By the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the Sonic cinematic universe has gotten considerably bigger. Shadow the Hedgehog and Gerald Robotnik expand the Sonic family, and a mid-credits scene promises to add even more fan-favorite characters for the eventual sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 4. As Sonic 3 hits digital release this week, Polygon took time to speak to Sonic the Hedgehog franchise director Jeff Fowler about the future of the series and what it holds for two new characters.In Sonic 3s mid-credits stinger, an army of Metal Sonics show up to neutralize Sonic. But a savior arrives: Amy Rose, cloaked and armed with a giant mallet, and she lays waste to the robotic Sonic clones. Neither Metal Sonic nor Amy speaks during the scene, which leaves their places in the story open-ended for now.Read on for Fowlers insight into the addition of Amy Rose and Metal Sonic, who have been teed up to appear in a fourth live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movie.Polygon: When did you know you were going to expand the franchise with Metal Sonic and Amy Rose?Jeff Fowler: We actually had the idea pretty early, during storyboarding. We love doing these teasers, and with [Sonic the Hedgehog] having 30-plus years of games, there are so many amazing characters. Were all dying to get a female character in the mix with Amy, but at the same time, to honor how they were both introduced in Sonic CD. So it felt very cool to honor that chronology and have them simultaneously introduced.Of course, it would be reckless and irresponsible to not have had at least some story conversations you dont want to just put a character in there and then wake up after the movies out and have no idea what to do with them.With Shadow, we knew by bringing him in at the end of [Sonic the Hedgehog 2], that was going to more or less commit us to the Sonic Adventure 2 storyline, or at least something that honored that storyline. With the movies, what we always try to do is honor the characters and stories that made them so iconic, but also give it a movie coat of paint. So now thats the challenge with Amy and Metal.I cant really speak to any of the Sonic 4 stuff, but I will just say that we never put these characters in lightly its always because we think theyre going to bring something interesting and new to the story. That really is the overall goal: to make each of these films unique. We never want to repeat ourselves. We never want to feel like were making the same movie. Its always got to take us into new territory tonally, and offer up something new, and give people a reason that they have to get out and see it. Because you dont want it to feel familiar or expected or, worst of all, predictable. So yeah, thats the next challenge.Do you have an internal wishlist of which actors might voice those characters?Absolutely. I mean, traditionally, in most of his incarnations, Metal Sonic doesnt speak. Thats not to say that once the story and scripting process begins, there wont be the question asked, What if we did give him a voice? All those conversations have yet to be had.But I think with Amy, as we work through her character when that work is committed to well be figuring out whos the best match in terms of personality. I mean, Amy is a little different from Shadow. His character has stood up over time. I think [based on] Amys original introduction, we have some different story needs [we cant just rely on] Sonic CD. But theyre both really exciting opportunities. They are creative conversations still to be had, so well just have to wait and see.Sonic the Hedgehog 3 arrives on digital rental and purchase platforms on Jan. 21.

At a rally following the inauguration ceremonies, President Trump had a desk brought out on stage where he signed a number of executive orders. The first of the evening took aim at 78 of the Biden administration's orders, including the October 2023 guidelines for AI."The revocations within this order will be the first of many steps the United States Federal Government will take to repair our institutions and our economy," the text reads. There's no explanation for any of the selections, just a long list with "the following actions are hereby revoked" as an introduction. Some were related to the on-going response COVID-19 pandemic while others concern immigration, climate change and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).Biden's executive order outlined an ambitious plan to establish protections for the general public and best practices for the federal government with regard to artificial intelligence. More specifically, the EO sought new standards for safety and security in addition to protocols for AI watermarking and both civil rights and consumer protections. It also laid out plains to mitigate the impact on workers from businesses using AI as well as launched a new federal jobs portal seeking "more AI talent."In singular executive orders on Monday, Trump also withdrew the US from the Paris climate agreement for the second time. He did so during his first term, but Biden reinstated US participation when he took office.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/trump-executive-order-rescinds-bidens-ai-framework-012825311.html?src=rss

Looking for NYT Connections answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, plus my commentary on the puzzles.

The way Kardell Thomas sees things, it wasnt so much the schools as it was the system that let him down.When thinking about the pros and cons of college players forming a union as they navigate their way through anindustry thats changing by the day,the story of the offensive lineman who has signed with four schools in five years is a good one to tell.Thomas father, Karl, died in 2023 after kidney problems became too much to overcome. Kardell wont name names, but he said he was promised help from one of his schools when his dads health started deteriorating.Help never came. Thomas suffered injuries. Rumors spread about marijuana use, even though Thomas says he never failed a drug test. All-too-frequent trips to the transfer portal were laced with endless questions about whether he was durable or dependable enough.After weaving through stops in Louisiana, Florida and Missouri, Thomas ended up with Deion Sanders, though he barely got on the field at Colorado in his final year of eligibility.By the time he got there, it was too late anyway.I feel like if I couldve had NIL in my third year, I couldve bought my dad a kidney, and maybe he wouldnt have died, Thomas said of the name, image and likeness payments that are changing college sports.Could a players association have made things better?Thomas is one of around 4,000 athletes who have joined forces with what would like to be one of the most disruptive forces in a disrupted industry.Athletes.orgheld a meeting with more than 50 of those players over the weekend leading up toMondays national title gamebetween Ohio State and Notre Dame.It describes itself as the players association for college athletes one of two trying to establish a footholdin an industry that has the NCAAs Student-Athlete Advisory Committee but nothing in the way of formalized athlete groups outside the NCAA tent.One of its members is Grant House the Arizona State swimmer whose name graces theHouse settlementthat is set to dictate the terms of many of the industrys thorniest issues: revenue sharing, NIL payments, roster limits, Title IX and more.Its not just about my name on the case, House said. I did this for these guys around me. I did this for the other couple dozen guys in the room across the hall and all around the country, too.Another is Diego Pavia, the junior-college-turned-Vanderbilt quarterbackwho sued for a fifth year of eligibilityand whose plight is the tip of a potential move to allow all players a fifth year. (Pavia attended the meeting in Atlanta but did not give interviews.)Yet another isSedona Prince, the basketball player whoseviral video of the sparse weight roomat womens March Madness in 2020 remains a bracing symbol for all that doesnt work in college sports.What I care about is making a change, making a real change, which is what Im doing, Prince said in an interview with the Associated Press last week. Advocating for athletes, negotiating for athletes, giving thousands and thousands of athletes generational wealth.Players as employees scares schools but interests the athletesThe organizations cofounder, Jim Cavale, said the mission of athletes.org is not necessarily to have players declared employees. Still, when those who attended the meeting this weekend were asked if theyd like to know more about the pros and cons of an employment model, 94% said yes.Its not do the athletes want to be employees, do the athletes not want to be employees, he said. Its, how are the athletes treated, and theyve been treated like employees for a long time.Many in the college space view the idea of athletes as employees as an existential threat, claiming athletic departments will have to make massive cuts to programs if forced to put hundreds of players across all sports on the payroll, earning scholarships, retirement benefits and potentially NIL money.Those power brokers breathed a sigh of relief over the past two weeks when plaintiffs in a pair of major pushes toward an employment model atDartmouthandSouthern California halted their legal actions.Cavale argues that nobody should be so sure employment is a game killer.Some athletes, he argues, might not want that because they could owe payroll taxes on their scholarship and benefits and, without NIL money to offset that, end up in the red. Others, especially in football and basketball, might be able to make a profit.Thats the wideness and breadth of college athletics, Cavale said. So many schools, so many sports, so many athletes. Its not just a one-size-fits-all thing.Names behind the NCAA lawsuit hope decisions will benefit everyoneThough House and Prince have their names on the lawsuit, most of the decisions being made because of it are being hashed out by lawyers, judges, conferences and the NCAA.Its been five years of every day being different than the day before it, House said. Its about adapting and adjusting and being malleable and about working for solutions that actually help everyone.Prince said there are things shed like to see for instance, she hopes schools will max out the 22%, or $20.5 million, theyll be allowed to pay players next school year because if you dont pay your student-athletes, youre not going to have student-athletes.Her confidence in that happening isnt all that high, though, which is whyshes also pushing for a bigger seat at the table.Historically, over and over, time and time again, unless you force their hand to make a change, theyre not going to do it by themselves, she said. So, I hope, I pray it could be an equitable and fair system that feels right.Eddie Pells, AP national writerDoug Feinberg, AP basketball writer, contributed to this report.

Charging your devices should feel like an afterthought, but for most of us, its a ritual riddled with tangled cords, misplaced adapters, and the constant hunt for a free outlet. Its a mundane annoyance weve come to accept, a background hum in the rhythm of modern life. The Mag Tube and Mag Qube Qi2 from ADAM Elements, however, quietly challenge that normnot with flashy gimmicks but through thoughtful design thats as clever as it is practical. They dont demand attention; they earn it by fitting seamlessly into your day-to-day.At their core, these chargers are deceptively simple. A cylinder and a cube clean shapes that wouldnt be out of place in a modern art exhibit. But simplicity here is a mask for cleverness. The charging pad swivels with a satisfying pivot at a 45 angle, moving effortlessly between vertical and horizontal angles so your device is always in view, whether youre doom-scrolling Twitter or making an impromptu FaceTime call.Designer: ADAM elementsClick Here to Buy Now: $62.30 $89 (30% off, use coupon code 30DISCQTUBE). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!Beneath their minimalist exteriors lies the game-changing Qi2 technology, which streamlines wireless charging in a way that feels, dare I say, intuitive. No more awkwardly nudging your phone around the pad, hoping the charging symbol appears. The Mag Tube and Mag Qube align your device with magnetic precision, locking it in place for faster, more reliable power delivery. Its efficiency wrapped in elegance, a feature youll notice most when you stop noticing it altogether.Mag Tube Qi2 3-in-1 Intelligent Charging StationSpeaking of details, lets appreciate how effortlessly the Apple Watch and AirPods fit into the mix. Hidden pop-out compartments for these gadgets slide in and out with a button press, keeping everything sleek when not in use. Theres no clutter, no tangled wiresjust a sense of order that makes you wonder why other chargers dont bother. Its like theyve taken your desk or nightstand and dialed up the sophistication by several notches without you lifting a finger.Mag Qube Qi2 3-in-1 Intelligent Charging StationDurability is baked in, too. These chargers are all metal, sturdy enough to survive a fall if theyre accidentally nudged or knocked over, and they dont skimp on safety. Built-in protections keep your devices safe from overheating or surges, so you can toss your phone down and walk away without a second thought. Theyre practical, yes, but theres something deeply satisfying about how solid, reassuring, and dependable they feel.For Apple fans, its a no-brainer. The Mag Tube and Mag Qube are tailored for the ecosystem, charging iPhones from the 12 series onward, AirPods, and Watches in one neat package. If youre outside that universe, you might feel left out, but that exclusivity is part of the charm. At $79.99 each, they land firmly in the treat yourself zone functional enough to justify the price, stylish enough to make you smile every time you see them.Sure, they wont reinvent your relationship with technology, but theyll quietly elevate it. And sometimes, thats all you needa little less friction, a little more elegance. With the Mag Tube and Mag Qube, charging doesnt just fade into the background. It takes its place, effortlessly, as part of the scenery, and an integral totem to your tech-driven lifestyle.Click Here to Buy Now: $62.30 $89 (30% off, use coupon code 30DISCQTUBE). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!The post The Ultimate Qi2 Charging Solution for Apple Fans: Meet the Mag Tube and Mag Qube 3-in-1 Chargers first appeared on Yanko Design.

Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the far-right Proud Boys, was among nearly 1,600 January 6 defendants who were either pardoned or had their sentences commuted. He is expected to be in Miami by Tuesday afternoon.

Canon's new "Live Switcher Mobile" app turns your iPhone or iPad into a multi-device streaming setup and it's currently limited to Apple devices only.Live Switcher Mobile comes to iPhone and iPadOn Monday, Canon announced that it has launched a new app called "Live Switcher Mobile." It allows users to seamlessly switch between three devices currently just iPhones and iPads that are all connected to the same Wi-Fi network.Canon hopes the app will streamline the live-streaming process and eliminate the need for much bulkier setups. There's even an option to specify the number of seconds before the shooting device automatically changes over to another. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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When Capcom revealedMonster Hunter WildsPC requirements last September, many were taken by surprise by how demanding they were. With the action RPGs release around the horizon, however, the continues attempting to lower those requirements.The official Monster Hunter Germany page on Twitter saw Capcom stating that its looking into whether we can lower the recommended GPU requirements. At present, the action RPG requires either a GeForce GTX 1660 Super (6 GB VRAM) or a Radeon RX 5600 XT (6 GB VRAM) at minimum, to run at 720p and 30 FPS. Meanwhile, recommended settings stipulate either a GeForce RTX 2070 Super, a GeForce RTX 4060, or a Radeon RX 6700 XT.The company has also reiterated that performance will also be improved over Novembers open beta, based on feedback from players. Meanwhile, it still intends to release a free standalone hardware benchmark tool for the games PC version.In the same tweet, Capcom also showcased a gameplay clip to demonstrate similar improvements made to Monster Hunter Wilds60 FPS mode on PS5 and support for PS5 Pro on day one. Check out the clip below.Monster Hunter Wildslaunches for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on February 28. You can watch the latest gameplay here, showcasing the return of Gravios, a classic monster.Hier ist ein Blick auf unseren aktualisierten Modus Leistung priorisieren, fr die PS5. Das Team hat sich mit den Rendering-Problemen aus dem Open-Beta-Test befasst und arbeitet kontinuierlich an Verbesserungen fr den Start.Auerdem sind hier die zum Start geplanten pic.twitter.com/mVus7yx5zo Monster Hunter Germany (@DEMonsterHunter) January 18, 2025

Marvel Snap is back online in the US after access was cut off Saturday night due to the law that banned TikTok and other ByteDance-owned apps. The games current publisher, Nuverse, is owned by ByteDance.In a post published Monday evening, the games developer, Second Dinner, says that it plans to bring more services in-house and partner with a new publisher to prevent a similar situation from happening again. The same message is also showing up when you play the game, as shown in a screenshot posted on Reddit.The game is still unavailable on the App Store or Google Play. The Steam listing is still live.TikTok restored service after about half a day of being offline, though the app is still absent from app stores. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday refusing to enforce the law banning TikTok and other apps owned by ByteDance, The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, for 75 days, but companies still may face risks if they dont follow the law.