Month: August 2023

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim now has a release date, and it’s later than promised

Fans of The Lord of the Rings can rejoice, as we have the release date for the animated film The War of the Rohirrim…

The animated film originally titled Lord of the Rings: War of Rohirrim was leaked by Variety a few months ago. They initially provided us with a release date: April 12, 2024. However, they’ve now delayed it by 10 months.

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While many believe that Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, released between 2001 and 2003, was the first big-budget adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, the reality is different.

The first cinematic adaptation of The Lord of the Rings dates back to 1977. This adaptation was a television musical animation special, The Hobbit, aired on NBC in 1977.

In 1980, a sequel titled The Return of the King was also released. Meanwhile, in 1978, Ralph Bakshi also released his own animated adaptation titled The Lord of the Rings, which Jackson would later use as inspiration for his film series.

A project that excites fans

Now, another prequel project to The Lord of the Rings is looming on the horizon: The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

This project returns to the cinematic roots of the franchise and will be an animated fantasy film. Warner Bros. Animation and New Line Cinema have partnered with Sola Entertainment to bring this animated adaptation to the big screen.

It appears that the film will draw inspiration from both The Lord of the Rings and anime, as Kenji Kamiyama will be the director and Philippa Boyens, co-writer of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, will serve as the executive producer. This is all we know about The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

Release date of The War of the Rohirrim

“The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” will be released on December 13, 2024. Yes, these are bad news for all fans of the Tolkien saga.

Initially, it was planned to be released on April 12, 2024, but New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. reportedly sped up the process to have the film premiere in early 2024.

However, due to the strike by the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the film has been delayed by 10 months. The delay is a result of Warner Bros. reshuffling its release schedule due to the strike.

Sony was one of the first studios to rearrange its calendar and postpone several films, and Warner Bros. followed suit shortly after. Dune: Part 2 was delayed, which caused Godzilla vs. Kong: The New Empire to move from March to April 12, 2024.

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When can I play Starfield? Mark these dates on your calendar

Starfield is just around the corner, but depending on various factors you will be able to enjoy the new Bethesda game sooner or later.

The wait has been long, but there are only a few days left to play Starfield, Bethesda‘s new IP. The company known for creating big games like Oblivion, Skyrim, and the latest entries in the Fallout series has been developing an ambitious game for years, in which we can explore space in search of countless adventures.

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Following the pattern of other games created by Bethesda, Starfield won’t exactly be a short game. With over 1000 worlds to visit, including procedurally generated planets as well as handcrafted ones, we have a true bottomless pit of hours ahead, especially if you’re a fan of outer space.

“Alright, yes, but I already know all that, I’ve had the game reserved since before it was even announced. When can I play my beloved Starfield?” Well, believe it or not, it’s a more complex question than it seems. While a few years ago games used to release on a set date, things have gotten a bit more complicated in recent years.

But don’t worry, we’re here to help you avoid getting more confused than necessary. If you’ve pre-ordered the regular edition of Starfield, you can start playing from September 6th at 2:00 AM. In case you’ve pre-ordered the Premium or Constellation editions, you’ll have the opportunity for Early Access, allowing you to play on September 1st at 2:00 AM.

But that’s not all. Starting today, August 30th, players who have pre-ordered the game on Xbox and Steam can preload the game onto their devices. This way, as soon as the clock strikes 2:00 AM on either September 1st or 6th, you can start the game without having to wait for it to download and install.

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However, keep in mind that to install Starfield, you’ll need 139 GB of free storage space if you’re playing on PC (Steam or Xbox Game Pass), or 126 GB if you’re playing on Xbox Series X|S. So, start making some space if you don’t want to have a tough time on launch day.

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Google releases a tool that will make life harder for “AI artists”

Google has created a tool that will make it easier to identify images created by artificial intelligence.

While we are experiencing a revolution in the development of artificial intelligence capable of assisting us in various tasks, they also bring along several issues. Apart from moral dilemmas or labor conflicts due to job displacement, the increasing use of AIs is fueling the spread of misinformation.

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In the case of chatbots (text-based AI) like ChatGPT or the new Bing, we have discussed more than once how much they enjoy inventing information and lying blatantly. As you can imagine, there have been cases where false information provided by AI has caused various legal issues.

Turning to image-generating AIs, the problem is similar. A few months ago, viral images of Donald Trump supposedly being arrested by the police circulated on the internet, which turned out to be fake (though somewhat prescient given the recent events involving the former US president), and they were created using the AI Midjourney.

In order to mitigate the spread of images created by artificial intelligence, including the infamous “deepfakes,” Google has announced SynthID this week, a new tool that would embed a sort of digital watermark directly into the image. Although humans wouldn’t be able to see it, a trained program could detect it.

With this tool, Google aims to create a system where the majority of images generated by AI can be easily identified through embedded watermarks, as explained by Pushmeet Kohli, Vice President of Research at Google DeepMind. The executive also warns that this new tool is not entirely foolproof. Not yet.

The uniqueness of SynthID is that, unlike other watermark systems like the one included in DALL-E, it works even after the image has been significantly altered. Therefore, if someone modifies an AI-generated image that has a SynthID watermark, it will persist even if the image is flipped or subjected to a color filter.

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Currently, SynthID is only available for select paying customers of Google, and it only works if the images are created using “Imagen,” Google’s image generation tool. SynthID is still in the experimental phase, so its use is not mandatory for its clients.

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From Vision to Reality: Apple’s Strategy to Make Vision Pro Glasses Affordable VR

Apple’s virtual reality glasses are the great novelty in a sector that has been stagnant for too many years. The problem with these is that they are worth more…

When Apple’s virtual reality glasses were introduced a few months ago, many of us were taken aback. First, by how impressive they were—cutting-edge technology—and second, by the price: 3,499 euros.

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Despite reports that Apple is charging around the same amount or nearly the same as the cost of manufacturing the device, it remains a substantial sum for most people.

However, there might be some relief in the future, as Apple is exploring ways to lower the price, either with a “Vision Pro 2” model or a more affordable version that omits some of the pricier features.

Reducing the quality of the components to lower the price

According to The Information, Apple is actively seeking new suppliers for the Micro-OLED displays of the Vision Pro, and companies like BOE and SeeYA are being considered. If approved, this move could contribute to reducing the component costs of the Vision Pro, resulting in a more affordable device for consumers.

Currently, Sony is the sole manufacturer of the Vision Pro’s displays. We’ve previously reported that the company can produce fewer than a million screens per year for Apple.

Since each Vision Pro comes with two displays, Apple estimates that the number of glasses it could sell is around 400,000 units.

If Apple can secure more display suppliers, it would enable the company to lower the price of the Vision Pro. After all, if more suppliers can produce the necessary components, Apple will have more room to negotiate the price.

The significant cost of the displays

Display industry expert Ross Young has suggested that the manufacturing cost of the Vision Pro’s displays accounts for over 10% of Apple’s $3,499 selling price, while another analyst claims that figure could go as high as 35%, or $1,542.

If Apple manages to reduce this cost, it could have a significant impact on the final price. Interestingly, The Information’s report suggests that at least some of Apple’s efforts are directed not only towards a second generation of the Vision Pro, but also towards a cheaper model that will cut down on some features.

The article mentions that this more affordable version is internally referred to as “N109.”

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Continued Pattern: Google’s Flagship Unintentionally Exposed in Leak

It has become a tradition for Google’s smartphones to experience some form of leak before their official announcement, earning the reputation of being among the most leaked devices ever. This time, the yet-to-be-announced Google Pixel 8 Pro has been leaked for the second time, appearing unexpectedly on the Google Store page. It wasn’t presented as a full article, of course, but rather in a simple image promoting Google’s services and subscriptions. In fact, it might have gone relatively unnoticed if not for the tweet from the user on Twitter (or X, if you prefer calling them that) @Android_Setting, who commented on the image showing a man using it to make a call (presumably).

Google Pixel 8 Pro in porcelain color

The image shows us the eighth generation of Google Pixel, which features a more conservative design compared to the Pixel 7 Pro, albeit with a few slightly different details. Obviously, we don’t know the components this device will have, but there’s nothing stopping us from dreaming (and in fact, it seems quite realistic) that it will far exceed the specifications of the Google Pixel 7 Pro (although the processor might not see a significant improvement). However, the most interesting aspect of the phone has always been its ability to integrate Android in a much more optimized way than other smartphones in its competition.

On the other hand, it’s hard to believe this is a casual leak. Google is well aware of the buzz their “mistake” can generate, and this could be one of the many ways they’re gauging public interest and building anticipation for an upcoming launch announcement. Alternatively, it could be that they intended to surprise-launch it to compete with another significant device, and their plan went awry accidentally. However, considering the attention Google’s foray into the high-end market has been garnering for a few years, the latter seems less believable; this might be the year it finally surges ahead of the competition.

Shrinking Atomic Clocks: USA’s Quest for Button-Sized Precision

A group of scientists at Sandia National Laboratories has embarked on a DARPA project to create the world’s smallest atomic clock.

Can you imagine wearing an atomic clock on your wrist? Or having it in your mobile phone? Well, you might not have to wait too long to see it, as a team of researchers from Sandia National Laboratories is working on a project aimed at building the world’s smallest atomic clock.

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The team led by Yuan-Yu Jau is attempting a scientific and technological feat with the support of funding from the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which aims to create atomic clocks that are much smaller and more accurate.

“They want 1 cubic centimeter for everything, and currently there’s no atomic clock at this size,” Yuan-Yu explains. The scientist’s provisional design would be even smaller, measuring 1 cm in length, 2 mm in width, and 2 mm in height, which would be nearly 0.04 cubic centimeters.

Unlike traditional timekeeping mechanisms based on celestial or mechanical events, atomic clocks harness the electromagnetic signals emitted by atoms, which provide tremendous precision. These clocks play a crucial role in GPS technology, ensuring accurate and synchronized navigation.

Sixteen years ago, Yuan-Yu already created a prototype of an atomic clock when he was still a student at Princeton University. The size of a toolbox, the prototype generated a constant pulse by passing a laser through a cloud of potassium atoms. What was most striking about this prototype was its autonomy, eliminating the need for external components to manage the clock’s pulse.

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After several years of experience, including his work at Sandia, where he helped develop the Chip Scale Atomic Clock (CSAC) in the early 2000s (measuring just 17 cubic centimeters), Yuan-Yu now believes he’s capable of creating the world’s smallest atomic clock. Will he succeed?

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Innovation Unleashed: Huawei’s Mate 60 Pro Boasts Trailblazing Design

Huawei sometimes chooses to surprise its competitors and, without any prior event, unveils a new device. No campaigns, no announcements… That’s what happened with the Huawei Mate 60 Pro, which is now available for pre-order on Vmall, a Chinese online store. While the most striking feature of this phone is the holes on its screen, it represents an evolution from the previous version that upgrades most of the aspects where it could have been weak.

More power, more resolution, more of everything

It was to be expected: just as Samsung is updating its hardware with improvements nobody anticipated until the iPhone 16, no company wants to fall behind in the battle for its share of the market. Huawei has incorporated a 6.82-inch LTPO OLED display with a resolution of 2720×1260 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. It also features a Kunlun Glass panel on top of the display.

The three notches on its screen are divided among a central selfie camera and two face readers for scanning and facial recognition, contributing to greater security in the system. This mirrors the approach used in the Mate 40 Pro and the Mate 50 Pro. Meanwhile, on the back, there’s an interesting arrangement: the circular camera module comprises a triple-sensor system with a 50-megapixel camera and a powerful light at the top that can be used as a flash.

With satellite messaging in its Chinese version and a 5,000mAh battery, its battery life is quite adequate. It can also be quickly charged through an 88W fast charging (50W wireless). All of this powers 12 gigabytes of RAM and a Huawei Kirin 9,000S processor capable of performing at its best in almost any situation, along with HarmonyOS 4, which incorporates artificial intelligence.

There are still many things we don’t know, such as the release window or when it will arrive in Europe, but it’s clear that Huawei has not given up the battle in the high-end segment and will fight hard to maintain its presence.

Google’s Self-Leak: Did the Pixel 8 Pro Information Slip Out Unintentionally?

Google’s new top-of-the-range phone has been leaked… by the American company itself. It is possible that the idea was to torpedo Apple’s premiere…

Today we woke up to the news that Apple is going to unveil the new iPhones of 2023 this September. We are, of course, talking about the iPhone 15 family. And at Google, they have decided to go against the grain… or have they?

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Google has released a photo of the Pixel 8 Pro even before revealing the device… on the same day Apple announced it would launch the iPhone 15 on September 12th.

A Twitter account named Android Setting has shared a picture of a person holding a beige-colored phone against their ear on a Google store page.

And although we can no longer see the photograph, which promotes Google’s subscriptions and services, its supposed alt text read: “A person takes a call with a Pixel 8 Pro phone in Porcelain.”

The device in the image resembles the phone from previously leaked photos of the prototype model. Its rear cameras are housed within a glass panel inside a raised metal bar that spans the width of the phone.

And, of course, the Google “G” logo is at the center of the device. According to other previous leaks – yes, there were many – the camera setup of the Pixel 8 Pro includes a 50-megapixel main camera that allows 50 percent more light and a 64-megapixel Sony ultrawide camera.

There are also rumors that it will have a flat screen instead of a curved one, similar to the Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro. Additionally, it’s expected to come with a 5,000 mAh battery and a maximum charging speed of 27W.

Google’s Pixel 8 Pro doesn’t have a release date yet, but the tech giant unveiled the two previous generations during events held in October 2021 and 2022. We can assume that this year will be the same.

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PS Plus September 2023: We have one filtered and we bet for some surprises

If you have a PlayStation at home, you probably have PS Plus contracted, since it is a key service for any Play player. The games of…

It’s the moment every PlayStation gamer awaits: the games that come for free with PS Plus each month. After a somewhat lackluster August, the excitement for a strong September is real.

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If you missed out on what arrived in August, here’s the post where we explained the three games that came with the Essential tier. And then the rest of the games that were offered in the Premium and Extra tiers.

To recap, the games that arrived in August were: PGA Tour 2K23 (PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4), Dreams (PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4), and Death’s Door (PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4).

Possibilities of games for September

Currently, we can only talk about Saints Row as the only game that has been leaked as the chosen title to be featured in the September 2023 PS Plus lineup. But nothing more.

If you’re a big PlayStation Plus follower, you may have noticed something: in recent months, the well-known leaker billbil-kun has stopped informing us about the free games of the month.

Typically, billbil-kun would appear out of nowhere one or two days before PlayStation officially revealed the free games and would tell us with pinpoint accuracy what they would be. Nobody knew how he did it, but he did.

Our friend has been focusing on leaking things like hardware bundles and game releases, leaving behind his roots in PlayStation Plus. However, he has now returned to Twitter to announce that he will be back today to let us know what the free PlayStation Plus games for September will be.

Of course, we will let you know what billbil-kun thinks about the September free games. It hasn’t given any clues, but people are already reading the tweet and assuming it’s going to be a bad month for reasons that don’t make much sense.

As always, we have to say that billbil-kun’s tweet won’t be the official confirmation of what the free games are… but they have never been wrong either, literally.

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Tesla’s Latest Feature Sparks Debate Over Possible Traffic Accident Risks

It’s not the first time that the automotive company has experienced this. Since it began gaining popularity in the market with its high-end electric vehicles and other services, Elon Musk’s company has been under the scrutiny of investors, potential customers, and of course, authorities. Having sent a car into space and holding strong interests in dominating the eco-friendly vehicle market, Tesla has maintained and increased its efforts in R&D to always stay one step ahead of its competition. This has led to significant successes at times, while on other occasions, it must be admitted, there have been significant missteps.

Tesla’s new autopilot requires “too little attention”

Recently, it has been discovered that a new version of Tesla’s autopilot (known as Autopilot) requires no torque effort on the steering wheel, which could lead to excessive driver relaxation and subsequent risks to road safety. This relaxation of a measure designed to keep drivers attentive to the road or any potential situations could pose a significant danger.

The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) is concerned because this feature might be present in some vehicles that have already been sold, and this discovery could encourage users to attempt to unlock the feature. In fact, on July 26th, Tesla was already summoned to answer a series of questions regarding this matter. However, as of August 25th, it is still unknown whether the administration has received responses.

Tesla has been under investigation for some time, not only for the Autopilot. Seatbelts and steering wheels of these vehicles are also under scrutiny due to issues related to their functionality, as well as problems that some users have reported regarding potential phantom braking. The safety risks for drivers and other road users seem to be increasing as the company becomes more popular.