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Windows 10's latest update is failing to install and confusing some users with a weird error
Windows 10's latest cumulative update is coming off the rails due to a security update that's installed alongside the Patch Tuesday upgrade for January.
Bleeping Computer reports that the KB5034441 security update is failing to install with an '0x80070643' error code for some Windows 10 users. That update patches up a security flaw, namely a BitLocker encryption bypass that could let an attacker access encrypted data (leveraged via the Windows Recovery Environment).
After KB5034441 failing and the PC rebooting, users are presented with a message informing them that there were problems with installing updates, and the OS would try again later.
Rabbit's cute little R1 AI gadget has sold out its first batch of 10,000 in just a day
With CES 2024 now very much underway and starting to come to its conclusion it's no surprise that AI has been a big focus for a lot of the people and companies in attendance. We've seen AI added to all kinds of things, some better than others, but one interesting story has been the Rabbit R1.
The R1 is a little AI box that is designed to provide AI capabilities away from your phone in a way that opens the door to new possibilities and use cases. As part of its launch Rabbit said that it would be happy if it sold just 500 units. but the company has already announced that it smashed that goal considerably. In fact, it sold its full 10,000 initial availability in just 24 hours.
The R1 comes with a small 2.88-inch display that also acts as a touchscreen and the main way that users will interface with the device itself. You can do a variety of things including send messages without having to use your phone, buy things, and play music.
Sony's DualSense PS5 controller could be getting a huge battery life upgrade and soon
If you're someone who plays their PS5 and wishes that they didn't have to charge their DualSense controller quite so often, you might be in for a very good time indeed. That's after what appears to be an updated DualSense controller leaked on the Canadian Best Buy website, a product that is yet to be officially confirmed but could be outed as part of Sony's ongoing CES 2024 announcements.
The controller is listed as a PS5 v2 DualSense Wireless Controller and appears to have the same features and functions as the controller that is already on sale and ships with existing PS5 consoles. However, things really start to differ when you look at the battery life of the new controller with its 12 hours of juice being labeled as "exceptional."
And exceptional, it really is. To put the 12-hour figure into perspective the current DualSense only lasts for six hours at best and most people are likely to have to reach for the controller after just three hours, depending on the game that they are playing and how heavily the rumble feature is used.
How will Cowriter AI work in Windows 11's Notepad? New leak gives us a good idea
Hot on the heels of yesterday's leak of the Cowriter AI functionality for Notepad in Windows 11, we've now got a glimpse of the full interface for this feature.
As flagged up by regular leaker Albacore on X (formerly Twitter), the UI is in place, and while it still feels like placeholders in terms of the implementation, the main options are shown and give us a good flavor of what to expect.
The Notepad user will be able to summon Cowriter and get the AI to rewrite chunks of text in much the same vein as previously seen with Copilot (formerly Bing Chat).
Apple's Vision Pro loses its 'Pro' moniker as rumors of a cheaper model continue to swirl
When Apple announced the Vision Pro headset back in June of 2023 one of the first things that people noticed was the huge $3,499 asking price. That's the price on the ticket for people who want to see what Apple's spacial computing technology can do when it goes on sale on February 2, but there will likely be a cheaper version in the future. Now, new evidence suggests that will very much be the case and we might even know what it will be called.
That's based on information found in the iOS 17.3 beta 2 code that appears to show that Apple plans on ditching the Pro part of the Vision Pro's name, likely to be used in a cheaper model. Strings that previously referenced the Apple Vision Pro have been changed to just Apple Vision, 9to5 Mac notes.
The report uses the App Store as an example, with previous beta software listing "Mac, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro Apps". However, that has now been changed to list "Mac, iPad, and Apple Vision Apps" which could suggest that a non-Pro headset is in the cards.
China has cracked Apple's AirDrop to extract the sender's contact details
AirDrop, the wireless file transfer protocol that is supported by Apple's iPhones, iPads, and Macs, has long been a great way to quickly and easily send files, photos, and videos between people and devices. But it's a protocol that's had its privacy problems, with people sending images to unknowing recipients. It's also a problem that the Chinese government has been dealing with in terms of pro-democracy protestors sending information to others without their knowledge. The Chinese government has been trying to stop that from happening and Apple has tweaked AirDrop to default to only accepting transfers from known contacts as a result. Now, it seems China has gone a step further and can proactively identify the people who sent the images, too.
That's according to a Bloomberg report based on a Chinese post by the Beijing Judicial Bureau which claims that it has now been able to crack AirDrop in such a way that it can extract the contact details of the people who send files over its peer-to-peer network. Those contact details include phone numbers and email addresses, with police adding that they have been able to identify multiple people suspected of sharing pro-democracy content with others. It hasn't been confirmed if any of those people have been arrested, however.
China claims the move is a technological breakthrough, and it's one that could prevent the sharing of pro-democracy material via AirDrop in the future. The method of sharing posters and other media was used heavily during the 2019 protests in Hong Kong and China has been trying to crack down on AirDrop ever since.
The Apple Watch ban pause has been officially opposed by the ITC, could it be banned again?
Buying an Apple Watch in the United States is easier today than it might have been if a ban on Apple's best wearables had gone ahead. That ban was paused after Apple appealed a decision to ban its Apple Watch in December, but now the UInternationla Trade Commission has formally opposed the stay, saying that Apple's arguments against a ban are weak.
The original ban kicked in on December 25 after the Biden administration chose not to intervene following a decision to ban the watches over patent infringements. Those infringements are over patents relating to health technology created by Masimo and a legal battle has been underway for years. At issue is the blood oxygen monitor used in the Apple Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Series 9, and slightly older models not including the Apple Watch SE - that model doesn't have the blood oxygen monitoring technology and is not affected as a result.
Apple briefly paused sales of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9, before it was able to get a stay on the ban that runs until January 15 at the earliest. That's when arguments from all parties will be taken into account, and a ban could be reinstated as a result.
Cooler Master showed a gaming chair with Shiatsu massage that felt amazing and more at CES 2024
Entering the suite of Cooler Master at CES 2024 had us waiting in reception for a moment, while just inside, we saw one of the biggest yet amazing custom mods for a system with this amazing shark mod. While out of reach of many and too big for most home offices, it was something to behold as we appreciated all the work that goes into something of this caliber.
As we were assigned a representative for their cooling products, the focus this year was to utilize a hexagonal head unit shape that harkens back to the design of the Cooler Master logo, albeit not stretched wide as the logo is. Here we have their new ATMOS-designed head units, with a slightly tinted cover over the sleek finned inner portion resting upon an ARGB color plate.
As many are doing this year, one of the cooler parts of the ATMOS AIO is that the fin arrangement in the previous image is removable. Doing this will allow customers to 3D print whatever they can come up with, place it in the center of the head unit, and then replace the tinted cover to keep it safe and sound while giving users a custom visual appeal.
EK has a new idea in cooling that we have yet to see with its new direct die AIOs at CES 2024
In its partially disassembled state, we get our first look at the new CR360 Direct Die D-RGB from EK. What makes these coolers special is that EK worked with der8auer for the frame to allow users who wish to delid their CPUs to mount them securely into place, and as you can see, the cold plate on these models is not flat.
There is a bevel in the der8auer bracket where the bevel around the contact area of the head unit will set into. Looking closely at the packaging, you will also see that with the fact that you are delidding the processor, the coolers need to be socket specific, in this instance LGA1700.
Here we have the completed unit, with one of the two optional head unit covers sporting the exposed metal skull and EK logo over the more vanilla-looking cover with its circular machined metal cover seen near the bottom of the previous image.
Close up with ASUS' range of new NVIDIA RTX Super and AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT GPUs at CES 2024
While at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, we were invited to take a look at what ASUS had on display. Conveniently, both AMD and NVIDIA just announced new GPUs while at CES 2024. AMD launched the RX 7600 XT and NVIDIA the RTX Super series consisting of the RTX 4070 Super, RTX 4070 Ti Super, and the RTX 4080 Super. So, let's take a look at how ASUS has up its sleeves.
The big boy, the Strix RTX 4090 BTF OC Edition, was a GPU that was not really talked about but is welcomed anyway. This version has a patented vapor chamber with a milled heat spreader for lower GPU temperatures. The real story here is the BTF (back to front) power connectors on this high-end GPU, which is exciting here with no visible need for the traditional 8-pin or 16-pin external power connections. The release date and the price are unknown.
Next up is the new TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super BTF White Edition. It's all about the white this year at CES 2024, and this GPU is certainly no exception. The TUF gaming cooler seems to just be a superficial paint job over the original TUF cooler. The BTF (back to front) part is what is exciting here again. Available Jan 24th, 2024. There is no official word on the price as of yet.
MSI shows us its new MAG CORELIQUID E360 at CES 2024, and it has us excited
As we continue our quest to bring you the latest and greatest from CES 2024, MSI had much to show off at CES 2024, and Ryan will be covering most of those products very soon; there was one standout amongst it all that grabbed our attention. While MSI does not seem to be making the move to white just yet, we have seen from many manufacturers they are all trying to keep up with the AIO market and deliver something new for the masses to drool over, and MSI did not disappoint, and what we have below is the latest and greatest from them.
While Ryan and I were moving around the room, we did see some amazing gear, but the one and only cooling product on display was this simpler designed yet visually appealing MSI MAG Coreliquid E360 that we cannot wait to get our hands on for testing and review. Moving away from previous designs, this model comes with an enlarged copper mating surface to help achieve ultimate heat exchange with the latest generation CPUs. The pump inside is designed to split the warmed and cooled water to better reduce temperatures in the heat source. It also boasts maximized micro-channels to dissipate heat more efficiently.
The head unit offers a 270° rotatable cover, with a durable three-phase pump motor to reduce vibrations and noise while also offering better longevity. As shown, the MAG Coreliquid E360 is intended for LGA1700 and AM5 CPUs only. Also, as is the trend, the E360 comes with ARB fans to accompany the illuminated head unit.
Valve cracks down on modders as Portal 64 and Team Fortress Source 2 projects get shut down
Valve has issued two DMCA takedowns and brought the hammer down on two popular mod projects in what's widely regarded as a surprise move for the developer, publisher, and Steam platform owner.
Portal 64, a project that ports Valve's iconic first-person puzzle game to an unlike source - the Nintendo 64 - is one, and Team Fortress: Source 2, which updates the classic shooter with the newer Source 2 engine, is the other.
We previously reported on Portal 64, the ambitious and impressive project from programmer James Lambert. Considering the age of N64 hardware, the fact that it works at all is incredible - with the most recent update to the project confirming that a large portion of the game was complete and up and running.
AYANEO NEXT LITE is a new budget PC gaming handheld running Valve's SteamOS
The success of Valve's Steam Deck PC gaming handheld was immediate and surprising, showcasing there's a large market and desire for portable PC gaming. It wasn't the first handheld PC gaming device, but it arrived at the right time for technology and software to come together.
One of the big reasons for Steam Deck's success was the seamless integration of SteamOS. And now, one of the first non-Valve gaming handhelds to adopt the OS is the new AYANEO NEXT LITE.
The Linux-based operating system was designed for PC gaming using Valve's popular platform. After multiple updates and improvements, it's now one of the best computer gaming interfaces on a handheld.
Valve will now allow games with AI-generated content to be released on Steam
Until now, Valve has been rejecting games from developers that used AI to generate content, a move that wasn't so much a stance against the technology but a pause so the Steam platform holder could figure out how to handle AI games regarding copyright and other policies.
In a new post titled 'AI Content on Steam,' Valve has provided a comprehensive update on what it calls "the fast-moving and legally murky space of AI technology." After talking with developers and learning about AI in game development, the company plans to "release the vast majority of games that use" AI.
The good news is that gamers will know which titles were created with the help of generative AI, as developers will need to disclose the use of AI tools when submitting a game to Steam. "We will also include much of your disclosure on the Steam store page for your game, so customers can also understand how the game uses AI," Valve writes.
Samsung shows off world's first transparent Micro-LED screen at CES 2024
Samsung showed off the world's first transparent Micro-LED display at CES 2024, joining the transparent display party with South Korean display rival LG. Check it out:
Samsung's new transparent Micro-LED display wasn't much more than a technology demo at CES 2024, as the South Korean company wasn't clear on when its transparent Micro-LED display would hit the market. Samsung showed off the new transparent Micro-LED display side-by-side with transparent OLED and transparent LCD displays so that CES 2024 showgoers could see the difference.
Engadget was on the ground at CES 2024, reporting that "not only was the MicroLED panel significantly brighter, it also featured a completely frameless design and a more transparent glass panel that made it easier to see objects behind it".
Switchblade Flying Sports Car transforms from a luxury road vehicle into a plane
Samson Sky has been working in the Switchblade Flying Sports Car for a while now. After its first successful flight on November 5, 2023 - the company is launching a crowdfunding investment campaign to 'get into the production phase' for its for-real flying car.
The Switchblade Flying Sports Car runs on unleaded auto fuel, and with the wings folded in, it's a three-wheeled sports car with a high-tech and luxury interior that's legal and safe to drive on the road. According to Samson Sky, you could drive the Switchblade from your garage to a local airport, where the wings swing out in under three minutes, and the tail extends - ready to take to the skies.
Samson Sky notes that it has over 2300 reservations from across the globe from those interested in picking up a Switchblade, with $10 million raised prior to this new campaign and orders of $472 million.
Intel Arc Battlemage Xe2 GPUs confirmed: in the lab already, next-gen Celestial Xe3 GPUs teased
Intel teased that its next-gen Arc Battlemage Xe2 GPU is being worked on right now, with the GPU engineering team moving on from the Arc Alchemist Xe GPU architecture.
The news comes from an interview with Intel Fellow and ex-NVIDIA executive Tom Peterson with PCWorld on the ground at CES 2024, with Peterson confirming next-gen Arc Battlemage GPUs are in the works.
Peterson said that the next-gen Arc Battlemage Xe2 GPUs are on schedule for a 2024 release, with 30% of the software team already working on getting support for the next-gen GPU nailed for both discrete and integrated Battlemage GPUs of the future.
Minisforum's new UH185 Ultra Mini-PC features Intel Core Ultra 'Meteor Lake' CPU
Minisforum has just announced its new UH185 Ultra Mini-PC, packing Intel's new Core Ultra 185H "Meteor Lake" processor inside.
The new Minisforum UH185 Ultra Mini-PC features an Intel Core Ultra 185H "Meteor Lake" processor that packs 16 cores and 22 threads boosting at up to 5.1GHz with a TDP of 45W+, with a built-in NPU (Neural Processing Unit) for all-things AI. On the GPU side of things, we've got an Arc Xe-LPG integrated GPU with 8 Xe-Cores clocking in at up to 2250MHz.
Minisforum will also be offering its new Mini-PC systems with UH155 Ultra and UH125 Ultra models, featuring the Intel Core Ultra 155H and Core Ultra 125H "Meteor Lake" processors, respectively.
XPG showed us a range of its upcoming and impressive DDR5 RAM, coolers, and fans at CES 2024
Immediately inside the room with XPG, we ran into a set of Lancer RGB 8000 DDR5. Similar to what we have already seen, this series will now support up to 8000 MHz via an XMP 3.0 profile for the latest Intel and AMD systems. As you can see, there is RGB lighting and the Lancer triangular branding, which will come in capacities of 16 and 24GB per module.
Moving to our right, we then hit this kit of Caster RGB 7200. As the name suggests, speeds will top out at 7200 MHz with Intel XMP 3.0 support, but it will work for both camps. It also has RGB and the same triangular branding, but this time, they mentioned improved stability and reliability with a PMIC and on-die ECC, which all DDR5 has. At this time, the Caster RGB is slated to come with only 16GB modules.
We then ran into the Lancer RGB ROG Certified 7200 sticks. While these will have an XMP 3.0 profile boasting 7200 MHz in speed, they will have a second set to 7600 MHz. Along with the same features as the previous kits, these are ROG certified to ensure compatibility with ASUS ROG motherboards but will ship with 16GB as the only choice in stick density.
Enermax shows us its LIQTECH XTR, LIQMAXFLO, AQUAFLO LCD, and VRM cooling at CES 2024
The first of the AIOs we ran across at the Enermax suite was this LIQTECH XTR, where the XTR stands for Xeon and ThreadRipper. Along with a larger head unit for better contact with the much larger IHS of the workstation CPUs, you can get them in 240mm, 280mm, 360mm, and even 420mm versions. You can access real-time CPU and GPU stats on a head unit designed to fit sTR5 and LGA4677 sockets. Cooling capacity covered 500W with the EF1 pump design, a Central Cooling Inlet (C.C.I.), and patented Shunt-Channel Technology (S.C.T.)
We next ran into the LIQMAXFLO cooler, which comes in 240mm, 360mm, and 420mm options boasting a 60mm ARGB VRM fan. These models can cool up to 420W of TDP with an Advanced Dual-Chamber Xtreme Pump with an enlarged inlet and increased pump pressure, which is said to boost flow up to 20%. On top of that, these models use a 38mm thick radiator with C.C.I. and S.C.T. included but still have one trick up their sleeve. The cover on the head unit is removable and allows users to 3D print whatever works best for them stylistically if you have access to more magnets to attach your custom covers.
In the previous image, you can see five covers that Enermax has on display, but from a contest they ran, what you see now is the overall winner. Made of two parts, there is a black body to this design, which is topped with opaque plastic, which allows the ARGB lighting from within the head unit to make the top glow while also adding some style with the ten-fin layout of the central portion, allowing airflow into the VRM cooling fan.






















