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A new hard drive based on the long-promised heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) technology is almost here. reported that a new sales page popped up on the Seagate website announcing a new (HDD) featuring 3TB per platter with three times the power efficiency per terabyte compared to other hard drives.
The new hard drive is based on Seagate’s new and is its first HDD to use HAMR. HAMR refers to a magnetic storage process in which localized heat is applied to the disk material during writing, which allows for smaller regions and more space per platter. These and other breakthroughs could someday pave the way to a 50TB HDD. Here’s a video from our Upscaled series that breaks down the entire process and what it means for the future of HDD storage.
There’s no official release date yet for the Exos M. You can stay up to date by email of its pending release on .
A new hard drive based on the long-promised heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) technology is almost here. reported that a new sales page popped up on the Seagate website announcing a new (HDD) featuring 3TB per platter with three times the power efficiency per terabyte compared to other hard drives.
The new hard drive is based on Seagate’s new and is its first HDD to use HAMR. HAMR refers to a magnetic storage process in which localized heat is applied to the disk material during writing, which allows for smaller regions and more space per platter. These and other breakthroughs could someday pave the way to a 50TB HDD. Here’s a video from our Upscaled series that breaks down the entire process and what it means for the future of HDD storage.
There’s no official release date yet for the Exos M. You can stay up to date by email of its pending release on .
Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Connections puzzles.
Today’s Strands title gave me a certain Beatles song as an earworm. However, the Fab Four have nothing to do with today’s piuzzle or its theme. Take the last word in the title, and play off of that. If you need more hints and answers for today’s Strands puzzle, read on.
Today’s Strands theme is: You say you want a revolution.
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Round and round.
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you’ve got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
The musical equivalent of the Christmas snack cupboard, the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball packs the best moments of the 10-show Jingle Ball Tour into a two-hour special that’s sure to get you in the festive spirit. You can watch the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024 online from anywhere with a VPN.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Katy Perry, Camila Cabello and Tate McRae have been amongst those spreading the Christmas cheer in major cities across the US, from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth to Kaseya Center in Miami, via legendary venues like Madison Square Garden and TD Garden, all stops on the on the Jingle Ball Tour.
Highlights include Meghan Trainor performing alongside Jimmy Fallon and stopping dead when she recognized an influencer in the crowd, Twenty One Pilots’ Josh Dun repurposing a piano as a platform for backflips, Benson Boone debuting an unreleased song, and Katy Perry reeling off all the old classics.
Read on as we explain how to watch iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024 from anywhere in the world. We’ve also listed the full iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024 lineup further down the page.
How to watch iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024 in the US
The 2024 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball will air on ABC at 8pm ET/PT on Wednesday, December 18.
Not got cable? ABC can be streamed live via Sling TV, which offers FOX in select locations. Other options include YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV.
Sling TV offers ABC as part of its Sling Blue Plan. This is set to rise in price soon so now would be a good time to take advantage of the current promotion of 50% off the first month, for new and returning customers. This brings the price down to $22.50 for the first month.
From Thursday, December 19, a full 2024 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball replay will be available to stream on demand on Hulu (30-day FREE trial).
Unblock any stream with a VPN
If you’re keen to watch iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024 but you’re away from home and access to the show is geo-blocked, then you could always use a VPN to access it (assuming you’re not breaching any broadcaster T&Cs, of course). You may be surprised by how simple it is to do.
Use a VPN to watch iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024 from anywhere:
Can you watch iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024 in Canada?
Can you watch iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024 in the UK?
No broadcasters are showing iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024 in the UK. If you’re an American traveling across the pond, a VPN will help you tune in. NordVPN is our recommended provider, and you can find out why with our in-depth NordVPN review.
Can you watch iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024 in Australia?
Can I watch iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024 for free?
Yes! If you’ve not subscribed to Hulu before, you can watch the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball totally free with its 30-day free trial promo.
iHeartRadio Jingle Ball lineup 2024
Who are the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024 performers?
Katy Perry
Tate McRae
Twenty One Pilots
Teddy Swims
Meghan Trainor
The Kid LAROI
Madison Beer
Benson Boone
Gracie Abrams
Shaboozey
NCT Dream
Kane Brown
Jason Derulo
Saweetie
Dasha
Katseye
Wonho
SZA
T-Pain
Paris Hilton
Jack Harlow
Isabel LaRosa
Kesha
P1Harmony
Camila Cabello
Khalid
Tinashe
Sexyy Red
Tip « T.I. » Harris
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Pixar’s next TV show has already answered its own question. It’s called Win or Lose and, apparently, the company is going with the second one. The show was set to feature a potential transgender character but has since removed references to the character’s gender.
“When it comes to animated content for a younger audience, we recognize that many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline,” a Disney spokesperson said to the Hollywood Reporter, which broke the news.
Win or Lose is an upcoming Disney+ show from Pixar that follows the members of a co-ed softball team in the week leading up to the championship game. Each episode focuses on a different member of the team, telling the same story from their unique perspective. Yes, it’s basically Pixar Rashomon.
The character in question remains on the show but without a reference to their gender. According to reports, the decision was made several months ago and only took changing a few lines of dialogue. No other details were available.
After the initial news broke though, the actress who voices the character, Chanel Stewart, spoke to Deadline about her disappointment. “I was very disheartened,” Stewart said. “From the moment I got the script, I was excited to share my journey to help empower other trans youth. I knew this would be a very important conversation. Trans stories matter, and they deserve to be heard.”
She couldn’t divulge any other details beyond that the character she was voicing was no long trans. “My character would now be a cis girl, a straight cis girl,” she said. “So yeah, that’s all they really told me and that I was still a part of the show.” Read more about how Stewart got the role here.
This isn’t the first time the Mouse House has run into similar social issues. The most recent incident was the news that an upcoming episode of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur had been canceled because it dealt with trans kids playing sports, though the studio disputes those specific claims. It also ran into controversy over a brief glimpse of a kiss between two women in Lightyear and rumors spread that Inside Out 2 main character Riley had feelings directed toward another girl dialed back considerably. In these instances and others, one has to applaud the creatives who tried to subtly teach a younger audience the world is more unique and inclusive than their own personal experiences, and become angered at the executives who stopped it from happening.
It is worth noting, though, that in Disney’s more adult fare, we do see slightly more LGBTQ+ content. Agatha All Along followed the romance between two women, Fox’s Next Goal Wins featured a transgender character, and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew recently revealed one of the characters had two moms. But nothing of the sort will be happening on Win or Lose when it debuts on Disney+ on February 19, 2025.
Update December 17, 6:30 p.m.:We’ve added the quotes and context from Deadline’s piece with voice actress Chanel Stewart.
You can now access Apple’s answer to Google Street View on the web. As 9to5Mac reports, Apple has enabled Look Around for the beta version of Apple Maps on the web, letting you literally look around and explore the cities where it’s available. The company has a full list of « Look Around » locations on its website, and it includes select cities in the US, Japan and several countries in the European Union. To start exploring a place on your desktop, you only have to click on the binocular icon at the bottom left corner of the map. Like on Street View, you’ll be able to virtually fly across roads and drag the screen to show more of the place with the feature’s 360-degree images.
Apple launched the beta version of Maps for the web in July, with a number of limitations. Access was limited to certain devices and browsers. While you could already use it to look up directions and guides, it didn’t roll out with Look Around, though Apple promised to add more features in the coming months. Although Look Around’s coverage is pretty limited at the moment, MacRumors previously reported finding clues in Apple Maps suggesting that the company is working on expanding its availability. Apple apparently has plans to add smaller cities and rural areas to the Look Around network, as well as to add more countries, such as Egypt, China and Mexico.
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Best for:
Back sleeper
Combo sleeper
Side sleeper
Stomach sleeper
Pros
Medium firmness profile that should work for most sleepers
Accommodating overall feel
Hybrid option
Cons
Not ideal for people looking for specialized firmness
Not ideal for someone seeking a memory foam mattress
The Casper Dream Hybrid is one of five brand-new beds the company released recently in a rebranding. The big bed-in-a-box brand has released new lines a few times, and this one is just as good as the previous ones. If you loved the Casper Original Hybrid but want more than the Casper One, check out our in-depth review of the Casper Dream Hybrid.
First impressions of the Casper Dream Hybrid mattress
Owen Poole/CNET
I was excited to unbox all of the new Casper mattresses because of how popular the Casper brand is and because I’ve always regarded its beds highly. We received all of the Casper beds on a cold day in February, which usually isn’t important, but we noticed something interesting with these Caspers that’s true of all mattresses.
When we removed the Casper Dream Hybrid from the box and the plastic, it looked more misshapen than the average mattress. The Dream has a memory foam layer in its construction, and memory foam is especially sensitive to changes in temperature and when it’s very cold, the foam becomes incredibly firm until it warms up a bit. The Dream Hybrid looked better in comparison to the Casper One and the Casper Snow and Snow Max because the Dream Hybrid doesn’t use as much memory foam as the others, and it uses coils.
A mattress being misshapen out of the box is perfectly normal and expected, and even though these Caspers were more misshapen than usual, it only took about a day for them to look normal and firm up.
When I first started testing the Casper Dream Hybrid it felt very familiar in a good way. The other Casper beds in its new line are a departure from the old beds, but the Dream Hybrid is similar to the Casper Original Hybrid with an accommodating firmness and feel that I enjoy.
Video: Casper Dream Hybrid review
Watch me review the Casper Dream Hybrid in this video review.
Construction and feel
Owen Poole/CNET
The Casper Dream Hybrid has four distinct layers and is similar in design to the more affordable Casper One mattress but with a few significant differences.
The bottommost layer of the Casper Dream Hybrid is a two-inch-thick layer of « Casper Core » support foam. Most hybrid features feature a layer of support foam on the bottom like this to provide the coils with a stable foundation. Above this foam layer is a six-inch-thick layer of individually wrapped pocketed coils that functions as the primary support layer of the mattress.
I generally prefer coil beds like the Dream Hybrid for the added bouncy feel, and coils are usually better for support and durability throughout the life of the mattress, but there are plenty of sleepers who prefer foam beds because foam has better motion isolation, is easier to move and is usually more affordable. If you are interested in a foam mattress, then the aforementioned Casper One is the only option available from Casper.
Above the coil layer on the Dream Hybrid is a layer of « Align Memory Foam. » This layer functions as a buffer between the main comfort layer and the supportive coil layer below. Above this layer of memory foam is the main comfort layer which is what Casper calls « Breathe Flex Foam. »
The top two layers of the Dream Hybrid are essentially the same as on the Casper One mattress, but the feel of the beds is significantly different thanks to the responsive coil layer. It has a soft, neutral and accommodating feel that most sleepers should enjoy, and the Dream Hybrid feels very similar to the old Casper Hybrid. If you’re looking for a dense, sink-in memory foam-type feel, the new Casper Snow mattresses have that type of feel as well. For something generally comfortable for pretty much everyone, though, I would recommend the Dream Hybrid.
Zoned support design
Owen Poole/CNET
Previous Casper beds like the Casper Original and the Casper Wave Hybrid were known for featuring a zoned support design. What this means for a mattress is that it is divided into separate sections with varying firmness levels that are meant to promote improved spinal alignment.
This design is more advanced on the Casper Dream Max and the Casper Snow Max, but there is a distinct zoned support layer in the Dream Hybrid. The center third of the « align » memory foam is noticeably firmer than the outer thirds, and when we opened up the mattress, this difference was very apparent.
This difference is less apparent when actually laying on the mattress though, as it is designed to be subtle. I would expect you’ll notice the firmness difference when you first begin sleeping on the bed and your body is adjusting to it, but after that this design should help to keep your spine in better alignment and possibly help prevent or alleviate back pain.
Casper Dream Hybrid firmness and sleeper types
Owen Poole/CNET
The Casper Dream Hybrid has the exact same firmness level as the now-discontinued Casper Original Hybrid at a flat medium. This means that the Dream Hybrid will generally be accommodating for all sleeper types, back, stomach, side and combination. A medium firmness profile like this works well for combination sleepers and for couples especially.
The Dream Hybrid is the most accommodating choice of the new Casper beds when it comes to firmness. The Dream Max Hybrid is significantly softer and designed for side sleepers, and the Casper One Foam is much firmer for back and stomach sleepers.
Casper Dream Hybrid mattress performance
Owen Poole/CNET
Edge support
The edge support of a mattress refers to how well the perimeter of the bed holds up under pressure. If the edge compresses too much, you can feel like you are going to roll off the mattress, which usually leads to poor sleep.
Fortunately for the Dream Hybrid, the edges are reinforced by the same « Casper Core » support foam found on the bottom layer. The coil layer is actually encased foam around the perimeter and that makes the edge support really solid. I didn’t observe any of that roll-off sensation on the Dream Hybrid.
Motion isolation
If you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night because your partner tosses and turns a lot, having a mattress that does a good job of isolating cross-mattress motion is really important.
The Dream Hybrid is overall pretty average in this category. The support layer is pocketed coils, which have almost entirely replaced traditional innersprings in mattress design. These coils do a much better job at isolating motion, so we don’t see this being a deal breaker for the vast majority of sleepers. However, if you are a really light sleeper who wakes up easily if your partner tosses and turns, it could happen more on this bed than others, and you might want to opt for a foam mattress.
Temperature regulation
The top layer of foam on the Casper Dream Hybrid is noticeably different from the old Casper models. Before, it was called « Airscape » foam, and I observed that foam to be very breathable thanks to it being perforated. The new « Breath Flex » foam on the Casper Dream Hybrid isn’t perforated, but it does have an open-cell design and is light and breathable. Having coils also improves the breathability of the Dream Hybrid in comparison to a foam mattress so we think this bed should sleep solidly temperature neutral.
However, if you do want a bed with active cooling elements Casper’s new Snow and Snow Max mattress are noticeably cool to the touch, and we also have a best cooling beds list you can check out.
Casper Dream Hybrid mattress pricing
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Size
Measurements
Price
Twin
38×74 inches
$1,495
Twin XL
38×80 inches
$1,495
Full
54×75 inches
$1,745
Queen
60×80 inches
$1,875
King
76×80 inches
$2,375
Cal king
72×84 inches
$2,375
The Casper Dream Hybrid the the second most affordable mattress in the new Casper lineup, only outdone by the Casper One and foam mattresses are usually the more affordable choice in comparison to hybrids. The Dream is competitively priced when compared to other great hybrid beds like the Saatva Classic, Leesa Sapira Hybrid and the WinkBed.
We expect to see discounts on the Casper Dream Hybrid around major holidays like President’s Day, Independence Day and Black Friday, so make sure to check out our mattress deals page for the latest pricing and discounts on the Casper Dream Hybrid or any other bed you might be interested in.
Casper Dream Hybrid mattress policies
Free shipping
Casper Dream Hybrid mattress ships right to your door at no extra cost in the contiguous United States inside of a box. Unboxing a mattress is a quick and easy process; we’ve done it literally hundreds of times, and it’s actually fun.
Just remember what I mentioned earlier about beds not always looking « right » out of the box. If that happens to you just remember it is normal and expected for the bed.
100-night trial
Casper offers the usual standard in-home sleep trial of 100 nights. So you get roughly three months to really test out the bed to see if it’s supportive enough and comfortable enough for you.
Keep in mind that it can take a month or longer for your body to adjust to a new mattress, no matter how well-suited it is to you. So, if you struggle to get a good night’s sleep in the first week or two, don’t panic. After the first 30 days, is when you could start to get concerned.
Return policy
Casper, despite more brands introducing return fees, still offers completely free returns on all of its mattresses if you choose to return it within the provided trial period.
Returning a mattress is usually pretty easy; you just contact the company, and usually, a group will come by your house to pick up the bed, and then it will often get donated or sometimes resold by a third party.
Warranty
All Casper mattresses are backed by a standard 10-year warranty. If you buy a mattress online, a 10-year warranty is the minimum you should expect.
Final verdict
Owen Poole/CNET
When we first started testing the beds in the new Casper lineup I was pretty surprised by how different the Casper Snow beds and the Casper One mattress were when compared to the old Casper lineup. The Casper Dream Hybrid is not all that different, though, and I think that is a very good thing. It has the same type of soft, neutral and responsive feel that the Casper Original and the Casper Original Hybrid had, and this type of feel is very accommodating, and most sleepers enjoy it.
On Casper’s website they call the Casper One the « no-brainer » mattress choice, but I would argue the Dream Hybrid deserves that description more. It has a super accommodating firmness and feel that I think pretty much everyone can enjoy. Plus, it has a zoned support design and is relatively affordable. Anyone looking for a generally comfortable bed with coils should take a look at the Dream Hybrid.
You might like the Casper One mattress if:
You are a combination sleeper
You want a responsive feel
You want a mattress with coils for support
You will be sharing this mattress
You might not like the Casper One mattress if:
You are seeking a specialized firmness profile
You are seeking a foam mattress
You want a classic memory foam feel
You are shopping with a tight budget
Other mattresses from Casper
Casper Snow Hybrid: This mattress is the most interesting new mattress from Casper because it is Casper’s first mattress that has a traditional memory foam feel. The top two comfort layers are made of memory foam that is very slow to respond. Like the Dream Hybrid, it also has a zoned-support design, enhanced edge support and a more accommodating firmness profile. This bed is also active cooling, and it should help you sleep a few degrees cooler at night. It will also be a bit more expensive than the Dream Hybrid.
Casper One Foam: This is the most affordable new mattress from Casper, and it is the only one made entirely of foam layers. It is constructed in a similar way to the Dream Hybrid with the same type of memory foam transition layer and the same « Breathe Flex » foam as the top comfort layer. Despite this, the Casper One is much firmer than the Dream Hybrid, between a medium-firm and a true firm on our scale, and has a dense yet somehow responsive feel, which is not something we usually see. It doesn’t have zoned support like the Dream Hybrid but it is also much more affordable.
How does the Casper Dream Hybrid mattress compare to similar mattresses?
Casper Dream Hybrid vs. Leesa Sapira Hybrid
Leesa mattresses have historically been pretty similar to Casper mattresses thanks to having similar design and feel. The Leesa Sapira Hybrid is the one that compares most directly to the Casper Dream Hybrid. Both beds have a similar accommodating neutral feel that most sleepers enjoy, and both are similar in terms of firmness profile, with the Sapira being slightly firmer.
The Sapira has more foam layers above the coils and is similar in terms of breathability. The biggest thing the Dream Hybrid has in comparison to the Sapira Hybrid is the zoned support layer, which the Sapira Hybrid doesn’t have, and it is slightly more affordable.
Casper Dream Hybrid vs. WinkBed
The WinkBed mattress is one of my all-time favorite hybrid beds, and it is actually the mattress my Mom sleeps on. It is priced similarly to the Casper Dream Hybrid and has a similarly accommodating feel, although it has more of a fluffy, pillow-top feel as opposed to a soft, neutral one. The WinkBed mattress comes in several different firmness options that go from roughly a medium-soft — which is ideal for side sleepers — a medium firmness that should work well for most and a model around a medium-firm for back and stomach sleepers.
The biggest thing the Dream Hybrid has over the WinkBed is that zoned support layer.
Is the mattress cover machine washable?
No, the cover on the Casper One does include a zipper, but Casper says never to remove the cover. If the cover gets dirty, it should be spot-cleaned.
Yes, alongside ChatGPT integration for Siri and the long-awaited arrival of Genmoji, iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 also add an entirely new application to your Apple device. Whether you find it on your iPhone or iPad’s home screen or in the Applications folder on a Mac, fear not of this furry cat floating in a purple, holographic, circle-looking app.
It’s Apple’s Image Playground and one of the most fun additions, coming with Apple Intelligence in the second wave of features. Now, just like Genmoji, it’s text-to-image generation, but it’s not just limited to creating emojis. Rather, you’re creating a square image in a selected illustration style that can feature you or someone else – if they’re in your photos – and you can add a bunch of terms to set the scene.
Frog riding on a skateboard with fireworks going off in the background? Sure. A spooky castle-themed birthday cake? Yep. Me rocking out on stage at night with fireworks and a laser show in a hard hat? Yes, though, why? It’s Apple’s take on image generation, and just like Genmoji, it is quite fun and has some safeguards at play… unlike competing options.
So once you’ve updated your iPhone to iOS 18.2 (provided it’s powered by an A17 Pro, A18, or A18 Pro), an iPad to iPadOS 18.2 (with an A17 Pro or M-Series), or any Mac with an M-series chip to Sequoia, and are ready to dive into Image Playground, I’ll walk you through the steps ahead.
Find Image Playground
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
You’re off to the races once you spot Image Playground on your home screen or spotlight search for it. And it will appear as soon as your device restarts after updating to iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, or macOS Sequoia 15.2.
You’ll have a bit of an onboarding process on the first open, but after that, you’ll see a plus sign: hitting that presents the creation stage. Image Playground greets you with “Describe an image or add a suggestion from the list” floating midscreen in front of a rainbow hue, and below that, you’ll find suggestions, followed by a text field.
Chances are you’ll see yourself in the corner – in my case, it’s me, Jake – and tapping that adds you into the scene. It will take a few seconds to present an illustrated version of yourself, and from there, you can start customizing yourself into really any type of image you like. You can also swap the photograph that Image Playground is basing its creation on – this is how you can also select a friend or a pet, and even a specific shot, assuming it’s synced over from Photos.
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You’ll then see several suggestions, ranging from the desert, city, forest, mountains, park, space, stadiums, stage, a volcano, and even a lighthouse. Alongside those locales, there are accessories like all sorts of hats or even job types like a scientist, superhero, astronaut, or artist. Atmospheric elements or environments like fireworks, seasons, a party, or adventure are here too.
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
You shouldn’t feel limited by those, though; you can describe whatever you like. In fact, you don’t even have to select any of the presets and can just describe an image like a “bernedoodle puppy in an apartment” or a “frog riding on a skateboard with fireworks,” and Image Playground will do its best to create it. Like Genmoji, you can swipe between a few options, and this action will allow Image Playground to create a few other alternatives.
You can also change your selected ‘Style’ on the fly by clicking the “Plus” sign in the bottom right-hand corner. At launch, you can pick between Animation – which kind of makes everything a Pixar film – or Illustration. Sketch is set to arrive at some point with a later update.
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
Considering Image Playground is available on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, it’s also nice that your creations will automatically sync thanks to your Apple Account. After you’ve made one image in Image Playground, the home screen will change to a sort of gallery with a plus sign at the very bottom.
The only place this isn’t the case is in Messages – if you open Image Playground via Messages, it will automatically start you on the creation page, and that’s mostly based on your likely intent. It’s the same functionality, though. Of course, anything created within the app is designed to be easily shared, and its final form is a square image.
That about wraps up Image Playground; it’s an easy way to generate an image quickly, one with you in it, an inanimate object, a setting in a specific environment, or even an animal.
The best part is that unlike when Image Playground was made available in the developer or public beta of the software, there is no waitlist for the full release. Simply update your Apple device to iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, or macOS Sequoia 15.2 and download the respective models – then you’re ready to let your imagination run wild in Image Playground.
Finally, there’s an update on the future of Bluey. Fans of the beloved show, which centers around the everyday adventures of the family of Heeler dogs and their canine community and was created by Joe Brumm and Ludo Studios, now have some answers about what’s next. It’s pretty huge but comes with some bittersweet news.
After its pretty final-feeling season finale at the start of the year, which ended with a time jump into Bluey’s future as a mom, fans were left with so many burning questions. Not even the drop of mini-sodes gave us any sort of clue about whether we were getting more Bluey seasons. Thankfully today Ludo Studios announced that it’s official: Bluey is getting a movie! In a statement released on the official website, it’s been confirmed that the BBC and the Walt Disney Company have partnered up with the show’s creators to bring Bluey to the big screen in 2027.
The film is set to be CG, which we hope means it will elevate the show’s 2D look—in the style ofThe Wild Robot, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, or Disney’s Wish—and not that it will be fully CG animated. That’s our first gut reaction as fans of the animation, along with the excitement that it’s also staying mostly in-house as a Ludo Studio production in collaboration with BBC Studios, with Brumm on board as the writer and director. The creator shared, “I really enjoyed the experience of working with a longer format on ‘The Sign’ in Series 3, so going even further with a feature film feels like a natural extension of that. I’ve always thought Bluey deserved a theatrical movie. I want this to be an experiential event for the whole family to enjoy together. I’m excited to continue to partner with Cecilia Persson, Tom Fussell and the team at BBC Studios, and Dana Walden, Alan Bergman, and Disney to bring this new Bluey story to the big screen.”
However, Bluey: The Movie will mark Brumm’s final touch on the series he created as he’ll be exiting the Bluey team after. In a “trifficult” to read letter he expanded on the reasons why he’ll be leaving after the film. “I always said I wouldn’t keep making the show if I thought I couldn’t make any new season as good as the last,” Brumm wrote. “This would have been the case for me with a potential season four, so I’ve decided to take a break from my involvement in the TV series. In the event I can’t wrap my head around doing more seasons myself, ‘The Sign’ will mark my TV finale for Bluey and I wrote it as such.” The Bluey movie is based on a resurfaced idea he had that inspired his cinematic coda on what’s currently the biggest cartoon on the planet.
He continued. “Bluey has completely changed my life. It’s been an immensely satisfying thing to be a part of, more than I can really put into words. To walk away from it while it’s at such a height will seem crazy to some but, for now, I am finding it difficult to reach back genuinely into that four to six year old world and write authentically.”
To be honest, that makes at least this Bluey fan a little nervous about the pressure maybe being put on Ludo for more of the show by BBC and Disney. But at least there’s a sense of relief that Bluey might still continue on at its original home, just without Brumm. “My Bluey crew and all the creative people in my life completely understand my decision. Working with that wonderful group of people has been the absolute highlight of my animation career and I hope Bluey on their CV is a badge of pride for them,” he said. “To be clear, this is not an announcement about the end of the show, but it is an acknowledgment that my focus will be on the film.”
Brumm emphasizing that this announcement doesn’t mean the show is ending, gives us some hope the showrunning and writing might just now include more voices who love these characters. The year 2027 is a little too far away and it’s hard to imagine a little over a year without more Bluey, so we’ll be keeping an eye out for any word from Disney and Ludo about whether we’re getting another season or more mini-sodes to hold us over in between.
We hope that whatever happens, whoever remains Bluey‘s stewards are allowed to be creative and truthful to the characters we love without feeling like a cash grab. If they go full steam ahead on just the film, that would be okay too—just don’t mind us throwing a Muffin Heeler-sized fit over here.
Honda and Nissan are reportedly set to discuss a merger. The Japanese publication Nikkeisaid the two automakers plan to sign a memorandum of understanding to sort out shared equity stakes in a new holding company for the consolidated rivals.
The potential merger would combine the assets of Japan’s second- and third-biggest automakers, giving them a better shot of competing with the nation’s market leader, Toyota. Bloombergadds that it would also put them in a better position against Tesla and Chinese EV makers. Nikkei says Mitsubishi could join the talks later.
Earlier this year, Honda and Nissan said they would work together on software development, batteries and other EV components. That “combine-and-compete” alliance followed Toyota’s acquisition of stakes in Subaru, Suzuki and Mazda. With today’s news that the pair are ready to take the next step, the landscape is clearly heading toward fewer (but bigger) legacy automakers competing for customers.
The companies confirmed that they’re in talks to The New York Times. « As announced in March of this year, Honda and Nissan are exploring various possibilities for future collaboration, leveraging each other’s strengths, » they told the publication. ‘We will inform our stakeholders of any updates at an appropriate time. »
Bloomberg also reported on Tuesday that Honda is stepping up production of hybrid vehicles as demand for electric / gas vehicles remains high outside of China. The automaker is aiming to double its annual hybrid sales by 2030. “The goal is still to become carbon neutral by 2050, but demand for hybrids will remain high for the foreseeable future,” Honda Chief Officer Katsuto Hayashi said on Sunday. “We see most of that growth happening in North America.”
Speaking of North America, US President-elect Donald Trump reportedly plans to reverse President Biden’s EV policies. His transition team is said to have recommended ending government support for EVs and charging stations and focusing instead on blocking cars, components and battery materials sourced from China. Climate scientists have warned that transitioning from gas-powered to electric vehicles is necessary to reduce carbon emissions and head off the most catastrophic projections for our planet.
Update, December 17, 2024, 8:46PM ET: This story has been updated to add a statement the companies had provided to The New York Times.
