Monthly Archives: September 2024

Twitch will do a better job of telling rulebreakers why their accounts were suspended

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TwitchCon San Diego is taking place this weekend and, as always, the platform had some news to share during the opening ceremony. For one thing, Twitch CEO Dan Clancy said the service will offer streamers and viewers who break the rules more clarity over why their accounts were suspended.

Soon, Twitch will share any chat excerpt that led to a suspension with the user in question via email and the appeals portal. Eventually, this will expand to clips, so streamers can see how they were deemed to have broken the rules on a livestream or VOD. "We want to give you this information so that you can see what you did, what policies were violated, and if you feel our decision was incorrect, you can appeal," Twitch wrote in a blog post.

The service is also aware that permanent strikes on an account can pose a problem for long-time streamers who may eventually get banned for a smaller slip up. To that end, Twitch is bringing in a strike expiration policy starting in early 2025. "Low-severity strikes will no longer put streamers’ livelihoods at risk, but we’ll still enforce the rules for major violations," Twitch said. "Plus, we’re adding more transparency by showing you exactly what led to a strike."

On the broadcasting front, viewers of streamers who are using Twitch's Enhanced Broadcasting feature will be able to watch streams in 2K starting early next year. This option will be available in select regions at first, with Twitch planning to expand it elsewhere throughout 2025. Also of note, Clancy said that "we're working on 4K."

Also coming in 2025 is the option for those using Enhanced Broadcasting to stream vertical and landscape video at the same time. The idea here is to offer viewers an optimal experience depending on which device they're using to watch streams.

Elsewhere, Twitch is planning some improvements to navigation in its overhauled mobile app, such as letting you access your Followed channels with a single swipe and prioritizing audio from the picture-in-picture player. Streamers will have access to a feature called Clip Carousel, which will highlight the best clips from their latest stream and make them easy to share on desktop and mobile. The platform says it'll be easier for viewers to create clips on mobile devices too.

In addition, Twitch will roll out a shared chat option in the Stream Together feature next week, allowing up to six creators who are streaming together to combine their chats. Streamers' mods will be able to moderate all of the messages in a shared chat and time out or ban anyone who crosses a line. Creators who hop on a Stream Together session can also turn off Shared Chat for their own community.

Last but not least, Twitch will expand its Unity Guilds and Creator Clubs. The idea behind both is to help streamers forge connections, learn from each other and grow with the help of Twitch staff. Over the last year, Twitch has opened up the Black Guild, Women’s Guild and Hispanic and Latin Guild, and it just announced a Pride Guild for the LGBTQIA+ community. All four guilds will expand to accept members from around the world next year.

Creator Clubs are a newer thing that Twitch debuted last month for the DJ and IRL categories. Twitch says that engagement has been higher than expected. Four more Creator Clubs are coming soon for the Artists/Makers, Music, VTubers and Coworking/Coding categories.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/twitch-will-do-a-better-job-of-telling-rulebreakers-why-their-accounts-were-suspended-191502111.html?src=rss

28 Years Later was partially shot on an iPhone 15 Pro Max

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Danny Boyle’s zombie sequel 28 Years Later was shot using several iPhone 15 Pro Max smartphones, according to a report by Wired. This makes it the biggest movie ever made using iPhones, as the budget was around $75 million.

There are some major caveats worth going over. First of all, the sourcing on the story is anonymous, as the film’s staff was required to sign an NDA. Also, the entire film wasn’t shot using last year’s high-end Apple smartphone. Engadget has confirmed that Boyle and his team used a bunch of different cameras, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max being just one tool.

Finally, it’s not like the director just plopped the smartphone on a tripod and called it a day. Each iPhone looks to have been adapted to integrate with full-frame DSLR lenses. Speaking of, those professional-grade lenses cost a small fortune. The phones were also nestled in protective cages.

Even if the phones weren’t exclusively used to make this movie, it’s still something of a full-circle moment for Boyle and his team. The original 28 Days Later was shot primarily on a prosumer-grade camcorder that cost $4,000 at the time. This camcorder recorded footage to MiniDV tapes.

28 Years Later is the third entry in the franchise and is due to hit theaters in June 2025. The film stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes and Cillian Murphy. This will be the first of three new films set in the universe of fast-moving rage zombies. Plot details are non-existent, but all three upcoming movies are being written by Alex Garland. He co-wrote the first one and has since gone on to direct genre fare like Ex Machina, Annihilation and, most recently, Civil War. He also made a truly underrated TV show called Devs.

As for the intersection of smartphones and Hollywood, several films have been shot with iPhones. These include Sean Baker’s Tangerine and Steven Soderbergh’s Unsane.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/28-years-later-was-partially-shot-on-an-iphone-15-pro-max-182036483.html?src=rss

Cards Against Humanity is suing SpaceX for trespassing and filling its property with ‘space garbage’

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Cards Against Humanity is the latest entity to take on Elon Musk in court. The irreverent party game company filed a $15 million lawsuit against SpaceX for trespassing on property it owns in Texas, which happens to sit near SpaceX facilities.

According to a lawsuit filed in a federal court in Texas, Musk's rocket company began using its land without permission for the last six months. SpaceX took what was previously a “pristine” plot of land “and completely fucked that land with gravel, tractors, and space garbage,” CAH wrote in a statement.

As you might expect from the card game company known for its raunchy sense of humor and headline-grabbing stunts, there’s an amusing backstory to how it became neighbors with SpaceX in Texas in the first place. In 2017, the company bought land along the US-Mexico border as part of a crowdfunded effort to protest then President Donald Trump’s plan to build a border wall. Since then, the company writes, it has maintained the land with regular mowing, fencing and “no trespassing” signs.

SpaceX later purchased adjacent land and, earlier this year, allegedly began using CAH’s land amid some kind of construction project. From the lawsuit (emphasis theirs):

The site was cleared of vegetation, and the soil was compacted with gravel or other substance to allow SpaceX and its contractors to run and park its vehicles all over the Property. Generators were brought in to run equipment and lights while work was being performed before and after daylight. An enormous mound of gravel was unloaded onto the Property; the gravel is being stored and used for the construction of buildings by SpaceX’s contractors along the road. Large pieces of construction equipment and numerous construction-related vehicles are utilized and stored on the Property continuously. And, of course, workers are present performing construction work and staging materials and vehicles for work to be performed on other tracts. In short, SpaceX has treated the Property as its own for at least six (6) months without regard for CAH’s property rights nor the safety of anyone entering what has become a worksite that is presumably governed by OSHA safety requirements.

SpaceX, according to the filing, “never asked for permission” to use the land and “and hasnever reached out to CAH to explain or apologize for the damage.” The rocket company did, however, give “a 12-hour ultimatum to accept a lowball offer for less than half our land’s value,” according to a statement posted online. A spokesperson for CAH said the land in question is “about an acre” in size.

What CAH's Texas land looked like prior to SpaceX's alleged trespassing.
What CAH's Texas land looked like prior to SpaceX's alleged trespassing.
Christopher Markos / Cards Against Humanity

In response to the ultimatum, CAH filed a $15 million lawsuit against SpaceX for trespassing and damaging its property. The game company, which originally was funded via a Kickstarter campaign, says that if it’s successful in court it will share the proceeds with the 150,000 fans who helped originally purchase the land in 2017. It created a website where subscribers can sign-up for a chance to get up to $100 of the potential $15 million payout should their lawsuit succeed. (A disclaimer notes that “Elon Musk has way more money and lawyers than Cards Against Humanity, and while CAH will try its hardest to get me $100, they will probably only be able to get me like $2 or most likely nothing.)

SpaceX didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. But CAH isn’t the only Texas landowner that's raised questions about the company’s tactics. SpaceX has been aggressively growing its footprint in Southern Texas in recent years. The expansion, which has resulted in many locals selling their land to SpaceX, has rankled some longtime residents, according to an investigation published by Reuters.

CAH says that Musk’s past behavior makes SpaceX’s actions “particularly offensive" to the company known for taking a stance on social issues. 

“The 2017 holiday campaign that resulted in the purchase of the Property was based upon CAH undertaking efforts to fight against ‘injustice, lies, [and] racism,” it states. “Thus, it is particularly offensive that these egregious acts against the Property have been committed by the company run by Elon Musk. As is widely known, Musk has been accused of tolerating racism and sexism at Tesla and of amplifying the antisemitic ‘Great Replacement Theory.’ Allowing Musk’s company to abuse the Property that CAH’s supporters contributed money to purchase for the sole purpose of stopping such behavior is totally contrary to both the reason for the contribution and the tenets on which CAH is based.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/cards-against-humanity-is-suing-spacex-for-trespassing-and-filling-its-property-with-space-garbage-181828453.html?src=rss

A PS5 system update squashes those pesky Final Fantasy XVI bugs

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Sony pushed a PS5 system update on Friday that Square Enix says is a response to Final Fantasy XVI bugs created by the console’s last firmware update. The publisher addressed the update on X (Twitter). “In response to the crashes and graphical bugs that were occurring on the PlayStation5 version of Final Fantasy XVI, [Sony Interactive Entertainment] have released a new system update,” the account posted. “Please try downloading and installing this update.”

Before today’s alleged fix, users reported that last week’s PS5 system update (24.06-10.00.00) triggered Final Fantasy XVI crashes while loading saves or fast-traveling. It could also add annoying black squares obstructing the in-game camera.

Sony has kept things vague, only describing the update with the alleged fix (24.06-10.01.00) as improving “system software performance and stability.” Earlier this week, IGN reported similar bugs in Star Wars Outlaws, Death Stranding and No Man’s Sky. It isn’t yet clear if the update fixes those games’ glitches.

Users on Reddit claimed today’s update has fixed the problems with Final Fantasy XVI. “Played for an hour post update with no issues,” u/AdSweaty411 wrote. “Yup no issues so far,” Redditor u/Icy-Confection-312 added. (We’ll update this story if any additional bug reports arise.)

You can update your PS5 by heading to Settings > System, then System Software > System Software Update and Settings. After the update appears, choose Update System Software. If you don’t see the available update (and haven’t already installed it), restart your console and try again.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/a-ps5-system-update-squashes-those-pesky-final-fantasy-xvi-bugs-175832092.html?src=rss

Juicy Booth lets you have a cathartic, multi-sensory confessional session

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One of the hardest emotions for people to deal with is shame. We are afraid to admit it, confront it, and figure out a way to live with it. The healthiest way would be to talk to someone especially professionals. But if you’re not yet ready to take that step and you’re in London until December, there’s a pretty interesting art installation that may help you have a cathartic experience with your secret shame.

Designer: Annie Frost Nicholson

The Juicy Booth is an installation at the Coal Drops Yard as part of London Design Week which lets people have a 10-minute multi-media confessional session. Created in collaboration with K67 Berlin (a company that restores historical K67 booths) and The Loss Project (a social enterprise that creates spaces for communities to deal with grief and loss), artist Annie Frost Nicholson wanted to have a space for people to release their shame and have a quick healing session through colour, light, and music.

When you enter the booth, a refurbished K67 booth, you’ll see a retro 80’s keyboard where you can type out the thing that you’re currently ashamed of. Your confession will be spelled out on an LED monitor for your eyes only of course (unless you brought someone in with you there). Based on what particular emotion you’re dealing with, the system maps it out with their “carefully conceived colour spectrum”. You then get a light and sound show that will hopefully take you on a cathartic journey.

The whole experience will take you just 10 minutes but hopefully that is enough to start you on a journey to healing. You will also get to scan and access additional resources that can support you after your Juicy Booth session. The installation will be there until December 9 so if you have the chance to visit it and have a mini-confessional session, go ahead and do it.

The post Juicy Booth lets you have a cathartic, multi-sensory confessional session first appeared on Yanko Design.

Here’s what a TV show based on Untitled Goose Game could have been like

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Cast your mind back to 2019, when many people were captivated by the idea of terrorizing a quaint English village as a loud, annoying goose. Untitled Goose Game was an absolute delight, but it was fairly short and left me wanting more. In another universe, a TV adaptation would have happened already. While that didn't quite pan out here, we do have a funny proof-of-concept to enjoy.

House House, the game's developer, released a "proof-of-concept for a hypothetical Untitled Goose Programme" on its YouTube channel on Friday. The studio created the short with Playdate maker and Untitled Goose Game publisher Panic and animation house Chromosphere Studio. It's a great four-minute clip that's well worth your time. It shows a goose bullying a journalist and groundskeeper during a TV interview. The art style is lovely, the Wallace and Gromit-esque humor is on point and the goose is just as much of a jerk as the one in the game.

Sadly, House House says that the show didn't gain traction and those involved put the idea on the shelf. But at least we get this very amusing video out of it. If nothing else, it reminded me that I need to play the Panic-published Thank Goodness You're Here, which seems similarly silly.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/heres-what-a-tv-show-based-on-untitled-goose-game-could-have-been-like-165116660.html?src=rss

Elgato’s Stream Deck+ drops to a record low of $170 in this early Prime Day deal

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You can save big today on the Elgato Stream Deck+ with $30 off the control panel on Amazon. Great for streamers or anyone who wants tactile shortcuts and dials for their workflow, the Stream Deck+ drops from its usual $200 to $170 with a discount and a clickable coupon.

Although the Stream Deck+ sacrifices some buttons compared to the cheaper Stream Deck MK.2, this model makes up for it with four dials and a touch strip. Each dial is customizable and clickable, allowing you to layer different dial shortcuts with each press inward. You can twist them to adjust things like volume, smart lights and in-game settings.

Its eight buttons are backlit and fully customizable. Streamers can use the Stream Deck desktop app to assign functions for things like muting mics, activating effects or triggering transitions. But you don’t need to be a YouTuber or Twitch streamer for it to be helpful. For example, I’m neither and use a Stream Deck daily to toggle preset macOS window arrangements through the third-party app Moom. It’s also handy for text expansion shortcuts or emojis.

The 4.2 x 0.5-inch touch strip displays labels and levels for each knob, giving you a clear visual cue about what you’re controlling with each twist. The touch-sensitive bar also supports custom long presses and page swipes.

Amazon’s sale covers both the black and white Stream Deck+ models. Make sure you click on the $10 coupon box on the product page to bring it down to $170.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/elgatos-stream-deck-drops-to-a-record-low-of-170-in-this-early-prime-day-deal-163729012.html?src=rss

Microsoft plans to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear plant that narrowly avoided disaster

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Microsoft is in the midst of a deal that would bring the infamous Three Mile Island nuclear power plant back to life, according to reporting by The Washington Post. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because the Pennsylvania plant was home to a partial meltdown of one of its reactors back in 1979.

The deal would make Microsoft the plant’s sole customer for 20 years, meaning it’ll hoover up 100 percent of the power all for itself. Why does the company need so much juice? You can guess. It’s for AI, which is notoriously power hungry. Look, if it takes an entire nuclear power plant so we can ask Bing to whip up an image of Steve Urkel in space riding a skateboard, then we gotta do it. It’s the future… or whatever.

Let’s break it down further. If this deal is approved by regulators, Three Mile Island will provide Microsoft with enough energy to power 800,000 homes. Again, no homes will be getting that energy, but don’t worry. Microsoft will be able to hold a live streaming event to show off some ghoulish new AI video generation tools or something.

I know I’m coming off as a real troglodyte here, but there is a silver lining. This could help Microsoft meet its pledge to power AI development with zero emissions electricity. It’s not as if these companies would give up on AI if there wasn’t a decommissioned nuclear power plant sitting around, so this move could help alleviate some of the strain that’s already being placed on our power grid due to ye olde artificial intelligence.

If approved, this would be a first-of-its-kind deal for a couple of reasons. A commercial power plant has never worked exclusively for one client before. It’ll also be the very first time a decommissioned power plant has come back online. It’s worth noting that the plant shut down five years ago for economic reasons, which has nothing to do with the partial meltdown from 1979. The current plan is for it to resume operations by 2028.

“The energy industry cannot be the reason China or Russia beats us in AI,” said Joseph Dominguez, chief executive of Constellation, the company that owns the plant. I’d take his jingoistic language with a grain of salt, however, as Constellation stands to make an absolute boatload of cash from this deal.

Let’s do some math. Yearly profits from a nuclear power plant averages $470 million. Microsoft will be the exclusive buyer of this energy for 20 years, which totals $9.4 billion. Constellation is spending $1.6 billion to get the plant going again, along with federal subsidies and tax breaks provided by the Inflation Recovery Act. This leaves $7.8 billion in sweet, sweet profit. That’s just a guesstimate, but you get the gist. The company does promise $1 million in "philanthropic giving to the region" over the next five years. That's $200,000 a year.  

This isn’t a done deal. There are many regulatory hurdles that Constellation will have to jump over. This includes intensive safety inspections from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has never authorized a plant reopening. There’s also likely to be an inquiry into those aforementioned tax breaks, as all of the energy is going to one private company and not serving entire communities. But come on. Steve Urkel on a skateboard in space.

On the plus side, Constellation will need around 600 employees to run the plant, according to the New York Times. Jobs are good. Also, the company says it won’t be seeking any additional subsidies from Pennsylvania. The Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan is also looking to reopen for business, but it plans on servicing the local grid and not the gaping maw of AI. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/microsoft-plans-to-restart-the-three-mile-island-nuclear-plant-that-narrowly-avoided-disaster-161256442.html?src=rss

Starbucks Japan lets you put a barista apron on customizable tumblers

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Whenever I see the latest Starbucks merch that drops in Japan, I kind of regret not living there so I can get easy access to these cute collectibles. Eventually they become available in various online stores in my country but they’re more expensive of course, even for a semi-collector like me. The Starbucks Japan online store is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and they released a customizable tumbler that you can customize and make look like a cute inanimate barista.

Designer: Starbucks

The My Custom Stainless Steel Bottle Barista is an online store exclusive product that you can customize and order with a possible 343 combinations. When you take a look at the basic tumbler, it just looks like any other regular tumbler but the joy comes in creating one according to your color preference and then dressing it up with other accessories to make it more like you. This is supposedly like how you would customize your drink if you’re that kind of Starbucks drinker.

When you place your order online, you can choose what color your cap, drinking rim, and bottle will be. There are seven color options – black, white, light green, green, pink, blue, and gradated pink-yellow. But the cutest customization here is that you can dress up the tumbler in a barista apron in its iconic green color. The apron is not just decorative but also functional as it can help you hold your drink if it’s too warm or too cold. There’s also a pocket where you can place notes, cards, or the beverage ticket that comes with your online order that lets you enjoy a free refill when you go to your Starbucks.

They also want you to add even more personalized touches to your tumbler like ribbons, patches, pins, and stickers, although they don’t seem to be selling things like that. Maybe they’ll do so eventually, like how Crocs sells things like Jibbitz charms. I’m still hoping someone from Japan will send me one of these cool steel bottles, no matter what the color combinations are.

The post Starbucks Japan lets you put a barista apron on customizable tumblers first appeared on Yanko Design.