Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon Review – Admirable, Ambitious and Messy | COGconnected
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon Review – Admirable, Ambitious and Messy | COGconnected
With so many AAA big-budget games and countless indie games across genres, it’s increasingly rare to see a AA game with a modest budget and scope break through and make waves in the industry. It’s even less common for that game to confidently and consistently emulate a series with the caliber of The Elder Scrolls. With Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, though, developer Questline has built a tight, satisfying “Scrolls-like” that effectively captures so much of what makes its influences so great in the context of the dark fantasy Arthurian world of Tainted Grail.
While it doesn’t always stray from its influences and is littered with technical issues big and small that frequently took the reviewer out of the experience, The Fall of Avalon brings its perilous world to life beautifully, with an impactful story and an expansive open world that show incredible potential for this world and genre.
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F-4 Phantoms Sought By Private Space Launch Company Starfighters International
F-4 Phantoms Sought By Private Space Launch Company Starfighters International
The Kennedy Space Center-based research, test, and now space launch company Starfighters International, which has been flying F-104 Starfighters privately for decades is now, is in the process of acquiring a dozen F-4 Phantoms. The deal would see the iconic third-generation Cold War fighters fly primarily in service of the firm’s space launch operations, which aim to provide rapid and flexible access to low Earth orbit (LEO) for small satellites, as well as suborbital offerings.
Starfighters International began as a company around three decades ago, and grew from doing air shows to becoming largely a research and development support firm with a very unique address. The company and its fleet of antique Mach 2-capable F-104 Starfighters, which includes seven airframes today, moved into Kennedy Space Center in 2007. There they would have access to arguably one of the most famous and largest runways on earth, the Shuttle Landing Facility. Now they are in the process of building a 150,000-square-foot facility in Midland, Texas, to support the firm’s more ambitious space launch aims.
And this is precisely where the F-4 Phantoms come into play.
While the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is capable of zooming up into the stratosphere at high speed, they cannot carry heavier, outsized launch vehicles at the required performance that will allow larger payloads to be inserted into low Earth orbit. The F-4s — at least in concept — can.
Starfighters International
In an April 2025 SEC filing, the firm, which is undergoing a major fundraising drive, stated that it is in the process of acquiring a dozen F-4s, all from South Korean stocks. Additional support aircraft — a DC-9 and MD-80 — are also being perused. The filing reads, in part:
“On October 31, 2024, our wholly owned subsidiary, Starfighters International entered into an aircraft acquisition agreement (the “Aircraft Agreement”) with Aerovision LLC, a Florida limited liability company (“Aerovision”), pursuant to which Starfighters International agreed to purchase from Aerovision various used aircraft and associated spare equipment (the “Aircraft Transactions”) in phases. The Aircraft Agreement contemplates that each Aircraft Transaction will be completed pursuant to a definitive agreement (each, a “Definitive Agreement”) to be settled between the parties, in each case with a corresponding bill of ***** and associated closing documents. The Aircraft Agreement provides that it, and any Definitive Agreement entered into by the parties, may be amended and/or extended in writing by the parties on a case-by-case basis.
The subject aircraft for acquisition pursuant to the Aircraft Agreement are: (i) twelve F-4 Phantom II aircraft, (ii) one MD-83 with U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) Registration N572AA, and (iii) one DC-9 with FAA Registration N932NA. The subject aircraft are used-serviceable surplus aircraft offered on an “as-is-where-is” basis, with no warranty express or implied. The twelve F-4 Phantom II aircraft have recently been decommissioned by the Republic of Korea Air Force, and will have to be registered with the FAA after they are imported into the United States from South Korea.
The Aircraft Agreement requires an initial deposit advance in the amount of $5,000,000.00 to be made no later than ten business days from the signing of the Aircraft Agreement, which has been paid from funds received from the Company’s Regulation A Tier 2 Offering. The payment of the deposit is considered to constitute “Phase 1” under the Aircraft Agreement.
Phase 2 will involve the payment of an additional $5,000,000.00 for the acquisition of eight of the twelve F-4 Phantom II aircraft. Such payment is due no later than December 15, 2024.
Phase 3 will involve the payment of an additional $5,000,000.00 for the acquisition of the final four F-4 Phantom II aircraft. Such payment is due no later than March 15, 2025.
Phase 4 shall involve the payment of an additional $5,000,000.00 for the acquisition of the MD-83 aircraft with FAA Registration N572AA, and the DC-9 aircraft with FAA Registration N932NA. The parties are to use their reasonable best efforts to complete Phase 4 by April 15, 2025.“
It’s worth noting that South Korea retired its last upgraded F-4E Phantoms a year ago, which you can read all about in this past feature.
South Korean F-4Es just prior to retirement. (ROKAF)
There are currently no F-4s registered to Starfighters International in the FAA database. Importing fighters, especially ones as capable as the Phantom, is a complex, very expensive process, and tightly controlled in various ways, including through U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
If the deal is moving forward as planned, delays would not be surprising. Beyond financing, when dealing with the transfer of capable and deadly military hardware from one country to another, and especially from government to private hands, other factors can emerge virtually from nowhere. Case in point, from the same SEC filing:
“As a result of the current political situation in South Korea, Starfighters International has been unable to view the F-4 Phantom II aircraft originally contemplated under the Aircraft Agreement to be acquired from the Republic of South Korea Air Force, and neither Starfighters International nor Aerovision have been able to confirm the continued availability of such aircraft. As such, Starfighters International did not pay the Phase 1 initial deposit advance nor the Phase 2 payment provided for under the Aircraft Agreement. On or about January 28, 2025, Starfighters International and Aerovision verbally agreed to amend the Aircraft Agreement regarding the Aircraft Transactions, pursuant to which:
(i) Starfighters International may elect not to proceed with Phase 3 and/or Phase 4;
(ii) The initial deposit advance of $5,000,000.00 is broken down into two payments of $2,500,000.00 each, with the first payment to be made on or before January 31, 2025 (which was paid on January 24, 2025), and the second payment to be made within 10 days of Aerovision executing a binding agreement to acquire a minimum of eight F-4 Phantom II aircraft from an alternative supplier(s);
(iii) The due date for payment associated with Phase 2 is amended to be within five days of Aerovision providing confirmation of shipping of the F-4 Phantom II aircraft to the Company from the point of origin;
(iv) The due date for payment associated with Phase 3, if Starfighters International elected to proceed, is amended to be October 31, 2025;
(v) The due date for payment associated with Phase 4, if Starfighters International elected to proceed, is amended to be January 31, 2026.“
South Korean F-4E carrying a large AGM-142 guided missile datalink pod and fuel tanks. ROKAF
While the filing does not elaborate on the “current political situation in South Korea” at issue, the country is still dealing with the aftermath of former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024. Yoon, who was subsequently impeached and removed from office, is now on trial after having been charged with leading an insurrection. South Korea’s relations with North Korea are also far from the best they have been.
If sourcing becomes a primary issue, F-4s should be available from other friendly countries. Greece is winding down its Phantom operations and Turkey will eventually send the last of its F-4s out to pasture. Others have retired the type in recent years, such as Japan.
We asked Starfighters International about the status of the F-4 acquisition. They couldn’t provide additional info, stating:
“We are very excited for the future prospects of the company, but we cannot comment on the F-4s at this time.”
While companies have come and gone trying to break into the space access game using fixed-wing aircraft as launch platforms before Starfighters International, the timing is arguably quite good for the company.
One of Starfighter International’s F-104s getting airborne with its J79 turbojet blazing. The F-4 also uses the J79. Starfighters International
The space access marketplace has exploded in recent years, as has the financial investment in it. In particular, the ability to put smaller payloads into orbit much faster and more flexibly is a market area that has great interest. Right now, putting a satellite into orbit weighing hundreds, not thousands of pounds, is in many cases tied to the schedules of larger space-launch payloads and the elaborate systems that put them into orbit. In other words, these smaller satellites often have to hitch rides atop rockets alongside larger ones.
This means customers are married to someone else’s timeline, which can be years in length. Considering the primary payload is paying most of the bill, delays in that more complex payload can push back launches. Again, this is all outside of the smaller customer’s control. Then there is just the desire for flexibility — being able to quickly launch as needed and from where it is most advantageous to the required orbit. This is not a thing for traditional space launch services.
Having cost-effective and highly adaptable launch options for these smaller customers also fits into NASA’s aim at commercializing LEO and expanding access to it. Above all else, the U.S. military is seeking this level of flexibility across its payload classes as space becomes more contested and the technological evolution of payloads is outpacing launch schedules.
Starfighters International graphic via public SEC filing.
Payloads are also shrinking as technology rapidly evolves, meaning more capable smaller satellites will only increase in number, and rapidly so. This is especially true as satellite constellations proliferate.
Still, as noted earlier, the concept of space launch using fixed-wing mothership/launch aircraft as a first ‘stage’ has been littered with broken dreams and unrealized concepts. On the other hand, Starfighters International has been around for a long time and has survived providing test, training, and other support products to key industry players. They also already have a long operational record of flying very high-performance military fighter aircraft and clearly have deep roots in the spaceflight community.
As it sits now, the firm sees its F-104s providing suborbital payload launches, which offer minutes of microgravity, to customers who need to experiment in that environment. This will be via their Starlaunch 1 rocket. The Starlaunch 2 rocket, which the F-4 will presumably carry, will provide LEO access, or at least heavier LEO access than what the Starfighter can provide. A single rocket can carry one payload or over a dozen smaller ones.
Finally, there could also be a hypersonic testing angle that may have potential with a larger and more powerful aircraft like the F-4 as a launch platform. Most famously, Stratolaunch pivoted away from a space launch business model to one focused on supporting hypersonic testing. Of course, this example is on the other end of the spectrum when it comes to mothership size and capabilities, but smaller hypersonic vehicles will also be needed for test and evaluation efforts as the military’s demand for these weapons increases.
If Starfighters International can pull off its F-4 acquisition, these aircraft would join just one flight-worthy Phantom in the United States, an F-4D that belongs to the Collins Foundation. We reached out to the nonprofit as to the status of their Phantom. They told us it is in flyable condition, but it has not flown for a number of years due to the cost associated with operating it.
This underlines just how expensive it is to fly anything like an F-4. The F-104s feature one J79 turbojet, while the F-4s have two. The fuel burn alone is a daunting expense — one of many that Starfighters International will have to confront to keep the F-4s flying and their pilots current. Still, today there are more advanced fighter aircraft than the F-4 flying in private hands in the United States, and successfully for business purposes.
ROKAF
Regardless, if the South Korean jets make it to the United States and into the skies, they will be the only actively flying F-4s in the country.
Hopefully, the company can share more about its potential as an F-4 Phantom operator in the near future.
Contact the author: *****@*****.tld
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Elden Ring Nightreign Review – High-Speed Souls | COGconnected
Elden Ring Nightreign Review – High-Speed Souls | COGconnected
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Explore every Nightfarer class in Elden Ring: Nightreign. Learn each class’s unique skills, strengths, combat roles, and how they fit into the game’s co-op and roguelike mechanics ahead of its May 30, 2025 release.
Co-op Elden Ring Nightreign PC PS5 Xbox Series X ethugamer.com
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AMD acquires Enosemi to enter photonics race — chasing Nvidia into light-based interconnect tech
AMD acquires Enosemi to enter photonics race — chasing Nvidia into light-based interconnect tech
AMD is looking to strengthen its position in the race against Nvidia with a new acquisition. The company purchased Enosemi, a company developing photonic integrated circuits. Silicon photonics is seen as a crucial next step into the next era of computing, with many leading tech companies and fabs making steps into photonics over the past year.
Enosemi is a Silicon Valley-based company that has worked with AMD and companies like GlobalFoundries to license, build, and ship photonic integrated circuit IP since 2023. A blog post from AMD SVP Brian Amick claims that the Enosemi team “will help [AMD] immediately scale our ability to support and develop a variety of photonics and co-packaged optics solutions across next-gen AI systems.”
Photonics refers to a newer technology in semiconductors, based on the use of light rather than electrons to send information. Photonics has already been deployed in network switches, inter-chiplet interconnects, and a host of other applications to assist and one day perhaps replace electronic integrated circuits. Light-based ICs have higher speeds, more bandwidth, and better power efficiency than electronic ICs, making them a highly attractive new frontier in chip design.
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AMD’s move to acquire a leading photonics firm like Enosemi shows a commitment to matching Nvidia’s own push into photonics. Nvidia has already released a 400 TB/s network switch platform built on silicon photonics for the datacenter, with more plans to incorporate the tech into its stack of AI solutions.
In AMD’s press release for the acquisition, the company shares, “This acquisition strengthens AMD’s position as a provider of full-stack AI solutions, combining its leading CPUs, GPUs, and adaptive SoCs with enhanced networking, software, and system integration expertise.”
AMD’s goal of becoming a full-stack supplier to compete with Nvidia has so far also included the acquisitions of ZT Systems, Mipsology, and Silo AI, plus partnerships across the enterprise solution stack. Nvidia has cemented itself as a true provider across the entire datacenter, with competitors Intel and Arm also seeking to build up similar positions.
Speculators have long claimed that China is at risk of changing lanes and surpassing the Western tech sphere through the study and application of silicon photonics, with China’s research on next-gen compute technologies more than doubling the U.S.’s over the last five years. AMD does not seem content to let either Nvidia or ******** competition surpass it in this field anytime soon.
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Cats distinguish their owner’s scent from stranger’s, study finds
Cats distinguish their owner’s scent from stranger’s, study finds
Tim Dodd
Climate and science reporter
Getty Images
Cats use their strong sense of smell to identify and communicate with other cats
Domestic cats can tell the difference between the smell of their owner and that of a stranger, a new study suggests.
The study by Tokyo University of Agriculture found cats spent significantly longer sniffing tubes containing the odours of unknown people compared to tubes containing their owner’s smell.
This suggests cats can discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar humans based on their odour, the researchers say, but that it is unclear whether they can identify specific people.
Cats are known to use their strong sense of smell to identify and communicate with other cats, but researchers had not yet studied whether they can also use it to distinguish between people.
Previous studies of human recognition by cats have shown they are able to distinguish between voices, interpret someone’s gaze to find food, and change their behaviour according to a person’s emotional state that is recognised via their odour.
In the study published on Wednesday, researchers presented 30 cats with plastic tubes containing either a swab containing the odour of their owner, a swab containing the odour of a person of the same sex as their owner who they had never met, or a clean swab.
The swabs containing odours had been rubbed under the armpit, behind the ear, and between the toes of the owner or stranger.
Cats spent significantly more time sniffing the odours of unknown people compared to those of their owner or the empty tube, suggesting they can discriminate between the smells of familiar and unfamiliar people, the researchers said.
The idea of sniffing an unknown stimulus for longer has been shown before in cats – weaned kittens sniff unknown female cats for longer compared to their mothers.
However, the researchers cautioned that it cannot be concluded the cats can identify specific people such as their owner.
“The odour stimuli used in this study were only those of known and unknown persons,” said one of the study’s authors, Hidehiko Uchiyama.
“Behavioural experiments in which cats are presented with multiple known-person odour stimuli would be needed, and we would need to find specific behavioural patterns in cats that appear only in response to the owner’s odour.”
Miyairi et al., 2025, PLOS One, CC-BY 4.0
Cats were filmed and timed sniffing the different samples
Serenella d’Ingeo, a researcher at the University of Bari who was not involved in this study but who has studied cat responses to human odours, also said the results demonstrated cats react differently to familiar and unfamiliar smells, but that conclusions couldn’t be drawn over their motivations.
“We don’t know how the animal felt during the sniffing… We don’t know for instance whether the animal was relaxed or tense,” she said.
Ms d’Ingeo added that the presentation of samples to cats by their own owners, who naturally added their own odour to the environment, could have increased the cats’ interest in the unfamiliar ones.
“In that situation, owners present not only their visual presence but also their odour,” she said.
“So of course if they present other odours that are different from their personal one, in a way they engage more the cat.”
The study’s authors concluded that “cats use their olfaction [smell] for the recognition of humans”.
They also noted cats rubbed their faces against the tubes after sniffing – which cats do to mark their scent on something – indicating that sniffing may be an exploratory behaviour that precedes odour marking.
The researchers cautioned that this relationship needs further investigation, along with the theory of whether cats can recognise a specific person from their smell.
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3 ways the stock market is showing technical strength lately and how to know if it will last
3 ways the stock market is showing technical strength lately and how to know if it will last
The S & P 500 has displayed three key characteristics over the last few weeks, which it will need to replicate for this rally to continue: strong breadth, low two-way volatility, and successful bullish patterns. Strong breadth Tuesday’s trading session couldn’t have gone much better for stock market bulls — as the early positive response to news produced an opening upside gap, which then was bought throughout the day. That resulted in a close near the highs and breadth that surpassed +90%. It was the S & P 500’s fourth 90% breadth day since the April 7 low (vs. two 90% down days over the same *******), which is an incredible amount in a short ******* of time. This is especially true given how far the index now is from the low. Seeing explosive rallies and ultra-strong participation often is evident in response to big downturns (mid-March) and/or at key inflection points (like we saw on April 9 and April 22). But we’re now seven weeks removed from the low, and the S & P 500 is more than 20% above its low point… This is another example of strength begetting strength. The S & P 500’s Cumulative Advance-Decline Line hit a new all-time high all the way back on May 2nd. This shows two key points: The majority of the index’s holdings held up better than it seemed during the waterfall decline. Clusters of +90% days like this can literally shift momentum in a major way. Low two-way volatility The S & P 500 has now logged three 1% gains in May, which is currently tied for the second fewest of 2025 in a month — with January. Of course, that’s a positive… but that’s mostly because it compares to just one 1% loss so far in May. The last time that the S & P 500 had one or fewer 1% declines in a calendar month was November ’24. And let’s not forget just how calm last year was in aggregate. The index had zero or one 1% loss during six of the year’s 12 months, which, of course, equated to a persistent uptrend and an ultimate 23% annual gain. Just a few weeks ago, we were comparing 2025 to 2022, and there were plenty of similarities: for one, the S & P 500 had just witnessed two straight months of at least 10 absolute moves for the first time since September and October ’22. No month had fewer than eight. No matter what happens over the next few days, the S & P 500 will have fewer than eight this May. This doesn’t guarantee anything going forward, but we know one thing: the more months with low amounts of 1% moves, the healthier the market’s trend… and vice versa. Bullish patterns Lastly, but certainly not least, the S & P 500 (and many other indices, ETFs, and stocks) has leveraged bullish chart patterns exceptionally well over the last few weeks. Two weeks ago, our first upside target was hit (5,840). That was a very important development, because it was the first successful bullish pattern since last December. We had three consecutive failed bullish formations since then, which prompted us to be cautious. At the same time, bearish patterns were working… until the first week of April. Having one successful bullish pattern doesn’t predict the future, but it’s often the first step for additional, ******* formations to take shape. And when that happens, the market’s foundation gets stronger. Currently, we have two upside targets in play: 6,125 and 6,555. The higher the target, the greater the need to see future digestive periods resolved to the upside. That’s how our 6,100-target in 2024 got achieved, and that’s how 6,555 (and any other higher targets that get triggered from here) will get acquired, too. DISCLOSURES: (None) All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, NBC UNIVERSAL, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium. THE ABOVE CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY . THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSITUTE FINANCIAL, INVESTMENT, TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE OR A RECOMMENDATION TO BUY ANY SECURITY OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSET. THE CONTENT IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT REFLECT ANY INDIVIDUAL’S UNIQUE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ABOVE CONTENT MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. BEFORE MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, YOU SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER SEEKING ADVICE FROM YOUR OWN FINANCIAL OR INVESTMENT ADVISOR. Click here for the full disclaimer.
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Fernie lands two more winners at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club
Fernie lands two more winners at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club
Three hoops accounted for six of the seven winners and Peter Fernie’s double allowed him to surge further ahead for trainer of the year at last Sunday’s Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club meeting.
Following Chris Nicoll’s success aboard the Paul Tapper-trained Classic Code ($26) in the opening race, the remainder of the card was dominated by Troy Turner, Victoria Corver and Lucy Fiore — each with riding doubles.
Turner saluted in back-to-back races with Magic Will Reign ($9) and I Never Dreamed ($4.40), for trainers Trevor Tasker and Gary Bowen, respectively.
Corver’s big day began in race two on the Ryan Hill-trained Quick Cookie ($12), and she followed-up in race seven with Floba ($5.50) for Brett Drury.
Both of Fiore’s winners were for Fernie — Close At Hand ($1.50 favourite) in the third and three races later with Karnup Queen ($1.35 favourite).
Action at the KBRC continues this Sunday.
Camera IconTrainer Trevor Tasker after Troy Turner on Magic Will Reign won the $24,000 Have A Punt For Propers – Boulder Parts Handicap (1760m) at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club on Sunday. Credit: Carwyn Monck/Kalgoorlie MinerCamera IconLucy Fiore on Close At Hand wins the $24,000 Gai Robinson Memorial Handicap (1400m) at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club on Sunday. Credit: Carwyn Monck/Kalgoorlie MinerCamera IconTrainer Peter Fernie after Lucy Fiore on Close At Hand won the $24,000 Gai Robinson Memorial Handicap (1400m) at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club on Sunday. Credit: Carwyn Monck/Kalgoorlie Miner
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Judge spares Trump from massive DOGE lawsuit — leaving Elon Musk holding the bag for ‘unauthorized role’
Judge spares Trump from massive DOGE lawsuit — leaving Elon Musk holding the bag for ‘unauthorized role’
Donald Trump has been dropped from a lawsuit accusing his administration of illegally wielding power to slash government agencies and purge the federal workforce.
But a federal judge won’t let Elon Musk escape the case.
Musk — tapped by the president to lead the so-called Department of Government Efficiency — is facing a lawsuit from a group of 14 states arguing that the world’s wealthiest person lacks any legal authority to carry out mass firings, terminate grants and access sensitive government information and taxpayer data.
Attorneys for the Trump administration claimed Musk is only serving a temporary advisory role as a “special government employee” serving under the president.
But District Judge Tanya Chutkan shot down the White House’s attempt to “minimize” his role as “a mere advisor without any formal authority.”
Musk instead “occupies a continuing position” and “exercises significant authority,” all without “proper appointment” by Congress, Chutkan wrote.
A judge agreed to drop Donald Trump as a defendant in a lawsuit from 14 states accusing the president and Elon Musk of illegally firing workers and cutting spending, leaving the billionaire on the hook as the case moves forward (Reuters)
The states suing the administration plausibly allege that Musk “makes decisions about ‘federal expenditures, contracts, government property, and the very existence of federal agencies,’” she added.
DOGE caused “financial harm” to states by slashing federal funding while gaining “unauthorized access” to “private and proprietary information,” according to the lawsuit.
“The Constitution does not permit the Executive to commandeer the entire appointments power by unilaterally creating a federal agency pursuant to Executive Order and insulating its principal officer from the Constitution as an ‘advisor’ in name only,” Chutkan wrote.
Musk and Trump have characterized DOGE — operating as the U.S. Doge Service, formerly the U.S. Digital Service — as “tech support” to end “waste, fraud and abuse.”
His DOGE agents, or federal workers doing work on its behalf, are deployed across all federal agencies
Musk’s position as a “special government employee” is limited to 130 days within the year, which would mean the tech billionaire could no longer be working at the White House by the end of this month.
But White House officials told The Independent that those working hours don’t fall neatly within the calendar. Musk is expected to remain a fixture within the administration, though he announced he plans to limit his time in Washington, D.C. — and how much money he spends on political campaigns — to focus on his company Tesla, which saw profits drop by 71 percent within the first three months of the year.
The lawsuit is among several accusing the Trump administration of unconstitutionally running roughshod through federal agencies.
That breakneck effort to keep up with DOGE’s actions in court has been met with what appears to be attempts from administration officials to obfuscate the true nature of Musk’s role — or scramble to name someone else in charge.
While he vows to escape Washington to return to Tesla, Musk remains a defendant in several lawsuits accusing the Trump administration of unconstitutionally wielding power to slash federal spending and fire workers (Getty Images)
After weeks of secrecy in court and refusals from the White House to answer who, exactly, was running DOGE, reporters were sent a message on February 25 from an unnamed White House spokesperson naming Amy Gleason as the DOGE administrator.
Administration officials have insisted that Musk is not the administrator for DOGE. Trump, however, has said the exact opposite.
Musk has “no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself,” according to a sworn statement from a senior White House official on February 18. The next day, Trump himself said he “signed an order creating the Department of Government Efficiency, and put a man named Elon Musk in charge.”
In a statement, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, who brought the case against DOGE, called Judge Chutkan’s decision “an important milestone for preserving America’s system of checks and balances.”
“We are proud to move this case forward and help bring Elon Musk’s reign of terror to an end,” he added.
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Palantir teams up with Fannie Mae in AI push to sniff out mortgage fraud
Palantir teams up with Fannie Mae in AI push to sniff out mortgage fraud
Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir Technologies, speaks during the Digital X event in Cologne, Germany, on Sept. 7, 2021.
Andreas Rentz | Getty Images
Quasi-governmental financial firm Fannie Mae on Wednesday announced a partnership with defense tech player Palantir to detect mortgage fraud, deepening ties between the federal government and a company that has been a big winner in the second Trump administration.
Priscilla Almodovar, Fannie Mae CEO, said Wednesday at a press event that the goal is for the firm to “identify fraud more proactively” with the help of Palantir, starting with its multi-family housing business. An early test showed that Palantir’s technology, which includes elements of artificial intelligence, could identify fraud in seconds that took human investigators two months to find, she said.
Shares of Palantir have jumped more than 140% since President Donald Trump’s election win in November. The technology stock has roles in both modernizing the U.S. military and helping to cut costs in government, making it a seemingly strong fit for the administration’s stated priorities. CEO Alex Karp said Wednesday that the mortgage fraud detection can be done in a way that “protects the underlying data and protects the privacy of the people submitting their forms.”
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Shares of Palantir have dramatically outperformed the broader stock market since the November election.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are government-sponsored enterprises that have been under the conservatorship of the Federal Housing Financing Agency since 2008. The official names of the two enterprises are the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, respectively.
FHFA director William Pulte said Wednesday the Palantir program could be expanded to Freddie Mac in the future and that the agency is also talking to Elon Musk’s xAI firm about a potential partnership.
“The sky’s the limit. We’re not just limited to fraud. If there are ways to pull cost out of the system, we want to do it,” Pulte said.
The press release did not include a dollar amount that Fannie Mae would pay to Palantir for this service.
The announcement comes as there is a push to potentially bring Fannie and Freddie out of conservatorship and re-establish them as something closer to independent companies.
“Our great Mortgage Agencies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, provide a vital service to our Nation by helping hardworking Americans reach the American Dream — Home Ownership,” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Tuesday. “I am working on TAKING THESE AMAZING COMPANIES PUBLIC, but I want to be clear, the U.S. Government will keep its implicit GUARANTEES, and I will stay strong in my position on overseeing them as President. These Agencies are now doing very well, and will help us to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
The “implicit guarantee” mentioned by Trump refers to the idea among investors that the government won’t let Fannie and Freddie default on their mortgage-backed securities. That concept is not legally binding but does help that massive market function and, in theory, lead to lower mortgage rates by reducing the perceived risk to investors in the housing market.
Pulte, who is the grandson of the founder of homebuilding firm PulteGroup, said on CNBC’s “Money Movers” that an exact plan for bringing Fannie and Freddie public is still undetermined and could even involve the companies remaining in conservatorship.
“Whether the president decides to sell a small piece, or what have you, that’s entirely up to the president,” he said.
There are equity shares of the two firms that trade over the counter, and those shareholders could conceivably see a large profit if Fannie and Freddie are taken public. One such shareholder is Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square, and the hedge fund manager has publicly called for IPOs of the two firms.
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JD Vance tells bitcoin conference stablecoins don’t threaten dollar
JD Vance tells bitcoin conference stablecoins don’t threaten dollar
Vice President JD Vance speaks at Bitcoin 2025, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Las Vegas.
John Locker | AP
LAS VEGAS — Vice President JD Vance used his position on stage at the biggest bitcoin conference of the year to push the Trump administration’s efforts on stablecoin legislation, touting its potential benefits to the U.S. economy.
“In this administration, we do not think that stablecoins threaten the integrity of the U.S. dollar. Quite the opposite,” Vance said, in his keynote at Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas on Wednesday. “We view them as a force multiplier of our economic might.”
Months after a successful campaign for the White House that was heavily funded by the crypto industry and less than a year after then-candidate Donald Trump spoke at Bitcoin 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee, Vance reiterated the message that the Trump-Vance administration is pursuing a decidedly pro-crypto agenda.
Stablecoins, which are designed to have a stable value against a non-crypto asset, usually the U.S. dollar, are a big topic at the moment as Republicans attempt to pass the GENIUS Act, a bill that would regulate the digital asset. The legislation was cleared a key procedural vote in the Senate last week, due to support from 15 Democrats, but still could face an uphill battle in the House, which has its own proposed bill for stablecoin regulation.
David Sacks, President Trump’s top crypto and AI advisor, told CNBC last week that the market is flush with over $200 billion in stablecoins that are unregulated, and that a legal framework “could create trillions of dollars of demand for our Treasuries practically overnight.”
Democrats previously rejected the GENIUS Act in part on concern that President Trump’s personal cryptocurrency ventures, including his own meme coin and a stablecoin from his family’s crypto business, created an unprecedented conflict of interest.
Vance didn’t address that issue on Wednesday from the stage at the Venetian, but he did joke that he wasn’t just complimenting the crowd to “juice my own meme coins.” Rather, he focused on the value in legitimizing stablecoins.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks at a Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., May 28, 2025.
Steve Marcus | Reuters
“Dollar-pegged stablecoins, particularly once GENIUS is enacted, is only going to help the American economy,” Vance said. “And it’s only going to help the American dollar.”
The event in Las Vegas is expected to attract 35,000 attendees. In addition to using the occasion to promote stablecoin legislation, Vance applauded the administration’s creation of a strategic bitcoin reserve and its efforts to roll back regulations.
Vance disclosed that he owns “a fair amount of bitcoin today,” and he took a shot at former SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, who has become a regular punching bag for many lawmakers and crypto executives.
“We fired Gary Gensler — and we’re going to fire everyone like him,” Vance said.
Prior to Vance’s keynote, the Department of Labor rescinded 2022 guidance that had discouraged cryptocurrency investments in retirement plans. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said that fiduciaries, not bureaucrats, should decide whether crypto belongs in 401(k) plans.
“The Biden administration put its thumb on the scale,” said Chavez-DeRemer said in a press release.
The rollback is part of a broader effort to bolster digital assets. Banks can now custody crypto, after the repeal of a key accounting rule known as SAB 121. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency also rescinded their anti-crypto guidance, and the Federal Reserve has partially followed suit.
WATCH: Vance headlines bitcoin conference
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Dozens injured by gunshots amid chaos at Gaza aid hub, U.N. says. – The Washington Post
Dozens injured by gunshots amid chaos at Gaza aid hub, U.N. says. – The Washington Post
Dozens injured by gunshots amid chaos at Gaza aid hub, U.N. says. The Washington PostU.N. Condemns Israel’s New Aid Program in Gaza, After Chaotic Start The New York TimesFour Palestinians die in storming of UN food warehouse a day after gunfire at new Gaza aid site Channel 3000Opinion | ****** Goes Against the Grain WSJHungry Palestinians flood new U.S. and Israel-backed aid center in Gaza NBC News
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Is the Trump-Musk bromance now over?
Is the Trump-Musk bromance now over?
The tech titan has publicly disagreed with the president
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Trump says he’s considering pardoning defendants in Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot
Trump says he’s considering pardoning defendants in Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot
President Trump said Wednesday he will “take a look at” pardoning a group of men charged with planning to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020, calling the case — which has resulted in two convictions and two guilty pleas — a “railroad job.”
“I will take a look at it. It’s been brought to my attention,” Mr. Trump said at a swearing-in ceremony for U.S. Attorney in D.C. Jeanine Pirro.
“I did watch the trial. It looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job, I’ll be honest with you,” Mr. Trump said. “It looked to me like some people said some stupid things.”
The Justice Department’s new pardon attorney Ed Martin said last week he will take a “hard look” at the Whitmer kidnapping case.
During Mr. Trump’s first term in 2020, federal prosecutors charged six people with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer, a Democrat who was facing backlash at the time for the state’s COVID-19 policies. The indictment described the men — some of whom were linked to a militia group — allegedly conducting surveillance of Whitmer’s vacation home and hatching a kidnapping plot that involved blowing up a nearby bridge. Whitmer was not harmed.
Two of the six defendants — Barry Croft and Adam Fox — were found guilty at trial and sentenced to over a decade in prison, after a hung jury at an initial trial. Two others pleaded guilty and were also sentenced to prison terms, and two were acquitted at trial.
Defense attorneys argued the men weren’t serious about the plot, casting them as wannabees who enjoyed “playing army” and ranting about the government but were not going to act on their rhetoric. They also argued the men were entrapped by undercover FBI agents and confidential informants. A federal appeals court reviewed Croft and Fox’s claims that the judge prevented them from mounting an effective entrapment defense, but upheld their convictions last month.
Several other people were convicted in state court of links to the plot against Whitmer, often raising similar entrapment defenses. Mr. Trump is not able to pardon people on state charges.
Mr. Trump clashed with Whitmer in 2020, tweeting “LIBERATE MICHIGAN” amid protests in the state for Whitmer’s policies to restrict the spread of COVID-19. After the federal kidnapping arrests, Mr. Trump lashed out at Whitmer for not thanking him.
Mr. Trump has used his pardon power extensively in his second term, drawing scrutiny for pardoning almost everybody convicted in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh is a senior editor for digital politics at CBS News. Joe previously covered breaking news for Forbes and local news in Boston.
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Popo Lee review: April Ooi visits Northbridge Korean restaurant for viral soy-marinated crab, noodles, gimbap
Popo Lee review: April Ooi visits Northbridge Korean restaurant for viral soy-marinated crab, noodles, gimbap
From next-level noodles to the viral soy-marinated crab, this inner-city eatery is a must-visit for Korean food lovers.
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Fed worried it could face ‘difficult tradeoffs’ if tariffs reaggravate inflation, minutes show
Fed worried it could face ‘difficult tradeoffs’ if tariffs reaggravate inflation, minutes show
Federal Reserve officials at their meeting earlier this month worried that tariffs could aggravate inflation and put them in a difficult position with interest rate policy, minutes released Wednesday show.
The summary of the May 6-7 meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee reflected ongoing misgivings about the direction of fiscal and trade policy, with officials ultimately deciding the best course was to keep rates steady.
“Participants agreed that uncertainty about the economic outlook had increased further, making it appropriate to take a cautious approach until the net economic effects of the array of changes to government policies become clearer,” the minutes stated. “Participants noted that the Committee might face difficult tradeoffs if inflation proves to be more persistent while the outlooks for growth and employment weaken.”
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.
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Google Photos adds Pixel-exclusive AI features to redesigned editor – The Verge
Google Photos adds Pixel-exclusive AI features to redesigned editor – The Verge
Google Photos adds Pixel-exclusive AI features to redesigned editor The Verge10 tips for 10 years of Google Photos Google BlogGoogle Photos turns 10, celebrates with new AI-infused photo editor Ars TechnicaGoogle Photos turns 10 with major editor redesign, QR code sharing 9to5Google10 years on, Google Photos is the one Google service I can’t live without Android Police
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Here Are The Retailers Selling Nintendo Switch 2 On Launch Day Without Preorders
Here Are The Retailers Selling Nintendo Switch 2 On Launch Day Without Preorders
The Nintendo Switch 2 is almost here! It launches Thursday, June 5, alongside accessories like the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, the Nintendo GameCube Controller, the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, and other third-party gadgets. The big launch title is Mario Kart World, but other exciting games include new Switch 2 editions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom and more. However, in order to play these games and use these accessories, you’ll first have to overcome the hardest challenge: securing a Switch 2.
Here Are The Retailers Selling Nintendo Switch 2 On Launch Day Without Preorders
If you haven’t preordered a Switch 2 yet, you’ve already missed your window, as they are sold out at every retailer here in the U.S. However, most places that took a preorder for the console are also selling units on launch day. So we’ve gathered up all of those retailers into one handy list for you to bookmark below!
Target
Target has announced that it will not only be selling Switch 2 units on June 5, but that select stores will be holding a special launch event to celebrate the day. The event will last from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time, presumably indicating Target will be skipping selling consoles at Midnight – we recommend lining up early the morning of June 5 if you want to nab a console.
If you miss an in-store purchase on June 5, fear not because Target will begin selling Switch 2 online the following day on June 6.
Best Buy
Best Buy will be holding midnight launches at most of its stores (and you can check out their website to find out if a Best Buy near you is doing one) where people who preordered can pick up their console. But those who didn’t preorder can also purchase a Switch 2 at midnight, as long as supplies last.
Here’s what the retailer announced: “In addition to fulfilling preorders, most stores will have limited inventory of systems, games, and accessories for in-store purchase. Customers will also have the chance to receive a commemorative coin.”
Unlike Target, Best Buy hasn’t revealed its plans for online shoppers so if you’re looking to secure a Switch 2 on launch day from Best Buy, head there Wednesday evening and get in line.
Costco
Costco will begin selling the Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle on June 5, but it’s unclear if actual Switch 2 units will be available in-store that day or if their online listings go up that day. So keep an eye out on additional word from Costco, and if you’re thinking about picking up a Switch 2 from here, you should know they require a membership to shop in-store and online.
The cheapest Costco membership you can purchase to buy a Switch 2 costs $65 a year, plus tax. As a Costco member myself, it’s well worth the price if you like buying things in bulk (like diapers, packaged food, and more). Otherwise, spending $65 just for the chance to buy a Switch 2 might be risky and not worth the additional dollars.
Staples
Staples has announced select stores will have Switch 2 units for ***** in-store on June 5. It says the console will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, but that customers will be limited to just one console purchase. It will sell Switch 2 while supplies last, meaning it will likely sell out on June 5 so get there on launch day if you plan to pick one up here.
Head here for a list of all the Staples that will have Switch 2 on June 5.
Nintendo Stores
If you happen to live in New York City or San Francisco, the only two places in the U.S. with Nintendo Stores, both will be holding launch events on June 4. Nintendo says entry to each event is first come, first served, and it doesn’t sound like it guarantees a console. The San Francisco event begins at 1 p.m. PT and the New York City event starts at 3 p.m. ET.
“Following the celebration, there will be a separate Nintendo Switch 2 shopping session at each store at 9 p.m. PT/Midnight ET, which will require a Warp Pipe Pass,” Nintendo says.
Walmart
Walmart is currently the big unknown. The retailer took preorders for the Switch 2, but it hasn’t announced launch day plans for the console. If you preordered by a specific time, Walmart is guaranteeing your Switch 2 arrives on the launch day of June 5, but whether it will be selling consoles in-store or online that day remains a mystery.
We’ll be sure to update this story if we learn more about Walmart’s plans.
Amazon
Amazon did not take preorders for Switch 2, nor is the Switch 2 listed on the online retailer, so don’t expect to get this console from here.
The Switch 2 launches June 5.
While waiting for the console, check out the various stories Game Informer has about the Switch 2:
Have you preordered a Switch 2? Are you going to a midnight launch? Do you have any tips for securing a Switch 2? Let us know in the comments below!
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Your horoscope for Thursday, May 29, 2025
Your horoscope for Thursday, May 29, 2025
Read what your zodiac sign predicts for your day.
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14 Years Before Before RDR 2, Rockstar Made a Game That Forced the US Government to Interrogate Dan Houser
14 Years Before Before RDR 2, Rockstar Made a Game That Forced the US Government to Interrogate Dan Houser
There’s no denying that Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2) is one of Rockstar Games’ most influential works to date. It’s a title that has a plethora of accolades to its name and has achieved commercial success with millions of copies shipped. Whatever Rockstar might bring to the table with GTA 6, some believe it might never surpass the likes of RDR2.
Rockstar is a studio that has developed a reputation for controversies every time it tries to push the limits of what’s possible in video games. However, you might not know that 14 years before the release of RDR2, the studio released a title that gained the attention of the United States Government and put co-founder Dan Houser under federal interrogation.
Rockstar Games faced U.S. government backlash over this one title
A few years ago, GQ got an opportunity to sit down with Houser and chat about his early steps into the gaming industry. He credited his brother, Sam, as the true visionary behind Rockstar’s success and explained how they managed to turn the studio into a powerhouse in the gaming industry.
During the interview, Houser reflected upon the Hot Coffee controversy, which led to an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and an inquiry from the U.S. Government. According to Houser, he wouldn’t have been able to deal with the situation if it weren’t for the strong bond between him and his brother Sam.
I’m really lucky. I don’t think it would’ve been possible if we didn’t have each other. To survive in that situation without someone than you could trust – that would’ve been very difficult.
What’s the Hot Coffee controversy really about? In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, there was supposed to be a mini-game called Hot Coffee, which allowed CJ to engage in ******* activity with his girlfriend. What’s really shocking about this mini-game is that players were able to control the entire activity rather than just watching everything happen.
This controversy could’ve ended the studio. (Image via Rockstar Games)
As you’d expect, Rockstar Games chose not to include the feature. However, modders later uncovered the incomplete code and assets of the hidden feature within the game’s files. They made the feature playable and even brought a number of additional commands.
There was a lot of backlash against the community mod, and Congress eventually demanded a full FTC investigation into Rockstar Games. As a result, the FTC questioned Houser, and the studio’s emails were also examined. Seriously, who could have imagined such a mod leading to an FTC investigation?
Rockstar Games might have scrapped Max Payne 3 port plans
Max Payne 3 port isn’t happening anytime soon. (Image via Rockstar Games)
We’re all aware that Rockstar is currently preparing for the release of GTA 6, which has been pushed back to 2026. Gamers can’t wait for the title’s launch, as Take-Two has promised that it’s going to be the best thing they’ve ever seen. Unfortunately, it seems like Rockstar has forgotten its other titles.
Reputable leaker Tez2 has revealed that Rockstar was previously considering bringing a port of Max Payne 3. However, it’s now either been shelved or postponed. Previously, Tez2 revealed that someone at the studio had hinted at a GTA 4 port, and the original plans from the pandemic era were to release a Max Payne 3 port as a follow-up.
However, following the release of the controversial Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy, it looks like Rockstar has scaled back its plans. Tez2 doesn’t know if the studio is still developing a Max Payne 3 port, and gamers might never see the project. This might be disappointing for fans, but at least Remedy is still working on a few Max Payne remakes.
With that said, did you know about Rockstar Games’ Hot Coffee controversy? Let us know in the comments below.
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Chevron investors reject stockholder proposals, Exxon faces none
Chevron investors reject stockholder proposals, Exxon faces none
By Sheila Dang
HOUSTON (Reuters) -Chevron shareholders voted against three stockholder proposals during the U.S. oil producer’s annual meeting on Wednesday, including one calling for a report on the company’s human rights practices, while larger rival Exxon Mobil faced no investor resolutions for the first time in decades.
There have been fewer resolutions on environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters this year than they did in 2024 and 2023 due to lack of investor appetite for such proposals. Lower-than-expected returns in renewable energy projects have also shifted shareholders’ focus back to oil and gas.
Chevron investors rejected a resolution that would have allowed holders of at least 10% of the company’s common stock to call special meetings. They also voted down a proposal to produce a report about whether company investments in renewable energy could result in so-called stranded assets, or projects that lose value prematurely, according to preliminary voting results on Wednesday.
Also on Wednesday, Exxon’s annual meeting featured no qualifying shareholder resolutions for the first time since 1958.
Exxon CEO Darren Woods said he attributed that to the company’s performance that has outpaced competitors, and to Exxon’s willingness to fight back against proposals he said were a detriment to the business.
Investors approved all director nominees and executive compensation plans for both companies.
(Reporting by Sheila Dang in Houston and Tanay Dhumal in Bengaluru; Editing by David Gregorio)
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These biotech stocks will benefit as AI speeds up drug discovery: Jefferies
These biotech stocks will benefit as AI speeds up drug discovery: Jefferies
Investors are underappreciating the effect generative artificial intelligence will have on biotech stocks, according to Jefferies. Biotech stocks have had a challenging couple of years, falling into a correction after an initial surge at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, as they navigated a higher interest rate environment. More recently, tariffs and staffing reductions at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have also hit the sector. The SPDR S & P Biotech ETF (XBI) is down more than 11% in 2025, while the S & P 500 has eked out a slight gain. XBI YTD mountain XBI Nevertheless, the sector is set to get a boost from the adoption of generative AI in drug discovery, which Michael Yee, senior biotech analyst at Jefferies, said will save companies years and billions of dollars in getting new drugs to market. “We know that biotech is a billion dollars to find a drug, up to 10 years to get a drug to market, and 90% of drugs fail,” Yee told CNBC’s David Faber on “Squawk on the Street” on Wednesday. “So, we think that based on analysis and some of the technologies these companies are doing, you can cut the drug time by years, and cut the probabilities significantly in half to get drugs to market, and that can save billions of dollars and increase the odds of success and return on investment for companies and investors.” “It is very early stage, and we’re out there saying, five years from now, we think we’ll see tremendous progress in drugs that are in the clinic from test tubes today that were basically done using generative AI,” Yee continued. “We can cut a 10-year process. We’d be down to seven or eight years.” There are some near-term regulatory challenges the sector is facing, but Yee said he expects that any downside from negative headlines is already priced into the stocks. “We’re actually optimistic for the rest of the year,” he said. Amgen , one of the world’s largest biotech companies, is one firm integrating generative AI to analyze human datasets for its research. The buy-rated stock is up 7% this year, according to the CNBC analyst consensus tool. Software company Schrodinger is set to benefit from increased research and development spending, using machine learning in drug discovery programs. The stock is up 11% this year. Illumina , which develops systems for genetic variation analysis, and Danaher, a life sciences and diagnostics company, are two other companies to benefit. The stocks are down 38% and 17% this year, respectively.
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Someone just built the world’s smallest working Mac – and at this price, I desperately want one
Someone just built the world’s smallest working Mac – and at this price, I desperately want one
1-bit Rainbow is offering the tiniest classic Mac on the market
It has a two-inch display and is powered by a Pico Zero Raspberry Pi
You can buy a fully assembled unit for just $59
You might have heard the phrase “small form-factor PC” to describe computers that are smaller than the average rig, but someone has just taken the SFFPC concept to a whole new level with a working Mac that features a display measuring just two inches across.
Appropriately dubbed the Pico-Mac-Nano, this tiny computer from 1-bit Rainbow features a 3D printed chassis that faithfully recreates the classic Macintosh look from the 1980s, albeit on a minute scale.
On the inside, the device is powered by a Pico Zero Raspberry Pi, while it packs in a two-inch 480p display for somewhat uncomfortable reading, plus 512MB of memory, a microSD card slot for storage, and a three-volt CR2 battery. It runs the MicroMac 128K emulator, which provides the vintage Mac operating system flavor. That means it’s a fully working computer, although whether it’s actually practical is another matter.
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You can buy the fully assembled Pico-Mac-Nano for a mere $59 (around £44 / AU$92) – so much for the Apple tax. Alternatively, 1-bit Rainbow has supplied the 3D printing files if you want to print your own case and flash a regular Pico Raspberry Pi yourself.
There’s even a special Collectors Edition of the Pico-Mac-Nano that comes in a small-scale replica of Apple’s original ‘Picasso’ Macintosh shipping box. This version will set you back a modest $78 (or about £58 / AU$122).
A true small form-factor Mac
(Image credit: 1-bit Rainbow)
As someone who loves and owns both a SFFPC and a Mac, I’m always keeping an eye out for fascinating projects that can bridge the gap between both worlds.
This device, though, might be taking it a little too far even for me. I can’t imagine I’d be able to run many of the best Mac games on it – never mind “can it run Crysis?,” perhaps we should be asking “can it run Chess?”
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Still, there’s no doubt that this product is an incredible achievement and shows just what can be done with modern hardware and software. Whether or not you want to 3D print it yourself, you’ll still be getting your hands on a neat little project that makes a faithful nod to the Macs of old.
So, if the miniscule M4 Mac mini isn’t quite small enough for you, perhaps the Pico-Mac-Nano will do the trick. Just don’t expect it to handle DeepSeek R1’s large language model any time soon.
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Google Photos turns 10, celebrates with new AI-infused photo editor – Ars Technica
Google Photos turns 10, celebrates with new AI-infused photo editor – Ars Technica
Google Photos turns 10, celebrates with new AI-infused photo editor Ars Technica10 tips for 10 years of Google Photos Google BlogGoogle Photos adds Pixel-exclusive AI features to redesigned editor The VergeGoogle Photos turns 10 with major editor redesign, QR code sharing 9to5GoogleGoogle Photos just got a new AI editor – and it brings the Pixel’s best tricks to your Android or iOS phone TechRadar
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‘Long way to go’: MVP Haas delivers Origin warning
‘Long way to go’: MVP Haas delivers Origin warning
NSW expect to find a new level after Payne Haas played an “inspirational” hand, on one leg, to power the Blues within reach of back-to-back State of Origin series wins.
Carrying a quadriceps complaint, the Brisbane prop entered camp in doubt for Wednesday’s series opener against Queensland.
He barely trained but then bashed the Maroons in a first-half clinic that set up their 18-6 victory.
It was a margin that flattered Queensland, considering Nathan Cleary (0-3) and Zac Lomax (0-1) missed all four try conversions attempts.
Haas (140 run metres, 18 runs, three tackle breaks, three offloads, 29 tackles) led a pack that set the tone in a dominant first half before hanging tough in a scrappy second half.
“I got a bit nervous on the bus, but all the boys showed faith in me,” the Broncos prop said of his mental state after managing his leg complaint.
Haas is only 25 but has already played 15 Origins after debuting in 2019.
“I’m just doing my job; I love this jersey so much. I love these boys and love playing for the people of New South Wales,” he said.
“I’ve just watched it (Origin) since I was a kid, just love this jersey .
“But I wouldn’t say I’m at the top (of my game). I’m only 25, long way to go and still working.”
Not since 2006 have the Blues won three consecutive Origin games, two of those coming in Brisbane while the hosts scored just one try in total.
Haas expects Maroons coach Billy Slater to respond in Perth, where the Blues can seal the series at a venue they’ve dominated at in the only two previous visits.
“We know what Queensland do; they’re going to bounce back,” he said.
“We’ll have to prepare better and be better next game cause they’re going to be up for it.”
Coach Laurie Daley was in awe of Haas’ ability to perform despite his poor preparation.
“Yeah for a big bloke on limited prep; a 10-day prep with hardly any running,” he said.
“To jump out on the ground and do what he did, it’s inspirational, actually.”
First-time captain Isaah Yeo (five tackle breaks in 13 runs) is awaiting the next move from the Maroons, who will mull their selection options, in Perth.
“We should get some confidence out of it, anytime you win in this arena,” he said of their Brisbane win.
“Another week in camp, I find the games are better and there’s a bit more thrown at you in games two and three.
“But there’s areas in our game that we can get better at
“You don’t want to play the perfect footy and have nothing to fall back on. It’s a long way to go.”
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