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business, economy

Apple Expanding Ads in iOS: The Maps App Is Reportedly Next

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Apple is reportedly moving ahead with plans to aggressively monetize the iOS ecosystem, with the Maps app rumored to be next in line for advertisement integration.

### Mark Gurman: Apple Plans to Bring Advertisements to the Maps App

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman shared some notable insights in his latest “Power On” newsletter, revealing the possibility of a vapor chamber in the upcoming iPad Pro and hinting at advertisement ingress into the Maps app on iOS.

According to Gurman, after introducing advertisements within its App Store, Apple is now set to extend a similar approach to the Maps app. The ads are expected to resemble those seen in the App Store—mainly paid placements appearing within search results.

Apple’s iOS ecosystem encompasses around 1.5 billion iPhones worldwide. This vast user base means that monetizing various facets of the ecosystem could generate substantial revenue for the Cupertino tech giant.

If this trajectory continues, paid placements may eventually appear across every search-related feature within Apple’s iOS ecosystem. For example, paid Apple Music subscribers already see ads in the form of curated radio stations and interviews integrated within playlists.

While these moves are likely to benefit Apple financially, they could also raise privacy and data safety concerns. This is especially relevant in light of upcoming Apple Intelligence features, which include enhanced in-app actions and a more personalized Siri experience—services that rely heavily on collecting and processing personal data.

As Apple expands advertising across its ecosystem, users and privacy advocates will be watching closely to see how the company balances monetization with user data protection.
https://wccftech.com/apple-expanding-ads-in-ios-the-maps-app-is-reportedly-next/

general

Darktide’s narrative will be expanded as part of future updates: ‘We are definitely going to be adding to the story of the game’

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When Darktide’s Arbites Class DLC arrived, it came alongside a free update called *The Battle for Tertium*, which finally added a campaign mode. Rather than the story coming to a halt once the prologue ended, players had the option to be guided through missions with bespoke voiceover, cutscenes, and unique enemy spawns. This approach made it feel like you weren’t just grinding maps for gear repeatedly.

We won’t find out what Darktide’s second class DLC will be until its reveal on November 11, but Fatshark has confirmed that the game’s story will continue to expand.

“I wouldn’t say it necessarily always will be attached to a new class or anything like that,” said design director Victor Magnuson. “But each new piece of the game will add to the overarching story of the game.”

Magnuson explained that integrating a narrative into Darktide has been challenging. Since two players might come to a mission with very different experiences and varying patience for slowing down gameplay to include story elements, the team’s approach is to “just add it piece by piece.” He elaborated, “We build the narrative as little puzzle pieces that slowly fall together, and then you see the bigger picture, whatever it is. But yeah, we are definitely going to be adding to the story of the game.”

Another challenge for the Darktide team was designing a whole new world for the game to take place on. Unlike the Vermintide games, which had a wealth of material from the Warhammer Fantasy world—with the tabletop RPG’s adventures serving as useful sources—the expectation for a typical Warhammer 40,000 game is that it will be set on a unique planet.

“It was a big difference,” Magnuson said. “I remember working on Vermintide 1 and 2; we really did look at the adventures and took a lot of inspiration from the adventures for different scenarios and missions.”

Creating *Tertium* from scratch meant visualizing many aspects of the Warhammer 40,000 universe that had rarely been explored before. These elements soon became increasingly important parts of the missions. For example, trains have become a recurring feature.

Trains, Magnuson explains, have “just become something that stuck around, and we keep doing train missions.”

Chief creative officer Anders De Geer recalls there was initially a specific reason for this choice.

“I remember a meeting with a lot of Games Workshop people,” he said, “and then I asked them, if you got to pick something that you would want to see come to life, what would that be? I remember [artist and miniature sculptor] Jes Goodwin’s answer was trains. Trains and train stations.”

This insight helped shape the unique world of Darktide and the kinds of missions players experience as they explore *Tertium*. With continuous story updates and DLC content, the game is shaping up to offer a rich narrative experience alongside its action-oriented gameplay.
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/darktides-narrative-will-be-expanded-as-part-of-future-updates-we-are-definitely-going-to-be-adding-to-the-story-of-the-game/

football, injury, quarterback, sports, team

RandBall: Vikings fans are getting antsy to see J.J. McCarthy play again

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This year is supposed to be Year 1 of the true Vikings plan, even if O’Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah are technically in Year 4. They have their hand-picked young quarterback. He came into the year healthy, and the team cleared the deck for him to be the Week 1 starter. A franchise that has had a fitful time developing young QBs, often resorting to veteran stopgaps, was finally poised to break that cycle.

Then McCarthy struggled. And got hurt again, after missing all of last season. Now, his recovery seems to be taking longer — or at least it’s on a very generous timeline designed to help McCarthy succeed in the long run, but it feels agonizing in the present.

Fans realize Carson Wentz is a stopgap. He is graded No. 35 out of 37 eligible NFL QBs this season by Pro Football Focus. Wentz will play well enough to win and poorly enough to lose, often in the same game. He’s not the same caliber QB as Kirk Cousins, but he is similar in that his ceiling and floor are too close to each other. A full year of Wentz would be spinning your wheels on the way to an 8-9 or 9-8 record.

Fans can also see that Sam Darnold (No. 1 grade from PFF) and Daniel Jones (No. 9) are smoothly operating offenses for winning teams. They see Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in 2024 — a player the Vikings coveted but had no realistic chance of drafting — starting to break out with the Patriots. There is QB envy, and the only cure is seeing McCarthy play and do good things.

I think most Vikings fans would still consider this season a success if the team missed the playoffs but learned that McCarthy is on a reasonable trajectory to becoming a top-10 quarterback. The only way we can know that is if he plays. That will come soon enough, of course, but never soon enough. So we look for breadcrumbs: both McCarthy and Wentz were listed as “limited” on Monday’s initial estimated injury report. What might that mean for Thursday?

By comparison, Panthers QB Bryce Young suffered a high ankle sprain on Sunday but hasn’t yet been ruled out for next week. People are just less patient in general. We live in a culture conditioned to expect convenience, and waiting for anything is not convenient. Waiting for McCarthy is particularly agonizing for long-suffering fans. But that’s all they can do for now.

Switching gears, the Wild played the most Wild game of the season so far — tight and low-scoring — resulting in a much-needed 3-1 win over the Rangers.

In baseball, it’s the Blue Jays vs. the Dodgers in the World Series after George Springer rallied Toronto to a 4-3 win in Game 7 of the ALCS over Seattle. My guess is that most Americans are rooting for the Canadian team.

The Wolves, who used to be the worst franchise, are now among the best. I’ll talk more about that with Chris Hine on a special season preview podcast that will be out soon.

Also, Randy Johnson will join me on Wednesday’s regular show to talk Gophers football. After a big win over Nebraska, it’s on to Iowa.
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-vikings-quarterback-jj-mccarthy-kevin-oconnell/601498058

curse, drama, entertainment, personal, television

Chad Powers season 1 episode 5 ending explained: Why does Jake dislike Russ Holliday?

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**Chad Powers Season 1 Episode 5 Recap: Identity Crisis, Curses, and Consequences**

*Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers for Chad Powers Season 1 Episode 5. Reader discretion is advised.*

—

Chad is falling apart at the seams in Season 1, Episode 5 of *Chad Powers*, as he grapples with his future, the possibility of being cursed, and the increasingly blurred lines between his two personas: Russ Holliday and Chad Powers.

Throughout the episode, Chad becomes obsessed with the idea that Russ’s notorious bad luck curse might rub off on him—especially since Chad himself has been enjoying a pretty good streak. His theory seems to be proven when Chad ends up paying the price for Russ’s reckless actions.

—

### Jake’s Wife Wendy’s Shocking Confession

During a do-over of Chad’s interview, a bombshell drops. Jake’s wife, Wendy, blurts out about her infidelity, which she largely blames on Jake. Tensions spike as this revelation comes out in front of Jake, Chad, and others, leading to a heated confrontation.

Jake, who already dislikes Russ—partly because Russ hooked up with Wendy the previous night and partly due to personal dislike—explodes in frustration. He calls Russ a “cancer” and expresses regret over not recruiting him as quarterback sooner. Jake believes his decision to reject Russ has now come back to haunt him.

—

### Does Jake Find Another Reason to Hate Russ?

In a key scene earlier that night, Russ hooks up with a woman at the bar and later in his Cybertruck. Their conversation about happiness and whether Russ deserves it marks a turning point for him. However, this seemingly random hookup carries serious consequences—especially the next day when Chad meets the same woman at Jake’s house during the interview.

Unbeknownst to Chad, the woman is Wendy, Jake’s wife. While Wendy doesn’t recognize Chad as Russ, Chad is visibly freaking out over the encounter. The chaos escalates quickly as Wendy’s confession about the hookup causes fallout, further straining relationships among the characters.

—

### Jake Suffers a Heart Attack

The stress of Wendy’s infidelity, their heated argument, and Jake’s frustration with Russ culminate in a medical emergency. During his rant, Jake suddenly starts breathing heavily and instructs Ricky to call 911. Jake believes he is having a heart attack, turning what was already a tense situation into a critical moment.

In the background, Chad tenses up, overwhelmed by the spiraling events around him. Though Russ technically hasn’t betrayed Jake—because he had no way of knowing the woman was Wendy—the consequences of Russ’s bad luck and reckless behavior appear to be impacting everyone, including Chad.

—

### Russ/Chad’s Life-Altering Decision

Before the turmoil at Jake’s house, Russ’s hookup with Wendy leads to a potentially life-changing decision. When he becomes Chad the next day, he is uncharacteristically upbeat and tells Danny that he has decided on his future: he’s going to be Chad Powers from now on.

Russ explains that he has already begun erasing his online presence as Russ Holliday and is working on changing his physical appearance to permanently adopt Chad’s “look.” However, Danny worries that Russ is spiraling and may be experiencing an emotional breakdown.

—

Catch *Chad Powers* Season 1 Episode 5, along with all previous episodes, streaming now on Hulu and Disney+.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/shows/chad-powers-season-1-episode-5-ending-explained-why-jake-dislike-russ-holliday

alcohol, business, rivalry, sports, trademarks

Restaurant Responds To OSU’s Opposition To “Buckeye Tears” Trademark: ‘See Those Tears? Like That!’

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**From the Proving-the-Point Dept: Ohio State University’s Trademark Opposition Over “Buckeye Tears” Draws Ire**

Several weeks ago, we covered a rather silly trademark opposition filed by Ohio State University (OSU) against a restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan, called The Brown Jug. The dispute centered around the restaurant’s offering of an alcoholic drink named “Buckeye Tears.”

To understand the controversy, it helps to know that the University of Michigan and OSU are fierce rivals in college athletics. Ohioans, and OSU fans in particular, are famously referred to as “Buckeyes.” OSU claimed that allowing a trademark for “Buckeye Tears” would cause the public to associate the university with alcohol (which they found horrifying) and might confuse people into believing OSU endorsed or was involved with the drink.

Both claims strike us as absurd.

The only association most patrons of The Brown Jug would make with “Buckeye Tears” is the ongoing rivalry between the two schools — and the reputation that OSU and its fans tend to be a bit whiny when things don’t go their way.

This point was made explicitly clear in the restaurant’s response to OSU’s opposition. Filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on October 6, The Brown Jug’s lawyers said OSU’s overreaction only adds more “Buckeye tears” to the keg.

“The Buckeye Tears mark plays into a perception shared by Michigan fans, particularly after their football team’s four consecutive victories over Ohio State, that Ohio State and its supporters may sometimes act like sore losers,” attorneys from the law firm Fenwick & West wrote on behalf of The Brown Jug.

They continued, “Ohio State’s very filing of the opposition validates that perception.”

In other words — yeah, exactly.

Adding to this, The Brown Jug’s legal team pointed out that the term “Buckeye” isn’t uniquely associated with OSU. In fact, it’s used in more than 5,700 licensed businesses in Ohio and appears on various trademarked products and services throughout the state, including beer, wine, and liquor — brands that OSU has seemingly chosen not to police.

“Ohio State only called in their team of lawyers when a Michigan small business sought to make a good-natured joke,” the attorneys remarked.

So, that “pain water” must be pretty delicious — and perhaps just the kind of rhetorical jab The Brown Jug was aiming for all along.
https://www.techdirt.com/2025/10/20/restaurant-responds-to-osus-opposition-to-buckeye-tears-trademark-see-those-tears-like-that/

general

Earth’s magnetic shield is weakening over the Atlantic, scientists warn

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Scientists have discovered that a weak spot in Earth’s magnetic field—known as the South Atlantic Anomaly—is continuing to grow. Using 11 years of precise data from the European Space Agency’s Swarm satellite mission, researchers found that this region, which stretches over South America and the South Atlantic Ocean, has expanded by an area almost half the size of continental Europe since 2014.

Earth’s magnetic field acts as an invisible shield that protects life from harmful cosmic rays and solar radiation. It is generated deep inside the planet by swirling molten iron in the outer core, around 3,000 kilometers below the surface. This motion produces electric currents, which in turn create Earth’s magnetic field. The system is constantly shifting, strengthening in some places and weakening in others.

The Swarm mission—made up of three identical satellites launched in 2013—has provided scientists with the most detailed and long-lasting record of magnetic field changes ever captured from space. By studying magnetic signals coming from Earth’s core, crust, oceans, and atmosphere, the mission helps researchers understand how our planet’s protective shield is evolving.

The South Atlantic Anomaly was first identified in the 19th century, but recent Swarm data show that it is expanding faster than ever. The anomaly is particularly important for space missions, as satellites passing through it are exposed to stronger radiation that can disrupt electronics, damage hardware, or cause temporary blackouts.

According to Professor Chris Finlay of the Technical University of Denmark, the weakening magnetic field is not uniform. “The South Atlantic Anomaly is not just one big block,” he explains. “It’s behaving differently in different areas. The field is weakening much faster toward Africa than near South America.”

This uneven weakening is linked to unusual magnetic patterns deep below the surface, at the boundary between Earth’s molten outer core and its rocky mantle. Normally, magnetic field lines flow outward from the southern hemisphere, but in the South Atlantic Anomaly, some lines are reversed and flow back into the core. Swarm’s data show one of these reversed regions slowly drifting westward beneath Africa, contributing to the growing weakness of the field there.

While the magnetic field weakens in the South Atlantic, other areas are changing in different ways. In the northern hemisphere, the field has strengthened over Siberia but weakened over Canada, shifting the position of the magnetic north pole toward Russia. This movement has implications for navigation systems that rely on magnetic field maps.

Despite these changes, scientists emphasize that Earth’s magnetic field is far from collapsing. “Swarm is giving us the big picture of our planet’s dynamic heart,” says Anja Stromme, ESA’s Swarm Mission Manager. “The satellites are still healthy and providing excellent data, helping us better understand our ever-changing planet—and how it protects us.”
https://knowridge.com/2025/10/earths-magnetic-shield-is-weakening-over-the-atlantic-scientists-warn/

astronomy, eclipse, geography, science, space

What makes the total solar eclipse in 2028 special?

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What Makes the Total Solar Eclipse in 2028 Special?

By Dwaipayan Roy | October 5, 2025 | 6:42 PM

On July 22, 2028, a spectacular total solar eclipse will sweep across Australia and New Zealand, capturing the attention of skywatchers and eclipse chasers alike. This event will be particularly special for Sydney residents, as it will be the first time since 1857 that a total solar eclipse will be visible from the city.

Eclipse Path and Duration

The Moon’s shadow will cover a path approximately 230 kilometers wide, with totality lasting over five minutes in some areas. The eclipse will begin at sunrise over the Indian Ocean, passing over the Cocos and Christmas Islands. It will then traverse mainland Australia—crossing Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, and New South Wales—before reaching New Zealand across the Tasman Sea.

The point of maximum totality, lasting about 5 minutes and 10 seconds, will occur near the Drysdale River in Western Australia.

Overall Eclipse Details

The entire total solar eclipse will last approximately 2 hours and 49 minutes from first landfall to last contact, covering a distance of nearly 12,000 kilometers. An estimated 6.3 million people will be located within the path of totality.

Popular viewing locations where eclipse enthusiasts are expected to gather include Direction Island and South Point on the Cocos Islands, Scott Reef in the Indian Ocean, and Lamarck Island in Australia.

Viewing Conditions and Weather

In Sydney, observers can expect a totality duration of around 3 minutes and 44 seconds. However, weather will play a crucial role in eclipse visibility. For instance, areas like Kununurra have experienced cloud cover on July 22 about 11% of the time since 2000, while Bungle Bungles and Karlu Karlu have seen similar cloud cover rates of approximately 10% and 23%, respectively.

Upcoming Solar Eclipses After 2028

Alongside the total solar eclipse on July 22, 2028, a partial solar eclipse will also be visible across Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Southeast Asia.

Looking ahead, several total solar eclipses will follow in the coming years, with dates set for:

  • November 25, 2030
  • November 14, 2031
  • March 30, 2033
  • March 20, 2034
  • September 2, 2035
  • July 13, 2037
  • December 26, 2038

Mark your calendars and prepare for an unforgettable celestial event in 2028!

https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/mark-calendars-total-solar-eclipse-to-darken-australia-new-zealand/story

cricket, entertainment, india, international, sports

Ahmedabad Test: Decoding Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round brilliance vs West Indies

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**Ahmedabad Test: Decoding Ravindra Jadeja’s All-Round Brilliance vs West Indies**
*By Gaurav Tripathi | Oct 04, 2025, 03:58 PM*

India’s vice-captain Ravindra Jadeja was the star of the show in the first Test against the West Indies at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. His unbeaten century and a four-wicket haul played a pivotal role in India’s emphatic innings and 140-run victory. The match concluded on Day 3 after the West Indies were bowled out for just 146 runs in 45.1 overs in their second innings.

### Match Highlights

Jadeja’s bowling was instrumental in the West Indies’ second innings. He claimed four wickets for 54 runs from 13 overs, making him the standout bowler. This all-round effort brought him close to the rare ‘ton and five-for’ achievement in a Test match—a feat he has accomplished twice before.

The left-arm spinner trapped three of West Indies’ top-five batters—John Campbell, Brandon King, and Shai Hope—and also dismissed Johann Layne. It is notable that Jadeja had bowled three wicket-less overs in the first innings.

### Batting Masterclass: An Unbeaten Century

Chasing the West Indies’ first innings total of 162, Jadeja came to the crease at 218/4 and built a commanding 206-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Dhruv Jurel. While Jurel scored a fluent 125, Jadeja’s aggressive and composed batting ensured India maintained a strong lead.

His unbeaten knock of 104 runs off 176 balls was an ideal mix of defense and aggression, especially against spinners. During his innings, Jadeja struck six fours and five sixes, remaining not out to steer India forward.

### Impressive Stats

– **15th Four-Wicket Haul in Tests:** According to ESPNcricinfo, this was Jadeja’s 15th four-wicket haul in Test cricket. He also has as many five-wicket hauls to his name.

– **Career Figures:** Playing his 86th Test, Jadeja has amassed 334 wickets at an impressive average of 25.07.

– **Dominance Against West Indies:** Versus the West Indies, he has taken 27 wickets in eight Tests at an excellent average of 20.2. Although he is yet to achieve a five-wicket haul against the Caribbean team, he boasts 242 wickets in home Tests at an average of 20.65.

### Batting Milestone: Approaching 4,000 Test Runs

With the bat, Jadeja has scored 3,990 runs at a remarkable average of 38.73, including six centuries and 27 fifties. At 36 years old, he is now just 10 runs away from becoming the fourth cricketer ever to score over 4,000 runs and take more than 300 wickets in Test cricket.

This innings marked Jadeja’s second century in eight Tests against the West Indies (along with two fifties), accumulating 399 runs at an outstanding average of 66.50 against them.

—

Ravindra Jadeja’s stellar all-round performance in Ahmedabad once again underscored his immense value to the Indian cricket team, highlighting his mastery with both bat and ball on home soil.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/ravindra-jadeja-s-all-round-heroics-guide-india-to-win-over-wi/story