MacworldThanks to Apples feast-or-famine approach to product announcements, January can be a tedious month for the Macworld crew. The last batch of new products came out in the fall, and the next ones probably wont be here until the spring; in between, we shiver and get bored. In their wintry desperation, keynote-starved Apple reporters have even been known to watch product unveilings by other companies.I dont know if Ill go that far this week when Samsung holds its next Galaxy Unpacked event. Not because Samsung phones are intrinsically inferior to iPhonesalthough coincidentally they arebut because I feel like Ive seen it all before.Samsung, you see, is the original. Not, sadly, in the sense that it does things first, but in the sense that it was xeroxing iPhone designs before it was cool. I know this because the long-running patent dispute between Apple and Samsung was my first beat topic as a Macworld reporter. The first lawsuits were filed back in 2011, and the saga dragged on until 2018. I got a bunch of articles out of that dispute, and an appearance on British TV news. (I can only assume it was a slow news day.)Samsung and Apple have a long history of borrowing features from each other year after year.FoundryThe core of Apples original complaintwhich later got muddied by additional claims and counterclaimswas that Samsung had violated a number of patents covering the iPhones shape and software interface. It was suggested, not unreasonably, that the 1st-gen Galaxy S took a degree of inspiration from the iPhone 3GS that pushed the bounds of legal propriety. My own view was and remains that, once a device finds its optimal approximate design, it hinders competition if the company that came up with that design is able to prevent rivals from following suit in a general sense. But at the same time, its worth acknowledging that Samsung really was pushing its luck.Roughly 14 years on, Im feeling a little nostalgic about those simpler days when people could get angry about something as minor as product design. (Oh, hold on.) Funnily enough, given the lightning speed at which the tech industry is supposed to move, both Apple and Samsung are still releasing products from the same lines discussed in the 2011 lawsuit: well get a new iPhone in a couple of months, and at Galaxy Unpacked on January 22 we expect to see yet another Galaxy S phone. Which will presumably pay homage in its own way to the current range of Apple products.This isnt just a name or a general size and shape. Anything goes at Unpackedperhaps Samsung will announce a new charging standard called SafeMag. Or a camera cutout interface feature called the Energetic Islet. Im hoping to see a new button called the Controller For Cameras, with a Reaction Button on the opposite edge. Maybe Bixby Intelligence. And all of this of course will be announced by the new CEO, Tom Saute.At this point, of course, I am only indulging in facetious speculation. I dont know the details of Samsungs announcements, and even if I did, I wouldnt be allowed to tell you anything about them. But rumors suggest the new Galaxy phones will get rounder corners, a faster chip, and more AI. And a possible preview of an ultra-thin phone coming later this year. Ahem.Dont believe it? Youll just have to watch the event live and see for yourself. Then follow the ensuing seven-year legal battle right here on Macworld.Just kidding! I hope.

Todays AI models do a poor job of providing accurate information about world history, according to a new report from the Austrian research institute Complexity Science Hub (CSH).In an experiment, OpenAIs GPT-4, Metas Llama, and Googles Gemini were asked to answer yes or no to historical questions and only 46% of the answers were correct. GPT-4, for example, answered yes to the question of whether Ancient Egypt had a standing army, likely because the AI model chose to extrapolate data from other empires such as Persia.If you are told A and B 100 times and C one time, and then asked a question about C, you might just remember A and B and try to extrapolate from that, researcher Maria del Rio-Chanona told Techcrunch.According to the researchers, AI models have more difficulty providing accurate information about some regions than others, including sub-Saharan Africa.

Marking a fairly short round of developer betas, Apple has issued the first release candidates of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, tvOS 18.3, visionOS 2.3, watchOS 11.3, and macOS 15.3, alongside other builds.Examples of Apple Intelligence at work. On Tuesday, Apple issued what has become the first release candidates for the current developer beta generation. The first RC editions of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, macOS 15.3, tvOS 18.3, visionOS 2.3, and watchOS 11.3 were all offered for testing.There were also RC releases for older operating systems too. iPadOS 17.7.4 was made available in RC, as well as macOS 14.7.3. Apple often introduces builds for older operating systems, which often consists of compatibility updates and security patches. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

A new image leak supposedly backs up a claim of a major camera bar redesign for the iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Slim, but the rumor still seems too improbable to be true.New images claiming to show the iPhone 17 camera bar design - Image Credit: BilliBilli/Tech-ShowIn December, a series of rumors proposed that Apple would radically shake up the camera on the iPhone 17. While seemingly unlikely, those rumors have resurfaced a month later, thanks to a blurry photograph.Shared by serial leaker Majin Bu on X on Tuesday, the post offers a single shot of two smartphone-like devices. Seemingly under a plastic sheet, the two devices bear Apple logos in the middle, similar to Apple's other hardware products. Rumor Score: Unlikely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Look below for Archinect's latest curated selection of architecture and design firms currently hiring onArchinect Jobs. This week'sfeatured employer highlightincludes openings inBrooklyn, San Francisco,andLos Angeles/Pasadena.For even more opportunities, visit theArchinect job boardand explore our active community ofjob seekers,firms, andschools.MITHUNis hiring for a Project Architect with twelve-plus years of experience in San Francisco. The ideal candidate possesses proficiency with Revit and the Adobe Creative Suite, significant knowledge of architectural detailing, specifically wood-framed construction, and excellentverbal, written, and visual communication skills. One should also have strong communication, teamwork, collaboration, and conflict resolution skills.Sustainability Treehouse by MITHUN. Photo: Joe FletcherLos Angeles-based architecture and design studioORA (Oonagh Ryan Architects Inc.)is in search of aJob Captain/Mid-Level Designer with three to sev...

Freedom Wars Remastered feels out of place in this current era. Originally released for the PlayStation Vita in 2014, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment with Japan Studio aiding development, its an action RPG tuned to the handheld market. The operations well-suited for bite-sized sessions, the straightforward hack-and-slash combat it wouldnt be out of place next to the likes of Monster Hunter Portable 3rd from the PSP era.Over a decade later, Freedom Wars returns in remastered form, yet the landscape is utterly different. Mobile has overtaken handheld gaming, and several action RPGs boast massive open worlds and stellar production values. The closest comparison would probably be Monster Hunter Rise on the Nintendo Switch, and that experience translates to current-gen consoles without much trouble. Even if its more streamlined comparatively, does Dimps classic still hold some modicum of appeal today?"The other off-putting aspect is the new English voice-acting for Percy Propa (the mascot of the committee running your Panopticon) and your Accessory, an android monitoring your every move who can assist in combat."The answer will doubtless vary. If you remember the original and feverishly waited for it to return, then Freedom Wars Remastered may speak to you (on console, but more on that later). Those curious about all the fuss will discover an action RPG of highs, lows, and antiquated albeit intriguing design.Set in the far future, where humanitys resources have dried up and every little thing is a crime, you control a Sinner whos committed the ultimate offense: Being born. Countries have ceased to exist theres only the Panopticons competing against each other for what little remains.The story begins in the middle of an operation, where your character has lost their memories, and a mysterious individual named Aries M. appears to tease a pivotal event. Its back to square one afterwards, packed into a nondescript cell, adding to your nearly one million-year-long sentence for even walking more than five steps.Theres honestly a lot to take in, and Freedom Wars writing sometimes does it no favors due to some long-winded dialogue. The other off-putting aspect is the new English voice-acting for Percy Propa (the mascot of the committee running your Panopticon) and your Accessory, an android monitoring your every move who can assist in combat. Their dialogue sounds like its been generated by a text-to-speech program, perhaps meant to match the Japanese voice-acting from the PS Vita version but sounding much worse. The performance by actual humans is decent, though some characters like Mattias sound a bit low at times."However, the loop devolves into entering a mission, slaying enemies, gathering resources, customizing and improving your loadout, and repeat."Nevertheless, the world-building is fascinating, as you earn Entitlement Points from completing missions and donating materials. Some resources are outside your level at first only by qualifying and passing the CODE Exams are you permitted to keep them. The same goes for earning other privileges, like the right to wander outside your cell, sprint and even get some distance from your Accessory.Learning more about citizens, those with rights above the Sinners, and encountering rival Panopticon members is one thing, as you must tussle with the mysterious Abductors. Even with its idiosyncracies, the overall pacing of the story is pretty quick, and its not long before you encounter Beatrice, and things really get going.Though theres a lot of info from the outset, the overall gameplay will be familiar enough to fans of action RPG hunting games. You have different weapon types, with melee and ranged options available (which can be improved with Modules). You also have different Thorns tools that serve as grapples but can also immobilize enemies, boost your teams defense, and even heal when charged up. Their main purpose will be to attach to the Abductors, and either topple them or sever parts with enough button mashing. During combat, you can issue commands, instructing your Accessory to perform necessary tasks (which I found somewhat finicky at times).However, the loop devolves into entering a mission, slaying enemies, gathering resources, customizing and improving your loadout, and repeat. Higher CODE Levels grant tougher missions but the variety is sorely lacking. Also, between flat desert plains and a few ruined cityscapes with structures to grapple to, the environments dont serve to mix up the gameplay."Even as you work through the story and unravel the worlds happenings, its not long before the gameplay starts to feel overly repetitive."The Abductors can be intriguing since you can break off different parts and collect them. Some objectives may also require rescuing citizens from their grasp, which means targeting their central pod. If an Abductor has a shield, grappling onto those components and severing them is key.You may even blow up certain parts like missile launchers to deprive an Abductor of its more lethal weapons, but thats more or less it. Most other times, youll alternate between heavy and light attacks to execute simple combos, fire from a distance, execute a grapple strike and maybe chuck a grenade or two. I would have liked to be able to set the camera back farther.Transitioning between different attack functions isnt the most fluid, though its not a lost cause. Its somewhat surprising how responsive the combat can feel. Shredding through an Abductors armor can feel satisfying, and newer options, like animation cancelling by activating Thorns, certainly add more nuance.If only there was a greater variety in enemies or more mission types (how do so many citizens end up needing to be rescued anyway?). Even as you work through the story and unravel the worlds happenings, its not long before the gameplay starts to feel overly repetitive. Nevertheless, for those who can get into it, there are enough upgrades and unlocks to keep you playing for dozens of hours."If this is really the first step towards reviving the series, Im keen to see what the team can achieve with more contemporary mechanics and design."Aside from quality-of-life features like Module Synthesis and a higher difficulty in Deadly Sinner mode, the other defining aspect of Freedom Wars Remastered is the visuals. While it sticks to the same anime-esque aesthetic with the listless color palette befitting a future of surveillance and despair, the 4K resolution and 60 frames per second performance make a significant difference. The details are crisp, and on PlayStation 5, I didnt encounter any performance issues (which is reportedly not the same story on PC, so beware if youre looking to get it on Steam).Again, the visual fidelity isnt going to compete with your Wuthering Waves or Zenless Zone Zeroes, but its a unique atmosphere, unlike so many other titles. Oppressive, yet oddly jubilant, perhaps in part thanks to the soundtrack. The mix of orchestration and edgy rock feels just right, lending some much-needed gravitas to the overall presentation.On the surface, Freedom Wars Remastered doesnt seem like it aspires to much more than simply bringing the classic to current-gen platforms. That itself is noteworthy, and the quality of life features are appreciated, though I can see action RPG connoisseurs rightfully demanding more, even at this budget price point. If this is really the first step towards reviving the series, Im keen to see what the team can achieve with more contemporary mechanics and design. For now, this is a remaster that will be most appreciated by long-time fans, best experienced on PS5.This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

At long last, Nintendo has finally officially announced the Switch 2, and though we havent yet seen any official game announcements for it yet, the rumour mill is also churning in full force. The last several weeks and months have built up a long list of titles both first- and third-party that are rumoured to be in the works for the Switch 2, and here, were going to go through a few of them. Before you ask, no, were not includingMario Kart 9,given the fact that thats basically already been officially confirmed. We will, however, be starting off with another rather obvious first pickNEXT 3D MARIOSuper Mario Whatever the Heck its Calledis very likely going to occupy the same space for the Switch 2 thatSuper Mario Odysseydid for the Switch.Mario Kart 9is looking like a lock to be the big first-party game that launches alongside the console, which means its taking up thatBreath of the Wildslot- which means the next 3DMarioplatformer is likely to launch a few months down the road, just asOdysseydid during the Switchs launch window. With eight years having passed since the series last mainline 3D release, this one looks all but guaranteed (or as close as it can be with Nintendo involved).

The Ontario Science Centre. Photo by James Brittain, Courtesy Moriyama Teshima ArchitectsThis post is coauthored by Sandford Borins, Professor of Public Management Emeritus at the University of Toronto, with Elsa Lam, Editor of Canadian Architect, so we refer to ourselves jointly in the plural and individually in the third person.Sir Humphrey Appleby, the fictional senior public servant in the iconic satireYes Ministerknew that one of the best ways to hide embarrassing information was to bury it under reams of anodyne memoranda. Infrastructure Ontario seems to have learned that lesson well. When it released its 78-page business case for modernizing the Ontario Science Centre (OSC) in November 2023, thelast of 333 pages of appendicescontained an excerpt from a Powerpoint deck contrasting the cost of operating the OSC in its original Don Mills location with a temporary location while a new facility is being constructed at Ontario Place. The deck was authored by public servants in Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport and was presented to the office of Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma.When the Ford Government made its surprise announcement to shutter the Don Mills location on June 21, 2024, we both re-read the business case and its appendices to see if there was anything there that would shed light on the decision. We both suspected that the decision had been in the works for quite some time, and that the discovery of problems with the concrete roofing in the original buildings was merely a pretext.The Powerpoint deck on page 333 of the appendices referred to Option 1A, so there were at least two other options (1B and 2) under consideration when the business case was being written in 2022 and 2023. We both filed Freedom of Information (FoI) requests for the entire Powerpoint deck, Ms. Lam on July 29, 2024 and Professor Borins on August 21, 2024. During the fall, we both asked FoI officers about our requests, and received polite but unhelpful replies. On October 10, Ms. Lam was told Please be advised that we are still processing your access request. On November 8, Professor Borins was told, we are still processing your file and hope to complete it soon and on November 19 we sincerely apologize for the delay and are hoping to complete your file as soon as we can.We both concluded that this polite language was masking an unwillingness to provide the deck and we filed appeals on the grounds of deemed refusal, Ms. Lam on November 21, and Professor Borins on November 29. We were told the appeals were to be handled by an expedited process and were given to the Expedited Team, with a Case Lead no less. When Ms. Lam followed up with the appeals office in mid-December, she was told that A case lead has not yet been assigned, but upon assignment, you will be contacted. As of mid-January, we have both heard nothing more.This should be a very simple request to respond to. We are asking for a Powerpoint deck one computer file. If officials who prepared the file dont want to release the entire file, they could redact portions of it. Professor Borins on two occasions asked for Excel spreadsheets containing responses to the Ontario Governments online budget consultations also a single computer file and he received them within a month, the time frame by which the government is required to respond to FoI requests.We suspect something more is going on in this case. Both of us have been critics of the decision to close the original Science Centre and move it to Ontario Place and of the plans for Ontario Place, and have written about them in our blogs. Here is a link toMr. Borins most recent piece and another link toMs. Lams home page. We have also been interviewed by the media. We think the Ford Government, which isalmost certain to call an electionand which likely considers itself vulnerable on its decisions about the OSC and Ontario Place, wants to deny its critics information that can be used in the campaign. We think that the ever-polite FoI officers are acting under orders from Minister Surmas office, Cabinet office, or the Premiers Office. For that reason, we are not naming them.Freedom of Information can be a potent tool to hold government to account. But when government does not want to be held to account, the best course of action is to delay. The release of a grossly redacted file or an outright refusal would indicate that the government has something to hide. Delay allows it to hide even that. Sir Humphrey Appleby would approve. Franz Kafka would not be surprised. The people of Ontario should be outraged.The post Ontarios Kafkaesque Freedom of Information Regime appeared first on Canadian Architect.

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