Month: March 2024

Windows 11 is updated with all these things and you are interested.

Windows 11 gets an update: Microsoft has already started rolling out a new patch with a series of improvements and features that may interest you a lot. As expected, one of the main highlights will be Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant. However, it won’t be the only thing that receives improvements: new voice shortcuts, changes in the Snap system, a new option of Generative Erasure in photos… the list is long, as you will see below.

Microsoft Copilot DOWNLOAD

To start, Copilot acquires new skills. Now, the chatbot will be able to activate power saving mode, launch accessibility functions (such as Magnifier), display available Wi-Fi networks, the remaining storage space, or empty the trash.

The Photos app also becomes more capable. The new Generative Erase feature (Generative Erase) will allow us to remove unwanted objects that appear in our photos. This is something we can already experience on the latest Google and Samsung devices.

You will also be able to increase your productivity thanks to the improvements in the Snap Layouts features. Windows becomes smarter and now it is capable of remembering which applications you use most frequently and then suggest screen layouts accordingly.

Microsoft wants Windows 11 to become even more accessible. That’s why we have new improvements within the voice shortcuts. Now, we will be able to create custom voice commands to automate processes. The Narrator function is also updated with new, more natural voices.

The guys from Redmond have already deployed the update, but it may take a while to reach your device. If you want to get it as soon as possible, remember to activate the “Get the latest updates as soon as they are available” option.

Source: The Verge and Microsoft

Microsoft Copilot DOWNLOAD

Terminator returns to the video game, this time in an open world… and early access

Terminator Survivors is the new game set in the Terminator universe, featuring an open world and centered around survival gameplay.

Terminator is one of those franchises that never tire. While the movies after the third one have been divisive, to say the least, it continues to work thanks to the iconic nature of its characters. Skynet, the different robot models, and the idea of human resistance against an evil AI is something that sounds more and more real. That’s why it shouldn’t surprise us that it continues to function as a franchise. Or that a new video game has been announced within it.

Nacon has announced a new game in the franchise called Terminator: Survivors. This will be an open-world survival game, with the possibility of playing solo or in cooperative mode for up to 4 players. The game will take place four years after Judgment Day, putting us in the shoes of human survivors who must find a way to survive in the hostile environment of a world dominated by Skynet. Having to face machines and other human factions, our goal is to survive one more day.

What we can expect is a mystery. This is the first game developed by Nacon Studio Milan, which is divided into two subsidiaries: RaceWard Studio, which has already released games like Rims Racing or TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3, and Nacon Studio Milan, focused on the development of this game.

If you want to play Terminator: Survivors, you will still have to wait a bit. The game will enter early access on October 24th on Steam, without a specific release date. For the final release, the confirmed platforms are, in addition to PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

Steam DOWNLOAD

Dungeons & Dragons shares its Holy Grail (and you will also be able to afford it)

There’s a key piece of the millionaire puzzle that is D&D that we thought we’d never ever have in our hands to explore freely… Until now.

‘Dungeons & Dragons’ is not only a vital part of understanding pop culture in the last fifty years: it is also a game that, even after so much time, continues to be indestructible against all odds. And that is demonstrated thanks to a fifth edition that, combined with the Internet, has meant the definitive resurgence of role-playing games. However, there is a key piece of the million-dollar puzzle that is D&D that we thought we would never have in our hands to explore at will… Until now.

D&D Beyond DOWNLOAD

Gygaxtron

In reality, ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ didn’t start with the iconic red box that appeared in, for example, ‘Stranger Things’, and that has been portrayed so many times in movies and television. Actually, it all began with the famous “brown box” from TSR back in 1974, which contained three volumes intended for playing fantasy medieval war campaigns with pencil, paper, and miniature figurines. If you want an original one, be prepared to pay at least $13,000. And that’s in poor condition.

But there is something even earlier: the manuscript that gave rise to this book, the Holy Grail, the Rosetta Stone of role-playing games. Now, it will be reproduced in its entirety for the first time in history in a book about the evolution of D&D from 1970 to 1977. It all started when Gary Gygax, who had written the game ‘Chainmail’ (nothing like the role-playing you imagine today), discovered that another player, Dave Arneson, was running his own campaign called ‘Blackmoor’. They began to correspond, Arneson sent him the notes from his game and Gygax turned them into a 50-page outline for what would later become ‘Dungeons & Dragons’.

Afterwards, this 50-page document became a 100-page one when both of them started adding notes. Both writings, typed by Gygax, will be available in the book. In fact, according to its author, it is the only reason why it is going to be released. The world needed to see it because it is something that, no matter how much you search, you won’t find on the Internet (at least not in its original format). And, certainly, after reading it, D&D historians are going to go completely crazy. The fifth edition’s renewal? It can wait a bit.

D&D Beyond DOWNLOAD

How was ‘Ticket to Ride’ created, the board game that can’t be missing in your house

Alan R. Moon’s masterpiece is already twenty years old and has as many versions as you can imagine: Europe, Amsterdam, London… and even some set in 1912. But how did the game come about? At what moment did the idea occur to someone?

If you have ever played board games in the last twenty years (and we are not referring to ‘Monopoly’, of course, but to new classic games) it is almost certain that you have spent a few hours connecting cities using small train-shaped tokens in, precisely, ‘Ticket to Ride!’. Alan R. Moon’s masterpiece is already twenty years old and has as many versions as you can imagine: Europe, Amsterdam, London… and even one set in 1912. But how did the game come about? When did someone come up with the idea?

Ticket to Ride DOWNLOAD

Travel with us

It’s not like the ideas came out of nowhere: Moon had been working his whole life as a game designer for Parker Brothers or Avalon Hill, and since the 2000s he has been working as a freelancer. This gives him the freedom to go at his own pace and wander between game and game. And there he was, walking along the boardwalk in Beverly, Massachusetts, in 2003, thinking about a game he had halfway done that was, precisely, about trains. The problem was that the tests with people weren’t going well and he didn’t know exactly how to change the designs. And suddenly, a new structure appeared in his head.

Upon arriving home, he set aside that train game: he had a whole new one created in his head. He made a prototype of a map, wrote the rules on a sheet of paper, and shortly after he was already testing it with friends. It worked so well that he hardly had to make any changes, other than improving the routes on the board. Immediately, Days of Wonder became interested in the prototype. One year later, he was receiving the Spiel des Jahres, which is the award for the best board game of the year. And it’s because life is a game, yes, but some know how to bet better than others.

Ticket to Ride DOWNLOAD

Humanoid robots with ChatGPT as their brain: what could go wrong?

Figure, an AI robotics company that develops humanoid robots for general use, has announced this week that it has raised 675 million dollars in a funding round that included investments from companies such as Microsoft, OpenAI (the creators of ChatGPT), NVIDIA, and Bezos Expeditions (owned by Jeff Bezos).

ChatGPT DOWNLOAD

Along with this investment, Figure and OpenAI have signed a collaboration agreement to develop next-generation AI models for humanoid robots, combining OpenAI’s research with Figure’s deep knowledge of robotics hardware and software.

According to the company, the objective of the collaboration is to accelerate Figure’s commercial timeline by improving the capabilities of humanoid robots to process and reason from language. This, combined with the received investment, will accelerate Figure’s commercial deployment of humanoid robots.

ChatGPT DOWNLOAD

“We have always planned to return to robotics and see a path with Figure to explore what humanoid robots can achieve when driven by highly capable multimodal models,” says Peter Welinder, Vice President of Product and Partnerships at OpenAI. “We are impressed by Figure’s progress to date and look forward to working together to open up new possibilities for assisting robots in everyday life.”

They create an app with artificial intelligence to measure our depression

Those of us who have suffered or are suffering from major depressive disorder know how tough everything can be. From getting out of bed to talking to our friends. Any action, no matter how mundane, becomes a real ordeal, and having control over our situation can be a complex task in itself.

ChatGPT DOWNLOAD

While the most recommended thing in this situation is to seek a specialist (possibly the best money I’ve ever invested), an app currently under development could help all those with major depression to assess their situation thanks to AI.

Known as MoodCapture, this revolutionary mobile app is being developed by a team of scientists from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire (United States) and is capable of analyzing the faces of people with major depression to tell them how they are doing.

The idea behind this app is that every time the user unlocks their phone using their facial recognition system, the device’s front camera will capture several photos of their face and the surroundings. Then, an AI-based algorithm will evaluate those images, scrutinizing the user’s facial expression along with the background images.

If the app determines that the user’s depression is worsening, it will suggest measures such as exercising outdoors or socializing with family and friends. At least initially, the app will not suggest to the user to see a psychiatrist, as this could supposedly make the person feel worse about their situation and reinforce their depression.

Although regular clinical psychiatric evaluations could provide the same basic information, the great advantage of MoodCapture is that it should allow patients to assess their illness much more frequently, quickly responding to downturns before they progress too far.

ChatGPT DOWNLOAD

For now, the app has shown an accuracy of 75% in identifying people who were experiencing worsening depression. It is believed that once the technology is further developed, within about five years, the accuracy rate should increase to at least 90%.

After Activision laid off half of its staff, Toys for Bob buys its freedom

The video game industry is not going through its best moment. However, among layoffs and studio closures, we are now also seeing other types of news. This is the case of Toys for Bob, the team responsible for the excellent remake of Spyro and the latest Crash Bandicoot game.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy DOWNLOAD

Through a statement published on their website, Toys for Bob has announced that they will become an independent studio: “with the same enthusiasm and passion, we believe it is time to take the studio and our future games to the next level. This opportunity allows us to return to our roots“.

Despite what it may seem from the outside, Toys for Bob assures to maintain an excellent relationship with Activision. In fact, they are currently “exploring a possible partnership with Microsoft”.

However, this does not mean that the studio is sitting idle. Toys for Bob has confirmed that they have already started developing a new project, which we assure you will have nothing to do with Crash Bandicoot, as the IP remains with Activision. “Although we are in the early days of developing our next game and are still far from making any announcements, our team is excited about creating new stories, characters, and gaming experiences.”

Spyro Reignited Trilogy DOWNLOAD

Don’t you have a webcam? Windows 11 comes to solve your life without spending money

If you’re not enrolled in any of the Windows Insider Channels, you’ll still need to resort to those third-party tools to convert the camera…

In November 2023, we first saw evidence suggesting that Microsoft was working on allowing Android users to use their phones or tablets as webcams through Phone Link.

Windows 11 DOWNLOAD

Fortunately, Microsoft did not abandon the project and has just released webcam capability for Windows Insiders through all Insider channels.

Being able to use a phone’s camera as a webcam caused a lot of buzz when Apple launched the Continuity Camera feature last year, but Windows users could already do it using third-party applications.

If you are not enrolled in any of the Windows Insider Channels, you will still have to resort to those third-party tools to convert your Android phone’s camera into a webcam for your PC. But if you are an Insider, it is quite easy to set up the webcam through the Phone Link application.

How to use the Android phone camera as a webcam via Phone Link

Before jumping into the setup, make sure your phone is running Android 9 (Android Pie) OS or newer. Additionally, the Link to Windows app on your phone must be updated to version 1.24012 or higher, as suggested by Microsoft.

If these boxes are checked, pair your Android phone with your PC using the Phone Link and Link to Windows apps. Open the Settings app on your PC, navigate to Bluetooth and devices > Mobile devices, and then click or tap on Manage devices to get an update for Cross Device Experience Host from the Microsoft Store.

Once the update is done, activate the Use as connected camera option in the My mobile devices section.

Now you can use the front and rear cameras of your Android phone or tablet as a webcam for video conferences. One of the main advantages is that you can record what is in front and what is behind, since you can switch between the front and rear cameras from the phone. You can also pause the video stream and apply effects from the phone.

Windows 11 DOWNLOAD

Google is also working to bring the same webcam feature to Android 14. But when it is released, Microsoft’s webcam solution will have an advantage over Google’s, as the former will work with phones running versions of Android prior to Android 14.

Netflix releases the sequel to one of its best and most surprising science fiction movies

In 2020, a movie surprised everyone on Netflix. Without anyone expecting it, the film Code 8 landed on the platform and became one of its biggest science fiction hits to date. The movie had a tremendous merit, as it had been financed through crowdfunding and cost only 150,000 euros. And with just those numbers, it managed to be a success on the platform.

Netflix DOWNLOAD

Now, Netflix has just released the second part of the film: Code 8: Part II. The sequel has taken four years to arrive, but it has done so with a bigger budget and higher ambitions than the previous one. Without a doubt, Netflix knows what it has in its hands and wants to make the most of it. Its trailer already makes it clear that it is made of a different material.

The sequel to your favorite science fiction movie is here

In Code 8, Connor (Robbie Amell) is a young man who resides in a futuristic civilization where numerous individuals are born with extraordinary abilities, which they must keep secret due to their illegality according to current regulations. As a result, they are forced to live in complete seclusion, performing exhausting tasks to survive.

In the first part, Connor ends up in jail, leaving a surprising cliffhanger for the future. This will now be resolved with the sequel, which follows the protagonist immediately after his release from prison, working as a janitor in a community center. After distancing himself from Garrett (played by Stephen Amell) after past events, he seeks to avoid any complications.

Netflix DOWNLOAD

However, when a 14-year-old teenager, gifted with special abilities, is pursued by a corrupt police officer, Connor is forced to intervene and once again seek the help of Garrett’s gang to put an end to another injustice.

The trailer for Chicken Nugget arrives, the weirdest series you will ever see on Netflix

It is clear that South Korea is on another level when it comes to making weird movies and series. While the rest of the world is shocked to see how spicy Cheetos were created, in the oriental country they are about to release a series about a woman who turns into a chicken nugget. Because who hasn’t experienced that before?

In the official trailer of the series we can see what the story is about: nothing less than a girl (Min-ha) who accidentally enters a strange machine and, to her surprise and that of everyone else, turns into a chicken nugget. It premieres on March 15th and we will see if it goes beyond just a fun and crazy premise.

The weirdest premise of Netflix

The main actors of the series are Ryu Seung-ryong, Ahn Jae-hong and Kim You-jung, who will have to find out what has happened to the girl in order to try to return her to her natural state. Beyond the cast, well-known in Korea and promising a great k-drama, the series stands out for its use of color, which is becoming more and more common in Korean cinema and Korean series.

However, while Netflix continues to release new international series and movies that make it clear they are still committed to their original content, the platform finds itself at a crossroads. They recently announced that they were going to increase prices again, which has not been well received by their users.

We will see if this announcement negatively affects Netflix or, as has finally happened with the policy of shared accounts, it all amounts to nothing. In the near future we will have an answer, but for now we have to see a girl turned into a chicken nugget.