Latest news with #Reader
Pink Villa
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Omniscient Reader: The Prophet locks release date with intense trailer ft Ahn Hyo Seop, Lee Min Ho, Jisoo and more
Omniscient Reader: The Prophet is an upcoming action-fantasy film featuring an ensemble cast. On June 16, its production team confirmed the release date and dropped the official trailer and posters, heightening anticipation for its release. Set in a dystopian world, blurring the line between fantasy and reality, this movie is set to offer an unique viewer experience. Omniscient Reader: The Prophet unveiled posters The fantasy action thriller film stars Lee Min Ho, Ahn Hyo Seop, BLACKPINK's Jisoo, Chae Soo Bin, Nana and Shin Seung Ho in lead roles. In the posters, each of them have their gazes fixed at the bizarre happenings following a novel world taking over the real world. Their expressions show worries of whether they will be able to save humanity from the clutches of the novel's monsters. Little Kwon Eun Seong is also a part of their quest for establishing good over evil. Omniscient Reader: The Prophet release date The 1 h 56 min movie will hit the theatres on July 23, 2025. Its posters and trailer launch heightened the buzz regarding the upcoming big budget project. Omniscient Reader: The Prophet unveiled trailer In the trailer, we see the leads using their special powers and weapons to take down the otherworldly creatures in thrilling encounters. Kim Dok Ja (Ahn Hyo Seop) states, 'The story that I love, the one that meant everything to me, has become reality.' As the only one who has read the novel, he knows exactly how events will unfold once the monsters enter the real world. Deadly chaos commences when a goblin named Bihyung suddenly appears on the subway, tasking the humans with a mission– killing at least one living thing. We then get a glimpse into the chaotic new world, showcasing the characters' iconic abiliies and weapons as they engage in an intense battle to survive. Kim Dok Ja informs his team of the novel's happening, stating, "We just have to clear up to the 99th scenario" and declared his determination to alter the humans' tragic fate in the real worlrd. With unwavering resolve, he mentions, 'With my companions, I will rewrite the ending of this story.'
The Age
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
She might be dead, but Agatha Christie is giving writing lessons. Sort of...
Creepy but vital question: if your writing tutor was the bestselling novelist of all time, and able to reveal the secrets behind writing irresistible crime mysteries while sitting at a mahogany desk wearing her trademark tweed suit and pearls, would it matter that she's dead – and that you are, in fact, looking at an eerily realistic, AI-supported video version of her? Such questions hover around the new BBC Maestro series, Agatha Christie on Writing, a 2.5-hour online course of 11 lessons led by the author herself, even though she died back in 1976 at the age of 85. Yet here she is, staring into the camera, grey hair neatly curled, a brooch on her lapel, taking us on a time-travel journey to the 1940s to share her tips of the trade. 'I am Agatha Christie,' she announces in the course's trailer, sitting with her hands clasped after a camera has panned across a fountain pen, a magnifying glass and a cup of tea in a floral teacup on her desk. 'And this is my BBC Maestro course on writing.' It's gobsmackingly real. But Christie, who's also shown getting out of a car, sitting on a garden bench writing and wandering through a large house, isn't entirely AI-created. Conceived with the help of Christie's great-grandson, James Prichard, the online lessons feature a real actor, Vivien Keene, who wears a wig and costumes and uses a script drawn from Christie's letters, interviews and personal writing. Nearly 100 people, including academics, researchers, hair and make-up artists, a set designer and visual-effects experts, are behind the course and the digital magic that allows Keene's moving face to be overlaid with Christie's features. Resurrecting famous dead people via AI isn't new. Virtually Parkinson, an AI-created podcast 'hosted' by the late Michael Parkinson, features a digitally recreated version of the chat-show host's voice (derived from recordings) interviewing living celebrities. The show's technical prowess means AI Parkinson is able to analyse guests' answers and pose follow-up questions. Take AI Parky asking UK gardening expert Monty Don about what draws him back to the garden: 'It always comes back to the same thing of getting down to the ground, back to the earth,' Don says. AI Parky: 'I find that interesting. What is it about this connection to the earth that nurtures you so profoundly?' Don, laughing: 'I think it's to do with ... the rhythms of nature ... the way things grow.' It feels like the tip of the iceberg. In 2024, US software company ElevenLabs partnered with the estates of Laurence Olivier, Judy Garland and James Dean to use the late actors' voices as narrators for books and other text material on its Reader app. How long, then, before Jane Austen or Charlotte Brontë, quills in hand, are explaining Elizabeth Bennet or Jane Eyre? If the Queen of Mystery's 'realness' is any guide, the answer is, imminently. 'I will pass on the best advice I can from my own experiences,' Christie says, her crystalline gaze eyeing her students. 'But I should warn you, you must be serious about it if you wish to be a success.' Lenny Ann Low
Sydney Morning Herald
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
She might be dead, but Agatha Christie is giving writing lessons. Sort of...
Creepy but vital question: if your writing tutor was the bestselling novelist of all time, and able to reveal the secrets behind writing irresistible crime mysteries while sitting at a mahogany desk wearing her trademark tweed suit and pearls, would it matter that she's dead – and that you are, in fact, looking at an eerily realistic, AI-supported video version of her? Such questions hover around the new BBC Maestro series, Agatha Christie on Writing, a 2.5-hour online course of 11 lessons led by the author herself, even though she died back in 1976 at the age of 85. Yet here she is, staring into the camera, grey hair neatly curled, a brooch on her lapel, taking us on a time-travel journey to the 1940s to share her tips of the trade. 'I am Agatha Christie,' she announces in the course's trailer, sitting with her hands clasped after a camera has panned across a fountain pen, a magnifying glass and a cup of tea in a floral teacup on her desk. 'And this is my BBC Maestro course on writing.' It's gobsmackingly real. But Christie, who's also shown getting out of a car, sitting on a garden bench writing and wandering through a large house, isn't entirely AI-created. Conceived with the help of Christie's great-grandson, James Prichard, the online lessons feature a real actor, Vivien Keene, who wears a wig and costumes and uses a script drawn from Christie's letters, interviews and personal writing. Nearly 100 people, including academics, researchers, hair and make-up artists, a set designer and visual-effects experts, are behind the course and the digital magic that allows Keene's moving face to be overlaid with Christie's features. Resurrecting famous dead people via AI isn't new. Virtually Parkinson, an AI-created podcast 'hosted' by the late Michael Parkinson, features a digitally recreated version of the chat-show host's voice (derived from recordings) interviewing living celebrities. The show's technical prowess means AI Parkinson is able to analyse guests' answers and pose follow-up questions. Take AI Parky asking UK gardening expert Monty Don about what draws him back to the garden: 'It always comes back to the same thing of getting down to the ground, back to the earth,' Don says. AI Parky: 'I find that interesting. What is it about this connection to the earth that nurtures you so profoundly?' Don, laughing: 'I think it's to do with ... the rhythms of nature ... the way things grow.' It feels like the tip of the iceberg. In 2024, US software company ElevenLabs partnered with the estates of Laurence Olivier, Judy Garland and James Dean to use the late actors' voices as narrators for books and other text material on its Reader app. How long, then, before Jane Austen or Charlotte Brontë, quills in hand, are explaining Elizabeth Bennet or Jane Eyre? If the Queen of Mystery's 'realness' is any guide, the answer is, imminently. 'I will pass on the best advice I can from my own experiences,' Christie says, her crystalline gaze eyeing her students. 'But I should warn you, you must be serious about it if you wish to be a success.' Lenny Ann Low
Washington Post
26-05-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
Work Advice: Should you list a job you got fired from on a résumé?
Reader: My son was just fired after four months at a new job he had relocated for. It was pretty much his own fault. There was a long lapse in his health insurance and he didn't do what he needed to do to secure his ADHD meds. As a result, he made errors that cost the company money.
Hans India
14-05-2025
- Hans India
Apple Previews iOS 19 Accessibility Features Ahead of WWDC 2025
As anticipation builds for Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, the tech giant has offered a sneak peek at some of the standout features coming with iOS 19. Among the most noteworthy updates are a comprehensive suite of accessibility tools designed to enhance the user experience for individuals with disabilities. Set to roll out later this year, iOS 19 promises not just visual updates, but smarter, more inclusive innovations powered by Apple silicon and on-device intelligence. Apple's CEO Tim Cook emphasised the company's long-standing commitment to accessibility, stating, 'At Apple, accessibility is part of our DNA. We're proud of the innovations we're sharing this year. These tools are built to help people access essential information, explore the world around them, and engage more fully with what they love.' New 'Accessibility Nutrition Labels' on the App Store Leading the list of new features is the introduction of "Accessibility Nutrition Labels" on the App Store. These labels will appear on app product pages, giving users a detailed overview of each app's accessibility capabilities—such as support for VoiceOver, Voice Control, Larger Text, Captions, Reduced Motion, and sufficient contrast. The goal is to empower users with disabilities to make informed decisions about app compatibility before downloading. These labels will be available globally and are expected to significantly enhance digital accessibility across Apple's ecosystem. Introducing Braille Access: Full Braille Support Across Devices Another major highlight is the new Braille Access feature, which transforms iPhones, iPads, Macs, and even Apple Vision Pro into fully functional braille note-taking devices. With Braille Access, users can launch apps, take quick notes, and even work on technical documents using Nemeth Braille—all through Braille input. The feature also allows users to open Braille Ready Format (BRF) files directly and includes a built-in live captioning tool that transcribes conversations in real-time to connected braille displays. This makes communication and content consumption far more accessible to the visually impaired community. Accessibility Reader for Enhanced Text Customisation For users with reading disabilities or low vision, Apple is introducing the Accessibility Reader—an innovative system-wide tool that enhances text readability. Available across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro, this feature allows deep customisation of font type, background colour, text colour, line and character spacing, and line length. In addition to visual adjustments, the Accessibility Reader integrates Spoken Content support, enabling users to listen to the customised text aloud. It will also be accessible via the Magnifier app across supported platforms, offering a consistent experience. More Inclusive Features in iOS 19 In addition to these headline features, iOS 19 will introduce several smaller but impactful enhancements: • Background Sounds: Expanded with new equaliser settings, automatic stopping options, and additional Shortcuts automation capabilities. • Personal Voice: Now requires fewer voice recordings to generate a personalised voice and will support new languages, including Spanish (Mexico). • Eye Tracking Improvements: Eye tracking gets more powerful with support for switch and dwell selections and better keyboard interaction on iPhones and iPads. • Head Tracking: Users will be able to control their devices through head movement, adding another layer of touch-free accessibility. • Brain-Computer Interface (BCI): Apple is adding BCI support via Switch Control, expanding accessibility for users with limited motor control. • Music Haptics: Offers customizable haptic feedback for music, with options for full-song or vocal-only vibrations and intensity controls. • Sound Recognition: Gains a new 'Name Recognition' feature that alerts users when their name is spoken aloud—ideal for noisy environments or hearing-impaired users. • Voice Control Enhancements: Introduces a programming mode within Xcode, improves vocabulary syncing, and expands to new languages. • Live Captions Update: Adds support for multiple English dialects (including Indian and Singaporean English), Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, French, Japanese, German, and Korean. • Share Accessibility Settings: A new tool that allows users to temporarily share their personalised accessibility settings with another Apple device.
