Nearly 30 years after it was created, and after 15 years of political wrangling about it, it's beginning to look a law that protects internet companies from legal action over third-party content is on its way out.Image credit: WikiMediaCreated in 1996, Section 230 is an amendment to the Communications Act of 1934 and is part of the larger Telecommunications Act of 1996. In part, and crucially, it says that "no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider."This meant that a platform, like GeoCities of yesteryear, wasn't legally liable for anything its users created, even if the content was illegal as long as there was a good-faith moderation effort. Essentially, it prevented "interactive computer services" from being defined as publishers. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The thinner casing of the expected iPhone Fold means a smaller battery, but a new leak backs up claims that Apple plans to mitigate this by improving power efficiency.Render of a possible iPhone FoldIt's previously been reported that Apple and Samsung are having difficulties making thinner batteries. More recently, leaker "Mobile Phone Chip Expert" has claimed that Apple is concentrating on extending battery life by improving power efficiency in the iPhone fold's display.Now leaker yeux1122 has backed up this report, saying (in translation) that Apple will "achieve the goal of slimming the battery by improving the Display Driver Integrated Circuit (DDI)," in particular. Rumor Score: Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The competition to redevelop Torontos 70-acre former Downsview Airport Lands (known as YZD) has named CCxA, Field Operations, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Sasaki, and SLA to its shortlist. The project forms the 'cornerstone' of a new 370-acre mixed-use development, one of North Americas largest.It is aimed at creating a new landscaped pedestrian corridor out of the airport's former runway and will be animated by year-round cultural programming and other public uses. A winner is expected to be announced by mid-summer this year. The entire redevelopment will reportedly cost $22 billion.

There was no short supply of horror games during the Future Games Show Spring Showcase, including The Brotherhoods Animal Use Protocol. The latest trailer highlighted Penn and Trip silently slinking to avoid detection from some hulking monstrosity. Though eventually getting by with the Gravity Gun-esque device, its not long before theyre frantically fleeing from the creature.As for how the duo ended up in this predicament, the story revolves around lab animals seeking to escape the mysterious Anchorage Station. Thanks to their enhanced intelligence, Penn and Trip can access logs and solve puzzles between their continuous banter. Unfortunately, the beast stalking them earlier is only one of the many terrors roaming the lab.Animal Use Protocol is still a long way off, launching in mid to late 2026 for PC. Nevertheless, considering the teams horror pedigree with Stasis and Stasis: Bone Totem, it should be worth the wait. Stay tuned for more details and gameplay in the meantime.

Zaire Lanier, writer at Compulsion Games, revealed some details about the protagonist of upcoming action adventure game South of Midnight. Speaking during Future Games Show Spring Showcase Live from GDC (transcription via GamesRadar), Lanier spoke about how the story of Hazel, the protagonist of South of Midnight, will not use the chosen one trope.According to Lanier, Hazels state of mind is in this weird liminal space between [being] a kid and becoming an adult. Lanier also says that Hazel is a normal kid focused on finding her mother, and that she is not a superhero.Lanier said that the revolving the games story about Hazel being a weaver worked better than having a chosen one narrative because the studio liked the idea that anyone can be a Weaver, its something that the land will choose for you, when youre in a time of deep need. So Hazel, when shes chasing after her moms trailer in the hurricane, the land chooses her.Its kind of at random, she blinks and you can see the strands in the sky, Lanier explained. Weavers are able to see the fabric of the universe we call it the grand tapestry and theyre able to manipulate those strands to do various types of spells. Their mission is that they heal stigma in the land where bad things have happened.[Weavers] are able to see into your traumas. They dont fix your traumas for you, only you can do that, but they listen to your story, they see your story, they get to see those memories, and I think sometimes thats what you need.South of Midnight is coming to PC and Xbox Series X/S on April 8. The title is seemingly on track for this release date, since the studio announced earlier today that it has gone gold. This essentially means that the primary development on South of Midnight has been completed, and that a copy of its build has been sent to platform owners for all the certification that is typically required for a game launch on consoles.While the majority of the development work on South of Midnight might be done, the studio is likely still working on the game behind the scenes. This work will then be released in the form of day one and post-launch updates that likely fix any major bugs that made it through the QA process.PC players looking forward to play South of Midnight can check out the hardware requirements revealed back in January. The titles hardware requirements are relatively reasonable, with the recommended settings needing either an Intel i5-7600K or an AMD Ryzen 5 1600X CPU, either an Nvidia GeForce GTX 2060, an Intel Arc A580, or an AMD Radeon RX 6600 GPU, and 16 GB of RAM.Players interested in getting their hands on South of Midnight before its release date can pre-order the Premium Edition of the game, which comes with 5 days of early access, along with the games soundtrack, a digital art book, and a digital comic book.

Arthur Erickson: Beauty Between the Lines (Image credit: ADFF Vancouver)Arthur Erickson: Beauty Between the Lines, a documentary about Vancouver architect, Arthur Erickson, is now available to stream online.The film, which premiered at the Architecture+Design Film festival in Toronto,showcases Ericksons structures, and includes revelations of the man behind the story, as well as the personal relationships that shaped his life and work.The film was made with access to the Erickson Family Archives as well as with the full cooperation of the family, and features never-seen-before archival footage and imagery. It was made by producers/directors Ryan Mah and Danny Berrish of Black Rhino Creative, with producer Leah Mallen and executive producer Ray Mah.Through intimate interviews, archival footage, and a look at his most famous creations, the film reveals the delicate balance Erickson maintained between his creative genius and the challenges of his personal life, offering a deeper understanding of the man and the legacy he left behind. This documentary is not just a celebration of his architectural contributions but a reflection on the human experience of creativity, ambition, and the price of greatness, reads the films website.The film is now available to stream for free via the British Columbia Knowledge Network.To view the trailer, click here.The post New Arthur Erickson documentary available for streaming appeared first on Canadian Architect.

Look at every smartwatch buying guide on the internet. I guarantee theyre either divided into separate guides for iOS and Android, like The Verges, or include categories like Best for iPhone owners or Best for Android. (Also, like The Verges fitness tracker guide.) It wasnt always this way.Five years ago, you could buy a Samsung or Fossil smartwatch and use it with an iPhone. The problem was it was never quite as good. Apple Watches were superior, not only because they could seamlessly connect with your Mac and AirPods, but you could also send quick replies to texts. Other third-party smartwatches couldnt do all that.Losing the ability to interact with other devices was hardly a deal breaker its not that hard to go through the regular Bluetooth pairing process. But most people view smartwatches as an easy way to stay connected without glancing at their phones. Losing quick replies because you might prefer the look or features of a third-party device? For many people, its a tradeoff that doesnt make sense. For years, Id ask device makers why this feature wasnt available. Every single time, from companies large and small, the answer was that Apple didnt allow it. So, I was hardly surprised when Android smartwatch makers started kissing iOS goodbye in 2021 with Wear OS 3. In the years since, the number of platform-agnostic wearable makers continues to dwindle.RelatedThis is a big reason why its a good thing that the European Commission recently gave Apple marching orders to open up iOS interoperability to other gadget makers. You can read our explainer on the nitty gritty of what this means, but the gist is that its going to be harder for Apple to gatekeep iOS features to its own products. Specific to smartwatches, Apple will have to allow third-party smartwatch makers to display and interact with iOS notifications. Im certain Garmin fans worldwide, who have long complained about the inability to send quick replies on iOS, erupted in cheers.Apple, and at least one tech publication, has decried this decision as hindering Apples ability to innovate. In a statement, Apple spokesperson Marni Goldberg told The Verge that it will force the company to give away our new features for free to companies who dont have to play by the same rules.But the last few years have been fairly lackluster for smartwatch innovation. Samsung blatantly copied Apple in its 2024 smartwatch lineup with the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch FE. Google has mostly stuck to refining the Pixel Watch. Apple introduced an Ultra model in 2022, but otherwise, last years Series 10 was another iterative update. The Ultra 2 only got a new color. (Even though that color was sick as hell.) In the wearables world, smartwatches are kind of just there.These days, I receive far more queries about smart rings and smart glasses because everyone knows that if you have an iPhone, you get an Apple Watch, and if you have an Android, you get a Galaxy Watch or a Pixel Watch. (Maybe a OnePlus Watch 2 or 3 if you really care about battery.) If youre an endurance athlete, you get a Garmin. Theres not much incentive for any of these companies to zhuzh up designs or think out of the box when ecosystem lock-in all but ensures they dont have to. Theres no urgency. The result is smartwatches have become boring as we wait for the next Big Health Feature to get FDA clearance. I long for the weird, frenetic excitement of 2014-2020 era smartwatches. Instead, I have a hard time believing 2025 smartwatches will be much different from last years. (For the record, I would love to be proven wrong.)RelatedFans of walled gardens have to admit it doesnt always work out. The Powerbeats Pro 2 ought to be a cautionary tale of how the it just works philosophy can backfire. Despite being an Apple product, Android users actually have more choice when it comes to how they use the Pro 2. On iOS, the heart rate feature is limited to seven apps and users must choose between monitoring heart rate or listening to tunes when connected to gym equipment. Android users have no such limitations. Do the Powerbeats Pro 2 work more seamlessly on the iOS apps it does support? Yes. But thats not important to everyone. Some people just want the ability to choose how they use the products they buy.The bottom line is the EUs move improves a consumers ability to pick the best smartwatch for their needs regardless of their phone. Theres no reason a grizzled marathoner who prizes in-depth training metrics, free coaching plans, and monthlong battery life should have to get an Apple Watch Ultra over a Garmin just because they also want to have quick replies. Ill admit that it is mind-numbingly convenient and pleasant to stay in one ecosystem. But if the Apple Watch is truly the best smartwatch out there, it should be able to defend that title even if third parties have access to iOS notifications.See More:

The Bigscreen Beyond 2 with a clear cover shell.Bigscreen has just revealed the Beyond 2, a custom-fit virtual-reality headset with a 116-degree field of view it claims is wider than the Meta Quest 3 and Valve Index. The wired headset weighs just 107 grams (~3.8 ounces) and starts at $1,019, but youll have to pay extra if you want eye-tracking capabilities.The Bigscreen Beyond 2 is compatible with SteamVR base stations and comes with the same micro-OLED displays as its predecessor, offering a 5120 x 2560 resolution and up to 90Hz refresh rate. However, Bigscreen says the Beyond 2 has upgraded pancake optics offering edge-to-edge clarity, improved brightness, and less glare. It also lets you adjust the position of each lens separately, allowing it to match the distance between your pupils.Theres also a Beyond 2e, which starts at $1,219 and tracks the movement of your eyes with incredibly tiny camera sensors the size of a grain of sand. This can come in handy if you want your virtual avatar in apps like VRChat to reflect your eye movement.You can still use an iPhone XR or newer to create a 3D scan of your face, allowing Bigscreen to make a custom-fit face cushion. Alternatively, if you dont have an iPhone, the Bigscreen Beyond 2 now offers a universal-fit Halo mount and cushion.The Beyond 2 and Beyond 2e are available to order now with black, orange, and clear cover shells. Shipments are expected to arrive in June 2025.

It's time for a new booster set in Pokmon TCG Pocket, and it's introducing quite a bit to the game when it arrives. Shining Revelry, the next themed booster pack for Pokmon TCG Pocket, arrives on March 27, 2025, introducing Shiny Pokmon, ranked matches, and the Paldea region's trainers and Pokmon.As part of the new booster, Shining Revelry will introduce Shiny variants of popular Pokmon, including Charizard ex, Lucario ex, and Pachirisu. You can see a preview of what they'll look like in the latest Pokmon TCG Pocket teaser below:PlayThe Shiny variants not only add some extra sparkle and shine to these Pokmon, but also change their color schemes. For Pokmon TCG Pocket, the Shiny Pokmon cards will sparkle when tilted, adding to the effect. Fans of the Shiny look can also get a Shiny Charizard display board and binder starting on April 1.Themed booster sets, like Mythical Island or Triumphant Light, are typically smaller sets with fewer cards compared to larger sets like Genetic Apex or Space-Time Smackdown. That doesn't mean they aren't making some interesting additions to the sets, though. Shining Revelry will bring the Paldea region from Pokmon Scarlet and Violet to Pokmon TCG Pocket, introducing the likes of Tatsugiri and Sprigatito, as well as the trainer Iono.Ranked matches are also launching on March 27, letting players battle and earn emblems based on their end-of-season rank to display on their profile. The first season will run from March 27 to April 26.Recently, the Pokemon TCG Pocket team confirmed it would be changing the trading system, which has earned the ire of players looking to exchange cards and round out their collections. The actual changes will be rolling out gradually though, so we'll see if the suprisingly robust drop for Shining Revelry mollifies the community or not.Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.

The GOG Preservation Program is growing with a solid list of inductees, including classic titles like Silent Hill 4: The Room, Vampire: The Masquerade Redemption, Fallout 2, Deus Ex, and more.The PC digital storefront detailed how it planned to expand its retro-gaming-focused service yesterday, providing fans with a lineup of games it has committed to support for the foreseeable future. Its a list of 26 titles that GOG says will remain playable in their best versions that players can safely assume theyll have access to for years to come.Silent Hill 4: The Room is one title that will benefit from the GOG Preservation Program in more ways than one. In addition to securing its future, GOG says the entrys status with the service means it comes with missing content that was never available on PC before. This includes the reintroduction of Hauntings, which spruce up that iconic Silent Hill atmosphere with spooky effects, such as flickering lamps and possessed telephones. Modern controller support has also been added.F.E.A.R. Platinum, which was promised last month, arrives as an especially nice addition, too, as its original developer, Monolith Productions, was shuttered by Warner Bros. last month. As more studio closures occur and the industry leans toward a digital future, its a perfect example of what GOG aims to accomplish with the Preservation Program.You can see the March 2025 additions to the GOG Preservation Program, along with discounts as part of the current Spring Sale, below.Silent Hill 4: The Room (-35%)F.E.A.R. Platinum (-80%)Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption (-50%)Tomb Raider: Underworld (-89%), Anniversary (-89%) and Legend (-86%)Alone in the Dark: The Trilogy 1+2+3 (-75%)Ultima 1+2+3 (-75%)Ultima 4+5+6 (-75%)Ultima 8 Gold Edition (-75%)Wing Commander 1+2 (-60%)Deus Ex GOTY Edition (-86%)Jagged Alliance 2 (-60%)Fallout 2 (-75%)Privateer 2: The Darkening (-75%)Port Royale 3 Gold (-70%)Alien Breed + Tower Assault (-80%)Cannon Fodder (-75%) and Cannon Fodder 2 (-75%)The GOG Preservation Program is a relatively new initiative from the CD Projekt Red-owned storefront that serves as the companys commitment to keep a selection of games up-to-date and available for PC players. More than 100 games are supported through the program, and judging by todays announcement, the list will only continue to grow."The GOG Preservation Program is our commitment to preserving gaming history," GOG said at the time of its reveal late last year. "Through the program, players can trust that their games will always be up to date and ready to run on current and future PC setups."Whether its manuals, DLCs, or missing features, were offering the most complete version possible, backed by GOGs tech support and offline installers, so you can safeguard these classics for years to come."Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).