Venture capitalists have always focused on investing in companies that leverage technology to either disrupt established industries or create entirely new business categories. But some VCs are starting to flip the script on their investing styles. Rather than funding startups, they are acquiring mature businesses –such as call centers, accounting firms, and other professional service firms—and optimizing them with artificial intelligence to serve more customers through automation. This strategy, often likened to private equity roll-ups, is being employed by firms such as General Catalyst, Thrive Capital, and solo VC Elad Gil. General Catalyst, touting this as a new asset class, has already backed seven such companies, including Long Lake, a startup that scoops up homeowners’ associations in an effort to make the management of communities more streamlined. Since its founding less than two years ago, Long Lake has secured $670 million in funding, according to PitchBook data. While the strategy is still new, a few other venture outfits have told TechCrunch that they are also considering trying out the investment model. Among them is Khosla Ventures, a firm known for making early bets on risky, unproven technologies with long development timelines. “I think we’ll look at a few of these types of opportunities,” Samir Kaul, general partner at Khosla Ventures, told TechCrunch. Interestingly, this PE-flavored approach could be a surprising benefit to the multitudes of AI startups VCs are backing. If a VC marries old businesses with new technology, AI startups wanting to serve these industries would essentially gain instant access to large, established clients. Techcrunch event Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot for our leading AI industry event with speakers from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. For a limited time, tickets are just $292 for an entire day of expert talks, workshops, and potent networking. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you’ve built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | June 5 REGISTER NOW According to Kaul, such access would be helpful when new startups have difficulties securing customers on their own. With the rapid rate of change in AI, the number of startups pouring into the market, and the historically long sales cycles involved in selling to enterprises, such difficulties apply to many AI startups.  But Khosla Ventures wants to proceed with caution. “The companies we’re looking at are very unlikely to lose money,” Kaul said, but he doesn’t want the strategy to ruin the firm’s strong return track record. “My biggest stress in life is I’m managing other people’s money, and I want to make sure that I continue to be a good steward of it.” While Khosla Ventures is starting to “dabble” in AI roll-up investments, Kaul explained that the firm wants to do a few deals to assess if such investments deliver strong returns for the firm before possibly raising money for some kind of vehicle specifically aimed at this investment strategy. If early bets pan out, Khosla would likely partner with a PE-style firm to help it with acquisitions rather than hire a team. “We wouldn’t do it alone, we don’t have that expertise,” he said.

Project Producer, Blizzard Video – Temp (SFD/Cinematics)Blizzard EntertainmentIrvine California 92618 United States of America2 hours agoApplyTeam Name:Story & Franchise Development OperationsJob Title:Project Producer, Blizzard Video – Temp (SFD/Cinematics)Requisition ID:R025383Job Description:Blizzard Video is the video production arm of the Story & Franchise Development team. We exist to engage, inform, and activate the global Blizzard community through the creation of epic video content.Blizzard Video is looking for a talented Producer who is highly organized with outstanding communication, and project management skills . As Producer, you will be responsible for establishing schedules, tracking project milestones, and budgets for all production activities. Communication skills are essential as you’ll be interfacing with other departments company-wide, coordinating with them to fulfill requests and gather assets. You will be working in a cohesive team environment that’s focused on tight schedules, creative problem solving, and meeting the challenge of continually helping the team elevate their game.This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some work on-site and some work-from-home. The potential home studio for this position is Irvine, CA.ResponsibilitiesManage all facets of production for videos and other assets across multiple IPs from kick off through to deliveryOversee production of multiple projects on similar and sometimes competing timelinesCreate project bids and manage budgets of various size and scope and execute within that budgetOrganize, schedule and lead kick-off, pitch and review meetings with various stakeholders across the companyBuild and manage project schedules to ensure videos are delivered on time and within budgetLiaise with different departments to facilitate communication and necessary approvals internally and externally (i.e. game teams, legal, localization, sound, marketing)RequirementsAt least 5 years of experience working within a video production environment, and familiar with file types and delivery specifications.Able to organize and prioritize projects in a fast-paced environment, and perform effectively under pressure of multiple deadlines and initiativesAble to create and manage detailed schedules of all production initiativesAble to execute productions in a timely mannerAble to work independently and within directed initiativesExperience in evaluating project viability against departmental resourcesAble to maintain and work within approval pipelineAble to work with various communications stylesExcellent teamwork skills with ability to maintain strong individual contributionsPolished interpersonal skills, with ability to effectively interact with all levels of managementApproaches challenges as opportunities for learning and growthUnderstanding the importance of maintaining confidentialityProficient with MS Office programsPlusesA passion for video games and video game cultureWorking knowledge of Adobe Premiere, After Effects, and PhotoshopCertificates or completed courses in project managementYour PlatformBest known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.Our WorldActivision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty ®, World of Warcraft® , Overwatch ®, Diablo ®, Candy Crush ™ and Bubble Witch ™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet!Our ability to build immersive and innovate worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristicsRewardsWe provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/ .In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $29.81 - $55.14 Hourly. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable. Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

Property in Palm Springs | © Peter Thomas via Unsplash Are you ready to take the first step towards property investment success? Planning your financial future requires careful thought, especially if you’re starting. This article is about creating a personalized approach for first-time property investors. Let’s explore proven strategies to guide your investment journey. Start with Clear Investment Goals The first step in building a property portfolio is defining your investment goals. Are you seeking long-term wealth creation, steady rental income, or both? Pinpointing your goals allows you to choose properties and locations that align with your vision and financial expectations.  Dive deep into market research to identify areas that fit your budget, offer growth potential, and meet your objectives. Setting clear, measurable goals minimizes risks and keeps you focused and motivated throughout your investment journey. A strong sense of direction is crucial for long-term success. Research and Understand Market Trends Before making any decisions, dedicate time to researching and understanding property market trends. Learn about high-growth areas, rental demand, and future infrastructure developments that could impact the values. Delve into data on suburbs that show consistent capital growth or offer untapped potential for future development.  Align these insights with your financial capacity and desired investment outcomes to make informed choices. The more you understand market trends, the better you can navigate risks and seize opportunities, ultimately improving your potential returns. Budget Planning and Financial Readiness Take a close look at your finances to determine how much you can comfortably invest without overstretching. Include not only upfront costs like deposits and legal fees but also ongoing expenses such as maintenance, property management, and insurance.  Engage with multiple lenders to discuss your borrowing capacity and identify favorable financing options tailored to your needs. By creating a realistic budget that accounts for all costs, you can ensure that your investment is sustainable. Proper financial planning is essential to building a strong foundation for long-term success. Diversify for Stability © Linmiao Xu via Unsplash © The Bialons via Unsplash A well-diversified property portfolio offers stability and reduces risk, shielding you from market fluctuations. Invest in different real estate types, such as residential, commercial, or mixed-use spaces, across various locations to spread your exposure. Diversification ensures that a downturn in one market won’t derail your entire portfolio’s performance.  For example, combining properties in emerging suburbs with those in established areas can balance growth and steady returns. Diversification is a cornerstone strategy for building a resilient portfolio that aligns with short-term gains and long-term financial security. Leverage Tax Benefits and Incentives Governments often provide various tax benefits and incentives for property investors, which can enhance your overall returns. Research the deductions available for expenses like interest payments, maintenance costs, and depreciation. These benefits can significantly reduce your investment costs and improve your profitability.  Stay informed about government programs or initiatives that encourage investments in specific areas or types of properties. Effectively utilising tax benefits can help you maximise returns while minimising financial burdens, giving your portfolio a competitive edge. Take Help from Professional Firms Partnering with experienced professionals can make your investment journey more efficient and stress-free. Professional firms help you identify properties that align with your goals and provide valuable insights into market conditions and financing options. Their expertise extends to areas like portfolio management and long-term strategic planning, ensuring that your investments remain on track.  Collaborating with specialists reduces the likelihood of costly mistakes and allows you to focus on making confident, informed decisions. The support of experts can be invaluable in navigating the complexities of property investment. Start Small, but Think Big Begin your property investment journey with a single, well-chosen property to minimise risks while gaining valuable experience. Starting small allows you to learn the nuances of property management, market dynamics, and financial planning without feeling overwhelmed. Focus on building equity in your first property, which you can later leverage for future investments.  As you gain confidence, use this equity strategically to expand your portfolio over time. A gradual, well-planned approach ensures sustainable growth while safeguarding your financial stability. Tailored Strategies for First-Time Investors Tailored strategies allow first-time investors to approach property investment with clarity and confidence. Begin by evaluating your financial position, investment goals, and risk tolerance. A personalised plan ensures that every step you take aligns with your unique situation and objectives. For instance, if your primary goal is rental income, focusing on high-demand areas with stable tenant markets might be ideal.  Tailored strategies empower first-time investors to succeed in building a property portfolio. Clear goals, market insights, and expert guidance remain essential for achieving long-term success. Diversifying your investments, leveraging tax benefits, and embracing digital tools can significantly boost your portfolio’s growth. Take the first step and begin building a prosperous financial future that works for you. Real Estate by ArchEyes Team Leave a comment

Windows, as all but the most besotted Microsoft fans know, has historically been a security disaster. Seriously, what other program has a dedicated day each month to reveal its latest security holes? But now, Windows Recall, the AI-powered “feature” that continuously takes snapshots of your screen to create a searchable timeline of everything you do, has arrived for Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11 version 24H2 and newer. After a year of controversy and multiple delays prompted by widespread privacy and security concerns, Microsoft has significantly changed Recall’s architecture. The feature is now opt-in, requires Windows Hello biometric authentication, encrypts all snapshots locally, filters out sensitive data such as credit card numbers, and allows users to filter out specific apps or websites from being captured. I am so unimpressed. A few days ago, in the latest Patch Tuesday release, Microsoft revealed five — count ’em, five! — zero-day security holes in Windows alone. Do you expect me to trust Recall with a track record like this? Besides, even if I don’t enable the feature, what if our beloved federal government decides that for our protection, it would be better if Microsoft turned on Recall for some users? After all, it’s almost impossible to run Windows these days without having a Microsoft ID, making it easy to pick and choose who gets what “update.” Other people feel the same way. Recall remains a lightning rod for criticism. Privacy advocates and security experts continue to warn that the very nature of Recall capturing and storing everything displayed on a user’s screen every few seconds is inherently too risky. Even if you don’t use the feature yourself, what about all the people you communicate with who might have Recall turned on? How could you even know? A friend at the University of Pennsylvania told me that the school has examined Microsoft Recall and found that it “introduces substantial and unacceptable security, legality, and privacy challenges.” Sounds about right to me. Amusingly enough, Kaspersky, the Russian security company that has its own security issues, also states that you should avoid Recall. Why? Well, yes, when you first activate Recall, you are required to use biometric authentication. After that, your PIN will do nicely. Oh, and its automatic filtering of sensitive data is unreliable. Sure, it will stop taking snapshots when you’re in private mode on Chrome or Edge. Vivaldi? Not so much. And as Kaspersky points out, if you use videoconferencing with automatic transcription enabled, Recall will save a complete call transcript detailing who said what. Oh boy! Signal, the popular secure messaging program (well, secure when you use it correctly — unlike, say, the US Secretary of Defense), wants nothing to do with this. It has introduced a new “Screen security” setting in its Windows desktop app, specifically designed to protect its users from Recall. Enabled by default on Windows 11, this feature uses a Digital Rights Management (DRM) flag to stop any application, including Windows Recall, from capturing screenshots of Signal chats. When Recall or other screenshot tools try to capture Signal’s window, it will produce a blank image. Why? In a blog post, Signal explained: “Although Microsoft made several adjustments over the past twelve months in response to critical feedback, the revamped version of Recall still places any content that’s displayed within privacy-preserving apps like Signal at risk. As a result, we are enabling an extra layer of protection by default on Windows 11 in order to help maintain the security of Signal Desktop on that platform, even though it introduces some usability trade-offs. Microsoft has simply given us no other option.” Actually, you do have another option: Desktop Linux. I said it ages ago, and I’ll say it again now. If you really care about security on your desktop, you want Linux.

Director, HRBP - APAC/ChinaRiot GamesSingapore, Central Singapore, Singapore4 minutes agoApplyAs the Regional Director, HR Business Partner, you will support Riot’s APAC/China HRBP teams, collaborating with the Central HRBP leadership team to develop strategic talent plans aligned with Riot’s and the People team’s priorities. You will partner thoughtfully with the HRBP and COE leadership teams to integrate critical elements across the Rioter (employee) lifecycle, including onboarding, performance, development, compensation and retention. Additionally, you will develop culturally appropriate engagement and change management strategies for Rioters that are aligned with business objectives. You will also lead a high-performing team of HR Business Partners that sit across and support a variety of regional offices. This role will champion the “one team” mentality and brand across HRBPs, COEs, and HR Shared Services. This role reports to the Director, HRBP, Central Capabilities (Tech, Operations, Creative, & Product/Insights) & Departments in Los Angeles, CA.Responsibilities:Partner with Central and Regional HRBP and COE leaders to collaborate on and influence the development and execution of talent strategies, HR processes and initiatives, such as coaching, employee engagement, organization design, workforce planning, succession management, employee relations, people development, compensation planning, talent acquisition, communications, and change management.Deeply understand the business strategies of each group and priorities across the HRBP team to ensure HR processes and initiative roll outs are communicated and delivered successfully in regions, taking into account local and office cultural considerations and needs.Provide subject matter expertise for sensitive employee relations matters and partner with Riot Legal regarding any employment related legal matters. Ensure compliance with local laws and regulations related to employment and HR practices, policies, and programs in each region.Maintain trusted relationships across the Region and across the People Team and effectively communicate and advise HRBP and COE Leaders regarding feedback on Riot’s People programs, Rioter or leadership needs, business context and the like. Keep HRBP colleagues informed and advised as needed to collectively drive Riot and People Team outcomes.Serve as the HRBP to the senior leadership population of APAC/China, as well as a senior level advisor and on-site resource to the broader regional People team.Utilize people analytics and on the ground experience to understand Regional talent perspectives, leveraging the Global Riot Survey (GRS) and other talent and people metrics as well as in collaboration with People Team collaborators to drive employee engagement and other talent outcomes in the Region as prioritized with People and HRBP Leadership.Assess and understand changing business and market trends, adjusting HR strategies accordingly and serving as a liaison within the People Team on these matters. Partner to effectively balance Regional needs and considerations with Riot and People Team strategic direction and approach.Build and lead a team of exceptional HR Business Partners, ensuring they are technically strong, possess high business insight, held to high standards around sensitive issues and consistently deliver high-quality results.Required Qualifications:12+ years of experience in HR, including 4+ years in a leadership role.Broad expertise in all HR areas (e.g., organization design, talent acquisition, compensation).Experience advising and directly supporting senior executives across multiple functions with a consultative approach.Experience developing data-driven business cases and creating culturally appropriate programs and plans to empower the team and influence senior leaders.Experience in multinational companies in gaming, entertainment, creative, or technology space, working directly with creative and production teams.High degree of maturity, diplomacy, discretion, and integrity, particularly in handling sensitive and confidential information.Ability to effectively manage change in a dynamic environment with frequently shifting priorities.Native or bilingual proficiency in English and Mandarin.Desired Qualifications:Customer-centric focus with the ability to cultivate culture and align business goals, behaviors, and systems to guide performance.Ability to encourage leaders across the organization to make fair and consistent people decisions.Advanced degree.For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and choices that focus on your fellow Rioters, who are the customers of your work. Being a dedicated fan of games is not necessary for this position!Our Perks:Full relocation supportFull health insurance for you, your spouse, and childrenOpen paid time offRetirement benefits with company matchingLife insurance, parental leave, plus short-term and long-term disabilityPlay Fund so you can broaden and deepen your knowledge of our players and community through gamesWe will double down on your donations of time and money to non-profits Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

Cases News Noctua Has Competition: HAVN Performance Fans, BF360 Case, & Engineering DataMay 23, 2025Last Updated: 2025-05-23We take an early look at HAVN’s new BF360 case and the company’s new unique fans at Computex 2025The HighlightsFor its new products, HAVN has put a heavy emphasis on thermal performance and acousticsHAVN’s upcoming BF360 case brings in new fans in the 180mm, 140mm, and 120mm categoriesHAVN’s 180mm fan uses a 40mm thick frame and special shaping on the hub for what HAVN claims will improve pressure performance across the hub Visit our Patreon page to contribute a few dollars toward this website's operation (or consider a direct donation or buying something from our GN Store!) Additionally, when you purchase through links to retailers on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission.We visited HAVN’s lab in Taiwan during our Computex 2025 trip. We saw that they were experimenting with a 52mm thick fan for a case it was showing off. The company didn’t end up using that for its case and instead used a new fan design that we’ll discuss in this article.Editor's note: This was originally published on May 17, 2025 as a video. This content has been adapted to written format for this article and is unchanged from the original publication.CreditsHost, WritingSteve BurkeCamera, EditingVitalii MakhnovetsMike GaglioneWriting, Web EditingJimmy ThangDuring our visit, the company showed off its new BF360 case, which follows up their HS 420.  Taking a closer look at the company’s new fan design, you can see some careful shaping to the fan’s hub, which is supposed to help with guiding air flow. We’ll have to see how it performs in our testing, but the idea is taking a thicker fan approach and thickening it even more. The company ended up using a 40mm-thick fan, which should help with pressure.    The company also uses 2x180mm fans mounted to the front of the case.  While we were there, HAVN prepared some CFD simulations for the flow and some simulations for mechanical stresses, on the panel for example, which is pretty interesting.Taking a look at the BF360, the front panel pops out with a tug as it uses magnets to attach itself to the front of the case and has 3 plastic feet that help it snap in at the bottom. The interior of the case’s front panel has a removable fan tray. Its design is somewhat typical but refined from what we’ve seen. HAVN has done a lot of iterations on it. The top panel pulls off and its design is familiar to the HS 420 with its structural design. Once you remove the top panel, it exposes the case’s top fan/radiatory tray, which has rubber bumpers and a slide mechanism that lets you pull it out of the case, providing full access to the top of the chassis and should help with ease of installation. A lot of the steel on the case is either .8mm thick and there’s some that’s 1.0mm, which is thick by today’s standards. Taking a look at the backside of the case, we can see that it has marked cable management pathways, much like the HAVN HS 420 (read our review). This was kind of a nice thing for brand new system builders. Whereas the HS 420 used stickers, the BF360 incorporates it into the molding. Our understanding is that they may refine its design to try and get more light reflection so it’s easier to see. This is a nice attention to detail that adds to the ease of installation. HAVN learned from the HS 420 on the 3 and ½-inch drive support and improved its implementation. There are 2 bays on the back side of the case for those drives and they can be removed. HAVN also changed how it handles the grommets with the case. The string-like material in between is the same but there’s now a little rubber tab that helps to prevent it from popping out by accident once it’s filled with cables. The point here is that HAVN is trying to learn from what they’ve done with the HS 420 and to refine their designs. Taking a look at the BF360’s front panel, it’s supposed to look like stone, but is made of plastic as stone would be extremely heavy. Behind the front panel in the unit we saw are 2x180mm fans. HAVN has shoved a piece of steel at the top, which is supposed to prevent recirculation. This was a huge issue in old BitFenix cases, where due to the company’s design, it would recirculate hot air back into its fans. This design can improve performance in big ways.HAVN tells us that the best setup for the BF360 is to have the top front fan be intake and the top back fan be exhaust, providing you’re using 180mm fans on the top. This matches our testing for other cases in the past. We’ve also found that if you’re populated the top slots, doing intake in front of an air cooler works better because otherwise air gets in the front and would get stolen by an exhaust fan out of the top. The case we looked at had 4x180mm fans (2 in the front and 2 on top) and 1x140mm in the rear.   HAVN tried different types of power supply shroud designs. One had an angled scoop to bring in air from the front bottom 180mm fan. One design had what we’re calling a “toilet-bowl” design, but that ultimately didn’t go through. The next design we looked at featured a more cylindrical/conical design. We asked one of the company’s thermal engineers why that design didn’t work better as it looks like it would project air towards the GPU, which would be a hot spot, and the rep told us that going with a wider design ended up performing thermally better. HAVN provided us some numbers for that, which we’ll take a look at below, but we’ll eventually do our own testing if we can get an early sample. Taking a look at the first mock-up of the case, we can see some rails for the front fans. This design did not progress into the final. It uses a rail system and we’ve seen it in other cases. Corsair has implemented it and has a trademark for it which they call the “InfiniRail.”Looking at the second mock-up, the company moved to vertical rails coupled with horizontal slats. HAVN ended up ditching that design altogether and moved to a tray design, which is sort of moving to a tried-and-true approach. The company incorporated another change where they’ve stamped and folded the tooling. Then we took a look at a design that was closer to final, which has its full corner covered. HAVN showed us 3 different prototypes for the front panel of the case. The first one we looked at featured a wood panel design, which we’ve seen on a lot of cases lately. Wood has certain manufacturing challenges to consider. The white panel you see above is made of aluminum, which is very expensive.The last thing that HAVN is working on that they showed off are fans. There’s been a lot of fan development in the last few years. One of the big marketing phrases you hear a lot these days is LCP (liquid crystal polymer), which is something we talked a lot about at the last Computex. One of the benefits of LCP fans (which HAVN isn’t using here) is that you can get the blades way closer to the interior of the frame. The downside is that it’s incredibly expensive. We have an interview with Noctua’s Jakob Dellinger from 2 years ago that delves into how the company wanted to avoid using LCP for a long time but determined it was necessary to get the performance they wanted. HAVN isn’t using LCP but has designed a fan that has some “teeth” cut out on its blades, which is something we’ve seen before. The company has also shaped its fan hub to be able to scoop air in more. HAVN tells us that having the hub protrude out like a little mountain would offer the best performance but this presents clearance/compatibility issues, especially if you want to put a radiator up against it. Taking a look at the 180mm fan, there’s a 2.0mm distance from the blade to the frame of the fan. We asked if HAVN tried to get it closer and were provided with a lot of data. The company showed us 3 revisions. 1 had a 1.8mm spacing, another had 2.0mm of spacing, and the third had 2.2mm. What they ended up seeing for pressure in mmH2O, is that a 2.0mm spacing ran at 2.19. The 1.8mm fan ran at 2.23, which is an improvement. The CFM (cubic feet per minute) for both was nearly indistinguishable at around 165. The 2.2mm spacing, however, had a big drop off, which is a design they didn’t go with. It had a 2.21 mmH2O pressure, which is more or less within error of the others, but the 159.9 is where that drop off occurs in the CFM. Comparing the 1.8 vs the 2.0mm spacings, they are basically hitting diminishing returns. Seeing this information is nice. We imagine that the benefits here weren’t worth the yields and costs because getting the blades closer to the inner frame could lead to a bad yield during manufacturing or might have the blades expand and hit the frame as it ages with time. This is what happened with a lot of Enermax fans in the past.  Grab a GN15 Large Anti-Static Modmat to celebrate our 15th Anniversary and for a high-quality PC building work surface. The Modmat features useful PC building diagrams and is anti-static conductive. Purchases directly fund our work! (or consider a direct donation or a Patreon contribution!)Now we’re going to go over HAVN’s first-part numbers, but we plan to do our own performance review of the case and fans once they’re available. First-party data should be looked at with some reasonable care. Thermal comparisons should only be made against their own results here, not against ours, as the benches are different. The flat, typical shroud style was comparable to the rectangular type in result, with the rectangular type slightly better. We think this will see a larger impact in our testing, but we'd need the three types to know for sure. The important comparison is against the cylindrical type, where HAVN saw worse results by a measurable amount. Performance worsened by 1-2 degrees on the CPU and about 2 degrees on the GPU. That's a large GPU temperature increase.In their next test slide, HAVN tested various fan configurations with the flat shroud. The results were mostly as expected: CPU performance is hurt drastically by having only a bottom intake fan, to no surprise.More interestingly, the ramp type shroud makes comparisons in "B" with a fan level with the top of it and "A" with a fan sunken to the floor of the ramp. The sunken approach resulted in marginally worse CPU thermals in A as compared to B, with GPU thermals mostly unchanged.This slide shows CFD simulation and flow mapping for ramp angles at 120 and 135 degrees. HAVN has drawn a few highlights around areas of re-circulation or heat accumulation, particularly marked at "1" where the 120-degree ramp angle shows worse areas of heat build-up. HAVN tested this in 5-degree increments from 120 to 140, finding that 135 was a good balance when noise normalized.In the above image, they show the fan spacing again, with a 20mm height increase benefiting performance.HAVN didn't shy away from competitive comparisons. The company says its BF 360 with its final front panel, shown above in light blue, had competitive performance against the H6. They also suggest significant reductions in flow resistance (which is a good thing) versus the Lancool 3, with the HS 420 also making some appearances here.HAVN began studying its slot spacing and porosity of the ventilation slots in the panels next. The company found that a ratio of length divided by depth being ideally about equal to 6 was optimal for minimizing flow resistance, with the only downside being potential structural challenges. These charts show their flow performance with different slot sizes.As shown in this set of images, the point is that HAVN is really mocking up a ton of different styles of panels, from the shrouds to the slot spacing, to try and determine the thermal performance and optimize for it. This is a major progression for them. It’s a lot of work to do all of this, which is cool to see. Of course, we have to test the product to see how it came together, but the CFM performance of type 4, as they called it, was the best, but we're ultimately looking at tiny differences here. Still, all of those small differences across the case will add up in theory.This image was cool: After all of this thermal testing, HAVN next did mechanical stress simulation for torsional forces against the panel, which allowed them to dial-in the thickness and makeup of the plastics.That continued in this image, where the so-called "type 4" gets another highlight.HAVN highlighted "Design C" for having a 0.8mm metal thickness with the chosen hole sizing.By shaping the fan hub itself to guide flow, HAVN claims that it can better maintain pressure across the hub of the fan and along the inner wall of the blades. This is the area of worst performance in every fan, so optimizing here can also help minimize dead zones behind the hub. HAVN says that the molded flow guide in the hub benefited its noise significantly. The company claims its flow rate also improved significantly for the guided hub.The image above is really cool. Referencing whale-fin evolution, HAVN used tooth-like leading edges on the fan to improve its thermal performance. We've seen this plenty of times in the past, but it never seems to stick around and we're not sure why. In this simulation though, HAVN suggests that the air stream is more uniform along the wavy blade design.Using a 30% glass fiber composite, HAVN saw performance with the new design slightly improve in CFM but largely improve in static pressure, going from 2.21 to 2.40 mmH2O.There's a ton more that HAVN did. The P/Q chart above shows the mock-up performance, including the stall region centrally. We'll save all this discussion for the review, though.HAVN had about 41 pages of this technical presentation, which is actually greatly appreciated. A lot of what remains will be covered in our review, so we'll leave that for now.The bearings are also interesting to talk about. These are called FDBs (Fluid Dynamic Bearings), depending on how you want to define that. We looked at one that was designed for the company’s 180mm fan. It was a 15mm-tall FDB.  One of the things with fans, in terms of the support, is how the fan’s rod seats into the bearing. As we’re told, the longer the bearing is, the more it will help with the wobble of the blades. Internally looking at the 15mm-tall bearing for the 180mm fan, you can see 3 grooved channels. In our bearings-factory tour, we learned that the grooves are part of the mechanism that allows the fluid to circulate to keep that pressure even across the bearing. That’s supposed to be what's special here but we don’t test bearings individually, but the idea is that 3 channels are supposed to help with the stability of the fluids across the bearing. For the 120mm fans, HAVN is going for roughly a 12mm tall bearing. The company claims that most are between 9-11mm tall for 120mm fans. HAVN allowed us to look at the company’s thermal chamber. There are pros and cons to HAVN’s solution. The pro is that it’s supposed to help control the thermal environment as it circulates the air. The downside to the chamber is that we found it can influence the results, though it depends on the chamber. We found that for our testing specifically, having a larger, open-room environment works better. It is very environment-specific. The company also had a flow-rate tester, which is similar to ours, that can do PQ charts, which the company used to test its new fans. It has a throttle control and a laser tachometer, which provides a reading of the speed of the fan. On one side of the flow-rate tester, there are tubes for the counter blower, which our system also has. Their flow-rate tester also has an air compressor, which is used for actuating some of the nozzles inside the system. We also saw that their flow-rate tester also came with an inexpensive desktop OEM computer (in this case, a ThinkCentre PC running an i5-12400).HAVN also has an acoustic chamber, which has a pass-through on the outside coupled with a noise meter, which collects noise levels. One thing we liked seeing once we looked inside the chamber is that we saw a mechanical rigging for the fan, which allows it to be free flowing. They put their microphone in the corner, which we used to do when we had a chamber of a similar size. Putting the mic here allows you to maximize the distance of the chamber by going diagonal, providing maybe a half a meter of space. They also have a foam floor as well, which makes it closer to an anechoic chamber as opposed to something like our hemi-anechoic chamber. Grab a GN Tear-Down Toolkit to support our AD-FREE reviews and IN-DEPTH testing while also getting a high-quality, highly portable 10-piece toolkit that was custom designed for use with video cards for repasting and water block installation. Includes a portable roll bag, hook hangers for pegboards, a storage compartment, and instructional GPU disassembly cards.HAVN is targeting a launch around September for its new products at which point we aim to run our own benchmarks to see how it all performs.

Computex 2025 is drawing to a close today, putting a period on a fairly sleepy convention—at least, compared to previous years. But while the big hardware announcements may have left PC building enthusiasts craving more, fun components still could be found around the show. Like PC cases. I haven’t been on the show floor, but I’m still pumped for the news that I’ve been devouring while at home. I wasn’t exactly planning a makeover for my rig just yet, but I’m now awfully tempted by what’s coming down the pipeline. Especially by one case in particular. (It’s not the one all my colleagues want.) Interested in all the best hardware out of Computex? Check out our staff’s picks! InWin ChronoMancy InWin For its 40th anniversary, InWin pulled out all the stops. At Computex, the company unveiled the ChronoMancy, a jaw-dropping piece of spectacle that stands over 3 feet tall (!). This E-ATX case looks like a bit of wizardry with cyberpunk overtones—transparent blue plastic set against a sleek, dark gray aluminum body. When lit in a full build, the shimmering effect of RGB lighting makes the whole array look like a device meant to bring the dead to life. Personally, I dig how the rounded panels curve around to reveal the components inside, which stack like the spine of a mechanical beast. Also, the fact you can open this chassis with the wave of a wand. (You can also press a button, but that’s way more boring.) Sinking money into this likely super-expensive case seems like a good idea. Right? Right. Hyte X50 Air Hyte Call me a curmudgeon, but it feels like every case is a sharp-edged box these days. Don’t get me wrong—when the O11D first appeared on the scene, its clean lines provided a needed break from “gaming” cases that had aggressive ridges, fins, and slanted front panels. I never wanted the whole industry to lean so hard into that single look, though.  Thankfully, Hyte is swimming upstream with delightfully (and literally) bubbly, colorful cases. Its X50 Air has me seriously considering putting cash down to rehome my current desktop build. I adore red PC cases, and they don’t often appear in the wild. But the X50 also sports pink, lime green, and periwinkle options in addition to standard white and black, too. Heck, as hard as I fell for the red color, even the white case could be fun for a project—maybe a “skittles” build? Use the white as a base for color accents from across the rainbow (custom cables, perhaps). Just peeks of color through the mesh panels could be cute, given the rounded, curved shape of the case edges. (Rather than incongruous on a sharp box.) An X50 variant with a glass panel exists as well, but nah. I love the meshy, huggable vibe of the X50 Air. Not for you? Just think of how you could tempt the kids in your life away from their consoles. SilverStone FLP-02 Willis Lai / Foundry I have to be honest—I love to hate this case. Just as with the neon vomit everyone associates with the 1980s, I also want to leave beige cases firmly in the 1990s. Not my coworkers, though. SilverStone made a beige throwback case as a joke awhile back, and the tech media took off with spreading word of it. And now we’re here with the SilverStone FLP-02. In the year of our lord 2025, did I expect a chassis with 5.25-inch bays, a front panel with grills dead center and along its edges, and even a turbo button? And also a lock? Nope. Are we getting one? Yep. Pretty sure my boss is going to be first in line for this ATX case, which he calls a piece of junk debris memorabilia out of a time machine. But one that is fully modern inside, despite its looks. I will grudgingly admit though—you could definitely use this as a sleeper build. Shove a RTX 5090 in it and never worry about it being stolen. You know, like those fake cans of soup you were supposed to hide your money and spare keys in, as seen in ’90s commercials. Yes, I remember. Phanteks Evolv2 Matrix GearSeekers / Phanteks Who really wants gigantic LCD screens inside their PC? Me, actually, but Phanteks showed off a case at Computex that has me potentially reconsidering. Perhaps I should be aiming for something a little more practical (aka visible)–but no less cool. The Evolv X2 Matrix has a fun extra at the bottom of its chassis—a display that shows text in a pixel font. Text that can scroll, to boot, wrapping from front panel to side without a hitch. The look perfectly blends retro vibes with enough modern style to turn my head. Somehow, seeing the sample temperature bars for your CPU and GPU rendered in blocky lines is just so charming. For a closer look, hit up this video from our friends over at GearSeekers. In Nick’s own words? “Huh, that’s pretty cool, I haven’t really seen that before.” Me either, dude—it’s slick. Even more fun? It apparently comes part of a line of Matrix cases.  Also I realized plenty of room still exists for an AIO with a screen, so I’m now asking my future self: ¿Por qué no los dos? Cooler Master MasterFrame 360 Panoramic OC3D TV / Cooler Master Some people have expert-level cable management skills. (I do not.) But we can still aspire to such lofty heights—particularly when you have a good purchase to motivate you to improve. For me, that challenge buy would be the Cooler Master MasterFrame 360 Panoramic, which wraps glass around three sides of the case for a full view of the build. You can’t hide your frustrated attempts to quit cable management early with this chassis. Softening the harsh demand to git gud are the lovely curves on the front panel of the 360 Panoramic—I find the gentler aesthetic less intimidating. Sure, I don’t do custom water cooling (another solid skill to make the most of this look), but you know what? Do I really need to, when there are AIOs with gigantic screens I could feature inside? You may think seeing one fish tank style case means you’ve seen them all, but not anymore. You’ll understand when you take a closer look at the case, courtesy of OC3D TV.

After fifteen years of semiconductor research, Xiaomi unveils its inaugural custom processor, the XRING O1. This proprietary chip now drives two flagship devices that showcase how engineering can follow aesthetic vision rather than dictate it. The 15S Pro smartphone and Pad 7 Ultra tablet demonstrate a maturation in hardware development where technical capabilities enhance design intentions instead of limiting them. Designer: Xiaomi The XRING O1 represents a significant departure from Xiaomi’s previous reliance on third-party processors. Built on advanced 3-nanometer fabrication technology, this chip architecture balances computational prowess with practical energy management. Its ten-core configuration includes dual high-performance cores operating at 3.7GHz alongside efficiency-focused cores that handle routine tasks without unnecessary power drain. Graphics processing receives substantial attention through the integrated 16-core Immortalis-G925 GPU. This component renders complex visual content with exceptional smoothness, particularly beneficial when working with creative applications or editing high-resolution video. The processor’s specialized imaging engine processes 8.7 billion pixels per second, enabling sophisticated computational photography features without compromising system responsiveness. 15S Pro: Hardware Design Enhancing Photographic Capability The 15S Pro demonstrates thoughtful material selection through its Dragon Scale Fiber and Far Sky Blue variants. These finishes transcend mere aesthetics, communicating product identity through both visual and tactile characteristics. The aluminum frame incorporates an innovative wing-shaped cooling system that maintains optimal thermal conditions without disrupting the device’s clean lines. Visual content benefits from the 6.73-inch OLED panel capable of 3200 nits peak brightness. This specification translates to practical benefits in outdoor environments where ambient light typically overwhelms conventional displays. The implementation of variable refresh rate technology, spanning from 1Hz to 120Hz, preserves battery reserves during static content viewing while ensuring fluid motion when required. The 2K resolution maintains clarity across all content types. Photographic capabilities receive particular emphasis through collaboration with Leica. The Summilux lens system pairs with three 50-megapixel sensors, each optimized for specific capture scenarios. The primary camera employs an f/1.62 aperture and 1/1.31″ sensor that gather substantial light even in challenging conditions. Complementary ultrawide and 5X telephoto modules expand creative possibilities without quality compromises. The XRING O1’s dedicated image signal processor enables sophisticated computational photography techniques. The system applies intelligent enhancement that respects photographic intent rather than applying excessive processing. Low-light photography, portrait effects, and high dynamic range scenarios benefit from this approach, producing results that rival dedicated cameras in many situations. Power management demonstrates similar attention to practical user needs. The 6100mAh silicon-carbon battery achieves 850Wh/L energy density, providing substantial capacity within reasonable physical dimensions. When recharging becomes necessary, 90W wired and 50W wireless options minimize downtime. The XRING O1’s efficiency optimizations extend operational duration during active use. Pad 7 Ultra: Rethinking Tablet Proportions The Pad 7 Ultra challenges conventional tablet design through its remarkably thin 5.1mm profile. This svelte form houses a 14-inch OLED display that transforms content consumption and creation through both size and quality. The 3.2K resolution ensures exceptional clarity across all applications, while the 120Hz refresh rate creates immediate responsiveness during interaction. The 3:2 aspect ratio represents a particularly thoughtful design decision that enhances productivity applications. This format provides additional vertical space compared to widescreen alternatives, benefiting document editing, web browsing, and creative software. The choice demonstrates how subtle proportion adjustments can significantly impact practical usability. Construction employs an all-metal unibody approach that achieves 609g weight despite the generous display dimensions. The high-strength aluminum alloy increases structural integrity by 18% compared to previous generations, creating a device that feels substantial without unnecessary mass. This balance ensures comfortable handling during extended creative sessions. The optional nano-soft light screen variant addresses the needs of digital artists and note-takers. Surface treatment reduces reflectivity by 70% and glare by 99%, creating a more paper-like experience for stylus input. When paired with the Focus Touch Pen offering 8192 pressure sensitivity levels and minimal latency, the tablet provides professional-grade creative capabilities in an exceptionally portable format. Performance improvements enabled by the XRING O1 translate to measurable productivity benefits. Video exports complete 27.5% faster than previous generations, while image processing finishes 51.3% quicker. Multitasking demonstrates 49% improved responsiveness, allowing users to maintain creative momentum without technical interruptions. Audio reproduction receives similar attention through an eight-speaker system with Dolby Atmos support. This configuration creates immersive soundscapes that complement the visual experience, enhancing both entertainment content and creative audio work. The approach demonstrates consideration for the complete user experience rather than focusing exclusively on visual elements. Custom Silicon Enabling Design Freedom The XRING O1 represents more than technical achievement. It enables design approaches previously constrained by processing or efficiency limitations. By controlling both hardware and silicon development, Xiaomi creates devices where form and function achieve greater harmony than typically possible when adapting designs around third-party components. This integration allows both the 15S Pro and Pad 7 Ultra to challenge conventional expectations while delivering substantive performance improvements. The processor’s efficiency enables the Pad 7 Ultra’s remarkably thin profile without thermal or battery compromises. Similarly, the 15S Pro maintains consistent performance during demanding photographic tasks without requiring design concessions for cooling. Xiaomi’s approach demonstrates how custom silicon development can advance product design beyond incremental refinements. The XRING O1 provides capabilities specifically tailored to hardware priorities rather than forcing design compromises to accommodate standardized processors. This strategy allows greater creative freedom while maintaining competitive performance metrics. The 15S Pro enters the market at 5,499 yuan (approximately $763) for configurations with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. This positioning balances premium capabilities with accessibility, making advanced technology available to more users. The Pad 7 Ultra similarly offers distinctive design and performance characteristics at competitive price points, challenging established premium tablet offerings.The post Xiaomi Debuts Custom Silicon: XRING O1 Transforms 15S Pro and Pad 7 Ultra first appeared on Yanko Design.

On November 1, more than 19,000 members of the Unity community joined us from around the world, both virtually and in-person, for a full day of gamedev inspiration, education, and connection. Following the keynote, attendees were able to experience fellow creators’ projects, participate in expert-led sessions, network with peers, and even attend a first-of-its-kind, multiplatform virtual concert.With over 20 streamed sessions throughout the day and five unique local experiences, here is a roundup of notable highlights from Unite 2022.Senior Machine Learning Developer Florent Bocquelet expanded on a tool and Real-Time Live! Audience Choice Award-winning project that first debuted this summer at SIGGRAPH 2022. The session “Authoring character poses with AI” walked attendees through how the technology – which is not yet available – is being designed to work in the Editor to enable easier creation of natural-looking poses.Benoit Gagnon, a senior software developer, modeled ways for users to handle persistent data in a multiplayer context during the session “Persistent worlds: Managing player and world state.” The technical deep dive also covered PlayerPrefs, CloudSave, and general-purpose DBs, and offered a glimpse at what’s next from Unity Gaming Services.Of the more than 20 virtual sessions, nine featured leading minds from creators like you who use Unity day in and day out to optimize your projects, including:Renaud Forestié, director and Unity Asset Store publisher at More MountainsNic Gomez, senior games designer at AltaFreya Holmér, studio founderBen Hopkins, expert graphics engineer at Owlchemy LabsRohan Jadav, platform engineer at SuperGamingBrandon Jahner, CTO at MalokaManesh Mistry, lead programmer at ustwo GamesErick Passos, SDK lead developer at Photon EngineWe also caught up with creators from Triangle Factory, Vinci Games, and Obsidian Entertainment during the keynote session.Get the inside scoop on the Unite 2022 experiences hosted in five unique locations at Unity offices around the world.After networking and breakfast, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Create Solutions Marc Whitten welcomed the Austin crowd before the global keynote stream. For the rest of the day, attendees had the chance to check out exclusive in-person sessions, global virtual streams, and panels, and chat live with experts at the “Ask the Experts” booth. The day concluded with a fireside chat between Marc Whitten and Jeff Hanks, director of marketing for industries.Kicking off with breakfast burritos, Unity Senior Vice President Peter Moore welcomed a packed crowd at the Brighton office for the Unite 2022 keynote stream. The day continued with enthusiasm as attendees filled rooms to watch session streams, live panels, and roundtable discussions. Topics exclusive to Brighton ranged from understanding your audience from a scientific perspective to how Unity identifies and fixes bugs. Brighton also featured a very popular iiRcade machine and four “Studio Spotlights” featuring local studios who talked about their latest games and how Unity helped bring each to life.At yet another Unity office, Copenhagen guests were also welcomed with breakfast and an introduction from Senior Director of Product Management Andrew Bowell. In addition to its own iiRcade console and chances to check out the Made with Unity games featured in the keynote – Cult of the Lamb, Turbo Golf Racing, and Hyper Dash – attendees were treated to exclusive panel discussions as well as a fireside chat between Head of Marketing Strategy, Analytics, and Insights Deborah-Anna Reznek and Senior Vice President of AI Danny Lange.Despite a rainy day, Montreal welcomed a solid mix of students and teams from mid- to large-sized studios. Luc Barthelet, senior vice president of technology, kicked off the day. Following the keynote stream, participants had their choice of roundtables, panels, and presentations to attend. The Montreal office also hosted 24 Unity Insiders from around the world, including Ireland, the Netherlands, Brighton, Portugal, Vancouver, and Toronto. This group participated in a VIP experience that featured exclusive tracks catered to their areas of interest.The San Francisco experience had a great turnout and offered a choice of three different tracks for attendees, which included breakout focus groups, roundtables with Unity experts, and panel discussions. One such session featured Clive Downie, senior vice president and general manager for Consumer, as he moderated an interactive discussion with Ingrid Lestiyo, senior vice president and general manager for Operate Solutions, and the creators of Ramen VR (pictured below) amid a packed room. Another standout session was CEO John Riccitiello’s fireside chat with indie game developer Thomas Brush. To cap off the memorable day, attendees continued the festivities with a happy hour.It was so great to connect with our Unity community at a Unite event again (for the first time since 2020). Please continue to join us on our journey toward making the world a better place with more creators: connect with us through the forums, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitch. And keep your eyes peeled in the coming months for on-demand session recordings so you can check out anything you missed.