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Cities Skylines II China Region Pack Overview Cities Skylines II China Region Pack Overview just_looken325d ago Just a fyi you still need for a mid/high end pc to get decent frame rate/smooth experience at 1080p on a large city. Sense october last year they have been trying to get it out of alpha still have not tossed out the premium version of dlc and now are charging for dlc on top of that. Cities 2 has lower number of players than the first one also. 14700k/4070ti medium some high settings 1080p this person is stoked small city can get past that 60fps threshold Source link #Cities #Skylines #China #Region #Pack #Overview Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope’s planned commitments in doubt as hospital treatment for respiratory infection continues Pope’s planned commitments in doubt as hospital treatment for respiratory infection continues ROME (AP) — Pope Francis’ upcoming commitments appeared increasingly in question Monday as he spent a fourth day in the hospital with a respiratory tract infection that has already sidelined him longer than a 2023 hospitalization for pneumonia. ******** spokesman Matteo Bruni said Francis, 88, ate breakfast and read the newspapers Monday morning and was continuing his unspecified drug therapies. A more detailed medical update was expected later in the day. Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital in a “fair” condition on Friday after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors confirmed a respiratory tract infection and prescribed “absolute rest” alongside unspecified drug therapies. Subsequent updates said his slight fever had gone away and that he was in “stable” condition. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. The Argentine pope, who had part of one lung removed after a pulmonary infection as a young man, is a known workaholic who keeps up a grueling pace despite his increasingly precarious health. There has been no word on how long his hospital stay might last. When he had a bad case of pneumonia in 2023, he left after three days and only acknowledged after the fact that he had been admitted urgently after feeling faint and having a sharp pain in his chest. This time around, Francis insisted on finishing his morning audiences Friday before leaving the ********, even though he was having trouble speaking at length because he was short of breath. The Holy See has only confirmed cancelled appointments through Monday. Francis was supposed to have gone to Rome’s Cinecitta film studios to meet with artists as part of the Catholic Church’s Holy Year celebrations. While his private audiences are rarely announced with much advance notice, the pope’s next scheduled appointment is his weekly general audience Wednesday. Beyond that, he is scheduled to preside on Sunday at the ordination of deacons as part of a Holy Year weekend dedicated to deacons. Francis’ participation in both appears in doubt, but they remain on the official ******** schedule. When he missed the Jubilee Mass dedicated to artists this past Sunday, a cardinal stood in for him. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Source link #Popes #planned #commitments #doubt #hospital #treatment #respiratory #infection #continues Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Half-Life 2 and Dishonored art lead Viktor Antonov dies aged just 52 Half-Life 2 and Dishonored art lead Viktor Antonov dies aged just 52 Half-Life 2 art director and Dishonored designer Viktor Antonov has died aged just 52. Source link #HalfLife #Dishonored #art #lead #Viktor #Antonov #dies #aged Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How I learned to love my alarm clock | Sleep How I learned to love my alarm clock | Sleep I’ve always disliked getting up in winter. As a kid, I’d hurkle-durkle while blearily watching my school uniform warming on the radiator. These days, I set smartphone alarms for several consecutive minutes, just to make sure I’m roused. It’s too dark, and I’m too groggy. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. I’d heard of sunrise alarm clocks before the Filter asked me to review them, but little did I suspect they could resolve my waking woes. Essentially, they’re a combination of alarm clock and light-therapy device that glows with increasing brightness as your wake-up time approaches. The light interacts with our circadian rhythms, much as the sun does when it rises, so we wake up biologically prepared for the day. How sunrise alarm clocks made my mornings better As a writer interested in tech, I often review fascinating and useful gadgets, from electric heaters to, erm, smart drinking fountains for cats. It’s enjoyable – but only a few of the products change my lifestyle in the long run. Sunrise alarm clocks soon proved to fall into this exclusive category. Through much of the winter I wake in darkness, so my organs probably won’t have received signals from my brain to prep them for the day. My top sunrise alarm clock picks – the Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100 and the Philips SmartSleep wake-up light – have tangibly changed the equation. I’m waking up feeling more energetic, less groggy and mentally sharper. What matters in a sunrise alarm clock All of the sunrise alarm clocks I’ve tested had their strengths – lilting wake-up sounds, pleasing design, useful features, and so on – but only certain models surpassed the brightness threshold that seems to wind my circadian clock. Whereas seasonal affective disorder (Sad) lamps are often advertised with a lux rating for brightness, this important stat tends to be absent from sunrise alarm spec sheets, which makes it difficult to know how bright a model will be. One good indicator is if they have certification as a medical device, as is present with the Bodyclock Spark 100. How these devices play into healthy sleep Sleep is personal, and no single device will suit every slumberer. For me, sunrise alarm clocks have benefited my sleep-wake cycle more than any other product – perhaps excluding my memory foam mattress. Very good models such as the Lumie Sunrise Alarm can be bought for less than £40, so it’s worth trying one if you find dark mornings difficult. An important benefit of sunrise alarm clocks is that your morning wake-up no longer involves your phone. Stopping a smartphone alarm means your day begins with eyes on-screen – and the road from here to doom scrolling is about the length of a thumbprint. By using any kind of alarm clock you can start the morning smartphone-free. If you’re still waking up on the wrong side of the bed, you can find further recommendations in the Filter’s guides to the best mattresses, sleep aids and electric blankets. Some morning people are made, not born. This week’s picks Editor’s pick Ella Foote tests a cold-water swimsuit in Lago di Nembia, Trentino, Italy. Photograph: Ella Foote Guardian readers are no strangers to a cold-water dip. Myself included. So we thought it was time the Filter put some outdoor swim kit through its paces. Luckily, a new breed of thermal swimsuits (not wetsuits) has hit the market, designed for chilly temperatures. So while we’re still deep in the cold-water swimming season, we asked the experienced outdoor swimmer and author Ella Foote to put these swimsuits to the test. She also wisely rounded up her favourite hats, gloves, flasks and more to warm up with afterwards. Hannah Booth Editor, the Filter In case you missed it … Ready for the elements … with our guide to waterproof jackets. Photograph: Thomas Eversley/Alamy If you’re less keen on getting wet while you’re outdoors, our rigorously tested waterproof jackets for men and women will keep you dry throughout even the most ferocious downpours. Keen hikers Paddy Maddison and Sian Lewis have put hundreds through their paces over the years, and know what to look for in a high-performance jacket. It could be a worthwhile investment in a country where it rains for more than 150 days a year. Get involved Darn good! Tell us how you care for your things to make them last longer. Photograph: Kyoko Uchida/Alamy Do you have something that isn’t quite doing its job, but you can’t bear to throw away? It could be an expensive suitcase with a wonky wheel, a beloved armchair with saggy springs or a favourite jumper that’s gone bobbly. If so, we’d love to hear from you for a new advice column. We’d also love to hear how you look after your own things to make them last longer, from your shoes to your coffee machine. Send us your questions by replying to this newsletter, or emailing us at *****@*****.tld. Source link #learned #love #alarm #clock #Sleep Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels capture eastern DRC’s second-largest city – The Guardian Rwanda-backed M23 rebels capture eastern DRC’s second-largest city – The Guardian Rwanda-backed M23 rebels capture eastern DRC’s second-largest city The GuardianBukavu in DR Congo falls to Rwandan-backed M23 rebels BBC.com Source link #Rwandabacked #M23 #rebels #capture #eastern #DRCs #secondlargest #city #Guardian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lords of the Fallen Reddit Drama Unfolds as Devs Start a New Sub to Avoid Political Chatter Lords of the Fallen Reddit Drama Unfolds as Devs Start a New Sub to Avoid Political Chatter DarXyde35d ago Michiel1989, “its forced when they are going to put in certain types of people to check boxes because they think thats what a certain group of people/gamers want” Okay, but how do we *know* it’s forced? That’s my question. It just sounds like we’re going on gut feeling. When I read these comments from this developer, it just sounds like they’re saying they’re going out of the way to EXCLUDE certain themes or characters or whatever. In that case, is deliberate exclusion better than deliberate inclusion? I mean, coming out and saying this makes it blatantly anti-DEI, which I cautiously interpret as “ok, fair enough….?”. But you’re never going to placate anyone. “Force inclusion” and they’ll call you woke, “force exclusion” and they’ll call you bigoted. Really, what is even the point? “instead of characters to enrichen their world from a genuine place that will make the world more interesting, regardless of race, gender and what have you” Do we know what’s in their hearts though? What does it mean to come from a genuine place? There doesn’t seem to be any decent resolution here. Why not just allow developers to make the game they want and judge the final product without fixating on this stuff? People say for example that it was forced in The Last of Us Part II. Personally, I loved the game: none of the LGBT+ themes bothered me and it gave an interesting perspective that isn’t even impossible in our world. None of it detracted from the overarching theme of the cycle of violence. Arguably, it did more for it. Then you’ve got other games like The Witcher that don’t seem to care about it at all that was great. The way I see it, include it, don’t include it, it doesn’t bother me at all. But when we start saying we’re avoiding it or doubling down, you lose me. Just make the game you want to, whether it’s “woke” or not. If it’s a great game, who cares. Whether it was “forced” or not, again, who cares and who really knows unless they tell you? Outside of that, we’re speculating. Source link #Lords #Fallen #Reddit #Drama #Unfolds #Devs #Start #Avoid #Political #Chatter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Saudi Arabia is the venue of choice for Trump talks on Ukraine Why Saudi Arabia is the venue of choice for Trump talks on Ukraine The choice by the Trump administration of Saudi Arabia as the location for key talks on Ukraine underscores how far the Kingdom has come diplomatically from the near pariah state it became after the ******* of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. The shadow that cast over the country and its de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in particular, appears to have lifted, although there are still concerns occasionally raised at international forums over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. On many fronts – in entertainment and sport in particular – the country has spent huge amounts of money to further its ambitions to be a major player on the world stage. Diplomatically, the Saudi leadership has also been enhancing its role. During the Biden years, the Kingdom increased its pivot away from reliance on the US as its key international ally. The Saudis made clear that they would follow what they perceive as their interests first and foremost – striking up closer relationships with countries viewed as key rivals to the US, such as Russia and China. The return of Donald Trump to the White House will have been welcomed by the Saudis. His first foreign visit in his first term was to Saudi Arabia – and the transactional nature of his foreign policy is more conducive to the current Saudi leadership. One of the possible achievements that Mr Trump would most like to chalk up on his record would be a peace deal between the Saudis and Israel – which would be the culmination of the Abraham Accords that he initiated in his first term. But the war in Gaza has subsequently got in the way and may well raise the price that Saudi Arabia will demand for a peace agreement. The Saudis were very quick to announce their definitive rejection of Mr Trump’s plan for Gaza – to remove all the Palestinians and rebuild it as a resort. It has spurred the Kingdom to try to come up with a workable alternative plan with other Arab states – which would see Gazans remain in place as the enclave is rebuilt and would lead to a two state solution of the conflict. The Trump administration’s current thinking would seem to be at odds with this – in its policy towards both Gaza and the occupied West Bank. How this will be resolved will be key to the dynamics in the evolving relationship between Saudi Arabia and the US. What is clear is that the Saudis have no intention of reining in their ambition of becoming an essential player in global diplomacy. Source link #Saudi #Arabia #venue #choice #Trump #talks #Ukraine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test PS5 vs PS5 Pro vs Xbox Series X|S Graphics Comparison Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test PS5 vs PS5 Pro vs Xbox Series X|S Graphics Comparison The Elden Ring Nightreign network test is currently available on PS5, PS5 Pro, & Xbox Series X|S; read ahead to learn which version to play. Source link #Elden #Ring #Nightreign #Network #Test #PS5 #PS5 #Pro #Xbox #Series #Graphics #Comparison Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mad About the Boy breaks *** box office romcom record Mad About the Boy breaks *** box office romcom record Paul Glynn Culture reporter Getty Images The film finds Renée Zellweger’s now widowed character navigating modern dating and motherhood The return of Bridget Jones has earned the best box office opening ever for a romantic comedy in the *** and Ireland, according to Universal. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Renée Zellweger’s fourth film as the much-loved-yet-shambolic diarist, made £11.8m in its first four days after its release on Thursday. It beat the record previously held by the second Bridget Jones film, Edge of Reason, which took £10m in 2004 – although that figure would be worth more today with inflation. The new film proved more popular than Captain America: Brave New World in the *** this weekend. The new Marvel film dominated box offices in North America – where Bridget Jones is not getting a cinema release. Jay Maidment/Universal Pictures Bridget has a young new love interest in the film called Roxster, played by Leo Woodall The movie has gone straight to streaming in the US via the Peacock platform. The Telegraph’s film critic Robbie Collin told BBC Radio 4’s Front Row that was because Americans “don’t care about Bridget” and that the character – created by British writer Helen Fielding – remains “an extremely local concern”. However, Bridget did also top the weekend box office rankings in countries including Poland, the Netherlands and Norway, Universal said. Mad About the Boy’s first weekend in the *** and Ireland was the biggest of the year so far, but was below the openings registered by blockbusters like Deadpool & Wolverine, Wicked and Moana 2 in 2024. *The rest of this story containers spoilers* The fourquel finds the titular hero now a widowed single mother, navigating the challenges of parenthood, work and modern dating. She finds herself re-entering the dating world and must choose between a younger man she has fallen for (Leo Woodall) and her son’s science teacher (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Hugh Grant reprises his role, as does Emma Thompson. Mixed reviews While fans flocked to see it, the Guardian’s film critic Pete Bradshaw was not impressed, awarding two stars in his review. He noted how there were “giant laughs for Hugh Grant” but that the “weepie sequel is strangely dazed”. “With the exception of Grant and Thompson, really all of the actors are phoning (or rather voice-noting) it in, though this is a function of the material,” he wrote. However, the Independent awarded four stars, with reviewer Clarisse Loughrey calling it “vulnerable, honest and very funny”. She said director Michael Morris “deals with Bridget’s combative love life with far more care and subtlety than first sequel The Edge of Reason ever did”. She added: “When it comes to Mad About the Boy, it’s less that Bridget Jones has finally matured, and more that she’s shown us how human she really is.” Source link #Mad #Boy #breaks #box #office #romcom #record Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Rainbow Siege X Announced, Operation Prep Phase Revealed Rainbow Siege X Announced, Operation Prep Phase Revealed Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, published by Ubisoft in 2015, has remained a classic in the tactical team-based PVP gameplay genre since its launch. One of Ubisoft’s best-selling titles with a strong consistent player count over the years, staying in the top 50 charts and strongly positive reviews Source link #Rainbow #Siege #Announced #Operation #Prep #Phase #Revealed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former Perth Lynx captain Sami Whitcomb named WNBL MVP in her first season for Bendigo Spirit Former Perth Lynx captain Sami Whitcomb named WNBL MVP in her first season for Bendigo Spirit Former Perth Lynx captain Sami Whitcomb has written herself into WNBL folklore by winning the Suzi Batkovic Medal for the league’s Most Valuable Player. Whitcomb was a clear winner in her first season playing for Bendigo Spirit. She polled 21 votes to finish seven votes clear of Townsville’s Courtney Woods. The two-time WNBA champion and 2024 Olympian had a brilliant season. She led the league in scoring with an average of 21 points per game, also led the league for three-pointers and was ranked third for assists after averaging five per match. But she was also superb at the other end of the court, ranking equal third for steals. Whitcomb arrived in Perth to play for Rockingham Flames in 2013, rose to play for the Lynx and has become one of Australia’s biggest stars. Camera IconSami Whitcomb won the WNBL MVP award. Credit: Kelly Defina/Getty Images Whitcomb and Woods were joined by Perth Lynx pair Ally Wilson and Laeticia Amihere, plus Southside’s Naz Hilmon in the All-WNBL First Team. Lynx stars Anneli Maley and Miela Sowah were picked in the Second team with Canberra’s ***** Melbourne and Bendigo pair Veronica Burton and Kelsey Griffin. Townsville cleaned up nearly all of the other awards. Shannon Seebohm was named Coach of the Year, Lauren Cox won the Robyn Maher Best Defensive Player, Abbey Ellis took home the Betty Watson Breakout Player and Woods received the Community Award. Bendigo Spirit’s Abbey Wehrung won the Sixth Woman of the Year. Lynx coach Ryan Petrik finished third in Coach of the Year voting while Amihere and Wilson placed fourth and fifth in the MVP award. Camera IconAlly Wilson in action. Credit: James Worsfold/Getty Images The Lynx finished the season in second place on the ladder after a stunning overtime win over Townsville on Sunday. They will now play against the Fire in a best-of-three semifinal series with the opening match to be at the Bendat Basketball Centre on Saturday night. Source link #Perth #Lynx #captain #Sami #Whitcomb #named #WNBL #MVP #season #Bendigo #Spirit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Call of Duty Returns To The Original Formula With ****** Ops 6's New Multiplayer Perk Call of Duty Returns To The Original Formula With ****** Ops 6's New Multiplayer Perk Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 Season 2 new Slip Stream perk allows players to gain more running speed by omitting the Tac Sprint. Source link #Call #Duty #Returns #Original #Formula #****** #Ops #6039s #Multiplayer #Perk Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Revealed: 23 suburbs where you can buy a house for less than $500,000 Revealed: 23 suburbs where you can buy a house for less than $500,000 Buying a home in a capital city is out of reach for most young Aussies, but there are still some big city suburbs scattered across the country where the *********** Dream can be snapped up for less than $500,000. There are 23 suburbs with median house prices below $500,000, PropTrack data has revealed, with the cheapest suburbs going for less than $400,000. Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart, Darwin and Adelaide all boast suburbs under the $500,000 benchmark, with only Perth and Sydney sitting outside the threshold. Camera IconHousing affordability is a top priority for most Australians. NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers Credit: News Corp Australia Greater Hobart had the most entries on the list, with suburbs making the half million cut off. Located just over 20km from Hobart’s CBD, Gagebrook clocks in with the region’s lowest median house price at $381,474. It’s a steady increase from the northwestern suburb’s $221,000 median in February 2020. Melbourne’s only representative on the list was Melton ($471,879), located on the city’s outskirts around 37km from the CBD. The suburb that topped the list is Russell Island, an island town around 60km southeast of Brisbane CBD with a median price of $380,942. Other greater Brisbane suburbs that made the cut included: Macleay Island ($416,461), Toogoolawah ($478,892), and Forest Hill ($487,060). Real Estate Under $500k The Northern Territory’s Moulden and Gray, both between 20-25km from the state capital, featured high on the list, averaging at a median price of $400,953 and $407,406 respectively. Australia’s housing crisis has been attributed to a number of factors, including high costs of living, lack of supply, inflationary pressures and underinvestment. Monday’s Productivity Commission report found Australia was completing half as many homes than in 1995 – when the country had a population of about 18 million – representing a 53 per drop in housing productivity. Camera IconHousing minister Clare O’Neil said the federal government is making efforts to help young Australians’ housing security. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia “*********** housing is increasingly unaffordable [and] decades of inadequate supply coupled with high demand has driven this outcome,” the report said. As the federal election looms, housing affordability has become a key election topic. On Sunday, the federal government announced a ban on foreign purchases of existing *********** homes in a bid to appeal to voters concerned with housing affordability and cost-of-living. “It’s not a silver bullet to the housing crisis, because there is no silver bullet,” housing minister Clare O’Neil told Sky News. “But I really firmly believe that given the housing pressures that Australians are facing today, we need to orient the entire efforts of the *********** government around security of housing for Australians, and, wherever possible, home ownership for a broader range of young Australians,” she said. Source link #Revealed #suburbs #buy #house Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

In NC Supreme Court race, Griffin’s bid to toss ballots faces setback, intends to appeal In NC Supreme Court race, Griffin’s bid to toss ballots faces setback, intends to appeal A Wake County Superior Court judge has ruled against Jefferson Griffin’s bid to toss more than 65,000 ballots in the contested race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court. The Feb. 7 ruling is the latest legal setback for Griffin, a Republican, who’s attempting to overcome a 734-vote deficit against Democratic opponent, sitting state Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs. The battle for the seat made it the only undecided race from the November 2024 general election. Democratic North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs holds a 734-vote lead (out of more than 5.5 million ballots cast) over Republican Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin after the 2024 election. In an order on Jan. 7, 2025, the state Supreme Court wrote that because the federal court remanded Griffin’s appeals case back to the state level, it would grant Griffin’s request for the election’s certification to be blocked so it could evaluate the claims regarding 60,000 votes. Two recounts have confirmed Riggs’ narrow margin of victory. Still, Griffin has yet to concede, more than three months after the election. Instead, he’s turned to the courts, where he’s alleging multiple ballot irregularities, like incomplete voter registrations, that he claims violate state law and cost him the election. Griffin filed suit against the N.C. Board of Elections after the state board dismissed Griffin’s complaints, citing lack of evidence. In his Feb. 7 ruling, Judge William Pittman backed the state board, writing that its decision “was not in violation of constitutional provisions, was not in excess of statutory authority or jurisdiction of the agency, was made upon lawful procedure, and was not affected by other error of law.” In a Feb. 7 statement, Riggs said, “Today’s decisions denying Judge Griffin’s challenges of more than 65,000 ballots are a victory for North Carolina voters and the rule of law.” “Voters decide elections, and I remain committed to seeing this fight through and upholding North Carolinians’ constitutional freedoms,” she said. Locally, Griffin is challenging the ballots of more than 2,500 Buncombe County voters. In Henderson County, Griffin is challenging more than 300. Griffin is also attempting to disqualify more than 5,000 military and overseas absentee ballots, which is how he voted in the 2019 and 2020 elections, according to ProPublica. Griffin argues those votes shouldn’t be counted if photo identification wasn’t also included, even though the state board ruled, before the election, that photo ID was not required for these overseas ballots. Despite the lower court’s ruling, the race is not over. Griffin filed a notice to appeal with the N.C. Court of Appeals on Feb. 12. But the state board and Riggs are seeking an expedited ruling, filing a “bypass petition” so the case can head straight to the state Supreme Court, where Republicans hold a 5-2 majority, and where Riggs has recused herself. A split 3-3 decision by the state’s high court would mean Pittman’s ruling would stand. “We’ve known this would be a long fight, and I remain committed to speaking up on behalf of the voters that Jefferson Griffin is seeking to disenfranchise,” Riggs said in a Feb. 12 statement. “As a constitutional officer, I swore an oath to defend our state and federal constitutions and the rule of law. I will continue to uphold my duty, including holding accountable any elected official who thwarts the will of voters.” On Feb. 17, organizers are holding a rally at Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville from 12-2 p.m., protesting Griffin’s attempt to disqualify ballots. Similar rallies are planned for several other North Carolina cities. More: WNC election official reprimanded for sharing misinformation with state lawmakers More: Election results: Latest totals, maps in North Carolina, Asheville races Jacob Biba is the Helene recovery reporter at the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Email him at *****@*****.tld. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: NC Supreme Court race: Griffin’s bid to toss ballots faces setback Source link #Supreme #Court #race #Griffins #bid #toss #ballots #faces #setback #intends #appeal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Europe emergency summit: European leaders to begin Paris meeting as Trump forges ahead with Ukraine peace talks – CNN Europe emergency summit: European leaders to begin Paris meeting as Trump forges ahead with Ukraine peace talks – CNN Europe emergency summit: European leaders to begin Paris meeting as Trump forges ahead with Ukraine peace talks CNNEuropean leaders to host Ukraine summit as Trump pushes peace talks with Russia CNNMonday Briefing The New York TimesEurope live: European leaders meet in Paris to discuss Ukraine’s future The Guardian Source link #Europe #emergency #summit #European #leaders #Paris #meeting #Trump #forges #ahead #Ukraine #peace #talks #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple Intelligence beta could land on the Vision Pro as soon as this week – will an AI infusion be enough to turn around the ailing headset’s fortunes? Apple Intelligence beta could land on the Vision Pro as soon as this week – will an AI infusion be enough to turn around the ailing headset’s fortunes? Apple Intelligence rumored to roll out as part of visionOS 2.4 in April The developer beta could arrive for the Apple Vision Pro this week AI tools such as Writing Tools, Genmoji, and Image Playground are coming to Apple’s mixed-reality headset The Apple Vision Pro, Apple’s mixed-reality headset, is getting Apple Intelligence – and it could arrive in beta on the device as soon as this week. The Vision Pro is Apple’s most expensive consumer product, starts at $3,499 / £3,499 / $5,999, but it currently has no Apple AI features, despite visionOS 2.0 being revealed at WWDC 2024 alongside Apple Intelligence. Now rumors hint at the arrival of Apple’s AI suite in visionOS 2.4, which could be released in April. According to Mark Gurman, writing for Bloomberg, “The company aims to roll out Apple Intelligence as part of a visionOS 2.4 software upgrade targeted for as early as April, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The enhancements will become available in beta for developers as soon as this week, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing details of the update that aren’t yet public.” According to Gurman, the developer beta of visionOS 2.4, which his sources say could arrive this week, will include Apple Intelligence features such as Writing Tools, Genmoji, and Image Playground. Gurman says, “It’s the first time Apple is expanding its artificial intelligence tools from the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Because the headset includes a Mac M2 chip and 16 gigabytes of memory, it’s able to support the on-device AI processing.” Too little too late for Vision Pro? It’s fair to say that the hype around the Apple Vision Pro faded relatively quickly after launch. From influencers using the headset in public places like the NYC subway to articles about how the device improved working from home, there was huge anticipation for Apple’s eye-wateringly expensive device. Fast forward just over a year and the Vision Pro barely makes the headlines, with the headset failing to generate interest among average consumer. So could Apple Intelligence change Apple’s fortunes when it comes to Vision Pro? There were reports in October that Apple was scaling back production due to poor sales, and it will be hoping that an infusion of AI will help to rekindle interest in the device. Apple Intelligence on the Vision Pro could be a very interesting proposition, although it might highlight Apple AI’s shortcomings, including the lack of properly AI-powered Siri. That said, Apple is due to roll out a major AI overhaul of Siri with iOS 18.4 in the coming weeks, and if these reports are accurate the new and smarter Siri could be coming to the Vision Pro, as well as to iPhones. Apple Intelligence might not make the Vision Pro a success, but it does show that Apple still cares about its mixed-reality headset, and with WWDC 2025 just around the corner, this could be the spark of energy the headset needs before an even ******* software upgrade later this year. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. You might also like Source link #Apple #Intelligence #beta #land #Vision #Pro #week #infusion #turn #ailing #headsets #fortunes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Kane Williamson: Middlesex sign New Zealand’s top Test run-scorer Kane Williamson: Middlesex sign New Zealand’s top Test run-scorer New Zealand batter Kane Williamson has joined Middlesex for the 2025 season and will be available to play in the County Championship and Vitality Blast. The 34-year-old is the ****** Caps’ all-time leading Test run-scorer and stepped down as their white-ball captain last season in order to pursue opportunities overseas during the home summer. Williamson will be able to play at least 10 of Middlesex’s 14 T20 Blast group fixtures and at least five County Championship matches during the second half of the campaign. “To have secured one of the most talented players in the world game is a real coup,” said Middlesex director of cricket Alan Coleman. Williamson has scored more than 18,000 runs, including 47 centuries, in 366 appearances for his country. His 9,276 runs in 105 Test matches – an average of 54.88 – is the most of any player in the country’s history. He was named player of the tournament at the 2019 World Cup and has featured in seven of the past 10 annual International Cricket Council men’s Test Team of the Year awards. Source link #Kane #Williamson #Middlesex #sign #Zealands #top #Test #runscorer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Grok 3 launches today as Elon Musk’s ‘scary good’ AI chatbot looks set to take on ChatGPT Grok 3 launches today as Elon Musk’s ‘scary good’ AI chatbot looks set to take on ChatGPT Grok 3 is being released at 8.00pm PT It will have improved reasoning computational power and adaptability Musk says it will be more reliable People may be ditching X for Bluesky at record levels , but Elon Musk’s attempt to turn X into a serious AI platform is still going strong with the release of a new Grok version 3. According to Reuters, Grok 3 is due to be released at 8.00pm Pacific Time today. In a call addressing the World Governments Summit in Dubai last week Musk described Grok 3 as “scary smart”, saying it represented a major step forward over Grok 2 with improved reasoning, computational power and adaptability. Hinting that his latest chatbot can now compete with ChatGPT and DeepSeek, Musk continued: “Grok 3 has very powerful reasoning capabilities, so in the tests that we’ve done thus far, Grok 3 is outperforming anything that’s been released, that we’re aware of, so that’s a good sign”. Fewer hallucinations In the call Musk also talked about Grok 3’s ability to reduce the curse of AI chatbots, the errors that creep into AI – often called ‘hallucinations’ – by going back and forth through the data and tries to achieve logical consistency, so if it has wrong data that doesn’t fit reality, it will reflect on it and remove the error. He also revealed that Grok 3 has been trained using more computational power than any other Grok model so far, and that a lot of synthetic data has been used in the training process. There’s no news yet on Grok’s most controversial feature, its image generation capability, and how this will be improved or enhanced in Grok 3. xAI offers some of the best photorealistic image rendering around thanks to its use of the Flux AI model, and in December announced that it was using a new model Auroria image model. In a statement xAI said: “Aurora is an autoregressive mixture-of-experts network trained to predict the next token from interleaved text and image data. We trained the model on billions of examples from the internet, giving it a deep understanding of the world. As a result, it excels at photorealistic rendering and precisely following text instructions. Beyond text, the model also has native support for multimodal input, allowing it to take inspiration from or directly edit user-provided images.” Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Grok differs from other AI image generators because it enables you to create images of celebrities, cartoon superheros and politicians, seemingly without restriction. Grok can be accessed through Musk’s X social media platform, even on the free tier, but it also has a native app for mobile devices and recently added image analysis to its list of features. Premium and Premium+ users get higher usage limits. It’s not currently clear if Grok 3 will initially be available free to all users or just Premium and Premium+ users. You may also like Source link #Grok #launches #today #Elon #Musks #scary #good #chatbot #set #ChatGPT Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

These 6.8% Dividends Are Quietly Minting Millionaires These 6.8% Dividends Are Quietly Minting Millionaires If you’re like most income investors, you’re on the hunt for stocks and funds that can stand up to a storm these days. So that’s what I’m going to give you below—in the form of three “all-weather” closed-end funds (CEFs) kicking out an outsized 6.8% average yield. They’ve stood firm through every headwind imaginable—wars, pandemics, inflation, you name it—and have done nothing but profit over the long haul. Through all that, this trio has kicked out annualized total returns (with dividends reinvested) of 15%+ each. “Shock-Proofing” Your Portfolio, Crushing ETFs These funds’ stellar returns come from both the sector they focus on—tech—and smart management that’s kept all three going strong. One thing I should mention is that these funds are not tech ETFs. We avoid those because tech can be volatile, and if you buy an ETF at the wrong time, you may have to wait a while for it to recover. And critically, because of tech ETFs’ lousy yields, you’ll have no income to collect while that happens. That’s where tech-focused closed-end funds (CEFs) come in. They aim to “translate” profits from their holdings into huge dividend payouts. That means management takes a hands-on approach that helps these funds outperform while offering yields over 10 times ******* than what your average tech-focused index fund pays. Let’s get into these three high-paying tech CEFs now. Tech CEF #1: Big-Name Stocks From a Big-Name Manager BlackRock (NYSE:) is the world’s largest asset manager, with over $10 trillion in assets. It has all the connections and resources that come with that status. That’s helped the BlackRock Science and Technology Trust (NYSE:) return over 308% (including dividends) since its IPO a little over a decade ago. (BST is a holding of my CEF Insider service.) BST Delivers—Powered By Its Payout BST’s portfolio is a who’s-who of Big Tech: Amazon.com (NASDAQ:), Tesla (NASDAQ:) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:) all make the cut, while it also holds lesser-known firms like Cadence Design Systems (NASDAQ:), which is crucial for semiconductor development. BST also generates income by selling covered-call options on its portfolio. The beauty of this approach is that BST collects fees from investors in return for these options, and it keeps the cash no matter how these trades play out. This strategy adds stability in volatile markets and helps BST fund its 7.8% dividend. As a result, investors get a high-yield play on tech with solid risk management and a long-term track record of outperformance. Finally, the fund’s 4.3% discount to net asset value (NAV, or the value of its underlying portfolio) suggests more gains ahead. The discount to NAV is unique to CEFs and is just what it sounds like: an indicator that the fund trades below the value of its assets. BST has seen premiums as high as 2.8% in the last year. Tech CEF #2: AI Without the AI Hype The Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund (NYSE:) is another tech fund with a strong track record, more than doubling investors’ money in the four short (and turbulent!) years since its IPO, delivering 17.8% annualized gains, as of this writing. Despite the name, AIO isn’t just an AI play—it’s a broad-based investment in disruptive tech that combines AI stocks like NVIDIA (NASDAQ:), Microsoft and Amazon.com with less volatile but still disruptive firms. Those include Eli Lilly (NYSE:) and even JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:), which has used technology to dominate the wealth-management industry over the last couple of decades. Unlike pure growth funds, AIO blends growth stocks with convertible securities, balancing upside potential with downside protection while ensuring its 7.3% dividend is reliable and well supported. AIO’s approach has worked so well that it’s been quietly growing its dividend: The regular payout is up 38.5% in the last five years, with a couple of special dividends thrown in. That’s helped power its outsized 119% total return in that time. AIO’s Strong Returns AIO’s “hybrid” approach of using convertibles alongside stocks has attracted more investor attention in the last two years. That, in turn, has resulted in the fund trading above its portfolio value, with a 7.3% premium to NAV as I write this. That makes AIO a bit riskier than BST, so it may make sense to slowly dip a toe into this fund. But it’s also worth noting that tech CEFs tend to get high premium pricings, with the aforementioned BST hitting a 12% premium a couple times over the last decade. This suggests AIO could see an even ******* premium, especially if it keeps hiking payouts, which its strong returns suggest could happen in the near term. Tech CEF #3: A “Hidden” 17% Yield Finally, we’ve got the Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund (NYSE:), which has returned 18.6% annualized over the last decade, as of this writing, one of the best performances of any fund on the market. That STK has delivered such strong profits for so long speaks volumes. It’s why the fund should trade at a huge premium (and usually does). STK Goes on ***** Fortunately, though, STK has seen its NAV soar so much that its premium market price has faded, meaning you can now buy it at around par. As you can see from the chart above, that’s a pretty rare occurrence historically, and it won’t last. This is why. Big Special Dividends Bolster STK’s Regular Payout STK’s “official” yield, based on its regular dividends, is relatively small, at just 5.6%. But the fund also has a history of special payouts that can bump up that yield considerably (the spikes and dip in the chart above). And at the end of last year, after STK earned a 78% return over 2023 and 2024, it gave investors a large slice of those profits in the form of a huge one-time cash dividend (the spike on the right side of the above chart). That means that if we were to even out all the special payouts over the last decade, we’d see that STK shareholders actually got a 17% yield per year on average, based on their initial cost of buying the fund! No matter how you look at it, STK is an income machine—and an unloved one at that. Disclosure: Brett Owens and Michael Foster are contrarian income investors who look for undervalued stocks/funds across the U.S. markets. Click here to learn how to profit from their strategies in the latest report, “7 Great Dividend Growth Stocks for a Secure Retirement.” Source link #Dividends #Quietly #Minting #Millionaires Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Jews send message of solidarity for 500-day milestone Jews send message of solidarity for 500-day milestone Hundreds of Jewish community members have turned out to mark 500 days since the October 7, 2003 ****** attacks, with witnesses telling harrowing first-hand accounts of the day. United under the theme of “No one left behind, no one forgotten”, demonstrators turned out to Melbourne’s Caulfield Park to demand the immediate release of Israeli hostages still held by the terrorist group. Supporters waved Israeli flags, brandished signs with the faces and names of hostages and banners reading, “No one left behind” and a list the hostages’ names. The conflict in Gaza intensified after Israel said more than 1200 of its people were killed and hundreds more were taken hostage when ****** launched an attack on a music festival on October 7. More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began retaliatory strikes, according to the World Health Organisation. Both sides have agreed to a ceasefire since January 19 to allow for prisoner swaps occur, with about 70 Israelis remaining is captivity. “We are here tonight on the other side of the world because every released hostage has told us the same thing – 500 days is far too many,” United with Israel director Nirit Eylon told the crowd. “We are here because we cannot be silent, even when we are furthest away. “For the hostages, it is still October 7 until every single one is brought home.” Members of the Israeli Defence Force who worked as frontline medics and another as part of the force’s emergency response team told of their experiences facing the chaos and destruction on the day. Emergency response soldier Bar Elisha spoke of being chased by up to 30 ****** insurgents before finding cover in a warehouse. “I was sure I was about to get kidnapped, but then they split up, Mr Elisha recounted. “I heard doors breaking, gunshots and explosions. “The only thing I could think of was saving my daughters.” Melbourne resident Galia Hartman, spoke of the profound toll having three family members killed on October 7 and seven more taken hostage. Six of those hostages have returned but one remains – her niece’s husband Tal Shoham. Mr Shoham, who turned 40 two weeks ago, is listed under the hostage exchange deal between Israel and ******, but with only three hostages released every phase, Ms Hartman said the reality is like a lottery. “This is heartbreaking and devastating to be part of this cruel selection process, and yet, in a cruel way, it gives us hope that he will be released soon,” she said. “Every day that passes only makes it harder – the fear that something will happen that will stop the deal, the fear the Tal will be forgotten, it is constant. “Time is deadly as chances for survival in this horrific conditions of captivity diminish, with which each moment pass of passing.” The crowd chanted “long live Israel” and “no one left behind” throughout the evening, as organisers aim to send a united message to those back in Israel. Source link #Jews #send #message #solidarity #500day #milestone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

80-degree weather for Mass. Maritime Academy students on sea term. Follow along. 80-degree weather for Mass. Maritime Academy students on sea term. Follow along. The weekend weather in Tampa, Florida featured pleasant 80-degree days, a mild sea breeze and low humidity. A perfect day for afternoon window washing. As Cape Codders were preparing for another snow event, freshman cadet John Strell was making his way around a catwalk cleaning glass outside the Patriot State’s bridge. The Massachusetts’s Maritime Academy’s new training ship arrived at the Port of Tampa Bay on Friday morning. Cadets and staff have rotated through watch and maintenance rounds while also enjoying some liberty off ship to explore the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ship Captain Mike Campbell said he planned to have the ship underway Monday morning, heading out into the Gulf of Mexico. Patriot State will then go south around the Florida Keys before turning north up the Atlantic coast. A week at sea with Cape Cod Times: Times photographer to spend a week at sea with Mass. Maritime Academy cadets The over 500 cadets will spend the last days of their 52-day sea term helping to run the ship and also completing classroom studies and exams. Depending on the weather, the ship will be back at its berth on the Buzzards Bay campus next weekend. Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Mass. Maritime Academy students in Florida for last stop of sea term Source link #80degree #weather #Mass #Maritime #Academy #students #sea #term #Follow Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

These Philips Hue lightbulbs are so cheap at Amazon, I’m fitting them in every room in my house These Philips Hue lightbulbs are so cheap at Amazon, I’m fitting them in every room in my house Philips Hue makes some of the best smart lights you can buy, and right now you can snag a pack of four Light & Colour Ambiance bulbs for just £105 (was £169.99) at Amazon. That’s only £26.25 per bulb, compared to £50.15 if you buy them individually, and a great way to extend your Hue setup to more rooms in your home. These are the White & Colour Ambiance bulbs, which means they can emit white light at a wide range of temperatures (from cool light to help you concentrate during the day, to warm tones that will help you unwind), plus 16 million different RGB colours to set the scene for parties and fun evenings in. You’ll need the Philips Hue Bridge to get the most out of your smart bulbs, but once you have one, you can use it to link up to 50 lights to your home Wi-Fi network, and to each other. Today’s best Philips Hue deals If you have a Hue Bridge, you can even control your smart lights remotely when you’re away (great for making it look like you’re home when you’re on holiday), and use voice commands to control them via a smart speaker. You can also add Philips Hue smart switches, sensors, and home security cameras to your setup, letting you switch on the lights automatically when motion is detected and deter would-be burglars (or just switch the hallway light on automatically if you need a bathroom break at night). This deal applies to E27 (******) bulbs. If you have bayonet fittings, don’t worry – a pack of four Philips Hue White & Colour Ambiance B22 bulbs can be yours for only £113.62 (was £169.99). It’s a slightly smaller saving, but still a great deal, and between them, these two offers should cover most ceiling lights, floor lamps, and table lamps in your home. If you’re looking for something slightly different you’ll find today’s best prices on all our top-rated smart lights below, including lots of budget-friendly Philips Hue alternatives. Source link #Philips #Hue #lightbulbs #cheap #Amazon #fitting #room #house Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Palantir Vs. Cloudflare Vs. Snowflake: Who Wins the Platform Race? Palantir Vs. Cloudflare Vs. Snowflake: Who Wins the Platform Race? Who Wins the Platform Game? With the emergence of cheap models, AI innovators are scrambling to put these to work. But what is the best way to access these models? There are four key platforms that investors should have on their radar. Each one has a unique value proposition. Snowflake (NYSE:) is a versatile platform that is great for corporations that have an internal tech team that can leverage and build on Snowflake’s platform (think CapitalOne). DataBricks (private) was the leader in AI before generative AI became a thing. Their original customer base was more tech-heavy (think Block), but the company has now diversified and grown significantly. Palantir (NASDAQ:) is a good solution for companies that want to outsource it all. The company started with mainly customers on the government side but has now diversified to customers across all industries. Cloudflare (NYSE:) is the new kid on the block and started as a cybersecurity platform before expanding to Developer Services. Today it serves as a great platform for AI startups and customers that want to optimize their cost of accessing models. Here is how the revenues and financials compare across the different platforms (limited data for Databricks as it is private). Databricks currently has the highest growth, and Snowflake went from the highest growth of publicly traded platform companies to the lowest growth in this subset. On an **** Revenue basis, Snowflake, Palantir, and Databricks are all reaching ~$3B with Cloudflare being significantly smaller. How do these platforms compare from a valuation perspective: Snowflake is in the penalty box and a “show me a story.” This is why, while the company is expected to grow at a similar rate to Cloudflare and Plantir, it is trading at a significantly lower multiple. DataBricks is killing it in the private markets and demonstrating the highest growth out of the four (albeit not audited). The companies’ latest round was at $62B with estimated revenues of $2-3B, implying a ~20-30x multiple and growing at 50-60% rates. Palantir is firing on all cylinders but trading at an outlandish multiple compared to its growth. But what may be understated here is Planatir’s growth. Although the overall growth rate for the company is in the 20s%, Commercial Services is growing at 60%+ rates and is expected to reach $1B in revenues in ’25. Cloudflare likely has the highest growth prospects as it starts from the lowest base (note that the company revenues today come mostly from security services). Consequently, we expect growth inflection to be in the very early innings. YTD Performance Here is how the stocks have performed YTD. Cloudflare is the lesser known of the three and is consequently surprising to the upside. Palantir is firing on all cylinders and is up ~55% this year after being up 340% last year. Snowflake is attempting to rise from the ashes, but it is significantly lagging behind. Will the company be able to turn growth around? In conclusion, cheap and open-source LLMs are broadening the economic viability of many AI projects. There are many ways to access these models and the companies that provide this service will be significant beneficiaries. Source link #Palantir #Cloudflare #Snowflake #Wins #Platform #Race Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Tallahassee utility customers stunned by high electric bills after rare Florida snowfall Tallahassee utility customers stunned by high electric bills after rare Florida snowfall The once-in-a-lifetime winter storm dazzled north Florida last month, but the awestruck wonder thawed almost as quickly as the snow did when Tallahassee residents received their monthly electric bill. Unaccustomed to the cold, many had their heaters working double time last month. Now, it’s time to pay up. “During that week, we saw very, very different temperatures, abnormally cold temperatures,” City Manager Reese Goad said during the city’s latest budget hearing. “When we see that, usage goes up.” Residents bantered back and forth on social media, mostly shocked about the steep increase. Many said their bills went up by $100 to $200. Some said theirs even doubled. “I about fell out of my chair when I got mine,” one person said. “Mine is abnormally high every single month lol,” another person said. Goad told the Tallahassee Democrat that the city saw around a 20% increase in usage last month due to the persistent, sub-freezing temperatures. Tallahassee utilities almost hit a “new all-time peak demand,” he said, and would have done so had schools been in session. But even with the extreme weather, sales have remained fairly flat, Goad said. During the budget hearing, he told city commissioners that city staff is sensitive to the high bills and that they are working with customers if they need help. The city is creating payment plans with customers to soften the blow, and it works out, Goad said, because as winter turns into spring, usage starts to go back down, as will the bills. “Good news is, the weather’s moderated, which goes back the other direction and overall consumption will start to balance,” he said. But even with the warmer weather and some relief in sight, people are still in sticker shock. “My bill has never been this high ever,” one person said. Local government watchdog reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at *****@*****.tld. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee snow storm’s bite lingers as customers get utility bills Source link #Tallahassee #utility #customers #stunned #high #electric #bills #rare #Florida #snowfall Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xbox Chief Phil Spencer Says He’s No Longer Trying to Move Players on Other Platforms to Xbox Xbox Chief Phil Spencer Says He’s No Longer Trying to Move Players on Other Platforms to Xbox Xbox chief Phil Spencer isn’t looking to persuade players on rival platforms like PlayStation and Nintendo to move to Xbox as Microsoft pivots to launching its exclusive games beyond its own console and PC. In a new wide-ranging interview, the Microsoft Gaming CEO said he was not trying to move players on other platforms to Xbox anymore and instead focussing on building a business there, echoing his earlier comments on Xbox’s multi-platform business strategy. Phil Spencer on Xbox Games on Other Platforms Spencer spoke to Xbox Era ahead of last month’s Developer Direct showcase and talked about Microsoft’s decision to launch its first-party games on PS5 and Nintendo Switch, Xbox hardware and more. The executive said it was important for Microsoft to invest on its own platform, but there would be players who stick with PlayStation or Nintendo because of their existing libraries or for the exclusive games on those platforms. “And I don’t want to then look at that and say, well, there’s no way that we should be able to build a business there, find fans of our franchises there. I’m not trying to move them all over to Xbox anymore,” Spencer said in the interview published over the weekend. According to him, releasing Xbox first-party games on PS5 and Switch allowed more players to experience those titles and generated revenue for Microsoft to further invest in game development. Spencer also talked about showing the PlayStation logo for platform availability of a game at Xbox Developer Direct showcase, saying the company intended to be transparent with players and clarify the availability of a newly announced title. “I just want to be transparent with people – for shipping on Nintendo Switch, we’re gonna put that. For shipping on PlayStation, on Steam…People should know the storefronts where they can get our games, but I want people to be able to experience our Xbox community in our games and everything we have to offer, on every screen we can,” Spencer said. The Xbox chief emphasised Microsoft’s strategy to make its games available across as many platforms as possible, including Xbox consoles, PC, PlayStation, Nintendo and Cloud. According to him, Asia had become one of Microsoft’s fastest growing markets owing to PC and Cloud adaptation instead of Xbox hardware sales. Spencer said Microsoft won’t be able to convert a player already tied to a different platform. “So let’s find them in a way that works, and it’s better for Indiana Jones. It’s better for Xbox,” he said, referring to Bethesda’s Indiana Jones and the Great Circle being available to play via Cloud. Microsoft’s Multi-Platform Strategy Spencer’s latest comment on Xbox’s multi-platform strategy comes after he said last month that no game in Microsoft’s stable was off-limits on the question of launching on rival platforms. “There’s no specific game that I would — this kind of goes back to my ‘red line’ answer — like there’s no reason for me to put a ring fence around any game and say ‘this game will not go to a place where it will find players, where it will have business success for us,’” Spencer had said in an interview in January. “What we find is we’re able to drive a better business that allows us to invest in great game lineup like you saw (at Xbox Developer Direct). And that’s our strategy. Our strategy is to allow our games to be available.” Since its strategic shift to launch its first-party games on rival platforms in 2024, Microsoft has released more games on PS5 and Nintendo Switch. This year, the company has already confirmed that Forza Horizon 5, Age of Mythology: Retold and Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition will come to PS5 soon. Last week, it was reported that Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 would arrive on PS5, as well. Source link #Xbox #Chief #Phil #Spencer #Hes #Longer #Move #Players #Platforms #Xbox Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]