Corsair Platform:6 Elevate Modular Desk Review

Corsair Platform:6 Elevate Modular Desk Review

A desk for giants. Corsair's Platform:6 Elevate modular computer desk takes motorized desks to new heights with its solid and well-thought-out design.

Microsoft killing support for its most popular operating system isn't working

Jak Connor | Software & Apps | May 6, 2024 11:51 AM CDT

The discrepancy between Windows 10 users and Windows 11 users is seemingly growing and not in the direction that Microsoft wants.

Microsoft killing support for its most popular operating system isn't working

According to new data from Statcounter, a renowned web analytics service that has tracking code on more than 1.5 million websites, market share figures between Windows 11 users and Windows 10 users is trending - at least in the short term - toward more Windows 10 adoption, as global desktop share between February 2024 and April 2024 dropped from 28.16% to 25.65%. On the other hand, Windows 10's market share grew from 67.26% to 70.03%.

These numbers, while not being anywhere near as accurate as what Microsoft has internally, are a good indicator for market share, and if they are close to being accurate, it means Windows 10 users aren't being convinced to upgrade to Windows 11, something that Microsoft has been pushing for a few years now, and particularly so since the company announced Windows 10 support would end on October 14, 2025.

Continue reading: Microsoft killing support for its most popular operating system isn't working (full post)

Analyst tips iPhone 17 Slim launch for 2025 alongside other big lineup changes

Oliver Haslam | Mobile Devices, Tablets & Phones | May 6, 2024 11:29 AM CDT

Apple has only been selling the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro lineups for a few months and we're still a long way from the company announcing the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. But that hasn't stopped some people from turning their attention to the next iteration of the wildly popular smartphone and if we're looking into 2025, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro will be the nig news of the year. Now, a new report suggest that Apple intends to make some big changes to that lineup compared to the ones that came before it.

Analyst tips iPhone 17 Slim launch for 2025 alongside other big lineup changes

A Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu research note, reported on by 9to5Mac, suggests that Apple intends to ditch the iPhone 16 Plus in September 2025 and replace it with not another Plus, but a Slim. If the report is accurate, the 2025 lineup will include the iPHone 17, iPhone 17 Slim, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

That change brings with it more tweaks, including display size. Pu believes that the iPhone 17 Slim will have a 6.6-inch display which is smaller than the iPhone 16 Plus' expected 6.7-inch display. It's also thought that it will be thin, hence the name, too.

Continue reading: Analyst tips iPhone 17 Slim launch for 2025 alongside other big lineup changes (full post)

Apple confirms iOS 17.5 is 'coming soon' and it could be around May 22, here's why

Oliver Haslam | Mobile Devices, Tablets & Phones | May 6, 2024 11:16 AM CDT

Apple's been working on new software updates for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and more for a few weeks now and there has been a beta for all of those running as well. The company has never said exactly when those software updates would be released to the public, but we might have just had our best indication yet.

Apple confirms iOS 17.5 is 'coming soon' and it could be around May 22, here's why

Apple today announced its 2024 Pride Collection which includes a new watch band, watch face, and some iPhone and iPad wallpapers. New software updates will bring the watch face and wallpapers to the masses, and Apple says that they'll arrive "soon." However, we think that May 22 seems a likely timeframe.

Apple hasn't confirmed the May 22 date for new software, but it did say that's when the new Apple Watch Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop will go on sale. Priced at $99 it's a stunning band, but it seems most likely that Apple will make the new software available at the same time to allow buyers to use the new watch face with it. We can also expect that the new iPhone and iPad software will debut at the same time.

Continue reading: Apple confirms iOS 17.5 is 'coming soon' and it could be around May 22, here's why (full post)

Mystery Apple Pencil Pro appears in Japanese website code as May 7 iPad event nears

Oliver Haslam | Mobile Devices, Tablets & Phones | May 6, 2024 11:00 AM CDT

With Apple set to hold what many assume to be an iPad event on May 7, the company is also tipped to launch new accessories as well. A revamped, more sturdy Apple Magic Keyboard is thought to be likely to join the new iPads, as is what we've been told to expect will be the Apple Pencil 3. However, a new report suggests that it might not have that name after all.

Mystery Apple Pencil Pro appears in Japanese website code as May 7 iPad event nears

If the report is accurate Apple is about to announce its first Apple Pencil Pro. That's according to code found on the Japanese Apple website, at least. The Homepage banner on that website describes its header image as a creator holding an Apple Pencil Pro, a product that does not yet exist.

Apple currently sells the Apple Pencil (1st-generation), Apple Pencil (2nd-generation), and Apple Pencil (USB-C) and it was expected that any new model would simply increment the generation number. But now it seems likely that Apple is going to go a step beyond, adding an Apple Pencil Pro to the lineup for the first time.

Continue reading: Mystery Apple Pencil Pro appears in Japanese website code as May 7 iPad event nears (full post)

How to watch Apple's May 7 iPad Pro and Air event at home for free

Oliver Haslam | Mobile Devices, Tablets & Phones | May 6, 2024 10:47 AM CDT

Apple has confirmed that it intends to hold an online event on May 7 and while it hasn't said what it intends to show off, we're relatively sure that there will be new iPads and accessories. The event, carrying the tagline "Let Loose," is going to offer the first new iPads in more than a year and expectations are high. And you can watch along a home for free.

How to watch Apple's May 7 iPad Pro and Air event at home for free

Watching the Apple May 7 event is easy, and the chances are very good that you can watch using whatever you're currently reading this on. You can even watch on the big screen if that's more your jam, too.

Apple will hold the "Let Loose" event on Tuesday, May 7 at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time or 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. That means that there will be an early start for some, but the odd timing would suggest that there is a global aspect to things - Apple is expected to announce a global launch of the Apple Vision Pro during the event.

Continue reading: How to watch Apple's May 7 iPad Pro and Air event at home for free (full post)

Helldivers 2 Steam reviews turn positive as players praise Sony's latest decision

Jak Connor | Gaming | May 6, 2024 4:10 AM CDT

Helldivers 2 PC players are returning back to the Steam listing to celebrate their voice being heard by Sony regarding the publisher's recent decision to make PSN account linking mandatory.

Helldivers 2 Steam reviews turn positive as players praise Sony's latest decision

Sony recently announced via its official PlayStation X account that it will be rolling back the announced changes that stated Steam players would be required to link their account with a PSN account. This change had the Helldivers 2 community up in arms as some countries around the world don't have access to the PSN network, meaning they wouldn't be able to play Helldivers 2 at all.

Some others found it a major problem to force players to sign up to the PSN network when Sony has been hacked several times in the past, exploiting user information. For all of these reasons and more, Helldivers 2 players review bombed the title on its Steam listing, resulting in more than 200,000 negative reviews since Sony announced the incoming changes.

Continue reading: Helldivers 2 Steam reviews turn positive as players praise Sony's latest decision (full post)

Helldivers 2 CEO responds to Sony officially cancelling PSN account requirement

Jak Connor | Gaming | May 6, 2024 2:30 AM CDT

The Helldivers 2 PC controversy has seemingly ended after PlayStation announced it was going to backpedal on forcing Helldivers 2 players to connect their Steam account to a PSN account to be granted access to the game.

Helldivers 2 CEO responds to Sony officially cancelling PSN account requirement

Only a matter of hours ago PlayStation took to its official X account to announce it has heard the feedback from the Helldivers 2 PC community regarding the linking update and has decided it "will not be moving forward". This change will cover both existing Helldivers 2 players and new Helldivers 2 players.

Arrowhead Studios CEO Johan Pilestedt has since taken to his personal X account to praise the efforts of the Helldivers 2 community for collaborating their efforts to get what they want and to thank PlayStation for their decision to leave PSN linking optional. Notably, PlayStation wrote in its post that it's still learning "what is best for PC players".

Continue reading: Helldivers 2 CEO responds to Sony officially cancelling PSN account requirement (full post)

US government auctions off supercomputer with 8,000 Intel CPUs and 300TB of RAM

Jak Connor | Computer Systems | May 6, 2024 2:00 AM CDT

An independent agency of the US government has auctioned off an iconic supercomputer that is capable of 5.34 petaflops.

US government auctions off supercomputer with 8,000 Intel CPUs and 300TB of RAM

The US General Services Administration, an independent agency of the US government tasked with supporting and helping the basic functioning aspects of federal agencies, has officially auctioned off its Cheyenne Supercomputer. The 5.34-petaflops system located at the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center (NWSC) in Cheyenne, Wyoming, was the 20th most powerful supercomputer in the world in 2016, and as of November 2023, it's ranked 160th.

Despite its seemingly low ranking the Cheyenne Supercomputer is still a powerful beast of a computer with capabilities such as carrying out 5.34 quadrillion calculations per second. The supercomputer was typically used to carry out weather predictions and predicting natural disasters.

Continue reading: US government auctions off supercomputer with 8,000 Intel CPUs and 300TB of RAM (full post)

Scientists use supercomputer to find out when humanity will perish

Jak Connor | Science, Space, Health & Robotics | May 6, 2024 1:30 AM CDT

A team of researchers asked a supercomputer when will humanity completely perish, and the answer they received not only impacts humans but hundreds of other species of mammals.

Scientists use supercomputer to find out when humanity will perish

The researchers penned a study published in the scientific journal Nature Geoscience, where they explain that compiling factors such as solar radiation and landmass configurations, can lead to a prediction of when all landmass mammalian life will be eradicated from the surface of Earth. The team found that in as little as 250 million years Earth's tectonic plates will converge to form Earth's next supercontinent, Pangea Ultima.

The scientists write the creation and decay of Pangea Ultima will produce extreme levels of CO2, particularly from volcanic rifting and outgassing. The intense levels of CO2 in Earth's atmosphere combined with the head of the Sun will make Earth unable to sustain many forms of landmass life. Within these kinds of conditions, humanity won't be able to grow any food, with the supercomputer finding that temperatures would increase to between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius, which is approximately 104 - 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

Continue reading: Scientists use supercomputer to find out when humanity will perish (full post)

Helldivers 2 CEO blames Sony for PSN account backlash 'we had to comply'

Jak Connor | Gaming | May 6, 2024 1:01 AM CDT

The debacle between Helldivers 2 PC players and the game's developer and publisher has reached new heights, with the developer Arrowhead Studios's CEO now blaming the publisher, Sony Interactive Entertainment. 

Helldivers 2 CEO blames Sony for PSN account backlash 'we had to comply'

The Helldivers 2 controversy began when Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced on the Helldivers 2 Steam blog that Helldivers 2 PC players would be required to link a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to their Steam account to access the game. The community entered into an uproar at this news as many gamers in various countries around the world don't have access to the PSN network in their region, meaning they would get locked out of Helldivers 2 as soon as the change was implemented.  

Helldivers 2 was bombarded with more than 100,000 negative reviews, driving its review description down to "overwhelmingly negative". The CEO of Arrowhead Studios, Johan Pilestedt, apologized for the events that transpired and said the decision wasn't the developers - it was Sony's. In response to the community uproar, Helldivers 2's Steam listing was removed from more than 170 regions, as selling the game to consumers who won't be able to play due to a lack of PSN access is simply fraudulent. 

Continue reading: Helldivers 2 CEO blames Sony for PSN account backlash 'we had to comply' (full post)