Dozens of apps were smuggled into the Android Play Store, infecting users with banking trojans, adware, and more.

A report alleges the National PTA's relationship with Meta "gives a sheen of expert approval" to the company's "efforts to keep young users" on its platforms.

This is a fun Wt FX featurette on its visual effects for the dogs!You can also read more about the dogs and other VFX this season in befores & afters magazine. Buy the issue here. The post How those dogs were made for the Jackson battle in s2 of The Last of Us appeared first on befores & afters.

Are you going to an in-person event soon? Do you want an easy way to keep track of people youve met? You can now use your CaraQR to meet other users! Not only does CaraQR let you visit an artists profile to check out their work, it also retains a history of who youve met for you to revisit later. So whether its an artist at artist alley whom you were too shy to say hello to, or a group meet that happened too quickly and you worry about misplacing business cards, you can now find a visit log in your QR Meets history and check whose accounts you have scanned during an event. Think of it as a bookmark for people youve met! How to create your own CaraQR card? Sign in and visit cara.app/qrcardYou can upload a custom background for your QR wallpaper Save the photo to your phone or PC, and use it as your phones wallpaper, so as to show someone your QR code without unlocking your phone; or print it out if you have a display table at an event, so anyone can scan your CaraQR easily. *Please note that QR visits only work one-way, so the other user wont know that you have visited their profile if they didnt also scan your QR code. This is to reduce clutter for people using their Cara QRs for things like artist alley where many people may try to visit their profiles. If you want someone to also check out your profile, remember to let them visit your profile as well! ~Have creative ways to use your QR card? Tag #CaraQR when sharing on Cara, so our team can check it out! Visitcara.app/qrcardto create your custom QR wallpaper Use saved image as wallpaper Lightbox Expo Giveaway Keen to try your luck? Come visit us at Lightbox Expo booth 909 with your CaraQR. We will pick one QR winner at the end of each day and give you an available tote bag of your choice for pickup. Cara at Lightbox Expo booth 909 See all Cara tote bags Winners will be chosen at random, and be notified via Caras direct messaging from the @cara account. You can pick up the tote bag any time throughout till the end of the event.

Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) invites you behind the scenes of Andor Season 2 to explore the groundbreaking visual effects that brought this gritty Star Wars story to life. With a focus on realism, scale, and immersive world-building, ILM blends practical sets, virtual production, and seamless CG to elevate every frame.From sprawling cityscapes and detailed starships to atmospheric planetary environments, the VFX work in Andor is subtle yet powerfulserving story and character above all. Each element is designed not just for spectacle, but to support the grounded, rebellious tone that sets Andor apart in the Star Wars universe.This For Your Consideration reel showcases ILMs commitment to cinematic innovation, making Andor a strong contender for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie. Its a masterclass in how visual effects can enhance narrative without overshadowing it.The post Behind the Magic The Visual Effects of Andor Season 2 appeared first on Vfxexpress.

Apple will host its annual fall event on September 9, according to an invite on Tuesday, where the company is expected to unveil new iPhones, watches and other devices.The event will be held at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apples headquarters in Cupertino, California and serve as a showcase of the companys efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into its devices.It will be closely watched by investors worried about the company ceding ground to faster-moving rivals in the race to deploy AI technology.Media reports have said Apple will also unveil a slimmer version of its latest iPhone, possibly branded as the iPhone Air, echoing its iPad Air and MacBook Air lines.The company is also expected to showcase new entry-level, high-end Apple Watches, upgraded iPad Pros and a faster version of the Vision Pro headset, Bloomberg News has reported recently.Under pressure from the Trump administration, Apple has boosted its already hefty investment in the U.S. to $600 billion over the next four years, creating jobs and shifting some work there in the hopes of sidestepping potential import duties.Apple faces pressure from tariffs imposed on U.S. imports from countries including its production hubs, China and India.In June, Apple announced a slew of AI and software features, along with an overhaul of its operating system redesigning its icons and menu to resemble what it calls liquid glass.However, Apples delay in embracing the AI market has left it trailing Big Tech stalwarts. Smartphone maker Samsung and Chinese firms Honor and Huawei have taken advantage of the gap Apple left in the industry, luring customers with their own AI offerings.Zaheer Kachwala, Reuters

Walnuts are extraordinarily tough nuts to crack. Here in the 'States, we used to do it with a lever-based contraption but in France, they simply used a mallet. French product designer Eloi Goulhot recently built on that, adding the principle of a deadblow mallet to design his own version: This was apparently a self-directed project, but I bet if Goulhot chooses to pursue it, a manufacturer will bite.

Remember the first time you watched Jim Carrey slither down a chimney in a Santa suit, his face contorted into that iconic yellow-eyed grin? For millennials who grew up with Ron Howards live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), the film remains a holiday staple that somehow gets better with age. Now, a LEGO fan designer has captured that same magic in brick form with The Grinch: Whoville a spectacular MOC (My Own Creation) thats currently gathering steam on LEGO Ideas.This isnt just any fan creation. With nearly 4,000 pieces (3,990 to be exact), this build is a comprehensive love letter to the film that transformed Dr. Seusss simple tale into a visual feast. The designer has recreated Whoville in meticulous detail, from its whimsical, rounded architecture to its festive holiday decorations, all while maintaining that signature Seussian asymmetry that made the movies production design so memorable.Designer: papoy2TThe lower portion of the build showcases Whovilles most iconic locations. The pastel-colored buildings feature curved walls, rounded windows, and holiday decorations that perfectly capture the films fantastical aesthetic. Theres the post office where Cindy Lou gets accidentally wrapped as a gift (complete with a reception desk, shipping room, and the infamous hole she falls through). Next door sits the town hall, where the Whobilation 2000 celebration takes place, featuring the mayors office with the Book of Who and the Cheermeister shirt in progress.Cindy Lous house is equally detailed, with Betty Lous extravagant light display adorning the exterior. Inside, youll find the kitchen with Who pudding, the living room with its Christmas tree, and even Cindy Lous bedroom where she sang Where Are You Christmas? a scene that still brings a tear to many a millennial eye.But the real showstopper is Mount Crumpit, rising dramatically behind Whoville. The gray, snow-capped mountain houses the Grinchs cave, complete with his bedroom, disguise hooks, and a trash-sorting table where he scavenges for meals. Theres even Maxs doghouse with a secret compartment for his unused hat and haircut. The designer cleverly used scale to create a forced perspective effect, making the mountain appear larger than life, just as it loomed over Whoville in the film.The set includes several smaller builds that add playability: the Whoville Christmas tree, Martha Mays rapid-fire light installer (which decorates a house in under a minute), a small Who car, and the Grinchs overloaded sled from his gift-stealing spree.What makes this build special isnt just its accuracy, but how it captures the emotional core of the film. From the Grinchs lonely cave to the warm, communal spaces of Whoville, the MOC reflects the storys themes of isolation, community, and redemption themes that resonated with audiences and helped the film gross over $345 million worldwide.No recreation of the film would be complete without its unforgettable characters. The MOC features eight minifigures: The Grinch in his Santa disguise (with stolen goods), the Grinch in his Who disguise (with swappable classic hair), Cindy Lou Who (with her flower lamp), Martha May Whovier in her Whobilation dress, the Mayor with the Book of Who, Lou Lou Who in his postal uniform, Betty Lou Who in pajamas, and of course, Max the dog.Currently, The Grinch: Whoville has gathered over 3,300 supporters on LEGO Ideas, but it needs 10,000 to be considered for production as an official LEGO set. For those who spent their childhoods watching Jim Carreys green face scrunch up as his heart grew three sizes, this might be the perfect opportunity to bring that nostalgic magic home in brick form. If youre feeling a bit Grinchy yourself, maybe supporting this project will make your heart grow a few sizes too. As Cindy Lou would say, No one should be alone on Christmas and no LEGO collection should be without this tribute to a modern holiday classic.The post Epic 4,000-Piece LEGO Grinch in Whoville MOC strikes nostalgia after 25 years first appeared on Yanko Design.

Perched just above the treetops is the Canopy Residence by Daniel Annenkov. This villa is all about light, height, and stillness. With floor-to-ceiling glass and natural wood framing, the home feels weightless but grounded. Every space opens to sky and forest, blurring the boundary between inside and out.The Canopy Residence stands tall and serene. It blends natural beauty with bold architecture. Its expansive glass facade reflects the shifting skies, while slender timber columns rise like tree trunks. A concrete base anchors the home into the slope, giving it both stability and a sense of elegance. From the wraparound deck, panoramic lake views stretch endlessly. Every angle feels open, airy, and deeply connected to the surrounding landscape.The living space in the Canopy Residence celebrates openness. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls frame sweeping views of the lake. Plush, oversized sofas invite you to sink in, while warm wood tones create a relaxed atmosphere. A bold, low-profile coffee table anchors the space, perfect for gathering around. Simultaneously, the high ceilings and minimalist decor keep the room airy.The kitchen features a matte black island anchoring the space. This is paired with sculpted wooden stools. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the room with sunlight, offering serene views of the greenery outside. Light wood cabinetry and integrated appliances keep the look seamless, while the open layout flows effortlessly to the outdoors. So, its great for both cooking and entertaining!The floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining space flood the wooden table with daylight, while offering sweeping views of the outdoors. Sleek black chairs with woven seats line both sides, bringing a touch of craftsmanship. A textured wall artwork and modern sideboard add depth and interest.The corridor takes a moodier turn. Narrow and dimly lit, it draws you in with its dramatic shadows. Mounted antlers and horns add a lodge-like feel. (This creates a striking contrast to the open, sunlit spaces nearby!).Wood-paneled walls wrap the bedroom in natural texture. A soft, neutral bedspread rests against a padded headboard. This, in turn, is framed by built-in shelving for an integrated look. Sleek pendant reading lights add a modern touch. Simultaneously, the simple furnishings, like the dark wood nightstands and storage bench, keep the focus on comfort.

Download the scene fileBrowse the assetsWere proud to present Poly Havens latest asset collection: A Verdant Trail.Browse the assetsThe goal of this project was to explore the idea of traveling to different biomes and capturing scans over a few days to create a cohesive asset pack that can be used to recreate similar environments.South Africa has an absurd number of biomes within relatively easy reach, so our idea was to see what would be involved in creating an asset pack for each of them one dayMicro-biomes of South Africa, and the location where most of our scans were capturedhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_vegetation_types_of_South_AfricaWe first started this project back in April of 2023, slowly gathering references, scouting locations, and planning the scope of the final collection.Reference photo of a boulder we might have scannedOur working title for the project was Little Falls, which is the name of the suburb where we gathered most of our data. We had some grand ideas of rivers and waterfalls as well, which were soon decided to be too much of a time investment for something we cant publish as an asset on Poly Haven.The small riverbed makes for quite a tranquil sceneThis biome, technically a grassland, is extremely common in the highveld of South Africa. Our initial reason for choosing it as our first biome project was that it was very accessible to us. It covers most of our province and were all very familiar with it.Greg is scouting for scannable rocks amongst the grassy outcropOur primary reference was a small rarely-used public park, home to the waterfalls that the suburb is named from. The path is generally overgrown and runs treacherously alongside the polluted river.Rico is trying not to fall off the narrow path into the riverbank belowMoments before Dario gets his shoe stuck in the mudJandre patiently waits for the rest of the team to catch upThere were plenty of rock faces to scan, though much of it was covered in wild grasses and proved a bit challenging to process. We later also visited other nearby parks and reserves to scan more surfaces that were a bit less overgrown.The cliffside would be great to scan, were it not for all the dense foliage obscuring itThere was a wide variety of vegetation and rock types densely packed in this small area, we had to be careful to create a mockup of the final scene and a wishlist of the assets we would really need before going and capturing everything. We wanted to avoid being too overwhelmed for our first biome project.The riverbank is home to a variety of washed-up trash and debris, brought by heavy rains in the summer monthsOverall the project was a great success!There is always more to scan, but we learned a lot about what is required for scanning things in the wild, such that we were able to travel to Namaqualand in September to capture that biome as well. Weve started processing those scans too now, but thats a story for another blog post Until next time, thanks for your continued support on Patreon, and we look forward to seeing what environments you make with our new assets!Rico, Dario & Jandre, on our first location scout.Browse the assets