Architect: RAMSALocation: Seoul Completion Date: 2024Brought to you by: A new facility for retail giant Shinsegae marks the first completed project in South Korea for Robert A. M. Stern Architects (RAMSA). Located in the heart of Seoul, the new building serves as a training center for the corporations employees and also features office space, ground floor retail, and a large auditorium. The structure’s exterior is wrapped in complex brick bond patterns and complementary limestone details—materials that appeased the client’s fondness for masonry. Named Shinsegae Namsan for its unobstructed views of Namsan Mountain—a major landmark in Seoul—the building is perched atop a hilly site along the Jangchungdan-ro, a major urban thoroughfare. From the street-level, the site rises almost 60 feet before abruptly curving to the south. For this reason, Shinsegae Namsan possesses a unique L-shaped plan. Perched on a hillside, Shinsegae Namsan towers over neighboring buildings. (Namsun Lee) “The geometry of the site is very irregular,” said Daniel Lobitz, partner at RAMSA. “And in Korea, exposures are extremely important considerations. We were managing a really prime view to the Southwest of the Namsan Mountain, and so there’s a major orientation of some of the spaces in that direction. We devised this composition of interlocking curvilinear forms that are oriented in different directions,” he added. Shinsegae Namsan’s ground floor was envisioned as a place for social gathering and cultural events. Upon entering, visitors pass through a half-circular lobby atrium and pre-function space before entering a multi-purpose auditorium. Designed for flexible programming, the rake of the venue’s seating can be adjusted to accommodate lectures, concerts, weddings, and more. Office and conference space was placed on the floors above, which benefit from views of the surrounding city and a network of rooftop gardens carved into the building mass. The rake of the venue’s seating can be adjusted to accommodate different types of events. (Namsun Lee) Shinsegae Group was initially drawn to RAMSA’s luxury residential work in New York City, particularly the firm’s use of masonry. After winning a competition for the commission, RAMSA designed studies of the building using both brick and limestone exteriors. Ultimately, the client settled on a primarily brick envelope with subtle limestone accents. Though many different bond patterns occur across the facade, the building is dominated by an arrangement featuring recessed bricks that add shadow and depth to the exterior. “We studied a lot of traditional bond types, and took inspiration from the Flemish bond, which is just a standard brick with the header next to it,” shared Gemma Kim, partner at RAMSA. “But we doubled the pattern and recessed the headers to increase the scale and make the pattern legible.” This pattern is also expressed as a screen around Shinsegae Namsan’s windows, which are set in 18 inches from the facade. RAMSA carefully studied the depth of the recessed brick header to create the appropriate amount of shadow. (Namsun Lee) On the roof, RAMSA designed a porous brick screen to conceal the building’s mechanical systems. Required to keep the screen more than 50 percent open, the bricks are structurally supported by stainless steel rods that are threaded through each module. Another unique pattern occurs along the fourth floor. To fit the curvature of the floorplate, which was more extreme at the lower levels, a fluted pattern of soldier course modules was implemented. Though a hand-molded pink and gray brick from the United States was ultimately specified for Shinsegae Namsan, RAMSA considered a truly global list of brick suppliers, working closely with the client to choose the proper mix and color. A fluted solider course pattern was applied to the fourth floor elevations. (Namsun Lee) In the United States, such enormous expenditure on a largely non-commercial building might seem out of reach for most retailers, who have struggled since the pandemic. However, according to Lobitz, this is not the case in South Korea. “Shinsegae has some of the largest department stores in the world,” he said. “This kind of brick and mortar retail is still very vibrant in Seoul, much more so than in the United States.” What is rare in South Korea is the presence of a robust masonry industry, which has been in decline since the 20th century. This lack of local expertise and support makes RAMSA’s hand-laid brick facade for Shinsegae Namsan all the more impressive. Project Specifications Design Architect: RAMSA Architect of Record: Haeahn Architecture Landscape Architect: RAMSA Interior Design: Pierre-Yves Rochon Structural Engineering: Thornton Tomasetti Lighting Design: Buro Happold AV/Acoustics: Nagata Acoustics Theater Consultant: Fisher Dachs Associates Exterior Envelope Consultant: Simpson Gumpertz & Herger General Contractor: Shinsegae E&C Glazing Contractor: LX Glas, Panoramah! Mason: Hapduck Brick: Belden Tri-State Limestone: SN Sogepierre Glazing: LXGlas, Panoramah!

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Home Microsoft Acknowledges Outlook Classic Bug and Offers a Temporary Fix News Microsoft Acknowledges Outlook Classic Bug and Offers a Temporary Fix 3 min read Published: April 18, 2025 Key Takeaways Microsoft has acknowledged that there’s a bug in Outlook Classic that slows CPUs by 30-50%. The company has offered a temporary workaround by shifting to the Semi-Annual Channel. This issue is six months old, but Microsoft hasn’t offered a permanent fix so far. Microsoft has acknowledged a bug in its Outlook Classic software, which spikes CPU usage by 30%-50%. The problem has persisted since November 2024, with several users complaining of a slow system and an abnormal increase in CPU usage when they type emails. Users have reported that disabling spell-check and graphic acceleration also didn’t help. One user even said that the temperatures of their i9-14900HX CPU reached 95 degrees Celsius when they opened the ‘New Message’ tab. However, Microsoft didn’t offer a long-term fix for the problem. Only a stopgap fix. Users can switch to the Semi-Annual Channel, where this problem hasn’t been observed. The issue appears to be specific to the Current, Monthly Enterprise, or Insider channels. Here’s how you can do it as a home user: Open Command Prompt (ensure you’ve selected the ‘Run as administrator option’) Type the following command: reg add HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\common\officeupdate /v updatebranch /t REG_SZ /d SemiAnnual Once you’ve added the registry key, select File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now to switch. If you’re running an organization, Microsoft has published a detailed guide on how you can update the channel using Group Policy, Office Deployment Tool (ODT), Configuration Manager, Microsoft Intune Administrative Templates, and the admin center. Meanwhile, the company has said that the Outlook team is investigating the issue. Why No Fix? The problem has been around for more than six months now, and it’s quite odd that a tech behemoth like Microsoft has been sitting on it. Is the problem that complex, or is there something under the sheets? Well, it’s a known fact that Microsoft wants to do away with its Outlook Classic product and have users shift to the new Outlook for Windows. However, the company has gone on record to say that it will offer support for Classic until the end of 2029. Those two commitments don’t align well, do they? Users won’t ‘willingly’ shift to the new Outlook because it lacks some features offered by the Classic version. For instance, there are no multiple mail profiles, shared mailboxes, custom forms, or SharePoint calendar sync with the new Outlook. Microsoft Outlook Classic custom forms Plus, many features, such as offline support, the Notes module, and .PST support, are only partially available. So, why would users want to switch to an inferior product? Could it be possible that this whole ‘CPU-slowing bug’ thing is a strategy to push users to the new product? Well, these are just speculations, and we’ll never reach the bottom of this theory. It may be possible that Microsoft will release a permanent fix soon and put these theories to rest. For now, we’ll have to wait for the next development on this issue. Krishi is a seasoned tech journalist with over four years of experience writing about PC hardware, consumer technology, and artificial intelligence.  Clarity and accessibility are at the core of Krishi’s writing style. He believes technology writing should empower readers—not confuse them—and he’s committed to ensuring his content is always easy to understand without sacrificing accuracy or depth. Over the years, Krishi has contributed to some of the most reputable names in the industry, including Techopedia, TechRadar, and Tom’s Guide.  A man of many talents, Krishi has also proven his mettle as a crypto writer, tackling complex topics with both ease and zeal. His work spans various formats—from in-depth explainers and news coverage to feature pieces and buying guides.  Behind the scenes, Krishi operates from a dual-monitor setup (including a 29-inch LG UltraWide) that’s always buzzing with news feeds, technical documentation, and research notes, as well as the occasional gaming sessions that keep him fresh.  Krishi thrives on staying current, always ready to dive into the latest announcements, industry shifts, and their far-reaching impacts.  When he's not deep into research on the latest PC hardware news, Krishi would love to chat with you about day trading and the financial markets—oh! And cricket, as well. View all articles by Krishi Chowdhary Our editorial process The Tech Report editorial policy is centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written by real authors. More from News View all View all

The big picture: Amazon uses a fork of Android called Fire OS to power its tablets and smart TVs, but it has also been developing a new operating system called Vega, with plans to ditch Android for good. A new report suggests the first Vega OS device could debut later this year. Electronics newsletter Lowpass reports that Amazon is preparing a new TV streaming device powered by Vega OS. With development nearly complete, the company is now negotiating with major app makers to bring their services to the platform. Amazon expects to release the device later this year. Vega is a Linux-based operating system meant to replace Fire OS across Amazon's smart home lineup. It already powers several devices, including the Echo Show 5, Echo Hub smart displays, and the Echo Spot smart clock. Behind closed doors, Amazon has been courting developers to adopt Vega's Kepler SDK to build React Native apps for TV devices www.lowpass.cc/p/amazon-veg... [image or embed] – Janko Roettgers (@jank0.bsky.social) April 17, 2025 at 10:18 PM Vega OS uses JavaScript-based React Native instead of Java-based Kotlin, so developers must rebuild their software. To ease the transition, Amazon hosted a Fire TV App Partner Summit earlier this year to showcase Vega OS. Several major publishers, including Paramount, Rakuten, and the BBC's UKTV, were reportedly on board. Amazon may be pushing forward with Vega OS, but it hasn't abandoned Android yet. The company recently announced plans to release new Fire TVs powered by Android 14, sparking speculation that it could be scaling back or even ditching its Vega OS project. // Related Stories Despite Amazon's announcement, the Lowpass report insists that Vega is still in active development and will soon power more of the company's smart home devices. While it's unclear whether Vega will make its way to Fire tablets due to app compatibility issues, Amazon plans to include it in future Fire TVs and Echo smart speakers. Ditching the Android-based Fire OS in favor of the Linux-based Vega on smart TVs may not impact most users, especially if Amazon can convince major developers to support the platform. However, it could create challenges for power users who install third-party apps or sideload Android applications since many developers may choose not to bring their services to Vega OS.

Kagi’s “Assistant” feature, previously only available to Ultimate subscribers, is now rolling out to all tiers — including the free trial tier. The feature gives you access to a range of different LLMs for both chatting and web-searching purposes. If you don’t know much about Kagi, it’s a paid search engine that borrows its name from the Japanese word for “key.” The concept is simple — with Google, you pay for the service by allowing ads and data collection. With Kagi, you pay for the service with money to get a private and ad-free experience. Recommended Videos There are also open-source and free-to-use search engines out there that focus on data privacy, but they nearly always have ads and they nearly always struggle to get the funding they need to improve their services and expand their features at a decent rate. Related As a search engine that’s funded by its users, Kagi can axe the ads, keep your data locked up safe, and bring you plenty of new and polished features to improve your search experience. Kagi’s default homepage is a big old Google-style search bar, as most search engines tend to have, but when you switch to Assistant mode, you’ll get an LLM-style chat interface instead. You can choose the AI model you want to use from the drop-down box and use the toggle next to it to control whether the model has access to the web or not. Without the web, you can use the chatbot just as you would normally. With the web, the AI model will be powered by Kagi Search, allowing you to ask anything you want and get generated responses complete with hyperlinked references. Since Kagi is a paid service, the higher your subscription tier, the more you get. The Ultimate tier gets access to the best AI models along with unlimited interactions and searches. It costs $25 a month and is mostly aimed at professionals and super AI fans. Apparently, the average Google user searches three or four times a day or around 100 times a month, so Kagi believes most people probably only need the $5 Starter plan, which provides 300 searches and AI interactions per month. This tier gets access to the “standard” AI models including: GPT 4o mini GPT 4.1 mini Gemini 2.5 Flash Mistral Pixtral Llama 4 Scout Nova Lite DeepSeek Chat V3 If you want unlimited searches and interactions but you’re not bothered about the top-tier AI models, then you can choose the Professional plan for $10 a month. The trial tier will also have access to the Assistant feature, allowing anyone to try it out for a total of 100 searches and interactions. Kagi also has an interesting “Fair Pricing” system that doesn’t charge you if you don’t use it. If you pay your fee at the start of the month but then don’t use the service, you’ll receive a full credit to your account to pay for the next month. Paying for a search engine can definitely seem odd at first, but these services have never actually been free — they’ve always been powered by advertising. And as time has gone on, tracking and data collection practices have become part of the game as well. I’m personally pretty intrigued by this whole thing, so I’m going to subscribe and use this service for a while to see what it’s like. Editors’ Recommendations

The bloc postponed penalties, temporarily avoiding a conflict with the Trump administration during a week in which it ramped up its push for a trade deal with the U.S.

McCall’s way with words brought her success with scripts in 1930s Hollywood, but her starring role was as a union leader.

Number go up Nintendo raises planned Switch 2 accessory prices amid tariff “uncertainty” Prices for hardware and games remain steady, delayed US preorders open April 24. Kyle Orland – Apr 18, 2025 9:55 am | 14 You're going to pay a bit more than expected for extra Joy-Con 2 controllers. You're going to pay a bit more than expected for extra Joy-Con 2 controllers. Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more Nintendo announced Friday morning that a number of accessories for the Switch 2 "will experience price adjustments from those announced on April 2 due to changes in market conditions." And while the launch price of the console hardware and Nintendo's first-party exclusive games is not changing for now, the company warned that "other adjustments to the price of any Nintendo product are also possible in the future depending on market conditions." The announcement comes as Nintendo has set a new date of April 24 to open US preorders for the Switch 2. Those preorders were initially delayed from a planned April 9 opening so Nintendo could "assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions" on the console's launch. "We apologize for the retail pre-order delay, and hope this reduces some of the uncertainty our customers may be experiencing," Nintendo said in its announcement Friday. Here are the newly announced planned prices for Nintendo's official Switch 2 accessories (the original prices announced on April 2 are struck out in parentheses): Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: $84.99 ($79.99) Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 Controllers: $94.99 ($89.99) Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip: $39.99 ($34.99) Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 Straps: $13.99 ($12.99) Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 Wheels: $24.99 ($19.99) Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: $54.99 ($49.99) Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set: $119.99 ($109.99) Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector: $39.99 ($34.99) Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case: $84.99 ($79.99) Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter: $34.99 ($29.99) The Switch 2 hardware will still retail for its initially announced $449.99, alongside a $499.99 bundle including a digital download of Mario Kart World. Nintendo revealed Thursday that the Mario Kart bundle will only be produced "through Fall 2025," though, and will only be available "while supplies last." Mario Kart World will retail for $79.99 on its own, while Donkey Kong Bananza will launch in July for a $69.99 MSRP. Most industry analysts expected Nintendo to hold the price for the Switch 2 hardware steady, even as Trump's wide-ranging tariffs threatened to raise the cost the company incurred for systems built in China and Vietnam. "I believe it is now too late for Nintendo to drive up the price further, if that ever was an option in the first place," Kantan Games' Serkan Toto told GamesIndustry.biz. "As far as tariffs go, Nintendo was looking at a black box all the way until April 2, just like everybody else. As a hardware manufacturer, Nintendo most likely ran simulations to get to a price that would make them tariff-proof as much as possible." But that pricing calculus might not hold forever. "If the tariffs persist, I think a price increase in 2026 might be on the table," Ampere Analysis' Piers Harding-Rolls told GameSpot. "Nintendo will be treading very carefully considering the importance of the US market." Since the Switch 2 launch details were announced earlier this month, Nintendo's official promotional livestreams have been inundated with messages begging the company to "DROP THE PRICE." Kyle Orland Senior Gaming Editor Kyle Orland Senior Gaming Editor Kyle Orland has been the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica since 2012, writing primarily about the business, tech, and culture behind video games. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He once wrote a whole book about Minesweeper. 14 Comments

John Edwards, Technology Journalist & AuthorApril 18, 20255 Min ReadA multi-purpose robodog called Spot at a new technology fair in Turin, Italy, 2021Wirestock, Inc. via Alamy Stock PhotoAs technology advances, attention is rapidly turning toward polyfunctional robots, which incorporate a design and intelligent software that enables them to handle more than one task. Some models are adaptable enough to learn on the job, allowing them to fulfill tasks they weren't originally designed to handle. Liz James, a managing consultant with advisory firm NCC Group, describes polyfunctional robots as robotics systems designed for a wide range of different assignments rather than the single, highly optimized task. "Behind the technology is a desire to increase automation and reduce labor costs," she explains in an email interview. Growth Drivers The future of polyfunctional robots lies in their adaptability and ability to seamlessly integrate into connected systems, says Rodger Desai, CEO of secure identity verification provider Prove. "These robots are no longer limited to a single task," he says in an online interview. "They are evolving into generalists, capable of performing a wide range of functions, from assembly lines to medical assistance." In logistics environments, for example, robots are evolving from task-specific pick-and-place units to adaptive systems capable of sorting, packing, and inspecting while responding to real-time operational changes. Related:At Work Polyfunctional robots are already revolutionizing data center management, particularly in hardware maintenance and environmental monitoring, says Nick Esposito, founder of NYCServers, an IT infrastructure and hosting provider. In an email interview, he points to a colleague who manages a 50,000-square-foot facility that uses polyfunctional robots equipped with sensors and modular tools to perform various essential tasks, such as replacing faulty drives and checking server temperatures. "These robots quickly identify hot spots that could cause hardware failures and then replace components, saving hours compared to manual processes," he explains. Previously, separate teams handled hardware and environmental monitoring, resulting in delays and inefficiencies. "Now, a single robot performs both roles resulting in faster response times and fewer disruptions." Evolving AI and machine learning technologies will further accelerate polyfunctional robot trends, allowing adopters to autonomously analyze and improve workflows, Desai says. "This will make them indispensable in industries with high variability, such as e-commerce and agriculture, where conditions change on a daily basis," he says. "Just as cloud-based systems reduce programming complexity, polyfunctional robot adoption will spread to smaller businesses, which are currently falling behind large enterprises in robotics integration." Related:Market Players Boston Dynamics is among several leading polyfunctional robot manufacturers. One of the firm's mobile robots is Spot, which is targeted at construction and oil industries where it's used to conduct inspections and make data-driven decisions aimed at reducing manual labor costs while improving worker safety. "Additionally, Boston Dynamics' Stretch robot is transforming logistics, allowing companies, such as DHL, to automate warehouse unloading, increasing efficiency by as much as 25%," says Stanislav Khilobochenko, a vice president at medical device manufacturer at Clario in an online interview. On the industrial side, ABB Robotics offers YuMi, a robot that works on assembly lines, supporting human-robot collaboration in electronics and automotive manufacturing. Khilobochenko notes that YuMi recently assisted a major European manufacturer by reducing production time while maintaining precision in complex assembly tasks. Innovative robotics makers succeed because they invest in versatility and integration, Khilobochenko observes. "Boston Dynamics focuses on adaptability, making their robots useful across multiple industries," he says. "ABB thrives on precision and scalability, having formed partnerships with major corporations such as BMW and Nestlé." Related:Future Outlook With advancements in modular design and interoperability, polyfunctional robots have the potential to reshape industries by increasing efficiency, flexibility, and scalability across a wide range of applications, Desai says. James, meanwhile, expects polyfunctional robot adoption to grow steadily in settings where relatively low-skill and low-complexity tasks are currently handled by humans. "This is especially true in logistics and freight tasks, where there has already been significant investment in specialized robotic solutions." Remote facility monitoring is likely to gain widespread adoption in the near future, James says. "This is already being trialed by some infrastructure operators, using mobile robotics platforms and computer vision to take periodic measurements and/or samples around key areas." She also anticipates the arrival of "porter robots" delivering food and beverages to tables in restaurants. "I can also see this potentially being applied to ... porter functions in hospitals and care facilities, too." The Human Element It's important to ensure that the human element isn’t lost within the polyfunctional hype, James says. "As with automation, there's a potential for large parts of the economy to be impacted by this technology, and that could harm people who currently survive performing basic tasks," she explains. "These polyfunctional technologies should be rolled out in a very considered way, both at a societal level and at an individual organizational level." 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 EdwardsReportsMore ReportsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also Like