Tony WareShareWe may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Ive made a big deal about how much I love the Civilization games to anyone who will listen. I made a big deal about it earlier this week to anyone reading about the awesome new MSI laptops for 2025. But sometimes an 18-inch laptop might not be the most convenient way to enjoy some on-the-go gaming (shocking, right), so Im also making a big deal about the MSI Claw 8 AI+ handheld.Equipped with a bright eight-inch FHD+(19201200) 120Hz 500 nit 100% sRGB IPS-level touchscreen (hence the Claw 8 name), the new model is even more immersive than the Claw 7 AI+. At the same time, its also more comfortablewith ergonomic grips based on extensive hand-mapping research measuring digits of varying lengths from multiple angles. Holding the Claw 8 AI+, it felt substantial without feeling awkward. Its a contoured two-tone sandstorm enclosure thats tactile and title-packed, all while being power-efficient.The Intel Core Ultra 7-258V Lunar Lake processor plus 32GB RAM/1TB storage are key to getting the most out of the 80Whr battery capacity while enjoying a performance boost. The Claw 8 AI+ still runs Windows 11 Home and is as capable as a streaming platform or mini Lightroom computer, etc., as it is pushing your favorite games FPS (on its own or in a dual-display setup). And what you get to play those games are Hall Effect Analog triggers and sticks (accented by RGB rings), plus a redesigned D-pad and new actuation points for the bumpers. Originally at a slight angle, theyre now in a direct one-to-one top arrangement, making them easier to trigger. The entire chassis has improved dampening, so you can play louder without introducing more vibration.Of course, much of this is moot if you cant use the built-in Wi-Fi 7 support to connect to gaming stores and servers. Thats where another MSI product can come in: The MSI Roamii BE Mesh System, with a new MAX model set to join the Pro and Lite ones in 2025. This $499 two-unit set expands the output to 21 Gbps (up from 11 Gbps) while maintaining the easy-to-set-up nature of the desktop/wallmountable wedges. (The Pro duo is $399, while the 5 Gbps Lite duo is $299). Whether you are connecting 2, 20, or 200 devices, these Multi-Link Operation (MLO) modules can send, say, your Claw 8 AI+ concurrent connections on multiple channels, resulting in more throughput and less latency. Other WiFi 7 standards supported include 4K-QAM and MU-MIMO, among others, plus theres dual-band 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz backward compatibility. Finally, MSI FortiSecu monitors network security in real-time. Got an existing battlestation that deserves a faster, more reliable connection. MSIs new BE6500 WiFi 7 USB Adapter will allow you to add just that. Goodbye dead spots, hello good times.

Nature, Published online: 21 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00161-9A study assessed 1.2 million biomedical publications and measured the unexpectedness of their findings.

Nature, Published online: 21 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00130-2If one animal urinates, others are likely follow, according to a study of captive apes.

It could be one of the best value smart bikes to come out in 2025.

A nuclear fusion reactor in China, dubbed the "artificial sun," has broken its own record to bring humanity one step closer to near-limitless clean energy.

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If you use the commercial version of Nuke and work with motion graphics, check out this custom tool developed by Compositing Academy, experts in digital compositing training through their online Nuke courses. The Nuke 2D Rim Light Faker creates a rim lighting effect along the edges of a 2D image, complete with soft shadows, by utilizing only the images alpha channel, with no need for position or normals.Similar to an Emboss effect, this tool is faster and more efficient, and as shown in the video above, it not only produces more realistic results but also includes controls for light falloff and shadow smoothing. The Nuke 2D Rim Light Faker is available with a pay what you want pricing model and is licensed for commercial use.Get it here and learn digital compositing techniques from Compositing Academys YouTube videos and courses:Dont forget to join our 80 Level Talent platformand ournew Discord server, follow us onInstagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,Telegram,TikTok, andThreads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Get This Free 2D Rim Light Tool For Nuke appeared first on CG SHARES.

I am one of those people who still use TeamSpeak moreover, the good old Version 3 and while its simplicity is comforting, I have to say Im more into Discords interface. Well, if youre like me, I have great news: after a very long time of living in Discords shadow, TeamSpeak is coming back to truly compete with the popular platform UI included; what irony.In just a day, TeamSpeak users will be able to enjoy screen and camera sharing, 1440p/source and multi-streaming with 60 FPS and nice audio as well as hosted servers, as the company shared on X/Twitter. To make its point, it also cheekily adds a link to help you cancel your Discord Nitro subscription under every post.The issues players had with Discord started when a rumor that it would be introducing ads appeared online. The platform was initially marketed as a comfortable and safe platform free of ads, so the news wasnt met kindly.Now, TeamSpeak will look a lot like its biggest rival, with servers, contacts, and group chats organized in a similar manner in Discords recognizable colors. This should help the platform attract more audiences, but I can see a big chunk of old (in more ways than one) TS users pushing back against innovation. Id rather have a communication program that enforces voice chat and does it right, as my friend told me.Well see how right TeamSpeak does it in less than a day. Meanwhile, check out its X/Twiter, download the app, and join our80 Level Talent platformand ournew Discord server, follow us onInstagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,Telegram,TikTok, andThreads,where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post TeamSpeaks Grand Comeback Makes It Look More Like Discord appeared first on CG SHARES.

Late last year, Microsoft signaled its plans to make Edge the preferred browser for PC gamers with the first look at the Microsoft Edge Game Assist. It's a version of Edge that was specifically made for gaming, with browsers and windows that appear on top of games so players can access strategy guides and tips as needed. Now, Microsoft Edge Game Assist is out of the initial testing phase and available for all to use.Game Assist appears to have been modeled on Steam's overlay browser. It can also detect when a handful of supported games are being played and offer relevant info on a side panel. The games that are currently supported include Marvel Rivals, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard. However, those aren't the only titles that can be played. Any game can be used in this mode, but only the supported games will have automatic guides readily available. The video below demonstrates how the Game Assist is supposed to work. Players can access this feature by going to Microsoft Edge and opening up the Settings and more to find the Game Assist widget. Once installed, the Game Assist feature will be available in the Game Bar. Because the Game Assist shares date with Edge's browser data, players' favorites, browsing history, and cookies will all remain the same. Continue Reading at GameSpot

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Limited Edition Steelbook (4K Blu-ray) $45 | Releases April 15 Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Amazon Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Limited Edition Shadow Steelbook (4K Blu-ray) $45 | Releases April 15 Preorder at Target Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Standard Edition (4K Blu-ray) $36 | Releases April 15 Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Amazon Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is now available to rent or buy on streaming platforms, including Prime Video, for $20 or $25, respectively. The streaming launch coincided with the reveal of the 4K Blu-ray release date and the existence of not one, but two steelbooks. Sonic the Hedgehog 3's Limited Edition Steelbook will be available with Sonic or Shadow character art when the movie arrives on Blu-ray April 15. This is the same approach we saw with Deadpool & Wolverine last year, so it will be interesting to see if this format becomes a trend.Buy or rent Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on Prime Video Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Limited Edition Steelbook (4K Blu-ray) $45 | Releases April 15 Sonic the Hedgehog 3's first Limited Edition Steelbook features the Blue Blur doing what he does best. This edition comes with 4K Blu-ray, standard 1080p Blu-ray, and digital versions of Sonic 3. You also get a bunch of bonus featurettes.Preorders for the Sonic variant of the Limited Edition Steelbook releases are available at Walmart for $45.Amazon was taking preorders for a few weeks, but as of January 21, Sonic 3 is no longer available to order at Amazon. That said, we don't believe it sold out, because the standard 4K and DVD editions aren't available to purchase either. We suspect Amazon will reopen preorders once it lists the Shadow variant of the Limited Edition Steelbook.Amazon and Walmart both offer preorder price guarantees. You won't be charged until your order ships, and you will only pay the lowest price offered between the time you preorder and release. Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Amazon Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Limited Edition Shadow Steelbook (4K Blu-ray) $45 | Releases April 15 Sonic 3's Limited Edition Steelbook featuring Shadow is only available to preorder at Target at this time, but we'd expect other retailers to list it soon. The Shadow variant complements the Sonic edition by offering the same art design, just with red streaks instead of blue. Like the Sonic variant, the Shadow version costs $45 and comes with 4K Blu-ray, standard 1080p Blu-ray, and digital versions of Sonic 3. You'll also get the same bonus features. The only difference between the two releases is the steelbook. Preorder at Target Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Standard Edition (4K Blu-ray) $36 | Releases April 15 If you don't have any interest in steelbook cases, the 4K release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is up for preorder for $36 at Walmart.Preorders for the DVD release are available for $26 at Walmart. At this time, it doesn't appear that Sonic 3 will get a standalone 1080p Blu-ray release. As such, even if you don't have a 4K media player, you'll still need to get the 4K edition to watch Sonic 3 on standard Blu-ray. Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Amazon Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Special FeaturesAudio Commentary - Watch the movie with director Jeff Fowler and actor Ben Schwartz (Sonic).Sonic Family Fun - Cast and crew talk about becoming a family while making the three films.Enter Shadow - Keanu Reeves and other stars discuss his portrayal of Shadow.Robotnik Family Reunion: Ivo and Gerald - Jim Carry and cast/crew discuss bringing Ivo and Gerald Robotnik to the screen.For the Love of Sonic: Directing a Trilogy - Director Jeff Fowler reflects on his experience directing the Sonic films.The Fox, the Echidna, and the Hedgehog - Visit the recording booth with voice actors for Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Tails (Colleen O'Shaughnessey), and Idris Elba (Knuckles).Live-Action Lunacy: Acting Opposite Puppets - Actors talk about filming alongside giant puppets.From the Cryo-Tank to London: The World of Sonic - Production crews show off the filming locations and set designs of Sonic 3. Team Sonic vs. Shadow - Choreographers talk about creating the showdown between Sonic and Shadow. A Very Sonic Christmas - Team Sonic saves Christmas with Santa Claus.Gag ReelDeleted Scenes Catch up on the Sonic Live-Action Movie & TV SeriesSonic the Hedgehog 2-Movie Steelbook CollectionSonic the Hedgehog 3's theatrical release led to multiple editions of the first two movies to sell out, including the 4K Blu-ray 2-Movie Steelbook Collection shown above. As of January 21, here's the stock situation for Sonic, Sonic 2, and the Knuckles miniseries at Amazon. The 2-Movie Collection on standard Blu-ray offers the best value at the moment.Continue Reading at GameSpot