Today, fireplaces, their cozy glow once a household staple, are mostly a thing of the past. In fact, a decent amount of old fireplaces are completely blocked up! [David Capper] brings back the atmosphere without the actual flames, with his RP2040-based fireplace glow simulator.
It’s not just a string of LEDs with some PWM brightness control, either. No, [David] goes into detail about the black body radiation that gives these fires their colors. He then uses the theory of black-body radiation to determine the colors that the LEDs glow to simulate the colors of a real fire.
But the colors alone don’t make for a good simulated fire, so [David] adds the heat equation. It starts with a grid wherein each cell has a temperature. Over time, cells are randomly selected to have heat added to them (increasing the cell’s temperature), then he applies the heat equation to diffuse and decay the heat within the grid for a nice simulated crackling fire. Add in a custom PCB and a nice little 3D-printed case and you’re ready for a cozy hacker time.
All-season tires are meant to be driven year-round, so you’d expect them to last several seasons, especially on a commuter car that racks up miles. However, Michelin’s Primacy All-Season tires are not lasting as long as expected — not even close — causing a lot of backlash from drivers. “These tires lose tread quickly and will not last,” one customer wrote. “It only took 8,000 miles to consume over half of the tire’s tread. If your vehicle comes with these tires, do your best to get them changed.”
This sentiment is shared by many customers on Michelin’s website, where the tires sit at a 2.5 star rating due to the large number of one-star reviews. At this point, there are more one-star reviews than five-star ones. A Lexus owner said the tire was punctured at 3,900 miles. Someone with a Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4-Matic had their rear tire blow out at 7,500 miles. Another added, “These are the worst tires I have ever owned. They have only 18,000 miles and are already half worn.”
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On top of losing tread quite quickly, many drivers feel that Michelin’s Primacy All-Season tires are not meant for all seasons. One customer driving a Volvo EX30 said that the performance in icy and snowy conditions was “dangerously poor”. Another customer questioned how they can be all-season tires if they don’t work well in the rain or snow.
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How long are all-season tires supposed to last?
Yacobchuk/Getty Images
The lifespan of your tires will depend on a lot of factors, but a (very extensive) test by Consumer Reports found that all-season tires can last 55,000 to 95,000 miles. This was the result after testing 44 tires over 352,000 miles, driving in 500-mile shifts at a time. Results can vary as you may be driving on different road conditions in a different kind of car. It’s safe to say, however, that the Michelin Primacy All-Season tires used by the one-star reviewers are not lasting anywhere near long enough.
You can extend your tires’ lifespan by checking your tire pressure every 3,000 miles, rotating your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles, getting your alignment checked periodically (or when your vehicle starts pulling to one side), and checking the tires’ treadwear. Also, you should avoid using the wrong tires for the season or for your vehicle. If you’re looking for an alternative to Michelin Primacy All-Season tires, try the CrossClimate2 — a favorite Michelin tire.
To use Area mode, you first have to define the boundaries of the area. This is done in the app via a process similar to what I’ve encountered on some competing hardware devices. You fire up the mapping mode, and the sprinkler engages. Then, using a simple remote-control system, you dial the water pressure to the appropriate level, aiming at the edge of your yard but not the fence; once the water is where you want it, you drop a pin to mark the boundary of the watering area. You then rotate the nozzle on top of the sprinkler a few degrees and repeat, setting the strength of the flow to cover the desired area. Repeat again and again until you’ve gone through 360 degrees and have dropped pins to visually represent the entirety of your yard. The company says the maximum supported area is a vast 4,800 square feet, with spray reaching up to 39 feet.
ScreenshotAiper app via Chris Null
In the app, you can watch this area map being created in real time. The process is quite intuitive except for the final couple of points, where Aiper’s system makes it difficult to complete the 360-degree circuit. If you look at the completed map in the screenshot below, you’ll see a tiny sliver of yard that no amount of finagling could get Aiper to close up.
Watering runs can be initiated on demand or on a schedule, and you intriguingly define not an amount of time to run but a “water consumption limit,” measured in inches of water you want applied to the soil. While it’s nearly impossible to measure how accurate this is, qualitatively, those estimates felt about right in my testing.
In Area mode, the IrriSense 2 delivers water by spraying a jet in a single direction, rotating clockwise through its 360 degrees until it’s gone all the way around the map you’ve set before turning back and doing it again in a counter-clockwise direction, repeating this cycle until the desired irrigation depth has been reached.
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While the IrriSense 2’s spray system is officially described as a gentle “mist,” it’s really more of a jet, particularly when it has to reach the far-away parts of the yard near the terminus of its range. That results in a lot more water being delivered to the edges of the yard than to the central portion of the mapped area, but that’s a common issue I’ve seen with rotary sprinklers like this. To account for this, the IrriSense 2 doesn’t just blast at full speed for the entirety of its run. Instead, repeated rotations reduce the pressure delivered bit by bit, until the final rotations are little more than a trickle of water hitting just a few inches away from the unit. (Note that canceling a run early means that only the outermost portions of the area will receive water.)
During the winter, a whole WIRED crew tests ski clothes almost constantly. Here are a few other items that we like.
Courtesy of REI
Hestra Fall Line 3-Finger Gloves for $152: I’ve long admired Hestra gloves from across the lift line, impressed by the Swedish company’s elegant stitchwork and thoughtful design touches. This was the year I finally got to try a pair for myself, and the Fall Line are exactly what they look like. There are six sizes available so you can get the perfect fit in this glove. The cowhide is buttery smooth and has already broken in a bit with five days’ use. The wrist strap means you never have to fret about dropping your glove from the lift when checking your phone, and they’re very warm without making me sweat. If you do sweat, the lining is removable so you can wash it without damaging the leather. —Martin Cizmar
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Obermeyer Steibis Bibs for $281: These soft, three-layer shell bibs work just as well with or without a jacket, thanks to plenty of zippered pockets. You get two articulated chest options and two on the thighs. Adjustable straps and multi-way adjustable hems with zippers and snaps, a two-way zip drop seat that can dump heat when zipped open from the bottom, 30k/30k waterproofing and breathability, snow gaiters, reinforced insteps, a Recco reflector, and a mesh panel on the lower back for zoned breathability round out the top-notch features on these bibs. —Kristin Canning
Courtesy of Crab Grab
Crab Grab Snuggler Mitts for $62: These mini sleeping bags for your fingers are packed full of Primaloft insulation and benefitting from a sherpa fleece lining, they are toasty warm, and with a 15K membrane, impressively waterproof too. All-season mittens with durable construction for under $100? Yes Please!
Courtesy of Mons Royale
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Mons Royale Yotei Merino Classic Long Sleeve for $77: As I type this, I’m nowhere near a mountain, but I’m still wearing the Mons Royale Yotei long sleeve top. It is ridiculously comfortable, made from 190-gsm-weight, 100 percent merino wool, and has a mercifully relaxed cut, so I remain warm, but don’t feel like a sausage. On the mountain however, the merino wool works its magic, wicking away sweat—especially on a hike up to some fresh powder—and keeping me comfortable. Paired with a shell and the Patagonia R1 Thermal Hoodie, I’m warm during a bitter Arctic blast.
Seniq Powder Puff Down Jacket and Bib
Photograph: Kristin Canning
Seniq Powder Puff Down Jacket for $249: Seniq is another all-women’s outdoor brand that launched in 2024. It’s styled a little more Gen Z, leaning into fun color blocking over the monochromatic look. The Seniq Powder Puff Down Jacket has a dry-touch finish. It’s meant for drier days on the mountain, but a PFC-free DWR coating and YKK AquaGuard zippers do provide water resistance. The asymmetric front zipper helps you avoid chin rub when you have the jacket fully zipped. It also features cool asymmetrical quilting lines, side pockets-in-pockets that provide access to your bib (their bibs have a pocket on the front, so you can get in there without unzipping your jacket), an oversized removable hood, a forearm pass pocket, soft and stretchy wrist gaiters, and a large internal pocket that can absolutely handle a sandwich. This jacket was warm, pillowy, and comforting, like a super-soft hug. —Kristin Canning
Photograph: Kristin Canning
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Marmot Gore-Tex Orion Jacket for $385: This kit feels simple in the best way: It has the features you need, without any overkill. The super lightweight, three-layer Gore-Tex shell material is packable and durable. The bibs have two zippered, articulated thigh pockets (one contains a beacon harness), and one zippered chest pocket. Thigh zips help you dump heat, and clip-off adjustable suspenders help you go to the bathroom without stripping down, though they’re not as convenient as a drop seat. Reinforced insteps and snow gaiters protect your lower legs, where there’s also a Recco reflector. The jacket has four pockets and a pass pocket, a snow skirt, pit zips, a three-way adjustable hood, a Recco reflector, and Velcro adjustable wrist hems without gaiters, helping to cut down on bulk. The color blocking is flattering, with the lower half of the jacket matching the bibs, making your legs look longer despite the drop hem fit. “Affordable” is a bit of a misnomer when it comes to ski gear, but compared to many kits, this is a great option for the backcountry-curious. —Kristin Canning
Mammut Sender In Hooded Jacket for $259: This puffy hoodie is a great mid-layer for under a shell jacket. The insulation is made from recycled rope scraps, and the outer is coated in wind-resistant PFC-free DWR coating. The hem falls at the hips, and the high collar and tight hood keep most of the face covered. I like wearing this piece under shells for snowboarding, but I know it’ll pull double duty as a comfy hiking and camping jacket, too, so it’s a solid multipurpose investment. It’s exceptionally lightweight and warm, though from a volume standpoint, it is on the bulkier side for a mid-layer and isn’t the most packable piece. —Kristin Canning
Photograph: Kristin Canning
Wild Rye Bassett Lite Base Layer Raglan Top for $49 and Leggings for $49: These poly/wool- blend base layers from Wild Rye are incredibly soft and stretchy, and light as a feather. They’re perfect for warm spring ski days, and the mid-calf cut means you can pair them with ski socks without much—if any—overlap, helping you avoid overheating, bulk, and pressure points in your boots. —Kristin Canning
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Helly Hansen Evolved Air Half Zip for $70: This grid fleece pullover traps heat and wicks moisture. With a high zippered collar and cinchable hem, you can adjust the fit to make it more air-tight or breathable. This mid-layer felt wonderfully lightweight while still keeping my toasty. It’s not bulky at all, only a little thicker than a base layer, laid comfortably under my jackets, and moved with me on the mountain. —Kristin Canning
Helly Hansen Lifa Base Layer Long-Sleeve Crew for $115 and Pants for $87: These base layers hit the weight sweet spot; they’re not too thick or thin, but just right. They’re slightly looser than other options on this list, so if you prefer something that isn’t so fitted, these are a great pick (but note that they run long too). These combine merino wool with Helly Hansen’s LIFA fibers, which add more moisture-wicking capabilities. They’re soft, lightweight, warm, and don’t hold onto smells. I love the cute designs and how well they regulate my temperature under insulated jackets and pants. The waist digs in a bit but doesn’t roll, and they stay in place and move well. —Kristin Canning
We have a full guide on how to layer, but here are your essentials.
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Base layer: A good set of thermals is essential in the fight against cold, especially when you’re working hard. The best fabrics wick away sweat as you heat up, which helps regulate your temperature. Merino wool is the best at this, but also the most expensive. Synthetic fabrics are getting better, though, and please avoid cotton at all costs, as it gets wet and stays that way, making you cold and uncomfortable.
Mid-layer: Whether you choose a hooded fleece or puffer-style jacket, this layer does the bulk of the work in cold conditions. Combined with the base layer, it traps warm air in, while also allowing moisture to be expelled. Synthetic insulation such as Primaloft Gold is brilliant and doesn’t lose its properties if it gets wet. Down jackets offer the best warmth-to-weight ratio, but they don’t pack down as small, and should never get wet. A fleece with an insulated vest is a great option if you really feel the cold.
Jacket: While ski jackets with insulation offer bonus warmth in Arctic-like conditions, for most people a waterproof shell will be enough, as it offers protection from both the snow and the wind. A cold wind will chill you to your bones faster than a bit of wet snow. Ideally choose a jacket with a waterproof membrane such as Gore-Tex (make sure it is free from PFAS, or forever chemicals), but also check for taped seams for added waterproofing, plus plenty of pockets for snacks and lift passes, and wrist cuffs and ski skirts to help keep out the snow.
Socks: As with your base layer, socks keep you warm and maintain your temperature when you’re building up a sweat. Natural fabrics work well, but a blend of merino wool with synthetic stretchy fibers is the way to go, as they stay up better and can be used for more than a day. Avoid cotton again, and never wear two pairs, as you’ll almost certainly get colder feet.
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Gloves: You’ll be surprised by how wet ski gloves get when it’s snowing, even if you don’t fall very often. As a result, waterproof options work best in most cases, although well-made leather designs can be almost as waterproof as a pair with Gore-Tex. Mittens are generally warmer than gloves, but what you gain in toasty fingers you lose in dexterity. Check out our Best Ski Gloves and Mittens guide for more information.
Waterproofing and breathability ratings: Waterproofing is measured with a hydrostatic head rating, or HH. That means if you put a 1-inch, endlessly long square tube on top of the fabric, you could pour 20,000 millimeters of water before it would seep through. Breathability is rated in how many grams of vapor per square meter can can pass through the fabric in 24 hours.
I’ve been reviewing winter sports gear for more than 15 years. In that time, I have worn an untold number of jackets, pants, mid-layers, thermals, gloves, and mittens. I called on industry experts and professional skiers, and solicited opinions from fellow winter sport enthusiasts on the WIRED team. While a basic fit check can be done in the office, nothing replaces on-mountain testing in variable conditions. We put in the time on various trips to the French Alps, as well as in resorts in Vermont, Colorado, Arizona, and Oregon.
Users of the popular social gaming platform expressed their disbelief and sadness over the demise of the Seattle-based company, which announced Monday that it is shutting down on June 1, and that some of its assets are being acquired by Snap.
Rec Room — ranked No. 49 on the GeekWire 200 ranked index of the Pacific Northwest’s top startups — surged in popularity during the pandemic and was once valued at $3.5 billion. It attracted 150 million lifetime players who have been creating and sharing games, virtual goods and experiences across phones, consoles, PCs and VR headsets for a decade.
In the Rec Room Discord server on Tuesday, thousands of posts illustrated the impact that the loss of the gaming app will have on players. Many questioned whether the news was a joke, what went wrong, and where they will go now for such entertainment and community. Similar conversations were taking place on Reddit.
We rounded up a number of reactions from a variety of threads:
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“If it is true, I guess thats it. Ive had alot of great memories in rec room and its really sad to see it finally shut down. From 2018/2019 I started playing. Or during the lockdown era in other words, I will surely miss this game from the deepest parts of my heart.”
“its an experience that i dont think could ever be recreated, whether thatd be because of the charm of the style and theming rec room had from the beginning or rather just the cost and difficulty of running something of this scale.”
“I grew as a person on this game from 2017 to 2025 lol… Earned money on it learned to code learned to model learned alot.”
“My 17 y/o son who had been playing almost 6 years came in to tell me it was shutting down and even asked if he could come home early from school that day so he doesn’t miss the shut down…he is BUMMED!!! He was in a few bands that play regular “concerts” and he been part of habit live streams, room tours, costume builds and even whole band costumes. I HOPE something can be done to keep it!!!!!”
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“Rec Room was a game where it was clear the devs really ‘got’ vr (at least, pre-2021, many newer updates felt more catered towards screenmode). Small things like weapons locking in your hands and being able to pick stuff up from a distance is done so well in rec room and i still havent found another vr game that genuinely feels like it understands how to make a vr game comfortable to play.”
“This is such a sad day for all of us… This is such sad news about the fact that Rec Room will shut down on June 1st, i’ve been an avid dedicated player of this game for the last 4 nearly 5 years. I have Autism, it is difficult for me to get out of the house and this has been a safe environment to play with my friends who are also autistic. To lose this will be like losing a friend, but definitely losing the connection that has been so important to me over the years.”
“my friend group literally only played rec and we bonded so much over the stuff we can do in this game. theres no other game like rec room and its really a shame its shutting down cuz i doubt there will be another game like it.”
“This all feels so bizarre. I heard the news last night, went “oh well they did this to themselves” and went to sleep. I woke up this morning super happy (since I actually managed to go to bed at a decent time), then I remembered the news and this day just doesn’t feel real. This shutdown probably hurts me the most as it was a VR game and I felt like time slowed down when I could put on a headset and be heavily immersed in a whole new atmosphere that I could never experience in real life.”
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“I started playing at a low in my life played for six years. I’ll never forget recroom I met my best friend on there who I will forever keep in contact with I learned how to build got good at it too.”
“i dont think anything will ever replace recroom the people who played vr for recroom will probably stop playing vr in general when recrrom dies there was nothing to me that felt as fun as recroom.”
“I think we should all just try and have fun with the game still being up right now and we should all just be happy that recroom was a fun experience yet it unfortunately has to go.”
“its good to move on. its upsetting and sad but like we have the memories they were good.”
The feature would represent a significant step toward bridging the gap between official system requirements and actual in-game performance. Even as studios release recommended hardware specs, the experience on diverse PC setups often differs sharply from expectations. Read Entire Article Source link
A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Saturday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, April 4 (game #762).
Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
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SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
Article continues below
NYT Strands today (game #763) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Pouch perfect
NYT Strands today (game #763) – hint #2 – clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
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NYT Strands today (game #763) – hint #3 – spangram letters
How many letters are in today’s spangram?
• Spangram has 10 letters
NYT Strands today (game #763) – hint #4 – spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?
First side: left, 5th row
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Last side: right, 5th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #763) – the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today’s Strands, game #763, are…
KANGAROO
BILBY
KOALA
WOMBAT
OPOSSUM
SPANGRAM: MARSUPIALS
My rating: Hard
My score: 2 hints
A very curious theme where my first thought was KANGAROO, because of the pouches they keep their babies, boxing gloves and loose change in.
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Thankfully this was correct, as the only other ‘pouches’ that came to mind were the ones worn by bodybuilders in the 1980s.
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So then, somewhat predictably after I found KANGAROO, I drew a blank and used my collection of non-game words to buy a couple of hints — BILBY didn’t help me much but with KOALA I went in search of the word MARSUPIALS, which I thought applied to animals from Australia, but actually refers to animals who raise their young in the aforementioned pouches.
There were tricky words in today’s game too, not least OPOSSUM, which took me several attempts to order correctly as I thought it started with a P not an O, something that depends on whether you are using the US or Australian spelling.
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Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Saturday, April 4, game #762)
DAFFODIL
TULIP
HYACINTH
CROCUS
SNOWDROP
SPANGRAM: SPRINGBLOSSOM
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT’s not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.
A video clip purportedly showing a place in England has sparked a lot of interest among Elden Ring fans. The streamer THROX posted some footage on TikTok after spotting some construction that looked suspiciously like certain locations from the game, and it’s no surprise; take a look at the stone walls forming a structure that bears a striking resemblance to the Churches of Marika found throughout the game world, and you can almost imagine the Dark Souls style architecture coming to life.
There’s also a statue of Marika in the middle, which appears identical to the one in the game. Then there are the props scattered around, such as wooden carriages and barrels that appear to have been ripped straight from the game. The entire area appears to be an open field, the type of environment that fans will immediately associate with the game’s starting regions. It’s understandable that production crews choose England to film this stuff, given the melancholy atmosphere created by the natural surroundings is unrivalled.
Alex Garland is in charge of bringing this project to life, and he is collaborating with A24 and Bandai Namco. He’s signed Ben Whishaw and Cailee Spaeny, though their roles are currently unknown. Hidetaka Miyazaki, the game’s developer, was involved in the writing and approved it before filming began. This picture was announced in May of last year, which seems like a long time ago, and it’s evident that they’re now getting serious.
With sightings like this one, it appears like filming is well underway. More and more people are seeing the leaked footage and speculating on what these sets might wind up hosting, which is getting everyone a lot more enthusiastic and, let’s be honest, bringing the movie adaptation one step closer to reality. [Source]
As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations, Apple employees can check out a private exhibition of products and key moments from the company’s history, all in Apple Park.
The exhibition in Apple Park – Image Credit: @AlSultan_Meriam/X
After weeks of public celebration in the run-up to the 50th anniversary, the festivities are now all internal for Apple now. In the latest event, it has been revealed that employees are now being able to look back at the products and hardware that helped build the company. Images shared by Meriam Al Sultan on X show a large room containing images and products in display cases. Described as a 50th anniversary exhibition, the shots are apparently in “Section 2” of Apple Park, but there are other exhibits on show in other HQ areas. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
LCLDIY set out to create a portable computer / laptop that embodied the gritty feel of a civilization being rebuilt after disaster strikes. That’s exactly what he’s accomplished with this monster, a massive, heavy beast of a device that appears to have been assembled from spare pieces gathered from the local hardware shop.
The exterior of this thing is a dead giveaway, a big 3D print job created from digital files by LCLDIY using a Nokia port of Blender. The walls are thick, and the edges are all sharp angles, as if someone simply duct-taped a lot of things together for an emergency fix, you know? The screen tilts, which is convenient, but the whole design seems robust while remaining portable enough to fit in a backpack.
High-Speed Precision: Experience unparalleled speed and precision with the Bambu Lab A1 3D Printer. With an impressive acceleration of 10,000 mm/s…
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Inside, there’s a 10-inch electroluminescent display that lights up on its own and casts a nice glow throughout. The display is very stunning: a faint halo surrounding the active area adds depth, and the entire thing exudes an old-school vibe that’s ideal for the theme. These panels aren’t cheap; they either come from aerospace surplus stock or a specialized supplier, and LCLDIY chose the fancy-schmancy LJ64H052 or EL640.480 series after some testing because they’re expensive, but the light output is excellent for low-light environments, and it just feels right at home with the overall theme.
Driving that display is a different story, since regular GPUs aren’t well-suited to this particular technology, so LCLDIY had to think outside the box and create a unique open-source graphics card based on the obsolete CHIPS 65548/5 processor. You know what? It works flawlessly, and the design files are available online for anybody to use as a blueprint for customizing the display for future projects.
The rest of the system is rather simple, which is good given the overall ‘survivalist’ vibe. An old cash register motherboard does the heavy lifting, as it’s not exactly rocket science here, and keeping things basic keeps the power demand low and the internal architecture clean. Let’s be honest: the whole point of this device is to be robust, thus the system is meant to run quietly and cool, with no fans that might break the instant you take it out of the house.
Keyboard input is a laser projection device that pops out from the side, similar to having a little projector keyboard that displays a full layout onto whatever flat surface you require, and it even has mouse mode for cursor control. The best thing is that when you close the lid, all your valuables are safe and sound while you’re on the move. [Source]
Some weekends are for comfort, others are for chaos. This one? A bit of both. Whether it’s revisiting a gaming icon that defined an era, diving into a massively upgraded open-world epic, or trying out this generation’s cult classic title set to leave Game Pass soon, this lineup has range.
1. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered
There’s something oddly magical about going back to where it all began, and Tomb Raider I-III Remastered absolutely leans into that feeling. This collection bundles the original adventures of Lara Croft with a fresh coat of paint, letting players toggle between classic visuals and modern remastered graphics on the fly. At its core, though, this is still the same methodical, puzzle-heavy platforming experience that defined the late ’90s with its deliberate jumps, environmental traps, and that constant sense of isolation.
Aspyr / Crystal Dynamics
What makes this worth playing today isn’t just nostalgia, but how distinct it feels compared to modern action-adventure games. There’s no hand-holding here. Levels are sprawling, secrets are genuinely hidden, and figuring things out feels earned. That slower, more thoughtful pacing can be surprisingly refreshing if most recent games have felt a bit too guided or cinematic.
Add to that, the remaster does a great job of smoothing out rough edges without stripping away the original charm. More importantly, the controls, while still rooted in the classic grid-based movement, feel far more approachable than they used to. Right now, this one’s a no-brainer if you’re subscribed to PlayStation Plus, where it’s been newly added. Otherwise, it typically sits around $29.99 in the US.
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2. Crimson Desert
Crimson Desert has been in the news, and on top of Steam charts, for what feels like forever, but recent updates have quietly transformed it into something far more compelling than its earlier previews suggested. Built by Pearl Abyss, the game blends large-scale open-world exploration with cinematic storytelling, placing players in a war-torn continent filled with political intrigue, brutal combat, and dynamic encounters.
Pearl Abyss
The core gameplay revolves around fluid melee combat, large battle sequences, and emergent world events. But what’s really started to click post-launch is how reactive the world feels. Recent patches have significantly improved movement and abilities, making traversal a lot more engaging, without wasting a lot of the player’s time. Performance has also seen noticeable gains. Earlier complaints around stuttering and inconsistent frame pacing have largely been addressed with optimization updates, especially on mid-to-high-end PCs.
At around $59.99 in the US, it’s positioned as a premium experience, and while it may not be perfect, it finally feels complete. This weekend is a great time to jump in, especially if the initial skepticism kept it off the radar before.
3. Grand Theft Auto V
Few games need an introduction quite like Grand Theft Auto V, but this weekend, it comes with a bit of urgency attached. The game is set to leave Xbox Game Pass later this month, which means this might be the perfect (and possibly last) excuse to jump back into Los Santos without spending a dime. Whether it’s revisiting the story or just causing absolute chaos in free roam, GTA V remains as easy to pick up and play as ever.
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Rockstar Games
At its core, the game follows three protagonists (Michael, Franklin, and Trevor), whose lives intertwine through a series of heists, betrayals, and high-stakes missions. But let’s be honest, most players aren’t coming back just for the story. The real magic of GTA V lies in its sandbox. It’s one of those rare games where simply existing in the world is entertaining enough. Even today, Los Santos feels alive in a way few open-world games manage.
And if the single-player doesn’t hook, there’s always GTA Online, which continues to evolve with new content, modes, and absurdly over-the-top activities. With a usual price hovering around $29.99 in the US, depending on the edition, getting access through Game Pass right now is a steal, especially with the clock ticking.
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