The days are shorter, nights are darker, and chilly winds fill the airits officially winter. So what are you going to do? Pour a warm drink, grab a favorite blanket, and cozy up to some great games. Discover five cozy games with amazing soundtracks to add to your playlist. From relaxing lofi tunes to enchanting orchestral themes, these soundtracks bring cozy vibes in and outside of gaming.1. Little Kitty, Big City (2024)Explore a vibrant city at your own pace in the furry little boots of a mischievous cat in Little Kitty, Big City. Double Dagger Studios and composer Riley Koenig have crafted a smooth, jazzy soundtrack that captures the essence of feline grace. Like a cat, the tempos ebb and flow with fun and unpredictable cadences. Tracks like Maximum Stealth meander beautifully, reminiscent of an old cat leisurely crossing a long hallway, while others, like The Curious Cat, move with the smooth bravado of a confident kitty.Fans of smooth, relaxing, and funky jazz will love this games setlist. The songs from LIttle Kitty, Big Citys hit the hi-hat cleanly and fit this cozy title perfectlyand the soundtrack doubles as great video game music for focus, too.2. Fae Farm (2023)Fae Farm is a cozy and customizable farm simulator RPG for you and up to 4 friends. As your farm grows you can befriend cute and cuddly magical creatures to your pastures and explore the enchanting island of Azoria. This relaxing title features a soundtrack filled with uplifting, folky orchestral music, with an emphasis on strings and winds. The tunes create a sense of inner calm and coziness, making Fae Farm a top game soundtracks for relaxation.Our Wholesome Snack Bundle includes a downloadable version of the Fae Farm Official Soundtrack, alongside Phoenix Labs exceptional farming sim. This is truly one of the best cozy game soundtracks aroundgive it a listen today!Spirit City: Lofi Sessions (2024)Mooncube Games managed to gamify day-to-day tasks in a way thats relaxing, engaging, andfun! Yeah, Spirit City: Lofi Sessions makes remembering your dentist appointment next Tuesday easy and enjoyable. Integrate your real-life tasks into the game with a collection of handy features like to-do lists, pomodoro timers, and habit trackers designed to improve concentration and ease stress. And unlike real life, youll earn XP for practicing good habits! Customize your own cozy in-game bedroom with countless patterns & colors, furniture, and even seasonal decor. Your avatar is fully customizable too with physical features, accessories and little cozy Spirit Companions.Spirit City: Lofi Sessions relaxing game music by Homework Radio has cozy and soothing filters like gentle rain, fire crackling, waves softly crashing, and moreletting you create your own unique sense of calm. If youre familiar with Homework Radio on YouTube, then you already know this is going to be one of the best cozy game soundtracks!Minami Lane (2024)Does anyone even know what their local City Planner looks like? In Minami Lane, the City Planner looks just like you! Create and manage your own cozy street, and watch the world around it evolve with each decision you make. This bite-sized casual management sim, designed to be enjoyed in 2-4 hours, offers a delightful slice of kawaii, Japanese-inspired life. Build ramen stalls, karaoke bars, and more to turn your block into the coziest street in town.Minami Lanes soundtrack takes inspiration from the beaches and cozy farms of the Nintendo 64 and GameCube eras. Its a little retro, with a hint of J-Pop and a dash of quirkinessa tasty combination for your ears. Beautiful and super relaxing game music is always a plus, so give Minami Lane a few hours of your time and see what you can create!The Ranch of Rivershine (2023)Saddle up, cowfolkits time to embrace ranch life in The Ranch of Rivershine! Build your own cozy horse ranch and raise an incredible herd of horses. Groom, train, and compete with your unique steeds to win competitions and earn acclaim in your charming western community.The Ranch of Rivershine features a perfectly western soundtrack that transports you straight to the ol west. Its familiar, relaxing, and perfectly complements the titles rustic charm. So quit horsin aroundgrab The Ranch of Rivershine and other cozy games in our Wholesome Snack Bundle!How do you cozy up to games when the weather turns for the worst? With all this relaxing game music, its going to be hard not to find some of the best cozy game soundtracks. Tell us in the comments which cozy vibe is your favorite and keep your eyes peeled for the Wholesome Snack Bundle!

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube788kEarlier this year at Minecraft Live 2024, Mojang announced a creepy new biome and mob update for the game.'The Garden Awakens update' has now officially launched - allowing players to explore this eerie new biome, meet the creaking, and uncover the "secrets" of its heart. You'll also get access to new blocks, hanging moss, and much more.Here are the full patch notes for this Minecraft update, courtesy of the official support page:Minecraft: Bedrock Edition 1.21.50 - The Garden Awakens (3rd December 2024)New FeaturesGameplay DropAdded Pale Garden Biome, Pale Oak tree, Pale Moss block, Pale Moss carpet, Pale Hanging Moss and Pale Oak wood setAdded Creaking mob, Creaking Spawn Egg and Creaking Heart blockSubscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube788kWatch on YouTube Creaking HeartA Creaking Heart is a "living" block generating in Pale Oak trees, covered on all sides by Pale Oak wood logs. It can spawn a Creaking mob when it is night time, and it is placed between two correctly aligned Pale Oak log blocks.Is active during night and dormant during daySends a trail of particles towards the connected Creaking when the Creaking gets hit by the playerWhen Creaking Heart block is destroyed, the connected Creaking is removedCreaking Heart cannot be moved by PistonsCreaking Heart cannot be used as fuelCreaking Heart spawning and despawning its Creaking emits vibrations from the Creaking's positionNaturally generated Creaking Hearts drop 20 to 24 experience, even when collected with Silk TouchCreaking MobThe Creaking mob spawns at night in the Pale Garden biome if there is a Creaking Heart block that has been generated in a Pale Oak tree. Gameplay features:An activated Creaking will not move if a player is looking at itCreaking is invulnerable to damageWhen hit, a particle trail is shown between the Creaking and the Creaking Heart block it is connected toWhen the Creaking Heart block the Creaking is connected to is destroyed, the Creaking is removedIs not affected by light levels but spawns and despawns based on day/night cycleCreaking cannot enter BoatsCreaking spawned from a Creaking Heart cannot go through portalsThe Creaking Spawn Egg will spawn a Creaking mob that is not connected to a Creaking Heart. The Creaking mob will persist through day and night, loads and saves, and will take damage from attacks and other damage sources. It has one point of health (half a heart)Creaking summoned from the Creaking Heart cannot be spawned with a spawn egg, nor can it be summoned with commands. It can only exist as a part of the Creaking Heart blockPlayer wearing a carved pumpkin on their head can look at Creaking without it freezing in placeWhen a Creaking Heart is destroyed, its Creaking will twitch for a few seconds before crumblingCreakings spawned by a Creaking Heart will crumble when stuck in a hole with a Player for more than 5 secondsThis prevents a potential soft lock, as the invulnerable Creaking would prevent the player from mining or placing any blocks, requiring them to exit and re-enter the world to force the Creaking to despawnA Creaking crumbling causes nearby Sculk Catalysts to bloomHowever, no Sculk will be placed since the Creaking does not drop any XPCreaking plays 4 different sway soundsCreaking plays new attack soundsEyeblossomEyeblossoms are new flowers that generate in the Pale Garden biome. Unique features:They exist in two variants: Closed and Open EyeblossomEyeblossoms transition between the two variants based on the time of dayDuring the night, Eyeblossoms will become OpenDuring the day, they will become ClosedIn dimensions that do not have a day/night cycle, they will remain as-isEyeblossoms planted on the ground will communicate with each other, helping each other to open or closeOpen Eyeblossoms have glowing eyes during the nightEyeblossoms can be obtained by bonemealing the grass in the Pale Garden biomeBees get poisoned when they interact with EyeblossomsSuspicious Stew made from Eyeblossom will have Blindness or Nausea effect depending on the variantGray or Orange Dye can be crafted from Closed and Open Eyeblossoms respectivelyEyeblossoms play sounds when opening and closingOpen Eyeblossoms emit ambient sounds when placed on a Pale Moss BlockOpen and Closed Eyeblossoms can now be used on Mooshrooms to obtain their respective Suspicious Stews when milking (MCPE-187754)New system for Pale Garden ambient soundsAmbient sounds in the Pale Garden biome do not come from the biome settings but are generated by blocks found in the biomePale Hanging Moss emits subtle atmospheric sounds when it is attached to Pale Oak Logs and Pale Oak LeavesCreaking Heart block emits a set of eerie sounds when it is active during night and surrounded by Logs on all sidesMusic volume now gradually lowers to zero when entering a Pale Garden and gradually resumes when leaving itPale GardenPale Garden is a biome variation of Dark Forest. Unique features:Pale Oak trees generate in this biomePale Moss blocks/carpet generate on the ground hereHanging Pale Moss generate hanging from the foliage of Pale OaksAnimal mobs do not spawn naturally in Pale GardensAdded new biome specific ambient soundsCreaking Heart block can generate in Pale OaksAdd the Pale Oak Sapling, Eyeblossoms, Pale Moss Block, and Hanging Pale Moss to the Wandering Trader (MCPE-187456)The seed picker will be updated with a Pale Garden option - if you want to generate the world you can also try out seed 3515201313347228787Pale Hanging MossPale Hanging Moss generates naturally in the Pale Garden biome under the foliage of Pale OaksPale Hanging Moss does not grow randomly, but can be bone-mealed to grow downPale Moss BlockPale Moss block generates naturally in the Pale Garden biomePale Moss CarpetPale Moss block generates naturally in the Pale Garden biome. Unique features:When placed, Pale Moss Carpet grows up to two blocks on the solid faces of any block that borders itPale Moss Carpet can be bone-mealed to grow to full on all solid faces of any block that borders itPale Oak TreePale Oak Saplings can be composted (MCPE-187457)Pale Oak Leaves drop Pale Oak Saplings that can be planted in a 2x2 configuration to grow Pale Oak treesPale Oaks logs can be crafted into the Pale Oak wood set:DoorFenceFence GatePlankSignHanging SignSlabStairsTrapdoorWoodStripped LogStripped WoodButtonPressure PlateBoatBoat with ChestResinResin Clumps are a new multi-face block:Dropped by the Creaking Heart when it is destroyedPlaced around the Creaking Heart when its Creaking is attackedCan be crafted into a Block of ResinCan be hardened into Resin Bricks in a furnaceResin Bricks can be crafted into the Resin Brick set:Brick blockStairsWallsSlabsChiseled Resin Brick blockBoth can be found in Chests in the Woodland MansionBlocks of Resin can be crafted into a Creaking Heart using two Pale Oak LogsResin Brick items can be used as a material for armor trimmingFeatures and Bug FixesAccessibilityFixed an issue with Haptic feedback on iOS (MCPE-145524)Add-OnsJoining worlds created from world templates on Realms and dedicated servers no longer prompt the user to download packs for templates they have locallyAudioSponges and Wet Sponges now play fall, hit, jump, land, break, hit and place sounds (MCPE-174345)Sponges now play a sound when absorbing water (MCPE-173582)Blocks & ItemsDeveloper's Note: We've fixed several issues where the tool used to mine some blocks didn't affect the drop or mining speed correctly. Related to these changes, any block that drops when its support is broken will also drop when mined with any tool.The following blocks now only drop when broken with a pickaxe: Blast Furnace, Cauldron, Dispenser, Dropper, Enchanting Table, Furnace, Hopper, and Smoker (MCPE-33950)The following blocks that require support now always drop when broken with any tool: all Copper Doors, Iron Door, Heavy Weighted Pressure Plate, Light Weighted Pressure Plate, Polished Blackstone Pressure Plate, and Stone Pressure PlateBudding Amethyst is now slower to mine with an improper toolThe following blocks (which always drop) are now mined faster when using the incorrect tool: Bell, Brewing Stand, Crafter, Ender Chest, Lantern, and Soul Lantern. Note that the Ender Chest is considered an 'always drops block' even though the drop is not an Ender Chest (MCPE-176374)Swords can now cut Bamboo Saplings instantly, as they do BambooAxes no longer mine Bamboo Saplings and Moss Carpets fasterPickaxes and Shovels no longer mine Bamboo as quickly as AxesMaces no longer mine Cobwebs faster than other non-Sword toolsHeavy Core is now faster to mine with any improper toolA Note Block placed above Heavy Core now plays the proper soundCrafter now can be mined quickly with any PickaxeIf you somehow manage to mine a Dragon Egg, which is almost impossible, it no longer requires a Pickaxe to drop and is equally quick to mine with any toolCopper Trapdoors and Copper Bulbs now require a Stone Pickaxe or better for drops and quick miningSwords no longer mine all blocks faster than bare hands, instead doing that only for some plant-type blocks that aren't already insta-minable, such as Leaves, Pumpkins, Big Dripleaf, Chorus Flower, Chorus Plant, Cocoa, Glow Lichen, Melon Block, Moss Carpet, and Vines (MCPE-93323)Stone Button and Polished Blackstone Button no longer require a Pickaxe to drop, and are now faster to mine with any improper tool (MCPE-162158)Updated Heavy Core's item textureThe following blocks now only drop when broken with a pickaxe: Blast Furnace, Cauldron, Dispenser, Dropper, Enchanting Table, Furnace, Hopper, and Smoker (MCPE-33950)The following blocks that require support now always drop when broken with any tool: all Copper Doors, Iron Door, Heavy Weighted Pressure Plate, Light Weighted Pressure Plate, Polished Blackstone Pressure Plate, and Stone Pressure PlateBudding Amethyst is now slower to mine with an improper toolThe following blocks (which always drop) are now mined faster when using the incorrect tool: Bell, Brewing Stand, Crafter, Ender Chest, Lantern, and Soul Lantern. Note that the Ender Chest is considered an 'always drops block' even though the drop is not an Ender Chest (MCPE-176374)Fixed an issue where the color of a Shulker Box was not listed as part of the name (MCPE-182930)Grass and Nylium no longer decay to Dirt and Netherrack when below Slime, Honey, Hopper, or Chemical Heat (Education Edition block) (MCPE-62132)Grass and Nylium now decay to Dirt and Netherrack when below ObserverTrial Spawners with a Mob set by a Spawn Egg no longer revert to an empty state when their cooldown ends (MCPE-185960)Azalea, Flowering Azalea, Mangrove, Cherry, and Pale Oak Leaves no longer display black pixels from a distance (MCPE-156469)Mangrove Leaves now have a dedicated texture for when "Fancy Leaves" is disabled (MCPE-170516)The orientation of the Pale Oak Leaves texture is no longer randomized for each blockMoss Blocks now have a quieter step and land sound (MCPE-176933)Decorated Pots no longer activate Observers on world loadSculk Sensors now detect Eyeblossoms opening and closingFixed all Skull block variants being turned into skeleton_skull when opening a world-template version locked below 1.21.40 or structures. Please note, this fix will not apply to already overwritten chunksTextures for Bricks, Nether Bricks, Red Nether Bricks, Resin Bricks, and related blocks have been updated to be horizontally aligned with all other brick blocks (MCPE-187806)Closed Eyeblossoms no longer poison BeesThe Poison effect from Open Eyeblossoms now also damages Bees while they are within the block, rather than only upon exitingReduced the duration of the Poison effect applied by Open EyeblossomsAdjusted the frequency of ambient sounds emitted by Eyeblossoms, Creaking Hearts, and Pale Hanging Moss to better align with JavaThe effect durations of Suspicious Stew have been adjusted to be the same across versionsSuspicious Stew from Open Eyeblossom now grants the same Blindness duration as Suspicious Stew from Azure Bluet (MCPE-187802)EDU ToggleFixed an issue where content log errors and warnings would appear when loading a world with Education Edition toggle enabled (MCPE-170791)FeaturesStandardized the blocks that trees can replace when growing, with a few exceptions (MCPE-187302) (MCPE-187301)All trees can now grow through leaves, with the exception of Cherry trees cannot grow through their own leaves (MCPE-168029)All trees can grow on dirt-like blocks (MCPE-187739)Tall Grass generates properly with its top part in the Lush Caves biome (MCPE-125799)The following feature types are now unable to place internal-only featuresminecraft:aggregate_featureminecraft:snap_to_surface_featureminecraft:surface_relative_threshold_featureminecraft:weighted_random_featureGameplayThere is now a warning message when you are prevented from entering an unloaded chunkNow the respiration enchantment reduces the chance of taking drowning damage (MCPE-46922)Players can no longer earn achievements or trophies after dying and respawning as a spectator in hardcore modeMace damage now scales with distance fallen when it is used by mobsPlayers will keep their inventory after dying on Easy and Peaceful as we're testing ways to adapt our difficulty levels. Your feedback is greatly appreciated on this pageThe kill command or any damage greater or equal to the target's current life will now kill it in base game versions below 1.18.20Zombified Piglins spawned by Nether Portals now have a 15-second cooldown before they can use the Portal againUsing an empty Bundle now causes an animation to play in both first and third personSecond passenger in a Boat or Camel will now also have the warning message when hitting unloaded chunk.All projectiles on fire now ignite Minecart with TNT & TNT blocks (MCPE-183512)Holding the jump button when falling on a Slime Block no longer cancels the bounce (MCPE-185354)Sneaking while landing on a Slime Block no longer causes fall damageDeveloper's Note: The intended way to stop bouncing on a Slime Block is now to sneak. Previously players could stop bouncing by holding the jump button, but this was an unintentional oversight that worked since the jump effectively cancelled out the movement from the block. This caused other types of bugs such as when hitting a mob with a Mace with Wind Charge enchantment while holding the jump button. The new player jump behaviour is to always pick the highest between existing vertical velocity and jump velocity.Fixed one case where blocks would fail to place if a player would place a block and then change their selected slot before the server handled the block placement. This would reject the block placement because the server didn't expect the slot to change (MCPE-112420)Blackstone can now be used to repair stone tools and stone weapons (MCPE-71859)Fixed clients sometimes not matching the servers rain/snow weather state (MCPE-131325)GeneralThe world spawn point algorithm has been improved, so that locations with good biomes but far from the world's origin are preferred over really bad locations but closer to the origin (MCPE-120237)Player spawn algorithm has been improved so it is more difficult to spawn in water or powder snow. (MCPE-120237)GraphicalTextures with multiple variations will now load PBR texture data. (MCPE-174191)Removed the unintended darker tinting of Kelp (MCPE-169713)Sky color now gradually transitions when traveling between different biomes, rather than changing abruptly (MCPE-90625)Liquids such as still Water and still Lava no longer tessellate incorrectly when Copper Grates cover them (MCPE-178719)MobsEvokers and Vindicators no longer attack Pillagers when hit by them (MCPE-42373)Breeze now plays the correct idle sound if not on a solid surface (MCPE-180023)Feeding Bees Open Eyeblossoms now applies the Poison effectFeeding Bees Wither Roses now applies the Wither effectRavagers can now destroy all types of leaf blocks, rather than a limited selection (MCPE-169375)Magma Cube model part UVs no longer overlap each otherWitherThe spawn and death animations smoothly transition it between a white color overlay and its normal textures (MCPE-64537)The Wither will no longer move during its spawning animation (MCPE-48265)The Wither's heads now look at their target more consistently (MCPE-32826)RealmsRealms Stories opt-in/opt-out now only applies to the Timeline. Any Realm user can see the Story Feed and Members tab, regardless of whether the user has opted in, and regardless of whether the Realm owner has opted in.Users can now share screenshots from the Screenshot Library to Realms StoriesKnown issue: 'Last played' date on list of Realms fails to populateFixed a bug where new invite links on Realm are shown as Expired after being created on Kindle devicesAdded a loading modal when changing active realms slots to prevent a glitch where multiple Realms Slot Settings Screen are pushed to the stack because of player's button mashing the Edit World buttonFixed issue where game mode and difficulty were not being preserved after uploading or replacing world in Realms Slot.Fixed an issue where players were unable to create a new world on an active RealmFixed bug where loading screens while loading a realm were not showing Realms UI elements.Fixed crash on several platforms when navigating back to Realms Stories after inviting a player on the manage members screenFixed bug where player saw "Unable to connect to Realm" error when deleting an expired RealmFixed bug where player was asked to download resource packs that had already been downloadedFixed bug where adding a friend via Find Friends failed to update the Members list until the page refreshedFixed bug where "Remove Member" button was narrated incorrectlyRealm EventsAdded a new Realm Event related to mobs.SoundsAdjusted volume & pitch for break, hit, place, fall, step & land sounds for the Amethyst BlockWet Sponges now play correct block sounds (MCPE-187287)Fall & step sound events for Sponge, Wet Sponge, Creaking Heart, Resin Brick and Resin blocks changed to "player"Stability and PerformanceFixed a crash that could sometimes occur after uploading and joining a RealmFixed an issue where the game would occasionally hang when loading resourcesImproved game loading stabilityTrial ChambersChanged contents of chest in end_2 to reference a loot tableTrial SpawnerSome Trial Spawners did not have an extra Breeze out at once when OminousUser InterfaceChange the order of tabs in the Settings screenFixed a bug where players on the manage members screen are not updated when returning from 'Find friends'Improved feedback to user when Realm uploads fail due to namingWhen enabling experiments in world settings (OreUI) we no longer faulty state that it would "Automatically turn on Cheats". (MCPE-181435)The item currently selected inside a Bundle is now correctly displayed as part of the Bundle's icon when the Bundle is placed in the inventory or Crafting Table's crafting gridThe sounds of moving items in or out of a Bundle now originate from the player's location instead of the corner of the block the player is standing on (MCPE-186619)Fixed a bug where the world name text would sometimes show up wrong on the pause menu (MCPE-179702)Fixed a visual glitch which could occur when navigating between the death screen and game menu.Fixed a bug with inventory touch controls where items could not be distributed across existing item stacks of the same item (MCPE-164543)Added UI controls for enabling/disabling beds working and the percentage of players sleeping needed to pass the nightThe items "short_grass", "fern", "seagrass" and "vine" are now brighter in the inventory, they used to be incorrectly multiplied by a shade a green (MCPE-53775)Hid Create from template button and Import world button when in Trial mode.Tweaked position of paper doll to not overlap with UI bars (MCPE-186341)Mobile devices: Going into windowed/split-screen mode no longer overwrites saved positions of customized controls (MCPE-185964)Thai font rendering improvements for chat and signs. (MCPE-166005)Added missing quickswap animations in GUI for several blocksBundles that are moved under a player's cursor now correctly update their tooltipThe size of Shield items no longer changes when the item is moved between slotsBundles that are moved under a player's cursor now correctly update their tooltipIt is now possible to collect crafting output with a bundle to add the crafted items to the bundleTouch Controls: Fixed a bug where boats were interactable during control customization (MCPE-184404, MCPE-184406)Touch controls: in joystick modes, it is now possible to double tap "fly up" to stop flying. (MCPE-185237)Touch controls: tapping fly up and fly down in quick succession no longer causes the player to stop flying. (MCPE-185236)Tools in the hotbar no longer animate when their durability decrease (MCPE-186979)Remove 'X' closing button from the Command Block UI when player is using GamepadA popup now appears showing the item's name when it is selected in a Bundle's tooltip on touch screen devicesEnabled selecting disabled buttons on the 'join friends' menu while crossplay is turned offDualsense gamepads now have correct tooltip icons on mobile devicesFixed spacing on Realms Stories and Timeline pagesTouch Controls: Fixed a bug where boats were interactable during control customization . (MCPE-184404)Fixed a bug where the death screen and new bed screen would sometimes have incorrect textures applied when resource packs were used (MCPE-178701, MCPE-184050)Items in a Bundle tooltip now have a gray backgroundTouch controls: Fixed a bug where the camera could sometimes get stuck after leaving a boat . (MCPE-184406)Bundle tooltip correctly appears after being placed from the cursorGamepad tooltips are now correct when hovering the crafting output in Inventory Screen and Crafting Table Screen with a bundle on the cursorScreenshots: Added the ability to Feature and Showcase screenshots for others to see when they visit your Profile. Added ability to set custom world thumbnail from screenshots.Using the scroll wheel when hovering a Bundle placed in hotbar with creative inventory search tab active now selects an item in the BundleFixed a spelling error in an advanced tip for worlds with resource packsFixed a bug where duplicate gamepad input hints would be shown in certain scenarios on the death screen when using multiple input methodsMigrated JSON UI Trial Mode modal that was shown in Create New World and Edit World to Ore UIUpdated Sleep ScreenThe sleep screen in Minecraft Bedrock Edition has been redesigned.Updated the animation to make it feel more sleepyMessage about the number of players sleeping needed to skip the night has been rewrittenButton style and layout has been updatedChat button is hidden when playing aloneLeave us your feedback at aka.ms/mcbedrocksleepscreenfeedbackVanilla ParityFoxes can now pick up BundlesManaging to kill a Wolf, Bee, or Silverfish in one hit no longer angers nearby mobs of the same typeManaging to kill a Zombified Piglin in one hit no longer angers nearby Zombified Piglins (MCPE-68327)BlocksResin Clumps and Glow Lichen now play their step sound when on top of a block an actor is walking on.Head Blocks can now be placed on the side of blocks even if they lack a supporting block below themFixed Glow Lichen playing the Grass sound when stepped on instead of the Vine sound like Java (MCPE-188087)ItemsChiseled Stone Brick can now be crafted in the Stonecutter using Stone Brick (MCPE-50057)Added two more recipes each for Sandstone Stairs and Red Sandstone Stairs (MCPE-135605)Chiseled Sandstone and Cut Sandstone can now be used to craft Sandstone StairsRed Chiseled Sandstone and Red Cut Sandstone can now be used to craft Red Sandstone StairsPurpur Slabs can now be crafted using Purpur Pillars (MCPE-135606)MobsVexes summoned by an Evoker now start taking damage after 30 to 119 seconds (MCPE-44454) And some other additions including hardcore modeWill you be checking out this latest update for Minecraft? Let us know in the comments.[source feedback.minecraft.net]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:511 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesRate Your Favourite Switch Games Of The Year 2024Bring out your GOTYs!Opinion: Nintendo Needs To Let Us Block The Crap On Switch 2's eShopBlock and move on'Switch 2' Accessories Are Seemingly Already On Sale Via Chinese VendorsCases and screen protectors up for grabs

Update: Here's a new trailer to make up for it.A new trailer and PC demo for the upcoming release Toree Saturn have been released, with the developer Siactro also reconfirming the new entry will arrive at some point in 2024. This latest update mentions a Nintendo Switch release, too.When this new project was originally announced in September last year, there was no Nintendo announcement at that point, so there you go!Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Single-board computer maker Raspberry Pi is updating its cute little computer-meet-keyboard device with better specifications. Named the Raspberry Pi 500, this successor to the Raspberry Pi 400 is as powerful as the current flagship Raspberry Pi, the Raspberry Pi 5. Its available to buy now from Raspberry Pi resellers.The Raspberry Pi 500 is the easiest way to get started with a Raspberry Pi as its not as intimidating as the Raspberry Pi 5. When you look at the Raspberry Pi 500, you cant see any chipsets or PCB (printed circuit board). The Raspberry Pi is completely hidden inside a familiar form factor, a keyboard.The idea with the Raspberry Pi 500 is that you can plug in a mouse and display, and youre ready to hit the ground running. If, for example, you have a relative who is using an extremely dated computer with an outdated version of Windows, the Raspberry Pi 500 can easily replace an old PC tower for most computing tasks.When it comes to specifications, the Raspberry Pi 500 features a 64-bit quad-core Arm processor (the same one as the Raspberry Pi 5 uses); 8GB of RAM; 2 micro-HDMI ports, with support for up to two 4K displays; 3 traditional USB ports (but no USB-C besides the power port unfortunately); a Gigabit Ethernet port; and a 40-pin expansion header. It comes with native Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support.More importantly, this device brings us back Raspberry Pis roots. Raspberry Pi computers were originally intended for educational use cases. Over time, tech enthusiasts and industrial customers started using the single-board computers everywhere. (For instance, if youve ever been to Londons Heathrow Airport, all the departures and arrivals boards are powered by Raspberry Pis.)The Raspberry Pi 500 draws inspiration from the not-for-profit Raspberry Pi Foundations roots. Its the perfect first computer for school. In many ways, its much better than a Chromebook or an iPad because it is both cheap and highly customizable encouraging creative thinking.The Raspberry Pi 500 comes with a 32GB SD card preloaded with Raspberry Pi OS, a Debian-based Linux distribution. It costs $90, which is a slight ($20) price increase compared to the Raspberry Pi 400. At launch, only U.K. and U.S. keyboard variants are available. But versions with French, German, Italian, Japanese, Nordic and Spanish keyboard layouts are coming soon. And if youre looking for a package that comes with everything you need, Raspberry Pi also sells a $120 desktop kit with a Raspberry Pi 500, a mouse, a 27W USB-C power supply, and a micro-HDMI to HDMI cable.In other news, Raspberry Pi has announced another brand-new product: the Raspberry Pi Monitor. Its a 15.6-inch 1080p monitor with a price-tag of $100. Since there are quite a few 1080p portable monitors out there this launch isnt as noteworthy as the Pi 500. But for dyed-in-the-wool Pi fans theres now a Raspberry Pi-branded monitor option too.Image Credits:Raspberry Pi

Apple is being sued over its decision not to implement a system that would have scanned iCloud photos for child sexual abuse material (CSAM).The lawsuit argues that by not doing more to prevent the spread of this material, its forcing victims to relive their trauma, according to The New York Times. The suit describes Apple as announcing a widely touted improved design aimed at protecting children, then failing to implement those designs or take any measures to detect and limit this material.Apple first announced the system in 2021, explaining that it would use digital signatures from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and other groups to detect known CSAM content in users iCloud libraries. However, it appeared to abandon those plans after security and privacy advocates suggested they could create a backdoor for government surveillance.The lawsuit reportedly comes from a 27-year-old woman who is suing Apple under a pseudonym. She said a relative molested her when she was an infant and shared images of her online, and that she still receives law enforcement notices nearly every day about someone being charged over possessing those images.Attorney James Marsh, who is involved with the lawsuit, said theres a potential group of 2,680 victims who could be entitled to compensation in this case.TechCrunch has reached out to Apple for comment. A company spokesperson told The Times Apple is urgently and actively innovating to combat these crimes without compromising the security and privacy of all our users.In August, a 9-year-old girl and her guardian sued Apple, accusing the company of failing to address CSAM on iCloud.

In this Fxpodcast episode, we explore a topic that captures the imagination and attention of creatives worldwide: building your own generative AI tools and pipelines. Simon Yuen is director of graphics and AI at NVIDIA where he leads the digital human efforts to develop new character technology and deep learning-based solutions that allow new and more efficient ways of creating high-quality digital characters. Before NVIDIA, Simon spent more than 21 years in the visual effects industry, in both the art and technology sides of the problem at many studios, including Method Studios, Digital Domain, Sony Pictures Imageworks, DreamWorks, Blizzard Entertainment, and others, building teams and technologies that push the envelope of photorealistic digital character creation.Generative AI.This fxpodcast is not sponsored, but is based on research done for the new Field Guide to Generative AI. fxguides Mike Seymour was commissioned by NVIDIA to unpack the impact of generative AI on the media and entertainment industries, offering practical applications, ethical considerations, and a roadmap for the future.The Field Guide is free and can be downloaded here: Field Guide to Generative AI. In M&E, generative AI has proven itself a powerful tool for boosting productivity and creative exploration. But it is not a magic button that does everything. Its a companion, not a replacement. AI lacks the empathy, cultural intuition, and nuanced understanding of a storys uniqueness that only humans bring to the table. But when generative AI is paired with VFX artists and TDs, it can accelerate pipelines and unlock new creative opportunities.Digital Human powered by NVIDIAThe Core of Generative AI: Foundation Models & NIMs.NVIDIA Inference Microservices (NIMs) and foundation models are the building blocks of alot of modern AI workflows, and they are at the heart of many new generative AI solutions.Foundation models are large-scale, pre-trained neural networks that can tackle broad categories of problems. Think of them as AI generalists, adaptable to specific tasks through fine-tuning with additional data. For example, you might start with a foundation model capable of understanding natural language (LLM) and fine-tune it to craft a conversational agent that your facility can use to help on board new employees.While building these models from scratch is resource-intensive and time-consuming, fine-tuning them for your specific application is relatively straightforwardand NVIDIA has made this process quite accessible.NVIDIA NIMs.NIMS or microservices simplify the deployment of foundation models. Whether on the cloud, in a data center, or even on the desktop. NIMs streamline the process but also ensuring data security. They make it easy to create tailored generative AI solutions for facilitys or project needs. For instance, NVIDIAs latest OpenUSD NIMs allow developers to integrate generative AI copilots into USD workflows, enhancing efficiency in 3D content creation.JamesBringing Digital Humans to Life with NVIDIA ACEOne of the most interesting applications of NIMs is in crafting lifelike digital humans. NVIDIAs ACE (Avatar Cloud Engine) exemplifies this capability. With ACE, developers and TDs can design interactive digital humans and avatars that respond in real-time with authentic animations, speech, and emotions.A standout example is James, a virtual assistant powered by NVIDIA ACE. He is an interactive digital human, a communications tool powered by a selected knowledge base, ACE and animated by NVIDIAs Audio2Face. James showcases how generative AI and digital human technologies converge, providing tools for telepresence, interactive storytelling, or even live character performances. This is more than just a visual upgradeits a way to enhance emotional connections in digital media.Generative AI: Empowering Creativity, Not Replacing ItAs we as an industry adopt and explore these tools, its essential to keep a balanced perspective. Generative AI isnt here to replace human creativity we need to use it to amplify it. Ai can enable teams to iterate faster, experiment, and focus on the storytelling that truly resonate with audiences. Central to this is respecting artists rights, having providence of training data and maintaining data security.From fine-tuning a foundation model to integrating NIM-powered workflows, building your own generative AI workflow involves leveraging technology to empower your project. With tools like NVIDIAs foundation models and ACE, the possibilities are immense, but the responsibility to use them thoughtfully is equally crucial.

Clay Tile Roof with Roof Hatches | Annie Spratt via UnsplashBuilding a new home is an exciting venture. However, it also comes with many critical decisions, especially when it comes to roofing. The roof is your homes first defense against the elements and is vital in energy efficiency and curb appeal. In this article, well highlight five tips to consider during construction to ensure you invest in a durable and functional roof for your new home.1. Choose the Right Roofing MaterialThe type of material you choose will impact your roofs durability, maintenance needs, and overall appearance. Be sure to consider your local climate, design preferences, and budget when picking an ideal roofing material for your home. Below are the different types of roofing materials:Asphalt shingles: This roofing material is the most common choice thanks to its affordability, ease of installation, and compatibility with various home styles. Its available in different colors and lasts 20 to 30 years.Metal roofs: Known for their durability, they can last up to 50 years or more. Thanks to their moisture resistance and excellent drainage capabilities, they are ideal for areas with heavy rainfall or snow.Slate and clay tiles: These roofing material options are more expensive but offer unique aesthetic appeal and unparalleled longevity. They are also heavy, so you must invest in reinforced roof framing with slate and clay tiles.Synthetic materials: These mimic other materials, including wood and slate. Synthetic materials are lighter, more affordable, and have a 20-50-year lifespan.Each material has pros and cons, so consult a roofing expert to determine the best fit for your needs and climate.2. Invest in Roof Hatches for AccessibilityRoof hatches might not be the first feature that comes to mind when building your home, but they are a smart addition to new constructions. NBS and ISO-accredited roof hatches provide safe and convenient access to your roof, simplifying maintenance, repairs, and inspections. A roof hatch is also invaluable during emergencies, offering a secondary escape route.Modern roof hatches are designed with functionality and aesthetics in mind. They are also insulated to prevent energy loss and feature weatherproof seals to protect against leaks. When planning your home, discuss roof hatch placement with your contractor. Position it in an area that provides easy access while minimizing visual impact on your roofline. Adding a roof hatch to your new home adds long-term convenience and enhances your propertys resale value.3. Ensure Proper Roof VentilationClay Roof | Stijn Swinnen via UnsplashSlate Roof | Isaac Maffeis via UnsplashA well-ventilated roof is crucial for maintaining your homes structural integrity and promoting energy efficiency. Without proper ventilation, heat and moisture can accumulate in your attic, leading to mold growth, wood rot, and higher energy bills. Be sure to:Install ridge vents, soffit vents, or a combination of both to allow airflow.Choose a system that aligns with your homes design and ensures balanced intake and exhaust.Consult your contractor for the best ventilation strategy for your roof type and climate.4. Prioritize Roof InsulationRoof insulation is crucial for energy efficiency and climate control within your home. A well-insulated roof prevents heat from escaping in winter and blocks excessive heat during summer. This reduces reliance on heating and cooling systems. Some popular insulation options include spray foam insulation, fiberglass batts, and rigid foam boards.Ensure your insulation meets local building codes and is installed professionally to avoid gaps or compression that could undermine its effectiveness. The insulation quality directly affects your homes energy bills, so invest in a high-quality material.5. Hire Experienced Roofing ProfessionalsEven with the best materials and design plans, a poorly executed roofing installation can compromise your roofs performance. Consider partnering with a qualified roofing contractor to ensure your roof is built to last. When selecting a roofing contractor, consider the following:Check for proper licensing, insurance, and certificationsAsk for references and look up online reviews to gauge customer satisfactionDiscuss warranties for both materials and qualityEnsure theyre familiar with local building codes and industry best practicesEndnoteYour roof is one of the most essential investments in your home. Be sure to choose the right materials, ensure proper ventilation and insulation, install roof hatches, and partner with skilled professionals to create a functional, energy-efficient, and long-lasting roofing system.ConstructionTips Leave a comment

Published December 7, 2024 6:00am EST close How to outsmart scammers using AI Daisy is an artificial intelligence-powered grandma created to interact with scammers. Are you tired of scammers calling your phone, trying to trick you into giving away your hard-earned money?If so, youre not alone.Many people are fed up with the constant barrage of fraudulent calls and messages. But what if you could fight back in a fun and creative way? Enter the world of scambaiting, where people waste scammers' time and resources instead of falling for their tricks. Computer-generated AI-grandma taking on scammers. (Virgin Media O2)What is scambaiting?Scambaiting is when someone interacts with a scammer to waste their time and resources. Some of these online experiences are entertaining and even hilarious to watch. Instead of falling for their sneaky tricks, scambaiters play along, knowing it's a scam, and take on the role of a potential victim to keep the scammers busy. But get this there's now some new technology to do the scambaiting for you. A woman frustrated by a call from a scammer. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Why scambaiting mattersSo, why should we care about scambaiting? This creative strategy offers several compelling benefits. First and foremost, it effectively wastes scammers' time. Every minute they spend on the phone with Daisy is a minute they can't use to target real victims. By keeping them occupied, we can potentially prevent them from scamming someone else.In addition to wasting time, scambaiting raises awareness about common scams. It serves as an educational tool, helping others recognize and avoid falling prey to similar tactics. The more people understand how these scams operate, the less likely they are to become victims. Moreover, watching scammers get flustered sheds light on the lengths these criminals will go to and highlights the importance of staying vigilant against their schemes.WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? A woman on a phone call with a scammer. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)The AI-powered grandma taking on scammers"Hello there! I'm just trying to understand how this prize works. Can you explain it again? I'm not as tech-savvy as I used to be?"That's Daisy, an artificial intelligence-powered grandma developed by Virgin Media O2 to interact with scammers. When a scam call comes in, Daisy automatically answers and engages the caller in conversation, wasting their time. With her friendly personality and quick thinking, she keeps them on the line while gathering useful information about their tactics.Daisy combines various AI models that work together to listen and respond to fraudulent calls instantaneously. She's so lifelike that she has successfully kept numerous fraudsters on calls for 40 minutes at a time. By tricking the criminals into thinking they were defrauding a real person and playing on scammers' biases about older people, Daisy has prevented them from targeting real victims.Now, before you get too excited, Daisy is currently only available for customers of Virgin Media O2 in the U.K., but other companies in the U.S. are beginning to offer similar AI-driven solutions. For instance,Apate.ai has developed AI.Callee, which engages scammers in real-time conversations across various channels. Another U.S. company,Scamnetic, has launched an AI-based scam-detection solution that can be integrated into enterprise platforms to protect consumers from various types of scams.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE Computer-generated AI-grandma taking on scammers. (Virgin Media O2)Protecting yourself from robocall scamsWhile scambaiting can be a fun way to fight back against scams, the best defense is simply not picking up and answering scam calls in the first place. One effective strategy is to consider investing in personal data removal services that wipe your information from public databases on the internet. By reducing your digital footprint, you can make it more difficult for scammers to contact you in the first place. While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time.Check out my top picks for data removal services here.Kurt's key takeawaysThe introduction of AI-powered scambaiters like Daisy marks a new era in the fight against fraud. While it's entertaining to imagine scammers being outwitted by a chatty AI grandma, it's important to remember that the ultimate goal is to protect vulnerable individuals from falling victim to these schemes. As technology evolves, so do the tactics of scammers, making it crucial for everyone to stay informed and vigilant. Whether it's Daisy keeping scammers occupied or individuals taking steps to protect their personal information, every effort counts in the ongoing battle against fraud.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPWould you consider trying scambaiting or using AI technology to fight back against scammers, and what are your thoughts on these innovative approaches to protecting yourself from fraud? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/ContactFor more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/NewsletterFollow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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