Its getting increasingly difficult to avoid AI when you open up your phone or laptop as soon as I started this article in Google Docs, I was immediately offered some AI assistance to write it (which I didnt take). And with the rollout of Apple Intelligence, that now applies to iPhones, iPads, and Macs, too.But if you arent seeing much value in the Apple Intelligence features that have launched so far, youre not alone: around three-quarters of iPhone owners cant see what all the fuss is about, according to a recent survey. Its also worth bearing in mind that these AI add-ons take up 7GB of local storage (and counting) on every device you want to use them on.The good news is that Apple Intelligence is both opt-in and reasonably easy to disable, which isnt something every company does with their AI tools (looking at you, Google and Microsoft). So if you find features like Writing Tools and mangled notification summaries superfluous to your needs, you can turn them off.Assuming youve already turned it on, heres how to turn off specific features of Apple Intelligence. And if you really dont like it, heres how to turn it off completely.(The steps listed below were tested on an iPhone 15 Pro Max running iOS 18.2. Youll find similar options available on iPadOS and macOS.)Turn off individual Apple Intelligence featuresYou can turn off summaries for individual apps or disable them entirely. Screenshot: AppleWriting Tools and Image Creation can be managed via Screen Time. Screenshot: AppleMost, but not quite all, Apple Intelligence features can be disabled individually.Open up Settings on your iPhone, and youll find a menu dedicated to Apple Intelligence & Siri. After that, it depends on what you want to disable.ChatGPTTap ChatGPT Extension to enable or disable the extra AI smarts that ChatGPT can add to Siri when youre asking for responses.NotificationsThe AI notification summaries that have recently gotten Apple into trouble can be switched off individually, too. From iOS Settings, choose Notifications > Summarize Notifications to turn the feature off. You can also enable it for certain apps but not others from the same screen.Writing Tools / Image CreationYou can turn Writing Tools and Image Creation off, but you have to go through Screen Time in Settings:Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.Enable Content & Privacy Restrictions.Tap Intelligence & Siri.Tap Image Creation or Writing Tools, then Dont Allow.Its a bit of a clumsy fix this is really more for preventing kids from cheating on their homework but it works. You wont get pop-up options to rewrite text, and you wont be able to create new Genmoji. Open the Image Playground app on iOS, and the option to create new pictures will be blocked (though you can access previous ones youve saved).Message prioritizationAI-powered message prioritization in Apple Mail is another feature you can disable on its own or, more precisely, hide from view.Inside your Mail apps Inbox, tap the three dots at the top right.Switch to List View and disable Show Priority.Your inbox will be back the way it was before Apple Intelligence arrived.That doesnt leave much in terms of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.2 that you cant specifically disable. Theres the Clean Up tool in Photos and the Intelligent Breakthrough feature in Focus, but you can easily ignore these options if you dont need them.Turn off Apple Intelligence completely on your iPhoneApple Intelligence can be enabled or disabled in full. Screenshot: AppleDisabling Apple Intelligence wont remove the AI models from your phone. Screenshot: AppleIf you really dont want anything to do with Apple Intelligence, and youve already enabled it, you can turn it off completely.Open up Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri.Look for the Apple Intelligence toggle switch at the top to fully enable or fully disable all of the Apple Intelligence features currently available on your iPhone.The first time you turned this toggle switch on assuming you did iOS downloaded the necessary AI models for local processing to your phone. These models, which take up 7GB or so of room, then subsequently stay on your iPhone in the future, regardless of whether you have Apple Intelligence enabled.If you want to disable Apple Intelligence and free up the space used by the local iOS models, you need to reset your iPhone and start again from scratch without enabling Apple Intelligence during setup. You can do this from Settings by choosing General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, Since this will, of course, wipe everything on your phone, ensure all your important data is safely backed up.For now at least, youve got plenty of control when it comes to the Apple Intelligence features that are active. We know, though, that there are plenty more AI upgrades on the way, so well have to wait and see whether Apple Intelligence remains an optional extra for the iPhone.

Pokmon TCG worldwide has moved into a modern Pokmania. Stock on sets from Surging Sparks onwards is near non-existent, with preorders and restocks selling out within the hour. Don't get me started on scalpers on certain auction sites. This means trainers won't have Pokmon cards to buy unless they're happy paying extortionate prices. I know my mum and dad wouldn't have boosted my spending money that much back when the world was still black and white. The good news is plenty of Sword and Shield / Scarlet and Violet expansions are still available online, but their stock is set to dry up in 2025. It's a great time to stock up on Elite Trainer Boxes that are available yet out of print.Pokmon TCG Elite Trainer Box UK DealsWhilst some of the below have slight discounts, it's just good to see Pokmon TCG products available for regular retail pricing right now. Some of the best pulls in modern sets can be found in the Elite Trainer Boxes Below. We're talking about:- Alt Art Lugia V 186/195 from Silver Tempest (180 - 200)- Cassiopeia Trainer Art 094/064 from Shrouded Fable (37 - 40)- Greninja ex SIR 214/167 from Twilight Masquerade (240 - 315)- Charizard ex SIR 223/197 from Obsidian Flames (50 - 60)- Terapagos ex SIR 170/142 from Stellar Crown (55 -65)Let's also not forget the amazing Illustration rares available in this set. They're affordable and a great binder addition that is almost guaranteed to climb in value as these sets get harder to find. They're my favourite thing to collect in the Sword and Shield / Scarlet and Violet era, plus they make decks look incredibly flashy without breaking the bank on booster packs or buying singles. Let's break these UK deals down and find out which one is right for you: Pokmon TCG: Sword & ShieldSilver Tempest Elite Trainer BoxPokmon TCG: Scarlet & VioletShrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box Pokmon TCG: Scarlet & VioletTwilight Masquerade Elite Trainer BoxPokmon TCG: Scarlet & VioletObsidian Flames Elite Trainer Box Pokmon TCG: Scarlet & VioletStellar Crown Elite Trainer Box51.19 at Amazon Pokmon TCG: Sword & ShieldSilver Tempest Elite Trainer Box Pokmon TCG: Sword & ShieldSilver Tempest Elite Trainer BoxWe've already mentioned Lugia V Alt Art, but this set has so many epic cards to grab. Trainer Gallery Rayquazza VMAX, Rainbow Rare Lugia VStar, Full Art Serena, Unknown V, and so many cool trainer gallery cards. All of the mentioned cards are climbing in value, so it's a good time to snap up Silver Tempest Elite Trainer Boxes for your collection or rip them open. Pokmon TCG: Scarlet & VioletShrouded Fable Elite Trainer BoxPokmon TCG: Scarlet & VioletShrouded Fable Elite Trainer BoxShrouded Fable had a mixed reception when it first dropped, but no one can complain about the amount of great pulls from this sub-100 card holiday set. The Loyal Three special Illustration rares, Fezandipiti ex, Okidogi ex and Munkidori ex look stunning alongside Pecharunt ex SIR. The Illustration rares pop in this set too, with special mentions to Persian IR and Dusklops IR, so snap up a Shrouded Fable ETB for just shy of 40 before they're sold out at retail. Pokmon TCG: Scarlet & VioletTwilight Masquerade Elite Trainer Box Pokmon TCG: Scarlet & VioletTwilight Masquerade Elite Trainer BoxGreninja ex SIR is one of the most valuable cards in the Scarlet and Violet era right now, and the price isn't calming down. It's backed up by Carmine SIR (which is starting to settle at a decent price), Hisuian Growlithe IR, Perrin SIR and the ever-popular Eevee IR climbing to that near-100 mark. The top pulls in this set are either climbing in value or evening out to a solid price, which means it's a great time to grab a Twilight Masquerade ETB before the print run stops and the set sells out.Pokmon TCG: Scarlet & VioletObsidian Flames Elite Trainer BoxPokmon TCG: Scarlet & VioletObsidian Flames Elite Trainer BoxEveryone slept on Obsidian Flames. Stock hasn't been an issue so far and all of the pulls are pretty cheap with the exception of Chairzard SIR, which is still at a sub-70 pricepoint. This is a savvy investment for any trainers collection, in my opinion, and the value of OF cards will skyrocket once the stock dries up in 2025. We've seen the same thing happen to Sword and Shields Crown Zenith and Silver Tempest expansions, so get ahead of the curve with Obsidian Flames. Pokmon TCG: Scarlet & VioletStellar Crown Elite Trainer Box Pokmon TCG: Scarlet & VioletStellar Crown Elite Trainer Box51.19 at AmazonStellar Crown has some amazing special illustration rares, Illustration rares and hyper rares that would be the highlight of anyones binder. Bulbasaur and Squirtle Illustration rares are two obvious examples, with arguably one of the coolest cards in Hydrapple ex SIR. Stellar Crown hasn't been out for that long, so we can expect to see stock still available for a while. But it's a good time to start ripping Elite Trainer Boxes for its cool art cards and very playable cards before it gets harder to snag.Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.

For anyone who grew up with a Gameboy Color in hand and a love for Pokmon, the Gamebaby case brings all that nostalgia right to your iPhone. As someone who still gets excited about retro gaming, this new accessory is a game-changer (literally). With physical buttons that snap onto your phone, the Gamebaby transforms your iPhone into a retro Gameboy-like device, perfect for playing classics through the Delta emulator. Lets dive into how this works and why its a must-have for retro gamers.Gamebaby specs & designThe Gamebaby case is a two-piece design that consists of a two panels, one with physical buttons and the other panel for the top of your phone. The physical buttons replicate the classic Gameboy layout with a D-pad, A/B buttons, Start/Select, and even shoulder buttons for more advanced games. The case itself is slim enough to remain portable yet sturdy enough to offer solid protection for your device.The front piece is removable, allowing you to switch between gaming mode and regular phone use seamlessly. It does not require Bluetooth or cables or WiFi, its simply uses a material on the inside of the case that iPhone screens can respond to. This makes it light weight, easy to use and keeps the price low.How it worksThe magic really happens when you pair the Gamebaby with the Delta emulator app. By using a custom Gamebaby skin in Deltas settings, you can map the physical buttons perfectly to your favorite Gameboy games. Whether youre revisiting Pokmon Yellow or Zelda: Links Awakening, the Gamebaby brings those titles to life with authentic controls. Delta is my absolute favorite gameboy emulator for iOS. I have used it for years, even before Apple let it on its App Store, and the best part is that it is completely free.Delta allows you to load ROMs from classic consoles like Gameboy, Gameboy Color, and Gameboy Advance. With the Gamebaby case, you no longer have to rely on touchscreen controls you get the tactile feedback that makes gaming more enjoyable.Pricing & availability The Gamebaby case is currently available for pre-order through BitmoLabs official website. In terms of timeline they plan on releasing it in the first half of 2025. The Gamebaby currently is going through pre-orders and has early bird pricing of $24.99 with final retail pricing being $39.99. As of right now they are only offering models for the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the 16 Pro Max. I am sure as time goes they will offer it for more models! So, for $25 this case is a no brainer for anyone looking for physical buttons to add to their iPhones for GBA emulation!For those who grew up dreaming of catching Pokmon on a handheld console, the Gamebaby offers a chance to relive that experience now on your iPhone. Its not just a case; its a trip down memory lane with a modern twist!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

According to Bloombergs Mark Gurman, the next generation entry-level iPad will sport the A17 Pro chip. We always expected the iPad 11 to support the Apple Intelligence feature set, though it was unclear which chip Apple would end up putting in the lower-end device.First generation 3nm processIts long been stated that the first generation N3B process, used in the A17 and M3 series of chips, wasnt going too well for Apple. The process was very costly, had relatively low yields, and didnt provide much of a performance gain over its predecessors.For this reason alone, many had speculated that Apple was trying to move away from this process as soon as possible. After all, Apple introduced the M4 chip in the iPad Pro in May 2024, just over 6 months after introducing the first M3 chips in the Mac lineup in November 2023. Apple had also been practicing a strategy of putting older generation chips in the lower end iPhone. This started with the iPhone 14 lineup, where the base model kept the A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13 lineup, and the iPhone 14 Pro got the shiny new A16 Bionic. However, the iPhone 16 lineup broke this practice, as all models contained the A18 chip. Apple chose to not include the A17 chip in the base iPhone 16 models. Based on all of these signs, it appeared that Apple had finished using the first-generation 3nm process.A17 Pro in iPadsBut then, Apple threw us a curveball by introducing the new iPad mini 7th generation. This iPad had support for Apple Intelligence, but used the A17 Pro chip from iPhone 15 Pro, rather than the newer A18 chip. This move seemingly made sense for iPad mini, since it was a lower volume product.Apple isnt stopping there, though. Bloombergs Mark Gurman reports that Apple will continue using the first generation N3B process, even in the higher volume entry-level iPad:Thenew entry-level iPadsJ481 and J482 will getfaster processors and Apple Intelligence. The current models have the A14 chip and 4 gigabytes of memory. Look for the new versions to have the A17 Pro chip,matching the iPad mini, and a bump to 8 gigabytes of memory. Thats the minimum needed to support the new AI platform.With the iPad mini 7, Apple actually used a binned version with a 5-core GPU, which seemed like a clear justification for Apple utilizing the A17 Pro still. Apple will likely continue to use some form of binned A17 Pro variant in the iPad 11.As always, Apple is still expected to launch this new iPad model in the spring, alongside new iPad Airs, a new iPhone SE, and new Magic Keyboards.My favorite iPad accessories on Amazon:Follow Michael:X/Twitter,Bluesky,InstagramAdd 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

Explore the top internet options in Elk Grove, including multi-gigabit plans from Xfinity.

It's that time of year again when basically everyone you know (including yourself) catches a cold,COVID or the flu at some point. And while there is now an FDA-authorized test to tell you whether you have COVID or the flu, you still have to deal with the symptoms. There are ways to make a sore throat, stuffy nose, chills, fever, cough and other symptoms more manageable. CNET's wellness editors compiled our cold and flu season hacks that we use to avoid sickness to the best of our ability. In addition to our tips, we recommend products we prefer and links to additional information on why these hacks may work.Detox Tea Liudmila Chernetska/Getty Images Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. "Whenever I feel a cold starting to come on, I always make this detox tea drink. The recipe includes pure cranberry juice, a lemon and organic dandelion tea. I will take a gallon glass or a very large mason jar and fill it up with hot water. Then, I steep two dandelion tea bags for 10 to 15 minutes. Next, I add the juice of one lemon and a half cup of pure cranberry juice. This drink is very bitter, so I suggest adding honey.In addition to three healthy meals throughout the day, I try to finish as much of the tea drink as possible. It really helps to flush everything out and keep me hydrated. Plus, drinking it while it's hot soothes my throat. Pure cranberry juice and dandelion tea are high in antioxidants and lemons contain vitamin C." Caroline Igo, sleep editorSee dandelion tea at Target for $6See cranberry juice at Amazon for $8Zinc"During cold and flu season, I try to take zinc regularly since some studies show it may shorten a coldby a day or two. That argument is still up for debate, but I've found when I take it, I remain healthy during cold and flu season. I also focus on maintaining a diet that's high in antioxidants to support my immune system, so it can be a combination of things." Giselle Castro-Sloboda, wellness writerSee zinc supplements at Amazon for $18Echinacea"I take echinacea supplements when I'm sick because of the seemingly mixed and inconclusive evidence that it may help you feel better faster and may have some immune-boosting properties." Jessica Rendall, wellness writerSee echinacea supplements at iHerb for $16Turmeric annick vanderschelden photography/Getty Images"I love turmeric lattes and teas when I'm not feeling well. Known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it is said that turmeric could benefit those dealing with allergies and infections. It is also connected to easing anxiety, which is something I especially feel when I'm sick. Regardless, hot drinks are known to relieve symptoms of the flu and common cold, and I definitely feel these benefits with my favorite turmeric drinks.While I have tried to make my own turmeric latte, I prefer the taste of the Golden SuperLatte from Clevr Blends, which includes probiotics, mushrooms and adaptogens. For a cheaper option, I also love Yogi Tea's Honey Chai Turmeric Vitality tea with a bit of added honey (and sometimes lemon). Note that both drinks contain black pepper, which may increase your body's ability to absorb curcumin, turmeric's beneficial compound." Anna Gragert, wellness editorSee turmeric tea at Amazon for $4See Golden SuperLatte at Clevr Blends for $28Elderberry"Even though more research is needed to fully comprehend the full effects of elderberry in treating or preventing a cold or the flu, this is a supplement that you can always find in my medicine cabinet. I take it daily and have found I get sick less than when I didn't take it. I've tried it in all its forms -- gummies, syrup, tablets and capsules. The gummies are for sure the tastiest, but they often come with a lot of added sugar, so I just stick to the capsules. This, paired with good sleep, exercise and washing your hands frequently, are my go-tos during cold and flu season." Nasha Addarich Martnez, managing editor See elderberry capsules at Amazon for $10Focusing on throat care with tea, honey and more"If I get a cold, I like brewing fresh ginger tea and adding honey to it. For sore and scratchy throats, I gargle with salt and warm water, but I also coat my throat with a concoction of warmed-up honey and lime juice (some people also use lemon). It's like a homemade medicinal syrup that tastes good and soothes the throat at the same time." Giselle Castro-Sloboda, wellness writerHot water, honey, apple cider vinegar and hot toddies bhofack2/Getty Images"If I get sick during winter, it's usually with a sore throat or strep. Certain cough drops sometimes seem to worsen my throat pain and soreness once the brief, temporary relief they provide fades away. Instead, I've turned to hot drinks with honey (preferably honey that's locally purchased). One concoction I'll consume during the day is simple: hot water, honey and a small amount ofapple cider vinegar.The other is a hot toddy in the evening, usually a couple of hours before bed.Variations of hot toddies have been used as cold and cough remedies forhundreds of years. The recipe typically involves hot water, whiskey, honey and lemon, often garnished with a cinnamon stick. Of course, adding whiskey is entirely optional, and you'll still feel the soothing benefits of this drink without it. In addition to frequently washing my hands, I spend time outside as often as possible during the winter. Getting fresh air and sunlight -- even during the colder months -- seems to helpboost my immune system(and my mood)." Aly Lopez, sleep writerOptimize your sleep"Sleep is an essential part of recovering from the flu. That said, it can be super difficult to sleep when you're sick, especially if you have a runny nose or persistent cough. To combat this, I often sleep propped up when I'm sick. It might sound a little wacky, but it helps make sure I can breathe and get enough sleep to allow my body to rest and recover as quickly as possible. There are specialized pillows for this, though I tend to just stack what I have to save some cash." Taylor Leamey, sleep writerVapoRub"For congestion and cough, I rely on Vicks VapoRub and rub some on my chest (note that you should not put it in or around your nostrils). It's a temporary fix that helps clear my sinuses quickly. And now that I'm dealing with a little one, I have found that steam baths help with a stuffy nose, followed by clearing it with a nasal aspirator." Giselle Castro-Sloboda, wellness writerSee VapoRub at Amazon for $6Steam"Whenever I get sick, it tends to cause congestion in my upper respiratory tract. To help clear out my sinuses and make blowing my nose easier, my go-to is a steamy shower since steam inhalation has been shown to alleviate cold symptoms. To avoid hot water scalding my skin, I will often let the showerhead run away from my body for a few minutes while I take deep breaths to inhale the steam." Anna Gragert, wellness editor Pay attention to your body's signals"Over time, I've learned that when my body is run down and potentially "coming down" with something, i.e., fighting off an infection or illness, the skin on my back will get extra sensitive. With this, my temperature may also be slightly elevated from my baseline, even if it's not high enough to actually count as a fever. This is my cue to take it easy, eat extra fruits and vegetables and go to bed early to give my immune system the best shot at successfully fighting off whatever. I recognize not everyone will have this specific quirk, but I think paying attention to your own body's signs it may be getting sick, and adjusting accordingly, is beneficial." Jessica Rendall, wellness writer

When to watch the Washington Commanders vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers?Sunday, Jan. 12, at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)Where to watch?The Commanders-Bucs game will air on NBC and stream on Peacock. See at Peacock Two playoff games for $8 per month Peacock See at Peacock See more details See at Fubo Carries NBC for $80 per month Fubo See at Fubo See more details See at YouTube TV Carries NBC for $83 a month YouTube TV See at YouTube TV See more details See at Hulu Plus Live TV Carries NBC for $83 a month Hulu Plus Live TV See at Hulu Plus Live TV See more details See at DirecTV Stream Carries NBC for $87 a month DirecTV Stream See at DirecTV Stream See more details See at Sling TV Carries NBC for $45 a month in select markets Sling TV Blue See at Sling TV See more details Jayden Daniels has led the Commanders to the playoffs in his first season in Washington. Behind the sensational rookie quarterback, the Commanders finished the season at 12-5 to secure a Wild Card playoff berth and the NFC's No. 5 seed. Daniels will try to deliver the franchise's first playoff win in two decades on Sunday night against Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers. The Bucs won the NFC South with a 10-7 record and will host this Wild Card game as the No. 4 seed.The Commanders-Buccaneers game kicks off tonight at8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT). It's available to watch nationally on NBC or stream onPeacock. Jayden Daniels piloted the Washington Commanders to the playoffs in his rookie campaign and gets a rematch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who won in week 1 in Daniels' first NFL start. Sam Hodde/Getty ImagesHow to watch Commanders vs. BuccaneersYou can watch this game on your local NBC station with a cable or satellite TV subscription or with an over-the-air antenna. Most live TV streaming services such asYouTube TVandHulu Plus Live TValso carry your local NBC station (see below).If you don't subscribe to a TV service with NBC and want to watch the game tonight, you can sign up for Peacock Premium for $8 per month.You can also subscribe toNFL Plus, the NFL's own streaming service at $7 per month, but streams are limited to just watching on a phone or tablet (not a TV). CNET Peacock's $8-per-month Premium plan includes access to tonight's Wild Card game between the Steelers and Ravens and a Divisional Round game nextweekend. Both games are not exclusive to Peacock and will also be available to watch on NBC.Read our Peacock review. See at Peacock Fubo Fubo's Essential plan costs $80 a month and includes NBC.Click hereto see which local channels you get.Read our Fubo review. See at Fubo Sarah Tew/CNET YouTube TV costs $83 a month after a recent price hike and includes NBC. Right now, the first three months are discounted to $60 a month. Plug in your ZIP code on YouTube TV's welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area. Read our YouTube TV review. See at YouTube TV Sarah Tew/CNET Hulu Plus Live TV costs $83 a month and includes NBC in most markets. On its live news page, you can enter your ZIP code under the "Can I watch local news in my area?" question at the bottom of the page to see which local channels you get. Read our Hulu Plus Live TV review. See at Hulu Plus Live TV Directv stream DirecTV Stream's basic $87-a-month package includes NBC in most markets. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels are available where you live. Read our DirecTV Stream review. See at DirecTV Stream Sling/CNET Sling TV's Sling Blue package includes local NBC but only in a handful of markets. Sling Blue costs $45 a month in markets where it offers local networks and $40 elsewhere.Read our Sling TV review. See at Sling TV All the live TV streaming services above allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out ourlive TV streaming services guide.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereSince its explosive debut in late 2024, Marvel Rivals has rapidly cemented its status as a powerhouse in the gaming landscape, merging the cherished Marvel universe with intense team-based hero shooters. The games launch was nothing short of explosive, attracting an impressive 10 million players within a mere 72 hours. But with the recent launch of Season 1, Eternal Night Falls, Marvel Rivals has not just maintained its momentum but has taken it to new heights. This season brings an exciting array of new content, featuring heroes from the Fantastic Four, fresh maps like Midtown and Sanctum Sanctorum, and several nerfs and buffs, enabling players to rework character combinations and strategies. The addition of these elements has breathed new life into the game, attracting fresh players, and just days after the Season 1 update, Marvel Rivals has achieved another remarkable milestone.Marvel Rivals Season 1 spikes active player count to record highHitting an unprecedented peak active player count of over 644,269 concurrent players on Steam, as per SteamDB, Marvel Rivals has hit a significant high point in its popularity. Not just that, according to the Chinese website Gamelook, projections for the game were leaked and a revenue indicated a robust $54.5 million expected from Steam, with an additional $27.2 million anticipated from PlayStation 5, and a modest $2.7 million from Xbox Series S|X.Marvel Rivals reached at an all-time peak player count with Season 1 release. Image by SteamDB.With its presence on the Epic Games Store and its dedicated PC client, Game Look estimates that total earnings outside of China have reached approximately $100 million. The inclusion of projected earnings from the Chinese version of the game brings the total revenue to a staggering $136 million. If the game maintains its current momentum, it has the potential to evolve into a franchise that could rake in over $1 billion annually. Players who have been loving Season 1 so far turned in praises for the game, where one said, This the best game out there right now. Another chimed in, This game deserves 2 million active players. A third user wrote, Beautiful, 100% deserved. This is probably the only PVP game that has managed to hook me this hard in the last few years.Furthermore, Season 1 has also made headlines since NetEase Games removed mods from the game that allowed players earlier to change character skins into bizarre characters and pop culture icons.Marvel RivalsPlatform(s):macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Fighting, ShooterSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

When we set out to study pandemic-related changes in schools, we thought wed find that learning management systems that rely on technology to improve teaching would make educators jobs easier. Instead, we found that teachers whose schools were using learning management systems had higher rates of burnout. Our findings were based on a survey of 779 U.S. teachers conducted in May 2022, along with subsequent focus groups that took place in the fall of that year. Our study was peer-reviewed and published in April 2024. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools across the country were under lockdown orders, schools adopted new technologies to facilitate remote learning during the crisis. These technologies included learning management systems, which are online platforms that help educators organize and keep track of their coursework.We were puzzled to find that teachers who used a learning management system such as Canvas or Schoology reported higher levels of burnout. Ideally, these tools should have simplified their jobs. We also thought these systems would improve teachers ability to organize documents and assignments, mainly because they would house everything digitally, and thus, reduce the need to print documents or bring piles of student work home to grade. But in the follow-up focus groups we conducted, the data told a different story. Instead of being used to replace old ways of completing tasks, the learning management systems were simply another thing on teachers plates.A telling example was seen in lesson planning. Before the pandemic, teachers typically submitted hard copies of lesson plans to administrators. However, once school systems introduced learning management systems, some teachers were expected to not only continue submitting paper plans but to also upload digital versions to the learning management system using a completely different format.Asking teachers to adopt new tools without removing old requirements is a recipe for burnout. Teachers who taught early elementary grades had the most complaints about learning management systems because the systems did not align with where their students were at. A kindergarten teacher from Las Vegas shared, Now granted my kids cannot really count to 10 when they first come in, but they have to learn a six digit student number to access Canvas. I definitely agree that it does lead to burnout.In addition to technology-related concerns, teachers identified other factors such as administrative support, teacher autonomy and mental health as predictors of burnout.Why it matters Teacher burnout has been a persistent issue in education, and one that became especially pronounced during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. If new technology is being adopted to help teachers do their jobs, then school leaders need to make sure it will not add extra work for them. If it adds to or increases teachers workloads, then adding technology increases the likelihood that a teacher will burn out. This likely compels more teachers to leave the field.Schools that implement new technologies should make sure that they are streamlining the job of being a teacher by offsetting other tasks, and not simply adding more work to their load. The broader lesson from this study is that teacher well-being should be a primary focus with the implementation of schoolwide changes.Whats next We believe our research is relevant for not only learning management systems but for other new technologies, including emerging artificial intelligence tools. We believe future research should identify schools and districts that effectively integrate new technologies and learn from their successes. The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work. David T. Marshall, Associate Professor of Educational Research, Auburn University; Teanna Moore, Associate Researcher at Accessible Teaching, Learning and Assessment Systems, University of Kansas, and Timothy Pressley, Associate Professor of Psychology, Christopher Newport UniversityThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Finally!It might have taken EA a while, but console players can finally sign-up to play the new Skate, if they're lucky enough to get picked, anywayBetter late than never, as they say. News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Jan. 12, 2025 If you're a console player and you've been desperate to try out the new Skate, there's some good news, and some neutral news.The good news is that earlier this week, EA finally confirmed that a console playtest is going to take place (thanks, Eurogamer)! It's been a longtime coming, as the game has let PC players test out the game for a little while now, but obviously the Skate series has a long history of being played on console. All you need to do is head to the game's official website, and sign-up to become a Skate Insider. EA explains that Insiders "have the opportunity to playtest early versions of the game and provide feedback throughout development," but it should be noted that signing-up just gives you the "chance" to take part, it's not an outright guarantee you'll get to try it out (that's the neutral news, to be clear - not exactly bad, but not ideal either).To see this content please enable targeting cookies. This new iteration of Skate is being tested on PlayStation and Xbox, alongside the tests that have already taken place on PC, but even if you don't end up being an Insider, I wouldn't worry too much. Back in September EA confirmed that the game will be launching into early access sometime in 2025, though as with many announcements these days, when in 2025 that might be, and if that'll even be the case for PlayStation and Xbox (the latter allows for game previews, but Sony is yet to welcome early access launches that much), is still up in the air. I imagine like every other studio in the industry, EA is waiting on that GTA 6 release date. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Skate, often referred to as Skate 4 despite not technically being Skate 4 (branding!), was shown off back in 2022, and since then EA has steadling been bringing players aboard, drip feeding them information. Hopefully that early access release is around the corner, I could do with some mindless skateboarding set to the most mid pop punk you can imagine.