The US Department of Defense has classified Tencent, a major investor in several big video game companies, as a Chinese military company.The report from Bloomberg states that Tencent alongside battery maker CATL have been added to a list that classifies them as Chinese military companies. The designation itself does not carry any legal consequences such as sanctions, but inclusion on the list is not ideal for companies looking to conduct business in the United States.As a result, while there is no immediate impact to what this designation means for Tencent, this is still a company that owns Riot Games, and has heavy investments in a variety of other game companies including Epic Games, Larian Studios, and FromSoftware. There are also reports that say Tencent is in negotiations with investing more into companies like Ubisoft.PlayIGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!IGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!To start:...try asking a question that can be answered with a "Yes" or "No".000/250Tencent has told Bloomberg that this designation is "clearly a mistake" and both Tencent and CATL will be pushing to remove their names from the Department of Defense's list. Previously, Chinese phone manufacturer Xiaomi was added to the same list in 2021 and then removed from it a few months later.In a statement to The Verge, Tencent's Danny Marti says that the designation "has no impact on our business" but will still be working to remove themselves from the classification.In a one pager published by the Department of Defense, the US government cites Military Civil Fusion, or MCF, a startegy it says the Chinese government uses to combine civilian research and commercial success to further advance its military, hence why the US government has a list of Chinese companies it suspects as working with the Chinese military, something companies like Tencent and Xiaomi deny.Matt Kim is IGN's Senior Features Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

LG unveiled a beautiful new 6K display at CES 2025, dubbed the LG UltraFine 6K Display. It marks the first 6K monitor to incorporate Thunderbolt 5, a feature recently introduced by Apple in the new M4 Pro Mac mini and M4 Pro MacBook Pro models launched in November. Details, including price and release date, are still unknown, but we can learn a few things from LGs teaser.The LG UltraFine 6K display, though still shrouded in technical details, boasts a few crucial specifications. Notably, its a 6K display, though the exact resolution remains undisclosed. Apples Pro Display XDR stands as a comparable 6K display, boasting a native resolution of 6016 x 3384 pixels across a 32-inch panel. This equates to a whopping 20.4 million pixels and an impressive 218 pixels-per-inch. LG also collaborates with Dell to produce a panel for their 6K UltraSharp, which features a resolution of 6144 x 3456.Based on the model number 32U990A, we can confidently deduce that this display is a 32-inch model, matching the dimensions of the Pro Display XDR and the Dell UltraSharp 6K.Another key aspect is the panel technology employed, which is a Nano IPS Black panel. This panel boasts a wide color gamut, spanning 99.5% of Adobe RGB and 98% of DCI-P3. While its definitely not a direct competitor to the Pro Display XDR in terms of color accuracy or contrast ratio, the Nano IPS Black technology offers a significant advantage in terms of cost-effectiveness. By opting for IPS Black instead of miniLED or OLED, LG ensures that the display remains within an accessible price range for consumers.The most pressing question is the refresh rate. Will LG opt for a 60Hz panel, or will the UltraFine 6K offer at least a 120Hz refresh rate? Considering the monitors Thunderbolt 5 connection, I believe a 6K/120Hz option is feasible, but we cant confirm until LG confirms it.A 6016 x 3384 display running at 120Hz would necessitate approximately 79.64 Gb/s of bandwidth. Thunderbolt 5 supports 80Gb/s of bi-directional data and 120Gb/s in one direction with bandwidth boost enabled. However, this is purely speculative, disregarding technologies like Display Stream Compression. Its reasonable to assume that LG would acknowledge the demand for a higher resolution monitor with a higher refresh rate. This would be an ideal companion for Pro Motion-enabled MacBooks. If the price is reasonable, LG could sell many of these units.The other significant factor is adoption. The majority of potential buyers dont own Macs with Thunderbolt 5 capability. Therefore, will the monitor support a lower resolution at a reduced refresh rate, such as 6K60 like the Pro Display XDR? While this seems plausible, well have to wait for more details. However, I believe LG wouldnt want to restrict the market for its new display to Mac owners of the M4 Pro models.The original LG UltraFine 5K Displaythat forehead, though.Finally, lets delve into the design of the LG UltraFine 6K. In a word, its breathtaking. The front panel boasts a striking symmetry, almost devoid of bezels, creating an all-screen illusion. Not a single logo, button, or any other visual element graces the display. This is undoubtedly an improvement over the LG UltraFine 5K Display, which launched back in 2019.The display build materials are intriguing. While Im not certain if its entirely made of metal, the teaser image certainly wants us to believe that. Moreover, it comes equipped with a height-adjustable stand that bears a resemblance to the one found on the Apple Studio Display.Personally, Im very excited to learn more if LG plays its cards right, it could have a bonafide hit on its hands. In the meantime, Id love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to share your opinions in the comments section.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

AMD introduced a powerful new laptop chip today, the Ryzen AI Max. The company compared its new chip to Apples M4 line in several benchmarks, but theres a very important detail it left out.New Ryzen AI Max compared to two Apple chips, but not the relevant oneThe new Ryzen AI Max from AMD is a 16-core laptop chip with a heavy emphasis on AI and graphics performance. Its being marketed as an ultra-powerful option for creators, gamers, and more.Naturally, AMD wanted to show off its new chip by comparing it to another option commonly favored by creators: Apples M4 MacBook Pro.The problem is, it left a key M4 configuration out of the test.Paul Alcorn writes at Toms Guide:AMD also included numerous rendering benchmarks of its 16-core flagship against the 12-core Apple MacBook M4 Pro, claiming an up to 86% advantage in a v-ray workload. Naturally, the 14-core M4 Pro, also included in the benchmarks, is more competitive, but AMD still holds a stout lead in the Blender, Corona, and v-ray selection of benchmarks. However, the Ryzen AI Max+ isnt as performant in the multi-threaded Cinebench 2024 test, beating the 12-core M4 Pro by a scant 2%, and trailing the 14-core M4 Pro by 3%.Do you notice whats missing there?AMDs 16-core chip is compared to:Apples 12-core M4 chipand the 14-core M4 ProBut the 16-core M4 Max chip is suspiciously absent from all the benchmarks.M4 Maxs absence from benchmarks makes sensefor AMDDuring AMDs presentation, one presenter touted the Ryzen AI Maxs performance as winning easily against the 12-core [M4], and trading blows with the 14-core [M4 Pro].Apples 12-core M4 only offers a 10-core GPU. With the 14-core M4 Pro, you can get up to a 20-core GPU.Only with the 16-core M4 Max can you get a 40-core GPU.So I suspect that the M4 Max, based on the Ryzens struggles against the M4 Pro, would handily beat AMDs chip in any relevant benchmark.But of course, AMD doesnt want you to know that. Instead, its comparing different classes of chip and claiming victory. What do you make of AMDs comparisons? Do you think theyre fair? Let us know in the comments.Best Mac accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

We havent seen the last ofThe Last of Us.The hit HBO and Max series, easily the most critically-acclaimed adaptation of a video game to date, is back for its long-awaited second season this spring.Series co-creator, writer, and executive producer Neil Druckmann revealed today at the Consumer Electronics Show, that Season 2 will premiere on cable and streaming in a matter of months.HBO and Max then released a new teaser for the second season, featuring tons of new footage of the upcoming season:READ MORE: The Best New TV Shows of the YearThe first season ofThe Last of Us, based on the acclaimed PlayStation video game series, premiered almost exactly two years ago, on January 15, 2023. The show was a critical and ratings hit, earning24Emmynominations and eight wins. The first season, starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, adapted the events of the firstThe Last of Usgame from 2013.The upcoming season draws on material fromThe Last of Us Part II, which was released in 2020. Both Pascal and Ramsey will return in Season 2, joined by new cast members Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Danny Ramirez, and Jeffrey Wright.Here is the new seasons official synopsis:Five years after the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie are drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.The Last of UsSeason 2 premieres on HBO and Max in April. The new season consists of seven episodes. (The first season was nine episodes long.)Get our free mobile appThe Most Anticipated Movies of 202520 movies we cant wait to see in 25.

"So far it feels like it's vibrating, almost like a massage, sort of." Those are the words of my colleague, CNET Senior Editor Lisa Eadicicco, referring to the Nike x Hyperice shoes we got to try on duringCES 2025. Think of them as therapeutic recovery boots or high-tops, really. Footwear you can adjust to squeeze your feet and calves with more grip than a compression sock and to warm your weary muscles.And here's the kicker -- you can walk around in them while they attempt to work their recovery magic."You can definitely feel the heat in here," Eadicicco said as she walked across a demo room in Las Vegas. While the Nike x Hyperice shoes first debuted at the Paris Olympics this past summer, we jumped at the chance to try them for ourselves, as a preview of more to come in the space where electronics help with active recovery and not solely monitoring your vitals.These battery-powered boots include compression and heat for both warmups and post-workout recovery. Nike says a "system of dual-air Normatec bladders bonded to warming elements" spreads heat evenly throughout the boots, aiming to warm the muscle and tissue in your feet and ankles. Watch this: New Nike Boots Include Compression and Heat for Post-Workout Recovery 02:38 The Nike x Hyperice shoes have a few buttons that allow you to control three different levels of compression and heat. It massages and compresses your ankles and feet, and from our test of the shoes, you can especially feel the heat around your ankles.It's hard to tell how effective the shoes would be as a workout warmup or recovery system without testing it for longer, but at first use, those features are definitely noticeable.The shoes have Velcro straps, felt soft and comfortable to walk in, and for now come in a size range rather than individual sizes -- so men's size 10 to 12 for example. Nike is working on a consumer version to go on sale, but no word yet on when it'll launch or how much it'll cost.Nike is also developing a compression and heat vest as part of the wearable line.For more fromCES 2025, check outthe most innovative products from the show that you can actually buy now. CES 2025: The Coolest Tech We've Seen So Far See all photos

1 of 14James Martin/CNETThe Displace TV stuck to a fridgeThe Displace TV isn't like most TVs. It doesn't need a stand, and with its suction cups, wall mounting takes on a whole new meaning. It's available in a 27-inch version, seen here on a freezer door, and in a 55-inch model -- to really try defying gravity.2 of 14James Martin/CNETHands-on with the Displace TVCNET's David Katzmaier is on the ground at CES 2025 in Las Vegas and got some hands-on time with the Displace TV.It's available in both Basic and Pro models at both sizes, but only the Pro versions have the suction cups. Prices range from $2,499 to $5,999, though during CES the company is offering a $1,000 discount for each.3 of 14James Martin/CNET"Expensive and relatively niche"The Displace TV is far thicker than ultra-thin OLED panels, but it has an inoffensive design. "This is an expensive and relatively niche product," Katzmaier writes. "If you want a battery-powered TV, it's easy enough to plug a regular TV into a portable power station and save hundreds or even thousands of dollars." 4 of 14James Martin/CNETYou can go completely wire-freeThe Displace TV isn't really meant to be connected to wires unless you're charging it. It comes with Wi-Fi, so streaming is expected to be the primary mode of media consumption. The Pro model does have an HDMI port if you want to connect a gaming console or other streaming device.5 of 14James Martin/CNETAn AI-powered OSThe Displace TV ships with its own proprietary OS, Displace OS. It leans on an AI agent to make everyday tasks easier through voice commands.6 of 14James Martin/CNETA modest footprintEven with the suction cups on the back and the internal batteries inside, the Displace TV keeps its overall footprint manageable -- a must if you plan on moving it around often.7 of 14James Martin/CNETAn optional standWhen you're not trying to show of its wall trick, you can put the Displace TV on a stand like one of those normal TVs.8 of 14James Martin/CNETSimple and slickThe stand itself looks great, doesn't take up much space and elevates the TV above the surface to allow clearance for a streaming device or soundbar.9 of 14James Martin/CNETThe handy remoteThe remote for the Displace TV looks both futuristic and analog at the same time. A selection of some expected remote options sit on top of a large multitouch panel for navigation and will double as a keyboard for typing on-screen.10 of 14James Martin/CNETA Bluetooth keyboard optionThe Displace TV offers several ways to interact with it. You can use your voice, hand gestures, multitouch remote or connect your own Bluetooth keyboard and mouse if none of those work for you.11 of 14James Martin/CNETHDMI caddyAn HDMI caddy can store streaming sticks out of sight.If you have the desire and the wallet to do so, the Displace TV Pro has a modular design that will allow you to connect multiple Pro models together to make a giant TV.Click on for a few more views of the Displace TV.12 of 14James Martin/CNETPop-up cameraThe Displace TV offers a pop-up camera.13 of 14James Martin/CNETA slim designThe Displace TVfeatures a slim design. 14 of 14James Martin/CNETThe charging portThe Displace TV also has a charging port.

Testing charcoal grills requires a lot of hands-on cooking, and your results will obviously vary based on your technique and ingredients, among other factors. Depending on the season and how your charcoal grill is set up, your experience cooking and grilling will likely be very different from ours. For example, a kettle-style charcoal grill left in the July sun all day will run a lot hotter than it will in the cooler spring months. Also, a note about grill thermometers. None of the hood thermometers built into these grills mirrored the temperatures recorded by our own thermocouples and data software. It's not uncommon for grill thermometers to read high, so we recommend keeping an oven thermometer or Bluetooth thermometer handy while you're grilling, either for your meat or for the grill's temperature itself. We placed two steaks on each grilling grate near the center and seared them for 5 minutes before flipping them over and searing for another 5 minutes. With a good and reliable grill, this will give you a steak with a seared outside and a medium rare to medium center. If you prefer meat that's more well done, you can extend the cooking time or sear and finish cooking in an oven. High-heat searing was our first grill test. Tyler Lizenby/CNETThe best charcoal grill for steak searing in our lineup was the Weber Classic Kettle. The steak had nice grill marks while keeping a medium doneness on the inside. The worst was our Tacklife review unit, which didn't hold much heat and didn't sear while cooking. The steak on that grill needed an additional five minutes to get to a temperature of 135 degrees Fahrenheit, the minimum for medium rare. Chicken and indirect, medium heat Next, we tested each grill's medium heat cooking capability by roasting whole chickens. The trick here is to keep the grills at a hot enough temperature to cook a chicken for upward of 2 hours. For our tests, each grill gets a full chimney of lit charcoal and a 6-pound chicken opposite the coals for indirect heat. Each grill got a chimney of hot charcoal. Tyler Lizenby/CNETCooking over charcoal takes longer than cooking with a gas grill, and we typically need to add more fuel during cooking to keep our grills above 350 degrees Fahrenheit for the full duration. Our favorite bird from this batch was the one cooked on the Weber, though it was a tough call. The bird cooked on the Nexgrill cart-style grill came in right behind, a close second in terms of flavor and texture. We cooked chicken over indirect heat until it reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Tyler Lizenby/CNETThe difference between the two was largely in the crispiness of the skin, with the Weber producing the superior results. Meat from the Nexgrill was delicious, with just a bit more flavor than the Weber. Between them, I'd say it largely depends on your budget and what style of grill you prefer for other meats like burgers or steak. Weber certainly had the superior sear in that category. Low-and-slow ribs Our last test is grilling barbecued ribs, specifically baby back pork ribs. This style of cooking requires strict temperature control over a period of multiple hours. Ideally, a quality charcoal grill (or any smoker) will keep its fire humming along close to 225 degrees Fahrenheit for as long as possible. Stack your charcoal briquettes in two rows of two deep along the inner wall of the grill. Tyler Lizenby/CNETFirst, we set up each grill for a low-and-slow burn, using the charcoal snake method. In the case of kettle models, we arrange coals in a semicircle around the grill's inner wall. The charcoal briquettes (Kingsford Blue) form a line two coals wide and two coals deep. We also drop a few chunks of smokewood on top of the snake (aka fuse). On cart-style grills, we modify the snake to run in right angles to match their rectangular-shaped fireboxes. Next, we light each grill's snake at one end of the chain with five lit briquettes (tumbleweed fire starters work, too). We set all air vents on each grill (top and bottom) to the halfway-open position. Lastly, we place one rack of ribs on each grill for indirect cooking, with the meat not sitting directly above the coals.

Acer unveils dubiously portable Nitro Blaze 11 handheld gaming PC with 10.95-inch screenPlus 8.8-inch Blaze 8.Image credit: Acer News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Jan. 7, 2025 Steam Deck too dinky for you? Always wished you could purchase a handheld gaming PC capable of obscuring your entire head? Then Acer might just have the answer. The company has unveiled its new Nitro Blaze 11, sporting a 10.95-inch screen and chunky form factor testing the limits of what might reasonably be considered a 'portable' gaming device.Acer's Nitro Blaze 11 is, it's fair to say, a bit of a beast, measuring 36.4 cm x 17.1 cm x 1.59 cm and weighing in at 1050g - roughly the equivalent of 1.5 Steam Decks. It's unclear if those figures include the machine's two chunky detachable controllers - Acer's press release is vague on that point - but it's certainly not what you'd call an understated device. Judging by the promo images, it could comfortably be used to serve nibbles between gaming sessions too.On the positive side, its hefty frame boasts some decent innards. That 10.95-inch screen, for instance, is a 120 Hz WQXGA 2560 x 1600 touch display capable of up to 500 nits of brightness, and it also packs in an AMD Ryzen 8040HS processor, 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and up to 2TB of NVMe SSD storage. That's on top of a built-in kickstand and those aforementioned detachable controllers, which now feature back buttons. And if that appeals, you'll be looking at a minimum price tag of $1099.99, depending on your storage requirements.Digital Foundry talks the Legion Go S, AMD's Ryzen Z2-series chips, and more.Watch on YouTubeBut if you're in the market for something a little more discreet - and a little cheaper - there's also Acer's new Nitro Blaze 8, which features an 144 Hz 8.8-inch screen and weighs in at a more modest 720g. This one measures 30.5 cm x 13.4 cm x 2.2 cm (controllers are definitely included here, seeing as they're not detachable) and costs $899.99. Both machines include three months of Xbox Game Pass and are scheduled to launch in Q2 this year.Acer's expanded Nitro Blaze line-up won't make use of AMDs newly announced trio of next-gen Ryzen Z-series APUs - designed for handheld gaming PCs - but Digital Foundry has a little more to say about those elsewhere on Eurogamer if you're curious.

While the Chinese internet giant Tencent is best known for its super app WeChat, its also a major investor in U.S. tech companies and startups. Some of its most notable and still active investments include Reddit, Snap, and Fortnite creator Epic Games.Things might get a little awkward, though, because Tencent was designated a Chinese military company by the U.S. Department of Defense on Monday. The listing serves as a warning from the U.S. about companies it claims are involved in Chinese military-civil fusion efforts, according to a 2022 DoD press release. The listing has no legal consequences beyond barring U.S. government contractors from doing business with Tencent starting in 2026, according to U.S. law.The notice doesnt specify why the U.S. believes Tencent is helping the Chinese military.Tencent is strongly refuting the listing, telling TechCrunch it is clearly a mistake and we are not a military company or supplier. The Defense Department didnt respond to a request for comment.Tencent is active in the VC world through an arm it calls the Tencent Exploration Team that it runs out of Palo Alto and whose investments include Snap, Epic Games, and others like insurer Oscar Health. Tencent is also a major shareholder in Reddit, although its stake recently dipped under the 10% threshold, an SEC filing from November 2024 shows. (Reddit wouldnt comment as of press time on exactly how much Tencent owns.)Investing in global tech companies, particularly in sectors like health and video games, has long been a focus of Tencent. If Tencent isnt able to get itself off the list like smartphone maker Xiaomi successfully did in 2021 it could harm its investing activities in the U.S., with founders wary of accepting funds from a company officially designated as linked to the Chinese military, even without public evidence.Theres also a risk that this measure results in pressure for further sanctions against Tencent from other parts of the U.S. government like the Treasury Department, Reuters reported.Even without any further actions, the listing cements a long-running trend of U.S.-China decoupling. It was once relatively common for Chinese VCs to invest in U.S. companies (and vice versa), but those days arent coming back anytime soon.

Image: NintendoThe Switch may be coming to the tail end of its life, but Nintendo is still showing support for it with new games and even updates.Following the rollout of Version 19.0.1 in October 2024, Nintendo has now rolled out a new 'rebootless update' for this same firmware patch. As highlighted by dataminer 'OatmealDome' this latest change updates the "bad words list" once again.Here's a bit more information about this update from the source:"A rebootless update for 19.0.1 was released.The bad words lists were reshuffled (possibly to reduce false positives), and many new words were added to the Russian list.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube791kWatch on YouTube There were no other changes.As previously explained, rebootless updates are "silently installed" on the Switch, so you don't actually have to do anything on your end.Nintendo's firmware update in October last year followed the usual routine - fixing issues and improving system stability. Download it todayEvery Switch system update since launch detailedAre you running the latest firmware on your Switch? Notice anything else? Let us know in the comments.See AlsoShare:00 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesRumour: New 'Switch 2' Photos Show Off A Very Legit-Looking Joy-ConBlack and blue, not white and goldNintendo Highlights Multiple Switch Games Launching In 2025It's going to be an action-packed year126 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higherNintendo's Punch-Out!! Series May Be Dead And Buried For GoodAll punch'd outFeature: 15 Best-Looking Switch Games Of 2024Hello, my pretties