Author: alex

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate adds Fortnite Crew and drops new game arrivals for Nov–Dec Microsoft has added Fortnite Crew as a perk for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers at no extra cost. That includes access to the current Fortnite Battle Pass plus the OG pass, Lego pass, music pass and Rocket League's Rocket Pass premium — and it also grants 1,000 V‑Bucks to members each month. The perk follows an earlier change that raised Game Pass prices for some tiers; Fortnite Crew normally costs about $12/month on its own, so this is a meaningful value add for players already on Ultimate. Notable new Game Pass additions (Nov–Dec) Nov 19: Moonlighted 2: The Endless Vault (PC Game Pass preview — PC only) Nov 19: Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo (cloud,…

Rebecca Heineman, Interplay co‑founder and pioneering game developer, dies at 62 Rebecca Heineman, a veteran programmer and co‑founder of Interplay Entertainment, has died at 62 after a recent diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. Friends and colleagues shared the news publicly, and her GoFundMe page detailed her illness and final updates. Heineman’s career spanned decades: she won the Atari 2600 Space Invaders championship in 1980, began programming professionally as a teenager, co‑founded Interplay (then Interplay Productions) in 1983, and later founded Contraband Entertainment. She contributed to titles such as The Bard's Tale III and led Mac OS ports of major games. Career highlights Atari 2600 Space Invaders champion (1980) and entry into professional programming as a teen. Co‑founder of Interplay in 1983, contributing to classic RPGs and early PC game development. Founder of…

Rebecca Heineman, Interplay co‑founder and pioneering developer, dies at 62 Rebecca Heineman, a veteran programmer and co‑founder of Interplay Entertainment, has died at 62 after a recent diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. Her passing was shared by friends and colleagues, and her GoFundMe page detailed her illness and final updates. Heineman’s career spanned decades: she won the Atari 2600 Space Invaders championship in 1980, started programming professionally as a teenager, co‑founded Interplay in 1983, and later founded Contraband Entertainment. She worked on notable titles and ports including The Bard's Tale III and Mac ports of major games, and held senior engineering roles at multiple major studios. Career highlights Atari 2600 Space Invaders champion (1980) and early entry into professional programming. Co‑founder of Interplay (originally Interplay Productions) in 1983, contributing to classic RPGs.…

Best gifts for coffee lovers in 2025: gear to please any coffee nerd Our 2025 gift guide highlights the best coffee gear across price points — from beginner-friendly pour-over kits to pro-grade grinders and espresso machines. Whether the person you’re shopping for is new to specialty coffee or already obsessed with dialing in every variable, there are solid options to expand their brewing setup. We organized picks by use case: brewing, grinding, and accessories that improve everyday routines. We also included splurge items and compact choices for small kitchens, plus ideas for people who already “have everything.” Short descriptions help match each gift to the recipient’s skill level and budget. Top categories & recommendations Brewers: Pour-over kits, Aeropress, and compact drip machines for reliable daily cups. Grinders: Entry-level burr grinders…

Cloudflare outage causes widespread 500 errors — services starting to recover Cloudflare is facing a large outage that has generated widespread 500 server errors across its network, with its Dashboard and API affected. The company reports services are starting to recover, but customers may continue to see higher‑than‑normal error rates as engineers work to fully resolve the issue. Because Cloudflare provides CDN, DNS and security services for millions of websites and apps, an outage can cause downstream failures across many companies and services. Notably, Downdetector — which tracks service disruptions — was also impacted and showed degraded functionality during the incident. What a 500 error means A 500 HTTP error is a generic server‑side failure: it means the server encountered an unexpected condition that prevented it from fulfilling the request.…

Petrichor v1.2.0 expands format support — 20+ more audio types now playable Petrichor, a local audio player for macOS we covered at launch, has received a significant update. Version 1.2.0 adds support for more than 20 additional audio formats, marking a major step toward the broader compatibility the developer promised. The update closes gaps for users who often rely on converters or additional tools to play niche or legacy file types. While the developer’s initial release focused on a clean UI and core playback features, this release prioritizes format coverage — a key benefit for audiophiles and users with diverse music libraries. What’s new in 1.2.0 Support for 20+ additional audio formats (expands native playback without external converters). Bug fixes and stability improvements reported by early adopters. Several previously promised…

Headspace Black Friday deal: One year for $35 (50% off) Headspace is offering a Black Friday promotion: new and returning subscribers can get 50% off an annual subscription through December 4, bringing the price to $35 for a full year. The deal provides access to guided meditations, courses, Sleepcasts, soundscapes and progress tracking to support a regular mindfulness practice. The app is known for beginner-friendly programs as well as focused modules on anxiety, productivity and sleep. Subscriptions include personalized progress tracking, mood check-ins, and reminders to help maintain consistency. Who should consider this deal People who want to commit to a year of mindfulness practice. Anyone interested in sleep routines — Sleepcasts and soundscapes are a highlight. Those who prefer guided programs with structured courses over ad-hoc sessions. To claim…

UBA updates air-quality index and refreshes Luftqualität iPhone app Germany’s Umweltbundesamt (UBA) has updated its national air‑quality index and published a redesigned version of its Luftqualität iPhone app. The new index shifts its emphasis to better reflect health risks, drawing on recent epidemiological research, the World Health Organization’s guideline values and current EU air‑quality standards. The updated app will present air pollution levels with clearer health‑oriented guidance so users can better understand potential impacts on vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and people with respiratory conditions. The change aims to make the index more actionable for everyday decisions like outdoor activity, ventilation and protecting sensitive individuals. What’s changed Health‑focused ratings: index thresholds and labels are aligned more closely with health risk evidence. Scientific basis: updates are informed by the…

Shelly launches Gen4 Dimmer switch with Matter support Shelly has expanded its Gen4 product line with a new Dimmer switch — a compact in‑wall (under‑plaster) module priced at €45.70. The device is designed for users who want reliable dimming plus wide compatibility, and it integrates Matter to simplify connections with various smart‑home ecosystems. The Gen4 Dimmer targets installations where space and interoperability matter. As part of Shelly’s Gen4 family, it emphasizes ease of integration into existing wiring and supports modern smart‑home standards to work with many controllers and voice assistants (via Matter). Key features Form factor: Under‑plaster/in‑wall dimmer module for discreet installation. Matter support: Enables cross‑platform compatibility and easier pairing with Matter‑capable hubs and apps. Price: Retail listed at €45.70. Gen4 lineup: Built to complement Shelly’s focus on broad compatibility…

Daily AI Brief — Top developments: Anthropic/Claude lead the headlines Most newsworthy: Anthropic revealed that its Claude model played a central role in uncovering a sophisticated, partially autonomous AI‑driven cyber‑espionage campaign — highlighting both the growing threat of AI misuse and the technology’s value for defense. Here are the top AI developments from the last 48 hours, focused on Anthropic/Claude and the broader industry. 1. Anthropic / Claude — Cyber espionage case (headline item) Anthropic reported that Claude helped detect and analyze an advanced cyber‑espionage campaign that used AI to automate reconnaissance, craft exploit code and exfiltrate data with reduced human direction. The incident underscores the dual‑use dilemma: the same AI capabilities that enable defenders to spot threats can also be repurposed by bad actors. Read more from Anthropic and…