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Was only released on October 13 It appears that the latest Windows 10 update, released on October 13, is causing serious problems for some people. As Windows Latest reports, on the last ‘Patch Tuesday’, Microsoft released two Windows 10 updates - KB4579311 and KB4577671 - which were supposed to fix several vulnerabilities and bugs, but instead it seems like they have caused more problems than they solved. Windows 10X features could come to Windows 10 sooner than expected How to work smarter from home with Windows 10 Windows 10 May 2020 Update problems: how to fix them Several users have been complaining about problems with the updates on Microsoft’s support forums, Reddit, and other places. While we’re not sure just how widespread these issues are, it does look like Microsoft has once again released a faulty Windows 10 update, something that the company has done quite a lot recently. Windows 10 update problems Some people are reporting that the KB4579311 and KB4577671 Windows 10 updates are failing to install, and instead showing error messages. According to Windows Latest, trying to redownload the update, which has fixed this issue in the past, doesn’t work this time. You also can’t use the Media Creation Tool to manually redownload the update, but that will hopefully change towards the end of October. Until then, you’ll need to prevent the update from trying to install - check out our guide on how to pause a Windows 10 update to find out how. While the update not installing is annoying enough, and means the problems it’s supposed to fix will remain for some people, there’s also reports of more serious problems. These include PCs experiencing Blue Screen of Death crashes after installing the update, while the File Explorer also becomes unresponsive, along with printer and audio issues reported as well. Overall, then, this sounds like another nightmare update for Windows 10. Let’s hope Microsoft fixes this soon.

Initial release date: October 18, 2019 Mode: Single player game Publisher: Nintendo Software Developers: Nintendo, Nintendo Entertainment Planning and Development Genres: Exergaming, RPG Nominations: BAFTA Game Award for Game Beyond Entertainment, Game Award for Best Family Game Editor's note: Ring Fit Adventure first released on October 18, 2019. Because we were unable to review the game back then, we're taking this opportunity--the one-year anniversary of its release--to give it a full evaluation now. In this review, Jenae Sitzes reflects on a full year of on-and-off workouts with Nintendo Switch's premier fitness game. Over the past decade-plus, Nintendo has established itself as the home for fitness games. Wii Fit and its enhanced version, Wii Fit Plus, have together sold over 43 million copies worldwide, so it was only a matter of time before the company attempted to replicate that success on Nintendo Switch. Fortunately, Wii Fit's successor is far more ambitious than many people may have anticipated. Released one year ago on October 18, 2019, Ring Fit Adventure is not Wii Fit 2.0, but rather a full-blown fitness RPG with an overarching story, skill tree, and vibrant, lively landscapes. Not only is it far more ambitious in terms of scope than its predecessor, but it also fosters a healthier attitude toward fitness and a friendly tone that's relentlessly encouraging without a hint of judgment, even when it's been weeks--or even months--since you last logged in. In Ring Fit Adventure, you team up with a magical pilates ring to track down and defeat an evil bodybuilding dragon named Dragaux, who is spreading a dark influence across the land. In your pursuit of Dragaux, you jog through beautiful landscapes and engage in turn-based battles against fitness-themed monsters (such as a feisty dumbbell or mischievous yoga mat). In order to attack or defend, you'll have to perform exercises, and the game eventually introduces type matchups--some monsters will be particularly weak to leg moves, for instance. With four different move types available (leg, arm, abs, and yoga), Ring Fit Adventure provides a great full-body workout, and even though some levels may focus on one muscle group over the other, the option to use different move types keeps workouts balanced and prevents you from tiring out too quickly. Type matchups are only one aspect of combat strategy in Ring Fit Adventure, however. Food items play a key role as well, from smoothies that regenerate your health and revive you to soups and teas that provide certain buffs, like boosting the attack of all arm moves or converting your move type to yoga. If you get into a battle you're not prepared for type-wise, these items can literally save you. Outside of combat, there's even a skill tree where you can unlock new moves and increase your stats, and every world has a shop where you can buy new apparel to boost your attack or defense as well as ingredients to cook more food for your battles. In this way, every aspect of Ring Fit Adventure feeds into making you stronger and giving you more tools to use in battle beyond simply equipping enough arm moves or leg moves. Ring Fit's embrace of its RPG elements keeps progression varied and interesting over months of playing the game, and you'll continue to unlock new moves, recipes, and abilities late into the game--it never gets stagnant. This makes the gameplay much more engaging than just following along to moves on a screen, and especially in boss fights, having the right items available and the best moves equipped can mean the difference between success and a KO. The fact that you can actually lose a fight (rather than simply being scored, like in other fitness games) is particularly motivating, engaging you both physically and mentally to give each battle your all. At the center of Ring Fit's combat is the Ring-Con, a real-life pilates ring that connects to one of your Joy-Cons (while the other slips into a leg strap to go around your thigh). The Ring-Con is remarkably sturdy and has held up well over the past year, with no noticeable change in its resistance or durability. That's impressive considering how much you pull and squeeze the Ring-Con throughout the game's lengthy campaign. Whether you're pressing it against your stomach for an Ab Guard or lifting it overhead for a tree pose, the Ring-Con is at the center of nearly every move, tracking your precise movements. As in other Nintendo exercise games like Fitness Boxing, I've found that you really can't half-ass these exercises. In Ring Fit, ignoring proper form means your attacks will do less damage, and if it's a defensive move, you risk taking a devastating hit. This not only keeps the stakes high in-game; it also makes sure you're getting the most out of your workout and helps prevent injury. Some of these moves can be tricky to get right, but in-game, you have your trusty Ring giving advice on how to do each move correctly with plenty of encouragement. Ring Fit Adventure encourages you to listen to your body, to understand its needs and to not push yourself beyond your limits. Ring Fit Adventure has an unwavering cheerfulness to it, and while that's certainly true of many first-party Nintendo games, it has a deeper impact in the context of a workout game. It's so easy to get down on yourself when you miss a workout or two, and as someone with severe anxiety, sometimes I just can't muster the will to do anything at all, let alone get strapped up for a Ring Fit session. There can be such a negative energy around exercise and the expectations to be consistent or look a certain way, but Ring Fit Adventure throws that all out the window. It goes out of its way to make you feel welcome and accepted, no matter what fitness level you're at or how long it's been since your last workout. When you boot up the game, it simply asks you if you're feeling sore at all from the last session and if you want to adjust the difficulty at all. Rather than urging you to keep hiking up the difficulty, the game simply accepts your answer and even asks if it's annoying to keep asking. Don't want to stretch with Tipp, your friendly in-game trainer, today? No problem--the game simply takes you back to where you were in the campaign. The removal of pressure to do certain activities or make gameplay harder lets you improve at your own pace and prevents exercise from taking on a negative connotation as it so easily can in the real world. There's also a convenient "quiet mode" option for those who either prefer not to or physically can't jog in place. Aimed at those who may have neighbors living beneath them or need to keep noise minimal for some other reason, quiet mode allows you to do a series of squats rather than jogging in place as your character dashes through Ring Fit's worlds. Not only is this feature helpful for not bothering others, it also lends to the game's accessibility, as jogging is a high-impact exercise that may not be possible for everyone, including those with lower-body injuries. The ability to decrease the game's difficulty setting at any time and select exactly which exercises you want to do also allows you to customize your workout to suit your needs. Still, I'll admit there's a level of forgiveness in the game that could be counterproductive to growth if you lack the motivation--and perhaps it's part of why I've only played around 35 hours over the past year. Ring Fit Adventure encourages remarkably short sessions, prompting you to "take a break" and cool down so you're ready to go again tomorrow. Sometimes, I'll exercise for only 10 minutes or so before getting this message reminding me not to overwork myself. It's in line with Ring Fit's cheery, positive tone, but this is a fitness game, after all, and experts recommend that the average adult gets at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day. Unless you decide to ignore Ring Fit's prompts and keep playing, the game is happy to let you cool down after completing just one world or two and go about your merry way. As someone who picked up Ring Fit to challenge myself and improve my fitness, this messaging has definitely influenced me to have shorter sessions and, as a result, not progress as much as I may have otherwise over the past 12 months. These prompts to take a break and not overdo it play into what Ring Fit Adventure is trying to say about health and fitness overall, though, and that's a much bigger part of what makes it not only a great fitness game, but also an important successor to Wii Fit. Gone is the problematic BMI metric, which isn't an accurate measure of health or body fat percentage and can have detrimental effects on body image. Also gone is the emphasis on how much weight you want to lose and how many calories you've burned. Instead, Ring Fit Adventure encourages you to listen to your body, to understand its needs and to not push yourself beyond your limits. It doesn't just provide a good--and entertaining--workout; it fosters a healthy attitude toward fitness, nutrition, and overall well-being. For example, there's no mention of calories around food; instead, food items help you grow stronger and literally revitalize you. Daily tips at the end of every session remind you to get plenty of sleep and to avoid training when your body feels bad. Meanwhile, Dragaux, the epitome of toxic workout culture, represents the dangers of focusing solely on your gains and constantly competing with others instead of focusing on your individual health and needs. By rejecting fitness as a goal in itself and instead embracing personal health and growth, Ring Fit Adventure provides a much more achievable and fulfilling experience. The best part is that there's just so much of it, too. Ring Fit has 23 main worlds and an extensive post-game that takes you through the previous worlds with new dialogue and harder levels. It also comes with minigames that you can play freely outside of the campaign along with custom workouts that let you focus on specific moves you want to master or muscle groups you want to work on. A free rhythm mode was added earlier this year, though I found it disappointing--the song selection is lacking and the movements themselves, which involve pushing and stretching the Ring-Con at different angles, feel awkward and not fun. Still, there's plenty to keep you busy with Ring Fit long after you finish the main story, and even doing that will take you some time--I haven't beaten the game yet myself after one year (though it obviously depends on how often you play and the length of your sessions). By rejecting fitness as a goal in itself and instead embracing personal health and growth, Ring Fit Adventure provides a much more achievable and fulfilling experience. Like many people, I've relied on Ring Fit Adventure as my only method of getting any exercise for most of the COVID-19 pandemic so far. After sitting inside my tiny apartment day after day, moving from bed to chair to couch, I was always grateful to be able to pick up my Ring-Con and go jogging through Ring Fit's luscious, vibrant landscapes. Though there's no straying from the preset path in each area and many of the worlds do look quite similar, they still feel great to jog through. As someone who grew up running and prefers it as a form of exercise, I will say that cardio feels minimal in Ring Fit Adventure compared to strength training. Outside of these short jogs in between battles, there aren't many activities aimed at getting your heart rate up, which is why Ring Fit Adventure probably shouldn't be your only source of physical activity. It offers a fantastic workout and supplement to any gym routine, but it can't beat going for a real run or long swim or bike ride. I bought a fold-up apartment treadmill a couple of months ago, and it's been great to switch between Ring Fit and the treadmill on different days to feel like I'm getting enough cardio along with working my muscles. Ring Fit Adventure builds on the legacy of Wii Fit in important ways, not only pushing the limits of what a workout game can be but also repositioning its message around fitness in a much healthier and constructive way. Fitness isn't a steady, consistent journey for most people; it's full of tiny improvements and setbacks and obstacles that get in your way, much like one's progress in an RPG. Because of this, Ring Fit Adventure works perfectly both as a concept and in practice. The sheer volume of content along with new abilities, items, and difficulty levels keeps progression interesting through the entire campaign and beyond. With consistently engaging gameplay, gorgeous landscapes, and a relentlessly positive attitude, Ring Fit Adventure has set a new standard for fitness games, and I look forward to another year of growing stronger with it--and eventually beating that absurdly buff dragon.

Happy birthday bro ❤️ 🥰

vote to V1 , text and color

Accepted DH1 : DH2 :

US President Donald Trump continued with great momentum organizing a series of election rallies across the United States on Saturday, October 17th, as he sought to avoid a humiliating defeat at the polls after 17 days. Trump visited Michigan, where he described his rival as a "criminal", considering the Democrats to be anti-American, and then visited Wisconsin. In front of a rally in Muskegon, Michigan, Trump said that Democrats want "to erase American history and destroy the values and way of life in America." "We love you," he added to his supporters, who chanted "Joe Biden is a corrupt politician" and the Biden family represents "a criminal enterprise." "A criminal, he committed crimes," Biden said. It represents a threat to national security. ” The 74-year-old president's frenzied pace, and the fact that he had to devote time to states like Georgia and Florida that gave him victory in 2016, reflects the growing anxiety among the Republican Party, even if his aides seek to show self-confidence. "The president's strategy is to work hard to win the votes of the American people," said his spokeswoman, Kylie McKinani. "That is why he will be in two states today, two rallies will take place tomorrow and two others will be in Arizona on Monday, and he will give his full energy," she added. In contrast, Biden, who visited Michigan as part of his campaign Friday, will stay in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. But he released a statement to voters in Wisconsin hours before Trump's expected arrival, in which he focused on his favorite topic: the way Trump dealt with the Covid-19 crisis. Biden said that "his (Trump's) response to the epidemic has crushed the Wisconsin economy," noting that 150,000 residents of the state have lost their jobs since the current president took power in 2016. Trump is still recovering from his COVID-19 infection, as is the case with dozens of White House employees and his campaign cadres, including McKinani herself, but the latter sought to add a positive touch to the experience. "He has experienced a Covid experience himself, he will speak directly to the American people on the debate platform about his experience," she said. On Thursday, the final televised debate between the two candidates will be held, which will be Trump's last chance to defend himself in front of a wide audience. More than 21 million Americans have so far cast their vote in an early ballot. Trump withdrew from what was to become the second debate, after its organizers announced that it would take place online due to his COVID-19 infection. The two rivals held separate meetings with voters rather than debates; those organized by Biden had higher viewership. McKinani said Trump will use the latest debate "to talk about his wonderful response to Covid." But the president's job will be difficult in this regard. The virus has killed more than 215,000 people in the United States, in a toll that is the worst in the world, while the president repeatedly mocked or ignored the advice of health experts. "Ignore the epidemic" Biden (77 years) stressed this point in his statement. "The president knowingly understands the seriousness of the virus," he said. At virtually every turn, he panicked and tried to ignore it instead of making efforts to contain it. As the maturity date approaches, the president appears to be in a difficult position, with poll results showing his Democratic opponent's lead while Republican senators have publicly voiced their doubts about their party leader. Senator from Nebraska Ben Sas warned the people of his state in a phone call that Republicans are facing "massacre in the Senate" after Trump failed in his response to the epidemic, and caused a rift between Washington and its allies in the world and abused women. As usual, Trump responded on Twitter Saturday to "stupid and hateful (SAS) methods." In turn, Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz warned of "a massacre of the Republicans by Watergate standards." Perhaps Democrats, and many Americans, have distrusted the polls since the surprise defeat of Hillary Clinton, which polls indicated in 2016. Nevertheless, the polls indicate that Trump is in a more difficult situation this time. The average national polls on the "RealClearPolitics" site show that Biden is leading by nine clear points and outperforming the president in major states, although the average in these states is lower at 4.5 points. On Saturday, thousands participated in demonstrations in Washington and other American cities, in protest against Judge Amy Connie Barrett, who was nominated by Trump to take a vacant seat on the Supreme Court, and called for his defeat in the elections scheduled for the third of next month. Thousands gathered outside the US Supreme Court in Washington on Saturday to pay tribute to late Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg and protest against President Donald Trump's rush to choose Amy Connie Barrett as her successor. And the US Senate Judiciary Committee has set a date for a vote on October 22 on the nomination of Barrett, a conservative appellate judge, despite Democrats' objection to the voting process shortly before the presidential election. Protesters marched in downtown Washington to the stairs of the Supreme Court. Hundreds of marches and demonstrations are expected to take place in the direction of municipal councils, parks and memorials across the country.

Review finds quality of evidence is poor and noise may lead to more disrupted sleep Whether it’s nature sounds, the whine of a hairdryer or the incessant hum of a ceiling fan, white noise apps have been downloaded by millions of people around the world in the hope of getting a better night’s sleep. However, new research suggests there’s no good evidence that they work, and they may even be making things worse. True white noise is the hissy fizzing sound of all the frequencies that humans can hear being fired off randomly and at the same intensity. In recent years, numerous apps and devices have been developed that use it – or other “relaxing” sounds such as the hum of a fan or crashing waves – to help people fall asleep. They have been hugely successful – the Bedtime Fan app, available on Apple devices, claims more than 3m downloads, while the Android White Noise Generator has more than 1m. One theory is that they help to drown out other bothersome sounds such as street noise; another is that listening to the same sound each night may trigger a kind of Pavlovian response, where people learn to associate it with falling asleep. But does it actually work? Mathias Basner, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, and colleagues systematically reviewed the scientific literature and identified 38 studies that have investigated noise as a sleep aid. Although there was some evidence that continuous noise reduced the amount of time it took individuals to fall asleep, the quality of the evidence was extremely poor, and at least one study suggested the noise may lead to more disrupted sleep. “If these apps or devices could only do good things, I wouldn’t really care. But because there may be negative consequences, I would just be careful,” said Basner, whose research has been published in Sleep Medicine Reviews. “I wouldn’t broadly recommend them, because there is no evidence that they are actually working.” He is also concerned about the potential ill-effects of not allowing the auditory system to switch off overnight, although this also hasn’t yet been tested. “Whenever we’re exposed to sounds and noise, the inner ear is translating that into nerve signals that are then interpreted by the brain,” he said. “It is an active process, which generates metabolites, some of which have been shown to be harmful to the inner ear. You probably want to have a period where the auditory system can wind down, regenerate and prepare for the next wake period.” Colin Espie, a professor of sleep medicine at the University of Oxford, agrees that the research quality of studies on continuous noise and sleep is poor. “Even the idea is a very limited one conceptually,” he said. “The main concern to overcome in poor sleep is the busy or racing mind. People can’t switch off mentally. White noise is just like any other monotonous stimulation, which has been tried many times in many ways over decades, and the evidence [for it working] is poor.” Prof Christian Cajochen, who heads the Centre for Chronobiology at the University of Basel in Switzerland, said: “I think the better [forms of] continuous white noise mask highly intermittent background noise, which is why it is recommended for nightshift workers who often need to sleep during the day in a ‘noisy’ environment. There I can see a benefit, but not when sleeping in a relatively quiet environment. Any acoustic stimulus being continuous or not has the potential to interrupt the sleep process.” He added: “I would rather recommend mindfulness apps like Sleepio, since they are based on good evidence coming from research in sleep medicine, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia.”

KBB Editors’ Overview The 2021 Volvo V60 is a premium station wagon, essentially a more practical, cargo-swallowing version of the S60 sedan. It is the kind of vehicle the Swedish luxury automaker does best. And while rivals such as BMW have largely abandoned wagons in the U.S., the V60 is alive and alluring. Far from the dowdy design of past Volvos, the V60 could be the first car that combines the words “station wagon” and “sexy.” The standard V60 includes a long list of standard features and is front-wheel drive only. With one-time competitors like the BMW 3 Series wagon and Buick Regal gone, the V60 has the compact luxury wagon market to itself. Introduced just last year is the even more versatile V60 Cross Country. It has extra ground clearance, standard all-wheel drive, and a more rugged design. Its primary rival is the Audi A4 Allroad. Also new last year is a high-performance plug-in hybrid V60. Formerly called the Polestar Engineered, for 2021, it is named the V60 Recharge. It packs over 400 horsepower and 22 miles of electric-only range, but at over $67,000, it isn’t cheap. Whichever 2021 Volvo V60 you go with, you’ll get a stylish and practical vehicle packed with technology and blessed with all manner of safety systems – as if you’d expect anything else from this Swedish brand. Wagons have only a fraction of the sales of crossover SUVs, but a car like the V60 is a nonconformist’s delight for those in the know. It boasts much of the practicality of an SUV while retaining a European sport sedan’s excellent road manners. How Much Does the 2021 Volvo V60 Cost? The Volvo V60 luxury wagon has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting at $40,950, plus a destination charge of $995. Keep in mind that at its base price, the only paint color is black; all other choices cost an extra $645. The V60 Cross Country, which comes with all-wheel drive and more features, starts at $45,450, and its standard paint color is white. The better-equipped V60 R-Design and Inscription models are also around the $46,000 mark. The Volvo V60 Recharge plug-in hybrid is a significant premium at $67,300. As a plug-in hybrid, though, it is eligible for $5,419 in federal tax credit. The Volvo’s closest competitor is the Audi A4 Allroad, which at $44,600, is just below the V60 Cross Country. A more mainstream alternative is the Subaru Outback, which starts under $27,000 and can be had in premium form for less than a V60. Before buying, check the KBB.com Fair Purchase Price to see what others in your area are paying for their new car. The Volvo V60’s resale value is expected to be about average. Driving the 2021 Volvo V60 We call the Volvo V60 an “anti-SUV” because it has excellent and practical cargo capacity like a sport-utility vehicle, but doesn’t drive like one. The V60 is more akin to a sedan, and a good one at that. The standard 250-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is beguilingly energetic. This is one seriously willing engine, and changing drive modes makes notable differences in the way the V60 handles. In Dynamic mode, for example, throttle response is livelier, and steering feel stiffens, while Eco mode enables the highest efficiency. V60 Cross Country models drive similarly to the standard V60 but are ever so slightly less athletic in corners due to the higher ground clearance. Still, we’d take that for its standard all-wheel drive and added capability in snow and on trails. The V60 Cross Country also has an off-road mode that works at speeds up to about 25 mph. It optimizes the vehicle for traction on dirt and slippery roads, and enables hill-descent control, which automatically slows the car on steep grades. In testing that feature in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, though, we found it too abrupt and opted instead to just regulate downhill braking ourselves. Speaking of brakes, those on the V60 are fabulous, enabling “right now” stops. The Volvo V60 Recharge pairs a turbocharged and supercharged 4-cylinder engine with a plug-in rechargeable battery. The result is 415 horsepower, 494 lb-ft, and bonkers acceleration from this all-wheel-drive sleeper. It will do 0-60 mph in just 4.3 seconds, yet scores 69 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) and can travel up to 22 miles on battery power alone. How’s that for nonconformity? Favorite Features ALLURING DESIGN Volvo has a knack for making station wagons sexy, and this latest V60 is its best-looking yet. As a statement of style, individuality, or counterculture, the V60’s elegant design nails it. SAFETY AND DRIVER ASSISTANCE A Volvo wouldn’t be a Volvo if it didn’t put safety first. Nowadays, that means active features like the ability to keep from drifting lanes, detect pedestrians and animals in the road, and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision — both in forward and reverse. 2021 Volvo V60 Interior Like a sedan or 2-row SUV, the Volvo V60 can seat five people. As a wagon, though, its X-factor is the ability and ease with which its rear cargo area can hold stuff. There’s nearly 20 cubic feet back there, plenty for suitcases and shopping bags. Lowering the rear seats creates 50.9-cubic feet of storage and creates a flat area that’s ready to accept longer items. Pragmatics aside, the Volvo’s interior design continues to be among the best out there. It combines Scandinavian minimalism with premium touches and great technology. All models feature a horizontally oriented, crisp 9-inch central display, plus a slick 12.3-inch all-digital instrument cluster. These may sound daunting, but they will become easier to use with practice. For the tech-savvy, you can dig down into menus to customize features. Our editors found the front seats comfortable, and they aptly fit a variety of body shapes and sizes. The driver’s seating position is excellent. Several colors of leather upholstery are available, but we are also fond of the blond-weave textile pattern. It makes a posh interior look even classier. 2021 Volvo V60 Exterior Forget those dowdy, square station wagons of old. If you’ve ever wondered if a wagon can look gorgeous, consider the Volvo V60 Exhibit A. This sleek Swedish car boasts a long hood, slightly raked roof, and Volvo-specific features like LED headlights with “Thor’s Hammer” daytime running lights. A power tailgate and panoramic sunroof are also standard. The 2021 Volvo V60 Cross Country deftly blends toughness and elegance. This adventurous model has over two inches more ground clearance — 8.3 inches total — revised fascia and fender flares. 2021 Volvo V60 Standard Features A base Volvo V60 is called the Momentum, and though this is the least expensive version, it’s well-equipped. Included are Volvo’s Sensus infotainment system with a 9-inch screen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, a power liftgate, dual-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, textile upholstery, power front seats, and 18-inch wheels. Newly standard for 2021 are LED headlights and fog lights, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and Volvo’s Care Key that lets parents set limitations on the car’s top speed before their teen or other family member gets behind the wheel. Standard safety features include lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and Steering Support, which can further help you steer clear of a collision. New for 2021, it also now includes the formerly optional blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Also included are four years of complimentary Volvo On Call, which lets you remotely connect to the car via a smartphone to lock and unlock doors, check the fuel level, and more. V60 Cross Country models also have all-wheel drive, an off-road mode, and a leather interior. 2021 Volvo V60 Options Stepping up to a sporty R-Design V60 adds Nappa leather upholstery, Harman Kardon audio, navigation, a universal garage-door opener, 4-zone climate control, front-seat cushion extender, paddle shifters, blind-spot monitoring, and parking sensors. Inscription V60 models are similar to R-Design models, but with luxury-oriented aesthetics. The Volvo V60 Recharge plug-in hybrid includes the turbocharged/supercharged and electrified powertrain, all-wheel drive, Bowers and Wilkins audio system, Polestar-tuned chassis, and otherwise optional features like heated front seats and steering wheel, and a 360-degree camera. Major options for the V60 and V60 Cross Country are bundled into packages. One particularly recommendable one is the Advanced Package that includes Volvo’s Pilot Assist – an excellent semi-autonomous driver-assist system with adaptive cruise control. It also includes a head-up display, 360-degree camera, and wireless phone charger. Newly available as a single option for the Volvo Cross Country is a backrest massage function for the front seats. 2021 Volvo V60 Engine The Volvo V60 and V60 Cross Country come with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine called the T5 that makes 250 horsepower. As we’ve said, it’s a strong engine and feels mightier than that number suggests. Standard V60 models with that engine are front-wheel drive (FWD), while Cross Country models are all-wheel drive (AWD). The Volvo V60 Recharge, formerly called the Polestar Engineered, a 4-cylinder engine that is both turbocharged and supercharged, plus a plug-in hybrid electrified powertrain that has up to 22 miles of range thanks to its 11.6-kWh battery. Volvo called this powertrain the T8. The V60 Recharge is a performance monster with 415 horsepower, but its electrified powertrain also makes it efficient with up to 69 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe). The T8 also features Ohlins suspension with adjustable shock absorbers. All models use a slick 8-speed automatic transmission. Note that premium unleaded gasoline is recommended for these Volvos. The Volvo V60 has an engine idle start/stop feature that can be permanently disabled via the touchscreen menu.

It's annoying but the latest Windows 10 update could protect your PC Microsoft is revamping the way Windows 10 verifies drivers as part of the new October 2020 Patch Tuesday update, and it might cause some problems for you down the road (via Windows Latest). Designed to protect PCs from unknown publishers, Microsoft will now show you an error message when an improperly formatted catalog file is found during software validation. How to Upgrade to Windows 10 for free in 2020 How to Use Windows 10 Best 2-in-1 laptops in 2020 The new verification step will protect your laptop from opening malicious files made by untrusted publishers, but it could lead to some frustration in the process. Microsoft will now block users from applying drivers to software if Windows can't verify the publisher. When this happens, Microsoft will alert users with one of two error messages: "Windows can’t verify the publisher of this driver software" or "No signature was present in the subject." This is ultimately a welcome step from Microsoft, but the method for getting your un-verified software to run is...unfortunate. The software giant says anyone who hits this roadblock should “contact the driver vendor or device manufacturer (OEM) and ask them for an updated driver to correct the issue” if Windows 10 can't verify a driver. Yes, that means you need to find the contact info of the company or developer who made the program and send them an email. That's not exactly something consumers should be doing but if you need to download new drivers, reaching out to the developers is the best way to ensure the process goes smoothly on your Windows 10 PC.

Support for WireGuard VPN is coming to NG Firewall Untangle, the award-winning network security firm, has just announced the latest version of its flagship NG Firewall product. The new release contains a host of updates, including the addition of WireGuard VPN, which will help employees and corporations stay safe in a world where remote working is increasingly important. According to research conducted by Global Workplace Analytics, between 25 and 30% of the worldwide workforce will be working-from-home across multiple days a week by the end of 2021. However, while this provides added flexibility, it also comes with risks. There are already multiple reports of cyberattackers exploiting the remote working trend to steal sensitive information. It is likely that finding the right firewall and VPN will become ever more vital for company survival. We've highlighted the best VPN services available today Also, check out our roundup of the best business smartphones And we've put together a list of the best privacy apps for Android State-of-the-art Untangle is likely to have been drawn to WireGuard VPN due to its state-of-the-art cryptography and ease of use. In addition, the fact that WireGuard has VPN clients for all of the major operating systems provides added flexibility for business clients. “NG Firewall is a powerhouse SMB solution and with the WireGuard VPN addition, customers have access to a modern, fast and secure VPN solution to connect corporate offices together, or enable many of today’s remote workers,” Heather Paunet, Senior Vice President of Products at Untangle, explained. “Allowing a choice between WireGuard, OpenVPN and IPsec VPN, we empower administrators to set up exactly the networking environment they want to, taking into account ease of configuration, performance and preference regarding cryptographic technologies.” The addition of WireGuard VPN is not the only new feature coming to NG Firewall 16.0. Users of the latest release will also benefit from faster VPN connection speeds, UEFI support, enhancements to the Threat Prevention app and a host of general updates to improve system performance.

Initial release date: 2020 Software developer: Happy Ray Games Designer: Chevy Ray Publishers: Humble Bendel, Humble Games Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS Ikenfell is a magical school in its seemingly natural state: peril. Students have gone missing, strange trees are cropping up, and other magical anomalies plague the land. As Mariette, the non-magical yet still worried sister of one of Ikenfell’s students, you embark on a journey through this pixelated 2D RPG adventure to save her, the school, and maybe the whole world. A number of interesting ideas in both story and combat make Ikenfell an appealing prospect, but since some prove stronger than others in execution, ultimately it's a journey with more than a few bumps in the road. As the game begins, Mariette almost immediately gains supernatural pyromantic abilities thanks to strange magical occurrences. It actually feels a bit at odds with the message of not needing to be magical to be heroic, which throws the vibe off kilter right from the beginning. The conceit does make sense within the context of the story, though, and sets out one of the first mysteries in the game. New forms of magic are cropping up, and even some who previously had no magical powers suddenly find themselves wielding elemental magic. Mariette can use her new fire power to take on the various magical enemies of Ikenfell in turn-based isometric grid battles, with a bit of a twist. Combat is a fairly large part of the game and is mostly turn-based. Turns are split between a movement phase, where you position your team on the battlefield, and then an attack phase where you select from combat options that have their unique ranges and damage, and sometimes added effects. Starting out you’ll have basic attacks which do moderate damage to a single enemy in front of you on the grid. As levels are gained, party members added, and moves are unlocked, more strategies and styles open up. The strategy really gets quite flexible as no two moves from any party members are the same; they each have their own skill sets which suit their characters. The impulsive electric wielder can teleport in and out of danger quickly, whereas the timid alchemist has limited range and does best at healing or poisons. Even though I eventually found myself settling on the party of three I preferred, I still found myself using the full selection of their moves in different battles. This is thanks to the wide variety of enemies which all can be approached in a variety of ways. I tended to use poison and regeneration spells in long fights against high-HP enemies, for example, rather than bombarding them with direct damage. For heavy hitters I’d make note of their attack patterns and position my crew accordingly, which would change the feasible attacks. The mechanics are simple but present enough strategic considerations and opportunities to keep the formula feeling relatively fresh over time. The twist to the battles is that, while turn-based, they incorporate timed elements. Each attack and even each defensive maneuver will have its own unique animation and timing. Despite being relatively simple pixel art, some of these are just gorgeous and filled with personality. Hitting the button in time with the animation and sound will determine how successful your attacks are. Some may do more damage, while others may need solid timing to inflict status effects. When defending, timing a button press to the block will reduce your damage. In the beginning, I really enjoyed this system. While the early battles were easy, simply having something to give me a boost made me feel a sense of mastery over the combat. Timing something right just feels good, almost like you're flicking your wrist in the final moment of casting a spell or actively bracing for defense at the crucial moment. It also makes spells you’re consistently good at really feel like your own, like your practice has paid off. However, timing something badly is frustrating and with so many different attacks from both sides to learn, it can be tricky to get it right consistently. The timing elements mean you always have to be aware of what’s happening on the battlefield and not being able to pause during battles requires a high level of diligence. The impact of how successful you are at timing is immense, which makes it a bit double-sided in that failing them can work against you as much as success can work in your favor. The clutch mechanic, which allows you to survive a lethal blow on successful defense, means it’s literally a life and death difference. As I went further through the game I ended up swapping the option in the settings to semi-auto, giving me a bit more leeway, and I much preferred it. This change got rid of some of the more unfair-feeling losses from timing that I swear I had nailed and it encouraged me to experiment without the fear of losing outright. You can also turn it completely off, and while I didn't prefer that option, it's an important one to have to make the battles more accessible. Alongside battling, there are also puzzles to solve. Most are fairly standard in that you might need to flick a series of switches, push rocks around, or gather specific items. They’re usually the right amount of challenging to make you think without leaving you stuck, and they provide a nice break between battles. However, some just feel purposefully obtuse. Once I had to look for books in the library and I just ended up interacting with all the shelves until I found them--there didn’t appear to be a marker or strategy to help. Sometimes there are invisible paths with little to signal them other than, "I guess I’ll just try walking through this wall." In that way, Ikenfell can sometimes feel as confusing as it is magical. Battles and puzzles take place all over the school grounds and the surrounding areas of Ikenfell. Each area has its own lovely chiptune themes to match the environment. The battle music doesn’t tend to change, though, and as you’ll enter into so many of these it can get repetitive--except when it transitions into a few voiced songs for specific character moments to show off their personalities and intentions. Unfortunately, these aren’t very good and can be incredibly jarring when it happens mid-game. I often found myself turning the volume down during these sections. The story has you explore different dungeons in the form of classes, dorms, libraries, and more as you try to find your sister and work out what’s going on. All the different areas offer new backdrops, enemies, and puzzles to solve. I feel like every time I was getting bored with one place, Ikenfell would usher me into another with a fresh set of exploration opportunities. The variety is lovely but it also has a very “Sorry, your princess is in another castle” feel, where I always felt strung along thinking the story was close to ending but it just kept going. Naturally, this started to feel tedious at times. The drip-feed of story progression drifts into slow and unrewarding for your troubles at times. The story itself is just kind of odd. It’s definitely a direct parody of Harry Potter, though somewhat gender-swapped and queer as all get out. But the same plot holes that plague the halls of Hogwarts are still present here. Students are somehow as powerful, or sometimes more than, teachers and engage what’s described as incredible feats of magic. Teachers let them and don’t seem to have any desire to be particularly helpful, despite the end-of-the-world stakes. They may be intended as humorous nods, but in effect come off as incongruous. Despite this, Ikenfell has some interesting takes. It explores the kind of toll the actions of a heroic group of do-gooders, not unlike the trio from Harry Potter, is bound to take on a school. What about the people that get hurt for their brazen actions? How much stress does this kind of constant danger put on all of those meant to care for these students? What does a really progressive, queer-positive fantasy world like this even look like? And how does it feel to be excluded from this magical world as an ordinary person? There’s some unexplored ideas to the magical fantasy that deserved looking at, and Ikenfell does its best. Ikenfell made me feel like it wanted to really care about these important issues, but it does nothing to explore them. Unfortunately, the execution struggles at times, with things feeling a bit forced. For a game all about caring for each other, all you can really do is fight things and beat the crap out of them. A few times characters will even say things like “I’m so gay” after the story has already plainly shown us they are and most of the other characters are attracted to the same sex. Why is being gay a big deal in this world? Was there queer oppression? It’s ripe with queer internet culture but with no real anchor to the context within the fantasy world. This makes it feel tacked on as an afterthought rather than an authentic representation of real people. Ikenfell made me feel like it wanted to really care about these important issues, but it does nothing to explore them. Characters sometimes break the fourth wall in odd ways to lampshade these ideals, but without context or relevance it often feels shoehorned in rather than true representation. I can see the beating heart of good intentions and ideas, but they ultimately feel fumbled. Ikenfell is a game of good intentions. The take on RPG combat is both satisfying and interesting with enough options, both with in-game tweaks to characters and strategy and also directly within the settings, to help tailor it to your preferences. It just drags on a bit without feeling like anything has actually really happened until its final moments. The nice variety and wholesome vibes present a lovely little world to explore and save. There are just enough little pitfalls in the story and execution that can be quite grating when I wanted to feel immersed.

Musician Name : Zaid Dirani Birthday / Location : February 1, 1980 (age 40), Jordan Main instrument : Piano Musician Picture : Musician Awards & Nominations : In 2004 Zaid won an award from the Committee Against Arab American Racism for his internationally po[CENSORED]r work for his art. He also won the Jordanian Ministry of Education Prize for Arab-American Music Arts. And the Hope Prize for Literature. . Best Performance : Other Information : Zaid Dirani is a Jordanian pianist and composer. In 2004, he developed his project to become an orchestra consisting of 40 musicians coming from twenty countries from around the world, where he received strong support from Queen Noor, as well as King Abdullah and Queen Rania. Dirani performed several musical instruments to many well-known leaders, such as Queen Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Laura Bush, among others.

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My vote DH1 i like it more than DH2 , Nice song

You Have My full support

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Hello @GhOst- Before giving my opinion I have some questions What can you provide to this forum in terms of assistance or projects that can help develop this forum? with details Based on the first question, do you really think from within you that you can help this forum more? What projects did you like in the forum and why? Do you have any idea that can help the project that you liked to develop further? Good Luck ❤️

Musician Name : Annie Clark Birthday / Location : September 28, 1982 (age 38) Telsa USA Main instrument : Quitar Musician Picture : Musician Awards & Nominations : Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album, for work: St. Vincent (2015). Best Performance : Other Information : St. Vincent (1982 AD) is an American singer, singer, singer, musician, composer, and guitarist, born in Tulsa. Educated at Barclay College of Music (since 2001).

The iPhone 12 scored lower than the iPhone 11 in GPU tests Early benchmarks of the A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12 show mixed performance results and raise questions about the GPU. Benchmarking service AnTuTu released its first results for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, giving us an idea of how much faster the A14 Bionic is compared to its predecessor and competing Snapdragon chips. iPhone 12: Release date, price, specs and more Best iPhone 12 deals — here are the best places to pre-order iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 12 Pro: Which new Apple phone is best? AnTuTu shows a roughly 20% CPU improvement for the A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12 over the A13 Bionic in the iPhone 11. The delta in scores between the A14 and A13 is comparable to what we're seeing in Geekbench 5 benchmarks. As you can see in the images above, the iPhone 12 scored a bit lower than the iPhone 12 Pro when you compare total scores. This likely comes down to a spec Apple didn't share during its presentation: the iPhone 12 Pro has 6GB of RAM while the iPhone 12 has only 4GB. What's more surprising are the GPU scores, which are actually lower than those from the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. According to AnTuTu's benchmarks, the iPhone 12 score a 201,085 whereas the iPhone 11 landed at 205,671. Similarly, the iPhone 12 Pro was even further behind at 196,812 compared to the iPhone 11 Pro's 215,338. Android phones running the latest Snapdragon 865 also scored higher on the GPU test, with the OnePlus 8 landing at 219,044. Apple promised up to a 50% performance delta between the A14 Bionic and rival chips. These benchmarks don't support those claims, but remember, we're still early in the game. We hope to get an iPhone 12 in for review in the coming days. When we do, we'll run our own benchmarks and compare the new iPhone 12 models to the top phones on the market.

Our pick of the best remote desktop software around today As the coronavirus (aka Covid-19) continues to spread around the world, many companies have now introduced policies to accommodate remote working while also helping to limit the impact on productivity. We feature the best remote desktop software - but if you're looking for more tools, be sure to check out our guides to the best video conferencing software and the best online collaboration tools around today. Also take a look at our in-depth feature on everything else you need to set up your home office. Choosing the best remote desktop software will equip you with the tools needed to access and manage one or more computers from another device. Remote access is possible via both local networks and the internet, which means that, with the right software, anyone can access any device, anywhere in the world. With one of the remote desktop access applications we’ve listed below, you will be able to do any one of a number of things. For example, you could use your personal smartphone to access and manage files on your business PC or office laptop without having to leave your home. Having this versatility is great, especially during periods of sickness or difficulty when you’re unable to physically go to the office as it is the case now. No wonder that searches related to remote desktop have shot up significantly over the past few months as businesses scramble to find more about remote access. Using remote access software is simple. They generally take no more than a few minutes to set up, and you will usually have to install the software on the computer or other device you want to access the remote computer with. Many programs also need to be installed on the remote PC, while others are connected via a weblink or access code. Some versions of Windows come with built-in remote desktop software, but third-party tools often perform much better and come with significantly more features. This could be especially important if you’re planning on using the software regularly. There are a few other po[CENSORED]r uses for the best remote desktop software. For example, you can handle complicated tasks from a laptop by connecting remotely to a more powerful computer. Also, IT support staff regularly use remote access programs to control a client’s computer and deal with any issues. In the this article, we've briefly covered our top ten best remote desktop applications to help you choose the right one for your needs.

Initial release date: October 16, 2020 Software developer: EA Vancouver Engine: Engine: Engine Publisher: A Sports Series: NHL Modes: Single video game, Team video game EA normally releases new NHL games during the Stanley Cup playoffs when the sporting world is focused on hockey, but complications due to COVID-19 led to a delay for NHL 21. The Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup weeks ago, and as a result, ice hockey has escaped the wider public sports consciousness as other leagues take hold. But NHL 21 is a compelling reason to care about hockey again, as this year's game delivers a major improvement to the story mode, adds a flashy new arcade-style mode in HUT Rush, and makes the on-the-ice gameplay better than ever thanks to a series of new skill moves that let you play with more style. Be A Pro 2.0 The biggest new addition for NHL 21 is the expanded and improved Be A Pro. After NHL 20 delivered basically no updates on the career-focused mode, NHL 21 offers a huge step forward thanks to a cinematic-style campaign of sorts, where you create a character and guide them through their career, beginning in either Europe or the Canadian Hockey League and competing for a spot in the NHL. The story beats play out through non-voiced dialogue sequences and cutscenes with coaches, media, and teammates. The main choices you make come from the Team or Star paths, and both have pros and cons to consider as you weigh your options to shape your career in the way you want to. As an example, my agent called me to ask if I wanted to attend a charity event for a wildlife protection company. I chose the "Team" response, and my brand rating improved because the simulation suggested my fans would see this as a sports star being humble and genuine. However, choosing this option came with a negative effect, too, as my agent told me it was a noble choice but I should also plan for my life after hockey and try to make as much money in my prime as possible. I enjoyed the struggle of making these choices, and I found myself choosing one option and then loading a previous save to see how things would have played out differently. The choices you have to make can be real head-scratchers and they generally seem believable and taken from real-world headlines. But while the conversation system and cutscenes are generally enjoyable and a step up from the past iterations of Be A Pro, they are at times very cheesy and contrived, so the conversations and their impact don't always resonate. I started my Be A Pro season in the Canadian Hockey League's Memorial Cup, and it was an enjoyable challenge to start my career as a low-level, poorly rated player who had to compete well with what few shifts I was given to win over my coach and teammates. Very few hockey players have a meteoric rise; it's often a slow grind, and this is faithfully represented in NHL 21's Be A Pro. The aim is to make it to the NHL by performing well enough to get signed by a team in the draft. To that end, NHL 21's Be A Pro mode delivers a multitude of feedback systems to help you improve. During games, a coaching system gives you live feedback about how you're performing and what you need to do better. After each game, a detailed statistics page po[CENSORED]tes with even more information and shows you sliders that represent how much further you need to go to improve. You can tailor your player to your liking with NHL 21's skill tree system, allowing you to decide what type of player you want to be and then building a skill profile that focuses on anything you want. As I got better and better, I enjoyed seeing my player grow and evolve with their OVR rating rising, and the intuitive feedback systems helped me to understand what to prioritize to become a better player and teammate. The rest of what makes Be A Pro so great this year are the more subtle improvements and attention to detail. There is a new radio show featuring NHL 21 commentator James Cybulski, who is a radio host in real life. It plays while you're moving through the menus and completing tasks like assigning skill points, checking the calendar, and tracking your progress, and it's exciting to hear Cybulski speak about what happened during the previous week and shower you with praise or discuss your less-than-ideal performance with his witty and informative commentary. It's a natural-sounding broadcast show, complete with Cybulski taking callers and flubbing his dialogue in some cases just as it would happen in real life. There is also a new Salary Perks option that lets you decide what to do with your earnings, which can become significant as you progress through your NHL career. Some of the options include supporting charities, buying cars and houses, or even investing your money into app development, and they impact your player's ratings, which further encourages you to invest in your player's life off the ice. For example, buying a sports car gets you a limited-time buff toward speed on the ice, while hiring a lawyer gets you +2 aggressiveness, which is pretty silly but fun to see at the same time. NHL 21's Be A Pro mode is a far cry from the Longshot and The Journey modes from EA's Madden and FIFA games, respectively--which are far more fleshed out and include voiced dialogue--but what is there for NHL 21's Be A Pro mode is entertaining and feels like a first step, and one that I hope EA builds upon in the future. Dangle Game Upgrades On the ice, NHL 21 excels yet again. The big new additions to the gameplay mix this year are a series of skill moves that make NHL 21 even more true-to-life and faithful to where the real NHL is at these days. Players like Alexander Spechnikov, Sidney Crosby, and Alexander Ovechkin are wowing fans with their skills, and this has seemingly inspired the flashy new skill moves in NHL 21. The new slip and chip dekes are relatively simple to execute, and they are useful for getting around defenders in the open ice. The bank net self-pass, which Crosby made famous, is particularly helpful to quickly change directions and keep defenders guessing. The more challenging dekes, the "no-move move" and the lacrosse goal, are aimed at the highest-skilled players and I found them to be extremely difficult to pull off. The lacrosse goal in particular is the hardest deke in the game--and it should be, given that it's only been performed in real life on camera a handful of times. The new skill moves are a welcome and enjoyable part of NHL 21, but they are not overpowered, and you don't necessarily need to use them to score goals. Like in real hockey, the majority of goals that are scored are the result of playing with speed, making hard passes, and putting in the effort to fight for the puck. It's a thrill to pull off some of the new skill moves during a game, especially against human opponents, but I scored the most goals--and had the most goals scored against me--by breaking the defense down with speed and making good and smart passes. Like in previous years, cycling the puck and waiting for a cross-crease scoring opportunity is the best way to win, even if it's not the flashiest way to do so. Also of note, your AI teammates, along with defenders, are smarter and more capable this year. In comparison to NHL 20, I found the AI to make better choices and skate together at a more capable level, and this contributes to making NHL 21 feel even more authentic to the sport. AI goalies are smarter in NHL 21, too--they get into position and reading shots better than last year, and as a result I found myself scoring fewer "cheap" goals, which helps make the game feel more true-to-life. The sloppy goals from previous games can still happen, but I experienced fewer of them in NHL 21. Several new desperation animations for goalies have been added this year, too, and they elicit some jaw-dropping sequences just as they do on a TV broadcast. There is still some weirdness to be found in NHL 21's gameplay. Player models do not always react to the action on the ice in a natural-looking way--there can be horror-show clips of players knocking into each other and limbs bending in inhuman ways, for example. And it's disappointing that the player models and the crowd animations are largely unchanged from last year. But these shortcomings are few and far between, and they don't negatively affect the experience in a consequential way. Excellent Controls And Detail The controls in NHL 21 are once again phenomenal. Using the recommended skill stick controls, the gamepad feels like an extension of your stick, and the controls feel intuitive and simple to grasp across the wide variety of moves you can perform. In particular, I found that poke checks are remarkably represented in NHL 21, providing a fine level of control to break up passes and give your opponents headaches as they try to enter the zone or make a move. Elsewhere, NHL 21 delivers subtle improvements to the presentation that help the game look and perform more realistically. Jerseys generally look more like the real deal, featuring crinkles on them that give the appearance that they are actually worn instead of just slapped onto the character model. The animations, too, appear smoother this year, especially the backskating and pivoting animations that are fluid almost to a level of a TV broadcast. Some of the skating animations are still a bit wonky, but for the most part NHL 21 has a stunning package of realistic-looking animations that ice hockey fans will appreciate. The attention to detail in NHL 21 is impeccable and makes the game feel like a true representation of hockey culture. PA announcers during intermissions talk about hot dog giveaways, commentators James Cybulski and Ray Ferraro have an excellent rapport and effectively balance being informative and entertaining at the same time. The way a player looks over their shoulder when entering the circle for a faceoff, how the crowd noise crescendos into a roar during the third period when the game is close, and how the ice creaks and cracks when playing on ponds are just a few examples of how NHL 21 successfully captures the spirit of hockey by getting the small details right. HUT Rush In addition to the updated Be A Pro, the other biggest new addition for NHL 21 is the HUT Rush mode, which is a great addition to the Hockey Ultimate Team mix. A less serious, more arcade-style mode, HUT Rush challenges you to rack up the highest score by completing skill moves and chaining them together for multiplier points. HUT Rush makes you play differently--no longer are you trying to score goals the basic way, because that won't be good enough. In HUT Rush, it's all about playing with style and using the new skill moves to do so. HUT Rush ties into the new skill moves nicely, providing an avenue for which to put the new skills to good use. There is a social competition element to HUT Rush as well, as your high scores go on a leaderboard that resets weekly, and I found myself coming back just in the first week to see how my stats compared to the global playerbase. Hockey Culture There are a multitude of modes to play in NHL 21 depending on what kind of experience you want, and I enjoyed the variety. Beyond the traditional 5v5 mode and the aforementioned HUT Rush and Be A Pro, the Threes and Ones modes return, and they remain as engaging and fun as ever with their less serious, more stripped-down mechanics. World of Chel returns as well, and this online mode succeeds in creating a hub of sorts for you to create a character and develop them. In World of Chel, you compete against other human players with leaderboards, a battle pass-style cosmetic system, and other progression rewards that represent the carrot to keep chasing. Hockey Ultimate Team offers literally hundreds of challenges to take part in, and this is before you even begin competing with other humans in online versus modes. The Franchise mode, however, sees only minimal updates--the main new feature, a trade deadline simulation, doesn't end up feeling very satisfyingly tense and demanding as you race to make trades against the clock. That said, Franchise remains a very strong offering that lets you live out the fantasy of being an NHL GM as you make all manner of choices to help your team succeed, from identifying draft picks, to maintaining and repairing the toilets in your stadium's bathrooms, to keeping your fans happy. You need to manage just about everything, and it can be a real head-scratcher to have to make decisions that might be good for your organization but bad for player morale. In that way, it feels realistic and true to the experience of the dilemmas that a real NHL GM might face. Simply put, NHL 21 represents a gigantic offering with each distinct part bringing something to the table that shows off a different corner of the hockey world and its culture. And speaking of culture, NHL 21 introduces new banners that pop up to tell you that offensive team names and other toxic behavior will not be tolerated. Further, NHL 21 has built-in player-reporting tools, so you can quickly and easily report offensive user-created team names you may come across. The NHL video game series and the sport it's based on is known to have a diversity and toxicity problem, and it's good to see EA take a step in the right direction to weed out some of the bad actors. However, with the game's online modes only just getting properly po[CENSORED]ted now, it's too soon to say if these reporting tools will be effective in thwarting bad behavior. NHL 21 is a fantastic ice hockey game that pushes the series forward with an enjoyable, engaging story mode in Be A Pro and a flashy, arcade-style way to play with HUT Rush. The new skill moves are a welcome addition to the mix to give players new ways to be slippery and keep defenders guessing, but the best part of NHL 21 is its solid foundation thanks to its excellent controls and presentation package that is getting even closer to mirroring a TV broadcast.

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