Greetings,Gamers and game designers share a woe, that being cheaters. Ever bought and logged into an incredibly well designed and interesting game only to find cheaters rule it and it's barely worth playing? Sure, we all have. No matter how hard game designers try to ban cheaters it never actually works and is only a mild deterrent if even.This is because game cheat prevention bans cheaters who simply return on another copy or use another ruse to overcome the ban and carry on. H

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, available in white smoke, black, and chilled lilac are currently $129 (marked down from $179)their lowest price ever, according to price trackers. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) $129.00 at Amazon $179.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Get Deal $129.00 at Amazon $179.00 Save $50.00 The touch controls on these earbuds are said to be quite responsive, with a light tap letting you manage your media. You can also tweak features like noise control, EQ settings, and Aware mode through the companion app. That said, their slightly bulkier design might not be the most comfortable for extended listening sessions (though they come with three pairs of wings and eartips to help you find a fit that works for you). The earbuds also feature an IPX4 water-resistance rating, making them suitable for light rain or sweat, though this protection doesnt extend to the charging case, unlike the AirPods 4 (currently $169, down from $179).Bose is practically the gold standard for noise cancellation, but according to this PCMag review, the QuietComfort Earbuds dont block out as much noise in the lower and mid frequencies compared to the QuietComfort Ultra ($229, down from $299). Even so, they deliver strong overall performance. Equipped with 10mm drivers, these earbuds produce crisp and balanced audio across a wide frequency range (20Hz to 20kHz), offering an immersive listening experience for music, podcasts, and more. However, they lack advanced features like spatial audio and Google Fast Pair functionality.On the plus side, they offer Bluetooth multipoint pairing so that you can connect two devices at once. Codec support includes AAC and SBC, which should satisfy most users, though high-res audio fans might miss options like LDAC. Bose claims the QuietComfort Earbuds can last up to 8.5 hours with ANC on, with the charging case providing an extra 31.5 hoursenough to get you through a busy day easily. Charging is convenient too, with support for both USB-C and Qi wireless charging options available.

In the latest ChromeOS 131 update, Google is rolling out a new feature called Safety reset, which, as the name implies, will let you reset your Chromebook to a stable state. This option is for the times when you need to get rid of unwanted pop-ups or when you're having issues like network connectivity.Prior to this new update, Chromebook users who wanted to reset their machine would need to do a Powerwash, which would factory reset a Chromebook to default settings and wipe any user data. This would ideally be used when selling or giving your Chromebook to someone else. If you'd rather not wipe all your data, though, this new Safety reset setting in ChromeOS 131 might be a better option. When using Safety reset, it will reset Chrome settings and Chrome shortcuts, disable extensions, and delete cookies and other temporary site data. User data such as bookmarks, history, and saved passwords won't be affected when using Safety reset.You can find the Safety reset option under Settings > Safety and Privacy. It can also be accessed using the keyboard shortcut, CTRL + Shift + Search + R.In addition to Safety reset, ChromeOS 131 has a couple of other new features, including a new design for Quick Answers, which is a GenAI-powered reading assistant in ChromeOS, and also a new accessibility feature that will flash the screen when a new notification appears. ChromeOS 131 is rolling out now over the coming days; Chromebook users should see it on their devices soon.

The term high income is a moving targetjobs that once allowed folks to afford a nice lifestyle can lose their luster over time as inflation and other economic forces conspire to erode their value. If you want to be in the top 10% of income in the United States, for example, you have to earn at least $160,000 annually. Which is a lot, considering that the average income these days is around $60,000.If youre trying to bridge that $100,000 gap, there are some surprising ways to earn six figures, and some jobs that pay pretty well without requiring a degree. But if you really want to rake in the cash, you might have to consider not only getting out from behind your desk, but also risking your dignity and possibly your physical safety. The jobs on this list pay extraordinarily wellbut that high income comes with a cost.FishermanWhen the subject of high-paying, dangerous jobs comes up, someone will always mention commercial fishing in Alaska. Is it dangerous? Well, when no one died in 2021 it was big enough news to be mentioned by the Alaskan government, so theres your answer. But it can be incredibly profitable in the short term: While the average annual income for commercial fisherman in general is just $28,530, deckhands working boats in Alaska can make as much as $50k in a few months, and even young kids like this guy can earn $100-$125 per dayhe eventually hauled in $7,000 over one summer. Most boats pay out a percentage of the profits instead of a salary, so earnings can vary wildlybut you can definitely make a ton of cash in a short time if youre willing to work incredibly hard and deal with the danger and harsh conditions.Whether this remains true is a good questionthe Alaskan fishing industry is in crisis and shedding jobs instead of adding them, so finding a job there might not be as easy as it once was. If youre interested and have some fishing or maritime experience you can check the Alaska Job Finder board, and if you dont have any experience but want to check out this career, you can contact the Alaska Longline Fishermens Association (ALFA) about their training program.Garbage collectorThe average earnings for garbage collectors vary from area to areawhile the median salary was just $43,540 in 2022, garbage collectors in San Francisco could make more than $72kand in some areas, like New York City, garbage workers can pull in well into the six figures once overtime kicks in. So if youre willing to deal with one of the dirtiest jobs in the world (as well as long shifts that often take place in the middle of the night), you can really earn a good living.Oil rig workOil rigs offer a career path that can lead to high earnings, but come with significant danger and separation from family and other aspects of your life. Starting off as a Roustabout will usually bring a relatively modest salary between $35k and $45k, but being promoted to Roughneck can bump your salary into six figures in some circumstances. If you stick with this dirty, dangerous career path, you can work your way up to Tool Pusher, where the salaries max out closer to $250,000 per year in some casesthough it can take decades to get there.Certified public accountantCertified public accountants can eventually earn an average salary of over $122,000 per year. While you obviously need to have a way with numbers and math (and a love for taxes) to do the job, you might be surprised to find out its a job no one wantsas it turns out, theres a dire CPA shortage in this country because becoming a CPA is actually really, really hard. In addition to a bachelors degree, you usually have to complete whats known as the 150 Hour requirement, which is basically a two-year apprenticeship before you can even sit for the exam, which itself is no walk in the park. But if you can get through the process, you have the potential to earn a very high income.Solid waste managerIf the phrase sold waste makes you wince, you already know why nobody wants to be a Solid Waste Manager. As you might imagine, the job is chiefly concerned with properly collecting, processing, and disposing of waste from cities and organizations, which can involve some, er, hands-on work in landfills or with hazardous materials. But the average annual salary for the job is $121,755, with a high-end nearing $160k. Best of allyou dont necessarily need a college degree to become one.GastroenterologistIt might seem strange to think that being a doctor of some sort could be on a list of jobs no one wantseveryones parents dream of their kids becoming doctors, dont they? Sure, but then you realize which part of the body gastroenterologists deal with and it all makes sense. Despite the fact that gastroenterologists earn an average income of $501,000thats half a million dollarstheres a severe shortage of them, fueled by both increasing demand from an aging population and a lack of new physicians pursuing the specialty.While the unglamorous nature of the work likely has something to do with a lack of gastroenterologists, it can also be a very high-stress job with long hours, a lot of emotional impact, and a very high burnout rate.Truck driverWhen you look for jobs with high salaries, youll often be directed to look into truck driving. Theres a huge demand for drivers with their commercial drivers license (CDL), and trucking companies are so hard up for drivers theyre often willing to train you and help you get your CDL. And the jobs pay really well: While your pay varies by region and the kind of driving you do (the longer youre willing to stay out on the road, the more you get paid), some driver salaries scrape near $200k annually. Walmart advertises that their drivers can earn up to $100,000 in their first year.There are downsides, however. Driving a truck not only means being away from family for long stretches, enduring loneliness and very high stress levels, it also means a very sedentary lifestyle, which can have a severely negative impact on your health. Whether those six figures are worth it is something youll have to decide for yourself.

Shuttle XH610G2 features a small form factor with dual PCIe slots for expansion.

According to MacRumors, Apple is preparing the release of iOS 18.2.1. We dont have a known build number at the moment, but well likely see this software update released in the near future.Although we dont know whats coming in iOS 18.2.1, its likely just bug fixes and security patches. Apple released iOS 18.2 earlier this month, bringing support for a new wave of Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji, Image Playground, and ChatGPT integration.Typically, new iOS releases begin to appear in analytics prior to release, which is a key indicator that Apple is internally testing the update on a wider array of devices.Apple is also working on iOS 18.3, which released to developers and public beta testers last week. That update is expected to launch in January.Do you have any issues in iOS 18.2 youre hoping to see fixed? Let us know in the comments.My favorite iPhone accessories on Amazon:Follow Michael:X/Twitter,Bluesky,InstagramAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apartment buildings get a bad rap, largely because of the cheaply built monstrosities built after WWII through today; but apartment buildings can be dignified and fit within their surrounding context, it just takes good design. These are the Cushing Apartments at Thayer and Bowen streets in Providences College Hill neighborhood. The building was constructed in 1902 for owner, Stephen Cushing Harris, from plans by young architect Frederick Ellis Jackson (1879-1950), who would have been in his mid-20s when he designed it! While not an academic example of the Tudor or Colonial Revival styles, the building blends both in a unique U-shaped form. The building is supposedly wood-frame and was eventually purchased by Brown University in 1963. The college renovated the building in 2012 to serve as an upperclassman dormitory with LBB Architects and Gilbane Construction overseeing the project. The building adds a subtle density to the block without being overbearing with the courtyard design.

Today's NYT Strands hints and answersCredit: New York TimesLooking for Saturdays Strands hints, spangram and answers? You can find them here:Its another lazy Sunday. A very good day of the week to play word games and solve puzzles, if you ask me, though really . . . is there a bad day? This is also the last Sunday before Christmas, which is racing toward us as fast as Santas reindeer. Actually, Santas reindeer would be a pretty good Strands puzzle. Speaking of which, lets solve todays!Strands is the newest game in the New York Times stable of puzzle games. Its a fun twist on classic word search games. Every day were given a new theme and then tasked with uncovering all the words on the grid that fit that theme, including a spangram that spans two sides of the board. One of these words is the spangram which crosses from one side of the grid to another and reveals even more about the days theme.Spoilers ahead.Todays Strands HintsTodays Theme: Are you listening?Hint #1: In the meadow we can build a snowman.MORE FOR YOUHint #2: Then pretend that he is Parson Brown.To help you uncover all the words, here are the first two letters of every word, including the spangram.SLBEWASNGLWIRemember, spoilers ahead!What Are Todays Strands Answers?Todays spangram is: WINTERWONDERLANDHeres the full list of words:SLEIGHBELLSWALKINGSNOWGLISTENINGHeres the completed Strands grid:Today's StrandsScreenshot: Erik KainTodays Strands BreakdownI like these types of Strands. There was one a few weeks ago with recognizable lyrics from Queens song Bohemian Rhapsody. That was definitely a more challenging puzzle. This one, the moment I found BELLS and SNOW I was pretty much humming Walking In A Winter Wonderland to myself. The trickiest word was GLISTENING, because there were two ways you could order the Ns at the end of that word. A fun, if not terribly difficult, Strands today.How did you do on your Strands today? Let me know on Twitter and Facebook.Be sure to check out my blog for my daily Wordle guides as well as all my other writing about TV shows, streaming guides, movie reviews, video game coverage and much more. Thanks for stopping by!

InKonbini: One Store. Many Stories.Credit: Nagai IndustriesEver since I got my hands on a North American copy of Shenmue back in the year 2000, Ive been looking for a similar hit of cozy, small-town nostalgia. In other words, I was thinking, maybe I should get another. If you know, you know.To be fair, Segas Yakuza games scratch some of that itch, insofar as they spiritually carry forward the eccentric Shenmue torch, at least in terms of bizarre Japanese charm. But I wouldnt exactly call those titles cozy, per se, unless youre occasionally visiting in-game arcades or shopsoutside of the main storyline, of course, which feels arguably less contained and homey than Shenmue.And yes, there have been cozy games released in the interim, especially by way of the indie community (Sun Haven, Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing: New Horizons), but none have totally zeroed in on the indescribable essence of why I loved Shenmue so much. That is, until I saw the trailer for upcoming retail simulation InKonbini, which seems like if Yu Suzuki set Ryos Dreamcast adventure solely inside a Tokyo-inspired convenience store.I only recently stumbled across InKonbini: One Store. Many Stories., having randomly seen the Game Awards video on X. Its undeniable similarities to Shenmue immediately piqued my interest, although according to an article from Rock Paper Shotgun, founding developer of Nagai Industries Dima Shen has been obsessed with that unassuming Tomato Convenience Store [from Shenmue] since he was a teenager, so this dj vu makes sense. Shen is even dressed like Ryo Hazuki in the most recent promotional footage (filmed within and just outside a Japanese konbini, or convenience store, no less) and acting like him, too.MORE FOR YOUThe same article calls InKonbini immediately charming and an absolutely shameless daydream as well as eerie, citing the games frozen-in-time uncanny nature, a possible desperate game homage to a much older game, yet. Shenmue inception.A potentially toxic nostalgia, I suppose, where imitation becomes a kind of lamentable sadness. Pitiable art, maybe. I havent played the game yet, so I can only go off these skeptical impressions, so it remains to be seen if InKonbini is more inspired-by fun or rose-tinted grasping.InKonbini: One Store. Many Stories.Credit: Nagai IndustriesFor your own judgement, heres a synopsis from the games Steam page:inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories is a cozy narrative-driven simulation game about connection, nostalgia, and the quiet beauty of daily life.Play as Makoto Hayakawa, a college student who finds herself behind the counter of a small-town convenience store in a colourful setting inspired by early 1990s Japan.Discover joy and wonder hidden behind the daily routine of a konbini worker, explore every nook and cranny around the store, and help your customers navigate their lives in branching conversations with meaningful choices!Much like Shenmue, the game takes place in retro Japan, but instead of happening during the 1980s, its the radical 1990s, dude. From what I can tell, the plot doesnt appear to revolve around avenging your murdered father or whatever, which is a nice change of pace with less, uh, murder? The story instead deals with running the shop, meeting interesting customers and learning about their passions and plights. The focus on other people is also quite Shenmue-esque, now that I think about it. And as we know, Toms hot dog stand didnt dispense glizzies on its own. We got to know the dancing man behind the dog, and that was meaningful to us lonely 90s kids.ASMR is specifically mentioned on the games websiteand not that weird prison guard roleplay stuff you stash in a hidden YouTube playlist, hopefullyso this project is aiming to be a calming one, filled with the Japanese concept ichi-go, ichi-e (one time, one meeting) at the heart of the experience. Publisher and developer Nagai Industries also speaks of how player choice will drive the unfolding narrative, and much of the focus will be on meaning, assumingly derived from ongoing conversations with patrons and the meditation of routine.The initial trailer has everything: Smooth jazz, warm lighting, shelf stocking and kind locals casually coming in to buy goods. Plus, its raining outside while its cozy inside. Perfection. Interestingly enough, this is actually the particular detail that made me want to play this game the most. Ive always found the idea of finding shelter and solace in an inviting, safe place during a storm so wildly comforting. So yeah, the vibes present are welcoming, and they hold promise of serious relaxation.Admittedly, early criticism has me cautious about InKonbini, but being a diehard Shenmue fan, I cant deny my tempered excitement. Even if it turns out to be an unabashed knock-off, basing an entire game around a virtual convenience store inside a piece of 25-year-old Dreamcast software, as well as real stores in Japan, could be just crazy enough to work.InKonbini is scheduled to hit PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch and Steam sometime in 2025.

Lucasfilm may be in the midst of experiencing a wave of positive attention and success thanks to its latest TV series, Skeleton Crew, but the Jude Law-starring sci-fi show isnt the only Star Wars title that has premiered on Disney+ this year. This past summer Lucasfilm also debuted The Acolyte, a Sith-centric show set around 100 years before the events of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. Across its eight episodes, the series proved to be critically divisive, and it was only a month after The Acolytes finale aired that Disney and Lucasfilm announced they would not be bringing the show back for a second season.In a recent interview with Vulture, Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman shed some light on the behind-the-scenes decision to cancel The Acolyte after just one season. As it relates to Acolyte, we were happy with our performance, but it wasnt where we needed it to be given the cost structure of that title, quite frankly, to go and make a season 2, Bergman revealed. Thats the reason why we didnt do that.Recommended VideosWhen asked about Skeleton Crews chances at getting the second season that The Acolyte didnt, Bergman added, Skeleton Crew is in process now, so well see. Weve seen some growth on that. Well see how that goes.Disney+For some Star Wars fans, The Acolytes cancellation came as a confirmation of their belief that it wasnt up to the franchises standards. For others, it came as a difficult and disappointing blow. According to Bergman, though, The Acolytes fate wasnt a reflection of its quality or Lucasfilms belief in the project so much as it was a practical decision made in light of the shows production costs and its viewership numbers.Please enable Javascript to view this contentIn the same interview with Vulture, Bergman did offer an exciting tease of whats to come for Star Wars fans in the near future even going so far as to shower praise on one forthcoming title. In terms of whats coming up, we have Andor season 2, which were really excited about. It is excellent. Ive watched all the episodes, and it is a fantastic season. And then we have Ahsoka season 2, which Dave Filoni is leading. And then were looking at a number of additional series that are in development. Well see what we decide to do.The Acolyte season 1 is streaming now on Disney+.Editors Recommendations