Is this the best animation in a video game yet?

The golfer has a "target on his back" over Sun Day Red design.

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The announcement follows a year of high-profile internet blackouts that hit several companies.

This is todays edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of whats going on in the world of technology.Whats next for AI in 2025For the last couple of years weve had a go at predicting whats coming next in AI. A fools game given how fast this industry moves. But were on a roll, and were doing it again.How did we score last time round? Our four hot trends to watch out for in 2024 pretty much nailed it by including what we called customized chatbots (we didnt know it yet, but we were talking about what everyone now calls agents, the hottest thing in AI right now), generative video, and more general-purpose robots that can do a wider range of tasks.So whats coming in 2025? Here are five picks from our AI team.James ODonnell, Will Douglas Heaven & Melissa HeikkilThis piece is part of MIT Technology Reviews Whats Next series, looking across industries, trends, and technologies to give you a first look at the future. You can read the rest of them here.Stem-cell therapies that work: 10 Breakthrough Technologies 2025A quarter-century ago, researchers isolated powerful stem cells from embryos created through in vitro fertilization. These cells, theoretically able to morph into any tissue in the human body, promised a medical revolution. Think: replacement parts for whatever ails you.But stem-cell science didnt go smoothly. Even though scientists soon learned to create these make-anything cells without embryos, coaxing them to become truly functional adult tissue proved harder than anyone guessed. Now, though, stem cells are finally on the brink of delivering. Read the full story.Stem-cell therapies is one of our 10 Breakthrough Technologies for 2025, MIT Technology Reviews annual list of tech to watch. Check out the rest of the list, and cast your vote for the honorary 11th breakthroughyou have until 1 April!The must-readsIve combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.1 Meta will no longer employ fact-checkersInstead, it will outsource fact verification to its users. (NYT $)+ What could possibly go wrong!? (WSJ $)+ The third party groups it employed say they were blindsided by the decision. (Wired $)2 American workers are increasingly worried about robotsThe wave of automation threatening their jobs is only growing stronger. (FT $)+ Will we ever trust robots? (MIT Technology Review)3 NASA isnt sure how to bring Martian rocks and soil to EarthIts enormously expensive, and we cant guarantee itll contain the first evidence of extraterrestrial life we hope it does. (WP $)+ NASA is letting Trump decide how to do it(NYT $)4 Meta has abandoned its Quest Pro headsetWhat does this tell us about the state of consumer VR? Nothing good. (Fast Company $)+ Turns out people dont want to spend $1,000 on a headset. (Forbes $)5 The man who blew up a Cybertruck used ChatGPT to plan the attackHe asked the chatbot how much explosive was needed to trigger the blast. (Reuters)6 Hackers claim to have stolen a huge amount of location dataIts a nightmare scenario for privacy advocates. (404 Media)7 A bitcoin investor has been ordered to disclose secret codesFrank Richard Ahlgren III has been sentenced for tax fraud, and owes the US government more than $1 million. (Bloomberg $)8 The world is far more interconnected than we realizedNetworks of bacteria in the ocean are shedding new light on old connections. (Quanta Magazine)9 The social web isnt made for everyoneIts constant updates are a nightmare for people with cognitive decline. (The Atlantic $)+ How to fix the internet. (MIT Technology Review)10 Is Elon Musk really one of the worlds top Diablo players? His ranking suggests he plays all day, every day. (WSJ $)Quote of the dayWe have completely lost the plot.A Meta employee laments the companys decision to hire new board member Dana White, 404 Media reports.The big storyHow generative AI could reinvent what it means to playJune 2024To make them feel alive, open-world games like Red Dead Redemption 2 are inhabited by vast crowds of computer-controlled characters. These animated peoplecalled NPCs, for nonplayer charactersmake these virtual worlds feel lived in and full. Oftenbut not alwaysyou can talk to them.After a while, however, the repetitive chitchat (or threats) of a passing stranger forces you to bump up against the truth: This is just a game. Its still fun, but the illusion starts to weaken when you poke at it.It may not always be like that. Just as it is upending other industries, generative AI is opening the door to entirely new kinds of in-game interactions that are open-ended, creative, and unexpected. The game may not always have to end. Read the full story.Niall FirthWe can still have nice thingsA place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet em at me.)+ Why Feathers McGraw is cinemas most sinister villain, bar none. ($)+ Intrepid supper clubs sound terrible, but these other travel trends for 2025 are intriguing.+ Steve Young is a literal pinball wizard, restoring 70-year old machines for the future generations to enjoy.+ Its time to pay our respects to a legend: Perry, the donkey who inspired Shreks four-legged sidekick, is no more.

Apple has reportedly fired around 50 employees for misusing a charitable grants program, taking the funds for themselves as extra pay.Apple ParkApple, like other major employers, offer various grants and programs to help employees and charities. After an investigation, it appears that some employees have decided to misappropriate grant funds to line their pockiets.Around 50 employees were fired from Apple's Cupertino headquarters, for misusing the Matching Gifts program. A corporate social responsibility initiative, it is intended to match the donations of employees to non-profit organizations. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The Indonesian government says it will not lift its ban on sales of the iPhone 16 despite Apple committing to $1 billion in manufacturing within the country.Jakarta - Image credit: Tom Fisk/PexelsIndonesia has long operated what's called a local content mandate, meaning that devices sold there had to have 35%-40% of their components sourced within the country. For years, though, companies including Apple could seemingly get around that high bar by instead investing in development and jobs in the country, but not any more.Following reports of a meeting between government officials and Apple executives, Reuters says that Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita has now confirmed reports that Apple has made a deal to invest $1 billion in a new facility. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Following our previous look at an opening for a Chairperson of Graduate Architecture at The Pratt Institute School of Architecture, we are using the first 2025 edition of ourJob Highlights seriesto explore an open role on Archinect Jobs for aMuseum Technology Manager at the California Science Center.Based in Los Angeles, the role calls for a dynamic leader with a passion for delivering impactful museum installations through meticulous planning and execution. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the delivery of digital media, interactive displays, and immersive technologies, including managing project timelines, coordinating resources, and driving innovation in installation design.Among the qualifications for the role are a Bachelor's degree in museum studies, exhibit design, arts administration, theme park management, or a related field as well as three or more years experience in logistics and project management within the museum, exhibit design, expe...

The Final Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, January 24. Get your brand in front of the AEC industrys most renowned designers by submitting today.Rarely does biophilic design and acoustics intersect. This year, CSI Creative combined these two ideas with their Clay Pot Bio-Acoustic Plant Wall, which earned the prestigious Architizer A+ Popular Choice Award. This innovative product redefines how interior spaces can inspire, connect and promote well-being. Drawing from the cultural richness of handmade clay pots found in African and Central and South American traditions, at the core of the Clay Pot Wall is a commitment to sustainability and human-centric design.As part of CSI Creatives broader Acoustic Greenery category, the Clay Pot Wall exemplifies the firms innovative approach to integrating advanced materials with botanically inspired aesthetics. In this interview, Ruben Perez, Director of Studio Design at CSI Creative, shares the story behind the Clay Pot Bio-Acoustic Plant Wall and the groundbreaking Acoustic Greenery category. With over 40 years of experience in the design-build industry, Ruben brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his work, driven by the belief that exceptional design enriches lives. Join us as we explore how CSI Creative is shaping the future of interior design through products that inspire connection and elevate the human experience.Enter A+Product AwardsWhat inspired the creation of the Clay Pot Bio-Acoustic Plant Wall, and how did the cultural influence of handmade clay pots shape its design and functionality?It all began with the creation of our EARTH collection. The goal was to showcase, through our products, the diverse influences of the countries located between the Tropics (spanning the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, at approximately 23 latitude). This region is home to an incredible variety of cultures, languages and ecosystems, as well as an unparalleled richness in colors, textures and forms.For our Clay Pot Bio-Acoustic Plant Wall, we drew inspiration from the handcrafted terracotta pottery of Nigeria, reflecting the rich culture and traditions of the Nupe people in Africa.The Clay Pot Bio-Acoustic Plant Wall emphasizes a blend of natural aesthetics and acoustic performance. How does it balance visual appeal with technical innovation?The design seamlessly integrates natural visual elements with high-performance acoustic design, which absorbs and reflects sound. This approach creates a harmonious blend of color, texture and functionality within built environments.Sustainability is a key aspect of this product, from its materials to its recoverable attachment system. How does the Clay Pot Wall exemplify CSI Creatives commitment to eco-conscious design?Our multidisciplinary CSI Creative team is committed to designing and manufacturing sustainably oriented products. From material selection to manufacturing methods, and a 100% recoverable and reusable installation system, our Clay Pot Wall reflects our dedication to sustainability.The design incorporates a Soundcore (Recycled PET Felt)sound-absorbing backer, paired with PoshFelt (Premium 100% renewable, premium designer wool felt) pots that are both functional and environmentally friendly. These pots house Inherently fire-retardant ThermaLeaf greenery, offering an innovative category of biophilic design, which combines, a mix of renewable, recycled materials and one of the various forms of botanically-accurate greenery found in CSI Creatives collection of acoustic greenery architectural finishes, called Earth.What has been the response from clients and the design community to the Clay Pot Bio-Acoustic Plant Wall?We felt like a family-owned David, in a market of publicly-funded Goliaths (and their acquired brands), betting that this new product category, Acoustic Greenery, offered solutions that the A&D community had not specifically demanded, but would. It felt scary, audacious, exhilarating and a bit crazy, to be honest.Winning the 2024 Architizer A+ Award (Popular Choice. Acoustics Category) exploded interest and sales of Acoustic Greenery ceiling wall products. To cite one notable direct result, one of the most globally recognized high-end retail brands discovered us through the related Archtizer publications, and ended up adding us as one of their brand standard manufacturers in North America.Acoustic Greenery represents a revolutionary approach to combining greenery with advanced acoustic solutions. What motivated CSI Creative to pioneer this category, and how has the industry responded?The seeds of motivation leading to CSI Creatives creation of the Acoustic Greenery product category, were nurtured by Minneapolis-based Plantscape Inc. HQs spatial design, intended to promote cross-fertilization across its three brands, with all departments housed under a single roof with minimal organizational or spatial barriers in the back manufacturing zones or the front office desk workers, to maximize collaboration and learning.Everyone from architects, industrial, interior designers, engineers, marketing designers and data analysts, and all sales reps, manufacturing, horticulturalist and botanists interact all day, everyday.Given the abundance of living and proprietary thermaleaf and permaleaf replica trees and plants on-site, it didnt take long for the seeds of acoustic greenery to germinate, but it took some time to figure out how to make it easy to specify, for Division 9 subcontractors to install, etc.We really wanted our coming out collection, Earth, to express our passion for design, our unique offerings of material and skill combinations, our internal cultural diversity, and our mission to remove the unnecessary frictions preventing A&D from leveraging their superpowers to make the world a better, more sustainable, humane place through design.In short, it was not only about access to certain proprietary materials, but more about how Plantscape Inc.s core belief about the power of design, became self-filling prophecy, in which the internal spatial and organizational design at Plantscape Inc.s HQ, germinated and nurtured the seeds of innovation, transforming 50 years of experience with materials, multidisciplinary complex design and engineering challenges from two Plantscape brands, into a third, newest one, CSI Creative.Our Design Studio draws from Plantscape Lives mastery of living plant system integration (including sophisticated irrigation, drainage, and maintenance systems), Plantscape Commercial Silks engineering prowess in large-scale replica installations (incorporating structural, electrical, plumbing, and communications infrastructure through massive indoor trees), and everything in between from preserved naturalelements to hybrid solutions.This deep expertise stack means we understand how to:Engineer solutions that satisfy complex structural loads and building codesIntegrate technical systems seamlessly into biophilic designCombine living, preserved, and replica elements for optimal performanceExecute large-scale, multifaceted installations in prestigious spaces worldwideWhen paired with our proprietary technologies PoshFelt premium wool felt (178 colors + custom colors), Soundcore acoustic substrate (proven commercial performance), and ThermaLeaf (inherently fire-retardant, multi-species botanical elements) this engineering foundation enables our Design Studio to conceptualize and execute solutions that transcend typical acoustic treatments.From Disney parks to La Guardia Airport to luxury retail environments, our track record of complex installations demonstrates an unmatched ability to merge acoustic performance with sophisticated biophilic design at any scale.What are the biggest challenges and opportunities youve encountered when designing modular systems that incorporate both biophilic and acoustic elements?We knew that no matter how aesthetically impressive our innovation was, success hinged upon overcoming the natural resistance to innovations that dont neatly fit into pre-existing boxes and routines. Our goal was to make it easy for architects and designers to specify acoustic greenery products, and to ensure we shipped products pre-assembled for dummy-proof installation.As commercial clients struggle to entice workers back to the office, one of the biggest opportunity is the huge demand for biophilic design solutions, and now specifiers and their commercial clients have an entirely new way to specify botanically-accurate greenery into ceiling and wall systems, which heretofore, usually was left to the end client when adding the FF&E.A second opportunity is the growing demand for modular solutions.How do CSI Creatives patented technologies, like ThermaLeaf and Soundcore, set your Acoustic Greenery products apart in terms of safety, aesthetics and performance?Acoustic Greenery wouldnt exist without the patented technologies of ThermaLeaf, PoshFelt and Soundcore, years of testing, prototyping and manufacturing have led to a viable design solution that stands apart from conventional and uninspiring market options. Acoustic Greenery products combine layers of tested materials with diverse manufacturing technologies, resulting in a vibrant collection that excels in both design and performance.Acoustic performance is a growing consideration for designers and architects. In what ways does Acoustic Greenery contribute to healthier, more productive indoor environments?Using Biophilic Design principles as a guiding framework, and well known scientific research demonstrating the health, performance and productivity benefits of biophilic design, we developed our Acoustic Greenery collection with the goal of creating products that ultimately benefit the health and wellness of the end user. As designers, we remained consistently mindful of Nature of Space, Nature in Space and Nature Analogues as key elements in shaping healthier and more productive interior environments.Looking ahead, how do you see Acoustic Greenery evolving, and what role does CSI Creative aim to play in shaping the future of biophilic and acoustic design trends?When we first launched Acoustic Greenery, we took a calculated risk, believing designers were seeking solutions that hadnt yet been articulated where acoustic performance could truly harmonize with biophilic design.The enthusiastic response from innovative A&D firms has not only validated this vision but pushed us to explore even bolder frontiers. The integration of metal into our material portfolio marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter.Imagine the possibilities when visionary designers can combine structural elements with our acoustic and biophilic expertise to create installations that seem to defy physics massive suspended trees with integrated lighting, technology and building systems elegantly concealed within. This is just the start.The most exciting part isnt just what these technologies enable, but how they can amplify the creative visions of the architects and designers who are reimagining commercial spaces. Whether its an A&D firm pushing the boundaries of workplace design or an in-house team crafting an unforgettable brand experience, our role is to expand their palette of possibilities. We provide the engineering expertise, material innovations and multidisciplinary knowledge that helps turn their boldest concepts into reality.While we continue to provide proven acoustic solutions for everyday commercial needs, were most energized by partnerships with firms who share our appetite for innovation. Together, were not just solving acoustic challenges were creating immersive environments that change how people experience space itself.Follow in the footsteps of Sentech and other innovative brands by entering this yearsA+Product Awardsand receive major industry recognition from architects and designers worldwide:Enter A+Product AwardsThe Final Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, January 24. Get your brand in front of the AEC industrys most renowned designers by submitting today.The post Clay Pot Bio-Acoustic Plant Walls: How CSI Creative Allows Architects to Build With Nature appeared first on Journal.

Lenovo took to CES 2025 to unveil its newest handheld gaming PC: the Legion Go S. The console will be available in two versions: one running Windows 11, and the other running SteamOS. The console is a follow-up to the Lenovo Legion Go, which was first unveiled all the way back in 2023.In terms of specs, the Lenovo Legion Go S will have a 120 Hz refresh rate screen and a resolution of 1920 x 1200. Under the hood, the Legion Go S will run off a 55 Wh battery. The internal specs will depend on whether you go with the Windows 11 version or the SteamOS version of the device. The Windows 11 version of the Legion Go S will have 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage, along with a price tag of $729.99 when it hits store shelves later this month. The SteamOS version, slated for release in May, will feature 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, and a price tag of $499.99.There is also a second Windows 11 version with 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage planned for release and priced at $599.99.All variants of the Lenovo Legion Go S will run on one of AMDs newer chips the Ryzen Z2 Go. The chip, designed specially for handheld gaming devices, has four CPU cores, 12 GPU cores, and can boost up to clock speeds of 4.3 GHz. According to The Verge, Legion Go product manager Alex Zhu has stated that Lenovo is targeting a battery life of between two and two and a half hours when the Legion Go S runs heavier games.Alongside the announcement of the Legion Go S, Valve also made an announcement of its own about SteamOS growing beyond the confines of the Steam Deck. According to Valve, the SteamOS version of the Legion Go S will feature all of the software features that the Steam Deck is known for, including pre-compiled shaders. The company has stated that it will be working with Lenovo to improve compatibility with other handhelds.It is worth noting that, since SteamOS is based on Linux, the variant of the Legion Go S running on Valves operating system might face similar compatibility issues to the Steam Deck, where games with strict anti-cheat systems dont work well. Among the major games that cant be played on the Steam Deck, for example, is Destiny 2.SteamOS itself will also be getting its own beta release shortly before the launch of the Legion Go S, allowing users to try the operating system out with other handhelds.