A Cheap Smart Plug To Block Distractions We have all suffered from this; the boss wants you to compile a report on the number of paper clips and you’re crawling up the wall with boredom, so naturally …read more

Editor’s note: This blog is a part of Into the Omniverse, a series focused on how developers, 3D practitioners and enterprises can transform their workflows using the latest advances in OpenUSD and NVIDIA Omniverse. Simulated driving environments enable engineers to safely and efficiently train, test and validate autonomous vehiclesacross countless real-world and edge-case scenarios without the risks and costs of physical testing. These simulated environments can be created through neural reconstruction of real-world data from AV fleets or generated with world foundation models— neural networks that understand physics and real-world properties. WFMs can be used to generate synthetic datasets for enhanced AV simulation. To help physical AI developers build such simulated environments, NVIDIA unveiled major advances in WFMs at the GTC Paris and CVPR conferences earlier this month. These new capabilities enhance NVIDIA Cosmos — a platform of generative WFMs, advanced tokenizers, guardrails and accelerated data processing tools. Key innovations like Cosmos Predict-2, the Cosmos Transfer-1 NVIDIA preview NIM microservice and Cosmos Reason are improving how AV developers generate synthetic data, build realistic simulated environments and validate safety systems at unprecedented scale. Universal Scene Description, a unified data framework and standard for physical AI applications, enables seamless integration and interoperability of simulation assets across the development pipeline. OpenUSD standardization plays a critical role in ensuring 3D pipelines are built to scale. NVIDIA Omniverse, a platform of application programming interfaces, software development kits and services for building OpenUSD-based physical AI applications, enables simulations from WFMs and neural reconstruction at world scale. Leading AV organizations — including Foretellix, Mcity, Oxa, Parallel Domain, Plus AI and Uber — are among the first to adopt Cosmos models. Foundations for Scalable, Realistic Simulation Cosmos Predict-2, NVIDIA’s latest WFM, generates high-quality synthetic data by predicting future world states from multimodal inputs like text, images and video. This capability is critical for creating temporally consistent, realistic scenarios that accelerate training and validation of AVs and robots. In addition, Cosmos Transfer, a control model that adds variations in weather, lighting and terrain to existing scenarios, will soon be available to 150,000 developers on CARLA, a leading open-source AV simulator. This greatly expands the broad AV developer community’s access to advanced AI-powered simulation tools. Developers can start integrating synthetic data into their own pipelines using the NVIDIA Physical AI Dataset. The latest release includes 40,000 clips generated using Cosmos. Building on these foundations, the Omniverse Blueprint for AV simulation provides a standardized, API-driven workflow for constructing rich digital twins, replaying real-world sensor data and generating new ground-truth data for closed-loop testing. The blueprint taps into OpenUSD’s layer-stacking and composition arcs, which enable developers to collaborate asynchronously and modify scenes nondestructively. This helps create modular, reusable scenario variants to efficiently generate different weather conditions, traffic patterns and edge cases. Driving the Future of AV Safety To bolster the operational safety of AV systems, NVIDIA earlier this year introduced NVIDIA Halos — a comprehensive safety platform that integrates the company’s full automotive hardware and software stack with AI research focused on AV safety. The new Cosmos models — Cosmos Predict- 2, Cosmos Transfer- 1 NIM and Cosmos Reason — deliver further safety enhancements to the Halos platform, enabling developers to create diverse, controllable and realistic scenarios for training and validating AV systems. These models, trained on massive multimodal datasets including driving data, amplify the breadth and depth of simulation, allowing for robust scenario coverage — including rare and safety-critical events — while supporting post-training customization for specialized AV tasks. At CVPR, NVIDIA was recognized as an Autonomous Grand Challenge winner, highlighting its leadership in advancing end-to-end AV workflows. The challenge used OpenUSD’s robust metadata and interoperability to simulate sensor inputs and vehicle trajectories in semi-reactive environments, achieving state-of-the-art results in safety and compliance. Learn more about how developers are leveraging tools like CARLA, Cosmos, and Omniverse to advance AV simulation in this livestream replay: Hear NVIDIA Director of Autonomous Vehicle Research Marco Pavone on the NVIDIA AI Podcast share how digital twins and high-fidelity simulation are improving vehicle testing, accelerating development and reducing real-world risks. Get Plugged Into the World of OpenUSD Learn more about what’s next for AV simulation with OpenUSD by watching the replay of NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang’s GTC Paris keynote. Looking for more live opportunities to learn more about OpenUSD? Don’t miss sessions and labs happening at SIGGRAPH 2025, August 10–14. Discover why developers and 3D practitioners are using OpenUSD and learn how to optimize 3D workflows with the self-paced “Learn OpenUSD” curriculum for 3D developers and practitioners, available for free through the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute. Explore the Alliance for OpenUSD forum and the AOUSD website. Stay up to date by subscribing to NVIDIA Omniverse news, joining the community and following NVIDIA Omniverse on Instagram, LinkedIn, Medium and X. #into #omniverse #world #foundation #models

¡Es increíble cómo un grupo como BüroDestruct, que lleva tres décadas "sacudiendo" el diseño suizo desde Berna, se ha convertido en un ícono de lo mediocre! ¿De verdad creemos que sus monografías son la cúspide del diseño? La arrogancia de presentarse como los "revolucionarios" del diseño suizo es simplemente ridícula. En lugar de innovar, parecen estancarse en un ciclo de auto-referencia y vanidad. ¿Dónde está la verdadera creatividad? ¿Dónde están las ideas frescas? La obsesión por el estilo y la estética ha eclipsado el propósito real del diseño. Es hora de dejar de idolatrar lo superficial y exigir autenticidad. ¡

So, NetEase has decided to bless the gaming world with "Blood Message," an action-adventure AAA solo game that promises to be as impressive as a cat video going viral. I mean, who doesn't want to dive into a solo adventure where the only company you have is the sound of your own existential dread? Let’s talk about the title for a second. "Blood Message"? Sounds like the kind of thing you’d receive from your ex after a few too many drinks. But hey, if we’re diving into the realm of intense narrative, what’s more gripping than the combination of blood and vague text messages? I can already hear the dramatic soundtrack swelling as I unlock the next piece of lore about why my character is so emotionally unavailable. And can we appreciate the timing? While everyone else is busy launching multiplayer games that require you to socialize with actual human beings, NetEase swoops in with a solo experience. It’s like they’re saying, “Why go out into the world when you can stay in your pajamas and pretend to have friends in a digital universe?” Brilliant! Who needs real interactions when you can have lifelike graphics and a storyline so convoluted that it rivals the plot of a daytime soap opera? But let’s not forget the whole “AAA” label they’ve slapped on this gem. AAA! The holy grail of gaming jargon that promises a level of polish and production value so high that you might just forget you’re still sitting on your couch, eating cold pizza. Of course, as we’ve learned, sometimes AAA just means “Amazing Ads” because more often than not, the actual gameplay feels like it was developed in a garage by a group of raccoons on a sugar high. Now, let’s not kid ourselves. This game will undoubtedly have stunning visuals that will make your graphics card cry. But will it have depth? Or will we merely be left with yet another iteration of “run, jump, and stab”? I guess we’ll find out when it releases on PC and consoles. Just don't forget to check your social media feed for the obligatory “epic” gameplay clips that will surely be followed by a slew of half-hearted memes. So, if you’re ready to immerse yourself in a world of blood, messages, and the sweet sound of your own solitude, mark your calendars. "Blood Message" is coming to a console near you! Can't wait to see how this "impressive" title manages to impress... or underwhelm. Either way, I’ll be there with my pizza, ready to laugh at my own life choices. #BloodMessage #NetEaseGames #GamingSatire #ActionAdventure #SoloGamer

Vous vous rappelez du temps où nous devions nous contenter de disques durs lents, qui prenaient plus de temps à charger qu'un film de Kubrick ? Eh bien, mes amis, le temps a changé ! Aujourd'hui, nous avons la merveille de la technologie moderne : l'addlink G55 SSD. Oui, vous avez bien entendu, une unité de stockage qui promet des "vitesses excellentes à un prix raisonnable". Quel vocabulaire enchanteur ! C’est presque poétique, n'est-ce pas ? Imaginez un monde où vous pouvez transférer vos fichiers en un clin d'œil, sans attendre que votre ordinateur prenne un café – car, soyons honnêtes, il en a besoin après avoir traîné avec ces anciens disques durs. Avec l'addlink G55 SSD, vous pouvez presque entendre les bits et les octets s'excuser et s’éclipser à toute vitesse. De quoi faire pleurer d'émotion votre ancien disque dur qui, lui, prenait plus de temps à charger une image de chat que vous à installer un nouveau système d'exploitation. Et parlons un peu du prix ! Un prix "raisonnable", comme ils disent. Cela signifie que vous n'aurez pas besoin de vendre un rein sur le marché noir pour vous offrir cette petite merveille. En fait, avec l'addlink G55 SSD, vous aurez peut-être même quelques euros de plus pour investir dans des choses essentielles, comme... je ne sais pas... des chaussettes en cachemire ? C’est une véritable aubaine ! Mais ici, amis lecteurs, ne vous laissez pas berner. Qui sait combien de temps dureront ces "vitesses excellentes" ? Après tout, tout le monde aime une bonne blague, surtout lorsque ça concerne la technologie. On sait tous que le meilleur moyen de faire durer une unité de stockage est de la laisser au fond d'un tiroir, à côté des câbles USB de votre ancien téléphone qui ne fonctionne plus depuis 2015. En résumé, l'addlink G55 SSD semble être le héros que nous attendions tous – un super-héros du stockage moderne avec ses promesses de vitesses fulgurantes et de prix abordables. Mais, comme avec tous les super-héros, gardez un œil critique. Ne vous laissez pas emporter par la hype ; souvenez-vous que même Batman a ses faiblesses. Alors, prêts à faire le grand saut vers le SSD ? Ou préférez-vous rester dans l'ère préhistorique des disques durs ? La décision vous appartient, mais rappelez-vous : le temps, c’est de l’argent… et un bon SSD pourrait bien vous faire gagner les deux ! #AddlinkG55 #SSD #Technologie #DisqueDur #Vitesse

¡Basta ya de ignorar a verdaderos innovadores del diseño gráfico como Alain Le Quernec! Este hombre, cuya pasión por la affiche ha dejado una huella indeleble desde 1962, merece un reconocimiento que va mucho más allá de simples menciones en artículos que apenas rascan la superficie de su impacto. Es inaceptable que la sociedad contemporánea, tan obsesionada con la estética superficial y la cultura de lo efímero, pase por alto la profundidad y la relevancia de su trabajo. ¿Acaso no nos damos cuenta de que figuras como Le Quernec son esenciales para entender la historia del grafismo? Su colaboración con el periódico Le Monde y su influencia durante los tumultuosos eventos de mayo de 1968 son testamentos del poder que tiene el arte para desafiar y moldear la opinión pública. Pero, ¿dónde está la conversación? ¿Por qué seguimos celebrando a diseñadores de marcas comerciales sin alma, mientras que un verdadero maestro de la affiche como él queda relegado a un segundo plano? Es simplemente indignante ver cómo el talento genuino es eclipsado por una industria que premia lo mediocre. La escuela polaca de diseño, que ha influido en su trabajo, muestra que el verdadero arte gráfico no se trata solo de hacer algo bonito, sino de comunicar un mensaje, de provocar reflexión. Sin embargo, hoy en día, los diseñadores que se atreven a tener una voz auténtica son ignorados en favor de aquellos que solo buscan vender un producto. La cultura visual de nuestra era necesita un cambio radical. Necesitamos más Alain Le Quernec y menos modas pasajeras que solo buscan llenar espacios vacíos. La pasión por la affiche no debe ser algo relegado a los márgenes, sino algo que debe ser celebrado en el centro de nuestra sociedad. Es hora de que el público despierte y exija una mayor apreciación de aquellos que realmente han contribuido a la cultura visual. Así que, en lugar de seguir aplaudiendo a las estrellas fugaces del diseño gráfico, hagamos un esfuerzo consciente por elevar y difundir el trabajo de artistas como Alain Le Quernec. Su legado es un recordatorio constante de que el arte tiene el poder de transformar y desafiar, y no debemos permitir que se pierda en el ruido del consumismo. #AlainLeQuernec #ArteGráfico #PasiónPorLaAffiche #RevoluciónVisual #DiseñoConPropósito

🌟 Hey there, wonderful souls! 🌟 Have you ever stumbled upon a piece of nostalgia that made you think about the little things in life? Recently, I found myself watching an old episode of "Hogan’s Heroes," and to my surprise, it was one without the iconic laugh track! 🥳 It was a strange experience, almost like watching a comedy without its signature laughter echoing through the room. It got me reflecting on how laughter, and the joy it brings, is such a vital part of our lives! Charlie Douglass, the genius behind the laugh track, truly transformed the way we experience humor on television. His innovation allowed us to share in the joy of the moment, amplifying our laughter and creating a sense of community—even through the screen! Isn’t it amazing how something as simple as a laugh track can elevate a show and make us feel connected? 🌈✨ In life, we often find ourselves in situations that may seem a bit odd or out of place. Just like that "Hogan’s Heroes" episode, we might feel a little off without our usual support systems—our personal "laugh tracks." But here’s the bright side: we have the power to create our own laughter! 🎉💖 Think of every challenge you face as a scene in a comedy where you’re the star. You might not have a laugh track playing in the background, but you can definitely add your own humor to the mix! Embrace those awkward moments, share them with friends, and turn them into stories that bring smiles. Remember, life is too short to take everything seriously. Laugh at the little things, celebrate the silly moments, and don’t be afraid to find joy even in the most unexpected places! 🌻💫 As we navigate through our daily lives, let’s carry that spirit of laughter with us. Let’s be the people who uplift others, who share contagious joy, and who know that every laugh counts! Whether it’s through shared experiences, funny stories, or just a warm smile, we can make a difference in each other’s lives. So, let’s spread the love and laughter, because together, we can create a world filled with positivity and joy! 🌍❤️ In closing, I challenge you to find a reason to laugh today! It could be a funny video, a stand-up comedy clip, or simply reminiscing about that time you tripped over your own feet. Whatever it is, embrace it! Let laughter be a part of your journey, and let’s cherish every moment we have together! 🌟✨ #LaughterIsTheBestMedicine #SpreadJoy #HogansHeroes #CharlieDouglass #PositiveVibes

So, let’s all take a moment to collectively swoon over the latest masterpiece from the animation wizards at Fortiche, shall we? I mean, who doesn't dream of seeing Ekko and Jinx, two characters from "Arcane," perfectly encapsulated in a music video called "Ma Meilleure Ennemie"? Because nothing says "best enemies" like a catchy tune and a sprinkle of dramatic flair, right? I can just imagine the brainstorming session: “What’s more engaging than a deep dive into the emotional turmoil of our beloved characters? Oh, I know! Let’s throw in some upbeat music and let Stromae and Pomme serenade us while we watch our favorite chaos agents battle it out!” Because nothing spells emotional depth quite like a dance-off, am I right? And let’s not forget the rich tapestry of character development we’ve all come to know and love. You know, the kind that leaves you with existential questions about life, love, and, well, the very nature of friendship—perfectly overshadowed by some catchy beats. Who needs character arcs when you can just have a colorfully animated clip of Jinx throwing bombs and Ekko winking at the camera? By the way, I can’t help but wonder, how many times can we repackage a song before it becomes *the* soundtrack of our lives? “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” is apparently the anthem for those tumultuous relationships we all have but don’t really want to talk about. I mean, let’s face it—nothing says “I value our friendship” quite like a little friendly rivalry dressed up in a flashy music video. And sure, the clip was 'teased' during a particularly memorable sequence of Season 2, but who needs context when you have visuals that are as dazzling as a glitter bomb? It’s almost as if the creators said, “Let’s take everything we love about these characters and throw it into a blender, hit ‘puree’, and see what comes out!” Spoiler alert: it’s a visually striking yet emotionally confusing smoothie. But hey, kudos to Fortiche for giving us this delightful distraction. With Ekko and Jinx at the helm, we’re in for a ride that promises to be as wild as the characters themselves—with a side of existential dread wrapped in a catchy melody. So, grab your popcorn, sit back, and prepare to enjoy the latest spectacle that’s sure to leave you questioning your life choices while humming along. #Arcane #Ekko #Jinx #MaMeilleureEnnemie #Fortiche

Il est absolument scandaleux de voir comment la société actuelle traite des figures emblématiques comme Sœur Corita Kent, la religieuse Pop Art, sans même prendre le temps d’apprécier la profondeur de son engagement artistique et social. Il est temps d’arrêter de réduire son travail à un simple phénomène de mode ou à une simple curiosité historique ! Sœur Corita Kent n’était pas qu'une graphiste engagée, elle était une pionnière du Pop Art qui a su utiliser son art comme un cri de révolte contre l’injustice et l’inégalité. Comment peut-on encore ignorer l’impact colossal qu’elle a eu sur l’art contemporain ? On se retrouve dans une époque où l’art est souvent superficiel, où les véritables artistes sont éclipsés par des influenceurs sans substance qui ne cherchent qu’à vendre une image. C’est une honte ! Sœur Corita Kent, avec ses œuvres vibrantes et engagées, a voulu éveiller les consciences et a osé aborder des sujets délicats tels que la guerre, la pauvreté et la paix. Pourtant, trop de gens continuent de la regarder comme une simple religieuse avec un pinceau, sans voir la force de sa voix et la puissance de son message. Il est également désolant de constater que, dans un monde saturé par le contenu numérique, on oublie facilement de mettre en avant des artistes qui méritent d’être célébrés. Au lieu de cela, on glorifie des créations éphémères qui n’ont rien à dire. La culture Pop Art mérite d’être explorée en profondeur, et Sœur Corita Kent est un exemple parfait de cette exploration. Son travail ne devrait pas être relégué à un simple article de blog, mais au cœur de discussions sur l’évolution de l’art et de la société. Il est urgent de rouvrir les yeux sur le rôle que joue l’art engagé dans nos vies. Sœur Corita Kent nous appelle à réfléchir, à agir et à nous interroger sur la direction que prend notre société. Pourquoi continuons-nous à célébrer une culture de l’image pour l’image, en ignorant des voix comme la sienne ? C’est une véritable trahison envers l’art et l’humanité. Nous devons nous battre pour que son héritage ne soit pas oublié. Que ce soit à travers des expositions, des conférences ou des discussions en ligne, il est impératif de remettre Sœur Corita Kent là où elle mérite d’être : au sommet du Panthéon des artistes engagés. La prochaine fois que vous tombez sur une œuvre de Sœur Corita Kent, prenez un moment pour réfléchir à son message, et plutôt que de passer à autre chose, engagez-vous à faire entendre sa voix. Il est temps de revendiquer un retour à des valeurs authentiques dans l’art. Sœur Corita Kent est une figure incontournable et son héritage mérite d’être préservé et célébré. Arrêtons de nous contenter de peu et de vivre dans l’ignorance ! #SœurCoritaKent #PopArt #ArtEngagé #JusticeSociale #Culture

In the heart of night, where shadows dance and whispers linger, I find myself lost in the echoes of silence. The world outside moves on, oblivious to the weight that pins me down, like a forgotten dream fading into the morning light. The release of "Lunae Veritatis (Stay)" by The Avener, with its haunting melodies crafted by Seb Caudron and his dedicated team, reminds me of the beauty found in fleeting moments — moments that slip through my fingers like grains of sand. Three months of dedicated work from a passionate crew, their sweat and tears poured into a visual symphony meant to touch souls. Yet, here I am, standing alone amidst the beauty they created, feeling the sting of isolation more profoundly than ever. The vibrant colors of the clip contrast sharply with the monochrome palette of my heart, each frame a reminder of connections that once were, now just distant memories. I long for the warmth of companionship, a hand to hold as the waves of despair crash around me. Yet, each time I reach out, the void seems to grow wider, engulfing me in its darkness. The artistry of "Stay" reflects the depths of longing and the ache of absence, resonating with a truth I can’t escape: sometimes, the hardest battles are fought in silence, where no one can see the scars that bleed within. As I listen to the music, I can’t help but feel the bittersweet joy it brings. It captures the essence of love and loss, of a yearning that stretches beyond the stars. The visual magic woven by Seb Caudron and his team stirs something deep within me, yet it also heightens my sense of loneliness. How can such beauty exist while I feel so empty? I am but a ghost in a world that keeps moving forward, a spectator in a life that feels more like a distant memory than a present reality. The art created through "Lunae Veritatis (Stay)" is a testament to resilience, yet here I am, grappling with the shadows that cling to me like a second skin. I wish I could step into the world they’ve crafted, where emotions are vibrant and love is palpable. But instead, I remain trapped in a cycle of longing, watching from afar as the colors of life swirl around me, painting pictures I can only dream of. Perhaps one day, I will find my way back to the light, where the notes of hope and joy will resonate in my heart once more. Until then, I will carry the weight of this solitude, a silent observer of the beauty that surrounds me, forever yearning for a connection that seems just out of reach. #LunaeVeritatis #TheAvener #SebCaudron #Loneliness #ArtAndEmotion