Ductos

arstechnica , 2 days ago to Random stuff

OpenAI pauses ChatGPT-4o voice that fans said ripped off Scarlett Johansson

"Sky’s voice is not an imitation of Scarlett Johansson," OpenAI insists.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/05/openai-pauses-chatgpt-4o-voice-that-fans-said-ripped-off-scarlett-johansson/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

tagesschau , 3 days ago to Random stuff German

International gibt es Beileidsbekundungen nach dem Tod Raisis

Erste Staats- und Regierungschefs haben ihr Beileid bekundet. Russlands Präsident Putin sprach von einer großen Tragödie. Im Iran wurde eine fünftägige Staatstrauer ausgerufen.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/asien/reaktionen-tod-raisi-iran-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#Raisi #Iran

arstechnica , 9 days ago to Random stuff

Before launching, GPT-4o broke records on chatbot leaderboard under a secret name

Anonymous chatbot that mystified and frustrated experts was OpenAI's latest model.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/05/before-launching-gpt-4o-broke-records-on-chatbot-leaderboard-under-a-secret-name/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

NDR , 12 days ago to Random stuff German

⚽️ Der HSV hat am Freitag mit dem 0:1 beim SC Paderborn in der 2. Liga die letzte Chance auf den Bundesliga-Aufstieg verspielt. Durch die Niederlage ist Relegationsrang drei außer Reichweite.

🥅 Für den HSV geht es nach der Niederlage in eine weitere Zweitliga-Saison. Kapitän Sebastian Schonlau fand nach dem Abpfiff deutliche Worte.

📝🔈https://www.ndr.de/sport/fussball/Nichts-geht-mehr-HSV-verliert-in-Paderborn-und-bleibt-Zweitligist,hsv28664.html

#NDR #HSV #Hamburg

nixCraft , 13 days ago to Random stuff

I’m Officially leaving Mastodon. Clearly, I spend too much time here. Take care, everyone. I'll be back in 15 minutes. 🙃

atomicpoet , 14 days ago to Random stuff

Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines is a great 90s PC game. It is genuinely a great RTS. Perhaps it's one of the greatest Spanish-made games of all time. Commando was a big success, selling 1 million copies, and many people remember it fondly.

But it's also not user-friendly, and it takes a really long time to understand. I've had this game for 10 years. Multiple times, I abandoned the game because the learning curve was just too much. Only recently, because I was highly motivated to finally "crack" this game, have I finally understood how it works.

The biggest problem is there's no hovertext around buttons. There's nothing that tells you what anything does. It therefore takes a lot of trial and error to figure things out.

Yes, there's a tutorial but it isn't very interactive. But even without the tutorial, it's easy to forget things. Hovertext would be so easy to implement just as a nice reminder, and it would improve quality of life drastically.

That said, once you get past those humps, there's fun to be had with Commandos. What separates it from other RTS games of the era is that, instead of base-building, you command a small group that goes on stealth missions behind enemy territory.

And you have to be quite careful with how you neutralize the enemy because the moment they see you, they will do everything in their power to kill you. The moment you lose one man, the game is over.

The stealth invites a lot of creativity. You could blow up a building to create a distraction while your other men disable the perimeter. Or you can crawl your towards the machine gunner, knife him in the back, then blow up a gas canister to kill the rest of the enemy in one go.

Graphically, this is quite 90s in its aesthetic. Sometimes I forget that isometric perspectives were the height of 3D graphics, especially on PC. I like the textures and the environments. However, sometimes your men are hard to see.

I wish this game had a soundtrack. However, the silence builds up the suspense. The ambient sounds make me feel like I'm walking a tightrope.

At one time the developer, Pyro Studios, was a premiere developer of RTS games. They made an expansion pack and two sequels. Praetorians and Imperial Glory were two other RTS games they made. Unfortunately, Planet 51 didn't succeed, and Pyro Studios was forced to lay off many employees. Last I checked, they make mobile games.

Nowadays, this is an inexpensive game. Steam sells it for C$5.69, while GOG.com includes the original game and the Beyond the Call of Duty expansion pack together for C$8.19. That's pretty good value!

If you can get through the steep learning curve, Commandos can be fun.

Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines screenshot (RTX 3080 Ti)
Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines screenshot (RTX 3080 Ti)
Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines screenshot (RTX 3080 Ti)

arstechnica , 19 days ago to Random stuff

Chaos at Tesla: What analysts think about Elon Musk’s cuts and layoffs

Can things be turned around at Tesla, or is this the beginning of the end?

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/05/chaos-at-tesla-what-analysts-think-about-elon-musks-cuts-and-layoffs/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

tagesschau , 27 days ago to Random stuff German

Habeck weist Vorwürfe zu Atomausstieg zurück

Haben Wirtschafts- und Umweltministerium die Öffentlichkeit beim Thema Atomausstieg getäuscht? Ein Medienbericht deutet dies an. Wirtschaftsminister Habeck weist dies entschieden zurück.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/atomausstieg-vorwuerfe-habeck-102.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#Atomausstieg #Habeck #AKW

tagesschau , 29 days ago to Random stuff German

Spionagevorwürfe gegen Mitarbeiter: Unangenehme Fragen für die AfD

Ein chinesischer Spion im Umfeld der AfD? Ein unangenehmer Vorwurf für eine Partei, die vorgibt, deutsche Interessen zu vertreten. Die Parteichefs haben Europa-Spitzenkandidat Krah nach der Festnahme seines Mitarbeiters vorgeladen. Von G. Halasz.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/afd-krah-analyse-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#AfD #Krah

tagesschau , 1 month ago to China German

Spionierte Mitarbeiter von AfD-Politiker Krah für China?

Die Polizei hat nach ARD-Informationen einen Mann in Dresden wegen Spionageverdachts festgenommen. Dabei handelt es sich um einen Mitarbeiter des AfD-Spitzenkandidaten für die Europawahl, Krah. Der Mann soll für China spioniert haben.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/spionage-china-afd-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#Spionage #China #AfD

atomicpoet , 1 month ago to Random stuff

WOW!!!

Where was I when Betrayer was released?! It completely passed me by when it was released in 2014. But this game -- this! -- is the definition of a hidden gem.

Betrayer is a Souls-like open world game where you scour colonial Virginia trying to figure out why Fort McHenry is abandoned and no one lives there. Soon you discover a bunch of Spanish Conquistadores and indigenous people that are possessed by something malevolent, attacking you relentlessly.

But what I really love about this game is the art style. By today's standards, Unreal Engine 3 is dated. But it turns out that when you make a game entirely black-and-white, only apply red for accents, you have something that looks incredibly unique.

This game has atmosphere, lots of it. And you feel the creepiness in your bones. This game doesn't hold your hand, and you better get good and fast.

Apparently, this is the only game that Blackpowder Studios ever made. But if this is their sole game, did they ever make a statement. It turns out the reason this is so good is because many folks on the team previously worked at Monolith. You know, the same people who made Blood, F.E.A.R., and so many PC classics.

I can't believe this game is now free on GOG.com -- without DRM too.

https://www.gog.com/en/game/betrayer

atomicpoet , 1 month ago (edited 1 month ago) to Random stuff

It's hard to fathom that Epic was once a small indie developer, so let me provide further perspective.

In 1994, I went to a dollar store and purchased a 3.5" floppy disc for $1. On it was the first episode of a game called Xargon.

I was blown away. This was not because it was an amazing title with great graphics but because it was $1 and almost (but not quite) as good as a SEGA Genesis game. It had nice VGA effects but skimped on certain details such as the shooting animation: a laser just appeared out of your character's midsection.

Nevertheless, Xargon offered tremendous value because I couldn't even rent a SEGA Genesis game for $1. For this reason, I decided to keep an eye on the company that made it -- a little indie developer called Epic MegaGames.

A couple months later, I saw another shareware title by Epic MegaGames. The game was called Jazz Jackrabbit, and it was as good as any SEGA Genesis title. And this is probably due to it being a Sonic the Hedgehog clone -- the big difference being that Jazz Jackrabbit had a gun whereas Sonic did not.

I didn't care if Jazz Jackrabbit was original. This was basically Sonic the Hedgehog for $1, with graphics practically on par, so I loved it.

A few years passed and I forgot Epic MegaGames.

Then suddenly, they released a eye-popping FPS called Unreal with its own engine called, appropriately enough, the Unreal Engine. I couldn't believe it. This was the same company that made Xargon and Jazz Jackrabbit?

Yes, it was. And ever since then, Epic has been not only been a AAA developer, but the makers of one of the most popular game engines on the planet -- the Unreal engine.

Epic is definitely not the only indie developer making cheap PC games to transform into a AAA studio. In the PC gaming world, it happens quite often.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0noUv-8a5Wc

atomicpoet , 1 month ago (edited 1 month ago) to Random stuff

All this time, I thought DOOM 64 was just your basic port of Doom to the Nintendo 64.

But nope! It's got improved graphics with different level designs! It wasn't even developed by id Software but by Midway.

An enhanced re-release to PC, made by Nightdive Studios, made me realize how different it is from Doom. Actually, it feels more like Doom with a side order of Quake.

tagesschau , 1 month ago to Random stuff German

Kritik an Überstunden-Idee der FDP

"Lust auf Überstunden machen" - das will FDP-Chef Lindner. Seine Partei fordert deshalb steuerliche Anreize für Mehrarbeit. Gewerkschaften und SPD lehnen den Vorstoß ab und sprechen von einer "verrückten Idee".

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/ueberstunden-fdp-debatte-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#Überstunden #FDP

briankrebs , 1 month ago to Random stuff

So are giant container ships losing propulsion/power near bridges a normal everyday thing we never knew we needed to be terrified about, like things falling off passenger planes?

arstechnica , 1 month ago to Random stuff

“Pink slime” local news outlets erupt all over US as election nears

Number of partisan news sites roughly equals those doing actual, legitimate journalism.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/04/pink-slime-local-news-outlets-erupt-all-over-us-during-election-year/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

CultureDesk , 1 month ago (edited 1 month ago) to bookstodon group

In celebration of the 50th birthday of Stephen King's first novel, "Carrie," NPR polled its readers on their favorite King books. Here's what they chose. Which is your top pick? Tell us in the comments if there's a gem that didn't make the cut.

https://flip.it/f9sriI

#StephenKing #Books #Bookstodon @bookstodon #Fiction #Reading #Poll

ZDF , 2 months ago to Random stuff German

Vor seinem Tod versteckt Ghostbuster Egon Spengler eine Geisterfalle in seinem Haus - darin der metallfressende Geist Muncher.

Als dieser entkommt, muss eine neue Generation Geisterjäger den Spuk beenden.

Free-TV-Premiere von "Ghostbusters: Legacy" um 20:15 Uhr. Nicht verpassen!

CultureDesk , 2 months ago to Random stuff

From worst film to worst screen couple, “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” won all five categories for which it was nominated at the 2024 Golden Raspberry Awards, also known as the Razzies. The awards, held on “Oscar Eve” and hosted by comics Aaron Goldenberg and Jake Jonez (The Mean Gays), honor the worst of Hollywood’s year. The Hollywood Reporter has more. https://flip.it/WVBrTn
#Culture #Entertainment #Movies #Hollywood #Razzies #Oscars

CultureDesk , 2 months ago to Anime Boys

Akira Toriyama, the anime and gaming legend, creator of Dragon Ball and the artist behind Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger, has died at age 68. IGN has more details.

https://flip.it/eL-MGb

#AkiraToriyama #Anime #Gaming #InMemoriam #RIP #DragonBall

wawe , 2 months ago to Games

I released my first game on Steam and got rid of impostor syndrome!

My first game Mushy Score is out on Steam! I have been creating games since I was a child but never felt like a real game dev. Now I finally have a game that I can show to other people.

Mushy Score is a 2D Roguelike where you fight against endless waves of enemies. Collect points and try to get a high score! I am super exited for the release !

If you like similar games go check it out: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2480740/Mushy_Score/

@games

tagesschau , 2 months ago to Random stuff German

Warum die Legalisierung von Cannabis später kommen könnte

Der Bundestag hat die Teillegalisierung von Cannabis beschlossen. Doch ob sie wirklich im April in Kraft tritt, ist unklar. Rechts- und Innenausschuss des Bundesrats beraten über eine Verschiebung. Wo liegt das Problem? Von Tina Handel.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/innenpolitik/cannabis-legalisierung-124.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#Cannabis #Legalisierung

rodhilton , 2 months ago to Random stuff

Saving screenshots of these articles about Wendy's surge pricing now to save some time later so I can be the first one to post a "how it started, how it's going" meme with a headline about Wendy's filing for bankruptcy or having one of their stores be burned down.

image/jpeg

tagesschau , 3 months ago to Random stuff German

US-Präsident Biden beschimpft Putin

US-Präsident Biden ist bereits in der Vergangenheit mit vulgären Ausdrücken aufgefallen. Bei einer Wahlkampfveranstaltung beschimpfte der 81-Jährige nun den russischen Präsidenten Putin als "Mistkerl". Der Kreml reagierte schnell.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/biden-beschimpft-putin-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#Biden #Putin

tagesschau , 3 months ago to Random stuff German

Marktbericht: DAX im Bann von Nvidia

War die KI-Euphorie der vergangenen Wochen gerechtfertigt? Die Spannung vor den Zahlen von Nvidia hat nach der Wall Street nun auch die Märkte in Asien und Europa erfasst. Die DAX-Kurse stehen vorbörslich still.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/finanzen/marktberichte/marktbericht-dax-kurse-nvidia-ki-geldanlage-dow-amazon-gold-oel-aktien-boerse-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#Marktbericht #DAX #Kurse #Nvidia #KI #DowJones #Börse #Aktien #Gold #Öl #Amazon

Turns out (*gasp*) - People are over the MCU and Madame Web is the proof ( www.hollywoodreporter.com )

The flop is wiping out an entire plan for a new movie series, as the studio becomes the latest superhero studio in need of a pivot.

tagesschau , 3 months ago to Random stuff German

Bekannt aus "Rocky"-Filmen: US-Schauspieler Carl Weathers ist tot

Im Alter von 76 Jahren ist der US-Schauspieler Carl Weathers gestorben. Das teilte seine Familie mit. Der ehemalige Footballspieler wurde in den 1970er-Jahren durch seine Rolle als Apollo Creed in den "Rocky"-Filmen weltberühmt.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/amerika/carl-weathers-gestorben-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#CarlWeathers

tagesschau , 3 months ago to Random stuff German

MDR-Wahlumfrage: AfD laut SachsenTrend stärkste Kraft

Sieben Monate vor der Landtagswahl in Sachsen liegt die AfD in einer MDR-Umfrage vorn. Und sollte die Wagenknecht-Partei antreten, würde sie demnach die Linke als drittstärkste Partei verdrängen.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/innenpolitik/sachsen-wahlumfrage-afd-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#Sachsen #MDR

tagesschau , 4 months ago to Random stuff German

Duda warnt vor "Terror der Rechtsstaatlichkeit" in Polen

Die neue Regierung in Polen hat begonnen, umstrittene Justizreformen ihrer Vorgänger rückgängig zu machen. Der größte Gegenspieler ist Präsident Duda. Von Martin Adam.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/europa/regierungswechsel-polen-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#Polen #Duda #Justizreform

The Day Before still has one player logging in, a week before shutdown ( www.pcgamesn.com )

tagesschau , 4 months ago to Random stuff German

Lauterbach will Homöopathie als Kassenleistung streichen

Die Finanzierung homöopathischer Behandlungen durch gesetzliche Kassen steht vor dem Aus. Gesundheitsminister Lauterbach sieht keinen Sinn in der Leistung. Die Grundlage der Politik müsse die wissenschaftliche Evidenz sein.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/innenpolitik/lauterbach-homoeopathie-kassenleistung-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#Lauterbach #Homöopathie

tagesschau , 4 months ago to Random stuff German

Haldenwang: "Schweigende Mehrheit muss aufwachen"

Verfassungsschutzpräsident Haldenwang ruft im Kontraste-Interview die "schweigende Mehrheit" der Gesellschaft auf, für die Demokratie einzustehen. Gefahren durch Rechtsextremismus und Antisemitismus würden bislang nicht ausreichend wahrgenommen.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/investigativ/kontraste/verfassungsschutz-haldenwang-rechtsextremismus-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#Verfassungsschutz #Haldenwang #Antisemitismus

tagesschau , 4 months ago to Random stuff German

Geheimtreffen: AfD-Politiker diskutieren offenbar Vertreibungsplan

AfD-Politiker und ein bekannter Rechtsextremer sollen sich laut "Correctiv" zu einem Geheimtreffen zusammengefunden haben. Ein Thema war offenbar die Vertreibung von Millionen von Menschen aus Deutschland - auch solche mit deutschem Pass.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/innenpolitik/afd-neonazis-remigration-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#AfD #Neonazis #Remigration #IdentitäreBewegung

NDR , 4 months ago to Random stuff German

🌊 Bundeswirtschaftsminister Robert Habeck (Grüne) wollte am späten Donnerstagnachmittag mit der Fähre von Hallig Hooge am Fähranleger Schlüttsiel in Schleswig-Holstein anlegen.

🚔 Dort wartete eine aufgebrachte Gruppe - es kam zu einem Handgemenge mit der Polizei. Die Staatsanwaltschaft ermittelt wegen Nötigung.

📝 https://www.ndr.de/Faehre-blockiert-Habeck-in-SH-von-wuetenden-Bauern-abgefangen,habeck1116.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=NDR.de

#NDR #Habeck #Protest

tagesschau , 4 months ago to Random stuff German

Schleswig-Holstein: Landwirte hindern Habeck an Verlassen von Fähre

Wirtschaftsminister Habeck wurde im schleswig-holsteinischen Schlüttsiel von Bauern gehindert, eine Fähre zu verlassen. Der Vizekanzler musste daraufhin nach Hallig Hooge zurückkehren. Ein Gesprächsangebot hatten die Landwirte zuvor abgelehnt.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/gesellschaft/habeck-bauern-faehre-schluettsiel-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#Habeck #Bauernproteste

GossiTheDog , 4 months ago to Random stuff

[Thread, post or comment was deleted by the author]

tagesschau , 4 months ago to Random stuff German

Jahresrückblick Großbritannien: Das schwierige Jahre des Premier Sunak

Bisher konnte der britische Premier Sunak mit seiner Partei kaum Boden gutmachen: In Umfragen liegen die Torys nach wie vor weit hinter der oppositionellen Labour-Partei. Besonders die Migrationspolitik hat sich zum Bumerang entwickelt. Von I. Köhler.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/europa/grossbritannien-jahresrueckblick-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#Großbritannien #Jahresrückblick

tagesschau , 4 months ago to China German

China warnt vor westlichen Weihnachtstraditionen

Vor allem als Triebfeder des Konsums ist Weihnachten auch in China vielerorts sichtbar. Doch nun warnen Behörden vor schädlichen Einflüssen durch die Übernahme westlicher Weihnachtstraditionen. Das fängt bei der Dekoration in Läden an.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/asien/china-warnung-weihnachstradition-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#China #Weihnachten #Weihnachtstraditionen

tagesschau , 5 months ago to Random stuff German

Ex-US-Außenminister Henry Kissinger mit 100 Jahren gestorben

Henry Kissinger floh als 15-Jähriger in die USA vor den Nazis - ein Erlebnis, das ihm zeigte, wie wichtig Freiheit ist. Nach seinem Tod bleibt er als knallharter und einflussreicher Politiker in Erinnerung. Von Arne Bartram.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/korrespondenten/henry-kissinger-tot-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#Kissinger #Nachruf

tagesschau , 5 months ago to Random stuff German

Nach X-Boykott: Musk beschimpft abtrünnige Werbekunden

Mit der Unterstützung eines antisemitischen Posts auf seiner Plattform hat X-Eigentümer Musk viele Werbekunden vergrault. Doch statt den Schaden zu begrenzen, beschimpft Musk die Abtrünnigen nun. Von Nils Dampz.

➡️ https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/musk-x-werbekunden-100.html?at_medium=mastodon&at_campaign=tagesschau.de

#X #Werbeboykott

arstechnica , 6 months ago to Random stuff

OpenAI employees revolt after board names new CEO and Altman heads to Microsoft

Ilya Sutskever announces regret; 505 OpenAI employees sign letter asking board to resign.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/11/openai-employees-revolt-after-board-names-new-ceo-and-altman-heads-to-microsoft/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

polygon , 6 months ago to Random stuff

Next Goal Wins fully fumbles its trans character’s arc https://www.polygon.com/23963009/next-goal-wins-jaiyah-saelua-trans-character-real-life-story

Ductos , 6 months ago to Random stuff

#Loki is the thing every Phase 4 #MCU movie has strived to, only to fail spectacularly. It's the single greatest project of this Phase and man, will that outcome have consequences. Woah, boy.

arstechnica , 6 months ago to Random stuff

Guilty: Sam Bankman-Fried convicted on all counts after monthlong trial

Bankman-Fried convicted on seven charges, faces maximum sentence of 110 years.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/11/guilty-sam-bankman-fried-convicted-on-all-counts-after-monthlong-trial/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

arstechnica , 6 months ago to Random stuff

Windows CE, Microsoft’s stunted middle child, reaches end of support at 26 years

From netbooks and PDAs to ATMs, voting kiosks, and ungainly presidential phones.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/10/windows-ce-microsofts-stunted-middle-child-reaches-end-of-support-at-26-years/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

ColesStreetPothole , 7 months ago to AllStarTrek group

OMG he pulled his tongue out! 😱
#AllStarTrek #StarTrekVOY #VOY #Threshold @allstartrek