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Showing posts from December, 2024

Handheld gaming PCs are here to stay: here's why I'd recommend the Asus ROG Ally over a gaming laptop any day of the week

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support I’ve been a PC gamer for basically my entire life. Even as a young kid on my dad’s boxy beige work computer, I spent hours playing the only game it had installed: Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition . I loved the glorious Flash era of browser games, and bought plenty of magazines purely for the demo disks. Growing up, I had my dalliances with console gaming, but once I got my first gaming laptop as a teen, we were back in familiar territory. It wasn’t long before I built my first gaming PC, and the rest, as they say, is history. I never thought I’d abandon my trusty gaming desktop - perhaps the fourth or fifth PC I’ve built purely for myself over the years, discounting the literal dozens I built while working at Maximum PC magazine - and yet nowadays, I find myself using it less and less for gaming. I used to spend hours seated at my desk grinding away in my live-service game du jour, yet now I mostly just sit in that chair to write articles like this on...

11 basketball courts in 1 teaspoon: this new material, borne from the space age, could hold the key to next-generation batteries and ultra small power cells

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support Researchers create a form of carbon with an incredible surface area This could allow the material to trap more substance including various chemicals Hypergolics are widely use in jet propulsion Researchers at Cornell University have developed a nanoporous carbon material with the highest surface area ever reported. The breakthrough uses a chemical reaction akin to rocket fuel ignition and could be used to improve carbon-dioxide capture and energy storage technologies, potentially advancing the next generation of batteries. Increasing the porosity of carbon is key to enhancing its performance in applications such as pollutant adsorption (where pollutants stick to the surface of the material) and energy storage. The new material boasts a surface area of 4,800 square meters per gram - comparable to the size of an American football field, or 11 basketball courts, condensed into a single teaspoon. A bright future for batteries “Having more su...

This widely-used instant loan app leaks nearly 30 million files of user data

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support FatakPay, an Indian loan company, was found storing sensitive data in an unprotected S3 bucket The data included people's names, addresses, IDs, and more The company has since locked the database down Instant loan company FatakPay kept sensitive data on millions of its users exposed on the internet, for an unknown period of time to anyone who knew where to look. In mid-September 2024, security researchers from Cybernews discovered a misconfigured Amazon AWS S3 bucket containing more than 27 million files filled with sensitive information. The data found in the bucket includes people’s full names, postal addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, copies of national IDs, loan agreements, account statements, filled-in loan applications, user selfies for verification, PAN (a PIN number issued by the Indian Income Tax Department), Aadhar (a PIN number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India), and credit score reports. Closi...

This universal processor combines CPU, GPU, DSP and FPGA in one chip

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support One processor architecture for AI, embedded systems, and robotics RISC-V scalability ensures seamless expansion across diverse applications Seed funding boosts Ubitium’s drive to redefine chip technology For over 50 years, the semiconductor industry has relied on the Tomasulo algorithm, introduced by IBM in 1967, to build specialized CPUs , GPUs , and other chips tailored to specific computing tasks. Now, Ubitium, a hardware startup founded by semiconductor veterans, has developed a universal RISC-V processor that consolidates all computing workloads onto a single, affordable chip. This technology is particularly significant for embedded systems and robotics, where the cost of hardware often limits the deployment of advanced computing solutions. Erasing the boundaries between specialized computing tasks Ubitium’s universal processor is designed to be scalable, supporting a portfolio of chips that vary in size but share the same microarch...

Netflix's Zero Day teaser is the first time I've seen Robert De Niro starring in a TV series

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support The creators of Netflix's new show also brought us Narcos and Griselda De Niro is a former President investigating a devastating cyberattack Zero Day is streaming from February 20, 2025 It's not every day you see a giant of cinema starring in a TV show: in the pre-streaming era that kind of thing was not something successful stars would do. But this is no ordinary day and this is no ordinary show, which is no doubt why Robert De Niro agreed to be in it. That, and probably Santa-sized sacks of money. De Niro is the star of Zero Day , a new Netflix show created by Eric Newman and Noah Oppenheim. Between them the two have a stellar CV that includes Narcos, Narcos: Mexico, President, The Watcher, Griselda, The Maze Runner and more. In this show, which has the potential to be one of the best Netflix series , De Niro plays a former US president who leads an investigation into a devastating cyberattack. What happens in Zero Day? ...

Russian hosting firm RUVDS takes server tech to the South Pole for high-speed data tests in extreme conditions

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support RUVDS expands hosting to Earth’s coldest, remote regions Tests promise high-speed data access for extreme remote environments Antarctica mission tests data center limits and innovation Russian hosting firm RUVDS has announced plans to deliver a server to one of Earth’s most isolated locations: the South Pole. Building on its previous Arctic experiment, the company aims to explore the feasibility of providing high-speed, uninterrupted data access from Antarctica's remote, freezing landscape. According to the company’s schedule, this ambitious venture will take place next year and it seeks to prove that reliable server infrastructure that can operate even under the harshest conditions. World’s most challenging climates This venture follows RUVDS’s earlier success at the Barneo Ice Camp, a temporary station on an ice floe near the North Pole. Earlier in 2024, the company delivered a “data center in a box” to Barneo via an airdrop from a...

European data centers are having to delay carbon reduction goals and rethink sustainability plans

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support Carbon reduction timelines keep shifting forward for European data centers Report claims commercial viability comes first as environmental goals are secondary Aggreko suggests need for strategic partnerships between companies and energy providers Data centers are some of the largest energy consumers in Europe, and are facing unique challenges in achieving net zero goals. A recent survey by Aggreko found volatile energy costs and grid instability are prompting data center operators to rethink their timelines for carbon reduction. Of the executives surveyed, over 90% have adjusted their net zero targets, with half of those extending their timelines due to these persistent energy-related challenges. Decentralized energy solutions are gaining traction For many data centers, achieving sustainability goals requires balancing environmental targets with economic feasibility, especially as energy prices continue to rise. In response to these ene...

Everything new on Netflix in January 2025

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support Well, it's here: the year 2025, and a new year calls for more movies and shows arriving across the best streaming services , starting with Netflix . This past year has been an eventful one for Netflix with the releases of Rebel Ridge , miniseries Griselda , and of course One Day joining the library of the best Netflix shows and best Netflix movies – and it's only going to get better. January 1 is packed with a blend of movies including fun family favorites and romance stories, but it's compelling dramas like Lion (2016), Interstellar (2014), and Dallas Buyers Club (2013) that top the list of new Netflix titles. In addition to the usual list of new arrivals, Netflix is also ushering in new original shows, starting with Selling the City on January 3 and as a major fan of Selling Sunset , I'll be sat. Everything new on Netflix in January 2025 Arriving on January 1 13 Going on 30 (movie) 3 Ninjas: Kick Back (movie) Apollo...

Google Whisk is a new way to create AI visuals using image prompts –here's how to try it

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support Google Whisk uses images as inputs instead of text-based prompts It's built on Google’s Imagen 3 generative AI model The experimental tool is free to try for users in the US Google’s new AI tool makes it easier to create and remix your visual concepts. Instead of asking you to describe what’s in your mind’s eye, Whisk lets you input three image prompts: one for subject, one for scene and one for style. Whisk takes care of the rest, making it a more intuitive way to experiment with different ideas. While most of the best AI image generators require you to write a detailed prompt, Whisk handles that behind the scenes. When you drop pictures into the web-based Whisk interface as inspiration, Google’s Gemini model automatically analyzes them and writes a detailed caption for each. These are then fed into the Imagen 3 model, to create a matching image. For example, you could drop in an image of a car as the subject and a photo of a rural l...

These are the companies using AI-driven dynamic pricing the most - and the top users probably won't surprise you

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support Study claims dynamic pricing creates competitive advantages for retailers AI enhances real-time pricing adjustments across platforms Savvy shoppers track prices for optimal savings Dynamic pricing has become a cornerstone of modern ecommerce platforms , which increasingly adjust product prices in real-time based on factors such as demand, competition, seasonality, and even localized market conditions. Unlike traditional fixed pricing, dynamic pricing strategies allow businesses to react swiftly to shifts in the market, helping them to stay competitive and maximize profits. For consumers, this approach means prices can fluctuate frequently, creating both opportunities for savings and challenges in keeping track of the best deals. With AI and machine learning becoming integral to ecommerce, dynamic pricing is now more sophisticated, with algorithms that analyze vast amounts of data to optimize pricing around the clock. Good for business, ba...

Samsung's rival has debuted new storage tech that offers a super-fast, high-capacity flash memory for ultra-portable devices; Kioxia's UFS QLC promises to reach speeds of 4.2 GB/s

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support New QLC technology boosts storage capacity and performance High-Speed Link Startup Sequence reduces initialization time by 70% Enhanced security features protect sensitive user data effectively The growing demands of mobile technology have increased the need for high-capacity and high-speed data storage, and as digital devices continue to advance, the industry seeks a way to handle larger data loads while delivering fast and efficient performance. Kioxia has now launched the mass production of its latest innovation: the industry’s first QLC UFS 4.0 embedded flash memory device. The new device is designed with quadruple-level cell (QLC) technology and comes with a higher bit density and increased storage capacity thanks to Universal Flash Storage (UFS) technology. High-speed performance for demanding applications With this new QLC UFS 4.0 device, Kioxia offers higher storage capacity within a compact structure which not only benefits comp...

Yellowjackets season 3: release date, cast, trailer and more news and rumors about the hit Paramount Plus show

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support Yellowjackets season 3: key information - Renewed in December 2022 - Will be released on February 14, 2025 - First trailer officially revealed - Main cast expected to return - Hilary Swank and Joel McHale to guest star - No official plot details released yet - Season 2 finale teases potential story threads - Showrunners have plans for more seasons Yellowjackets season 3 is undoubtedly hotly-anticipated considering it's one of the best shows on Paramount Plus . A delicious mix of survival thriller and coming-of-age drama, the show follows two timelines – one in 1996 as a group of female high school soccer players find themselves deserted in the wilderness after their plane crashes, and one, in the present day where they're attempting to cope with the fallout. Season 1 and 2 laid out the girls fight for survival, resorting to cannibalism to stay alive. Yet, in the present-day timeline, the survivors are still trying to piece th...

ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories, from Meta smart glasses leaks to Superman's dog and ChatGPT on WhatsApp

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support The year is coming to a close but we have time for at least one more ICYMI round-up to catch you up on the most important tech announcements before the holidays, and more importantly, CES 2025 land. This week we saw leaks galore for the Samsung Galaxy S25 , Nintendo Switch 2 , and new Ray-Ban smart glasses, as well as getting a trailer for Superman which introduced us to a very good boy in Krypto. You can't watch Superman yet, but if you've caught up on the week's news and are looking for something to fill your downtime, then check out our picks for the seven new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend . 7. Panasonic brought back the point-and-shoot camera (Image credit: Panasonic) One thing we didn't have on the 2024 bingo card was a new point-and-shoot camera, even though it's a trending market this year. So it was surprising when Panasonic announced the Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 (it's called the former in the US...

Chinese researchers repurpose Meta's Llama model for military intelligence applications

Web Hosting & Remote IT Support Chinese researchers adapt Meta's Llama model for military intelligence use ChatBIT showcases risks of open-source AI technology Meta distances itself from unauthorized military applications of Llama Meta’s Llama AI model is open source and freely available for use, but the company’s licensing terms clearly state the model is intended solely for non-military applications. However there have been concerns about how open source tech can be checked to ensure that it is not used for the wrong purposes and the latest speculations validate these concerns, as recent reports claim Chinese researchers with links to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have created a military-focused AI model called ChatBIT using Llama The emergence of ChatBIT highlights the potential and challenges of open source technology in a world where access to advanced AI is increasingly viewed as a national security issue. A Chinese AI model for military intelligence A ...