Image: Jonathan TraynorSitting down to speak with Jonathan Traynor, a Glasgow-based artist and writer, about his newly-released book, POCA!, we were expecting a few things. Y'know the sort of stuff: how the Kickstarter went; where the idea for the book came from; hopes for the future; picks for the Top of the Pops Xmas #1; and so on.However, in spending an hour with this huge fan of all things Game Boy Camera, we find ourselves enthralled and engaged in ways we just didn't see coming. Why? Well, because at the time we'd been drinking eggnog all morning. But also, because Jonathan's passion for one of the Game Boy's coolest peripherals is infectious. You can't not find out something you didn't know about this technological marvel whilst spending an hour in this man's company.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube790kWatch on YouTube But what exactly is POCA? Well, before we got our hands on a copy of the book, we assumed it was a dinky little pocket comic about a talking Game Boy Camera (or Pocket Camera as it's known in Japan) who goes on a big day out snapping photos in Glasgow. Which would have been enough to warrant a serious investigation, let's face it.The intriguing thing here, though, is that it turns out to be more. Rather than make something that appeals only to gamers, or fans of the Game Boy specifically, this is a celebration of the love and care that went into the creation of the Pocket Camera that's welcoming to any reader. It's a heartfelt tip of the hat to composer Hirokazu "Hip" (or indeed "Chip") Tanaka that melds its gaming origins with a cool story, plus some genuinely useful tourist pointers about Glasgow. What a mix! It may also be just the beginning of a worldwide adventure for Poca himself.We hopped over to Glasgow's majestic Kelvingrove Museum where some of the book takes place to speak with Jonathan.Image: Jonathan TraynorNintendo Life: Hello there, Jonathan. Let's start off by talking about where the initial idea for POCA! came from. It immediately feels like it's something quite personal to you, so what was the initial spark?Jonathan Traynor: Around this time last year, I got an Analogue Pocket, just as a curiosity and it's the best thing I've ever bought. I instantly knew it was such a good purchase, because I obviously owned a Game Boy when I was young. And the fact that you can plug Game Boy games into this and play them straight away has been such a marvel.So, I got this, and I've recently also been taking up photography as a hobby. A couple of years back, I got my first proper, dedicated camera. Prior to that, I was just taking photographs from my phone, like anyone, but I wanted to make a more deliberate effort to take photographs of things and carry a camera around to new places that I went to.When I picked up this Analogue Pocket, one of the first things I did was find my old Game Boy Camera, and I popped it into the Analogue and it still had photographs from when I was, like, nine years old on it. Immediately I knew I had to do something with that. It has a personal aspect, absolutely, but it also takes such unique images.Images: Nintendo LifeThen from the realisation you wanted to do something, the book was the first thought? Or were there other ideas first?Initially, what I wanted to do was maybe make a photography zine or something like that. But I was also looking into the history of the development of the Game Boy Camera, and it's such a unique device when it comes to its development as well. It almost never got made, and the developers had to really try hard to pitch [and] make it. But when it came out, it also held the record as the world's smallest digital camera.I also realised that there were quite a lot of differences between the Game Boy Camera as they came out in the West, and the Pocket Camera as it was known in Japan. And one of the big differences was the branding and packaging. It's almost like a little buddy character kind of thing there, like a Tamagotchi. I just had this idea of, 'Oh, it's like this own little standalone guy with this eyeball.' And it becomes this whole other thing when you put it into a Game Boy.It was around that time I started brainstorming this idea, I could turn this into a small adventure book about a little Game Boy Camera-style character, who travels around taking photographs of places. Glasgow, as a starting point.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube790kAnd then you came up with the name Poca, which is obvious in a way, but is there more to it?I called him Poca, after Pocket Camera, and also to avoid any legal troubles. [laughs] It works pretty well as a name, doesn't it? And, you know, Pokmon was a huge thing for me, and so Pokmon and Tamagotchis and Digimon and things like that, this idea of having a little companion who grew alongside you and levelled up and gained new skills and abilities. And I thought I could bring that into Poca as a character.So that's part of the concept of this book - Poca is this little camera from the '90s. He's a little outdated and he was developed and designed to be like just like for the kids in the '90s, maybe the Game Boy Camera was the first camera they ever had. Right?Yeah, the levelling up of the character was one of our favourite parts of the book - from a gamer perspective, how he grows and gains new skills along the way. The question marks over the skills of Poca as he first boots up and comes back to life, had us excited to see how he would develop.Yeah, that was one of the aspects of it that I really wanted to drill into, how he could learn all these skills that maybe modern cameras use, things like geolocation or time and dates, or maybe eventually colour photography or something like that. As Poca levelled up and grew alongside you, he'd get better and develop.Let's talk about the Kickstarter a little bit. When did you decide to jump into Kickstarter? Was that terrifying and how did it go?It was extremely terrifying! It was the most work...I didn't realise how much work a Kickstarter is. Last year I made my very first little comic book. It was a small passion project. I made this little 60-page comic and I paid for the printing costs of that upfront, which was quite a lot, because it's not cheap to print books, as it turns out! And it was like a little black-and-white book so the costs were a bit more reasonable.But I knew going into this that the costs were going to be higher because it's a full-colour book featuring a lot of photographs and things. It has to be of a certain quality for photographs to work.It's a risk, but if you have a good idea, it can work, right? And because the book is such a good mix of things, in that it brings together the travel aspect, the tourism, the Game Boy, there's something there for people who aren't necessarily into games. You could give this to a kid as a way to enjoy sightseeing around the city, for example?Yeah, that was definitely one of the pitches for the book. That was what was important to me - I'm a massive Nintendo fan, and I'm a huge games enthusiast, but I didn't want to just make the book for gaming people. And especially the Game Boy, it's already a niche kind of subject and the fact that it's a '90s thing, who is my audience? Am I targeting 30-year-olds like myself? Or am I targeting kids?Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo LifeHow do I take this subject and make it a bit more all-around appealing to people? I thought the fact that it's centred and based around Glasgow, the city I've spent most of my life in, was a big draw as well because I loved developing this interest in taking photographs of the places I like. But also, I want to try and take these things and do something with them. So this was taking a lot of things that I've been interested in over the years, and trying to put them together into one big kind of book.We want to touch on the end-of-chapter summaries that we've already touched on a bit, but to go back to them, it's a very nice idea, with the collected characters from the current chapter, Poca's thoughts, and so on, all presented on a final round-up page. Was this always part of the plan?It was actually something that came in the latter half of development of the book, these end-of-chapter reports. I call it the Pocadex, which is obviously inspired by Pokmon. There's a lot of influences in there.I was creating chapters, and I had all these ideas for the characters that appear in each one, and what I wanted Poca to say and go through. I was finding that I was at risk of making the chapters way too long. So I thought, influenced by Pikmin and how the character Olimar writes a little end-of-day report and talks about certain things - maybe it's something that happened that day, maybe he found this item or something, or he's just talking about Pikmin in general. And I was like, 'Oh that'd be quite a cool idea like at the end of a chapter. Maybe Poca could write a little end-of-day report along those lines.Image: Hip TanakaI've also got him signing off at the end and he's got a level, like "Poca, Level 1." You know when you were a kid and you would maybe draw a picture or something, you'd always sign it "Jonathan, age 5," I thought that'd be a cute wee thing to do.And with the chapter titles, there's something going on there, too. We recognise them. We had initially guessed Super Mario Galaxy, but we were wrong! It's Pikmin 4, right? How could we not know that after guiding the game? [laughs]Well, I'm a huge Pikmin fan. Pikmin is probably my all-time favourite Nintendo franchise. I don't know if you know this, but I'm almost single-handedly responsible for bringing Pikmin back into the mainstream.[laughs]For about two years solid, every week on a Wednesday at 1pm, I would post a tweet saying that Shigeru Miyamoto had confirmed Pikmin 4 was in development. And this was in that period after Pikmin 3, where it just went silent for like about eight years. And I was, as a Pikmin fan, just like, where is it? So I just hammered it on Twitter until the day it was actually officially announced, and I was like, 'Okay, I'm done!'There are some shots of drawn characters here that got us thinking, had you planned that shot beforehand, had you got the photos in advance and then came up with a story to fit what you had? Or did figure the story out first?Yeah, 90% of the photographs were taken before the book was in development, before I'd planned out the story or the characters and stuff. A lot of the characters and story were made to fit around what I could do with the photographs. I had all these photographs around the River Clyde because I walk down there quite a lot, I'm nearby and it's a nice walk on a nice day.And this is where we got a surprise at first from the book, we learned something new (!) about the River Clyde after living here for 20 years. There's a story running through the book that involves it, right?I was trying to think of a little chapter-length story that I could put Poca through as he travels around, and I got this idea of, well, why is it called the River Clyde? I didn't really know. And I looked into it and what I discovered was that the River Clyde is named after a Celtic goddess called Clota. And as it turns out, there's not a lot known about this goddess. There are two references in historical text, or on a wall in some Roman place, referring to this goddess, and it's just carried on since then.And so I developed this idea of creating Clota as a character in the book, she could pop up and speak to Poca. I wanted this fantastical layer to the book, almost in a Spirited Away, Ghibli kind of way.One thing we've got to ask you about is the pictures of real people dotted through the book here and there. Are they friends, Kickstarter backers?There is a picture here at the beginning of Phantom Donuts, of two people. So I'm in Phantom Donuts all the time. And, then, at the end of the book, the very final chapter is set in a sushi shop called Sushi Riot. And I knew at this point what I wanted to do with the story and I knew that, not to spoil things, but Poca's story is eventually going to lead to Japan. And I thought it would be nice if the final chapter of the book had that kind of tie or that lead-in to Japan.Ok, let's get into that, so the plan is there for the next book to be in Japan? We weren't sure whether it was to be continued or not.Initially, at the beginning of the year, the idea started out as a little story about Glasgow. This summer I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to travel. Me and my partner went to Hawaii, and there was an opportunity there. At this time I was just really into taking photographs with a Game Boy Camera and stuff. I was like, 'You know what, I'm going to do it. I'm going to take my Game Boy Camera to Hawaii as well.' As we were planning this trip to Hawaii, I also tacked on a trip to Japan at the end. I had a sabbatical from work and it allowed me to do this.And before I went, I [thought], 'You know what, I could take a bunch of photographs in Hawaii, I could take a bunch of photographs in Japan, and I could make three books. I could make a Glasgow, Hawaii, and a Japan book.' And at this time, the books were still very ... I was still thinking they were just going to be short, 30-page books or something.So, when you were in Japan as well, you bought some more Pocket Cameras and you made a bit of a discovery.I knew that when I went over I was going to be looking for more. So I ended up coming back with four Game Boy cameras, including one boxed one. And this is maybe a little bit interesting, but the Game Boy had photographs on them already from other people who had owned them previously. And I felt really bad about deleting them. I didn't want to delete other people's memories and photographs.So, perhaps a little controversially, I did decide to use a few of these photographs in the book and incorporate them into the story in some way. I asked around and I put out feelers and I was like, 'Is this okay?' I don't know, is using other people's images without their permission okay? I don't even know how I would ever find these people, right? I don't know if this photograph was taken in the 1990s or 2015.I asked around and I put out feelers and I was like, 'Is this okay?'...You can go down to the market and buy photobooks of people's photographs down there. You can buy postcards people sent a hundred years ago, and I always find that quite interesting, and a little bit sad.So I thought, there's a certain level of anonymity when it comes to Game Boy Camera photographs, right? Because they're so low-resolution and black and white and stuff. You can go down to the market and buy photobooks of people's photographs down there. You can buy postcards people sent a hundred years ago, and I always find that quite interesting, and a little bit sad. I think that even if it transpired that they saw the book, they'd only be happy about it and I would love nothing more than to try and find them.You have another book here, a very cool-looking Japanese guide to the Pocket Camera, from all the way back in the day and it's full of stuff that the camera could do.This Pocket Camera guide is something I didn't really know existed until six months ago or something. Somebody on Twitter posted a picture of their very impressive Nintendo collection including all these like Game Boy cameras and stuff, and this book, and I was like, 'Oh my god, what's this book? I need to see it, I need to find it.' I ended up hunting down a copy. I was like blown away by the book. It's obviously all in Japanese.It's mostly just quite dense 'Here's what you can do with the Game Boy Camera' and all this fun stuff. You can make limited animations, you can do this, you can do that. But one of the things I did realise is that the development team for the Game Boy Camera was this very interesting group of people that came together and had a lot of passion for this project.Images: Nintendo LifeIn particular, the project was led by Hirokazu Tanaka, who's a music composer primarily, and he made a lot of Nintendo tunes that you would recognise instantly from the Game Boy era (Tetris, Super Mario Land) and the NES era (Balloon Fight, Metroid). He was the project lead on this and he ended up going on to work for Creatures Inc. [as president].So here's this big guy and he retired from all that recently, and he's now a chiptune artist. He goes around performing sets in Japan with all these stage shows. He's just an incredibly, incredibly cool guy. You can listen to his music on Spotify, it goes under the pseudonym Chip Tanaka. I was looking into it and I can tell he's still very passionate about the Game Boy Camera and the work that was put into it.We feel as though we really need to make some sort of an effort for Mr Tanaka to see this book now. You were considering this guy as you worked on it?You can see towards the end of the book, or in certain bits, there's all these little tidbits that he's written about the Game Boy Camera and then at the very end there's all these comic strips, and this was after I was developing Poca's idea, and I was looking at this, and I was thinking, 'There's something here, there's a connective tissue.'What I found out, something maybe not a lot of people know, but the Game Boy Camera has this hidden staff credits screen. It's full of secrets and easter eggs in the software, but there are games that you can play, and one of them is a button-mashing runner, and if you beat [it] under a certain amount of time, you unlock secret staff credits.Image: Nintendo LifeAnd the secret staff credits have music that Hirokazu Tanaka wrote, and it's like the most I don't know I was listening to it for the first time this summer, and I was almost tearing up. I just thought it was the most beautiful music I'd ever heard and it felt like it really...it was instantly like the theme tune to Poca for me.I was thinking, "This is everything I wanted from this project." And it's such an interesting thing. If this book reignites someone's interest in the Game Boy Camera or in Tanaka, I feel like that would make me very happy. I mean, if I could find a way to get a copy of this to him, it would definitely be like a dream come true. I feel like I made the book almost for him.Oh wow. Imagine if we could somehow make a Christmas miracle happen and get a copy of this in Mr Tanaka's hands.Right, you know that would be kind of perfect.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube790kThis interview has been lightly edited for clarity.Thanks to Jonathan Traynor for his time, and to the staff at Kelvingrove Museum, for the lovely coffee. "Poca! Vol.1 Glasgow" is now available to buy over on Kickstarter and you can follow Jonathan (@Jofamo) and Chip Tanaka (@tanac2e) on Twitter.

Paris Longchamp Racecourse | Michel DenancThe Paris Longchamp Racecourse, redesigned by Dominique Perrault, integrates historical elements with contemporary needs. Situated in the Bois de Boulogne, the project modernizes the site while respecting its cultural and natural heritage. With a focus on fluid design, heritage preservation, and sustainability, the racecourse highlights architecture that balances functionality and environmental sensitivity.Paris Longchamp Racecourse Technical InformationArchitects: Dominique Perrault ArchitecteLocation: 2, Route des Tribunes, 75116, Paris, FranceSite Area: 63 hectaresProject Year: 2011 2018Photographs: Michel Denanc, Tiago MadeiraThe architecture of the stand is in motion, like a galloping horse. A slight overhang orients the interplay of superimposed stands toward the finish line. But this gap on the racecourse side creates stands that overlook the course, while on the side of the parade ring, a balcony stand is formed. Dominique Perrault ArchitectsParis Longchamp Racecourse PhotographsExterior View | Tiago MadeiraFacade Detail | Michel DenancFacade Detail | Vincent FillonRear Facade | Vincent FillonEntrance | Vincent Fillon Tiago Madeira Tiago Madeira Vincent FillonArchitectural Concept and Design PhilosophyDominique Perraults design for the new Longchamp grandstand is a masterclass in architectural dynamism. Drawing inspiration from the elegance of a galloping horse, the grandstands levels are staggered and tilted, creating an interplay of motion and perspective. This dynamic overhang extends twenty meters towards the track, directing attention to the heart of the racecourse.The transparency of the structure embodies the concept of fluidity, eliminating traditional boundaries between front and back. Spectators are invited to flow seamlessly between views of the racecourse and the parade ring, experiencing an uninterrupted connection with the event. Materials such as golden aluminum, wood, and concrete enhance this design philosophy. The golden facade, in particular, reflects the changing light, integrating the structure harmoniously into its natural surroundings while evoking the historical elegance of the original racecourse.Perraults approach is minimalist yet impactful, emphasizing lightness and openness. The result is an architectural icon that is as visually compelling as it is functional.Integration with Landscape and HeritageThe redesign of Paris Longchamp pays homage to the historical landscape crafted by Adolphe Alphand in the 19th century. By reducing the built footprint and enhancing the surrounding greenery, the project brings the natural heritage of the Bois de Boulogne to the forefront. Over 600 trees have been preserved and planted, while expansive lawns provide a serene backdrop for visitors.Historical structures, including the Pavilion Tribune and the Totalizer, have been meticulously rehabilitated, restoring their original charm while updating them for contemporary use. The Pavilion Tribune, built in 1921, now features reopened galleries and reinforced structures, connecting the past with the present.Visual permeability has been a core principle of the landscape design. The west fringe of the racecourse now seamlessly integrates with the Bois de Boulogne, dissolving barriers and creating an inviting spatial continuum. The promenade, reminiscent of the planches of Deauville, further enhances this connection, allowing visitors to experience the gardens and architecture as a cohesive whole.Spatial Innovation and FunctionalityThe centerpiece of Perraults intervention, the new grandstand, redefines spatial innovation in racecourse design. With a seating capacity of 10,000, it offers four levels of meticulously planned spaces. These include a rooftop terrace restaurant, VIP suites, hospitality areas, and public zones. The first two levels cater to the general public, while the upper levels provide exclusive spaces for professionals and VIPs.The grandstands porosity ensures fluid movement and a sense of openness, with 360-degree views of the racecourse and surrounding landscape. The elevated pedestrian promenade, known as Planches, further enhances spatial connectivity. Stretching 5,500 meters at 4.5 meters above ground, it links key areas such as the grandstand, parade ring, and lawn while doubling as a venue for temporary events.Flexibility and adaptability are hallmarks of the design. Modular suites can be transformed to provide direct access to main lounges, and temporary pavilions can be erected for large-scale events. The new parade ring, relocated to preserve centenary trees, fosters an intimate connection between spectators and the equestrian world, free from visual barriers.Paris Longchamp Racecourse Urban ImpactEnvironmental sustainability lies at the heart of the Paris Longchamp project. The racecourse meets rigorous LEED and HQE standards, with innovative systems ensuring energy efficiency. Geothermal heating and 600 square meters of photovoltaic panels contribute to renewable energy use, aligning with the goals of Paris Climate Plan.The revitalized racecourse has also redefined urban ecological design. By prioritizing green spaces and renewable energy, the project sets a benchmark for integrating sustainability into large-scale architectural endeavors. The reduction of built structures, combined with expansive lawns and tree-lined promenades, reaffirms the racecourses commitment to ecological balance.Culturally, Paris Longchamp preserves its historical essence while evolving into a modern landmark. The thoughtful rehabilitation of historic buildings ensures the legacy of Longchamp endures, while the new structures position it as a model for future urban developments.Paris Longchamp Racecourse PlansFloor Plan | Dominique Perrault ArchitecteFloor Plan | Dominique Perrault ArchitecteFloor Plan | Dominique Perrault ArchitecteFloor Plan | Dominique Perrault ArchitecteFloor Plan | Dominique Perrault ArchitecteElevation | Dominique Perrault ArchitecteSection | Dominique Perrault ArchitecteParis Longchamp Racecourse Image GalleryAbout Dominique PerraultNotes & Additional CreditsArchitectural Design: Dominique Perrault ArchitecteEconomist: RPO, ParisStructures: Tractabel Engineering, GennevilliersFluids: Oteis, Rosny-sous-BoisFacades: Terrel, Boulogne-BillancourtAcoustics and Lighting: JP Lamoureux, ParisMuseography: Renaud Pierard, ParisClient: France Galop, Boulogne-Billancourt, FranceArchitect: Dominique Perrault Architecte (DPA/Paris)Landscape Architect: TER, ParisWinning Competition Entry: September 2011Design Studies Began: September 2012Construction Began: October 2015Foundation Stone Ceremony: March 14, 2016Completion: January 2018Inauguration: April 29, 2018Certifications: HQE (High Environmental Quality), RT2012 complianceSite Area: 63 hectares

Published December 28, 2024 8:00am EST close 'CyberGuy': Using VPNs without messing up your banking apps Tech expert Kurt Knutsson says a VPN enhances online banking security by encrypting data and protecting privacy. A virtual private network (VPN) is a useful tool that allows you to mask your IP and create a secure, encrypted connection between your device and the internet. This means you can browse the web more privately, especially when connected to a public Wi-Fi network. Another use case for VPNs is accessing sites that are blocked in your region. For example, you could be sitting in New York and accessing content on Chinese social media platforms (though I wouldnt recommend doing that). However, a VPN can sometimes have the opposite effect, blocking you from accessing content that you were otherwise able to view.I recently received an email from Carol in Douglasville, Georgia, who asked:"Why am I blocked from seeing a site when I use a VPN? I am being blocked from answering emails I receive from the VA, Social Security and government sites that I need to connect to concerning my benefits."She says she attempted changing servers and even switched to different cities within the U.S., but she still couldnt access the sites. Carol, that sounds like a serious issue. Understandably, you would want to use a VPN when visiting websites, and not being able to access them can be quite frustrating. This situation may even force you to disable your VPN, which could put you at risk. Below, Ill discuss why this happens and how you can work around the issue. A VPN on a smartphone. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)What is a VPN?Avirtual private network (VPN) is a secure connection method used to add privacy and security to private and public networks, like the internet and Wi-Fi hotspots. VPNs are often used to protect sensitive data and to ensure that online activities are safe from cyber threats. By encrypting your internet traffic and masking your online identity, a VPN provides anonymity and protects against hackers, snoopers and data breaches. It also allows you to access content that may be restricted based on your geographic location, making it a great tool for boosting your online privacy and freedom.Here are 10 reasons you need a VPN at home.Why are you not able to access certain websites when using a VPN?Website owners can decide who gets to access their sites and who doesnt. Many sites block IPs from known VPNs or data centers, especially if their content is restricted to certain countries or regions.WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?Big platforms like Netflix or banking sites often use VPN detection tools to prevent people from accessing their services anonymously. Government websites do this, too, mostly to prevent people from bypassing regional or national restrictions. For instance, in countries with strict content rules, blocking VPNs helps prevent people from accessing content the government doesn't want them to see.But even setting your VPN to a different location in the same country doesnt always work. Why? Because some sites are trying to keep cybercriminals out. VPNs can hide your identity and location, which is great for privacy but can also be misused for fraud. Government websites dealing with things like taxes, voting or benefits need to verify who you are and where youre logging in from to prevent misuse. Allowing VPNs could make it easier for fraudsters to slip through.Another reason for blocking VPNs is to keep bots at bay. Bots can use VPNs to scrape government websites or overload their systems. Blocking VPN traffic helps protect sensitive information and makes it easier to trace and authenticate real users. A VPN being used on a laptop. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)6 ways to bypass VPN blockersIf you're having trouble accessing certain sites with your VPN on, try the steps below. Start from the first step and keep going until the issue is resolved.1. Use a reliable VPN providerUsing a reliable VPN service is one of the best ways to work around VPN blocks. Not all VPNs are created equal, and choosing a high-quality provider can make a significant difference. Look for a VPN that offers obfuscated or "stealth" servers, which disguise VPN traffic to appear as regular internet usage, making it harder for detection systems to block you.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HEREA good VPN should also have a large server network with plenty of options across different locations so you can easily switch if one server is blocked. Some services even offer dedicated IP addresses, which are less likely to be flagged compared to shared ones.. A woman using a VPN on her cellphone. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)2. Switch to a different serverIf one server isnt working, try connecting to another in the same country or region. VPN providers usually have multiple servers, and switching might help you bypass the block. If this doesnt work, use obfuscated servers. These servers are designed to hide the fact that youre using a VPN. They can bypass strict VPN detection systems, especially on government or streaming websites.3. Change VPN protocolsTo bypass VPN blocks, you can change the connection protocol your device uses. VPN protocols determine how devices link to servers, and some protocols are more adept at evading detection than others.If you're facing issues accessing specific websites, switching to a different protocol may help. For instance, some protocols offer a good balance of speed and security, while others prioritize faster performance or efficiency, potentially improving your ability to bypass restrictions.For more detailed information, it's important to research which protocols are best suited for specific use cases, as the effectiveness of different protocols can vary.4. Enable Split TunnelingIf you only need the VPN for certain apps or websites, enable split tunneling in your VPN settings. This lets you access blocked sites using your regular connection while keeping the VPN active for other purposes. For example, you can enable split tunneling to watch a movie on Netflix using your regular internet connection while keeping your banking app secure with the VPN.5. Try a different VPN providerNot all VPNs are created equal. Some are better at bypassing blocks than others. If your current VPN isnt working, consider switching to one that specializes in evading detection.6. Use mobile data or another networkIf all else fails, switch to a mobile data connection or a different network. Sometimes, the issue is with your current ISP (internet service provider) rather than the VPN.Kurts key takeawayVPNs are great for getting around restrictions, but some websites have blockers to stop VPN traffic. There are a few ways to get around these blockers, and sometimes, it's just as easy as switching servers. Youll have the best chance of getting your VPN unblocked if you're using a reliable service. They keep an eye on their servers to make sure everythings running smoothly and offer extra features like dedicated IP addresses.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPHave you ever faced any issues accessing websites while using a VPN? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/ContactFor more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/NewsletterFollow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Before you sell or trash your old Android phone, you should properly delete all sensitive information. Here's the best (and simplest) way to do it.

As winters chill sets in, many seek warmth and companionship, leading to intense but fleeting ... [+] romances that often fade with the changing seasons.gettyA hibernation relationship refers to when a couple comes together during the winter months, spending significant time denning indoors, away from the cold. Its like being in a cozy bubble where they find comfort in each others company, embracing the intimacy and quiet of the season.Whether its binge-watching shows, cooking elaborate meals or spending entire weekends lounging on the couch, couples in these relationships savor the cocooning nature of winter. This seasonal closeness can feel magical.The slower pace of winter also naturally encourages introspection and bonding. With less pressure to socialize, partners often deepen their connection. Emotional intimacy grows and shared activities create a sense of closeness that can feel genuine and specialwhile it lasts. As spring approaches, the dynamic in such relationships begins to change.The Psychology Behind Hibernation RelationshipsFrom a psychological standpoint, hibernation relationships can be viewed as a response to seasonal rhythms. Winter naturally invites reflection and retreat, aligning with our need for rest and rejuvenation. During this time, the desire for physical warmth, emotional comfort and connection often leads people to seek intimate companionship.Additionally, research published in Perception suggests that perceptions of physical attractiveness can vary seasonally, with participants rating certain traits differently in winter as compared to summer. Specifically, preferences related to body shape were found to fluctuate, with higher ratings of attractiveness in the colder months and lower ratings during warmer seasons.MORE FOR YOUSimilarly, the psychological dynamics of hibernation relationships also shift as winter ends. The change in seasons often triggers a change in priorities, which can lead to the dissolution of hibernation relationships.Warmer weather brings new energy, naturally triggering a desire to re-enter the world. The spontaneity of outdoor activities, reconnecting with friends and resurgence of social events stir up a sense of restlessness and a need for novelty. A once-cozy dynamic can start to feel suffocating and the romance that flourished indoors begins to fizzle.Here are two reasons why these relationships may no longer fulfill the emotional needs of either person as spring takes hold:1. Internal Changes Echo Environmental ChangesIn the winter, couples in hibernation relationships find intimacy in the quiet, closed-off space they share. However, as winter passes, the confinement of indoor spaces, combined with the lack of external stimulation, can cause tension and a sense of stagnation in relationships.As the weather warms, they often feel the urge to seek out new social and engaging environments outside the home. This desire for novelty and activity in the outside world can unintentionally create distance, reducing the quality time spent together and making it harder to maintain connection.Katherine Milkman, a Wharton researcher, explores this idea in her work on the fresh start effect. According to her, moments like New Years, birthdays or the first day of a new season inspire motivation by offering a sense of a clean slatesomething that can be especially impactful in relationships.Milkmans research found that even subtle moments, like the first day of spring, can significantly boost goal setting. People were 3.5 times more likely to set goals on springs first day than any other, highlighting the power of seasonal shifts to motivate growth and change. This explains why couples can also feel the urge to reset and commit to new goals for their relationships.Seasonal changes can also influence hormones, affecting our emotions and physiology. For instance, a 2016 study found that testosterone levels tend to be lower in winter and rise with warmer weather.As testosterone levels increase in the spring, people may experience a heightened desire for exploration and activity, which can draw them away from a relationship that thrived during the quieter winter months. These hormonal fluctuations can make hibernation relationships feel less fulfilling as the season changes.2. Most People Enter Hibernation Relationships For The Wrong ReasonsIn some cases, one partner might expect a hibernation relationship to continue beyond the winter months, while the other views it as a temporary connection to pass the cold season. These misaligned expectations can lead to disappointment and, eventually, a breakup once spring arrives.Sometimes, a fear of being single or feeling alone can also cause us to settle for relationships were not really committed to or excited about, but enter to find security and a sense of connection. However, this rarely creates a strong enough foundation to keep couples together, as what binds them is situational, rather than stemming from aligned core values and genuine compatibility.So, the transition from winter to spring can stir up various environmental, emotional and biological factors that make the dynamics of a hibernation relationship unsustainable, leading to its eventual end.While such relationships may provide warmth and companionship during colder months, they can leave partners feeling confused or emotionally vulnerable when they fade. If one partner is caught off guard by the breakup, it can trigger feelings of abandonment or inadequacy.Hibernation relationships, like any short-term connection, require emotional maturity to navigate. Its important for partners to assess whether the relationship is based on long-term compatibility or simply a seasonal connection. Recognizing its temporary nature can help mitigate disappointment, allowing both individuals to view it as a positive chapter rather than a failure.Here are some practical strategies to navigate the tricky terrain of hibernation relationships.Communicate expectations. Both partners need to be upfront about what they want from the relationship. Are they seeking something long-term or is this just a seasonal connection? Open dialogue can help prevent misunderstandings later.Avoid over-investment. While its easy to get swept up in the warmth of a hibernation relationship, maintaining a sense of individual identity is crucial. Spending time with friends, pursuing personal hobbies and staying engaged in your own life ensures you dont become overly reliant on the relationship and stay attuned to your own needs, which helps avoid impulsive decision-making in your love life.Be prepared for change. Understanding that a dynamic based on a solely seasonal connection will likely shift when spring arrives helps manage expectations. If you only seek a short-term connection, embrace the relationship for what it is in the moment, while acknowledging that change is a natural part of life.Take time for reflection. If a hibernation relationship ends, take time to reflect on what it taught you about your emotional needs and relationship dynamics. What was fulfilling during the winter months? What did you learn about your desires for companionship?In essence, hibernation relationships may not last forever, but they can serve as an opportunity for growth, connection and exploration. These seasonal relationships offer valuable insights into the role that timing, our environment and emotional needs play in our connections with others.Does a fear of being single cause you to choose relationships that arent built to last? Take the science-backed Fear Of Being Single Scale to find out.

Squid Game season 2NetflixAfter three years, Netflixs most successful show of all time has returned in the form of Squid Game season 2. It seemed impossible the follow-up season would capture the viral magic of the original, and while viewing hours remain to be seen, it turns out that yes, this is a pretty solid season, albeit perhaps less so than the original, which is no great surprise.Squid Game season 2 excels in some ways and not in others, fattened up with what feels like filler content, which is not great for a season only seven episodes long. Most of that feels like nothing but pure set-up for the third and final season, and once you reach the end, you realize that this is more or less just one long season split in half. Spoilers will follow in this review.Seong Gi-hun has been using his billions to track down the games face-slapping recruiter to try and lead him back to those who run the games, namely the Front Man in the black mask. Similarly, Hwang Jun-ho is doing the same thing, sailing around trying to find the island to reunite with his brother (who is in fact, the Front Man).The two join forces and the plan eventually becomes that Gi-hun will be abducted and return to the island embedded with a tracker and a mercenary team he hired, run by Jun-ho, will follow him to invade the island. Unsurprisingly, things do not go according to plan. His tracker gets removed, and Gi-hun finds himself thrown back into the games again, which is where we all knew this was heading.Squid GameNetflixMORE FOR YOUWhile the season starts somewhat slow, once it returns to the games, you could make the argument that aspects of this portion of the season work better than even the original. Season 2 does a really great job of setting up a large cast of characters, each with their own motivations and personalities, in a way that season 1 didnt do quite as well. Such memorable characters include an old woman and her loser son, a rapper who keeps taking drugs and partying through the games, a transwoman looking for money for surgery and relocate out of Korea, and a woman literally about to give birth with her deadbeat boyfriend also, separately, in the games.The most significant addition is the arrival of In-ho, who we know is secretly the Front Man himself, but Gi-hun never figures it out all season. Through the end of the season, I still was not quite clear on why the Front Man would insert himself in these games, and it seems to mirror the season 1 storyline with the terminally-ill old man doing the same exact thing. Here, during an eventual player uprising, In-ho betrays some fellow players and puts the mask back on, but again, I still dont really get the purpose of this, as he could have easily died at any point before this, or at least could not have survived without giving himself away. Is this just for thrills or was there an actual reason here? If so, we dont figure it out by the finale.There is also an interesting dynamic introduced here that was not present in season 1, the ability for players to vote to leave the games after every round, which results in some dramatic sequences and eventually wild moments like sides killing each other in order to secure their numbers. Continuing the games may ultimately feel like a forgone conclusion, but its a neat mechanic that has freshened things up a bit, in addition to the new games (and they are all new, except the introductory Red Light, Green Light).Squid GameNetflixEverything that is not the games in season 2 does not work well at all. This includes the aimless storyline of Jun-ho and the mercenary team sailing around trying to find the game island now that Gi-huns tracker died. This does not become interesting until the very last second when its revealed the captain of the boat appears to be a Squid Game-hired traitor, but even then, it felt like a waste of 10 minutes per episode.Similarly, the season started with a cool idea showing the story of a North Korean defector behind one of the guard masks, rather than focusing only on the players. The guard, No-eul, finds herself at odds with other guards, including the new manager, as she stands in the way of an organ harvesting side-gig that wants preferably injured but not dead players, so they can extract valuable bits and pieces from them. She keeps killing the injured ones before they can be taken, which results in threats on her life. Then it juststops. While Im sure more is planned for her next season, it was bizarre to see this final players versus guards epic finale battle unfold and she had no role in it whatsoever. Another plotline that again, felt like a waste of 5-10 minutes an episode. And these add up.While its good that the A-plot is solid in season 2 here, having utterly useless B and C plots does bring the season down and makes it feel overstuffed despite being just seven episodes. I dont think its a bad thing the show returned, as this certainly does not feel like some disastrous follow=up. Its definitely good enough, and Im curious to see how it all ends. But yes, a lot of that initial magic has faded.Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.

Recap: Gaming studios face difficult decisions as they weigh the ever-mounting cost of cutting-edge visuals and the diminishing returns that they provide. They have to figure out a way to combine visual spectacle with engaging gameplay and sustainable development practices. For decades, giants in the gaming industry like Sony and Microsoft banked on realistic visuals to captivate audiences. This strategy has transformed once-flat pixelated worlds into immersive experiences that rival cinematic productions. However, the cost of achieving such realism has skyrocketed, leading to a reevaluation of priorities within the gaming sector.Marvel's Spider-Man 2, released in 2023, is one example. Leveraging the PlayStation 5's processing power, developers at Insomniac Games crafted a visually stunning New York City. Peter Parker's iconic suits were rendered with intricate textures, while skyscrapers reflected sunlight with remarkable accuracy.This level of detail, however, came at a steep price. The game's development reportedly cost around $300 million, more than triple the budget of its predecessor from just five years earlier.Another example of the industry's technical prowess can be seen in a particularly noteworthy scene in The Last of Us: Part II, when the protagonist Ellie removes her shirt, revealing bruises and scrapes on her back. This moment unfolds without any graphical glitches, demonstrating the painstaking attention to detail that has become a hallmark of high-budget game development. // Related StoriesWhile these visuals are impressive, they raise questions about the sustainability of such investments. Despite Spider-Man 2's commercial success, with over 11 million copies sold, Sony announced 900 layoffs in February 2024, which affected the game's developers at Insomniac.In short, the financial returns on these investments are diminishing. At the same time, audience preferences are shifting as well. Jacob Navok, a former executive at Square Enix, told The New York Times that high-fidelity visuals primarily appeal to a specific demographic of gamers in their 40s and 50s.Meanwhile, younger generations are gravitating towards games with simpler graphics but robust social features, such as Minecraft, Roblox, and Fortnite. For many young gamers, "playing is an excuse for hanging out with other people," said Joost van Dreunen, a market analyst and professor at New York University. This social aspect has become a driving force in game design and popularity.As development costs soar and player preferences evolve, some studios are exploring alternative approaches. The live service model, which prioritizes regular content updates over graphical fidelity, has gained traction. Games like Genshin Impact have found tremendous success, generating billions in revenue primarily through mobile platforms.However, this model has risks. High-profile failures like Warner Bros. Discovery's Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Sony's short-lived Concord demonstrate the challenges of entering the competitive live service market.Industry professionals are divided on the path forward. Some, like David Reitman of PricewaterhouseCoopers, see potential in artificial intelligence to reduce the costs associated with high-end graphics. Others, like independent developer Rami Ismail, are skeptical of quick technological fixes and worry about the industry's current trajectory.

TL;DR: Minecraft has long been a platform for impressive feats by modders, from recreating massive structures to running computer systems within the game. Now, a new project takes this creativity to another level by running Minecraft on COBOL, a programming language designed in 1959. While COBOL remains vital today, a shortage of developers proficient in the language has become a significant challenge. Modder meyfa recently published tools and instructions for running a Minecraft server using COBOL, a programming language created for business IT systems in the 1950s and 60s. Despite COBOL's enterprise-focused nature and the developer's lack of prior experience, this alternative version of Minecraft runs smoothly, supporting most of the game's basic features.The in-development project, called CobolCraft, doesn't yet include all Minecraft functionality. However, it does support key features such as infinite terrain generation, saving persistent world data to disk, importing existing worlds, player inventory management, and basic block functionality.Multiplayer is also supported, with up to 10 players able to join, along with features like chat, server status updates, server configuration options, and whitelisting.Also read: Face it, there is nothing that can replace COBOLWhile CobolCraft will likely never support the most complex multi-state block interactions, simpler items such as torches, slabs, stairs, doors, and beds are fully functional.The mod is primarily designed for Linux, though a platform-independent version could be made available through Docker. However, the project remains untested on Windows.Running CobolCraft on Linux requires several tools and dependencies, including cobc, make, g++, zlib, curl, and a recent version of Java. Detailed instructions can be found on the developer's Docker Hub page.Perhaps the most striking takeaway from this project is that new developers can still learn COBOL nearly 70 years after its inception. Originally designed for business systems, the language still runs on IT mainframes and handles tons of business transactions today, but finding coders knowledgeable in COBOL is becoming increasingly difficult.Related reading: Decades-old programming languages Fortran and Cobol are still thrivingMeyfa had no prior experience with COBOL before developing CobolCraft. Moreover, a game like Minecraft is ill-suited to COBOL's enterprise-oriented design, making this project an especially strenuous exercise in coding skills.CobolCraft was built using GnuCOBOL, an open-source fork that developers have maintained for over two decades. For those curious, an introductory guide to writing in GnuCOBOL is available here.Translating Minecraft into an ancient programming language is arguably another of the intriguing accomplishments in the game's history. Yet, Minecraft has long served as a testing ground for ambitious projects. Modders have previously built a recreation of the original Legend of Zelda, a Google Earth voxel converter, a PC capable of running Doom, and even a simulation of the entire known universe within the game.

Every time a new music biopic hits theaters, people make some sort of joke about howWalk Hard: The Dewey Cox Storyshould have killed the genre completely. Director James Mangold should take those comments more personally than most, given that the movieWalk Hardis most directly parodying is his 2005 Johnny Cash biopicWalk the Line.Instead of taking the suggestion to heart, though, Mangold has made another music biopic with A Complete Unknown. In a recent interview withEntertainment Weekly, Mangold explained why he didnt want to let all theWalk Hardjokes deter him.WALK HARD TrailerI foundWalk Hardhilarious, Mangold explained. But I also never understood why satire would negate making the real thing anymore. I wasnt frightened off any more than Robert Eggers should be frightened of making a monster movie in the face ofYoung Frankensteinor if another filmmaker might be frightened of making a Western in the face ofBlazing Saddles. Its unfair to say that if someone makes a satire of a genre, it somehow has put a tombstone in the genre for all time. That seems a little ludicrous to me.Recommended VideosMangold did acknowledge that the genre became slightly less popular in the wake of Walk Hard, but he didnt think that was because of the movie.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThat was just that they had run their course for that moment, he said. It takes so long to make a movie that I dont think things operate in quite the instantaneous fashion where everyone suddenly stays away.RelatedUltimately, what bothered Mangold the most aboutWalk Hardwasnt the jokes, but the fact that it got a much bigger budget than the movie it was making fun of.I was more unnerved that the studio who made the movie paid twice as much forWalk Hardand refused to pay half as much forWalk the Line, he said.He added that no filmmaker should take satire of their work too seriously. He clearly doesnt. We live in an age of such irony that sometimes theres good cliches to avoid, but theres also some things that we should hold on to, the director explained. Trope is not a negative word if you look it up.Editors Recommendations

The movie is slated for a 2025 release, and Allen said that he has already done about five hours of recording for it.