Google is ramping up its push into smart glasses and augmented reality headgear, taking on rivals Apple and Meta with help from its sophisticated Gemini artificial intelligence. The internet titan on Thursday unveiled an Android XR operating system created in a collaboration with Samsung, which will use it in a device being built in what is called internally "Project Moohan," according to Google. The software is designed to power augmented and virtual reality experiences enhanced with artificial intelligence, XR vice president Shahram Izadi said in a blog post. "With headsets, you can effortlessly switch between being fully immersed in a virtual environment and staying present in the real world," Izadi said. "You can fill the space around you with apps and content, and with Gemini, our AI assistant, you can even have conversations about what you're seeing or control your device." Google this week announced the launch of Gemini 2.0, its most advanced artificial intelligence model to date, as the world's tech giants race to take the lead in the fast-developing technology. CEO Sundar Pichai said the new model would mark what the company calls "a new agentic era" in AI development, with AI models designed to understand and make decisions about the world around you. Android XR infused with Gemini promises to put digital assistants into eyewear, tapping into what users are seeing and hearing. An AI "agent," the latest Silicon Valley trend, is a digital helper that is supposed to sense surroundings, make decisions, and take actions to achieve specific goals. "Gemini can understand your intent, helping you plan, research topics and guide you through tasks," Izadi said. "Android XR will first launch on headsets that transform how you watch, work and explore." The Android XR release was a preview for developers so they can start building games and other apps for headgear, ideally fun or useful enough to get people to buy the hardware. This is not Google's first foray into smart eyewear. Its first offering, Google Glass, debuted in 2013 only to be treated as an unflattering tech status symbol and met with privacy concerns due to camera capabilities. The market has evolved since then, with Meta investing heavily in a Quest virtual reality headgear line priced for mainstream adoption and Apple hitting the market with pricey Vision Pro "spacial reality" gear. Google plans to soon begin testing prototype Android XR-powered glasses with a small group of users. Google will also adapt popular apps such as YouTube, Photos, Maps, and Google TV for immersive experiences using Android XR, according to Izadi. Gemini AI in glasses will enable tasks like directions and language translations, he added. "It's all within your line of sight, or directly in your ear," Izadi said. gc/dw‘Firefly’ Reunion! Who Will Be at Emerald City Comic Con 2025 for ‘Serenity’s 20th Anniversary?
Toronto Sceptres open PWHL season with 3-1 comeback win over Boston FleetULL_T.Smith 20 pass from Fields (Almendares kick), 9:44. TROY_Worley 4 pass from M.Caldwell (Renfroe kick), 4:24. TROY_Ross 30 pass from M.Caldwell (Renfroe kick), :00. ULL_Davis 1 run (Almendares kick), 13:31. ULL_LeGendre 44 pass from Fields (Almendares kick), 12:23. ULL_FG Almendares 38, 8:08. ULL_Davis 2 run (Almendares kick), 2:16. ULL_FG Almendares 32, :00. RUSHING_Troy, Taylor 8-34, G.Green 4-20, Caldwell 5-8. Louisiana-Lafayette, Davis 7-44, Fields 7-25, Washington 4-6. PASSING_Troy, Caldwell 14-22-2-111. Louisiana-Lafayette, Fields 11-15-0-213. RECEIVING_Troy, Ross 5-57, Mothershed 3-9, Lovett 2-9, Swartz 1-20, Parker 1-12, Worley 1-4, Dalton 1-0. Louisiana-Lafayette, Carter 3-23, Smith 2-58, Bernard 2-51, LeGendre 2-45, H.Broussard 1-19, Jensen 1-17. MISSED FIELD GOALS_None.Daiwa Securities Group Inc. Lowers Stake in Roku, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROKU)
US senator says mysterious drones spotted in New Jersey should be 'shot down, if necessary'
Former short-term Mets GM Jared Porter breaks silence on podcast: ‘It was an inappropriate relationship for a lot of reasons’Algert Global LLC Acquires 5,864 Shares of Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH)The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg speculated that billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk is “the actual vice president,” deeming Vice President-elect J.D. Vance “an interim.” Musk actively assisted President-elect Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 presidential election and has since been assigned to co-head the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency. “I believe Elon Musk is the actual vice president,” Goldberg said. “Yes, I believe that, because I think that ... J.D. Vance, you know, he’s kind of an interim, but I believe that Musk is the real, actual vice president. He’s making decisions. He’s doing things. So, I think, why doesn’t he have to give up X with everything he’s done?” Prior to the show cutting to a commercial break, Goldberg conceded that she was “musing” with her claim. Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin also noted the growing popularity of BlueSky, an alternative to X, which has over 1 million new users following the 2024 election. She expressed concern that the uptick in BlueSky users could cause a lack of communication between people on social media, stating that X and BlueSky could become echo chambers for Republicans and Democrats, respectively. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER As co-heads of DOGE, Musk and fellow billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy aim to cut down on spending across the federal government. The two announced a podcast to detail their work at DOGE. Ahead of the incoming Trump administration and DOGE getting to work, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has stated he is “all in” on DOGE’s plans to cut down on spending and would do anything he can to assist in these endeavors.
For the first time, scientists temporarily captured baleen whales and tested their hearing, a controversial step that brings researchers closer to understanding how some of the largest and most intelligent animals on Earth perceive their world. In 2023, researchers captured two juvenile minke whales off the coast of Norway, applied gold-plated electrodes to their skin with suction cups and then examined their brain waves as different frequencies of sound played. Each young whale was at least 12 feet long and weighed about 1 ton. The results of the study, published Thursday in the journal Science , surprised whale researchers because they suggest the creatures can hear at much higher frequencies than expected. The mammals’ ability far exceeds that of typical humans, the research suggests. “It was a bit shocking,” said Dorian Houser, director of conservation biology for the National Marine Mammal Foundation and the study’s lead author. “They have this ultrasonic hearing, which we think is probably related to avoiding the killer whale as a primary predator since they use echolocation signals to hunt their prey at the same frequencies.” The surprising findings come amid growing concern about the effects of ocean noise from sources like naval sonar, oil and gas exploration and ship traffic, which can alter marine mammals’ behavior, cause hearing loss and even kill them. The new information could shift what noisy activities are allowed in the ocean under the Marine Mammal Protection Act or lead to restrictions on some equipment. “There might be higher frequency sounds that are produced from ocean exploration activities that were never considered a potential problem for baleen whales that need a second look,” said Susan Parks, a professor of biology at Syracuse University in New York, who was not involved in the study. This study also closes a chapter of deep disagreement within the whale research community. Scientists had never captured baleen whales and tested their hearing before because the animals are so large it could be dangerous to both the whales and researchers. Some scientists and activists fiercely opposed the four-year research effort — called the Minke Whale Hearing Project — over concerns that whales would become stressed and potentially die during their brief stints in captivity. They argued it wasn’t possible to safely capture the whales or ensure they wouldn’t develop long-term stress responses. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation, a global nonprofit advocacy group that focuses on protection of these animals, in 2021 organized and sent an open letter from scientists and veterinarians to the Norwegian government, urging the project be “stopped as it may lead to considerable trauma for the whales targeted, without contributing to useful science.” What the largest whales on Earth could hear has long remained a mystery to scientists. Because baleen whales — of which there are 16 species, including Humpback, Blue and Fin whales — are too large to study in captivity, biologists have had to infer their hearing ability from studies of whale behavior, how other animals interact with them and from models of their anatomy. Scientists know, from recordings and other observations, that baleen whales rely on hearing for social communication and that it’s important to their survival. Humpback whales sing complex songs associated with courtship and mating , and make “clicks” when foraging, for example. “To get an actual direct measure of hearing, that was something that’s been kind of a Holy Grail,” Houser said. Minke whales were a good target for audio testing because they’re the smallest baleen whale and a species whose hearing scientists don’t understand very well. “For minke whales, I don’t think there are a lot of details on how they use sound day-to-day,” Parks said, adding that there are other baleen species “where we’re just matching species to sound.” To perform the tests, the Minke Whale Hearing Project researchers devised a complex trap near Norway’s Lofoten Islands to capture whales, relying on the species’ predictable migration path along the coastline. The researchers set up more than a mile of nets to guide the whales into a channel between two islands, then blocked off their exits with barrier nets. The researchers next corralled the whales into a preexisting fish farm enclosure, where they used a “hammock”-like net to pull the creatures up closer to the surface. In June 2023, the researchers caught two young whales and, with on-site veterinarians, performed 30 minutes of testing on one whale and 90 minutes on the other before releasing them. The researchers attached electrodes for brain stem monitoring, took blood samples and attached satellite tracking tags to follow up on the animals’ behavior and welfare. Houser said the effort required about 20 tons of netting and 12-15 people working around the clock to corral, monitor and test the whales. Although the whales’ blood sugar rose and their heart rates changed, he said they tolerated testing well and continued their typical behavior afterward. “Those satellite tags do show that they return to being minke whales again,” he said, adding that the animals’ welfare was the researchers’ top priority. A minke whale that was never caught nor tested died when it became entangled in a net and drowned after a storm forced the research crew off the water and dislodged an anchor securing its nets. Regina Asmutis-Silvia, executive director of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation in North America, said the organization remained opposed to the project. “Releasing the whales alive does not mean that these individuals will not suffer long term stress responses to sounds or activities they associate with this experiment and their lives, and health, may be compromised as a result,” Asmutis-Silvia wrote in an email, adding that it was “tragic and ironic to harm individual whales to substantiate just how harmful human sounds are on these species.” Asmutis-Silvia said similar science could have been completed through noninvasive means, like studies of behavioral responses or stress hormones, and that the science produced by the project had significant limitations. “This is a sample size of two juvenile male minke whales from a particular region so it’s not clear how this translates more broadly to other age classes in that area, never mind other species,” she said. Brandon Southall, a scientist and consultant who has helped develop acoustic exposure criteria for marine animals for federal regulators, said he thought the research would contribute to future limits set on ocean sound to keep marine mammals healthy. “They did everything according to best practices and carefully and professionally. The fact that it did yield the first results and it guides conservation outputs, I think on balance it was useful and informative,” Southall said. Southall said the new research did not measure the lowest ranges of the whales’ hearing ability, which is more challenging because of how neural signals operate in animals’ bodies. He said low-frequency sounds, like ship propellers or seafloor piledriving for wind farms, travel great distances in the ocean and are more likely to cause marine mammals harm. “We should think, before someone does another study like this, what more could we get out of it,” Southall said. Houser agreed that it’s more difficult to study low-frequency sounds. But he said researchers had not reached the lower limit of what signals they could detect. He said the Minke Whale Hearing Project is on hold, but he’d like to pursue the topic further if he could secure funding.
When it comes to purchasing perfume, either for personal use or as a Christmas gift, the toughest choice isn't typically the brand but the size. However, Boots has simplified my decision by slashing the price of the 100ml version of one of my favourite scents - and it's only 11p pricier than a 50ml bottle. Kylie Jenner's debut fragrance, Cosmic , launched at Boots in March and swiftly became the store's fastest-selling perfume launch of 2024. Despite my usual avoidance of celebrity perfumes, this one quickly earned a place in my regular rotation due to the numerous compliments it garners. Typically priced at £34 for 30ml , £43 for 50ml or £55 for 100ml, it's already a reasonably priced scent compared to other renowned brands like Marc Jacobs, Yves Saint Laurent and Dior. But all three sizes have been discounted for Black Friday , allowing me to stock up and complete my Christmas shopping. READ MO RE: Best beauty advent calendars for 2024 that are available to buy now from Boots, Liz Earle and more READ MORE: I worked at Boots and these are the best early Black Friday deals to shop now for Christmas Now, a 30ml bottle is less than £30, priced at £28.90, while the 50ml bottle is now £36.55. The largest bottle, 100ml, has a larger discount and currently costs £36.66 , which is just 11p more for a bottle twice the size. It's almost as cheap as the 30ml bottle at full price, reports the Liverpool Echo . The perfume is characterised as a 'magnetic ambery floral', boasting top notes of sweet star jasmine and fresh blood orange, complemented by rich golden amber and red peony. The scent is rounded off with warm, cosy notes of cedarwood and vanilla musk, which shoppers describe as 'smells sweet, feminine, and not too overpowering. I started wearing Cosmic in the summer, and it’s carried me through from the balmy sunny evenings of August all the way through to these chillier weeks. Usually, I opt for quite sultry scents with notes of wood, leather and spice. I like those almost aftershave-y notes, so the sweet floral scent of Kylie Jenner’s perfume was quite a change from my usual favourites - but a refreshing one, to say the least. I’m used to quite strong perfumes, but Cosmic is incredibly subtle by comparison, so much so that I often can’t really smell it on myself after an hour or so beyond a lingering sweetness. However, whenever I wear it, everyone around me seems to notice - especially my fiance, who can’t stop complimenting me whenever I wear it. I love that it makes itself known without being overpowering, and because it’s relatively inexpensive compared to others I own, I’m quite happy to be liberal with the application to satisfy my own mind, too. I’m not the only one who loves it, either, with the fragrance racking up more than 1,400 five star reviews . One said: “After seeing reviews, I finally caved in to purchase. I love Kylie and support all of her products, but for perfumes, I'm more picky. This did not disappoint. It smells sweet, feminine, and not too overpowering.” Another added: “i purchased this fragrance about 2 weeks ago. i truly wear it everyday. it is the perfect sexy scent for everyday wear. i will say, i spray A LOT & it's not overwhelming. scent doesn't seem to last all day..so i just purchased the body mist and small on the go bottle to re-up when needed. this is my new favorite scent.” “Absolutely beautiful perfume ,” penned a third. “An elegant scent that’s not too overwhelming but smells gentle and soft. I also love the shape of the bottle, unusual and pretty.” Though I can see how it might be too sweet for some people, with one shopper leaving a three-star review, which read: “This perfume is very sweet and warm smell, almost nauseatingly so. I was not impressed with how long it lasted either.” There are plenty of other celebrity perfumes worth checking out, though, whether you’re thinking about Christmas gifts or just fancy a change for the festive season. Jada Jones, our resident fragrance fanatic, waxes lyrical about Billie Eilish's Eilish . She said: “It's a perfect gourmand. There's vanilla but also a dash of cocoa that really rounds it out. "It's sweet but doesn't cross the line into sickly, thanks to some woody and spicy notes lingering near the base. Whenever I've worn it on dates, I've received compliments, and friends often ask me what I'm wearing. I think it's a good option for late teens and women in their 20s and 30s and definitely a treat for under the Christmas tree — I'm actually expecting my dad to 'surprise' me with it.” Meanwhile, shopping writer Lauren Codling is still a fan of the nostalgic Britney Spears Fantasy . She added: “It never crossed my mind to choose any other celebrity perfume besides Britney Spear's Fantasy — the iconic fragrance that graced nearly every teenage girl's dressing table back in the day. Nearly two decades after its initial launch in 2005, Fantasy still stands the test of time; it's the ideal balance of fun and sophistication, transporting anyone who wears it back to the good ol' carefree days of BlackBerry phones and frosted eyeshadow.” Or, if you’re a fan of the new Wicked film, Ariana Grande Ari Eau de Parfum Spray , 50ml is currently reduced on Amazon for £24.45, down from £40. The bottle is definitely giving Glinda vibes, while the scent itself is described as having ‘sparkling fruits and an ultra-feminine floralcy’. Or you can buy Kylie Jenner’s Cosmic on offer at Boots here.
Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirlingMAX George has revealed that he is set to undergo major heart surgery after a terrifying dash to hospital. The singer, 36, posted a photo of himself lying in a hospital bed giving a thumb’s up — and told fans that he considered himself “very lucky”. 4 Max George is set to undergo heart surgery after being rushed to hospital Credit: Instagram 4 The Wanted star said he was diagnosed with a heart condition Credit: Instagram It comes just two years after his Wanted bandmate and best pal Tom Parker died of brain cancer aged just 33. He took to social media on Thursday to share a health update. Max said he was given a “huge shock” when told he had problems with his heart after feeling ill and will be having tests to gauge the extent. He posted online: "Hey everyone. Yesterday I felt really unwell and was taken in to hospital. READ MORE ON MAX GEORGE TRAGIC GOODBYE Heartbroken Max George announces shock death of dog oh mai! Inside Maisie Smith & Max George's romantic Cyprus hol as star stuns in red bikini "Unfortunately after some tests they’ve found that I have some issues with my heart." The TV star, who is dating EastEnders actress Maisie Smith , said he would need surgery before he returns home. "I have a lot more tests to determine the extent of the problems and what surgery I will need to get me back on my feet," he went on to say. Max explained that he would be remaining in hospital over the festive period - but was thankful for the support of his girlfriend and family. Most read in Celebrity FAIR CARNAGE Horror as Birmingham fairground ride 'collapses' with several people injured ALL CHANGE Another Rangers executive quits club just a week after key role at club's AGM NEWBORN JOY Huge Scots DJ becomes dad as he reveals baby boy in emotional social media post URGENT HUNT Fears grow for two boys, 12 and 13, last seen 24 hours ago sparking huge search He shared: "It’s gonna be a difficult few weeks/months... and Christmas in a hospital bed wasn’t exactly what I had planned! "But, as always, I’m surrounded with love and support by my wonderful partner Maisie, her family, my family and friends.. and I’m 100 per cent in the best place." Maisie Smith and Max George reveal they're 'homeless' saying they’re 'forced to go on holiday all the time The pop star added: "Although this is a huge shock and no doubt a set back, it’s something I’ll take on with all I’ve got! I count myself very lucky that this was caught when it was. "Apologies if I bore you with updates in the coming weeks..I’ve probably got a month in a bed and there’s not THAT much to do! "Let’s do this!. Much love. Max x" Maisie and Max both competed in Strictly Come Dancing 2020 and became good friends while on the show. In the summer of 2022, they became a romantic item and they moved in together last year. Maisie waved Essex goodbye and relocated to Manchester to be with Max and they began renovating their own home together. There is a 13-year age gap between the pair but they have always been too loved up to pay attention to any criticism surrounding it. Maisie told The Sun’s Fabulous Magazine in February: "If it wasn’t that, it would be something else. "People don’t understand what goes on behind closed doors in a relationship, and I think they also forget that I’m a consenting 21-year-old woman who’s actually been working longer than Max! "I don’t notice the age difference and neither do my friends or family. My mum Julia is the one who reads through all the comments. I got a message from her yesterday, saying, ‘Just ignore them, you two were made for each other'. "I think that just puts it into perspective. I really don’t care what a random person thinks of my relationship when everyone I do care about is incredibly supportive. I’ve been in the business long enough to know you have to have a thick skin." Max previously told how he suffered from alcoholism — but turned a new leaf after Tom’s devastating diagnosis in 2020. The dad of two died two years later. Max said on Channel 4’s Scared Of The Dark: “I don’t think I’ll ever be OK with it. Read more on the Scottish Sun WARMING UP Scots set for 21C swing as temperature rise to bring an end to sub zero freeze HOT BUY Shoppers race to Primark for fleecy £14 hoodie will keep you cosy on frosty days “One of the last things I said to him was — I thanked him for making my life so much better than what it ever could have been. “He was my best friend.” 4 Max praised his girlfriend Maisie Smith for her support during this time Credit: maisiesmithofficial/Instagram.. 4 The pop star said he will be remaining in hospital over Christmas Credit: instagram/@maxgeorge
Max George to undergo major heart surgery after terrifying health scare – and reveals he’ll spend Christmas in hospital
The massacre at the 1972 Munich Olympics marked the first time a terrorist attack was ever covered live on television. Hundreds of millions of people around the world saw the event as it was happening, and learned the devastating news in real time, forever altering the landscape of news, terrorism, socio political tension, and the way we see history as a living document rolling out before our very eyes. The impact of this moment, and what came after, has been examined numerous times in film, most famously in Steven Spieberg’s “Munich” and Kevin Macdonald’s devastating, Oscar-winning documentary “One Day in September.” It’s well-worn territory, but “September 5” hopes to offer something different to the story, a perspective that’s been discussed and documented before but never portrayed with this particular dramatic conceit. Set inside the ABC Sports offices near the Olympic village, director Tim Fehlbaum’s film unfolds entirely from the perspective of the ABC employees who learn of the attack and are forced to suddenly and dramatically shift the entire focus of their coverage. It’s a great, true story, and it makes for one of the year’s must-see dramas. In the early morning hours of September 5, 1972, young sports producer and director Geoffrey Mason (John Magaro) hears reports of gunshots coming from the Olympic village, later verified by German ABC translator Marianna Gebhardt (Leonie Benesch). In a rush to report the story, Masno wakes up his superiors, Marvin Bader (Ben Chaplin) and ABC Sports President Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard), to make them aware of what everything thinks will be a relatively quick resolution to a violent situation. What they find instead is a constantly escalating nightmare, one the ABC team has to cover as the only live sports broadcaster in America working in Munich at the time. If you’re even a vague student of history, you know the basic outline of events that made up the Munich Massacre. You know about Black September, the taking of Israeli hostages, the hours of negotiations, and the awful conclusion to it all, and you know that because you’ve seen the footage, much of it captured by the very ABC crew depicted in this film. The trick, then, is to present the information in a new way, and it’s here that the script – by Fehlbaum, Moritz Binder, and Alex David – becomes crucial. It begins as the story of a group of people who slowly become aware than an unprecedented terrorist event is unfolding just hundreds of yards away from where they’re working, then evolves into a discussion of how, at the dawn of live satellite feeds and in the years before news began to stretch into a 24-hour affair, the event should actually be covered. Can the ABC crew continue to broadcast if someone is shot on live TV? How does the rescue operation figure into their footage? What happens when the satellite feed is meant to switch over to another network? These are all not just moments of fresh tension that keep the viewer on the edge of their seat, but opportunities to insert emotional and philosophical discussions, many of which we’re still having, into the narrative. These ideas, and the clever way Fehlbaum orchestrates them all, keep the story charged with energy, but it’s the cast who has to carry it to a memorable emotional conclusion. In a very stripped down, nuts and bolts way, this is a story about people in rumpled clothes doing hard work in dark rooms, improvising solutions to emerging problems as they go and, along the way, inadvertently inventing an entirely new kind of news coverage. On that basic level, Magaro shines as the clear star. He’s always been an actor who draws the eye, but as an in-over-his-head relative newcomer in uncharted waters, his frantic search to get it all right in a world where “right” hasn’t yet been decided is impossible to ignore. He’s the beacon at the center of this story, even considering Chaplin and Sarsgaard, who both give towering performances, are right next to him. The real gem of the piece, though, is Benesch, who embodies a progressive German trying to move beyond her country’s dark legacy with earnest, vulnerable, honest emotion. She’s wonderful, and she helps make “September 5” into a great ensemble movie. The cast’s ability to make all of this feel real, to breathe true life into the period-perfect production design and use of archival footage, makes “September 5” one of those rare true story films that makes you feel like you truly don’t know how the story will end. Part of this is the different perspective, a sense that we’re seeing this story in ways we never have before, but the key here is the sheer force of great filmmaking craft. Through the direction, the acting, and the raw power of the drama, we are immersed in a world that it feels like we never quite escaped from, and while that makes “September 5” a tough viewing experience, it also makes it a rewarding one. ‘September 5’ is in select theaters December 13, and expands to more theaters January 17.
Bills clinch the AFC's No. 2 seed with a 40-14 rout of the undisciplined Jets