Apple's focus on AI could be boosted by the man behind the Apple Watch's success

Oliver Haslam | Laptops | Apr 8, 2024 1:30 PM CDT

Apple has long been rumored to be planning a big new push into the world of artificial intelligence with CEO Tim Cook having already teased that something is coming in 2024. Now, a new report suggests that the AI focus could have received a boost from someone who has been integral to the success of the Apple Watch.

Apple's focus on AI could be boosted by the man behind the Apple Watch's success

Kevin Lynch has long been a driving force behind the Apple Watch, reporting directly to Apple Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams. And while he will continue to oversee Apple Watch progress, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says that he has been moved over to work on the Apple AI problem as well. What's more, he's now reporting directly to John Giannandrea, Apple's AI chief.

The reason for that move wasn't clear, but Gurman, writing in the weekly Power On newsletter, now says that people close to the matter believe that Lynch's move is designed to bring some order to the Apple Ai project, a project that has long proven to be problematic for Apple.

Continue reading: Apple's focus on AI could be boosted by the man behind the Apple Watch's success (full post)

The next Apple TV device could have a camera built in with support for FaceTime and more

Oliver Haslam | TV, Movies & Home Theatre | Apr 8, 2024 1:15 PM CDT

It's been a good long while since Apple last updated the Apple TV streaming box, with 2022 being the last time that the Apple TV 4K was refreshed. However, there have been a few rumors over the last couple of years that Apple intends to not only launch a new Apple TV but also completely revamp it, adding a camera to the mix for the first time.

The next Apple TV device could have a camera built in with support for FaceTime and more

Apple has of course not confirmed that it is working on a new Apple TV let alone what that new set-top box will have to offer. However, a new report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests that the new Apple TV could well change the way people use the device moving forward.

According to Gurman, writing in the weekly Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, Apple has discussed automating household functions and offering a revamped Apple TV with a built-in camera. That camera will do a couple of things, starting with the obvious - it will be used to offer FaceTime video calling features as presumably support for third-party apps like Skype and Zoom. But beyond that, things are much more interesting.

Continue reading: The next Apple TV device could have a camera built in with support for FaceTime and more (full post)

Your Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro can now be found whether or not it has any battery left

If you're the owner of a Google Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro who finds that they are all too good at losing it, you're going to be in for a treat. Now, both of those phones can be located even when their batteries have run dry.

Your Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro can now be found whether or not it has any battery left

The new offline tracking feature is made possible thanks to an upgraded Find My Device network with Google saying that it's only made possible thanks to the Pixel hardware that is in its latest devices. There has so far been no information on what that exactly means, however. We can surely expect whatever magic chips are inside these devices to also make an appearance in the upcoming Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro models, not to mention the new Pixel Fold 2 -notably, the Pixel Fold isn't in on the new feature.

If this feature sounds familiar, you probably already have an iPhone or something with a Samsung logo on the back. This technology isn't new, but this is the first time that it's been available to those who have Google's Pixel devices.

Continue reading: Your Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro can now be found whether or not it has any battery left (full post)

Apple's new OLED iPad Pro is going to be more expensive than your old one, report warns

Oliver Haslam | Mobile Devices, Tablets & Phones | Apr 8, 2024 12:45 PM CDT

Apple's long been expected to launch new tablets within the next few weeks with a recent report pointing to the second week of May being a potential release timeframe. The 2024 iPad Pro is going to be the best iPad ever sold, but there have been some rumors that buyers will have to pay a pretty penny to get it. Now, a new report has further suggested that will indeed be the case.

Apple's new OLED iPad Pro is going to be more expensive than your old one, report warns

That report comes via the normally well-connected Mark Gurman, writing in the weekly Power On newsletter. According to Gurman one of the drawbacks of upgrades that are coming to the new iPad Pro will mean a higher price point. The current iPad Pro starts at $799 for the 11-inch model, suggesting that buyers of the 2024 model can expect to pay at least $849 or likely more.

As for why the new tablets will cost so much, there are a couple of changes that will give these 2024 models a notable edge over the ones that are currently on sale. Those tablets launched in 2022 and are pretty solid options. But they're going to be eclipsed by what Apple has coming up.

Continue reading: Apple's new OLED iPad Pro is going to be more expensive than your old one, report warns (full post)

New iPad Pro and iPad Air on track for launch in the second week of May, we're told

Oliver Haslam | Mobile Devices, Tablets & Phones | Apr 8, 2024 12:30 PM CDT

There have been so many rumors of the 2024 launch of a new OLED iPad Pro and a refreshed iPad Air in recent months that, at this point, there is little doubt that such a launch is in the cards. We still don't know exactly when this will happen however, but as we get closer to the launch the window is starting to shrink. Now, a new report claims that we can expect the tablets in the second week of May.

New iPad Pro and iPad Air on track for launch in the second week of May, we're told

That's according to a new report by Bloomgerg's Mark Gurman who, writing in the weekly Power On newsletter, says that the week of May 6 is likely to be the one that sees a new tablet launch.

Apple famously didn't launch any new tablets throughout the entire of 2023 which was the first time that had happened in the entire history of the iPad lineup. That hiatus is going to come to an end soon, however, with Gurman having said for some time that a May window was the most likely.

Continue reading: New iPad Pro and iPad Air on track for launch in the second week of May, we're told (full post)

Think RGB lighting is over-the-top and pointless? Well, how about flower-scented thermal paste?

Darren Allan | Cases, Cooling & PSU | Apr 8, 2024 11:12 AM CDT

We all know what we need from our thermal paste, right? For it to be easy to apply and spread, for it to facilitate good cooling, and for the paste to be affordable is a bonus, too. Oh, and for it to smell nice, of course.

Think RGB lighting is over-the-top and pointless? Well, how about flower-scented thermal paste?

Hang on a minute - what now? Well, apparently this is a concern over in Japan (somehow), because as Wccftech noticed, a company called Clock Work Tea Party (CWTP) is producing scented thermal paste.

A new product called 'Extremegris' is supposedly an osmanthus-flavored thermal paste (which is a hardy shrub that flowers in the spring, in case you were wondering - we certainly were).

Continue reading: Think RGB lighting is over-the-top and pointless? Well, how about flower-scented thermal paste? (full post)

AMD RX 7800 XT drops to $480 again, if you missed the last time the GPU was priced that low

Darren Allan | Video Cards & GPUs | Apr 8, 2024 10:27 AM CDT

If you missed AMD's RX 7800 XT when the GPU had been reduced to a tempting $480 earlier this year, well, we've got some good news - the graphics card can be had at this asking price again.

AMD RX 7800 XT drops to $480 again, if you missed the last time the GPU was priced that low

VideoCardz was hawk-eyed enough to pick up on the RX 7800 XT dropping to $480 at both Newegg and Amazon in the US.

This is for the ASRock Challenger model of the 7800 XT and you'll need to use the provided discount code to get the price knocked down by a further $10 to hit $480.

Continue reading: AMD RX 7800 XT drops to $480 again, if you missed the last time the GPU was priced that low (full post)

Scientists discover genetics play a critical role in being good at gaming

Jak Connor | Gaming | Apr 8, 2024 9:49 AM CDT

A new study has found that humans can see the world at a higher "frame rate" than other humans, meaning some people see the world completely differently than others.

Scientists discover genetics play a critical role in being good at gaming

Humans see by converting light into electrical signals through cells called photoreceptors. These cells than then transmit the signals through the optic nerve to the region of the brain responsible for image formation, known as a the visual cortex. The speed, or frequency this process occurs is called temporal resolution, or a "frame rate". According to a new study published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, the frame rate humans isn't standard across all humans and can differ vastly depending on genetic makeup.

A team of researchers took 88 volunteers and placed goggles on them and put a blinking LED light in their sight. The LED light blinked at different speeds. The test enabled the researchers to boil down the speed of which the test subject was no longer able to see the flicking light, and instead they saw a solid unmoving light. The results were surprisingly as some people weren't able to see past a flicking light above 35 times a second, while others were able to see up to 60 times per second.

Continue reading: Scientists discover genetics play a critical role in being good at gaming (full post)

First time since 1803 trillions of bugs will invade 16 states in the US

Jak Connor | Science, Space, Health & Robotics | Apr 8, 2024 7:45 AM CDT

America's heartland and some surrounding states will be subject to a massive invasion by trillions of singing bugs in an event that hasn't taken place for at least 200 years.

First time since 1803 trillions of bugs will invade 16 states in the US

According to reports, trillions of cicadas will be surfacing from the ground at the same time this year as two groups known as Brood XIX, or the "Great Southern Brood," and Brood XIII, known as the "Northern Illinois Brood". For at least 200 years these groups of cicadas emerged at different times, but this year they will emerge simultaneously creating swarms of trillions of flying signing bugs. Notably, there isn't an extensive overlap between the two groups, but some regions in the center of the US will be battling against more than double the number of cicadas.

David Althoff, a professor at Syracuse University's Department of Biology, told ABC News that residents used to the annual occurrence of cicadas will need to prepare for this year's emergence as it will be a "far cry from the annual occurrences". Furthermore, Brood XIX, the largest geographic extent of all periodical broods, only surfaces once every 13 years, while Brood XIII emerges every 17 years. The last time these two broods emerged from the ground at the same time was in 1803, and the next time they will emerge at the same time won't be until 221 years have passed.

Continue reading: First time since 1803 trillions of bugs will invade 16 states in the US (full post)

Samsung unveils a new era of AI OLED TVs with its 2024 AV line-up

Jak Connor | Displays & Projectors | Apr 8, 2024 7:16 AM CDT

Samsung is committed to bringing the cinema experience to your couch with the official unveiling of its 2024 TV line-up.

Samsung unveils a new era of AI OLED TVs with its 2024 AV line-up

At the top of Samsung's 2024 line-up is the Neo QLED 8K, which features the NQ8 AI Gen3 processor that the company says marks a "significant leap in AI TV technology" as it delivers twice as much performance as its predecessor. This TV features 8K AI Upscaling Pro, a new feature that takes TV shows and movies and upscales them into 8K. Additionally, Samsung writes in its press release the Neo QLED 8K has AI Motion Enhancer Pro, a feature that's designed to make fast action smooth and clear.

Furthermore, there's the inclusion of Real Depth Enhancer Pro, which adds depth to the picture, and also AI sound technology such as Active Voice Amplifier Pro, a feature designed to extract dialogue from background noise in an effort to make sure the viewer is able to hear every word. The Neo QLED 8K also has an AI Auto Game Mode that automatically optimizes visuals and audio to improve a gaming experience and switches on by itself when a game is fired up.

Continue reading: Samsung unveils a new era of AI OLED TVs with its 2024 AV line-up (full post)