Nature in the time of climate change is a perilous thing, making land stewardship paramount for the owner of a 170-acre Hudson Valley, New York, estate, where a private lake and four stone-and-wood cottages from the 1930s are set in a storybook forest of white pine and hemlock. Sustainability makes good long-term sense, economically and environmentally, says the homeowner. Our family leads a healthy lifestyle and we wanted our home to reflect that.So it only made sense for the residents to call on their neighbor Brigid Walsh, founder of environmental design studio 100 Miles North, to help reimagine the retreat through a lens of longevity. Environmental design puts an earth-first focus on everything from the landscape to the interiors and beyond, Walsh, a former Vogue executive, says. But within that, we make choices that are very specific to each project and lifestylethis isnt a cookie-cutter process.Refreshing the cottage interiors was also fitting, since they were crammed with stuff that held no meaning for the family. A mindful decluttering was in order: Once auction houses had their pick of the cast-offs, the rest was donated to Habitat for Humanity, keeping as much out of landfill as possible. Walsh then commissioned the design studio and AD PRO Directory member MK Workshop, specialists in creating highly intentional interiors that eschew objects of mass production, who came in to align the newly unencumbered spaces to the restored landscape and nearly century-old architecture.In the living room of the main house, the designers from AD PRO Directory firm MK Workshop refinished the worse-for-wear wood paneling in Raisin by Sherwin-Williams, a hue akin to the original mahogany. The space is appointed with a combination of vintage objects and eco-friendly purchases. The chandelier was existing and perfect for the moody atmosphere, says Kilday. A bentwood cane rocking chair, two black leather Danish lounge chairs, and Maison Regain elm coffee table are vintage.Among the major shifts that Walsh, a permaculture expert, has implemented on the estate is an ongoing restoration of the forest. Better tree diversityin this case, rooting more oak, maple, and pecancreates a welcoming habitat for local wildlife like black bears, red squirrels, and bald eagles. It also prevents erosion from hampering the 37-acre lake, the heart of the property and the view from almost every room. Sometimes it feels like youre on a boat because all you can see is water, says the homeowner. The custom upholstered bench in the upstairs lounge of the main house features a striped textile from Lee Jofa.The aging of the original stone and wood is quite beautiful, says MK Workshops Brooklyn-based cofounder Jonah Kilday. The existing structures and finishes inspired everything that we did. Partly owing to this patina, the spaces were cinematically moody. We really leaned into all of that natural ambiance, says MK Workshops other cofounder Petra McKenzie, who is based in Austin. As such, low-VOC paint revitalized some of the worse-for-wear wood paneling, but not necessarily to brightening effect. The living room of the main house, for example, was finished in a rich Sherwin-Williams shade called Raisin, which echoes the color of the original mahogany walls.Environmental designer and founder of 100 Miles North, Brigid Walsh (left); MK Workshop cofounders Petra McKenzie (center) and Jonah KildayWalsh invited MK Workshop, a design studio with offices in Brooklyn and Austin, to refresh the formerly crammed cottage interiors with an eye toward sustainability, which included a responsible redistribution of possessions that no longer sparked joy to auction houses and Habitat for Humanity, and then mindful sourcing of vintage and custom pieces. In this pursuit, the designers Petra McKenzie and Jonah Kilday were inspired by the original stone and wood of the buildings, which bore a beautiful patina.Art: Molly SuppleeInspired by a childhood summer camp set on a forested lake, the current homeowners father embarked on a yearslong search for a nature retreat with similar scenery. I remember my dad ripping out ads in the paper and me going on dial-up internet searching for properties, says the homeowner. Wilderness is in full effect on the 170-acre property in the Hudson Valley, where the New Yorkbased family has been vacationing since, well, at least the dawn of the internet.Most PopularAD-it-Yourself28 Tasteful Bathroom Decor Ideas, From Quick Fixes to Major MakeoversBy Amelia MularzArchitecture + DesignNew York Skyline: Everything You Need to Know About the Big Apples Big BuildingsBy Elizabeth FazzareOutdoors18 Exterior House Colors That Add Major Curb AppealBy Elizabeth StampThe designers appointed the original spaces primarily with vintage items, giving old objects new purpose. It felt like designing in a different century, McKenzie says. About 80% of what we brought in was either vintage or custom made. Sourcing from Texas-based artisans and vintage showrooms, plus the famous Round Top Antiques Fair, the designers filled an entire truckload before making one fell journey to New York rather than wastefully shipping individual items. They also mined for treasures closer to the estate at The Antique Warehouse in Hudson.The custom bar-height table in this informal dining room in the main house was determined by the position of the window, ensuring a view to the lake for all. Custom chandelier.The kitchen in the main house features locally sourced vintage pottery, bar stools, and lighting.The formal dining room in the main house is the site of a massive existing wooden table, a family keepsake by default since its sheer size prevents its removal. The designers draped it in a linen drop cloth and painted the room in Silver Satin by Benjamin Moore.Old kilim blankets dress the beds across the cottages, while antique Oushak rugs add coziness underfoot. Evocative of far-flung journeys past, the patterned textiles are uniquely synergistic with the custom headboards covered in modern Lee Jofa stripes. The vintage furnishings throughout the cottages tend to have a quiet presence: classic or unassuming silhouettes that seem to retreat into hushed corners or cloak inside shadows. Like how a bentwood rocking chair, the designers favorite vintage score, sits incognito in a dark nook of the main house, or how the wall sconces in almost any of the spaces have the modest appearance of task lighting.Most PopularAD-it-Yourself28 Tasteful Bathroom Decor Ideas, From Quick Fixes to Major MakeoversBy Amelia MularzArchitecture + DesignNew York Skyline: Everything You Need to Know About the Big Apples Big BuildingsBy Elizabeth FazzareOutdoors18 Exterior House Colors That Add Major Curb AppealBy Elizabeth StampHeavy wood paneling in the primary bedroom of the main house is offset by light-colored furnishings, from a custom Moroccan rug by MK Objects for MK Workshop to the chandelier from Arteriors.The shape of the tub matches the circular window in the primary bath. Bath mats by MK Objects for MK Workshop.The guest bath vanity in the main house is repurposed and refinished.The decors biggest statement pieces, literally and figuratively, are either repurposed from salvage or reimagined family heirlooms. For instance, a nearly five-foot-tall scrap metal custom pendant by Austin-based Reworks Home looms in the entryway of the main house like some kind of cubist cloud, while an artful swathing of a simple linen drop cloth around an existing wood table in the formal dining room softens the keepsakes sheer immensity. Also in that space, a fresh coat of Silver Satin by Benjamin Moore on the walls invites an infusion of natural lighta luminous deviation from the highly atmospheric estate, or as the homeowner calls it, the most peaceful place in the world.Everything was about the lake for us, the homeowner says. Coffee on the lake, drinks on the lake, hot tub on the lakeits all about enjoying the lake.This guest bedroom in the main house features a custom headboard in a Lee Jofa stripe. This is a thread we pulled through all the cottages, Kilday says.NICK GLIMENAKIS 2023The lighting throughout the property is also thematic: task-style sconces and bowl-shaped chandeliers.One of the designerss most prized discoveries was a pair of vintage Kem Weber chairs, found at the Round Top Antiques Fair. They flank the fireplace in the lake house living room.Most PopularAD-it-Yourself28 Tasteful Bathroom Decor Ideas, From Quick Fixes to Major MakeoversBy Amelia MularzArchitecture + DesignNew York Skyline: Everything You Need to Know About the Big Apples Big BuildingsBy Elizabeth FazzareOutdoors18 Exterior House Colors That Add Major Curb AppealBy Elizabeth StampAbout 20% of the furnishings were sourced new, like the seating in the living room in the lake house. The tables and lighting are vintage, though.Hanging in the lake houses primary bedroom are prints of old textile patterns from Point Paper Company, which specializes in commemorating historic textiles by printing their patterns on paper.Most PopularAD-it-Yourself28 Tasteful Bathroom Decor Ideas, From Quick Fixes to Major MakeoversBy Amelia MularzArchitecture + DesignNew York Skyline: Everything You Need to Know About the Big Apples Big BuildingsBy Elizabeth FazzareOutdoors18 Exterior House Colors That Add Major Curb AppealBy Elizabeth StampA guest bedroom in the lake house features a natural fiber rug, vintage chair and lamp, and a vintage kilim bedspread. The latter is another decorative through line of the project.This lakeside guest bedroom showcases the rustic textures of the original building materials that were so inspiring to MK Workshop.Most PopularAD-it-Yourself28 Tasteful Bathroom Decor Ideas, From Quick Fixes to Major MakeoversBy Amelia MularzArchitecture + DesignNew York Skyline: Everything You Need to Know About the Big Apples Big BuildingsBy Elizabeth FazzareOutdoors18 Exterior House Colors That Add Major Curb AppealBy Elizabeth StampMcKenzie detects a bit of Craftsman heritage in the architecture of the cottages on account of the wooden shingles. This is the lake house sunroom, appointed with a midcentury paper cord chair and ottoman found at Round Top Antiques Fair, a vintage brass flushmount saucer, and a vintage Danish floor lamp by Svend Aage Holm Srensen.The stone-and-wood cottages date back to the 1930s and exhibit elements of Dutch Colonial and Craftsman architecture styles.A vintage Moroccan Beni Mguild rug, midcentury slatted coffee table, and made-to-order sleeper sofa in the poolhouse living roomAlso in the poolhouse living room, a white vintage slipper chair and a few examples of vintage potteryEnvironmental designer Brigid Walsh, founder of sustainable design studio 100 Miles North, was tasked with reimagining the retreat through a lens of longevity. In this case, the strategy includes a full restoration of the forest since more tree diversity not only creates a welcoming habitat for native wildlife, but also prevents erosion from hampering the otherwise healthy lake.Most PopularAD-it-Yourself28 Tasteful Bathroom Decor Ideas, From Quick Fixes to Major MakeoversBy Amelia MularzArchitecture + DesignNew York Skyline: Everything You Need to Know About the Big Apples Big BuildingsBy Elizabeth FazzareOutdoors18 Exterior House Colors That Add Major Curb AppealBy Elizabeth StampThe spa house living room anchored by a vintage table found at the Hudson Antique WarehouseThe heart of the property is the lake, which is the view from every room, including this guest bedroom in the spa house. Pillows in Pierre Frey fabric, vintage kilim bedspread and sconces.

Use Proximity in Geometry Nodes to Create a Cool Loop Animation By Bart on November 25, 2024 Videotutorials In this Blender motion Graphics tutorial by Ducky 3D you will use geometry nodes to make a abstract loop.We will be making a proximity system to make the movement. and we will be learning a lot of problem solving situations that can be applied to your own ideas, enjoy!

Here's an overview of the most recent Blender jobs on Blender Artists, ArtStation and 3djobs.xyz: Senior VFX Artist - Heroes of History - New Mobile Game at InnoGames GmbH Combination Lightsaber and Blaster for book at Stefan's Company For more jobs, look here.Source

Billionaires are funding the creation of life-extending pills that will eventually hit the market for people to buy, according to a CEO and he says itll turn the rich in to posh, privileged zombies.The chilling warning comes amid fears that AI and biotechnology are evolving at such a rapid pace that anti-aging tablets might only be a matter of years away.The CEO says the world will be packed with posh, privileged zombies when the drugs become available only to those who can afford them. pressmaster stock.adobe.comAmazon boss Jeff Bezos, PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel and ChatGPTs Sam Altman are among the latest in a long line of American tycoons to throw their wealth behind regenerative medicine.Their aim is to increase life expectancy with drugs and other technologies that make the bodys cells stay younger and disease-free for longer.At the rate technology is evolving, it will only be a matter of time before life-extending drugs become freely available to those who can afford them, said Phil Cleary, the founder of the SmartWater Group. But Cleary said Silicon Valley moguls should quit playing God in their race to conquer death, calling the quest for the holy grail of medicine ego-driven and charging that it risks creating a planet of posh, privileged zombies.Instead, he said, they should use their huge fortunes to help the worlds poorest children survive at least into adulthood. Rather than prolonging the lives of the rich elite, their money would be better spent on the worlds 5 million children who die of hunger and from other preventable, treatable causes every year.Silicon Valleys dogged pursuit of the fountain of youth is a fear-led, ego-driven folly that comes at a terrible humanitarian cost to the planet and to its most vulnerable inhabitants, said Cleary, the author of Elixir, a novel that explores the damaging consequences of life-extending drugs on society.Phil Cleary, the founder of the SmartWater Group said Silicon Valley moguls should quit playing God in their race to conquer death, calling the quest for the holy grail of medicine ego-driven. Palamedes & Belters News / SWNSA pill that keeps people alive, even by a few decades, would create an unjust, inequitable world packed with posh, privileged zombies predominately white, middle-class folk who could afford to buy the drugs in the first place.The billionaires behind this dangerous research should therefore quit playing God and reevaluate what life really means.Keeping children alive until at least their 18th birthday is unquestionably more important to humanity than extending the run of those privileged few who have already had the chance to see the world, to have children of their own, and to realize their own special ambitions.Around 100,000 people die from age-related diseases every day, according to the World Health Organization, yet scientists have long been divided about what causes aging and what, if anything, can be done about it.Jeff Bezos has reportedly invested billions in a biotechnology company. Milan stock.adobe.comWhile aging itself does not directly kill people, older people are at risk of many deadly diseases such as Alzheimers, heart disease and cancer. Some believe that mitochondria the cell batteries could be responsible. Over time, these are thought to produce unstable compounds which damage, or age, important molecules and proteins.Others believe aging may be caused by senescent, or older cells that are not cleared out by the bodys waste system as they become dormant.But anti-aging research is progressing rapidly as scientists seek to uncover and control the molecular processes of aging.In July, researchers at MRC Laboratory of Medical Science at Imperial College London and Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore announced the discovery of a new drug that increased the lifespans of laboratory mice by nearly 25%.Dozens of high-profile businessmen have thrown their weight and money behind biotechnology startups that are specifically focused on extending the human lifespan.Jeff Bezos is reported to have invested $3 billion the biggest biotechnology company launch of all time in Altos Labs, while PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel invested in the Methuselah Foundation, which has the goal of making 90 the new 50. And in April last year, ChatGPT founder Sam Altman was revealed to have funded biotech startup Retro BioScience to the tune of $180 million.According to its website, Retro BioScience focuses on cellular reprogramming and is less than four years away from developing a clinical proof-of-concept.Cleary, whose SmartWater technology is used by more than 2 million people in over 20 countries worldwide, accepted that life-extending medication would benefit many people whose lives would otherwise be cut short due to terminal illness.But he warned that drugs with such power would only be sold at a premium, meaning that most of the worlds population could never afford them. Palamedes & Belters News / SWNSBefore extending the lives of the privileged few, surely mankind must first focus on extending the lives, if only for a few years, of the millions of children who die of starvation, he said.Theologian Dr. Niamh Middleton of the University of Dublin agreed and said humanity could be lost forever if Silicon Valley succeeded in its goal.Aside from the many religious arguments, Gods divine plan among them, I would think it safe to say that humanity could be lost forever as we know if life-extending drugs are brought to the market by private companies for commercial gain, she said.In our pursuit of extending life, let us first turn our attention to the most vulnerable among us. Rather than focusing on costly measures for personal longevity, let us channel our resources and efforts toward eradicating the scourge of childhood starvation, reflecting the true Christian call to compassion and justice.

CloseSaqib Shah2 hours agoThe Switch 2 rumour mill has reignited after months of quiet with a tantalising new reveal.According to the latest rumours, Nintendo plans to announce its new console in January 2025 and release it in March. The information comes from two online posts shared at the weekend by what appear to be separate accounts on the Famiboards gaming forum (a site devoted to Nintendo chatter and leaks) and the Chinese social media platform Weibo, respectively.For its part, Nintendo has revealed little about the successor to its megahit Switch console. However, it has confirmed that it exists and will be released during the firms current fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2025. If the rumours are accurate, then the Switch 2 wont launch until the tail end of Nintendos stated timeframe and we wont get a glimpse of it until next year. While disheartening, the news may not shock fans, who have already weathered a string of Nintendo Direct presentations with no word on the new hardware. To add to the intrigue, gaming content creator Stephen Georg recently posted on X (formerly Twitter) about an email he received regarding an upcoming game, which included the line: "Rolling out Q1 2025 on PC (Steam), Xbox One & Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and...Nintendo Switch(es)!"In the Famiboards post, the user refers to the Switch 2 by its codename Ounce, originally revealed during an earlier data leak from Pokmon developer Game Freak. The individual also states that the upcoming console will support a new version of Pokmon HOME, which lets you store and manage your collection of Pokmon across various games. Meanwhile, the Weibo post delves into the shipment details for the new Switch. Based on a Google translation of the Chinese text, Nintendo plans to manufacture and distribute 650,000 Switch 2 units in the first month to various regions (compared with 2.74 million for the original Switch). That seems like a shockingly low figure considering the hype around the new device, a successor to the second-bestselling console of all time behind the PS2. Switch 2s release appears imminent as Nintendo has increased production of key components, including the NVIDIA T239 chip expected to power the new device.The Standard has approached Nintendo for comment.The last official tidbit we heard about the Switch 2 was earlier this month when Nintendo revealed that it would be backwards compatible with Switch games and support Switch Online. Several upcoming games are expected to be cross-compatible with both systems, including Pokmon Legends Z-A; an additional Pokmon game (codenamed Gaia); My Time at Evershine (the follow-up to cozy RPG My Time at Sandrock); and remastered platformer Yooka-Replaylee. Read MoreCreate a FREE account to continue readingRegistration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inHave your say...VIEW COMMENTS

Broken WindowTurns out you're not the only one who can't play Star Wars Outlaws after a Windows 11 update, and Microsoft is suggesting you hold off updating your PC until there's a fixUbisoft has offered up a temporary fix for Outlaws in the meantime.Image credit: Ubisoft/ Massive Entertainment News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Nov. 25, 2024 A recent Windows 11 update has seemingly made a number of Ubisoft games unplayable, including Star Wars Outlaws.You know what, computers are a bit annoying aren't they? We rely on them for so much and then one day one little update can just ruin something for no immediately discernible reason. While playing video games isn't the most pressing of matters, one recent Windows 11 update has caused a bit of pain for Ubisoft game players, as for some reason it's rendered a few of them unplayable. Players started to notice they couldn't play several Ubisoft games since a Windows 11 update last week, and now Microsoft has acknowledged that this update is affecting said games, and that it's not just your rig that's the problem.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. "After installing Windows 11, version 24H2, you might encounter issues with some Ubisoft games," explains a post from Microsoft. "These games might become unresponsive while starting, loading or during active gameplay. In some cases, users might receive a black screen." Microsoft even conveniently confirmed which games have been affected, which includes: Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Assassin's Creed Origins, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Star Wars Outlaws, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.Microsoft continued to explain that to "safeguard your Windows update experience, we have applied a compatibility hold on devices with these games installed. These devices will not be offered to install Windows 11, version 24H2 via the Windows Update release channel We recommend that you do not attempt to manually update to version 24H2 using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or the media creation tool until this issue has been resolved."In the meantime, Ubisoft has at least put out a temporary hotfix for the issue, though it did note that "you may experience some performance issues while we work on a more permanent fix. As soon as it is ready, we will let you know." For now, it might be best to put these games down, I'm sure your backlog is big enough to fill the gap.

I Choose You!Sonic the Hedgehog 3's latest trailer features a surprising Pokemon reference, and now I can't help but think about what that crossover would look likeOh, and the Chao Garden is there! Kind of, anyway.Image credit: Sega/ Paramount/ Warner Bros/ Legendary Pictures News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Nov. 25, 2024 Paramount and Sega have graced us with a new trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 today, and a bit unexpectedly, there's a reference to Pokemon in it.It's been a couple of months since the first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 dropped, but with the film releasing in about a month's time, fans have obviously been eagerly awaiting another one. If that's you, it's your lucky day! As the second official trailer for the upcoming threequel was dropped by Paramount earlier today, and it well, it has a kid in it asking if Tails is Detective Pikachu, which 1. they can do that, 2. caught me off guard (in a good way!), and 3. really has me wondering what that crossover would look like. Watch on YouTubeAre we talking Sonic characters battling with Pokemon? I personally don't think Sonic would run Shaymin just because it's a hedgehog, probably more something like Jolteon which is the sixth fastest Pokemon, and fits that Cool Guy vibe Sonic has. Or maybe it would be "here's what Knuckles looks like as a Pokemon" situation. Who knows! Either way, it's a fun trailer that offers up more of a look at the Chao themed restaurant that Team Sonic goes to, which I would argue is the most important thing in the entire thing. Though there is one sad matchcut of Shadow with future-dead-girl Maria, so those of you that like to cry about Sonic characters (I'm including myself here, this isn't a dunk) will get something out of it too.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. There's obviously lots to look forward to in the film outside of just what's in the trailers too, as the film's director Jeff Fowler teased that there'll be a tease in the film itself for more characters that'll appear in future series instalments (and while he didn't confirm it, my money's on Big the Cat).Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is due out in cinemas December 20, next month.

Image: NintendoWe love a bit of niche video game history here at Nintendo Life, and the work of Mr Talida (aka Keshi Corner) has caught our attention on more than one occasion. This is the 3D scanning specialist that has ensured rare Zelda and Mario figures from the 1980s and '90s live to fight another day and now, they have turned their attention to DK.Celebrating Donkey Kong Country's 30th anniversary, Mr Talida has been hard at work scanning the game's tie-in Keshi figures (small, unpainted rubber figurines found in gachapon machines) that Bandai produced in Japan in 1995.There are 15 different figurines to check out this time, featuring obvious picks like DK, Diddy Kong and Cranky as well as some of their animal pals, including Chomps, Winky the Frog and Expresso. As with Mr Talida's previous work, these figures would be quite a Rare (*ba dum, tsssh*) find these days, but their 3D scans are now available via the Internet Archive for home printing or just general appreciation.Heck, there's even a new Keshi Corner animation accompanying this collection that recreates the original DKC opening with the scanned figurines:To celebrate Donkey Kong Country's 30th birthday, I've 3D scanned all 15 keshi figures produced by Bandai in Japan. Grab the model files here: archive.org/details/@kes...Here's a little video showing off these charming figures. (with my apologies, @davidwise.bsky.social @kevbayliss.bsky.social ) MrTalida (@mrtalida.bsky.social) 2024-11-23T19:11:06.863ZYou'll find our coverage of Mr Talida's Zelda and Mario preservations below, or you can head over to the Keshi Corner Internet Archives page to see even more figure scans, including a range of Dragon Quest III designs. Super Mario Bros. 2's in the spotlight this timeA literal link to the pastKing K-O-N-GWhat do you make of this figure-scanning mission? Let us know in the comments.[source archive.org, via bsky.app]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:01 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesMario & Luigi's Future In Doubt As A Potential Sony Acquisition EmergesUpdate: Kadokawa acknowledges Sony's offerLatest 'Switch 2' Rumour Suggests Nintendo Is Preparing For An Enormous LaunchInitial shipments could dwarf previous systems62 Switch Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo's Black Friday Sale (Europe)Every Switch game on sale that we rated 9/10+133 Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo's 'Cyber Deals' Switch eShop Sale (North America)Every game we scored 9/10 or higherNew Switch Emulator Devs Are Jumping Through Hoops To Avoid A Nintendo TakedownNinjas in 3... 2... 1...

Guns, motorbikes, and some crucial backstory.With less than a month to go until Sonic the Hedgehog 3 film hits movie theatres, Paramount Pictures has dropped the second official trailer, and Shadow the Hedgehog is clearly the star of the show here.The trailer gives Sonic (and Shadow) fans plenty to chew over, with Gerald Robotnik, the Space Colony ARK, and Maria Robotnik crucial to Shadow's backstory showcased.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Instagram is introducing the ability for users to share their locations with their friends via DMs (direct messages), the company announced on Monday. The feature indicates that the Meta-owned social network is looking to challenge services like Apples Find My and Snapchats Snap Map, both of which are popular ways for users to see their friends and loved ones live locations.The launch of the feature doesnt come as a total surprise, as Instagram was spotted testing a way for users to see their friends live locations earlier this year. Its worth noting that Metas other messaging app, WhatsApp, has allowed users to share their live locations with others for quite some time.Unlike Apple and Snapchat, which let you share your location with others indefinitely, Instagram is only letting users do so for up to one hour. Instagram says the feature can be used to coordinate arrival times or to find your friends in crowded spaces.Image Credits:InstagramYou can choose to share your location with one person, or with a group chat. Once you share your location, only the people in the specific chat will be able to see where you are, and your location cant be forwarded to other chats. You will also see an indicator at the top of the chat to remind you that you are currently sharing your live location. All live locations expire after one hour. Given that WhatsApp lets you share your location with others for up to eight hours, its possible that Instagrams time limit on location-sharing may change in the future.The new feature is available in select countries, the company said. TechCrunch reached out for more specifics.Instagram also announced on Monday that users can now customize names in DMs by adding nicknames for themselves or others. The company says the feature can be used to share an inside joke or to simply shorten lengthy usernames.You can create a nickname by tapping on the chat name at the top of a conversation and then selecting Nicknames. From there, you can select the username of the person you want to assign a nickname to. Nicknames are only visible in your DM chats.Plus, Instagram is rolling out 17 new sticker packs with more than 300 stickers that you can share in DMs.