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New “Skeleton Crew” Preview Hints at Pirates and Secret Dangers

# **Star Wars: Skeleton Crew – An Adventure Inspired by The Goonies in a Distant Galaxy**

The universe of Star Wars is set to expand further with the forthcoming spinoff series, *Star Wars: Skeleton Crew*, scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on December 3, 2024. This eight-episode standalone show unfolds in the same timeline as *The Mandalorian* and *Ahsoka*, yet it introduces a fresh and adventurous perspective to the galaxy far, far away. Drawing inspiration from the beloved 1985 cult film *The Goonies*, *Skeleton Crew* is poised to offer a nostalgic yet exhilarating voyage, merging the charm of a coming-of-age tale with the grand scale of the Star Wars saga.

### **A Goonies-Inspired Adventure Within Star Wars**

Executive Producer Kathleen Kennedy, who also co-produced *The Goonies*, has acknowledged the film’s impact on *Skeleton Crew*. Similar to *The Goonies*, the series features a group of children who encounter a mysterious discovery and set off on an unforeseen journey. Nonetheless, unlike *The Goonies*, which depicts a treasure hunt in the real world, *Skeleton Crew* takes its young heroes on an adventure across the galaxy, filled with peril, excitement, and mystery.

While the series is not explicitly targeted at a young audience, it narrates a story of kids in extraordinary situations. This narrative approach enables it to appeal to a wider viewership, akin to *The Goonies*, which appealed to both children and adults.

### **The Plot: Adrift in Space**

The official synopsis of *Star Wars: Skeleton Crew* is as follows:

> “*Skeleton Crew* chronicles the adventure of four kids who discover something mysterious on their seemingly secure home planet, only to find themselves adrift in a strange and perilous galaxy, crossing paths with figures such as Jod Na Nawood, a mysterious character portrayed by Jude Law. Their quest to find their way home—and the unexpected allies and adversaries they meet—will prove to be a grander adventure than they ever anticipated.”

The series revolves around four young characters—Wim (portrayed by Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), KB (Kyriana Kratter), and Neil (Robert Timothy Smith)—who, after uncovering a mysterious find, become lost in the vastness of space. Throughout their journey, they meet Jod Na Nawood, a Force-user played by Jude Law, who acts as their mentor and guardian as they face the galaxy’s dangers.

### **The Cast and Their Roles**

Jude Law leads the ensemble as Jod Na Nawood, a clever and charismatic Force-user who aids the children on their quest. Law has described his character as both enigmatic and inventive, presenting a new spin on the classic Jedi archetype.

The youthful cast features:
– **Ravi Cabot-Conyers** as Wim, an inquisitive and adventurous boy.
– **Ryan Kiera Armstrong** as Fern, a bold and daring girl.
– **Kyriana Kratter** as KB, a tech-savvy and ingenious companion.
– **Robert Timothy Smith** as Neil, the group’s cautious yet valiant pilot.

In addition to the primary cast, *Skeleton Crew* showcases a plethora of captivating characters, including:
– **Nick Frost** lending his voice to SM 33, a droid and first mate of the spacecraft *Onyx Cylinder*.
– **Fred Tatasciore** as Brutus, a formidable foe.
– **Jaleel White** as Gunther, a mysterious individual.
– **Mike Estes** as Pax, a fellow wayfarer.
– **Marti Matulis** as Vane, a perilous pirate.
– **Dale Soules** as Chaelt, a clever ally.

Tunde Adebimpe and Kerry Condon are also expected to appear in unspecified roles, adding to the allure of the cast.

### **The Trailer: A Sneak Peek into the Journey**

The inaugural trailer for *Skeleton Crew* premiered at Disney’s annual D23 Expo in August 2024, providing a captivating preview of the series’ tone and narrative. The trailer begins with the youthful protagonists at school, gearing up for a test that could shape their futures. However, they feel restless and crave something far more thrilling than their monotonous lives. Their desire for adventure becomes reality when they uncover a hidden “lost Jedi temple” tucked away in the woods.

Before long, the children find themselves aboard a spaceship, soaring away from their home planet and losing their way in space’s immense expanse. The trailer, set to a rendition of David Bowie’s “Major Tom” sung in an alien Star Wars dialect, features the kids’ encounters with bizarre creatures, perilous pirates, and treacherous terrains.

One of the standout scenes in the trailer shows the group attempting to pay for food at a Star Wars-themed waystation using Old Republic credits, only to be met with an unexpected situation.

“Novel Tool Shows Distance Covered While Texting and Driving”

### The Significance of Staying Focused on the Road: An Insight into Distracted Driving

Maintaining focus on the road is crucial for driver safety.

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Bats Employ Echolocation to Formulate Mental Maps for Navigation

**Bats and Echolocation: Sound-Driven Navigation in the Night**

Bats are intriguing animals, often connected to the night and their extraordinary talent for soaring through darkness without crashing into hurdles. This impressive ability is primarily due to echolocation, a biological sonar mechanism that enables bats to “visualize” their environment by producing sound waves and interpreting the echoes that return. Although echolocation is generally recognized as a short-range system for dodging barriers and capturing prey, recent studies indicate that bats may utilize this capability for more intricate tasks, including extensive navigation over several kilometers.

### Echolocation: Beyond Simple Obstacle Navigation

Various bat species depend on echolocation to identify nearby objects such as tree limbs or airborne insects. Nevertheless, a study conducted by scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany and Tel Aviv University in Israel has demonstrated that echolocation might also assist bats in navigating over long distances. This particular research concentrated on Kuhl’s pipistrelle bats, a diminutive species renowned for its exceptional echolocation skills but relatively poor vision.

The research team uncovered that these bats could construct elaborate “acoustic maps” of their surroundings by assembling thousands of sound signatures. These maps empowered the bats to traverse several kilometers, even when blindfolded. This discovery challenges the conventional perspective of echolocation as merely a short-range tool and implies that bats might use it to orient themselves across considerably larger spaces.

### The Experiment: Bats in a Sensory Deprivation Scenario

To investigate how bats utilize echolocation for navigation, the research team carried out an experiment featuring 76 Kuhl’s pipistrelle bats. The bats were categorized into four groups, each experiencing different degrees of sensory deprivation:

1. **Group 1:** Bats with all senses functional.
2. **Group 2:** Blindfolded bats.
3. **Group 3:** Bats deprived of vision and smell.
4. **Group 4:** Bats deprived of vision, smell, and the perception of Earth’s magnetic field (achieved by attaching magnets to them).

All bats were fitted with radio tags to monitor their movements in real-time. They were subsequently released several kilometers from their shelters in an open area. The objective was to determine whether the bats could return home relying solely on echolocation.

In a surprising turn of events, all the bats, irrespective of the sensory deprivation they experienced, managed to navigate back to their shelters. They spent a few moments flying around to reorient themselves before returning home. This indicates that echolocation was a crucial factor in their navigation. However, the researchers could not unequivocally determine echolocation as the only navigational method since the bats did not attempt to fly when they were unable to echolocate.

### Sound Mapping the Landscape

To deepen the understanding of how bats might employ echolocation for large-scale navigation, the researchers generated a detailed 3D representation of the Hula Valley in Israel, the site of the experiment. By utilizing Lidar technology (a technique that employs laser light for distance measurement), they scanned the valley’s landscape and simulated the echoes that bats would perceive while flying through the area.

The researchers segmented the valley into spatial units and analyzed the complexity of the echoes within each section. Areas with intricate terrain features, like orchards and riverbanks, yielded higher “echoic entropy,” while simpler zones, such as open fields, had lower echoic entropy. This enabled the researchers to construct a model of how the environment might “sound” to a bat employing echolocation.

By juxtaposing the bats’ flight trajectories with the echoic entropy of the landscape, the researchers concluded that the bats likely utilized distinctive landmarks, such as orchards, for navigation. Upon recognizing a familiar landmark, the bats adjusted their flight paths accordingly, even if the landmark was beyond the immediate range of their echolocation.

### Cognitive Acoustic Maps: A New Perspective on Bat Navigation

The results of this study imply that bats might use “cognitive acoustic maps” for navigation. These maps allow bats to retain the locations of specific landmarks and use them for orientation over extended distances. The bats in the research did not fly in straight paths but exhibited slight meandering, particularly those with greater levels of sensory deprivation. This wandering could be attributed to the limitations of echolocation, which has a relatively limited range. Yet, the bats were still capable of returning home by identifying familiar landmarks and modifying their routes accordingly.

The researchers contend that this behavior transcends basic beaconing, wherein an animal focuses on a distant object and moves toward it. Instead, the bats seemed to possess a mental representation of the surroundings, enabling them to navigate even when some landmarks were beyond range.

### Future Research: Expanding Insights into Bat Navigation

While this study sheds light on how bats leverage echolocation for navigation, it also prompts numerous inquiries. For instance, how do other bat species orient themselves in

Charger Recall Intensifies Challenges for Humane’s Controversial AI Pin

# Humane’s Ai Pin Encounters Challenges Following Recall of Charging Accessory

Humane, the startup located in San Francisco behind the Ai Pin, is facing another obstacle as it recalls the portable charging case for its wearable device. The recall, announced on Thursday, is prompted by overheating concerns regarding the Charge Case Accessory, adding to the mounting difficulties the company has experienced since the Ai Pin’s launch in April 2024.

## The Ai Pin: An Ambitious Concept with a Troublesome Launch

The Ai Pin was launched as an innovative wearable aimed at replacing smartphones. It incorporates an integrated camera, speaker, AI voice assistant, and a laser projector, all designed as a lapel pin. However, despite the grand vision, the Ai Pin has struggled to resonate with consumers.

Initially priced at $700, the Ai Pin’s cost was reduced to $500 in June, likely as a response to lackluster sales and unfavorable reviews. Additionally, the device requires a $24 monthly subscription, compounding its overall cost. Despite assertions that it could serve as a smartphone substitute, initial reviews were predominantly negative. Tech reviewer Marques Brownlee infamously labeled the Ai Pin “The Worst Product I’ve Ever Reviewed,” a viewpoint echoed by numerous others.

The Ai Pin does not possess a conventional screen or app support, and its dependence on voice commands and a laser projector has faced criticism for being impractical in numerous everyday situations. Users have raised concerns over the wearable’s limited functionality, alongside ongoing issues with battery life and performance.

## The Recall: Concerns Over Overheating

Humane’s most recent setback consists of a recall for the Ai Pin’s Charge Case Accessory, sold separately from the main device. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) noted that the Charge Case Accessory’s lithium polymer battery has the potential to overheat, creating a fire hazard. One user reported that the accessory melted while in use, leading to the recall. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries or property damage.

Humane first became aware of the overheating issue in June 2024, subsequently advising users to stop utilizing the Charge Case Accessory. The recall impacts around 10,500 units sold between November 2023 and May 2024.

In their statement, Humane attributed the overheating issue to specific battery cells provided by a third-party vendor. The company clarified that the concern is limited to the battery cells and not associated with the overall design of the Charge Case Accessory. Humane has since cut ties with the vendor and is in search of a new source.

Customers affected by the recall can receive a refund of up to $149 or a replacement, although replacements may take three to six months to become available. In the interim, Humane has advised users to dispose of their Charge Case Accessories responsibly, avoiding regular trash or basic battery recycling options.

## A Challenging Product Introduction

The recall represents just the latest trial for Humane and its Ai Pin. The product’s launch was overshadowed by numerous complaints, including difficulties with the pin’s attachment to clothing, slow responsiveness from the voice assistant, and the laser projector’s limited efficacy in bright settings. Battery life has also emerged as a significant issue, with many users reporting that the device fails to last a full day of use.

Reports indicate that Humane’s founders, both former Apple executives, disregarded internal warnings regarding the product’s flaws. A report from *The New York Times* revealed that the company even dismissed an engineer who expressed concerns about the Ai Pin’s feasibility.

By June 2024, merely two months after the Ai Pin’s launch, Humane reportedly sought to sell itself for between $750 million and $1 billion. The company has also contended with a substantial return issue, with reports suggesting that more Ai Pins have been returned than sold. As of August 2024, only 7,000 Ai Pins had not been returned, according to *The Verge*.

## The Future of Humane: A Move Towards Software?

With the Ai Pin struggling in the marketplace, Humane is attempting to broaden its horizons. On Friday, the organization revealed plans to enhance its software development kit (SDK) and license its CosmOS operating system to third-party developers. This strategic move indicates that Humane may be shifting its attention from hardware to software as a means of survival.

The CosmOS operating system, which underpins the Ai Pin, might be utilized in other AI-driven devices, enabling Humane to explore new revenue opportunities. However, whether this shift will suffice to secure the company’s future remains uncertain.

## Conclusion: A Lengthy Road Ahead

The recall of the Ai Pin’s Charge Case Accessory represents another setback for Humane, a company that has already encountered considerable obstacles in launching its ambitious product. With negative critiques, disappointing sales figures, and an expanding list of technical problems, the Ai Pin’s prospects appear bleak.

While Humane’s pivot toward software development could potentially provide a crucial boost,

Apple Unveils Purchase of Image Editing Software Firm Pixelmator

# Apple Purchases Pixelmator: What Lies Ahead for One of the Few One-Time Payment Photoshop Alternatives?

In a pivotal decision that might transform the creative software arena, Apple has revealed its acquisition of **Pixelmator**, the Lithuania-based firm celebrated for its widely used photo editing applications. This acquisition, awaiting regulatory approval, has sparked discussions about the future of Pixelmator’s applications, which have consistently been a favorite among creatives due to their one-time payment structure—an increasingly uncommon substitute for Adobe’s subscription-centric Photoshop.

## The Acquisition: Current Insights

Founded 17 years ago, Pixelmator has confirmed the acquisition via a blog entry, announcing that its team will integrate into Apple. The company has reassured its users that there will be “no material changes to the Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, and Photomator apps at this moment,” while hinting at “exciting updates ahead.” However, specifics regarding the acquisition, including the financial details, remain undisclosed.

The Pixelmator team shared their enthusiasm about the acquisition, emphasizing that they have always found inspiration in Apple. “We’ve been inspired by Apple since day one, crafting our products with the same razor-sharp focus on design, ease of use, and performance,” the company remarked. They also underscored the opportunity to reach a wider audience and create a greater influence on the creative community.

## Pixelmator: A Distinctive Alternative to Adobe’s Subscription Approach

Pixelmator has successfully established itself as a robust yet cost-effective option to Adobe’s Photoshop. In contrast to Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite, which utilizes a subscription model, Pixelmator’s products can be purchased with a one-time fee. This has made it a favored choice among hobbyists, freelancers, and small enterprises that prefer to avoid ongoing subscriptions.

Pixelmator Pro, the flagship offering, has received consistent updates featuring new functionalities, including AI and machine learning for photo modifications, vector editing features, and RAW photo format support. Users have lauded the app for its user-friendly interface, powerful capabilities, and seamless compatibility with macOS and iOS.

Nevertheless, with Apple’s acquisition, some users are apprehensive that Pixelmator might ultimately be integrated into Apple’s ecosystem, risking its identity as an independent product. Apple has a track record of acquiring applications and either blending them into its software portfolio or discontinuing them entirely.

## An Overview of Apple’s Acquisition History

Apple’s history with software acquisitions presents a mix of outcomes. For example, following the acquisition of the popular weather app **Dark Sky** in 2020, Apple eventually discontinued the app for Android and iOS users, merging its functionalities into the native Apple Weather app. Similarly, the purchase of **Workflow**, an iOS automation tool, resulted in the launch of Apple’s **Shortcuts** app, which has evolved into a powerful tool for automating processes on iPhones and iPads.

Conversely, some acquisitions have led to standalone products that continue to flourish. **Final Cut Pro** and **Logic Pro**, both taken over by Apple, remain available as independent applications, serving professional video editors and musicians, respectively.

Considering this background, it remains uncertain whether Pixelmator will persist as a standalone product or be assimilated into Apple’s existing array of creative tools, such as **Photos** or **iMovie**.

## Regulatory Challenges: Will the Acquisition Proceed?

While the acquisition appears to be a logical fit for Apple, it may undergo regulatory examination, especially in Europe. In recent times, technology giants have faced growing opposition from regulators concerning monopolistic tendencies and market consolidation.

For instance, Adobe recently had to abandon its $20 billion acquisition of design software company **Figma** after UK and European Union regulators expressed disapproval of the transaction. Similarly, **Amazon**’s attempted acquisition of **iRobot**, the creator of Roomba, encountered resistance from European regulators. Even **Microsoft**’s $69 billion purchase of **Activision Blizzard** faced considerable obstacles before receiving final approval.

Given the increasing examination of technology mergers, it is conceivable that Apple’s acquisition of Pixelmator may face similar hurdles, particularly if regulators perceive potential competition suppression in the creative software domain.

## Implications for Pixelmator Users

Currently, Pixelmator users can keep using the applications without any immediate alterations. However, the long-term trajectory of the software remains ambiguous. Will Apple uphold Pixelmator as a standalone offering with its current pricing structure, or will it eventually be incorporated into Apple’s ecosystem, potentially transitioning to a subscription model?

Pixelmator’s dedicated user community likely hopes for the former, as the app’s one-time payment model has been a significant selling point. Nevertheless, considering Apple’s pattern of assimilating acquired software into its ecosystem, users should “stay tuned” for possible changes in the upcoming years.

## Conclusion: A New Era for Pixelmator

The acquisition of Pixelmator by