For basically the entire history of film, weve been looking to the future and imagining what it would look like five, ten, 15,50 years from now, using whatever current technology and geopolitics we have to track trends and attempt to predict what the world is going to look like before we get there. Sometimes were pretty accurate, and sometimes we let our imagination get away from us, but its always interesting to look back and see if any of those predictions ended up coming true.Since were in the mid 2020s, our real world timeline is catching up with a bunch of futuristic movies from the past, some more prescient than others. 2025 is a big year in film it sounds like the future, and its situated comfortably in the middle of a decade, not too far away from the past, but not too close, either.Some of these movies are more famous than others, with a vision of the future that isnt too far from our current day. Were in the year of Her, with artificial intelligence taking over our social lives. Were also in the year of Pacific Rim and the little known made-for-TV movie Futuresport, which, thankfully, dont have that many similarities to our current reality. Lets look back at some of these forward-looking films and see which ones hold up, which are still pretty silly, and which ones might be more prescient than we could have even imagined.The Best (and Weirdest) Movies Set in the Year 2025How close are these 2025-set movies to life in the real 2025? Lets find out.Gallery Credit: Emma StefanskyREAD MORE: HowJohnny MnemonicPredicted the World of 2021Get our free mobile app80s Movies That Could Never Be Made TodayFiled Under: Her, Pacific RimCategories: Galleries, Movie News, Original Features

Time zones: EST (UTC -5), MST (UTC -7), ART (UTC -3), UTC -4, UTC -4:30, UTC -3, UTC -2Responsibility: Drive return on ad spend through paid ads for e-commerce clientsIn this role, you'll manage a diverse portfolio of clients from onboarding to continuous growth, creating data-driven strategies through platforms like Meta and TikTok. With a high degree of autonomy, you'll be responsible for achieving key metrics, such as CAC, NC-ROAS, eROAS, and ad spend targets.Main Accountabilities:You will ensure success of clients within your POD by executing on paid media strategy;You should feel comfortable auditing an ad account and using the data collected to inform an ad account strategy;You will work with the Growth Strategist to establish a paid social strategy centred around client objectives;You will use ad account and Triple Whale data to inform ad account optimisations;You will effectively test creative created internally and externally;You will report to the Growth Strategist on key learnings, bottlenecks, and future direction of an ad account;You will ensure each action we take in an ad account is centred around objectives and KPIs the Growth Strategist has established;You will report on performance by communicating this with the Growth Strategist and weekly/monthly client reports.You...Have at least two years of experience in running paid social advertising on MetaAre remaining at the forefront of paid social and using your insights to service clients withHave a great understanding of effective paid social testing and scaling approachesHave strong analytical skills with experience in data-driven decision-makingHave a lot of experience in using ad account data to inform day-to-day ad account changes and optimisationsAre highly organised and can ensure thorough ad account hygiene through your ad account structure and naming conventionsExperience & Skills:At least two years of experience running Meta and TikTok Ads at a high level for e-commerce brandsPreferably, prior agency experience or experience in a 7-8 figure e-commerce brandStrong understanding of Shopify and DTC e-commerceExceptional research skills to adapt quickly to varied client needs

Submitted by WA ContentsRea Studio completes Casa Alazn with porous volume in Jalisco, MexicoMexico Architecture News - Jan 22, 2025 - 14:07 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Mexican architecture practice Rea Studio has completed a house with porous upper volume in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mxico.Named Casa Alazn, the 505-square-metre house has a modern, minimalistic style that blends modern architectural characteristics with organic materials.The geometric composition of the lattice walls, which is based on triangular patterns, makes them stand out. This allows natural light and ventilation to flow through, producing dramatic shadow plays inside and outside the house.In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, this component significantly improves the room's lighting and temperature comfort.The lower floor's dark-toned natural stone walls offer a sturdy foundation that contrasts with the upper floor's latticework's seeming lightness. The overall composition of the facade is balanced by the contrast between the heavy and light elements.The house's modernity and the purity of its volumetric design are emphasized by the white coating on the upper walls. The main door's use of wood balances the sobriety of the stone and white by adding warmth and texture to the design.The relationship between the architectural design and its natural environment is strengthened by this careful material selection.Basement floorGround floor planFirst floor planProject factsProject name:Casa AlaznLocation:Zapopan, Jalisco, MexicoArchitectural Design:Rea Studio Year:2025Land area: 520m2Built area:505m2All images Jos Juan Rodrguez.All drawings Rea Studio.> via Rea Studio

Sites unveiled for two hospital rebuilds in northern England only last monthNHS trusts have pressed pause on two hospital sites in northern England worth a combined 3.5bn following the governments decision to delay the schemes past 2035.Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust have suspended public engagement on the 2bn Royal Preston Hospital and the 1.5bn Royal Lancaster Infirmary, which will now not start until 2037 and 2035 at the earliest, respectively.Work on a full replacement for Royal Preston Hospital may not start until 2039 under the new timetable for the governments New Hospital ProgrammeProposed sites for the full replacement schemes had only been announced in December 2024, with a series of public engagement events for the schemes launching earlier this month.The two trusts said: In light of the significant delay to the timeframes in which the new hospitals are expected to be built, the local NHS has made the difficult decision to suspend public engagement on the proposed sites.The planned programme of public events and independent market research will be cancelled until further notice.Aaron Cummins, chief executive of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust said the delay was disappointing, but we accept the need for a fully costed and deliverable timeline of investment through the New Hospital Programme.The move comes after health secretary Wes Streetings announcement on Monday of a revised timetable for the governments 20bn New Hospital Programme which will see 13 schemes delayed until at least 2035, five years after the original 2030 deadline set out by Boris Johnson in 2020.Work on the 1.7bn redevelopment of St Marys Hospital in central London is now scheduled to start between 2035 and 2038, while eight of the schemes in the third and final wave of the programme may now not start until 2039 under the cost-saving measures.Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust chief executive Tim Orchard said the delay to St Marys Hospital was devastating news for our communities, our staff and patients, and for the whole of the capitals healthcare system.We understand that the Governments New Hospital Programme must be affordable but the simple truth is that St Marys Hospital, in particular, will not last until the 2040s.Orchard added: We need to digest the detail of todays announcement, but we have to find a way to progress our schemes more quickly.This includes exploring alternative funding approaches, leveraging the value of our land that will be surplus to requirements and the significant contribution of our life science partnerships to local and national economic growth.The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust said it was extremely disappointed with the delay to the redevelopment of Royal Berkshire Hospital, now expected to start between 2035 and 2039, adding that staff and patients deserve better.The Trust added: The condition of our current hospital presents challenges for staff and patients which we manage every day, to deliver safe, high quality healthcare services to our local communities despite these challenges.We will be seeking urgent meetings with NHS England and the New Hospital Programme team to explore the implications of the announcement.Meanwhile, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Sam Higginson said the need for urgent investment has not been fully recognised in Streetings review of the programme, which has delayed the redevelopment of North Devon District Hospital to at least 2035.We have spoken publicly about the risks in our ability to continue to deliver health and care services which meet both our current and future needs, Higginson said.As the most remote hospital in mainland England, investing in our hospital services is vital to ensure we can continue caring for our local population for years to come.NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, said on Monday that the timetable review had come as a major blow to trusts, staff, patients and communities.The bodys chief executive Saffron Cordery said: Despite a hugely welcome cash injection in the recent budget and further boost today, the fact remains that too many NHS buildings and facilities are in a terrible condition right now.The governments maintenance backlog on public sector buildings is now at least 49bn, according to the latest estimate by the National Audit Office.In a report published yesterday, the governments spending watching said Ministry of Defence properties, schools and NHS properties have a backlog totalling more than 10 billion each and make up 88% of the total backlog.

Alistair Sim in a scene from Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (1951) Source:&nbsp Landmark Media/AlamyInspired by Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, Kunle Barker reflects on housings missing architectural component At a dinner party just before Christmas, a friend remarked that it was odd that, as a species, we have chosen the rather arbitrary marker of New Year to reflect on our lives. I accepted that no celestial events marked the New Year but disagreed that it was entirely arbitrary. We agreed to disagree, lest the red wine turned our debate into an argument. New Year offers an ideal moment for reflection; and this year my thoughts turned to housing.Over the Christmas break, I decided to introduce my daughters to Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. We were planning to watch a musical adaptation, so I thought it was the perfect time to introduce them to the story. As we sat watching Brian Desmond Hursts 1951 adaptation (the best, in my opinion), I couldnt help but reflect on the countrys current housing problems. I thought about how the crisis would shape my daughters experience of housing and how different that would be from my own.I imagined what it would be like if, instead of ghosts of Christmas, I was visited by ghosts of housing. What if I could travel through time and visit key moments in our housing history? Here are my musings.AdvertisementThe Ghost of Housing Past from the 1980sThe Ghost of Housing Past takes me to 1980, as Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher finalised the Right to Buy Act. The average house price was 20,897 three times the average salary. Right to Buy expanded homeownership but sparked a decline in affordable housing, with no commitment to replace the sold properties. In the following 10 years, over a million council homes had been sold, while new construction plummeted by 80 per cent, from 88,540 in 1980 to just 17,870 in 1990.Private investors exploited the scheme by buying discounted properties from tenants unable to exercise their right to buy, accelerating the loss of social housing. This era marked a shift in government policy as the state stepped back from mass housebuilding. Thatchers policy, once celebrated, created the patient zero of todays housing crisis epidemic.The Ghost of Housing Present from the 2020sThe Ghost of Housing Present takes me to 2020, where the average house price is now nine times the average wage. Every government since 1980 has struggled to build enough affordable housing. Even under Labour affordable housing was neglected, with only 130 local authority homes built in 2004, the lowest number since the Second World War. Consecutive governments have relied too much on the open market and mechanisms like Section 106 to provide affordable housing.In 2024, rising interest rates and the cost-of-living crisis have exacerbated the struggle. Help to Buy has inflated house prices and benefited developers over buyers. The average cost of a flat in London is now 430,000, with many young people locked out of the market. In the 2020s, governments have built just 177,593 new homes a year on average. Renters face severe financial strain, with a third spending over half of their income on housing.The Ghost of Housing Future from the 2060sThe Ghost of Housing Future offers two contrasting visions. In one dystopian scenario, mega-corporations dominate the housing market, where the average house price exceeds 1 million and home ownership is a bedtime story told by grandparents. Renters spend over 80 per cent of their income on housing and homelessness is widespread, with thousands housed in makeshift developments. Originally meant to be temporary, these now litter the country and are monuments to an entirely broken housing system.AdvertisementIn a more optimistic future, bold government action taken from 2025 onwards transforms the housing landscape. Affordable social housing and rent controls ensure fairness, while innovations like community land trusts and tokenised ownership broaden access. Government initiatives manage to align the goals of the public and private sectors, allowing good architecture to thrive and produce sustainable, community-focused housing developments. This focus on placemaking fosters thriving communities that promote economic growth and social cohesion. Improvements in general wellbeing reduce the burden on the NHS and state, proving that investing in housing is both a social and economic necessity.Dickens aside, the housing challenges we face are clear. Our industry understands the built environment better than anyone and homes are perhaps the most important part of that. There is no silver bullet, but our industry can and must lead the way; we must make our voices heard in a coherent manner.Fixing this crisis will take decades and many of us may not see the full results in our lifetimes. But thats the point the homes we envisage, design and build today will outlast us all. Lets use architecture to unite government, developers, and landowners to take bold, decisive steps forward, because every step we take now is a leap forward for the future.Kunle Barker is a property expert, journalist and broadcaster2025-01-22Kunle Barkercomment and share

Our Experts Written by James Bricknell Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Why You Can Trust CNET 16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience 14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space How we test CNETs expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. What to consider Number of cards The number of cards you need will determine the size and shape of your minimalist wallet. RFID blocking Are you worried about someone scanning your chip? RFID blocking wallets are the answer. Is cash needed? Having a sturdy money clip or elastic band is important if you need cash. Wallet material If you want specific materials then some wallets may not be suitable for you. Table of Contents Our Picks Best overall minimalist wallet Ridge Wallet View details $95 at Amazon View details Best mechanical minimalist wallet Ekster Cardholder View details $89 at Ekster View details Best minimalist wallet with Apple Find My built in Groove Life Trace View details $125 at Groove Life View details Best luxury minimalist wallet Bosca real leather bi fold View details $110 at Amazon View details Best minimalist wallet for under $15 Hammer Anvil Minimalist View details $10 at Amazon View details Best American-made minimalist wallet Groove Life View details $90 at Amazon View details Best magsafe minimalist wallet Bluebonnet Magsafe View details $60 at Bluebonnet View details Best branded minimalist wallet Ridge NFL wallet View details $125 at Amazon View details Discommon Wallet 3.0 View details $110 at Discommon Goods View details Vaultskin Notting Hill View details $50 at Amazon View details Trayvax's Armored Summit Wallet View details $37 at Amazon View details Thread Wallets Elastic View details $16 at Amazon View details Table of Contents Over the years, wallets have gradually evolved. Back in the '90s, it was all about velcro and chains. In the 2000s, I carried a huge wallet to hold all the receipts I thought I might need just in case. But now, with everything going digital, theres no need for a wallet that fits everything -- most of us rarely carry cash, let alone paper receipts. That means bulky, bigger wallets don't make sense anymore. The trend has also shifted towards simplicity and minimalism. All you need is enough room for an ID, a couple of cash cards and a medical card. There are some exceptions, of course, but for the most part, the modern wallet is ultra-thin and fairly minimalist, fitting into our pockets with ease.Ive spent hours testing a variety of wallets to evaluate their feel, fit and functionality. Based on that experience, I can confidently say the options below are the best minimalist wallets available. Whether youre seeking a robust metal design or a luxurious full-grain leather wallet that feels amazing, youll find the perfect choice below. Massive wallets like the one George Costanza carried around are a thing of the past. Sony Pictures Home EntertainmentWhat's the best minimalist wallet?For our money, the Ridge wallets are the best minimalist wallets you can buy. Sure, they aren't the cheapest, but they are sturdy, good-looking and can be customized to fit your needs well. Although there are plenty of bifold and trifold thin wallet options, we're mostly focused on one-panel design wallets here. These usually hold between four and 10 credit and debit cards, although some do it more artfully than others, and there is a variety of fabrics and colors to choose from. Some are hybrids, which combine a wallet and money clip or elastic band. Most offer some RFID blocking technology, which is advertised as a protective measure against electronic pickpocketing, like scammers skimming data stored on your contactless credit cards. (That may bean overblown concern.)Tactical wallets also have built-in multitools, should you be the type to be randomly kidnapped and ditched in a forest somewhere. Just remember that you'll need to take any bladed multitools out before you fly, because TSA confiscating your wallet isn't fun. At all.Best minimalist wallet of 2025

Netflix has introduced a new type of extra member account: extra members with ads.The streamer announced the new offering in a shareholder letter on Tuesday before its fourth-quarter earnings call. In the US, according to Netflix's help site, adding an extra member with ads costs $7 per month, and the option is available alongside the pre-existing extra member accounts that do not have ads.Per Netflix's site, these extra member accounts work similarly to the previous version as a way to pay more for an additional person located in a different household. You'll need an ad-free type of Netflix -- either Standard or Premium -- to purchase an extra member slot. Netflix Premium subscribers can add up to two slots, and Standard customers get one. Extra members have a separate account and password.Netflix also announced price increases on Tuesday. Now, the ad-based extra member version costs $1 per month less than the Standard with Ads plan and $2 less than an ad-free extra member account.Other than the price, a difference between being an extra member with ads and a Standard with Ads subscriber is that extra members can only watch and download on one device at a time. Standard with Ads members get two simultaneous screens and devices for downloading. Extra members get one profile, and Standard with Ads customers get up to five.In the shareholder letter, Netflix said it aimed to give members "additional choice and flexibility" with the extra member offering. Ad-supported sign-ups accounted for over 55% of sign-ups in Netflix's ads countries in its fourth quarter, according to the letter, and ad-based membership grew close to 30% quarter over quarter.

There's an impressive unofficial Indiana Jones and the Great Circle VR mod on the way and we've played itEyeful of Destiny. Video by Ian Higton Video Producer Published on Jan. 22, 2025 Luke Ross, the prolific flat to VR modder and creator of the REAL VR mod has been suspiciously quiet recently. Turns out this was because he's been secretly digging into the code for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and he's emerged from its dusty depths with an upcoming PC VR mod that's so exciting, it might just belong in a museum. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Watch on YouTubeThat's right, a REAL VR mod that will allow you to explore the open worlds of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is on the way, and Luke offered me a chance to inspect an early access version of his work. You can watch around 40 minutes worth of gameplay, including a full, commentary free playthrough of the Raiders-set intro chapter in the video above. Be wary of spoilers though, especially after the 20 minute mark as I do check out some late-game locations. If you'd just like to get idea of what it would be like to star in Raiders of the Lost Ark though, skip ahead to the 27 minute mark. There are some amazing views in The Great Circle, but I found that tomb raiding offered me the most immersive virtual moments.Just like Luke's other mods, this one adds full 6DoF VR to the game but not motion controls, so you'll still need to play through the game with a normal controller. This is always a bit of a sore point for diehard VR enthusiasts, but it doesn't bother me as I just appreciate the fact that I can explore previously flat worlds as if I were there. This is especially true for The Great Circle which combines highly detailed assets with small but incredibly dense open worlds to form lush looking locations that are a joy to explore in virtual reality.One thing I did struggle with whilst trying out the mod though was the first-person combat. All the action is right up in your face and the swings of Indy's fists and weapons felt like it pulled the camera around quite a lot and, as you'll see if you watch the video, this ended up with me missing a lot of blows. According to Luke's Patreon blog post however, this is a problem that seems to be unique to me which, to be fair, sounds about right as I'm well known for breaking every game I touch. Nevertheless, this mod still feels like a perfect companion piece for a spot of virtual tourism after you've completed the game in flat, as revisiting areas after that point is super easy thanks to the travel options in the menus. The flat images and video really don't do sights like this justice. The river, the wooden walkways, the buildings and the distant trees add so much depth and realism to the scene in VR.One thing to note also is that I had to keep the texture qualities fairly low to get smooth capture for this one so if you have a decent GPU and you're not running a bunch of capture programs at the same time, you should be able to achieve way sharper visuals than you can see in my video with a little bit of tinkering. But when will you get to do this tinkering? Well, dust off your fedora and unravel your whips because according to Luke, his mod is almost ready for release.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide The topic of skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) in Call of Duty continues to spark debate among players. For many, its presence in Black Ops 6 and Warzone negatively impacts the action while some prefer more competitive matches to test their skills on their favourite maps and game modes.In recent weeks, players have started contacting Activision to request their data which showcases details on the strength of SBMM in their matches over the last six years. To the delight of many, the data shows it is possible to find no-skill lobbies where the opposition is much easier to overcome.Call of Duty has no-skill SBMM lobbiesAfter receiving data from Activision, streamer TacticalBrit showcased a handful of entries that included his matchmaking strength.The numbers can range from anywhere between zero and above to highlight the strength of matchmaking during that particular match. The content creator reveals that his very first Warzone match had a matchmaking of 550, significantly higher than your average battle royale match which typically has a matchmaking strength between 100 and 200.Its unclear how players end up in a match where the matchmaking strength is zero. With Activision cracking down on using VPNs to enter easier lobbies, the ability to end up in a match where the skills of players vary from newcomer to seasoned veteran.Is Call of Duty SBMM improving?Activision continues to claim its matchmaking prioritises connection over skill level but players remain unconvinced. The presence of SBMM in casual playlists often detracts from the fun but in Ranked Play, the system ensures players of a similar level are competing against each other.Players having the ability to analyse their data all the way back to 2019s Modern Warfare and the first iteration of Warzone is great for those wanting to see how the strength changes over time. However, the additional clarity isnt likely to calm the SBMM debate anytime soon especially if some are entering lobbies where theres no matchmaking strength whatsoever.For more CoD intel, check out the best controller settings along with the best KSV loadout thats proving popular.Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereA PlayStation Store listing for a fake GTA 6 knockoff has been taken down by Sony. Dubbed GRAND TAKING AGES VI, the obvious parody game was listed using AI-generated art, an annoying a prominent trend for rushed, knockoff releases on PS4 and PS5.PlayStation actually removes GTA 6 parodyListed in December for PlayStation 5 consoles, the game claimed to be The Most Anticipated Game About Making The Most Anticipated Game! Players would allegedly be tasked with running a dream game studio while juggling angry fans, corporate chaos, and endless delays. Fight your way through gaming conventions, dodge ruthless journalists, and master the art of creative excuses.Following news of the games listing, the title has since been removed from the PlayStation Store, a rare occurrence for shovelware on the system. Speaking to IGN, developer Violarte revealed that it has made changes to the game, including removing the VI from the title, and hopes to bring the game back to PS5 players eyes.We genuinely believe that, with the recent updates, Grand Taking Ages is now ready to be relisted on the PlayStation Store, a spokesperson for the studio told the outlet. We strongly believe that there will be no issues with Sony this time, given the adjustments weve implemented.The earlier version of the game was also struck from the PC gaming marketplace Steam. However, since making some changes, Grand Taking Ages is now available to wishlist again with a proposed release date of July 2025.The storefront is also filled with images and videos of what players can expect to do in the title, alongside a number of AI-generated images attempting to mimic the style of GTA 6 artwork. Gameplay footage shows poorly modelled, lighting-less rooms with virtual game developers working on their game. After all, its a game about making a game.Promotional Art vs In-Game GraphicsIn reality, Grand Taking Ages is pretty much another take on games like Internet Cafe Simulator or Supermarket Simulator, albeit about running a games studio. However, you also have to deal with people who wish to fight you, likely the aforementioned angry fans and ruthless journalists. It doesnt look very good but its also unfinished.As for the actual GTA 6, theres still no official release date outside of the 2025 period. When it does release, the game is expected to be the biggest entertainment launch in history. Grand Taking Ages probably wont be.Grand Theft Auto 6Platform(s):PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Action, Action AdventureSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share