Pelican Press

Arcade1Up’s Game Board With 100-Plus Games Is $50 Off At Amazon Arcade1Up’s Game Board With 100-Plus Games Is $50 Off At Amazon Amazon has a great deal on Arcade1Up’s Infinity Game Board that drops the price from $500 to $450. To get the full $50 discount, make sure to click the coupon box on the Amazon store page. The digital board game tablet includes over 100 games and activities and has a built-in shop where you can purchase additional games. The Game Board is a lap-sized device with a built-in 18.5-inch HD touchscreen and offers space for up to six people to play. It comes with over 100 board games and activities like Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, and more; plus you can always purchase and download more games from the online storefront. There’s even online play using its built-in Wi-Fi functionality, and with a full-HD resolution, you’re getting a sharp picture for your sessions. Arcade1Up Game Board and Game Table Arcade1Up also makes a coffee table version dubbed Infinity Game Table. It comes with a 32-inch screen and detachable legs, which makes it more suitable for multiplayer. The Infinity Game Table, however, retails for double the cost of the Game Board. Amazon currently has the Infinity Game Table in stock for $993. Source link #Arcade1Ups #Game #Board #100Plus #Games #Amazon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Somerville police chase: 21y/o man charged after Audi ‘rammed three police cars’, cops ‘narrowly’ avoid injury Somerville police chase: 21y/o man charged after Audi ‘rammed three police cars’, cops ‘narrowly’ avoid injury A dramatic car chase through Kalgoorlie ended in a resident’s front garden after several police cars were allegedly rammed and officers ‘narrowly’ avoided being run down overnight. Source link #Somerville #police #chase #21yo #man #charged #Audi #rammed #police #cars #cops #narrowly #avoid #injury Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Horizon Online Could Launch in 2025, Job Listing Suggests Horizon Online Could Launch in 2025, Job Listing Suggests Since 2022, PlayStation fans have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of a Horizon multiplayer game – and LEGO Horizon isn’t about to fill that gap anytime soon. It was claimed in September that Horizon’s multiplayer project is the next Guerrilla Games deliverable, not a ‘Horizon 3’. Per a recent job listing, it looks as though the team will be preparing to release this live-service Horizon title in at least some form next year. Into the Wild It has been at least two years since the first reports of ‘Horizon Online’ surfaced. Since then, almost nothing has been divulged by either Guerrilla Games or insiders close to the project. In March 2024, Jason Schreier suggested that the game hadn’t been shelved amid a restructuring effort at PlayStation, and in September, he outright claimed that Guerrilla’s next game is this multiplayer title. In January, leaks revealed alpha footage from a multiplayer-based Horizon title, along with a little key concept art. This content revealed a unique direction for the game, which many claimed ‘looked like Fortnite’. Eagle-eyed users recently dug up a job listing for a ‘Release QA Intern’ at Guerrilla Games. In this listing, it’s mentioned that the successful candidate will be working on an ‘online project’ and that they’ll need to be available in ‘the first half of 2025’. In the listing’s description, it’s stated that they’ll help ‘to ensure the game is prepared for launch’. If we assume that the QA ******* takes a fair bit of time to complete, we could be looking at a release window – or at least an early access window – of H2 2025. We almost know that this is a live-service multiplayer title, and it’s not uncommon that they’re released in an ‘unfinished’ or beta state. Are you looking forward to a potential Horizon multiplayer game? Let us know in the comments. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news about Embracer Group’s $1.2 billion divestiture Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Horizon #Online #Launch #Job #Listing #Suggests Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

First-Ever Amber Discovered in Antarctica Shows Rainforest Existed Near South Pole First-Ever Amber Discovered in Antarctica Shows Rainforest Existed Near South Pole Imagine a time machine that could whisk you back to the age of the dinosaurs. Suddenly, you find yourself in a dense, swampy forest, with insects buzzing between flowers, ferns, and conifers. Believe it or not, you’re standing in West Antarctica. Scientists in Germany and the *** have now discovered amber there for the first time – the fossilized ‘blood’ of ancient coniferous trees that once grew on Earth’s southernmost continent between 83 and 92 million years ago. Along with fossils of roots, pollen, and spores, the amber provides some of the best evidence yet that a mid-Cretaceous, swampy rainforest existed near the South Pole, and that this prehistoric environment was “dominated by conifers“, similar to forests in New Zealand and Patagonia today. The unearthing of amber in Antarctica pulls back the continent’s current icy exterior to reveal an ancient habitat once warm and wet enough to host resin-producing trees. In the mid-Cretaceous, those trees would have had to survive through months of total darkness over winter. But survive, they clearly did. Even if they had to go dormant for long chunks of time. Before this discovery, scientists had only found Cretaceous amber deposits as far south as the Otway Basin in Australia and the Tupuangi Formation in New Zealand. “It was very exciting to realize that, at some point in their history, all seven continents had climatic conditions allowing resin-producing trees to survive,” says marine geologist Johann Klages from the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany. “Our goal now is to learn more about the forest ecosystem – if it burned down, if we can find traces of life included in the amber. This discovery allows a journey to the past in yet another more direct way.” A slice of the Antarctic amber, showing signs of intruding bark from a Cretaceous-era tree. (Klages et al., Antarctic Research, 2024) Scientists have unearthed fossilized wood and leaves in Antarctica since the early 19th century, but many of these discoveries date back hundreds of millions of years to when the southern supercontinent Gondwana existed. As Antarctica drifted away from Australia and South America toward the south pole, it’s not entirely clear what happened to its forests. In 2017, researchers drilled into the seafloor near West Antarctica and pulled up exceptionally well-preserved evidence of these long-lost habitats. After several years of analysis, Klages and a team of researchers announced in 2020 that they had found a web of fossilized roots that dated back to the mid-Cretaceous. Under the microscope, they also identified evidence of pollen and spores. That same drilling has now offered up concrete proof that resin-producing trees once existed in Antarctica. In a 3-meter (10-foot) long layer of mudstone, Klagen and a new team have described several tiny slices of translucent amber, just 0.5 to 1.0 millimeters in size. Each hosts a variation of yellow to orange colors with typical scalloped fractures on the surface. This is a sign of resin flow, which occurs when sap leaks out of a tree to seal the bark against injuries from fires or insects. The Cretaceous was one of the warmest periods in Earth’s history, and volcanic deposits found on Antarctica and nearby islands show evidence of frequent forest fires during this time. The drill sample from Antarctica contained remnants of amber and possible intrusions of bark, seen in the red square. (Klages et al., Antarctic Research, 2024) The amber was probably preserved and fossilized because high water levels quickly covered the tree resin, protecting it from ultraviolet radiation and oxidation. It even looks like the amber contains some tiny bits of tree bark, but further analysis is needed to confirm that. Piece by miniscule piece, scientists are gradually putting together a picture of what Antarctica’s forests once used to look like and how they functioned 90 million years ago. The study was published in Antarctic Research. Related News Source link #FirstEver #Amber #Discovered #Antarctica #Shows #Rainforest #Existed #South #Pole Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is It Too Late For Microsoft to Make Xbox Handheld to Compete With Steam Deck and Switch Is It Too Late For Microsoft to Make Xbox Handheld to Compete With Steam Deck and Switch In recent years, the gaming industry has seen a major resurgence in handheld consoles. This has been driven largely by the success of the Nintendo Switch and, more recently, the release of the Steam Deck. And it looks like Microsoft and Xbox want in on the action. Microsoft may be too late with its handheld. | Image Credit: Xbox Xbox head Phil Spencer recently confirmed that a handheld Xbox is in the works. However, the market has already been dominated by the Steam Deck and Switch. And there are already competitors from ASUS and Lenovo. So can Xbox compete, or is this an uphill battle to capture market share? Microsoft’s Announcement May Be Too Little Too Late The Nintendo Switch made handheld gaming great again. | Image Credit: Nintendo In an interview with Bloomberg, Phil Spencer confirmed that an Xbox handheld is in the works. He highlighted that the Xbox team is experimenting with prototypes but doesn’t expect to launch the device for several years. This might suggest that Microsoft is studying what the handheld market wants before rushing into production. The Nintendo Switch has been a game-changer since 2017, providing the ability to play console-quality games anywhere. Then the Steam Deck was released in 2022 and gave gamers a way to play PC games on the go. These two set the standard, but there is always competition. This would have hit 10 years ago — Uzi Obi (@ObiUzi) November 13, 2024 By the time Microsoft releases its own handheld console, it could face competition not only from these titans but also from emerging rivals like ASUS’s ROG Ally and Lenovo’s Legion Go. One factor that could differentiate Xbox’s future handheld from others is Microsoft’s substantial cloud gaming infrastructure, which could allow the device to stream console-quality games without needing high-end hardware. Steamdeck already has access to gamepass and the windows store so I feel like this is an uphill battle to gain market share. — Nasdorachi (@Nasdorachi) November 13, 2024 If Xbox takes the cloud-based route, it may offer a more affordable alternative for players wanting high-quality gaming on the go without the premium price tag. Cloud gaming does require strong internet connections, which may limit its appeal in areas with less reliable connectivity. The Company Still Has a Chance If It Does It Right Other companies have already taken advantage of the hype. | Image Credit: Valve Microsoft is also committed to improving the Xbox app experience on existing devices. This will offer valuable feedback for the handheld’s final design. Spencer acknowledged the app’s limitations and the ******* to improve it on devices like ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go. By making updates to the app to perform optimally on various handhelds, Microsoft can gather essential user feedback on what works well and what doesn’t. This will ultimately let the company know what’s best. Xbox wants to first understand the market’s demands, and then build. I think their biggest hurdle is trying to make a handheld friendly ui. The problem with handheld pcs aren’t the hardware but mostly the software. Windows just isn’t suited for mobile use. — GrimKaiser808 (@GKaiser808) November 13, 2024 Xbox faces an uphill battle in timing. The device’s projected release is still several years out, with Spencer estimating that a launch may not occur until the next Xbox console generation, which is likely in 2028. Comment byu/Arthur_Morgan44469 from discussion inpcgaming By the time Xbox finally releases its handheld, there may be too much competition, both new and old. Nintendo is already planning to release the Switch 2 within the first half of 2025, and Valve could also improve on the Steam Deck. To counter this, Xbox is focusing on other parts of the gaming ecosystem, with growth in cloud and PC gaming. Spencer has highlighted the “healthy future” of the Xbox business, citing increased engagement and Game Pass’s success as critical factors for long-term success. Source link #Late #Microsoft #Xbox #Handheld #Compete #Steam #Deck #Switch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Explosions Go Off Near Brazil’s Government Offices Explosions Go Off Near Brazil’s Government Offices Emergency responders worked to extinguish fires, as ***** squads swept the area. Source link #Explosions #Brazils #Government #Offices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Avatar: The Last Airbender RPG: everything we know so far Avatar: The Last Airbender RPG: everything we know so far There have been several games based on the hit Nickelodeon show Avatar: The Last Airbender, but never one that managed to live up to the source material’s legacy. After The Legend of Korra in 2014, we haven’t had any new games that let us experience the world of elemental bending. That’s all about to change now that Paramount Games and Saber Interactive have announced that a new Avatar AAA RPG is in the works. We’ve mastered all four elements to bring you as much information about this new chapter in the Avatar saga as possible. Release date speculation This new Avatar: The Last Airbender game is so early in development that we don’t even know what its official title is yet. All we know is that the game is in its very early stages and is poised to be “the biggest video game in franchise history.” If this will indeed be a AAA game, we could be waiting four or more years for this game to come to fruition. We’ll keep you updated on the timeline as we get more information. Platforms Avatar: The Last Airbender Nickelodeon No platforms were confirmed for this new Avatar game. Saber Interactive typically releases all its games on every platform, so we would assume it will come to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PC, and perhaps even whatever the Switch 2 ends up being. Trailers We have no footage, screenshots, or even concept art for the Avatar game. However, we do know what direction the team is going with the world and story. With the announcement, we learned that this game will feature an “all-new, never-before-seen Avatar” who exists thousands of years before the events of the first series. We will be playing as this unknown Avatar and “can expect to be immersed in a vibrant world, master all four elements, engage in dynamic combat alongside companions, and experience the challenges and decisions that come with being the keeper of balance in the world.” Besides the goal of learning all the elements, there’s not much else we can predict since it will be set so far back in the timeline. Gameplay Nickelodeon This Avatar game is described as a AAA action RPG. Now, action RPGs can take many forms, so how gameplay will function is hard to pin down. Since we will be playing as an Avatar, though, we expect to learn and use all four elements during combat. The mention of companions implies a party of some sort, which could also add new layers to the action. Preorder Sorry, Avatar fans, but this unnamed project is still quite a ways away. As soon as we know when you can preorder it, we will update this page, so stay tuned. Source link #Avatar #Airbender #RPG Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

stocks, news, data and earnings stocks, news, data and earnings ********* markets were heading for a mixed open on Thursday as traders assessed the global inflation outlook and the possible trajectory of central bank rate cuts. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 24 points higher at 8,041, Germany’s DAX 1 point higher at 18,975, France’s CAC up 12 points at 7,223 and Italy’s FTSE MIB down 19 points at 33,404, according to IG data. It’s another busy day of earnings with Siemens, Bilfinger, Merck, Fincantieri, Geox, Generali, Veon, Swiss Re, Burberry, Metro Bank, Aviva and Deutsche Telekom among those reporting during the session. ********* employment figures will also be published on the data front. Investors are assessing the likelihood of another interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve in December after the latest U.S. inflation data. The October consumer price index came in as expected on Wednesday, but signaled that the Federal Reserve’s ****** against inflation is yet to be won. Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose by 0.3% for a third straight month, with the 12-month rate at 3.3%. Investors are also deliberating whether a post-election rally following Donald Trump’s decisive victory last week still has legs after propelling U.S. major averages to new highs. U.S. stock futures were little changed Wednesday night, and Asia-Pacific markets traded in mixed territory. Source link #stocks #news #data #earnings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is laying off 325 more workers NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is laying off 325 more workers The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA’s research center responsible for robotic space missions, will lay off more workers before the year ends due to budget constraints. JPL Director Laurie Leshin has announced in a memo addressed to employees that the reduction will affect 325 people, or about five percent of its whole workforce. Leshin explained that the lab took various measures to meet its budget allocation for the 2025 fiscal year and to minimize the adverse effects of a limited budget on its workers. In the end, though, JPL “reached the difficult decision” to make “one further workforce reduction.” The lab already cut 530 employees and cut over 100 contractors from its roster earlier this year because of uncertainty over the final budget that the Congress will give NASA for 2024. It also froze hiring in response to the dilemma. The main reason why the lab had to implement those measures was because the Mars Sample Return Program was allocated a much smaller budget than it needed. NASA had requested $950 million for the mission, but only $300 million was allocated for it. NASA’s original plan was to bring home the samples collected by the mission in 2040. But its budget ballooned from $7 billion to $11 billion, and as The Washington Post notes, the government found the return date “unacceptable.” For the 2025 fiscal year, NASA only requested $200 million for the project that could go through significant changes. The agency is now looking for ways to alter the mission and is even considering proposals from private companies. Leshin said that the layoffs will affect all areas of the lab, including its technical, business and support divisions. “[W]e had to tighten our belts across the board, and you will see that reflected in the layoff impacts,” she said. JPL’s director also said that the US presidential election results have nothing to do with the reduction that the “action would be happening regardless” of its outcome. Source link #NASAs #Jet #Propulsion #Laboratory #laying #workers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

OpenAI to present plans for U.S. AI strategy and an alliance to compete with China OpenAI to present plans for U.S. AI strategy and an alliance to compete with China In this photo illustration, the OpenAI logo is displayed on a mobile phone screen with a photo of Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. Didem Mente | Anadolu | Getty Images OpenAI’s official “blueprint for U.S. AI infrastructure” involves artificial intelligence economic zones, tapping the U.S. Navy’s nuclear power experience and government projects funded by private investors, according to a document viewed by CNBC, which the company plans to present on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. The blueprint also outlines a North ********* AI alliance to compete with China’s initiatives and a National Transmission Highway Act “as ambitious as the 1956 National Interstate and Defense Highways Act.” In the document, OpenAI outlines a rosy future for AI, calling it “as foundational a technology as electricity, and promising similarly distributed access and benefits.” The company wrote that investment in U.S. AI will lead to tens of thousands of jobs, GDP growth, a modernized grid that includes nuclear power, a new group of chip manufacturing facilities and billions of dollars in investment from global funds. Now that Donald Trump is President-elect, OpenAI has made clear its plans to work with the new administration on AI policy, and the company’s Wednesday presentation outlines its plans. Trump plans to repeal President Biden’s executive order on AI, according to his campaign platform, stating that it “hinders AI Innovation, and imposes ******** Leftwing ideas on the development of this technology” and that “in its place, Republicans support AI Development rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.” OpenAI’s presentation outlines AI economic zones co-created by state and federal governments “to give states incentives to speed up permitting and approvals for AI infrastructure.” The company envisions building new solar arrays and wind farms and getting unused nuclear reactors cleared for use. “States that provide subsidies or other support for companies launching infrastructure projects could require that a share of the new compute be made available to their public universities to create AI research labs and developer hubs aligned with their key commercial sectors,” OpenAI wrote. OpenAI also wrote that it foresees a “National Transmission Highway Act” that could expand power, fiber connectivity and natural gas pipeline construction. The company wrote it needs “new authority and funding to unblock the planning, permitting, and payment for transmission,” and that existing procedures aren’t keeping pace with AI-driven demand. The blueprints say, “The government can encourage private investors to fund high-cost energy infrastructure projects by committing to purchase energy and other means that lessen credit risk.” A North ********* AI Alliance and investment in more U.S. data centers OpenAI also foresees a North ********* AI alliance of Western countries that could eventually expand to a global network, such as a “Gulf Cooperation Council with the UAE and others in that region.” The company also outlined its vision for nuclear power, writing that although China “has built as much nuclear power capacity in 10 years as the US built in 40,” the U.S. Navy operates about 100 small modular reactors (SMRs) to power naval submarines, and leveraging the Navy’s expertise could lead to building more civilian SMRs. OpenAI’s infrastructure blueprint aligns with what Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s head of global policy, told CNBC in a recent interview. He sees the Midwest and Southwest as potential core areas for AI investment. “Parts of the country that have been ‘left behind,’ as we enter the digital age, where so much of the economics and particularly economic benefits flow to the two coasts… Areas like the midwest and the southwest are going to be the types of places where you have the land and ability to do wind farms and to do solar facilities, and potentially to do some part of the energy transition — potentially do nuclear facilities,” Lehane said. The infrastructure, Lehane explained, is contingent on the U.S. maintaining a lead over China in AI. “[In] Kansas and Iowa, which sits on top of an enormous amount of agricultural data, think about standing up a data center,” Lehane said. “One gigawatt, which is a lot, taking, you know, 200-250 megawatts, a quarter of that, and doing something with their public university systems to create an agricultural-based LLM or inference model that would really serve their community but also make them a center of agricultural AI.” Lehane cited an estimate that the US will need 50 gigawatts of energy by 2030 to support the AI ​​industry’s needs and to compete against China, especially when the country approved 20 nuclear reactors over the past two years and 11 more for next year. “We don’t have a choice,” Lehane said. “We do have to compete with that.” WATCH: OpenAI launches ChatGPT search Source link #OpenAI #present #plans #U.S #strategy #alliance #compete #China Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kids Wants Video Games More Than Money For The Holidays, Study Finds Kids Wants Video Games More Than Money For The Holidays, Study Finds It’s not a big surprise, but a lot of children want video games for the holidays. The Entertainment Software Association, which represents the US video game industry’s interests in Washington D.C., has released the results of a study that says kids aged 10-17 overwhelmingly want video games for Christmas and the holiday season in general. A survey found that 76% of kids plan to ask their parents or caregiver for video games, outpacing money (67%), clothes (66%), and general tech items like phones and smartwatches (62%). Both ****** (67%) and boys (87%) said they planned to ask for video games this holiday season. Breaking things down further, the top five game-related items that children want are consoles (47%), subscription services (43%), console games (41%), game gear (41%), and in-game currency (38%). The survey also looked into the spending predictions for US adults and found that those who are planning to buy video game gifts said they planned to spend $312 on average for themselves or others. The Financial Times reported this week about what is expected to be a challenging holiday shopping season for video game hardware. The publication cited Gareth Sutcliffe, an analyst for Enders Analysis, saying, “It would be difficult to imagine a holiday season that is less exciting than this one when it comes to gaming hardware.” Sutcliffe added, “It’s fairly grim this year.” Video game hardware sales are trending down across the board, with Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch sales falling year-over-year, a trend that’s expected to continue when Circana releases its latest monthly report for October later this month. Sony just released the PS5 Pro, but the console is aimed at a very small tech-enthusiast market rather than the general consumer. To help spur sales, Microsoft temporarily cut the price of the Xbox Series X by $50. A trailer from Sony showed a $20 discount for the digital edition of the PS5 Slim until Christmas Eve, but the company has since edited that trailer to remove mention of the discount without explanation. Nintendo, meanwhile, just announced its own set of ****** Friday deals, including discounts on Switch bundles. Nintendo is expected to announce the Switch 2 in the next few months. As for the ESA, it lobbies lawmakers in Washington to help convince them to keep regulations at bay. The ESA wants to see the video game industry self-regulate as opposed to having the government step in. The ESA recently congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his victory, extending praise also to the senators and representatives who make up the 119th Congress. “We look forward to working with the Trump administration and the incoming Congress in support of policies that help to ensure that we can continue to captivate and engage the more than 190 million Americans that play video games regularly,” the ESA said. Source link #Kids #Video #Games #Money #Holidays #Study #Finds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul: Disinterested Tyson agitates Paul at odd news conference Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul: Disinterested Tyson agitates Paul at odd news conference Mike Tyson spoke just a few words, Jake Paul made crude references and Briton Tony Bellew was escorted out of the arena by security at a baffling news conference in Texas. Former world heavyweight champion Tyson, 58, will face YouTuber-turned-fighter Paul, 27, at Dallas’ AT&T Stadium on Friday. Tyson has not fought as a professional in 19 years and appeared disinterested as Paul dominated the microphone. Paul tried to goad Tyson by asking him about comments made in a documentary where the former champion described himself as “natural born *******”. Tyson refused to play ball. “That’s what I said,” he replied. Perhaps the most bizarre moment at Wednesday’s event at the Toyota Music Factory in Irving came when Liverpool’s Bellew inaudibly shouted into a microphone – which he had brought along – from the press area. The chaos was quite fitting for an event criticised by many boxing purists, but it was given some credibility by the presence of pound-for-pound greats Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. Light-welterweight champion Taylor edged her rival to win by split decision in an all-time classic in 2022. The pair – who will compete for the undisputed title in the chief support – conducted themselves appropriately to build up to the richest ****** in female boxing. Source link #Mike #Tyson #Jake #Paul #Disinterested #Tyson #agitates #Paul #odd #news #conference Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

LEGO Horizon Adventures Review | The Vault Reviews LEGO Horizon Adventures Review | The Vault Reviews “Clocking in at a fairly short six-to-eight hours, Lego Horizon Adventures offers up frequent, brief bursts of fun with its excellent combat encounters. However, this is wrapped up in an experience that feels way too shallow and repetitive to recommend to anyone other than the most enthusiastic Horizon and Lego fans. It’s clear that the intention is to woo new, younger gamers to Sony’s flagship franchise, but if you already own Zero Dawn and Forbidden West on PlayStation, we can’t see any reason why you’d want to check this one out. Mind you, if all you’ve got is a Switch, then this endearingly light-hearted introduction will have to do for now. It could have been so much more, though.” – Ollie Reynolds | NintendoLife Source link #LEGO #Horizon #Adventures #Review #Vault #Reviews Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AMD to Cut Four Percent of Global Workforce as it Focusses on AI Chip Development AMD to Cut Four Percent of Global Workforce as it Focusses on AI Chip Development Advanced Micro Devices is laying off four percent of its global workforce, or about 1,000 employees, as it directs efforts towards developing AI chips in a bid to compete against industry bellwether Nvidia. AMD is regarded as the closest rival to Nvidia in the lucrative market for chips that form the brains of complex data centers that can process the large mounds of data used by generative AI technology like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. “As a part of aligning our resources with our largest growth opportunities, we are taking a number of targeted steps,” an AMD spokesperson told Reuters on Tuesday. Revenue in AMD’s data center segment, which houses its AI graphics processors, jumped more than two-fold in the September quarter. On the other hand, the personal computer segment grew 29%, while sales in its gaming unit slumped about 69 percent during the *******. Analysts expect the data center unit to grow 98 percent in 2024, outpacing expected total revenue growth of 13 percent, according to an average of estimates compiled by LSEG. The company has been investing heavily to develop AI chips which command high selling prices and are in high demand among so-called hyperscalers like Microsoft. AMD plans to start mass production of a new version of its artificial-intelligence chip called the MI325X in the fourth quarter of the year. Ramping up production of AI chips is an expensive undertaking due to constrained manufacturing capacity. The company’s research and development costs jumped close to nine percent in the third quarter, while its total cost of sales rose by 11 percent. Shares of AMD have dropped more than three percent so far this year, as the company struggles to live up to investors’ high expectations after Wall Street drove a two-fold surge in its shares last year, ******** on the returns linked with AI technology. © Thomson Reuters 2024 (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source link #AMD #Cut #Percent #Global #Workforce #Focusses #Chip #Development Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Emil ‘Bill’ Petrov trial: Slain mum Cindy Crossthwaite ‘repositioned’ after *********, court told Emil ‘Bill’ Petrov trial: Slain mum Cindy Crossthwaite ‘repositioned’ after *********, court told The trial of a man accused of the “horrific” ******* of his estranged wife has been told her body was repositioned and covered with a pink blanket. Source link #Emil #Bill #Petrov #trial #Slain #mum #Cindy #Crossthwaite #repositioned #********* #court #told Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The PlayStation 5 just got a discount in time for the holidays The PlayStation 5 just got a discount in time for the holidays PlayStation announced its big holiday deal on Tuesday, discounting the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition by $70 from now until December 24, 2024. The of the console will start at $380, down from its standard $450 price. That’s a pretty sizable discount on the latest version of the base edition PS5. This deal is clearly targeted at holiday shoppers. ****** Friday is coming up, so this also serves as PlayStation hardware’s big savings for later this month. After Christmas, it’ll be back up to its regular price. While getting a mainline console for under $400 these days is always worth checking out, the discount isn’t as drastic as it seems on the surface. For one, the vertical stand is sold separately. As this is the digital version, it also doesn’t come with a disc drive, which can also be bought separately. If you want the ability to play physical games or have flexibility in setting up the PS5, you’re out of luck unless you don’t mind spending $80 on a (currently out of stock on the PlayStation Direct store) or $30 for the . Also, $380 is only $20 less than the $400 the PS5 Digital Edition cost at launch in 2020. Put together, this ***** is still less expensive than the PS5 Slim with a built-in disc drive. This version hasn’t been discounted for the holidays and still costs $500 — and the vertical stand is sold separately, a fact that seems to be quickly becoming a meme if the comments on the YouTube video above are any indication. The PS5 Slim replaced the infamously chunky PS5 Sony released in 2020. It doesn’t change much about the launch console, but it’s thinner and has slightly more storage. There also aren’t any differences between the Digital Edition and regular edition besides the disc drive. If you have the money to spare this holiday and need the best frame rates possible, there’s also the PS5 Pro, which launched earlier this month for $700 (disc drive and vertical stand sold separately). Source link #PlayStation #discount #time #holidays Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi AI Glasses Reportedly in Development With Goertek; to Compete With Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Xiaomi AI Glasses Reportedly in Development With Goertek; to Compete With Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Xiaomi is working on a pair of smart glasses that offer support for features backed by artificial intelligence (AI) in collaboration with Apple supplier Goertek, according to a report. Other firms like Meta, Snap, and Baidu have either launched or unveiled glasses equipped with cameras, and Xiaomi’s purported wearable is also expected to offer similar functionality. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun reportedly expects the company to ship over 300,000 units of the product, which could be launched next year. Xiaomi AI Glasses Launch Timeline (Expected) According to an IT Home report (in ********), Xiaomi is developing a pair of AI glasses in partnership with Goertek. This device has reportedly been designed to offer AI features. It is said to have been in development for a few months, and the company could unveil it in China in Q2 2025, as a Xiaomi-branded wearable. The purported AI glasses from Xiaomi will reportedly offer features found on similar devices, such as the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (Review), which were recently updated with support for AI functionality. Xiaomi plans to equip the AI glasses with camera and audio modules, as per the report. The publication claims that Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun expects the company to ship “above 300,000 units” of the AI glasses. It is currently unclear whether the device will be launched in markets outside China, including India. Xiaomi’s AI glasses are expected to compete with the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, which are yet to make their debut in India. Earlier this week, Baidu unveiled the Xiaodu AI Glasses its first smart glasses equipped with a 16-megapixel camera and a four-microphone array. The ******** search giant’s wearable is designed to work with its native large language models (LLMs), and it can answer a user’s queries in real time, according to the company. While Meta already sells a pair of smart glasses, the company recently showed off a prototype called Meta Orion, that is capable of displaying information on the glasses, providing a form of heads up display to a user. However, these AR glasses are unlikely to be launched until 2027, the company revealed while announcing the device. Source link #Xiaomi #Glasses #Reportedly #Development #Goertek #Compete #RayBan #Meta #Smart #Glasses Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What has Marco Rubio said about China, Iran, ******* and Ukraine? What has Marco Rubio said about China, Iran, ******* and Ukraine? *********** presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) react during a campaign event at Dorton Arena, in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. November 4, 2024. Jonathan Drake | Reuters President-Elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Sen. Marco Rubio as his secretary of state, arguably the world’s most important diplomat, could change the dial when it comes to the U.S.’ relationship with both its enemies and its allies. Rubio, considered a foreign policy hawk, has been intensely critical of China and Iran, which are considered the U.S.’ top economic and geopolitical adversaries, but has also been ambivalent about ongoing support for Ukraine, echoing Trump’s stance that the war with Russia must come to an end. Serving as the vice-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio was officially tapped to be secretary of state by Trump late Wednesday as he appointed his top team for the White House following his decisive election win last week. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said in a statement on his Truth Social platform. Rubio’s nomination, along with his assertive position on foreign policy matters and criticism of America’s rivals, could ease concerns among U.S. allies that the world’s most powerful economy retreat from the global stage, given Trump’s “America First” policy. Ahead of his nomination, and after Trump’s election win, Rubio told CNN that the U.S. was entering “an era of pragmatic foreign policy.” “The world is rapidly changing. You know, adversaries are uniting — in North Korea, Iran, China, Russia — [and] increasingly coordinating,” Rubio said. “It is going to require us to be very pragmatic and wise in how we invest overseas and what we do.” The relationship between Trump and Rubio has not always been easy. Both men ran for president in 2016, bitterly clashing as they campaigned for the *********** nomination with Trump describing Rubio as “Little Marco,” and Rubio making fun of Trump’s “small hands.” At that time, Rubio was critical of Trump’s isolationist foreign policy stance. Back in 2016 he said “the world without ********* engagement is a world none of us wants to live with,” arguing against Trump’s position that the U.S. gives more than it gets from its interactions with the international community. US Senator Marco Rubio speaks during a campaign rally for former US President and *********** presidential candidate Donald Trump in Doral, Florida, on July 9, 2024. Giorgio Viera | AFP | Getty Images Rubio has since made peace with the president-elect, however, backing him in his presidential campaign. Rubio’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment as to his new role, but here’s a snapshot of the 53-year-old politician’s comments on some of the U.S.’ biggest foreign policy challenges, signaling what we might expect from the incoming secretary of state: China JIUJIANG, CHINA – JUNE 17: A worker manufactures seamless steel gas cylinders for export at the workshop of Sinoma Science & Technology (Jiujiang) Co., Ltd. on June 17, 2024 in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province of China. Wei Dongsheng | Visual China Group | Getty Images “This report should serve as a wakeup call to lawmakers, CEOs, and investors,” Rubio said, calling for “a whole-of-society effort to rebuild our country, overcome the China challenge, and keep the torch of freedom lit for generations to come.” There’s no love lost for Rubio in Beijing. In 2020, Rubio and other top U.S. officials were sanctioned by China during a round of ****-for-tat sanctions by Beijing and Washington. Iran and ******* It’s uncertain how a Trump administration, and future Secretary of State Rubio, will approach Iran with both Republicans giving off mixed signals when it comes to a punitive or more pragmatic policy stance. Trump caused international consternation in his first term in office by ripping up the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and re-imposing biting sanctions on Iran, with critics warning that Iran’s nuclear weapons capability would be achieved sooner rather than later, as a result. Ahead of his election win last week, Trump signaled he was open to reaching a new nuclear agreement with Iran, however, telling reporters in New York, “sure, I would do that.” “We have to make a deal, because the consequences are impossible. We have to make a deal,” he said, in comments reported by Politico. U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order imposing new sanctions on Iran, in the Oval Office at the White House on June 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. Mark Wilson | Getty Images For its part, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday that the country “will have to deal with the U.S. in the regional and international arena,” Reuters reported, signaling Iran could also be open to talks. A new nuclear deal might not go down well in *******, however, a country Trump cast himself as a “protector” of during his election campaign. Rubio too has been a vocal critic of Iran and a staunch supporter of ******* as it continues its attacks on Iranian proxies, the militant groups ****** and Hezbollah, in Gaza and Lebanon, respectively. In late September, Rubio gave his backing to the ******** airstrike that ******* Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, telling NBC News that “******* has no choice but to defend itself. Wiping out not just Nasrallah, but the senior leadership of this evil organization, I think, is a service to humanity.” He also said Iran’s goal in the Middle East was to “seek to drive America out of the region and then ******** *******.” U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, *********** of Florida, greets former U.S. President and *********** presidential candidate Donald Trump during a campaign rally at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on October 29, 2024. Angela Weiss | Afp | Getty Images Rubio has not ruled out taking a pragmatic approach to Tehran either, telling NBC News that “if the Iranian regime tomorrow said, ‘We’re going to stop trying to become the regional power, we’re going to stop our nuclear weapons, we’re going to stop sponsoring terrorism, we’re going to stop trying to ***** you —which is what they’re trying to do with Donald Trump — we’re going to stop all of these things,’ theoretically, yes. Of course, you could work something like that out.” Still, he added that the scenario was “unlikely because that’s the very driving mission and purpose of the regime.” Iran has denied U.S. charges that Tehran was linked to an alleged plot to ***** Trump. Ukraine It’s widely agreed that the incoming Trump administration will be far more hostile toward granting Ukraine more military aid, significantly inhibiting its ability to continue to ****** back against Russia. It’s also seen as likely that a *********** administration will push Kyiv into peace talks with Russia in which it will be forced to concede occupied land to its neighbor as part of a peace deal. Rubio has insisted he is “not on Russia’s side” but he told NBC News in late September that “unfortunately the reality of it is that the way the war in Ukraine is going to end is with a negotiated settlement.” “We hope that when that time comes, there is more leverage on the Ukrainian side than on the Russian side. That really is the goal here, in my mind. And I think that’s what [former President] Donald Trump is trying to say,” Rubio said. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) speaks on Day 2 of the *********** National Convention (RNC), at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., July 16, 2024. Mike Segar | Reuters The senator was initially a vocal supporter of Ukraine but his, and other Republicans’ backing has waned as the funding bill has racked up after 32 months of war, and as domestic issues remain unresolved. Rubio was among a small group of hardline Republicans that voted in April against a $95 billion aid package to help Ukraine, Taiwan and *******, saying he opposed the bill because the U.S. was not doing enough to tackle its own domestic challenges, such as border security and immigration. Source link #Marco #Rubio #China #Iran #******* #Ukraine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What has Marco Rubio said about China, Iran, ******* and Ukraine? What has Marco Rubio said about China, Iran, ******* and Ukraine? *********** presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) react during a campaign event at Dorton Arena, in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. November 4, 2024. Jonathan Drake | Reuters President-Elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Sen. Marco Rubio as his secretary of state, arguably the world’s most important diplomat, could change the dial when it comes to the U.S.’ relationship with both its enemies and its allies. Rubio, considered a foreign policy hawk, has been intensely critical of China and Iran, which are considered the U.S.’ top economic and geopolitical adversaries, but has also been ambivalent about ongoing support for Ukraine, echoing Trump’s stance that the war with Russia must come to an end. Serving as the vice-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio was officially tapped to be secretary of state by Trump late Wednesday as he appointed his top team for the White House following his decisive election win last week. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said in a statement on his Truth Social platform. Rubio’s nomination, along with his assertive position on foreign policy matters and criticism of America’s rivals, could ease concerns among U.S. allies that the world’s most powerful economy retreat from the global stage, given Trump’s “America First” policy. Ahead of his nomination, and after Trump’s election win, Rubio told CNN that the U.S. was entering “an era of pragmatic foreign policy.” “The world is rapidly changing. You know, adversaries are uniting — in North Korea, Iran, China, Russia — [and] increasingly coordinating,” Rubio said. “It is going to require us to be very pragmatic and wise in how we invest overseas and what we do.” The relationship between Trump and Rubio has not always been easy. Both men ran for president in 2016, bitterly clashing as they campaigned for the *********** nomination with Trump describing Rubio as “Little Marco,” and Rubio making fun of Trump’s “small hands.” At that time, Rubio was critical of Trump’s isolationist foreign policy stance. Back in 2016 he said “the world without ********* engagement is a world none of us wants to live with,” arguing against Trump’s position that the U.S. gives more than it gets from its interactions with the international community. US Senator Marco Rubio speaks during a campaign rally for former US President and *********** presidential candidate Donald Trump in Doral, Florida, on July 9, 2024. Giorgio Viera | AFP | Getty Images Rubio has since made peace with the president-elect, however, backing him in his presidential campaign. Rubio’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment as to his new role, but here’s a snapshot of the 53-year-old politician’s comments on some of the U.S.’ biggest foreign policy challenges, signaling what we might expect from the incoming secretary of state: China JIUJIANG, CHINA – JUNE 17: A worker manufactures seamless steel gas cylinders for export at the workshop of Sinoma Science & Technology (Jiujiang) Co., Ltd. on June 17, 2024 in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province of China. Wei Dongsheng | Visual China Group | Getty Images “This report should serve as a wakeup call to lawmakers, CEOs, and investors,” Rubio said, calling for “a whole-of-society effort to rebuild our country, overcome the China challenge, and keep the torch of freedom lit for generations to come.” There’s no love lost for Rubio in Beijing. In 2020, Rubio and other top U.S. officials were sanctioned by China during a round of ****-for-tat sanctions by Beijing and Washington. Rubio is also banned from entering China. Iran and ******* It’s uncertain how a Trump administration, and future Secretary of State Rubio, will approach Iran with both Republicans giving off mixed signals when it comes to a punitive or more pragmatic policy stance. Trump caused international consternation in his first term in office by ripping up the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and re-imposing biting sanctions on Iran, with critics warning that Iran’s nuclear weapons capability would be achieved sooner rather than later, as a result. Ahead of his election win last week, Trump signaled he was open to reaching a new nuclear agreement with Iran, however, telling reporters in New York, “sure, I would do that.” “We have to make a deal, because the consequences are impossible. We have to make a deal,” he said, in comments reported by Politico. U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order imposing new sanctions on Iran, in the Oval Office at the White House on June 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. Mark Wilson | Getty Images For its part, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday that the country “will have to deal with the U.S. in the regional and international arena,” Reuters reported, signaling Iran could also be open to talks. A new nuclear deal might not go down well in *******, however, a country Trump cast himself as a “protector” of during his election campaign. Rubio too has been a vocal critic of Iran and a staunch supporter of ******* as it continues its attacks on Iranian proxies, the militant groups ****** and Hezbollah, in Gaza and Lebanon, respectively. In late September, Rubio gave his backing to the ******** airstrike that ******* Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, telling NBC News that “******* has no choice but to defend itself. Wiping out not just Nasrallah, but the senior leadership of this evil organization, I think, is a service to humanity.” He also said Iran’s goal in the Middle East was to “seek to drive America out of the region and then ******** *******.” Rubio has not ruled out taking a pragmatic approach to Tehran either, telling NBC News that “if the Iranian regime tomorrow said, ‘We’re going to stop trying to become the regional power, we’re going to stop our nuclear weapons, we’re going to stop sponsoring terrorism, we’re going to stop trying to ***** you —which is what they’re trying to do with Donald Trump — we’re going to stop all of these things,’ theoretically, yes. Of course, you could work something like that out.” Still, he added that the scenario was “unlikely because that’s the very driving mission and purpose of the regime.” Iran has denied U.S. charges that Tehran was linked to an alleged plot to ***** Trump. Ukraine It’s widely agreed that the incoming Trump administration will be far more hostile toward granting Ukraine more military aid, significantly inhibiting its ability to continue to ****** back against Russia. It’s also seen as likely that a *********** administration will push Kyiv into peace talks with Russia in which it will be forced to concede occupied land to its neighbor as part of a peace deal. Rubio has insisted he is “not on Russia’s side” but he told NBC News in late September that “unfortunately the reality of it is that the way the war in Ukraine is going to end is with a negotiated settlement.” “We hope that when that time comes, there is more leverage on the Ukrainian side than on the Russian side. That really is the goal here, in my mind. And I think that’s what [former President] Donald Trump is trying to say,” Rubio said. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) speaks on Day 2 of the *********** National Convention (RNC), at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., July 16, 2024. Mike Segar | Reuters The senator was initially a vocal supporter of Ukraine but his, and other Republicans’ backing has waned as the funding bill has racked up after 32 months of war, and as domestic issues remain unresolved. Rubio was among a small group of hardline Republicans that voted in April against a $95 billion aid package to help Ukraine, Taiwan and *******, saying he opposed the bill because the U.S. was not doing enough to tackle its own domestic challenges, such as border security and immigration. Source link #Marco #Rubio #China #Iran #******* #Ukraine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake Review – A Legend Renewed | GB Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake Review – A Legend Renewed | GB “It’s been a long time coming, and we’re happy to report that Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake largely lives up to expectations. Disappointing performance issues aside, this is a faithful adaptation of a treasured RPG classic that elevates its strongest aspects while doing its best to make up for any shortcomings. ” – Mitch Vogel | NintendoLife Source link #Dragon #Quest #HD2D #Remake #Review #Legend #Renewed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

*** car finance industry in crisis, with banks bracing for mega payouts *** car finance industry in crisis, with banks bracing for mega payouts View looking towards the Royal Exchange and in the City of London where the glass architecture of the tower 22 Bishopsgate disappears into mist on 6th November 2024 in London, ******* Kingdom. Mike Kemp | In Pictures | Getty Images Britain’s motor finance industry is in disarray, with analysts warning of worst-case scenarios similar in magnitude to the country’s costliest consumer banking scandal. The burgeoning crisis stems back to a landmark judgement from the U.K.’s Court of Appeal in late October, when the court ruled it was unlawful for car dealers to receive bonuses from banks providing motor finance — without getting the customer’s informed consent. The decision caught many in the motor finance industry off guard and appears to have paved the way for a multi-billion-pound redress scheme to compensate consumers. It has prompted comparisons to Britain’s payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal, which was estimated to have cost banks more than £50 billion ($63.8 billion) and is regarded as the biggest mis-selling scandal in the country’s financial services history. Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority, the country’s financial watchdog, said on Wednesday that it will write to the Supreme Court to expedite a decision over whether to give lenders the green light to appeal the ruling. Banks left ‘in limbo’ The FCA, which noted that car financing groups were likely to have received a surge in complaints in recent weeks, said that it would consider intervening “to share its expertise” if permission to appeal is granted. It urged motor finance groups to consider setting aside financial provisions to resolve the high volume of complaints. Niklas Kammer, equity analyst at Morningstar, said Britain’s banks have been left in “in limbo” since the Oct. 25 court ruling, with Lloyds thought to be the most at risk through its ****** Horse business. Barclays also has some exposure, Kammer said, “but meaningfully less.” A Lloyds Banking Group Plc bank branch in London, ***, on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images “I think it is fair to say that the ruling by the Court of Appeal came as a surprise to the banks as well as the FCA. According to the banks, they followed the rules and guidelines set by the FCA, which are not aligned with the new Court of Appeal ruling,” Kammer told CNBC via email. “As such, there exists significant uncertainty which set of rules banks have to abide by. The FCA has said that it will await the outcome of a potential Supreme Court ruling before taking a decision on the matter,” Kammer said. “If the ruling stands, the FCA will have to change its rules on disclosures. Initially, the FCA pointed out that the matter should not take similar proportions to the PPI mis-selling, but should the new ruling stand, worst case scenarios do come close to the same magnitude in impact.” Lenders ‘likely to pull out of the market’ Benjamin Toms, U.K. banks analyst at RBC Capital Markets, said that if the Supreme Court upholds the lower courts verdict, the downside impact for the motor finance sector, which includes both banks and non-banks, could be as much as £28 billion. “Some lenders are likely to pull out of the market, which will mean less choice and higher prices for those looking to buy a vehicle,” Toms said. “There is also the potential for legal creep, with other types of lending like premium finance also coming under the spotlight,” he added. London Taxis wait in a ****** at a taxi rank outside Fenchurch Street Station on October 14, 2024 in London, ******* Kingdom. John Keeble | Getty Images News | Getty Images In January, the FCA launched a review into the motor finance industry to probe whether there was widespread misconduct related to discretionary commission arrangements, or DCAs, before they were banned in 2021. It said on Wednesday that it is currently considering the impact of the Court of Appeal’s judgement on its review. Fitch, an influential rating agency, warned earlier this month that it had placed the ratings of Close Brothers Group on “Rating Watch Negative” due to the lender’s “high exposure” to motor finance. Other lenders that have been “significantly involved” in motor finance lending include Barclays, Investec, Lloyds and Santander ***, Fitch said. Lloyds, Britain’s largest car finance business, has set aside £450 million in financial provisions. Source link #car #finance #industry #crisis #banks #bracing #mega #payouts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fortnite OG is bringing back the shooter’s original map for good Fortnite OG is bringing back the shooter’s original map for good Epic Games Fortnite OG, a limited-time mode that brought back the original island from all the way back in Season 1, is coming back to the game — for good this time. Epic Games announced in a post on X that Fortnite OG is “combing BACK and is here to stay” starting December 6. That means players can experience the original map and loot starting with Chapter 1, Season 1 from all the way back in 2017, when Fortnite was less of the pop culture metaverse juggernaut it is today. THIS. IS. NOT. A. DRILL. OG is coming BACK and is here to stay. Relive Battle Royale from the start and explore the OG map, collect OG loot, and relive OG seasons. Drop back in on December 6. pic.twitter.com/Zpg1CrItS5 — Fortnite (@FortniteGame) November 12, 2024 Epic Games hasn’t released any other details just yet, but if it’s anything like the original Fortnite OG event (the OG OG event, if you will) from November 2023, it’ll go so far as to introduce weapons and vehicles back into the game. It began with Chapter 1, Season 5, which brought in features like shopping carts, weapons like the boogie *****, and, eventually, airplanes. It then brought in other seasons through updates. The event only lasted for around a month, but Epic Games later announced that it was looking into bringing it back in 2024 because it “far exceeded our expectations.” Epic reported that the battle royale had the “biggest day” in its history thanks to Fortnite OG, bringing in over 44.7 million players. Fortnite has been leaning into nostalgia with its latest battle pass for Chapter 2 Remix that brings back classic characters (at least from 2019 and 2020), cosmetics, gameplay, and returning unvaulted items. This is part of an event where music artists like Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Ice Spice, and Juice WRLD “remix” the classic map with different locations, such as a restaurant called Mom’s Spaghetti. Source link #Fortnite #bringing #shooters #original #map #good Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tech firms invest in sovereign AI to cut Europe dependence on US tech Tech firms invest in sovereign AI to cut Europe dependence on US tech LISBON, Portugal — Tech giants are increasingly investing in the development of so-called “sovereign” artificial intelligence models as they seek to boost competitiveness by focusing more on local infrastructure. Data sovereignty refers to the idea that people’s data should be stored on infrastructure within the country or continent they reside in. “Sovereign AI is a relatively new term that’s emerged in the last year or so,” Chris Gow, IT networking giant Cisco’s Brussels-based EU public policy lead, told CNBC. Currently, many of the biggest large language models (LLMs), like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude, use data centers based in the U.S. to store data and process requests via the cloud. This has led to concern from politicians and regulators in Europe, who see dependence on U.S. technology as harmful to the continent’s competitiveness — and, more worryingly, technological resilience. Where did ‘AI sovereignty’ come from? The notion of data and technological sovereignty is something that has previously been on Europe’s agenda. It came about, in part, as a result of businesses reacting to new regulations. The ********* Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, for example, requires companies to handle user data in a secure, compliant way that respects their right to privacy. High-profile cases in the EU have also raised doubts over whether data on ********* citizens can be transferred across borders safely. The ********* Court of Justice in 2020 invalidated an EU-U.S. data-sharing framework, on the grounds that the pact did not afford the same level of protection as guaranteed within the EU by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Last year the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework was formed to ensure that data can flow safely between the EU and U.S. These political development have ultimately resulted in a push toward localization of cloud infrastructure, where data is stored and processed for many online services. Filippo Sanesi, global head of marketing and operations at OVHCloud, said the French cloud firm is seeing lots of demand for its *********-located infrastructure, as they “understand the value of having their data in Europe, which are subject to ********* legislation.” “As this concept of data sovereignty becomes more mature and people understand what it means, we see more and more companies understanding the importance of having your data locally and under a specific jurisdiction and governance,” Sanesi told CNBC. “We have a lot of data,” he added. “This data is sovereign in specific countries, under specific regulations.” “Now, with this data, you can actually make products and services for AI, and those services should then be sovereign, should be controlled, deployed and developed locally by local talent for the local population or businesses.” The AI sovereignty push hasn’t been driven forward by regulators — at least, not yet, according to Cisco’s Gow. Rather, it’s come from private companies, which are opening more data centers — facilities containing vast amounts of computing equipment to enable cloud-based AI tools — in Europe, he said. Sovereign AI is “more driven by the industry naming it that, than it is from the policymakers’ side,” Gow said. “You don’t see the ‘AI sovereignty’ terminology used on the regulator side yet.” Countries are pushing the idea of AI sovereignty because they recognize AI is “the future” and a “massively strategic technology,” Gow said. Governments are focusing on boosting their domestic tech companies and ecosystems, as well as the all-important backend infrastructure that enables AI services. “The AI workload uses 20 times the bandwidth of a traditional workload,” Gow said. It’s also about enabling the workforce, according to Gow, as firms need skilled workers to be successful. Most important of all, however, is the data. “What you’re seeing is quite a few attempts from that side to think about training LLMs on localized data, in language,” Gow said. ‘Reflecting values’ In Italy, the first LLM trained specifically on the Italian language data, called Italia 9B, launched this summer. The aim of the Italia project is to store results in a given jurisdiction and rely on data from citizens within that region so that results produced by the AI systems there are more grounded in local languages, culture and history. “Sovereign AI is about reflecting the values of an organization or, equally, the country that you’re in and the values and the language,” David Hogan, EMEA head of enterprise sales for chipmaking giant Nvidia, told CNBC. “The core challenge is that most of the frontier models today have been trained primarily on Western data generally,” Hogan added. In Denmark for example, where Nvidia has a major presence, officials are concerned about vital services such as health care and telecoms being delivered by AI systems that aren’t “reflective” of local Danish culture and values, according to Hogan. On Wednesday, Denmark ***** out a landmark white paper outlining how companies can use AI in compliance with the incoming EU AI Act — the world’s first major AI law. The document is meant to serve as a blueprint for other EU nations to follow and adopt. “If you’re in a ********* country that’s not one of the major language countries that’s spoken internationally, probably less than 2% of the data is trained on your language — let alone your culture,” Hogan said. How regulation fueled a mindset shift That’s not to say regulations haven’t proven an important factor in getting tech giants to think more about building localized AI infrastructure within Europe. OVHCloud’s Sanesi said regulations like the EU’s GDPR catalyzed a lot of the interest in onshoring the processing of data in a given region. The concept of AI sovereignty is also getting buy-in from local ********* tech firms. Earlier this week, Berlin-headquartered search engine Ecosia and its Paris-based peer Qwant announced a ****** venture to develop a ********* search index from scratch, aiming to serve improved French and ******* language results. Meanwhile, French telecom operator Orange has said it’s in discussions with a number of foundational AI model companies about building a smartphone-based “sovereign AI” model for its customers that more accurately reflects their own language and culture. “It wouldn’t make sense to build our own LLMs. So there’s a lot of discussion right now about, how do we partner with existing providers to make it more local and safer?” Bruno Zerbib, Orange’s chief technology officer, told CNBC. “There are a lot of use cases where [AI data] can be processed locally [on a phone] instead of processed on the cloud,” Zerbib added. Orange hasn’t yet selected a partner for these sovereign AI model ambitions. Source link #Tech #firms #invest #sovereign #cut #Europe #dependence #tech Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hydrow just announced a new smart rowing machine, with no subscription required Hydrow just announced a new smart rowing machine, with no subscription required Hydrow, a company that makes smart rowing machines, just announced the Core, a new model that eschews monthly subscription fees. The Hydrow Core Rower features the “same award-winning design” as the original Pro Rower, which we said was positioning itself to be “the Peloton of smart rowing machines.” Obviously, the ***** here is that the Core is a one-and-done purchase with no recurring subscription costs. It still comes with an attached display, which lets users “row through stunning destinations.” All told, this machine offers access to 30 self-paced rows through these exotic locales. Hydrow The Core Rower supports unlimited users, which is nice, but there is one major caveat. There’s no subscription, so there’s no access to instructor-led workouts, badges, milestones and other premium features. However, customers can add a membership later for all of that stuff. Hydrow charges $44 per month for a subscription. It could be useful to try it out for a month to see if all of those additional bells and whistles are worth it. The Hydrow Core Rower is available right now and costs $1,995. This is the exact same price as the flagship Pro Rower. The company also recently released a trimmed down version called the Hydrow Wave. This one is smaller and cheaper, clocking in at around $1,700. Source link #Hydrow #announced #smart #rowing #machine #subscription #required Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How ghost hunters turned weather meters into spectre detectors | Meteorology How ghost hunters turned weather meters into spectre detectors | Meteorology Ghost hunting has become a television sensation, with help from an unexpected accessory: the portable weather meter. Years ago, weather stations were static installations, but these days all the necessary instrumentation can be packed into an electronic device no larger than a smartphone, providing a handy scientific device for meteorologists – and for spirit seekers. Paranormal investigators associate cold spots or sudden drops in temperature with the presence of ghosts, and have long used wind chimes to detect drafts supposedly generated by spirits. Modern ghost hunters use devices such as the handheld Kestrel 3500NV, which measures temperature, pressure, relative humidity and wind speed. There is even a backlight for night-time use. Tea Krulos, the author of a book called Monster Hunters, lists a portable weather meter as standard gear for paranormal investigators. Unlike dowsing rods or other traditional tools, these sensors provide objective, numerical evidence of what is happening at a supposedly haunted spot, rather than a vague, subjective sensation. Cynics may say that toting a scientific gadget allows the investigator to give their claims a gloss of scientific credibility, while their audience may be inclined to consider the device in their hands as a spectre detector rather than a mere weather meter. Source link #ghost #hunters #turned #weather #meters #spectre #detectors #Meteorology Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]