Start your engines.Well, folks, the Nintendo Switch 2 is real finally! In addition to its confirmation via the debut trailer, Nintendo also revealed a brand-new Mario Kart title, which we're going to simply refer to as Mario Kart 9 until Nintendo says otherwise.Footage from the game was pretty scarce, to say the least, but we've still noticed a few things that might be notable as we look forward to its upcoming launch whenever that may be!Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Jeff Horings Insight Partners is to New York venture capital what Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia are to Silicon Valley. And its a status that has been cemented with Insights latest closing. As expected, Insight Partners announced Thursday that it closed another giant flagship fund, known as Fund XIII, along with its second Opportunity fund, collectively $12.5 billion in new capital. An opportunity fund is generally money set aside to reinvest in existing portfolio companies when they raise new rounds.In September, it was rumored to be working on a $10 billion-plus fund. Insight clearly achieved that target, and then some. With this fund it now has $90 billion of assets under management.An Insight spokesperson declined to divulge how many billions are in each new fund but part of the money is also in what it calls a dedicated buyout co-invest fund. The spokesperson said this money will be used for buyout software investments, an established area for the 30-year-old firm.This raise signals that Insight has no intention of ceding the top dog spot to upstart New York powerhouse VC, Thrive. In 2024, Josh Kushners Thrive led and co-led many of the biggest deals from OpenAIs $6.6 billion round to the $100 million Series B of Anysphere, the maker of AI coding assistant Cursor.Insight isnt ceding any ground. For instance, the VC firm won the co-lead of Databricks record-breaking $10 billion fundraising deal in December, alongside Thrive. It tapped into funds from its Partners Public Equities fund to do so, a fund set up to buy public stocks. This fresh capital will help it pursue, perhaps even lead, more deals.Interestingly, in a year where the locked IPO market means lagging returns for many VCs, Insight said it did well with its portfolio companies logging over $8 billion on exits in 2024, largely through acquisitions. These included Recorded Future to Mastercard for $2.65 billion, Own to Salesforce for $1.9 billion, WalkMe to SAP for $1.5 billion, and Jama Software to private equity for $1.2 billion.

TheAmerican Society of Cinematographers(ASC) has announced the nominees for its 2025 OutstandingAchievement Awards, spanning feature films, documentaries, television and music videos. Winners will be honored at the 39th Annual ASC Awards on February 23, 2025, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. The ceremony will also be live-streamed on theasc.com. 2025 honorees were previously announced.Below is a complete list of this years nominees:Theatrical Feature Film (Sponsored by Keslow Camera)Jarin Blaschke for Nosferatu (Focus Features)Alice Brooks, ASC for Wicked (Universal Pictures)Lol Crawley, BSC for The Brutalist (A24)Stphane Fontaine, AFC for Conclave (Focus Features)Greig Fraser, ASC, ACS for Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros. Pictures)Edward Lachman, ASC for Maria (Netflix)Phedon Papamichael, ASC, GSC, GCA for A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures)Episode of a Half Hour Series (Sponsored by Nanlux)Adam Bricker, ASC for Hacks - Episode "Just for Laughs" (Max)Carl Herse for The Franchise - Episode Sc 31A: Tecto Meets Eye (HBO)Richard Rutkowski, ASC for Sugar - Episode Starry-Eyed (Apple TV+)Seamus Tierney for Emily in Paris - Episode Masquerade (Netflix)Kyle Wullschleger for Only Murders in the Building - Episode Once Upon a Time in the West (Hulu)Limited or Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Sponsored by Arri)Adam Arkapaw, ASC for Masters of the Air Episode Part Three (Apple TV+)Michael Berlucchi for Interior Chinatown - Episode Generic Asian Man (Hulu)Robert Elswit, ASC for Ripley - Episode Lucio (Netflix)Jonathan Freeman, ASC for The Penguin - Episode Homecoming (HBO)Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, AMC &Bruno Delbonnel, AFC, ASC for Disclaimer - Episode I (Apple TV+)Zo White, ASC for Hold Your Breath (Hulu)Episode of a One-Hour Regular Series (Sponsored by Panavision)Adriano Goldman, ASC, ABC, BSC for The Crown - Episode Sleep, Dearie Sleep (Netflix)Catherine Goldschmidt, BSC for House of the Dragon - Episode The Queen Who Ever Was (HBO)Baz Irvine, BSC, ISC for Silo - Episode The Engineer (Apple TV+)Alejandro Martinez, AMC for House of Dragon - Episode Rhaenyra the Cruel (HBO)Sam Mccurdy, ASC, BSC for Shgun - Episode Crimson Sky (FX)Christopher Ross, BSC for Shgun - Episode "Anjin" (FX)Spotlight Award (Sponsored by Panavision) Michal Dymek for The Girl with the Needle (MUBI)Jomo Fray for Nickel Boys (Amazon MGM Studios)Klaus Kneist and Renata Mwende for Nawi (MUBI and Baobab Pictures)Documentary Award (Sponsored by Canon)Michael Crommett for Photographer: Dan Winters Life is Once. Forever. (National Geographic)Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw for Gaucho Gaucho (Jolt)Andrey Stefanov for Porcelain War (Picturehouse)ASC Music Video Award (Sponsored by Red Digital Cinema)Pepe Avila del Pino, AMC for 313 (Performed by Residente, Slvia Prez Cruz and Penelope Cruz)Scott Cunningham, ASC for Rebound (Performed by Jennifer Lopez)Rodrigo Prieto, ASC, AMC for Fortnight (Performed by Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone)Source: The ASC Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.

At the Des Moines Art Center, a sprawling land art installation by Mary Miss installed in 1996 will be dismantled. A settlement reached this week between the artist and art center that houses Greenwood Pond: Double Site decided its fate once and for all.Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the artist will receive $900,000 from the Des Moines Art Center, and the center will be permitted to go about its previous plans to dismantle the piece from its property. A joint statement from the artist and Des Moines Art Center stated: The settlement will end a breach of contract lawsuit filed by Miss on April 4, 2024, and allow the Des Moines Art Center to proceed with previously stated plans to remove the artwork in its entirety.Miss was notified of the artworks demolition in December 2023 after the art center had already begun installing fencing around the piece to make way for its removal. The Des Moines Art Center was prompted to destroy Greenwood Pond: Double Site because its wood and other building materials were deteriorating due to exposure to water and other environmental conditions.The piece conceived by Miss as a green city comprises a covered pavilion, a sunken seating area, wood trellis, bridge, and tiered terrace. The structural integrity of many of these components was at risk. In a statement, the Des Moines Art Center declared sections of the installation were dangerous and unsalvageable. On April 4, 2024, Miss filed a lawsuit against the Des Moines Art Center in federal court. She claimed the museums actions go against the terms outlined in the 1994 contract signed by the artist prior to its installation. The Des Moines Art Center had failed to protect the piece from the ravages of time and the elements, Miss said. As per Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA) of 1990RA, through the lawsuit Miss sought monetary damages.A judge subsequently ordered a temporary stop order on the dismantling of Greenwood Pond: Double Site, a ruling which went into effect on April 8, 2024. In the months after, the public was made aware of the potential loss of the artwork. Other museums, artists, architects, and art enthusiasts then wrote to the Des Moines Art Center making clear their dissatisfaction with the decision to demolish the structure. The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF), which had previously named the work on its Landslide list of at-risk landscapes, was also integral in leading the charge to save the installation.Following the recent settlement, Miss said in a statement: I hope the resurrection and reconsideration of this project will lead to further reflections on the relationships between artists, environmental issues, communities and our public cultural institutions. I trust this experience can help to develop stronger bonds moving forward.

Housework Wont Kill You, But Why Take a Chance (2024), oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches. All images courtesy of Stephen Morrison and Hashimoto Contemporary, shared with permissionThe Dog Did It! Stephen Morrisons Trompe-lils Brim with Canine CharacterJanuary 16, 2025ArtKate MothesTo say that Stephen Morrisons work is inspired by dogs would be an understatement. Through sculptural assemblages and paintings of puppy faces tucked in foliage or morphing from household items, Morrison evokes the timeless love for our pets.I think Ive always been a bit of a hedonist and kind of set up to love the life of a dog, of doing whatever you want when you want to do it, Morrison recently told Hyperallergic in an interview. Thats why making work with dogs feels so natural because its deeply a part of my character.Every Direction at Once (2025), oil on panel, 20 x 16 inchesMorrison also draws inspiration from his beloved pit bull mix, Tilly, who was the ring bearer at his wedding and died three years ago. Her curious visage lives on in the artists idiosyncratic compositions, bringing expressive life to everything from birdhouses to table lamps.In the artists forthcoming solo exhibition at Hashimoto Contemporary, Morrison continues to channel canine personalities in Dog Show #4: House Broken.Trompe-lil paintings portray the supports on the backs of canvases, teeming with botanicals, stuffed animals, magazine clippings, and fruit. Likewise, a series of sculptures made from epoxy clay, resin, paper, and oil paint appear like assemblages of seemingly disparate items. In Clump Spirit #5 (Study), for example, a puppys face emerges from the front of a violin hanging from a hook, and Clump Spirit #1 (Living Room) displays a happy dog on a TV screen, stacked high with other objects that also feature distinctive eyes and snouts. Everything appears in a state of joyful yet barely contained disarray.Clump Spirit #1 (Living Room) (2024), television, silicone, textile, resin, and epoxy clay, 12 x 21 x 12 inchesThis show reflects on the chaotic messiness of home life, inspired by the lively and dysfunctional environment I grew up in, Morrison says. Our house was filled with dancing, yelling, slapdash crafting, and a constant swirl of half-finished projects. Amid all the noise, there was an odd harmonymoments where the chaos seemed to hum along just right, as if disorder itself had a rhythm.Dog Show #4: House Broken runs from January 18 to February 8 in New York City. Find more on the artists website and Instagram.Build a Little Birdhouse in Your Soul (2024), oil on panel, 24 x 24 inchesClump Spirit #4 (Study) (2025), epoxy clay, paper, resin, and oil paint, 26 x 10 x 5 1/2 inchesThe Council of Plastic Limbs (2025), oil on panel, 24 x 36 inchesClump Spirit #3 (Bedroom) (2025), epoxy clay and oil paint, 15 x 8 x 7 inchesThank You for Your Business (2025), oil on panel, 48 x 36 inchesNext article

Fujitsu staff working at HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will walk out for two days this month after union members voted for industrial action in a pay dispute.Staff directly employed by HMRC, but doing similar jobs to Fujitsu colleagues working alongside them as part of an outsourcing deal, received a much larger pay rise, according to the union representing the Fujitsu employees.Over 300 workers at the government department will walk out over two days in strike action over pay, after Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members voted to strike.Fujitsu has faced heavy criticism as a result of its involvement in the Post Office Horizon scandal and there have been calls for it to be replaced on government contracts, so for many critics the dispute will be seen as another damaging indictment of the Japanese IT giants UK business.The strike at HMRC coincides with the 31 January deadline for online self-assessment tax returns, but HMRC said this will have no impact on people submitting returns because Fujitsu workers are striking and not HMRC staff.The Fujitsu workers, based in Telford and other offices across the UK, will strike on 30 and 31 January after being offered a pay rise of just 1.5%, according to the PCS, which added that their in-house colleagues received 5% for doing similar jobs.PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: There is no excuse for workers employed by Fujitsu being offered less than those employed directly by HMRC. If the government was serious about its pre-election pledge to bring in the biggest wave of insourcing in a generation, now is the chance to end the scandal of a two-tier workforce.Heathcote added: Its not too late for ministers to step in, resolve the pay issue and prevent strike action likely to play havoc with peoples tax returns.An HMRC spokesperson said: We have robust plans in place to ensure we continue delivering critical services for our customers during any industrial action.Fujitsu had not responded to Computer Weeklys questions when this article was published.Fujitsu staff at HMRC also took industrial action in January last year when rejecting a 3-4% pay rise from Fujitsu after learning that employees working for the company in Japan were being offered salary increases of up to 29%.Fujitsu is already under extreme scrutiny in the UK since the Post Office scandal reached the public conscience as a result of the ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office, broadcast at the start of 2024. Its sales to the public sector have fallen dramatically since the supplier agreed with the government to cease bidding for new public contracts until the statutory inquiry into the scandal completed its work.As revealed by Computer Weekly, prior to the festive period Fujitsus UK staff were sent a memo instructing them on aggressive cuts to spending on travel, recruitment, social and external organisations.In its latest financial statement for the 12 months to March 2024, the company reported a loss of just over 170m, compared with a loss of 99m in the previous 12 months.Fujitsu told its UK staff, in September last year, there would be no UK-wide pay rise this year as it prioritised a limited budget, fueling anger among a workforce with low morale.2024 was a year Fujitsu would like to forget

While a TikTok ban looms over the US, users are flocking to Lemon8 (again). Here's everything you need to know about it.

(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on January 15, 2025 shows South African businessman ... [+] Elon Musk (L) in Los Angeles, on April 13, 2024, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew (2L) in Jakarta on June 15, 2023, Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos (2R) in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 6, 2019 and Mark Zuckerberg (R), CEO of Meta, in Washington, DC, on January 31, 2024. The chief executive of social media giant TikTok will attend Donald Trump's inauguration on Janauary 20, US media said, as the incoming president reportedly weighs saving the app from a likely ban on US operations. Shou Chew will join several other high-profile social media and tech moguls reported to be attending the January 20 ceremony, including Tesla, X and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Meta's Mark Zuckerberg. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by ETIENNE LAURENTBAY ISMOYOMARK RALSTONANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesWere going to hear any minute if the US Supreme Court upholds a law that would ban TikTok starting this Sunday, January 19th. Bloomberg reported that parent company Bytedance is dancing with none other but Elon Musk. And Bytedance has reassured U.S. employees that their jobs are secure. Because there is a deal to be made here, maybe before Sunday.This photo illustration created on January 8, 2025, in Brussels, shows the media giant Meta's logo ... [+] displayed on a smartphone behind Scrabble letters forming the word "fact". Social media giant Meta on January 7, 2025, slashed its content moderation policies, including ending its US fact-checking program, in a major shift that conforms with the priorities of incoming president Donald Trump. (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP) (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesMeta ended fact-checking on its platform in the US. They will continue to fact check in Brazil and where they are legally obligated to do so. What are facts, anyway? Its all the product of bias. Whos to say what the truth is, in a post-truth era? Lets state the fact not often discussed: Facebook is a cesspool of misinformation, child trafficking, and violent crime. Like TikTok, and AI, it should be regulated. But Meta is not going to be, especially now that theyve made their willingness to play ball with Elon (that dude is everywhere) and the incoming laissez-faire administration. They replaced the liberal lobbyist with a republican. They donated to Trumps inauguration. They added outspoken conservative leadership from UFC to their board. They are going to make sure corporate taxes remain low, and regulation of social media and AI remain theoretical - i.e., nonexistent. The more of this Meta does, the greater shareholder returns will be. Those returns are the CEOs primary responsibility, trumping morality and politics. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, like Elon Musk, are what outgoing President Joe Biden called the new oligarchs.OpenAI has launched a new beta feature in ChatGPT called "Tasks,"MORE FOR YOU As of January 2025, Beat Saber is approaching 10 million units sold on the Quest platform alone.Beat Saber was bundled with Quest 2 purchases for a five-month period in 2022, it's estimated that around 20% of players received the game through this promotion. This suggests approximately 7.76 million paid copies, generating an estimated $233 million in revenue from the base game on Quest, priced at $30. This figure does not account for additional revenue from the game's extensive paid DLC music packs.Cinematic AIDo we believe this video or our lying eyes?

What just happened? Many users who relied on Windows' built-in Mail and Calendar app are understandably disappointed about Microsoft discontinuing it at the start of this year. The company now wants people to use the new Outlook experience, but not everyone is a fan, as it's essentially just a wrapper for the web app. Fortunately, a developer has resurrected the old Mail app's functionality with a modern twist in the form of Wino Mail. Wino Mail is the creation of developer Burak Kaan Kse, who is upfront about the app being inspired by Microsoft's discontinued Mail and Calendar app. As the description states, "Wino Mail, built-in Mail app clone for Windows device families. Wino is not a web wrapper. It's a native mail client that works with all Windows device families."That native approach is crucial, as it avoids the performance and design drawbacks of Microsoft's new Outlook app, which is essentially just a web wrapper. Wino Mail bypasses these issues by being a true native Windows 11 app. It simply works better, with an interface and responsiveness that align with what you'd expect from a first-party Windows app.The app also supports all the core functions you'd expect sending and receiving emails, notifications, archiving, marking emails as read/unread, and more. It works with Microsoft account emails like Outlook and Hotmail, Gmail via API integration, as well as IMAP/SMTP accounts. Additional features include offline support, dark/light mode toggles, and system tray functionality.Customization options are abundant too, with support for accent colors and full theming.One minor limitation currently holds the app back from achieving true perfection it can only check for new message notifications every three minutes. However, this is a small issue that could (hopefully) be addressed in the future.That said, Wino Mail has been warmly received so far. One App Store review praises it as "miles better" than the new Outlook, describing the design as "beautiful" and the performance as "snappy and reliable." Over 5,000 users have already tried it, according to the developer, and the store listing currently boasts more than 160 glowing reviews.You can use Wino Mail for free with up to three email accounts connected. If you wish to connect unlimited accounts, however, you'll need to pay 8.39 to unlock that feature. // Related Stories

If youve long been interested in Samsungs smartwatches and you dont mind going for a previous-generation model to access huge savings, here are some offers from Samsung to check out the 40mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 for only $190 instead of $350 for savings of $160, and the 43mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic for only $300 instead of $450 for savings of $150. Were not entirely sure how much time is remaining on these smartwatch deals, so we highly recommend completing your purchase immediately if youre interested in either of them.Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (40mm, LTE) $190, was $350Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (43mm, LTE) $300, was $450RelatedThe Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is already available, but the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic remain worthwhile purchases especially the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, which still holds a spot in our roundup of the best smartwatches as the best premium smartwatch for Android. Both models, however, are equipped with Super AMOLED panels with a full-color always-on display and a sapphire crystal glass coating for protection. Theyre also both powered by the Exynos W930 Dual-Core 1.4GHz processor with 2GB of RAM, and they ship with Google Wear OS 4 with the One UI 5 Watch interface. The wearable devices also feature Samsungs 3-in1 BioActive Sensor, which enable its comprehensive suite of health-tracking capabilities.In our comparison of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 versus Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, the obvious difference is their design. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 looks sportier and simpler, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic looks more like a traditional timepiece but with a rotating bezel for navigating its menus. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic also has a bigger battery and a stainless steel case.Its all a matter of preference in choosing what to buy between the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, but either way, you can get them with a huge discount from Samsung Galaxy deals. The 40mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is $160 off for a lowered price of $190 from $350, while the 43mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is $150 off for a lowered price of $300 from $450. You need to decide quickly though, as youre going to miss out on the savings if you keep delaying your transaction.Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (40mm, LTE) $190, was $350Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (43mm, LTE) $300, was $450Editors Recommendations