Apple is rolling out iOS 18.3 with a few minor enhancements. Here are all the top new features and how to download it.

The future of EVs might hinge on a decades-old air pollution law. Whether the law is upheld will have ramifications far beyond the borders of the Golden State.

The little-known artificial intelligence firm has emphasized research, even as it emerged as the brainchild of a hedge fund.

A new A.I. model, released by a scrappy Chinese upstart, has rocked Silicon Valley and upended several fundamental assumptions about A.I. progress.

MacworldAt a glanceExpert's RatingProsSupports Thunderbolt 5Impressive performance for creative usersRugged design with IP68 ratingFive-year warrantyConsExpensiveRequires Mac with M4 Pro or MaxYou might need to buy a spare TB5 cableOur Verdict Its expensive, and youll need a new Mac with an M4 Pro or Max processor to get the full benefits of Thunderbolt 5, but the Rugged SSD Pro5 is the fastest back-up drive weve ever seen. Its rugged design is ideal for outdoor work, and makes it an ideal back-up solution for demanding creative users.Price When ReviewedThis value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefinedBest Pricing TodayThunderbolt 5 was launched back in 2023 and was rather overlooked, as it was launched on the same day as the iPhone 15 but its taken quite a while for the technology to arrive in mainstream products such as LaCies new Rugged SSD Pro5. Even Apple has taken its time here too, only introducing Thunderbolt 5 on the new M4 MacBook Pro and Mac mini that were launched at the end of 2024 and even then, only on the models with the high-end M4 Pro and Max chips.However, LaCies range of Rugged solid-state drives have supported Thunderbolt technology for many years, and their sturdy designs have made them popular with many Mac users and creative professionals. At first glance the Pro5 looks almost identical to the previous-generation Rugged SSD Pro, which uses Thunderbolt 3 and has been sitting on our list of Best External SSD drives for the last three years. The names are almost identical too, so make sure you look for the Pro5 model if you want the latest Thunderbolt 5 performance for your new Mac. LaCieThe drive is available with either 2TB or 4TB capacities, so youve got plenty of room for large video and graphics files, and while its not exactly cheap, the Pro5 is still competitively priced for a high-performance drive aimed at pro users. Its also worth mentioning that LaCie is now owned by Seagate, so youll be directed to seagate.com for information about LaCie products.In fact, the only visible difference between the two drives is the fact that the Pro5 is wrapped in a dark-blue rubber sleeve, rather than the somber black of its predecessor. That rubber sleeve is designed to provide extra protection for the drive, and the Pro5 is even sturdier than before, with an IP68 rating for water and dust-resistance. This means that the drive is completely sealed to prevent dust and other small particles from getting inside the unit, and LaCie claims that it can survive complete immersion in water up to a depth of 1.5 meters for a full 30 minutes. LaCie also states that the drive can survive being dropped from a height of up to 3m (10ft) and can even cope with being run over by vehicles weighing up to two tonnes. And, to back up those claims, LaCie provides a five-year warranty for the drive, and offers a one-time use of its Data Recovery Service to try and rescue your data in the event that the drive does become damaged.That rugged design makes the Pro5 a great option for creative users who need to work outdoors for photoshoots or filming. Its also highly portable, measuring just 17mm thick, 98mm wide and 65mm deep. The tough design means that its a little heavier than many of its portable rivals, weighing 150g compared to 100g for the older Rugged Pro with Thunderbolt 3 but you can still pick it up and slip it into your pocket with no trouble at all. LaCie includes a high-performance Thunderbolt 5 cable with the Pro5 drive, but we did notice that the standard USB-C cable we normally use for our Time Machine back-up drive didnt provide enough power for the Pro5, so it might be worth investing in a spare Thunderbolt 5 cable in case of emergencies.LaCieAnd, of course, its the support for Thunderbolt 5 that will attract Mac users, and especially creative users who need a high-speed drive for working with large graphics and video files. LaCie is clearly targeting creative users with the Pro5, boasting that its the fastest scratch disk for creative professionals, and offers far greater performance than previous generations of Thunderbolt drives. The Pro5 does use a standard USB-C connector, which means that its still backward-compatible with older Macs that have Thunderbolt 3 or 4, but if you want to get the full performance of the Thunderbolt 5 interface then youll need to use one of the recently launched MacBook Pro and Mac Mini models that have an M4 Pro or Max processor (and the previous Rugged SSD Pro with Thunderbolt 3 remains on sale for owners of older Macs).LaCieWhen used with a Thunderbolt 5 Mac, LaCie quotes read and write speeds of 6,700MB/s and 5,300MB/s respectively. Admittedly, the Pro5 didnt quite hit those peaks when running the BlackMagic Disk Speed Test, but did still record impressive results of around 5,250MB/s for both read and write performance when used with a new Mac mini with M4 Pro. Its also more than twice as fast as the older Rugged SSD Pro with Thunderbolt 3, which scored read and write speeds of 2,480MB/s and 1,780MB/s respectively. Should you buy the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5That performance makes the Rugged SSD Pro5 clearly the fastest Thunderbolt drive weve tested so far, and along with its rugged, portable design makes it an excellent option for creative users who want to exploit the full speed of their new Thunderbolt 5 Macs.

A truly astounding collection of fashion designer-owned iPods, including a few bespoke models, has surfaced at auction.The collection includes a limited-edition, autographed U2 iPod Classic | Image Credit: Sotheby'sPart of prolific fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld's estate is currently being auctioned off. The auction includes what you'd expect from an average estate auction: flatware, silverware, artwork, and books.Of course, there's a fair amount of high-profile fashion pieces as well. Names like Dior, Hermes, Chanel, Hildich & Key, and Massaro are featured prominently. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The latest M4 iPad Pro is on sale at Amazon this week, with the 13-inch variation now $200 off.Save $200 on Apple's M4 iPad Pro 13-inch.You can grab the $1,099 price on the 13-inch iPad Pro with an M4 chip in both Space Black and Silver. The standard 256GB Wi-Fi spec is $200 off, but higher storage capacities and even Wi-Fi + Cellular models are eligible for the triple-digit discount as well.Buy from $1,099 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Moon Studios creative director Thomas Mahler believes that PlayStation might eventually take Xboxs lead in leaving behind console exclusivity for its titles. In a post on social media platform X, Mahler spoke about how he believes that Xbox boss Phil Spencers idea of releasing games on to more platforms.I know some people always want me to join the console warning, but I strongly believe that [Spencer] has the right approach, posted Mahler. We decided a few years back not to make [No Rest for the Wicked] under Microsoft because back then we couldnt have shipped it for PlayStation and Switch and since we knew how important multiplayer and cross play would be, we decided to partner with Take2 instead.In the post, Mahler goes on to talk about his conversations with Spencer about the nature of console exclusivity, and how the concept would have been crazy if it were applied to, for example, movie DVDs.In my emails to Phil over the years, I always brought up how crazy it wouldve been if you couldve only watched certain DVDs on Sony players, while for others you wouldve needed a Samsung player, etc I think we can all agree that this wouldve been nutty for films, so why are games any different?Mahler then pointed out how, at this point, the core architecture on both Xbox console and PlayStation consoles are so close together that developing games for multiplatform releases isnt that big of a deal anymore. It also helps that the design of controllers has converged into similar designs on all platforms as well.Consoles have been stuck attracting the same 100-150m players for over two decades now, he continued. If we want to see the industry grow, it needs to be easier for everyone to access the content.Mahler caps off the post by talking about Sony potentially going for multiplatform releases as well, saying that people should be able to buy whatever hardware they want without losing access to games. He also pointed out how Nintendo will likely continue to do its own thing, focusing on first-party development for its own hardware.Id be surprised if Sony wont end up with the same strategy, he wrote. People should buy the device they like the most, but they should then have access to all the content. And yes, Nintendo will keep doing their own thing because Nintendo is Nintendo and thats okay.Moon Studios is currently working on its action RPG No Rest for the Wicked, which is available on PC as an Early Access title. Since its release, the game has gotten a host of updates with new content as well as fixes for various bugs. It features an isometric perspective, allowing players to partake in its tactical combat with a better look at the battlefield.One of the biggest updates No Rest For the Wicked got was back in July 2024, which brought with it the content surrounding the post-game dungeon Cerim Crucible. Check out our coverage of the update.For more details, check out our review of its Early Access launch.I know some people always want me to join the console warring, but I strongly believe that @XboxP3 has the right approach.We decided a few years back not to make @wickedgame under Microsoft because back then we couldnt have shipped it for PlayStation and Switch and since we https://t.co/A0913IXMkx thomasmahler (@thomasmahler) January 25, 2025

Developer S-Game has revealed through interviews with Chinese publications that upcoming action RPG Phantom Blade Zero will take players around 20 to 30 hours to finish its main story. It will also feature quite a bit of side content, which the studio has clocked at around 20 more hours worth of play time, according to Mp1st.While not too long when compared to other open-world RPGs, Phantom Blade Zeros gameplay length does line-up with more action oriented titles. Since the game is also going to take influences from FromSoftwares titles in how its levels are designed, players will also get to spend plenty of time looking for secrets and shortcuts.Along with this, the studio has also revealed that the game will feature four difficulty levels. Players can take on the challenges of Phantom Blade Zero in either Easy, Normal, Hard, and Extremely Hard difficulties. It will also feature checkpoints for boss fights, allowing players who might have died close to the bosss death to retry from a mid-point of the fight, rather than having to do the whole thing again from scratch.The last time we saw Phantom Blade Zero was with a trailer earlier this month. The trailer, titled Year of the Snake, showcased uncut footage of a boss fight, with the player taking on the Chief Disciple of the Seven Stars.Despite the games emphasis on offering players challenging encounters, however, S-Game has been adamant about Phantom Blade Zero not being a Souls-like title. Back in June, the studio revealed through an FAQ that it did not want to make another Soulslike. Rather, the studio has compared Phantom Blade Zero to more action-oriented titles like Devil May Cry, mentioning that its combat will be more combo-oriented.We did take inspiration from Soulslike games, such as multi-layered maps, multiple approach paths, and hidden nooks and crevices, but the similarities stop there, said the developer. There will be difficulty options, and you wont have to face respawned mobs after you die or interact with checkpoints.It still takes inspirations from Souls titles, however, with S-Game revealing that there will be plenty of hidden paths, nooks and crevices for players to discover.Unfortunately, Phantom Blade Zero doesnt yet have a release date. Reports from last year have indicated, however, that the studio might be targeting a Fall 2026 release window. The game is currently in development for PC and PS5.

The DesignTO festival, which is taking place from now until February 2, 2025, features over 100 free events, installations, tours, talks and exhibitions by more than 300 designers and artists.DesignTO supports a vision of design that is more than aesthetics, but that rather aims to be a tool for problem-solving, solution-building, organized change, experimenting, innovating and evolving toward a better future. This years festival will put a spotlight on how design impacts joy, justice, and sustainability.Here are a few must-see programs at this years festival.Amazon Sucks. Image credit: DesignTOAmazon SucksThis project highlights how discounted prices and convenience come at a great cost, and that the public must no longer turn a blind eye to these consequences.Take Amazon as an example. It is notorious for its deplorable working conditions and unfair wages for its warehouse employees, ongoing lawsuits, tax evasion, and the cumulative effect that their shipping model has on our environment is catastrophic, reads DesignTOs website. Yet, it has soared into a new level of market dominance since the onset of the global pandemic. Amazon now has a market cap over $1.9 trillion. Its CEO Jeff Bezos, one of the wealthiest humans on the planet, has a net worth over $204 billion. This level of wealth hoarding is dangerous and unsustainable.BIPOC Portfolio Collaboration 2025. Image credit: DesignTOBIPOC Portfolio Collaboration 2025Join Gensler, along with leading Canadian architects and designers, for a collaborative review of resumes and portfolios to assist BIPOC Students in the design industry with the next steps in their careers. In the 4th annual BIPOC Portfolio Collaboration, students access a half-hour review session with two professionals within the fields of Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Architectural Technology, and Experiential Design (Signage & Wayfinding and Environmental Graphic Design).City Blocks. Image credit: DesignTOCity BlocksCity Blocks is a project that builds on the tradition of patchwork and quilting and presents a vocabulary that is informed by the built environment around us. The installation is made up of two textile panels featuring quilt blocks made of scrap and recycled fabric. The shapes and forms of the quilt blocks relate to real places, as they are distilled from familiar elements we encounter every day, reflecting this place and the changing landscapes of this city.Deconstructing TOD: Transit Roots DesignTO. Image credit: DesignTODeconstructing TOD: Transit RootsSvNs Deconstructing TOD: Transit Roots exhibition aims to showcase how transit can be delivered in a way that supports healthy, thriving communities. Transit is a powerful force for shaping cities, spurring the creation of new housing, public spaces, jobs, and space for local businesses. These projects also have their challenges, displacing property owners or tenants, and can be costly to construct.Using a combination of 3D models, exhibits, and digital representations, and interactive components, the exhibition showcases an approach for delivering positive social change through major transit projects and how communities, designers, landowners, developers, decision-makers, and governments maximize these projects positive benefits. It focuses on five core principles.Delirious Facade. Image credit: DesignTODelirious FacadeDelirious Facade is a design project that uses image processing artificial intelligence (AI) as a generator for architectural form and ornament. The project takes existing Toronto facades and uses their visual signatures or patterns as the material for the generation of hybrid facades. The primary objective of the investigation that led to this project was to gain insights into the transformative impact of recent AI advancements on architectural design and the implications for production.CommunityStreets: A Youth Lens on the Future of Urban Housing. Image credit: DesignTOCommunityStreets: A Youth Lens on the Future of Urban HousingCommunityStreets is a panel discussion/open forum on the critical topic of housing and youth. This panel brings together civic leaders, community activists, and design and economic thinkers at OCAD University to explore a youth lens on affordability, access, equity and the future of housing in urban Toronto.Homes That Care. Image credit: DesignTOHomes That CareNEUF architect(e)s displays an architectural installation showcasing typical residential spaces in Toronto within their storefront window that directly faces St. Lawrence Market. This display showcases design interventions that Torontonians can do to improve their homes for multi-generational use.Under Construction: Cozy Edition. Image credit: DesignTOUnder Construction: Cozy EditionThe work originates from photographs documenting the construction of a 48-story condominium in midtown Toronto, captured from the window of the artists first residence in Canada. Positioned directly opposite the site, I witnessed a process often dismissed as emblematic of overdevelopment and dehumanization. Yet, I was drawn to the choreography of labor, the rapid stacking of floors, and the architectural grandeur. Embracing a vernacular glance (Brian ODoherty) over the decisive moment, I captured fleeting, uncomposed views that revealed details relegated to the peripherytangled wires, leaning beams, and plastic wraps, reads DesignTOs website.Berczy Park. Photo by Industryous Photography, courtesy of CCxA.The Legacy of Claude Cormier: Screening & Panel DiscussionA special screening of a 45-minute directors cut of the The Cultural Landscape Foundations (TCLF)Claude Cormier Oral History Project, which highlights Cormiers Toronto projects, will be taking place on January 30. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion reflecting on his legacy and how the community can carry it forward when shaping future public spaces.DesignTO Talks: Net Positive. Image credit: DesignTODesignTO Talks: Net PositiveDesignTO Talk: Net Positive contributes to DesignTOs 15-year legacy of showcasing designs capacity to drive positive change in Toronto and beyond. The half-day event will bring together 10 multidisciplinary experts to explore innovative responses to the climate crisis from a perspective of abundance. Speakers include Aaron Budd (SvN Architects + Planners), April Barrett, Deepikah RB, Juan Erazo (Culturans), Judith van den Boom (Central Saint Martins), Netami Stuart (Waterfront Toronto), Reza Nik (SHEEEP), and Tura Cousins Wilson (SOCA), covering such topics as regenerative design, urban infrastructure, more than human kinships, carbon positive initiatives, and more.The post Must-See programs at this years DesignTO festival appeared first on Canadian Architect.