Month: November 2024
The Game Awards 2024: Astro Bot and Final Fantasy lead nominations
The 3D platformer and role-playing game get seven nods each at the “Oscars of Gaming”.
The 3D platformer and role-playing game get seven nods each at the “Oscars of Gaming”.
Roblox to ban young children from messaging others
Parents will also be able to view and manage their child’s account, including limiting their screen time.
Parents will also be able to view and manage their child’s account, including limiting their screen time.
Trump names ‘big tech’ critic Brendan Carr to head US comms regulator
Carr, a free speech advocate and longtime FCC member, has accused some social media firms of censorship.
Carr, a free speech advocate and longtime FCC member, has accused some social media firms of censorship.
Netflix Claims 60 Million Households Streamed Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul Fight Friday Night, Straining Quality to Breaking Point for Many
Dominic Patten, reporting for Deadline Friday night:
Netflix’s much hyped and much delayed live fight tonight between
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul is taking some hits even before the
former heavyweight champion and the YouTuber turned boxer have
climbed in the ring.
From nearly the start of the undercard bouts from AT&T Stadium in
Arlington, Texas, the streamer has been freezing, losing sound and
proving slow to reload. While not totally crashing as Netflix did
when Luke Cage launched on the streamer in October 2016, the audio
on the feed cut out over and over and the quality of the image was
reduced to smeared pixels repeatedly.
We watched the whole fight card, and the stream started flaking out early. We had a couple minutes-long segments with what looked like 320p quality, and at other points, the audio completely dropped out for minutes-long stretches, as though the TV were muted. Some people in some places didn’t see any glitches, but it seems like most viewers experienced some.
I thought this boded poorly for Netflix’s upcoming Christmas Day NFL games (and gave them some shit about it on social media) but I vastly underestimated just how many people would watch the Tyson-Paul fight. I was thinking the Christmas NFL games would have more viewers than the fight, but it’s the other way around. Thanksgiving and Christmas NFL games get about 30 million viewers, but Netflix announced they had 60 million “households” for the fight, peaking at 65 million (and with 50 million watching the great women’s title fight that preceded the main event).
That said, the streaming glitches I saw Friday night began early in the evening, during the first fight on the card, a few hours before the main event. It didn’t feel to me to like Netflix’s live event streaming architecture could handle 30 million viewers, either.
It’s easy to forget just how amazing it is that traditional cable TV can deliver a live event to as many people as possible simultaneously. For context, the Super Bowl gets about 100–120 million viewers. Streaming is altogether different. Netflix didn’t fall down on this big fight night, but they stumbled.
★
Dominic Patten, reporting for Deadline Friday night:
Netflix’s much hyped and much delayed live fight tonight between
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul is taking some hits even before the
former heavyweight champion and the YouTuber turned boxer have
climbed in the ring.
From nearly the start of the undercard bouts from AT&T Stadium in
Arlington, Texas, the streamer has been freezing, losing sound and
proving slow to reload. While not totally crashing as Netflix did
when Luke Cage launched on the streamer in October 2016, the audio
on the feed cut out over and over and the quality of the image was
reduced to smeared pixels repeatedly.
We watched the whole fight card, and the stream started flaking out early. We had a couple minutes-long segments with what looked like 320p quality, and at other points, the audio completely dropped out for minutes-long stretches, as though the TV were muted. Some people in some places didn’t see any glitches, but it seems like most viewers experienced some.
I thought this boded poorly for Netflix’s upcoming Christmas Day NFL games (and gave them some shit about it on social media) but I vastly underestimated just how many people would watch the Tyson-Paul fight. I was thinking the Christmas NFL games would have more viewers than the fight, but it’s the other way around. Thanksgiving and Christmas NFL games get about 30 million viewers, but Netflix announced they had 60 million “households” for the fight, peaking at 65 million (and with 50 million watching the great women’s title fight that preceded the main event).
That said, the streaming glitches I saw Friday night began early in the evening, during the first fight on the card, a few hours before the main event. It didn’t feel to me to like Netflix’s live event streaming architecture could handle 30 million viewers, either.
It’s easy to forget just how amazing it is that traditional cable TV can deliver a live event to as many people as possible simultaneously. For context, the Super Bowl gets about 100–120 million viewers. Streaming is altogether different. Netflix didn’t fall down on this big fight night, but they stumbled.
‘Record breaking’ 60m homes watched Tyson vs Paul fight, Netflix says
But the streaming giant’s first foray into live boxing was beset with technical glitches.
But the streaming giant’s first foray into live boxing was beset with technical glitches.
‘Do not pet’: Why are robot dogs patrolling Mar-A-Lago?
Robotic dogs are helping law enforcement protect President-elect Donald Trump at his Florida residence.
Robotic dogs are helping law enforcement protect President-elect Donald Trump at his Florida residence.
X users jump to Bluesky – but what is it and who owns it?
Bluesky is picking up one million new users every day at its current rate.
Bluesky is picking up one million new users every day at its current rate.
Samsung Galaxy S25 price rumors: how much is the S25 line likely to cost?
We can take a good guess at how much each Samsung Galaxy S25 model is likely to cost.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 series could land very soon, with leaks pointing to a January launch – so hopefully you’ve been saving, as these are sure to be expensive phones.
Exactly how expensive remains to be seen, but based on a mix of leaks and past form, we’ve predicted the approximate prices we think you’ll have to pay.
Below then, you’ll find price predictions for the Samsung Galaxy S25 itself, along with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and even the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim.
Samsung Galaxy S25 price predictions
The Samsung Galaxy S24 (Image credit: Future | Roland Moore-Colyer)
To figure out how much the Samsung Galaxy S25 might cost, it’s helpful to first look at the price of the Samsung Galaxy S24.
You can see prices for all configurations of that phone in the chart below, but it starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,399.
So we’d expect the Samsung Galaxy S25 will cost at least that much, but there’s a high chance it will cost more, as most rumors suggest it will have a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and that itself reportedly costs more than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 used by some Galaxy S24 models.
Qualcomm (which makes the chipset) claimed ahead of its launch that the price would probably be higher, and leakers have variously said that the Snapdragon 8 Elite might cost roughly $40 (around £30 / AU$60) more than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, or that it would cost around 20% more than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
It’s likely that Samsung will pass any price rises on to consumers, so we could perhaps see the Samsung Galaxy S25 retail for more like $840 / £840 / AU$1,460 (with the UK price mirroring the US one, as that was the case with the Galaxy S24). With inflation it’s possible that the price could be even higher.
Indeed, one leak suggests the Samsung Galaxy S25 price could rise by around 150,000 won (roughly $105 / £80 / AU$165).
For now, we can’t confidently predict exactly what the Samsung Galaxy S25 will cost, so take the estimate above with a pinch of salt, but we expect it will cost at least slightly more than its predecessor.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus price predictions
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus (Image credit: Future)
As with the Samsung Galaxy S25, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus will probably cost at least as much as its predecessor, and there’s a high chance it will cost more.
For reference then, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus starts at $999.99 / £999 / AU$1,699, and you can see its full pricing for every configuration in the table below.
So the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus might mirror this, and we’d be surprised if it cost less anyway. But with the price of its chipset likely being higher than last year’s (as detailed in the Galaxy S25 price section above), if anything we’d think it might cost a little more.
One leak states that the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset it’s using will cost Samsung roughly $40 (around £30 / AU$60) more, so that sort of amount could be added to the price of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus.
In which case, we might be looking at something like $1,040 / £1,040 / AU$1,760. However, that’s just a rough guess, and with another leak (linked above) pointing to a price rise of around $105 / £80 / AU$165, it could cost even more. For now though, expect it to probably cost slightly more than the Galaxy S24 Plus anyway.
Having said that, a price increase would push the price into four digits in the US and UK, which might be something Samsung would want to avoid, so it’s not impossible that the price will remain the same as last year.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra price predictions
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
The same factors as above are likely to affect the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s pricing, meaning that it will probably cost more than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
The current Ultra starts at $1,299.99 / £1,249 / AU$2,199, and you can see complete pricing for that phone in the chart below.
That’s a lot of money then, but with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s chipset possibly costing around $40 (roughly £30 / AU$60) more than its predecessor’s – as detailed above – the price of the phone might increase accordingly.
In that case, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra could start at around $1,340 / £1,280 / AU$2,260. As with the other S25 models we’re not confident of that exact price, and it could cost even more, since another leak (mentioned previously) puts the price rise at more like $105 / £80 / AU$165, but we do think it’s likely the phone will cost more than its predecessor anyway.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim price predictions
The Samsung Galaxy S24 (Image credit: Future | Roland Moore-Colyer)
One leak suggests the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim could launch at the same time as the rest of the Samsung Galaxy S25 line, so with that possibly coming soon it’s worth considering how much this could cost too.
However, it’s a lot harder to predict than with the rest of the Galaxy S25 series, since there aren’t any previous ‘Slim’ models to compare it to.
But based on leaked model numbers for the Galaxy S25 line, it’s likely that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim would be positioned between the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
In which case, it will probably cost more than the $999.99 / £999 / AU$1,699 starting price of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, but less than the $1,299.99 / £1,249 / AU$2,199 starting price of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
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How to watch I’m a Celebrity 2024 online from anywhere – stream new series for free today, channels, start times
As the final apporaches, our guide explains how to watch I’m a Celebrity 2024 online and episodes live and on demand for free.
Watch I’m a Celebrity 2024 online
Ant, Dec and a whole lot of creepy crawlies are back, as the 24th series of British TV institution I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has returned to screens for its 2024 outing – and it’s almost time for the final! It will air on Sunday, December 8 at 9 p.m. GMT.
UK viewers can catch all episodes live and on demand on the free-to-air ITV and ITVX services, and if you’re away, you can watch I’m a Celebrity 2024 online from anywhere with a VPN.
As promised, there are no politicians on the show this year. But otherwise, it’s business as usual as a host of familiar faces have gone to the Australian jungle to take part in all manner of stomach-turning Bushtucker Trials. For nearly two weeks, they’ve taken on challenges and trials, as well as navigating all the camp politics.
Among this year’s contestants wereStrictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse, McFly singer Danny Jones, boxing hall-of-famer Barry McGuigan and, after radio presenter Sam Thompson’s success last year, DJs Dean McCullough and Melvin Odoom.
The celebrity that made pre-jungle headlines this year, however, is Coleen Rooney. Wife of retired England football star Wayne Rooney, she’s been a fixture of tabloid newspapers over the last few years thanks to her involvement in the infamous ‘Wagatha Christie’ libel case with Rebekah Vardy.
With only a few days to go until the final, Rooney is a favorite to win, alongside Danny Jones.
Need your regular fix of jungle action? We’ve got all the information on where to watch I’m a Celebrity 2024 online and stream every episode plus the final from wherever you are.
Can I watch I’m a Celebrity 2024 for FREE?
As has always been the case, viewers in the UK can watch series 24 of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! completely FREE on ITV1 on TV and its ITVX streaming service online.
Use a VPN to access you usual streaming services from abroad. Full details on how follow…
How to watch I’m a Celebrity 2024 online from anywhere
If you’re traveling abroad when I’m a Celebrity 2024 airs, you’ll be unable to watch the show like you normally would due to regional restrictions. Luckily, there’s an easy solution.
Downloading a VPN (Virtual Private Network) will allow you to stream online, no matter where you are. It’s a simple bit of software that changes your IP address, meaning that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home.
Use a VPN to watch I’m a Celebrity from anywhere.
NordVPN – get the world’s best VPN
We regularly review all the biggest and best VPN providers and NordVPN is our #1 choice. It unblocked every streaming service in testing and it’s very straightforward to use. Speed, security and 24/7 support available if you need – it’s got it all.
The best value plan is the two-year deal which sets the price at $3.59 per month, and includes an extra 3 months absolutely FREE. There’s also an all-important 30-day no-quibble refund if you decide it’s not for you.
How to watch I’m a Celebrity 2024 online in the UK
Brits can watch I’m a Celebrity 2024 episodes every night of the week at 9 p.m. GMT on ITV1.
It will also be available to stream for FREE both live and on demand on the ITVX streaming platform.
Its revamped sister show – I’m a Celebrity… Unpacked – goes out immediately after on ITV2 and will also be available to stream online in the same way on ITVX.
Away from the UK right now? Just use a VPN to alter your IP address so you can stream your favorite TV shows and films online just like you would at home. More details above.
Can I watch I’m a Celebrity online in the US, Canada or Australia?
I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! only airs in the UK, so you won’t find it in your TV listings or on streaming services if you’re overseas.
That means that the only way that Brits abroad can watch episodes is by using a VPN. We’ve explained above how to do that and what service we recommend – for us, the best is NordVPN.
I’m a Celebrity 2024 cast
Alan Halsall – actorBarry McGuigan – former boxerColeen Rooney – media personalityDanny Jones – musicianDean McCullough – radio presenterGK Barry – social media personalityJane Moore – journalist and TV panellistMelvin Odoom – TV and radio presenterOti Mabuse – dancerTulisa – singerRev. Richard Coles – broadcaster, musician & Church of England priestMaura Higgins – television personality & model
★ Disambiguating iPhone Model Names That Have the ‘S’ Suffix
Apple’s S suffix for certain iPhone models — 3GS, 4S, 5S, 6S, XS — has always been problematic in this regard.
Here’s the Apple support page listing the devices compatible with iOS 18. They’re listed in chronological order, oldest to newest, and the list begins with the iPhone XR and iPhone XS from 2018. But on this support page, Apple styles the “R” and “S” suffixes as small caps. Screenshot:
Earlier today I linked to this Apple Newsroom post, regarding the new “Share Location” feature in Find My in iOS 18.2 beta 3. The Apple Newsroom post contains this sentence on iOS 18 compatibility:
Share Item Location is available now in most regions worldwide as
part of the public beta of iOS 18.2, which will soon be available
to all users as a free software update for iPhone Xs and later.
Is that the iPhone XS, styled with a lowercase s? Or are they referring to 2017’s iPhone X, and pluralizing it with the lowercase s? By nature of my work, I know that Apple’s internal style is never to pluralize a product name like “iPhone X” by adding an s; they would write something like “iPhone X models” or “iPhone X devices”. But to the casual reader, it’s ambiguous. I wound up double-checking on Apple’s aforelinked support page for iOS 18 device compatibility, just to be sure. And even there it’s only clear because a small caps R has a distinctive uppercase letterform.
Apple’s S suffix for certain iPhone models — 3GS, 4S, 5S, 6S, XS — has always been problematic in this regard. It’s a particular problem for publications with an all-caps headline style, such as posts here on Daring Fireball. This post from July 2008, shortly after the iPhone 3G came out, is headlined “iPhone 3Gs in Short Supply”, but when you see it styled on DF itself, it looks like “IPHONE 3GS IN SHORT SUPPLY”. At the time I wrote that, it wasn’t confusing at all — the iPhone 3G had only started shipping a few weeks prior, so the iPhone 3GS didn’t even exist yet (and with the 3G being the second-ever iPhone model, there wasn’t yet any history of Apple applying an S suffix to a model name). If I had it to do all over again, I’d have used an apostrophe (“iPhone 3G’s in Short Supply”) or just omitted pluralizing it in the first place (“iPhone 3G in Short Supply”).1
But the letter S has a second ambiguity problem, in addition to pluralization: its upper and lowercase letterforms are distinguished only by size, not shape, in most roman fonts. That means if you try to distinguish it via the use of small caps, it’s to no avail, because a small caps uppercase S looks nearly (if not completely) identical to a lowercase s. And in fact, that’s exactly how Apple tends to style the S and R in “iPhone XS” and “iPhone XR”, as evidenced by the screenshot above showing the device compatibility list for iOS 18.
Viewing the HTML source on Apple Newsroom shows that that’s how they’ve styled “XS” in today’s post:
iPhone X<span class=”all-small-caps”>s</span> and later
The all-small-caps class is a simple one-rule style defined in the Apple Newsroom CSS:2
.all-small-caps {
font-variant-caps:all-small-caps
}
Here’s where I think Apple could do better. In their HTML markup, they should use an uppercase S inside the span tag delineating the small caps. They should do this:
<span class=”all-small-caps”>S</span>
instead of this:
<span class=”all-small-caps”>s</span>
Both of those will render the s in small caps in the browser. But when a user copies and pastes the text from the rendered output in their browser, they’ll get the S or s in the same case it is in the HTML, because small-caps styling doesn’t carry across copy-and-pasting. Whether the original HTML markup uses an uppercase S or lowercase s inside the all-small-caps span, the rendered output users see in their web browser will be a small caps S. But what the user gets when copying and pasting will fall back to the actual case of the S in the HTML code.
Ideally, Apple wants us to see that S in small caps. But it’s inevitably going to fall back to simple upper or lowercase after copying and pasting, and in that situation (yes, I was tempted mightily to write case there), it’s clearly better to fall back on uppercase, giving copy-and-pasters the unambiguous “iPhone XS”.
Anyway, I’m glad Apple has seemingly abandoned these S-suffixed iPhone names. Next year when the XS and XR age out of support for iOS 19, we might be done writing about them in the present tense.
It’s a mistake, and a suggestion of low literacy, to erroneously use the apostrophe-s sequence to pluralize words or names where the proper way to spell the plural is to just add s. E.g., Apple employees are said to bleed six colors, not bleed six color’s. You surely know this. For chrissake you’re reading a footnote in a persnickety post regarding best practices in HTML markup for disambiguating product names in uncommon edge cases. But it’s not true that one should never form plurals using apostrophes. Per The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage: “Use apostrophes for plurals formed from single letters: He received A’s and B’s on his report card. Mind your p’s and q’s.” My own style guide goes further, and endorses apostrophes for plurals of initialisms in headlines (because of DF’s all-caps headline style for short posts), to make clear that in a headline such as, say, “Truckers Are Still Buying CB’s”, that they’re buying two-way radios, not the television network. ↩︎
I, for one, do not care for Apple’s CSS coding style that omits the optional trailing semicolon from the last rule in a block. Makes me just a tad itchy when I see that.3 ↩︎︎
While I’m straying way out in the coding-style weeds here, let me also observe that I feel old and grumpy about the fact that Apple’s HTML markup on Newsroom posts wraps body text paragraphs in <div class=”pagebody-copy”> tags, rather than simple semantic <p> tags. ↩︎︎