Suddenly, every possible dating and hookup app for every possible scenario existsAI girlfriends, kink-positive polyamory, gay cruising. Why does it feel like none of them are the answer?

MacworldAt a glanceExpert's RatingProsCompact dimensionsHigh qualityGood charging timesConsNo golden cable includedNo carrying caseOur Verdict Small, practical, powerfulwith the optional golden charging cable, its a great gift for a loved one. A power bank perfect for carrying in a handbag.Price When ReviewedThis value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefinedBest Pricing TodayPrice When Reviewed49,95 EuroBest Prices Today: Mophie Powerstation Mini 5K goldRetailerPriceMophie49,95 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketThe small Powerstation Mini 5K Gold Limited Edition immediately catches the eye with its golden color. The housing is made of aluminium and has a bead-blasted finish. This gives it a high-quality look. With its compact dimensions of 7.6 by 4 by 2.5 centimeters, the Powerstation Mini 5K fits into any small bag.The capacity is 5,000 mAh and a four-stage LED display shows the charging status and remaining battery life. The USB-C port is capable of Power Delivery with a maximum output power of 20 watts.The output of 20 watts is sufficient for a charging capacity of 51 percentage points for the iPhone 15 and 24 percentage points for the 11-inch iPad Pro, both after 30 minutes. The output power of 20 watts is ideal for the iPhone, but can also power a camera or an iPad if required. The only thing missing is a protective bag to protect the stylish powerbank from scratches in your handbag.Should you buy the Powerstation Mini 5K Gold Limited Edition?The Powerstation Mini 5K scores points in several respects: the elegant housing is a real eye-catcher and the power bank is barely bigger than a lipstick. With 5,000 mAh, it offers enough capacity to recharge an iPhone after a long day. We have more power banks in our roundup of thebest MagSafe and magnetic power banks for iPhone.

MacworldAnother year is about to be consigned to the dustbin of history but before the clock runs out, lets take a look at the worst takes of 2024!AI boostersIf you know anything about the Macalope, you knew this was going to be in here.First was the chorus of people who said Apple is behind on AI! When companies are rushing products to market that have no discernible revenue path, routinely provide results that are wrong and even dangerous and are built upon stolen information, one wonders if this isnt something you should be behind on. Maybe next year well hear about how Apples behind on building the Torment Nexus.As if this no-legged stool wasnt a questionable enough place to sit your butt on, we had analysts who claimed this miracle of science would spur a smartphone super-cycle, boosting sales and profits for any company that was able to deliver this life-changing technology.That did not happen.Still, more than one company developing an AI pin had gobs of venture capital money shot at them out of a t-shirt canon. And how did that turn out?The Worst Product Ive Ever Reviewed For NowJust months after the hype fizzle, people are wondering if AI is even going to be able to get any better anytime soon. Turns out the wait and see approach might have been the smart one. Surprise.Still, there are some AI takes we can agree on. Several AI executives complained this year that they cant make their product unless they have free access to copyrighted material. Great! Were in agreement! You wont make your product and well keep our copyrighted material! Glad we had this chat.AI itselfSpeaking of bad takes and AI, how about the bad takes AI itself delivered in 2024?Googles AI, just as an example, suggested people eat glue and rocks. OK, thats just one instance. As a counterpoint, when asked if you could use gasoline to cook spaghetti faster, its answer was an emphatic No!If it had only stopped there.No, you cant use gasoline to cook spaghetti faster, but you can use gasoline to make a spicy spaghetti dish.No! No, you cant! OK, the Macalope has never drunk gasoline, but hes pretty sure its not going to make a dish spicier.Apple Intelligence was not immune to such flights of nope, not fancy nothing fancy about putting gasoline in your spaghetti. Thats shack living. How about flights of flimflamery?Apple Intelligence botched a notification summary about Luigi Mangione, and the BBC isnt happyYes, Apple Intelligence incorrectly suggested that the alleged assassin of the CEO of United Healthcare had killed himself.And still Tim Cook says he loves summaries.IDGApples ad departmentApples ad departments first gaffe this year was the infamous Crush ad. It was intended to indicate all the great, creative things you can do with an iPad. The only problem was it kind of sent a mixed message by literally crushing all of those things in a giant industrial hydraulic press.Metaphors. How do they work?Apple even wet so far as to issue an apology for that one.Then, just last month, Apple ran several Apple Intelligence ads featuring people using AI to compensate for their obnoxious personality flaws. Message: Are you a jerk? Have we got a solution for you!Might have wanted to run that through another review.The U.S. Department of JusticeWhile the Macalope would certainly say Apple could benefit from a little legislative guidance in how to conduct some of its affairs (cough App Store cough), the suit against the company brought by the U.S. Department of Justice back in March wrecks itself before it checks itself. Decrying Apples supposed domination of the auto industry with CarPlay and then taking credit for all of Apples successes because it took action against Microsoft in the early 2000s are apparently things you can write without exploding from a deadly buildup of nonsensium. Who knew?GM doubles downIt was 2023 when GM announced that it was eschewing CarPlay, even going so far as to say it was for safety reasons. But the company apparently is still trying to eat its own dog food which may not be a metaphor. Some of their actions sometimes make you think they might actually be eating dog food, cat food, whatever happens to just be sitting there when theyre hungry.Despite losing two key executives, including Apples former head of Cloud Services, Mike Abbott, and then laying off more than 1,000 software engineers, GM says this is all part of its grand plan of bold choices to own the user experience.Well, you know what they say. You broke itTim SweeneyLast but not least is Epic CEO Tim Sweeney. Oh, not for anything he said about his companys fight with Apple over trying to set its own app store up on iOS, although we could probably get one or two gems out of that mess, too.No, his worst take of the year is when he complained about the time his MacBook got stolen and he could see where it was thanks to Fine My.This feature is super creepy surveillance tech and shouldnt exist. Years ago, a kid stole a Mac laptop out of my car. Years later, I was checking out Find My and it showed a map with the house where the kid who stole my Mac lived. WTF Apple? How is that okay?!It is left up to the reader to decide if he just hates anything Apple makes or is so drunk on libertarianism that when someone steals his laptop he just says I have been bested in the marketplace of getting things while the getting is good! Good for him!Those are the worst takes of 2024. Cant wait to see what 2025 brings!I think.

For more than two years, Ive been working with WinGet daily to monitor and maintain the apps on my Windows 10 and 11 PCs. For those not already in the know, WinGet is the built-in, command-line interface to Microsofts Windows Package Manager service. It works in both PowerShell and Command Prompt with equal facility.WinGet is designed to enable users to discover, install, upgrade, remove and configure applications on Windows 10 and 11 computers, according to Microsoft Learn. In my experience, WinGet is helpful for checking and updating most applications that run on Windows.Please note: WinGet is included with Windows 10 version 1709 and later, and all versions of Windows 11 as the App Installer. If youre running an earlier version of Windows 10, visit the WinGet home page at GitHub. There, click the Latest button under Releases at right, and download the item named Microsoft.DesktopAppInstallermsixbundle (the missing characters identify Microsoft Store apps). Double-click on this item to install it.(Dont worry: if you do this on a newer Windows version, it will inform you, The App Installer is already installed.)Exploring a PC using WinGetUsing WinGet starts with opening an administrative command line session. Press the Windows key + X, then pick Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin) from the pop-up menu. (I use PowerShell and will use it for examples throughout this story.) Given that WinGet runs in PowerShell, it uses straightforward PowerShell syntax to provide information or perform actions. WinGet tells you about itself if you enter the command:winget --info(Although Ive followed Microsofts lead in labeling this command WinGet, the command line doesnt care about capitalization.)As you can see in Figure 1, the output from this command shows the running version of Windows Package Manager, along with the OS Build number, system architecture, Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller version, and symbol values for WinGet directories, links, and Admin Settings.Figure 1: Output from WinGets info command tells you about the system, plus WinGet-related software and settings.Ed Tittel / IDGThis information can be helpful, but its not terribly interesting, nor have I found it super-useful in day-to-day WinGet use and troubleshooting.Things get more interesting with WinGets two information display subcommands: list and show. The list subcommand shows whats currently installed on the target PC, while the show subcommand searches an online database of available packages to show you information about matching search hits.With no qualifiers or queries, winget list shows a list of every item installed on your PC (177 items on an up-to-date Windows 11 production PC; 339 items on a heavily used production Windows 10 PC). All standard executables and Microsoft Store apps are included in this count.Winget show wont do anything unless you provide it with a search string. Its normally used to search for specific packages, or to see if they exist. Try it with search strings such as windows, power, powershell and so forth. Its soon obvious that this is a more focused tool. I use it primarily when WinGet tells me a package needs an upgrade. It helps me find complete IDs, version numbers, and publisher, and tells me where it came from. (That usually means WinGets package repository or the Microsoft Store.)The winget search command can be more helpful than show if youre looking for something specific. It lists all items that include the search string. Thus, if you use the same strings recommended in the preceding paragraph, youll get more and more interesting results.Figure 2 shows the output for winget search PowerShell as an illustration. (It shows items with PowerShell in their names, IDs, and tags, so its more inclusive.)Figure 2: Matching on PowerShell is especially useful for tagged items, particularly Windows Terminal and related applications.Ed Tittel / IDGWinGets star subcommand: upgradeMy favorite among the WinGet subcommands is the upgrade item. It offers insight into available upgrades and offers various ways to perform upgrades on a Windows PC. Indeed, three variants of winget upgrade are likely to be both useful and informative:winget upgradewinget upgrade --allwinget upgrade --all --include-unknownBy itself, winget upgrade (no additional arguments or modifiers) simply tells you if newer versions of installed packages are available. Figure 3 shows an example of this command from one of my production level test PCs, with some items in need of update. Notice that the Version column identifies the version thats currently installed. The Available column identifies the corresponding new (updated) version one could apply in its stead, if desired.Figure 3: Seven updates are available for the target PC, as shown.Ed Tittel / IDGThe next command, winget upgrade --all, tells WinGet to update all items from the upgrade list for which a version number is known. In Figure 3, all items have values in the Version column. Note further that all packages shown come from the default WinGet package repository (named winget in Figure 3).The third command, winget upgrade --all --include-unknown, tells WinGet to update all items even if the version column is blank. In general, this command is more useful because it involves less additional work. Thus, I use it as my go-to for all winget upgrade commands, just to make sure I cover everything.Figure 4 shows results after running that catch-all command on the target PC. (Ill have more to say about this figure later.)Figure 4: On this production PC, WinGet finds and installs four upgrades, but leaves the fifth alone.Ed Tittel / IDGNote that youll sometimes see installer windows and even PowerShell or Command Prompt sessions open and close as WinGet goes through the necessary motions involved in performing those updates. Note further: when updating web browsers Edge, Chrome, or Firefox, for example if the browser is running when you run WinGet, you must relaunch that browser manually before the update fully completes. If its closed, it completes on its own. (WinGet always applies an abundance of caution when it encounters running processes.)Running winget upgrade again after performing all updates shows nothing left to do. In Figure 5, the message No installed package found matching input criteria translates into Nothing to upgrade.Figure 5: No installed package found matching input criteria means Nothing to upgrade.Ed Tittel / IDGAbout pinned applications (and other experimental WinGet features)If you look back at Figure 4, youll see the sentence The following packages have an upgrade available, but require explicit targeting fairly near the top, with Discord listed below. What does that mean, and why does this happen? Some application developers, including Discord, use advanced WinGet features pinning in this case (look back at the final line of Figure 4) to prevent unwanted changes to the Discord app. It usually updates inside the app so this approach (mostly) prevents WinGet from getting involved.On the other hand, you can always use WinGet to uninstall an app, and then use WinGet one more time to reinstall. For Discord, that command sequence looks like this:winget uninstall Discord.Discordwinget install Discord.Discord(Note at the head of Figure 4, the ID value for Discord is Discord.Discord, so thats how we specify these commands.)The first command removes (the old version of) Discord; the second command installs (the new version of) Discord. Its what I call a remove-replace operation, and it works pretty well for general WinGet troubleshooting, too. Ive also used it recently for Zoom Workplace, various Teams versions, and other occasional vexations.For the record, the pin command is a relatively new subcommand for WinGet. It first appeared in general release in July 2024. According to Microsoft Learn, the winget pin command allows you to limit the Windows Package Manager from upgrading a package to specific ranges of versions, or it can prevent it from upgrading a package altogether.Another special qualifier, namely --include-pinned, lets you override this restriction. But because Discord is the only item in my stable of apps that uses this restriction, its not worth adding to my go-to command string.When the upgrade command fails or falls shortSometimes, WinGet updates dont clear the items that appear when you enter the winget upgrade command by itself. That means something remains on your PC that WinGet couldnt handle. Through experience, Ive observed the following possibilities, each of which has its own potential solution:Multiple copies of the same app or application are resident. If you have multiple installations of the same program, only one is likely to be current and up to date. Unless you require older versions, the simplest fix is to uninstall them so only the current, updated version remains present.Ive seen this happen with PowerShell, for example, where some of my PCs retained version 7.2.5 even when 7.4.5 or 7.4.6 (the current version as I write this) was also present. Using Programs and Features (or some equivalent third-party tool like Revo Uninstaller Free), you can find and uninstall out-of-date versions.Strange programs that youve never seen before and dont need show up. Case in point: occasionally an item named Teams machine-wide installer shows up on my PCs. Its something Microsoft uses that apparently gets left behind from time to time. Uninstalling this item causes no noticeable issues with Teams, and it removes the item from further upgrade consideration.Current WinGet packages arent available for some apps. One of WinGets limitations is that it only works with items registered in its package database. You may need to visit the app publishers website to find current updates that arent registered with WinGet.In the past, Ive covered using third-party automated tools such as UpdateStar and Patch My PC to keep apps updated in Windows 10 and 11. These and other update scanners may find items in need of updating on your PC that WinGet doesnt handle. On my PCs, that includes applications such as Nitro Pro (a PDF reader/editor), Amazon Kindle (for which only an outdated package is available via WinGet), FileZilla, various Intel tools (e.g., Intel Driver & Support Assistant), and more.If youre willing to research your applications and their sources for updates, you can almost always find a way to get them updated. That said, WinGet cannot handle all apps on its own. Many or most of them, yes; all of them, no.A WinGet for all seasonsAs you become familiar with WinGet, youll find it to be a terrific tool for helping keep Windows systems (and reference or canonical Windows images for automated deployments) up to date. Its become my tool of choice for keeping apps updated because its fast and easy to use. Although I still use UpdateStar to scan my systems to tell me what needs updates and Patch My PC to handle a handful of things that WinGet cant, WinGet remains my go-to tool to keep systems current. I use WinGet every day; the other tools weekly, at most.If you try it for yourself, I believe youre likely to continue using WinGet for the very same reasons. SeeMicrosofts WinGet documentationfor a complete list of commands and options.One final note: If you know someone who could benefit from WinGet but isnt comfortable using the command line, see this article by Chris Hoffman detailing how to use WingetUI, a package that wraps a graphical interface around WinGet.This article was originally published in January 2023 and updated in December 2024.

Last week, Falcom confirmed that Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, its remake of The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky FC, would launch worldwide next year. Unfortunately, it wont feature the same localization as the original game (which was done by XSEED and received extensive praise).The remakes Steam listing reveals that the story features revamped localizations in English, German, and French. These translations have been carefully refined, so it remains to be seen how close they are to the original. If anything, the localization may be more faithful to the original Japanese release.Alongside a new translation, there will be new voiceovers in English and Japanese. The original Trails in the Sky series didnt have voice acting outside combat, so this is a step up. Hopefully, Estelles audio quality will improve on her appearance in Trails of Cold Steel 4.Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter will be available in Fall 2025 for Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PC.

The rollout of Activisions back catalog for Game Pass has been slower than expected, but bit by bit, Microsoft has been bringing over the companys titles to its subscription service nonetheless, and it looks like we might know the names of another couple of games thatll be joining in the next few months.As per known insider eXtas1s on Twitter,Call of Duty: World at Warand Raven Softwares 2010 shooterSingularitywill launch for Game Pass in May, with the former also having popped up on the Microsoft Store on Windows. Interestingly, the leaker also claims the two arrivals will be preceded by anotherCall of Dutytitle coming to Game Pass in March, though he did not elaborate on what that title will be.Whether we can expect any other Activision titles to release for Game Pass before then remains to be seen, but either way, it seems like Microsoft is taking its time with bringing over the companys legacy titles to the subscription services library.World at WarandSingularityshould both be solid additions, however, so subscribers will want to keep an eye out. SPOTED Call of Duty: World at War se agreg a Microsoft Store para PC, y segn la ficha no admite logros.De acuerdo a mis fuentes tengo entendido que estar disponible en Game Pass en torno al mes de Mayo, mismo mes en el que debera llegar Singularity. pic.twitter.com/VnXT4vG1y5 eXtas1s Noticias & Rumores (@eXtas1stv) December 23, 2024Nope, therell be another CoD in March, no CoDs before March, and in May JUST World at War. eXtas1s Noticias & Rumores (@eXtas1stv) December 23, 2024

Whether its a long-awaited console exclusive or a wonderfully optimized third-party title, theres no shortage of excellent single player titles on the Xbox Series X/S. A majority of the platforms exclusives feature generation-defining single player campaigns, with Stalker 2, Hellblade II, and Halo Infinite leading the charge. Microsofts backwards compatibility and multi-platform friendliness ensure that players have some options to choose from regarding engrossing solo campaigns. With that, here are the 16 best single player games on the Xbox Series X/S.Stalker 2: Heart of ChornobylThe long-dormant Stalker series finally returns as an Xbox/PC exclusive and wow does it look stunning. Not only does it boast some of the most impressive visuals on the Xbox Series X to date, but the risk/reward aspect of the Exclusion Zone and its tremendous emergent systems rank as one of this years greatest surprises. Stalker 2 constantly manages to feel unpredictable and authentic. When you factor the strong survival horror atmosphere and Exclusion Zone scenarios, Stalker 2 easily ranks as one of the years best Xbox games, if not games in general.Like A Dragon Infinite WealthYakuzas foray into the turn-based combat format sparked some debate among fans regarding the direction of the series, but its safe to say the Like A Dragon spin-off has fully come into its own with an experience rivaling the more traditional beat em up games. Infinite Wealth is an especially noteworthy entry, introducing an amazing suite of minigames and side activities within a stunning locale outside of Japan for the first time in the series. Hawaii is a treat to explore, and the game makes it absolutely hilarious and fun the whole time thanks to the game-within-a-game Dondoko Island, which encourages creativity with its Animal Crossing style island customization.Lies of PSouls-like games typically feature some kind of multiplayer component, whether it be PVP or help in the form of summon signs. Lies of P may be a traditional Souls-like with its combat and level design, but it axed multiplayer completely, placing all its focus on a dense and compelling single-player experience. Some players criticize the game for its lack of multiplayer, sure, but a majority are just shocked a Pinocchio Souls game could be this darn good.Hi-Fi RushHi-Fi Rush deserved to win all the artistic direction rewards it received when it released in 2023. The vibrant cell shaded look pops remarkably well and the comic book aesthetic elevates it to Pixar-like quality. Hi-Fi Rush is considered a spiritual successor to Jet Set Radio for a reason, but the super tight and polished platforming and combat elevate it above such a lofty standard for a lot of players. If youre itching for that fast arcadey flow exemplified in games like Tony Hawks Pro Skater or Sunset Overdrive, Hi-Fi Rush offers plenty of that and a surprisingly good story to boot. Its also one of the few games that syncs character and environmental movement to the beat of the games groovy soundtrack that weve seen.Senuas Saga: Hellblade IIHellblade II is easily one of the greatest technical displays of this generation of consoles yet. The sequel to Ninja Theorys surprise 2017 hit expands the worldbuilding and scope of Hellblades fantastical take on 9thCentury Iceland with larger towns and areas. Exploration is emphasized tenfold in Hellblade II, further highlighting the beautiful vistas and dynamic weather than the first game. If you dont mind a narrative-focused game with a shorter runtime, Hellblade II will likely stick with you with its weighty story and unparalleled presentation.Elden Ring: Shadow of the ErdtreeIf you want a game that truly engrosses you into its bizarre world providing 100s of hours of single-player goodness, you cant go wrong with Elden Ring. The sole DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, defies expectations on what an expansion typical is with its gigantic new zone and body of content that rival many other full games. Shadow of the Erdtree feels like a return to the glory days of substantial video game expansions seen in The Elder Scrolls IVs The Shivering Isles or Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm. Unlike those, however, Shadow of the Erdtree will knock you senseless with its relentless difficulty, so be prepared and make good use of the wealth of side content from the base game before venturing forth, unless you cant resist a hefty challenge.Cyberpunk 2077: The Phantom LibertyFor my money, The Phantom Liberty DLC for Cyberpunk 2077 was one of the best values of last year. The new Dogtown district is an absolute blast to explore with its dense verticality and impressive interior locations. Phantom Libertys main story is also fantastic, featuring a fascinating cast of sleeper agents calling V in to do some incredibly high-stakes espionage work. The expansion even threw in some survival horror sequences inspired by the tight corridor gameplay of Alien Isolation to cap off the experience.Alan Wake2Another 2023 game featuring special agents and top-notch survival horror is Alan Wake 2. Players looking for a more unconventional take on the genre shouldnt sleep on Remedys new magnum opus. This sequel tones down the fast-paced, often clunky, action of the first game and hones in on meaningful exploration and clever detective gameplay. The iconic flashlight still fulfills the role of stunning enemies, but Alan Wake 2 takes players through two protagonist campaigns simultaneously instead of just Alan alone this time around.Dragons Dogma 2Dragons Dogma 2 takes a rather unconventional approach to story, allowing the games emergent systems and character choices to inform the players narrative in an charmingly organic manner. Critics have rightfully noted how bland the games characters can be, but that bland template also gives the Pawn system some flexibility regarding class vocations and personality. Speaking of classes, gameplay is highly customizable, allowing you to mix and match styles to your preference. And of course, the combat is a major selling point, utilizing that Monster Hunter World tech regarding climbable enemies and weak spots for individual limbs. If youre itching for an RPG that dishes out unexpected experiences around every corner, you may fall for Dragons Dogma 2 and its unique take on fantasy role-playing.Gears 5: HivebustersHivebusters was the big solo expansion for Gears 5, putting players in the shoes of the Scorpio Squad trio of characters. The expansion went somewhat under the radar, and undeservedly so considering its excellent pacing and improved squad banter from the base game. Yeah, sure, the expansion cuts a pretty short time, but its brisk and breakneck action more than justifies its existence as the high point of Gears 5. Those who didnt care for the main games character cast or just wanted the intensity ramped up a bit need to try out Hivebusters.TunicTunic is remarkable for its creative blending of The Legend of Zelda exploration and Souls-like combat. I knew I was in for a unique experience when I found my first guide fragment within the overworld. Those who grew up with games in the 90s are all-too familiar with the need to look through physical strategy guides for archaic game solutions. Well, Tunic turns that retro concept and makes it a core gameplay element, guiding players through its more archaic and confusing elements through its in-game guide, broken up into collectable fragments throughout the game world as it is. With great nail-biter boss fights and a world brimming with secrets and fun dungeons, Tunic is a single-player experience you dont want to miss.Halo Infinite343 Industries finally found a hit on their hands with Halo Infinite. From a gameplay standpoint, its the most dynamic and mechanically brilliant of all the 343 Halo games. The introduction of the Grappleshot allows the kind of fun and fast traversal needed in an open world shooter. Halo Infinites open world map has some empty spaces in it, but the variety of vehicles and weapons tips the scales in its favor. The campaign is also quite lengthy, taking around 25 hours to complete. If youve been on the fence about Halo Infinite due to the multiplayer criticisms, you can be sure to find something to like in its campaign, whether that be its thrilling boss fights, open-ended sandbox, or good old-fashioned Halo nostalgia.Baldurs Gate 3Baldurs Gate 3 is the ultimate DnD video game. Larians magnum opus features a lots of ways to play the game, whether its the 46 flexible subclasses to the reactive and open-ended turn-based combat. The sprawling story and scenarios within Baldurs Gate 3 are sure to take you hundreds of hours and then some, and even then you still wont see everything this game has to offer.A Plague Tale RequiemThe Black Plague never looked so beautiful. The vistas and sheer attention to detail within A Plague Tale Requiem are a marvel on the Xbox Series X, making us thankful the sequel expanded location sizes from the first game. Most impressive among the visual delights are the insane rat swarms including up to 300,000 of the the deadly pests at a time. Of course, you dont just marvel at the Bubonic swarms, but also use them to your advantage against enemies or to solve puzzles. A Plague Tale Requiem provides an excellent narrative within tightly crafted stealth/action gameplay, earning it a spot on our list.Marvels Guardians of the GalaxyMarvels Guardians of the Galaxy almost feels like an RPG at times with all its dialogue trees and party-based gameplay. Theres no doubt that players sick of the typical banter wont appreciate the ever-present camaraderie between the Guardians here. Still, the Guardians form a fun and cohesive unit with their consistent banter and thrilling Call-to-action and Team Huddle group attacks. This is easily one of the best Eidos Montreal games to date and the best representation of Guardians of the Galaxy in video game format, but its also a perfect single-player game for those who enjoy party-based combat and dialogue without actual co-op players.INDIANA JONES AND THE GREAT CIRCLEMachineGames latest is quite clearly the studios best game and thats saying something because they have already worked on classics like Wolfenstein. Featuring organic exploration and excellent level design, Indiana Jones manages to deliver over the top action along with some fantastic stealth elements mixed. The main campaign is meaty in its content and all of it is backed up by some superb side quests in the form of field work and mysteries. All in all, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a must play for any Xbox owner.

New ResearchAncient Britons May Have Built Stonehenge to Symbolize UnityThe monument was built during a period of immigration from mainland Europe, and it may been intended to unify communities across the British Isles Stonehenge is located on Salisbury Plain in southern England. garethwiscombe via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY 2.0Around 5,000 years ago, prehistoric people in what is now southern England began constructing the circular formation of massive standing and stacked boulders now known as Stonehenge. The monument is composed of rocks transported from far and wideimpressive feats of shipping for its Neolithic builders.Recent research suggests that Stonehenges 43 bluestones came from about 140 miles away in western Wales, while its larger sarsen stones originated 15 miles north of the site. The structures central, 13,200-pound Altar Stone, meanwhile, likely traveled not from Wales, but rather remote Scotland, more than 400 miles away.Based on these findings, archaeologists have proposed a new theory about Stonehenges purpose. According to a forthcoming study in the journal Archaeology International, the circle might have been erected to unify Britains ancient inhabitants.The fact that all of [Stonehenges] stones originated from distant regions, making it unique among over 900 stone circles in Britain, suggests that the stone circle may have had a political as well as a religious purposeas a monument of unification for the peoples of Britain, celebrating their eternal links with their ancestors and the cosmos, says lead author Mike Parker Pearson, an archaeologist at University College London, in a statement. The Altar Stone (bottom) lies buried beneath two sarsen stones. Nick Pearce / Aberystwyth UniversityStonehenge was built in phases. A 2015 analysis by Parker Pearson indicated that the bluestones were placed first, around 2900 B.C.E., followed by the sarsen stones around 2500 B.C.E. Stonehenge later went through a rebuilding phase, during which prehistoric people erected a large outer circle of sarsen stones and an inner horseshoe of trilithons (pairs of vertical stones capped by horizontal lintels). It was during this phasesometime between roughly 2500 and 2020 B.C.E.that the Altar Stone was placed within the monuments central horseshoe.Today, the Altar Stone lies flat and is partially hidden by a fallen rock. As Parker Pearson tells the Guardians Esther Addley, people have long assumed that it, too, once stood up straight but later fell down. But researchers know of multiple circular monuments in northeastern Scotland that were purposely laid flat. They posit that Stonehenges builders excavated the Altar Stone from a distant Scottish circle.Given what we now know about where its from, it seems all the more likely that it was deliberately set as a recumbent stone, Parker Pearson says. Its highly likely that the Altar Stone was once part of an older Scottish monument, he adds. These stones are not just plucked out of anywhere.Stonehenges location, on the expansive plateau of Salisbury Plain, must have been important to both the immediate inhabitants of the region and people across Britain, Parker Pearson tells CNNs Ashley Strickland. The plain was important enough that ancient peoples brought massive monoliths across sometimes hundreds of miles to this one location.The stones distant origins have led Parker Pearson and his colleagues to believe that Stonehenges second phase of construction was meant to bring Britain together. The era was marked by the arrival of new immigrants from Europemainly the modern-day Netherlands and Germany. Stonehenges builders may have added to the Salisbury monument to unite Indigenous Britons, the statement says.Stonehenge | World Heritage Site | Why was Stonehenge built? | 10-Minute Talks | The British AcademyWatch on Theres obviously some kind of interactionyou might call it first contact [with immigrants], Parker Pearson tells the Guardian. That is the moment that Stonehenge is built, and I wonder if it is that moment of contact that serves, in whatever way, as the catalyst for this really impressive second stage of Stonehenge. Its an attempt to assert unity, quite possibly integrating the newcomersor not.Moving such large, heavy stones would have been an extraordinary feat in Neolithic Britain, the statement notes. Though the wheel was invented in Mesopotamia around the fifth millennium B.C.E., the technology hadnt yet reached the British Isles. So, moving Stonehenges pieces would have required the efforts of hundreds if not thousands of people, making each act a show of unity in and of itself.As for the Altar Stones exact origins, researchers have slightly narrowed the possibilities: This fall, they concluded that the stone is not from the Scottish archipelago of Orkney.Its really gratifying that our geological investigations can contribute to the archaeological research and the unfolding story as our knowledge has been improving so dramatically in just the last few years, says study co-author Richard Bevins, an archaeologist at Aberystwyth University in Wales, in the statement.Since researchers began excavating and studying Stonehenge in the 17th century, the structures purpose has remained a mystery. Earlier scholars suggested the monument was a temple, a calendar or an observatory. Stonehenge is famously aligned with the sun and the moon, and modern crowds gather at the site on the solstices to celebrate the longest and shortest days of the year. The new research about the monuments stones has widened its possible cultural significance.I think weve just not been looking at Stonehenge in the right way, Parker Pearson tells the Guardian. As he says in the statement, The similarities in architecture and material culture between the Stonehenge area and northern Scotland now make more sense. These distant places had more in common than we might have once thought.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Ancient Civilizations, Archaeology, British History, England, European History, Immigrants, Monument, New Research, Stonehenge

If statement keyboards are your thing and you have some serious cash to burn, you should check out this brutalist flagship offering from Serene Industries. The Icebreaker is a wedge-shaped mechanical keyboard constructed from a single block of CNC-machined aluminum, featuring hot-swappable aluminum keycaps with configurable RGB backlighting.Preorders are available now, with pricing starting at $1,500 for the wired version. A Bluetooth wireless and a wired version with magnetic hall effect switches are also available for $1,600 the same price as a new 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro. The keyboard base comes in two colors clear or black with the latter option costing an additional $500. Serene Industries hasnt provided an ETA on delivery, but says production will begin when pre-orders close on January 28th.The design is very striking if you like a Cybertruck kinda vibe. Image: Serene IndustriesThe keycaps appear lightly textured, alongside being ergonomically shaped for fingertips. Image: Serene IndustriesThe Icebreaker comes in a 65 percent layout and measures 450 x 44 x 24mm (around 17.7 x 1.7 x 0.9 inches). It sports a configurable integrated EC11 rotatory dial, dual silicone dampeners to help reduce noise and vibrations, and a 4,000 mAh battery that supports a battery life of around three months according to Serene Industries. The specifications dont mention how much the keyboard weighs or what full height switches it comes with. Weve asked Serene Industries to clarify and will update this piece if we hear back.Heres a look at the Icebreakers rear and side profiles, showing its aggressive wedge-shaped. Image: Serene IndustriesTheres also premium features like micro-perforations on each keycap to allow the LED backlight to shine through, and 1/4-20 inch mounting points three on the USB-C port face, and four at the base for users to attach accessories like tripod mounts, monitor arms, oraxe handles.The design was partly inspired by the Flatiron Building in New York City, according to Serene Industries founder Denis Agarkov. When the Icebreaker was first announced in January 2024, Agarkov told Null Society that he aimed to create a keyboard that goes against the prevailing trends, adopting a more distinctive and challenging design. Its certainly an expensive conversation starter for any keyboard collectors who want something more niche than your typical DIY kits.

10 Comprehensive Strategies for Ensuring Ethical Artificial Intelligence 1 like December 23, 2024Share this postLast Updated on December 24, 2024 by Editorial TeamAuthor(s): Veritas AI Originally published on Towards AI. This member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.Now, we are in the middle of a very unusual rise of artificial intelligence, especially in this post-GPT and generative AI era. This emergence is going to get much stronger for the next few years and will see AI being introduced more and more into all areas of businesses, industries and directly into our daily lives.However, we have to move from the state of wonder and seriously think about the positioning that we give to AI in our lives and the risk(s) that this represents. From a purely technical point of view, an AI can only seem enormously useful. Still, it can hide fine layers of problems linked mainly to its structures, architecture, and model. not to mention the risk of using AI to achieve extremist groups bad intentions. In addition to all national or international laws in progress or already implemented, allowing the regularization of the creation and use of AI, it is necessary to be able to put in place systems that can evaluate AI about its compliance with certain ethical principles.The integration of Artificial Intelligence into various sectors of society raises important ethical concerns that must Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post