In brief: AMD is continuing to see its fortunes rise in the consumer processor market as Intel struggles. According to a report on Amazon CPU sales for March 2025 in the United States, almost 8 out of every 10 units sold on the platform were from Team Red. Amazon's CPU sales figures for March, provided by TechEpiphany, reveal that AMD sold 31,600 processors last month, while Intel managed just 7,500. That translates to a 78% market share for AMD versus 21% for Intel.AMD's dominance is also reflected in revenue: it generated $7.8 million on the platform approximately 420% more than Intel's $1.5 million.AMD had a higher average selling price (ASP) as well, at $247, compared to Intel's $209. One key factor behind this was the $479 Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which was the best-selling processor of the month with over 6,000 units sold helping boost AMD's average significantly.It's noted that a few hundred Ryzen 9XX0X3D units are missing from the report, so AMD's dominance could have been even more convincing. // Related StoriesLooking at individual unit sales, the Ryzen 5 5500 and Ryzen 7 7800X3D took the second and third spots, respectively, with over 3,000 sales. Intel's highest CPU, the core i5-12400F, is in fourth.CPU ModelManufacturerCores/ThreadsPricePurchases (Last Month)AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3DAMD8C/16T$479.006k+AMD Ryzen 5 5500AMD6C/12T$83.103k+AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3DAMD8C/16T$399.003k+Intel Core i5-12400FIntel6C/12T$116.003k+AMD Ryzen 5 5600XAMD6C/12T$149.002k+AMD Ryzen 5 7500XAMD8C/16T$159.992k+AMD Ryzen 5 7600XAMD6C/12T$229.002k+AMD Ryzen 7 5800XAMD8C/16T$172.992k+AMD Ryzen 9 9900XAMD12C/24T$414.232k+Intel Core i7-12700KIntel12C/20T$234.001k+Intel Core i9-14900KIntel24C/32T$432.991k+AMD Ryzen 9 9950XAMD16C/32T$549.001k+AMD Ryzen 7 7700XAMD8C/16T$329.001k+Intel Core i9-12900KIntel16C/24T$319.001k+AMD Ryzen 9 7900XAMD12C/24T$357.541k+AMD Ryzen 7 5700GAMD8C/16T$171.991k+Intel Core i5-12600KFIntel10C/16T$157.00500+Intel Core i9-12900KFIntel16C/24T$269.99500+AMD Ryzen 5 8500GAMD6C/12T$143.00500+Intel Core Ultra 7 265KIntel20C/28T$336.58500+AMD Ryzen 5 5600GTAMD6C/12T$129.99500+AMD Ryzen 5 4500AMD6C/12T$79.00500+Intel Core i5-13600KFIntel14C/20T$199.00200+AMD Ryzen 5 8600GAMD6C/12T$188.96200+Intel Core i3-12100FIntel4C/8T$84.99200+AMD Ryzen 7 7700AMD8C/16T$309.00200+Intel Core i7-13700KFIntel16C/24T$299.00200+AMD Ryzen 9 7950XAMD16C/32T$548.99500+AMD Ryzen 9 5900XTAMD16C/32T$323.99500+AMD Ryzen 3 3200GAMD4C/8T$109.00200+Intel Core i3-14100FIntel4C/8T$90.0750+Intel Core i5-10400Intel6C/12T$129.9950+Intel Core i9-9900KFIntel8C/16T$295.0050+Intel Core i7-13700Intel16C/24T$319.9550+Intel Core i9-12900KSIntel16C/24T$404.4350+AMD will likely be pleased to see the Ryzen 7 9800X3D topping the chart as the best-selling CPU. There have been over 100 cases of the chip failing unexpectedly since it launched, mostly on Asrock motherboards and sometimes with signs of burn or electrical damage.AMD responded to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D issues this week. It said the problems were down to memory compatibility issues for processors failing to complete POST, even though most of the affected chips did initially boot and ran for anywhere from half an hour to several months before dying. There was also the physical damage, which isn't a typical symptom of memory compatibility issues.March was also a good month for AMD in terms of Steam survey CPU results. The company's share in the processor section jumped 6.5% as Intel fell by the same margin. This means 37.6% of participants in Valve's survey now use an AMD CPU, marking a record high.

With the release of iOS 18.4, CarPlay users were set to experience new features to improve the in-car experience. Unfortunately, according to AutoEvolution, many users face a series of frustrating bugs following the software release.A recent Reddit thread highlights several issues. Many iPhone users report various CarPlay connectivity problems following the update to iOS 18.4. One of the most common issues involves the integration with the instrument cluster, where CarPlay no longer displays Now Playing information on the cars gear cluster.Recommended VideosConnectivity problems are significant, with some users stating that their iPhones are connecting and disconnecting repeatedly when using wireless CarPlay. Others have mentioned that it often requires multiple attemptsplugs and unplugs or even car restartingbefore CarPlay successfully connects.RelatedNumerous vehicle models have reported these issues, including those from Honda, Mazda, Volkswagen, Audi, and Nissan. Some users noted that Volkswagen customer service has acknowledged the problems associated with iOS 18.4 but pointed out that Apple needs to fix them.Standard troubleshooting steps such as device reboots and system resets have not resolved the problems for many users. These issues appear to be directly linked to the iOS 18.4 update, as affected users have indicated that everything functioned properly prior to installing this version.Ironically, iOS 18.4 was meant to introduce several improvements to CarPlay, including support for a third row of app icons on vehicles with larger displays, integration of sports apps, and the ability to select a default navigation app other than Apple Maps for EU users.Apple has not officially acknowledged these problems or announced when a fix might be available.Apple released iOS 18.4 earlier this week. In addition to the new CarPlay features mentioned above, this update allows users in the European Union to change their default navigation app. Because of this, Siri voice commands can work seamlessly with third-party apps like Google Maps. This change was made to comply with the EUs Digital Markets Act.The iOS update also includes new emojis and various other improvements.Editors Recommendations

Love crossword puzzles but dont have all day to sit and solve a full-sized puzzle in your daily newspaper? Thats what The Mini is for!A bite-sized version of the New York Times well-known crossword puzzle, The Mini is a quick and easy way to test your crossword skills daily in a lot less time (the average puzzle takes most players just over a minute to solve). While The Mini is smaller and simpler than a normal crossword, it isnt always easy. Tripping up on one clue can be the difference between a personal best completion time and an embarrassing solve attempt.Recommended VideosJust like ourWordle hints and Connections hints, were here to help with The Mini today if youre stuck and need a little help.RelatedBelow are the answers for the NYT Mini crossword today.New York TimesAcrossElphabas broom in Wicked or Aladdins lamp in Aladdin PROPThorough investigation PROBEMetaphor for an unquestioning rule-follower ROBOTHarvard and Yale, for two IVIES___ Wearhouse (department store chain) MENSDownDefinitively determine PROVEHerald of spring ROBINOrchestral reeds OBOESKibble nibblers PETSFastidiously proper PRIMEditors Recommendations

Andrew Cunningham and Lee Hutchinson have spent decades of their lives with Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson's Wheel of Time books, and they previously brought that knowledge to bear as they recapped each first season episode and second season episode of Amazon's WoT TV series. Now we're back in the saddle for season 3along with insights, jokes, and the occasional wild theory.These recaps won't cover every element of every episode, but they will contain major spoilers for the show and the book series. We'll do our best to not spoil major future events from the books, but there's always the danger that something might slip out. If you want to stay completely unspoiled and haven't read the books, these recaps aren't for you.New episodes of The Wheel of Time season 3 will be posted for Amazon Prime subscribers every Thursday. This write-up covers episode six, "The Shadow in the Night," which was released on April 3.Lee: Welcome to Tanchico! In Tanchico, everyone wears veils almost all of the time, except when theyre flirting in bars. Mat gets the most fabulous veil of all because hes Mat and he deserves it. Even Nynaeve has a good time! And I guess now we know all about the hills of Tanchico. Like alllllllllllllllllll about them.Andrew: Credit to Robert Jordan for mostly resisting one of the bizarre tics of post-Tolkien fantasy fiction: I'm not going to say the books never take a break to give us the full text of an in-universe song. But it does so pretty sparingly, if memory serves. But there are plenty of songs referenced, often with a strong implication that they are too lewd or horny to reprint in full.Not so in the show! Where Elayne sings a song about "The Hills of Tanchico," bringing the house down for what appears to be... several hours (they're breasts, the hills are breasts). I don't mind this scene, actually, but it does go on.But more important than the song is who is accompanying Elayne, a book character who has been gone so long that we weren't actually sure he was coming back. Who makes their long-awaited return in Tanchico, Lee? Thom Merrilin finally shows back up. Nice hat. Wonder who else might end up wearing it. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Thom Merrilin finally shows back up. Nice hat. Wonder who else might end up wearing it. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Lee: Thats right, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, stomp your feet and bring your hands together for everybodys favorite gleeman, seemingly back from the dead and rocking a strangely familiar hat: Its Thom Merrilin! (Applause roars.)Viewers who havent read the books can be forgiven for not immediately falling out of their chairs when Thom shows back up, but to book readers, his absence has been keenly felt. Believe it or not, Merrilin is an A-string player in the books, spending a tremendous amount of time front and center interacting with the main POV characters. He vanishes for a bit just as he does in the show, but he doesnt stay gone nearly as long as hes been gone here.Im glad hes back, and it bodes well for our Tanchico crewunlike them, Thom is an actual-for-real adult, whos been places and knows things. He also provides fantastic accompaniment to Elaynes karaoke adventure. Elayne wins the crowd by singing about tittays. Thom accompanies because it's a subject in which he is apparently well-versed. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Elayne wins the crowd by singing about tittays. Thom accompanies because it's a subject in which he is apparently well-versed. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Andrew: The entire Tanchico crew is pretty strong right nowMat and Min are pals again, show-Nynaeve is a version of the character who other characters in the story are allowed to like, and now Thom is back! It'd be a rollicking good time, if it weren't for these sadistic Black Ajah Aes Sedai and the Forsaken psychopath Moghedien stalking around, mind-controlling people, leaving holes in heads, and trying to find a Seanchan-esque collar that can subdue and control Rand.We're entering a stretch of the story where the Forsaken spend as much time fighting with each other as they do with Rand and our heroes, which explains why the powerful villains don't simply kill our heroes the minute they find each other. Moghedien is in full creep mode through this whole episode, and I gotta say, she is unsettling. Moghedien, doing her thing. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Moghedien, doing her thing. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Lee: Yeah, watching Moghedien screw with the Black sisters food and stuff was particularly disturbing. The lady has no filterand fantastic powers of persuasion. We get another clear look at just how ludicrously overpowered the Forsaken are compared to our present-day channelers when Moggy straight-up runs "sudo give me the bracelet" on Nynaeves and Elaynes brainsmuch like Rhavins Im-your-favorite-uncle routine, her Power-backed trickery is devastating and completely inescapable (though Nynaeve apparently does resist just a teeny tiny bit.)And although there are still more doings to discuss in Tanchicothe quest to discover the bracelets-n-collars is heating up!the fact that all of these episodes are an hour long means there are so many other things to discuss. Like, for example, the return of another familiar face, in the form of our long-absent whistling super-darkfriend Padan Fain. Dark doings are afoot in the Two Rivers!Andrew: Fain in the books never quite rises to the level of Big Bad so much as he lurks around the periphery of the story practically the whole entire time, popping up to cause trouble whenever it's the least convenient for our heroes. The show does a good job of visually representing how he's begun to corrupt the regiment of Whitecloaks he has embedded himself in, without ever actually mentioning it or drawing much attention to it. You know you're a bad guy when even Eamon Valda is like "uh is this guy ok?" (As in the books, the show distinguishes between Whitecloaks who are antagonists because they genuinely believe what they say they believe about Aes Sedai "witches," and ones who are simply straight-up Darkfriends. Funny how often they end up working toward the same goals, though.)Meanwhile, Perrin, Alanna, and friends recover from last week's raid of the Whitecloak camp. I keep needing to recalibrate my expectations for what Plot Armor looks like on this show, because our main characters get grievously wounded pretty regularly, but the standards are different on a show where everyone can apparently cast Cure Wounds as a cantrip. Alanna walks the Cauthon sisters through some rudimentary Healing, and Alanna (with barely disguised glee and/or interest) accidentally interrupts an escalation in Perrin and Falie's relationship when she goes to Heal him later.Are we still finding show-Faile charming? I did think it was funny when that goofy county-fair caricature of Mat holding the Horn of Valere made another appearance. Still not hating Faile, which feels surprising. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Still not hating Faile, which feels surprising. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Lee: I am definitely still finding show-Faile charming, which continually surprises me because shes possibly the worst character in the entire series. In the books, Jordan writes Faile as an emotionally abused emotional abuser who doesnt believe Perrin loves her if hes not screaming at her and/or hitting her; in the show, shes a much more whole individual with much more grown-up and sane ideas about how relationships work. Perrin and Faile have something going on that is, dare I say it, actually sweet and romantic!I never thought Id be on any team other than Team Throw-Faile-Down-The-Well, but here we are. Im rooting for her and Perrin.When it comes to Alannas healing at the hands of the Cauthon sisters, I had to sit with that one for a moment and make a conscious decision. The books make it clear that Healingeven the abbreviated first-aid version the current-day Aes Sedai practice, to say nothing of the much fancier version from the Age of Legendsis complicated. Doing it wrong can have horrific consequences (in fact, doing healing wrong on purpose is the basis for many of the Yellow-turned-Black sisters attacks with the One Power). And these wildlings (to borrow a book term) are able to just intuit their way into making it happen?We know that new channelers frequently have uncontrolled bouts of blasting out the One Power in response to moments of stress or great needin fact, weve seen that happen many times in the show, including at the beginning of this episode when Lil Liandrin force-blasts her rapist-husband into the wall. So the groundwork is there for the Cauthon girls to do what theyre doing. Its just a question of how much one is willing to let the show get away with.I decided Im good with itits the necessary thing to move the story forward, and so Im not gonna complain about it. Where did you land? Fain returns, bringing with him the expected pile of Trollocs. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Fain returns, bringing with him the expected pile of Trollocs. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Andrew: Yeah, I made essentially the same decision. Conscious use of the One Power at all, even the ability to access it consistently, is something that requires patience and training, and normally you couldn't talk a 12-year-old through Healing as Alanna does here any more than you could talk a 12-year-old through performing successful field surgery. But training takes time, and showing it takes time, and time is one thing the show never has much of. The show also really likes to dramatically injure characters without killing them! So here we are, speed-running some things.This leaves us with two big threads left to address: Rand's and Egwene's. Egwene is still trying to learn about the World of Dreams from the Aiel Wise Ones (I was wrong, by the wayshe admits to lying about being Aes Sedai here and it passes almost without comment), and is still reeling from realizing that Rand and Lanfear are Involved. And Rand, well. He's not going mad, yet, probably, but he spends most of the episode less-than-fully-in-control of his powers and his actions.Lee: It comes to a head when Rand and Egwene have long, difficult conversation over exactly whos been sleeping with whom, and whyand then that conversation is interrupted when Sammael kicks the door down and starts swinging his big fancy One Power Hammer.Theres a bit of channeling by Aviendha and Egwene, but then Rand grasps the Source and Sammael just kind of stops being a factor. Entranced by the Powerand by the black corruption pulsing through itRand straight-up destroys Sammael without apparent thought or effort, borrowing a bit of the method from the way Rand pulls off a similar feat in book 3, with a ludicrous amount of lightning and ceiling-collapsing.Its one of the few times so far that Rand has actually cut loose with the One Power, and I like it when we get to actually see (rather than just hear about) the enormity of Rands strength as a channeler. But this casual exercise of extreme power is not without a cost. Rand does a 360 no-scope lightning hit. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Rand does a 360 no-scope lightning hit. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Andrew: We've observed a couple of times that Rand and Egwene in the books had long since given up on romantic involvement by this point in the story, and here we see why the show held back on thatthis confrontation is more exciting than a quiet drift, and it puts a cap on several "Rand is not the simple lad you once knew" moments sprinkled throughout the episode.And, yes, one of them is Rand's inadvertent (if sadly predictable) killing of an Aiel girl he had forged a bond with, and his desperate, fruitless, unsavory attempt to force her back to life. Rand is simultaneously coming to grips with his destiny and with the extent to which he has no idea what he is doing, and both things are already causing pain to the people around him. And as you and I both know, book-Rand has counterproductive and harmful reactions to hurting people he cares about.The attack here is partly an invention of the show and partly a synthesis of a few different book events, but Forsaken coming at Rand directly like this is generally not a thing that happens much. They usually prefer to take up positions of power in the world's various kingdoms and only fight when cornered. All of this is to say, I doubt this is the last we see of Sammael or his Thor-looking One Power hammer, but the show is more than willing to go its own way when it wants to.Lee: Yeah, Rand doing saidin-CPR on Rhuarcs poor little too-cute-not-to-be-inevitably-killed granddaughter is disturbing as helland as you say, its terrifying not just because Rand is forcing a corpse to breathe with dark magic, but also because of the place Rand seems to go in his head when hes doing it. Its been an oft-repeated axiom that male channelers inevitably go madis this it? (Fortunately, nonot yet, at least. Or is it? No! Maybe.)We close the episode out on the place where I think were going to probably be spending a lot of time very soon (especially based on the title of next weeks episode, which I wont spoil but which anyone can look up if they wish): back at the Two Rivers, with the power-trio of Bain and Chiad and Faile scouting out the old Waygate just outside of town, and watching Trollocs swarm out of it. This is not a great sign for Perrin and friends.So weve got two episodes left, all of our chess pieces seem to have been set down more or less into the right places for a couple of major climactic events. I think were going out with a bangor with a couple of them. What are you thinking as we jump into the final couple of episodes? Alsera fell victim to one of the classic child character blunders: being too precociously adorable to live. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Alsera fell victim to one of the classic child character blunders: being too precociously adorable to live. Credit: Prime/Amazon MGM Studios Andrew: I am going to reiterate our annual complaint that 10-episode seasons would be better for this show's storytelling than the 8-episode seasons we're getting, but because the show's pace is always so breathless and leaves room for just a few weird character-illuminating diversions like "The Hills of Tanchico," or quiet heart-to-hearts like we get between Rand and Moiraine, or between Perrin and Faile. The show's good enough at these that I wish we had time to pump the brakes more often.But I will say, if we end up roughly where book 4 does, the show doesn't feel as rushed as the first two seasons did. Not that its pacing has settled down at allyou and I benefit immensely from being book readers, and always being rooted in some sense of what is happening and who the characters are that the show can't always convey with perfect clarity. But I am thinking about what still needs to happen, and how much time there is left, and thinking "yeah, they're going to be able to get there" instead of "how the hell are they going to get there??"How are you feeling? Is season 3 hitting for you like it is for me? I know I'm searching around every week to see if there's been a renewal announcement for season 4 (not yet).Lee: I think its the best season so far, and any doubts I had during seasons one and two are at this point long gone. Im all in on this particular turning of the Wheel, and the show finally feels like it's found itself. To not renew it at this point would be criminal. You listening, Bezos? May the Shadow take you if you yank the rug out from under us now!Andrew: Yeah, Jeffrey. I know for a fact you've spent money on worse things than this. Credit: WoT Wiki

Into the flame trench Rocket Report: Next Starship flight to reuse booster; FAA clears New Glenn "The first Super Heavy reuse will be a step towards our goal of zero-touch reflight." Eric Berger Apr 4, 2025 7:00 am | 6 SpaceX tests a Super Heavy booster that previously launched in January. Credit: SpaceX SpaceX tests a Super Heavy booster that previously launched in January. Credit: SpaceX Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreWelcome to Edition 7.38 of the Rocket Report! SpaceX test fired a Super Heavy booster that launched in January on Thursday, in South Texas. This sets up the possibility of a reused Super Heavy rocket launching within the next several weeks, and would be an important step forward in the Starship launch program. It's also a bold step given that there is a lot riding on this Starship launch, given that the last two have failed due to propulsion issues with the rocket's upper stage.As always, we welcome reader submissions, and if you don't want to miss an issue, please subscribe using the box below (the form will not appear on AMP-enabled versions of the site). Each report will include information on small-, medium-, and heavy-lift rockets as well as a quick look ahead at the next three launches on the calendar.European commercial launch industry joins the space race. The first flight of Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket didn't last long on Sunday, Ars reports. The booster's nine engines switched off as the rocket cartwheeled upside-down and fell a short distance from its Arctic launch pad in Norway, ending the abbreviated test flight with a spectacular, fiery crash into the sea. However, it marked the beginning of something new in Europe as commercial startups begin launching rockets.Learning to embrace failure ... Isar Aerospace, based in Germany, was the first in a crop of new European rocket companies to attempt an orbital launch. Isar is one of a half-dozen or so European launch startups that could fly their orbital-class rockets in the next couple of years. Of this group, Isar has raised the most money, reporting more than 400 million euros ($430 million) of fundraising, primarily from venture capital sources. We are looking forward to the European launch industry heating up after a long period of development.PLD Space signs launch agreement with D-Orbit. The Spanish launch company, PLD Space, announced an agreement this week with an Italy-based space transportation company, D-Orbit. As part of the agreement, D-Orbit's ION orbital transfer vehicle will launch on PLD Space's forthcoming rocket, the Miura 5. Although the announcement did not specify terms of the agreement, PLD Space said it has now filled "more than 80 percent" of the launch slots on its manifest until 2027.Waiting on the rocket ... The ION vehicle, essentially a dispenser of CubeSats, has previously flown several missions. The real question, therefore, concerns the readiness of the Miura 5 small rocket. PLD Space said it is currently ramping up serial production for the Miura 5 using technology from a prototype rocket, with the aim of starting its test flight campaign by the end of 2025. Commercial flights of Miura 5 could begin in 2026 with the objective of scaling up to 30 launches per year by 2030. We shall see about that. The Ars Technica Rocket Report The easiest way to keep up with Eric Berger's and Stephen Clark's reporting on all things space is to sign up for our newsletter. We'll collect their stories and deliver them straight to your inbox.Sign Me Up!China shooting for record number of launches. Early on Tuesday morning, a Long March 2D rocket lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, Space News reports. The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a state-owned rocket maker, announced the success of the launch, revealing the payload to be a satellite Internet technology test satellite. Tuesdays mission was Chinas 17th orbital launch of 2025, following the launch of the classified TJS-16 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit on March 29 via a Long March 7A rocket.Shooting for a century ... This puts the country on pace to launch 68 rockets for the year. This is in line with China's total orbital launches for each of the last three years (64, 67, and 68 launches respectively). However, Chinese space watcher Andrew Jones believes the country may attempt to go as high as 100 launches this year. This would be driven by growing commercial activity, megaconstellation projects, and new launcher development. A number of new, medium-lift and potentially reusable rockets are targeting debut flights this year, he reports.Falcon 9 launches first crewed polar mission. Four adventurers suited up and embarked on a first-of-a-kind trip to space Monday night, becoming the first humans to fly in polar orbit aboard a SpaceX crew capsule chartered by a Chinese-born cryptocurrency billionaire, Ars reports. Chun Wang, born in China and now a citizen of Malta, paid SpaceX an undisclosed sum for the opportunity to fly to space and bring three hand-picked crewmates along with him. He named his mission Fram2 in honor of the Norwegian exploration ship Fram used for polar expeditions at the turn of the 20th century.Rocket follows an unusual trajectory ... The Falcon 9 rocket launched from Kennedy Space Center. However, instead of heading to the northeast in pursuit of the International Space Station, the Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft departed Launch Complex 39A and arced to the southeast, then turned south on a flight path hugging Florida's east coast. The unusual trajectory aligned the Falcon 9 with a perfectly polar orbit at an inclination of 90 degrees to the equator, bringing the four-person crew directly over the North or South Pole every 45 minutes. They are the first humans to orbit over the poles.Amazon targets April 9 for first Kuiper launch. As soon as next week, Amazon plans to send 27 of its satellites into low Earth orbit on a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, Spaceflight Now reports. Launch is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9, during a three-hour window that opens at noon EDT (16:00 UTC). "We've done extensive testing on the ground to prepare for this first mission, but there are some things you can only learn in flight, and this will be the first time we've flown our final satellite design and the first time we've deployed so many satellites at once," said Rajeev Badyal, vice president of Project Kuiper.Heaviest mission launched by an Atlas ... This will be the first mission by United Launch Alliance of this year, and the company's first in nearly half a year. But officials say that will change soon. In a February interview with Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs, said that the upcoming launch for Amazon, dubbed Kuiper 1 by ULA and Kuiper Atlas 1 (KA-01) by Amazon, was the first of many planned for the year. "We have quite a few Kuiper Atlases planned this year, as well as Kuiper Vulcans," Wentz said. Atlas can carry 27 Kuiper satellites, and Vulcans can loft 45.SpaceX tests previously flown Super Heavy booster. SpaceX is having trouble with Starship's upper stage after back-to-back failures, but engineers are making remarkable progress with the rocket's enormous booster. The most visible sign of SpaceX making headway with Starship's first stagecalled Super Heavycame at 9:40 am local time (10:40 am EDT; 14:40 UTC) Thursday at the company's Starbase launch site in South Texas. With an unmistakable blast of orange exhaust, SpaceX fired up a Super Heavy booster that has already flown to the edge of space. The burn lasted approximately eight seconds, Ars reports.Rocket will fly on next Starship test ... This was the first time SpaceX has test-fired a "flight-proven" Super Heavy booster, and it paves the way for this particular rocketdesignated Booster 14to fly again soon. A reflight of Booster 14, which previously launched and returned to Earth in January, will happen on the next Starship launch, SpaceX confirmed Thursday. "This booster previously launched and returned on Flight 7 and 29 of its 33 Raptor engines are flight proven," the company said. "The first Super Heavy reuse will be a step towards our goal of zero-touch reflight." It is a legitimately and characteristically bold decision to refly a Starship booster on a test flight that SpaceX really needs to succeed. The next test may come late this month or more likely in May.FAA closes big rocket mishap investigations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) closed mishap investigations into both the SpaceX Starship flight and Blue Origin New Glenn debut that both took place on Jan. 16, Via Satellite reports. Although the FAA closed the mishap investigation regarding the January 16 Starship flight, the rocket is still grounded because there is still an open mishap investigation into the following March 7 flight. "There were no public injuries and one confirmed report of minor vehicle damage in the Turks and Caicos Islands," the FAA said in a statement on the January 16 flight.New Glenn closed out as well ... The FAA also completed its mishap investigation of Blue Origins first New Glenn flight, which successfully deployed Blue Origins own space logistics vehicle Blue Ring. Blue Origin failed to recover the first stage booster, which triggered the mishap investigation. The first stage was not able to restart its engines, which prevented the reentry burn from occurring and caused the loss of the stage. Blue Origin has identified seven corrective actions, and the FAA will verify those have been implemented before the second mission. Blue Origin is targeting a return to flight in late spring and will attempt to land the booster again.Artemis II one step closer to launch. The four astronauts who will fly on board NASA's Artemis II mission unveiled the patch for their historic flight on Thursday. The four astronauts who will be the first to fly to the Moon under NASAs Artemis campaignCommander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Christina Koch from NASA, and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen from Canadahave designed an emblem to represent their mission that references both their distant destination and the home they will return to, the space agency said. It looks great!Here's what it means ... "This patch designates the mission as AII, signifying not only the second major flight of the Artemis campaign, but also an endeavor of discovery that seeks to explore for all and by all. Framed in Apollo 8s famous Earthrise photo, the scene of the Earth and the Moon represents the dual nature of human spaceflight, both equally compelling: The Moon represents our exploration destination, focused on discovery of the unknown. The Earth represents home, focused on the perspective we gain when we look back at our shared planet and learn what it is to be uniquely human. The orbit around Earth highlights the ongoing exploration missions that have enabled Artemis to set sights on a long-term presence on the Moon and soon, Mars."Next three launchesApril 4: Falcon 9 | Starlink 11-13 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. | 01:02 UTCApril 6: Falcon 9 | Starlink 6-72 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla. | 02:40 UTCApril 7: Falcon 9 | Starlink 11-11 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | 21:35 UTCEric BergerSenior Space EditorEric BergerSenior Space Editor Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to NASA policy, and author of two books: Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX; and Reentry, on the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston. 6 Comments

John Edwards, Technology Journalist & AuthorApril 4, 20255 Min ReadIngram Publishing via Alamy Stock PhotoInnovations arrive at a rapid pace. To stay on top of the latest promising breakthroughs -- and weed out the flops -- IT leaders must create and staff innovation projects. Yet when working with limited resources (and which IT leader isn't?), it's important to find a way to prioritize initiatives.Start by mapping each project to a specific business goal or customer need -- this ensures real impact, advises Rohan Sharma, a former innovation team leader at scientific instrumentation firm Thermo Fisher Scientific and now an independent author and lecturer. "Next, weigh key factors such as ROI, resource availability, and risk tolerance," he recommends in an email interview. "Finally, create a transparent scoring or ranking system so everyone understands why certain projects come first."Sharma says this approach forces discipline. "Instead of running with the coolest idea, youre aligning with strategy and measurable outcomes," he explains. "It also demystifies decision-making for your team, reinforcing trust and focus."Risks and RewardsA reliable way to prioritize innovation projects is to weigh each initiative's risks and rewards, suggests Nick Esposito, founder of NYCServers, which specializes in hosting services for fintech and trading platforms. "It's about looking at the potential impact, how doable the project is, and whether it fits with the companys long-term goals," he says in an online interview.Related:Esposito notes that projects with a potentially high financial or competitive reward are generally worth prioritizing -- just as long as the risks remain manageable. Don't forget to consider the project's time-sensitivity and whether it can be completed on schedule, he adds. "By focusing on projects that offer the biggest benefits with reasonable risks, organizations can get the most out of their innovation efforts."Innovative ApproachesPrateek Shrivastava, advanced analytics manager at engine and power-generation manufacturer Cummins, says his team relies on what he calls "The WIZGIF Method," an abbreviation of "What Is the Goal in Focus?" "This approach ensures that every project is evaluated based on its alignment with the overarching business goal," he explains in an online interview. "By breaking down priorities into clear, actionable criteria -- such as business impact, strategic alignment, feasibility, and required resources -- it creates a structured framework for decision-making."Shrivastava believes that his WIZGIF method is effective, since it forces clarity and alignment from the outset. "By keeping the business goal in sharp focus, it minimizes distractions and ensures that all efforts are contributing to the organizations strategic objectives," he states. "This approach fosters collaboration and transparency while keeping teams agile in responding to evolving needs."Related:Benjamin Atkinson, innovation director at CNA Insurance, takes an alternate position. He feels that project prioritization should be generally avoided. "When we talk of innovation, we're usually talking about problem-solving in a complex adaptive system," he says via email. "We simply can't know in advance which ideas will succeed -- picking winning ideas is a loser's game."If leaders want successful ideas, they must provide their teams with a clear direction, a clearly defined problem space, and known constraints, Atkinson says. "If leaders take the time to do this, they will have created a magnet for good ideas."Seeking SupportSharma says cross-functional peers in areas such as finance, operations, and product teams, are the best innovation allies. "They offer diverse viewpoints on feasibility, budget, and timing," he explains. "Tapping into an executive sponsor can also help keep priorities aligned with the bigger organizational picture."Related:Working closely with cross-functional teams, including business analysts, finance departments, and product managers, can provide a clear understanding of a projects feasibility and potential value, Esposito says. External consultants and other industry experts can also offer valuable insights, especially when exploring new or unfamiliar technologies. "Collaborating with these resources ensures a comprehensive view of market trends, technological advancements, and business needs to inform decisions."Sharma says the biggest mistake project leaders make is spreading resources too thinly or chasing "shiny objects" without any clear business alignment. Meanwhile, trying to focus on everything at once guarantees mediocre results across the board, he adds.Parting ThoughtsDon't consider any new project without first establishing a solid prioritization framework. "A strong prioritization framework is a living process, not a one-off exercise," Sharma says. "Keep refining it based on feedback and results," he advises. "Additionally, by embracing ongoing learning, you'll cultivate a culture that values both innovative thinking and practical execution."Prioritization is not a one-time activity -- it's a continuous process that requires alignment, evaluation, and adaptability, Shrivastava says. "Methods like WIZGIF are valuable because they provide a consistent framework to revisit priorities, make dynamic adjustments, and ensure that resources are always directed toward maximum value creation."About the AuthorJohn EdwardsTechnology Journalist & AuthorJohn Edwards is a veteran business technology journalist. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and numerous business and technology publications, including Computerworld, CFO Magazine, IBM Data Management Magazine, RFID Journal, and Electronic Design. He has also written columns for The Economist's Business Intelligence Unit and PricewaterhouseCoopers' Communications Direct. John has authored several books on business technology topics. His work began appearing online as early as 1983. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, he wrote daily news and feature articles for both the CompuServe and Prodigy online services. His "Behind the Screens" commentaries made him the world's first known professional blogger.See more from John EdwardsWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore ReportsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also Like

Is it time to consider a new IT specialty like automation engineering?Jobs site Indeed defines an automation engineer as someone who will search for ways to simplify activities for employees, consumers and companies by automating specific systems and manufacturing processes, like store checkouts or assembly lines. These individuals work alongside IT and department managers to develop automation plans and then implement automation into business processes.They use programming languages like Java, C# and Python, and they know how to work with machine actuators and sensors. Most importantly, they possess expertise in the application areas they are asked to automate. In other words, a retail automation expert might have skills in how to automate grocery checkout lines in stores, but they might not know much about how to automate a manufacturing company's assembly line.In the area of robotics, many of the skills needed for automation engineers carry over for robotics engineers. A primary difference is that a robotics engineer is working on a robot. The goal is to program the robot with the necessary instructions for it to fit into an existing business process.Examples of how working robots are used include programming a robot so it can enter a nuclear facility to perform maintenance, or activating a warehouse robot that can store, pick, and deliver parts from bins throughout the warehouse while successfully navigating around obstacles on the floor.Related:Robotics engineers use languages like C and C# and they commonly work on Linux platforms and must be familiar with the technologies of the particular robotics vendors they are using.Automation and robotics engineers are in high demand in business, although it costs considerably more to recruit an automation engineer (mid-100,000s salary range) than it is to hire a robotics engineer (the mid-point salary is around $80,000/year).Where Do These Engineers Report?Robotics and automation engineers must have the ability to cross-communicate with different departments when they implement solutions. They also need a thorough understanding of the different enterprise systems where the automation or robotics technologies will be deployed. Its not much of a stretch to see that many of the system knowledge and cross-communicational requirements are exactly what one would find resident with an IT business analyst. The difference is that an automation or robotics engineer would have greater skills in programming, and in working with various mechanical and electronic interfaces.Related:As a CIO, I once had a project that required automation between our engineering CAD design database and the parts inventory, bill of material and work order systems on the manufacturing floor. There were too may disconnects between engineering and manufacturing. We wanted to eliminate this by integrating and automating information flows between the CAD system and the manufacturing systems.Engineering was running a standalone CAD system on an entirely different platform from what manufacturing was using to run its bills of material, inventory, and work orders.The initial decision was for IT to take the lead in this integration-automation project because IT touched all systems (except for engineerings standalone CAD system). However, we found out quickly that engineering didnt want to relinquish any control of its CAD systems for the automation project.We solved this by teaming an engineer from engineering with a programmer-analyst from IT and a manufacturing engineer from, and we got the project done. It wasnt the easiest project that we ever did.Can IT Avoid Getting Involved?That project with engineering, manufacturing and IT came early in my CIO career, and I learned quickly that automation projects have many different pieces, engage many different departments, and can quickly become as politically charged as they are technically challenging.Related:Ive talked to several other CIOs about how to get past politics. Some are more than happy to just have the departments that want to automate retain their own consultants or hire in the people -- and do the work themselves -- but Ive seldom seen this work. Why? Because invariably, the consultant or the engineer that a department brings in has a question about how to integrate with other enterprise systems that IT manages.One way or another, IT will be involved.Is There a Best Approach?From personal experience and from conversations Ive had with other managers, an optimal approach to automation and robotics when IT works with engineering-oriented departments such as manufacturing, is to place the automation or robotics engineer in the engineering or manufacturing areas. Then the engineers can be savvy on the departments business processes as well as on the automation and robotics technologies that are needed. In this scenario, IT would be assisting primarily in system integration.However, if the company is in finance, healthcare, retail, or other non-engineering-oriented businesses, its likely that IT might be the best destination for a robotics or automation engineer, because the user departments wont have the necessary skillset.In all cases, automation and robotics projects require strong collaboration and cooperation between departments and IT. In this way, everyone can be assured that they are moving into each project with a complete and comprehensive knowledge base of the business, the systems, and what they want to automate.

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Trumps tariffs will deliver a big blow to climate tech US president Donald Trumps massive, sweeping tariffs sent global stock markets tumbling yesterday, setting the stage for a worldwide trade war and ratcheting up the dangers of a punishing recession. Experts fear that the US cleantech sector is especially vulnerable to a deep downturn, which would undermine progress on reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. Read the full story.James TempleCyberattacks by AI agents are coming Agents are the talk of the AI industrytheyre capable of planning, reasoning, and executing complex tasks like scheduling meetings, ordering groceries, or even taking over your computer to change settings on your behalf. But the same sophisticated abilities that make agents helpful assistants could also make them powerful tools for conducting cyberattacks. They could readily be used to identify vulnerable targets, hijack their systems, and steal valuable data from unsuspecting victims. At present, cybercriminals are not deploying AI agents to hack at scale. But researchers have demonstrated that agents are capable of executing complex attacks, and cybersecurity experts warn that we should expect to start seeing these types of attacks spilling over into the real worldand soon. Read the full story.Rhiannon WilliamsThe must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Did the Trump administration use AI to calculate its new tariffs? It appears to use an oversimplified calculation several major chatbots recommend. (The Verge)+ The economically-flawed formula has shocked analysts. (FT $)+ The severe tariffs may harm Americas data center ambitions. (Reuters)2 The EU is preparing to slap X with major financial penalties Even if it risks provoking Elon Musks ire. (NYT $)3 Googles tech will be used to surveil the US-Mexico border As part of plans to upgrade the virtual wall between the countries. (The Intercept)+ The number of illegal border crossings hit a record low last month. (Semafor)4 Hurricane season is set to be busier than usual Forecasters are predicting at least 17 tropical storms and four major hurricanes. (WP $)+ They arent as confident about this early forecast as they were last year. (CNN)+ Heres what we know about hurricanes and climate change. (MIT Technology Review)5 Myanmars internet shutdown is thwarting aid efforts Aid and rescue workers are struggling to help people caught up in its recent devastating earthquake. (Rest of World)6 Google is yet to publish safety reports for its latest AI modelsIt appears to be launching models faster than it can publicly verify their safety. (TechCrunch) 7 Online influencing has a major gender pay gapAlthough the majority of content creators are female, they earn less per collaboration than their male counterparts. (Fast Company $) + Why cant tech fix its gender problem? (MIT Technology Review)8 How to make solar panels on the moonMoon dust could help to power future lunar bases. (New Scientist $) + Nokia is putting the first cellular network on the moon. (MIT Technology Review) 9 The economy may be collapsing, but at least the memes are good Social media is bringing the lols in uncertain times. (NY Mag $)10 Bonobos communicate in similar ways to humans The great apes combine basic sound into larger structuresjust like us. (Ars Technica)+ How machine learning is helping us probe the secret names of animals. (MIT Technology Review)Quote of the day There will be blood. Bruce Kasman, JPMorgan's chief global economist, is not optimistic about Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policy, Insider reports. The big story The weeds are winning October 2024 Since the 1980s, more and more plants have evolved to become immune to the biochemical mechanisms that herbicides leverage to kill them. This herbicidal resistance threatens to decrease yieldsout-of-control weeds can reduce them by 50% or more, and extreme cases can wipe out whole fields. At worst, it can even drive farmers out of business. Its the agricultural equivalent of antibiotic resistance, and it keeps getting worse. Weeds have evolved resistance to 168 different herbicides and 21 of the 31 known modes of action, which means the specific biochemical target or pathway a chemical is designed to disrupt. Agriculture needs to embrace a diversity of weed control practices. But thats much easier said than done. Read the full story. Douglas Main We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.)+ Sweet Moroccan flatbreads sound like a fantastic way to start the day.+ Val Kilmer was more than just a heartthrobhe was a really great actor too.+ Drop everything: theres an uncut version of the White Lotus series three theme.+ All aboard the giant almond car!

The new jobs report released Friday showed employment changes in March. Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images 2025-04-04T12:35:44Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? The US economy added 228,000 jobs in March, exceeding the forecast.The unemployment rate surprisingly increased to 4.2%.Confidence in the job market and the economy has fallen.The US economy added 228,000 jobs in March, far surpassing the forecast, and unemployment unexpectedly jumped.Job growth was expected to be 137,000, and the unemployment rate was expected to hold steady at 4.1%. Unemployment instead rose to 4.2%, and has consistently been at least 4% for almost a year.Federal government employment fell by 4,000 in March. DOGE and its unofficial leader Elon Musk have pushed for large-scale federal employment cuts, with a wave of terminations for probationary workers, who were in their roles for only a short period of time, coming in February and early March.However, a court ruling put a hold on many of those cuts, and the bulk of those workers remain in legal limbo.Agencies have begun developing more extensive plans to reduce the size of their workforces. Thousands of workers at agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services are expected to see their jobs cut; terminations started Tuesday.Workers at other agencies are bracing for what's next. Federal government cuts will likely affect the overall job counts in future releases.Americans have been losing confidence in the US economy, adding to an emerging vibecession amid a cooling but still fairly strong labor market.University of Michigan data shows consumer sentiment has declined for the year's first three months. The Conference Board's Present Situation Index, which is based on what people think about business and job market conditions, took a hit, data up to March shows. Consumers aren't feeling great about what's to come, either."Consumers' expectations were especially gloomy, with pessimism about future business conditions deepening and confidence about future employment prospects falling to a 12-year low," Stephanie Guichard, senior economist for global indicators at The Conference Board, said.The Federal Reserve uses labor market data as a key input for its interest rate decisions. Fed chair Jerome Powell said in a press conference on March 19 after the Federal Open Market Committee decided to hold interest rates steady that unemployment "remains low and has held in a narrow range for the past year," and wage growth is surpassing inflation.The next scheduled interest rate decision is in May, meaning plenty more data about economic activity will be available before the Committee makes its next call. CME FedWatch, which estimates the likelihood of future Fed moves based on market trades, shows the chance of rates holding steady or being cut in May is roughly a coin toss.Powell said in the March press conference after the interest rate decision that the administration is making big changes to trade, immigration, fiscal policy, and regulation and is uncertain about what this will mean for the economy. Trump announced on April 2 his latest tariff plans, which could mean consumers could soon face higher prices."We do not need to be in a hurry to adjust our policy stance, and we are well-positioned to wait for greater clarity," Powell said.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.Recommended video

I traveled around Europe for a year to find the best European city to live in. Fleurine Tideman 2025-04-04T12:27:01Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? At the end of 2023, I decided to travel around Europe to find a new place to call home.I visited cities in Spain, Greece, and the UK before settling in the perfect spot.I've now been living in London for a few months, and couldn't be happier with my move.By the time I turned 18, I'd lived in four different countries England, Kuwait, China, and the United Arab Emirates.Sparked by my desire to live in one place and the draw of reasonable university fees I moved to my "home country" of the Netherlands, where my parents were from but I'd never lived before.For almost 10 years, I lived there and ignored the growing sense of restlessness within me. However, I couldn't say I was truly happy.Knowing it was time for a change, I decided to start thinking about moving somewhere else.So, at the end of 2023, I gave up my apartment, stored my belongings in my mom's basement, and decided to travel the world to find my new home.I started my journey in Spain Xbia, Spain, is a beautiful coastal town. Fleurine Tideman My first stop was Xbia, Spain, a coastal town where I spent five weeks petsitting a red lab in a stunning house overlooking the ocean.Here, I saw what it would be like to live somewhere I could spend my weekends at the beach or hiking. I loved being in a place with an abundance of sunshine, but ultimately, it didn't feel like home. So, I decided to move on to my next destination. Next, I spent two weeks in BelfastI had never visited Northern Ireland before, and I immediately fell in love with the country's dynamic energy. I loved the comedy clubs, cozy pubs, and history lining the streets.However, I felt like something was missing, and didn't find enough variety in the restaurant scene to satisfy my cravings. So, I continued my search.I headed to Kythira, an island in Greece I spent two weeks in Kythira, Greece. Gatsi/Getty Images Every year, my friends and I take a two-week vacation to a different Greek island.So, when we traveled to Kythira, I was curious to see if it was a place I'd want to call home.I pictured spending a year on the sandy beaches with the sun shining down on me. After a long day of work, I could even take a dip in the ocean.However, after talking to locals, I learned the island was pretty empty outside the summer season. So, I realized I'd always be chasing that summer holiday feeling.After struggling to find a place that felt like home, I decided to return to the country I was born in I stayed in a small village in Bedfordshire for three weeks. SuxxesPhoto/Shutterstock After several misses, I decided to try England, the place where I was born and lived until I was three. However, I'd only visited a few times in the years since.I spent three weeks dogsitting in a small village in Bedfordshire, which is north of London. The idyllic countryside beckoned me, with long walks in the forest, Sunday roasts in the same pub, and evenings spent reading in the garden.I yearned for this tranquil existence, but recognized it wasn't time for me to live this type of lifestyle yet. With my isolating work and single status, finding my people in such a small village would be hard. Cambridge was beautiful, but it wasn't the right fit for me. Anna Mente/Shutterstock So, I decided to try two weeks in Cambridge, a city I'd heard so much about. I loved working in various cafes, visiting museums on weekends, and meeting people my age.However, Cambridge is a student city at its core, which didn't feel right for where I was at during this part of my life.I finally ended up settling in the perfect city I fell in love with London while watching my sister's dog. Fleurine Tideman Finally, I spent a month in London when my sister asked me to watch her pomsky.I assumed the expensive, busy, and overwhelmingly gray city wasn't for me based on previous short visits. However, during this trip I got to see another side of London.I loved the large parks that made me forget I was in a city, the dazzling theater scene, and the cozy cafs where I could type away without feeling lonely.I grabbed coffee with fellow journalists I met online and recognized a potential community. Because London is a highly populated city, I felt like I had the best chance of finding my tribe something I'd been missing for the past few years.After a few months in London, I couldn't be happierI've been in London for a few months now, and still feel like I'm trying to find my feet. However, I'm slowly building a community and even reached out to high school friends who ended up in London after university.I always visit the same local caf, where I sit with my laptop and a dirty chai at least twice a week. I avoid crowded areas like Soho and Liverpool Street and push myself to visit a large park every weekend.Sometimes, I feel like Carrie from "Sex and the City," and other times, I feel far less glamorous and far more cold.I didn't think I could be happy in such a busy and urban setting, but I've loved carving out my piece of the city, and I plan to keep doing so.Recommended video