Adobe is launching new generative AI tools that can automate labor-intensive production tasks like editing large batches of images and translating video presentations. The most notable is Firefly Bulk Create, an app that allows users to quickly resize up to 10,000 images or replace all of their backgrounds in a single click instead of tediously editing each picture individually.The tool was created by combining several of Adobes Firefly-powered APIs for developers, with the aim of making them more accessible to creatives who lack technical coding experience. Bulk Create is launching in beta today, and split into two separate tools on Adobes Firefly web app: Remove Background and Resize. The first is pretty self-explanatory users can upload image files into the tool from their computer, Dropbox, or Adobe Experience Manager, and quickly remove the backgrounds.It should work on any image, but looks especially useful for product marketers. Alongside just removing the background, users can also set the tool to replace backgrounds with a specific image or color (defined by HEX codes) to get variations of each image that are ready for further editing. The file batches can be saved as either PNG or JPEG for now, with Adobe saying that support for Photoshop PSD files will be added in the future.The background expansion for Resize might work fine for abstract images like this, but the tool seems to struggle with photographs. Image: AdobeThe Resize tool presents a selection of preset options for popular ad banner sizes and platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. It uses generative AI to stretch the backgrounds of images to fit these required dimensions, but the demo I saw wasnt particularly inspiring there was a lot of obvious warping, with one example strangely copying and blurring wine glasses together that were in the foreground. For simple backgrounds, though, it could spare graphic designers from having to manually resize their marketing assets for each platform. While services like Canva and Adobe Express also have tools that make this easier, Bulk Create can do so in a single click.Adobe is making some new developer APIs for Firefly Services generally available in the coming weeks that developers can use to speed up video and print production workflows. Dubbing and Lip Sync can translate and edit lip movement for video audio into 14 different languages, and a new InDesign tool can automatically format text and images for print and digital media using predefined templates. Digital avatars created using text descriptions and voice recordings will also be available in beta this month, which can be used to present videos and product explainers.The power required to edit batches of 10,000 images is presumably expensive. Adobe says there will be a fee to use these new tools based on consumption which likely means users will need to pay for a premium Adobe Firefly plan that provides generative credits that can then be spent on the features.

Alien: Romulus was a hit with critics and fans, and its box office success has already spawned a sequel. But theres one part of the movie that was universally panned: the Ian Holm CGI.Holm, who died in 2020, famously played android Ash in Ridley Scotts seminal sci fi horror Alien, and controversially returned for interquel Alien: Romulus via CGI that was slammed for being distracting and unrealistic by moviegoers. It was so bad that a popular fan-edit removed Holm's Alien: Romulus character from the narrative completely.However, director Fede Alvarez fixed the Ian Holm CGI for the Alien: Romulus home release. In an interview with Empire, he admitted: We just ran out of time in post-production to get it right. I wasnt 100% happy with some of the shots, where you could feel a bit more the CG intervention. So, for people that react negatively, I dont blame them.The Alien Movies in Chronological OrderFor the home release, Alvarez insisted: We fixed it. We made it better for the release right now. I convinced the studio we need to spend the money and make sure we give the companies that were involved in making it the proper time to finish it and do it right. Its so much better.As a result, the home release Ian Holm leans more into puppet work than CGI. But is it actually better? Now fans have seen the results, theyre having their say on this new and improved Ian Holm. And for many, while theres a slight improvement, Holm still looks distracting, and some are still questioning the need for Holms return in the first place.Better, but still awfully uncanny and for no sound reason, said Kwtwo1983 in a thread on reddit. Shouldve messed his face up much more, added thelastcupoftea. It looked awful in theaters and it looked awful when I rewatched it on Blu-ray. Still such a needless and distracting part of the movie commented Smug_amoeba. Both look bad and one is a bit darker lol, said Worried_Bowl_9489.Whats clear from the comparison is that the home release pulls the shot of Ian Holm so viewers see more of the practical puppet Alvarez mentioned, and the CGI face is less in your face.Let's be real, it's still awful and garish to resurrect a dead man so needlessly, TheUrPigeon commented. They can only improve upon it so much because the initial effort was so poor.Still, Alien Romulus revitalized the franchise when it debuted this past summer, with an impressive $350 million at the global box office. And in October, 20th Century Studios said it was working on an idea for Alien: Romulus 2 that would continue the story of the first movie, with Fede Alvarez potentially returning to direct.Photo by Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty Images.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Patrick Stewart didnt even unpack his suitcase. Thats how certain he was that Star Trek: The Next Generation would fail after one season.Fortunately, Stewart was wrong. After some initial bumps, TNG became not only a worthy successor to The Original Series but also one of the greatest science fiction shows of all time. TNG launched 178 episodes over seven seasons and four feature films, as well as the Star Trek renaissance that continued through Enterprise.The series worked in part because it produced a shockingly low amount of stinkers (well, after the first season, anyway). But if you want the best of the best, these are the 20 that truly stand out. Its a good thing that Stewart decided to stick around.20. A Fistful of Datas (Season 6, Episode 8)Holodeck episodes arent everyones cup of tea of Earl Grey. But for those who like it when Trek gets silly, the holodeck is a great way to replicate the TOS set on planets that look like Earth in the past episodes and let the cast stretch their acting muscles. That last part is enough to put the Western homage A Fistful of Datas on the list.Stewart has fun behind the camera as the director and writers Robert Hewitt Wolfe and Brannon Braga manage to pen an Alexander episode that doesnt make us all hate Worf. But the real appeal here is Marina Sirtis. Where most episodes force Sirtis to sit in a chair and describe the emotions we can all plainly see, A Fistful of Datas lets her cut loose as law woman Durango. Sirtis is a delight, making us realize how much we missed in the previous five seasons of lackluster episodes for Troi.19. Relics (Season 6, Episode 4)For a show called Star Trek: The Next Generation, TNG didnt do nearly as much stunt casting as modern legacy sequels. Sure, DeForest Kelly shows up in old age make-up in the clunky series premiere and Kirk outdoes Picard in the movie Generations. But TNG got to blaze its own trail in a way that many legacy shows arent allowed to do.All of which underscores the special nature of Relics, which brings Montgomery Scott into the 32nd century. A fun Trekno babble conceit allows Scotty to be the same age he was in the TOS movies, but the real appeal is seeing what the delightful old engineer makes of the Enterprise-D. He and Geordi have genuine chemistry in their scenes together, and the whole thing builds to a recreation of the TOS bridge, a nostalgic moment the series earns.18. A Matter of Honor (Season 2, Episode 8)Although Gene Rodenberry switched to the more patrician Captain Picard for TNG, he didnt leave Kirks swagger all the way in the past. Instead, Commander Riker became the brash adventurer of the show, a quality on full display in the season two episode A Matter of Honor, directed by Rob Bowman and written by Wanda M. Haight, Gregory W. Amos, and Burton Armus.A Matter of Honor helps flesh out the updated Klingons, still relatively new after the redesign in The Motion Picture, by sending Riker to serve aboard the starship IKS Pagh. Although weve had a Federation-friendly Klingon in Worf, the episode shows how the warrior race enacts their own sense of nobility, an environment that suits the overconfident Riker just fine.17. The Offspring (Season 3, Episode 16)Even if The Offspring wasnt an excellent Data episode, it would still deserve recognition as the directoral debut of Jonathan Frakes. Frakes would go on to helm First Contact and Insurrection, and several episodes of other series, work that continues to this day.But The Offspring is very much an excellent Data episode, one that best exemplifies his characters quest to understand human behavior. Frakes and writer Ren Echevarria follow Datas experiment in parenthood by creating a child, who takes the form of a woman called Lal (Hallie Todd). While the act of child-rearing does have interesting insights for Data, the most interesting involve the self-determination that Lal demonstrates, underscoring the franchises fundamentally liberal concept of humanity.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!16. The Wounded (Season 4, Episode 12)Most people associate Chief Miles OBrien and the Cardassians with Deep Space Nine, but both of them play central roles in the TNG classic The Wounded, which introduces the pivotal alien race. OBriens unlikely rise from transporter chief with one or two lines per episode to a main character on the best Star Trek show happened in part because of the development The Wounded gave him.The Wounded guest stars Bob Gunton as Captain Maxwell, under whom OBrien served during the Cardassian War. Federation orders to host two Cardassian leaders (one played by Marc Alaimo, who will later go on to portray the excellent DS9 villain Gul Dukat) already unnerve the Chief, but it gets worse when Maxwell starts talking about continuing the war. The Wounded has a darker tone than most TNG episodes, but its complex look at the fallout of war sets the stage for DS9.15. The Chase (Season 6, Episode 20)With a franchise like Star Trek, which has run for decades across multiple media, its almost always easier to ignore canon inconsistencies than it is to explain them. We do not discuss it with outsiders, as Worf told his DS9 crew mates, is a much better explanation for the distinctions in Klingon designs than the one provided by Enterprise. We dont need to know why most of the aliens in Star Trek are humanoids with different bits of stuff glued to their faces. Its because the show had no budget, and thats good enough.Yet, somehow, writers Joe Menosky and Ronald D. Moore and director Frakes avoid all the pitfalls with their episode The Chase. Following the lead of a beloved archeology professor, Picard and the Enterprise race the Romulans, Klingons, and Cardassians for a piece of ancient technology connected to the origin of life. What they find not only explains the similar appearances between all the races, but also shores up the central themes of Star Trek.14. Qpid (Season 4, Episode 20)Maybe the real reason that Worfs explanation of the differing Klingon designs works so well is because the line comes from Michael Dorn, an underrated master of comedy. Because even those who hate Q episodes have to appreciate Worfs reaction when the all-powerful trickster transforms the bridge crew into characters from Robin Hood. Sir, I must protest, barks Worf. I am not a Merry Man.For those who love Q episodes, Qpid is a delight. Directed by Cliff Bole and written by Randee Russell and Ira Steven Behr, Qpid finds Q doing what he does best, trying to help Picard in the most annoying way possible. Here, its reuniting Picard with the adventurer Vash (Jennifer Hetrick) and giving the Captain a chance to do his own swashbuckling. At the very least, Qpid offers a much better version of action Picard than any of the TNG movies.13. Remember Me (Season 4, Episode 5)Dr. Beverly Crusher is such an important character that casual viewers dont even remember that Dr. Pulaski was the Chief Medical Officer on the Enterprise-D for an entire season. Important as she is, however, Crusher didnt get that many great episodes on the show, and I say this as a defender of the sexy candle ghost episode.When Gates McFadden does get an episode to herself, she absolutely shines, as seen in Remember Me, written by Lee Sheldon and directed by Cliff Bole. Remember Me plays like a paranoid thriller, in which Crusher notices that her crewmates keep disappearing from the ship. Worse, no one will acknowledge that the crewpeople ever existed. McFadden plays up Crushers logical mind and inner strength, allowing her to solve a mystery that eluded everyone else on the Enterprise.12. I, Borg (Season 5, Episode 23)One of the advantages of keeping the Borg distant and unknowable was that it allowed for episodes such as I, Borg. In the episode directed by Robert Lederman and written by Ren Echevarria, a drone (Jonathan Del Arco) becomes disconnected from the collective and lands on the Enterprise. As Geordi works to uncover the drones identity, inadvertently giving him the name Hugh along the way, the story hits one of the most enduring Trek themes: explorations on the nature of humanity.However, I, Borg ties that question to an ethical issue, when Picard learns that Hughs identity can act as something of a virus to the Borg. Do they use Hugh as a weapon to destroy a threat to the universe? Or do they preserve humanity by honoring it in Hugh and his decisions?11. Lower Decks (Season 7, Episode 15)Lower Decks ranked among the best TNG episodes even before the concept launched the excellent animated series, largely because it underscored the wonderful ensemble show that the series had become. Like TOS, TNG launched with a primary trioPicard, Geordi, and Riker instead of Kirk, Spock, and McCoybut over the course of the series, the dynamics shifted, with several other characters earning the spotlight.With Lower Decks, director Gabrielle Beaumont and writer Ren Echevarria (Ronald Wilkerson and Jean Louise Matthias get a story credit) prove the power of the ensemble with a story that hardly features the main cast at all. Instead, we spend time with a quartet of ensigns who do the less glamorous jobs on Federation missions. With Lower Decks, Star Trek changes from a franchise known for its disposable red shirts into a series where everyone, not just the bridge crew, matters.10. The Inner Light (Season 5, Episode 25)If anyone thinks that the OBrien Must Suffer dictum at Deep Space Nine is overstated, just contrast DS9s Hard Time to TNGs The Inner Light. In Hard Time, OBrien gets implanted with memories of spending 20 years in prison, which makes him feel like he aged two decades alone. In The Inner Light, Picard lives four decades of a full life in just 25 minutes.Which isnt to say that The Inner Light is escapist fantasy. On the contrary, director Peter Lauritson and writers Morgan Gendel and Peter Allan Fields find pathos in not just the life taken from Picard, but also the life he could have had if not in the stars.9. The Measure of a Man (Season 2, Episode 9)Trekkies use the shorthand Growing the Beard to describe the moment a series gets good, pointing to the facial hair that Riker sports from season two until Star Trek: Insurrection as the turning point for TNG. But really, the phrase should be Defending the Data, because thats when Captain Picard became Captain Picard.The Measure of a Man establishes Picards greatest skill, giving passionate defenses of his crew, while also addressing a tried and true sci-fi premise. When a Starfleet official arrives on the Enterprise-D to claim Data for experimentation, Picard must argue for his autonomy as a person. The episode climax with one of Picards best speeches and an affirmation of Federation principles, cementing his place as a great captain.8. Preemptive Strike (Season 7, Episode 24)Of all the supporting characters to visit TNG over the years, none can match Ro Laren, the defiant Bajoran who joined the crew in season five. Portrayed by Michelle Forbes, Ro tests the limits of Starfleet principles with her justifiable anger at the Cardassians. As the Captain himself would admit much, much later in the third season of Picard, Ros resistance made him a better leader.Ro stayed true to her disruptive principles right to the end, her final TNG episode Preemptive Strike. Sent to infiltrate the anti-Federation militants the Maquis. Instead of siding with Starfleet, Ro finds herself sympathetic to the Maquis and stays with them. Her decision sets the stage for storylines on Deep Space Nine and puts some pressure on the franchises central ethos.7. Cause and Effect (Season 5, Episode 18)Cause and Effect starts with one of the best cold opens in franchise history: the Enterprise explodes. More than just a bit of empty shock value, the explosion leads into not just a solid time-loop story, but also a great Data episode. Each time reality resets, Data must trace clues he left for himself to figure out the reason that his ship exploded.Anyone reading this list probably knows that the explosion is caused by (SPOILER, just in case) the USS Bozeman, a TOS movie era ship under the command of Morgan Bateson (Kelsey Grammer). The Bozeman reveal remains one of the best moments of the series, a satisfying conclusion that links the present and the past.6. The First Duty (Season 5, Episode 19)The First Duty combines two of Trekkies favorite parts of TNG: Picard making a powerful argument and Picard chewing out Wesley. Written by Ronald D. Moore and Naren Shankar and directed by Paul Lynch, The First Duty follows Picard to Starfleet Academy to give a commencement address and check in on Wesley. However, bad things are afoot at the Academy, because Wesley allowed Tom Paris Nick Locarno to bully him into participating in a dangerous maneuver that left one cadet dead.Of course, the standout moments in The First Duty involve Picard reconnecting with groundskeeper Boothby and giving a fantastic speech, but the entire episode serves as a celebration of Starfleet principles. In fact, future Trek writers should be required to rewatch The First Duty before pitching another Section 31 story.5. Yesterdays Enterprise (Season 3, Episode 15)Tasha Yar never got the chance for character development like other members of TNGs first crew, thanks to performer Denise Crosbys early exit during the first season. Yet, the show never forgot about her, often bringing her back in some form or another. The best of those returns occurred in season 3s Yesterdays Enterprise, in which Yar serves aboard an Enterprise from a darker alternate timeline.Yesterdays Enterprise doesnt just bring back Yar, but it also gives her more character development than any of her previous episodes combined. As she realizes that her death prevented the war-torn reality that she knows, Yar has a chance to make a heroic sacrifice, transforming her from the shows first casualty to one of the series greats.4. Chain of Command (Season 6, Episodes 10 and 11)Chain of Command comes in at number five just kidding. Of course, Chain of Command finds Picard captured and interrogated by Gul Madred (all-time great David Warner). Yes, DS9 and Gul Dukat will reveal the full evil of the Cardassians, but Madred serves as a chilling forerunner. Its not the physical abuse that Picard endures at the hands of Madred. Its the psychological torment that chills viewers, as Madred seeks to undermine Picards duty to the truth, even if its a truth as simple as the number of lights he sees.If Chain of Command was just about Picard and Madred, it would make this list. But writers Frank Abatemarco and Ronald D. Moore and directors Robert Scheerer and Les Landau flesh out the story by putting the crew through their paces, too. When Captain Jellico takes command of the Enterprise, he whips the crew into shape, even finally getting Troi into a proper uniform and setting Riker on a path that leads to the USS Titan.3. All Good Things (Season 7, Episodes 25 and 26)TNG doesnt end on quite the low note with which it began, but theres no question that the series dipped in quality for season seven. That said, it closed with a perfect pair of episodes, a finale so good that all four movies and even Star Trek: Picard feel extraneous.Directed by Winrich Kolbe and written by Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore, All Good Things wraps up the show by exploring what it always did best, building the ensemble and showing how far humanity can go. Sending Picard across three timelines not only assures us of the casts future, but also confirms that the crew matters, that the final frontier has been the human experience all along.2. The Best of Both Worlds (Season 3, Episode 26 and Season 4, Episode 1)Picards TNG story came to an end with him sitting down to play cards with his crew. But it almost had another, very different ending, one closer to Stewarts lack of confidence in the series. Stewarts contract came to an end after season three, and no new agreement could be reached before filming the finale. Thus, part one of Best of Both Worlds ends with Picard assimilated by the Borg, and Commander Riker ordering the Enterprise to fire on their Captain.If theres one drawback to The Best of Both Worlds, its that the second half doesnt match the heights of the first, especially that chilling shot on Riker delivering his order. Yet, the two parter gave Picard a proper vulnerability (no one cares about his mechanical heart) and established the crew as more than an extension of their captain.1. Darmok (Season 5, Episode 2)Darmok doesnt try for the stakes of the other episodes in the top five. Theres no Borg attack, no time travel shenanigans, no Cardassian plot. Its just a simple premise, with Picard stranded on a planet with another alien. Such scenarios are nothing new to Star Trek, going all the way back to Arena in TOS. But Darmok stands out because it investigates the franchises commitment to communication and understanding. Directed by Winrich Kolbe and written by Joe Menosky and Phillip LaZebnik, most of Darmok is about Picard learning how to talk with his fellow castaway. The great Paul Winfield plays a Tamarian, who speaks only in allegory, including Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra. As Picard works through the differences, and his own frustrations, he finds the connection worth the struggle, a point Star Trek has been making since the first generation.

Battersea Power Station is home to Apple's UK headquartersApple was already facing a $1B lawsuit on behalf of British developers, but is now up against an even larger one on behalf of app buyers in the UK.Both antitrust lawsuits have the same basis that Apple is abusing its monopolistic control over the sale of iPhone apps to charge excessive commissions $1B developer lawsuitThe billion dollar lawsuit filed on behalf of developers was filed in the summer of 2023. Apple twice tried to have it thrown out, but both attempts were rejected.The core argument is that, until recently, the only way a developer could sell an iPhone app and in-app content was through the official App Store. This gave Apple monopolistic powers over the same of iOS apps, and allowed the company to set its own commission levels which developers were forced to accept.That has changed to a certain extent in both the EU and US, but not yet in the UK. Apple initially tried to argue that a British court had jurisdiction given many UK apps were sold in the US and elsewhere, but judges rejected this argument as the impact was felt in the UK. A second attempt to have the case dismissed failed last month.$1.8B consumer lawsuitThe Guardian reports that Apple now faces a second lawsuit, this time alleging that consumers were overcharged as a result of developers needing to cover Apples excessing commissions.Apple will appear in court on Monday accused of overcharging UK customers through its App Store [] The claim is being brought against the company by Dr Rachael Kent, an academic at Kings College London, on behalf of herself and about 19.6 million other iPhone and iPad users in the UK []Kent said: Apple has no right to charge us a 30% rent for so much of what we pay for on our phones particularly when Apple itself is blocking our access to platforms and developers that are able to offer us much better deals. This is why I am taking this action.Apple rejects the claim, saying its commissions are in line with industry norms, and small developers pay even less.The commission charged by the App Store are very much in the mainstream of those charged by all other digital marketplaces. In fact, 85% of apps on the App Store are free and developers pay Apple nothing. And for the vast majority of developers who do pay Apple a commission because they are selling a digital good or service, they are eligible for a commission rate of 15%.The case began this morning, and is expected to last seven weeks.Photo of Battersea Power Station, home to Apples UK headquarters: Laurence Mackman/CC4.0Add 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

John Edwards, Technology Journalist & AuthorJanuary 13, 20255 Min ReadWavebreakmedia Ltd IFE-240329_4 via Alamy Stock PhotoUnlike their generic cloud counterparts, industry cloud platforms provide specialized services tailored to meet the needs of businesses in specific industries, such as healthcare, finance, or manufacturing.Industry clouds can be best understood as industry-specific solutions, says Brian Campbell, a principal at Deloitte Consulting. He notes in an email interview that all cloud providers have evolved significantly over the past few years. "Initially, they offered infrastructure as a service (IaaS), then moved to platform as a service (PaaS), and now we see the emergence of business outcomes as a service."A growing number of cloud service providers now address business challenges unique to specific industries. "These problems are deeply embedded in ... value chains and require tailored solutions to achieve desired business outcomes," Campbell says. He observes that the number of industry cloud solutions is expanding rapidly, driven largely by sophisticated technology advancements, such as GenAI. "This growth allows businesses to solve industry-specific challenges more effectively and efficiently."Industry cloud services typically embed the data model, processes, templates, accelerators, security constructs, and governance controls required by the adopter's industry, says Shriram Natarajan, a director at technology research and advisory firm ISG, in an online interview. "This [approach] allows faster development of new functionality, better security and governance, and an enhanced and user/stakeholder experience."Related:Industry cloud platforms are pre-configured with industry-specific features, integrations, and workflows that cater to the unique regulatory, operational, and customer needs of a [particular] sector, says Herb Hogue, CTO at systems integrator Myriad360, in an online interview. "Examples include Epic Cloud for healthcare, Siemens' Insights Hub for industrial IoT, SAP for inventory and workflow management, Oracle for ERP and financial services, and CoreWeave, which provides a cloud infrastructure optimized for AI and high-performance computing."Multiple BenefitsCampbell observes that moving to an industry cloud has already helped many enterprises connect to customers and suppliers in highly compelling ways. He notes that adopters generally obtain the greatest benefit when they tie their use of an industry cloud to their business strategy, business outcomes, and return on investment. Other significant benefits include faster innovation, modularity (as new technologies or approaches become available), increased efficiency, more effective business processes, and greater employee engagement.Related:Enterprises spanning many industries can benefit significantly by moving to an industry cloud platform, Campbell says. "Businesses that are faced with many regulations and operational requirements can especially benefit from the specialized services industry cloud platforms," he notes, adding that many industry cloud platforms are preconfigured to meet specific needs, which can help accelerate the time to value realized.Many enterprises have a blinkered view on verticalized solutions, Natarajan says. "They tend to see the platforms they already have in-house and look for solutions that these platforms provide." He believes that enterprise IT and business teams can both benefit from looking at the landscape of verticalized industry cloud platforms.Cloud platforms are continuously evolving and expanding in scope, offering new capabilities that make them attractive to businesses looking to scale rapidly within their industry. "However, businesses must weigh the benefits of speed, and functionality against long-term costs and the potential for vendor lock-in," Hogue warns. "While these platforms often provide faster implementation and industry-specific capabilities at a lower initial cost compared to custom-built solutions, ongoing costs such as subscription fees and upgrades can accumulate over time." He advises potential adopters to carefully evaluate a platform's total cost, capability to match or exceed long-term business goals, and its potential for continuity and adaptability.Related:Getting StartedEnterprises that are ready to transition to an industry cloud platform should begin the process by taking a holistic approach to vendor selection. "The transformation should be supportive of your business strategy and ... driven by where to differentiate in order to best meet the needs of customers, employees, and other stakeholders," Campbell says. He also recommends following the fastest possible path to value. "Numerous providers offer industry cloud solutions, and existing relationships and platform preferences may facilitate an easier integration."Campbell suggests identifying the specific business requirements and regulatory needs that the industry cloud solution will address. He recommends evaluating providers by comparing their features, compliance capabilities, and pricing. "Align use of the solutions to your business strategy and then create a detailed implementation plan that includes goals, timelines, and key performance indicators (KPIs)." Team training is also important. "Help them understand and utilize the new platform effectively."Finally, consider data sharing and security requirements when evaluating an industry cloud platform. Prioritize flexibility and the capacity for innovation, Campbell advises. "The market is evolving quickly, and modular implementations are replacing monolithic ones, offering user-friendly building blocks that are continuously enhanced."About the AuthorJohn EdwardsTechnology Journalist & AuthorJohn Edwards is a veteran business technology journalist. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and numerous business and technology publications, including Computerworld, CFO Magazine, IBM Data Management Magazine, RFID Journal, and Electronic Design. He has also written columns for The Economist's Business Intelligence Unit and PricewaterhouseCoopers' Communications Direct. John has authored several books on business technology topics. His work began appearing online as early as 1983. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, he wrote daily news and feature articles for both the CompuServe and Prodigy online services. His "Behind the Screens" commentaries made him the world's first known professional blogger.See more from John EdwardsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports

Time zones: EST (UTC -5), CST (UTC -6), MST (UTC -7), PST (UTC -8), ART (UTC -3), UTC -4, UTC -4:30, UTC -3, UTC -2, SBT (UTC +11), GMT (UTC +0), CET (UTC +1), EET (UTC +2), MSK (UTC +3), AST (UTC -4), FKST (UTC -3), NST (UTC -3:30), JST (UTC +9), CST (UTC +8), WIB (UTC +7), MMT (UTC +6:30), BST (UTC +6), NPT (UTC +5:45), IST (UTC +5:30), UZT (UTC +5), IRDT (UTC +4:30), GST (UTC +4), LINT (UTC +14), TOT (UTC +13), CHAST (UTC +12:45), LHST (UTC +10:30), AEST (UTC +10), ACST (UTC +9:30), ACWST (UTC +8:45), MART (UTC -9:30), NUT (UTC -11)Are you a talented Senior Developer looking for a remote job that lets you show your skills and get decent compensation? Look no further than Lemon.io the marketplace that connects you with hand-picked startups in the US and Europe.What we offer:Earn $5k$10,4k monthly: the rate depends on your seniority level, skills and experience. We've already paid out over $11M to our engineers.No more hunting for clients or negotiating rates let us handle the business side of things so you can focus on what you do best.We'll manually find the best project for you according to your skills and preferences.Choose a schedule that works best for you. Its possible to communicate async or minimally overlap within team working hours.We respect your seniority so you can expect no micromanagement or screen trackers.Communicate directly with the clients. Most of them have technical backgrounds. Sounds good, yeah?We will support you from the time you submit the application throughout all cooperation stages.Most of our projects involve working in a fast-paced startup environment. We hope you like it as much as we do.Through our community, we will connect you with the best developers from more than 50 countries.Requirements:4+ years of software development experience.3+ years of commercial experience with Python.3+ years of experience with Node.js.Hands-on experience with Next.js, React.js would be a plus.3+ years of experience with AWS and TypeScript is a must.Strong technical skills: as a Senior Developer, you are expected to be able to create projects from scratch and have a deep understanding of application architecture.Clear and effective communication in English advanced ability to discuss business tasks, justify decisions, and communicate issues. Good self-presentation is also essential for upcoming client calls.Strong self-organizational skills ability to work full-time remotely with no supervision.Reliability we want to trust you and expect that you wont let us and the client down.Adaptability and Flexibility the ability to onboard the project promptly after accepting it and start delivering results quickly.Sounds good for you? Apply now and join the Lemon.io community!NOT YOUR TECH STACK?We have different projects for Senior Developers, so if you have 4+ years of commercial experience in software development and you are fluent with React & Node.js, React & Python, AI Engineerning, Android & iOS, we would be happy to communicate and provide you with a project that matches your experience. Just apply, and we will share more details with you.If your experience matches our requirements, be ready for the next steps:VideoAsk watch a short video about our startup, up to 10 minutesComplete your profile on our website30-minute screening callTechnical interviewFeedbackMagic Box (we are looking for the best project for you).P.S. We work with developers from 50+ countries in different regions: Europe, LATAM, Asia (Philippines, Indonesia), Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea), Canada, and the UK. However, we have some exceptions.At the moment, we dont have a legal basis to accept applicants from the following countries:European: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Kosovo, Belarus, Russia, and Serbia.Latin America: Cuba and NicaraguaMost Asian countries and Africa.We expand and shorten the list of exemptions regularly.Do you represent a company with engineers who match the description and want to collaborate with us through staff augmentation? Then register here.

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Inside the strange limbo facing millions of IVF embryos Millions of embryos created through IVF sit frozen in time, stored in cryopreservation tanks around the world. The number is only growing thanks to advances in technology, the rising popularity of IVF, and improvements in its success rates. At a basic level, an embryo is simply a tiny ball of a hundred or so cells. But unlike other types of body tissue, it holds the potential for life. Many argue that this endows embryos with a special moral status, one that requires special protections. The problem is that no one can really agree on what that status is. To some, theyre human cells and nothing else. To others, theyre morally equivalent to children. Many feel they exist somewhere between those two extremes. While these embryos persist in suspended animation, patients, clinicians, embryologists, and legislators must grapple with the essential question of what we should do with them. What do these embryos mean to us? Who should be responsible for them?Read the full story. Jessica Hamzelou Anthropics chief scientist on 5 ways agents will be even better in 2025 Agents are the hottest thing in tech right now. Top firms from Google DeepMind to OpenAI to Anthropic are racing to augment large language models with the ability to carry out tasks by themselves. In October, Anthropic showed off one of the most advanced agents yet: an extension of its Claude large language model called computer use. As the name suggests, it lets you direct Claude to use a computer much as a person would, by moving a cursor, clicking buttons, and typing text. Instead of simply having a conversation with Claude, you can now ask it to carry out on-screen tasks for you. Computer use is a glimpse of whats to come for agents. To learn whats coming next, MIT Technology Review talked to Anthropics cofounder and chief scientist Jared Kaplan. Here are five ways that agents are going to get even better in 2025. Melissa Heikkil & Will Douglas Heaven Small language models: 10 Breakthrough Technologies 2025 Make no mistake: Size matters in the AI world. When OpenAI launched GPT-3 back in 2020, it was the largest language model ever built. The firm showed that supersizing this type of model was enough to send performance through the roof. That kicked off a technology boom that has been sustained by bigger models ever since. But as the marginal gains for new high-end models trail off, researchers are figuring out how to do more with less. For certain tasks, smaller models that are trained on more focused data sets can now perform just as well as larger onesif not better. Read the full story.Will Douglas Heaven Small language models is one of our 10 Breakthrough Technologies for 2025, MIT Technology Reviews annual list of tech to watch. Check out the rest of the list, and cast your vote for the honorary 11th breakthrough. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Blue Origins rocket launch has been cancelled Its engineers were unable to fix an issue with the New Glenn rockets vehicle subsystem. (BBC)+ Its also likely that ice blocked an essential vent line designed to expel gas. (Ars Technica)+ The company is yet to announce a rescheduled launch date. (The Verge)2 How is Donald Trump planning to save TikTok, exactly? Its unclear whether his supposed deal-making prowess will hold any sway here. (WP $)+ TikTok founder Zhang Yiming might have a few ideas. (WSJ $)+ It looks as though the US Supreme Court is leaning towards banning the app. (Forbes $)+ The depressing truth about TikToks impending ban. (MIT Technology Review)3 The Biden administrations final chip export curb is here The policy is designed to make it harder for China to circumvent restrictions. (FT $)+ Australia, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan wont be restricted under the new rules. (CNN)+ Nvidia thinks all these sanctions are only backfiring on the US. (Quartz)4 Big Techs leaders are lining up to attend Trumps inauguration Silicon Valleys sucking up continues. (Bloomberg $)+ Mark Zuckerberg appears to be doing his best to secure an invite. (NYT $)+ He seems to be entering Founder Mode in a bid to impress Trump. (The Verge)5 AI financial advisers are going after broke young people Its money management tips come with a hefty price tag. (Wired $) 6 Neuralink has implanted a brain device in a third person, according to MuskAhead of its plans to insert up to 30 devices this year. (Fortune $) + Beyond Neuralink: Meet the other companies developing brain-computer interfaces. (MIT Technology Review)7 The future of self-driving cars is cleaved in two Companies are divided over whether well hail or own future autonomous vehicles. (NY Mag $)+ How Wayves driverless cars will meet one of their biggest challenges yet. (MIT Technology Review)8 Smartwatches are out, old-school watches are inIts hard to beat a wristwatch when it comes to luxury status symbols. (The Guardian) 9 Notre-Dame cathedral is full of hidden speakers And you can fit out your home with them toofor a price. (FT $)10 How to free up space on your iPhone Dont be afraid to purge those ancient duplicate photos. (WSJ $)Quote of the day I'm worried about everything." Jeff Bezos describes his (well-placed) nerves to Ars Technica ahead of his rocket company Blue Origins first orbital launchwhich was later called off over technical issues. The big story AI was supposed to make police bodycams better. What happened? April 2024 When police departments first started buying and deploying bodycams in the wake of the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, a decade ago, activists hoped it would bring about real change. Years later, despite whats become a multibillion-dollar market for these devices, the tech is far from a panacea. Most footage they generate goes unwatched. Officers often don't use them properly. And if they do finally provide video to the public, it usually doesnt tell the complete story. A handful of AI startups see this problem as an opportunity to create what are essentially bodycam-to-text programs for different players in the legal system, mining this footage for misdeeds. But like the bodycams themselves, the technology still faces procedural, legal, and cultural barriers to success. Read the full story. Patrick Sisson We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.) + The first big fashion trend of 2025? Were all going basic.+ Spoilers aheadthis list of the best film endings is great funincluding that infamous lingering final shot from Psycho.+ If parts of your life could be better, its time to embrace the tiny changes that can make a real difference.+ This Brazilian banana bread recipe sounds beyond delicious.

Deputy prime minister promises bereaved community will be at the heart of decision processGrenfell Tower has been covered in a protective wrapping since 2017Angela Rayner will make a decision on whether to demolish Grenfell Tower next month, the government has said.The shell of the 24-storey building is still covered in the protective wrapping which was installed two months after the fire which ripped through the tower in June 2017, killing 72 people.The communities secretary has now said she will decide the future of the building in February in an update from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.The department added that there will be no immediate changes to the site if Rayner decides the tower should be taken down.The update said in a statement directed to the local Grenfell Tower community: The deputy prime minister [Angela Rayner] has recently shared with you that she plans to continue the conversation about the tower to understand your views and come to a decision in February 2025.She has made a firm commitment that you will continue to be at the heart of this process.It comes three years after plans by former communities secretary Robert Jenrick to demolish the building were shelved by his successor Michael Gove following an outcry from bereaved families.An international design competition to design a memorial to the victims of the fire was launched last July, with a winner due to be announced this spring.A report published in 2022 by the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission included several suggestions from members of the Grenfell community on what the memorial could look like.These included retaining the tower as a vertical garden with a high level platform and hanging plants on its walls.The government has set aside a site of just under 3,000sq m for the memorial, which includes the ground on which the tower block stands in North Kensington and adjacent land on either side.A 32-page brief for the project has outlined how the memorial should be of significant stature and a respectful, bold, lasting and sustainable memorial that honours those who lost their lives.It said the design should also include water, lighting, the colour green and the names of the 2017 fires victims prominently displayed.The Commission has also called for a building or structure providing a place to shelter from the weather, a multi-faith prayer and reflection space and possibly a community or education space.Some of those consulted suggested a museum on the site, although others expressed concern that this could turn the memorial into a tourist destination.

Teams selected for the maximum four-year framework will work on a range of projects across the services 6,500ha estate in England, which includes around 26 million m of buildings across 1,200 sites.The framework is divided into four geographic lots covering the north, midlands, London and the south.According to the brief: NHS PS is seeking to develop a framework of suppliers for architect services covering various sites across England.AdvertisementThis tender is split into four geographic lots. Suppliers may bid for as many or as few of these lots as they wish. NHS PS will appoint a maximum of seven suppliers to each lot. There are no restrictions or limits on the number of lots which a tenderer can be successful in.The NHS in England is one of the countrys largest public employers with 1.4 million staff and more than 100 billion in annual funding.The latest procurement comes just a month after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde announced a new 1.5 million construction consultancy services framework.NHS England launched a search for a programme delivery partner for its ongoing new hospitals investment drive one year ago.Competition detailsProject titleArchitects frameworkClientNHS Property ServicesContract value9.5 millionFirst round deadline Midday, 21 February 2025Restrictions TbcMore informationhttps://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000774-2025

Ive lived with T-Mobile Home Internet for two years. The 5G broadband service is superior to DSL but has some quirks.