- Championing Originality: Jenna Ortega on the Future of Female Representation in Film Franchises Jenna Ortega is an advocate for female representation in major film franchises. She believes it's essential for women to spearhead their own stories in the industry, rather than taking on reimagined roles from existing franchises, a trend that has been prominent with series like Doctor Who and the rumored changes in James Bond's character.
During a conversation with MTV about Beetlejuice, Ortega expressed her enthusiasm about the growing presence of female protagonists in cinema. She noted the significance of this shift yet emphasized the need for original narratives. She remarked that while the increase in female leads is commendable, it's crucial... Continue reading
- Google Expands Body Temperature Measurement Feature in Pixel Thermometer App to European Users In a significant enhancement for health monitoring, Google Pixel users in Europe now have the capability to accurately assess their body temperature. This advancement utilizes the Pixel Thermometer application alongside the temperature sensor introduced in the Pixel 8 Pro. The recent Pixel 9 Pro models also feature this sensor. Initially intended for measuring inanimate objects, this functionality was expanded to encompass body temperature measurement earlier in the year within the United States.
With the new upgrade to the Fitbit support page, Google has broadened the availability of body temperature measurement across multiple European nations. This feature complements the existing object temperature... Continue reading
- Instagram Introduces Vertical Grid Format for Media Uploads in New Pilot Program Instagram is exploring a novel approach for media uploads, as disclosed by company leader Adam Mosseri on Friday. This new pilot initiative allows a select group of users to upload images and videos in a vertical grid style, eliminating the necessity to crop their content into a square format. This advancement is part of the recent modifications made to the platform, which also includes an increased limit for media uploads in carousels, thereby removing the requirement to break collections into separate posts.
In an Instagram story shared on Friday, Adam Mosseri provided insights regarding this new trial. A restricted number of... Continue reading
- Okomotive Unveils Herdling: An Enchanting Adventure Through the Alps During the Gamescom Opening Night Live event, Okomotive, renowned for the FAR series, introduced their latest project. Titled Herdling, this single-player adventure focuses on guiding a group of whimsical creatures through a stunning and expansive terrain that includes mountains, forests, plateaus, valleys, and beyond.
According to a press statement, Herdling is portrayed as a grand journey through the Alps with an endearing group of creatures. Players will ascend mountain pathways, face spine-chilling threats and unexpected challenges, all while unraveling the secrets that lie at the peak.
The creatures featured in the game are known as Calicorns, which are prone to sudden stampedes.... Continue reading
- Nintendo Switch Approaches Historic Sales Milestone, Closing In on PlayStation 2 Record in the U.S. The ongoing success of the Nintendo Switch is drawing closer to matching the illustrious sales record of the PlayStation 2 in the United States. Recent analysis indicates that the Switch is positioned well to surpass the PlayStation 2's lifetime sales figures within the region.
Insights from Mat Piscatella, a prominent video game industry analyst at Circana, suggest that the current sales landscape remains dynamic. He pointed out that the PS5 maintains a 7% lead over the PS4's lifetime sales while the Switch only trails behind the PlayStation 2 by 1.1 million units in total sales to date.
Piscatella also provided updates on... Continue reading
- Fortnite Introduces New Item Purchase System for Former Battle Pass Rewards Recent announcements from Epic Games reveal significant updates to the item exclusivity within Fortnite's Battle Pass system. Soon, gamers will be able to acquire past rewards from the Battle Pass that were once only available to a select group. The developer shared the details on their blog, noting that the availability of these items will occur after a designated time frame, potentially starting 18 months after a Battle Pass concludes.
This new approach allows the development team to keep enhancing the Battle Pass rewards while giving players the chance to access and enjoy these items later on, including popular outfits connected... Continue reading
- Microsoft Blames EU Regulations for Widespread System Crashes Linked to CrowdStrike Update It was a challenging end to the week for Microsoft, the software company CrowdStrike, and all its customers worldwide. The mishap that many are familiar with caused BSOD and extensive issues for various sectors, including banks and airlines, marking it as one of the most significant documented IT incidents in history.
As probes progress to uncover the source of the failure, accountability is being cast in various directions. Microsoft is now attributing a considerable portion of the problems to the EU, which mandated that Microsoft provide third-party developers with the same kernel access as Windows.
The Wall Street Journal reports that CrowdStrike's... Continue reading
- Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Joins Game Pass Lineup Following Modern Warfare III Release There is an exciting update for Game Pass users who already have access to recent releases from Activision's prominent series. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, a game eagerly awaited by many, is making its debut on the platform, marking the second major release since the significant ABK acquisition last year, the first being Diablo IV. Now, according to the same source that accurately predicted the release before the official unveiling, another major addition to the August lineup has been revealed: Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy.
The remaster of the first three titles featuring Vicarious Visions' quirky character is reportedly set... Continue reading
- Instagram's Strategic Shift: Embracing Short-Form Content to Enhance User Engagement and Connection Instagram, one of Meta Platforms' photo and video-sharing social media apps, is shifting its focus toward short-form content instead of long videos. This strategic move, explained by Adam Mosseri, head of the company, is aimed at maintaining Instagram's core identity of connecting people with their friends while also helping them explore their interests. Although long-form videos can still be uploaded, the platform will prioritize short videos for a more engaging user experience.
Short-form Content on Instagram
Responding to a user's question regarding Instagram's approach to long-form videos, Adam Mosseri clarified the platform's strategy in a brief video posted on Instagram. He noted... Continue reading
- Anticipating the Next Chapter: What Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's Cryptic Tease Means for Like A Dragon Fans Sega's Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, known for crafting the iconic Like A Dragon / Yakuza franchise, recently dropped a tantalizing hint about their next project. The revelation emerged during the "Essence of Fandom" panel at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, sparking excitement and speculation among fans. Although details about the upcoming game are scarce, the whispers promise that gamers will be "surprised" by what the studio has in store. Let's embark on a journey through the potential directions this talented team might take and delve into the intricate world of Like A Dragon.
The Unexpected Promise
During the Anime Expo in Los... Continue reading
- Ancestral Dragon Eggs: The Hidden Connection Between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones Yes, those were the Dragon Mother's eggs in the latest House of the Dragon episode. Anyone familiar with Fire and Blood and the A Song of Ice and Fire series knows that the two narratives are separated by about two centuries of history. However, this separation doesn't prevent occasional narrative threads from crossing over, as demonstrated in the most recent episode of House of the Dragon.
Mashable has verified that the dragon eggs given by Emma D'Arcy's Rhaenyra Targaryen to Phoebe Campbell's Rhaena for safekeeping in Pentos are the same eggs that will ultimately end up with Emilia Clarke's Daenerys Targaryen,... Continue reading
- Legacy and New Heroes: The Unfolding Tale of Gladiator 2 Gladiator 2 will connect to Russell Crowe’s Maximus through Pedro Pascal’s character: This movie has an identity shaped by his legacy.
The star, Pedro Pascal, mentions that his character, Marcus Acacius, and Russell Crowe's Maximus Decimus Meridius share a commonality. Pascal expressed that Maximus’s legacy influences the movie’s identity, making it necessary for such an influence to be present. Describing Acacius as a combative person who learned from the best, Pascal highlighted that this legacy of honor is deeply embedded in Acacius's training and existence. According to Vanity Fair, Acacius is a Roman general rumored to have trained as a junior... Continue reading