The Oura Ring 5 is 40% smaller than its last-gen counterpart, making it a highly attractive and even more non-intrusive wearable. Oura is offering six colors in matte and shiny finishes for the sleek Oura Ring 5, with select colors priced higher. This is nothing new as we saw the same situation with the Ring 4.
Oura eventually expanded the colors available for the Ring 4 with the ceramic lineup, adding up to ten different shades and finishes. It remains unknown whether the brand plans to do the same with the Ring 5. For now, these are all the available colors and finishes of the Ring 5. All of them come in ring sizes six through 13 and are made of titanium.
All the colors of the Oura Ring 5, as well as their pricing
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The dark lord’s favorite
The Oura Ring 5 in Gold costs $499 and is cool enough to make Gollum, the Nazgûl, and the dark lord himself jealous. With a ring this classy, you might feel powerful enough to destroy Middle-earth. Slay!
Glossy dark band
Black is a shiny, dark colorway and one of the cheaper variants of the Oura Ring 5. At $399, you save a whole Benjamin on this stylish colorway. This shade looks more casual and pairs nicely with everyday outfits.
Oura Ring 5 – Brushed Silver
It looks expensive
The Brushed Silver version of the Oura Ring 5 looks luxurious and has a steep $499 price tag to match. If you want to ooze class and feel rich, this is a stunning silver color with a soft satin-matte finish.
A minimalist look
Minimalists will love the Oura Ring 5 in Silver with its silver metallic sheen and $399 asking price. It gives the appearance of a plain silver ring, one that could easily match anything in your wardrobe. Elevate it by stacking more rings or wear as is.
Understated piece
Are you a fan of rose gold jewelry? Maybe most of your watches, earrings, and accessories are largely this color. In that case, the Oura Ring 5 in Deep Rose makes the most sense for you. Keep in mind that this will set you back $499 to acquire.
A matte affair
Stealth is a matte black finish of the Oura Ring 5 that costs $499. It might be more expensive, but it definitely looks the part too. This colorway has an almost satin-like finish. Those who aren’t fans of shiny metal will adore this finish.
Price is a key decider when choosing which Oura Ring 5 you color should buy
All six colorways of the Oura Ring 5 look fabulous, but there’s an elephant in the room that’s very hard to ignore. The Ring 5 starts at $399, which is $50 more compared to the Ring 4. Plus, users still need to pay for the monthly subscription to be able to use their Oura Ring 5. Naturally, this means that saving $100 could very likely be the deciding factor when picking a color.
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Those who don’t want to cross the $399 budget are limited to just two Oura Ring 5 colors, both with shiny finishes. The basic Silver and Black options are the cheapest of the lot, but those aren’t bad choices. You can match almost anything in your wardrobe to these two shades. While the Silver one is undoubtedly classier, you could get away with pairing the glossy Black smart ring with your formals. Just make sure you have the right accessories to compliment it, like a matching glossy black bracelet or a watch.
Unfortunately, if you wanted the Gold colorway or a matte finish, it’ll cost you $100 more to purchase. My personal favorite variant of the Oura Ring 5 is the one in Gold because it compliments my skin tone and matches almost every single piece of clothing or jewelry I own. Think carefully about your everyday watch and the articles of clothing or accessories you like to wear. Whether to go for the gold option or one of the other colorways will become apparent to you very quickly.
“While several organizations successfully blocked the activity or remediated the vulnerabilities, others experienced compromise, resulting in stolen data being published on the ShinyHunters DLS,” Mandiant said. (DLS is short for data leak site.)
An analysis of a bash script left in the staging environment shows the attackers performed reconnaissance on compromised organizations, including mapping the PeopleSoft configurations, viewing process scheduler, and WebLogic server XML configurations. Eventually, the threat actors established an outbound SSH connection to 176.120.22.24, the IP address hosting ShinyHunters’ DLS. The stolen data was first compressed using the zstd tool. The DLS claimed to have recovered 48GB of data from a single victim.
A partially redacted section of the ShinyHunters’ DLS.
Credit:
Mandiant
A partially redacted section of the ShinyHunters’ DLS.
Credit:
Mandiant
ShinyHunters has been active since at least 2019. Over the past several years, it has executed scores of hacks against some of the world’s largest companies, affecting millions of people downstream. A small sample of victims includes Ticketmaster (through the breach of Snowflake, which hosted the data), Spain’s biggest bank, Santander, and Salesforce (and, through it, Google and, reportedly, many other companies). ShinyHunters uses various techniques to gain initial access, including exploiting cloud misconfigurations and software vulnerabilities, stealing OAuth tokens, supply chain attacks, voice phishing, and other forms of social engineering.
Mandiant and Rapid7 are providing detailed indicators of compromise. They are also advising PeopleSoft customers on the steps they should take immediately. Given ShinyHunters’ success rate, all PeopleSoft users would do well to heed the calls.
Alinea Insights has been analyzing sales of PlayStation games more generally, but with some interesting info about the PC side of things for us to dig out. Like the fact a full 42% of Death Stranding 2’s PC sales came from China, which was its “biggest Steam market”. Alinea notes that “China is a top market for Stellar Blade on Steam as well.”
According to Steam’s last hardware survey, 39.48% of Steam users have their language set to English and 21.85% to Simplified Chinese, making it the second-most popular language by a large margin—every other language is a single-digit percentage or less. It’s difficult to figure out how many actual people that comes to though, since a bunch of those accounts will inevitably belong to internet cafes. Some estimates put the number over 30 million. Whatever the actual figure, it’s a sizable chunk of players to up and ignore because you want people to fork out for a PS5 to play Wolverine.
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Shift Up, the developer of Stellar Blade, won’t be publishing its sequel with Sony. In an earnings Q&A, the studio said, “we are formulating an optimal go-to-market strategy designed to maximize sales and reach a broad global audience from day one.” For “broad global audience” we can probably substitute “Chinese audience”.
Alinea also noted that releasing games on PC didn’t seem to hurt sales on PlayStation. In fact, it had the opposite effect, with Death Stranding 2 having “its best two-week stretch since launch on Sony’s platform” after coming to PC. And while it was on sale at the time, the same discount had run twice before with less effective results. Stellar Blade, which wasn’t discounted on PlayStation when it was ported to PC, also enjoyed a simultaneous boost in PS5 sales.
Launching on PC gives a bump to how many people will stream a game and just talk about it on the internet in general, and word of mouth remains a good way to sell anything. No matter what language it’s in.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
We had a campaign we wanted to get in front of the right people. The problem was familiar: We had a targeted list of business leaders we genuinely thought would benefit from what we were promoting, but no clean process for actually reaching them at scale. And we didn’t have enough time to do it the slow way [read: without AI]. Continue reading “Here’s How to Use an AI Agent to Build a Cold Outreach Campaign”
We may not realize it, but electrical drafting services provide great value to all of us. Without it, darkness is found, which makes it harder for us to access what we need. Behind every success, a team does the work, ensuring that everything falls into the right position. The lists that follow recognize experts who convert complexities that every profession can lean on.
It is critical and a must to find appropriate connections, especially when issues and deadlines arise, which can lead to pressure, and it is so hard to control when pressure comes. Quality must be ensured, whether sourced locally or globally. Cad Crowd is the greatest choice for teams evaluating talent as it provides efficient, competent 3D artists in their particular fields. Cad Crowd also provides assurance to the clients that a plan is carefully carried out by professionals.
1. Cad Crowd
If you’re looking for in-demand drafting talent, Cad Crowd connects freelancers and design engineers. Recruitment may be made simple on this platform by providing flexible answers to any problem, from the simplest to the most complicated, that affects the power system. Businesses can ensure that they are receiving low-cost services while maintaining quality and consistency. Even if a client requires a single person or an entire team, they may work accurately and meet the needs of the project.
More on ensuring that high-quality computers are delivered with accuracy, together with clients’ collaboration, is Microdras, ensuring that a detailed and meticulous blueprint is done. Collaboration with construction professionals appears here, ensuring that the project is completed in accordance with a standardized code and protocol while also meeting the project’s requirements. Microdras is modern software that helps guarantee that errors are lessening in the process of making. It is important to have a commitment to doing work, as it helps in building trust from the partners.
As the name implies, it is designed to meet the needs of the American market. USA Draftsman’s services focus on electrical drafting, including power plans, layouts, and panel scheduling. It has an in-depth understanding of building codes and standards, which enables a seamless process. It also allows for communication that must be understood by both parties, such as engineers and on-site contractors. It is crucial to teach professionalism because it can make the work easier to complete, even if projects are missed. If you need local experience, this platform is your best alternative.
Centering on giving out important details on 3D modeling services for massive AEC projects. Advenser is a site offering a range of services, from technical work to mechanical engineering. The team behind this makes use of coordination in order to have an output that is best in the field while also ensuring that the output they provide can save the time and cost for the clients. Advenser only focuses on one sector of industry, it helps the clients to meet the standards and accurate documents in the field of modern infrastructure that still follow standardization and protocols.
Using traditional software while still keeping up with the latest is what Cardinal Engineering Consultant at its best. It is very important to adapt the evolving technology nowadays as it can aid a lot, especially in drafting services. It also ensures that the protocol is strictly followed so as to comply with the standards given by international organizations. Cardinal Engineering Consultant leans on the various needs of an engineering company, making sure that layouts are carried out carefully. The team behind this platform is interactive, where they maintain a healthy relationship not just only to their clients but also to their main environment in the company.
This platform helps in obtaining parties that can help a company solve its problem. Cad Drafter allows tasks from simple to complex constructions while enabling the user to maintain their proficiency. By the use of good and proper communication, it is not difficult to have an interaction that can save both parties and can provide support in terms of the projects that need to be finished. This site is also a go-to place for those professionals who would want to have an idea and interaction about the different systems in electrical, as the experts here are specialized in the field of standard software.
From a file that cannot be edited, with Scan2CAD work, every file is turned into one that can be edited, which makes the life of an artist or a drafter easier and more convenient. By just scanning the printed files in an instant, you can have the drawings editable. This is such a win for those artists who make sure that plans are still kept in their original form despite being able to edit. This provides an advantage to the skilled professionals during the process phase of process as it can be updated and modified in a quick period of time, which saves a lot of time for both parties.
AABSys provides portfolios of electrical solutions, with a focus on site plans and layouts that are valuable to utility companies. The team consists of personnel who all match the established requirements and agree to meet the attributes required by a client. They ensure that every draft they provide is appropriate for the project, and they also provide competitive pricing, which can lead to a good outcome.
This company notes on having services that center on laser scanning for the industries needing it. They make plans that can be manifested into reality, as they can also transform plans that are complicated into being accurately done. In this company, it is really important to provide services that gives important to details attentively. Documentation takes place here, proving that all of the steps are measured and meticulously done.
This centers on architectural drafting services that engineering can use. For every light and alarm systems Cadeosys can be included. It follows protocols and standard measures, keeping the members of the team safe when they do their tasks. It also offers collaboration for developers and builders who are involved in creating a project that has reduced harm, fewer errors, and most importantly, the output they create is successful and in accordance with what the client wants.
This platform does offer services geared mostly toward architects and engineers, which can assist with CAD designs and documentation. Teams of experts in the industry are involved, along with precise blueprints for construction and electrical schematics. Using AEC Associates can be advantageous because it has advanced technology and specialists in the area who can assist with production while remaining cost-effective.
This is mainly a hub for those who belong in the developing and constructing industry, providing standardized work on 2D and 3D electrical drafting, which makes use of compliance with the building industry. Professionals here are not just experts in their field, but they also adhere to the standards, and they work from sketch to making it in production. Teams here are very productive to the point that they are motivated to improve their work, such as layout and planning, to reduce any errors that could happen within the time process. If you are someone who is also committed to having a task that is efficient and values the teamwork being done, this place is for you, as professionals here are committed to their field to provide enough service for those clients who avail it.
Helps in aiding solutions for any engineering workflow, Vee Technologies has a power that can mitigate designs, and can help plan solutions for emergency power. It is a very comprehensive platform that can handle everything from simple to sophisticated activities. They can quickly prepare your project and make it appealing to potential clients. They are tailored in coordination, which makes it probably even better because if coordination happens, everything will fall into place, and clashes will be minimized. Clients are kept safe on this platform because the professionals follow and completely stick to protocols. The job here goes beyond merely paperwork and includes technological aspects, making success in the subject much more realistic.
TrueCADD, a firm that specializes in drafting and design automation, also provides a variety of CAD and BIM services. It is in the next step of having solutions surpassing its goal. TrueCADD allows for collaboration to guarantee that mechanical and plumbing works are done properly, and does not contain any errors, and is a low-cost option in the market. Team players here are goal-oriented, having to carry out all the work professionally, which aids in solving clients’ problems. They make sure that standardized works are met, and projects are being tailored to the needs of the companies availed of.
With long-term experience and exploration in the field, Australian Drafting & Design Pty Ltd, it serves as a hub that focuses on construction, mining, and the defense sector. By having to use this, it connects to clients, providing that it has goals and objectives that must be attained, not only that, but it also follows strict protocols, making sure that everyone who happens to avail this service is safe and not in the hazard prone. Mainly, it keeps on ensuring that success in these works is attained and is tailored to the needs of the clients, for them to have a long-lasting partnership, not just local, but it also reaches global.
A partner in the field of engineering and CAD services, Engineering Genicoming from its name, it centers on drafting. A detailed formation of the system and components, these layouts are carried out to reach the goals of the client. Professionals here are the helping aid of the clients as they are the ones who could be the greatest source of answer in the needs, they draft and implement what should be done. Working in this sector allows collaboration with the architects and the different bodies that are involved here, ensuring that quality and standards are met with the success of the projects.
DIN Engineering Services is a well-known platform that offers services in various disciplines, mainly centered on design and drafting, which also includes layout design services and planning. DIN Engineering Services consists of teams who excel in the field that assures the client that the services being availed are free of errors and meet the international quality standards. One factor that makes this a known platform is that it is cost-effective, ensuring that it provides a service, that is effective and efficient. Coming from its experience in the field, professionalism and commitment are established to accommodate and serve the client to the best of its potential, as it also leans on the modernized software, which can accurately tailor to the needs.
Specializing in drafting and design services Powerkh, this entails having a focus on energy. In this platform, all the light work is included, whether for planning or fixing the problem itself. By using the updated and modernized CAD software, Powerkh supports 3D models of numerous building kinds. It is a requirement to have a thoroughly planned document to ensure a smooth procedure on energy and cost, which can also be minimized. Power can also lead to fires when too much energy is utilized and used improperly. Powerkh can assist in this problem by providing a protection layout to ensure that safety precautions are followed. It is critical to have this platform since it might endanger the lives of others; therefore, by doing this correctly, clients can ensure that they are safe. Engineering design teams here do work with commitment and thus have success in the project.
On the side of modeling, Clove Techniques produces models centered on 3D while instilling and exploring design development. They also resolve conflicts that can happen while in the process, especially when it happened on the design phase. It is important that in the early stage of the process, those conflicts must be eliminated so that the project will lead to success, gaining confidence in them. In this platform, a delivery technique occurs, making it certain that it reaches an efficient and functional service.
This platform helps by having a link from the starting ideas to the production of the projects. The Drafting Experts allow a product to be functional as well as strictly adhere to protocols and standards, which are important in wiring and complex things that need to be focused on. It is critical to have a platform that a client can grasp, as this allows specialists to communicate with the client in depth, ensuring task success. Not only that, but by using the services, you ensure that errors are minimized and costs are lowered. These professionals are also progressing in their game, employing instruments that supply solutions to problems.
By complying to the needs of the AEC sector, this platform can cater to what the clients need, not just sourced locally but also into the global sector. The design engineering team being formed in UniquesCADD is at the top of their game, providing every client with tailored projects on what the company requires, whether it be detailed organization, documenting, or designing. It is the same with scan2CAD, where you can convert a file here that can be turned into an editable one for use, which the professional can easily update. All of the team players here do not kid, especially when they target a specific goal that requires protocols in the industrial building developments.
Given its name, where drawings are part of it, it entails that 2D and 3D can be a big scope of the specialization of the experts here. Even in the small and simple problem, it can be solved and even those complicated documents or problems, professionals here in CAD Drawing Services. By having this, it really ensures that commitment, professionalism, and integrity are part of the values that is being instilled here. Not only that but smooth delivery of communication between parties of clients and experts occurs here, noting that they remain intact with the goal of drafting the work. There is no bias in here, they are all professionals, making the project a success.
This focuses on electrical documentation where organized flows are found from forming schedules up to complying to the standards of the buildings. Rual Design LLC caters to the installation of tools done by electricians, while this happens, they ensure that safety protocols are being followed and that technical and accurate project designs are generated to make the work simple and easy to integrate. Furthermore, people here act professionally and interact smoothly, which might aid in completing a job with precise outcomes.
Indovance is a platform where end-to-end services are provided. Having drafting and detailing teams that work on designs and drawings helps the client make a decision on what task needs to be completed. Having a long experience in the market shows how confident they are in the service they provide, strictly following the deadlines and protocols being given to them. If a company wants to focus on a section where drafting is needed, this can be a perfect site.
For architecture and engineering works, Tesla Outsourcing Services has high-quality CAD and BIM, which can be a big help. Standardized tools and processes are being tailored to the needs in order to prevent any mistakes, while still following the protocols and codes that must be adhered to. By having this form, it will give clients the opportunity to have a view of what must be needed to see, right before construction starts which is important rather than having it started while having errors in the middle of the process. Teams here are committed to their tasks, ensuring that a project is completed without flaw.
Exploring the services that allow you to have a budget for it, Electrical Estimating aids companies that want to evaluate their system. The main thing that they would want to achieve is that the service should be tailored to the needs of the client, as well as allowing every profession on this platform to be interactive with each other, which can be beneficial to both parties. If you are seeking a service that is in line with your budget, this is the place to be.
Centers on specializing in electrical engineering services and creating 3D models that are utilized in the building industry. Tejiy Inc. is a platform that improves the electrical system, as well as allowing having less errors in the process of constructing documents. Quality is also being met with the work of the team members that utilizes Revit modeling and digital innovation. Having these allows the companies to create an efficient, sustainable solution. This is a good platform if you are seeking a plan that you want to succeed.
Providing services in electrical drafting, eLogicTech values accuracy to their system. Helping and collaborating with each other makes the process of constructing and making of plans can be made in a right manner. They value perfection where quality should be in place, so that clients can be assured that they have hired the best experts in the market, and the clients can also communicate their needs to the experts to have a view of what they want. eLogicTech is a platform where quality control and standardized processes are valued.
A company that delivers CAD drafting around the world, team members here are committed to creating designs and drawings that are tailored to the needs of a client. From having the best experiences in the industry to completing seemingly hard assignments, they deliver a satisfying transaction that is nevertheless consistent with the demands. They have a good possibility of having few or no flaws in here since they keep in mind that any design and drawing they create is a successful technical product.
Specializing in giving in-depth plans for various buildings, ACS CAD Services has a format where they give importance to making the product inclined and suitable to what the client needs. One advantage of using this is that they adapt to the modern trends that can help them provide a service that is compliant and standard. This platform certainly can be a help for professionals in the construction industry, as it is very detailed which leads to having work done.
Use in the world of sourcing work services that lean on engineering and industries that need drafting, especially in electrical. Flatworld Solutions does provide a successful project, mainly focusing on lights. The team members who are already part of the project are formed together in order to meet the needs of the client and uphold the standards being upheld. Using modern CAD software is a plus, since it guarantees that the work done is reliable and standardized, which follows the protocols being given in the industry.
Services are given to those who need CAD and BIM services, especially in the field of designing and constructing. Archdraw Outsourcing creates drawings that are meticulously done in order to fit it into the needs of the clients. They have tools that are utilized to guarantee excellent work that is aligned with the flow of the building construction. Team players here collaborate with one another, offering a helping hand that provides a successful completion. In this platform they do not waste any materials as they can still be used.
Having to recruit experts in the field of electrical is important, most especially to companies who values efficient work while still following every protocol being raised, not just locally but also globally. They have professionals who can do complex tasks and can make it standard. This also aids in determining whether a project needs a lot of team players or not, as they can be hired depending on the needs of the tasks. Not only that, but it ensures that every work done is qualified for the client’s expectations.
With advanced service on 2D and 3D services, Vegecadd is a platform where experts in the field of drafting or engineering can make use of this, as it allows them to make site plans and floor layouts. Leaning on the modern side of software, Vegecadd follows the international building code so that it can become standard and the same as others, giving it an edge as it proves that the products made are safe.
Having an electrical drafting makes a great impact that ensures every dime does not go to waste. The above-mentioned companies are those who are at the top of their game, proving that they excel in precision, have coordination, which also follows AEC work. The right team, right expertise must be in the project so that the task finds it easy to be done, even if it’s the most complicated power problems it may be.
It should not be difficult to discover the correct person or team. Cad Crowd guarantees that clients are assigned the greatest artists capable of solving their difficulties, ensuring that they are appropriate for your needs. Explore the platform and portfolios to find the ideal fit for the project’s success. It is critical to discover the appropriate professionals or the ideal platform that will not only save the brand but also the people associated with it; hence, Cad Crowd may be of great assistance in obtaining the services that a client desires. Contact us for a quote today!
MacKenzie Brown is the founder and CEO of Cad Crowd. With over 18 years of experience in launching and scaling platforms specializing in CAD services, product design, manufacturing, hardware, and software development, MacKenzie is a recognized authority in the engineering industry. Under his leadership, Cad Crowd serves esteemed clients like NASA, JPL, the U.S. Navy, and Fortune 500 companies, empowering innovators with access to high-quality design and engineering talent.
Vanillaware might not be a household name to some of you, but it’s got a library that hangs up there with the best of them. Odin Sphere, Dragon’s Crown, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, all games that I have seen their biggest supports plead for you to play them on sites like Dwitter and Bluesky. Only problem for us lot is that none of them are on PC. Well, most of them, as just this week it was announced that one of their earlier titles Muramasa: The Demon Blade will finally be coming to PC. And, as it seemingly turns out, Vanillaware would like more of their games to be made available on PC… it’s just not up to them.
Author and founder of indie game festival BitSummit James Mielke took to Bluesky to share word from Vanillaware founder George Kamitani about the studio’s interest in further PC ports. “Glad to see Muramasa coming to PC,” Mielke wrote, continuing, “I asked Vanillaware’s George Kamitani why he hasn’t put his other games on PC and he said he totally wants to, but it’s up to the publisher to finance the ports. So if you want 13 Sentinels, Dragon’s Crown, Unicorn Overlord, Odin Sphere etc. on PC, make some noise.”
This did cause some confusion for some, as Atlus, who published Unicorn Overlord, said that their agreement with Vanillaware meant that only a console release was planned. In turn, this led some to believe that Vanillaware didn’t want their games on PC. One user on Bluesky responded to Mielke regarding this, with Mielke explaining that “the reports were wrong,” about Vanillaware not wanting PC ports.
Whether any of the aforementioned games get a PC port in the future does now seemingly come down to enough people causing a bit of a fuss to make it happen. Maybe don’t tag the publishers in question on your social media of choice with expletives or anything, but a friendly email might do the trick. I know I’d certainly like to see 13 Sentinel’s gorgeous art in particular up on my monitor, so, hop to it you lot.
Cybercriminals don’t need to break into Microsoft. They only need to break into your Microsoft 365 environment.
Microsoft 365 is at the centre of modern business operations, but even a single security gap can create significant risk. Many organizations don’t discover vulnerabilities until after an account takeover, phishing attack, or ransomware incident.
This webinar from Net at Work explores the most common Microsoft 365 security risks, real-world attack scenarios, and the practical steps organizations can take to strengthen their defenses.
In this webinar, you’ll learn:
Why Microsoft 365 has become a primary target for cyberattacks
The most common security gaps that put organizations at risk
How phishing, account compromise, and ransomware attacks occur
Best practices for MFA, access controls, backups, and threat detection
Steps to improve your organization’s Microsoft 365 security posture
By submitting this form, you’ll be eligible for a complimentary Microsoft Copilot license with setup and activation included. You’ll also receive expert licensing recommendations and an optional Microsoft environment audit to help optimize efficiency and value.
Take in the beauty of the lakes, rivers and rolling hills in this expansive update.
Microsoft Flight Simulator City Update 15 highlights key metropolitan regions of the American states of Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The release includes coverage of Chicago, Illinois, the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area of Minnesota, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, among others. The update coincides with FlightSimExpo 2026, held this year at the St. Paul RiverCentre in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota from June 12-14, 2026. City Update 15 comprises eight areas of interest (AOIs) rendered in high-fidelity TIN (triangulated irregular network) surface texturing throughout the three states.
ILLINOIS
Chicago: Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States with a population of 2.7 million. Known as “The Windy City,” Chicago is home to several world-famous landmarks, including Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), 875 North Michigan Avenue (formerly John Hancock Tower), and Millennium Park. Chicago is also renowned in the flight simulator world for being the home to Meigs Field (KCGX), the original default airport in the early editions of Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Elgin: Located along the Fox River roughly 38 miles northwest of downtown Chicago with historic roots in manufacturing and agriculture. It became known as the “butter and watch capital of the world” due to its dairy industry and watch manufacturing industry.
Cicero: Located eight miles west of downtown Chicago, it was named after Roman statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero. It has historic roots in telecommunications manufacturing and was the one-time headquarters of notorious American gangster Al Capone.
Arlington Heights: A northwestern suburb of Chicago that is today recognized for its parks and cultural events. The city traces its roots to vegetable farming, dairy, and nursery products. It later expanded due to its inclusion on a railroad route, which sparked the growth of commercial development.
MINNESOTA
Minneapolis: Located along the banks of the upper Mississippi River, it is Minnesota’s most populous city with approximately 430,000 inhabitants. Part of the “Twin Cities” region (its sibling being St. Paul, which lies directly to its east), Minneapolis is known as the “City of Lakes” as it boasts more than a dozen lakes within its city limits. Key landmarks in the city include the Stone Arch Bridge, Capella Tower, and Two22.
St. Paul: Located directly on the banks of the Mississippi River just west of the Wisconsin border, it is the capital of the state of Minnesota. Major landmarks include the Minnesota State Capitol, the Cathedral of Saint Paul, and the James J. Hill House.
Bloomington: Located just south of Minneapolis and St. Paul, this city was founded as a small farming community and expanded through the years into a major commercial center. Situated on the northern banks of the Minnesota River, Bloomington is known for its numerous parks and natural areas, with more than a third of its area designated as green spaces. It is the home of Mall of America, the largest retail and entertainment complex in the United States.
Duluth is located in northeastern Minnesota just west of the border with Wisconsin. A major port city, Duluth was established on the Duluth-Superior Harbor on the southwestern extremity of Lake Superior, which is also the westernmost point of the Great Lakes. Major landmarks in Duluth include the Canal Park Aerial Lift Bridge, Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center, and Enger Park and Tower.
Brooklyn Park: Located 10 miles northwest of downtown Minneapolis on the banks of the upper Mississippi River, it is a modern urban hub that traces its origin to farming. Today, it is recognized for its colleges and expansive parks and nature areas.
Woodbury: Located eight miles east of St. Paul near the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, Woodbury is a major center of the healthcare and retail industries. It is also celebrated for its extensive and carefully planned parkland and trail systems.
Lakeville: Located twenty miles due south of downtown Minneapolis is a key outer suburb of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The city emerged as an agriculture and light industry hub and has grown into a major center of manufacturing, healthcare, and food services.
Plymouth: A key suburb in the Minneapolis–St. Paul Metropolitan Area and located 10 miles west of downtown Minneapolis. Plymouth boasts an extensive urban park system and several landmarks such as the Plymouth Old Town Hall.
Blaine is a northern Twin Cities suburb originally established as a hunting and farming area. Located 12 miles due north of downtown Minneapolis, today it is a bustling city known for its extensive park and trail system and as the home to the National Sports Center, the world’s largest amateur sports facility.
WISCONSIN
Milwaukee: Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan 80 miles north of Chicago, this is Wisconsin’s most populous city with more than a half million inhabitants. Built on the confluence of the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic Rivers, the city is known for its historic industrial base and beer brewing roots. Milwaukee is home to several architectural landmarks, including the Milwaukee Art Museum, the North Point Lighthouse, and the Basilica of Saint Josaphat.
Madison: Located 75 miles to the west of downtown Milwaukee is the capital of the state of Wisconsin. The state’s second most populous city with approximately 300,000 residents, Madison is a major university center anchored by the University of Wisconsin–Madison. It is renowned for its architecture, which was heavily influenced by famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who lived in the area. Sights include the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center, the Wisconsin State Capitol, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unitarian Meeting House.
Racine: Located on the shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Root River, Racine was established as a small port and trading center. Today, Racine is a major industrial and innovation center that serves as the global headquarters to several major corporations.
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It’s the U.S. law that allows wiretaps without a warrant for surveilling foreign targets. And the U.S. Congress just let it lapse. Sort of. NPR reports:
Each year, the provision is used by American intelligence agencies to collect the electronic communications of hundreds of thousands of foreigners located outside of the United States. The government says that more than 60% of the president’s daily intelligence briefing relies on information collected under the authority. The tool officially lapsed at the end of the day on Friday. What happens now?
Intelligence collection under FISA’s Section 702 is authorized annually by a federal court — and the law allows for that collection to continue for the duration of the court’s authorization, even if the law lapses before the court’s next approval. That means companies — electronic communications service providers, in this context — will still be legally required to turn over material to intelligence agencies.
Still, some lawmakers worry that the companies compelled to turn over communications may attempt to challenge the law in court, possibly leading to an indeterminately long window during which they stop providing intel. Advocates on all sides of the surveillance fight believe those challenges are ultimately likely to fail, but those closely linked to the intelligence community emphasize that even a small pause comes with risks ahead of major events like America’s 250th celebration and the World Cup.
Entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang has a theory about where the next wave of startup opportunity lies, and it starts with a question most founders aren’t asking: what if the business model was giving money back instead of extracting it?
Yang was inspired by Mark Cuban. Not by his wealth, or his celebrity, but by Cost Plus Drugs — Cuban’s startup that sells pharmaceuticals at cost. Yang made a list.
“Housing, education, food, fuel, transportation, media, and wireless,” Yang told TechCrunch on a recent episode of Equity. “The things we all spend money on.”
He picked wireless and last September launched Nobile Mobile, a new mobile virtual network operator that provides cell service for a fraction of what traditional carriers charge and gives customers money back if they use less data.
As AI threatens to compress wages and displace workers, Yang sees a business opportunity in bringing down the cost of living. Cost Plus Drugs, Noble Mobile, dumb phone makers like Light Phone, and even online grocery store Misfits Markets are early examples of an emerging business category where the startup’s value proposition is the margin it gives back to the customer.
“AI is going to suck up a lot of the value and the jobs, and then Americans are going to look up and say, ‘How do I meet basic needs?’” Yang said. He believes meeting people’s needs “less expensively” is “a very rich vein of opportunity.”
That instinct didn’t emerge from nowhere. Yang first launched himself into the public eye during his 2020 presidential campaign, during which he advocated for Universal Basic Income as a means of combating AI-related workforce displacement and wealth concentration. The campaign didn’t succeed but the thesis has only grown more relevant.
Yang is still an advocate for UBI, arguing that the value generated by AI companies needs to be redistributed into the hands of the average American. But whether the government will be the vehicle for that redistribution, or whether it will just use any collected wealth to “plug a hole and do something not terribly productive,” Yang is less certain.
“There is room for a direct connection between the money and the people,” he said.
That’s where the market comes in. Where policy fails, Yang argues, market incentives can step in. Noble Mobile is his attempt to prove the point. Since its launch last September, the company has grown to “thousands and thousands” of customers and is bringing in “millions in revenue.”
“We’re unit profitable per customer, but we just share the profits with our subscribers with the idea that it’ll make you happy, you’ll stay around, and maybe you’ll tell your friends and family,” Yang said.
The pitch is simple. Yang noted that the average monthly savings of $50, invested and compounded over 40 years, could amount to $24,000 — enough for a retirement down payment. And in thiseconomy, who isn’t thinking about little ways they can upgrade their personal finance?
Whether investors will share that enthusiasm is another question entirely. Even if the opportunity is real, capital is concentrated heavily in AI right now, while consumer-facing businesses with thin margins and a social mission are a hard sell.
“I had at least one investor say to me around Noble Mobile, ‘Love you, Andrew, want to work with you — if you could just make this an AI company, we’ll invest,’” Yang said.
The tide might be changing, though, simply because even the most wealthy, extractive companies need an economy in which consumers have enough buying power to purchase their products.
“The value being concentrated in the hands of a handful of folks and firms is just bad for everybody,” he said. “There are some folks I know in Silicon Valley who are open to that for a variety of reasons…[like] they just don’t want to have to hire private security.”
Yang encouraged founders and investors to take on problems they’re passionate about and find a way to build a valuable enterprise on top of it.
“Think bigger and more broadly about trying to tackle problems and don’t subscribe so much to groupthink, because there are some valuable opportunities out there,” he said.
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