Taking a look back at this weeks news and headlines from Apple, including the iPhone Air leaks, new iPhone SE details, iPhone 15 special offers, AI headlines paused, Apple Cards new home, iCloud in 2025, and Tim Cooks inauguration seat.Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Apple in the last seven days. You can also read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes.Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers remarks before the start of an Apple event at Apple headquarters on ... [+] September 09, 2024 (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Getty ImagesiPhone Air Design LeaksApples iPhone plans for 2025 include a new addition to the portfolio with an ultra-fashionable thin iPhone. Details on the presumptively named iPhone Air are coming out, with the biggest question addressed. How thin is thin?"But exactly how much thinner has just taken a new turn. A new report by Ming-Chi Kuo from TFI Securities, a hugely respected analyst, suggests that whats called the 2H25 ultra-thin iPhone, could be a phone with the thinnest part around 5.5mm, according to Kuo.(Forbes).MORE FOR YOUiPhone SE DetailsBefore the iPhone Airs potential launch in September, Apple will release the fifth mid-range iPhone SE. Its going to have a few of the bells and whistles of the current iPhone 16 family, but it needs to keep on both the cost and how much it might cannibalize the more expensive iPhones."The controls and ports on the right-hand side of the iPhone SE are clearly visible. A physical SIM card tray is at the lowest extreme. Above that are two volume buttons, and the traditional mute switch is above. This switch has been dropped from the main line of iPhones in favour of a programmable Action Button."(Forbes).iPhone 15 Special OffersUntil then, theres a new choice in the Apple Store for their next iPhone. The iPhone 15 family is showing up the Apple Refurb store. These generally offer a fifteen percent discount on the list price (usually enough to buy Apple Care and a refurb iPhone for the price of the same iPhone when new. The twist this time around is the Pro and Pro Max phones are available:"While Apples regular iPhones stay in the range for several years, if you want the Pro, you need to buy it in the 12 months after its released, and then its gone. However, Apple just brought the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, in some countries, on its refurbished site, at lower prices. Apple made this move unexpectedly early."(Forbes).Apple Addresses AI News IssuesApple has been facing increasing pressure to take action on the generative AI news alert Apple Intelligence has been providing (notably from the BBC). Part of the feature has been disabled and will return in a later release, others now come with a warning:"For now, Notification Summaries for the News and Entertainment category have been temporarily disabled, and Apple is working on improvements. Notification Summaries for news will return in a future software update. In the Settings app, when a user activates Notification Summaries, Apple has added a warning that this is a beta feature and that there could be errors."(MacRumors).Apple Card Looking For A New HomeThe partnership between Goldman achs and Apple to manage the Apple Card is currently up for renegotiation and Apple is looking at other financial institutions to take over the credit card."Apple is in talks with Barclays to replace Goldman Sachs as the tech giant's credit card partner, said two sources familiar with the matter, as the Wall Street giant steps back from its consumer finance ambitions. Credit card issuer Synchrony Financial is also in discussions with Apple about the card partnership, the first source said. Both sources declined to be identified discussing private talks."(Reuters).iCloud For 2025Apples iCloud service has drawn much ire for the paltry 5GB free tier, but Michael Burkhardt argues that the rest of theirs need to be re-organised to be fit for purpose in 2025:"nstead of introducing a new fourth lower end tier, why not just adjust how much storage everyone gets? After nearly ten years of the lower end 50GB and 200GB plans remaining at the prices they are today, I think its about time to change things up. After all, file sizes are only getting larger. 50GB is probably barely enough for most peoples iPhone backup at this point."(9to5Mac).And Finally...As the media circus gathers around the US Presidential inauguration, much is being made of the presence of Elon Muskc, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg. Theres less noise over the attendance of Apple CEO Tim Cook, but many are keeping a close eye on any interaction of the major tech firms with the White House.The appearance from the tech titans comes as the industry has sought to warm relations with Trump following his victory last November, and despite frequent clashes during his first term in office. Many, including Cook, have traveled to Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where the president-elect and Musk have held a series of private meetings and dinners to discuss plans for the coming term."(Bloomberg).Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Dont forget to follow me so you dont miss any coverage in the future. Last weeks Apple Loop can be read here, or this weeks edition of Loops sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.

LG has basically been the undisputed champion of OLED TV technology over the last decade-plus or so. From one year to the next, LG TVs continue to earn high praise for color accuracy, deep contrast levels, and excellent HDR performance. And, as luck would have it, one of LGs best TVs of 2023 is on sale today!Right now, when you purchase the LG 55-inch B3 Series OLED at Walmart, youll only wind up paying $800. The full MSRP on this model is $1,200.Powered by LGs a7 AI Processor Gen 6, the LG B3 Series delivers rich colors, inky black levels, phenomenal 4K upscaling, and top-shelf HDR performance. The WOLED screen also does a fantastic job at standing up to glare and ambient lighting, though the TV does look its best when viewed in a dark room (which is typical for an OLED TV).RelatedThe LG B3 Series is a great choice for gamers and sports fans, too, as this OLED has low input lag fast response times, and supports numerous gaming optimizations for both console and PC players. Plus, two of the TVs four HDMI ports are 2.1 certified, making them go-to options for a PS5 or Xbox.Running LGs webOS 23, the B3 Series offers a diverse array of streaming apps that load quickly and reliably. The TV even comes with LGs Magic Remote for point-and-click controls (standard remote controls can be used, too). Were not sure how long this sale is going to last, so today might be the last day to score this good of a deal on a 2023 top seller!Save $400 when you buy the LG 55-inch B3 Series OLED at Walmart, and be sure to check out our lists of the best TV deals, best LG TV deals and best OLED TV deals for even more markdowns on top tech.Editors Recommendations

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He expanded the cinematic potential of television and inspired a generation of showrunners, including Sopranos creator David Chase.

an exquisite storyteller Hollywood mourns the loss of David Lynch What better way to honor the visionary director than with a watchfest of some of his greatest work? Jennifer Ouellette Jan 17, 2025 1:52 pm | 66 David Lynch played legendary director John Ford in Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans (2023). Credit: Universal Pictures David Lynch played legendary director John Ford in Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans (2023). Credit: Universal Pictures Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreVisionary filmmaker David Lynchwhose work spanned midnight movie staples like Eraserhead (1977), neo-noir psychological thrillers like Mulholland Drive (2001), and beyondhas died at 78. According to Deadline Hollywood, the director had to evacuate his home due to the LA wildfires. He had been diagnosed with severe emphysema a few years ago and rarely left his house due to COVID-19 fears. Following the evacuation, his health deteriorated, and he died at his daughter's house.It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch, the director's family said in a statement. We would appreciate some privacy at this time. Theres a big hole in the world now that hes no longer with us. But, as he would say, Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole. Its a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.Reactions from Hollywood were swift and heartfelt. Kyle MacLachlan, who became a star when Lynch cast him as Paul Atreides in 1984's Dune, Blue Velvet (1986), and the TV series Twin Peaks, described the director as "the most authentically alive person I'd ever met":What I saw in him was an enigmatic and intuitive man with a creative ocean bursting inside him. He was in touch with something the rest of us wish we could get to... David was in tune with the universe and his own imagination on a level that seemed to be the best version of human. He was not interested in answers because he understood that questions are the drive that make us who we are. They are our breath... I will miss him more than the limits of my language can tell and my heart can bear. My world is that much fuller because I knew him and that much emptier now that he's gone.Lynch began making short films in the late 1960s and graduated from the American Film Institute in 1970. His first feature film was the cult classic Eraserhead, and that early success led to the critically acclaimed The Elephant Man in 1980. The verdict is more mixed on Lynch's adaptation of Dune; I personally found it unwatchable, but it has its diehard fans. It was a box office bomb (although still the director's highest-grossing film), and Lynch himself said in an interview last June that it "wasn't the film I wanted to make because I didn't have final say," adding, "I died a death. And it was all my fault for not knowing to put that in the contract.The success of Lynch's next film, Blue Velvet, helped assuage his disappointment, as did his move to television with the bizarrely surreal and influential series Twin Peakspart detective story, part soap opera, with dashes of sci-fi and horror. The series spawned a spin-off prequel movie, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and a 2017 revival series, Twin Peaks: The Return, that picks up the storyline 25 years later. Many other TV series were influenced by Lynch's show, including The X-Files, Lost, The Sopranos, Bates Motel, Fargo, Riverdale, Atlanta, and the animated series Gravity Falls.His final feature films were an LA-centric trilogyLost Highway (1997), Mulholland Drive, and Inland Empire (2006)and 1999's biographical road drama, The Straight Story, based on the true story of a man named Alvin Straight who drove across Iowa and Wisconsin on a lawn mower. It was acquired by Walt Disney Pictures and was Lynch's only G-rated film.A singular visionary dreamer Lynch launched Kyle MacLachlan's career when he cast him as Paul Atreides in 1984's Dune. Universal Pictures Lynch launched Kyle MacLachlan's career when he cast him as Paul Atreides in 1984's Dune. Universal Pictures One can never un-see a stripped-down Sting in a codpiece. Universal Pictures One can never un-see a stripped-down Sting in a codpiece. Universal Pictures Lynch launched Kyle MacLachlan's career when he cast him as Paul Atreides in 1984's Dune. Universal Pictures One can never un-see a stripped-down Sting in a codpiece. Universal Pictures The director's filmography also includes an assortment of short films, all bearing his eccentric stamp, including a surrealist short, Absurda, shown at Cannes in 2007, as well as Premonition Following an Evil Deed (NSFW YouTube link), Lynch's contribution to the 1995 anthology film Lumire and Company. All 41 featured directors used the original Cinmatographe camera invented by the Lumire brothers. Lynch was also an avid painter, cartoonist, and musician and directed several music videos for such artists as Moby and Nine Inch Nails. Until his death, he hosted quirky online "weather reports" and a web series, What Is David Lynch Working on Today? He even racked up the occasional acting credit.Lynch received an Honorary Oscar in 2000 for lifetime achievement at the Governors Awards after three prior nominations for The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet, and Mulholland Drive. Deadline's Pete Hammond called Lynch's speech "probably one of the shortest for any Oscar acceptance." Lynch briefly thanked the Academy, the other honorees, wished everyone a great night, then pointed to the statuette and said, "You have a very interesting figure. Good night." At Cannes, he won the Palme d'Or in 1990 for Wild at Heart and won Best Director in 2001 for Mulholland Drive.Naomi Watts, who played a dual role as doppelgngers Betty Elms and Diane Selwyn in Mulholland Drive, said that Lynch put her "on the map" as an actor by casting her. It wasnt just his art that impacted mehis wisdom, humor, and love gave me a special sense of belief in myself Id never accessed before," she said in a statement. "Every moment together felt charged with a presence Ive rarely seen or known. Probably because, yes, he seemed to live in an altered world, one that I feel beyond lucky to have been a small part of. And David invited all to glimpse into that world through his exquisite storytelling, which elevated cinema and inspired generations of filmmakers across the globe.""I loved Davids films, director Steven Spielberg said in a statement. Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and Elephant Man defined him as a singular, visionary dreamer who directed films that felt handmade. I got to know David when he played John Ford in The Fabelmans.Here was one of my heroes, David Lynch, playing one of my heroes. It was surreal and seemed like a scene out of one of Davids own movies. The world is going to miss such an original and unique voice. His films have already stood the test of time and they always will.What better way to honor Lynch's passing than with a watchfest over the three-day weekend of our favorite Lynch creations?Eraserhead Credit: Libra Films How does one even begin to describe the surrealist oddity that is Lynch's first feature film? A young man named Henry (Jack Nance), living in a dank industrial neighborhood, finds out his girlfriend, Mary (Charlotte Stewart), is pregnant; when the baby is born, it is deformed with a snake-like face. Mary abandons them, and Henry, the reluctant father, begins experiencing strange visions about the Man in the Planet, a lady living in the radiator, and his own head popping off and being turned into erasers at a pencil factory.It's less a straightforward plot and more a collection of increasingly bizarre imagery. The finale combines sheer body horror with hints of sci-fi and the supernatural. Frankly, the film won't be to everyone's taste; at least one critic found the finale "unwatchable" when it was first released. But that boundary-pushing vision, plus Lynch's eerie black-and-white cinematography and ingenious sound design, combine to make it a cult favorite among film connoisseurs.The Elephant Man Credit: Paramount Pictures Lynch kept the black-and-white cinematography for his next film, The Elephant Man, which was much more mainstream than Eraserhead, although it also deals with physical deformityin this case, a tale loosely based on the late 19th-century life of John Merrick (John Hurt), a severely disfigured man with a skull so deformed that he would asphyxiate if he were to lie down. Merrick is forced to earn his keep as part of a Victorian freak show in London, where he is habitually abused and kept hooded by his "owner."Merrick is rescued by a surgeon named Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins), who learns that Merrick is quite intelligent and makes him a permanent hospital resident, but Merrick still encounters those who see him as a horror. His climactic cry, "I am not an animal! I am a human being! I am a man!" before collapsing, is a cinematic moment for the ages. Both Hopkins and Hurt give exquisite performances, with Hurt's portrayal being all the more impressive because he had to do so through elaborate prosthetics and makeup. (There is now an Oscar for Best Make-Up because of The Elephant Man.)Blue Velvet Credit: De Laurentiis Entertainment Group Blue Velvet combines classic Hitchcockian elements with Lynch's distinctive visual style and edgy sensibility. A young man named Jeffrey (MacLachlan) finds a severed human ear on a lawn while visiting his ailing father and gets drawn into a mystery involving a sexy lounge singer named Dorothy (Isabella Rossellini) and an abusive drug-huffing gangster named Frank (Dennis Hopper), who keeps Dorothy as a sex slave after kidnapping her young son. He will also only drink Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.It's a frequently violent, disturbing, and unnerving film with overt sadomasochistic themes, but it's also a quite brilliant ode to 1950s film noir that has a way of getting under your skin. The scene where Franks creepy associate Ben (Dean Stockwell) lip-syncs to Roy Orbisons In Dreams, while smearing lipstick on his face and kissing a restrained Jeffrey, is one that will linger well after the film's conclusion.Wild at Heart Credit: Samuel Goldwyn Company[1] Based on Barry Gifford's novel of the same name, Wild at Heart is Lynch's take on the star-crossed lovers-on-the-run trope, weaving elements from The Wizard of Oz and the songs of Elvis Presley into Lula's (Laura Dern) and Sailor's (Nicolas Cage) bloody rampage across the country. They are fleeing a private detective and a hitman, both hired by Lula's mother, who objects to their relationship. While the film polarized viewers and critics upon its release, it has since become a critical favorite.Just how violent is Wild at Heart? About 80 people walked out of a test screening during a graphic torture scene; 100 walked out during a second screening. Lynch realized the scene would kill his film, so he made some cuts to make it more palatable. He had to make further cuts to get a contractually obligated R-rating for the film's US release, using smoke to blur a moment where a character shoots off his own head with a shotgun. "But that was part of what Wild at Heart was really about," he later said. "Really insane and sick and twisted stuff going on." As for Gifford, he thought Lynch's adaptation of his book was "fantasticit's like a big, dark, musical comedy." If that's your jam, this is the film for you.Mulholland Drive Credit: Universal Pictures Mulholland Drive is arguably Lynch's masterpiece, widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. It's certainly a compelling and singular film, with double doppelgngers and a dream-like plot so convoluted and ambiguous that the director included a card with the original DVD release outlining 10 "clues" to unlock his psychological thriller. Other than that, he steadfastly refused to offer any insight over the ensuing years into how the film's events should be interpreted.The film opens with a woman (Laura Harring) nearly being shot by her chauffeur on the titular Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles, saved when another car crashes into them. Having lost her memory, she takes refuge in an apartment and is befriended by its tenant, aspiring actress Betty (Naomi Watts). The two set out to discover who the woman is and why she has so much cash and a blue key in her purse. There are decomposing corpses, a lesbian sex scene, a bungling hitman, a director being threatened by mobsters, Spanish crooners in a venue called Club Silence, and a heartbreaking finale. What does it all mean? Lynch is happy to let you speculate.Twin Peaks Credit: ABC If you're feeling super ambitious, the long weekend is the perfect opportunity to binge Twin Peaks. It begins with the discovery of a young woman's body on the beach, wrapped in plastichigh school homecoming queen Laura Palmer. FBI agent Dale Cooper (MacLachlan) comes to the quirky Pacific Northwest town to help solve the murder. It's the deftly drawn characterswho can forget the Log Lady (Catherine E. Coulson)?and quirky local touches that make the show unique. It's all anchored by MacLachlan's wide-eyed appreciation of the region's Douglas firs, good coffee, and cherry pieall dictated in great detail to his offscreen secretary, Diana.Sure, the acting is sometimes hilariously over the topwe're looking at you, Bobby (Dana Ashbrook)but that was par for the course in nighttime soaps of that decade. Twin Peaks takes creative risks that defied conventional industry wisdom at the time, and the first season's short eight-episode run is more typical of today's streaming model. (The second season had the full 22 episodes more typical of broadcast TV.) The unofficial third season, Twin Peaks: The Return, is even more strangely compelling, right down to the unforgettable finale.Jennifer OuelletteSenior WriterJennifer OuelletteSenior Writer Jennifer is a senior writer at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series. Jennifer lives in Baltimore with her spouse, physicist Sean M. Carroll, and their two cats, Ariel and Caliban. 66 Comments

Smoke rises during a fire at Vistra Energys Moss Landing battery storage facility in California on 17 JanuaryBloomberg / Getty ImagesA fire at the worlds largest battery storage plant in California destroyed 300 megawatts of energy storage, forced 1200 area residents to evacuate and released smoke plumes that could pose a health threat to humans and wildlife. The incident knocked out 2 per cent of Californias energy storage capacity, which the state relies on as part of its transition to use more renewable power and less fossil fuels.The fire started the afternoon of 16 January, burning through a concrete building full of lithium batteries at the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility in Monterey county, California. Other buildings on the site, including more battery storage facilities and a natural gas plant, were not affected. By the morning of 17 January, local officials reported minimal flames and smoke. AdvertisementThis is really a lot more than a fire, its a wake-up call for this industry, said Glenn Church, a member of Monterey countys board of supervisors, during a press conference. If were going to be moving forward with sustainable energy, we need a safe battery system in place. After the press conference on the morning of 17 January, the blaze flared up again that afternoon, leading to an extension of the evacuation order.Because lithium fires burn at high temperatures and emit toxic substances such as hydrogen fluoride, firefighters let this type of blaze burn itself out rather than engaging with it directly. There have been no reports of injuries associated with the fire, and air monitor systems did not detect any signs of hydrogen fluoride. But the smoke plumes from the fire are likely to have contained heavy metals and PFAS, better known as forever chemicals, says Dustin Mulvaney at San Jose State University in California.Local officials are currently advising residents of Monterey county to stay indoors and keep their doors and windows closed. Inhaled heavy metals and PFAS could pose a health risk to area residents and farm workers. These substances could also impact wildlife such as the sea otters that live in the wetlands of the nearby Elkhorn Slough salt marsh, says Mulvaney. Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox.Sign up to newsletterThe destroyed building was one of two Moss Landing battery facilities owned by the Texas-based company Vistra Energy. Its facilities previously experienced less serious incidents that involved overheating batteries and malfunctions in the fire suppression system. But the facility that went up in flames this week has a water-based suppression system and it is unclear why it failed, said Vistra Energy officials during the press conference. They are still investigating the root cause of the fire.Despite this incident, utility-scale battery systems for electricity grids have experienced a 97 per cent drop in failures worldwide which are often fire-related between 2018 and 2023, according to a report by the Electric Power Research Institute, a non-profit organisation based in Washington DC.This massivedecrease has been observed in spite of the fact that deployments of utility-scale storage continue to increase at high rates, says Maria Chavez at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Battery storage systems are designed with multiple levels of safety features that aim to prevent and mitigate issues like fire risk unfortunately, accidents like the one at Moss Landing facility can still occur.California is also better prepared than most US states to respond to such incidents: it has a state law requiring local governments to develop emergency response plans with battery developers, says Mulvaney. He described the need to learn from events like this in designing future battery storage systems.But the loss of most or all of the 300-megawatt facility at Moss Landing will put a serious dent in Vistra Energys overall 750-megawatt on-site energy storage capacity, and Californias total 13,300-megawatt energy storage capacity.Moss Landing has been serving the states electricity grid by storing renewable energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels such as natural gas plants, says Mulvaney. Reconstruction and building back battery capacity could take several years a big ask, considering California is already facing the need for extensive rebuilding elsewhere due to the Los Angeles wildfires.We cant have battery fires like this, says Mulvaney. We cant lose 300 megawatts of batteries overnight like this.Topics:

TikTok may go dark Sunday unless Biden ensures the ban won't be enforced.The Supreme Court upheld a law requiring TikTok's US operations to be sold by Jan. 19 or face a ban.Biden's administration doesn't plan to enforce the ban before Trump takes office.TikTok said Friday it will be forced to go dark on Sunday, the day the ban of the platform is set to take effect, unless the Biden administration takes further action to ensure it will not be enforced."The statements issued today by both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok's availability to over 170 million Americans," TikTok said in a statement posted on X."Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19," the statement continued.The statementcame after the Supreme Court earlier on Friday upheld the law banningTikTok.The law, which was passed by Congress and signed by Biden last spring, required TikTok to be banned unless ByteDance, its China-based parent company, sells the app's US operations by January 19.The law specifically bans US app stores, like Apple's and Google's, from carrying or updating the app. Companies that violate the law could face fines of up to $5,000 per user who accesses TikTok.The Biden administration said this week it does not plan to enforce the ban given that it is set to set effect one day before President Joe Biden leaves office and President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in."President Biden's position on TikTok has been clear for months, including since Congress sent a bill in overwhelming, bipartisan fashion to the President's desk: TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.The Justice Department issued a statement on Friday in support of the Supreme Court's decision, adding:"The next phase of this effort implementing and ensuring compliance with the law after it goes into effect on January 19 will be a process that plays out over time."Trump has said he does not support banning TikTok and will work on finding a solution.TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew in a video earlier on Friday thanked Trump for his commitment to working on saving the app.

I think I know the secret behind Mario Kart 9 on Nintendo Switch 2 Readers FeatureGameCentralPublished January 18, 2025 1:00am Mario Kart 9 is going to be something very different (YouTube)A reader examines the footage so far for Mario Kart 9 and thinks hes worked out several new features not yet announced by Nintendo.We might have only got one game reveal in the Nintendo Switch 2 unveiling but, as has been already pointed out, the few seconds of Mario Kart 9 that we did get is a lot more than it first seems. Not only does it seem to confirm 24-player online action, which is going to be insane, but theres clearly some kind of open world element going on.You dont notice at first but theres no actual track. The race starts off with a dead end to the road they start on, then they all immediately go off-road and then down what looks like a long highway that disappears off into the distance. At no point is there a track and definitely nothing that looks like its going to loop round in laps.That is a pretty major change for Mario Kart. I dont know whether thats the main mode or only online or something, but it looks to me that youre making the course up yourself as you go along, kind of like the Dakar Rally. First of all, I think thats a genius idea, but I also dont think thats the only innovation at play.Who knows how big the actual map is youre racing around in, but you can see lots of dirt paths in the footage and a very big and obvious roadside convenience. I think that not only are you going to be making your own path through the game but youre going to be picking up fuel as you go as well.I dont know what happens when you run out, maybe Lakitu lends you a petrol can or something, but I do believe that everything that you can see in the footage is very purposefully chosen as a clue as to what the new game is about.To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a webbrowser thatsupports HTML5videoUp NextHowever, I believe theres more secrets theyre purposefully not revealing. One obvious one is non-Mario characters. Mario Kart 8 had quite a lot already, so I see no way that the new game wont as well, considering it supports much more human players at once. And Im all for turning it into a full-on Smash Bros. racing game.We can go deeper though, because if Mario Kart 9 is a launch game, then Nintendo is going to want it to show off as many of its features as possible. The Joy-Cons working as mice is a big one, but no one wants to control a car with a mouse, so what else could that feature be used for?I think its obvious: a map creator. Its never really been practical for Mario Kart before but now, with PC style controls, itd be super easy to scribble your own course and turn it into something you can drive on. The mouse would make it easy to add smaller details and Im sure Nintendo could just adapt the software they already use and put it in the game.Ill go further though and imagine that creating your own course is probably part of the main gameplay, so youd have a big map of the area and draw on that the route you want to take and then it could appear in-game as a path to follow. Doesnt that sound great?More TrendingIm going to be really disappointed if thats not what happens, but Im convinced that at least some version of what Im talking about is going to happen and I cannot wait to get my hands on the game. Roll on April 2!By reader Pinky 24-player online is a big change for a start (YouTube)The readers features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you wont need to send an email.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Lets take a quick international trip to see the latest at Tokyo Disneyland, which gets an adorable Marvel overlay at its Its a Small World attraction. Stateside, its festival season at Walt Disney World with the opening of pop culture fan favorite Festival of the Arts at Epcot; over at Magic Kingdom, Space Mountain celebrates 50 years. At Universal Studios Orlando, the Wicked craze continues with a new look at its official shop, and the Stella Nova hotel prepares to host its first guests as the countdown to Epic Universe begins in earnest. On the West Coast, things are quieter as Southern California rises to overcome the aftermath of the Los Angeles fires. Due to its location, Disneyland was able to remain open as people evacuated to Anaheim. Universal Studios Hollywood closed briefly but opened its doors once the fires moved away from the Studio City area, although caution should still be taken if youre planning a visit (definitely keep an eye on various air quality index readings). To help Los Angeles heal, the movie town is inviting Angelenos to the theater for a series of free screenings in support of evacuees. Disney Studios, Paramount, the Academy Museum, and revival theaters are providing cinematic escapes at no charge for family films, and some theaters are donating a percentage of proceeds from other film screenings held in addition to ongoing donation drives. For a full list on how to help out those in Los Angeles check out this post from the Blacklist. Tokyo Disneyland Its a Small World with Groot Take a break from the state of well everything with this POV ride-through of Tokyo Disneylands Groot takeover featuring some of his Marvel friends.Turning Red returns for Lunar New Year at Disneyland Resort Mulan, Mushu, and the characters of Turning Red return to Disney California Adventure for the Lunar New Year festivities beginning this weekend and going until February 16.Epcots International Festival of the Arts Incredible Disney fandom art will be making its debut at the International Festival of the Arts beginning this week and going until February 24. Disney Wonderground Artists including Yesenia Moises (IG: @YeseniaDraws), Dylan Bonner (IG: @DylanBonner90), Ryan Riller (IG: @RyanRiller_), Ashley Taylor (IG: @Ashley24Taylor), Steph Laberis (IG: @steph_laberis), and more will be debuting art that will be available first at the fest and later on at all Disney Parks art shoppes.Magic Kingdom Happy 50th Birthday Space Mountain The iconic attraction turned 50 this week. Road to Epic Universe Stella Nova Hotel Universal Studios Florida New looks at the sleek science-fiction future-inspired hotel have been revealed; the accommodations fit in the celestial theme of Epic Universe. This room gives spaceship cruise vibes. Book here.Wicked immersive shopping experience at Universal Studios Florida See props from the film and get the latest merch inspired by Wicked. Alas, Glinda and Elphaba meet and greets are no more. We need them back! LA Fires Relief The Academy Museum Heres a link to tickets for the Academy Museums slate of free family films.LA Fires Relief Vidiots x Neon For more information visit here.LA Fires Relief The American Cinematheque For the remainder of 2025, the American Cinematheque will donate $0.50 per each online ticket purchased for screenings at the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres to the Motion Picture Television Fund and the California Fire Foundation.Free movie listings here. LA Fire Relief Disney Screenings at the historic El Capitan theater More info here. LA Fire Relief Paramount Pictures x AMC Theaters Sonic 3 screenings More info here. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Seoul Robot & AI Museum / Melike Altnk ArchitectsSave this picture! Namsun Lee, MAAMuseumSeoul, South KoreaArchitects: Melike Altnk ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:7400 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Namsun Lee, MAAManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: ELEVATE Architect of Record: MAA-MELIKE ALTINISIK ARCHITECTS + WITHWORKS Architects & Engineers More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!MAA-MELIKE ALTINISIK ARCHITECTS's international competition-winning project 'Seoul Robot & AI Museum' (RAIM) has officially opened to the public in Seoul, South Korea. World's first pioneer Robot & AI Museum, RAIM emerges as a pioneering cultural landmark that will serve as a base for the 4th industrial revolution in the northeastern part of Seoul. The project realized in collaboration between MAA and Withworks from 2019 to 2024, exemplifies cutting-edge architectural and construction methodologies.Save this picture!Save this picture!Architectural Vision and Design Manifesto -MAA's architectural manifesto for RAIM articulates a distinctive design language that leverages smart design and construction methodologies to create an immersive universe for robots, AI technologies, and visitors. The museum's spherical, non-directional form is characterized by fluid, organic shapes that resonate with the advanced technologies housed within. This dialogue between contemporary architectural expression and technological innovation forms the foundation of RAIM's design philosophy.The architectural form of RAIM is not merely an envelope but an integral part of the museum's narrative, reflecting the fluidity and dynamism of the AI and robotics fields. The building's design fosters an ongoing interaction between its innovative form and the groundbreaking technologies it showcases.Save this picture!RAIM as a Catalyst for Innovation -RAIM is envisioned as a catalyst for the advancement and dissemination of science, technology, and innovation. It aims to contribute significantly to the development of Seoul's AI industry ecosystem by inspiring and engaging the community. The museum is strategically positioned to connect researchers from nearby universities, research institutes, and corporations with the public, offering a space for exhibitions, hands-on experiences, and educational programs focused on robotics and AI. This integration of academia, industry, and public engagement positions RAIM as a pivotal node in the regional science and culture network.Planned exhibitions and collaborations with adjacent cultural and entrepreneurial facilitiessuch as 'Chang-dong Aurene,' the 'Seoul Museum of Photography,' and the 'Startup and Cultural Industrial Complex'will further embed RAIM within the local cultural fabric. These initiatives are expected to invigorate the local economy and contribute to the cultural renaissance of the Chang-dong Sanggye area.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!RAIM as a Dynamic Architectural Medium - Melike Altnk , the design principal of MAA, describes RAIM as a living exhibition, where the architecture embodies the very smart technologies it exhibits. The museum is not merely a space for displaying robots; it integrates smart technologies from design and construction through to operation, making it a seamless part of the technological narrative it presents.Save this picture!Visitor Experience and Spatial Dynamics -The visitor experience at RAIM begins at the entrance, where welcoming robots introduce the journey. The ground floor, with its reception, ticket halls, caf, and shop, establishes a fluid interaction between the exterior public realm and the interior spaces. At the heart of the museum, the vertical exhibition tunnel dissolves the boundary between the tangible world and the realm of robotics and AI, leading visitors to permanent and temporary exhibitions on the upper floors. Educational and administrative facilities are located on the 2nd floor. There are also 2 Basement levels with car parks and technical service facilities. This spatial design is intended to evoke a sense of exploration and discovery, guiding visitors through a narrative of scientific and technological progress.Save this picture!Innovative Construction and Architectural Technologies - RAIM's construction reflects the integration of advanced architectural technologies aligned with the 4th Industrial Revolution. The museum was constructed using smart building techniques, with Building Information Modeling (BIM) ensuring precision in both design and construction. The process employed Off-Site Construction (OSC) methods, which allowed for the efficient and high-quality realization of the museum's complex, non-linear forms.The process of implementing the non-directional spherical exterior, the fluid-like gate, the escalator tunnel that seems to guide you into an unknown world, and the numerous non-linear RAIM shapes applied here and there onto the ground through innovative 4th industrial revolution technologies has become the beginning of RAIM's symbolic exhibition.Save this picture!Save this picture!The exterior's fluid, spherical design was achieved using a combination of digital fabrication and reverse engineering. The construction process involved laser CNC machining and robot welding, ensuring minimal errors and high precision in the execution of the intricate faade. The museum's central vertical exhibition tunnel, a key architectural feature, was constructed using advanced technologies typically reserved for aerospace and marine industries, further emphasizing the innovative approach taken throughout the project.Save this picture!RAIM: A Landmark of the Future -RAIM is more than a museum; it is a symbol of the future of architecture, science, and technology in Korea. It embodies the potential of robotics and AI to redefine our built environment, serving as a landmark for Korea's 4th Industrial Revolution.It stands as a testament to the fusion of advanced architectural practices and cutting-edge technology, marking a new era in museum design and cultural engagement. Through its smart design and construction, RAIM not only showcases the future but actively participates in its creation, making it a pivotal institution in the ongoing evolution of architecture, science, and technology.As an architectural and cultural icon, RAIM will play a critical role in shaping the discourse around the integration of smart technologies into our daily lives, offering a space for reflection on the ethical and humanistic implications of these advancements.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Seoul, South KoreaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officePublished on January 18, 2025Cite: "Seoul Robot & AI Museum / Melike Altnk Architects" 17 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1022554/seoul-robot-and-ai-museum-melike-altinisik-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save? / Melike Altnk ArchitectsYou've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream