Pelican Press

Nvidia expects to sell more Blackwell chips than previously anticipated Nvidia expects to sell more Blackwell chips than previously anticipated After a quarter where Nvidia’s sales nearly doubled, investors and analysts are wondering how long the chipmaker can keep this kind of growth going now that it has a $140 billion annual revenue run rate. Those hopes fall on Blackwell, which is Nvidia’s name for a family of server products based around its next-generation AI chip. CEO Jensen Huang and CFO Colette Kress gave investors several new data points on how Blackwell’s launch is shaping up on a call with analysts on Wednesday. The duo emphasized that the rollout is on track, and they signaled that Blackwell sales over the next few quarters will be limited by how many chips and systems Nvidia can make, not how much it can sell. “Blackwell production is in full steam,” Huang said. “We will deliver this quarter more Blackwells than we had previously estimated.” The company’s positive comments on Blackwell are one reason why the stock is only down 1%, despite the company missing elevated expectations from bullish investors who anticipated Nvidia would significantly exceed its own forecasts. Huang and Kress’s comments also addressed fears about shipment delays that were spurred by reports that said Nvidia was making ongoing engineering changes to its systems to address problems. Some of Nvidia’s most important end-customers have already received some Blackwell chips, the company confirmed on Wednesday. Microsoft, Oracle and OpenAI have posted pictures of Blackwell-based server racks on their social media accounts, and on Wednesday, the company said 13,000 Blackwell chips have already been shipped to customers. “There’s still a lot of a lot of engineering that happens at this point,” Huang said. “But as you see from all of the systems that are being stood up, Blackwell is in great shape.” Those sample chips aren’t the bulk of the shipments that the company is expecting to make. They’re early versions intended to allow customers to start testing and get their systems and software ready for the volume shipments, which will start in Nvidia’s current quarter. “We will we’ll ship more Blackwells next quarter than this [quarter], and we’ll ship more Blackwells the quarter after that than than our first quarter,” Huang said. In July, Nvidia said it expected “several billion dollars” of Blackwell revenue in its current quarter, and on Wednesday, the company said it expects the amount of Blackwell sales for this quarter to be higher than its original forecast. Huang also said that Microsoft will soon start to preview its Blackwell-based systems to cloud customers. A limiting factor to producing more Blackwell systems is the amount of components that Nvidia’s suppliers can provide, Huang said. Additionally, it takes time to ramp up the velocity of a manufacturing process that has gone from zero shipments to billions of dollars of shipments in a few months. “It is the case that demand exceeds our supply, and that’s expected as we’re in the beginnings of this generative AI revolution,” Huang said. He also named some of Nvidia’s “great partners,” including TSMC, Amphenol, Vertiv, SK Hynix and Micron. “Almost every company in the world seems to be involved in our supply chain,” Huang said. Nvidia said that Blackwell’s ****** margins will be lower in the coming months than the 73.5% it reported in the third quarter, but the company said that margin will increase as the product matures. Huang pointed out that Blackwell comes as just the chip itself or in configurations that include an entire rack and other components. Nvidia’s overall message on Wednesday was that its new Blackwell chip is in short supply because companies like OpenAI need the fastest GPUs available as quickly as possible to develop next-generation AI models. As Blackwell rolls out, Nvidia’s current AI chips, which it calls Hopper, will be relegated to serving AI models, not creating new ones. Nvidia said that Blackwell sales will eventually exceed those of Hopper. “You see now that at the tail end of the last generation of foundation models, we’re at at about 100,000 Hoppers,” Huang said. “The next generation starts at 100,000 Blackwells.” WATCH: Nvidia can still grow even with Amazon and Microsoft entering the space: Susquehanna’s Chris Rolland Source link #Nvidia #expects #sell #Blackwell #chips #previously #anticipated Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amazon just launched the massive Echo Show 21 smart display Amazon just launched the massive Echo Show 21 smart display Amazon just , a massive smart display with all kinds of bells and whistles. As the name suggests, this device boasts a 21-inch screen. It’s also wall-mountable, . The display boasts a 1080p resolution, which won’t be winning any awards, but the audio quality looks to be much-improved from previous models. The Echo Show 21 should be capable of “delivering immersive sound, double the bass and room adaption technology.” The camera has been refreshed, with “more than double the field of view and 65% more zoom than the first-generation Echo Show 15.” It also looks like the auto-framing algorithm has been improved. This thing could be a ****** for video calls, as the unit now offers improved methods for the reduction of unwanted ambient noise. There’s a built-in smart home hub, with Wi-Fi 6E, Thread, Zigbee and Matter control capabilities. The company says the device should be able to adjust some stuff locally, like lights, switches and plugs. This function , which was first revealed last year. The panel can double as a ***** TV, , and works with Amazon’s ***** TV remote. However, the Echo Show 21 ships with the Alexa Voice Remote, along with wall-mounting equipment. A countertop stand is sold separately. The smart display costs $400 and is available now. The Echo Show 15 has also gotten a refresh, for those with limited wall or countertop space. The new model boasts all of the features outlined above, just in a smaller form factor. This one costs $300 and is available now. Source link #Amazon #launched #massive #Echo #Show #smart #display Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Primary school pupil suspensions in England double in a decade Primary school pupil suspensions in England double in a decade Jo The rate at which primary school pupils are being suspended from state schools in England has more than doubled in a decade, BBC analysis suggests. Permanent exclusion rates of primary-age pupils have also gone up – by almost 70% in the same *******. Campaigners say children excluded from school at a young age experience long-term impacts. The government has acknowledged the situation is at “crisis point”, and says it is determined to “drive up standards” in schools. Jo’s 10-year-old son Jacob was suspended from his primary school several times, before recently getting permanently excluded for persistent disruptive behaviour. Jacob has an education, health and care plan (EHCP) after an ADHD diagnosis, and is awaiting an autism assessment. Persistent disruptive behaviour is the most common reason given to suspend or exclude a pupil. But in primary schools, nearly 90% of those permanently excluded over the past five years also had special educational needs and disabilities (Send). Jo says her son is a “very caring boy” who loves rugby and gaming, but his sensory issues meant he struggled to cope with larger class sizes. His mum says she lived with constant anxiety about when the phone would next ring because of another incident at school. Jacob’s school had put in place one-to-one support and access to a speech and language therapist, but Jo says there was no suitable space at the school for her son to decompress. Jo says the day Jacob was permanently excluded was “the most horrific day of my life”. She is currently appealing against the school’s decision. The school told the BBC it was unable to comment on Jacob’s case, but says permanent exclusion is only taken in exceptional circumstances, and that it tries to put support in place to meet the needs of pupils with Send. The number of suspensions and exclusions in England’s state schools has been rising in recent years – apart from a dip during the pandemic when most children were educated at home – reaching their highest levels since 2006. The majority of suspensions and exclusions – around nine out of 10 – occur in secondary school, but numbers are rising among primary-age children too. BBC News has analysed Department for Education data on the annual rate of suspensions over a 10-year *******, from 2012/13 to 2022/23. There were 84,300 suspensions in primary schools in 2022/23- a rate of 180 per 10,000 pupils. It has doubled in 10 years. The rate of permanent exclusions is much lower, at 2.6 in every 10,000 pupils – but it has also increased by almost 70% in the same time *******. Suspended pupils must stay out of school for a fixed ******* up to a maximum of 45 days in a school year, while those excluded are permanently removed from their school. After being excluded, Jacob began attending Perryfields Primary pupil referral unit in Worcester. Jo says her son is now thriving, and she is optimistic about his transition to secondary school next year. Gemma Laister/BBC Jo says the positive culture at Perryfields is making a difference to Jacob Perryfields has 24 spaces for primary-age children. It also offers training, on behaviour and Send support, to more than 100 schools across South Worcestershire. Head teacher Pete Hines has noticed growing numbers of younger children coming through his doors across his 20 years of experience. “The complexity of the needs of the children I’ve seen in that time is growing and growing,” he says. Kate McGough/BBC Inside the Perryfields pupil referral unit Most of the children at Perryfields are on short-term placements, and keep strong links to their mainstream primary school by wearing their school uniform, and often revisiting their old school in the afternoon. Mr Hines says a successful referral unit “should be an intervention, not a destination” and that one of the most valuable things is seeing “happy children… having successes they didn’t believe that they could have”. Vanessa Longley, chief executive of children’s charity ChanceUK, says an exclusion can follow a child beyond their school life. Their research suggests 90% of those excluded at primary school fail to pass GCSE English and maths. “These are the children who were worst impacted by Covid, but also weren’t able to get early diagnosis and intervention for issues they were facing,” she says. She is calling for the government to ring-fence money for early intervention in primary schools. Self-esteem hit by suspensions Lydia says her six-year-old son, Eddie, has been suspended from primary school 14 times since January. She says the incidents – which included lashing out at staff – are related to his autism, which was recently diagnosed. She says his self-esteem was “hugely impacted” by the suspensions: “At that age you don’t understand, you just think you’re bad.” Eddie has moved to a different, smaller school, while Lydia applies for an EHCP for him. Former children’s commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, acknowledges the pressure schools are under – recent research suggests a third of children starting primary school are not “school-ready” – but says excluding primary-age children should be a last resort. Ms Longfield says a “culture of exclusions” over the last decade has been driven by an “emphasis on academic achievement and grades”. To bring suspension and exclusion rates down, she believes the focus should be on other interventions, such as one-to-one teaching where needed. Schools in England could soon be judged on how inclusive they are and how well they support vulnerable children, under changes to inspection which Ofsted will consult on early next year. The Education Minister Stephen Morgan told the BBC the government is already investing £1 billion in Send and providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every school. He said: “We know there is more to do, and are looking closely at how we can go further to support teachers and drive up standards for all our children.” Source link #Primary #school #pupil #suspensions #England #double #decade Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2024 MacBook Pro And Air Laptops Get Incredible ****** Friday Discounts At Amazon 2024 MacBook Pro And Air Laptops Get Incredible ****** Friday Discounts At Amazon Three versions of the 2024 MacBook Air are on *****. All of them feature a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, Apple’s M3 chip, backlit keyboard, Touch ID, up to 18 hours of battery life, and a lightweight design that’s under half an inch thick. The most enticing offer 2024 MacBook Air 13-Inch (M3 Chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD), as it’s now just $849 (was $1,099). Getting the powerful M3 chip for that price is an incredible bargain–and as long as you can put up with the 256GB SSD, there’s no reason to pass it up. But if you want more space, the 512GB model with the same specs is $1,049. You can upgrade to 24GB RAM with the $1,249 model–an incredible price for a MacBook Air with this much memory. All three are on ***** for $250 off, which is the best deal yet for the newest MacBook Airs. It’s unclear how long these discounts will last, but all four colors are eligible: Midnight, Space Gray, Silver, and Starlight. MacBook Air 13-Inch (M3 Chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $849 ($1,099) MacBook Air 13-Inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,049 ($1,299) MacBook Air 13-Inch (M3, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,249 ($1,499) Source link #MacBook #Pro #Air #Laptops #Incredible #****** #Friday #Discounts #Amazon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google is giving Gemini AI a memory for your favorite things Google is giving Gemini AI a memory for your favorite things Google is enhancing its AI tools’ memory and artistic abilities, making users’ experiences more personal and imaginative. The first upgrade enables the Gemini AI assistant to store and refer to details about you and what you like and dislike, much like the ChatGPT memory, for similar personal details. For more creative efforts, Android Authority has found code indicating that the note-taking service Google Keep will soon be able to use AI to turn your scribbles and sketches into professional-looking artwork and even schematics. You can tell Gemini’s AI about their background, interests, goals, and more. Plus, you can teach Gemini about your interests by asking it to remember during a conversation or through the “Saved Info” page. The page lets you edit and delete details as well. Gemini will even notify you whenever it uses any information on that page. The feature aims to eliminate repetitive explanations if you want Gemini’s help on a project that lasts more than one conversation. Google suggests that app developers, writers, students, and others could benefit from this streamlining. Currently, the memory feature only works in English, and you need to subscribe to Gemini Advanced through the Google One AI Premium Plan. You can see how it works below. AI Sketch The Google Keep artistic aide isn’t out yet, but the uncovered code suggests you’ll be able to upload or directly draw into the app and then ask the AI to “help me draw.” The AI will transform basic sketches into polished artwork in whatever style you might like, including pencil, ink, and even vector drawings. The AI can essentially differentiate what you draw from what you write and interpret it accordingly. The code also hints at a straight AI image creator specifically for turning text into a visual that might have been sketched into Google Keep. The official rollout date hasn’t been announced, but the state of the code suggests sooner than later. Despite their obvious differences, both features center on smoothing access and interaction with AI. Gemini, remembering your favorite genres for reading recommendations or Google Keep transforming your doodles into Dali; the features are about shortening the distance between what you want the AI to do for you and accomplishing those goals. Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. You might also like Source link #Google #giving #Gemini #memory #favorite Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lotus the latest brand to walk back EV-only goal, looks to petrol power for assistance Lotus the latest brand to walk back EV-only goal, looks to petrol power for assistance ********-owned British carmaker Lotus has scrapped its plans to only produce electric vehicles (EVs) by 2028, as it responds to changing market conditions. Speaking to media including *** magazine Autocar at the Guangzhou motor show, Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng said the brand would instead develop range-extender EVs (EREVs) which use a petrol engine to help charge the battery that powers the electric motors. “At Lotus, we have always chosen the best power technology available, whether it’s pure gasoline, pure electric, hybrid or range-extended [EV],” said Mr Feng. 100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Camera IconEmeya Credit: CarExpert Mr Feng said that it didn’t want to go down the path of developing plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrains due to perceived driveability compromises, while they also need to be externally charged to fully utilise their EV-only driving capabilities. EREVs on the other hand drive like an EV all the time, and the petrol motor is only used to provide charge to the battery when it’s depleted, with no physical connection between it and the wheels. According to Mr Feng, Lotus will aim for the petrol engines of its EREVs – or Super Hybrids, as they’ll be marketed – to charge the onboard battery faster than other vehicles with a similar drivetrain. Camera IconEmira Credit: CarExpert It’s unclear what engine the EREV will use. Lotus’ parent Geely recently formed a new engine division, in partnership with Renault, called Horse. The only petrol-powered Lotus model on *****, the Emira, offers the choice of a turbocharged four-cylinder engine made by Mercedes-AMG, or a supercharged Toyota V6. This doesn’t mean Lotus is resting on its laurels and holding back on developing electrical technology, with Mr Feng adding that the EREVs will be based on a 900-volt platform. He said these vehicles’ batteries will be able to be charged even more quickly than those in EVs – such as from rival ******** brand Nio – and that they will be replaceable at battery-swapping stations. At present, the global Lotus lineup is currently represented by the electric Eletre SUV (its best-seller globally), the Emeya sedan and the Evija supercar, as well as the Emira sports car. Various brands have pushed back their goals for switching to EV-only lineups, including Aston Martin and Bentley. Source link #Lotus #latest #brand #walk #EVonly #goal #petrol #power #assistance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GTA 5 Mod Emerges as Surprise ******* in Palworld vs Nintendo Legal Showdown GTA 5 Mod Emerges as Surprise ******* in Palworld vs Nintendo Legal Showdown Pocketpair: “As announced on September 19, 2024, The Pokémon Company and Nintendo Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the “Plaintiffs”) have filed a patent infringement lawsuit against us. We have received inquiries from various media outlets regarding the status of the lawsuit, and we would like to report the details and current status of this case as follows.” Source link #GTA #Mod #Emerges #Surprise #******* #Palworld #Nintendo #Legal #Showdown Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Texas anesthesiologist sentenced to 190 years in federal prison for tampering with IV bags Texas anesthesiologist sentenced to 190 years in federal prison for tampering with IV bags A Dallas anesthesiologist was sentenced to 190 years in federal prison in a case where he was convicted of injecting drugs into IV bags, leading to at least one ******. Dr. Raynaldo Ortiz was convicted in April on five counts of intentional adulteration of a *****, four counts of tampering with consumer products resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of tampering with consumer products. Leigha Simonton, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, compared Ortiz to an armed gunman “spraying bullets indiscriminately into a crowd” in a statement following the sentencing. “But he wielded an invisible *******, a ********* of heart-stopping drugs, concealed inside an IV bag designed to help patients heal,” Simonton said. He was sentenced in federal court Wednesday to a total of 2,280 months, which the judge ordered to be served consecutively. A public defender for Ortiz said the defense “respectfully disagrees” with the jury verdict and intends to invoke Ortiz’s right to appeal. Anesthesiologist Raynaldo Rivera Ortiz Jr. Between May and August 2022, several patients at Baylor, Scott, and White SurgiCare North Dallas experienced cardiac emergencies during routine procedures, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. During that time, Dr. Melanic Kaspar, an anesthesiologist who worked at the practice, ***** shortly after she used an IV bag to treat herself for dehydration. Doctors began to suspect an issue with the IV bags in August 2022, after a 18-year-old patient’s condition became critical during a routine sinus surgery, prosecutors said. A lab analysis of the IV bag used during the teen’s procedure allegedly found evidence of a ***** ********* that included a nerve-blocking agent, a stimulant and an anesthetic. Prosecutors said at trial that Ortiz injected saline bags used for the IV drips with epinephrine, bupivacaine and other drugs before placing them into a warming bin to be used by colleagues. Video presented as evidence also showed Ortiz “repeatedly retrieving IV bags from the warming bin and replacing them” shortly before the bags were taken into surgery, prosecutors said. Doctors testified at the trial, noting that the medical emergencies occurred shortly after new IV bags were hung during the procedures. Kaspar’s husband, John Kaspar, was one of several people who gave victim impact statements at Ortiz’s sentencing, according to NBC News Dallas-Fort Worth. Kaspar told the station that Ortiz ******* his wife. “It wasn’t through malice,” he said. “It was through pure calculation.” Ortiz has not been charged in Kaspar’s ******. U.S. District Judge David Godbey said Wednesday that Ortiz caused her ****** and described his other conduct as “tantamount to attempted *******.” At the time of the cardiac emergencies, Ortiz was facing disciplinary action for “an alleged medical mistake made in one of his own surgeries,” and faced losing his license, the prosecutor’s office said in April, citing evidence presented at trial. The Texas Medical Board suspended Ortiz’s license in September 2022 “after determining his continuation in the practice of medicine poses a continuing threat to public ********.” His suspension was listed as temporary but the status has not been updated with additional board actions. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Source link #Texas #anesthesiologist #sentenced #years #federal #prison #tampering #bags Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pokémon Go will close out the Max Out season with a thrilling grand finale event Pokémon Go will close out the Max Out season with a thrilling grand finale event Max Out finale to be held between November 27th and December 1st Galarian Corsola and Cursola to make their debuts Ticketed experiences will provide bonus rewards Time’s gone rather quickly as the super Max Out season in Pokémon Go has almost come to an end. Niantic aims to go out with a bang as a thrilling finale event has been planned to take place later this month. Get ready to take advantage of a range of bonuses, including XP boosts, hatch distance reductions, and an expanded Remote Raid Pass limit. Mark your calendars as the Pokémon Go Max Out Finale event will take place between November 27th and December 1st. Right off the bat, you’ll be able to get your hands on Galarian Corsola and its evolution Cursola, who make their debuts soon. These rare Pokémon will hatch from 7 km Eggs, and if you’re lucky, you might even find a shiny one lurking about. Wild encounters will feature Pokémon like Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble appearing more frequently alongside others like Wooloo and Falinks. For raids, Zacian, Zamazenta, and the shiny versions of Regieleki and Regidrago are part of in five-star Raids, while Mega Altaria takes the spotlight in Mega Raids. For those that enjoy challenges, Field Research tasks will take place, awarding Stardust and encounters with themed Pokémon. To make the most of the event, purchase the Timed Research for $5, which also includes an event-themed avatar pose. Collection challenges focusing on catching and hatching are another great way of earning XP, Silver Pinap Berries, and Rare Candy. Before you go on, be sure to redeem these Pokémon Go codes for more freebies! The ultimate experience is only possible through the event-exclusive ticket, which costs $10. It offers additional perks like bonus XP, extra Candy, and Raid Passes. Other event bonuses which are free for everyone include 5,000 extra XP for successful raids, half hatch distance for eggs placed in incubators during the event, and an increased Remote Raid Pass limit. Finally, if you’re looking for extra value, the Seasonal Delights Box available in the Pokémon Go Web Store includes incubators, Raid Passes, and other useful items. Celebrate the end by downloading Pokémon Go now for free. Source link #Pokémon #close #Max #season #thrilling #grand #finale #event Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marriott CEO says business is solid amid corporate layoffs Marriott CEO says business is solid amid corporate layoffs Marriott International’s business operations and growth are solid, CEO Anthony Capuano told CNBC Monday, amid layoffs of more than 800 corporate employees and continued sluggishness in China’s tourism market. “We are ******* on all cylinders in every geography,” he said. The company’s third-quarter earnings showed a 3% increase in worldwide RevPar — or revenue per available room — despite an 8% drop in RevPar in China, the company’s second largest market. Capuano said he does not believe lackluster domestic demand in China will be a long-term problem, pointing to a record-breaking number of hotel signings in early 2024. “We signed more deals in the first half of 2024 than in any six-month ******* in our history in China. And so to me, that suggests that both public and private real estate entities in China are ******** on the long-term viability of the travel and tourism space,” he said. Domestic tourism in China is slowly gaining steam, he said, while inbound travel outperformed pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter of 2024. “Pre-pandemic, about 18 to 19% of our total room nights were cross border travel,” he said. “Through Q3 we were already over 20% and that’s with more to come in terms of restoration of airline seat capacity in Greater China. So we think there’s more and more upside for that international inbound.” Marriott International reported net room growth of 6% year-on-year and room rate growth of 2.5%, driven by a strong return of group travel, which Capuano called the “bright, shining star” for the business today. The company raised its year-end guidance for net room growth, and added 9 million new Bonvoy members in the third quarter. Marriott’s loyalty program now has 219 million members, which Capuano credited to the work of hotel front-desk employees and new partnerships Marriott has inked with companies like Uber and Starbucks. Layoffs ‘not a traditional cost-cutting measure’ During Marriott’s third-quarter earnings call on Nov. 4, Capuano alluded to an “enterprise-wide process to enhance our effectiveness and efficiency,” a move Chief Financial Officer Leeny Oberg later estimated would reduce company costs by $80 million to $90 million a year, starting in 2025. That measure turned out to be corporate layoffs, first reported by the travel media company Skift on Nov. 14, which later linked to a notice of “mass layoffs” of 833 Marriott employees posted on a Maryland government labor website. Capuano denied that the company — which doubled in size during the past decade — grew too big, too fast, at least in terms of corporate employees, instead calling the move a much-needed “reorganization” of its global corporate structure. “This is not a traditional corporate cost cutting measure,” he said. “In [the past] decade, the continent teams have matured; we’ve grown dramatically. We’re in 60 new countries. And so we looked at this exercise to try and shift more decision-making to the continents.” Decentralized decision-making means the layoffs will be felt most acutely at its global headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, Capuano said. The majority of job cuts are at the “above property” level — the corporate office — which means that they will “absolutely not” affect service levels at any Marriott-branded hotels, he said. Rather, the cuts “should make us more nimble and allow us to make decisions through the local market lens in real time.” Marching into the midscale market Capuano said occupancy levels and average rate growth are strong across most of Asia-Pacific, most notably in Japan, where Marriott opened its 100th hotel this week — a Four Points Flex by Sheraton (previously known as Four Points Express by Sheraton). The brand is leading Marriott’s push into the midscale market in Europe and Asia-Pacific, alongside City Express in North America, in an effort to capture budget-conscious consumers who want simple, comfortable rooms that come with modern-day wants likes Wi-Fi. The company plans to open a dozen more Four Points Flex by Sheraton hotels in Japan in the next six weeks, according to a press release published Monday. Source link #Marriott #CEO #business #solid #corporate #layoffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fortnite Crew subscriptions will soon contain every battle pass Fortnite Crew subscriptions will soon contain every battle pass Epic Games Fortnite is making some big changes to how battle passes work in a couple of weeks. Epic Games already announced that it would be streamlining battle pass progression, but it’s implementing a similar change to its subscription service Fortnite Crew. In a Wednesday blog post, Epic Games revealed that all battle passes will be available in Fortnite Crew. So not only will all your progression apply to the Music Pass and Lego Pass as well as the Battle Royale Pass but all of those will be included for the same $12 per month fee starting on December 1. This also applies to any new battle passes released in the future, including the Fortnite OG pass for the new permanent Fortnite OG mode releasing on December 6. Fortnite Crew, which launched in 2020, previously granted you access to that season’s Battle Royale pass, along with some goodies like 1,000 V-Bucks (essentially reimbursing you the pass’s regular price), Rocket Pass Premium for Rocket League, and monthly outfits and benefits exclusively for Crew subscribers. None of that appears to be changing, but Epic Games is cracking down on how subscribers can claim rewards. Previously, you could claim the pass rewards and then cancel your account. Now, new subscribers can only claim the rewards if their subscription is active or it hasn’t lapsed yet. Current subscribers will work under the same system… unless they cancel. There’s also a tiny but noteworthy change with the price of the Battle Royale Battle Pass going up from 950 to 1,000 V-Bucks per season. That 50-V-Buck difference isn’t a lot, and how much V-Bucks are worth in real-world money won’t change, but Epic Games has never increased the price of the standard battle pass before. To offset the cost slightly, certain bundles will be more cost effective, like the 25-level battle pass reward bundle, which is down to 1,800 V-Bucks from 1,850. The Lego and Music passes will also cost the same going forward. Source link #Fortnite #Crew #subscriptions #battle #pass Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

FBI arrests homeless Florida man in alleged plot to ***** the New York Stock Exchange FBI arrests homeless Florida man in alleged plot to ***** the New York Stock Exchange A view of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Wall Street November 13, 2024, in New York City. Angela Weiss | AFP | Getty Images A homeless Florida man was arrested Wednesday and charged with plotting to ***** the New York Stock Exchange to force a “reboot” or “reset” of the U.S. government, according to a ********* complaint. Harun Abdul-Malik Yener came under FBI scrutiny in February after agents received a tip that he was storing *****-making schematics in a storage unit in Coral Springs, the complaint says. After they got Yener’s permission, FBI agents searched the storage unit in early March and found spiral-bound notebooks with drawings of land mines, explosives, missiles and other improvised explosive devices, according to the complaint. Yener told agents at the time that he was creating “rockets” with very “volatile” chemical mixtures that would explode if they were mixed incorrectly, the complaint says. He also claimed he was recruited over Facebook Messenger to join ISIS overseas but ultimately decided against it because he believed the ********** group would not succeed in achieving its objectives, the complaint says. Near the end of the interview, it says, he told the FBI agents he was waiting for the right moment to take action within the U.S. “I am just waiting for some kind of ***** to open up and I can go, ah, there it is—I’ll know it when I see it,” he said, according to the complaint. Armed with a search warrant, agents returned to the unit a few days later and discovered “bombmaking sketches, numerous watches with timers, electronic circuit boards, and other electronics” that “could be used for constructing explosive devices,” the complaint says. Undercover FBI agents later made contact with Yener and convinced him they wanted to help him carry out an *******, it says. They tracked Yener throughout the summer and into the fall. In October, he asked an undercover agent to drive him to a Walmart, where he picked up items and tools — including a soldering iron and a multimeter voltage reader — that he needed to construct an improvised explosive device, the complaint says. Afterward, he told the undercover agent that he settled on the New York Stock Exchange as the location where he would detonate the IED, according to the complaint. “There is one place that would be hella easy…the stock exchange, that would be a great hit,” Yener said, according to the complaint. “Tons of people would support it. They would see it and think dude, this guy makes sense, they are…robbing us. So that’s perfect.” Days later, he told a group of undercover FBI agents that he wanted to ***** the stock exchange the week before Thanksgiving. He also said he wanted to send a statement to a news station that would explain his motivation and objectives, the complaint says. On Nov. 12, he made a series of audio recordings with the help of an FBI undercover agent and said he wanted to send them to NBC News either the day of the ******** or the day after, the complaint says. “What you’ve just witnessed at the Stock Exchange…was just the beginning of a new era. A new revolution,” he said on one of the recordings, according to the complaint. “We ask and encourage others to follow suit in their pursuit for change,” he added, it says. Yener was charged with the attempted use of an explosive to damage or ******** any building used in interstate or foreign commerce. It was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer. His arrest was first reported by Seamus Hughes of Court Watch. Source link #FBI #arrests #homeless #Florida #man #alleged #plot #***** #York #Stock #Exchange Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Save up to $350 on Galaxy S24 smartphones Save up to $350 on Galaxy S24 smartphones ****** Friday deals have arrived for Samsung smartphones, and now you can get a few of our favorites for a few hundred dollars less than usual. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is currently down to $950 from $1,300. The Ultra came out in early 2024 and quickly became our choice for best premium Android phone. It scored an 89 in our review thanks to features like its long battery life — we often had over 50 percent left after 24 hours. It has a titanium frame and a 6.8-inch OLED panel that peaks at 2,600 nits, rather than the previous 1,750 nits. Plus, it has a slew of AI tools and utilizes Samsung’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for fast performance. SAMSUNG If $950 feels (understandably) a bit steep then check out the Samsung Galaxy S24+. The 256GB model is currently marked down from $1,000 to $770 — still a solid chunk of change, but a noticeable difference. The Samsung Galaxy S24+ garnered an 87 in our review, not far off from its sister device. It comes with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and features like Chat Assist and Live Translate. Its battery life impressed us, though its low-light photography performance left something to be desired. Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. Source link #Save #Galaxy #S24 #smartphones Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Australia wants to ban kids from social media. Will it work? Australia wants to ban kids from social media. Will it work? Getty Images The *********** government is billing its proposed ban as “world-leading” “I felt really scared to be honest,” says James, describing an incident on Snapchat that left him questioning whether it was safe to go to school. The *********** boy, 12, had had a disagreement with a friend, and one night before bed the boy added him to a group chat with two older teenagers. Almost instantly, his phone “started blowing up” with a string of violent messages. “One of them sounded like he was probably 17,” James tells the BBC. “He sent me videos of him with a machete… he was waving it around. Then there were voice messages saying that they were going to catch me and stab me.” James – not his real name – first joined Snapchat when he was 10, after a classmate suggested everyone in their friendship group get the app. But after telling his parents about his cyberbullying experience, which was ultimately resolved by his school, James deleted his account. His experience is a cautionary tale that shows why the *********** government’s proposed social media ban on children under 16 is necessary, says his mother Emma, who is also using a pseudonym. The laws, which were tabled in parliament’s lower house on Thursday, have been billed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as “world-leading”. But while many parents have applauded the move, some experts have questioned whether kids should – or even can – be barred from accessing social media, and what the adverse effects of doing so may be. What is Australia proposing? Albanese says the ban – which will cover platforms such as X, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram – is about protecting kids from the “harms” of social media. “This one is for the mums and dads… They, like me, are worried ***** about the safety of our kids online,” he said. The new legislation provides a “framework” for the ban. But the 17-page document, which is expected to head to the Senate next week, is sparse on detail. Instead, it will be up to the nation’s internet regulator – the eSafety Commissioner – to hash out how to implement and enforce the rules, which will not come into effect for at least 12 months after legislation is passed. According to the bill, the ban will apply to all children under 16 and that there will be no exemptions for existing users or those with parental consent. Tech companies will face penalties of up to A$50m ($32.5m; £25.7) if they do not comply, but there will be exemptions for platforms which are able to create “low-risk services” deemed suitable for kids. Criteria for this threshold are yet to be set. Messaging services and gaming sites, however, will not be restricted, which has prompted questions over how regulators will determine what is and isn’t a social media platform in a fast-moving landscape. A group representing the interests of tech companies such as Meta, Snapchat and X in Australia has dismissed the ban as “a 20th Century response to 21st Century challenges”. Such legislation could push kids into “dangerous, unregulated parts of the internet”, Digital Industry Group Inc says – a ***** also expressed by some experts. EPA Anthony Albanese says the ban is about showing *********** families his government “has their backs” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has acknowledged the gargantuan task her office will face when enforcing the ban, given “technology change is always going to outpace policy”. “It will always be fluid, and this is why regulators like eSafety have to be nimble,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live. But Ms Inman Grant has also raised concerns about the central idea behind the government’s policy, which is that there’s a causal link between social media and declining mental health. “I would say that the evidence base is not settled at all,” she said, pointing to research from her own office which found that some of the most vulnerable groups, such as LGBTQ+ or First Nations teenagers, “feel more themselves online than they do in the real world”. This is a sentiment echoed by Lucas Lane, 15, who runs an online business selling nail polish to boys. “This [ban] destroys… my friendships and the ability to make people feel seen,” the Perth teenager tells the BBC. Ms Inman Grant would rather see tech companies clean up their platforms, as well as more investment in education tools to help young people stay safe online. She uses the analogy of teaching children to swim, rather than banning them from the water. “We don’t fence the ocean… but we do create protected swimming environments that provide safeguards and teach important lessons from a young age,” she told parliament earlier this year. Matthew Abbott Julie Inman Grant, who leads Australia’s internet regulator, will be tasked with working out how to implement the ban But parents like Emma see it differently. “Should we really be wasting our time trying to help kids navigate these difficult systems when tech companies just want them on them all the time?” she says. “Or should we just allow them to be kids and learn how to be sociable outside with each other, and then start these discussions later on?” Amy Friedlander, a mother of three from the Wait Mate movement – which encourages parents to delay giving their kids smartphones – agrees. “We can’t ignore all the positives that technology has brought into our lives. There are huge upsides, but what we haven’t really considered is the impact it is having on brains which aren’t ready for it.” ‘Too blunt an instrument’ Over 100 *********** academics have criticised the ban as “too blunt an instrument” and argued that it goes against UN advice which calls on governments to ensure young people have “safe access” to digital environments. It has also ******* to win the backing of a bipartisan parliamentary committee that’s been examining the impact of social media on adolescents. Instead, the committee recommended that tech giants face tougher regulations. To address some of those concerns, the government says it will eventually introduce “digital duty of care” laws, which will make it a legal obligation for tech companies to prioritise user safety. Joanne Orlando, a researcher in digital behaviour, argues that while a ban “could be part of a strategy, it absolutely can’t be the whole strategy”. She says “the biggest piece of the puzzle” should be educating kids to think critically about the content they see on their feeds and how they use social media. The government has already spent A$6m since 2022 to develop free “digital literacy tools” to try and do just that. However, research suggests that many young Australians aren’t receiving regular lessons. Ms Orlando and other experts warn there are also significant hurdles to making the age-verification technology – which is required to enforce the ban – effective and safe, given the “enormous risks” associated with potentially housing the identification documents of every *********** online. Getty Images The government has said it is aiming to solve that challenge through age-verification trials, and hopes to table a report by mid-next year. It has promised that privacy concerns will be front and centre, but offered little detail on what kind of technology will actually be tested. In its advice, the eSafety Commissioner has floated the idea of using a third-party service to anonymise a user’s ID before it is passed on to any age verification sites, to “preserve” their privacy. However, Ms Orlando ******** sceptical. “I can’t think of any technology that exists at this point that can pull this off,” she tells the BBC. Will Australia succeed? Australia is by no means the first country to try to restrict how young people access certain websites or platforms online. In 2011, South Korea passed its “shutdown law” which prevented children under 16 from playing internet games between 22:30 and 6:00, but the rules – which faced backlash – were later scrapped citing the need to “respect the rights of youths”. More recently France introduced legislation requiring social media platforms to block access to children under 15 without parental consent. Research indicated almost half of users were able to circumvent the ban using a simple VPN. A law in the US state of Utah – which was similar to Australia’s – ran into a different issue: it was blocked by a federal judge who found it unconstitutional. Albanese has conceded that Australia’s proposal may not be foolproof, and if it passes the parliament, it would be subject to a review. “We know that technology moves fast. No government is going to be able to protect every child from every threat – but we have to do all we can,” he said when announcing the measure. But for parents like Emma and Ms Friedlander – who have lobbied for the changes – it’s the message that the ban sends which matters most. “For too long parents have had this impossible choice between giving in and getting their child an addictive device or seeing their child isolated and feeling left out socially,” Ms Friedlander says. “We’ve been trapped in a norm that no one wants to be a part of.” James says that since quitting Snapchat he’s found himself spending more time outside with friends. And he hopes that the new laws could enable more kids like him to “get out and do the things they love” instead of feeling pressured to be online. Source link #Australia #ban #kids #social #media #work Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amazon Has Big Exclsuive Deals On Classic Family-Friendly Board Games Amazon Has Big Exclsuive Deals On Classic Family-Friendly Board Games A bunch of board games are on ***** ahead of ****** Friday, with classics like Candy Land, Trouble, and Clue seeing steep price cuts. All these games are family-friendly, so whether you’re shopping for a gift or need something to keep all the kids occupied during a holiday party, you’re bound to find something that catches your eye. While most of the games on ***** are classics, you’ll find some themed editions on ***** too. This includes Monopoly: Lord of the Rings Edition for $30 (was $45) and The Game of Life: Super Mario Edition for $22 (was $30). So, if you already own all the classics, there are still some cool games for you to add to your collection. Speaking of classics, Guess Who is one of the most iconic games on *****, and right now it’s down to its lowest-ever price of $10 (was $17). This version features cards for both people and pets–bringing additional variety and replayability to the iconic guessing game. For something even more affordable, consider picking up Connect 4, as it’s discounted to $9 (was $14). Perfection Gallery For a game that’ll get your heart racing, it’s hard to beat Perfection. If you’re unfamiliar with the classic, it tasks you with placing puzzle pieces of various shapes into their corresponding slot on a game board. But if you can’t complete all your tasks in time, the timer will go off, and the board will surge forward–launching all your pieces into the air. This version even includes a two-player “Duel” mode, allowing two people to race against each other. Plenty of other classic board games are on *****, and you’ll find our favorites below. Keep in mind that many of these are Amazon exclusives, so you won’t find them anywhere else. Others are part of a buy two, get one free offer–games eligible for the deal have been italicized in the list below. Just add three eligible games to your cart, and the cheapest one will be discounted to a cool $0. While these family-friendly classics are fun to play, we’ve also rounded up deals on other popular board games and card games if you want something more in-depth. The deals include minis-based strategy games like Marvel Zombies, competitive deckbuilding games like Arkahm Horror: The Card Game, and many more. Also take a moment to swing by our ****** Friday Hub to check out price cuts on video games, laptops, and more. Early ****** Friday Classic Board Game Deals Source link #Amazon #Big #Exclsuive #Deals #Classic #FamilyFriendly #Board #Games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Captain Tom’s family benefitted from charity Captain Tom’s family benefitted from charity Getty Images Captain Sir Tom Moore said at the time that writing his memoir was an opportunity to raise more money for charity in his name The family of renowned pandemic fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore damaged public trust in charities by refusing to donate any of the £1.4m received from his book deal, a long-awaited report has found. The Charity Commission said his daughter and son-in-law displayed a “pattern of behaviour” in which they benefitted personally from the Captain Tom Foundation and people “would understandably feel misled”. The World War Two veteran became a household name during the first Covid-19 lockdown, by walking up and down his driveway in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire. The £38.9m raised by Capt Sir Tom for NHS Charities Together, as a result of his efforts, did not form part of the commission’s inquiry, and all of that sum went to NHS charities. Capt Sir Tom’s family said they had been treated “unfairly and unjustly”. ‘Misconduct and mismanagement’ “The charity set up in his name has not lived up to that legacy of others before self,” said Charity Commission chief executive David Holdsworth. “The public – and the law – rightly expect those involved in charities to make an unambiguous distinction between their personal interests, and those of the charity and the beneficiaries they are there to serve.” Mr Holdsworth said there were repeated instances of a “blurring of boundaries between private and charitable interests” and that Hannah and Colin Ingram-Moore benefitted significantly. “Together the failings amount to misconduct and-or mismanagement,” he said. He added its report had found “repeated failures of governance and integrity”, and that its inquiry had been fair, balanced and independent. In July 2023, the Captain Tom Foundation announced it was not actively seeking donations or making payments, but the foundation has not been closed down. Instagram Hannah and Colin Ingram-Moore ***** a wreath earlier this month at the Burma Star Memorial in Staffordshire The Captain Tom Foundation was registered as a grant-making charity two months after the veteran’s walk began, and celebrities including Sir David Beckham and Dame Judy Dench later helped to promote its various fundraisers. The father-of-two ***** aged 100 in February 2021, with coronavirus. His son-in-law Mr Ingram-Moore became a trustee of the foundation that same month, and Sir Capt Tom’s daughter – Mrs Ingram-Moore – became interim chief executive later that year. The couple’s roles came into question in June 2022, when the commission launched a statutory inquiry to determine if they had benefitted privately at the charity’s expense. The booksAndy Meeson/BBC The family’s private company was paid an advance of £1.47m for Capt Sir Tom’s three books The regulator’s findings showed that Club *****, a private firm set up by the Ingram-Moores in April 2020, was paid an advance of £1.47m for Sir Capt Tom’s three books, including his best-selling autobiography, Tomorrow Will be a Good Day. The publisher Penguin, and promoter Carver PR, said the family gave repeated assurances that part of the advance would be used to set up and fund the foundation. In addition, a press release, various marketing materials and the prologue of Sir Capt Sir Tom’s memoir, all stated that the books would be used to support or raise money for the foundation. However, to date the charity has not received any money from the publishing agreement. In 2022, the commission said the inquiry twice asked Mr and Mrs Ingram-Moore to “rectify matters by making a donation to charity” but “on both occasions they declined”. The publications were “a purely commercial endeavour” and “had damaged public trust” in charities, the report concluded. ******* Media O2 awardsGetty Images Mrs Ingram-Moore was on a salary of £85,000 as interim chief executive when she acted as a judge at an awards ceremony bearing the charity’s branding Between 2020 and 2021, Capt Sir Tom acted as a judge for the ******* Media Local Legends Awards and was personally paid £10,000. The following year, his daughter was approached to be a judge and signed an ambassador agreement with ******* Media O2 while chief executive of the Captain Tom Foundation, for which she was paid £18,000. The subsequent ******* Media O2 Captain Tom Foundation Connector Awards included the charity’s logo on its awards plaque. She had already been made interim chief executive at the charity, on an annual salary of £85,000. However, the report said there was no record that she informed the charity trustees when she entered into the financial arrangement with ******* Media. The commission said it did not agree with Mrs Ingram-Moore’s assertion the work was undertaken in a personal capacity. It found this created a conflict of interest, and her ******** to avoid or manage this situation “amounted to misconduct and-or mismanagement”, adding this also meant the payment she received was an “unauthorised benefit” to her husband, who was a trustee at the time. The spa complexGetty Images Bedford Borough Council forced the Ingram-Moores to tear the spa building down in February In 2021, the Ingram-Moores received approval from the council to build a Captain Tom Foundation building beside their home, after referencing the charity’s name and number “numerous times” in the planning application. However, the resulting building, which contained a spa pool and home cinema, was described by council enforcement officer Richard Proctor as “wholly unauthorised” and the family was forced to demolish it in February. The Charity Commission found the couple ******* to consult the trustees about the spa complex, which suggested “they were using the charity and its name inappropriately for their private benefit”. The Ingram-Moores told the inquiry the inclusion of the charity’s name in the initial planning application was an error, claiming they were busy with “global media work” at the time, but they did intend to use the building for charitable purposes. Six-figure salary Other findings contained in the report showed: Mrs Ingram-Moore was “very much involved in discussions around setting her salary” and said to trustee Stephen Jones that “her expectations were in the region of £150,000 per annum”. Her claim that she was not offered a six-figure salary was described as “disingenuous” by the inquiryShe “purposely” removed the conflicts of interest clause from her employment contract with the charity, telling Mr Jones: “This is not a legal requirement… I will not be doing anything to conflict with all my roles but I cannot be in a position to request authority at every turn, my life would grind to a halt.”Since the Ingram-Moores’ company, Club *****, owned the Sir Capt Tom trademarks, trustees had to consult with them when it wanted to use his name for charity purposes, including by asking for permission to sell printed mugs In July, Mr and Mrs Ingram-Moore were disqualified from being a trustee or holding a senior management position in charities for a ******* of eight and 10 years respectively. A month earlier, they had described the inquiry as a “harrowing ordeal” and a “relentless pursuit”. Mr Holdsworth urged the Ingram-Moores to “follow through on the commitment that was made and donate a substantial amount to the charity”. He said it was up to the remaining trustee whether to take legal action and the Commission “stood ready to provide advice as they considered that”. In a statement, the Ingram-Moores said they were treated “unfairly and unjustly” in the report. They said the two-year inquiry has taken a “serious toll” on the family’s health, “unfairly tarnishing” their name. They described the process as “unjust and excessive” and that the charities watchdog had a “predetermined agenda”. “True accountability demands transparency, not selective storytelling,” the statement said, adding that they “never took a penny” from public donations. Source link #Captain #Toms #family #benefitted #charity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Save Up to 125 on the Telltale Collection for Your Steam Deck via Humble Bundle Save Up to 125 on the Telltale Collection for Your Steam Deck via Humble Bundle You can now get a Telltale Collection for your Steam Deck on an amazing discount. Are you a fan of these games? Source link #Save #Telltale #Collection #Steam #Deck #Humble #Bundle Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stalker 2 is an understandable mess on PC Stalker 2 is an understandable mess on PC Stalker 2 is one of those games I never thought would actually release. Originally announced 14 years ago, the project was shelved after developer GSC Game World closed its doors, only to be reignited in 2018. Then, as the originally announced 2022 release of the game approached, Ukraine, where the developer was based, was invaded by Russia. There are plenty of games that suffer in development *****, but they pale in comparison to the struggles Stalker 2 has gone through. The fact that the game is even here is nothing short of a miracle. Like other titles stuck in development *****, though, Stalker 2 is far from perfect, particularly when it comes to PC performance. Between the use of Unreal Engine 5, an AI system we rarely see in modern games, and plenty of release-day bugs, Stalker 2 is far from a smooth experience on PC. It’s playable — and enjoyable for this fan of old-school PC survival shooters — but you should expect some bumps in the road if you plan on playing at release. Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming Stalker 2 system requirements GSC Game World You can miss some important details in Stalker 2′s system requirements if you don’t pay close attention. That mainly comes down to the CPU choice. In general, developers target 1080p at 60 frames per second for the recommend specifications, and after that point, the recommend CPU doesn’t climb higher — at least for a game without ray tracing. Here, the CPU recommend jumps considerably between the High and Epic graphics presets. As I’ll dig into more in the next section, Stalker 2 is very sensitive to older CPU architectures. It only needs eight cores, but older CPU generations — and older DDR4 platforms as a result — will struggle to run the game cleanly above 1080p. There’s no doubt that Stalker 2 is a demanding game, but unlike a title like ****** Myth: Wukong, that demand isn’t solely on your graphics card. Make no mistake, you’ll still need a beefy graphics card. In that regard, the system requirements aren’t great, particularly at the Low and Medium presets. An RTX 4060 is significantly faster than an RX 5700 XT, for instance, and the Intel Arc A750 shouldn’t even be compared to the RX 580 and GTX 1060. I would err on the side of the Nvidia recommendation across the board, substituting alternatives from AMD or Intel as needed. One important note that isn’t covered in the system requirements is upscaling and frame generation. From my testing, it looks like the recommendations are based around having upscaling turned on, at least, with frame generation being optional. Even with an RTX 4090 and Ryzen 7 7800X3D, I wasn’t able to get a consistent 60 fps at native 4K, with occasional dips into the high 40s. The CPU problem GSC Game World Stalker 2 is really demanding on your processor, and I suspect a lot of players stepping into the game today will run into performance issues due to their processor. For context, even with a new Ryzen 9 9950X with 16 cores and some of the highest performance money can buy, the game peaked at 88% utilization and averaged 59% utilization over a 15-minute performance test. That’s high for a gaming running at 4K with maxed-out graphics. With how graphically demanding Stalker 2 is, you’d expect CPU utilization to be somewhere closer to 20% to 30% when running at 4K, especially on a 16-core, 32-thread chip like the Ryzen 9 9950X. If you ignore your CPU when playing Stalker 2, you can run into some serious issues. For instance, in my 15-minute run of gameplay, I clocked an average frame rate of 86 fps with the Epic preset. I used an RTX 3080, 32GB of memory, and the Ryzen 9 9950X, and I had DLSS set to Balanced mode. During that run, I saw stuttering, but that only accounted for 1% of the total time I played. Meanwhile, our Stalker 2 reviewer sometimes saw dips into the 20s, stutters, and very inconsistent performance. They were running at 4K with the Medium preset and DLSS set to Performance mode, and also with an RTX 3080 and 32GB of memory. The difference? Our reviewer was using a Core i9-10900K. Digital Trends The solution here isn’t to just go out a buy a new processor — though that would likely help your Stalker 2 performance. It’s simply to understand how important your CPU is in the game, and how settings can impact your overall performance. If you need a primer on why this is important in the first place, make sure to read our guide on CPU bottlenecks. In short, pushing your graphics settings down in Stalker 2 with a weaker processor can make a bad situation worse. Particularly when running at higher resolution withs a powerful graphics card, you’ll need to play a delicate balancing act between graphics settings and upscaling. Push things down too low if you have a weaker CPU, and you can start to run into CPU bottlenecks quickly. Stuttering and UE5 woes You can see from the frame time here the inconsistent performance in the open world, as well as routine stutters. Jacob ****** / Digital Trends Although I didn’t encounter terrible stuttering issues in Stalker 2 like we saw in Silent Hill 2 earlier this year, there are still stutters — and they’re extremely aggressive at times. This game uses Unreal Engine 5, which is carrying forward the infamous mantle of stuttering issues that Unreal Engine 4 brought into the limelight. There isn’t shader compilation stutter — more on that soon — but you will encounter traversal stutter, and not at all in a consistent way. Sometimes I’d flick the camera around and sprint in a different direction with a big stutter in the middle of the movement; other times the game was smooth. Sometimes I’d engage a conversation with an NPC only to see the game slow to a crawl. Other times, it stayed consistent. I suspect some mixture of the large open world — the map is 60 square kilometers large — and the A-Life system that simulates interactions outside of the player’s view play a big role in these routine stutters. Apparently, similar to older Stalker games, A-Life is running at all times across the whole map, which explains the high CPU requirements. GSC Game World Like nearly all UE5 games, Stalker 2 has a shader compilation step when you first load the game. Just to be sure, it actually has this step every time you load the game, regardless of if anything has changed. Worse, it takes a long time. When you first compile shaders, or the first time you launch the game after an update, it can take upward of 15 minutes for this process to complete, even on a 16-core CPU. It’s not the fact that you have to go through this process once that’s frustrating. It’s that you have to every single time you open the game. Even relaunching the game immediately after closing it, you’ll have to wait a solid five minutes at the shader compilation screen before you can jump into the game. Frame generation to the rescue The Stalker series has always been known for being heavy on your CPU, and Stalker 2 certainly carries that tradition forward. We have new tech to combat that issue today in the form of frame generation, though, which the game takes full advantage of. You get both DLSS Frame Generation and FSR 3.1 Frame Generation, both of which work fantastically in the game. You get a treasure trove of upscaling options, too — DLSS, FSR, XeSS, TSR, and even a resolution slider for regular TAA. However, frame generation is going to do a lot more for your performance in Stalker 2 than upscaling alone. Upscaling is still welcome, but try not to push it too far, especially if you’re running a monitor below 4K. Understandable struggle GSC Game World I’ve focused mainly on the performance of Stalker 2 here, but the pre-release build I tested had some bugs, as well. There were some minor issues I encountered, such as sound effects missing for various different items, but some were more severe. Strange object pop-in and UI elements either getting stuck or completely lost on screen were things I saw in just the first few hours of the game. Since I first got access, I’ve seen two new builds of the game. These seem to address some of the low-hanging fruit of bugs, but in the few days I had to test the game, I wasn’t able to do a full playthrough multiple times. I haven’t run into any game-breaking issues regardless. You should expect some bugs, though that’s a fair assumption for just about any open-world game. It’s important to take the issues with Stalker 2 into account with the wider context surrounding the game. Developer GSC Game World was based in Ukraine when Russia invaded the country, and although the studio relocated to Prague shortly after the invasion, those wounds don’t heal quickly. One former developer was even ******* fighting the invasion. It’s fantastic that the developers are safe and that they’re finally able to release a game that’s been in development for the better part of a decade. But there’s a reality that the development of this game was far from normal, and the fact that it has performance issues on PC is completely understandable given the circumstances. Even properly-funded AAA studios not in a war zone struggle to do that sometimes. If you plan on picking up Stalker 2 right away, I’d encourage you to exercise some grace with the development team when it comes to performance issues and bugs. Hopefully over time, the game will continue to see patches that improve performance. Source link #Stalker #understandable #mess Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Diddy’ Combs hit by fresh accusation from unnamed man ‘Diddy’ Combs hit by fresh accusation from unnamed man Sean “Diddy'” Combs has been hit by a fresh ******* ******** accusation from an unnamed man. The shamed rapper, 54, who is languishing in a New York jail awaiting trial on **** trafficking and racketeering charges, is alleged to have drugged and attacked a male who was 39 at the time of the reported ******. According to a complaint filed in a New York federal court and obtained by People, the unidentified plaintiff claims he was drugged by Combs during a party at a home in New York City in 2022. The plaintiff alleges he attended the gathering with friends and was given a drink that made him lose control of his body before he allegedly blacked out. After regaining consciousness, the man says he found himself in a “dark bedroom” with “****** walls” and on a bed with ****** sheets. He added he realised Combs was “on top of him” performing a **** act. The man says he fought off the rapper and fled to a bathroom before leaving the party. The latest complaint was one of five filed on Tuesday which have just come to light. They are all from clients represented by attorney Tony Buzbee, who has announced that he was representing more than 100 clients who say they were the victims of misconduct by Combs. The other new filings include one from another man who says Combs ****** him in Miami in 2022. Another is from an 18-year-old woman who alleges she was drugged and made to perform a **** act on Combs and other unnamed men in 2001 while the musician sprayed her with champagne. A hand-written complaint also filed on Tuesday was mailed by an inmate currently serving a prison sentence for manslaughter who claims he was a minor in 2018 when he was allegedly drugged by his mother and ****** by Combs. Combs has denied committing any ******* ****** and his attorneys said after the first flood of complaints filed by Mr Buzbee’s clients Combs cannot “address every meritless allegation in what has become a reckless media circus”. They stressed he “emphatically” denies ********* abusing anyone. Combs has been behind bars after facing a September indictment on charges of **** trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution, with his ********* trial set for May 2025. Source link #Diddy #Combs #hit #fresh #accusation #unnamed #man Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

League of Masters: Auto Chess releases worldwide on Android and PC League of Masters: Auto Chess releases worldwide on Android and PC Combination of strategic battles and RPG elements Take part in either PvP or PvE modes Full cross-platform support ActionPay has just announced that League of Masters: Auto Chess has officially launched globally, bringing its blend of strategic battles, RPG progression, and not so much chess to Android and Steam. After over a year of soft launch and feedback from the community, the battle is out now with refined gameplay and new mechanics to explore. League of Masters takes auto chess strategy elements and imbibes it with the depth of RPGs as you face off against seven other commanders in intense PvP battles. Your tactical skills will be put to the test as you try to outsmart your opponent before they do. There’s no shortage of variety either, as you have 12 commanders, 52 units, and 135 arenas to choose from. If you’re someone who prefers the solo, then the rich PvE campaign has got you covered. As you progress, you’ll uncover the lore through a comic-style narrative. Progression also means more commanders, better gear, stats, powerful new abilities, and of course, a stronger roster that will make winning easier. Beyond PvE and PvP, there’s castle looting and defence, letting you raid for resources while protecting your own stronghold. And with the open economy system, you can trade rare items earned in PvP leagues or official Discord giveaways. These items can be exchanged or sold for gift cards, which unlock further opportunities in the Bank. Check out this list of the best strategy games to play on iOS! Social features in League of Masters aim to make your experience more exciting. Multi-language chats and the Tree of Friendship allow you to connect with others. You can also grant blessings to your fellow wonders to give you an edge in battle by letting you start with extra units. Whether you’re playing on Android or Steam, your progress syncs seamlessly, allowing you to pick up right where you left off. An iOS version for League of Masters: Auto Chess is also planned for the future. Visit the official X page for more information. Source link #League #Masters #Auto #Chess #releases #worldwide #Android Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia may keep producing one RTX 40 GPU Nvidia may keep producing one RTX 40 GPU The last few weeks brought us a slew of rumors about Nvidia potentially sunsetting most of the RTX 40-series graphics cards. However, a new update reveals that one GPU might remain in production long after other GPUs are no longer being produced. Unfortunately, it’s a GPU that would struggle to rank among Nvidia’s best graphics cards. I’m talking about the RTX 4050 — a card that only appears in laptops. The scoop comes from a leaker on Weibo and was first spotted by Wccftech. The leaker states that the RTX 4050 is “the only 40-series laptop GPU that Nvidia will continue to supply” after the highly anticipated launch of the RTX 50-series. Unsurprisingly, the tipster also reveals that the fact that both the RTX 4050 and the RTX 5050 will be readily available at the same time will also impact the pricing of the next-gen card. Although the RTX 3050 existed in both desktop and laptop versions, the RTX 4050 has only made an appearance in laptops. It’s a budget-friendly option for those who want access to Nvidia’s DLSS 3, but it’s not an outstanding GPU in terms of performance. The cheapest laptops with an RTX 4050 can be bought for around $680. Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming If Nvidia keeps the last-gen RTX 4050 going, then it wouldn’t be a surprise to find that laptops with an RTX 5050 will see a price increase. Some leakers predict that the RTX 5050 may rival the RTX 4060 in performance, so it’s a tight line to walk if Nvidia also keeps making the RTX 4060. Weibo The RTX 4050 would be a strange choice to keep in production. With GPUs like the RTX 4090 (which is only going up in price as we speak) and the RTX 4070 reportedly no longer being made, Nvidia is now said to be making only low-end RTX 40-series graphics cards. The RTX 4060 is also said to live on, which is not a surprise given its popularity, but still, that could leave the GPU market looking pretty bare over time. On the other hand, just because the RTX 4050 is reportedly still being produced doesn’t have to mean that it’ll stay that way for a long time. If Nvidia’s RTX 50-series will begin with the high-end RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, laptops with an RTX 5050 might be a good few months down the line. It makes sense to keep a steady supply of lower-end cards until there’s a new GPU to fill the gap. Nvidia is likely to announce the next-gen RTX 50-series during CES 2025 in January. Until then, all we can do is speculate, so take all of the above with some skepticism. Source link #Nvidia #producing #RTX #GPU Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kyiv on edge amid fears over possible Russian strike Kyiv on edge amid fears over possible Russian strike Air raid sirens sounded across Kyiv on Wednesday as Ukraine’s capital prepared for a possible Russian airstrike that did not come. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv had already announced it was closing temporarily Wednesday because of a “potential significant air *******,” and a Ukrainian military official told CBS News it had information that Russia could try to strike the center of Kyiv with ballistic missiles. Holly Williams reports from Kyiv. Source link #Kyiv #edge #fears #Russian #strike Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to upgrade and repair weapons and gear in Stalker 2 How to upgrade and repair weapons and gear in Stalker 2 It won’t be long into Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl that you encounter your first ******* jam. Whether you’re fighting mutant dogs or ****** bandits, the last thing you want to hear when lining up a shot is the clicking of your ******* despite still having plenty of ammo. The more you use your weapons, the lower their durability becomes and the more likely you are to experience a jam. You don’t have the skills to repair or upgrade your weapons yourself, and Stalker 2 is more than willing to let you miss out on finding the places to do it. Never get caught with a broken or weak ******* again by learning how to repair and upgrade your weapons in Stalker 2. How to upgrade and repair weapons GSC Game World You can see how beaten down your ******* is in the inventory by highlighting it or based on the ****** of the broken shield icon. If that icon appears at all, you can expect jams to start popping up. The only way to repair or purchase any upgrades on your weapons is to go to specific vendors in the various camps. Not every “town” has someone who can do it, but the major ones like Garbage all do. Sadly, all merchants in Stalker 2 share the same icon on your map, so you need to highlight or remember which one to go to for *******-related needs. Once you find one, speak to them and enter the upgrade screen. Here, you can repair any highlighted ******* for some coupons depending on how broken down it is, or highlight its different components to buy and install an upgrade. Both of these are very expensive, so pick which ******* you want to trust your life with carefully. Source link #upgrade #repair #weapons #gear #Stalker Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Valve adds DLSS 3 to SteamOS backend, but don’t expect an Nvidia Steam Deck Valve adds DLSS 3 to SteamOS backend, but don’t expect an Nvidia Steam Deck Valve has made a significant update to its Proton compatibility layer, which is the basis of the Linux-based SteamOS operating system on the Steam Deck. The update brings several improvements and bug fixes, but it also adds support for Nvidia’s coveted DLSS 3 Frame Generation. The update for Proton Experimental rolled out on November 12, and it was spotted by Wccftech. Proton is the bedrock for gaming on Linux, and up to this point, Nvidia users haven’t had access to some of the best features of Team Green’s latest graphics cards on Linux. The latest update not only supports DLSS 3 Frame Generation, but also Nvidia’s Optical Flow API. Optical Flow is critical for DLSS 3 Frame Generation, though the dedicated hardware for the feature has been around since Nvidia’s Turing GPUs. In addition to DLSS 3, the update fixes issues with games like Skull and Bones, Final Fantasy XVI, and ***** Eternal, among dozens of other fixes. It also adds support for games like Total War: Shogun 2, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, and ******* Elite: ***** Zombie Army 2. Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming Proton may be a vital component of the Steam Deck, but it extends far beyond just Valve’s handheld. That is to say, this update doesn’t say much about the future of the Steam Deck. There’s some interesting context surrounding this update, however. Nvidia is reportedly working on an Arm-based PC platform that combines a GPU and CPU into a single chip, and it will apparently be ready to launch next year. Up to this point, AMD hardware has dominated handhelds like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally X, and Intel has dipped its toes in with the MSI Claw. But we haven’t seen an Nvidia-based handheld yet. If we see an Nvidia system-on-a-chip (SoC) capable of features like DLSS 3 Frame Generation, that would make for a compelling handheld gaming PC. If nothing else, adding support for DLSS 3 in Proton gives Linux gamers more options to play, and it also lays the groundwork if we ever see an Nvidia-based handheld in the future that leverages Proton. Before rushing to conclusions, we’re reading several layers into a relatively simple update here. Valve has said it’s waiting for a signficant hardware improvement before releasing the Steam Deck 2, and although it’s possible that design could use an Nvidia chip, there’s no reason to believe Valve will break from AMD at this point. Source link #Valve #adds #DLSS #SteamOS #backend #dont #expect #Nvidia #Steam #Deck Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is Nvidia its own worst ******? Is Nvidia its own worst ******? Jensen Huang, co-founder and chief executive officer of Nvidia Corp., holds up the company’s AI accelerator chips for data centers as he speaks during the Nvidia AI Summit Japan in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. Akio Kon | Bloomberg | Getty Images This report is from today’s CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here. What you need to know today Nvidia beats expectations, but shares slipNvidia third-quarter earnings beat expectations, but shares dropped 2.5% in extended trading. The company’s revenue surged 94% year on year to $35.08 billion in the quarter ended Oct. 27. Net income rocketed 109% from a year ago to $19.3 billion. Demand for Nvidia’s next-generation chip Blackwell “is expected to exceed supply for several quarters in fiscal 2026,” said Nvidia CFO Colette. Adani charged in New York with fraudIndian billionaire Gautam Adani, chair of India’s Adani Group, was indicted with others in New York federal court on charges related to a bribery and ****** scheme, authorities said Wednesday. Adani and other defendants are accused in the indictment of having paid Indian government officials more than $250 million in bribes to obtain solar energy supply contracts worth more than $2 billion in profits. The Dow breaks losing streakU.S. markets traded mixed on Wednesday ahead of Nvidia’s earnings after the bell. The S&P 500 was flat, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.32% to break its four-day losing streak and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.11%. Europe’s Stoxx 600 was little changed, with the ********* Central Bank warning the biggest economic threat to the euro zone was no longer high inflation, but weak growth. *** inflation in October sharply higherFor the U.K. inflation still ******** a tough nut to ******. On an annual basis, prices increased 2.3% in October, according to data from the British Office for National Statistics, sharply higher than September’s 1.7% rise. Economists polled by Reuters were expecting October’s figure to be 2.2%. The reading reduces the probability that the Bank of England will lower interest rates in December. [PRO] 10-year Treasury yield might hinder stocksThe yield on the 10-year Treasury Note was at 4.402%, sharply higher than the 3.6% it hovered around in September. If the yield breaks the psychological level of 4.5%, strategists say it would weigh on the stock market. The bottom line There’s a concept in psychology called the “hedonic treadmill.” It theorizes that as people achieve success, their expectations rise alongside. As a result, people need an ever-increasing magnitude of improvement to feel the same degree of happiness they felt initially. Nvidia seems a victim of this concept. The chipmaker didn’t disappoint in terms of third-quarter revenue and net income, compared with what analysts polled by LSEG had expected. For the current quarter, analysts forecast $37.08 billion in current quarter sales. The chipmaker predicts it will beat that by around $400 million. Despite that, Nvidia shares dropped around 2.5% in extended trading. Investors are likely zooming in on the rate at which Nvidia is growing its numbers, compared with its past performance, not just whether it’s surpassing expectations. Even though Nvidia’s third-quarter revenue soared 94% on an annual basis, it’s a slower pace than Nvidia’s growth in the previous three quarters, when sales rose 122%, 262%, and 265%, respectively, as CNBC’s Kif Leswing notes. The same goes for Nvidia’s forward guidance: A growth of around 70% for current-quarter sales, compared with a year earlier. Take out the champagne? No. Investors think that warrants only some lukewarm *****, because it’s lower than third-quarter growth of 94%, and dramatically falls short of Nvidia’s 265% annual growth in the same ******* a year prior. The fact that Nvidia’s shares slipped in extended trading after such a sterling report “tells you how much the expectations game on Nvidia has been ramped up,” Aswath Damodaran, finance professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, told CNBC. “They don’t just have to beat analyst estimates; they got to beat them by 10%.” It appears that investors have enjoyed Nvidia’s astounding performance for so long they’ve become desensitized to it. Maybe it’s time to get off the treadmill? — CNBC’s Kif Leswing, Samantha Subin and Brian Evans contributed to this report. Source link #Nvidia #worst #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]