Bryan C. Lee Jr., the 2025-2026 President of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), has shared a call to action for members as part of an introductory address for the new year.In it, Lee (who recently won the prestigious 2025Whitney M. Young Jr. Award)states his intentions to strengthen efforts on a number of existing committee fronts and initiatives that will ultimately lead to greater equity and progress on social causes grouped within the broader tent of design justice."For every injustice in our world, there exists an architecture, a plan, a design that has been built to sustain it. [...] Architecture has the power to speak the language of the people it serveswe simply must choose to serve those without power. Over the next two years, our organization will focus on four key pillars of action through our committees: Educate, Elevate, Empower, and Engage," a portion reads.You can read his full message here.

Dell has unveiled its latest gaming monitor under the Alienware banner. Dubbed the AW2725Q, the new display features a 27-inch 4K panel with a refresh rate of 240 Hz. Interestingly, the smaller size of the display paired with its high resolution makes the AW2725Q one of the densest QD-OLED monitors out there, with 166 pixels per inch.On the I/O side of things, the AW2725Q features an HDMI 2.1 port, and HDMI 2.0 port, and a DisplayPort 1.4 port, along with a 3.5mm audio output jack, 3 USB-A ports and a USB-C port. The screen also features 10-bit colour depth, as well as compatibility with both AMDs FreeSync and Nvidias G-Sync technologies.Other features in the monitor include AI-based technology that will attempt to prevent objects burning into the display, as well as a graphite sheet between the layers of the display panel.Interestingly, the AW2725Qs design is quite more subdued than what the Alienware line-up is typically known for. The new monitor will look sleeker on a table, especially when compared to other Alienware monitors and even desktop and laptop systems.The Alienware AW2725Q is slated to hit stores in March 2025, and will be priced at $900.

Along with its unveiling of a new line-up of graphics cards at CES 2025, Nvidia has also announced new software technologies that make use of the AI-based hardware in the new GPUs. Headlining the new features is the latest iteration of Nvidias popular DLSS.Dubbed DLSS 4, the technology is powered by the Tensor cores present in RTX graphics cards, and along with its previous features like outputting visuals at higher resolutions, now also has Multi Frame Generation. An upgrade to Frame Generation, the new Multi Frame Generation is able to generate three additional frame for every single frame rendered by the system.Nvidia claims that it can multiply a games frame rate by up to eight times over traditional rendering techniques by making use of Multi Frame Generation.DLSS 4 also features upgrades to its suite of other features, including Ray REconstruction, Super Resolution, and DLAA, all of which will now run on transformers architecture that powers AI models like ChatGPT, Flux and Gemini. This will be the first real-time application of the technology for graphics rendering.Along with DLSS 4, Nvidia has also announced Reflex 2, which the company claims is able to synchronise the work done on CPUs and GPUs in order to reduce in-game latency by up to 75 percent.It is worth noting that both of these new features will require one of Nvidias new GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards.

AMD has announced a line-up of new performance-focused CPUs in its Ryzen series, headlining which are two new X3D chips: the Ryzen 9950X3D, and the Ryzen 9900X3D, the former of which features 16 cores and 32 threads that can boost all the way up from 4.3 GHz to 5.7 GHz and features 144 MB of cache, and the latter of which has 12 cores, can boost up to 5.5 GHz from 4.4 GHz, and features 140 MB of cache.Following the line-up is also a series of new Ryzen Z2 processors. Headlining this line-up is the new Ryzen Z2 Extreme with 8 cores, a boost clock of up to 5 GHz, and 16 graphics cores. The regular Ryzen Z2 has 4 cores, boosts up to 5.1 GHz, and has 12 graphics cores. Rounding out the line-up is the Ryzen Z2 Go with 4 cores, a boost clock of up to 4.3 GHz, and 12 graphics cores.Along with these new chips, AMD also announced new high-end laptop-centric processors: the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D, the Ryzen 9 9955HX, and the Ryzen 9 9850HX. As the names might imply, the X3D variant of the Ryzen 9 9955HX features 144 MB of cache, alongside the 16 CPU cores, 2 graphics cores, and a boost clock of up to 5.4 GHz from its base speed of 2.5 GHz. The Ryzen 9 9850 HX features 12 CPU cores and 2 graphics cores, and boosts up from 3 GHz to 5.2 GHz.The new Ryzen X3D CPUs and Ryzen Z2 chips are slated for launch in Q1 2025, while the Ryzen 9000 HX chips are set for launch in the first half of 2025.

Jean Michel-Basquiat, Brook Bartlett and Bruno Bischofberger in St. Moritz on January 30, 1983 Galerie Bruno Bischofberger, Mnnedorf-Zurich, Switzerland / Photo by Christina BischofbergerThe artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, known for his subversive graffiti-inspired style, is commonly associated with New York City in the 1980s. Now, a new exhibition reveals a lesser-known source of inspiration for the visionary artist: the Swiss Alps.Titled Jean-Michel Basquiat: Engadin, the show at the Hauser & Wirth St. Moritz in Switzerland features more than a dozen works that the artist created in St. Moritz, Zurich, Appenzell and various parts of the Alpine valley region of Engadin.Sometimes the format of x artist abroad can feel a little forced, often curated to artificially engineer new audiences or markets for their work, writes theArt Newspapers Matthew Holman. But Basquiats time in the Engadin is a genuine blindspot in our understanding of one of the most studied artists of the postwar period. Jean-Michel Basquiat,The Dutch Settlers, 1982 Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat / Licensed by Artestar, New York / Nicola Erni Collection / Photo by Reto Pedrini PhotographyBasquiat first visited Switzerland in 1982 after meetingBruno Bischofberger, a Swiss art dealer who became enthralled with the artist and championed his work across Europe. The artist planned the trip to attend the opening for his own solo exhibition at Bischofbergers gallery. But when he got there, no opening had been scheduled, according toChristies. Instead, the dealer brought him to Appenzell, a setting that left a lasting impression.From then on, Jean-Michel Basquiat often visited me in Switzerland, where he particularly liked it, says Bischofberger, per the exhibition website. About half a dozen times in Zurich and exactly seven times in St. Moritz, four of them in the summer.Skifahrer, Jean-Michel Basquiat,1983 Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat / Licensed by Artestar, New York / Collection Carmignac / Photo by Thomas HennocqueOne of the most elaborate pieces on display is a nine-panel artwork called Dutch Settlers (1982). The painting combines words and symbols connected to colonialism and slavery with imagery evoking the Engadin, such as mountains, fir trees and ibexes.Surrounded by the serene snow-capped mountains, Basquiat had a new place to take a beat and channel ideas. What emerges is a contrast between the pulsating life, nightclubs, street noise and breakneck speed of the metropolis of New York and the artists discovery of slowness, writes Basquiat scholar Dieter Buchhart, per the gallery.Big Snow, Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1984 Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat / Licensed by Artestar, New York / Private collectionBasquiat also reimagined pivotal moments in history through the lens of the Swiss Alps. In Big Snow (1984), he uses the Alpine setting to explore Jesse Owens 1936 win at the Berlin Olympics. To Repel Ghosts (1986) examines themes of loneliness and spirituality, drawing inspiration from his time in Zurich and St. Moritz. Switzerland was also where Basquiat and Bischofberger began discussing the artists collaboration withAndy Warhol and Francesco Clemente.As Designbooms Kat Barandy writes, This collaboration marked a transformative period in his career, underscoring the importance of Switzerland not just as a source of inspiration but as a crucible for artistic innovation.Jean-Michel Basquiat: Engadin is on view at Hauser & Wirth St. Moritz in Switzerland through March 29, 2025.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: African American History, Andy Warhol, Art, Artists, Arts, Exhibitions, Exhibits, Painting, Switzerland, Switzerland Travel, Travel

Chamelo made a name for itself with its Aura smart glasses that can change the tint of sunglasses with a button push. Now its launching the Aura Rx, the worlds first instant electronic tint-changing prescription smart glasses. Building on the success of their flagship Aura sunglasses introduced in 2024, Aura Rx integrates prescription lenses with the companys proprietary lens technologies: Prismatic and Eclipse. I tried it out at the Pepcom Digital Experience party at CES 2025, the big tech trade show in Las Vegas this week.Aura Rx introduces the worlds first prescription eyewear with electronic color-changing and tint-adjusting lenses. Featuring PrismaticTM or EclipseTM lens technologies, users can easily switch between four colors or four different tint levels with just a touch. Built with premium materials and high-index prescription lenses, Aura Rx combines durability, precision optics, and style in a sleek design, offering optimal protection and performance.Ever since we launched Chamelo last year, the most requested feature hasnt been additional tech orstyles but simply the option to add prescription lenses to their Chamelos especially our viral,award-winning Aura frames, said Reid Covington, CEO of Chamelo, in a statement. For people whowear prescription glasses every day, its a no-brainerwhy wouldnt they want greater functionality,versatility, and style in their everyday Rx sunglasses? For the tens of thousands of Chamelo wearersglobally wanting to take advantage of our cutting-edge tech while meeting their prescription needs, weare thrilled to announce weve finally developed an amazing Rx solution at this years ConsumerElectronics Show.What makes Aura Rx truly revolutionary is the patented lens architecture, said Chase Larson, COO atChamelo, in a statement. Our flexible liquid crystal film are protected on both sides by precision crafted lenses, creating a durable prescription solution that maintains near perfect optical clarity.Cool Lens Technology Meets Premium Prescription IntegrationChamelo showed up at CES 2025 with a tint-changing Rx lens.With Chamelos new launch, users are given the opportunity for ultimate customization within the sameproduct color-changing or tint-adjusting lenses, both controlled with a tap. Perfect vision meets perfect control, featuring premium high-index lenses with a prescription range of +/- 100 to +/- 600. Advanced dual-layer lens architecture and durable anti-scratch coating provide crystal clear optics in every state.Aura Rx offers two distinct lens technologies. The Prismatic technology, a 2025 CES Innovation Awardhonoree, enables wearers to switch between four premium colorscool clear, blue, purple, and rubywith touch control activation leading to a 0.1-second color transformation. For those seeking traditional sun protection with enhanced control, the EclipseTM technology allows users to adjust between four distinct tint levels with a simple tap, maintaining perfect clarity at every level. Unlike traditional photochromic lenses that can take minutes to adjust and may not darken while driving, Aura Rx gives users instant control over their desired tint level in any environmentwhether behind thewheel, indoors, or outdoors.High-Tech Features in a Wearable, Durable PackageThe Chamelo Aura is a hit among smart glasses.Aura Rx is built to protect and designed to perform. Featuring an IPX4 rating, impact-resistant construction, anti-scratch coating, and 99.9% UV protection, users dont have to worry about daily wear. Additionally, users will typically get over a week of use on a single charge, with quick-charging to 80% in just 30 minutes. Optional lens enhancementsincluding polarization and blue light blockingare coming soon, giving users even more options for customization.Aura Rx will be available for purchase starting in February, with the option to customize the glasses in black or white frames, Eclipse or Prismatic technology, and the prescription add-on starting at $385 on Chamelos website.Daily insights on business use cases with VB DailyIf you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI.Read our Privacy PolicyThanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here.An error occured.

RadioShack, the iconic American chain of consumer electronics stores, went bankrupt in 2017. But it's back at CES 2025.Read More

Scams are everywhere. McAfees new scam detector spots and stops scams across text, email, and video to keep you from being fooled.Read More

Development costs for 2020's Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War exceeded $700mBlack Ops 3 and Modern Warfare cost $450m and $640m, respectivelyImage credit: Activision News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Jan. 7, 2025 Developing three Call of Duty titles between 2015 and 2020 cost Activision between $450m and $700m per game.In court filings seen by Game File, Activision's current head of creative on the Call of Duty franchise, Patrick Kelly, disclosed the sums, thought to be "the highest development costs ever reported by a major video game company," including information we've learned via leaks or analyst estimates.2015's Black Ops 3 cost over $450m and sold around 43m copies, whilst 2019's Modern Warfare sold fewer units - 41m - but cost significantly more at $640m.Black Ops Cold War in 2020 was even more expensive to produce again, costing over $700m and selling 30m copies.For comparison, Game File relays Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Part 2 cost around $220m, whilst CD Projekt RED's Cyberpunk 2077 cost around $330m. It is not believed that these figures are inclusive of marketing costs but do include subsequent costs attributed to DLC and post-launch content.Kelly revealed this information at a December hearing regarding the school shooting at Roob Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, in 2022, in which lawyers acting on behalf of those impacted by the shooting described Activision as "the most prolific and effective marketer of assault weapons in the United States."A spokesperson for Activision at the time said: "The Uvalde shooting was horrendous and heartbreaking in every way, and we express our deepest sympathies to the families and communities who remain impacted by this senseless act of violence. Millions of people around the world enjoy video games without turning to horrific acts."

Sony unveils prototype VR headset Xyn for "creating 3D objects for films, animation, and games"Sony says Xyn can "accurately capture the real world and seamlessly integrates with third-party tools"Image credit: Sony News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Jan. 7, 2025 Sony is launching a new "extended reality" headset called Xyn.Introduced at CES last year and debuted today, January 7, Xyn - pronounced "zin" - has been developed for "creating 3D objects for films, animation, and games" and features 4K OLED displays, video passthrough, and "support for third-party design, modelling, and production software."Sony said that by harnessing its "unique technology," Xyn can "accurately capture the real world and seamlessly integrates with a wide range of third-party tools to enable flexible workflow."As detailed by The Verge, a video of the device in action shows the headset's screen can be flipped upwards when not in use, as well as compatibility with its accompanying new app, Xyn Motion Studio.At this time, there's still no concrete release date or price point.Sony's announcement comes shortly after Meta's Quest Pro headset was formally withdrawn from sale.Sony recently increased its stake in Kadokawa Corporation, making it the FromSoftware parent's biggest shareholder.