Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)A few months ago, the Switch finally received Pizza Tower, an indie action platformer thats gotten a lot of praise for how well it channels Nintendos long-dormant Wario Land series. Yet developer Tour de Pizza wasnt the only team inspired by Wario. Summitspheres Antonblast is a wild and wonderful action platformer that feels like it could actually be the next Wario Land game if it came with a different coat of paint; its combination of speed, precision, and smart level design makes for a truly thrilling experience thats only let down by its issues with stable performance.Antonblast stars the titular Dynamite Anton, whose angry, red-skinned appearance leaves Satan feeling envious and insecure about his status as the reddest being of them all. So, in a petty act of retaliation, he sends his minions to Antons apartment to steal what he cherishes most: the Spirits that he kept around his living space. Enraged, Anton grabs his hammer and sets out on a quest to reclaim what was stolen and to give Satan a piece of his mind.Play through any given level here and the inspiration it takes from Wario Land 4 is immediately clear. Anton (or his roommate, Annie, if you prefer) tears through levels like a virtually unstoppable force of nature, smashing boxes and blowing up enemies as he bounces around with his hammer and powers through obstacles with his Clutch charge ability. There are plenty of side paths to explore and collectibles to snap up along the way, but the ultimate goal is to get to the bomb at the end of the level so you can start Happy Hour. Once triggered, a countdown clock begins, and you only have a few minutes to run all the way back through the level with the Spirit you collected. These mad dashes to safety are a real thrill, as you often are forced to take an alternate path back to the beginning and usually leave an enormous path of destruction in your wake on the trip back.Simply beating a level isnt enough to get the full experience, however, not even if you took your time to scrub it for all its collectibles. After beating each one, you unlock a time attack and combo chain mode for the level, and this is where the exceptional level design really comes into focus.For Time Attack, each level gives you a tight par time to achieve that demands you master level layouts and understand the nuances of Antons moveset to optimise your attempts. Combo Chain works much the same, but here youre tasked with maintaining an unbroken combo by strategically smashing boxes and blowing up enemies, all without any health pickups to help you out. We enjoyed what these two modes brought to the table, as they force you to engage with each level in a different way each time and add greater challenge and replayability to an already great platformer.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)Even if you just stick to the minimum content to clear the base story, Antonblast displays a remarkable amount of variety across its relatively brief run. It should only take you about 10 hours to clear (maybe double that if you do everything), but it makes the most of that time by constantly introducing new ideas and level concepts along the way.One level has a power-up that essentially turns you into Taz the Tasmanian Devil, utterly obliterating everything in your path as you turn into a chaotic whirlwind. Another stage introduces a blazing-fast animal buddy shark that Anton can ride on land or sea, giving new traversal options as he hangs on for dear life. This is the kind of game that keeps things moving, and its commitment to introducing new ideas and building levels around them keeps it feeling constantly fresh.As for its visual presentation, Antonblast is clearly inspired by the likes of old Newgrounds-style Flash animations and 90s Nickelodeon shows. Theres a twisted and somewhat dreamlike quality to the colourful worlds you terrorise on your journey, and all the characters and animations have a very Looney Tunes-esque vibe with their exaggerated movements. At just about any moment on-screen, theres something bound to be exploding, screaming, or collapsing, and with this underscored by the vibration feature of the Joy-Con it leads to a very lively visual experience. But its the attention to little details that really sells the art style, such as the long trail of As that follows a terrified enemy you just sent careening into a brick wall.The audio keeps up with the madness of the action with a pop and jazz-infused soundtrack that maintains a high energy level throughout. And we especially appreciate the frequent cartoonish sound effects to punctuate Antons destructive actionsthings like the crashing plane sound used when Anton does a body slam from a high jump help to keep the goofy atmosphere front and centre.One downside is that the performance nearly cant keep up with the constant action. There are plenty of moments where the screen is positively soaked in explosions, poker chips, and screaming enemies, which leads to a noticeable drop in the frame rate. These drops dont have a massive direct effect on your ability to control Anton, but they still certainly cheapen the experience enough to be disappointing. Weve seen reports of crashing issues and some softlock bugs encountered by other players over the launch period, too. Weve been assured by the developers that a performance improvement patch targeting these issues has already been submitted to Nintendo, but just be warned that the current version available at launch is rather rough around the edgesyou may want to wait for the fixes.

Autonomous vehicle technology and electrification startups were once the darlings of the VC and corporate world. The two technologies promised billions of dollars in revenue and a new pathway for automakers to make money beyond building and selling cars.Those VC-money-printing days have been over for AVs for a while now, with a few exceptions like Waymo and Wayve. But as 2024 kicked off, there was still a lingering EV buzz in the air, albeit quieter than before.Now, as 2024 draws to a close, its safe to say that buzz is more of a whisper, with several EV startups faltering and automakers readjusting their investment plans.EV demand started softening in 2023, and even though sales volume has overall increased, the pace of growth has been far below what was expected. In 2024, automakers responded. Ford pivoted its plans, which included abandoning a plan to make an all-electric three-row SUV and opting instead to power those future vehicles with hybrid powertrains. GM, which had already pulled back EV spending in 2023, made more moves in 2024, most recently offloading its stake in the nearly completed Ultium Cells battery cell plant in Lansing, Michigan, to its joint venture partner LG Energy Solution. Stellantis and Mercedes paused plans on EV battery factories.Toyotas often-criticized approach to go slow on EVs and continue to prioritize gas and hybrid vehicles now looks like the smart move.The results werent great for EV startups either.Meanwhile, AVs had their hypey moment in the VC sun a few years ago before reality hit: It turns out driverless cars are hard, the business model isnt proven, and those backers might not have the patience for a long-term pre-revenue bet.A first wave of consolidation swept through the sector in 2019 and 2020. Some AV (and EV) startups merged with special purpose acquisition companies in search of the public-market capital necessary to commercialize their tech. Others stuck with big-name automaker backers. There were setbacks for both strategies in 2022 and 2023, prompting a last scramble for survival: the pivot.AV startups that were once focused on opportunities in driverless cars tried applying their tech to warehouses, mining, and agriculture. But it turns out those areas were already hopping with competition. Others stuck to their original mission, but turned into dual-use companies because defense tech is so very hot these days.In short, 2024 was the year when the weaker startups bid farewell and corporate entities took a hard look at what they were spending on and said time to move on.Apple car projectApple not-so-secret car project, we didnt even know ya. And yet, we all felt the loss. Perhaps because we have been hearing about the promise and vague plans for an Apple electric and autonomous (maybe) car for so long a decade since the first plans leaked. Apple made it official in 2024: the car project was canceled.I cant wait for 2025 and the breaking news scoop that this project is on again.ArrivalThis EV startup, which wanted to use microfactories to manufacture its commercial electric vans and buses, was once valued more than $13 billion and backed by Hyundai and UPS. The company went public in 2021 via a SPAC and by 2023 was in trouble even with a $300 million lifeline meant to turn the business around. Less than a year later, Arrival announced its U.K. division was entering administration, the countrys version of bankruptcy.Parting shot: Troubled EV startup Canoo, bought some of Arrivals assets after its bankruptcy filing.CakeEbikes and e-motorcycles had a moment during the Covid pandemic, but that didnt guarantee survival. In February, Swedish company Cake filed for bankruptcy. The company, best known for making high-design bikes, was apparently in the midst of a funding round. The withdrawal of an investor tipped its fate in the wrong direction. In the weeks that followed, a Florida man who owns a retail shop bought the majority of its U.S. inventory.Cake did get a second life however. The company emerged from bankruptcy and was acquired by Norwegian auto dealer, Brages Holding AS.Cruise robotaxiCruise is technically not dead. The self-driving vehicle company will live on, its parent company GM says, but its not clear exactly what shape itll take. But GM is no longer fundingthe commercial robotaxi program, which was Cruises focus. The decision blindsided Cruise employees, including top executives.This decision is just beginning to ripple through the organization. Expect a lot more news about Cruise and GMs plans for automated driving in 2025.FiskerWhere do we begin? The year didnt start off well for Fisker as the EV startup struggled to meet internal sales goals and its Ocean SUV was investigated by federal safety regulators over complaints on brake loss. It got worse from there with more federal probes, layoffs, a suspension from the New York Stock Exchange, and eventually bankruptcy by June. Heres a timeline of events. Be sure to read some of reporter Sean OKanes coverage, including Inside EV startup Fiskers collapse: how the company crumbled under its founders whims.Ghost AutonomyGhost Autonomy, an autonomous driving software startup, shut down in February. The startup, founded in 2017 as Ghost Locomotion, had gone through a few pivots. It had ultimately raised $220 million before closing for good.LiliumLilium, the electric vertical takeoff and landing startup, shut down in October after running out of money. Heres an astonishing figure to consider. The company had raised more than $1 billion from investors before going public in 2021 on the Nasdaq Exchange via a reverse merger with a blank-check company, SPAC Qell.There is still interest in electric aircraft startups. In the past several months, a German startup called Vaeridion thats developing short haul electric aircraft closed a 14 million euros Series A round, Archer raised $430 million to build defense aircraft, and Toyota made a $500 million investment into Joby Aviation.However, it is not clear, blue, and 22 for this sector. Turbulence ahead.NorthvoltSwedish battery manufacturer Northvolt announced in November it was filing for bankruptcy in the U.S. and its co-founder and CEO Peter Carlson resigned. The company was an investor favorite, raising $14.26 billion, according to PitchBook, including a $1.2 billion round in 2023 to expand operations in North America.Phantom AutoThe California startup, which had developed a teleoperation platform that allowed a remote driver, sometimes located thousands of miles away, to operate a vehicle if needed, shut down in March. The company had raised a total of $95 million from a mix of backers, including angel investors and early-stage VCs such as Bessemer Venture Partners and Maniv Mobility, private equity firm InfraBridge and strategic investors such as ArcBest and ConGlobal.

In BriefPosted:8:44 AM PST December 22, 2024Image Credits:RingApple might be working on a smart doorbellTheres been a lot of reporting in recent months around Apples efforts to expand its footprint in customers homes with in-development products like a wall-mounted smart home hub. According to a new report in Bloomberg, that strategy could also include a smart doorbell.This doorbell would use Apples FaceID technology to scan peoples faces as they approach the door, then connect wirelessly to a deadbolt lock and automatically unlock for residents of the home.The doorbell is reportedly in the early stages of development and wouldnt come to market before the end of 2025 at the earliest. It might work with third-party locks that are compatible with Apples HomeKit, or Apple might launch with a specific lock maker.Bloomberg notes that while a smart doorbell with FaceID would allow Apple to compete with products like Amazon Ring, it would also make the brand vulnerable to new risks, particularly if the system was blamed for home break-ins.Topics

Power stations are the latest trend in portable energy solutions. If you haven't come across one yet, imagine a power bank, but on a bigger -- scale-- much bigger. These incredible devices are equipped with USB ports, 12V outlets, and AC power outlets to power pretty much anything.Whether you're heading out for a camping adventure, need to power tools without a nearby outlet, or want to keep your devices running during a blackout, a power station ensures you'll always have reliable energy at your fingertips. It's the ultimate companion for your outdoor escapades and emergency situations alike.While power stations are fantastic, many setups can be extremely expensive -- sometimes several thousand dollars. If your budget doesn't extend to four digits, fear not -- there are fantastic power stations that you can pick up for a lot less.Also:The best portable power stations you can buy: Expert testedWhat's the best cheap portable power station right now?I've tested more than 100 different portable power stations to find out which are the best of the best. My favorite cheap power station is the EcoFlow River 2: it's under $200, it can push out up to 600W of power, and it can connect to a cheap solar panel, transforming it into an affordable solar generator. Read on for the rest of my tested picks for the best cheap power stations you can buy. Sort by All The best cheap portable power stations of 2024 Show less View now at Amazon While there's a time and a place for massive power stations, sometimes I want something I can grab and go, throw into a car or truck, and take with me camping or on jobs.The EcoFlow River 2 fits the bill perfectly. It's solid and well made, as I've come to expect from EcoFlow, and it's perfect for those times when you want power but don't want a huge amount of it.This has been my go-to portable power station, as it's great to throw into the footwell of a vehicle to act like a rather big power bank. Reviewers on Amazon also say they love this model for its portability and low price -- it's the perfect entry-level power station available.EcoFlow River 2tech specs: Capacity:256Wh |Power:300 watts/600 watts surge |Weight:7.7 pounds |Connectivity:6 outletsOutputsAC Output2x USB-A12V Output AC outputs 5 Total capacity 5 USB ports 5 Max output 5 Pros Most inexpensive option Lightweight LCD screen Cons Buttons a little small for gloved use EcoFlow River 2 Best cheap portable power station overall 2 / 5 Score While there's a time and a place for massive power stations, sometimes I want something I can grab and go, throw into a car or truck, and take with me camping or on jobs.The EcoFlow River 2 fits the bill perfectly. It's solid and well made, as I've come to expect from EcoFlow, and it's perfect for those times when you want power but don't want a huge amount of it.This has been my go-to portable power station, as it's great to throw into the footwell of a vehicle to act like a rather big power bank. Reviewers on Amazon also say they love this model for its portability and low price -- it's the perfect entry-level power station available.EcoFlow River 2tech specs: Capacity:256Wh |Power:300 watts/600 watts surge |Weight:7.7 pounds |Connectivity:6 outletsOutputsAC Output2x USB-A12V Output Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon Portable power stations can get pretty pricey, but this one from Bluetti retails at $449, making it a great budget pick. It's a powerful unit, capable of 1,000W output for regular loads, increasing to 2,000W for resistive loads, such as heaters and hair dryers. I took this unit on a road trip, and found that it has enough capacity to meet the needs of a small group for several days. I've relied on it to charge my smartphone, cameras, drones, and laptops efficiently.Plus, it charges quickly, especially when utilizing its turbocharging feature. In our lab testing, the AC70 took only 33 minutes to charge a device to 80% battery in turbo.Charging the station from a car's 12V outlet is particularly efficient for keeping the unit charged, as long as the battery is not too drained.Verified customers on Bluetti's website praised the AC70, with most reviewers saying they bought it for camping and were pleased with the experience of using it for this purpose.Bluetti AC70tech specs: Capacity:768Wh |Power:1000 watts/2000 watts surge |Weight:22.5 pounds |Connectivity:7 outletsOutputs2x AC Output2x USB-A2x USB-C12V Output Pros Turbocharge feature Comfortable handle Clear, easy to read display Cons Some of the more advanced features are only available by using the app Portable power stations can get pretty pricey, but this one from Bluetti retails at $449, making it a great budget pick. It's a powerful unit, capable of 1,000W output for regular loads, increasing to 2,000W for resistive loads, such as heaters and hair dryers. I took this unit on a road trip, and found that it has enough capacity to meet the needs of a small group for several days. I've relied on it to charge my smartphone, cameras, drones, and laptops efficiently.Plus, it charges quickly, especially when utilizing its turbocharging feature. In our lab testing, the AC70 took only 33 minutes to charge a device to 80% battery in turbo.Charging the station from a car's 12V outlet is particularly efficient for keeping the unit charged, as long as the battery is not too drained.Verified customers on Bluetti's website praised the AC70, with most reviewers saying they bought it for camping and were pleased with the experience of using it for this purpose.Bluetti AC70tech specs: Capacity:768Wh |Power:1000 watts/2000 watts surge |Weight:22.5 pounds |Connectivity:7 outletsOutputs2x AC Output2x USB-A2x USB-C12V Output Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less Jackery is a name that's been in the power station game for over a decade, and having tested many of the company's products, I don't have any problem recommending them.The Jackery 500 is perfect for road trips where you want AC power. It's no bigger than a basketball, it can be charged from a car's 12V output, and weighing in at just a hair over 13 pounds, it's not going to break your back moving it about.Jackery Explorer 500tech specs: Capacity: 518Wh |Power:500 watts/1000 watts surge |Weight: 13.3 pounds |Connectivity:7 outletsOutputsAC Output3x USB-A2x DC output12V Output Pros Lightweight Easy to charge up from a car's 12V output Cons Only one AC outlet Jackery is a name that's been in the power station game for over a decade, and having tested many of the company's products, I don't have any problem recommending them.The Jackery 500 is perfect for road trips where you want AC power. It's no bigger than a basketball, it can be charged from a car's 12V output, and weighing in at just a hair over 13 pounds, it's not going to break your back moving it about.Jackery Explorer 500tech specs: Capacity: 518Wh |Power:500 watts/1000 watts surge |Weight: 13.3 pounds |Connectivity:7 outletsOutputsAC Output3x USB-A2x DC output12V Output Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon Anker has been in the power bank market since the dawn of the gadgets, and it's no surprise to find that the company makes quality power stations.If you want a small, easy to carry power station to run low-current mains devices -- such as laptops, chargers, CPAP machines, and so on -- then the Anker 521 is a great choice.This is an inexpensive, lightweight, yet incredibly well-built power station, and I love the fact that this one can be recharged using USB-C.Anker 521tech specs: Capacity:256Wh |Power:300 watts/600 watts surge |Weight: 8.2 pounds |Connectivity:6 outletsOutputs2x AC Output2x USB-AUSB-C12V Output Pros Lightweight Handy light on the front Can be fast-charged when using the AC adapter and USB-C together Cons No direct AC charging, requires the AC adapter Anker has been in the power bank market since the dawn of the gadgets, and it's no surprise to find that the company makes quality power stations.If you want a small, easy to carry power station to run low-current mains devices -- such as laptops, chargers, CPAP machines, and so on -- then the Anker 521 is a great choice.This is an inexpensive, lightweight, yet incredibly well-built power station, and I love the fact that this one can be recharged using USB-C.Anker 521tech specs: Capacity:256Wh |Power:300 watts/600 watts surge |Weight: 8.2 pounds |Connectivity:6 outletsOutputs2x AC Output2x USB-AUSB-C12V Output Read More Show Expert Take Show less Which is the right cheap power station for you? Any of these portable power stations are great options to provide you with power when you need it -- it ultimately comes down to the power output you need, how many and which ports you prefer, and what price you're willing to spend. Choose thischeap portable power stationIf you wantEcoFlow River 2 A cheap, super-portable power station. This one has everything you need, and comes in at under $200. Bluetti AC70 A big power station available for a low price. If you want a lot of battery capacity, this is the one for you. Jackery Explorer 500 A power station that's no bigger than a basketball and ideal for road trips. It's small enough to seatbelt into a spare seat or put in the trunk with the rest of your camping gear. Anker 521 A great power station for those who want to charge their laptop when out and about. It's small, lightweight, can be charged using USB-C, and is highly portable. Show more Factors to consider when choosing the best cheap portable power station Even less expensive power stations are still an investment, both in money and in the physical space they take up, so you need to be sure that you're buying something that works for you. This means juggling a number of factors.Weight: Bigger isn't always better here. Is the portable power station going to be wheeled from room to room are you going to be moving it from your vehicle to your camp? Do you want something that you cold carry in a backpack for a day?Battery capacity: If you plan of powering a home from your power station then you want as much battery capacity as you can afford, but for off-grid adventures it's important to bear in mind that there's a penalty here that comes in the form of weight.Cost: Some of units cost several thousand dollars, while others are a couple of hundred.Charging: How do you plan on charging your power station? Are you mostly going to be using AC power from an outlet or do you want the independence of solar?Battery Chemistry: Lithium-ion (Li-ion) is the traditional battery technology, but the newer lithium iron phosphate batteries (LiFePO4) are safer and have a much longer lifespan.Warranty: Portable power stations are expensive, so I want manufactures to back their products with multi-year warranties.Safety: Every unit I've tested has been subjected to numerous tests, from running for extended periods to check thermal management, to overloading them to see how they handle loads that are too much for them. Show more How I test portable power stations At the core of this list is a lot of extensive testing of dozens of power stations. I regularly undertake trips that see me off-grid, either for camping or to carry out photography, videography, and drone work, and at these times, I rely on having access to a reliable power source. This is a great opportunity to test power stations under real-world conditions.I also test them at home, both using them to run household appliances, and carry out testing on battery capacity, charge and discharge times, and how they handle overloading.Finally, every unit is safety tested to make sure that it is safe for prolonged, heavy use. Show more FAQs on portable power stations What counts as a "cheap" power station? Finding a balance between affordability and quality in power stations can be challenging, especially with some models priced significantly above $500. However, setting a budget around the $500 mark is a reasonable starting point for those looking to invest in a portable power station without stretching their finances too thin.Some of these power stations are brought down below that $500 mark thanks to deals -- but be aware that these deals come and go, so if you're interested in a particular power station, grab it sooner rather than later. Show more How long will a portable power station last? Manufacturers typically offer different runtimes for things like lamps, refrigerators, CPAP machines and so on, but if you want to work this out for yourself you can need two figures.First, you need the power rating of the device you plan on running, which can usually be found on a label on the device, and is measured in Watts (W). You also need to know the capacity of the power station, measured in Watt hours (Wh), which should be printed somewhere on the device.Let's say you have a device that consumes 300W and a power station that has a capacity of 768Wh, you can get a ballpark runtime for the device using the following equation:(768 x 0.85)/300 = 2.2 hoursNote that the capacity of the power station is multiplied by 0.85 to account for efficiency losses. Show more What is the difference between a power bank and a portable power station? Four main things separate portable power stations and power banks:Capacity: While power banks are perfect for topping up a smartphone or tablet, a power station can be used to charge up devices multiple times because of the vastly bigger battery capacity.Size and weight: Power banks are something you can normally slip into a pocket, while power stations are things you lug about or wheel about from room to room.Outlets: While power banks feature USB ports, most power stations also have AC outlets for powering powered devices.Charging: While power banks are normally charged using a USB charger, power stations can be charged from a number of sources, such as main power, solar, and vehicle 12V outlets. Show more Other portable power stations we recommend Further ZDNET Tech Coverage Smartphones Smartwatches Tablets Laptops TVs Other Tech Resources ZDNET Recommends

It's been a big year in the smartwatch market, but Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra has risen to the top thanks to its perfect size and features. And the best is it's on sale.

Sam Altman (C), US entrepreneur, investor, programmer, and founder and CEO of artificial ... [+] intelligence company OpenAI, and the company's co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever (R), speak together at Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv on June 5, 2023. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesIsraels AI startup activity is two to four times greater than that observed in the United States or Europe, highlighting the unparalleled density of its AI sector. AI startups constitute 30% of Israels tech landscape, accounting for up to 40% of funding rounds and securing 47% of total investments, according to a recent report from Startup Nation Central or SNC.The 2024 Stanford AI Index, ranked Israel first globally in terms of AI talent concentration and fifth in relative AI skill penetration rate between 2015 and 2023, surpassing the global average by 1.63 times across similar occupations. Israel stands at the forefront of global AI innovation, driven by an exceptional ecosystem of startups, academia, and strategic support from both local and multinational players, says Avi Hasson, CEO of Startup Nation Central.Hasson highlights the unique vertical focus of Israeli AI startups. They have developed sector-specific AI solutions, using industry-specific data and expertise. A key metric that sets Israel apart is its focus on applied AI solutions in areas like cybersecurity, health tech, and agriculture, which positions it as a leader in practical AI applications with over 2,000 startups developing the next era of AI applications, writes Arik Kol, Head of Nvidia Inception Startups Program at Nvidia Israel, in his preface to the SNC report.Nvidia has over 4,000 employees in Israel, including a substantial AI research team, working closely with Israeli universities to form the companys 2nd largest R&D center outside of the U.S. Nvidia is one of more than 400 multinational corporations that have established R&D operations in Israel. From 2014 to 2023, top multinational corporations acquired one Israeli AI startup for every four American AI acquisitions, showcasing Israels strong global appeal.Israels AI ecosystem stands out as a global innovator with its unique combination of applied AI focus, cross-industry expertise, and a thriving network of academia, startups, and multinational corporations, writes Nvidias Kol. The AI development centers of Microsoft and Google focus on machine learning and natural language processing, Amazons AWS center drives AI integration within cloud services, Metas pursues AI-driven communications, and Apples Israeli R&D centers work on AI-powered features, including facial recognition.MORE FOR YOUThese R&D centers of the largest tech companies sometimes grow out of the acquisition of an Israeli startup but also often serve as the breeding grounds for new startups with founders moving from the horizontal AI of Big Tech to a vertical focus. This applied AI focus is based on unique Israeli experience and expertise in various economic sectors. For example, the vast amount of healthcare data digitized by Israels healthcare providers over the last 30 years has served as the launching pad for healthcare-focused AI startups: Precision medicine startup Promise Bio has recently emerged from stealth with an UMass Memorial Health, the largest not-for-profit health care system in central Massachusetts, recently reported that within four months of adopting AEYE-DS, the AI-based autonomous diagnostic screening system developed by AEYE Health, diabetic retinopathy screening adherence increased from 29% to 49%, and the average screening time in the hospitals primary care workflow fell by 75%. Ballad Health, the leading healthcare provider in the Appalachian Highlands has deployed MedAware's AI-based medication safety monitoring platform, embedding it within the workflow of its Epic electronic medical record or EMR system. As a result, Ballad Health expects that thousands of patients will be safer from adverse drug events.Other areas of focus for practical AI solutions from Israeli startups include cybersecurity (e.g., 7AI, an agentic security platform), climate tech (e.g., FireDome, detecting and suppressing wildfires), and fintech (e.g., Next Insurance, insurance for small businesses). In addition to specific domain expertise, some of these vertically focused startups rely on data that is unique to their target market and application. In a recent event organized by UpWest, a Palo Alto-based VC investing in Israeli startups, Nadav Cohen observed: Data can be a powerful differentiator, especially if youve got data that isnt accessible to the public or being used by big companies to train their models. Cohen is co-founder & CTO of Imubit (AI for process control) and Research Director of the Foundations of Deep Learning Lab at Tel Aviv University.While the majority of Israeli AI startups target a specific economic sector, a few have emerged as leaders of horizontal AI solutions. Hailo, for example, is in the hot AI chips business and has successfully developed AI processors uniquely designed to run high-performance AI models on edge devices. Another Israeli startup that plays in the big leagues is AI21, developer of an innovative foundation model that competes with OpenAI, Google, and others for the attention of enterprises.The impact of Israeli AI startups, whether vertical or horizontal, is felt way beyond Israel. Certainly in the U.S., their most important market, but also right in their Middle Eastern neighborhood. For example, Integrated Data Intelligence, an Abu Dhabi-basaed subsidiary of OurCrowd, a global investment platform and Israels most active VC, has recently onboarded the first cohort of customers for DANNA, its proprietary investment AI copilot.Jonathan Medved, CEO of OurCrowd, describes the specific leadership role of Israeli startups in the global AI landscape, given the sky-high cost of current AI technology: Israels tech advantage lies in its roots in the military, where young engineers are imbued with the culture of doing more with less Faced with immediate threats to their family and community, they learn to cut corners and move fast because the stakes are so high Israeli startups have started to figure out significant optimization and cost efficiencies, with major price reductions that will allow AI to scale and reach its promise.

Frostivus isn't very fun this year. Credit: Valve After a year of incredible content with the Crownfall saga that has been one of the best Dota 2 events ever, the new Frostivus event feels somewhat underwhelming and is making my games more annoying than before the update.The Frostivus event arrived in Dota 2 a few days ago, bringing with it a very welcome ban wave for smurfs and MMR abusers. It also brought some of the usual holiday festivities, including new cosmetic sets, a sale and the holiday items you can use in game such as snowballs and fireworks.Its that last part, combined with a new system where you can craft some cool cosmetics for free, is what is making Dota a little annoying for me right now. With the year coming to a close, I finally have some time to grind Dota and recover the 600+ MMR Ive lost over the last four months where my play time has been limited. However, it seems that a lot of teammates are more focused on earning the resources needed to craft these cosmetic items than helping me get my MMR back.On paper, the system seems like a good idea. Perform some basic actions in game to earn the resources needed to get free cosmetics. However, some of the actions that grant these crafting resources are not part of the typical gameplay loop of Dota. For example, using a new channelled ability steals a festive hat from an enemy that gives you resources, throwing a penguin on the ground and chasing it gives you resources, and throwing a snowball at an enemy before you kill them gives you resources.This has meant that in most of the games Ive played in the last couple of days, before the horn sounds, my team is just chasing penguins. As someone who loves to run at the enemy and get first blood, this has led to a lot of broken fights with a player or two missing as they are chasing penguins. Then, as the game progresses, Ive seen players more interested in getting a hat or throwing a snowball than securing a kill.MORE FOR YOUIm sure at the top levels players are good enough to pull these things off without impacting the game, but at my level it seems to be having a negative impact on my festive Dota games. Its a minor thing, but I dont really see the need for these actions to give you anything that is useful. Keep these abilities in as cosmetic things only, and have the crafting resources be given out by in game actions like healing, damage, kills and assists, which do all give some.It feels harsh to complain about a free event that gives out some fairly cool cosmetics, especially after how good Crownfall has been, but when it impacts the core game it becomes somewhat annoying. Hopefully the Dota 2 team continues with the Crownfall style events that dont impact the main game directly, and leave these kind of events in the past.

Forward-looking: Acutely aware that users are turning to AI chat models in place of search, Google is on the brink of shaking up its core product. As other search engines follow suit, this trend could redefine how we interact with and retrieve information online for better or worse. Google is poised to integrate artificial intelligence more deeply into its core search functionality. Recent reports and app examinations suggest that the tech giant is preparing to unveil an "AI Mode" to bring its Gemini agent to the forefront of the search experience.The Information reported that Google plans to offer its extensive user base the option to switch to an AI Mode within Google Search. This new interface resembles the company's Gemini AI chatbot, potentially bridging the gap between traditional search and AI-powered interactions. This development comes as Google's standalone Gemini chatbot has been striving to catch up with OpenAI's popular ChatGPT.Earlier investigations by Android Authority uncovered evidence of this AI integration in a beta version of the Google app. The publication noted the presence of a dedicated "AI mode" button, which also appeared on Google's Android search widget. A conversation history button was also added to the app, hinting at a more conversational approach to search.Dataminers at 9to5Google discovered references to "aim" and "ai_mode," suggesting a dedicated tab within the Google app. This tab will feature buttons for voice interactions and the ability to send images for analysis, expanding how users can engage with the search engine. // Related StoriesGoogle has already been subtly weaving its AI capabilities into search. Its controversial AI Overviews feature provides users with AI-generated summaries for queries so they don't have to sift through multiple sources. Users can also ask complex questions involving math, coding, and multimodal inputs. Google also expanded search beyond text, enabling video and image-based queries through Google Lens, with Gemini analyzing live content to answer user questions.The potential introduction of AI chat access directly from the search results page represents a strategic move by Google to compete in an increasingly AI-driven search market. The move comes as other major players in the tech industry are making similar strides. OpenAI's ChatGPT is rolling out AI-powered search to all free users, while Microsoft offers Copilot-powered search. Even privacy-focused alternatives like DuckDuckGo have introduced AI summaries and chat features.

Facepalm: A seemingly harmless trend among teenagers playing the hit VR game Gorilla Tag has raised serious security concerns. Kids have been turning to a free VPN app called Big Mama VPN to gain an edge, but they may be unwittingly renting out their home internet connections to shadowy third parties in the process. Gorilla Tag is a zany multiplayer experience where players take control of gorilla characters and attempt to evade being "tagged" by other players. It's simple fun, but some young gamers discovered a sketchy workaround to make tagging others easier. Many players are now sideloading a VPN called Big Mama to reroute their internet connection, which introduces a lag that makes it easier to sneak up on opponents.While this cheat sounds relatively harmless, the implications are far more sinister. As it turns out, Big Mama is more than just a VPN it's a gateway into a shady residential proxy service peddled on cybercrime forums.Security researchers at Trend Micro discovered that Big Mama has been selling access to its users' internet connections on a huge proxy marketplace. Bad actors can temporarily piggyback on a Big Mama user's home IP address to hide their online activities for as little as 40 cents.Cybersecurity firm Kela notes that the Big Mama proxy service has also been actively promoted in hacker circles, with over 1,000 mentions across 40 different underground forums. Security researchers have linked proxy IP addresses to various nefarious deeds, including DDoS attacks, phishing scams, and malicious botnets.While Big Mama claims it only provides service for "legal purposes," the app's terms quietly disclose that it "may transport other customer's traffic" through users' connections. Meanwhile, the creators of Gorilla Tag have denounced the use of VPNs and cheating software, stating that "anything that disturbs" the game's playful spirit is unacceptable. // Related StoriesWe've seen this type of behavior from free VPNs before. Earlier this year, the US sanctioned three Chinese nationals for operating 911 S5 a massive botnet of 19 million IP addresses that exploited free VPN services to hijack Windows PCs.Since these services don't charge their users, operators need something to pay for the server costs. Unfortunately, unscrupulous providers often use shadier revenue-generating methods like selling user data, piggybacking third parties across IPs, or installing malware.

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsSetting the paceMore realistic optionsBetter or worse?Its all about valueThe next few months will completely redefine every ranking of the best graphics cards. With Nvidias RTX 50-series and AMDs RDNA 4 most likely launching in January and even Intel possibly expanding its Battlemage lineup theres a lot to look forward to.But as for me, I already know which GPU Im most excited about. And no, its not Nvidias rumored almighty RTX 5090. The GPU Im looking forward to is AMDs upcoming flagship, which will presumably be the RX 8800 XT. Below, Ill tell you why I think this GPU is going to be so important not just for AMD but also for the entire graphics card market.Recommended VideosJacob Roach / Digital TrendsGoing into RDNA 3, many people thought that wed see AMD compete against Nvidias top GPU. That didnt happen, and it almost certainly wont happen now. In fact, AMD is likely to be behind not just the RTX 5090 but also the RTX 5080.Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming Thats not necessarily bad news. In fact, most leaks point to a GPU thats going to hit the sweet spot between high-end and budget; something capable of running new AAA games without being too overkill and Im all for that.RelatedIve been keeping a close eye on all sorts of leaks about the upcoming generation of AMD cards, and while specifics have been scarce, most tipsters are united in the idea that AMD is keeping things more mainstream this time around. AMD itself has said as much, despite comments from CEO Dr. Lisa Su who said that RDNA 4 will deliver a strong increase in gaming performance.Right now, everything we know about the RX 8000 series comes down to a few vague statements, some rumors, and a lot of guesses. But theres one thing I know for sure: These GPUs will set the pace not just for AMD but also for its rivals.Seeing the AMD flagship will dispel a lot of doubt from the get-go. Well know the direction AMDs GPU business is heading in, and just that one decision is bound to echo throughout the entire GPU market.We already know that AMD is making a bold decision by not trying to compete against Nvidias future flagship. Its sticking to midrange graphics cards, which means that RDNA 4 will be a whole new chapter for AMD. There will be no question as to which GPU will top the charts its going to be Nvidias RTX 5090, plain and simple.GPUs like the upcoming RTX 5090 are thrilling, thats true. Its hard to deny that its exciting to see a graphics card completely obliterate what we thought was unachievable just a few years ago. But how many people get these cards for gaming? Not that many. Its the mainstream market that gets the most traction.Jacob Roach / Digital TrendsYear after year, its GPUs along the likes of Nvidias RTX 3060 that top the charts in the Steam Hardware Survey, and thats largely because most of us have no use for top-shelf graphics cards and just want a daily driver that will be able to run recent games. One recent example of how a midrange card can really make all the difference is Intels Arc B580.On its own, the Arc B580 is a fairly unassuming GPU, with modest specs and performance close to the Nvidia RTX 4060. But when you add the $250 price tag to the equation, youre suddenly left with a graphics card that gives you a lot of GPU power at a reasonable price and gamers are buying out the card in record time.Circling back to AMD, the RDNA 3 generation of GPUs was a bit all over the place in terms of value. Although most of the GPUs were really solid, some of the pricing may have stunted their potential slightly.Take the RX 7900 XTX, for example. It launched at $1,000, which was $200 cheaper than its main competitor, the RTX 4080. But with similar rasterization capabilities, worse ray tracing, and no DLSS 3 frame generation, it wasnt quite enough to be considered a steal. Sure, it saved you $200, but it was still a pretty expensive GPU, all things considered.On the other hand, RDNA 3 offered some graphics cards that Id recommend to anyone, and thats because their price was just right. Take the RX 7800 XT or the RX 7900 GRE, for example, both of which offered a great blend of performance and reasonable pricing. Those were the GPUs that gamers turned to if they wanted a value-oriented build.In this new generation, where AMD itself says that its targeting the mainstream market, we might see a shift in the previous dynamic. Many people expect both the RTX 5090 and the RTX 5080 to be expensive; its easy to imagine that the RTX 5070 Ti wont be cheap, either. But if AMD manages to create a GPU that can offer comparable performance this time with better ray tracing and prices it competitively Well, we might have a similar situation to Intels B580 on our hands.With comparable options at lower price points, we might see gamers turning to AMD, allowing it to set the tone for the rest of the GPU market. With more competition, we might even see Nvidia adjust its pricing, if only just a little bit. If AMD can offer something truly competitive in the bracket where gamers are the most likely to buy it, Nvidia might begin to feel the heat and thatd be great news for us all.Jacob Roach / Digital TrendsWhat can we expect from the RX 8800 XT, if thats what itll end up being called? Will they be more competitive with Nvidia than AMDs current-gen cards?The words of AMD CEO Lisa Su sound promising, what with the strong performance increase. However, performance gain or not, were unlikely to see anything much stronger than the RX 7900 XT, at least in terms of specs likeVRAM or compute units (CUs). Even so, a slight increase in VRAM is not completely out of the question, as AMD is generally much more generous with memory capacity than Nvidia. Even the RX 7900 XT had 20GB, which is more than Nvidias $1,000 RTX 4080 Super, and just 4GB less than the ever-so-expensive RTX 4090.Im guessing that 16GB is an absolute minimum for the next-gen AMD flagship, but I could easily see 20GB or 24GB as a possibility too, and thats something to be excited about. Current AAA games really push VRAM requirements to the limit, making it so that 8GB GPUs tend to struggle with newer titles. One way or another, I expect AMDs RX 8800 XT to offer more VRAM than a comparable card from Nvidia.All in all, performance could end up being pretty great. Ive been keeping my expectations low after hearing that AMD is sitting out of the high-end race, but recent leaks have gotten my hopes up yet again.According to the most recent rumors, the RX 8800 XT may offer a performance comparable to Nvidias RTX 4080. That GPU is around the same level as the RX 7900 XTX in rasterization, and far ahead in ray tracing.Ray tracing is one area where AMD will reportedly have a better chance at success this time around. One leaker said that the ray tracing performance of the RX 8800 XT was up to 45% better than the RX 7900 XTX in Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, and thats a huge difference. On the other hand, its too soon to trust those numbers blindly RE 7 isnt very demanding when it comes to ray tracing, which makes it easier to handle for AMD GPUs than heavy-hitters like Cyberpunk 2077. Still, thats enough to at least show some hope.Even if the ray tracing predictions dont quite pan out, AMDs been clear on the fact that we can expect ray tracing improvements in its next-gen GPUs. If all goes well, we might get a replacement for the RTX 4080 with more VRAM, comparable ray tracing, and better value.Wait will it be of better value?Jacob Roach / Digital TrendsValue is an incredibly important part of the potential success of AMDs RX 8800 XT and the rest of the cards in the lineup (which right now might only include the RX 8600/XT). Intels recent Battlemage launch showed just how much performance per dollar matters in the mainstream market.Intels Arc Alchemist, its first generation of mainstream graphics cards, didnt receive anywhere near the same level of interest as Battlemage. In fact, the demand for these GPUs must have come as a shock both to Intel and to retailers, because its largely sold out right now.The warm reception that Battlemage received tells me that its clear that gamers are open to using something other than Nvidia. They just need a little push.The Nvidia bias is real, but for some, its fading. I was this close to choosing AMD when I built my current PC in late 2023. In fact, when AMD first announced RDNA 3, my plan was to finally ditch Nvidia and buy the RX 7900 XTX. I was genuinely excited about the card, and although the price was a little higher than I expected, I was ready to pull the trigger and go for it.But once the GPUs launched and the first reviews came in, I started to doubt my previous decision. The RX 7900 XTX simply didnt offer enough of a price cut versus the RTX 4080 for me to decide to give up on DLSS 3 and ray tracing. When youre spending over $1,000 on a GPU, you sort of expect to get it all, and the RX 7900 XTX while great in its own right does require some compromise. In the end, I ended up (almost begrudgingly) sticking with Nvidia.Jacob Roach / Digital TrendsIt all comes down to the fact that AMD was shooting for the moon with the RX 7900 XTX, but it was still Nvidia that landed closer to the target. As a result, many expected the 7900 XTX to be cheaper closer to the price it sells for now, which is $870. At that price, Id have bought it in a heartbeat.AMDs change of pace for RDNA 4 gives me hope that this situation may not repeat itself. Team Red shines at the midrange, with cards like the RX 7800 XT leading the charge against Nvidia, and if this is AMDs focus in 2025, the resulting price war might be great for both sides of the fence.Thats largely why Im so excited for the RX 8800 XT, as well as the rest of AMDs RDNA 4 lineup. Nvidias been dominating the GPU market; meanwhile, AMDs gaming business suffered some major losses in 2024. But theres a lot of potential here with AMDs new approach, and if the stars align, we might finally see a competition that spurs Nvidia to keep the prices reasonable.Yeah, I might be delusional if Im counting on some serious competition, given the market share difference between the two companies. But Ill stay delusional at least a little while longer, as both AMD and Nvidia will announce their new graphics cards in early January. Until then, let me dream.Editors Recommendations