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Elon Musk announces Tesla has figured out aspects of artificial general intelligence

Jak Connor | Artificial Intelligence | Aug 7, 2023 4:36 AM CDT

Elon Musk has teased that Tesla has figured out some aspects of artificial general intelligence, the crown jewel of artificial intelligence programming.

Elon Musk announces Tesla has figured out aspects of artificial general intelligence

The Tesla CEO replied to Whole Mars Catalog, who posted a video to their X account recounting the time that Elon Musk said on stage that full self-driving would work even in San Francisco, which at the time seemed impossible considering the current state of Tesla's self-driving technology.

However, the doubts were quelled as the technology advanced, and now full self-driving Tesla vehicles are easily driving around San Francisco with just their "computer vision".

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Continue reading: Elon Musk announces Tesla has figured out aspects of artificial general intelligence (full post)

Twitch streamer Kai Cenat arrested in New York for trying to giveaway PlayStation 5's

Jak Connor | Business, Financial & Legal | Aug 7, 2023 2:35 AM CDT

Twitch streamer Kai Cenat has been arrested after a giveaway event in Union Square got completely out of hand.

Twitch streamer Kai Cenat arrested in New York for trying to giveaway PlayStation 5's

Popular Twitch Streamer Kai Cenat was at the center of a massive gathering in New York City's Union Square on August 4, following his announcement of a huge giveaway of PCs and PlayStation 5s.

The 21-year-old content creator directed thousands of his fans to Union Square for the giveaway, but the event quickly turned into pandemonium as fans of the streamer began blocking traffic, destroying vehicles, causing damage to buildings within the surrounding area, and engaging in violence with the New York Police Department.

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Continue reading: Twitch streamer Kai Cenat arrested in New York for trying to giveaway PlayStation 5's (full post)

Apple Watch Series 9 will be 'basically unchanged' from older models according to one leaker

Oliver Haslam | Wearable Computing & Fashion | Aug 7, 2023 2:33 AM CDT

When Apple announces the Apple Watch Series 9 next month we can expect it to be all about the spec bump rather than any big new design changes, according to a new leak. That means that anyone who had been hoping for a big change in the way the Apple Watch Series 9 looks is set to be left disappointed. Maybe next year!

Apple Watch Series 9 will be 'basically unchanged' from older models according to one leaker

This is according to a new MacRumors report based on a post by Weibo leaker Instant Digital. According to them, the Apple Watch Series 9 will be "basically unchanged" when compared to the model that is currently available. That model is the Apple Watch Series 8, which itself was basically unchanged from the Apple Watch Series 7 that came before it.

This is all in terms of design, of course. There are still expected to be reasons to buy the new Apple Watch. We'd been told by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman to expect the new Apple Watches to feature an upgraded S9 chip that will offer improved performance when compared to older models. This will be the first time that the Apple Watches have been updated, in terms of processing power, in a number of years. And while the wearables might not change that much in terms of aesthetics the improved performance will be most welcome.

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Continue reading: Apple Watch Series 9 will be 'basically unchanged' from older models according to one leaker (full post)

This is (probably) when to expect the iPhone 15 to launch

Oliver Haslam | Mobile Devices | Aug 7, 2023 2:16 AM CDT

It's impossible to miss the fact that Apple is expected to announce a new set of iPhones soon. All you have to do is venture near the internet right now and it seems to be the one thing that everyone is talking about. And that isn't going to change today after a new report of when we can probably expect the new iPhones to be announced.

This is (probably) when to expect the iPhone 15 to launch

Conventional wisdom already penciled a launch window of September into our calendars thanks to the usual release cadence of these things. And now a new report appears to have put a pin firmly in a couple of potential dates.

The new dates come courtesy of Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, writing in the weekly Power On newsletter. According to him, Apple's iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro devices are likely to go on sale around September 22, which is a Friday and would very much match up with previous release dates. If that's correct, we can likely expect that preorders will begin a week earlier, on September 15.

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Continue reading: This is (probably) when to expect the iPhone 15 to launch (full post)

NASA confirms its 'interstellar shout' put it back into contact with Voyager 2

Jak Connor | Science, Space, & Robotics | Aug 7, 2023 2:16 AM CDT

Nasa has announced that it successfully got into contact with Voyager 2, a historic spacecraft that is located 12.3 billion miles away from Earth.

NASA confirms its 'interstellar shout' put it back into contact with Voyager 2

Voyager 2 was originally launched in 1977 to explore the outer planets of the solar system. With the primary mission completed, the spacecraft went on to reach interstellar space, becoming one of the furthest human-made objects ever sent into the void. The problems began when NASA sent a command to Voyager 2 that moved its antenna 2 degrees away from Earth, severing connection with the planet.

Nasa quickly sprung into action after this command altered Voyager 2 antenna by sending out and receiving as many radio frequencies from the region of space Voyager 2 is located. NASA announced on Friday that its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) had succeeded in a long-shot effort to send the correct instructions to Voyager 2.

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Continue reading: NASA confirms its 'interstellar shout' put it back into contact with Voyager 2 (full post)

Apple reportedly added a new M3 Mac to its testing and it could debut soon

Oliver Haslam | Laptops | Aug 7, 2023 1:53 AM CDT

Apple was already thought to be hard at work on making its new M3 Macs available within the next few months, but now a new challenger is thought to be ready to enter the arena.

Apple reportedly added a new M3 Mac to its testing and it could debut soon

While Apple is yet to formally announce any of its M3 Macs, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has been vocal about the company working on a new series of desktop and portable computers that all use the next-gen chip. Now, he's at it again, saying that Apple will add another M3 chip-powered Mac to its lineup. Writing via the Power On weekly newsletter, Gurman says that Apple is now testing another Mac, thought to be the M3-powered Mac mini.

There's still little to go on with regard to which Macs the M3 will power a launch, but Gurman has a few ideas as to what we should probably look for.

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Continue reading: Apple reportedly added a new M3 Mac to its testing and it could debut soon (full post)

Elon Musk drops update on Starship's next flight and chances of it reaching orbit

Jak Connor | Science, Space, & Robotics | Aug 7, 2023 1:35 AM CDT

Fans of space will rejoice at Elon Musk's newest update on the next Starship flight, with the SpaceX CEO also giving a probability of reaching orbital velocity.

Elon Musk drops update on Starship's next flight and chances of it reaching orbit

The last time we heard about Starship's next orbital flight was last month when Elon Musk sat down with Zuby for a podcast where he discussed various topics over the course of an hour. At the top of the podcast, Musk said he just flew in from Starbase, Texas, where he and the SpaceX team were hard at work on the construction of the next Starship launch vehicle.

For those that are out of the news loop when it comes to space launches, you may have heard of Elon Musk's rocket that exploded mid-air during its first launch attempt - that rocket was Starship. Now, Elon Musk is taken to his X account to share an image of Starship undergoing a chill and spin of the Raptor Engine pumps in an advanced static fire test. The captions of the image says that Starship is preparing for its next flight and that SpaceX has a greater than ~50% probability of reaching orbital velocity.

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Continue reading: Elon Musk drops update on Starship's next flight and chances of it reaching orbit (full post)

Researchers train an AI to identify keystrokes on a keyboard by sound alone

Kosta Andreadis | Artificial Intelligence | Aug 7, 2023 12:56 AM CDT

"A Practical Deep Learning-Based Acoustic Side Channel Attack on Keyboards" is a new research paper out of Cornell showing how AI can accurately predict keystrokes being pressed on a keyboard through sound alone. The AI model was trained on a specific keyboard using the conferencing app Zoom and achieved 93% accuracy in predicting keystrokes as they were being entered.

Researchers train an AI to identify keystrokes on a keyboard by sound alone

It's impressive and scary stuff, thanks in part to the brand-new world of generative AI being used for malicious purposes, but the good news (at least for now) is that the system deployed by researchers Joshua Harrison, Ehsan Toreini and Maryam Mehrnezhad, required the use of a specific keyboard. This is unlikely to change as different keyboards and keyboard styles feature different sound profiles.

Using sound, the AI model analyses waveforms to recognize the subtle differences between different keys on a keyboard, even when pressed multiple times. Being able to hit a 93% accuracy in predicting keystrokes over a Zoom conference call is an impressive achievement.

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Continue reading: Researchers train an AI to identify keystrokes on a keyboard by sound alone (full post)

Mark Zuckerberg confirms 'in the next few weeks' Threads will get major upgrades

Jak Connor | Software & Apps | Aug 7, 2023 12:55 AM CDT

Meta's new text-based social media platform, Threads, has been out for more than a month now, and now we are starting to hear about some features that are soon to be released.

Mark Zuckerberg confirms 'in the next few weeks' Threads will get major upgrades

The new social media platform skyrocketed to fame as millions of users rushed to try out the new X competitor. Upon arriving on the platform, many users noticed that it lacked some of the most staple features of X, which quickly led to rampant criticisms from thousands of users. These concerns were quelled by meta officials that promised Threads would be getting constant updates that would increase user enjoyment.

Now, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has confirmed that Threads will be getting a web version along with an advanced search feature. Currently, Threads is only available through its mobile app, and one of its most requested features was a web version for desktop users. The news of a web version was confirmed by Instagram head Adam Mosseri who said last week that the development team was working on a web version that enabled desktop users to reply to comments/threads.

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Continue reading: Mark Zuckerberg confirms 'in the next few weeks' Threads will get major upgrades (full post)

MSI rolls out AMD AGESA PI 1.0.0.7c BIOS for all motherboards supporting fast DDR5 speeds

Kosta Andreadis | Motherboards | Aug 7, 2023 12:26 AM CDT

There has been a major shake-up in the AMD AM5 motherboards for the Ryzen 7000 line-up of CPUs thanks to a new BIOS update that offers a massive boost to high-speed DDR5 memory modules and stability. With MSI's extensive AM5 motherboard range, the company has confirmed that the new firmware is now available across its full X670E, X670, B650, and A620 product line.

MSI rolls out AMD AGESA PI 1.0.0.7c BIOS for all motherboards supporting fast DDR5 speeds

With a detailed list of boards and links to download the new firmware available via MSI's official blog post for the AMD AGESA PI 1.0.0.7c BIOS update, the only models that will have to wait until sometime this week to get the update are the MSI MAG X670E TOMAHAWK WIFI and MSI B650M PROJECT ZERO motherboards.

To demonstrate the massive increase in high-speed memory support, MSI shared a couple of examples, one on MSI's PRO B650-P WIFI Motherboard running a DDR5-7200 MHz "EXPO" certified kit and another with MSI's flagship MEG X670E ACE Motherboard achieving a speed of DDR5-8000 MHz.

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Continue reading: MSI rolls out AMD AGESA PI 1.0.0.7c BIOS for all motherboards supporting fast DDR5 speeds (full post)

Thunderbot MIX is a console-like mini PC with a sleek design and GeForce RTX 4070 graphics

Kosta Andreadis | Computer Systems | Aug 6, 2023 11:57 PM CDT

The upcoming Thunderbot MIX is not only a mini-PC that looks like a videogame console, but with support for up to GeForce RTX 4070 level laptop graphics, it'll perform like one too. Visually, it looks like an Alienware product, right down to the logo, but this is a custom Mini PC coming from China that the company is calling a "Mini Gamebox."

Thunderbot MIX is a console-like mini PC with a sleek design and GeForce RTX 4070 graphics

Although official specifications for the Thunderbot MIX have yet to be confirmed, the word from outlet ITHome is that there will be various configuration options, including Intel's Core i7-13620H and Core i9-13900H for the CPU and either a GeForce RTX 4060 or RTX 4070 laptop graphics for the GPU. And with that, you're only looking at around 140W of total power consumption for the mini-PC.

This CPU and GPU configuration is popular in the laptop gaming space and should be able to deliver console-like performance in a build smaller than the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X - thanks to the 1.7-liter chassis.

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Continue reading: Thunderbot MIX is a console-like mini PC with a sleek design and GeForce RTX 4070 graphics (full post)

GIGABYTE launches a low-profile GeForce RTX 4060 OC model with three fans

Kosta Andreadis | Graphics Cards | Aug 6, 2023 11:32 PM CDT

The low-profile GPU is not something we see much of anymore, at least not in the mainstream space where the GeForce RTX 4060 lives. With the GeForce RTX 40 Series' impressive power efficiency, the GeForce RTX 4060 can deliver impressive results using just over 100W when gaming. This is just over the power a PCIe slot can provide, hence the requirement for a single 8-pin power connector.

GIGABYTE launches a low-profile GeForce RTX 4060 OC model with three fans

And with the lower power requirement, you've also got the added benefit of not having to go all out with cooling and heatsinks, which is why it's always great to see GeForce RTX 4060 designs playing with the form like the new GeForce RTX 4060 OC Low Profile 8G from GIGABYTE.

Measuring just 182mm in length and with a width of 40mm, even though it features a triple-fan cooling setup, it's still a very small GPU that even ships with a low-profile bracket to support different builds. It's one of the smallest GeForce RTX 4060 GPUs available and even features a small out-of-the-box OC boost.

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Continue reading: GIGABYTE launches a low-profile GeForce RTX 4060 OC model with three fans (full post)

Alienware Aurora R16 is a new smaller and sleeker desktop designed for better airflow

Kosta Andreadis | Computer Systems | Aug 6, 2023 10:28 PM CDT

Alienware has launched a new all-in-one mid-tower PC in the form of the new Alienware Aurora R16, bucking the trend of the company's usual out-of-this-world designs. Yeah, it looks like a standard desktop gaming PC in that it's a black rectangle box housing your typical PC components. Some RGB flourishes on the front panel, and the Alienware logo lights up, but the look is fairly standard for PC chassis designs.

Alienware Aurora R16 is a new smaller and sleeker desktop designed for better airflow

A far cry from the space-age design of the Alienware Aurora R15, the Aurora R16 is a lot smaller - a 40% reduction in total volume, with the same amount of space inside the rig. Alienware notes that the design is all about improving acoustic and thermal performance. Compared to the Aurora R15, the company notes that the PC is 20% quieter with up to 10% lower CPU and 6% lower GPU temperatures.

Even though the physical design might not be up there with Alienware systems of old, the new Legend 3 look is part of a shift to a "universal design that fits into more diverse environments."

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Continue reading: Alienware Aurora R16 is a new smaller and sleeker desktop designed for better airflow (full post)

Call of Duty may have over 5x more monthly active players than Apex Legends

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Aug 6, 2023 6:46 PM CDT

EA's Apex Legends franchise is one of the most popular shooters on the market today, but Call of Duty still takes the cake.

Call of Duty may have over 5x more monthly active players than Apex Legends

Having spawned from the critically acclaimed Titanfall franchise, Apex Legends turned heads and broke into the battle royale genre when it launched in 2019. Since then, Apex made over $2 billion in revenues and had amassed more than 100 million players as of 2021. The latest stats from Electronic Arts highlight even more key figures for the franchise and how it stacks against the competition.

According to EA's Q1'24 earnings call transcript, Apex Legends has about 18 million monthly active users (MAUs). This is a pretty respectable number, but it pales in comparison to some of today's most popular games. Call of Duty, for example, takes up the bulk of Activision's segment MAUs, which were 92 million as of June 30.

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Continue reading: Call of Duty may have over 5x more monthly active players than Apex Legends (full post)

Nintendo kicks off year with record Q1 sales, operating income, and profit

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Aug 6, 2023 5:57 PM CDT

Nintendo starts out its new Fiscal Year 2024 period with record-breaking results driven by strong first-party game sales, respectable Switch shipments, and a surge in royalties from the Super Mario Bros movie.

Nintendo kicks off year with record Q1 sales, operating income, and profit

Nintendo's latest Q1 FY24 earnings are quite impressive for a number of reasons. One reason is that even though the Switch is now entering its 7th year on the market, Nintendo managed to ship 3.91 million Switch consoles and generate $1.2 billion from hardware sales.

Another reason is the astronomically high amount of copies that Zelda Tears of the Kingdom managed to sell, capping out at an incredible 18.51 million units. That's a lot of software, especially given the new Zelda sold for $69.99 on Switch. The game was such a big hit that it actually helped drive Switch sales as well.

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Continue reading: Nintendo kicks off year with record Q1 sales, operating income, and profit (full post)

PlayStation 5 consoles steeply discounted as Sony executes record PlayStation shipments

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Aug 6, 2023 3:04 PM CDT

Retailers are discounting Sony's PlayStation 5 console and accessories to lower-than-ever price points, possibly to make room for a new revised PS5 model.

PlayStation 5 consoles steeply discounted as Sony executes record PlayStation shipments

Reports indicate that Sony will launch a new disc-less PlayStation 5 model in 2023, and it may reduce the base MSRP of all new model PS5 consoles. There are currently two PS5 models on the market: the digital-only, or existing disc-less PS5 for $399, and the disc-based PS5 for $499.

Now retailers are shaving off $50 from the PS5's MSRP in the United States, bringing disc PS5s down to $449. This new price can be found practically everywhere including Best Buy, Target, GameStop, Sam's Club, and even Sony's own PlayStation Direct storefront. In some cases, the reductions are more dramatic, with the NAVY Exchange selling the system for just $429.

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Continue reading: PlayStation 5 consoles steeply discounted as Sony executes record PlayStation shipments (full post)

Metal Gear Solid franchise breaks 60 million sales

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Aug 6, 2023 1:54 PM CDT

36 years ago, Konami changed the interactive entertainment world by introducing one of the most important stealth games of all time.

Metal Gear Solid franchise breaks 60 million sales

Despite not having released a new mainline game since 2015's MGSV, Konami's Metal Gear Solid series has managed to consistently sell millions of copies a year. The franchise has now broken 60 million copies as a result of continued sales, likely due to the often-heavy discounts across digital storefronts as well as the game's multi-decade cultural influence.

Konami delivered this new sales milestone in its latest website update. Every quarter, the publisher refreshes sales data for its top franchises and as Q1 FY24, Metal Gear Solid had sold 60 million units worldwide. Using the Internet Archive, I was able to chart the historical Metal Gear Solid franchise revenues from Q3 FY19 (August 2019) through June 30, 2023.

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Continue reading: Metal Gear Solid franchise breaks 60 million sales (full post)

Nintendo Switch sales break 129.53 million, achieves third best Q1 as it enters 7th year

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Aug 5, 2023 9:37 AM CDT

The Nintendo Switch handheld-console hybrid has now surpassed 129 million shipments worldwide as it enters its 7th year on the market.

Nintendo Switch sales break 129.53 million, achieves third best Q1 as it enters 7th year

Nintendo just reported strong Q1 results driven by a significant uptick in licensing revenue from the Super Mario Bros. movie, a record-breaking $1.75 billion from software, and consistent hardware shipments throughout the period.

In Q1 FY24, which ran from April - June 2023, Nintendo shipped 3.91 million Switch consoles and pushed the system's total worldwide cumulative sell-in to 129.53 million. This period starts the Switch's 8th year on the market, and despite its prolonged lifespan, Nintendo is still meeting apparently strong demand by sending out the Switch's third-largest Q1 shipment since the console launched in March 2017.

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Continue reading: Nintendo Switch sales break 129.53 million, achieves third best Q1 as it enters 7th year (full post)

NASA's Webb captures stunning photos of iconic space object never seen like this before

Jak Connor | Science, Space, & Robotics | Aug 4, 2023 8:29 PM CDT

The Ring Nebula, scientifically referred to as Messier 57, or M57 for short, has been captured by the extremely impressive instruments attached to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

NASA's Webb captures stunning photos of iconic space object never seen like this before

The Ring Nebula is located 2,200 light-years away from Earth and resides in the constellation Lyra. The planetary nebula was created from the catastrophic destruction of a star, quite a classic event that happens in space, and due to its massive size, Messier 57 has become a prime target for astronomers as the planetary nebula can even be seen from an amateur astronomers backyard.

Webb's ability to capture the universe in high-detail infrared has unlocked a unique perspective of M57 that even adept astronomers aren't used to seeing. At the center of the Ring Nebula is a white dwarf star, the remnants of the star that exploded and what could be a glimpse into the future of our Sun.

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Continue reading: NASA's Webb captures stunning photos of iconic space object never seen like this before (full post)

Is AMD giving up battling NVIDIA at the top-end? Rumor claims RDNA 4 won't have high-end GPUs

Darren Allan | Graphics Cards | Aug 4, 2023 11:30 AM CDT

AMD's range of RDNA 4 graphics cards may not have any high-end boards, we've heard from the ever-spinning rumor mill.

Is AMD giving up battling NVIDIA at the top-end? Rumor claims RDNA 4 won't have high-end GPUs

We doubtless don't need to tell you that this is a rumor to be particularly skeptical about, as not only are these next-gen GPUs still a long way off - they're set to arrive next year - but it's a real eye-opener. In short, it would be a big move for AMD to dispense with making a Navi 31 equivalent for the next generation (and as the leaker Kepler points out, it harks back to RDNA 1 days).

VideoCardz immediately chipped in to tweet a question about how credible this information is, to which Kepler replied that they've heard it from three separate sources.

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Continue reading: Is AMD giving up battling NVIDIA at the top-end? Rumor claims RDNA 4 won't have high-end GPUs (full post)

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