Favorite part of sock knitting, especially if im knitting around someone else. 10 spikes no clear fabric and everything looks like it's about to fall out. It literally scares people so bad when I tell them I'm just knitting a sock lol

(holding up a transformers 2007 poster) look, odo. look. (jabs at it) look. its like you. you can do this. (jabs at it agian) yeah? yeah? now humanoids are very complicated arent they odo? mmhmm? they have lots of fiddly bits, and we can't quite understand them all... but you can transform into one, yah? well- well cars... cars are surely less complex than people bc we can build those and- (jabs at the poster insistently) and- and odo? odo i mean? odo do you know what im getting at? ehrm? (waves the poster in his face) odo? odo please? please can you be a big transformers just for me? i want you to be a car, odo. i want you to be a car so, so, soooo badly. we can run over quark. i prommy. odo?

Myling

Another Scandinavian legend, the myling is the result of an abandoned child who died unbaptized.  Generally associated with unwanted children being left in the woods to their death, they could be used as a warning against having children out of wedlock or having children you couldn’t afford to provide for. The child, unbaptized and not accepted by the church, wouldn’t be able to rest and would haunt the area where it died or the home it came from until given a proper burial in holy ground.

The Tome of Beasts removes the “unbaptized” part, but keeps that they are the result of children who died of exposure in the woods, usually abandoned, and left unburied. This limits it around cultures or religious beliefs within a world that prefer burial, and while the fluff can be adjusted to where the undead wishes to have whatever other appropriate funeral service the mechanics of them will either need to be changed with it or will become disconnected with the story. A myling who demands to be cremated as is normal for its culture has less need to be brought to a specific location, and wouldn’t bury those who it demands help it. The method of torment would be different, perhaps reinforced by an immunity to fire and a touch that burns the longer it clings to someone. It could be an interesting design space for your world.

The myling’s method of burying alive is slightly complicated and very up to GM adjudication. An important part of it is that the effect kicks in if it starts its turn on its chosen burial ground. If it is simply dropped there, it sinks into the earth and then I guess has to dig itself out unless the GM decides that this satisfied its desire and it simply is destroyed. The real risk is if it’s clinging to another creature when it arrives at the chosen ground. Anyone its grappling gets dragged down under with it, as the creature seems to get so heavy that the ground simply gives way under their feet. It’s a two round process, giving the target or its allies a chance to react (though a small creature dragged down is likely doomed, as being buried up to your neck leaves little chance to act) and save them. Without that, the creature disappears underground, where it begins to suffocate. The mechanics have a lot of fiddly aspects to them, such as the idea that the creature is considered stunned while buried. That’s not really a system that D&D works with, the idea that the creature isn’t technically stunned, but suffers as if it was. How does this work with creatures immune to being stunned? What about a creature with a burrow speed, it should technically be able to get itself out but apparently can’t. The target is allowed a Strength (Athletics) check to try and escape, but how can it do this if it’s unable to take any actions? When is the check made, while getting buried, on their turn, at the start or end of their turn?

Despite the questions around the signature and key ability of it, the myling is a very fascinating and interesting monster to me, and one I have included in one of my games before. It works best with a group that has to think their way through situations rather than just brute force all their problems.

These hooks all contain child death, so proceed with caution if that might be a problem.

Cultural misunderstandings can cause horrible monsters. When a family of travelers are killed by a manticore far from home, the local nomads place the bodies in a spot of honor with their own dead. They practice air burials however, while the travelers came from a culture that buries their dead. While the parents were able to recognize the respect, the children’s souls were confused and refused to leave, eventually reanimating their bodies as undead. Now several mylings wander the landscape, ambushing anyone they find alone and demanding to be given a proper burial, but without ground they recognize as a cemetery they have killed all their carriers so far.

A minor lord has maintained his positive reputation through careful elimination of problems. When one of his indiscretions with the serving staff results in a child, he follows his usual methods of handling the problem. First attempting to pay off the mother to move far away and never interact with him again, then a shocking step up to paying someone else to remove her and the child permanently. Now the myling hunts the gorge their bodies were dropped into, looking for someone to return her home to her father.

Goblin raids on merchant caravans draw the response of adventurers. They put an end to the raiders, but went beyond and hunted down the village the goblins originated from and wiped out the entire adult population. When confronted with the youngest children however, they couldn’t go through with killing them all, and instead simply left them to starve in the destroyed settlement. Now a veritable swarm of mylings are slowly spreading from the destroyed village, drawing attention to the atrocity committed and resulting in dozens more deaths.

I HEART WORK

Who are you: Chris Tonnesen

What do you do: I’m a photographer.

Where can we find you? Website | Instagram

Describe your work in 5 words? Food, interiors, travel, sweat and tears!

Can you tell us a little about what you do? I work as a freelance photographer and work primarily with food and interior photography. I am based in Copenhagen and most of my clients are from here, but I also work with international clients.

What took you on the road to being a photographer? It wasn’t a straight road - it took me a few years to figure out that photography was where I would find my passion. I recently looked at a 9th grade school paper on what I thought I would study and it said cookery. In high school, I always played around with my Mum's point-and-shoot camera, manipulating the images into obscurity in a hacked version of Photoshop. No one told me photography was something you could study, or in any way, was a desirable career path. So I went on to study in a business college - it lasted a year! That year I only kept my sanity because I bought my first DSLR camera and started photographing concerts on most weekends. At the end of my second semester, a friend of mine said she was moving to Copenhagen to study photography, and that was when it clicked – photography was something you could study, something you could do for a career! No one had ever told me that. So I quit college, packed my bags, and went to study it in Copenhagen. I ended up discovering that within photography there was a magical thing called food photography, this was my second click – I’ve not looked back since!

Where is your office/studio and what is the view out of your window? My studio is on the outskirts of Copenhagen, in the up-and-coming North West area – outside my window is an old factory-like backyard with a mix of mostly mechanics and a few small creative businesses.

What is the first thing you do when you get to work/a shoot? The first thing I do when I get to the office is sit down and meditate for 20 minutes. Spending the time this way helps me sort out the day, my energy, and start off with a clear view. After that I drink coffee, black!

Describe a typical day at work? There is none, which is amazing! I do typically try and get home before 6pm so I can relax and recharge – work/life balance is very important to me. I normally either have clients coming to the studio for a day of photography, or I am going on location. Otherwise, it’s an office day were I edit images from shoots, sort through emails, drink loads of coffee and do all the other work required as a photographer.

What cameras do you like to use? I have always worked with Canon, and for the moment I use the 5DSR with an array of Canon and Sigma Primes. My favorite is the 85mm/1.2L from Canon, it’s a little fiddly and requires some room to manoeuvre – but I love the sharpness and how it pulls everything together nice and tight. For travel I have a Fuji X-T2 which is a little lighter and easier to carry around. You feel a little less intrusive with it because it’s smaller, which can be great when doing travel photography.

What can’t you work without? My huge Gitzo carbon tripod with a gear head. It’s heavy and big, and a pain to drag around – but there is no obstacle it can’t overcome or table it won’t fit over. It can become almost 3m high and I will love it until I die of a broken back!

Why do you love what you do? Mostly because I get to work with the things I love mostly – food and photography. But also because I get to meet so many inspiring people, whether it’s the incredible stylists I work with regularly, the chefs in kitchens who rock their world, or people who are in some way experts within their own craft. In these meetings an incredible synergy can arise, and it’s such an amazing way to work.

One shoot you won’t forget and why? A few years back I went to the Faroe Islands at the end of November to work with Restaurant Koks. It’s the most dramatic place I have ever visited, and the rough nature reflected instantly on the trip – from the highs to the lows! The sun rose at 9.30am and set at 3pm, so there really wasn’t any daylight to work with and that was hard on me because it was early in my career. But those lows were lifted by the amazing highs of the beautiful countryside, the amazing people, both locals and the staff at Koks, and how amazing the photos turned out. It really was a rite of passage and it’s a trip I will never forget.

Who or what inspires you? At this very moment I am deeply inspired by the woods, all the brown and burned colours and tones. I can always find inspiration in nature and I try to connect with it as often as I can, whether by a stroll in a park or by diving into the cold oceans for spearfishing. But sometimes a direct inspiration can also force you to be inspired by the opposite. Mostly, natural light, soft shadows and toned down hues are my go-to, but sometimes I also get so tired of it that I just HAVE to do hard light and strong colours. Yin and yang I suppose!

What is the best advice you have received? It sounds stupid saying it’s the best advice, but my old master Line Klein always said, “Never discriminate the rich, if they want to pay you a lot, let them”! It can be hard to put a price on your own head, but it’s good to sometimes tell yourself that your work can be worth more than you think. Having a few well-paying gigs can free you up a bit to work on more fun and lesser-paid jobs.

One moment in your career you will always remember? The day I started as a freelancer and had to start from scratch, figure everything out and digging out that big green button that said GO. That moment where you realise this is it...that will probably stay with me for a long time.

What is the best part of your job? Getting to eat amazing food and discuss it with the chef right there and then.

And the worst? Answering a load of emails forcing you to look at the screen all day.

What’s your proudest career achievement? The book project ‘On Eating Insects’ with Nordic Food Lab published on Phaidon. A book created with the most talented people and with an approach that is more than consumerism.

Which phrase do you overuse? “We’ll make it work, don’t worry!”

What single thing would improve the quality of your life? Probably an assistant or student to help with the workload. There is always more to do than you are aware of - I always feel just a bit behind.

What have you learned the hard way? Small tripod and big cameras don’t match – they will topple over at some point!

If you could do another job what would you like to do and why? Coming back to that 9th grade paper – I would work with food, no doubt anymore.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to be a photographer? Follow your passion whether it be food or fashion – and work at it hard. Find some people you can work with – my career kick-started by working with a restaurant pop-up group for free for two years.

Can you tell us about any other projects you have in the pipeline? I have just finished shooting a vegetarian cookbook that has turned out amazing, its called Flere Kødfri Dage (More Meatfree Days), and a book on baking with Meyers. I am also doing a big commercial shoot in Oslo with Northern alongside my most favourite and trusted stylist Per Olav Sølvberg. I also plan on doing a lot more with wildlife chef Adam Engel, more food in nature please!

Any favourite Instagram feeds you are enjoying at the moment? I’m trying to cut back on Instagram, so I will have to decline to answer. Alternatively, I’m really enjoying reading the Swedish magazine Fool.

If you could be someone for a day who would it be? I’d be Christopher McCandless (he was featured in the film Into The Wild), just before he over-reached his abilities in Alaska – I think he must have experienced freedom like few do.

How do you spend your downtime? I love hanging out with my girlfriend...she is amazing! Going into nature foraging and cooking. I practice free-diving twice a week to wind down and because it is the most amazing feeling going into the ocean with nothing but a big breath. And late at night I melt my brain with HBO or Netflix!

Can you give us a great tip on how to take better photographs? If you are new to it, then try using indirect natural light which is easy to use and allows you to focus on your composition and technique, instead of a complicated light setting. Read up on composition; rule of thirds, golden ratio, dynamics and suchlike.

What would you like to be doing in five years time? Working as a photographer still...what else?! Maybe living very close to the ocean and forests.

If you had an extra hour each day what would you do with it? I’d spend it with the people I love, the people who inspire me - getting fueled up on the stuff that isn’t work related.

What’s your personal motto? Photography isn’t life and death, we’ll make it work!

How would you like to be remembered? As a guy with a smile on my face, always.

Thank you Chris for talking to The Lifestyle Editor.

You need to do become used in order to the unusual sensation of the bloodstream rapidly filling the penis of yours, but to stay away from discoloration or discomfort, you truly cannot go crazy.

2. Claims associated with a larger penis is likely to be exaggerated I discovered the pump will be able to temporarily provide you with larger erections by engorging it a lot more. Though I continue to be suspicious of promises it is able to try adding in to the size of yours.

For being good, I just utilized it for per month, as well as perhaps you'll need much longer to obtain outcomes. Though it did not create any kind of distinction within the very first month, which a lot of I am aware.

3. Not slight to use An additional concern is when you should make use of the pump. Can you permit the partner timepiece of yours? Or perhaps would you sneak above towards the bath room, reappearing a couple of mins later on prepared to cut grass?

I believe it is okay to utilize it inside the own period of yours, as well as in case you've a comprehension partner. The partner of mine believes it is very amusing & discovers it intriguing to look at!

But in case you are with somebody new, it is maybe significantly less subtle or convenient as a fast tablet as viagra.

Summary

Pros An reliable and effective method to get hold of an erection for sex More affordable compared to constant medication therapies as cialis or viagra Stays away from shooting any kind of medication Absolutely no systemic complications (affecting the majority on the body) Non-invasive treatment Quick and easy to use

Cons Equally you as well as the partner of yours need to recognize the procedure for utilizing the pump before sex It is much less slight than medication treatments It is often slightly uneasy to use Chance of small discoloration or even bruising Exclusively leads to short-term penis enlargement

Verdict There is absolutely no questioning that the penis pump did the role of its throughout the month I applied it. I manage to get hold of an erection each time I'd sex, as well as within almost no period. Thus as a means for treating erectile dysfunction, I was extremely satisfied with it.

Plus when compared with good erectile dysfunction medications, it had been terrific never to have the annoying negative effects as head aches or even an overused nose.

Even though it is able to provide you with a larger erection if you make use of it, I did not discover it transformed the dimensions of mine after the influence had used off however.

I am certain I will make use of the penis pump once again with the partner of mine. We have fallen beyond the original awkwardness, and also she discovers it type of enjoyable these days. But likewise, I can observe exactly why a slight tablet could possibly be a lot more attractive for some males.

Where you can purchase a penis pump You are able to purchase them by using many internet adult shops, plus they typically inventory identical heels.

I suggest bathmate recognized supplier, as they've a very good variety of each inexpensive plus more complex penis high heels.

The Hydromax x30, is a penis pump, meant to boost the measurements and also girth of a male's penis and assisting create more powerful erections plus more awareness after usage. When the title indicates, the Hydromax x30 is a hydro pump. Water is used by it, quite compared to atmosphere to develop as well as keep a vacuum. The poly carbon tubing methods 7.5 in in circumference round the starting (near the bellows.) and this also narrows somewhat while you shift as much as the roof of the tubing (7.1 in circumference.) the entire measurements (Plastic tubing and also bellows) on the Hydromax is ten in. The Hydromax x30 can be obtained within three various colors. You are able to often buy the distinct tubing model, such as mine, or maybe you are able to choose a white, or maybe an azure tubing. The colors continue to be semi transparent, therefore whichever colour you pick, you'll still have a great perspective of the penis of yours inside, though the distinct tubing will offer probably the very best perspective. The Hydromax x30 works on a bellows like pump to develop suction, instead of a light bulb pump, and that eliminates the demand for other attachments or even tubing as well as though I just have restricted practical experience and have a bulb pump prior to (On a pussy pump) the bellows pour appears to run very well. The vacuum is managed utilizing a fairly easy valve phone system to manage drinking water flow as well as stress. This particular valve was created to become utilized 1 handed, though from the expertise of mine, the switch might be somewhat rigid on event.

Operation: The Hydromax x thirty is user-friendly, though it takes just a little finding out in the beginning. Here is the way it works:

To begin with, turn the small greyish valve switch to shut place (Either edge of central.) The switch is little and also certainly will be a bit rigid, for that reason often can certainly be fiddly. Load up the pump with drinking water that is bright Either together with the label dealing with higher, which means you are able to notice dimensions, or perhaps with the label experiencing bad, to provide you with an unobstructed perspective, put in the penis within the pump as well as rest the casual band in place against the pelvis of yours. The casual band isn't uniformly formed, and also it dips inside somewhat on just one edge, this's the edge you preferably should have sleeping against the testicles of yours. Guarantee the testicles of yours are outside the Hydromax pump in this particular point. If needed, mild pull lower upon them to make sure they don't be sucked straight into the tubing. Start pushing the pump into the pelvis of yours. This can trigger the bellows to collapse (They are very solid plus it requires a small amount of force.) Only at that stage, you'll note a jet of moisture capturing out of the opposite conclusion of all of the pump. Gradually unwind the inward strain from the pelvis. This can trigger the bellows to elongate to the typical place of theirs, and this also stress can cause the penis of yours to become pulled upwards, or perhaps sucked into the pump. A seal is created, in case not, reposition as well as attempt once more. During the subsequent fifteen to twenty mins, recurring stairs five as well as six, gradually pumping the bellows to generate much more suction until perfectly stretched. Quit whenever you really feel you're arriving at the cap of yours of coziness. Should you pump a bit an excessive amount of & wish to discharge a little stress, just depress the entire valve dome. This can give off a bit, or maybe a great deal of stress, based on the length of time you depress the valve for. When you've completed, just press the small greyish valve switch to a main spot. This would uncover the valve in addition to quickly launch each liquid and pressure will put at the valve. (This can certainly additionally be accomplished when you have to put out strain quick, within every time.) Hydromax x30 Penis Pump packagingHydromax x30 Penis Pump packagingHydromax x30 Penis Pump valveMeasuring label on the Hydromax x30 Penis Pump Inside Use: Just before I get into the encounters of ours I have to point out I tried the Hydromax pump with 2 distinct men. (Not all at once. That could most likely be strange for them.) The main reason I'd to accomplish this was since the Hydromax x30 was simply not ideal for the partner of mine. He's very serious phimosis (Tight foreskin, not able to retract throughout the glans.) We really didn't believe the phimosis of his could be an aspect inside with a penis pump, though it actually is. As the partner of mine set about using the Hydromax, the penis of his normally started to enlarge, getting bigger than it'd obviously, despite an erection. This particular increased dimension triggered a great deal a lot more stretching out to the foreskin of his than normal, and yes it really started to really feel as although the skin of his will tear whether he carried on. The issue was, he was not close to the optimum opportunity of his and then thought he may go additional, in the event that not for the phimosis. Obviously this particular was an issue also I suppose this will likely be an issue for any kind of male having a small foreskin, therefore we surpassed the Hydromax x30 onto a curious and willing buddy, whom provided us with comments that is superb .

My good friend found an excellent expertise together with the Hydromax x30. He discovered it has been pleasant to make use of as well as even though he was uncertain at very first, he found it labored significantly, better than he expected. (To the stage that it really turned into a favorite plaything of his.) he described the feelings during using as becoming much like a taking, or perhaps stretching out feeling as well as despite the fact that which seems strong, he didn't encounter some pain, except if he have just a little taken at a distance and also pumped far. With this example, the fast discharge valve functioned very well to alleviate the stress quick. The only real additional point he encountered soreness was in the course of the very first make use of of his, as he settled minimal focus on the testicles of his as well as 1 accidently got' sucked up' that was not by far the most comfy experience. (Hold on to the toes of yours, boys.)

Because clean water is used by the Hydromax, quite compared to air flow, to produce a vacuum, it is able to just be utilized within the bathtub, bath or any other damp space. Nevertheless, utilizing normal water offered several additional advantages. First of all, it appears to produce a more powerful seal, when compared with air most pumps, as well as leakages are not as likely, therefore you do not really feel as it's continuously shedding suction when you go. Next, the comfortable drinking water looked to help you unwind the bloodstream vessels within the penis, providing much better, larger results. (Plus it simply can feel nicer.) The good friend of mine has today employed the pump on six various events as well as informs me that, on every consequent make use of, he's were able to boost the dimensions of the penis of his, based mostly on the prior results of his. Sooner or later, this particular boost will quit occurring, though it's quite a great indication which the item is engaging in as meant.

What shocked me essentially the most however, was simply just how much this particular pump does boost the dimensions on the penis. Along with duration, the Hydromax also offers an impact on girth, and also during some point, my good friend was able to run the whole tubing. (Girth wise.) This's not really a narrow tubing, computing 7.5 in in circumference. The Hydromax significantly boosts sizing, and also it will it perfectly. The great bulk on the swelling sets within one hour, though the good friend of mine observed that it can get as many as twenty four working hours for the penis of his to go back totally to the pre pumped condition of its. The very first hour right after pumping happens when he observed the best modification, not only inside dimension, but additionally within feeling. The good friend of mine seen he sensed much more delicate simply right after pumping, and this also flat heightened the orgasms of his.

Downsides: As a result of the bellows design pumping, and also the solid suction produced, at times the Hydromax is able to provide you experiencing a bit of bruised all around the groin location of yours, the majority of significantly exactly where it rests in place against the pubic bone of yours. In case you've very high testicles, you are going to need to support on for them although you primarily produce a seal, to stay away from them unintentionally driving sucked in place within the tubing. If you ever experience with phimosis or maybe any kind of type of penis soreness, particularly when erect, you might not get the complete opportunity of yours on the Hydromax x30.

An additional point to keep in mind is the fact that at a particular thing within the pumping, it starts to obtain a lot of more difficult to still pour. To put it simply, right after a particular issue, you can't draw away much more h20 or atmosphere out of the tubing. This doesn't truly induce a big issue, since the outcomes continue to be remarkable, however for men that want to have the ability to keep that here small bit more, you may want to check out the Hydromax x40 as an alternative This's additionally the case for just about any men that happen to be bigger compared to, point out, seven in, because you are going to feel just like you might go more, but there's absolutely no suite remaining to do it.

An additional point to think about is the fact that the Hydromax is only able to be utilized within the bathtub or even shower (Water squirts from the conclusion because you pump it.) therefore this can restrict the encounters of yours to many instances within a bath room, though within the point of view of ours, it's worth every penny. Faucet actually works as properly.

Hydromax x30 Penis PumpThe Hydromax x30 Penis Pump includes extra valve partsThe Hydromax x30 Penis Pump - casual pad Care as well as cleaning: Being completely submersible, the Hydromax x30 is quite simple to clean up. Make use of several warm, soapy drinking water as well as a great rinse later, nonetheless, you might have to have a comb or a cloth or sponge of some type, to completely attain in the conclusion on the tubing to really clean there. (I think Bathmate offer cleansing systems for the most pumps of theirs, though you are able to trendy one thing helpful in your own home a lot of cheaper.) Additionally, it includes an extra valve as well as valve cap (Basically, you are able to change the entire valve area, must it fail.) that stretches the lifetime of the pump 2 occasions over. Great.

Protection Information: The Hydromax x30 has a multitude of reliability guidelines. The mechanical implies you shouldn't be wearing the pump in case you are afflicted by cardiovascular or maybe lung disorders, high blood pressure levels, stroke, epilepsy or even convulsing condition, genital urinary problems, out of control diabetic issues, in case you're spending anti coagulants, have sickle cellular anaemia, bleeding problems, leukaemia or perhaps in case you don't have discomfort feelings within the genital region. You ought to additionally avoid using the pump for over 15/20 mins each time and also you shouldn't duplicate use within twenty four several hours.

Summary: The Hydromax x30 is an incredibly great penis pump. It's been created very well to permit outcomes that are remarkable while staying comfy throughout usage. The develop quality is excellent as well. The Hydromax x30 created remarkable modifications within both the girth and also the measurements of the penis of his. Additionally, it provided him much stronger erections (Most apparent after pumping.) and also heightened the awareness of his after usage. I'm unsure no matter whether it had been a lot more trust inside the pump, or maybe the pump itself operating it is secret, though the good friend of mine managed to observe modest raises every time he utilized it. While using computing gauge on the edge on the tubing, he recognized tiny boosts in deep duration, though I'm certain this won't begin permanently, and also within a bit of stage he is going to reach the restrict of his. The end result are extremely apparent as well as not one of us had been wanting SUCH a positive change. Nevertheless, the expansion, or even swelling, does vanish back again above period, before penis is about the typical size of its. In general, the Hydromax x30 actually pleased me and yes it definitely pleased the good friend of mine, whom experienced a bit of uncertain in the beginning, these days would like to utilize it nearly all many days. Most 3 individuals had in no way encountered a penis pump before, however the Hydromax has amazed each and every person individuals. I'd just hesitate about it, in case you experience with phimosis, penis soreness or even are bigger than seven in inside measurements or even have rather a big girth. (If you're bigger, go over the Hydromax x40.)

yet another bad cw4 take for reasons unknown and perhaps unknowable

Since I seemingly can’t stop thinking about this and if I don’t talk about something other than doom spirals I get a doom spiral

okay

So the design of the miners is pretty neat at first glance.

The map maker can vary the coverage of the blue terrain to change the value of this game’s reactor analogue.

Putting blue terrain in rough areas makes terraforming more of a ‘thing.’ In CW3 it felt more like a luxury feature, to make silly structures and brute-force assaults. The value in building any substantial wall or moat was completely offset by the extreme energy cost, and flattening terrain for energy production had a terrible return on investment. Here the value of a single tile of blue terrain feels very substantial (If I’ve done my math right it’s ~0.06 energy/sec/tile which adds up to a goodly amount over the length of a mission)

You can swap them between energy and bluite (the anticreeper resource), which is just a kind of Cool Interesting Strategic Choice Thing.

Except... I’m not so sure about the last one in terms of implementation.

I know, I’m a hypocrite, it’s very similar in design to my implementation of Essence for the unfinishable map series. But like, my implementation of Essence was kinda janky because a) I was too lazy to implement multiselect on custom units and b) I had no access to the source code, only limited APIs that forced me to reinvent fire and agriculture before I could even think about wheels.

It’s possible that I’m just used to my bad implementation so the CW4 way is unintuitive to me. But for some reason this:

Various sources produce Essence

Essence travels to the EldCore which acts as a central stockpile

Reactors and Replicators draw Essence from the EldCore and can be individually turned on and off, excess is wasted if respective resource’s storage is full

strikes me as more streamlined and user-friendly than this:

Mines go on resource

Mines can be set to produce either energy or bluite, excess is wasted if respective resource’s storage is full

The system is definitely simpler. But something about it just feels much more micromanage-y? Not on the level of Ever Having To Make Decisions After Building A Thing How Dare but on the level of being... fiddly. Okay, so consider this alternative for a moment.

Mines produce bluite only.

Bluite goes to the factory to get refined.

Refined bluite is sent to certain weapons, which it turns into anticreeper, and to generators where it is converted to energy.

Again, yes, this is more complicated. But consider: Virgil has access to the source code, so he can add things like “bluite burners only activate when collectors are not meeting demand.” (I will never stop calling them collectors - though I suppose back in ye day I thought I would never stop calling them blasters, and look where we are now.)

That would have two quality-of-life benefits: first, mined energy would never be wasted, and second, you would never have to change the settings on your mines.

Now, you’ll note that in the case of a shortage you’d have to shut off reactors or sprayers. This is not a problem, because it fits with the rest of the design. You already disable stuff to prioritize when there’s a shortage - it’s been a core part of every game in the series.

What the current design does is have there be a fake resource, blue-terrain-mining-time, whose only purpose is to be converted to other resources, and if you’re not constantly micromanaging it it’s being wasted.

And yes, it is fiddly. You have to select the number of mines you want to swap over, then click in the selection panel. There is not a hotkey iirc and even if there is, the need to hotkey such a specific thing makes it somewhat questionable just how... for lack of a better term because I am not a UI scientist, ergonomic the design is. “Disable thing turning bluite into energy” is intuitive if you’ve absorbed “disable thing turning energy into creeper damage” and uses the same key so it can be done without much extra thought.

Switching to this model would no doubt have some other problems I haven’t foreseen here, and obviously there is a deep, rancid hubris in not just reporting problems with game mechanics but proposing solutions to them, ever, let alone a game you’ve only played the demo of. But a) Virgil is not going to read this, in all likelihood, and I’m just here to spitball, and b) it’s as much a hypothetical against which to compare how not-integrated and user-unfriendly the current system is as a sincere suggestion of what to replace it with.

I know I’ve mentioned CDDA on here before, but no, CDDA having ten million hotkeys is not hypocrisy, because CDDA has ten million things you can do and it’s meant to be played entirely or primarily with the keyboard so what other option is there? Also due to its immense complexity there are multiple ways to tell your character to do the same thing depending on which menu your specific brain feels least alienated while dicking about in.

(I love you CDDA but 0.E’s crafting system is unbearable)

It’s possible the reason I’m viewing this as fiddlier than it is is the completely inscrutable UI that seems to have three separate ways of denoting production and consumption, so deciding how many to switch feels like guesswork in the demo where there are no sprayers and AC consumption is constant from static custom units! So if understanding the UI makes it less unpleasant, well, that just pushes the problem back and you need a more readable UI.

I think this might be part of my general hunch I had a while back that it was closed to permutation. It doesn’t really feel like genuinely hard levels can be made*, and difficulty in the CW games is inextricably tied to micromanagement, so if someone does cook up a hard level and micromanagement is actively unpleasant and the UI obscures the information you need to make good decisions - well, it’s likely to be hellish.

*I am bad at the game. My analysis of mechanics is probably not good for this reason. A lot of this is self-admittedly hunches, but then again, a game is a subjective experience and everything is just hunches in art. It does feel like it is not really possible to make anything more difficult than the stuff in the demo, and I don’t know how to substantiate that feeling in text, but if someone looks at a game from a series whose model is “the campaign is the tutorial, and the user maps are the real meat and potatoes,” and they think “Something about this feels inextensible, and it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere,” that is death.

anyway I am now responsible for half of the posts about creeper world on this website. (edit: no i am not, I just don’t know how to search because my brain is broken) This is not self-congratulation, but a lament about the dead-endedness of this incurable obsession, the implications of deep-rooted tastelessness, the impossibility of even superficial connection when half of my brain has been hollowed out and replaced with this of all possible things.

Hey look, a doom spiral anyway. How delightful.

Xiaomi teases a double-folding smartphone… ohhai digital triptych!

China’s Xiaomi has become the latest smartphone maker to tease a folding smartphone, dropping the below video clip of its president and co-founder, Bin Lin, fondling the device on social media today.

The twist is the tablet does not have a single center parting but rather two folds that divide it into three panels, with Xiaomi claiming in a tweet: “It is the world’s first ever double folding phone.”

The video shows Bin contemplating a tablet-sized touchscreen device before quickly turning it on its side, taking it into landscape orientation, where he performs the party trick — folding two panels of screen, one at each side, back behind the tablet to form a slightly chunky looking phablet.

Excited to share this video of a special Xiaomi smartphone from our President and Co-founder Bin Lin . It is the world’s first ever double folding phone — that’s pretty cool, isn’t it? #xiaomi #foldingphone #technology pic.twitter.com/iBj0n3vIbW

— Wang Xiang (@XiangW_) January 23, 2019

The video is edited so it cuts from front view to back at the moment of the fold so the actual folding action is not seen from the front. But from the back the two folded wings go dark after being folded.

When the video cuts back to the front there’s a slight spinning of the screen, as the software appears to grapple momentarily with the new form factor, before it stablizes in portrait orientation.

The phablet form of the device resembles the bezel-less ‘infinity display’ design of a handset like the 2018 Samsung Galaxy S8. Albeit more squat looking than the tall 18.5:9 aspect ratio of the S8.

Xiaomi’s tweet teaser does not include any details about how near (or indeed far off) a market launch of the device might be. We’ve reached out to the company with questions about the prototype and any launch plans.

In recent months a handful of folding smartphone prototypes have been demoed by mobile makers, including a booklet-style folding slab from Samsung — trailed as incoming for years but finally teased officially last fall — which also appears to transforms into a rather chunky handset.

An invite to a February 20 Samsung launch event for the forthcoming Galaxy S10, sent out to press two weeks ago, also included a conspicuous centerfold in its graphic teaser. Ergo, a commercial launch looks imminent.

While, at CES, a little known Chinese OEM called Royole beat others to the punch by showing off a folder in the flesh. In tablet form the Android powered FlexPai, as the device was christened, is 7.8-inches. But once folded in half the gizmo is left with an unsightly gap between the screen pieces, bulking up the resulting smartphone.  

Xiaomi’s triptych looks to offer a more pleasing design for handling the inevitable air gap created by a folding screen by concealing the ends in the middle of the dual folded panels. Side tucks certainly look more visually pleasing.

That said, two folds could mean a higher risk of screen problems — if the folding mechanism isn’t robust enough to handle lots of bending back and forth.

It’s also far from clear whether consumers will generally take to folding phones, or snub them as fiddly and gimmicky.

In recent years smartphone design has converged around a phablet-sized touchscreen and little else. So adding any fresh mechanical complication is a bit of a risk given how smooth and hermetically sealed smartphones have otherwise become.

But a clutch of Android OEMs are going to try their luck, regardless. And with a saturated smartphone market, stalled growth and competition fiercer than ever you can see why they’re pushing the boat out — or, well, bending the screen back — to try and stand out.

AOC Agon AG322QC4 review | Rock Paper Shotgun

HDR on PC (or excessive dynamic vary) is all properly and good when it truly works, however let’s face it, nobody needs to shell out north of £2000 / $2000 on considered one of Nvidia’s fancy G-Sync HDR screens just like the Acer Predator X27 or Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ when it’s nonetheless so rattling fiddly to get proper. Admittedly, issues aren’t any less complicated over on the AMD facet of the HDR pool both, with the GPU large’s FreeSync 2 tech providing an excellent woollier strategy to nailing down an honest HDR expertise.

The benefit of taking place the AMD route, nonetheless, is that you just’ve not solely a wider decide of screens to select from, however they’re additionally a heck of loads cheaper, with the AOC Agon AG322QC4 on check as we speak costing actually 1 / 4 of what you’d be forking out for considered one of Nvidia’s screens. Is AOC’s curvy, 31.5in, 144Hz, 2560×1440 monitor made from sterner finest gaming monitor stuff than its flat, 27in, 4K, 144Hz competitors? Let’s discover out.

It goes with out saying, after all, that as a way to benefit from this £415 / $550 FreeSync 2 monitor, you’ll want an AMD graphics card. You’ll discover a full checklist of FreeSync 2-compatible GPUs over in my What graphics card do I want for HDR? round-up, however for the needs of this overview, my PC was geared up with Sapphire’s Radeon RX Vega 64 Nitro+ card.

It’s additionally value noting that you just’ll have to make use of one of many AG322QC4’s two HDMI 2.zero inputs as a way to allow HDR, because the pair of DisplayPorts on supply somewhat annoyingly solely help the common DP 1.2 commonplace as a substitute of the HDR-ified DP 1.four. Nonetheless, I can’t begrudge it when there are such a lot of different ports on supply right here (together with a two-port USB3 hub, a VGA enter and a headphone output, the latter of which will be neatly held on the monitor’s built-in, extendable headphone hook around the again), and it even comes bundled with an HDMI cable within the field, which is greater than will be mentioned for another screens today.

Sure, the AG322QC4 comes with necessary LEDs that may be modified from pink to blue or inexperienced, however you possibly can flip them off (or modify their depth) within the onboard menu system.

As soon as it was all setup, the AG322QC4 makes for fairly the imposing gaming display. Measuring 31.5in throughout its gently curved diagonal, this 2560×1440, 144Hz VA panel takes up fairly a good portion of your general peripheral imaginative and prescient. The curve didn’t make an enormous quantity of distinction to my general sense of immersion, all instructed – most likely as a result of its comparatively compact stand allowed me to shunt it additional again on my desk than different curved screens I’ve examined up to now – however you possibly can at all times inch it nearer to make it really feel like its FreeSync 2 magic is wrapping spherical your total face.

FreeSync 2, it’s possible you’ll bear in mind, is an extension of AMD’s already-existing adaptive body price know-how, FreeSync. It’s basically precisely the identical factor as common FreeSync (which supplies you low latency, tear-free gaming amongst different advantages), solely with added HDR help. Initially, AMD mentioned that FreeSync 2 screens could be held to a better commonplace than common FreeSync screens, and that solely the easiest screens would ever be classed as FreeSync 2.

The one drawback is that, not like Nvidia’s clearly-defined G-Sync HDR commonplace, AMD haven’t truly confirmed what a monitor has to do as a way to win that coveted FreeSync 2 badge. As a substitute, we’ve to look to one other commonplace, this time from VESA, to assist make sense of all of it (which is strictly what you need to make issues completely crystal clear to your typical shopper).

The AG322QC4’s five-way management button and up to date onboard menu system are a giant enchancment on earlier fashions, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a bit fiddly to make use of

The AG322QC4, as an illustration, can be licensed as assembly the VESA DisplayHDR 400 commonplace. That is the bottom VESA commonplace (the others being 600 and 1000) for HDR, and basically boils down to a few issues: a most brightness of 400cd/m2 (therefore the 400), a minimum of 95% protection of the rec.709 color gamut (which is what the common sRGB gamut is predicated on), and a most black stage of zero.40cd/m2 (the nearer to zero.00cd/m2, the higher). By comparability, the 600 and 1000-level tiers additionally demand 90% DCI-P3 color gamut protection along with a better 99% sRGB, in addition to decrease black ranges (zero.10cd/m2) and, naturally, increased brightness necessities.

Clearly, then, FreeSync 2 isn’t a lot a ‘gold commonplace’ for HDR as it’s a signal of ‘obscure competence’. Certainly, with VESA’s commonplace (fortunately) now changing into way more widespread amongst PC gaming screens, the DisplayHDR 400 mark is absolutely the naked minimal you have to be in search of in terms of shopping for an HDR-capable show.

That doesn’t imply that FreeSync 2 is similar as VESA’s DisplayHDR 400 commonplace, oh nooo. That might be too straightforward. As a substitute, the one factor AMD have truly mentioned on the matter is FreeSync 2 DisplayHDR 400 display would exceed the specification required for simply DisplayHDR 400. DisplayHDR 600 screens, for instance, may be classed as FreeSync 2 shows, as may DisplayHDR 1000 screens. Presumably, the latter two would supply much more than what’s technically required for FreeSync 2, however the level stays that the bar appears to be like to be fairly low for FreeSync 2 screens in comparison with their 1000cd/m2, 90% DCI-P3 Nvidia G-Sync HDR rivals.

The AG322QC4’s two-port USB3 hub and separate headphone and microphone jacks are simply to the fitting of the primary inputs.

On paper, then, the AOC AG322QC4’s HDR capabilities don’t precisely sound notably promising. In spite of everything, a excessive peak brightness is among the key issues that provides HDR its eye-searing wow issue, and there are many different non-HDR screens on the market (SDR, or commonplace dynamic vary screens, if you’ll) that may already do properly in extra of 400cd/m2 brightness proper off the bat.

Certainly, there’s no denying the AG322QC4’s brightness stage is considered one of its greatest weaknesses. Throughout my common SDR assessments, for instance, I recorded a most white stage of 380cd/m2 with my X-rite i1 DisplayPro calibrator. Admittedly, that’s nonetheless greater than sufficient for normal desktop use, notably should you’re sitting in direct daylight, however when it got here to testing the monitor’s brightness in HDR, I solely ever noticed a peak of round 350cd/m2 – and that was after I plonked my DisplayPro over the white scorching Grecian solar in Murderer’s Creed Odyssey.

That’s not good should you’re hankering for some correct digital Mediterranean sunshine because the winter months begin to attract in, and I used to be left feeling distinctly much less impressed than after I watched the identical scene play out on Nvidia’s pair of G-Sync HDR screens, the Acer Predator X27 and Asus PG27UQ.

That mentioned, whereas the AG322QC4 won’t ship on the brightness facet of HDR, I’d argue that its color accuracy seemed simply as vibrant as its Nvidia rivals. In reality, it’s arduous to place a definitive determine on this, as my testing patterns don’t produce their very own HDR metadata, which is what tells the display that, sure, that is certainly HDR content material so please present it in HDR. As such, the one factor I can actually decide it by is the way it appears to be like to my very own eyeballs – which on this case, was fairly rattling close to excellent.

You get 5 primary inputs on the AG322QC4, however solely the 2 HDMI ports will do HDR.

Going again to that Murderer’s Creed Odyssey dawn once more, I noticed the identical heat gentle casts its pinky, purple glow over the mountains of Cephalonia on the AG322QC4 as I did on the Predator X27 (albeit with HDR turned on this time as a substitute of being compelled to go away it off as a result of Acer’s unusual HDR implementation), and should you put the 2 screens facet by facet I believe I’d have a tough time telling them aside.

The identical goes for Closing Fantasy XV and Forza Horizon four as properly, whose vibrant, vibrant worlds seemed simply as wealthy and vibrant in HDR on the AG322QC4 as they did on the Asus and Acer. So sure, the AG322QC4’s brightness is probably not all that, however in terms of the color facet of HDR, this can be a display that punches properly above its weight – even when, paradoxically, Murderer’s Creed Odyssey’s particular FreeSync 2 HDR help doesn’t look practically nearly as good as utilizing its common previous HDR settings. Closing Fantasy XV and Forza Horizon four, by comparability, don’t have particular FreeSync 2 help and simply labored from the get go as soon as I’d made a few very minor changes to its in-game brightness sliders.

The AG322QC4 impressed as an everyday SDR display for plain previous desktop responsibility as properly – as soon as I’d acquired my head round AOC’s improved, however nonetheless somewhat fussy onboard menu system. On its default settings, for instance, my i1 DisplayPro confirmed the AG322QC4’s VA panel was already displaying a really respectable 95.2% of the sRGB color gamut, and 69% of the broader DCI-P3 color gamut, which is used as a measure for these aforementioned premium HDR screens (together with Extremely HD Premium TVs).

That’s fairly good for straight out of the field, and I wasn’t in a position to get way more out of it throughout calibration, both, so you possibly can just about use it as is and nonetheless get an important image. After I converted to the Person color temperature profile (preserving its Eco mode on Customary and its numerous gaming modes switched off), for instance, I managed to nudge these figures as much as 96.5% and 70.1% respectively, however in observe the distinction was virtually negligible. Switching on the monitor’s DCB (dynamic color enhance) mode to Full Improve made a extra noticeable affect, immediately making my desktop seem way more vibrant, however even then you definitely’re solely figures of 96.9% and 72.7%.

Certain, there are different screens that provide you with a few additional per cent of sRGB protection, such because the similarly-priced and similarly-specced, non-HDR Acer XF270HUA, however few handle to mix this sort of protection with such a superb distinction ratio of 2726:1 and a black stage of simply zero.14cd/m2. With figures like these, the AG322QC4 actually stands aside from different 1440p 144Hz screens you’ll discover on this form of £400-500 / $500-600 worth vary, and that’s earlier than you begin throwing HDR into the combo as properly.

I do want AOC would make its onboard menu system simpler to make use of, although. Regardless of choosing a much more handy five-way button on the monitor’s decrease bezel this time (or, certainly, its accompanying menu management pad) as a substitute of a complicated row of horizontal buttons, the truth that it’s a must to press the button in to pick out a selected menu display, however then press proper to discover a particular person setting is simply mind-bogglingly infuriating – particularly when the button on my explicit overview pattern was a bit wobbly and insecure within the first place, so even when I believed I’d pressed it inwards, it truly ended up doing one thing else. Simply make it one or the opposite and have executed with it.

I additionally wouldn’t advocate utilizing its three preset gamer modes (FPS, RTS and Racing), as these locked off a number of settings, together with the color temperature choices, and seemed worse for it. The Shadow Management characteristic may are available use should you’re taking part in one thing notably gloomy and don’t need to be scared out of your wits when one thing jumps out of the shadows at you, however in any other case I’d say you’re higher off leaving its ‘sport settings’ properly alone.

Fussy menu apart, although, the AOC AGON AG322QC4 is however a superb FreeSync 2 monitor. Regardless of its modest HDR specs, this £415 / $550 display is greater than able to matching screens 4 instances its worth in terms of general HDR color copy, and whereas it might not wow you with its most brightness, it nonetheless affords a perceptible improve in visible high quality over its non-HDR rivals. Likewise, even should you’re not out there for an HDR gaming monitor, the AG322QC4’s wonderful distinction ratio, deep blacks and wide selection of ports make it a troublesome act to beat at this worth, making it a robust decide for HDR and non-HDR PC peeps alike. If you happen to personal an AMD graphics card and need to give your gaming library a little bit of a lift within the previous picture division with out spending an absolute fortune, the AOC Agon AG322QC4 received’t disappoint.

from SpicyNBAChili.com http://spicymoviechili.spicynbachili.com/aoc-agon-ag322qc4-review-rock-paper-shotgun/

Both Python and Java frequently top lists of the most in-demand programming languages among employers. These are powerful, flexible, and object-oriented languages that are commonly used across organizations and in a wide variety of other settings.

This may lead you to ask the inevitable question: which is better? Or at least, which one should you learn?

Also read: I want to develop Android apps: what languages should I learn?

This is a complicated question, seeing as the two languages are actually quite different (it’s never that simple!). So read on, and we’ll unravel the question of Python vs Java to see which is best for you.

Python vs Java: structure and design

First, let’s take a look at how Python and Java are written and how this affects the experience of programming.

Object-Oriented

Python and Java are both considered to be “object-oriented” programming languages. This means they allow developers to create data objects through classes. While this is a complex concept for a beginner to get their head around, it effectively allows for very efficient and well-designed code. Classes are modular by nature and allow for very scalable programs that can do a lot with less code.

But if you’re still scratching your head asking how data can be an “object,” then you have run into the first problem with object-oriented programming: it’s confusing for beginners!

That’s why many people love the fact that Python also “supports multiple paradigms.” This means that you can create functional/imperative code that is read from top to bottom, making it much easier to get to grips with. It also makes Python very quick for developers that just want to make a quick app in a couple of lines to perform a useful job.

(Of course, it’s technically possible to write functional/imperative code in Java, but Python lends itself better to this type of code.)

Readability and White Space

This lack of forced-paradigm makes Python more beginner-friendly and flexible, but so too do many of the syntax decisions.

For example, Python encourages the use of lots of whitespace, doesn’t require semi-colons at the end of every statement. As a rule, Python also requires less boilerplate code as compared with Java (meaning that you can do more with fewer lines).

The semi-colon thing is big. In Java, you can write a beautiful program that is millions of lines long and have it not run because you forgot to include a semi-colon! No matter how experienced you are, this will always happen.

That said, while it might seem like a nuisance, restrictions like this do force you to write well-organized code and can avoid confusion down-the-line.

What’s more, is that other programming languages are similarly strict in terms of their grammar and structure. That means that Java will generally be better at preparing developers to work with other languages, such as the very-similar C#.

Also read: An introduction to C# for Android for beginners

Other differences are largely cosmetic: Python prefers snake_case for functions and variables (because snakes), whereas Java uses camelCase.

On the whole, a page of Python is much less daunting and reads a bit more like English. Java can be denser to wrap your head around, especially if you’re new to programming. But there is (usually) a method to the madness. (Sometimes literally.)

Static vs Dynamic

A key factor in the competition between Python vs Java, is that java is statically typed and Python is dynamically typed.

This means that when you declare a variable in Java – which is a word that represents a piece of data – you need to describe what kind of variable that is. It might be a “string” (a word or sentence), an integer (a whole number), or a float (a number with decimal places).

In Python, you don’t need to decide what type of variable you are using right away.

Likewise, function arguments can pass in any object. All this “Duck typing” makes Python very convenient and easy to use. However, this can occasionally make code a little more obtuse to the casual observer and may lead to errors, unless it has been properly commented.

Also read: How to comment in Python: Tips and best practices

Compiled vs Interpreted

Python is an “interpreted language.” That means you’ll install an interpreter on your machine that will read and understand Python code. It also means that for anyone else to use your code, they will likewise need an interpreter installed. You can’t easily build an executable file and then send it to your friends/buyers.

This is both a strength and a weakness of Python. It means that in order to build anything for commercial use, you will need to rely on external tools and fiddly processes.

However, it also means that Python is ideal for putting something together quickly for your own personal use. You can add Python to PATH or run Python apps straight from CMD/terminal without having to go through a lengthy compilation stage.

Java meanwhile is technically both interpreted and compiled. Java will be compiled first, but the target machine will need the JVM in order to run the code.

As such, Java code is typically more portable, but you may still need to go through a few steps to get it in a usable fashion. As is the case when building Android apps!

Also read: A guide to Android app development for complete beginners in 5 easy steps

What this does also mean though, is that Java code has the potential to run much faster, making it a better choice for more intensive operations.

Which is easier for beginners?

If the above didn’t make it clear, Python is generally much easier for beginners. Python is logical even for someone who doesn’t know what a “Class” is, and it has a clean and simple layout that gives you plenty of room to breathe.

Python is commonly used as a first programming language for teaching programming concepts, so it’s handy that it is also flexible enough to be useful outside of the classroom! In many ways, Python is the new BASIC. In terms of simplicity, Python vs Java is a no-brainer.

That said, the restrictions and complexities of Java aren’t just for fun. They can be useful for getting into good habits early on, and they may prepare a developer for the rest of their career.

At the end of the day, if you’re interest is in learning for learning’s sake, Python is the better place to start. But it’s going to depend on your end goal.

What are they used for?

Speaking of which, what might your end goal be when learning either of these languages?

As mentioned, Python’s “interpreted” nature means that it can’t easily be used to write commercial programs that you share and sell. It is slower than compiled languages, and it isn’t easily exported.

This means that Python generally isn’t used for mobile app development, game development, building desktop software, etc.

However, what Python is great for, is writing quick code that performs useful functions. This makes it a popular in-house tool among many security firms, data analytics companies, and the like.

The other common use for Python, is building web apps. Here, the Python code actually runs “server-side.” That means that it runs on the server that houses the files that comprise a website. Because Python is installed on the server, the user doesn’t need to worry about whether or not they have Python installed on their machine: they just see the output.

Therefore, Python powers many of the biggest brands on the web. These include: Instagram, Google, Spotify, Netflix, Dropbox, and many others.

Java meanwhile is used to develop a number of desktop and mobile applications. Java used to be the primary language used for Android development, until Google announced that Kotlin would be its top choice going forward. However, Java is still officially supported, and is still used by a large number of organizations.

Java is popular among big organizations in general, seeing as it is supported by a wide number of frameworks and libraries, is very fast, is very secure, and works across platforms. Java also has the advantage of having been around for a very long time – and big companies don’t like change!

Also read: Kotlin tutorial for Android for beginners: Build a simple quiz

Java is less commonly used for games. Other combinations such as C# with Unity, or C++ with Unreal Engine are more powerful and flexible in this scenario.

Python vs Java: Which is right for you?

So with that said, should you choose Python or Java to start coding?

If you’re looking to become a software developer working for a big company, if you want to make Android apps, or if you’re interested in learning more programming languages such as C#, then Java is a great choice. Be prepared for a steep learning curve though!

If you just want to learn about programming with a beginner-friendly language, then Python is ideal. Python is also a great choice if you’re interested in building web apps, working with tech start-ups, or have an interest in data science.

Want to give Python a try? Then why not check out our list of the best online Python courses. These will provide a complete education, and Android Authority readers will also get huge discounts!

source https://www.androidauthority.com/python-vs-java-1145042/

Old School RuneScape and Shenmue • Eurogamer.net

Old School RuneScape

Matt: I have to admit, a good portion of my time allocated to this feature was spent signing up to RuneScape. It was frequently baffling – I somehow had an account already associated with Jagex which needed resetting several times, my usual handle (and my back up, and the back up to that) were already taken, and upon trying to buy membership, it wouldn’t let me type in any credit card details.

Downloading the game from the Old School RuneScape website really sets the tone straight away.

It was similar to the only other time I tried to play an MMO – an evening wasted trying to get my head around Square Enix’s account system to play Final Fantasy 14 in its infancy, forcing me to give up on what I hear is one of the best games in recent years – and a reminder of why I tend to stick to console games. There’s only so many captcha screens I can take!

Lottie: Back when I made my first RuneScape account – like a good fourteenish years ago – I’m pretty sure that it only required an unused username and a password. In fact, I don’t think I even attached my email address to that account until I signed up for membership a year later. I’m also honestly surprised you had such a time paying for your membership – you’d think Jagex would make taking your money an easy process.

Matt: You’d think so, right? However, once I was playing… I was pleasantly surprised! First, I absolutely love the way Old School RuneScape looks. I didn’t get into PC games until Half-Life, but it’s reminiscent of early PlayStation games, an era I’m more familiar with and tirelessly fond of – where everything was made of chunky, brightly coloured polygons, the world gradually clipping into view as you explore, and charming MIDI music blazing as you go.

Old School Runescape eases you into things surprisingly well.

It’s also impressively tutorialized, uncovering its menu options and associated systems one-by-one as you explore the opening island. I’ve already forgotten how to use an anvil, or how to bake some bread, but I misjudged RuneScape as something which drops you in the deep end without explaining how anything works.

I also enjoyed how the first thing you fight is a giant rat in a mine. This is an MMO all right!

Lottie: There’s a part of my brain that’s dedicated to pure RuneScape knowledge. I can write you a guide right now about how to smith a rune scimitar or how to brew a prayer potion.

I’ve always loved how so many of the skills in RuneScape are interconnected; you grow herbs using the farming skill, for example, and, thanks to herblore, use them to create potions, which can provide boosts to your hunting skill or help out in combat. There’s a real advantage to training every skill, which becomes more apparent the deeper you delve into the game.

Now that you’ve escaped Tutorial Island, how are your first real steps in Gielinor going?

True to form, you’ll fight… giant rats.

Matt: Okay, so now I’m actually playing and picking up quests, I’m starting to run up against the antiquity of it all. I’ve discovered it’s quite fiddly to get around, and my character’s stamina depletes very quickly, making exploration feel far more sluggish than I was expecting. Meanwhile, left clicking on things is unpredictable – will you converse? Will you pickpocket? Will you puncture that cow with your bronze sword instead of milking it? (I quickly discovered right clicking on things first is the way to go.)

Also, the combat is frightfully simple – you just click on a goblin (of which there are an alarming number of?) and you’ll automatically exchange blows until it dies, then repeat, occasionally pausing to eat something for health.

I ended up scrolling Twitter as I was chaining through a field of goblins, helping me get through the combat questline a little easier. At first this didn’t feel in the spirit of the game, but then I realised – that’s how MMOs are secretly supposed to work, right? It’s a thing you chip away at while doing / watching / listening to other things?

Goblins. Everywhere!

Lottie: I’ll admit that when I’m training a skill like woodcutting or mining, I usually do it while reading. Doing so has never felt like I’m betraying the game in some way, I’m still playing after all, I just don’t want to watch my adventurer chop trees for an hour. Grinding is an inevitable part of any MMO and, as long as you’re not using a bot, I don’t care how people get through it.

For me, the simplicity of the combat has always been part of the game’s charm. You can make it more complicated by using magic as your primary weapon or by training the slayer skill, which involves hunting down monsters that can only be killed using specific items, but I like how the melee combat is simplified, so that you can focus on buffing your abilities with potion or food.

(There’s also a really good questline that explores what’s happening with the goblins in the Lumbridge area.)

Matt: I’d love to find that, because there really are a lot of goblins. I was actually overjoyed when I saw a giant spider scuttling around, just for something else to fight.

I think where the game clicks for me is the non-combat stuff – I enjoyed the simplicity of milling wheat to help someone bake a cake, and digging up clues for a treasure hunt. It reminds me what I enjoy most about modern games-as-a-service stuff like Fortnite or Destiny – less the combat, but more completing challenges as an excuse to see the vast, beautiful world developers have created.

And, again, I love the look of Old School RuneScape – I might look up some YouTube videos later to see what other areas look like.

Working out Treasure Hunt clues was probably the highlight of the my brief time with Old School RuneScape.

I’m not sure whether I’ll come back to it – there are one too many rough edges with combat and controls for me, I think – but I enjoyed it more than I was expecting, enough so that it’s convinced me to finally start playing an MMO one day. Assuming they’re not all completely overrun by goblins.

Lottie: The graphics for Old School RuneScape have a special place in my heart as it manages to be both endearing and terrifying, sometimes on purpose, all at the same time! There are certainly some beautiful locations in the game, especially when you’re able to visit places like Prifddinas. I also promise that there are a lot of goblin free areas in Gielinor – you might want to avoid north of Falador though.

I do understand why you have mixed feelings about returning; MMOs require a higher time investment compared to other games, Old School RuneScape especially due to its age and, as you mentioned, certain little quirks. I’m glad, however, that you enjoy the non-combat skills, as they have always been my favourite aspect of the game. It’s really cool how, even if you completely ignore the combat system, the game still allows you to have a great time.

Now that you’ve tried Old School RuneScape, I think that it’s only fair you give RuneScape 3 a go too, just for comparison’s sake.

Matt: That’s not a bad idea. Though unless RuneScape 3 has the same incredibly cute ‘quack’ sound effect, I’m not sure it’ll ever live up to the original.

Lottie: Yes, the quack is the same!

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Shenmue

Lottie: Shenmue makes it very clear from the opening cutscene that it wants to tell a martial arts vengeance story; a mysterious stranger arrives to demand an equally mysterious artifact, a father is murdered in front of his son and revenge is sworn.

This was great for me, because I love a good revenge story, especially if it involves punching. When I began playing Shenmue, however, I realised that it doesn’t approach this story in the way you’d typically expect from a video game released in the late nineties. Instead of punching enemies in face, I was gathering clues by talking to Ryo’s neighbours and managing an allowance, which means spending it all on capsule toys.

Vengeance!

The game even used its genre to tease me; I dialled the number for the police, but Ryo refused to call them. He has to avenge his father himself after all.

Matt: First, I’m very pleased you tried to call the police! It’s one of many great Easter Eggs you can easily miss. The game rewards you for experimenting with the world around you in all sorts ways – and by Ryo reacting accordingly (i.e. being stubborn) helps establish his personality beyond a typical cutscene.

He will continue to establish his personality further through punching as you originally assumed, though, so stick with it!

Lottie: I hope so! I do like how, as you explore Ryo’s home, you can uncover little cutscenes that give more insight into his relationship with his father as well. As you said, scenes like those reward experimentation and helped me become invested in the story.

You can uncover a variety of hidden cutscenes by exploring Ryo’s home.

The more I played, the more I came to love how intricate the world of Shenmue is; the shops have different opening times, the streets grow busier throughout the day and each NPC has their routine, which means you have to learn when and where characters will be.

The game is as much about planning your day as it is revenge. Even when I found myself waiting for the local bars to open, the daily cycle continued to heighten the immersion of the game, rather than making me feel like I had hit a roadblock. It makes sense, in the story that Shenmue is telling, that Ryo’s journey begins with him patiently tracking down information and, while he waits, he can always waste some time in the Sega arcade.

You have to wait till 7pm to find this man.

Matt: Yeah – despite the heavy premise, Ryo is still a teenager, right? That’s exactly what he would do to kill time. Again, another way of establishing who Ryo is beyond a cutscene – people you talk to constantly remind he’s still in school, the cash you can spend is from pocket money, etc etc. This is also the point where the game doubles down on the time aspect which can leave many players frustrated – forcing you to wait hours or sometimes a full day in-game for the next event to happen – but it sounds like you’re fully on board?

Lottie: I am – I like games with well developed worlds, be it expressed through environmental storytelling, gradually revealing aspects of the lore or, in this case, applying aspects of reality, like the fact that most shops aren’t open 24 hours a day. What did break my immersion though were the quick time events.

For me, quick time events ruin the flow of the gameplay.

I’ve never liked quick time events, because, to me, their inclusion always feels forced; the flow of a game is brought to a standstill as you’re made to push a certain sequence of buttons, often until you’ve done it correctly.

In Shenmue, there’s always a chance that you might encounter a little side event, from a bike race to children playing football, and, like the daily cycle, these activities make the community feel more realistic. Unfortunately, a number of these hidden activities include quick time events and, of course, if you don’t do it correctly, then you have to do it again. It took me four attempts to correctly complete one such event.

Ten minutes later I discovered that the main storyline also included quick time events.

Matt: Fun fact – Shenmue was the first to feature (or at least popularise) Quick Time Events, so you’re seeing the birth of something which plagued every action adventure game for the next decade.

There are some brilliant chase sequences which use them effectively later in the game, but as you say, means you’re now on alert every time a cutscene plays out. There’s even a couple of arcade cabinets which are QTE simulators, if you need to kill some time and test your reflexes. I’ve played them so much the sound effect is forever seared into my brain.

Oh look – another quick time event…

Lottie: For me, it’s the quick time events that are really preventing me from deciding whether or not I’m going to continue playing Shenmue. The story certainly seems to be picking up pace and I would like to see what other early open world aspects this game has, but the knowledge that there’s even more quick time events to come is really off putting. I’ve had this happen with other games before when there’s an aspect of the gameplay I don’t like, such as the tests of strength in Breath of the Wild. I find myself unable to dislodge the thought of these features from my mind and, rather than simply enjoying the game for its own sake, I spend my time worrying about when I’ll have to deal with this feature once again.

Matt: The last third of the game certainly gets more punchy – and has one of the most infamous mini-games of all time, so if you can make it a little further, I would say your spirits will be… lifted.

Ultimately, I think Shenmue is a game which suffers from playing excessively in short periods, so come back to it and progress through the story whenever the mood takes you. Or not – Shenmue is a game, 20 years on, I still load up from time-to-time just to spend time in, usually waiting for the jazz bars to open by practicing martial arts or trying my hand at the Tomato Convenience Store raffle to pass the time. Either way, take your time and savour it if you do return – there’s no rush, despite how eager Ryo seems to get!

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Meet the Steve Jobs of the gravity water bowl Industry

"Innovation together with automation is slipping much more in addition to improved ideal into Virtually each component of our life and in addition the pet field is no diverse.

From Standard PRACTITIONER spot collars, to health and wellness in addition to treatment monitoring sensible cell phone apps, warmed pet beds to Digital pet Pet ID tags, the world of pet possession and likewise innovation has very well and actually clashed.

One among by far the most valuable current advancements in modern engineering focused on our pets will be the digital, programmable gravity drinking water bowl.

These gizmos usually aren't intended to entirely change your procedure and also focus when it involves your pooch's eating plan. They are really to offer you a beneficial hand to assure your canine's necessities are presented for for those who explore all by yourself out of the dwelling for an entire working day, or like a more 'fingers off' system to rigid, normal feed instances.

Rapidly REVIEW: The Most Effective AUTOMATIC PET Canine Doggy FEEDERS

Exactly what is surely an Automatic Canine Feeder?

Automatic pet dog feeders are precisely exactly what they appear like - pet food stuff dispensers that disburse food stuff immediately either by using digital pre-programming or by gravity.

They're normally provided 2 components: a glass or plastic air constrained receptacle which is made up of the foodstuff right before it can be introduced, and also a plastic, ceramic or stainless-metal bowl the food items is presented into and also that your Puppy dines in the restaurant of.

Why Use an Computerized Pet Pet dog Feeder? When are They Useful?

Computerized canine feeders will be an exceptionally valuable enhancement to anybody incapable to dedicate to standard pet feedings - that might be the senior or handicapped, or even just individuals that do the job far from house, Individuals on a shift foundation or Those people having a time-out faraway from their residence with out their pet Pet.

They are In addition a fantastic Software for proprietors intending to regulate their pet's body weight along with the total their pet dog consumes. Digital canine feeders will let you to pre-system aspect dimensions as well as scheduled feedings so your Canine will get pleasure from the wellness benefits of taking in tiny, but regular dishes.

These are practical in managing complications like diabetic issues mellitus.

What Types of Automated Puppy Feeder Exist?

You'll find 2 most important kinds of automatic pet feeder, with many variants over the similar two basic motifs:

Gravity Animal Feeders

Gravity feeders tend to be the the very least sophisticated sort of automated pet feeder exactly where every time your pet Canine consumes, food will Usually fall with the hopper into the dish, renewing what has basically been eaten.

As swiftly as the dish is complete, the dispenser will certainly not be capable to start virtually any a lot more food stuff given that the food items will be backed up into the receptacle, http://www.petstew.com/B06XL184LG/outad-55l-automatic-pet-feeder-with-voice-message-recording-and-lcd-screen-large-smart-dogs-cats-food-bowl-dispenser-black.html preventing further circulation.

Gains of Gravity Pet Feeders:

There is not any fiddly demonstrates important which has a gravity feeder so you can be absolutely sure the gadget will definitely never ever tumble shorter and your canine will definitely in no way ever skip a dish.

Down sides of Gravity Animal Feeders:

Of class, the flipside to this is that the canine will have unrestricted accessibility to his food stuff which may well swiftly deliver about overindulging and its associated well being and wellness situations, which include abnormal bodyweight.

Electronic Pet Doggy Feeders

Digital feeders are one of the most notable kind of computerized feeders because they enable you total control in excess of precisely just simply how much your Doggy eats and also when they can consume it.

You really should pre-system them with feeding occasions and measured part measurements, after that food is right away supplied as necessary, at the specific periods together with portions you set.

Gains of Electronic Animal Feeders:

The sizeable advantage to electronic feeders is the quantity of Regulate you have much more than your canine's feeding, Irrespective of anyplace you take place being present at feeding time - It is perfect for weight Command or even the handling of situations like hypoglycaemia, pancreatitis and diabetic issues as you can warranty your pet enjoys minimal together with frequent foods.

Consuming this kind of normal well balanced as well as regulated portion sizes will make certain that your pet Puppy will never gorge on their food - which might provide about bloating and obesity - and promotes really easy foodstuff digestion, inning accordance with Petful

It is quick to overstate part measurements with proprietors just likely by sight by itself nevertheless an Digital Pet feeder ensures parts are correct Each time.

Disadvantages of Digital Animal Feeders:

It is really frequently truly worth doing all your analyze when it concerns electronic feeders and in addition acquiring a top good quality merchandise. Very low leading high-quality solutions can lead to programming faults producing your pet lacking out on a meal, becoming overfed or being underfed.

Make sure you only expend in a reliable, great premium quality feeder, for instance Individuals evaluated superior on With this site.

Advantages of Working with an Automated Pet Feeder - A Summary

Permit's instantly sum up the important strengths to applying an automatic pet Pet dog feeder, so you could see at a glance if It can be anything you can take advantage of:

Automated canine feeders guarantee your canine obtains fed irrespective of of your own area or predicaments. They never ever must pass up a dish!

Electronic Pet feeders supply provided positive aspects like part Regulate and arranged feeding. This can make it straightforward to deal with your pet's excess weight and any sort of pertinent medical situations.

Self-contained dimension and consuming bowl so you will find a lot less depleting and cleaning for yourself (no figuring out mugs to clean and so on.).

Eliminates the must ask good friends or house for favors, to discover feed your canine When you are out for lengthy hrs ultimately.

Shortcomings to Making use of an Automated Puppy Feeder - Exist Any sort of?

Just one criticism of automatic household pet feeders is they take away the Rewards together with schooling choices presented by a 'regular' nourishment regimen wherein the proprietor as well as Canine shell out high quality time jointly and training regimens are executed.

With an automatic feeder, of instruction training course there's no need to have for your Puppy to sit just before they consume.

You could neutralize this by shelling out alternative time with each other to bond and improve their teaching. In addition to you still have possession of as well as are service provider of many other points your pet dog requires, for instance playthings, exercise, enjoy and appreciation and so forth.

We've presently reviewed the disadvantages to gravity feeders in which they allow your canine unrestricted accessibility for their food items - a issues Except if your pet Pet is truly self-restrained with their consuming practices (a uncommon good quality!).

Taking this issue suitable into thing to consider, we recommend Digital, calculated sections, automatic canine feeders only in addition to NOT gravity dependent types.

What to Try out to search out in the perfect Computerized Puppy Feeders.

The capacity to organize various meals everyday.

Adaptable area dimensions so you can best suit your pet's desires and behaviors.

Various price feeding modes so that you can control specifically how brief your dog eats.

Simple programming.

A receptacle and dish framework that is definitely Risk-free and in addition easy to cleanse.

A strong format that will not likely be toppled by significant paws.

With no extra ado, allow's take a look at - inside our view - the very best electronic automatic Puppy h2o dispenser

accessible on the marketplace these days.

I personally Feel this is excellent! It absolutely was so easy to set up. I screwed it on to the side with the deck in an area continually during the shade. The doggies, cat as well as the birds manage to love this very little miracle in the yard. Cleans easily And that i give it 5 stars. Fantastic Buy!!

"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/search?q=pet food timers

The Maserati Levante GTS Makes a Great Case for Performance SUVs

If he were alive to see the state of the luxury crossover, psychologist Abraham Maslow would be apoplectic. Beyond the baseline absurdity of buyers considering soft-roaders as a perceived necessity, there are people who seek stiffened-up, high-priced, and power-packed versions of the all-wheel-drive cocoons to serve as their daily runabouts. Porsche, BMW, Audi, Bentley, and most recently Lamborghini have profited mightily from filling this demand, and the craze shows no sign of slowing down. Just last summer, Maserati revealed a GTS variant of its Levante SUV, packing a Ferrari-derived V-8 under the condo-sized front end. Ridiculous! (Wait—a Ferrari V-8? In a Levante? Dang, that actually does sound fun. More on this in a moment.)

Cynicism is easy to conjure when discussing hi-po SUVs. They’re objectively interesting, but universally compromised. Contrary to what you might read online or hear at a dealer, none are as “good” as they could be, if you allow yourself to consider the possibility of lower ride height, less weight, and less complicated drivetrains. Put those wagon-ish fantasies aside and view them exactly as they are, and you’re still not getting a manufacturer’s best in terms of comfort, daily usability, cost, and efficiency. And there’s always room for even more capability. Porsche could build a GT3-style variant of its Cayenne or Macan, but it doesn’t. So rather than full-fat performance machines, such SUVs are loud, hard-launching blobs that are good at what they do, but not unconditionally so.

But I have to admit the Levante GTS feels different, even if it is compromised and, yes, nonsensical. Created as an Italianate foil to the indomitable Cayenne Turbo, Maserati likely knew the Levante variant couldn’t match the Porsche in terms of ultimate dynamics, performance, or finish. Instead, the GTS makes up the difference with character—and lots of it.

Step up to the GTS from the regular Levante or Levante S and the twin-turbocharged V-6 is replaced by a 3.8-liter V-8, also with two turbochargers and also developed in part by Ferrari. Maranello isn’t yet cranking out lifted hatchbacks—just low-slung ones—but this isn’t too far off the mark, especially considering the GTS’s 542 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque. The same ZF-sourced eight-speed auto manages this power, and it herds the rampaging Italian stallions to all four wheels. In regular driving, 100 percent of torque is sent to the rear, but 50 percent can be sent to the front wheels as dictated by traction demands.

As a result, it’s quite a bit faster than the Levante S, cracking the 60-mph mark in just four seconds flat. Top speed is a stonkin’ 181 mph, if you have enough pavement and gumption. But the numbers pale in comparison to the sound. The GTS sounds nearly as good as its GranTurismo coupe and convertible lineup mates, themselves among the better-sounding cars on the market.

It doesn’t have the manic wail of an actual Ferrari V-8—think less howl, more growl—but it sounds off with the requisite staccato overrun crackle that’s sure to bend necks. If you keep your foot out of it, though, no one will be the wiser the GTS is more than a “regular” Levante. Aside from larger (and functional) front bumper inlets, a quad exhaust, exclusive wheels, and subtle GTS badging on the rear hatch, it’s not easy to pick this eight-cylinder model out from its Levante peers.

Compared to the V-6 iterations, the GTS rides on a reworked air suspension and the aforementioned 21-inch wheels that moderately improve roadholding. Though it’s stiffer and more hunkered down, it isn’t noticeably harsher, remaining perfectly composed around town and even short stretches of rotten tarmac. The steering is excellent, being both feelsome and accurate at all speeds, as well as very quick for an SUV.

Inside you find the same mixture of bespoke, hand-tailored Maserati finery and corporate FCA switchgear as in the lesser Levantes. It’s a shapely, luxurious, and carbon-fiber-trimmed cockpit, but the fiddly, cheap-feeling buttons and cubby doors are a bit of a letdown in a vehicle that costs just north of $120,000. (For 582 horsepower and an even racier look inside and out, Maserati also offers the Levante Trofeo, but it costs $50K more to start.)

Yet you shouldn’t balk too hard at that six-figure invoice. This end of the market is rife with vehicles in this range, including the $125,000 Cayenne Turbo, the $110,000 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S, and the $114,000 Range Rover Sport SVR. Even faced with that roster, the Levante GTS is likely some of the most fun you can have if you’re set on buying a performance SUV. If that’s the case, maybe you can make a deal with Maslow—there’s probably some room somewhere on the spectrum of love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization to fit pretty much anything with a Ferrari engine.

2019 Maserati Levante GTS Specifications

ON SALE  Now PRICE $121,475 (base) ENGINE  3.8L twin-turbo DOHC 32-valve V-8/542 hp @ 6,250 rpm, 538 lb-ft @ 2,500-5,000 rpm (GTS) TRANSMISSION  8-speed automatic LAYOUT  4-door, 5-passenger, front-engine, AWD hatchback EPA MILEAGE 12/18 mpg (city/hwy) L x W x H 197.6 x 77.4 x 66.8 in WHEELBASE  118.2 in WEIGHT 4,800 lb (mfr) 0-60 MPH  4.0 sec (mfr) TOP SPEED  181 mph (mfr)

The post The Maserati Levante GTS Makes a Great Case for Performance SUVs appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

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The Maserati Levante GTS Makes a Great Case for Performance SUVs

If he were alive to see the state of the luxury crossover, psychologist Abraham Maslow would be apoplectic. Beyond the baseline absurdity of buyers considering soft-roaders as a perceived necessity, there are people who seek stiffened-up, high-priced, and power-packed versions of the all-wheel-drive cocoons to serve as their daily runabouts. Porsche, BMW, Audi, Bentley, and most recently Lamborghini have profited mightily from filling this demand, and the craze shows no sign of slowing down. Just last summer, Maserati revealed a GTS variant of its Levante SUV, packing a Ferrari-derived V-8 under the condo-sized front end. Ridiculous! (Wait—a Ferrari V-8? In a Levante? Dang, that actually does sound fun. More on this in a moment.)

Cynicism is easy to conjure when discussing hi-po SUVs. They’re objectively interesting, but universally compromised. Contrary to what you might read online or hear at a dealer, none are as “good” as they could be, if you allow yourself to consider the possibility of lower ride height, less weight, and less complicated drivetrains. Put those wagon-ish fantasies aside and view them exactly as they are, and you’re still not getting a manufacturer’s best in terms of comfort, daily usability, cost, and efficiency. And there’s always room for even more capability. Porsche could build a GT3-style variant of its Cayenne or Macan, but it doesn’t. So rather than full-fat performance machines, such SUVs are loud, hard-launching blobs that are good at what they do, but not unconditionally so.

But I have to admit the Levante GTS feels different, even if it is compromised and, yes, nonsensical. Created as an Italianate foil to the indomitable Cayenne Turbo, Maserati likely knew the Levante variant couldn’t match the Porsche in terms of ultimate dynamics, performance, or finish. Instead, the GTS makes up the difference with character—and lots of it.

Step up to the GTS from the regular Levante or Levante S and the twin-turbocharged V-6 is replaced by a 3.8-liter V-8, also with two turbochargers and also developed in part by Ferrari. Maranello isn’t yet cranking out lifted hatchbacks—just low-slung ones—but this isn’t too far off the mark, especially considering the GTS’s 542 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque. The same ZF-sourced eight-speed auto manages this power, and it herds the rampaging Italian stallions to all four wheels. In regular driving, 100 percent of torque is sent to the rear, but 50 percent can be sent to the front wheels as dictated by traction demands.

As a result, it’s quite a bit faster than the Levante S, cracking the 60-mph mark in just four seconds flat. Top speed is a stonkin’ 181 mph, if you have enough pavement and gumption. But the numbers pale in comparison to the sound. The GTS sounds nearly as good as its GranTurismo coupe and convertible lineup mates, themselves among the better-sounding cars on the market.

It doesn’t have the manic wail of an actual Ferrari V-8—think less howl, more growl—but it sounds off with the requisite staccato overrun crackle that’s sure to bend necks. If you keep your foot out of it, though, no one will be the wiser the GTS is more than a “regular” Levante. Aside from larger (and functional) front bumper inlets, a quad exhaust, exclusive wheels, and subtle GTS badging on the rear hatch, it’s not easy to pick this eight-cylinder model out from its Levante peers.

Compared to the V-6 iterations, the GTS rides on a reworked air suspension and the aforementioned 21-inch wheels that moderately improve roadholding. Though it’s stiffer and more hunkered down, it isn’t noticeably harsher, remaining perfectly composed around town and even short stretches of rotten tarmac. The steering is excellent, being both feelsome and accurate at all speeds, as well as very quick for an SUV.

Inside you find the same mixture of bespoke, hand-tailored Maserati finery and corporate FCA switchgear as in the lesser Levantes. It’s a shapely, luxurious, and carbon-fiber-trimmed cockpit, but the fiddly, cheap-feeling buttons and cubby doors are a bit of a letdown in a vehicle that costs just north of $120,000. (For 582 horsepower and an even racier look inside and out, Maserati also offers the Levante Trofeo, but it costs $50K more to start.)

Yet you shouldn’t balk too hard at that six-figure invoice. This end of the market is rife with vehicles in this range, including the $125,000 Cayenne Turbo, the $110,000 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S, and the $114,000 Range Rover Sport SVR. Even faced with that roster, the Levante GTS is likely some of the most fun you can have if you’re set on buying a performance SUV. If that’s the case, maybe you can make a deal with Maslow—there’s probably some room somewhere on the spectrum of love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization to fit pretty much anything with a Ferrari engine.

2019 Maserati Levante GTS Specifications

ON SALE  Now PRICE $121,475 (base) ENGINE  3.8L twin-turbo DOHC 32-valve V-8/542 hp @ 6,250 rpm, 538 lb-ft @ 2,500-5,000 rpm (GTS) TRANSMISSION  8-speed automatic LAYOUT  4-door, 5-passenger, front-engine, AWD hatchback EPA MILEAGE 12/18 mpg (city/hwy) L x W x H 197.6 x 77.4 x 66.8 in WHEELBASE  118.2 in WEIGHT 4,800 lb (mfr) 0-60 MPH  4.0 sec (mfr) TOP SPEED  181 mph (mfr)

The post The Maserati Levante GTS Makes a Great Case for Performance SUVs appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

from Performance Junk Blogger 6 http://bit.ly/2UdQaej via IFTTT

The Maserati Levante GTS Makes a Great Case for Performance SUVs

If he were alive to see the state of the luxury crossover, psychologist Abraham Maslow would be apoplectic. Beyond the baseline absurdity of buyers considering soft-roaders as a perceived necessity, there are people who seek stiffened-up, high-priced, and power-packed versions of the all-wheel-drive cocoons to serve as their daily runabouts. Porsche, BMW, Audi, Bentley, and most recently Lamborghini have profited mightily from filling this demand, and the craze shows no sign of slowing down. Just last summer, Maserati revealed a GTS variant of its Levante SUV, packing a Ferrari-derived V-8 under the condo-sized front end. Ridiculous! (Wait—a Ferrari V-8? In a Levante? Dang, that actually does sound fun. More on this in a moment.)

Cynicism is easy to conjure when discussing hi-po SUVs. They’re objectively interesting, but universally compromised. Contrary to what you might read online or hear at a dealer, none are as “good” as they could be, if you allow yourself to consider the possibility of lower ride height, less weight, and less complicated drivetrains. Put those wagon-ish fantasies aside and view them exactly as they are, and you’re still not getting a manufacturer’s best in terms of comfort, daily usability, cost, and efficiency. And there’s always room for even more capability. Porsche could build a GT3-style variant of its Cayenne or Macan, but it doesn’t. So rather than full-fat performance machines, such SUVs are loud, hard-launching blobs that are good at what they do, but not unconditionally so.

But I have to admit the Levante GTS feels different, even if it is compromised and, yes, nonsensical. Created as an Italianate foil to the indomitable Cayenne Turbo, Maserati likely knew the Levante variant couldn’t match the Porsche in terms of ultimate dynamics, performance, or finish. Instead, the GTS makes up the difference with character—and lots of it.

Step up to the GTS from the regular Levante or Levante S and the twin-turbocharged V-6 is replaced by a 3.8-liter V-8, also with two turbochargers and also developed in part by Ferrari. Maranello isn’t yet cranking out lifted hatchbacks—just low-slung ones—but this isn’t too far off the mark, especially considering the GTS’s 542 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque. The same ZF-sourced eight-speed auto manages this power, and it herds the rampaging Italian stallions to all four wheels. In regular driving, 100 percent of torque is sent to the rear, but 50 percent can be sent to the front wheels as dictated by traction demands.

As a result, it’s quite a bit faster than the Levante S, cracking the 60-mph mark in just four seconds flat. Top speed is a stonkin’ 181 mph, if you have enough pavement and gumption. But the numbers pale in comparison to the sound. The GTS sounds nearly as good as its GranTurismo coupe and convertible lineup mates, themselves among the better-sounding cars on the market.

It doesn’t have the manic wail of an actual Ferrari V-8—think less howl, more growl—but it sounds off with the requisite staccato overrun crackle that’s sure to bend necks. If you keep your foot out of it, though, no one will be the wiser the GTS is more than a “regular” Levante. Aside from larger (and functional) front bumper inlets, a quad exhaust, exclusive wheels, and subtle GTS badging on the rear hatch, it’s not easy to pick this eight-cylinder model out from its Levante peers.

Compared to the V-6 iterations, the GTS rides on a reworked air suspension and the aforementioned 21-inch wheels that moderately improve roadholding. Though it’s stiffer and more hunkered down, it isn’t noticeably harsher, remaining perfectly composed around town and even short stretches of rotten tarmac. The steering is excellent, being both feelsome and accurate at all speeds, as well as very quick for an SUV.

Inside you find the same mixture of bespoke, hand-tailored Maserati finery and corporate FCA switchgear as in the lesser Levantes. It’s a shapely, luxurious, and carbon-fiber-trimmed cockpit, but the fiddly, cheap-feeling buttons and cubby doors are a bit of a letdown in a vehicle that costs just north of $120,000. (For 582 horsepower and an even racier look inside and out, Maserati also offers the Levante Trofeo, but it costs $50K more to start.)

Yet you shouldn’t balk too hard at that six-figure invoice. This end of the market is rife with vehicles in this range, including the $125,000 Cayenne Turbo, the $110,000 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S, and the $114,000 Range Rover Sport SVR. Even faced with that roster, the Levante GTS is likely some of the most fun you can have if you’re set on buying a performance SUV. If that’s the case, maybe you can make a deal with Maslow—there’s probably some room somewhere on the spectrum of love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization to fit pretty much anything with a Ferrari engine.

2019 Maserati Levante GTS Specifications

ON SALE  Now PRICE $121,475 (base) ENGINE  3.8L twin-turbo DOHC 32-valve V-8/542 hp @ 6,250 rpm, 538 lb-ft @ 2,500-5,000 rpm (GTS) TRANSMISSION  8-speed automatic LAYOUT  4-door, 5-passenger, front-engine, AWD hatchback EPA MILEAGE 12/18 mpg (city/hwy) L x W x H 197.6 x 77.4 x 66.8 in WHEELBASE  118.2 in WEIGHT 4,800 lb (mfr) 0-60 MPH  4.0 sec (mfr) TOP SPEED  181 mph (mfr)

The post The Maserati Levante GTS Makes a Great Case for Performance SUVs appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

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Xiaomi teases a double-folding smartphone… ohhai digital triptych!

China’s Xiaomi has become the latest smartphone maker to tease a folding smartphone, dropping the below video clip of its president and co-founder, Bin Lin, fondling the device on social media today.

The twist is the tablet does not have a single center parting but rather two folds that divide it into three panels, with Xiaomi claiming in a tweet: “It is the world’s first ever double folding phone.”

The video shows Bin contemplating a tablet-sized touchscreen device before quickly turning it on its side, taking it into landscape orientation, where he performs the party trick — folding two panels of screen, one at each side, back behind the tablet to form a slightly chunky looking phablet.

Excited to share this video of a special Xiaomi smartphone from our President and Co-founder Bin Lin . It is the world’s first ever double folding phone — that’s pretty cool, isn’t it? #xiaomi #foldingphone #technology pic.twitter.com/iBj0n3vIbW

— Wang Xiang (@XiangW_) January 23, 2019

The video is edited so it cuts from front view to back at the moment of the fold so the actual folding action is not seen from the front. But from the back the two folded wings go dark after being folded.

When the video cuts back to the front there’s a slight spinning of the screen, as the software appears to grapple momentarily with the new form factor, before it stablizes in portrait orientation.

The phablet form of the device resembles the bezel-less ‘infinity display’ design of a handset like the 2018 Samsung Galaxy S8. Albeit more squat looking than the tall 18.5:9 aspect ratio of the S8.

Xiaomi’s tweet teaser does not include any details about how near (or indeed far off) a market launch of the device might be. We’ve reached out to the company with questions about the prototype and any launch plans.

Update: A spokesman pointed us to a post on Bin’s Weibo account where he asks his followers for feedback on the prototype, and suggests Xiaomi is still weighing up whether to bring the folding phone to market, writing: “If you like it, we will consider making a mass production machine in the future.”

He also asks for name suggestions, saying Xiaomi is toying with two: Xiaomi Dual Flex or Xiaomi MIX Flex.

“This symmetrical double-folded form perfectly combines the experience of the tablet and mobile phone, which is both practical and beautiful,” he writes [translated via Google Translate], saying building the prototype entailed “conquering a series of technical problems such as flexible folding screen technology, four-wheel drive folding shaft technology, flexible cover technology, and MIUI adaptation”.

“We made the first folding screen mobile phone, which should be the world’s first double folding mobile phone,” he adds, again taking a tentative tone vis-a-vis a potential launch timeframe.

In recent months a handful of folding smartphone prototypes have been demoed by mobile makers, including a booklet-style folding slab from Samsung — trailed as incoming for years but finally teased officially last fall — which also appears to transforms into a rather chunky handset.

An invite to a February 20 Samsung launch event for the forthcoming Galaxy S10, sent out to press two weeks ago, also included a conspicuous centerfold in its graphic teaser. Ergo, a commercial launch from Samsung looks imminent.

While, at CES, a little known Chinese OEM called Royole beat others to the punch by showing off a folder in the flesh. In tablet form the Android powered FlexPai, as the device was christened, is 7.8-inches. But once folded in half the gizmo is left with an unsightly gap between the screen pieces, bulking up the resulting smartphone.  

Xiaomi’s triptych looks to offer a more pleasing design for handling the inevitable air gap created by a folding screen by concealing the ends in the middle of the dual folded panels. Side tucks certainly look more visually pleasing.

That said, two folds could mean a higher risk of screen problems — if the folding mechanism isn’t robust enough to handle lots of bending back and forth.

It’s also far from clear whether consumers will generally take to folding phones, or snub them as fiddly and gimmicky.

In recent years smartphone design has converged around a phablet-sized touchscreen and little else. So adding any fresh mechanical complication is a bit of a risk given how smooth and hermetically sealed smartphones have otherwise become.

But a clutch of Android OEMs are going to try their luck, regardless. And with a saturated smartphone market, stalled growth and competition fiercer than ever you can see why they’re pushing the boat out — or, well, bending the screen back — to try and stand out.

from iraidajzsmmwtv https://tcrn.ch/2RKFXcs via IFTTT

Xiaomi teases a double-folding smartphone… ohhai digital triptych!

China’s Xiaomi has become the latest smartphone maker to tease a folding smartphone, dropping the below video clip of its president and co-founder, Bin Lin, fondling the device on social media today.

The twist is the tablet does not have a single center parting but rather two folds that divide it into three panels, with Xiaomi claiming in a tweet: “It is the world’s first ever double folding phone.”

The video shows Bin contemplating a tablet-sized touchscreen device before quickly turning it on its side, taking it into landscape orientation, where he performs the party trick — folding two panels of screen, one at each side, back behind the tablet to form a slightly chunky looking phablet.

Excited to share this video of a special Xiaomi smartphone from our President and Co-founder Bin Lin . It is the world’s first ever double folding phone — that’s pretty cool, isn’t it? #xiaomi #foldingphone #technology pic.twitter.com/iBj0n3vIbW

— Wang Xiang (@XiangW_) January 23, 2019

The video is edited so it cuts from front view to back at the moment of the fold so the actual folding action is not seen from the front. But from the back the two folded wings go dark after being folded.

When the video cuts back to the front there’s a slight spinning of the screen, as the software appears to grapple momentarily with the new form factor, before it stablizes in portrait orientation.

The phablet form of the device resembles the bezel-less ‘infinity display’ design of a handset like the 2018 Samsung Galaxy S8. Albeit more squat looking than the tall 18.5:9 aspect ratio of the S8.

Xiaomi’s tweet teaser does not include any details about how near (or indeed far off) a market launch of the device might be. We’ve reached out to the company with questions about the prototype and any launch plans.

Update: A spokesman pointed us to a post on Bin’s Weibo account where he asks his followers for feedback on the prototype, and suggests Xiaomi is still weighing up whether to bring the folding phone to market, writing: “If you like it, we will consider making a mass production machine in the future.”

He also asks for name suggestions, saying Xiaomi is toying with two: Xiaomi Dual Flex or Xiaomi MIX Flex.

“This symmetrical double-folded form perfectly combines the experience of the tablet and mobile phone, which is both practical and beautiful,” he writes [translated via Google Translate], saying building the prototype entailed “conquering a series of technical problems such as flexible folding screen technology, four-wheel drive folding shaft technology, flexible cover technology, and MIUI adaptation”.

“We made the first folding screen mobile phone, which should be the world’s first double folding mobile phone,” he adds, again taking a tentative tone vis-a-vis a potential launch timeframe.

In recent months a handful of folding smartphone prototypes have been demoed by mobile makers, including a booklet-style folding slab from Samsung — trailed as incoming for years but finally teased officially last fall — which also appears to transforms into a rather chunky handset.

An invite to a February 20 Samsung launch event for the forthcoming Galaxy S10, sent out to press two weeks ago, also included a conspicuous centerfold in its graphic teaser. Ergo, a commercial launch from Samsung looks imminent.

While, at CES, a little known Chinese OEM called Royole beat others to the punch by showing off a folder in the flesh. In tablet form the Android powered FlexPai, as the device was christened, is 7.8-inches. But once folded in half the gizmo is left with an unsightly gap between the screen pieces, bulking up the resulting smartphone.  

Xiaomi’s triptych looks to offer a more pleasing design for handling the inevitable air gap created by a folding screen by concealing the ends in the middle of the dual folded panels. Side tucks certainly look more visually pleasing.

That said, two folds could mean a higher risk of screen problems — if the folding mechanism isn’t robust enough to handle lots of bending back and forth.

It’s also far from clear whether consumers will generally take to folding phones, or snub them as fiddly and gimmicky.

In recent years smartphone design has converged around a phablet-sized touchscreen and little else. So adding any fresh mechanical complication is a bit of a risk given how smooth and hermetically sealed smartphones have otherwise become.

But a clutch of Android OEMs are going to try their luck, regardless. And with a saturated smartphone market, stalled growth and competition fiercer than ever you can see why they’re pushing the boat out — or, well, bending the screen back — to try and stand out.

Via Natasha Lomas https://techcrunch.com