Posted by msmash from Slashdot
From the long-term-bets department: An industrial plan China rolled out a decade ago that was criticized by the U.S. as protectionist has been highly successful in narrowing China's technological gap with the West, a new study finds. From a report: The study, commissioned by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is set to intensify the debate in Washington and elsewhere over how to counter China's use of state subsidies and other strategies to bolster its competitiveness. To placate President Trump during his first-term trade war with China, Beijing dropped mentions of the "Made in China 2025" plan, leader Xi Jinping's signature industrial strategy, from public discourse. But the policy stayed in place.
The study, released Monday, shows that enormous state support unleashed under the strategy has enabled China to eliminate or reduce its dependence on imports such as rail and power equipment, medical devices and renewable-energy products. In addition, Chinese companies have become more competitive globally, gaining market share from foreign companies in sectors including shipbuilding and robotics. The findings in the study, conducted by economic consulting firm Rhodium Group, highlight the stakes for the U.S. and other advanced economies as Beijing continues to advance Xi's blueprint to make China a leader in high-tech industries.
Posted by AzT from TFW2005
Skybound updates your June pull list with a preview of connecting
Energon Universe second anniversary variant covers: In celebration of the second anniversary of the Energon Universe this June, fan-favorite Energon Universe cover artist Jason Howard (Super Dinosaur) and Annalisa Leoni (Invincible Universe: Battle Beast) will be drawing three mural anniversary covers that spotlight the beloved characters from G.I. JOE, TRANSFORMERS, and VOID RIVALS, including the recently revealed Hound, Wheelie, and
Matt Trakker. These will be available as open-to-order variant covers for TRANSFORMERS #21, out June 11, 2025; G.I. JOE #8, out June 18, 2025; and Void Rivals
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Skybound’s Energon Universe: Second Anniversary Cover Artwork appeared first on
Transformer World 2005 - TFW2005.COM.
Posted by msmash from Slashdot
From the closer-look department: New York City's subway system continues to operate largely on analog signal technology installed nearly a century ago, with 85% of the network still relying on mechanical equipment that requires constant human intervention. The outdated system causes approximately 4,000 train delays monthly and represents a technological time capsule in America's largest mass transit system.
Deep inside Brooklyn's Hoyt-Schermerhorn station, transit worker Dyanesha Pryor operates a hulking machine the size of a grand piano by manipulating 24 metal levers that control nearby trains. Each command requires a precise sequence of movements, punctuated by metallic clanking as levers slam into place. When Pryor needs to step away, even for a bathroom break, express service must be rerouted until she returns, forcing all trains onto local tracks.
The antiquated "fixed block" signaling divides tracks into approximately 1,000-foot sections. When a train occupies a block, it cuts off electrical current, providing only a general position rather than precise location data. This imprecision requires maintaining buffer zones between trains, significantly limiting capacity as ridership has grown. Maintenance challenges are also piling up, writes the New York Times. Hundreds of cloth-wrapped wires -- rather than modern rubber insulation -- fill back rooms and are prone to failure. When equipment breaks, replacements often must be custom-made in MTA workshops, as many components have been discontinued for decades.
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Posted by msmash from Slashdot
From the reality-check department: The highest-rated video games of 2025 are all budget-priced titles, with Metacritic top performers Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Blue Prince, and Split Fiction costing just $50, $30, and $50 respectively. This comes as Microsoft announces certain Xbox titles will now cost $80, following Nintendo's similar price hike for Mario Kart on Switch 2.
Clair Obscur, developed by a small French studio, sold 1 million copies in its first week. Split Fiction, despite being published by EA, was created by a small Stockholm team and has reached 2 million sales. Blue Prince, a puzzle-roguelike largely created by a single developer in Los Angeles, is showing strong performance on Steam, Bloomberg reports.
All three games share key traits: they use commercially available engines, take creative risks that big-budget projects couldn't afford, and target specific player demographics rather than trying to appeal broadly. The contrast is striking -- Clair Obscur's developers celebrated reaching 1 million sales while EA declared Dragon Age: The Veilguard a failure with similar numbers, underscoring the economic realities of different development scales.
Posted by msmash from Slashdot
From the fault-in-our-stars department: A majority of Britons may now consider themselves neurodivergent, with conditions such as autism, dyslexia or ADHD, according to a leading psychologist from King's College London. Professor Francesca Happe, an expert in cognitive neuroscience, said reduced stigma around these conditions has prompted more people to seek medical diagnoses or self-diagnose.
"Once you take autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and all the other ways that you can developmentally be different from the typical, you actually don't get many typical people left," Happe told BBC Radio 4.
Autism diagnoses increased 787% between 1998 and 2018 in the UK, with estimated prevalence rising from one in 2,500 children 80 years ago to one in 36 today. Happe, who was appointed CBE in 2021 for her autism research, warned that behaviors previously considered "a bit of eccentricity" are now being labeled with medical terms.
While the most recent Pokémon TCG set, Journey Together, may have been something of an anticlimax, the fervor surrounding the game has still ensured it’s close to impossible to buy. Individual cards may be more reasonably priced, but just buying the packs means pouncing on stores the moment they receive stock updates,…
Oblivion Remastered is a fantasy RPG that, on the surface, revolves around exploration and story, of uncovering minute details and lore tidbits in dungeons, all while fighting terrible beasts from other planes of existence. To some, it’s all about the power creep; it’s about becoming stronger, more robust than your…
Monster Hunter Wilds can be rather overwhelming once you unlock High-Rank hunts. Among the stronger monsters and new mechanics that the second half of the campaign introduces, there are also brand-new materials like Hunter Symbols. If you want to craft the best weapons and armor, you’re going to want to know how to…
You might’ve noticed among all the giant hammer-wielding, blade-swinging, death-dealing hate-puppets out there in the Paintress’ domain that there’s one enemy that absolutely, positively, categorically does not want the smoke from you at any point. And that’s these little cracked orbs on legs that take off like…
The original source code for Interplay’s Fallout and its sequel Fallout 2 was thought lost and destroyed. But it turns out that at least one person defied orders from the studio and saved the source code behind two of the most popular PC RPGs ever made.
There’s a ton of content packed into the core Forza Horizon 5 experience. But those looking to get even more from the game will be delighted to check out its two thrilling expansions. Fans of rally racing will likely be especially excited to dive into the Rally Adventure DLC, which adds plenty of rugged driving…
Xbox announced today that a new remaster of the original Gears of War, first released on Xbox 360 in 2006, will be launching on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and for the first time in the franchise’s history PlayStation in August.
After four agonizing weeks of waiting, Dina and Ellie finally consummated their relationship in The Last of Us during this week’s episode. The live-action adaptation has taken a few creative liberties with the girl’s love story, and that meant rather than starting the game out in a relationship, it baited the audience…
A very strange thing happened earlier this year, prior to Nintendo officially revealing the Switch 2: A small accessory maker, Genki, brought a mockup of the mysterious new console to CES 2025 and flaunted it on the show floor, suggesting to press that the 3D printed replica was accurate and based on early access to…
President Trump is telling people to buy fewer Barbie dolls. The Xbox Series X is now $100 more expensive than it was a month ago. And now even anime is threatened by the administration’s ongoing trade war. Trump recently threatened 100 percent tariffs on all foreign-made movies like Avengers: Doomsday and Chainsaw Man…
If you missed the chance to watch Sinners in IMAX, don’t worry! Due to the film’s popularity, it will be re-released in IMAX from May 15th until May 21st, but until then, we have created a list of films and shows that you can watch if you still need a bit of a horror or southern gothic stories in your life. In this…
