Building on the Cloth Curves Toolset, developed by Pepe Buendia and Agustin Gonzalez, which introduces a novel approach to fabric and clothing creation using only curves, the artists have now unveiled a custom USD Render Time Procedural, leveraging algorithms to generate data at render time.It enables deformation, tearing, and attribute transfer at render time without the need to cache data to disk. This results in significant space savings while maintaining the high level of detail provided by the clothing curves. For example, in a 100-frame shot, you can save over 80 GB by using just an 820 MB clothing asset, making the workflow much more scalable. According to the creators, USD Render Time Procedural also offers the option to directly edit the final result in Solaris, allowing users to adjust parameters related to deformation, clothing tearing, and even modify the width or add noise. This means the clothing simulation can be iterated without the need to re-export large caches each time.Similarly, changes made to the final cloth curves asset dont require re-caching the mesh simulation. Effects like fire or fluids can also be easily integrated by transferring attributes at render time. And since its based on USD, the system is compatible with multiple render engines, including Karma, Arnold, and RenderMan.As this toolset is still under development, you can learn more about ithereand followPepe BuendiaandAgustin Gonzalezon LinkedIn. Dont forget to join our80 Level Talent platformand ournew Discord server, follow us on Instagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,Telegram,TikTok, andThreads,where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Custom USD Render Time Procedural To Deform Cloth & Transfer Attributes appeared first on CG SHARES.

Guilty Gear Strive has been on the market for nearly four years, first launching for PS4, PS5, and PC in 2021. Fast forward to 2025, and the fighting game is finally receiving a Nintendo Switch port in just a few days on January 23, and preorders for Guilty Gear Strive: Nintendo Switch Edition are available now. Guilty Gear Strive Preorder BonusThere are currently no universal preorder bonuses for Guilty Gear Strive. However, preordering from the official ARC Shop will get you a free mystery gift pack. This includes $30 worth of Guilty Gear Strive merchandise--though its only available while supplies last. Guilty Gear Strive: Nintendo Switch Edition $60 | Releases January 23 This is the only version of Guilty Gear Strive available for Switch--theres no deluxe edition or collectors edition up for grabs. However, along with the base game, this version does include all Season Pass content up to Season 3 right out of the box, giving you plenty of cool extras to explore. The game has been optimized for Switch, featuring a smooth 60fps frame rate and high-quality graphics. Preorders are available at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and the official ARC Shop. Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at Walmart Guilty Gear Strive is the seventh mainline game in the Guilty Gear series. Developed by the same folks responsible for Dragon Ball FighterZ, it offers gorgeous 2D graphics, a complex combat system, and a roster of unique characters with their own playstyle. Our review gave it a solid 8 out of 10, thanks to stylish graphics, a complex combat system, and a fun mission mode that helps you learn the basics. The PS5, Xbox, and PC versions are currently on Season 4 of DLC content, but the Nintendo Switch edition will launch with just the first three seasons, and will get the Season 4 update later.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Pearly Shells are found almost everywhere in Infinity Nikki. You will stumble upon the material while exploring the rivers and lakes of Miraland. Although it is a common crafting material, Nikki can still benefit from Pearly Shells by creating new pieces of clothing that could help her with any upcoming challenge.

A reliable industry insider has claimed that next year's Call of Duty title will see the return of DMZ, an extraction-based mode that was released alongside 2022's Modern Warfare 2. While Call of Duty's DMZ mode was fairly well-received by both critics and fans, Activision announced it would no longer be supporting the mode back in December 2023 with the launch of Modern Warfare 3 Season 1.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.When I first learned about bone conduction headphones (BCH) I was mostly just curiouswhat would wearing them feel like? To me, sending vibrations through the head to transmit audio sounded like a technology out of a sci-fi book. It was anticlimactic, to say the least, when I got my hands on my first pair. None of my sci-fi fantasies came truethe audio experience is lacking compared to traditional in-air or on-ear headphonesbut the experience is still pretty novel.Yes, the technology is still relatively new when it comes to headphones, and device-makers are still experimenting with how to make the best use of it. The primary advantage of BCH is clear, however: They don't cover your ears, so you retain complete spatial awareness when wearing them. I've since tested a number of styles and brands of these headphones, but none from Shokz, one of the biggest names in the space. So when the new Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 came out in December, I decided to see how they stack up. After using them for many runs, workouts, bike rides, calls, and podcasts, I can easily recommend these headphones to anyone who needs headphones that allow them to hear their surroundings when out and about without sacrificing too much on audio quality. I don't recommend them if you're looking for true audio fidelity (traditional headphones will always sound better), need to use them in loud environments (like a very noisy gym), or are looking for headphones to use underwater (I recommend the OpenSwim Pro instead). Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Bluetooth: 5.3, Charging: USB-C, Battery: 12 hours, Weight: 30 grams, Resistance: IP55 rating. $179.95 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $179.95 at Amazon Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 pros, cons, and specs Credit: Daniel Oropeza SpecsType: Bone conduction headphonesBattery Life: Up to 12 hours; 5-minute charge gives 2.5 hours of juiceConnectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, only supports SBCBluetooth codecApp: Shokz app with full EQDrivers: Extra 18-by-11-millimeter low-frequency speakers for better bass with a rated frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz.Water Resistance: IP55 water resistance ratingWeight: 1.02 ouncesProsBest audio I've experienced with BCHBest bass I've heard with BCHNo rattling vibration that tickles the earsA wind-resistant microphone for call clarityLong battery lifeMultiPoint allows you to connect to two devicesConsExpensiveBass is still weak compared to regular headphonesNot waterproofSound leakage Credit: Daniel Oropeza Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 first impressions Credit: Daniel Oropeza ComfortThe OpenRun Pro 2 feel like premium headphones. They are light but durable. The silicone coating feels comfortable against the skin and they are extremely light, their 1.02 ounces evenly distributed so you barely know they're there. Shokz offers two sizes, a "Standard" and a "Mini" option along with a sizing guide that I found very helpful to see which is the right fit for me. I often find BCH headphones feel too big for me: The back end sags, lifting the front end and making the experience of wearing them frustrating. However, the standard size Open Run 2 felt custom-made for me, with a snug fit that made them impossible to shake off. They are easy to put on and forget about, which is the best thing I can say about any pair of headphones. Credit: Daniel Oropeza Battery lifeShokz claims you get 12 hours of listening, which seemed accurate based on my testing. These headphones use a USB-C charger, which is a big change from the previous model, which had a pretty unique charging cable. With USB-C charging,Shokz joins the rest of the tech world with a more universal, fast-charging option. The physical buttons to control the media are a plus, given these are headphones are tailored for working out and being outdoors (touch controls tend go haywire the second moisture enters the picture). Power and volume controls sit behind the right ear and are easy to find and press even while running. On the left side you'll find the "play/pause" button. Unlike other BCH headsets I've tried, it is intelligently placed in a spot where you can put pressure, so you can press it with one finger instead of having to pinch it with two. Credit: Daniel Oropeza Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are a bone conduction/earbud hybrid Remember how I said companies are still experimenting with BCH technology? Shokz is trying out an interesting new mix of features with the OpenRun Pro 2. They call it DualPitch technology, and it mixes bone conduction technology with old-school earbud tech that pumps sound through the air. The OpenRun Pro 2 adds an extra 18-by-11-millimeter speaker designed for low-frequency sounds, which addresses one of the biggest complaints about BCH headsets: weak bass. Credit: Daniel Oropeza Bigger, smoother bassBetter bass does a lot to improve overall audio quality, even if it the end result still can't match traditional headphones. Anyone who has given up on BCH because of their lack of bass should at least give the OpenRun Pro 2 a chancethough keep in mind that the bass is good for BCH headphones, but still on the weaker end when compared to regular headphones (the bass on BCH headsets will never reach the levels of, say, the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2). Credit: Daniel Oropeza Perhaps an unintended consequence of the DualPitch technology is the elimination of another con of BCH that annoying rattling vibration that tickles my ears when playing music at a higher volume, or when certain pitches are hit. While using the OpenRun Pro 2, I never felt that irritating sensation, even when I cracked them way up (with a single exception that I'll address later). Typically bass is the main culprit causing that unpleasant ticklish sensation, but since this set pumps that additional bass through the air via the extra drivers instead of through your skull, that sensation is gone.A little leaky, a little too quietBCH headphones tend to leak a bit, as do open-ear headphones. Given these headphones use both of those technologies, that's definitely an occasional issue here. Sitting next to my fiancee while we work from home while listening at 45% volume, she's able to tell exactly what song I am playing (though to be fair, 45% volume is on the higher end in a quiet environment). Conversely, I felt the volume wasn't loud enough in noisy environments. When taking these for a workout in my local gym, the gym's speakers easily overpowered my headphones, creating a chaotic mush of sounds. (They worked better in this environment for listening to podcasts or audiobooks, however.) While using them on a run, I could hear the music, but I wasn't feeling it like I would with regular earbuds because of the noise around me and the limited volume. But I suppose that's the whole point of BCH headphones. Credit: Daniel Oropeza I was pleasantly surprised at how well these headphones picked up my voice over while outdoors. The mic uses an AI to isolate your voice and eliminate background noise, which is helpful while running or biking. I was able to have a regular conversation, despite a lot of wind and background noise. I did have some occasional trouble hearing the other person, which goes hand-in-hand with the volume limitations that I mentioned earlier. Even when testing them in a the quiet environment of my office, sound is a bit muffed, but still clear enough.A versatile connection optionI love that Shokz includes MultiPoint, allowing me to switch between two devices seamlessly, like my phone and computer. This makes the headphones more versatile, and a great option for working from home, considering I am able to hear my phone, dog, the door, other people, or anything that happens around me while using them, and switching back and forth between my phone and laptop. Unfortunately, since they're only rated IP55 for water resistance, I can't take them with me in the shower, or I would probably never take these headphones off.The Shokz app Credit: Daniel Oropeza The Shokz app is simple but easy to use. It has a fully customizable EQ that lets you save your favorite settings. There are also six presets that are useful for different occasions"Vocals" for audiobooks or podcasts, "Volume Boost" for the outdoors, etc. One of the presets is "Classic," which turns the headphones into a fully performing BCH (meaning no DualPitch technology). At this EQ preset, you do feel that vibration at high volumes. I really love that this option was given in the EQ though, since it gives people the freedom to choose it if they don't dig the hybrid sound technology.Bottom line Credit: Daniel Oropeza The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are among the best BCH you can get right now, with impressive audio and call quality, making them an excellent choice for those looking to hear their surroundings while out and about. They also make surprisingly good headphones for working from home thanks to the MultiPoint connectivity, naturally open ear design, and good audio quality relatively speaking. These headphones won't be a good match for those looking for headphones to work in loud environments or those hoping to swim or shower with them. The bass is the best I've heard in bone conduction headphones, with no rattling that tickles your ears. They serve their purpose well, but are also pricey at $179.99.

Champurrado is a thick and creamy hot beverage whose major flavor and thickening ingredient is masa harina, nixtamalized corn flour. This Mexican staple is sweet, comforting, completely satisfying, and relatively simple to make with just a few ingredients and a whisk. If you havent come across it yet, allow me to introduce you to this winter beverage that drinks like a meal.What is champurrado?Champurrado is also called an atole, which is any masa-based beveragebut champurrado specifically is enjoyed sweetened with sugar, and flavored with chocolate, cinnamon, or other seasonings. You might think, like other hot chocolates out there, that the cocoa would be the flavor diva in this drink, but masa harina is the unexpected star here. It's rather well known as a special kind of finely ground corn flour used to make the dough for recipes like tortillas, pupusas, or tamales, but perhaps less often touted for its role in a satisfying hot drink. Before mixing in the rest of the liquid I wait until the chocolate melts and the mixture to thicken. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Unlike wheat flour, masa harina doesnt contain gluten, so mixing it into water or milk doesnt cause rubbery strands or clumps of gluten to develop. The corn flour disperses easilynot to say that you cant get lumps, but more tips on preventing that below. The starches absorb the available liquid and create a thick, spoonable, almost pudding-like consistency when heated (which you can control with more or less water). The drink boasts the nutty, earthy flavors of corn, and once you add sugar and chocolate to that, you have yourself an undeniable morning treat.How to make champurradoThis Mexican staple requires only four ingredients, but you can get a bit fancy with the flavors if youd like to add a pinch of salt, a dash of cinnamon, or a star anise pod. I truly recommend using chopped panela, also called piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar), as your sweetener because the flavor is so lovely, but you can use brown sugar if thats what you have access to. Likewise, Mexican chocolate has its own subtly spiced flavor profile, but if you cant find it then you can substitute a broken up semi-sweet chocolate bar, or omit it and simply make a cinnamon atole. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann To ensure the smoothest possible consistency, be sure to whisk frequently, especially in the beginning when it thickens quickly. You can also run an immersion blender through the mixture at the end which has two benefits: aeration and smoothing out any lumps.Take a second and taste your champurrado before serving. I use Abuelita chocolate here which includes sugar, so depending on the chocolate you use, you may end up adding more or less panela than I have. Ditto that with adjusting the thickness to your own personal preference. I prefer drinking it thin, but if its a good day and I have cookies on hand (like today) then I enjoy dipping them in a thicker champurrado. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Champurrado RecipeIngredients: cup masa harina2 cups water (or substitute milk) Abuelita Mexican hot chocolate tablet, chopped1 tablespoon chopped panela sugar1 cinnamon stick (optional)1. Put the masa harina into a medium sized pot and slowly pour in 1 cup of water as you whisk thoroughly. Toss in the cinnamon stick (if using), chocolate, and sugar, and turn the heat on medium-low. Continue whisking. The mixture will start to thicken within a minute or two.2. Keep whisking and pour in the rest of the water. The mixture will continue to thicken as it cooks over the next five to eight minutes. Taste the champurrado and adjust the thickness with more water if necessary, and the sweetness with sugar.3. Run an immersion blender through the mixture to aerate it slightly (or give it a vigorous whisking) and serve immediately.

Nearly every TV on the market today is a smart TV, but not every operating system is a winner. A media streaming device lets you pair whichever user interface you prefer with just about any screen that has an HDMI port. In some cases, such as with older or less expensive smart TVs, a streaming stick or dongle could even be speedier and less glitchy than your TVs built-in system.At home, these handy gadgets make it easier for cord cutters to watch the millions of hours of content streaming services provide without cable. And while traveling, a streaming player lets you watch your preferred content on hotel sets (without painstakingly typing in a bunch of passwords or activation codes). We tested out streaming players from Roku, Google, Apple, Amazon and more, gauging the usability and the performance of each to come up with our list of the best streaming devices you can buy. What to look for in a TV streaming device Operating system and interface Googles TV Streamer, the Apple TV 4K, Amazons Fire TV Sticks and Roku devices are the most popular players in the space. Three of those brands also come built into TVs, such as Fire, Google and Roku TVs, but the Apple TV 4K doesn't come pre-loaded on any set. Each one has a unique operating system and interface. This may be the biggest deciding factor for many people, as it determines how the content you want to watch is arranged and presented. We go into detail for each platform below, but all of them come with home screens that, to varying degrees, gather your apps in one place, present the movies and TV shows youre currently watching and give you suggestions of other media streaming options. Nearly all streaming devices come with a remote that lets you search and do other operations using your voice, eliminating the need to hunt and peck at on-screen keyboards. They all offer universal search, in which searching for a title takes you to whichever app has it available. If you want to watch Barbie but dont know where its playing, just push the voice button on the remote and say "Barbie. (We found simply saying the title or the genre you want sometimes works better than saying Show me or Search for) From the search results, hit the play button and the correct app will open and start playing assuming youve previously logged into that app and, in most cases, have an active subscription. Connectivity Most streaming sticks connect to the internet via Wi-Fi, with the majority of them supporting Wi-Fi 5 or 6 protocols. Set-top boxes can also have Ethernet ports, so you can hardwire your internet connection to the device, which is always faster than wireless. Streaming media players connect to your TV through an HDMI port, and most sticks hide behind the screen, while set-top boxes sit on a surface nearby. Nearly all units also plug into an AC outlet for power. Some sticks used to work by pulling power from a USB port on the TV, but increasingly, these devices are designed to plug into the wall. Video and audio features If you have a screen that can display 4K content with Dolby Vision and HDR10, youll want a streaming device that supports those high-end formats. Of course, even the most top-shelf streamer cant make a 1080p TV display content in 4K. The series or movie also has to be transmitted in 4K and, increasingly, companies restrict higher-quality streaming to more expensive subscription plans. In short, every element needs to support the video or audio feature, otherwise the highest quality youll get will be the lowest of any component in the chain. Voice control In addition to helping you find stuff to watch, streaming devices from Apple, Google and Amazon can answer questions about the weather, sports scores and general facts using built-in voice assistants. They can also act as smart home controllers to turn off connected smart bulbs or plugs and show feeds from smart cameras. Just remember, as with all smart home devices, compatibility is key. Fire TV devices work with Alexa-enabled smart home equipment; the Google TV Streamer lets you control Google Home devices; Apple TV 4Ks play nice with HomeKit; and Rokus grant power over Rokus smart home products. Below are some recommendations for the best streaming sticks and other budget-friendly options. We also included suggestions for set-top boxes and devices geared toward gamers. Best streaming devices This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/best-streaming-devices-media-players-123021395.html?src=rss

Netflix announced an instant price hike for all of its plans in the US, Canada, Portugal and Argentina.

Netflix has unveiled the first few minutes from The Night Agent season 2 just two days before it's released.

U.S. President Donald Trumps rollback of electric vehicle targets may temporarily slow demand for lithium and other critical minerals, but is unlikely to hamper the mining industry amid surging global EV demand, analysts and industry leaders said.Trump on Tuesday revoked predecessor Joe Bidens 2021 executive order that sought to ensure half of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. by 2030 are electric. Automakers had been positioning for a jump in EV demand due largely to that Biden move.Trumps order caused shares of Japanese automakers, South Korean battery makers and Australian, U.S. and Chinese lithium miners to slip. But even if EV demand cools in the worlds second-biggest auto market, analysts and industry experts expect traction elsewhere to more than compensate.Trump has planned other regulatory changes to cut off support for EVs and charging stations. He also aims to strengthen measures blocking imports of automobiles and battery materials from China.Every time people take away subsidies or benefits its a dent to the demand scenario, said analyst Glyn Lawcock at Barrenjoey, an Australian investment bank. (But) ultimately demand will still grow even if the U.S. is a bit slower under Trump.Australian lithium producer Liontown Resources said the global transition to EVs was underway, with or without the United States.Longer term, I just dont think it will be an issue on demand, Antonino Ottaviano, Liontowns CEO, said on a Tuesday analyst call.Much of the EV industrys growth happens in China, accounting for 11 million sales or 65% of the market compared with North America, which accounts for 20% of the market, Liontown executives said on the call.Meanwhile, the rest of the world already accounts for 1.3 million EV sales and is growing at 27% year on year, a trajectory that will see it become more meaningful than the entire North American market in less than two years, the Liontown executives added.That growth potential is something Chinese EV manufacturers are chasing given they are locked out of the U.S. market due to 100% EV tariffs imposed by Biden.Grid-scale batteries that store days worth of electricity are rising in popularity across the world, for example. Critical metals are also used to build many consumer electronics as well as computer servers needed to power the artificial intelligence industry.Albemarle, the worlds largest lithium company, declined to comment on Trumps order.Arcadium, a lithium producer about to be bought by Rio Tinto and the International Lithium Association trade group, was not immediately available for comment.Rio Tinto also declined to comment on Trumps order, but its CEO Jakob Stausholm told the World Economic Forum on Tuesday that he is bullish on the white metal.Lithium demand will probably go up another five times over the next 15 years, so a lot more lithium projects will have to be built, Stausholm told the forum in Davos, Switzerland, adding that he has owned an EV for more than nine years.Its just a better car than an internal combustion engine, Stausholm added.David Klanecky, CEO of privately held battery recycler Cirba Solutions, expects U.S. demand for critical minerals to jump by 2030 due to the demand not just for EVs, but for myriad electronics.Beyond any target rollbacks, miners said they believe measures to wean Western manufacturers off Chinese supplies will underpin support for their metals.We expect measures taken to build supply chain independence from China to have a much greater impact than the rollback of a formal target for EV sales, said Darryl Cuzzubbo, CEO of Australian rare earths developer Arafura.There is a tipping point looming for electric vehicles at which targets and incentives wont be required to encourage take-up.Melanie Burton, Ernest Scheyder, and Alexander Smith, ReutersAdditional reporting by Violet Li and Stefanno Sulaiman.