All posts tagged: announced

The National Book Critics Circle Fiction Longlist Announced

The National Book Critics Circle Fiction Longlist Announced

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Welcome to Today in Books, our daily round-up of literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more. 2024 NBCC Awards Longlist: Fiction With the PEN Award, the NBCC often has the most unexpected end of year finalists, but this year’s list is probably as a consensus of a lists from them as I can recall. Only two here stand out as unusual: Sister Deborah and Us Fools, though this might be the highest profile list out this year that does not include All Fours. I am also of the opinion that if you are going to make a big show of announcing finalists ahead of the award, some description or explanation of what makes each book special is appropriate. Sure there was language from some review of this body of critics that would have illuminated, contextualized, or otherwise made the case for the excellence of these book, especially for the ones from whom this is …

I’m a Celeb live: Maura Higgins prepares to enter jungle as two new contestants announced

I’m a Celeb live: Maura Higgins prepares to enter jungle as two new contestants announced

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter The I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! cast are fully settled into jungle life after their fourth day at camp. On Wednesday night’s show, it was revealed that Love Island favourite Maura Higgins and writer and broadcaster Reverend Richard Coles will be entering the jungle. Also on last night’s episode, Tulisa Contostavlos said her “life fell apart” after the “Fake Sheikh” setup, and shared her experience of facing prison for an alleged drug deal after the elaborate, expensive, and months-long ruse by an undercover journalist. Among this year’s other contestants are Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall and Strictly Come Dancing pro Oti Mabuse. Others include McFly singer Danny Jones, McGuigan and Coleen Rooney, who is the show’s highest-paid star in its history. New episodes of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! air on ITV1 and ITVX every night at 9pm. I’m a Celeb …

New Version Of Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? Announced

New Version Of Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? Announced

Bob Geldof has revealed that a new version of Do They Know It’s Christmas? is being released, to commemorate 40 years of Band Aid. The charity single first debuted in the lead-up to Christmas in 1984, with musical heavyweights like George Michael, Sting, U2 frontman Bono and Simon Le Bon all lending their voices to the original version of Do They Know It’s Christmas?. In the last four decades, the track has been re-recorded on three different occasions, with new contemporary stars putting their vocals on updated versions. On Wednesday morning, it was revealed that plans were in place to commemorate the song’s 40th anniversary. However, rather than re-recording it for a fifth time, this year will see the release of an “ultimate mix” of Do They Know It’s Christmas?, featuring “blended” vocals from three “separate generations into one seamless wholeblending”. The singers of Band Aid 20 in 2004 An official press release teases: “On Band Aid – 2024 Ultimate Mix you will hear a young Sting sing alongside a young Ed Sheeran. A young …

Apple Announced the HomePod Mini Four Years Ago Today

Apple Announced the HomePod Mini Four Years Ago Today

Apple announced the HomePod mini smart speaker four years ago today at its “Hi, Speed” special event. The low-cost smart speaker was announced alongside the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max in October 2020. The ‌HomePod mini‌ is Apple’s first compact smart speaker, offering high-quality audio, Siri voice control, and smart home integration via HomeKit. Priced at $99, it stands in contrast to the full-size HomePod, which sells for $299 and is focused on delivering bigger, better sound thanks to more advanced audio hardware such as multiple tweeters and woofers. While both models share ‌Siri‌ integration and smart home capabilities, the ‌HomePod mini‌ is considerably smaller, powered by the Apple S5 chip, lacks spatial awareness, and comes in a wider range of color options. In October 2021, Apple introduced three new colors—Blue, Yellow, and Orange—to its lineup, adding vibrancy to the previously monochrome options of Space Gray and White. audioOS 14.3, released shortly after its launch, added support for 18W power adapters. With audioOS 16.3, Apple activated previously …

2024 MacArthur “Genius” Winners Announced

2024 MacArthur “Genius” Winners Announced

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Welcome to Today in Books, our daily round-up of literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more. Meet the 2024 MacArthur Fellows Whoever shadow-coined the MacArthur a “genius” grant should themselves get one. Secretive, wide-ranging, lucrative, and the at this point the you-cant-buy-it adjective, coveted: the MacArthur is probably only the second most prestigious award thinker/writer/scientist/artist can get behind the Nobel. This year’s crop is as fascinating and envy-inducing as ever (here is a pro-tip: if you can’t get yourself off social media, add as many of these people as you can find to your follows. thank me later). We did a little literary sub-roundup of the honorees on Book Riot as well. Macmillan Launches Limited Editions Brand, Fablelistik Editions Good idea, TERRIBLE name. I linked to a piece recently on the great run of success The Folio Society has enjoyed/earned as of late, and I wonder how much this new effort by Macmillan was …

These 6 new travel gadgets announced at IFA are must-haves for any jet setter

These 6 new travel gadgets announced at IFA are must-haves for any jet setter

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET This year, IFA 2024 in Berlin saw a deluge of innovative products, but one of the standout gear categories for me was all the new travel accessories. If you’re anything like me, you want to travel as smart and streamlined as possible (no tangled cables here), so I’m always looking for new and useful gadgets to stash in my carry-on.  Also: Everything we expect at Apple’s iPhone 16 event: AI features, AirPods, Apple Watch Series 10, more These six products stood out to me for being smart, innovative, and, most of all, space-saving — and were just unveiled to the public. Let’s check them out.  1. PlugBug from TwelveSouth Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET The maker of the ingenious AirFly — an adapter that lets you use your Bluetooth headphones with the headphone jack on a plane — just announced its next clever travel must-have: the PlugBug, the first USB-C adapter with built-in Find My support.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve left adapters and chargers plugged into the outlet in a hotel, so …

Thames Valley Property Awards 2024 Finalists announced

Thames Valley Property Awards 2024 Finalists announced

An impressive line-up of finalists has been unveiled for the 2024 Thames Valley Property Awards. The leading commercial property event in the region will recognise the contributions of property agents, architects, housebuilders, developers, planners, consultants and property lawyers to the success of the sector. Hosted by Simon Evans, one of the UK’s best-loved comedians, the glittering gala evening of awards will return to Ascot Racecourse on Thursday September 26.  Category judges from Boyes Turner, IBB Law, Morgan Lovell, Haslams Chartered Surveyors, Diales and BP Collins assessed entries across 14 award categories to decide the finalists. Decisions were adjudicated by a strong independent panel; Andy Jansons, Managing Director at Jansons, Fiona Brownfoot, Director at Hicks Baker, Mel Magee, Managing Director at Carless + Adams, Kathy Pain, Professor of Real Estate Development at Henley Business School and Chris Ryall, Co-Founder at Rybull Group. Jo Whittle, Operations Director at The Business Magazine, commented “Judges had a tough task in narrowing their shortlists with strong submissions from both the commercial and residential property sectors. Our finalists represent the high standard of talent in the region and we …

New female-led Zelda game announced by Nintendo to surprise of fans | The Legend of Zelda

New female-led Zelda game announced by Nintendo to surprise of fans | The Legend of Zelda

Nintendo surprised fans yesterday by announcing a new chapter in its 40-year-old Zelda saga, one of the Japanese video game titan’s biggest franchises. During an event broadcast on the web, the firm said The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is scheduled for release on the Switch console on 26 September. Eiji Aonuma, producer of the Zelda series, said on a webcast that fans would be able to play as Princess Zelda herself rather than the elf-like warrior Link – a first for an official entry into the game’s canon. “This time around Link has vanished and it’s up to Princess Zelda to step into the protagonist’s role,” Ao­numa said. Each new chapter of Zelda is eagerly awaited by fans – the fr­anchise has racked up well over 140 million sales since it began in 1986. Last year’s edition, Tears of the Kingdom, sold 10 million copies in just three days. Nintendo showed some gameplay from the new title during the webcast, revealing cartoon-style graphics similar to 2019’s Link’s Awakening rather than the sleek realism …

My relationship ended the day I announced my engagement – here’s what happened

My relationship ended the day I announced my engagement – here’s what happened

When I found out I had been cheated on, I was embarrassed. After three years of keeping my relationship private, I announced my engagement publicly online to over 500k followers. But within a few hours, my life was falling apart. The future I had been celebrating disappeared before my eyes when I received a DM from a follower which let me know my fiancé had been cheating on me. © Luke Nugent PhotographyMichelle Elman shares what heartbreak taught her I had always kept my partner private because I never wanted to be in a position where I would have to address my private life while going through an emotional crisis. I had seen other influencers announce their breakups online and admired them and felt sympathy too.   Going through a heartbreak is hard enough, without the public pouring in all their opinions about how you are moving on and grieving. That’s why I had chosen to wait, until I was sure, and then this happened. It felt humiliating to have to share what had happened, …

Eurovision 2024: Politics pushes its way into the spotlight as final 10 acts announced ahead of grand final | Ents & Arts News

Eurovision 2024: Politics pushes its way into the spotlight as final 10 acts announced ahead of grand final | Ents & Arts News

Politics has thrust its way into this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, with several of the finalists referring to ongoing global disputes while speaking about their progression into the final stage of the competition. Latvian act Dons, whose song Hollow is about insecurity, was the first to use his platform to shine a light on to the troubled geopolitical landscape. Image: Latvia’s Dons. Pic: Corinne Cumming/EBU Appearing at a news conference following the selection of the final 10 acts on Thursday, he responded to a question from Latvian media asking him “What was your message tonight?” by saying: “Today was a special day in my life. I’ve never been so proud to be part of the Latvian nation. “Latvia is the only country in the world that is in the shape of a butterfly. Butterflies symbolise hope and freedom because to be a butterfly you have to fly and you have to be free. Every country in the world deserves to be free.” He received a loud round of applause within the room. The competition – …