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Best early ****** Friday deals under $100: Amazon Echo, TVs, headphones Best early ****** Friday deals under $100: Amazon Echo, TVs, headphones Beats Update 11/19/24: ****** Friday is still over a week away, but you can already start your shopping with the ****** Friday deals under $100 that we’ve gathered here. There’s a possibility that these affordable items get even ******* discounts when the ***** officially launches, but we won’t blame you if you’re already tempted by today’s prices. ****** Friday will start on November 29, but if you’ve already got the ***** to shop, check out the early ****** Friday deals under $100 that we’ve gathered here. The offers cover smart home devices, laptops, TVs, kitchen gadgets, and so much more, so if you want to start enjoying discounts without blowing your entire budget for the shopping event, take a look at our favorite bargains below. For larger potential purchases, you can also take a look at our ****** Friday deals across all retailers. If you’re already willing to spend a lot to avoid the chaos of the holiday season, we’ve got a lot of other roundups for you to browse, including ****** Friday TV deals and ****** Friday gaming laptop deals. You should hurry with your transactions though, as there’s a chance that stocks run out even before ****** Friday begins. Amazon Echo Pop — $18 $40 55% off Amazon The Amazon Echo Pop is the most affordable entry in its line of smart speakers that are powered by Amazon’s Alexa. It’s a great way to access Alexa without spending too much cash, says our guide on which Amazon Echo should you buy, and it offers pretty decent sound for its price. You can get it at 55% off, for a discount of $22. Samsung Galaxy A03s (Straight Talk) — $40 $60 33% off Samsung The Samsung Galaxy A03s is an inexpensive smartphone that’s currently even more affordable with this 33% discount that brings its price down by $20. It features a 6.5-inch HD+ screen, octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of internal storage. This smartphone is locked to Straight Talk though, which will be fine if you want a prepaid plan for it anyway. Microsoft Xbox Core wireless gaming controller — $45 $60 25% off Microsoft The Microsoft Xbox Core wireless gaming controller isn’t just for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S — it’s also compatible with the Xbox One X and the PC, as well as mobile devices running on Android or iOS. It features Bluetooth technology for wireless connections, a 3.5mm port for headsets, and up to 40 hours of battery life. It’s on ***** at 25% off, for savings of $15. HP DeskJet 2755e wireless ****** inkjet printer — $50 $85 41% off HP The HP DeskJet 2755e is an affordable wireless ****** inkjet printer that’s on ***** with a 41% discount, slashing its price by $35. It can print up to five pages per minute, and it can also function as a copier or scanner. The printer also comes with three months of HP’s Instant Ink, a program that will send you ink when your cartridges are running low so there will be no interruption to your printing schedule. Ninja AF100 air fryer — $59 $89 34% off Ninja The Ninja AF100 air fryer will let you cook fried food using little to no oil, so you and your family won’t consume too much grease. This air fryer, which is down by $30 following a 34% discount, comes with a basket offering a capacity of 4 quarts, a wide temperature range of 105 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and easy cleaning as the basket and crisper plate are dishwasher safe. Keurig K-Select coffee maker — $70 $150 53% off Keurig The Keurig K-Select coffee maker is a great choice for making single-serve beverages using Keurig’s K-Cup pods, which come in a wide range of flavors. You can brew cups of 6 ounces, 8 ounces, 10 ounces, and 12 ounces with this coffee maker, and all it takes is a single press of a button. It will be yours for less than half-price following a 53% discount, which translates to $80 in savings. Amazon ***** HD 10 tablet (32GB) — $75 $140 46% off Amazon The Amazon ***** HD 10 is the tablet that you want to buy if you want to maximize Amazon’s Alexa, as the device supports voice commands for the digital assistant. It features a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Full HD resolution, a battery life of 13 hours, and 32GB of storage that you can expand by up to 1TB through a microSD card. The tablet is on ***** at 46% off, for savings of $65. Asus CX1700CK Chromebook — $81 $299 73% off ASUS Chromebooks are generally more affordable than Windows-based laptops, and the Asus CX1700CK Chromebook is the perfect example with its 73% discount that further reduces its price by $218. Inside are the Intel Celeron N4500 processor, Intel UHD Graphics 630, and 4GB of RAM, and its 17.3-inch Full HD screen is big and sharp for its cost. Insignia 32-inch F20 Series HD TV — $90 $130 31% off Insignia You don’t have to spend a lot if you want a smart TV, as the 32-inch Insignia F20 Series HD TV, which runs on Amazon’s ***** TV platform, is even less expensive: $40 after a 31% discount. The TV also comes with an Alexa Voice Remote for voice commands to Amazon’s Alexa, and it also supports Apple’s AirPlay so you can stream videos, photos, and music to the TV. Beats Solo 4 wireless headphones — $100 $200 50% off Simon Cohen / Digital Trends The Beats Solo 4 were just released earlier this year, but they’re already on ***** at 50% off, so you can enjoy savings of $100. These wireless headphones don’t offer active noise cancellation or Bluetooth multipoint, but they’re lightweight and comfortable to wear, and provide fantastic sound quality while also supporting spatial audio. They can last up to 50 hours from a full charge, and a quick 10 minutes of charging will replenish 5 hours of usage. How to choose deals under $100 on ****** Friday There are so many ****** Friday deals under $100 that it’s going to be tough to narrow down your choices, but we’re here to help you out. You should begin by thinking about what you really need — you wouldn’t want to make a purchase just because it’s affordable. If you want easier access to your favorite digital assistant, get a smart speaker; if you want entertainment for your children in their room, get an affordable TV; and if you want to cook more recipes, get kitchen gadgets like an air fryer. You’re going to have to be vigilant when shopping ****** Friday deals that are selling for less than $100, as some of these products sacrifice quality for low prices. We highly recommend sticking to trusted brands so that you won’t find yourself regretting your purchases for the shopping event. It may also help to set your maximum budget before you start looking at these ****** Friday deals under $100, so that you won’t go overboard. How we chose these ****** Friday deals under $100 It’s a given that ****** Friday deals under $100 will be affordable, especially for the huge discounts that knock down the prices of certain products from more than $100. For our recommendations above, we focused on the bargains that will give you the best value for your money, whether that means getting a helpful device for next to nothing or taking advantage of huge savings. These ****** Friday deals under $100 may be available from more than one retailer, but we assure you that the prices that we have here are the lowest for the shopping event. We’ll keep looking for better bargains until the end of ****** Friday, and we’ll update this page whenever we find them. You may want to leave a bookmark so you can stay tuned whenever we find lower prices or add even more deals. Source link #early #****** #Friday #deals #Amazon #Echo #TVs #headphones Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Adani Group slams ‘baseless’ New York ****** and bribery charges Adani Group slams ‘baseless’ New York ****** and bribery charges Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani Group, speaks during the Forbes CEO Summit in Singapore, on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. India needs fossil fuels to serve large populations and getting rid of all fossil fuels instantly would not work for the nation, Adani said. Photographer: Edwin Koo/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images India’s Adani Group on Thursday denied allegations of bribery and ****** made by U.S. authorities in relation to the group’s chair Gautam Adani, saying all claims were “baseless.” Shares of companies in India’s Adani Group plunged after Gautam Adani, one of the world’s richest people, was indicted in a New York federal court on charges regarding an alleged bribery and ****** scheme. Shares in Adani Green Energy, the firm at the center of the allegations, slumped 17.9%. An Adani Group spokesperson said the allegations made by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Adani Green Energy are “baseless and denied.” “The Adani Group has always upheld and is steadfastly committed to maintaining the highest standards of governance, transparency and regulatory compliance across all jurisdictions of its operations. We assure our stakeholders, partners and employees that we are a law-abiding organisation, fully compliant with all laws,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Shares of Adani investor GQG Partners also cratered around 20%. Adani and other defendants are accused of paying Indian government officials over $250 million in bribes to obtain solar energy supply contracts worth more than $2 billion in profits. This is a breaking news story. Please refresh for updates. – CNBC’s Boon Ping contributed to this story. Source link #Adani #Group #slams #baseless #York #****** #bribery #charges Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amazon’s Echo Dot drops to only $23 for ****** Friday Amazon’s Echo Dot drops to only $23 for ****** Friday Yes, ****** Friday is basically here and, though we’re not sure where this year went, all the sales are softening the *****. Amazon, sure to be the home of a lot of shopping this year, has already marked down some of its most wanted products. Included in the sales is our choice for best smart speaker under $50, the fifth generation Amazon Echo Dot. Right now, you can pick up the speaker for just $23 — an all-time low price. The fifth-gen Amazon Echo Dot came out in 2022 and has great features, including exceptionally loud and clear audio for its sticker price (let alone the discounted one). It has all the basics and does them well: letting you set alarm clocks and timers, streaming music and podcasts from your streamer of choice and using Alexa for all your questions. Amazon If you’re unsure about the Echo Dot then check out some of Amazon’s other speakers on ***** for ****** Friday. There’s the Echo Spot, which is back to its October Prime Day all-time low price of $45, down from $80. Amazon originally released the Echo Spot in 2017, but discontinued it after two years. The new model launched earlier this year sans awkward bedside camera and plus a better quality display and sound. You can also pick up the Echo Pop for only $18, down from $40. This speaker is a great option if you want a solid device in a small room. Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. Source link #Amazons #Echo #Dot #drops #****** #Friday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Overnight snowfall shuts schools and hits travel in the Highlands Overnight snowfall shuts schools and hits travel in the Highlands Snow and low temperatures have shut a number of schools in the Highlands. Inverness Royal Academy, the largest school in the region, said it was closed for safety reasons due to poor road conditions. Inverness High School and Charleston Academy have also shut for the day. Traffic Scotland said the A9 north of the ****** Isle’s Tore Roundabout was closed due to a fallen tree. Road users have been advised to use an alternative route until the affected section is reopened. The Met Office has a number of yellow “be aware” weather warnings for snow and rain in place for Thursday and also the weekend. Snow and ice affected schools and travel across parts of Scotland, and the rest of the ***, earlier this week. Source link #Overnight #snowfall #shuts #schools #hits #travel #Highlands Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

To Nobody’s Surprise, ****** Ops 6 Ranked Play is Full of Cheaters on Day One To Nobody’s Surprise, ****** Ops 6 Ranked Play is Full of Cheaters on Day One ****** Ops 6 Ranked Play has been added to the game in record time, and to the chagrin of competitive players worldwide, it’s already packed full of cheaters. On social media, clips have surfaced from pro players and streamers revealing them being matched against stacked hackers disrupting the game for everyone else – as always. It took one day for cheaters to throw ****** Ops 6 Ranked Play off the rails. Every Time Every time Activision’s studios release a ranked mode in a Call of Duty game, it’s infested with hackers. For those not in the know, Ranked Play is a competitive ecosystem with more restrictions, a tighter map and mode rotation, and more rewards than regular, non-ranked multiplayer playlists. Players relish the opportunity to ***** into Ranked Play as it allows them to unlock exclusive operator skins, calling cards, and more. It’s also a breeding ground for cheaters, for some reason. Typically, the highest echelons of the Ranked Play leaderboard are reserved exclusively for cheaters, who year in, year out fly under the radar of Team RICOCHET’s anti-cheat mechanics. It’s getting better, but it’s far from being perfect. Chris ‘Parasite’ Duarte, one of Call of Duty’s first world champions, posted on Twitter: HACKERS HACKERS HACKERS HACKERS HACKERS HACKERS EVERY GAME WHERE IS THE ANTI CHEAT TREYARCH Last season’s CDL world champion, Dashy, posted a video of him slamming teams full of cheaters in Ranked Play, and Simp, one of the best Call of Duty players in the world, was sharing comments on Twitter about the trademarks of BO6 cheaters. It seems like Ranked Play in ****** Ops 6 is already cooked, and it’s another year back-to-back that cheaters have completely ruined the mode. Are you really surprised? Let us know on the Insider Gaming forum. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Cyberpunk 2077 isn’t getting a PS5 Pro upgrade Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Nobodys #Surprise #****** #Ops #Ranked #Play #Full #Cheaters #Day Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Driver charged after alleged hit and run in Henderson, which left elderly man with critical injuries Driver charged after alleged hit and run in Henderson, which left elderly man with critical injuries A man has been charged after he allegedly left the scene of a serious ****** in Henderson, which left an elderly man with critical injuries. Source link #Driver #charged #alleged #hit #run #Henderson #left #elderly #man #critical #injuries Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The PS5 Pro is surprisingly efficient The PS5 Pro is surprisingly efficient Despite having a significantly more powerful GPU, the PS5 Pro barely consumes more power than a base PS5. Source link #PS5 #Pro #surprisingly #efficient Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Missing Hawaii woman’s family alarmed over new info: ‘She’s not alone’ Missing Hawaii woman’s family alarmed over new info: ‘She’s not alone’ HONOLULU (KHON2) — It has been nine days since Hannah Kobayashi’s cell phone was last located at the Los Angeles airport and the 31-year-old Maui woman’s family said new information regarding her disappearance is alarming. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Hannah Kobayashi’s family said authorities showed them a video of Hannah that was taken on the evening of Monday, Nov. 11 before she disappeared. The video has not been released to the public due to the active investigation, but Hannah’s aunt said it showed her getting off of the subway near the Crypto.com Arena around 10 p.m. “She’s not alone, she’s with an unidentified person,” said Hannah’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon. “And she also got off and at a, at a station that is, it’s not good and it terrified us, it brought her father to tears.” Hawaii woman spotted twice on camera before disappearing in L.A. Several of Hannah’s family members traveled to L.A. to help search — they are asking anyone and everyone if they have seen Hannah. “We don’t know the city. We’re scared. I mean, as time goes on, the more time that goes on, the more our thoughts think of other things and we’re trying not to let those creep in,” Pidgeon said. Hawaii woman apparently goes missing in California: ‘We can’t locate her’ Pidgeon said the more people who know, the better. The family will hold a rally to pass out fliers before the Lakers game at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday, Nov. 21 — just a block away from the station where Hannah was last spotted on camera. “It’s all we can do. We want to get as many people in one location that she was last seen and that Lakers game is huge for us,” Pidgeon said. “We’re even trying to get it on the Jumbotron. You know, we’re trying. We’re trying. We’re trying.” LAPD is taking the lead in Hannah’s missing persons case and the FBI field office in L.A. confirmed its assistance is being provided as needed. Check out more news from around Hawaii Anyone who has seen Hannah or has any information about her whereabouts is asked to call LAPD. 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 KHON2. Source link #Missing #Hawaii #womans #family #alarmed #info #Shes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Final Fantasy 14 Mobile is in the works at Tencent Final Fantasy 14 Mobile is in the works at Tencent Tencent Games The wildly popular MMORPG Final Fantasy 14 is coming to mobile thanks to an upcoming port from Tencent. Final Fantasy 14 Mobile is set to replicate the core experience in a new “mobile-friendly format.” Details are scarce right now, but both combat and non-combat features will be replicated for the port, along with visual elements like weather patterns. Like other mobile ports, it appears you can play Final Fantasy 14 Mobile as an alternative to the main title, as the press release states that “veteran players can look forward to a nostalgic journey in a new format, while new players can experience the allure of Eorzea for the first time.” There isn’t a release window just yet, but it’ll be out in China first before expanding to other regions. “It has been 11 years since FF14 2.0: A Realm Reborn launched, and this new mobile game will be a sister to FF14, aiming to recreate the grandeur of the original’s story and combat mechanics on mobile devices,” game director Naoki Yoshida said in a press release. Tencent is a leader in the mobile games space, not only with first-party titles, but in terms of co-developing mobile ports of other top games like PUBG Mobile (Lightspeed co-developed it with Krafton), ****** Desert Online, and Call of Duty: Mobile. While the Final Fantasy 14 MMO we know of today (the original was widely panned) was originally a PC exclusive, it has expanded to other platforms over the past decade. Square Enix and PlayStation have a long-standing relationship with multiple console exclusives, so it’s on PlayStation consoles. However, Square Enix got the game on Xbox Series X/S this year, and promised more of its games would be coming to Xbox moving forward. With the mobile announcement, that leaves the Nintendo Switch as the only mainstream gaming console without the MMO. Best of all, Final Fantasy 14 is cross-platform, so you can play with friends regardless of your platform preference. It hasn’t been clarified if this applies to mobile, but considering all the limitations of the platform and how wildly different the experience will be with a touchscreen versus a controller or mouse and keyboard, it’s unlikely. Other Tencent games like Call of Duty: Mobile also don’t support cross-platform with console or PC, although it does for iOS and Android. Source link #Final #Fantasy #Mobile #works #Tencent Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Will AI replace humans? Yoshua Bengio warns of artificial intelligence risks Will AI replace humans? Yoshua Bengio warns of artificial intelligence risks Professor Yoshua Bengio, at the One Young World Summit in Montreal, Canada, on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 Famed computer scientist Yoshua Bengio — an artificial intelligence pioneer — has warned of the nascent technology’s potential negative effects on society and called for more research to mitigate its risks. Bengio, a professor at the University of Montreal and head of the Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms, has won multiple awards for his work in deep learning, a subset of AI that attempts to mimic the activity in the human brain to learn how to recognize complex patterns in data. But he has concerns about the technology and warned that some people with “a lot of power” may even want to see humanity replaced by machines. “It’s really important to project ourselves into the future where we have machines that are as smart as us on many counts, and what would that mean for society,” Bengio told CNBC’s Tania Bryer at the One Young World Summit in Montreal. Machines could soon have most of the cognitive abilities of humans, he said — artificial general intelligence (AGI) is a type of AI technology that aims to equal or better human intellect. “Intelligence gives power. So who’s going to control that power?” he said. “Having systems that know more than most people can be dangerous in the wrong hands and create more instability at a geopolitical level, for example, or terrorism.” A limited number of organizations and governments will be able to afford to build powerful AI machines, according to Bengio, and the ******* the systems are, the smarter they become. “These machines, you know, cost billions to be built and trained [and] very few organizations and very few countries will be able to do it. That’s already the case,” he said. “There’s going to be a concentration of power: economic power, which can be bad for markets; political power, which could be bad for democracy; and military power, which could be bad for the geopolitical stability of our planet. So, lots of open questions that we need to study with care and start mitigating as soon as we can.” We don’t have methods to make sure that these systems will not harm people or will not turn against people … We don’t know how to do that. Yoshua Bengio Head of the Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms Such outcomes are possible within decades, he said. “But if it’s five years, we’re not ready … because we don’t have methods to make sure that these systems will not harm people or will not turn against people … We don’t know how to do that,” he added. There are arguments to suggest that the way AI machines are currently being trained “would lead to systems that turn against humans,” Bengio said. “In addition, there are people who might want to ****** that power, and there are people who might be happy to see humanity replaced by machines. I mean, it’s a fringe, but these people can have a lot of power, and they can do it unless we put the right guardrails right now,” he said. AI guidance and regulation Bengio endorsed an open letter in June entitled: “A right to warn about advanced artificial intelligence.” It was signed by current and former employees of Open AI — the company behind the viral AI chatbot ChatGPT. The letter warned of “serious risks” of the advancement of AI and called for guidance from scientists, policymakers and the public in mitigating them. OpenAIhas been subject to mounting safety concerns over the past few months, with its “AGI Readiness” team disbanded in October. “The first thing governments need to do is have regulation that forces [companies] to register when they build these frontier systems that are like the biggest ones, that cost hundreds of millions of dollars to be trained,” Bengio told CNBC. “Governments should know where they are, you know, the specifics of these systems.” As AI is evolving so fast, governments must “be a bit creative” and make legislation that can adapt to technology changes, Bengio said. It’s not too late to steer the evolution of societies and humanity in a positive and beneficial direction. Yoshua Bengio Head of the Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms Companies developing AI must also be liable for their actions, according to the computer scientist. “Liability is also another tool that can force [companies] to behave well, because … if it’s about their money, the ***** of being sued — that’s going to push them towards doing things that protect the public. If they know that they can’t be sued, because right now it’s kind of a gray zone, then they will behave not necessarily well,” he said. “[Companies] compete with each other, and, you know, they think that the first to arrive at AGI will dominate. So it’s a race, and it’s a danger race.” The process of legislating to make AI safe will be similar to the ways in which rules were developed for other technologies, such as planes or cars, Bengio said. “In order to enjoy the benefits of AI, we have to regulate. We have to put [in] guardrails. We have to have democratic oversight on how the technology is developed,” he said. Misinformation The spread of misinformation, especially around elections, is a growing concern as AI develops. In October, OpenAI said it had disrupted “more than 20 operations and deceptive networks from around the world that attempted to use our models.” These include social posts by fake accounts generated ahead of elections in the U.S. and Rwanda. “One of the greatest short-term concerns, but one that’s going to grow as we move forward toward more capable systems is disinformation, misinformation, the ability of AI to influence politics and opinions,” Bengio said. “As we move forward, we’ll have machines that can generate more realistic images, more realistic sounding imitations of voices, more realistic videos,” he said. This influence might extend to interactions with chatbots, Bengio said, referring to a study by Italian and Swiss researchers showing that OpenAI’s GPT-4 large language model can persuade people to change their minds better than a human. “This was just a scientific study, but you can imagine there are people reading this and wanting to do this to interfere with our democratic processes,” he said. The ‘hardest question of all’ Bengio said the “hardest question of all” is: “If we create entities that are smarter than us and have their own goals, what does that mean for humanity? Are we in danger?” “These are all very difficult and important questions, and we don’t have all the answers. We need a lot more research and precaution to mitigate the potential risks,” Bengio said. He urged people to act. “We have agency. It’s not too late to steer the evolution of societies and humanity in a positive and beneficial direction,” he said. “But for that, we need enough people who understand both the advantages and the risks, and we need enough people to work on the solutions. And the solutions can be technological, they could be political … policy, but we need enough effort in those directions right now,” Bengio said. – CNBC’s Hayden Field and Sam Shead contributed to this report. Source link #replace #humans #Yoshua #Bengio #warns #artificial #intelligence #risks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple patches vulnerabilities used to target Intel-based Macs Apple patches vulnerabilities used to target Intel-based Macs Apple has rolled out updates for its operating systems, which come with security fixes for vulnerabilities that may have already been used to target its customers. The updates are now available for Macs, iPhones, iPads, the Vision Pro and the Safari browser. In its notes, Apple revealed that the security patches will fix bugs affecting WebKit, the rendering engine Safari uses, and JavaScriptCore, which runs JavaScript code on macOS and iOS devices. If JavaScriptCore is fooled into processing “maliciously crafted web content,” it could ******** arbitrary codes, Apple explained. Meanwhile, WebKit could be exploited for cross site scripting attacks if it gets tricked into running malicious content. The company said it’s aware of a report that the vulnerabilities could’ve been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac systems. According to TechCrunch, the bugs are zero-day vulnerabilities, as Apple had no knowledge of their existence when they were exploited. Researchers from Google’s Threat Analysis Group were reportedly the ones who discovered the vulnerabilities. The group is known for detecting and analyzing government-backed hacking and attacks. Apple didn’t say how many devices had been attacked using exploits taking advantage of the bugs, and it didn’t say if any information was stolen from the targets. Mac, iPad and iPhones users may want to check their devices for the latest updates, though, so they can install the security fixes as soon as possible. Source link #Apple #patches #vulnerabilities #target #Intelbased #Macs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Government borrowing higher than expected in October Government borrowing higher than expected in October Government borrowing was much higher than expected in October, official figures show. Borrowing – the difference between spending and tax take – was £17.4bn last month, the second highest October figure since monthly records began in 1993. The borrowing figures are the first to be released since Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first Budget last month. The Budget is set to increase government spending by almost £70bn a year over the next five years, with half funded through higher taxes and the rest coming through higher borrowing. Jessica Barnaby, deputy director for public sector finances at the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which produced the figures, said: “Despite the cut in the main rates of National Insurance earlier in 2024, total receipts rose on last year. “However, with spending on public services, benefits and debt interest costs all up on last year, expenditure rose faster than revenue overall.” The ONS figures showed that interest payments on government debt hit £9.1bn last month, the highest October figure since monthly records began in 1997. Borrowing in the financial year to October has now reached £96.6bn, which is £1.1bn more than at the same point last year. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said again that the Labour government had inherited a difficult economic situation following the General Election. “At the Budget we addressed this, fixing the foundations and putting public finances on a sustainable footing to rebuild the country,” he said. “This government will never play fast and loose with the public finances. Our new robust fiscal rules will deliver stability by getting debt down while prioritising investment to deliver growth.” Source link #Government #borrowing #higher #expected #October Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Minecraft Won’t Change Its Graphics- 3 Issues Mojang Studios Has Not Solved Yet Why Minecraft Won’t Change Its Graphics- 3 Issues Mojang Studios Has Not Solved Yet Minecraft, the beloved sandbox game, has remained visually consistent since its release. The game has stood the test of time and has become a phenomenon in its own regard. But its blocky, pixelated graphics are both its charm and, to some, its flaw. The game’s success is in part, because of the blocky look. | Image Credit: Mojang Despite all the advancements in gaming technology over the last decade, Mojang Studios has largely preserved the game’s original look. So the question then arises. Does Minecraft need a graphics upgrade? Mods and shaders have taken the game to the next level but will Mojang officially update the graphics? Why Minecraft‘s Graphics Need to Evolve Image Credit: Mojang The graphics of a game are integral to its reception since it’s what the player sees the most. Minecraft’s visuals, while iconic, are often seen as dated compared to what we currently see in the industry. However, the blocky and pixelated look of Minecraft is part of its identity. Many in the community have suggested over time that better lighting and textures could be what the game needs. A next-gen version of the game, so to speak, with industry-standard graphics quality. It sounds completely ridiculous, and that’s because of three reasons. 1. Hardware Constraints: Accessibility Over Aesthetic You can run Minecraft on a potato.| Image Credit: Mojang One of the primary reasons Mojang avoids a full graphical overhaul is to keep Minecraft accessible across various platforms. The game runs on everything from high-end PCs to mobile phones and Chromebooks. A big graphical update would be a complete game-changer for every player. And that is a risk Mojang is not willing to take. Comment byu/freshisesh from discussion inMinecraft As one Reddit user aptly put it, “If Mojang updates the graphics, it will be unplayable for many people.” Maintaining this balance is critical for Minecraft’s global reach, which currently consists of millions of players across various platforms. 2. The Modding Community Already Handles It Image Credit: Mojang/@Shulkercraft YouTube This is another big reason why the devs at Mojang probably don’t even consider a visual overhaul. The modding community has already done it for them. Minecraft’s modding community offers hundreds of different visual mods from simple texture refinements to mods that make your game look like an Unreal Engine 6 demo. Yes! Minecraft can be played with the greatest shaders: Bliss + conquest reforged! pic.twitter.com/ukVhYqFC2o — manofdutch (@manofdutch) August 21, 2024 This ‘best of both worlds’ approach lets players customize their experience while keeping the vanilla version accessible and lightweight. As one Reddit user pointed out, “There are shaders for those who want realistic graphics.” Mojang benefits from this arrangement since the community can upgrade as they choose. Mods like OptiFine and texture packs such as SEUS (Sonic Ether’s Unbelievable Shaders) already let players transform Minecraft into a completely different-looking game. This Reddit commenter’s words sum it up pretty well. “Use shaders. that ***** makes mc (Minecraft) look better than real life.” 3. The Power of the Pixel for The Brand Image Credit: Mojang Minecraft’s blocky and pixelated look is more than just a visual style, it’s the foundation of its brand. Over the years, the game’s distinct look has become synonymous with its identity, making it instantly recognizable even to people who know nothing about it. Comment byu/VadimH from discussion inMinecraft The simplicity of its visuals is deeply tied to its gameplay, as players use the most basic blocks and elements to create amazing things. Microsoft acquired Mojang in 2014 and has leaned into this aesthetic as a cornerstone of its marketing strategy. By preserving the original style, the studio ensures the game ******** instantly recognizable. For Mojang, preserving the game’s visual DNA is as much about honoring its legacy as it is about maintaining its commercial success. Minecraft isn’t alone in its minimalist approach. Many successful games, including Roblox, Fortnite, and Among Us, prioritize gameplay over visual fidelity. These games prove that stunning graphics aren’t always necessary for large-scale success. For now, Mojang seems content with minor visual updates, such as improved lighting and textures in recent versions. Even though the gaming industry and its expectations have grown, there will always be room for simple games like this. Source link #Minecraft #Wont #Change #Graphics #Issues #Mojang #Studios #Solved Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

South *******’s ******** mining industry: Gang-controlled ‘towns’ grow underground South *******’s ******** mining industry: Gang-controlled ‘towns’ grow underground Getty Images Along with about 600 other men, Ndumiso lives and works in a small gang-controlled “town” – complete with markets and a red light district – that has grown up deep underground at a disused gold mine in South *******. Ndumiso told the BBC that after being ***** off by a big mining firm, he decided to join the gang in its underground world to become what is known as a “zama zama”, an ******** miner. He digs for the precious metal and surfaces every three months or so to sell it on the ****** market for a huge profit, earning more than he ever did before – though the risks now are far higher. “The underground life is ruthless. Many do not make it out alive,” said the 52-year-old, who spoke to the BBC on condition that his real name was not used as he feared reprisals. “In one level of the shaft there are bodies and skeletons. We call that the zama-zama graveyard,” he said. But for those who survive, like Ndumiso, the job can be lucrative. While he sleeps on sandbags after back-breaking days underground, his family lives in a house he has bought in a township of the main city, Johannesburg. He made cash payments of 130,000 rand (about $7,000; £5,600) for the one-bedroom house, which he has now extended to include another three bedrooms, he said. An ******** miner for about eight years, Ndumiso has managed to send his three children to fee-paying schools – one of whom is now in university. “I have to provide for my wife and children and this is the only way I know,” he said, adding that he preferred to toil underground rather than adding to the high ****** rate by becoming a car-********* or *******, after spending many years trying to find legal work. His current job is at a mine in the small town of Stilfontein, around 90 miles (145km) south-west of Johannesburg, which is at the centre of global attention after a government minister, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, promised to “smoke out” the hundreds of miners who were underground there, with the security forces preventing food and water from being sent down. “********** are not to be helped. ********** are to be persecuted,” Ntshavheni said. A campaign group, The Society for the Protection of Our Constitution, has launched a court case to demand access to the mineshaft, which police say is about 2km (1.2 miles) deep. The court has given an interim ruling, stating that food and other essentials could be delivered to the miners. Reuters People who have surfaced from the mine in Stilfontein are reportedly frail and sickly Ndumiso works at a different shaft at the mine, and surfaced last month, before the current stand-off. He is now waiting to see how the situation unfolds, before deciding whether to return. The stand-off follows a government decision to ****** down on an industry that has spiralled out of control, with ******-like gangs running it. “The country has been grappling with the scourge of ******** mining for many years, and mining communities bore the brunt of peripheral ********* activities such as *****, robbing and damage to public infrastructure, among others,” said Mikateko Mahlaule, chairman of the parliamentary committee on mineral resources. South *******’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said the mine was a “****** scene”, but police were negotiating with the miners to end the stand-off, rather than going down to arrest them. “Law-enforcement authorities have information that some of the miners may be heavily armed. It is well-established that ******** miners are recruited by ********* gangs and form part of wider organised ****** syndicates,” he added. Ndumiso was among hundreds of thousands of workers – both locals and nationals of neighbouring states like Lesotho – who have been retrenched as South *******’s mining industry has gone into decline over the last three decades. Many of these have gone on to become “zama zamas” at the abandoned mines. South *******-based Benchmark Foundation researcher David van Wyk, who has studied the industry, said there were about 6,000 abandoned mines in the country. “While they are not profitable for large-scale industrial mining, they are profitable for small-scaling mining,” he told the BBC Focus on ******* podcast. Ndumiso said he used to work as a drill operator, earning less than $220 (£175) a month, for a gold-mining company until he was ***** off in 1996. After struggling for the next 20 years to find a full-time job because of South *******’s crushingly high unemployment rate, he said he decided to become an ******** miner. There are tens of thousands of ******** miners in South *******, with Mr Van Wyk saying they number about 36,000 alone in Gauteng province – the country’s economic heartland, where gold was first discovered in the 19th Century. “Zama zamas will often spend months underground without surfacing and depend heavily on outside support for food and other necessities. It is arduous and dangerous work,” said a report by campaign group Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised ******. “Some carry pistols, shotguns and semi-automatic weapons to protect themselves from rival gangs of miners,” it added. Ndumiso told the BBC that he did own a *******, but he also paid his gang a monthly “protection fee” of about $8. Its heavily armed guards fend off threats, especially from Lesotho gangs reputed to have more lethal firepower, he said. Under the 24-hour protection of the gang, Ndumiso said he used dynamite for rock-blasting and rudimentary tools such as a pick axe, spade and chisel to find gold. Most of what he finds he gives to the gang leader, who pays him a minimum of $1,100 every two weeks. He said he was able to keep some gold, which he sells on the ****** market to top up his income. He was among the fortunate miners to have such an arrangement, he said – explaining that others were kidnapped and taken to the shaft to work like ****** labourers, receiving no payment or gold. Getty Images South *******’s mining industry has long been a major source of employment for both locals and foreign nationals Ndumiso said he normally stayed underground for about three months at a time, and then came up for two to four weeks to spend time with his family and sell his gold, before going back into the deep pits. “I look forward to sleeping on my bed and eating home-cooked meals. Breathing in fresh air is an amazingly powerful feeling.” Ndumiso does not come out more often in case he loses his digging spot, but after three months it gets too much to remain underground. He recalled that once when he reached the surface: “I was so blinded by the sunlight that I thought I had gone ******.” His skin had also become so pale that his wife took him for a medical check-up: “I was honest with the doctor about where I lived. He did not say anything, and just treated me. He gave me vitamins.” Above ground Ndumiso does not just relax. He also works with other ******** miners as ore-bearing rocks brought up from below are blasted and crushed into fine powder. This is then “washed” by his group at a makeshift plant to separate the gold using dangerous chemicals like mercury and sodium cyanide. Ndumiso said he then sells his share of the gold – one gram for $55, less than the official price of about $77. He said he has a ready-made buyer, whom he contacts via WhatsApp. “The first time I met him I did not trust him so I told him to meet me in the car park of a police station. I knew I would be safe there. “Now we meet in any car park. We have a scale. We weigh the gold on the spot. I then hand it to over to him, and he pays me in cash,” he said, pointing out that he walks away with between $3,800 and $5,500. He gets this amount every three months, meaning his average annual income is between $15,500 and $22,000 – far more than the $2,700 he earned as a legally employed miner. Ndumiso said the gang leaders earned far more, but he did not know how much. Getty Images South *******’s gold mines are among the deepest in the world As for the buyer of his gold, Ndumiso said he did not know anything about him, except that he was a white man in an ******** industry that involves people of different races and classes. This makes it difficult to clamp down on the ********* networks, with Mr Van Wyk saying the government was targeting miners – but not the “kingpins living in the leafy suburbs of Johannesburg and Cape Town”. Mr Ramaphosa said that ******** mining was costing “our economy billions of rands in lost export income, royalties and taxes”, and the government would continue to work with mining firms “to ensure they take responsibility for rehabilitating or closing mines that are no longer operational”. Mr Van Wyk told the BBC Focus on ******* podcast that the government would worsen South *******’s economic crisis if it clamped down on the “zama zamas”. “There should be a policy to decriminalise their operations, to better organise them and to regulate them,” he added. When Ndumiso goes back underground to work, he takes with him cartons of canned food to avoid paying the exorbitant prices at the “markets” that exist there. Apart from food, basic items – like cigarettes, torches, batteries – and mining tools were sold there, he said. This suggests that a community – or a small town – had developed underground over the years, with Ndumiso saying there was even a red light district, with **** workers brought underground by the gangs. Ndumiso said the mine where he worked was made up of several levels, and a labyrinth of tunnels that connected to each other. “They are like highways, with signs painted to give directions to different places and levels – like the level that we use as the *******, or the level that we call the zama-zama graveyard,” he said. “Some are ******* by rival gang members; others **** during rockfalls and are crushed by massive boulders. I lost a friend after he was robbed of his gold and shot in the head.” Although life underground is perilous, it is a risk that thousands like Ndumiso are willing to take, as they say the alternative is to live and **** poor in a nation where the unemployment rate stands at more than 30%. You may also be interested in:Getty Images/BBC Source link #South #Africas #******** #mining #industry #Gangcontrolled #towns #grow #underground Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl review – standing just outside the Zone | Video Gamer Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl review – standing just outside the Zone | Video Gamer IGN : STALKER 2 is a massive game; as of this writing, I’m about 20 hours into my playthrough and still have so much left to do in The Zone in both the main story questline and in side missions that I’m having to squint to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Source link #Stalker #Heart #Chornobyl #review #standing #Zone #Video #Gamer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘It can be really overwhelming to deal with grief’ ‘It can be really overwhelming to deal with grief’ BBC Emma was only four-years-old when she lost her brother to leukaemia Mourning the loss of a loved one is difficult for anyone but navigating that grief while being a student adds an extra layer of challenge. Some teenagers spoke to BBC News NI about their experience of bereavement at an event run for schools by the Marie Curie charity. Fifteen-year-old Emma from Belfast High School was only four-years-old and in primary school when she lost her brother to leukaemia. “It can be really overwhelming to deal with grief and then have to deal with practical things like catching up on homework,” she said. Though she is a teenager now, Emma said “there are still difficult days like anniversaries or birthdays”. Emma volunteers with Cruse Bereavement Care to help other young people and has contributed to research aimed at helping schools to better support bereaved pupils. The Marie Curie charity is calling for more training for teachers in how to support pupils who have lost a loved one. For Emma, there are some subjects that bring back memories of her brother’s ******. “Just recently we were learning about leukaemia and stem cell treatment. My Biology teacher was amazing,” she said. “She taught me what I needed to know and then after that she told me that I could just go for a walk and just take a breather.” School is ‘biggest distraction’ Eighteen-year-old Darcy is studying for A-Levels at Regent House School in Newtownards. She lost her mum to ******* ******* in 2023. “She had suffered for quite a long time before she passed, but my school has been absolutely amazing in helping me through it,” said Darcy. “School is definitely my biggest distraction whenever I think about it.” Eighteen-year-old Darcy lost her mum to ******* ******* in 2023 When Darcy returned to school, her teachers, senior staff and school counsellor were made aware of her mother’s ******. The school made adjustments as she began her A-Level studies. “I missed a lot whenever I was off but my teachers were able to have one-on-one time with me to go over what I’d missed,” she said. “I’ve had so many teachers listen to me whenever I’ve been quite down about my bereavement.” Megan lost her dad when she was only 10 Eighteen-year-old Megan, also from Regent House, lost her dad when she was only 10. She was about to move from primary school to post-primary at the time. “Going into secondary school where nobody knows you, nobody knows your circumstances, it was difficult for me,” she said. “I felt maybe a little bit alone knowing that there were questions going to be asked – about potentially family questions or personal questions.” Megan said her mum the school aware of the family’s loss before she started there. “It was kind of kept to myself, but I knew there was help there if I needed it and I knew the teachers I could go to. “It’s really important that students are made to feel comfortable, and that they don’t need to feel ashamed or embarrassed to talk about themselves.” Teacher Debbie Byrne runs the pupil-led mental health team and bereavement team in Regent House Teacher Debbie Byrne runs the pupil-led mental health team and bereavement team in Regent House. The bereavement team is led mainly by senior pupils who have been trained by Cruse Bereavement Care. Ms Byrne said some students in junior school have been recently bereaved whilst others may be historically bereaved. “So they meet with those pupils once a week or whenever they need additional support,” she said. ‘Every pupil will be different’ Regent House has also designed a bereavement room as a safe place for pupils. “Every pupil will be different with their needs – some pupils want to discuss it, other pupils won’t,” Ms Byrne added. She said that alongside vital training for teachers, there are also practical measures a school can put in place such as the option to “skip certain lessons depending on the topics”. A new Marie Curie report called Compassionate School Communities is based on the views of pupils, parents and teachers. It aims to help schools put policies and support in place to help pupils with bereavement. It is estimated about 900 parents with school-age children **** in Northern Ireland each year, but some pupils will also lose grandparents and other relatives. Joan McEwan from Marie Curie told BBC News NI that their research showed that young people wanted “bereavement support and grief education” in schools. She also said when teachers are trained to offer that support “they’re more confident to open up those conversations and ask the child what help and support they need and want”. Source link #overwhelming #deal #grief Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marvel Future ****** adds Sleeper to the ******, along with ****** Friday events and more Marvel Future ****** adds Sleeper to the ******, along with ****** Friday events and more New costumes for Spider-Man (The Symbiote Suit), Venom (Warstar), and Agent Venom (Guardians of the Galaxy) ****** Friday check-in event Sleeper will be joining the ****** Netmarble is welcoming some Spider-Man-themed content into Marvel Future ****** this month, but with a symbiotic twist. The latest update adds a new character too on top of swanky new costumes, so there’s plenty to keep you busy within the RPG. In particular, Sleeper will be joining in to buff up your squad in Marvel Future ******, who’s upgradeable to Tier-3 so you can unleash a new Ultimate Skill. On top of that, you can also feast your eyes on new cosmetics for Spider-Man (The Symbiote Suit), Venom (Warstar), and Agent Venom (Guardians of the Galaxy). By the way, if you’ve been keeping track of year-end sales and blockbuster discounts, then you’re well aware that ****** Friday is right around the corner. Marvel Future ****** isn’t lagging behind either, it seems, as you can also take advantage of cool rewards from the special ****** Friday check-in event. This includes a Selector: Potential Transcended Character. Keep your eyes peeled for a growth support event that kicks off on November 27th too! Now, with the latest addition to the squad, are you curious about which characters you should aim for to add to your roster? Why not take a look at our Marvel Future ****** tier list to get an idea of how they all stack up? In the meantime, if you’re eager to join in on all the fun, you can do so by checking it out on the App Store and on Google Play. It’s free-to-play with in-app purchases. You can also join the community of followers on the official Facebook page to stay updated on all the latest developments, visit the official website for more info, or take a little peek at the embedded clip above to get a feel of the vibes and visuals. Source link #Marvel #Future #****** #adds #Sleeper #****** #****** #Friday #events Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

OnePlus Pad Pro Tipped to Be Refreshed With Larger 13-Inch Screen OnePlus Pad Pro Tipped to Be Refreshed With Larger 13-Inch Screen OnePlus Pad Pro was introduced in China in June this year with upgrades over the OnePlus Pad tablet. The Pro version is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and carries a 9,510mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging. It is equipped with a 12.1-inch 3K display with a 144Hz refresh rate. A new ***** suggests that the company is expected to launch a new variant of the tablet with a larger 13-inch screen. The probable launch timeline of the purported OnePlus Pad Pro refreshed version has not yet been tipped. OnePlus Pad Pro 13-Inch Features (Expected) The OnePlus Pad Pro will likely arrive in China soon with a refreshed version, according to a Weibo post by tipster WHYLAB. The tipster did not mention the expected launch timeline of the tablet but claimed that it will likely sport a larger 13-inch “Huaxing” LCD screen with a 3,840 x 2,400 pixels resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. It is expected to have up to 600 nits of brightness, a 240Hz touch sampling rate, and “support for three-zone multi-frequency display.” More details about the rumoured variant will likely surface online over the next few days. Notably, the current OnePlus Pad Pro version sports a 12.1-inch 3K display. OnePlus Pad Pro Specifications Aside from a 3K resolution, the OnePlus Pad Pro display has a 144Hz refresh rate, a 7:5 aspect ratio, 900 nits peak brightness, and a 540Hz touch sampling rate alongside TUV Rheinland 3.0 certification and support for Dolby Vision. The OnePlus Pad Pro, which launched in India as the OnePlus Pad 2, is backed by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and a 9,510mAh battery with 67W SuperVOOC charging support. It supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC connectivity and is equipped with 13-megapixel and 8-megapixel rear and front cameras, respectively. The tablet carries a quad stereo speaker system and a USB Type-C port. It is unclear if the rumoured OnePlus Pad Pro variant with the larger display will see an eventual India launch. Source link #OnePlus #Pad #Pro #Tipped #Refreshed #Larger #13Inch #Screen Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mandurah estuary boat ******: Witnesses say John Burdon wasn’t driving before manslaughter charges dropped Mandurah estuary boat ******: Witnesses say John Burdon wasn’t driving before manslaughter charges dropped Four eye-witnesses insisted for months that John Burdon was not in control of the boat which fatally crashed in Mandurah — but it took until four days before the trial for the charges to be dropped. Source link #Mandurah #estuary #boat #****** #Witnesses #John #Burdon #wasnt #driving #manslaughter #charges #dropped Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

We created the categories that the 2024 Game Awards forgot We created the categories that the 2024 Game Awards forgot In the lead-up to last year’s Game Awards, we noted that the ceremony could use some new categories. We felt that the current list was starting to feel lacking, especially as a shifting game industry has moved more toward remakes, early access launches, and more. We secretly hoped that someone running the show would take those suggestions to heart and adopt them. That didn’t happen with this year’s nominations, leading to all sorts of discourse about whether a DLC should be considered for Game of the Year and when is the right time to include it. So we’ve taken matters into our own hands: welcome to Digital Trends’ 2024 Game Awards Expansion Pack! In the spirit of a good DLC (or maybe an unofficial mod, more accurately), we’ve created five extra categories that you won’t see at this year’s Game Awards in December. Our aim is to cover a few holes that the real show has forgotten, including honors for forgotten genres and early access games. This year’s extra nominees range from small-scale indies to some heavy hitters competing at the real Game Awards. Though this isn’t an official part of the show, we plan to make it a new tradition here — at least until the real ceremony steals our thunder. Best Puzzle Game Finji The nominees Isles of Sea & Sky Lorelei and the Laser Eyes The Rise of the Golden Idol Riven Wilmot Works It Out While many genres are covered by The Game Awards’ categories, there isn’t a good fit for puzzle games. The ceremony’s restrictive Action Adventure category bars out games like Islands of Insight that feature no combat. So this year, we’re writing that wrong and honoring some of the year’s best. From the Link’s Awakening-inspired box pushing of Isles of Sea & Sky to the quiet joy of Wilmot Works it Out, these five games take a classic genre in entirely different directions. And the winner is: Lorelei and the Laser Eyes While it was a competitive field this year, Simogo’s ambitious Lorelei and the Laser Eyes stands out among its peers thanks to its intricate puzzles, haunting direction, and incredible sense of style. It’s a classic puzzle box setup that harkens back to the early days of Resident Evil, complete with fixed camera angles, but replaces its zombies with complex puzzles that require players to twist their brains inside and out to deduce the adventure’s hidden language. It’s an astonishing accomplishment — one that deserves its Best Indie Game nomination at the real Game Awards. Best Horror Game Secret Mode The nominees Crow Country Mouthwashing Silent Hill 2 Sorry We’re Closed Still Wakes the Deep Video games are currently in the middle of a horror renaissance, and it’s not slowing down any time soon. After a monumental year for the genre in 2023, game developers got creative this year. Oddball games like Indika and Clickolding towed genre lines to deliver unsettling narrative adventures that have stuck with us since. It was a competitive list to choose from, but we narrowed it down to these five games that range from small-scale retro celebrations to big-budget thrills. And the winner is: Silent Hill 2 Maybe it feels like cheating to give this award to a faithful remake of arguably the best horror game of all time, but developer Bloober Team earned this award with its thoughtful reimagining of Silent Hill 2. The move to traditional third-person ********* allows Bloober to toy with players in new ways as its shambling enemies duck in and out of James Sunderland’s flashlight beam. Best of all, though, is the way it brings new depth to characters like Angela, exploring their trauma in horrifying new ways without losing sight of the off-kilter mystery that shrouds their stories. Best DLC FromSoftware The nominees Destiny 2: The Final Shape Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Splatoon 3: Side Order The Talos Principle 2: Road to Elysium DLC is a tricky thing to consider when it comes to awards. Is something like Resident Evil 4: Separate Ways good on its own merits, or does it just benefit from being more of a great game? That confusion has bled into The Game Awards this year, as players can’t quite agree on whether Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree deserves a spot that could have gone to a wholly original title like Helldivers 2. Well, we’ve solved that problem by giving these five nominees their own category. And the winner is: Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree It’s probably no surprise to see Shadow of the Erdtree here considering that it’s the best-reviewed video game DLC of all time. Its strengths are obvious, giving fans of the base game a massive expansion that at times feels like its own sequel. Rather than heaping more deserved praise onto it, I’ll give a shout out to the other nominees here, as they all brought more depth to the base games they’re attached to. My personal favorite? Don’t sleep on Splatoon 3‘s surprisingly fun roguelite mode! Best Remake/Remaster Cyan Worlds The nominees Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Riven Silent Hill 2 While gaming award shows tend to be about honoring the present and looking to the future, the actual industry is currently looking to the past. Remakes and remasters have become dominant in recent years, almost to the point of parody. For every revival of a long-lost game, we had something entirely unnecessary, like The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. As hollow as the trend can be, there are plenty of remakes that go the extra mile to deepen our understanding of an old game rather than play the hits. These five nominees represent that, bringing classic games into the modern era in very different ways. And the winner is: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has been a been polarizing since its release because of its stuffed open-world structure and controversial ending, but there’s no doubt that it’s a lovingly crafted chapter in Square Enix’s surprising remake trilogy. The second installment brings an eccentric chunk of the PS1 classic to life, adapting everything from the jungles of Gongaga to the opulent Gold Saucer. What stands out even more is the way that Rebirth continues to derive new meaning from its source material, offering up a complicated meditation on grief and how we can learn to live with it and ****** on. Best Early Access Game Motion Twin The nominees Fields of Mistria Hades 2 Manor Lords The Rogue Prince of Persia Windblown If we learn nothing else from 2024’s game lineup, let it be that early access games can’t be ignored. What once was a niche practice is bringing in more mainstream audiences thanks to hits like Palworld and Manor Lords. Even Ubisoft jumped into the trend this year with The Rogue Prince of Persia. Should early access games compete like any other titles, or should voters wait until their 1.0 launches to consider them? The answer is muddled considering that Manor Lords is up for awards at this year’s Game Awards, but Hades 2 isn’t. So we’ve fixed that by giving these games their own category. And the winner is: Hades 2 While its story isn’t quite complete yet, Hades 2 is already a fantastic sequel in its unfinished state. It takes the first game’s winning roguelite formula and gives it a witchy twist as players hunt down Chronos using a variety of new weapons and casting spells. What’s most impressive is that it doesn’t just feature one roguelite run; it has two entirely separate ones. That already has given the sequel much more longevity and allowed developer Supergiant to create even more creative biomes and fantastic songs to soundtrack them. Don’t be surprised if you see this competing for Game of the Year in 2025. The actual 2024 Game Awards airs on December 12. Source link #created #categories #Game #Awards #forgot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Starbucks considers selling stake in ******** business, Bloomberg News reports Starbucks considers selling stake in ******** business, Bloomberg News reports (Reuters) -Starbucks is exploring options for its ******** operations, including the possibility of selling a stake in the business to a local partner, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The coffee chain has also gauged interest from prospective investors, including domestic private equity firms, the report said. In China, the company has grappled with weak consumer spending and stiff competition from local coffee chains such as Luckin’ Coffee in a weak macroeconomic environment. Starbucks did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside regular business hours. The company currently operates more than 7,500 stores in over 250 cities on the ******** mainland, according to its website. Comparable sales in China, the company’s second-largest market after the U.S., have declined for three straight quarters, falling 14% in the fourth quarter. (Reporting by Angela Christy in Bengaluru; Editing by Abinaya Vijayaraghavan) Source link #Starbucks #considers #selling #stake #******** #business #Bloomberg #News #reports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

****** Friday deals on MasterClass subscriptions start at $7 per month ****** Friday deals on MasterClass subscriptions start at $7 per month A MasterClass subscription is perhaps one of the best gifts you can get for yourself if you love learning new things or honing your skills, and it will now cost you up to 50 percent off. The website is holding a pre-****** Friday *****, so this is your chance to sign up at a discount if you find its regular rates a bit steep. MasterClass’ Standard subscription, which allows you to access its content on one device, will cost you $7 a month instead of $10. If you want to watch classes offline, though, your cheapest option is the Plus tier that will now set you back $9 per month instead of $15. It will also allow you to access the service’s videos on two devices. But the best option available right now is the Premium tier, which you can get for $10 a month instead of $20. You’ll be able to access classes on six devices if you get it, and it also comes with offline viewing. MasterClass A subscription will let you view more than 200 classes across 11 categories no matter what option you choose. MasterClass offers lessons from some of the best and most well-known people in their field, such as Gordon Ramsay (cooking), Martin Scorsese (filmmaking), Margaret Atwood (creative writing), Mariah Carey (using voice as an instrument), Stephen Curry (basketball), Steve Martin (comedy), Shonda Rhimes (writing for TV), John Legend (songwriting), Garry Kasparov (chess), Jane Goodall (conservation), Simone Biles (gymnastics) and Samuel L. Jackson (acting). Take note that you’ll have to pay for the whole year to be able to enjoy the discounted rates, which are only available for a limited time. Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. Source link #****** #Friday #deals #MasterClass #subscriptions #start #month Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

British regulator prepares competition remedies for cloud market British regulator prepares competition remedies for cloud market Ofcom said it received evidence showing Microsoft makes it less attractive for customers to run its Office productivity apps on cloud infrastructure other than Microsoft Azure. Igor Golovniov | Sopa Images | Lightrocket via Getty Images LONDON — Britain’s competition regulator is preparing remedies aimed at solving competition issues in the multibillion-pound cloud computing industry. The Competition and Markets Authority is set to unveil its provisional decision detailing “behavioral” remedies addressing anti-competitive practices in the sector following a months-long investigation into the market, two sources familiar with the matter told CNBC. The sources, who preferred to remain anonymous given the investigation’s sensitive nature, said that the cloud market remedies could be announced within the next two weeks. The regulator previously set itself a deadline of November to December 2024 to publish its provisional decision. A CMA spokesperson declined to comment on the timing of its provisional decision when asked by CNBC. Cloud infrastructure services is a market that’s dominated by U.S. technology giants Amazon and Microsoft. Amazon is the largest player in the market, offering cloud services via its Amazon Web Services (AWS) arm. Microsoft is the second-largest provider, selling cloud products under its Microsoft Azure unit. The CMA probe traces its history back to 2022, when U.K. telecoms regulator Ofcom kicked off a market study examining the dominance of cloud giants Amazon, Microsoft and Google. Ofcom subsequently referred its cloud review to the CMA to address competition issues in the market. Why is the CMA concerned? Among the key issues the CMA is expected to address with recommended behavioral remedies, are so-called “egress” fees charging companies for transferring data from one cloud to another, licensing fees viewed as unfair, volume discounts, and interoperability issues that make it ******* to switch vendor. According to one of the sources, there’s a chance Google may be excluded from the scope of the competition remedies given it is smaller in size compared to market leaders AWS and Microsoft Azure. Amazon and Microsoft declined to comment on this story when contacted by CNBC. Google did not immediately return a request for comment. What could the remedies look like? The CMA has said previously in June that it was more minded toward considering behavioral remedies to resolve its concerns as opposed to “structural” remedies, such as ordering divestments or operational separations. The watchdog said in a working paper in June that it was “at an early stage” of considering potential remedies. Solutions floated at the time included imposing price controls restricting the level of egress fees, lowering technical barriers to switching cloud providers, and banning agreements encouraging firms to commit more spend in return for discounts. One contentious measure the regulator said it was considering was requiring Microsoft to apply the same pricing for its productivity software products regardless of which cloud they’re hosted on — a move that would have a significant impact on Microsoft’s pricing structures. CMA Chief Executive Sarah Cardell is set to hold a speech on Thursday at Chatham House, a U.K. policy institute. In an interview with the Financial Times, she defended the regulator’s track record on competition enforcement amid criticisms from Prime Minister Keir Starmer that the agency was holding back growth. She is expected to outline plans for a review in 2025 into whether the CMA should more frequently use behavioral remedies when approving deals, the FT reported. Source link #British #regulator #prepares #competition #remedies #cloud #market Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

British regulator prepares competition remedies for cloud market British regulator prepares competition remedies for cloud market Ofcom said it received evidence showing Microsoft makes it less attractive for customers to run its Office productivity apps on cloud infrastructure other than Microsoft Azure. Igor Golovniov | Sopa Images | Lightrocket via Getty Images LONDON — Britain’s competition regulator is preparing remedies aimed at solving competition issues in the multibillion-pound cloud computing industry. The Competition and Markets Authority is set to unveil its provisional decision detailing “behavioral” remedies addressing anti-competitive practices in the sector following a months-long investigation into the market, two sources familiar with the matter told CNBC. The sources, who preferred to remain anonymous given the investigation’s sensitive nature, said that the cloud market remedies could be announced within the next two weeks. The regulator previously set itself a deadline of November to December 2024 to publish its provisional decision. A CMA spokesperson declined to comment on the timing of its provisional decision when asked by CNBC. Cloud infrastructure services is a market that’s dominated by U.S. technology giants Amazon and Microsoft. Amazon is the largest player in the market, offering cloud services via its Amazon Web Services (AWS) arm. Microsoft is the second-largest provider, selling cloud products under its Microsoft Azure unit. The CMA probe traces its history back to 2022, when U.K. telecoms regulator Ofcom kicked off a market study examining the dominance of cloud giants Amazon, Microsoft and Google. Ofcom subsequently referred its cloud review to the CMA to address competition issues in the market. Why is the CMA concerned? Among the key issues the CMA is expected to address with recommended behavioral remedies, are so-called “egress” fees charging companies for transferring data from one cloud to another, licensing fees viewed as unfair, volume discounts, and interoperability issues that make it ******* to switch vendor. According to one of the sources, there’s a chance Google may be excluded from the scope of the competition remedies given it is smaller in size compared to market leaders AWS and Microsoft Azure. Amazon and Microsoft declined to comment on this story when contacted by CNBC. Google did not immediately return a request for comment. What could the remedies look like? The CMA has said previously in June that it was more minded toward considering behavioral remedies to resolve its concerns as opposed to “structural” remedies, such as ordering divestments or operational separations. The watchdog said in a working paper in June that it was “at an early stage” of considering potential remedies. Solutions floated at the time included imposing price controls restricting the level of egress fees, lowering technical barriers to switching cloud providers, and banning agreements encouraging firms to commit more spend in return for discounts. One contentious measure the regulator said it was considering was requiring Microsoft to apply the same pricing for its productivity software products regardless of which cloud they’re hosted on — a move that would have a significant impact on Microsoft’s pricing structures. CMA Chief Executive Sarah Cardell is set to hold a speech on Thursday at Chatham House, a U.K. policy institute. In an interview with the Financial Times, she defended the regulator’s track record on competition enforcement amid criticisms from Prime Minister Keir Starmer that the agency was holding back growth. She is expected to outline plans for a review in 2025 into whether the CMA should more frequently use behavioral remedies when approving deals, the FT reported. Source link #British #regulator #prepares #competition #remedies #cloud #market Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

F1 24 devs vow to "improve crowds' in future titles as 8K gaming and PS5 Pro drive more fidelity F1 24 devs vow to "improve crowds' in future titles as 8K gaming and PS5 Pro drive more fidelity Video Gamer writes: “We sit down with F1 24’s Simon Lumb, technical producer at Codemasters, who tells us to expect improved crowd fidelity in future titles.” Source link #devs #vow #quotimprove #crowds039 #future #titles #gaming #PS5 #Pro #drive #fidelity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]