“We’re just going for a walk”
This Thursday, 2 February, two astronauts currently residing on the International Space Station (ISS) are planning a trip into the void, leaving the comfort of their ‘home’. The plan is simple. Spacewalk out to the exterior of the ISS and (hopefully) finish the job that’ll eventually allow future astronauts to upgrade the station’s power system.
The astronauts in question are Nicole Mann (NASA) and Koichi Wakata (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). This is the pair’s second spacewalk together. Less than a month ago, the duo began work on installing new exterior struts on the ISS that’ll eventually allow for future spacewalkers to install new solar arrays known as iROSAs.
And, as the two set off for the second half of their journey, NASA will be live-streaming the entire event. This won’t be a short walk either. The entirety of the mission is set to last up to eight hours, meaning you can keep an eye on it throughout the day should you desire. The stream (appearing on NASA TV) begins at 6:45 AM ET, meaning it’ll begin at 13:45 PM for those watching in South Africa. You can head over to NASA’s YouTube channel to watch the live stream or return to this post and use the video above.
Source: Digital Trends
We’re getting another Tomb Raider adaptation
It was only a matter of time. Crystal Dynamic’s popular Tomb Raider franchise is getting yet another live-action adaptation, this time in the form of a TV series. Don’t worry, it’s not a Netflix ‘original’, so it’ll probably get a second season at the very least. Amazon has bought the rights for this one, continuing its run of adapting every single IP it can lay its hands on.
Surprisingly, when the news broke of the Tomb Raider TV series, The Hollywood Reporter also revealed that a Tomb Raider movie is in the works too, the first since the Alicia Vikander reboot in 2018 that never managed to pan itself into a franchise. Not much is known yet about the movie reboot, but the series has already found its writer and director – Phoebe Waller-Bridge – best known for writing and directing (and starring) in Fleabag. That’s probably the best news we’ve heard all day. If you’re unfamiliar with Fleabag, drop everything and get to watching — Unless you’re looking after a freshly born baby. They can watch the first two episodes with you.
The upcoming series and movie are reportedly part of a Tomb Raider ‘Universe’ that will see the series and movies connect and tie in with the upcoming string of games from Crystal Dynamics. Maybe there’ll be a PowerWash Simulator cameo hidden in there somewhere too?
Source: Gizmodo
Gatekeeping WiFi 6E
If you’ve never really noticed, or most likely, never cared about the oh-so-subtle differences between the three, sometimes four, iPhone models released every year, 2023 might be the first year you take notice. According to a leaked antenna design, seen by MacRumors, the more expensive iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models may include WiFi 6E connectivity, while the cheaper and smaller models are left with the slightly older WiFi 6 standard.
Only a few of Apple’s latest devices feature the new standard, including the new M2-powered MacBook Pros and Mac Minis. It might not seem like a huge difference until you try it. If your home router is capable of WiFi 6E output, any WiFi 6E-enabled device will net you better connection speeds and far less latency than any previous wireless standard. For most users, the lack of WiFi 6E won’t be missed as most folks are still plodding along with older WiFi 6 or even WiFi 5 routers.
Apple doesn’t have much to offer buyers of the larger and more expensive iPhone models, aside from upgraded camera specs and a larger screen and battery. But, last year’s set of devices indicates Apple is expanding the feature list for the higher-end models, starting with the A16 Bionic chip and Dynamic Island cutout only available in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. We could be seeing more locked-off features exclusively in the Pro and Pro Max versions once they release later this year.
The Last of Us is getting a season 2
You probably expected HBO’s The Last of Us to be greenlit for a second season. It has received rave reviews for the last three weeks (including our own), which seem set to continue over the coming six weeks. But now, it’s official. The Last of Us is getting a second season.
“I’m humbled, honoured, and frankly overwhelmed that so many people have tuned in and connected with our retelling of Joel and Ellie’s journey. The collaboration with Craig Mazin, our incredible cast & crew, and HBO exceeded my already high expectations,” said the IP’s creator, Neil Druckmann. “Now we have the absolute pleasure of being able to do it again with season two! On behalf of everyone at Naughty Dog & PlayStation, thank you!”
With the series only having released three episodes thus far, not much is known about the second season just yet. We can only assume that Craig Mazin – the series’ writer and showrunner – will be making his return. And of course, the series’ leads – Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey should be back whenever the next season begins filming. Whether the series will closely adapt the sequel’s controversial story remains to be seen.
If, for whatever reason, you still haven’t started watching HBO’s brilliant The Last of Us live-action adaptation, check out our entire season 1 review right here. The show’s third episode premiered last night on DStv, with the episode hitting Showmax at 22:00 this evening.
Source: Variety