The prospect of using taxpayer money to stockpile cryptocurrencies in a national reserve has drawn criticism from lawmakers and investors.

MacworldOn Tuesday Apple unveiled a new version of the standard iPad, but sprung a surprise by not including what everyone assumed was the highest-priority upgrade. The new tablet isnt compatible with Apple Intelligence, the companys AI platform.Why is this a surprise? Because AI is a massive focus for Apple at the moment, to the extent that it appears to be influencing broad hardware strategy. When it discontinued the low-priced iPhone SE last month, for example, the company replaced it with something far more powerful (and therefore far more expensive) because it wanted as many people as possible to use Apple Intelligence, so even the cheapest iPhone needed to have hardware capable of running it. Instead of starting at $429, Apples phone range now starts at $599, a risky shift in priorities. AI did that.Perhaps the requirements of Apple Intelligence8GB of RAM and an A18 or better processorwere simply too big a jump for the base iPad, which had an A14 in the last generation. (The iPhone 16e jumped from an A15 to an A18, a slightly smaller gulf to bridge.) Or perhaps Apple feels that the tablet market is dominated by customers who just want something to watch Netflix on the sofa and refuse to pay extra for a speedy processor, whether or not that means they get Apple Intelligence.Whatever the reasoning, the 11th-gen iPad comes with an A16 chip, an unknown amount of RAM (the last model had 4GB and theres no reason to assume thats gone up), and an inability to run Apple Intelligence. It does however get more storage than in the previous generation: the baseline is now 128GB instead of 64GB, and it goes all the way up to 512GB if youre prepared to pay extra. Thats a worthwhile and pleasing upgrade.Other than that we have to look hard for upgrades. Smart HDR has gone up from version 3 to version 4, so camera performance in difficult lighting conditions should be a little better. Bluetooth has been upgraded from version 5.2 to 5.3. And thats it.If youve taken a look at the comparison page on Apples website, by the way, dont be fooled by the apparent increase in screen size. This will show 10.9 inches for the 10th-gen iPad and 11 inches for the new iPad, but in reality, they have the same exact screen. Like the iPad Air, this is just Apples new way of calculating screen sizes that really ought to be applied equally but is not. In the small print, Apple admits that both are 10.86 inches when measured diagonally as a rectangle, and that actual viewable area is less because of the rounded corners.The iPad (A16) starts at $349/329 and is available in the same (stunning, in my opinion) four colors as the previous generation: silver, blue, yellow, and a truly wonderful pink. Preorders are available now, and units will start to ship on March 12.

MacworldApple on Tuesday followed up on its promise to release new products this week by unveiling the new iPad Air less than 10 months after last years model. It has a new M3 chip and, well, thats it.Seriously, thats it. The colors are the same, the screen is the same, the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are the same, the cameras are the same, even the wallpaper is the same. You get a very slightly faster chip for the same prices as the M2: $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model. The only other difference in the spec sheet has to do with the eSIM, which now supports advanced eSIM technology for more convenience and security. Otherwise, theyre identical.Apple says the new M3 chip will deliver a 20 percent performance boost over the M2, which is nearly impossible to measure in day-to-day tasks. So if you bought an M2 model, youre not missing out on anything.The upgrade to an M3 in itself is interesting because Apple has documented issues with the production of the chip. The Mac mini skipped it altogether and Apple never made an Ultra version for the Mac Studio and Mac Pro. Its notable, however, that this version has a 9-core GPU, which could be a stockpile of binned chips that didnt have the full 10-core GPU. The base model of the M3 MacBook Air has an 8-core GPU while all other versions have a 10-core GPU.Theres also a new Magic Keyboard (11-inch, $269/13-inch, $319) built specifically for the iPad Air with all of the features from the Pro model: a larger trackpad, 14-key function row, machined aluminum hinge and USB-C pass-through for charging. Its the first time a Magic Keyboard was made specifically for the iPad Air; previous models were made for the iPad Pro but still fit the iPad Air.Prices for the new iPad Air start at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model with 128GB of storage. You can preorder the new tablets now for delivery March 12.

Luxury meets versatility in the latest Apple Watch Hermes band collection, featuring fresh hues and refined craftsmanship.New Hermes bandsThe company has introduced a new color to its premium Apple Watch Hermes lineup Bleu Hydra En Mer. The new Bleu Hydra En Mer band offers a bold look that combines premium materials with a design inspired by ocean waves. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple subsidiary Beats by Dre has partnered with New York designer Sandy Liang to create a limited-edition version of the Beats Solo 4 headphones.Beats Solo 4's Sandy Liang crossover - Image Credit: BeatsThe partnership with Liang leans on the designer's nostalgic and playful aesthetic to add a new design to the Beats Studio Buds. In this release, it consists of a metallic silver base with a hand drawn pink ribbon design stretched across the headband.The Beats logo on the earcups is also pink to match the bow. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Aufgang Architects withOSDs adaptive reuse of the former JFK Hilton at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City is underway. The once 350-room hotel is being renamed Baisley Pond Park Residences, a 318-unit development for formerly houseless persons for a nonprofit client called the RiseBoro Community Partnership. OSD is designing the projects indoor-outdoor greenhouse space. This is the first case study for New York states $200 million HONDA hotel conversions program, a COVID-era program that was launched in 2021. The projected cost of the conversion is $167 million.

As Archinect reported this morning, Chengdu architect Liu Jiakun has been announced as the winner of the 2025 Pritzker Prize, one of the architecture world's most prestigious awards.Liu has built a career spanning over four decades, developing projects that blend modernity with traditional Chinese architectural elements. Rooted in cultural, historical, and social considerations, the architect's work often seeks to create spaces that serve and uplift communities."I always aspire to be like waterto permeate through a place without carrying a fixed form of my own and to seep into the local environment and the site itself," Liu said in a statement with the award's announcement. "Over time, the water gradually solidifies, transforming into architecture, and perhaps even into the highest form of human spiritual creation. Yet, it still retains all the qualities of that place, both good and bad."Following the announcement, Archinect has rounded up 11 projects that have defined Jiakun's...

PlayStation VR-exclusive platformer Astro Bot Rescue Mission was apparently a financial success. The games director, Nicolas Doucet, revealed in a conversation with former PlayStation exec Shuhei Yoshida on a recent episode of the Game Makers Notebook series that the games success came as a surprise even for the studio.It was an amazing project because we made it without any expectations, said Doucet, talking about the fun experimentation that the studio was able to partake in during the development of Astro Bot Rescue Mission. All we wanted was to do the best possible evolution of that prototype and help VR show people VR can do this, this, this, and that. We were trying to come up with so many original ideas as possible.We had no idea that it would actually going to be a profitable game and even take us some awards, he continued. So that was a really really nice.Doucet also spoke about working on the next Astro Bot title: Astros Playroom. Since the title would be a pack-in game available digitally on every PS5 sold, the studio made use of the consoles unique features. This includes the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback on the DualSense controller.We made some demos once again and showed them to the world, same kind of thing, said Doucet.He also recently revealed in an interview with Famitsu that one of Astro Bots most beloved features its VIP Stages were originally planned to be mini-stages. For context, VIP stages are the ones that feature characters from classic PlayStation franchises, like Kratos and the monkeys from Ape Escape.Astro Bot Rescue Mission was essentially the debut of the franchise. Being released back in 2018 exclusively for the PS4s VR headset, PlayStation VR, the game was a showcase of just about every kind of gameplay trick that would be possible by making use of the unique medium.The whole game was designed around the DualShock 4 controller and the VR headset, and allowed players to experience a third-person platformer game from a unique perspective. Players would get to interact with the games environment in unique ways as well, such as smashing walls with headbutts.Astros Playroom, on the other hand, was designed as a simpler 3D platforming experience, this time around showcasing the various features of the PS5. All of its levels were designed around one of the PS5s features, including its internal hardware. Despite essentially being a tech demo, Astros Playroom got quite a bit of praise for being a genuinely fun and accessible platformer.More recently, Astros Bot has been incredibly successful developer Team Asobi. The PS5-exclusive title was well-received, and even ended up being the highest-rated game on Metacritic for 2024. Check out our own review for more details about the title.

Old-school game publisher Acclaim is coming back. In its announcement, the publisher has said that it will be focusing on supporting new indie developers, as well as try and bring back some of its classic franchises. The second part is an especially important goal for the revitalised Acclaim, with the company wanting to bring back some of its classic IPs to modern audiences.The new version of Acclaim has an advisory board that is being headed up by gaming industry veterans, including Russell Binder of Striker Entertainment, Mark Caplan of Ridge Partners, and professional wrestler Jeff Jarrett of Global Force Entertainment.To kick things off, Acclaim will be supported by partners like VaynerFunds Phil Toronto and JET Managements Eric Vogel. The company itself will be headed up by CEO Alex Josef, who has experience with game publishing and marketing for more than two decades across PC, console and mobile.For more than three decades, Ive had the privilege to have been a part of both the wrestling and gaming universes, and Im thrilled to now be a partner in the revival of Acclaim, an iconic publisher known for releasing some of the most legendary games of the 80s and 90s, said Jarrett in a statement on the press release.From my early involvement with the publishers hit 16-bit WWF titles to my experience helping shape the TNA Wrestling series, which spawned the first video game wrestler to become a full-time roster member in the squared circle, Ive seen firsthand the type of impact great games can have on players and fans. Resurrecting Acclaim is an opportunity to impart the same degree of passion and love to a new generation, and Im excited to be involved.Its an absolute honor and pleasure to be leading the charge in bringing Acclaim back to the forefront of the games industry, said Josef, Were fortunate that we have an extremely talented team and that weve already signed some incredible indie titles, which well be revealing soon.Acclaim hasnt yet announced what its first few steps in the industry will be. Considering its focus on bringing back classic titles, however, we might start seeing some remasters or even remakes of classic likes PS2-era platformer Vexx, RC racing title Re-Volt, and any number of various sports games the companys previous incarnation had worked on, including pro-wrestling games like WWF Warzone or basketball game NBA Jam 99.For some context, Acclaim, founded in 1987, had been quite prolific in publishing both third-party titles on various platforms, as well as titles developed by subsidiary development studios it owned. The company started facing quite a bit of financial hardships during the early 00s, however, and had to declare bankruptcy by 2004. This resulted in the closure of the company and several of its old IPs being sold to cover its debts.

The doors are open. Arm yourself and sharpen your wits: Its time to get medieval.Knights in Tight Spaces is out now!As a standalone follow-up to 2021s Fights in Tight Spaces, Knights in Tight Spaces builds on a successful foundation of blending strategic thinking with thrilling animated fight sequences, where players build and structure their deck to create momentum and own the environments and scenarios they fight in. Players can also assemble their own party of up to three characters as they travel across a vast map in search of glory.A stylish, action-packed take on deckbuilders Fight through challenging scenarios packed with enemies, with strong action-movie visual effects and animations, while vibing with the elegant soundtrack.Master your surroundings Position characters carefully around enemies and obstacles, making sure to keep the tactical advantage. Dont lose sight of the pool of momentum and combo points to release powerful special moves!Gather your party and unveil secrets Recruit new characters and assemble a party as players travel and reveal new areas in the procedural map, unveiling the mystery of the secret society that has hired them.Find your playstyle With 300 cards, different classes and gear to equip, and an upgrade system, Knights in Tight Spaces offers countless hours of deckbuilding fun, whether players are experienced turn-based tacticians or new to the genre.Buy the base game on Steam with a 10% discount until March 8th! And you want the full tight-spaces experience, dont miss the official soundtrack and the artbook with exclusive developer commentary.The post Knights in Tight Spaces Is Out Now! appeared first on Raw Fury.