Bungie's former vice president of production, Elizabeth Howard, has joined U.S. publisher Midwest Games as the company prepares to deploy a new "shadow publishing" model.Howard has been named chief advisor of services at Midwest and will work to deliver "tailored publishing solutions that empower game developers and bring incredible experiences to players."Prior to joining Midwest, Howard led Bungie development and publishing production teams on Destiny 2: The Final Shape. She also held key roles at 2K and Aspyr, serving as vice president of publishing operations and VP of publishing, respectively.Midwest was established by former Harebrained Schemes and Netflix veterans in 2023 to help developers in the Midwest and other underrepresented U.S. regions find success.The company has already published a range of titles including Tombwater, The Legend of Baboo, and Duck Paradox.Midwest has recruited Howard to spearhead its new shadow publishing initiative to provide "cost-effective, tailored services for hire to development teams." Discussing her new role, Howard said it's vital to provide developers with flexibility in an evolving game market."To succeed, games need to hit all facets of publishing throughout the entire development lifecycle, yet many studios lack the resources," she added. "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 claims its new full-service model will address a "critical gap in the market" by offering scaled support, pricing, and service timelines while allowing developers to retain IP and revenue rights. Midwest says developers will also have "full say over publishing decisions.""More games entering the market and fewer traditional publishing deals available leaves studios with the daunting task of self-publishing. 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," said Midwest in a statement."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 & Publishing Strategy, Platform Management, Marketing and PR, and Developer Services."Midwest CEO Ben Kvalo said the publisher wants to empower partners by sharing the right knowledge and resources, and felt it was imperative someone with Howard's experience was brought in to oversee new initiative."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," he added. "We're incredibly excited to bring Elizabeth's leadership in publishing and developer services to spearhead the initiative to support more games."

Artificial intelligence has grown significantly with the integration of vision and language, allowing systems to interpret and generate information across multiple data modalities. This capability enhances applications such as natural language processing, computer vision, and human-computer interaction by seamlessly allowing AI models to process textual, visual, and video inputs. However, challenges remain in ensuring that such systems provide accurate, meaningful, and human-aligned outputs, particularly as multi-modal models become more complex.The primary difficulty in constructing large vision-language models is achieving the outputs produced by them aligning with the human preferences. Most existing systems fail due to the production of hallucinated responses and inconsistency in the interaction process within multiple modes, as well as because of their dependency on the application domain. Furthermore, such high-quality datasets are scant and range across various types and tasks like mathematical reasoning, video analysis, or following instructions. LVLMs cannot deliver the subtlety needed in real-world applications without proper alignment mechanisms.Current solutions to these challenges are mostly limited to text-only rewards or narrowly scoped generative models. Such models typically rely on hand annotations or proprietary systems, which are not scalable and not transparent. Furthermore, the current methods have a limitation concerning static datasets and pre-defined prompts that cannot capture all the variability in real-world inputs. This results in a large gap between the ability to develop comprehensive reward models that could guide LVLMs effectively.Researchers from the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Nanjing University, Fudan University, and Nanyang Technological University introduced InternLM-XComposer2.5-Reward (IXC-2.5-Reward). The model is a significant step in developing multi-modal reward models, providing a robust framework to align LVLM outputs with human preferences. Unlike other solutions, the IXC-2.5-Reward can process different forms, including text, images, and videos, and has the potential to perform well in varied applications. Hence, this approach is a large improvement over present tools, taking into account a lack of domain coverage and scalabilities.According to the researcher, IXC-2.5-Reward was designed through a comprehensive preference dataset and includes diverse domains such as texts, general reasonings, and video understanding. The model has a scoring head that predicts reward scores for given prompts and responses. The team used reinforcement learning algorithms like Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) to train a chat model, IXC-2.5-Chat, to provide high-quality, human-aligned responses. The training was accompanied by open-source and newly collected data, ensuring broad applicability. Further, the model does not suffer from the common pitfalls of length biases since it uses constraints on response lengths to ensure quality and conciseness in generated outputs.The performance of IXC-2.5-Reward sets a new benchmark in multi-modal AI. On VL-RewardBench, the model achieved an overall accuracy of 70.0%, outperforming prominent generative models like Gemini-1.5-Pro (62.5%) and GPT-4o (62.4%). The system also produced competitive results on text-only benchmarks, scoring 88.6% on Reward-Bench and 68.8% on RM-Bench. These results showed that the model could keep strong language processing capabilities even while performing extremely well in multi-modal tasks, and in addition, incorporating IXC-2.5-Reward into the chat model IXC-2.5-Chat produced large gains in instruction-following and multi-modal dialogue settings, validating the applicability of the reward model in real-world scenarios.The researchers also showcased three applications of IXC-2.5-Reward that underline its versatility. First, it serves as a supervisory signal for reinforcement learning, enabling on-policy optimization techniques like PPO to train models effectively. Second, the models test-time scaling capabilities allow optimal responses from multiple candidates to be selected, further enhancing performance. Lastly, IXC-2.5-Reward was essential in cleaning the data and finding noisy or problematic samples in the datasets, which were filtered out from training data and, therefore, enhanced the quality of training data for LVLMs.This work is a big leap forward in multi-modal reward models and bridges critical gaps regarding scalability, versatility, and alignment with human preferences. The authors have established the basis for further breakthroughs in this field through diverse datasets and the application of state-of-the-art reinforcement learning techniques. IXC-2.5-Reward is set to revolutionize multi-modal AI systems and bring more robustness and effectiveness to real-world applications.Check out the Paper and GitHub. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our70k+ ML SubReddit. Nikhil+ postsNikhil is an intern consultant at Marktechpost. He is pursuing an integrated dual degree in Materials at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Nikhil is an AI/ML enthusiast who is always researching applications in fields like biomaterials and biomedical science. With a strong background in Material Science, he is exploring new advancements and creating opportunities to contribute. Meet 'Height':The only autonomous project management tool (Sponsored)

Author(s): Paul Ferguson, Ph.D. Originally published on Towards AI. New AI models emerge almost weekly, making it hard to distinguish between the significant improvements and the minor updates. DeepSeek-R1, however, represents a clear exception.While its performance matches or slightly exceeds leading proprietary models (like OpenAIs o1) in many tasks, there are three reasons why this model is important:Cost Efficiency: Trained for only 510% of the cost of comparable modelsOpen Accessibility: Fully open-source under an MIT licenceTechnical Innovation: Novel methods like self-taught reasoning with task-focussed processingWhat makes this model so interesting isnt just its performance but how its achieved: its open-source framework and over 90% cost reduction put pressure on closed systems to innovate while enabling businesses to deploy advanced AI affordably.In summary: its combination of efficiency, transparency, and adaptably set a new benchmark for the industry.Competitive Performance Without the Premium PriceIndependent benchmarks show DeepSeek-R1 performs comparably to closed models in a number of domains: this challenges the assumption that open-source AI lags behind proprietary systems:Benchmark performance vs state-of-the-art models from OpenAI, Claude, etc. source DeepSeek publicationWhile its marginally behind in general knowledge (e.g., MMLU: 90.8% vs. 91.8%), it has clear advantages in technical tasks: making it particularly suited for software engineering, financial modelling, and scientific research.Open-Source DesignClosed models require costly API subscriptions, whereas DeepSeek-R1s MIT licence allows for:Full customisation: Modify the model for niche applications (e.g., healthcare,, legal contract analysis, etc).Local deployment: Smaller variants (1.5B70B parameters) run on consumer-grade GPUs (avoiding cloud fees). In a previous article, I discussed the growing importance of Small Language Models, and some of these models fit neatly into that category).Transparency: Independent audits of model weights to address bias or safety concerns.Novel MethodsDeepSeeks cost and efficiency advantages come within three main areas:Reinforcement Learning FirstSelf-taught reasoning: Learns through trial and error problem solving rather than expensive human feedbackDiscovery phase: Explores new strategies (e.g., it will attempt to verify its own answers)Alignment phase: Refines outputs for coherence and accuracyPredicting Two Steps AheadTraining: Forecasts the next two tokens at onceInference: Produces answers faster through parallel token predictionSparse, Task-Specialised ProcessingOnly 5.5% of parameters (37B/671B) are activated per queryCost SavingsDeepSeeks pricing changes what businesses can achieve with limited budgets:Free to use via its web app.Although for business use cases, these are typically carried out through API callsProvides API access at a relatively low cost ($0.14 for 1 million input tokens, compared to $7.5 for OpenAIs o1 model)To companies with significant usage of LLMs, these differences can add up to thousands of dollars over the course of a monthImplicationsDemocratisation: Smaller companies can more easily compete with larger businesses.Pressure on Closed Models: Companies like OpenAI are under pressure to reduce their prices or increase the transparency of their models.Ethical Trade-Offs: Though open weights help in bias mitigation, unregulated customisation risks misuse.ConclusionDeepSeek-R1 proves that AI progress does not have to rely on closed systems or unsustainable compute budgets.For organisations, this means faster experimentation, lower barriers to entry, and control over AI tools: a combination likely to accelerate innovation across different industries.While not flawless, its open-source model and technical ingenuity set a new standard for whats possible in efficient, accessible AI.If youd like to find out more about me, please check out www.paulferguson.me, or connect with me on LinkedIn.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

From Generic to Genius: Comprehensive Guide to Fine-Tuning Large Language Models with Python 0 like January 26, 2025Share this postLast Updated on January 27, 2025 by Editorial TeamAuthor(s): Krishan Walia Originally published on Towards AI. A comprehensive guide to fine-tuning Large Language Models in the most beginner-friendly way using Python!This member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.Not a member?Access the full article here (and just don't forget to leave a clap)The difference between a good AI and a game-changing or genius AI is often just a few lines of code.Welcome to the art of fine-tuning where we can turn generic language models into hyper-intelligent, context-aware problem solvers, which can revolutionize how industries approach complex challenges.With Python as our toolkit and strategic fine-tuning as our method, well learn how to respire specialized intelligence into Large Language Models, turning them from broad generalists into domain-specific experts.Photo by Christopher Gower on UnsplashThe Table Of Contents of this article is as follows, Large Language Model | Fine Tuning Models | AI | Python | Unsloth | Specialized LLMs | Data Science | Programming I. Understanding Large Language Models II. Fundamentals of Fine Tuning III. Technical Prerequisites Python libraries and frameworks Computational Requirements Data preparation strategies IV. Python Implementation Connecting to the Compute Resource Installing the packages Loading the model and tokenizer Adding LoRA Adapters Data Preparation Training the Model V. Inferencing the Fine-Tuned Model VI. Saving the Fine-Tuned 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

Hot off the heels of another successful campaign in 2024, the LEGO group is gearing up for an even bigger 2025. Last year, the worlds largest toymaker expanded into The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, Wicked, and more universes. This year, beloved themes such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, and The Lord of the Rings will continue to grow while new and exciting licenses like Twilight and One Piece enter the fray.Den of Geek has compiled a list of the most exciting LEGO rumors and leaks for sets potentially coming out the remainder of 2025. Keep in mind that these are not officially confirmed releases, so take each rumor with a grain of salt. However, these reports usually end up being true more often than not, as was the case with the rumored One Piece and Twilight sets. You can find a list of confirmed sets coming out here.LEGO The Lord of the Rings Bag EndEstimated Release Date: April 2025LEGO brought back the beloved The Lord of the Rings theme two years ago with the release of 10316: Rivendell, a 6,000-piece behemoth. They followed that up last year with 10333: Barad-dr, another massive entry for the theme recreating the iconic Eye of Sauron watching over Mordor. It appears the first of two LOTR sets in 2025 is Bag End, Bilbo, and Frodos quaint little Hobbit Hole in the Shire. LEGO has made this location once before, with 79003: An Unexpected Gathering, based on the original Hobbit film from 2012. Expect the new set to mimic this classic model but at four times the detail and size. A plethora of Hobbit minifigures should be included as well: short legs, proud feet, and all.LEGO Star Wars UCS Jango Fetts Slave IEstimated Release Date: May 1, 2025Every year, LEGO does a special release of a new Ultimate Collector Series set to celebrate May 4th, a.k.a. Star Wars day. Those sets have been dominated by vehicles, droids, and locations from the original Star Wars trilogy, leaving many fans of some of the other sects of the galaxy far, far away unsatisfied. Well, it turns out their patience has paid off, because it appears the next UCS Star Wars set will be Jango Fetts version of Slave I from Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones.LEGO has made Jangos rendition of this iconic vessel only once before, with set 7153 back in 2002. It has now been over 2 decades since that set was on shelves, and its value from third party sellers has propelled it near the top of the most expensive LEGO Star Wars sets of all time. Its about time LEGO made a new version, and the fact its getting the literal ultimate treatment should excite Star Wars collectors. 75060: Slave I from 2015, the UCS version of Boba Fetts vehicle, should serve as inspiration for this set, however the new model will update the color scheme and likely modernize the build techniques.LEGO The Lord of the Rings Gandalf vs. Durins Bane Book NookEstimated Release Date: Summer 2025After the immense success of the aforementioned The Lord of the Rings sets, its no surprise LEGO is doubling its output for the theme this year. The next rumored set will depict Gandalf in his epic clash with Durins Bane, otherwise known as the Balrog. This beloved fiery battle sequence from The Fellowship of the Ring has been requested by LEGO LOTR fans ever since the themes inception in 2012, and it appears theyll finally deliver, but not in the way we expected. This set is rumored to be a LEGO-ified book nook, a piece that can slide comfortably into a shelf to hold up those dusty books you never read. This a natural fit for a Lord of the Rings set, seeing as those movies originated from Tolkiens masterwork, and were excited to see LEGOs creativity on display with this model.LEGO Transformers SoundwaveEstimated Release Date: Summer 2025In an unprecedented crossover, rival toy manufacturers LEGO and Hasbro teamed up to bring brick-built Transformers to life, with the release of 10302 Optimus Prime in 2022 and 10338 Bumblebee in 2024. Fans speculated the next LEGO Transformer would be the Autobots arch nemesis, Megatron. However, it appears the character Soundwave is getting the LEGO treatment; perhaps Megatrons design is too militaristic for the infamously anti-war LEGO. Needless to say, Soundwave should prove to make for a fun LEGO set, and the Transformers blocky aesthetic perfectly fits their system.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean The Black PearlEstimated Release Date: Late 2025LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean is back! After an eight year hiatus, the once-retired Disney theme is making a comeback in the fall of 2025 with a large-scale remake of The Black Pearl. The titular pirate ship from the first film in the franchise, The Black Pearl, was once made into a LEGO set 14 years ago, as seen with 4184. That set was made of less than 900 pieces and only retailed for $99.99. The new set is rumored to be much, much bigger. The full extent of it is unknown at this time, but fans can likely anticipate new minifigures of your favorite POTC characters and one of the most detailed sailboats LEGO has ever produced.LEGO Star Wars UCS Death StarEstimated Release Date: October 2025Would you pay $999.99 for a single LEGO set? Thats the rumored price of the latest Ultimate Collector Series Death Star. The piece count is unknown now, but there will likely be quite a few. Before this, two Star Wars sets were tied for the title of the most expensive set ever. Those sets in question, 75192: Millennium Falcon and 75313: AT-AT, rang in at $849.99, meaning the new Death Star will take the crown by a hefty margin. LEGO Star Wars aficionados hope for a fully detailed interior to pair with an extravagant interior for the latest UCS Death Star, seeing as the previous iterations have either had one or the other. Were also hoping this set comes with a smorgasbord of minifigures, with characters from multiple movies like A New Hope, Return of the Jedi, and perhaps even Rogue One.LEGO Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise DEstimated Release Date: November 28, 2025LEGO Star Wars has been around for 26 years now. The theme had a massive celebration for its quarter-century anniversary last year. Its a staple for LEGO in the 21st century. But where is Star Wars pseudo-space rival, Star Trek? Lost to the void of the great unknown, apparently. Despite being one of the biggest IPs in the history of Hollywood, Star Trek has never received an official LEGO set until now.This Black Friday, the nightmare might finally be over, as LEGO is expected to begin its journey exploring strange new worlds with the release of the USS Enterprise D. Thats right, instead of kicking things off with the ship from the original series, it appears that the first LEGO Star Trek build is the Enterprise D from The Next Generation. Were unsure whether this will go over well with fans or not, but perhaps LEGO has bigger plans for the future of this partnership. That notwithstanding, the possibilities of a collaboration between LEGO and Star Trek are endless, and you can bet your bottom dollar the release of this set will crash websites come midnight after Thanksgiving.

Youd think there wouldnt be all that many surprises in a ranking of the various Star Trek movies. Official fan doctrine tends to elevate a select handful of them to the very top (and rightfully so, because when this franchise is great, its really great) while dismissing, fairly or unfairly, others. But the reality is, theres such a wide array of tones across Star Trek films that one fans skippable entry is another fans favorite (wellmost of the time).We chose a panel of our most decorated Starfleet experts to vote on the highs and lows of the Star Trek movie franchise. There are probably a few surprises in here, but one thing we hope we managed to do, if nothing else, is dispel the odd number/even number superstition about these flicks.Engage!14. Star Trek: Section 31On one hand, its not entirely fair to call Star Trek: Section 31 a movie. It doesnt have the scope of any other movie on this list, it doesnt have the budget of even the most cash-strapped TOS film, and it went straight to streaming on Paramount+. And yet, Paramount pushed Section 31 as a film in the tradition of Wrath of Khan and First Contact, so weve got to treat it as such. So, Section 31 is a movie. Specifically, Section 31 is a terrible, terrible movie.Section 31 is the apotheosis of modern Star Treks interest in surface-level edge, sending former Mirror Universe ruler Phillipa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) to join Starfleets black ops unit and retrieve a weapon with the power to destroy an entire quadrant. Screenwriter Craig Sweeny and director Olatunde Osunsanmi want to tell a heist tale about a rag tag group in the tradition of Guardians of the Galaxy or The Suicide Squad. What they actually make is an exasperating 90-minute movie about irritating characters trading dated 21st-century slang when not spewing therapy speak. Section 31 is not just the worst Star Trek movie. Its the worst Star Trek entry of all time, period. Joe George13. Star Trek Into DarknessBefore the release of Section 31, it was pretty difficult to imagine any entry in the entire franchise straying further from what Star Trek is all about than Into Darkness. A laughably grim, mean-spirited film that tries awfully hard to conceal its weird Space Seed/Wrath of Khan ambitions beneath some clumsy mystery-boxing and an almost absurd amount of violence, Into Darkness is more akin to a lesser Fast & Furious sequel than it is about boldly going anywhere other than into vague nods to absurd conspiracy theories.If JJ Abrams previous Star Trek (which well get to below) was Trek-as-action-movie, proving that, with some gorgeous production values and a talented cast, the franchise could once again compete on the big screen, then Into Darkness is Trek as pop culture ouroboros, foreshadowing the backwards-looking fan apologia of his The Rise of Skywalker by six years. Not even the brilliant cast, stunning special effects, and another great Michael Giacchino score can save this one, with the core crew reduced to delivering performances akin to SNL caricatures and a big reveal that everyone saw coming three months out. Mike Cecchini12. Star Trek: NemesisIts true, even in a generous appraisal, Nemesis seems unlikely to be anyones favorite Star Trek movie. Its yet another example of how studio execs learned all the wrong lessons from The Wrath of Khan, that amping up the action, and having a genuine, capital-V villain is the key to box office success. Here, a shadowy villain with a vendetta against Captain Picard (hmmmmwhere have we heard that before) stages a coup against the Romulan leadership.Its not great, and so obviously derivative in its central villainous conceit (despite the twist) that it comes off as a little desperate. Its notable primarily for being many folks first introduction to Tom Hardy as the young Jean-Luc Picard clone, Shinzon, the introduction of the Remans to Trek lore, and Ron Perlman under some cool Reman makeup. We wouldnt go so far as to say that Nemesis is better than you remember if you were particularly allergic to it out of the gate, but without the weight of expectations surrounding it, and especially now that its no longer the final voyage of the beloved Next Generation crew, perhaps we can be a little more forgiving of it. MC11. Star Trek V: The Final FrontierAh yes, the one where they meet God. The deck was always stacked against The Final Frontier, coming as it did not only on the heels of the beloved Trek trilogy of The Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock, and The Voyage Home, but also in the same summer that delivered bona fide classics in Tim Burtons first Batman and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (not to mention other high-profile blockbusters like Ghostbusters 2 and RoboCop 2).The films antagonist, Sybok, might be easier to swallow were he not Spocks half-brother, a needless addition in a high-concept but ultimately convoluted film. William Shatners story and directorial ambitions never quite hold together here, with the film further hampered by some of the worst special effects of the entire film series. Still, theres a hint of TOS-y weirdness to the concept, but its not enough to make it feel like anything other than the most disposable entry in the otherwise sterling run of original crew films. MCJoin our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!10. Star Trek BeyondAlthough 2009s Star Trek was an undeniable hit, its easy to understand the skepticism that greeted 2016s Star Trek Beyond. Not only did it follow up the misguided Into Darkness, but it also swapped out JJ Abrams with the even flashier, but far more competent, Justin Lin. Beyond certainly does have some of the things that made viewers tire of the Kelvinverse, including a battle sequence inexplicably set to The Beastie Boys Sabotage and nods to classic storylines. But it also had a lot more of what people say they want in Trek: characters exploring, building relationships, and maintaining hope.The exploration comes in the form of Jaylah (a variation of J-Law, based on the original plan to cast Jennifer Lawrence in the part), played with undeniable energy by Sofia Boutella. The stranded Jaylah forms a bond with Simon Peggs delightful Scotty, but the real pleasure of the film comes from the pairing of Spock and McCoy. The tension between the two has been a hallmark of the series since Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelly were in the roles, but Zachary Quinto and Karl Urban find new ways to antagonize and grudgingly respect one another, grounding even the biggest blockbuster moments of the movie in good ol Star Trek hang-out fun. JG9. Star Trek: InsurrectionIt is time to reevaluate Insurrection. On release it got a bum rap for being essentially an extra long episode the TV show, but thats no bad thing these days. Yes, there are moments we could live without (flying the Enterprise by joystick, the phaser bazooka, Datas inflatable ass) but it is also, bafflingly, still the only Star Trek movie about landing on an alien planet and meeting the people who live there (apart from Beyond, maybe, if you squint).But mainly, this film is one of the last times we get to see the TNG crew being a proper crew, with actors whove known each other a decade just hanging out and really enjoying playing off each other. It is much more fun than you remember it being. Chris Farnell8. Star Trek GenerationsWhen reviewing movies, it is always important to review the film youre watching, not the film you wish you were watching. But that is so hard to do with Generations, even now. The film fans wanted to see in 1994 is still the film we miss nowPicard and Kirk in a buddy movie, their leadership styles clashing as they take on a galactic scale threat together.Instead, they take on a member of the Enterprises bartenders species while both captains are worrying about how they dont really want to be captains anymore, and while it might be appropriate Kirk dies after a fist fight on some desert rocks, it still feels anticlimactic. It has some nice moments, but were always going to mourn what could have been. CF7. Star Trek (2009)What if Star Trek was just a regular movie? In 2009, the J.J. Abrams reboot film accomplished the impossible: It tricked the general public into thinking of Star Trek as a brand-new phenomenon. On paper, almost nothing about the 2009 reboot movie should work, and its hard to imagine a film like this working today. Had this come out a few years earlier, or later, it probably wouldnt have been as successful. But, in an era where the MCU hadnt quite gotten going, and origin stories (Batman Begins) were all the rage, Star Trek scratched an itch the zeitgeist didnt know it had.What works about the 2009 reboot is also connected to what doesnt work. Instead of being an outright remake or reimagining (like the 2003 Battlestar Galactica) screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci split the difference; this version of 2258 predates The Original Series but is also an alternate dimension from it. Thinking too hard about the mechanics of all of this will certainly ruin your enjoyment of the movie (WTF is red matter anyway?) but what has aged well is the focus on the characters. Perhaps more than any other Star Trek movie, the TOS crew feels like a team of outer space superheroes. And, after seven feature films in which Captain Kirk (William Shatner) was moving through various midlife crises, it was refreshing to have Chris Pine remind us that at heart, Jim Kirk is forever young. Ryan Britt6. Star Trek: The Motion PictureA lot of Star Trek movies want to be The Wrath of Khan, but they could all stand to be a bit more like The Motion Picture.Star Trek: The Motion Picture is, at heart, a pure science fiction moviepossibly the only Star Trek movie that can claim to be, taking its cues from 2001: A Space Odyssey rather than Horatio Hornblower. It is slow moving film, even in the much improved later cuts, but thats not necessarily a flaw. In a movie series that is all too often about vengeful madmen and their personal vendettas, The Motion Picture is about voyaging deep into the unknown, and finding ourselves when we get there. CF5. Star Trek III: The Search for SpockArguably the most overlooked of the classic Trek films, The Search For Spock, is, nonetheless, perhaps the most formative Trek movie of them all. It was here that one of the Trek actorsnamely Leonard Nimoybecame deeply influential behind the camera. This tradition would carry on for the rest of the TOS film series, and into The Next Generation, too. As a director, its easy to say that The Voyage Home was Nimoys better film. And yet, if youre looking for a grab-bag of what made Trek great in the 80s, look no further than The Search For Spock.For aesthetics alone, it was in this film that Star Trek started to feel like the Star Trek we think of today. Designed by David Carson and Nilo Rodis at ILM, this film gave us the beautiful Spacedock, a design so perfect it reappeared not just in other TOS films, but in The Next Generation, too (with an influence that extends to both Lower Decks and Picard) The USS Excelsior appeared here for the first time, as did the immortal Klingon Bird-of-Prey. We also got Christopher Lloyd playing Klingon Commander Kruge, one year before he played Doc Brown in Back to the Future. After negotiations with Kirstie Alley didnt work out, Nimoy recast Robin Curtis as Saavik. Curtis is the only actor in Star Trek history to play a Vulcan and be cast by Leonard Nimoy, and, in some ways, her take on the character was probably closer to being truly Vulcan than Alleys take.On top of all of this, the absence of Spock for most of the film, allowed the rest of the TOS cast to shine in a way they never had before. Based on his experience on Mission: Impossible, Nimoy was inspired to make The Search For Spock more of an ensemble piece than any previous Trek project. The final result is a movie in which the entire classic crew is showcased beautifully, and brings the Star Trek family closer than it ever had been before. RB4. Star Trek: First ContactIf youre trying to explain why Star Trek was such a big deal in the 1990s, the best cultural artifact is easily the 1996 film First Contact. Released on Nov. 22, 1996, just two months after the 30th anniversary of The Original Series, the second feature film focused on The Next Generation crew was a confluence of everything that was happening in Trek at that time, but also, a retroactive origin story about how it all started. Today, various MCU movies check continuity boxes like this all the time, but First Contact was unique because it somehow spanned three 90s Trek shows by not only featuring the TNG crew front and center but also referencing Deep Space Nine and Voyager.Brent Spiner and Patrick Stewart have never been better, but the guest cast for First Contact is the real proof of just how big this film was. Alfre Woodards Lily is the perfect audience surrogate for the poor soul who knows nothing about Trek (Its my first ray gun) while James Cromwell reboots the father of warp drive, Zefram Cochrane, with charming (and drunken) panache. To top it all off, Alice Kriges Borg Queen recontextualized the greatest Trek villain of all time, with a performance that is both understated and unique. In 1996, Trek traded boldly go for lets rock and roll! and it worked perfectly. RB3. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered CountryIts funny: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Countrythe final big screen voyage of the entire original series castnever seems to get the same type of discussion or analysis as The Wrath of Khan, The Motion Picture, or even The Final Frontier. Which is too bad, because its right up there with The Wrath of Khan as one of the finest of the bunch.Its no coincidence that it was directed and co-written by Nicholas Meyer, the same filmmaker who was in the center seat for Khan, and just as he did with that film, Meyer here crafts a character-driven space opera filled with excitement, suspense, Big Themes, and some of the best moments ever written for William Shatners Kirk and Leonard Nimoys Spock. Both men grapple with age, irrelevance, and their own flawsKirks bigotry on one hand, Spocks hubris on the otheras they try to determine who wants to sabotage a peace process between the Federation and the Klingons and start a galactic war.Highlights include a superb climactic battle against the rogue Klingon ship (commanded by an awesome Christopher Plummer), Sulu (George Takei) in action as captain of his own starship, and a scene in Spocks quarters between the Vulcan and Kirk that is both poignant and meta (Is it possible that we two, you and I, have grown so old and so inflexible that we have outlived our usefulness? Would that constitute a joke?). By the time the Enterprise literally sails off into the sun at the end, you almost dont want this to be this casts sign-off. But it was, and they went out like a nova. Don Kaye2. Star Trek IV: The Voyage HomeStar Trek has always been goofy. Yes, yes, Star Trek can be lots of things, including exciting and romantic and philosophical. But it has always been goofy, with giant Spock heads and Worf assuring us that he is not a Merry Man. So it makes sense that the most popular Trek movie of all time would also be one of its silliest. But whatever you might think about a story that sends the original crew back to 1980s San Francisco to save the whales, The Voyage Home always laughs with the characters, not at them.Finally embracing his connection to the Trek world and stepping back into the directors chair, Leonard Nimoy brings the same affection for his co-stars that marked Search for Spock. From that affection, Nimoy brings out the best in the cast, giving them delightful scenes in which Scotty talks lovingly into a computer mouse and Chekov seeks nuclear wessels. But as much as the movie shares the attention, the biggest chunk, as always, goes to William Shatner, who more than meets the comedic task. That twinkle in his eye when he corrects Catherine Hickss marine biologist Gillian Taylor (No, Im from Iowa. I only work in outer space), reminds us why, after all the jokes and horror stories, Kirk is still the captain. JG1. Star Trek II: The Wrath of KhanCan you honestly say you were surprised that this is Number One?More than 40 years and a dozen movies later, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is still the gold standard for what this franchise could and occasionally did achieve on the big screen. Conceived in the wake of the successfulbut financially and creatively bloatedThe Motion Picture as a smaller-scale adventure more in line with the TV show, The Wrath of Khan fulfilled its brief and then some, acting as both a sequel to a classic original series episode while addressing head-on the aging of the cast and the canon itself.With Trek creator Gene Roddenberry kicked upstairs to an emeritus position, The Wrath of Khan proved that sometimes an established IP gets its best entries from people who have no previous attachment to the material. Executive producer Harve Bennett, writer-director Nicholas Meyer, and producer Robert Sallin were all new to Star Trek, yet ended up crafting a movie that felt in tone, pace, and theme like an expanded, outstanding episode of the TV showa feeling missing from the first film.Star Trek II also featured the return of arguably the Original Series greatest villain, the genetic superman Khan Noonien Singh, played once again with over-the-top relish by Ricardo Montalban. His obsessive, at-all-costs pursuit of vengeance against Kirk gives the film real stakes, as does the discovery that Kirkthe man who could never settle down and always fled to the starshas a son he hadnt seen in decades, who wants nothing to do with him. And then theres Spock: his climactic self-sacrifice, capping one of sci-fi cinemas most exciting space battles, never fails to be moving (even if the studio forced Meyer to slightly pull his punch at the very end). This is grand sci-fi, and even grander Trek, and somehow we think it will retain its place at the top of the heap for as long as Earth sails through space. DKWhat are your favorite Star Trek movies? Let us know in the comments!

SummaryTails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter releases tomorrow, January 28, bringing players back to its medieval, anthropomorphic world.The story follows Arlo, heir to the Warden of the Wastes, as he battles a devastating ancient evil.Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter introduces new gameplay mechanics, revised systems, and fearsome challenges while retaining the brutal charm of the original game.The wait is nearly over! Tomorrow, on January 28, our new game, Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter, will be released into the wild, returning players to its gritty, medieval, and anthropomorphic world of epic battles and visceral executions.Set several rat years after the conclusion of the original, the story follows the paws of Arlo, heir to the Warden of the Wastes, as he journeys across the far stretches of the Ratdoms northern frontier in a valiant effort to overcome a devastating and ancient evil thats spreading across the land.When Tails of Iron first launched in 2021, we were blown away by the overwhelming support from players and critics alike; it was truly humbling. So, when it came to developing the second instalment in the Tails of Iron saga, we wanted to expand the experience in several ways and thats what weve done!Weve added further gameplay and combat mechanics, revised systems, and introduced fearsome new challenges, while keeping the same brutal charm you loved in the first game. Theres much to gnaw on in this sequel, but today were going to briefly look at the new beast hunt gameplay, how Arlo is preparing to fight back against the giant creatures and the Dark Wings.Elementa: Magic from the GodsAs the ice-cold shadow of the Dark Wings, an old and near-mythical enemy of the Rats, drapes across the northern frontier, leaving a wanton trail of destruction, the Rat gods of old grow ever fearful. And so, in a desperate attempt to turn the tide, they gift their elemental powers to Arlo.One of the new additions were bringing to combat in Tails of Iron 2 is the Elementa spellcasting system, which brings a further layer of strategy to combat. Unlocked during Arlos quest across the Wastes and beyond, hell be able to harness four devastating forces to help vanquish his foes:Electric: Summon lightning from the heavens to stun multiple foes in their tracks.Fire: Launch fireballs at enemies in a straight path, leaving trails of devastation.Ice: Unleash freezing gusts that immobilize foes with a chilling grip.Poison: Inflict a slow but deadly damage-over-time effect on groups of enemies.Elementa abilities can also become more powerful when their upgrade shines are discovered, giving Arlo more devastating powers to wield against enemies.Elemental Strategies and Tactical CombatSpellcasting isnt the only combat system embracing the power of the elements. Enemies in Tails of Iron 2 have specific weaknesses to certain types of elemental damage, making tactical preparation crucial. Knowing when to equip a fire-infused weapon or wear poison-resistant armor can mean the difference between glorious victory and deadly defeat. The same goes for in-game crafting: Weapons and armor will need to be forged and tailored to an enemys weaknesses to support Arlo in battle.Weve also introduced elemental traps into the game, essential for trying to control the impending onslaught from a group of enemies. With the expanded arsenal of weapons and armor types, from venomous swords to frost-resistant plate mail, its crucial to think strategically to dominate the battlefield. The Northern Wastes demand cunning as much as strength!The Thrill of the HuntAcross the Northern Wastes are colossal monsters that antagonise and threaten the peoples of the frontier, and naturally, as youd expect from any hero, Arlos journey wouldnt be truly complete without taking on these terrifying beasts. As he explores the world beyond Winters Edge, from The Golden Forest to the White Whiskers and further afar, Arlo can accept contracts from locals and embark on epic monster hunts to rid the land of its most deadly threats.And these hunts are no pushover. Each is a battle for survival, with cunning enemies that will test Arlos skills and resolve. But the rewards are worth every risk. Defeating these beasts yields rare resources to craft some of the games rarest and most powerful equipment, strengthening more than Arlos resolve against the tyrannical Dark Wings. And of course, every victory comes with the glory of solidifying a legacy as the ultimate monster hunter!Ready to Defend the Ratdom?Were really excited for the release of Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One tomorrow, January 28, and we hope you enjoy experiencing the expanded combat and gameplay weve touched upon. Theres more across the Ratdom to discover, so whether youre wielding elemental magic, rebuilding Winters Edge, or hunting ferocious beasts, this is a tail for the ages. The Northern Wastes await!Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter Deluxe EditionUnited Label$29.99$23.99Pre-orderPrepare for the chilling clash against the Dark Wings with the Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter Deluxe Edition, combining the brutal action-RPG base game with both the Augur of the Draugr armour and weapon pack and Hair to the Throne cosmetic DLC.Step into the fray clad in the legendary Draugr armour of old, forged in the fires of the elder wars between Rat and Bat, before choosing between six different, warrior-worthy hair and beard styles. For those who seek to claim victory over winters shadow, only the fiercest attire will do.Deluxe Edition Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter base game Augur of the Draugr pack: Features exclusive items, including three new helms, three armours, and three pauldrons, together with three new shields and three new axes. Hair to the Throne pack: An exclusive collection of six beards and hairstyles to further customise Arlos battle-readiness.Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of WinterUnited Label$24.99$19.99Pre-orderJust as the Rats of the South start to piece their lives together, following the great war between Rodent and Frog, an old and unspeakable evil stirs in the North; wings black as death; fangs sharp as steel; and a thirst for blood rivalled only by their insatiable hunger for vengeance. As Arlo, young heir to the Warden of the Wastes, journey through the vast, snow-ravaged lands of the North in an epic quest to overcome the Dark Wings once and for all. Hunt down giant beasts. Unite disparate clans. Upgrade your settlement. And discover a terrible secret of blood and crown The time for heroes is over. For the Kingdom needs a warrior; forged of the North and as cold as the snow that shrouds these lands. A rat carved from iron. And so, a new tail begins.Explore a Vast, Wintry KingdomFully narrated by RPG-legend, Doug Cockle, prepare to embark on an epic adventure across the northern realms of the Ratdom; an expansive, frost-bitten land on the brink of all-out war. Hunt down Giant BeastsTrack down and defeat the legendary monsters of this realm, and be rewarded with rare resources with which to craft devastating equipment. But be warned, these colossal creatures wont go down without a fight and then some. Master Brutal CombatThe lands of the North are a perilous place, so youll need to master the fast, challenging combat for any chance of survival. Evade attacks with a dodge roll, nail split-second parry bashes, and unleash an array of gruesome executions.Customise your AttackCraft your own extensive arsenal of upgradeable weaponry, ready to fight as you see fit; strike quick with a spear, afar with a bow, or go claw-to-claw with a heavy-hitting mace. Alternativity, gain a tactical advantage with a range of new, deadly trapsUpgrade your SettlementAs Warden of the Wastes, defending your lands is only half the battle. Construct and upgrade your settlement with hard-earned gold to gain access to more powerful items from the Smithy, tastier meals at the Kitchen, a wider range of powerful traps from the shoppe, and more!

Jump to:Nature and the Earth have long been sources of inspiration in interior design. But with the rise of natural disasters, climate change effects, and a push by politicians to end renewable energy, ensuring our homes are aligned with our environment is crucial. Passive homes and carbon-neutral clean properties are great if youre looking to embark on a new build, but for a more accessible approach, try biophilic design. The design style, which is a nature-centric approach to interiors, goes far beyond a collection of houseplants or painting the whole place green. It can take many shapes, from landscaping ideas that use local plants and flowers to oversized windows that let in the most natural light possible. It also includes green roofs and live plant walls. Interior designer (and former Olympian!) Erica McLain explains, Biophilic design is the art and science of reconnecting humans with the natural world within built environments. Rooted in our innate biophiliathe deep evolutionary bond between humans and natureit seeks to restore balance, calm, and vitality in our indoor spaces by integrating the principles and patterns of the natural world.Odds are, youre already incorporating elements of this style into your space. To learn more about biophilic design, its primary components, and how to bring the philosophy home, read on for our in-depth guide.Related StoriesWhat Is Biophilic Design?josefkubes//Getty ImagesAn exterior living wall using rainwater runoff to sustain plants.Biophilic design describes interiors and architecture planned with a nature-first mentality. Whether exemplified through ample windows and natural light, eco-friendly materials, or live walls and greenery, biophilic design encourages people to commune with nature while still indoors.While plants are a wonderful and visible aspect of biophilic design, they are only one piece of a much larger puzzle, McLain says. Biophilic design goes deeper, incorporating fractal patterns, which mimic the organized complexity found in nature, or using natural light to align with our circadian rhythms. Even materials play a roletextures like raw wood, linen, or stone provide a tactile connection to the earth. In architecture, the biophilic design style is often seen in green roofs, plant walls, and heavy landscaping, even in urban areas. Inside, however, the emphasis is placed on bringing as much nature in as possible to create harmony between the industrial setting and the world outside. History of Biophilic DesignBiophilic design, when compared with Art Deco or Brutalism, is a relatively new concept. While other architectural styles were born out of industrial evolution and creativity, biophilic design has largely emerged out of necessity. Its a movement by architects and designers to encourage a reconnection with nature in an increasingly digital age. According to research from the University of Minnesota, the dominant approach to modern building and landscape design largely treats nature as either an obstacle to overcome or a trivial and irrelevant consideration. The result has been an increasing disconnect between people and nature in the built environment reflected in inadequate contact with natural light, ventilation, materials, vegetation, views, natural shapes and forms, and in general beneficial contact with the natural world.Paulo Pereira//Getty ImagesA green roof.5 Key Elements of Biophilic Design Biophilic design can be direct (using elements like trees, grass, and water) or indirect (natural colors, images of nature, organic shapes, and materials). Biophilic design isn't limited to sightit engages all five senses to create a holistic, immersive experience, explains McLain. Textures like smooth wood, soft linens, or rugged stone invite touch, while calming water features or the rustling of leaves mimic natural sounds. The subtle scents of essential oils, fresh flowers, or even a herb garden bring olfactory richness to the space. This style also incorporates the experience of space and place, examples of which are urban courtyards, natural installations in office buildings, and miniature parks in major cities where direct nature access is slim. Shade DeggesAccess to NatureWhether through large windows, balconies, porches, or yard space, biophilic design prioritizes access to nature. In largely urban areas or high rises, this can take the form of increased natural light, green spaces on a roof or common terraces, or interior landscaping. McLain recommends incorporating light from every direction if possible. Strategically place windows, skylights, and mirrors to amplify sunlight and distribute it evenly across the space, she says. Pair this with the thoughtful incorporation of airflowopen windows, ceiling fans, or vented partitions can mimic the subtle, refreshing movement of outdoor breezes. This interplay of light and air creates a space that feels alive, fostering vitality and a sense of well-being.Per Magnus Persson//Getty ImagesAmple GreeneryRewilding lawns, using local plants in landscaping, and cultivating houseplants (even in office buildings) are ways to incorporate biophilic design without undertaking a renovation or structural change.Photo: Roger Davies/OTTO Designer: Jamie BushFocus on Health and Well-BeingBiophilic design prioritizes human health and wellness by providing clean air, calming soundscapes, and low-stress environments. An example of this would be a fitness center with large windows and plants incorporated into the design. The Natural Resource Defense Council also notes that including natural surroundings in the workplace has been proven to increase creativity and productivity.John StafferSoothing Colors and SightsThe color palette of biophilic design comprises hues found in nature. Brown, green, and blue are the three most common, but youll also find calming yellows and neutral colors throughout.Patterns that mimic motifs in nature can also help calm the space. This can include fractal patterns found in textiles, the symmetry of natural shapes like leaves or shells, or biomorphic curves in furnishings that mimic the human bodys natural forms, says McLain. These patterns trigger a subconscious sense of familiarity and ease while sparking curiosity. For example, a rug with a fractal design or a sculptural light fixture inspired by tree branches creates a layered, dynamic aesthetic that feels effortlessly soothing yet intriguing.ALI HARPERNatural MaterialsBiophilic design doesnt have to mean living in a jungle. You can incorporate this style by layering in natural textures and materials. This goes beyond merely adding greenery; its about creating an immersive environment that reflects and celebrates the natural world, says McLain. Incorporate organic materials like reclaimed wood, stone, and woven fibers to establish a tactile connection. Think jute rugs, wool blankets, and rattanall accessible, tangible ways to reconnect with the natural world.Working on a design project? Let us help!Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.Expert consulted:Erica McLainInterior DesignerErica McLain is an interior designer and former US Olympian. Her design journey began with my exposure to my grandmother's mixed-medium art, my father's construction skills, and my mothers love of nature. These first influences, in addition to the experiences in over 38 countries as a professional athlete, including representing the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, have expanded her worldview and helped me empathize with diverse lifestyles. She is the founder and principal of McLain by Design Interiors. Ericas academic achievementsa BA in Communication and a Minor in Studio Art from Stanford University, an MBA from UC Berkeley focused on Product Development and Brand Strategy, and ongoing studies in Architecture and Interior Design at UCLAform the foundation of her holistic approach. Prior to design, McLain worked at both Facebook and Google in user experience (UX) design as a product manager, learning about and designing solutions for the movement patterns and needs of a variety of people around the globe. This background in software design is now the lens through which she views design, creating interiors that are tailored to your unique preferences.

Theres a new software update available for Apple Watch Series 6 and later starting today. watchOS 11.3 is the latest version, bringing the new Unity Rhythm watch face to Apple Watch. Apple unveiled the new watch face alongside the 2025 Black Unity Sport Loop watch band this week.Heres how Apple describes the new watch face:The matching Unity Rhythm watch face features custom numerals formed by intertwined threads of red, green, and yellow. The watch face reacts to the gyroscope, so when a user raises their wrist to check the time, the strands coalesce from a series of abstract brush strokes into digits. When using the Unity Rhythm watch face, distinctive, rhythmic chimes mark every hour and half hour.Be sure to update your iPhone to the new iOS 18.3 release. This will include support for the new Apple Watch face. watchOS 11.3 is available on these models:Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)Apple Watch Series 6 and laterApple Watch Ultra and laterYou also need an iPhone XS or later to run the latest iOS 18 software update.After updating your Apple Watch, the new watch face will appear in the Unity face collection. This set of faces also includes Unity, Unity Bloom, Unity Lights, and Unity Mosaic. Best Apple Watch and 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

Apple has just launched its next software updates for its full lineup of platforms. Included among those updates is tvOS 18.3, HomePod 18.3, and visionOS 2.3. Heres what to expect.New software updates focus on improving performance and stabilityApples latest software updates for Apple TV 4K, HomePod, and Vision Pro are especially light on new features.Code in iOS 18.3 indicates that this new wave of updates brings robot vacuum support to the Home app. While initial device setup would need to happen on iPhone, you could then interact with that robot vacuum using all Home-compatible devices like HomePod, Apple TV 4K, and Vision Pro.Outside of that, though, fresh additions are minimal.For example, HomePod 18.3s release notes simply read:This update includes performance and stability improvements.Installing tvOS 18.3 and more without feature incentivesHopefully your device does indeed perform better than before, with key bugs eliminated because of these latest updates. That can be a hard claim to judge without extended testing time though.Nonetheless, Apples software updatesoutside of new features, bug fixes, and performance improvementsalso tend to include regular security fixes. That alone can make them worth installing.To install tvOS 18.3 and visionOS 2.3, go to the Settings app on your device. For HomePod 18.3, youll need to open the Home app on another device and open Home Settings Software Update.Were expecting a larger batch of new features in the upcoming x.4 releases, at least on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac where major Siri upgrades and Mail enhancements are coming. Heres hoping new features hit Apples other platforms too.Have you installed the latest Apple software updates? Notice any changes? Let us know in the comments.Best accessories for Vision Pro, Apple TV, and HomeAdd 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