It is really unfair to talk about “one god” in the Marvel Universe, because over the years it has made it clear that there are several, both from Norse mythology (Thor, Sif, Odin, Loki, and company) and from Greek mythology (Hercules, Apollo, Aphrodite, etc.), including the Almighty and even Storm herself, admired as a goddess in Africa. In the comics, Yahweh has even appeared, capable of creating Ghost Riders. Look, it’s Marvel.
However, in the latest issue of ‘The Fantastic Four’ (spoiler alert!) we have learned who is the deity that will be at the end of all times, the Being that will withstand all centuries. And it is because Reed Richards has fallen into deep space, traveling non-stop towards the future: “Stars die one by one until there is nothing left. The universe expands faster than we can travel in it,” he says.
Just at the end of all times, Richards reaches the edge of existence, where a luminous figure tells him, “This is the hour of the birth of the ninth cosmos. You should not be here. Death is coming. They need you there.” This makes sense, mind you: right now, the Marvel Universe is the eighth iteration of itself, as was made clear in Immortal Hulk, The Defenders, and Ultimates 2. Trillions of years in the future, Richards can see the end. Someone pushing him. And then he realizes: it’s his own son, Franklin Richards. Imagine finding out, all of a sudden, that you are the father of God. We’ll have to see how our favorite scientist copes with it.
Microsoft may not get rid of the Control Panel in future versions of Windows after all, according to a recent review of a text by the company. About a week ago, Microsoft published an article aimed at informing users about the various customization and adjustment tools that Windows offers natively, including a mention that seemed to confirm, for the first time officially, that the Control Panel would be functionally replaced by the Settings app.
The original text stated: ‘The Control Panel is in the process of disappearing in favor of the Settings app, which offers a more modern and optimized experience.’ However, after media coverage like Neowin and the rapid spread of the news in the tech community, Microsoft decided to review the content of the document.
Now, the new wordingremoves any mention of the disappearance of the Control Panel, indicating instead that ‘many of the Control Panel settings are being migrated to the Settings app.’ This suggests that Microsoft may not be so sure about completely eliminating the Control Panel or, at least, not doing it in the short term.
The ambiguity in Microsoft’s communication is not new. Since 2011, when a leaked screenshot of Windows 8 hinted that the company intended to replace the Control Panel with PC Settings, rumors about its disappearance have spread like wildfire on the Internet.
To make matters worse, a senior executive of the company stated in 2015 that ‘Settings will eventually replace the Control Panel,’ but, until today, this transition remains a gradual process, leaving in doubt whether the iconic Control Panel will completely disappear or if it will indefinitely coexist with the Settings application.
From now on, the game has a map available in the PC version
Black Myth: Wukong is being a complete success. The video game by Game Science has sold an astonishing 10 million copies in just four days, a figure that has been accompanied, in turn, by a historic record of simultaneous players on Steam.
It is well known that the monkey game has had an excellent reception. However, there have been many complaints about the need to have a map during the experience, as many players have ended up getting lost in the scenarios.
The studio has not responded to this issue, but the user community, as usual, has quickly found a solution: The “Simple Map” mode for Black Myth: Wukong is now available for download.
As its name suggests, this PC mod allows us to open a map and display different icons of interest. It is as easy and simple as the name of the mod suggests.
Inside the mod you have completely free instructions for its installation.
Meta has canceled its plans to develop an augmented reality helmet (AR) following the failure of the Apple Vision Pro, a mixed reality device (virtual + augmented) launched by Apple at an exorbitant price that, to the surprise of few, has not managed to resonate with consumers.
This turn of events doesn’t surprise anyone at this point, given the history of failures in the AR market. Google’s smart glasses failed to succeed despite the company’s multiple attempts, and Microsoft’sHoloLens have been limited to government niches with large budgets.
The cancellation of Meta’s augmented reality helmet reflects a growing concern among big tech companies, who are now wondering if there is really a demand for these devices. Many companies, eager to capitalize on a technology with a short lifespan, don’t even stop to think if anyone would need or want it.
Meta Quest 3 Glasses – Meta
Despite everything, Meta has not completely abandoned the field of virtual reality. The company has decided to focus on the development of its next virtual reality headset, the Quest 4, a product that, although currently unattractive to the general public, continues to show some stability in a market that seeks to expand beyond the realm of video games and explore new potential uses.
The specialized press has been able to test 90 minutes of the remake
It seems that Konami is taking a very good direction when it comes to their video games. With Silent Hill 2 Remake we have been able to see that the changes made have been very well received by the game, with many members of the press showering praise on what the Bloober Team is developing. However, the praise has now fallen on another game that we are very excited about: the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake.
The specialized press has had the opportunity to test Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater for the first time. The demo, lasting an hour and a half, covers a large part of the Virtuous Mission, that is, what represents the beginning of the original game. Verdict? That we are facing “what should a remake be.”
Jordan Middler, from Videogameschronicle, has commented that as soon as the game starts, it offers two available modes: one based on performance, with a resolution of 1080p and a dynamic frame rate (always seeking the highest), and one of quality, where the game runs at 4K resolution, but with a fixed 30 FPS rate.
From here, the game remains practically unchanged in terms of gameplay compared to the original, but with all the quality of life improvements applied. This translates into better control and new options. However, the biggest change comes in the visual aspect, where the Unreal Engine 5 delights with an impressive change.
José A. Mateo, from 3DJuegos, comments that respect for Kojima is present from the beginning of the game, another sign that it seems that the rough edges are being smoothed out little by little: “‘Story, planning, and design by Hideo Kojima'”, a detail that, although obligatory, is still beautiful.”
At the moment, we don’t have a release date, but that should be the next thing Konami offers us. Everything points to 2025.
It has been the symbol of Apple TV+ since the platform became popular worldwide. And yet, Ted Lasso seemed to have ended forever with its third season. With a nostalgic air in almost every episode, it seemed that the show starring Jason Sudeikis had already culminated, but Deadline confirms what we all expected: that Apple TV+ is working on a season 4.
Although there is still no official announcement from the streaming platform, all the top Hollywood media outlets confirm the announcement, and it appears that Jason Sudeikis will return in his lead role, even though his story seemed to have already ended.
The Apple TV+ symbol returns home
Everything seems to indicate that, in addition to Sudeikis, other actors will also return in this fourth season, such as Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca Welton), Brett Goldstein (Roy Kent), and Jeremy Swift (Leslie Higgins).
It was originally a series planned for three seasons, as confirmed by actor Brendan Hunt, who also plays the endearing Coach Beard. However, Apple TV+ remained cautious about declaring the series closed after the third season, and during these months they would have had dozens of meetings to see how to continue the story from that point on.
In this way, the fourth season would start a kind of new arc with the main characters, so it could take them to places they have never been before. Reports suggest that the production of the series could start in 2025, so we could have season 4 of Ted Lasso in the future 2026. We just have to wait for confirmation from Apple TV+.
It is rumored that Apple is harnessing the capabilities of generative AI to build a new “personality” that could live inside future robotic devices, potentially similar to Siri’s current functions on the iPhone.
This is stated by Mark Gurman in Bloomberg, one of the most reliable journalists when it comes to Apple’s future products. Gurman has previously spoken about Apple’s plans for the home robot, and now he has added more details about a possible AI assistant.
“While Siri is the digital assistant on current Apple devices, the company is working on another human-like interface based on generative AI,” writes Gurman. “It could work on desktop products and other future robotic devices from Apple, according to what I have been told.”
Apple wants that desktop robot to cost less than $1,000, according to Gurman. However, these robotic devices are still in the early stages of development, and there are no guarantees that they will see the light of day.
One vital piece of Apple’s robotic work is the creation of a personality. While Siri is the digital assistant on Apple’s current devices, the company is working on another humanlike interface based on GenAI. It could run on the tabletop and other future Apple robotics devices.
A vital piece of Apple’s robotic work is the creation of a personality. Although Siri is the digital assistant for Apple’s current devices, the company is working on another interface similar to a human-based on GenAI. It could work on the tablet and other future robotic devices from Apple.
What we do know for sure is that Apple is making a lot of noise about Apple Intelligence, the set of generative AI features that will arrive on iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers later this year, along with other important software updates.
Given that Apple has already fully embraced next-generation AI, it makes sense that they are working on a project like a new robotic personality that is more capable and more natural in conversation than Siri is right now.
Power On: Inside Apple’s exploration of robotics — tabletop, mobile and humanoids — in search for life beyond the iPhone https://t.co/cNKjr2tUmA
That being said, we know that a large part of Apple’s generative artificial intelligence will be based on ChatGPT, at least for now. It is clear that Apple has to catch up in this field before launching its own generative AI chatbot.
Gurman himself states that Apple’s work in robotics is “very promising,” although he also admits that it is “unclear” to what extent Apple is committed to launching a real domestic robot.
Since we first saw Black Myth: Wukong in a trailer, all players said it was a game in the style of Dark Souls and that it was going to have very little to offer to the community. Now, a week after its release, it seems that we can confirm that we were wrong.
Although it has some obvious inspirations, it is not strictly a soulslike, as it removes a series of typical genre characteristics and relies on its own strengths as an action game.
When it’s at its best, the result has its own beautiful blend of impulsive gameplay and demanding challenges, especially when it comes to dodging the devastating attacks that bosses often unleash.
However, there is much more to FromSoft games than gameplay structure and difficulty, and one of the biggest similarities between Black Myth: Wukong and a FromSoft title has little to do with mechanics.
Although the narrative of FromSoft games is never presented in the foreground of the experience, interesting characters and a rich story always play an important role. Elden Ring is a great example of this concept, with a fascinating and unsettling world created in part by George R.R. Martin (the writer of the Game of Thrones books).
Highlight a fundamental element of FromSoft’s design
A key aspect of the Elden Ring story is that it does not take place during the height of powerful characters and civilizations that appear both in the game and in its lore, but in a world in ruins thousands of years after its peak.
It is a concept that often defines FromSoft games directed by studio president Hidetaka Miyazaki, and is also notably appreciated in the idea of Dark Souls that the fire fades. In the case of Elden Ring, wandering through a hostile world full of ruins, decay, and latent hatred enhances the feeling of a solitary journey, making each connection found within the game meaningful.
Black Myth: Wukong has sold 10 million copies across all platforms. (Data as of 21:00 Beijing time, August 23, 2024)
Black Myth: Wukong is not based on the feeling of loneliness and the barely wavering hope of Elden Ring, but it is based on the idea of a story set after the main events.
The game has been widely promoted as an adaptation of the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, the story of a Buddhist monk and three companions who embark on a long pilgrimage. However, Black Myth: Wukong does not follow the original story of the Monkey King, Sun Wukong. Instead, it puts players in the shoes of the Chosen One, a successor who undertakes a journey very similar to that of Sun Wukong.
Nothing like creating an interesting and magical mystical story
At first glance, it may seem strange to tell a vague reflection of Journey to the West instead of simply adapting the work itself, but doing so allows the game to focus on its strengths.
The scenes offer some moments of the story, but Black Myth: Wukong is a game about bosses more than anything else, and freeing itself from the stricter limits of Journey to the West’s story allows the experience of fighting them to take center stage.
However, in the weaker narrative moments of Black Myth: Wukong, it can jump from one scene to another without creating meaningful connections, but it is not so pervasive as to ruin the fluidity.
The elements of the story in Black Myth: Wukong are more present in the game’s diary entries, which tell many interesting stories for dedicated readers. It is a similar concept to FromSoft’s cryptic approach to unraveling threads through object descriptions, but the text tends to be more solid and direct.
Just like Elden Ring, mysticism can also enhance things even when they remain unresolved, giving bosses the gravity to allow them to speak for themselves.
Google has integrated Gemini‘s artificial intelligence into Google Keep, its note-taking and list-making app, with the new tool “Help me create a list.” This feature, available now for all users, regardless of whether they are subscribed to Google One or not, allows for more efficient and simple list creation, using the potential of Gemini, Google’s AI introduced earlier this year.
The process to use the “Help me create a list” feature in Google Keep is quite simple. When opening a new note on an Android device, users must search for and tap the “Help me create a list” button in the bottom right corner, and then describe the list they need. Once generated, the list can be edited to fit the user’s needs.
Example of a Google Keep list created with AI – 9to5Google
The implementation of Gemini in Google Keep is part of a broader movement by the tech giant to integrate its AI into various apps. In addition to Google Keep, other Google applications, such as Photos and Chrome, are starting to integrate Gemini’s AI features.
The website 9to5Google discovered a line of code in the latest beta of the Google app that points to an extension called “Ask Photos,” which would allow users to ask Gemini for help in exploring their photos. Additionally, the “Research with Gemini” feature is expected to facilitate the creation of custom reports to answer specific user questions.
Google Keep still has a lot of room for improvement in its approach as a note-taking app, compared to alternatives like Apple Notes or Microsoft OneNote, which continue to gain ground. However, the integration of Gemini positions Google Keep as one of the best options in the app market for taking notes and creating lists on all kinds of things.
The Crow is a highly recognized film from the nineties that, beyond being considered a cult film by a large part of the audience, is known for its protagonist, Brandon Lee, who died during filming. This made the film acquire the character of “cursed,” so it was clear that no one would dare to remake a film finished under these circumstances… or would they?
The Crow, the new version of the film directed by Rupert Sanders (Ghost in the Shell, Snow White, and The Huntsman) and starring Bill Skarsgård, has just arrived at Rotten Tomatoes… but it has turned out to be an even bigger disappointment than expected. It was released with a 6% positive reviews, almost at the level of Borderlands, and currently it has only managed to rise to 21%. But what are they saying about it?
Nobody asked for it… and nobody will endure it
Here are some reviews of this new version of The Crow:
“For an unnecessary remake like this, which follows a trio of underperforming sequels to the original 1994 film, a dead horse may not be the best image to start with” – Michael Gingold, Rue Morgue Magazine
“It doesn’t live up to its source of inspiration, but at the same time it’s not horrible, just… unnecessary. Forgettable, yes, but it’s not going to ruin the legacy of Lee’s original film” – Sebastian Zavala Kahn, Me Gusta el Cine
“A flop. Quite boring, it drags on for the first 40 minutes and includes unpleasant characters with empty motives. In addition, it is hindered by weak performances, with the protagonist imitating Anakin’s performance from the Star Wars prequels” – Fico Cangiano, CineXpress
“What starts as a thrilling love story ends up being drowned in a bloody and horrifying tale of revenge: there are flashes of brilliance here and there, but there isn’t always room for darkness to blend with light” – Lyvie Scott, Inverse
