Sony Pictures Television says its taking over the distribution rights for top game shows Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! from Paramount-owned CBS starting the week of February 10th, reports Bloomberg, while CBS is fighting back by seeking a temporary restraining order.In October, Sony sued CBS for allegedly not putting in enough effort to grow licensing revenues despite CBS making more than $1 billion in profit from the 35-year-old distribution deal. Sony also claims that CBS pocketed more than $3.6 million from other deals made in Australia and New Zealand that did not benefit Sony.According to Deadline, on Monday, CBS sent a statement to clients telling them to ignore what Sony is saying because Sony has no rights under the distribution agreements to terminate them, and CBS remains the distributor for the Series, notwithstanding any communications from Sony to the contrary.Earlier last year, Sony, which produces both game shows, reportedly attempted to buy out the rights from CBS for a figure greater than nine figures, according to a source who spoke with Bloomberg at the time.

It looks like Buffy might be slaying again at Hulu.Variety is reporting that a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot is close to happening at Hulu with star Sarah Michelle Gellar in talks to reprise her role as the vampire-slaying hunter. While the series will center around a new Slayer, Gellar would feature as a recurring character. In addition, Academy Award winner Chlo Zhao, known for her films Nomadland and Eternals, is in talks to direct and executive produce the reboot. Nora Zuckerman and Lila Zuckerman, meanwhile, will write and serve as showrunners to the show. Original series creator Joss Whedon is not involved in the reboot.PlayWhile Whedon was in charge of the original run of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as well as the movie the TV show was based on, he was accused of creating a toxic work environment during production of the TV show as well as its spinoff, Angel. No word yet on the plot details for the reboot other than the focus on a new Slayer and that it could feature Gellar reprising her role as Buffy.The series centered on Buffy Summers, a high school Slayer chosen by fate to battle demons, vampires, and other supernatural entities. She was joined in her fight by her friends Willow Rosenberg and Xander Harris, as well as a Watcher named Rupert Giles.Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran from 1997 to 2003 over seven season. A spinoff titled Angel was also produced at this time, and the series was officially continued through a series of canon comic books.Matt Kim is IGN's Senior Features Editor.

ID@Xbox is kicking off IGN Fan Fest this year with an exciting new showcase on February 24. Get ready to see trailers, gameplay, and reveals from indie studios including Raw Fury, Team 17, Akapura, 11 Bit, and many others. Highlights include the next big collaboration for Balatro, and much, much more.The ID@Xbox Showcase will stream on Monday, February 24, 2025 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST across IGN platforms. Along with all the new reveals, IGNs Podcast Unlocked will be breaking down the biggest moments from the showcase in a special IGN post-show, which will immediately follow the main show.Check out the some of the studios who will be a part of the ID@Xbox showcase, below:11 BitBigFan Critical ReflexDaedalicGame Source EntertainmentNo More RobotsPanicPlaystackRaw FuryThunder LotusCult GamesTeam17CurveAkapuraDont NodWhile we wait for all things Xbox, make sure to check out the biggest reveals from 2024's ID@Xbox partnership with IGN, where it shared exclusives from games including Dungeons of Hinterberg, 33 Immortals, Astor: Blade of the Monolith, Vampire Survivors, and many more.PlayAnd throughout February, stay tuned to IGN for more information about the exclusive reveals, interviews, gameplay, and trailers that will be showcased during IGN Fan Fest the week of February 24 - 28. From games like Monster Hunter Wilds, WWE 2K25, and Alien Rogue Incursion, to shows including Daredevil: Born Again, Mythic Quest, and it's new spin off Side Quest, to comics such as TMNT, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Godzilla, IGN Fan Fest will be a week full of exciting reveals you won't want to miss!

When you buy a weekend home in a picturesque valley in Sonoma, California, you want to spend as much time soaking up the glorious setting as possible. Designer Lauren Nelson and architect Geddes Ulinskas made it happen for the young family of five who live here. Ulinskas opened up the back to frame the mountains and create better indoor-outdoor flow. He also constructed a towering covered deck to maximize time spent lounging, dining, and swimming outdoors. Nelson, who worked with the full of life homeowners on their residence in San Francisco, gave it a stylish and functional aesthetic. Everything has to withstand the beating of many kids and dogs and adults that love to have cocktails and will spill, she says. They love to entertain. They love family chaos.FAST FACTSDESIGNER: Lauren Nelson DesignLOCATION: Sonoma, CaliforniaTHE SPACE: The original house had oppressively low eaves that cropped off the mountains. We decided we needed a space to frame those beautiful peaks, and the trussed roofs perfectly frame the peaks beyond.Geddes UlinskasPOOL DECK & PATIONothing detracts from the view.Michael CliffordChaise longues: RH. Adirondack chairs: McGee & Co. When youre standing at the house looking out at the mountains, that really is the focal point, Nelson says. To keep the spotlight on the pool and beautiful surroundings, the designer went minimal with the decor instead of really decking the space out with furniture. Michael CliffordDining table and chairs: RH.For the statement-making trussed roof, Ulinskas and his team worked with a timber-framing company that used traditional joinery and notched connections. Come summer, when the sun is blazing, the deck is the perfect hangout. The goal was to create some shade and a comfortable area to eat and relax, says Nelson, who worked on space planning with the client and architect. So theres an outdoor kitchen area, a lounge area, a dining area, and then a movie-watching area, she says.Michael CliffordSectional: Gloster. Coffee table: RH.The lounge is outfitted with a projector and screen (which comes down from a beam overhead) for movie nights.ENTRYWAYGlass doors let maximum light in. Michael CliffordWall paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore. Rug: vintage, Heirloom Rug Co. Tall glass front doors balance the ones along the entire back side of the house and encourage indoor-outdoor living.LIVING ROOMIt flows out onto the deck.Michael CliffordRug: Armadillo. Sofa: Clad Home. Coffee table: Stahl + Band. Chair: Nickey Kehoe, in Rose Tarlow fabric. Side table: McGee & Co. Pendant: Nickey Kehoe. Expansive floor-to-ceiling glass doors along the length of the great room fully open to the back deck, blurring the lines between indoors and out, Nelson says, which was the main goal of the renovation. We wanted the deck to be accessible throughout the length of the home. The kitchen and primary bedroom open up to the outdoors too.FAMILY ROOMThey call it the snug room.Michael CliffordWall covering: Soane Britain. Sleeper sofa: Clad Home. Ottoman: vintage, in Zak & Fox fabric. Side table: vintage. Rug: Jaipur Living. Lamp: Anyon.Michael CliffordCeiling and trim: Saybrook Sage, Benjamin Moore. Chair: vintage, in Radish Moon fabric. Side table: vintage.Fun patterns mixed with eclectic decor help make it extra cozy space. Its where all of the kids go to play games, watch movies, and be creative, Nelson says. The designer, who also references English country cottages as a design inspiration for the project, chose wallpaper and fabric that play up the garden vibe, while vintage furniture adds charm and nostalgia, she says.KITCHENDeep green connects with the outdoors.Michael CliffordLanterns: Lum'Art. Kitchen island and lower cabinets: Calico Blue, Benjamin Moore. Upper cabinets: Barren Plain, Benjamin Moore.While it didnt need a gut renovation (we were really just trying to put some lipstick on, Nelson says), the designer made some impactful updates that didnt cost a fortune, starting with a bold coat of paint on the previously white cabinets. We felt like it was very much a call to nature and to what you see beyond the windows, she says.Michael CliffordHardware: Devol. Backsplash tile: Cl Tile.Michael CliffordCounter stools: McGee & Co.The layout was working well, so Nelson just interjected personality by updating smaller elements. In addition to painting the cabinets, she added new hardware, a tile backsplash, a faucet, and lighting. And then it felt like an entirely new kitchen, she says.The island legs were one thing Nelson modified. The original legs were huge, oversize country legs, Nelson says. She poked around online for a solution, and found Tablelegs.com. They werent custom, it was very quick and easy, and was such a great fix, she says of the new, slimmer legs.DINING AREAIts an extension of the sophisticated kitchen.Michael CliffordLight fixtures: The Urban Electric Co.Vintage Henning Kjaernulf dining chairs upholstered in durable outdoor McLaurin & Piercy fabric surround the long dining table.POWDER ROOMA mini makeover completely changed it.Michael CliffordBeadboard: Blue Gray, Farrow & Ball. Wallcovering: Jasper.The powder room was begging for a transformation, Nelson says. It previously was a white box lacking any interest. But the vanity was cute and worth saving. With a few simple additionsbeadboard, patterned wallpaper, and a new faucetthe tiny space got a completely new look. GUEST ROOMThe color scheme started with the drapes.Michael CliffordWall Paint: Seaside Sand, Benjamin Moore. Table lamp: vintage.Michael CliffordLove seat: IKEA, in Peter Dunham fabric. Floor lamp: Serena & Lily.I adore this Carolina Irving print, especially in this earthy pale plum color, Nelson says of the fabric she chose for the window treatments. The sophisticated hue was then echoed on the walls and in the bedding. The loveseat is an old Ikea sleeper sofa she completely transformed with indoor-outdoor fabric. GUEST BATHROOMSubtle finishes complete the color palette.Michael CliffordWalls: Hazelwood, Benjamin Moore. Sconces: Allied Maker. Mirrors: Mirror Home. Hardware: Rejuvenation. Tile: Fireclay Tile.Hand-painted tile and a moody paint color give the shared bath a slightly glam feel. Additional details include all new fixtures and finishes and a custom vanity.GUEST ROOMDeep blue walls echo the California sky.Michael CliffordBench: vintage, in Zak+Fox fabric. Drapes: custom, in Les Indiennes fabric.Pattern and color was something we knew would be at the forefront of the design, Nelson says. I think with certain vacation homes, you want it to be very monochromatic and peaceful. And this was the opposite of that. We wanted this house to feel fun and whimsical and happy. KIDS ROOMLayered patterns are pretty and practical.Michael CliffordWalls: Manor Blue, Benjamin Moore. Art: vintage, Elsie Green.Nelson layered stripes, plaids, and florals on the twin beds. The technique isnt just visually striking but livable. Pattern is really effective with vacation homes because it hides the wear and tear a little more, she says. Plus, we were trying to have fun and not shy away from using different color palettes. EXTERIORCalifornia meets the English countryside. Michael CliffordTK caption The home exudes an English cottage charm characterized by its shingled, multi-gabled roofline, Nelson says. To complete the effect, the front yard was transformed by landscape designer Regina Rollin of Rollin Design into a meadow inspired by classic English gardens.About the DesignerLauren Nelson is the founder of Lauren Nelson Design in San Francisco. Shes a member of the House Beautiful Next Wave Class of 2014.Urban Electric Double Arm Beldi $6,807 at urbanelectric.comJaipur Living Leona Rug$5 at jaipurliving.comMcGee & Co. Travertine Side Table$950 at mcgeeandco.comAnyon Design Ernst Table Lamp$565 at anyondesign.comNickey Kehoe Spindle Back Viewing Chair$4,800 at nickeykehoe.comFollow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

A week after releasing iOS 18.3 to the public, Apple has now stopped signing iOS 18.2.1. For users, this means that they can no longer downgrade to this version of the operating system if their iPhone or iPad is already running a newer version.Apple blocks downgrade from iOS 18.3 to iOS 18.2.1iOS 18.2.1 was released on January 6 with important bug fixes but Apple didnt detail what exactly was fixed. As for iOS 18.3, which was released on January 27, the update brings some improvements to Apple Intelligence features, as well as multiple security patches.For instance, iOS 18.3 fixes a security breach in AirPlay that allowed attackers to cause an unexpected system termination or corrupt process memory over the local network. Another exploit could lead attackers to unexpectedly terminate apps. Its important to keep your devices updated so that they always have the latest security patches.Unfortunately, if youre experiencing any issues after updating to iOS 18.3, theres no longer an option to go back to iOS 18.2.1.When Apple stops signing a specific version of iOS, it can no longer be installed on iPhones and iPads. The company does this to prevent users from reverting to older versions of the operating system, which are exposed to security breaches that have already been fixed by the company. The downgrade process is also often used for jailbreak purposes another reason for Apple to stop signing old iOS builds.Of course, if you havent yet updated your device to iOS 18.3, you can do so by going to Settings > General > Software Update.Add 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

Ever wish your MacBook wouldnt boot up every time you open the lid or connect it to power? Apple has published an official support document detailing how to disable the feature.Its a bit of a power user workaround without a proper toggle in Settings. Thats probably fine, though, considering power users are most likely to want a way to turn off automatic startup.In a support document, Apple provides the steps needed to change the default behavior.Make sure that yourMac laptop with Apple siliconis using macOS Sequoia or later.Open the Terminal app, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.Type one of these commands in Terminal, then press Return:To prevent startup when opening the lid or connecting to power:sudo nvram BootPreference=%00To prevent startup only when opening the lid:sudo nvram BootPreference=%01To prevent startup only when connecting to power:sudo nvram BootPreference=%02Type your administrator password when prompted (Terminal doesnt show the password as its typed), then press Return.Additionally, automatic startup when opening the lid can be re-enabled with this command in Terminal:sudo nvram -d BootPreferenceThese steps are useful for anyone wanting to change the default behavior for various reasons. Note that these steps do not prevent the MacBook from booting up when you press a key or the trackpad. If you want a way to clean your keyboard without key input, for example, check out CleanupBuddy for Mac.Meanwhile, if you just want to prevent your Mac from chiming on startup, theres a toggle for that in Settings > Sound next to Play sound on startup.Add 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

This really is the dumbest trade war ever. Enemy MineIf Donald Trump makes good on his campaign promise to impose tariffs on Canadian energy imports now pushed back a month, but still a looming threat it stands to devastate the nuclear energy market.AsReuters reports, the Canadian mining companies that supplied more than a quarter of the United States' uranium needs in 2023 which fuels our nuclear energy plants and, to a lesser extent, our scientific research and industrial manufacturing are already feeling the brunt of Trump's tariff threats.Though the president included a "carve-out" for Canadian oil, uranium, coal, electricity, and natural gas, those important exports would still be taxed an additional 10 percent.Look no further than the markets; stocks for Cameco, one of Canada's largest uranium miners, slumped even further today after plunging 13 percent in the wake of DeepSeek's insistence that the mineral won't be that necessary for powering its AI centers.While larger miners like Cameco would likely be able to weather this storm, experts are warning that smaller outfits would bear the brunt."The ripple effects will be severe, particularly for small and medium-sized manufacturers that lack the flexibility and capital to rapidly find alternative suppliers or absorb skyrocketing energy costs," explained Jay Timmons, the CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, in an interview withReuters.No War But Trade WarTrump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum apparently reaching detente and agreeing on a one-month "pause" on those tariffs this morning, and Canada announced a similar deal this afternoon.If that month elapses and uranium and other Canadian minerals begin being taxed an additional 10 percent, the US may begin seeking the important nuclear fuel elsewhere and according to one in-the-know diplomat, Russia would be the biggest alternative."We supply [the US] about a third of the uranium that you use, but you still get uranium from Russia," Canada's ambassador to the US, Kirsten Hillman, told NPR last week. "So what we are saying is, 'Why are you doing that? Why not create a nuclear fuel partnership with Canada to make the two of us nuclear independent nations?'""We can't do that," the ambassador continued, "if we're in a big tariff fight."Could these tariffs even be devised to benefit Elon Musk and Trump's buddy Vladimir Putin? There's probably not quite that much 4-D chess going on with these idiotic tariffs and the will-they-won't-they drama surrounding them but that doesn't mean they won't benefit Russia down the line.More on Trump and energy: Trump Admin Orders Deletion of Information About Climate Change From Government WebsitesShare This Article

Sounds helpful.Agent oo3OpenAI has unveiled a new research tool that can pull information from the web for you and summarize it into detailed reports supposedly "at the level of a research analyst." Naturally, major caveats to follow.Called "deep research," yes, without capitalization the tool is a type of AI agent, an industry term used to describe models that can perform tasks on your behalf. OpenAI released its first AI agent, Operator with the "O" capitalized only last month, showcasing its ability to shop for groceries and make reservations online.Catering towards higher-brow ambitions, OpenAI has built deep research for "intensive knowledge work" in fields like finance and science. But for those who like the idea of a bot doing their shopping, OpenAI says deep research, which is powered by an upcoming version of the company's o3 model, can help in that department by giving them "hyper-personalized" recommendations on big purchases like cars and appliances."It accomplishes in tens of minutes what would take a human many hours," OpenAI claimed, by leveraging its reasoning capabilities to peruse text, images, and PDFs on the internet.GoogleGPTDeep research is available only to those who are subscribed to the $200-per-month ChatGPT Pro plan. In addition to giving text responses like the chatbot normally does, the tool also features an activity sidebar that shows a step-by-step summary of its process in real time. Right now, its final reports are strictly text-based, but OpenAI says that images and data visualizations will be added in the coming weeks.Given that it's actually opening and looking through potentially enormous amounts of web content, responses can take anywhere from five to 30 minutes to produce, OpenAI said. But once you give it its instructions and answer some preliminary questions, you can step away, and the bot handles the rest.Fact CheckThere's no guaranteeing the rigor of the research, however. Like all large language models, deep research can "sometimes" hallucinate or make up facts, OpenAI admitted, though the company claims the tool does this at a lower rate than its existing models. The AI agent also struggles with separating "authoritative information from rumors," and often fails to convey uncertainty. In other words: it has a bad habit of passing fiction off as fact.Impressive as the tech may be, those are huge drawbacks. We're not talking about a plain ol' chatbot anymore. We're talking about something explicitly geared towards serious knowledge gathering, even in scientific fields. Less leeway is permissible here.Deep research may be able to gather loads of information in a matter of minutes, but how much of it can be trusted? And how much time would you spend double-checking the accuracy of its synthesized report, and by extension the sources it cites? These are all questions worth asking as OpenAI rushes another AI out the door, after having a fire lit under it by DeepSeek.Share This Article

Looking for the most recentregular Connections answers? Click here for today's Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.Connections: Sports Editionis coming out of beta on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That's a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will be continuing to publish it. It won't show up in the NYT Games app, but in The Athletic's own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.Read on for hints and answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle.Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta on Super Bowl SundayHints for today's Connections: Sports Edition groupsHere are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.Yellow group hint: FlexibleGreen group hint: Big Apple jocksBlue group hint: Fore!Purple group hint:Stadiums for less-than-ideal climatesAnswers for today's Connections: Sports Edition groupsYellow group: AgileGreen group: New York athleteBlue group: Golfer nicknamesPurple group:____ domeRead more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English WordsWhat are today's Connections: Sports Edition answers? The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Feb. 4, 2025, #134. NYT/Screenshot by CNETThe yellow words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is agile. The four answers are athletic, limber, lithe and sprightly.The green words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is New York athlete. The four answers are Islander, Jet, Knick and Yankee.The blue words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is golfer nicknames. The four answers are Fuzzy, Golden Bear, Lefty and Tiger.The purple words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is ____ dome. The four answers are astro, king, metro and super.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer?Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Connections puzzles.When you see the theme for today's NYTStrandspuzzle, you might wonder if it's a leftover from Christmas. Nope, it's a more universal reading of that one particular word. If you need hints and answers, read on.Also, I go into depth about therules for Strands in this story.If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visitCNET's NYT puzzle hints page.Read more:NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So FarHint for today's Strands puzzleToday's Strands theme is:Elf-centeredIf that doesn't help you, here's a clue: Mythical creaturesClue words to unlock in-game hintsYour goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle's theme. If you're stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:GAPE, PEEL, AIRY, LIME, BIGS, RAIN, HURL, MILE, REEL, LEER, PIGS, SORE, BORE, CREEPAnswers for today's Strands puzzleThese are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you've got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:FAIRY, PIXIE, SPRITE, GREMLIN, HOBGOBLIN, LEPRECHAUNToday's Strands spangramToday's Strands spangram isIMPISH.To find it, start with the I that's five letters down on the far-left row and wind across. The completed NYT Strands puzzle for Feb. 4, 2025, #338. NYT/Screenshot by CNET