Today’s Best Surface Pro (11th edition) Deal

Amazon’s Spring sale is underway, and there are some great deals on top tech for creatives. One of the standout offers is on the latest Microsoft Surface Pro 11 with $450 off, bringing the price to just $949.99 down from $1,399.99. This device is a top choice for creatives, offering a powerful processor, a new display, and a new keyboard.

What’s New in the Surface Pro 11

The latest edition of the Surface Pro, branded as a ‘Copilot Plus PC’, comes with advanced AI tools and helpful assistants. It also features a new processor, a new display, and a new keyboard. If you’re due for an upgrade, this deal is hard to pass up.

Deal Alert: Surface Pro 11 with $450 Off

For a limited time, you can get the Surface Pro 11 with a $450 discount, bringing the price to just $949.99. This is a great opportunity to get your hands on this powerful device at a discounted price.

Alternative Option: Surface Pro (11th edition) with Less Powerful Processor

If you’re willing to compromise on a less powerful processor in exchange for more storage, there’s also a deal on the Snapdragon X Plus (10 Core) configuration for just $892 at Amazon. This is a great option if you want to future-proof your device without breaking the bank.

Conclusion

The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is a top choice for creatives, offering a powerful processor, a new display, and a new keyboard. With the current sale, you can get this device at a discounted price. If you’re looking for more options, check out our clever deals widget below for the best Surface Pro deals in your region.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the current price of the Surface Pro 11?
  The current price of the Surface Pro 11 is $949.99, down from $1,399.99.
• Is the deal available in my region?
  Check our clever deals widget below to see if the deal is available in your region.
• What are the key features of the Surface Pro 11?
  The key features of the Surface Pro 11 include a powerful processor, a new display, and a new keyboard, as well as advanced AI tools and helpful assistants.
• Is the deal available on other configurations of the Surface Pro 11?
  Yes, there is also a deal on the Snapdragon X Plus (10 Core) configuration for just $892 at Amazon.

Autodesk Announces New Features in Maya and 3ds Max

Autodesk’s Maya and 3ds have long held spots in our roundups of the best animation software and the best 3D modeling software. New features announced today are likely to keep them there, as Autodesk adds a batch of new tools intended to speed up workflows.

Golaem Plug-in for Maya

First up, Autodesk will add the Golaem plug-in for Maya to the Media & Entertainment Collection, the premium subscription plan that provides access to Maya, 3ds Max, Arnold, MotionBuilder, Mudbox, and more. Golaem provides crowd simulation, making it easier to fill 3D worlds with multiple animated characters, whether it’s a stadium full of cheering sports fans or a battlefield full of soldiers.

Flow Animating in Context

Next up, Flow Animating in Context in Maya is designed for situations where animators are assigned a scene to work on with little (or no) context of what comes before or next. The lack of context can make it hard to create performances that fit the overall narrative.

What Else is New?

Autodesk is also adding more AI tools that allow interactive workflows intended to improve efficiency. The Autodesk AI-powered Machine Learning Deformer in Maya should now load 40 times faster, while disk space usage has been reduced by 80%.

Additional Features

• Bifrost’s procedural liquid simulation feature is now available directly in the Bifrost graph in Maya.
• The new FLIP solver offers adaptive resolution for efficient computation, particle-based foam, and improved velocity estimation.
• You can also emit and blend colored liquids.
• It’s ideal for large-scale, non-viscous fluids.

3D Modeling

• The Volume Booleans tool is now available in Maya and 3ds Max, creating a more unified Boolean engine across the two tools.
• This makes it easier to explore freeform shapes and build complex organic forms from simple primitives.

OpenUSD and Light Linking

• OpenUSD improvements continue across both Maya and 3ds Max, with added support for axis and scale adjustments in Maya and an Attribute Editor in 3ds Max.
• A long-requested feature, Light Linking, is also now available in both programs, giving greater control over rendering.

Conclusion

These new features are designed to speed up workflows and improve efficiency in Maya and 3ds Max. The addition of Golaem, Flow Animating in Context, and other AI tools will likely keep these software solutions at the top of the list for animation and 3D modeling.

FAQs

Q: What is Golaem?
A: Golaem is a crowd simulation plugin that makes it easier to fill 3D worlds with multiple animated characters.

Q: What is Flow Animating in Context?
A: Flow Animating in Context is a feature that integrates surrounding shots from Flow Production Tracking (formerly ShotGrid) into Maya’s timeline, allowing animators to make informed creative decisions.

Q: What is Bifrost?
A: Bifrost is a procedural liquid simulation feature that allows for efficient computation, particle-based foam, and improved velocity estimation.

Q: What is OpenUSD?
A: OpenUSD is an open standard for USD (Universal Scene Description) that allows for efficient data exchange between different software solutions.

Q: What is Light Linking?
A: Light Linking is a feature that gives greater control over rendering in Maya and 3ds Max, allowing for more accurate material representation and improved interchange with other software.

New AI Meeting Assistant Aims to Simplify Global Communication

A Solution to Improve Understanding in Global Meetings

A new AI meeting assistant, Krisp, is set to revolutionize the way we communicate in global meetings by changing the accent of speakers to make it sound North American. The company claims that this will make people more easily understood in international meetings, but raises questions about the homogenization of accents and the impact on global communication.

How Krisp Works

Krisp modifies the phonemes of speech to make them sound like American English, with just 200ms of processing latency, making it imperceptible to the human ear. The app works with conferencing platforms such as Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, and Webex, modifying the speaker’s voice in real-time.

The Benefits of Krisp

According to Arto Minasyan, co-founder and president of Krisp, the app is designed to bridge the gap in communication between people with non-native accents and those who may struggle to understand them. "This isn’t about bias – it’s simply a reality of communication. In fast-paced meetings, even small misunderstandings can slow down decisions, cause repetition, and reduce overall efficiency."

Current and Future Features

Krisp currently supports Indian accents, with other accents such as Filipino and South American coming soon. The app also offers additional features, including meeting summaries and transcriptions.

Pricing and Availability

A free plan with up to 60 minutes of use per day is available, while a business plan costs $15 per month.

The Concerns of Homogenization

While Krisp may have its advantages, it also raises concerns about the homogenization of accents and the potential loss of individual identity. As one user notes, "I see that there may be use cases for Krisp, but it also makes me a little sad to think of a homogenized world where individual accents are no longer. If we are going to embrace this technology, it would also be good if there were more options for different accents to convert from/to."

Conclusion

Krisp has the potential to revolutionize the way we communicate in global meetings, but it is essential to consider the potential consequences of such technology. As we move forward, it is crucial to strike a balance between the benefits of improved communication and the preservation of individual identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Krisp?
A: Krisp is an AI meeting assistant that changes the accent of speakers to make it sound North American.

Q: How does Krisp work?
A: Krisp modifies the phonemes of speech to make them sound like American English, with just 200ms of processing latency.

Q: What platforms does Krisp support?
A: Krisp supports conferencing platforms such as Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, and Webex.

Q: What are the benefits of using Krisp?
A: Krisp can improve communication in global meetings by making it easier for people with non-native accents to be understood.

Q: How much does Krisp cost?
A: A free plan with up to 60 minutes of use per day is available, while a business plan costs $15 per month.

Monitor Evolution

Monitor are often an overlooked part of our work and life. For many, it’s just a big black rectangle taking up space on your desk, but it actually plays a central role in nearly all creatives’ workflow, productivity, and perhaps most importantly, the quality of their output. Just as the right monitor can make your life better, so can the wrong one be the bane of your life, which is why we try to help with our continuously updated and strenuously researched guides on the best monitors for graphic artists, photo-editing pros, video creators, and more.

Monitor Launches and Variable Refresh Rate

This year, Lenovo launched a series of monitors. [The first] is called the ThinkVision Key Series Monitor. It’s actually a range. There’s quite a lot of models under that umbrella. And then we also had a Legion Pro OLED gaming monitor, and then another Legion gaming monitor.

So, this time we are doing a few new things that we think is quite unique. First off, we are enabling variable refresh rate, from 24 hertz all the way up to 120 hertz. If you know monitors, right now in the industry, everyone’s trying to push the refresh rate higher and higher. 100 hertz, 120 hertz, and in the gaming space, 240, 360.

Panel Evolution

One of the things that we do is we source an oxide-based panel, an LCD panel. And that’s different from the atmospheric silicon panels that I think typical LCDs use. With oxide-based [panels], it lowers the power consumption even more.

And on some of our monitors, we also introduce an AI algorithm in the scalar chip where it analyses the picture coming into the display. And what it does is that it plays with the brightness and the color saturation of the hue.

Monitor AI to Help You Work Better

For the year ahead, where do you think next challenge lies for you, now that you’ve increased the energy efficiency so much? Where is the next horizon for Lenovo?

One thing we will focus on… at our suite at CES, we showed concept products that we are getting very good feedback on. I think we call it the AI Display and what that does is that it has a built-in camera and some other sensors that will capture the person in front of the display and depending on whether you’re standing up and sitting down or, you know, a little bit off to the side either way, the monitor will adjust itself. Because I think one of the one of the things that we found is like a lot of users don’t really know what’s the right way to work with monitors [physically]. Sometimes it’s too high, so that you’re looking up, and we’ve been thinking, like, hey, let’s get your AI [to help]. Do people really need to be trained? Why can’t the monitor be used for them? So we created a group of concepts, [so it will] just magically adjust to, you know, like, the right height, whether you’re standing up or sitting down.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Lenovo’s recent monitor launches and innovations are set to revolutionize the way we work and create. With the introduction of variable refresh rate, oxide-based panels, and AI-powered displays, the future of monitoring is looking brighter than ever.

FAQs

Q: What is the most exciting thing that Lenovo is bringing out this year?
A: The most exciting thing that Lenovo is bringing out this year is the ThinkVision Key Series Monitor, which includes a range of models, including the Legion Pro OLED gaming monitor and the Legion gaming monitor.

Q: How does Lenovo’s new monitor technology improve energy efficiency?
A: Lenovo’s new monitor technology improves energy efficiency by enabling variable refresh rate, from 24 hertz all the way up to 120 hertz, and by using oxide-based panels, which lower power consumption even more.

Q: Is OLED burn-in still a concern?
A: Lenovo’s experience with OLED technology has shown that burn-in is not a concern within the lifespan of a product, which is three to five years. Additionally, the company has developed an algorithm to detect when a reset is needed to prevent burn-in.

Q: What is the biggest opportunity for AI in the monitor industry?
A: The biggest opportunity for AI in the monitor industry is to help users create more content and improve their productivity. With the integration of sensors and AI algorithms, monitors can adjust to the user’s preferences and needs, improving the overall user experience.

Disney Lorcana: Bringing Whimsy to the World of Illumineers

What brought you to Disney Lorcana?
I’ve always been a fan of Disney’s animation heritage, and I was thrilled to be a part of this project.

How does your style match with the Disney Lorcana aesthetic?
I think my personal style is whimsical, and it connects well with the game’s tone.

Aubrey Archer

What’s special about the game?
For me, it’s that Lorcana gives gamers and Disney enthusiasts an exciting opportunity for socializing, friendship, and connection.

Is there a favorite card that you’ve worked on so far?
I’m pretty fond of Rapunzel – Appreciative Artist in the Ursula’s Return set. It was a new take on Rapunzel that I got to do concept design for.

Which artists influence your work?
There are a lot! I really love the work of J.C. Leyendecker. It’s just so nice to look at, and he simplifies form in a way that relates to a cartoony style.

What’s a challenge in illustrating the game?
It can be tricky to find the pose that sums up that moment or what’s going on in the character’s head. Getting The Glimmers to look right and trying to keep them on-model is a challenge.

Kenneth Anderson

When did you begin working on Disney Lorcana?
I’ve been on it since the start. When I found out what it was, I thought it was an interesting project. Ravensburger seemed to like my art and asked if I wanted to work on the game. I think that was around 2020 or 2021.

What was it about your illustration style that drew Ravensburger and Disney to you?
Over the years, a lot of people have said that my style is a little bit Disney-esque. I’ve also got an animation background. I don’t know whether Ravensburger knew that, but I think that maybe it comes across in my work.

Lisanne Koeteeuw

How did you begin working on Disney Lorcana?
I started in January 2023. Because I knew about Disney Lorcana already, and some of my art heroes were already working on it, my first reaction was "this is not real".

What did Ravensburger and Disney respond to in your portfolio?
What I heard was that "we think your style would be a good fit with what we want for Disney Lorcana". So it wasn’t a particular piece but an overall vibe that matched. It’s been a great experience to be part of.

How does your work on the game connect to your interest in Disney’s animated character heritage?
I grew up on Disney movies, so I’ve always been a fan. As a child, I would watch the VHS tapes at home and at my grandma’s house. It had been a bucket-list thing to work on a Disney product and now it’s here. It’s awesome! If you’d told five-year-old me, watching The Little Mermaid, she wouldn’t have believed it.

Conclusion

Disney Lorcana is a unique and exciting project that brings together the world of Disney and the world of trading cards. With its whimsical art style and dynamic gameplay, it’s no wonder that fans of all ages are flocking to the game. In this article, we’ve had the chance to talk to three of the talented artists behind the game, Aubrey Archer, Kenneth Anderson, and Lisanne Koeteeuw, about their experiences working on the project.

FAQs

Q: What is Disney Lorcana?
A: Disney Lorcana is a trading card game that brings together Disney characters in a new and exciting way.

Q: How do you get started with Disney Lorcana?
A: You can start by checking out the official Disney Lorcana website or visiting your local game store to pick up a starter deck.

Q: What is the art style of Disney Lorcana like?
A: The art style of Disney Lorcana is whimsical and full of color, with a mix of digital and traditional media used to create the beautiful illustrations.

Q: How do I learn more about Disney Lorcana?
A: You can learn more about Disney Lorcana by visiting the official website, following the game’s social media accounts, or joining online communities dedicated to the game.