NBA 2K26 is back with its usual hype, but honestly, how many times can we fall for the same tricks? The constant cycle of empty promises and underwhelming updates is exhausting! They keep announcing rendez-vous to showcase their "futures nouveautés," yet we know it’s just another round of recycled features and minor tweaks. Where's the innovation? Where's the respect for the loyal fans who’ve poured hours into this franchise? It’s time to hold developers accountable for their laziness! Enough with the marketing fluff—give us real improvements or just stop pretending you're pushing the envelope! The gaming community deserves better than this mediocrity! #NBA2K26 #GamingCommunity #InnovationNeeded #EnoughIsEnough #TechFail

Warning: This optical illusion will give you a headache! 🙃 Because who doesn't love a fun little game that turns your brain into a pretzel? Just when you thought staring at your screen was the most exhausting thing you could do, along comes this gem to redefine your limits. Remember, the key is to NOT stare for too long—because we all know how relaxing a headache can be! So, gather your friends, watch them squint and squirm, and enjoy the show. After all, nothing says "I've got my life together" like willingly subjecting yourself to a visual torturing machine for a few fleeting moments of confusion. #OpticalIllusion #MindGames #HeadacheAlert #VisualTrickery #Fun

It's absolutely infuriating how every Prime Day, we’re bombarded with the same tired iPad deals that barely change from year to year! Is it even Prime Day if we don't get anything innovative or exciting? The marketing teams behind these promotions are clearly out of touch with what consumers really need. Instead of meaningful discounts that reflect the actual value of these devices, we get gimmicks and relentless hype. Wake up, Amazon! If you're going to boast about Prime Day, at least deliver something worthy of the name! This constant cycle of mediocrity is exhausting and frankly unacceptable. #PrimeDay #iPadDeals #ConsumerFrustration #TechDisappointment #AmazonFail

Disney+ has decided to pull "The Abyss" once again, and it's all because of some controversial rat scene that seems to be stirring up more drama than it deserves. Honestly, who cares? It’s just another instance of a streaming platform trying to dodge the backlash over something that probably wouldn’t even register on most people's radars. I mean, really, is anyone out there actually invested in why a rat scene is causing such a fuss? It feels like a lot of noise over nothing. Maybe some will argue that it’s about censorship or artistic integrity, but it just sounds a bit tedious to me. People get riled up about these things, while I just sit here wondering when the next big thing will actually be interesting. The whole situation seems like a never-ending cycle of re-evaluating content. Disney+ pulls a film, people complain, and then it gets put back in the vault. It’s like watching a rerun of a show you didn’t even like the first time. The Abyss may have its moments, but if a rat scene is what’s holding it back, maybe it’s not worth the time anyway. Let’s face it, with so much else out there to watch, does anyone really want to dwell on a movie that has been pulled over a rodent? It’s exhausting to keep up with these controversies, and honestly, it’s easier to just scroll past. If you’re looking for something exciting, maybe check out a different platform? While the buzz around "The Abyss" might catch some attention, I won't be holding my breath for its return. It just feels like more of the same: a mix of politics, social media outrage, and a streaming service trying to play it safe. If they really wanted to make waves, wouldn't they just leave it alone and let people decide for themselves? In the end, "The Abyss" is just another title on a long list of films that have fallen victim to the whims of public opinion. So, let’s just move on to something else, shall we? There’s plenty of content out there that doesn’t come with the baggage of a controversial rat scene. #DisneyPlus #TheAbyss #FilmControversy #StreamingNews #Boredom

The protests in Los Angeles have brought a lot of attention, but honestly, it’s just the same old story. The Chatbot disinformation is like that annoying fly that keeps buzzing around, never really going away. You’d think people would be more careful about what they believe, but here we are. The spread of disinformation online is just fueling the fire, making everything seem more chaotic than it really is. It’s kind of exhausting to see the same patterns repeat. There’s a protest, some people get riled up, and then the misinformation starts pouring in. It’s like a never-ending cycle. Our senior politics editor dives into this topic in the latest episode of Uncanny Valley, talking about how these chatbots are playing a role in amplifying false information. Not that many people seem to care, though. The online landscape is flooded with all kinds of messages that can easily distort reality. It’s almost as if people are too tired to fact-check anymore. Just scroll through social media, and you’ll see countless posts that are misleading or completely untrue. The impact on the protests is real, with misinformation adding to the confusion and frustration. One could argue that it’s a bit depressing, really. As the protests continue, it’s hard to see a clear path forward. Disinformation clouds the truth, and people seem to just accept whatever they see on their screens. It’s all so monotonous. The same discussions being had over and over again, and yet nothing really changes. The chatbots keep generating content, and the cycle goes on. Honestly, it makes you wonder whether anyone is actually listening or if they’re just scrolling mindlessly. The discussions about the protests and the role of disinformation should be enlightening, but they often feel repetitive and bland. It’s hard to muster any excitement when the conversations feel so stale. In the end, it’s just more noise in a world that’s already too loud. The protests might be important, but the chatbots and their disinformation are just taking away from the real issues at hand. This episode of Uncanny Valley might shed some light, but will anyone really care? Who knows. #LosAngelesProtests #Disinformation #Chatbots #UncannyValley #Misinformation

Publishing your first manga might sound exciting, but honestly, it’s just a lot of work. It’s one of those things that you think will be fun, but then you realize it’s just a long journey filled with endless sketches and revisions. Six top manga artists talk about their experiences, but let’s be real, it’s not all that thrilling. First off, you have to come up with a story. Sounds easy, right? But then you sit there staring at a blank page, and the ideas just don’t come. You read what other artists say about their success, and it makes you feel like you should have everything figured out. They talk about characters and plots like it’s the easiest thing in the world. But between you and me, it’s exhausting. Then comes the drawing part. Sure, you might enjoy sketching sometimes, but doing it for hours every day? That’s where the fun starts to fade. You’ll probably go through phases where you hate your own art. It’s a cycle of drawing, erasing, and feeling disappointed. It’s not a glamorous process; it’s just a grind. After you’ve finally got something that resembles a story and some pages that are somewhat decent, you have to think about publishing. This is where the anxiety kicks in. Do you self-publish? Try to find a publisher? Each option has its own set of problems. You read advice from those six artists, and they all sound like they’ve got it figured out. But honestly, who has the energy to deal with all those logistics? Marketing is another thing. They say you need to promote yourself, build a following, and all that jazz. But scrolling through social media to post about your manga feels more like a chore than a fun activity. You might think you’ll enjoy it, but it’s just more work piled on top of everything else. In the end, the best advice might be to just get through it and hope for the best. You’ll survive the experience, maybe even learn something, but it’s not going to be a walk in the park. If you’re looking for a carefree journey, publishing your first manga probably isn’t it. So, yeah. That’s the reality. It’s not as glamorous as it sounds. You just do it, and hope that someday it might feel rewarding. But until then, it’s just a lot of waiting and wondering. Good luck, I guess. #Manga #Publishing #MangaArtists #Comics #ArtProcess

There has been a new update to the ongoing Stratasys v. Bambu Lab patent infringement lawsuit.  Both parties have agreed to consolidate the lead and member casesinto a single case under Case No. 2:25-cv-00465-JRG.  Industrial 3D printing OEM Stratasys filed the request late last month. According to an official court document, Shenzhen-based Bambu Lab did not oppose the motion. Stratasys argued that this non-opposition amounted to the defendants waiving their right to challenge the request under U.S. patent law 35 U.S.C. § 299. On June 2, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, ordered Bambu Lab to confirm in writing whether it agreed to the proposed case consolidation. The court took this step out of an “abundance of caution” to ensure both parties consented to the procedure before moving forward. Bambu Lab submitted its response on June 12, agreeing to the consolidation. The company, along with co-defendants Shenzhen Tuozhu Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai Lunkuo Technology Co., Ltd., and Tuozhu Technology Limited, waived its rights under 35 U.S.C. § 299. The court will now decide whether to merge the cases. This followed U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap’s decision last month to deny Bambu Lab’s motion to dismiss the lawsuits.  The Chinese desktop 3D printer manufacturer filed the motion in February 2025, arguing the cases were invalid because its US-based subsidiary, Bambu Lab USA, was not named in the original litigation. However, it agreed that the lawsuit could continue in the Austin division of the Western District of Texas, where a parallel case was filed last year.  Judge Gilstrap denied the motion, ruling that the cases properly target the named defendants. He concluded that Bambu Lab USA isn’t essential to the dispute, and that any misnaming should be addressed in summary judgment, not dismissal.        A Stratasys Fortus 450mcand a Bambu Lab X1C. Image by 3D Printing industry. Another twist in the Stratasys v. Bambu Lab lawsuit  Stratasys filed the two lawsuits against Bambu Lab in the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, in August 2024. The company claims that Bambu Lab’s X1C, X1E, P1S, P1P, A1, and A1 mini 3D printers violate ten of its patents. These patents cover common 3D printing features, including purge towers, heated build plates, tool head force detection, and networking capabilities. Stratasys has requested a jury trial. It is seeking a ruling that Bambu Lab infringed its patents, along with financial damages and an injunction to stop Bambu from selling the allegedly infringing 3D printers. Last October, Stratasys dropped charges against two of the originally named defendants in the dispute. Court documents showed that Beijing Tiertime Technology Co., Ltd. and Beijing Yinhua Laser Rapid Prototyping and Mould Technology Co., Ltd were removed. Both defendants represent the company Tiertime, China’s first 3D printer manufacturer. The District Court accepted the dismissal, with all claims dropped without prejudice. It’s unclear why Stratasys named Beijing-based Tiertime as a defendant in the first place, given the lack of an obvious connection to Bambu Lab.  Tiertime and Stratasys have a history of legal disputes over patent issues. In 2013, Stratasys sued Afinia, Tiertime’s U.S. distributor and partner, for patent infringement. Afinia responded by suing uCRobotics, the Chinese distributor of MakerBot 3D printers, also alleging patent violations. Stratasys acquired MakerBot in June 2013. The company later merged with Ultimaker in 2022. In February 2025, Bambu Lab filed a motion to dismiss the original lawsuits. The company argued that Stratasys’ claims, focused on the sale, importation, and distribution of 3D printers in the United States, do not apply to the Shenzhen-based parent company. Bambu Lab contended that the allegations concern its American subsidiary, Bambu Lab USA, which was not named in the complaint filed in the Eastern District of Texas. Bambu Lab filed a motion to dismiss, claiming the case is invalid under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19. It argued that any party considered a “primary participant” in the allegations must be included as a defendant.    The court denied the motion on May 29, 2025. In the ruling, Judge Gilstrap explained that Stratasys’ allegations focus on the actions of the named defendants, not Bambu Lab USA. As a result, the official court document called Bambu Lab’s argument “unavailing.” Additionally, the Judge stated that, since Bambu Lab USA and Bambu Lab are both owned by Shenzhen Tuozhu, “the interest of these two entities align,” meaning the original cases are valid.   In the official court document, Judge Gilstrap emphasized that Stratasys can win or lose the lawsuits based solely on the actions of the current defendants, regardless of Bambu Lab USA’s involvement. He added that any potential risk to Bambu Lab USA’s business is too vague or hypothetical to justify making it a required party. Finally, the court noted that even if Stratasys named the wrong defendant, this does not justify dismissal under Rule 12. Instead, the judge stated it would be more appropriate for the defendants to raise that argument in a motion for summary judgment. The Bambu Lab X1C 3D printer. Image via Bambu Lab. 3D printing patent battles  The 3D printing industry has seen its fair share of patent infringement disputes over recent months. In May 2025, 3D printer hotend developer Slice Engineering reached an agreement with Creality over a patent non-infringement lawsuit.  The Chinese 3D printer OEM filed the lawsuit in July 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Gainesville Division. The company claimed that Slice Engineering had falsely accused it of infringing two hotend patents, U.S. Patent Nos. 10,875,244 and 11,660,810. These cover mechanical and thermal features of Slice’s Mosquito 3D printer hotend. Creality requested a jury trial and sought a ruling confirming it had not infringed either patent. Court documents show that Slice Engineering filed a countersuit in December 2024. The Gainesville-based company maintained that Creaility “has infringed and continues to infringe” on both patents. In the filing, the company also denied allegations that it had harassed Creality’s partners, distributors, and customers, and claimed that Creality had refused to negotiate a resolution.   The Creality v. Slice Engineering lawsuit has since been dropped following a mutual resolution. Court documents show that both parties have permanently dismissed all claims and counterclaims, agreeing to cover their own legal fees and costs.  In other news, large-format resin 3D printer manufacturer Intrepid Automation sued 3D Systems over alleged patent infringement. The lawsuit, filed in February 2025, accused 3D Systems of using patented technology in its PSLA 270 industrial resin 3D printer. The filing called the PSLA 270 a “blatant knock off” of Intrepid’s DLP multi-projection “Range” 3D printer.   San Diego-based Intrepid Automation called this alleged infringement the “latest chapter of 3DS’s brazen, anticompetitive scheme to drive a smaller competitor with more advanced technology out of the marketplace.” The lawsuit also accused 3D Systems of corporate espionage, claiming one of its employees stole confidential trade secrets that were later used to develop the PSLA 270 printer. 3D Systems denied the allegations and filed a motion to dismiss the case. The company called the lawsuit “a desperate attempt” by Intrepid to distract from its own alleged theft of 3D Systems’ trade secrets. Who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards? Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news.You can also follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content.Featured image shows a Stratasys Fortus 450mcand a Bambu Lab X1C. Image by 3D Printing industry. #new #court #order #stratasys #bambu

June 13, 20256 min readAir-Conditioning Can Surprisingly Help the Power Grid during Extreme HeatSwitching on air-conditioning during extreme heat doesn’t have to make us feel guilty—it can actually boost power grid reliability and help bring more renewable energy onlineBy Johanna Mathieu & The Conversation US Imagedepotpro/Getty ImagesThe following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research.As summer arrives, people are turning on air conditioners in most of the U.S. But if you’re like me, you always feel a little guilty about that. Past generations managed without air conditioning – do I really need it? And how bad is it to use all this electricity for cooling in a warming world?If I leave my air conditioner off, I get too hot. But if everyone turns on their air conditioner at the same time, electricity demand spikes, which can force power grid operators to activate some of the most expensive, and dirtiest, power plants. Sometimes those spikes can ask too much of the grid and lead to brownouts or blackouts.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Research I recently published with a team of scholars makes me feel a little better, though. We have found that it is possible to coordinate the operation of large numbers of home air-conditioning units, balancing supply and demand on the power grid – and without making people endure high temperatures inside their homes.Studies along these lines, using remote control of air conditioners to support the grid, have for many years explored theoretical possibilities like this. However, few approaches have been demonstrated in practice and never for such a high-value application and at this scale. The system we developed not only demonstrated the ability to balance the grid on timescales of seconds, but also proved it was possible to do so without affecting residents’ comfort.The benefits include increasing the reliability of the power grid, which makes it easier for the grid to accept more renewable energy. Our goal is to turn air conditioners from a challenge for the power grid into an asset, supporting a shift away from fossil fuels toward cleaner energy.Adjustable equipmentMy research focuses on batteries, solar panels and electric equipment – such as electric vehicles, water heaters, air conditioners and heat pumps – that can adjust itself to consume different amounts of energy at different times.Originally, the U.S. electric grid was built to transport electricity from large power plants to customers’ homes and businesses. And originally, power plants were large, centralized operations that burned coal or natural gas, or harvested energy from nuclear reactions. These plants were typically always available and could adjust how much power they generated in response to customer demand, so the grid would be balanced between power coming in from producers and being used by consumers.But the grid has changed. There are more renewable energy sources, from which power isn’t always available – like solar panels at night or wind turbines on calm days. And there are the devices and equipment I study. These newer options, called “distributed energy resources,” generate or store energy near where consumers need it – or adjust how much energy they’re using in real time.One aspect of the grid hasn’t changed, though: There’s not much storage built into the system. So every time you turn on a light, for a moment there’s not enough electricity to supply everything that wants it right then: The grid needs a power producer to generate a little more power. And when you turn off a light, there’s a little too much: A power producer needs to ramp down.The way power plants know what real-time power adjustments are needed is by closely monitoring the grid frequency. The goal is to provide electricity at a constant frequency – 60 hertz – at all times. If more power is needed than is being produced, the frequency drops and a power plant boosts output. If there’s too much power being produced, the frequency rises and a power plant slows production a little. These actions, a process called “frequency regulation,” happen in a matter of seconds to keep the grid balanced.This output flexibility, primarily from power plants, is key to keeping the lights on for everyone.Finding new optionsI’m interested in how distributed energy resources can improve flexibility in the grid. They can release more energy, or consume less, to respond to the changing supply or demand, and help balance the grid, ensuring the frequency remains near 60 hertz.Some people fear that doing so might be invasive, giving someone outside your home the ability to control your battery or air conditioner. Therefore, we wanted to see if we could help balance the grid with frequency regulation using home air-conditioning units rather than power plants – without affecting how residents use their appliances or how comfortable they are in their homes.From 2019 to 2023, my group at the University of Michigan tried this approach, in collaboration with researchers at Pecan Street Inc., Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of California, Berkeley, with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.We recruited 100 homeowners in Austin, Texas, to do a real-world test of our system. All the homes had whole-house forced-air cooling systems, which we connected to custom control boards and sensors the owners allowed us to install in their homes. This equipment let us send instructions to the air-conditioning units based on the frequency of the grid.Before I explain how the system worked, I first need to explain how thermostats work. When people set thermostats, they pick a temperature, and the thermostat switches the air-conditioning compressor on and off to maintain the air temperature within a small range around that set point. If the temperature is set at 68 degrees, the thermostat turns the AC on when the temperature is, say, 70, and turns it off when it’s cooled down to, say, 66.Every few seconds, our system slightly changed the timing of air-conditioning compressor switching for some of the 100 air conditioners, causing the units’ aggregate power consumption to change. In this way, our small group of home air conditioners reacted to grid changes the way a power plant would – using more or less energy to balance the grid and keep the frequency near 60 hertz.Moreover, our system was designed to keep home temperatures within the same small temperature range around the set point.Testing the approachWe ran our system in four tests, each lasting one hour. We found two encouraging results.First, the air conditioners were able to provide frequency regulation at least as accurately as a traditional power plant. Therefore, we showed that air conditioners could play a significant role in increasing grid flexibility. But perhaps more importantly – at least in terms of encouraging people to participate in these types of systems – we found that we were able to do so without affecting people’s comfort in their homes.We found that home temperatures did not deviate more than 1.6 Fahrenheit from their set point. Homeowners were allowed to override the controls if they got uncomfortable, but most didn’t. For most tests, we received zero override requests. In the worst case, we received override requests from two of the 100 homes in our test.In practice, this sort of technology could be added to commercially available internet-connected thermostats. In exchange for credits on their energy bills, users could choose to join a service run by the thermostat company, their utility provider or some other third party.Then people could turn on the air conditioning in the summer heat without that pang of guilt, knowing they were helping to make the grid more reliable and more capable of accommodating renewable energy sources – without sacrificing their own comfort in the process.This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. #airconditioning #can #help #power #grid

In Brief Posted: 10:54 AM PDT · June 14, 2025 Image Credits:Mario Tama / Getty Images Waymo limits service ahead of today’s ‘No Kings’ protests Alphabet-owned robotaxi company Waymo is limiting service due to Saturday’s scheduled nationwide “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump and his policies. A Waymo spokesperson confirmed the changes to Wired on Friday. Service is reportedly affected in San Francisco, Austin, Atlanta, and Phoenix, and is entirely suspended in Los Angeles. It’s not clear how long the limited service will last. As part of protests last weekend in Los Angeles against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, five Waymo vehicles were set on fire and spray painted with anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcementmessages. In response, Waymo suspended service in downtown LA. While it’s not entirely clear why protestors targeted the vehicles, they may be seen as a surveillance tool, as police departments have requested robotaxi footage for their investigations in the past.According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the city’s fire chief told officials Wednesday that “in a period of civil unrest, we will not try to extinguish those fires unless they are up against a building.” Topics #waymo #limits #service #ahead #todays