Chris Kerr, News EditorJanuary 21, 20251 Min ReadImage via EAEA will shut down its Origin storefront on April 17, 2025.In a brief note on the EA Help website, the company said the PC platform is being scrapped because Microsoft has stopped supporting 32-bit software."If you use Origin, you need to upgrade to the EA app, which requires a 64-bit version of Windows," added the company.Origin had already been supplanted by the EA app, which the company describes as an "enhanced platform for PC Games [...] optimized for the best user experience."In an FAQ, EA states that accounts and games associated with Origin will transfer over to the EA app. Mods, however, might not survive the switch."When you log in, any games you had on Origin will be ready to play. Games that list in-game hours in Origin will list the same hours in the EA app. Anything you've saved through Origins cloud will also transfer," explained EA."We can't promise that mods will transfer to the EA app. Check with mod creators to see if your content can be transferred."Origin users with cloud saves enabled will be able to bring over existing save game data "without any action," although EA acknowledged that some titles don't have cloud save capabilities. Players will need to manually transfer those saves.It's also worth reiterating that the EA app doesn't support 32-bit versions of Windows. That means users will either need to upgrade to a 64-bit operating system or switch to newer hardware to access their games.It's a requirement that could leave some out in the cold.Read more about:EAAbout the AuthorChris KerrNews Editor, GameDeveloper.comGame Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, andPocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.See more from Chris KerrDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

The people behind the controversial Grand Theft Auto 6 parody game Grand Taking Ages are back with a Steam page after Sony pulled it from the PlayStation Store.Grand Taking Ages is, according to its creators, a parody management simulator where players run a game development studio.Last month, despite using what looked like AI-generated art to satirize the ongoing wait for Rockstars GTA 6, the inclusion of a list of unlikely gameplay features, as well as fake awards from video game websites, Grand Taking Ages VI appeared on the PlayStation Store with a May 2025 release date. Users were even able to wishlist the game on PlayStation.Inevitably, Sony pulled Grand Taking Ages VI from the PlayStation Store, but now its back on Steam after what its creators said were key adjustments made to convince Valve of the project's validity.Grand Taking Ages is back, this time on Steam.Developer Violarte told IGN that Grand Taking Ages had been through a thorough review process, and was now approved for publishing on Steam. On the Steam page are a brand new trailer and updated screenshots, all leaning on the parody angle its developer is using as justification for the project.So whats changed? As well as ditching the VI in the game title, Violarte changed the games logo, descriptions, and overall presentation to clearly differentiate Grand Taking Ages from the original inspiration, GTA 6, and to emphasize its unique direction. Gone is the art that looked a lot like Rockstars iconic GTA imagery, in its place art that looks a bit like Rockstars iconic GTA imagery.But Grand Taking Ages is still riddled with generative AI. As per Steams AI rules, Violarte disclosed on the Grand Taking Ages Steam page that it used "AI services" for voice overs and a cursory glance at the trailer will demonstrate how well this worked out.And heres the new description on the Grand Taking Ages Steam page:Coming Soon Since Forever! Start your game dev journey in mom's garage! Battle angry fans, dodge ruthless journalists, and perfect the art of "creative" deadlines. Survive on pizza and energy drinks while building your dream studio into... a slightly better garage!Violarte said it took a different approach with Valve to get the game on Steam than it did with Sony to get the game on the PlayStation Store. We approached Steam differently by engaging with their team about the concept of our game before officially submitting it, a representative told IGN. This allowed us to get their perspective early on, ensuring alignment with their guidelines.The company pointed to other projects such as Grand Theft Hamlet, a documentary about two out of work actors who attempt to put on a production of Hamlet inside GTA Online, as evidence that parodies of GTA should be protected from takedowns. These examples showcase how parody can celebrate and entertain within existing genres while remaining creative and engaging, Violarte said.Grand Taking Ages uses generative AI for its trailer voice over.Violarte now wants Grand Taking Ages back on the PlayStation Store. We genuinely believe that, with the recent updates, Grand Taking Ages is now ready to be relisted on the PlayStation Store, it said. To that end, Violarte said it had sent a request to Sony that points out that the changes its made to the game have convinced Valve to approve it for release on Steam. We strongly believe that there will be no issues with Sony this time, given the adjustments we've implemented, Violarte said.Grand Taking Ages's appearance on the PlayStation Store called Sonys curation process into question, but Valves open-door policy on Steam is well-documented. The likes of Steam, the various app stores, and even the Nintendo eShop are packed with slop, and, increasingly, generative-AI is being used to make it.GTA 6, meanwhile, launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S in the fall of 2025.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

AMD announced its next-generation graphics cards, the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, at CES 2025, but curiously, neither of the two RDNA 4 graphics cards was present during AMDs keynote, despite vendors showing off their new cards on the show floor with redacted specifications.Now, David McAfee, VP & GM of Radeon Graphics and Ryzen CPUs, has posted on Twitter / X to reveal a release month for both: March 2025.Radeon 9000 series hardware and software are looking great and we are planning to have a wide assortment of cards available globally," McAfee said. "Cant wait for gamers to get their hands on the cards when they go on sale in March!The AMD RX 9070 and 9070 XT are set to debut in March 2025, then, but the company has still not announced specific details such as specifications or pricing. Its widely believed that the GPU will operate in the same price and performance brackets as Nvidias upcoming RTX 5070, and RTX 5070 Ti, which launch in February.Despite this, reports indicate that stock of the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT have already landed at retailers and are already in the hands of reviewers and critics, with outlet eTeknix confirming it has received review samples of the upcoming graphics cards.PlayThe entire scenario raises more than a few eyebrows, sparking speculation that AMD delayed the official launch to directly respond to competition from Nvidias RTX 5070 and 5070 Ti and allowing the company to directly compare Team Greens new GPUs to its new products. Its also speculated that pricing pressure from Nvidia has caused AMD to delay the official release of the RX 9070 lineup.With details of the new AMD graphics cards as scarce as they are, the RX 9070 lineup launch messaging has been messy and confusing. A report from June 2024 indicates that Nvidia currently holds 88% of the total discrete GPU market, with AMD sitting at just 12%.With no other company challenging Nvidia at the mid-range or high-end of the consumer graphics card market, AMD needs to play its cards right to chip away at Nvidias staggering market dominance.Sayem is a freelancer based in the UK, covering tech & hardware. You can get in touch with him at @sayem.zone on Bluesky.

Were back with the next wave of Game Pass reveals for January and I hope youve cleared your schedule! If youre looking for day one releases, some fan favorites, or ready to discover your next favorite game, I come prepared. And while were making room on schedules, I hope to see you all on January 23 for our Developer Direct for an inside look at a few upcoming games (not to mention those coming day one with Game Pass!). Now lets get to the news!Available TodayLonely Mountain: Snow Riders (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassAvailable on day one! Crash over and over until you master the mountain in the snowy follow up to Lonely Mountains: Downhill. Now supporting up to 8 players via cross platform multiplayer work your way down the slopes as a group sharing a small number of checkpoints, or risk it all in a breakneck race to the base!Coming SoonFlock (Console) January 22Now with Game Pass StandardFlock is a multiplayer co-op game about the joy of flight and collecting adorable flying creatures with your friends. Soar through beautiful landscapes, seeking out rare and elusive creatures to add to your flock.Gigantic: Rampage Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) January 22Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass StandardGigantic: Rampage Edition is a premium and definitive release of the original 5v5 MOBA hero shooter that provides a dynamic and exciting team-based multiplayer experience for fans of both genres. Choose from a diverse roster of unique heroes, each with a set of upgradeable abilities, and team up with four other players to control objectives and take down the opposing teams mighty Guardian, all while protecting your own.Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Console) January 22Now with Game Pass StandardA unique Japanese-inspired, single player Kagura action strategy game. It takes place on a mountain covered by defilement. During the day, purify the villages and prepare yourself for sundown. During the night, protect the Maiden against the hordes of the Seethe. Repeat the day and night cycle until you cleanse the mountain of defilement and return peace to the land.Magical Delicacy (Console) January 22Now with Game Pass StandardA wholesome pixel art platformer. Cook magical delicacies from a vast collection of ingredients in your own shop. Explore an unfamiliar town and deliver tasty treats to the townsfolk. Learn new ways to traverse, discover secrets, and experience a unique witchy world.Tchia (Xbox Series X|S) January 22Now with Game Pass StandardJoin Tchia on her tropical open-world adventure as she sets off to rescue her father from the cruel tyrant, Meavora, ruler of the archipelago. Climb, glide, swim, and sail your boat around beautiful islands as you explore a physics-driven sandbox.The Case of the Golden Idol (Console) January 22Now with Game Pass StandardMayhem, magic, and murder most foul! Examine clues and use your powers of deduction to solve the twisted mystery of a familys cursed inheritance and a series of grisly deaths in this point-and-click detective adventure gameStarbound (Cloud and Console) January 22Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass StandardCurrently available with PC Game Pass and now coming to Xbox consoles and Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)! In Starbound, you create your own story theres no wrong way to play! You may choose to save the universe from the forces that destroyed your home, uncovering greater galactic mysteries in the process, or you may wish to forego a heroic journey entirely in favor of colonizing uncharted planets.Eternal Strands (Cloud, Console, and PC) January 28Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassAvailable on day one! Eternal Strands is the debut fantasy title from Yellow Brick Games, a new independent studio founded by industry veterans from franchises including Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Watch Dogs, and Assassins Creed. Fight epic, towering creatures while blending magical abilities with an arsenal of powerful weapons to keep the world from crumbling in this third-person, action-adventure game.Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) January 28Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassAvailable on day one! Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is an action-packed, third-person shooter and trap defense game. Evolve as an orc-slaying War Mage through rogue-lite choices and obliterate, eviscerate, and incinerate massive hordes with up to four players.Shady Part of Me (Cloud, Console, and PC) January 29Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass StandardShady Part of Me sends you on an emotional and dream-like journey, with breathtaking artistic direction and the enthralling voice of Hannah Murray from Game of Thrones and Skins. As a little girl and her shadow, overcome emotional struggles through surreal dreamscapes across a touching narrative filled with twists and surprises. Both must learn, cooperate, and evolve to progress in a poetic journey.Sniper Elite: Resistance (Cloud, Console, and PC) January 30Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassAvailable on day one! Offering unparalleled sniping mechanics, stealth and tactical third-person combat, Sniper Elite: Resistance turns the attention of the award-winning series towards a hidden war, far from the front lines, deep within the heart of occupied France. Bring a friend the full campaign can be experienced in co-op.Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) January 31Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassAvailable on day one! The highly anticipated sequel to one of 2022s most acclaimed RPGs, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is a dice-driven RPG in a human and heartfelt sci-fi world. You are an escaped android, with a malfunctioning body, a price on your head and no memory of your past. Get a ship, find a crew, and take on contracts while you navigate across the Starward Belt.Far Cry New Dawn (Cloud, Console, and PC) February 4Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass StandardDive into a transformed, vibrant, post-apocalyptic Hope County, Montana, 17 years after a global nuclear catastrophe. Lead the fight against the Highwaymen as they seek to take over the last remaining resources.DLC / Game UpdatesDiablo IV: Season of Witchcraft Available nowDiablo IV: Season of Witchcraft has begun! Unravel the mystery of the Tree of Whispers stolen Heads by harnessing Witchcraft Powers to hunt the rogue Heads as they spread madness across Sanctuary. Complete the Season Journey to earn a new Raven Pet. Learn more on Xbox Wire.Valorant: New Agent Tejo Available nowGame Pass members now have access to Valorants newest Agent, Tejo, whos joining the roster from Colombia. As part of the Initiator class, Tejo specializes in flushing out enemies with a unique kit consisting of information gathering, explosions, and a concuss. Learn more about Tejos abilities on Xbox Wire.Xbox Game Pass Ultimate PerksCheck the Game Pass section on your console, Xbox mobile app, or Xbox app on PC to find new in-game content, consumables, and offers included with your Game Pass Ultimate membership. Number and content of Perks vary by region, platform, and over time. Perks must be redeemed by stated timeframe.Throne and Liberty: Lottie and Percy Bundle Available nowJoin the Resistance in this Xbox exclusive colored Lottie Outfit and get a Fuzzy Percy Amitoi to tag along on your adventures in this free-to-play, guild-focused combat experience.EA Sports UFC 5: Bruce Lee Bundle Available nowUnlock new alter egos for the father of mixed martial arts, available with your EA Play membership. EA Play membership is included with Game Pass Ultimate.War Thunder: Year of the Snake Bundle Available nowCelebrate the Lunar New Year of the Snake with a mighty tank Sherman Jumbo Cobra King and versatile fighter plane P-63C-5 King Cobra.Enlisted: Ultimate US Starter Pack Available nowGet a great start in Enlisted with the premium US Assaulters squad armed with M3A1 Grease Guns!Leaving January 31The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon, but theres still time to jump back in to wrap up where you left off or even jump in fresh. You can also use your membership discount to save up to 20% to keep them in your library.Anuchard (Cloud, Console, and PC)Broforce Forever (Cloud, Console, and PC)Darkest Dungeon (Cloud, Console, and PC)Deaths Door (Cloud, Console, and PC)Maquette (Cloud, Console, and PC)Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem (Cloud, Console, and PC)Were adding more games over time to the Stream your own game collection for Game Pass Ultimate members. Go here to see the list of available cloud playable games to stream on supported devices if you own them.Thats a big list of games, and well be back before too long with even more of them. Stay tuned to Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox on social for reminders of when this list of Coming Soon magically turns into Available Today! Cheers!

Two of the worlds leading market intelligence firms report that the iPhone has lost its place as the best-selling phone in China, dropping from 1st to 3rd place in the final quarter of last year.Increased competition from local brands is cited as one factor, the second being Apples inability to offer AI features in the country Canalys report last weekCanalys was first to report on Apples changing fortunes in China.Canalysreports that iPhone shipments in China fell by 25% year-on-year in the final quarter of the year.That means Apples market share fell from a chart-topping 19% in 2023 to joint-third with Oppo and Honor in 2024, each with a 15% share.Counterpoint corroboratesWhile the exact estimates differ, Counterpoint Research now reaches the same conclusion.Huawei took the top spot, followed by Xiaomi and Apple [] In Q4 2024, Huawei climbed to the top spot with an 18.1% share. This is the first time since the US ban that Huawei regained the leading position []Xiaomi secured the second spot in Q4 2024 with a 17.2% market share, driven by strong growth from Q3 into Q4. This growth was fueled by the popularity of its flagship Mi 15 series, launched in October. Xiaomi has made significant progress in premiumization this year []Amid intensifying market competition from Huawei and other Chinese OEMs expanding into the premium market, Apple ranked third during the quarter, capturing a 17.1% market share.AI features a significant factorWhile smartphones from Chinese brands now have AI features, Apple Intelligence is not yet available in the country. Apple wanted to be able to use its own generative AI model there, but the Chinese government essentially said that wouldnt be permitted.The government last month said that launching Apple Intelligence in China would bea difficult and long processunless the iPhone maker partners with a local AI company. Working with a Chinese company would instead be simple and straightforward.Apple is believed to be negotiating with Tencent and ByteDance, but with nothing to show for it as yet.Photo byChristian LueonUnsplashAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Jan 21, 2025Ravie LakshmananBotnet / VulnerabilityCybersecurity researchers have warned of a new large-scale campaign that exploits security flaws in AVTECH IP cameras and Huawei HG532 routers to rope the devices into a Mirai botnet variant dubbed Murdoc_Botnet.The ongoing activity "demonstrates enhanced capabilities, exploiting vulnerabilities to compromise devices and establish expansive botnet networks," Qualys security researcher Shilpesh Trivedi said in an analysis.The campaign is known to be active since at least July 2024, with over 1,370 systems infected to date. A majority of the infections have been located in Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.Evidence shows that the botnet leverages known security flaws such as CVE-2017-17215 and CVE-2024-7029 to gain initial access to the Internet of Things (IoT) devices and download the next stage payload by means of a shell script.The script, for its part, fetches the botnet malware and executes it depending on the CPU architecture. The end goal of these attacks is to weaponize the botnet for carrying out distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.The development comes weeks after a Mirai botnet variant named gayfemboy was found exploiting a recently disclosed security flaw impacting Four-Faith industrial routers since early November 2024. Back in mid-2024, Akamai also revealed that CVE-2024-7029 was abused by malicious actors to enlist AVTECH devices into a botnet.Last week, details emerged about another large-scale DDoS attack campaign targeting major Japanese corporations and banks since the end of 2024 by making use of an IoT botnet formed by exploiting vulnerabilities and weak credentials. Some of the other targets are concentrated around the U.S., Bahrain, Poland, Spain, Israel, and Russia.The DDoS activity has been found to single out telecommunications, technology, hosting, cloud computing, banking, gaming, and financial services sectors. Over 55% of the compromised devices are located in India, followed by South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, and Kenya."The botnet comprises malware variants derived from Mirai and BASHLITE," Trend Micro said. "The botnet's commands include those that can incorporate various DDoS attack methods, update malware, and enable proxy services."The attacks involve infiltrating IoT devices to deploy a loader malware that fetches the actual payload, which then connects to a command-and-control (C2) server and awaits further instructions for DDoS attacks and other purposes.To safeguard against such attacks, it's advised to monitor suspicious processes, events, and network traffic spawned by the execution of any untrusted binary/scripts. It's also recommended to apply firmware updates and change the default username and password.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

A global network of about 13,000 hijacked Mikrotik routers has been employed as a botnet to propagate malware via spam campaigns, the latest addition to a list of botnets powered by MikroTik devices.The activity "take[s] advantage of misconfigured DNS records to pass email protection techniques," Infoblox security researcher David Brunsdon said in a technical report published last week. "This botnet uses a global network of Mikrotik routers to send malicious emails that are designed to appear to come from legitimate domains."The DNS security company, which has codenamed the campaign Mikro Typo, said its analysis sprang forth from the discovery of a malspam campaign in late November 2024 that leveraged freight invoice-related lures to entice recipients into launching a ZIP archive payload.The ZIP file contains an obfuscated JavaScript file, which is then responsible for running a PowerShell script designed to initiate an outbound connection to a command-and-control (C2) server located at the IP address 62.133.60[.]137.The exact initial access vector used to infiltrate the routers is unknown, but various firmware versions have been affected, including those vulnerable to CVE-2023-30799, a critical privilege escalation issue that could be abused to achieve arbitrary code execution."Regardless of how they've been compromised, it seems as though the actor has been placing a script onto the [Mikrotik] devices that enables SOCKS (Secure Sockets), which allow the devices to operate as TCP redirectors," Brunsdon said."Enabling SOCKS effectively turns each device into a proxy, masking the true origin of malicious traffic and making it harder to trace back to the source."Elevating the concern is the lack of authentication required to use these proxies, thereby allowing other threat actors to weaponize specific devices or the entire botnet for malicious purposes, ranging from distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks to phishing campaigns.The malspam campaign in question has been found to exploit a misconfiguration in the sender policy framework (SPF) TXT records of 20,000 domains, giving the attackers the ability to send emails on behalf of those domains and bypass various email security protections.Specifically, it has emerged that the SPF records are configured with the extremely permissive "+all" option, essentially defeating the purpose of having the safeguard in the first place. This also means that any device, such as the compromised MikroTik routers, can spoof the legitimate domain in email.MikroTik device owners are recommended to keep their routers up-to-date and change default account credentials to prevent any exploitation attempts."With so many compromised MikroTik devices, the botnet is capable of launching a wide range of malicious activities, from DDoS attacks to data theft and phishing campaigns," Brunsdon said. "The use of SOCKS4 proxies further complicates detection and mitigation efforts, highlighting the need for robust security measures."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.

The mobile application market is projected at an annual compound growth rate (CAGR) of 14.3% betweennow and 2030, and businesses are capitalizing by developing mobile applications for customers, business partners, and internal use.In large part, the mobile app market is being driven by the explosive growth of mobile devices, which over60% of the worlds populationuse. Not all of this use is confined to social media, emails, phone calls, and texts. Accordingly, businesses have become involved with launching retail websites for mobile devices, as well as transactional engines for mobile payment processing, e-commerce, banking and booking systems for use in a variety of smart mobile devices.In the process, the key for IT has been the integration of these new mobile applications with enterprise systems. How do you ensure that a mobile app is tightly integrated into your existing business processes and your IT base, and how do you ensure that it will perform consistently well every time it is used? Is your security policy across mobile devices as robust as it is across other enterprise assets, such as mainframes, networks and servers? Does the user interface across all mobile devices navigate equally well and with a certain degree of consistency, no matter which device is used?Related:In most cases, IT departments (and users and customers) will say that totalmobile device integrationis still a work in progress.The Role of Mobile App IntegrationIn the past, the integration of mobile applications with other IT infrastructure was more or less confined to the IT assets that the mobile app minimally needed to perform its functions. If the app was there for placing an online order, access to the enterprise order entry, inventory and fulfillment systems was needed, but maybe nothing else for the first installation. If the app was designed for a warehouse worker to operate a series of robots to pick and place items in a warehouse, it was specifically developed just for that, and on first installment, it might not have been integrated into inventory and warehouse management systems. However, now that tech companies are placing theirR&D emphasison smart phones and devices, IT needs to formulate a more inclusive integration strategy for mobile applications that these apps more complete when they launch.The Elements of Mobile App IntegrationTo achieve total integration with the rest of the enterprise IT portfolio, and possibly with third-party services, a mobile app must do the following:Related:Attain seamless data exchange across all systems, along with having the ability to invoke and use system-level infrastructure components such as storage or system-level routines to do its work.Use application programming interfaces (APIs) so it can access other IT and/or vendor systems.Conform to the same security and governance standards that other IT assets are subject to.Provide users and customers with a simple and (as much as possible) uniform graphical user interface (GUI).Be right-fitted into existing business and system workflows.This isnt just good IT. It also makes major contributions to user productivity and customer satisfaction.Workflow IntegrationIn late 2024, a health insurance company unveiled an automated online process for new customer registration. Unfortunately, the new app didnt include all data elements needed for registration, and it actually froze in process. Users ended up calling the company and enduring long wait times until they could complete their registrations with a human agent.This was a case of workflow integration failure, because critical ingredients required for registration had been left out of the online mobile app. How did this happen?The project might have been rushed through to meet a deadline or signed off as a first (albeit incomplete) version of an app that would be later enhanced. Or, possibly, QA might have been skipped. But to an experienced IT eye, the app was clearly missing data, which suggested that integration with other enterprise systems, or data transfers via API with supporting vendor systems, had been missed.Related:The apps process flow also was a miss because if the project team had tested the mobile apps process flow against the business workflow, they would have seen (like customers did) that key data elements were missing, and that the workflow didnt work.The project team should also have verified that security and governance standards had been met, and that the mobile app user experience was consistent, whether the customer was using an iPhone or an Android.SummaryStatista says that the mobile application market will reach $756 billion by 2027. In the US,47% of mobile appsare being used for retail transactions, and another 19% are serving as portals, whether for customers, business partners or employees.There is virtually no business that isnt developing mobile apps today for its customers, business partners and/or employees, but whathaslagged is the same level of discipline over mobile app development that IT expects for traditional enterprise app development.Central to this is mobile application integration.Its no longer acceptable to let an app fly with just the basics, but with many functions and data elements still missing. Its time for top-to-bottom mobile app integration, whether that integration requires complete data, a uniform user experience across all devices, or something else.

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Why its so hard to use AI to diagnose cancer Finding and diagnosing cancer is all about spotting patterns. Radiologists use x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging to illuminate tumors, and pathologists examine tissue from kidneys, livers, and other areas under microscopes. They look for patterns that show how severe a cancer is, whether particular treatments could work, and where the malignancy may spread. Visual analysis is something that AI has gotten quite good at since the first image recognition models began taking off nearly 15 years ago. Even though no model will be perfect, you can imagine a powerful algorithm someday catching something that a human pathologist missed, or at least speeding up the process of getting a diagnosis.Were starting to see lots of new efforts to build such a modelat least seven attempts in the last year alone. But they all remain experimental. What will it take to make them good enough to be used in the real world? Read the full story. James O'Donnell This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. To get stories like this in your inbox first, sign up here. Long-acting HIV prevention meds: 10 Breakthrough Technologies 2025 In June 2024, results from a trial of a new medicine to prevent HIV were announcedand they were jaw-dropping. Lenacapavir, a treatment injected once every six months, protected over 5,000 girls and women in Uganda and South Africa from getting HIV. And it was 100% effective. So far, the FDA has approved the drug only for people who already have HIV thats resistant to other treatments. But its producer Gilead has signed licensing agreements with manufacturers to produce generic versions for HIV prevention in 120 low-income countries. The United Nations has set a goal of ending AIDS by 2030. Its ambitious, to say the least: We still see over 1 million new HIV infections globally every year. But we now have the medicines to get us there. What we need is access. Read the full story. Jessica Hamzelou Long-acting HIV prevention meds is one of our 10 Breakthrough Technologies for 2025, MIT Technology Reviews annual list of tech to watch. Check out the rest of the list, and cast your vote for the honorary 11th breakthrough. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Donald Trump signed an executive order delaying TikToks ban Parent company ByteDance has 75 days to reach a deal to stay live in the US. (WP $)+ China appears to be keen to keep the platform operating, too. (WSJ $)2 Neo-Nazis are celebrating Elon Musks salutes Theyre thrilled by the two Nazi-like salutes he gave at a post-inauguration rally. (Wired $)+ Whether the gestures were intentional or not, extremists have chosen to interpret them that way. (Rolling Stone $)+ MAGA is all about granting unchecked power to the already powerful. (Vox)+ How tech billionaires are hoping Trump will reward them for their support. (NY Mag $) 3 Trump is withdrawing the US from the World Health OrganizationHes accused the agency of mishandling the covid 19 pandemic. (Ars Technica)+ He first tried to leave the WHO in 2020, but failed to complete it before he left office. (Reuters) + Trump is also working on pulling the US out of the Paris climate agreement. (The Verge)4 Meta will keep using fact checkers outside the USfor now It wants to see how its crowdsourced fact verification system works in America before rolling it out further. (Bloomberg $)5 Startup Friend has delayed shipments of its AI necklace Customers are unlikely to receive their pre-orders before Q3. (TechCrunch)+ Introducing: The AI Hype Index. (MIT Technology Review)6 This sophisticated tool can pinpoint where a photo was taken in seconds Members of the public have been trying to use GeoSpy for nefarious means for months. (404 Media)7 Los Angeles is covered in ashAnd it could take years before it fully disappears. (The Atlantic $) 8 Singapore is turning to AI companions to care for its eldersRobots are filling the void left by an absence of human nurses. (Rest of World) + Inside Japans long experiment in automating elder care. (MIT Technology Review)9 The lost art of using a pen Typing and swiping are replacing good old fashioned paper and ink. (The Guardian)10 LinkedIn is getting humorous Posts are getting more personal, with a decidedly comedic bent. (FT $) Quote of the day Its been really beautiful to watch how two communities that would be considered polar opposites have come together. Khalil Bowens, a content creator based in Los Angeles, reflects on the influx of Americans joining Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu to the Wall Street Journal. The big story Inside the messy ethics of making war with machines August 2023 In recent years, intelligent autonomous weaponsweapons that can select and fire upon targets without any human inputhave become a matter of serious concern. Giving an AI system the power to decide matters of life and death would radically change warfare forever. Intelligent autonomous weapons that fully displace human decision-making have (likely) yet to see real-world use. However, these systems have become sophisticated enough to raise novel questionsones that are surprisingly tricky to answer. What does it mean when a decision is only part human and part machine? And when, if ever, is it ethical for that decision to be a decision to kill? Read the full story. Arthur Holland Michel We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.) + Baby octopuses arent just cutethey can change color from the moment theyre born + Nintendo artist Takaya Imamura played a key role in making the company the gaming juggernaut it is today.+ David Lynch wasnt just a master of imagery, the way he deployed music to creep us out was second to none.+ Only got a bag of rice in the cupboard? No problem.

Watkin Jones requests public inquiry into 762-bed Nine Elms development close to Battersea Power StationCGI showing the three proposed buildings on the Battersea Park Road site1/4show captionWandsworth council has nominally refused planning permission for a three-tower student accommodation scheme designed by Howells three weeks after it went to appeal.The Battersea Park Road scheme was given five vote votes for refusal, one for approval and three abstentions at a committee meeting last week despite a recommendation from planning officers to approve the application.However, the vote was symbolic as the schemes developer, Watkin Jones, lodged an appeal against the applications non-determination on 23 December last year, eight months after a revised proposal was submitted for planning.The development will now head to a public inquiry expected to last around four days.Located in Nine Elms close to Battersea Power Station, the scheme consists of three buildings ranging from 12 to 22 storeys, containing 762 student bedrooms and 55 affordable homes.First submitted in May 2022, it has undergone several design revisions including the addition of second staircases, the reduction in height of one building by two storeys, with the same building having its footprint reduced and rotation altered.The number of student rooms across the scheme has also been cut from 779 to 762 and its homes reduced from 81 to 55.The original application itself replaced a former Assael Architecture-designed scheme submitted by DTZ Investors in 2015 consisting of 307 homes and office space in buildings up to 18 storeys, which was approved in 2019.This scheme, which included 25% affordable housing, has been technically implemented with the demolition of a BMW service centre building on the site.Councillors who refused the Howells scheme last week did so on the basis that its height was excessive compared to the Assael scheme and would have an overbearing impact on adjacent properties, including a neighbouring Peabody scheme.Concerns were also raised that the change to a student accommodation-led development as opposed to entirely residential would be the wrong balance for the site given the demand for housing and affordable housing in the borough.Firms working on the Howells scheme include landscape architect Planit IE, planning consultant Montagu Evans, MEP engineer Atelier Ten and civil and structural engineer Apex.Watkin Jones, Howells and Wandsworth council have been contacted for comment.