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None(Bloomberg) -- Nvidia Corp. assured investors that its new product lineup will continue to fuel an artificial intelligence-driven growth run, while also signaling that the rush to get chips out the door is proving costlier than expected. Listen to the Bloomberg Daybreak Europe podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen. Speaking after the release of quarterly results, Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang said that Nvidia’s highly anticipated Blackwell products will ship this quarter amid “very strong” demand. But the production and engineering costs of the chips will weigh on profit margins, and Nvidia’s sales forecast for the current period didn’t match some of Wall Street’s more optimistic projections. That brought a tepid reaction from investors, who had bid up Nvidia shares almost 200% this year heading into the earnings report. After that dizzying rally, which turned the chipmaker into the world’s most valuable company, anything but a blowout quarter was bound to be a disappointment. The shares fell as much as 3.6% on Thursday before rebounding by the afternoon. They closed up 0.5% at $146.67. Nvidia predicted fiscal fourth-quarter sales of about $37.5 billion. While the average analyst estimate was $37.1 billion, projections ranged as high as $41 billion. “The guidance seems to show lower growth, but this may be Nvidia being conservative,” said Alvin Nguyen, an analyst at Forrester Research Inc. “Short term, there is no worry about AI demand. Nvidia is doing everything they should be doing.” The company’s biggest moneymaker is its accelerator chip, which helps develop artificial intelligence models by bombarding them with data. Since OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot debuted in 2022, a frenzy of AI services has created insatiable demand for the product. All About Nvidia Chips, AI Hype and What Lies Ahead: QuickTake Wall Street has been closely watching the launch of Blackwell, the latest entry in that category, which is faster and has an improved ability to link up with other semiconductors. Manufacturing challenges have slowed the rollout, and Nvidia warned again of supply constraints on Wednesday. Demand for the products is expected to exceed supply for several quarters. “Critical questions around Blackwell’s production ramp and customer concentration remain key concerns,” Emarketer analyst Jacob Bourne said in a note. “There’s little room for execution missteps in 2025.” Huang said that Blackwell is now in “full production,” and there’s still an appetite for Hopper, the previous design. “Blackwell is now in the hands of all of our major partners,” he said during the conference call. But the switch to Blackwell has taken a toll on profitability. The company’s gross margin, which measures the percentage of sales remaining after deducting the cost of production, will dip to as low as 73% this quarter from 75% in the previous period. The figure is expected to rebound when the new products reach larger-scale production, and the economics are more favorable. When asked whether Nvidia’s gross margin could be back in the mid-70s by the middle of next year, Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress said that’s a reasonable assumption. Nvidia remains far above its peers in this category: Its nearest rival, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., has a gross margin that’s 20 percentage points narrower. Intel Corp.’s isn’t even half of Nvidia’s total. Nvidia’s growth over the past two years has been staggering. Its sales are poised to double for a second year in a row, and it now notches more money in profit than it used to generate in total revenue. Nvidia’s revenue rose 94% to $35.1 billion in the fiscal third quarter, which ended Oct. 27. Excluding certain items, profit was 81 cents a share. Analysts had predicted sales of about $33.25 billion and earnings of 74 cents a share. Nvidia’s biggest division, the data center unit, saw revenue double from a year earlier to $30.8 billion. That beat Wall Street estimates. But networking revenue within that unit declined sequentially, and the business is more dependent than ever on a small group of customers: cloud service providers. That cohort, which includes companies such as Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc.’s AWS, accounted for 50% of data center revenue, up from 45% in the prior period. Investors want that number to go down, to show that the use of AI is spreading across the economy. Other recent earnings reports have given strong signals for AI. Nvidia customers, including Microsoft, Amazon and Meta Platforms Inc., have reaffirmed their commitment to spend heavily on AI infrastructure. WATCH: Nvidia's Surprising AI Origin Story Nvidia has only missed analysts’ estimates on quarterly revenue once in the past five years. And it has exceeded expectations by as much as 20% in recent periods, creating a high bar for its performance. Its data center division alone now has more revenue than rivals Intel and AMD have in total, combined. Net income this year is on course to exceed revenue at Intel, a business that was the chip industry’s biggest company for decades. Nvidia made its name by selling graphics processors, but discovered that the technology also has applications for AI. Its chips help software models during the training process, when they learn to recognize and respond to real-world inputs. Nvidia’s components are also used in systems that then run the software, a stage known as inference, and help power services such as ChatGPT. The Santa Clara, California-based company has rapidly expanded its product lineup to include networking, software and services, as well as fully built-out computer systems. Huang is traveling the world lobbying for a broader adoption of his technology and trying to spread its use by corporations and government agencies. “The age of AI is upon us and it’s large and diverse,” Huang said. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com ©2024 Bloomberg L.P.

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Congratulations, North Carolina . You managed to hire someone completely unqualified to be your next football coach. You did that thing so many schools do where they try to win the press conference instead of win football games. It rarely works. GO DEEPER Bill Belichick agrees to deal to become UNC football head coach: Sources I realize I may get excommunicated from the football world for daring to question the merits of a six-time Super Bowl champion coach. But let’s remove the name Bill Belichick and replace it with Coach X. Here is who North Carolina just hired: • Coach X has never coached a day in college football. He has never recruited an athlete. He has never had to deal with the transfer portal or NIL collectives. His dad was a college coach, at Navy, but that was 35 years ago. Advertisement • Coach X is known for being grumpy and introverted, two traits that don’t often go hand in hand with wooing recruits, glad-handing donors and giving motivational talks to 18- to 22-year-olds. • Coach X made his first post on Instagram — which he referred to as Instaface at the time — on Sept. 4 of this year. He has since posted eight more times. He may not realize that many college athletes, particularly recruits, communicate primarily via social media. • And Coach X is 72 years old, just one year younger than the guy he’s replacing, Mack Brown , as well as his buddy Nick Saban, who got out of coaching this year at least in part because, as he said at the time, “When you get to 72 years old, it gets harder and harder to promise people you’re gonna be there for four or five more years.” But Coach X does have those Super Bowl rings. Which he’ll surely wear when he meets with recruits and potential transfers. Who will then say something to the effect of, “That’s great, but how much am I getting paid?” Unless Belichick can magically restore eligibility for Tom Brady, I fail to see how this will end well. I’ve seen this movie so many times before: Big-name NFL coach comes to town vowing to turn the program into an NFL organization in college. Bill Callahan and his master plan to scrap Nebraska’s famed triple-option offense for the West Coast offense. Charlie Weis and his “decided schematic advantage” at Notre Dame . Herm Edwards and his vaunted “ new leadership model ” at Arizona State . Lovie Smith, with no discernible plan of any kind at Illinois. Inevitably, school and coach soon realize that what works in the NFL doesn’t necessarily work in college. (And vice versa.) And yet ... they just keep falling for it. Belichick has spent time this year at Washington, where his son, Steve, is the defensive coordinator. He’s clearly put a lot of thought into how he would run his own college program, as evidenced by his comments earlier this week on Pat McAfee’s show . “If I was in a college program, the college program would be a pipeline to the NFL for the players that had the ability to play in the NFL,” he said. “It would be a professional program — training, nutrition, scheme, coaching and techniques that would transfer to the NFL. It would be an NFL program at a college level.” Advertisement No question, player development is crucial to success as a college coach. But is he under the impression the current top programs aren’t already doing this exact thing? It’s delusional to think Belichick will show up, flash his rings and suddenly North Carolina will start producing more high-end NFL players than Georgia or Ohio State . You need to do something else to distinguish yourself in this era. The college coaching landscape is currently in a bridge process, following the exits of national championship coaches Saban, Brown and Jim Harbaugh. Kirby Smart and Dabo Swinney are the only ones left. As the next generation begins establishing itself, two specific archetypes are emerging. The young/youngish high-energy guys: Smart, Dan Lanning, Steve Sarkisian, Kenny Dillingham, Deion Sanders, Spencer Danielson, Matt Campbell, Marcus Freeman, Shane Beamer, Eli Drinkwitz, Rhett Lashlee, Jon Sumrall, Fran Brown. And the career college guy who just wins: Curt Cignetti, Jeff Monken, Chris Klieman, Lance Leipold (this season notwithstanding). Belichick is so far from fitting within either of those groups it’s hard to think of any close comparison. It may actually be Coach Prime, who, though he came from Jackson State, has filled his staff with NFL coaches and welcomes all manner of NFL guests. But he and Belichick fall on polar opposite ends of the personality spectrum. GO DEEPER What we know about Bill Belichick and UNC's complicated coaching search Nailing a coaching hire is hard, and it can be futile trying to predict which guys will succeed and which guys will fail. Like many, I thought Scott Frost would lead Nebraska to glory, and that Lincoln Riley would be contending for national championships by now at USC. Whereas I doubted Sarkisian was the guy to do that at Texas or that Josh Heupel would become Tennessee’s best coach in two decades. But there have been a few over the years I felt were obvious disasters from the moment they were announced — Weis and Les Miles at Kansas, Edwards at Arizona State, Mike Riley at Nebraska and Karl Dorrell at Colorado come to mind. I hereby add UNC/Belichick to that distinguished class of regrettable hires. Check back in two to three years. (Illustration: Meech Robinson / The Athletic ; photos: Andy Lewis, Grant Halverson / Getty Images)

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Secret Level has proven to be divisive among critics, and the new Prime Video series has failed to get a 70% Rotten Tomatoes score, meaning it won't make it onto our best Prime Video shows round-up. Perhaps its audience was just too niche, targeting fans of specific games, or it simply hasn't lived up to the hype. Either way, this one has proven to be a bit of a disappointment. Whether or not you agree is up to you, of course! If you are looking for more critically acclaimed anthology shows, there's plenty out there to suit all tastes. Whether you want cautionary tales about technology, stories all focusing on the same number or stories set within the same motel room, there's plenty to uncover. Here are three of my favorite anthology shows you can stream now. Inside No 9 RT score: 100% Seasons: 9 Main cast: Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton, various guest stars Creators: Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton Where to stream it: The Roku Channel (US); BBC iPlayer (UK); Foxtel Now (AUS) One of my favorite British shows is streaming worldwide, and with a perfect Rotten Tomatoes rating, the reviews speak for themselves. Here, series creators Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton star as an array of different characters from hapless cat burglars to a double act to a loved-up couple and police partners, there's not a character they haven't tried out, to be honest! With a rotating cast of huge talent including Natalie Dormer, Derek Jacobi, Nicola Walker, and Tamsin Greig, each episode is set in some sort of 'Number 9' whether that's a house, a dressing room, a train carriage, or a shoe. It has to be seen to be believed, as words really can't do this beloved anthology series justice. You'll laugh, cry, and be shocked along the way. Black Mirror RT score: 83% Seasons: 6 (7 is on the way) Main cast: Various, changes each season Creator: Charlie Brooker Where to stream it: Netflix (worldwide) Black Mirror shocked viewers from day one with a controversial first episode where Rory Kinnear plays a British Prime Minister who is blackmailed into doing something truly horrifying. Since then, it hasn't shied away from covering some pretty dark topics, striking a balance between humor and horror along the way. While not strictly billed as a horror anthology, some of the episodes are disturbing enough to warrant that label, you can trust me on that. There's so much to dive into, but we've ranked the top 10 Black Mirror episodes if you need help deciding. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. At the forefront of each episode is some sort of technology, whether it's AI, a new app, a chip in the brain, or some sort of advancement that is meant to benefit humanity. But, of course, it takes a dark turn, and people's lives are flipped upside down. Much like No 9 , there are some great guest stars in each season, including Bryce Dallas-Howard, Miley Cyrus, Aaron Paul, and Daniel Kaluuya. Black Mirror season 7 streams next year. Room 104 RT score: 88% Seasons: 4 Cast: Various, changes each season Creator: Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass Where to stream it: Max (US); Binge (AUS) One of the best Max shows comes in the form of an anthology series, and I'm such a huge fan of Room 104 . Here, a motel room is at the center of each story as we follow the stories of the guests who stay there, resulting in all sorts of different scenarios. Combining comedy, drama, horror, and thriller, this series is perfect if you want a combination of different things where you're never quite sure who you'll meet next. Stories include a woman hired to babysit, which takes a dark turn, an episode told through interpretive dance, a young man who has plans to blow up a political convention, and an elderly couple who decide to relive their first night together. Honestly, anything goes in Room 104 ; you'll see it all! Can’t wait to stream Carry-On on Netflix? Here are 3 more action movies with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes Netflix’s #2 most-watched show Black Doves is the spy thriller I didn't know I needed – here are 3 more with over 92% on Rotten Tomatoes 3 new Netflix shows I've watched in December and would highly recommendEUAN MCCOLM: Most Scots don't think it's Right-wing to ban male-bodied people from women's spaces. They just think it's right Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport By EUAN MCCOLM FOR THE SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL Published: 14:42 EST, 26 November 2024 | Updated: 14:44 EST, 26 November 2024 e-mail 3 View comments If you want to know how deeply John Swinney regrets the impact of incoherent gender ideology on Scotland’s government, consider the First Minister’s silence on the matter of an ongoing court hearing in London . Judges at the Supreme Court have been asked by feminist campaign group For Women Scotland to rule, definitively, on the definition of ‘woman’ in the context of the law. Should, the organisation wants to know, a male-bodied trans woman be allowed access to single-sex spaces and services if they are in possession of a gender recognition certificate? The judges’ ruling – regardless of their view – will have huge repercussions for Mr Swinney. Yet we’ve heard not a peep from him on the matter. How times have changed in the SNP . It was former leader Nicola Sturgeon who led the capture by trans activists of her party’s policy machine. Under Ms Sturgeon, the SNP made reform of the Gender Recognition Act its political priority. But despite cross-party support for allowing trans people to self-identify into the legally-recognised sex of their preference, a change in the law was blocked last year by then Scottish Secretary Alister Jack on the grounds that it was incompatible with the UK-wide Equality Act. Of course, there was much outrage from Nationalist Towers about a Conservative minister intervening in a matter of Scottish democracy but, privately, many senior SNP figures were rather relieved. Harry Potter author JK Rowling has been vocal on the court case and its implications Women's Rights supporters protest outside the hearing at the Supreme Court in London First Minister John Swinney has been quiet on the court case in London, writes Euan McColm Ms Sturgeon’s obsession with gender ideology had set the Scottish Government at odds with the majority of Scots who, while very much believing in the principle of live-and-let-live, did not share her laissez faire attitude to the prospect of male-bodied people being allowed entry into domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centres. In private, some senior Nationalists said Mr Jack had helped them ‘dodge a bullet’. The judges’ ruling on the question of what is a woman stands – at the very least – to impact on the delivery of services across the public sector. There is every reason for the First Minister to be explaining his government’s position to us all. Despite this, Mr Swinney has decided on a ‘nothing to see here’ approach. The problem for the First Minister is that voters, quite understandably, think there is quite a lot to see. Not for the first time in his career, Mr Swinney is playing the role of a hapless cop failing to wave onlookers away from a burning fireworks factory. From the intolerably reckless stupidity of housing male-bodied sex offenders in women’s prisons to the scandal of rape crisis centres refusing to guarantee female-only counselling services, a number of high-profile cases have made Ms Sturgeon’s wild-eyed adherence to incoherent gender ideology all the more foolish. Read More Sex is an 'immutable biological state', Supreme Court hears as women's rights campaign group challenges Scottish government over the definition of a woman The former First Minister, gripped by the moral certainty of the zealot, saw to it that the activist mantra ‘trans women are women’ became SNP dogma. Almost two years after Ms Sturgeon resigned as First Minister, the gender question continues to be a problem for the SNP. Mr Swinney may, as some party sources tell me, not share Ms Sturgeon’s fashionable views about the existence of multiple, ever-shifting genders, but he’s timid indeed about raising his voice on the subject. The First Minister considers himself a man of the centre-Left (though those of us who’ve followed Mr Swinney’s career for decades might argue the soubriquet ‘Tartan Tory’ was made for him) and, like others of his ilk, he finds himself confronted with an ideology that – for no reason other than the say-so of activists – is seen as being avowedly of the Left. It’s no surprise this version of the ‘truth’ has caught on. It nestles perfectly in the current political landscape where no party is more fully captured by gender gibberish than the far-Left Greens while, at both Holyrood and Westminster, it’s the Conservative Party that’s spoken out most loudly against allowing the frequently contradictory tenets of gender ideology to impact on policy-making. Perhaps the most effective achievement of the trans activist movement has been not only to have made the world believe their cause is inherently Left-wing but to have convinced a substantial part of it that disagreement with their objectives is a ‘hard-Right’ position. This is hysterical rhetoric not only on social media but within the political bubble. A generation of senior politicians such as Mr Swinney is paralysed with fear when it comes to discussing gender ideology because they know that to dissent from the position that someone is whatever sex they say they are is to risk the wrath of their own activists. The effect of this is that politicians of the Left such as Mr Swinney, Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar, and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton are currently failing to address – or even consider – the perfectly moderate, and widely held, view that biology matters when it comes to providing single sex spaces and services. Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport Advertisement One only has to look at some of those accused of being ‘far-Right’ for refusing to accept the demands of trans activists to see how laughable a charge it is. Are we really to accept that the feminist writer and activist Julie Bindel, who has campaigned for four decades against male violence against women, is a Right-winger? Are we truly supposed to entertain the notion that novelist JK Rowling has abandoned decades of Left-wing principles because she thinks rape victims shouldn’t have to share safe spaces with those born male? There is, of course, nothing Right (or, for that matter, Left) wing about having concerns over the implications of gender ideology. It is not Right-wing to think that there are very good reasons for the exclusion of anybody born male – no matter how they may identify – from places such as women’s refuges, nor is it Right-wing to be concerned about the impact of powerful puberty-blocking drugs on confused young children. Until politicians who lead for the Left begin to accept these facts, they risk losing voters. Why would a lifelong feminist of the Left stand by Labour if the party decides her years of activism and her principles mean nothing? Why should a committed Nationalist give their vote to the SNP if they’re told their concerns about rapists in female prisons make them a Nazi? The First Minister, in common with Mr Sarwar, seems to think that if he ignores the impact of gender ideology, it will cease to be important. If this truly is what both men believe, then they are sorely mistaken. The question of whether male-bodied people should be allowed into single-sex spaces such as rape crisis centres is not some fringe issue. If it were, then the Scottish Government would not have devoted so much time to trying to introduce self-ID, would it? Regardless of how the Supreme Court ultimately rules on the question of what a woman is, trans rights activists will continue to insist that their critics are Right-wingers. No matter how much John Swinney might wish it would, this issue is not going to go away. Most people don’t think it Right-wing to exclude male-bodied people from female spaces. They just think it’s right. London SNP John Swinney Share or comment on this article: EUAN MCCOLM: Most Scots don't think it's Right-wing to ban male-bodied people from women's spaces. They just think it's right e-mail Add commentLet's face it: PlayStation consoles are really cool-looking devices. Apart from the games, Sony knows how to design machines that look great sitting in your living room, bedroom, or setup. This Japanese manufacturer has designed and produced some of the most iconic consoles that have defined generations of gaming. However, every once in a while, they've missed the mark. From awkwardly bulky shapes to strange color schemes, a few PlayStation models have committed design sins that still haunt gamers. Sure, they might have played the hottest games of their time, but you wouldn't exactly call them eye candy. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a lot of these awkward designs occur with limited editions and brand partnerships, as they have often struggled. Some of its main releases also make the list, and with good reason. With that in mind, here are the worst-looking PlayStation consoles ever made. The PlayStation Classic has often been cited as one of the most disappointing entries in PlayStation's lineup, both in terms of performance and design. It was a miniature version of the original PlayStation, maintaining a similar design, but it could only load 20 games. To make matters worse, compared to its contemporaries like the cool and curvy Nintendo 64 or the colorful Sega Saturn variations, the PlayStation Classic's simple design left a lot to be desired. The giant circular disc tray dominates the console's face, making it look like a glorified CD player. The gray color is a choice, but not a great one. It's dull and lifeless, doing nothing to make the console feel exciting or inviting. Even the logo, while iconic today, looks more like an afterthought; slapped onto the device without much thought for the overall aesthetic. This little-known and peculiar entry in the world of special-edition consoles was released as part of a collaboration between Sony and the Jordan F1 racing team. This console aimed to celebrate Formula 1, not Michael Jordan, as you might have thought. Instead of standing out as a sleek, limited-edition masterpiece, the Team Jordan PlayStation sticks out like a highlighter in a sea of understated consoles, and not for the right reasons. The Team Jordan Grand Prix PS1 was painted a bright yellow, matching the signature livery of the Jordan F1 team. While bold, this yellow shade clashed with the original gray PlayStation 1 aesthetic. It's not just that the yellow is a blinding, banana-hued explosion that makes you wonder if someone accidentally spilled paint on a perfectly fine PS1 and called it a day. The problem was that for a limited edition brand partnership, it isn't a subtle nod to racing. The Jordan 197-inspired disc lid didn't help either, and the cool autograph-like signature on the top right did little to redeem this. The crux of the problem is the color, and while some consoles can pull off bright colors with finesse, this one looks cheap and overdone. The PlayStation 3 "Fat" Launch Model is one of the most infamous PlayStation designs due to its sheer size and controversial aesthetics. It is a beast, but not in a good way. While it was a technological powerhouse at launch, its physical appearance left much to be desired, delivering a glossy, oversized monstrosity. The massive console weighs 11 pounds and looks more like a bulky home appliance than a sleek gaming console. It wasn't the kind of system you could casually place on your TV stand without drawing unwanted attention, and its size made you think twice about moving it. Apart from the size, it has a glossy black finish, and though it seems luxurious at first glance, the second you touch it, it turns into a fingerprint magnet. Dust, smudges, and scratches are also not left out, as the PS3 Fat collected them all like a trophy case. Instead of feeling premium, it looked grimy and worn out way too quickly. However, this overstated look took nothing away from its classic features that holds nostalgic value in the hearts of gamers. The PlayStation 2 Ceramic White "SingStar Bundle" was a special edition of the iconic PS2 console, bundled with the popular karaoke game "SingStar." The PS2 is renowned for its sleek, timeless design, but this limited edition variant went completely off-key. First, the ceramic white finish might sound fancy, but in reality, it makes the console look bland compared to the glossy, black original that oozed sophistication. The matte white lacks any character or charm, and feels like an afterthought. It's not bright enough to be bold, and it's not subtle enough to feel elegant. Then there's the SingStar branding, which is not incorporated anywhere on the console. Perhaps it was for the best. Also, the bundle included two white microphones and a copy of SingStar, but the controllers retained the standard black color. This mismatch made the setup lack a cohesive design appeal. The PSP Go (2009) was Sony's bold attempt to reimagine portable gaming. It tried to take handheld gaming to the next level in that era, but it stumbled out of the gate with a design that was more confusing than compelling. Despite some innovative features, the overall execution left fans divided, with many feeling the design missed the mark. In prioritizing a pocket-sized design, Sony sacrificed much of what made earlier PSP models so appealing. Paired with underwhelming performance, the PSP Go's struggles didn't surprise most observers. Starting with the most obvious, the PSP Go's sliding screen design departed from the classic PSP models. It was supposed to be the console's "wow" factor, but the mechanism was a bit out of place for a gaming device. A smaller screen size compounded the issue. The display felt cramped thanks to a reduced screen-to-body ratio compared to the spacious displays of the PSP-2000 and PSP-3000. In a partnership with Disney Channel mega star Hannah Montana, the PlayStation Portable Hannah Montana Edition was targeted at younger, predominantly female audiences. Sony rightfully attempted to expand its product's demographic with the Hannah Montana brand. On paper, it was a great idea. A PSP in lilac sounds like a fun, bold choice, particularly for its target market. In reality, it's a pastel-colored trainwreck that came off as a toy not many people wanted to play with. The branding was especially poorly executed. Plastering the console with Hannah Montana branding made it feel less like a serious gaming product and more like a gimmicky promotional item. The bundled extras only reinforced this opinion. Alongside the console, you also got three episodes from the show's latest season and a PSP-exclusive Hannah Montana: Rock Out The Show video game. Another PlayStation with a size issue makes our list. The PlayStation 3 Super Slim was the third and final iteration of the PS3 console, and much like the first, it failed to deliver in terms of design. Even after correcting the size problems of the PS3 Fat model with the PS3 Slim, Sony set out to make an even lighter, more compact version of the PS3 that would be more cost-effective than its predecessors. Fair play to them, as they succeeded in reducing the size and price of the system. However, the manufacturers cut many corners in doing so, making some questionable design choices. The first obvious error was the sliding disc tray, which lacked the smooth, slot-loading drive of the original and Slim models. The ridged matte plastic top and gloss finish on the front and back also don't do it any favors. In short, the Super Slim just looks like a plastic experiment gone wrong. It might have been practical for saving space, but it sacrificed too much in the style department, lacking the bold identity of the original and the understated elegance of the Slim. The Taco Bell Limited Edition PS4 from 2015 is a wild example of how a promotional console can go hilariously off the rails. This unexpected duo came together in 2015, and while the collaboration helped promote the console, it didn't sit well design-wise. The console was dubbed the "Gold PS4," but it was really gold and black, which is, nevertheless, a great color scheme if only its execution were better. The lack of Taco Bell-specific design elements beyond the promotional context made it feel like a missed opportunity to fully embrace the theme. One would expect the Taco Bell logo to be included on the console like it was on the packaging. Then again, the Taco Bell logo is a huge, glowing bell that would look completely out of place and make the console look even worse. Another limited edition PS4 design that missed the mark is the PlayStation 4 Pro 500 Million Limited Edition. It was released to celebrate the remarkable milestone of over 500 million PlayStation consoles sold since the brand's debut in 1994. Upon release, it was an overly flashy and awkwardly designed console that left many scratching their heads. The console featured a dark translucent blue casing with copper accents that, to its credit, emitted a sleek, aesthetic look. That sleek, aesthetic look, unfortunately, made this console a dust and fingerprint magnet, so good luck keeping it clean and smudge-free. The design also bordered on gimmicky and didn't align with the typical minimalist elegance of PlayStation hardware. The bronze accents, including the PlayStation logo and the serial number plate, don't really match the midnight blue color. Then there's the LED lighting; while some fans might enjoy the glowing effect, it can come off as trying too hard to be cool instead of just being cool. Sometimes, simplicity speaks louder than trying to do it all, whereas the latter runs the risk of resulting on some of the strangest special edition consoles ever .

Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of Biden's pardon of his son Hunter, poll findsGoogle has launched a new set of AI-powered features for Android devices, running on Android 15. According to Google, these features will help users express themselves authentically and connect their digital lives with real-world experiences. Highlights Google said the updates are designed to make Android devices even more helpful and accessible. Some of the key highlights include Expressive Captions, Gemini for Lookout, Quick Share via QR Code, Auto-Enhanced Scans in Google Drive and Emoji Kitchen Stickers among others. ALSO READ: Google fund to assist independent news publishers in SA Expressive Captions This feature automatically capture the intensity and emotion of how someone is speaking — from volume and tone to sounds that say more than words. You’ll see things like the [whispering] of a juicy secret, the [cheers and applause] of a big win and the [groaning] after a dad joke. These will appear across your phone’s apps on everything from streaming to social to video messages, only on Android [APPLAUSE]. Gemini for Lookout Wit this feature, you can hear image descriptions read aloud, enhanced by Gemini models Designed with people in blind and low-vision communities, Image Q&A in Lookout now uses Gemini 1.5 Pro to provide even richer, more helpful image descriptions compared to previous versions. Simply take, upload or open a photo in the app to hear the caption read aloud in a natural-sounding voice. You can then gain a deeper understanding of the image by asking follow-up questions, now available globally. Emoji Kitchen Grab a slice of the new sticker combos and keyboard. Is pizza night coming up? Remix your favorite emoji into new pizza-themed sticker combos 🍕+❤️ and share them with friends using Emoji. This feature helps you create a new emoticon with the help of existing ones. For example, if you add the pizza emoji with a heart on the keyboard, it will automatically create a new sticker that combines both of the commands. It is similar to Apple’s Genmoji. The only difference is, that Emoji Kitchen has already rolled out, but Genmoji is yet to arrive. QR codes in Quick Share This features allows your best photos to be shared. QR codes in Quick Share make it easier to transfer pictures, videos and documents. Simply select the media file you want to share, tap the QR code and have others scan it for a secure transfer — no need to add them as a contact, verify devices or change your sharing settings. Auto enhancement in Google Drive Google Drive now offers enhanced scans that are sharper and clearer with automatic improvements. Whether it’s receipts, documents, or ID cards, your scans are optimised for better contrast, white balance, and reduced shadows and blurring — all without the need for manual editing. Just capture an image of physical documents or receipts, and the app will save a crisp, clear digital version in your preferred format. ALSO READ: Google Gemini set to introduce AI images of people with Imagen 3 Gemini Extensions Gemini on Android is getting a boost with new Extensions that connect to your favourite apps and services. With the new Spotify extension, you can play your favourite songs and discover playlists for any mood. You can also call contacts and send messages with your default phone and messaging apps, set alarms and control device settings and your camera. Google said soon, you’ll also be able to use Gemini to control your smart home devices that your Google Account can access, and get more information about places on Maps. AI features exclusive to Pixel phones If you own a Google Pixel phone, there are new exclusive features coming to the device. The Screenshots app now automatically organises saved images and works with Circle to Search, letting users save search results and get relevant suggestions. The new update also brings Emoji Kitchen to Gboard, allowing users to create custom emoji combinations, and enhances the call screening feature with AI-powered contextual response suggestions. Google started rolling out the new features this week for Pixel phones and a few select Android 15 devices, with a wider global rollout expected over the next few weeks. NOW READ: Facebook, Microsoft and Telkom on ‘largest outages of 2024’ list

Hackers breach Andrew Tate’s online ‘university’ website, steal user names and chat logsA downtown Derry project touted as being a magnet for business and community support got one more step approved in the process. Town councilors recently approved a master development agreement to help get the long-awaited Abbott Court development project on track, a move that will, when the project is done, bring parking, housing and retail to a property long on the town’s radar. The agreement, between the town and development partner Lansing Melbourne Group, helps move the project forward. The project has been the subject of many town gatherings to talk about downtown progress and what might be best to bring to the community to support local business and residents. The town signed a memorandum of understanding with Lansing Melbourne back in 2021 to determine what opportunities may lie at the Abbott Court location, forming a partnership to move forward with the project. The town also expanded a tax-increment financing district, or TIF, into the downtown to help support development. There were some legal challenges to the project brought by abutters that have since been resolved, clearing the path forward. Abbott Court has a long downtown history. The site includes several parcels of land including land off Central Court the town acquired beginning in the mid-1980s. The property is in the downtown district that allows for mixed use and a variety of other permitted uses including retail, commercial and residential. Phase I of the project will bring a 275-space parking structure to the property and 117 residential spaces offering studio, one- or two-bedroom units. Next phases will include retail/commercial development and additional housing. The land is also adjacent to Derry’s rail trail and within walking distance to Broadway and its businesses. Many ideas about what to do with Abbott Court have floated through town boards over the years. There have been at least 10 studies done over the past three decades associated with Abbott Court and what might work best on that property. “And the last two master plans identified the redevelopment of Abbott Court as critical to the downtown’s development,” Town Manager David Caron said in a recent report to Council. Caron added at a recent Council meeting that the project has been a “multi-decade goal of the community.” “Abbott Court (and the downtown) has been a consistent goal of the Town Council for at least the past six or seven years,” Caron said at the recent meeting. With the legal obstacles removed, Caron said the project is moving forward. Parking garage construction could get started as part of the plan’s first phase next year, with housing to follow. The project could be complete by October 2027. ldnews@unionleader.com {/div}

BROOKFIELD, News, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brookfield Renewable today announced that the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “ ”) has accepted notices filed by Brookfield Renewable believes that the renewed normal course issuer bid will provide the flexibility to use available funds to purchase LP Units, Preferred Units, Exchangeable Shares or Preferred Shares, as applicable, should they be trading in price ranges that do not fully reflect their value, representing an attractive use of available funds. There are currently three series of Preferred Units and five series of Preferred Shares outstanding and listed on the TSX. Under BEP’s normal course issuer bid for LP Units, BEP is authorized to repurchase up to 14,255,578 LP Units, representing 5% of its issued and outstanding LP Units. At the close of business on December 5, 2024, there were 285,111,569 LP Units issued and outstanding. Under BEP’s normal course issuer bid, it may repurchase up to 74,937 LP Units on the TSX during any trading day, which represents 25% of the average daily trading volume of 299,749 LP Units for the six months ended November 30, 2024. Under BEPC’s normal course issuer bid for Exchangeable Shares, BEPC is authorized to repurchase up to 8,982,042 Exchangeable Shares, representing 5% of its issued and outstanding Exchangeable Shares. At the close of business on December 5, 2024, there were 179,640,851 Exchangeable Shares issued and outstanding. Under BEPC’s normal course issuer bid, it may repurchase up to 70,747 Exchangeable Shares on the TSX during any trading day, which represents 25% of the average daily trading volume of 282,988 Exchangeable Shares for the six months ended November 30, 2024. Under BEP’s normal course issuer bid for Preferred Units, BEP is authorized to repurchase a total of approximately 10% of the public float of each respective series of the Preferred Units as follows: Under BRP Equity’s normal course issuer bid for Preferred Shares, BRP Equity is authorized to repurchase a total of approximately 10% of the public float of each respective series of the Preferred Shares as follows: Repurchases under each normal course issuer bid are authorized to commence on December 18, 2024 and each normal course issuer bid will terminate on December 17, 2025, or earlier should Brookfield Renewable or BRP Equity, as applicable, complete repurchases under its respective normal course issuer bids prior to such date. Under BEP’s prior normal course issuer bid for LP Units that commenced on December 18, 2023 and expires on December 17, 2024, BEP previously sought and received approval from the TSX to repurchase up to 14,361,497 LP Units. As of December 5, 2024, BEP has repurchased 2,279,654 LP Units under its current normal course issuer bid through open market transactions on the TSX and alternative trading systems at a weighted average price per LP Unit of approximately CDN$30.86. Under BEPC’s prior normal course issuer bid that commenced on December 18, 2023 and expires on December 17, 2024, BEPC previously sought and received approval from the TSX to repurchase up to 8,982,586 Exchangeable Shares. BEPC has not repurchased any Exchangeable Shares under its existing normal course issuer bid in the past 12 months. Under BEP’s prior normal course issuer bid for Preferred Units that commenced on December 18, 2023 and expires on December 17, 2024, BEP previously sought and received approval from the TSX to repurchase up to 700,000 Series 7 Preferred Units, 1,000,000 Series 13 Preferred Units, 700,000 Series 15 Preferred Units and 600,000 Series 18 Preferred Units. BEP did not repurchase any Preferred Units under this normal course issuer bid. Under BRP Equity’s prior normal course issuer bid that commenced on December 18, 2023 and expires on December 17, 2023, BRP Equity previously sought and received approval from the TSX to repurchase up to 684,953 Series 1 Preferred Shares, 311,053 Series 2 Preferred Shares, 996,139 Series 3 Preferred Shares, 411,450 Series 5 Preferred Shares and 700,000 Series 6 Preferred Shares. BRP Equity did not repurchase any Preferred Shares under this normal course issuer bid. All purchases of the LP Units and Exchangeable Shares will be effected through the facilities of the TSX and/or the New York Stock Exchange and/or alternative trading systems in Canada and/or the United States. All purchases of Preferred Units and Preferred Shares will be effected through facilities of the TSX and/or alternative trading systems in Canada. All LP Units, Preferred Units, Exchangeable Shares and Preferred Shares acquired under the applicable normal course issuer bid will be cancelled. Repurchases will be subject to compliance with applicable Canadian securities laws. BEP and BEPC intend to enter into automatic share purchase plans, which have been pre-cleared by the TSX, on or about the week of December 23, 2024 in relation to their respective normal course issuer bids. The automatic share purchase plans will allow for the purchase of LP Units, Preferred Units and Exchangeable Shares, as applicable, subject to certain trading parameters, at times when BEP or BEPC, as applicable, ordinarily would not be active in the market due to its own internal trading blackout periods, insider trading rules or otherwise. Outside these periods, LP Units, Preferred Units or Exchangeable Shares, as applicable, will be repurchased in accordance with management’s discretion, in compliance with applicable law. Brookfield Renewable operates one of the world’s largest publicly traded platforms for renewable power and sustainable solutions. Our renewable power portfolio consists of hydroelectric, wind, utility-scale solar, distributed generation and storage facilities in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Our operating capacity totals over 35,000 megawatts and our development pipeline stands at approximately 200,000 megawatts. Our portfolio of sustainable solutions assets includes our investments in Westinghouse (a leading global nuclear services business) and a utility and independent power producer with operations in the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as both operating assets and a development pipeline of carbon capture and storage capacity, agricultural renewable natural gas and materials recycling. Investors can access the portfolio either through Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE: BEP; TSX: BEP.UN), a Bermuda-based limited partnership, or Brookfield Renewable Corporation (NYSE, TSX: BEPC), a Canadian corporation. Brookfield Renewable is the flagship listed renewable power and transition company of Brookfield Asset Management, a leading global alternative asset manager with over $1 trillion of assets under management. Please note that Brookfield Renewable’s previous audited annual and unaudited quarterly reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“ ”) and securities regulators in Canada, are available on our website at , on SEC’s website at and on SEDAR+’s website at . Hard copies of the annual and quarterly reports can be obtained free of charge upon request.NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 13, 2024-- Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE: BXMT) declared a dividend of $0.47 per share of class A common stock with respect to the fourth quarter of 2024. This dividend is payable on January 15, 2025 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2024. About Blackstone Mortgage Trust Blackstone Mortgage Trust (NYSE: BXMT) is a real estate finance company that originates senior loans collateralized by commercial real estate in North America, Europe, and Australia. Our investment objective is to preserve and protect shareholder capital while producing attractive risk-adjusted returns primarily through dividends generated from current income from our loan portfolio. Our portfolio is composed primarily of loans secured by high-quality, institutional assets in major markets, sponsored by experienced, well-capitalized real estate investment owners and operators. These senior loans are capitalized by accessing a variety of financing options, depending on our view of the most prudent strategy available for each of our investments. We are externally managed by BXMT Advisors L.L.C., a subsidiary of Blackstone. About Blackstone Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. We seek to deliver compelling returns for institutional and individual investors by strengthening the companies in which we invest. Our more than $1.1 trillion in assets under management include global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, credit, real assets, secondaries and hedge funds. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com . Follow @blackstone on LinkedIn , X (Twitter) , and Instagram . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which reflect BXMT’s current views with respect to, among other things, its operations and financial performance, its business plans and the impact of the current macroeconomic environment, including interest rate changes. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “outlook,” “objective,” “indicator,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. BXMT believes these factors include but are not limited to those described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as such factors may be updated from time to time in its periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov . These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release and in the filings. BXMT assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events or circumstances. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213685391/en/ CONTACT: Investor Relations Blackstone +1 (888) 756-8443 BlackstoneShareholderRelations@Blackstone.comPublic Affairs Blackstone +1 (212) 583-5263 PressInquiries@Blackstone.com KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: FINANCE BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY SOURCE: Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/13/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 12/13/2024 04:15 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213685391/en

Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time

Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron mimicked "superheroes" or "battleground comrades" ahead of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Saturday. Body language expert Judi James said President-elect Donald Trump and French leader Emmanuel Macron put their "bros" relationship on full display as they tightly shook hands in front of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy . The meeting, which took place at around 6 p.m. local time at the Palais de l'Élysée ahead of the grand opening ceremony for the newly refurbished Notre Dame Cathedral , featured an hour-long meeting between Trump and Macron before Zelenskyy joined them for the last 35 minutes. Notre Dame under ring of steel with surface-to-air missiles for Donald Trump and Prince William's visit Elon Musk blew more than a quarter of a billion dollars helping Donald Trump win US election When Trump and Macron met, they tightly clasped hands in what body language expert Judi James called a show of "valor, courage and bonding." Trump reportedly said it was a "great honor" to reconnect with the French president, with whom he said he enjoys a "great relationship." The encounter was photographed as part of a red carpet event ahead of their meeting inside the historic presidential palace, where they discussed a world he said has gone "a little crazy." "The 'bros' relationship between Trump and Macron seems to hold true with a very macho bonding greeting ritual that you'd normally see between superheroes in movies or battleground comrades, with the tight clutching of the upright hands hinting at valor, courage and bonding," Judi James told TheMirror.com, referencing the greeting on the red carpet. Macron was likely trying to win Trump's favor as he hosted the former and future president as part of the global ceremony that came five years after a fire burned down the historic monument. He and other world leaders have been attempting to win Trump's political favor as they attempt to persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine as it works to defend against Russia following the February 2022 invasion. They also planned to discuss the conflicts playing out in the Middle East . Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports and entertainment stories. The topic of the war in Ukraine what prompted the unplanned meeting between Macron and Trump and Zelenskyy, who joined the two to discuss it. Trump has previously pledged to end the war in Ukraine swiftly, but he hasn't specified how, though he raised concerns in Kyiv about what terms may be laid out for any future negotiations. James said the greeting between Trump and Zelenskyy appeared "frosty," detailing the "very difficult, frosty-looking body language" between them as Macron seemed to "place himself in the role of mediator and, at one point, pacifier." " Trump looks subdued but not submissive here, standing upright with his arms hanging at his sides, looking ahead but not into the cameras, with a jutting of his lower lip giving an expression of sulky displeasure," she said of the president-elect's body language. "He looks unwilling to socialize or to showboat here, looking distant rather than present and socially active in the moment." Zelenskyy, on the other hand, appeared "keen to address the cameras with his facial expression." What piqued James' interest, however, was the body language of all three world leaders as they sat together in the palace. "There is a pose where the three leaders sit together and, as Trump leans forward to make his point with an index finger point of authority, Macron leans a hand across to hold Zelenskyy’s arm in what looks like an appeasement gesture, as though stepping in to diffuse a fight or disagreement," she said. At the end of the meeting, Zelenskyy and Trump shook hands and chatted briefly, and then Trump waved at photographers before turning and leaving. Trump was joined in Paris by a small contingent of staff that included incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles. It was the Republican's first trip to Paris since becoming president-elect and one of his first abroad.

The 2024 Imperial Springs International Forum is held in Madrid, Spain on December 12, 2024. Photo: Wang Wenwen/GT Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a congratulatory letter to the 2024 Imperial Springs International Forum held in Madrid, Spain. Xi pointed out that since its establishment 10 years ago, the forum has adhered to advocating multilateralism, conducted in-depth discussions on global governance issues, actively shared China's propositions, and played a positive role in enhancing exchanges and understanding between China and countries worldwide, Xinhua News Agency reported. Xi emphasized that in a world marked by intertwined changes and turmoil, peace and development remain the shared aspirations of all peoples. China stands ready to work with other countries in the spirit of "promoting global solidarity," upholding fairness and justice to safeguard global peace and stability, adhering to win-win cooperation to promote sustainable global development, and committing to inclusiveness and mutual learning to advance human civilization to new heights, Xi said. The 2024 Imperial Springs International Forum was held in Madrid, Spain on Wednesday and Thursday under the theme "Collective Action for One Future." In his opening remarks, Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said that facing the future, all parties should take practical actions to strengthen unity and cooperation, work together to respond to global challenges, defend and practice true multilateralism, stand on the right side of history, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind in the spirit of "promoting global solidarity," and contribute to promoting world peace, stability and prosperity. Xue Lan, dean of the Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University who was present at the forum, noted that Xi's letter shows that the Chinese government has utmost sincerity in cooperating with the international community to cope with challenges. "China has accumulated enough experience to fully understand the problems faced by today's world. The key is consensus and the will to solve the problems. It is easier for countries to make a statement on international occasions, but actions matter the most - that's why the theme of this year's forum is significant," Xue told the Global Times on the sidelines of the forum. More than 200 participants from the political, academic, and business circles in over 50 countries from Asia, Europe, Africa, America and Oceania, including over 50 former heads of state, heads of government, and leaders of international organizations, and over 90 internationally renowned experts, scholars, and business leaders attended the forum. Inaugurated in 2014, the Imperial Springs International Forum is now jointly organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Australia China Friendship and Exchange Association, the People's Government of Guangdong Province, and World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid. This year's forum mainly focused on the following topics: global strategic stability, financing for development, enhancing global cooperation, traditional and non-traditional challenges to global security, tackling challenges facing the world economy, United Nations Summit of the Future, the Future of Global Governance, AI and green technology, sustainable development, and people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. The Imperial Springs International Forum has been held for eight consecutive sessions, and has become a new type of high-end platform for China to conduct in-depth communication with the rest of the world. This year was the first time that the forum has been held abroad. Josipovic, the former president of Croatia, said that this change is significant as it shows the will to cooperate is even more intensive. Csaba Korosi, a Hungarian diplomat who served as president of the 77th United Nations General Assembly, was also a participant of the forum. He believes that the zero-sum game mentality prevailing in the world is starting to overshadow the necessity of global cooperation on global common goods, and the Imperial Springs International Forum with this year's theme of "Collective Action for One Future" provides an inspiring platform to discuss how countries can tackle it. "The result is a lose-lose game. So it cannot be an alternative for us. It cannot be an acceptable outcome for us. Our responsibility is the collective action, where we can still have a kind of race, but where we have to find the ways of cooperation," Korosi told the Global Times. Maria Fernanda Espinosa, former minister of foreign affairs of Ecuador, told the Global Times that cooperation fits into today's world. "When you think about the security challenges that the world faces, the conflicts that we are experiencing, the environmental crisis, the crisis of poverty and inequalities, all of these challenges require more cooperation in a multilateral system, and that's what it's all about at the end." She expressed appreciation for China's efforts to gather global voices. "China has shown that the voices of the world are important, bringing a community of current and former leaders to discuss the challenges of our times to come up with innovative ideas and solutions. It's really valued," she noted.