We last covered EV charging platform Ampeco in 2023 when it raised a Series A round of $13 million. Today its raised $26 million in a Series B funding led by Revaia, a growth equity investment fund. That takes its total funding to $42 million.Many EV charging systems are end-to-end solutions which makes them pretty rigid. But OEMs need to compete, such as with Tesla, while differentiating themselves, requiring flexibility. Ampeco provides OEMs with a charging network that can mix and match from hardware partners, leaving them to focus resources on other customer experiences or services, for example.The global EV market is on a tear. Electric car sales are projected to reach over 30 million by 2030. That means the world will need approximately 40 million public charging points by 2030, equating to $500 billion investment in charging infrastructure.Originally hailing from Sofia, Bulgaria, but now with operations across Europe, Ampeco now boasts 160 clients across 60 markets, 120,000 charging stations, and clients such as EON Drive Infrastructure, ChargeGuru, Zeplug, INDIGO, and EV Edge. Key market include Western Europe, Scandinavia, the UK, North America, and Southeast Asia.So whats changed to get them to this point?Orlin Radev, CEO of AMPECO, told TechCrunch that since January 2023 they had gone from 62,000 charging points to over 120,000, while another 100,000 are on the way: But the real story isnt just in numbers its in whos choosing us. Major utilities like EON Drive Infrastructure are running their networks across 11 European countries on our platform, he said.The company has now taken an API-first approach and launched a developer portal, enabling large-scale operators to build custom solutions on top of its platform.Companies who initially built their own software are now migrating to our platform to manage the growing complexity of EV charging operations, added Radev.But what happens if their strategy goes wrong? What is the Plan B?The question isnt about having a Plan Bits about the fundamental shift happening in EV charging infrastructure, he said. The industry is moving from fragmented, local operations to sophisticated, multi-market businesses that require enterprise-grade software solutions Our platform approach means were not betting on any single market trend or technology.The EV charging market consolidated significantly last year. The traditional competitors Driivz, GreenFlux, and EVConnect have been acquired by larger corporations (Vontier, DKV, and Schneider Electric, respectively).The other two players to watch in this space are Monta (which has raised 130M million) out of Denmark and EV Energy ($87.8 million) out of the U.K. Monta recently teamed up with Tesla for fleet charging, partnered with Emobi and announced its entry into the United States with the opening of its US headquarters in Miami.Morgan Kessous, Partner at Revaia said in a statement it was attracted by Ampecos customization, scalability, and seamless integration with third-party systems.Also participating in the round were existing investors Cavalry Ventures, BMW iVentures, and Launchhub.

Using AI to accelerate biotech is fast becoming standard practice, and companies offering services to deploy the tech quickly are seeing big uptake and new investment. Cradle is one of these, focused on protein design and it just raised $73 million to build out its labs and team.Cradle appeared in 2022 as part of a wave of companies to exploring the use of language models in biotech. The companys founder and CEO, Stef van Grieken, memorably referred to the strings of amino acids and bases as an alien programming language, but one that an AI model can still parse to some extent.The companys approach was to accelerate testing of large biomolecules like proteins (which serve countless purposes in medicine and industry) by attempting to find and recommend sequences that affect desirable qualities. So, if you have a useful protein but want it to be more resistant to heat, the model looks for sequences that tend to break down at warmer temperatures and offers alternatives that wont change its functions otherwise.After a $24 million A round in 2023, Cradle has been plugging away serving customers in the biotech and pharma spaces. Van Grieken said companies primarily value the acceleration and cost savings that come with having to do fewer experimental runs to get the molecule where they want it.Companies developing products like antibody therapeutics against a certain disease or enzymes for a detergent will typically run dozens of experimental rounds to improve the efficacy, safety, and manufacturability of their protein, he said in an email to TechCrunch.A mockup of the protein analysis process vastly simplified, of course.Image Credits:CradleThese experimental rounds can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars and take a good deal of time. Not to mention the guesswork and luck that factor into it while careful study and intuition contribute to the result, there is unavoidably a lot of unpredictability in this space, and any method of reducing it is welcome.He also noted that their simple SaaS business model has proven popular, as theres no need to worry about royalties, revenue share, or IP issues.Competition, van Grieken noted, is split into two groups along those lines: those doing close partnerships to co-develop a drug or process, and those, like Cradle, strictly providing a software service. We believe that AI in drug discovery and development will ultimately be a commodity and any team should have access to it, he said.But even though Cradle makes software, its still a biotech company.We have a laboratory in Amsterdam where we use to A/B test on many different types of proteins as well as develop Foundational Datasets that help models learn properties of proteins that benefit all of our customers, van Grieken said. And they must regularly train and fine-tune models from these datasets themselves, as well.The $73 million round, led by IVP, with Index Ventures and Kindred Capital participating, will go toward building out the wet lab and hiring up all around. Our goal is now to put Cradles software into the hands of a million scientists, van Grieken said in a press release.

Filling the stands with emotion and energy! Madrid-based Twin Pines invisible VFX artistry brought a packed football stadium to life in Netflixs El Campen!WATCH IT ON Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2024The post El Campen: VFX Breakdown by Twin Pines appeared first on The Art of VFX.

3D printing startup Axtra3D has made a series of announcements, including six new production-grade resins, acquisition of its Lumia X1 Hi-Speed SLA platform, and reseller deal benefitting the U.S. market,at Formnext last week.These efforts highlight Axtra3Ds approach to meeting the evolving needs of industries such as automotive and healthcare, emphasizing precision and functionality.Providing more insights, Rajeev Kulkarni, Chief Strategy Officer at Axtra3D, spoke with 3D Printing Industry ahead of the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards to discuss the companys AM portfolio.He noted that Axtra3Ds Lumia X1 is reshaping additive manufacturing through its Hybrid PhotoSynthesis (HPS) and TruLayer technologies, combining Digital Light Processing (DLP)s speed with Stereolithography (SLA)s precision.According to Kulkarni, this advanced system delivers high throughput and detailed accuracy while supporting diverse applications, from biocompatible silicone materials for healthcare to consumer electronics.By ensuring precise layer curing and eliminating peeling-related inconsistencies, the Lumia X1 offers reliability and scalability for mass production. Over 30 units of the system have been sold to prominent companies, including Protolabs, Toyota Motors USA AM, and Estee Lauder.Kulkarni also highlighted Axtra3Ds financial milestones, including $9.75 million in funding and consistent annual revenue growth.Vote now in the2024 3D Printing Industry Awards!Rajeev Kulkarni CSO of Axtra3D. Photo via Axtra3D.New resins tailored for diverse industrial applicationsAxtra3D has broadened its material portfolio with six advanced resins specifically designed for its Lumia X1 3D printer. Developed together with industry partners, these materials are engineered to enhance durability, precision, and adaptability in real-world applications.For electrical connector applications requiring fire-retardant properties, Arkemas N3D-FR512 delivers high performance with a heat deflection temperature of 170C and a UL-94 V-0 rating.In addition, Spectroplasts TruSil-X50 introduces silicone flexibility, catering to prosthetics, seals, and gaskets with precision and skin-safe features. Meanwhile, Henkels Loctite IND 249 supports intricate geometries with high strength and stiffness, ideal for manufacturing aids and connectors.Expanding further into specialized applications, Forward AMs Ultracur ST 45 B offers exceptional sharpness and thermal stability for silicone mold production, while Ultracur RG 1100 is optimized for low-pressure molding, enabling the creation of large, durable parts such as shoe soles and automotive components.Henkels Loctite IND 3380 rounds out the lineup with electrostatic dissipative (ESD) properties, addressing the needs of electronics manufacturing and tooling with high dimensional accuracy.These new resins reflect our commitment to designing materials that meet challenging customer needs, staying true to our no-compromise approach. By collaborating closely with customers, we ensure that every new material has a clear end-use application, accelerating innovation and aligning with the precision and performance demands of key industries, said Kulkarni.Enhanced manufacturing capabilities at Laser Prototypes EuropeFurther showcasing its impact on the AM sector, Axtra3D has strengthened its partnership with Laser Prototypes Europe (LPE), which recently acquired a second Lumia X1 printer. This move reflects LPEs response to growing demand for high-performance 3D printed parts in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and medical devices.This addition will enable LPE to serve sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and medical devices with faster turnaround times and greater flexibility in meeting complex manufacturing requirements. Patrick Walls, Engineering Director at LPE, highlighted the benefits of Axtra3Ds HPS technology, which allows clients to explore applications that were previously unattainable due to technical or material limitations.As a company with over 30 years of experience, LPE continues to deliver precision-focused solutions with a team of 40 professionals and over 20 advanced machines. The integration of Axtra3Ds technology complements its existing capabilities, further strengthening its position as a trusted partner in additive manufacturing.Lumia X1-3D printed electrical connectors. Photo via Axtra3D.A reseller deal with Hartwig IncExpanding its reach into the U.S. market, Axtra3D has announced a reseller deal with Hartwig Inc., an advanced machining solutions provider, to offer the Lumia X1 system as part of Hartwigs AM portfolio. Helping achieve unmatched resolution and performance, this collaboration allows Hartwig to provide customers with access to HPS technology.Having integrated the Axtra3Ds system into its portfolio, Hartwig aims to further improve its ability to serve industries such as aerospace, automotive, and medical devices, particularly for applications involving complex geometries, low-volume production, and investment casting.Greg Hartwig, Vice President of Hartwig Inc., expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing its potential to address evolving customer needs while reducing costs and lead times.He noted that Hartwigs established presence in traditional machining is now complemented by the addition of Axtra3Ds advanced technology, creating a comprehensive suite of solutions for manufacturers seeking versatility and precision.Catch up on all the news fromFormnext 2024.Want to share insights on key industry trends and the future of 3D printing? Register now to be included in the2025 3D Printing Industry Executive Survey.What 3D printing trends do the industry leaders anticipate this year?What does the Future of 3D printing hold for the next 10 years?To stay up to date with the latest 3D printing news, dont forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter or follow us on Twitter, or like our page on Facebook.While youre here, why not subscribe to our Youtube channel? Featuring discussion, debriefs, video shorts, and webinar replays.Featured image shows Lumia X1-3D printed electrical connectors. Photo via Axtra3D.Ada ShaikhnagWith a background in journalism, Ada has a keen interest in frontier technology and its application in the wider world. Ada reports on aspects of 3D printing ranging from aerospace and automotive to medical and dental.

Craig Adderley via PexelsNatural light is the cornerstone of modern and minimalist architecture. Modern architects and designers use natural light innovatively to enhance spatial dynamics and blur the lines between interior and exterior environments. However, lights often take on a sculptural quality in minimalist spaces. This is because such spaces focus on simplicity and the essence of materials.The embracement of natural light in architectural design goes beyond aesthetics. It plays an important role in reducing reliance on artificial light and enhancing energy efficiency. Below are a few ingenious ways of using natural light in modern, minimalist architecture.Large Windows and Open SpacesLarge windows and open spaces are key defining features of modern architecture. They embody the design principles of openness and harmony with the natural environment. These features combined create a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. Natural light can easily flood interior spaces, creating a sense of expansiveness within a home.Large windows in modern architecture are primarily floor-to-ceiling glass walls. These expansive windows dissolve solid boundaries between indoor and outdoor environments. Additionally, they provide views that extend beyond walls in urban homes and buildings in scenic areas. This is especially beneficial to minimalist architecture with little decor.Open floor plans are also key components of modern design. They often accompany large windows to maximize light flow throughout the space. Removing walls and unnecessary divisions creates a continuous flow that spreads light throughout the entire interior. Properly using large windows and open spaces will enable architects to create aesthetically pleasing and sustainable spaces.Skylights and AtriumsArchitects can also bring natural light into spaces using skylights and atriums. These elements channel light from above, making them perfect for homes in densely populated areas or buildings where large exterior windows arent practical. Skylights also allow daylight to penetrate directly from above, making them mostly used in living rooms, kitchens, and other rooms where wall space for traditional windows is limited.Flooding interior space with natural light reduces the need for artificial lighting, enhancing the rooms overall ambiance. Skylights benefit minimalist architecture, introducing warmth and subtle shadow play without the need for decorative elements. Here, light can be used as an integral design feature.On the other hand, atriums are large open spaces within buildings that extend across multiple floors. Though traditionally used in public buildings, atriums are now used in modern residential and commercial buildings. Opening up a central area allows natural light into the structure, illuminating hallways and surrounding rooms.Guggenheim | Juan Domenech via UnsplashGetty Center | Little Dragon via UnsplashNatural Lights as a Sculptural ElementNatural light in modern architecture provides more than illumination. It can be used as a sculptural element that transforms spaces. Architects can add texture and dimension to simple space forms by creatively manipulating light and shadows. Directing and controlling light strategically can shift the character and mood of the space. It also enhances the visual and emotional experience for house occupants.One innovative technique for introducing natural light into hard-to-reach areas is the use of sun tunnels. These tubular skylights are designed to capture and channel sunlight from a roof-mounted dome into the rooms below. They perfectly fit modern and minimalist architecture, which focuses on enhancing the flow of natural light. Architects can use them to illuminate spaces without disrupting the clean and simple interior lines.Architects can also use natural light to draw attention to specific architectural features. Directing light into key structural elements like the staircase or accent walls creates focal points. Using lights as a sculptural tool shapes how people move through and experience the space.EndnoteNatural light does more than illuminate interior spaces in modern architecture. It can shape experience and connect household members to nature. Careful manipulation of light has become a defining architectural style. Windows, skylights, and creative light direction allow architects to expand the ways in which natural light can transform spaces.Leave a comment

Amid the rolling landscape of the Berkshires in Massachusetts resides Jacobs Pillow, a place where dance and the natural landscape come together. As the dance and performing arts venue enters its second century of operation it is reimagining its famed Doris Duke Theatre. The new facility, designed by Mecanoo will open to the public on July 9, 2025 with programming that will carry on throughout the summer, maintaining its legacy as Americas longest-running international dance festival. Originally the site of a former studio theatre in the 1990s the Doris Duke Theatre will be rebuilt to occupy a larger footprint of approximately 20,000 square feet compared to the former 8,500-square-foot building that burned down in 2020. The new theater will seat anywhere from 220 to 400 patrons, with extended configurations to support a wide range of performances, events, residencies, and makerspaces.The Dorris Duke Theatre is being rebuilt after it burned down in a fire. (Courtesy Jacobs Pillow)Elevating the spatial and acoustic design, alongside Mecanoo, are Marvel, in the role of local architect and landscape architect, and acoustic consultant firm Charcoalblue. Their design embodies the natural patterns of the landscape and takes advantage of the venues idyllic, rural setting, harnessing the fluctuation of light that comes with each season. Overall, the design team seeks to create a harmony between the rhythm of nature and the creativity of the body. The timber structure, clad in thermally treated pine, will be designed to age along with the landscape dotted with trees and other vegetation, and rainwater will be collected for reuse. Inside the theater, a spatial audio system will be upgraded, and an infrared camera to track performers during live performances will be added among other advanced technologies to support a wide range of digitally enhanced creative experiences.A performing space is clad in wood and windows afford views of the landscape. (Courtesy Jacobs Pillow)To honor the sites Indigenous roots, and recognize the Indigenous knowledge that inform Jacobs Pillow, a garden and communal fire pit designed by Indigenous artists reside on the East side of the theater.Construction work is underway on the new theater and it will open in July 2025. (Robert Benson/Courtesy Jacobs Pillow)At the heart of the new Doris Duke Theatre lies a celebration of movement, space, and connection, said Francine Houben, Mecanoos creative director and founding partner, The new theater captures the essence of dance, not only as an art form but as a deeply human experience intertwined with the landscape and community. Rooted in the rolling hills of the Berkshires, the theater honors the rich heritage of Jacobs Pillow while pushing the frontiers of the performing arts. The design draws on the rhythms of nature, mirroring the fluidity and grace of dancers.

In conversations about materials, its easy to get lost in questions about formal qualities, and overlook the supply chains, logistics, and human labor that goes into producing and transporting said items. An exhibitionon view in Los Angeles, Material Acts: Experimentation in Architecture and Design, seeks to subvert this paradigm. The group show staged at Craft Contemporary was curated by Kate Yeh Chiu and Jia Yi Gu, two local architects and educators. Material Acts features works from more than 20 contemporary designers, architects, and artists each united by their shared approach towards materials as research, processes, and systems, and not just as forms.The show challenges visitors to think critically about material flows. (Marc Walker/Courtesy Craft Contemporary)Traversing Craft Contemporary, what first stands out at Material Acts is the soft green that lacquers the walls, suggesting a sort of biophilic comfort the curators would like to impress upon visitors.Material Acts is meditation on material reuse, among other musings. (Marc Walker/Courtesy Craft Contemporary)Materials are typically described as raw resources, fixed products, or inert objects to be sourced from a shelf in the storea function of commodity more than of making, Kate Yeh Chiu and Jia Yi Gu said in a joint statement. The curators continued: Yet, such understandings of materials belie the complex logistical, economic, ecological, and technological actions that transform matter into the material substrate for our lives. Instead, Material Acts considers materials as participants in and outputs of cultural practices and techniques.One installation explored dyes and textiles. (Marc Walker/Courtesy Craft Contemporary)Rather than focusing on raw resources and finished products, the ephemera on view at Craft Contemporary recenters human actors and systems in the event of the transformation of material, reminding us that materials are not inert objects, but active, the curators continued.Others explored weaving techniques. (Marc Walker/Courtesy Craft Contemporary)The show was organized around five themes: Animating, Disassembling, Feeding, Re-fusing, and Stitching. In response to this brief set by curators, artist Maru Garca experimented with SCOBY skins, a leather-like material noted for its wound healing properties. Other participants created meditations on jammed gravel, bioregional materials, and 3D printed adobe. A flow chart at Material Acts (Marc Walker/Courtesy Craft Contemporary)Designers are making not only new materials but building new systems in response to climate precarity, curators added. A community-sourced library gathers material samples by contemporary design and adjacent practices, including experiments in chemical reactions, design with living organisms, environment-reactive metals, biocalcified foam, woven earth fibers, and other mobilizations of matters and the material accidents that happen along the way.Material Acts is on view through January 5, 2025.

Interested in repair and based in Havana, this Cuban practice works in a careful and prudent mannerInfraestudio wasshortlisted in theAR Emerging awards 2024. Read about the full shortlist hereBuilt in 1888, a decade before the end of Spanish colonial rule in Cuba, 508 Lnea Street is a neoclassical home in the neighbourhood of Vedado, Havana. With itsgenerous garden, tiled walls and stained glass panels adorning the arched doorways, it is a prime example of the nations colonial architecture; the building holds the highest degree of heritage protection in Cuba. In 2016, conceptual artist Wilfredo Prieto sought to transform the building into the Lnea Art Center, a gallery and residency programme for contemporary artists. An extra 200m2 would need to be added, and young architectduo Anadis Gonzlez and Fernando Martirena were assigned to the project. Met with a home they felt was already fully complete, the pair decided onan alternative approach: being as absentas possible.Gonzlez and Martirena were still students at the Technological University of Havana when they received the commission. Grappling with the sites legacy and preservation status, they felt like intruders, an intuition they used to fuel their brief. They settled on three subtle interventions: awall, a staircase and a new roof. First, theyreplaced the aged wooden roof with a concrete one, using the beams from the old roof to repair the joinery, including door frames and balustrades. Thisrepurposing of existing material both improves the internal gallery spaces and speaks of the studios poetics of care. The architects also added aconcrete staircase, cast in situ, to better connect these internal spaces to the terrace on the new roof, allowing for a continuous corridor between the interior viewing rooms and the exterior courtyards. In an upcoming phase of the project, accommodation for artists will be constructed within the buildings grounds, altering, but not exhausting, the surviving courtyard: a key feature of colonial architecture they sought to preserve.Lnea Art Center is a project as much about not doing as it is about doing. It was the first commission for the pair that would eventually become Infraestudio, and the projects ethos has gradually become the signature or antisignature of the practice. The Latin infra means below, andit speaks of the studios tendency towards obscurity and subversion their architecture of repair is more about ideas than any necessary translation into form.Grappling with the sites legacy and preservation status, the architects felt like intrudersFollowing the Cuban Revolution in 1959,all private architecture firms were called toresign their authorship, and instead practise through the government. These attempts to control have continued since. As of 2021, the private practice of architecture is officially illegal in Cuba butthere remains a degree of unspoken tolerance. As long as architects do not become politically confrontational, they can exist in a vacuum of silence and their work is often paid no attention.Gonzlez and Martirena say their practice isofficially illegal, unofficially legal.Occupying this grey area, Infraestudio realised Red Garden, an intervention hidden 50 metres above Havanas waterfront, on the penthouse of a midcentury apartment. Using concrete andcoating it in red stucco, the architects created a sculptural landscape that feels intimate a protected space. The apertures cut out in the outer perimeter wall of the terrace draw the penthouse closer to the sizzling city that lives around and below it,highlighting the irony of the Cuban condition, where the only way to contribute to the building of the city is to work under aveil of secrecy.The incisions are reminiscent of the 1975artwork Conical Intersect by

Recorded ransomware attack volumes rose by 19% during October 2024 to a total of 468 incidents worldwide, a significant number of them in the US, where the controversial presidential election likely emboldened Russian-speaking threat actors to strike, according to NCC Groups latest monthly Threat pulse report.Although the full-scale of attempted Russian state interference in the US election process is not yet fully known, NCCs head of threat intelligence, Matt Hull, said it was little surprise the final few weeks before the 5 November poll saw ramping amounts of threat activity.Geopolitical motivations, like the US election, showed that nation states such as Russia continue to have heavy influence on global volumes of cyber attacks, he said.The data shows that we are witnessing changing dynamics of the threat landscape, with nation states and organised crime groups increasingly collaborating, said Hull. As different threat actors leverage each others resources, it is crucial for organisations to ensure that theyre on top of fundamental security practices such as password management, endpoint security and multi-factor authentication.Indeed, broken out by geography, the North America region which also includes countries like Canada and Mexico accounted for 272, or 56%, of the recorded ransomware attacks. In comparison, 97 attacks, 20%, victimised organisations in Europe, so all in all, over three-quarters of all ransomware attacks seen last month targeted these two regions.Of course, this is not to exclude the rest of the world, and one attack in particular aptly demonstrated the apparent blurring of the lines between nation states and organised criminals. This was an incident in which systems at Japanese electronics giant Casio were crippled by Underground ransomware, which is linked to Russian cyber crime group Storm-0978, or RomCom.The double extortion attack targeted employee, job candidate and business partner data, and caused outages and service disruptions. It likely began via CVE-2023-36884, a remote code execution vuln in Microsoft Office which is known to have been targeted by Russian state actors; and according to NCC, RomCom is thought to be one of a number of gangs that conduct attacks on behalf of the Kremlin.Read more about ransomwareWe look at ransomware attacks, and the importance of good backup practice as well as immutable snapshots, air-gapping, network segmentation,AI anomaly detection and supplier warranties.Anomaly detection and immutable copies can be frontline tools against ransomware we look at the role storage can play against the latest techniquesemployed by ransomware gangs.Threat intel specialists at Recorded Future have shared details of newly developed techniques they are using to disrupt Rhysida ransomware attacks before the gangeven has a chance to execute them.NCC said that growing geopolitical tension between Russia and Japan added a compelling layer to the incident. Russia, which has held the island of Sakhalin part of the ancestral homeland of Japans indigenous Ainu people and the nearby Kuril Islands, since the end of the Second World War, is thought to be concerned by Japans increasing military collaboration with the Nato alliance, and Moscow protested a recent joint military exercise, Keen Sword 2024, between the US and Japan.These military activities and Japans bolstered defence posture may have contributed to a rise in aggressive tactics by Russian-affiliated cyber entities, wrote the reports authors.Attacks on Japanese companies could serve as a form of pressure or retaliation, signalling Russias discontent with Japans defence strategies. By targeting key Japanese enterprises, Russia, through affiliated cyber criminal groups, might aim to disrupt economic stability and project power without overt military confrontation.The situation shows the complexity of modern cyber warfare, where criminal enterprises and state-backed actors could pursue both financial and strategic objectives As such, businesses should encompass a variety of threats, traditional and state-backed, in their defence strategy.In terms of the most prolific ransomware operators, it was RansomHub that continued its dominance as the most active gang in October, taking responsibility for 68 attacks, although this was down a little on the previous month.The second-place spot was held by Play, which accounted for about 55 attacks; followed by Killsec, with between 30 and 40; Sarcoma, with about 30; and Meow, with about 25.The rest of the top 10 most active operations last month were Fog, Hunters, ElDorado, Medusa and BlackSuit.Across the board, the industrials sector, which includes operators of critical national infrastructure (CNI), remained the most targeted, accounting for 148, or 30%, of the observed attacks. The consumer discretionary sector (retail) followed, with 100 attacks; and the healthcare sector accounted for 55.As demonstrated through the focus on CNI, attacks are becoming less random and more targeted to organisations that will experience maximum impact, said Hull.Those who rely on up-time and hold large amounts of intellectual property or personally identifiable information are high-value targets.

The SonarPen 2Ben SinSix years ago I wrote about the SonarPen, a $30 Apple Pencil alternative that plugged into the iPads headphone jack, using audio signals emitted from the port as a means to detect stylus pressure. It was an unconventional idea, but worked well enough given the price. The bad news for the SonarPen, however, was that Apple would phase out the headphone jack from its iPad lines the year after.It took longer than expected, but the SonarPen 2 is here, swapping the previous headphone jack plug with the do-it-all USB-C plug. Launching on Kickstarter at $32 (with final retail being $45).A promotional shot of the SonarPen 2.GreenBulbSonarPen 2 next to the Apple Pencil ProBen SinThe SonarPen 2 works just as before: plug it into a USB-C port iPad Pro (those came out starting in 2018) and the stylus is immediately functional (though the degree to which it is functional depends on the app more on this next paragraph). Theres no need for pairing, no charging. Overall in hand feel is similar: its slightly chubbier than a usual digital pen thats tethered to the base (or right side) of the iPad. But the Hong Kong-based developers didnt just swap out the headphone jack for USB-C plug, theres more advanced electronics than its predecessor. The new pointed nib uses an independent circuit that requires power (drawn from the iPad) to function. For pressure detection, the nib circuit moves vertically against the screen, transmitting force to the pressure detection system. New in this generation is tilt detection, which makes the pen strokes for aspiring artists a bit more natural. Theres also a new shortcut button that is designed to replicate the double tap feature of Apple Pencil Pro.Official product shot of the SonarPen 2GreenBulbIts worth noting that not all apps will support pressure sensitivity, tilt detection and the pens shortcut button that requires app developers to write code for the SonarPen 2. Currently, there are five apps that offer full support for all of the SonarPen 2s features, including Zen Brush 3 and HiPaint. There are another half dozen apps that mostly support the SonarPen 2 but lacks tilt detection or palm rejection. But even with non-supported apps, the SonarPen 2 can still work as a basic stylus, with relatively lag-free detection. But youll ultimately want to use it with the supported apps, as the stylus works much better I could even do my usual Batman sketch without noticeable performance issues.Sketching Batman with the SonarPen 2 in the app ibis PaintBen SinUltimately, is the SonarPen 2 as good as the Apple Pencil? Of course not. Apples stylus is one of the very best on the market. But if you, like most people find the stylus too costly, the SonarPen 2 is a worthy alternative budget option that gets the job done.