A loophole on YouTube has been spotted that allows users to upload and access compressed data hidden into videos as a backup solution, although it’s not as easy or advisable as it sounds.
For it to work, Infinite-Storage-Glitch (opens in new tab) (via PC Gamer (opens in new tab)), a tool developed in Rust by Github user DvorakDwarf, must be run from a Linux distro and compiled either from source or using software development platform Docker (opens in new tab). There are no readily available releases on Github, and perhaps for good reason.
DvorakDwarf muses on the Github project page that, although YouTube’s Terms of Service (TOS) may not expressly forbid uploading videos that contain files, it is possible that Google lawyers have planned ahead, given a section about ‘circumventing the service’.
File storage in a YouTube video
As a result, although this is an interesting development, TechRadar Pro can’t expressly suggest that you rush to try this.
The tool’s creator, also being careful with their words, has warned against making this your next cloud storage solution, noting that it lacks filesystem support and comes with many bugs that they do not plan on fixing. These include bad RAM usage, which limits individual files to “about” 100MB.
Still, if you don’t particularly value your Google account, or are as interested in novel forms of storing data (like in tape and HDD hybrids, or even DNA) as us, you might find this fascinating.
Users store files inside a .zip archive, and the tool embeds them into a video file: the new one, being “several times larger”. The video can then be uploaded, as well as downloaded, with the files able to be “dislodged” using the tool.
Users have a couple of options to store their data: inside RGB pixels (quick and efficient, but more prone to corruption and sensitive to compression) or black and white binary ones.
Both modes are susceptible to compression, so several settings, such as pixel size (with 2×2 pixels recommended for binary) are available to tweak, and are stored in the first frame of a processed video to make it easier to remember options that work.
There’s a good chance that your next Android phone will support Qualcomm’s two-way satellite text messaging service, as the chip maker has announced support from six major phone makers.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Satellite service is designed to let you text your contacts when you’re off-grid in remote locations that don’t have network coverage. And we’ve just learned that Honor, Motorola, Nothing, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi are all on board to develop phones that support it.
A notable absentee from that list is the world’s biggest Android phone brand, Samsung. That’s because Samsung has recently announced its own network modem that will allow two-way communication between phones and satellites. The Samsung Galaxy S23 was expected to support Qualcomm’s Snapdragon satellite tech, but it was curiously missing from that phone.
The reason for that omission appears to be that the race is now on to offer Android’s equivalent of the iPhone’s Emergency SOS feature. Unlike Apple’s system, Qualcomm’s tech uses the Iridium satellite network, and promises to be useful for more than just an emergencies on hiking trips – Qualcomm is suggesting that it can also be used for “recreation” in remote areas, and for getting in touch with family and friends when you have no signal.
It isn’t yet clear when we’ll see the first phones that support Qualcomm Snapdragon Satellite, but it shouldn’t be too long – Qualcomm says it’ll land on 5G devices with Snapdragon 8 or Snapdragon 4 chips, which means it’ll initially be restricted to premium and mid-tier phones.
Interestingly, Qualcomm also said that Snapdragon Satellite is coming to “other device categories in compute, automotive and IoT segments”, which means we can expect to see support for it in future laptops, cars and more, too.
Analysis: Lift-off for satellite text messaging
(Image credit: Motorola)
Satellite messaging has become one of the hottest themes of this week’s MWC 2023 show (which you can follow in our MWC 2023 live blog). And this Qualcomm announcement shows it’ll be one of the big features in your next Android phone – even if Samsung appears to be taking its own route.
Motorola had already stolen Qualcomm’s thunder last week by announcing the Motorola Defy 2, a rugged Android phone that delivers two-way satellite messaging using a different service called Bullitt Satellite Messenger. It also announced the Defy Satellite Link (pictured above), a Bluetooth fob that delivers the service to older Android phones and iPhones, too.
But while Qualcomm and Bullitt’s satellite messaging services broadly promise the same service – two-way messaging in remote areas – they’re based on different networks and work in different ways. While Qualcomm is promising that Snapdragon Satellite will “offer truly global coverage from pole to pole” (as long as you can see the open sky), Bullitt’s satellite coverage is a bit more limited.
Qualcomm’s service will also integrate with an Android phone’s SMS text messaging, rather than requiring a separate app. But what we don’t yet know is how much Snapdragon Satellite will cost. Bullitt Satellite Messenger gives us a ballpark figure, though: $4.99/£4.99 per month (around AU$9) for the ability to send 30 two-way messages, plus access to its SOS assistance service.
Both Qualcomm and Bullitt’s services are more versatile than Apple’s Emergency SOS, and we’re expecting to see the first Snapdragon Satellite Android phones land later this year. While satellite text messaging remains a relatively niche feature right now, It’ll be interesting to see how both Apple and Samsung respond.
NoiseFit Halo smartwatch is here. Noise has added yet another smartwatch to its product lineup with the launch of NoiseFit Halo in India. The smartwatch sports a metallic design and a round dial. The smartwatch comes equipped with a heart rate sensor and SpO2 monitor. Price and availability NoiseFit Halo comes with a price tag of Rs 3,999 and it comes in Classic Black, Fiery Orange, Forest Green, Vintage Brown, Jet Black and Statement Black. The smartwatch can be purchased online from Amazon.in and gonoise.com. NoiseFit Halo smartwatch features NoiseFit Halo comes with a 1.43-inch AMOLED display with 466×466 pixel resolution. The smartwatch comes equipped with Bluetooth calling functionality which enables users to answer and make calls directly from the smartwatch. NoiseFit Halo comes equipped with a heart rate sensor and SpO2 monitor. The device can also keep track of sleep and stress levels. The wearable offers more than 100 sports and 150+ customisable watch faces. NoiseFit Halo comes equipped with smart touch technology offering unique customisation such as double Tap to wake, covering the watch screen during an incoming call – this will put the call on silent and palm control to turn off display. The device comes with IP68 rating which makes it dust and water-resistant. The company claims that the smartwatch can deliver up to 7 days of battery backup ona single charge. Noise enters the list of top five companies in global smartwatch market A recent report by Counterpoint Research revealed that the global smartwatch market shipments grew 12% YoY in 2022 due to the strong YoY growth witnessed in the first three quarters. The report further revealed that Indian manufacturers Noise and Fire-Boltt performed really well this time. Noise captured the fourth position and surpassed 5% of the global market share
Along with the Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro, the Xiaomi 13 Lite joins the series in the global market. The smartphone comes with a curved 120Hz display, Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, and 50MP triple camera setup. Here’s everything you need to know about the Xiaomi 13 Lite. Xiaomi 13 Lite: Price, availability The Xiaomi 13 Lite comes at a starting price of 499 euros (around Rs 43,750). The smartphone will be available in the global market starting March 8. As of now, there is no word on the launch of Xiaomi 13 Lite in India. Xiaomi 13 Lite: Specifications, features, and more Xiaomi 13 Lite features a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with Full-HD+ resolution with 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, and 1920Hz High-Frequency PWM Dimming. The display offers up to 1000 nits of brightness, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. Further, the smartphone has Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The smartphone measures 159.2 x 72.7 x 7.23mm and weighs 171 grams. Powering the Xiaomi 13 Lite is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset with Adreno 644 GPU. The smartphone comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB of internal storage. The Xiaomi 13 Lite runs MIUI 14 on top of Android 12. The smartphone is backed up by a 4,500mAh battery with support for 67W fast wired charging. The smartphone comes with in-display fingerprint sensor and an infrared sensor. The Xiaomi 13 Lite features a triple camera setup – 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor, 8MP 115-degree ultrawide sensor, and 2MP macro camera. On the front, the smartphone has a 32MP ultrawide camera and an 8MP depth sensor with Xiaomi Selfie Glow flash. The Xiaomi 13 Lite offers dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support. Further, the smartphone supports USB Type-C audio. Connectivity options on Xiaomi 13 Lite include – 5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6 802.11, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, NavIC, NFC, and USB Type-C.
At MWC 2023 in Barcelona, Google has announced several handy features coming to your Android smartphone via its next Android 13 update.
As expected, the changes are more incremental than you’d see from a larger Android 14 overhaul, but nevertheless, the tools being added to the best Android phones are still worth paying attention to. They include new Emoji Kitchen brews, handier Google keep notes, and less noise in Google Meet calls (via Google’s blog (opens in new tab)).
The updates should be rolled out over the next few days and weeks, so be sure to check your device’s update settings to see when you can upgrade to the latest Android OS.
Google Keep widget
If you rely on Google Keep notes to keep your life in order, you’ll be excited to hear that the app is getting an Android widget that lets you see notes on your phone’s home screen. This can include your shopping list note that you can tick off as you go around the store, an image of some specific item you need to look out for, or any of your many other reminders.
(Image credit: Google)
Plus, those of you with a WearOS watch like the Galaxy Watch 5 or the Pixel Watch will benefit from two new shortcuts, allowing you to create notes and to-do lists with a couple of taps on your watch face.
Google Meet noise cancellation
This feature was already available on some Android devices, but it’s finally rolling out to more of them. Thanks to noise cancellation, the next time you have to join a meeting from your smartphone you won’t need to worry so much about the noise around you – like that annoying neighbor mowing their lawn, or the noise of the cafe you’re working in – will be filtered out. The system isn’t able to hide all background noise, but it does a pretty solid job of making callers easier to understand.
New Emoji Kitchen combos
Emoji Kitchen is the Gboard feature that automatically melds your Android emojis to create a combination that better captures your mood. If, for example, you want to communicate that you find something both mind-blowing and hilarious, Gboard can merge the exploding head and crying laughing emojis into one image to capture that emotion.
(Image credit: Google)
This Android update brings new possible emoji mash-ups to help you convey an even wider range of emotions. In the teaser gif above we see that a basketball fan is able to express their love of the game by merging the basketball and sparkling heart emoji.
Improved zoom for Chrome
Zooming in on pages in Google Chrome was like zooming in on a static image; the words and icons get larger but disappear off the screen. The upcoming Android update will allow you to zoom on a page up to 300% while still maintaining the page’s layout and keeping everything on-screen. You can also set a preferred content size, so that each page is automatically zoomed in when you load it.
This feature won’t roll out until March, but you can access it via the Chrome Beta and going into the app’s Accessibility Settings.
Mobile World Congress 2023 in Barcelona has just started and the event will continue till March 2. This GSMA-hosted event is commonly known as a platform for Android smartphone makers to showcase their latest products and innovations. In this mobile-focused event, China-based laptop maker, Lenovo, has announced several new products. The latest portfolio includes new IdeaPad models amongst which the company has also launched a new Chromebook model. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook follows the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3i Chromebook that was unveiled at CES in Las Vegas, US at the start of the year. This new notebook supports a Full HD resolution powered by a MediaTek laptop chipset. Here’s everything you need to know about Lenovo’s new Chromebook model. IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook: Price and availability According to a report by PocketLint, the laptop will be available in the European market starting at around €349 (nearly Rs 30,500). Consumers can buy these new Chromebooks in three different colour options. Lenovo hasn’t yet confirmed if these laptops will be coming to the Indian market. IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook: Key Specs Lenovo’s latest Chromebook sports a 14-inch display and will be available in a few other options. Users will be able to choose between three display options — among which one will feature — a Full HD resolution IPS touchscreen display with 300nits peak and brightness while the other one will have a Full HD screen with 250nits brightness. The last option will feature an HD display that will support up to 250nits brightness. The Chromebook will also have a 5MP webcam on the top of the display that will support 1080p recording. The webcam will also have a physical privacy shutter for users who prefer a hardware switch to control cameras and microphones. IdeaPad Slim 3’s keyboard will also have privacy keys like Do Not Disturb and mute keys which can be used to shut down the webcam.
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Global personal computer shipments are expected to rise starting late 2023, with a new cycle of system upgrades likely to accelerate growth next year, according to research firms IDC and Canalys.
Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023: What is MWC, when is it, tickets price, and other important information
Mobile World Congress (MWC) is an annual global trade show for the mobile industry, organized by the GSMA (Groupe Speciale Mobile Association), and is held in Barcelona, Spain. One of the most important events in the mobile industry, MWC provides a platform for companies to showcase their latest
Lenovo’s newest Chromebook will also have a 2W stereo speaker setup on both sides of the keyboard that will be tuned with Waves MaxxAudio. The notebook is powered by a MediaTek Kompanio 500 Series processor which will be backed by up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. For connectivity, the IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook will include a microSD card slot, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A and a combo audio jack. The IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook claims to offer 13.5 hours of battery life and will even support Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. Just like other Chromebooks, this laptop will also boot ChromeOS that support features like — Google Assistant, Google Play and Android Studio. The laptop weighs 1.3kg and has a dual-texture design.
Hackers are distributing a dangerous infostealer and adware by passing it off as cracked versions of popular video games, experts have warned.
Cybersecurity researchers from AhnLab claim this latest campaign is particularly unique due to the file type the hackers chose to bypass antivirus programs and other cybersecurity protections.
The team reported spotted a number of malicious websites advertising cracked versions of popular games such as Elden Ring, ROBLOX, Dark Souls 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, Call of Duty, and many others. However, people downloading the executive files from these locations are in for a surprise – instead of the actual game, all they’ll get is ChromeLoader, a known malware (opens in new tab) capable of doing all sorts of nasties. Among its features is the ability to show ads to users, steal the credentials stored in the browser, as well as other saved data.
VHD files
Usually, in campaigns such as this one, the hackers would pack the malware in an ISO file – a virtual drive file that the victims can “mount” on a virtual drive. Once run, the file would show as an additional removable storage drive, from which they’d be able to install the executable (in this case, the malware).
This time around, however, instead of the ISO, the hackers have opted for VHD files. Just like an ISO file, a VHD can be mounted on a Windows system with ease, and also works well with most virtualization software.
In the meantime, the websites hosting the malware have been pulled offline, the researchers said.
As usual, to keep safe from threats such as this one, users are advised to steer clear of torrent websites and other unofficial download sources. Pirated software, cracks, key generators and activators are one of the most popular attack vectors threat actors use to distribute all kinds of malware and viruses.
Netflix has revealed three new characters who will appear in The Umbrella Academy season 4 – and I’m not sure what to make of them.
The streaming giant has confirmed that Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally and David Cross have signed on to appear in The Umbrella Academy‘s fourth and final season. According to Netflix’s press release, Offerman and Mullally will play community college professors (and husband and wife) Doctors Gene and Jean Thibedeau. Cross, meanwhile, will portray a shy businessman called Sy Grossman, who longs to be reunited with his lost daughter.
So, what’s the problem? First, let me say this: I have nothing against this talented trio. Offerman is a fantastic hire for one of the best Netflix shows around – his performances in The Last of Us, Parks and Rec, Devs, and many other productions are proof of that. Mullally – Offerman’s fellow Parks and Rec alumnus – is equally wonderful in Bob’s Burgers, and Will and Grace among others, while, Cross (Arrested Development, Kung Fu Panda) is a brilliant piece of casting, albeit someone who’s had his fair share of controversy.
No, The Umbrella Academy season 4’s biggest issue is one that TV fans – especially those who enjoy TV adaptations of other forms of media – know very well.
The Game of Thrones problem
Game of Thrones’ final season suffered because it had no source material to draw on (Image credit: HBO)
Yep, it’s the Game of Thrones problem. HBO’s fantasy series was one of the world’s most popular show throughout the 2010s, but its final season drew plenty of criticism for some controversial character development (or, rather, underdevelopment), baffling storylines, and a finale that left viewers underwhelmed.
The reason that its final season tarnished its overall legacy in the eyes of many? The TV adaptation got ahead of George R R Martin’s book series of the same name. The legendary author still has two more novels to write, meaning the writers of one of the best HBO Max shows (if you ignore season 8) had to forge their own path for its final batch of episodes.
This is a problem that The Umbrella Academy now faces. Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s graphic novel series of the same name only comprises three volumes, although a fourth one is on the way at some point. With three seasons under its belt, The Umbrella Academy TV show has caught up with its source material. Like Game of Thrones, then, The Umbrella Academy‘s showrunner Steve Blackman and wider writing team have to create everything from scratch for its final season.
The Umbrella Academy family is getting even bigger: welcome Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally and David Cross to the cast in the final season! pic.twitter.com/RtOEQHSG9bFebruary 25, 2023
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Admittedly, this isn’t the first time that Blackman and company have put a novel spin on Way and Bá’s works. The Umbrella Academy season 2 added storylines that aren’t present in the graphic novels, such as the introductions of Lila Pitts and Harlan Cooper, and Vanya’s romance with Sissy Cooper. Meanwhile, The Umbrella Academy season 3 introduced The Sparrow Academy, who were teased in the final panels of volume 3, and who’ll feature prominently in volume 4. Without much in the way source material to draw on, though, The Sparrow Academy’s TV iteration is sure to be different to its comic book counterparts.
And that’s what has me worried heading into season 4. In my review of The Umbrella Academy season 3, I said it was the weakest installment of Netflix’s adaptation so far. Seasons 1 and 2 largely stuck to the narratives and character arcs seen in the comics. The show’s third season didn’t have the luxury of adapting any elements from the books, resulting in original content being created by the writing team – most of which felt like a step-by-step retread of what we’ve seen before (we’re looking at you, world-ending apocalypse number 3…).
Then there’s the concern over the Thibedeaus. As professors – ones who are suffering from the most extreme case of deja vu, according to Netflix’s press release – it seems they’ve encountered the Hargreeves family (i.e., The Umbrella Academy) before. If that’s the case, and if (as I suspect) the Thibedeaus are physicists who specialize in theories surrounding time travel, season 4’s main narrative could be based around the idea of a multiverse and/or branching timelines.
In an increasingly saturated multiversal story market – Marvel, DC, and even the multi-award-winning movie Everything Everywhere All at Once have explored this extensively – we could do without another film or TV show doing likewise.
Case for the defence
The Umbrella Academy needs a great ending (Image credit: Netflix)
All of this isn’t to say I want The Umbrella Academy‘s TV adaptation to fail. I’d love nothing more than for it to live up to its potential, give us a fantastic final season, and allow the Hargreeves family to walk off into the sunset after rectifying the time travel errors they’ve made along the way. If a trailer and official plot synopsis – once they’re released – suggest that’s going to be the case, I’ll be more confident in Blackman and company delivering a fitting end to the TV series.
As it stands, though, I’m a bit concerned about whether The Umbrella Academy season 4 will live up to expectations.
I love the graphic novel series, so I feel more invested in the show and its success than more casual fans. I want to see these characters get a break, and actually save the world properly for once. I want them to make peace with each other after the familial trauma they’ve suffered; and I want a emotionally satisfying conclusion to their overarching journey.
Right now, though part of me feels like I’ll be left disappointed. I hope I’m wrong but, based on the latest character reveals and potential retread of stale storylines, I’m worried that The Umbrella Academy season 4 could become another Game of Thrones – and that would be a huge pity.
Cisco reckons it has found the next hybrid working trend, and it’s partnering with Mercedes-Benz to start delivering it, but spoiler alert: it’s not the first to have thought this up.
The two companies have joined forces at MWC 2023 to bringing its video conferencing platform Webex to mid-size Mercedes E-Class sedan vehicles.
In a press release, Cisco notes explains how hybrid workers “expect an exceptional experience regardless of how and where they work – and the car is no exception.”
Cisco Webex in Mercedes E-Class
The company added that it wants its business users to be able to “take a meeting between visiting a client and picking up the kids from after school care”, opening up a new type of time optimization that flexible workers could only have dreamt of up until recently.
Workers whose companies use Webex will be able to take part in “frictionless” meetings and calls on the go, benefitting from the platform’s noise cancellation technology which will be tapped into to reduce unwanted road noise and passenger noise.
Two levels will be unlocked depending on the driver’s state of alertness. When the car is parked, they will have access to video meetings, automatic AI-powered transcription, content sharing, and reactions, just as if they were sat in the boardroom or at their desk. Even when they’re on the move, workers will still be able to participate in voice calls.
This feature forms part of a wider Mercedes E-Class update that was previewed earlier in February, including the adoption of 5G connectivity. Mercedes says European customers will get delivery of their new E-Class models by the summer, with US customers due to receive their models by autumn.
Other applications currently announced for the infotainment system’s built-in app store include TikTok, Angry Birds, Zoom, and the Vivaldi browser.
Because car companies typically introduce newer features on their high-end cars, it’s possible that at some point in the future, cars like the C-Class may also get Webex integration. The C-Class remains a popular car for company car drivers and is substantially cheaper than the E-Class.
Beyond Mercedes, Zoom and Tesla announced a collaboration before Christmas that would see its electric vehicles benefitting from video conferencing capabilities.
– Release window revealed – First trailer released in January – Main cast all set to return – New cast members announced in February 2022 – Season 2 likely to focus on plot in Isaac Asimov’s first and second novels – Third season yet to be greenlit
Foundation season 2 is edging closer towards its release. Apple’s hit sci-fi series will return to our screens in a few months’ time, and the next installment in the live-action adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s works is set to be bigger and bolder than its predecessor.
Before Foundation’s second season makes landfall on Apple TV Plus, you’ll want to catch up on what’s worth knowing about it. Below, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about one of the best Apple TV Plus shows‘ return. From its release window and its cast, to plot details and the series’ future, we’ve got all angles covered.
Full spoilers follow for Foundation season 1. Potential spoilers for Asmiov’s novels and Foundation season 2 are also discussed.
Foundation season 2 release date: what we know
The Vault will feature in Foundation season 2. (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
Before then, the show’s last big update came in February 2022, with Apple unveiling a first-look image of Lee Pace’s Brother Day verbally clashing with Jared Harris’ Hari Seldon. Well, the AI construct of Seldon’s consciousness, anyway, what with Seldon dying in the show’s second episode.
Hari Seldon and Brother Day will lock horns again in Foundation season 2. (Image credit: Apple TV Plus/Skydance Television)
Foundation season 2 trailer
Foundation season 2’s first teaser dropped on January 4. The two-minute long trailer didn’t give much away, but there’s enough we can glean from it.
For one, it’ll be set against the backdrop of the second Seldon Crisis. Viewers will remember that the first of these crises formed the backbone of Foundation season 1, so we can expect more high stakes, sci-fi action to play out in the series’ sophomore year.
Elsewhere, it doesn’t seem like Gaal and Salvor – who met for the first time in the Foundation episode 10 – will stick together, with the pair shown becoming embroiled in different storylines. This teaser is just that, though – i.e. a teaser. It only contains a minute’s worth of season 2 footage, which isn’t enough to confirm whether Gaal and Salvor team up or whether their long-overdue reunion is as brief as it’s implied.
Regardless, Foundation season 2 looks as epic, dramatic, and suspenseful as its predecessor. Color us excited.
Foundation season 2 plot
Salvor Hardin and Gaal Dornick met for the first time in Foundation’s season 1 finale. (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
Full spoilers follow for Foundation season 1.
Fans of Isaac Asimov’s novel series may think they know where Foundation season 2’s story will go, but the source material can’t be relied upon. The show’s creators used the books as a basis for Foundation’s TV adaptation but, by the end of season 1, the show had diverged from the story in the novels.
Still, there are plenty of unresolved plot threads and new material to explore. Based on comments made by the cast and crew, we have a few pointers about how they might be concluded and/or examined in greater detail.
Showrunner David S Goyer told Collider (opens in new tab) that answers to some of season 1’s open-ended questions will be resolved in future seasons, saying: “If there’s a question that we haven’t answered, there’s a reason why we haven’t answered it. It’s not because we forgot about it. It’s ‘watch this space.'”
Goyer has been open about how certain season 1 events may impact its successor, too.
One of the biggest moments was the revelation that Brothers Dawn, Day, and Dusk – portrayed by Cassian Bilton, Lee Pace, and Terrence Mann – are not identical clones of Cleon I. After Eto Demerzel (Laura Birn) killed Dawn’s current incarnation due to genetic differences that made him an impure clone, it’s revealed all of Cleon’s clones are genetically unique. An anti-Empire resistance group, which included Dawn’s ex-lover Azura, had tampered with the DNA of Cleon I’s host body decades earlier, meaning none of the Empire’s current rulers are identical clones of Cleon I.
Speaking to Newsweek (opens in new tab), Goyer teased what this shock reveal may mean for this triumvirate in Foundation season 2.
“Part of the fun of the show moving forward [is] we’ll be seeing how different the various Cleons are,” Goyer said. “It’s part of the jazz that we’re playing with Terrence, Cassian, and Lee because, even though they’re the same actors, some of the characters are going to be very different. One of the things that’s exciting about this monkey wrench, that’s thrown into the Genetic Empire, is what does that do when you introduce chaos into that system?”
The Emperor’s aura forcefield can only stop physical pain, not emotional pain. pic.twitter.com/3Pu1lwxcF6November 20, 2021
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For Pace, the Great Spiral pilgrimage Day undertook in episode 8 foreshadowed the season 1 finale’s big reveal. Speaking to The Wrap (opens in new tab), Pace said: “He [Day] looks at his brothers and especially his younger brother [Dawn], who is now shown to be different in all of these ways, and is basically screaming ‘Me too’. I feel the same way you feel. I know we are living under this fantasy that we are all the same man, and I know better now. I can’t un-see what I’ve seen. I can’t forget. I can’t believe that I am Cleon. I have to now believe that I am this person after what I’ve experienced. I think it forever changes the culture inside the dynasty.”
The other major plot point from the season 1 finale confirmed a series-long fan theory: Salvor Hardin (Leah Harvey) is the daughter of Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell). Season 1’s final scene is reserved for their overdue meeting – albeit 138 years into the future. Gaal froze her embryo in episode 2 and that fertilized egg went on to become Salvor, who lives on Terminus over a century later. The only reason Gaal and Salvor eventually meet is because of the show’s time travel elements, as well as Gaal occasionally entering cryostasis for decades at a time.
Read our Foundation season 1 episodic recaps
While Goyer was coy about whether the duo’s relationship will potentially grow – the season 2 teaser suggests their meeting with be fleeting – he provided some context about how Gaal may react to Salvor’s declaration. And, given their respective time travel adventures, how Gaal is strangely younger than her daughter when they’re reunited.
“The story of Gaal and Salvor… I would say the closest analogy would be if someone gave up a child at birth and didn’t even know what happened to them,” Goyer told Newsweek. “And then one day that adult child knocks on their door and says, ‘Hey, mom’. What’s a little different is that, at least biologically, Salvor’s a few years older than Gaal, which is one of the fun things that you can only do in science fiction. I think Salvor’s about 26 or 27 years old, and Gaal is only about 23 years old, 22 years old.”
Hari Seldon’s digitial construct will return in Foundation season 2. (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
Hardin additionally told TVLine (opens in new tab): “These two characters are complete strangers and we’ll get to dive into how they navigate this new relationship, as well as the world around them bringing new challenges [in season 2]. They both have traveled years into the future, and for all they know, everything they knew has been left behind. They, potentially, only have each other left. It’s a profound emotion to contemplate, but it is something that requires time to process. Whether or not they have the luxury of time is another question entirely.”
What about the Second Foundation, which fans of Asimov’s book series already know about? As Hari Seldon teased in season 1’s final episode, he set up two Foundations at opposite ends of the galaxy – one which the Empire knows about and one it doesn’t. Season 2, then, should take us to this Second Foundation, which is teased in the first trailer.
“It’s definitely something we’re going to explore,” Goyer told Newsweek. “I didn’t bring it up just to not mention it again. One of the other things about the Second Foundation in the books is that the Second Foundation also largely develops off-screen, at least in the original trilogy. It appears almost as a deus ex machina. And I thought, for viewers of the show, that wouldn’t be playing fair, that we had to see the Second Foundation develop.”
As the trailer reveals, the second Seldon Crisis will form a large part of the second season. The alliance that eventually formed between Terminus, Thespis, and Anacreon in season 1 allowed the trio of outer-rim planets to navigate the First Crisis. But, as Hari’s AI construct told their populations in episode 10, more challenges will be on the way. The books give some indication about what the second crisis is, but it’s unclear if Goyer and company will use it ad verbatim or make some creative alterations.
Foundation season 2 cast
Brother Dusk and Brother Dawn may be at odds again in Foundation season 2. (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
Here’s who’s returning for Foundation season 2:
Jared Harris as Hari Seldon
Lee Pace as Brother Day
Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick
Leah Harvey as Salvor Hardin
Laura Birn as Eto Demerzel
Terrence Mann as Brother Dusk
Cassian Bilton as Brother Dawn
Season 2 will introduce new characters, too. In October 2021, Goyer confirmed more live-action incarnations of characters from Asimov’s novels will show up.
“With season two, our audience will get to visit more of Asimov’s indelible characters and worlds, including Hober Mallow, General Bel Riose, and all the Outer Suns,” Goyer explained. “We’re playing the long game with Foundation and I’m grateful to my partners at Apple and Skydance for entrusting me with this epic. Buckle up. We’re about to fold some serious space.”
In a separate announcement, Apple confirmed the identities of 10 new individuals, including those mentioned by Goyer, and actors who will portray them:
Isabella Laughland (Harry Potter) as Brother Constant, a cheerfully confident claric whose job is to evangelize the Church of the Galactic Spirit across the Outer Reach
Kulvinder Ghir (Goodness Gracious Me) as Poly Verisof, High Claric of the Church of the Galactic Spirit. Whip-smart and sardonic, he’s also a terrible drunk – intelligent enough to see the path he’s on, but too cynical to change
Sandra Yi Sencindiver (The Wheel of Time) as Enjoiner Rue, the beautiful, politically savvy consigliere to Queen Sareth. A former courtesan to Cleon the 16th, Rue parlayed her status to become a royal counsellor
Ella-Rae Smith (Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw) as Queen Sareth of Cloud Dominion. Used to being underestimated, Sareth employs it to her advantage, charming her way into the Imperial Palace with biting wit, all while on a secret quest for revenge
Dimitri Leonidas (Centurion) as Hober Mallow, a master trader with a sarcastic personality and questionable morals, who is summoned against his will to serve a higher, selfless cause
Ben Daniels (Jupiter’s Legacy) as Bel Riose, the last great general of the Superliminal Fleet and would-be conqueror of the Foundation. Bel is noble to a fault, but his fealty to the Galactic Empire is waning
Holt McCallany (Mindhunter) as Warden Jaegger Fount, the current Warden of Terminus and guardian of its citizens against external threats
Mikael Persbrandt (Sex Education) as The Warlord of Kalgan, a monster of a man, coiled with muscle and possessing powerful psychic abilities, and fueled by hate in his quest to take over the galaxy
Rachel House (Cowboy Bebop) as Tellem Bond, mysterious leader of the Mentallics
Nimrat Kaur (Homeland) as Yanna Seldon
Interestingly, Poly Verisof, The Warlord of Kalgan, Bel Riose, and Hober Mallow are the only four characters who appear in the books. The other six, Yanna Seldon included, are entirely new creations for Foundation season 2.
Will Foundation return after its second season?
Gaal Dornick will play a significant role in Foundation season 2. (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
Apple has only renewed Foundation for another season, but we’d be shocked if more aren’t forthcoming. Speaking to Lovin Malta (opens in new tab) in January 2021, Goyer revealed his ambitions to tell Foundation’s vast and epic tale – which spans one thousand years of fictional human history – across 80 episodes.
Goyer also confirmed (via Collider (opens in new tab)) that he initially pitched an 80-episode story to Apple before they greenlit the show’s first run of episodes. And, if Foundation runs for eight seasons, Goyer already has the show’s ending in mind.
If each season comprises 10 episodes, Foundation might run for eight seasons. However, its continual renewal will depend on whether audiences continue to tune in. Apple is notoriously guarded about releasing viewing figures for its in-house movies and TV shows – so much so that no data for Foundations season 1’s episodes, or any of its movies and TV shows, is publicly available.
So Foundation season 2 is coming, but its future is unknown past that point. Its first season found its feet with each episode and, providing its successor can improve on the series’ first outing, it should be renewed by Apple during (or after) Foundation season 2’s release. If it fails to attract viewers, though, Foundation may not survive past its second season.
