Adobe has released After Effects 24.6. Check out the changes to the compositing and motion graphics app, including updates to file import and export, and new scripting hooks for managing fonts.https://www.cgchannel.com/2024/08/adobe-releases-after-effects-24-6/

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max could have several significant camera upgrades.

Industry participants will discuss the idea of relying more on a safer part of Windows than the privileged kernel mode that CrowdStrike software uses.

It was not a typical House Judiciary Committee hearing. Country music star Lainey Wilson was in attendance, for one thing, but the most unusual aspect of the February summit on AI and identity theft was when Rep. Darrell Issa played what sounded an awful lot like Johnny Cash singing the lyrics to Danish-Norwegian dance-pop anthem Barbie Girl.Dustin Ballard, who created that AI-assisted anomaly, is not a regular viewer of C-SPAN, so he didnt learn about the hearing until much later. When a friend finally did send over a clip, though, he found it surreal to hear one of his gonzo audio experiments playing within such a stuffy setting. He also found it kind of scary.I didnt know if I was in trouble or not, Ballard says.Some of the politicians at that hearing, not to mention some of the musicians who recently signed an open letter demanding protections from AI, might think Ballard should be in troubleor at least shouldnt be allowed to ventriloquize Johnny Cash from beyond the grave. Alarm bells have been ringing for some time over AIs potential for criminal fraud. But as long as the tech exists for The Beatles to revive John Lennon on a new song, gray areas will remain within the usage of AI in music. And creators like Ballard will continue plumbing those areas to make songs that are more complicated than meets the earand perhaps less fraudulent.Ballards cheeky ongoing musical project, There I Ruined It, lives inside the overlap between Weird Al Yankovic and mashup-monster Girl Talk. Like Weird Al, he might give the Red Hot Chili Peppers even goofier lyrics than the actual ones, or add a dash of polka in unlikely places. Like Girl Talk, he often treats disparate artists like Barbie dolls forced to kissmaking the Beach Boys cover Jay-Z or Conway Twitty take on 50 Cent. He just happens to use AI to complete the effect, although the software was not yet accessible when Ballard got started.There I Ruined it began as an early-COVID activity to stave off boredom. Ballard, who is a creative director at an ad agency in Dallas, was stuck indoors like everyone else in the summer of 2020. He hadnt played a show with his Western swing band in weeks and needed something to occupy his time. The solution came to him, he says, in a dream: What about something like those Bad Lip-Reading videos, but for music? Shortly after, he posted on YouTube, Shallow Polka Edition, an accordion-heavy version of the Star is Born hit, featuring his own vocals. It tickled Ballard to imagine an alternate universe where this was the song Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga lovingly performed at the Oscars, even if it sounded like the opposite of an earworm.The video blew up on Reddit, and fetched 100k views on YouTube in one day. People seemed to like hearing songs ruined, so Ballard decided he would ruin more of them. He made a backing track of kooky kids music, and contorted vocals from the Drowning Pool rager, Bodies, around it. He pitch-shifted Eminems rapping on the Oscar-winning Lose Yourself to match the 8-bit chiptune theme from Super Mario Bros.As the videos continued finding audiences, he started making shorter clips for TikTok and Instagram Reels, quickly expressing just the essence of an idea15 seconds of The Sound of Music set to Metallica, say, and thats that. Ballard had already gained more than a million TikTok followers using this approachhe now has 3.5 millionby the time he began experimenting with AI last summer, three years into his project.Im not particularly tech-savvy, Ballard says, but AI had such a direct application to the sorts of things I was doing that I figured out how to use it and now its opened up another branch of creativity for how to ruin music.Johnny Cash singing Barbie Girl was one of his earliest flirtations with this new technology, and, thanks to Congress, its become his most well-known, if not his most viral. (That honor belongs to the AI-free Yeah song, a smorgasbord of cherry-picked yeahs from various hit singles, which has more than 40 million views on TikTok alone.) But one thing many of those who have listened to the ruination of Johnny Cash might not be aware of: that its not the product of someone gingerly smashing the Johnny Cash button on an AI program. Instead, Ballard has to enter into music software Pro Tools either an existing backing track or one hes arranged himself, create an AI voice model of the person he intends to imitate, and then run his own vocal impersonation through that AI model. He even created a before-and-after video to show curious parties where his voice ends and Johnny Cashs begins.Its still a 95% human process, Ballard says. This is just one step at the very end.But its this one step, of course, thats brought There I Ruined It a lot of unwanted attention.Although the fair use doctrine in the U.S. copyright statute protects parodies from infringement claims, Ballard has had issues from day one with copyright strikeslegal requests from copyright-owners to remove content from YouTube. While enough artists such as Snoop Dogg, Charlie Puth, and Joe Jonas have reacted favorably to getting ruined that Ballard could compile them in a supercut, record labels have been less impressed. Many have demanded he take down videos over the years. With little recourse for fighting back on YouTube, hes had to comply several times. (The Johnny Cash song, for instance, is no longer available online.)Just as Ballard started accruing followers faster after adding AI into the mix, he also endured a corresponding uptick in copyright takedowns over the same span. The congressional hearing earlier this year is just one part of the broader push to crack down on anyone using AI to recreate famous voices in any context. The U.S. copyright office recently issued a report on digital replicas, charging that AI vocal imitations can make it difficult for audiences to distinguish between parody and the real deal, potentially leading to confusion and reputational damage.Ballard doesnt understand how his playful videos could mislead anyone, though, let alone cause reputational damage.The way I use AI is really no different than Photoshop, he says. You can have a publication like The Onion make a very realistic Photoshop job of a celebrity doing whatever they want, and because its clearly parody, nobody has any issue with it. But as soon as it goes to the audio equivalenta clearly labeled parody changing somebodys voice in a humorous waypeople seem to have a problem with that.A lot of other creators experimenting with AI and copyrighted work could in no way be categorized as parody artists, and seem to be playing in a much different sandbox than Ballard. This new Nirvana song, whose guitar riff sounds like someone half-remembering how to play Polly and whose singing seems assembled, ransom note-style, from Kurt Cobain outtakes, is irresponsible. It exists only because it can. Ditto this unreleased Billie Eilish track, and this fake collaboration between Drake and The Weeknd, which racked up a quarter-million streams on Spotify before it was rightly removed.If the differences between those AI concoctions and Ballards project werent clear enough, the fact that he has parlayed it into an AI-free live concert series in Texas should seal the deal. These shows, which Ballard has been striving to put together for years, underline the fact that whats surrounding this particular uncanny valley is a vast landscape of true musicianship.As for whats next, Ballard is looking into the potential for a nationwide tour, if theres enough demonstrated interest. Beyond that, however, is a surprise Ballard cannot ruin even for himself.Ive achieved everything I set out to do with this and then some. Really, Im trying to keep it as just a fun, creative outlet for me, he says. Its never been about money, which is fortunate because most everything I post on YouTube gets flagged anyway, and the profits go directly to the record labels. I have no other plans besides just trying to have fun and see where it can evolve.

Pale wooden finishes characterise the interior of the Perfect Day House mountain chalet that has been updated by Swiss studio Giona Bierens de Haan Architectures.Located in Zinal, a mountain village in Switzerland, the home was overhauled with an interior arranged around a central communal living area.In addition to the interior transformation, Giona Bierens de Haan Architectures replaced the chalet's roof and added new openings while retaining the exterior, which featured a combination of the original facade and 1980s additions.Giona Bierens de Haan Architectures has updated a 1960s mountain chalet in Switzerland"The original chalet dates back to the 60s and was renovated twenty years later in the 80s," the studio told Dezeen."The construction was made of squared logs, a typical Swiss mountain construction in which massive wooden elements are embedded in the corners of the building to ensure stability, but the extension built in the 80s imitated this style without respecting the construction technique," it continued."The chalet was therefore a construction that imitated an old traditional chalet without actually being one. It was a bit of a patchwork of different periods and construction techniques."The home is located in the Swiss village of ZinalTo comply with current standards, the studio insulated the full structure from the inside, allowing the home's dark brown-log exterior to be fully preserved.The traditional chalet, which is topped with a pitched roof, features stone wall cladding at its base, breaking up the fully wooden facade.Its interior was designed to minimise energy consumptionWhile adjustments to the home's exterior remained minimal, other changes include the addition of new windows across the south-facing facade and the addition of a more traditional roof that uses a Swiss technique comprising thin wooden shingles."New facade openings were made to orient the interior of the house towards large French windows on the south face and to frame certain surrounding mountains from the inside," said the studio."We replaced the old ceramic tile roof with a traditional wooden tile roof called 'tavillons'."The internal layout aims to encourage communal livingInside, the entire interior of the home was replaced with a new arrangement that the studio hopes will encourage communal living."The [old] interior was typical of the period, with planks on the walls and ceiling, and tiled and carpeted floors," said the studio. "The interior was completely hollowed out and redesigned, the interior spatiality of the house was rationalised to meet the needs of the clients."Read: Quinzhee Architecture clads stilted "contemporary chalet" in cedarThe spaces were arranged around an open-plan living space and kitchen that occupy almost the entirety of the ground floor aside from a stairwell and a terracotta tile-lined bathroom."The interior reorganisation of the house works in layers, clearly defining a main volume for daytime living, which is bordered by a thin strip giving access to the various floors and services," said the studio.The home has an open-plan kitchen and living room"This system allows residents to heat this main space with the wood-burning stove, and to consume as little energy as possible," it continued. "The heart of this chalet therefore highlights their way of life, which favours moments spent together as a community, with family or friends, by offering a large number of bed spaces in more compact and rational spaces."Despite its open plan, the joined kitchen and living area features a degree of separation due to a split level arrangement, with a raised kitchen flanked by a sunken seating area.Pale wooden surfaces feature throughout the interiorLike the rest of the home, both spaces feature light wooden walls and joinery as well as pale furnishings that give the interior a bright feel.To the side of the open living area, a stairwell lined with pale wood leads up to the mezzanine level.The bathroom was lined with square tilesTopped with a pitched ceiling, the mezzanine features a sliding wall that can be left open or closed to form one shared bedroom or two separate rooms that each sleep two people.From the main bedroom, a pair of glass doors leads to the balcony, which offers expansive views of the mountains.New openings were added to the chalet's exteriorDownstairs, the basement houses two additional bedrooms, as well as another bathroom and smaller spaces that feature built-in cupboards and offer extra storage space.Other chalets recently featured on Dezeen include a stilted contemporary chalet clad in cedar and a Quebec ski chalet topped with a curved roof.The photography is by Dylan Perrenoud.The post Giona Bierens de Haan Architectures refreshes 1960s Swiss mountain chalet appeared first on Dezeen.

In the early 1960s, GM auto designer Bill Mitchell made a controversial choice. For his redesign of the 1963 Corvette, he created a split rear window. The "spine" that ran between the two glass panels was reportedly inspired by Mitchell's fascination with marine life forms; indeed, this iteration of the Corvette was dubbed the Sting Ray. The "spine" ruined rear visibility, and customers hated it. GM listened, and for the 1964 model year, the split window was gone.Today, however, the rare split-window is considered extremely desirable by collectors.Sixty-one years later, the feature is unexpectedly returning. The 2025 Corvette ZR1, which is no study in design restraint, has this crazy thing dividing the rear glass: The designers insist it actually has a function: "While serving as a statement piece, this carbon fiber 'spine' between the two rear windowsprovides increased heat extraction from the engine compartment."At any rate, rearview cameras have taken the place of line-of-sight. You may or may not see one of these on the road, depending on who your neighbors are: The car, which produces over 1,000 horsepower, runs $200,000.

Audio can determine how you enjoy your gaming, movies, or music playlists. While 360-directional audio can elevate our listening experience, there is yet another layer of realism that can take it to another level and help you feel the sound to your core. Meet GADOL, the worlds first omnidirectional vibration speaker that opens up a new world of audio to your ears. The sleek gadget has 360-degree omnidirectional sound and the ability to vibrate for a new sense of realism that will transform and make your experience even more immersive, whether its watching movies, playing games, meditating and more.Designer: iTEC TechnologiesClick Here to Buy Now: $349 $699 ($350 off). Hurry, only 56/300 left, less than 6 days to go. Raised over $100,000.Transform your space with GadolThe Bluetooth 5.0 speaker comes with Vibration Sound Transfer (VST) technology to create a vibration effect, so the audio in your ears matches the vibration created by the full-range speaker. This results in a sound profile thats balanced and immersive. The GADOL speaker produces sound through the surface it is placed on, and the sound adapts to the rooms setup for consistent sound regardless of your position in the room. Sound waves from the speaker spread evenly in every direction so you can enjoy meditation sessions, movie sprees, grooving to favorite playlists, or playing horror games in the dark hours.Those resonance vibrations created by the speaker have therapeutic and relaxation benefits for a holistic healing solution when its time to rejuvenate. The benefits of such a listening session go beyond just the auditory experience, as it eases you into a state of focus no matter what the task. In particular, the VST technology produces different resonance vibrations on different surfaces it is placed on. For example, on a glass surface, the speaker delivers a fuller sound, while on a wooden surface, the acoustics are deep.GADOL offers a solid 18 hours of playback at high volumes, and you can achieve even more backup if played at lower volumes. Made from a durable iron alloy chassis with an aluminum top cover, the compact listening machine is designed to fit any space or cater to any occasion. Other products offer such features, but auditory fatigue is one problem with them. This speaker doesnt have any such issues as its been tested extensively before creating a consumer-ready version.Currently up on Kickstarter for crowdfunding, the GADOL omnidirectional speaker has well surpassed its funding goal for good reason. The prospect of something different from conventional listening methods has piqued the interest of music lovers who backed the project. Early bird pledges come with the prospect of getting the $700 speaker at half the price if you resonate with the idea.Click Here to Buy Now: $349 $699 ($350 off). Hurry, only 56/300 left, less than 6 days to go. Raised over $100,000.The post Experience Transformative 360 Sound with GADOLs Revolutionary Vibration Speaker Technology first appeared on Yanko Design.

Years on, it still has impact.Its time to revisit the Capital Wasteland of old.

Colourist Alec Pieper on movie design's most 'invisible' art.

Amazon and Best Buy have some stellar deals on Arcade1Up products right now, including head-to-head gaming tables for over 50% off, budget-friendly countercades for steep discounts, and a digital pinball machine for 33% off. Most of the deals match the low prices from Amazon Prime Day in July, so if you missed out then, you have another opportunity to save big on your next home arcade machine. Here's a quick rundown of the notable deals:Arcade1Up Deals at AmazonMortal Kombat Head-to-Head Arcade Table -- $300 ($700) | Also at Best BuyMs. Pac-Man Countercade -- $120 ($180) | Also at Best BuyWilliam Bally Attack from Mars Pinball -- $500 ($750)Pong Head-to-Head Arcade Table -- $300 ($700) | Also at Best BuyPong 4-Player Pub Table -- $300 ($550) | Also at Best BuyPong 2-Player Countercade -- $150 ($230) | Also at Best Buy See all deals at Amazon Arcade1Up Mortal Kombat Head-to-Head Arcade Table $300 (was $700) The Mortal Kombat Head-to-Head Arcade Table is on sale for $300, which matches the lowest price yet for the $700 machine.Themed around Mortal Kombat 2, the two-player table also supports online play and leaderboards via Wi-Fi, is built around a 17-inch LCD display, and is wrapped in eye-catching artwork.Arcade1Up's gaming tables are 23.63 x 35.67 x 29 inches, so you'll probably want to grab a pair of barstools. Arcade1Up has adjustable stools themed around classic arcade games, but you could also opt for unbranded stools from Amazon to save some cash.Here's the full list of 12 games:Mortal KombatMortal Kombat 2Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3RampageJoustGauntletDefenderGorfRootbeer TapperKlaxToobinSinistar See at Amazon See at Best Buy The Mortal Kombat model isn't the only arcade table available for a nice discount right now. Arcade1Up's Head-to-Head Pong Table, which is pretty much the perfect game for this layout, is also down to $300 at Amazon. Alternatively, you can go for the Pong 4-Player Pub Table for the same price. The two-player table comes with 12 games, while the pub table only has eight games: Pong, Pong Doubles, Pong Sports, Tempest, Super Breakout, Warlords, Quadrapong, and Circus Atari. The head-to-head table also includes Destroyer, Avalanche, Major Havoc, and Indy 500.For a cheaper, tabletop machine, Arcade1Up's Pong 2-Player Countercade with an 8-inch display and six games--the first six listed above--is discounted to only $150 (was $230).Continue Reading at GameSpot