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Multi-frame generation has real potential to improve the gaming experience on cheaper laptops, but Nvidias RTX 5090 laptop GPU isnt the huge leap youre waiting for.

Qualcomm has launched a global antitrust offensive against Arm Holdings, accusing its longtime partner of anti-competitive practices in regulatory complaints filed across three continents. This escalating legal battle marks a significant shift in the relationship between two of the most influential players in the semiconductor industry.The unprecedented legal offensive spans three continents, with Qualcomm filing complaints with the European Commission, US Federal Trade Commission, and Korea Fair Trade Commission, reported Bloomberg.The dispute threatens to upend the global technology supply chain, potentially impacting billions of devices from smartphones and laptops to AI-driven systems and data center infrastructure. At stake is the future of semiconductor intellectual property licensing, with potential ripple effects including increased costs for manufacturers and consumers, as well as heightened uncertainty across an industry that relies heavily on Arms processor designs.A shifting semiconductor landscapeThe dispute centers on Arms shift from an open licensing model under which chipmakers like Qualcomm could develop custom processors based on Arms designs to a more restrictive approach favoring its own chip products. Qualcomm argues that this move threatens competition in the semiconductor industry, which has relied on Arms technology for over two decades.The chipmaker argues that Arm is undermining the competitive ecosystem it previously cultivated by pursuing its own chipmaking ambitions.Arm has received the EU complaint and preparing to respond, the report added.The report also said that Qualcomm met with US Federal Trade Commission officials in Washington earlier this year to discuss its concerns. The company has accused Arm of withholding critical technology that should be provided under existing license agreements.Additionally, Qualcomm has raised similar concerns with South Koreas antitrust regulator, the report added citing people familiar with the development.The dispute emerges against the backdrop of Arms recent strategic pivot, including its controversial decision to design and sell server chips directly to Meta a move that has already disrupted traditional industry dynamics.As Arm continues to push forward with its strategic vision including its direct chip design efforts the stakes have never been higher in this high-stakes technological chess match. Arm remains focused on enhancing innovation, promoting competition, and respecting contractual rights and obligations. Any allegation of anti-competitive conduct is nothing more than a desperate attempt by Qualcomm to detract from the merits and expandthe parties ongoing commercial dispute for its own competitive benefit.Arm is confident that it will ultimatelyprevail in this dispute, an Arm spokesperson said. Qualcomm did not comment on the development.Market dynamics and technological shiftsAt the heart of the conflict lies Arms instruction set architecture the fundamental code enabling software communication with processors. Qualcomms challenge extends beyond immediate commercial interests, potentially questioning the very mechanisms of technological licensing and intellectual property management in the semiconductor sector.The complaints come as regulators worldwide scrutinize the evolving dynamics of the semiconductor market. Arm, which is majority-owned by Japans SoftBank, licenses its processor architecture to a vast ecosystem of chipmakers, including Apple and MediaTek.However, under CEO Rene Haas, the company has moved toward offering more complete chip designs, competing directly with some of its own customers. That move signaled a dramatic shift from Arms traditional role as a neutral technology licensing company to a direct competitor in the semiconductor market.This strategic repositioning has fundamentally altered the companys relationship with long-standing partners like Qualcomm, Nvidia, and Apple.However, both companies are maneuvering to capitalize on the expanding computing market, particularly in AI and high-performance computing. The smartphone chip market previously a primary revenue source has become increasingly saturated, pushing companies to seek new growth opportunities.Arms response to the allegations has been robust and devoid of any wrongdoing. The company stated it remains focused on enhancing innovation, promoting competition, and respecting contractual rights and obligations, characterizing Qualcomms complaints as a desperate attempt to detract from the merits of their ongoing commercial dispute, the report added.Potential industry ramificationsThe ongoing legal and regulatory battles between Qualcomm and Arm highlight broader tensions in the semiconductor industry, particularly as companies position themselves to capitalize on growing demand for computing chips beyond smartphones. AI, data centers, and enterprise computing are emerging as key battlegrounds, with chipmakers vying for market dominance.Both companies have a history of regulatory challenges. Qualcomm, which previously faced scrutiny over its own licensing practices, has largely prevailed in antitrust cases, including a high-profile appeal against the FTC. Meanwhile, Arm is under pressure to sustain growth following its failed acquisition by Nvidia in 2022 and its subsequent public listing.With court-ordered mediation talks scheduled and multiple regulatory investigations underway, the technology industry will be watching closely. The outcome could significantly reshape the semiconductor landscape, influencing how chip design companies interact with their customers and compete in an increasingly complex market.

This is todays edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of whats going on in the world of technology.Inside a romance scam compoundand how people get tricked into being thereGaveshs journey had started, seemingly innocently, with a job ad on Facebook promising work he desperately needed.Instead, he found himself trafficked into a business commonly known as pig butcheringa form of fraud in which scammers form romantic or other close relationships with targets online and extract money from them. The Chinese crime syndicates behind the scams have netted billions of dollars, and they have used violence and coercion to force their workers, many of them people trafficked like Gavesh, to carry out the frauds from large compounds, several of which operate openly in the quasi-lawless borderlands of Myanmar.We spoke to Gavesh and five other workers from inside the scam industry, as well as anti-trafficking experts and technology specialists. Their testimony reveals how global companies, including American social media and dating apps and international cryptocurrency and messaging platforms, have given the fraud business the means to become industrialized.By the same token, it is Big Tech that may hold the key to breaking up the scam syndicatesif only these companies can be persuaded or compelled to act. Read the full story.Peter Guest & Emily FishbeinHow to save a glacierTheres a lot we dont understand about how glaciers move and how soon some of the most significant ones could collapse into the sea. That could be a problem, since melting glaciers could lead to multiple feet of sea-level rise this century, potentially displacing millions of people who live and work along the coasts.A new group is aiming not only to further our understanding of glaciers but also to look into options to save them if things move toward a worst-case scenario, as my colleague James Temple outlined in his latest story. One idea: refreezing glaciers in place.The whole thing can sound like science fiction. But once you consider how huge the stakes are, I think it gets easier to understand why some scientists say we should at least be exploring these radical interventions. Read the full story.Casey CrownhartThis article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Reviews weekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here.MIT Technology Review Narrated: How tracking animal movement may save the planetResearchers have long dreamed of creating an Internet of Animals. And theyre getting closer to monitoring 100,000 creaturesand revealing hidden facets of our shared world.This is our latest story to be turned into a MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, whichwere publishing each week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Just navigate to MIT Technology Review Narrated on either platform, and follow us to get all our new content as its released.The must-readsIve combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.1 Donald Trump has announced 25% tariffs on imported cars and partsThe measures are likely to make new cars significantly more expensive for Americans. (NYT $)+ Moving car manufacturing operations to the US wont be easy. (WP $)+ Its not just big businesses that will suffer, either. (The Atlantic $)+ How Trumps tariffs could drive up the cost of batteries, EVs, and more. (MIT Technology Review)2 China is developing an AI system to increase its online censorshipA leaked dataset demonstrates how LLMs could rapidly filter undesirable material. (TechCrunch)3 Trump may reduce tariffs on China to encourage a TikTok dealThe Chinese-owned company has until April 5 to find a new US owner. (Insider $)+ The national security concerns surrounding it havent gone away, though. (NYT $)4 OpenAIs new image generator can ape Studio Ghiblis distinctive styleWhich raises the question of whether the model was trained on Ghiblis images. (TechCrunch)+ The tools popularity means its rollout to non-paying users has been delayed. (The Verge)+ The AI lab waging a guerrilla war over exploitative AI. (MIT Technology Review)5 DOGE planned to dismantle USAID from the beginningNew court filings reveal the departments ambitions to infiltrate the system. (Wired $)+ Can AI help DOGE slash government budgets? Its complex. (MIT Technology Review)6 Wildfires are getting worse in the southwest of the USWhile federal fire spending is concentrated mainly in the west, the risk is rising in South Carolina and Texas too. (WP $)+ North and South Carolina were recovering from Hurricane Helene when the fires struck. (The Guardian)+ How AI can help spot wildfires. (MIT Technology Review)7 A quantum computer has generatedand verifiedtruly random numbersWhich is good news for cryptographers. (Bloomberg $)+ Cybersecurity analysts are increasingly worried about the so-called Q-Day. (Wired $)+ Amazons first quantum computing chip makes its debut. (MIT Technology Review)8 Whats next for weight-loss drugs Competition is heating up, but will patients be the ones to benefit? (New Scientist $)+ Drugs like Ozempic now make up 5% of prescriptions in the US. (MIT Technology Review)9 At least weve still got memesPoking fun at the Trump administrations decisions is a form of online resistance. (New Yorker $)10 Can you truly be friends with a chatbot?People are starting to find out. (Vox)+ The AI relationship revolution is already here. (MIT Technology Review)Quote of the dayI cant imagine any professional I know committing this egregious a lapse in judgement.A government technology leader tells Fast Company why top Trump officials decision to use unclassified messaging app Signal to discuss war plans is so surprising.The big storyWhy one developer wont quit fighting to connect the USs gridsSeptember 2024Michael Skelly hasnt learned to take no for an answer. For much of the last 15 years, the energy entrepreneur has worked to develop long-haul transmission lines to carry wind power across the Great Plains, Midwest, and Southwest. But so far, he has little to show for the effort.Skelly has long argued that building such lines and linking together the nations grids would accelerate the shift from coal- and natural-gas-fueled power plants to the renewables needed to cut the pollution driving climate change. But his previous business shut down in 2019, after halting two of its projects and selling off interests in three more.Skelly contends he was early, not wrong, and that the market and policymakers are increasingly coming around to his perspective. After all, the US Department of Energy just blessed his latest companys proposed line with hundreds of millions in grants. Read the full story.James TempleWe can still have nice thingsA place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet em at me.)+ Severances Adam Scott sure has interesting taste in music.+ While were not 100% sure if Millie is definitely the worlds oldest cat, one thing we know for sure is that she lives a life of luxury.+ Hiking trails are covered in beautiful wildflowers right now; just make sure you tread carefully.+ This is a really charming look at how girls live in America right now.

The leading outdoor power provider Bluetti has a selection of gear perfect for your next camping trip, specifically the 17-year lifespan Elite 200 V2 portable power station. Here's how it can keep your iPhone and Mac powered miles away from the grid.Bluetti can help power your camping and off-grid adventures. Image source: BluettiIt's time for the 2025 camping season to begin, and now is the time to start prepping your gear. Don't worry about losing power to critical devices when it is needed most with Bluetti's portable power station, solar panels, and accessories. Continue Reading on AppleInsider

TSMC's U.S. chip production efforts won't be making the latest chips for Apple products for the foreseeable future, with factories that haven't broken ground lagging roughly five years behind Taiwan.Dies on wafers - Image Credit: TSMCApple chip partner TSMC has invested billions into its facilities in the United States, including its active Arizona chip foundry and a second facility due in 2028. While a third is also expected to be on the way, it could be the case that the factories won't be greatly useful for producing Apple's future A-series and M-series chips for quite some time.According to a Wednesday report from Nikkei, TSMC is preparing to start operations at its second Arizona plant by 2028, which will be used to produce 3-nanometer chips. However, a third one is being planned in Arizona for 2-nanometer chip production. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The American Institute of Architects has launched a search for its next EVP/Chief Executive Officer. The search will be conducted by a committee chaired by AIAs 2024 President Kimberly Dowdell, which will also include representatives from the AIAs Strategic Council, National Associates Committee (NAC), Council of Architectural Component Executives (CACE), AIA International, and the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS).The search comes after the AIAs previous EVP/CEO Lakisha Ann Woods stepped down in February. Late last year, Woods was cleared of wrongdoing by an independent investigation following a misconduct scandal. After Woods was cleared, the AIA Board of Directors filed anethics complaint against her accusersin September.Since Woods departure, the position has been held on an interim basis by Stephen Ayers. Earlier this week, Ayers penned an open letter to the General Services Administration on behalf of the AIA, expressing a strong caution against man...

The Frank Gehry-designed Binoculars Building in Venice Beach has been listed for sale. As reported by The Real Deal, CBRE has listed the 78,000-square-foot office building for real estate investment trust W.P. Carey, though without an asking price.W.P. Carey purchased the building 30 years ago for approximately $18 million. Google has occupied the premises since 2011, and its current lease on the building does not expire until October 2030.Image credit: Wikimedia user Bobak Ha'Eri licensed under CC BY 3.0Designed by Frank Gehry in collaboration with artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, The Binoculars Building was completed in 1991. The building is immediately recognizable for the 44-foot-tall binoculars, spanning three stories, positioned at the entrance. The binoculars are not just decorative, and also function as a vehicular entrance.While known for its binocular-style entrance, the building is a fusion of three distinct shapes. The sculptural binoculars sit at the...

Square Enix kicked off the recent Nintendo Direct by revealing the first gameplay trailer for Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake. As remakes of the first two games in the series, they chronologically occur after Dragon Quest 3 as part of the Erdrick trilogy. Check it out below.Though further information on new features wasnt revealed, both titles look exceptionally stunning in the HD-2D art style. While characters retain their 2D sprite-like appearance and animations, environments are in full 3D with sleek lighting and shadows. For those who played Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, there will be some surprises to look forward to.Nintendos Shinya Takahashi teased a character appearing at the end, though further details are unknown. Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch later this year. Stay tuned for more details and gameplay in the coming months. You can also read our review for Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake.

While Astro Bot has been incredibly successful both in terms of sales figures as well as critical reception, the road to making the game was more challenging. Speaking at GDC 2025 (as caught by GamesRadar), game director Nicolas Doucet said that Team Asobi went through 23 different iterations of the game that would eventually go on to become Astro Bot.The original pitch for Astro Bot was written in May, 2021, so, a few months after we began prototyping the game, said Doucet. We went through 23 iterations before it was shown to the top management.While there were quite a few ideas thrown around with plenty of experimentation, according to Doucet, the final game ended up being close to what the studio had originally pitched to Sony. Doucet said, generally speaking, we delivered the game quite close to the original pitch.Among the various prototypes for Astro Bot, Doucet also spoke about how terms like happy gameplay, techno magic, and overflowing charm, were used to present Astro Bot to PlayStations executives. However, the original pitch would end up giving Astro Bot a darker ending than what we ultimately got.So, at the end of the game, Astro sacrificed himself for the team, and as the credits roll, we wanted to make a very grieving moment of rebuilding Astro, Doucet continued, which would require the idea of a completely dismembered Astro, so you gained the torso without the head.Executives seemingly didnt enjoy the more grim ending to the game. According to Doucet, some people [were] really upset in the team, for good reasons.Ultimately, however, the game went with a lighter approach with humour, where the player will replace all the parts, and it still conveys the right emotions. The head is always on Astros body.In a previous talk during GDC 2025, Doucet has also spoken about how its okay for studios to make smaller-scaled games. Not only would this be great for the developers, since the scope becomes more manageable, it also ends up being great for players that already have too many games in their backlogs.From the start, we were in the mindset that its OK to make a compact game its OK to make a small game, said Doucet. So for us, it means that were making something of such scale that we can control it fully. Thats from a development standpoint. But not only that. For the players, we all know that players today have a backlog of games and cannot complete their games, so the prospect of a game you can actually complete is a really persuasive argument.More recently, Sony unveiled an Astro Bot bundle for the PS5. While not featuring any fancy themes or skins, the bundles includes a copy of Astro Bot alongside the PS5 console. The bundle was unveiled earlier this month.In the meantime, you can check out more details about Astro Bot through our review of the PS5-exclusive platformer. Also check out the details about its most recent update from back in February.