Latest news with #DarthVader
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I just got a first look at Coca-Cola's new Star Wars cans and AR holograms — and both are cooler than you'd expect
Blue milk might be Star Wars canon, but for fans like me here on Earth, Coca-Cola is a little more iconic. Now, Star Wars and Coca-Cola are coming together in a new collaboration featuring 30 collectible character cans and an AR experience that turns you into a hologram — and I got an early look at it all. In what's being called the 'Refresh Your Galaxy' campaign (the corresponding, easter egg-laden video can be watched here), Coca-Cola is releasing a limited-edition collection of new cans and bottles featuring bespoke character designs from all corners of the Star Wars universe. There are classics like Darth Vader and C-3PO, all the way through icons from Disney+ series like Rosario Dawson's Ahsoka Tano. There are some particularly charming nods across the lineup of Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Zero cans and bottles. My favorite is a toss up between Leia from the sequel trilogy (I still get emotional over the late Carrie Fisher) and K-2SO, the hilariously blunt former Imperial security droid we met in Rogue One but more recently got to seem more of in Andor Season 2. Here's what (or should I say, who) to expect to see in full collection: It's worth noting that some characters will only be available on Coca-Cola products sold at Disneyland and Disney World parks: The Mandalorian and Grogu; First Order Stormtrooper; and Chewbacca. In other words, avid collectors may want to plan a trip to Galaxy's Edge for sometime after July 7, which is when the collaboration will officially roll out. (And yes, a 7/7 launch date is almost definitely a nod to A New Hope's 1977 release.) But that's not all. Refresh Your Galaxy includes a new augmented reality experience accessed by scanning a can or downloading the special campaign app. It lets you record yourself as a Star Wars-style hologram, complete with glowing blue projection lines and subtle signal interference as though you're being projected by R2-D2. As part of the experience you can choose a character type like Jedi, Sith or even Twi'lek, then record a short message and watch it beam into surroundings through a smartphone camera. I always knew I'd make an excellent Stormtrooper, but that didn't make seeing my face under the helmet any less awesome. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Together, the collectible cans and AR hologram feature hit that sweet spot between nostalgia and innovation that, to me, keep fans of all ages in mind. Whether you're into the thrill of tracking down every character design for a collection or just want to drop a hologram version of yourself into your group chat reporting from the Black Spire Outpost, this campaign is one of the most thoughtful Star War collaborations of recent years.
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Disney Sues AI Firm to Stop Darth Vader From Being Cloned
Disney's (DIS) top lawyer is leading a full-court press to stop AI platforms from hijacking Star Wars icons. The recent lawsuit against Midjourney isn't a one-off, it's the opening salvo in a broader fight to defend Darth Vader and the House of Mouse's most valuable characters. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Disney Targets Midjourney over Character Theft Disney claims Midjourney's image model clearly 'scrapes' characters like Darth Vader and Deadpool without permission. They also claim that Midjourney has refused repeated takedown requests. Now, the studio's taking legal action, with top legal counsel Horacio Gutierrez front and center. His lawsuit signals the first major Hollywood push to turn AI-generated character use from accepted practice into a legal no-go. Gutierrez didn't stop at Midjourney. Disney has mobilized the studio ranks to form an alliance—forcing a line to be drawn in AI use. NBCUniversal jumped on board, while (for now) Paramount, Warner Bros (WBD). Discovery, Amazon (AMZN), and Netflix (NFLX) have held off. Disney wants this fight to set a precedent. Disney Demands Control over Its AI Future Gutierrez has made the goal unmistakable: Disney wants to dictate if, how, and by whom its characters appear in AI training or output. The message is simple: We won't let AI startups mine our IP unless we sign off, no exceptions. The studio's past mistakes with digital sharing gave it a tough lesson. Like record labels before them, studios sued peer-to-peer services—then stumbled to keep up with streaming. Disney doesn't want a replay. They want to force rules on AI before the floodgates open. However, it's not all resistance. Disney is already working with OpenAI to license Darth Vader's voice for a Fortnite chatbot. They're not anti-AI, they're anti-out-of-control. The goal is clear: harness AI's power while owning the terms. Disney Challenges the Status Quo with New Legal Push Copyright law hasn't caught up with AI. Fair use has become a legal battlefield. Midjourney's case could create a landmark precedent: AI training needs permission. If Disney wins, big tech will have to negotiate before using iconic characters in any dataset. Moreover, Washington is betting big on U.S.-built AI. Industry insiders worry AI champions like OpenAI and Anthropic could snag global advantage. Disney's move adds a new wrinkle: if studios don't guard their IP, they'll lose control, and America could lose leverage as copyright-rules slide. Is Disney Stock a Buy Right Now? Wall Street seems to think so. Based on 19 analyst ratings in the past three months, Disney stock has earned a 'Strong Buy' consensus. That includes 15 Buys, four Holds, and zero Sells, a rare display of confidence in today's market. The average 12-month DIS price target comes in at $125.12, implying a 7% upside from the current price of $117.06.
Tom's Guide
20-06-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
The Home Depot's 4th of July deals are here — 9 bargains I'd buy now
The first 4th of July deals of the season are starting to trickle in. Whether you're shopping for a new barbecue grill or hoping to replace some dated furniture, The Home Depot just launched a massive promo with epic home deals sitewide. Right now, The Home Depot is knocking up to 55% off cookware, artificial plants, wallpaper/tiles, and bedroom furniture. Also included in the sale are mattresses, TV stands, living room rugs, and more. It's one of the biggest deals I've seen from The Home Depot on home decor/furniture. Make sure to snap up these deals before they're gone! To keep the savings going, stay tuned to our Home Depot promo codes page. Furniture sale: up to 35% off @ The Home DepotThe Home Depot is currently hosting a huge savings event on home decor, furniture, bedding, kitchenware and more. Save big on everything you need to refresh your home. Patio furniture: deals from $19 @ The Home DepotA clean and simple dining set will instantly upgrade any patio. The Home Depot has various sets, chairs, and tables on sale from as low as $19. It's the perfect time to replace any outdate furniture. Luggage: up to 50% off @ The Home DepotScore up to 50% off luggage at The Home Depot. Backpacks, suitcases and handbags are on sale as low as $39 after discount. The sale even includes this 21-inch Darth Vader embossed suitcase for $66 ($155 off.) Lawnmower sale: deals from $199 @ The Home DepotThe Home Depot has deals on push, reel, self-propelled and ride-on mowers starting from $199. The sale includes deals on RYOBI, Green Machine and more. Artificial plants: deals from $12 @ The Home DepotGive your home a fresh, summery look with some artificial plants. The Home Depot has various pots, artificial grass walls, and more on sale from just $12. Best of all — they don't require regular maintenance like real plants do. Tools sale: up to 35% off @ The Home DepotYou can never have enough tools, and if there's anything missing from your collection, Home Depot is taking up to 35% off tools right now. The sale includes brands like Dewalt. Storage solutions: up to 30% off @ The Home DepotHoping to get your spaces organized? Don't worry — The Home Depot has the perfect storage solutions just for you. Whether it's your closet, garage or basement that needs tidying, there's plenty of shelving, rack and bin options for less at The Home Depot. Cookware sale: deals from $18 @ The Home DepotAdd to your cookware collection with amazing deals from Home Depot. Whether you're looking to upgrade your pots and pans or you need some new utensils, Home Depot has everything you need with massive savings up to 30% off. Mattress sale: deals from $99 @ The Home DepotThe Home Depot has mattresses on sale from as low as $99. This is the perfect time to upgrade, or get a second mattress for a guest bedroom. The sale includes brands like Sealy, Zinus and Serta.
India Today
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Midjourney launches V1 AI video generation model right after Disney accuses it of plagiarism
Midjourney, the AI startup famous for its surreal image generation tools, is making a bold leap into video. Recently, the company unveiled V1, its long-awaited video-generation model that promises to breathe life into your static images. It's a big move for Midjourney as it throws the company into direct competition with other big-hitters like OpenAI, Runway, Adobe and Google.V1 is designed as an image-to-video model, allowing users to transform either their own uploaded pictures or Midjourney's AI-generated images into short five-second video clips. Like its sibling image models, V1 is only accessible via Discord for now and is web-only at launch. advertisementAnd it's not just videos Midjourney has in its sights. In a blog post, CEO David Holz set out some pretty ambitious goals for the company's AI, saying V1 is just the next stepping stone toward real-time 'open-world simulations.' The company also revealed its plans to branch into 3D renderings and real-time generative models down the line. While Midjourney's image tools have long appealed to artists and designers, the company has taken a slightly different tack with video. Many of its rivals — such as Sora by OpenAI, Runway's Gen-4, Firefly by Adobe and Veo 3 by Google — are going after commercial filmmakers and studios with highly controllable AI tools. Midjourney, however, is positioning itself as more of a creative playground for those looking for something a little more V1 AI video generation model: Pricing and availabilityadvertisementDespite this, Midjourney is pushing ahead. Video generation doesn't come cheap, though. V1 consumes eight times more credits per clip than Midjourney's still-image tools, so subscribers will burn through their monthly allowances far faster. At launch, Basic subscribers — who pay $10 (around Rs 866) per month — can access V1, but unlimited video generation is limited to the $60 (around Rs 5,200) Pro and $120 (approximately Rs 10,400) Mega plans, and only on the 'Relax' mode, which produces videos more slowly. However, the company says it will review this pricing structure in the coming weeks as it gathers feedback from for the tools themselves, V1 offers a surprising level of control. You can opt for an 'auto' mode that lets the AI generate motion for you or a 'manual' mode that accepts text prompts to dictate exactly how you want your animation to move. Plus, there are settings for adjusting movement intensity — 'low motion' if you want subtle shifts, or 'high motion' for more energetic effects. Clips last five seconds by default but can be extended up to 21 seconds in four-second accuses Midjourney of plagiarismThat said, Midjourney is entering the video arena under a legal cloud. Only a week ago, Disney and Universal sued the startup over its image-generation models, claiming they can produce unauthorised versions of famous characters like Darth Vader and Homer Simpson. It's part of a growing backlash across Hollywood as studios grow nervous about AI tools replacing human creatives — and AI companies face questions about training data and copyright examples of V1's output suggest Midjourney is sticking to its trademark surreal aesthetic rather than aiming for hyper-realism, the sort of style that fans of the platform have come to love. The initial reaction from users has been mostly positive so far, though it's still too early to tell how V1 will stack up against more established players like Runway and Sora.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
£30k for being compared to Darth Vader. £25k for a birthday card. £17k for being called a wierdo. How Britain's employment tribunals became a laughing stock... and have reached breaking point
When Lorna Rooke's NHS colleagues entered her personality traits into a light-hearted online quiz to gauge which Star Wars character she most resembled, they had no idea this apparently innocent piece of workplace banter would lead to a court hearing and ultimately cost the taxpayer £30,000. But then the blood donation worker was told she allegedly bore most similarity to Darth Vader. Ms Rooke decided it was no laughing matter and took her bosses to an employment tribunal.
