Month: January 2024
Bryce Dallas Howard weighs in on those ‘Argylle’ Taylor Swift theories
Bryce Dallas Howard appeared on “The Tonight Show” and addressed the theory that Taylor Swift wrote “Argylle”.
In case you’ve missed it, there’s been a growing theory online that Taylor Swift could actually be the mysterious author behind the source material for upcoming spy film Argylle.
There’s all sorts of evidence for this, from certain moments in Swift’s “All Too Well” that connect with the movie to the fact Argylle‘s author – Elly Conway – doesn’t appear to have a real online identity. Appearing on The Tonight Show on Tuesday, however, Argylle star Bryce Dallas Howard took a moment to debunk the rumours.
“[Director Matthew Vaughn] must have been subconsciously influenced in some way, shape or form, but he had no idea of this rumour until his daughter ran into his room and was like, ‘Why didn’t you tell me that Taylor Swift wrote Argylle?’ says Howard. “The Swifties are such an incredibly supportive community – amazing, amazing, amazing – and it got to the point where I was reading these things and I was like, ‘Matthew, you haven’t told me the whole truth, man.'”
So, is Matthew Vaughn very good at keeping secrets, or is it all really just a rumour? At this point we may need the real Elly Conway to step forward to clear things up.
Insanely cool-looking Godzilla DLC comes to Minecraft
Minecraft, one of the most popular video games of all time, and with good reason has stayed the course for
The post Insanely cool-looking Godzilla DLC comes to Minecraft appeared first on ReadWrite.
Minecraft, one of the most popular video games of all time, and with good reason has stayed the course for well over a decade, survived a huge corporate takeover by Microsoft, and still continues to innovate, educate, and entertain in equal measure. But until now, it did not have Godzilla. Now it does, and that makes today a great day.
The King of Monsters, Gojira, Godzilla, or whatever you know him has appeared in almost 40 movies since his big-screen debut in 1954, even a few cartoon shows as well in the 80s, and now he is here, made out of blocks destroying our fabulous Minecraft cities – and only you and your friends have a hope of stopping him.
The Godzilla Minecraft DLC includes four adventures, all based on iconic Godzilla movies, and has been created by Japanese studio Team-KYO.
Up from the depth, 50 stories high
As well as the actual adventures it comes with a whole host of movie history and tributes as you start off, fittingly in a cinema, and from there choose which screening (adventure) you want to play.
There are various modes including one where you need to escape the rampaging reptile and another where you take control of Gojira himself and smash up the joint, in the best city-smashing escapade since Rampage in the arcades in the 1980s (google it),
You can unlock the DLC for yourself for 1510 Minecoins (tokens) (around $8).
If you are not a big fan of Godzilla you could always check out our story on this amazing Hogwarts mod for Minecraft, or even find the best prison games to play in Minecraft, but we think you should definitely check out the Godzilla video above before you make your mind up, as it is very cool indeed
The post Insanely cool-looking Godzilla DLC comes to Minecraft appeared first on ReadWrite.
Meta Rejected Efforts to Improve Children’s Safety, Documents Show
Lawmakers released internal emails detailing the company’s failed efforts to add staff to focus on the online safety of minors, hours before a hearing on the topic.
Lawmakers released internal emails detailing the company’s failed efforts to add staff to focus on the online safety of minors, hours before a hearing on the topic.
Google could be preparing a major Bluetooth upgrade for Android 15
Code hidden in the latest Android beta suggests that Bluetooth Auracast could make its debut in Android 15.
2024 should be the year of Android 15, if everything at Google runs on schedule, and the signs are that the upcoming successor to Android 14 is going to bring with it a significant boost in Bluetooth functionality.
As spotted by seasoned code digger Mishaal Rahman over at Android Authority, the latest beta version of Android 14 comes with numerous mentions of audio sharing. This code is hidden for now, but it’s ready and waiting to be utilized.
The code describes a new page within Android where you get a switch to toggle the sharing of audio, a QR code to let other people tune in, a list of nearby audio streams, and a button to change the Bluetooth device you’re listening on.
In other words, it sounds a lot like Bluetooth Auracast, the new-ish Bluetooth LE Audio standard that lets you wireless share audio streams with people around you. Think about sharing a podcast with a friend on a bus ride, for example, or listening to an album in sync with someone else while you’re at home.
A long time coming
The Pixel Buds Pro don’t support Auracast – but the next ones might (Image credit: TechRadar)
The clever part of Bluetooth Auracast is that it doesn’t rely on the normal pairing process, making it much easier to have several streams going at the same time on multiple devices. In theory, an unlimited number of devices can connect, making it suitable for public broadcasts at waiting rooms, gyms, bars, airports, and more.
Look back through the TechRadar archives and you’ll see that Bluetooth Auracast has been around for a while, though there are still only a relatively small number of products that actually have built-in support for it.
That could change if it becomes more prominently baked into Android 15. At the CES 2024 expo earlier this month, we got some hands-on time with the tech, and it clearly has a lot of potential in a range of different scenarios.
The chances are that Google will mention this as a key new feature of Android 15 when the early versions are announced in the coming months – and we’ve already heard how the software might include updates to how battery life is displayed and what you can do with the lock screen.
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iOS 17.4: Using Apple’s New Podcast Transcript Feature
In iOS 17.4, currently in beta, Apple is adding audio transcripts to the Podcasts app for iPhone, meaning you’ll be able to read along to your favorite podcasts as they are spoken.
Apple is adding support for auto-generated transcripts in its Podcasts app, offering users another way to enjoy podcast content rather than simply listening to what is being said.
If you’re familiar with lyrics in Apple Music, it’s very similar. When playing a podcast, simply tap the speech bubble icon at the bottom-left corner of the fullscreen media playback screen.
Tap the auto-generated transcript that appears to make it fill the screen. The transcript automatically scrolls and highlights the text currently being spoken as the episode plays, or you can scroll through the transcript manually, and even tap on a sentence to jump to that point in the podcast. Text selections can also be highlighted for copying and pasting elsewhere.
In addition, a Search button at the bottom of the screen lets you search the transcript for specific words or phrases and jump to that point in the transcript, where you can then tap to skip to the audio track.
Transcripts can also be accessed from the Up Next section in the Home tab. Simply press and hold a podcast episode to reveal the View Transcript option in the dropdown menu. And if you’re on the episode details page, tap the ellipsis (three dots) button top-right to reveal the same option.
As of writing, not all podcast episodes have transcripts right now, but Apple says that transcripts for back catalog episodes are being added over time. Transcripts are available in English, French, German, and Spanish, and podcast hosts also have the option to upload their own transcripts rather than using the automatically generated version.
The transcripts feature is coming as part of Apple’s iOS 17.4 update, which available to developers at the current time. Apple plans to release it to the public in March. Tag: Apple PodcastsThis article, “iOS 17.4: Using Apple’s New Podcast Transcript Feature” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
In iOS 17.4, currently in beta, Apple is adding audio transcripts to the Podcasts app for iPhone, meaning you’ll be able to read along to your favorite podcasts as they are spoken.
Apple is adding support for auto-generated transcripts in its Podcasts app, offering users another way to enjoy podcast content rather than simply listening to what is being said.
If you’re familiar with lyrics in Apple Music, it’s very similar. When playing a podcast, simply tap the speech bubble icon at the bottom-left corner of the fullscreen media playback screen.
Tap the auto-generated transcript that appears to make it fill the screen. The transcript automatically scrolls and highlights the text currently being spoken as the episode plays, or you can scroll through the transcript manually, and even tap on a sentence to jump to that point in the podcast. Text selections can also be highlighted for copying and pasting elsewhere.
In addition, a Search button at the bottom of the screen lets you search the transcript for specific words or phrases and jump to that point in the transcript, where you can then tap to skip to the audio track.
Transcripts can also be accessed from the Up Next section in the Home tab. Simply press and hold a podcast episode to reveal the View Transcript option in the dropdown menu. And if you’re on the episode details page, tap the ellipsis (three dots) button top-right to reveal the same option.
As of writing, not all podcast episodes have transcripts right now, but Apple says that transcripts for back catalog episodes are being added over time. Transcripts are available in English, French, German, and Spanish, and podcast hosts also have the option to upload their own transcripts rather than using the automatically generated version.
The transcripts feature is coming as part of Apple’s iOS 17.4 update, which available to developers at the current time. Apple plans to release it to the public in March.
This article, “iOS 17.4: Using Apple’s New Podcast Transcript Feature” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
ESA picks Germany’s Exolaunch for arctic weather satellite mission
The European Space Agency (ESA) has picked Germany’s Exolaunch to provide critical launch services for its Artic Weather Satellite (AWS), as the agency looks to outsource more of its space missions to private companies. Already built and currently undergoing testing in Germany, the AWS is expected to dramatically improve weather forecasts in the Arctic — a region that currently lacks data for accurate short-term forecasts. The microsatellite is due to launch in June this year aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The launcher will propel the AWS some 600 kilometres into the air, after which it will separate and begin…This story continues at The Next Web
The European Space Agency (ESA) has picked Germany’s Exolaunch to provide critical launch services for its Artic Weather Satellite (AWS), as the agency looks to outsource more of its space missions to private companies. Already built and currently undergoing testing in Germany, the AWS is expected to dramatically improve weather forecasts in the Arctic — a region that currently lacks data for accurate short-term forecasts. The microsatellite is due to launch in June this year aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The launcher will propel the AWS some 600 kilometres into the air, after which it will separate and begin…
This story continues at The Next Web
Fate/stay night Remastered announced, offering the cult classic visual novel in English for the first time
A remaster of Fate/stay night has been revealed, offering the game in English for the first time.
Developer Type-Moon has revealed Fate/stay night Remastered, a remaster of the first game in the long-running Fate series that sees it officially released in English for the first time.
Originally releasing on consoles as Fate/stay night Realta Nua for PlayStation 2 in 2007 (which was itself a significantly enhanced port of the even earlier PC game Fate/stay night) this remaster is based specifically on the later PlayStation Vita version of the title.
It is set to release on PC (via Steam) and Nintendo Switch later this year and will offer reworked HD visuals alongside official support for English and simplified Chinese languages for the first time.
For those not familiar with the Fate series, it follows battles between powerful magicians and their familiars over the Holy Grail. Each entry in the series takes place in a parallel world, with elements inspired by various mythological figures. In addition to video games, the franchise has received countless popular anime series and films in addition to plenty of manga adaptations.
This upcoming remaster will offer players the chance to see where the franchise originally began. The developer has released a short teaser trailer showing off some key visuals that you can watch below.
Although you might not have heard of the Fate series, it is hugely popular in Japan and has a fairly significant international audience too. As a result, a number of fans have taken to social media to express their excitement at the upcoming release.
“Fate/stay night is being released on Steam and I can’t ask for more,” says one commenter responding to the official announcement of the game on Twitter.
“After 20 years, they finally have [an] official English translation,” says another in a quote tweet.
This remaster seems like fantastic news whether you’re a long-time follower of the Fate series or a newcomer who simply enjoys visual novels. As the first entry in the series, it seems like the perfect starting point for those who want to get on board.
For more PC games, see our guide to the best PC games. For more Nintendo Switch titles, read our picks for the best Nintendo Switch games.
Child Tax Credit 2024: When to Expect Your Tax Refund – CNET
Not all early tax filers will receive their refund in 21 days. Some claimed extra credits may delay your refund.
Not all early tax filers will receive their refund in 21 days. Some claimed extra credits may delay your refund.
Did we just catch our first glimpse of Windows 12? If so, we won’t get the new OS until 2025
This is another hint that what we’ll get this year will be a Windows 11 24H2 update, rather than an all-new OS.
We might have just caught our first glimpse of Windows 12, although we can’t be sure about that – but what we do know is that Microsoft is making a big change with test builds of Windows.
XenoPanther on X (formerly Twitter) noticed that the internal Canary versions of Windows 11 – those in the earliest testing channel, in other words – were just forked with a new build 27547 coming into play.
[Corrected] There has been a build jump for internal canary! 26047 > 27547January 30, 2024
The most recent Canary channel build is version 26040 as you may be aware if you follow these preview releases (which comes with a new Voice Clarity feature to improve video chats).
So, now we have builds in the 26XXX range and also the 27XXX range, prompting the obvious question: Is the latter Windows 12 in its first test phase? Let’s discuss that in more depth next.
Analysis: I’m giving her all she’s got, Captain!
As Zac Bowden, the well-known Microsoft leaker (of Windows Central fame) points out, the likelihood here is that the next release of Windows is the 26XXX branch, which is currently rumored (by Bowden) to be Windows 11 24H2 coming later this year.
ge_release has been forked! Insiders won’t get the 27XXX builds for quite a while I suspect. Next Windows release should RTM in the 26XXX range. https://t.co/U3y50S5Q81January 30, 2024
That means the 27XXX preview versions could be the next incarnation of Windows after that, the one arriving in 2025 (and these builds probably won’t go into testing with Windows Insiders for some time yet). Hence the (tentative) conclusion that this might be Windows 12, or an all-new Windows, whatever it may be called.
(Although we should further note that technically, Windows 11 24H2 will be all-new. Not the front-end mind, but the underlying foundations – it will be built on a new platform known as Germanium, which will offer considerable performance and security benefits deep under the hood).
At any rate, this pretty much underlines the idea that Windows 12 (or next-gen Windows, whatever the final name) is not coming this year, and will probably arrive next year. After all, Windows 10 gets ditched in 2025, so it makes some sense that a new OS comes in as one shuffles out the exit door (in October 2025 to be precise).
As we’ve discussed before, one of the dangers of bringing in Windows 12 this year is that the move would fragment the desktop user base into three camps, which is clumsy and a headache for organizing updates. So that scenario is neatly avoided if Windows 12 doesn’t turn up until 2025.
As a side note, Microsoft has codenames for its OS development semesters, and the next one should have been arsenic – but due to it being perceived as “scary and violent” Bowden tells us, the software giant has avoided it, and is instead using the codename Dilithium. Which is pretty cool for Star Trek fans (maybe Duranium will be next in line when another unsuitable real-world element pops up).
Via Neowin, Deskmodder
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TNW Podcast: Oscar Kneppers on academic startups; ESA wants to detect space-time ripples
Welcome to the new episode of the TNW Podcast — the show where we discuss the latest developments in the European technology ecosystem and feature interviews with some of the most interesting people in the industry. In today’s episode, Andrii and Linnea talk about a new European space mission, AI-generated podcasts, antiquated tech in German trains, and much more. In the interview section, we’re featuring a conversation with Oscar Kneppers, CEO of the Amsterdam Centre for Entrepreneurship, or ACE. He’s also founded several well-known local publications and one of the country’s major startup accelerators, Rockstart. Here are the stories and…This story continues at The Next Web
Welcome to the new episode of the TNW Podcast — the show where we discuss the latest developments in the European technology ecosystem and feature interviews with some of the most interesting people in the industry. In today’s episode, Andrii and Linnea talk about a new European space mission, AI-generated podcasts, antiquated tech in German trains, and much more. In the interview section, we’re featuring a conversation with Oscar Kneppers, CEO of the Amsterdam Centre for Entrepreneurship, or ACE. He’s also founded several well-known local publications and one of the country’s major startup accelerators, Rockstart. Here are the stories and…
This story continues at The Next Web