No one knew it at Nintendo, but 38 years ago, in August 1986, they were about to create a franchise that would survive decades. Metroid was a hit in Japanese stores, even though the name itself doesn’t mean anything: it’s a simple combination of the words “metro” (yes, like the subway) and “android.” Oh, and did you know that its most memorable moment, when it revealed that there is a woman under the armor, was a coincidence? At one point, a developer proposed it, it was put into the game as a curiosity, and this is how Samus Aran continues to live on to this day.
The curious thing is that the script referred to Samus all the time as “he” to preserve the surprise ending. As a reference for the pixels, they took Sigourney Weaver in ‘Alien’ (the whole game, in general, draws heavily from this science fiction icon) and Kim Basinger in ‘Nine and a Half Weeks.’ Who would have thought?
It is less known that its name is based on the greatest soccer player in history, Pelé. It turns out that Hiroji Kiyotake, the character designer, was a big fan of the king of sport, and decided to name it after the athlete. In other words, “Edson Arantes do Nascimento.” Not only does the “Aran” come from there, but Kiyotake believed that her name was “Samus Arantes.”
By the way, if you want to know the whole story of Samus, you had better learn Japanese because it is in a manga that was published between 2003 and 2004, and serves as a prequel to the first Metroid. The good part is that there are still no official movies to add to the canon, although considering the success of ‘Super Mario Bros’ the key word is “still.”
Google could be preparing to incorporate its artificial intelligence Gemini into Android Auto. According to Android Authority, after analyzing the APK file of Android Auto, there are indications in the app’s code that suggest the development of an integration of Gemini. The AI is currently seen as an evolution of the current Google Assistant, so its integration into Android Auto could offer much more advanced functions to drivers.
The most notable clue is the appearance of the well-known “Gemini sparkle” in the code of Android Auto, a symbol that has become a visual representation of Google’s artificial intelligence features, suggesting that Gemini could be in development for this platform. Although the icon is currently monochrome, references in the code to color gradients suggest that its final version could be more visually striking.
In addition, the code contains mentions of “kitt”, a possible codename for the integration of Gemini in Android Auto. This reference could be a nod to the 80s TV series Knight Rider, where the protagonist car had conversation and advanced assistance capabilities. In this case, the code strings related to “kitt” include a line indicating the possibility of starting conversations, suggesting that Gemini could offer more natural and fluid interactions with drivers.
Android Auto is a very useful service for drivers
Another relevant aspect of the analysis is the mention of “GeminiLiveAssistantAction,” a feature that is currently only available to premium subscribers of Google One. This could mean that Android Auto users with a suitable subscription will be able to access advanced Gemini Live features in their vehicles.
Although there has not been an official announcement from Google yet, findings in the app’s code indicate that the integration of Gemini into Android Auto could be in an advanced stage of development, so we probably won’t have to wait much longer to learn more.
Black Myth: Wukong achieves a challenging action gameplay experience in many fundamental aspects. However, a reasonably simple addition could highlight the game’s strengths and provide a good dose of additional fun.
Currently, many players of Black Myth: Wukong find themselves in the middle of the story, which can take quite some time to complete due to bosses not being defeated on the first attempt. When we add many secret areas to discover and additional enemies to fight against, there is much more to do than just running through a long hallway to the end.
After finishing Black Myth: Wukong, it is possible to replay in New Game Plus mode or go back to the same file and search for hidden content. Both options can be fun, but also exhausting after completing the main story. If you haven’t played yet, here is the ultimate game guide.
Experimenting with new content or facing the game’s best enemies again requires going through many of the same areas, and some sections of the levels start to become monotonous even on the first playthrough. That’s why we’re advocating for a mode the game doesn’t have.
Black Myth: Wukong needs a Boss Rush mode
The best thing about Black Myth: Wukong is the boss fights, and adding a boss rush mode to the game would allow players to relive those epic moments without having to go through everything else.
In some parts, the standard game can already feel like a Boss Rush, with short and straightforward segments between frequent boss battles that don’t help break the rhythm of the encounters. However, in areas like chapter three, there is too much intermediate time to focus on the excitement of the best fights.
A Boss Rush mode would significantly reduce the hassle of facing memorable battles again after defeating the Destined opponents and would make returning to the game for some action much more appealing.
Black Myth: Wukong Animated Cinematic directed by Chengxi Huang.
Like any challenging action game, Black Myth: Wukong forces players who struggle at the beginning to improve a lot in the game by the time they finish it.
And facing bosses again would help solidify the sense of achievement derived from learning mechanics and mastering dodges. As for the most challenging challenges, a Boss Rush would be a good way for players who have been lucky in a previous game to truly master the fights.
There is a big difference between being able to kill a boss one out of ten times and consistently succeeding, and a Boss Rush is the only real way to facilitate that kind of training.
If the game lasted between 10 and 20 hours the first time, replaying it would be tempting, but it is more likely to end up between 30 and 40 hours. Undoubtedly, that time can be reduced in subsequent playthroughs, but it is still a considerable commitment to relive the best moments, and it isn’t easy to justify it when most other AAA games require similar amounts of time.
While the latest Windows 11 update makes it seem like the upcoming and controversial Recall feature can be easily removed by users, Microsoft tells us that it’s just a bug and not to worry.
Deskmodder detected the change last week in the latest 24H2 version of Windows 11, and it seems that the KB5041865 version offers the possibility to uninstall Recall from the Windows Features section.
“We are aware of an issue where Recall incorrectly appears as an option in the ‘Turn Windows features on or off’ dialog box in Control Panel,” said Windows Senior Product Manager Brandon LeBlanc in a statement to The Verge. “This will be fixed in an upcoming update.”
Microsoft says its Recall uninstall option in Windows 11 is just a bug. While the latest update to Windows 11 makes it look like Recall can be easily removed, Microsoft tells me it’s just a bug and a fix is coming. Details below ? https://t.co/84Uf5lTwGZ
It’s all part of an error; they don’t want you to delete Windows Recall
The controversial Recall AI feature, which takes screenshots of almost everything seen or done on a computer, was originally set to debut with PC Copilot Plus in June.
Microsoft was forced to delay the feature after security researchers expressed their concerns. Microsoft says it is still on track for Windows Insiders on PC Copilot Plus in October, after the company has had more time to make significant changes to Recall.
Security researchers initially discovered that the Recall database, which stores snapshots of your computer every few seconds, was not encrypted, and malware could potentially have accessed the Recall function.
Microsoft has decided that the AI-based feature will be activated optionally instead of by default, that the database is encrypted, and that authentication is done through Windows Hello.
Tom Warren has asked Microsoft if it will allow Windows users to completely uninstall Recall, as suggested by its appearance in the list of Windows features, but the company has only confirmed that it is an “incorrect list” for now.
Microsoft may have to add a Recall uninstall option to copies of Windows 11 in the EU to comply with the Digital Markets Law of the European Commission. Microsoft has already had to add an uninstall option for Edge in the countries of the European Economic Area, along with the ability to remove Bing web search from the Start menu.
If the name Ian McKellen sounds familiar to you, that means you are one of us. The English actor, famous for decades in the world of theater, became famous in the 2000s when he played the most beloved wizard in all of Middle-earth.
Now, 24 years after his first appearance in the movies dressed in a robe and staff, he reveals that he has been offered once again to wear the hat and resume his role as Gandalf.
It seems that Sir Ian McKellen could reprise his beloved role as J.R.R. Tolkien’s wizard after revealing that he has been offered to participate in the new Lord of the Rings movies, which will tell the story of hunting for Gollum before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring.
Ian McKellen Reveals He's Been Approached To Reprise His Role As Gandalf In Andy Serkis' New 'The Lord Of The Rings' Films https://t.co/2z5JRsMXYA
McKellen declared to The Big Issue: ‘The enthusiasm for The Lord of the Rings shows no signs of diminishing… I can’t say anything else. I’ve just been told that there will be more movies and that Gandalf will be involved and they hope that I will play him.’
The 85-year-old actor, who is recovering from a fall on the stage of Player Kings in London’s West End, added: ‘When? I don’t know. What’s the script? It hasn’t been written yet. So they better hurry up.’
In another interview with BBC Breakfast, McKellen said he has no plans to retire from acting. ‘I will continue with this as long as my legs, lungs, and mind keep working,’ said the actor, who is promoting his new film The Critic.
Ian McKellen reveals he has been asked to return as Gandalf for ‘LORD OF THE RINGS: THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM’
What do we know about the movie The Hunt for Gollum?
Warner Bros. Discovery announced in May that Andy Serkis will direct and star in two new LOTR movies: The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. The release of the first movie is scheduled for 2026.
Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, co-writers of the original trilogy script, will write the screenplay, along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou (The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim).
Peter Jackson will be in charge of the production. McKellen played Gandalf in all of Jackson’s original films and in The Hobbit trilogy. Therefore, his return to the franchise would be a great boost for Andy Serkis.
We have been following Boeing’s troubled spacecraft for months: from its construction to its launch, everything has had issues. And the worst part is that this headache is far from over for the astronauts, NASA, and Boeing itself.
The commander of the Starliner, astronaut Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore, asked mission control in Houston on Saturday why the test capsule had started emitting strange noises through a speaker.
NEWS ?: Astronauts are reporting that Boeing Starliner is emitting strange "sonar like noises"
At first, the sounds were not audible, then Wilmore, 61, captured a better recording: an annoying and perpetual glitch, similar to the ping pulse of a submarine sonar.
‘I’m going to let them scratch their heads and see if they can understand what’s going on,’ Wilmore said over the radio with his southern accent and the self-assurance that only an astronaut can have.
A problem – they don’t know where it comes from or what causes it
The flight controllers seemed to not immediately know the cause or origin of the noise. Neither NASA nor Boeing, the developer of the spacecraft, responded to media inquiries about the sounds on Sunday, and it was unclear if the problem persisted.
Wilmore only noticed one unusual thing at the time of communication: the sound coming from the speaker. He stated that there were no other issues or strange configurations inside the capsule.
Although the US space agency recently decided that Wilmore and his crewmate, pilot Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams, would not return in the Starliner but in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, the Starliner remains docked to the International Space Station about 250 kilometers above Earth. It is expected to remain there until it departs for an unmanned robotic landing on Friday, September 6th.
During today’s Agency Flight Readiness Review, NASA decided to autonomously return Starliner from the International Space Station. pic.twitter.com/rVkYhVSJPR
If everything goes according to plan, the Starliner will land at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, about six hours later. A parachute system and airbags will cushion its fall onto the desert shortly after midnight on September 7th.
The failures are the latest in a series of issues related to the Starliner, which was launched from Cape Canaveral (Florida) in June for its first manned test flight.
If you are an Apple fan, you surely have September 9th marked on your calendar, as the company’s event, named It’s Glowtime, will be the moment when they unveil, for the first time, the highly anticipated iPhone 16. From what we know, it won’t be the only thing they present.
The company will launch new iPhones, along with some other gadgets on September 9, as we have said, but a new report from MacRumorsstates that Apple will continue with another event in October, which will focus on the Mac.
We have heard before that Apple plans to update all its Mac models to M4, and that some of them will arrive this year. Now we have a slightly more precise calendar, although MacRumors, citing a reliable source familiar with the matter, says that it is still possible that Apple will hold the event in October and that the Macs will be available in November.
That’s what happened last year, when the new Macs were announced on October 30th and became available on November 7th.
What M4 computers will we see at the Apple event in October
At this year’s event, we will probably see a new basic 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 chip, as well as 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Mac chips.
Apple also plans to release an iMac with the M4 chip, as well as a smaller and redesigned Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro chips. All devices should now come with 16 GB of RAM as standard.
Most of these devices will be similar to previous models in other aspects, but it is said that the Mac mini will be much smaller, and possibly more like a cube, than the current iteration.
The M4 chip made its debut on the iPad Pro, which was launched in May. It is a decent upgrade, although not differential compared to the M3 chip, but we still have to see what the more advanced M4 Pro and M4 Max chips can do.
Apple is preparing for its annual fall event, where it is expected to unveil the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineup, along with new models of Apple Watch, some AirPods, maybe a new iPad, and other surprises. However, several products should not be expected to be seen at this event. Let’s go over everything that won’t be coming to It’s Glowtime.
Another device that generates expectations is the fourth-generation iPhone SE. The focus of It’s Glowtime is on the iPhone, but on the newer models. According to Gurman, the iPhone SE 4 would delay its release until early 2025.
The wait would be worth it, however, as this new model would have a design similar to that of the iPhone 14, would eliminate the Home button, would have Face ID and a USB-C port, and would increase the size of its screen to 6.06 inches with OLED technology.
New Macs
One of the most anticipated releases is the new Macs with the M4 chip. Thanks to TSMC’s second-generation 3 nm technology, this chip will bring significant improvements in terms of performance and energy efficiency.
Although we know that Apple will update models like the MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac with these new chips since they are already present in the current iPad Pro, these announcements are not expected to happen at the September event but rather in October, with a possible launch in November.
AirPods Pro 3
The AirPods Pro are also on the waiting list for a redesign. While we wait for the entry version of the AirPods to introduce innovations at this event, the Pro version should arrive in 2025. As before, the wait will be compensated, as we expect these new headphones to improve sound quality and active noise cancellation significantly.
HomePod mini 2
The HomePod mini, released in October 2020, could receive an update—four years later. However, expectations of seeing a new model at the September event are really low.
Rumors suggest that the second generation of the HomePod mini could incorporate improvements in sound and microphones, as well as an updated chip. Still, we haven’t heard any indication that it will be released soon.
Apple TV 4K
Regarding the Apple TV, rumors indicate that Apple is working on a new version with a faster chip but is keeping the current design. Initially, there was talk of a release in 2024, but the latest leaks suggest that the update is not imminent and, therefore, we do not expect it to be part of the September event announcements.
Considering that the Glowtime event goes far beyond the iPhone 16, it is easy to imagine what we could see. Apple has plenty of room to surprise us, even though the products we just mentioned would not be among the contenders. “They would be,” mind you, because if someone can launch something nobody expects, it’s Apple.
Cheating is an activity as old as the sun itself. Since the world exists, students have wanted to take advantage of their classmates’ knowledge for their own benefit. But in 2024, we don’t use our classmates; we use AI as “support” to find help.
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The attraction is understandable. The dubious writing services where a student has to spend a fortune for a person – whose qualifications you don’t know – to write 1,200 words about the fall of the Roman Empire have disappeared. An artificial intelligence writing tool can do it for free in 30 seconds and from your mobile, tablet, or computer.
A professor of strategic communication explains that he often encounters students who use AI tools such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, and EssayGenius.
It clarifies that it is generally easy to know when a student has used one of these tools to write their entire work. The telltale signs include ambiguous language and the AI’s annoying tendency to generate text that is not the essence of the task.
"Students seem to cheat a lot, generally—up to seventy per cent of students reported at least one instance of cheating in the past month—but they cheated at the same rates before the advent of A.I." https://t.co/fVFbKBq7sk
For example, a student can use ChatGPT to write a brief response to an assignment by copying and pasting the teacher’s question into the tool.
The professor explains that one of the most noticeable warning signs is the frequency with which the key terms of the question are mentioned in the work. In other words, if a work asks about the Roman Empire, an AI tool will repeatedly write the Roman Empire throughout the work, something that a person would never do.
Students generally do not repeat the key terms of the question in their work in this way, and the results resemble an internet SEO strategy more than a unique essay intended to demonstrate an understanding of the topic.
How I Use AI to Catch Cheaters at School
It's getting harder to spot by the day, but here are some ways you can use ChatGPT to spot student papers using ChatGPT.
But can teachers use AI tools to detect students who use them? I devised some ways to be smarter at detecting artificial intelligence in tasks.
This is what Professor Rachel Kane says in her article on CNET:
Understand AI capabilities: Currently, there are AI tools in the market that can scan a task and its grading criteria to provide a complete, cited, and fully written work in a matter of moments. Familiarizing yourself with these tools is the first step in combating integrity violations caused by AI.
Do as the cheaters do: Before the semester begins, copy and paste all your assignments into a tool like ChatGPT and ask it to do the work for you. When you have an example of the results it provides explicitly in response to your assignments, you will be better prepared to detect robot-written answers. You can also use a tool specifically designed to detect artificial writing in papers.
Get a real writing sample: At the beginning of the semester, ask your students to send you a simple, fun, and personal text. Once you have a real writing style sample from the student, you can later use it to have an AI tool review that sample by comparing it to what you suspect might be an AI-written work.
Ask for a rewrite: If you suspect a student is using AI to cheat on their assignment, take the submitted work and ask an AI tool to rewrite it. In most cases, I have encountered an AI tool that will rewrite its own work in the laziest way possible, substituting synonyms instead of changing substantial elements of the original work.
With all of this, we would already have more than enough tools to combat cheaters and reward good students. Good luck, teachers, you’re going to need it.
Artificial intelligence has made huge strides in recent years, and one of the fields that has most captured users’ attention is image generation from text. Thanks to this technology, something that used to seem like science fiction is now a reality within anyone’s reach: you just have to write a sentence, like “a cat astronaut on Mars,” and the AI will instantly transform it into an image.
With image generation tools, the possibilities are endless, from creating unique visual concepts to generating detailed illustrations for creative projects. Obviously, these AI tools do not replace the work and knowledge of drawing and graphic design professionals, but they can be great allies if you don’t have skills in these fields.
In 2024, image-generation tools have reached impressive levels of sophistication and realism. But with so many options available, how do you know which one is the best? Here are the top four AI tools for generating images from text in 2024.
DALL-E 3 is the latest version of the popular OpenAI tool, the creators of ChatGPT. It stands out for its ability to generate high-quality and coherent images from detailed descriptions. This version has significantly improved the AI’s ability to understand and represent complex details in images, something that its predecessors already did remarkably well. For example, if you ask for an image of “a dragon flying over a futuristic city at sunset,” it will not only generate a generic dragon, but it will also capture the essence of the sunset and the futuristic architecture of the city, integrating them harmoniously.
OpenAI has been working intensively on improving the contextual understanding of language, allowing DALL-E 3 to interpret nuances in descriptions and reflect them in the final image. Additionally, this version offers higher resolution and more refined details, making it an essential tool for those seeking professional-quality results. Its ease of use, combined with the power of OpenAI technology, positions it as one of the best options in the market.
Midjourney, created by the company with the same name, has become a prominent name in the field of image generation. This tool is known for its ability to produce images with a unique, almost cinematic aesthetic, making it ideal for those seeking a more artistic and less literal style. Midjourney V6 focuses on delivering results that not only meet the textual description but also provide an additional creative touch with a style that often resembles digital artwork.
One of the most impressive features of Midjourney V6 is its ability to interpret vague or abstract descriptions. For example, if you ask for “a surreal dream in an enchanted forest,” Midjourney will not only generate an image of a forest but will also add dreamlike and surreal elements that capture the essence of what a dream could be.
Stable Diffusion has been one of the great revelations in the field of image generation from text, and its XL version takes this technology to a new level. What sets Stable Diffusion XL apart from other AI is its focus on stability (as its name suggests) and the coherence of the generated images. This tool, developed by LMU Munich and Runway, is handy for those who need consistent and high-quality images in large-scale projects, such as advertising campaigns or content creation for social media.
Stable Diffusion XL stands out for its ability to maintain coherence in complex and detailed elements. If you need to generate multiple images with a specific theme or style, this AI ensures that all of them maintain a high level of quality and a uniform aesthetic. This is especially useful for brands that need to maintain a consistent visual identity in their advertising materials. In addition, Stable Diffusion XL is highly customizable, allowing users to adjust parameters to obtain more specific results that align with their creative needs.
DeepArt (DeepArt UG)
DeepArt is a tool that is not as well-known as the previous ones it offers, but it provides surprising results, especially for those who want an artistic touch in their generated images. Created by DeepArt UG, this AI can convert textual descriptions into images that appear to have been painted by an artist, making it ideal for projects where a more pictorial or illustrative visual style is sought.
What sets DeepArt apart is its ability to interpret artistic style in image generation. If you ask for “a portrait in the style of Van Gogh of a city at sunset,” the AI will not only create an image that matches the description, but it will also apply a pictorial style similar to that of the famous painter, capturing the essence of his brushstrokes and use of color. It is a perfect tool for those seeking a more artistic and less literal approach to image generation from text, offering a final result that resembles more an artwork than a simple AI-generated image.
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