Latest news with #Neva
Arabian Post
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arabian Post
Apple's App Excellence Crowned with Balatro, Neva and Dredge Triumphs
Apple awarded top honours across its six categories at the 2025 Apple Design Awards, celebrating innovation, aesthetics and social impact across apps and games. Standout recipients included Balatro, Neva and DREDGE, which secured wins in key categories and reflect the diversity and creativity of today's digital creators. Balatro, developed by Canadian indie studio LocalThunk, claimed the 'Delight and Fun' game category. This roguelike, poker-infused deck-builder has gained acclaim for its addictive stakes and clever mechanics, combining classic card play with strategic depth. Apple described it as a 'captivatingly innovative card game' that reaffirms the potential of indie titles. Its creator, working solo under a pseudonym, has emphasised the joy in balancing playful randomness with carefully crafted gameplay. In the Interaction category, DREDGE from New Zealand's Black Salt Games attracted praise. It merges slow-burn horror elements with maritime exploration, putting players at the helm of a fishing vessel navigating eerie islands and hidden mysteries. Apple highlighted its 'seamless interactions' across iPhone, iPad and Mac. Nadia Thorne, CEO of Black Salt Games, commended the award as a recognition of the careful adaptation process for mobile controls and atmosphere. ADVERTISEMENT Neva, released by Devolver Digital, secured the Social Impact award. This atmospheric action-adventure tells the tale of a girl and her wolf, journeying through seasonally shifting landscapes and exploring themes of environmental loss, care and connection. Apple noted its 'visually stunning and emotionally resonant' approach, framing it as a contemplative meditation on the bonds humans form with the natural world. Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, Susan Prescott, emphasised at WWDC that these awardees exemplify boundary-pushing creativity, well-crafted design, and meaningful user experiences. The event also recognised excellence across app categories. CapWords, from HappyPlan Tech in China, won Delight and Fun for its intelligent language-learning tool. It transforms everyday images into interactive word stickers, offering immersive multilingual engagement. Productivity and creativity saw innovation rewarded with Play by Rabbit 3 Times, a SwiftUI-based prototyping platform that bridges Mac and iPhone workflows. Inclusivity was honoured with Speechify, which offers extensive language-to-voice conversion for neurodiverse and low-vision users, and Art of Fauna, a wildlife-themed puzzle game combining conservation and accessibility features. Visuals and Graphics awards went to Feather: Draw in 3D by South Korea's Sketchsoft, and Infinity Nikki, a richly animated game from Singapore's Infold Games. Watch Duty, a wildfire monitoring app, earned the Social Impact app award for delivering evacuation data, fire perimeter updates and wind information during California wildfires. Its volunteer-run team continues to rely on community feedback to improve communication effectiveness. ADVERTISEMENT The awards, featuring 36 finalists across six categories, reflect Apple's criteria: technical proficiency, design craft, accessibility, user engagement and social responsibility. Notably, the 'Spatial Computing' category from 2024 was omitted, underscoring a renewed focus on cross-platform usability. Each winner demonstrates a commitment to both form and function. Balatro delivers addictive mechanics; DREDGE provides immersive controls and atmosphere; Neva offers emotional and visual storytelling; apps like Speechify and Watch Duty place real-world needs at their heart. Industry analysts say the Apple Design Awards play a significant role in spotlighting independent developers. Tech site AppleInsider noted the retention of all six core categories this year, marking a notable departure from 2024's emphasis on spatial apps. The awards can boost visibility in the App Store, offering small studios a major platform. Balatro's prior accolades — including Game Developers Choice Awards' top honours and DICE recognitions — align with its Apple accolade. DREDGE's win underscores its mobile design excellence, while Neva's recognition continues the narrative trend toward socially conscious storytelling in games. This year's awardees also highlight Apple's focus on global representation. Winners and finalists span China, South Korea, Austria, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States, representing varied genres, languages and development scales. Of special note is Apple's call to developers to integrate accessibility in mainstream gameplay. Winners Speechify, Art of Fauna, and Neva incorporate VoiceOver, haptics, and adjustable modes, affirming the platform's push for inclusive tech. These awards were timed to coincide with WWDC 2025, presenting creators with high visibility and the chance to be featured by Apple. For example, apps like CapWords and Play benefit from showcases in the App Store and WWDC sessions. The unified messaging from Apple and the developers interviewed emphasises a baseline of high-quality experience. Whether crafting elegant UI, refining user engagement, or embedding purpose-driven features, the recognition from Cupertino underscores a shared standard: excellence must be felt by users.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine says it destroyed Russian radar in drone attack
May 19 (UPI) -- The Ukrainian military said Monday that the Security Service of Ukraine attacked a Russian facility in the Black Sea with the use of drones. The Security Service of Ukraine, or SBU, posted to Telegram Monday that "with the help of surface and air drones,' it destroyed "enemy radars and warehouses" built on gas production platforms. The post also included a video of the attack that showed the approach of the drones from a drone's point of view before a long-distance view of an explosion on the Russian structure. "Within one special operation, SBU specialists used two types of drones that demonstrated the effectiveness of paired work," The SBU said. The assault was carried out by the 13th Main Directorate of the SBU's Military Counter-Intelligence Department and used both aerial and naval drones to target what the Telegram post described as "Russian military infrastructure placed on Ukrainian offshore drilling rigs," known as the Boyko towers. A Russian Neva radar system, stored supplies and living quarters were reportedly destroyed in the attack. The attack destroyed a Russian Neva-B radar system used for monitoring aerial and surface activity, as well as supply storage and living quarters on the platform, the SBU reported. Neva-B radar systems can track as many as 200 targets at one time and is intended to warn of incoming attacks on infrastructure. The SBU purports that through the use of drones, it has so far been able to attack 11 Russian warships and the "Crimean Bridge," a reference to the Kerch Strait Bridge, which linked Crimea to the Russian mainland and was attacked by Ukraine in October of 2022. "We once again reminded the enemy that [there is no place for Russian rubbish] in the Black Sea," the Security Service of Ukraine added.
UPI
19-05-2025
- Politics
- UPI
Ukraine says it destroyed Russian radar in drone attack
May 19 (UPI) -- The Ukrainian military said Monday that the Security Service of Ukraine attacked a Russian facility in the Black Sea with the use of drones. The Security Service of Ukraine, or SBU, posted to Telegram Monday that "with the help of surface and air drones,' it destroyed "enemy radars and warehouses" built on gas production platforms. The post also included a video of the attack that showed the approach of the drones from a drone's point of view before a long-distance view of an explosion on the Russian structure. "Within one special operation, SBU specialists used two types of drones that demonstrated the effectiveness of paired work," The SBU said. The assault was carried out by the 13th Main Directorate of the SBU's Military Counter-Intelligence Department and used both aerial and naval drones to target what the Telegram post described as "Russian military infrastructure placed on Ukrainian offshore drilling rigs," known as the Boyko towers. A Russian Neva radar system, stored supplies and living quarters were reportedly destroyed in the attack. The attack destroyed a Russian Neva-B radar system used for monitoring aerial and surface activity, as well as supply storage and living quarters on the platform, the SBU reported. Neva-B radar systems can track as many as 200 targets at one time and is intended to warn of incoming attacks on infrastructure. The SBU purports that through the use of drones, it has so far been able to attack 11 Russian warships and the "Crimean Bridge," a reference to the Kerch Strait Bridge, which linked Crimea to the Russian mainland and was attacked by Ukraine in October of 2022. "We once again reminded the enemy that [there is no place for Russian rubbish] in the Black Sea," the Security Service of Ukraine added.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dragon Ball DAIMA: Why Piccolo was sidelined despite namekian lore expansion
Dragon Ball DAIMA surprised fans with a deep dive into Namekian history, offering a fresh perspective on their origins. However, amidst this exciting new lore, one glaring oversight stood out: Piccolo , the franchise's most iconic Namekian, was barely involved. As the series explored the origins and true nature of the Namekian race, fans were left wondering why the character most closely connected to this lore was pushed to the background. Dragon Ball DAIMA: Namekian origins rewritten as demons In Dragon Ball DAIMA, the history of the Namekians was reimagined in a bold new direction. It was revealed that they weren't simply peaceful aliens from a distant planet they were demons who fled the Demon Realm to escape persecution. This revelation not only deepened the mystery surrounding their origin but also provided new context for their power and their ability to create Dragon Balls. Along with this twist, the introduction of Neva, a new Namekian character, further expanded the lore. While these new developments added a fresh layer to the Namekian story, Piccolo's connection to this discovery was strangely absent. Piccolo's missed opportunity in DAIMA: Fans are disappointed Despite the intriguing exploration of Namekian history, Piccolo's role in Dragon Ball DAIMA felt surprisingly limited. With so much focus on his people's true origin, it was a missed opportunity not to explore Piccolo's personal reaction to these revelations. What did Piccolo think about his people being demons? How did he feel about his ties to the Demon Realm? These questions could have added emotional depth to his character, but unfortunately, they were left unanswered. In the recent Dragon Ball series, Piccolo's role has often been sidelined. In Dragon Ball Super, he became a mentor for Goten and Trunks, overshadowed by the bigger battles involving Goku and Vegeta. While his transformation into Orange Piccolo in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero gave him some much-needed attention, DAIMA didn't make full use of his potential. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Piccolo's potential in DAIMA: A missed character development Piccolo has always been a fan favorite, known for his wisdom, power, and emotional depth. Dragon Ball DAIMA presented an opportunity to explore these traits in greater detail, but unfortunately, it was missed. The series introduced new Namekian lore that could have resonated deeply with Piccolo's journey. Imagine how impactful it could have been to see him react to the truth about his demonic origins, or how he might have interacted with Neva regarding the history of the Namekian people. Instead of remaining a background character, Piccolo's presence in the narrative could have provided much-needed emotional weight. His long-standing struggle with self-improvement and his people's complicated past made him the perfect character to explore the revelations about the Demon Realm. Sadly, DAIMA chose not to dive into these opportunities. How Piccolo could have played a major role in Dragon Ball DAIMA With DAIMA delving into Namekian lore, Piccolo should have been front and center in the exploration of these revelations. His connection to the Demon Realm could have led to powerful character moments. How would Piccolo reconcile his evolution from villain to hero with the shocking truths about his people's demonic origins? The emotional conflict within Piccolo would have added a rich layer to the story. A storyline where Piccolo confronts the true nature of his race could have been one of the most significant moments in the entire series. His internal struggle with these newfound truths would have provided not only personal growth but also a deeper connection to the Namekian lore. Looking ahead: Piccolo's future in Dragon Ball While Dragon Ball DAIMA missed the chance to explore Piccolo's character fully, the door remains open for future storylines. With Orange Piccolo's debut in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, fans are hopeful that he will play a larger role in future installments. The revelations in DAIMA provide the perfect foundation for deeper exploration into Piccolo's heritage and growth. Future Dragon Ball series have the opportunity to take Piccolo's character to new heights by addressing his heritage, power, and the implications of his people's demonic origins. Fans are eager to see him take a more central role and, hopefully, regain the spotlight he so richly deserves.
