon was an unexpected but delightful addition.Lemon adds a nice kick of acidity. Paige Bennett Including salt, fat, acid, and heat in a recipe has become a common adage, so I couldn't believe I'd never thought to add lemon to my mashed potatoes before.Mashed potatoes always include plenty of salt and fat from the butter or heavy cream, and there's a hint of heat when you add black pepper.But the lemon zest adds just enough acidity to cut through all of the rich textures and flavors, adding a nice brightness and freshness to help balance out the heavier ingredients. There are a few changes I'd make next time, but lemon is a must-add ingredient for mashed potatoes.I'll definitely be keeping lemon in my mashed potatoes. Paige Bennett I loved the taste and texture of Garten's mashed potatoes. They were somehow both rich and creamy and light and vibrant.Although I loved the addition of lemon, I'd cut back slightly and use the zest of about to of a lemon for a slightly more subtle brightness. I also think some fresh herbs, like chives or parsley, would complement the lemon and make the potatoes even better.Overall, thanks to Garten's recipe, I'll keep a lemon handy anytime I want to make mashed potatoes.This story was originally published on November 15, 2022, and most recently updated on November 25, 2024.