What happened with AI this week? Well, the passage of the European Union’s AI Act—a landmark piece of regulation that seeks tackle the potential harms of the AI industry—is a pretty big deal. It could totally reshape how European nations’ relationship to the technology. But a lot of less consequential if no less weird…
Source: Gizmodo – Grok Gets Some Competition, ChatGPT Gets Depressed, and More of the Top AI News Stories This Week
Fifty years ago, Doctor Who’s 11th season began with “The Time Warrior” and brought with it a notable sea of changes. It marked the debut of the show’s iconic “diamond” logo, which has now seen a return for the modern era with Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor. It added an immediately iconic creature to the show’s monster canon in…
Source: Gizmodo – 50 Years Ago Today, Sarah Jane Smith Changed Doctor Who Forever
Google is shutting down Google Podcasts in April 2024, adding the app to the pile of dead Google services and leaving many Android users without their standard podcatcher of choice. It’s not like iOS users have it much better. Apple Podcasts has been an unbearable mess since iOS 14, and even the latest iOS 17 updates have done little to fix its lackluster user experience.
Thankfully, podcasts are hugely popular, and, as a result, there are more top-tier podcast managers on Android and iOS than ever before. I have a pair of definitive recommendations for the best apps to manage podcasts on your mobile devices, as well as a few backup suggestions for those seeking a more novel podcast app.
Platforms: Free on iOS and Android; Plus Subscription ($1/month or $10/year) on iOS, Apple Watch, Android, Mac, Windows, and web.
Pocket Casts brings together almost every useful feature found across pretty much every other podcast manager out there, plus plenty that are unique. The app also delivers them via a slick interface that’s easy to use—and best of all, it’s free.
A few of the standout features include audio enhancement options: The built-in “volume boost” makes it easier to hear people’s voices while reducing background music or noise; “trim silences” cuts out long pauses; and you can adjust the playback speed anywhere from 0.5x to 3x (and doing so does not affect voice pitch).
Pocket Casts users can sync their subscriptions and playback position across multiple devices, and the app features robust options for finding new podcasts (including the ability to search by episode), so you can find all the podcasts that have talked about a specific topic, and view your listening history. You can also play third-party media files stored on your device and set sleep timers that will pause your podcast when you’re listening before bed.
While the free version is packed with features, it isn’t perfect. For instance, the playlist and filter options could be more robust. You can queue up a playlist on a whim, or filter your podcast subscriptions and list of downloaded episodes using a small selection of preset categories, but you cannot sort your subscriptions by topic or create your own self-updating playlists. Given how many features Pocket Casts packs in, it seems odd that it lacks this kind of customization.
Despite that nagging issue, I like how Pocket Casts looks and feels. Not only does the app cover all the basics, but it also has a few customizable gesture options (such as setting a left-swipe to archive episodes), and even a dark theme.
The free version of Pocket Casts is available on Android and iOS and includes all of the features I’ve discussed thus far, but there’s also a premium Pocket Casts Plus option if you want access to more features and wider device support. For either $4 a month or $40 annually, Plus subscribers get access to the Mac, Windows, web, and standalone Apple Watch versions of Pocket Casts, plus 10GBs of cloud storage that can be accessed across all your connected devices.
While PocketCasts remains my go-to recommendation for both Android and iOS, I’ve curated a handful of alternatives that deserve recognition for their reliability and features in case PocketCasts doesn’t suit your needs. I’ve included both Android and iOS apps, though some are only available on one platform.
Procast, a relative newcomer in the field, is a great choice if you like to tweet or share your thoughts about your favorite shows. A built-in clip feature lets you snip a bit of a podcast to supplement a tweet or text. It also has a neat “swipe to your inbox” feature that lets you add episodes to your queue with a simple swipe. Procast is a solid choice for iOS and Android users.
Overcast is an iOS-exclusive app packing tons of features, including support for Apple Watch. You get playback controls like adjustable playback speeds, audio boost, and automatic silence trimming, and the app automatically holds your place when you stop listening partway through. Overcast also lets you create custom playlists in a couple of taps or listen to every podcast you’ve downloaded in a continuous stream. There are also welcome quality-of-life options like the ability to add Siri Shortcuts and customize your headphone, remote, and car dashboard controls. The main downsides are its meager discoverability for new shows, and the free version is ad-supported, but you can pay $10/year to remove them and unlock other features like side-loading audio files saved on your iPhone. You can download Overcast on the iOS App Store.
Podcast Addict is a free Android app packed with handy features like customizable playlists and adjusting unique listening settings per podcast. You can also tag your favorite shows with listening priority and even rate and review series in the app, much like you can with Apple Podcasts. Along with the millions of podcasts available in the app, Podcast Addict also features over 120,000 radio stations and over 20,000 audiobooks. It also supports Android Auto and Chromecast. The free version displays ads (just a simple banner ad across certain screens), while the premium version costs $1 per month or $10 per year, and grants extra features like a playlist widget and additional app themes. You can download Podcast Addict on the Google Play Store.
Source: LifeHacker – These Are the Best Podcast Apps to Use in 2024
A slick new VR headset, a “slim” console refresh, tons of flashy new accessories, and multiple exclusives, including the fastest selling PlayStation game ever, Spider-Man 2. The PlayStation 5 made big moves in 2023. So why does it feel like the console spent most of it resting on its laurels while flailing for a new…
Source: Kotaku – The State Of The PlayStation 5
Enlarge / Rembrandt’s The Night Watch underwent many chemical and mechanical alterations over the last 400 years. (credit: Public domain)
Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, painted in 1642, is the Dutch master’s largest surviving painting, known particularly for its exquisite use of light and shadow. A new X-ray imaging analysis of the masterpiece has revealed an unexpected lead layer, perhaps applied as a protective measure while preparing the canvas, according to a new paper published in the journal Science Advances. The work was part of the Rijksmuseum’s ongoing Operation Night Watch, the largest multidisciplinary research and conservation project for Rembrandt’s famous painting, devoted to its long-term preservation.
The famous scene depicted in The Night Watch—officially called Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq—was not meant to have taken place at night. Rather, the dark appearance is the result of the accumulation of dirt and varnish over four centuries, as the painting was subject to various kinds of chemical and mechanical alterations.
For instance, in 1715, The Night Watch was moved to Amsterdam’s City Hall (now the Royal Palace on Dam Square). It was too large for the new location, so the painting was trimmed on all four sides, and the trimmed pieces were never found (although in 2021, AI was used to re-create the original full painting). The objective of Operation Night Watch is to employ a wide variety of imaging and analytical techniques to better understand the materials Rembrandt used to create his masterpiece and how those materials have changed over time.
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Source: Ars Technica – X-ray imaging of The Night Watch reveals previously unknown lead layer
If you have a flexible spending account (FSA), you know the drill: Use the funds before the end of the year, or lose them. You’re unlikely to pack the rest of your year with doctor’s appointments—either because everywhere is booked months in advance or because that simply sounds dreadful— but fear not. You can spend your remaining FSA funds on other qualifying healthcare costs. As the end of the year approaches, take stock of your FSA balances and make a plan to spend any leftover money.
Many over-the-counter medications and health items are FSA-eligible, including pain relievers, cold medicine, bandages, dental care products, menstrual products, and more. Scan your medicine cabinet and make a list of anything you need to stock upon.
Kanjo Epsom Salt: $24.99
Chirp Wheel+ 3-Pack: $99.99
Revive Mini Massage Gun: $159.99
Ray-Ban Sunglasses: $199.00
If your vision isn’t quite 20/20, use FSA dollars to order a new prescription for eyeglasses or contacts. Also, stock up on eye drops and lens solution!
Knee braces, wrist splints, compression socks and other orthopedic items can help relieve chronic pain issues. Use FSA money to offset the costs of these.
If you have medical procedures coming up in early next year, many healthcare providers will allow you to pre-pay the estimated costs using FSA funds this calendar year. This includes dental work, physical therapy, chiropractic visits, Lasik eye surgery and more.
However you choose to spend your FSA funds, don’t let that money go to waste. After all, it came out of your paycheck. Check in with your employer’s rules are for any balance remaining on Dec. 31 this year, so you aren’t left forfeiting your hard-earned funds. You can find a complete list at the FSA store here.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on Friday, Dec. 15 and was updated on Monday, Dec. 18 to only apply to FSA funds. HSA funds do roll over into the new year, which was not made clear in the original article.
Source: LifeHacker – Where to Spend Your FSA Funds Before the End of the Year
Unless you have a GeForce RTX 40 series GPU or you’re a really big fan of mediocre fantasy games, you probably haven’t had much experience with frame generation technologies. Suffice to say that we’re fans around here. While AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution is a fair (if somewhat inferior) competitor with NVIDIA’s DLSS, the company’s FSR
Source: Hot Hardware – AMD Releases FSR 3 Source Code On Github, Why This Matters For Gaming
Enlarge (credit: Anadolu / Contributor | Anadolu)
Some TikTok users may have skipped reviewing an update to TikTok’s terms of service this summer that shakes up the process for filing a legal dispute against the app. According to The New York Times, changes that TikTok “quietly” made to its terms suggest that the popular app has spent the back half of 2023 preparing for a wave of legal battles.
In July, TikTok overhauled its rules for dispute resolution, pivoting from requiring private arbitration to insisting that legal complaints be filed in either the US District Court for the Central District of California or the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles. Legal experts told the Times this could be a way for TikTok to dodge arbitration claims filed en masse that can cost companies millions more in fees than they expected to pay through individual arbitration.
Perhaps most significantly, TikTok also added a section to its terms that mandates that all legal complaints be filed within one year of any alleged harm caused by using the app. The terms now say that TikTok users “forever waive” rights to pursue any older claims. And unlike a prior version of TikTok’s terms of service archived in May 2023, users do not seem to have any options to opt out of waiving their rights.
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Source: Ars Technica – TikTok requires users to “forever waive” rights to sue over past harms
Teenage Engineer’s OP-1 Field synthesizer/groovebox/thingamajig just got a fairly substantial system update. Software version 1.5.0 brings a fun new effect to the instrument and a long-requested feature.
First up, there’s a new effect called Terminal. This is a bit crusher, finally bringing distortion to the synthesizer. The OP-1 Field and its lower-powered sibling have always been known for a stellar effects lineup, but these instruments have never had a bit crusher or any real way to add color via distortion. As an avid player, I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to use workarounds to fake overdrive and distortion.
It looks simple enough to operate, with an aesthetic that calls to mind an old PC. You should be able to use this tool for gentle distortion and all-out audio mangling. Like all OP-1 effects, there are four parameters to fiddle with.
The update also brings a much easier way to bounce, or merge, tracks. Teenage Engineering’s calling it “tape merge drop” and the tool includes a shortcut that automatically combines all of the audio from copied tracks into one track, so you can drop it down and continue building out a song. You could always bounce tracks on the OP-1 and Field, but it required some menu diving and a lot more time.
Teenage Engineering has always been good about supporting the OP-1 line. It dropped a vocoder for the Field earlier this year and released multiple system updates for the original OP-1 in the recent past, and that thing came out in 2011. Obama wasn’t even in his second term yet.
The company has had a busy month or so. It set music gear internet ablaze with the surprise launch of the EP-133 sampler and did the exact opposite with whatever this is. The new OP-1 Field update is available now.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/teenage-engineerings-op-1-field-just-got-a-nifty-bit-crusher-effect-185232932.html?src=rss
Source: Engadget – Teenage Engineering’s OP-1 Field just got a nifty bit crusher effect
Recently, my wife and I went out to do some Christmas shopping. We also grabbed some lunch while we were out, brought dinner home, rented a movie, and bought a game to play the next day. It should have been a chill weekend, but it wasn’t. In 2023, thanks to greedy billionaires and giant, shitty companies, buying just…
Source: Kotaku – It Sucks To Buy Anything In 2023
Fairphone, the Dutch-based company behind the eponymous branded mobile phone, has announced that it’s received the highest ranking for sustainability that any mobile phone maker has ever received.
The post EcoVadis Awards Fairphone for Being Good for the Environment and Labor appeared first on FOSS Force.
Source: FOSS Force – EcoVadis Awards Fairphone for Being Good for the Environment and Labor
Video game companies have gotten very creative when it comes to punishing cheaters, from cutting their parachutes’ strings in Call of Duty to blowing them up in Grand Theft Auto Online. But Valve just set a new benchmark for trolling players: sending them permabans wrapped up like Christmas presents.
Source: Kotaku – Steam Trolls Players With Bans Wrapped Up Like Christmas Presents
With winter weather upon us, depending on where you live, you might need tire chains this season. While chains are sometimes not allowed in cities, on mountain roads and in more rural areas they can be a life saver. Here’s a helpful set of tips to get you going with your snow chains snugly in place.
The first step to snow chains is choosing the right size. While there will be a little bit of variation, getting the right size for your vehicle’s tires is important to make sure they stay put while you’re driving. To determine what size tire you have, look for the label on the tire’s sidewall with a three-digit number, then a slash, then a two-digit number. The first number refers to the width of your tire. The second number is the percentage of the width and refers to the depth of the tire. Chains are often made to fit a range of tire sizes, so you can look for a set that includes your tire size in its range on the label.
To prepare for a successful snow-chain installation on the road—where it’s wet, cold, and possibly dark—it’s a good idea to get your chains out and do a dress rehearsal in your garage or driveway before attempting a real-time installation. Although you should avoid driving on your chains if there isn’t snow on the road because they can damage the surface (and also your driveway or garage floor), putting the chains on in a comfortable environment first before trying to use them for the first time in a snow storm—or on the side of a highway next to a mountain pass—will make your live-action installation go that much more smoothly.
The chains go on whichever set of wheels drives the vehicle, so on a front-wheel drive vehicle, they go on the front; for rear-wheel drive, they go on the back. Lay out the chains on the ground to make sure they’re untangled before installing them. There should be a cable or a straight chain on one side and a series of criss-crossed chains attached to that. Place the chains so that the hooks holding them to the cable are facing out from the tires. This will prevent them from damaging the side walls of the tires. If your chains came with instructions, now is a good time to get those out, since not all tire chains are exactly alike.
Once you have the chains laid out and untangled, pull them behind the tire and then drape them over the tire, with the open end towards the ground. Next join together the two corners of the snow chains that are on the underside of the vehicle. There will be a hook or other device to attach the two. Then, you can join together the two corners of the snow chains that are on the side of the tires facing the road.
Tensioning the chains is the final step before driving. Most people will find it easiest to tension their chains if they drive forward just a little bit, allowing the chains to fall under the tires. A quarter to a half turn of the wheels is all you should need. Different chains have different types of tensioners, but in general you will have another chain, a stretchy cord, some clips, or some combination of those. The idea is to pull the chains a little more snugly around the tires, and this is done by pulling the outward-facing chain towards the center of the wheel, allowing it to evenly distribute the chain treads over the surface of the tire. If you’ve lost your tensioners, some people will use zip ties (make sure you have a way to cut them off to remove the chains), bungee cords or quick links to tighten up their chains. While these fixes might be okay as a last resort to make it out of a snow storm, it’s generally recommended to use a tensioner meant to be used for tires.
Driving on snow chains is a little different than on regular tires. You shouldn’t go faster than 25 mph on snow chains to avoid damaging the road or the chains themselves, and you should avoid fast stops and starts to keep the chains from skidding. If you see bare pavement, it’s time to take the chains off, as they can break if you drive too much on bare pavement with them; it’s bad for the roads; and a broken snow chain can damage your tires.
Source: LifeHacker – How to Fit and Install Snow Chains
Hideki Kamiya, the prolific action game director who co-founded the legendary developer PlatinumGames, surprised the industry when he left the studio behind on October 20 after nearly 20 years there. He said the decision was of his own accord, but questions about why still lingered. Now, Kamiya’s spoken out to share…
Source: Kotaku – Bayonetta Director Quit His Job For A Super Relatable Reason
This is the sort of feature you might have assumed Strava already had considering how long it’s been around, but no: Strava only just added the ability to DM other users, and you should see the feature in the Android and iOS apps now.
Strava says it wants to provide “an efficient avenue for athletes to coordinate adventures, connect for inspiration or tips, share their journey, and more” with the new messaging features, so if you’re already communicating with a group of Strava buddies in another chat app, now you can consider switching over.
Messaging on Strava supports both one-to-one and group chats, and you can share activities and routes. Features like message reactions are included, but other chat mainstays—like photo uploads—will be added at a later date.
You’ve got a few different options for messaging your Strava friends directly in-app. Perhaps the easiest is to open up the profile of the person you want to talk to, and tap on the Message button on their page to start a one-to-one conversation. Chat also now appears in the share options on activities, events, and routes.
There’s also a new speech bubble icon at the top of the Home and Groups tabs, and you can tap on this to jump to your list of conversations. Open up an existing chat from here, or start a new one with the compose button (top right)—select more than one recipient, and Strava starts a group chat for you.
Chatting is pretty straightforward: Type out your message and hit the orange send button. The only real extra feature to talk about is the ability to save routes with the people you’re chatting with, and that’s done via the icon to the left of the text input box.
You can bring up a few more options by long-pressing on a message you’ve sent or received. This is where the message reactions pop up, and if it’s a message of your own, then you have the option to edit or delete it. From the same pop-up menu you can also reply to individual messages to make the thread easier to understand, or copy messages (handy if they have addresses or phone numbers in them, for example).
Tap the cog icon in the top right corner of a conversation to mute the notifications for a chat if it’s getting too busy. If you’re in a group chat, then you’ll find the options for renaming the group and managing the participants from here, and you can also give other members the option to invite more people.
Back on the main conversation list, there’s just one more feature to mention: Swipe left on a conversation to bring up a trash-can icon that lets you permanently delete the thread. It’s pretty basic as far as messaging apps go, at least for the time being, but of course its key benefit is that it’s built right into Strava.
At this time, it’s not possible to message random people on Strava. Even if you enable messaging, only the people who you follow will be able to chat with you, so you’re not going to get spammed. (Well, unless one of your friends has their Strava account hacked.)
For safety reasons, you can’t actually use messaging at all unless you’ve entered your date of birth on your Strava account. What’s more, the activity sharing inside Strava chats respect existing privacy settings: No one can suddenly post one of your private activities to their group chat, for example.
To set your messaging privacy level, head to the conversation list via the speech bubble icon at the top of the Home or Groups tab. Tap the cog icon in the top right corner, and you can read more about how messaging works on Strava, as well as set how you want messaging to work on your account.
Your choices are Following (anyone who you follow can message you), Mutuals (people can only message you if you follow each other), and No One (no one can message you, but you can initiate chats with other people, privacy levels permitting). By default (at least on my account), you’ll be set to Mutuals.
As far as I can tell from testing out Strava messaging, changing your privacy level doesn’t affect the conversations you’ve already started—so if you decide to switch to the No One option, it’s not going to get rid of the chats already in your inbox.
Messaging hasn’t yet made its way to the Strava website, and there’s no indication yet as to whether it ever will. You can’t change your messaging privacy level from Strava on the web either, so everything is controlled from inside the app—but you can see and manage the people you’re following on Strava in your browser.
Source: LifeHacker – How to Send Messages on Strava Without Giving Away Your Privacy
Don’t hold your breath waiting for Baldur’s Gate 3 to show up on Game Pass. It’s not happening, according to Larian Studios founder Swen Vincke in an interview with IGN. The game designer said point blank that “it’s not going to be on Game Pass.” Vincke went on to note that this was always the plan and that the title had never been considered for placement in Microsoft’s subscription gaming platform. These statements occurred just one week after the game officially launched on Xbox Series X/S consoles.
At the root of this decision is perceived value. Vincke says that Baldur’s Gate 3 is a “big game” that’s available for a “fair price.” He also touted the title’s lack of microtransactions and its complete story, saying “you get what you pay for.” To that end, a completionist run in Baldur’s Gate 3 takes more than 140 hours, according to HowLongToBeat. That breaks down to about 40 cents an hour, which seems like a good value to me.
Larian Studios isn’t Microsoft. This is a small company that needs all the money it can get, with Vincke suggesting that players who pay full-price for Baldur’s Gate 3 will allow the developer to “continue making other games.”
This speaks to a larger issue within the gaming community regarding the “all-you-can-eat” nature of streaming subscription platforms like Game Pass. Obviously, paying $10 each month for access to hundreds of games is a great deal for consumers, but it remains to be seen how it impacts developers. Some smaller developers praise the added exposure that comes with launching on Game Pass, while others like Take Two call it a “lost opportunity” for publishers. Sony head Jim Ryan even called the platform “value destructive,” but he’s speaking about a primary competitor so, grain meet salt.
Microsoft has held steady to the idea that Game Pass actually increases sales of included titles, as players fall in love with certain games and want to own them outright. There’s some evidence to support this. Starfield was available on the subscription service since launch day but still managed to be the best-selling title of September, according to figures published by VentureBeat. However, that old adage about cows and free milk must apply to some gamers.
Most importantly, Baldur’s Gate 3 doesn’t need Game Pass. It’s one of the most popular and critically-acclaimed releases of the year, racking up a boatload of trophies at The Game Awards and selling around 20 million copies on Steam alone. The game’s also available on PS5 and, as mentioned, Xbox Series X/S.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/larian-studios-chief-says-baldurs-gate-3-will-never-come-to-game-pass-175245059.html?src=rss
Source: Engadget – Larian Studios chief says Baldur’s Gate 3 will never come to Game Pass
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Bet_Noire)
Elon Musk can’t avoid testifying in an investigation into whether he violated federal securities laws, a magistrate judge said during a court hearing yesterday.
The Securities and Exchange Commission sued Musk in October to force him to testify for a third time in a probe related to purchases of Twitter stock he made before he bought the company. Musk responded in November by asking the court to block the SEC’s subpoena, claiming the agency is “harassing” him, exceeding its authority to investigate, and making “overly burdensome” demands for “irrelevant evidence.”
Musk’s arguments were rejected during a hearing yesterday in US District Court for the Northern District of California. No formal ruling has been issued yet, but a magistrate judge made it clear she will rule in the SEC’s favor if Musk doesn’t appear for testimony.
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Source: Ars Technica – Judge rejects Elon Musk’s attempt to avoid testifying in Twitter stock probe
I love Marvel movies as much as the next billion people, but in 2024—for the first time in living memory—the studio is giving us a break (sort of; we’re still getting MCU offshoots like Deadpool 3 and Madame Web), and I plan to take advantage of it by seeing some movies in the theater that don’t involve superheroes.
Overall, the coming year seems a bit lacking when it comes to pre-packaged franchise blockbusters, and after 2023 proved that audiences have more of an appetite for Barbenheimer and less of one for The Flash, that’s definitely not a bad thing. Certainly I’m hoping the respite from Marvel/DC fare will allow some of the year’s other releases more breathing room. Or maybe we’ll just see Deadpool 3 and call it a year, retreating to our streaming caves.
But hopefully not—and in that spirit, and for your watchlist-planning convenience, here’s a list of some of 2024’s most anticipated films, and when to watch them.
Director James Wan’s most recent horror movie, Malignant, was absolutely bonkers, and about as good a time as you could have doing anything in 2021. Given that this new one involves a haunted swimming pool, it sounds like he hasn’t lost his willingness to get a little goofy. Here for it, honestly.
Where to see it: In theaters
Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek) makes his feature directorial debut with this Netflix production, in which he also stars as Marc Dreyfus. When Marc’s larger-than-life husband (Luke Evans) dies, he goes on a soul-searching journey to France alongside his two best friends (played by Ruth Negga and Himesh Patel).
Where to see it: Netflix
Opening this in January, and not on October 3, seems like an enormous missed opportunity, but here we are. This isn’t a remake of the very fetch original, exactly, but instead an adaptation of the stage musical based on that 2004 classic (not that you’d know it from the trailer). Tina Fey reprises her role as Ms. Norbury, and also wrote the screenplay (as she wrote the book for the musical). Angourie Rice (Mare of Easttown) takes the lead as Cady Herron, and how about that mother/daughter casting for Regina (Reneé Rapp) and her mom (Busy Phillips)?
Where to see it: In theaters
Joined by Kibwe Tavares, Oscar-winner Daniel Kaluuya writes and directs this dystopian sci-fi drama set in the titular Kitchen, a London housing block. The community there refuses to surrender its home, even in a world where social housing has been eliminated. The film already picked up some very solid reviews at the recent BFI London Film Festival.
Where to see it: Netflix
Director Matthew Vaughan, best known for those Kingman movies, looks to be working in a similar vein with Argylle, which stars Bryce Dallas Howard as a spy novelist who accidentally freaks out an underground syndicate when her book’s plot comes a little too close to their criminal reality. Henry Cavill shows up to save her, maybe, while plunging her (and her cat) into real danger. Vaughan seems to have a way with these things, and the cast is stacked (Howard and Cavill are joined by Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Ariana DeBose, Catherine O’Hara, and Samuel L. Jackson), so it could be a lot of fun.
Where to see it: In theaters
Charlie Kauffman (Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) wrote this delightful-sounding animated film about the title kid…who’s afraid of pretty much everything (relatable). He’s particularly afraid of the dark but, fortunately, the Dark (being a literal personification) isn’t afraid of him, and Orion gets taken on a journey that helps him overcome some of his own fears. I mean, presumably.
Where to see it: Netflix
I’m getting Jennifer’s Body vibes from writer Diablo Cody’s latest, what looks to be a stylish horror comedy starring Kathryn Newton as the teenage goth girl, circa 1989, who sets off on a murderous adventure with her true love: a handsome Victorian-era corpse (Cole Sprouse) that she reanimates using an old tanning bed. Zelda Williams makes her feature directorial debut.
Where to see it: In theaters
Dakota Johnson stars in this Spider-Man spin-off about a clairvoyant paramedic (Dakota Johnson) who gets into the business of rescuing three young women from a mysterious adversary (Tahar Rahim). Director S. J. Clarkson is making her feature film debut, but this one might have an uphill battle, especially as a (kinda) follow-up to last year’s Morbius. On the other hand, the Venom movies were surprise hits, so who the hell knows.
Where to see it: In theaters
This latest from director Ethan Coen, of Coen brothers fame ( and joined by Tricia Cooke on the screenplay) has been gestating for a long time (it was originally announced way back in 2007), but I’m not sure that’s much reason for concern. Free-spirited Jamie (Margaret Qualley) has just broken up with her girlfriend, and invites her more demure pal Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan) on a roadtrip to Tallahassee (yay?). Given that we’re in a Coen movie, you won’t be surprised to learn that the two run across some desperately inept criminals and find themselves in the middle of a caper with comedic undertones. Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, Bill Camp, and Matt Damon round out the impressive cast.
Where to see it: In theaters
The first Dune did very respectable box office business (considering that whole global pandemic thing) while also taking home six Academy Awards out of ten nominations (including one for Best Picture, which it did not win). Director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049) is one of our more reliable modern directors of science fiction, so there’s no reason to believe he’s going to let us down with this one. The studio has already greenlit a followup (Dune: Messiah), so there seems to be plenty of confidence on their end.
Where to see it: In theaters
The consistently much-better-than-it-sounds Kung Fu Panda series has been absent for the last eight years, but is finally returning with a new story involving Jack Black’s Po setting off on a journey to find a new Dragon Warrior to succeed him. Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston, and Ian McShane are back from the earlier films, joined by Awkwafina, Viola Davis, and Ke Huy Quan.
Where to see it: In theaters
Millie Bobby Brown plays the titular damsel, who agrees to marry a handsome prince…only to discover that it’s a trap, and she’s meant to be sacrificed to a dragon to satisfy an ancient debt. As you might guess, Elodie (our distressed damsel) is far more resourceful than her would-be in-laws would have guessed. Angela Bassett, Robin Wright, and Shohreh Aghdashloo round out the cast of this action fantasy, which looks like it could be a lot of fun.
Where to see it: Netflix
Stuffed animals are creepy, for sure, and so are kids, so this latest from Blumhouse might be just the thing. DeWanda Wise stars as a woman who discovers that her stepdaughter is getting increasingly disturbing instructions from the teddy bear she finds abandoned in the basement of their new home.
Where to see it: In theaters
Afterlife was a bit of a mixed bag, wading a little too deep into nostalgic waters to feel like it had anything new to say on the topic of bustin’ ghosts. Hopefully this followup has more going on. Carrie Coon, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, and Paul Rudd are back from the previous film,, joined by Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, and the surviving O.G. Ghostbusters.
Where to see it: In theaters
Bong Joon-ho is following up the brilliant Parasite with this science fiction thriller, based on a 2022 bestselling novel from Edward Ashton. Robert Pattinson stars as an entirely disposable employee sent to colonize the ice world of Niflheim. When he dies, a new body is generated with most of the original’s memories intact. Sounds like a recipe for existential horror. Bong has yet to disappoint.
Where to see it: In theaters
The American Godzilla films have been pretty good, mostly, but director Adam Wingard’s 2021 Godzilla vs. Kong was the best of the lot: an imaginative action spectacle that wasn’t afraid to get weird, and even a little goofy. Wingard is back for the followup which sees, apparently, Godzilla and Kong team-up against “a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world.” Why not?
Where to see it: In theaters
Though Zack Snyder has rather ominously hinted at his plans for Rebel Moon to become a massive multimedia franchise, we’re entitled, for just the moment, to enjoy his new space opera as a two-film series (the first part arrives in time for Christmas 2023). Sofia Boutella plays Kora, a former member of the impressive Imperium government who goes rogue to challenge the central authority on Motherworld.
Where to see it: Netflix
Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name) directs this rom-com (well, technically, it’s billed as a “romantic sports comedy drama,” but considering the director’s last film was a rom-com about cannibal teens, anything goes) starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist as three tennis pros who get involved in a fraught love triangle.
Where to see it: In theaters
Do we need another reboot of an ’80s-era action series? Not so much (and Airwolf is sitting right there!). Still, hear me out: David Leitch co-directed John Wick, and went solo on Atomic Blonde, so the action bonafides are legit. Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt head the cast.
Where to see it: In theaters
John Krasinski wrote, directed, and co-stars in this blend of live-action and animation about a kid (Cailey Fleming) who can communicate with the imaginary friends that other children have left behind. She soon discovers that her neighbor (Ryan Reynolds) has the same ability. Naturally, there’s an all-star voice cast (Steve Carrell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., etc.). Sounds cute, though try not to get it confused with Imaginary, the Blumhouse horror movie with a not-entirely-dissimilar premise.
Where to see it: In theaters
George Miller is back again for his fifth Mad Max film, after then-70-year-old director showed the kids how it’s done with Fury Road, one of the most impressive (and deranged) movie action spectacles ever. This one drops the Mad Max character entirely in favor of a focus on a younger version of Charlize Theron’s Furiosa, now played by Anna Taylor-Joy. There’s a plot as well I’m sure.
Where to see it: In theaters
One of our boldest modern action franchises stuck the landing with 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes, concluding the saga of Andy Serkis’ Caesar with poignance, an abiding grimness, and an impressive willingness to challenge. This fourth movie, set generations later, will have to work hard to justify its existence given all of that…but the series has more than earned the goodwill.
Where to see it: In theaters
The first movie in the series made a splash by being an uncharacteristically quiet theatrical experience, dropping us in a world of blind aliens who attack at the slightest sound. The second film added a flashback sequence at the beginning that injected a little extra noise into the series by taking us back to the early moments of the invasion, back before everyone knew to be quiet. This prequel follows new characters, mostly (Djimon Hounsou returns from Part II) in the earliest days of the invasion, presumably before everyone knew to shut the hell up. Michael Sarnoski (Pig) takes over the directing duties, with Lupita Nyong’o starring.
Where to see it: In theaters
The 1996 Helen Hunt/Bill Paxton film was a big success, though I’m not sure that audiences are clamoring for a sequel/reboot nearly 30 years later; among the cast, led by Daisy Edgar-Jones, there are no connections to the original. Still, an old-school disaster movie (if that’s what this is) might be just the thing and, given a $200m budget, it should be a decent spectacle, at least.
Where to see it: In theaters
As if by some miracle, there’s only one Marvel Studios movie coming out in 2024 (the Spider-Man stuff comes from Sony), and it’s this third Deadpool movie, co-starring Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine from the now defunct 20th Century X-Men series. The two Deadpool movies did the best business of any of those movies, but now Disney/Marvel has the R-rated Ryan Reynolds character back in house. It’ll be interesting to see if the irreverent, ultra-violent character can survive the transition.
Where to see it: In theaters
Fresh off of Thanksgiving, Eli Roth is tackling an adaptation of the very popular video game series; Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Bobby Lee and Jamie Lee Curtis star. The movie’s seen some delays, which may or may not mean anything when it comes to the finished product (it’s not like there hasn’t been a lot going on in the last couple of years).
Where to see it: In theaters
Not much is known about the plot of this new standalone Alien film, except that it maybe/probably takes place between the original film and its 1986 followup. Do we need it? Probably now, but director Fede Álvarez (Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe) has a solid horror pedigree, and it might be nice to see the series movie in a direction that’s a little less sci-fi cerebral and more straight-up grisly.
Where to see it: In theaters
Though he’s still capable of drumming up business at the box office, there’s no question the Tim Burton house style had gotten a little stale over the decades. This return to his golden age, and one of his very best films, might be nothing more than a reminder of glories past…or, just maybe, it could be the perfect vehicle for the director’s potential return to form. Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara all return from the first (what, no Dick Cavett?), joined by Jenna Ortega, Monica Belluci, and Willem Dafoe.
Where to see it: In theaters
People really liked Joker (which is all I’ll say on the movie’s success as anything other than a Scorsese pastiche): it made over a billion dollars and received 11 Academy Award nominations. Joaquin Phoenix, who won Best Actor that year, is back with director Todd Phillips joined by Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn…which is so absolutely wild.
Where to see it: In theaters
Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) returns! The 2022 second movie made headlines when viewers were allegedly puking and passing out at screenings, so impressive were the film’s gore effects. It was filmed for practically nothing, and made a ton of money. Part three, though coming out just in time for Halloween, is to be set during Christmas, so we might have a new festive horror favorite on our hands.
Where to see it: In theaters
Ridley Scott’s Gladiator was a massive box office and critical hit, taking home the Academy Award for Best Picture. That was roughly 2,000 years ago, though, so the question becomes: is there any life left in the whole gladiator thing, especially since the lead character won’t be returning (for reasons that will be very clear to anyone who saw that movie). Instead, Paul Mescal takes over the Spencer Treat Clark role of imperial cast-off Lucius Verus. I’d love to see the historical epic make a legit comeback, but this one definitely faces an uphill battle.
Where to see it: In theaters
Jon M. Chu directed Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights back-to-back, so seems well positioned to being the Broadway sensation to life—and this is the one that retells The Wizard of Oz from the point of view of the Wicked Witch. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande take on the roles originally named by Irina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, while Jeff Goldblum plays the Wizard. The only downside: This movie will only cover half of the show, with the remainder following in 2025.
Where to see it: In theaters
This placement seems ambitions, given that stars Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio only just started a casting call for a new kid to do some karate. Still, Cobra Kai was the biggest surprise success of the nostalgia wave that crested over the last few years, and has proven that the franchise has some surprising juice left in it. Macchio is, of course, from the mainline Karate Kid/Cobra Kai continuity, while Jackie Chan starred in the 2010 reboot. Not much is known about the new movie, including whether it will follow from Cobra Kai, or be its own thing in some sort of martial arts multiverse.
Where to see it: In theaters
Source: LifeHacker – 33 Must-See 2024 Movies to Add to Your Watchlist
Enlarge (credit: John Timmer)
The arrival of e-bikes has blurred the lines between bicycles, mopeds, and scooters. Depending on what country or state you’re in, some e-bikes can legally hit 45 km/hour (28 mph), yet they don’t require a license, registration, or insurance, unlike their competitors. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on whether the bike riders in your area ride like lunatics or not.
Regardless of how you feel about the state of things, it’s definitely true that most e-bikes are relatively bike-like compared to mopeds and scooters, lacking things like brake lights, directionals, and other components that make navigating in urban environments a bit safer. Most, but not all. Heybike offers a number of scooter-substitute e-bikes that come with a powered horn, brake lights, directionals, and a zippy motor. As a bonus, they’re foldable. We checked out its latest model, the $1,499 Ranger S.
Let’s address one thing right away: In our review of the Ranger S’s sibling (the Tyson), we ran into a number of mechanical problems that threatened to make the bike unusable. The only real issue we saw on the Ranger S was a rapidly fluctuating reading of battery capacity. Otherwise, the bike was solid.
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Source: Ars Technica – With the Heybike Ranger S, the S stands for scooter
The holiday shopping season is reaching the home stretch, but we’re here to help if you’re looking for a good deal on a last-minute tech gift. The Xbox Series X, for one, is back on sale at several retailers. Walmart has the game console down to an all-time low of $349, but if stock runs dry there, you can still grab it for $399 at Microsoft, Amazon and other stores. Beyond that, a four-pack of Apple’s AirTag trackers is $19 off, the latest AirPods Pro are $50 off and a number of Sonos devices are discounted as part of a big holiday sale. We’re also seeing price drops on recommended gaming laptops, MacBooks, tablets, microSD cards and more. Here are the best deals from this week that you can still buy today. Just be aware that not everything may ship in time for Christmas.
The Xbox Series X is available for $349 at Walmart at the time of writing, though stock appears to be spotty. If that deal runs out for good, a bundle that pairs the beefy game console with the action-RPG Diablo IV is down to $399 at Microsoft. That’s $160 less than the usual cost of buying each separately. Amazon, GameStop and others have the console alone for $399 as well. While the Series X remains a bit light on must-play exclusives, the Xbox library includes a diverse collection of games we like, from blockbusters like Forza Horizon 5 to quirkier hits like Hi-Fi Rush to smaller-scale gems like Pentiment. The hardware itself is powerful enough to play games at a steady 4K/60 fps, with some titles capable of reaching higher frame rates. Unlike the less powerful Xbox Series S — which is $60 off itself — it also includes a disc drive. There’s at least some chance we see a Series X refresh in 2024, but the current machine is an easier sell when it’s discounted to this extent.
A four-pack of Apple’s AirTags is back down to $80 at Amazon, Walmart and other retailers. That’s about $9 off its usual street price and $19 less than buying from Apple directly. The AirTag is the “best for iPhones” pick in our Bluetooth tracker buying guide, as its ultra-wideband wireless tech and ability to tap into Apple’s Find My device network make it particularly convenient for locating lost items. Its battery is easily replaceable, too, plus it’s water-resistant. It lacks any built-in adhesive or keyring hole, however, so you’ll need to buy an extra accessory if you want to attach it to an item.
The USB-C version of Apple’s AirPods Pro is once again on sale for $200 at Amazon and Best Buy. We saw these noise-canceling earphones fall $10 cheaper during Black Friday, but this is still $20 below their average street price and $49 below Apple’s list price. The AirPods Pro continues to offer effective active noise cancellation, pleasingly warm sound and a host of Apple-device-specific conveniences, which is why they’re the “best for iOS” pick in our guide to the best wireless earbuds. Note, however, that Apple started selling this model’s USB-C charging case on its own earlier this week, so if you’re sitting on a Lightning-based pair and want to make the conversion, you can now do so without having to buy a whole new set.
You can get a $10 Amazon.com credit for no extra cost when you buy a digital Apple gift card worth $100 or more. Just use the code HOLAPP at checkout. If you’d rather shop at Target, that retailer is offering a $10 Target gift card alongside the same purchase until December 16. As a refresher, you can put an Apple gift card toward services like Apple Music and iCloud, App Store credit and purchases at Apple.com or Apple retail stores. We see promos like this periodically, but any bit of bonus money should be welcome if you often shop at these stores anyway.
Sonos is running a holiday sale that brings many of its smart speakers, soundbars and home theater devices back to the prices we saw on Black Friday. The flagship Sonos Arc soundbar is $180 off at $719, for one, while the mid-range Sonos Beam and budget-level Sonos Ray are down to $399 and $223, respectively. All three are picks in our soundbar buying guide. Beyond that, the Sonos Era 100 is $50 off at $199 — with a two-pack discounted by $120 — while the larger Sonos Five is $110 off at $439. Both of those make our guide to the best smart speakers. Other devices like the Sonos Sub, Sub Mini and Roam are also cheaper than usual.
All Sonos speakers generally provide the same perks: clean sound quality relative to other devices in their price range, easy pairing with other Sonos speakers, uncomplicated setups, AirPlay support and access to various streaming services through the Sonos app. They aren’t cheap, and their connectivity can be limited, but they should suit most people looking to build a multi-room audio system. Just note that new Arc, Roam and other devices could arrive in 2024, according to a recent Bloomberg report.
The Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is back on sale for $60, which is $5 more than its all-time low but $40 off Amazon’s list price. That price applies to the model with 32GB of storage; if you want more space (and don’t have a microSD card), the 64GB model is available for a low of $70. The Fire HD 8 is far from an iPad in terms of performance and app support, but it may be the cheapest competent tablet for most people. It’s light, it lasts 10 or so hours on a charge and it’s quick enough for basic web browsing and video streaming. Amazon’s Fire OS still includes lock screen ads and heavily pushes the company’s own services, but it’s hard to do better at this price.
The 10.1-inch Fire HD 10 is also $50 off and down to $90, which is a $10 more than its Black Friday price. That one has the same software issues, but it’s faster than the Fire HD 8 and features a sharper 1080p display.
If you’d prefer a more premium Android slate, the Google Pixel Tablet is discounted to $399 at Amazon, Best Buy and others. We’ve seen this deal pop up a few times over the last month, but it matches the lowest price we’ve tracked. The Pixel Tablet earned a score of 85 in our review earlier this year. It’s a perfectly solid 11-inch tablet in its own right, but what sets it apart is its included charging speaker dock. Pop the tablet onto that and it’ll function like a pseudo-smart display. It’s not the exact same as a Nest Hub Max, but you can use it to control smart home devices, stream music, display photos and the like. This discounted model includes 128GB of storage, but the 256GB version is also $100 off and available for $499.
A 6.56-foot strip of the Govee LED Strip Light M1 is on sale for $40, which matches the lowest price we’ve seen. Normally, it retails around $60. We recommend the Strip Light M1 in our smart lights buying guide. It’s simple to set up and delivers impressively bright colors to any area of the house where you’d like to add ambient lighting. You can apply different effects to separate parts of the strip through Govee’s app, plus it’s compatible with the Matter smart home standard. It can be an eyesore when it’s not lit up, however, so you may not want to stick it out in the open.
The 256GB version of Samsung’s Evo Select microSD card is still on sale for $15, which is within 60 cents of the lowest price we’ve seen. Normally, it retails around $18. The Evo Select is the “best value” recommendation in our microSD card buying guide: It’s not as fast as our top picks, but it’s quick enough for most tasks — expanding a Nintendo Switch’s storage, for instance — and it provides a better cost-per-gigabyte ratio than most cards.
If you’re looking to stock up on a few new PC games, the Epic Games Store has kicked off its latest Holiday Sale. The key here is the Epic Coupon, which takes 33 percent off most games in the store as long as your cart totals $14.99 or more. The coupon will renew after each use, and you can apply it to games that are already discounted as part of the sale. This brings several new-ish titles down to the lowest prices we’ve tracked: The acclaimed survival horror game Alan Wake 2 is down to $27 with the coupon, for instance, while the shooter Remnant II and the action game Star Wars Jedi: Survivor can be had for lows of $20 and $23, respectively. Others like The Last of Us Part I, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Mortal Kombat 1 are also down to all-time lows. Epic says the sale will run until January 10.
A version of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with a small Olive Alpine Loop is available for $699 at Amazon with a clippable coupon. That ties the lowest price we’ve tracked and takes $100 off Apple’s MSRP. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 puts all the software benefits of the Series 9 in a more rugged design with a bigger and brighter display, twice the rated battery life and a customizable “Action Button” that you can use to quickly start a task. It also offers better waterproofing, more accurate GPS, a depth sensor and a loud siren for emergency SOS purposes. It is entirely too much smartwatch for most people, but this price makes it a little more appealing for endurance athletes with money to burn.
A variant of the 15.3-inch MacBook Air with an Apple M2 chip, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD is available for $1,449 at Amazon and Best Buy. That’s $250 off Apple’s list price and the best price we’ve seen outside of a couple of special offers for My Best Buy Plus members. We gave the 15-inch Air a review score of 96 in June and currently recommend it in our laptop buying guide. The M2 chip remains plenty fast for everyday tasks, and the chassis is still supremely well-built, with a crisp display, comfortable keyboard, reliable touchpad, long-lasting battery and lively speakers.
We recommend starting with 16GB of memory, but if you really need to save cash, configs of the 13- and 15-inch Air with less RAM and storage are also $200 to $250 off. You should only buy this if you need a new laptop right now, though; according to a report from reliable Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple plans to roll out updated MacBook Airs with its new M3 chip in a few months, potentially in March.
Best Buy has a configuration of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 with an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU on sale for $1,100. That’s the lowest price we’ve tracked and $100 less than the deal we saw on Black Friday. This model also includes a 14-inch display with a 1440p resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate. The ROG Zephyrus G14 is the top pick in our guide to the best gaming laptops: This config is plenty capable for playing modern AAA games but, at 3.6 pounds, it’s not a complete anchor to carry around. A solid keyboard and trackpad help, too, though the 720p webcam could be sharper and there’s a good bit of bloatware installed by default. The 512GB SSD isn’t especially large either, though you can upgrade the storage if needed.
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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-xbox-series-x-is-discounted-again-plus-the-rest-of-the-weeks-best-tech-deals-172230913.html?src=rss
Source: Engadget – The Xbox Series X is discounted again, plus the rest of the week’s best tech deals
