All posts tagged: launching

UK to Boost Culture and Economy by Launching Soft Power Council

UK to Boost Culture and Economy by Launching Soft Power Council

Published by skeptic

The UK government has recruited Tristram Hunt, the director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Peter Bazalgette, the chair and pro-chancellor of the Royal College of Art, to boost the country’s global soft power. They will sit on a new 26-member advisory council–coined the Soft Power Council–which the government said brings together “soft power and foreign policy experts to champion a new, hard-nosed approach to soft power.” “The newly established council will identify opportunities across the sectors and industries represented where closer working with government can advance our broader growth and security objectives,” the Labour government said in a statement. “It will drive greater impact through government campaigns and a systematic approach to the global foreign policy, cultural and sporting calendars.” Ewan Venters, the ex-chief executive of Artfarm, the hospitality group set up by mega-gallery Hauser & Wirth, and Roland Rudd, who chairs Tate’s board of trustees, are also on the council. It will meet four times a year to develop a “forward plan for government campaigns that promote the UK image and offer to the …

Sassy Chap Games on launching Date Everything into tricky market

Sassy Chap Games on launching Date Everything into tricky market

Published by skeptic

Of the dozens of games already scheduled for 2025 — which includes some of the biggest franchises and most anticipated titles in the history of the industry — one particular title stands out for how unusual and fascinating its premise is: Date Everything, the debut title from Sassy Chap Games. It may not be 2025’s biggest title, but it’s certainly the funniest on premise alone. But the team behind it, as well as publisher Team17, is certainly serious about its development and launch, despite the market still being in a tricky place after 2024. This dating sim’s pitch is right there in the title: The player character can — through a bit of magical eyewear — meet, befriend and eventually date every animated inanimate object within their home. From the washer and dryer (who are voiced by David Sobolov and Neil Newbon, respectively), your grand piano (voiced by Joy Ofodu) and your doors (voiced by Ben Starr); to your own overwhelming sense of Existential Dread (voiced by Sungwon Cho). Sassy Chap itself was founded by …

Apple Vision Pro Launching in Taiwan on December 17

Apple Vision Pro Launching in Taiwan on December 17

Published by skeptic

Apple today announced that its Vision Pro headset will be launching in Taiwan on Tuesday, December 17, with pre-orders beginning this Thursday, December 5, at 9:00 a.m. Apple’s localized Vision Pro page for Taiwan highlights the pre-order and launch dates and provides all of the usual details about the high-end headset. The online Apple Store for Taiwan has a purchasing page already live where potential customers can check out pricing and options such as storage capacities and ZEISS optical inserts. Apple has two retail stores in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, and the stores will be offering 30-minute demo sessions of the Vision Pro headset. More details on the demo sessions will be announced once pre-orders begin. Taiwan will mark the thirteenth country or region with Vision Pro availability. After launching in the United States in February, availability expanded to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the U.K., China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore in June and July. The most recent additions prior to today’s announcement were South Korea and the United Arab Emirates just a few …

Telegraph is launching an AI-driven newsroom tool every month

Telegraph is launching an AI-driven newsroom tool every month

Published by Sam

Telegraph director of technology Dylan Jacques. Picture: Telegraph Media Group The Telegraph set out in March to launch 12 significant uses of AI in its newsroom over 12 months. The tools include newsroom workflow aides, consumer-facing AI services and internal data discovery tools. They are packaged together in an internal tool called Pulse AI so staff have a one-stop shop for the new services. The Telegraph‘s director of technology Dylan Jacques told Press Gazette’s Future of Media Explained podcast he had found it more valuable to “learn through doing” instead of getting bogged down in policy questions over AI. “What we decided to do at the beginning of this year was really make a concerted step change and a bit of commitment to the organisation that we’re going to see through a practical set of tools in practice. We didn’t want it to be ‘this is coming, this is coming’ and it drag on too long. “We essentially pulled together a bit of a mission statement, if you like, that said we need to understand …

Launching the Democracy Not Theocracy Campaign

Launching the Democracy Not Theocracy Campaign

Published by skeptic

The American Humanist Association is proud to announce the launch of its largest voter engagement campaign ever: the Democracy Not Theocracy campaign. The campaign will educate voters about the threat of Project 2025 and encourage them to register and make a plan to vote. Democracy Not Theocracy is composed of a few major components: Project 2025 is the far-right plan to reshape democracy, seize and consolidate executive powers, and completely upend separation of church and state, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ equality, racial justice, free speech, and many other democratic institutions and freedoms. The comprehensive plan would touch every department of the federal government and fundamentally reshape the lives of the American people. Fish Stark, the AHA’s new Executive Director, announced the Democracy Not Theocracy campaign on the first evening of the AHA’s 83rd Annual Conference this past weekend: “Project 2025 threatens our fundamental freedoms, so we’re giving humanists everywhere the tools to fight back. Buckle up – we’ve got a democracy to save. We’re humanists. We believe everyone has the freedom to seek their own truth …

Roblox is launching a generative AI that builds 3D environments in a snap

Roblox is launching a generative AI that builds 3D environments in a snap

Published by skeptic

Roblox’s new tool works by “tokenizing” the 3D blocks that make up its millions of in-game worlds, or treating them as units that can be assigned a numerical value on the basis of how likely they are to come next in a sequence. This is similar to the way in which a large language model handles words or fractions of words. If you put “The capital of France is …” into a large language model like GPT-4, for example, it assesses what the next token is most likely to be. In this case, it would be “Paris.” Roblox’s system handles 3D blocks in much the same way to create the environment, block by most likely next block.  Finding a way to do this has been difficult, for a couple of reasons. One, there’s far less data for 3D environments than there is for text. To train its models, Roblox has had to rely on user-generated data from creators as well as external data sets.  “Finding high-quality 3D information is difficult,” says Anupam Singh, vice president …

New Bentley Flying Spur Launching Next Week

New Bentley Flying Spur Launching Next Week

Published by skeptic

The automotive world eagerly awaits the unveiling of the new Bentley Flying Spur, a four-door supercar that promises to redefine luxury and performance. Set to make its debut at 12:30 BST on Tuesday, 10 September, this groundbreaking vehicle is poised to make a lasting impact on the industry. The Flying Spur is not merely another high-end sedan; it represents a significant advancement in both performance and efficiency, thanks to Bentley’s innovative Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain. Boasting an astonishing 782 PS (771 bhp) and 1000 Nm of torque, this car is set to become the most powerful, dynamic, and efficient four-door vehicle in Bentley’s storied 105-year history. The introduction of the Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain marks a new era for Bentley, as the company continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of luxury automobiles. This innovative system combines the best of both worlds, offering the silent, effortless operation of electric power and the exhilarating performance of a combustion engine. The seamless transition between these two power sources ensures that drivers can …

Disney+ Launching Exclusive Marvel Immersive Story for Apple Vision Pro

Disney+ Launching Exclusive Marvel Immersive Story for Apple Vision Pro

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An hour-long interactive and immersive Disney+ story is coming to the Apple Vision Pro in the near future, according to an announcement from Marvel Studios. The Disney+ original is connected to the “What If…? animated series and it will be released as a new app for the Vision Pro. What If…? reimagines events from the Marvel Cinematic Universe in unexpected ways, and with the Vision Pro experience, fans are able to step into the leading of an immersive story that transforms the space around them as they journey across realities. There are multiversal variants of key Marvel characters, chances to learn mystic arts, and an opportunity to harness the power of the Infinity Stones. Marvel says that users will “cross between augmented and virtual reality” while going through the narrative adventure, interacting with the world using their hands and eyes. The experience includes “breathtaking environments” of new and iconic MCU locations, with stunning visuals and support for spatial audio. There is no specific release date for “What If…? An Immersive Story,” but Marvel says that …

Kia EV3 Electric Vehicle Launching May 23rd

Kia EV3 Electric Vehicle Launching May 23rd

Published by skeptic

The automotive landscape is undergoing a profound transformation as the industry shifts towards more sustainable and eco-friendly solutions. At the forefront of this change are electric vehicles (EVs), which have gained significant traction in recent years. Among the various EV segments, the compact electric SUV category has emerged as a particularly popular choice for consumers seeking a balance of practicality, affordability, and environmental consciousness. As more automakers venture into this arena, the competition has intensified, driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in terms of design, performance, and features. One of the most anticipated entries in the compact electric SUV market is the upcoming Kia EV3. This vehicle promises to redefine the segment with its bold, futuristic design language and innovative technology. The EV3 is set to embody Kia’s commitment to sustainability without compromising on style or performance, making it an attractive option for environmentally conscious consumers who refuse to settle for a mundane driving experience. The Kia EV3’s striking appearance is a testament to the brand’s “Opposites United” design philosophy. This approach, …

This 9 Samsung Galaxy Ring rival is launching in the U.S, and its specs look promising

This $299 Samsung Galaxy Ring rival is launching in the U.S, and its specs look promising

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Matthew Miller/ZDNET Amazfit will launch its smart ring, the Amazfit Helio, in stores on May 15 for $299, delivering some direct competition for the Oura Ring and the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Ring. Announced during CES 2024, the Helio smart ring is designed as a fitness wearable to track recovery, becoming part of an Amazfit ecosystem where the smartwatch tracks exercise and physical activity. Also: Running a race? These 5 tech must-haves got me across the finish line By tracking resting heart rate, SpO2, physical temperature, and breathing and heart rate variability, the Amazfit Helio Ring can monitor sleep and analyze mental and physical readiness. This results in wearers getting a daily score of 1 through 100 to assess their physical and mental readiness. The Amazfit brand has gained popularity for its catalog of affordable smartwatches, but the Helio ring marks the company’s entry into the smart ring market. Though priced at $299, buyers will be able to add a Helio ring to the purchase of an Amazfit Cheetag Pro or T-Rex Ultra fitness tracker for …