A new leak backs up previous rumors and previous wishful thinking that the regular iPhone 17 will finally gain a ProMotion display, making it feel faster and more responsive.Render of a possible iPhone 17 designApple introduced ProMotion with the iPad Pro in 2017, dramatically improving how the screen kept up with Apple Pencil use. ProMotion can raise the display refresh rate to 120Hz where needed, and drop it to save battery power when showing static images.According to leaker Digital Chat Station on Chinese social media site Weibo, the feature will come to the regular iPhone 17 and expected iPhone 17 Slim in 2025. That's eight years since it debuted on the iPad Pro, and four since it first appeared on the iPhone with the iPhone 13 Pro. Rumor Score: Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work throughArchitizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.In the Caribbean, architecture has long served as a reflection of its diverse cultures, vibrant landscapes and the enduring interplay between tradition and modernity. From the breezy verandas of colonial-era homes to the geometric forms of mid-twentieth-century tropical modernism, the regions built environment has always responded to its unique climate and cultural context. Today, as the world grapples with climate change, urbanization and the need for more inclusive design practices, the Caribbean is emerging as a hub of architectural innovation.Architects across the region are blending sustainable strategies, cultural traditions and new technology to create spaces that honor the past while meeting the challenges of the future. The evolution of Caribbean modernism in the 21st century is marked by an intentional return to locally sourced materials, passive cooling techniques and designs that harmonize with the natural environment. Yet, this architectural movement isnt solely about functionality; its also about storytelling. Designers are weaving regional histories and identities into their projects, from reimagined public spaces that celebrate communal life to contemporary residential designs that reinterpret vernacular traditions. The following projects from across the Caribbean showcase how architects are offering a vision of modernism that is rooted in place.Caribbean Courtyard VillaBy Studio Saxe, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa RicaStudio Saxes project on the Caribbean coast of Puerto Viejo, Limon, weaves a modular network of pergolas and pavilions into the lush jungle, creating a harmonious connection between architecture and nature. Designed for the tropical climate, the pavilions are positioned among existing trees and step gently down the mountain, utilizing passive cooling, solar energy and water-efficient systems to ensure sustainability. The triangular pergolas link private and social spaces, allowing seamless circulation while blending with the surrounding vegetation, setting a new standard for bioclimatic design in Costa Rica.Liseo Bonaire, School Community BonaireBy atelier PRO architekten, Bonaire, Caribbean NetherlandsThe Liseo Boneriano high school on the Caribbean island of Bonaire has been expanded by atelier PRO architects and Jacobs Architects to address a growing student population. The new design creates a cohesive ensemble with outdoor spaces that encourage relaxed interaction between students and teachers. Designed for the local climate, the outdoor areas serve as a public domain, providing shaded, open-air spaces ideal for the islands tropical environment while enhancing the educational experience.Sail HouseBy David Hertz Architects, Studio of Environmental Architecture, Grenadines, Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesJury Winner, Private House (XL>6,000 sq ft), 10th Annual A+AwardsPerched on a ridgeline in Bequia, the Sail House is a stunning retreat that blends seamlessly with its tropical jungle surroundings. Comprising a primary residence, caretakers home and guesthouses, the design draws inspiration from the sailing culture of the Grenadines, with nautically inspired tensile roofs that provide deep shade, collect rainwater and enhance cross-ventilation for natural cooling.Prefabricated and assembled on-site, the projects aluminum structure and reclaimed ironwood finishes are both sustainable and resilient to the Caribbean climate. Entirely self-sufficient, the house generates its own electricity, collects 100% of its water and offers a harmonious indoor-outdoor living experience.Serena Del Mar HospitalBy Safdie Architects, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolvar, ColombiaThe Centro Hospitalario Serena del Mar in Cartagena is an advanced teaching hospital designed as a garden hospital, prioritizing access to nature and daylight to enhance well-being and clinical outcomes. Inpatient wings feature shallow floor plates to maximize daylight and views, while bamboo courtyards provide privacy and soothing light, enriching the experience for visitors and patients.Designed for the local climate, the hospital incorporates projecting roofs that attract breezes and offer protection from sun and rain, encouraging seamless movement between indoor and outdoor spaces. Motorized sliding shutters and recessed lighting further contribute to a calm, patient-centered environment.House in the CaribbeanBy Jamie Fobert Architects, CaribbeanDesigned in collaboration with landscape architect Todd Longstaffe-Gowan, this private family home is a serene retreat that harmonizes with its lush, tropical surroundings. The house features a crisp, square-set form clad in travertine marble, set amid a jungle-like garden with a lagoon-inspired pool. Designed for the local climate, the living room opens seamlessly onto an expansive terrace, blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. Inside, the home balances scale and simplicity, with concrete walls and floors accented by warm walnut and textured details.Villa AntioquiaBy DL+A Arquitectos, Punta Cana, Dominican RepublicVilla Antioquia, located in Punta Espada, Cap Cana, is a contemporary Caribbean summer home designed to harmonize with its stunning natural surroundings. The villa integrates open social spaces, private balconies, and lush green areas, creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living.Designed with the local climate in mind, it maximizes natural light and ventilation through skylights, large openings, and sliding glass doors, while its sloped roofs and shaded terraces offer protection from the tropical sun. The carved stone cladding and sculptural half-helix staircase enhance the villas architectural character, blending elegance with functionality for family enjoyment amidst the Caribbean landscape.Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work throughArchitizerand sign up for ourinspirational newsletters.The post Caribbean Modernism: Tropical Design Evolves for the 21st Century appeared first on Journal.

For all their ability to give the experience of enticing stories, engaging gameplay, and immersive world design, video games can also use these factors to shock us. Some of the darkest moments in any form of media are represented in video games, with their interactivity oftentimes making the anguish-able experience much more tangible than if the same thing happened in a movie or TV show. Your opinion on what constitutes dark may differ, of course, but the 15 moments discussed in this rundown are inarguably disturbing: upsetting at one end of the spectrum, downright harrowing at the other. Also, its worth pointing out that therere spoilers for the games featured.The Bloody Baron The Witcher 3: Wild HuntArguably the most morally bankrupt NPC Geralt encounters in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, The Bloody Barons history as an abuser to wife Anna and daughter Tamara is revealed during Geralts attempts to locate The Barons estranged family in exchange for information on his own daughters whereabouts. Neither of The Barons conclusions are favourable for him (or, indeed, his wife Anna); should both The Baron and Anna survive, Anna will have succumbed to madness whilst a band of witches abscond with the orphans of whom she was residing. Should Anna die, the Baron will tragically hang himself due to a lifetime of grief and guilt.

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.