People Just Keep Watching ‘The Acolyte’ It’s been almost two years since Disney and Lucasfilm canceled The Acolyte, and pretty much everything we’ve heard about the show since has seemed to refute the backlash—with Disney citing cost concerns rather than issues of quality, to the show itself ending up being Disney+’s second biggest show of 2024. Now, even with plenty more new Star Wars to watch since, it looks like the show’s still proving there was a demand for its ideas beneath the noise. This week Flix Patrol reported that The Acolyte returned to the top 10 streamed shows on Disney+ in the United States this week. On the one hand, it’s not too surprising—more new Star Wars typically leads to people watching old Star Wars as well, and the current number one show on the list is Maul: Shadow Lord. Given the two shows’ parallels of examining the dark side, there’s certainly some crossover audience there, but it’s still interesting that it was Acolyte that pulled ahead more so than any other Star Wars show if Maul was the proverbial rising tide. Maybe the show is helped by being so far removed from the elevated controversy over it—the grifters who declared it the worst thing in the world have moved on to other cycles and suddenly no longer fervently care about the age of Ki-Adi-Mundi, that’s for certain. Maybe, really, part of the fact that it’s a one-and-done thing people can check out as a “complete” story makes it easier to jump into. But without the noise that dogged Acolyte throughout its broadcast—noise Disney rarely, if ever, did much to try and abate—maybe people can just start seeing The Acolyte for what it was: a messy show with interesting ideas that deserved time to forge those ideas into something even bigger. Alas, we’ll have to make do with people seeing what it was all about in hindsight. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #People #Watching #AcolyteLUCASFILM,Star Wars,The Acolyte

People Just Keep Watching ‘The Acolyte’

It’s been almost two years since Disney and Lucasfilm canceled The Acolyte, and pretty much everything we’ve heard about the show since has seemed to refute the backlash—with Disney citing cost concerns rather than issues of quality, to the show itself ending up being Disney+’s second biggest show of 2024. Now, even with plenty more new Star Wars to watch since, it looks like the show’s still proving there was a demand for its ideas beneath the noise.

This week Flix Patrol reported that The Acolyte returned to the top 10 streamed shows on Disney+ in the United States this week. On the one hand, it’s not too surprising—more new Star Wars typically leads to people watching old Star Wars as well, and the current number one show on the list is Maul: Shadow Lord. Given the two shows’ parallels of examining the dark side, there’s certainly some crossover audience there, but it’s still interesting that it was Acolyte that pulled ahead more so than any other Star Wars show if Maul was the proverbial rising tide.

Maybe the show is helped by being so far removed from the elevated controversy over it—the grifters who declared it the worst thing in the world have moved on to other cycles and suddenly no longer fervently care about the age of Ki-Adi-Mundi, that’s for certain. Maybe, really, part of the fact that it’s a one-and-done thing people can check out as a “complete” story makes it easier to jump into.

But without the noise that dogged Acolyte throughout its broadcast—noise Disney rarely, if ever, did much to try and abate—maybe people can just start seeing The Acolyte for what it was: a messy show with interesting ideas that deserved time to forge those ideas into something even bigger. Alas, we’ll have to make do with people seeing what it was all about in hindsight.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#People #Watching #AcolyteLUCASFILM,Star Wars,The Acolyte

Tech-news Lucasfilm, Star Wars, The Acolyte April 24, 2026

It’s been almost two years since Disney and Lucasfilm canceled The Acolyte, and pretty much everything we’ve heard about the show since has seemed to refute the backlash—with Disney citing cost concerns rather than issues of quality, to the show itself ending up being Disney+’s second biggest show of 2024. Now, even with plenty more new Star Wars to watch since, it looks like the show’s still proving there was a demand for its ideas beneath the noise.

This week Flix Patrol reported that The Acolyte returned to the top 10 streamed shows on Disney+ in the United States this week. On the one hand, it’s not too surprising—more new Star Wars typically leads to people watching old Star Wars as well, and the current number one show on the list is Maul: Shadow Lord. Given the two shows’ parallels of examining the dark side, there’s certainly some crossover audience there, but it’s still interesting that it was Acolyte that pulled ahead more so than any other Star Wars show if Maul was the proverbial rising tide.

Maybe the show is helped by being so far removed from the elevated controversy over it—the grifters who declared it the worst thing in the world have moved on to other cycles and suddenly no longer fervently care about the age of Ki-Adi-Mundi, that’s for certain. Maybe, really, part of the fact that it’s a one-and-done thing people can check out as a “complete” story makes it easier to jump into.

But without the noise that dogged Acolyte throughout its broadcast—noise Disney rarely, if ever, did much to try and abate—maybe people can just start seeing The Acolyte for what it was: a messy show with interesting ideas that deserved time to forge those ideas into something even bigger. Alas, we’ll have to make do with people seeing what it was all about in hindsight.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Source link
#People #Watching #Acolyte

Tag Lucasfilm Star Wars The Acolyte

Deadspin | Yordan Alvarez, Astros strive to do damage against Yankees’ stellar pitching staff <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28762119.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28762119.jpg" alt="MLB: St. Louis Cardinals at Houston Astros" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 18, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) runs towards home plate after a home run to center field against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images  </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>The New York Yankees experienced a four-game blip with their pitching last week when they were unable to consistently record outs against the Los Angeles Angels.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>The pitching has corrected itself during sweeps of the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox, and the Yankees are on a six-game winning streak as their pitchers will attempt to keep MLB home run leader Yordan Alvarez’s bat quiet in Friday night’s opener of a three-game series in Houston.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>The Yankees enter with an MLB-best 3.07 ERA. Since allowing 32 runs and settling for a four-game split against the Angels, the Yankees are pitching to a 1.17 ERA in their current winning streak.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>New York followed its sweep of the visiting Royals last weekend by allowing three runs in a three-game sweep at Boston. The Yankees secured a 4-2 victory on Thursday when Cody Bellinger delivered a pinch-hit, two-run single in the seventh inning after the lineup struck out 11 times in the first six innings against Boston rookie Payton Tolle.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>“Wins are precious any time of year, especially within the division,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>Bellinger is batting .325 (13-for-40) over his past 11 games, and his hit on Thursday occurred on a night when Cam Schlittler was efficient in getting through eight innings after Max Fried pitched eight innings on Wednesday. The Yankees also had Luis Gil pitch 6 1/3 innings on Tuesday and Ryan Weathers 7 1/3 innings on Sunday.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>Houston owns the AL’s third-worst record behind the Royals and Red Sox, but not because of Alvarez. He leads the majors with a .347 batting average, 11 homers, 26 RBIs and an OPS of 1.245.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-8"> <p>The Astros won two of three games on the road against the Cleveland Guardians after dropping 12 of 14 contests as Alvarez drove in five runs in the series. After Houston blew a late lead on Tuesday in an 8-5 loss, Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the first inning of a 2-0 victory on Wednesday.</p> </section> <section id="section-9"> <p>“To be honest, 2026 Yordan is the closest I’ve seen to Barry Bonds,” Houston shortstop Carlos Correa said. “Definitely, this version of him is the best. I haven’t missed one swing of his all year because he’s must-watch.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>“It’s almost like you expect him to make an out at some point because this game is so hard, but he just keeps raking.”</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>After the deep outings by Fried and Schlittler at Boston, Yankees right-hander Will Warren (2-0, 2.49 ERA) will open the series in Houston and is coming off one of the best outings of his career.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Warren last pitched Saturday in a 13-4 win over Kansas City and allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings. He also tied a career high by getting 11 strikeouts and notched double-digit strikeouts for the third time in his career.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>Warren’s only career start against the Astros occurred on Sept. 3, 2025, in Houston when he allowed two runs on five hits in five innings of a no-decision in New York’s 8-7 loss.</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>Houston’s 5.81 ERA is the worst in the majors, and Lance McCullers Jr. (1-1, 6.20) will open the series. McCullers has allowed 10 runs in 9 1/3 innings during his past two starts and took the loss Saturday when he allowed four runs on five hits in five innings of a 7-5 defeat to the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>McCullers is 2-0 with a 2.97 ERA in five regular-season starts against the Yankees.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-16"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Yordan #Alvarez #Astros #strive #damage #Yankees #stellar #pitching #staff

Image may contain Electronics Mobile Phone Phone Accessories Baby and Person

#Vertu #Folding #Phone #Powered #bySurprisean #Agentphones,smartphones,android,shopping,luxury,design">

mwasimuddin125 0

Vertu is a company known for making extraordinarily gaudy smartphones with outdated technology, luxe materials, and eye-watering prices. Now the brand is here to meet the AI moment with its first-ever book-like folding phone, complete with an AI agent on board.
The company announced the AlphaFold smartphone on Thursday—targeting business executives—which comes outfitted with the Hermes Agent. This agent can purportedly handle schedules and tasks on a user’s behalf and “connect to enterprise systems.” Agents are big in the smartphone world right now, with companies like Google and Samsung offering ways for Gemini on Android smartphones to perform tasks such as booking an Uber or ordering DoorDash. Vertu is cashing in on that trend.
But the company has a checkered past. Originally, Vertu was a Nokia subsidiary that made handcrafted luxury Nokia phones (in the UK!) in the early 2000s. Each phone came with access to a live concierge service. The company faced headwinds with the smartphone revolution and fell behind the times. Vertu then changed hands over several years, with various acquisitions, eventually shuttering its UK factory and laying off staff.
Courtesy of Vertu
In the last few years, the company has been churning out luxury Android smartphones again—it debuted a folding flip phone last year that starts at $4,300 (with a calfskin backplate, naturally). In late 2025, it unveiled the Agent Q, which it calls the “world’s first AI agent phone for entrepreneurs.”
While the company still claims a British heritage, its phones are no longer made in the UK, and according to its website, its head office is in Hong Kong. Vertu spokesperson Viki You tells WIRED that the phones are “still handcrafted,” but they’re assembled in China. “We have different factories,” You says, noting that the company sources its high-end materials from other countries, like the full-grain calfskin from Italy.
The AlphaFold has all the markings of a high-end Android smartphone. It’s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset from 2025 and is 11.8 millimeters thick when folded, 5.4 mm when unfolded. Not quite as svelte as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, but not far off from competitors like the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Vertu says the hinge and screen architecture were tested to withstand 650,000 folds, which is more than Samsung’s claim of 500,000 folds.
Inside is a 6,500-mAh silicon-anode battery, an up-and-coming battery technology that’s been making waves in Chinese smartphones and has only recently made its way into Western smartphones from the likes of Motorola. There’s 65-watt fast charging, a 120-Hz screen refresh rate for the inner 8.05-inch screen, and a 6.53-inch outer screen. There’s a triple-camera system with a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide, and a 5-megapixel telephoto.

#Vertu #Folding #Phone #Powered #bySurprisean #Agentphones,smartphones,android,shopping,luxury,design">Vertu Is Back With a Folding Phone Powered by—Surprise—an AI Agent

Vertu is a company known for making extraordinarily gaudy smartphones with outdated technology, luxe materials, and eye-watering prices. Now the brand is here to meet the AI moment with its first-ever book-like folding phone, complete with an AI agent on board.

The company announced the AlphaFold smartphone on Thursday—targeting business executives—which comes outfitted with the Hermes Agent. This agent can purportedly handle schedules and tasks on a user’s behalf and “connect to enterprise systems.” Agents are big in the smartphone world right now, with companies like Google and Samsung offering ways for Gemini on Android smartphones to perform tasks such as booking an Uber or ordering DoorDash. Vertu is cashing in on that trend.

But the company has a checkered past. Originally, Vertu was a Nokia subsidiary that made handcrafted luxury Nokia phones (in the UK!) in the early 2000s. Each phone came with access to a live concierge service. The company faced headwinds with the smartphone revolution and fell behind the times. Vertu then changed hands over several years, with various acquisitions, eventually shuttering its UK factory and laying off staff.

In the last few years, the company has been churning out luxury Android smartphones again—it debuted a folding flip phone last year that starts at $4,300 (with a calfskin backplate, naturally). In late 2025, it unveiled the Agent Q, which it calls the “world’s first AI agent phone for entrepreneurs.”

While the company still claims a British heritage, its phones are no longer made in the UK, and according to its website, its head office is in Hong Kong. Vertu spokesperson Viki You tells WIRED that the phones are “still handcrafted,” but they’re assembled in China. “We have different factories,” You says, noting that the company sources its high-end materials from other countries, like the full-grain calfskin from Italy.

The AlphaFold has all the markings of a high-end Android smartphone. It’s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset from 2025 and is 11.8 millimeters thick when folded, 5.4 mm when unfolded. Not quite as svelte as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, but not far off from competitors like the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Vertu says the hinge and screen architecture were tested to withstand 650,000 folds, which is more than Samsung’s claim of 500,000 folds.

Inside is a 6,500-mAh silicon-anode battery, an up-and-coming battery technology that’s been making waves in Chinese smartphones and has only recently made its way into Western smartphones from the likes of Motorola. There’s 65-watt fast charging, a 120-Hz screen refresh rate for the inner 8.05-inch screen, and a 6.53-inch outer screen. There’s a triple-camera system with a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide, and a 5-megapixel telephoto.

#Vertu #Folding #Phone #Powered #bySurprisean #Agentphones,smartphones,android,shopping,luxury,design

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you’re stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you’ve ever played dominoes, you’ll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we’ve shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don’t necessarily have to match.

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you’ll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 28 Pips

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (6): Everything in this space must be greater than 6. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Mashable Top Stories

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 28 Pips

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this red space must be different. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for May 28 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 3-0, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically

If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

#NYT #Pips #hints #answers">

mwasimuddin125 0

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.
Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you’re stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you’ll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.