Gizmodo

Monster Energy Tried to Make Pokémon Change Its Name Because of the Word ‘Monster’

Matías S. Zavia — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 22:45:00 +0000

Super Mario Bros. Comes Out, Breaks Box Office Milestones Right Away

Justin Carter — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 19:30:00 +0000

Illumination’s Super Mario Bros. movie i now in theaters, and not unlike with the games themselves, is doing really well at the box office.

Star Tours Is Adding Mystery Destinations From Star Wars' Future

Germain Lussier — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 19:00:00 +0000

Before there was Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, before there was Galactic Starcruiser, heck, even before there were prequel movies, there was Star Tours. The first collaboration between Lucasfilm and Disney theme parks debuted in 1987 and in the decades since, has always attempted to stay current. On Sunday at Star Wars…

Paizo Releases First Draft for Its Universal RPG License to the Public

Justin Carter — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 18:25:00 +0000

Just as the weekend started, TTRPG company Paizo has published the first draft of its Open RPG Creative License (ORC).

All the Star Wars and Indiana Jones Toys Hasbro Revealed at Star Wars Celebration

James Whitbrook — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 17:35:00 +0000

Star Wars Celebration brings plenty of news with it from the galaxy far, far away, but it also brings future opportunities to drain your wallet. Hasbro understood this more than anyone else at their panel at the London convention, and they brought out big announcements from Star Wars and Indiana Jones to whet fans…

Lawmakers Ask DOJ to Investigate "Hollowed Out" Warner Bros. Discovery

Justin Carter — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 17:00:00 +0000

Last year, Warner Bros. was acquired by the Discovery Channel, and the resulting merger has been more than a little chaotic. Things got off to a rough start with the sudden cancellation of Batgirl, and has since spiraled into multiple shows getting canceled (some of them not even getting to air) and series getting …

Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen Get Emotional Over Their Obi-Wan Kenobi Showdown

Germain Lussier — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 16:20:00 +0000

Though the look back at Obi-Wan Kenobi panel at Star Wars Celebration didn’t have any news about a second season of the show, it did give fans in attendance a new found appreciation for what the show meant to the cast and crew who worked on it.

Andor Never Had An Opposition to Using Mandalorian’s VFX Tech

James Whitbrook — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 15:45:00 +0000

Andor was lauded for its grounded approach to Star Wars, leaning on a physicality to its production that rooted the audience in its grittier take on the galaxy far, far away—which also meant a different approach to VFX that contrasted with the recent rise of Stagecraft and “The Volume,” the screen-based set that…

Kasparov vs. Deep Blue: the Chess Match That Changed Our Minds About AI

Thomas Germain — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 15:30:00 +0000

In May of 1997, Garry Kasparov sat down at a chess board in a Manhattan skyscraper. Kasparov, considered the best chess player of all time, wasn’t challenging another grandmaster. He was playing with an AI called Deep Blue. Deep Blue was one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, built by IBM with a specific…

Open Channel: What'd You Think of the Super Mario Bros. Movie?

Justin Carter — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 15:00:00 +0000

Just a few months in, and 2023 is already shaping up to be a fairly impressive year for movies. After a little bit of a delay, Illumination and Nintendo released their CG Super Mario Bros. movie earlier in the week.

Elon Musk Decides NPR Is Not State Propaganda After All

Jody Serrano — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 14:05:00 +0000

Twitter CEO Elon Musk has decided that NPR is not the same as media outlets like China’s Xinhua News, which is a well-known state propaganda machine, after all, even though he classified them both as “state-affiliated media” on the social media network this past Wednesday. After receiving pushback from NPR, Musk…

Don't Play Poker With ChatGPT

Mayank Kejriwal — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 13:00:00 +0000

The past few years have seen an explosion of progress in large language model artificial intelligence systems that can do things like write poetry, conduct humanlike conversations and pass medical school exams. This progress has yielded models like ChatGPT that could have major social and economic ramifications…

Ian McDiarmid Has the Best Perspective On Palpatine's Star Wars Journey

Germain Lussier — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 12:45:00 +0000

The dead speak! Three times, in fact. At Star Wars Celebration 2023, three deceased Star Wars villains came back from the dead (and on Easter no less) to chat about their experiences playing baddies in a galaxy far, far, away. There was Gwendoline Christie who played Captain Phasma, Andy Serkis who played Supreme…

New Jedi Survivor Trailer Puts Cal in the Fight of His Life

Justin Carter — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 11:22:00 +0000

This weekend is Star Wars Celebration 2023, and even Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is getting a little bit of love. Respawn’s sequel to its 2019 breakout releases at the end of the month, and while it doesn’t have a panel to itself, the game got a new trailer during the annual event.

Without a Body, ChatGPT Will Never Understand What It's Saying

Arthur Glenberg and Cameron Robert Jones — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 11:00:00 +0000

When we asked GPT-3, an extremely powerful and popular artificial intelligence language system, whether you’d be more likely to use a paper map or a stone to fan life into coals for a barbecue, it preferred the stone.

Super Mario Bros. Music Video is a Reminder of Jack Black's Greatness

Justin Carter — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 19:25:00 +0000

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is out this week, and while it’s garnered a mixed response, there’s one generally agreed upon high point: Jack Black’s Bowser. Black has always been a reliably funny actor, and the movie reportedly takes advantage of that, along with his very good singing voice.

OnlyFans Actress Filmed Sex Act at Ancient Colombian Landmark, Sparking Outrage

Jody Serrano — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 19:00:00 +0000

Colombian OnlyFans actress Katty Blake has become national news in the Latin American country after she posted a video of herself performing oral sex at the Rock of Guatapé, a 721-foot-high (220 meters) batholith that is considered a national landmark. Now, her and her partner may face legal trouble.

Not Every Franchise Is Worth Reviving

Justin Carter — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 18:45:00 +0000

Nostalgia has long been an important part of the creative industry, particularly as it relates to film and TV. There’s so many reboots and revivals these days you could fill a modest paperback, but not all of them are created equal. And by that same token, they’re not announced and received equally, either.

Star Wars Has More Tales of the Jedi on the Way

Justin Carter — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 18:08:00 +0000

The Jedi are coming back, and yes, we will hear more of their tales. During the 15th anniversary panel for Star Wars: The Clone Wars at Star Wars 2023 Celebration, Dave Filoni revealed that a second season of the animated Tales of the Jedi series was on the horizon. The debut season was officially announced at last…

Star Wars Celebration Cosplay Eurotrip!

Sabina Graves and Justin Carter — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 17:20:00 +0000

Star Wars Celebration is upon us, over the pond this year but the fandom rises to the occasion.

Beverly Hills, 90210 Is the Perfect Consumer Tech Time Capsule

Florence Ion — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 16:30:00 +0000

When you think of a television show that’s emblematic of the ‘90s, none are more quintessential than Beverly Hills, 90210. From the cheesy, guitar-heavy intro music to the too-high-to-heaven hairstyles, the show became an international hit by depicting a group of attractive teens growing up privileged in Southern…

Return of the Jedi's 40th Anniversary Panel Had Fond Memories and Funny Stories

Germain Lussier — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 15:30:00 +0000

“Scary teddy bears,” Emperor Palpatine himself, Ian McDiarmid, said. “The end of Palpatine.” The iconic actor behind Star Wars’ greatest villain was one of four actors to appear on the 40th-anniversary panel for Return of the Jedi at Star Wars Celebration 2023. McDiarmid was joined by Lando Calrissian’s Billy Dee…

Doom Patrol Writer Rachel Pollack Has Died at 77

Justin Carter — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 14:30:00 +0000

Comic book writer Rachel Pollack has passed away at the age of 77 years old. Her wife, Judith Zoe Mateen, shared the news on Friday via her own personal Facebook. Pollack’s passing comes after she was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in July 2022, and moved to hospice care this past March.

The Acolyte Will Include at Least One Familiar High Republic Face

James Whitbrook — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 13:20:00 +0000

What little we’ve seen about The Acolyte so far has suggested an all-new world of characters to meet as Disney+ ventures back to the time of the High Republic era, centuries before the events of the Star Wars movies. But in a surprise reveal, we now know at least one familiar Jedi will be joining the series.

Star Wars: The High Republic Reveals the Beginning of the End

James Whitbrook — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 13:00:00 +0000

The High Republic is ready to make the leap to the Star Wars TV series world with The Acolyte, but before we see the final days of the Jedi’s apex, it’s time to see the explosive next step of their fight with Nihil in the third phase of the publishing initiative.

21 Ridiculous (and Seriously Problematic) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Figures of the '90s

Rob Bricken — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 12:52:19 +0000

Damn, they made a lot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys over the years.

A Space Pharmacy and Asteroid-Pulverizing Tech Just Got NASA Funding

Passant Rabie — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

NASA is always looking for new ideas, and it’s just selected the latest projects to fund under its Innovative Advanced Concepts program. Six research teams earned Phase II grants to continue developing their futuristic designs, which include a strategy for destroying Earth-threatening asteroids and a plan to let…

These 9 Members of Congress Are Defending TikTok on TikTok

Mack DeGeurin — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

With calls for a national ban against TikTok growing more and more common by the week, particularly in Congress, it’s never been a tougher time to be a lawmaker publicly supporting the app. Still, a vocal minority of House and Senate Democrats—no Republicans—are defying those calls and doing so on the platform despite…

We Finally Know Who's Playing Thrawn on Ahsoka

Germain Lussier — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 11:00:00 +0000

When it became clear that the upcoming Star Wars Disney+ series, Ahsoka, was going to be a sequel to Star Wars Rebels, everyone had one question: Who is playing Grand Admiral Thrawn, one of the biggest, baddest Star Wars villains who has never been seen in live action? Well, at Star Wars Celebration 2023, series…

Amazon Bans Flipper Zero, Claiming It Violates Policy Against Card Skimming Devices

Nikki Main — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 01:22:00 +0000

Amazon has banned the incredibly versatile Flipper Zero pen-testing tool on its platform, labeling it as a prohibited card-skimming device.

Polling the Internet: Disinformation or Not?

Lucas Ropek — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 01:20:00 +0000

This week, the New York Times reported that a tranche of classified material had leaked to the web. The documents, which were purported to involve the Pentagon and NATO’s military stratagems to assist the Ukrainians in their war with the Russians, were found on Twitter and the chat app Telegram.

Andor’s ‘One Way Out’ Chant Breaks Out at Star Wars Celebration

Artem Golub and James Whitbrook — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 23:30:00 +0000

11 Things We Want to See in the Dungeons & Dragons Sequel

Rob Bricken — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 22:30:00 +0000

It remains to be seen if Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves will be popular (and profitable) enough to warrant Hasbro and Paramount making a sequel. It would be a shame if it didn’t, however, as the movie was a blast that stayed nerdy while remaining comprehensible to mass audiences. So if there will be a sequel,…

Everything We Know About the iPhone 15

Florence Ion — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 22:03:00 +0000

The conveyor belts haven’t even finished delivering components to the right hands, and we’re already talking about what to expect from Apple’s iPhone 15. Rumors started circulating right after the launch of the iPhone 14/14 Pro, and they’ve only gotten louder and more persistent in recent months.

A McDonald's Exec Is Worried Elon's Tweets Are 'Perpetuating Racism'

Mack DeGeurin — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 22:02:29 +0000

The Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer for McDonald’s reportedly told other advertising heavyweights that Elon Musk’s relentless shitposting in the name of free speech “is perpetuating racism.” The Mickey D’s exec is also concerned about the general chaos the Twitter CEO has caused and the threat he poses …

My New Smart Bird Feeder Showed Me That Birds Are Absolutely Brutal

Florence Ion — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 21:50:00 +0000

It’s been one of those weeks where I’ve been quietly toiling away in the lab, getting new gadgets set up for upcoming reviews. One of the latest pieces of kit to come across my desk is the Bird Buddy, a smart bird feeder that dynamically snaps the birds feasting at your outdoor buffet for you, and can even help you…

Everything We Know About OpenAI's ChatGPT

Lucas Ropek — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 21:45:00 +0000

If you haven’t heard of ChatGPT, the uncanny new chatbot from artificial intelligence lab OpenAI, here is a quick primer on everything you need to know about the controversial new program.

Star Trek: Picard Finally Got What It Wants—But at What Cost?

James Whitbrook — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 21:30:00 +0000

Star Trek: Picard’s third season has felt like such a departure from its first two at times that it has felt almost standalone, the rare character beats and plot points that have mattered to its nostalgic tale of changelings and family mattering little more than a footnote. But this week saw the series try to relate…

The Best Printers You Can Buy Right Now

David Nield — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 21:13:16 +0000

Even the best home printer might not be all that impressive. These things are famously temperamental, relying on moving parts and cartridges in a way that other PC accessories don’t. It’s easy for a computer to move files around digitally, but much harder for it to print them into meatspace. But there’s no doubt that…

Pet Dog Dies of Bird Flu After 'Chewing on a Wild Goose'

Lauren Leffer — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 21:08:00 +0000

As a highly pathogenic variant of avian influenza continues to cause mass outbreaks and mortality in wild and domestic birds worldwide, another unfortunate animal casualty has emerged. A pet dog died of bird flu in Ontario, Canada this month, the country’s public health and food inspection authorities confirmed in a…

These Are the Best Free Roku Channels To Watch Now

David Nield — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 21:01:00 +0000

Roku’s streaming boxes and dongles represent some of the easiest, most convenient, most user-friendly ways of getting dozens of smart streaming apps up on your big screen TV. The company even makes affordable Roku television sets that come built-in with access to a host of free channels with thousands of hours of…

Magnus Carlsen's Mouse Slip Cost Him His Last Match as World Champion

Nikki Main — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 20:59:00 +0000

Magnus Carlsen lost his final match as world champion with a slip of the mouse during Thursday night’s game against his longtime rival, Hikaru Nakamura. Carlsen made it to the Armageddon round, to face off against Nakamura after their previous two games ended in draws. Carlsen has defended his title as world champion…

The Best Laptops In 2023

Michelle Ehrhardt — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 20:53:00 +0000

Some of our posts include links to retailers. If you buy something from clicking on one, G/O Media may earn a commission. Because editorial staff is independent of commerce, affiliate linking does not influence our editorial content.

The best tablets are more capable than ever, to the point where some people might not even need a laptop anymore. Tablets are more convenient, and we acknowledge that you don’t need an attached keyboard for every task. But for all the tablet market offers in convenience, laptops outdo them in power and potential. As…

The Best Tablets, E-Readers, and E-Notes of 2023

Andrew Liszewski — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 20:47:00 +0000

Tablets continue gaining ground in the market, even as laptop computers slim down enough to fit in paper envelopes. They’re useful as both highly portable productivity tools and as entertainment devices—whether you’re a gamer, binge watcher, or an avid reader. Sometimes, you just don’t need a whole keyboard attached…

Why Is Tetris So Addicting?

Artem Golub and David M. Ewalt — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 20:45:00 +0000

The Best Phones You Can Buy in 2023

Florence Ion — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 20:42:00 +0000

The smartphone audience is so wide that it’s difficult to settle on just one best phone of 2023. Some of us want huge screens, fast processors, and tons of memory. Other people want the very best camera so they can share photos on social media. And then there’s the folks who want the best budget phone and/or best…

Did a Harvard Environmental Law Professor Lobby for an Oil Company?

Molly Taft — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 20:37:00 +0000

If an environmental law professor at a prominent university—who makes more than $350,000 a year advising a major oil and gas company—helps that company set up meetings with the federal government, is that lobbying? This is the question surrounding Harvard law professor Jody Freeman, who has come under increasing…

A Find My iPhone Error Is Sending Hordes of Strangers to a Single Texas House

Lauren Leffer — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 20:22:00 +0000

If you lose your iPhone in the greater Houston area, don’t show up at Scott Schuster’s house expecting to get it back. The resident of the city’s Richmond suburb says he doesn’t have it: not your phone, not anybody else’s. But that fact hasn’t stopped Apple Maps from directing a large number of grumpy strangers to his…

The Mandalorian’s Relationship With Droids Is Completely Messed Up

James Whitbrook — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 20:00:00 +0000

Are the droids of Star Wars people? From the moment Wuher glowered at C-3PO and R2-D2 and snarled “we don’t serve their kind,” the galaxy far, far away has danced around the powder keg of its android heroes and villains as a fully fledged sentient species. But the more The Mandalorian has engaged with the idea, the…

The Dude With Sign Instagram Account Is Suing a Chocolate Company

Kevin Hurler — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 19:50:00 +0000

The company behind the viral Dude With Sign meme is suing an Oregon chocolate company, alleging copyright infringement. FJerry LLC, also behind the popular @fuckjerry Instagram account, claims the copyright for the specific Dude holding the particular Sign, accusing JEM Organics of using the Dude’s face for posts, and…