SPEAKER 1:Games in this podcast range from E to M.TINA AMINI:Hello, and welcome to the official Xbox Podcast. I'm here with a very special guest today, I get the great pleasure of introducing you all to Craig Duncan, our new Head of Xbox Game Studios. Welcome to Xbox Studio, not to be confused with your Xbox Game Studios.CRAIG DUNCAN:So I'm in charge of this as well? This is new, like this is -- that's, I didn't realize that.TINA AMINI:We don't make games here--CRAIG DUNCAN:Good to see you, Tina.TINA AMINI:Good to see you too. Yeah, so we don't make games here, we do make games marketing here, as well as this lovely podcast. So yes, thank you so much for joining the podcast. I do want to start with kind of giving the community a little bit of context about your very storied history and career in games. You've been in games for two decades, so you've seen a lot, you've seen the ups and down of the industry, the literal ups and downs.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah.TINA AMINI:You've also been lauded where you were Studio Head at Rare for many years. You've been lauded for your work there. The studio culture, obviously you shipped Rare Replay, you've been in charge of Sea of Thieves for its millions, aka seven years it's been ongoing now. And you actually have been working with Ninja Theory and Compulsion before this new role. So you've been around the block, as they say.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, it's been a fun couple of decades, and I love what I do, like that's why I do what I do. And very lucky to see a bunch of the transition on the games industry, joined back in 2002, I worked for a European publisher called Codemasters that was kind of my learn how to make games, made a bunch of different kind of games; action games, sports games, then a little bit of (inaudible) midway games, a little bit of (inaudible) digital, and then joined Rare to lead them. And I've seen Xbox evolve and change over, I guess 14 years I've been with Xbox now. And really, the part of the job I love more than anything is working with studios. I think everyone's role is important, and I think my job as a leader is to help create the right environment for our teams to be successful, create a culture where they can support each other, help each other. Making games is really hard, it's not any easier now than it was 20 years ago. In fact, it's harder than ever, competition is higher, player expectations are higher. So, I think my job is about creating the culture and supporting our leaders, supporting our teams to do the very best work they can, because I think if I do that, then hopefully that shows in the games we make and what goes to our players.TINA AMINI:Yeah, absolutely. Honestly a favorite part of my job too, just getting to know all of our talent at our studios. Like incredible talent, so an incredible job that you have in front of you. But well-suited to the role, obviously, since you've had a lot of that pedigree, which is --CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah.TINA AMINI:-- exciting and I'm happy for the studios and how we're moving forward. So, I'd love to talk about that as well, like we've got a big and exciting year ahead of us. We kicked off the year with Developer Direct. I want to talk about the games that were in Developer Direct, because we've got a chance to talk about the release dates so we know what's coming, when it's coming. But we also just released Avowed, Obsidian's latest game. So I've been spending the weekend playing that myself. How about you?CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, I mean, again, the lucky part of this job, spend time with all the teams, spent a bunch of time with the Obsidian team. And then really, like I feel like I've been playing Avowed for like three or four months, because we've -- yeah, we obviously look at what we're building. But just seeing the reaction of players, seeing the reviews, seeing just people share the same love for the (inaudible), they've got so much passion, Carrie, Feargus, all of the team, so much passion into the game. And yeah, it's a wonderful game, it's got wonderful story. If you haven't checked it out, go check it out. But just seeing all the reviews and it's a real personal moment for a team when you put a game out there.TINA AMINI:Absolutely.CRAIG DUNCAN:And just seeing the reactions and just some of the hype around the game, and people really enjoying it, I think's been great to see.TINA AMINI:Yeah, I'm unfortunately only five hours in, so immediately when we wrap up I'm going home and I'm playing some more.CRAIG DUNCAN:Okay, yeah.TINA AMINI:This has been officially sanctioned. But even five hours in there's so much depth and richness.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah.TINA AMINI:And we've had the pleasure of having Carrie Patel, Game Director, out on the podcast before. She's been on Extended with me, so I've gotten to talk to her quite a bit. I love Carrie, shout out to Carrie.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, absolutely. And just Obsidians play the game your way, and just like Avowed, sure it's a game you can play through the story and through the side quests, but there's actually quite a lot of the way you load out with your character, that you can really play the game in very, very different ways and I love that. >> Yeah. It's both the game play, but then it's also the exploration which is really cool. I was just at DICE and a lot of my journalist friends were telling me, oh, my God, the verticality! And it's like yes, we've been basically talking about the verticality in the podcast with Carrie and there is so much to do and there is that sense of, I see that thing in the distance and I want to go engage with that thing. And there's something in that environment for you to do. Yeah, yeah.TINA AMINI:And it's like my kind of game, and been seeing a lot of good reviews out there.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, and just like the story and the setting and like I'm super happy for Obsidian and --TINA AMINI:World-class storytellers, I'm loving Kai so far. He's like scratching my like New Yorker sarcasm itch. So it's personality-wise, we're a good fit.CRAIG DUNCAN:Good, I love that.TINA AMINI:Well, we also had a bunch of other games showcased in Developer Direct this year. First off, I just have to say, I absolutely love working on that show. It's both because we get to like really embed with the studios, like at their studio, so all of the audience gets to see what is the studio environment and like what is the culture, how are people working together. And it's just such a beautiful storytelling format, I think, if I'm --CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, I love the format and I think just, and I think you said it well earlier, just putting our talent, like we have so many -- so much talent across our studios and just the more you put them -- I always feel a little bit of a shill when I come and do this thing. It's like, you don't really want to hear from me talking about our games, you want to hear from our team members, and Developer Direct is just a really great setting for them to talk about the games and the passion and yeah, like South of Midnight was on there, which obviously a team I've worked super closely with. And hearing them tell the story and the inspiration, it's a great format.TINA AMINI:Yeah, I love the Compulsion team, this is actually their third ever game, which is pretty incredible.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yep.TINA AMINI:They have a very unique style, if you've, if the community our there has played their previous two games as well. People were really celebrating the storytelling, the performances, and there's so much heart in that game and I love to see people enjoying that when I've seen the reviews.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, it's a, and again, very, very lucky I've been playing it a lot. The creatures, the storytelling, the southern gothic, like there's no game I can think of that's been in a setting that they've realized and it's beautiful, the art's beautiful. The, like I said, storytelling, the creatures, the audio, the music --TINA AMINI:The music too, yes. Especially the music, you always, in every game the music is definitely matching the tone, like the ambience. Are you in a boss fight, or are you just in an environmental kind of more peaceful setting. But the way that the music's like literally speaking to the bosses.CRAIG DUNCAN:It's the storytelling.TINA AMINI:It's their theme song. Exactly.CRAIG DUNCAN:It's incredible.TINA AMINI:I thought it was so clever. Yeah. So I was really happy to have that in our show, that one's coming out April 8, we announced in Developer Direct. Fun fact actually, before we talk about the other games, is Art Director, Whitney Clayton, who opened the (inaudible) for South of Midnight, she actually designed their whole studios too. The studio space itself. And it is gorgeous.CRAIG DUNCAN:It's a wonderful place, yeah.TINA AMINI:-- I wanted to steal her over and help design our of offices and he said, absolutely not. So that's not happening.CRAIG DUNCAN:See, I went for a different thing, I'm like hey, I can just be based in here. Because --TINA AMINI:Yes.CRAIG DUNCAN:-- it just feels so creative and it's back to back, you want to be surrounded by the things that inspire you.TINA AMINI:Yes and you feel the creativity when you're there.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, absolutely.TINA AMINI:I very much love their space and that's the beauty of Developer Direct, you get to see some of that in the environmental storytelling that we do in the show. But we also had a very exciting reveal with Ninja Gaiden 4. So that's been in the works for some time. What is our backstory with that franchise?CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, and I love the story behind that. So, not only Team Ninja, but along with Platinum Games and I know there was a lot of, what are Platinum Games working on, really prestigious developer. Ninja Gaiden, I mean it's a franchise started on arcade and then home computers. And I guess, I think the original Nintendo there was a Ninja Gaiden version, if my memory serves me correctly. But it's also a franchise that's been synonymous with Xbox over the years in multiple generations. So, just to bring a super up-to-date, highly polished, just seeing just the pace of combat, the excitement, the boss -- like it's got so much. And I think fans are going to be blown away by the game. They're going to enjoy it. I actually love the shadow drop of Ninja Gaiden 2 as well.TINA AMINI:Yes, a little bonus surprise, yes.CRAIG DUNCAN:And just the fact that we get to have those kind of surprises in the shows and people can go play it immediately on Game Pass is really great, and look forward to Ninja Gaiden 4 later this year.TINA AMINI:Exactly, it's such a good way to just kind of set it back up and scratch that nostalgia itch, and then remind the community about like the great prowess and --CRAIG DUNCAN:It's been a while since the last one --TINA AMINI:Yes, exactly. Yeah.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, just putting it back on people's radars and what was great about the franchise, but the publishing team really excited about it. Everything we're seeing, like we think the game's shaping up really well. So.TINA AMINI:Yes, we have so much love for Ninja Gaiden internally. The producer on my team that took on that particular segment and flew to Japan and worked with the studio, used to back in the day work for IGN, 10 years ago was begging for the return of Ninja Gaiden, so very special for a lot of us internally at Xbox, to be kind of bringing this out into the world with those teams and get the community as excited as we are --CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, it's a great franchise.TINA AMINI:-- really special. Yes, absolutely. Well, we also had third-party friends show up --CRAIG DUNCAN:You did?TINA AMINI:-- with a new studio, Sandfall Interactive, this is their first game that they're ever shipping together as a team, and it's Expedition 33. It looks gorgeous.CRAIG DUNCAN:I'm excited to play this one. Like, and again, this is the bit where it's not part of my job, but it was the, it was the game in the show that I'm like hey, I really like it. JRPG, plus unique setting, plus new IP. Yeah, I'm really excited to play. I think I've seen as much as anyone else has seen, but --TINA AMINI:The only one you can say that with.CRAIG DUNCAN:Absolutely, but what I love about Developer Direct again, is it showcasing a new studio, a new IP, and I love that we can do that on the biggest stage and show that to the world. So.TINA AMINI:Yeah, and that team is really wonderful. I got to spend time with them working on their segment together. Their love for JRPGs is just so apparent. They were so embedded in their segment it was like such a pleasure to work with them and help them tell their story.CRAIG DUNCAN:Incredible.TINA AMINI:Yes, absolutely, they really have their own like unique positioning on it, and like really making it their own. It's very fun to learn from the behind the scenes, like just how much they're putting into this game, and we announced it's coming out April 24, so --CRAIG DUNCAN:Yes, very soon.TINA AMINI:-- another, yeah, another one to make for a busy year. And there was one other game in Developer Direct, of course, our big closer, our summer blockbuster if you will, for DOOM: The Dark Ages, announced for May 15. So very exciting to have that one close out the show.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, and again, super excited for the game, the team, and just it's an amazing franchise, very storied franchise, DOOM. And again, I don't want to speak for them, but like I think it's going to be an amazing version of DOOM, very different, but yeah. Just --TINA AMINI:It feels that way to me too.CRAIG DUNCAN:Super cool.TINA AMINI:Speaking of it being a storied franchise, they did such a good job, both Hugo and Marty just kind of drawing back on like the previous DOOMs, the role that you played, and then what that is compared to Dark Ages.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah.TINA AMINI:And that kind of like big mecca, like gob smacking chaos that you're going to be finding yourself in. So, definitely that big summer blockbuster vibe for May 15 release date. We did also prevails announce that DOOM was going to be coming to other platforms. And since then we've had a bunch of other news about other games of ours coming to other platforms. Speaking of Bethesda, also Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yep, of course.TINA AMINI:And brief sidebar for Indiana Jones, that won, took home three awards from DICE actually.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, huge, congratulations.TINA AMINI:Yeah, I had the pleasure of congratulating Todd in person, like the team was really excited. It was so great to see MachineGames on stage, taking home three awards. So they won Adventure Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Character, which of course went to Trip Baker for Indie himself, and Achievement in Story. All super well-deserved.CRAIG DUNCAN:Well-deserved.TINA AMINI:I loved playing that game. I think I devoured it in two days, doing nothing else with my life, but I think it was well-spent hours I would say.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, me too, and again kind of got to play it pre-launch, but what they built was incredible and well-deserving of all the awards.TINA AMINI:Yeah, absolutely. Very happy for that team.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, me too.TINA AMINI:But on that note, some of the games that are going to be coming to other platforms, they're some of our like long-standing kind of flagship series if you will. So I'm just curious what you think the Xbox community should take away from the fact that we've made that decision to bring more games to more platforms.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, I think it's good for gamers, I think it's good for our studios. Our studios make amazing games, and we want to give those games the chance to reach the broadest audience possible. So, even if I think back to when I had my Studio Head of Sea of Thieves hat on, having to see if these reach their multiple platforms, being able to remove barriers so those players could play together. And then we announced Forza Horizon 5, which one of the biggest games on Xbox. I'm very biased, of course, because I know the team super well, but arguably I think probably one of the best racing games ever, ever, ever, ever made.TINA AMINI:I think a lot of people agree with you.CRAIG DUNCAN:I just think it's good for gamers, it's good to have our games reach more places.TINA AMINI:It's some of that quality of life element for gamers, but also happy for our developers that get a chance to share their art with more people.CRAIG DUNCAN:Everyone that makes a game wants it to reach as many players as possible. So.TINA AMINI:Exactly.CRAIG DUNCAN:I love that we can give that opportunity.TINA AMINI:Absolutely. Well, there's one other highly anticipated game --CRAIG DUNCAN:Yes!TINA AMINI:-- that people would be very excited about, that we haven't talked about yet, and that's Fable.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yes.TINA AMINI:So where are we at with Fable?CRAIG DUNCAN:So, I just want to start with really excited, really excited about progress, really excited where Playground are. We previously announced the date for Fable as 2025, we are actually going to give Fable more time and it's going to ship in 2026 now. While I know that's not maybe the news people want to hear, what I want to assure people of is that it's definitely worth the wait. And I just, I have unequivocal confidence in the Playground team. If you think about their history and legacy for Forza Horizon, the last two games critically acclaimed (inaudible) --TINA AMINI:Award-winning.CRAIG DUNCAN:Award-winning, beautiful, played great. And just what they're bringing to Fable as a franchise, just think of the visuals of what you expect of Playground Games, plus amazing game play, British humor, Playground's version of Albion, so inspired by what's gone before with the franchise, but their take. And quite frankly, the most beautifully realized version of Albion you've ever seen. So really excited about the plans and really excited about the future and I want the community to understand that we do these things for the best of the games, and the teams, and ultimately that results in the best games, or the best game for the community.TINA AMINI:And I think from your visit you actually managed to bring over some footage for us to see some of those beautiful visuals as well.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah. So, I think we're going to show some of the, some of the footage, this isn't a trailer or anything. We thought as we were going to talk about the game, it was important to show some of the things.TINA AMINI:Yeah, we get to see some of these scenes, like kind of both just walking through environments where, and there will be some combat, some city walking scenes, just really seeing how the beautiful variety in environments that are in the game.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, and I've played some aspects of it that are in the city based, and again, I'm trying to be very careful that I don't spoil anything. Ralph and the team won't forgive me if I spoil something. But I played some of the city elements, I played some of the quests, I played some of the combat, I played a boss battle, I've used magic. Like it felt amazing, and I had a great time, and again, I remember the originals and the scene, I've played that in game play. I'm not going to spoil the backstory of what's going on, but as you can see, genuinely beautiful. Plays great.TINA AMINI:Just seeing like the cinematics and then cutting to the actual like fight over here, it's gorgeous. It can barely tell the difference, which is such a seamless transition.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah. It's very real, everything you're seeing here is very playable. I've seen a bunch more than that, I'm very excited. So take my word for it. But hopefully what the team can see here is enough to build excitement.TINA AMINI:I love the little details, it's great to see how much emphasis is being put into all of that.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, and there's no bigger fans of Fable as a franchise as the Playground team that are making it. So I think it's a really fun balance between what are the game tenets that are true to Fable, and what's some modern day reimagining of what is Playground Games' version of Fable.TINA AMINI:Yeah, absolutely. The modern retelling of Fable. Very excited myself, I've been a massive Fable player since day one. So, I'm excited for 2026.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah.TINA AMINI:Alright, well that's all the news that we have for this particular episode and for what's coming up for the rest of the year. But before we send you back off to go hang out with other studios and see all of their games and tell me about all the things that you're seeing there, I would just love to know like what are you playing, what are you looking forward to the rest of the year, maybe something non-Xbox Studios.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, it's kind of tricky, because this job is full on, like as you would imagine. And so I spend a lot of time, so obviously I'm over in Redmond this week. I've got a Steam Deck that's full of XGS games, so I spend a lot of our time playing our own games. We've got a bunch of stuff we haven't announced, so obviously I spend a bunch of time with that. I think as we've talked about earlier, I think Expedition 33 I think is something I'm looking forward to playing. Was cool to see the Switch 2 announcement, so like always curious and excited about what Nintendo do, so I think that will be cool. But yeah, just like we have lots going on.TINA AMINI:We do.CRAIG DUNCAN:So I try and spend as much time as I can playing our own games. Yeah, so.TINA AMINI:We'll call it research.CRAIG DUNCAN:Yeah, yeah.TINA AMINI:It's fun research.CRAIG DUNCAN:It is fun research.TINA AMINI:That's me playing Avowed later.CRAIG DUNCAN:It's the best part of the job.TINA AMINI:Continue my journey, yes, exactly. Well, thank you so much for coming by, I hope we have you again here at Xbox Studio, not to be confused with Xbox Game Studios.CRAIG DUNCAN:That is confusing.TINA AMINI:-- many locations, we are but one location, here in Redmond as well. And yeah, we're looking forward to seeing more the rest of the year, and I hope everyone else at home watching is similarly excited. And we'll see you at the next show.

Apples newest iPhone comes with a key component many years in the making: the C1 modem. The idea of a new modem may not sound very exciting on the surface, but already with this first version its become clear why Apple spent so long developing it. There are cost benefits to ditching Qualcomm, but also user-facing improvements. Here are two killer features Apples new C1 enables.#1: Battery life gainsWho among us wouldnt appreciate a little more battery life with our devices? Even though I feel like the iPhone 16 Pro has finally hit my battery sweet spot, a little more juice never hurts.Apple didnt go too hard promoting the C1 in its iPhone 16e presentation, but heres what it did highlight:C1 is the first modem designed by Apple and the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone, delivering fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity. Apple silicon including C1 the all-new internal design, and the advanced power management of iOS 18 all contribute to extraordinary battery life.If you spend much time away from Wi-Fi and using 5G, you know how cellular data can put a significant strain on your iPhones battery. But C1s improved power efficiency goes a long way to solve that problem.In fact, C1 enables the iPhone 16e to handily beat the more expensive iPhone 16 in battery life, with nearly 20% better performance.The C1 will also enable this falls iPhone 17 Air to go ultra-thin while still offering sufficient battery lifesolving my biggest worry about the new model.It wont be long before C-class modems make their way into more Apple devices, enabling some mix of better battery life and thinner form factors with each product.#2: More responsive data in tough spotsAnother big advantage with the C1 is that it can be integrated with iOS in a way Qualcomms modem never could. This enables it to understand what youre doing on the device at any given time, and prioritize data use that matters most.Heres Apples explanation to Reuters:One of the ways Apple hopes the C1 will set its iPhones apart is by tightly integrating it with its processor chips. For example, if an iPhone encounters congested data networks, the phones processor can signal to the modem which traffic is the most time sensitive and put it ahead of other data transfers, making the phone feel more responsive to the users needs, said Arun Mathias, vice president for wireless software at Apple.When youre facing network congestion, Qualcomms modem has no idea which data requests are most important. Often that creates a frustrating user experience. But Apples C1 will be able to offer more responsive and intelligent data use to meet your exact needs.Apples modem features: C1 is just the startThese two improvements alone get me very excited for the future potential of C1 across Apples full product lineup. But theyre also just the start. Apple is reportedly planning a C2 chip for next year and C3 for 2027 that will offer even more functionality. And I must say, Ive never been more excited for new cellular modems than I am for Apples C-class lineup.What do you think of Apples C1 features? What improvements do you hope come in the future? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Is your Mac running low on local storage? Try this new app before you start sacrificing files. It turns out the Mac has this ability to reclaim disk space without actually deleting files in some instances.If youre a programmer like John Siracusa, you can write a script that will make use of this capability. If youre like me and programming isnt a language that you speak, Siracusas new Hyperspace macOS app is here to help.Siracusa explains how Hyperspace came to be in a blog post today on Hypercritical: Today, most Mac users dont even notice that using the Duplicate command in the Finder to make a copy of a file doesnt actually copy the files contents. []There are plenty of Mac apps that will save disk space by finding duplicate files and thendeletingthe duplicates. Using APFS clones, my app could reclaim disk spacewithout removing any files!As a digital pack rat, this appealed to me immensely.By the end of that week, Id written a barebones Mac app to do the same thing my Perl script was doing. In the months that followed, I polished and tested the app, and christened itHyperspace. Im happy to announce that Hyperspace is now available on the Mac App Store.Hyperspace is easy to use and costs nothing to try. Download it from the Mac App Store, launch the app and aim it at the folder you would like to target, and let it run.If Hyperspace finds storage that can be recovered without deleting files, the app will report the amount of potential disk space to reclaim.If the disk space that can be recovered is zero or insignificant, you havent spent a cent and youll have confirmation.However, if Hyperspace finds tens of gigabytes of reclaimable storage without deleting files, the app has unlocked the ability to free up disk space. At this point, you can purchase Hyperspace and actually reclaim disk space that it identified without deleting a single file.Hyperspace works with your Mac storage as well as attached storage that uses Apple File System, or APFS.Recovering disk space can be unlocked for one month for $9.99 or one year for $19.99. If you prefer to pay once, you can purchase a lifetime unlock for $49.99.Hyperspace is available starting today on the Mac App Store.Best Apple accessoriesFollow Zac Hall on X, Threads, and Bluesky, and listen to Runtime with co-host Sophia Tung on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.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

It took just over a month after his second inauguration, but it appears that Donald Trump may finally have put Elon Musk in his place.AfterMusk's team at DOGE emailed virtually all federal workers over the weekend demanding that they summarize their activities over the past week in bullet points or risk termination, there was a near-universal outcry at the sense of overreach especially when it emerged that Musk's plan was to feed the answers into an AI chatbot to decide which jobs were "necessary."The chaos was so immense, in fact, that Trump's administration ended up telling agency heads, per sources that spoke to theWashington Post, that they could simply "ignore the public decree from Elon Musk to effectively fire employees who do not send in bullet-point summaries of their work last week."It's a striking rebuke after Musk had been given seemingly unlimited rein over the federal government for weeks, and likely an inflection point in what's been an extremely cozy relationship between the billionaire Tesla owner and president Trump. But it shows that even the pair's chummy bond has limits.Though his own administration slapped the email's power down, Trump himself contradicted that guidance by praising it yesterday."I thought [the email] was great," Trump told reporters during a Monday evening press conference, "because we have people that dont show up to work and nobody even knows if they work for the government."Musk not a man given to submission to authority seemed to publicly struggle to articulate why Trump had undermined his latest salvo against federal workers."The email request was utterly trivial, as the standard for passing the test was to type some words and press send!" he seethed online. "Yet so many failed even that inane test, urged on in some cases by their managers."Minutes later, he seemed to get ahold of himself, issuing a Dwight Schrute-esque warning: even though his threat turned out to be totally empty before, next time it'll totally be real."Subject to the discretion of the President, they will be given another chance," he posted. "Failure to respond a second time will result in termination."In an interview withPolitico, an external Trump advisor who was granted anonymity to discuss the situation with candor said that although it's "too early" for White House staffers to be complaining openly about Musk, they are "hearing a lot of groans and seeing a lot of eye rolls."It's unclear exactly how much drama is occurring behind the scenes between the elected and unelected billionaire pair as they struggle for control of the US government but one thing's for sure: with Musk's public approval tanking, Trump knows their fates are tied together, and that means Musk's carte-blanche to remake the federal government is now on thin ice.More on Trump and Musk: Wait, Was Elon's Son Just Caught on Camera Telling Trump What Musk Really Thinks of Him?Share This Article

Somehow, it has been 20 years sinceStar Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith premiered in theaters. This movie is almost as oldnow as the originalStar Warswas whenThe Phantom Menacedebuted. Someone pass me a death stick; I cant take this anymore.To celebrate theRevenge of the Sith20th anniversary, Lucasfilm has confirmed they will screen the film in theaters for one week starting this April. The press release states that it will be available in several formats, including, for the first time, 4DX. That aspect alone should get some folks excited. Youll be able to feel every Palpatine lightning fingers blast. (And maybe smell them too?)LucasfilmLucasfilmloading...Revenge of the Sithwas George Lucas capper to his ambitious Prequel Trilogy toStar Wars.It depicted the final stages of Anakin Skywalkers (Hayden Christensen) turn to the Dark Side of the Force and his transformation into the menacing Darth Vader of the original films. The film also stars Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Samuel L. Jackson, Yoda (as himself), and Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine.Unlike the prior two prequels The Phantom Menaceand Attack of the Clones Revenge of the Sith got largely positive reviews upon its initial release. (Its the only one of theStar Warsprequels thats Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.) Its thinly veiled political allegory about the Galactic Republics transformation into the Empire has only grown in relevance as the years have progressed. Its also the rare mega-budget blockbuster where (spoiler alert) the bad guys basically win! That makes it an interesting document as well.Theres a new poster for the film by artist Matt Ferguson as well.STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITHLucasfilm Ltdloading...Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith will return to movie theaters on April 25.10 Actors Who Turned Down Star Wars Roles

Moana 2was initially planned as a TV series for Disney+. At some point during its development, Disney realized that if they turned this streaming show into a theatrical release, they could make hundreds of millions of dollars and then put the thing on streaming anyway. Why not get two bites at the same apple? This aint Snow White! That thing aint poisoned!Sure enough,Moana 2 when opened in theaters last fall it grossed $1.05 billion worldwide despite middling reviews and so-so reaction from audiences. Now, after recharging Disneys bank accounts, its headed where it was always meant to be in the first place, with the company announcing it will premiere on Disney+ in just a couple of weeks.Aulii Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson reprise their roles as Moana the braveocean explorerand Maui the wisecracking demigod. This time theyre trying to locate asunken island which can reunite all of the disparate people of the ocean. In order to do it theyll need to assemble a new crew for their boat, and challenge a vengeful god along the way.Moana 2DISNEYloading...READ MORE: The Worst Disney Sequels in HistoryCravalho and Johnson are well-cast in their roles, andMoana 2 boasts the typically colorful and expressive animation weve come to expect from Disney. Where the film was a let down, at least to me, was in the song department. Compared to the classics featured in the firstMoana, nothing inMoana 2 measured up. (Lin-Manuel Miranda was notably absent from Moana 2s credits, and he was definitely missed.)As I wrote in myreview...Moanasmusical numbers were its greatest strength;Moana 2s musical numbers are its biggest weakness. The first film had the groovy Shiny, the toe-tapping Where You Are,and the soaring anthem How Far Ill Go.Moana 2includes tracks meant to fit into each of those categories, but none are catchy or memorable.I wouldnt have urged people to rush out to the theater to seeMoana 2. But thats what streaming is for. If you liked the first movie, and you have Disney+, it doesnt cost anything extra to watchMoana 2 there when it debuts onMarch 12. And if they make theMoana 3the sequels post-credits scene so strongly hints at, I hope they convince Lin-Manuel Miranda to come back and work on a song or two.Sign up for Disney+ here.Get our free mobile appThe Best Movie Musicals For People Who Hate Movie MusicalsThese movies are so great they might turn a musical skeptic into a believer.

Submitted by WA ContentsSPARK unveils fish market acting as "a dual engine" for the industry and cultural tourism in China China Architecture News - Feb 25, 2025 - 15:23 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Singapore, Shanghai and London-based architecture practice SPARK has unveiled a vision for a new fish market that can act as "a dual engine" for the industry and cultural tourism for the city of Taizhou in China.Dubbed Taizhou Fish Market, the 213,000-square-meter project, is nestled in the western precincts of Jiaojiang District, Taizhou, Zhejiang. The Taizhou Fish Market enjoys a prime position with the river gracing its northern edge.North East Aerial ViewThe concept of "fishing" culture is central to this responsibility, which skillfully combines aspects of leisure and cultural tourism. The program of the building consists of a cold storage warehouse, aquatic and dry goods wholesale markets, a yellow croaker exhibition hall, waterfront commercial areas, retail stores, office spaces, and a multi-story parking lot.As SPARK noted, the project takes advantage of a new era in aquatic trade by leveraging the development potential offered by Jiaojiang area in Taizhou's "One River, Two Banks" concept.The Fulcrum, a central event space and the elevated landscape platformsThe project aims to create a sophisticated, high-end, global industrial and cultural tourism complex with a fishing theme that promotes a deep integration of the tourism, education, culture, and wellness sectors.East main visitors' entranceThe Commercial Strategy: "Tourism Driven by Industry"The Taizhou Fish Market will celebrate the distinctive nature of Taizhou's fishing sector and use this identity as a catalyst for business and travel. The proposal aims to create a distinctive landmark driven by a "dual engine" of specialized industry and cultural tourism, building on the idea of "Tourism Driven by Industry."View from the seawall walkwayThe Master Plan: "Southern Industry, Northern Tourism"The site's southern boundary is enclosed by a major urban highway, making mobility easy. There are large industrial structures in this southern region, such as parking lots, cold storage facilities, and a wholesale aquatic market.Specialising in frozen and "ice-fresh" seafood, the market is home to 426 operators, including 132 fixed businesses and 294 mobile stalls.The Fulcrum, a central event spaceWell-defined traffic flows facilitate efficient operations, improve access and connectivity to regional networks, and guarantee sophisticated cold chain management.With its open areas and small-scale, block-style architecture, the project blends in with the waterfront scenery of "One River, Two Banks" to the north, creating a lively commercial interface. This area creates a lively entryway for tourists with two business plots along a striking 800-meter riverbank.The social stairs leads to a second-floor viewing platform offers visitors insights into the vibrancy of Aquatic tradesWith 70,000 square meters, it provides a variety of commercial activities, cultural attractions, immersive facilities, and themed food and beverage outlets. By incorporating the seven key components of tourism, it highlights Taizhou's rich seafood culture and positions it as a worldwide culinary center.The Fulcrum, a central activity square that connects several project features, serves as the anchor for this extensive layout, which is known as "Southern Industry, Northern Tourism".The Fulcrum features an expansive, umbrella-like canopy structure, which offers shelter for a myriad of public eventsInsights into the thriving aquatic trades are provided via a second-floor viewing platform, which embodies "Tourism Driven by Industry" and firmly establishes the Taizhou Fish Market as a popular tourist and cultural attraction.The e-commerce and carpark building viewed from the main vehicular entrance of the siteThe Aquatic product wholesale market features 426 operatorsMasterplan"Southern Industry, Northern Tourism"Taffic organizationSPARK also redesigned a brutalist apartment interior with geometric and colorful objects in Singapore. Moreover, the firm completed the Minhang Riverfront Regeneration that translates the shapes of diatoms, a major group of algae, into a red-colored three dimensional pedestrian bridges and walkways in Shanghai.Construction commenced in September 2024, and it is expected to complete in October, 2025 - 2026.Project factsProject name: Taizhou Fish MarketArchitects: SPARKTeam: Stephen Pimbley, Yun Wai Wing, Yan Dan, Javier Campoy, Jing Huairui, You Bosheng, Huijie Lim, Hu Jia, Ge Tiantian, Wang Bo, Dai Yinghang, Allan Seah, Regina Kartika, Wengshern Poon, Cheryl Ng, Aline Teh, Yen Tzu Yao, Luo TianhaoLocation: Taizhou, Zhejiang province, ChinaClient/owner: Taizhou Jiaojiang Agricultural Development Investment Co.Ltd.Site area:135,500m2Construction area /GFA:213,000m2All renderings courtesy of SPARK.> via SPARK

Submitted by WA ContentsMVRDV's installation at Bangkok Design Week presents a story of plastic waste and recyclingThailand Architecture News - Feb 25, 2025 - 15:04 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"MVRDV has designed an installation that presents a story of plastic waste and recycling at the heart of Bangkok Design Week in Thailand.Named Mega Mat, the project is a modular structure composed of more than 500 recycled plastic mats. The project is situated on the Lan Khon Mueang Town Square outside the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority City Hall. Creating a publis space, it demonstrates the potential of incorporating recycled plastic into commonplace items.In addition to connecting the Mega Mat to its surroundings and bringing vitality to the design week, its vibrant colors create an 860-square-meter infographic depicting Thailand's plastic waste processing.Around 2 million tonnes of plastic waste are produced in Thailand annually; as a result of industry and government initiatives to decrease plastic usage and raise the proportion of recyclable waste, the issue has gained national attention.With their contribution to Bangkok Design Week, MVRDV aimed to highlight the versatility of recycled plastic as a material for commonplace products in order to capitalize on this national momentum.The "Sua," or mat, is a commonplace household object that Thai families have been sitting on for generations.The Mega Mat is made from recycled plastic. The city's supersized Sua is made up of 532 modular pieces that are stitched together using a traditional Thai textile design.Following Bangkok Design Week, the Mega Mat will be disassembled, with each module measuring 1.8 by 0.9 meters. The individual mats will then be given a third life, with some being donated to nearby temples, some being turned into yoga mats, and still others being repurposed into items like purses.This Mega Mat's vibrant colors create a gradient that functions as an infographic representation of the nation's current plastic waste disposal practices: red denotes the proportion of waste that is dumped in unsanitary landfills, orange denotes the proportion that is dumped in sanitary landfills with ground pollution-preventing barriers in place, yellow denotes the proportion that is left uncollected, and finally, the green hues in the middle represent the proportion of recycled plastic.The concentric arrangement of the colors also alludes to the vibrant roofs of the temple behind the square called Wat Suthat Thepwararam."Around the world, people are understanding the need to think more about the objects they use, and to see products as part of a connected ecological web," said MVRDV founder Winy Maas."In Thailand this conversation is already well underway. I encourage that. With our design of the Mega Mat, we also wanted to celebrate it as an opportunity, to see the possibilities that are created by putting an emphasis on recycled materials," Maas added.The Mega Mat is raised on one corner, its upward-curving shape evoking the Wat Suthat Thepwararam's roofs once more. While the remainder of the installation lets people sit on and enjoy the Lan Khon Mueang plaza as their outdoor living room, this covered area offers a place to exchange information. Visitors can see an exhibition about Thailand's plastic waste and recycling history as well as the meaning woven into the Mega Mat's recycled plastic.As part of its larger sustainability initiatives, MVRDV is recycling during Bangkok Design Week in an effort to shift its portfolio to a low-carbon, "Paris-proof" paradigm.From creating The Green Dream Foundation to offset the travel emissions generated during their work to developing the CarbonScape software to optimize the emissions of their projects, the firm's quest for carbon reductions is chronicled in the recently opened Carbon Confessions exhibition in Munich.The Mega Mat was developed in partnership with the Dutch Embassy, PTT Global Chemicals, and the Creative Economy Agency. The installation is one of several MVRDV events during Bangkok Design Week.From February 13 to 15, the firm unveiled PROMPT PARK, a participatory AI project that reimagines a vacant area beneath the Sirat Expressway at Surawong Road, in partnership with We!Park. Step storyStep storyStep storyConcert and performancesDance eventsOutdoor CinemaYoga and fitnessPlaygroundMarketDismantlingRecently, MVRDV has wrapped the new Tiffany & Co. store in hand-crafted ceramic elements in the shape of diamonds in Stuttgart, Germany.In addition, the firm turned an old shipping container into a modular, multi-functional clubhouse to use the power of sport to aid refugees. Moroever, the studio completed the renovation and transformation of Dutch architect Aldo van Eyck's Tripolis Office complex in Amsterdam.Project factsProject name:Mega MatLocation:Laan Kon Muang Plaza, Bangkok, ThailandYear:2024-2025Client:Creative Economic Agency, ThailandArchitect:MVRDVFounding Partner in charge:Winy MaasPartner:Wenchian ShiDesign Team:Sanne van der Burgh, Sredej Bunnag, Americo Iannazzone, Zhijia Xiong, Jiani You, Dimitrios Kogkalidis, Sen Yang, Miruna Dunu, Marcela Tamez Cabello.Partners:Creative Economic Agency, PTT Global Chemicals, Embassy of the Netherlands, Urban AllyContractor:D-63Recycled mats:RukchatLighting Designer:FOS Lighting Design StudioExhibition collaboration:MORERecycled Rubber Substrate:PatexAll images DOF SkyGround.All drawings MVRDV.> via MVRDV

Drawn-up on behalf of IM Alts, the development arm of French insurance firm AXA, the AJ100 practices scheme envisages a 176m-tall office building at 63 St Mary Axe,next to Foggo Associates Can of Ham, replacing a pair of 1980s offices.Fletcher Priests proposal, featuring stepped garden terraces, would deliver 58,993m2 of gross internal floor area as well as public amenities at the ground floor in the form of a cultural and educational centre focusing on ancient Roman ruins.That includes a multi-function ground level auditorium, which would provide views of Londons Roman wall and a newly created green space, Camomile Park, facing Camomile Street.AdvertisementThe project team said the new park would create a lush moment of greenery in the City, with mature trees and low-level shrubs, delivering a new green space in the Square Mile.Garden terraces running down the building, which has a stepped silhouette, will provide diversity uplift.The practice said during consultation last summer that the massing and scale of the scheme considered surrounding heritage and views from the Tower of London while being of exemplary architectural design.Fletcher Priest added in consultation documents that it was seeking to differentiate itself from typical architectural styles within the City, while adding green space, which is currently lacking.When the proposals for 63 St Mary Axe emerged last year, Fletcher Priests proposal appeared to be about 40 storeys. Now officially 46 storeys, the proposed tower would stand opposite Kohn Pedersen Foxs Heron Tower, also 46 storeys high.AdvertisementDelivering the scheme will involve demolishing two office blocks, built in 1989 for Eagle Star and last refurbished by ESA Architecture for 15 million in 2013.In line with AXA IM Alts sustainable development commitments, 63 St Mary Axe will be a fossil fuel-free, all-electric building, aiming for BREEAM Outstanding and NABERS 5 Star ratings and net zero carbon in operation. In November 2023, Fletcher Priest secured planning consent for a 23-storey scheme 300m west at 55 Old Broad Street for developer Landsec, involving an extension of the existing building.Other towers in the pipeline for the City of London include KPFs reworked plans for 70 Gracechurch Street, approved last month; 3XNs proposals for 60 Gracechurch Street, approved in December; Eric Parrys reworked designs for 1 Undershaft, approved in December; and RSHPs 99 Bishopsgate scheme, approved last month.A timeline for the 63 St Mary Axe scheme is unknown.Current site view

If the headlines saymortgage rates are the lowest in months, that doesn't always mean the drop was significant.The recent decline in average 30-year fixed mortgage rates, from above 7% to around 6.9%, based on Bankrate data, won't shake up the housing market. Prospective homebuyers are still playing the waiting game. For the week ending Feb. 14, mortgage applications declined to the lowest level since the start of 2025, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. TAX SOFTWARE DEALS OF THE WEEK H&R Block Free Simple Tax Returns eFile: $0 (save $0) TurboTax Deluxe 2024 (Federal and State, PC/Mac Download): $56 (save $24) TurboTax Premier 2024 (Federal and State, PC/Mac Download): $83 (save $32) TaxSlayer Classic Plan: $28 (save $10) Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.We're feeling the constraints of low housing affordability, said Jason Walter, a member of CNET Money's Expert Review Board with over a decade of experience as a real estate agent. "US home prices are 3-5% higher than last year, and average 30-year fixed mortgage rates have been stuck near 7% for about two months," Walter said.While experts predict rates to move lower throughout 2025, it's not going to be a dramatic decline. Fannie Mae expects average rates for 30-year fixed home loans to remain above 6.5% for most of the year.Mortgage rates aside, prospective homebuyers are also contending with a long-standing housing shortage, high home prices and a loss of purchasing power due to inflation. Experts say many of the Trump administration's policies, such as tariffs, could cripple housing affordability even further, putting upward pressure on interest rates and the cost of building materials, like lumber, used to build new homes.What's impacting mortgage rates this week?For mortgage rates to fall substantially, especially in time for the spring homebuying season, there need to be signs of cooler inflation. This would open the door to more rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, but that doesn't look likely right now.Recent data showsinflation rising by 3% on an annual basis, moving away from the central bank's 2% target. If the Fed does decide to cut interest rates again, it's unlikely to happen before the summer or fall.Uncertainty surrounding new fiscal policies is also contributing to buyer hesitancy. The prospect of trade wars, mass deportations and a ballooning federal tax deficit could spark volatility in the bond market. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate (the most popular home loan term) is benchmarked to the 10-year Treasury note. Higher bond yields translate to higher borrowing costs on home loans."The good news for homebuyers, though, is that housing inventory is rising, and more homeowners are opting to list their homes for sale," said Walter. Where are mortgage rates going in 2025?Aside from day-to-day fluctuations, mortgage rates are expected to stay between 6.5% and 7% for a while. Those rates seem high compared with the2% rates of the pandemic era, but experts say rock-bottom rates are unlikely without a severe economic downturn. Since the 1970s, the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage has been around 7%.Here are some of the factors affecting mortgage rates today:Trump's economic policies:President Donald Trump's potentialtax cuts and tariffsare still a wild card for mortgage rates. Experts say such moves could stimulate demand, increase deficits and accelerate inflation. Mortgage rates are highly sensitive to fiscal policy and economic growth.Fed rate cuts: While the central bank doesn't directly set home loan rates, mortgage rates are indirectly influenced by the Fed's policy decisions. If incoming data shows higher inflation and a strong labor market, the Fed will delay future rate reductions this year, which in turn would keep home loan rates high.10-year Treasury yields: Average 30-year fixed mortgage rates closely track bond yields, specifically 10-year Treasury yields. If inflation and labor data continue to be strong, bond yields and mortgage rates will go up. The opposite will happen if unemployment rises or inflation cools and the Fed resumes cutting rates.Investor expectations: Bond investors act in anticipation of what they believe will happen in the economy. The Fed's outlook for future monetary policy determines investor trading strategy and risk assessment, which is why mortgage rates often jump or dip before interest rates are adjusted.Geopolitical situations: Mortgage rates are affected by geopolitical events, including military conflicts and elections. Political instability can lead to economic uncertainty, which can result in more volatility with bond yields and mortgage rates. Expert tips for homebuyers It's never a good idea to rush intobuying a homewithout knowing what you can afford, so establish a clear home-buying budget. Here's what experts recommend before purchasing a home: Build your credit score. Your credit score will help determine whether you qualify for a mortgage and at what interest rate. A credit score of 740 or higher will help you qualify for a lower rate. Save for a bigger down payment.A larger down payment allows you to take out a smaller mortgage and get a lower interest rate from your lender. If you can afford it, a down payment of at least 20% will also eliminate private mortgage insurance. Shop for mortgage lenders.Comparing loan offers from multiple mortgage lenders can help you negotiate a better rate. Experts recommend getting at least two to three loan estimates from different lenders. Consider renting.Choosing to rent or buy a home isn't just comparing monthly rent to a mortgage payment. Renting offers flexibility and lower upfront costs, but buying allows you to build wealth and have more control over your housing costs. Consider mortgage points.You can get a lower mortgage rate by buying mortgage points, with each point costing 1% of the total loan amount. One mortgage point equals a 0.25% decrease in your mortgage rate.More on today's housing market