MacworldNot that customers have stopped buying the declining iPhone, by any means, but Apple would love to correct the perception that its stopped innovating in the smartphone space. As if stung by Mark Zuckerbergs dubious criticisms, Apple will make a big push in 2025 to restore the iPhones momentum.The focus of 2025 will of course be the flagship iPhone launches in September, where (as usual) we will get four new models, but (as not usual) one of them will be super-thin and probably branded as the iPhone Air. In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman acknowledges that the slim model may not sell more units than its chunkier siblings, but insists it will get people talking. And thats the point.The key comparison for the iPhone 17 Air is against the mini models from the iPhone 12 and 13 series, and the Plus models from 14, 15, and 16. Apple knows how to sell the standard iPhone (gets the job done), iPhone Pro (connoisseurs choice), and iPhone Pro Max (the Rolls-Royce of the line), but the fourth model in the set has historically been a market challenge.The iPhone 12 and 13 mini sold so poorly that category was dropped. The Plus models must have done at least somewhat better, given that theyve lasted one whole generation longer (and some of us think theyre neat), but Apple will want more from the Air. More sales, ideally, but above all more hype. By creating the thinnest iPhone everabout 2mm thinner than the existing models, according to Gurmans sources, which is roughly a 25 percent reductionit wants customers to remember why they got excited about their first iPhone, rather than looking dutifully at the specs and trying to decide if they should upgrade their handset in 2025 or wait another year.Interestingly, however, Apple has a product to get out the door long before the iPhone 17 Air that is in many ways the polar opposite. The 4th-gen iPhone SE is expected to arrive in the spring and while it wont get as much interest from the media or marketing spend from Apple, it holds the key, as a comparatively affordable smartphone with an A18 processor, to taking Apple Intelligence into the mainstream.If pundits including Gurman are correct, it will also complicate matters slightly regarding the iPhone 17s sales pitch. Apples first in-house modem, codenamed Sinope, makes its first appearance this year not in the iPhone 17, but in the iPhone SE. That probably means improved battery performance, but you wont need to pay the big bucks to get it. Unusually generous or short-sighted? Thats debatable.But Gurman definitely thinks Apple has one eye on the future. The use of proprietary componentsboth Sinope and a new Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip called Proximawill pay off in future products, while the iPhone Air specifically could hold the key to finally tackling the foldables market. To fold, iPhones and iPads will need to have bodies and displays that are as thin as possible, Gurman writes, and the Air is a step toward that.This is a big year for the iPhone, then. But Apple will hope its the first of many.

A security researcher has worked out how to hack a proprietary USB-C controller used by Apple, an issue that could eventually lead to new iPhone jailbreaks and other security problems.USB-C on an iPhone 15As one of the more privacy and security-focused companies, Apple has become a prized target for hackers to beat. In one instance, it seems the iPhone's USB-C controller has become a risk factor.Revealed at the 38th Chaos Communication Congress in December, with information only being revealed to the public in January, researcher Thomas Roth presented a demonstration of attacking the ACE3 USB-C controller. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Allied Works has shared details of a new college art museum project on the campus of Middlebury College in Vermont. The design, which follows their superlative effort on thePalmer Museum of Art at Pennsylvania State University with Reed Hilderbrand, forms a pivotal component of the reconfiguration of the north side of the school's campus and will become part of a new 'arts agora' in unison with four other existing adjacent buildings.Allied Works' founder Brad Cloepfilsays: "Our goal is to create a place of wonder, where the architecture amplifies the place it occupies and the work it holds and inspiresa place of imagination and exploration for Middlebury and the world."Its announcement follows two similar projects for Dartmouth and Williams College. Middlebury reports this is an estimated $50 million construction that will be completed in 2028.

Development on Death Stranding 2: On the Beach seems to now be in its crunch phase. Studio boss Hideo Kojima took to social media platform X to talk about how the game is in its most demanding period of development.In his post, Kojima refers to the games development as being physical and mentally demanding, calling it crunch time. He also goes on to mention that, at this point, Kojima Productions is working on a host of different things, ranging from mixing Japanese voice recording to working on interviews, discussions, essays, and even non-game-related work.The most demanding period of game developmentboth physically and mentallycommonly known as crunch time, wrote Kojima. On top of mixing and Japanese voice recording, theres an inevitable pile of other tasks: writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and non-game-related work. Its incredibly tough.The game development industry is hardly a stranger to the concepts of crunch time, with the release of plenty of AAA titles having involved its developers on working overtime to try and hit deadlines. Crunch time, however, is widely looked down upon, since it often ends up forcing developers working on these titles to forego other important aspects of their lives, with several developers in the past having been burnt out, and ultimately, having left the industry altogether.While we may not know all the details about the development and production of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Kojima had revealed back in May 2024 that filming and recording for the game had been wrapped up, and that the title was in its adjustment phase.Kojima Production revealed the Japanese voice cast for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach back in September. Among the cast are several actors reprising their roles from the original Death Stranding, including Kenjiro Tsuda once again playing the role of protagonist Sam Porter Bridges. The game will also feature Nana Mizuki as Fragile, and Satoshi Mikami as Higgs.Among the new voice actors that will be in the games Japanese language options are Tomokazu Sugita taking on the role of Dollman, Mitsuru Miyamoto as Tarman, and Shion Wakayama as Tomorrow.From the few details that Kojima Productions has revealed about Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, it looks like it will be a wilder game than its predecessor. Among other things, the game will seemingly feature an in-game dancing event that revolves around Dollman. The game will also feature several new characters, with a trailer showing us Dollman, Tomorrow, Rainy, and Tarman.Death Stranding 2: On the Beach doesnt yet have a release date, but it is expected to come out in 2025, and will be available on PS5. For more information about the follow-up to Death Stranding, here are 10 new details about the game. In case youre worried about not having experienced the original before diving into the sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will also include a recap of the first game to help get players up to speed.A specific release date for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is expected to be announced some time this year, and will likely coincide with one of the bigger gaming events.The most demanding period of game developmentboth physically and mentallycommonly known as crunch time. On top of mixing and Japanese voice recording, theres an inevitable pile of other tasks: writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and https://t.co/FrXRgaS748 HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) January 10, 2025

R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant. Photo by Randy Hoffmann via the City of Torontos websiteSubmissions are still being accepted to participate in the 2025 edition of Doors Open Toronto.Doors Open Toronto is an annual event organized by the City of Toronto in partnership with the wider community, and provides rare public access for one weekend to architecturally and culturally significant buildings across the city.More than 150 buildings and sites open their doors for this celebration around the city that is recognized as one of Torontos most culturally significant events.The theme for 2025 is The City is Your Playground; Get Ready to Play, which aims to exploreTorontos playful development through the citys most architecturally, historically, culturally and socially significant buildings and sites.From sports to music to theatre, Doors Open sites and programming will engage with the joyful, irreverent and sometimes serious times of play. Visitors will explore the many sides of our playful city for kids of all ages, reads the City of Torontos website.Developed as a millennium project in 2000, Doors Open Toronto has attracted over two million visits since, and has given people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to learn about Torontos history, become involved, and celebrate the citys built heritage for free.The inspiration for Doors Open Toronto came from Europe with France being the first country to launch its Doors Open program in 1984, followed by Glasgow in 1990.According to the City of Torontos website, a total of 48 European countries currently participate every September during European Heritage Month. Australia and the United States have also joined the Doors Open movement.Toronto was the first North American city to offer a Doors Open program, and has inspired similar events across the continent. Many participants organize guided tours, exhibits, displays and activities to enrich the visitor experience.To apply, the online consideration form must be completed by January 17, 2025.For more information, click here.The post Doors Open Toronto 2025 issues call for site participation appeared first on Canadian Architect.

Old Glory Studios plans to launch a tactical shooter called Victory's Grave: Outflank, with help from its equity-based crowdfunding campaign.Read More

Toadman Interactive shuts down, layoffs at Piranha Games38 employees let go from Piranha, 69 workers affected by Toadman closureImage credit: Piranha Games News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Jan. 13, 2025 Last week, Swedish games firm Enad Global 7 (EG7) initiated the "wind down" of Toadman Interactive and laid off 38 employees from Piranha Games.EG7 said the decision to shut down Toadman Interactive was due to "continued industry challenges and the studio's inability to secure new work-for-hire contracts at a necessary pace."Current work-for-hire contracts on current projects, including Daybreak and Cold Iron, will be protected during the process set to occur in the second half of 2025.69 employees and subcontractors will be affected by the wind down, with 42 staying on to fulfil contracts of protected projects.Last September, Toadman closed its offices in Stockholm, Visby, and Oslo, in addition to redundancies at its Berlin studio.As for Piranha Games, 38 employees will be let go as part of a "business optimisation plan" following the release of MechWarrior 5: Clans."The team at Piranha truly delivered a high-quality game that exceeded both internal as well as external expectations in terms of quality, story, and gameplay," said EG7 CEO Ji Ham."Despite the phenomenal work by the team at Piranha, the game failed to reach new audiences and expand its core audience as expected and therefore has not met the necessary sales targets, which has forced us to undertake necessary actions."Toadman, publisher Sold Out, and creative agency Petrol joined together in January 2020 to form EG7. Later that year, the firm acquired Piranha Games for $24.1 million.

Independent game worker union STJV has called on Don't Nod staff to enact an extended strike in support of employees at risk of layoffs.The strike was approved by around 90 percent of Don't Nod workers who voted in a general assembly. STJV said it wants employees to participate in a "renewable strike" starting on January 13, 2025, to push management to engage with its demands in relation to a proposed restructuring plan.The French union repeatedly called for walkouts and strikes in 2024 after Don't Nod announced plans to cut up to 69 jobs as part of a "reorganization project" studio leadership claimed would ensure its long-term future."Amid deteriorating results, and despite the actions already taken, the company is now compelled to consider a reorganization project to safeguard its competitiveness in an increasingly demanding and competitive ecosystem," wrote the Jusant and Lost Records: Bloom and Rage developer when discussing its half-year results in October 2024.In response, STJV claimed studio management was making employees pay for their "crass ineptitude" while also stifling the union's ability to negotiate effectively by reducing time limits and resources to the "bare legal minimum." The union implored management to engage with employee representatives and initially called for a walkout.It then called for strikes in November and December and issued four key demands (pictured below).Now, months later, STJV claims Don't Nod's response to negotiations has been inadequate."Negotiations between STJV and Don't Nod management about the layoffs plan are not conducive to any serious promise to employees. Despite huge efforts from the union delegates to reach a deal, management's offers remain insignificant," wrote the union in its latest update."We tried everything to negotiate within reason, and assumed good faith from our interlocutors. Today, the previsional date for a potential deal has passed and we still didn't even get to talk about crucial elements such as the conditions under which people would leave the company (severance pay, packages for voluntary departures)."Negotiations only revolved around potential reductions in forced departures, over which management still intends to keep total control, which would allow them to remain extremely close to their initial project."STJV claims studio leaders are only interested in stalling for time and don't wish to negotiate seriously.Game Developer has reached out to Don't Nod and STJV for more information about those negations and the restructuring plan.

Last week, major location data broker Gravy Analytics disclosed a data breach that may have resulted in the theft of precise location data for millions of people, reports TechCrunch. That appears to include data from popular mobile games like Candy Crush, as well as dating apps, pregnancy tracking apps, and more, as 404 Media wrote on Thursday, following up its report of the breach two days earlier.Baptiste Robert, CEO of digital security company Predicta Lab, said in a series of posts Wednesday that the small sample data set published in a Russian forum contained data for tens of millions of data points worldwide and included sensitive locations like the White House, Kremlin, Vatican, military bases, and more. As TechCrunch notes, the sample alone contained more than 30 million locations. Gravy said in its disclosure to the Norwegian Data Protection Authority that it identified unauthorized access to itsAWS cloud storage environment on January 4th. It says in the disclosure that its still investigating how long hackers had access to its cloud environment and whether the hack constitutes a reportable personal data breach. As for what or who was affected, the company writes: Gravy Analytics is working diligently to determine the scope of the incident and the nature of the information involved. Preliminary findings indicate that an unauthorized person obtained certain files, which could contain personal data. These are currently being analyzed. If it is determined that personal data is involved, that personal data is likely associated with users of third-party services that supply this data to Gravy Analytics.Gravy Analytics was one of two data brokers targeted last month in a proposed FTC order that forbids it from selling, disclosing, or using sensitive location data in any product or service. The FTC at the time wrote that its subsidiary, Venntel, collected data from apps and sold access to that data to businesses or government agencies, including the IRS, DEA, FBI, and ICE.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3s box office success has sped past another milestone to become the second highest-grossing video game movie adaptation of all time in North America.The film, which sees Keanu Reeves join the cast as Shadow the Hedgehog, is now over $204 million domestically after weekend four earned $11 million across 3,582 locations. The global tally is an impressive $384.8 million.Sonic 3 has overtaken its predecessor, Sonic 2, in the domestic box office race, but it is way off the number one record holder: The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In fact, the gap is insurmountable. The Nintendo adaptation earned an incredible $574,934,330 domestically, with an eye-watering $1,359,146,628 box office. These are figures that may never be beaten when it comes to video game adaptations, although the upcoming Minecraft movie and the Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel may run it close.The people behind Sonic The Hedgehog 3 wont be too bothered, however. The movie is a certified hit for Paramount, which has already announced Sonic 4.Oh, and if you were wondering about other hugely successful video game movie adaptations, 2022'sUncharted is in fourth with $148,648,820 domestically, and the first Sonic movie is in fifth with $146,066,470.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.