Out of nowhere, Koei Tecmo announced that Rise of the Ronin is coming to PC. It will launch for $49.99, and thankfully, the system requirements arent too hefty. However, youll need a solid-state drive and 180 GB of free space for installation.As revealed by its Steam listing, the minimum requirements demand an Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600, 16 GB RAM, and a GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB) or Radeon RX 5500 XT (8 GB). This is enough for 1080p/30 FPS on the lowest settings and with upscalers.The recommended requirements include a Core i5-10600K or Ryzen 5 5600X, 16 GB RAM, and a GeForce RTX 2080 Super (8 GB) or Radeon RX 6700XT (12 GB) for 1080p/60 FPS at the Standard settings and will upscaling. An NVMe SSD is also required.Frame Generation is available in both cases to bump the FPS. What kind of hardware will be required for playing in 4K/60 FPS or even at 1440p on High settings remains to be seen, so stay tuned for further details.Rise of the Ronin launches on March 11th for PC. Pre-orders can net an Iga-Ninja Armor Set/Katana and four combat styles for free until April 2nd.

Microsoft, Team Ninja, and PlatinumGames grabbed the headlines with the announcement ofNinja Gaiden 4at the recent Xbox Developer_Direct presentation, but it wasnt the onlyNinja Gaidengame to take the spotlight. No, Koei Tecmo also showcasedNinja Gaiden 2 Black,an enhanced remaster (or remake) of the classic 2008 action title. Here, were going to go over everything that you should know about it, starting with some core, basic details about theoriginalNinja Gaiden 2itself.STORY DETAILSNinja Gaiden 2is set one year after the events ofNinja Gaiden Black,and once again puts players in the shoes of series protagonist Ryu Hayabusa. As the game kicks off, the master ninja crosses paths with a CIA agent named Sonia, who informs him of an impending attack on Hayabusa Village by the Black Spider Ninja Clan, who wish to get their hands on the Demon Statue. Unsurprisingly, things escalate, and Ryu finds himself on a globe-trotting, brutal, action-packed journey.COMBAT DETAILSFans of character action games will emphatically tell you thatNinja Gaiden 2is one of the best and most spectacularly well-designed games in the genre- which, of course, means combat is priority number 1. The game places quite a bit of focus on dismemberment (which well speak more of in a bit), and is, of course, notoriously punishing, which means precise timing, clever combos, and blocks are key. Ryu can also absorb essence dropped by slain enemies and use it to heal himself.WEAPONSNinja Gaiden 2sweapon variety is among its biggest strengths. Ryus Dragon Sword serves as his primary weapon, but throughout the game, players also use dual katanas, giant hammers, scythes, claws, shurikens, tonfas, and more. Ranged weapons such as bows, canons, machine guns, and gatling guns are also included, while Ryu is also capable of unleashing a number of magical abilities.REMAKE OR REMASTER?Koei Tecmo has officially dubbedNinja Gaiden 2 Blacka remaster, though theres a case to be made that it might be more than that. At the very least, its a very comprehensive and thorough remaster, and also moves the game to an entirely different engine. Whether or not you could call it a remake is debatable, but then again, theres no shortage of remakes out there that are essentially one-to-one recreations (or close enough), from 2020s Demons Soulsto the upcomingMetal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.UNREAL ENGINE 5As we touched on,Ninja Gaiden 2 Blackmoves the game to a new engine. The originalNinja Gaiden 2was built on an internal, proprietary engine, but the remaster was developed using Unreal Engine 5. Koei Tecmo says the engine has been utilized to create stunning current-generation graphics, allowing players to immerse themselves more deeply in the storys world.ENHANCEMENTSSo exactly what sort of visual and technical enhancements can we expect from the game? Well, as its reveal trailer showed, its a significant graphical upgrade over the predecessor, with effectively the entire game and all of tis assets having been overhauled and redone. Meanwhile, as per the games official Xbox store page, it also features support for ray tracing, HDR10, and VRR.RESOLUTION AND FRAME RATEIn addition to its visual upgrade, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black 2also touting impressive visual targets. On Xbox Series X, for instance, the game is capable of running at up to 4K and 120 FPS, as per its aforementioned store page. Presumably, the same is also true on PS5. The games PlayStation Store page also confirms that it is PS5 Pro Enhanced.WHY NINJA GAIDEN 2?Why exactly are we getting aNinja Gaiden 2remake (or remaster) out of nowhere (not that were complaining)? According to Team Ninja head Fumihiko Yasuda,Ninja Gaiden 2was chosen in particular because it stands even now as one of the best action games around, and to reassure fans who might be concerned about the future of Ryu Hayabusa (who isnt the main protagonist in the upcomingNinja Gaiden 4). Speaking to Xbox Wire, Yasuda said, he biggest reason for developingNinja Gaiden 2 Black was to address the concerns of core fans who might be wondering, Whats going to happen to Ryu Hayabusa? We also wanted to give players something to enjoy as they wait for the release of Ninja Gaiden 4. We chose Ninja Gaiden 2because it stands as one of the most solid action games in the series. We added Black to the title to signal to fans that this is the definitive version, much likeNinja Gaiden Black was for the first game.INCLUDES SIGMA 2 CHARACTERSNinja Gaiden 2 Blackis based on the original 2008 title, but that doesnt mean it will be ignoring the 2009 re-releaseNinja Gaiden Sigma 2. Chief among theSigma 2elements and features included inNinja Gaiden 2 Blackare three of the formers additional playable characters in the form of Rachel, Momji, and Ayane.INCLUDES HERO PLAY STYLE MODEKoei Tecmo is billingNinja Gaiden 2 Blackas the definitive version ofNinja Gaiden 2, as evidenced by its aforementioned inclusion ofSigma 2characters. In addition,Sigma 2sHero Play Style Mode is also coming back. Effectively an easy mode, it enables higher damage output and easier dismemberment, while also enabling auto-blocking and auto-evade for a brief window anytime Ryus health drops too low.Ninja Gaiden 2can be a brutally difficult game, so Hero modes inclusion is definitely a nice option to have, for those who want a more relaxing experience.LENGTHAs a faithful recreation of the originalNinja Gaiden 2,you can expectNinja Gaiden 2 Blackto be roughly the same length- which means itll be substantial enough. As per HLTB, the action title can be anywhere between 15-25 hours long, depending on how you play it and how much you choose to engage with its optional offerings.ENHANCED DISMEMBERMENTDismemberment is a big part of the combat inNinja Gaiden 2,as weve touched on, and this remaster doubles down on that. According to Koei Tecmo,Ninja Gaiden 2 Blackfeatures enhanced and remastered dismemberment and gore elements in order to enhance the action experience. If that stuff makes you queasy, however, the game also features a toggle for dismemberment in the options menu, making for what Koei Tecmo describes as a more toned down experience.PC REQUIREMENTSWhat sort of a rig will you need to runNinja Gaiden 2 Blackon PC? As youd expect, the requirements are fairly reasonable, more or less. On minimum settings, to run the game at 720p and 60 FPS, youll need either an i5-8400 or a Ryzen 5 3400G, along with either a GeForce GTX 1060 or a Radeon RX 590, and 12 GB of RAM. Meanwhile, on recommended settings (1080p/60 FPS), youll need either an i7-8700 or a Ryzen 5 3600 XT, along with either a GeForce GTX1080 or a Radeon RX 5700XT, and 16 GB of RAM. On either setting, youll also need 85 GB of storage and an SSD.PRICENinja Gaiden 2 Blackis, of course, available now, with Koei Tecmo choosing to shadow drop the game on the day of its announcement itself. Available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, the remake is being sold at a price of $49.99.GAME PASSThose who wish to spend even less money on the remake have the option to do that as well.Ninja Gaiden 2 Blackis also available via Game Pass, which means those subscribed to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, or the original base console tier (which is no longer offered) can download the game at no additional cost.

AnAmorphophallus gigasplant bloomed at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York on January 24, with hundreds of flowers producing a putrid stench. Brooklyn Botanic GardenThe air was thick with both anticipation and a pungent smell as visitors flocked to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden last weekend for a chance to see a rare flower bloom.The Amorphophallus gigasa cousin to Amorphophallus titanum, commonly known as a corpse floweris native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The specimen in Brooklyn, nicknamed Smelliot by garden staff, arrived in 2018 as a seedling from Malaysia, according to a statement from the garden. Now almost six feet tall, its one of only ten known plants of its species housed at a botanic garden worldwide.This was Smelliots first inflorescenceso called because rather than a single flower, it has hundreds of flowers inside the bloom, explains Chris Sprindis, a gardener at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, to John Minchillo at the Associated Press. And beyond its standout smell, such a bloom is special, because its rare: With years between these events, and weeks of anticipation as the plants tall spadix grows, the blossoming period only lasts about three days.The chance to seeand smellthe flower drew New Yorkers outside, despite the cold. Even while the chills of winter can easily keep me indoors snuggled under a blanket, watching this once-in-a-lifetime flower about to bloom has made me very excited, visitor Jackie Jackson tells Anna Kod at the New York Times. Ive only seen stories about the corpse flower on TV or online, so to be able to see and smell this in person is a tremendous and exciting opportunity.The plant smells bad for good reason. The scent of rotting flesh attracts pollinators, like beetles and flies, that lay their eggs in dead animals. It smells like feet, cheese and rotten meat. It just smelled like the worst possible combination of smells, visitor Elijah Blades tells the AP. That was disgusting.The short-lived bloom lasted from Friday morning through Sunday, when it collapsed. Another inflorescence wont occur for a while, adds Sprindis to the AP. Its not going to happen next year. Its going to be several years before it happens again. Visitors to Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden photograph a blooming corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) on January 24. Don Arnold / Getty ImagesSo far, 2025 seems to be the year of the smelly flower: A bloom of the related species Amorphophallus titanum also recently drew thousands of people to Sydneys Royal Botanic Garden, where a corpse flower hadnt bloomed for 15 years. A 24/7 livestream of the flower, dubbed Putricia, garnered more than one million views.Something that occurs this rarely is always a special occasion, says Brett Summerell, chief scientist at the citys Royal Botanic Garden, to the Guardians Caitlin Cassidy. Its spectacular, its unique.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Australia, Botany, Exhibits, Flowers, Gardening, New York City, Plants, Tourism

The golden helmet of Coofeneti at the Drents Museum Drents MuseumIn the dead of the night, three hooded thieves appeared outside theDrents Museum in Assen, a city in the northeastern Netherlands. Security camera footage shows them carrying a duffle bag, a crowbar and flashlights. Suddenly, a white flash obscures the image. Sparks and smoke scatter across the scene.With the aid of explosives, the thieves blasted their way into the museums renowned galleries full of antiquities and artfrom the worldsoldest known boat to an early Vincent van Gogh painting depicting a Dutch peasant burning weeds in the twilight.But as the sun rose on Assen and the authorities assessed the damage, it became clear that the thieves were after objects from the Dacia: Empire of Gold and Silver exhibition, a collection of archaeological treasures from museums across Romania that was supposed to close on January 26the day after the robbery.This is a dark day,Harry Tupan, the general director of the Drents Museum, says in astatement. We are intensely shocked by the events last night at the museum. In its 170-year existence, there has never been such a major incident. It also gives us enormous sadness towards our colleagues in Romania.Four golden objects are missing from the museum, including three royal bracelets and the resplendenthelmet of Coofeneti, which was on loan from theNational History Museum of Romania in Bucharest.Beelden van verdachten explosie en inbraak in Drents Museum in AssenWatch on Emil Hurezeanu, Romanias foreign minister, emphasized the profound emotional impact this incident generates in Romania, according to Irina Marica ofRomania Insider.The four stolen artifacts help tell the story of theDacian people, who lived in aregion that encompassed parts of modern-day Romania and several nearby countries. Their kingdom lasted until the Roman Empireconquered the region in around106 C.E.This is more than just a theft; it is a wound to the Romanian community, Romanian art historian and journalistClaudia Marcu tells theDutch Broadcasting Foundation (NOS), per a translation by theNL Times.The Coofeneti helmet, crafted out of solid gold around 450 B.C.E., is particularly meaningful to Romanian national identity.Every child in Romania learns about this helmet in school, Cornel Colceru, a Romanian translator based in the Netherlands, tells NOS. Its the symbol of the Dacians and their treasures. The stolen Dacian bracelets were found at the Sarmizegetusa Regia, the kingdom's ancient capital. Ing. Marius Amarie / Drents MuseumA replica of the helmet even featured in The Dacians, a 1966 Romanian film about clashes between the Roman Empire and the Dacian kingdom, according to theWashington Posts Kelly Kasulis Cho.The helmet was unearthed by children in the 1920s after a heavy rain washed away part of a hillside in central RomaniasPrahova region. After playing with it for a while, the children took it home, where the family used it as a water bowl for farm animals, according to the Drents Museum.A merchant fromPloieti, Prahovas capital, purchased the helmet from the family in 1929 and later donated it to the National Museum of Antiquities. It arrived at the National History Museum of Romania in the 1970s.Made from three gold plates welded together, the helmet features rich mythological imagery. On its front, two golden eyes are said to possess apotropaic qualities, or the ability to ward off evil, according to a gallery guide from the Drents Museum. The helmets decoration succinctly summarizes the blend of civilizational and artistic elements from ancient Eurasian and Greek culturesincluding griffins, sphinxes and a male figure sacrificing a ram.The bracelets, which date to around 50 B.C.E., were uncovered inSarmizegetusa Regia, the ancient Dacian capital, and feature spiraling gold loops. TheCoofeneti helmet dates to the fifth century B.C.E. Ing. Marius Amarie / Drents MuseumWe must find these items before they are melted down,Andrea Teunissen-Oprea, Romanias honorary consul in the Netherlands, tells NOS.The Dutch police have enlisted the help ofInterpol, an international police organization that specializes in transnational crime, according to astatement.Asimilar art theft using explosives took place at theMPV Gallery in the Dutch town of Oisterwijk in November, although those thieves were ultimately less successful, per Mike Corder of theAssociated Press.The thieves ran from the gallery with four Andy Warhol works. But after discovering that the paintings wouldnt fit in their getaway car, they ditched two on the road and ripped the other two out of their frames, damaging them in the process. Mark Peet Visser, the gallerys owner, called the robbery amateurish.In contrast, the recent incident at the Drents Museum was no amateur burglary, writes the New York Times Ali Watkins. Police have linked it to a nearby car fire, suggesting that the suspects may have set one car on fire and drove away in another. The search is ongoing, and the Drents Museum is closed until further notice.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

Midwest Games, which is focused on showcasing indie game talent across the Midwest of the United States and other underrepresented regions, introduced a new service support model, shadow publishing.Extending the publishers expertise into a services model addresses a critical gap in the games market thats currently underservedmore games are entering the market and fewer traditional publishing deals are available, leaving studios with the daunting task of self-publishing, the company said. As part of this new initiative, Green Bay, Wisconsin-based Midwest Games has appointed games industry veteran Elizabeth Howard as chief advisor for services. Howard, who most recently served as vice president of production at Bungie, brings 20 years of experience in business development, publishing, production, and portfolio management. She will lead the team in delivering tailored publishing solutions that empower game developers and bring great experiences to players. Under CEO Ben Kvalo, Howard joins the current leadership of Jennifer Corbett, chief marketing officer, and Chris Klimecky, chief product officer.Elizabeth Howards is the chief adviser for services at Midwest Games.Midwest Games will offer both la carte and full-service support on a work-for-hire basis, allowing developers to retain future revenue and IP rights.Midwest Games shadow publishing offers services before, during, and after launch for PC and console games of all genres. The company touts its location as an advantage in pricing to keep publishing support accessible and allow more funds to go directly into each game. Services will cover the full needs of bringing a game to market, including business and publishing strategy, platform management, marketing and PR, and developer services.The games market has evolved. To succeed, games need to hit all facets of publishing throughout the entire development lifecycle, yet many studios lack the resources, Howard said in a statement. While flexible models exist for development, that same flexibility has been missing in publishinguntil recently. Midwest Games shadow publishing provides a scalable solution that integrates strategy and execution so studios can focus on making great games.Midwest Games shadow publishing presents a few key differentiators:Comprehensive services: This is one of the first full-service offerings worldwide that aligns strategy, production, and marketing in one vendor for those who want to enlist a full suite of capabilities.Flexibility: Unlike traditional publishing partnerships, this model provides the studio with options in scaled support, pricing, and service timelines.Retained ownership: Game owners retain their IP and full revenue while having full say over publishing decisions.In a statement, Kvalo said, By empowering partners with the right knowledge and resources, Midwest Games can help studios navigate a competitive and fragmented publishing landscape while retaining the value of their game and years of hard work for the long term. Were incredibly excited to bring Elizabeths leadership in publishing and developer services to spearhead the initiative to support more games.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.

DeepSeek-R1 can collect and store on servers located in China, but there's an easy way to circumvent this.Read More

AI 2.0: Personalization That Respects Your Privacy 0 like January 27, 2025Share this postAuthor(s): Mukundan Sankar Originally published on Towards AI. The Hidden Revolution of AI: Personalization Without IntrusionThis member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.Image created by the author using ChatGPTPicture this: As you browse your favorite streaming platform like your Netflix, Amazon Prime or what have you- an amazing recommendation appears just when you need it most. Or you are shopping on the worlds biggest shopping platform and it gives you the perfect item you were seeking in your recommendations! Its not just another suggestion; it feels tailor-made to match your unique taste and mood. Now picture this the AI behind that recommendation didnt invade your privacy, didnt sift through your data, and didnt creep into your life.It sounds impossible, but its not. This is the quiet revolution unfolding in artificial intelligence.The catalyst? Two groundbreaking techniques rewriting how AI personalizes without compromise: FedSelect: Personalized Federated Learning via Customized Selection of Parameters for Fine-Tuning and Personalized Federated Learning via Sequential Layer Expansion. These arent just academic papers. Theyre blueprints for the AI of the future a future where personalization meets privacy and efficiency meets scalability.Lets examine this revolution in detail and understand how it will impact you, me, and billions of others.Artificial intelligence has a hidden issue: the personalized experiences we Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

Author(s): Sudeep Originally published on Towards AI. Now lets learn about Correlation. Correlation is a statistical measure that indicates the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables.In a dataset, the values can show:Positive Correlation: As one variable increases, the other variable also increases.Negative Correlation: As one variable increases, the other variable decreases.No Correlation: There is no apparent relationship between the two variables.Made with WhimsicalCovarianceCovariance is a statistical measure that indicates the degree to which two random variables change together. It helps describe the relationship between the variables and can be:Positive: When both variables tend to increase or decrease together.Negative: When one variable increases as the other decreases.Zero: When there is no linear relationship between the variables.Where:x_i, and y_i are the individual data points of variables X and Y.x y are the mean values of X and Y.n is the total number of observations.Note: If the formula uses 1/m, where m=n1, this is referred to as the Bessels Correction, which is used to calculate the sample covariance to avoid bias when estimating population covariance.Limitations of CovarianceOne issue with covariance is that its value is not normalized. If we increase the range of x or y, the covariance will also increase, making it difficult to interpret the strength of the relationship on its own.Solution: NormalizationTo address this, we normalize the covariance by dividing it by the product of the standard deviations of x and y. This gives us the correlation coefficient, which is a dimensionless measure that ranges between -1 and 1Where:_x and _y are the standard deviations of x and y, respectively.The correlation coefficient makes it easier to compare relationships across different datasets, regardless of their scales.This is know as Pearsons Correlation and it is represented as r.Properties of Pearsons Correlation:r = 1: Perfect positive correlation (variables increase together).r = 1: Perfect negative correlation (one variable increases as the other decreases).r = 0: No linear correlation between the variables.Still the Problem is not YET SOLVED.In the above graph, we notice some outliers (the dots in the 4th quadrant). These outliers can significantly influence the calculation of the Pearson correlation coefficient r, leading to incorrect results. For instance, the presence of these outliers might cause r to be less than 0, even when the relationship between the majority of the data points suggests otherwise.Solution:To handle this issue, we need to introduce Rank Correlation, which is more robust to outliers. Rank correlation methods, such as Spearmans Rank Correlation Coefficient, rely on the relative ranking of data points rather than their actual values. This makes them less sensitive to extreme values, ensuring a more accurate representation of the underlying relationship.Spearmans Rank Correlation Coefficient Equation:The equation for Spearmans rank correlation coefficient is:Where: = Spearmans rank correlation coefficientd_i = the difference in ranks for each pair of valuesn = the number of data pointsThis formula computes the rank-based correlation. Now, notice that Spearmans rank correlation is essentially a Pearson correlation of the ranked values, rather than the raw data. This makes it a useful method when the relationship between variables is not linear or when there are outliers in the data.To know more about how this works in numerical problems check out this: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/spearmans-rank-correlation/Random ExperimentA random experiment is any activity or process that we perform where the result cannot be predicted exactly beforehand. However, we know all the possible outcomes, and each outcome has a chance of happening. Even if we do the same experiment multiple times under the same conditions, the result might be different each time.Example: Marks of Students in a ClassImagine youre conducting a random experiment where you ask each student in a class to pick a random number between 1 and 100, representing their mock test score. This is what happens:The process (experiment): Asking students to pick a number.Uncertain result: You cannot predict what number each student will pick. One student might choose 85, another 60, another 45, etc.Possible outcomes: The numbers they can choose are between 1 and 100 (all the possible test scores).Chance or probability: Each number has a probability of being chosen. For example, if students pick completely randomly, all numbers have an equal chance.Even though you repeated the process (experiment) of asking students under the same conditions, the numbers they pick can vary each time. This makes it a random experiment.Summary: Understanding Correlation, Covariance, and Random ExperimentsIn this article, we explored the foundational concepts of correlation, covariance, and random experiments:Correlation:Measures the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables.Types:Positive: Variables increase together.Negative: One variable increases as the other decreases.No Correlation: No apparent relationship.Covariance:Describes how two variables change together.Types:Positive: Variables increase or decrease together.Negative: One variable increases as the other decreases.Zero: No relationship.Limitation: Covariance is not normalized, making it difficult to interpret.Normalization via Pearsons Correlation:Dividing covariance by the product of the standard deviations of the variables gives the correlation coefficient (rrr).Properties:r=1r = 1r=1: Perfect positive correlation.r=1r = -1r=1: Perfect negative correlation.r=0r = 0r=0: No linear correlation.Addressing Outliers with Rank Correlation:Outliers can distort Pearsons correlation.Solution: Spearmans Rank Correlation computes correlation based on the relative ranks of data points, making it robust to outliers.Random Experiments:Processes with uncertain outcomes but known possibilities.Example: Students picking random numbers as mock test scores.In the next article, well delve deeper into random experiments, exploring the estimation of populations, its types, and more statistical insights. Stay tuned Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AI

DC and Marvel have always chased each other in circles going back to the dawn of The World Outside Your Window. Hell, at one point they were even chasing Jack Kirby back and forth between companies. So its not at all weird to, on the one hand, have a newly powered Peter Parker working with Harry Osborn and Otto Octavius to untangle mysteries behind the Kingpin; and on the other, have Bruce Wayne, also just starting his hero career, sitting down for a poker game with Harvey Dent, Oswald Cobblepot, Waylon Jones and Eddie Nygma, wheedling intel out of them over the course of what appears to be a regular game. Thats par for the course for the companies at this point.What is odd is that these Spider-Man and Batman stories are simultaneously the best superhero comics on the stands and part of alternate lines that are fulfilling the promise of Marvels original Ultimate Universe concept.Twenty-five years ago, Marvel Comics, crawling out of the shadow of a bankruptcy, tried something new. They started over, relaunching the Marvel Universe on an alternate Earth, starting in 2000 instead of 1962, and for a minute, it felt like it was something truly fresh and full of exciting possibilities. Indie crime comic newbie Brian Michael Bendis and perpetually post-9/11-even-before-9/11 writer Mark Millar relaunched Spider-Man and the X-Men for a new generation and made the books cool and relatable in a way they hadnt really been for years. It helped that new #1s for all these books made these great jumping-on points for new readers, including fans of the Spidey and mutant movies of the era. Eventually, that original line devolved into rehashing concepts from the main Marvel Universe (WITH A TWIST!) and then collapsed even further into shock jock comics (do NOT read Ultimatum). By the time the line started really innovating, it was barely hanging on. We lucked into Miles Morales, the Ultimate Universes most high-profile creation, and he was saved from doom (literally) by that popularity when Earth-1610 was destroyed by Jonathan Hickman, Esad Ribic, and Earth-616 in the greatest superhero crossover event ever written, 2015s Secret Wars.However, despite its initial MASSIVE popularity, DC never actually chased this alternate universe line of books, likely because Marvel used it as a way around rebooting its entire universe, something DC had done *counts on fingers* at least three times by 2000 (one and a half, if you count Zero Hour and Final Night as the same story). Until Marvels Ultimates were dug out of their graves. By the guy who put them there.There are some surface differences between the two lines, reflected in who launched them. Hickman, the meticulous planner who destroyed Earth-1610, schemed out an entire history for the new Earth-6160, the setting of Marvels current Ultimate comics, building it out around his great villain, Ultimate Mister Fantastic, and his desire to have a home of his own again, albeit one he shaped from its start.From that foundation, Hickman has kept his hands on the reins for the excellent Ultimate Spider-Man, with truly terrific art from David Messina. He handed off the rest of the line to some utterly fascinating creative teams. Deniz Camp, fresh out of 20th Century Men, an indie comic that can best be described as What if Humanoids published the Avengers?, got his hands on the actual Avengers (The Ultimates). Teamed with artists Juan Frigeri and Phil Noto, Camp has created the best Avengers comic since the Secret Wars era, featuring Iron Lad and Doom finding and reactivating Avengers in preparation for a big fight with the Maker. Bryan Hill and Stefano Caselli have Ultimate Black Panther, where a younger, more scheming TChalla has his hands full defending Wakanda from Ra and Khonshu, the Makers chosen rulers of the rest of Africa. And then theres a book I cant believe is in continuity: Ultimate X-Men by Peach Momoko, a supernatural high school manga thats also an incredible Shadow King story. The most recent launch is Ultimate Wolverine, recasting Logan as the Ultimate Winter Soldier, and Im eager to get a look at it.While Marvels new Ultimate line launched out of some meticulous planning, DCs Absolute line just kind of exploded at us. It started in Mark Waids big event book with Dan Mora, Absolute Power, which was the Tron: Legacy of comics events: I have no idea what happened but I loved looking at it and want to keep looking at it. At the end, Darkseid made his way to an alternate Earth and fell back in time to that universes creation, infecting everything that grew out from its Big Bang. Unlike Marvel, DC went with established talent to launch the new universe. So we get Scott Snyder and genius draftsman Nick Dragotta relaunching Batman as an enormous crimefighter who drives giant trucks and wields Bat Axes. We get Kelly Thompson at the pinnacle of her powers reimagining Wonder Woman, giving her to Circe to raise in Hell after the slaughter of the Amazons and bringing her to Earth to love and save the world, with stunning, indie-inflected art from Hayden Sherman. And we get the best thing Jason Aaron has written since Scalped: Absolute Superman with Rafa Sandoval, featuring an utterly brilliant twist at the end of the first issue.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Im partway through two books and a full Claremont X-Men readthrough, with a full Starman read on deck, and I drop everything when a new issue from any of these Ultimate or Absolute series hits. These books are fresh, thoughtful, emotive, and brilliantly crafted with old and new creators all completely on top of their games. Its a great time to be a Marvel and DC fan.

Apple has just released iOS 18.3. The release isnt the most feature-packed, but it does come with some small AI updates and also something for the math crowd. Theres a key Calculator app fix thats been asked for often and that iOS 18.3 delivers.Repeating operations are now possible again following iOS 18 removalWhen Apple released iOS and iPadOS 18 in September, the updates came with big and small changes to a wide variety of system apps.Calculator was among them.Apple brought Calculator to iPad for the first time, but it also took the opportunity to make some changes to the app on iPhone.Not all of those changes have been well received though.One negative changewhich we now know was unintentionalwas the removal of a key feature: repeating operations with the equals button.Previously, when making a calculation, you could hit the equals button repeatedly to perform further calculations. This was a great shortcut with a variety of applications.For example, if you entered 2 x 2 and hit equals, youd see the answer, 4. But you could then hit equals again to have 4 multiplied by 2 again. That answer could then be multiplied by 2 again with another hit of the equals button.iOS 18 removed that behavior, but now its been restored to the Calculator app in iOS 18.3.The next time you open your iPhones Calculator app, you can once again hit the equals button over and over to perform new operations to your hearts content.Were you missing this Calculator feature? What other iOS 18 changes need to be addressed? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel