Steam has started the new year with a bang, as the Game and Player Statistics Page for Valve's online store and service show a new record number of concurrent users (thanks SteamDB via PCGamesN). According to those stats, the new high-water mark was achieved just a couple of hours ago when they peaked at 25,413,392 concurrent users. This marks the first time they've ever topped the 25 million milestone, as the previous record for simultaneous users was about three weeks ago when they hit 24,776,635.

• Kingdom Come Deliverance Remake In Minecraft - Trailer. Thanks DSOGaming.

• "We're able to show the difference from what's possible today with what's possible tomorrow": Inside Epic’s Unreal Engine 5. Thanks Max.

• Tesla TSLA Q4 2020 vehicle production and deliveries report.
• Portless iPhone 13 rumors: could 2021 bring phones without connectors?
• Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 (for Android) Review. Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Blitzing Bitcoin Blasts Past $33K for First Time, Hours After Blowing Through $30K.
• Netflix is rumoured to be developing The Elder Scrolls into a TV series.
• Why email loses out to popular apps in China. Thanks Ant.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• The Turing Test is obsolete. AI needs a new benchmark. Thanks RedEye9.
• NVIDIA Plans GeForce RTX 3080 SUPER & GeForce RTX 3070 SUPER Graphics Cards.
• Samsung 870 EVO Incoming? New SATA Drive Likely Landing Soon.
• Tech That Will Change Your Life in 2021 (may require registration or subscription).
• You can still upgrade Windows 7 and 8.1 systems to Windows 10 for free.
• PowerToys v0.29.3 Is Out Fixing FancyZone and PowerRename Bugs.
• Office Lens has been removed from the Microsoft Store.

• Backdoor account discovered in more than 100,000 Zyxel firewalls, VPN gateways.

• Company selling black PS5 faceplates challenges Sony to ‘try and sue us.’ Thanks Neutronbeam.
• Take-Two Interactive’s Patent May Bring New Levels of Realism To Fluids In Video Games.

• The Worst Games Of 2020 According To Metacritic.

• Case: Antec P10 FLUX Review - A Better Use for the Flux Fan Setup - TechPowerUp.
• Laptop: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 9310 review- Tiger Lake, Thunderbolt 4, and more put it over the top - Neowin.
• Monitor: Lenovo ThinkVision S28u-10 4K Monitor Review- Vibrant Color, Sleek Looks - Tom's Hardware.
• PSU: EVGA 650W N1 Power Supply Review - Tom's Hardware.

• Cyberpunk 2077 players are using a dodge glitch to run so fast the cars won't load…
• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War's DMR is so overpowered it's making Warzone "unplayable," fans say…

I managed to upgrade my nature watching with the arrival of a pair of binoculars. I've long considered getting some, but put it off in the assumption that they would be pricey. Then I saw an online review of a pair that was described as quite serviceable for just over thirty dollars, so I decided I no longer had an excuse to put this off. Interestingly we had some seagulls frolicking on the frozen pond today for the first time ever. This gave me the chance to check them out up close, which was not that interesting, but was a proof of concept. So I'm very much looking forward to being able to get better looks at the herons upon their return, and even more so am excited at the possibility of being able to properly observe the elusive otters at play should they ever grace the pond with their presence again. Neither seems likely to happen before the spring, but I am now well prepared.

Magnified Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Brunch Link

• Behind Backyard Bar-B-Que's James Beard Award-Winning Barbacoa. Thanks RedEye9.

Stories
Thanks RedEye9.

• Catch the Peak of a Meteor Shower Featuring Fireballs Tonight.
• Pro Surfer Called a 'Living Legend' After He Dives Into Ocean to Rescue Struggling Swimmer in Hawaii.
• Why Is There a Bucatini Shortage in America?

Science

• Earth is at perihelion — closer to the sun than on any other day of the year.
• The Problem With Problem Sharks. Thanks Slashdot.
• A Dog's View of Optical Illusions. Thanks Max.

Media

• Should 2020 Be Forgot: Choir Rings Out Year With 'Auld Lang Syne.' Thanks RedEye9.
• Happy New Year Australia! Sydney welcomes in 2021 with celebratory fireworks. Thanks Boing Boing.
• Borat 2077. NSFW.