Is Nintendo in the driving seat for the next gen? (Nintendo)A reader predicts that 2025 is going to be turning point for the games industry and that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be at the centre of it all.It was inevitable that pics of the Switch 2 would leak out before the official annoucement, given someone always manages to take a photo they shouldnt on the production line. Thats what we got at first, but I never expected to see so many accessory makers spoiling the secrets in such a blatant way. I still dont understand why either? They gain nothing from it and now Nintendo hates their guts. Seems completely self-defeating.Thats their problem though. What it means is that we already know exactly the Switch 2 looks like: the original Switch. Thats interesting but in terms of anything important we still know nothing. Therere no believable rumours about any of the games and we dont know what any of the new buttons do or if it has any unexpected features which Nintendo has implied it does.We dont know what the new buttons at the back do or what the C button does. It must be important because it kind of spoils the look of the console and the right Joy-Con, so I think the guess about some kind of TV casting feature are probably true, so you can use it like the Wii U GamePad. But thats only a guess, and its Nintendo, so who really knows.Im not going to speculate anymore because the reason I call the Switch 2 weird is nothing to do with what it does, but the position it will have in the games industry. Xbox and PlayStation are in a bad way at the moment. Xbox console sales are in the toilet and PlayStation 5 is falling quicker than expected, with still not much announced for the future and no word on whether theyve given up live service games or not.The games industry is in a mess right now and yet Nintendo is coming off the back of their best run ever. Theyre in a position they havent been in since the NES, where their last console was a massive success and their next one looks like its going to be as well. That gives them a lot of power in the industry and publishers are going to be falling over themselves to work with Nintendo which is not something many gamers have seen in their lifetime before.Its going to come across as just as weird to Nintendo as well, who wont be anymore used to it than we are. What will they do with that level of influence? Will they immediately start to bully companies around and take advantage or will they become the safe pair of hands the industry needs right now? This seems to be what the Switch 2 looks like (Reddit)I wouldnt like to say really, but I dont think we should underestimate what a strange and important fork in the road the games industry is at right now. We still dont know whether companies have really given up on all the live service nonsense, its not clear what Xbox is planning for its next gen hardware, and we have no idea what Sonys long term plans are.That level of uncertainty is not good for anyone, whether youre a company or just a fan. And to be honest, despite being a Nintendo fan Im not sure I really trust them with this level of control. Nintendo might be more sensible than Sony and Microsoft, but they only care about themselves and have no interest in the rest of the games industry or any publisher that they dont rely on.More TrendingSony and Microsoft arent exactly charities but at least they both look at the industry in more or less the same way. With Nintendo they have a very specific view of gaming, thats very different to anyone else.2025 is certainly going to be an interesting year, thats all I can say. Will Nintendo become the dominant force in the games industry, in a way they never have before? Or will they fumble the ball and let it fall into even more turmoil? To be honest I have no idea, but its kind of worrying that either eventually is entirely possible. Nintendo cant be enjoying these leaks (Global Source)The readers features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you wont need to send an email.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Marvel Rivals is the newest entry in the PvP Hero Shooter genre, and it's already jam-packed with plenty of features for players to explore. From a fleshed-out battle pass system to an in-game Store chock-full of cool cosmetics for your favorite childhood hero, the game pulls out all the stops to keep things interesting.

The launch of the Los Santos Tuners update in GTA Online provided players with a new set of vehicles, and an opportunity to display their rides without the fear of being blown up by an Oppressor Mk 2. GTA Online features 17 vehicles from the Tuners update and each of these vehicles offers a unique performance and set of cosmetics that can make for an eye-catching ride.

My Hero Academia will have quite a packed year in 2025. The final season of My Hero Academia finally got its release window confirmation on Jump Festa 2025, and now, fans also have confirmation of the release of My Hero Academia Vigilantes anime.

Monitoring your credit report is more important than you might think. Even if you don't spot something as extreme as identity theft (knock on wood), minor errors here and there could be damaging your overall credit health. The accuracy of your credit report impacts your ability to secure loans, rent apartments, and even obtain certain jobs. Unfortunately, errors are more common than many people realize, and these mistakes can cause serious financial headaches if left unaddressed.Common errors people find on their credit reportUse this list to review your own credit report and make sure everything checks out.Identity and personal information mistakesSeemingly minor errors can cause major problemsthey can lead to confusion with credit agencies and potentially mix up your credit history with someone else's.Misspelled nameIncorrect address historyWrong Social Security NumberIncorrect birth dateFraudulent accounts and identity theftOne of the most dangerous types of credit report errors involves accounts opened without your knowledge:Credit cards you never applied forLoans taken out in your nameUnauthorized financial transactionsAccounts resulting from identity theftDuplicate debt listingsSometimes, the same debt appears multiple times on a credit report:The same collection account listed more than onceTransferred debts showing as separate entriesPaid-off debts still appearing as activeIncorrect account statusesCredit reports can incorrectly show:Accounts marked as late when payments were made on timeClosed accounts appearing as openIncorrect credit limitsWrong payment historiesOutdated negative informationNegative information should automatically drop off after a certain period:Bankruptcies older than 10 yearsLate payments older than 7 yearsOutdated collection accountsHow to fix errors on your credit reportIf you do spot mistakes on your credit report, you'll want to take these steps to submit a dispute.Obtain your credit reports. You can request free reports from all three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) at AnnualCreditReport.com.Document the errors. Review each report carefully for discrepancies and gather any supporting documentation that applies. Make copies of proof (payment records, identity documents). Write a clear, concise explanation of each error.File a dispute. I have a more thorough guide to filing a credit dispute here, but what you need to know is there are three primary methods to submit disputes: Online, by mail, and by phone. Online is the most efficient method, but by phone could suffice for simple, straightforward errors. Follow up. Bureaus must investigate within 30 days. Track your dispute's progress until you receive a written resolution. If your dispute is valid, the bureau must correct information and notify other the bureaus to do the same.How to protect your credit scoreYour best strategy is to take preventative measures like checking credit reports annually, using credit monitoring services, and placing fraud alerts or credit freezes if you find yourself a victim of identity theft. In general, do what you can to give away less of your personal data. In cases of significant identity theft, contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or file a report with local law enforcement.Credit report errors are not just inconvenientthey can be financially devastating. Remember, you are your own best advocate when it comes to maintaining accurate credit information. For more, check out some of my tips for boosting your credit score here.

Googles NotebookLM AI podcast tool recently got launched into the mainstream thanks to a collaboration with Spotify Wrapped, but after a recent update, its suddenly much more interactive. Now, instead of just sitting back and listening, you can actually join in on the conversation.According to Google, NotebookLM users have already generated more than 350 years worth of Audio Overviews, which essentially take uploaded documents and turn them into AI-hosted two-way conversations to help make them easier to digest. The idea is that you could submit a 50-page long research white paper, for example, and the podcast would give you a quick breakdown that you could listen to while doing other things.Maybe its because Google uses the same voices for every audio overview, but in my experience, they usually sound eerily similar to a real back and forth, if not without some jank or robotic stiffness. That said, for a tool thats supposed to make complicated topics easier to understand, its given users little control in how to guide its AI conversationsuntil now.As part of a larger update that overhauls the user interface and adds some extra features for enterprise customers, Google is also now allowing you to join in on the AI podcasts. The feature, called Join, wont let you directly converse with your AI hosts, but rather interrupt the podcast to ask a question and direct the conversation. For instance, if youre listening to a breakdown of important dates in American history, but your hosts get distracted talking about state birds, you could stop them to get them back on track.Alternatively, you could simply ask them to go deeper on a particular topic, or reiterate something theyve already covered.The feature is currently rolling out in a beta, and unfortunately, I havent gotten my hands on it yet. If youre luckier than me, Google says you can try it out through the following steps:Create a new Audio OverviewTap the new Interactive mode (BETA) button and hit playWhile listening, tap Join, A host will call on you.Ask your question!The company has posted an example of the feature in action, and it seems like youll need to hit "join" for each question youve got. It really seems like Google is going for more of a Q&A format here, rather than treating you as a third host. The result reminds me a bit of Gemini Live, which similarly lets you talk to Googles AI in real-time, but has had some quirks regarding accuracy or understanding when Ive tried using it in the past. It makes sense, then, that Google is iterating that the Join feature is experimental, and that hosts may pause awkwardly before responding and may occasionally introduce inaccuracies. Additionally, the feature will only work for new podcasts, so dont expect to suddenly reinvent conversations youve already generated.

AirTags are pretty great. They let you keep tabs on things that have a habit of going missing, like keys and wallets, and other items that are targets for theft, like bags and bikes. Of course, sometimes a bag doesn't go missing because of theft. One popular use for these tiny trackers is for tracking missing luggage: People will throw an AirTag in their bag and hand it off to their airline. If that bag doesn't make it to the luggage carousel at the destination, a quick glance at the Find My app can offer some indication as to where that bag is. If the airline tries to say "we don't know where your bag is," you can hold up your iPhone and say, "I do." Lost luggage is more common a problem than it should be. But, on the bright side, airlines appear to want to do something about it. Share Item Location in iOS 18.2It all has to do with a new Find My feature rolling out with iOS 18.2, "Share Item Location." The new feature lets you temporarily share a link to your Find My accessory's location with a trusted third party. For a limited time (one week appears to be the default) they'll be able to see your item, such as an AirTag, as if it were their own Find My device, and can help you locate it. While this feature lets you share your AirTag's location with anyone you want, part of the pitch is the ability to share these locations with airlines: If your luggage goes missing, you can share your AirTag's coordinates with your airline directlyno more frustrated confrontation necessary. United Airlines was the first to announce their the support for the feature. The airline shared the news on Thursday, Dec. 12, one day after Apple released iOS 18.2 to the public. United says you'll be able to share your Find My device's location link directly to delayed baggage report tool in the airline's app. Once returned, United says it will disable the location link, but you can disable the link yourself at any time.Following this announcement, Apple's Senior Vice President of Marketing, Greg Joswiak, shared on X that Delta and Air Canada would also start supporting the feature. Unlike United, which appears to already support it, Delta and Air Canada will support it "this week," so keep an eye out if you fly with any of these airlines.Apple says more airlines will support the feature in "coming months," including Aer Lingus, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Vueling.How to use Share Item LocationTo start, make sure your iPhone is running iOS 18.2 or later. Then, open Find My, tap the "Item" tab, then choose the item you'd like to share. Scroll down, then choose Share Item Location. Tap Continue on the popup, then either copy the link provided, or choose Share Link to share it direct with a contact. Remember that even if the airline has the link to your AirTag, it isn't a guarantee they'll know its exact location at any given moment. AirTags aren't live, real-time trackers. They have no way to constantly beam their location to the internet on their own. Instead, they rely on other internet-connected Find My devices (often iPhones) to anonymously and securely share their location to the Find My network on their behalf. Because they rely on other nearby devices to update their whereabouts, they're great for general location tracking, but not for always-updated GPS coordinates. Don't use them to track your kids, for example.

Synology swiftly patched critical zero-click vulnerabilities in its NAS devices.

The funding bill that Congress passed over the weekend could have gone further if not for Elon Musk's influence over Republicans, House Democrats say.

Home gyms have long been a haven for the fitness-consciousa place where routines are carved out of convenience and commitment. But for all their appeal, theyve often felt like a compromise. You trade the expertise of a trainer and the energy of a studio for privacy and ease, left to wonder if your form is on point or your workout is effective. What if your home gym could bridge that gap, becoming not just a space but an active participant in your fitness journey?Thats the promise of the AEKE K1 Smart Home Gym, a system that brings artificial intelligence into the heart of your workout routine. By integrating motion tracking, personalized workout plans, and real-time feedback, the AEKE K1 creates an experience that feels less like working with equipment and more like collaborating with an attentive coach. After all, thats what the AI promise is, right? To make life better?Designer: AEKEClick Here to Buy Now: $1998 $3699 (46% off). Hurry, only 16/50 left! Raised over $500,000.The true magic of the AEKE K1 lies in its AI-driven capabilities, which take the idea of a personal trainer and turn it into something much more precise. Instead of relying on guesswork or self-doubt to guide your form, this system uses an advanced AI camera to track your bodys every move. The moment you start a workout, the AEKE K1 analyzes 17 key skeletal points, providing real-time feedback. Its oddly reassuringlike having a trainer who never zones out or misses a beat, ensuring you get the most out of every rep without compromising your body. The best part, it exists WITHIN your workout equipment, so its always there when you need it, and doesnt cost anything extra.This AI isnt just there for show, either. It begins with a fitness assessment that feels more thorough than what youd get at most gyms. Borrowing from ACSM standards, it performs 6 different evaluations from your cardiovascular endurance to muscle imbalances and flexibility. Based on these insights, the system generates personalized workout plans tailored to your goals and current fitness level. The AEKE K1 doesnt stop thereit continuously adapts those plans as you improve, so youre always challenged but never overwhelmed.For anyone who has spent countless hours cycling through random workout videos online, this level of personalization is game-changing. The variety in the AEKE K1s class library ensures that you wont be stuck in a monotonous loop of exercises. One day, you could be flowing through a Pilates routine; the next, pushing your limits with strength training. Theres something inherently satisfying about having a virtual coach who anticipates your needs and adjusts accordingly. With 280 movements and more than 140 courses, the AEKE K1 comprehensively covers everything from strength-building to cardio, Pilates, yoga, weight loss, and more, engaging full-body muscle groups, from upper, lower, and core all in collaboration with professional and authoritatively certified senior coaches.The 43-inch vertical 4K touchscreen guides you through the training, giving you real-time feedback thats been calibrated using thousands of hours of actual training videos. The AI-enabled camera tracks 17 points across your body to see how youve done, and by the time you finish a session, the AEKE K1 hands you a detailed breakdown of your performance. Calories burned, reps completed, sets performedits all there, alongside more nuanced metrics like left-right exertion balance.That isnt all, the massive screen can also double as a gaming rig, with exercise-embedded games that help you get through your workout with a little fun something thats perfect for teens and tweens, or even for adults on days when you dont feel like adulting. Motion-sensing games turn the AI coach into a Microsoft Kinect of sorts, tracking your movements through the game that gets you to exercise without necessarily the intensity of a tough workout. With the ability to add up to 9 users, you can have virtual boxing challenges with yourself or your family members, or even challenge friends who have their own AEKE K1 for a nice at-home sparring workout! After all, you cant spell absolute fun without abs!The workout is designed to be immersive, with a 2.1 channel stereo audio system that pairs with that 4K screen for a full-blown workout that turns your home into a bonafide gym studio. If you prefer something a little more personalized (perhaps if youre sharing a house with someone), a headphone jack lets you dial the audio in while working out too. At the end, all your workouts also get synced on the AEKE app, which lets you track your reps, view your workout history, schedule future workouts, as well as sync with your health data to help the AI plan future workouts for you.You could rely on movement-based exercises, but for something more intense, the AEKE K1s attachments come in handy. The attachments plug right into the AEKE K1s Digital Weight System, which uses electromagnetic resistance to simulate the feeling of weight. No heavy barbells or breakable resistance bands required. The Digital Weight System lets you simulate up to 220 lbs of weight with 1 lb increments. Smart Grips and an Adjustable Barbell streamline transitions between exercises, letting you shift gears without losing momentum. With one-click weight adjustments built into the grips and a Smart Unloader feature that alleviates back strain during setup for squats and deadlifts, the AEKE K1 prioritizes both efficiency and safety. Moreover, the AI-powered Spotter Mode can detect when youre struggling to finish a rep, and will automatically dial down the weight settings for you so that you dont injure yourself.What ties all of this together is how natural the experience feels. Despite its high-tech approach, the AEKE K1 avoids the trap of being overly complicated. Setting it up is straightforward, and its compact design means it fits comfortably into most spaces without dominating the room. In fact, when folded down, the entire AEKE K1 occupies a grand total of 0.3 square meters (3.2 square feet), occupying about the same amount of floor space as a doormat. The screen still stays vertically propped up, but blends right into your decor by transforming into a massive clock with a wallpaper. Turn it off and the black screen reflects like a mirror, doubling as decor. The equipment itself is sturdy, giving off the kind of professional-grade vibe that immediately inspires confidence. The K1s approach to cutting-edge design also won it a few awards like the Red Dot Award, the International Design Award, and the CMF Design Award.But the K1s strengths go beyond just technology and design. Theres something fundamentally approachable about the way it integrates into your life. The AI serves as a guide, not a drill sergeant, offering corrections and adjustments without feeling overbearing. Its this balancebetween cutting-edge innovation and human-like supportthat makes it stand out. And it does so without any additional fees. The AI coach along with all courses and future updates are built right into the AEKE K1, with zero subscriptions or hidden add-on fees required.So if getting ripped is your resolution for 2025, it just makes sense to integrate AI into that process too, just the way AIs found its way into every domain of our lives. However, its a lot more reassuring knowing youre paying for something upfront without anything hidden behind a paywall or monthly subscription. Thats refreshing for an era where everything requires an extra premium. On purchase of the AEKE K1, you get its exercise attachments and a digital scale, but along with it you also get lifetime access to all workouts, classes, and AI coachingcompletely free of recurring charges. The device also auto-updates via OTA software patches that are sent through the AEKE mobile app.Click Here to Buy Now: $1998 $3699 (46% off). Hurry, only 16/50 left! Raised over $500,000.The post AI-Powered Workouts Are Here: Meet AEKE K1, A Home Gym With Its Own AI Personal Trainer first appeared on Yanko Design.