Re @YIMBYLAND I think this will be the most efficient and fastest PCB line in the world later year. Less than 2 second cycle time.

Humble has revealed its March 2025 lineup of PC games for Humble Choice subscribers, giving members a really good selection of varied games to choose from this month. In March, you can explore the spooky Pacific Northwest, head to the stars for a cosmic adventure, and try a different take on the Monster Hunter formula. Sign up for Humble Choice Humble Choice is a $12 monthly subscription service that offers a monthly batch of PC games that are yours to keep forever, even if you decide to cancel your membership. You'll also unlock several other benefits, like exclusive discounts at the Humble store and access to the Humble Vault--an additional rotating library of games exclusive to members.Humble Choice March 2025 GamesPacific DriveHomeworld 3Wild HeartsTales of Kenzera: ZauGravity CircuitSir WhoopassRacineCavern of DreamsOne of the big highlights this month is Pacific Drive, a roguelite caRPG where you'll venture into the Olympic Exclusion Zone, a hub of science-defying activity. Strange stuff is going on in that area and you'll get to unravel the mystery of the game by roguelite runs in your station wagon. If you enjoy exquisitely crafted spookiness, then Pacific Drive will be right up your alley.Continue Reading at GameSpot

We take a look at the newest powerhouse GPUs from AMD. The AMD 9070 and 9070 XT are the newest additions to the company's library, and showcases the kind of power the average gamer looks for.

The last development of Assassin's Creed's modern-day storyline came at the end of Valhalla, where to stop a second catastrophe, Layla gives her life to join The Reader in The Grey. The two are working to find a timeline that doesn't end in some kind of disaster, while Basim escapes Yggdrasil with the aid of the Staff of Hermes, re-emerging in the modern-day storyline. Now, many fans are curious how Assassin's Creed Shadows addresses this, if at all, especially with the introduction of the Animus Hub.

The lore of League of Legends is like a massive painting in progress. Some parts of the world are broad brushstrokes, enough to give you a general idea without greater detail. Others have been revisited again and again in different mediums, like comics, animation, and cinematics, expanding the lore through the various lenses and perspectives.One of the regions that has gotten the most attention from Riot is Noxus, a brutal and meritocratic expansionist empire. And in the next content update, fans expect Noxus to be at the fore, with new lore told through shopkeepers, skins, and biographies. In the earliest days of League of Legends, Noxus was basically Evil Skull Town, and half of the champions backstories began with their loved ones being ruthlessly slaughtered by Noxians.Riot has retconned, rewritten, and revisited this region over the years, and Im here to guide you through the current lore and conflicts that could pay off in the future. Welcome to Noxus, a land with a massive military, hidden magical Illuminati, undead shock troops, high-society hemomancy, and lots of inner conflict.Sahn-Uzal and the sorceressBefore Noxus was Noxus, there were the Noxii, a warband led by Sahn-Uzal. Sahn-Uzal called himself a ruler, but he was more of a butcher slaughtering all in front of him. He expected this to result in a conquerors afterlife known as the Hall of Bones. Instead, he found himself in an empty limbo.Sahn-Uzal refused to fade away. Instead, he clung to existence, whispering to the mortal realms until a cabal of sorcerers rallied to bring him back to life as a weapon. He was reforged as Mordekaiser, an iron revenant, and immediately rewarded the sorcerers by slaughtering them all and beginning his second brutal reign. This time, he built a capital: the Immortal Bastion, a mysterious fortress with connections to spirits, demons, and death.Mordekaiser was ultimately betrayed by the Noxii tribes who were sick of living in a world of constant murder, and a sorceress from his inner circle: LeBlanc. This betrayal was part of his plan all along, and now he waits in the realms of the dead, building an unstoppable ghost army. LeBlanc went on to found the Black Rose, an Illuminati-esque secret society, to guide Noxus path as she planned for the inevitable return of Mordekaiser.Recommended reading: The Final Reign by Michael YichaoThe early empireNoxus grew into a Rome-style expansionist empire, with the Noxian vanguard building structures known as Noxtoraa to mark their territory. The fledgling empire got into scraps with Demacia, a monarchy with very limited class mobility. By contrast, Noxus became a meritocracy: A slave or orphan can rise to the top of the ranks, should they prove useful enough.A big part of Noxus success is that, as it expands, its leaders integrate the culture of new territories into the greater zeitgeist of Noxus. Someone in the Shuriman desert, for instance, will be able to continue their life as they have come to know it after the Noxtoraa are erected. As long as the new citizens subscribe to core Noxian ideals like strength above all, they can keep the trappings of their previous life. In the modern era of League of Legends lore, Noxus has made gains in Shurima, the icy Freljord, and the first lands of Ionia.For a while, this led to a relatively peaceful and prosperous period but the Black Rose was always behind the scenes, and its plans would eventually lead to massive change. Were not sure of the exact timeline, but the Black Rose used this time to found several schools to raise war-criminal children, foster secret orders like the Crimson Circle, and investigate other wildly unethical plans that could pay off in stopping Mordekaiser upon his return.Recommended reading: The Eyes and the Embers by Conor SheehyThe Swain train comes to townThe last emperor of Noxus was a guy called Boram Darkwill, who was a hard-line traditionalist with major connections to the noble houses, but a growing sense of paranoia that led him to spiral. LeBlanc the sorceress who betrayed Mordekaiser during Sahn-Uzuls reign staged her own discovery, allowing an up-and-coming officer named Jericho Swain to expose the Black Rose to the masses and execute key members, including LeBlanc herself.(Of course, this was just a ruse there are many LeBlancs, and killing them doesnt seem to have a noticeable effect on her schemes.)Darkwill was pleased with Swains efforts to fight the Black Rose, and neither man knew that it was all a ruse set up by LeBlanc to dig the Black Rose even deeper into Noxian leadership. Over time, Darkwill became more unhinged, fearful of his own death and only interested in extending his life.Swain was sent off to Ionia to find some magical artifacts to assist in this at least, that is what he was told. In reality, he was sent there to die, and the plan very nearly worked. Swain lost an arm and a lot of his political prestige in Ionia. But he was also visited by a mysterious raven on the battlefield that told him about the secrets at the heart of the Immortal Bastion, and the true depth of the Black Roses machinations.Swain eventually returned to Noxus, called in all of his favors, and usurped Darkwills position. He then abolished the position of emperor and replaced it with the Trifarix, a ruling council that exemplifies the core Noxian values: Swain represents Vision; his right hand, Darius, is Strength; and an unknown figure that most fans suspect to be LeBlanc takes the role of Guile.Recommended reading: The Black Powder Plot by David Slagle, The Principles of Strength by Anthony Reynolds, Thorns of the Black Rose by LJ Goulding.The current state of NoxusThis brings us to essentially the current state of Noxus lore, post-Arcane and as represented in the current Noxus season of League of Legends. The modern nation has loosely assembled itself into three broad factions. There are those who work willingly with the Black Rose, which includes power players like the vampiric Vladimir and the spider queen Elise, who both appear in the Welcome to Noxus cinematic.Then there are those who are loyal to Swain. This includes Katarina, the redheaded assassin who fought Elise; Darius, who is a general fresh off an expedition into the Freljord; and Draven, who is one of the most famous Reckoners in the empires competitive death arena circuit.Finally, theres a third faction of militant Noxians who despise both Swain and LeBlanc, and long for a return to the days of emperors. Ambessa in Arcane is the perfect example of this, and she ends up manipulating both Piltover and Zaun in the search for weapons she can use to prevent Mordekaisers next reign.There are also a few scattered rebels, like Rell, a young woman raised in one of the previously mentioned academies. Riven is a warrior who was sickened by Noxian tactics on the Ionian front and defected to live among those people. Briar is a failed Black Rose experiment, a living weapon learning how to make friends instead of devour them.Mel has also returned to Noxus and is attempting to establish herself as a political power.Recommended reading: The Second Grave by Jared Rosen, Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf by C.L. Clark, The Fourth Principle motion comicRiot has set up many plot threads within Noxus, and well likely see these explored in detail if the rumors of a Netflix show set in the region come true. As a longtime player, its been fascinating to see the lore change from a two-dimensional, comically evil land into a nuanced and detailed nation where you can imagine actual people living their lives. Considering a certain raven appears at the end of Arcane, it seems like well just have to wait and see how this story evolves.

If youre in the market for a pair of open-ear earbuds that dont break the bank, the new SoundPeats PearlClip Pro might be the perfect fit.Open-ear headphones have been growing in popularity, and its easy to see why. Unlike traditional earbuds that seal off your ear canal, open-ear designs let you stay aware of your surroundings while still enjoying your audio. These earbuds come in various form factors some, like the Nothing Ear (open), loop over the top of your ears, while others, like the SoundPeats PearlClip Pro, clip onto your outer ear much like clip-on earrings.Despite their budget-friendly price, the PearlClip Pro earbuds pack some impressive features. They boast 12mm dual-magnet drivers designed to enhance audio quality, provide up to six hours of continuous playback, and offer an additional 18 hours with the charging case.One common drawback of open-ear designs is their limited bass and high-frequency detail, as they dont form a seal in the ear canal. SoundPeats aims to address this by positioning the drivers directly over the ear canal for a more direct audio response. While real-world performance remains to be seen, this design choice could offer improved sound quality.For many users, top-tier audio fidelity isnt the primary concern. These earbuds are ideal for listening to audiobooks or podcasts while staying aware of your environment whether youre jogging, commuting, or working in a shared space.The PearlClip Pro isnt the first to adopt this form factor; the Bose Ultra Open earbuds follow a similar design, albeit with a more angular aesthetic and a significantly higher price tag.SoundPeats has been consistently improving its audio products, and while the PearlClip Pro may not be the most premium option, they offer solid value. Made primarily of plastic, they maintain a sleek look within their price range. While they are only available in gray, the neutral color ensures versatility.To learn more about the SoundPeats PearlClip Pro earbuds or to purchase for $59.99, visit SoundPeats or Amazon.This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

It can be useful, while studying any topic, to get an overview of when major events happened relative to each other. History textbooks commonly use a timeline for thisa chronological chart that shows when various events happened. WikiTimeline is a free website that uses a large language model to turn any Wikipedia article into a visual timeline you can use to see major events in a sequence.Wikipedia's open nature means there's all kinds of third party tools that use the articles in interesting ways. There's WikiTok, a sort of TikTok for Wikipedia, which allows you to scroll through articles to learn topics at random. WikiTimeline is another tool like that, putting the free and open information into a new context. To get started, just head to the home page and search for anythingyou will see suggested articles.Select the article you want to turn into a timeline. WikiTimeline will scan the article, note everything in the article that happened on a particular date, then compile it all into a timeline. You can start exploring right away. You can click any item to read a few more details, typically the year and a one-sentence summary of the event. You can zoom in and out, depending on how crowded the timeline is, and you can use the arrows on the side to jump between events. You can also add multiple articles to one timeline, allowing you to compare the relative history of two people or organizations. Credit: Justin Pot You can then copy the URL to your timeline and share it. An embed code is offered if you want to put the timeline on a website. There's even the option to customize the color scheme, if you want. Credit: Justin Pot As for the timelines themselves, they're pretty good. I'd say they're useful as a quick study aid than anything as authoritative as the timelines in a history textbook. And all of the usual nuances that apply to large language models are relevant hereit might get facts wrong or miss certain things. The product's about page recommends actually reading the Wikipedia article: "Our tool is meant to be a visual aid and should not be used as the sole source of information."In other words, it's probably best to think of this tool as a visual supplement. It's a potentially useful one, though.

Roku is continuing its relationship with Phillips, with the launch of a new cross-branded television. The Phillips OLED Roku TV is available starting today and retails starting at $1,299 online and in stores at Sam's Club. The 65-inch screen has a 4K UHD display and OLED technology, which has become pretty standard for a premium TV model. It's also equipped with Dolby Vision IQ, which adjusts picture quality settings based on the current lighting setup. And this Phillips OLED Roku TV includes a potential audio upgrade with the addition of a built-in Dolby Atmos 2.1 speaker system. The announcement highlighted the screen's gaming potential, with a native 120Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync Premium to prevent screen-tearing. Roku started making its own brand of televisions last year with the Pro Series, but it's also still maintaining collaborations with more established hardware manufacturers. The Phillips model will support all the latest Roku features, such as Backdrops. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/phillips-expands-its-roku-tv-range-with-a-1300-65-inch-oled-140047071.html?src=rss

AMD has finally done it. For years it's tried to undercut NVIDIA with slightly cheaper, but less capable, video cards like the Radeon 6700 XT and 7900 XT. And sure, it's still following that same strategy with the new Radeon 9070 and 9070 XT. This time around, though, AMD has produced far more capable hardware, especially when it comes to 4K and ray tracing performance. And there's hope that it could finally catch up to NVIDIA's DLSS AI upscaling with its new FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR4) technology. These aren't perfect video cards, to be clear. But for $549 and $599, the Radeon 9070 and 9070 XT are far more compelling than AMD's previous lineup. That's particularly true since the 9070 XT is $150 less than NVIDIA's RTX 5070 Ti, and in our testing it's sometimes faster than that card. AMD still has to prove that it can catch up to NVIDIA's DLSS, which has had several years to steadily improve its AI upscaling capabilities. In particular, AMD needs to match the performance of NVIDIA's multi-frame generation in DLSS 4, which has led to some surprisingly high fps figures while testing the RTX 50-series GPUs. AMD's Fluid Motion Frames technology is a start, but it's not nearly enough at this point. Hardware The Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT are AMD's first RDNA 4 GPUs, a new platform sporting more powerful and efficient compute units, third-generation ray tracing accelerators and second-generation AI accelerators. There isn't a huge technical difference between the two cards: The RX 9070 features 56 compute units, 56 ray accelerators and 112 AI accelerators, whereas the 9070 XT has eight more compute accelerators and 16 additional AI processors. The XT model is clocked slightly higher, as you'd expect, and it also draws more power (304W vs 220W). Notably, both cards also ship with 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM, whereas NVIDIA skimped a bit and only put 12GB of RAM in the $549 RTX 5070. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget As I was comparing our XFX-built review units, though, it was practically impossible to tell the RX 9070 and 9070 XT apart without reading the fine print on their labels. This is fairly typical for AMD cards with XT variants, and it makes sense since they're technically so similar. The XFX Swift GPUs I tested came in an elegant frost white case, with three large fans and surprisingly massive heatsinks. They're both 3.5-slot cards, so they also take up more room than the RTX 5090, which is a dense two-slot beast. Thanks to AMD's efficient RDNA design, you also don't need to rely on complex power dongles to drive these cards. They both take two PSU connections directly, and XFX recommends 800-watt power supplies at a minimum. That's significantly higher than AMD's minimum 650W spec though, so it could be that XFX is just trying to play it safe with its massive cooling setup. (If you're planning to overclock these cards, though, you'll likely want more than a mere 650W PSU.) Devindra Hardawar for Engadget In use: A big step up for AMD I knew AMD was onto something special when I learned the Radeon RX 9070 averaged 60 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 in 4K Ray Tracing Overdrive mode. Sure, it needed FSR 3 upscaling to get there, but it was still better than the 50 fps I saw on the Radeon 7900XT a few years ago. The game occasionally dipped below 60 fps, but it was still very playable. 1440p was much smoother overall, averaging 117 fps. The Radeon 9070 XT, meanwhile, averaged 68 fps in 4K and 130 fps in 1440p. Sure, these numbers are far behind the raw figures from NVIDIA's RTX 5070, which used the magic of multi-frame generation to deliver 115 fps in 4K with ray tracing and maxed out graphics. That card also hit 205 fps in 1440p. But as impressed as I was by the 5070, most of those frames were just meant to deliver the illusion of smoothness. During actual gameplay, I had a hard time seeing much slowdown with either Radeon card in 4K, and the difference between the NVIDIA card was practically erased in 1440p. Remember, fps figures aren't the entire story, even though NVIDIA wants you to believe otherwise. I kept that idea in mind as I tested FSR 4, which surprised me when it averaged around 20 fps less than FSR 3 in Call of Duty: Warzone on both GPUs. The Radeon 9070 XT reached 250 fps in 4K with FSR 3, cranked up graphics and frame generation, whereas it hit 229 fps in FSR 4. AMD tells me thats no error, its to be expected since FSR 4s AI upscaling is more focused on delivering higher quality graphics rather than a pure frame boost. I couldnt really see a huge difference while dodging bullets in CoD, but I did notice that finer textures like chain-link fences looked a bit clearer in FSR 4. (I also saw a few random glitched textures, something that was common in DLSS upscaled games early on. They werent a major problem, but AMD clearly has to refine its upscaling model further.) At the moment, enabling FSR 4 is a bit counter-intuitive as well. You have to turn it on in AMDs driver software, and then flip on FSR 3.1 in a compatible game. Warzone also required a reboot to fully enable the feature, but the game didnt prompt me to do so. And if you want frame generation, thats another option that has to be toggled on outside of the game. Hopefully this process will be smoothed out over time, along with wider availability for FSR 4. In addition to Black Ops 6, its supported in the newly launched FragPunk, Civilization 7, Marvel Rivals and a handful of PlayStation 5 ports like the Spider-Man games. But its nowhere to be found in Avowed or Dragon Age: The Veilguard, where youll be stuck with FSR 3. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget For games that dont work with FSR at all, AMDs Adrenaline software also has a HYPR-RX mode that enables features like Radeon Super Resolution upscaling (a separate driver-level technology) and AMDs Fluid Motion Frames generation. Altogether, they led to me seeing 200 fps in Forza Horizon 5 using the RX 9070 XT in 4K with maxed out graphics settings, up from 85 fps natively. But again, those are just fps figures AMD points out Radeon Super Resolution may not look as clear as FSR alternatives. (I didnt notice any weirdness in Forza, but I may have been distracted by the beautiful racing vistas in Mexico.) GPU 3DMark TimeSpy Extreme Geekbench 6 GPU Cyberpunk (4K RT Overdrive DLSS) Port Royal ray tracing AMD Radeon 9070 10,997 113,012 60 fps (DLSS 3 w/ frame gen) 15,888 AMD Radeon 9070 XT 13,060 130,474 68fps (DLSS 3 w/ frame gen) 17,959 NVIDIA RTX 5070 10,343 178,795 115 fps (4x frame gen) 13,920 NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti 12,675 238,417 153 fps (4X frame gen) 19,309 AMD Radeon 7900XTX 12,969 N/A 55 fps (DLSS 3) 14,696 When it comes to benchmarks, the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT hold their own against NVIDIAs 5070 and 5070 Ti in most of 3DMarks tests. In the Steel Nomad benchmark, the 9070 scored 1,100 points higher than the 5070, and the 9070 XT beat out the more expensive 5070 Ti by almost 3,000 points in Timespy Extreme. I was also surprised to see the RX 9070 scoring almost 2,000 points higher than the RTX 5070 in the Port Royal ray tracing benchmark. Previously, ray tracing of any kind was AMDs Achilles heel. Both of our XFX cards also stayed surprisingly cool during benchmarks and extended gaming sessions. They never went beyond 65C under load, and they typically idled below 40C. And since they never got very hot, I could barely hear their fans spinning up. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget Should you buy the Radeon RX 9070 or RX 9070 XT? On paper, both of AMDs new GPUs are compelling alternatives to NVIDIAs midrange cards for 1440p gamers who occasionally dabble in 4K. The RX 9070 XT is particularly interesting, since its noticeably faster and still comes in $150 less than the RTX 5070 Ti. But were also dealing with a chaotic time in the PC gaming world, where GPU stock can disappear quickly and prices can rocket up quickly. If you can nab either Radeon card at their listed prices, theyll be good deals. But its not worth overpaying by too much for now. It also remains to be seen how the Trump administrations combative tariffs will affect pricing for PC hardware and electronics. Prices could easily jump by 20 percent or more to cover those costs. While NVIDIAs DLSS 4 technology is more mature and leads to higher interpolated frame rates, theres also a good argument for going with AMDs cards since they have 16GB of VRAM. Theyll be better suited to handling larger textures in games down the line, and theres also the potential for FSR 4 to improve as well. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget Wrap-up Its clear now why AMD was focused on upgrading its mid-range Radeon cards first. Theres not much point competing with NVIDIA at the extreme high end, like it did with Radeon RX 7900 XT and XTX. It makes more sense to focus on cards people can actually buy. The Radeon 9070 and 9070 XT also solve many of the problems Ive had with AMDs GPUs in the past. They can go toe-to-toe with NVIDIA's cards, they have better ray tracing support and finally, they have AI upscaling. It remains to be seen if AMD will actually build on the promise of those features, but these cards are a hopeful start.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/amd-radeon-rx-9070-and-9070-xt-review-hitting-nvidia-where-it-hurts-140014376.html?src=rss

The British government faces legal action over privacy row with tech giant Apple.