Embark on Dead by Daylights new Chapter Doomed Course, which introduces a new Killer The Houndmaster, and a new Survivor Taurie Cain. Beyond the arrival of these characters, Doomed Course delves deeper into the dark and mysterious lore of Dead by Daylight, expanding on the connection between our world and The Entitys Realms.Weve got you covered with a deep dive into each characters backstory, detailing how one of the most brutal and merciless Killers and one of the morally darkest Survivors ultimately wound up in The Fog.Merciless As The SeaBefore she became The Houndmaster, Portia Maye had a chance at an ordinary life. Warmed by her fathers love and fueled by the promise of adventure, her early years were largely spent at sea. Unfortunately, the course of her life was forever altered when the depraved pirate Mad Molak set upon her fathers vessel Nightsdream and slaughtered nearly all aboard.Kept alive as a celestial navigator, Portia descended into darkness, allured by the sirens song of cold revenge. It was there she altered the course of her life, steering her fathers ship into the dreaded Dragons Tooth and plunging her tormentors into the depths. By some stroke of fortune or perhaps the opposite she emerged as the lone survivor. That is, until she came across her loyal puppy Snug.Its interesting to consider that Portia, at one point in time, represented the quintessential survivor. Not only did she survive the harrowing slaughter of the Nightsdream massacre, but she also survived years marooned on the Dragons Tooth. Alas, every waking thought revolved around revenge, and her bloodlust burned hotter with each passing year.It didnt help that the Dragons Tooth, unbeknownst to Portia, was a Bleed an otherworldly intersection between Realms. Think of Bleeds like melding colors on a palette, as elements from two dimensions converge into one.Thats the one thing about entering a Bleed, explains Lead Narrative Director Jessi Thind. If it doesnt kill you, it drives you mad.Her descent into madness ran concurrent to her mastery of violence, culminating in a Killer whose merciless nature surpassed Molak himself. By the time she tracked him down and enacted her vengeance, her role in The Entitys realm was long cemented.Before long, the only remaining vestige of her humanity was tethered to Snug, her lone companion and relentless protector; their bond is expressed in The Houndmasters Power, which utilizes Snugs ability to track and grab hold of Survivors.For The Black TalonRaised as a member of the Black Talon organization a subsect of the nefarious Black Vale, Taurie Cain spent her life seeking to uncover The Entitys secrets. Upon discovering a Bleed, Tauries parents ventured within to further their research. Unfortunately, tragedy struck, the worst of which was averted after Taurie entered the Bleed after them.From that moment on, Taurie pledged her devotion to the malevolent cause, quickly rising through the Black Talons ranks. While some Survivors like Haddie Kaur and Elodie Rakoto have crossed paths with the Black Vales disciples, Taurie seemed to seek out the darkness, believing The Entity to be the key to transcending mortal existence.Having grown up as a member of the Black Talon, Taurie genuinely believes her actions to be for the betterment of humanity, explains Thind. However, as she rose through the ranks, things got darker and darker. Eventually, Taurie reached a point of no return and had to make a life-altering decision.Her journey led her to a pivotal moment. Tasked with the ritualistic killing of a man named Jordan Rois stepbrother of Survivor Haddie Kaur and constant thorn in the Talons side Taurie raised her knife for the plunging strike. And yet, she faltered. A crucial decision, and one of the last ones made before her arrival to The Fog.It was there she would discover that everything she believed was true. Her jubilation quickly turned to horror when she realized that all her years of devotion had led to a perpetual cycle of pain and suffering. Though such a revelation might shatter a lesser will, Taurie remained steadfast in her belief that her true purpose has yet to be defined.Her devotion to the Vale may actually prove beneficial in The Fog, as she maintains belief everything is part of the plan, continues Thind. Taurie is determined to continue along the path until The Entity finally recognizes her as a disciple a Killer.It raises an interesting question why did The Entity bring Taurie into its Realm as a Survivor in the first place?For reasons yet to be understood, The Entity feeds on emotions, explains Thind. We can interpret that The Entity took Taurie for a reason, and perhaps it sensed a benefit to having one person who simply wont get along with many of her fellow Survivors. Taurie doesnt understand why shes trapped with people who never believed in the first place, and that naturally builds resentment. Theres conflict there anger, confusion, and mistrust and thats something The Entity would feed off.Despite whatever conflict may arise, Taurie will do what she must to thrive in her new environment. Her Perks emphasize quickly breaking away from teammates and drawing the Killers attention, gritting her teeth through pain and using it to her advantage.Its curious that Portia and Taurie both spent time in the Bleeds, with the latter proving largely unaffected. Perhaps under different circumstances, their roles within The Entitys Realm might have been reversed. However, once a course is set, deviation is not an option especially when the destination is shrouded in FogEmbark on Dead by Daylights Doomed Course, featuring The Houndmaster and Taurie Cain, available today in the Xbox Store.Dead by DaylightBehaviour Interactive Inc.2911$29.99$11.99Get it nowXbox Game PassEver wished to play as one of the characters from your favorite horror movies? Dead by Daylight is a 1v4 multiplayer game that draws from all corners of the horror world from a powerful slasher to a terrifying paranormal entity. Choose between playing an unstoppable Killer and one of 4 Survivors trying to evade a gruesome death. Each character has their own deep progression system and plenty of unlockables that can be customized to fit your personal strategy. Work together to escape, or stalk and sacrifice every Survivor. This Edition of Dead by Daylight gives you access to a roster of 7 Killers (The Trapper, The Hillbilly, The Wraith, The Nurse, The Hag, The Huntress and The Doctor) and 9 Survivors (Meg Thomas, Claudette Morel, Jake Park, Dwight Fairfield, Ace Visconti, Nea Karlsson, Bill Overbeck, Feng Min and David King). It also includes two cosmetic add-ons packed with outfits for various characters.

SummaryRavenswatch, a new action-roguelike, is out today on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.Learn how we choose which heroes to include in our game.2 characters that must be played together will be added in early 2025.Fallen heroes, you are on the verge of a crucial battle against the Nightmares invading and corrupting your world! Today, we will talk about the fallen heroes of the Ravenswatch and we even have some news about new, free heroes coming to the game soon.In Ravenswatch, you play as heroes inspired by old folk tales and legends, from Little Red Riding Hood to Sun Wukong. In each play session, youll embody these charismatic heroes and reveal their stories, run after run. Youll explore open maps inspired by enchanted forests, One Thousand and One Nights, and Arthurian legend, filled with activities and dark foes. And along the way, help the inhabitants of the world of Reverie you come across! The Three Little Pigs need extra hands to build their houses, while Sinbad the Sailor finds himself in a tough spot and might need rescuing. Complete their quests to earn valuable rewards that will aid you in future battles.Available to play solo or with up to 4 players in co-op, this action-roguelike game is out today on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One!Meet the RavenswatchIn Ravenswatch, players step into the shoes of fallen heroes drawn from timeless tales and legends, reimagined with a dark and devilish twist. Take Scarlet, our cursed version of Red Riding Hood, who transforms into a big bad wolf at night to hunt the Nightmares; or the Pied Piper, a musical tactician who commands swarms of rats in battle. From Beowulf wielding his mighty sword alongside his baby wyrm to Mlusine unleashing devastating magic water wisps, every hero offers a unique way to confront the Nightmares threatening Reverie!At the start of your experience, youll have a choice between Scarlet, The Pied Piper, Beowulf, and Snow Queen. But nine playable characters are available in total! Unlock them during your adventures and learn about the rest of the team. Some secrets are best uncovered in the heat of a battle!Whos Fit for the Ravenswatch?When choosing a new hero, we must be careful and select a character who will fit in with the rest of the cast. Heroes are the cornerstone of the games design and are the most essential part of the core gameplay.In our approach, each playable character must be unique in how they are played, their physical appearance, and their personality. Thats why we have set imperatives to meet before considering adding a new hero to the Ravenswatch. Here are our four pillars:Gameplay-oriented: First and foremost, the goal with each of our heroes is to create a unique feeling when playing them. Whether ranged, melee or an atypical gameplay style, no hero plays the same. When adding new characters to the cast, they must always bring something new and fresh to the table.Worldwide notoriety: We are keen to add Heroes inspired by tales and legends from all over the world, but one of our imperatives is that they must be famous on a global scale. From our perspective, players will be more excited by a familiar figure than an unknown one. Additionally, we need to make it credible that they exist in the same universe. Thats why we tend to avoid stories that are too ancient, or too modern, with advanced technology.Exciting backstory: The essence of what the tales tell is a wonderful source of inspiration for character and gameplay design. We often use defining moments of a story (such as Grandma being eaten by a Wolf) or a specific object (like Aladdins genie lamp) as the starting point when creating a new Ravenswatch hero. Twisting the original tale is what makes rediscovering a character so exciting.Family photo: We love to see the cast posing next to each other, and theres no greater feeling than to see the family photo of your creation in the end. Having a varied, diverse, and eclectic group of heroes is a priority!Much More to ComeMore updates are planned for Ravenswatch; you can learn more about our plans for the future on Twitter and Discord!Oh, and one last thing! Our first DLC will be free for everyone to enjoy, and will bring an inseparable duo into the ranks of the Ravenswatch! These two new heroes have distinct abilities and synergies. Theyre also never one without the other, and will need to be played together in co-op to succeed! But thats all were saying for nowSo what are you waiting for? Grab your friends and join the Ravenswatch today!RavenswatchNacon20Get it nowPreorder Ravenswatch and get the Fairytales Skin Pack free. Once upon a time, before the corruption of the Nightmare, there were heroes of tales and legends. Wear their flamboyant costumes that hark back to a happier time.TALES GONE DARK Ravenswatch is a top-down roguelike action game in which you play as heroes of tales and legends that must slay hordes of nightmarish creatures in nerve-racking fights. After the success of Curse of the Dead Gods, Passtech Games returns with an improved formula and an addictive game experience with endless replay value. It can be played solo or with up to four players in co-op.9 HEROES INSPIRED BY POPULAR TALESPlay as 9 heroes, each with a unique twist and individual gameplay, including Little Red Riding Hood, who suffers from lycanthropy; Sun Wukong, the fallen monkey king; the Snow Queen with her evil powers; and many other familiar characters who have a darker side and are more violent than you might remember.BANISH THE NIGHTMARE FROM REVERIEThe Nightmare has invaded the world of dreams and is corrupting everything in its wake. Faced with this evil, the Ravenswatch is gathering heroes from tales and legends from all over the world to lead a crucial battle and restore the fragile balance.But the heroes themselves have been corrupted. How deep do the roots of this evil go?* Explore 3 open maps filled with activities and inspired by enchanted forests and marshes, One Thousand and One Nights, and Arthurian legends respectively.* Help the inhabitants of Reverie, such as the Three Little Pigs, Sinbad the Sailor and Morgan the fairy, and earn valuable rewards to help you in your future battles.* Reveal the story of each character and Reverie, run after run.* Ravenswatch is a meticulously crafted combination of a dark fantasy atmosphere with a comic book style.NERVE-RACKING GAMEPLAY, SOLO OR CO-OPTo defeat the Nightmare and reach the final chapter, you will need a strong build, focus and/or excellent teamwork. You have 3 days and 3 nights to increase your power. Face the chapter boss when you feel ready or when you no longer have a choice.* In the purest tradition of the roguelike genre, Ravenswatch is a challenging game but fair, balanced and refined thanks to community feedback.* Epic boss battles and over 50 formidable, uniquely designed enemies. * With each level completed, you earn the right to choose a new talent and improve your heroes' skills. Combine talents, items and dreams to craft the most powerful builds.* Even more fun with friends or using the matchmaking feature: explore the synergies and relationships between heroes with up to four players in co-op.HIGH REPLAY VALUEDuring your game, optimize your time and make the best use of the upgrades you earn. With each new run, explore a new map filled with activities and enemies. Unlock new heroes and new content from one run to the next.* Over 200 talents, 50 magical items and endless build combinations.* Randomly generated maps with a wide range of activities.* 4 difficulty levels and customized game modes for an even greater challenge or to enjoy Ravenswatch at your own pace.* Regular updates will add new free content.

This article originally appeared in the December 2013 issue of ELLE DECOR. For more stories from our archive, subscribe to ELLE DECOR All Access.When Amy Mellen set out in search of a weekend house 15 years ago, what she wanted was a place to see and be seenby crickets, sparrows, coyotes, and frogs, as well as by a few dear friends.To Mellen, already a rising star in the design world at the time, weekends were a chance to recharge her creative batteries. And for that, nothing worked as powerfully as time spent outdoors, which meant that a quiet corner of Dutchess County, in upstate New York, was a better setting for her downtime than, say, the ber-social Hamptons.I love, love, love being outside, she says. I take inspiration constantly from things I see in nature.William WaldronThe living room cabinet is from Crate & Barrel, and the lamp was found at a flea market; Mellen had the rug made in the Philippines, and the pine floors are original. Today Mellen is the creative director for Calvin Klein Home; as such, she oversees nine different product categories encompassing everything from teacups to sofas. Yet she still trades in her leather pumps for Blundstone work boots every Friday evening before heading north to the cottage that captured her heart.She remembers the first time she saw it: The Realtor and I drove up the drivewayits really long and goes over a stream, and all the trees were weighed down with snow. It was so tucked back; we were like, This has to be a mistake. Inside, the owners had left a fire going in the fireplace. I fell in love with the place immediately.William WaldronIn the kitchen, the antique walnut table is American, and the chairs and stool are by Calvin Klein Home; the cabinets are custom made, the refrigerator is by KitchenAid, the oven is by GE, and the dishwasher is by Bosch. She also fell for the sellers themselves, an older couple who had lived in the house since it was first built as a fishing cabin in the 1960s, and had painstakingly cared for it ever since. They had records for everything: how much theyd paid, every repair, every warranty. And all the tools in the shed were meticulously labeled: potato hoe, garden hoe. When they moved out, they left her a canoe, a lawn mower, and a sense of reverence for the spirit of the place.William WaldronVintage chairs from R. T. Facts surround the dining table, which was made from a cherry tree on the property; the light fixture is by Restoration Hardware, the rugs are Moroccan, and the flooring is slate.I told them, Ill never touch anything, says Mellen. And for a long time, she kept her word. But Mellens creativity, it turns out, is not just a contemplative or reactive practice. She creates. Constantly. Gradually she began making the house her own, installing windows in the back rooms and painting the walls, which were paneled in dark, knotty pine. She planted a garden and, because she longed for a new porch, got out a shovel and dug the foundation for it herself, then used the rocks shed unearthed to make a stone wall.And when a cherry tree started encroaching on the house and had to be cut down, she had the wood milled and used it to make her dining room table. An ash tree, meanwhile, became paneling for the bathroom walls.William WaldronA circa-1760 trestle table that belonged to Mellens parents holds a flea--market lamp and an alphabet drawing she made in high school.Finally, two years ago, she undertook a major renovation. Even then, her motivation was practical as much as it was aesthetic. There was frost on the bedroom windows in the wintertime, she says. It wasnt energy efficient. And if you took a bath, you ran out of hot water.She built a studio onto the garage, and outfitted it with a potters wheel and supplies to paint and dye fabrics. The kitchen, meanwhile, needed a deeper rethinking. The cabinets had scallop edges, she says. Plus it was small, and I love to cook. I entertain a lot. Indeed, Mellen is known for exotic meals inspired by her frequent travels. My friends joke that I could make food from any country just from whats in my pantry, she says.The influence of her international travels is evident beyond the pantry as well. All over the house are objects and furnishings Mellen acquired abroad, including rugs from Morocco, copper faucets from Italy, a set of nesting tables from England (made of elm, theyre incredibly fragrant, she says), and a mirrored panel from India. Interspersed throughout are numerous pieces from the Calvin Klein Home collections, which, despite the companys reputation for austere minimalism, blend happily into the eclectic, rustic mix. Our furniture is modern, but not superhard-edged modern, says Mellen. The materials and finishes make it warm.William WaldronThe bed and linens in the primary bedroom are by Calvin Klein Home, the nesting tables are from Margaret Howell, the desktop was made from wood found in the shed, and the chair is a flea-market find; the rug is by Moore & Giles, and the walls are painted in Benjamin Moore Aura in Sterling. One of my philosophies at Calvin Klein is: You cant really expect someone to go out and buy all brand-new matching furniture, she continues. Everyone has heirlooms or meaningful pieces with journeys and stories behind them. You want to be able to mix them with what is new and modern.The materials and finishes make it warm."At Mellens house, that mix is constantly changing in small and subtle ways. Im always making little vignettes out of things I find, she says. Last weekend, I found a dead beetle and set it on top of a rock. Ill have that next to a birds nest that blew out of a tree, and a feather that I found in the yard.Tour this Cozy Upstate New York CabinCreating keeps her happy; it always has. When I was little, I had a dollhouse I made myself, she says. And I loved decorating it. I was always working on it. Then my parents bought me a really swanky new dollhouse, and it wasnt as fun.Collecting, building, designing, inventing, and playing in the woods: All the stuff that kids do, she says. I just made a career out of it. This story originally appeared in the December 2013 issue of ELLE DECOR. SUBSCRIBE

Its been a tough year for air taxi startups. The UKs Vertical Aerospace is running short of cash, while Germanys Lillium faces bankruptcy. Targets for commercialisation keep getting extended. Investors are hesitant to commit.The reason for all the struggles is pretty simple. Building, certifying, and commercialising brand-new aircraft designs like electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs) is complex, notoriously expensive, and depends on lengthy regulatory processes.Thats partly why German startup Vaeridion is pursuing a simpler, potentially cheaper, route to electric flight using an aircraft it calls the microliner.The microliner looks like a regular plane and it takes off from a runway theonly difference is that it will be powered by batteries, Vaeridions co-founder and CEO, Ivor van Dartel, told TNW. For operators and passengers, the experience will be essentially the same. Similar to what Tesla did for cars, but for planes.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Today, Vaeridion announced that it has secured a Pre Application Contract (PAC) with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), in a big step towards commercial flight.Think of this contract as a dress rehearsal for aircraft certification. Before a company can officially apply for approval to fly its aircraft (called type certification), this contract lets it discuss the process with regulators, get feedback on its design and plans, and identify potential hurdles.EASAs pre-application service was launched last year. Vaeridion said that it is the first general aviation manufacturer to win a contract under the scheme.Vaeridions head of engineering, Markus Kochs Kmper, called it a huge milestone in the development of its microliner. This initiative allows us to de-risk our core technology and the path to certifying our electric aircraft prior to submitting a type certificate application, he told TNW.Van Dartel and Sebastian Seemann both former Airbus and ZF engineers co-founded Vaeridion in 2021. Their vision was to build an electric plane to replace jet-fueled aircraft on short-haul, regional flights.Preliminary tests put the range of the microliner at about 500km, said the company. In 2022, almost a third of flights in the EU covered this distance or less, according to Eurocontrol. And its double what most eVTOL startups are advertising.London to Amsterdam? Berlin to Munich? Madrid to Lisbon? No problem.The microliner fitted with a single propeller in its nose can achieve this range despite a rather modest load of batteries, which are located in the wings for better weight distribution. The planes design was inspired by gliders, which have an aerodynamic shape to minimise drag and boost efficiency.Vaeridions design is similar to existing regional aircraft, which could reduce development and manufacturing costs compared to more experimental eVTOL models that often require intricate propulsion systems and vertical lift capabilities.Vaeridion plans to fly its first prototype in 2027. The company aims to make this first iteration fully conform to EASAs type certificate requirements. This means it wont have to build a costly demonstrator plane as well. Vaeridion will make one prototype, get it certified, and then its ready for the first commercial flights, scheduled for 2030.By tapping into established aviation technologies and infrastructure, Vaeridions microliner could position it as a more achievable and scalable option for regional air travel than some of the more flamboyant designs out there. Nevertheless, it will still need to secure significant funding to fuel its growth, something which Van Dartel hints is on the horizon while being careful not to overshare.Vaeridion plans to build the planes from scratch and sell them directly to customers. The company also expects to generate ongoing revenue by periodically replacing the aircrafts batteries. Each upgrade will take advantage of newer battery chemistries, which means the range of the aircraft is set to increase over time.With an estimated seat price range of between 150300, the microliner is targeted at business people who want to travel in style and comfort. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Following pre-Black Friday sales, GRID the company known for transforming gadgets into wall art has unveiled its Black Friday 2024 deals. This years Black Friday deals feature significant discounts on some of GRIDs most popular frames, giving tech enthusiasts and nostalgia lovers the perfect opportunity to add a touch of tech history to your home or office decor.Our friendsover at 9to5Toyshave all the latest details on thebest Black Friday deals.GRID Black Friday 2024GRIDs Black Friday 2024 sale includes massive discounts on several iconic pieces:Additionally, GRID is offering a 20% discount on all collections when you use the coupon code BF20 at checkout.GRID specializes in repurposing devices such as Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, and MacBook, transforming them into nostalgic art pieces through careful disassembly. Each frame showcases the intricate internal components of these devices, creating a unique blend of technology and art.The frames boast a sleek, contemporary design suitable for any home or office setting. Whether youre a tech enthusiast, a collector, or simply someone who appreciates the evolution of gadgets, GRID frames offer a distinctive way to show your passion.My first GRID product was theGRID 4S, which has become a notable decoration in my home. I also took alook back at the evolution of iPhone hardware using GRID frames, highlighting the progression from the iPhone 2G and iPhone 3GS to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 7, in addition to theGRID iPad mini.Limited Time OfferThese Black Friday 2024 deals from GRID present an excellent opportunity to buy these unique pieces of tech art at reduced prices. Whether youre shopping for yourself or looking for the perfect gift for a tech lover, now is the perfect time to buy a GRID frame.Visit GRIDs website to explore all the discounted frames and place your order before the sale ends.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

Black Friday 2024 is here, and its a great time to buy new gadgets like headphones, which are indispensable for many people. And if youre considering buying new headphones or earbuds this Black Friday, there are two great options with special discounts: AirPods Pro 2 and Beats Studio Pro.Our friends over at 9to5Toys have all the latest details on the best Black Friday deals. AirPods Pro 2: Black Friday dealsThe second generation of AirPods Pro was launched in September 2022, with a revised version introduced last year with a USB-C charging case replacing Lightning. Two years later, the AirPods Pro 2 remain my favorite wireless earbuds, and are probably the best you can buy right now.Compared to the first generation of AirPods Pro, the second generation has brought a lot of improvements. Ive never been a fan of earbuds with silicone tips, but the AirPods Pro 2 have convinced me. Thanks to the H2 chip, active noise cancellation has been significantly improved, which was crucial for me to adopt the AirPods Pro 2 as my everyday earphones.I also have AirPods Max, but I use them much less often since I bought AirPods Pro 2. Theyre undeniably lighter and more discreet, but they offer the same or even better sound quality and ANC. I simply cant imagine traveling without AirPods Pro 2 anymore. The sound is immersive with decent bass, while the ANC is the best Ive ever tested.AirPods Pro 2 also include an extra-small ear tip for a better fit, while you can slide on the earpieces to adjust the volume. Another cool aspect is that the charging case features Apples U1 chip with Find My and Precision Finding support. If you buy the revised USB-C version, you also get Lossless support for Apple Vision Pro.Again, even though theyre two years old, AirPods Pro 2 are still the best earbuds on the market in my opinion. If you have old AirPods or are tired of your AirPods Max, you should give the AirPods Pro 2 a try.While they usually cost $249, you can buy them for just $154 on Amazon during Black Friday.Beats Studio Pro: Black Friday dealsThe Beats Studio Pro headphones were launched last year and are the first big update to the Beats Studio lineup since 2017. The iconic Beats design has been kept and improved and in some ways, the Beats Studio Pro are even better than the AirPods Max.As someone who owns both AirPods Max and Beats Studio Pro, the Beats headphones are much lighter. More specifically, they weigh just 260g, while AirPods Max weigh 385g. This makes them ideal for wearing for long periods or even during workout activities.When it comes to sound quality, Beats Studio Pro headphones dont disappoint. I still think AirPods Max sound a little bit better, but considering the huge price difference, its a worthwhile trade-off. The Beats headphones also feature ANC and Transparency Mode. Whats more, they support Lossless audio while AirPods Max dont.Beats Studio Pro also has Find My support and integrates with the Android ecosystem too. And thanks to the USB-C port and headphone jack, theyre ideal for those using non-Apple devices.Review: Beats Studio Proare here, and they make AirPods Max impossible to recommend(for now)While regularly priced at $349, you can buy the Beats Studio Pro for just $159 during Black Friday. At that price, theyre totally worth it.Are there any other headphones you like? Let me know in the comments section below.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

Sorry, fandoms: it sounds like your favorite Character.AI bots aren't coming back.The embattled AI companion company Character.AI confirmed toFuturism that it removed a large number of characters from its platform, citing its adherence to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DCMA) and copyright law, but failing to say whether the deletions were proactive or in response to requests from the holders of the characters' intellectual property rights.As we reported yesterday, Character.AI took to social media in droves this week to decry the deletion of chatbots based on characters from the beloved "Harry Potter" series. When we dug deeper, we noticed that other chatbots stemming from Warner Bros. Discovery-held film rights had disappeared, too: characters from the HBO hit "Game of Thrones," the DC Universe, and even "Looney Tunes" cartoons like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck have been vaporized from the platform.Many of the removed AI bots once raked in thousands and in some cases, millions of user chats.We asked Character.AI about the Potterverse erasure, and whether Warner Bros. Discovery had requested the removal of AI chatbot characters based on copyrighted characters. It didn't respond directly to the latter question, but confirmed in an emailed statement via a crisis PR firm that a "group of characters" was recently removed after they were deemed "violative" to copyright law or the company's policies:We conduct proactive detection and moderation of user-created Characters, including using industry-standard and custom blocklists that are regularly updated. We proactively, and in response to user reports, remove Characters that violate our Terms of Service. We also adhere to the DCMA requirements and take swift action to remove reported Characters that violate copyright law or our policies.Users may notice that weve recently removed a group of Characters that have been flagged as violative and these will be added to our custom blocklists moving forward.We also reached out to Warner Bros. Discovery, but have yet to hear back.The removals have often been patchy. For example, though bots named "Sirius Black" a fan-favorite "Harry Potter" character have largely been removed, "Sirius Orion Black" appears to still be working. And though "Severus Snape" characters are mostly gone, bots with titles like "Husband Snape" and "Dad Snape" have so far been spared. Users have also found other workarounds, for instance referring to the titular character Harry Potter as simply "the boy who lived."The impact on DC Universe characters is also spotty "Batman" characters are currently a hit or miss, and "Joker" bots abound as are the Looney Tunes cullings, though still noticeable.But the platform's once-ubiquitous cohort of "Game of Thrones"-based chatbots have been hit hard by the crackdown, especially those based on Daenerys Targaryen, a lead character in the series. That's not surprising: Character.AI is currently facing a lawsuit brought by the family of a 14-year-old teenager in Florida who died by suicide after forming an intense relationship with a Daenerys Targaryen chatbot on its platform.The userbase on Character.AI is largely rooted in fandom culture, and the promise that users can use the platform to communicate and develop relationships with immersive, AI-powered versions of their favorite fictional characters has always been part of the service's draw. If Warner Bros. Discovery indeed requested the mass removal of its copyrighted characters, it could set a bad-for-business precedent for Character.AI, as other people or organizations holding fandom-heavy IPs could decide to follow suit.It's been a bad few months for Character.AI. In October, shortly before the recent lawsuit was filed, it was revealed that someone had created a chatbot based on a murdered teenager without consent from the slain teen's family. (The character was removed and Character.AI apologized, as AdWeek first reported.) And in recent weeks, we've reported on disturbing hordes of suicide, pedophilia, and eating disorder-themed chatbots hosted by the platform, all of which were freely accessible to Character.AI users of all ages.Share This Article

Did he think this one through?Off the RackPresident-elect Donald Trump's newly-announced tariffs represent yet another headache for the troubled AI industry.Long a part of Trump's bid to get back into the White House, raising tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico is now a cornerstone of the real estate mogul's bold and short-sighted economic vision that says he'll start enacting on his first day back in the Oval Office.Geared towards punishing the flow of illegal drugs and undocumented immigrants, the president-elect plans to impose 25 percent tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, and 10 percent on products from China.Instead of spurring American innovation, however, the announcement of these tariffs has sent shockwaves through the business world especially for companies like the Taiwan-based AI chipmaker Nvidia, which declared last month that it's "building the largest [superchip] production facility on the planet" with the Chinese electronics firm Foxconn in Guadalajara, Mexico.Applied to any of Nvidia's graphics processing units (GPUs) shipped to the US from the Mexico plant, these tariffs stand to make the chips used to run AI even more expensive and that's when they already cost tens of thousands of dollars apiece, with each new data center calling for racks upon expensive racks of them.Taipei TimesThe AI business is red-hot in hype, but it's long struggled to make money though its execs insist that building epic new data centers will clear a path for enormous profits.Further complicating matters is that the island nation of Taiwan,which manufactures the vast majorityanti-scientific pundit Joe Rogan, however, Trump suggested it shouldn't be that way."You know, Taiwan, they stole our chip business," he told the podcaster at the end of October, "and they want protection."Tariffs like these are obviously meant to pressure companies into building facilities in the United States, but several of the world's biggest chipmakers either have plans for American plants in the works, or have already begun building them.Earlier this year, Nvidia supplier SK Hynix announced that it plans to invest $4 billion into building a packaging plant in rural Indiana. The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), meanwhile, already has a massive plant in Arizona that's nearly finished.With so much in flux during Trump's second presidential transition, it's too soon to say for sure how these proposed tariffs will hit come January 20 and if he'll still go through with them once his business backers realize how much they'll inflate the costs of consumer goods.More on Trump and AI: AI Bros Terrified Singularity Will Hit While Trump Is PresidentShare This Article

Nov 28, 2024Ravie LakshmananIoT Security / VulnerabilityNearly two dozen security vulnerabilities have been disclosed in Advantech EKI industrial-grade wireless access point devices, some of which could be weaponized to bypass authentication and execute code with elevated privileges."These vulnerabilities pose significant risks, allowing unauthenticated remote code execution with root privileges, thereby fully compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected devices," cybersecurity company Nozomi Networks said in a Wednesday analysis.Following responsible disclosure, the weaknesses have been addressed in the following firmware versions -1.6.5 (for EKI-6333AC-2G and EKI-6333AC-2GD)1.2.2 (for EKI-6333AC-1GPO)Six of the identified 20 vulnerabilities have been deemed critical, allowing an attacker to obtain persistent access to internal resources by implanting a backdoor, trigger a denial-of-service (DoS) condition, and even repurpose infected endpoints as Linux workstations to enable lateral movement and further network penetration.Of the six critical flaws, five (from CVE-2024-50370 through CVE-2024-50374, CVSS scores: 9.8) relate to improper neutralization of special elements used in an operating system (OS) command, while CVE-2024-50375 (CVSS score: 9.8) concerns a case of missing authentication for a critical function.Also of note is CVE-2024-50376 (CVSS score: 7.3), a cross-site scripting flaw that could be chained with CVE-2024-50359 (CVSS score: 7.2), another instance of OS command injection that would otherwise require authentication, to achieve arbitrary code execution over-the-air.That said, in order for this attack to be successful, it requires the external malicious user to be in physical proximity to the Advantech access point and broadcast a rogue access point.The attack gets activated when an administrator visits the "Wi-Fi Analyzer" section in the web application, causing the page to automatically embed information received through beacon frames broadcasted by the attacker without any sanitization checks."One such piece of information an attacker could broadcast through its rogue access point is the SSID (commonly referred to as the 'Wi-Fi network name')," Nozomi Networks said. "The attacker could therefore insert a JavaScript payload as SSID for its rogue access point and exploit CVE-2024-50376 to trigger a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability inside the web application."The result is the execution of arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's web browser, which could then be combined with CVE-2024-50359 to achieve command injection at the OS level with root privileges. This could take the form of a reverse shell that provides persistent remote access to the threat actor."This would enable attackers to gain remote control over the compromised device, execute commands, and further infiltrate the network, extracting data or deploying additional malicious scripts," the company said.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Nov 28, 2024The Hacker NewsCloud Security / Threat DetectionServerless environments, leveraging services such as AWS Lambda, offer incredible benefits in terms of scalability, efficiency, and reduced operational overhead. However, securing these environments is extremely challenging. The core of current serverless security practices often revolves around two key components: log monitoring and static analysis of code or system configuration. But here is the issue with that:1. Logs Only Tell Part of the StoryLogs can track external-facing activities, but they don't provide visibility into the internal execution of functions. For example, if an attacker injects malicious code into a serverless function that doesn't interact with external resources (e.g., external APIs or databases), traditional log-based tools will not detect this intrusion. The attacker may execute unauthorized processes, manipulate files, or escalate privilegesall without triggering log events.2. Static Misconfiguration Detection is IncompleteStatic tools that check for misconfigurations are great for detecting issues such as overly permissive IAM roles or sensitive environment variables exposed to the wrong parties. However, these tools cannot account for what happens in real-time, detect exploitations as they happen, or detect deviations from expected behavior.Real-World Implications of the Limited Cloud Security Available for Serverless Environments Example 1: Malicious Code Injection in a Lambda FunctionAn attacker successfully injects malicious code into a Lambda function, attempting to spawn an unauthorized subprocess or establish a connection to an external IP address.Problem: Traditional security tools relying on log monitoring will likely miss this attack. Logs typically track external-facing events like API calls or network connections, but they won't capture internal actions, such as code execution within the function itself. As a result, the attacker's actionswhether manipulating files, escalating privileges, or executing unauthorized processesremain invisible unless they trigger an external event like an outbound API call.Solution: To effectively detect and prevent this attack, security teams need tools that provide visibility into the function's internal operations in real time. A sensor monitoring runtime activity can identify and terminate rogue processes before they escalate, offering proactive, real-time protection.Example 2: Exploiting Vulnerable Open-Source LibrariesA Lambda function relies on an open-source library with a known vulnerability, which an attacker can exploit to execute remote code.Problem: While static analysis tools can flag known vulnerabilities in the library itself, they don't have visibility into how the library is used in the runtime environment. This means that even if a vulnerability is identified in code scans, the real-time exploitation of that vulnerability might go undetected if it doesn't involve an external event (such as a network request or API call).Solution: A sensor designed to monitor the function's internal operations can detect when the library is being misused or actively exploited at runtime. By continuously analyzing function behavior, the sensor can identify anomalous actions and block the exploit before it compromises the system.The Shift that Needs to Happen for 2025 Cloud security is expanding rapidly, providing organizations with increased protection and detection and response measures against sophisticated cloud attacks. Serverless environments need this same type of protection because they are built on the cloud. By shifting from reactive, log-based security measures to proactive, runtime-focused protection, security teams can begin to implement modern cloud security practices into their serverless environments. Introducing Sweet's AWS Lambda Serverless Sensor Recognizing the limitations of traditional security tools, Sweet Security has developed a groundbreaking sensor for serverless environments running AWS Lambda. This sensor addresses the blind spots inherent in log-based and static analysis methods by offering deep, real-time monitoring of Lambda functions.Runtime monitoring and visibility Sweet's sensor monitors the runtime activity of serverless functions. By observing system calls, internal function behavior, and interactions within the Lambda environment, the sensor provides full visibility into how the function is behaving at any given moment. Blocking malicious behavior in real-time Sweet identifies suspicious activity, such as spawning unauthorized processes or connecting to external IPs, and blocks them before harm is done.Detecting anomalies in function behavior Sweet's Lambda sensor monitors the function's internal operations in real-time, detects any misuse of the library, and blocks the exploit before it can compromise the system.In an age where serverless computing is becoming the backbone of cloud-native architectures, the ability to secure these environments in real time is paramount. Traditional log-based and static security tools are no longer enough to safeguard against sophisticated, dynamic attacks. With Sweet Security's innovative sensor, organizations now have the ability to proactively monitor, detect, and prevent threats in real timegiving them the confidence to embrace serverless computing while keeping their environments secure.Want to prepare for 2025? Contact Sweet Security today!Found this article interesting? This article is a contributed piece from one of our valued partners. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE