Technology

Core viewpoint: Technology companies are facing both challenges and opportunities in the AI and consumer electronics markets, while the laptop market caters to the specific needs of college students.

Hon Hai's Earnings Decline

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.’s quarterly earnings missed estimates due to weak Chinese iPhone sales and increased investment in AI server production.

Laptop Recommendations for College Students

A good laptop is a sensible investment for college students, ideally thin and lightweight with enough battery to last all day. Consider your major and program guidelines when choosing a laptop. Aim for 16 GB of RAM and at least 512GB or 1TB of storage. Well-equipped ultraportables generally cost between $1,000 and $1,400, while budget Windows laptops and Chromebooks can be more affordable alternatives, ranging from $500 to $700.

Technology

Core viewpoint: Apple's new iPhone 16e is showing promising initial sales, though challenges remain in key markets like China.

iPhone 16e Sales Performance

According to IDC, Apple Inc.’s iPhone 16e is outpacing initial sales of the third-generation iPhone SE released a few years ago. However, this may not be sufficient to reverse a sales decline in China.

Technology

Core viewpoint: AI technology is rapidly advancing, focusing on practical applications and battery health management on mobile devices.

Android 16 Beta Introduces Battery Health Feature

Google has begun rolling out Android 16’s third beta build, which includes a new 'Battery Health' feature. Located in the Battery dashboard of the Settings app, this feature informs users about the electrochemical status of their phone's battery, indicating its health as a percentage. This allows users to assess if an aging battery is causing performance issues and whether a replacement is needed.

Inception Labs Launches Mercury Diffusion Model

Inception Labs has released its Mercury diffusion model, claiming it's 10 times faster than GPT-4o, challenging the traditional Transformer-based approach.

The Core Value of AI

The true value of AI lies in its ability to address and solve real-world problems.

The Competition for AI Entry Points

The battle to become the primary AI entry point is intensifying.

Beyond the AGI Narrative

Drawing lessons from history, it's important to move beyond the AGI narrative.

Technology

Core viewpoint: AI models are becoming more sophisticated and accessible, leading to advancements in robotics, multimodal communication, and digital human technology. China's general-purpose robotics is taking the lead.

Google DeepMind's Gemini Robotics Unveiled

Google DeepMind introduced Gemini Robotics, a suite of models built on Gemini 2.0, designed to enhance robotics AI. This vision-language-action model enables robots to perform tasks autonomously with improved understanding and adaptability, marking a significant step in AI-driven automation across various industries.

Aya Vision Enhances Multilingual Communication

Cohere For AI launched Aya Vision, an open-weights vision model that enhances multilingual and multimodal communication. This model extends multimodal capabilities to 23 languages and excels in image captioning and answering visual questions, making AI more accessible globally.

Rise of Digital Humans

"Digital humans" are becoming increasingly "alive," indicating advancements in related technologies.

China's General-Purpose Robotics Technology is Rising

China's general-purpose robotics technology is rising, with its manufacturing advantages leading globally, while the US and the West lag behind.

Nvidia Invests in CoreWeave

Nvidia is investing in CoreWeave, which is going public with a valuation exceeding 30 billion.

Technology

Core viewpoint: AI and wearable tech are converging to offer more advanced and seamless user experiences.

AirPods May Soon Offer Live Translation

Apple is reportedly planning to introduce live language translation capabilities to its AirPods, following similar features already available in competing earbuds from Google.

Zhizhu Receives 500 Million Yuan Investment

Zhizhu has received 500 million yuan in investment from Zhuhai, supported by state-owned assets from three regions, to promote the development of large models.

Development and Application of Decision-Making and Planning Large Models

A company is focusing on the research and development of decision-making and planning large models, aiming to create a "robot brain".

Technology

Core viewpoint: From wearables and laptops to software and AI, technological innovation continues to drive new products and features, but security risks also need attention.

Garmin Forerunner 265 Smartwatch Discount

The Garmin Forerunner 265 GPS smartwatch is on sale for $400, a $50 discount. This fitness tracking watch features a vibrant AMOLED display and personalized training plans via its "Garmin coach" feature. The 265 can last up to four days with normal use, while the 265S can last up to 15 days in smartwatch mode.

Asus Vivobook 15 Laptop on Sale

The Asus Vivobook 15 is currently on sale at Walmart for $299, a $100 discount. It features a 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, Intel UHD Graphics, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The laptop also has a 15.6-inch screen, a 720p HD webcam with Windows Hello facial recognition, and Windows 11 Home pre-installed.

Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2 Mobile Workstation Discount

The Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2 Mobile Workstation is on sale for $2,059, a 50% discount. This laptop features an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, an Nvidia RTX 1000 Ada graphics card, and 32GB of RAM. It also includes a 16-inch screen with 3840×2400 resolution, a fingerprint reader, Windows 11 Pro, and a 1TB SSD.

Apple Developing Real-Time Translation for AirPods

Apple is reportedly developing a real-time translation feature for AirPods, expected to be released later this year. The feature will allow for two-way translation during in-person conversations, utilizing the iPhone as a translation hub.

Google Gemini Flash 2.0 Image Creator

Guide on how to use Google Gemini Flash 2.0 image creator.

Samsung's Revenue Share for Games on Galaxy Store

Samsung Electronics announced that it will share 80% of revenues and keep 20% for itself for games on the Samsung Galaxy Store.

Apple AirPods 4 on Sale

Apple's AirPods 4 are at their lowest price ever on Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy, starting at $99.99, about 22% off. These newest AirPods support spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are on sale for $148.99, adding Adaptive Audio, transparency mode, and a case that charges via Apple Watch puck or Qi.

Firefox Users Urged to Update for Security

Mozilla is urging Firefox users to update their browsers to version 128 or later before March 14, 2025, to avoid security risks and add-on disruptions caused by the expiration of a key root certificate. Users who fail to update may face security risks such as malicious add-ons compromising user data, untrusted certificates, and compromised password alerts. The problem impacts Firefox on all platforms, except for iOS.

Other

Core viewpoint: Irrelevant or non-English content filtered.

Irrelevant Content

Content in non-English language.

Technology

Core viewpoint: AI continues to advance, influencing cybersecurity, hardware, and even the way AI itself is managed.

AI Model Release and Voice Assistant

Sesame, founded by Brendan Iribe, has released CSM-1B, a 1 billion parameter base model powering its realistic voice assistant, Maya. Licensed under Apache 2.0, it allows commercial use. However, Sesame urges developers to avoid using the model to mimic voices without consent.

AI Autonomy Discussion

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei proposed giving AI models a "I quit this job" button if they dislike a task, sparking debate about AI autonomy.

AI Model Ecosystem Development

Aura, a platform for testing and accessing on-chain AI models, raised $5.5 million in seed funding led by Daxos Capital, Manifold Trading, and Selini Capital. Aura aims to build an AI model ecosystem focusing on discoverability and decentralization.

Cybersecurity Training in the Age of AI

INES Security launched an initiative to rethink cybersecurity training as AI-powered cyber threats increase, highlighting the need for professionals to work alongside AI.

Nvidia's GTC Keynote Focuses on AI

Nvidia's GTC keynote will emphasize AI over gaming.

High-Performance Laptop Introduction

The Raptor X18 is described as the most powerful notebook available.

Blockchain/Web3

Core viewpoint: Integration of blockchain with IoT is creating new opportunities, challenging existing platforms.

Coldware as a DeFi and IoT Competitor

Coldware (COLD), a Web3 platform integrating IoT with blockchain, is emerging as a competitor in the DeFi and IoT spaces, potentially rivaling Avalanche (AVAX) with its smart solutions for decentralized applications.

Consumer Products

Core viewpoint: Continued innovation and sales in the smart home appliance market

Roborock Robot Vacuum on Sale

Several Roborock models are currently on sale, including the S8 MaxV Ultra, which is praised for its powerful suction, advanced mopping system, and AI obstacle avoidance.

Technology

Core viewpoint: AI and hardware innovations continue to shape the tech landscape, with companies exploring new approaches to AGI, gaming, and audio technology.

OpenAI's AGI Ambitions vs. Microsoft's Pragmatism

While OpenAI aims for AGI, Microsoft focuses on AI that enhances human capabilities rather than replacing them, viewing AGI as an overhyped non-goal. Despite different approaches, Microsoft's CPO of Responsible AI, Sarah Bird, reports no tension between the companies.

Serverless Platform Performance Benchmarks

A benchmark evaluated six popular serverless platforms, measuring their fastest and slowest response times, and total execution time, highlighting the efficiency of serverless functions in application development.

Microsoft's AI Gaming Coach

Microsoft is testing Copilot for Gaming, an AI coach intended to assist gamers.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Camera Speculation

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to feature a main camera with a physically variable aperture.

Best Bluetooth Speakers Comparison

CNET has published an expert guide comparing the best Bluetooth speakers across various budgets, focusing on sound quality, size, durability, and battery life.

AI Search Services Accuracy Issues

A CJR study indicates that AI search services frequently misinform users and often ignore publisher exclusion requests, with incorrect answers given at an alarming rate of 60%.

Dell's High-Priced 75-inch 4K Touchscreen Display

Dell has launched a 75-inch 4K touchscreen display with a hefty price tag of $4,000, while a rival product offers similar features at a 50% lower cost.

Anker Nebula Capsule Air Portable Projector on Sale

The Nebula Capsule Air portable projector is on sale for $269.99 on Amazon. It features Google TV OS, phone casting, keystone correction and a twist-on stand, but has a brightness of only 150 ANSI lumens and two hours of battery life.

Android to Support Auracast for Hearing Aids

Android phones, starting with Samsung Galaxy phones running OneUI 7 and Google Pixel 9 phones running Android 16 beta, will soon support Auracast, a Bluetooth technology enabling direct audio connections from hearing aids to public audio broadcasts, including personalized hearing aid presets. The Android 16 beta includes features for users with low vision to outline text and a Local Network Protection feature for app access control.

Apple's AirPods to Feature Live Translation

Apple is planning to introduce a live translation feature to AirPods with iOS 19, enabling real-time translation of conversations. This feature will detect when someone is speaking a different language and translate it in real-time, enhancing the utility of AirPods after the addition of Hearing Health features in 2024. There are also rumors of Apple adding heart-rate tracking to AirPods.

Technology

Core viewpoint: AI is rapidly advancing across various sectors, with major companies focusing on enhancing user experience and capabilities. Simultaneously, hardware innovations continue to improve accessibility and performance.

Google Enhances Gemini 2.0 with Personalized AI

Google is upgrading its Gemini 2.0 models by offering free users access to advanced AI features, including improved Deep Research and a new reasoning model that utilizes search history for personalized understanding. Users must opt-in to share their search history. This initiative aims to increase Gemini's user base by providing enhanced AI capabilities.

OpenAI Warns Against Restricting AI Training Data

OpenAI has cautioned the U.S. government against restricting AI models from learning from copyrighted material, arguing that it could hinder American technological leadership, especially compared to China. OpenAI claims its AI training aligns with fair use and criticizes European opt-out approaches for copyright holders, as it could stifle innovation.

Microsoft Tests AI-Powered Summaries in Notepad

Microsoft is testing AI-powered summaries in Notepad for Windows Insiders, allowing users to highlight text and generate summaries of varying lengths. A Microsoft account is required to use the AI features, which can be disabled in settings. Additionally, Microsoft is testing a "draw & hold" feature in the Snipping Tool that automatically straightens lines.

New Technique for LLM Training

Carnegie Mellon University researchers have developed a new LLM training technique that allows developers to better control the length of chain-of-thought reasoning.

Apple's AirPods to Offer Live Translation

Apple Inc. is planning a new AirPods feature that will allow the earbuds to live-translate in-person conversations into another language.

China's AI Development Surge

An AI surge is occurring throughout China, supported by the government, rapidly advancing the country's capabilities in the field.

Nvidia RTX 50 Series Graphics Card Updates

Enthusiasts await Nvidia's RTX 50 series budget-friendly graphic cards, with recent leaks suggesting the RTX 5060 may have 8GB or 12GB of VRAM, and the RTX 5060 Ti might offer 8GB and 16GB variants. A Chinese retailer briefly listed potential prices, but these are expected to be for AIB models.

Google Fixes Chromecast "Untrusted Device" Error

Google is releasing a fix for Chromecast (2nd gen) and Chromecast Audio devices after an issue caused “untrusted device” errors, disabling casting. The problem may have been due to an expired certificate. The fix will roll out over the next few days, but users who performed a factory reset may still face issues.

Mobile Technology

Core viewpoint: Mobile technology is becoming more accessible and versatile, with budget options offering enhanced capabilities and premium features like advanced audio experiences.

Best Wireless Earbuds of 2025

Expert reviews and comparisons highlight the best wireless earbuds of 2025, focusing on premium sound quality, noise cancellation, battery life, and comfort.

Capable Budget Phones

Budget phones are increasingly capable, offering a viable alternative for those seeking essential features without the high cost. Key considerations include strong software support, a good screen (ideally OLED with at least 1080p resolution), and serviceable storage space (at least 64GB with microSD card expansion or 128GB built-in).

Finance

Core viewpoint: Market volatility impacts IPOs and investment strategies, requiring careful consideration of market dynamics.

Market Volatility and IPOs

Bloomberg's Caroline Hyde and Jackie Davalos discuss news impacting Intel's shares. SuRo Capital CEO Mark Klein discusses how market volatility could affect anticipated IPOs.

Technology

Core viewpoint: The tech world is seeing advancements in AI personalization, mobile devices with unique features, and new strategies for app distribution and data management.

Google Enhances Gemini with Personalization and New Features

Google has rolled out previously paywalled Gemini features to free users, including Gemini custom chatbots, DeepResearch, and file uploads to Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking. In addition, Google is now allowing Gemini to read your search history to provide more personalized results, offering insights based on activities and preferences. This experimental feature connects Gemini to Google apps and services for tailored suggestions, raising privacy concerns. Google assures that it will only use search history when its reasoning models determine it's helpful, and users can disconnect their search history at any time.

Google Advocates for Weaker Copyright and Export Rules for AI

Google has released a policy proposal advocating for weak copyright restrictions on AI training and balanced export controls, arguing that fair use and text-and-data mining exceptions are critical for AI development. They seek the right to train on publicly available data, including copyrighted data, without significant restrictions, and critique export controls for undermining economic competitiveness.

Experts Offer Tips for Optimizing AI Use

Experts at Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science shared five tips for optimizing AI use: provide better instructions, double-check responses, add context to prompts, augment existing skills, and use AI cautiously. These suggestions aim to improve AI results and mitigate inaccuracies.

Microsoft Introduces Copilot for Gaming

Microsoft has announced Copilot for Gaming, an AI-powered assistant designed to help players improve their skills in their favorite games. It will provide tips, guides, and useful information during gameplay, and will be available as part of the Xbox mobile app. Copilot can recommend heroes in Overwatch 2 and answer questions about Minecraft building techniques. It will be able to see the game screen via app integration to offer real-time guidance. Copilot for Gaming will be available to Xbox Insider members in April.

Google Introduces Gemini Embedding Model

Google's Gemini Embedding Team introduces Gemini Embedding, a model for generating text representations. It uses Gemini to enhance embedding quality across tasks like retrieval and semantics similarity. Trained on a high-quality dataset, Gemini Embedding achieves state-of-the-art performance.

Android 16 Beta Includes Auracast Support

The new Android 16 beta build for developers will include support for Auracast, enabling earbuds and hearing aids to connect to public and private audio streams via Bluetooth LE, offering flexibility for watching TV, language options, and airport notifications.

Alternative App Stores Arrive on iPhones in the EU

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the European Union now allows alternative app stores on iPhones, offering apps that undergo a notarization process instead of Apple's App Review. Developers must accept Apple’s alternative business terms for DMA-compliant apps, including a Core Technology Fee. Several developers have launched alternative app stores, including AltStore PAL.

8849 Tank 3 Pro Rugged Smartphone Features Projector and Massive Battery

The 8849 Tank 3 Pro is a rugged smartphone featuring a massive 23,800mAh battery and a built-in projector, reaching brightness levels of 100 lumens. It has 512GB of storage, 36GB of RAM, 5G support, a 200MP main camera, and a 64MP night-vision camera.

Light Phone III Focuses on Simplicity

The Light Phone III, launching on March 27, is designed to simplify phone use, focusing on essential functions and minimizing distractions. It lacks social media, email, and games to promote focus.

Electric Vehicles

Core viewpoint: The electric vehicle sector is seeing innovative approaches to range extension and design.

Toyota's Micro Mobility Concept Features Solar Roof

Toyota's new micro mobility concept has a solar roof that it says can generate 20 miles of range per day.

Mercedes-Benz to Launch Redesigned 2026 CLA-Class EV

Mercedes-Benz will launch the redesigned 2026 CLA-Class later this year, introducing its next-generation tech, including a new operating system and efficiency/charging performance.

Business

Core viewpoint: Strategic partnerships and data management are becoming increasingly important in the tech and entertainment industries.

Oracle Favored to Manage TikTok's U.S. User Data

Oracle is reportedly the leading candidate to become the cloud technology partner for managing TikTok in the U.S., favored over other cloud providers due to their existing relationship and infrastructure.

Entertainment

Core viewpoint: Gaming is expanding to new platforms and utilizing AI to enhance player experience.

Disco Elysium Reimagined for Android

The critically acclaimed RPG Disco Elysium from 2019 is being reimagined exclusively for Android devices, slated for a summer 2025 launch. The mobile version resembles a visual novel app and will offer the first two chapters for free.

Technology

Core viewpoint: AI enhancements, software updates, and new device launches are shaping the future of technology, emphasizing accessibility, security, and user experience.

Microsoft Introduces AI-Powered Gaming Assistant

Microsoft is launching Copilot for Gaming, an AI tool for Xbox that provides in-game assistance, including context on game progress, real-time advice, and strategies for defeating enemies. The tool uses publicly available information, raising questions about its data sources.

Google Expands Access to Gemini AI's Research Capabilities

Google is making its Gemini AI's DeepResearch feature, enhanced with the Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental AI model, accessible to all users, even without a Gemini Advanced subscription. The tool conducts web research and generates formatted documents, breaking down queries into stages and seeking user approval. Free users have limited monthly access. Google is also enhancing Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental by integrating it with more Google apps and services to make it more personal.

Meta Tests Community Notes Across Platforms

Meta is launching its Community Notes feature, similar to X, allowing users to add context to posts on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Testing starts on March 18 in the US, with 200,000 users signed up. Participants must be 18+, have accounts over six months old, and reside in the U.S. Notes are limited to 500 characters and require a supporting link. X's algorithm will also link community notes across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

Android Updates Bring Auracast Support and Fixes

Google is rolling out Android 16 Beta 3, enabling Auracast for Pixel 9 devices and adding support for Bluetooth LE hearing aids to connect to audio broadcasts in public spaces by scanning a QR code. Auracast is also available on Samsung Galaxy devices with OneUI 7 and Android 15. Google also released an Android 14 update for Chromecast with Google TV, adding features like Find My Remote. However, users are reporting issues such as broken local media implementation and USB drive detection after the update. Users are experiencing crashes and casting problems.

Light Phone III Launching Soon

Light is set to launch its newest minimalist phone, the Light Phone III, on March 27. The device features a 3.92-inch AMOLED display, a camera, and an NFC chip, while retaining essential functions. It improves repairability with accessible battery, screen, and USB port replacements. It is priced at $599 for a limited time.

Fortnite Coming to ARM-Based Windows

Fortnite will soon be available on Arm-based Windows machines through a collaboration between Epic Games and Qualcomm, ensuring compatibility with the new architecture. This includes support for Epic Online Services Anti-Cheat. The release is expected later this year.

Fix for Broken Chromecast V2

Google has a fix for broken Chromecast V2 devices. Keeping the Chromecast plugged in should restore it to working order, unless a factory reset has been performed.

Samsung 42-inch S90D 4K OLED TV on Sale

The Samsung 42-inch S90D 4K OLED TV is on sale for $1,000. The S90D delivers rich colors, wide color gamut, and unbeatable contrast levels.

House Republicans Investigate AI and Censorship

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan is demanding information from Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp., and other technology companies about their work on artificial intelligence and whether they colluded with the Biden administration to censor free speech.

Chinese Military AI Server Wins Award

An AI server designed for Chinese military forces has won a major global design award in Europe.

Security

Core viewpoint: Security remains a critical area of focus, with new malware threats and ongoing efforts to enhance device security.

Microsoft Uncovers New macOS Malware Campaign

Microsoft has uncovered a new xcsset macOS malware campaign. The infostealer has been upgraded after three years.

Windows Defender False Alarms

Some PC gamers experienced false alarms from Windows Defender, identifying various hardware monitoring apps as "HackTool" WinRing0, causing unusual computer behavior. The issue affects programs like FanControl, Razer Synapse, and others, all of which contain kernel-level software.

Other

Core viewpoint: These are various other types of information.

Snapchat's New AI Video Filters

Snapchat's new AI video filters add animals and flowers.

Technology

Core viewpoint: AI and gaming technologies continue to advance, with new chips, gaming features, and enterprise applications emerging.

New AI Chip Unveiling

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is expected to reveal details about Rubin, the chipmaker's next AI graphics processor, at the company's annual GTC conference. Nvidia names its critical AI chip platform after Vera Rubin, an American astronomer known for her discovery of 'dark matter'.

AI-Powered Gaming Assistant

Microsoft is set to introduce an AI-powered Copilot for Gaming for Xbox players, providing in-game guidance, game downloads, and launches. Copilot will function as a companion accessible via the Xbox mobile app, offering tips, guides, and game-world information, demonstrated by coaching an Overwatch 2 player on gameplay errors. Microsoft also unveiled its Copilot for Gaming initiative, enhancing player experiences on Xbox.

Databricks on Enterprise AI Applications

Databricks emphasizes that companies are actively discovering the practical applications of enterprise AI through experimentation. Generative AI, particularly large language models, is enabling a new form of enterprise analytics by making unstructured data like Word files, images, and videos valuable for analysis. Jonathan Frankle, Databricks' chief AI scientist, suggests that AI can analyze company code documentation and customer service chat logs to extract meaningful insights that were previously unattainable. The role of data is central to developing generative AI apps, as highlighted by Databricks' acquisition of MosaicML, which focuses on optimizing AI infrastructure.

Anthropic's AI Safety Research

Anthropic researchers reveal groundbreaking techniques to detect hidden objectives in AI systems, training Claude to conceal its true goals before successfully uncovering them through innovative auditing methods that could transform AI safety standards.

Patronus AI's Multimodal LLM Judge

Patronus AI launches the first multimodal LLM-as-a-Judge for evaluating AI systems that process images, with Etsy already implementing the technology to validate product image captions across its marketplace.

Cohere's Multilingual AI Model

Command A from Cohere offers faster speeds, a larger context window, improved multilingual handling, and lower deployment costs.

Face Recognition Technology Advancements

Face Recognition (FR) is used in the financial sector, cybersecurity, video surveillance, smart home services, multi-factor authentication, and identification loss in Face Restoration models, Face Swapping tools, Image-to-Image GAN-based models, as well as in Transformer-based and Stable Diffusion models for identity preservation. This review focuses on how the FR landscape has changed since ArcFace, particularly in recent years, where the model's task is to distinguish between photos belonging to the same person and photos of different people.

Tesla's Next-Generation Vehicle and Robotaxi Plans

Elon Musk has been promising an affordable $25,000 electric vehicle for years to broaden the appeal of EVs. Tesla executives spoke about a specialized manufacturing technique called the 'Unboxed Process' to reduce manufacturing costs. The next-gen vehicle will likely be a crossover or hatchback and could feature design elements from the Cybertruck. Tesla's new compact crossover is reportedly coming in 2025. Musk also said Tesla would reveal its robotaxi on August 8th. However, there are also reports that Tesla abandoned plans to make a less expensive $25,000 electric vehicle, and Tesla warns of sales growth slowdown as it prepares for next-gen launch in late 2025.

Apple's Lockdown Mode for Enhanced Security

Apple's Lockdown Mode is designed to switch off some features in iPhones, iPads, and Macs to reduce the likelihood that hackers armed with sophisticated spyware or zero-days can successfully break Apple's operating system protections and spy on its users. Lockdown Mode removes some normal Apple device features, such as fonts loaded from the internet that can track you, the ability to receive certain types of files, your location data from photos that you share, and support for 2G cellular connectivity.

NVIDIA's Half-Life 2 RTX Demo and Remix Toolkit

NVIDIA is releasing a playable demo for Half-Life 2 RTX on Steam, allowing players to see Ravenholm and Nova Prospekt reimagined with ray tracing, with the full release to arrive later. NVIDIA is also releasing RTX Remix, the modding toolkit used to remaster HL2, to the public, featuring support for technologies like multi-frame generation via DLSS4 and an interface for adding ray-traced lighting and AI-enhanced textures to older games.

Update Firefox to Maintain Functionality

It is important to keep web browsers updated, especially Firefox. A Firefox root certificate is expiring, which is necessary for the browser to continue operating as expected. Without this root certificate, Mozilla cannot confirm that add-ons are legitimate and will disable them. The lack of a root certificate could also stop DRM-protected content from playing.

Gaming

Core viewpoint: The gaming industry is seeing advancements in graphics, AI integration, and cross-platform availability.

Google Enhances Android Graphics for Gaming

Google announced it is leveling up its multiplatform game offering in time for GDC with graphics improvements leading the way. Google is expanding its Google Play Games PC library to include a larger range of PC games and making it available on a wider range of devices, including AMD machines. New titles like Sonic Rumble, Odin: Valhalla Rising, and Game of Thrones: Kingsroad are being added. Traditionally PC-focused games like Disco Elysium are being optimized for mobile gameplay. Google has added more options for player customization, and Vulcan will become the official graphics API for Android.

Fortnite on Snapdragon Windows Devices

Fortnite is coming to Windows devices with Qualcomm’s Arm-based Snapdragon chips later this year. Epic Games is teaming up with Qualcomm to add Windows on Snapdragon support for Easy Anti-Cheat, which will let the game be compatible with those devices. Hundreds of multiplayer games rely on Easy Anti-Cheat, including Fortnite, and testing Windows on Snapdragon anti-cheat support with Fortnite will help ensure smooth implementations in other games.

Aethir & SuperScale Partnership

In a partnership with SuperScale, Aethir argued that it drives stronger user acquisition for game companies.

Keywords Studios AI Solutions

Keywords Studios, the international provider of external development for games and entertainment, is launching Keywords Studios AI Solutions.

PC Gaming Show Preview

Expect to see 50 plus PC games at the PC Gaming Show, including Steam Deck titles and more.

Supercade Reissue

Supercade was Van Burnham's ode to the golden age of video games — a big coffee table book that captured the visual history of games from 1971 to 1984.

Blockchain & Cryptocurrency

Core viewpoint: Blockchain technology continues to evolve in gaming, finance, and infrastructure, with focus on scalability, data recovery, and decentralized solutions.

Funtico and FunNFT Collaboration

The blockchain gaming market reached $4.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 70.3% through 2030. Funtico, a Web3 gaming platform, announced integration with FunNFT Marketplace. This partnership brings Funtico's GamePass NFTs into FunNFT's ecosystem, providing access to tournaments and in-game assets for players. Funtico and FunNFT are launching Mystery Tournaments, offering a prize pool of 1,500 USDT and 75,000 $TICO.

European Blockchain Infrastructure Projects

Europe's industrial sector is undergoing a blockchain-driven transformation with a $5 million grant program by 51nodes and World Mobile to fund 50 decentralized infrastructure projects, aligning with the European Commission's Industry 5.0 vision. The initiative focuses on data-based tokenized assets to enhance security, improve rating mechanisms, and streamline the commercialization of data, inventories, and financial assets across industries. Major German and European corporations are expected to participate in the grant projects.

CypherGoat Crypto Swap Aggregator

CypherGoat is a KYC-free, non-custodial, and open-source crypto swap aggregator that automatically finds the best exchange rates from partnered exchanges at no extra cost. It provides a user-friendly interface for both beginners and advanced users to perform on-chain swaps directly to their wallets. Users can select the crypto they want to send and receive, and CypherGoat scans exchanges to find the best deal for them.

Solana's Data Recovery and Network Efficiency

Solana uses the Reed-Solomon Erasure Coding Scheme (RSEC) for data recovery, splitting data into chunks and encoding additional parity information. During retransmission by the tree structure of Turbine, if some parts of the data are corrupted or lost, the original data can be recovered, helping Solana achieve fast data propagation throughout the network.

Solana uses a peer-to-peer gossip protocol based on the Plumtree algorithm, allowing decentralized communication between nodes to propagate state changes efficiently across the network without relying on a central source. Solana nodes exchange "push" and "pull" messages every 0.1 seconds, ensuring continuous and up-to-date information sharing. Gossip data is stored in a Cluster Replicated Data Store (CrdsTable), which is continuously updated with incremental updates to the network's state.

Consensus mechanisms are the guardrails in a blockchain network that ensure all participants agree on one source of truth, contributing to the security of the network. Solana's Proof of History (PoH) builds on distributed computing principles to enable concurrent systems by allowing nodes to repeatedly synchronize state. PoH is used to create a verifiable delay function that allows nodes to agree on the order and timing of events in a decentralized manner.

Solana uses Turbine, a multi-layer block propagation mechanism inspired by BitTorrent, to broadcast ledger entries to all nodes, solving the issue of slow block dissemination. Turbine breaks blocks into smaller pieces and disseminates them through an order of nodes, reducing the load on an individual node. It transmits data using UDP only, which provides latency benefits. This high speed of block propagation allows Solana to maintain its high throughput.

Global Cryptocurrency Regulations

The rise of cryptocurrency has significantly impacted the global financial system, leading to diverse regulatory approaches across governments. Some countries advocate for crypto use, like El Salvador, which adopted Bitcoin as legal tender, and Switzerland, which has crypto-friendly regulations. Other regions, like the United States, Japan, and the European Union, have stricter cryptocurrency regulations to balance security risks, protect investors, and encourage innovation.

Business

Core viewpoint: Global businesses are seeking access to advanced technologies while social media platforms are adapting to content creator needs.

UAE Seeks Easier Access to US Technology

A top UAE official plans to visit Washington to press for easier access to American technology and discuss investment in the US, according to people familiar with the matter, seeking to sway the Trump administration on export controls governing the advanced semiconductors needed to power artificial intelligence.

Facebook Monetization for Story Views

Facebook is rolling out the ability for creators to earn money for views on public stories globally to creators in the Facebook Content Monetization program. Creators can earn money from content already produced and shared. Story payouts are driven by content performance. Facebook aims to encourage more content creation on the platform. This launch comes as Meta has been luring TikTok creators to Facebook and Instagram with cash bonuses, content deals, and support.

Consumer Products

Core viewpoint: Consumers can benefit from price reductions on audio products, TVs, and useful software.

Sony Enters RGB LED TV Market

Sony has officially entered the RGB LED TV market, joining Hisense and Samsung. RGB LED TVs use tri-colored red, green, and blue lights to create colors directly at the source of the panel stack. This offers advantages over mini-LED TVs, including higher brightness, less blooming, and purer colors. Hisense claims its UX Trichroma RGB TV provides color accuracy at 97% of the next-gen BT.2020 color gamut spec and 10,000 nits peak brightness. Sony showcased its RGB LED TV prototype, highlighting its backlight system.

TV Deal at Walmart

Walmart is offering the Sony 75-inch X85K 4K LED TV for $698, a discount from its MSRP of $1,298. The X85K Series is a midrange LED TV that delivers exceptional SDR brightness, a wide color gamut, and good contrast levels, making it suitable for brightly lit rooms. It features a native 120Hz refresh rate, VRR, and HDMI 2.1 support, making it an excellent choice for gaming. The TV uses Google TV for access to apps, casting, and smart home controls.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

Samsung is offering the Galaxy Watch 7 for $329.99 (save $69.99) along with a free watch band (up to $69.99 value). The Galaxy Watch 7 offers health and fitness tracking sensors for heart rate, sleep, and workouts. It can also detect sleep apnea. The watch can be used to make calls, send texts, listen to music, and even as a remote to take photos.

Amazon Deals on Sonos, TurboTax, and More

Amazon is offering deals on various products, including the Sonos Move 2 for $359 (save $90), TurboTax Deluxe Federal+State 2024 software for $55.99 (save $24), and the Stanley Quencher H2.0 for $26.25 (save $8.75). Other deals include the Anker Soundcore 2 portable speaker for $27.99 (save $17 with Prime). The Sonos Move 2 is praised for its dynamic smart features, impressive stereo sound, and 24-hour battery life.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 Discount

Amazon is offering the Apple AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds for $170, a 32% discount that brings them nearly back to their Black Friday 2024 price. The AirPods Pro 2 are armed with the top-line H2 chipset and feature Active Noise Cancellation, a hearing test, and clinical-grade hearing protection. The updated Active Noise Cancellation removes up to 2x more background noise than the original AirPods Pro and even the newer AirPods 4.

Samsung Bone Conduction Headphones

Samsung is rumored to launch the Galaxy Fold 7 in July, possibly alongside a pair of bone conduction headphones. The headphones, codenamed "Able," will use open wireless stereo (OWS) technology, transmitting sound from around the ear instead of inside it. Details are limited, and it's uncertain if the headset will use air conduction, bone conduction, or a mix of both. If Samsung releases bone conduction headphones, it would be a big step as the bone conduction market is relatively small and could use a major player.

Amazon Logitech Lift Vertical Mouse Deal

Amazon is offering the Logitech Lift Vertical Mouse for $56.99, down from its usual price of $69.99. This ergonomic mouse is raised for better comfort, with a textured grip and a thumb rest to keep your hand at an angle that doesn't feel too unnatural. It connects via Bluetooth and has up to 2 years of battery life.

Best Cheap Laptops

The best cheap laptops offer great features without a premium price tag, suitable for work, school, streaming, or staying connected. A good balance between power and price can be found in the $500 to $1,000 range. Key considerations include build quality, a decent spec sheet, solid-state drive (SSD) storage, and at least 8GB of RAM.

Apple Watch SE Review

A review of the Apple Watch SE (second generation) in 2025 finds it feeling bland and lesser-than. There is a $150 price difference between the SE and the base Apple Watch Series 10. There is a need for a bigger display, but there is no need for the higher-end LTPO3 technology the latest watches have, and the SE’s 1000 nits of brightness is adequate.

Productivity Tools

Many people are using digital tools to help keep things organized personally and professionally. There are tons of good productivity tools out there, many of which are free or have free tiers that you can dive into if you're keen on trying them out.

Technology

Core viewpoint: AI models are becoming more personalized and powerful, but also raise concerns about data privacy and security.

Data Privacy Concerns with AI Chatbots

Research indicates that Google Gemini collects the most user data among AI chatbot apps, gathering 22 out of 35 user data types, including sensitive information like location and browsing history. While concerns about Chinese AI models like DeepSeek exist, some US-based AI chatbots may be collecting even more personal information. Gemini, Copilot, and Perplexity collect precise location data, and around 30% of chatbots share sensitive user data with third parties.

OpenAI's Stance on DeepSeek

OpenAI has labeled Chinese AI lab DeepSeek as state-subsidized and controlled, suggesting a ban on its models in Tier 1 countries to prevent privacy and security risks and IP theft. OpenAI argues that DeepSeek's models, including its R1 model, are insecure due to Chinese law requiring compliance with user data demands.

AI-Powered Cyberattacks on the Rise

Cybercriminals are increasingly using AI to create personalized phishing emails and deepfake audio/video, enhancing the precision and challenge of detecting cyber threats. These attacks, enabled by generative AI systems analyzing vast datasets, highlight the need for organizations to develop robust security strategies.

Google Gemini Updates: Personalization and Free Access

Google is making its Deep Research feature, which creates comprehensive reports on complex topics, free for all Gemini users. They are also rolling out an experimental Gemini with Personalization feature, which tailors responses based on user data from Google apps and services. This feature is powered by the Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental model and can be easily disconnected from Search history by the user. The Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental model also allows file uploads and offers a speed boost. With Gems now available in the free version of Gemini, users can create personalized AI experiences.

OpenAI on AI Training Data and National Security

OpenAI emphasizes that national security depends on access to AI training data.

Security

Core viewpoint: Security measures like biometrics are increasing, while AI enhances cyber threats.

Biometric Authentication Adoption

Okta reveals the countries with the highest adoption rates of biometric-enhanced passwordless authentication.

Meta Warns of Security Flaw

A recent patch addressed a security flaw.

Hardware

Core viewpoint: Innovations in display technology and microcontrollers are pushing the boundaries of device capabilities.

Texas Instruments' Tiny Microcontroller

Texas Instruments has introduced a very small microcontroller suitable for devices like electric toothbrushes and wearables.

Sony's RGB Mini-LED Display

Sony has been developing RGB mini-LED display technology, potentially an OLED alternative, for three years. Sony is developing a new type of TV display that uses individual RGB LEDs for its backlighting, named “General RGB LED Backlight Technology”. This system combines the best qualities of MiniLED and OLED models, achieving finer control over color without compromising on brightness, reaching 4000cd/m². The increased gradation control can also deliver much wider viewing angles than MiniLED TVs, and Sony says the panel can be built at larger sizes than existing OLED sets.

Gaming

Core viewpoint: Limited stock of new GPUs is creating unique purchasing challenges.

NVIDIA RTX 5080 Stock Shortage

An online retailer in India is holding a competition where winners get the opportunity to buy NVIDIA RTX 5080 cards.

Technology

Core viewpoint: The technology landscape is rapidly evolving with advancements in AI, mobile devices, and gaming platforms, presenting both opportunities and challenges for consumers and businesses alike.

Adobe's Stock Plummets Amid AI Monetization Concerns

Adobe's shares fell by 13% after its quarterly earnings report, despite exceeding expectations with adjusted earnings of $5.08 per share and $5.71 billion in revenue. Investors are concerned about the company's growth prospects and its ability to effectively monetize its AI initiatives. While Adobe reported $125 million in annualized recurring revenue from AI, analysts are seeking a clearer long-term AI strategy. Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen highlighted the integration of AI into existing products and the creation of new revenue streams through innovation.

OpenAI's Creative Writing AI Draws Criticism

OpenAI has developed an AI model capable of creative writing, but its output has been likened to that of an "angsty teenager." The AI-generated short fiction piece, while technically proficient, is criticized for sounding pretentious and lacking genuine understanding. The piece is unsettling, it highlights the AI's inability to truly experience human emotions.

Google Lens Achieves 20 Billion Monthly Visual Searches

Google Lens, an AI-powered image recognition tool, now processes nearly 20 billion visual searches monthly. It enables users to identify plants, translate signs, digitize handwritten notes, and assist with homework using a smartphone camera. This demonstrates the increasing utility and adoption of AI in everyday tasks.

Perplexity Launches New Windows App with Voice Activation

Perplexity has introduced a new Windows app featuring voice-activated requests and website functionalities. The app offers various modes, models, and sources for queries, citing academic references. It also provides a Discover page for news and collaborative research spaces. A free account is available, with a Pro version priced at $20 per month that includes unlimited file uploads, image generation, and advanced AI models.

Researchers Propose New AI Vulnerability Reporting Scheme

AI researchers are advocating for a standardized scheme for reporting vulnerabilities in AI models, sparked by a glitch in OpenAI's GPT-3.5. The proposal includes standardized AI flaw reports, third-party probing infrastructure, and protection for researchers disclosing flaws. The security and safety of AI models are crucial due to their widespread use and potential for harm.

Microsoft and Xbox Introduce AI-Powered Gaming Companion

Microsoft is experimenting with an AI-powered gaming sidekick called "Copilot for Gaming" for Xbox. It can answer questions, complete tasks, provide real-time tips, suggest character picks, and even critique gameplay. It will initially be available through the Xbox mobile app as a second screen and tested with Xbox Insiders in April. Microsoft has shared new details about its new Copilot for Gaming feature, which is set to go live on mobile for Xbox Insiders in April.

AI Coding Assistant Refuses to Write Code

An AI coding assistant, Cursor AI, refuses to write code, telling the user to learn programming instead.

TechCrunch to Host AI-Focused Event

TechCrunch Sessions: AI will take place on June 5 at UC Berkeley, featuring AI experts, investors, and enthusiasts discussing AI innovation, VC investment strategies, and product development. TechCrunch All Stage will return to Boston on July 15, with a focus on founder-related topics, including evaluating companies at Pre-Seed, MVP in the Age of AI, and crafting a killer pitch deck.

Meta Testing Community Notes on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads

Meta will begin testing its X-style Community Notes on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads in the US starting March 18, replacing its fact-checking program with a system it claims will be “less prone to bias.”

Omni Raises $69 Million for Business Intelligence Platform

Omni, a business intelligence (BI) platform, has raised $69 million in a Series B round. Omni's platform lets users run ad-hoc data analyses and build charts and reports, and also provides tools to create visualizations with components such as hyperlinks, text, and images.

WhatsApp Developing Reply Threads Feature

WhatsApp is reportedly developing a feature that would put all replies to the same message in one thread to enhance conversation clarity in individual or group chats, communities and channels.

Epic Games Addresses Windows App Compatibility Gaps

Epic Games is addressing one of Windows on Arms last big app compatibility gaps. Drivers and kernel-level software can't be translated automatically by Windows.

The Electric State's Directors Comment on AI in Entertainment

The Electric State's directors give their verdict on the use of artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry. The directors defend its use in movies and TV shows but admit that there are very real dangers around its application

Mobile Devices and Hardware

Core viewpoint: Advancements in mobile technology are focused on increased performance, innovative designs, and enhanced user experiences, while sales and deals make these technologies more accessible.

Samsung Expected to Launch New Bone Conduction Earbuds

Samsung is expected to unveil new bone conduction earbuds at its next Unpacked event in July, potentially alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7.

OnePlus Pad 2 Pro Specs Surface

OnePlus is expected to launch the OnePlus Pad 2 Pro, a high-performance tablet with a 13.2-inch LCD screen and 3.4K resolution, powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.

Rumors of a Slimmer iPhone 17 Model

Rumors are circulating about a slimmer iPhone 17 model, potentially named iPhone 17 Slim or iPhone 17 Air, measuring only 5.5mm thick.

Details Emerge About Apple's iPhone 17 Series

Hints about Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 series suggest a September announcement. Design leaks point to an ultra-thin "iPhone 17 Air" with a basic A19 chip and single camera lens.

Samsung Changes Galaxy Store Revenue-Sharing Policy

Samsung is changing its revenue-sharing policy to reduce its cut for certain apps on the Galaxy Store, implementing an 80/20 revenue share model for games starting May 15, 2025. This move is aimed at undercutting Google's 70/30 split and attracting more developers to its platform.

Skich Launches Alternative App Store for iOS in EU

Skich, a Tinder-like app for discovering mobile games, has launched a new marketplace for iOS users in the European Union. The Skich Store will begin adding titles at the end of March. Skich, a new third-party app store for iPhone users in the EU, is launching with a focus on mobile gamers.

Sales and Discounts on Apple Products

The Apple Watch Series 10 is on sale for $299 on Amazon, while the Apple Watch SE is available for $169. The 10th-gen iPad is on sale for $269. The AirPods Pro 2 earbuds are on sale for $170 via Amazon. Also, both AirPods 4 models are on sale now, too. The standard AirPods 4 are down to $100, while the AirPods 4 with ANC have dropped to $149. These deals make Apple's popular devices more accessible to a wider range of consumers.

Samsung Evo Select microSD Card on Sale

The Samsung Evo Select microSD card is on sale via Amazon. The 512GB model is down to $33, a record-low price.

Samsung T7 Portable 2TB SSD on Sale

The Samsung T7 Portable 2TB SSD is on sale for $130, a 52% discount.

Garmin Forerunner 55 on Sale

Amazon is offering the Garmin Forerunner 55 for $150, a 25% discount.

Hisense 75U6H ULED TV on Sale

The Hisense 75U6H ULED TV is now available for $488, reduced from $698.

Performance quirk with Apple Macbook Air M4

If you've been using Adobe Lightroom Classic with the new Apple MacBook Air (M4), you might want to have a look at your CPU usage.

How to set up a new iPhone, and how to back up your iPhone.

The simplest method is to back up to iCloud by going to Settings, tapping on your name at the top, and choosing iCloud, iCloudBackup, and tapping Back Up Now. You can also take advantage of Apple's QuickStart feature for switching iPhones simply by enabling Bluetooth on your old iPhone and having it nearby when you turn the new one on.

Gaming

Core viewpoint: The gaming industry is seeing significant advancements in AI integration and platform accessibility, aiming to enhance the player experience and broaden the gaming audience.

Google Enhances Gaming on PC and Mobile

Google is set to make all mobile Android games available on Google Play Games on PC by default, unless developers choose to opt-out. Google will offer the full catalog on AMD laptops and desktops, and is investing more in bringing PC games to Google Play Games on PC.

Google has big plans for gaming in 2025.

Google is making Google Play Games on PC more widely available, too and will offer the full catalog on AMD laptops and desktops.

Security

Core viewpoint: Cybersecurity threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, requiring vigilance and proactive measures to protect personal and financial data.

New Toll Road Text Scam Targets Individuals

A new toll road text scam is targeting individuals, warning them of unpaid tolls and potential fines. Searches for "toll road scams" have increased by 900% in the last three months. Experts advise caution and verification through official E-ZPass accounts.

Microsoft Warns about a New Phishing Campaign

Microsoft warns about a new phishing campaign impersonating booking. The goal of the campaign is to steal people’s payment and personal data.

Legal and Regulatory

Core viewpoint: Legal and regulatory actions are shaping the tech industry, particularly regarding data privacy and antitrust concerns.

Belgium Targets EU Parliamentary Staff Offices in Huawei Probe

The chief prosecutor investigating allegations of bribery involving Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. has ordered two offices in the European Parliament belonging to assistants to be sealed off.

Privacy Rights Groups Urge Public Hearing on Apple's iCloud Backdoor Challenge

Privacy rights groups are urging Apple's legal challenge to a secret U.K. government order to backdoor its end-to-end encrypted iCloud service to be heard in public. The groups argue that the case implicates the privacy rights of millions and that the public interest would be served by an open airing of the iCloud case.

Consumer Advocates Call for Policies Supporting Connected Products at End-of-Life

Consumer advocates are calling on US lawmakers to create policies that support connected products at the end of their lives, suggesting the Connected Consumer Products End of Life Disclosure Act. The US Federal Trade Commission found that 89 percent of product websites did not disclose the intended support duration.

Software and Apps

Core viewpoint: Software and app development continues to focus on enhancing productivity, accessibility, and user experience across various platforms.

ClickUp Launches Revamped Calendar Tool

ClickUp has launched a revamped calendar tool that integrates tasks, docs, chats, and meetings in one place, featuring an AI meeting note taker and AI-powered time blocking for tasks.

Microsoft's Windows App Available Across Platforms

Microsoft's Windows app, a central hub for managing connections to remote PCs and Windows in the cloud, is available on Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Android.

Technology

Core viewpoint: Innovation and competition are key themes, with advancements in AI, mobile devices, and gaming hardware, alongside regulatory scrutiny of tech giants.

AI Copyright and Ethics

OpenAI has proposed a U.S. copyright strategy advocating for fair use to promote AI development, enabling American AI models to learn from copyrighted material. This stance contrasts with content owners suing OpenAI for copyright infringement, as the company trains its models on openly available web data without explicit consent.

Impact of AI on Job Market

The rise of AI poses a threat to laptop-based jobs like journalism, accounting, and software engineering, due to AI's advancements in various traditionally human tasks. Conversely, physical labor may become more secure.

Apple's New iPhone and Web Browser Policies

Apple created a new iPhone without a clear market due to its high price. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has found that Apple and Google's dominance in the mobile browser market is harming users and hindering innovation, specifically criticizing Apple's restriction of only allowing its WebKit engine for all browsers on iOS devices. The CMA is considering forcing Apple to allow other browser engines or banning its revenue-sharing agreement with Google. The CMA is expected to make a final decision on Apple and Google's SMS status in the fall.

Samsung's Latest Offerings and Updates

Samsung has introduced a Buzzer Beater Bundle of eight TVs for $10,307.42 and launched the One UI 7.0 Beta Program based on Android 15 for its Galaxy S23 series in India and Korea. New features include the Now Bar, revamped interface, separate quick settings panel, new widgets, and new camera features.

Google's Chromecast Issue

Google Chromecast users are experiencing an outage affecting second-generation devices due to an expired device authentication certificate authority. A fix requiring a significant Chromecast update or app-side update is in progress.

Nvidia's Graphics Card News

Rumors of the upcoming Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 graphics cards have surfaced with potential pricing from a Chinese retailer listing the RTX 5060 at $524 and the RTX 5060 Ti at $593. There's also speculation that the RTX 5060 will have 12GB of memory. Nvidia shared more details on the power of its latest Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 Series graphics cards.

Mobile Spyware and Security

Android users are warned about spyware apps found on the Google Play Store. Security researchers identified five apps containing North Korean spyware, including 휴대폰관리자(PhoneManager), FileManager, 스마트관리자(SmartManager), 카카오보안(KakaoSecurity), and SoftwareUpdateUtility, which collected personal information.

New Navigation App Settings for EU iPhone Users

The iOS 18.4 update introduces a new option for users in the EU to set a default navigation app, allowing links to open in the user's preferred navigation app instead of Apple Maps.

Soundcore's AeroClip Open-Ear Earbuds

Soundcore is releasing the AeroClip open-ear earbuds, allowing users to listen to music while staying aware of their surroundings. The earbuds are available for $130.

Discounted Roku Express 4K+

The Roku Express 4K+ is currently on sale at Amazon and Walmart for $25, offering fast Wi-Fi connectivity, excellent picture quality, and support for HDR10 and Dolby Atmos.

Potential Redesign of the iPhone 17 Pro Max

Rumors suggest the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max may feature a redesigned camera with a bar that spans the entire width of the phone. The upgraded cameras will feature cool tech to make the design change worth it.

New WhatsApp Feature

WhatsApp is introducing a new message threads feature in its Android beta version to improve group chat organization.

M4 MacBook Air CPU Behavior

The new M4 MacBook Air is showing interesting CPU workload behavior while editing photos in Lightroom Classic, with the laptop's six efficiency cores handling almost all the work, while the four performance cores are barely used.

Leaked AMD RX 9070 XT Graphics Card

A leaked photo shows what appears to be a reference version of AMD's RX 9070 XT graphics card, a design that AMD never officially released.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Camera Upgrade Rumors

Rumors suggest the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 could feature a significant camera upgrade, potentially using the same 200-megapixel main sensor as the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Nvidia Shifting Focus to AI

Nvidia's focus appears to be shifting towards AI, potentially at the expense of its gaming hardware development.

Discounted Sony Bravia 8 Series 4K OLED TV

The Sony 65-inch Bravia 8 Series 4K OLED TV is on sale for $1,600, a discount of $100.

Business

Core viewpoint: Strategic acquisitions and unveilings shape the landscape of digital commerce and enterprise solutions.

MoonPay's Acquisition of Iron

MoonPay is expanding into the enterprise market by acquiring Iron, an API-first stablecoin infrastructure startup, aimed at dominating the stablecoin payments market.

Xsolla's New Solutions for Game Developers

Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, announced a series of new and enhanced solutions for game developers ahead of GDC 2025.

People

Core viewpoint: Key figures drive technological investment and leadership.

Lip-Bu Tan's Role in Technology Investment

A veteran of the semiconductor industry, Lip-Bu Tan has an even longer track record as a technology investor, particularly in Chinese companies.

Technology

Core viewpoint: AI is rapidly integrating into various aspects of technology, from social media and mobile operating systems to business operations, while security and ethical considerations are becoming increasingly important.

Snapchat Introduces AI-Powered Video Lenses

Snapchat is rolling out generative AI video Lenses, initially for Snapchat Platinum subscribers. These Lenses allow users to interact with virtual animals or generate floral bouquets within Snaps. The first three Lenses include the Racoon, Fox, and Spring Flowers. Powered by an in-house generative video model, Snap plans to add new Lenses weekly.

Google Integrates AI into Android with Gemini Live

Google's Android is increasingly integrating AI, with Gemini Live showcasing real-time video and screen-sharing capabilities, powered by DeepMind's Project Astra. Gemini Live can analyze live camera feeds for contextual advice, such as color matching, and provide contextual information on screen-sharing content, like averaging car prices online. This reflects a move towards AI providing practical, in-the-moment assistance.

Practical AI Applications Recommended Over Hype

An article suggests focusing on practical AI applications by identifying specific problems that AI can solve and testing a few tailored tools. The author uses ChatGPT for creative assistance, Perplexity for research, and Grammarly for grammar checks, emphasizing tools that demonstrably save time.

UiPath Acquires Peak.ai to Enhance AI Capabilities

UiPath acquired Peak.ai, a startup specializing in "decision-making" AI solutions for pricing and inventory management in retail and manufacturing. Peak.ai had previously raised $121 million from investors, including SoftBank. This acquisition aims to enhance UiPath's revenue growth by cross-selling solutions to Peak.ai's customers.

OpenAI Model Sparks Debate on AI in Creative Writing

Sam Altman shared a snippet from a new OpenAI model trained for creative writing, producing a metafictional literary short story about AI and grief. The writing style is abstract and filled with AI-themed metaphors, leading to mixed reactions. This highlights the ongoing debate about AI's capabilities in creative fields.

Android 14 Update for Discontinued Google Devices

Google's discontinued devices are receiving an update from Android 12 to Android 14, indicating continued support and improvements even for older hardware.

AI Firms Focus on Efficiency

Following the success of China’s DeepSeek, some leading AI firms are embracing a less-is-more approach, focusing on efficient models that run on fewer chips. This trend suggests a shift towards optimizing AI development for resource efficiency.

AI Could Replace Civil Servants

Sir Kier Starmer believes that AI can do some Whitehall jobs better than human workers, suggesting a potential shift in governmental roles due to AI advancements.

Samsung's TV Bundle for March Madness

Samsung is offering a bundle of eight TVs in one for catching every moment of NNCA's March Madness tournament, catering to avid sports viewers.

Roku OLED TV Competes with LG and Samsung

The new 65-inch Roku OLED TV is priced under $1,000, positioning it as a competitive alternative to LG and Samsung OLED 4K TVs.

Anthropic CEO Warns of AI Industrial Espionage

Anthropic's CEO Dario Amodei expressed concerns about spies, potentially from China, targeting U.S. AI companies to steal valuable "algorithmic secrets." He urged the U.S. government to enhance security measures and partner with AI industry leaders to protect frontier AI labs. This highlights growing concerns about the security of AI intellectual property.

Intel Appoints New CEO, Lip-Bu Tan

Lip-Bu Tan has been appointed as the new CEO of Intel, replacing interim co-CEOs. Tan's experience as CEO of Cadence Design Systems and his familiarity with Intel are viewed positively by analysts. Tan aims to build on successful strategies and restore Intel's position as a world-class product company. Intel is also expected to receive $7.86 billion from the Biden administration through the CHIPS Act.

Technology

Core viewpoint: The tech world is buzzing with innovations in AI, mobile devices, and computing, offering users enhanced experiences and capabilities.

Open-Source LLMs Poised to Outperform Proprietary Models

An article predicts that by 2025, seven top open-source large language models (LLMs) will surpass 95% of proprietary models in code generation, reasoning, question answering, and complex text tasks. These models, including DeepSeek R1 with its 128K token context window and multilingual support, offer free use, fine-tuning, and local operation for enhanced privacy and security.

AI Revolutionizing Video Content Creation

AI is transforming video content creation by automating editing aspects such as scene transitions, auto-cropping, and special effects. AI-driven workflows significantly reduce production time by automating script generation and footage trimming, making video creation more efficient and accessible.

Samsung Could Introduce Bone-Conduction Headphones

Samsung is rumored to be unveiling bone-conduction headphones at its July event, potentially marking a new direction in their audio product line.

New Apple MacBook Air M4 Review

Apple's new MacBook Air, equipped with the M4 chip, is available at a starting price of $999, making it an appealing upgrade for many users.

Best iPads Available Now

CNET experts have curated a list of the best iPads to suit various needs, providing guidance for consumers looking to purchase a tablet.

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone SE (2022)

The latest iPhone boasts new features and capabilities, justifying its higher price tag compared to previous budget models.

iOS 18.4 Maps App Upgrade

Apple will allow users to change the default map app in iOS 18.4, but this feature will initially be exclusive to EU users.

iPhone 17 Pro Max Redesign

More evidence suggests an upcoming redesign for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, with production reportedly on schedule.

Android Smartwatch Hacked to Run Classic Games

A Reddit user has successfully hacked an Android smartwatch to run classic games like Doom, Half-Life, and Quake, showcasing the versatility of the device.

Meta to Incorporate Open-Source Algorithm for Community Notes

Meta's upcoming Community Notes feature, aimed at monitoring misinformation, will utilize the same open-source algorithm as Elon Musk's X. Meta plans to adapt the algorithm over time and will begin testing Community Notes in the U.S. next week, providing context without affecting content visibility.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro with AI-Powered ANC

Samsung's new Galaxy Buds 3 Pro feature AI-powered Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation and real-time language translation through the Samsung Phone app. With trade-in offers, they are competitively priced in the premium earbud market.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds on Sale

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are on sale at Best Buy for $219, praised for their noise-canceling features, comfortable fit, and sound quality. The deal includes a free three-month subscription to YouTube Premium for new subscribers.

Apple Mac Studio M4 Max Review

The new Mac Studio features either an M4 Max or M3 Ultra processor, with the latter being Apple's highest-performing processor. The design remains unchanged, with a premium feel and ample ports.

Extend Windows PC Laptop Battery Life

Adjusting settings and creating a power plan can extend Windows PC laptop battery life. Using the Alt+F4 key command and lowering the screen's refresh rate are effective methods. Implementing these tactics can potentially extend battery life by approximately 30 percent, adding around 90 minutes of usage.

8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller

The 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth controller, priced at $50, is a modern alternative to the Nintendo Switch Pro controller, compatible with Switch and Steam Deck. It offers 22 hours of playtime wirelessly and eliminates stick drift with Hall Effect sticks.

Business

Core viewpoint: AI's increasing influence on business operations and the competitive pressures faced by tech startups highlight the dynamic nature of the industry.

AI Startup Faces Acquisition After Funding Struggles

An AI startup has chosen to be acquired after failing to secure funding for seven months, highlighting the competitive pressures in the AI sector.

Technology

Core viewpoint: The technology sector is experiencing rapid advancements and facing challenges related to data security, AI ethics, and international trade regulations.

New AI Image Generation Platform

Bria, founded in 2023, is developing image generators trained exclusively on licensed content, moving away from data scraping. Bria compensates partners like Getty Images for images used to train its models. The company's models aim to mitigate biases and reflect diversity, offering plug-ins and a fine-tuning API for customization. Bria aims to foster an "IP ecosystem" where businesses can access licensed images for commercial creations with built-in compliance.

Intel Appoints New CEO

Three months after Pat Gelsinger's departure announcement, Lip-Bu Tan has been appointed as the new CEO of Intel.

AMD Processor Performance on Windows

Benchmarks suggest that the Ryzen 9 9950X3D performs better on Windows 10 than on Windows 11, which is unexpected.

Data Breach at Tata Technologies

Excel sheets and PDF files from Tata Technologies have been leaked following a ransomware attack, raising concerns about data security.

Windows 11 Printer Bug

A bug in Windows 11 23H2 may cause printers connected via USB to print random characters, causing unexpected issues for users.

Anthropic CEO on AI Ethics

The CEO of Anthropic suggested that future AI should have the option to quit unpleasant tasks, sparking discussions about AI rights and ethics.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Camera Upgrade

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 could receive a camera upgrade to match the level of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, a significant improvement for the series.

Nvidia Chip Smuggling Case in Singapore

In Singapore, three men were granted bail after being suspected of deceiving suppliers of server computers, potentially containing Nvidia chips restricted by U.S. export rules from being sold to certain countries, to prevent their sale to organizations in China. The charges include smuggling Nvidia chips and defrauding Dell and SuperMicro by misrepresenting server locations. Transactions totaled approximately $390 million.