Forward-looking: The NFL has announced it will use Sony's high-tech Hawk-Eye cameras instead of traditional chains to measure the line to gain. The new technology is expected to speed up the process of determining first downs, but it won't necessarily take human error out of the equation. The change will take effect in the 2025 26 season, beginning with the kickoff game on September 4 in Philadelphia. The NFL expects the technology to add "a new level of precision and speed" to the decision-making process, offering a faster and more advanced alternative to the long-standing method of walking chains onto the field to manually measure the ball's distance from the line to gain.Hawk-Eye technology, which uses six 8K cameras for optical tracking of the ball's position, will be deployed at all 30 NFL stadiums in the U.S., as well as at international venues hosting NFL games. The system will be operated from the NFL's Art McNally GameDay Central Officiating Center (AMGC) in New York and is integrated with the league's existing replay system.According to the NFL, the new measurement process will take only about 30 seconds potentially saving up to 40 seconds compared to the traditional chain-based method. However, the chain crew won't be retired just yet. They will remain on the sidelines as a backup, and will be called upon to do the measuring in traditional style in case something goes wrong with the technology.TV audiences and in-stadium spectators will be able to view virtual recreations of measurements in real time, adding a new visual dimension to the game. Still, questions remain about whether the high-tech system will lead to more accurate calls.Fans have noted that the most controversial line calls typically stem from the initial spotting of the ball by on-field officials, rather than errors in measuring the distance to the line to gain. One example is last season's AFC Championship Game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, when Bills quarterback Josh Allen was controversially ruled short of the line to gain by the on-field officials on a critical play. // Related StoriesThe call was reviewed, but unfortunately for the Bills, the position of the ball could not be determined by the cameras, leading to the confirmation of the on-field ruling. Hawk-Eye would not have been of use in this instance, as the positioning of the ball by the on-field referees was the controversial aspect, not the first down measurement.Hawk-Eye technology is already used by 23 of the world's 25 top sports leagues and international sporting events, including various World Cups. It plays a key role in sports such as soccer, tennis, cricket, and rugby, where it helps determine line calls. Proponents argue that the technology has matured significantly in recent years, offering a more accurate and fairer experience for athletes, officials, and fans alike.

Something to look forward to: Meta's love of smart glasses is set to continue with a new device codenamed Hypernova that sounds distinctly cyberpunky. The glasses will feature a tiny heads-up display integrated into one of the lenses, which partly explains why it will cost anywhere between $1,000 and $1,400. The Hypernova smart glasses will arrive later this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, so we could see them unveiled at the Meta Connect conference scheduled to take place on September 17 and 18.The big selling point could be the miniature monocular panel in the right-hand lens. It's expected that this screen could show app notifications from a user's phone, let them access their photos, or even see directions from an app such as Google Maps.The glasses' functions will be controlled using hand gestures and capacitive touch on the side of the frame. Gurman writes that the screen is in the lower-right quadrant of the right lens and is best viewed when looking downward. When the glasses are turned on, a home screen will load up and show icons horizontally, much like the Meta Quest. Expect to interact with Meta's AI assistant while wearing them, too.Hypernova will also have a more advanced camera system than the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, able to capture higher-quality photos than the 12MP sensor found on that device, which costs $300 or around $380 for versions with transition lenses.Meta's next-gen glasses will have to offer something quite special for users to spend anywhere from $1,000 to $1,400 on a pair. The mini screen does sound intriguing, but it's something that Google tried with Google Glass in 2013. It used a mini-projector that beamed images onto a semi-transparent prism positioned above the user's right eye, displaying a 640 360 image. Google discontinued the consumer version of Google Glass in 2015, while the Enterprise Edition was discontinued in 2023.Hypernova is different from Orion, the in-development augmented reality glasses from Meta. Those feature eye-tracking, hand-tracking, voice controls, and even a neural interface although it reads signals from your wrist rather than your brain. It's believed that Hypernova will come with this same wristband controller, codenamed Ceres.Meta seems confident that Hypernova will be a success, as it is also working on a successor, Hypernova 2, that will feature two screens and could launch in 2027. // Related Stories

What just happened? Google is celebrating Gmail's 21st birthday by introducing new encryption features for enterprise users. The company's latest security system aims to simplify encryption options for businesses of all sizes while providing IT departments with the tools to maintain information integrity. Other updates from this week improved Google Chrome's encryption and allowed Google Fi subscribers to send encrypted RCS messages to iPhones. Starting today, IT departments participating in Google's beta can use Gmail to send end-to-end encrypted emails to recipients within the same organization. The functionality will expand to all Gmail inboxes in the coming weeks and to non-Gmail inboxes by the end of the year.The new functionality, which is activated in just a few clicks, aims to provide small organizations with email security that typically requires dedicated IT departments. It also circumvents the need for proprietary software and exchanging decryption keys.The animation above from Google's Workspace blog demonstrates the process. To send an encrypted email, simply draft a new message, click the lock icon on the right side of the recipient field, and select "Turn on" under "Additional encryption."Emails are encrypted locally on the sender's device and decrypted in the recipient's inbox. The user experience closely resembles using Gmail normally, and Google's servers can't access the encryption keys. Meanwhile, non-Gmail inboxes that receive Gmail-encrypted messages receive an invitation to view a restricted version of Gmail. The new system also supports S/MIME.IT departments can also tighten security by forcing all recipients, even Gmail inboxes outside an organization, to view messages in Gmail's restricted mode, which presents the content like a Google Drive document. Security managers can set messages to encrypt by default and set rules for automating clearance levels to add extra layers of security without significantly inconveniencing users. // Related StoriesGoogle also introduced new encryption rules for Chrome this week, which should close certain HTTPS protocol loopholes. The tightened standards might significantly improve overall internet security, since Chrome is easily the most popular browser engine.In other Google-related encryption news, Apple's recently released iOS 18.4 update allows iPhones to receive RCS text messages from Google Fi subscribers. Before Apple introduced iOS 18 last year, messages sent between iPhones and Android devices lacked end-to-end encryption and other advanced features. The update that introduced cross-platform RCS initially supported only AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon users, but this week's patch extends support to Google Fi.

In brief: Valve has just posted the results of March's Steam survey, and, as predicted, things have returned to normal after the weirdness we saw during the previous month. This means there's a new top GPU, operating system, and language, while AMD's CPU share has reached a record high. February was one of those months where the Steam survey changed drastically. One of the biggest changes was a new most-popular graphics card, as the RTX 4060 replaced the RTX 3060.These sorts of anomalies can occur for several reasons, including sampling bias, reporting bugs, and hardware driver updates. There's also the problem of shared machines at internet cafes in China inflating hardware specs.But the issue is often down to Valve's algorithms and data processing methods, which can directly impact the survey results, especially when they make back-end changes or adjust how they categorize, interpret, or weight the incoming data.But, as we saw after the last survey shake-up in October 2023, the status quo has now been restored. That includes the RTX 3060 taking back its crown from the RTX 4060, though the Ampere card is only 0.34% ahead of its Lovelace successor in terms of user share.Most popular GPUs among Steam survey participants in March 2025March also saw AMD get back to business in the CPU section. Team Red hit a record 36.19% user share in January before falling 5% as Intel rose by the same amount a month later. In March, AMD reached a new record high of 37.62%, up 6.5%, with Intel dropping by the same margin to 62.3%. // Related StoriesWindows 10 also saw an unlikely resurgence in February, retaking the top spot with a 10% rise in user share. The older OS is now down to 40% and Windows 11 is found on 55% of participants' machines.This is a trend we're seeing globally as Windows 10's October 2025 end-of-support date draws closer. Statcounter reports that while the OS remains the most popular on desktops, its share has declined since the start of the year as Windows 11 climbs rapidly. There is now just 10 percent points separating the two operating systems.Returning to the Steam survey, 16GB has replaced 32GB as the most common amount of system RAM among participants, and English took over from Chinese as the most popular language.

Why it matters: In all the focus on the big processors and the "AI race," we often overlook the far less glamorous business of actually building compute systems. We have explored different parts of that (and here), but there is an underlying assumption built into all these conversations the role of Taiwanese companies upon which the whole ecosystem rests. What will the shift to AI compute mean for the hundreds of companies that make up this critical ecosystem? We were reminded of this during our recent visit to Mobile World Congress when we had the chance to visit the Taiwan ITRI Booth.ITRI is a trade organization representing their electronics companies. The booth had a dozen vendors offering various pieces of computing gear. This includes companies like iBase and Nexcom, which make specialty server gear (security and edge), Asrock, which makes motherboards, and Aerotek, which produces all sorts of radio equipment (Wi-Fi, mmWave, etc). These are small companies without the cachet of TSMC or MediaTek, but collectively they serve an important function in the market.Editor's Note:Guest author Jonathan Goldberg is the founder of D2D Advisory, a multi-functional consulting firm. Jonathan has developed growth strategies and alliances for companies in the mobile, networking, gaming, and software industries.The trouble here is that all of these companies were built on top of Intel. Look through their catalogs all those specialty servers and motherboards are built on Intel CPUs, often three years (or more) old.Prior to TSMC's rise as the flagship of Taiwan's electronics complex, Taiwanese companies formed the bedrock of modern compute, filling every available niche and spot in the supply chain. Over the years, many (but not all) of these companies moved their manufacturing base to the Mainland, but core R&D and headquarters remained in Taiwan. // Related StoriesNow all those companies face two major transitions. The first is they must weather Intel's turmoil. No matter what Intel's new CEO does with their fabs, the company is almost certain to face a major headcount reduction and a corresponding narrowing of their scope of business. This will very likely lead to a reduction in support for this ecosystem.Companies that today bridge the gap in providing support to the long tail of enterprise electronics will likely find it much harder to maintain previous levels of support.Their second major transition is, of course, a big part of the cause of Intel's troubles the shift to AI compute and the rise of Nvidia.Nvidia has become the dominant force in data center compute applications, and as AI percolates into the edge, that long tail will need to source specialty compute hardware from someone. But it is not clear the traditional vendors in Taiwan will be able to support that.At MWC, the one refuge from the sea of AI-washing marketing was the ITRI booth, where almost no one talked about AI (at least not in explicit marketing materials).Nvidia is now in the process of building up the electronics ecosystem that provided so much support to Intel. Nvidia's GTC, and the upcoming Computex, are very much about Nvidia's efforts to find, train, and support partners who can fulfill their ever-growing book of business. That being said, it is unlikely that Nvidia will build up its partner network in the same way that Intel did.The world has changed a lot, and companies which today build semi-custom server boxes for traditional compute may not be the ones to build semi-custom, long-tail server boxes for AI. In our tour, we saw almost no support for AMD, let alone Nvidia. This complex is built on x86 and general compute the AI complex is going to look different.Nvidia's GTC, and the upcoming Computex, are very much about Nvidia's efforts to find, train, and support partners who can fulfill their ever-growing book of business.In some senses, we could see some of these companies just altering their designs a motherboard for a CPU is built with largely the same materials as a GPU board. But so much of this business extends beyond the basics of metal bending.Companies which have been building Intel-based servers for decades do not have the in-house experience with Nvidia new firmware, new pin compatibility schemes, new power and cooling requirements, etc. This sort of soft expertise helped these companies differentiate themselves from the pure manufacturing-focused box builders in the Mainland.With much of that expertise now rendered less critical to customers, whatever will replace it is very much green field a jump ball where the traditional vendors have no clear advantage.This does not mean that disaster is imminent, but it seems likely that a big transformation is starting soon. Intel's strength in this corner of the industry, not only with the small specialty makers but their larger peers (and often parent companies), has long served as a major competitive advantage that tripped up other aspiring CPU vendors.Intel's ability to hold on to this complex will play a large role in determining its future. If Intel can remain the preferred silicon partner here, this segment will provide an important source of demand on which Intel can rebuild. But it is not clear how well these companies can navigate the changes coming in the next few years.

In context: The introduction of holographic displays marks a significant evolution in PC customization. While RGB lighting has been a staple for years, Coolify's Holo Fans elevate personalization to new heights by replacing static lighting effects with dynamic holograms. Coolify, a company specializing in PC customization, has developed a product that integrates holographic displays into desktop setups, potentially transforming the aesthetics of personal computing. The Holo Fans bring animated holograms to PC case fans, offering a visual experience that goes beyond traditional RGB lighting effects and provides a new level of personalization for gaming and workstation setups.Unlike conventional RGB fans that rely solely on LED lighting, Coolify's Holo Fans use spinning LED arrays to simulate holograms. At the center of these spinning fans, users will see floating holograms created by an array of 96 LEDs. These holograms are not merely static images; they can display logos, animations, and customizable graphics.Available in both 120mm and 140mm sizes, the Holo Fans come with a controller for managing animations and lighting effects. They also support software integration, allowing users to synchronize visuals with system metrics such as CPU temperature, fan speeds, and gaming performance indicators. The holograms can also be programmed to display system alerts or real-time notifications.The fans boast high-static pressure designs for efficient airflow, with speeds reaching up to 2,600 RPM. They deliver airflow rates of 52 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) and a rated air pressure of 2.75 mmH2O.Noise levels are kept at 33 dB(A), making them suitable for gaming and professional environments. However, their power consumption ranges between 2W and 6W and can peak at 10W higher than standard case fans but arguably justified by their features. // Related StoriesThe fans operate at fixed speeds, either 1,500 or 2,600 RPM, to maintain the holographic projection's integrity varying the speed would disrupt the visuals.One notable feature is how users interact with these fans. Unlike traditional PC peripherals that transfer data directly from the computer, Coolify's Holo Fans require images and animations to be uploaded via Wi-Fi using a companion smartphone app. While this may add some complexity during installation, especially for setups involving multiple fans, it eliminates concerns about resource-heavy PC software interfering with gaming performance.Originally unveiled at Computex 2024, the Holo Fans are now available for $45.99 each. However, due to high demand, early adopters may experience limited availability.

Something to look forward to: It's been eight years since Nintendo unleashed the Nintendo Switch on the world. While there have been several variants of that model since then, the company is finally unveiling the official successor in a few hours, and you can watch the whole thing live right here at 6am PDT / 9am ET. There have been a slew of leaks and rumors regarding the Switch 2 over the last 12 months or so. Nintendo offered some actual details during the first-look trailer in January, when it showed off the larger screen, top-mounted USB-C port, and an upgraded kickstand. We also saw the snazzy new controllers that appear to have PC-style mouse functionality.Following the first Nintendo Direct last week (below) that focused on new games, remasters, and the Virtual Game Cards feature that allows users to loan digital games to friends, the second Nintendo Direct takes place today.Nintendo is spending an hour on the Switch 2 reveal, which will hopefully mean we'll get an in-depth look at the console, its hardware, and all the features.There will also be several Switch 2 games unveiled. There was a brief glimpse of Mario Kart 9 during January's teaser, so expect to see plenty more details about that one later today.Other games that could be on display include a new 3D Mario, cross-gen titles, and some Microsoft and Xbox games. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said in January that he was looking forward to supporting Nintendo with the company's Xbox games. // Related StoriesIt's rumored that Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Forza Horizon 5, and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 are all heading to Nintendo's new handheld hybrid, and Microsoft signed a ten-year deal to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo's consoles after it acquired Activision Blizzard. Microsoft's Minecraft is already on the Switch, as are Pentiment and Grounded.There will be plenty of Switch 2 games shown off this week as Nintendo has announced the return of Nintendo Treehouse. These presentations take place at 7am PT / 10am ET today (straight after the Switch 2 livestream) and the same time tomorrow (April 4), when you can watch some hands-on gameplay of Switch 2 titles.

The big picture: 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for Intel's comeback strategy. With a new CEO at the helm, the company is positioning its next-generation hardware as a litmus test for its return to the forefront of semiconductor manufacturing. As Intel's production roadmap reaches a critical juncture, how prospective clients will respond remains uncertain. Kevin O'Buckley, senior vice president and general manager of Intel Foundry Services, confirmed that risk production has begun for the company's upcoming 18A semiconductor node. The announcement, made at Intel's Vision conference, is likely to reassure investors and clients that development of the next generation of laptop and server processors has entered a crucial phase.Risk production, an industry-standard term, refers to the stage where manufacturers refine the production process for new chips. O'Buckley explained that Intel is currently scaling up from producing hundreds of 18A wafers at a time to thousands.Also see: How CPUs are Designed, Part 3:Building the ChipAlthough Intel has not yet named any external clients committed to building commercial chips on 18A, the company aims to reach volume and mass production in time to launch its Panther Lake CPUs later this year. With 28A tape-out design finalizations set to begin in the first half of 2025, Panther Lake is expected to deliver significant improvements in AI performance over Intel's Core Ultra 200V notebook processors.Intel's new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, also recently confirmed that Nova Lake and Clearwater Forest chips are scheduled for release in 2026. Nova Lake will incorporate silicon from TSMC, Intel's foundry rival, while Clearwater Forest will bring 18A to the server market. // Related StoriesWith 18A, Intel is racing to outpace TSMC in bringing sub-3nm technologies to market specifically gate-all-around (GAA) transistors and backside power delivery. These innovations improve performance by reducing power leakage and enabling higher transistor density. TSMC does not plan to introduce GAA and backside power delivery until its N2 and A16 nodes debut next year. N2 is expected to enter early production soon and ramp up to mass production later this year.Intel's manufacturing has trailed behind TSMC and Samsung for several years. Following a string of disappointing quarters that led to the departure of former CEO Pat Gelsinger, the 18A node is seen as a crucial opportunity to reestablish confidence in Intel's foundry business.Nvidia and Broadcom are reportedly exploring the use of 18A for future products, though they are still in the early testing phase with Intel's wafers. Meanwhile, Apple is expected to be the first to adopt TSMC's N2 node, likely debuting it in the A20 processor for the iPhone 18 Pro in late 2026. AMD, Broadcom, Amazon AWS, and Intel are also expected to use N2.Nvidia and Broadcom are reportedly interested in using 18A for future products, but the two companies are likely just running early tests with Intel's wafers. Meanwhile, Apple is first in line for TSMC's N2, which will likely debut with the iPhone 18 Pro's A20 processor in late 2026. AMD, Broadcom, Amazon AWS, and Intel are also expected to employ N2.

The big picture: Chrome is by far the most popular browser across various platforms and device types, with a market share of over 66 percent. Needless to say, every change Google makes to its proprietary browser inevitably influences all major players in the web ecosystem. Google recently announced two major initiatives aimed at enhancing web security, with the ultimate goal of making encryption and certificate management more reliable and resilient against cybercrime. These new features are part of the Chrome Root Program, which, according to Google, demonstrates the company's commitment to strengthening online security through its Chrome browser.As the world's most popular browser vendor, Google is highly motivated to improve web safety by encouraging industry organizations to adopt its proposed standards. The latest changes from the search and advertising giant involve the CA/Browser Forum, a cross-industry group that establishes baseline requirements for issuing TLS certificates.TLS connections, which enable encrypted HTTPS protocols, are the backbone of modern web security. However, cybercriminals are constantly seeking ways to circumvent these protections. To counter this, Google has proposed two key measures: Multi-Perspective Issuance Corroboration (MPIC) and an automated vetting process known as "linting."Google explained that MPIC enhances existing methods for validating domain legitimacy before a Certificate Authority issues a new TLS certificate. The current process, known as "domain control validation," can be exploited in various ways, potentially leading to fraudulent certificate issuance. MPIC aims to mitigate these risks by introducing additional verification perspectives.The CA/Browser Forum unanimously adopted MPIC in a recent voting session, making it a mandatory requirement for Certificate Authorities during the certificate issuance process. Google also highlighted the Open MPIC Project as a robust implementation of this new validation method.While MPIC helps prevent fraudulent certificates from being issued, linting provides an additional layer of security by analyzing X.509 certificates for potential issues. The X.509 standard defines the format for public key certificates and plays a crucial role in the TLS protocol. With linting, CAs can verify whether a certificate is properly formatted for its intended use, such as website authentication. // Related StoriesLinting also identifies insecure certificates that rely on weak or outdated encryption technologies, thereby enhancing security and ensuring better interoperability between CAs through adherence to industry standards. Google noted that the linting process can be implemented through various open-source projects, including certlint, pkilint, x509lint, and zlint. The company once again secured unanimous support for linting in a recent CA/Browser Forum vote, and the technology officially became a requirement for new public certificates issued by CAs on March 15, 2025.

Why it matters: Vaping has been around for a long time, but its popularity didn't skyrocket until the early 2010s. Since then, it has significantly contributed to the world's e-waste problem, with thousands of disposable devices filling landfills and recycling centers. Not only are e-cigarettes damaging to the environment, but they are also a growing fire hazard. Fire Rover, a company that specializes in automated and semi-automated fire suppression systems, released its annual report noting that waste and recycling fires are steadily rising. In 2024, the company recorded 2,910 fires a 60-percent increase from 2023's 1,809 and a 100-percent jump from 2022's 1,409 incidents. The report also notes that fire crews dispatched to emergencies at trash and recycling facilities hit a record high of 398, a steady growth since Fire Rover began tracking the stat at 275 incidents in 2016.Lithium-ion battery fires are not new, nor are they the only cause of trash and recycling blazes. Fire Rover CEO Ryan Fogelman told Ars Technica things like fireworks, pool chemicals, and hot barbeque briquettes pose just as much risk. However, batteries, particularly those in disposable vaping products, are a rapidly growing cause mainly because of consumer ignorance and a lack of widespread e-waste collection.Many well-meaning customers know not to throw their vapes in the regular trash, so they use the other option recycling bins, which is no better. No matter which facility these devices land in, they can ignite in many ways. Crushing pressure, puncturing, short-circuiting, and vibration from facility operations are common causes. However, battery defects, internal cell failure, and overheating are indirect means of ignition that refuse centers cannot control. Fogelman estimates that about half of the incidents Fire Rover tracks are battery-related, costing facilities approximately $2.5 billion in 2024 alone.The CEO says that a properly functioning e-waste infrastructure could reduce this trend, but that does not currently exist and does not seem to be a high priority. Furthermore, the few facilities offering e-waste collection are abandoning or restricting it, likely because of the associated costs.For example, my local refuse center used to pick up e-waste once a year. It recently discontinued that service. Customers can still bring in their e-waste, but the facility has a long list of items it refuses to accept. The added inconvenience of having to haul in their old electronics and the annoyance of not having anywhere else to dispose of the unaccepted items has likely led many to just chuck the lot into the regular recycle bin or the trash. // Related StoriesVideo of a Fire Rover suppression system identifying fire and then smoke to extinguish a blaze before it spreads.Fire Rover points its finger at the vaping industry, believing it should take more responsibility for helping clean up the mess it has helped create."Not only are their batteries being improperly discarded in waste and recycling bins, but the vape industry has done the bare minimum to invest in the technology needed to address the 1.2 billion vapes entering our waste and recycling streams annually," the report states.Of course, you could always just use them to charge your phone.Image credit: Vaping360

What just happened? West Japan Railway Company (JR West) has unveiled what it claims to be the world's first 3D-printed train station building. Located at Hatsushima Station on the JR Kisei Main Line in Arida, Wakayama Prefecture, the project merges cutting-edge technology with cultural sensitivity, marking a potential milestone in railway infrastructure. The new station building, set to open in July, replaces an aging wooden structure that had served the rural community for years. Standing 2.6 meters tall, 6.3 meters wide, and 2.1 meters deep, the single-story reinforced concrete building was constructed using advanced 3D printing technology.Japanese 3D-printing construction specialist Serendix prefabricated four key components, including the roof and walls, off-site. These were then transported and assembled in just two and a half hours, during the window between the last train at night and the first train the following morning.The process involved shaping mortar with a 3D printer and creating formwork to mold the exterior. Reinforcing steel was inserted into the hollow sections before being filled with concrete, ensuring durability and earthquake resistance comparable to traditional reinforced concrete structures, without the need for conventional wooden or metal formwork.JR West estimates this approach cuts costs by around 50 percent compared to conventional reinforced concrete buildings.Beyond cost savings, this rapid construction method reduces disruptions to railway operations, making it an ideal solution for replacing aging infrastructure on active rail lines.The station's design reflects its local surroundings, featuring artistic depictions of Arida City's iconic mikan oranges and tachiuo (beltfish) on the exterior. JR West emphasized that the goal is to create a station cherished by residents while aligning with regional culture, an approach they describe as "regional coexistence." // Related StoriesHatsushima Station was chosen for the pilot due to its coastal location, allowing experts to evaluate the structure's resilience against environmental challenges such as salty air exposure. Additionally, JR West will assess long-term maintenance costs and feasibility as part of its broader plan to modernize Japan's railway infrastructure.If successful, JR West plans to expand 3D printing technology across its network. The company sees this innovation as key to its long-term vision of providing "safe, secure, and human-friendly transportation" while enhancing sustainability.Image credit: JIJI

Editor's take: Judging from the discourse in my communication bubble, almost no one likes AI technologies. The most enthusiastic AI evangelists are vendors interested in selling you something AI related to cash in on the craze or the companies creating it and shoving it down our throats. A recent Gartner analysis reports that spending on generative AI (GenAI) will grow to unprecedented levels in 2025, even though very few organizations understand how this technology can help their businesses or profit prospects. Experts believe this market "paradox" trend will persist through 2025 and 2026.Global spending on GenAI will reach around $644 billion in 2025, a 76.4-percent increase compared to 2024. This spending trend comes despite the technology's lack of actual usefulness and error rate. Gartner VP Analyst John-David Lovelock says foundational model providers are investing billions in developing and enhancing their solutions regardless of the growing concerns about the technology.This year, internal projects with lofty goals will face increased scrutiny, Lovelock stated. Chief investment officers will likely opt for commercial, off-the-shelf solutions, while proof-of-concept experimentations and self-developed implementations should become the exception. GenAI prospects haven't been as ambitious lately, but the technology should still significantly impact all IT spending this year.Experts expect AI technologies to become integral to all kinds of business operations and consumer products. This forced integration will be primarily due to AI capabilities baked directly into consumer hardware, with servers, smartphones, and PCs absorbing 80 percent of the projected GenAI spending.Lovelock notes that the growing prevalence of AI-enabled devices is driving market growth, with these consumer electronics expected to make up nearly the entire market by 2028. However, end consumers don't seem as enthusiastic about GenAI, as they're not actively seeking these "extra" features when shopping for new devices. Regardless, manufacturers continue embedding AI as a standard in mass-market products, ultimately forcing consumers to adopt it.Developers have adopted a service model that says, "You will consume our product, even if you don't want it." It sounds like a page out of Microsoft's playbook back in the day.

What just happened? Some significant changes are coming to Thunderbird. Mozilla, which financially resurrected the free, open-source email client a few years ago, will soon unveil a new set of "professional" services designed to enhance the basic email management features of the program. In 2023, Mozilla developers announced they were "remaking" Thunderbird's software architecture, aiming to modernize its crumbling and unsustainable codebase. The company later confirmed plans to add new paid professional accounts available for all Thunderbird users.Mozilla Managing Director Ryan Sipes said they have named the new bundle of services "Thunderbird Pro," which includes several new features. Meanwhile, Mozilla is rebranding the email client to "Thundermail." The Pro package expands and enhances what Thunderbird has to offer its users.At first, the company will offer Thunderbird Pro for free "to consistent community contributors." Everyone else will have to pay for the pro tier. However, once Thunderbird Pro has built a sustainable user base, Mozilla will consider adding limited free tiers.Thunderbird was losing users regularly to "rich" ecosystems with local clients and remote services. Gmail and Office 365 are the main competitors. While these platforms lock their customers into their ecosystems, Thunderbird Pro will supposedly offer a 100-percent open source, freedom-respective alternative for those seeking and all-in-one experience.Thunderbird Pro will include the following services:Thunderbird AppointmentThunderbird SendThunderbird AssistThundermailThunderbird Appointment is a scheduling tool that allows users to send a link to someone as an invitation to a calendar appointment. The service should make meeting with other people more streamlined, Sipes noted, adding that he and his team weren't happy with the currently available tools. // Related StoriesThunderbird Send is a spiritual rebirth of Firefox Send, the file-sharing service Mozilla shut down in 2020. The development team rebuilt the project to offer more direct methods of sending files.Sipes described Thunderbird Assist as an experimental AI service. He was vague about the details, so it may still be in early development. He said users would have access to some unnamed AI features remotely processed by Flower AI. More powerful devices will have the option to run AI models locally.Finally, Thundermail is the "new" email client akin to Gmail or Outlook. Sipes believes the revamped service can provide a better service than any of its competitors while adhering to Mozilla's core values. Thundermail is built on the open-source software stack of Stalwart, improving its basic capabilities as well.

Taking a tech industry titan back to the heights from which it once reigned is no easy task for anyone. Just ask Pat Gelsinger, former CEO and multi-decade veteran of Intel, who was tapped to lead the turnaround the company realized it needed a little over four years ago.Gelsinger, widely seen as the right choice for the role at the time, laid out a plan to get both the company's products and semiconductor manufacturing prowess back on track. He arguably made solid progress on both goals. Unfortunately, the company's board of directors and the public markets didn't feel the improvements were happening fast enough, and he was forced to depart from the company last December.Fast forward a few months to the company's appropriately named Vision conference, where newly appointed CEO Lip-Bu Tan took the stage in his first major appearance to share where he wants the company to go.But unsurprisingly, he's plans are not radically different from the plans Gelsinger initiated, but there are some key adjustments that could drive the kind of faster changes tech industry watchers and the markets are eager to see.Like Gelsinger, Lip-Bu Tan is a Silicon Valley veteran. He started a successful venture capital fund (Walden International), served on the boards of numerous tech companies, and most notably, led Cadence a leader in EDA chip design software as CEO. During his 12-year tenure there, he pulled off a very successful turnaround. That experience makes him a strong fit for Intel, given Cadence's crucial role in chip design, manufacturing, IP, and technology leadership. // Related StoriesAt Intel, of course, the stakes are significantly higher. For over 50 years, the company has been seen as a tech industry leader, driving some of the most important computing advances in client devices, servers, and the cloud and, until recently, leading in chip manufacturing.Also see: Intel's comeback plan: Panther Lake in 2025, Nova Lake in 2026, says CEO Lip-Bu TanRecognizing this, and building on the foundation that Gelsinger laid out, Lip-Bu Tan made it clear he believes Intel has a vital role to play in both creating new semiconductor products and operating as a chip foundry not just for its own chips but also for other major chip design firms.It's a big, difficult, long-term goal and one that's definitely sparked some healthy debate but ultimately, I believe, the right one for the company. Especially given the ongoing geopolitical tensions that continue to worry many tech industry observers, there's no question that the U.S. needs a major player in chip manufacturing.Intel is the only real option. To put it simply, Intel and its semiconductor manufacturing efforts are too important to fail or to disappear. Now, it may be that Intel spins off the foundry business into an independent entity at a later time, but for now, it seems clear and Lip-Bu Tan emphasized that it's not going anywhere anytime soon.The continued push in chip manufacturing is particularly important and timely, as the company is finally on the verge of regaining a leadership position in advanced process technologies. The upcoming 18A process still slated for release at the end of this year with Intel's Panther Lake CPUs for laptops brings several key innovations, including backside power delivery and RibbonFET transistors, that are currently exclusive to Intel. Together, these should allow Intel to produce chips that are both faster and more efficient than those made using TSMC's 2nm process.The big unanswered question for the foundry business, though, is whether Intel can convince other major chip designers think Apple, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Marvell, etc. to commit to significant production volumes. At the moment, most seem to be testing the waters with both 18A and the future 14A process the company previously announced, but closing those deals will be a major test for the new CEO. With a foundry-focused event scheduled for the end of April, expectations are high for some real news on that front.On the product side, Intel's current roadmap looks solid by most accounts, but the challenge will be maintaining momentum. There are also plenty of questions around which projects Lip-Bu Tan might cancel, restart, or launch.His Vision speech offered some hints, touching on the growing importance of AI acceleration, robotics, and more. He also talked about revitalizing Intel's culture, aiming to make it an engineering-driven company once again one with the nimbleness and speed of a startup. All of these are lofty goals, but the real test will be how well he can execute on those cultural and product goals.And while products matter, one of the most important things Intel needs to regain is the industry's confidence. The past few years have been tough, and the uncertainty surrounding Intel's future has arguably dragged down broader tech industry momentum especially in the PC market. If Lip-Bu Tan can restore confidence in Intel then that will be an extremely big step forward. In fact, that's likely the first impact that the new CEO can make... and hopes are high that he's the right person to do that.Ultimately, the question will boil down to how Lip-Bu Tan's vision for the "new Intel" can carry the company through what will undoubtedly be a tough few years. The question isn't just what kind of products it can create and what kinds of business it can land in its foundry business, but also how the company redefines itself in the AI computing era, where many of the company's traditional strengths matter less than they once did.The tools are clearly there. The motivation seems to be as well. So let's hope this "new" Intel can reclaim its spot as a critical innovator and tech industry leader.Bob O'Donnell is the founder and chief analyst of TECHnalysis Research, LLC a technology consulting firm that provides strategic consulting and market research services to the technology industry and professional financial community. You can follow him on X @bobodtech

TL;DR: Microsoft is testing a new feature called Quick Machine Recovery that's designed to help IT teams restore unbootable Windows 11 devices remotely. The move comes nearly a year after the infamous CrowdStrike outage, which left countless businesses scrambling to manually fix systems. The feature, part of Microsoft's Windows Resiliency Initiative, was first announced last year. It's now being tested as part of the latest Windows Insider Preview build specifically, version 6120.3653.For the uninitiated, last July, a faulty kernel-level update from CrowdStrike triggered Blue Screens of Death on millions of Windows machines, disrupting critical infrastructure, including airlines and banks. Many IT admins had to physically access affected devices to resolve the issue.With Quick Machine Recovery, Microsoft aims to avoid another CrowdStrike-style situation. The feature can be found in the Advanced options menu for the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE), as shown below.The process works by automatically booting a failed device into the RE when it can't boot normally. Once in that mode, the device establishes a network connection via Ethernet or Wi-Fi and sends diagnostic crash data to Microsoft.The company then analyzes this data across affected devices and uses it to identify widespread issues, develop targeted fixes, and remotely rolls them out through Windows Update. This should streamline what would otherwise require tedious manual intervention by IT admins on each machine. // Related StoriesIT admins can enable or disable Quick Machine Recovery using the RemoteRemediation CSP or via command prompt. They can also preconfigure network credentials, set scanning intervals (recommended every 30 minutes), and adjust timeout periods (suggested at 72 hours). A test mode lets admins simulate the process before deploying it widely.For now, the feature is enabled by default for home users in the Windows 11 version 24H2 Insider Preview, available in the Beta Channel. IT admins on Pro and Enterprise versions will have full control over enabling or customizing it.Microsoft is encouraging Windows Insiders to try the feature and provide feedback through the Feedback Hub. For more details, check out the announcement on the Windows Insider Blog.Microsoft made hardening security a centerpiece of its strategy last year. The company is already doubling down on safeguarding credentials, smart app control policies, data security, and OS management tools.However, an even more significant architectural shift is brewing under the hood. Microsoft intends to remove all security software components from Windows' kernel going forward. This would force antivirus products and other security tools to run in standard user mode rather than having privileged kernel access.

What just happened? Have you made the move to an OLED monitor yet? More Quantum Dot OLED models are coming to market in the form of Acer's Predator X32 X2 and X27U X1 gaming displays, both of which offer some very impressive gaming specs. It's the Quantum Dot layer that allows QD-OLED displays to achieve higher peak brightness levels than most WOLED models. QD-OLEDs generate blue light, which is transformed into green and red for the other subpixels through a quantum dot layer.Starting with the Predator X32 X2, the 31.5-inch monitor boasts a 4K resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate, which, if you have the hardware to make the most of that combination, enables an amazing gaming experience.The Predator X27U X1, meanwhile, is a 26.5-inch monitor with a WQHD (2560 x 1440) resolution. It retains the same 240Hz refresh rate as its larger sibling.The monitors' remaining specs are pretty much identical. Both offer a 0.03ms GtG response time, 250 nits of native brightness, a peak brightness of 1,000 nits in HDR (3 percent window), a 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro.Both monitors are also VESA DisplayHDR 400 certified and cover 99% of the DCI-P3 gamut. // Related StoriesPort-wise, the Predators come with two HDMI 2.1 inputs and a single DisplayPort 1.4. The X27U X1, the smaller of the two, includes two more powerful 5W speakers, while the X32 X2 uses dual 2W speakers.Although OLED monitors are becoming more affordable, they remain a premium product particularly the larger QD-OLED variants. The Predator X32 X2 will set you back $999 when it arrives in North America this June. It will launch in the EMEA in August, starting at EUR 1,199, and in China in Q2, starting at RMB 5,999.Related reading: IPS vs VA vs TN vs QD-OLED vs WOLED ExplainedThe Predator X27U X1 is available in North America now for $599. It comes to the EMEA in June, starting at EUR 699, and China in March, starting at RMB 3,999.Earlier this month, the Dell Alienware AW2725Q arrived at $900, making it the cheapest 27-inch 4K 240Hz QD-OLED gaming monitor on the market. It seems the Predator X27U X1 has now taken that title.

In brief: AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D remains an incredibly popular CPU, especially among gamers. But it seems not every buyer is having a good experience. There have been over 100 cases of owners whose chips have died after working for a short amount of time, and for no obvious reason. Reddit user natty_overlord compiled a list of all 108 Reddit posts involving a Ryzen 7 9800X3D that died. The chips passed POST and worked for varying amounts of time before dying with no signs of failure.What's interesting is the brand of motherboard these failures occurred on. 98 of the cases, or 82%, happened on Asrock boards, though that could be due to their popularity as a more budget-friendly board maker. Tom's Hardware notes that the company released a new firmware update for AM5 motherboards in February that improved boot problems in AMD 9000 series CPUs. Whether those issues are related to the dying chips is unclear.Also read: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review: The New Gaming CPU KingThe rest of the boards are made up of 16 from Asus, 5 from MSI, and 1 from Gigabyte.natty_overlord also tallied the cases based on chipset. The largest number of incidents, 49, occurred on X870, followed by B850 (36), B650 (16), and X670 (7). Being a relatively new chip, it's not too surprising that most of the cases happened on the latest 800-series boards. // Related StoriesThe time it took for the CPUs to experience failure ranged from just half and hour to a few months.Several cases of Ryzen 7 9800X3D chips mysteriously dying surfaced earlier this year. One Redditor said he built a brand-new PC with an Asrock X870 motherboard that ran smoothly without overclocking or high temperatures. But the system shut down after about three weeks while he was watching TV. Upon inspection, the 9800X3D chip and motherboard showed severe thermal damage (below).The situation brings to mind the overheating problems in the Ryzen 7000X3D CPUs from a couple of years ago that were related to AMD EXPO profiles and SoC voltages. It led to Asus updating its warranty policy for AM5 motherboards following an investigation by Gamers Nexus.It's worth remembering that while over 100 incidents is no small number, there are thousands of Ryzen 7 9800X3D sold every month. It was initially difficult to buy the chips as they were sold out everywhere, something AMD blamed on Intel's "horrible" CPU release (Arrow Lake desktop). Moreover, some of these failures will likely have been due to user error, as was the case with one of the first reported instances of 9800X3Ds burning up in November.

Highly anticipated: When Avowed allowed customers to seamlessly switch between Xbox consoles, the Xbox app, and Blizzard's Battle.net client at launch, many hoped that more Microsoft-published titles would follow. The company has been silent regarding its plans until now, but the upcoming release of Doom: The Dark Ages suggests that the feature wasn't a one-off. When Doom: The Dark Ages launches on May 15, Game Pass subscribers or those who purchase digital copies on Xbox, the Microsoft Store, or Blizzard's Battle.net launcher can access the game on all three platforms. Repeating Avowed's cross-buy launch last month, the move indicates a trend that might extend to other Microsoft titles.The new option will likely meet a positive reception because many users view Battle.net as a more mature and reliable launcher than Microsoft's Xbox app. When the company purchased Activision Blizzard for a historic $69 billion, Battle.net might have seemed redundant outside its role as a launcher for Blizzard titles like Diablo and World of Warcraft. However, Microsoft is allowing players to choose between two launchers it owns, raising questions regarding a possible expansion of Battle.net's library.Also see: Most Anticipated PC Games of 2025 (Including Doom: The Dark Ages)Thus far, there is no indication that the company intends to release South of Midnight -- which launches on April 8 -- on Battle.net. Other upcoming Microsoft-published titles in consideration include The Outer Worlds 2 from Avowed developer Obsidian, Fable, Clockwork Revolution, Gears of War: E-Day, and Perfect Dark.Hopefully, Microsoft is also considering bringing its recent releases to Blizzard's client, such as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Age of Mythology: Retold, or Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Game Pass subscribers dissatisfied with the Xbox app might also wish to see non-Microsoft titles appear, but nothing currently suggests this is likely. // Related StoriesTo link a Battle.net and Microsoft account, log into the former, click on the username in the top right corner, and head to Account Settings > Connections > Xbox Network. Then, log in to a Microsoft account.Id Software also revealed new gameplay details from Doom: The Dark Ages this week. New previews outline features like the parry system, piloting a giant robot, and flying a cybernetic dragon. The company also teased a massive open-ended map where players can complete objectives and discover secrets in any order.Doom: The Dark Ages launches on Xbox Series consoles, Game Pass, Battle.net, Steam, and PlayStation 5 on May 15. Those who pre-order the limited edition can access the game on May 13.

In a nutshell: Billy Mitchell, the arcade gaming legend who has been embroiled in controversy for almost a decade now, has been awarded $230,000 in a defamation lawsuit against a YouTuber. Karl Jobst implied in a video that Mitchell's legal battle against a different YouTuber led to that person's suicide after it left him "deeply in debt." But a judge said Jobst had shown a "reckless disregard for the truth." Mitchell has appeared in several documentaries related to his achievements in Donkey Kong and Pac-Man, including King of Kong in 2007. But in 2018, he was accused of using open-source emulator MAME, rather than the original arcade hardware, for some of his Donkey Kong high scores. Retro-gaming records website Twin Galaxies investigated and stripped Mitchell of his records. Guinness World Records did the same a day later.Mitchell vowed to clear his name and threatened to sue Guiness and Twin Galaxies if they did not restore his records. Guiness reinstated his record following an investigation in 2020, while Twin Galaxies did the same in 2024 after Mitchell sued the company and the pair reached a settlement.In 2021, Queensland, Australia-based YouTuber Karl Jobst posted a video titled "The Biggest Conmen in Video Game History Strike Again!" It claimed that one of the lawsuits filed by Mitchell, against the late YouTuber Benjamin Smith, aka Apollo Legend, led to a settlement that involved Smith paying Mitchell a large sum of money, leaving him in debt and contributing to his suicide in 2020.Jobst's video also claimed that Mitchell had "expressed joy at the thought" of Smith's death.Mitchell sued Jobst over the claims made in the latter's video, which had amassed over 500,000 views. Brisbane District Court Judge Ken Barlow awarded Mitchell AU$350,000 (around $230,000) in damages following a trial late last year. // Related Stories"Clearly he wanted to be the knight who slayed the Mitchell dragon," the judge said. "His lance was not as strong as he thought it to be."According to the judge, the 2020 settlement between Mitchell and Smith never involved any money. Smith was told to remove any YouTube videos and social media posts he made relating to Mitchell. He was also required to hand over copyright of those removed videos to Mitchell, and to stop publishing content about Mitchell or face a $25,000 fine for each incident.Jobst had originally claimed that Smith was ordered to pay Mitchell $1 million. Jobst edited the video several times while it was online, once after Mitchell suggested he intended to sue, and again after Smith's brother confirmed no money had been exchanged in the settlement between Mitchell and Smith.Jobst had also made videos about the cheating claims made against Mitchell, but the judge said it was not his role to determine the truth of these allegations."(Jobst) seems to see himself as a crusader against Mr Mitchell - one of the last people sued by Mr Mitchell and the only one who has not backed down," he said.The judge also referred to an interview in which Jobst said, "Billy Mitchell needs to be destroyed in court [] I am the last chance for the public to punish Billy."The judge said he could have awarded Mitchell more than the AU$50,000 for aggravated damages that he won (there was also AU$300,000 for non-economic loss), but that was the amount Mitchell sought.Jobst had written on Twitter that the case would be "an amazing experience." When asked outside court how he was going to pay the damages, he said "with money."

The big picture: Only days ago we were reporting that ChatGPT's updated image generator was sparking a wave of Studio Ghibli-style recreations across social media. But the wave was just getting started and in mere days it hit the mainstream, becoming a full-blown fad. While CEO Sam Altman is celebrating the newfound attention, the massive growth in GPT's user base, and a fresh round of funding, the tool's explosive popularity is putting serious strain on OpenAI's infrastructure. Altman revealed that demand has been so intense it's been "melting" their GPUs. While Apple faces delays with its Apple Intelligence rollout and Google struggles to impress with Gemini delivering sometimes underwhelming and mostly annoying AI search results OpenAI is charging ahead.The company announced plans to release its first "open" language model since GPT-2, promising a version users can run on their own hardware later this year. Also, OpenAI just closed a staggering $40 billion funding round, the largest private tech deal on record, cementing its position at the forefront of the AI race.OpenAI's latest image-generation tool has taken the internet by storm this past week, although its runaway popularity is putting significant strain on the company's infrastructure. Altman acknowledged the overwhelming response on X. "It's super fun seeing people love images in ChatGPT. But our GPUs are melting," he wrote.To manage the strain, OpenAI has temporarily limited usage while working to optimize efficiency. Altman assured users that the free tier of ChatGPT will soon allow up to three image generations per day, though he did not specify the exact rate limits being implemented. // Related StoriesThis latest update to ChatGPT's image generation capabilities launched last week and has quickly gained traction for its ability to produce highly realistic visuals with improved text rendering. However, much of the buzz has centered on users leveraging the tool to create memes and portraits in the style of Studio Ghibli, the iconic Japanese animation studio known for films like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away.Social media platforms have been inundated with Ghibli-inspired reinterpretations of people, animals, historical events, and even podcasts.Altman also joined in on the trend, updating his X profile picture to a Ghibli-style version of himself. But this viral phenomenon has reignited debates over copyright infringement in AI-generated art. Critics argue that AI models are often trained on datasets containing copyrighted works without explicit permission from creators. OpenAI is already facing several lawsuits related to this issue.To address these concerns, OpenAI stated that it has implemented safeguards to prevent users from generating images in the style of living artists. However, this policy has raised questions about consistency.For example, Studio Ghibli's co-founder Hayao Miyazaki who famously denounced AI as an "insult to life itself" in a 2016 documentary is still alive. While the free version of ChatGPT explicitly refuses to produce images mimicking Ghibli's style, it appears to allow broader replication of the studio's aesthetic.When I asked the tool to create a Ghibli-style image of the movie Thelma & Louise, it generated the image successfully (above). A few minutes later, I requested an image of Batman and Robin in the same style, and the tool responded with an error.However, many others prompting ChatGPT to create a Ghibli-style image report that ChatGPT sometimes declines, citing content policy guidelines and instead offering an alternative suggestion: "Perhaps a symbolic representation of technology and art clashing in a fantasy setting." OpenAI clarified to TechCrunch that while individual artists' styles are off-limits, broader studio styles remain permissible within its guidelines.Meanwhile, the tool's meteoric rise has drawn commentary from prominent tech and venture capital figures. David Sacks, a venture capitalist advising President Donald Trump on cryptocurrency and AI policy, responded to Altman's announcement with a link to a blog post stating: "The next big thing will start out looking like a toy." Altman replied humorously: "Yeah, I just didn't think it would be this toy :)."

Something to look forward to: Microsoft, Nvidia, and now Intel are working to turn gaming assistants into a new selling point for generative AI. While Nvidia argues that its GPUs are the best tools for local AI workloads, Windows and Intel have tried to demonstrate the benefits of using NPUs to offload tasks from graphics chips during gameplay. However, none of the proposed assistants has undergone extensive real-world testing. Intel recently showcased how running generative AI programs on its new NPUs might benefit gamers. Although several companies have promoted the gaming-related potential of NPUs, these benefits remain largely unproven.In Intel's demonstration, a generative AI model likely a generic third-party assistant provided gameplay advice during a session of Black Myth: Wukong, running on an unspecified Arrow Lake Core Ultra 200HX processor, presumably in a gaming laptop. The assistant responded to a spoken question using real-time voice integration and retrieved an online video showing how to defeat a boss.It remains unclear whether the demonstration featured real gameplay or simply concept footage. Microsoft previously used concept reels to present its upcoming Copilot gaming AI coach, which is intended to provide real-time tips in games like Minecraft and Overwatch while running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon X chip. No real footage exists yet, but Xbox Insiders can begin testing the feature on mobile devices next month.Also read: NPU vs. GPU: What's the Difference?Intel's presentation also highlighted potential performance gains from running AI models on NPUs. Activating the assistant boosted Wukong's framerate from 103 to 108 FPS, while running the same model on the GPU caused a drop to 94 FPS.Nvidia's gaming assistant, which runs on GPUs with at least 12GB of VRAM, is available in the latest version of the company's desktop app. However, rather than offering gameplay guidance, it focuses on performance optimization.Arrow Lake is an interesting choice for Intel's demonstration, given that the Core Ultra 200HX and desktop 200K processors achieve only 13 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) of AI performance. // Related StoriesIf gaming AI assistants perform as promised, they should theoretically run much better on newer notebook and handheld platforms like Intel's upcoming Lunar Lake Core Ultra 200V or AMD's Strix Point Ryzen AI 300, which can reach up to 50 TOPS. Benchmarking an assistant on laptops or newer handheld gaming PCs equipped with those chips could yield interesting results.

Something to look forward to: A Chinese battery manufacturer has developed a breakthrough, sparking a worldwide race for compact nuclear energy. The innovation is a small coin-sized battery powered by a radioactive nickel isotope that decays into stable copper. While the initial cell is relatively weak, it can easily be layered to provide more power for up to 50 years. Energy storage technology has reached a transformative milestone as the BV100, a miniature atomic energy battery, enters mass production. Popular Mechanic notes that the coin-sized cell from Beijing Betavolt New Energy Technology can provide juice lasting up to 50 years without charging or maintenance.The tech represents a significant leap toward practical and scalable nuclear power solutions. The innovation positions Betavolt as a global leader in the race to commercialize nuclear batteries, a field in which companies from China, the U.S., and Europe fiercely compete. Betavolt's success has already garnered recognition within China's scientific community. The company won third prize at the China National Nuclear Corporation's 2023 Innovation Competition and has registered patents domestically while preparing global filings under the PCT framework.This breakthrough began last year when Betavolt unveiled the BV100 as the first nuclear battery to integrate China's fourth-generation diamond semiconductor technology. The BV100 harnesses energy from the radioactive decay of its nickel-63 core. The two-micron thick core, sandwiched between two 10-micron thick diamond semiconductors, efficiently converts the isotope's decay into electricity. Its modular structure allows for scalability, with multiple units combined in series or parallel to create batteries of varying sizes and capacities.Compact yet powerful, the BV100 is about the size of a small coin and delivers a power output of 100 microwatts at 3 volts. While its current capacity is insufficient for high-energy devices like smartphones or laptops, Betavolt envisions applications combining multiple batteries to meet greater demands. The company plans to launch a more powerful one-watt version later this year, with uses ranging from consumer electronics to drones capable of flying continuously without recharging.However, the nuclear battery's advantages extend beyond longevity and compactness. Unlike conventional chemical batteries, it boasts an energy density over ten times greater than ternary lithium batteries, storing 3,300 milliwatt-hours per gram. It is highly resistant to extreme conditions, operating reliably in temperatures ranging from -60C to +120C without self-discharge or risks of fire or explosion. The company claims the cell's environmental impacts are minimal since the radioactive nickel-63 core decays into stable copper over time, eliminating the need for costly recycling processes.Betavolt's innovation departs from traditional nuclear battery designs that relied on bulky and expensive thermoelectric generators developed during the Cold War era. These older models were limited to aerospace applications due to high internal temperatures and safety concerns. In contrast, Betavolt's betavoltaic technology generates electricity through beta particles emitted during radioactive decay a safer and more compact alternative.Betavolt notes that its technology has practically unlimited applications, including use cases in aerospace systems, artificial intelligence devices, medical equipment, small drones, micro-robots, and more. Virtually anything requiring long-lasting power supplies is a potential market. // Related StoriesZhang Wei, chairman and CEO of Betavolt, noted that the company is currently the only global producer of large diamond semiconductor materials. This capability also has applications in supercapacitors and ultra-long carbon nanotube materials sectors.The breakthrough has sparked global interest in nuclear battery development. Institutions such as Northwest Normal University in China are exploring similar technologies using rare isotopes like carbon-14. International competitors like City Labs in the U.S., Kronos Advanced Technologies, Yasheng Group, and Arkenlight in the UK are also pushing forward with advancements in betavoltaic technology. City Labs recently received funding from the National Institutes of Health to develop long-lasting betavoltaic batteries for medical devices like pacemakers and artificial hearts. However, these cells use tritium as a radioactive core.

Typically used to describe a product that was announced but never launched, "vaporware" was reportedly coined by a Microsoft engineer (either John Ulett or Mark Ursino) when asked about the status of the company's Xenix operating system. The term was popularized by technology writer Esther Dyson, who featured it in the November 1983 issue of her newsletter RELease 1.0.The term "vaporware" is a portmanteau of vapor and software, evoking the image of something promised but never materializing something that seems to disappear into thin air. It is often used to describe products that are announced with great fanfare but are either indefinitely delayed or never released at all.The concept also extends to products announced far in advance of their anticipated release dates, which then seem to vanish into thin air.The word first gained traction in the context of Xenix OS, a version of Unix that Microsoft developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Unix was developed by Bell Labs and licensed by AT&T to various outfits, including Microsoft, who had to choose a unique name for their version later called Xenix. Microsoft licensed Xenix to other companies such as IBM, Intel, Tandy, and SCO, though it was never sold directly to end users. Xenix became particularly popular in the corporate world due to its support for multi-user and networking capabilities.In 1987, Microsoft sold Xenix to SCO, which later ported it to the 32-bit 386 CPU. SCO continued to develop and support the operating system for several years. Despite its corporate popularity, Xenix never gained mainstream traction. Microsoft reportedly continued to use Xenix internally on Sun workstations and VAX minicomputers as late as 1992, further highlighting its niche role in the company's broader software strategy.In the early 1980s, before the term vaporware became widely known, several high-profile products in the tech industry faced similar fates. For example, IBM's planned but never-released Future Systems project and various other ambitious software projects contributed to the industry's understanding of vaporware. Other infamous vaporware product include:Half-Life 2: Episode 3 (2007 - TBA?) - The continuation of the popular Half-Life series has become one of the most famous pieces of vaporware in gaming history. Despite numerous hints and fan expectations, it's never been released.Apple AirPower (2017 - Canceled 2019) - Apple's wireless charging mat was announced in 2017 with the promise of charging multiple devices simultaneously. However, it was canceled in 2019 due to technical difficulties.Google Glass (2013 - 2015, revived later for enterprise) - Google Glass was highly anticipated as the next big thing in wearable technology. Despite its initial launch, it never gained widespread consumer adoption, and the product quietly faded away. It later returned as a niche product for enterprise use.Duke Nukem Forever (1997 - 2011) - The video game became a symbol of vaporware and became infamous for its extraordinarily long development cycle. It was announced in 1997, but after years of delays and multiple changes in direction, it wasn't released until 2011 and it flopped hard.Phantom Game Console (2002 - Canceled 2006) - A gaming console from Infinium Labs that promised to revolutionize the gaming industry with digital distribution. It never launched, and the company was embroiled in lawsuits and controversy.Microsoft Courier (2008 - Canceled 2010) - This dual-screen tablet concept was highly anticipated as a potential competitor to the iPad. Microsoft canceled the project in 2010 before it could ever be released.Psion NetBook Pro (2003 - Canceled) - An early attempt at a portable computer aimed at professionals. Announced with much fanfare, it was discontinued soon after its release.Google Wave (2009 - Canceled 2010) - Google Wave was hyped as a revolutionary communication and collaboration tool. However, it was too complex for many users, and Google discontinued it within a year of launch.Solar Roadways (2014 - TBA?) - This concept promised to replace traditional roads with solar panels that could generate electricity. While prototypes and crowdfunding campaigns generated significant interest, the project has yet to deliver on its promises at a large scale.

In context: As sickening as it is to admit, data breaches have become a fact of life. We cannot go more than a month without one company or another announcing that a hacker or poor security hygiene left its clients exposed. As annoying as that is, it's even more irritating when the company tries to hide the intrusion. Earlier this month, a threat actor going by Rose87168 claimed to have breached Oracle Cloud's federated SSO servers and exfiltrated around 6 million records, affecting over 144,000 Oracle clients. The hacker provided an internal customer list and threatened to sell the data unless clients paid to remove their data from the trove, which included single sign-on credentials, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol passwords, OAuth2 keys, tenant data, and more. Rose87168 has also solicited help from the hacking community to crack the hashed password in trade for some of the data.A day after the threat actor posted a small sample of the data, Oracle told Bleeping Computer there was no breach of its cloud service. Upon Oracle's denial, Rose87168 began leaking "proof" to the media and security researchers. Security group Hudson Rock and experts at CloudSEK concluded that the data and credentials are legitimate.CloudSEK said that the hacker appears to have used a zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2021-35587) in an access manager software related to Oracle Fusion Middleware to breach Oracle Cloud systems without authentication."Pretty crazy Oracle just denied this leak, which has been verified independently by many cybersecurity firms," Hudson Rock CTO Alon Gal posted on LinkedIn on Monday.Trustwave SpiderLabs also reviewed the evidence and concluded that the data was definitely from Oracle Cloud servers. // Related Stories"The dataset described by the provided headers represents a highly detailed and sensitive user directory, likely extracted from a corporate Identity and Access Management system or HR-integrated directory such as Microsoft Active Directory, Oracle Identity Manager, or a similar platform," Trustwave's security advisory read.The security firm also confirmed that the cache included personally identifiable information such as first and last names, full display names, email addresses, job titles, department numbers, telephone numbers, mobile numbers, and even home contact details. The hacker also uploaded a recording of an internal Oracle meeting."Such data in a leaked format poses severe cybersecurity and operational risks to the affected organization," Trustwave added.Furthermore, cybersecurity specialist Kevin Beaumont noted that Oracle "rebadged" legacy Oracle Cloud services as "Oracle Classic." He claims that the company's careful wording in its response is a technically factual but disingenuous denial. The company appears to be attempting to situate the incident as insignificant or that it didn't leak current Oracle Cloud records. For reference, here is Oracle's statement to Bleeping Computer:"There has been no breach of Oracle Cloud. The published credentials are not for the Oracle Cloud. No Oracle Cloud customers experienced a breach or lost any data."Beaumont found the repetitious use of "Oracle Cloud" suspicious as if it might be setting up Oracle Classic to take the fall. However, regardless of the age of the breached servers, CloudSEK confirmed through some of its clients that the data was accurate and current. This conclusion debunks any notion that the breach was insignificant or contained outdated information.Despite multiple researchers reporting that the data breach is seriously concerning, Oracle has remained silent since it denied the attack. Beaumont says the company's silence is irresponsible. Likewise, Gal called Oracle's lack of transparency and guidance "crazy." Lacking any advice from the company, Gal directed affected customers to CloudSEK's mitigation recommendations to minimize any potential damage from the leak.

Expert reviews and ratings 100 With blisteringly fast paced combat and visceral gameplay, The First Berserker: Khazan is a masterclass in the hardcore action RPG genre. Unrelenting bosses, vivid and varied environments, and fair-but-challenging foes come together with engaging mechanics to create an unforgettable journey of vengeance. By gamingtrend.com on March 31, 2025 80 Drawing from the best in the genre, The First Berserker: Khazan turned out to be a satisfying Soulslike action-RPG. By siliconera.com on March 31, 2025 80 The First Berserker: Khazan blends strong offensive and defensive combat systems with anime flair in a brutal and engrossing action-RPG. By PC Mag on March 31, 2025 80 Despite a forgettable story and some constricted level design, The First Berserker: Khazan's excellent combat is more than enough to cover for these missteps. It's challenging, engaging, and consistently satisfying, complemented by a cavalcade of dynamic enemies and a versatile progression system that extends beyond the typical XP-based approach. By GameSpot on March 31, 2025 90 The First Berserker: Khazan is a masterclass in action combat, delivering thrilling boss fights, diverse level design, and tight mechanics that rival the genres best. While the narrative and side characters falter in depth, the fluid progression, customizable skill trees, and satisfying difficulty curve make this a standout soul-like experienceeven for players unfamiliar with the Dungeon Fighter Online universe. By noisypixel.net on March 31, 2025 100 The First Berserker: Khazan is a perfect game that achieves everything it sets out to. While I do wish for more weapon types and an open-world, not having these doesn't take away from the core experience at hand, which is nothing short of perfection. By screenrant.com on March 31, 2025 80 Despite somewhat samey missions and a flat protagonist, Khazan's combat and boss design are some of the best I've seen in a soulslike. By PC Gamer on March 24, 2025 80 Khazan is a Souls-like at its heart, with an emphasis on ruthless aggression. The game wants you to be aggro, rushing in and dodging damage, slicing through enemies in a deluge of blood splurts. With such violence comes shameless joy, and the game is quick to thrust you into the action ballet that has enraptured thousands of Souls-Like fiends around the world. Me included: I'm a lost cause. By vg247.com on March 24, 2025 88 Derivative though it most certainly is, The First Berserker: Khazan is still incredibly fun to play because combat is so satisfying. The gothic anime visuals look great, and the game manages to sneak a few new and smart mechanics into the formula. The First Berserker: Khazan may be a familiar experience, but its probably a must-play for fans of hardcore action games and Soulslikes. By cogconnected.com on March 24, 2025 A hack 'n' slash soulslike with an uninspiring plot and tedious level design but its satisfying combat and tough boss fights might make it worth trying. By rockpapershotgun.com on March 24, 2025Load More Reviews

In a nutshell: Microsoft's Blue Screen of Death may soon go the way of the dodo. The feared error screen, which has existed in some form or fashion since the dawn of Windows, is being replaced in the latest preview build with a more streamlined version that Microsoft claims better aligns with the design principles of Windows 11. Microsoft in a recent Windows Insider blog said the updated user interface additionally supports their goal of getting users back to productivity as fast as possible.The update is part of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3653 (KB5053658) and is rolling out now to Insiders on Windows 11 version 24H2 and higher in the beta, dev, and canary channels. Once updated, these users will see the traditional error message UI replaced with a green screen that resembles a Windows update dialog.Microsoft is previewing a new UI for what it calls "unexpected restarts"The simplified UI preserves the technical details of the error including the stop code and what specifically triggered the failure, in far fewer words than what you might remember from earlier versions like those in Windows 98 or XP. Also missing is the sad emoji face and the QR code found on later variants.This is not the first we have heard of an updated UI for the error message, and it may not be the update's final form. According to Windows Latest, the new BSOD will be black instead of blue or green. Perhaps the green variant Microsoft showed off in its blog post is just a placeholder for Insiders? // Related StoriesAs a Windows user and avid overclocker that did most of my tinkering in the 2000s, BSODs were a common occurrence. They were often a sign that I had pushed a setting too far although occasionally, they'd signal a software or hardware incompatibility. I eventually moved on from overclocking and developed an appreciation for a rock-solid, stable system. Knock on wood, but it's been years since I last saw a BSOD.

A hot potato: With black/blue screens of death and system instability still affecting owners of GeForce RTX 4000 and RTX 3000 graphics cards, some game developers are now advising users to avoid Nvidia's latest drivers or roll back to the December release. Since updating to Nvidia's 572.xx drivers, several RTX 40 and 30-series users have experienced problems with some new games, especially Inzoi and The First Berserker: Khazan. Issues include crashes, freezes, stuttering, and sudden frame drops.Inzoi developer Krafton wrote in its notes on graphics drivers that while it recommends RTX 50-series owners use the latest 572.83 driver, the same driver could cause frame drops and stuttering when playing the game on an RTX 40-series card.As such, it recommends using driver version 566.36 from December 2024. Any RTX 30-series owners experiencing issues are also recommended to use the older driver version.The First Berserker: Khazan developer Neople wrote an identical recommendation in its notes for the best gaming experience.The fact that developers of two very big recent games have been forced to issue these warnings illustrates just how widespread the problems have become.It was back in February when we first heard of issues impacting cards from Nvidia's RTX 50, 40, and 30 generations, with the Blackwell line being worst affected. They seemed to originate from Nvidia's 572.16 driver release, which enabled RTX 50 support. There were reports of some users getting around the problems by capping their display's refresh rate at 60Hz.One person wrote that rolling back to the 566.36 driver was the only way to fix the problems impacting his Asus RTX 4070 Ti Super TUF card, the symptoms of which included Cyberpunk 2077 crashing his entire PC. // Related StoriesNvidia confirmed that it was investigating the issues and would be releasing driver updates to address them, several of which have since been pushed out. While they seem to have fixed most of the problems impacting the RTX 5000 line, they haven't been as effective for older graphics cards. It led to several users accusing Nvidia of prioritizing its latest cards while ignoring issues affecting the Lovelace and Ampere series.With no sign of a fix on the horizon, those with previous-generation graphics cards experiencing the problems are becoming increasingly frustrated.

What just happened? Despite still being one of the most popular login methods, developers are gradually replacing passwords with newer, more robust authentication technologies. The "next generation" of online security is coming slowly but steadily, and Microsoft has now decided there is room for a significant redesign of the entire login experience. Microsoft recently announced that it is rolling out a new authentication experience for over one billion consumers. The redesign focuses on more secure login screens with a modern look. While there is a big focus on the GUI, many users will find the new authentication methods relatively standard.Microsoft's product management director, Robin Goldstein, said that most Microsoft account holders will see the updated sign-in experience by the end of April. The new Fluent 2 UI will help users transition between different authentications and Microsoft products effectively.Goldstein's blog post provides a detailed description of the hows and whys of the new interface design. Her team moved to reduce the number of "concepts" per screen throughout the authentication process to reduce the "cognitive load" on users. The streamlined experience is faster, with reordered steps and a more logical flow.Developers reduced distractions, as well, for a more focused process. The new UI scales well between devices, offering a similar experience on a large desktop display or small smartphone screens. Direct user feedback fueled some changes, including theme support and a dark mode based on user preference.The Fluent 2 design allowed Redmond to depart from the company's traditional product-centric concepts and adapt a new "unmistakably Microsoft" look and feel. Many PC users, including myself, may disagree. Microsoft's product-centric focus is part of what made it the successful technology giant it is today. // Related StoriesGoldstein also noted that the new authentication experience is more secure, with a stronger emphasis on "passwordless" logins and a passkey-first experience. Passkeys are inherently more secure and three times faster than passwords and should be used whenever possible.The new login UI is already available to Xbox users, who beta-tested the web and mobile versions in February. Microsoft will gradually update the rest of its products and services in a staggered rollout between now and the end of April. Users can expect to see the changes on the web and mobile apps first, then Windows.

TL;DR: Apple is reportedly set to launch its next-generation iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models equipped with the M5 chip later this year. The company is also said to be working on the M5 MacBook Air that could debut in early 2026. In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that Apple is in the process of carrying out "advanced testing" on the new iPad Pro models, and that they will likely enter mass production in the second half of this year. Gurman also predicted the new models to launch in October 2025.Apple released the 2018 and 2022 iPad Pro models in October of those years, so it won't be a surprise if the next-gen models break cover around the same time this year. However, the company's current iPad Pros debuted in May 2024 with an OLED display and a thinner chassis. They're powered by the M4 chip and support the Apple Pencil Pro.The M5 MacBook Pro models are also expected to debut later this year. Gurman believes the new laptops will retain the design of their predecessors, while the 2026 MacBook Pros are tipped to get a major design overhaul, including thinner chassis and OLED displays.Gurman adds that Apple has started working on the M5 MacBook Air, and that it could launch early next year. The new models are unlikely to have any major design changes, so buyers should expect the same thin, fan-less chassis as the current models. It's unclear if the company will revamp the MacBook Air design in 2026 or 2027.The new MacBook Air models will be upgrades over the current-generation 13-inch and 15-inch M4 models that were announced earlier in 2024. The existing MacBook Airs are powered by the M4 chip and start at $999, making them more affordable than the M3 generation. While they retain the design of their predecessors, they include an improved 12MP Center Stage camera and 16GB of RAM in the base model. // Related StoriesCupertino is also working on new software to go with its upcoming hardware. The company is not only set to announce new versions of its iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS operating systems at its WWDC event next week, but it's also working on a revamped version of its Health app, adding an AI-powered virtual doctor and health coach.

In brief: Just when you think Amazon couldn't possibly find another way to sell you stuff, the company comes up with something else: shopping links embeded in your photo library images. In essence, the feature lets you identify an item within a photograph in your Amazon Photos library and be directed to its store page. Former Microsoft executive Panos Panay, now senior vice president of Amazon's Devices and Services division, announced the update to Amazon Photos on Threads.Panay's post included a clip demonstrating the upgraded features. It starts with a generative AI search using a natural language query "Max playing with robot dog," in this case. This brings up several images in the user's Amazon Photos library featuring the boy and the device.The system works by selecting one of the images and then tapping the Lens icon underneath. This scans the photo and brings up Amazon store listings for visually similar items it identifies, such as the robot dog, allowing you to view its customer rating and price. From here, you can go directly to the store page for more information and to purchase an item if desired.View on ThreadsAmazon says the feature is ideal for anyone who may have seen a product in an image and wanted one themselves, but didn't know what it was called or where to find it.Amazon's help page doesn't specifically say if turning off the Tag Photos feature will stop the shopping capabilities from working. Amazon's Tag Photos and Tag Specific People tools use image recognition technology to analyze and apply tags to your photos and videos, allowing users to sort and search their photos by people, objects, actions, and scenes as demonstrated by Panay. // Related StoriesThere appear to be contradictory claims on how many people were asking for this new shopping feature, varying from everyone to virtually no one outside of Amazon. The replies to Panay's post include some that are positive, with people noting its usefulness, along with negative ones arguing that this is basically product ads based on a user's photos.