Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game physical edition $40 | Releases July 29 Preorder on Switch Preorder on PS5 Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game is launching on PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on July 29. While the charming life-sim game will be available digitally on all platforms, those who want a physical release will be able to pick up a boxed copy on PS5 or Nintendo Switch on launch day. The Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game physical edition will cost $40, and preorders are available now ahead of launch. No preorder bonuses have been announced, but it does come with a fold-out map of Bywater village and a download code for a digital soundtrack, so it's probably worth securing your copy ahead of time. Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game physical edition $40 | Releases July 29 As mentioned above, the Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game physical edition includes the base game on Switch or PS5, a 20-inch by 16-inch fold-out map, and a digital soundtrack, all for just $40. Preorder on Switch Preorder on PS5 Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game is a life sim set in The Shire--y'know, the idyllic corner of Middle-earth where Hobbits like Frodo, Bilbo, and Sam call home. The game will cast you as a Hobbit and give you your own plot of land in The Shire to cultivate and tend. There will also be plenty of side quests and activities to engage in, like fishing, foraging, and trading with or cooking meals for other Hobbits in Bywater village.Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game is one of several games getting "small batch" physical runs this year from companies like iam8bit, Limited Run Games, and more. We've put together a list of some other notable upcoming titles like Tetris Forever, Shin Chan: Shiro and the CoalTown, and Metal Slug Tactics that are launching over the summer and are available to preorder now. Check the list below for more.Continue Reading at GameSpot Source: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/cozy-lord-of-the-rings-farming-sim-tales-of-the-shire-getting-physical-release-on-ps5-switch/1100-6531521/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f #cozy #lord #the #rings #farming #sim #tales #shire #getting #physical #release #ps5 #ampamp #switch

Hover Space – Extension to the KLE Society Head Office / Thirdspace Architecture StudioSave this picture!© Andre J FanthomeOffice Buildings•Belagavi, India Architects: Thirdspace Architecture Studio Area Area of this architecture project Area:  12916 ft² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2020 Photographs Photographs:Andre J Fanthome, Suryan and DangMore SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! Text description provided by the architects. A new addition to a 50-year-old corporate office within a century-old educational campus in Belagavi posed a unique design challenge: to expand the existing structure without compromising its integrity, disrupting its daily operations, or overshadowing its historical significance.Save this picture!Though architecturally unremarkable, the original two-storey building held deep institutional value. It had already been retrofitted and was in constant use, making any intrusive structural intervention unfeasible. The expansion needed to respond sensitively to three distinct contexts — its location on a major city road, its position as a frontage to the historic campus, and its edge along the sports ground.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The solution was a minimalist yet strategic intervention: a new structure that floats above the old, supported by just eight cylindrical RCC columns that avoid existing activities below. This hovering volume, framed by two full-floor-height red trusses, forms an open-plan office of 1,000 sqm, visually light and spatially efficient. A vertical circulation core connects the addition to the ground, forming an L-shaped profile that creates a striking triple-height entry portal aligned with a central tree-lined avenue. This not only marks a threshold into the campus but also frames heritage structures within.Save this picture!Wrapped in a continuous verandah inspired by colonial architecture, the new office engages with its surroundings while mitigating the climate. The verandah serves as a social space and climatic buffer, shielding the interiors from sun and rain. Operable aluminium fins and expanded mesh control light and views, while sliding glass doors allow seamless access to the outdoors. Inside, a neutral palette, vibrant accents, and indoor plants create a tranquil, daylit workspace.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The plan is zoned into three sections: an entrance lobby with the chairman's chambers, a central block of private offices and meeting rooms, and a rear section of open workstations overlooking the city and sports field. Exposed roof trusses and a clerestory skylight define a central circulation spine.Save this picture!Connecting old and new is a glass elevator overlooking the sports field, offering a moment of pause as one transitions between buildings. The terrace of the old office has been reimagined as an interstitial space — partially open, partially sheltered by the new structure — accessible via a sculptural circular staircase.Save this picture!What appears at first as a simple linear volume is, in fact, a layered response to multiple contextual, functional, and climatic demands. The new addition presents a calm, screened façade to the city, serves as a welcoming portal to the campus, and becomes a subtle yet visible edge to the sports field. Through thoughtful spatial negotiation and quiet clarity, the intervention offers the institution a renewed presence while honouring its legacy.Save this picture! Project gallerySee allShow less Project locationAddress:Belagavi, IndiaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this office Published on May 13, 2025Cite: "Hover Space – Extension to the KLE Society Head Office / Thirdspace Architecture Studio" 13 May 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1030110/hover-space-extension-to-the-kle-society-head-office-thirdspace-architecture-studio&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!想浏览ArchDaily中国吗?是否 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream Source: https://www.archdaily.com/1030110/hover-space-extension-to-the-kle-society-head-office-thirdspace-architecture-studio #hover #space #extension #the #kle #society #head #office #thirdspace #architecture #studio

When Bob Dylan Isn’t Writing Nobel-Winning Lyrics, He’s Creating Original Paintings and Drawings Nearly 100 imaginative portraits, still lifes and other artworks by the renowned singer-songwriter are now on view at the Halcyon Gallery in London The collection includes several portraits of musicians. Halcyon Gallery Bob Dylan is famous for his poetic lyrics and raw vocals, but the renowned singer-songwriter has long turned to another art form to “relax and refocus a restless mind”: drawing and painting. Now, nearly 100 of his artworks are on display in London. Titled “Point Blank,” the free exhibition at the Halcyon Gallery features colorful acrylics based on sketches that Dylan completed between 2021 and 2022. The artworks depict subjects like a tree outside a window, a living room and a waterfront in Zurich. The collection also includes imaginative portraits of people engaged in various activities, such as playing guitar, riding a bicycle and drinking tea. “The idea was not only to observe the human condition, but to throw myself into it with great urgency,” Dylan says in a statement, adding: “As to the color schemes, the idea was to create living, breathing entities that have emotional resonance—colors used as weapons and mood-setters, a means of storytelling.” Dylan made the original sketches between 2021 and 2022. Halcyon Gallery The artworks on display are “hazy, snapshot things,” according to Artnet’s Richard Whiddington. “With Dylan remaining noncommittal as to which derive from reality and which from his imagination, the viewer is [encouraged] to partake in a little storytelling of their own.” Born in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1941, Dylan moved to New York City to begin his musical career in 1961. “The artist who would eventually become the voice of a generation was then a 19-year-old college dropout bored with the Midwest and intrigued by the folk music coming out of Lower Manhattan’s Greenwich Village,” writes Smithsonian magazine’s Grant Wong. In the years that followed, Dylan rose to fame with folk songs such as “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” Throughout his career, the musician has released 40 studio albums, earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012 and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016. Along the way, he decided to try his hand at drawing and painting. Dylan has been exhibiting visual art since 2007. Halcyon Gallery “He’s always been an artist in quiet moments,” writes the London Times’ Nancy Durrant. “If he has been more visible in this guise recently, it’s because his usual relentless touring schedule evaporated during the pandemic and he suddenly had the opportunity to focus on painting in a new way.” The singer-songwriter has been displaying his visual artworks since 2007, when an exhibition of 200 watercolor and gouache paintings based on drawings and sketches opened in Germany. In 2019, the Modern Art Museum in Shanghai showcased his sculptures, paintings and drawings. Halcyon has staged several exhibitions of Dylan’s paintings, including a 2022 show that displayed them alongside works by some of his artistic influences, such as Claude Monet, Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall. “A real artist made these drawings and paintings,” wrote the Guardian’s Jonathan Jones in a review of a 2016 show at Halcyon. “Their integrity is compelling. They demand to be looked at, for their awe and wonder at the beauty and grandeur of being alive. These are the pictures of a true poet.”According to the gallery, “Point Blank” began as a book of “quick studies” and “accompanying prose.” Visitors will be able to read the text as they examine Dylan’s latest artworks. “These works on paper feel like memories, intangible windows into the life and imagination of one of the greatest storytellers who ever lived,” says Kate Brown, Halcyon’s creative director, in the statement. “People who attend the exhibition will discover that they provoke stories from our imagination. We consider the circumstances of the protagonists and ponder our movement through the spaces that the artist depicts.” “Point Blank” is on view at the Halcyon Gallery in London through July 6, 2025. Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday. Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-bob-dylan-isnt-writing-nobel-winning-lyrics-hes-creating-original-paintings-and-drawings-180986612/ #when #bob #dylan #isn039t #writing #nobelwinning #lyrics #he039s #creating #original #paintings #and #drawings

In its recent earnings report, Capcom reported an incredibly successful fiscal year 2025. The company has boasted of this being the 12th consecutive year where it has seen growth in its profits, as well as being the year with the highest amount of consolidated sales and operating income in its history. It’s forecasting sales of 54 million units across its various franchises for fiscal year 2026. In its report (courtesy of X user MauroNL), the company has also revealed new sales figures for its biggest franchises. The Resident Evil franchise now sits at 170 million units sold. Monster Hunter is second, boasting 120 million units. Street Fighter has 56 million units sold, Mega Man has 43 million units, and Devil May Cry has 33 million units. Along with this, the company has also confirmed sales figures for some of its less famous franchises, including Okami with 4.6 million units, Onimusha with 8.7 million, and Ace Attorney with 13 million units. Monster Hunter Wilds – the most recent release by Capcom – has seen incredible success right from its release. Back in March, the company had revealed that the game had sold more than 10 million copies in its first month alone. For some context, the previous game in the franchise, Monster Hunter Rise, needed an entire year to reach the same milestone, while Monster Hunter World took even longer: five years. More recently, Monster Hunter Wilds kicked off its Blossomdance Festival, bringing with it a host of free and paid content. As part of the Blossomdance Festival, players can see new Spring-themed decorations in the Grand Hub, where the Diva can also be seen performing a new song to celebrate the festival. There are also new events that offer new armour sets for players to craft. When it comes to larger updates, Monster Hunter Wilds got Title Update 1 back in April. The update introduced Mizutsune as the newest addition to the game’s roster, with a host of new armours and weapons for players to craft. The update also introduced the Grand Hub, where players can hang out between hunts and participate in various activities. Monster Hunter Wilds is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. For more details, check out our review. If you’re wondering about why the title has been so popular, here are our thoughts. When it comes to the Resident Evil franchise, Capcom revealed last month that the most recent title in the series – the remake of Resident Evil 4 from 2023 – had sold more than 10 million copies. The action horror title is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Check out our review for more details. Capcom has a host of projects in the works for the future as well, with games like Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Capcom is also working with CLOVERS for the development of a sequel to classic action adventure game Okami. More immediately, Capcom is getting ready to release a remaster of Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch on May 23. Source: https://gamingbolt.com/capcom-announces-record-breaking-sales-and-income-in-fy-2025 #capcom #credits #monster #hunter #wilds #for #recordbreaking #sales #and #income

Last year, Louis Sullivan’s Wainwright Building was listed for sale, raising concerns among preservationists and historians about the fate of one of America’s earliest and most influential office buildings. Now, after acquiring the building for $8.25 million, a private equity firm is exploring potential uses for the site, prompting new questions about how the historic structure will be preserved, or transformed, for the future. Arch to Park Equity, the real estate fund coordinated by Greater St. Louis, Inc., issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) last week inviting developers, architects, and preservationists to submit plans for the future of the historic Wainwright Building. The document states the firm is “looking for the best ideas from around the world to redevelop the Wainwright Building into an anchor and destination in the heart of Downtown St. Louis.” The winning plan will demonstrate alignment with local planning guidelines, practical feasibility, and, most importantly, the greatest benefit to the growing neighborhood.  “The site offers the unique potential to catalyze the surrounding neighborhood while preserving and enhancing an architectural and historic asset,” the RFP continued. “A successful proposal will celebrate St. Louis’s past while providing a visual statement about its future.”  The Wainwright Building, designed by Louis Sullivan, was built in 1891 with an addition built a century later. The 10-story, terra-cotta building predates many of Sullivan’s most well-known buildings like the Bayard-Condict Building in New York and the Sullivan Center in Chicago. It is considered by many to be one of the country’s first office towers. Frank Lloyd Wright called it “the very first human expression of a tall steel office-building as Architecture.” Originally built for a local brewer, the tower on 709 Chestnut Street’s most recognizable features are its decorative elements, open courtyards, and the 16-foot ceiling and sky view roof located on its ground floor. The Wainwright Building was landmarked in 1968 by the National Register of Historic Places and declared a local landmark in 1972. After narrowly escaping demolition in the 1960s, the Wainwright Building was purchased by the state of Missouri in 1974 and housed government offices until its recent sale to Arch to Park Equity Fund. Proceeds from the sale will go toward a new government facility in Chesterfield, a suburb 40 minutes west of downtown St. Louis, with state officials citing rising costs and concerns about crime as key reasons for the move.  Arch to Park Equity Fund, however, appears confident in the neighborhood’s future pointing to “momentum” in the development in Downtown St. Louis. Over the past decade, the neighborhood’s residential population has nearly doubled, now surpassing 11,000 residents. With a high concentration of office buildings and local landmarks, the area also attracts nearly 75,000 commuters and visitors each day. The RFP highlights several key developments contributing to this growth, including the planned redevelopment of the Millennium Hotel, the construction of the Brickline Greenway on the east side of Energizer Park, a growing slate of social and cultural activities, and a declining crime rate. Just blocks away from two of St. Louis’s most recognizable landmarks—the Gateway Arch and Busch Stadium—Arch to Park Equity Fund wants the Wainwright Building to become a new cornerstone of St. Louis’s Downtown neighborhood, blending historic preservation with innovative, community-driven redevelopment.  The full RFP outlines the materials consultants are required to submit. The deadline for proposals is July 4 at 3:00 p.m. CST. Source: https://www.archpaper.com/2025/05/rfp-louis-sullivan-wainwright-building-st-louis/ #rfp #calls #for #new #uses #louis #sullivans #wainwright #building

In its recent earnings report, Capcom reported an incredibly successful fiscal year 2025. The company has boasted of this being the 12th consecutive year where it has seen growth in its profits, as well as being the year with the highest amount of consolidated sales and operating income in its history. It’s forecasting sales of 54 million units across its various franchises for fiscal year 2026. In its report (courtesy of X user MauroNL), the company has also revealed new sales figures for its biggest franchises. The Resident Evil franchise now sits at 170 million units sold. Monster Hunter is second, boasting 120 million units. Street Fighter has 56 million units sold, Mega Man has 43 million units, and Devil May Cry has 33 million units. Along with this, the company has also confirmed sales figures for some of its less famous franchises, including Okami with 4.6 million units, Onimusha with 8.7 million, and Ace Attorney with 13 million units. Monster Hunter Wilds – the most recent release by Capcom – has seen incredible success right from its release. Back in March, the company had revealed that the game had sold more than 10 million copies in its first month alone. For some context, the previous game in the franchise, Monster Hunter Rise, needed an entire year to reach the same milestone, while Monster Hunter World took even longer: five years. More recently, Monster Hunter Wilds kicked off its Blossomdance Festival, bringing with it a host of free and paid content. As part of the Blossomdance Festival, players can see new Spring-themed decorations in the Grand Hub, where the Diva can also be seen performing a new song to celebrate the festival. There are also new events that offer new armour sets for players to craft. When it comes to larger updates, Monster Hunter Wilds got Title Update 1 back in April. The update introduced Mizutsune as the newest addition to the game’s roster, with a host of new armours and weapons for players to craft. The update also introduced the Grand Hub, where players can hang out between hunts and participate in various activities. Monster Hunter Wilds is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. For more details, check out our review. If you’re wondering about why the title has been so popular, here are our thoughts. When it comes to the Resident Evil franchise, Capcom revealed last month that the most recent title in the series – the remake of Resident Evil 4 from 2023 – had sold more than 10 million copies. The action horror title is available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Check out our review for more details. Capcom has a host of projects in the works for the future as well, with games like Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Capcom is also working with CLOVERS for the development of a sequel to classic action adventure game Okami. More immediately, Capcom is getting ready to release a remaster of Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch on May 23. Source: https://gamingbolt.com/capcom-announces-record-breaking-sales-and-income-in-fy-2025 #capcom #credits #monster #hunter #wilds #for #recordbreaking #sales #and #income

IT Support Specialist (Contract)Sony PlaystationUnited States, Los Angeles, CA6 minutes agoApplyWhy PlayStation?PlayStation isn’t just the Best Place to Play — it’s also the Best Place to Work. Today, we’re recognized as a global leader in entertainment producing The PlayStation family of products and services including PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®VR, PlayStation®Plus, acclaimed PlayStation software titles from PlayStation Studios, and more.PlayStation also strives to create an inclusive environment that empowers employees and embraces diversity. We welcome and encourage everyone who has a passion and curiosity for innovation, technology, and play to explore our open positions and join our growing global team.The PlayStation brand falls under Sony Interactive Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation.***This contract role is onsite in Playa Vista, CA.***This dynamic and engaging role does not fit the average definition of Desktop Support. For SIE, the Studio IT Support Specialist possesses a mix of skills and experience often found in desktop support, helpdesk support, and limited system administration roles. The right candidate is versed in a wide range of client technologies; responsible not only for the implementation, maintenance, and highest level of performance-tuning for client technology, but also for being a champion for strong working relationships directly with the people who utilize that technology.This is a customer service role and fundamental to its success is building and maintaining support relationships with internal business teams, promoting trust, setting expectations, and achieving mastery in customer service. The ability to think strategically at a fast pace, troubleshoot accurately while navigating interdependent system relationships - all while driving multiple projects to successful completion in tight, shifting deadlines is the reality of this position.Please note, flexibility is possible, but this is considered primarily an in-person role, reporting daily to offices located in Playa Vista, California.Responsibilities:Provides helpdesk-level coverage and support for internal clients. Coordinates, diagnoses, and troubleshoots incoming employee requests for support according to established process.Solve technical problems and information technology issues involving desktop, laptop or network services from local personnel or from employees using network remote access. Collaboration with remote sites expected and encouraged.Provides timely resolution of problems or escalation on behalf of customer to appropriate technical personnel.Develops, documents, and implements standard operating procedures and customer service guidelines relating to IT support.Perform first and second level support and troubleshooting for workstation and mobile systems.Interface directly with end users in peril, lead and resolve incidents in an efficient manner, maintaining the highest levels of customer support and response and documentation.Establish and maintain direct relationships with business units as a support resource and contributing member of the production teams.Organize the unorganized, communicate thoroughly and effectively in both written and spoken forms across the organization.Work proactively to determine potential issues existing in the environment. Apply performance tuning techniques where applicable.Research new trends and technologies leading to testing and justification for deployment.Be available off hours for scheduled, week-long on-call rotation, which will include system maintenance and emergencies.Perform inventory management of team resources; apply workstation build technologies; configure and manage user account provisioning and permissions.Be eager to grow and develop new skills and tackle special projects as needed.Appreciation and experience in platform/computer/video gaming is preferred!Qualifications:Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully.Strong in client hardware and software; strong email/messaging troubleshooting experience; mid to advanced-level understanding of Windows OS.Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite and other production software packages (Adobe, Maya, Zbrush, Visual Studio, etc.).Must understand and communicate system concepts to end users and technical teams.Familiar with the concepts behind a distributed build system; familiarity with enterprise storage technologies (SAN, NAS, iSCSI) – NetApp, EMC, HDS ideal; basic networking skills; knowledge of security concepts and industry best practices; Linux and Mac OS experience are both a strong plus.Ability to interact effectively with others on varying technical competency, vendors, management, and staff.Manages competing demands and changes approach or method to best fit the situation.Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to required work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan. Is actively available to respond when needs arise.Volunteers readily, undertakes self-development activities and seeks increased responsibilities; asks for and offers help when needed.Operates across multiple projects concurrently and assumes responsibility for implementation of projects.#LI-OnsitePlease refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about how we process your personal information, and your data protection rights.At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click here to learn more.The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.$41.35 — $62.02 USDEqual Opportunity Statement:Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.PlayStation is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment. Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply Source: https://gamejobs.co/IT-Support-Specialist-Contract-at-Sony-Playstation-3 #support #specialist #contract #sony #playstation

All photos by Spieker Fotografie, courtesy of Martin Binder, shared with permission A Teeter-Totter Style Bench Invites Sitters to Find Common Ground May 13, 2025 Design Grace Ebert In the Garden of Generations in Einbeck, Germany, a playful new installation asks park goers to find equilibrium with their neighbors. “Balance Bench” is the latest project of Berlin-based artist Martin Binder. Installed in his hometown, the interactive artwork rests on a central cylinder rather than four legs, requiring that at least two people sit on either side to level. “It cannot be used alone—it demands awareness, consensus, and cooperation between people to become a functional public space,” he says. Binder originally envisioned the piece, which is made of oak and powder-coated steel, to debut at a public art festival in 2021, but that event was unfortunately canceled due to COVID-19. Emerging now four years later, the minimal installation provokes questions about how the ways we gather and partake in outdoor activities have changed. “The pandemic made us hyper-aware of proximity in public spaces,” he says. “This bench interrogates that awareness through play. It asks how we share space post-pandemic—not just physically but socially.” In addition to its usefulness for promoting conversation and interaction among park goers, “Balance Bench” is also a less volatile version of the once-ubiquitous equipment that’s less common these days due to eye-opening safety concerns. For more from Binder, visit his website and Instagram. Previous articleNext article Source: https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2025/05/martin-binder-balance-bench/ #teetertotter #style #bench #invites #sitters #find #common #ground

Airbnb is launching an all-new version of its iOS and Android app that’s designed for more than just booking great places to stay. The new app lets you enhance each trip with opportunities to make memories and enjoy unique experiences around your destination. That’s because Airbnb’s major app redesign supports a new initiative called Airbnb Services, a modern take on hotel amenities for the Airbnb era. Airbnb Services, at your service With Airbnb Services, the company is expanding from being primarily known for connecting travelers with a place to call home for a few nights. Going forward, Airbnb aims to make booking things to do as much a part of the product as finding places to stay. No need to spend time researching local experts, sorting through recommendations, or juggling reservations in different apps. Airbnb Services offers a trusted vetting process with the same easy-to-use booking system you’re already using. Airbnb Services isn’t just an add-on to the stay booking experience either. The new app treats Airbnb Services with the same attention and care that users expect when booking a place to stay. The idea is simple: hotels offer amenities like fine dining and fitness centers, and Airbnb changed how people book stays. Now, Airbnb wants to change how people discover local experts who provide great services in photography, cooking, wellness, and more. Airbnb Services is launching today with 10 categories across 260 cities to start: Chefs – Fully customizable in-home meals from professional chefs. Photography – Personalized photo sessions from experienced photographers. Massage – Restorative massages including Swedish, deep tissue, and reflexology from certified therapists. Spa treatments – Facials, microdermabrasion, body scrubs, and other treatments provided by licensed estheticians. Personal training – Yoga, strength training, HIIT, and more, with personal trainers, including renowned fitness professionals and world champion athletes. Hair – Professional haircuts, blowouts, and more from experienced stylists. Makeup – Makeup for every day or special occasions from professional makeup artists. Nails – Manicures and pedicures from experienced nail specialists. Prepared meals – Ready-to-eat meals prepared by professional chefs. Catering – Full-service catering with custom menus, decor, and equipment, plus setup and cleanup. Like Airbnb stay listings, Airbnb Services are meant to be for everyone. For that reason, the company says that prices on many offerings start below $50. Expect the service to go live in more cities regularly over time. Airbnb Experiences and Originals, reimagined and unique Alongside Services, Airbnb is putting more weight behind Experiences, its curated lineup of activities hosted by locals, as part of its effort to provide great solutions for making the most of each trip. The company says each Experience is vetted for quality, with a focus on expertise, authenticity, and strong guest feedback. Hosts are chosen based on their connection to the location and their ability to deliver something memorable, not just a generic tour. A new addition called Airbnb Originals takes things up a notch. These are exclusive experiences created just for Airbnb, often hosted by public figures and celebrities. You can make pastries with chef Raphaelle Elbaz at the cult-favorite French Bastards bakery in Paris or play beach volleyball with Olympian Carol Solberg on Rio’s Leblon Beach. Originals also include over-the-top moments with big names like Megan Thee Stallion, who invites guests to become their anime alter-ego in her Otaku Hottie Quest. You can also join Sabrina Carpenter on the Short n’ Sweet set for a day of glam, dancing, and espresso, or hang out with Patrick Mahomes to learn how to throw the perfect spiral and eat Kansas City barbecue. And you don’t have to be traveling to take part in Airbnb Experiences. Airbnb wants Experiences to be something you actually want to book in your own city too. 9to5Mac’s Take Pairing Airbnb stays with services feels so natural it’s surprising it didn’t exist already. But the reason Airbnb Services works now is because it is built on years of product iteration and a global network of partners who make it possible. Airbnb Services, along with Experiences and Originals, turns the app into something like a world menu—not just places to stay, but things to do and memories to make along the way. The redesigned app is full of rich iconography, fluid animations, and thoughtful choice that sets the tone before the trip even begins. It adapts to what you’re doing, whether you’re planning, traveling, or reminiscing afterward in a way that should feel rewarding to use. Airbnb is making Experiences more social too. Later this year, you’ll be able to see who else is attending before you book, message the group or individual guests during the experience, and stay connected afterward. The idea is to make it easier to join with friends or meet new people along the way and stay connected. Seeing technology get out of the way and embrace human connection in a way that people want and need is so refreshing to see. For a company that’s nearly 20 years old and such a part of everyday life, Airbnb has built an app experience that’s both new and actually gives you a reason to plan your next trip. Pulling that off is neither easy nor guaranteed, yet Airbnb is doing both with a sense of fun and intention that’s delightful to see. Download the all-new version of Airbnb for iOS and Android today. Happy travels! Check out these iPhone apps and accessories Follow Zac on X. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re 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. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel Source: https://9to5mac.com/2025/05/13/airbnb-app-redesign-services-experiences-originals/ #airbnb #beautifully #redesigns #app #enhance #how #you #spend #your #trip #not #just #where #stay

Google’s recent announcement of an AI Futures Fund shows the company wants to invest in AI startups. It sees itself as providing capital, early access to AI models yet to reach production, and support for startups from experts at the company.This is not Google’s first rodeo. To date, Alphabet (Google’s parent company) has invested in 38 AI companies. Big name acquisitions to date include the UK’s DeepMind, Waymo, the autonomous vehicle intelligence company, and home automation specialist Nest.While such investments signal a broad intent to at least associate Google with startups coming to market with a smart idea (if not necessarily to swallow up smaller companies), the current situation regarding the US courts’ attitude to monopolistic behaviour by Google questions just how far any relationship may go in the longer term.If Google faces increased scrutiny in the next few years on the back of any eventual ruling the US Department of Justice makes, having what might be interpreted as a monopolistic position in AI could bring down the ire of the judiciary.On the other hand, if Google is forced to divest itself of some of its more profitable divisions – the Chrome browser, the Android mobile operating system, some or all of its ad networks – the company may have to double down on its other sources of revenue; and AI could become its favoured métier.If the board at Alphabet decide to bet large stakes on AI, one core aspect of doing so will need clear and definite resolution: the economic viability of continuing AI implementation in the forms that users have become familiar with in the last couple of years. According to some industry commentators, the AI ‘whale’, OpenAI, is struggling to monetise its operations to the extent that will satisfy its investors. Google’s share of the AI market is tiny in comparison with OpenAI’s, but it suffers from the same potential financial issues.Google’s way through may be to continue its original role as provider of information searched for on the internet, and use its models to improve the search results given to online queries, and perhaps monetise around that transaction: either charging end-users for AI-powered search, or having advertisers pay for top spots in AI-generated search results.In that role, Google would be returning to its original function, but with the addition of AI algorithms under the surface – AI that improves a service that’s proven to be in massive demand, rather than AI being the main focus of user activity.Meta’s latest earnings call signalled that Mark Zuckerberg wants to do just that: return to the roots of the Facebook platform as a social connector, but have AI improve users’ experiences.It’s proposed that any acquisitions by Google of AI companies in the future would have to get the approval of the US Department of Justice. The company says such a move would limit investment in future AI technologies, a sentiment echoed by Anthropic representatives during the anti-monopolistic search practices court case brought against Google by the DOJ.If such a government approval edict were in place for Google, it would change the nature of companies that Google might fund via the AI Futures Fund or similar scheme. Rather than risking censure by appearing to add companies to the Alphabet stable that are in line with Google’s AI offerings, those benefiting from the company’s largess would be more likely to be niche players, bringing unique products to sectors of the economy where Google doesn’t already hold sway.Amazon’s acquisitions have been, at first glance, more in line with that seeking out of niche products to snap up. The Ring home smart device company (acquired in 2018 for $1bn) and One Medical (2022, $3.9bn) were purchases well outside of Amazon’s core cloud and retail verticals. Both, however, are prime sources of training data for AI models – consumer behaviour metrics and healthcare information are prime data real-estate.Google’s strategy for investment in smaller companies will need to be similarly canny, given that whatever the outcome of the DOJ case, its activities will be subject to intense scrutiny by the courts, end-users, and the press.No article discussing the activities of US big tech companies would be complete in 2025 without the addition of caveats around the present American leadership’s attitude to competition in the sector. The elephant in the room is the real possibility of executive veto of, or significant amendment to, any judicial ruling. Those potential game-changing elements could affect Google and Alphabet’s investment plans with little notice and less reason.(Image source: “Dallas DA LGBT Task Force visits DOJ FBP” by Dallas County DA is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.)See also: Apple AI stresses privacy with synthetic and anonymised dataWant to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Intelligent Automation Conference, BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here. Source: https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/google-ai-futures-fund-doj-ruling-unclear-undecided/ #googles #futures #fund #may #have #tread #carefully