How to Watch the Quadrantid Meteor Shower, an Intense Spectacle With a Short but Strong PeakThe skyward show will produce many shooting stars from the evening of January 2 into the early morning hours of January 3heres how to make the most of the fleeting celestial event The Quadrantids only last for about six hours, but they're known for producing fireballs, or bright, fiery streaks that persist longer than average meteors. Luis Argerich via Flickr under CC BY-NC 2.0Usher in 2025 by watching the Quadrantids, which astronomers consider one of the best meteor showers of the year. The Quadrantids have the potential to produce 60 to 200 meteors per hour under perfect conditions, according to NASA, but the best part of this skyward spectacle only lasts for about six hoursso youll have just one evening to catch the dazzling show.This year, the Quadrantids run from December 26, 2024, to January 16, 2025, according to the American Meteor Society. But the best time for viewing them in the United States willMoonlight should not interfere with viewing the Quadrantids this year, as Earths natural satellite will be in its waxing crescent phase and just 11 percent full, per the American Meteor Society. In addition, the moon should set before the Quadrantids become best visible.Want to know more about the fleeting Quadrantids? Heres a primer on this prolific but short-lived meteor shower.Where the meteors come fromMeteor showers occur when Earth passes through a trail of space debris as it orbits around the sun. This cosmic rubblewhich includes bits of rock and dustburns up as it enters Earths atmosphere. As it does so, it creates fiery streaks of light in the night sky that are sometimes visible from Earths surface.Most meteor showers result from the debris left behind by comets. However, a handfulincluding the Quadrantids and, likely, the December Geminidsare caused by rocks and dust from asteroids. In the case of the Quadrantids, that asteroid is named 2003 EH1.Asteroid 2003 EH1, which orbits the sun every 5.52 years, was identified by astronomers with the Lowell Observatory Near-Earth Object Search project in March 2003 as it made its closest approach to the sun in its orbit. The asteroid is relatively small, measuring roughly two miles acrossabout the same length as the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Astronomers are still investigating asteroid 2003 EH1, but they suspect it might be a dead comet, according to NASA.For years, the Quadrantids were one of the major meteor showers without a known parent body, meaning astronomers debated its source. In 2004, Peter Jenniskens, a Dutch-American astronomer, was the first scientist to propose that asteroid 2003 EH1 was responsible for the annual Quadrantid meteor shower.Skygazers have been admiring the Quadrantids since at least 1825. Theyre named after Quadrans Muralis, a forgotten constellation near Ursa Major thats no longer officially recognized by astronomers. The Quadrantids are sometimes called the Bootids, which is a reference to the Botes constellation.The Quadrantids travel up to 91,800 miles per hour, which is somewhat slow in meteor shower terms. For comparison, the worlds fastest annual meteor shower, the Leonids, travel up to 158,400 miles per hour.A fleeting peakUnlike other meteor showers, which might peak across several evenings, the Quadrantids are short-lived. The reason? Asteroid 2003 EH1s debris trail is thin, and Earth passes through it at a perpendicular angle, according to NASA. Together, these factors create a small window for rocks and dust to enter Earths atmosphere and streak across the sky.This year, that exact peak is predicted to happen around 12:45 p.m. or 2 p.m. Eastern time on January 3, though the actual time might be different. So, for the very best period of the shower, which is about three hours on either side of that moment, many U.S. viewers could be out of luck due to the daylight. The shower favors the Pacific and Hawaii in 2025.But you can still see many of the meteors from the statesthe night from January 2 to 3 will offer good viewing, and about 25 meteors per hour will be visible on the days surrounding January 3.While the meteors are faint, there will be plenty of them for this shower, and thanks to the thin crescent moon not reflecting much sunlight, stargazers under dark skies will see up to a shooting star every minute, Darren Baskill, an astronomer at the University of Sussex in England, tells Newsweeks Tom Howarth.Though the meteor shower doesnt last long, the Quadrantids make up for their short duration by producing fireballs. Caused by bigger debris particles, fireballs tend to be brighter and longer-lasting than average meteors. The American Meteor Society keeps a log of fireball sightings, so if you see one during the Quadrantids, consider reporting it.Tips for viewing the Quadrantid shower Try to find somewhere with an open view of the sky and very little light pollution. Mike Lewinski via Flickr under CC BY 2.0To catch the Quadrantids, stay up late on the evening of January 2 or wake up before dawn on January 3. Ideally, youd travel somewhere with little to no light pollutionsuch as a national park or a certified dark sky area. If thats not an option, head to a dark place without any trees, tall buildings or other structures to block your view of the sky. If youre in a city, find the biggest bit of sky you can, or get up as high as you can above the rooftops, suggests the Natural History Museum in London.A loft window, a rooftop, the windows of upper-story flats or a local park (especially on the outskirts of a city) can work well as vantage points, according to the museum.Bring a pillow and a blanket so you can lie down on the ground, or a chair that lets you recline. Avoid looking at any artificial lights for 20 to 30 minutes, including your phone, so that your eyes can fully adjust to the darkness. You dont need any special gear or equipment to see the Quadrantids, though a few extra layers of clothing might help fend off Januarys chill.Though the Quadrantids appear to originate near the Big Dipper, experts say its best not to stare directly at this area, known as the radiant. Instead, let your eyes roam across the entire skyand bring a friend so you can call out when one of you notices a shooting star or fireball.Try to let your gaze defocus rather than staring intently at one spot, so you are aware of whats happening across as much of the sky as possible, according to the Society for Popular Astronomy. Then stay putdont be tempted to change position, even if you dont see much at first. The probability of seeing meteors is the same all over the sky.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Asteroids, Astronomers, Astronomy, Meteors, Moon, Outer Space, Sky Watching Guide, Weather

Scopely announced several key milestones achieved to date: $10 billion in lifetime revenue for its mobile games and a billion downloads.Read More

Nvidia has completed its acquisition of Run:ai, a software company that makes it easier for customers to orchestrate GPU clouds for AI, and said that it would open-source the software. The purchase price wasnt disclosed, but was pegged by reports at $700 million when Nvidia first reported its intent to close the deal in April. Run:ai postedRead More

Chris Kerr, News EditorDecember 30, 20241 Min ReadLogo via Team17Team17 co-founder Martyn Brown has passed away.Brown helped establish the UK studio in 1990 and spent 20 years at the company. He worked on over 50 titles during that time, including the ever-popular Worms franchise.After departing Team17 in 2010, Brown was tapped by Activision to build frontline mobile game development studio The Blast Furnace. He also supported other studios including Double Eleven, New Start Games, Exient, and Bithead through independent consultancy firm Insight For Hire.His son Jack Brown confirmed the news of his passing in a statement published on GamesIndustry.biz."Martyn passed away peacefully in his sleep at 8:17am, 28th of December, 2024 surrounded by family, following a prolonged battle with a series of strokes," he wrote. "Know that he went out on his own terms listening to his favourite music and surrounded by loved ones."Colleagues and industry peers have also posted tributes on social media."RIP Martyn Brown, Team17 founder. The man brought the world so much Worms. I am saddened by this, during the years Ive known him, hes been a kind and generous man, funny and caring. He will be missed," wrote game consultant Henrik Jonnson on Bluesky."We are so saddened to hear of the loss of Martyn Brown. He was such a good friend to us and supporter of the games industry in Yorkshire and far beyond," reads a Bluesky post from Game Republic, the regional game business network co-founded by Brown in 2003. "Rest In Peace Martyn. You were hugely loved, so appreciated and will be greatly missed."Read more about:ObituariesAbout the AuthorChris KerrNews Editor, GameDeveloper.comGame Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, andPocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.See more from Chris KerrDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

As we head into 2025, there arent many things preventing homeowners from building out a basic home security system. You can start small and cheap with the battery-powered Blink Outdoor 4. If you dont mind that theyre refurbished (with the same one-year warranty as the new models), you can get two of them with a Sync Module 2 for $74.99 ($90 off) at Amazon, which is only $10 more than the all-time low. A single Blink Outdoor 4 retails for $99.99 new, and its lowest price is $39.99, so youre still getting a slightly better value than usual.RelatedThe weatherproof Blink Outdoor 4 offers a 1080p wide-angle feed with motion detection, infrared night vision, and two-way audio. If you opt for a Blink Subscription Plan ($10 a month or $100 a year for Blink Plus, which is required to run multiple cameras), youll get person detection, up to 90 minutes of continuous live view, and unlimited cloud storage for up to 60 days. But if you have subscription fatigue, you can also save clips locally to a USB drive thanks to the included Sync Module 2. Blink says the cameras can last up to two years on just two AA batteries, too, which should make them easy to maintain over the long haul.Blink Outdoor 4 (refurbished, two-pack)$75$16555% off$75$75$16555% offThe 1080p Blink Outdoor 4 security camera offers support for motion detection, night vision, and two-way audio. Theres the option of local recording with the bundled Sync Module 2 (the newer Sync Module XR is out, but we havent tested it yet), and unlike the third-gen model, it supports person detection and has a wider field of view.$75 at AmazonMore Monday deals to mull overYou can get the Anker 321 Power Strip with a five-foot cable for as little as $13.99 ($12 off) at Amazon, which is an all-time low price. The 10-foot version is also matching its best price to date at $17.99 ($12 off). The cuboid charger has three AC outlets occupying their own sides of the block, with the fourth side dedicated to two USB-A ports and a 20W USB-C Power Delivery port. Its a great alternative to a traditional extension cable if youre looking for one thats easy to travel with.The 8Bitdo Ultimate Wireless Controller is one of the best Nintendo Switch controllers. If youve been waiting for a good chance to see for yourself why, Amazon is selling it for $50.99 ($19 off), which is only a few dollars more than the lowest price weve seen. It has a pair of drift-free Hall Effect sticks, is easily configurable with custom mappings and profiles thanks to 8Bitdos excellent software support, and lasts up to 22 hours (it comes with a charging base, too). In addition to Switch compatibility, you can also use it on Windows PCs, Steam Deck, mobile, and other devices that support Bluetooth controllers.The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is a great multi-platform gaming headset with tons of features and a hefty price tag to match. But thankfully, you can get the PlayStation version starting at $259 ($91 off) at Amazon right now, which is an all-time low. The Xbox version is also on sale for $263.99 ($86 off), which is its second-best price to date. The multiplatform headset has a retractable noise-canceling microphone, and I can confirm its comfortable to wear for hours. The included base station can charge one of two included hot-swappable batteries, but it also recharges over USB-C. It also enables PC and console connectivity (plus Bluetooth devices), includes line-in and line-out ports, and has an OLED display with a dial and button for customizing EQ, sound modes, volume levels, and more. Read our review.

Apple TV Plus will be free to stream this weekend from January 4th through the 5th. The company posted the news on social media alongside a short trailer featuring some of its top shows, with the tagline see for yourself. Apple had teased last week that it might provide some free streaming days, which the company has not offered previously.A full weekend may be enough to binge some of Apples top shows, including Severance, which has its hotly anticipated season 2 launching on January 17th. The free days could also help potential subscribers get a taste of Apples eclectic mix of sci-fi shows, such as the space race drama For All Mankind, postapocalyptic thriller Silo, and the Godzilla serial Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.Apple doesnt provide more detail than that in its teaser post, which doesnt say if the promotional period includes the entire Apple TV Plus library or only Apple Originals content. Weve reached out for more details but have not heard back before publication.Apples deal is reminiscent of HBOs free weekend offerings on cable TV. Streaming services like Netflix have also offered limited free streaming on some of their top content.

One of the big benefits of buying a Pro iPhone is currently that you get a fancy high-refresh rate OLED display, but that may become standard across the iPhone 17 lineup, according to a Weibo leak from Digital Chat Station spotted by MacRumors. The outlet notes that Digital Chat Station leaked accurate details about the iPhone 15 lines camera sensors and the display panel of the iPhone 12.The rumor is a bit vague, saying only that the base iPhone 17 will have a high refresh rate. But it follows some more specific supply chain whispers weve heard in recent months. MacRumors pointed to one in February that suggested Apple will use the same LTPO panel tech, which drives Apples variable refresh rate ProMotion iPhone 16 Pro displays, for all of next years phones. That was later echoed by others, including display supply chain analyst Ross Young in September.The next set of iPhones is also expected to replace the base model Plus iPhone with an iPhone 17 Slim in 2025, which Young suggested will have ProMotion, too. Instead of differentiating by display tech, Apple could stratify the lineup in different ways, like by giving the iPhone 17 Pro Max a smaller Face ID sensor and Dynamic Island cutout, as well as 12GB of RAM for both sizes of iPhone 17 Pro and 8GB for the standard and Slim models.The whole line is rumored to have 24MP front-facing cameras instead of the 12MP found in current iPhones, and they may all use an Apple-designed Wi-Fi / Bluetooth chip for the first time.

Jimmy Carter, the 30th president of the United States, died on Sunday at 100. Apple has now updated its homepage to pay tribute to President Carter, the longest-living president in American history. If you visit Apple.com today, youll see a full-page tribute to Carter that recognizes his life from 1924 to 2024 alongside a black-and-white image. Apple CEO Tim Cook also honored President Carter on social media yesterday: Today, we honor President Carters lifetime of service and his commitment to leaving the world better than he found it. May he rest in peace.President Carters official state funeral will be held in Washington, DC on January 9. President Biden also declared January 9 a national day of mourning and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast for 30 days. Add 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

Apples new year is about to begin, and 2025 will be an especially big one for rarely-updated products. Here are six new products coming that will have waited about three years (or more) between hardware updates.iPhone SE 4Last update: March 2022Apples preparing a huge update for its next iPhone SE model, with compelling upgrades that could make it the best iPhone for most buyers.New features for the budget iPhone include:the A18 chip that just debuted in iPhone 16Apple Intelligence supportOLED displayFace ID and a notch8GB of RAM48MP main cameraUSB-C charging portApples first in-house 5G modemApples expected to launch the new iPhone SE 4 in March 2025 as one of its first products of the year.AirTag 2Last update: April 2021The first AirTag took a very long time to debut, with years of rumors and leaks preceding itespecially throughout 2019 and 2020. It finally arrived in 2021, and now after four years, AirTag 2 is finally coming.AirTag 2 is expected to offer three main upgrades:Better rangeImproved wireless chipPrivacy enhancementsApples targeting a mid-2025 release for AirTag 2, per Mark Gurman.HomePod mini 2Last update: November 2020HomePod mini launched in 2020 as the budget smart speaker many users were waiting for. Apples standard HomePod was widely seen as overpriced, and the HomePod mini was the solution.Its been over four years since that initial HomePod mini arrived, and while Apple has added new color options over the years, the basic tech has stayed the same. At long last, the HomePod mini 2 is coming in 2025.Details on new features are scarce, but Im hoping for Apple Intelligence support and strong integration with the forthcoming HomePad product.AirPods Pro 3Last update: September 2022It almost seems unfair to say that AirPods Pro are rarely updated, since Apple has consistently added great new features in software. But on the hardware side, AirPods Pro have historically gone three years between updatesand that trend will continue when AirPods Pro 3 arrive in fall 2025.One nice thing about the rare AirPods Pro updates is that, when new hardware does arrive, so far its offered compelling change. AirPods Pro 3 are expected to get:a physical redesignthe first H3 chiplikely a heart rate sensorplus improved noise cancellation and more audio enhancementsApple Watch SE 3Last update: September 2022Apples budget Apple Watch SE, like the iPhone SE, is expected to receive a new version in 2025. Very little is known about the Apple Watch SE 3, but it should pick up several features from more recent Watch models, like a newer chip and potentially additional health sensors.Historically Apple has launched new Apple Watch SE models in September alongside its flagship watches. That may happen in 2025 too, but its also possible well see a spring debut paired with the iPhone SE 4.New Apple TV 4KLast update: November 2022The Apple TV, perhaps more than any other Apple device, has historically received very erratic and unpredictable updates. If you go back to the very first, pre-App Store version, heres how long the gaps have been between models: 3 1/2 years, 1 1/2 years, 1 year, 2 1/2 years, 2 years, 4 years, 1 year. And now, its been over 2 years and will likely end up close to 3 before the new version debuts.Mark Gurman says a new Apple TV 4K is coming in 2025, but we dont know when exactly. And all we know about it so far is that it will include Apples new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip. Expect to see a big processor speed bump too, perhaps laying the groundwork for some Apple Intelligence features in future tvOS versions.Apples rare 2025 updates: wrap-upNot every Apple product needs an annual update. But whats important is that when rare updates do arrive, Apple makes them count. There are plenty of unknown details about several of the products above, but heres hoping Apple has big things in store for these long-awaited revisions.Which of these Apple 2025 products are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 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

CNETs headline reference to a rare look inside Apples secret iPhone 16 camera labs is somewhat hyperbolic, since theres nothing secret about them: weve seen one of them a couple of times before.But the piece does, all the same, provide an interesting look at some of the testing processes used during the development of a new iPhone Our first look at Apples anechoic chamber was back in 2018, when the company showed it off to The Loop, followed by a second one just a couple of months ago, when Apple shared photos in an AirPods news release.CNET was shown some of the ways Apple tests the microphones used to record sound for iPhone videos, demonstrated with the iPhone 16.There is an array of speakers (roughly two dozen) mounted on a pipe in the shape of an arc that goes from under the wire mesh floor to the ceiling of the chamber. The speakers play a series of chimes and engineers measure what the iPhone 16 Pros mics pick up. The phone, which is mounted on a stand atop a turnable base, rotates a few degrees clockwise and the chimes play again. This continues until the iPhone has rotated in a complete circle.The result is a spherical sound profile for each mic made from the data recorded in that anechoic chamber. Apple takes these profiles and uses it as the foundation for spatial audio and other software that can reduce wind noise or make iPhone recorded audio act and sound like different kinds of microphones think a lavalier mic or in-studio mic for a voiceover.We want to enable that [Audio Mix] feature as if you record it on a lapel mic, Dave explained. We use machine learning algorithms as well as our tuning chains to come up with that signature sound that youre able to get even with lapel mics.Interestingly, while the primary judgement of the results is made by the golden ear of Apple acoustics lead Ruchir Dave, they also test the different mixes with ordinary iPhone users.As opposed to just having one person with a good ear tune the iPhones audio, Apple has a number of testers take a perceptual audio test and then uses those results to calibrate what you hear played back on your iPhone. I even got to be one of these testers while I was there and ran through a portion of the experience []Apple uses comparative testing like this much in the same way an eye doctor might have you select between two different lenses in an eye test. Without something to compare the audio to, its more of a challenge to evaluate a recording. The results from the perceptual testing help influence how the different aspects of the iPhone 16 Pros audio works, including Audio Mix.For video testing, Apple has what it calls a video verification lab essentially a way to ensure the end result will still look good when viewed under many different real-world conditions.We use this theater to tune the video playback experiences so that when you play back these videos in a dark room, in an office environment or even under the sun, that you get the same perceptual experience you will get as if youre watching a video in the theater, Sean Yang, director of video engineering at Apple, told me.The whole piece doesnt share any deep secrets, but its still an interesting look at just how much care Apple takes to sweat the small stuff.Photo: AppleAdd 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