Smart thermostats are one of the best ways to elevate your homes energy efficiency while staying comfortable year-round and gaining access to some great automations. Meross has just released a Matter-enabled smart thermostat that promises broad compatibility across major smart home platforms, including Apple HomeKit. Heres why the new Meross thermostat is a great option for HomeKit fans.HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apples smart home framework.What is Matter?Matter is the universal smart home standard that simplifies device compatibility across ecosystems. Whether you prefer HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Samsung SmartThings, a Matter-enabled device will work seamlessly across all these platforms. For Apple users, Matter devices integrate directly into the Home app, providing the same smooth experience as native HomeKit products. I do love the fact that as I continue to buy smart home products, I can easily switch platforms as well.This interoperability eliminates the frustration of choosing devices tied to one ecosystem, making it easier to expand your smart home setup without worrying about needing to replace devices due to lack of compatibility.Whats in the box?The Meross thermostat is built to work with approximately 95% of heating and cooling systems in the US, from single-stage furnaces to more complex multi-stage setups and heat pumps (check compatibility). If your system lacks a common wire (C wire), Meross offers an adapter to add compatibility (Nest has offered this for years). The thermostats glass panel design fits well in most homes, and you can control it directly on the device, through the Meross app, Siri, or the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.Thanks to its Matter support, the thermostat integrates easily with HomeKit. It works across any smart home ecosystem, making it a versatile option for anyone planning to future-proof their smart home setup.HomeKit automations with the Meross thermostatOne of the best aspects of adding a Matter-enabled thermostat to HomeKit is the potential for advanced automation. Here are a few ideas:Weather-Based Adjustments: When temperatures rise or fall, the thermostat can be automatically adjusted using data from a HomeKit-compatible weather station.Time-of-Day Comfort: Create a morning routine that warms up your house as you wake or a nighttime scene that lowers the temperature to help you sleep better.Room-by-Room Heating: Pair the thermostat with temperature sensors in key rooms to ensure balanced heating or cooling based on occupancy (with a HomeKit motion sensor) or time of day.Vacation Mode: Set your home to an energy-saving mode when you leave for an extended trip, then remotely adjust it as you travel home.Wrap up on Meross thermostatThis product is an easy sell for Apple users building their smart home on top of HomeKit, as it offers both convenience and compatibility. With its sleek design and wide-ranging system support, the Meross thermostat is a compelling choice for anyone looking to upgrade their home temperature control. As Matter devices become more available, theyre paving the way for a smart home thats free of vendor lock-in.The Meross thermostat is a prime example of this progress, and it is now available from the Meross store.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is availableon iTunes and Apples Podcasts app,Stitcher,TuneIn,Google Play, or through ourdedicated RSS feedfor Overcast and other podcast players.Sponsored by 9to5Mac Daily Plus: Get ad-free versions of every episode by visiting 9to5mac.com/join.New episodes of 9to5Mac Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as theyre available.Stories discussed in this episode:Listen & Subscribe:Subscribe to support Chance directly with 9to5Mac Daily Plus and unlock:Ad-free versions of every episodeBonus contentodCatch up on 9to5Mac Daily episodes!Dont miss out on our other daily podcasts:Share your thoughts!Drop us a line at happyhour@9to5mac.com. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple Intelligence arrived on compatible iPhones, iPads, and Macs via a staggered rollout. There were new features launched in both iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2. Now, we know exactly how much those additional features are costing in terms of iPhone storage space.Apple Intelligence now requires 7GB of free storage per deviceWhen the first wave of Apple Intelligence features arrived in iOS 18.1, Apple published a variety of requirements for use.Among those requirements was 4GB of available iPhone storage space.This made sense, because one of the privacy features of Apple Intelligence is that most of its features run on-device by default. And in order to do that, your device needs to download the AI modelswhich eats into your storage space.We always knew that the 4GB requirement would increase over time, as more AI features debuted.But now we know that its already almost doubled following iOS 18.2s release.Per Apples website, Apple Intelligence now requires 7GB of free storage.The same 7GB number applies whether youre using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.But it also, since each product does its own on-device processing, adds up for multi-device use.If you want to use AI features across all three devices (which Id assume most of us do), thats a grand total of 21GB of free space being used by Apple Intelligence.And unfortunately, if youre tight on storage, theres no way to reduce the requirement by disabling certain features.Why the requirement increased, and what to expect in the futureiOS 18.2 introduced big new AI features, including:Scanning this list, I understand why the storage requirement had to increase. But as more Apple Intelligence features continue arriving, on-device storage is going to become more in-demand than ever before.Looking ahead, Apple so far doesnt appear to be adding new AI features to iOS 18.3but new betas could change that.In Aprils iOS 18.4 release though, some big Siri changes are coming. Siri upgrades will undoubtedly bump the 7GB requirement even higher. We could be looking at 10GB requirements per device in just the next few months, before any of iOS 19s new features debut.Big takeaway? It may be time to start upgrading the standard storage tier you opt for with your next iPhone, iPad, or Mac purchase.Are you concerned about Apple Intelligence storage requirements? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

The secondpart of theWickedmoviewill arrive in theatersin NovemberasWicked: For Good, a title drawnfrom Elphaba and Glindas climactic duet from the WickedBroadway musical. In it, the pair singabout how, because of their relationship, they have been changed for good.Its aplay on words, of course. But its doubly fitting because the firstWicked(orWicked: Part I, if youre a stickler for onscreen title cards) is the biggest and most successful example of a kind of Hollywood blockbuster thatsexplodedin popularity in the last year: A prequel that depicts the originof an iconic moviebad guy in a story thatuncovers their relatively good beginnings, beforecharting theirlargely unintendeddescent into villainy.A few months beforeWicked showed howThe Wizard of Ozs Wicked Witch of the West began her life as a mistreated outcast, longtimeTransformersfans went to seeTransformers One, whichrevealedthatOptimus Prime and Megatronwere not lifelong enemies. As young worker bots in the mines of Cybertron, they were actually best friends. And last month, Wickedwas joined in multiplexes byMufasa: The Lion King, another tale of two formerallies who drift apart, with one becoming the ruler of the animal kingdom, and the other becoming itsfearsome adversary.MUFASA: THE LION KINGDisneyloading...READ MORE: 12 Reboots That Are Also SequelsThe parallels between these three major movies released in a stretch of just three monthsare striking. Their plot beats are largely interchangeable. Their central protagonists all start as best friends (or, in the case ofMufasa, adoptive brothers)before they are driven apart by the manipulations ofpower-hungry dictators (Jeff GoldblumsWizard inWicked; Jon Hamms Sentinel Prime inTransformers One, Mads Mikkelsens Kiros inMufasa).Transformers Onestagline Discover the Origin Behind the Rivalry could work equally well forWicked orMufasa.And main characters from all three movies shift between multiple names and identities. Galinda Upland becomes just Glinda; the bot known as D-16 rechristens himself Megatron after another powerful Transformer; the lion known as Taka laterdemands to be called Scar.Prequels are not a new concept in Hollywood The Godfather Part IIjust celebrated its 50th anniversary butin the past theytypically focused on the early days of heroes rather than villains. Both versions of the mid-2000s Exorcistprequels (Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist andExorcist: The Beginning)followedthe heroic title characterdecades prior to the events of the original film. 2013sMonsters University depictedMonsters Inc.sMike and Sulleyduring their formative college years and showed how theygrew closer, notdrifted apart like the protagonists of all of theserecent, villain-forward prequels.The same goes for the Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock of 2009sStar Trek, which was technically a prequel, a reboot, and a legacyquel all rolled into one. Come to think of it,Transformers last prequel wasBumblebee,and it was about the mostly-mute (butunquestionably heroic) Autobot.Just a few months ago, Warner Bros. releasedFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga, a more traditional prequel (at least in terms of subject) aboutthe popular warrior fromMad Max: Fury Road.Warner Bros.Warner Bros.loading...Thereare a fewprecedents for this other kind of villain-focused prequel. The most famous is surely theStar WarsPrequel Trilogy,which depicted the fall of Jedi Anakin Skywalker, and his gradual transformation into Sith Lord Darth Vader. But theStar Warsprequels werent really aboutdetailingthepreviously unrevealed goodness in a famous villain, or changing audiences preconceived notions about their motivations. Or if thatwasGeorge Lucas intention, he didnt really succeed.If anything, Anakins petulant actions in Attack of the Clones andRevenge of the Sithmake Vader seemless complex than in something likeReturn of the Jedi.TheStar Warsprequels also werent aboutmuddying up the image of the Jedieither. It showed them to be a bit naive or flat-outgullible at times but notovertly nefarious. These new prequels, in contrast, dont just make their villains seem good, they also go out of their way to make their heroes look a little bit bad at the same time.InWicked, Galinda is Shiz Universitys prototypicalmean girl,until shebegins to becomefriendswith Elphaba. AtWickeds climax, she chooses to stay and work with the Wizard who she already knows is not the benevolent leader he claims to be instead of leaving with Elphaba. And whileMufasa isa Disney movie with fairly clear-cut heroes and villains, itdoesinclude scenes whereits title character shacks up with Sarabi, even though his brother Taka totally has the hots for her, a love triangle that mirrors the one inWickedbetween Elphaba, Glinda, and the hunky Fiyero.UniversalUniversalloading...The question of whyso many similar prequels all hit theaters so close together is open to debate. The popularity of the TV seriesBetter Call Saulmight have something to do with it. Recent current events in our world could also spur armchair psychologists interestsin the origins of evil, I suppose.It seems more likely, though, that Hollywood has so thoroughly wrung every last drop of juice from the legacyquel concept in the last ten years, that they recognize they need to find something (anything!) to replace it;a novel way toexploit their oh-so-valuableintellectualproperties without simply trotting out their oldstarsfor one last adventure with a new generation of characters. How many more legacyquels could there possibly be left to make at this point? (That said: New Line, if you would like to read my 185-page treatment forAustin Powers; The Grandpa Who Shagged Me, hit me up.)These sorts of prequels also have the advantage ofrecasting recognizable characters with younger actors ones who can potentially carry franchises for years or decades,and whodontdemand legacy star salaries. Speaking of Austin Powers, the upcomingShrek sequel will cost DreamWorks a fortune invoicetalent alone surely many times more than Disney paid Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr.to playthe young Mufasa andTaka.Transformers One - EPKTransformers One - EPKloading...Wicked proved to be a major hit in theaters; its currently the sixth-biggest film of 2024 worldwide, and the third biggest in the United States behind onlyInside Out 2 andDeadpool & Wolverine and ahead of legacyquels likeBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, Twisters,Gladiator II,andGhostbusters: Frozen Empire.ButMufasastarted slowly at the box office (it has currently earned just $342 million worldwide), andTransformers One, despitesome of the best reviews in the franchises history, was a borderline box-office bomb, earningjust$130 million worldwide.Wickedwas big enough, with a sequel still on the way, that we could still see more franchisesquicklyfollow suit. But only time will tell whether this new sort of villain-centric prequelis a Hollywood change for good.Get our free mobile app12 Forgotten Movie PrequelsThese prequels were made. Then they were forgotten. Or in some cases, people never knew they existed in the first place.

Time zones: SBT (UTC +11), GMT (UTC +0), MSK (UTC +3), CEST (UTC +2), BST (UTC +1), JST (UTC +9), CST (UTC +8), WIB (UTC +7), MMT (UTC +6:30), BST (UTC +6), NPT (UTC +5:45), IST (UTC +5:30), UZT (UTC +5), IRDT (UTC +4:30), GST (UTC +4)MailerLite is one of the fastest-growing email marketing services. We help more than 1 million businesses around the world to keep in touch with their customers. Today, we are a team of more than 170 dreamers, adventurers, and world travelers passionate about what we do and believe in. And we are ready for another talented person to join the party.Were seeking a Senior Product Designer with foundational experience working on SaaS or B2C products who is eager to grow into a leader-level role. This position offers an opportunity to build a strong foundation in design and contribute to creating cohesive, user-friendly product experiences that help MailerLite stand out.In this role, youll collaborate closely with senior designers and cross-functional partners, gaining exposure to design strategy and helping improve product workflows. Were looking for someone with a passion for design, who is curious, proactive, and excited to learn and grow into a leadership position.Your focus will be on refining UX flows, supporting design research, and contributing to the creation of a unified design system. We value empathy, collaboration, and a growth mindset, and were committed to fostering an environment where you can thrive and develop your skills. Why MailerLite?Wondering why we think youll love working for MailerLite? Here are our favorite 6 reasons!You'll make the app feel LITE againSimplicity is one of our deepest values, and the design team has the mission of the utmost importance by making sure we stay true to ourselves while serving both our users and company goals.You'll grow, develop and evolveAs part of a team that's always looking for new, innovative ways to offer value for our customers, you'll constantly be experimenting, learning, and trying out new things.You'll take ownershipWe expect you to take full responsibility and ownership of your tasks. Team leads avoid micromanaging and minimize interruptions so you can stay focused on your assignments.You'll have experts at handWhenever youre stuck, your teammates with a wide range of different expertise are ready to help you grow. And theyd love for you to share your knowledge too!You'll pick where you work, every dayWe embrace the remote culture. Every day you get to choose what environment makes you most productive.You'll have stabilityWe value a stable workplace! MailerLite has been thriving for over 10 years and our year-over-year growth continues to increase.What you will work onConduct user experience research using qualitative and quantitative approachesWork closely with stakeholders to proactively identify UX challenges and opportunities through a deep understanding of product vision and requirementsUnderstand complex product workflows, distilling them into intuitive user flows, consistent component behavior, and a unified styleManage both the big-picture vision and the day-to-day challenges of building a complex user-facing productFoster a supportive environment within your close teamActively contribute to the multi-brand Design System project were establishing as a cross-team effort, led by the Design teamCollaborate with stakeholders to identify areas of synergy between our three products, MailerLite, MailerSend and MailerCheck, ensuring a unified and seamless user experienceWhat we expect from you5+ years of experience in a senior design role, with a portfolio showcasing complex products and user flowsExpertise in design tools (e.g., Figma), front-end technologies, and UX research methodsAbility to think at a high level about product strategy and translate it into Design goals and valuesAbility to structure the design process and help organize a whole teams workPositive attitude and deep empathy towards end users and team membersExcellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a knack for rallying teams around a design visionOutstanding attention to detail (if you apply, include the word lite somewhere in your application)Located in the EMEA regionBonus skillsSome experience working on multiple platforms such as mobile apps and 3rd party integrations, or developing and maintaining a Design SystemExperience in leading a design team or coaching team membersSome knowledge of HTML/CSSTeam AchievementsWe're incredibly proud of our team and love celebrating their accomplishments. At MailerLite, we believe in recognizing hard work, creativity, and collaboration.Here, we share some of the standout achievements that highlight the passion and talent within our team.Innovative DevelopmentSuccessfully launched a new, feature-rich, drag-and-drop builder for creating professional landing pages.User-Centric DesignDesigned an intuitive interface, highly rated by users for its ease of use and versatility.Rooted in researchOur team leveraged user research and prototyping to design effective onboarding flows for new users, demonstrating our commitment to user-centered design and seamless experiences.What we offerYearly gross salary range: $62,000-$72,000Remote-first culture with the team working remotely from all over the worldInternational health insurance provided with coverage in most countries. Monthly health care payout available in select countries where coverage is limitedCompany-paid retreats. Once per year we gather for a week in an exotic location to work, learn and have fun together31 days of vacation per year. We encourage you to unplug and recharge!12 paid sick days for your physical and mental well-being, no doctor's note required. Parents can use them to care for their sick children4 creative days. One paid day off per quarter to do something creative and fun12 parental days per year. Enjoy one paid day off each month to treasure time with your childrenParental leave. Enjoy paid bonding time at 100% of your salary when welcoming a new child into your family through birth or adoption - 3 months for primary caregivers and 1 month for secondary caregiversParenting budget of $1000. Celebrate the arrival of your little one, whether through childbirth or adoption, with a special gift from usJoy Budget. Annual budget to spend on whatever that brings you joyMacBook and other tools that'll help you to do your job efficientlyFor more information, visit our FAQ page.

Time zones: SBT (UTC +11), GMT (UTC +0), MSK (UTC +3), CEST (UTC +2), BST (UTC +1), JST (UTC +9), CST (UTC +8), WIB (UTC +7), MMT (UTC +6:30), BST (UTC +6), NPT (UTC +5:45), IST (UTC +5:30), UZT (UTC +5), IRDT (UTC +4:30), GST (UTC +4)MailerLite is one of the fastest-growing email marketing services. We help more than 1 million businesses around the world to keep in touch with their customers. Today, we are a team of more than 170 dreamers, adventurers, and world travelers passionate about what we do and believe in. And we are ready for another talented person to join the party.We are looking for an experienced and visionary Head of Design with a proven track record of working on SaaS web apps or B2C products, who is passionate about delivering exceptional design quality. In this role, youll collaborate closely with cross-functional partners to shape our design strategy and elevate our craft, ensuring MailerLite sets a new standard for simplicity, cohesion, and user experience.As a senior leader in the design team, youll work with another senior product designer to establish a strong design foundation and foster a culture of excellence. Youll play a key role in mentoring and empowering team members, ensuring product design becomes a strategic differentiator for MailerLite. Together, youll create processes and practices that not only raise the bar for design but also support a healthy, collaborative, and sustainable working environment.Youll partner with the CPO, product managers, and other stakeholders to influence strategy and roadmap decisions, ensuring the design perspective is represented at every stage. This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact by building a high-performing design team and delivering products that delight users and drive business success. Why MailerLite?Wondering why we think youll love working for MailerLite? Here are our favorite 6 reasons!You'll make the app feel LITE againSimplicity is one of our deepest values, and the design team has the mission of the utmost importance by making sure we stay true to ourselves while serving both our users and company goals.You'll grow, develop and evolveAs part of a team that's always looking for new, innovative ways to offer value for our customers, you'll constantly be experimenting, learning, and trying out new things.You'll take ownershipWe expect you to take full responsibility and ownership of your tasks. Team leads avoid micromanaging and minimize interruptions so you can stay focused on your assignments.You'll have experts at handWhenever youre stuck, your teammates with a wide range of different expertise are ready to help you grow. And theyd love for you to share your knowledge too!You'll pick where you work, every dayWe embrace the remote culture. Every day you get to choose what environment makes you most productive.You'll have stabilityWe value a stable workplace! MailerLite has been thriving for over 10 years and our year-over-year growth continues to increase.What you will work onConduct user experience research using qualitative and quantitative approachesWork closely with stakeholders to proactively identify UX challenges and opportunities through a deep understanding of product vision and requirementsUnderstand complex product workflows, distilling them into intuitive user flows, consistent component behavior, and a unified styleManage both the big-picture vision and the day-to-day challenges of building a complex user-facing productFoster a supportive environment within your close teamActively contribute to the multi-brand Design System project were establishing as a cross-team effort, led by the Design teamCollaborate with stakeholders to identify areas of synergy between our three products, MailerLite, MailerSend and MailerCheck, ensuring a unified and seamless user experienceWhat we expect from you5+ years of proven experience in a management position within a design teamProven ability to navigate complex user flows and projects, ideally in a data-heavy industry such as fintech, e-commerce or data analytics SaaSExpertise in design tools (e.g., Figma), front-end technologies, and UX research methods, with the ability to mentor team members in these areasAbility to think at a high level about product strategy and translate it into Design goals and valuesAbility to structure the design process and help organize a whole teams workPositive attitude and deep empathy towards end users and team membersExcellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a knack for rallying teams around a design visionOutstanding attention to detail (if you apply, include the word lite somewhere in your application)Located in the EMEA regionBonus skillsSome experience working on multiple platforms such as mobile apps and 3rd party integrationsExperience developing and maintaining a Design SystemSome knowledge of HTML/CSSTeam AchievementsWe're incredibly proud of our team and love celebrating their accomplishments. At MailerLite, we believe in recognizing hard work, creativity, and collaboration.Here, we share some of the standout achievements that highlight the passion and talent within our team.Innovative DevelopmentSuccessfully launched a new, feature-rich, drag-and-drop builder for creating professional landing pages.User-Centric DesignDesigned an intuitive interface, highly rated by users for its ease of use and versatility.Rooted in researchOur team leveraged user research and prototyping to design effective onboarding flows for new users, demonstrating our commitment to user-centered design and seamless experiences.What we offerYearly gross salary range: $72,000-$82,000Remote-first culture with the team working remotely from all over the worldInternational health insurance provided with coverage in most countries. Monthly health care payout available in select countries where coverage is limitedCompany-paid retreats. Once per year we gather for a week in an exotic location to work, learn and have fun together31 days of vacation per year. We encourage you to unplug and recharge!12 paid sick days for your physical and mental well-being, no doctor's note required. Parents can use them to care for their sick children4 creative days. One paid day off per quarter to do something creative and fun12 parental days per year. Enjoy one paid day off each month to treasure time with your childrenParental leave. Enjoy paid bonding time at 100% of your salary when welcoming a new child into your family through birth or adoption - 3 months for primary caregivers and 1 month for secondary caregiversParenting budget of $1000. Celebrate the arrival of your little one, whether through childbirth or adoption, with a special gift from usJoy Budget. Annual budget to spend on whatever that brings you joyMacBook and other tools that'll help you to do your job efficientlyFor more information, visit our FAQ page.

Awards season has arrived, and were delighted to share the latest news about our nominated projects!BAFTA LonglistThe 2025 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) announced their longlist today, and were thrilled to see two DNEG-led films, Dune: Part Two and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, included in the running for Special Visual Effects!Special Visual Effects:Dune: Part TwoFuriosa: A Mad Max SagaAlien: RomulusBeetlejuice, BeetlejuiceBetter ManCivil WarDeadpool & WolverineGladiator IIKingdom of the Planet of the ApesWickedAnd congratulations to our DNEG Animation crews for their work on That Christmas, which has been included in both the Animated Film and Childrens and Family Film categories!Animated Film:That ChristmasDespicable Me 4FlowInside Out 2Memoir of a SnailMoana 2Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most FowlThe Wild RobotChildrens and Family Film:That ChristmasFlowKensukes KingdomPiece By PieceSpellboundWallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most FowlThe Wild RobotYoung Woman and the SeaThe official BAFTA nominations are announced Wednesday, January 15th!Academy Awards ShortlistWere thrilled to share that Dune: Part Two has been shortlisted for the Best Visual Effects Oscar at the 2025 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards!As lead VFX partner on Denis Villeneuves visionary sequel, we couldnt be more proud of our teams incredible work. Huge congratulations to all for this honour!Best Visual Effects:Dune: Part TwoAlien: RomulusBetter ManCivil WarDeadpool & WolverineGladiator IIKingdom of the Planet of the ApesMufasa: The Lion KingTwistersWickedStay tuned the official nominees are announced on January 17th! Then97th Academy AwardsThe winners of the 97th Academy Awards will be announced at the Oscars ceremony, scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 2nd.Critics Choice Award NominationsThe Critics Choice Awards are given annually to honour the finest in cinematic and television achievement. Were so proud to see our DNEG VFX talent represented in this years nominations. Congratulations to our Dune: Part Two crew on this well-deserved nomination!Best Visual EffectsDune: Part TwoGladiator IIWickedBetter ManThe SubstanceKingdom of the Planet of the ApesThe winners of the 30th Critics Choice Awards will be announced Sunday, January 12th. To see the full list of categories and nominees, click here.The Astra AwardsThe Hollywood Creative Alliance Astra Awards were held on Sunday, December 8 in Los Angeles and DNEG brought home the award for Best Visual Effects for its work on Dune: Part Two!Congratulations to our team for this honour, and to all other nominees and winners of the evening!American Cinematheques Tribute To The CraftsDedicated to those who are at the very heart of filmmaking and have exhibited extraordinary work behind the camera over the past year, American Cinematheques Tribute to The Crafts has selected Dune: Part Two for the Visual Effects category this year!Congratulations to the honourees our very DNEG VFX Supervisors Stephen James and Rhys Salcombe, alongside Paul Lambert and Gerd Nefzer and to our entire Dune: Part Two team!The Saturn Awards NominationsThe Saturn Awards are presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. The awards were created to honor science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film!We were thrilled to see our teams work recognized in the below category:Best Visual/Special EffectsDune: Part TwoAlien: RomulusBeetlejuice BeetlejuiceDeadpool & WolverineGodzilla Minus OneKingdom of the Planet of the ApesTwistersCongratulations to our team, and to all other nominees! The winners will be announced February 2, 2025.The Satellite Awards NominationsThe Satellite Awards are annual awards given by the International Press Academy that are commonly noted in entertainment industry journals and blogs! We were delighted to spot our teams work on Dune: Part Two recognized with a nomination in the Best Visual Effects category.Best Visual EffectsDune: Part TwoGladiator IIKingdom Of The Planet Of The ApesMufasa: The Lion KingTwilight of the Warriors: Walled InWickedStay tuned the winners will be announced on January 26th, 2025.

If you're looking for a good reason to be a couch potato this weekend, Apple has you covered -- it's making its premium Apple TV Plus programming free for everyone with an Apple TV account. It's the perfect chance to check out popular hits like Ted Lasso, Shrinking, Severance or The Morning Show.Apple announced on Monday that it's offering free streaming of its original series and films on Apple TV Plus on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 4 and 5, with no required subscription. In a post shared on X, the Apple TV Plus account said: "This weekend, see for yourself."A separate press release from Apple said that the premium programming would be free Jan. 3 to 5, but CNET testing on Friday morning indicates that the free promotion has not yet started. It's possible that the bonus content might become available later today.Read more: Best Streaming Services of 2025Apple's promotion is likely part of an effort to attract more subscribers to its streaming platform in a market still crowded with competitors including Netflix, Prime, Hulu, Peacock and Max. Industry watchers for months have been predicting a shakeout and consolidation of streaming options.This weekend marks the first time Apple has ever offered extended free access to Apple TV Plus, although it does generally provide limited free streaming of select content, such as the first episodes of some original series.The company is also promoting a seven-day free trial for new subscribers, as well as extended trials with purchases of select hardware products. Subscriptions start at $10 a month.What could you watch this weekend on Apple TV Plus?Here are the five most popular shows on Apple TV Plus right now, according to Apple's own rankings.Silo: Based on the science-fiction trilogy by Hugh Howey, this dystopian drama starring Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Robbins takes place in a gigantic underground bunker where a community of thousands whose history has been destroyed struggles with the truth of their current situation.Shrinking: Featuring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, this comedy-drama focuses on a grieving therapist who begins to take a dramatically more active role in his patients' lives, with extremely complicated results. The show features 10 episodes in season 1, and 12 in season 2.Bad Sisters: In this black comedy from Ireland, five sisters deal with the suspicious death of one of their abusive husbands and the insurance investigation that follows. The show flips back and forth between two timelines, before and after the death, gradually revealing the secret in a season 1 finale. The second season just wrapped up before Christmas.Severance: Employees of Lumon Industries all undergo a procedure to completely separate their work and home lives in this mind-bending sci-fi drama directed by Ben Stiller and starring Adam Scott, John Turturro, Patricia Arquette and Christopher Walken. The highly anticipated second season is scheduled to launch on Jan. 17.Ted Lasso: The power of unrelenting optimism is the real star of this comedy-drama starring Jason Sudeikis as a chronically upbeat American football coach hired to lead an English soccer club. The series set the record for the most Emmy nominations (20) for the first season of a comedy show.For more, read our comprehensive review of the Apple TV Plus streaming service.

Apple on Tuesday agreed to a $95 million cash settlement in response to a class action lawsuit accusing the company of violating user privacy by retaining recordingsof unintended Siri sessions.The settlement period covers a full decade, and given the ubiquity of Apple products, there's a good chance you'll be eligible for a piece of the payout. How much that'll be will depend on the number of claimants: The higher that number goes, the less each claimant gets. Still, it will pay out a certain amount per Siri-enabled device that you own.The impact of this settlement has the potential to be wide-ranging, given the reach ofApple's product ecosystem. According to a Business of Apps report from November, citing company and market research data, there were roughly 155 million active iPhones in the US as of 2024, a number that's been steadily increasing since the product's debut. Similarly, active Apple TV streaming boxes in the US have also been increasing year to year, with over 32 million active in the US as of 2023.To find out if you're eligible for this settlement, read on. You can also find out if you're eligible for the 23andMe data leak settlement.Who sued Apple and why?This class action lawsuit,Lopez et al v. Apple Inc., was first brought against Apple in 2019, with plaintiffs alleging that they were routinely recorded by their Apple devices after unintentionally activating the Siri virtual assistant, violating their privacy in the process. They further alleged that these recordings were then sold to advertisers and used to target them with ads online.Specific incidents mentioned in the suit include plaintiffs seeing ads online for brands like Air Jordan and Olive Garden after Apple device users discussed them out loud. In some instances, plaintiffs claimed that their devices began listening to them without them having said anything at all. At least one plaintiff involved in the case was a minor when it was first filed.While agreeing to the settlement, Apple has not admitted any wrongdoing.Who is eligible for this class action settlement?The eligibility requirements for this settlement are fairly broad, as it's open to anyone who owned a Siri-enabled Apple device between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024. In order to opt in, you'll have to swear under oath that at some point during that period, you accidentally activated Siri on each device you want to get a payment for.Siri-enabled devices include iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks, iMacs, Apple TV streaming boxes, HomePod speakers and iPod Touches.How can I get from the class action settlement?Payments per device are to be capped at $20, though depending on how many people opt in to the settlement, claimants could receive less than that. Each individual can only claim payments for up to five devices.At this stage, it's unclear when payments will be disbursed and how claimants will go about opting in. The settlement terms still need to be approved by a federal judge, with a hearing on the matter now scheduled for Feb. 14.For more on Apple, see why a majority of users don't care for Apple Intelligence and find out which iOS setting can stop apps from tracking you.

Initially released in September 2021, the first season of the dystopian Netflix show Squid Game took the world by storm with a narrative featuring marginalized people fighting tooth and nail for survival for the entertainment of the rich and powerful.Naturally, this means the hit show is now featured in a crossover event with Call of Duty to celebrate the release of its second season.The Call of Duty Squid Game event kicks off on Jan. 3, 2025. While the update introduces new game modes for Black Ops 6 and Warzone, it also emphasizes monetizing content more than ever, featuring a new premium event rewards track, according to the official blog post.Here's everything you need to know about the Call of Duty Squid Game update, including when it comes out, what extras you can earn for free and which ones you'll need to pay for.When is Call of Duty Squid Game's release date and time in Black Ops 6? The new update includes skins for Squid Game guards and players alike. ActivisionThe Call of Duty Squid Game crossover islive now across all platforms. Players who have downloaded the new patch can jump into the new limited time modes and start progressing the event pass right away.The brand new Squid Game content drop launched simultaneously across Black Ops 6 and Warzone on Friday, Jan. 3. Here's when you're able to jump into the new limited-time modes (LTMs) in your time zone:Eastern Standard Time: Jan. 3, 2025 at 12 p.m.Central Standard Time: Jan. 3, 2025 at 11 a.m.Mountain Time: Jan. 3, 2025 at 10 a.m.Pacific Time: Jan. 3, 2025 at 9 a.m.PC players are able to preload new Black Ops 6 and Warzone updates ahead of time, while console players only have access to the newest patch several hours before it hits the live servers. This is the norm for Call of Duty HQ launcher's updates.Free Squid Game operator skin for everyoneThe new Squid Game crossover includes new operator skins, emblems, calling cards and more for players to earn -- and every single Black Ops 6 and Warzone player will be able to get a new operator skin without lifting a finger (or opening their wallet).The first time you open Black Ops 6 during the Squid Game crossover, you'll earn the Player 006 operator skin for Niran, which can be used in multiplayer, zombies or Warzone modes.Free rewards -- and a premium event pass This update brings a new mini battle pass to the Squid Game event. ActivisionThe new event launches with unlockable rewards -- mostly calling cards, emblems and a smattering ofdouble XP tokens-- culminating in anew weapon unlock. In this way, it is not unlike previous Black Ops 6 events.Ironically enough though, it's the Squid Game event that introduces a new way to siphon cash out of your wallet with a new premium event pass.If you want to earn the new weapon blueprints and the Front Man operator skin, you'll have to buy the new event pass -- think of it as an additional, smaller battle pass to complete that doesn't encompass an entire season.If we're unlucky enough thatextra battle passesbecome the norm, any player that cares about collecting the items from every event will need to cough up more cash for battle passes (and probably need to enter the Squid Game themselves to afford it).Squid Game LTMs bring the games to lifeNew limited-time modes for multiplayer, zombies and Warzone aim to bring the Squid Game thrill to Call of Duty, capturing the mixed feeling of childlike fun with imminent doom. These game modes are based around some of the most iconic in-show games from the Netflix series.Multiplayer There's some element of "red light, green light" in most of the LTMs. ActivisionThere are three Squid Game playlists coming to Black Ops 6 multiplayer: red light, green light, pentathlon and Squid Game moshpit.Red light, green light takes place in the Red Card stadium (finally, that wide open space is good for something) where players will play three rounds of the popular children's game.Each round is two minutes long. In the first round, no weapons are on the field -- but in rounds two and three, players will fight with melee weapons and finishing moves when Young-hee calls out "green light," drastically raising the stakes in this free-for-all.Pentathlon is an homage to a game from the newest season of Squid Game, but it's a fairly straightforward multiplayer playlist. It includes Domination, Kill Confirmed and Hardpoint game modes, as well as two new Squid Game-inspired modes.Piggy Bank Team Deathmatch is a mode that adds extra points to a piggy bank for every kill made during a match. At a certain point during the fight, the piggy bank will become accessible to all players, and the teams will have to fight to claim the extra points.Roulette is a new game mode that emulates One in the Chamber -- with a twist. As you eliminate enemies with your "one shot, one kill" pistol, there's a chance that it blows up in your hands, eliminating you as well.The final LTM is the Squid Game moshpit, which adds the piggy bank and the Roulette handgun into normal Team Deathmatch, Domination and Hardpoint modes. An additional feature unique to the moshpit playlist is the red light, green light scorestreak, which forces the enemy team to stop moving or face elimination.Zombies Dead Light, Green Light will force players to spend their points as soon as possible, rather than save them up for massive purchases later. ActivisionThe new Dead Light, Green Light LTM is available on Liberty Falls and Citadelle des Morts. The good news is that moving around during a red light won't get you shot by an armed guard. The bad news is that it'll completely ruin your points economy.That's because the entire premise of the zombies LTM hinges on giving and taking away your ability to buy armor, weapons and perks if you violate the principle of the game. During Young-hee's "green light" phase, players will earn double points, helping them run around the map and make necessary purchases much more efficiently.The "red light" phase threatens to punish players for not spending enough, as movement during this time gradually depletes accumulated points. Frankly, if you're not moving, you're probably getting nibbled on by the undead -- so it's important to spend points while you have the green light.The final twist is the special "dead light" call out, which signals that you're about to get jumped by a really nasty, ravenous horde. This is where the bigger, meaner enemies like the Abominations and the Amalgams come out, so you'll want to adequately prepare for a tough fight.Warzone Squid Game actually makes a lot of sense for a game like Call of Duty Warzone. ActivisionSquid Game is perfectly positioned for a battle royale, and Warzone is taking full advantage of that by transforming Urzikstan into an arena for a rotating set of themed challenges. As each round concludes, the worst performing squads will be eliminated, taking you a little bit closer to victory.The Warzone mode can also be interrupted by red light, green light -- meaning players can get stuck in a precarious position on the map at just about any time if they don't play strategically.New Squid Game tracer packs in the shop ActivisionIn addition to the premium event pass, three new Squid Game-themed microtransactions are being added to the Call of Duty store.The Pink Guards Tracer Pack includes the Masked Manager, Masked Soldier and Masked Worker operator skins, the Game Guard SMG blueprint, the Rule Master assault rifle blueprint and an assortment of emblems, reticles, weapon charms and calling cards. ActivisionThe VIPs Tracer Pack includes the Panther Mask VIP and Lion Mask VIP operator skins, the Choicest launcher blueprint, the Lacquered sniper rifle blueprint, the Satin Slayer SMG blueprint, the Death Plated frag grenade skin and an assortment of goodies including a finishing move, emblem, calling card and loading screen. This is by far the goofiest tracer pack in the content drop, but I'm sure it'll stop some people dead in their tracks. ActivisionFinally, there's the Young-hee Tracer Pack -- yes, you can play as the creepy "red light, green light" girl herself. In addition to the new operator skin, the bundle includes the Don't Move assault rifle blueprint, The Curator marksman rifle blueprint and a host of other odds and ends including a new finishing move, emblem, decal, spray, calling card and emote. Watch this: Everything We Expect in Gaming in 2025 05:01