Pelican Press

Sri Lankan president’s coalition heads for landslide election win Sri Lankan president’s coalition heads for landslide election win Getty Images A parliamentary majority will be a boost for Dissanayake, who was elected on a promise to combat *********** and restore stability The alliance of Sri Lanka’s new leader is headed for a landslide win in the country’s snap parliamentary elections, according to partial official results. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP) coalition has so far won 97 seats. It needs 113 seats in the 225-member house to secure a majority. Dissanayake, who was elected in September, needs a clear majority to deliver his promise to combat *********** and restore stability after the island’s worst-ever economic crisis. The high cost of living was one of the key issues for many voters. Analysts expect the NPP to do well in the elections but what ******** to be determined is the margin of victory, and whether it gets the two-thirds majority it wants to be able to pass its ambitious reforms. In the outgoing assembly, Dissanayake’s Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party, which now leads the NPP, had just three seats. More results are expected later on Friday. “We believe that this is a crucial election that will mark a turning point in Sri Lanka,” the 55-year-old Dissanayake told reporters on Thursday after voting in the capital Colombo. Nearly two-thirds of former MPs chose not to run for re-election, including prominent members of the former ruling Rajapaksa dynasty. Sajith Premadasa, the man Dissanayake defeated in the presidential elections, led the opposition alliance. Dissanayake called for snap elections shortly after he became president to seek a fresh mandate to pursue his policies. There was “no point continuing with a parliament that is not in line with what the people want”, he had said. Out of 225 seats in the parliament, 196 MPs will be directly elected. The rest will be nominated by parties based on the percentage of votes they get in what is known as proportional representation. High inflation, food and fuel shortages precipitated a political crisis in 2022 which led to the ousting of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. His successor Ranil Wickremesinghe managed to negotiate a bailout package worth $3bn with the International Monetary Fund – but many Sri Lankans continue to feel economic hardship. “We are still stuck with the problems we faced before. We still don’t have financial help even to fulfil our daily needs,” 26-year-old garment factory worker Manjula Devi, who works in the Katunayake Free Trade Zone near Colombo, told the BBC. The number of people living below the ******** line in Sri Lanka has risen to 25.9% in the past four years. The World Bank expects the economy to grow by only 2.2% in 2024. Disenchantment with established political players greatly helped the left-leaning Dissanayake during September’s election. His party has traditionally backed strong state intervention and lower taxes, and campaigned for leftist economic policies. Dissanayake made history as Sri Lanka’s first president to be elected with less than 50% of the vote. Many observers think his alliance will do better this time. How his alliance fares will be partly due to a fragmented opposition – with many leaders and parties breaking away into either smaller groups, or contesting as independent candidates. Observers say the JVP-led alliance ran a more vibrant campaign than the opposition, which is likely to have a significant impact on the outcome of the election. What is clear is that whoever comes into power will be under massive pressure to perform and live up to their campaign promises. Sri Lanka’s economic situation ******** precarious – and the main focus is still on providing essential goods and services. How the country progresses from this point will be a real challenge for the new government. Additional reporting by Kelly Ng Source link #Sri #Lankan #presidents #coalition #heads #landslide #election #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

CoD: ****** Ops 6 Now Lets You Buy Gobblegums With Real Money CoD: ****** Ops 6 Now Lets You Buy Gobblegums With Real Money Call of Duty’s Season 1 update is now live in ****** Ops 6, bringing a fresh battle pass, more weapons, and new multiplayer maps. Zombies won’t receive a new map until Season 1 Reloaded, but the new update does add the ability to purchase Gobblegums. ****** Ops 6 returns the Gobblegum system from the Zombies mode in ****** Ops 3, and it includes special gumballs that offer a range of temporary or one-time use abilities to help in the ****** against zombie hordes. Some Gobblegums can help players upgrade their ******* rarity, give them free perks, revive teammates, or even teleport them away from danger. Season 1 Gobblegum packs The Season 1 update to ****** Ops 6 brings plenty of new cosmetic bundles to the in-game shop, and this includes Gobblegum packs for Zombies players. As of right now, the shop contains a small assortment of packs ranging from 200 CoD Points ($2) for a pack of three gums to a large pack of 12 high-end Gobblegums for 1,100 CoD Points ($10). However, it’s definitely worth noting that the Gobblegums are an optional loadout item, and ****** Ops 6 makes it easier than past years to earn free Gobblegums. Players earn the gums randomly while playing Zombies, and there are even double-XP events that can sometimes increase the Gobblegum earn rate. Gobblegums are featured in the Season 1 battle pass, and they’ll likely be available as rewards in future events as well. The Season 1 battle pass features over 100 items to unlock, including two new weapons, Sev as a playable operator, and plenty of cosmetic ******* blueprints. You can find more highlights of the Season 1 content here. Source link #CoD #****** #Ops #Lets #Buy #Gobblegums #Real #Money Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt submits pay offer to unions Health Minister Mike Nesbitt submits pay offer to unions PA Media Health Minister Mike Nesbitt presented the pay offer to unions on Thursday A pay offer aimed at avoiding industrial action by unions has been put on the table by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt. BBC News NI understands a pay award backdated to this August is currently being considered by union representatives. On Monday, Nesbitt said the latest allocation of money by the executive would not allow him to match pay deals in other parts of the ***. Speaking after meeting Nipsa, Unite, and Unison, the minister said there had been constructive discussions. “I put the plan to them and they accepted it as a serious proposal, but it is one they need to go away and think about and consult upon,” he said. “Equally, they have given challenges to me that I need to take to executive colleagues, beginning with the first and the deputy first minister, and I will do that at pace. “What we are in now is a process. I think now everyone recognises that the resolution to this will require an all-executive approach, and that is to all public sector pay, not just health,” Carmel Gates, said: “We are beginning discussions with members tomorrow to prepare for action” Carmel Gates, from NIPSA, said her union is not discussing the details from a meeting between unions and the health minister on Thursday, but still plan on talking to their members about a possible strike. Speaking on BBC’s The View programme, Ms Gates, said: “We are beginning discussions with members tomorrow to prepare for action because unless the offer that is coming to us is at least parity with colleagues in Britain, then it is not going to be good enough.” Rita Devlin of the Royal College of Nursing said: “We are in a better place than we were yesterday, but we’re not there yet. “I would not be recommending it to my members at this time.” She said that while no-one wanted to take industrial action, “every single year we ****** for crumbs off the table to try to make sure that our members get the money that they deserve”. The BMA said in July this year, the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Pay Review Body (DDRB) recommended an uplift of 6% for all doctors, and this had already been applied in the rest of the ***. Its Northern Ireland council chair Dr Alan Stout said the minister had told the BMA he was not in a position to make the full pay award. “On behalf of all doctors in Northern Ireland, I made it clear this was totally unacceptable,” Dr Stout said. “I will now meet with the chairs of all the BMA branch of committees in Northern Ireland to seek their views on how to proceed. “The scale of anger and outrage I have been hearing over the course of the last week is unprecedented. Doctors here are totally disillusioned with the Department of Health and its attitude towards doctors’ pay.” Analysis: Conversations continue over pay by Aileen Moynagh, BBC News NI health reporter Neither the health minister nor most health unions would comment on the details of this morning’s pay meeting. But BBC News NI understands the proposal from Mike Nesbitt would restore pay parity with England and Wales – but not full pay parity. What this interim offer means is that pay for health workers would be backdated to August and not April like England and Wales, at this stage. It’s understood Nesbitt has committed to working with the Northern Ireland Executive in a bid to find money to bridge the gap, with the aim of fully restoring pay parity if possible. Conversations and negotiations continue. PA Media The first and deputy first minister said the executive has to work within the budget Hope for a positive resolution – O’Neill Earlier, First Minister Michelle O’Neill said that a winter of strike action by various unions in Northern Ireland over pay is “not inevitable”. On Wednesday, unions representing teachers said they will also ballot their members on strike action. O’Neill said she hoped there could be a “positive resolution”. “We also have been faced with the fact they’ve settled pay in England but not here, we’ve allocated 57% of the budget this week to health,” she added. Stormont budget O’Neill said she and the Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly met the health minister on Wednesday night, ahead of his discussions with the unions. Little-Pengelly said the executive had to “work within the budget” it had. “A certain amount of funding has to go towards funding those frontline services, that is a finite amount of money,” she said. “The executive will be doing their best that is our promise.” O’Neill said that it’s a “challenging situation” and the the executive does not want workers to go on strike. “We will work to find solutions. I don’t think anything’s inevitable, we will work night and day to make sure we can get a positive resolution.” Source link #Health #Minister #Mike #Nesbitt #submits #pay #offer #unions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Halo Infinite devs confirm campaign updates aren’t happening, multiplayer support is far from over Halo Infinite devs confirm campaign updates aren’t happening, multiplayer support is far from over Metroid Prime 2: Echoes is celebrating its 20th anniversary this week after an initial Gamecube launch on 15th November 2004. In a new interview with developers Jack Mathews and Zoid Kirsch from Kiwi Talkz, it’s been revealed that the game’s multiplayer mode nearly featured playable Space Pirates. Source link #Halo #Infinite #devs #confirm #campaign #updates #arent #happening #multiplayer #support Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How much is Disney’s Singapore cruise? Here are rates for 2025 How much is Disney’s Singapore cruise? Here are rates for 2025 Bookings for Disney’s first cruise in Asia open on Dec. 10, 2024, about a year ahead of the ship’s maiden voyage, which is scheduled to depart Singapore in December 2025. Prices for a three-night cruise on the Disney Adventure for two adults start at $958, while double occupancy rates for four- and five-night cruises start at $1,318 and $2,694, respectively, according to the company’s website. But those who want rooms with a room can expect to pay more. Rates for a three-night cruise for two adults jump to $1,318 for an ocean-view room, and $1,438 for a room with a private verandah. The highest room category, a “Concierge” stateroom, which comes with extra services, is priced at $3,298 for two adults, according to the company’s website. However, rates for kids or additional adults in the same room are significantly lower, according to the company’s website. All in, a family of four who books a four-night journey in an ocean-view room can expect to pay about $2,876. A screenshot of Disney Adventure’s ocean-view room prices for four adults. Walt Disney Fans of the movie “Frozen” can opt to book two royal suites: the Elsa Royal Suite adorned with icy light fixtures and snowflake patterns, or the summer-inspired Anna Royal Suite with a forest ambience. Each suite will have living and dining areas, two bathrooms and two bedrooms — one outfitted with bunkbeds for the kids. Prices for those suites have not yet been released. Those who want to sail on the cruise’s maiden voyage can expect to pay more — around $780 per person for the three-night trip, according to the website. The prices for the cruise, which is scheduled to first set sail on Dec. 15, 2025, include meals, live shows and Disney character experiences. However, alcohol, internet and “******-exclusive dining” cost extra, according to the website. Details about the ‘Disney Adventure’ The “Disney Adventure” can hold 6,700 passengers and has seven themed areas inspired by Disney, Pixar and Marvel films. Certain experiences were specifically created for Disney’s ****** customer base, according to a Disney press release. Themed areas include: Imagination Garden: an open-air garden with a fairytale castle at the heart of the ship Toy Story Place: an outdoor water park with slides, rides and a playground San Fransokyo Street: a street market-inspired entertainment area with an arcade and shopping options Town Square: three decks of shops, lounges, cafes, salons and restaurants Disney Discovery Reef: a sea-themed outdoor dining area with bars and cafes Marvel Landing: an adventure zone with three new attractions, including Disney’s first rollercoaster at sea San Fransokyo Street will house one of several gaming lounges on the ship. A blended mix of San Francisco and Tokyo, the area is inspired by the Disney film “Big Hero 6.” Walt Disney Disney has slowly released details about its first Asia-based cruise this year, first announcing details about the ship in June, followed by the ship’s launch dates in October. To date, the website shows cruises departing through March 2026. Disney’s cruise will be docked in Singapore for at least five years, according to the terms of a partnership between Disney Cruise Line and the Singapore Tourism Board. The Marvel Landing features three new attractions, including the Iron Man-inspired Ironcycle Test Run, Disney Cruise Line’s first rollercoaster. Walt Disney Noting Singapore’s ability to draw tourists from China, Indonesia and India, Sarah Fox, vice president and regional general manager of Disney Cruise Line, shared “how incredibly important” the Southeast ****** market is to the company at a media conference on Oct.16. “We’ve really assessed the region,” said Fox. “The region, obviously, is very dynamic, and we’re very excited to be bringing Disney Cruise Line to those consumers around the area.” Source link #Disneys #Singapore #cruise #rates Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cupra’s new SUV to offer ‘wide range’ of engines including PHEV in Australia Cupra’s new SUV to offer ‘wide range’ of engines including PHEV in Australia Cupra Australia is gearing up for a comprehensive product onslaught in 2025, with the star of the show likely to be the all-new Terramar SUV. Due to launch around mid-way through next year, the 2025 Cupra Terramar will serve as the brand’s first proper entry into the burgeoning mid-size SUV segment, which currently accounts for around 22 per cent of all new vehicles sold in Australia. Speaking with CarExpert, head of product and marketing for Cupra Australia, Jeff Shafer, said: “I think [the Terramar] will be a real core model for us”. “It’s right in the heart of the SUV market in Australia – it’s that size that’s not too big and not too small. So, we’ll have three or four drivelines in the Terramar, and have a pretty good offering in terms of what that covers both in price and equipment.” 100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert When asked if the Terramar will be cutting the existing Ateca’s lunch, Mr Shafer said the two models are pretty different cars and appeal to different customers. “I think Ateca and Terramar sit in different spaces – definitely, the Terramar is a size up from Ateca. Even today, it’s a different customer that looks at Ateca versus Formentor, even though the size isn’t that different. “We’ll still see Ateca be ******* for us for another year and a bit,” Mr Shafer added. Revealed in September, the Cupra Terramar is the Spanish brand’s sportier take on the new-generation Volkswagen Tiguan – sharing its ******* cousin’s MQB evo architecture, drivetrains and tech but in an all-new design. Measuring 4519mm long, 1863mm wide and 1584mm tall with a 2681mm wheelbase, the Terramar is almost identically sized to the new Tiguan which measures 4539mm/1842mm/1639mm/2680mm. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert The height difference will be down to the Terramar’s standard sports suspension and slimline roof racks compared to the Tiguan. Mr Shafer confirmed a plug-in hybrid will make up one of the “three or four drivelines” coming to Australia, one being the 200kW/400Nm 1.5 TSI e-Hybrid version launched overseas, which offers 112-121km of electric driving range on the WLTP test cycle. It’s also understood the 195kW/400Nm 2.0 TSI with all-wheel drive is coming Down Under, serving as the performance hero for the time being with a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 5.9 seconds. This engine is shared with the Tiguan, as well as the facelifted VW Golf GTI and Skoda Octavia RS performance models. The only other engine confirmed globally at this stage is the 110kW/250Nm 1.5 eTSI mild-hybrid, which achieves a claimed 6.1-6.6L/100km and serves as the entry-level variant. This motor will also serve the entry point to the facelifted Leon and Formentor lineups in 2025. Full pricing and specifications aren’t confirmed for our market as yet, but we’d wager the Terramar will start in the low $50,000 bracket and head up around the $70,000-$75,000 mark for a fully loaded PHEV. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert The Terramar will be part of a wider product offensive from the Cupra brand in 2025, which will see the Formentor and Leon facelifts during the second quarter of 2025, as well as the go-fast 240kW Born VZ electric hatchback sometime during the first half of 2025. The all-new Tavascan electric crossover is due to arrive around March-April, and the new Leon Sportstourer wagon is earmarked for a July-August introduction – likely with 245kW 2.0 TSI AWD and 200kW 1.5 TSI e-Hybrid options – to round out the lineup Down Under. Cupra has also confirmed further expansion plans for its dealer and service network, promising a total of 20 points of ***** and 25 fully functioning service outlets by the end of 2025, in addition to a further 15 regional ‘service only’ sites. To the end of October, the Spanish brand has registered 1805 new vehicles, which is down 39.2 per cent on the same January-October ******* in 2023. Cupra’s October figure of 193 vehicles was also down 56.1 per cent. However, almost the entire range is getting refreshed in 2025, namely the volume sellers, and with the help of the new Terramar and Tavascan the brand hopes to sell between 8000 and 10,000 vehicles annually towards 2027-2028. Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert MORE: Everything Cupra Terramar Source link #Cupras #SUV #offer #wide #range #engines #including #PHEV #Australia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rue Valley puts a time loop spin on Disco Elysium Rue Valley puts a time loop spin on Disco Elysium Time loops are a perfect fit for video games. This interactive medium is inherently repetitious, and certain games, such as roguelikes, are intentionally designed to be played over and over. It’s natural to take that further and bring that repetition in play as a clear time loop. Deathloop and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask are some of the most famous examples of games with time loops, but indies like Twelve Minutes and The Forgotten City are equally as experimental with that idea. Rue Valley is the latest game built around a time loop and it does so by way of Disco Elysium. Rue Valley Alpha Gameplay Trailer Disco Elysium showed how an RPG that prioritizes dialogue, internal dialogue, and the emotional well-being of the player character can be just as engaging as one with combat. Emotion Spark Studio and Owlcat Games‘ Rue Valley takes that same idea and applies it to a depressed man stuck in a time loop at a motel in the middle of a desert. Embracing the time loop Rue Valley takes place over 47 minutes. The game begins with the main character in a therapy session at a motel at around 8 p.m. As the sun sets, players can explore the motel and surrounding areas and interact with the different characters there as time passes. The dialogue and the player’s inner monologue are presented similarly to how they are in Disco Elysium, although Rue Valley sports more of a comic book aesthetic. It does not play out in real time, but is based on the player’s fairly mundane actions. In a preview event attended by Digital Trends, Creative Director Marko Smiljanić explained that one of the main goals of Rue Valley is to “present mundane stuff that we experience every day in real life as something meaningful in a video game way,” like getting out of bed. “If in some RPGs you find a better sword, in this game, the equivalent of that would be getting out of bed,” Smiljanić says. Owlcat Games After 47 minutes worth of time passes, the sky around Rue Valley turns bright red and the timeline resets, and players begin their loop anew in that therapy session. Rue Valley is an ever-unfolding mystery box as players learn more about their situation with each passing loop and gain more insight into the surrounding characters and era. There isn’t a preset number of loops needed to complete the game. Smiljanić stresses that game length relies heavily on what the players choose to do or what their stats let them do. While there’s a lot of choice-driven dialogue in Rue Valley, that’s not its only RPG-driven system. Before the game begins, players must spend a certain number of “personality points” to create their character. Rather than increasing a stat like strength, these points bring the player’s personality toward different emotional extremes across decisional, social, and emotional axes. Through these, players can shape their character to be impulsive or calculated, introverted or extraverted, and sensitive or indifferent. Depending on the player’s personality, the dialogue and gameplay options will differ. There are also sometimes “stat checks,” which require acuity in a certain emotional state to be successful. In-game events will also apply status effects to the player and further impact those emotional stats and dialogue options. These status effects aren’t your typical RPG ones like poison or burning; they’re things like “total lack of motivation.” Owlcat Games These are all very subtle systems. Rue Valley isn’t a very bombastic game; it’s more of a slice-of-life RPG about depression with a supernatural time loop as a *****. It may be low-key, but what I’ve played so far is fascinating. While the depth and intrigue of its RPG systems certainly present themselves in this early look, time loop stories typically don’t make a ton of sense until you can see them through to the end. Thankfully, Rue Valley’s narrative is intriguing, so this seems to be another example of why time loops work so well in video games. Those intrigued by games with looping structures should keep this RPG on their radar. Rue Valley is in development for PC, and you can check out its open alpha on Steam. Source link #Rue #Valley #puts #time #loop #spin #Disco #Elysium Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Philippines braces for typhoon Man-yi as Usagi weakens Philippines braces for typhoon Man-yi as Usagi weakens MANILA (Reuters) – Typhoon Usagi weakened sharply on Friday after bearing down on the Philippines’ northern towns, blowing away houses in its path as authorities brace for another storm that could hit the capital Manila over the weekend. Usagi, known locally as Ofel, intensified into a super typhoon as it made landfall in the town of Baggao in Cagayan province on Thursday afternoon. Philippine meteorological agency Pag-asa said that Usagi has since weakened and is now headed towards Taiwan. Usagi is the 15th cyclone to hit the Philippines this year. Officials are already bracing for another typhoon, Man-yi, which could hit eastern towns and the capital region over the weekend as it continues to intensify in the western Pacific. Man-yi could become a supertyphoon on early Sunday, Pag-asa said. No casualties have yet been reported from Usagi, even as thousands of families living in vulnerable communities fled ahead of its arrival. Rueli Rapsing, head of the Cagayan disaster relief office, said town officials are still probing the extent of the damage from the storm. “There were more homes that were partially or totally blown after Marce (Typhoon Yinxing). Currently, we’re moving around assessing the damage,” Rapsing said on Friday. Preemptive evacuations of vulnerable residents in Typhoon Man-yi’s path will begin on Friday. Pag-asa said Man-yi’s center was last estimated around 795km (494 miles) east of the central town of Guian in Eastern Samar province, and warned of a storm surge of up to 3 metres (10 feet) in coastal towns of the central provinces. The Philippines is dealing with its sixth storm in a month, mainly hitting the main island of Luzon. Tropical Storm Trami and Typhoon Kong-rey brought heavy flooding and triggered landslides, ******** 162 people with 22 still missing, according to government data. Four storms churned in the western Pacific ocean at the same time this month, the first time it has happened since records began in 1951, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. About 20 tropical storms strike the Philippines each year on average, bringing heavy rains, strong winds and deadly landslides. (Reporting by Mikhail Flores in Manila; Editing by Nicholas Yong) Source link #Philippines #braces #typhoon #Manyi #Usagi #weakens Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The best all-in-one gets a lot faster The best all-in-one gets a lot faster The 2024 iMac looks the same as ever, but there’s an update that promises to dramatically transform the lineup. It’s not the M4 processor, though that’s nice. No, I’m talking about the boost in base memory that finally lifts the entry-level models from a deplorable 8GB to 16GB. That, along with the new chips, promises to finally make the $1,299 iMac cost effective for most buyers. There are a few other tweaks, like an optional nano-coated display, an updated 12-megapixel webcam and an assortment of new colors. Otherwise, things are much the same as last year, which may make you wonder if it’s worth the upgrade. After testing one for content creation, gaming and productivity, I can tell you that the answer is definitely yes. Apple Apple’s 2024 iMac comes with the powerful M4 chip and starts with 16GB of RAM, making it a better value than past models. ***** Powerful M4 processors 16GB of RAM comes standard Much improved webcam Nano-textured display option ***** Upgrades still too expensive Needs more screen size options No vertical height adjustment $1,204 at Amazon What’s new with the latest iMac? Side-by-side, the 2023 and 2024 iMacs look about the same. The 24-inch 4.5K 500-nit display and the computer itself are housed in the same slim 0.43-inch (11.5mm) thick frame. It still sits on an elegant stand that tilts but lacks an adjustable height setting. While tilt-only is a common setup on all-in-one PCs, at this point it would be nice to see Apple do even a simplified height adjustment like it did on the Studio Display. Elsewhere, there are two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the base model and four on the more expensive versions, along with a magnetic power connector and 3.5mm headphone jack on the left side — all the same as before. What is new is the higher-quality 12MP webcam that’s a massive leap up from past models. It finally delivers sharp and ******-accurate video worthy of the rest of the computer, to help you look your best when on FaceTime or Zoom. It supports Apple’s Center Stage feature that auto-centers the subject during video calls, even if you’re moving around. The new webcam also works with the new Desk View feature that lets you show off objects below your screen. Steve Dent for Engadget You can now get the iMac with optional nano-textured display glass that blocks glare, even with a light pointing right at it. Though it does slightly reduce sharpness, I’d recommend it if you can afford the extra $200. Otherwise, it’s the same clear and colorful display with 500 nits of brightness, a wide P3 gamut and a resolution of 4,480 x 2,250, which are all the same as before. The 24-inch size may be too small for some, but I found it ample for most work, and I’m used to dual 32-inch screens. Still, given that the iMac is Apple’s only desktop model with an integrated display, it would be nice to see a 27- or even 32-inch option on future models, even if that makes it less compact and portable. The iMac M4’s ****** palette also got a tiny refresh. Though it still comes in the same seven hues as before, they’re now in slightly paler shades that Apple calls “fresh.” Indeed, the model I tested is a very light green that is so subtle it’s hard to even see in dim light. I’m a fan of subdued hues, but anyone hoping for a shot of bright ****** may be disappointed. The accessories have also been updated. Both the new Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard (with optional Touch ID) now charge via USB-C rather than Lightning like the iMac M3, negating a major complaint in our previous review. As usual, all the accessories, including the cables, match the ****** of your iMac — a cute touch. Steve Dent for Engadget I love the feel of Apple’s keyboard for speed typing, as I’m not a mechanical keyboard guy. The Magic Mouse is an acquired taste, but the slightly firm click pressure and accuracy suit my taste and I love the ability to scroll side-to-side as well as up and down. Yes, the charging port is on the bottom, which is a bit of a design fail, but it can go a month between charges — and you only need to plug it in for a few minutes to get enough power to last a workday. The key updates are inside with the M4 processor, which is available in two variants. The base $1,299 model comes with an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and two Thunderbolt 4 ports. All other versions have 10-core CPUs, 10-core GPUs and four Thunderbolt ports, starting at $1,499 with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. There’s no M4 Pro option, and therefore no Thunderbolt 5 ports on any 2024 iMac. Every version but the base model also has gigabit ethernet (on the power brick) and Touch ID on the Magic Keyboard. The model I’m testing shows that Apple’s upgrades are still too expensive. It has a 10-core M4, 24GB of RAM, 1TB of storage and four Thunderbolt 4 ports, along with the nano-textured screen. Those three options (the extra 8GB of RAM, 1TB of storage and the updated screen) ****** the $1,299 price up to $2,299. The good news, though, is that not buying them won’t leave you with an unacceptable amount of memory as before. In use: Outstanding performance and friendly features Steve Dent for Engadget Desktop PCs don’t get much more practical than the iMac M4. Installing it is as easy as placing it on a surface and plugging it in, then running through a relatively quick setup. With everything integrated in the display, you can install it on your desk, in a ****’s bedroom or anywhere else with a small amount of space. It’s easy to move, too, as there are no cables other than power and weighs just 9.74 pounds. Performance was a pleasant surprise, better than I expected on tasks ranging from video editing to gaming. The key benchmarks show substantial gains over the iMac M3 in processing, graphics performance and AI, ranging from 20 percent on single CPU tests to over 30 percent on the GPU side. The iMac M4 is actually a touch faster than the 14-inch MacBook Pro M4, but pokier than the 16-inch model with an M4 Pro chip, particularly when it comes to graphics. In fact, GPU performance is considerably lower than the Mac Mini and even the MacBook Pro M3 Pro models. Still, integrated graphics are far more powerful than they used to be, and the iMac M4 beats most rival Windows PCs in that regard, including the Surface with a Snapdragon X Elite chip. However, it sits well below PCs with discrete graphics from NVIDIA and AMD. Computer Geekbench 6 Geekbench 6 GPU Cinebench 2024 Apple iMac (M4, 2024) 3,751/15,093 35,520 171/881 GPU 4,425 Apple iMac (M3, 2023) 3,125/11,818 25,922 137/659 GPU 3,340 Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) 3,925/22,456 70,197 178/1,689 GPU 9,295 Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X Elite) 2,797/14,400 19,963 123/969 GPU N/A Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max, 2024) 3,202/21,312 92,344 143/1,686 GPU 13,182 Gaming shows the iMac’s GPU deficiencies, with resolution limited to a maximum of 1080p for titles like Resident Evil 7 Biohazard and Baldur’s Gate 3 to have playable frame rates above 30 fps. Still, it’s not a bad gaming machine for an AIO that’s mostly designed to run Excel spreadsheets or make Zoom calls. It’s surprisingly solid for content creation, too. That’s aided by the rapid storage speeds (2.94/5.14 GB/s read/write), integrated video decoding and faster processor. For instance, I don’t expect a lot of iMac users to edit 8K 24p clips on Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve, but you can totally do that. It also handled Premiere Pro, Photoshop and Lightroom Classic projects well. The only place it stuttered was on RAW 8K video playback, which is a very big ask for an all-in-one. My 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro can handle that thanks to the extra cores, but it’s nearly $1,000 more. Steve Dent for Engadget With that bright, sharp display, the iMac M4 is also great for entertainment. It can play 4K HDR content and supports Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio thanks to the six speaker setup with two force-canceling woofers. Of course it’s better to use high-quality headphones, but the sound straight out of speakers is better than any AIO I’ve used before. When watching movies and series on Netflix and Prime Video (The Diplomat and Don’t Look Up), the iMac M4 provided a colorful, immersive viewing experience. Finally, AI was a big selling point of the M4 Macs at its unofficial Mac Week event. The iMac M4 fared well in that regard with a 51,421 Geekbench 6 quantized AI score, closely matching results from the M4 Pro and M4 Max (all M4 CPUs have 16 “Neural Engine” AI cores). As a more practical test, I transcribed a 69-minute Engadget podcast episode using the Whisper Transcription app, which took three minutes and four seconds. That was the same as the MacBook Pro M4, but a minute slower than the M4 Pro model. Should you buy the iMac M4? Steve Dent for Engadget With an unchanged design, there might seem to be no justification to buy or upgrade to the iMac M4. I disagree for one reason: Apple’s change to 16GB of base memory allows you to do more than ever on an entry-level iMac, including taxing activities like 4K video editing and AAA gaming. In fact, I would only consider getting an M3 or older model if getting one with 16GB of RAM is cheaper than the iMac M4. I would still avoid the base model if at all possible, though. For me, the sweet spot is now the $1,499 option that comes with 256GB of storage, four Thunderbolt 4 ports (to easily add extra storage) and the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID. That’s still not cheap, but gives you a very capable and expandable machine for $400 less than the minimum price we recommended last year. Source link #allinone #lot #faster Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Korean stock is a ‘unique’ beneficiary of Nvidia’s AI chips: Citi Korean stock is a ‘unique’ beneficiary of Nvidia’s AI chips: Citi Citi has identified South Korean firm Doosan Corporation as a significant beneficiary of Nvidia ‘s next generation of AI chips and expects its stock to rise by more than 40% in the next 12 months. The Wall Street bank initiated coverage of Doosan with a “Buy/High Risk” rating, setting a target price of 330,000 Korean won ($234) on the stock. The investment bank’s analyst highlighted Doosan’s unique position as the exclusive supplier of “copper clad laminate” (CCL) to Nvidia — an essential component in the chip giant’s upcoming Blackwell graphics processing units, or GPUs . Nvidia’s next-generation artificial intelligence chip Blackwell is in hot demand from companies like OpenAI, Microsoft , Meta and other firms building AI data centers to power products like ChatGPT and Copilot. “As the sole CCL supplier of Nvidia’s Blackwell chips, we expect Doosan to directly and materially benefit from Blackwell production throughout [2025 estimate *******],” Citi’s analysts led by Josh Yang said in a note to clients on Nov. 13 titled ‘Unique Direct Nvidia Blackwell Beneficiary in Korea’. CCLs are materials used to produce printed circuit boards used in electronics including servers and smartphones. Doosan’s CCLs are manufactured by Doosan Electronics, a subsidiary that accounts for over 70% of the corporation’s revenue. The electronics division is expected to see substantial growth as Nvidia ramps up production of its new AI chips, according to Citi. Citi forecasted that Doosan’s AI-related revenue could reach 363 billion Korean won ($258 million) in 2025, driving a 90% increase in operating profit for that year. The bank’s analysts believe this estimate could be *************, noting the increased CCL content per Blackwell chip, which could translate into a much higher total addressable market than previously estimated. Doosan’s stock has already shown strong performance, rising nearly 150% this year and almost tripling in value over the past year. The company is currently valued at about $2.5 billion on the Korean stock exchange. U.S. investors can access the stock through ETFs such as Schwab Fundamental International Small Co. Index ETF and Invesco FTSE RAFI Developed Markets ex-US Small-Mid ETF . Doosan is one of South Korea’s oldest business conglomerates and runs subsidiaries across energy, robotics, construction and real estate. — CNBC’s Michael Bloom and CJ Haddad contributed reporting. Source link #Korean #stock #unique #beneficiary #Nvidias #chips #Citi Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Snag Hundreds Of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Comics With This $30 Humble Bundle Deal Snag Hundreds Of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Comics With This $30 Humble Bundle Deal If you’re a fan of the half-shell heroes, you can lose yourself in dozens of digital comic books starring the iconic brothers with Humble’s new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ultimate Collection Comics Bundle deal. As with other Humble bundles, this collection features several payment tiers, starting at $1 for three graphic novels and going up to $30 for 27 ebooks. Even better, proceeds from this bundle will go toward the Make-a-Wish foundation, so you’ll be getting some great entertainment while performing a good deed. For a single buck, you’re getting the first three volumes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Reborn. This series introduced a brave new status quo for the ninja gang following the cataclysmic events of City at War. Each volume collects five issues of the ongoing IDW series–in other words, you’re getting 15 issues for just $1. The second tier gets you 11 items in total for $10, including the director’s cut of The Last Ronin graphic novel, two more volumes of TMNT: Reborn, and three trade paperbacks inspired by the ’80s animated series. You’re also getting The Art of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, so if you’re a fan of that movie, this is a fantastic companion book that shows off just how that film was designed. Humble’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ultimate Collection Comic Bundle The third tier has 26 items for $18, including seven volumes of the TMNT Ultimate Collection, which collects some of the earliest issues of the TMNT comics along with bonus material, like old sketches, concept art, and behind-the-scenes insight from TMNT creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. If you pay $30, you get all the previous books plus the massive Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Featuring The Last Ronin Collection, which includes 124 issues of IDW’s TMNT series and The Last Ronin spinoff series, all in a single volume. You can check out the full lineup of everything included in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Collection Bundle listed below or at the Humble store. All books purchased in the bundle are delivered as digital comics and accessed via the Koba ebook service, which requires a free account to login. Like other Humble bundle deals, a portion of all sales is donated to charity. For this bundle, Humble is teaming up with the Make-A-Wish foundation, which helps children with critical illnesses fulfill dreams like meeting their favorite superheroes, attending events, and more. If you’re on the hunt for a physical TMNT book, we’d also recommend the new and updated version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ultimate Visual History, as it just got a big discount. Released in July, this new edition expands on the original TMNT encyclopedia with a ton of extra content, including new chapters on Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Last Ronin, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Normally $75, it’s on ***** for $40 right now at Amazon. Humble Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Collection Bundle Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Reborn, Vol. 1 – From The Ashes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Reborn, Vol. 2 – Life After ****** Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Reborn, Vol. 3 – Time After Time Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Reborn, Vol. 4 – Sow Wind, Reap Storm Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Reborn, Vol. 5 – Mystic Sister The Art of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures, Vol. 1 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures, Vol. 2 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures, Vol. 3 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin-The Covers Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin Director’s Cut Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game-Opening Moves Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game-The Alliance Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Reborn, Vol. 6 – Game Changers Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Reborn, Vol. 7 – Isolation Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Reborn, Vol. 8 – Damage Done Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Reborn, Vol. 9 – First, Last, Always Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 2 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 3 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 4 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 5 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 6 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 7 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin-Lost Years Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Feat. The Last Ronin (Includes TMNT: The IDW Collection volumes 1-15 and The Last Ronin) Source link #Snag #Hundreds #Teenage #Mutant #Ninja #Turtle #Comics #Humble #Bundle #Deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Presenter to finish BBC Children in Need endurance cycle challenge Presenter to finish BBC Children in Need endurance cycle challenge BBC BBC presenter Paddy McGuinness is taking part in an ultra-endurance challenge for Children in Need BBC Radio 2 presenter Paddy McGuinness is due to complete his epic Children In Need cycling challenge on Friday, after riding 300 miles on a Chopper bike. The former Top Gear and Question of Sport host, 51, has raised nearly £5.9m during his five-day journey from Wrexham to Glasgow. Speaking on Thursday, he said he was “in bits physically and emotionally”, but thanked the public for the “wave of support”. McGuinness will find out the total raised by his ultra-endurance challenge during this year’s televised Children in Need appeal, which starts at 19:00 GMT on Friday on BBC One. McGuinness is due to arrive at the finish line in Glasgow earlier in the day. He was joined by Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy on Thursday, and has received messages of support from astronaut Tim Peake and his Phoenix Nights co-star Peter Kay, as well as hundreds of listeners. In his message, Kay told him: “Get across that finishing line and get yourself a nice garlic bread. This is the way to Glasgowrilla!” McGuinness’s fundraising total will rise significantly after Scottish businessman and philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter said he would double any donations made from Wednesday onwards, up to a £3m limit. Paddy McGuinness is cycling from Wrexham to Glasgow on a modified Raleigh Chopper bike The Bolton-born star has said he was motivated to take on the challenge by the people he had met who benefitted from projects funded by BBC Children in Need. “When you meet these people… that’s what spurs you on, and when you see the work that’s being done in and around it, and again, when you’re out and about, just people stopping me,” he said. Last year, another Radio 2 presenter, Vernon Kay, raised more than £5m for Children in Need after completing his ultra-marathon. The DJ ran from Leicester to Bolton – a distance of 116 miles – over four days. Children in Need is the BBC’s charity for disadvantaged children and young people across the ***. It has raised more than £1bn for charities and projects since its first major appeal in 1980. Friday’s live entertainment extravaganza on BBC One will involve three hours of comedy, music and surprise guests. Ade Adepitan, Chris Ramsey and Rochelle Humes will host the show, alongside Kay, Mel Giedroyc and Lenny Rush. Yui Mok/PA Wire Sarah Harding, who ***** in 2021, is being celebrated in a new single One of the most anticipated elements of this year’s appeal is a new version of ****** Aloud single I’ll Stand By You, with the lead vocal sung entirely by their late bandmate Sarah Harding. The ballad was originally released as a Children In Need song in 2004 and topped the *** chart for two weeks. The 20th anniversary re-release will again raise money for the charity. A new version of the music video, featuring unseen archive footage, will be screened during Friday’s appeal show. Other highlights on the night will include Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa introducing a preview from the forthcoming Doctor Who Christmas Special. Doctor Who fans will have the chance to own pieces of memorabilia from the show when two items go up for auction. There will also be a performance by singer Ella Henderson, while fellow pop star Kylie Minogue has recorded a special message which will be played on the night. Viewers can also expect a visit from the stars of Gladiators, as well as a special performance from Strictly Come Dancing as the professionals are joined by TV character Bluey. And actor Gary Oldman will read a CBeebies bedtime story, which will be aired as part of the show. BBC Children in Need will air at 19:00 on Friday 15 November on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Source link #Presenter #finish #BBC #Children #endurance #cycle #challenge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Batman Arkham Shadow lead says fan reaction proves the fanbase is alive and worth investing in Batman Arkham Shadow lead says fan reaction proves the fanbase is alive and worth investing in Batman Arkham Shadows director Ryan Payton reveals that the team expected a negative reaction to the VR game’s reveal. Source link #Batman #Arkham #Shadow #lead #fan #reaction #proves #fanbase #alive #worth #investing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

JAC T9: *********** aftersales program locked in for new ******** ute JAC T9: *********** aftersales program locked in for new ******** ute JAC’s local distributor has now announced service pricing and roadside assistance coverage for the new T9 ute. Source link #JAC #*********** #aftersales #program #locked #******** #ute Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The best Lego games for Nintendo Switch The best Lego games for Nintendo Switch You can’t talk about the best Switch games without at least one Lego game coming up. These games have adapted all of the major franchises, from superheroes to fantasy characters, into some of the most enjoyable games for kids and adults. Or, better yet, play them together since nearly all of them are best played in local multiplayer. At this point in the Switch’s lifecycle, there are over a dozen Lego games out there to pick from. While you could always go with whichever one is based on your favorite franchise, there are a few others not based on a license that are just as good. These are our picks for the best Lego games on the Switch that mix in both license properties and original IPs. If you do plan on playing these with a friend or family member, make sure you have a spare controller ready. Source link #Lego #games #Nintendo #Switch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Video shows early king tide action on the Oregon Coast Video shows early king tide action on the Oregon Coast PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Video from Otter Rock shows surging tides slamming the Oregon Coast on Thursday, as the first of several seasonal king tides are set to hit the Pacific Northwest this weekend. Although the upcoming king tides technically start Friday, KOIN 6 Meteorologist Josh Cozart reminds beachgoers that the abnormally high tides slowly build as the alignment of the sun and moon create extra gravitational pull on the Earth. “They slowly work their way up to King Tide status,” Cozart said. Oswego Lake restrictions lifted after judge determined public access ban was unlawful Oregon man Mike Peeples recorded the powerful ocean waves shortly before 11 a.m. from the Inn at Otter Crest. The video shows the rising tide tossing logs like toothpicks as powerful waves ****** against the coastal bluffs. Cozart warns that the possibility of sneaker waves makes king tide season especially dangerous. The National Weather Service urges people to stay off and well clear of large logs and debris fields that are anywhere near the surf line or below the high-water marks. “In the remote and rugged coastline of the Northwest, where sneaker waves, beach debris, extreme tides and freezing water temperature combine, even walking along the beach can be dangerous if you aren’t alert,” the NWS warns. “In areas like this, it is important to understand the dangers that might unexpectedly put you in the water. Cold water temperatures in the Northwest can make any immersion in the water deadly.” La Niña winter predicted: Oregon could see more snow this year Oregon’s 2024-25 King Tides Forecast: Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Source link #Video #shows #early #king #tide #action #Oregon #Coast Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sales from Amazon, Best Buy, Apple, Anker and others Sales from Amazon, Best Buy, Apple, Anker and others November is in full swing, which means ****** Friday is right around the corner. But the days in which you had to wait for ****** Friday proper to get good deals have long been behind us. The holiday shopping season is effectively the entire month of November now, with early ****** Friday deals already popping up across the web (and in some stores). We’re starting to see deep discounts on a bunch of your favorite tech we’ve tested this year, which means you can start crossing things off your to-buy list right now. If you’re holding out for the best of the best deals, we recommend holding tight until the week before Thanksgiving to see the offerings then, but make no mistake, the sales already available are some of the best of the year. These are the best early ****** Friday deals we could find; we’ll be updating this post regularly throughout November, so check back for the latest discounts. Engadget’s top picks The best early ****** Friday tech deals Apple ****** Friday deals Nathan Ingraham / Engadget Apple AirTags (four-pack) for $70 ($30 off): These are the Bluetooth trackers to get if you have an iPhone, and they allow you to keep track of your keys, wallet and other belongings from within the Find My app. Just make sure to pick up an AirTag holder or case if you plan on using them with your keys. Apple MagSafe charger pad for $25 ($14 off): Apple’s newest MagSafe charger provides up to 25W of fast-charging power to iPhone 16 handsets when paired with a 30W or 35W adapter. It works with older iPhones too, of course, and will provide that satisfying magnetic snap with the latest Apple smartphones (and AirPods, too). Apple Watch Series 10 for $349 ($50 off): The latest Apple Watch is our top pick for the best smartwatch you can get thanks to its slightly thinner and lighter design, wide-angle OLED panel for better viewing angles, watchOS 11 features and slightly improved battery life. Apple iPad (9th gen) for $200 ($129 off): Apple discontinued this model with the release of the new iPad Pro and Air models earlier this year. In what’s likely an effort to get rid of current stock, the price is down to a new record low of $200. The 9th generation iPad is the former budget pick in our guide to the best Apple tablets and will serve well as a casual browsing, streaming and game playing machine. Apple MacBook Air (M3, 13-inch) ***** $899 ($200 off): The latest MacBook Air is our top pick for the best laptop for most people, and this model has 16GB of RAM built in — double the previous base amount. If you’re ok with getting an M2 processor, that 13-inch MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM is also on ***** for $749. Apple 2024 M4 iMac desktop computer for $1,150 ($148 off with coupon): Apple just released the refreshed iMac last month, and now the silver model is already on *****. It has the latest Apple silicon, the M4 system on a chip that gives it a speed boost and enables the new Apple Intelligence features in macOS Sequoia. Anker ****** Friday deals Anker MagGo 3-in-1 foldable charging station for $82.50 (25 percent off with coupon): This Qi2 charging station supports up to 15W of power output and can charge an iPhone, Apple Watch and a pair of AirPods all at once. It also comes with a 40W USB-C charger and connecting cable, so you get everything you need to use it in the box. Anker 10K MagGo power bank for $70 ($20 off, Prime exclusive): This is one of our top picks for the best power banks you can buy today thanks to its versatile capacity, speedy Qi2 charging capabilities, clear screen that shows remaining battery power and its built-in kickstand. Anker 3-in-1 10K portable charger for $36 ($9 off, Prime exclusive): A top pick in our best power banks guide, this 10K brick has a built-in USB-C cable so you don’t need to remember to bring one with you, plus it has an extra USB-C port for charging other devices. Anker Prime Power Bank 200W with charging base for $110 ($75 off): This high-capacity power bank is one of our favorites thanks to its speedy charging performance, onboard display which shows how much juice is flowing to each connected device and the included charging station that provides a neat space for the brick to live when you’re not using it. Anker Soundcore Space A40 for $44.25 ($35.75 off): The Space A40 is the longtime top pick in our guide to the best budget earbuds, as it delivers the kind of robust feature set we expect from pairs that cost three times as much. Call quality isn’t the best, and it won’t auto-pause when you take out an earbud, but its warm sound, powerful ANC, eight-ish hours of battery life and comfy design all impress for the money. This deal ties the lowest price we’ve seen — it’s only available to Prime subscribers at Amazon, but you can also grab it at Anker’s online store with an on-page coupon. Google ****** Friday deals Cherlynn Low for Engadget ****** Friday subscription deals Audible Premium Plus (3-month) for $1 ($29 off): Those who don’t currently subscribe to Audible can get three months of the audiobook service’s Premium Plus plan for $1. Normally, the service costs $15 per month after a 30-day free trial. As a refresher, Premium Plus is Audible’s upper tier: In addition to giving access the full Audible Plus library, it lets you keep one title from a curated selection of audiobooks each month. We wouldn’t call it essential, but if you’ve been on the fence, this is a good way to see if it’d work for you. Just note that the plan will auto-renew until you cancel. Amazon Kindle Unlimited for $0 for one month ($12 off): Amazon’s ebook subscription service gives you access to a catalog of thousands titles for unlimited reading, select Audible audiobooks to listen to and included magazines to read. Prime members can get a different deal: two months for only $5. Headspace annual plan for $35 ($35 off): Our top pick for the best meditation app has tons of courses that address specific anxieties and worries, a good in-app search engine that makes it easy to find the right meditation you need and additional yoga routines, podcasts and music sessions to try out. ProtonVPN Plus two-year plan for $72 ($168 off): Our top pick for the best VPN is based on open-source framework and has a no-logs policy. Its easy-to-use apps are available on most platforms including iOS, Android, macOS, Windows and more, and some of them even include a *****-switch feature. ExpressVPN two-year plan plus six extra months for $150 (82 percent off): Our top pick for best VPN for travelers provides access to tons of servers and had some of the fastest connections of any VPN service we tested. In addition to a VPN, this subscription tier gives you access to an ad blocker and password manager. ****** Friday Amazon device deals Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget Amazon ***** TV Stick 4K Max for $33 ($27 off): Amazon’s most powerful dongle supports 4K streaming with Dolby Vision, Wi-Fi 6E and live picture-in-picture mode so you can see security camera feeds directly on your TV as you’re watching a show or movie. Amazon ***** HD 10 for $75 ($65 off): No ***** HD tablet comes close to matching the performance, build quality and app support of an iPad, but they’re significantly more affordable, and they still work well enough if all you need is something for casual streaming, e-reading and web browsing. At this price, the 10.1-inch ***** HD 10 is likely a better value than the smaller ***** HD 8, as it has a sharper display, it’s a tick faster and it can last slightly longer on a charge. Just be ready to deal with a bunch of ads for Amazon’s own apps and services. This discount ties an all-time low, and it’s also available at Best Buy and Target. Blink Outdoor 4 (6-pack) for $180 ($300 off): The Outdoor 4 is a wireless, IP65-rated outdoor security camera we highlight in our guide to the best smart home gadgets. It captures decent (if not class-leading) 1080p video, it’s relatively painless to install and it supports features like night vision, motion alerts, local storage and two-way talking. The catch is that it locks things like person detection and cloud storage behind a subscription plan. Still, it’s a solid value on balance, and this deal furthers that. We’ve seen this price on a six-camera bundle for a few weeks, but it’s still an all-time low. An eight-camera pack is also on ***** for $250, another low. ****** Friday tech deals LG 65-inch B3 OLED smart TV for $998 ($301 off): This OLED TV has a 120Hz refresh rate, LG’s a7 AI processor Gen 6, and support for NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium and VRR for an even better gaming experience. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (three months) for $30 ($15 off with code TWENTY): This deal brings the price of three months of access down to $36 and change, but using the code TWENTY at checkout will bring the price down even further to around $30. Xbox Series X (1TB) with extra controller for $490 ($110 off): This bundle includes a total of two Xbox wireless controllers with the Series X console, and the built-in 1TB SSD is a good starting point for most gamers. Samsung Music Frame for $248 ($150 off): This unique smart speaker can show art or your own photos while it plays music, and it can sync with your Samsung TV speakers. Also available at Samsung. Hisense U8N 4K TV (55-inch) for $728 ($371 off): The U8N is the next step up from the U7N in Hisense’s TV lineup, so it should provide better colors, contrast and brightness across the board. If you don’t mind buying a smaller panel for around the same price, this is another new low. Also at Best Buy. Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ for $170 ($50 off): Our top pick for the best budget Android tablet sports an 11-inch 90Hz display, a microSD card slot for extra storage and a hefty battery. Samsung T9 portable SSD (4TB) for $293 ($257 off): The latest model in the T-series of Samsung’s portable drives supports read and write speeds of up to 2,000MB/s, and it has dynamic thermal guard to keep it cool even when you’re pushing it to its limits. Also available at Samsung. Seagate Storage Expansion Card 2TB for $200 ($160 off): Seagate’s expansion card is one of the best options for expanding your Xbox Series X/S storage. A 2TB version has dropped to $200, its lowest price to date. It’s one of our picks for the best Xbox Series X/S accessories. Also available at Seagate. Dyson V11 cordless vacuum cleaner for $400 ($170 off): Dyson machines are some of the best cordless vacuums you can buy, and this model has three power modes, a motorbar cleaner head that works well on all types of flooring and up to 60 minutes of runtime. Also available at Dyson. iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max for $974 ($425 off): You can get a sizable discount on one of the newest (and more expensive) robovacs at Wellbots with the code ENGBF425. This one mops, vacuums, empties itself and cleans its own mop pad with little involvement from you. Levoit Core 400S air purifier for $178 ($42 off): The top pick in our best air purifiers guide reliably improved air quality in our testing, plus it has easy to use onboard controls and takes inexpensive replacement filters. Segway Ninebot Max G2 electric scooter for $775 ($225 off with coupon): The latest electric scooter from Segway can reach a maximum speed of up to 25mph, and it can run for up to 43 miles in Eco mode. ****** Friday FAQs When is ****** Friday 2024? ****** Friday 2024 lands on November 29 this year. When do ****** Friday deals start? We expect some ****** Friday tech deals to start as early as November 1. Over the past few years, retailers have been kicking off the holiday shopping season earlier and earlier. This trend will continue in 2024, and you’ll likely find early ****** Friday deals available online and in stores in the weeks before the actual shopping event. When do ****** Friday deals end? Some ****** Friday tech deals will end immediately on Saturday, November 30. But those will likely be few and far between. Along with starting deals earlier and earlier, retailers have also extended ****** Friday deals past the day for a while now, too. In the tech space, we’ve seen many ****** Friday deals in the past run through Cyber Monday. Where are the best ****** Friday deals? There is no one place to buy all of the best ****** Friday deals, but you can expect the big retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target to have many of the same ****** Friday deals available — both in the lead up and on the day itself. We also recommend checking direct-to-consumer sites like Apple, Samsung, Sonos and others to make sure you’re getting the best deal before you cross things off your list. Does Apple have ****** Friday deals? You typically will not find cash discounts on Apple’s website for ****** Friday, though it has offered various gift card bundles during ****** Friday in recent years. You may be able to find local Apple store discounts on accessories, but Apple isn’t a retailer known for slashing prices on its products. However, you can find more traditional Apple ****** Friday tech deals at other retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Best Buy. Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. Source link #Sales #Amazon #Buy #Apple #Anker Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Here’s my no. 1 piece of career advice for young people Here’s my no. 1 piece of career advice for young people Dr. Geetha Murali, CEO of Room to Read. Courtesy of Dr. Geetha Murali. For Dr. Geetha Murali, the topic of education is a deeply personal one. As the CEO of Room to Read, a leading non-profit organization with the mission to create a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, she is acutely aware that the power of education could break cycles of ******** and inequality around the world. “We’ve done a lot of reflection on [the] skill sets that children need, which are sort of those gatekeeper, foundational skills that allow [them] to overcome other limitations in their lives, and when you look at young children… the fundamental skill set you need is being able to read,” Murali told CNBC’s “Make It.” “Once you’re able to read, all of a sudden, the world opens up to you, and you can develop the learning pathways that can help you make good, informed choices,” she said. Globally, about 754 million adults cannot read and write, two thirds of whom are women, according to a 2024 publication by UNESCO. And in 2023, UNESCO reported that 250 million children were not in school. Since it was founded in 2000, Room to Read has benefitted over 45 million children across 24 countries and deployed about $850 million into improving foundational learning for children around the world. Murali joined the organization in 2009 as a manager, and has since risen to become the company’s top leader. Murali was also selected to be part of “CNBC Changemakers: Women Transforming Business,” an annual list spotlighting women whose accomplishments have left an indelible mark on the business world. Like mother, like daughter Murali was born in New York and spent some of her early years on the East Coast. Like many children of immigrants, she was given a different fate than her parents had. She spent her childhood in a developed country where she had access to decent education, unlike her mother, who grew up in India. Dr. Geetha Murali with her mom. Courtesy of Dr. Geetha Murali. “We came from a family where child marriage was quite the norm,” she said. “My grandmothers were married at the ages of two and 14.” Murali said her mother — the eldest of seven — was brilliant and had completed high school at the age of 12, but nevertheless was expected to pursue marriage over her education. She had aspirations to continue her studies, but her father only wanted to pay for their eldest son — the fourth child — to go to university. “There were three ****** before him, and so with that, my mom kind of had this real sense of injustice,” said Murali. “She wanted to go to school, and they wanted her to get married, and so she did something that was pretty revolutionary at the time.” Murali’s mother rebelled against her family’s wishes and began taking classes by herself in their community. Later, she joined the Indian Army as a nurse, which became her ticket to go to the U.S. on a nursing visa. “So, she comes to the U.S., puts herself through university, and ultimately becomes a biostatistician with a pretty illustrious career,” so much so that she is able to send money back to her siblings in India so that they could also continue their studies, said Murali. “I say this pretty often when I’m talking about her, and the parallel to what we do at Room to Read with ****** education — one decision that she made to not get married really created that ripple effect for an entire generation,” she said. Today, Murali’s aunts, uncles and cousins ​​have been able to continue their education and pave their own path to success, and it was all because of that “shift in the importance of education in the household, especially for ******,” said Murali. Hearing these stories growing up shaped Murali in a profound way. Naturally, she took after her mother and was a star student. By 22, she had already earned two bachelor’s degrees in biostatistics, one master’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and was working full-time in big pharma. Realizing a personal mission Growing up in this environment, Murali was highly achievement oriented. “I think a lot of what defined the early part of my life was just… I kind of kept my head down and studied all the way through,” she said. “You know, collecting degrees, demonstrating competencies, and realizing that I have the privilege of choosing how I apply those skills in a very different way than [my mom] had.” Murali was working in a large pharmaceutical company, doing clinical trial support and data analysis when she realized that she wasn’t fulfilled. “I was, like, early 20s, with a great job, kind of looking around for the first time, going: ‘Is this really what I’m going to do for the next 45 years of my life?'” During this time, she was also working towards getting a PhD in South ****** Studies at UC Berkeley. Over the course of many conversations and exploration, Murali decided to pivot her research into the social sector. Dr. Geetha Murali with Michelle Obama. Courtesy of Dr. Geetha Murali. As part of her research, she began taking trips to India where she spoke directly with locals to learn more about voting patterns. And while she was on the ground, she gained much more insight than anticipated. “I think some of the most meaningful [experiences] were really when we were doing surveys with parents… and when we were talking about expectations from government — it turned into expectations for me,” she said. The parents would ask her for basic needs like having a light set up on their street so it would be safer for their kids to walk around at night, or for a school to be built closer to their community so they don’t have to travel so far. “In the end, all the conversation we could have about… the various concepts that we were applying through my PhD process was not as important as the fact that I couldn’t get a light on the street, like I would have given everything up to get a light on that street,” said Murali. What I try to share with others is that we’re not limited by what came before us. Dr. Geetha Murali CEO, Room to Read Biggest lessons as a CEO From that point on, Murali decided that she wanted to do work that was directly tied to social impact and community development, and to this day, that is exactly what she’s done. Under her leadership, Room to Read has also stayed true to being an organization that implements and makes direct measurable change. Murali reflected on some of the biggest lessons she’s learned in her career: “What I try to share with others is that we’re not limited by what came before us.” “The human being, if given the basics… you are capable of so much more than you really think you are. So, I always tell people, when you think you’re at your limit, just push yourself a little bit further.” Since 2000, Room to REad has benefitted over 45 million children. Courtesy of Dr. Geetha Murali. Upon reflection, Murali thinks what propelled her to become a leader was simply hard work coupled with a tendency toward being bold. “I wasn’t afraid of hard work. I was willing to put the hours in, and I was very achievement oriented,” she said. “I no longer have the ***** of: ‘Let’s just do incremental change and not take risks.'” “I’m sort of at the point where I believe that these basic rights should be a given, and the moves we have to make must be bold [in order] to make them happen,” Murali continued. “So I think there’s a level of boldness that has come in this part of my career that probably allows me to push Room to Read a lot faster than it has been in the past.” To young people, Murali offers one key piece of advice: “I think a plan is good, but not over planning. Like a GPS can be helpful, but don’t be afraid to do some off roading.” “In the end, having really strong, functional skill sets that you can apply is really the way that I would start my career, because you can’t quite predict, especially in this day and age, all the different job opportunities and career paths that are going to be available in next five to 10 years.” Building these skill sets early on and learning how to be adaptable to also leverage them for different functions is highly valuable, she added. Dr. Geetha Murali in Vietnam. Courtesy of Dr. Geetha Murali. Additionally, when choosing a career path, learning how to “drive your passion” and not letting your passion drive you is important. Developing a level of pragmatism by getting good at functional skills can help you find financial security while still doing something you love. It doesn’t have to be one or the other, she said. To date, Room to Read has distributed over 42 million books around the world. In October, the organization released “She Creates Change,” the first nonprofit-led animation and live action film project to promote gender equality. Along with its foundational learning initiatives for young children, Room to Read also focuses on helping adolescents, particularly female, develop the life skills necessary to break cycles in their own families and to be the changemaker in their own communities. The organization is working to teach the “skill sets [adolescents] need to navigate the day to day challenges that they face, be it something like early marriage… or many others — ********* against women, trafficking, child labor, food scarcity or water scarcity,” Murali told CNBC “Make It.” “They have to figure out how to navigate in very practical terms and be able to negotiate with their families, negotiate with their communities to keep in school.” Want to earn more money at work? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Negotiate a Higher Salary . Expert instructors will teach you the skills you need to get a ******* paycheck, including how to prepare and build your confidence, what to do and say, and how to craft a counteroffer. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 50% off through Nov. 26, 2024. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life. Source link #Heres #piece #career #advice #young #people Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thrustmaster’s Upcoming T-Flight Hotas One Microsoft Flight Simulator Edition Is Available For Preorder Thrustmaster’s Upcoming T-Flight Hotas One Microsoft Flight Simulator Edition Is Available For Preorder Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is right around the corner with a release date of November 19. And if you’re looking to take to the skies like a true pilot, consider adding the Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas One Microsoft Flight Simulator Collectors Edition to your setup. Its name is a mouthful, but it’s a premium flight stick that makes a great companion for the upcoming game. Preorders are now available at Amazon and Best Buy ahead of its November 19 release. $100 This flight stick is officially licensed by Microsoft, making it the ideal fit for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. It features 14 buttons, a rapid trigger, a multidirectional hat switch, and a detachable throttle that lets you find the most comfortable position for your setup. The entire controller looks cool too, with a white and ****** design along with some Flight Simulator logos and blue accents scattered across its frame. It’s compatible with both PC and Xbox Series X. Thrustmaster is calling this a “Collectors Edition,” so it’s unclear if inventory will be limited. At any rate, it’s bound to be popular, so reserve one while you can. If you miss out on preorders, you can pick up the standard Thrustmaster T-Hotas One for $100. It gets you most of the same features but comes in ****** instead of white. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Deals Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will be available on launch on Xbox Game Pass–and ahead of ****** Friday, Woot is offering a huge discount on a 3-Month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, letting you join for just $29.19. Along with Flight Simulator 2024, Game Pass includes hits like Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6, Starfield, and Halo Infinite. Pick up a membership today, and you can play into the new year for cheap. If you prefer purchasing physical games, then read through our Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 preorder guide for a full rundown of all available versions. The Premium Deluxe Edition is the most enticing at $130, however, as it gets you not just the game and a steelbook, but also tons of additional in-game content. If you’re interested in the Premium Deluxe Edition, preorders are still available at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. Source link #Thrustmasters #Upcoming #TFlight #Hotas #Microsoft #Flight #Simulator #Edition #Preorder Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bitcoin hacker sentenced to five years in prison Bitcoin hacker sentenced to five years in prison A hacker has been sentenced to five years in a US prison for laundering the proceeds of one of the biggest ever cryptocurrency thefts. Ilya Lichtenstein pleaded guilty last year to hacking into the Bitfinex cryptocurrency exchange in 2016 and stealing almost 120,000 bitcoin. He laundered the stolen cryptocurrency with the help of his wife Heather Morgan, who used the alias Razzlekhan to promote her hip hop music. At the time of the theft, the bitcoin was worth around $70m (£55.3m), but had risen in value to more than $4.5bn by the time of they were arrested. The $3.6bn worth of assets recovered in the case was the biggest financial seizure in the DOJ’s history, deputy attorney General Lisa Monaco said at the time. “It’s important to send a message that you can’t commit these ******* with impunity, that there are consequences to them,” district judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said. Lichtenstein, who has been in prison since his arrest in February 2022, expressed remorse for his actions. He also said that he hopes to apply his skills to ****** cybercrime after serving his sentence. Morgan also pleaded guilty last year to one count of *********** to commit money laundering. She is due to be sentenced on 18 November. According court documents, Lichtenstein used advanced hacking tools and techniques to hack into Bitfinex. Following the hack, he enlisted Morgan’s help to launder the stolen funds. They “employed numerous sophisticated laundering techniques”, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) said in a statement. The methods included using fictitious identities, switching the funds into different cryptocurrencies and buying gold coins. Lichtenstein, who was born in Russia but grew up in the US, would then meet couriers while on family trips and move the laundered money back home, prosecutors said. Morgan’s Razzlekhan persona went viral on social media when the case emerged. Even as the couple attempted to cover up the hack, she published dozens of expletive-filled music videos and rap songs filmed in locations around New York. In her lyrics she called herself a “bad-**** money maker” and “the crocodile of Wall Street”. In articles published in Forbes magazine, Morgan also claimed to be a successful technology businesswoman, calling herself an “economist, serial entrepreneur, software investor and rapper”. Source link #Bitcoin #hacker #sentenced #years #prison Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Silent Hill meets Killer7 in this must-try new horror game Silent Hill meets Killer7 in this must-try new horror game This year has been a bit of a renaissance for retro horror games. Not only have we gotten a ******* blast from the past thanks to Bloober Team’s Silent Hill 2 remake but the indie scene has returned to the era of lo-fi horror in a big way. Games like Crow Country and ***** the Spotlight have brought us back to the days of fixed cameras and blocky heroes. Now you can add another great throwback to the list of 2024 alt-horror greats: Sorry We’re Closed. A debut title from à la Mode Games, Sorry We’re Closed is both familiar and unlike anything I’ve really played. On its surface, it’s another ode to Silent Hill with some light puzzling and tight resource management. Below those clear inspirations, though, is one of the year’s most stylish and inventive games, one that’s not easily classifiable by genre. If you think that there’s no uncharted territory left for retro horror to explore, think again. Neon-soaked horror If you were jumping into Sorry We’re Closed ******, you might not realize that it’s a horror game at all in its opening moment. The most immediate red herring is its striking, neon-soaked art style that looks like a cross between Killer7 and Neon White. Even beyond that, the story opens up with a bickering couple and our hero, Michelle, working a shift as a despondent convenience store cashier. It all looks like a mundane slice-of-life story … until Michelle goes to sleep and meets a paralysis ****** that places a curse on her. That kicks off a twisted — and at times convoluted — tale as Michelle works with angels and demons to both break free from her curse and fix her struggling relationship. It’s a creative setup that fuses modern indie sensibilities with classic horror, and that extends to Sorry We’re Closed’s inventive gameplay. I figure I’m not in for many surprises when I start exploring a dreary underground train station. I’m walking around in search of puzzle items and avoiding creepy rat-like creatures all through the watchful eye of fixed camera angles that obscure my vision. It’s a pitch-perfect throwback that’s not too far off from Crow Country, right down to some water pipe puzzling. Sorry We’re Closed | Launch Date Announcement Trailer That familiar structure gets a few major shakeups. When I press down the left trigger, I’m suddenly viewing what’s directly in front of me in first person. It’s a neat magic trick that has a big impact on exploration. Sometimes I need to jump into first person to find something that a fixed camera angle is hiding from me. I can’t figure out how to progress in one room until I hold the trigger down and realize that what I think is a flat floor is actually the top of a staircase I can descend. It makes for some clever problem-solving that’s new for a game cut from this cloth. That’s only the tip of the innovation iceberg. Early in the story, Michelle’s third eye is opened as she explores the dream world she’s trapped in. That’s not just a turn of phrase; it’s a superpower. By pressing a button, a circle spreads out around me and reveals what the space I’m in looks like in the real world. For instance, impassable vines may block my path in the dream world, but they vanish while my third eye is open. It’s another spatial puzzling layer that goes beyond the genre’s classic lock-and-key item-hunting *****. The third eye bleeds into combat too, creating Sorry We’re Closed‘s most striking feature. When I aim my ******* at an ****** in first person, I can open my third eye to reveal a weak point in them, represented by a crystal heart. When I ****** at it, sometimes another appears. My goal in battle is to hit those weak points with a sort of rhythmic accuracy to maximize damage (thus saving my precious ammo). Doing so also charges up a “heartbreaker” shot, which allows me to deliver a *****-shot to any ******. In boss fights, I need to nail that pattern to charge up my shot and take them out. One battle against a squid monster has me dodging its gnashing beak, quickly switching to first person to hit its weak points, and then ******* off my heartbreaker. All of that looks incredibly stylish too, peppering bright neon colors and UI flourishes on top of the lo-fi aesthetic. Akupara Games As a creative swing, this may sound like a lot of ideas to throw out at once — and it is. As sharp as all the individual parts are, the adventure can be a little messy at times. The perspective switching is a great idea, but I’m often left fumbling with controls as I try to get enough distance between me and approaching creepers to switch to first person, get the right ******* equipped, and open my third eye quickly. It doesn’t help that it’s a little hard to judge what distance an ****** can actually strike me at (and vice versa), which led to a few surprise deaths during my playthrough. Combine that with a story that gets a little too wrapped up in its demonic lore, and you’ve got an eclectic horror game that doesn’t fully snap all its ideas together by its ending. I’m always willing to forgive a lack of polish when in a game that’s this loaded with creative energy, though. It may be indebted to PlayStation horror classics, but it brings me back to the first time I played Killer7 more than anything. I was a teenager at the time and I’d quite literally never played anything like it at that point in my life. I still haven’t, honestly. The strange on-rails ********* setup made for an otherworldly experience, like I was playing a shooter from another planet. Sorry We’re Closed has that same feeling, which makes it easier to get lost in its strange world. You can play plenty of more polished horror games this year, but none of them will open your third eye quite like this. Sorry We’re Closed is available now on PC. Source link #Silent #Hill #meets #Killer7 #musttry #horror #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AI will start remixing your music on YouTube AI will start remixing your music on YouTube Like a song you put on a YouTube video but want to give it a new spin? The video platform is testing a new AI tool to do just that, at least for when you post a Shorts video. YouTube is letting a limited number of creators use the AI tool as a kind of co-producer. They can submit their music and a prompt about genre, mood, or other elements, and the AI will spin a new 30-second soundtrack that attempts to meet the request. The remix feature employs YouTube’s Dream Track, an AI toolkit released a year ago to some U.S.-based artists. The AI works with the creators to compose songs based on prompts and pre-recorded vocals. Artists like Charli XCX, Demi Lovato, John Legend, Sia, T-Pain, and Charlie Puth all gave permission to YouTube for Dream Track to use their singing. The new tool carries Dream Track into the popular track remix facet of the music industry by restyling it to a new mood and type of sound. They might turn a pop song into a jazz ballad or an R&B song into a formal, baroque-style sound. All of the Dream Track features use the Lyria music generation AI model developed by Google’s DeepMind team. Lyria interprets words and audio and recombines the ideas behind both into unique music. Despite being new tracks, YouTube made a point of saying that the AI origin and the human artist behind the new track will be obvious. “If you’re a creator in the experiment group, you can select an eligible song > describe how you want to restyle it > then generate a unique 30-second soundtrack to use in your Short,” YouTube’s description explained. “These restyled soundtracks will have clear attribution to the original song through the Short itself and the Shorts audio pivot page, and will also clearly indicate that the track was restyled with AI.” Music dreams The ability to quickly customize music to fit any specific genre, mood, or theme has obvious appeal for creators. And the industry probably won’t be too upset thanks to YouTube’s proactive measures to avoid copyright issues. YouTube and Google have made ostentatious efforts to compensate creators and rights holders when it comes to AI assistance. YouTube and Universal Music Group (UMG) signed a deal last year to work out a compensation scheme for AI to defuse that question before YouTube releases an AI music generator. Compare that to the annoyance of creators who have seen their videos scraped to train AI models without their permission. Still, YouTube wants AI to fill its platform in as many ways as possible. The platform has already tested all kinds of AI tools for the public. AI can help inspire new video ideas with YouTube’s Brainstorm with Gemini tool and jump ahead of the kind of rights issues raised by artists thanks to an AI tool for removing copyrighted music from your video without taking it down completely. You might also like Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. Source link #start #remixing #music #YouTube Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

University cash crisis will get worse despite tuition fee rise, BBC told University cash crisis will get worse despite tuition fee rise, BBC told BRANWEN JEFFREYS/BBC Tuition fees for undergraduate degrees in England will rise in autumn 2025 Almost three quarters of universities in England will face financial problems next year – despite tuition fees increasing, the BBC has been told. A report published on Friday reveals how financial issues faced by most universities are even worse than previously thought. The Office for Students (OfS) predicts more than a third are likely to have serious cash flow problems. Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Sir David Behan, the regulator’s chairman, called for ******** change, saying course closures and university mergers might be needed for financial stability. The government is considering the long-term funding and reform of universities. Tuition fees in England will rise for current and existing students by £285 to £9,535 a year for those on full-time degrees, in autumn 2025. Even so, new analysis by the OfS, the independent regulator of higher education in England, shows a worsening position for universities. The regulator had said it expected 40% of universities to be in financial deficit in 2023-24. Now the OfS says by 2025-26, 72% could be spending more money than they have coming in and may have to use an overdraft or financial reserves, with a total £1.6bn deficit forecast across the sector. In 40% of institutions, cash flow may become so tight there will only be enough money in the bank to cover one month at a time of bills including salaries. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the OfS findings show “why universities must do more to make their finances work”. Radically reimaginedBRANWEN JEFFREYS/BBC OfS chairman Sir David Behan says universities need to cut costs to reduce the risk of institutions closing Sir David Behan, the OfS chairman, says a university going bust “isn’t imminent now”, but to reduce the risk higher education needs to be “radically reimagined”. He suggests universities should think about “a transformation of their offer”, looking closely at the length and range of courses, and how to increase degree apprenticeships where tuition fees are covered mainly through the levy on larger employers. Apprentices are paid to work while they study, so students end up with less debt. Sir David says universities also need to collaborate more, and should consider mergers or whether courses at nearby institutions are too similar – saying it “doesn’t make sense” for those universities to compete with one another. But, he says, as some universities reduce the number of courses on offer he doesn’t want to see “cold spots” where students in more rural locations don’t have a choice of courses at their nearest university. The outlook has worsened for universities because they have recruited fewer *** and international students than predicted. For home students, the OfS says, Ucas figures suggest numbers have increased by around 1.3% this year, compared with the optimistic 5.8% universities had predicted. Universities that traditionally required higher entry grades have fared better, because they have simply taken a ******* share by accepting some students with lower results. This has led to lower recruitment and increased pressure in universities that accept middling grades, and some smaller institutions. International recruitment has also fallen, with overall visa applications down by about 16% this year, and 20% fewer applications from India alone. Since January, most international students have been banned from bringing family members to live with them in the ***. The rule was introduced last year by Rishi Sunak’s government, which committed to bringing immigration numbers down. Difficult decisions All of this comes as the government considers what to do about university funding in England from 2026, in a review likely to conclude next year. The OfS report acknowledges that the scale of change needed will not be easy. Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities ***, which represents 140 institutions, says universities are already “making tough choices to control costs”, adding that the sector “needs to continue evolving”. She says the size of the challenge “is a source of serious concern”. The University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich has cut £30m in the last 18 months – almost 10% of its annual spending. Prof David Maguire, the vice chancellor, says “difficult decisions” have led to a 20% reduction in the number of courses, increased lecture group sizes, less one-to-one contact between academics and students, and fewer staff in student support including in mental health and counselling. Unlike big city universities, there are no nearby institutions to collaborate with, so remaining financially sustainable is crucial, especially for the many local students who live at home. Prof Maguire says universities need to know what tuition fees or direct funding they will get through to the next election. “We don’t want ***** and bust, where one year we’re up, the next year we’re down,” he says. “That doesn’t help anybody.” The increase in National Insurance contributions the university has to pay as an employer will more than wipe out the increase in tuition fees next year, he adds. As universities cut back there is a risk to the student experience – this year the largest annual study of undergraduates found only 36% in England thought their course was good or very good value for money. Sir David says he expects “absolute transparency” about what students are getting in return for fees, whether on contact hours or important services such as mental health support. He suggests business degrees are one area that might need more scrutiny to demonstrate which offer the best outcomes for students. BRANWEN JEFFREYS/BBC Teddy says he can see where his tuition fee goes on his healthcare course Teddy Darvill-Cutts is a UEA occupational therapy student who says he can see where his tuition fee goes. “I’m surrounded by all this up-to-date technology, everything’s working well,” he says. But another UEA student, Amber Bramham, says not “all students see the benefits equally”. The financial pressures on universities could lead to very visible changes such as institutions focusing on a smaller number of courses to which they can recruit well. The forecasts published on Friday will also form part of the public debate, and private negotiations between universities and ministers considering whether tuition fees should rise further in the future. The heat is now on universities to bring down costs, with renewed scrutiny from ministers and the regulator over how they spend money. This could renew pressure around vice chancellors pay, even though it is a tiny fraction of the spending of universities with a turnover of £500m or more. Source link #University #cash #crisis #worse #tuition #fee #rise #BBC #told Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This Apple ****** Friday deal drops the Apple Watch Series 10 to a new low price on Amazon This Apple ****** Friday deal drops the Apple Watch Series 10 to a new low price on Amazon You don’t have to look too hard to find early ****** Friday deals on Apple devices. For one thing, the has dropped to a new all-time-low price on Amazon. The wearable can be yours for $350. That’s $50 off, or a discount of 13 percent. That price is for the smaller 42mm model without LTE functionality. However, the 46mm variant is also . Apple The Apple Watch Series 10 has dropped to its lowest price to date. Both sizes are $50 off ahead of ****** Friday. $349 at Amazon The Apple Watch Series 10 is our pick for the overall, but it’s probably best to look at other options if you’re an Android user. After all, you’ll need a compatible iPhone to set up the wearable and get the most out of it. We gave the Apple Watch Series 10 a . Apple redesigned the smartwatch to offer a larger screen and thinner frame, both of which were plus points in our book. The wide-angle OLED panel offers better viewing angles. The wearable has in-depth fitness and health tracking too, with new functions including sleep apnea detection. We found that there was a slight increase in battery life thanks to efficiency improvements, but some alternative smartwatches run for much longer on a single charge. Overall, this is a somewhat iterative update compared with the Series 9 and 8, but if you’re upgrading from an older Apple Watch (or buying one for the first time), you may find the features, performance and charging speed to be impressive. Meanwhile, a four-pack of Apple AirTags has also . Apple will soon enable a that allows you to more easily share the location of the tracker with airlines and other people. Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. Source link #Apple #****** #Friday #deal #drops #Apple #Watch #Series #price #Amazon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sri Lanka leader’s coalition set for election victory Sri Lanka leader’s coalition set for election victory Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s coalition, the National People’s Power, is set for victory in a snap general election, results from the Indian Ocean island’s poll body show. Dissanayake, who won the presidential election in September, is seeking a mandate for his policies aimed at alleviating distress among the poor in a country struggling to emerge from a severe financial crisis. Marxist-leaning Dissanayake’s coalition had just three of parliament’s 225 seats before Thursday’s election, prompting him to dissolve it and seek a fresh mandate. NPP won 44 seats, receiving almost 62 per cent or more than five million votes in Thursday’s election, putting them on course for victory, latest results on the Election Commission of Sri Lanka’s website showed. “We see this as a critical turning point for Sri Lanka. We expect a mandate to form a strong parliament, and we are confident the people will give us this mandate,” Dissanayake said after casting his vote on Thursday. “There is a change in Sri Lanka’s political culture that started in September, which must continue.” Samagi Jana Balawegaya party of opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, the main challenger to Dissanayake’s coalition, won 11 seats and about 19 per cent of the votes polled. Just over 17 million Sri Lankans were eligible to elect lawmakers for a five-year term. A record 690 political parties and independent groups were contesting across 22 electoral districts. Source link #Sri #Lanka #leaders #coalition #set #election #victory Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]