Something to look forward to: The Nintendo Switch 2 has been the subject of rumors for years, but there's still little we actually know about the device. Ahead of its expected release in early 2025, a major accessory manufacturer seems to have no problem letting some details slip. This latest rumor update comes from Dbrand, a well-known maker of protective cases and skins, which recently revealed its upcoming "Killswitch" case for the Switch 2 with a 360-degree render. While a simple preview of the case would have sufficed, the company went a step further by including a realistic render of the upcoming console itself, giving us our first substantial glimpse of its design.Based on these renders, it's clear that the Switch 2 will feature a larger form factor compared to the current OLED model. Dbrand CEO Adam Ijaz confirmed to The Verge that the dimensions aren't just an educated guess but were based on the actual measurements.According to Dbrand, the Switch 2 will measure 270mm wide, 116mm tall, and 14mm thick a noticeable increase over the Switch OLED's dimensions of 242mm x 102mm x 13.9mm. Previous leaks had already hinted at a bigger screen, likely around 8 inches diagonally, compared to the OLED model's 7-inch display.However, most reports suggest the larger display will be a 1080p IPS LCD rather than OLED technology, presumably to keep costs down. Let's hope Nintendo opts for a high-quality LCD panel.Additionally, the renders depict the console in its iconic red-and-blue color scheme and reveal a few intriguing hardware additions. One notable feature is a mysterious new "C" button located below the Home button on the right Joy-Con. While its purpose remains unconfirmed, leading theories suggest it could function as a "capture" button for video clips or possibly a way to wirelessly connect two Switch 2 consoles. // Related StoriesIjaz also disclosed that the Switch 2 Joy-Cons attach magnetically and can be removed via a dedicated eject button. The renders also reveal a second USB-C port on the console, likely designed to allow charging in tabletop mode while keeping the main port free for TV output.As for the case itself, it sports a distinctive design, featuring a teal bungee cord that secures its separable components to accommodate the detachable Joy-Cons. If you're interested, you can sign up on Dbrand's website to be notified when the case becomes available.Regarding the release date, Ijaz told The Verge that he was "genuinely unsure" but estimated a late March or early April 2025 launch for the case. This timeline appears to be based on the rumored release date of the console rather than any insider information provided by Nintendo.

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsHell on Wheels (2011-2016)Landman (2024-)Succession (2018-2023)Longmire (2012-2017)Godless (2017)The phenomenon that wasYellowstoneis over, at least for now. The series, which starred Kevin Costner as John Dutton, a Montana rancher who ardently defends his way of life, ran for five seasons and had a tumultuous run, to say the least.While theres news about a potential spinoff, as well as several other shows in the same universe, Yellowstoneproper has come to an end. If youre looking for something to fill the void, though, weve put together a list of other shows that have a lot in common withYellowstone. Weve mostly avoided filling this list with other shows from Taylor Sheridan, Yellowstones creator (although we did fit one on there), and we also didnt list any other shows about the Duttons. Still, these shows might scratch the same itch:Recommended VideosFor more Yellowstone content, check out the 5 best Yellowstone episodes, ranked, where to watch the Yellowstone series finale, and Quentin Tarantino thinks movies are better than Yellowstone.RelatedHell on Wheels - First Trailer [Telestrekoza.com]One of the less recognized and more underseen AMC series in recent memory,Hell on Wheelstells the story of a former Confederate soldier who is seeking revenge for the murder of his wife by someone in the Union army in the aftermath of the Civil War .He travels along with the building of the transcontinental railroad, one of many residents of a town called Hell on Wheels that moves as the train continues to be built. An ideal combination of week-by-week stories that are complemented by a more sprawling, overarching narrative,Hell on Wheelshas all the momentum that madeYellowstonegreat at its best.You can watch Hell on WheelsLandman | Official Trailer | Paramount+Perhaps the closest show toYellowstonethat Taylor Sheridan has made yet that is also not part of that universe, Landmantells the story of an oil tycoon competing with other similarly minded tycoons during an oil boom in west Texas. Starring Billy Bob Thornton, the series has a lot of the same swagger ofYellowstone, especially in the shows later seasons.Of course, it also has many of Sheridans weaknesses as a writer, including his general dismissal of the inner lives of many of his female characters. Once you get into it, though,Landmancan be hard to look away from.You can watch LandmanSuccession: Season 1 | Official Trailer | HBOSet in an entirely different world fromYellowstone,Successionnonetheless features the same family power struggle dynamic that makes Yellowstoneso compelling. The series follows the ultra-wealthy children of a media tycoon as they vie for their daddys seat, even as they each prove to be inept in their own ways.Successionmasterfully blends comedy and tragedy, and its four-season run is up there with the best television that HBO has ever produced. Theres a reason this show produced an endless stream of memes, and while its a little more cynical than Yellowstone, you might find the soapier elements compelling.You can watch SuccessionLongmire - The Final Season | Official Trailer [HD] | NetflixA long-running crime series that has the same Western roots as Yellowstone,Longmiretells the story of a Wyoming sheriff reeling from the recent death of his wife who decides to recommit to his job.As he deals with case after case, he must balance his commitment to his own moral code with challenges from the people in his life.Longmireis a crime procedural in the truest sense, but it has a real appreciation both for the way the west has changed and the way the views of many of its residents have not.You can watch LongmireGodless Season 1 Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes TVOne of the great TV westerns of the past decade,Godlesstells the story of a mining town in New Mexico that is run mainly by women. When an outlaw decides to hunt down a man who has come to stay in the town, the women running the town decide to saddle up and defend their home.Featuring beautiful cinematography, great writing, and a brilliant central performance from Merritt Wever, Godlessis a brilliant subversion of the usually male-dominated Western genre, and a reminder of the role women have played at every moment in world history.You can watch GodlessNeed more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, as well as the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, the best new shows on Max, the best shows on Amazon Prime Video, and the best shows on Disney+.Editors Recommendations

Denzel Washington made waves in November when he revealed that he plans to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before he retires. While promoting Gladiator II on Australias Today show, the two-time Oscar winner surprised everyone by announcing, [Black Panther director] Ryan Coogler is writing a part for me in the next Black Panther. The news understandably came as a shock to comic book fans, given that Marvel hasnt even announced Black Panther 3 yet, let alone whether Coogler will be returning to helm the project.Now, it looks like Washingtons comment may have come as a bit of a surprise to Coogler himself. During an appearance on the Variety Awards Circuit podcast, Washington revealed that he called the filmmaker recently to apologize for spilling the beans about his involvement in Black Panther 3. I called him the other day. I forgot what it was about no, I called him to apologize, Washington said. I said, Im sorry, man. Hes like, No, man, its all good.'Stefano Montesi / Sony PicturesThe actor went on to admit that he doesnt know exactly what Coogler has planned for him in Black Panther 3, only that hes going to be included in the film. I dont know what hes got cooking for me, Washington explained. I love Ryan, because hes like, he wont say things. You know what Im saying? Like, you know what Im saying? Well, at least thats when he talks to me.Recommended VideosIm like, No, I dont know what youre saying, Ryan, say it!' the actor continued. Thats how he sounds, right? Yeah, you know what Im saying? And Im like, Man, are you kidding me? Just write it! Whatever you write, Ill do it.'Please enable Javascript to view this contentFans will likely have to wait a bit to learn more about Coogler and Washingtons Black Panther 3 collaboration. Coogler is currently in the midst of finishing his next film, Sinners, an original horror movie starring Michael B. Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld thats set to hit theaters in March. Whether or not he chooses Black Panther 3 as his follow-up to that film remains to be seen. Washington, for his part, is next set to appear in Highest 2 Lowest, a remake of Akira Kurosawas High and Low that marks a reunion between the actor and director Spike Lee.Editors Recommendations

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MindAs families gather for festive time together, tensions can rise. David Robson delves into the science to find the best technique to stop arguments getting the better of us 11 December 2024 Shutterstock/Victoria 1As the end of 2024 approaches, I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has shared their dilemmas with me over the past year. For my festive column, let us address a nearly universal complaint: holiday arguments.It should be no surprise that feelings run high over the holiday season. We may hope to spend the day bonding over our shared past, but life is more complicated than a Christmas movie, as old resentments bubble under the surface. Soak everyone in alcohol and it takes just one small spark to set the whole gathering alight with

Like many others, I recently fled the social media platform X for Bluesky. In the process, I started following many of the people I followed on X. On Thanksgiving, I was delighted to see a private message from a fellow AI reporter, Will Knight from Wired. Or at least thats who I thought I was talking to. I became suspicious when the person claiming to be Knight mentioned being from Miami, when Knight is, in fact, from the UK. The account handle was almost identical to the real Will Knights handle, and the profile used his profile photo. Then more messages started to appear. Paris Marx, a prominent tech critic, slid into my DMs to ask me how I was doing. Things are going splendid over here, he replied to me. Then things got suspicious again. How are your trades going? fake-Marx asked me. This account was far more sophisticated than Knights; it had meticulously copied every single tweet and retweet from Marxs real page over the past few weeks. Both accounts were eventually deleted, but not before trying to get me to set up a crypto wallet and a cloud mining pool account. Knight and Marx confirmed to us that these accounts did not belong to them, and that they have been fighting impersonator accounts of themselves for weeks. They are not the only ones. The New York Times tech journalist Sheera Frankel and Molly White, a researcher and cryptocurrency critic, have also experienced people impersonating them on Bluesky, most likely to scam people. This tracks with research from Alexios Mantzarlis, the director of the Security, Trust, and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech, who manually went through the top 500 Bluesky users by follower count and found that of the 305 accounts belonging to a named person, at least 74 had been impersonated by at least one other account. The platform has had to suddenly cater to an influx of millions of new users in recent months as people leave X in protest of Elon Musks takeover of the platform. Its user base has more than doubled since September, from 10 million users to over 20 million. This sudden wave of new usersand the inevitable scammersmeans Bluesky is still playing catch-up, says White. These accounts block me as soon as theyre created, so I dont initially see them, Marx says. Both Marx and White describe a frustrating pattern: When one account is taken down, another one pops up soon after. White says she had experienced a similar phenomenon on X and TikTok too. A way to prove that people are who they say they are would help. Before Musk took the reins of the platform, employees at X, previously known as Twitter, verified users such as journalists and politicians, and gave them a blue tick next to their handles so people knew they were dealing with credible news sources. After Musk took over, he scrapped the old verification system and offered blue ticks to all paying customers. The ongoing crypto-impersonation scams have raised calls for Bluesky to initiate something similar to Twitters original verification program. Some users, such as the investigative journalist Hunter Walker, have set up their own initiatives to verify journalists. However, users are currently limited in the ways they can verify themselves on the platform. By default, usernames on Bluesky end with the suffix bsky.social. The platform recommends that news organizations and high-profile people verify their identities by setting up their own websites as their usernames. For example, US senators have verified their accounts with the suffix senate.gov. But this technique isnt foolproof. For one, it doesnt actually verify peoples identityonly their affiliation with a particular website. Bluesky did not respond to MIT Technology Reviews requests for comment, but the companys safety team posted that the platform had updated its impersonation policy to be more aggressive and would remove impersonation and handle-squatting accounts. The company says it has also quadrupled its moderation team to take action on impersonation reports more quickly. But it seems to be struggling to keep up. We still have a large backlog of moderation reports due to the influx of new users as we shared previously, though we are making progress, the company continued. Blueskys decentralized nature makes kicking out impersonators a trickier problem to solve. Competitors such as X and Threads rely on centralized teams within the company who moderate unwanted content and behavior, such as impersonation. But Bluesky is built on the AT Protocol, a decentralized, open-source technology, which allows users more control over what kind of content they see and enables them to build communities around particular content. Most people sign up to Bluesky Social, the main social network, whose community guidelines ban impersonation. However, Bluesky Social is just one of the services or clients that people can use, and other services have their own moderation practices and terms. This approach means that until now, Bluesky itself hasnt needed an army of content moderators to weed out unwanted behaviors because it relies on this community-led approach, says Wayne Chang, the founder and CEO of SpruceID, a digital identity company. That might have to change. In order to make these apps work at all, you need some level of centralization, says Chang. Despite community guidelines, its hard to stop people from creating impersonation accounts, and Bluesky is engaged in a cat-and-mouse game trying to take suspicious accounts down. Cracking down on a problem such as impersonation is important because it poses a serious problem for the credibility of Bluesky, says Chang. Its a legitimate complaint as a Bluesky user that Hey, all those scammers are basically harassing me. You want your brand to be tarnished? Or is there something we can do about this? he says. A fix for this is urgently needed, because attackers might abuse Blueskys open-source code to create spam and disinformation campaigns at a much larger scale, says Francesco Pierri, an assistant professor at Politecnico di Milano who has researched Bluesky. His team found that the platform has seen a rise in suspicious accounts since it was made open to the public earlier this year. Bluesky acknowledges that its current practices are not enough. In a post, the company said it has received feedback that users want more ways to confirm their identities beyond domain verification, and it is exploring additional options to enhance account verification. In a livestream at the end of November, Bluesky CEO Jay Graber said the platform was considering becoming a verification provider, but because of its decentralized approach it would also allow others to offer their own user verification services. And [users] can choose to trust usthe Bluesky teams verificationor they could do their own. Or other people could do their own, Graber said. But at least Bluesky seems to have some willingness to actually moderate content on the platform, says White. I would love to see something a little bit more proactive that didnt require me to do all of this reporting, she adds. As for Marx, I just hope that no one truly falls for it and gets tricked into crypto scams, he says.

Deborah and Jason Brawn bought an abandoned house in rural Japan for about $23,000 in 2023.The Australian couple plan to restore the property in the coming years as they transition into retirement.They say that integrating into the local community is a crucial part of being a homeowner in Japan.Deborah and Jason Brawn's shared dream was to buy a house in Japan.The couple from Brisbane, Australia had long been interested in Japanese culture and its way of life, having visited the country multiple times over the years.In 2023, they finally decided to take the plunge. With their four kids all grown up, they were soon-to-be empty nesters it was now or never to follow their dreams. The couple's love affair with Japan started with Deborah, who studied Japanese at university in the '90s. NekoAshi Japan. "We knew that Japan had an issue with akiya, and because we really love the Japanese lifestyle, the people, the culture, and the old traditional houses, we thought, why not?" Jason, 51, told Business Insider. "Everyone else seemed to be following their dreams. Why can't we?"A lifelong connection to JapanThe couple's love affair with Japan started with Deborah, who studied Japanese at university in the '90s. After graduation, she moved to Tokyo for five years, where she worked as an English teacher. For three decades, she also practiced karate.Her love for Japan eventually rubbed off on Jason.However, it was during the pandemic that the couple first learned about akiya, or abandoned houses, in Japan. The couple says that the akiya was built in 1868. NekoAshi Japan. Due to the shrinking population and internal migration toward cities, there are millions of unoccupied houses in rural Japanese towns.In recent years, the Japanese government started offering incentives such as renovation subsidies and even free properties in an effort to lure residents to these "ghost towns.""I'd actually looked at foreclosed properties years and years ago, wanting to buy a property in Japan before the word 'akiya' had become popular. But I was in a position where I had young children," Deborah, 52, told BI.Now that their youngest is 18, it made sense for the couple to start planning for the next stage of their lives, including retirement. That's where buying an akiya comes in."We wanted a project. Like the word 'ikigai,' we wanted to be able to get up and say, that's our passion now. We've raised kids, we want to go there as much as we can and just tinker," Deborah, a business analyst, said. They were looking for a project to work on as they were transitioning into retirement. NekoAshi Japan. However, since Japan's borders were still closed at the time, the couple did most of their initial research online. They joined Facebook groups and spoke to like-minded people to learn more about the process.They knew they wanted to be outside the city and close to nature. While browsing online listings, they put together a list of potential houses they wanted to see in person once travel resumed."We were sort of matching them against what we are looking for something old, very traditional," Jason, a construction workplace health and safety inspector, said.In November 2022, after the borders opened, they jumped on a plane to Japan for a quick visit.In April 2023, they returned to the country for a six-week trip, where they drove around and looked at all the houses on their list. The idea was to restore the akiya to its former glory but with some modern amenities. NekoAshi Japan. It was in Mitocho, a small town near Masuda city, where they found the perfect akiya a traditional Japanese house constructed in 1868, during the Meiji era. Masuda city is about a two-hour drive from Hiroshima, and a 90-minute flight from Tokyo."We drove over there, and when we saw it, we just knew that was the one, and we didn't look anymore after that," Deborah said.The property had been vacant for 12 years before they came along. The couple was told it had served as a sake brewery until the early 1900s.In order to inspect the property, they had to fill out a couple of forms for the local akiya bank. An akiya bank is a database maintained by the local municipalities for abandoned or vacant houses. The akiya had been a sake brewery at some point in the past, and the couple found a sign as well as other sake-brewing instruments while cleaning up the property. NekoAshi Japan. "They were very serious," Deborah said. "It was all in Japanese. We had to fill out a form with all our details, our families, what we do for a job, all that stuff. And then another form about our intentions and what we want to do with the house."A retirement projectThe couple paid 3.5 million Japanese yen, or $23,000, for the akiya in August 2023.It was a 7LDK, which in Japanese housing terminology means that the house has seven bedrooms, a living room, a dining area, and a kitchen.There are about 300 houses in their village, and their akiya is situated along a street leading to the community center. There's also a 7-11 across the rice field from their akiya.So far, the couple has fixed up the front of the house by tidying up the garden, as well as adding a new gravel driveway and car park. They've also restored the kitchen, and gotten rid of the old toilet in favor of a modern bathroom. The couple paid 3.5 million Japanese yen for the akiya. NekoAshi Japan. "The intent is to bring the house back to its former glory with one or two modern touches," Jason said.While they were prepared for the challenges of fixing up the old house, they were surprised by the amount of wildlife they encountered, including both spiders and snakes."And we've got monkeys, we've got centipedes, we've got bears, and killer hornets too. I was chased by one inside the house, so that was really scary even though it makes a funny story now," Deborah said.The language barrier was also a bit of a challenge for Jason, even though he's taking Japanese classes now."I can't really speak Japanese, whereas Deb can. So it puts a lot of pressure on her too," Jason said. "It's not like being in Tokyo or Kyoto where a lot of Japanese speak English." The couple splits their time between Australia and Japan. NekoAshi Japan. The couple expects to spend the next few years chipping away at this project. They have also started documenting their restoration progress on their YouTube channel."We've got no urgent timeframe, and we're not trying to make money out of the property. We don't want to Airbnb it or anything like that. This is for us," Deborah said.The couple still lives primarily in Brisbane, where their jobs are based. They plan to continue splitting their time between Japan and Australia until they fully retire in "hopefully five to eight years," Deborah said.Integrating into the local communityWhen they're back in Australia, the akiya sits empty, but Jason said they've installed cameras around the property so they can monitor the yard.The couple has also become friends with the real-estate agent who handled their akiya transaction so much so that he even drives by their property once a week just to check on it on their behalf. The couple say it is their responsibility as akiya owners to be heavily involved in the local community. NekoAshi Japan. Building relationships with their neighbors and the wider community has been the key to the success of their akiya project."We've got a good support network there, but that doesn't just come along. You've got to work at that," Deborah said.She added that they've been involved in the local community since day one, and even joined the neighborhood association.In fact, the couple says that participating in the local community is one of the most important aspects of buying an akiya in Japan. In September, they traveled from Australia to Japan to join their neighbors in cleaning up the local river. NekoAshi Japan. It's also why the local akiya bank was so invested in knowing why the couple wanted to buy the property, Jason said.In recent years,foreigners have been snapping up these old, abandoned homes, in part due to the low price tags and the lack of restrictions on foreigners purchasing property in Japan. For many of them, it's more affordable to own an akiya in Japan than to own real estate in their home countries."In most cases potential buyers are asked their intentions before attending a viewing or submitting an application," Alex Shapiro, the cofounder of Blackship Realty, a Tokyo-based real-estate agency, told BI.The local municipal governments may prioritize potential buyers who intend to live there, contribute to the local community, and pay local government taxes, he said.However, each local government sets its own rules, Sami Senoussi, the cofounder of Akiya Heaven, which offers consulting services for akiya purchases, told BI."Some rural communities, especially those with aging populations, impose stricter guidelines in an effort to preserve the character and culture of their towns," he said. In more urban areas, including Tokyo, it's less common, he added.Additionally, potential buyers may also be asked to demonstrate that they have the financial capacity to fund the renovations, especially if the akiya in question requires significant repairs, he said.Indeed, while buying an akiya may be relatively affordable, the cost of fixing the house up can balloon quickly, Jason said."There's a lot of time, effort, and money that needs to go into them. And commitment you can't just turn up in the community and play no part. You've got to put an equal amount of time into the house as much as you've got to put it into the community, and forge those relationships," he added.Have you recently relocated to a new country and found your dream home? If you have a story to share, contact this reporter at agoh@businessinsider.com.