A new report from the supply chain claims that Apple is developing one new iPad Pro for release in 2025, but that it will be just a spec bump update.Apple's ultra-thin OLED iPad Pro fails to spark sales surgeIt's previously been rumored that an updated iPad Pro with an M5 processor will be released in late 2025, though all such reports have presumed the update will be for both the 11-inch and 13-inch models. Now a new report from The Elec describes just one model being updated, but it is still unlikely that it won't apply to both.The report in The Elec is focused on a specific OLED component company LX Semicon which is said to be hoping to gain approval from Apple for mass production for one device. The company makes Display Driver ICs (DDIs), which is a processor that controls the screen. Rumor Score: Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple's iPhone sales in China reportedly took a tumble at the end of 2024, with a considerable reduction in sales putting it in a dead heat with homegrown Xiaomi.iPhone 16 with the Chinese flagThe iPhone 16 has struggled in China since launch, but there was hope holiday shopping would improve its standing in the important territory. It seems that hope was misplaced.According to analysis by Counterpoint, Apple's position in China got weaker in the fourth quarter of 2024. In a year-on-year market share comparison, Apple saw its sales fall 18.2% compared to Q4 2023. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Research atUC San Diego is moving to the forefront of robotics and construction technology through itsExistential Robotics Laboratory and other related initiatives that leveragevisual mapping and 3D reconstruction that are among the"fastest, most accurate options" in the industry, according to a report from theJacobs School of Engineering."I see robots playing a bigger role in this type of construction because many of those components will be made in advance," Professor Nikolay Atanasov tells the campus news outlet, speaking particularly of their potential to enable modular architecture. "The humans can direct the operations and supervise the overall process. Or, we could have a scenario based on human-robot collaboration, where the robot does the brunt of the work and the human manages the more fine-grained manipulations."

Before the next Xbox Developer_Direct, Microsoft has revealed the next wave of titles for Game Pass in January. It starts with Lonely Mountain: Snow Riders, available today on cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.January 22nd sees the arrival of Flock, Magical Delicacy, Tchia, The Case of the Golden Idol, and Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess on consoles for Game Pass Standard subscribers. Theyre joined by Gigantic: Rampage Edition, playable for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers, and Starbound. January 28th sees the arrival of two brand new titles Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap and Eternal Strands.Both are playable on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Shady Part of Me debuts on January 29th for all tiers, and Sniper Elite: Resistance sneaks in on January 30th for Ultimate and PC Game Pass. The month caps off with Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector on January 31st for cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.But wait, theres more, as Far Cry New Dawn will be added for all subscribers on February 4th. Of course, there will be titles leaving the service on January 31st. Check them out below.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)

Developer Reflector Entertainment has announced that it has laid off some of its staff and cancelled a project that was in development. Announced through a post on LinkedIn, the studios CEO Herve Hoerdt wrote about how the decision was made due to the studios previous title, Unknown 9: Awakening, not reaching sales expectations.Continuing this project would not have been sustainable for the future of the studio, wrote the CEO on LinkedIn. Regrettably, this also means that there will be redundancies following this decision.The CEO also revealed that the studio will not be working on a follow-up to Unknown 9: Awakening owing to the game not hitting the sales performance expected by the company. While Hoerdt refers to Unknown 9: Awakening as having a rich transmedia universe, a follow-up would not be in the works.The performance of the release didnt come near the company expectations, after numerous timeline adjustments and investments, both financially and other, and didnt warrant any further exploration in this universe, wrote Hoerdt.The studio has not yet confirmed which teams at Reflector Entertainment will be affected by these layoffs. However, Hoerdt did mention that the back-office staff will be affected, and moving forward, the studio will focus on the development of single projects rather than work on multiple titles in parallel.Unknown 9: Awakening was released back in October on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. For more details about the title, check out our review.

Demonstration plan illustrating the future urbanization area. Image credit: NCCProposals are being accepted for the 2025 Urban Design Challenge; a competition that invites students from across the country to come up with design concepts for sites in the National Capital Region (NCR).For this challenge, students are encouraged to unleash their creativity and share their visionary ideas for the Bronson Channel Lands, located 1.2 km from Parliament Hill in the western downtown core of Ottawa.This is your chance to propose innovative planning and design ideas for the Bronson Channel Lands and inspire the landscape of the emerging LeBreton neighbourhood, reads the National Capital Commisions (NCC) website. Your ideas to connect the national institutions, monuments, parks and waterfronts within the study area will inspire the future of this downtown core area district.The competition is open to students enrolled in an accredited post-secondary educational institution in Canada, who are studying planning, architecture, environmental design, urban design or landscape architecture. The NCC also encourages students to form interdisciplinary teams to consider all aspects of urban planning and urban design.The Bronson Channel Lands are located on the western edge of the downtown core, in the heart of the National Capital Region. The site is at the convergence of many planned and ongoing projects that are bringing energy to the Capital and livening up the waterfront. These include the LeBreton Flats redevelopment, the City of Ottawas Pimisi LRT station, the redevelopment of Chaudires and Albert islands, the Indigenous peoples gathering place on Victoria Island (Kabenishinn Minitig), and the construction of a new central library (diske).Context. Image credit: NCCThe National Capital Commission (NCC) is seeking ideas to enhance and animate the four public space edges in the study area. These include the Holocaust Monument, the Ottawa River waterfront and its small stormwater subsidiary arm along the Capital Pathway, the War Museum, and the forthcoming National Monument to Canadas Mission in Afghanistan.Area under study for the Urban Design Challenge. Image credit: NCCThe currently vacant site presents an opportunity to transform the space into a place that connects the islands and the mainland and increases the publics access to the waterways. The NCC is interested in exploring opportunities to activate the frontages along the streets and public pathways surrounding the site, and providing new mixed-use housing opportunities.As a result, proposals should re-knit the urban fabric with courtyard-form buildings between Wellington Street and Booth Street, and provide strategies for ground-floor animation along the Bronson Channel, Booth Street, Wellington Street and the Holocaust Monument, while respecting the symbolic setting of the site and propose an appropriate range of uses that can animate the area while being sensitive to adjacent uses.Additionally, they should determine a location for underground parking access, at the most unobtrusive location in relation to desired/anticipated pedestrian flow, retain the design intent of the National Holocaust Monument and consider the site context of the National Monument to Canadas Mission in Afghanistan while providing a fully urban interface between the monuments and the rest of the Bronson Channel Lands, position the built form volumes to create and frame street and path edges first, and views second and define the appropriate architectural expression for the built form in terms of building height and architectural style.They should also enhance public access to, and enjoyment of, the waterfront through landscaping, programming and animation, and consider opportunities for engagement in relation to diversity, equity and inclusion practices.The winning project team will receive the first-place award of$750and a trip to Ottawa. The second-place team will receive$500. The winning team will also receive a free student membership to the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada (SSAC) and free registration to the 2025 SSAC conference.While the jury may determine honourable mention awards, there are no monetary prizes associated with these awards.The winning team will be invited to present their ideas at a special session of the NCCs Urbanism Lab on May 29, 2025.There isno registration feeto participate in the Urban Design Challenge. However, participants are required to register to receive a team number that ensures anonymity of the submissions throughout the evaluation process. One registration is required per project submitted.Registration is open until Thursday, January 23, 2025, and submissions are due March 27, 2025.For more information, click here.The post Last chance to register for 2025 Urban Design Challenge appeared first on Canadian Architect.

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Left Angle has released Autograph 2025.1, the latest version of its content creation and compositing tool for motion design and visual effects.The update overhauls Autographs interface, adds new 3D features including text and shape extrusion, and adds a live link plugin for DaVinci Resolve and an After Effects project importer.In addition, Left Angle has introduced a new free Starter edition of the software that can be used on commercial projects, and reduced the prices of paid licenses.An alternative to After Effects for motion graphics and VFX workReleased in 2023, Autograph is pitched as a next-gen tool for motion design and VFX.Like After Effects, it uses a layer-based compositing model, with its timeline featuring a standard layer stack and dope sheet, but combines it with a 3D mode for manipulating 3D assets.3D workflow is based around Universal Scene Description, and the software has its own integrated real-time physically based renderer, Filament.Autograph sells itself on ease of use, with its system of Generators pitched as a simpler alternative to a node graph, and Modifiers as a simpler alternative to expressions.Autograph 2025: revamped UI and workflowAutograph 2025.1 overhauls the softwares user interface and workflow, with a new Inspector panel replacing the old Properties panel for inspecting and editing parameters.Viewers now have their own individual timelines, making it possible to play back separate compositions simultaneously: for example, to compare an intro and an outro sequence. New 3D features including text and shape extrusionThere are also a number of new 3D features, including the option to extrude Text or Shape layers, the latter making it possible to import vector logos and transform them into 3D objects.New Material and Mesh layer types make it possible to create 3D primitives and edit animated materials directly in the timeline.It is also now possible to select 3D layers in the viewport by clicking or marquee-selecting.Experimental OFX live link plugin for DaVinci ResolveHowever, perhaps a more significant change is better interoperability with other key tools in video production and motion graphics pipelines.The software now ships with Autograph Live Link, a new plugin that makes it possible to use Autograph projects and templates within OpenFX-compatible apps like DaVinci Resolve. Edits made in Autograph are transferred to DaVinci Resolve in real time, and composition parameters are exposed on import, so it is also possible to animate directly inside Resolve.The plugin is currently in beta, and is only supported on Windows and macOS.New automated converter for After Effects projectsIn addition, After Effects users can now import projects in .aep format into Autograph and have the softwares new After Effects Importer convert them automatically.The documentation only lists features that can be converted, not those that cant, but layer animation, layer styles, text animation, shapes and several effects should come across.Conversion requires After Effects to be installed on your local machine, and for you to have an active license, so it isnt enough simply to be sent an .aep file by a collaborator.New free edition, including for use on commercial projectsIn addition, Left Angle has introduced Autograph Starter, a new free edition of the software that functions as both a trial and an entry-level version.It can be used on up to two projects concurrently, including for commercial work.However, its value on commercial jobs is limited, since compositions are limited to 1080p resolution, and five key Modifiers are watermarked, including Vector Blur and Film Grain.Projects created using other versions of the software are watermarked on import, and cannot be saved.Other restrictions include lack of support for OpenFX plugins: you can find a full list in the FAQs. Lower prices for commercial licensesLeft Angle has also reduced the prices of commercial editions of the software.Autograph Creator, which used to be restricted to users with annual revenue under $1 million/year, cost $945 for a perpetual license; rental cost $35/month or $315/year.Left Angle has now lifted the revenue restrictions, and reduced the standard price of a perpetual license to 299 ($299). Rental now costs $25/month or 199/year ($199/year).Autograph Studio, aimed at larger companies, used to cost $1,795; rental cost $59/month or $599/year.Studio now comes with two bundled render licenses, and perpetual licenses have a standard price of 599 ($599). Rental now costs $39/month or 375/year ($375/year).Price and system requirementsAutograph 2025.1 is compatible with Windows 10+, Ubuntu 22.04+ and RHEL/Rocky Linux 8+, and macOS 11.0+. You can find details of the new pricing in the story above.Read a full list of new features in Autograph 2025.1 in the online release notesHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.

Carmen Sandiego is back! Only this time, shes the one catching the bad guys. Discover how developer Gameloft brought the iconic character to life like never before using UE5s powerful rendering capabilities.

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn MoreMaking its debut in Aspen, X Games will leverage AI technology from Google Cloud to enhance objectivity in subjectively judged sports.The aim is to deepen fan engagement, and provide valuable insights that resonate with both fans and athletes, said Jeremy Bloom, CEO of X Games and a veteran of the sports business, in an interview with GamesBeat.X Games will debut a new experimental AI technology developed in collaboration with Google Cloud, during the Superpipe competition at X Games Aspen 2025,with a goal of bringing new insights and a deeper level of engagement to fans. The event from January 23 to January 25 is sold out and will see tens of thousand of people, with billions of impressions across social, web sites and linear partners. The tech will debut at an event on Thursday at the X Games in Aspen. One of the human leaders among the X Games judges was part of the team to implement it. The first thing it will do is watch practice and well ask it to predict who the top three will be among the snowboarders, Bloom said. Its also going to take over everything for free riders, and it will commentate the entire run and draw back on the history of the athlete.X Games CEO Jeremy Bloom.Bloom said the sport has a global fan base and it will share the commentary in multiple languages like Japanese. After that, it will judge the athletes based on a score. The x Games medals wont be given out based on that AI score in this particular X Games in part because the tech is so new and it isnt necessarily perfect yet, Bloom said. But you will be able to see how the AI judge compares to the human judges. Were excited to show it and preview it and show the power of the things that it does, Bloom said. I think its the future of sports.Its built on Googles Vortex large language model. Bloom said it is good at doing the things you ask it to do and you can train it on footage of events, like what a good landing looks like versus on excellent landing. Bloom said the aim isnt to replace human judges but to bring more accuracy, fairness and transparency to what has to date been a purely human subjective process. Its like the use of instant replay by basketball referees, but in the case of snow sports, no such technology is used. Its all based on what a human judge sees in the moment of the competition. X Games Aspen will have AI judges alongside human judges.You have to make sure it knows every trick in snowboarding, Bloom said. Understanding economy of motion looks like is a difficult problem.The AI technology aims to explore the potential for enhancing objectivity in judged sports, increasing fan engagement, and providing athletes with additional insights into their performances.It will analyze the mens and womens Superpipe competition event. The men compete on Thursday and Saturday. As X Games celebrates its 30th anniversary, the introduction of this technology represents a step toward exploring how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence might complement human judges and offer fans a more detailed understanding of the competition.It will watch qualifying rounds and make a judgement that will be shown to the crowd and the live event after a certain time delay. The crowd will see the results from human judges. The event has snowboarding and skiing for both men and women, with a total of 18 different events. Ive had this idea in my head for decades, Bloom said. With the technology that we have at our disposal, mistakes (in judging) should never happen. It was shaped by my two decades as a professional athlete.Bloom said the tech is cutting edge and it will bring a lot of transparency and fairness to judging. uI dont think this would have been possible last year, he said. Its showing up in ways that surprise me. Athletes say its like having a coach in a pocket.How It WorksX Games 2025 will use AI judging for snowboarding Superpipe competitions.X Games AI uses Google Clouds tools, including Vertex AI and advanced large language models, to analyze video footage and capture data on metrics such as airtime, trick difficulty, and execution. The system is designed to provide deeper analysis of each run, offering fans additional layers of understanding. The tech was developed with input from X Games judges, athletes, and analysts to ensure alignment with the competitions needs.This is just the beginning, said Bloom. AI is still in its early development when applied to action sports, but Im blown away by what our model can already do. Aspen will allow us to test its capabilities and explore how it might enhance transparency, fairness, and engagement for fans and athletes alike.Part of Broader ChangesX Games has a deal with Google Cloud.The introduction of X Games AI aligns with X Games ongoing efforts to evolve its competitions. In 2026, the Action Sports Games League (XGL) will launch a new team-based format, where athletes can compete for both individual and team recognition. The league will also include interactive features such as fantasy sports, betting, real-time analytics, and expanded opportunities for fan engagement.While X Games AI is an early experiment, it reflects our commitment to exploring ways to improve competition and fan experiences, added Bloom. We look forward to gathering feedback from its debut in Aspen and refining the technology based on those insights.X Games Aspen 2025 will provide an opportunity to evaluate the tools performance and gather input from stakeholders. Further updates on X Games AI and its potential applications are expected in the coming months.Jeff Moorad, CEO of MSP Sports Capital, said in a statement, When we acquiredXGames, our goal was to reimagine unique fan experiences and increase access to the worlds premiere athletes. TheXGamespartnership withGoogleis a great example of how we intend to use technology to enhance that experience.Daily insights on business use cases with VB DailyIf you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI.Read our Privacy PolicyThanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here.An error occured.

Jeonghee JJ Jin spent a lot of time growing the business of Pearl Abyss in the Americas, as she headed Pearl Abyss America for almost eight years.Read More