Catégorie : Tech News

After a quiet start last week, December’s big movies kicked off this weekend with Sony’s Kraven the Hunter and WB’s anime film Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim. Despite being fresh new features, neither movie were able to stand against the might of Disney and the Wizard of Oz.

Per the Hollywood Reporter, Kraven came in third behind both Moana 2 and Wicked: Part One, which have been out since late November. At time of writing, the R-rated antihero flick has made $26 million globally, $11 million of which came from domestic audiences. Sony’s gamble of making movies about Spider-Man baddies without the webhead himself has had diminishing returns this year, and not even Aaron Taylor-Johnson brutally killing people could change that, it seems. Reviews have been mainly negative, so Sony’s probably going to be more selective about who gets a movie going forward, assuming Sony’s Spider-Man Universe still has a future.

Meanwhile, Rohirrim made $5 million domestic, and $10.3 million globally. Set about 200 years before the Peter Jackson movies, it boasts some creative talent from those earlier films—namely co-writer Philippa Boyens, and Jackson and Fran Walsh as EPs—and garnered a mixed reception thus far. It’s a weird time for Lord of the Rings right now: along with the ongoing Prime Video show, WB’s trying to kick off at least one new movie centered on Gollum, who also headlined last year’s pretty disastrous video game. Add on the Jackson films getting re-released into theaters over the summer, and people may have been Rings’d out, assuming they had any interest or knew of Rohirrim in the first place.

As for Moana and Wicked? They kept on making money; the former swam to $717 million globally and maintained a first-place lead at $26.6 million domestic as it heads for $1 billion. Wicked’s now made $500 million, but it’s got an ace up its sleeve with the sing-along version hitting theaters on Christmas Day. Speaking of, next week sees the release of Sonic 3 and Mufasa on December 20, then Nosferatu on Christmas Day—meaning Kraven and Rohirrim may end up get pushed out of theaters soon.

If you saw either of this weekend’s new movies, let us know what you thought about them in the comments below.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

CD Projekt Red took us by surprise when it dropped a cinematic trailer for The Witcher 4 at The Game Awards, revealing Ciri as the new protagonist. Amidst all the excitement, some observant fans also noticed that Geralt of Rivia’s adopted daughter seems to sound pretty different than before, and not just in a ‘several years have passed’ kind of way. In a statement to TheGamer, CD Projekt Red confirmed that Ciri has been recast. While she was previously voiced by Jo Wyatt, Ciara Berkeley has taken over the role.

“Ciara Berkeley was cast as Ciri for The Witcher 4 Cinematic Reveal Trailer,” a spokesperson for CD Projekt Red told TheGamer, and later added that Berkeley voices Ciri in the full game too. “Ciara is a talented actress who impressed us with her enthusiasm and vocal acting skills, and in this trailer we believe she truly brought Ciri to life in a way that is both faithful to the character and exciting for fans of the series.” So there it is.

The Game Awards brought a ton of announcements last week in addition to our first look at The Witcher 4. You can catch up on all the biggest news here.

Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #288) – hint #1 – today’s theme

What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?

• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Crossed words

NYT Strands today (game #288) – hint #2 – clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• SURE
• MATES
• TANK
• RATHER
• HURT
• NEAT

NYT Strands today (game #288) – hint #3 – spangram

What is a hint for today’s spangram?

• Word smash

NYT Strands today (game #288) – hint #4 – spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?

First side: top, 4th column

Last side: bottom, 4th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #288) – the answers

The answers to today’s Strands, game #288, are…

• SMOG
• SPORT
• BRUNCH
• ZORSE
• ATHLEISURE
• ANKLET
• SPANGRAM: PORTMANTEAUX

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• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 2 hints

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In honor of today’s Spangram I’ve invented my own portmanteaux. Stranesia describes that moment playing Strands where your memory and brain power completely evade you. Today, I experienced this all-too-common sensation when, even though I only had five letters left, I still could not get the final word and was left dumbfounded.

In my defense, ZORSE is hardly the most common of words. But then again, none of my numerous attempts (Orzes – zesty Oreos?, etc) made any sense either.

According to Google, there are only around 100 Zorses (a hybrid between zebra and horse) in the world. Several years ago one breeder called the zorse « the horse of the future ». But there is one hitch – zorses cannot breed, making their future bleak.

Zorse is also rumored to be the name of a puzzle game that the NYT has been testing, so this portmanteaux business could be a cunning bit of marketing. Zorse: the puzzle of the future. Or maybe it doesn’t exist at all.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

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Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Sunday, 15 December, game #287)

• FULL
• WANING
• WAXING
• GIBBOUS
• QUARTER
• CRESCENT
• SPANGRAM: LUNAR PHASE

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What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.

In the 1970s, archaeologists unearthed prehistoric human remains from a deep underground shaft in Somerset, England. The truth of what really happened to those men, women, and children, however, has only recently come to light.

Archaeologists in the UK and Europe have analyzed the Early Bronze Age remains of 37 individuals in England, uncovering evidence of a horrific massacre. Their findings, detailed in a study published today in the journal Antiquity, shed light on the largest known example of interpersonal violence in British prehistory and challenge the idea that Early Bronze Age Britain (roughly 2500 to 1200 BCE) was a period of relative peace.

The remains in question include over 3,000 human bones and bone fragments previously discovered in a 49.2-foot-deep (15-meter-deep) shaft at an archaeological site in Somerset known as Charterhouse Warren. The individuals were men, women, and children—potentially representing a community, according to the researchers—who were killed, butchered, and likely cannibalized before being tossed into the shaft.

Led by Rick Schulting from the University of Oxford, the archaeologists found evidence of blunt force trauma to the skull, fractures made at the time of death, and cut marks likely resulting from defleshing. The latter two findings specifically suggest intentionality behind the butchering and cannibalism, according to the study.

With regard to the cannibalism, the researchers ruled out funerary rituals and hunger as potential motivators. The death of the individuals was clearly violent, there is no evidence of a fight (so they were likely taken by surprise), and the presence of cattle bones in the same shaft indicate that there was no shortage of food at the time. What, then, could have driven this shocking act of prehistoric violence?

“Cannibalism may have been a way to ‘other’ the deceased,” the researchers wrote in an Antiquity statement emailed to Gizmodo. “By eating their flesh and mixing the bones in with faunal remains, the killers were likening their enemies to animals, thereby dehumanising them.”

This explanation, however, doesn’t clarify the motivation behind the violence as a whole. At the time, Britain wasn’t experiencing problematic climate change or other events that might have caused competition for resources, according to the study. There is also no known genetic evidence of ethnic conflict.

As a result, the researchers suggest that the conflict may have been caused by social factors and ultimately triggered by offenses such as theft and/or insults. Perhaps the plague—revealed in the infected teeth of two children by previous research—may have also worsened pre-existing tensions.

“Ultimately, the findings paint a picture of a prehistoric people for whom perceived slights and cycles of revenge could result in disproportionally violent actions. This situation is, unfortunately, familiar from more recent times,” they wrote.

Although direct evidence of violent conflict in Britain between 2500 and 1500 BCE is scarce, the scene of this massacre undoubtedly challenges the suggestion that the time period may have been relatively peaceful.

“It paints a considerably darker picture of the period than many would have expected,” Schulting explained. “Charterhouse Warren is one of those rare archaeological sites that challenges the way we think about the past,” he added. “That it is unlikely to have been a one-off event makes it even more important that its story is told,” he added.

“At this stage, our investigation has raised as many questions as it has answered. Work is ongoing to shed more light on this decidedly dark episode in British prehistory,” the researchers concluded in the study.

While there’s nothing we can do about obscure prehistoric atrocities, perhaps we can learn not just from history but from prehistory to stop our own revenge cycles from spiraling out of control more than they already have.

With , iPhone and iPad users have access to a slew of new features that make use of Apple Intelligence. That includes Genmoji, a new type of AI-generated emoji that was first

What are Genmoji?

Genmoji are custom emojis you can create if you’ve installed the iOS 18.2 or iPadOS 18.2 update. They are the emojis of your imagination, made real with help from Apple Intelligence — you describe what emoji you want to see, like a sad cowboy or an octopus DJ, and Apple’s AI will do its best to generate it. You can even create custom emojis of people you know if you have a photo of them in your library. Once you’ve made Genmoji, they’ll be stored in your keyboard so you can use them in Apple apps that support emojis. They can be sent as part of messages, as standalone stickers or as Tapback reactions.

How to create Genmoji

To create a Genmoji, you’ll need a device that is up to date with iOS 18.2/iPadOS 18.2 or later and . That includes every iPhone 16 model, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, as well as iPad models with the M1 chip or later, and iPad mini (A17 Pro). At the moment, you can only create Genmoji on iPhone and iPad, though Apple says the feature will be coming to Mac down the line. The steps to create a Genmoji are the same for iPhone and iPad.

First, open a conversation and tap the text field to bring up the keyboard. Then tap either the smiley icon or the globe icon, depending on which you have. After doing that, you should now see a multicolored smiley icon with a plus sign on it at the top right of the keyboard. Tap that and a text bar will appear prompting you to describe the emoji you’d like to create. Enter the description, then tap “Done.”

If you’re making a Genmoji of a specific person, make sure you’ve already labeled them in your Photos app. Then, enter your description and tap the “Choose a Person” option above the text field. You’ll be shown who it has identified from your photos, and a few style options as a starting point. Click the one you like, and it’ll create the Genmoji using that character.

The results might not be to your liking the first try, and if that’s the case, just try tweaking your description until you get better results. Once you’ve made Genmoji, you’ll be able to find them in your keyboard either by swiping right through all the emoji options or by tapping the sticker icon. You can also add them to Tapback by pressing and holding a message, and clicking the smiley with a plus sign icon to search the emoji keyboard.

How to delete Genmoji

If you made a Genmoji and later decide you aren’t into it anymore, you can always delete it after the fact. To do this, head back into the emoji keyboard and either swipe right through all the pages or just tap the sticker icon. From there, find the Genmoji you want to get rid of, press and hold it, then tap Remove once the option pops up.

It’s paramount that your dogs get good sleep. After all, restorative sleep is essential for humans, so it goes to reason that our pups need a comfy spot for quality sleep too. To keep them cozy, they deserve the best sheets, pillows, comforters and mattresses.

Remember that every dog is different, so choose a bed that suits their needs. What works for one dog, may not work for another. For one thing, larger dogs need more space, and sleeping habits like posture matter too. Some dogs curl up tightly, while others stretch out fully — consider your dog and how they sleep when buying. And don’t forget to factor in practicality. Look for beds that are easy to clean. For example, a bed with a removable cover makes it simple to throw in the washing machine. Opt for materials that incorporate water-resistant liners, which protect it from spills, accidents and odors.

Finding the right dog bed at stores like PetSmart can be tough. To help you, we’ve researched the best options. My black lab, Louie, has tested each bed. Below, you’ll find our top recommendations and the types of dogs that will love them.

Read More: 13 Necessities for New Dog Owners

What is the best dog bed overall?

The best dog bed on the market right now comes from Orvis’ RecoveryZone series. While there are many in the collection to choose from, the FleeceLock Lounger dog bed is comfortable, durable and supportive. It’s made with two pieces of solid foam — a layer of Serene Foam that allows for airflow and a low-VOC CertiPUR-US foam base layer. On this bed, my dog has lots of space to either curl up or stretch out, and I know he’s supported.

Best dog beds of 2024

Best dog beds of 2024 compared

Dog bed	Price	Trial period	Warranty
Orvis RecoveryZone dog bed	$155	See Orvis’ Great Catch guarantee	See Orvis’ Great Catch guarantee
Bedsure dog bed	$25	30 days	See Bedsure
Nest bolstered pet bed	$99	30 days	2 years
Lay Lo dog bed	$120	30 days	1 year, limited
Lesure calming dog bed	$30	See Lesure	See Lesure

How we tested dog beds 

CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. 

The best dog beds were examined similarly to how we test mattresses at CNET. My dog and I assessed key factors like firmness, feel and performance. We also considered price, durability, support, washability, size and design. I tested how strong the beds were by having my dog roll around on each. The feel was tested by having both myself and my dog lie on the bed. Lastly, overall performance was based on what my dog gravitated toward. If he couldn’t move the bed around enough to sit down comfortably, it wasn’t going to be a good bed for any pet. 

I ensured that each dog bed on our best list is machine washable, made with quality materials to help comfort dogs, and is of great value. The selected beds come with free shipping and free or low-cost returns.

What to look for in a dog bed

If you’re searching for the finest dog bed for your best four-legged friend, here’s everything you need to keep in mind.

Firmness

Although you don’t want a bed that’s hard as a rock, you should look for one that’s supportive enough — especially if you have an older dog or a pet with arthritis. A top layer of support or softer foam is always a plus, as long as the base of the bed is sturdy and supportive enough. If you have an older dog, you don’t want a fluffy bed that they can sink into. A fluffier bed is more suitable for puppies and younger dogs.

Material and fill options

The material used in a dog bed determines the price, firmness, durability and overall look of the bed. If you’re looking for a cheaper bed, one made of polyester is the way to go. It might not look as nice as others, but it’s affordable and fluffy. Dog beds made with foam are good for pressure relief and often last longer than those stuffed with various fillings.  

Size and shape

Your dog’s size and sleeping position help determine which dog bed is best. My black lab, Louie, weighs about 75 pounds, and he requires a dog bed that’s long and wide enough because he likes to sleep on his stomach, with all four paws stretched out. Large, rectangular beds are best for dogs like him. If you have a smaller dog that likes to sleep in a donut position, then a small, disclike bed may be a great fit.      

Budget

When shopping for the best dog bed, stick to your budget. Some beds out there can get way too expensive. If your young dog normally sleeps on the hard floor and doesn’t have any arthritis issues, there’s no need to get a pricey bed. Amazon has lots of great-value dog beds, such as the Lesure calming bed and the Bedsure dog bed. 

• Report warns long-lived credentials remain a significant security risk
• Outdated access keys increase vulnerability across cloud platforms
• Automated credential management is crucial for cloud security

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As cloud computing adoption continues to rise, organizations increasingly rely on platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud for their infrastructure and services, however, this means their security risks also grow more complex.

The recent Datadog State of Cloud Security 2024 report reveals one particularly concerning issue – the use of long-lived credentials, which pose significant security threats across all major cloud providers.

Despite advancements in cloud security tools and practices, many organizations still use long-lived credentials, which do not expire automatically.

The prevalence of long-lived credentials

Long-lived credentials, particularly those that are no longer actively managed, can serve as an easy target for attackers. If leaked or compromised, they could provide unauthorized access to sensitive data or systems. The longer these credentials remain in place without rotation or monitoring, the greater the risk of a security breach.

Datadog’s report reveals nearly half (46%) of organizations still have unmanaged users with long-lived credentials. These credentials are particularly problematic because they are often embedded in various assets such as source code, container images, and build logs. If these credentials are not properly managed, they can easily be leaked or exposed, providing an entry point for attackers to access critical systems and data.

Almost two-thirds 62% of Google Cloud service accounts, 60% of AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) users, and 46% of Microsoft Entra ID applications have access keys that are more than a year old.

In response to these risks, cloud providers have been making strides toward improving security. Datadog’s report notes that the adoption of cloud guardrails is on the rise. These guardrails are automated rules or configurations designed to enforce security best practices and prevent human error.

For instance, 79% of Amazon S3 buckets now have either account-wide or bucket-specific public access blocks enabled, up from 73% the previous year. However, while these proactive measures are a step in the right direction, long-lived credentials remain a major blind spot in cloud security efforts.

Furthermore, the report added there is a conspicuously high number of cloud resources with overly permissive configurations.

About 18% of AWS EC2 instances and 33% of Google Cloud VMs were found to have sensitive permissions that could potentially allow an attacker to compromise the environment. In cases where a cloud workload is breached, these sensitive permissions can be exploited to steal associated credentials, enabling attackers to access the broader cloud environment.

In addition, there is the risk of third-party integrations, which are common in modern cloud environments. More than 10% of third-party integrations examined in the report were found to have risky cloud permissions, potentially allowing the vendor to access sensitive data or take control of the entire AWS account.

What’s more, 2% of these third-party roles do not enforce the use of External IDs, leaving them susceptible to a « confused deputy » attack, a scenario where an attacker tricks a service into using its privileges to perform unintended actions.

“The findings from the State of Cloud Security 2024 suggest it is unrealistic to expect that long-lived credentials can be securely managed,” said Andrew Krug, Head of Security Advocacy at Datadog.

“In addition to long-lived credentials being a major risk, the report found that most cloud security incidents are caused by compromised credentials. To protect themselves, companies need to secure identities with modern authentication mechanisms, leverage short-lived credentials and actively monitor changes to APIs that attackers commonly use,” Krug added.

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December is famous for its money-saving frenzies, some of which include VPNs. This time, we’re discussing Private Internet Access, whose savings will melt the ice off your heart.

PIA VPN is now 82% off and costs only $2.19/mo. However, this amazing 2-year plan now comes with TWO free months, making for a 26-month plan at only $56.94.

The provider’s December offer still lasts but it’s time-limited. If you’re looking to secure your digital footprint and make yourself a ghost online, it’s time to act.

Get PIA VPN At $2.19/mo While You Can

Private Internet Access Holiday Discount Revealed

This is going to be a spectacular end of the year. If you’re a privacy geek, PIA VPN will surprise you with its all-time-low price. Namely, despite the end of Cyber Week, Private Internet Access continues its exclusive discount, rocking the old 82% offer ready for you.

Granted, Private Internet Access isn’t flexible price-wise but that’s not an issue.

The single 2-year plan with 2 free months at 82% is enough to make a grown man shed tears of joy. You can use any of the buttons in this article to go to PIA’s website. What then?

Nothing – choose the plan, pay for it, and register an account.

You’re ready to take on the world once you install PIA. Besides, you can protect unlimited devices at two quids, PLUS there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee if you end up disappointed.

There’s nothing to lose at this point; perhaps a few minutes of your precious time.

Why Do People Love PIA VPN?

Private Internet Access is vastly popular, especially amongst Reddit users. Its reputation is untainted by catastrophes that befell other providers in the past . This no-log VPN retains its privacy-oriented characteristics, making it a favorite of security enthusiasts and people alike.

Also, PIA VPN packs 30,000+ servers in 91+ countries, making it the largest VPN. Users also appreciate its WireGuard protocol, which boosts performance and gives you better speeds. Security is top-notch in this VPN.

The provider brings you Multi-hop, MACE for blocking ads, dedicated IPs, an optional antvirus, and much more. You’re really getting a bang for your buck here, and at the given price, PIA VPN is hard to beat.

Other features include apps for all devices, 24/7 customer support, P2P and streaming optimization, unlimited bandwidth, and much more.

Don’t let this PIA VPN 82% off deal slip away because it won’t last forever. Once it’s out of the way, Private Internet Access will revert to the old price. Unfortunately, this price won’t be any lower than the current, Holiday-friendly limited-time offer.

View at Private Internet Access

The Magic Mouse has gone a long time without any major changes to its design beyond things like dropping the AA batteries and gaining a USB-C port, but Apple is now reportedly planning an overhaul. In the Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman reports that Apple has started working on prototypes for a more modern version of the Magic Mouse, which was first released way back in 2009.

While some users have loved the Magic Mouse for its gesture controls, other aspects like its nonergonomic design and its underside charging port have been the subject of complaints for years. We don’t know what exactly the redesign will bring, but it’d be great to see those things finally addressed. And it sounds like we will. According to Gurman, “Apple is looking to create something that’s more relevant, while also fixing longstanding complaints — yes, including the charging port issue.” It could still be a while before we see the new Magic Mouse, though. Gurman notes that it could take another year to 18 months to get it ready for market.

The newsletter also gives us a bit more info on the rumored new AirTag that Apple reportedly has in the works for release next year. Building on his previous reports about a next-gen AirTag with a better chip and more tamperproof design, Gurman now reports that the new tracker will have “a new ultrawide band chip on par with the one introduced in the iPhone 15,” which he says could triple its detectable range with Precision Finding.