Next Week on Xbox highlights all the games arriving soon on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass. Below are more details on these upcoming games, with links to their profiles for further information (release dates may change).Beautiful Sakura: Surfing Club (Windows)CropwareGet it nowBeautiful Sakura: Surfing Club (Windows) January 15Going in with low expectations, Kaito couldnt believe it when he hit it off with the new girl at school, Michiko. But just as the two were getting to know each other, Kaito discovered that his new crush has a twin sister, Yuuki, and he begins to question everything hes feeling. When Kaito finally comes to his senses, he realized that it may be too late. Who does Kaito end up choosing?Perfect Ninja Painter 3SilenGamesGet it nowPerfect Ninja Painter 3 January 15Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryPerfect Ninja Painter 3 is a colorful puzzle platformer where players embark on a vibrant adventure with three ninja characters who must bring life and color to a world shrouded in gray. Armed with paintbrushes, the ninjas are tasked with coloring entire levels, solving puzzles, and overcoming obstacles that require a clever mix of creativity and strategy.Runny Bunny Console EditionEastasiasoft LimitedGet it nowRunny Bunny Console Edition January 15Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryGet ready for a fast and furry twist on puzzle action in side-scrolling pixel art platforming style! Play as a frantic little bunny as you dash between floors, walls and ceilings collecting power dots and yummy carrots.SokorobotAfil GamesGet it nowSokorobot January 15Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryA captivating puzzle game where you control an ingenious robot clearing and creating paths to reach the button that unlocks the next level. Combining classic puzzle mechanics with a futuristic setting, Sokorobot challenges players to think ahead and execute plans to conquer the levels.SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada Deluxe Edition Pre-OrderBandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.5$69.99Pre-orderSynduality Echo of Ada (Deluxe and Ultimate Edition Early Access) January 15Optimized for Xbox Series X|STaking place in the year 2222, years after a mysterious poisonous rain called The Tears of the New Moon wiped out most of humanity and birthed deformed creatures that now hunt the population. Amidst the calamity, humans are forced to build an underground haven to survive. Take on the role of a Drifter whose goal is to collect the rare resource known as AO Crystals. In your quest, you must collaborate with your artificial intelligence partner to face xenomorphic creatures known as Enders and survive the hazards on the surface.Morkull Ragast's RageSelecta Play$17.99Pre-orderMorkul Ragasts Rage January 16Optimized for Xbox Series X|SA 2D video game that combines platforming and action with a touch of exploration, control Morkull, God of Death and Darkness and Lord of the Ragast. His main mechanic breaking the fourth wall, which allows him to communicate with you in a multitude of ways.Professor Doctor JetpackRoflcopter Ink GmbH$9.99Pre-orderProfessor Doctor Jetpack January 16Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryProfessor Doctor Jetpack is a physics based, pixel art, precision platformer, in which you embark on a dangerous journey to control your jetpack. Join Albert Einsteins digital remains on his whacky quest to save the world from hidden threats, like The Internet.Vanity Fair: The PursuitNiuGamer$14.99Pre-orderVanity Fair: The Pursuit January 16Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play AnywhereA fictional real-life interactive narrative with the theme of life choices and survival in the entertainment industry. The background of the story takes place between 2004 and 2024 in an imaginary world view. The gambling agreement you signed to realize your movie dream will be gradually involved in the whirlpool of Vanity Fair. When you are in a dilemma, what should you do?Cherry Tower Series X|SWebnetic s. r. o.Get it nowCherry Tower January 17Optimized for Xbox Series X|SA charming 2D pixel platformer that will take you on a sweet adventure unlike any other! Join Cherry on her small adventure, climbing a tower to return home and maybe even more. Overcome obstacles and traps to achieve your goals.DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS Digital Deluxe EditionKOEI TECMO AMERICA$89.99Pre-orderDynasty Warriors: Origins (Digital Deluxe Edition Early Access) January 13Optimized for Xbox Series X|SBecome immersed in exhilarating battles as a nameless hero in the Three Kingdoms. Play upon tension-filled battlefields where you clash against massive armies stretching as far as the eye can see. Standard edition launches on January 17.Hexa RiverOmegga InteractiveGet it nowHexa River January 17Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryImmerse yourself in the tranquil world of Hexa River, where your task is to bring life to the islands by guiding water through intricate puzzles. With a relaxing soundtrack and stunning low-poly visuals, each level offers a satisfying challenge that will keep you engaged as you ensure the crops grow lush and healthy.Tales of Graces f Remastered Pre-OrderBandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.$39.99Pre-orderTales of Graces f Remastered January 17Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryTales of Graces f is back with a beautiful and easier-to-play version in this action RPG about adventure in fantasy worlds and overcoming obstacles through friendship and determination. The game also includes Lineage and Legacies, an after-story to the main scenario.

Apples kicking off a new Home products strategy this year, and an Apple Television is reportedly being evaluated as a future product. Recent trends in the TV space reveal how much opportunity there is for Apple to disrupt the market with a new product and better direction.CES this week was full of glimpses into TV makers plans for the year ahead. And those plans, unfortunately, reflect a focus on gimmicky software and AI features that provide little true value to users.Scharon Harding writes for Ars Technica:The trend reveals the implications of TV brands increasingly viewing themselves as software rather than hardware companies, with their products being customer data rather than TV sets. This points to an alarming future for smart TVs, where even premium models sought after for top-end image quality and hardware capabilities are stuffed with unwanted gimmicks.Hardings full report goes in-depth on the examples she observed from CES. These include:LG turning its remote into an AI Remote that removes its input button in favor of one that loads a webOS dashboardwhich only makes sense when considering the companys recent pushes to show more ads throughout webOSTVs adding far-field microphones for Google Gemini supportwith fuzzy privacy implications and the prospect of getting a cut of Google subscription revenue laterSamsungs faulty AI tool for analyzing food on-screen and offering related recipescoincidentally, the company has a new Instacart partnership for grocery ordersLG and Samsung both implementing Microsoft Copilota chatbot with seemingly little value on a TV setIf you want to get discouraged about the prospects of future TV hardware, read the full piece.Opportunity abounds for an Apple Television to think differentOverall, these innovations in the TV space reveal a growing need for another player who can create a quality product without gimmicks or privacy hazards.In other words, an Apple Television needs to actually happen.Ive previously outlined five key reasons why Apple should absolutely make a TV set.This new CES report is an easy number six. Some might argue that modern Apple is big into services revenue and AI too.Apple has been growing its services revenue, sure. And its very focused on AI at the moment too.But unlike these other companies, Apple has a solid understanding of what makes a good product.Its hardware, software, and services coming together in a way that creates a compelling user experience.Modern TVs can provide great hardware, but the experience is harmed by the software and services pieces.My hope would be that if Apple launched a TV set, its emphasis on user privacy and thoughtful integration of hardware, software, and services could initiate a shift in the market.Thats probably a misguided hope. But one things for sure: with the troubling trends for new TV sets coming out of CES, I want an Apple Television more than ever.Would you buy an Apple Television? Do current TV trends bother you at all, or are they no big deal? Let us know in the comments.Best Apple TV and Home 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

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 HabitView: Change your habits, change your life! Download on the App Store today.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 contentCatch 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

9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle,the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple devices work-ready and enterprise-safe is all we do. Our unique integrated approach to management and security combines state-of-the-art Apple-specific security solutions for fully automated Hardening & Compliance, Next Generation EDR, AI-powered Zero Trust, and exclusive Privilege Management with the most powerful and modern Apple MDM on the market. The result is a totally automated Apple Unified Platform currently trusted by over 45,000 organizations to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.A new report from Check Point Research details how a new variant of the infamous Banshee stealer malware from Russian-speaking cybercriminals takes a page from Apples own security practices to evade detection. The malware remained undetected for over two months by cleverly incorporating the same encryption methods as Macs XProtect antivirus detection suite.If youre an avid reader of Security Bite, youve heard me say (more than once) that malware stealers, usually through malware-as-a-service (MaaS) business models, are currently the largest threat to Mac users. Theyre destructive, targeting your iCloud Keychain passwords, cryptocurrency wallets, sensitive information from files, and even system passwords like a stealthy low-orbiting ion canon. Cybercriminals will often embed this malicious code in seemingly legitimate applications as a ploy to infect machines.Interestingly, this newly discovered variant of Banshee is doing something Ive never seen and even didnt know was possible. The malware effectively stole the string encryption algorithm directly from Apples XProtect antivirus engine. This technique, typically used by Apple to protect its YARA rules within XProtect Remediator binaries, was repurposed by the malware to hide its malicious code from detection. I talk more about YARA rules and XProtect here.Since antivirus programs are used to seeing this type of encryption from Apples legitimate security tools, they didnt flag it as suspicious.This strategy used by the malware authors proved to be quite effective until its own affiliates leaked the source code on underground forums in November 2024. It wasnt long before most antivirus engines on VirusTotal were updated with new signatures that could now detect the new strain. The malware authors shut down operations the next day after the code was leaked, according to the report. It was circulating for at least 2 months undetected.Threat actors distributed this new version mainly via phishing websites and malicious GitHub repositories. In some GitHub campaigns, threat actors targeted both Windows and MacOS users with Lumma and Banshee Stealer, according to Check Point Research. Lumma is another prolific strain of stealer malware but is written for and targets Windows users.Detailed analysis of the malware itself can be found in Check Points full report. More in Apple securityHow MacPaw is making cybersecurity accessible to everyone; my exclusive interview from Kyiv When MacPaw offered to fly me out to Kyiv, Ukraine, to meet and interview the folks leading Moonlock, its cybersecurity division, I jumped at the opportunity. Heres our discussionWashington State suing T-Mobile over data breach impacting 79 million people. Data exposed included social security numbers, phone numbers, physical addresses, unique IMEI numbers, and drivers license informationAn Apple smart doorbell would be a sure-fire winner for all of us. While it could be argued that both are commodity products and that Apples most important contribution is the HomeKit platform rather than the hardware, there seems little doubt about the opportunity hereMosyle exclusively reveals to 9to5Mac details on a new family of Mac malware loaders. Mosyles Security Research team discovered these new threats are written in unconventional programming languages and use several other sneaky techniques to evade detectionFollow Arin: Twitter/X, LinkedIn, ThreadsAdd 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 sexual tension between Elon Musk's posting disease and his obsessive transphobia is at an all-time highnow that the billionaire has admitted he wishes he could get pregnant.In a post on X-formerly-Twitter, the site owner enthusiastically agreed with a random user who joked about the multi-hyphenate and father of 12's ardor for reproduction."Can we all agree that if men giving birth was possible," the user wrote, "Elon would be on his 17th pregnancy."Quote-tweeting that jape, which was itself a reply to one of his own posts that included the pregnant man emoji that right-wingers so love to dunk on, Musk responded: "1000%."Obviously, trans men can and do get pregnant, and that simple reality seems to make reactionaries like Musk lose their minds.But within this exchange, paired with the context of Musk's fertility obsession, there lies something unexamined: a seeming desire for motherhood, or at least for the experience of breeding from a vantage point the South African-born edgelord will never experience.While the world is still quite far from achieving pregnancy in people assigned male at birth (AMAB), some scientists contend that uterus transplants could achieve this result if only cisgender men were bold enough to dream outside of their biology.That said, the concept of "MPREG," the netspeak abbreviation for male pregnancy fantasies and associated fan artwork, might fulfill some of Musk's reproductive urges and Grok, X's in-site AI, readily produced just that type of imagery.By feeding various prompts into Grok, Futurism was easily able to envisage the barren billionaire with a bundle of joy brewing inside him. Though other AI image generators have guardrails preventing them from creating images based on real people, the "anti-woke" Grok has no such foibles.It may be a while still until "elon MPREG" can become a reality but until then, Grok can keep the dream alive.Share This Article

Alien: Romulus was generally well received by critics and fans of theAlien franchise. The movie was Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed over $350 million worldwide. A sequel is already in the works.But one aspect of the movie garnered a more mixed response, even among people who liked the movie overall: The appearance of the late Ian Holm, sort of reprising his role from the originalAlien, where he played a menacing android named Ash.InRomulus,Holms likeness appeared in the form ofa nearly identical synthetic lifeform named Rook. Found byRomulus human characters in the remains of a derelict space station, the reactivated Rook warns them about the xenomorph menace, and attempts to manipulate the heroes into serving the Weyland-Yutani corporation in its sinister goals.The real Holm passed away in the summer of 2020, buthe appears inAlien: Romulus through a variety of special effects technologies. Anpractical animatronic puppet was created for his scenes, and was used on the actual set of the film. Some shots of the character were then augmented with assorted computer generated images and deepfake technology.Putting aside whatever moral qualms you might have about resurrecting an actor after their death, the conceptsounds impressive. The results, however, werea little awkward. It didnt look like the real Ian Holm was sitting on a table speaking to the rest of the cast; it looked like a special effect. (Granted,Rook isnt an actual human being, which could arguably justify a little of the artificiality, but Rook didnt even look like a mass of tubes and fake skin.He just looked like CGI.)Butrecently someone on social media watchedAlien: Romulus at home, andthoughtthat the CG on Rooks face was tweaked and now looked incredible. They then askedRomulus director Fede Alvarez if this was true; if the effects for Rook had been altered for the release on home video. To which Alvarez replied Yes.READ MORE:Alien: RomulusIs Getting a SequelYou can see a little of the work that went into creating Rook, and the impressive animatronic with Holms likeness, in this featurette on the making ofAlien: Romulus.Apart from a couple very brief glimpses in that clip, I couldnt find any footage of the original Rook special effect online, so its hard to compare it to whatever is currently streaming. But i just took a look atAlien: Romulus on Disney+ and ... it still looks like an obvious effect to me? Perhaps at some point well get a side-by-side comparison that will show us the full scope of the changes. Id certainly be curious to see that.Alien: Romulusis currently available for streaming on Hulu (or on Disney+ if you also pay for Hulu). For more on the film, you can read my original review of the theatrical release, Rook effects and all, here on ScreenCrush.Get our free mobile appEvery Alien Movie, Ranked From Worst to BestFiled Under: Alien, Alien: Romulus, Fede Alvarez, HuluCategories: Longform, Movie News

There are plenty of great performances in the history of film that have been deemed iconic. Heath Ledgers Joker in The Dark Knight. Marlon Brando as mobster Vito Corleone in The Godfather. Gloria Swanson as faded silent film star Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. These performances are memorable, theyre quotable, and theyre unforgettable. Its always a treat to watch an accomplished actor disappear into a beloved role, especially one that will be remembered for years to come.Most of these so-called iconic performances are good, everyone seems to agree. But there are certain actors who played certain characters in certain movies who are not, shall we say, remembered for their talent or their artistry or the way they moved us to tears. These performances are remembered for the exact opposite of all of those things, because, lets just be honest: theyre bad.These bad-yet-incredible performances are sometimes found in equally bad-yet-incredible films, or simply bad films, or even in films that are otherwise quite good. But its not just the badness that makes them memorable theres juice here, despite the lack of quality. Acting that is so bad we cant get it out of our heads deserves to be considered above stuff that is just plain bad, and thus easy to forget. Theres something about a truly awful performance that stands the test of time just as, if not better than, a great one. Take a look below and decide for yourself.12 Movie Performances So Bad They Became IconicThey might be bad, but they're also impossible to forget.Gallery Credit: Emma StefanskyREAD MORE: The Most Disappointing Movies of 2024Get our free mobile app80s Movies That Could Never Be Made Today

Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Metas new speech policies allow the denigration of trans people The revamped guidelines now permit previously-forbidden insults and allegations. (Platformer $)+ The changes have left Metas employees feeling embarrassed and ashamed. (404 Media)+ Axed fact-checkers held an emergency meeting after Meta said it no longer required their services. (Insider $)2 The US Supreme Court will hear TikToks final plea Justices are likely to make their decision before the end of next week. (The Guardian)+ If the ban is enacted, you can probably still access TikTok via a VPN. (NYT $)+ ByteDances founder could be TikToks secret weapon. (The Information $)3 Those pictures of the Hollywood sign burning are AI-generatedAI slop is making the Los Angeles fires appear even worse than they are. (404 Media)+ Elon Musk and Donald Trump arent helping matters by spreading disinformation. (The Verge)+ AI cameras are keeping tabs on the spreading destruction in Californias hills. (Insider $)+ The scale of the destruction is truly horrifying. (NY Mag $)4 Last year was officially the hottest ever recorded The average global temperature exceeded 1.5C above the pre-industrial baseline for the first time. (New Scientist $)+ Consequently, were edging closer to breaching the Paris Agreement. (Politico)5 How to prevent another zoonotic pandemic It all hinges on early detection. (FT $)6 Foxconn has stopped sending Chinese workers to Indian iPhone factoriesIts bad news for Apple, as its likely to disrupt production. (Rest of World) 7 This new cell could change plastic surgery as we know it Lipochondrocytes have the rigidity of cartilage and the squishiness of fat. (Wired $)+ Cosmetic surgery is booming in middle-income countries. (Economist $)8 Yandexs co-founder is shaking off Putin Arkady Volozh has condemned Russias actions in the war with Ukraine, and started a new company. (Bloomberg $)+ How Russia killed its tech industry. (MIT Technology Review)

Submitted by WA ContentsSix-meter-tall sandstone pillars create a freeform chapel for quiet contemplation on Germany hills Germany Architecture News - Jan 10, 2025 - 14:28 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Twelve six-meter-tall sandstone pillars were brought together to create a freeform chapel for "quiet contemplation" and "individual self-efficacy" on the Hillerhausen hills in Germany.Named Open Chapel, the 50-square-meter chapel, designed by Korbach and Berlin-based architecture practice Christoph Hesse Architects, is located in the town of Hillershausen, Waldeck-Frankenberg, Germany.Inspired by the "Open Mind Places" in the neighboring Sauerland village of Referinghausen, the chapel is a representation of cooperation and a paradigm shifter.The chapel provides guests with a place that encourages reflection and connection by drawing on the values of transparency and inclusivity.This building, which was designed by locals through a grassroots approach, is an example of a group effort to create a haven for shared experiences and a sense of community.By contributing their distinct viewpoints and abilities, each member made sure that the chapel reflected the community's varied beliefs and goals.Situated on a hill, the chapel's interior resembles two protective hands and is surrounded by twelve sandstone pillars, each six meters high, that define an open area.The pillars' placement offers expansive vistas of the surroundings, strengthening the bond between the hallowed area and its natural setting.Whether one is reflecting alone, with others, or in harmony with nature, this design fosters a warm and inviting space. Its transparency fosters a sense of personal self-efficacy among community members in addition to peaceful reflection.Face-to-face engagement and conversation are fostered by communicative seating arrangements. These thoughtfully chosen features emphasize the chapel's dual function as a lively gathering spot and a place for meditation.The wood chip-covered floor creates a smooth transition between the interior and the exterior, while the roof, which is decorated with hanging plants, blurs the lines between architecture and nature.The chapel's philosophy of integration, which celebrates the connection to oneself, others, and nature, is reflected in these features taken together. Image Christoph Hesse ArchitectsAxonometric drawingFloor planSite planChristoph Hesse Architects is a global architectural firm that focuses on ecological and cultural projects. The company's integrated strategy encourages regenerative thought and action while building community members' self-efficacy.Project factsProject name: Open ChapelArchitects:Christoph Hesse ArchitectsLocation: Hillershausen, Waldeck-Frankenberg, GermanyClient: Bergkapelle Hillershausen e.V.Area: 50m2Materials: Sandstone, wood, steel, plantsStatus:2022-2024Collaboration: Local Community, Gro & WilkeAll images Laurian Ghinitoiuunless otherwise stated.All drawings Christoph Hesse Architects.

LG launched a number of impressive OLED TVs at this year's CES, but the one that is likely to outsell them all -- the LG C5 -- wasn't officially announced. CNET's David Katzmaier was given a personal demo of the C5 model, which boasts an impressive number of sizes, higher refresh rates and potentially improved picture quality.The LG OLED evo AI C5 -- to use its full name -- is a 4K OLED with similar features to the G5 including Brightness Booster (though not the Ultimate), Nvidia G-Sync 144Hz support, and a bunch of AI stuff (you probably won't use). Watch this: LG G5 OLED TV Bumps Brightness Even Higher 03:10 For the past few years, the LG C Series has been at the top of our TV lists for the best OLED, as it's typically boasted excellent picture quality and a relatively affordable price.The latest iteration, the LG C4, has been going for as little as $1,400 for the 65-inch. Meanwhile, the G4s and Z95s of this world cost twice that. Why would LG choose not to announce this model? The M5, G5 and OLED T are much flashier, and the company says the brightness of its 2025 high-end models are up to 40% better. By comparison, the changes to the C line have been incremental ever since the C3, and so it makes sense that the company hasn't promoted it. While LG also confirmed the existence of the B5 to TechRadar, that TV was not on display.Pricing and availability is not yet known but the C4 was released in March 2024, so it's likely we'll see this version sooner than later. I would expect initial pricing to be in the mid-$2,000s as before.