Entertainment
YouTube enforces stricter measures if users persistently employ ad-blockers and promotes the use of YouTube Premium.
YouTube is preparing to conduct an experiment aimed at encouraging users to disable their ad-blocker extensions or requiring them to subscribe to YouTube Premium.
As of late June 2023, YouTube is reportedly pursuing a more stringent approach to deter viewers from using ad-blocker tools while watching videos on its platform.
In this regard, the video platform has displayed popup-style ‘prompts’ to warn users that their ability to watch videos will be restricted unless they disable their ad-blockers or add the website to a whitelist, allowing ads to be displayed. If users want an ad-free experience, YouTube also suggests subscribing to YouTube Premium so that “content creators can still get paid.”
Nevertheless, this message can be dismissed by clicking on the X icon in the top right corner. After dismissing the prompt, users can continue to use YouTube as usual. However, realizing that these ‘reminders’ may not have been sufficient to impact users, YouTube has taken even stronger measures against users employing ad-blockers.
According to this, a user has posted an image on the social media platform Reddit, showing that YouTube now displays a countdown timer in the top right corner of the popup window, instead of directly showing the close icon. Subsequently, users may also receive a prompt stating “video player will be blocked after 3 videos” if they persistently refrain from adding YouTube to the ad-blocker whitelist. Naturally, this significantly impacts the user experience while watching videos.
Below the comments section on the Reddit social media platform, some users employing ad-blockers are also confirming that they have received similar notifications, including a few uBlock Origin users – one of the most popular and effective ad-blocker extensions for Chrome.
However, this new approach is reported to affect only a small number of users, and YouTube has not disclosed how many users or regions are participating in the experiment.
Continuously taking strong measures
With the majority of its revenue stemming from advertising, YouTube has witnessed a significant decline in its business-generated income over the past three quarters. This implies that even more stringent measures will continue to be implemented by YouTube in the near future on a broader scale, especially if these measures prove effective. Recently, Google announced a price increase for YouTube Premium, with the subscription fee rising from $11.99 to $13.99 per month.
Representatives from YouTube also affirmed that the platform may temporarily disable the playback feature “in extreme cases, when viewers persist in using ad-blockers.”
However, YouTube representatives also emphasized that disabling the playback feature would only occur “if viewers disregard repeated requests to allow ads to be displayed on YouTube.” Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether YouTube would automatically block playback after a user watches more than three videos or if it will provide more opportunities for users to comply.
Notably, the effort to prompt users to purchase YouTube Premium and disable ad-blockers is just one of several robust actions the platform has recently taken toward its users.
Most recently, YouTube announced that it will cease displaying recommended videos on the homepage for users who have opted to disable their watch history.
This means that your YouTube homepage could look drastically different if you choose to clear and disable your watch history. Specifically, you will still see the search bar and guide menu on the left. However, your recommended video feed will be empty. For some users, this could result in an almost empty YouTube homepage experience on both mobile devices and the web.
According to YouTube’s rationale, this experiential change will allow users to search and navigate through subscribed channels without being distracted by suggested videos. Nonetheless, this move may not be suitable for all users who prefer to keep their watch history off the platform. Furthermore, YouTube does not enforce this requirement for users who are logged out, meaning their watch history is not recorded.
Entertainment
Gamers fervently demand a simple feature, but Diablo 4 refuses hastily, surprising reasons.
All things considered, this isn’t an excessively high demand from the Diablo 4 gamers.
Diablo 4 has been receiving a great deal of recognition and praise from the gaming community following the improvements made in the latest version. Furthermore, anticipation is even higher for the upcoming first expansion of Diablo 4, Vessel of Hatred, set to be released next year. However, many gamers are already feeling disappointed as their heartfelt desires and expectations are not being fully met by Blizzard.
Accordingly, right from the game’s initial release, Diablo 4 players earnestly requested Blizzard to make changes to the inventory system. Firstly, they suggested creating a separate storage space for gems and precious stones. Secondly, they requested a feature that would make it easier for players to manage their items through a sorting and filtering system based on the quality of the loot. The first part of the request was addressed in Season 2, while regarding the loot filtering feature, many were surprised to learn that Blizzard would not be adding this functionality, even in the upcoming expansion next year.
Originally, this wasn’t an overly difficult or complex request, which is why Blizzard’s hesitancy and delay in responding has left many Diablo 4 players feeling frustrated. To explain their decision, Blizzard states that the changes need to be interconnected to maintain coherence and logicality. Therefore, before considering the loot filtering feature, the company is striving to implement other related adjustments that affect the functionality and diversification of item types. Of course, this response still doesn’t satisfy many people, as this is something relatively simple and could easily be addressed straightforwardly.
In this first expansion, several new features are being considered, including the removal of the Codex of Power from player’s inventory and changes to health and mana potions, as well as buffs.
Entertainment
Rumors have been circulating about a live-action film about GTA, the creator of the series spoke out to confirm one thing.
Rumors have been circulating about a live-action film about GTA, the creator of the series spoke out to confirm one thing.
With the brand’s popularity, it’s understandable that fans are eagerly anticipating a GTA film. Two of the most shocking pieces of news in the gaming world last week were Nintendo’s announcement of a live-action film based on The Legend of Zelda franchise and Rockstar’s promise to unveil the release roadmap for GTA 6 in December. While seemingly unrelated, recently there has been a surprising rumor circulating online that GTA 6 will serve as a stepping stone for Rockstar and Take-Two to release a film specifically for this franchise.
Fundamentally, this is entirely feasible as, alongside its immersive role-playing elements that attract a large player base, GTA is also renowned for its storytelling, setting, and notably, a plethora of iconic main characters throughout the game series. This material is sufficient to launch a cinematic work, and GTA fans have every reason to look forward to it. However, Take-Two’s CEO, Strauss Zelnick, quickly denied this and admitted that they are not interested in any film projects in the near future.
The reason was promptly given right after. Essentially, Take-Two could invest its own money to make a film or a series about GTA, and its chances of success would be significant. However, the publisher seems unenthusiastic about venturing into this new field because it would consume a lot of time and effort. Licensing the brand to a third party to develop a film project is also not worth mentioning because even if the film generates significant buzz, the revenue that Take-Two would receive wouldn’t be substantial, especially when compared to the earnings they have already generated from the GTA brand, particularly during the past decade of milking GTA 5. In summary, from Take-Two’s perspective, producing a film or film series about GTA would not yield profitable results.
Therefore, despite the strong desire, it is highly unlikely that GTA fans will have the opportunity to witness a cinematic work based on this franchise in the future. However, everything can change over time, especially as the trend of adapting games into films has seen significant success recently, as exemplified by the cases of Cyberpunk 2077 and The Last of Us.
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Entertainment
Why do private jet aircraft fly at higher altitudes than commercial planes?
Besides the luxury and convenience to cater to ultra-rich customers, private jets operate at higher altitudes compared to commercial planes.
Typically, most commercial planes operate at an altitude of around 10.6 km (the specific altitude will be determined by the air traffic control along the route) and are certified to fly at altitudes of up to 12 km. Some specific wide-body aircraft, such as the Airbus A380, Airbus A350, and Boeing 787, have certifications for even higher altitudes, reaching up to 13.1 km (with some variants, such as the 787-10 and A350-1000, evaluated at slightly lower altitudes of 12.52 km and 12.6 km). However, due to air traffic constraints, they may not regularly operate at these altitudes.
Meanwhile, most medium and large private jet aircraft typically operate at higher altitudes than this, sometimes surpassing the permitted limits due to reduced air traffic and fewer restrictions. According to Simple Flying, many types of private jet aircraft, including the Gulfstream G650 and G650ER, Bombardier Global Express, or Challenger jet, Cessna Citation X, and Dassault Falcon 7X, are certified to fly at altitudes of 15.5 km. In contrast, Embraer Legacy and Praetor, along with Cessna Citation Longitude and Excel jets, have certifications for slightly lower altitudes, limited to 13.7 km, as reported by Interesting Engineering. There are several explanations for the significant difference in cruising altitude between private jets and commercial planes during cruise mode, according to Interesting Engineering.
Safety Standards
Safety is the top priority for all aircraft, but private jets have more flexibility in regulations and systems. In the event of a cabin pressure loss, commercial planes must rapidly descend to a safe altitude below 3 km to provide sufficient oxygen for passengers.
This requirement demands specific design considerations for the aircraft’s structure and engines, as well as the installation of safety equipment such as oxygen masks and emergency slides. In contrast, private jet engines can facilitate quicker descent, and their cabin pressure and oxygen supply systems may vary. The risk of damage to the fuselage due to engine malfunctions is also lower for private jets, as their engines are located at the rear of the aircraft, far from the pressurized cabin.
Private Jets are Faster and More Efficient
Flying at higher altitudes also brings performance and fuel efficiency benefits. At higher altitudes, the air is thinner and cooler, improving the performance of jet engines and reducing fuel consumption. Of course, this must be balanced with the fuel required for the aircraft to reach such altitudes, which can be a challenge for heavier commercial planes.
The engines of private jets also have a higher bypass ratio, meaning they utilize more air from the core rather than the fan surrounding the core. This optimizes engine performance at higher altitudes.
The Importance of Aircraft Size
Private jet aircraft are designed to be flexible and efficient, with a higher power-to-weight ratio than commercial planes. This means they can climb and maintain speed at higher altitudes, where the air is thinner and there is less drag.
On the other hand, commercial planes are heavier and bulkier due to the need to carry many passengers and cargo. They also require large wings to support their weight at higher altitudes. This is why some aircraft models, such as the Boeing 777X, have folding wings to save ground space.
Smoother Experience at Higher Altitudes
Weather and turbulence in the air also affect comfort and safety during flight. When flying at an altitude of 10.6 km, commercial planes are almost unaffected by weather phenomena, but they may still encounter turbulence caused by wind shear or jet streams. This can cause discomfort for passengers and the flight crew, as well as put pressure on the aircraft’s structure. Private jets can avoid these issues by flying even higher, where the air is calmer and less turbulent. Private jet pilots also have more options to change direction or altitude in case of bad weather or air turbulence.
Reduced Air Traffic
Air traffic is another factor that influences the choice of altitude. Commercial planes must adhere to predetermined flight paths and altitudes, which are often crowded due to the numerous planes operating at these levels.
This can lead to issues such as flight delays, rerouting, increased fuel consumption, and emissions. In contrast, private jets have more freedom in choosing routes and altitudes, which are less congested than common altitudes. This helps save time and money while reducing environmental impact.
Source: Interesting Engineering
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