Hero O'ClockMarvel Rivals devs promise to release a new hero every 45 days, give or take, in efforts to keep everyone excited"We just eventually want to continue to enhance the experience."Image credit: Marvel/ Netease News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Jan. 14, 2025 Try not to get too jealous, Overwatch fans, but the devs behind Marvel Rivals are planning some pretty frequent hero updates.One of the biggest complaints that Overwatch players have is that there just aren't enough meaningful updates, and that new characters come too infrequently. So, with Marvel Rivals being as wildly popular as it is, there's of course one big question: can it give what these kinds of players want? And it turns out, at the very least NetEase wants to. Game director Guangyun Chen recently spoke with Metro about the game, and went into some detail about how you even make a hit live service game these days, but for players one of the most interesting parts is the frequency with which they plan to release new heroes.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. When asked how many heroes NetEase intends to add a year, Chen explained, "every season well be rolling out fresh seasonal stories, new maps, and new heroes. Well actually be breaking down each season into two halves. The length of one season is three months. And for each half of the season, we will introduce a new hero. We just eventually want to continue to enhance the experience, and, you know, keep everyone excited in our community." To break that down a bit, that means NetEase is planning one new hero every 45 days roughly, which if this target is met, could mean up to eight new heroes a year.Those are some pretty ridiculous numbers, and pretty optimistic, so the proof will be in the pudding. Right now the game is going through its first season, with Mister Fantastic and The Invisible Woman being the first new characters to join the game - the Human Torch and The Thing are set to join them later to round off the Fantastic Four.The full interview is worth a read if just for the insight into getting a live service game made. Let's just hope those eight heroes a year don't mean too much crunch time for devs at NetEase.

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube792kNetEase Games and NITRO PLUS have announced that action platformer Rusty Rabbit will be launching on Nintendo Switch on 17th April 2025 (via Gematsu).Now, on the surface, you might notice the gruff-looking, middle-aged rabbit that chain smokes carrots and think: "huh!". You might be entertained as he rides around maze-like maps in a mech --look, Kirby has piloted a mech before, let the bunny live. And then you might look at the tag above and see that Gen Urobuchi, the writer of Puella Magi Madoka Magica and creator of Psycho-Pass, things start falling into place.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube792kWatch on YouTube Rusty Rabbit is weird. Main character Stamp is voiced by Kazuma Kiryu's voice actor in both Japanese and English, so that should give you an even better idea of the tone. The game takes place on a post-apocalyptic earth that has been overtaken by rabbits. These rabbits worship the Peter Rabbit books. Yep, Peter Rabbit is God. How does that feel, Beatrix Potter?Image: NetEase GamesStamp who along with smoking carrots likes to swear is searching for his estranged daughter. He finds an ancient recording device, known as a D-TAM, which seems to belong to her, and hints at the truth of the world the rabbits have lived in. Oh, and the game takes place on Smokestack Mountain. Yep.Outside of the clash of cute characters (there are a lot of fluffy bunnies) and gritty setting, Rusty Rabbit sticks to many of the Metroidvania conventions. You're just controlling a rabbit in a mech. He starts with a drill fist, and from the junk he collects in the mountain, he can upgrade his kit by returning to the hub village.Images: NetEase GamesVarious biomes are tucked away inside the mountain, but alongside the mainline story sections, there are procedurally generated dungeons and tough bosses that guard treasure.So it's a mix of bold and familiar but the premise alone is wild enough that we have our eyes very peeled for this one. Also, what is it with rabbits and Metroidvanias? Remember F.I.S.T.?Have you had your eye on Rusty Rabbit? Hop on down to the comments and let us know what you think of the game.

Its not an easy time to raise money for an electric vehicle startup, especially given how many have failed or are close to failing. But Los Angeles-based Harbinger has pulled it off by taking an hyper-focused approach to electrifying commercial trucking.The reward is a $100 million Series B, co-led by early Tesla investor Capricorn Investor Group and Leitmotif, a new U.S. fund co-founded by the former M&A head for Volkswagen. Also joining the round were Tiger Global and mobility venture firm Maniv, both of which were existing investors.We know how the EV space has gone. We know that its just littered with bodies from the decade past, Harbinger CEO John Harris told TechCrunch in an interview. So we really, really try to keep our scope very focused and have very high confidence in what we say were going to do before we say were going to do it.Founded in 2022 by a group of former Canoo and QuantumScape employees, Harbinger set out to make a modular all-electric chassis for medium-duty trucks.Then it did that, and only that.Harbinger maintained its focus at a time when investors threw billions of dollars at startups that claimed theyd make hundreds of thousands of EVs, or reshape transportation as we know it. Arrival, for instance, started out in a similar sector as Harbinger. But as it went public, Arrival claimed it would reinvent vehicle manufacturing with so-called microfactories, planned to make buses, developed a ride-hail car with Uber, and was potentially even working on an aircraft.Arrival is now bankrupt. Harbinger, meanwhile, has closed a Series B and is on the verge of entering production.Harbinger is just this amazing team of very seasoned operators, with kind of a lot of scar tissue and relevant experience from their previous roles, Leitmotif co-founder Jens Wiese, the former VW exec, said in an interview. Theyre just laser focused on this segment and getting the product right.Harris said focusing on one product has not only allowed his startup to survive, its helping make the product better.As an example, Harris pointed to the battery packs that power Harbingers chassis. Instead of packaging them in stamped steel, which needs to be welded together and can lead to leaks that harm the batteries Harbinger invested in a 6,500 ton press that uses high pressures to die cast the entire enclosure.Harris said Harbinger was only able to invest in such a specialized tool because it didnt have to spread its spending across multiple other products. The result: battery pack enclosures that are just one-twentieth of the normal cost.Investments like this have allowed Harbinger to make its chassis more affordable from the outset, instead of relying on massive scale to reach attractive unit economics.And since Harbinger is essentially selling to CFOs of fleet companies, Maniv managing partner Michael Granoff said thats a tantalizing proposition.The segment theyre going after, they dont replace their fleets that often, and when theyre thinking about it, theyre doing it for a number of years and the math gets so compelling that its just unavoidable, Granoff said.Granoff so thoroughly believes in Harbingers opportunity that his firm has invested more in the startup than any other company. Harbingers Series B is also the only investment round Manivs second fund has joined that the firm didnt lead.Weve basically delivered compelling unit economics already, and thats why people come in who normally wouldnt be in this space, [investors] like Tiger, Harris said. We have industry leading unit economics, if you ignore Tesla, but I expect us to have better margins than them, probably in another 12 to 18 months.

Dune: Part Two, The Wild Robot, Shgun and The Penguin lead all nominees for the 23ndAnnualVES Awards, theyearly celebration that recognizes outstanding visual effects artistry and innovation in features, animation, television, commercials and video games and the VFX supervisors, VFX producers and hands-on artists responsible for its creation. The awards ceremony is set for February 11, 2024at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.In feature films,Dune: Part Two garnered sevennominations.The Wild Robot leads all animation category contenders with five nominations, whileShgun and The Penguin each garnered four nominations to lead in the episodiccategories.Nominees in 25 categories were selected by VES members at 39 in-person and virtual nomination events conducted worldwide over a 36-hour continuous process. The distinctive and thoughtful VES Awards nominations protocol included a review of each awards submission including Befores and Afters by a minimum of three different judging panels. Participating VES members on the panels represented 25 countries, highlighting the full breadth of the Societys diverse global membership.The artistry, ingenuity and passion of visual effects practitioners around the world have come together to create remarkable imagery, said Kim Davidson, VES Chair. We are seeing best in class work that elevates the art of storytelling and exemplifies the spirit of innovation. The VES Awards is the only venue that showcases and honors these outstanding artists across a wide range of disciplines, and we are extremely proud of our nominees.Nominees in 25 categories were selected by VES members at 49 in-person and virtual nomination panels conducted around the world over a 30-hour continuous process. The distinctive and thoughtful VES Awards nominations protocol included a review of each awards submission including Befores and Afters by a minimum of three different judging panels. Participating VES members on the panels represented 307 cities in 24 countries, highlighting the full breadth of the Societys diverse global membership.Whether its through a fully immersive environment, realistic characters, or jaw-dropping action sequences, visual effects artists continue to push the boundaries of creativity and transform the way stories are told, said Diana Colella, Executive Vice President of Media & Entertainment at Autodesk, sponsor of the VES-Autodesk Student Award. This years student film submissions celebrate the technical talent and creativity of up-and-coming visual effects artists. Congratulations to all the student nominees.This years nominees are as follows:OUTSTANDING VISUAL EFFECTS IN A PHOTOREAL FEATUREBetter ManLuke MillarAndy TaylorDavid ClaytonKeith HerftPeter StubbsDune: Part TwoPaul LambertBrice ParkerStephen JamesRhys SalcombeGerd NefzerKingdom of the Planet of the Apes Erik WinquistJulia NeighlyPaul StoryDanielle ImmermanRodney BurkeMufasa: The Lion KingAdam ValdezBarry St. JohnAudrey FerraraDaniel FotheringhamTwistersBen SnowMark SoperFlorian WitzelSusan GreenhowScott FisherOUTSTANDING SUPPORTING VISUAL EFFECTS IN A PHOTOREAL FEATUREBlitzAndrew WhitehurstSona PakTheo DemirisVincent PoitrasHayley WilliamsCivil War David SimpsonMichelle RoseFreddy SalazarChris ZehJ.D. SchwalmHorizon: An American Saga Chapter 1Jason NeeseArmen FetulagianJamie NeeseJ.P. JaramilloNosferatuAngela BarsonLisa RenneyDavid ScottDave CookPavel SgnerYoung Woman and the SeaRichard BriscoeCarrie RishelJeremy RobertStphane DittooIvo JivkovOUTSTANDING VISUAL EFFECTS IN AN ANIMATED FEATUREInside Out 2Kelsey MannMark NielsenSudeep RangaswamyBill WatralMoana 2Carlos CabralTucker GilmoreIan GoodingGabriela HernandezThe Wild RobotChris SandersJeff HermannJeff BudsbergJacob Hjort JensenTransformers One Frazer ChurchillFiona ChiltonJosh CooleyStephen KingUltraman: Rising Hayden JonesSean M. MurphyShannon TindleMathieu VigOUTSTANDING VISUAL EFFECTS IN A PHOTOREAL EPISODE Fallout; The HeadJay WorthAndrea KnollGrant EverettJoao SitaDevin MaggioHouse of the Dragon; Season 2; The Red Dragon and the GoldDai EinarssonTom HortonSven MartinWayne StablesMike DawsonShgun; AnjinMichael CliettMelody MeadPhilip EngstrmEd BruceCameron WaldbauerStar Wars: Skeleton Crew; Episode 5John KnollPablo MollesJhon AlvaradoJeff CapogrecoThe Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power; Season 2; EldestJason SmithTim KeeneAnn PodloznyAra KhanikianRyan ConderOUTSTANDING SUPPORTING VISUAL EFFECTS IN A PHOTOREAL EPISODEExpats: HomeRobert BockGlorivette SomozaCharles LabbTim EmeisLady in the Lake; It Has to Do With the Search for the MarvelousJay WorthEddie BoninJoe WehmeyerEric Levin-HatzMike MyersMasters of the Air; Part Three; The Regensburg-Schweinfurt MissionStephen RosenbaumBruce FranklinXavier Matia BernasconiDavid AndrewsNeil CorbouldThe Penguin; BlissJohnny HanMichelle RoseGoran PavlesEd BruceDevin MaggioThe Tattooist of Auschwitz; PilotSimon GilesAlan ChurchDavid SchneiderJames HattsmithOUTSTANDING VISUAL EFFECTS IN A REAL-TIME PROJECT[REDACTED]Fabio SilvaMatthew ShermanCaleb EssexBob KopinskyDestiny 2: The Final ShapeDave SamuelBen FabricEric GreenliefGlenn GambleStar Wars OutlawsStephen HawesLionel Le DainBenedikt PodlesniggBogdan DraghiciWhat If? An Immersive StoryPatrick N.P. ConranShereif FattouhZain HomerJax LeeUntil DawnNicholas ChambersJack Hidde GlavimansAlex GaborOUTSTANDING VISUAL EFFECTS IN A COMMERCIALYouTube TV NFL Sunday Ticket: The Magic of SundayChris BayolJeremy BrooksLane JollyJacob BergmanDisney; Holidays 2024Adam DroyHelen TangChristian Baker-SteeleDavid FleetVirgin Media; Walrus WhizzerSebastian CaldwellIan BerryBen CroninAlex GreyCoca-Cola; The HeroesGreg McKneallyAntonia VlastoRyan KnowlesFabrice FiteniSix Kings Slam; Call of the KingsRyan KnowlesJoe BillingtonDean RobinsonGeorge SavvasOUTSTANDING VISUAL EFFECTS IN A SPECIAL VENUE PROJECTD23; Real-Time RocketEvan GoldbergAlyssa FinleyJason BrenemanAlice TaylorThe Goldau Landslide ExperienceRoman KaelinGianluca RavioliFlorian BaumannMTV Video Music Awards; Slim Shady LiveJo PlaeteSara MustafaCameron JacksonAndries CourteauxTokyo DisneySea; Peter Pan's Never Land AdventureMichael Sean FoleyKirk BodyfeltDarin HollingsBert KleinMaya VyasParis Olympics Opening Ceremony; RunBenjamin Le SterGilles De LusigmanGerome ViavantRomain TinturierOUTSTANDING CHARACTER IN A PHOTOREAL FEATUREBetter Man; Robbie WilliamsMilton RamirezAndrea MerloSeoungseok Charlie KimEteuati TemaKingdom of the Planet of the Apes; NoaRachael DunkAndrei CovalJohn SoreNiels Peter KaagaardKingdom of the Planet of the Apes; RakaSeoungseok Charlie KimGiorgio LafrattaTim TeramotoAidan MartinMufasa: The Lion King; TakaKlaus SkovboValentina RosselliEli De KoninckAmelie TalarmainOUTSTANDING CHARACTER IN AN ANIMATED FEATUREInside Out 2; AnxietyAlexander AlvaradoBrianne FranciscoAmanda WagnerBrenda Lin ZhangThe Wild Robot; RozFabio LigniniYukinori InagakiOwen DemersHyun HuhThelma The Unicorn; Vic DiamondGuillaume ArantesAdrien MonteroAnne-Claire LerouxGaspard RocheWallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl; GromitJo FentonAlison EvansAndy SymanowskiEmanuel NevadoOUTSTANDING CHARACTER IN AN EPISODE, COMMERCIAL, GAME CINEMATIC, OR REAL-TIME PROJECTSecret Level; Armored Core: Asset Management; Mech PilotZsolt VidaPter Krucsaignes VonaEnric Nebleza PaellaDiablo IV: Vessel of Hatred; NeyrelleChris BostjanickJames MaYeon-Ho LeeAtsushi IkarashiDisney; Holidays 2024; OctopusAlex DoylePhilippe MoineLewis PickstonAndrea LacedelliRonja the Robber's Daughter; Vildvittran the Queen HarpyNicklas AnderssonDavid AllanGustav hrenNiklas WallnOUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENT IN A PHOTOREAL FEATURECivil War; Washington, D.C.Matthew ChandlerJames HarmerRobert MooreAdrien ZeppieriDune: Part Two; The Arrakeen BasinDaniel RheinDaniel Anton FernandezMarc James AustinChristopher AnciaumeGladiator II; RomeOliver KaneStefano FarciJohn SeruFrederick ValleeWicked; The Emerald CityAlan LamSteve BevinsDeepali NegiMiguel Sanchez Lpez-RuzOUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENT IN AN ANIMATED FEATUREKung Fu Panda 4; Juniper CityBenjamin LippertRyan PrestridgeSarah VawterPeter MaynezThe Wild Robot; The ForestJohn WakeHe Jung ParkWoojin ChoiShane GladingTransformers One; Iacon CityAlex PopescuGeoffrey LebretonRyan KirbyHussein NabeelWallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl; AqueductMatt PerryDave Alex RiddettMatt SandersHoward JonesOUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENT IN AN EPISODE, COMMERCIAL, GAME CINEMATIC, OR REAL-TIME PROJECTDune: Prophecy; Pilot; The Imperial PalaceScott CoatesSam BesseauVincent l'HeureuxLourenco AbreuDune: Prophecy; Two Wolves; Zimia SpaceportNils WeisbrodDavid AnastacioRene BorstRuben ValenteShgun; OsakaManuel MartinezPhil HanniganKeith MaloneFrancesco CorvinoThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power; Season 2; Doomed to Die; EregionYordan PetrovBertrand CabrolLea DesrozierKaran DhandhaOUTSTANDING CG CINEMATOGRAPHYBetter ManBlair BurkeShweta BhatnagarTim WalkerCraig YoungDune: Part Two; ArrakisGreig FraserXin Steve GuoSandra MurtaBen WiggsHouse of the Dragon; Season 2; The Red Dragon and the Gold; Battle at Rook's RestMatt PerrinJames ThompsonJacob DoehnerP.J. DillonKingdom of the Planet of the Apes ; Egg ClimbDennis YooAngelo PerrottaSamantha ErickstadMiae KangOUTSTANDING MODEL IN A PHOTOREAL OR ANIMATED PROJECTAlien: Romulus; Renaissance Space StationWaldemar BartkowiakTrevor WideMatt MiddletonBen ShearmanDeadpool & Wolverine; Ant-Man ArenaCarlos Flores GomezCorinne DyChris ByrnesGerald BlaiseDune: Part Two; The Harkonnen HarvesterAndrew HodgsonTimothy RussellErik LehmannLouie ChoGladiator II; The ColosseumOliver KaneMarnie PittsCharlotte FargierLaurie PriestOUTSTANDING EFFECTS SIMULATIONS IN A PHOTOREAL FEATUREDune: Part Two; Atomic Explosions and WormridingNicholas PapworthSandy la TourelleLisa NolanChristopher PhillipsKingdom of the Planet of the Apes; Burning Village, Rapids and FloodsAlex NowotnyClaude SchitterFrdric ValleurKevin KelmTwistersMatthew HangerJoakim ArnessonLaurent KermelZheng Yong OhVenom: The Last Dance; Water, Fire & Symbiote EffectsXavi Martin RamirezOscar DahlenHedi NamarYuri YangOUTSTANDING EFFECTS SIMULATIONS IN AN ANIMATED FEATUREKung Fu Panda 4Jinguang HuangZhao WangHamid ShahsavariJoshua LaBrotMoana 2Zoran StojanoskiJesse EricksonShamintha Kalamba ArachchiErin V. RamosThe Wild RobotDerek CheungMichael LosureDavid ChowNyoung KimUltraman: RisingGoncalo CabacaZheng Yong OhNicholas Yoon Joo KuangPraveen BoppanaOUTSTANDING EFFECTS SIMULATIONS IN AN EPISODE, COMMERCIAL, GAME CINEMATIC, OR REAL-TIME PROJECTAvatar: The Last Airbender; Legends; KoizillaIoan BoieriuDavid StopfordPer BalaySaysana RintharamyShgun; Broken to the Fist; LandslideDominic TiedekenHeinrich LweCharles GuertonTimmy LundinStar Wars: Skeleton Crew; Pilot; Spaceship Hillside TakeoffTravis HarkleroadXiaolong PengMarcella BrownMickael RiciottiThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power; Season 2; Shadow and Flame; Balrog Fire and Collapsing CliffKoenraad HofmeesterMiguel Perez SenentMiguel Santana Da SilvaBilly CopleyThree Body Problem; Judgement DayYves D'IncauGavin TemplerMartin ChabannesEloi Andaluz FullOUTSTANDING COMPOSITING & LIGHTING IN A FEATUREBetter ManMark McNichollGordon Spencer de HasethEva SnyderMarkus ReithofferDune: Part Two; Wormriding, Geidi Prime, and the Final BattleChristopher RickardFrancesco Dell'AnnaPaul ChapmanRyan WingKingdom of the Planet of the ApesJoerg BruemmerZachary BrakeTim WalkerKaustubh A. PatilThe Wild RobotSondra L. VerlanderBaptiste Van OpstalEszter OffertalerAustin CasaleOUTSTANDING COMPOSITING & LIGHTING IN AN EPISODEShgun; Broken to the Fist; LandslideBenjamin BernonDouglas RoshamnVictor KirschCharlie RaudStar Wars: Skeleton Crew; Episode 6; JawsRich GrandeTomas LefebvreIan DodmanRey ReynoldsThe Boys; Season 4; Life Among the SepticsTristan ZerafaMike StadnyckyjToshi KosakaRajeev BRThe Penguin; After HoursJonas StuckenbrockKaren ChangEugene BondarMiky GirnOUTSTANDING COMPOSITING & LIGHTING IN A COMMERCIALVirgin Media; Walrus WhizzerSebastian CaldwellAlex GreyKanishk ChouhanShubham MehtaCoca-Cola; The HeroesRyan KnowlesAlex GabucciJack PowellDan YarcigiCorcept; MarionetteYongchan KimArman MatinYoon BaeRajesh KaushikDisney; Holidays 2024Christian Baker-SteeleLuke WarpusPritesh KotianJack HarrisOUTSTANDING SPECIAL (PRACTICAL) EFFECTS IN A PHOTOREAL PROJECTBlitzHayley WilliamsDavid EvesAlex FreemanDavid WatsonConstellationMartin GoeresJohara RaukampLion David BogusLeon MarkThe Penguin; Safe GunsDevin MaggioJohnny HanCory CandrilliAlexandre Prod'hommeEMERGING TECHNOLOGY AWARDDune: Part Two; Nuke CopyCatBen KentGuillaume GalesMairead GroganJohanna BarbierFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga; Artist-driven Machine Learning CharacterJohn BastianBen WardThomas RowntreeRobert BeveridgeHere; Neural Performance ToolsetJo PlaeteOriel FrigoTomas KoutskyMatteo Oliviero DancyMufasa: The Lion King; Real-Time Interactive Filmmaking, From Stage To PostCallum JamesJames HoodLloyd BishopBruno PedrinhaThe Penguin; Phase Synced Flash-Gun SystemJohnny HanJefferson HanJoseph MenafraMichael PynnOUTSTANDING VISUAL EFFECTS IN A STUDENT PROJECTDawn (entry from ESMA cole Suprieure Des Mtiers Artistiques)Noah MercierApolline RoyerLorys StoraMarie PradeillesStudent Accomplice (entry from Brigham Young University)Spencer BlanchardLisa BirdAnson SavageKiara SpencerPittura (entry from ARTFX Schools of Digital Arts)Lauriol AdamLassre TitouanVivenza RmiMarre HellosCourage (entry from Supinfocom Rubika)Salom CognonMargot JacquetNathan BaudryLise DelcroixAs previously announced, special honorees at the 23rd Annual VES Award include: Golden Globe nominee and Emmy Award-winning actor-producer Hiroyuki Sanada, receiving the VES Award for Creative Excellence; Academy Award-winning director and Visual Effects Supervisor Takashi Yamazaki receiving the VES Visionary Award; and acclaimed Virtual Reality/Immersive Technology Pioneer Dr. Jacquelyn Ford Morie receiving the VES Georges Mlis Award.Source: Visual Effects Society Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.

Breakdown & ShowreelsAlien Romulus: VFX Breakdown by ILMBy Vincent Frei - 14/01/2025 The terrifying beauty of Alien: Romulus lies in its visual storytelling. ILM redefines sci-fi horror with meticulously crafted ships, a breathtaking station, and the ultimate terror: Facehuggers and Xenomorphs, ready to haunt your dreams!WANT TO KNOW MORE?ILM: Dedicated page about Alien: Romulus on ILM website.Eric Barba: Heres my interview of Production VFX Supervisor Eric Barba. Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2025

The Ultimate Kitbash PackDesigners PackIntroducing the 3D Designers Pack a comprehensive kitbash collection featuring nearly 300 curated models. These are perfect for rapid prototyping and building out your scenes. This versatile pack combines steampunk, industrial, and sci-fi mechanical elements to help bring your creative visions into the third dimension.And the best part: its 100% free!! We decided to give away this entire $89 pack at no cost as a gift to you.To get your download link, simply subscribe to our newsletter. Already a subscriber? Check your emails for the password to access our exclusive download page.

Allied Works has been selected to design a new $50 million art museum at Middlebury College in Vermont. The Portland- and Brooklyn-based firm was chosen by the Middlebury Board of Trustees to ideate the future building on the campuss north side near Battell Hall, the Johnson Memorial Building, Wright Memorial Theatre, Sunderland Language Center, and le Chteau. The new art museum is part of the universitys effort to reconfigure and enhance the north side of its campus. Middlebury President Laurie Patton said the institution will promote the arts and democracy and reinforce the power of the arts to communicate and promote the common good.Renderings show a low-lying volume clad in a strirated material that meshes well with the stately, historic architecture that makes up much of the Middlebury University campus. A large void in the block opens to the main entrance and rectilinear apertures puncture the facade. Allied Works said its conceiving the museum as a beacon signaling the importance of the arts on campus.The mission is building a new arts agora, the development team shared. 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, Brad Cloepfil, Allied Works principal and founder, said in a statement. Upon completion, the art museum will house Middleburys approximately 7,000 works from antiquity to contemporaneity, making them more accessible. It will also expand exhibition, teaching, and multipurpose spaces for students and faculty alike. The architects said they will strictly adhere to Middleburys sustainability goals by incorporating energy-efficient practices.The arts have always been essential to democratic life, allowing us to envision new worlds and connect across differences, Patton added. Our student-run arts festival, Nocturne, shows how transformative this can be.Patton continued: The new museum and arts quadrangle will bring that spirit into the heart of our campus, creating a lively artistic hub with spaces for outdoor exhibits, music, sculpture, and performance.Design will begin in 2025. Construction will start in 2027 and the museum is slated to open in 2028.So far, $35 million has been raised to finance the $50-million project.

Big changes are coming this year, andColossal HQ is moving to an exciting new location. We need your help to lighten our load. Enjoy20% off almost everythingin theColossal Shopand snag the final bits of our inventory before theyre gonelikely for good. From quality art books and adorable embroidery kits to infinite jigsaw puzzles and signed, limited-edition gicle prints, this moving sale is packed with steals. Who knows when well offer deals this low again?Dont worry about a code. These markdowns will automatically apply to your cart. The discount doesnt apply to postcards and cannot be combined with any other coupon. The sale ends Friday, January 17.Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article The Colossal Shop Is Moving: As We Pack Up, Take Something with You appeared first on Colossal.

Published January 14, 2025 10:00am EST close How to factory reset your iPhone A factory reset ensures all your personal data is wiped clean. Apple announces new iPhones every year, and I often wonder if that's truly necessary. A launch every two years seems more reasonable, especially since the new iPhones are often only marginally better than the ones released the year before. This has been the case since the iPhone 12.However, in 2024, Apple introduced a range of interesting features with theiPhone 16. While these features dont necessarily justify an upgrade if you already own the iPhone 15 or even the iPhone 14, they make theiPhone 16 a worthy purchase if youre using an older model or an Android phone.If you've already made the purchase, or if you've bought another iPhone, here are the first things you should do and try when you fire up your new phone.(First things to do if you got a new Android)Enter the giveaway by signing up for myfree newsletter. iPhone packaging (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)1) How to update your software to iOS 18.2 or laterFirst things first, let's update your software to iOS 18.2 or later:OpenSettingsTapGeneralSelectSoftware UpdateTap Update NowEnter your passcode and agree to termsWait for theinstallation to complete Steps to update your iPhones software (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)2) How to add a passcode or biometric authenticationTo add a passcode or biometric authentication to your new iPhone after updating to iOS 18.2 or later, follow these steps:Setting up a passcodeOpenSettings on your iPhoneTap on Face ID & Passcode (for iPhone X and later) orTouch ID & Passcode (for earlier models)TapTurn Passcode OnEnter asix-digit passcode. If you prefer, tapPasscode Options to choose a four-digit numeric code, a custom numeric code or a custom alphanumeric code.Re-enter yourpasscode to confirm it and activate itSetting up biometric authenticationFor Face ID:Go toSettingsTap on Face ID & PasscodeEnter yourpasscode, if promptedTap on Set Up Face IDHold your device in portrait orientation and position your face in front of the device, then tap Get Started.Follow theon-screen instructions to complete the setup Face ID & Passcode on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)3) Setting up Apple ID and iCloudCreate or sign in to Apple ID:Open theSettings appTap onSign in to your iPhone at the topIf you dont have an Apple ID, selectDont have an Apple ID or forgot it? and follow the prompts to create one.If you have an Apple ID, enter yourcredentials and sign in.Enable iCloud:After signing in, go back to SettingsTap on yournameat the top, then select iCloudChoose which services you want to enable (e.g., Photos, Contacts, Calendars)Tap iCloud Backup andtoggle it on to automatically back up your data. Create a Free Apple Account on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)4) Personalizing settings on iPhoneCustomize Display:OpenSettingsThen go toDisplay & BrightnessTapLightor Dark for the background you'd likeYou can tap onText Size to adjust text sizeThen use theslider to adjust the brightness you prefer. How to personalize your iPhones display and brightness (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Customize sound preferences:Tap onSounds & HapticsAdjust the sliderwhere it says Ringtone and alerts to customize from quieter to louder.Scroll down and tap the following to adjust the sounds for each:Ringtone, Text Tone, New Voicemail, New Mail, Sent Mail, Calendar Alerts and Reminder Alerts. Steps to change your iPhones sounds and haptics (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)5) Configuring privacy settingsManage Privacy Settings:Go toSettingsScroll down and click appsSelect the app you want to review the privacy settings forAdjust thepermissions as needed for location services, camera, microphone, allow tracking and other settings. Adjust as necessary for individual apps.6) Pick your own lock screen shortcutsBy default in iOS 18, you get flashlight and camera shortcuts on the lock screen, but now you can finally customize them.Long-press on the Lock ScreenTapCustomizeThen choose Lock ScreenYou can tap on theexisting shortcuts to change them to your preferred apps or features by selecting thedesired app or feature from the list that appears.If you prefer, you can remove them entirely to keep your lock screen clean and simple by tapping the deleteorremove option next to the shortcut. Steps to customize your iPhones lock screen (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)7) Setting up Family SharingHere's how to enable Family Sharing on your iPhone:Open yourSettings appTapyour nameGo toFamily SharingSet Up Your FamilyPressContinueSelectfamily members that you want to inviteTo create an account for a child, selectCreate Child Account at the bottom and provide their name and birthday.8) Download some useful appsThere are millions of apps available, such asApple Maps,Google Maps andeven apps to plan a party in the App Store. To download useful apps on your new iPhone, follow these straightforward steps:Locate theApp Store icon on your home screen and tap to open it.You can explore various categories by tapping onApps at the bottom of the screen or using theSearch tab to find specific apps.Once you find an app you want, tap on it to view more details, including descriptions, ratings and screenshots.Tap theGet button (or the price if it's a paid app) next to the app you wish to download.If prompted,authenticate your download using Face ID, Touch ID or your Apple ID password.The app will begindownloading and installing automatically. You can monitor its progress on your home screen.Once installed, the app willappear on your home screen.Tap its icon to open and start using it.You can press and hold any app icon until they start wiggling, allowing you to drag them into folders or rearrange their positions. Image of the App Store icon on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)9) Activate spam filters for text messagesHaving a strong spam filter on your iPhone is beneficial to protect yourself from unwanted text messages and scams.But beware that this may also filter out some legitimate messages from people who are not in your contacts list.OpenSettingsScroll down and tap onAppsThen, scroll down and tap onMessagesToggle onFilter Unknown Senders to filter text messages from unknown contacts into a separate list Steps to activate filters for text messages (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)10) Use visual intelligenceOn all iPhone 16 models, you can use Camera Control with visual intelligence to quickly learn more about the stuff around you. Just press and hold the Camera Control, which is a new button on the right side of the device, and you can do things like look up info about a restaurant or business, translate text, get a summary, have it read out loud and more.You can even use it to find details about a business, like its hours, services and contact info. Depending on the place, you might also be able to check reviews, make a reservation or order for delivery.To use this feature, point your iPhone camera at the business in front of you, then press and hold the Camera Control. Next, either tap the Camera Control again or select the business name at the top of the screen. Depending on the business, you can:View the hours of operation by tappingSchedulePlace a delivery order by tappingOrderBrowse the menu or available services by tappingMenuMake a reservation by tappingReserveTo call the business, visit its website or access other options, tap theMore button. iPhone using visual intelligence (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)11) Log how youre feelingApple made several changes to the iPhones with its iOS 18 update, including updates to the Journal app. You dont need the latest iPhone 16 to try the apps mindfulness option for journal entries; any iPhone with iOS 18 will do. When you open the Journal app, tap the icon that looks like a tiny tree, and youll be able to log your mood for each day and see how it changes over time. Journal app on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)12) Give Action Button a tryTheAction Button is part of the iOS 17 operating system for the iPhone 15 series and continues into iOS 18 for the iPhone 16 series. This customizable side button lets you choose a specific function to perform when pressed, such as turning on silent mode, focus, camera, flashlight, voice memo, recognize music, translate, magnifier, controls, shortcut and accessibility, depending on your settings. Essentially, it acts as a quick access key for a chosen action. Here are the steps to customize the Action button on supported iPhone models:Go toSettingsTapAction ButtonAn image of the side of the iPhone will appear showing icons representing actions you can assign to the Action button.Swipeleft orright to choose an action. Thename of the action will appear below the dots.If additional options are available for the selected action, abutton will appear below the action.Tap it to see the list of options.For Controls, Shortcut and Accessibility actions, you need to tap the button below the action and select aspecific option. Otherwise, the Action button won't do anything. Action button on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)13) Try out the new Passwords appI always stress the importance of using a password manager to store your passwords. Lets be honest, we all have a ton of apps and services that require an account and password. If you use the same password everywhere, you risk having your important info stolen by cybercriminals. But its also impossible to come up with a unique password for every app and remember them all.Password managers make life easier by storing your passwords and filling them in when you log into apps. But they usually charge a monthly or yearly fee. Thats where Apples Passwords app comes in. It works just like a password manager but without the extra cost. Open the app from the App Library, and itll keep your login details encrypted and synced across all your devices.While Apple's new Passwords app in iOS 18 offers a convenient and cost-free solution for password management, it's important to consider its limitations. These include its exclusivity to the Apple ecosystem, lack of compatibility with Android or Linux devices and limited functionality outside of Safari and Apple apps. For those seeking a more comprehensive password management solution that works across various browsers and apps, check out mybest expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 here.14) Use ChatGPT and writing toolsApple introduced Apple Intelligence for iPhone 15 Pro and newer models running iOS 18.2, bringing a range of AI tools and ChatGPT support. ChatGPT is now built into various parts of iOS, and if you have an iPhone 15 Pro or above, you can take full advantage of this integration.You can use Apple's enhanced Writing Tools to access ChatGPT directly in apps like Notes, Mail and any other text input field. Whether you need help spicing up your notes or generating complex programming scripts, ChatGPT is up for the task. Here's how to get started; youll need to enable ChatGPT integration.Head toSettingsClickApple Intelligence & SiriTap ChatGPT and toggle on next to where it says Use ChatGPT.From there, you can scroll down and Sign In to your own ChatGPT account or even upgrade toChatGPT Plus. ChatGPT and writing tools on iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)15) Install strong antivirus protectionAntivirus software can help protect your new iPhone from malware, phishing and other threats. The best way to protect yourself from having your data breached is to install antivirus protection on all your devices. Having strong antivirus software on your devices will alert you of any known malware that is targeting you, warn you against clicking on any known malicious links in phishing emails and ultimately help protect you from being hacked.Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your iPhone, Mac, Windows and Android devices.Pro tip:Prioritize regular backups to safeguard your dataMaking databackups a regular part of your iPhone maintenance is crucial. This way, you can protect yourself against uncertainties. Whether it's a hardware malfunction or a security breach, having a recent backup will let you recover quickly.Kurts key takeawaysWhen you get your new iPhone, there are several essential steps to take to ensure you're getting the most out of your device. Start by updating to iOS 18.2 or later to access the latest features. Next, security measures like a passcode or biometric authentication should be set up for added protection. Personalize your settings by customizing your display and sound preferences, and dont forget to enable Family Sharing if you want to connect with loved ones. Also, explore the App Store to download useful apps. Additionally, make sure to give the Action Button a test run for quick access to your favorite functions. With these tips, you'll be well on your way to maximizing your new iPhone's capabilities.How do you feel about the annual iPhone releases? Do you think they provide enough value each year? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com. Related Topics

Aleksei - stock.adobe.comNewsCMA kicks off investigation into Google search engine dominanceThe Competition and Markets Authority is using powers that came into force at the start of the year to assess Googles reachByCliff Saran,Managing EditorPublished: 14 Jan 2025 15:44 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has kicked off the new year with an investigation of Google Search under the new digital markets competition regime, which came into force on 1 January 2025.It is seeking to determine if Google has strategic market status in search and search advertising activities, and whether these services are delivering good outcomes for people and businesses in the UK.The CMA said the investigation would assess Googles position in search and search advertising services, and look at how this impacts consumers and businesses including advertisers, news publishers and rival search engines.Google is used for 90% of all general search queries in the UK, and more than 200,000 UK advertisers use its search advertising.Given Googles importance as a key digital service for people, businesses and the economy, the CMA said it wants to ensure that competition works well. According to the CMA, effective competition could keep down the cost of search advertising for businesses, equivalent to nearly 500 per household per year, which it said could lower prices across the economy.In November 2024, the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) certified a 7bn collective action against Google. The specialist UK court will require Google to defend its long-standing conduct in the search engine market after approving the landmark legal action brought by Nikki Stopford, co-founder of Consumer Voice, and legal firm Hausfeld & Co LLP.The claim accuses Google of exploiting its dominance in the search market to increase advertising costs. At the time, Stopford said: Google has been warned repeatedly by competition regulators, yet it continues to rig the market to charge advertisers more, which raises the prices they charge consumers. This action seeks to promote healthier competition in digital markets, and to hold Google accountable and ensure that consumers are compensated.Meanwhile, in the US, the Department of Justice (DoJ) is seeking to force the search engine giant to offload its Chrome browser.While the collective action against Google is likely to run for several years, the CMA has set a deadline of October 2025 to complete its initial investigation.The regulator plans to assess how competition is working and if Google is using its position to prevent innovation by others. This includes whether barriers to entry are preventing other competitors from entering the market in particular, whether Google can shape the development of new AI services and interfaces, including answer engines, in ways that limit the competitive constraint they impose on Google Search.The CMA is also planning to investigate whether Google is using its position in the market to self-preference its own services, such as specialised search services covering shopping and travel.Beyond search engine and search engine advertising, the CMAs investigation is also looking at whether Google is collecting and using large quantities of consumer data without informed consent, and whether it is using publisher content without fair terms and conditions, including payment terms.Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, said: Millions of people and businesses across the UK rely on Googles search and advertising services. Thats why its so important to ensure these services are delivering good outcomes for people and businesses, and that there is a level playing field, especially as AI [artificial intelligence] has the potential to transform search services.Its our job to ensure people get the full benefit of choice and innovation in search services and get a fair deal for example, in how their data is collected and stored. And for businesses, whether you are a rival search engine, an advertiser or a news organisation, we want to ensure there is a level playing field for all businesses, large and small, to succeed.If Google is found to have too much control over the internet search and search advertising markets, the CMA could require it to make the data it collects available to other businesses or give publishers more control over how their data is used including in Googles AI services.Read more stories about GoogleMicrosoft and Google in war of words following launch of anti-competitive cloud coalition: Microsoft claims the newly formed Open Cloud Coalition is not all it seems, and merely a front for Google Cloud to mislead competition authorities over the state of the public cloud market.CMA gets ready to take on Apple and Google over mobile browsing: Preliminary investigation finds a lack of fairness and choice of mobile browsing on iOS devices like the iPhone is holding back innovation.In The Current Issue:Interview: Wendy Redshaw, chief digital information officer, NatWest Retail BankPreparing for AI regulation: The EU AI ActDownload Current Issue