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Vivo Y300 Pro was launched in China on Thursday as the latest entrant in the company's midrange Y series of smartphones. The new Vivo handset is sold in four colour options and four RAM and storage configurations. It sports a 6.77-inch screen with up to 120Hz refresh rate and runs on a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC. The Vivo Y300 Pro features 50-megapixel dual rear cameras and packs a 6,500mAh battery with 80W fast charging support. Vivo Y300 Pro Price Vivo Y300 Pro price is set at CNY 2,499 (roughly Rs. 29,000) for the top-end 12GB RAM + 512GB storage version. The 12GB + 256GB, 8GB + 256GB and 8GB + 128GB RAM and storage models are priced at CNY 2,199 (roughly Rs. 26,000), CNY 1,999 (roughly Rs. 23,000), and CNY 1,799 (roughly Rs. 21,000), respectively. It is released in Black Jade, Gold with Jade, White and Titanium (translated from Chinese) colour options. Vivo Y300 Pro Specifications The dual-SIM (Nano) Vivo Y300 Pro runs on OriginOS 4 based on Android 14 and features a 6.77-inch full-HD+ (1,080x2,392 pixels) AMOLED display with a refresh rate ranging between 60Hz, 90Hz and 120Hz, as well as a peak brightness level of 5,000nits, and 3,840Hz pulse-width modulation (PWM) dimming. It runs on a 4nm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC and an Adreno 710 GPU, along with up to 12GB RAM and up to 512GB storage. or optics, the Vivo Y300 Pro has a dual rear camera setup comprising a 50-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.79 aperture and a 2-megapixel secondary shooter with an f/2.4 aperture. It carries a 32-megapixel front camera with an f/2.0 aperture for selfies and video calls. Connectivity options on the Vivo Y300 Pro include Bluetooth 5.1, GPS/AGPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and Wi-Fi. It also features an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, e-compass, gyroscope and a proximity sensor. It boasts an in-display fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication.The Vivo Y300 Pro has an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance. It packs a 6,500mAh battery with 80W fast charging. The battery is claimed to deliver up to 23.2 hours of video playback time and up to 31.52 hours of standby time on a single charge. It measures 63.4x76.4x7.69mm and weighs around 194g. https://www.gadgets360.com/mobiles/news/vivo-y300-pro-price-launch-specifications-features-6498381

Zillow is boosting its AI search tool to end the tedious filtering of locations and other elements. Now you can just ask for a place within a travel distance of a location and it will handle the rest for you. The upgraded AI tools, available on the Zillow mobile app, rely on casual language rather than drop-downs and other menus. The idea is that you won't have to specify affordability, proximity to schools, commute time, and related matters. You can just explain what you want as though you are talking to a human. For instance, Zillow described how you could ask for "homes 30 minutes from Millennium Park," “3-bedroom houses near Roosevelt High School,” or "apartments near Denver Union Station" for properties within a certain distance to your office, a good school, or a park you like. The point is to make it more intuitive to find your ideal home. It's a linguistic upgrade to Zillow's current AI features, which currently perform tasks such as estimating a home's value and sharing AI-powered Showcase listings that tour within a house. "From streamlining the home search to personalizing the user experience, Zillow applies AI in practical ways to help people get home," said Zillow senior vice president of AI Josh Weisberg. "Search is one of the bedrocks of our platform, and we're always improving it to make it easier for users to find homes that meet their unique needs." AI Realty As AI becomes increasingly integrated into platforms like Zillow, the home search process could become less painful, even if the idea of home-buying being easy seems more like a hallucination than anything an AI has produced. Zillow's AI will also use the conversations and requests people submit for further training. Zillow claims that as more people use the platform, the AI will be better at pinpointing the places people might actually want to buy or rent. There's no telling if real estate agents will consider Zillow's AI upgrade a win because it could shorten the home search process or a problem because it might undercut the relationship they're trying to build with potential home buyers. https://www.techradar.com/computing/artificial-intelligence/zillows-ai-wants-to-help-you-find-the-dream-home-you-didnt-know-you-wanted

Looking for synergies between Quantum Brilliance’s computing cluster and ORNL’s classical HPC systems. Quantum Brilliance (QB) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have announced a strategic collaboration that will integrate the former’s diamond-based quantum accelerators with the latter’s state-of-the-art high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure. The partners hope to validate the potential of QB’s compact, room-temperature quantum accelerators in tasks that go beyond the realms of classical computing. Readers may not be familiar with Australia-based QB, but the U.S.-based ORNL is well known as the home of the Department of Energy’s Frontier supercomputer. Thus, this collaboration is a very serious step forward for quantum computing. Frontier sits proudly atop the Top500 list, thanks to its 8.7 million cores delivering up to 1,206 PFlop/s (while eating through 22,786kW). Perhaps this collaboration will one day take supercomputing even higher, hand-in-hand with greater efficiency. In an email to Tom’s Hardware, QB says that the key initial objective of the collaboration will be to integrate “an on-premises cluster of QB’s quantum accelerators with ORNL’s HPC systems.” This will allow researchers to explore the performance of parallelized and hybridized quantum computing solutions. With the hybridized solution, both quantum and classical processors will work in concert. “Parallel quantum computing holds transformative potential for scientific discovery and industrial applications that require high-performance computing,” said Dr. Travis Humble, Director at the Quantum Science Center at ORNL. Humble said the partnership with QB may end up “paving the way for groundbreaking advancements that will inform the design of future HPC infrastructure.” Mark Luo, CEO of Quantum Brilliance, also fanfares the technological collaboration. Luo described the integration of “the world’s first cluster of room-temperature QPUs” with ORNL’s leading HPC infrastructure as a “critical milestone.” It is also vital to co-develop new computational methods and software tools to make the most of the remarkable hardware partnership. It may only be when hardware, software, and new techniques for quantum-classical hybrid solutions reach a refined, coalesced state that we see the long-promised potential of quantum computing is realized. QB is now selling its Gen1 Model rackmount accelerator to commercial customers. A PCIe card, packing one of its diamond-based QPUs (pictured in our gallery), is also in the works. https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/quantum-computing/diamond-based-quantum-accelerators-to-be-integrated-into-oak-ridge-national-laboratorys-hpc

Animal rights groups said gunfire killed a beluga whale that rose to fame in Norway after its unusual harness sparked suspicions the creature had been trained by Russia as a spy. The organisations NOAH and OneWhale said they had filed a complaint with Norwegian police asking them to open a criminal investigation in the death of the animal. The beluga, nicknamed Hvaldimir, rose to fame in 2019 after being seen at sea wearing a specially-fitted harness with mounts for a camera, prompting concerns that the animal may have been trained by the Russian military to gather intelligence. A celebrity in Norway, Hvaldimir was found dead on Saturday in a bay on the country’s southwestern coast. His body was transported to a local branch of the Norwegian Veterinary Institute on Monday for an autopsy. A report on Hvaldimir’s death is expected “within three weeks”, a spokeswoman for the institute said. NOAH and OneWhale have called for a criminal investigation to be launched “based on compelling evidence that the whale was killed by gunshot wounds”. In an Instagram post on Wednesday, OneWhale – whose mission “is to protect one whale, Hvaldimir, so that we can protect many” – said that “several veterinarians, biologists, and ballistics experts have reviewed [the] evidence of Hvaldimir’s injuries, determining that the whale’s death was the result of a criminal act”. “The injuries on the whale are alarming and of a nature that cannot rule out a criminal act – it is shocking,” NOAH Director Siri Martinsen said in a statement. “Given the suspicion of a criminal act, it is crucial that the police are involved quickly,” she said. Police confirmed they had received a complaint regarding the death of Hvaldimir and said they would look into the matter “to determine whether there are reasonable motives to launch an investigation”. Norway’s Veterinary Institute told the AFP news agency that “if something suspicious were to come up” under the autopsy, “police would be informed”. With an estimated age of 15 to 20, Hvaldimir was relatively young for a beluga whale, which typically live 30 to 35 years, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). In 2019, the hypothesis of Hvaldimir being a “spy whale” was fuelled by his discovery in the strategic location of the Barents Sea, a hotbed of East-West rivalry during the Cold War. Moscow’s most powerful navy fleet is based in the Barents Sea, and Russia and the West continue to track the movements of each other’s submarines in the region. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/5/russian-spy-whale-hvaldimir-killed-by-gunshots-animal-rights-groups

Brendon McCullum on taking over England white-ball side: "A natural regeneration is required, that's the bit that excites me. I look at the talent and they have learnt how to play from those once-in a-generation players"; McCullum hopes Ben Stokes features in limited-overs cricket again Brendon McCullum is "very confident" that Jos Buttler remains the man to lead England in white-ball cricket and hopes to make the captain less "miserable" as he steps up to coach the side. McCullum will take charge of all formats from early next year, adding the limited-overs role to the Test job he has held since 2022, with the New Zealander extending his contract until 2027.The 42-year-old and red-ball skipper Ben Stokes have revitalised the Test team with their aggressive mindset and, from Thursday, England will look to a clinch a 3-0 sweep of Sri Lanka, live on Sky Sports. One of McCullum's chief goals as white-ball boss is to help Buttler enjoy himself again, with England having lost both their 50-over and T20 World Cup titles during the last year and the skipper often cutting a sombre figure, particularly during the first-round exit in the 50-over edition in India in 2023. Speaking at The Kia Oval on Wednesday, McCullum said: "I am very confident in Buttler as captain. What I want from Jos is for him to enjoy the next few years. Sponsored stories Recommended byWhat is Outbrain Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Officially List Their Massive Beverly Hills Mansion for $68 Million Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Officially List Their Massive Beverly Hills Mansion for $68 Million Mansion Global Unlock PhD Scholarship Opportunities in USA Unlock PhD Scholarship Opportunities in USA Search Ads Trending Transfer Centre LIVE! 'Real Madrid make Rodri a priority target' Chelsea news: Palmer left out of Conference League squad Man Utd rumours: 'Ten Hag job at risk unless style of play starts to impress' Gomes says godfather Nani was a big influence on his career Arsenal news: Sterling labels Gunners 'perfect fit' Paralympics 2024 LIVE! GB's Winnifrith, 13, wins 100m breaststroke silver Angel Gomes: England's new starlet who Man Utd let go Tottenham news: Spence and Reguilon miss out on Europa League squad Mitchell defends Newcastle business after failed Guehi, Elanga bids The key contract situations at every PL club Watch Latest News "If he retired tomorrow he would probably go down as the greatest white-ball player England have produced so there is chance for however long he plays to not protect anything and play with a smile on his face. My job is to push him towards that. "He has been a little bit miserable at times, he is not naturally as expressive as some, but he has done a great job."He has won a World Cup as captain [the T20 edition in Australia in 2022] and been part of World Cup-winning teams previously. He is a gifted player and a fine leader. "My job is to get the best out of him so players in the dressing room feel bulletproof and 10-feet tall and know the skipper is going to give them that extra pat on the back and enjoy the ride with them." McCullum excited by England's white-ball talent McCullum continued: "I will bring the positivity and style I like to operate with across all formats and I think it will give us a good chance of being successful. "The white-ball side has been through a dynasty from when [Eoin Morgan] started it. They have won World Cups and some once-in-a-generation players have come through at the same time. "Now a natural regeneration is required and that's the bit that excites me. I look around at the talent and they have learnt how to play from those once-in a-generation cricketers." McCullum assumes Test captain Stokes is "all in" in terms of carrying on in that role until 2027 and says he made sure the all-rounder was "at peace" with him taking the white-ball role before he accepted the offer from England managing director of cricket Rob Key. McCullum is also hopeful Stokes will play limited-overs cricket for his country again despite the 33-year-old - who is currently out of action with a hamstring injury - prioritising Test cricket of late as he recovers from surgery on a chronic left knee issue. But he stressed that England will have to look after their multi-format players and that rotation will still be required despite the congested nature of the international calendar starting to ease. On Stokes, McCullum said: "In terms of white ball, why not? We will see where he sits. He loves big moments and big stages [but] our players can't play everything. "There will be some bilateral series where we can't have all our best players at the same time but when it comes to major events and big series those players are very much in discussions." McCullum: Other coaches have chance to step up McCullum says the kinder schedule going forward has allowed England to now have one coach for all formats, with Key initially splitting the jobs when he took charge, handing McCullum the Test gig and Matthew Mott the reins in white-ball cricket. However, he says there will still be scope for him to take a break and for members of his backroom staff to deputise as a head coach. McCullum said: "It is going to be an added workload, that's for sure, but I didn't take a whole lot of persuading. I looked at the opportunity and thought, 'what a chance to have a good crack'. "At times you may be tested but that's the exciting part of doing jobs like this. You are put under pressure at times, your methods and visons are challenged, so it's about remaining firm and getting players to excel. "Over the last two years it would have been nigh on impossible for someone to do all three formats but with the schedule easing enough it gives you the ability to have one person in the role. "There will be times where we have to be smart with stepping support staff in and out and that will include myself, but I don't see that as a problem. "It will give other coaches a chance to step up in a head coach capacity, just like [Marcus Trescothick] is doing [against Australia this month and West Indies in the autumn]. "When I leave in three and a half years, you want the next group of coaches or those you have brought along to be viable head coach candidates." England vs Australia schedule - all games live on Sky Sports 1st T20 (September 11) - The Ageas Bowl, Southampton (6.30pm start) 2nd T20 (September 13) - Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (6.30pm start) 3rd T20 (September 15) - Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester (2.30pm start) 1st ODI (September 19) - Trent Bridge, Nottingham (12.30pm start) 2nd ODI (September 21) - Headingley, Leeds (11am start) 3rd ODI (September 24) - Seat Unique Riverside, Durham (12.30pm start) 4th ODI (September 27) - Lord's, London (12.30pm start) 5th ODI (September 29) - The Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol (11am start) https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/13210092/england-coach-brendon-mccullum-backs-captain-jos-buttler-as-he-plots-regeneration-of-white-ball-side

Unlocking value for shareholders of Raymond Ltd, shares of Raymond Lifestyle, which got demerged from the parent company in June this year, got listed on stock exchanges this morning. The stock is listed at Rs 3,020 on NSE and Rs 3,000 on BSE. Raymond Lifestyle's listing is at a premium of 93% over the base price of Rs 1,562.65. Raymond The listing gives Raymond Lifestyle, a play on India's wedding and ceremonial market, a valuation of around Rs 18,300 crore. As part of a group restructuring process, Raymond demerged its lifestyle business into a separate company and gave four shares of Raymond Lifestyle for every five shares held in Raymond. After listing, the stock hit the 5% lower circuit limit as early investors booked profits. Shares of Raymond Ltd also fell around 1%. Ventura Securities has valued the lifestyle business at Rs 30,000 crore which means a target price of Rs 4,927 per share. "Over the past four years prior to demerger, the management team at Raymond has scripted a sharp turnaround in the overall business. Not only has the company turned net debt free in FY24 (ahead of its stated timeline of FY25) but also returned a net cash position of Rs 200 crore," Ventura Securities said. The company has guided for 12-15% revenue growth in the lifestyle business and also expects to double its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation (EBITDA) to over Rs 2,000 crore by FY28. Doubling down on the success of “Ethnix by Raymond” brand, Raymond is looking to speed up the rollout to a total of 350+ stores from the existing 114 stores. "Over FY24-27E, we forecast wedding revenues to grow at a CAGR of 19.2% to Rs 4,192 crore and EBITDA to grow at a CAGR of 17.7% to Rs 895 crore. We have conservatively modelled that the FY24 “wedding” margins of 21-22% should sustain over the forecast period," Ventura analysts said. RLL has a legacy collection of well-established brands such as Park Avenue, Raymond, Parx, Ethnics by Raymond, and ColorPlus, yet it has remained underpenetrated with total EBOs (exclusive brand outlets) of 424 as of 1QFY25 end, Motilal said. The brokerage sees a strong growth potential for each brand which could reach at least 250 EBOs individually. The Indian textiles maker reported a multifold jump in first-quarter profit, helped by an exceptional gain from the sale of its consumer business. Raymond's consolidated profit was 10.65 billion rupees ($128.7 million) for the three months ended June 30, compared with 809 million rupees a year earlier. As part of a restructuring process, Raymond also demerged its real estate business into a separately listed entity. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/raymond-lifestyle-shares-list-at-rs-3020-on-nse-after-demerger/articleshow/113081362.cms?from=mdr

The Asian Football Confederation’s third-round qualifying matches for the FIFA World Cup 2026 will begin on Thursday, as 18 teams battle for the eight places up for grabs. The final stage of qualification will culminate in June 2025, but several teams will be able to cement their spots in the North American edition of the World Cup much earlier. Here’s everything to know as Asia’s finest battle it out for a place at global football’s showpiece event: ⚽ What is the latest stage of AFC qualifiers? Following the second round of preliminary knockout matches, the group stages of the AFC qualifiers have now been formed by the 18 remaining teams from the region. There are eight automatic qualifying places up for grabs plus an additional place in the last chance saloon that is the intercontinental playoffs. ⚽ How can teams qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026? The 18 remaining Asian teams have been split into three groups of six, who will face each other home and away. The top two teams will automatically qualify for the World Cup. Six teams, comprising the best third- and fourth-placed finishers from the three groups, will then be divided into two groups. The three teams in each group of these two groups will face the other once at a neutral venue. The top two teams will progress to the World Cup. https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2024/9/4/world-cup-2026-afc-qualifiers-teams-groups-format-schedule-prize-money

Talk about a surprise. I confess, when I signed up to attend a Konami preview event last August, it was almost entirely to get some hands-on time with the Silent Hill 2 remake (it's pretty good!) and Metal Gear Solid Delta (it's very MGS3!). I knew almost nothing about the third game on the docket: chaotic, isometric delivery sim Deliver At All Costs (DAAC) from Far Out Games. But by the time I left, DAAC was easily the game I was most excited about. No shade towards MGS or SH2, but my Mercenaries-loving self has felt a constant hunger for massive environmental destruction and physics-based ludicrousness for the last 19 years, and DAAC delivers both in spades. Same-day delivery Deliver At All Costs is a '50s pastiche that puts you in the underachieving shoes of Winston Green, a bonafide engineering genius whose short temper has kept him from ever fulfilling his potential. Down on his luck and behind on rent, ol' Winston takes a job with a local delivery company—Deliver At All Costs—to make ends meet. It starts with a quick drive over to the office. You know what they say: The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, and I'll be damned if I'm not a man of science. I angled Winston's rusty old beater towards my quest objective and hit the gas, ploughing through every park bench, lamp post, person, and building in my way. DAAC's world is fantastically destructible. Nothing is an obstacle to a vehicle moving at high enough speeds, and that includes the game's structures, which can nearly all be smashed through or reduced to ruins by a dedicated enough deliveryman. Meanwhile, the town's po[CENSORED]ce is so sproingy everyone can go flying after being hit by a truck travelling at 80 mph and barely feel a thing, though they will chase after you with bats and bent rebar to exact their revenge. My sojourn to the company office involved Kool-Aid Man'ing through about 16 different buildings and, friends, it really never gets old. You can enhance your vehicle's destructiveness through an upgrade system: Side quest rewards and mechanical parts hidden in hard-to-reach areas unlock new baffling things for your car to do. By the time I'd finished with my demo, I had full hydraulics and a functioning crane attached to my pickup. Plus, I'd unlocked a few skills for Winston himself via a separate system: "hitchhiking" and "a literal bicycle," which came in handy when I wrecked my car (you can get it back at a phone booth).At some point, I had wrecked the town to such an extent that I had acquired a GTA-style wanted level, pursued by cops across the game's maps. It just made things more ridiculous: Just me and several cop cars absolutely annihilating the local area before I finally decided it was time to get a mission and leapt into a nearby trash can (you can get out of the car whenever you like) to lose them. https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/this-absurd-delivery-game-where-you-can-smash-through-buildings-was-my-favourite-game-at-an-event-where-i-also-played-the-metal-gear-solid-and-silent-hill-remakes/

Red Magic Gaming Pad will launch in China on September 5. Previously, the company had teased some key features of the upcoming gaming tablet including its chipset, cooling, and display details. The AnTuTu score of the tablet was revealed as well. Now, the design and colour options of the Red Magic Gaming Pad have been unveiled. The tablet was tipped to launch with two screen size options. However, the latest design reveals do not hint at varying display sizes. Red Magic Gaming Pad Design, Colour Options The design of the Red Magic Gaming Pad has been revealed in an official Weibo post ahead of the tablet's launch in China on September 5. The tablet is shown in two colour options — Dark Night and Silver Wing (translated from Chinese). A part of the rear panel sports a transparent design. A vertical portion of the Red Magic Gaming Pad rear panel appears with a transparent cover. The brand logo is placed centrally on the panel, the camera unit is placed in the top right corner, vertically underneath which we see an LED flash unit and a customisable, circular RGB light.The front camera slot of the Red Magic Gaming Pad is embedded in the right bezel. The flat display appears with a sizeable, uniform bezel. The right appears to house the power button, while the bottom edge has speaker units and a USB Type-C port. Red Magic Gaming Pad Features The Red Magic Gaming Pad is confirmed to sport a 2.8K (2,880 x 1,800 pixels) display with up to 144Hz refresh rate and 16:10 aspect ratio. It is claimed to be the "first naked-eye 3D tablet" with a 90Hz AI-backed eye-tracking feature. Earlier reports suggested that the tablet may launch in 10.8-inch and 12.4-inch screen size options. Red Magic has revealed that the Red Magic Gaming Pad will be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and carry a 10,100mAh battery with support for 120W wired fast charging. The tablet will support 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 onboard storage and ship with Android 14-based UI.The Red Magic Gaming Pad will be equipped with a quad-speaker system and the "PAD Magic Cooling ICE 2.0 Nine-layer cooling" (translated from Chinese) technology. For optics, it will carry a 50-megapixel and a 20-megapixel rear and front camera sensor, respectively. https://www.gadgets360.com/tablets/news/red-magic-gaming-pad-design-colour-options-reveal-launch-china-6488113

California is another step closer to defining how and when moviemakers and others can use AI versions of celebrities in their projects. The California state Senate has passed AB 1836, a law requiring those who want to make an AI replica of a deceased performer get explicit consent from their estates. The bill now goes to Governor Gavin Newsom, who will likely sign the bill thanks to its backing by the unionized performers of SAG-AFTRA and related groups. The law covers any digital recreation using AI. That might mean a still image, a voice clone performing a new role, or even a full character in a film made long after their passing. Regardless of the purpose, the producers must get the estate or legal representative of the deceased performer to agree. The new bill comes right after the Senate passed the related AB 2602. That bill focuses on living performers and sets stricter rules for consent before AI replicas can be used. Together, these bills represent a growing recognition of the need to regulate AI’s impact on both the living and the deceased in the entertainment industry. “For those who would use the digital replicas of deceased performers in films, TV shows, video games, audiobooks, sound recordings and more, without first getting the consent of those performers’ estates, the California Senate just said NO,” SAG-AFTRA said in a statement. “AB 1836 is another win in SAG-AFTRA’s ongoing strategy of enhancing performer protections in a world of generative artificial intelligence." Deepfake Demand The union has already encouraged deals built around the structure of the bill even before it becomes law. For instance, SAG-AFTRA and AI startup Narrativ partnered on a new online marketplace where actors can license their voices AI voice clones while controlling where and how the voices are used. Similarly, AI voice developer ElevenLabs made a deal with the estates of several deceased Hollywood stars, including Judy Garland, James Dean, Laurence Olivier, and Burt Reynolds, to get legal rights to their voices for new AI-created performances. SAG-AFTRA's embrace of the bill is unsurprising, considering the last year or so. AI was central to the recent strike by the union, and AI protections were built into the new master TV and film contract template. But the bills may mean a lot more to the AI space than just deepfake casting calls. California might set a template thanks to the strength of the state's entertainment and tech industry. Other states and countries may model their own regulations on the same premise to simplify matters on a global scale. "The passing of this bill, along with AB 2602 earlier this week, builds on our mosaic of protections in law and contract," SAG-AFTRA wrote. "Both of these bills have been a legislative priority for the union on behalf of our membership and beyond, making explicit consent in California mandatory. We look forward to these bills being signed by Governor Gavin Newsom." https://www.techradar.com/computing/artificial-intelligence/hollywood-will-need-permission-to-make-ai-deepfakes-of-long-gone-stars

Intel and Microsoft were the first high-tech giants to be included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) index in the late 1990s. Their growth happening at the same time as that of the PC market. But times have changed. Microsoft is now the world's second largest company by market cap due to its cloud business and supremacy in the AI sector, whereas Intel is now facing possible removal from the index due to a severe drop in its stock price this year, says analysts and investors in a Reuters report. For the first time in 30 years, Intel's market capitalization has fallen below $100 billion, marking a significant drop from its peak in 2000. This year alone Intel's stock has plummeted nearly 60% and the company is now the poorest performer in the prestigious DJIA index. After the company announced a $1.6 billion loss for the second quarter its stock price dropped further to the lowest level among the index's constituents, prompting analysts to suggest that its removal is likely imminent. The company's decline is partly due to missed opportunities in the rapidly growing AI sector, declining revenue and unit share on the traditional datacenter CPU market, and massive spending on manufacturing capacity amid lack of clear business prospects on the foundry market. In an attempt to reverse its fortunes, Intel has implemented several drastic measures: the company announced layoffs impacting 15% of its workforce and suspended payments of its dividends. However, some experts believe these steps may be too little, too late. The removal of Intel from the Dow would not only impact the company's reputation but could also lead to a further decline in its stock price. Meanwhile, the Dow's selection criteria prioritize stock price over market capitalization. The highest-priced stock in the index is currently UnitedHealth Group, which is priced nearly 29 times higher than Intel, according to Reuters. If Intel is removed from the DJIA, potential replacements include Nvidia and Texas Instruments, according to an analyst cited by the Reuters report. Nvidia, which the world's third largest company by market capitalization, has seen its stock rise 160% this year alone. However, its volatility might be a concern for the Dow's selection committee. On the other hand, there is Texas Instruments known for its stable performance and significant manufacturing presence in the U.S. TI's stock price has risen over 20% this year, is more in line with the average price of current Dow components. https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-could-be-removed-from-dow-jones-due-to-stark-stock-price-drop-report

The Wellin Museum of Art is hosting an exhibition titled “Menagerie: Animals in Art” from Sept. 7, 2024, to June 8, 2025. This exhibit showcases hundreds of artworks featuring animals from ancient times to today. It explores how people have used animal images in art for various reasons and includes images of insects, fish, birds, and mammals, highlighting their roles in power, virtue, decoration, and myth. The exhibition’s opening reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public. Exhibition curator Elizabeth Shannon will lead a virtual preview of the exhibition on Friday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m. on Facebook Live. The large survey of artworks and artifacts in the exhibition features representations of real and imagined creatures from across eras and cultures. Drawn from the broad scope of the Wellin Museum’s collection, “Menagerie” includes works that not only engage with animal imagery for symbolic, cultural, ceremonial, and religious purposes, but as decorative motifs and to comment — often satirically — on human folly and events. The exhibition also takes a holistic and environmental approach to animals and encourages visitors to examine the many ways in which wild and domesticated creatures impact our lives, and vice versa. Selections include objects from Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome; Mesoamerican and Andean artifacts; artworks from Medieval, Renaissance, and 19th-century Europe; prints, drawings, and textiles from East Asia; Persian illuminated manuscripts; and global modern and contemporary art. Shannon explained, “The persistent presence of creatures in art throughout time and across cultures reflects the diverse roles that wild and domesticated animals play in our lives. A dog might be a dangerous threat, a symbol of protection, or a beloved family member, while an insect in its natural habitat may be perceived as a pest if humans encroach on its environment.” WellinWorks, the interactive environment related to the exhibition and designed to inspire creativity within the museum, was prompted by an aspirational question that emerged during the development of the Menagerie exhibition: When you leave the museum, will you look at the world differently than when you entered? Designed by Hamilton students and Wellin staff to consider the many ways that humans, animals, and the natural world interact, the space provides opportunities for hands-on artmaking and tools to foster contemplation. Areas for reflection on the cultural and symbolic meanings of animals are designed to encourage conversation around human relationships with animals. Also on view is a video illuminating how faculty engage with and enrich our knowledge of objects in the museum’s collection. On Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 4:30 p.m., Alexa Hatanaka, whose work is included in the exhibition, will discuss her work. The Wellin Museum of Art hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Parking and admission are free of charge. https://www.hamilton.edu/news/story/wellin-museum-animals-cats-menagerie

Three-match T20 series: Scotland v Australia Venue: The Grange, Edinburgh Dates: 4, 6 & 7 September Start: 14:00 BST Coverage: Watch live on the BBC Sport website & iPlayer, follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website Scotland fully believe they can claim a historic series win over Australia when the sides meet in three T20Is in Edinburgh this week, according to all-rounder Michael Leask. The Scots have never beaten Australia in any format but came close to a shock at the recent T20 World Cup, denied by a wonderful innings from Marcus Stoinis in St Lucia. Scotland were also well placed to upset England during that World Cup campaign before torrential rain led to the match's abandonment. All three of Scotland's games against Australia will be available to watch live on BBC platforms. "It's lovely to have Australia on our home patch, especially for three games," Leask told BBC Scotland. "It's an exciting opportunity for our guys, given what happened at the World Cup and how close we came. "We've got a very exciting squad that’s ready for the challenge - it is going to be a challenge - they are some of the best in the world for a reason, but they are on our home patch. "We're targeting a series win and that would be the icing on the cake of what has been a very good summer." Outside global events, Scotland rarely get chances to take on the sport's international superpowers, victims of the selective nature of the ICC's fixture schedule. Indeed, it is more than two years since New Zealand were in town - the last time a nation ranked in the top 10 for white ball cricket toured Scotland. Leask says Scotland are determined to showcase their skills in this series, and expressed his annoyance at the lack of variety in the international calendar. "It is frustrating we don't get the opportunities to play the big boys, so to speak," Leask added. "Even the likes of Bangladesh and West Indies, we don't get opportunities to play against them. And we would take any opportunity, because the more high quality cricket we get, the better we get. "We would love them to come and play us more often but we understand sometimes it is not feasible. We want any fixture we can get against the big boys, but they have got a heavy schedule. This is our opportunity. "It would be nice if the higher associates got more exposure. We punch above our weight a lot of the time and that is down to the quality of the group we've got." Australia captain Mitchell Marsh will lead a somewhat new look Australia side - still able to call upon the likes of Adam Zampa and Travis Head but not Matthew Wade or the retired David Warner. The Western Australia all-rounder says his side are taking nothing for granted despite being firm favourites, and called for the likes of Scotland to "get more opportunities" in the years to come. "Scotland were well drilled [at the World Cup], certainly up for the challenge and it was a great game of cricket," Marsh said. "I'm sure there will be more of that over the next few days. "It's spoken about a lot but Scotland are a good cricket team and they have improved a lot. "The more cricket that teams like Scotland can play against the bigger nations, the better it is for the world game. It's our responsibility as players to keep growing the game, so I certainly hope they get more opportunities over the next period of time." Marsh is embracing the slightly different surroundings for this series, with capacity crowds of around 3,000 expected in the Scottish capital, a far cry from the colossal Melbourne Cricket Ground. "Edinburgh's got a beautiful vibe to it, people are fantastic, very welcoming and you get a sense that all the cricket fans here are excited for the series," he said. "It's going to be a great few days. "It's certainly a very scenic ground. A beautiful city to play cricket in and we're very excited." https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/c4gey2417weo

Valerie Bertinelli has recently joined Drew Barrymore as a lifestyle expert on her show. The former Food Network star will reportedly make regular appearances on The Drew Barrymore Show, per PEOPLE. Earlier this year, Valerie told the outlet about joining Drew’s crew member. “I'm going to be a part of The Drew Barrymore Show. I'm going to be part of Drew Crew, and I'm super excited about that,” she remarked. Valerie mentioned, “I absolutely adore Drew.” “And all the people that work there are so flippin' cool,” stated the 64-year-old. Valerie opened up that she’s had “a busy summer” juggling her upcoming projects. “I'll be going to New York a lot to hang out with Drew and see where that takes me,” she said. In a press statement shared via PEOPLE, Valeri isn’t the only new addition to The Drew Barrymore Show. The viewers will also watch a new segment called Wellsdays. “The segment will feature Barrymore discussing a myriad of health and wellness issues,” it read. Meanwhile, The Drew Barrymore Show’s fifth season will premiere on September 9 while the show will also feature lifestyle experts including Ross Matthews, Chris Appleton and Zanna Roberts Rassi. https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1226746-valeri-bertinelli-joins-drew-barrymores-show-as-a-lifestyle-expert

Western governments have come under pressure to halt arms sales to Israel over how it is waging the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel is a major weapons exporter, but its military has been heavily reliant on imported aircraft, guided bombs and missiles to conduct what experts have described as one of the most intense and destructive aerial campaigns in recent history. Campaign groups and some politicians among Israel's Western allies say arms exports should be suspended because, they say, Israel is failing to do enough to protect the lives of civilians and ensure enough humanitarian aid reaches them. On Monday, the UK said it was suspending about 30 export licences for military equipment to Israel for use in military operations in Gaza following a review of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law. UK arms exports to Israel are relatively small compared to Israel's total, but Israel's prime minister denounced the UK's decision as "shameful". The war was triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken hostage. More than 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, the territory's Hamas-run health ministry says. Israel insists that its forces are working to avoid civilian casualties, accuses Hamas of deliberately putting civilians in the line of fire, and says there are no limits on aid deliveries. United States The US is by far the biggest supplier of arms to Israel, having helped it build one of the most technologically sophisticated militaries in the world. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the US accounted for 69% of Israel's imports of major conventional arms between 2019 and 2023. The US provides Israel with $3.8bn (£2.9bn) in annual military aid under a 10-year agreement that is intended to allow its ally to maintain what it calls a "qualitative military edge" over neighbouring countries.Part of the aid - $500m annually - is set aside to fund missile defence programmes, including the jointly developed Iron Dome, Arrow and David's Sling systems. Israel has relied on them during the war to defend itself against rocket, missile and drone attacks by Palestinian armed groups in Gaza, as well as other Iran-backed armed groups based in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. In the days after Hamas's 7 October attack, President Joe Biden said the US was "surging additional military assistance" to Israel. SIPRI said the US rapidly delivered thousands of guided bombs and missies to Israel at the end of 2023, but that the total volume of Israeli arms imports from the US that year was almost the same as in 2022. Last December, the Biden administration made public two urgent sales to Israel after using emergency authority to skip congressional review. One sale was for 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition worth $106m, while the other was for $147m of components to make 155mm artillery shells. US media reported in March that the administration had also quietly made more than 100 other military sales to Israel since the start of the war, most falling below the dollar amount that would require Congress to be formally notified. They were said to have included thousands of precision-guided munitions, small-diameter bombs, bunker busters and small arms. In May, the US paused a shipment of weapons to Israel for the first time, as representatives of Mr Biden's Democratic Party in Congress and supporters became increasingly concerned by Israel's plan for a ground offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah. US officials said 1,800 2,000lb (907kg) bombs and 1,700 500lb bombs would be held back over concerns that civilians could be killed if they were used on densely po[CENSORED]ted urban areas. In July, US officials said the delivery of the 500lb bombs would be authorised, but that the 2,000lb bombs would continue to be withheld out of continued concern over civilian casualties. Then last month, the Biden administration notified Congress that it had approved $20bn of weapons sales to Israel. They comprised an $18.8bn package for up to 50 F-15IA jets and upgrade kits for 25 F-15I aircraft that Israel already has; an unspecified number of 8-tonne cargo trucks worth $583m; 30 medium-range, air-to-air missiles for $102m; and 50,000 120mm mortar rounds for $61m. However, those weapons are not expected be delivered to Israel until 2026 at the earliest. Germany Germany is the next biggest arms exporter to Israel, accounting for 30% of imports between 2019 and 2023, according to SIPRI. In 2022, Israel signed a €3bn ($3.3bn; £2.5bn) deal with Germany to buy three advanced, Dakar-class diesel submarines, which were expected to be delivered from 2031 onwards. They will replace the German-build Dolphin-class submarines currently operated by the Israeli Navy. Last year, the European nation's weapons sales to Israel were worth €326.5m ($361m; £274m) - a 10-fold increase compared with 2022 - with the majority of those export licences granted after the 7 October attacks. The German government said in January that the sales comprised €306.4m worth of military equipment and €20.1m of "war weapons". According to the DPA news agency, the latter included 3,000 portable anti-tank weapons and 500,000 rounds of ammunition for automatic or semi-automatic firearms. It also said that most of the export licences were granted for land vehicles and technology for the development, assembly, maintenance and repair of weapons. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been a staunch supporter of Israel's right to self-defence throughout the war and, although his tone on Israeli actions in Gaza has shifted in recent weeks and there has been some debate in Germany, the arms sales do not appear to be at risk of suspension. Reuters A man reacts as Palestinians search for casualties a day after Israeli strikes on Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern Gaza Strip (1 November 2023)Reuters Israel rejects accusations that it is failing to do enough to protect civilians in Gaza and instead blames Hamas Italy Italy is the third-biggest arms exporter to Israel, but it accounted for only 0.9% of Israeli imports between 2019 and 2023, according to SIPRI. They have reportedly included helicopters and naval artillery. The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), a UK-based pressure group, says exports and licences of military goods by Italy to Israel were worth €17m ($18.8m; £14.3m) in 2022. In 2023, sales of "arms and munitions" amounted to €13.7m, the magazine Altreconomia has cited national statistics bureau ISTAT as saying. Some €2.1m of exports were approved between October and December 2023, despite the government's assurances that it was blocking them under a law banning weapons sales to countries that are waging war or are deemed to be violating human rights. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto told parliament in March that Italy had honoured existing contracts after checking them on a case-by-case basis and ensuring "they did not concern materials that could be used against civilians". United Kingdom In December 2023, the UK government said British exports of military goods to Israel were "relatively small", amounting to £42m ($55m) in 2022. That figure fell to £18.2m in 2023, according to the Department for Business and Trade's records. Between 7 October 2023 and 31 May 2024, 42 export licences were issued for military goods while there were 345 extant licences. The Department for Business and Trade said the military equipment covered under the licences included components for military aircraft, military vehicles and combat naval vessels. CAAT says the UK has granted arms export licences to Israel worth £576m in total since 2008. Much of those have been for components used in US-made warplanes that end up in Israel. In September 2024, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the immediate suspension of about 30 export licences for items used in Israeli military operations in Gaza. He said he had received an assessment that had concluded there was a "clear risk" that certain military exports "might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law". "The UK continues to support Israel's right to self-defence in accordance with international law," he stressed. The licences cover components for military aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters and drones, as well as items that facilitate ground targeting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the UK's decision as "shameful" and "misguided". He warned that the arms ban would embolden Hamas and insisted Israel was pursuing a just war by just means. Israeli defence industry AFP An Elbit Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) built by Elbit Systems, at Israel's Palmachim Air Force Base (5 July 2023)AFP Israel's Elbit Systems developed the Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) being used in Gaza Israel has also built up its own defence industry with US help and now ranks as the ninth-largest arms exporter in the world, with a focus on advanced technological products rather than large-scale hardware. It held a 2.3% share of global sales between 2019 and 2023, according to SIPRI, with India (37%), the Philippines (12%) and the US (8.7%) the three main recipients. Israel's defence exports were worth more than $13bn in 2023, according to the Israeli defence ministry. Air defence systems made up 36% of those exports, followed by radar and electronic warfare systems (11%), fire and launch equipment (11%), and drones and avionics (9%). In September 2023, just before the war began, Germany agreed a $3.5bn deal with Israel to buy the sophisticated Arrow 3 missile defence system, which intercepts long-range ballistic missiles. It was Israel's largest ever defence deal and had to be approved by the US because it jointly developed the system. US military stockpile in Israel EPA An Israeli soldier checks artillery shells at an area along the border with Gaza, in southern Israel (9 October 2023)EPA The US has reportedly allowed Israel to draw artillery shells from its reserve stockpile there Israel is also home to a vast US arms depot set up in 1984 to pre-position supplies for its troops in case of a regional conflict, as well as to give Israel quick access to weapons in emergencies. The Pentagon shipped about 300,000 155mm artillery shells from the War Reserve Stockpile Ammunition-Israel to Ukraine following the Russian invasion. Stockpiled munitions at the depot have also reportedly been supplied to Israel since the start of the Gaza war. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68737412

Google Pixel Watch 3 was launched last month alongside the Pixel 9 series during the company's Made by Google event. Now, Google has confirmed that the new wearable will receive Wear OS updates for three years. The tech giant is providing seven years of updates for its Pixel smartphones. The three-year support for updates for the latest Pixel Watch is quite short when compared to the latest Samsung smartwatches, which are assured to receive software updates for four years. As per Google's official support page, the Pixel Watch 3 will get guaranteed software updates until October 2027. The software updates will include Pixel Watch security updates and may include feature drops and other updates. The Pixel Watch 3 was unveiled with Android 14-based Wear OS 5. Google is promising a similar three-year update cycle for previous wearables as well. The Pixel Watch 2, which was launched in 2023, will get updates until October 2026. The Pixel Watch from 2022 will receive updates until October 2025. Google's Pixel smartphones are guaranteed to get seven years of OS and security updates. Google's major rival in the market, Samsung currently promises four years of updates for Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra models. Pixel Watch 3 Price in India, Specifications The Pixel Watch 3 was unveiled on August 13 at the Made by Google event with a starting price tag of Rs. 39,900 for the 41mm model with Wi-Fi connectivity. The 45mm model with Wi-Fi connectivity starts at Rs. 43,900. The wearable is currently available for pre-order in the country through Flipkart as well as retailers like Reliance Digitial and Croma. The Pixel Watch 3 is available in 41mm and 45mm display sizes and both models ship with Actua display with 2,000nits of peak brightness and 320ppi pixel density. The display has 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 coating as well. It runs on Qualcomm SW5100 alongside Cortex M33 co-processor. It has an IP68-rated build. https://gadgets360.com/wearables/news/google-pixel-watch-3-wear-os-update-software-support-6474619

Windows 11 won’t offer an option to uninstall the divisive Recall feature after all, it seems, when clues in a preview build appeared to suggest it might – at least in some regions, anyway. Deskmodder, a German tech site, recently flagged up the option in a new preview for Windows 11 24H2, the big update due to land later this year. This prompted Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc, who is Windows senior product manager, to contact The Verge with a statement to clarify: “We are aware of an issue where Recall is incorrectly listed as an option under the ‘Turn Windows features on or off’ dialog in Control Panel. This will be fixed in an upcoming update.” So, presumably the next build of 24H2 will have this option removed from the Control Panel. Windows 11’s Recall feature is essentially an AI-powered search that takes regular screenshots of the activity on your PC, and uses them to find things, going way beyond the scope of a typical Windows search (and no, that isn’t difficult, we’d agree). The trouble is Recall has been making serious waves and causing a whole bunch of concerns to be aired since it was first announced, to the point that Microsoft pulled plans to debut it (in preview) with Copilot+ PCs, and then yanked it from test builds of Windows 11. It is now coming back to testing, mind, in October – so ready your surfboards for more waves of controversy (no doubt). We should also note that Recall is only for Copilot+ PCs, although down the line, it’s likely a lot more computers will have the requisite NPU (and security) in place to be classified as such a device. https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/sorry-windows-11-users-but-youre-not-escaping-microsofts-all-seeing-recall-feature-that-easily

High-performance cooling specialist Thermal Grizzly has launched the Intel Mycro Direct-Die Pro RGB V1. This is a direct-die (delidded) CPU cooling block for liquid-cooled setups based around Intel LGA1700 processors. Compared to its predecessor, this ‘Pro’ model, with the added sparkle of RGB lighting, delivers “up to 6 degrees Celsius lower temperatures.” It isn’t the RGB that makes the difference; of course, the key innovation is said to be a tweaked copper base plate design. According to the Thermal Grizzly blog, the major innovation with the Intel Mycro Direct-Die Pro RGB V1 is a new copper base plate with 43% more micro fins. It indicates that these were accommodated thanks to an optimized slot width between the inlet and outlet cooling channels. There’s also a jet plate here, and the result is said to be “overall lower flow resistance” for more effective heat dissipation under load. For RGB lovers, it must be pleasing that Thermal Grizzly has added RGBs to this product to make it perform better. If you visually compare the new Intel Mycro Direct-Die Pro RGB V1 and the Intel Mycro Direct-Die V1 side by side, the RGB is the key difference. With the new Pro RGB model, the black anodized aluminum cover rests on a block of what is described as “tempered acrylic glass.” This construction allows LEDs under the aluminum plate to diffuse out and around the block. Similarly, there are transparent sections circling the G1/4-inch fittings. Thermal Grizzly has immediately made the Intel Mycro Direct-Die Pro RGB V1 available, priced at $141.59, including shipping. The Intel Mycro Direct-Die V1 we have compared the new product to is $108.89, but it is out of stock at the time of writing. Those of the Ryzen persuasion might be interested in the AM5 Mycro Direct-Die instead, at $108.89, or the same product with RGB for $130.69 – both available and in-stock. All these products address enthusiasts who have delidded their Intel or AMD CPUs and have some liquid cooling apparatus or plans for such a cooling setup. Thermal Grizzly also supplies tools for delidding, mounting frames, cooling pads, paste, and more. https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/liquid-cooling/rgb-infused-direct-die-cooling-block-arrives-for-intel-lga1700-cpus-thermal-grizzly-claims-six-degrees-celsius-lower-temperatures

A trained tiger handler has been hospitalised with injuries to her arm after being attacked by one of the animals at an Australian theme park. Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) says the woman, who is in her 40s, is in a stable condition after sustaining cuts and scratches while working at Dreamworld in Queensland's Gold Coast. “This was an isolated and rare incident, and we will conduct a thorough review accordingly,” the company said in a statement. The po[CENSORED]r theme park - which is visited by almost two million people every year - is home to nine Sumatran and Bengal tigers. QAS said medics were called to the scene at 09:01 local time on Monday (23:01 GMT on Sunday) “following an incident with a tiger” and that the woman was immediately taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital, where she remains. "She was quite pale and feeling unwell, but in general well and was able to be transported," QAS acting district director Justin Payne told ABC News. "She is one of the experienced and senior handlers there at Dreamworld... it's good to see that she was able to be looked after by other support staff there," he added. Dreamworld’s Tiger Island attraction is one of only a handful of interactive tiger exhibits in the world, according to the theme park. It opened almost three decades ago and hosts two shows a day in which onlookers are invited to watch the animals "glide underwater" in a splash pool, and eat their daily meals during feeding time. According to local media reports, there have been a string of incidents in the enclosure over the years - including when a then-nine-year-old male Bengal tiger, Kato, bit two handlers back in 2011. A Dreamworld spokesperson said that the company’s focus now was to provide the employee involved in Monday’s attack with immediate support. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czxl2ne2l5yo

JMU football opened its season with a 30-7 victory over Charlotte. It wasn’t always pretty, but the Dukes left the road venue with a 23-point victory. This season, we’re going to issue a weekly JMU football report card using our own analysis and an assist from Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades. Let’s dive into the Week 1 grades. Offense: C- The Dukes’ offense managed just nine first-half points, turning the ball over twice and struggling to establish the running game. In the second half, JMU scored 21 points and quarterback Alonza Barnett settled into the game. Barnett started the second half with a 73-yard strike to Omarion Dollison for a touchdown. Dollison has five touches in his JMU career, with all five going for either a first down or a touchdown. He likely won’t lead JMU in catches, but he can change games with just a few touches per game. The group would’ve received a higher grade, but the offensive line struggled at times. JMU’s traditional running game struggled throughout the night, with the Dukes’ running backs combining for just 81 yards on 27 carries (three yards per carry). No offensive lineman received a grade over 75 on PFF. Tyshawn Wyatt returning from injury should provide a major boost to the Dukes’ offensive front. PFF MVP: QB Alonza Barnett, 83.6 grade Defense: A- Holding any team to fewer than 10 points should be viewed positively, even if Charlotte’s 2023 offense was one of the worst in the AAC. JMU’s defense did well to keep Charlotte off the scoreboard, posting a second-half shutout. Maine/Colorado transfer Khairi Manns was arguably the star of the night, leading JMU with eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. The athletic defensive end is a potential game wrecker at the Group of Five level. Manns led the defense with an 81.9 defensive grade, including a rushing defense grade of 93.0. LIU transfer Eric O’Neill didn’t post a tackle at defensive end, but he disrupted the pocket a few times Saturday. He should produce more as the season progresses. He posted a 60.1 PFF grade. Cornerback Justin Eaglin recorded an interception and finished with a coverage grade of 73.9 on PFF, the best of any JMU player. Eaglin looked solid Saturday, as did Chris Shearin (70 grade), Chauncey Logan (68.8 grade), and Terrence Spence (65.9 grade). The secondary looked improved from 2023, limiting big plays and forcing Charlotte to try to sustain drives. PFF MVP: DE Khairi Manns, 81.9 grade Special Teams: C- JMU’s kickoff coverage wasn’t great, but head coach Bob Chesney felt the officiating didn’t do JMU any favors. He told Dave Riggert after the game that he felt Charlotte got away with numerous holding penalties on kickoff returns. Ryan Hanson downed a punt at the one-yard line, a solid showing for one of the nation’s best. Noe Ruelas looked good on field goals (1-1), although he did miss an extra point. Holy Cross transfer Terrence Spence nearly blocked a punt in the win. Spence blocked six kicks in his Holy Cross career. Coaching: A- JMU adjusted well at halftime, with the Dukes winning the second half 21-0. The coaches deserve credit for making minor tweaks that led to a dominant final 30 minutes. The Dukes struggled early, but looked much better after halftime. It’s a credit to JMU’s coaches that the Dukes didn’t panic when trailing in a road environment. Bob Chesney and company have plenty to work on, but the Dukes started the year with a nice win. https://jmusportsnews.com/2024/09/02/jmu-football-charlotte-report-card/

Even late in life, following healthy habits can help people live longer, suggests a study published online June 20, 2024, by JAMA Network Open. Researchers examined the lifestyles of 5,222 people aged 80 and older. They then looked at who in the group reached age 100 (centenarians) and who did not. The team ranked each person's lifestyle on a scale from zero to 6, with higher scores suggesting healthier behaviors. The scores were calculated based on habits such as diet diversity, regular exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, and body mass index (BMI). The participants who scored between 5 and 6 lived the longest, on average, and were most likely to become centenarians. Those who scored between zero and 2 lived the shortest time. According to the researchers, three of the lifestyle habits had the most impact on longevity: diet, exercise, and not smoking. Centenarians consumed the greatest amounts of fruits, vegetables, fish, beans, and tea. They also engaged in regular exercise, such as running and practicing qi gong, and never smoked. (Alcohol consumption and BMI didn't affect whether someone lived to 100.) It's important to note that the results only showed an association and did not account for people's lifestyles when they were younger. However, they do suggest that continuing healthy habits even at an advanced age might offer life-prolonging benefits. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/a-healthy-lifestyle-late-in-life-still-offers-benefits

NASA will provide live coverage of the upcoming activities for Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft departure from the International Space Station and return to Earth. The uncrewed spacecraft will depart from the orbiting laboratory for a landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. Starliner is scheduled to autonomously undock from the space station at approximately 6:04 p.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 6, to begin the journey home, weather conditions permitting. NASA and Boeing are targeting approximately 12:03 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 7, for the landing and conclusion of the flight test. NASA’s live coverage of return and related activities will stream on NASA+, the NASA app, and the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA programming through a variety of platforms including social media. Ahead of Starliner’s return, NASA will host a pre-departure news conference at 12 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 4, from the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. NASA’s Commercial Crew and International Space Station Program managers and a flight director will participate. To attend the pre-departure news conference in person, U.S. media must contact the NASA Johnson newsroom by 5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 3, at jsccommu@mail.nasa.gov or 281-483-5111. To join the pre-departure news conference by phone, media must contact the NASA newsroom no later than two hours prior to the start of the call. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 5 for its first crewed flight, arriving at the space station on June 6. As Starliner approached the orbiting laboratory, NASA and Boeing identified helium leaks and experienced issues with the spacecraft reaction control thrusters. For the safety of the astronauts, NASA announced on Aug. 24 that Starliner will return to Earth from the station without a crew. Wilmore and Williams will remain aboard the station and return home in February 2025 aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with two other crew members assigned to NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission. NASA’s coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations): Wednesday, Sept. 4 12 p.m. – Starliner pre-departure news conference from NASA’s Johnson Space Center on NASA+, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Friday, Sept. 6 5:45 p.m. – Undocking coverage begins on NASA+, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. 6:04 p.m. – Undocking 10:50 p.m. – Coverage resumes for deorbit burn, entry, and landing on NASA+, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Saturday, Sept. 7 12:03 a.m. – Targeted landing 1:30 a.m. – Post-landing news conference with the following participants: Joel Montalbano, deputy associate administrator, Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington Steve Stich, manager, Commercial Crew Program, NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida Dana Weigel, manager, International Space Station, NASA Johnson John Shannon, vice president, Boeing Exploration Systems Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager, Boeing Commercial Crew Program Coverage of the post-landing news conference will stream live on NASA+, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. To attend the post-landing news conference in person, U.S. media must contact the NASA Johnson newsroom by 12 p.m., Sept. 6. To join the post-landing news conference by phone, media must contact the NASA Johnson newsroom no later than one hour prior to the start of the event. https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-sets-coverage-for-starliner-news-conference-return-to-earth/

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Until Doom Eternal came along and engulfed YouTube in the fires of hellish Discourse, Doom 3 was the hotly debated one. Discussed and re-litigated a thousand times over, it was highly praised by many at launch, “a non-stop ride of tension, carnage and terror” (to quote PC Gamer’s 94% scoring review), while others found themselves less enthralled by its goofy action-horror charms. Edge Magazine and the New York Times both considered it a pleasant enough seven-out-of-ten game, with the latter skewering it for its “skeletal story and often repetitive game play”. Criticisms that seem increasingly fair with time. Does Doom 3 hold up today? That’s a complicated question. Did it hold up at launch is an equally interesting one. Doom 3 was, for many, a visual showcase. A victory lap for PC gaming, featuring graphics that seem quaintly of-an-era now, but were almost (more on that later) the cutting edge at the time. Doom 3’s entire aesthetic was defined by its deep, sharp-edged stencil shadows cast by dynamic light-sources. Steep bump-maps and specular highlights gave its high-tech corridors and hellish brickwork a deliciously tactile look when most game’s walls just looked like flat polygons with detail painted on. This technology informed the design of the game. When you’ve got an engine perfect for rendering detailed, claustrophobic, dimly lit tunnels, you’ve got the recipe for something spookier than classic Doom. And so Doom 3 was more of a cinematic, survivor horror-tinged adventure, with smaller groups of enemies that loved to get in your face, or lob fireballs from impenetrably deep shadows which you had to navigate by swapping out your active weapon for a flashlight. While some of these pivots away from classic Doom design (Doom 64 was a darker, spookier experience as well, without getting too far from the original concepts) caught flak from critics, in hindsight I feel that Doom 3 was often criticized for being different, and some failed to give it a fair shake, or engage with it on its own terms. As for my personal experience with Doom 3, I liked it quite a bit, but not enough to play through it more than once back in the day. While impressive for the time, I was never quite as wowed by its graphics as its greatest fans. Mainly because I’d seen better (or at least comparable) just weeks prior, thanks to Starbreeze’s Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay. It launched first, featured a similar lighting engine, comparable claustrophobic industrial bump-mapped tunnels, and did all this on the original Xbox—Starbreeze’s ex-demoscene coders proving that John Carmack wasn’t the only code wizard out there. A reminder that there’s always a narrative outside of the broadly repeated history of gaming. Legacy of Rust Still, few remember Riddick and its place in gaming history. Even with the discourse surrounding it (largely on now-defunct gaming forums), Doom 3 sold great, and its slick, heavily bump-mapped aesthetics were a po[CENSORED]r style in games for years to come. So why isn’t Doom 3 remembered quite as fondly as its peers? Doom 1 and 2 are getting new, fantastic expansions and ever-improving ports. Even Doom 64 got a second wind in the past couple years, whereas Doom 3’s biggest official resurgence has been as a PSVR exclusive. But despite the zeitgeist having long-since moved on from the game, I still think it’s worth playing, and an important part of Id’s history, and the history of games in general. Taken entirely by itself (without stacking it up against its stablemates) it’s an effective sci-fi horror romp. More of a haunted house with shooting than a true survival horror game or traditional fast-paced FPS, but that’s a vibe that few other games have shot for. The weapons feel satisfying (even the notoriously inaccurate shotgun, if you use it at point-blank) and the monsters still have some gnarly charm, thanks to those shiny specular highlights and bump-mapping making them look slick and slimy where needed. It’s undeniably a game of its era, and obviously not as creative as its forebears. It went with the flow of early 2000s FPS design, shifting the focus away from exploration and key-hunting to more linear story-driven setpieces. It might have been one-upped by Half-Life 2 that very same year, but both games are clearly cribbing from the same set of notes. For the most part, Doom 3’s setpieces work, even the ones in complete darkness. Those sequences are fewer and further between than most players remember, but I always enjoyed the tactical quirks of spotting stuff with your flashlight, then switching to your gun to spray lead into the shadows. https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/why-doom-3-is-still-an-important-and-misunderstood-game/

Amazon's revamped Alexa due for release in October ahead of the U.S. holiday season will be powered primarily by Anthropic's Claude artificial intelligence models, rather than its own AI, five people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Amazon plans to charge $5 to $10 a month for its new "Remarkable" version of Alexa as it will use powerful generative AI to answer complex queries, while still offering the "Classic" voice assistant for free, Reuters reported in June. That's why Amazon turned to Claude, an AI chatbot developed by startup Anthropic, as it performed better than the online retail giant's own AI models, the people said. Reuters based this story upon interviews with five people with direct knowledge of the Alexa strategy. All declined to be named as they are not authorized to discuss non-public matters. Alexa, accessed mainly through Amazon televisions and Echo devices, can set timers, play music, act as a central hub for smart home controls and answer one-off questions. But Amazon's attempts to convince users to shop through Alexa to generate more revenue have been mostly unsuccessful and the division remains unprofitable. As a result, senior management has stressed that 2024 is a critical year for Alexa to finally demonstrate it can generate meaningful sales - and the revamped paid version is seen as a way both to do that and keep pace with rivals. "Amazon uses many different technologies to power Alexa," a company spokeswoman said in a statement in response to detailed Reuters questions for this story. "When it comes to machine learning models, we start with those built by Amazon, but we have used, and will continue to use, a variety of different models - including (Amazon AI model) Titan and future Amazon models, as well as those from partners - to build the best experience for customers," the spokeswoman said. Anthropic, in which Amazon owns a minority stake, declined to comment for this story. AI Partnerships Amazon has typically eschewed relying on technology it hasn't developed in-house so it can ensure it has full control of the user experience, data collection and direct relationships with customers. But it would not be alone in turning to a partner to improve AI products. Microsoft and Apple, for example, have both struck partnerships with OpenAI to use its ChatGPT to power some of their products. The release of the Remarkable Alexa, as it is known internally, is expected in October, with a preview of the new service coming during Amazon's annual devices and services event typically held in September, the people said. Amazon has not yet said, however, when it plans to hold its showcase event, which will be the first major public appearance of its new devices chief, Panos Panay, who was hired last year to replace long-time executive David Limp. The wide release in late 2022 of ChatGPT, which gives full-sentence answers almost instantaneously to complicated queries, set off a frenzy of investing and corporate maneuvering to develop better AI software for a variety of functions, including image, video and voice services. By comparison, Amazon's decade-old Alexa appeared outmoded, Amazon workers have told Reuters. While Amazon has a mantra of "working backwards from the customer" to come up with new services, some of the people said that within the Alexa group, the emphasis since last year has instead been on keeping up with competitors in the AI race. Amazon workers also have expressed skepticism that customers would be willing to pay $60 to $120 per year for a service that's free today - on top of the $139 many already pay for their Prime memberships. Alexa Upgrades As envisioned, the paid version of Alexa would carry on conversations with a user that build on prior questions and answers, the people with knowledge of the Alexa strategy said. The upgraded Alexa is designed to allow users to seek shopping advice such as which clothes to buy for a vacation and to aggregate news stories, the people said. And it is meant to carry out more complicated requests, such as ordering food or drafting emails all from a single prompt. Amazon hopes the new Alexa will also be a supercharged home automation hub, remembering customer preferences so that, say, morning alarms are set, or the television knows to record favorite shows even when a user forgets to, they said. The company's plans for Alexa, however, could be delayed or altered if the technology fails to meet certain internal benchmarks, the people said, without giving further details. Bank of America analyst Justin Post estimated in June that there are roughly 100 million active Alexa users and that about 10% of those might opt for the paid version of Alexa. Assuming the low end of the monthly price range, that would bring in at least $600 million in annual sales. Amazon says it has sold 500 million Alexa-enabled devices but does not disclose how many active users there are. Announcing a deal to invest $4 billion in Anthropic in September last year, Amazon said its customers would gain early access to its technology. Reuters could not determine if Amazon would have to pay Anthropic additionally for the use of Claude in Alexa. Amazon declined to discuss the details of its agreements with the startup. Alphabet's Google has also invested at least $2 billion in Anthropic. The retailer, along with Google, is facing a formal probe from the UK's antitrust regulator over the Anthropic deal and its impact on competition. It announced an initial investigation in August and said it has 40 working days to decide whether to move it to a more heightened stage of scrutiny. https://www.gadgets360.com/ai/news/amazon-claude-alexa-ai-revamp-anthropic-6460104 But initial versions of the new Alexa using in-house software simply struggled for words, sometimes taking six or seven seconds to acknowledge a prompt and reply, one of the people said.