Happy New Year, Polygon readers! 2024 is dead and gone; long live 2025, or at least for the next *glares at calendar* 361 days.The year is starting off strong with a ton of highly anticipated theatrical releases, including Steven Soderberghs Presence, Leigh Whannells Wolf Man, and Den of Thieves 2: Pantera. If youre looking for something to watch from the comfort of your home, though, theres just as many options to choose from, if not more! This month, weve got a Christopher Nolan masterpiece that recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, Paul Thomas Andersons breakthrough debut starring Mark Wahlberg and Burt Reynolds, and arguably the best Batman movie ever made.Lets dive in and see what this month has in store!Editors pick: InterstellarGenre:Sci-fi dramaDirector: Christopher NolanCast:Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica ChastainIts been a decade since the initial, wildly successful release of Interstellar. Now, just a few weeks after its return to theaters in IMAX and 70mm, its on Netflix for you to enjoy as many times as you want. But if you havent seen it recently, and you missed the theatrical revival, you should still revisit Nolans galactic masterpiece.There are plenty of great reasons to give Interstellar another look, including the fact that its probably even better than you remember it being. But in the years since Oppenheimer, its become clear that Interstellar marks an interesting midpoint in Nolans career. The director has always been fascinated with time, but this is the first point in his career where he really starts to examine how time affects the humanity of his characters. Its a much more mature and dramatic approach to the concept than movies like Inception, but its also a critical experiment on the road to making his Best Picture-winning biopic too. Austen GoslinNew on NetflixMelancholia Genre:Sci-fi dramaDirector: Lars von TrierCast:Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alexander SkarsgrdLars von Triers Melancholia stars Kirsten Dunst (Marie Antoinette) as Justine, a young bride who experiences a depressive episode on the eve of her wedding. When a rogue planet known as Melancholia appears hurtling toward Earth on a collision course, Justines sister Claire struggles to maintain composure in the face of imminent disaster, while Justine navigates a strange euphoric resignation that washes over her in the planets last days. Melancholia is an achingly beautiful, somber, and harrowing journey through depression and ennui and one of von Triers finest films to date. Toussaint EganNew on HuluHeatGenre:Heist dramaDirector: Michael MannCast:Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Tom SizemoreMichael Manns 1995 crime thriller stars Al Pacino as Vincent Hanna, an eccentric and hyper-competent police detective caught in a tense cat-and-mouse struggle, and Robert De Niro as Neil McCauley, a career criminal. Its a film made of moments and set-pieces that could comprise an entire third-act finale in a lesser movie. Here, they exist in a triumphant assemblage of carefully interlocking components, working in concert with the precision of a Swiss timepiece.Pacino and De Niro deliver two of their greatest performances as a pair of obsessive workaholics whose razor-sharp proficiency at their trades comes at the cost of all they otherwise love or hold dear. Dante Spinottis cinematography transforms the vast cityscape of Los Angeles into a shimmering expanse of lights strobing across the surface of a sea of pitch darkness, a den of moral inequity from which no soul emerges wholly clean or unscathed. TENew on MaxBatman: Mask of the PhantasmGenre: Superhero dramaDirectors: Eric Radomski, Bruce TimmCast: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Dana DelanyBatman: Mask of the Phantasm is one of the greatest Batman films of all time, full stop. Initially produced by Batman: The Animated Series producers Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm as a direct-to-video feature before being released in theaters, 1993s Mask of the Phantasm pits the Dark Knight against a mysterious new enemy alongside his longtime nemesis the Joker. The film probes at the inherent tragedy and history of the character with a level of nuance and depth that few subsequent incarnations (live-action or otherwise) have successfully attempted since, conjuring a portrait of fatalistic loss and heartbreak that endures to this day. TENew on Prime VideoBoogie NightsGenre: DramaDirector: Paul Thomas AndersonCast:Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt ReynoldsTheres no other movie quite like Boogie Nights. Paul Thomas Andersons 70s-set epic is at once one of the funniest movies ever made, and one of the most tragic.The film follows nearly a dozen characters in and around the adult film industry just as the advent of mass-produced home video took over the old-world artistry that made them fall in love with the industry in the first place. Anderson presents each of these characters, and their complications and flaws, with care and love, building a beautiful world of found family and the occasional tragedy that can only come as one era of art gives way to another. AGNew on Criterion ChannelMinority ReportGenre: Sci-fi actionDirector: Steven SpielbergCast:Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha MortonThis is a slightly complicated recommendation, not because theres anything wrong with Minority Report, but rather because its the perfect jumping-off point to recommend an entire series of movies thats being highlighted on Criterion Channel this month: Surveillance Cinema. This Criterion feature is all about the surveillance state and characters who have a sneaking suspicion theyre being watched. It includes an excellent mix of absolute classics (THX 1138, The Conversation, Body Double, Gattaca, The Truman Show) and movies you may not have seen before (The Anderson Tapes, Death Watch, Sliver, The End of Violence, and Demonlover).Also included in this series is Steven Spielbergs Minority Report, and what better place to start when talking about surveillance? This paranoid thriller follows John Anderton (Tom Cruise) in a near future where nearly all crime is prevented via predictions from a few state-kept individuals with psychic powers. However, when the system accuses John of a pre-crime, he wonders whether or not his societys justice system is entirely fair or not and sets off to prove his innocence. AG

Microsoft has published a lengthy piece talking about its vision for artificial intelligence development over the next four years, under the incoming Trump administration. In the piece, the company has revealed that it's spending a total of $80 billion on AI-enabled data centers in 2025. Microsoft said it's building out the data centers to be able to train and deploy AI models, as well as to power its cloud-based applications. While that's the entirety of its budget for projects around the world, more than half of it will go towards building data centers in the United States.The company explained that none of the progress on AI the industry has achieved thus far would be possible "without new partnerships founded on large-scale infrastructure investments." It's now calling for the incoming Trump administration to expand the government's support for the advancement of AI within the US, such as providing the National Science Foundation and US universities more funding for research.Microsoft admitted in the piece that it knows AI will "disrupt the economy and displace some jobs," but it also said its "confidence has grown that AI will create new opportunities that will outweigh many of the challenges ahead." The key, Microsoft explained, is to train Americans so that they'd be able to use AI as a tool for their jobs, similar to how they're currently using smartphones and laptops. Finally, it said that the third critical priority for 2025 is the promotion of American AI exports. There will be a race between the United States and China to spread their technologies to other countries, so the US needs a smart strategy because the race "will be won by the fastest first mover."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/microsoft-is-spending-80-billion-on-data-centers-this-year-130016150.html?src=rss

Here are all of the TV shows and movies that'll be released on Apple TV Plus before January 31.

Nows the perfect time to curl up with a great movie or binge watch a new TV show, and Prime Video has something for everyone.

The GTA 6 launch is on track to be one of the biggest ever.

Want more housing market stories from Lance LambertsResiClubin your inbox?Subscribeto theResiClubnewsletter.Since the pandemic housing boom fizzled out in 2022, the number of unsold completed new homes has been on a steady climb. The number of unsold completed new single-family homes in October 2024 (113,000) was the highest level since August 2009 (118,000)although still far below the all-time high in September 2007 (194,000).This raises the question: Is rising standing inventory simply a sign that the new construction market is normalizing after a historic pandemic housing boom, or do buildersparticularly in areas where unsold inventory is increasing the mostneed to make further affordability adjustments, such as cutting prices or offering greater incentives?To get a better understanding, ResiClub rounded up three different perspectives explaining what the rise in unsold completed new home inventory means.Click here to view an interactive version of the chart below.1. Meritage Homes CEO says theyre building more spec inventory because theyre expecting a strong 2025 spring market.Speaking on CNBC in December, Phillippe Lord, CEO of publicly-traded homebuilder Meritage Homes, said that rising new home inventory isnt bearish for builders.Inventory is definitely up across all the markets, both existing home inventory is slowly coming back and then new home construction is definitely up as wellbut thats really intentional by all of us [homebuilders], Lord told CNBC. We still see an opportunity to fill that void [not enough existing home supply] by providing move-in ready inventory for all these customers that cant find that inventory in the existing home market, which is traditionally where they shop. So, a lot of new home builders are building more speculative inventory to really fill that void, and were all expecting a strong spring [2025] selling season based on what were seeing today.2. Housing analyst Kevin Erdmann thinks its a bullishnot bearishsign for builders.Most of the time, the number of completed homes for sale rises because there is demand for them. That has never been more true than it is today, Erdmann, who publishes the Erdmann Housing Tracker, tells ResiClub. Normally, we might worry that at the end of a cycle, declining sales will lead to one last, unsustainable increase in completed homes for sale. In todays market, builders need to keep working to add more completed home inventory so that sales can increase. Rising inventory is bullish [here]. 3. High standing inventory could prompt builders to offer discounts or slow down activity in Texas and Florida, suggests housing analyst Rick Palacios Jr.Homebuilders are heading into 2025 with the highest standing inventory since 2010. Elevated mortgage rates, more resale competition, and the new home industrys push toward spec construction are all contributing forces, Palacios Jr., director of research at John Burns Research and Consulting, wrote on LinkedIn last month. Standing inventory varies locally, with Florida, the Southeast, and Texas all at cycle highs according to our survey work, he writes. These three regions represent the meat of the new home market, so any strategic slowing of single-family starts due to this shifting supply backdrop will have major implications for overall industry growth numbers. Were already seeing single-family starts activity cool more than expected seasonally through November.

The median annual cost of raising a child is $22,850 across all states, according to Smart Asset. If your kids have outgrown daycare, you might assume the overwhelmingly expensive parenting years are behind you. But even though you are no longer spending the equivalent of a mortgage payment on childcare every month, that doesnt mean youre off the hook for off-the-hook child-related expenses.Not only do you now have to pay for out-of-the-blue school costs (school photos, teacher appreciation gifts, and field tripsoh, my!), but your child will also need injections of cash for extracurricular activities, socializing, unexpected medical expenses, and to replace randomly broken or lost items.Your kids may be unexpected expense factories, but you can still be prepared. Heres what you can do to make sure unpredictable child-related costs dont destroy your finances.Define emergency vs. unpredictable vs. irregularAlthough we tend to lump all costs outside of our regular monthly budget as unexpected expenses, they are not all the same kind of surprise. Understanding the differences between emergency, unpredictable, and irregular childcare expenses can help you afford all three:Emergency expenses describe the crucial expenditures that you have no way of anticipating. For example, if your kid takes a softball to the noggin, necessitating a trip to urgent care, the out-of-network copay you need to cough up would be an emergency expense.Unpredictable expenses describe the non-crucial costs that you cant necessarily anticipate. These might include having to make a last-minute clothing purchase because the middle school expects everyone to wear orange for spirit day, or having to buy birthday gifts for the three party your kid scored for the same weekend.Irregular expenses may not happen on a monthly basis, but you can predict them and plan accordingly. Camp costs, back-to-school shopping, and holiday spending are all irregular costs that can be easy to forget about, which means they feel like an unexpected expense when they do crop up.Pay yourself for daycarePart of what makes the school age expenses so tough is how hard they are to anticipate. Many of these expenses fall into the emergency or unpredictable categories. For example, theres really no way to know ahead of time that your childs adorable smile will need $4,000 worth of orthodontia. And unlike daycare, which was a regular expense that you could plan ahead for, most of the school-age kid costs feel like budget-busting surprises.But you can also use the overwhelming cost of daycare to your advantage. Instead of simply breathing a sigh of relief when youre finally out from under the monthly burden of daycare costs once your kids start kindergarten, keep paying for daycare by sending that money to a savings account earmarked for kid costs.Since you are already accustomed to working around that big expense, you wont miss the money you set aside. And even if you halve the amount you were paying to the care provider or only make a few months worth of daycare payments to your savings account, you will still be ahead of the curve when the first unpredictable or emergency cost hits.Plan ahead for irregular expensesWhile emergency and unpredictable expenses are, by their nature, unanticipated, they can feel like less of a rude awakening if you plan ahead for the irregular expenses. Be prepared by creating targeted savings for your regular irregulars.In other words, figure out how much you expect to spend on things like camp or sports fees, and divide the total by the number of months between each expense. Then set aside that monthly amount into a savings account, so youll have the full amount you need in the account when the irregular expense comes due.Get buy-in from your kidsMany of the unexpected costs of raising kids truly are optional, although it may not feel that way when your tween is moaning that they NEED to match their best friend for twin day at school and you HAVE to take them to Target to get the right outfit.For the expenses that arent crucial to your childs health, education, or ability to reach adulthood with a minimum of neuroses, ask older kids to help contribute from their allowance, birthday money, or other sources of ready cash. You could ask your kids to cover the full cost or only pay for half or a portion of these kinds of expenses. Some examples of where you can request buy-in include:Birthday presents for friendsExtracurricular activitiesReplacements for lost or destroyed itemsOptional field tripsWhile asking for this kind of buy-in doesnt necessarily improve your budget (where does their allowance come from, after all?), it does help reduce the chances of you paying for ice hockey gear that collects dust in the garage after your kid quits within two weeks.Its a good thing theyre so cuteKids are expensive! And just when you think the costs are going down, another unexpected expense blasts a giant hole in your wallet.To be better prepared for the financial onslaught, start by determining which kid-related expenses are emergency costs, which are unpredictable, and which are just irregular. With those distinctions in mind, you can set up targeted savings to prepare for your known irregular expenses, while stashing the equivalent of your monthly daycare expenses to pay for the unpredictable and emergency expenses.Finally, asking your kids to contribute to the optional expenses could help your budget and will definitely help them value these purchases more. (It also increases the likelihood of being called the meanest parent ever, which is, of course, just one of the many unavoidable occupational hazards of being a mom or a dad.)

Apple gives every iCloud user 5GB of free storage space. This storage space can be used for anythingfrom backing up your iPhone online to saving documents in the cloud to syncing photos across devices. If you need more space, you can upgrade to iCloud+ to get anywhere from 50GB of storage for just 99 cents a month to 12TB for $59.99.However, many iCloud users on the lower end of the storage spectrum find they are living dangerously close to the edge. They may only have a few gigabytes or less left in iCloud, and once that space goes, so does their ability to back up any more data.These users may also simply not realize whats taking up so much of their iCloud storage. Here are the three biggest culpritsand how to deal with them.Message attachmentsIf you use Apples iMessage (those blue bubbles) you likely have what is called Messages in iCloud enabled. This allows all your iMessages to sync across various devices. Most of us would assume that an iMessage doesnt take up that much space. After all, its just a text message. However, iMessage allows you to send photos and videos as attachments. Since iMessages can be stored forever in your iCloud account, these attached media can fill up your storage over months and years.Thankfully, you dont have to delete all your iMessages to reclaim this space. Apple allows you to delete just the attachments in a message if you wish. Heres how (but first, remember to back up and save any attachments you want to keep before deleting them from Messages in the Cloud):Open up the Messages app on your iPhone.Tap the conversation that contains the media you want to delete.Tap the contacts name at the top of the conversation thread.In the pop-up screen, tap the section that says Photos (this will include video attachments, too).Tap the Select button.Now tap on every photo and video that you want to delete.Tap the Delete button.Tap the red Delete confirmation button.Attachments sent via iMessage can be up to 100MB in size each. This means that just 10 relatively short videos sent via iMessage could take up as much as 1GB of your iCloud storage. To reclaim this space, get rid of the ones you dont want anymore.Videos in the Photos appiPhones make it incredibly easy to shoot video of anything we want, at any time. This often causes us to shoot multiple clips of the same thing, or generally just record more than is necessary.These videos are saved in the Photos app. And if you are an iCloud user, you probably have iCloud Photos enabled, which automatically uploads your media in the Photos app to your iCloud account, so they can be safely stored online and synced among devices.But unlike with Messages in the Cloud, videos stored in iCloud Photos arent limited to 100MB in size. They often take up gigabytes, especially if you choose to record them in 4K. (And 1080p videos arent much better. Just one 4-minute and 41-second video I shot in 1080p takes up 500MBhalf a gigabytein my iCloud Photos.)If you have one of the lower iCloud storage tiers, like the 50GB plan, just a few dozen videos could use up all your space. Thats why its best to review all your videos in the Photos app from time to time and delete any you dont need anymore (but, again, first, always back up any you do want to keep before deleting them from the Photos app and thus iCloud Photos). Heres how:Open the Photos app on your iPhone.Scroll down and, under the Media Types header, tap Videos. You can tap on any individual video thumbnail and then swipe up on the video itself to reveal its file size. The longer the video, the larger its file size will be.From the video thumbnails screen, tap the Select button.Tap on each video you want to delete.Tap the trash can icon.Tap the red Delete Videos confirmation button.Deleted videos will be moved to the Recently Deleted album, which you can empty right away or wait 40 days, at which point the deleted videos will be removed automatically. Once they are removed, youll reclaim precious iCloud storage space.Old, unnecessary emailsiCloud has existed for more than 13 years now. One of its biggest components is email. If you have an iCloud account, you have an @iCloud.com email address, which might be the main one you use. If thats the case, and youve been using your iCloud email for years and years, it could easily be hogging a ton of your iCloud storage space because iCloud emails and their attachments count against your storage allotment.It is always wise to keep backups of any critical emails and their attachments, and you should always do so before deleting any from the Mail app. However, many old emails are useless. So, if you dont need these emails anymore, why not delete them and reclaim some precious iCloud storage space? Heres how:Open the Mail app on your iPhone.In every folder you have (Inbox and Sent are good folders to start with), review your emails.If you find an email you no longer want, tap the trash can icon at the bottom of the message. It will be moved to the Trash folder.After deleting emails, tap on the Trash folder.To empty the trash and reclaim your storage space, tap the Select button and then the Select All button.Now tap the Delete button.Tap Delete All.Your deleted emails will not be permanently destroyed and removed from your iCloud storage.

Since the iPhone 16 hit the market a few days ago, Apple enthusiasts have been eager to experience its cutting-edge technology and innovative features. To truly enhance your interaction with this latest smartphone marvel, the right accessories can make all the difference. These additions not only boost functionality and protection but also elevate the devices aesthetic appeal. With this in mind, weve curated a selection of exceptional accessories tailored for your iPhone 16.This includes state-of-the-art protective cases that safeguard your device from everyday wear and tear, as well as advanced charging solutions designed to maximize efficiency and convenience. Each accessory is crafted to enhance your smartphones performance while adding an element of sophistication and style.1. CASETiFY Ultra Bounce CaseThe Ultra Bounce case for the iPhone 16, crafted by the renowned accessory brand CASETiFY, is the latest addition to their acclaimed Bounce series. This case is engineered to offer superior protection, as its name suggests, by incorporating advanced shock-absorbing features. Designed with durability and sustainability in mind, the Ultra Bounce case is MagSafe-compatible, ensuring seamless integration with Apples magnetic accessories.Constructed from a blend of recycled phone cases and eco-friendly plant-based materials, this case not only provides robust protection but also aligns with environmentally conscious values. Its innovative design includes raised edges around the camera lens, delivering enhanced shock absorption to protect your device from impact, particularly if it falls camera-side down.2. iPhone Retro CaseDubbed the iPhone Retro Case this unique accessory transforms your state-of-the-art smartphone into a nostalgic tribute to vintage technology. This two-part case envelops your device, giving it the look of an old-fashioned CRT monitor while still maintaining the functionality of the main camera and dynamic island features.Retron Print also designed a custom home screen complete with classic icons and widgets, allowing your phone to fully embrace its throwback transformation. While some might prefer a Macintosh-inspired theme, this particular case amusingly adopts a Windows motif, complete with a non-functional Clippy icon on the screen.3. Astropad BookcaseThe Astropad Bookcase is a unique accessory designed to provide handles on the sides of your phone, all without the need for a traditional protective case. This innovative MagSafe-compatible accessory allows you to securely attach your phone to the center of its tray-like design, offering a stable grip thats perfect for reading or browsing. Once youre finished, simply detach your phone, store the Bookcase, and continue with your day.Crafted from lightweight polycarbonate, the Bookcase ensures that it adds minimal bulk to your smartphone, maintaining the devices sleek profile. To enhance its aesthetic appeal, the accessory features accents of vegan leather, infusing a touch of style and elegance into its design. The Astropad Bookcase is ideal for those seeking convenience and sophistication in their mobile experience.4. Lyden Duo SeriesThe Lyden Duo Series (Lyden DS) iPhone 16 case elevates smartphone protection by prioritizing both functionality and sophisticated design. Engineered with practicality and user experience as its guiding principles, this case is an ideal choice for individuals looking to personalize their device while enhancing its usability.This unique case provides dependable protection, and it serves as an indispensable accessory for everyday use, seamlessly blending style with essential features. If youre looking for a handy case for your iPhone 16, then the Lyden DS Case is definitely a good bet for you.5. ClicksSay hello to Clicks a physical keyboard for iPhones! This is one of the best attempts to bring back the tactile typing experience we all crave. It isnt some old relic from the past but is a modern accessory that offers the best of what physical keyboards have to offer, while seamlessly merging with todays tech.You can attach Clicks to the bottom of an iPhone, providing a full QWERTY layout while leaving most of the screen visible. This ensures you dont lose half the display to a virtual keyboard, and the creators were able to balance the tactile feels of the buttons with the need for backlighting.6. GameBabyCalled the GameBaby this unique cover is crafted specifically for the iPhone 15 and 16 Pro Max by Bitmo Lab. This innovative accessory transforms your smartphone into a handheld gaming device reminiscent of the iconic Game Boy, providing a delightful blend of nostalgia and modern functionality.The GameBaby features a practical two-piece design. The upper section serves as a standard protective case for your iPhone, ensuring your device remains safe from everyday wear and tear. The lower section, however, is where the magic happens. It boasts physical buttons inspired by classic handheld gaming consoles, delivering a tactile gaming experience.7. VND (2-7 Stop) QuickLock FilterEnhance your smartphone photography with the Moment Mobile VND (27 Stop) QuickLock Filter, designed for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. This accessory provides you with professional-level exposure control, right at your fingertips. It is crafted with premium Schott B270 Pro Cinema Glass, this filter ensures your photos are crisp and distortion-free from edge to edge.It eliminates color fringing and cross-polarization, maintaining the integrity of your images. The filter features aerospace-grade metal rings that are precision-machined, offering exceptional durability and longevity, making it a must-have for those who enjoy clicking pictures and videos on their smartphones.8. SANDMARC Prolight Mini iPhone Camera Light SeriesThe SANDMARC Prolight Mini iPhone camera light series offers exceptional lighting solutions for your iPhone photography needs. Available in two modelsthe Prolight Mini B-Color and the Prolight Mini RGBthese lights are designed to deliver robust illumination and long-lasting battery performance.Despite their powerful capabilities, both models are compact and portable, with dimensions of approximately 2 inches in length, 3.3 inches in width, and 0.4 inches in height, making them easy to slip into your pocket for on-the-go use. The Prolight Mini B-Color provides a versatile range of warm to cool temperature tones.9. Golden Concept Capsule 16 CaseElevate your phones aesthetic with the Golden Concept Capsule 16 stainless steel iPhone 16 case, a blend of luxury and durability. Meticulously crafted from stainless steel and TPC carbon, this case offers aerospace-grade performance and resilience. It is constructed from high-strength stainless steel and TPC carbon composite.This provides the case with exceptional durability and protection for your device. This handmade case features a meticulously detailed design, embodying luxury in every aspect. It is presented in a handcrafted wooden box, with a leather-lined interior that highlights the superior craftsmanship and attention to detail.10. ESR iPhone 16 Classic Hybrid CaseThe new ESR iPhone 16 Classic Hybrid Case with Stash Stand, along with its counterparts, is specifically designed for the iPhone 16. Dubbed Classic due to its transparent back, this case allows the original color and style of the iPhone 16 to be prominently displayed. You can choose colored edges that complement the iPhones natural hue for a cohesive look.It features a back thickness of just 1.6mm and maintains the slim, sleek profile of your stylish iPhone 16 without adding unnecessary bulk. The case has an overall thickness of only 14.2mm and weighs just 42g (1.7oz), ensuring that your device remains lightweight and easy to handle.The post Top 10 Accessories To Elevate Your iPhone 16 Experience first appeared on Yanko Design.

The two top open source image creation packages duke it out.