Inside the virtual production of ‘The Lion King’

Image credit: Disney/MPC Film Sponsored Links The new Lion King movie is visually spectacular. A two-hour remake that frequently defies belief. Pride Rock is, of course, a fictional place but in director Jon Favreau's film it feels eerily real. The creatures, too, move just like they would on the plains of Africa. They're utterly believable…

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Panasonic S1R review: Big, powerful and too expensive

Gallery: Panasonic S1R mirrorless camera | 22 Photos The grip on the S1R is huge, bigger than on any other mirrorless camera, by far. That gave me confidence I'd never drop it, even in slippery or cold conditions. It's also weather-sealed and certified to operate in temperatures from 14 to 104 degrees F, and I…

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YouTubers are unionizing, and the site has 24 days to respond

The YouTube Union was formed last year amid tensions between YouTube and the content creators who post videos to the platform, but as a community group rather than a true union it had little power to back up its position. The new joint initiative, called FairTube, aims to pressure the platform to be more transparent…

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Oppo eliminates side bezels with its ‘waterfall screen’

Oppo stopped short of sharing further details -- no specs, no dates and, most importantly, no word on whether this would make phones more prone to drop damage. Also, perhaps to no surprise, a leaked glass piece suggests that Vivo is also working on a similar tech, possibly for its upcoming NEX 3 flagship. It'll…

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The gear you need for your dorm room

Black+Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean+It might not be top of mind what with the daily stresses of college life, but a tidy dorm room is also key to keeping your mind clear of clutter. One of the easiest ways to clean up your filthy dorm room is to use a handheld vacuum. The Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ model is…

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How the West Got China’s Social Credit System Wrong

In October 2018, Vice President Mike Pence paid a visit to the Hudson Institute—a conservative Washington, DC, think tank—to give a wide-ranging speech about the United States’ relationship with China. Standing stiffly in a shiny blue tie, he began by accusing the Chinese Communist Party of interfering in US politics and directing Chinese businesses to…

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2 Million People Streamed the ‘Fortnite’ World Cup Finals

On Sunday, 16-year-old Kyle Giersdorf, also known as Bugha, won the $3 million grand prize at the Fortnite World Cup Finals.Johannes Eisele/Getty ImagesGreetings, and welcome to the latest edition of The Monitor, WIRED's entertainment and culture news roundup. What's happening this fine day? Well, for one, a lot of people saw Quentin Tarantino's new movie—and…

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