Replicube A game by Walaber Entertainment LLCDev snapshot: Godot 4.5 dev 5By: Thaddeus Crews2 June 2025Pre-releaseBrrr… Do you feel that? That’s the cold front of the feature freeze just around the corner. It’s not upon us just yet, but this is likely to be our final development snapshot of the 4.5 release cycle. As we enter the home stretch of new features, bugs are naturally going to follow suit, meaning bug reports and feedback will be especially important for a smooth beta timeframe.Jump to the Downloads section, and give it a spin right now, or continue reading to learn more about improvements in this release. You can also try the Web editor or the Android editor for this release. If you are interested in the latter, please request to join our testing group to get access to pre-release builds.The cover illustration is from Replicube, a programming puzzle game where you write code to recreate voxelized objects. It is developed by Walaber Entertainment LLC (Bluesky, Twitter). You can get the game on Steam.HighlightsIn case you missed them, see the 4.5 dev 1, 4.5 dev 2, 4.5 dev 3, and 4.5 dev 4 release notes for an overview of some key features which were already in those snapshots, and are therefore still available for testing in dev 5.Native visionOS supportNormally, our featured highlights in these development blogs come from long-time contributors. This makes sense of course, as it’s generally those users that have the familiarity necessary for major changes or additions that are commonly used for these highlights. That’s why it might surprise you to hear that visionOS support comes to us from Ricardo Sanchez-Saez, whose pull request GH-105628 is his very first contribution to the engine! It might not surprise you to hear that Ricardo is part of the visionOS engineering team at Apple, which certainly helps get his foot in the door, but that still makes visionOS the first officially-supported platform integration in about a decade.For those unfamiliar, visionOS is Apple’s XR environment. We’re no strangers to XR as a concept (see our recent XR blogpost highlighting the latest Godot XR Game Jam), but XR platforms are as distinct from one another as traditional platforms. visionOS users have expressed a strong interest in integrating with our ever-growing XR community, and now we can make that happen. See you all in the next XR Game Jam!GDScript: Abstract classesWhile the Godot Engine utilizes abstract classes—a class that cannot be directly instantiated—frequently, this was only ever supported internally. Thanks to the efforts of Aaron Franke, this paradigm is now available to GDScript users (GH-67777). Now if a user wants to introduce their own abstract class, they merely need to declare it via the new abstract keyword:abstract class_name MyAbstract extends Node The purpose of an abstract class is to create a baseline for other classes to derive from:class_name ExtendsMyAbstract extends MyAbstract Shader bakerFrom the technical gurus behind implementing ubershaders, Darío Samo and Pedro J. Estébanez bring us another miracle of rendering via GH-102552: shader baker exporting. This is an optional feature that can be enabled at export time to speed up shader compilation massively. This feature works with ubershaders automatically without any work from the user. Using shader baking is strongly recommended when targeting Apple devices or D3D12 since it makes the biggest difference there (over 20× decrease in load times in the TPS demo)!Before:After:However, it comes with tradeoffs:Export time will be much longer.Build size will be much larger since the baked shaders can take up a lot of space.We have removed several MoltenVK bug workarounds from the Forward+ shader, therefore we no longer guarantee support for the Forward+ renderer on Intel Macs. If you are targeting Intel Macs, you should use the Mobile or Compatibility renderers.Baking for Vulkan can be done from any device, but baking for D3D12 needs to be done from a Windows device and baking for Apple .metallib requires a Metal compiler (macOS with Xcode / Command Line Tools installed).Web: WebAssembly SIMD supportAs you might recall, Godot 4.0 initially released under the assumption that multi-threaded web support would become the standard, and only supported that format for web builds. This assumption unfortunately proved to be wishful thinking, and was reverted in 4.3 by allowing for single-threaded builds once more. However, this doesn’t mean that these single-threaded environments are inherently incapable of parallel processing; it just requires alternative implementations. One such implementation, SIMD, is a perfect candidate thanks to its support across all major browsers. To that end, web-wiz Adam Scott has taken to integrating this implementation for our web builds by default (GH-106319).Inline color pickersWhile it’s always been possible to see what kind of variable is assigned to an exported color in the inspector, some users have expressed a keen interest in allowing for this functionality within the script editor itself. This is because it would mean seeing what kind of color is represented by a variable without it needing to be exposed, as well as making it more intuitive at a glance as to what color a name or code corresponds to. Koliur Rahman has blessed us with this quality-of-life goodness, which adds an inline color picker GH-105724. Now no matter where the color is declared, users will be able to immediately and intuitively know what is actually represented in a non-intrusive manner.Rendering goodiesThe renderer got a fair amount of love this snapshot; not from any one PR, but rather a multitude of community members bringing some long-awaited features to light. Raymond DiDonato helped SMAA 1x make its transition from addon to fully-fledged engine feature (GH-102330). Capry brings bent normal maps to further enhance specular occlusion and indirect lighting (GH-89988). Our very own Clay John converted our Compatibility backend to use a fragment shader copy instead of a blit copy, working around common sample rate issues on mobile devices (GH-106267). More technical information on these rendering changes can be found in their associated PRs.SMAA comparison:OffOnBent normal map comparison:BeforeAfterAnd more!There are too many exciting changes to list them all here, but here’s a curated selection:Animation: Add alphabetical sorting to Animation Player (GH-103584).Animation: Add animation filtering to animation editor (GH-103130).Audio: Implement seek operation for Theora video files, improve multi-channel audio resampling (GH-102360).Core: Add --scene command line argument (GH-105302).Core: Overhaul resource duplication (GH-100673).Core: Use Grisu2 algorithm in String::num_scientific to fix serializing (GH-98750).Editor: Add “Quick Load” button to EditorResourcePicker (GH-104490).Editor: Add PROPERTY_HINT_INPUT_NAME for use with @export_custom to allow using input actions (GH-96611).Editor: Add named EditorScripts to the command palette (GH-99318).GUI: Add file sort to FileDialog (GH-105723).I18n: Add translation preview in editor (GH-96921).Import: Add Channel Remap settings to ResourceImporterTexture (GH-99676).Physics: Improve performance with non-monitoring areas when using Jolt Physics (GH-106490).Porting: Android: Add export option for custom theme attributes (GH-106724).Porting: Android: Add support for 16 KB page sizes, update to NDK r28b (GH-106358).Porting: Android: Remove the gradle_build/compress_native_libraries export option (GH-106359).Porting: Web: Use actual PThread pool size for get_default_thread_pool_size() (GH-104458).Porting: Windows/macOS/Linux: Use SSE 4.2 as a baseline when compiling Godot (GH-59595).Rendering: Add new StandardMaterial properties to allow users to control FPS-style objects (hands, weapons, tools close to the camera) (GH-93142).Rendering: FTI - Optimize SceneTree traversal (GH-106244).Changelog109 contributors submitted 252 fixes for this release. See our interactive changelog for the complete list of changes since the previous 4.5-dev4 snapshot.This release is built from commit 64b09905c.DownloadsGodot is downloading...Godot exists thanks to donations from people like you. Help us continue our work:Make a DonationStandard build includes support for GDScript and GDExtension..NET build (marked as mono) includes support for C#, as well as GDScript and GDExtension.While engine maintainers try their best to ensure that each preview snapshot and release candidate is stable, this is by definition a pre-release piece of software. Be sure to make frequent backups, or use a version control system such as Git, to preserve your projects in case of corruption or data loss.Known issuesWindows executables (both the editor and export templates) have been signed with an expired certificate. You may see warnings from Windows Defender’s SmartScreen when running this version, or outright be prevented from running the executables with a double-click (GH-106373). Running Godot from the command line can circumvent this. We will soon have a renewed certificate which will be used for future builds.With every release, we accept that there are going to be various issues, which have already been reported but haven’t been fixed yet. See the GitHub issue tracker for a complete list of known bugs.Bug reportsAs a tester, we encourage you to open bug reports if you experience issues with this release. Please check the existing issues on GitHub first, using the search function with relevant keywords, to ensure that the bug you experience is not already known.In particular, any change that would cause a regression in your projects is very important to report (e.g. if something that worked fine in previous 4.x releases, but no longer works in this snapshot).SupportGodot is a non-profit, open source game engine developed by hundreds of contributors on their free time, as well as a handful of part and full-time developers hired thanks to generous donations from the Godot community. A big thank you to everyone who has contributed their time or their financial support to the project!If you’d like to support the project financially and help us secure our future hires, you can do so using the Godot Development Fund.Donate now

Jun 03, 2025Ravie LakshmananWeb Security / Digital Identity Google has revealed that it will no longer trust digital certificates issued by Chunghwa Telecom and Netlock citing "patterns of concerning behavior observed over the past year." The changes are expected to be introduced in Chrome 139, which is scheduled for public release in early August 2025. The current major version is 137. The update will affect all Transport Layer Security (TLS) server authentication certificates issued by the two Certificate Authorities (CAs) after July 31, 2025, 11:59:59 p.m. UTC. Certificates issued before that date will not be impacted. Chunghwa Telecom is Taiwan's largest integrated telecom service provider and Netlock is a Hungarian company that offers digital identity, electronic signature, time stamping, and authentication solutions. "Over the past several months and years, we have observed a pattern of compliance failures, unmet improvement commitments, and the absence of tangible, measurable progress in response to publicly disclosed incident reports," Google's Chrome Root Program and the Chrome Security Team said. "When these factors are considered in the aggregate and considered against the inherent risk each publicly-trusted CA poses to the internet, continued public trust is no longer justified." As a result of this change, Chrome browser users on Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, and Linux who navigate to a site serving a certificate issued by either of the two CAs after July 31, will be served a full-screen security warning. Website operators who rely on the two CAs are recommended to use the Chrome Certificate Viewer to check the validity of their site's certificates and transition to a new publicly-trusted CA as soon as "reasonably possible" to avoid any user disruption. Enterprises, however, can override these Chrome Root Store constraints by installing the corresponding root CA certificate as a locally-trusted root on the platform Chrome is running. It's worth noting that Apple has distrusted the Root CA Certificate "NetLock Arany (Class Gold) Főtanúsítvány" effective November 15, 2024. The disclosure comes after Google Chrome, Apple, and Mozilla decided to no longer root CA certificates signed by Entrust as of November 2024. Entrust has since sold off its certificate business to Sectigo. Earlier this March, Google revealed that the CA/Browser Forum adopted Multi-Perspective Issuance Corroboration (MPIC) and Linting as required practices in the Baseline Requirements (BRs) to enhance domain control validation and flag insecure practices in X.509 certificates. Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter  and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post. SHARE    

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The big picture: Java stands as one of the enduring pillars of the software world. The programming language was released by Sun Microsystems on May 23, 1995, and so far has weathered the shifting tides of technology, outlasting many of its rivals and adapting to new eras of computing. Java's origins trace back to the early 1990s, when a team at Sun Microsystems led by James Gosling set out to develop a language for interactive television and embedded devices. Initially dubbed "Oak," the project aimed to simplify application development across a range of devices. Gosling famously described Java as "C++ without the guns and knives," a nod to its safer and more streamlined syntax. Gosling, who remains closely associated with Java to this day, described the language as "C++ without guns and knives," a nod to its simpler, safer syntax compared to its predecessor. As the World Wide Web began to take off, Java's focus shifted from consumer electronics to internet applications. The language's defining feature – platform independence – meant that code could be compiled into bytecode and executed on any device with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This "write once, run anywhere" capability was groundbreaking, allowing software to run across different operating systems with minimal modification. Java quickly gained traction with web applets and, soon after, enterprise applications. Its rapid rise prompted competitors to react. Microsoft introduced Visual J++, a Java-compatible language for Windows, but the product was discontinued after a legal dispute with Sun over non-compliance with Java's standards. Many universities and colleges offer dedicated Java programming courses and certificates. It is often an introductory language in computer science curricula because of its object-oriented structure. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw significant evolution in Java's capabilities. Features like JavaBeans, JDBC (Java Database Connectivity), and the Swing GUI library broadened its use. The language was eventually split into multiple editions – Standard (SE), Enterprise (EE), and Micro (ME) – tailored for desktop, server, and mobile development, respectively. // Related Stories In 2006, Sun made a pivotal move by open-sourcing Java, releasing the OpenJDK under the GNU General Public License. This move helped cement Java's role in the open-source community and made it even more accessible to developers worldwide. Java's stewardship changed in 2010 when Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems. While the core implementation of Java remained open source, Oracle introduced licensing changes in later years that led some organizations to explore alternatives such as OpenJDK builds from other vendors. Java's influence on enterprise software has been profound. Its robust ecosystem, including frameworks like Spring Boot and Jakarta EE, has made it a go-to choice for organizations seeking reliability and scalability. The language's stability and backward compatibility have ensured that even as trends come and go, Java remains a constant in the back offices of countless businesses. James Gosling remains closely associated with Java to this day. According to industry experts, Java's longevity stems from its adaptability. Brian Fox, CTO of Sonatype, told The Register that Java has endured through changing paradigms, from early web applets to today's cloud-native applications. "Java has outlasted trends, rival languages, and shifting paradigms. It paved the way for open source to enter the enterprise. And, arguably, the enterprise never looked back." While it may no longer be the flashiest programming language around, Java remains one of the most important. It powers enterprise systems, big data platforms, and cloud-native architectures alike. Despite the rise of languages like Python and JavaScript, Java consistently ranks among the most-used programming languages in industry surveys. As Java enters its fourth decade, it shows no signs of fading away. Instead, it stands as a testament to the enduring value of reliability, adaptability, and a vibrant developer community – a language that, for many, is as essential today as it was in 1995.

If you’re starting to feel a little behind in your career because you aren’t completely proficient with AI, you don’t need to worry. Even beginners can quickly master valuable AI skills without any tech background in the ChatGPT & Automation E-Degree program, and it’s on sale right now for just $19.97 This program offers 12 captivating modules that allow you to immerse yourself in more than 25 hours of engaging coursework. It will transform your perception of the digital world. You’ll master ChatGPT and over 20 AI tools that are indispensable in facing the dynamic challenges in today’s coding, business, and marketing industries. The classes are specifically tailored to help you develop the skills that can future-proof your career. Learning how to master conversations with ChatGPT will elevate your communication skills. You’ll also get to explore the intersection of data visualization and AI, learning powerful techniques for turning raw data into visual narratives that offer compelling insights. AI can turbocharge your creativity and send your productivity skyrocketing, as well. The courses in this program will teach you how to enhance efficiency and ensure optimal utilization of resources by streamlining business operations with automation. You’ll get hands-on experience with practical applications in real-world scenarios that you can apply directly to your professional environment. This program is presented by Edunix, a leading educational platform that has been providing high-quality technology training for over a decade. Experienced instructors teach students how to use these skills in the same way that professionals in the industry use them. Users have a lifetime of 24/7 access to this course and can access it on desktop and mobile devices. All future updates are included, and a Certificate of Completion is provided after the course has been finished. Get the ChatGPT & Automation E-Degree while it’s on sale for just $19.97. StackSocial prices subject to change. _ ChatGPT & Automation E-Degree See Deal

Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks have teamed with the educational platform Yellowbrick for “This Is Animation,” a free online course that introduces learners of all ages to the art and industry of animated filmmaking. Hosted by animation director Kris Pearn (The Willoughbys, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2), the course includes five modules that allow users to explore the core pillars of animation storytelling. “Animation is one of the most collaborative of all storytelling mediums,” said Pearn. “This course is about pulling back the curtain, showing the magic behind the process, and inviting new voices to explore careers - both artistic and non-artistic - in this incredible industry.” Check out a teaser for the course now: The course breaks down the animation process into five modules: The Pipeline – A big-picture look at the animation production process, including pre-production, production, and post-production. Learners will gain a comprehensive understanding of the different stages involved in bringing an animated project to life. The Idea – Explores how creative concepts evolve into stories. This module delves into the art of storytelling, focusing on the development of compelling narratives, themes, and character arcs specifically tailored for animation. The Hero – Craft compelling animated characters. Learners will discover the secrets behind creating memorable and relatable characters, exploring aspects such as personality, design, and animation techniques that breathe life into these creations. The World – Design immersive animated environments. This module takes learners on a journey through the art of world-building, focusing on the creation of visually stunning and believable settings that transport audiences to the heart of the story. Pulling It All Together – Showcase the many career paths in animation beyond art, including production management, business affairs, marketing, finance, and talent acquisition. This module highlights the wide range of career paths that exist in the animation industry. “This Is Animation” also features hands-on experiential learning, allowing participants to design their own rudimentary animated character and bring it to life through interactive exercises. “At Sony Pictures Animation, we believe great stories can come from anywhere,” said Kristine Belson and Damien de Froberville, presidents of Sony Pictures Animation. “Through this course, we want to inspire a new generation of talent and show that you don’t need to be an artist to work in animation - there truly is a place for everyone who possesses a love for the artform and the drive to be a part of it.” “At Sony Pictures Imageworks, we’ve always been proud to foster some of the most innovative talent in animation and VFX,” added Michelle Grady, president of Sony Pictures Imageworks. “We’re excited to launch this groundbreaking free online course, which not only demystifies the animation process but also empowers aspiring animators to explore their creativity and take their first steps into this dynamic field.” Users can now enroll in “This Is Animation” with an email address. Those who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion. Source: Sony Pictures Animation Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologist—L'Wren brings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.

On this day in 1975, Industrial Light & Magic was officially signed into existence by George Lucas. By Lucas O. Seastrom ILM’s original crew for Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) poses in the front lot of their original studio (Credit: ILM & Lucasfilm). 50 years ago today on May 28, 1975, George Lucas signed a legal certificate issuing his formal shares of stock ownership in a new company: Industrial Light & Magic. It’s likely the founder affixed his signature without pomp or ceremony. There was too much to do. ILM, as it would come to be known for short, had less than two years to build a visual effects studio from scratch and create nearly 400 shots in a new space fantasy film called Star Wars. By that time in late May, Lucas had hired John Dykstra to supervise the film’s visual effects. The director had an audacious vision for creating dynamic images of spaceships dogfighting with each other. Lucas wanted the camera to move with the ships, as if the camera operators were up there to capture the action by hand. The idea broke many of the traditional rules in visual effects that typically required locked off cameras to allow for separate elements to be carefully blended together. Visual effects supervisor John Dykstra poses on the stage next to a TIE fighter miniature (Credit: ILM & Lucasfilm). John Dykstra was practically the only effects artist in Hollywood willing to buy into Lucas’s plans on the existing terms. He’d gained experience with the type of equipment that would be needed to realize the elaborate shots of custom-built miniatures. Dykstra was also a free thinker with a sense of adventure. There were only a handful of effects companies still operating, and none at a major studio. Most balked at the proposal, decrying its limited budget, tight schedule, and seemingly unattainable goals. So Dykstra was tasked with establishing a new operation. Lucas was a Northern Californian and planned to base the editorial side of post-production near his San Francisco Bay Area home. He wanted to do the same for visual effects. Dykstra argued otherwise, deciding to keep the new facility in Southern California where he had access to a network of talent and close proximity to third party film processing labs. So it was at some point in late May that Dykstra located and then leased a warehouse in Van Nuys, one of a number of towns that sprawled across the San Fernando Valley, a ways north of Hollywood proper, and conveniently removed from the overbearing presence of the established studios.  Located in an industrial park on Valjean Avenue, just a block from the south end of the Van Nuys Airport, ILM rented a building for $2,300 a month from owner Bill Hanna. It was two stories, made largely of stacked cinder blocks, with a large asphalt lot in front. Inside were a handful of unfurnished offices and open warehouse space with high ceilings ideal for hanging lights. Early on, Dykstra would drive his motorcycle through the building, leaving skid marks on the floor. It was often oppressively hot, even more so once the tungsten film lights were switched on, and Dykstra initially planned to construct a pool onsite, but later compromised with a cold tub that could hold multiple people. The exterior of ILM’s original studio in Van Nuys, CA. An explosion on the surface of the Death Star is photograped in the foreground (Credit: ILM & Lucasfilm). “It just popped into my head,” Lucas would recall about the name “Industrial Light & Magic.” “We were sitting in an industrial park and using light to create magic. That’s what they were going to do.” Initially, Dykstra worked out of Lucasfilm’s offices in a bungalow on the Universal Studios lot, a few minutes drive from Van Nuys. Soon he’d moved to Valjean, working off the floor before furniture was acquired. He was busy recruiting. By early June, modelmakers Grant McCune and Bill and Jamie Shourt were hired, as were production manager Bob Shepherd, technician Jerry Greenwood, first cameraman Richard Edlund, electronics designer Al Miller, and machinists Richard Alexander and Don Trumbull.  As former Lucasfilm executive editor J.W. Rinzler would note in The Making of Star Wars, “They all knew one another and had worked together before.” They’d worked on feature films with Douglas Trumbull (son of Don), or on commercials and other projects with Robert Abel and Associates. A later group would come from another commercial house, Cascade Pictures. Others came straight from universities where they’d studied everything from animation to industrial design. They brought with them aspects of the culture and methodology from these other places, together making something new and unique. Optical composite photography supervisor Robert Blalack’s Praxis Printer is loaded into the new ILM space (Credit: ILM & Lucasfilm). A view of one of ILM’s shooting stages in the rear of the original Van Nuys studio (Credit: ILM & Lucasfilm). Before anything else could happen, the Valjean warehouse needed to be converted into production space and workshops. Over six weeks into the summer, they first taped out sections and then constructed the designated areas themselves. On the first floor would be the optical and rotoscope departments, a model shop, machine shop, wood shop, two shooting stages in the rear, and production offices in the front. Upstairs would be home to the animation department, editorial, a screening room, and the art department.By July, optical composite photography supervisor Robert Blalack and animation and rotoscope supervisor Adam Beckett had been hired, as had a sound recordist and designer who would use ILM’s space as a sometime home base, Ben Burtt. By early August, artist Joe Johnston was setting up the art department (concept artists Colin Cantwell and Ralph McQuarrie had started much earlier, but each worked from home). Within a few months, a dozen people were on board, many of them attracted to join the project out of admiration for George Lucas, whose American Graffiti (1973) had made waves upon its release two years before. The second floor art department, with storyboard and concept artist Joe Johnston working at a desk in the background as modelmaker Paul Huston looks on (Credit: ILM & Lucasfilm). Film control coordinator Mary Lind in the upstairs editorial department (Credit: ILM & Lucasfilm). The spaces were ready by mid-summer, but ILM’s work had only just begun. It would take them nearly a year to successfully design and construct an entire visual effects facility and workflow, including miniatures, motion-control camera systems, optical printers, animation cameras, and blue screens. “There’s a significant difference between coming up with a good idea and executing it,” Dykstra would say. ILM’s initial budget was roughly $1.2 million. Although time was of the essence to build the various equipment, distributor 20th Century Fox was slow to provide any initial funds ahead of the main shoot, which would commence in the spring of 1976. So for much of its first year, ILM operated with George Lucas’s personal finances, thanks to the momentous commercial success of American Graffiti. Former ILM general manager Thomas G. Smith would explain in his 1986 book, The Art of Special Effects, how “Outside, it looked like all the other industrial-style buildings in the valley. Inside, it was staffed with very young technicians, some barely out of college, few over 30, some even under 20 years old…. The doors at ILM were open 24 hours a day; technicians and artists worked without regard to time clocks or job classifications. They were children of the ’60s, and many rebelled against authority figures and traditional work rules. There were no dress codes and no specified work hours; designers built models, and modelmakers ran cameras. But there was a strong esprit de corps and feeling of purpose in the building…. The involvement was with the cause rather than with the money; somehow the group felt they were a part of something really important.” John Dykstra inspects miniatures of X-wings, TIE fighters, and Y-wings (Credit: ILM & Lucasfilm). The first floor model shop in ILM’s original Van Nuys, CA studio (Credit: ILM & Lucasfilm). What this group was about to accomplish in less than two years was anything but certain that late spring of 1975. If anything, it was “a long shot,” as Dykstra himself would admit. “It was very, very hard to say specifically what was and what wasn’t going to work before we built it,” he told Cinefantastique in 1977. “So we just had to take a shot at it and all I could do was bluff it and say, ‘Oh yeah, everything’s gonna be fine!’”As would become the defining element of ILM’s success and endurance, it was the people who made all the difference. “It would be very hard to do Star Wars just by setting up an independent facility unless you had the personnel to do it,” Dykstra said. “The people who designed the equipment and constructed it made it all happen. Not only was it independent of studios but the people who were doing it are the best people in the industry right now.” What began quietly with a handful of people in a hot, mostly empty warehouse would ultimately do the impossible, not just in the sense of its accomplishments on screen or the resulting accolades, but in its ability to grow, adapt, and continue innovating time and again. That story continues today at the company’s studios around the world. Though ILM has long since outgrown its original warehouse, it still attracts the same intrepid, curious people who bring their passion for image-making and problem-solving to multiple art forms. Watch ILM’s new celebratory reel in honor of the company’s 50th anniversary: — Lucas O. Seastrom is the editor of ILM.com and a contributing writer and historian for Lucasfilm. Read more on the ILM.com Newsroom. Watch Light & Magic on Disney+.

Submitted by WA Contents WA Awards 50th Cycle Winner Posters and Certificates are ready to download United Kingdom Architecture News - May 26, 2025 - 04:19   html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" The 50th Cycle of the WA Awards winner posters and certificates is now available for download on the World Architecture Community website. This cycle features 27 Winner Posters and 39 Winner Certificates. Winners of the 50th WA Awards can access their high-resolution Winner Posters on the pages of their respective winning projects. After logging into their accounts, they should visit the "My Winner Page" section to download their Winner Certificates.The 50th Cycle winners for the Architecture, Interior Design and Architecture Students can be found on the WA Awards Winners page. One Cycle ends and another begins!If you're looking to have your architecture and interior design project recognized, the best way to do so is to participate. The 51st Cycle of the WA Awards is now open for submissions. You can submit your entries for the 51st Cycle of the WA Awards 10+5+X until July 18, 2025 at 23:59 GMT +0.If you're not a member of WAC, start your registrations on this page. Visit our  page to learn more about the categories, fees, eligibility requirements, and judging process. To consult our visual guidance, visit our  page.  WA Awards

We may earn a commission from links on this page.As you're planning your big move, you'll likely find yourself talking to a number of moving companies to figure out which one has policies, prices, and availability that work best for your needs. Through that process, you might be surprised to learn that there are things movers won't touch, though the exact types of objects they won't move do vary from company to company. This isn't their way of getting one over on you during a vulnerable time, though you might feel like it is. Rather, according to Rob Rimeris, owner of EverSafe Moving Co., "it's about respect and risk." What moving companies generally won't touchRimeris says his company won't move weapons, open liquids, or valuables like personal identification or heirlooms. That aligned with what I heard from a number of other pros, who also mentioned jewelry, cash, paperwork, passports, medication, anything "irreplaceable," anything flammable, cleaning products, fire extinguishers, paint, and fireworks. Some companies won't even transport your plants or perishable food. And, of course, they're not transporting your dog or other pets. Many pros told me that you should contact your moving company with an itemized list of what you want moved in advance. Your company might be fine moving some of these things and they'll let you know. Get that in writing. So what do you do with the stuff they won't move?First, ask moving companies for a written list of what they will not transport, just so you have an idea of what is going to fall under your responsibility and so you can avoid surprise refusals or fees when they get there. ValuablesKeep your valuables on you during the move, especially things like identification documents, prescriptions, and your birth certificate and social security card. It's a good idea to move those things yourself in your personal vehicle from one home to the next.Because these things are so important, consider a portable lockbox (around $30 or so). It's small enough to move around with you but can keep everything organized and untouchable. Hazardous materialsAs for any hazardous materials, don't transport those yourself—for the same reasons the movers don't want to. Kris Kay, director of operations at UNITS Moving and Portable Storage, cautions that you should contact local disposal centers for proper handling of anything like gasoline or propane tanks. Tiam Behdarvandan, CEO and founder of Let's Get Moving, says that even a small leak can cause a dangerous situation. Anything old or half-used can be disposed of at a local hazardous waste facility. If you have full canisters of gas or other hazardous materials and don't want to dispose of them, ask your local disposal center for specific recommendations on transport. PetsIf you're moving locally, Shainaiqua D'Sa, content marketing lead at Attic Self Storage, advises that "children and pets can unintentionally slow down the moving process," so you should arrange for someone to look after them on the day of the move. You should also flag your vet about the move well in advance. Alex Girard, who recently moved across the country, was surprised to find that his cat needed to be given a "certificate of health" before she was able to fly on a commercial airline to their new city, for instance. Your vet may also prescribe medication to calm your animal down if you have to fly or travel a long distance with them. Seek specific advice on all things travel-related from the vet, like how big your carrying case should be, and contact your airline if you're flying to get information on their policies around animal travel. Like your valuables, you need to keep pet supplies on you. From food to poop bags, these will need to travel with you personally—and you should pack more than you think you'll need in case of any hiccups. Pet identification, medications, accessories, and a favorite item that smells like you should also be included. PlantsPlants are tricky. Start by watering them well a few days before the move and then find a box slightly bigger than the pot, stuffing packing materials around it to keep it cushioned inside. (As with valuables and delicate objects, you can use t-shirts, towels, or other soft goods for this.) Then, cover the plant itself with a large plastic bag, like a trash bag. You should move the plant in a sturdy, temperature-controlled environment, like in your personal vehicle. If you have to fly, it'll be a little more complicated. The TSA allows plants in both carry-on and checked luggage, but you need to contact your airline directly to find out about their policies. Perishable foodsA few weeks in advance, obviously, try to eat these if you can. Decluttering is the best way to save time, space, and money ahead of a move. Consider donating to a food kitchen, especially if you're moving a long distance. Otherwise, these, too, need to be boxed up and taken with you, whether in your personal vehicle or on a plane. Depending on how far you have to travel, consider picking up a cooler. Travel-safe versions with carry straps can be as low as $15.The less straightforward objectsThere are some items that movers will move (or could refuse on a case-by-case basis) but they, too, are important to mention in advance. "Like most movers, we do not handle hazardous or prohibited materials like gas canisters, explosives, or chemicals," says Marshall Aikman, owner of Amazing Moves Moving and Storage. "If you need to move something unusual like a piano, a safe, or antiques, make sure to tell us ahead of time because these require special handling and planning."A few different pros I spoke to mentioned things like pianos and aquariums, actually, and while they will generally move them, they do need to know about them in advance. You might have to pay extra fees for certain objects, depending on what they are and which company you're going with, so get that information in advance to avoid budgetary surprises on the day of the move. If possible, try to move those yourself, but keep in mind that a fee might be worth paying if the other option is literally moving a piano on your own. If you don't declare these things in advance, fees won't be your only problem. Without advance knowledge of tricky, heavy objects, movers may not show up with the right tools and materials, meaning they can't move those and there's nothing you or they can do about it. In the best-case scenario, they have to take extra time to go get the right tools, which can cost you hourly fees and precious time. In the worst-case scenario, they can't do that and you're stuck there with some huge thing you also don't have the tools to move. In the event you find yourself in a situation where you have to move a piano, safe, aquarium, or other unwieldy object, you need moving blankets. Matt Graber, co-owner of Cool Hand Movers, says, "If you're doing your own move, don't skip blanket wrapping furniture pieces. It will protect the pieces themselves in transit, but also reduce the chance of nicking walls and doorways with the edges of bulky items." A 12-pack is about $60. Secure them around the object with heavy-duty tape and place sliders under the legs or corners. Even if you are doing the move yourself, it would be beneficial to contact moving companies for quotes on what it would cost for them to simply help you get these bulky items out of your space and into your U-Haul. Again, movers will move heavier items in most cases, but you have to tell them in advance.

May 25, 2025Ravie LakshmananThreat Intelligence / Software Security Cybersecurity researchers have disclosed a malware campaign that uses fake software installers masquerading as popular tools like LetsVPN and QQ Browser to deliver the Winos 4.0 framework. The campaign, first detected by Rapid7 in February 2025, involves the use of a multi-stage, memory-resident loader called Catena. "Catena uses embedded shellcode and configuration switching logic to stage payloads like Winos 4.0 entirely in memory, evading traditional antivirus tools," security researchers Anna Širokova and Ivan Feigl said. "Once installed, it quietly connects to attacker-controlled servers – mostly hosted in Hong Kong – to receive follow-up instructions or additional malware." The attacks, like those that have deployed Winos 4.0 in the past, appear to focus specifically on Chinese-speaking environments, with the cybersecurity company calling out the "careful, long-term planning" by a very capable threat actor. Winos 4.0 (aka ValleyRAT) was first publicly documented by Trend Micro in June 2024 as used in attacks targeting Chinese-speaking users by means of malicious Windows Installer (MSI) files for VPN apps. The activity has been attributed to a threat cluster it tracks as Void Arachne, which is also referred to as Silver Fox. Subsequent campaigns distributing the malware have leveraged gaming-related applications like installation tools, speed boosters, and optimization utilities as lures to trick users into installing it. Another attack wave detailed in February 2025 targeted entities in Taiwan via phishing emails that purported to be from the National Taxation Bureau. Built atop the foundations of a known remote access trojan called Gh0st RAT, Winos 4.0 is an advanced malicious framework written in C++ that makes use of a plugin-based system to harvest data, provide remote shell access, and launch distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. QQBrowser-Based Infection Flow Observed in February 2025 Rapid7 said all the artifacts flagged in February 2025 relied on NSIS installers bundled with signed decoy apps, shellcode embedded in ".ini" files, and reflective DLL injection to covertly maintain persistence on infected hosts and avoid detection. The entire infection chain has been given the moniker Catena. "The campaign has so far been active throughout 2025, showing a consistent infection chain with some tactical adjustments – pointing to a capable and adaptive threat actor," the researchers said. The starting point is a trojanized NSIS installer impersonating an installer for QQ Browser, a Chromium-based web browser developed by Tencent, that's designed to deliver Winos 4.0 using Catena. The malware communicates with hard-coded command-and-control (C2) infrastructure over TCP port 18856 and HTTPS port 443. From LetsVPN Installer to Winos 4.0 in April 2025 Persistence on the host is achieved by registering scheduled tasks that are executed weeks after the initial compromise. While the malware features an explicit check to look for Chinese language settings on the system, it still proceeds with the execution even if that's not the case. This indicates it's an unfinished feature and something that's expected to be implemented in subsequent iterations of the malware. That said, Rapid7 said it identified in April 2025 a "tactical shift" that not only switched some of the elements of the Catena execution chain, but also incorporated features to evade antivirus detection. In the revamped attack sequence, the NSIS installer disguises itself as a setup file for LetsVPN and runs a PowerShell command that adds Microsoft Defender exclusions for all drives (C:\ to Z:\). It then drops additional payloads, including an executable that takes a snapshot of running processes and checks for processes related to 360 Total Security, an antivirus product developed by Chinese vendor Qihoo 360. The binary is signed with an expired certificate issued by VeriSign and allegedly belongs to Tencent Technology (Shenzhen). It was valid from 2018-10-11 to 2020-02-02. The primary responsibility of the executable is to reflectively load a DLL file that, in turn, connects to a C2 server ("134.122.204[.]11:18852" or "103.46.185[.]44:443") in order to download and execute Winos 4.0. "This campaign shows a well-organized, regionally focused malware operation using trojanized NSIS installers to quietly drop the Winos 4.0 stager," the researchers said. "It leans heavily on memory-resident payloads, reflective DLL loading, and decoy software signed with legit certificates to avoid raising alarms. Infrastructure overlaps and language-based targeting hint at ties to Silver Fox APT, with activity likely aimed at Chinese-speaking environments." Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter  and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post. SHARE    