Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Lets jump in!Get To WorkIsto Inc.Get it nowGet To Work December 2Optimized for Xbox Series X|SThis story is a metaphor for climbing the corporate ladder. Get To Work is a punishing, yet satisfying experience about a young man on a mission to conquer the corporate world on rollerblades. Maneuver a slippery character with rollerblades on both his arms and feet, who only knows how to move fast.Cricket: Jae's Really Peculiar GamePM Studios, Inc.Get it nowCricket: Jaes Really Peculiar Game December 3Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryA hand-animated JRPG adventure that draws from genre classics. Join Jae as he goes on a journey with his best friends to try and fix the past in a story full of laughs, tears, and Elemelons. Engage in silly battles that involve timed hits, meter, and teamwork.The Thaumaturge11 bit studios$34.99$27.99Pre-orderThe Thaumaturge December 4Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryAn isometric, story-rich RPG with a unique take on turn-based combat, character development features, and investigation mechanics, facing you with morally ambiguous choices set in a world teeming with mysterious powers and strange ethereal beings called salutors.GodsvivorsAfil GamesGet it nowGodsvivors December 4Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryPrepare to descend into the depths of the Underworld in Godsvivors! As a powerful god of Olympus, your mission is to challenge the ruler of the Underworld, Hades, and restore the balance of power. Battle through waves of demonic foes in this roguelite bullet-hell adventure, where every second counts. Godsvivors offers an action-packed journey through hell, blending fast-paced combat with a satisfying bullet-storm experience. Will you conquer the Underworld and emerge victorious?Super Astro CatSynnergy Circle GamesGet it nowSuper Astro Cat December 4Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryAfter getting their home planet destroyed by a meteor, the cats only option was to flee on a spaceship and embark on a journey to find a new suitable planet to colonize and live. Super Astro Cat is a 2D pixel art shoot n run with a jetpack mechanic. Choose wisely, as all their 9 lives are in your hands!BoundlandSilenGamesGet it nowBoundland December 4A fun physics-based platform game where you navigate your multi-shaped character through lots of dark levels and scary boss fights.Magical BackpackOld School VibesGet it nowMagical Backpack December 4Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryLara found a magical backpack that gives her the power to fly through the skies and collect Light stars scattered across an enchanted kingdom. Embark on this journey filled with exciting challenges, helping Lara overcome obstacles, capture each star, and advance through the levels.FANTASIAN Neo DimensionSQUARE ENIX2$49.99Pre-orderFantasian Neo Dimension December 5The Father of Final Fantasy, Hironobu Sakaguchi, and renowned composer Nobuo Uematsu return to deliver an original RPG story. Mechteriaa deathly mechanical infection that robs humans of their emotions and livesis slowly engulfing the world. The protagonist Leo awakens with only one memory left to him in a strange land abundant with machines. Using the Warp Device that was left behind, Leo must now embark on an interdimensional journey to reclaim his lost memories and save the world from the mechteria infection.The Thing: RemasteredNightdive StudiosGet it nowThe Thing: Remastered December 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryThe 2002 third-person survival horror shooter that serves as a sequel to the genre-defining 1982 film is back, remastered by Nightdive Studios to bring this innovative blend of fast paced squad action meets survival horror to the modern era. Where the movie ended, the true terror begins.Uncle Chop's Rocket ShopKasedo GamesGet it nowUncle Chops Rocket Shop December 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|SWhere most of his customers find meaning in pastimes like worshipping deranged space gods, feeding random crap to a sentient black hole, endlessly digging for The Treasure, or mentally enslaving donut shop workers, Wilbur lives a more humble life, fixing the galaxys ills one broken ship module at a time. Fix stuff, read stuff, upgrade stuff, talk about stuff, discover stuff, and do all that stuff again, but better.Symphonia Headup GamesGet it nowSymphonia December 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryIn the realm of Symphonia, music acts as a source of life and energy. Embody a mysterious violinist, brought back to life in a declining world. Your violin and bow are both your instrument and a means of transport. Catapult yourself through the world, and complete levels by solving exciting platforming challenges while re-activating the machinery that brings life and energy back to this world.DETECTIVE The MotelJanduSoft$12.49$9.99Pre-orderDetective: The Motel December 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryGrab a pencil and paper to write down what you need because no one is going to help you. You play the role of a detective who has been assigned a case. When you arrive at the crime scene, you find a hotel with several rooms. At that moment you will have to discover what has happened, but it will not be easy. You will have to be very attentive to your surroundings to find all the possible evidence. If you are a good detective you will find the truth that is hidden behind the walls of each of the rooms in The Motel.Railroads Onlineastragon EntertainmentGet it nowRailroads Online December 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|SSet in a huge open world reminiscent of the Americas during the golden age of steam trains, Railroads Online puts you in the role of a pioneer helping to shape the future of America. Build tracks, traverse vast landscapes in various steam locomotives, transport goods to earn money, and customize and buy new locomotives and equipment as you grow to become a railroad tycoon.UFL FoundationXTEN Limited16$14.99Get it nowUFL December 5A free-to-play football game that features real footballers with a rich metagame. UFL offers tons of unique content like various club kits, boots, gloves, balls, and stadiums. In UFL, you create your club from the ground up, assembling a team of real-world footballers customized to your liking. Compete with players worldwide, climb the ranks, and win championships!Highway Police SimulatorAerosoft GmbHGet it nowHighway Police Simulator December 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|SDive into the action of American patrolling duty! Put on your uniform and step into the shoes of an American police officer with Highway Police Simulator. This game brings the heart-pounding action of the American Highway Patrol right to your fingertips. Immerse yourself in the unique challenges and serious police duties that officers face on a daily basis and truly feel what its like to patrol the highways while maintaining law and order.Love Too EasilyH2 Interactive Co., Ltd.Get it nowLove Too Easily December 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryA memory of a sweet kiss from last night. A lost cell phone. Three suspects. Become the main characters helper, make story choices, collect hints, and clear mini-games. A full-scale mystery romantic comedy interactive movie.Mythwrecked: Ambrosia IslandWhitethorn GamesGet it nowMythwrecked: Ambrosia Island December 5Xbox Play Anywhere / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryYoure Alex, a rookie backpacker taking a much needed break from modern life. Your trip is interrupted when you are suddenly shipwrecked on Ambrosia Island; a beautiful long-forgotten place of myth and sunshine. Its home to the gods of Greek mythology. Theyre real after all, even if they are having an identity crisis. Can you discover the secrets of Ambrosia Island in this sun-drenched Friend Em Up adventure?Overthrown (Game Preview)Maximum EntertainmentGet it nowOverthrown (Game Preview) December 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|SYou play as a Monarch in possession of an ancient soul-stealing crown with magical abilities. With its power, establish a kingdom in a perilous wilderness and defend it from mutants and bandits roaming the land. Build, gather resources, farm the land and more to turn your fledgling realm into a commanding, self-sustaining kingdom. As your fame grows, more will flock to your banner but so will those who have come to overthrow you, including your friends in up to six-player co-op.Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Digital Premium EditionBethesda Softworks$99.99Pre-orderIndiana Jones and the Great Circle (Early Access) December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SPurchase the Premium or Collectors Edition to secure up to three days of early access ahead of the games December 9 release date. Uncover one of historys greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them Indiana Jones.Marvel RivalsNetEase GamesGet it nowMarvel Rivals December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SA superhero team-based PvP shooter. Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!Path of Exile 2 Early Access Supporter PacksGrinding Gear Games201$29.99Get it nowPath of Exile 2 December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SPath of Exile 2 is a next generation free-to-play Action RPG created by Grinding Gear Games. Journey across the deadly continent of Wraeclast, meeting multiple immersive cultures while facing off against evil in many forms. Path of Exile 2 features twelve character classes, 240 Skill Gems, hundreds of equipment base types, a six-act campaign, more than a hundred unique boss fights, a deep endgame system and so much more.Shadow Tactics: Aiko's ChoiceDaedalic Entertainment$19.99$17.99Pre-orderShadow Tactics: Aikos Choice December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SSet in Japan around the early Edo period, Aikos Choice is a stealth strategy game that takes place within the story of Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun. This standalone expansion focuses on one of the main games protagonists: the kunoichi adept Aiko. She is a master of camouflage and distracts enemies disguised as a Geisha. Although Aiko was certain that she left her old life behind her, Aikos former sensei, the cunning spymaster Lady Chiyo, reappears from the shadows to challenge her. Together with her deadly companions she sets out to hunt down the ghosts of her pastLord of the Click 4Desert Water GamesGet it nowLord of the Click 4 December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SFind incredible new challenges, amazing graphics and improved mechanics. As a great monarch, you will fight many new and dangerous enemies using your clicker skills. Every click on your screen summons powerful warriors, deals crushing blows to enemies and directs the magic of nature into battle. Get ready for exciting battles, strategic decisions and unforgettable adventures! The future of the kingdom depends only on your skill and determination. Are you ready to become a real hero and save the world?JanKenUP!Dolores EntertainmentGet it nowJanKenUP! December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryAn exciting combat game that breaks with traditional schemes. Instead of the typical punches and combos, strategy boils down to three buttons: rock, paper, and scissors. Get ready for a cerebral challenge where your quick thinking and mental agility are key! Hop on the elevator of fun and prepare to act swiftly! Face all kinds of rivals and prove that you can outshine everyone in the arena. Become the undisputed champion!Westild's LawRatalaika Games S.L.Get it nowWestilds Law December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryWestilds Law offers dynamic shootouts where you must cleverly use every element of your arsenal to achieve victory. Throw dynamite to clear your path or send enemies flying, you can throw your weapon at your enemies to stun them when ammo runs low and then take their weapons. Also when the situation gets critical, activate ultra-sense, slow-down time and enhance your abilities to showcase the true power of the hero.Beat the Machine RebootedSanguine Studios$24.99Pre-orderBeat the Machine: Rebooted December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryBeat the Machine: Rebooted is a top down retro roguelike arcade shooter where you must defeat the virus T.O.M (Totally Overpowered Machine) that is invading Sector VIII. Play as Damon, the cocky cadet, willing to aid Sector VIII from total destruction. Guided by Logan, Syncopia and Pete, natives of Sector VIII, traverse across 25 levels corrupted by T.O.Ms virus brigade.Endless DeathsEpiXR Games$9.99Pre-orderXbox One X EnhancedEndless Deaths December 6An intense top-down twin-stick shooter rogue-like game that plunges players into the heart of a zombie apocalypse. As a lone survivor, your mission is to navigate through procedurally generated levels filled with relentless zombie hordes, utilizing a diverse arsenal of weapons and character abilities to stay alive.Taboo TrialHappy PlayerGet it nowTaboo Trial December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SIn this 3D roguelike action game, you are a Valkyrie, choosing blessings from the Nordic gods to build your unique combat style. Go to complete the Taboo Trial guided by Loki. Unlock different Valkyries in Valhalla, each playable with distinct styles. Take up the weapons of the gods to challenge the giants, each weapon having a distinct combat style.MasterChef: Learn to Cook!QubicGames$11.99$9.59Pre-orderMasterChef: Learn to Cook! December 6Choose your ingredients, slice, prepare, plate and serve delicious dishes with style in fun mini-games! The MasterChef judges will evaluate your dish based on your performance and speed. Complete and unlock new recipes, challenges, and mini-games along your cooking journey!Dog Man: Mission ImpawsibleMindscapeGet it nowDog Man: Mission Impawsible December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SBringing the beloved book series to life, dive into this action-packed, humor-filled adventure. The key to the city has fallen into the hands of a supa bad guy, unlocking all the prison doors and releasing many evildoers. Help Dog Man and his friends chase down the supa bad guys in their most impawsible mission yet!

Update: Right now, you can save 28% on the Eve Outdoor Cam at Amazon.Eve Outdoor Cam is a sleek outdoor video camera for HomeKit, with integrated LED floodlight ideally designed to light up your driveway at night. Ive been a fan of the Eve Indoor camera for a while, and my experience with the Outdoor Cam is similarly positive. HomeKit cameras are better than ever, thanks to significant user interface upgrades to the Apple Home app in iOS 16.And HomeKit Secure Video support means clips are saved to your iCloud account in an end-to-end encrypted manner. To make things even more compelling, this set up requires no additional monthly subscription to use, assuming you pay for some iCloud storage. So how does Eve Outdoor Cam and the state of HomeKit Secure Video fare? Very well, for the most part Hardware design of Eve Outdoor CamThe Eve Outdoor Cam feels solid and well built. I had someone help me install it, and even they remarked on the premium manufacturing of all the parts as they were putting it together. Build quality of the unit is high. The simple black and white plastic appearance will fit in well with the decor of most home exteriors. It is not discreet but it is not meant to be, as it of course serves double duty as an outside light. Most of the front fascia is taken up by the white light window, although the actual physical LEDs stop just above the black camera bezel cutout. Situated above the camera is a small status light. By default, it illuminates blue when the camera is on, and red when it is recording. I found the feeble blue/red glow detracted from the otherwise minimal design of the housing; thankfully, the status light can be turned off in the accessory settings.Hardwired installation and simple software setupEve Outdoor Camera uses Wi-Fi for connectivity and is hardwired for power. This is nice because it means the camera can have a permanent network connection, with no need for battery saver sleep states and you dont have to worry about swapping batteries every few months.Installation difficulty will vary based on your individual circumstances. I fortunately had an outside dumb motion-activated light near the front door already; it was a matter of removing that and rewiring the camera in its place. If you arent comfortable with wiring it yourself, it will be a quick job for an electrician, assuming you have an existing light fitting available to use. If you dont have the wiring already in the wall, the endeavor will be much more complicated and possibly not worth the effort.Once physically installed, set up could not be easier. Open the Home app, scan the HomeKit QR code on the sticker and the phone will find the camera, bring it on the network, add it to your home, and youre basically done. Remember, a HomeKit hub (Apple TV or HomePod) is a prerequisite to be able to access the camera when away from your home network, and to use the HomeKit Secure Video recording features.Eve Outdoor Cam placed next to my front doorThe cameras mount allows for a wide degree of adjustment, with leeway for swivel and tilt. Aesthetically, it looks best if positioned straight on but I think most people will find they need to adjust it a bit. The range of angle adjustment combined with the camera lenss own wide field of view means you should have confidence you will be able to find a good vantage point. Essentially, you just need a placement that puts the camera at or above door height.If you want to trial this before you take the plunge and buy, hold up an iPhone where you intend to place the camera and snap a picture. The iPhones 0.5x lens produces a similar image to what you can expect from the Eve Outdoor Cam, in terms of field of view. (At the same time, check you have a stable 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal at the location.)Floodlight is a convenient 2-in-1 bonusThe 2-for-1 nature of the unit is a big factor in its appeal. If you are going through the effort to hardwire a camera, it might as well do something else at the same time. As I said before, I replaced a nighttime outdoor light with the Eve Outdoor Cam. I havent lost any light functionality. In fact, the camera is a better light than what I had before. The LED floodlight is much brighter, fills a wider area, and more customizable thanks to it being network connected. Through the Eve app, choose whether the motion-activated light is active during the day, at night, or never.Floodlight is more than enough to light up my front porch and drivewayYou can also tweak the lights on duration and degree of motion sensitivity. I changed the sensitivity from medium to high to avoid it triggering when cars on the road drove passed the house. These kind of controls are not typically found in dumb traditional outdoor lighting fixtures. One slight quirk is that Eve exposes a 0-100 brightness slider and boost mode for the light. I didnt find much visible difference when the light was set at the minimum or maximum level it was on or it was off.Because the Eve Camera light is exposed as its own accessory to HomeKit, you can also turn it on and off manually in the Home app, or with Siri voice commands, and use it as part of scenes and automations like any HomeKit smart light. Eve Outdoor Camera qualityThe camera resolution is rated at 1080p, like all HomeKit Secure Video cameras. The actual detail of the image doesnt look that sharp the stream is clearly compressed and quickly gets blurry when you zoom in but it is more than fit for purpose. The wide angle lens means the image covers a large area, easily enough to watch over my front porch and driveway. The automatic camera exposure adjusts well to all lighting conditions, dawn through dusk. The frame rate is a little lacking, and I found recordings would occasionally miss out a couple of seconds. Nevertheless, it results in perfectly usable footage.Day and night vision (no floodlight active) snapshots downsampled slightly compared to original qualityThe night vision works superbly, enabling the camera to remain useful even in complete darkness. The range of the night vision is long; people or animals can be seen anywhere in the frame. You wont want to hold protracted conversations over the integrated speaker and mic, but the audio quality is decent enough for short two-way talk session with someone waiting on the doorstep. The mic is sensitive and will pick up footsteps or engine noise long before they come into the cameras view; this can be a blessing or a curse depending on the circumstances.Cameras in the Home appThe display of cameras in the Home app is greatly improved in iOS 16. You can see your favourite cameras at a glance in the main root view, neatly laid out in a single large panel. The thumbnails show static image snapshots from each camera, refreshing approximately every fifteen seconds. View all cameras with larger thumbnails or tap on an individual camera thumbnail to maximize. The full-screen layout activates the current live camera feed, and includes a timeline so you can scroll back through past recordings.Recordings with HomeKit Secure VideoHomeKit Secure Video means the Eve Outdoor Camera output is continuously streamed to a HomeKit hub in the home like an Apple TV or HomePod for processing. Recordings can be enabled or disabled separately depending on your geolocation. If you dont want a camera recording or even activated at all while you are at home, you have that option.The HomeKit system is in charge of saving clips when motion occurs, and sending notifications. If you are super serious about security, you may want to keep a 24/7 rolling camera stream. HomeKit Secure Video does not support that, so youll have to look elsewhere.For most home uses, though, only recording clips of activity is really what you want hours and hours of footage of nothing happening is useless. HomeKit camera recordings are stored in iCloud for up to ten days. The Home app lets you export clips to a file if you need to keep them longer term, or send them to others. You need a paid iCloud account for the cloud recordings feature to be available, but they dont count towards your storage quota.Camera notifications are rich and usefulThe Home app can notify when any motion occurs or when specific subjects of motion are recognized; the system can separably detect people, animals, vehicles and packages. If you want to be alerted when a person is at the door, but dont care about the neighbourhood cat walking across the frame, you can do that. Futhermore, face recognition means HomeKit will try and recognize exactly who is in the video (based off the People categories in your Photos library); mute notifications entirely from selected persons. I use the face recognition feature to ignore notifications of myself arriving home.All of these smarts make for some really rich notifications. Heres some examples: The Entrance Cam camera has detected a person. The Entrance Cam camera has detected an animal. The Entrance Cam camera has detected a person and a package. The Entrance Cam camera has detected a person who may be [name]. The notification content includes a short video clip of the activity, a button to view the current live feed inline, and shortcuts to accessories in the same zone as the camera (like the cameras own flood light).The cross-platform nature of the Home app means these alerts arrive on all your devices. Whats really cool is on Apple TV, notifications come in as a PIP window in the corner of the frame, on top of whatever youre watching. These are the kind of integrations where Apple shines, and where non-HomeKit solutions will fall short. It shouldnt be understated how useful it is that the Home app is available on every Apple device I can check in on my cameras on the Mac, or even my watch, whenever I please. How many third party security systems even have an app for anything but the iPhone?Notification controls are not fine-grained enoughHowever, for all of the notification customization options I just described, the Home app needs even more. This is something outside of Eves purview, as all of the HomeKit handling is managed by Apple software. We have to hope future OS updates include improvements in this department.A big frustration for me is that the people detection system cannot discern between a person facing towards the camera, or facing away. With my Eve Outdoor Cam in situ looking out onto the driveway, it sees people approach but it also sees people leaving. Therefore, I get a notification going off almost any time that I, or anyone else, leave the house. HomeKit detects a person in frame so the notification triggers, but face recognition cannot kick in as my head is facing the opposite way. This may sound like a small thing, but a pointless notification every time someone leaves the house quickly becomes a source of daily annoyance.Another complaint I have is that you cannot tell the system to silence repeated alerts of the same person. Lets say it is trash night, and you are walking in and out the house several times. HomeKit will trigger an alert each time it sees you. Id love a setting that allows for a short grace period when the same person is seen again.You cant manage the enabled state of activity detection with automations at all. For instance, I can imagine one theoretical mitigation of the person leaving problem. Set up a motion sensor in the hall; if motion detected, disable camera notifications for the next minute. This would eliminate all the false positives caused by people leaving the house. Unfortunately, this isnt possible. A switch for camera control is not exposed to as an automation target (so the light of the Eve Outdoor Camera can be automated, but not the camera part).Eve Outdoor Cam only works with HomeKitA persistent question with HomeKit and smart home stuff in general is reliability. If you hunt out online, you can find plenty of people with HomeKit issues. I know geofencing rules are particularly nebulous, and iOS 16 time-based automations just refuse to activate for some folks. At least in my experience, as one person, it all works well enough for me to be happy.I have one occasional glitch in which the Home app will not let me view the Eve cameras live stream because it says someone else is currently doing that (you can only view from one device at a time), but I know no device is active. I have seemingly narrowed this down to a bug with the Home app on Mac, as I have found that opening Activity Monitor and quitting the homed processes releases the hanging resources and returns the camera to normal function.Eves dependence on HomeKit means no additional accounts to manage, no extra cloud service to pay for, and seemingly better performance than some competitors that treat HomeKit as an afterthought. But be aware that if you ever fall out of favor with HomeKit, the camera doesnt work with anything else. If you have Android-using members of your household, tough luck.Wrap-upWith the Apple ecosystem exclusivity in mind, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Eve Outdoor Cam. Smart home cameras are somewhat of a luxury item, and the Eve camera is certainly not cheap but they sure are nice once you have them. The ability to check in on my driveway from anywhere and get alerted if someone is approaching the house provides peace of mind that is hard to quantify. Being able to talk to someone at the door in a pinch is a bonus, like a pseudo smart doorbell. Combining a hassle-free camera with a motion-activated floodlight makes for a very compelling all-in offering. You can buy Eve Outdoor Cam here for $249. I tested the black version for this review. A white edition model is also available. 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

Apple recently launched AirPods 4, which are available in two different versions: one with ANC active noise cancellation and support for MagSafe chargers. And if youve bought new AirPods 4, read on as weve put together a list of some of the best protective cases and lanyards for Apples wireless earbuds now with Black Friday deals.Our friendsover at 9to5Toyshave all the latest details on thebest Black Friday deals.Cases for AirPods 4AirPods come in a charging case that also protects the earbuds when theyre not in use. However, some users may want to add extra protection with an external case, or simply want a decorative case.ESR, a popular accessory maker for Apple devices, has different cases for AirPods 4. One of them, Cloud, has a soft finish and a cleaner look, while the other (Orbit) is made of hard plastic and has a more detailed finish. ESR also has the Cyber series with a more rugged design for full protection. Theyre available in a variety of colors.ESR Cloud Case for AirPods 4: $7.99ESR Orbit Case for AirPods 4: $11.99 ($9.59 on Black Friday)ESR Cyber Case for AirPods 4: $13.99 ($11.19 on Black Friday)Another popular case for AirPods 4 is the silicone case made by ORNARTO, which covers the entire charging case with double-layer protection. The case is available in 17 beautiful colors and also comes with a lanyard.ORNARTO Case for AirPods 4: $9.99If youre looking for more fun-looking cases, DamonLight has an amazing game controller case for AirPods 4 thats also shockproof and comes with a keychain. Another cool option is the Elago case inspired by Nintendos Game Boy. And if you prefer something more flower-inspired, the Maxjoy case is just what you need.DamonLight Game Case for AirPods 4: $9.99 ($7.99 on Black Friday)Elago Game Boy Case for AirPods 4: $15.99 ($12.79 on Black Friday)Maxjoy Case for AirPods 4: $11.98 ($5.99 on Black Friday)Spigen also has a sturdy case with a matte black finish for AirPods 4, and it is MagSafe compatible. And why not buy a VEIRRW Clear Case to preserve Apples original design?Spigen Rugged Armor Case for AirPods 4: $19.99 ($16.99 on Black Friday)VEIRRW Clear Case for AirPods 4: $9.95 ($4.99 on Black Friday)LanyardsAlthough only the AirPods Pro 2 charging case comes with a lanyard slot, most protective cases for AirPods also come with one. This means you can customize your AirPods further by choosing a different lanyard. Here are a few options:Discounts on AirPods:Is there another cool accessory for AirPods that should be on the list? Let us 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

"Father time always wins."Give It All AwayAmerican stock market wizard Warren Buffett has announced that much of his legendary accumulation of wealth will be given away under the auspices of his three children.However, as the 94-year-old admitted in a lengthy letter to investors, even they've grown quite old themselves, inspiring him to come up with a contingency plan in case they were to pass away before his remaining $147.4 billion fortune could be fully handed out though he stopped short of publicly naming such a successor."Father time always wins," he wrote, as quoted by the Associated Press. "But he can be fickle indeed unfair and even cruel sometimes ending life at birth or soon thereafter while, at other times, waiting a century or so before paying a visit.""To date, Ive been very lucky, but, before long, he will get around to me," he added. "There is, however, a downside to my good fortune in avoiding his notice."Logan Roy IRLThe nonagenarian admitted that the "expected life span of my children has materially diminished" since pledging to donate yearly to his children's charitable efforts, as well as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in 2006.Buffett also argued that "hugely wealthy parents should leave their children enough so they can do anything but not enough that they can do nothing."The billionaire has made considerable donations over the years. Last year, his charitable giving exceeded $50 billion, roughly twice his entire 2006 net worth.Despite his advanced age, Buffett has held onto the reins of his Berkshire Hathaway empire and has yet to announce plans to retire. His children, however, won't be taking over the multinational holdings company one of his deputies, Greg Abel, has already been identifiedas the next CEO following Buffett's death.Meanwhile, Buffett's children are tasked to oversee his philanthropic efforts.Last year, he announced that the three would have ten years following his death to give away his fortune. But now that they're growing old, it's probably for the best to arrange a backup plan in case they quite literally can't give it away fast enough.More on Warren Buffett: Warren Buffett Compares AI to the Atom BombShare This Article

Honk if you love tragedy.Crash CourseA Cybertruck owner waited two miserable weeks for a Tesla collision shop to patch up his car's torn bumper, and the sticker he plastered on the vehicle makes his bad situation worse."I bought this after I knew Elonwas awesome," reads the bumper sticker, which the truck owner shared as part of an explanatory post on X-formerly-Twitter. It's meant to be a defiant response to the much more popular stickers sheepishly disclaiming that a Tesla's owner bought the vehicle "before we knew Elon was crazy" but after the accident, it feels more like a sad trombone.Boulevard of Broken TeslasWhile waiting for repair parts, the collision shop had stripped part of the Cybertruck's steel body to reveal the white exoskeleton beneath."I want Tesla to be the best," pleaded the Cybertruck owner, whose X name identifies them only as "Tryangle." But the "truck was perfectly drivable, and it's just been sitting in the lot for 10-plus days torn down.""No one can give me a clear idea of when parts will be available, or when things will be completed," Tryangle continued. "I feel like my truck is being held hostage."One man's woe here speaks to a larger issue with Musk's most passionate followers: they'll endure anything to feel close to the billionaire. They don't mind that the $74,000-and-upCybertruck clearly isn't as invincible as advertised, or that it's a nightmare to service, and that it sometimes bursts into flames.As for Tryangle, his Cybertruck is now fixed and back in his possession and he couldn't be more thrilled."I ordered my @cybertruck five years ago," he recently wrote on X-formerly-Twitter. "Never has anything in my life been worth the wait like the Cybertruck has! (Sorry to my wife, baby boy, and future children.)"More on the Cybertruck: Warning! Do Not Expose Cybertrucks to Common MagnetsShare This Article

Nov 29, 2024Ravie LakshmananDisinformation / Artificial IntelligenceA Moscow-based company sanctioned by the U.S. earlier this year has been linked to yet another influence operation designed to turn public opinion against Ukraine and erode Western support since at least December 2023.The covert campaign undertaken by Social Design Agency (SDA), leverages videos enhanced using artificial intelligence (AI) and bogus websites impersonating reputable news sources to target audiences across Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S. It has been dubbed Operation Undercut by Recorded Future's Insikt Group."This operation, running in tandem with other campaigns like Doppelganger, is designed to discredit Ukraine's leadership, question the effectiveness of Western aid, and stir socio-political tensions," the cybersecurity company said."The campaign also seeks to shape narratives around the 2024 U.S. elections and geopolitical conflicts, such as the Israel-Gaza situation, to deepen divisions."Social Design Agency has been previously attributed to Doppelganger, which also employs social media accounts and a network of inauthentic news sites to sway public opinion. The company and its founders were sanctioned by the U.S. earlier this March, alongside another Russian company known as Structura.Operation Undercut shares infrastructure with both Doppelganger and Operation Overload (aka Matryoshka and Storm-1679), a Russia-aligned influence campaign that has attempted to undermine the 2024 French elections, the Paris Olympics, and the U.S. presidential election using a combination of fake news sites, false fact-checking resources, and AI-generated audio.The latest campaign is no different in that it abuses the trust users place on trusted media brands and leverages AI-powered videos and images mimicking media sources to lend it more credibility. No less than 500 accounts spanning various social media platforms, such as 9gag and America's best pics and videos, have been used to amplify the content.Furthermore, the operation has been found to use trending hashtags in targeted countries and languages to reach a bigger audience, as well as promote content from CopyCop (aka Storm-1516)."Operation Undercut is part of Russia's broader strategy to destabilize Western alliances and portray Ukraine's leadership as ineffective and corrupt," Recorded Future said. "By targeting audiences in Europe and the U.S., the SDA seeks to amplify anti-Ukraine sentiment, hoping to reduce the flow of Western military aid to Ukraine."APT28 Conducts Nearest Neighbor AttackThe disclosure comes as the Russia-linked APT28 (aka GruesomeLarch) threat actor has been observed breaching a U.S. company in early February 2022 through an unusual technique called the nearest neighbor attack that involved first compromising a different entity located in an adjacent building located within the Wi-Fi range of the target.The end goal of the attack aimed at the unnamed organization, which took place just ahead of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, was to collect data from individuals with expertise on and projects actively involving the nation."GruesomeLarch was able to ultimately breach [the organization's] network by connecting to their enterprise Wi-Fi network," Volexity said. "The threat actor accomplished this by daisy-chaining their approach to compromise multiple organizations in close proximity to their intended target."The attack is said to have been accomplished by conducting password-spray attacks against a public-facing service on the company's network to obtain valid wireless credentials, and taking advantage of the fact that connecting to the enterprise Wi-Fi network did not require multi-factor authentication.The strategy, Volexity said, was to breach the second organization located across the street from the target and use it as a conduit to laterally move across its network and ultimately connect to the intended company's Wi-Fi network by supplying the previously obtained credentials, while being thousands of miles away."The compromise of these credentials alone did not yield access to the customer's environment, as all internet-facing resources required use of multi-factor authentication," Sean Koessel, Steven Adair, and Tom Lancaster said. "However, the Wi-Fi network was not protected by MFA, meaning proximity to the target network and valid credentials were the only requirements to connect."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Nov 29, 2024The Hacker NewsEnterprise Security / Cloud ComputingThe lines between digital and physical realms increasingly blur. While this opens countless opportunities for businesses, it also brings numerous challenges. In our recent webinar, Shaping the Cyber-Physical Future: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities for 2025, we explored the different factors shaping the cyber-physical future. In an insightful conversation with industry experts, we discussed the most pressing security concerns of today and how to address them.Allison J. Taylor, the founder and CEO of Thought Marketing LLC, unveiled trends and recommended strategies businesses can employ to proactively bolster their security amidst evolving cyber challenges. Cesar Salazar, COO of Claro Enterprise Solutions, delved into innovative solutions that could propel business tech forward. He emphasized cyber-physical convergence, the use of emerging technologies, and responsive security operations.Below are the key takeaways from the webinar. These provide an overview of why businesses should be concerned about the cyber-physical future and the importance of staying informed about the risks it poses.Impact of Technological Waves on Trends and Emerging ThreatsThe evolution of major technology trends helps companies prepare for the future, particularly the "AI wave" expected to define 2025 and beyond. New technologies initially spark excitement and rapid adoption followed by gradual refinement. As companies "dabble" with new technologies, they learn to extract unique business value and achieve competitive advantages from each tech "wave."Technological Waves: From Web to Cloud to AIIn Web 1.0, the early days of the internet, we saw companies rebranding with the ".com" appended to their brand names. Many companies then launched basic, static websites, which served mainly as placeholders. It was very rudimentary, but it enabled them to test how the internet could create business value. Over time, businesses gained deeper insights.Today, the tech landscape has grown far beyond this phase into Web 3.0. Now, businesses can leverage blockchain, NFTs, real-time data communication, and advanced APIs. Cloud computing went from a vague concept to a foundational technology. Businesses are now able to manage complex, multi-cloud strategies for cost efficiency and redundancy.Currently, we're in the midst of the "AI wave," where AI is practically everywhere. However, businesses still need to explore specific, actionable ways to harness it effectively.Similar Progressive Waves on Consumer Tech AdoptionWe also see progression in consumer tech adoption. Let's take voice recognition, for example. Initially, businesses integrated voice commands into existing systems as a simple enhancementlike phone trees and automated messages. But as the technology matured, it became far more nuanced, now supporting AI integration and humanlike interactions.E-commerce has also evolved. It has transformed from early individual websites into expansive platforms with dynamic pricing and personalized experiences. In the next wave, we see AI-driven image recognition, which combines voice, image, and AI. With this advancement, we're also bound to see new regulatory issues emerge. Understanding this progression is crucial for businesses strategizing for cyber-physical integration. We see how each wave of technologyfrom the early internet to AIfollows a pattern of initial adoption, refinement, and mastery. And perhaps most importantly, no matter how technology evolves, the fundamental need for robust security and adherence to regulatory frameworks persists.Persistent Issues on Threats and RegulationDespite each tech wave's potential, the presence of security and regulatory concerns remains constant and becomes more complex with each wave. In Web 1.0, websites were vulnerable to defacement attacks. With the cloud wave, data security became a bigger concern, and regulations became stricter on how and where data is stored. Now that AI is in the picture, we're battling with deepfakes and other sophisticated threats.Four Trends in the Threat LandscapeTechnological waves do not happen in isolation. There are overlays and interconnectivity between technologies that create gaps and security threats. Here are four trends we see impacting the threat landscape.1. A Change in Scope: Hyperconnectivity has expanded the potential for security threats.More and more businesses today rely on cloud-based platforms like Office 365 and collaborative tools like Slack. These connect hundreds of external organizations and enable thousands of users to exchange information. While they enhance productivity, they also increase risks. This hyperconnectivity has changed the scope of the tech landscape but has also expanded the potential for security threats. For one, sensitive data can be widely accessible, even beyond organizational boundaries. This interconnected nature means organizations now face greater challenges in securing data and managing compliance across a web of connected services and partnerships.2. Increase in Threat Volume: The volume of threats continues to grow.According to Check Point Research's 2024 report on cyber-attack trends, there was a 30% increase in the volume of threats from 2023 to 2024. While this number is debatable, what's certain is that threats continue to increase and impact all organizations. Affecting organizations of all sizes, cyber threats leave no business immune to the risks they pose.3. Broadening Sources of Threats: External influences and physical vulnerabilities heighten threat levels.External influences, such as geopolitical tensions and elections, are heightening risk levels. Nation-states and political actors are increasingly involved in cyber activities. Then there are also issues on compromised physical security, social engineering attacks, vulnerability exploitation, supply chain infiltration, ransomware, and API exploitation. We see these threats targeting companies and infrastructure such as seen in recent attacks where malicious actors exploited consumer-grade routers and VPNs for coordinated attacks.4. Shifts in Modality: Threats are shifting from cyber threats to physical threats to cyber-physical threats. Threats now span beyond cyberspace. As we've mentioned, they now include physical security breaches (e.g., open doors to control rooms), phishing attacks, and social engineering. This makes it clear that cyber and physical security need to be tightly interwoven.Businesses navigating the cyber-physical shift must adopt a balanced approachstrategically leveraging tech for productivity while prioritizing security and ethical considerations. It's imperative for businesses to understand that everything is dynamic, and daily security practices remain essential. The dynamic nature of cyber-physical threats necessitates robust security practices, exactly what the comprehensive approach of Claro Enterprise Solutions hinges on in addressing challenges.Top Cyber and Physical Security Priorities for 2025Based on insights from the current security threat landscape, we have identified five essential priorities organizations should address in 2025.1. Continual Human-AI CollaborationAlthough generative AI is trending, it has its limitations. Its real gains come from machine learning's high-speed pattern recognition, productivity boosts, and continual human oversight. This approach requires ongoing expert intervention to shape workflows, ensure moral guardrails, and manage AI responsibly.2. Enhancing Data PrivacyHyperconnectivity increases data exposure risks. In cloud-based environments, in particular, sensitive data becomes accessible across platforms like Office 365 and Slack. This underscores the importance of proactive data privacy measures that protect sensitive information.3. Building Resilient Supply ChainsWith increasing global interdependence, supply chains face more vulnerabilities. There is an inherent need for comprehensive risk management that secures not only internal networks but also interconnected components in the supply chain.4. Proactive Threat DetectionStaying ahead of cyber threats involves integrating daily security practices with real-time monitoring and immediate response capabilities. The value of proactive investments becomes clearer when compared to reactive costs like ransom payments, which can far exceed the cost of prevention. Investing in proactive security measures ultimately reduces long-term expenses by mitigating potential losses associated with cyber and physical security incidents, especially as resource-limited organizations become increasingly targeted by sophisticated threats.5. Cyber-Physical Security PreparednessIntegrating digital and physical security measures is crucial as cyber-physical threats evolve. This includes combining physical safeguards with cyber defenses to build a holistic framework that addresses vulnerabilities across both realms.The Importance of Tech AssessmentAt the beginning of the webinar, participants did a self-assessment to identify the current role of IT in their organization. Determining which of the three stances your team is on can help you better prepare an appropriate roadmap toward a cyber-physical security future.Survival Mode. A reactive stance where IT keeps operations running but is viewed more as a functional utility rather than a strategic asset.Smart Mode. A proactive stand where IT enables automation and drives efficiencies, thereby supporting organizational goals.Leadership Mode. IT is considered a key player in achieving KPIs and a driver of innovation, actively supporting business performance and competitive advantage.Once you identify the role that IT plays in your organization, you can determine the right solutions that would empower your organization to thrive. Regardless of your current IT stance, there are innovative solutions that can prepare you for the cyber-physical future. Claro Enterprise Solutions offers such solutions designed to help organizations realize their vision.Safeguards and Challenges to Cyber-Physical ImplementationClaro Enterprise Solutions supports business clients in navigating the waves of cyber-physical convergence. Here are key safeguards and essential strategies businesses should consider to stay prepared as we move further into the cyber-physical era.Attack from All FrontsTo better understand the need for a cyber-physical approach, the factors that are impacting all organizations today include:Cyber ThreatsPhysical VulnerabilitiesRise in ransomware attacksCloud security concernsRemote work security challengesArtificial intelligence in security operationsEvolution of phishing and social engineeringSupply chain vulnerabilitiesIncreased attacks on critical infrastructureGrowth of IoT vulnerabilitiesWe see bad actors on all fronts. We also see the interconnected nature of these threats. For instance, AI in cyber defense is primarily a cyber resource, but it also impacts physical security when used in surveillance or automated responses. It's the same with IoT vulnerabilities. IoT devices are often deployed in physical environments that make them susceptible to both physical and digital attacks. This interdependence underscores the importance of a cyber-physical security solution.Safeguards Companies Should be ImplementingWith the persistent challenge of cyber and physical threats from malicious entities exploiting vulnerabilities for financial gain, businesses must evaluate and implement these cyber-physical safeguards:Cyber-Physical Asset Discovery and Inventory Update. Identify all assets in the network and ensure full asset visibility within the network.Adoption Of Zero Trust Security Models and Micro-segmentation. Limit system access, including internal access, to minimize security breaches and reduce other security risks.Security Monitoring and Incident Response. Utilize a centralized security operations center (SOC) that integrates real-time alerts from both cyber and physical systems for 24/7 monitoring and rapid incident response.Increased Investment in Security Awareness Training. Conduct regular threat detection education to empower users to prevent vulnerabilities and address human errors as soon as they are detected.Governance and Risk Management. Implement clear policies to maintain compliance and conduct risk assessments to ensure all security layers, for both internal and external risks, work together cohesively.Preparation for Quantum Computing Threats. Stay ahead of future threats by adopting quantum-resistant encryption and other measures.Challenges in Implementing SafeguardsIndeed, deploying the safeguards above is necessary. However, implementing them comes with several challenges, including:Resource Constraints. Many businesses are unable to balance financial and human resources to secure critical areas.Complexity of Implementation. Disparate systems, particularly those in legacy systems, are difficult to integrate.Privacy and Ethical Considerations. As cyber-physical solutions become more advanced, businesses must balance security with user privacy and ethical data usage.Vendor and Solution Management. The huge number of specialized solutions in the market makes it a challenge to find the right fit. To address these challenges, businesses should consider an integrated and holistic approach to cyber-physical security. An approach that combines authentication, data protection, and situational awareness for proactive security management.A Vision for the Future: The Claro Cyber-Physical VisionClaro Enterprise Solutions' vision for cyber-physical convergence is to create a fully integrated defense that unites cyber and physical security through real-time, data-driven monitoring and advanced technologies. Our approach centers on a seamless "Alerts Hub" that consolidates data from digital and physical systems, providing a unified view to detect and respond to threats immediately. By leveraging AI Video Analytics, IoT, cyber security solutions, Zero Trust networking, and managed detection and response (MDR), our aim is to strengthen organizations' resilience, ensuring they're prepared for increasingly complex cyber-physical threats.Our vision emphasizes adaptability for various business needs, from enhancing data protection and employee training to innovative, proactive security strategies, such as preparation for quantum computing threats. Our solutions, which are managed through a 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC), offer businesses a holistic, scalable approach to security that not only protects but also advances their competitive edge.Tech Solutions from Claro Enterprise SolutionsTo enable businesses to launch their cyber-physical implementation plans, Claro Enterprise Solutions offers three essential tech solutions. These are designed to streamline and secure your organization's digital operations. These innovative solutions help modern enterprises enhance security, productivity, and operational efficiency.Collaboration Security ManagementThis integrated solution provides expert oversight to secure collaborative platforms, like Microsoft 365, against data breaches and compliance risks. Through continuous assessments and guided remediation, it ensures data protection and helps manage exposure risks. It empowers organizations to focus on productive, secure collaboration without sacrificing compliance.Cloud BackupWith a multi-SaaS backup and restore solution, Claro Enterprise Solutions' Cloud Backup protects data across multiple cloud applications. This comprehensive backup solution ensures that critical business data remains secure and easily recoverable in case of a breach or data loss. This gives organizations confidence in their data protection and continuity plans.Microsoft 365 Migration ServicesClaro Enterprise Solutions' migration services facilitate a seamless transition to the Microsoft 365 platform. With a smooth migration, organizations can consolidate their digital workspaces with minimal disruption. This ensures an efficient shift that supports the continuity of operations.As a single-source IT solutions provider, Claro Enterprise Solutions helps businesses independently implement, monitor, and manage their technology solutions. With these new products, we offer critical support for organizations looking to scale and innovate securely in a hyperconnected landscape.Protect Your Organization, Arm Yourself with The Right SolutionsThe insights shared in this webinar provide a practical guide on how businesses can prepare for the cyber-physical future. 2025 is just around the corner and there is a critical need for businesses to forge strategies aligned with emerging security trends.To protect your organization from threats and challenges, arm yourself with knowledge of the latest cyber-physical solutions. Watch the full recording of the webinar, Shaping the Cyber-Physical Future: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities for 2025, to learn more about what's happening in the industry and how Claro Enterprise Solutions supports organizations looking to scale, just like yours.Found this article interesting? This article is a contributed piece from one of our valued partners. 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When they refer to bench strength in sports, theyre talking about the ability of a less skilled player to step in and play a big role if a main performer is unavailable. For years, IT leaders have wanted bench strength. However, those leaders found that achieving bench strength has been an elusive goal in tight job markets.Is there a way you can develop a bench? Yes, IT can develop bench strength.The first step is to identify the talent shortfalls in IT, where most CIOs will find the following gaps:Talent shortages in new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, database architecture, information management, cloud management, and edge ITShortages of talent in the bread-and-butter infrastructure stalwarts, such as network architecture and systems softwareIn the infrastructure category, one cause of declining bench strength is baby boomer retirements. Computer skillsets have systematically been abstracted from newer IT workers, who now work through point and click GUIs (graphical user interfaces) to provision, monitor and manage infrastructure resources. Unfortunately, the more highly abstracted IT tools that newer workers use dont always get to the bottom of a bug in system infrastructure software. That bug could bog down a hotel reservation system resulting in loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars in bookings per hour. For this, you need down to the metal skills, which boomers have excelled at.Related:The net result for IT managers and CIOs is that they find themselves short in new skill areas such as AI, but also in the older IT disciplines that their shops must continue to support, and that younger ITers arent exposed to.Setting Your Bench Strength TargetsSince talent is likely to be short in new technology areas and in older tech areas that must still be supported, CIOs should consider a two-pronged approach that develops bench strength talent for new technologies while also ensuring that older infrastructure technologies have talent waiting in the wings.Here are five talent development strategies that can strengthen your bench:Partnering with schools that teach the skills you want. Companies that partner with universities and community colleges in their local areas have found a natural synergy with these institutions, which want to ensure that what they teach is relevant to the workplace.This synergy consists of companies offering input for computer science and IT courses and also providing guest lecturers for classes. Those companies bring real world IT problems into student labs and offer internships for course credit that enable students to work in company IT departments with an IT staff mentor.Related:The internships enable companies to audition student talent and to hire the best candidates. In this way, IT can sidestep a challenging job market and bring new skills in areas like AI and edge computing to the IT bench.There are even universities that teach down to the metal skills at the behest of their corporate partners. The IBM Academic Initiative, which teaches students mainframe software skills, is one example.Using internal mentors. I once hired a gentleman who was two years away from retirement because he 1) had invaluable infrastructure skills that we needed; and 2) he had expressed a desire to give back to younger IT employees he was willing to mentor. He assigned and supervised progressively more difficult real world projects to staff. By the time he left, we had a bench of three or four persons who could step in.Not every company is this fortunate, but most have experienced personnel who are willing to do some mentoring. This can help build a bench.Use consultants and learn from them. At times in my CIO career, I hired consultants who possessed specialized technology skills where we lacked experience. When my staff and I evaluated consultants for these assignments, we graded them on three parameters:Related:1) Their depth and relevance of knowledge for the project we wanted done;2) Their ability to document their work so that someone could take over when their work was complete; and3) Their ability and willingness to train an IT staff member. Getting the project done was a foremost goal, but so was gaining bench strength.Give people meaningful project experience.Its great to send people to seminars and certification programs, but unless they immediately apply what they learned to an IT project, theyll soon forget it.Mindful of this, we immediately placed newly trained staff on actual IT projects so they could apply what they learned. Sometimes a more experienced staff member had to mentor them, but it was worth it. Confidence and competence built quickly.Retain the employees you develop. CIOs lament about employees leaving a company after the company has invested in training them. In fact, the issue became so prominent at one company that the firm created a training vesting plan whereby the employee had to reimburse the company for a portion of training expenses if they left the company before a certain prescribed time.A better way to retain employees is by regularly communicating with them, giving them a sense of belonging that makes them feel part of the team, assigning them to meaningful work, and rewarding them with paths to advancement and salary increases.Summary RemarksCompanies (and employees) continuously change, and there is no guarantee that IT departments will always be able to retain their most competent performers. Consequently, its critical to develop employees, to actively and continuously engage with them, and to foster an open and pleasant working experience.By doing so, CIOs can improve staff skill agilities in their organizations and be ready for the next tech breakthrough.

Major character death is a trope as old as storytelling itself, meant to add stakes and realism to the most fantastical of narratives, or to simply inject some shock value to keep things from feeling stale. When someone you know and have grown to love is killed off, things feel a little more serious, a little more real, and their death hits harder than, say, some nameless guy who had the misfortune to wear a red shirt.There have been times when the death of a beloved character is just too sad, or has to be reversed to suit some future plot point. In those cases, the characters, no matter how they died (or died) are miraculously brought back to life, whether by some new technology, new magic, or just plain retconning. Sometimes these returns are done well and seem to fit in with the themes of the series; sometimes theyre very silly and they make everyone mad.In modern cinemas biggest franchises, dead characters making grand returns is something you might as well go ahead and expect until proven otherwise. Certain movie series have become almost notorious for constantly bringing back people who we assumed had died, or people who really did die, and have been brought back to life via other means. Here, weve collected ten of the wildest ways movies have come up with to bring back iconic characters killed off in previous films. Whether you like it or not, somehow, they all returned.The Wildest Ways Movie Characters Were Killed Off and Brought BackThese characters came back from the dead in wild and unexpected ways.READ MORE: Actors Who Criticized Their Own TV ShowsGet our free mobile app25 Big Blockbuster Movies You Forgot ExistedRemember these movies? They made a lot of money at the box office!Categories: Galleries, Lists, Movie News, Original Features

ProWriterSites is a highly-rated professional portfolio design and hosting service catering to freelancers. Our mission is to make professional portfolio websites easy and affordable to all freelancers. We are looking for a creative and skilled copywriter who will take the time to truly understand our brand and overarching messaging, and then communicate this in a compelling way that resonates with our target audience.Will you help us help thousands of freelancers elevate their careers and online presence?About the Role:As a content writer, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the voice and messaging across our platform and marketing channels. Your words will inspire freelancers to dream big and trust in our service to showcase their talents. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a creative, fast-paced environment and is passionate about storytelling, branding, and the freelance lifestyle.Key Responsibilities:- Develop, write, and edit content for website pages, blog posts, email campaigns, and social media that resonates with our target audience of freelance professionals.- Collaborate with the marketing and design teams to craft compelling narratives that enhance our branding and drive user engagement.- Conduct market research to stay on top of industry trends and ensure our content is fresh, relevant, and impactful.- Assist in developing content strategies that align with our business goals and increase our market presence.- Provide creative input on visual and text-based campaigns.- Edit and proofread content with a keen eye for detail, ensuring high-quality and consistency across all platforms.Preferred Experience:- Strong portfolio of written work showcasing versatility across various digital platforms.- Excellent command of the English language, including grammar, spelling, and stylistic flair.- Familiarity with the freelance industry and its challenges and opportunities.What We Offer:- A fully remote role with flexible working hours to suit your lifestyle.- Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.- Opportunities for professional growth and creative freedom.- A supportive and collaborative work environment that values new ideas and innovation.- Regular team meet-ups and creative brainstorming sessions online.Compensation:We would like to engage with a skilled content writer on a per-project or hourly basis of $75-80 per hour, however, our ultimate goal is to bring on a full-time copywriter for a $75K to $100K annual salaried role. Related Jobs See more All Other Remote jobs