In a recent sit-down with the crew behind Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, Insomniac’s creative director opened up about how much the blockbuster 2018 animated film influenced Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Just like Into The Spider-Verse, Insomniac’s superhero spin-off saw young Brooklyn teen Miles step into his own as Spider-Man after gaining his powers during the events of 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man.Insomniac has never been shy about drawing inspiration from all versions of Spider-Man for its acclaimed series of open-world superhero sandbox games, featuring references, moments, and even alternate costumes from various comics and films featuring Marvel’s beloved web-slinging crime fighter. This rings true for last year’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, which included an alternate skin based on Miles’s animated appearance in Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse - as well as a suit mod that slowed the hero’s movement down to the 12 FPS framerate that the movie utilized to great effect in order to capture the feeling of a comic book come to life.According to GamesRadar, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse’s influence on Spider-Man: Miles Morales ran far deeper than sharing a main protagonist and an alternate costume. As part of a series of round-table discussions regarding Marvel’s Spider-Man, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, Insomniac creative director Brian Horton shared how Into The Spider-Verse inspired his team “tremendously” while working on their second Marvel game. “When we saw [Into the Spider-Verse], we had already developed a bit of story for what our game would be […] but we were heartened and freaked out by how good of a story you guys told with Miles,” Horton told Into The Spider-Verse director Peter Ramsey and writers/producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller. “All the small details that you bought into his character really helped us raise our game." Phil Lord then revealed that Insomniac invited him and his team over to check out Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and that they were blown away with Insomniac’s “observation and the details" in Spider-Man: Miles Morales's version of Harlem.Fans will get to see more of Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s take on the Spider-Man mythos in next year’s Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse 2, which promises the return of multiversal spider-heroes Miles, Gwen Stacy, and Peter B. Parker - along with a new batch of alternate reality web slingers including Issa Rae as Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman. Meanwhile, Insomniac is currently working on two new titles set in its growing Marvel gaming universe: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which will pit Peter and Miles against the monstrous Venom in a darker storyline than the duo’s previous adventures, and Marvel’s Wolverine, a more mature game centered around the popular Canadian mutant.Both Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse and Insomniac’s top-tier games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales have been monumental in bringing in new fans of one of Marvel’s most iconic characters over the past few years, so it’s cool to hear about how the talented people behind them drew inspiration from one another. Players can expect more references and influences to come in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 when it swings onto the PlayStation 5 sometime in 2023.Source: GamesRadar

In the past, Google has done poorly to keep pixel details private and this year has been no exception.The latest leak - if you can call it that - comes from Carphone Warehouse, the UK's largest electronics retailer. The retailer (via Evan Blass) has published two test pages (1, 2) describing the Google Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Pro and confirming some information from previous rumors and assumptions. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will be officially released on October 19th.What does the Pixel 6 series list tell us? We've seen plenty of leaks and rumors about the latest phones from Google, and the Carphone Warehouse pages reflect some of them, but add new details as well. Here are some suggestions on how to find antiques or make an appointment:The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are powered by Google's Tensor processor and the next-generation Titan M2 security chip.Google claims that Tensor is up to 80% more powerful than the Pixel 5.A standard Pixel device can last up to 48 hours in sleep mode.All-day battery life, compatible with standard batteries. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus in both variants.IP68 water protection for both models.The Pixel 6 has a 6.4-inch display with a soft display with adjustable refresh rate and a mode for high brightness.The Pro model has a 6.7 inch LTPO display with 120Hz that can be reduced to 10Hz.Offline translation in 55 languages30 watt fast wired charging The new Pixel Stand is twice as powerful as the first generation model. Up to 23 watts are supported on the Pro and up to 21 watts on the standard telephone.Five years of security updates in the US.Lots of new camera functionsCarphone Warehouse's screens also have a wide range of camera specifications and functions. Some of these stories were already known, others are new or have been suggested. Here's what we learned about the Pixel 6 series cameras from lists:The Pixel 6 Pro has a 50-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens, a 48-megapixel telephoto lens, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens on the rear.Google's standard model offers a 50-megapixel lens with an ultra-wide angle of view and an ultra-wide camera (not to mention the alleged 12-megapixel resolution).The new primary sensor receives 150% more light than the main camera behind the Pixel 5.The Pixel 6 Pro has a 4x optical zoom and a 20x super magnification.The previously rumored Magic Eraser feature allows users to automatically remove certain elements (such as objects and photo spoilers) from photos. Face Unblur "removes blurring from the face to make it more visible".In motion mode you can capture "crazy ski tricks and wild beach waves in full motion".Extensive 94-degree field of view for the Pixel 6 Pro selfie camera. What he will do with the Pixel 6 is not yet known.Most of these details have already been rumored, but the difference is that this is an official source that we have no doubt about. At the time of going to press two pages are still online.

Image Credit:ReutersThe Delta variant of the coronavirus does not appear to cause more severe disease in children than earlier forms of the virus, a UK study suggests.Earlier this year, the research team found the Alpha variant of the virus did not appear to make children sicker than the so-called wild, or original, form of the virus, first seen in China. New data suggests that kids also do not get any sicker from Delta than they did from Alpha. Researchers compared two groups of school-age kids with COVID-19: 694 infected with the Alpha variant between late December 2020 and early May 2021, and 706 infected with Delta between late May and early July.As reported on Thursday on medRxiv ahead of peer review, children infected with Delta had slightly more symptoms. But in both groups, very few children needed to be hospitalized and long periods of illness were uncommon. In both groups, half of the children were sick for no more than five days.The researchers lacked information on differences between the groups that might have influenced the results, such as whether lockdowns were in place, and the effects of different seasons.“Our data suggest that clinical characteristics of COVID-19 due to the Delta variant in children are broadly similar to COVID-19 due to other variants,” the researchers concluded.That appears to jibe with data reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).“Although we are seeing more cases in children … these studies demonstrated that there was not increased disease severity in children,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said of the Delta-driven wave in a statement. “More children have COVID-19 because there is more disease in the community.”

 Tesla has delayed the rollout of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta 10.2 software rollout because of last-minute concerns, CEO Elon Musk tweeted early Saturday. He apologized for the delay, saying the release would likely happen Sunday or Monday. He didn’t elaborate on what the “concerns” were.A few last minute concerns about this build. Release likely on Sunday or Monday. Sorry for the delay.— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 9, 2021 The software was supposed to roll out Friday to about 1,000 Tesla owners with perfect safety scores of 100 —as determined by the automaker— with a gradual rollout for those with scores at 99 and below after that, according to Musk.Tesla has been testing the beta version of its FSD software for about a year, and despite the head of the National Transportation Safety Board expressing serious concerns about the software’s safety, the carmaker began expanding FSD access to more drivers last month. Before a Tesla driver gets access to FSD, however, the company determines their “safety score,” using criteria that evaluate “the likelihood that your driving could result in a future collision.” The score is tabulated using data collected by sensors in the driver’s Tesla.The company has required owners who opt in to the FSD beta to sign non-disclosure agreements, and asked that they refrain from sharing video clips online of the system’s mistakes. To reiterate: the FSD software doesn’t make Teslas fully autonomous; Musk himself has said he thinks the “feature complete” version of the software will only be “likely” to drive someone from their home to work without human intervention and will still require supervision.

 A new study has revealed a link between screen time and higher risk and severity of myopia, or short-sightedness, in children and young adults.The findings of the study were published in 'The Lancet Digital Health' journal.The open-access research was undertaken by researchers and eye health experts from Singapore, Australia, China and the UK, including Professor Rupert Bourne from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).The authors examined more than 3,000 studies investigating smart device exposure and myopia in children and young adults aged between 3 months old and 33 years old.After analysing and statistically combining the available studies, the authors revealed that high levels of smart device screen time, such as looking at a mobile phone, is associated with around a 30 per cent higher risk of myopia and, when combined with excessive computer use, that risk rose to around 80 per cent.The research comes as millions of children around the world have spent substantial time using remote learning methods following the closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Professor Bourne, Professor of Ophthalmology in the Vision and Eye Research Institute at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said, "Around half the global population is expected to have myopia by 2050, so it is a health concern that is escalating quickly. Our study is the most comprehensive yet on this issue and shows a potential link between screen time and myopia in young people.""This research comes at a time when our children have been spending more time than ever looking at screens for long periods, due to school closures, and it is clear that urgent research is needed to further understand how exposure to digital devices can affect our eyes and vision," Professor Bourne added."We also know that people underestimate their own screen time, so future studies should use objective measures to capture this information," Professor Bourne concluded.This story has been copy-paste from a wire agency  without modifications to the text.

Finding the Stones of Barenziah is perhaps one of the most notorious quests in all of Skyrim, as players are required to scour the whole of the game's expansive map looking for the pieces of Barenziah's Crown. Many players may not even bother putting forth the effort, as it's notably difficult to locate the easily missable, unmarked items required. As a result, few ever receive the reward the quest offers. However, is the Stones of Barenziah reward even worth it in the first place?The quest "No Stone Unturned" begins when players discover their first Stone of Barenziah, a collection of 24 unusual gems scattered across the entire map. Upon bringing it to an appraiser - something that requires that the Dragonborn become a member of Skyrim's Thieves Guild and talk to Vex - it kicks off the objective of finding every last one of the unmarked gems. Once all of them have been recovered, players then have to retrieve the Crown of Barenziah, which can be recovered from Tolvald's Cave. The reward for collecting all the Stones of Barenizah is a unique ability, Prowler's Profit, which significantly increases the chance of finding multiple gems in places like chests or looted enemies. The completed Crown of Barenziah is also displayed alongside other recovered items in the Thieves Guild headquarters. Other than that, though, there isn't much incentive to locating all of the Stones of Barenziah, especially given how difficult it is compared to most other and better side quests in Skyrim.Prowler's Profit might seem like a worthwhile ability for players who are just starting out, but even then, its usefulness is questionable at best. Many Skyrim players aren't necessarily worried about profits, especially those who have joined the Thieves Guild, a necessary requirement for appraising the Stones of Barenziah in the first place. Stolen items are objectively easier to find and turn over for a profit than legitimately obtained loot. On top of that, given how much Skyrim's map needs to be explored to find the Stones of Barenziah, most players will be well beyond the point of lacking in gold. The reward is only really worthwhile for those who are looking to fully complete Skyrim's Thieves Guild collection. So, the answer to "Is the Stones of Barenziah reward worth it?" would be "no."Perhaps that's why it's so common for Skyrim players to simply mod their way around the difficulty. The Stones of Barenziah Quest Markers mod on the game's Nexus page has over 1.5 million downloads for Skyrim Special Edition alone, and multiple guides and checklists can be found in Skyrim's online community to help find the unmarked Stones of Barenziah for players who don't want to mod their game. Overall, the Stones of Barenziah seems like a good idea in practice. A scavenger hunt across Skyrim is a great way to make players explore locations they otherwise might not consider venturing into, and it gives even high-leveled characters something to strive for. In practice, though, the effort it takes just isn't worth the paltry reward.Source: Nexus

Picking up where Venom left off, Venom: Let There Be Carnage faces the wide-eyed symbiote with his greatest enemy: Carnage. First, though, Venom will have to come to terms with both his host body and his own place in the world.Venom: Let There Be Carnage spends most of its time on the dynamic between Eddie Brock and Venom. However, there is still a wide array of both returning and new characters who can each be assigned one of the 12 signs on the astrological chart.12 Aries - Cletus KasadyThe Aries is someone who gets angry so regularly that they forget why they became angry in the first place. Rams get bored without constant stimuli and will do just about anything if egged on. Cletus Kasady almost never stops getting angry.Kasady says he's had a hard life (i.e. abuse from his grandmother and mother) but he doesn't know how to use his anger for positive means. The red-haired serial killer can come across as simple, like a constantly grinning child. His preferred stimulus is (fittingly) carnage, which he embraces frequently. Going to that prison cell was one of the worst decisions Eddie Brock has made. Had he stayed away from Kasady, the killer would never have been exposed to the symbiote which allows him to experience violence on a whole new level.11 Taurus - Anne WeyingA Taurus is going to be happy with the status quo. They think logically and frequently find themselves rigidly adhering to a schedule. Because of this, the Bull is typically viewed as hard-headed. Anne Weying (Michelle Williams) is probably the only non-symbiote stubborn enough to be able to put up with Eddie Brock.On top of being the most likable character in Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Weying is a strictly logical thinker. Emotion hardly ever takes over with her and she can embrace potentially catastrophic situations with a clear head. This agency was seen in Venom and again in Venom: Let There Be Carnage (although with less screentime). 10 Gemini - VenomA twin can capture an entire room's attention with their voice. They have the mind of a Renaissance man, engaging in many topics. Lastly, a Gemini can flip any awkward conversation with a joke. All of these traits indicate someone who's great at a party. And, as seen in Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Venom is great at a party.A Renaissance man is someone who can tackle just about any task with a comparable level of efficiency. Venom has a child's curious mind and tends to give his best shot no matter the scenario. Venom also has the tendency to drop a joke in the middle of an argument, which deflates the tension between him and host: Eddie Brock. This occasionally results in some of Venom's most badass quotes.9 Cancer - Dr. Dan LewisCrabs are extra sensitive to stimuli and frequently seek a safe environment. A Cancer will forgive a transgression, but never reach the point of forgetting it. They will put themselves in a vulnerable position for others often, but typically have one personal line that must not be crossed.Dr. Dan Lewis (now the fiancé to Weying) doesn't have too much to do in Venom: Let There Be Carnage, but when he does step into the spotlight it's for good reason. When his fiancée is kidnapped, this is when Dan puts his tension with Brock aside in favor of proactivity.8 Leo - CarnageWhen interacting with the Lion, a big personality should be expected. Leos are the creative type with both the desire and the ability to make an impression. Carnage makes an impression no matter which room he's in, even if the other occupants don't tend to leave it alive.Carnage employs creative solutions in his terror (i.e. letting the other prisoners out during his/Kasady's jailbreak). Mostly, though, Carnage wants dominance. He wants to kill Venom (essentially his father) and bring harm to the world with impunity.7 Virgo - Detective MulliganAs long as there is an activity in progress, the Virgo will be fine. If they don't feel like their talents are being utilized, though, they'll shut down. Overall, the Virgo is a good-hearted fixer with a judgmental tone. Detective Mulligan is a fixer and is constantly on the move (while also using his talents on the job).Mulligan gets a fair amount of Venom: Let There Be Carnage's narrative heft. He's responsible for Shriek losing her eye and at least partially responsible for Kasady's incarceration. Additionally, Mulligan seems like a man who only feels alive when he's wearing the badge.6 Libra - Mrs. ChenScales are social butterflies that prefer a permanent sense of peace. A Libra likes to analyze every side of a conflict as opposed to just their own but has a hard time making decisions in times of stress. Mrs. Chen certainly engages in analysis, constantly criticizing Brock's latest decision or physical appearance every time he's in her store.She is one of the very few people who know about Venom. Most would look at the situation with a frightened disposition; Mrs. Chen, however, looks at it from both Venom and Brock's viewpoints (realizing they need one another). Furthermore, Mrs. Chen seems perfectly content in her shop, providing her with a sense of peace.5 Scorpio - Eddie BrockThe scorpion is content sitting silently in the back corner of the room. They'll kick back with their legs stretched out, seemingly uncaring about the opinions of others. However, if there's chemistry, the Scorpio's eyes will hold on and never let go. Eddie Brock doesn't have many close people in his life, but those who he loves he protects with everything in him.Eddie Brock has changed since Venom, but he's yet to fully reach adulthood. He has difficulty expressing his feelings, especially to Weying (whom he still carries a torch for), but he can still captivate her with his gaze.4 Sagittarius - Young ShriekThe Archer is emotional but has the drive to improve themselves. A Sagittarius uses their words like weapons but typically speaks in truth. They also have a tendency to question their worth.The younger version of Shriek/Barrison is in only one scene of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, but with that time it's clear that she speaks honestly. She's been beaten down by life and the cruel people within it. But with Kasady, she feels free to engage in open communication.3 Capricorn - Dr. PazzoThe Capricorn is the friend who seems older than their age would indicate. They are responsible and take their particular duty in life seriously. However, the Goat is initially cold to strangers and represses emotion in favor of career success. Dr. Pazzo, Shriek's main physician, isn't in the movie much but with the time provided it's obvious she's career-driven.Pazzo is outright cold to everyone she meets. This is doubly applicable to Shriek, to whom Dr. Pazzo is especially cruel. She lacks emotion in all of her scenes, frequently with the steely reserve of someone focused on their career and productivity.2 Aquarius - Frances Barrison / ShriekThe Water Bearer is uninterested in feelings. They are far more compelled to build a life composed of as much independence as possible. Natural, considering an Aquarius tends to feel like an outcast anyway.Frances Barrison is utterly uninterested in spending her time with another human being, with the sole exception of Kassidy. Outside of Carnage, she's the movie's most anti-social character. Barrison (Shriek) is all about escaping from prison in favor of a life where she can do what she wants when she wants to do it.1 Pisces - Young CletusA Fish has an odd way of seeming both wise and immature simultaneously. They frequently confuse reality for dreams and have the fast-beating heart of a romantic.The younger version of Kasady is barely in Venom: Let There Be Carnage but it was obvious even at that age that he had the heart of a romantic. His love for Barrison is what sustained him (and vice versa for her). In his jell cell, all Kasady could do was talk to his love and dream.

Debuting on September 28, 2021, the Netflix original drama series Maid has become one of the platform's most popular new titles. Based on the Stephanie Land memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive, much of the appeal comes from protagonist Alex (Margaret Qualley), a woman who leaves her abusive husband with her young daughter in tow and begins life as a domestic worker.While Alex is the primary player, it's her close friends, casual acquaintances, and complicated family members that help and sometimes hinder her path to happiness and success as she struggles to make ends meet and provide for her daughter Maddy (Rylea Nevaeh Whittet).10 AlexMaid is Alex's story through and through. As the central character whose primary conflict derives from domestic abuse and the need to flee a toxic environment to raise her young daughter in safe surroundings, the audience relates to her strife, roots for her scrappy ingenuity, and genuinely want to see her overcome such a hardscrabble existence to find happiness.Qualley gives a terrific performance as Alex, conveying the internal pain while keeping a positive attitude in front of her daughter (for the most part). Viewers identify and empathize with Alex, be it in her nasty custody battle, feckless job interviews, and the like. As such, she's one of the best TV moms of the past decade as well as one of the most memorable maid characters on TV.9 MaddySince almost every decision Alex makes is in service of keeping her young daughter safe, sound, clean, and fed, Maddy is an extremely vital character to the drama. What makes Maddy really interesting is how she resembles her abusive father, Sean, more than she does Alex, which serves as a reminder of Alex's traumatic past. Moreover, the custody battle for Maddy provides endless drama.The intimate moments between Alex and the charming Maddy are the heartbeat of the show, reinforcing a mother-daughter bond that everyone wants to see turn out well for both characters. If Alex did not have Maddy to look after, her decisions would be far different and Maid would be a different show entirely.8 PaulaPlayed by Qualley's real-life mother Andie MacDowell, Paula is one of the most complex and colorful characters in the show. The free-spirited artist with eccentric paintings and sculptures is a flaky, unreliable mother who isn't the best role model for Alex. In fact, she's quite a burden most of the time, creating an oddly positive and negative mother-daughter TV dynamic.Beyond providing insight into how Alex grew up in a hurtful household, it's the genuine bond between Qualley and MacDowell that really shines through, lending a profound art-imitates-life vibe that makes the overall show more believable.7 ReginaWhile Regina (Anika Noni Rose) isn't the kindest soul, she is instrumental in Alex's professional growth. As Alex's extremely wealthy, stuck-up first client, lawyer Regina tries to get Alex in trouble when her cleaning isn't up to a certain standard. When Alex passes out from exhaustion, Regina is quick to label her a drug addict.Despite the cruelty, Regina indirectly steels Alex for a thankless job that never seems good enough. Far from one-dimensional, Regina shows a surprising side of her insecure self when she bares her soul to Alex during Thanksgiving, which goes a long way in shaping the employer-client kinship.6 SeanIf poverty isn't the primary villain in Maid, then it's most certainly Sean (Nick Robinson), Alex's abusive boyfriend who she finally breaks free of as the series begins. Wracked by addiction and anger, Sean is the last person Alex wants to raise Maddy around.It's Sean's unforgivable behavior that has sidetracked Alex's life and causes her to undergo a massive lifestyle change. Yet, Sean makes it difficult to escape as he controls her funds, access to her car and phone, and manipulates her outside contacts, proving that domestic abuse persists even after fleeing the domicile.5 YolandaYolanda (Tracy Vilar) proves to be a helpful character who hires Alex at the Value Maids cleaning company when she is at her most desperate. Despite Alex's harried appearance and lack of experience, Yolanda is stern but kind enough to allow her a trial position.Whereas most of the women in Alex's life are contentious and mean-spirited, Yolanda offers a ray of hope by extending Alex an occupational lifeline. It's just the opportunity that Alex needs to lift her and Maddy from poverty, which she takes and makes the most out of.4 HankAs Alex's estranged father with anger and addiction issues that mirror Sean's, Hank (Billy Burke) is a very important character. The villainous TV dad hasn't been in Maddy's life since she was in diapers and is too cold-hearted to invite his daughter and granddaughter to stay with him, prompting their travels through various shelters. In the end, he even sides with Sean.As one of the two biggest antagonists in Alex's life, Hank's character is crucial to Alex's overhauled lifestyle. He embodies everything that she hopes to avoid in the future and vows to keep Maddy away from.3 DeniseDenise (BJ Harrison) is one of the few characters in the show who provides an olive branch to Alex in her greatest time of need. Denise runs the domestic violence shelter that Alex and Maddy find refuge in and shows more clemency to her than most.Whether she is encouraging Alex to breathe easy and relax in the shelter or providing dolls to calm Maddy, Denise has a good heart and kind spirit that goes a long way in offering Alex hope, agency, and a way to pull herself out of her dire circumstances.2 NateThrough all of the hardships that Alex faces, her most reliable friend proves to be Nate (Raymond Ablack). Her old acquaintance shows tremendous support time and again, including offering help cleaning, giving her a phone charger, and providing moral support during the custody battle.Nate's biggest act of kindness comes when all of Alex's friends side with Sean when he brings a date to Maddy's birthday party. Nate is the only one who keeps the isolated Alex company, and later allows her and Maddy to stay at his place. A true friend, Alex needs far more Nates in her life.1 DanielleOne of the few female characters who assist Alex includes Danielle (Aimee Carrero), a fellow resident at the domestic violence shelter. In addition to providing some much-needed levity regarding Regina's stolen dog, Danielle uplifts Alex by expressing what a good mother she is and comforts her until the custody trial begins.In addition to welcoming and helping Alex adjust to her new residence, Danielle is responsible for Yolanda paying Alex the money she rightfully earned. Alas, Danielle left the shelter to return to her ex, but not before touching Alex's life in a profound way.