by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Note:This article was originally published in January 2017. It has been updated multiple times since then to reflect the most current information. The most recent update was on January 18, 2025.When Microsoft released Windows 10 in 2015, it offered the new operating system as a free, no-strings-attached upgrade for anyone still running a supported, fully activated previous version of Windows. That offer was only supposed to last for one year, but Microsoft quietly kept its activation servers running for more than eight years, granting free digital licenses to Windows 10 on hardware originally licensed for use with Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.That loophole officially closed on September 20, 2023, when Microsoft posted an inconspicuous announcement on a website for its hardware partners. (For details, see"It's official: No more free Windows 10 upgrades".)Also: Is Windows 10 too popular for its own good?Since that announcement, I've heard from multiple readers who tried to upgrade their Windows 7 and Windows 8.x systems and discovered they were not properly activated after the Windows 10 installer completed its work. (Systems that were previously activated still continue to work properly, though.) Surprisingly, I've also heard from a handful of correspondents who have been successful in activating their PCs after upgrading an old Windows version to Windows 10.I'm not surprised by those sporadic reports of success. Microsoft's activation servers work in mysterious ways, and they're often generous in terms of granting digital licenses even when an installation doesn't follow the letter of the licensing rules. Given that uncertainty, there's probably no harm in trying to upgrade an old PC to Windows 10, as long as you're prepared to deal with activation issues.But does it make sense to even try?Those upgrades made perfect sense in 2020, when people were pulling old PCs off the shelf to adjust to the new pandemic-era work-at-home mandates. Those old computers might have been more mature than a shiny new device, but they were perfectly capable of performing common business tasks and had at least five years of support ahead of them.Also: Can your old PC handle the Windows 11 upgrade? How to find out - before you tryToday, the situation is completely different. Any computer that was originally licensed to run Windows 8.x is at least nine years old, and a PC that was built for Windows 7 is probably 12 years old or more. In technological terms, those devices are dinosaurs, and even a dirt-cheap modern PC will run rings around them.More importantly, even if you are able to complete that upgrade, you have months, not years, of support ahead of you. Windows 10 reaches its end-of-life date on October 14, 2025. You can pay $30 to receive updates for an extra year, but that's the absolute end of the line, unless you can override Microsoft's strict compatibility requirements and upgrade that PC from Windows 10 to Windows 11. But that opens up a whole new can of worms.On the other hand, if you really love that old PC and can't bear to say goodbye, well, read on.Upgrades still work, but activation probably won'tMost hardware that originally shipped with Windows 7 or Windows 8.x is perfectly capable of running Windows 10. Under most circumstances, the upgrade succeeds, even if the system fails the activation check at the end. You can still install apps, play games, run productivity software, and install security updates on a PC running an unactivated copy of Windows 10; you won't be able to personalize the Windows interface, though, and some optional updates won't be available.You'll also see a message in Settings and on the desktop warning that the system is not properly activated.Also:How to downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10 (there's a catch)You can complete activation and remove those restrictions by entering a valid Windows 10 product key for your edition (Home or Pro). Your old Windows 7/8.x product keys no longer work, unfortunately.In this post, I cover the basics of how to install Windows 10 as an upgrade on older hardware. I'll also talk about the licensing issues involved, which are (as always) confusing. And, of course, there's the looming end-of-support deadline for Windows 10. As of October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer offer updates to Windows 10 PCs unless you've paid for Extended Security Updates. (For details, see "If your Windows 10 PC can't be upgraded, you have 5 options before time runs out")Every technique I describe in this article works the same for Windows 11 as well, although most older PCs will be blocked from upgrading to Microsoft's newest operating system by the stringentWindows 11 hardware compatibility requirements. (It's possible to work around some of those restrictions, for hardware that's not too old.)How to upgrade an old PC to Windows 10If you have a PC running Windows 7/8/8.1 (Windows 7 Home, Pro, or Ultimate edition, or Windows 8.x Home or Business, properly licensed and activated), you can install Windows 10 as an upgrade.Before getting started, I recommend a few preliminary tasks that can head off potential problems:Confirm thatyour copy of Windows is activated. This is especially important if you recently reinstalled the original version of Windows in preparation for the upgrade.Check for any recent driver updates, especially for network and storage hardware.Download and install any available BIOS updates for your hardware; this step is especially important for systems that were originally designed in 2017 or earlier, when hardware makers were still shaking out issues with Windows 10.Back up your data files to an external hard drive or cloud storage (or both). Consider doing a full system backup to an external hard drive using the Windows 7 backup program, which is also available in Windows 8.x, Windows 10, and Windows 11. Just run the command Sdclt.exe, and then choose the "Create a system image" option.Temporarily uninstall third-party security software and low-level system software such as hard disk utilities that can interfere with the upgrade. You can reinstall those programs after the upgrade is complete.Finally, disconnect any unnecessary external devices, especially USB flash drives and external hard drives. (Several common installation errors can be traced to the Setup program being confused by these additional drives.) With those preliminaries out of the way, go to theDownload Windows 10webpage and click the "Download Now" button. After the download completes, double-click the executable file to run the Media Creation Tool. You can upgrade directly using this tool, or create separate media. Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNET If you've downloaded the Media Creation Tool on the machine you plan to upgrade, and you plan to upgrade that PC and only that PC, you can choose "Upgrade this PC now." That option installs the most recent version of Windows 10. It typically takes about an hour, depending on your hardware. (Having an SSD as your system drive is the best way to speed up the process.)Also: You can still upgrade old PCs to Windows 11, even if Microsoft says no: Readers prove itIf you know you'll want to install Windows 10 (as an upgrade or as a clean install) on more than one PC, or if you just want more flexibility in the event that the instant upgrade fails, choose the second option and save the installation files to a USB drive or as an ISO file. The download takes a little time, but when it's complete, you can run the Windows Setup program manually to install Windows 10 on any PC running any supported Windows version. (Sorry, this won't work with PCs running Windows Vista or Windows XP, but those PCs are probably so old that you'll encounter other issues anyway and maybe you should consider retiring them.)The exact steps depend on which download option you chose:USB flash drive: Insert the USB flash drive you just created into a free USB slot on the PC you want to upgrade. Then open File Explorer (Windows Explorer in Windows 7) and double-click Setup to install Windows 10. Note that youcannotboot from the newly created USB drive or DVD to perform an upgrade to Windows 10. You must run the Windows 10 setup program from your currently installed and activated copy of Windows.ISO file: After the download is complete, you'll need to mount the ISO file and open it in a Windows Explorer/File Explorer window. On a PC running Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, you can double-click the ISO file to open it in File Explorer as a virtual drive. On a PC running Windows 7, you'll need to install a third-party utility, such as the free, open-sourceWinCDEmu. After mounting the ISO file, double-click Setup to start the install process.Then, just follow the prompts to complete the upgrade to Windows 10. You will not be asked for a product key during the upgrade process. When the upgrade is complete and you've connected to the internet, all your apps and data files will be available. To check the system's activation status, go to Settings > Update & security > Activation. If you're lucky, you'll have a digital license that is valid for the most recent Windows 10 version. More likely, you'll see a message telling you Windows isn't activated and asking you to enter a valid product key.A Windows 10 digital license is associated with a specific device, which means you can reformat the disk and perform a clean installation of the same edition of Windows 10 anytime. (If you're thinking of upgrading your old system drive to an SSD, I recommend you perform the upgrade to Windows 10 on the old hardware; after confirming that the new Windows 10 version is properly activated, install the SSD and then either restore from a backup image or boot from the USB flash drive to do a clean install. You won't need a product key, and activation is automatic.)Is your license valid?And now the big question: if you successfully upgrade an old PC to Windows 10, is the resulting license valid?The entire "free upgrade" offer was always accompanied by language that was, to put it politely, a bit squishy. And the language around the end of that offer was similarly vague. For example, see the answers I've highlighted here on Microsoft'sWindows 10 Upgrade FAQ: The wording here is remarkably vague. Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNET That's very odd language. The free upgradethrough the Get Windows 10 appended on July 29, 2016. Likewise, the discussion of product keys says a key will be necessary "for this tool to work" (not true), but it doesn't say a word about licensing.And unlike the weaselly "Genuine Windows" label on older upgrades, the activation screens for a Windows 10 upgrade specifically confirm the existence of a "digital license."Of course, I'm not a lawyer, and this column isn't legal advice. But I will say that I am personally confident in the activation status of any PC that upgraded to Windows 10 and was granted a digital license using the Media Creation Tool.So why did Microsoft keep making these free upgrades available even after the original offer had officially expired? That was, I think, a very obvious nod and a wink, designed to make it easy for those who wanted a Windows 10 upgrade to still get it while placating the OEM partners who were none too happy about Microsoft's emphasis on upgrades rather than new PC sales during the original upgrade offer.I continue to hear from readers sharing their experiences. If you've used this technique on a PC, send a note to edbott (at) realworldwindows (dot) com and let me know how it went for you.Featured

Bluetti Elite 200 V2 portable power stationBluettiI think about portable power stations a lot these days. As I write this, my area is coming off a walloping snow storm, with the weather forecast calling for freezing rain or wet snow for the next two days, followed by a rapid plunge to sub-zero temperatures as a polar vortex settles in. Tough conditions for power lines, raising the specter of mass power outages like the one that took out electricity to over a million households last winter, or the 1998 ice storm that left over 4 million Canadians in the darksome losing power for weeks. A battery power station is a smart investment as insurance against outages. I just wrapped up testing on the latest model sent my way by Bluetti, the Elite 200 V2 Portable Power Station.This is a very capable power station with 2,073.6Wh capacity and 2,600W output, long-life LiFePO4 cells, fast-charging, advanced battery safety technology, plenty of outputs including four AC outlets, support for optional solar charging and it is more compact than many models with similar specs.Safety and LifespanLithium battery fires are a challenge to put out and that makes some people understandably nervous about storing and operating a high-capacity power station in their home. Bluetti tackles this concern head-on. The Elite 200 V2 is equipped with an AI-powered BMS (battery management system) that monitors battery performance in real time. It automatically adjusts fan speed and protects against overcurrent, over-voltage, and combustion.Bluetti takes battery safety and durability very seriouslyBluettiIn addition, the Elite 200 V2 uses automotive-grade LiFePO (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery cells. These are safer and more stable than Lithium-Ion batteries. They also last longer. While this power station represents an investment, it is one that will last, with the Elite 200 V2 rated to retain 80% of its original capacity after 6,000 charge cycles. Its expected to last for 17 years.MORE FOR YOUThe Bluetti Elite 200 has plenty of outputs and an LCD displayBrad MoonBluetti Elite 200 V2 Key Specs:2,073.6Wh capacityAutomotive-grade LiFePO (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries rated for 6,000 charge cycles to 80% original capacity2600W output, surge 3900WOutputs: 4 x 120V AC, 2 x 15W (5V/3A) USB-A, 2 x 100W USB-C, 1 x 12V/10A (car outlet)Inputs: AC, solar, 12V (car)TurboBoost fast charge to 80% in 1 hourSupports pass-though charging, 15ms UPS functionPure sine wave inverterAI-powered battery management system (BMS) including coolingOperating temperature -4F to 104FIntegrated LCD display screen and mobile app control via Wi-Fi and BluetoothWeighs 53.4 lbs, ABS case measures 13.8 9.8 12.7 inchesIncludes AC charge cable, solar charge cable, grounding screwMSRP $1,9995-year warrantyHands-On With the Elite 200 V2Running my MacBook Air media server off the Bluetti power stationBrad MoonAfter years of testing and experience with dozens of power stations, I know what to expect from something with this capacity and output when it comes to big tasks. The Bluetti AC200L (2048 Wh) I tested last year (review here) kept a full-sized fridge running for 24 straight hours. It can handle high-demand appliances like coffee makers, microwave ovens and even a portable heater. Expect to see similar numbers from the Elite 200 V2.This time, I decided to see how long the Elite 200 V2 could keep me working when the power went out or if I was camping at an unpowered site. I have an older, 13-inch MacBook Air equipped with an Intel i7 processor I use to host my iTunes media library. I mention the vintage because this is a more power-demanding machine than a MacBook equipped with one of Apples much more efficient M-series processors. The laptops battery is dead, so it is running purely off AC. Oh, and I have two external SSDs hanging off the laptop for additional storage, so it is powering those as well.A media library server isnt quite a direct comparison to a computer Im actively working on, but good enough.Over the course of several weeks, I repeatedly ran the MacBook Air and its drives off the Elite 200 V2, recharged the powerstation when it ran dead and repeated. The Bluetti Elite 200 V2 consistently kept the MBA and its drives running for almost exactly four days of 24/7 operation. If I was actually workingsay eight hours a day and with the display onI would easily get a solid week or more of use when plugged into this power station. With its TurboBoost fast charge, going from 0% to 100% took only about an hour and a half. During operation, it was silent, but the fan would kick in during charging, maxing out at around 54dB (about the same noise a refrigerator makes).With four AC outlets, dual USB-A, dual USB-C and a 12V car outlet, the Elite 200 V2 has the capability to power and/or charge up to nine devices simultaneously.TurboCharge means you won't spend much time recharging. Note, no power brick required.Brad MoonAnd it delivers this performance in a 53.4 pound package (equipped with dual handles for easy lifting) that, by my calculations, is 34% smaller and over 8lbs lighter than the Bluetti AC200L I tested last year. You dont get the ability to daisy chain external battery packs for extra capacity like the AC200L can do, but if youre looking at a standalone power station you wont care about that.Wi-Fi, Bluetooth support for mobile app control and monitoringBluettiRecommendationThe Elite 200 V2 is not inexpensive, but at time of writing, Bluetti had discounted its $1,999 MSRP to a very tempting $999. If your home is in an area where power outages are a possibility, or you could use portable power for camping or outdoor use, the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 is an excellent option. Especially if you want something for the long term that offers high capacity and high output without taking up a ton of space.Disclosure: Bluetti provided a power station for evaluation purposes but had no input into this review.

President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a meeting with Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago, on Jan. 9, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida.Evan VucciAPBy ASSOCIATED PRESSJanuary 18, 2025 1:59 PM ESTPresident-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he most likely would give TikTok 90 more days to work out a deal that would allow the popular video-sharing platform to avoid a U.S. ban.Trump said in an NBC News interview that he had not decided what to do but was considering granting TikTok a reprieve after he is sworn into office on Monday. A law that prohibits mobile app stores and internet hosting services from distributing TikTok to U.S. users takes effect on Sunday.Under the law passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden last year, TikToks China-based parent company had nine months to sell the platforms U.S. operation to an approved buyer. The law allows the sitting president to grant an extension if a sale is in progress.I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because its appropriate. You know, its appropriate, Trump told Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker in a phone interview. "We have to look at it carefully. Its a very big situation.If I decide to do that, Ill probably announce it on Monday, he said.Both White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco made clear Friday that the Biden administration would leave the laws implementation to Trump given that his inauguration falls the day after the ban takes effect.In a statement later Friday, TikTok asked for a definitive statement saying the Biden administration would not enforce the law or try to fine app store operators like Apple and Google and other U.S. companies if they don't stop making TikTok available Sunday.Without those assurances, TikTok said it will be forced to go dark. But the company did not provide details, including whether it would voluntarily shut down its U.S. platform at midnight or suspend its operations after losing access to service providers it relies on.The White House on Saturday called TikTok's statement a stunt.We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday," Jean-Pierre said. "We have laid out our position clearly and straightforwardly: actions to implement this law will fall to the next administration. So TikTok and other companies should take up any concerns with them.Neither Apple, Google or Oracle, which hosts TikTok's data on its servers, have responded to questions about what they plan to do on Sunday.More Must-Reads from TIMEL.A. Fires Show Reality of 1.5C of WarmingHome Losses From L.A. Fires Hasten An Uninsurable FutureThe Women Refusing to Participate in Trumps EconomyBad Bunny On Heartbreak and New AlbumHow to Dress Warmly for Cold WeatherWere Lucky to Have Been Alive in the Age of David LynchThe Motivational Trick That Makes You Exercise HarderColumn: No One Won The War in GazaContact us at letters@time.com

The big picture: When you think of Arm's processor designs, power efficiency is likely one of the first attributes that come to mind. The British chip firm's RISC architecture has long been praised for its efficiency-focused approach, especially when compared to x86 chips from AMD and Intel. However, according to Arm's client business lead, Chris Bergey, that narrative is expected to shift a bit this year. In a sit-down with PCWorld at CES, Bergey revealed that after achieving a lead in IPC (instructions per clock), Arm is now aggressively targeting higher operating frequencies. While some Arm products excel in IPC, their lower clock speeds compared to rivals have held back overall performance.Another major priority is optimizing Arm's CPU and GPU designs for AI acceleration. For CPUs, this involves adding new instruction set capabilities beyond Neon, Scalable Vector Extensions (SVEs), and SVE2 to better handle AI workloads.Arm's GPU business is also being enhanced with an AI/ML focus. Bergey highlighted techniques like rendering at lower resolutions and then using AI to upscale to higher quality, similar to Nvidia's DLSS. This approach allows for better visuals with less GPU power required.He provided an example of a mobile device rendering natively at 1080p 60Hz or using AI to interpolate from a 540p 30Hz rendering to improve efficiency. He added that the company aims to "be a leader" in enabling total processing on GPUs within a mobile environment.These AI-accelerated CPU and GPU advancements could be integrated into Arm's next-generation "Arm CSS for Client" compute platform, set to debut in 2025. // Related StoriesHowever, pursuing higher operating frequencies and AI acceleration are not Arm's only ambitions. The company is also focusing on optimizing CPU designs to achieve maximum clock speeds on the latest semiconductor process nodes.As Bergey explained, Arm plans to provide "that recipe for some of the latest [manufacturing] nodes" to help vendors "maximize that frequency and get to a four-gigahertz design."Regarding the ongoing legal dispute between Arm and Qualcomm, the saga appears far from resolved. Bergey noted that despite a recent court ruling, significant issues remain "unresolved" between the two companies. The future of the case remains uncertain and will require further negotiation.

Table of ContentsTable of Contents7. Wolf Man (2025)6. What We Do In the Shadows (2014)5. The Howling (1981)4. Dog Soldiers (2002)3. The Wolf Man (1941)2. Werewolf by Night (2022)1. An American Werewolf in London (1981)Werewolves have made their return to cinemas with the release of 2025s Wolf Man, Blumhouses remake of the 1941 classic, The Wolf Man. Alongside vampires and zombies, werewolves have remained some of the most popular monsters to appear in cinema, particularly in the horror genre.While these creatures are used to create dark, tragic Gothic stories, other films have used werewolves in parodies or in genres like action or comedy. Now that Wolf Man is finally in theaters, heres a rundown of the all-time seven best werewolf movies across all genres.Recommended VideosBlumhouse / BlumhouseThe most recent remake of Wolf Manshows a man taking his family to his childhood home in the mountains, only to get infected by a werewolf prowling in the wilderness. Just as he did with The Invisible Man, director Leigh Whannell took a classic movie monster and reimagined it for modern cinema, presenting the werewolfs curse more as a virus than a mystical curse.RelatedWhile it lacks subtle dialogue and the kind of social commentary found in The Invisible Man, it does deliver the gripping suspense and gut-wrenching body horror associated with werewolf stories.Madman Entertainment / Madman EntertainmentFans of the hit FX series of the same name likely know this comedy-horror classic. Though What We Do in the Shadowscenters around a group of vampires living together in a flat in New Zealand, it features the funniest pack of werewolves ever to howl on the silver screen.Their hilarious catchphrase, Were werewolves, not swearwolves, immediately cemented them as fan favorites in a film filled with unique and hilarious characters. Fingers crossed (hiss) that theyll finally do that spinoff, Were Wolves, now that the TV show adaptation has ended.Embassy Pictures / Embassy Pictures1981 was the year of the werewolves, thanks to popular Hollywood films such as The Howling. From Gremlinsdirector Joe Dante,The Howling follows a traumatized news reporter traveling to an isolated resort to recover, only to discover the place is populated by a cabal of werewolves.Though the story can be a bit too campy at times, The Howling boasts some terrific visuals and scares, as well as some terrifying monster effects. It also allows werewolves to explore the dark side of human nature with its emphasis on sex, violence, and the medias obsession with them both. In the end, The Howling helped repopularize movie monsters at the time of its release, eventually spawning seven sequels and a remake of its own on the way.The Noel Gay Motion / The Noel Gay MotionIn Neil Marshalls directorial debut, a squad of soldiers is forced to fight off a pack of werewolves while training in the Scottish wilderness. Harkening back to beloved films like Aliens and Predator, this macho-horror film features a healthy blend of action, humor, suspense, and gore.To top it all off, Dog Soldiers features some incredible and terrifying creature designs, especially for a low-budget movie. Those who want a break away from the traditionally slow and morose werewolf films will want to sink their teeth into this exhilarating cult classic.Universal Pictures / Universal PicturesIts only fair that audiences who see Wolf Man watch the movie that inspired it. This classic Universal Monster movie provided the template for several werewolf movies since its premiere. Not everything has aged well, considering its a movie from the 1940s.Nevertheless, The Wolf Man crafts a beautifully tragic narrative with equally gorgeous visuals, presenting an eerie Gothic atmosphere that gives it a timeless, cinematic charm. Additionally, Lon Chaney Jr.s performance and the iconic makeup used to bring his Wolf Man to life make this horror movie especially memorable.Marvel Studios / Marvel StudiosWerewolf by Night follows a group of monster hunters competing for a magical relic, facing off against some frightening and powerful creatures from the darkest corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This film from director/composer Michael Giacchino was Marvel Studioss first TV special on Disney+, and it made a lasting impression as a superhero horror movie.Werewolf by Night pays homage to classic monster movies, including The Wolf Man, with its gorgeous black-and-white visuals and Gothic story, making it a treat to fans of horror and comic books alike.Universal Pictures / Universal PicturesThis 1980s classic from Animal House director John Landis depicts an American graduate student who gets attacked and cursed by a werewolf while backpacking through the English countryside. The films award-winning makeup effects single-handedly raised the bar for horror movies as a whole.Featuring a terrific blend of horror, tragedy, and comedy, An American Werewolf in Londonset itself apart from traditional werewolf movies while setting a whole new standard for the subgenre.Editors Recommendations

I started working remotely in 2017 to combine international travel with my career.My parents thought that decision was reckless and unstable.But my mom has just decided to quit her job so she has more flexibility like me.When I started working remotely in 2017 with the hopes of advancing in my career while traveling, my parents thought I was throwing away a successful life for no reason. To them, success meant the stability of a job that required staying in one place, working traditional hours, and showing up in person.By the time I graduated from college, I was chasing what I thought was the ideal career: a finance job in Washington, DC. I was 22, working hard, and on track to achieve everything I'd been told would make me happy. But after almost a year of back-to-back office days, needless happy hours, and a long bus commute, I burned out completely.One morning, as I was on my way to work, I fainted, and waking up surrounded by strangers, I realized how unsustainable my life had become. Many things went through my head, but the thought that I was losing my health and I was so far from living my dream of traveling the world made me question everything I was working for.Burnout made me realize I had to do things differentlyI knew something had to change. I wanted to travel, but I also wanted to keep advancing in my career, so I started to look for postgraduate studies that would allow me to do both. A few months later, I was accepted into a program in Auckland, New Zealand. But instead of moving across the world and looking for a new job, I decided to continue doing the job I was doing in DC remotely.Convincing my employer was not easy. Remote work wasn't popular back then, and I had to negotiate extensively and justify my productivity, but after months of paperwork and back-and-forth discussions, they finally agreed.When I broke the news to my parents, they were shocked. My dad thought I was being reckless and putting at risk something that I didn't have to, and my mom couldn't understand why I'd leave a stable job for an uncertain opportunity halfway across the world. Still, I knew I had to go.In late 2017, I moved to New Zealand, where I studied and worked remotely for over two years, visiting places like Zimbabwe, Colombia, and the Netherlands. I learned to balance work and life in a way that felt fulfilling.Everything changed during the pandemicMy parents relied heavily on in-person interactions to manage their accounting business. Meeting clients face-to-face and maintaining a personal connection built trust and kept their business running.Like so many others, they were forced to adapt when the pandemic hit in 2020. Suddenly, remote tools like video calls and cloud-based software became necessities. While the shift wasn't easy at first, it proved to them that it was possible to be productive, maintain relationships, and do their work entirely online.However, when things started returning to "normal" in 2022, my parents returned to seeing clients in person. My mom, in particular, started feeling the burden of her old routine. Her client list included people scattered across different areas, and she often had to spend long hours in traffic, juggling an inflexible schedule that rarely worked in her favor. The constant back-and-forth of driving to meet clients left her exhausted.My mom has decided to go remote for goodThis year, everything came to a head. I had my daughter my mom's first granddaughter and she traveled to the Netherlands to visit us. That trip changed her perspective completely. Spending time with her granddaughter made her realize just how much she valued family time and how the rigidity of her in-person work schedule was holding her back.When she returned home, she boldly decided to quit her in-person job and transitioned entirely to remote work.It wasn't an easy process; at first, she had to work through negotiating with some of her clients and find others who would already accept this way of working. But she pushed through, building a remote practice that allowed her to spend more time with her family and even travel with my daughter and me.

The Suicide Squad is dead, kind of. Long live the Suicide Squad kind of. Almost a full year after its launch, RocksteadysSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguecame to an end this week with its last major update. Said ending is a bit of an odd duck: after finally whittling down the final Brainiacs health bars, players watch an animated cutscene narrated by Harley Quinn wherein the Squad and the living, now-free Justice League members who Brainiac had clonedand had been on the receiving end of the Squads sometimes juvenile brutalityteam up to take the Coluan down before going off to set everything right, both in their universe and others the various Brainaics terrorized. Its a somewhat definitive end that also feels like it came suddenly, especially when you think about how quickly Warner Bros. wanted to clean its hands of this project. In any case, the question hovering aroundSuicide Squadis whats next, particularly for Rocksteady. The answer is simple, but also not, when we look at the studios contemporaries. After failing to get its Anthemrework going, BioWare pivoted to remastering the Mass Effecttrilogy and beginning full development on Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Going by that logic, youd think wed be due someBatman: Arkhamremasters to ease Rocksteady back into the single-player swing, butReturn to Arkhamexists, and Arkham Knightturns 10 years old this June. (WB Montreal, which madeArkham Origins,helped withSquadsdevelopment and recently cut staff, as did Rocksteady shortly after.) Last June, sources told Bloomberg Rocksteadys immediate future is helping put together a directors cut of 2023s Hogwarts Legacy,then we dont know, but its presumably a single-player mulligan to get the studio back on track.Online, the popular expectation and hope is another Batman game, preferably one that just writesSuicide Squadoff as non-canon or doesnt address it. By now, wouldnt the studio be better served getting out of the Batman hole and tackling another DC hero? Before Squadsrelease, various (and later debunked) rumors claimed Rocksteady was making a Superman game, and of this games high points, its recreation of Metropolis is considered pretty good. And if not the Man of Steel, literally any other hero who isnt Wonder Woman would do at this point. By now, this teams been working on Batman for just over 15 years, and its more than time to let someone new take a crack at the cowl, either in Gothams present or future. Rocksteady Alternatively, it might do Rocksteady some good to get out of the DC cage completely and make its own thing. To date, its sole non-DC game is its debut title, 2006s Urban Chaos: Riot Response.Something brand new probably shouldve been the direction to go after Knight,but this is as good an opportunity as any to move on. Returningto the Arkham well once more would only make things ever weirder than it was when we learned this was canon to those games. Making the team spend years and millions of dollars creating a single-player apology isnt the best use of anyones time, and its not like we arent getting another Bat-game eventually. For all the fears folks have had about Insomniac becoming a Marvel games machine, thats very much happened with Rocksteady, which is clearly full of talented people who should get the opportunity to spread their wings. Recently, Naughty Dog and Ryu Ga Gatoku teased out their first wholly new properties in years, and Id be curious to know what Rocksteady could make outside the confines of a famous comic book property. Wouldnt it be interesting to see what an original sci-fi, horror, western, or whatever else game looks like from this team? In a fair world, Suicide Squad would get to get out on better, less compromised terms, or at the very least, Rocksteady wouldnt be stuck footing the bill for it. As is, we can only hope WB and its leadership will just let the game studio figure out what it wants to do with what its best at, and cook from there. Other studios have recovered from worse, but the ability to walk away from less than stellar titles isnt being afforded for every developer these days, and that would be a crappy full circle moment for a team thats built up a lot of goodwill up to now. 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.

Black Butte Ranch Lodge / Hacker ArchitectsSave this picture! Jeremy BittermannLodgingSisters, United StatesArchitects: Hacker ArchitectsYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2021 PhotographsPhotographs:Jeremy BittermannManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Erco, Acucraft and Kleene Sweep, Allied Maker, Daikin, HVAC Equipment VRV System, Lambert & fils, Lucifer, Lumenpulse, Metalux, Moda, Moooi, Pioneer Millworks, Sierra Pacific Timber Curtain Wall and Direct Glaze Plus Lead Architect: Corey Martin More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Planned and built in the early 1970's, Black Butte Ranch sits the base of The Three Sisters mountains in the Oregon's Central Cascades, the gateway to Oregon's high desert from the Central Willamette Valley. The 1,800-acre site is now both a home for year-round residents and a popular vacation destination. The Ranch community began a comprehensive redevelopment plan in 2013, and after working with Hacker on the new Lakeside recreation and dining complex (completed in 2016) and a new General Store (completed in 2021), the team's attention turned to the resort's 50-year-old Lodge. As one of the Ranch's original structures, the Lodge's iconic period architecture made it beloved by many, including the Hacker design team. Hacker's analysis found accessibility issues, aging mechanical systems, and an outdated layout, making a renovation impractical. After the decision for new construction was made, Hacker began an extensive year-long outreach process to understand the community's vision and priorities for its replacement.Save this picture!Like Hacker's work on other parts of the Ranch, the new structure aims to honor and evolve the design language of the original ranch buildings and is intended to elevate the experience of the surrounding landscape through the careful framing and layering of views and a sensitive interpretation of regional materials and forms. The interior celebrates the ranch tradition of highlighting wood through its exposed structure and finishes, using contrasting tones of native wood species to create a sense of both warmth and openness. The entire space is set around a uniquely textured double-height stone fireplace, stitching the nostalgia of the old lodge back into the new. The restaurant booths appear to be carved away in the same way the nearby Metolius river has carved pools into the underlying lava flows. As much of the wood from the original lodge as possible has been salvaged to create guard rails, screens, furniture, and wall finishes. This connection also extends to the outside where an established Pine tree on the site could not be saved so it was transformed into custom tabletops for the restaurant and bar. The exterior is clad in Shou Sugi Ban (charred cedar), a traditional wood treatment that maintains the weathered look of the previous building while providing additional durability and connection to the wildfires inherent to the region. This focus on local resources is also visible in the landscape design, which uses drought-tolerant native plants, encouraging habitat creation and celebrating the surrounding environment. Building materials were purchased regionally when possible, adding to the Lodge's unique architecture while reducing transportation impacts and boosting the local economy.Save this picture!The new 27,000-square-foot building includes twice the square footage of the existing Lodge and is divided into three main sections: public spaces including a restaurant, bar, a fireside lounge, upper floor lounge and bar, private dining room, and outside lounge, a private event area with a large event room (divisible into two distinct spaces), large dressing room and meeting room, and a state-of-the-art kitchen with expanded catering services, centrally located to serve the needs for the entire facility. Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Sisters, United StatesLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeHacker ArchitectsOfficePublished on January 18, 2025Cite: "Black Butte Ranch Lodge / Hacker Architects" 18 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025618/black-butte-ranch-lodge-hacker-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You'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

A lot of traditional computing tasks can be handled on a smartphonealbeit on a smaller screen and without the benefit of a mouse and keyboardand those tasks extend to photo editing. If you have enhancements and tweaks to make to your pictures on the go, your phone is perfectly capable of handling them.There are a host of photo editing apps to choose from, including the Apple Photos and Google Photos options that come as part of iOS and Android respectively. Here though were going to focus on a company and a name synonymous with image editing on the desktop: Adobe Photoshop.Photoshop on phones takes the form of the Photoshop Express Photo Editor, which you can download for free for iOS and Android. You can use it for free, with more advanced features and cloud storage available for $4.99 per month or $34.99 per year (this works separately to a subscription to Photoshop for the desktop). Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.Using Photoshop Express Photo EditorYou get an extensive set of editing options in Photoshop for mobile. Screenshot: Adobe Dont expect the exact features in Photoshop Express Photo Editor on mobile as Photoshop on the desktop: Its a cut-down, simplified version of Photoshop for smaller screens and less powerful devices. That said, you can still do plenty with your images through this stripped-down interface.To get started in the app, tap Photo Editor & Retouch, then pick an image from your phones gallery. You can see the range of tools available at the bottom of the screen: Adjustments for tweaking colors and brightness, for example, or Crop for cutting out the parts of the image you dont need.The Heal brush can be used to correct blemishes and inconsistencies in the imageas well as clone or erase certain areaswhile Background lets you apply various effects to the background of a picture. The app will attempt to distinguish between the background and anything in the foreground, but you can refine the default selection if needed.Photoshop Express Photo Editor comes with AI generation capabilities built in as well: Tap the Insert Objects button, for example, enter a prompt, and you can drop in an AI-generated animal or object anywhere you like. You can keep tweaking the prompts as needed to get something that matches what you need.There are numerous other features to explore too: You can apply filters to entire images (like a warm filter or a pop color filter), you can combine images together, you can put stickers, scribbles, and text on top of your pictures, and drop in a wide selection of borders too (swipe left and right to see all the available tools). When youre happy with how an image is looking, youve got numerous options for sharing or saving it.Other Adobe options for mobileLightroom is another option for iOS and Android. Screenshot: Adobe There is a more fully featured mobile version of Photoshop available too, but you can only get it on iPadOS (not iOS or Android). The app brings support for the PSD format, layers, advanced retouching features, and selection tools. Given the accessories youve got with the iPad, like the Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard, the experience isnt too far off from the desktop version.Adobe Photoshop for the iPad isnt free though: You need to be subscribed to a Creative Cloud plan that includes Photoshop, and that will come with the iPad app included. If you dont use Photoshop on a computer, you can subscribe to Photoshop for the iPad on its own, which will set you back $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year.The companion app to Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, is also available for iOS and Android. As with Photoshop Express Photo Editor, you can use a lot of the functionality for free, with a subscription ($4.99 a month or $49.99 a year) getting you more featuressuch as the healing brush and batch editing. You also get all the premium features if you have a Creative Cloud subscription that includes Photoshop.We should also mention Adobe Express, which you can install for iOS and Android. This app is more focused on graphic design and AI-powered art creation, but its something to consider if youre wanting to create images with Adobe software using nothing but your phone. You can apply basic effects and adjustments, combine text and images, crop images to size, and more.Its perfect for quickly creating social media posts for example, and you can get started with one of your own images or one of the many templates. Its separate to the Creative Cloud plans, and can be used for free or with a subscription ($9.99 a month or $99.99 a year)a subscription gets you more cloud storage, more credits for generating AI images, and more features (such as advanced background removal).

Nature, Published online: 15 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08611-0Engineered enzymes for enantioselective nucleophilic aromatic substitutions