Latest news with #Pokémon
Mint
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
6 gadgets from 90s we all used, loved, and lost: How many do you remember?
Do you ever stop and wonder what happened to all those gadgets we couldn't live without in the 90s, and running into the early 2000s? It's wild to think how quickly they vanished from our lives and how far we've come in terms of speed, design, and efficiency. Back then, every new device felt like a doorway to the future. Now, most are just memories, sometimes tucked away in a drawer, sometimes just a story we tell. Ready for a little trip down memory lane? Let's see which classics made the list. Walkman Who remembers popping in a cassette and heading out for a walk, headphones on, feeling like the star of your own movie? The Walkman was pure magic. You'd rewind, fast forward, maybe even untangle a tape with a pencil. Crazy, right? Streaming was a distant dream. That click when you pressed play was all you needed to escape for a while. Floppy disc Saving a school project or swapping games with friends meant one thing, floppy discs. They could barely hold a single photo by today's standards, but back then, they were everything. Most people would label floppy discs with a marker because of how easy it was to mix them up. The suspense of waiting to see if your files survived, that was real drama. Now, the floppy lives on as the save icon on our screens. Who would've guessed? Of course we can't forget this one. Before everyone had a phone, the pager was king. Doctors, business folks, even teenagers clipped these little buzzers to their belts. You'd get a beep, see a number, and then rush to find a payphone. It sounds slow now but back then, getting a page felt urgent and important. Did you ever try to use one just to feel cool? Taking a photo was an act of faith. You'd line up the shot, snap the picture, and then wait days to see if it turned out. Picking up a fresh envelope of prints from the photo lab was like opening a present. Sometimes you'd get a masterpiece, sometimes just a blurry mess. But that surprise was half the fun, wasn't it? Game Boy The Game Boy was the ultimate sidekick. Chunky, a little heavy, but always ready for Tetris or Pokémon. Swapping cartridges with friends, hunting for batteries, and playing by the window for better light, those were the days. Can you believe how simple it all felt? No updates, no downloads, just pure fun. Here's one that probably got you in trouble at school. Tamagotchis were everywhere. These tiny digital pets needed constant feeding, cleaning, and attention. If you forgot about them for a few hours, you'd come back to a sad screen and a virtual mess. The obsession was real. Did your Tamagotchi ever survive more than a week? It's funny how fast things change. The gadgets that once felt futuristic are now relics of another time. But every so often, it's good to pause and remember those clicks, buzzes, and beeps that made the 90s feel so alive. Makes you wonder which of today's tech will be tomorrow's nostalgia, right?
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Google's Gemini AI panics while playing Pokémon, takes 800 hours to finish game
Artificial intelligence has made remarkable strides, but Google's latest chatbot is showing that even the smartest machines can crumble under pressure. A recent report by Google DeepMind reveals that its flagship model, Gemini 2.5 Pro, displayed signs of panic while playing Pokémon Blue—an old-school video game many children breeze through with ease. The findings came from a Twitch channel called Gemini_Plays_Pokemon, where independent engineer Joel Zhang put Gemini to the test. While Gemini is known for its advanced reasoning abilities and code-level understanding, its performance during this gaming challenge exposed unexpected behavioural quirks. Also read: 40-year-old man dies of cancer after doctors told him stomach ache was due to stress According to the DeepMind team, Gemini began to exhibit what they describe as 'Agent Panic.' The report states, 'Over the course of the playthrough Gemini 2.5 Pro gets into various situations which cause the model to simulate 'panic'. For example, when the Pokémon in the party's health or power points are low, the model's thoughts repeatedly reiterate the need to heal the party immediately or escape the current dungeon.' This behaviour didn't go unnoticed. Viewers on Twitch began identifying when the AI was panicking, with DeepMind noting, 'This behaviour has occurred in enough separate instances that the members of the Twitch chat have actively noticed when it is occurring.' Although AI doesn't experience stress or emotion like humans, the model's erratic decision-making in high-pressure situations mirrors how people behave under stress, making impulsive or inefficient choices. In the first full game run, Gemini took 813 hours to finish Pokémon Blue. After adjustments by Zhang, the AI completed a second playthrough in 406.5 hours. Still, this was far from efficient, especially compared to the time a child would take to complete the same game. Social media users were quick to mock the AI's anxious gameplay. 'If you read it's thoughts when reasoning it seems to panic just about any time you word something slightly off,' said one viewer. Another joked: 'LLANXIETY.' A third chimed in with a broader reflection: 'I'm starting to think the 'Pokémon index' might be one of our best indicators of AGI. Our best AIs still struggling with a child's game is one of the best indicators we have of how far we still have yet to go. And how far we've come.' Interestingly, these revelations come just weeks after Apple released a study arguing that most AI reasoning models don't truly reason at all. Instead, they rely heavily on pattern recognition and tend to fall apart when the task is tweaked or made more complex. Also read: Two fired after Michigan man receives $1.6 million salary in major payroll slip-up - Sakshi
Qatar Tribune
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
DFI's ‘Geekend' caught ‘em all with successful pop culture celebration
Tribune News Network Doha Geekend, the region's premier pop culture event by Doha Film Institute (DFI), concluded three days of jam-packed activities and geeky camaraderie. The event hosted an exciting array of floor activations and a lively stage programme with a special Pokémon spotlight at the Geekdom Building on Lusail Boulevard. This edition of Geekend was presented in partnership with community activation group 'Nakama' to celebrate the intersection of anime and culture. The community-led event bridged gaps and brought together Geekdom's wide-ranging fanbase like never before, allowing for stronger engagement and integration. By uniting fans from across the nation and showcasing Qatar's vibrant creative economy, Geekend cemented its ongoing support for local artists and vendors in attendance. Abdulla Al Mosallam, chief administrative officer of Doha Film Institute and Founder of Geekdom, said: 'Geekdom has been a pop culture staple in the region for twelve years, bringing together diverse fandoms under one roof. This edition of Geekend was no different. We are grateful to be able to curate a space for the region's biggest fans, vendors, and artists to feel seen, inviting them to connect, engage, and showcase their passion.' The Geekend Market returned, giving niche creators a rare opportunity to connect with their target audience and engage with visitors who appreciate their craft. Local artists were able to showcase their work, reflecting continuous efforts to support the creative economy in Qatar. From platforming everything from storyboards to fan art, the Market has proven its success through participant testimonies and an increase in the number of applicants, almost quadrupling allocated slots. Further, the event celebrated the world of Pokémon with a wide range of Pokémon-inspired activities and entertainment, nostalgic to adults who have grown up with the nearly 30-year-old franchise, sharing that joy with a newer generation of fans. The success of Geekend was made possible through the support of its sponsors, including LG, Jumbo Souq, Ultra Gear, S-City, Music Lab, Store974, and Gamers Station. A special announcement added to the excitement, unveiling the dates for Geekdom 2025: This year's main pop culture event, supported by DFI, will take place from November 18 to 22, further amplifying the spirit of fandom exemplified by Geekend.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Every Anime Coming to Crunchyroll in Summer 2025
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Anime is largely seasonal, with new releases in the anime industry typically starting roughly alongside the beginning of a season. It's not just new anime either — alongside new series, new seasons of existing series also see releases at around this time, while others run throughout the whole year, like One Piece and Pokémon. The best place to watch anime on the internet in most countries – including the US – is the Sony-owned Crunchyroll, which hosts hundreds of anime series and movies, with more added constantly throughout the year. With Summer almost here, a new batch of titles is set to hit the streaming service soon. Seiko wielding a baseball bat and riding on the back of a floating anatomy dummy in the trailer for DAN DA DAN season 2. Seiko wielding a baseball bat and riding on the back of a floating anatomy dummy in the trailer for DAN DA DAN season 2. Shueisha / Crunchyroll Crunchyroll has given us all the details for every anime coming to Crunchyroll in Summer 2025, which you can see below. Crunchyroll Summer 2025 Releases June 28 Takopi's Original Sin Lord of Mysteries July 1 Detectives These Days Are Crazy! Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show Rent-a-Girlfriend – Season 4 July 2 Clevatess Onmyo Kaiten Re:Birth Verse New Saga Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon – Season 2 July 3 DAN DA DAN – Season 2 The Water Magician Welcome to the Outcast's Restaurant Kamitsubaki City Under Construction July 4 Secrets of the Silent Witch Arknights: Rise from Ember Watari-Kun's ****** is About to Collapse Betrothed to My Sister's Ex July 5 My Dress-Up Darling – Season 2 Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus With You and the Rain The Shy Hero and the Assassin Princesses Scooped Up By an S-Ranked Adventurer Private Tutor to the Duke's Daughter Hoshina's Day Off – Special Episode from Kaiju No. 8 July 6 Gachiakuta Nyaight of the Living Cat Toilet-bound Hanako-kun – Season 2 Hotel Inhumans Apocalypse Bring Mynoghra: World Conquest Starts with the Civilization of Ruin Cultural Exchange with a Game Centre Girl Ruri Rocks July 7 Grand Blue Dreaming – Season 2 Dekin no Mogura: The Earthbound Mole July 8 Turkey! Time to Strike A Couple of Cuckoos – Season 2 July 9 The Rising of the Shield Hero – Season 4 I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince So I can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability – Season 2 Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze July 10 Dr. STONE Science Future – Cour 2 Solo Camping for Two July 19 Kaiju No. 8 – Season 2 July 24 Let's Go Karaoke! August 20 Captivated, By You Coming Soon See You Tomorrow at the Food Court Crunchyroll Summer 2025 Continuing Series These series started in prior anime seasons and will continue with new episodes this Summer.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Pokémon GO's Future? Night Events and Country Specific Pokémon, Says Dev
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors A senior developer at Pokémon GO has laid out the game's future - and it looks promising. According to senior product director Michael Sterenka, who spoke to Newsweek during Pokémon GO Fest 2025 in Paris over the June 13th-15th weekend, players can expect the introduction of special night events, as well as more Pokémon specific to certain countries. "I've always wanted to figure out what we can do for nighttime experience,' Sterenka said. Pokémon GO Fest 2025 happened in Paris from June 13–15, 2025 Pokémon GO Fest 2025 happened in Paris from June 13–15, 2025 Pokémon GO "There are definitely safety considerations in place for that. If you have your phone open and you're not really looking where you're going and it's dark outside, that could be a little bit tricky, but I've always felt like that was an area worth exploring for us and something I'd love to figure out in the future." Don't expect nighttime events anytime soon, though. Like anything implemented in Pokémon GO, developer Niantic wants to make sure everything is well and truly battle-tested before it's introduced to the smash hit mobile game, which has been running since 2016. "We don't have anything planned currently on that front, but if I could pick one thing to add to the event experience, that would be the thing that I would do." The second item on Sterenka's wishlist is even more ambitious: regional diversity that brings different experiences based on where you are in the world. For instance, if you play Pokémon GO in France, you'll be able to catch a greater range of different Pokémon than a player in, say, Brazil. This functionality is, to a lesser extent, already in the game. One Pokémon, Stonjourner, is a timed UK-exclusive. Comfey, meanwhile, currently only appears in Hawaii. But Sterenka is dreaming bigger than just Pokémon. "Pokémon GO being such a location-based game, we always want to build experiences that are authentic to the places that people play in. So we do that right now for broader campaigns or maybe country specific activations...I would love for something that actually has regional differences, and based on where you're playing, similar to how we lean into all the amazing features here at Parc de Sceaux." Some Pokémon you can catch during Pokémon GO Fest 2025 Some Pokémon you can catch during Pokémon GO Fest 2025 Pokémon GO Parc de Sceaux hosted Pokémon GO Fest 2025, and offered a preview of what might be coming down the line. The premier event in the Pokémon GO calendar offered numerous incentives for the thousands of players in attendance, including new missions, rare items, and previously hard-to-obtain Pokémon. There were also distinct habitats for players to explore. Each habitat housed its own set of field research tasks themed around the habitat they're linked to. The Moonless Volcano area, for example, featured fierce and fiery Pokémon like Numel and Houndoom, while the Hypnotic Tundra boasted Piplups and Spheals. On top of this, there were nine free daily raid passes, an increase from three hours to eight hours of party play, and surprise Pokémon that popped out while taking snapshots. It all seemed designed for one purpose: to get players out of the house and interacting with each other in the real world. A giant inflatable Pikachu dominates Pokémon GO Fest 2025 A giant inflatable Pikachu dominates Pokémon GO Fest 2025 Pokémon GO For Sterenka, that's exactly what makes the game so popular. "Pokemon GO is the most family friendly, accessible game in the world. And when you look around here, it's proof of that. You see people who you would probably never see together otherwise, all coming together to play this wonderful game that everybody loves." "We really try to encourage people to meet up in person and have these real-world social experiences. So it's really not like any other game out there, and in fact, a lot of people who play Pokémon GO don't consider themselves gamers, and this is more of sort of a lifestyle app that leverages the fun of catching Pokémon to really get people outside and enjoying the world around them." Pokémon GO Fest 2025 Ticket Price A ticket for Pokémon GO Fest 2025 costs $14.99/£14.99. You can buy tickets from the in-game shop and Pokémon GO web store. Buying your ticket in advance is recommended. Those who bought tickets before April 15th received a Skiddo encounter after completing the timed research. Buying from the web store got you three premium battle passes, five rare candies, and five max revives. Pokemon GO Fest 2025 Start Time: When Was GO Fest Global 2025? GO Fest 2025 ran from June 13–15, 2025. It started at 10am CET and ended at 6pm CET on both days. What is Pokémon GO? Pokémon GO is a free-to-play augmented reality mobile game originally released in 2016. Developed and published by Niantic in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for iOS and Android devices, it sees players catch, trade, and compete with Pokémon who appear in your real-world location.
