Western Digital WD Gold 24TB HDD Review - High-Capacity Masterpiece

Western Digital WD Gold 24TB HDD Review - High-Capacity Masterpiece

Enhanced with WD's exclusive OptiNAND technology, the WD Gold 24TB enterprise-class HDD is pushing the limits of CMR technology further than ever before.

Apple's iPhone has an alarming problem, but it's apparently already being worked on

If you woke up this morning and wondered why it was so late, that's probably because your iPhone's alarm didn't go off. Or, to be more precise, it did but didn't make any sound. It's an issue that has started to pop up for more and more people around the globe over the last few days, and it could be happening to you.

Apple's iPhone has an alarming problem, but it's apparently already being worked on

The issue, which was first reported by NBC's Today Show, doesn't appear to have a known fix just yet - but the report does suggest that Apple is already aware of the issue and that it's working on fixing whatever it is that's gone awry.

People around the world use their iPhone as an alarm for all manner of things, whether that's to remember to do something or because they need to be woken after a good night's sleep. But there are issues at hand, and they could mean that you miss an appointment or get to work late, and that's far from ideal.

Continue reading: Apple's iPhone has an alarming problem, but it's apparently already being worked on (full post)

Passkey support comes to Microsoft's accounts for the first time

Oliver Haslam | Software & Apps | May 2, 2024 12:30 PM CDT

In a world where too many people continue to use a single username and password combination across multiple devices, services, and accounts, it's good to see that the passkey revolution continues to gather pace. We've already seen various companies and services offer passkeys as a new way of biometric-secured authentication with Apple, WhatsApp, and PlayStation among others all on side. But now one of the really big names has also thrown its hat into the ring.

Passkey support comes to Microsoft's accounts for the first time

In a post on its security blog, Microsoft has confirmed that it is now rolling out passkey support for Microsoft accounts, making it easier, quicker, and more secure to sign into those accounts. Creating a passkey is easy with users given the option to switch from their previous username and password via the sign-in process.

When it comes to signing into a Microsoft account using a passkey, the new sign-in option will be offered with support for signing in using a fingerprint, a face recognition solution like Face ID, a PIN, or a security key. Microsoft says that, starting today, users can sign into Microsoft apps and websites including Microsoft 365 and Copilot using both desktop and mobile web browsers.

Continue reading: Passkey support comes to Microsoft's accounts for the first time (full post)

Want GeForce Now streaming on your Steam Deck? NVIDIA's done the hard work for you

Darren Allan | Gaming | May 2, 2024 11:03 AM CDT

For those who are NVIDIA GeForce Now subscribers, but haven't got the streaming service up and running on their Steam Deck yet, because it seems like too much hassle perhaps - here's some good news.

Want GeForce Now streaming on your Steam Deck? NVIDIA's done the hard work for you

NVIDIA has gone ahead and made the process of getting GeForce Now working on Valve's handheld a good deal easier.

As detailed in the latest GeForce Now Thursday update, NVIDIA has released an installation script that takes care of everything.

Continue reading: Want GeForce Now streaming on your Steam Deck? NVIDIA's done the hard work for you (full post)

Still can't install Windows 10's January update? Microsoft fix isn't coming, you're on your own

Darren Allan | Software & Apps | May 2, 2024 10:12 AM CDT

It's hardly unusual for a Windows update to introduce a bug, but most of the time, Microsoft provides a solution in a reasonable timeframe - not always, mind, and not ever in this more recent case.

Still can't install Windows 10's January update? Microsoft fix isn't coming, you're on your own

Yes, this is a bit of an odd one, and it concerns the unlucky Windows 10 users who, when installing an update back in January 2024, encountered a Windows Recovery Environment error.

That installation failure error (stop code: 0x80070643) is related to the recovery partition not being large enough for the mentioned January security update (KB5034441).

Continue reading: Still can't install Windows 10's January update? Microsoft fix isn't coming, you're on your own (full post)

Bethesda's Todd Howard is looking into ways to make Elder Scrolls and Fallout games quicker

Kosta Andreadis | Gaming | May 2, 2024 4:27 AM CDT

Bethesda Game Studios, the studio behind mainline entries in the Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises, focuses primarily on one game at a time, switching between franchises. However, with the studio spending several years building its epic sci-fi RPG Starfield, it's been over a decade since we got The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and close to a decade since the launch of Fallout 4.

Bethesda's Todd Howard is looking into ways to make Elder Scrolls and Fallout games quicker

With the success of the Fallout TV show on Amazon Prime, Fallout 4 is currently one of the most played games on PC and consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. However, With Bethesda Game Studios shifting its focus toward The Elder Scrolls 6 before tackling Fallout 5, it could be a decade before we see a new Fallout game - and years before The Elder Scrolls 6 is done and ready to ship.

Speaking with Kinda Funny Games, Bethesda Game Studios head and Skyrim and Starfield game director Todd Howard is fully aware of the long gap between entries in these iconic and popular franchises - and is looking to rectify it.

Continue reading: Bethesda's Todd Howard is looking into ways to make Elder Scrolls and Fallout games quicker (full post)

NVIDIA DLSS 3 added to Gray Zone Warfare and Everspace 2, which now runs on Unreal Engine 5

Kosta Andreadis | Gaming | May 2, 2024 3:54 AM CDT

Tactical FPS Gray Zone Warfare has launched into Early Access on Steam. Even though it currently has a 'Mixed' user review rating, the general sentiment is that the game is on track to live up to its potential as an open-world shooter focused on realism. The good news for GeForce RTX 40 Series owners is that performance is boosted thanks to DLSS 3 Frame Generation support.

NVIDIA DLSS 3 added to Gray Zone Warfare and Everspace 2, which now runs on Unreal Engine 5

DLSS 3 makes it 60+ FPS playable in 4K using the 'Epic' quality preset on everything from the GeForce RTX 4070 to the RTX 4090 using DLSS 'Performance' mode with Frame Gen enabled. For those wanting triple-digit GeForce RTX 4070 performance, dropping the resolution to 1440p sees 81 FPS turn into 111 FPS.

This week, third-person space combat action RPG Everspace 2 is also getting DLSS 3 support. The game just got a massive Incursions Update for all players, introducing new content and migrating it from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5.3.

Continue reading: NVIDIA DLSS 3 added to Gray Zone Warfare and Everspace 2, which now runs on Unreal Engine 5 (full post)

RTX Remix updated with DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction to improve ray-tracing quality for mods

Kosta Andreadis | Gaming | May 2, 2024 3:27 AM CDT

NVIDIA's RTX Remix enables modders to reimagine an older PC title with full ray tracing or path tracing, updated models, and AI-enhanced textures while leveraging modern rendering technologies and tools like DLSS, Frame Generation, and Reflex.

RTX Remix updated with DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction to improve ray-tracing quality for mods

NVIDIA first showcased what RTX Remix could do with the impressive Portal RTX mod, and with the RTX Remix Open Beta kicking off earlier this year, we'll see many great projects pop up in the months and years ahead. This week, NVIDIA has updated RTX Remix with the addition of NVIDIA DLSS 3.5 with Ray Reconstruction. We first saw the groundbreaking tech in Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty expansion last year.

DLSS 3.5 with Ray Reconstruction dramatically improves the quality of ray tracing, adding new detail to ray-traced effects like reflections and shadows. Thanks to NVIDIA's GitHub community input, this week's update also improves RTX Remix mod performance and compatibility. We also got an update on the stunning Half-Life 2 RTX: An RTX Remix Project.

Continue reading: RTX Remix updated with DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction to improve ray-tracing quality for mods (full post)

Diablo 4's Season 4 is called 'Loot Reborn' because it makes big changes to the entire game

Kosta Andreadis | Gaming | May 2, 2024 2:57 AM CDT

Diablo IV, Season 4: Loot Reborn will begin on May 14, 2024, and it will present a significant overhaul to many of the game's systems, including the endgame, itemization, crafting, leveling, and putting together a demon-slaying build. Throw in The Pit of Artificers, which sounds a lot like Diablo 3's Greater Rift system and revamped Helltide events, and Diablo IV is on track to become a whole new game in a few weeks.

Diablo 4's Season 4 is called 'Loot Reborn' because it makes big changes to the entire game

With loot and items making up a big part of Diablo's action RPG fantasy, 'Loot Reborn' is bringing permanent and fundamental changes to how that will work. General items, including Legendaries, will now feature fewer, more meaningful affixes and stats and drop less frequently.

Customizing an item to make it more personal arrives with the new Tempering system that allows you to apply Weapons, Offensive, Defensive, Mobility, Utility, and Resource stats and abilities to items. In addition, the new Masterworking system is the endgame upgrade process that makes your gear more powerful.

Continue reading: Diablo 4's Season 4 is called 'Loot Reborn' because it makes big changes to the entire game (full post)

China reveals plans to 'settle down' on the Moon before 2045 in new video

Jak Connor | Science, Space, Health & Robotics | May 2, 2024 2:24 AM CDT

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) and its partners plan to build a base on the moon's surface that will serve as an international research facility for lunar-based objectives and exploration.

China reveals plans to 'settle down' on the Moon before 2045 in new video

China's space agency has released a new video showcasing its plan to construct a high-tech lunar base that will act as an outpost for all lunar-based research, sample ferrying back to Earth, and exploration out into the lunar desert by astronauts. The project is called the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) and was announced by China and Russia in 2021. The project has already attracted international partners such as Venezuela, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, South Africa, Egypt, Thailand and Nicaragua.

The video shows off various missions being carried out such as sample return missionsd, landers and rovers moving about, communications arrays, power sources being constructed and much more. Surprisingly, the video shows off an old NASA Space Shuttle taking off from the surface of the moon, which was retired by the American space agency back in 2011.

Continue reading: China reveals plans to 'settle down' on the Moon before 2045 in new video (full post)

Philips launches 49-inch QD OLED dual 1440p gaming monitor with 240Hz refresh rate

Jak Connor | Displays & Projectors | May 2, 2024 1:51 AM CDT

Phillips has launched a brand new flagship gaming monitor under is gaming line-up called EVNIA, which has now introduced the Evnia 49M2C8900.

Philips launches 49-inch QD OLED dual 1440p gaming monitor with 240Hz refresh rate

The latest gaming monitor from Phillips is a 49-inch dual 2560 x 1440p (5120 x 1440) resolution QD-OLED panel that is capable of hitting a 240Hz refresh rate with a 0.03ms GtG response time. Other specifications for the new monitor include a 1800R curvature, a 32:9 aspect ratio, a vast array of connectivity options such as USB-C docking with 90W power delivery, a KVM switch, and an ergonomic design that provides optimal viewing angles of this beast of a display.

As for color, Phillips opting for a QD-OLED panel means gamers will be provided with exception contrast, deep blacks, and vibrant colors that will undoubtedly bring to life images on the screen. Philips' Evnia 49M2C8900 QD OLED Curved Gaming Monitor has already been made available on Amazon with a price of $1,499.

Continue reading: Philips launches 49-inch QD OLED dual 1440p gaming monitor with 240Hz refresh rate (full post)