Image: Nintendo LifeThe Pokmon Europe International Championships return to London next month (20th-23rd Feb), and while we are, of course, very excited to see the cream of the competitive crop go head to head across a range of disciplines, the big selling point for many will be the pop-up Pokmon Center.Reservations for this one are expected to open in the coming weeks (yep, if you want to shop, you'll have to book a slot), but Pokmon site Serebii has today revealed a first look at some of the exclusive merch we can expect to find this year. Spoilers: it looks set to be a big one for Psyduck fans.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube791kWatch on YouTube In this first peek at the exclusive merchandise, Serebii showcased a new Championship playmat and accompanying bag, a water bottle and a magnet, all with Psyduck at the front and centre (Wooper, Paldean Wooper, Quagsire and Clodsire also make a cameo). But the pice de rsistance in our book is the yellow Psyduck sweater, which features the beloved Water Type looking characteristically confused come on, that's sweet.Last year's Championship merch saw Armarouge, Ceruledge and Gengar steal the spotlight, so it's nice to see things turn more aquatic this time around. Naturally, there's bound to be a bunch more exclusive merch for us to check out when the London pop-up Pokmon Center opens its doors on 20th Feb how long it all remains in stock is another question entirely.Come on, TPC, surely it's time for a permanent store in London now! Please don't catch 'em allWhat a Blast(oise)Good eeveeningWhat do you make of this first wave of exclusive Championship merch? Will you be heading to the London pop-up Pokmon Center next year? Let us know in the comments.[source serebii.net, via x.com]See AlsoShare:01 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesThe Pokmon Center Has Dubbed 2025 "The Year Of Eevee"Good eeveeningSonic The Hedgehog 'Metal Sonic' First 4 Figures Statue Revealed, Here's Another LookIf you know, you knowPokmon Unite Adds Another Pokmon To The Roster This MonthGalarian Rapidash arrivesPokmon TCG Pocket: Mew EX Deck GuideMew EX is here to keep the meta in check

Whatnot, the platform that allows users to sell items such as trading cards, comics, and sneakers through live videos, announced on Wednesday that it has secured $265 million in a Series E funding round, a significant investment for a livestream shopping platform. This round puts Whatnots valuation at $4.97 billion.The investment marks an important milestone for Whatnot and highlights the potential for livestream shopping to grow in the U.S. The considerable amount raised reflects investors belief that Whatnot can innovate further in the space, particularly in collectibles and niche items, which is Whatnots focus area.The new capital will be allocated to expanding into more categories, including art, golf, and vinyl. Whatnot is also working on new seller tools designed to assist sellers in growing their businesses. One of these tools aims to simplify the management of inventory and orders for sellers.Whatnot also plans to launch in Australia next month as well as other markets in Europe later this year. Its currently available in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, and Belgium.Founded by Grant LaFontaine and Logan Head in 2019, Whatnots platform is today designed for collectors, differentiating itself from competitors focused on fashion and beauty products. Initially centered on sports trading cards, action figures, comic books, and memorabilia, it has expanded over time to include accessories, clothing, electronics, live plants, and more.A key feature of the platform is its sudden death auctions, where the last bidder wins the item. Recently, Whatnot introduced a new selling method called flash sales, which allows sellers to offer customizable, time-sensitive discounts on products. During livestreams, a countdown clock creates a sense of urgency among buyers. Last year, the platform launched a new rewards tool that allows buyers to redeem rewards from sellers after completing certain achievements and leveling up.Alongside the funding announcement, Whatnot said it plans to launch its first-ever tender offer to buy back up to $72 million worth of shares. The company told us that this move reflects its commitment to investing in its 600 full-time employees. Share buybacks often suggest that a company is performing well and can afford to invest in its workforce, whether through salaries, benefits, or other investments.The round was co-led by Avra, DST Global, and Greycroft, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), CapitalG, BOND, Durable Capital Partners, and Y Combinator. To date, Whatnot has raised approximately $746 million.Whatnot also revealed that its annual gross merchandise value (GMV) for livestream sales surpassed $3 billion after recently reporting an annual GMV of over $2 billion.

SteamOS is slowly becoming an alternative to Windows for handheld gaming devices. After launching the Steam Deck with SteamOS, its own operating system, Valve is now partnering with third-party manufacturers so that they can release gaming handhelds with SteamOS support.On Tuesday, Lenovo unveiled the Legion Go S at CES 2025. Unlike its predecessor, the Legion Go, this gaming handheld has a more traditional form-factor with a large, 8-inch display surrounded by controllers on each side of the screen. The detachable controllers and the kickstand at the back of the device are gone.But the most interesting part of the device is that it comes in multiple configurations. Customers will be able to decide between two AMD chipsets: the newly announced budget processor Ryzen Z2 Go, and the Ryzen Z1 Extreme that Lenovo is already using for the Legion Go. Asus is also using the Z1 Extreme for the ROG Ally X.Image Credits:LenovoSimilarly, customers will get to decide whether they want to buy the Legion Go S with SteamOS pre-installed or Windows 11. While SteamOS is a much better experience for a gaming handheld with a better interface, a better out-of-the-box experience, and better support for sleep/wake, some customers might prefer Windows if they download games through Xbox Game Pass or if their favorite multiplayer game relies on Windows-only anti-cheat software.The Z2 Go version will be available for $599 with Windows 11, or $499 with SteamOS, while the Z1 Extreme variant will cost $729. Lenovo is releasing the Z1 Extreme version in January, while the Z2 Go configurations will be available in May 2025. The entry-level device will come with 16GB of RAM, while the $729 one features 32GB of RAM.When it comes to specifications, the 8-inch display has a 16:10 aspect ratio and supports resolutions of up to 19201200 with a 120Hz variable refresh rate. The Legion Go S comes with a 55Wh battery, two USB 4 ports and a microSD slot. The device weighs 730g (1.61 pounds) and comes with an extremely tiny touchpad to navigate the desktop interface.Lenovo also plans to update the original Legion Go, and it even showcased an early prototype of the Legion Go 2 at CES 2025. The idea is that the Legion Go S and the Legion Go will be two separate products that will be updated every now and then.While you could consider the Legion Go S as a Steam Deck competitor, remember that Valve has collaborated with Lenovo to tweak SteamOS for the new machine. Valve takes a cut on every Steam purchase, and the company seems to think that its more important to grow the Steam ecosystem than become the next big console maker.

Japanese electronics giant Casio has confirmed that the personal data of almost 8,500 individuals was stolen during an October ransomware attack.Casio was the target of a ransomware attack on October 5, which saw hackers access sensitive data and render many of the companys systems unusable. The attack was claimed by the Underground ransomware gang, which said it had stolen more than 200 gigabytes of data from Casios systems, per a dark web post seen by TechCrunch.In an update posted on Tuesday, Casio confirmed that the hacking group which security experts have linked to a Russia-linked cybercriminal group known as RomCom (or Storm-0978) accessed the personal information of approximately 8,500 individuals during the October cyber attack.Upon completion of the investigation as far as possible, Casio would like to report that some of its internal documents, including personal information, have been leaked, Casio said in the update.Casio said the breach impacted the data of almost 6,500 employees, and included information such as names, employee numbers, and email addresses. Some employees gender information, dates of birth, ID card data, family data, and taxpayer ID numbers were also compromised.The hackers also accessed the names, email addresses, phone numbers, and ID card information of more than 1,900 Casio business partners, along with the personal information of 91 customers.Casio said no credit card information had been exposed in the breach, as its system that handles customers personal information was not impacted by the incident.In Tuesdays update, Casio confirmed the hackers had phishing techniques to get in, due to some deficiencies in the companys measures against phishing emails. The company also confirmed that it did not negotiate with the hackers responsible for the attack, saying it has not responded to any unreasonable demands from the ransomware group that carried out the unauthorized access.Casio said the services that had been impacted by the ransomware incident are back online, with the exception of some individual services. Its unclear which services remain unusable. The company did not immediately respond to TechCrunchs questions.

Australian large-format Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) specialist AML3D has delivered 3D printed prototype tailpiece components for the US Navys Virginia Class nuclear submarine program as part of the trilateral AUKUS partnership.The Copper-Nickel components, valued at approximately A$156,000, will undergo testing before being installed on a Virginia-Class nuclear submarine for in-service trials later this year. AML3D manufactured these submarine parts in less than five weeks, a significant improvement over the 17-month lead time required by conventional manufacturing methods.The company asserts that its metal additive manufacturing technology is key to building a strong trilateral AUKUS supply chain in partnership with Australias allies, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The three nations signed the AUKUS military alliance in 2021. Initially focused on helping Australia develop its first nuclear-powered submarines, AUKUS now extends to hypersonic missiles and other warfighting technologies.AML3Ds latest delivery builds on two years of collaboration with the US Department of Defense (DoD) to support the US Navys submarine industrial base. Through its US Scale Up strategy, AML3D acquires US defense contracts to address supply chain challenges with 3D printing. The company is working to become a point-of-need additive manufacturing solution through its ARCEMY WAAM technology.Production of a U.S. Virginia-Class Submarine component in Australia is a great example that AUKUS is happening now, and demonstrates our commitment toward supporting expansion of the trilateral industrial base, commented Richard Marles, Australias Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence. He added, Australias Nuclear-Powered Submarine Program and the AUKUS partnership will provide incredible opportunities for Australias industry, and these opportunities have already started.A US Navy Virginia Class submarine. Photo via the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA).AML3D bolsters US submarine industrial baseAccording to AML3D, the companys additive manufacturing technology is delivering a step change in production efficiency and quality for the US Navys Submarine Industrial Base. Through Scale Up, the Australian 3D printer manufacturer has partnered with BlueForge Alliance and the Navys Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) Program to meet material readiness needs and address supply chain challenges.Scale Up has reportedly delivered over A$16 million of metal 3D printing orders since launching in 2023. That year, AML3D secured a USD$0.6 million prototype Nickel-Aluminium-Bronze component order. The 1-tonne 3D printed submarine part was produced using the companys ARCEMY technology in 22-24 weeks. Earlier in 2023, AML3D announced the sale of a large-scale, industrial ARCEMY X-Edition 6700 3D printer to assist the US Navys efforts to integrate WAAM technology and accelerate its adoption of advanced manufacturing techniques.Last year, another X-Edition 6700 was integrated into the Navys Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) in Danville, Virginia. Worth A$1.1 million, the WAAM 3D printer continued AML3Ds efforts to address US DoD supply chain challenges with its metal additive manufacturing technology.Admiral Jonathan Rucker, head of the US Program Executive Office Attack Submarines, highlighted AML3Ds contribution to US Navy efforts ahead of the Submarine League Conference in November 2024. He revealed he had been personally asked for formal approval on one of AML3Ds engineering drawings.Collaboration in this space is critical to our ability to build and sustain Virginia Class submarines now and for the next many decades, commented Rucker. Through partnerships like the one with AML3D, we are creating resiliency and robustness domestically as well as in critical areas of Naval operation.ALM3D CEO Sean Ebert stated that, through its work with the US Navy, the company has created a successful model that includes cross-continental coordination, information sharing, and the deployment of our ARCEMY advanced 3D metal printing technology across a network of U.S. defense industry and academic experts. He also pointed to the completion of several alloy testing and characterization programs including Copper-Nickel, which allows the company to supply components to the US Nuclear submarine program.Inside an ARCEMY metal 3D printing system. Photo via AML3D.3D printing enhances US warfighting capabilitiesAway from AML3D, the US Navy has turned to other 3D printing companies to help address its supply chain challenges. Last year, Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc. (BPMI) selected Velo3Ds fully integrated metal 3D printing system to support the US Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.The solution features Velo3Ds Sapphire XC large format 3D printer calibrated for stainless steel 415. This system is being operated by materials company ATI, at its newly established additive manufacturing facility located outside Fort Lauderdale, Florida. By integrating this large-format metal 3D printing technology, BPMI and ATI hope to improve the production process for critical nuclear submarine components. Additive manufacturing will be used to manufacture parts previously made using casting, reducing lead times and optimizing the supply chain.Elsewhere, last year saw the US Navy leverage additive manufactring technology during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in Hawaii, the worlds largest international series of naval drills. The technology included an XSPEE3D cold spray 3D printer from SPEE3D and Snowbird Technologies SAMM Tech hybrid DED manufacturing system. The trial sought to reduce the delivery time of critical parts from days to hours through a cradle-to-grave manufacturing approach.Who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards?All the news from Formnext 2024.Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news.You can also follow us on X, like our Facebook page, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content.Featured image shows a US Navy Virginia Class submarine. Photo via the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA).

Sophie ONeills Detailed Embroidery Journals Chronicle All 365 Days of the YearJanuary 8, 2025CraftKate MothesA few years ago, Sophie ONeillwho works as The Stir-Crazy Crafterhadnt yet learned how to embroider. She didnt have any supplies, but one idea in particular sparked a creative flame: an embroidery journal. The first one she saw was made by fiber artist Sam Gillespie, and ONeill immediately sourced some basic supplies and began popping needle and thread through the fabric. She was hooked.Every day, ONeill stitches a single symbol or word that she chooses to represent her day. This could be a cup of coffee because I went out for drinks with friends, a firework because I wanted the New Years Eve fireworks display, or even a tissue because I wasnt feeling well, she tells Colossal. At the end of the year, Ill have curated a collection of 365 icons that represent my entire year. And as 2024 wrapped up, she completed her fifth journal, containing more than 1,800 individual images overall.One trick to the overall composition is knowing where to start. ONeill lays out her blank, circular canvas like a clock or a 12-piece pie, in which each hour or slice represents one month. This is one of those things that seems complicated at first, but throughout the year it gets easier, she says.Even on days when she doesnt do anything out of the ordinary, ONeill chronicles the 24-hour period in some way. The journal makes me think outside the box about what I do on a daily basis, she says. Maybe all I did during the day was read a book and do a bit of cleaning, but I can break down those actions into smaller things to figure out what I can embroider for my daily icon.The playful enamel pins often seen in photos of her in-progress pieces are known as needle minders, where the prong is replaced by a set of magnets that can hold the needle when shes not actively embroidering. Its a tool ONeill cant live without.In a similar vein to the daily stitches, ONeill also tracks the books she peruses throughout the year, embroidering bookmarks shaped like shelves that are filled with color to represent the titles shes read. You can purchase patterns and supplies in the artists Etsy shop, and follow updates on Instagram. And if youre an embroidery journaler, too, you can join ONeills Facebook group to share your progress and see how others design theirs.Next article

Published January 8, 2025 6:00am EST close 'CyberGuy': Robotic shorts give your legs a boost to walk farther and tire less Tech expert Kurt Knutsson reveals how WalkON enhances walking and jogging with sensors and artificial tendons. Get ready for some pretty cool innovations that are lighting up CES 2025, the world's biggest annual tech event. From AI-powered smart glasses to revolutionary TVs and mind-blowing gadgets, this year's show is proving that the future isn't just knocking. It's bursting through the door. We've scoured the show floor to bring you the most exciting tech that's not just pushing boundaries but completely obliterating them.Enter the giveaway by signing up for myfree newsletter. CES app (CES) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)1) Solar beach umbrellaAnker's solar beach umbrella is way more than just shade. This umbrella is part of Anker's SOLIX lineup and does something pretty unique. It charges your devices while you're chilling outdoors. What makes it special? Perovskite solar cells that are seriously impressive. These cells are about 30% more powerful than traditional solar cells in bright sunlight and perform twice as well in low light. The umbrella can pump out 80 watts of power through USB-C and even has an XT-60 connection to power things like Anker's new EverFrost electric cooler. So you could literally keep your drinks cold and your phone charged at the same time. While they haven't announced the price yet, you can expect to see this tech to hit stores sometime in spring or summer. Solar beach umbrella (Anker) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)2) Wireless earbuds with a case that sticks to the back of your phoneArtronic just unveiled Komutr, a super-slim set of wireless earbuds with a genius magnetic charging case that attaches right to compatible phones, chargers and accessories. The charging case is just 0.47 inches thick and is designed to stick to the back of your MagSafe-compatible phone. No more digging through bags or forgetting your earbuds at home. The case even has a clever flip-up lid that works as a kickstand for watching videos. These earbuds pack some serious battery power, up to 10 hours of listening time per charge and a total of 30 hours when you include the charging case. For those without MagSafe phones, Artronic promises "adjustable options," but let's be real: The magnetic attachment is where the magic happens. Want to get your hands on these? Mark your calendar for January 15th when preorders open. The Komutr will start shipping in May and will set you back $129. It's not bad for a pair of earbuds that basically become one with your phone. The Komutr earbuds (Artronic) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)3) Samsung's new TV uses AI to serve up recipesHave you ever binge-watched a cooking show and suddenly craved that exact dish? Well, Samsung's got your back with Samsung Food, a mind-blowing TV feature that uses AI to recognize dishes on screen and instantly serve up their recipes faster than you can say "bon apptit." The tech isn't just about recipes. Samsung Food can track your grocery deliveries, build shopping lists from your fridge contents and even suggest meal plans. Samsung's calling it the "ultimate AI sous chef," and honestly, they might be onto something. Sure, the AI won't actually cook for you (bummer, right?). But for wannabe home chefs who get inspired by every cooking show and movie, this could be a total game-changer. Just don't blame Samsung if you end up spending more time watching cooking shows than actually cooking. Of course, you'll need a 2025 Samsung TV to access this culinary magic. Samsung Food will be available on the QN90F, QN80F and QN70F model TVs. Samsung Food app (Samsung) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)4) Robot vacuum tidies more than just floorsThe Roborock Saros Z70 is changing the game by doing what most robot vacuums can't: intelligently handling stray items. When a sock or pair of underwear drops on the floor, this smart device doesn't just push them around or get stuck. Instead, it extends a hidden mechanical arm, carefully moving the items to a designated area, keeping your space neat and preventing cleaning interruptions. Robot vacuums have evolved from simple floor cleaners to intelligent assistants that can navigate around obstacles, handle pet hair and now even manage misplaced clothing. Saros Z70 (Roborock) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)5) LeafyPod, the smart planter that listensEver wished your leafy friends could tell you exactly what they need? Well, get ready to have your mind blown because LeafyPod is here to turn that dream into reality. This nifty little gadget has all sorts of high-tech sensors that keep an eye on things like soil moisture, light and humidity. LeafyPod uses its AI smarts to figure out exactly how much water your plant needs and doles it out accordingly. No more drowning your poor succulents. LeafyPods water reservoir can keep your green buddies hydrated for up to four weeks. That's right. You can finally take that monthlong vacation without coming home to a jungle of crispy leaves. It's like having a tiny plant whisperer right in your living room. Smart planter (LeafyPod) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)6) The lawnmower that tackles any terrainThe Lymow One is a beast. With its "Savage Traverse System" of tank-like tracks, this robot mower isn't playing around. It chews through leaves, pine cones and small branches like they're nothing, using powerful mulching blades and a centrifugal fan to keep things tidy. Pet owners, relax. Its advanced obstacle recognition means Fluffy and Fido stay safe while this lawn-taming machine does its work. It's basically a robotic landscaper that turns your yard into a perfectly manicured paradise. However, it doesn't come cheap. It will set you back $3,000. Robot mower (Lymow) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)7) Miroka: The humanoid robot ready to revolutionize serviceThe Miroka robot from Enchanted Tools is turning heads at CES 2025, offering a unique blend of utility and charm. This humanoid robot is designed to excel in various professional settings, from health care to hospitality, with the ability to perform tasks like moving equipment in hospitals, providing customer service and offering guidance. Drawing crowds at the event, the Miroka showcases how characterful robots can reshape interactions in workplaces and service environments, promising a future where technology meets human-like engagement. The Miroka robot (Enchanted Tools) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)8) Halliday's smart glassesHalliday's smart glasses are making waves at CES 2025 with their innovative "DigiWindow" technology, featuring a 3.5-inch private display positioned in the upper-right corner of your vision that remains completely invisible to others. Weighing just 35 grams, these lightweight glasses are designed to look like traditional eyewear while packing cutting-edge technology. The unique near-eye display projects directly onto the user's retina, offering a proactive AI assistant that can summarize meetings, provide real-time translations, handle notifications and offer turn-by-turn navigation. Priced between $399 and $499, the glasses are expected to ship by the end of Q1 2025 and can be controlled through voice commands, a frame interface or a smart ring with a trackpad. Halliday's smart glasses support prescription lenses and boast an impressive eight-hour battery life. Smart glasses (Halliday) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)9) Bird Buddy unveils innovative garden monitoring cameraBird Buddy's innovative new camera is designed to transform how gardeners interact with their outdoor spaces. The Petal camera offers users a comprehensive view of plant life and insect activity through a sleek, intelligent device. Featuring 4K resolution and advanced AI recognition technology, the camera allows users to live stream garden interactions directly to their smartphones with unprecedented clarity and detail. The device comes with an optional solar panel, ensuring continuous operation without the need for frequent battery changes. Users can expect to track and identify various insect and plant interactions, turning their garden into a dynamic, observable ecosystem. Bird Buddy plans to launch the Petal camera on Kickstarter this spring, continuing their mission of connecting technology with nature in engaging and user-friendly ways. Garden monitoring camera (Bird Buddy) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)10) Mirumi: The adorable bag-clinging robot that steals heartsMirumi is a charming clip-on robot that transforms an ordinary bag into an interactive experience. This furry companion from Yukai Engineering spontaneously turns its head, mimicking a shy infant's curiosity. Unlike complex AI robots, Mirumi offers pure, simple charm; it doesn't speak, move independently or require advanced programming. When your bag moves, Mirumi peeks around; if someone approaches too quickly, it bashfully turns away. Priced at an affordable $70 and launching via crowdfunding in mid-2025, this little robotic mascot is less about technological complexity and more about bringing a smile to your face. Mirumi the bag-clinging robot (Yukai Engineering) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Kurt's key takeawaysFrom Halliday's discreet smart glasses to Samsung's AI-powered TVs and Roborock's intelligent vacuum, this year's show is proving that innovation knows no limits. These aren't just products; they're glimpses into a future where technology becomes a seamless, intelligent extension of our daily lives.So, which of these innovations has you counting down the days until they hit the market?Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com. Related Topics

Tommy Lee Walker - stock.adobe.cNewsGenAI demand fuels record sales of datacentre hardware and software in 2024Figures from Synergy Research Group highlight how demand for generative AI and GPU technology has generated record amounts of spending in the datacentre hardware and software space during 2024ByCaroline Donnelly,Senior Editor, UKPublished: 08 Jan 2025 12:00 Demand for generative artificial intelligence (AI) services is being cited as the reason why spending on datacentre hardware and software hit a record high in 2024.According to figures from IT analyst Synergy Research Group, total spending in the datacentre hardware and software market was up 34% year-on-year during 2024, as a result of hyperscale providers and private enterprises looking to kit out AI-ready server farms.John Dinsdale, chief analyst at Synergy Research Group, said this trend had led to more investment in graphics processing units (GPU), which had in turn lit a fire under a market that was already chugging along nicely.As a result, the datacentre hardware and software market enjoyed record growth rates in 2024, with total sales in excess of $280bn, which he described as unprecedented results.While the ongoing success of public cloud has been the main driving force behind datacentre investments for well over a decade now, no one imagined a 2024 market for datacentre gear reaching over $280bn, said Dinsdale.These figures are based on actual sales data from the first three quarters of 2024, combined with Synergys own fourth quarter forecast data for the datacentre hardware and software market.The Synergy data shows that sales of datacentre kit to public cloud providers were up 50% in 2024, while the amount of spend attributed to enterprises was also up 21% year-on-year. In recent years, growth in the enterprise sector has been rather anaemic, [and] for over 10 years now, cloud providers have increasingly driven the market for datacentre gear and Synergys five-year forecast shows there will be no letup in this trend, said Dinsdale.Read more about datacentres and generative AIAt AWS Re:Invent 2024, CEO Matt Garman shared details of how its GenAI technologies are helping enterprises accelerate the pace of Microsoft and VMware datacentre migrations.Jensen Huang used the companys fourth-quarter earnings to discuss the massive growth in accelerated datacentre computing experienced by Nvidia.Public cloud providers now account for more than half of the spend (55%) in the datacentre hardware and software market, Dinsdale continued, up from 20% 10 years ago. Our forecast shows it reaching almost 65% five years from now, he added.Around 85% of the spend in this market is generated by the sale of servers, storage and networking kit, confirmed Synergy, while the remaining 15% comes from sales of cloud management, security and virtualisation software.One notable trend, called out by Synergy, is how prominently Nvidia now features among the roll-call of datacentre hardware providers, thanks in no small part to the fact its GPU technology is being sold directly to both hyperscalers and enterprises.Excluding original design manufacturers, Dell is the overall leader in the server and storage segment, with Inspur being a clear leader in server sales to public cloud providers, said Synergy, in its research note.Cisco is the leader in the networking segment, while Microsoft features prominently in the rankings due to its position in server operating systems and virtualisation applications. Nvidia now features heavily as a supplier both to other system vendors and directly to service providers.In The Current Issue:What do the home secretarys policing reforms mean for the future of the Police Digital Service?What are the security risks of bring your own AI?Download Current IssueData engineering - Camunda: Defining data orchestration's role in data engineering CW Developer NetworkSAP customer unrest: How did we get here? Write side up - by Freeform DynamicsView All Blogs

leographics - adobeNewsNato membership boosts Finnish civil and military tech startupsTech companies in Finland and Sweden that offer civil and military products are benefitting from Nato military allianceByGerard O'DwyerPublished: 08 Jan 2025 10:45 Finlands fast-expanding defence sector is witnessing a surge in tech startups chasing new business opportunities on the back of the countrys accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) in April 2023. The so-called Nato dividend is causing the countrys defence sector to experience accelerated growth as more companies capitalise on membership to innovate, grow sales and pursue new avenues of opportunity. Buttressed by Nato membership, Finnish tech startups that offer civil and military services are generating comparatively higher growth rates and stronger investor appeal than more traditional defence companies, said Keith Bonnici, investment director at Suomen Teollisuussijoitus (Tesi), a state-owned agency that takes equity-linked financial positions in tech startups and growth companies.The rise in demand for growth capital among startups is tied to the boom in sales in this sector, as well as the sharp increase in export licences, he said. As a result, production needs to keep pace with higher demand. Finland remains competitive in the defence industry domain. Our indigenous players have some of the worlds largest defence contractors as customers, as well as Nato members defence forces. A Tesi survey released in September 2024 described 144 of the 368 companies currently operating in Finlands defence sector as rapidly growing startups and growth companies.We estimate that the annual revenue growth rate of technology companies that offer civilian and military products is as high as 30% to 40%, said Bonnici. This clearly exceeds growth rates being achieved by traditional defence companies. The level of growth we are seeing explains why private equity and venture capital investors favour these dual-use companies. Over one-third of the dual-use firms surveyed are owned by private equity and venture capital investors.The Tesi survey found that venture capital financing was the largest individual source of capital investment for companies offering dual-use defence products during the first three quarters of 2024. Moreover, the survey identified the Finnish state as a significant player in the sector, with state-affiliated companies having invested in over 40 defence industry firms since 2014.Record sales forecastBuoyed by the Nato dividend and bolstered confidence among dual-product tech startups, Finlands defence sector is on course to deliver a record surge in export sales by 2030, said Bonnici. Finlands total defence related exports amounted to 2.6b in 2023, he added. Based on the latest data and trends, there is every confidence to believe that total annual exports may well reach the 10bn milestone by 2030.Helsinki-based Varjo Technologies has expanded development of dual products to reflect a heightened demand for its virtual reality (VR) pilot flight training wares.Finlands new status in Nato has substantially improved its ability to achieve stronger international growth, said chief executive Timo Toikkanen. Nato membership has created new opportunities to grow sales of our VR flight training products, he said. It makes it easier to build a presence in the civilian and defence aerospace sectors.The Nato factor came into play for Varjo in August 2024, when the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the use of its VR headsets to support helicopter pilot training. VR technology is being more broadly tested by Nato-aligned air forces that view it as a cost-efficient option to supplement or replace traditional pilot training in aircraft and large simulator room environments. In advance of certification by the FAA, Varjos VR-headset hardware had been previously authorised for dual defence and civilian use by the European Aviation Safety Authority, in connection with Swiss group Loft Dynamics helicopter pilot flight simulation training device.Historically, dual-product startups faced serial hurdles trying to generate significant levels of investor interest from defence-shy private equity funds and venture capital firms, said Toikkanen. Being a dual-product tech company and supplier to the defence industry is nowadays seen not only as acceptable, but even a good thing from the perspective of investors, he added.VR investmentsToikkanen attributed the 34m operating loss reported by Varjo in 2023 to the companys need to make large upfront investments to develop its fourth-generation VR headset. Varjo is hoping to raise next-stage funding of 8m in 20242025. The dual-product business opportunities flowing from Nato membership are also boosting sales confidence at Saab, the Nordic regions largest defence technology group.Saab reorganised a number of core units under new leadership after Swedens membership of Nato was ratified in March 2024. Swedens accession to Nato has enhanced the companys belief in sustainable growth through technology-led projects and capital investments, said Micael Johansson, Saabs CEO. We are moving towards establishing a production presence in Ukraine in collaboration with defence and technology companies there. It may be a year or more before this plan takes shape, he said. Saab is hoping to find technology partners in Ukraine to develop and produce a wide range of defence and security wares, including next-generation sensors to leverage Ukraines existing drone capabilities.Ukraine is exploring the possibility of partnering Saab to produce a range of high-grade military equipment, including Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) and AI/GPS battle management systems in addition to advanced data fusion technologies.Saabs new generation of AI and machine learning (ML) product offerings have attracted interest across the Nato member countries. In September last year, it secured a contract to deliver Near Real Time (NRT) AI/ML models to US cyber security and cloud group ECS Federal.ECS is deploying Saabs NRT AI/ML technology as part of its input to the US Department of Defenses (DoD) Maven Program, which is designed to process imagery and full-motion video from drones and automatically detect potential targets.Joint defenceThe growth path to Nato contracts for dual-product firms in Finland and Sweden was greatly enhanced in September 2024, when Nordic governments launched a Regional Joint Defence Concept. The agreement, which is managed by the Nordic Defence Cooperation (Nordefco), will synchronise key areas of military cooperation including capacity building, linked military operations, defence technology development and joint products procurement schemes, on a regional level.Established in 2009, Nordefco serves as a coordinating agency for cross-border defence cooperation between the five Nordic states.Regionally, the future growth potential of dual-product and defence tech startups across the Nordics is further boosted by Finland and Swedens Limited Partner status in the Nato Innovation Fund (NIF). The NIF is financed by 24 of Natos 32 member states. Capitalised at 1bn, the NIF primarily invests in deep tech defence and security companies across alliance states, while taking a special investment interest in firms developing AI, ML and space technologies. The Nato Innovation Fund is a hugely influential tool to drive technological innovation and development throughout Swedens defence and security industries, said Pl Jonson, Swedens defence minister. For Sweden, its an additional benefit of being part of Nato.In The Current Issue:What do the home secretarys policing reforms mean for the future of the Police Digital Service?What are the security risks of bring your own AI?Download Current IssueData engineering - Camunda: Defining data orchestration's role in data engineering CW Developer NetworkSAP customer unrest: How did we get here? Write side up - by Freeform DynamicsView All Blogs

Accenture/ZDNETResearch from 2025 finds that 77% of executives believe unlocking the true benefits of AI will only be possible when it is built on a foundation of trust, according to theAccenture Technology Vision 2025report.The Accenture Technology Vision 2025 explores how the future is being shaped by AI-powered autonomy. As adoption of AI accelerates across all businesses and society at a rate faster than any prior technology, 69% of executives believe AI brings new urgency to reinvention and how technology systems and the processes it enables are designed, built, and operated. The ripple effect of AI and its impact will be felt across multiple dimensions, including technology development, customer experience, the physical world, and the workforce.Accenture identifies four key emerging trends in AI, autonomy, and trust, focused on the following: what happens when AI acts autonomously at the center of enterprise technology, speaks on behalf of your brand, inhabits robotic bodies, and collaborates on behalf of employees.The Binary Big Bang: When AI expands exponentially, systems are upended - As generative AI becomes central to enterprise tech, development costs plummet, new systems abound, and digital agents gain autonomy -- transforming applications as we know them.Your Face, in the Future: Differentiating when every interface looks the same - AI agents can personalize customer interactions at scale, but brands must protect their unique voice to avoid becoming generic.When LLMs Get Their Bodies: How foundation models reinvent robotics - Robots with embedded LLMs have generalist versatility, enabling them to take on new tasks in human spaces beyond today's highly programmed use cases.The New Learning Loop: How people and AI are defining a virtuous cycle of learning, leading, and creating - When generative AI is diffused through an organization, every employee has the full power of their organization behind them, which expands the autonomy of both people and AI over time. AI: A declaration of autonomy Accenture Technology Vision Report 2025AI: A Declaration of AutonomyThe focus of this article will be on the binary big bang and the agentic AI revolution in the enterprise. Accenture notes that AI will drive new levels of autonomy throughout business, evolving the ability to reinvent with tech, data, and AI -- a limitless opportunity for innovation and growth. The key disruption here is "AI cognitive digital brains."AI "cognitive digital brains" will completely reshape the role technology plays across the enterprise and in people's lives. Accenture defines cognitive digital brains at multiple levels: For individuals, the cognitive digital brain will operate as a co-pilot or sidekick, something that will understand their job, learn their preferences, and get to know them through its interactions, in service of helping them become an enhanced version of themselves. For businesses, it might seem more like a central nervous system -- an evolution of the enterprise architecture into something that can capture the collective knowledge of the business, its unique differentiators, and its culture and persona, and become a key orchestrator (and even autonomous operator) for parts of it.What makes a Cognitive Digital Brain? The cognitive digital brain will become the central nervous system for enterprise decision-making and continuous learning. Used to power enterprises' future ambitions, like intention-based architectures, it is comprised of four interconnected layers that together organize, process, and act on information.Knowledge: Technologies like knowledge graphs and vector databases gather, organize, and structure data from across the enterprise and beyond.Models: Large-scale generative AI models, as well as classical machine learning and deep learning models, perform critical thinking and reasoning functions to turn data into actionable outcomes.Agents: Designed to be problem-solvers, tackle tasks with minimal human input, and learn and grow over time, AI agents bring planning, reflection, and adaptability to the mix.Architecture: A comprehensive backbone is what turns AI experiments into enterprise-grade solutions. It scales intelligence across the organization and into existing workflows, enabling repeatability so solutions can be made once and reused.Accenture emphasizes the importance of trust, which may be the most important limiting factor for businesses to achieve autonomy with AI. First, enterprises need to bolster the cybersecurity and trust of their digital systems. The second dimension of the roadmap is thinking about building trust in AI itself. Lastly, the third and uncharted part of the trust roadmap is finding a new path to people-driven trust. The Binary Big BangAccording to Accenture, the Binary Big Bang tracks the emergence of language models coupled with agentic systems and how they challenge conventions around building software and crafting new digital ecosystems. The trend dives into a generational transition, as leaders rethink how digital systems are designed -- building the foundation for the cognitive digital brains that will become an essential part of enterprise DNA. The result will be a dramatic increase in technology diffusion touching every aspect of business, consumer, and societal interactions. It sets the stage for the emerging AI era, where we will rapidly expand digital ecosystems and increasingly trust autonomous systems to find new ways to innovate with us.Accenture highlights Salesforce as the moment we entered the Binary Big Bang:"In September 2024, Marc Benioff announced thatSalesforce would 'hard pivot' to Agentforce, a platform for building and deploying autonomous AI agents. It's rare for a company of such scale to pivot like this. But Salesforce realized something groundbreaking and formidable that every company needs to recognize too: We have just entered the Binary Big Bang." -- Accenture Technology Vision 2025.Accenture defines three forces -- abundance, abstraction, and autonomy -- emerging as the pillars of tomorrow's technology.Abundance: With coding agents, the creation of digital systems is getting much cheaper and faster.Abstraction: If speed and efficiency will expand the proliferation of technology, abstraction will expand who and how we use it, meaning modern AI systems will serve as a new bridge between people and machines.Autonomy: Today's architectures are designed to execute a singular and rigidly defined purpose. Autonomy breaks us out of that, as systems that can build and execute code on their own are poised to become powerful orchestrators and operators of business. Accenture notes that autonomy means we might not know how or why a system makes particular decisions -- but we have to trust them to make the right ones. This is why trust is so important.A warning: The Binary Big Bang will feel hectic. There will no longer be a reference point for how an architecture should look. Accenture's guidance: Every company must be prepared to forge a new technological footprint, founded on AI -- a unique DNA identifying and differentiating them as they launch into tomorrow's technology landscape. The Binary Big Bang is the moment to get your footing -- but it won't last long. How can you take advantage of it today?The technology that will define the Binary Big Bang is Agentic Systems, Digital Core, and, Generative UI.Agentic Systems - What is it? AI agents and agentic systems offer a powerful way to leverage LLMs and other foundation models to complete complicated and compound tasks. Agentic systems take the power of language models and extend them by integrating methods for reflection, tool use, planning, and collaboration. These methods transform the models from simple prompt-and-generate functions into reasoning engines that can tackle a wide variety of challenges.Digital Core - What is it? The digital core is the critical technological capability that can create and empower an organization's unique reinvention ambitions. Key to this is a composable architecture that emphasizes modularity and interoperability. Composability relies on independent, self-contained components that can be connected to build high-level functions and applications. They can come from internal systems, PaaS and SaaS providers, and other external parties. But in all cases, these components need to operate independently, be trusted and verifiable, and be discoverable and usable by composers. Being prepared for reinvention is crucial in an AI-first future. I recently shared my thoughts onAccenture's researchon architecture and the mindset needed to adapt a strong digital core.Generative UI - What is it? Generative UI is the concept of leveraging AI techniques to generate user interfaces, commonly with the goal of offering a personalized experience. The long-term vision is a system that dynamically generates interfaces in real time, based on an individual's context and needs. This is not just about populating a predefined layout with user-specific content but completely changing the structure, flow, and interaction methods. These capabilities can be applied to websites, applications, or even agentic systems, and could rely on text, voice, or other intuitive interactions.Accenture notes that agentic AI systems will be most effective when connecting components across the enterprise, turning them into new sources of customer value, automated workflows, or more. The Binary Big Bang is still just beginning, and we don't know the exact end state of all that will change -- but the disruption is upon us, and enterprises need to start building tomorrow's strategy. But there is no denying the agentic AI revolution is here now.In amachine-led economy, relational intelligence is key to success. AI agents will change work forever. To embrace that change, business leaders must focus on what matters most -- designing and cultivating healthy and sustainable relationships.How to prepare for the new technology paradigmAccenture recommends the following for businesses to prepare for the new technology paradigm of abundance, abstraction, and autonomy:Define your new digital ecosystem (early adopters)Identify the highest value opportunities in tomorrow's technology landscape (early adopters)Map out ecosystem partners' agentic offerings (preparing to start)Start experimenting with agents internally (preparing to start)Prepare your digital core for agents (a slower approach)Watch signals to predict upcoming industry impacts (a slower approach)To preserve trust: Monitor autonomous systems' activity and train autonomous systems to make good decisionsIn summary, Accenture emphasizes the following key takeaways:Leaders must prepare today for an imminent world in which AI is everywhere and acting autonomously on behalf of people.New autonomy for AI also means new autonomy for systems and people, along with a refined relationship with trust.Opportunities will be lost unless business leaders secure enough trust from employees and consumers to engage with AI's unprecedented capabilities.To learn more about the Accenture Technology Vision 2025, visit here.