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******’s Souls 2020 Remake Had the Option To Include a Whole New 6th Realm But Didn’t Out of Respect for Hidetaka Miyazaki: “As was in the original” ******’s Souls 2020 Remake Had the Option To Include a Whole New 6th Realm But Didn’t Out of Respect for Hidetaka Miyazaki: “As was in the original” ******’s Souls is the founding stone of the whole Souls genre, for which Hidetaka Miyazaki is known today. It has pioneered the core fundamentals of the very games that have allowed FromSoftware to thrive as one of the best game production houses out there. ******’s Souls received a remake back in 2020 | Bluepoint games To celebrate the legacy of this important title, gamers were gifted a remake version with better graphics and more elements of the game, which originally came out in 2009. However, the brains behind the remake purposefully skipped over refining this one part of the game that Miyazaki chose to gloss over during the original’s launch as well. ******’s Souls 6th realm: A hidden expansion that never came true Players have believed since forever there is a 6th realm in ******’s Souls | FromSoftware In the original game, five archstones led players to distinct realms. For years, ******’s Souls players had speculated about the existence of a 6th broken archstone, an unfinished area in the Nexus that suggested a missing and unfinished realm that gamers could have explored and enjoyed. Related We Will Never Forgive Elden Ring Nightreign If One Beloved NPC We All Hated Killing Is Not Brought Back in the Future Talking about how the production house purposefully glossed over this fact, Gavin Moore, who oversaw ******’s Souls Remake‘s development on PlayStation, revealed the following in an interview via Polygon. There are only five unbroken stones in the Nexus, And that’s the same now, as was in the original. So there’s no new archstone and there’s no new world. Despite what the fans of the game would have wanted, the team with the creative liberty for the remake decided to respect the decision made by Hidetaka Miyazaki all those years ago, maintaining the suspense if a secret 6th realm was ever a reality in the world of ******’s Souls. Why there needs to be more remakes of FromSoftware titles We need more remakes for FromSoftware titles | Bluepoint Games While the developers behind the ******’s Souls Remake might have completely held back on bringing forth a hidden realm, they ultimately did work on making the game feel more fresh and up-to-date with the industry’s standards nowadays. FromSoftware titles have always proved to be iconic. After ******’s Souls, the Dark Souls trilogy, then Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and finally Elden Ring, all of them have popped off using the same simple yet effective formula of creating a punishing game that rewards the player with a feeling that cannot be easily replicated. Related “Hater Arrived”: The Nastiest Boss Fight in Elden Ring Nightreign Isn’t Nameless King, It’s an Enemy That Jumps You When You Least Expect It Unfortunately, some games out of this list might never receive a remaster or a remake, mainly Bloodborne. This is mainly because of the exclusivity deal with Sony, which has stopped the franchise in its track as a whole with no sequels and no updates since forever. This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire Source link #Demons #Souls #Remake #Option #Include #6th #Realm #Didnt #Respect #Hidetaka #Miyazaki #original Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk in row with Danish astronaut over claim Biden abandoned ISS pair | Denmark Elon Musk in row with Danish astronaut over claim Biden abandoned ISS pair | Denmark Elon Musk has become embroiled in a heated row with a Danish astronaut who criticised the tech billionaire’s claim that the former US president Joe Biden abandoned two American astronauts at the International Space Station on purpose. Andreas “Andy” Mogensen accused Musk of lying when he claimed in a Fox News interview alongside Donald Trump that Nasa’s Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were left stranded for “political reasons” by Biden. “What a lie. And from someone who complains about lack of honesty from the mainstream media,” the 48-year-old European Space Agency astronaut, who has flown to the ISS twice, wrote on X. In response, Musk called Mogensen “fully *********”. He said SpaceX, which he owns, could have brought the astronauts back “several months ago” and that he had made such an offer to the Biden administration. Musk did not elaborate on what that offer entailed. Wilmore and Williams flew to the ISS in June onboard a Boeing Starliner for what was meant to be an eight-day test mission to certify the new spaceship. But thruster problems led Nasa to decide that the Starliner should return without its crew, and the agency tasked SpaceX with bringing the veteran astronauts home. Nasa then announced the pair would return on the SpaceX Crew-9 mission’s spaceship, which launched in September with a crew of two instead of four in order to accommodate them. The voyage home was initially scheduled for February but later shifted to March due to delays by SpaceX in preparing the spacecraft for Crew-10, whose crew will replace Crew-9’s. If there was an alternate rescue plan that could have been executed sooner, Musk has not revealed it. Replying to Musk, Mogensen – who flew onboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule during a 2023 mission to the ISS – said: “Elon, I have long admired you and what you have accomplished, especially at SpaceX and Tesla. “You know as well as I do, that Butch and Suni are returning with Crew-9, as has been the plan since last September. Even now, you are not sending up a rescue ship to bring them home. They are returning on the Dragon capsule that has been on ISS since last September.” On top of being the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, and owning X, formerly known as Twitter, Musk leads the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), an advisory department under the Trump administration. In 2019 a court in Los Angeles found him not guilty of defaming the British cave explorer Vernon Unsworth, after a Twitter spat over the 2018 Thailand cave rescue during which Musk called Unsworth a “pedo guy”. Musk’s attorneys had argued that the tweet was not a statement of fact, but an insult, which is considered protected speech. Source link #Elon #Musk #row #Danish #astronaut #claim #Biden #abandoned #ISS #pair #Denmark Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wong raps China over live-fire drills off Australia Wong raps China over live-fire drills off Australia Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has raised concerns with her ******** counterpart over inadequate notice given by the ******** navy of a rare live-fire exercise in international waters between Australia and New Zealand that forced airlines to divert flights. Airlines including Qantas, Emirates and Air New Zealand modified flight paths between Australia and New Zealand on Friday after China broadcast a message that its navy would hold live-fire exercises off the New South Wales coast in international waters. Senator Wong met with ******** Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in Johannesburg on Friday and in opening remarks said they would discuss “safe and professional military conduct”. A People’s Liberation Army Navy frigate, cruiser and replenishment vessel entered Australia’s maritime approaches last week, and travelled down Australia’s east coast this week, monitored by the navies and air forces of Australia and New Zealand. On Friday, the ******** navy broadcast on a civil aircraft radio channel that it intended to conduct live fire activity in the Tasman Sea 346 nautical miles (641 km) off the NSW town of Eden, an *********** defence spokesperson said in a statement. “The PLA-N did not inform Defence of its intent to conduct a live fire activity, and has not provided any further information,” said the statement. Australia believed the live fire activity had most likely ceased because the ******** navy formation had reverted to normal, it said. “No weapon firings were heard or seen; however, a floating surface firing target was deployed by the PLA-N and subsequently recovered,” it added. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the ******** broadcast was picked up by aircraft flying across the Tasman. “They complied with international law in terms of providing notice, but it was very short notice and it did put commercial planes in a disconcerting circumstance where, you know, they were needing to divert pretty quickly,” he said in an ABC radio interview. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier told reporters the *********** defence force had advised there was no imminent risk of danger to *********** or New Zealand assets, and China had complied with international law by issuing an alert. However, *********** officials said it was customary to give 24 to 48 hours notice of live fire activity. China’s foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a press briefing in Beijing on Friday the Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army “organised a fleet of ships to conduct exercises and training in distant waters”. “The exercises and training activities upheld safety standards and professional operations throughout in accordance with relevant international laws and international practices,” he said. The New Zealand frigate Te Kaha was in the vicinity of the ******** exercise. “Like Australia, our primary concern is the safety of our people, vessels and aircraft. There is no ongoing danger to New Zealand,” New Zealand’s Defence Minister Judith Collins said. An Emirates flight heard the ******** broadcast, broadcaster ABC reported, with Emirates later confirming in a statement a flight from Sydney to Christchurch had diverted its route. “When a change in air space activity was detected, the flight deck crew on EK 412 (21 February) made a slight routing deviation as per standard industry protocol and in conjunction with air traffic control, to maintain optimal safety margins,” an Emirates spokesperson said in the statement. Airlines were contacted by air traffic control agency Airservices Australia on Friday, warning them of reports of live fire where the ******** navy task group was operating, the agency and *********** officials said. Qantas and its low-cost arm Jetstar were monitoring the airspace and adjusted some flight routes across the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand. Air New Zealand said it had modified flight paths as needed to avoid the area, with no impact on its operations, while Virgin Australia was following instructions from Airservices Australia. OPSGROUP, a membership-based organisation that shares flight risk information, said the live fire exercise was unusual for the region. The incident comes a week after Australia complained about “unsafe and unprofessional” actions by a ******** fighter jet towards an *********** maritime patrol in the South China Sea. Beijing accused the *********** aircraft of “deliberately intruding” into its airspace. Source link #Wong #raps #China #livefire #drills #Australia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Former Sony Boss Confirms What We Were All Thinking About PlayStation PC Ports Former Sony Boss Confirms What We Were All Thinking About PlayStation PC Ports A couple of years ago, the idea of PlayStation-exclusive games being ported to PC would have seemed highly unlikely, but times have changed. Insomniac’s Spider-Man games, Housemarque’s Returnal, and the Horizon series are just a few of the big PlayStation properties that have recently made their way to PC since 2020, and former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida recently spoke about how doing so was almost like having a license to print money. “Releasing on PC does many things: it reaches a new audience who do not own consoles–especially in regions where consoles are not as popular,” Yoshida said in an interview with Sacred Symbols+ (via Push Square). “The idea is that those people may become fans of a particular franchise, and when a new game in that series comes out, they may be convinced to purchase a PlayStation. It also adds additional income, because porting to PC is way cheaper than creating an original title. So, it’s almost like printing money. And that helps us to invest in new titles now that the cost of games has increased.” The benefit to Sony’s push into PC gaming is that it has also allowed it to reach very lucrative markets like China, where PCs are far more popular than consoles. “China is a growing but very small console market. In order to reach the audience in countries like China then it’s crucial to release on PC. So, I believe PC versions really reach a new audience,” Yoshida added. Sony’s next PC port will be The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, which comes shortly after the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 earlier this year. Yoshida has participated in several interviews since he bid farewell to Sony in January, a company he worked at for 38 years. Starting in 2019, Yoshida was put in charge of a new indies initiative for Sony, a position that he says he had no choice to accept at the time as it was either that or he would have been forced to leave the company. Yoshida has also spoken candidly about how he would have attempted to “resist” the push into live-service games had he still been SIE president and why there is no Bloodborne remaster yet. Source link #Sony #Boss #Confirms #Thinking #PlayStation #Ports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This 100Hz gaming monitor is only $100 today This 100Hz gaming monitor is only $100 today A gaming PC can do a lot when it comes to graphics, but your desktop computer is nothing without a solid monitor backing it up. When it comes to PC gaming, you’ll need a display that can keep up with the lightning-fast action present in most modern titles, and today, you’re in luck! We came across the following offer while vetting through the best monitor deals, and it’s going to be hard to beat: For a limited time, when you purchase the Asus 27-inch VZ27EHF Gaming Monitor at Staples, you’ll only pay $100. The full MSRP on this model is $150. Why you should buy the Asus VZ27EHF Gaming Monitor Delivering 1920 x 1080 resolution at up to 100Hz, the 27-inch Asus VZ27EHF is an exceptional choice for both single-player titles and massive multiplayer games. Thanks to its IPS panel, the VZ27EHF has 178-degree viewing angles, so you won’t have to worry about sitting dead-center with the screen for the best picture. And thanks to Adaptive-Sync technology, you’ll experience very little choppiness and screen tearing. The VZ27EHF boasts a 16:9 aspect ratio and supports up to 16.7 million colors. The monitor also includes TUV Rheinland Flicker-Free and Low Blue Light tech, so you won’t have to worry about straining or damaging your eyes. There’s only one HDMI port to use, but this should be sufficient for most desktop PCs and other AV components. We’re also big fans of the GamePlus hotkey that gives you access to extra in-game features like crosshairs, a timer, and more. We’re not sure when this monitor is going back to full price, but it could be as soon as tomorrow. That’s why it’s a good idea to buy ASAP. Save $50 when you purchase the Asus 27-inch VZ27EHF Gaming Monitor, and be sure to check out our lists of the best gaming PC deals and best gaming laptop deals for even more discounts on top computer tech! Source link #100Hz #gaming #monitor #today Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Netanyahu vows to make ****** pay for no returning body of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas Netanyahu vows to make ****** pay for no returning body of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas ****** on Thursday handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages, said to be Shiri Bibas and her two young children, Ariel and Kfir, as well as Oded Lifshitz. But overnight, Israel’s defense forces announced one of the bodies received was not Shiri Bibas. CBS News contributor Robert Berger has more. Source link #Netanyahu #vows #****** #pay #returning #body #Israeli #hostage #Shiri #Bibas Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYT Connections: hints and answers for Friday, February 21 NYT Connections: hints and answers for Friday, February 21 Table of Contents Table of Contents How to play Connections Hints for today’s Connections Today’s Connections answers NYT Connection FAQs Connections is one of the best puzzle games from the New York Times. The game tasks you with categorizing a pool of 16 words into four secret (for now) groups by figuring out how the words relate to each other. The puzzle resets every night at midnight and each new puzzle has a varying degree of difficulty. Just like Wordle, you can keep track of your winning streak and compare your scores with friends. Some days are trickier than others — just like other NYT Games favorites The Mini and Strands. If you’re having a little trouble solving today’s puzzle, check out our Connections tips and tricks guide for some good strategies or check out the hints for today’s Connections puzzle below. And if you still can’t get it, we’ll tell you today’s answers at the very end. How to play Connections Connections is a daily game about finding common threads between words. Players must select four groups of four words without making more than three mistakes. Play now. pic.twitter.com/CqObVOqeUs — The New York Times (@nytimes) November 3, 2024 Please enable Javascript to view this content You can play Connections on the New York Times website or with the NYT Games app on iOS or Android. In Connections, you’ll be shown a grid containing 16 words — your objective is to organize these words into four sets of four by identifying the connections that link them. These sets could encompass concepts like titles of video game franchises, book series sequels, shades of red, names of chain restaurants, etc. There are generally words that seem like they could fit multiple themes, but there’s only one 100% correct answer. You’re able to shuffle the grid of words and rearrange them to help better see the potential connections. Each group is color-coded. The yellow group is the easiest to figure out, followed by the green, blue, and purple groups. Pick four words and hit Submit. If you’re correct, the four words will be removed from the grid and the theme connecting them will be revealed. Guess incorrectly and it’ll count as a mistake. You only have four mistakes available until the game ends. Hints for today’s Connections We can help you solve today’s Connection by telling you the four themes. If you need more assistance, we’ll also give you one word from each group below. Today’s themes WAY OF SOLVING A PROBLEM COLLECT, AS FROM AN ORCHARD PHOTOSHOP TOOLS OBJECTS THAT MAY BE RIGHT- OR LEFT-HANDED One-answer reveals WAY OF SOLVING A PROBLEM – ANSWER COLLECT, AS FROM AN ORCHARD – GATHER PHOTOSHOP TOOLS – ERASER OBJECTS THAT MAY BE RIGHT- OR LEFT-HANDED – BASEBALL GLOVE New York Times Today’s Connections answers Still no luck? That’s OK. This puzzle is designed to be difficult. If you just want to see today’s Connections answer, we’ve got you covered below: WAY OF SOLVING A PROBLEM – ANSWER, FIX, REMEDY, SOLUTION COLLECT, AS FROM AN ORCHARD – GATHER, HARVEST, PICK, REAP PHOTOSHOP TOOLS – ERASER, EYEDROPPER, LASSO, MAGIC WAND OBJECTS THAT MAY BE RIGHT- OR LEFT-HANDED – BASEBALL GLOVE, CAN OPENER, GOLF CLUB, GUITAR Connections grids vary widely and change every day. If you couldn’t solve today’s puzzle, be sure to check back in tomorrow. NYT Connection FAQs What time does the Connections puzzle change? The puzzle changes daily at midnight local time. Who edits the NYT Connections game? Wyna Liu, who has been editing puzzles at The New York Times since 2020, edits Connections daily. “A few months ago, a new assignment crossed my desk: Create the game boards for Connections, a category matching game that had recently been greenlighted and was in search of an editor,” wrote Liu in an article explaining her process in June 2024. Most of my puzzle experience has been working with crosswords, and I was excited at the chance to try something different. I’ve enjoyed learning how puzzle editing plays out once a game is greenlighted, and seeing how our team fits into a larger ecosystem.” On the one-year anniversary of Connections launching earlier this year, Liu posted this TikTok about her favorite puzzles so far: Source link #NYT #Connections #hints #answers #Friday #February Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

HyperX QuadCast 2 S Review: Pretty overkill HyperX QuadCast 2 S Review: Pretty overkill HyperX’s original QuadCast is still one of our favorite gaming microphones — it sounds great out of the box, has a great tap-to-mute feature, and it’s packed with stream-ready lighting. The company introduced a very minor update to the mic in the form of the QuadCast S, but it was mostly a color update. One of the best gaming mics, the QuadCast S added colorful RGB lighting in place of the aggressive all-red, and updated the port to a USB-C port, but otherwise it was the same great gaming mic under the hood. Now HyperX has finally decided to give the gaming mic a real update with the QuadCast 2 and the QuadCast 2 S, which feature a minor redesign to both the mic itself and the shock mount, as well as some audio upgrades. The new QuadCast 2 S, which is what we’re taking a look at in this review, records audio in 192 kHz / 32-bit format, which is quite a step up from the original QuadCast’s and QuadCast S’s 48 kHz / 16-bit recording. The QuadCast 2 records audio in 92 kHz / 24-bit format, which is the same as the HyperX Duo Cast. Otherwise the mics largely remain the same, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing — they still sound great out of the box and feature four selectable polar patterns and HyperX’s excellent tap-to-mute feature. Both mics are available now; the QuadCast 2 S retails for $200 but is currently on ***** for $150, while the QuadCast 2 starts at $150. Design and Comfort of the QuadCast 2 S The QuadCast 2 S is a desktop condenser microphone with four selectable polar patterns. It features a cylindrical design very similar to its predecessor, the QuadCast / QuadCast S, and comes with its own built-in (but removable) shock mount, which is attached to a sturdy desktop stand. The QuadCast 2 S currently comes in only ******, but knowing HyperX we assume we’ll also see it in white soon enough. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The microphone looks a lot like the original QuadCast / QuadCast S. It’s the same size as its predecessor, measuring 8.375 inches (212.73mm) tall by 2.125 inches (53.98mm) in diameter; when it’s mounted on the included desktop stand it stands just under 11 inches (279.4mm) tall, while the base of the stand is about 5 inches (127mm) in diameter. Like its predecessor, it has an internal mesh pop filter surrounded by a metal grille with a honeycomb pattern, and when it’s plugged in the mesh lights up with bright, customizable aRGB lighting — just like the original QuadCast S. The less expensive QuadCast 2 features all-red lighting, like the original QuadCast. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The microphone is on the lighter side: it weighs 12.16 ounces (344.7g) alone, and just over 1 pound (488g) with the shock mount. The stand weighs an extra 9.7 ounces (275g). It’s heavier than the original QuadCast / QuadCast S, however, which weighs just 11.9 ounces (336g) with the shock mount. HyperX’s Caster microphone and camera ***** arm is basically designed for this mic, as it supports up to 2.2 pounds (1kg) and not much more (I tried putting the Rode NT1 5th Generation mic on the Caster arm with the SM6 shock mount, which weighs around 2.47 pounds, and it almost immediately fell over). Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Speaking of shock mounts, HyperX has redesigned the QuadCast 2 S’s to make it easier to remove. The mic now attaches to the shock mount via two spring-loaded pins, so all you have to do to remove it is twist and pull (the shock mount on the previous QuadCast / QuadCast S screwed into the mic). The shock mount does have a ***** arm attachment that fits most mic stands / ***** arms (3/8″ and 5/8″ threading), so I don’t see a lot of people removing the shock mount unless it needs to be replaced, but it’s nice that you can remove it without unscrewing anything. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) On the front of the mic there’s a multi-function knob that lets you adjust gain, monitor volume, monitor/playback mix, and switch between polar patterns. The default function of the knob is mic gain — simply twist to adjust the mic’s gain up or down. Monitor volume and monitor/playback mix only come into play when you plug headphones into the mic’s 3.5mm direct monitoring jack, and you can cycle through them by pressing the button: monitor volume is yellow and lets you adjust the volume of what you’re hearing through the headphones you have plugged in; playback/monitor mix is blue and lets you adjust how much of the mic you hear (vs. how much of the PC audio you hear), and gain is pink. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) You can change the mic’s polar pattern by pressing and holding the button to cycle through them. The light ring around the top of the microphone displays the selected polar pattern visually: the red area indicates which direction the mic is currently taking input from. It’s actually a very clever and intuitive way to indicate polar pattern, versus the traditional symbols we saw on the original QuadCast / QuadCast S. When you aren’t using the knob to adjust settings, the light ring around it acts as a VU meter. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The QuadCast 2 S also has a tap-to-mute button on the top, which is, as always, very well-implemented — all you have to do is lightly touch the top of the mic and it mutes (the lights turn off to indicate that it’s muted). Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) On the back of the microphone you’ll find the USB-C port and a 3.5mm headphone monitoring jack; the ports are slightly offset from the center so the mic stand doesn’t interfere with your cables, which is thoughtful. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) In the box, the QuadCast 2 S comes with a built-in shock mount and a desktop microphone stand, as well as a 9.8-foot (3m) braided USB-C to USB-A cable. Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Capsule Type 3 14mm electret condenser capsules Frequency Response 20 – 20,000 Hz Polar Patterns 4 (cardioid, omnidirectional, bidirectional, stereo) Sensitivity -7.5dB (1V/Pa at 1kHz) Resolution and Sample Rate 192kHz / 32-bit Connectivity USB-C, 3.5mm headphone Adjustable Gain Yes Software HyperX Ngenuity Dimensions (L x W) 8.375 x 2.125 inches / 212.73 x 53.98 mm Weight 12.16oz / 344.7g (mic only) 17.21oz / 488g (mic and shock mount) 9.7oz / 275g (stand only) MSRP / Price at Time of Review $199.99 / $150 Release Date Nov. 2024 Performance of the QuadCast 2 S The QuadCast 2 S’s big draw is its ultra-premium 192 kHz / 32-bit sample/bit rate, which is a big jump up from the original’s 48 kHz / 16-bit recording. But realistically, almost nobody is going to use the QuadCast 2 S to record audio at a 192 kHz / 32-bit resolution — and most gamers won’t even need more than 48 kHz / 16-bit resolution if they’re streaming and chatting with friends. So while the 192 kHz / 32-bit sample/bit rate sounds impressive, it’s overkill on a microphone that is still, at the end of the day, very clearly designed for streamers and gamers, not studio-level mastering. Sample/bit rate aside, the QuadCast 2 S performs very well — as you might expect, given that not too much has changed from the original QuadCast / QuadCast S, both of which were excellent gaming microphones. Vocals on the QuadCast 2 S are crisp and clear, with just enough warmth to make you sound friendly, but not so much that it sounds like the mic is changing your voice. The cardioid polar pattern combined with the built-in shock mount and sturdy desktop stand did a decent job of minimizing consistent background noise, such as my PC’s noisy fans, but only did a passable job at minimizing inconsistent background noise, such as typing (even on a relatively quiet keyboard). The mic does have an internal pop filter, but you’ll probably want an external one as well. The QuadCast 2 S’s four (quad) polar patterns are also a plus in a world where most gaming mics are cardioid or hypercardioid. While it’s always good to have multiple microphones if you have multiple speakers, having the option for omni- or ***-directional recording can definitely be useful in a pinch, and also allows you to capture different types of audio, such as room ambiance or musical instruments. Features and Software of the QuadCast 2 S The QuadCast 2 S can be configured using HyperX’s Ngenuity software, which can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store. I usually ding peripheral software for having too many unnecessary features (nobody needs a virtual **** when all they want to do is change their mouse DPI, Asus) but Ngenuity is perhaps a little too light on features. Ngenuity lets you adjust the same settings you can adjust on the mic: gain (“mic volume”), monitor volume (“output volume”), monitor/playback mix, mute, and polar pattern. It also lets you turn on a high pass filter… and that’s it. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Well, that’s it insofar as audio/recording adjustments — the main thing you’ll use Ngenuity for with the QuadCast 2 S is to customize the microphone’s lighting. The mic comes with a default rainbow wave pattern set, but it has several patterns that you can customize and mix for just about any lighting combo you like. You can also turn the lighting off, if you want, but if you’re not looking for a light show you probably shouldn’t be looking at this mic. Bottom Line The QuadCast 2 S is a great gaming mic — it sounds and looks great (assuming you like lots of colorful RGB lighting) out of the box, and it doesn’t really need any software at all thanks to the intuitive, easy-to-use on-mic controls. But nobody needs 192 kHz / 32-bit resolution in a USB gaming mic. The QuadCast 2’s 96 kHz / 24-bit is much more reasonable, but the QuadCast 2 is limited to all-red lighting — so what you’re really paying $50 for is the pretty, colorful RGB in the QuadCast 2 S. If you’re absolutely determined to push the boundaries of audio recording resolution, I’d at least recommend a mic like the Rode NT1 5th Generation, which features 32-bit float recording as well dual USB / XLR connectivity. Source link #HyperX #QuadCast #Review #Pretty #overkill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stars shaken and stirred by Amazon $1bn James Bond deal – The Guardian Stars shaken and stirred by Amazon $1bn James Bond deal – The Guardian Stars shaken and stirred by Amazon $1bn James Bond deal The GuardianVideo Amazon MGM Studios gains creative control of James Bond franchise ABC NewsJeff Bezos asks fans who they’d ‘pick as the next Bond’ as Amazon takes control of the franchise Yahoo EntertainmentDaniel Craig Reacts to Amazon’s James Bond Takeover: ‘My Respect’ for Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson Remains ‘Undiminished’ (EXCLUSIVE) VarietyAmazon has taken control of Bond – and may have just killed him The Independent Source link #Stars #shaken #stirred #Amazon #1bn #James #Bond #deal #Guardian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Infinix 40Y1V QLED Smart TV With Dolby Audio Support, Quad-Core Processor Launched in India Infinix 40Y1V QLED Smart TV With Dolby Audio Support, Quad-Core Processor Launched in India Infinix has launched its new 40Y1V QLED TV in India. The model comes with a 40-inch full-HD+ resolution display with a 60Hz refresh rate. It runs on an unnamed quad-core processor and Mali-G31 GPU. The Infinix 40Y1V boasts dual stereo speakers with 16W output and Dolby Audio support. It has 4GB of storage and includes popular streaming apps. The Infinix 40Y1V QLED will go on ***** next month. Infinix 40Y1V QLED smart TV Price in India Price of the Infinix 40Y1V QLED smart TV is set at Rs. 13,999 in India. This is a special introductory price tag and there is no word from the company on the duration of the introductory *******. The ***** of the TV will begin on March 1 at 12pm IST through authorised retailers and online platforms. Infinix 40Y1V QLED TV Specifications The Infinix 40Y1V QLED smart TV features a 40-inch full-HD+ QLED panel with 1,080×1,920 pixels resolution and 60Hz refresh rate. The display has a bezel-less design to maximise the viewing area and offers 300 nits of brightness. The smart TV has dual 16W stereo speakers with Dolby Audio support. It offers five sound modes — Standard, Soccer, Movie, Music, and User —to match the content. A quad-core processor and Mali-G31 graphic processor are powering the Infinix 40Y1V smart TV. It packs 4GB of storage as well. The TV comes preloaded with popular streaming apps including YouTube, Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video, Jio Cinema, SonyLiv, and Zee5. The smart TV also has screen mirroring capabilities that let users cast content from their laptops, mobile phones and PCs. For connectivity, the Infinix 40Y1V features two HDMI ports with ARC (Audio Return Channel) support and two USB ports. The TV includes a LAN (RJ45) port and inbuilt Wi-Fi support. It has a 3.5mm audio jack, an RF port for antenna or cable connections and an AV IN port. The company has included a wall mount with the 40Y1V as well. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel Could Get ‘Most Realistic and Reactive Crowd System’ in a Game Yet OpenAI Begins Rolling Out Its Operator AI Agent in Several Regions Source link #Infinix #40Y1V #QLED #Smart #Dolby #Audio #Support #QuadCore #Processor #Launched #India Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google’s Phone App for Android Reportedly Rolls Out Filters for Sorting Call History Google’s Phone App for Android Reportedly Rolls Out Filters for Sorting Call History Google is rolling out a new functionality in its Phone app which aims to improve the sorting of calls on the handset, according to a report. It is said to introduce various filters for sorting out calls based on their type, from spam to unknown callers. Users will now reportedly see calls sorted into various categories instead of one continuous stream listing them all. The feature was previously reportedly introduced to the Phone app’s beta users but is said to have been widely released for all Android users. Filters on Google’s Phone App According to an Android Authority report, the Phone app can now categorise calls by their type, such as all, missed, contacts, spam, and non-spam. This potentially makes it easier to search for specific callers instead of having to scroll through the list of unrelated callers. However, it only features a specific set of filters and users do not have an option to search for calls on the basis of their incoming or outgoing calls. Call filters were first reported to be introduced with the 159.0.718038457-publicbeta-pixel2024 update of the Phone app last month. At the time, it was restricted to beta users, with no information about its public rollout. However, the report suggests that it is now rolling out to all Android users. Gadgets 360 staff members were unable to verify the availability of the feature even on Pixel devices. It is believed to be a server-side update which may be rolled out in a phased manner. Other Spam Protection Measures This functionality adds to the growing list of features rolled out by the Mountain View-based technology company in recent months to enhance user convenience and reduce the number of spam calls received. This includes a Call Screen feature on Pixel devices which enables the agentic function to act as an intermediary between the caller and the receiver. It can find out the caller’s name and the purpose for calling, and provide the receiver with a transcription of conversation to help them decide whether they wish to take the call. For dealing with unknown numbers, there’s the reverse lookup feature which allows them to identify the caller and filter out spam calls. Source link #Googles #Phone #App #Android #Reportedly #Rolls #Filters #Sorting #Call #History Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Egyptian NHS doctor who ‘glorified’ ****** spared deportation Egyptian NHS doctor who ‘glorified’ ****** spared deportation An Egyptian NHS doctor who mocked Israeli festival-goers for fleeing ****** gunmen on Oct 7 has won a legal challenge against deportation. An immigration tribunal judge backed Dr Mennah Elwan, 34, in her claim that James Cleverly, the home secretary at the time, was wrong to cancel her leave to remain in the *** after ruling that her presence was “not conducive to the public good”. It followed what Stephen Davies, an upper tribunal judge, said were three “shocking and inexcusable” posts on X in which he agreed with Mr Cleverly that Dr Elwan had supported, justified and glorified the terrorist violence by ******. He also accused her of “gloating” over the success of the attacks in which 364 Israelis were killed. On X, the neurology specialist re-posted harrowing footage of Israelis running from gunmen at a music festival and wrote that “if it was your home, you would stay and fight”. However, the judge quashed the expulsion decision on the basis that it was not “reasonable or proportionate” and breached her rights under both the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and common law. The neurology specialist re-posted harrowing footage of Israelis running from gunmen at a music festival – Twitter He said that the former home secretary should have had “proper regard” to the “short-lived and one-off nature” of the posts, which were quickly taken down, and her previous “blameless” record during her seven years in the ***. He has asked Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, to “take the decision afresh” on whether to cancel Dr Elwan’s right to remain. However, he rejected her appeal against the decision to refuse her indefinite leave to remain in the ***. The case follows a series of judgments revealed by The Telegraph in which migrants or convicted foreign criminals have won the right to remain in the *** or halt their deportations, often by citing breaches of the ECHR. It included one case where a judge allowed a ************ family from Gaza to come to the *** to join a relative after applying under a Ukrainian refugee scheme on the basis that the refusal breached their right to a family life under the ECHR. Sir Keir Starmer described the decision as “wrong” and pledged to close the loophole. Dr Elwan was working for an NHS trust in Liverpool with the right to remain as a skilled worker until 2027 when she posted three times on X on the evening of Oct 7. The first, at 6.52pm, over a picture of fleeing Israeli festival-goers, said: “If it was ur home, u would stay and fight. U wouldn’t just run away.” It was accompanied by a smiling emoji. A second post, three hours later, said: “Israel was never a country. They illegally occupied Palestine. Would u support Russia invading Ukraine? Israel kill Palestinians everyday, didn’t see anyone caring … Also there are no civilians in Israel.” A third, responding to a tweet by Rishi Sunak condemning the attacks, said: “Just take all the Israelis to *** away from terrorist Palestine [emojis] a win for everyone, no?” The judge said: “The combination of the re-posting of the video, the barely concealed sneer of cowardice against unarmed civilians seeking to flee the attack, and the smiling face emoji clearly expressing Dr Elwan’s satisfaction at what had happened, convey the clear message that the attack by ****** on unarmed Israeli citizens within Israel was a matter for celebration and, thus, amounted to expressions of support and justification for, and indeed glorification of, ****** terrorist violence.” The judge said that Dr Elwan’s second tweet was a “clear message… that no-one should care about the Israeli citizens killed in the ****** attack, because no one living in Israel could be considered as a citizen as opposed to a member of an illegally occupying army”. The judge said all tweets, including the third, were in part “protected expressions of political opinion, but that they all “supported, justified and even glorified terrorist violence by ******”. He said: “The content and the timing of the offending parts of the posts was shocking and inexcusable and, frankly, involved gloating in the success of the ****** terrorist attack against Israeli civilians.” The Home Office told her that her tweets merited expulsion “on the basis they seek to justify terrorist violence and /or foster hatred which might lead to inter-community violence”. ‘All-or-nothing approach’ Dr Elwan denied the accusations, arguing the tweets were protected under the right to free speech in Article 10 of the ECHR. Her lawyer argued: “The tweets are not support for terrorism but protected political speech of a strong, partisan nature that comment on the wider political context.” The judge criticised her for not apologising despite taking down the tweets and making her X account private. However, he said: “To be balanced against the factors identified above, the [Home Office] also needed to have proper regard to the short-lived and one-off nature of that conduct, in the context of a lengthy and overwhelmingly positive and otherwise blameless length of permitted leave within the ***.” The judge said that instead of expulsion, “the reasonable and proportionate reaction” would have been to allow her to remain and give her a “clear warning that her posts were unacceptable”. The warning should have also included telling Dr Elwan that she would face deportation if she engaged in further conduct, the judge added. The judge said this “proportionate” alternative option did not appear even to have been considered by the Home Office, which he judged was an error of law. He said that current *** laws adopt an “all-or-nothing approach”, which meant the Home Office could not be flexible in its sanction of Dr Elwan. The decision was quashed and the Home Office – now led by Ms Cooper – will re-examine the case. Source link #Egyptian #NHS #doctor #glorified #****** #spared #deportation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Connor McDavid, Jordan Binnington lifted Canada to 4 Nations title over U.S.: Takeaways How Connor McDavid, Jordan Binnington lifted Canada to 4 Nations title over U.S.: Takeaways BOSTON — With 11:42 remaining in overtime, Connor McDavid winged a shot from the slot past Connor Hellebuyck to give Canada a 3-2 win over Team USA on Thursday in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game at TD Garden. McDavid took a Mitch Marner pass out of the corner and snapped the puck over Hellebuyck’s glove. “Connor’s the best player in our game,” said Nathan MacKinnon, who was named tournament MVP. “For him to put it in like that in such an intense atmosphere and a hostile environment for Canadians was special. Hopefully, he can do that again next year (in the Olympics), too.” McDavid credited Marner for making the pass out of the corner. McDavid’s job was to stay open in the middle. “Your average hockey fan is not going to appreciate how impressive that is, to pick the puck up off the wall like that so calmly and make a great play,” McDavid said. “Had his head up, drawing two guys to him and dish it to the middle. It’s a great play. Fans might not appreciate how good that is.” CONNOR MCDAVID! OVERTIME WINNER! CONNOR MCDAVID TRANCHE EN PROLONGATION! #4Nationspic.twitter.com/AF96PDU2S8 — Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) February 21, 2025 Binnington a hero in Boston again While McDavid scored the winner, Jordan Binnington was Canada’s overtime hero. The starting goalie turned back six U.S. shots in OT, including two from point-blank range by Auston Matthews. Binnington also dove to glove a Brady Tkachuk shot. “You’ve got to give all the credit to Binner in overtime,” ********* forward Brad Marchand said. “He made five or six unbelievable saves that completely changed the course of that game. Tonight, we won the game of inches. That’s the tough thing about these games when it’s a one-off. Single-game elimination, they’re tough to win. They’re a great group. But we were a little bit better tonight.” Canada’s goaltending was considered a weak point compared to the U.S. contingent. But Binnington, who won a Stanley Cup in Boston with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, was at his best at the biggest moment in overtime. “I haven’t seen it,” Binnington said when asked of his theft of Matthews. “It’s funny in those moments. I don’t even remember. That’s when you’re into it. I was just battling and trying to do my job. Found a way to get the job done. Obviously, there’s little moments like that that are more special when you win. I’ll definitely check it out.” JORDAN BINNINGTON! ARE YOU KIDDING! JORDAN BINNINGTON! INCROYABLE! #4Nations pic.twitter.com/RxYm1MVWQm — Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) February 21, 2025 Jordan Binnington is a flawed goaltender, but here are his career numbers in winner-take-all games: -29/30 saves in 2019 second round Game 7 against Dallas -32/33 saves in 2019 Stanley Cup Final Game 7 against Boston -31/33 saves in 4 Nations Face-Off final 3-0. — Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) February 21, 2025 ‘Johnny Hockey!’ During the third *******, the TD Garden crowd started a “Johnny Hockey!” chant twice in honor of Johnny Gaudreau. The Americans kept the late forward’s No. 13 jersey in their dressing room during the tournament. They handed out Gaudreau’s jersey to the most deserving player after each win. Matthews, the U.S. captain, gave Gaudreau’s uniform to Brady Tkachuk after the U.S.’s first win over Finland. Tkachuk presented it to Jake Guentzel after the Americans beat Canada at the Bell Centre. “Johnny Hockey” chants broke out at the USA vs. Canada game @espnpic.twitter.com/r59I6NKhpx — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 21, 2025 U.S. rides Slavin-Faber pair Brock Faber (28:50) and Jaccob Slavin (28:32) led the Americans in ice time. Neither is known for having the up-ice skill of Zach Werenski, the team’s most dynamic defenseman. But the Slavin-Faber duo served as a thorough shutdown pair by being positionally sound, keeping tight gaps, angling opponents away from dangerous ice and moving pucks rapidly. As proof of their defense-first worth, Faber had zero shots on net. Slavin had two. The coaching staff kept calling their numbers because of how well they checked. “Slavin and Faber were tremendous the whole tournament,” U.S. coach Mike Sullivan said. “When we put them together, we hoped they would be a defense pair that would be hard to play against. And they were. I thought they do yeoman’s work. They do the thankless job. They defend against the best players. Their contributions don’t always show up on the highlight reel, but it just adds up to winning. You need those types of players. They’re glue guys. They’re the type of guys that help teams win. That’s why they’re here. “I thought they both had tremendous tournaments. Jaccob Slavin might be one of the best defending defensemen in the league, bar none. His mobility, his size, his reach. He defends the rush. He’s great at the net front. Brock Faber, in my mind, is an emerging star.” Jaccob Slavin is an ELITE defenseman pic.twitter.com/y3JX1hSZfo — B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 21, 2025 Jaccob Slavin is the best defensive defender in the league. Agree or disagree? pic.twitter.com/T3TnLY0gcl — The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) February 21, 2025 Canadians exploit Adam Fox Team USA tried to shelter Adam Fox on the No. 3 pair with Noah Hanifin. But the Canadians still targeted the right-shot defenseman in the second ******* leading up to the tying goal. Fox tried to exit the zone with a long-distance pass up the ice. Sam Bennett intercepted the pass and started the counterattack. Fox tried to gap up. But he took a long twirl, which allowed Bennett and Marner to gain the offensive zone with speed. Once Marner cut into the middle with the puck, Fox went with the forward. This allowed Marner to find a seam for Bennett on the left flank into the space Fox vacated. Bennett beat Hellebuyck, making the game 2-2. Through regulation, Bennett led all players with six shots on net. Fox’s Olympic spot is not guaranteed given his lack of pace. And now Sam Bennett has tied the game for Canada! This #4Nations Face-Off Championship @NHLpic.twitter.com/r9j6Jt7UZd — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 21, 2025 One Tkachuk up, the other down Brady Tkachuk was a monster this tournament. The Ottawa Senators captain scored in the first *******. In the second *******, his forechecking presence below the goal line opened space for Jake Sanderson to score from between the dots. Brady Tkachuk and Matthews were the Americans’ two best forwards in the title game. Matthew Tkachuk, however, was a shadow of his usual menacing self. He did not take a single shift in the third ******* or overtime. Tkachuk was on the bench cheering on his teammates. In the second, he was limited to six shifts. One shift lasted just one second. He appeared to have little of his skating pop. He did not play against Sweden because of an undisclosed injury. “Matthew Tkachuk has an impact on our team in such a way that even if he wasn’t 100 percent and we weren’t able to utilize him for a lot of the game, his presence on the bench and in the locker room means so much to this group,” Sullivan said. “He’s all heart. He’s a heart-and-soul guy. So is his brother.” GO DEEPER Injured U.S. star Matthew Tkachuk can’t finish 4 Nations final: ‘He’s all heart’ Reinhart initiates opening goal In the first *******, Werenski tried to go D-to-D deep in the defensive zone to Sanderson. Sam Reinhart made Werenski pay. Reinhart anticipated the pass, picked off the puck below the goal line and went low to high to Thomas Harley at the left point. Once Harley handed the puck off to Nathan MacKinnon, Reinhart stayed in front of the net to screen Hellebuyck. So when MacKinnon sifted a shot on net from above the tops of the circles, Reinhart’s screen helped limit Hellebuyck’s vision. The U.S. goalie did not appear to see MacKinnon’s shot until it was past him. CANADA STRIKES FIRST Nathan MacKinnon nets the first goal of the #4Nations Face-Off Championship. @NHLpic.twitter.com/pEwR0jGfiQ — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 21, 2025 Switching centers produces U.S. goal Late in the first *******, the Americans flipped Matthews and Jack Eichel. The move paid off. On their second shift, Matthews and new wings Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk produced the tying goal. Matthews started the play by picking off Devon Toews’ slow-moving pass to Cale Makar below the goal line. Matthews whirled around the net and threw the puck out front. Brady Tkachuk crashed the net and jammed the puck past Binnington. Even after Matthew Tkachuk left the game, Matthews and Brady Tkachuk were a force together. BRADY TKACHUK TIES THE GAME UP 1-1 @NHL | #FourNations pic.twitter.com/5BBAS9e3Kz — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 21, 2025 ‘Celebration of hockey’ Even before the puck dropped on Thursday’s final, the Americans and Canadians acknowledged the 4 Nations Face-Off had touched the sport in a way few events have. “This tournament has had a huge impact on hockey, certainly in the United States. Without a question in North America. But maybe the world,” Sullivan said. “These best-on-best tournaments bring out the best of the best. The commitment, the investment that all of these teams have displayed every night, in my mind, has been an unbelievable celebration of hockey. “It’s hard not to get excited about what we’re witnessing. I would envision tonight would be the pinnacle of that with Team USA and Canada competing for the championships.” What has especially caught Sullivan’s attention is how the tournament has instantly advanced the sport’s progression. It is not just that some of the world’s best hockey players have participated. They are also among the most competitive and imaginative athletes on the planet. “These are the savants that, when they bring their creativity and brilliance to what they do out there, that’s how the game evolves,” Sullivan said. “That’s what we’re witnessing firsthand. I feel like I have the best seat in the house because I’m up close to it right behind the bench.” The tournament has also expanded the NHL’s reach. It might encourage participants and viewers new to the sport to give hockey more attention. “People outside the arena that normally don’t discuss our sport are speaking about it at the water cooler,” Canada coach Jon Cooper said. “I’m sure there’s going to be watch parties, not only in our country but the United States, as well. People in Europe are going to tune into this game. And they should. Because it’s richly deserved. It’s richly deserved because you’re watching two teams with a ton of passion to play this sport. “And that’s what this sport is. That’s why people say the Stanley Cup’s the hardest trophy to win. Because it’s two months of that. That’s why, when you’re fortunate enough to lift that Stanley Cup, you know how hard it was to get there.” GO DEEPER Emotion, skill and TV ratings: How the 4 Nations Face-Off has smashed expectations McAvoy’s inspirational return Charlie McAvoy was released from Massachusetts General Hospital on Thursday. The Team USA defenseman had been hospitalized since Monday because of an infection in his right shoulder. McAvoy read the starting lineup for the Americans. The defenseman was wearing a sling. Several of his teammates gave McAvoy a standing ovation. Brady Tkachuk hugged McAvoy after he finished reading the lineup. The Boston Bruins defenseman was injured on Feb. 13 in the U.S.-Finland game. McAvoy suffered a significant injury to the AC joint in his right shoulder. He has been ruled out from his club team’s game on Saturday against the Anaheim Ducks. The Bruins do not expect McAvoy to play next week, either. The starting line up from Charlie #4Nations pic.twitter.com/nBR7jZCCAA — USA Hockey (@usahockey) February 21, 2025 GO DEEPER Bruins address Charlie McAvoy infection, potential long-term absence after Team USA injury Required reading (Photo: Brian Babineau / Getty Images) Source link #Connor #McDavid #Jordan #Binnington #lifted #Canada #Nations #title #U.S #Takeaways Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Upgrade your gaming PC with 32GB Corsair RAM for under $100 Upgrade your gaming PC with 32GB Corsair RAM for under $100 Gamers who prefer building a PC from scratch over buying from gaming PC deals need to make sure that they’ve got good components. If you haven’t purchased RAM yet, you may want to take advantage of Newegg’s offer for the 32GB Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 RAM. From its original price of $150, it’s down to just $98 following a 34% discount. That’s $52 in savings on one of the most important parts for your gaming desktop, but you’re going to have to hurry because we don’t think the savings will remain available for long. Why you should buy the 32GB Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 RAM For a gaming PC that won’t have trouble running the best PC games, you’ll need the 32GB Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 RAM, as our guide on how much RAM do you need says 32GB is the sweet spot for high-end gamers. In our DDR5 RAM versus DDR4 RAM comparison, we highlighted the benefits of DDR5 RAM, which include faster performance as the new standard. DDR5 runs hotter than DDR4 though, so you’ll need to have compatible heat sinks and a proper cooling system for your gaming PC if you’ll equip it with the 32GB Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 RAM. The 32GB Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 RAM features dynamic RGB lighting with 10 individually addressable, ultra-bright LEDs per module, all encased in a panoramic light bar. You’ll be able to choose from dozens of pre-set profiles, or you can create your own, depending on what you want to see in your gaming PC. If you’re on the hunt for RAM deals to finish building your gaming PC or to make an upgrade, check out the 32GB Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 RAM from Newegg. It’s on ***** for only $98 instead of its sticker price of $150, for savings of $52. This limited offer will probably sell out quickly, so you shouldn’t be hesitating with your purchase if you don’t want to miss this chance to get the 32GB Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 RAM while it’s 34% off. You may also want to take a look at monitor deals for a screen that will give justice to your gaming desktop’s performance. Source link #Upgrade #gaming #32GB #Corsair #RAM Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Here’s how to pre-order the new Apple iPhone 16e Here’s how to pre-order the new Apple iPhone 16e Earlier this week, Apple’s cheapest iPhone got a refresh and an unexpected name change. Instead of the widely anticipated iPhone SE 4, the company unveiled the new iPhone 16e, which shifts to a full-screen design with Face ID while putting Apple Intelligence on an entry-level model for the first time. It also sports the Action button, which debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro. Pre-orders for the iPhone 16e are now open, with models starting at $599, and the phone will be more widely available on February 28. Here’s everything you need to know about pre-ordering the latest iPhone. The best place to get an unlocked iPhone 16e is, unsurprisingly, direct from Apple. The iPhone 16e comes in only two colors, ****** and white, with 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage configurations to choose from. Ordering an unlocked iPhone means you can take it to nearly any carrier of your choosing. As usual, wireless carriers are also selling the iPhone 16e now, with various perks attached to purchases. Here are all of wireless carrier specials we currently know about for the iPhone 16e. T-Mobile: Get an iPhone 16e “on us” (or up to $830 off) when trading in an eligible device on Magenta Max, Go5G Plus/Next or when trading in and adding a line on Go5G or most plans. You can also get $500 off the iPhone 16e when trading in an eligible device on Go5G or most plans. AT&T: All customers can get the iPhone 16e for $5.99/month with any unlimited plan. No trade-in required. Walmart also carries the iPhone 16e for AT&T customers, with monthly payments starting at $15.25. Verizon: Save $420 when you order the iPhone 16e and sign up for a new plan. Boost Mobile: Get the new iPhone 16e for just $200 when you switch to Boost and sign up for the Unlimited Premium plan ($60/month). The iPhone 16e looks much like the iPhone 14, one of Apple’s 2022 models. The new phone has a much larger screen than previous iPhone SE — a spacious 6.1 inches — along with Face ID and swipe-based multitasking gestures. (The model it replaces had a Touch ID home button.) It has a notch at the top of the screen, not the floating Dynamic Island from higher-end iPhones. Apple Intelligence is increasingly central to the company’s strategy, so don’t be surprised to see Apple’s iPhone 16e marketing center around it. In addition to zippy performance, the phone’s A18 chip enables features like generative AI writing tools, Genmoji, Image Playground, Visual Intelligence, ChatGPT integration and notification summaries. The phone is the cheapest entry point into Apple Intelligence by hundreds of dollars. The phone has a 48-megapixel Fusion “2-in-1” camera with a 2x telephoto system. Compared to the more expensive iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, the SE’s lack of extra rear cameras is one of the most noticeable things you’ll miss out on. At $599, the iPhone 16e is also $150 more than previous iPhone SE models, which typically cost around $429. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 starts at $799, and the additional $200 gets you a better camera system and a more modern design. Source link #Heres #preorder #Apple #iPhone #16e Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alabama police force put on leave after grand jury says it operated like a "criminal enterprise" – CBS News Alabama police force put on leave after grand jury says it operated like a "criminal enterprise" – CBS News Alabama police force put on leave after grand jury says it operated like a “criminal enterprise” CBS NewsGrand jury recommends Alabama police department be ‘immediately abolished’ ABC News‘Culture of corruption’ may destroy Hanceville Police Department: Scandal shocks small college town AL.comHanceville community members share mixed reaction to Hanceville officer arrests WIAT – CBS42.com Source link #Alabama #police #force #put #leave #grand #jury #operated #quotcriminal #enterprisequot #CBS #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Franchises That Should Return To The Playstation Franchises That Should Return To The Playstation Skewed and Reviewed have posted an Opinion Piece on franchises they believe would be ideal to make a comeback for the PlayStation. Source link #Franchises #Return #Playstation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Newegg is selling a prebuilt gaming PC with RTX 4060 for $800 Newegg is selling a prebuilt gaming PC with RTX 4060 for $800 You don’t need to spend more than $1,000 to get a dependable machine from gaming PC deals. You just need to be patient in looking for incredible offers like this one from Newegg: the ABS Cyclone Aqua for only $800, following a $200 discount on its sticker price of $1,000. This gaming desktop won’t stay available at 20% off for long though, so if you’re interested, we highly recommend adding it to your cart and completing the checkout process as soon as possible. Why you should buy the ABS Cyclone Aqua gaming PC The ABS Cyclone Aqua will let you play the best PC games without any issues, as it’s powered by the 13th-generation Intel Core i5 processor and the Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card, alongside 32GB of RAM that’s plenty for most gamers, according to our guide on how to buy a gaming desktop. You’ll also get a 1TB SSD with this gaming PC, so you’ll have lots of space to install your favorite titles and all their DLCs, and with Windows 11 Home pre-loaded, you can start doing that right away after hooking up the ABS Cyclone Aqua to the necessary peripherals. You’ll be gaming in style with the ABS Cyclone Aqua’s ABS Cyclone mATX gaming case, which houses the ABS RGB air cooler that serves double duty in making your gaming PC look stylish and preventing it from overheating. Every purchase of the gaming desktop also comes with a free copy of the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows, along with six months of access to the Ubisoft+ Classics library. The ABS Cyclone Aqua is a relatively affordable gaming desktop with powerful performance, so it’s already a steal at its original price of $1,000. However, Newegg is selling it at 20% off, so you’ll only have to pay $800. There’s probably not a lot of time remaining on this offer though, so act fast and complete your purchase immediately before you miss this chance at buying the ABS Cyclone Aqua gaming PC for a lower price than usual. If you’re able to pocket the $200 in savings, you can spend it on monitor deals, or to get more accessories and video games. Source link #Newegg #selling #prebuilt #gaming #RTX Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Veteran Ugandan opposition figure charged with treason Veteran Ugandan opposition figure charged with treason A Ugandan court has charged detained veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye with treason, rejecting his lawyer’s pleas that he be transferred to a hospital to help him recover from ill health stemming from a hunger strike. The 68-year-old opponent and critic of longtime President Yoweri Museveni appeared in court in the capital Kampala on Friday looking frail and in a wheelchair. He was briefly in hospital at the weekend and a government minister this week said his health condition was alarming. His lawyers say he was “kidnapped” in Kenya’s capital Nairobi with his aide Obed Lutale in November and returned to Uganda, where they were charged with offences including ******** weapons possession and treachery in a military court. His wife said on February 12 that he had begun a hunger strike over his detention. His lawyer said on Friday he had now ended it because his case had been transferred to a civilian court following a Supreme Court ruling on January 31 that trying civilians in military courts was unconstitutional. The magistrates’ court issued new charges, of treason and the concealment of treason – what it said were efforts to overthrow the government – but declined to allow Besigye to enter a plea because the offences can only be tried by a higher court. He did not respond to the earlier charges as he viewed them as ********. His continued incarceration has elicited anger among Ugandans and sparked some protests. The 56-member-state Commonwealth has called for his release. Critics of Museveni, who took power in 1986, say Besigye’s detention is the latest example of hardening authoritarianism ahead of an election next year in which the president is expected to stand again. Officials deny accusations of human rights violations and say those detained are afforded due process through the courts. Erias Lukwago, one of Besigye’s lawyers, urged Chief Magistrate Esther Nyadoi on Friday to order prison authorities to take Besigye to a hospital for specialised medical care. Nyadoi said her court did not have the authority to grant such a request. Source link #Veteran #Ugandan #opposition #figure #charged #treason Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Meta defends using pirated material, claims it’s legal if you don’t seed content Meta defends using pirated material, claims it’s legal if you don’t seed content Meta claimed in a court filing this week that despite torrenting an 82 TB dataset of pirated, copyrighted material from shadow libraries to train its LLaMA AI models, that employees “took precautions not to “seed” any downloaded files”. The act of Seeding in torrenting terminology refers to sharing a file with other users during, (or commonly after) downloading it. Since torrenting is a peer-to-peer system, every user downloading a file can also upload parts of it to other users. Meta’s lawyers claim that there are “no facts to show that Meta seeded Plaintiffs’ books”. This means that the company’s defense is pinning hopes on the fact that there isn’t currently any proof that Meta shared the material during the torrenting process. Though Meta claims that there is no evidence of seeding, Michael Clark, an executive at Meta in charge of project management testified that the configuration settings they were using were modified “so that the smallest amount of seeding possible could occur”. Following this statement, a question regarding why Meta chose to minimize seeding was asked, attorney-client privilege was invoked so that Clark could not answer. Interestingly, the statement issued by Clark shows that Meta sought methods to minimize seeding, but has yet to offer up indication that it entirely prevented seeding copyrighted material. Additionally, an internal message from Frank Zhang, a Meta researcher, could point toward alleged concealment of potential seeding from Meta’s servers, to avoid “risk of tracing back the seeder/downloader” to Facebook servers. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Meta’s defense seems to hinge around the lack of evidence around not sharing the large amount of data they have allegedly downloaded to train its AI models. Should Meta win on this defense and prove that downloading copyrighted content isn’t ********, but distribution is, it could shake up future cases of piracy and unauthorized distribution of copyrighted content. The defense relying on torrenting terminology could also a way for Meta to aim in tripping up courts. Focusing on seeding could further muddy the claim that Meta allegedly knew that it was violating laws by torrenting copyrighted material. Meta has yet to respond to claims surrounding on whether it knew that it was sharing data during the download process. Authors of the copyrighted material alleged to have been obtained by Meta without prior licensing agreements have alleged [PDF] that “Meta’s decision to bypass lawful acquisition methods and become a knowing participant in an ******** peer-to-peer piracy network”. With the court battle expected to continue, no final decision around the case has been made. Even following a final decision, it’s expected that Meta will attempt to appeal the decision if they were to lose, meaning that final judgements could be a long while away. But, similar cases do exist. OpenAI was sued by novelists in 2023, with the New York Times also suing OpenAI and Microsoft over “millions” copied news articles. As the long list of LLM-related litigation continues, this is likely not going to be the last we hear from Meta’s specific case. Source link #Meta #defends #pirated #material #claims #legal #dont #seed #content Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

President Trump is losing the markets war to rest of the world so far President Trump is losing the markets war to rest of the world so far After an extremely strong 2024 for the U.S. stock market, investors are getting better returns, at least for the moment, from equities located beyond the red, white and blue borders. Since the inauguration of President Trump, stocks in Europe and China are vastly outperforming the U.S. equity market. The S&P 500 is up a little over 1% since January 20, as of the end of close on Thursday after the latest selloff, while the broad-based MSCI China ETF is up roughly 17%. The iShares Eurozone ETF is up roughly 6% in that same time span. The iShares China Large Cap ETF, meanwhile, is up about 16%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is barely hanging onto a positive return over the past month. The leaders of U.S. tech are not faring better again ******** rivals in the markets. The Invesco QQQ ETF is up about 2.5%, while the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF is up roughly 20%. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon China and Europe are ahead of the S&P since the inauguration. Emerging markets stocks beyond China have also outpaced U.S. stocks, even if they are lagging large- caps in Europe and China, with the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF up close to 6%. And they are starting to get more attention. Perth Tolle, founder of Life + Liberty Indexes, which includes the benchmark for the Freedom 100 Emerging Market ETF, is also up about 6% since the inauguration of Donald Trump, in line with the iShares’ EEM. Tolle’s Freedom 100 Emerging Market Index is heavily weighted towards Taiwan, Chile, South Korea, Poland and Brazil, with stocks from these countries making up 75% of the fund. The FRDM’s most heavily weighted companies are Samsung at 8%, Taiwan Semi at 7%, and Banco de Chile and Bank Polska at 4%. Hon Hai, commonly known as Foxconn in the West, is at 3%, matched by SK Hynix and Latam Air. While emerging markets can be highly volatile and be subject to uncertain regulatory regimes, each stock in the ETF comes from a country that is assigned a grade based on how investible its markets are using 86 variables including “freedom of movement and capital,” “rule of law,” and “personal economic freedom.” While India has been a large focus for emerging market investors, it is low in the Freedom 100 due to high tariffs — it has the highest average tariffs in the world and has been a focus of President Trump’s tariff complaints — as well as concerns about personal freedom, Tolle said earlier this week on CNBC’s “ETF Edge.” But she doesn’t discount the potential for gains. “They’re a consumer-driven economy and their population just surpassed China, and it’s a highly educated English-speaking population, so their demographics are very favorable,” Tolle said. The iShares MSCI India ETF is one overseas market that has dropped since Trump took office for a second term, dropping about 1.5% since President Trump’s inauguration. “Any kind of constraint on an economy like a tariff is negative in our view,” Tolle said. India’s leader Narendra Modi was the second foreign leader to meet with President Trump at the White House, on the same day that Trump announced reciprocal tariff plans on countries including India, and both agreed to resolve trade and tariff issues. With government policy looming large right now in market uncertainty, the road to success for her fund, according to Tolle, is always to find companies that are allowed to put themselves first. “We want companies in emerging markets that are free to put their own interests ahead of the state,” she said. Historically, she added, “one of the reasons why people don’t invest in emerging markets is that they’re full of autocracies, people don’t want to support terrorism or support things that go on in these countries that aren’t free.” Sign up for our weekly newsletter that goes beyond the livestream, offering a closer look at the trends and figures shaping the ETF market. Disclaimer Source link #President #Trump #losing #markets #war #rest #world Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Everything new in Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 2 Lawless Everything new in Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 2 Lawless Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 2 Lawless has finally arrived and it brings a plethora of changes that shift the gameplay meta drastically from a mythical Japanese-themed island to crime-ridden cities that players can explore. The season brings back the fan-favorite heist theme where looting your enemies and bosses running on the island will be your key to Victory Royale. Since there’s a lot to unpack as the new Fortnite season introduces a bunch of unique gameplay items and mechanics, we’ve got everything listed for you right here as you Run-Amok Lawless in the new Chapter 6 Season 2 island. Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 2 Lawless full patch notes Stick ‘em up! It’s time to blow that vault door wide open and make a… “withdrawal.” Ransack Fletcher Kane’s banks, take over his armored cars, and even pull off a train robbery! The outlaw Midas returns with a new motley crew including wannabe hip-hop icon Big Dill, Cassidy Quinn, and more. There’s no such thing as honor among thieves in Fortnite Battle Royale Chapter 6 Season 2: LAWLESS! New POIs Epic Games The Island has been infused with an abundance of Bars, and now every opportunist is out to hit the jackpot including the ruthless crime kingpin Fletcher Kane. It’s every bandit for themselves in the ultimate race to get rich! So where to look first? Here are some ideas: Crime City You’re sure to find mayhem in the seedy underbelly of Crime City, the ultimate stomping ground for all manner of corrupt and crooked misfits. Make sure to visit the Hostile Hotel, Wise Guys Bookstore, and the Launder Mat for a full criminal excursion. Outlaw Oasis Unwind at the Outlaw Oasis, a high-end hangout luxury spa and resort where burglars typically relax and recover after a busy day of swiping huge hauls. Shiny Shafts You could rob one of Fletcher Kane’s banks for Bars… or you could go right to the source. His mining operation, Shiny Shafts, is a highly contested area above ground and below. Lonewolf Lair Security is tight around Fletcher’s mansion hideout, Lonewolf Lair. Anyone bold enough to challenge his growing empire is in for a fight! New Bosses and medallions The baron Fletcher Kane has set up shop as the Island’s mob don, and his paws are in every pocket in town. He’s been known only to appear at the most inopportune moments. Namely, while you’re mid-heist. Survive Fletcher’s barrage of claw attacks and you’ll be awarded with the Mythic Fletcher Kane’s Double Down Pistol and the Unstoppable Medallion. True to its name, this Medallion increases sprint speed and allows for bashing enemies while sprinting. As a reminder, Medallions make you visible on opponents’ mini-map. The more Medallions you have, the more precise the radius of your exact location — you’ve been warned! The ****** warrior Shogun X still wanders the Island, though his defeat now rewards the Super Shield Medallion, which places down a Shield Bubble Jr. when using a self-healing item like a Med Kit or Shield Potion. New currency and ****** Market Epic Games All that glitters is yours. Swimming in gold-infused water will put you under the effect of Gold Rush, which increases your speed, how fast your Pickaxe swings, and how much damage your Pickaxe does against structures. You can also gain Gold Rush by mining Gold Veins, which can be excavated with your Pickaxe for Bars. Big Dill is ballin’ out of control thanks to his Dill Bits coin, which has become even more valuable than Bars. Typically sealed behind lock and key in vaults around the Island, Dill Bits don’t carry over from match to match, so spend them quickly before your wallet goes to zero! But, uh, to the moon! Spend your Dill Bits and Gold Bars at one of three ****** Markets around the map, offering a selection of Mythic and Legendary items obtained in a totally legit way. ****** Markets also offer Boons that’ll make your next break-in a breeze. Train and new Automobiles Be wary, if gold moves in this town, you’d better believe Fletcher Kane knows about it. His Armored Transport convoys can be found transporting valuables around the map. Expect a fight with his henchmen if you’re planning to get inside one, but if you can wrestle control of the steering wheel, it’s yours to joyride in. Raiding Fletcher’s Armored Train promises a lotta loot, though it’s well-known as the most dangerous job in town! Board the train and destroy its turrets to bring it to a screeching halt, then blow open the vault car with Thermite and you’ll be rewarded handsomely. Just, be careful — you’re likely to attract the attention of other players while carrying out this “transaction.” New Boons A new Season means a refreshed slate of Boons! Available only from ****** Markets or Rare Chests this Season, Boons persist beyond elimination in the same match (meaning you’ll keep them if you get rebooted in the same match). Collect all five! Vulture Boon: Reveal where enemies are eliminated on the map for a short time. Gold Rush Boon: Opening or destroying Chests grants Gold Rush. Adrenaline Rush Boon: Gain the Slap effect (short-term unlimited Energy regen) upon mantling, hurdling, and wall jumping. Gold Ammo Boon: Gain ammo when picking up Bars. Greed Boon: Find extra Bars from eliminations and opening containers. New weapons and loot pool Epic Games The only way to crack a vault is with Thermite, a powerful explosive found stashed away around the map. After you’ve planted some, you can set off the explosion faster by damaging the vault’s weak points. The Plasma Burst Laser works great for this, as does the Rocket Drill arriving later this Season in v34.10. Bars can’t buy the time needed to pull a heist, but the Collateral Damage Assault Rifle and Falcon Eye Sniper might. And keep an eye out for the formidable Outlaw Shotgun which drops in v34.10. Fancy yourself ambidextrous? Big Dill’s fave combo, the dual-wield Pump & Dump, arrives in v34.10 and will be your new close-to-mid-range best friend. Occupying a single weapon slot, hold a Pump Shotgun in one hand and an SMG in the other! A favorite of ne’er-do-wells everywhere is The Kneecapper, great for giving opponents a good ol’ fashioned whack. Wielding The Kneecapper reduces the Energy cost of sprinting and increases sprint speed and jump height. You’ll find new utility items around the map, such as the protective Port-A-Cover and enemy-detecting Pulse Scanner. Both are tremendously useful for holding off henchmen while you grab all the Bars you can find. Henchmen and enemy squads interrupting your heist-in-progress? The Med-Mist Grenade helps heal in a pinch, and Gold Splash grants Gold Rush and heals 20 Health (or 20 Shield if you’re at full Health already). Your enemies are about to be on thin ice. The cold-blooded cryomancer Sub-Zero has arrived on the Island and can be recruited to your cause! Be sure to pick up Sub-Zero’s Kombat Kit, which empowers you to ice slide into opponents and unleash a flurry of frosty fists. Fresh Lawless Battle Pass Epic Games Get ready for a notorious new look! The LAWLESS Season brings the LAWLESS Battle Pass, offering a wealth of Outfits and accessories. Like with the other Passes in Fortnite, unlock and claim rewards in the Battle Pass by earning XP in any Fortnite experience. The Battle Pass has both free and premium rewards. To claim the premium rewards as you earn XP, purchase the Pass for only 1,000 V-Bucks or get it through Fortnite Crew! Included as premium rewards, there are several Outfits in the Pass: Cassidy Quinn: She’s all in. (Cassidy Quinn is claimable right away upon purchasing the Battle Pass!) Joss: It’s not magic. It’s chemistry! Fletcher Kane: What’s yours is his. Valentina: Get in, get the goods, and get out with style. Big Dill: The original Tasty Boi. Keisha Cross: She rules the road. Sub-Zero (MK3): The Lin Kuei cryomancer of legend. The golden king finds his way back to the Island. The Outlaw Midas Outfit will be unlockable from Battle Pass Quests in March, completable in any Fortnite experience! The Battle Pass will be available to progress in until Chapter 6 Season 2 ends on May 2, 2025, Eastern Time. Cowboy Bebop collab Epic Games Prefer stopping criminals? Starting March 1 Eastern Time, complete COWBOY BEBOP Quests for XP that can contribute towards COWBOY BEBOP Bonus Goals. Meeting these Bonus Goals will unlock the COWBOY BEBOP Wrap and BEBOP Legends Loading Screen! The Quests and Bonus Goals will be available until March 18 Eastern Time. What if we said you can complete these objectives as the famed bounty hunters themselves? The Spike Spiegel Outfit and Faye Valentine Outfit will be in the Fortnite Shop starting February 28 Eastern Time! Play music anywhere with Moments Celebrate the start and end of a match with a music Moment! In the Locker, players can now choose a Jam/Lobby Track to play when they drop out of the Battle Bus and one to play when they get a Victory Royale. Players will not hear each other’s music, even when spectating, as the chosen Track will only play locally. In split-screen, Player 1’s chosen Track will be the one that plays. New Victory Umbrella Epic Games Fortnite Battle Royale: LAWLESS ends May 2. The first Victory Royale you bag this Season in Battle Royale or Zero Build will earn you The Vaultbrella! While you’re tuning in to Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 2 Lawless, check out the best places to land on the island so you can plan your journey towards a Victory Royale with a perfect strategy. Source link #Fortnite #Chapter #Season #Lawless Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

*** police forces ‘supercharging racism’ with predictive policing *** police forces ‘supercharging racism’ with predictive policing *** police forces are “supercharging racism” through their use of automated “predictive policing” systems, as they are based on profiling people or groups before they have committed a crime, according to Amnesty International. Predictive policing systems use artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms to predict, profile or assess the likelihood of criminal behaviour, either in specific individuals or geographic locations. In a 120-page report published on 20 February 2025 – titled Automated racism – How police data and algorithms code discrimination into policing – Amnesty said predictive policing tools are used to repeatedly target poor and racialised communities, as these groups have historically been “over-policed” and are therefore massively over-represented in police data sets. This then creates a negative feedback loop, where these “so-called predictions” lead to further over-policing of certain groups and areas; reinforcing and exacerbating the pre-existing discrimination as increasing amounts of data are collected. “Given that stop-and-search and intelligence data will contain bias against these communities and areas, it is highly likely that the predicted output will represent and repeat that same discrimination. Predicted outputs lead to further stop-and-search and criminal consequences, which will contribute to future predictions,” it said. “This is the feedback loop of discrimination.” Amnesty found that across the ***, at least 33 police forces have deployed predictive policing tools, with 32 of these using geographic crime prediction systems compared to 11 that are using people-focused crime prediction tools. It said these tools are “in flagrant breach” of the ***’s national and international human rights obligations because they are being used to racially profile people, undermine the presumption of innocence by targeting people before they’ve even been involved in a crime, and fuel indiscriminate mass surveillance of entire areas and communities. The human rights group added the increasing use of these tools also creates a chilling effect, as people tend to avoid areas or people they know are being targeted by predictive policing, further undermining people’s right to association. Examples of predictive policing tools cited in the report include the Metropolitan Police’s “gangs violence matrix”, which was used to assign “risk scores” to individuals before it was gutted by the force over its racist impacts; and Greater Manchester Police’s XCalibre database, which has similarly been used to profile people based on the “perception” that they are involved in gang activity without any evidence of actual offending themselves. Amnesty also highlighted Essex Police’s Knife Crime and Violence Model’s, which uses data on “associates” to criminalise people by association with others and uses mental health problems or drug use as markers for criminality; and West Midlands Police’s “hotspot” policing tools, which the force itself has admitted is used for error-prone predictive crime mapping that is wrong 80% of the time. “The use of predictive policing tools violates human rights. The evidence that this technology keeps us safe just isn’t there, the evidence that it violates our fundamental rights is clear as day. We are all much more than computer-generated risk scores,” said Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive at Amnesty International ***, adding these systems are deciding who is a criminal based “purely” on the colour of their skin or their socio-economic background. “These tools to ‘predict crime’ harm us all by treating entire communities as potential criminals, making society more racist and unfair. The *** government must prohibit the use of these technologies across England and Wales as should the devolved governments in Scotland and Northern Ireland.” He added that the people and communities subject to this automated profiling have a right to know about how the tools are being used, and must have meaningful routes of redress to challenge any policing decisions made using them. On top of a prohibition on such systems, Amnesty is also calling for greater transparency around the use of data-driven systems by police that are in use, including a publicly accessible register with details of the tools, as well as accountability obligations that include a right and clear forum to challenge police profiling and automated decision-making. In an interview with Amnesty, Daragh Murray – a senior lecturer at Queen Mary University London School of Law who co-wrote the first independent report on the Met Police’s use of live facial-recognition (LFR) technology in 2019 – said because these systems are based on correlation rather than causation, they are particularly harmful and inaccurate when used to target individuals. “Essentially you’re stereotyping people, and you’re mainstreaming stereotyping, you’re giving a scientific objective to stereotyping,” he said. NPCC responds to Amnesty Computer Weekly contacted the Home Office about the Amnesty report but received no on the record response. Computer Weekly also contacted the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC), which leads on the use of AI and algorithms by *** police. “Policing uses a wide range of data to help inform its response to tackling and preventing crime, maximising the use of finite resources. As the public would expect, this can include concentrating resources in areas with the most reported crime,” said an NPCC spokesperson. “Hotspot policing and visible targeted patrols are the bedrock of community policing, and effective deterrents in detecting and preventing anti-social behaviour and serious violent crime, as well as improving feelings of safety.” They added that the NPCC is working to improve the quality and consistency of its data to better inform its response, ensuring that all information and new technology is held and developed lawfully, ethically in line with the Data Ethics Authorised Professional Practice (APP). “It is our responsibility as leaders to ensure that we balance tackling crime with building trust and confidence in our communities whilst recognising the detrimental impact that tools such as stop and search can have, particularly on ****** people,” they said. “The Police Race Action Plan is the most significant commitment ever by policing in England and Wales to tackle racial bias in its policies and practices, including an ‘explain or reform’ approach to any disproportionality in police powers. “The national plan is working with local forces and driving improvements in a broad range of police powers, from stop and search and the use of Taser through to officer deployments and road traffic stops. The plan also contains a specific action around data ethics, which has directly informed the consultation and equality impact assessment for the new APP.” Ongoing concerns Problems with predictive policing have been highlighted to *** and European authorities using the tools for a number of years. In July 2024, for example, a coalition of civil society groups called on the then-incoming Labour government to place an outright ban on both predictive policing and biometric surveillance in the ***, on the basis they are disproportionately used to target racialised, working class and migrant communities. In the European Union (EU), the bloc’s AI Act has banned the use predictive policing systems that can be used to target individuals for profiling or risk assessments, but the ban is only partial as it does not extend to place-based predictive policing tools. According to a 161-page report published in April 2022 by two MEPs jointly in charge of overseeing and amending the AI Act, “predictive policing violates human dignity and the presumption of innocence, and it holds a particular risk of discrimination. It is therefore inserted among the prohibited practices.” According to Griff Ferris, then-legal and policy officer at non-governmental organisation Fair Trials, “time and time again, we’ve seen how the use of these systems exacerbates and reinforces discriminatory police and criminal justice action, feeds systemic inequality in society, and ultimately destroys people’s lives. However, the ban must also extend to include predictive policing systems that target areas or locations, that have the same effect.” A month before in March 2022, Fair Trials, European Data Rights (EDRi) and 43 other civil society organisations collectively called on European lawmakers to ban AI-powered predictive policing systems, arguing that they disproportionately target the most marginalised people in society, infringe fundamental rights and reinforce structural discrimination. That same moth, following its formal inquiry into the use of algorithmic tools by *** police – including facial recognition and various crime “prediction” tools – the Lords Home Affairs and Justice Committee (HAJC) described the situation as “a new Wild West” characterised by a lack of strategy, accountability and transparency from the top down. It said an overhaul of how police deploy AI and algorithmic technologies is required to prevent further abuse. In the case of “predictive policing” technologies, the HAJC noted their tendency to produce a “vicious circle” and “entrench pre-existing patterns of discrimination” because they direct police patrols to low-income, already over-policed areas based on historic arrest data. “Due to increased police presence, it is likely that a higher proportion of the crimes committed in those areas will be detected than in those areas which are not over-policed. The data will reflect this increased detection rate as an increased crime rate, which will be fed into the tool and embed itself into the next set of predictions,” it said. However, in July 2022, the *** government has largely rejected the findings and recommendations of the Lords inquiry, claiming there is already “a comprehensive network of checks and balances”. The government said at the time while MPs set the legal framework providing police with their powers and duties, it is then for the police themselves to determine how best to use new technologies such as AI and predictive modelling to protect the public. Source link #police #forces #supercharging #racism #predictive #policing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Federal judge allows Trump’s mass firings of federal workers to move forward – The Associated Press Federal judge allows Trump’s mass firings of federal workers to move forward – The Associated Press Federal judge allows Trump’s mass firings of federal workers to move forward The Associated PressReady, aim, fire The EconomistJudge denies unions’ request to block mass firing of probationary employees, buyout offer ABC NewsUS federal judge rules Trump’s mass firings can go ahead Yahoo Source link #Federal #judge #Trumps #mass #firings #federal #workers #move #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Despite Similarities With Bethesda’s Action RPG, Avowed Creates Its Own Identity With Major Improvements Despite Similarities With Bethesda’s Action RPG, Avowed Creates Its Own Identity With Major Improvements Obsidian Entertainment’s Avowed has finally landed, and while comparisons to Skyrim were inevitable, they might be doing this ambitious RPG a disservice. Yes, both games let you dual-wield spells and weapons in first-person combat, but that’s where the surface-level similarities end. More than just another fantasy RPG with swords and spells. | Image Credit: Obsidian Entertainment What we have here is something far more nuanced—a game that understands why people spent thousands of hours in Tamriel but also recognizes that RPG players have evolved in the past decade. The result? A fresh take on the genre that manages to carve out its own distinct identity. And while the internet seems determined to pit these two games against each other, perhaps it’s time we appreciated Avowed for what it actually brings to the table, rather than how closely it mirrors its inspiration. How Avowed improves upon the classic formula Let’s address the mammoth in the room—when you’re making a first-person fantasy RPG, Skyrim comparisons come with the territory. But Avowed isn’t just trying to recreate Bethesda’s magic; it has crafted something distinctly its own in the Living Lands. The Mindful Gamer’s take cuts straight to the heart of what makes Avowed special. It’s not about replacing Skyrim—it’s about evolving beyond it. Avowed is Skyrim for people who realize that Skyrim is 14 years old. It’s a timeless classic, a nostalgic reminder of our youth, but at some point you have to grow up. And Avowed is Skyrim for gamers who’ve grown up. The differences become clear the moment you step into combat. As our TikToker points out: It doesn’t have some of Skyrim’s more charming qualities, like boring combat, dull environments, and questionable voice acting. And that’s a good thing. The consensus is that Avowed‘s combat feels weightier, more dynamic. Whether you’re combining frost magic with musket shots or charging in with a sword and shield, each encounter feels deliberately designed rather than randomly generated. The game’s structure shows similar thoughtfulness. Instead of trying to match Skyrim‘s massive but often empty world, Avowed offers interconnected zones packed with meaningful content. Every corner of the Living Lands feels handcrafted, with vertical exploration that makes even familiar paths feel fresh. Even the way Avowed handles player choice shows evolution. While Skyrim lets you be everything to everyone, Avowed forces you to live with the consequences of your decisions. Your choices in the Living Lands carry weight, shaping not just the story but how other characters perceive and interact with you. Time hasn’t diminished Skyrim’s charm, yes, but perhaps it’s worth acknowledging that gaming has evolved in the past 14 years. And that’s perfectly okay. Why you shouldn’t wait to visit the Living Lands Your next adventure costs less than tonight’s takeout. | Image Credit: Obsidian Entertainment Sure, Steam reviews are lighting up with complaints about the $70 price tag. “Wait for *****,” they say. But why wait when Xbox Game Pass offers the perfect opportunity to jump in right now? For less than the cost of a fancy pizza, you can experience everything Avowed has to offer alongside hundreds of other games. And let’s be honest—Obsidian has earned our trust. These are the minds behind Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds, studios that consistently deliver unique RPG experiences that don’t just follow trends but set them. The Living Lands are calling, and they don’t care whether you bought the game at full price or downloaded it through Game Pass. What matters is the adventure waiting for you—one that’s already captivating many RPG fans with its fresh take on the beloved genre. Maybe it’s time we stopped worrying about price tags and review scores, and actually started playing the game in question to form our own opinions. After all, some experiences are worth more than their dollar value, and Avowed seems to be one of them. Have you started exploring the Living Lands yet? Share your thoughts on Avowed’s fresh take on fantasy RPGs in the comments below! Source link #Similarities #Bethesdas #Action #RPG #Avowed #Creates #Identity #Major #Improvements Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]