The first WordPress plugin that allows web developers to deploy 3D immersive, multiuser Metaverse worlds in any WordPress website or blog has been released.
Croquet Metaverse Web Showcase is a free, no-code plugin that allows users to engage customers in a social 3D world.
The company claims that its plugin takes less than five minutes to set up and is available via the official WordPress plugin directory.
Metaverse WordPress plugin
It added that Web Showcase looks to enhance existing 2D websites, which typically depend upon scrolling and menu navigation.
Croquet claims that the immersive environment significantly increased engagement by site visitors, creating a new dimension in functionality.
Web Showcase has been designed for small business WordPress website builder users, and can be extended by brands and agencies to enable social in-site activations.
“The web is the Metaverse and it will rapidly become multiuser and immersive,” said David A. Smith, founder and CTO of Croquet.
“WordPress powers the web with 65.1% of all websites that use CMS technology. We will see the web evolve quickly as these websites deploy immersive multiuser technology to serve new and existing customers and facilitate ecommerce.”
Other features of the Web Showcase tool includes a feature that lets site visitors invite friends and colleagues to join them via text message, email, Slack or any other DM channel to collaboratively browse the space and converse using Dolby.io Spatial Audio Chat.
Additionally, blogging sites can add an immersive world to a blog post that invites readers to come together for live audio discussions in a customized Metaverse gallery.
Built on Croquet OS using open source Microverse World Builder, the cross-platform can be accessed by any Internet device, including desktops, tablets, phones and VR headsets.
Windows 11 might soon offer users the ability to run an in-place upgrade directly from the Settings panel, which would be a convenient option for those needing a swift way to repair problems with their PC.
The option to do this was spotted in the latest preview build of Windows 11 (version 25284) by @PhantomOfEarth (via Windows Latest), a Twitter-based leaker who regularly shares bits and pieces on the topic of Windows. Note, however, that it’s hidden right now, so Windows 11 testers won’t see this function unless they use ViVeTool (a Windows configuration tool).
You will soon be able to run an in place upgrade to the same build without installation media it seems. Hidden in 25284 (new Fix problems using Windows Update option)vivetool /enable /id:42550315 pic.twitter.com/WiaLb0qjAvJanuary 25, 2023
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The option is present in System > Recovery in the Settings app, and is labeled ‘Fix problems without resetting your PC’.
What this does is attempt to solve any issues you have with your system by fully reinstalling the current build of Windows 11. This effectively acts as a way to repair corrupt system files, for example, that may be causing your OS to misfire in one way or another, by replacing them (while leaving all your personal files and data, and apps, untouched).
Analysis: A feature that’s likely to make the cut
Naturally, reinstalling the current build of Windows is a fairly lengthy process, and as Microsoft notes in the text for the option, users should try running Windows troubleshooters before resorting to this method (and also don’t forget our guide to solving common problems with Windows 11).
Normally, performing a reinstall in this manner requires grabbing the appropriate installation media (the Media Creation Tool), so putting the option for an in-place upgrade (and repair) right there in Settings is a very convenient touch.
That said, this hasn’t even been enabled in testing just yet – it’s simply a placeholder option that doesn’t function, and as noted it’s hidden away to boot. However, there’s a good chance it’ll be sent live in a preview build before too long, as it seems like a useful addition for Windows 11 and one unlikely to cause any controversy. Still, there are many reasons features in testing may not pan out, so we can’t take it for granted that this is inbound for the release version of Microsoft’s OS.
Just keep those fingers crossed, because this would be a definite boon for users as an easy repair option when something has gone awry with Windows 11, and it’s not possible to figure out exactly what. Of course, those kinds of errors can be the most frustrating when Windows is behaving oddly and not giving you any sort of clue as to why.
And, frankly, they're cutting it fine. Gunn has consistently stated that he'd share the first official details about the DCU's new blueprint before January 2023 ends – so with one day left before February rolls around, the pair are certainly pushing it.
Finally, though, DC fans will learn more about Gunn and Safran's DCU masterplan. Yesterday, select members of the press were invited to a private presentation concerning the DCU's revival. Per industry insider Grace Randolph, those plans will reportedly be made public at 9am PT / 2pm ET / 5pm GMT on Tuesday, January 31 (that's 3am AEST on Wednesday, February 1 for Australian readers).
So, what can we expect to hear about when the DCU's new lineup is revealed? Here are six things to look out for ahead of the big announcement.
1. Superman returns
Henry Cavill won't be back as Clark Kent/Superman.(Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)
One project we'll definitely hear about is a new Superman movie. In December 2022, Gunn confirmed the next Superman flick would "be focusing on an earlier part" in Clark Kent's life. It won't be a traditional origins story, though.
Unfortunately, that means Henry Cavill won't be back as Superman. Cavill had played the legendary Kryptonian in three DCEU movies – find out which ones in our DCEU movies in order guide – and made a cameo in 2022's Black Adam, which proved to be his final outing as Kal-El.
2. Matt Reeves' Bat-Verse stands alone
Matt Reeves' Bat-Verse will exist independent of the DCU.(Image credit: Jonathan Olley/Warner Bros.)
Ever since Gunn and Safran's appointment, DC fans have wondered about (and, in some cases, worried about) the future of Matt Reeves' Bat-Verse.
The Batman, which arrived in March 2022, drew critical acclaim for tacking the neo-noir detective aspect of the iconic Caped Crusader (read our review of The Batman for more on what we thought). A sequel film and two HBO Max spin-offs – a series starring Colin Farrell as The Penguin and an Arkham Asylum-based TV show – have since been greenlit.
With Reeves' Bat-Verse preceding Gunn and Safran's hirings, many expected it to be folded into the new-look cinematic universe. However, Reeves told Collider that his Bat-Verse will remain independent of the duo's 10-year plan for the DCU. Todd Phillips' Joker film franchise, whose sequel – Joker: Folie a Deux – arrives in October 2024, is also expected to stay as a standalone entity.
Will we learn more about The Batman 2, or some details about those HBO Max off-shoots as part of today's announcement? We're crossing our batwings that we will.
3. Gone in a flash?
The Flash might be a one and done film in the DCU(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
Gunn and Safran's DCU reboot has bigger headaches to solve than Reeves' Bat-Verse.
For one, what do they do about the DCEU movies that are yet to land in theaters? Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Blue Beetle, The Flash, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom are all slated to launch in cinemas before 2023 is over. So, will any or all of these characters be incorporated into the new DCU?
Meanwhile, Aquaman star Jason Momoa alluded to the fact that the ocean-dwelling superhero will feature in the DCU, too (per OneTakeNews). It's unclear what the future holds for Blue Beetle, however, once the Mexican superhero's solo flick is released in August.
As for The Flash, the super speedester's future is also undetermined. It's unlikely that Gunn and Safran will move forward with Ezra Miller's iteration of the character, given the criminal charges leveled against the actor over the last 12 months. It's plausible that The Flash's time-travel and multiversal plot details will form a key part of the DCEU's transition into Gunn and Safran's rebooted universe. We'd be very surprised if the duo retain Miller's services as part of their DCU, though.
4. Wonder no more
Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman isn't likely to feature(Image credit: Warner Bros)
The above characters' fates are yet to be confirmed – hopefully we'll get some details on them later today – but one superhero who won't be part of proceedings is Wonder Woman.
In December 2022, Patty Jenkins – director on Wonder Woman's two DCEU movies – confirmed that Wonder Woman 3 wasn't moving forward at DC Studios. Putting two and two together, it seems like Gal Gadot (who had played Diana Prince in four DCEU films) won't be back as the superpowered Amazonian in the new-look DCU, either.
Of course, we could be surprised by Gunn and Safran – more on other potential surprises later – with a rebooted Wonder Woman film series. Our opinion? Don't expect Diana Prince to be part of their initial 10-year plan.
5. TV show tie-ins
Peacemaker season 2 should be mentioned at some point.(Image credit: WarnerMedia)
It's not all about movies at DC Studios. As well as those Bat-Verse TV spin-offs, we can expect to hear more about the company's wider TV slate.
However, there are other series in development that should be part of Gunn and Safran's masterplan. Peacemaker season 2, which was announced in January 2022, is definitely on the way. Dead Boy Detectives, a spin-off from Doom Patrol, is in development, but it's unclear how it'll sit in the wider DCU, if at all.
Meanwhile, Gunn has confirmed that the DCU's slate of movies and TV shows – live-action and animated – will be interconnected. Fan-favorite series, such as Harley Quinn's R-rated animated show, could be merged into Gunn and Safran's DCU. Other DC-owned properties, such as the in-development Green Lantern Corps TV show, plus the second season of The Sandman, might also be folded into the revived DCEU. However, given that the latter is distributed on Netflix, its potential addition to the DCU could make things messy from licensing and contractual perspectives.
6. Surprises galore
Some big surprises should be announced for the DCU(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
All of the above sounds riveting, but we're also expecting Gunn and Safran to drop some shocking announcements as part of DCU Chapter One.
We already know that Constantine 2 (starring Keanu Reeves) is in the early stages of creation. A Ta-Nehisi Coates-developed Superman project, which sits independent of Gunn's young Superman movie, is also in development. We'd love to get some more information on these projects, such as their directors, plot synopses, or further casting news.
There are lots of fascinating characters in DC Comics, though, who could be ripe for live-action and/or animated adaptations. For starters, after conducting a poll on Mastodon, Gunn revealed that Booster Gold was the superhero that fans wanted to see most on the big or small screens.
Elsewhere, industry leaker ViewerAnon has posted two hints about forthcoming DCU projects – one which might tease a Batman and Robin project. Other teases posted by Superman on Film and Stephen Colbert suggest we'll learn about films and shows that nobody expected, one of which is reportedly a "big impending DC movie" that somehow hasn't leaked online pre-reveal. Color us intrigued.
Finally, Randolph has claimed that the new DCU is nothing like Marvel's cinematic juggernaut. Randolph likened it to the mythological tone of Jack Snyder's DC movies, such as Justice League, which might not be music to everyone's ears.
Still, we're excited to find out what's in store for the next decade of the DCU. Warner Bros' DCEU has been drifting for a long time now, and, if it wants to truly rival Marvel on the world stage, it needs an exciting lineup of massive movies and big swing-style TV series. Over to you, Gunn and Safran.
Windows 11’s latest updates have been hit by yet another bug that causes the installation process to fail while producing a mysterious and unhelpful error message.
This problem has been plaguing Windows 11 users for some time now, and as Windows Latest reports, it’s continuing to frustrate some folks who can’t install the January update from Microsoft (known as patch KB5022303), and the recent optional update for January released last week (KB5022360 – a preview update which will be fully honed and released in February).
Those encountering the glitch will simply be told that the installation has failed with an error code, the most commonly witnessed one being ‘0x800f0831’, but other mysterious strings of hexadecimal code which mean precisely nothing to the average user can also pop up. Like good old ‘0x800f0988’ for example.
As highlighted by Windows Latest, a typical report from a user (on Microsoft’s Feedback Hub) runs like this: “My HP laptop has been unable to successfully install the most current update: 2023-01 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5022303) in which the following message/error code is given: ‘Failed to install on 1/15/2023 – 0x800f0988’”.
Another poster on Microsoft’s Answers.com support forum writes: “Struggling with a windows update: Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5022303). Install error – 0x800f0988. Have run troubleshooting on the updates and tried to reinstall but this does not seem to work. Is there a simple fix? It’s been a problem for a while and it seems others have the same issue.”
Analysis: An ongoing issue that really needs to be put to bed
Is there a simple fix, then? Well, the short answer to that is nope, apparently not. And the bug has been ongoing for some time now, as that last poster mentions; indeed for a good six months now, Windows 11 updates have been stumbling into failure in this manner for some users.
The advice we’ve seen in the past as a potential workaround is to try (temporarily) turning off your third-party antivirus, and we guess it can’t hurt to give that a whirl – but you may well get just as much mileage from crossing your fingers and praying to the silicon deities that all will be well.
Microsoft has said in the past that it’s investigating these ongoing installation errors, but we’ve heard nothing about any progress on this front, and clearly, this is still a thorn in the side for some users. Hopefully not for much longer…
While an optional update, like the very latest one, is no big deal, the main patch for January certainly is, and being unable to install KB5022303 means that you’re lacking a bunch of security fixes, so your PC could potentially be vulnerable to attack.
Your Gmail account will soon look a little bit different as the company finally rolls out its long-expected makeover to all users.
In a bid to offer users a more complete Google Workspace experience, the updated Gmail will now provide not just email services, but video conferencing and chat options, all in a single location.
Users won't have to do anything to activate the new-look Gmail, which will be updated by default over the next few days to users across the world in a bid to help modernize the platform.
New-look Gmail
In a Google Workspace update post, the company has confirmed that the new look "will become the standard experience for Gmail, with no option to revert to the original UI".
News of the facelift was first announced in February 2022, as part of a move to bring other Google Workspace services such as Chat and Meet closer to Gmail.
Most Gmail users were able to try out the new look service in November 2022, but retained the option to revert back to the "original view" at any time.
From today, this will no longer be possible, with users fixed to the new design - although Google does note that users can change their Gmail theme, inbox type, and more through the quick settings menu.
(Image credit: Google)
The change may seem quite drastic to some Gmail users, who will still see emails displayed front and centre, but shifted significantly over to the right-hand side of the display to make way for a new sidebar on the left side that contains quick links to Chat, Spaces and Meet, shifting your email folders and label options over slightly.
Away from the more integrated links with Meet and Chat, users will also see a new right sidebar which has shortcuts to other Google services like Calendar, Tasks, and Keep, without them having to open up extra tabs or windows.
The company adds that you'll also see all your notifications in one place, with bubbles flagging when you have a new message or chat to engage with.
It will be available to all Google Workspace user accounts (except Google Workspace Essentials customers) as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers.
LG has announced that its new 2023 TVs will offer native support for DTS audio codecs for the first time, including the Dolby Atmos rival DTS:X.
Xperi, the company behind DTS:X, revealed in a press release that LG’s latest OLED and premium LCD TVs would incorporate its audio codec. Later, LG Korea reportedly confirmed to FlatPanelsHD that all of its 2023 OLED TVs (including the LG C3 and LG G3) and the “QNED85 and up” will be able to decode the DTS, DTS:X, and IMAX Enhanced audio codecs. However, LG added that its TV speakers won’t be able to play back DTS:X enhanced audio, instead, they’ll just be able to send the data to an external sound system that can.
Xperi’s DTS and DTS:X codecs are used by many Blu-ray discs and the IMAX-enhanced Marvel films on Disney Plus, so by supporting this codec LG’s 2023 OLED TVs just got a nice upgrade to their audio over their predecessors (and many rivals) if you have a library of discs (as many hardcore home theater fans do). Sure, you need one of the best soundbars or an AV receiver to actually hear the difference, but this limitation is not unexpected – the vast majority of TVs don’t boast speaker setups that can properly use immersive audio codecs like DTS:X and Dolby Atmos.
What is DTS:X?
DTS:X shares a lot of similarities with an alternative audio codec: Dolby Atmos. Just like Atmos, DTS:X aims to create a realistic, multi-dimensional soundstage where sound moves around you to make what you’re watching feel more real. For example, if a helicopter flies overhead in the film you’re watching, DTS:X and the right speaker system should make it sound as if it is really flying over your head.
Like Dolby Atmos, it's object-based in 3D space, rather than channel-based. Which means you don't need to have a specific kind of setup for it to work – it should be able to take advantage of soundbars with three speaker channels, or with 15.
But there are a few differences, such as the fact that DTS:X supports higher bitrates – read: on paper, it has better audio quality – though Dolby claims Atmos is more efficient with its bitrate use, resulting in comparable sound quality from both.
Soundbars and speakers use codecs to know where audio needs to come from to immerse you in the onscreen action.(Image credit: Samsung)
But the main thing is that not all content will support both DTS:X and Dolby Atmos. Many Blu-rays and 4K Blu-rays will favor DTS:X, while many of the best streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video only use Dolby Atmos. Disney Plus is one of the fewer streamers bucking the trend by announcing that IMAX Enhanced versions of its Marvel films will use DTS sound.
With LG’s 2023 TVs boasting DTS:X support and maintaining support for Dolby Atmos, these screens will offer users the versatility to enjoy content from a variety of sources – be it streamed or from a disc – at the highest possible quality.
Just remember that a TV saying that it supports DTS:X and Dolby Atmos doesn’t mean that its in-built speakers will necessarily be capable of outputting sound using these codecs. As is the case with LG screens, it simply has the ability to transfer Dolby Atmos and DTS:X data to a sound system or soundbar that can actually put them to use – our guide to the best Dolby Atmos soundbars is a great place to start, as long as you check for those that have DTS support too. (LG, Samsung and Sony usually include this; Sonos not so much.)
An initial bug report in January 2023 reported that the 32-bit Windows version of Chrome 109 was hitting a “can’t open this file” error when trying to save files using a universal naming convention (UNC) path, with the error claiming that the issue is that the save destination folder “contains system files”.
However, in testing bug demo code from another report, The Register also ran into the issue while trying to open a Dropbox file on the Arm64 version of Chrome 109 running on macOS. It also noted that competing browsers, like Mozilla Firefox and the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge, were saving files to network locations fine.
Alternate, privacy-focussed browsers have been available on Apple devices for some time, with the option to set a default other than Safari coming in September 2020 as part of iOS 14.
As a result, Project Fugu’s separate sound like a great way to open up an Apple device in the face of Apple’s tight grip on the applications it wants users to run, even in the face of consternation from the European Union.
The Register is reporting that Google has bumped fixing the issue to a priority as part of the release of the stable version of Chrome 110 on the last day of January 2023, quoting an engineer from the company as stating “blocking UNC paths broke a number of legitimate use cases.”
One of the last safe places for avoiding video calls could soon fall, no thanks to a new update for Microsoft Teams.
The video conferencing service is working on an update that will allow users to join a Teams call directly from their vehicle while driving using Apple's CarPlay platform.
Apple has recently updated CarPlay to include a new calendar view, which will now allow users to join a Microsoft Teams call using their iPhone while driving.
Microsoft Teams CarPlay
The official entry in the Microsoft 365 roadmap for the update doesn't provide any extra detail on exactly how the feature will work, simply noting that users can choose to join a Teams meeting using the new CarPlay calendar view.
Obviously, due care and attention should be paid to the road whilst driving, so hopefully the calls taking place can be audio-only as well, meaning users can keep their eyes on the road.
The feature is still marked as in development for the time being, with a scheduled general availability date of March 2023, so users won't have too long to wait.
Microsoft Teams users have been able to dial into calls using Apple CarPlay since September 2021, as well the ability to call and message Teams contacts from most modern vehicles - although meeting video feeds do not appear on the dashboard.
The platform is also available on Android Auto, with Google's car-focused software allowing Microsoft Teams users to make calls, join meetings or message contacts.
The news is the latest in a series of recent upgrades for Microsoft Teams as the company looks to continue improving the platform.
This includes a tweak that uses AI to detect the difference between sound from a speaker and the user’s voice, fixing a common issue when a microphone is too close to a speaker, causing sound to loop between input and output devices and create an echo.
For those making calls in large rooms, where speaking can often reverberate and echo around somewhat, Teams now uses a machine learning model to convert captured audio signal, making it now sound as if users are speaking into a close-range microphone.
The wait is almost over, Marvel fans. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will finally launch on Disney Plus on February 1.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was released in theaters on November 11, 2022, so it's been well over two months since it launched worldwide. After a lengthy wait, it'll arrive on one of the best streaming services in just two days' time (at the time of writing, anyway).
We knew Black Panther 2 wasn't coming to Disney Plus in January as Disney revealed it wouldn't as part of its January 2023 release slate. Now, though, Marvel fanatics are gearing up to watch it for the first or 10th time.
If you're looking for more news on Wakanda Forever's Disney Plus debut, we've got you covered. Below, you can read more about why it's taken so long for it to launch on Disney Plus, as well as other important information surrounding the MCU flick. So, dive in!
When is Black Panther 2's Disney Plus release date?
On February 1, the worldwide phenomenon arrives on @DisneyPlus.Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: #WakandaForever is streaming February 1. pic.twitter.com/TDefiAFwUvJanuary 4, 2023
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As confirmed by Marvel Studios on January 4, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will debut on Disney Plus on February 1.
The film, which made it into the top three of our Marvel Phase 4 ranked article, landed in theaters last November, and we expected it to arrive in January 2023. That's based on what we knew about some of the best superhero movies' Disney Plus releases. However, Marvel proved that wasn't the case, confirming it'll arrive a month later instead.
Marvel movies don't launch on Disney's streaming platform immediately after their theatrical releases; each one having a 45-day exclusivity period in cinemas. If Black Panther 2 was released exactly 45 days after its theatrical release, it would've arrived on Disney's streamer on Monday, December 26.
Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Marvel hasn't released any of its post-Avengers: Endgame films on Disney's streamer so soon after their theatrical release. The exception to that rule is Black Widow, which received a day and date launch in theaters and on Disney Plus in July 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Namor will descend onto Disney Plus shortly.(Image credit: Marvel Studios)
Furthermore, Disney traditionally releases new films and TV shows on Wednesdays. That temporarily changed when She-Hulk: Attorney at Law debuted on a Thursday (August 18). This was due to the midweek episodic release of Star Wars TV show Andor. Clearly, Marvel and Lucasfilm didn't want their tentpole franchises to compete for viewers on the same day.
If Black Panther 2 follows Marvel's traditional Wednesday launch for Disney Plus releases, it should've come out on Wednesday, December 28, right? No – and Eternals holds the key as to why.
Eternals launched in theaters on November 5, 2021, but it wasn't available to stream on Disney Plus until January 12, 2022. That's because Marvel co-released Spider-Man: No Way Home (alongside Sony Pictures) in December 2021. In our view, Marvel didn't want to Eternals' Disney Plus launch to clash with No Way Home's theatrical run, as it might have distracted fans from going to see No Way Home.
Add in the fact Wakanda Forever continued to make money over the 2022 holiday season and it wasn't in Marvel's financial interests to end its theatrical run and release it on Disney Plus (for free, remember!) until February.
Is there an end credit scene in Black Panther 2?
That post-credits scene emerging from the shadows...(Image credit: Marvel Studios)
Yes, but there's only one post-credits scene – not two – in Wakanda Forever.
We've broken down what that mid-credits stinger means for the Black Panther film series (and wider MCU) in this Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ending and post-credits scene explained article. It takes a deep dive into the film's more spoiler-y elements, so don't read it until you've watched the film.
What's the runtime for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever?
Hey, M'Baku, how long is Wakanda Forever's runtime?(Image credit: Marvel Studios)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever runs for two hours and 41 minutes. That includes its sole post-credits scene and its two credits sequences, and makes Black Panther 2 the second-longest MCU film of all-time. It's only surpassed by Avengers: Endgame's three hour runtime, while it's four minutes longer than the divisive Eternals film.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan has joined the cast of Invincible – and fans already think they know who he'll play in the hit Prime Video series.
Taking to Instagram yesterday (January 29), Morgan uploaded an image of himself leaning on Invincible volumes 2 and 3. Coupled with the photograph's caption, Morgan revealed he'll be part of Invincible season 2. Or, at the very least, he'll be voicing a character in season 3, which is being developed alongside the Prime Video show's next entry.
Invincible's official Twitter account also uploaded a screenshot of Morgan's Instagram image, before drolly suggesting there was "nothing else to see here". If Morgan's own social media post wasn't enough to confirm his involvement, the subsequent Twitter post was.
Morgan's hiring comes less than two weeks after Invincible season 2's first teaser and launch window were released. The self-aware trailer, which made fun of how long it was taking to complete work on the series' next instalment, revealed season 2 would arrive in late 2023. Those announcements came two days shy of Invincible's 20th anniversary, with the first comic issue having been released on January 22, 2003. As of right now – publicly, anyway – Amazon Studios hasn't secretly renewed Invincible for a fourth season, either.
Interestingly, Morgan's addition to Invincible's cast takes the show's roster of Walking Dead alumni to nine. Most of those actors, including Lauren Cohan and Lennie James have only appeared in cameo roles. However, Steven Yeun (Mark Grayson/Invincible), Ross Marquand (Rudy Connors and The Immortal), and Khary Payton (Black Sansom) portray main and supporting cast members in the series.
Command and conquer
Mark will face greater threats than his dad in Invincible seasons 2 and 3.(Image credit: Amazon Prime Video)
Morgan's role hasn't been disclosed, but Invincible fans already have a great idea about which character he'll voice on the show: Conquest.
In the comics, Conquest is one of Mark Grayson's most formidable foes. Like Omni-Man and Mark, Conquest is a Viltrumite – and one who revels fighting and killing those who oppose the Viltrumite Empire. He's an elderly, battle-scarred warrior, but he's also one of the most powerful Viltrumites to ever live, so he's not something to trifle with.
He would be perfect for Conquest. pic.twitter.com/ulL5mceYNbJanuary 29, 2023
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Morgan would make a fantastic Conquest, in my view. The actor brought real menace and malice to Negan, The Walking Dead's most iconic antagonist, in the TV adaptation. Negan might be viewed as more of an anti-hero these days (in the TV series, anyway), but Morgan's swaggering, callous portrayal of Negan makes him a perfect fit to play someone as psychotic as Conquest.
It's unclear, though, if Conquest will be introduced as early as Invincible season 2. Conquest didn't make his comics debut until issue 61, which was released in April 2009. Invincible's first season only covered the first 13 issues of the graphic novels – if season 2 follows a similar trajectory, it'll only cover issues 14-26, meaning it'll be a long time before Conquest arrives on the small screen.
A more likely character for Morgan to voice would be Grand Regent Thragg, the comic series' primary villain and a recurring antagonist throughout. Thragg wasn't revealed in Invincible season 1, but he debuted in issue 11, which was released in April 2004. If Invincible's second season picks up some loose plot threads and character introductions from issues 1 through 13, Thragg could appear in the show's next outing and officially bring Morgan into the voice acting fold.
Please cast Jeffrey Dean Morgan to voice as Grand Regent Thragg! pic.twitter.com/Xji8lUYobIJanuary 29, 2023
WARNING: This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us
HBO’s The Last of Us has earned rave reviews for its impressive loyalty to developer Naughty Dog’s era-defining PlayStation title, but the series’ third episode marked the first major deviation from Joel and Ellie’s in-game story.
‘Long Long Time’ puts the spotlight on Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett), two lonely survivors who come together in the aftermath of the global Cordyceps outbreak. Both characters feature briefly in the original The Last of Us game, but HBO’s small screen adaptation dedicates an entire hour to delving deeper into their decades-long relationship.
In an interview with TechRadar ahead of the series' release, co-showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin explained the thinking behind their decision to go off-piste with The Last of Us episode 3 – which the pair have previously admitted will inevitably leave some fans “upset”.
“It came out of an interest I had in portraying Bill slightly differently, because the Bill section of the game was very much built around gameplay," Mazin tells us. "What fascinated me about Bill was that he was safe, that he had created this interesting little safe harbor in the world. Then my next question was, well, what happens to you if you're safe in this world? What next? Do you just stay there alone? What do you need? Why do you keep going? And I knew about the Frank storyline in the game, which, to me, sort of echoed the worst possible outcome for Joel.
Nick Offerman plays lonely survivalist Bill in The Last of Us(Image credit: HBO)
“But I thought there was an opportunity [with episode 3] to go in a different direction and explore the passage of time between the outbreak and where we are now, and also create a relationship that worked,” Mazin continues. “A relationship that, in its duality, helped define some themes that we'll see over and over again [in the show] – two very different kinds of love. Somebody that loves outwards, and nurtures and protects and creates. And somebody that loves by protection through violence and preservation.
“So I remember saying to Nick [Offerman] and Murray [Bartlett] that this relationship is the basis of everything. Everything is reflected in this [relationship]. And even though there is a bit of a blubbering that occurs, in their own way, they win. They get the happy ending.”
I think the change [in episode 3] became very indicative of what we prioritized in this show.
Neil Druckmann
When adapting The Last of Us for the screen, Druckmann – who penned the game’s original story – likewise felt it was important to leave certain gameplay-heavy moments on the cutting room floor.
“I think the change [in episode 3] became very indicative of what we prioritized in this show,” he says. “In my mind, a lesser adaptation would have looked at the Bill sequence and said, ‘Oh, there's this epic, iconic moment where Joel steps into a snare trap and is upside down and Ellie has to get him out of the ditch. And then Bill shows up and Bill saves you and that's how you bond with him through this long action sequence.’ You're relying on each other and then, through in-game dialogue and a bunch of different things, we reveal a hint at this backstory and this relationship.
Bill appears briefly in the original The Last of Us game(Image credit: Naughty Dog)
“But some of the brilliance of Craig is to say: that's not as important. That’s what would have been an important thing in the past, when you're adapting video games and looking at superficial aspects and thinking, ‘Oh, players want to see that gameplay moment.’ That's not what they want. They want the core of the heart of this experience. So when Craig said, ‘Let's focus on Bill and Frank instead of the set-piece, and do stuff that we couldn't do in the game, like jump around in time, and really show how people have survived over this 20-year gap’ – that’s a great counter-example of everything else we see [on Joel and Ellie’s journey]. That story is so beautiful and so moving.
“And ultimately,” Druckmann concludes, “when Joel and Ellie come back to that story – yes, it's different from what's in the game, but it helps elevate [the experience] in a way that I think is really strong for this medium. We couldn't have told this story in the game. And likewise, I think the show would have been less if we tried to tell the story [of Bill and Frank] in the game over here.”
The Last of Us is now streaming on HBO Max in the US and Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.
Privacy and Apple go hand in hand - it has for years now, and its recent video starring Nick Mohammad from Ted Lasso to promote Data Privacy week was inspired.
However, with today (January 28) being Data Privacy Day, it's important to look at other features that you can use with your iPhone, iPad, and Mac to help protect your data.
All of these are features that I switched on as soon as they've been introduced - with Advanced Data Protection being the latest one for me, as it was recently introduced in iOS 16.3.
With this in mind, there are a few other features, alongside Advanced Data Protection that you should consider switching on, and why you should do it as soon as.
Advanced Data Protection
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Introduced in iOS 16.3, not only does this allow you to protect your iCloud backups with an encrypted password, but your Safari bookmarks, your iCloud Drive contents, Notes and much more.
This way, you and you alone can only access this data - not even Apple. It adds another layer of protection for your data, especially if someone tries to break into your account, so any valuable data won't be able to be accessed by anyone else.
This feature also applies to iPadOS and macOS, so your data there in the same categories will be protected.
You can switch this on by going to Settings > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection.
Mail Protection
(Image credit: TechRadar)
We've all come across spam emails and other types that try to get your information to try and track you outside of your email. By going to Settings > Mail > Privacy Protection, Apple's Mail app will hide your IP address when you open a new message from your Inbox.
This means that the sender will not be able to tell if you opened their email, alongside a rough idea on the location of where you opened it.
Location
(Image credit: TechRadar)
It could be argued that too many apps ask for your location - Facebook is a good example here, especially when you use it to look at memes and check on how certain family and friends are.
Yet you might find that there could be too many apps tracking your location all the time, instead of when you're using the app.
You can check this by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and checking on every app displayed in the list, to see if its location is set to 'Always Allow' or 'Allow while Using'. Apart from Weather and Map apps, there really isn't a need to have 'Always Allow' on the majority of apps.
So set aside a few minutes in a lunch break and see which apps are trying to track your location, even when you're not using them.
Safety Check
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Introduced in iOS 16, this feature could be a big help in protecting your data from those you'd like to have out of your life.
Safety Check, found in Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check will give you a detailed overview of who's sharing what data with you, and you can easily restrict this in a couple of taps.
There's also a 'Quick Exit' on the top right which will bring you straight back to the home screen if someone wants to suddenly check your phone without your permission.
Passkeys
(Image credit: Future)
Another feature that launched with iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1 and macOS 13 Ventura, you can register a new account with a site without having to enter a new username and password.
You only need TouchID or FaceID to authenticate this, and you're good to go.
However, if it's an account you'll need in the future, you can save this to your iCloud Keychain, Apple's method of storing your usernames and passwords, by checking the 'Save passkey for account' option when you create one.
App Tracking
(Image credit: TechRadar)
A feature that Facebook was publicly not happy about - but in retrospect, this only made Meta look bad in the face of privacy.
Some apps have the ability to track your browsing in other apps like Safari and Mail, and as this is done with multiple methods, it's difficult for Apple to shut down these individual cases, which is where App Tracking comes in.
You can enable all apps to not track you, by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking. You have a choice to turn on or off tracking for specific apps, or you can turn off the option altogether.
Amazon Studios has built a reputation for creating and/or adapting inventive superhero projects – and The Power could be another similarly positioned hit for its streaming platform.
Starring Toni Collette (Knives Out, Hereditary), Auli’i Cravalho (Moana), and Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso season 3), the forthcoming Prime Video thriller series will aim to shock audiences with a worldwide tale based around gender imbalance and a single superpower.
Based on Naomi Alderman's best-selling novel of the same name, The Power takes place in a world not unlike our own. However, one fateful day, teenage girls across the globe suddenly develop the ability to electrocute people at will. This nature-based power is hereditary, there's no 'cure' for it and, most important of all, wielders can awaken the same power in their older mothers, sisters, cousins, and grandmothers.
Unsurprisingly, the emergence of this superpower leads to complete reversal of gender-based power balance in the world. Soon enough, the sparks of revolution are ignited, and men are quickly viewed as the lesser of humankind's genders. The fallout that follows, then, will be as dramatic, suspense-filled, and electrifying as you can imagine.
Check out some more first-look images of the series in the gallery below:
Image 1 of 4
Toni Collette stars as Margot Clearly-Lopez(Image credit: Amazon Studios)
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John Leguizamo plays Rob Lopez in The Power(Image credit: Amazon Studios)
Auli'i Carvalho will play Jose Clearly-Lopez(Image credit: Amazon Studios)
Given the surfacing of this superpower across the world, The Power will have a global feel to it. Viewers, then, should expect the series' events to play out in multiple nations, including the US, UK, Nigeria, Eastern Europe, and further afield.
The Power has been developed for Amazon's streamer by Alderman herself, with a 10-episode first season greenlit for one of the world's best streaming services in February 2019. Raelle Tucker (True Blood, Jessica Jones) serves as showrunner, and joins Alderman, Jane Featherstone (Chernobyl), and Reed Morano (Billions) on the series' executive producing team.
Originally, Leslie Mann (This is 40, Croods: A New Age) was slated to play the series' lead role. However, owing to scheduling conflicts, Mann dropped out in April 2021, with Collette replacing her in August of that year.
Collette, Cravalho, and Jimoh are joined by notable actors including John Leguizamo (Violent Night, Ice Age), Eddie Marsan (Ray Donovan), Ria Zmitrowicz (Mr Selfridge), Rob Delaney (The School for Good and Evil), and Alice Eve (Star TrekInto Darkness).
The project, which could become one of the best Prime Video shows if it resonates with critics and general TV fans, comes from production company SISTER, which played a significant role in the development of Chernobyl, one of the best HBO Max shows ever made.
The Power doesn't have an official release date yet, but it'll land on Prime Video in March. Stick with TechRadar for more details on its launch when we have them.
Despite last week’s decidedly lukewarm crop of new movies and TV shows to enjoy, January has seen fit to bow out with a much more promising mix of headline-grabbing arrivals.
In fact, there are so many great new things to watch this weekend that it’s hard for us to reasonably summarize the selection here. Instead, we’ll simply say that Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus subscribers have plenty to look forward to over the next few days, with only HBO Max lacking in the ‘just added’ department.
Below, we’ve rounded up seven of the biggest new movies and TV shows to watch on streaming services this weekend. Happy binging, folks!
Shrinking (Apple TV Plus)
Apple will be hoping to continue its recent run of prestige TV successes with Shrinking, which begins streaming on Apple TV Plus this weekend.
Not to be confused with fellow Apple TV Plus psychiatry drama The Shrink Next Door, this 10-episode series – from Jason Segel and Ted Lasso creators Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein – stars Segel as Jimmy, a therapist who begins to deflect his own personal struggles onto those of his patients. Fresh from his TV debut in 1923 on Paramount Plus, Harrison Ford also features here as Jimmy's partner in practice, Paul.
The first two episodes of Shrinking are available to stream now, with the remaining eight set to arrive weekly every Friday through March 24. Here’s hoping it earns a spot on our list of the best Apple TV Plus shows.
Now available to stream on Apple TV Plus.
Lockwood & Co. (Netflix)
As our entertainment reporter, Tom Power, noted in his reaction to its first trailer, new Netflix series Lockwood & Co. looks like it could be a winning mash-up of Sherlock Holmes, Ghostbusters and Doctor Who.
Directed by Attack the Block filmmaker Joe Cornish (and produced by his longtime friend Edgar Wright), this eight-episode supernatural adventure – based on Jonathan Stroud’s novel series of the same name – follows a group of gifted teenagers who do battle with London’s myriad ghosts and ghouls.
Pitch Perfect director Jason Moore returns to the big (or small?) screen this weekend with Shotgun Wedding on Prime Video.
Starring Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel, this quite frankly ridiculous-sounding rom-com follows a bride and groom whose wedding is gatecrashed by gun-wielding criminals. Naturally, the couple takes matters into their own hands in a bid to save their special day, and things get suitably heated (read: violent).
Now, we don’t necessarily expect Shotgun Wedding to break onto our list of the best Prime Video movies any time soon, but if you’re looking for an easy watch this weekend, you can’t go far wrong with this one.
Now available to stream on Prime Video.
You People (Netflix)
The first of many star-studded new Netflix movies heading to the platform in 2023, You People is now available to stream.
Featuring the likes of Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and co-producer Jonah Hill, this culture-clash comedy – from black-ish creator Kenya Barris – follows a young couple’s struggle to navigate their new family relationships in light of stark generational differences.
Critics have called You People “brilliantly hilarious, pertinent and wickedly smart,” so there’s every chance it could rank among our pick of the best Netflix movies in 2023.
Now available to stream on Netflix.
Extraordinary (Hulu)
If you’re in the mood for a superhero adventure that isn’t your typical superhero adventure, then new Hulu show Extraordinary could be for you.
Hulu’s latest drama has been described as “raucous” and “surreal” by critics – with Tyers’ “magnetic performance” earning plenty of praise – so we’re excited to get stuck into this one. UK viewers will find Extraordinary streaming on Disney Plus.
Now available to stream on Hulu in the US and Disney Plus in the UK.
Poker Face (Peacock)
Knives Out director Rian Johnson transitions to the small screen this weekend with new procedural series Poker Face on Peacock.
Fronted by Russian Doll star Natasha Lyonne, this Columbo-inspired mystery-of-the-week show follows Charlie, a casino worker whose innate ability to detect when someone is lying makes her the perfect detective. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nick Nolte, Adrien Brody, Chloe Sevigny, Rhea Perlman and Tim Blake Nelson count among the series’ vast ensemble cast.
Johnson himself directs a large portion of Poker Face’s 10-episode debut season, so Glass Onion fans should find plenty to enjoy here. The series’ first four installments are available to stream now, with the remaining six arriving weekly every Thursday.
Now available to stream on Peacock.
The 1619 Project (Hulu)
This week’s documentary pick is The 1619 Project on Hulu.
Based on the groundbreaking, Pulitzer-winning New York Times series of the same name, this six-part production – helmed by its original writer Nikole Hannah-Jones – re-examines American history through the lens of slavery.
The docuseries’ first two episodes are available to watch today, with the remaining four installments set to arrive in pairs over the next two Thursdays. UK viewers will likely find this one streaming on Disney Plus, though a release date hasn’t been announced yet.
Keeping your browsing history a secret just got a little easier on Android, as Google Chrome will now hide your Incognito Mode tabs behind a biometric lock
Those of you using one of the best Android phones should be getting an upgrade to your Chrome browser app (if you haven’t already) that will allow you to secure your Incognito Mode tabs behind a fingerprint scan. Once the feature is turned on, whenever you want to return to any open Incognito tabs after a break in browsing the internet you’ll need to pass the biometric scan to see the pages.
If you’re trying to keep your browsing history a secret from other users who might borrow your smartphone – like a partner that you’re buying a present for – this should make it a little easier to keep that information hidden.
Interestingly, Google Chrome users who own one of the best iPhones have been able to take advantage of these biometric locks for almost a year now – well ahead of people using the app on devices running Google’s own OS.
To turn the feature on you’ll need to head to the Chrome browser’s Privacy & Security settings. These are found by pressing the three-dots icon in the top-right corner of the screen, then selecting Settings from the menu that appears, and then Privacy & Security. If you've received the update you should see an option to toggle on Lock Incognito tabs when you close Chrome.
The Google blog post highlighting the feature says it’s currently “rolling out to Android users”, so it might not be available on your phone just yet – you might need to check back over the next few days to see if you've received the update.
Analysis: Still not truly Incognito
While this is certainly going to be a welcome change for many Chrome users, it doesn’t alter the fact that Incognito mode isn’t quite as private as the name suggests.
Sure, the feature allows you to hide your browsing history from other people using the same device, but it doesn’t obscure that data from the view of Google or your internet service provider. Given the name, the misunderstanding is understandable – Google is actually facing a $5bn lawsuit over the issue – but know that the data from your browsing in Incognito Mode doesn’t stay in Incognito Mode.
There are options to keep your info completely hidden though, in the form of one of the best VPN services.
What you really need is ExpressVPN, not Incognito Mode(Image credit: ExpressVPN)
While many people rely on VPNs – short for virtual private network – to bypass geo-locked content so they can more easily watch content such as the best Netflix shows and best Prime video shows in regions they might be locked out from, you can also use these tools to browse the internet anonymously.
A VPN operates by routing your data through its encrypted servers before it goes to the website you’re trying to visit. If you’re also using one of the most private VPNs, which all offer strict no-log policies, then no one along the chain (the VPN provider, the website, your ISP, or your browser) will know anything about your device type, your location, or your browsing history.
Our favorite VPN is Express VPN but there are several great options out there. If you’re looking for an actual Incognito Mode, then these are the apps you need to download.
