Latest News - Page 913

Owners of iPhones, iPads, and Macs around the world should stop what they are doing and download the latest software updates available to them. That's after Apple released new versions that deal with two security flaws that have been exploited in the wild.

The software updates in question are iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, and macOS 13.3.1 with the release notes making it clear that these updates are in part to help address security flaws. Those security flaws appear to be related to vulnerabilities that have been actively exploited, which means that there is someone out there using them to do bad things with other people's devices.

The first is an IOSurfaceAccelerator vulnerability that could allow an app to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, which is of course bad. Apple says that it has now addressed the out-of-bounds write issue and improved input validation, according to a MacRumors report.

Apple is widely expected to announce its first mixed reality headset this June, but that product doesn't only carry the weight of expectation in Cupertino. It could also be the last hope for the AR/VR market as a whole.

That's the claim by supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who posted on Medium that other companies are not doing well in a space that seems set to receive Apple within weeks.

According to Kuo, Sony has already cut its 2023 production plan for the PlayStation VR2 following lackluster sales. Kuo says that Sony's headset plans have seen it slash production by as much as 20%.

If you wake up one morning and find that you have a burning desire to install iOS 16.3.1 on your iPhone, you're going to be out of luck. That's because Apple is now actively preventing people from doing exactly that.

Apple has reportedly stopped signing iOS 16.3.1 which means that it cannot be installed on iPhones anymore. That's the same whether people want to upgrade from an older version of iOS or want to downgrade from something newer - no matter what, iOS 16.3.1 is off the table as of right now.

That in turn means that the only versions of iOS that can now be installed on an iPHone are iOS 16.4 and iOS 16.4.1. We'd suggest staying clear of iOS 16.4 because while it did include some improvements, it also managed to cause some people to have to re-enter their Wi-Fi password repeatedly. There were also reports of other issues relating to things like the Home app and smart home accessories simply not responding.

The GeForce RTX 4070 launch is coming next week, with multiple models set to arrive, including a Founders Edition from NVIDIA - at least according to sources. The RTX 4070 hasn't been officially announced yet, but we're days away from seeing it in action.

The reported price point of USD 599 makes it the most affordable GeForce RTX 40 Series GPU. We've also got word that the 200W power rating will mean some models from partners will use a single standard 8-pin power connector instead of the 12VHPWR connectors used in all RTX 4090, RTX 4080, and RTX 4070 Ti GPUs.

Today comes some new info from established leaker @momomo_us that GIGABYTE plans to launch four GeForce RTX 4070 models, covering the company's Eagle, WindForce, Gaming, and Aero variants. And with a side on image showcasing all four RTX 4070 models, we can see that two will use a single 8-pin power connector while two will use the new 12VHPWR standard.

LIAN LI has launched a pair of new RGB products, the most notable being the new STRIMER PLUS V2 12VHPWR cables designed for ATX 3.0 power supplies and GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics cards.

It features a custom 12VHPWR male connector on the GPU, following the ATX 3.0 standard with improvements to the original design to ensure a stronger connection to the GPU. This is excellent news, as 12VHPWR connectors made so many headlines last year due to potential issues with the connection on the GPU side.

LIAN LI notes that the cables can deliver up to 600W, sustain high temperatures, and even sharper bends. Part of the housing can also be removed to allow for an even greater bend closer to the connector to add additional support for narrow PC cases. The wide array of LEDs (with 8 or 12 light guides) grabbed our attention.

Seagate is bringing the Light and Dark Side of The Force to its FireCuda PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSDs via the cool-looking Lightsaber Collection Special Edition.

The custom heatsinks on these Lightsaber Collection Special Edition FireCuda PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSDs feature swappable RGB-lit lightsabers modeled after the blades wielded by Star Wars characters Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, and Luke Skywalker.

The little mini lightsabers on these drives look impressive and highly detailed and will look fantastic in a custom build. Available in 1TB and 2TB variants, they use high-end FireCuda PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD hardware to deliver up to 7,300 MB/s read speeds. Which is the fastest possible PCIe Gen4 speed you can get.

Although we've had plenty of reports outlining the USD 599 price-point for the GeForce RTX 4070, specs, and the launch happening next week - we haven't received an official announcement that the GPUs are coming from NVIDIA until now.

And the source is a bit strange, with the RTX 4070 making its first appearance in official NVIDIA benchmarks for the company's low-latency Reflex technology coming to Counter-Strike 2 (via The Verge). The long-awaited update to Counter-Strike will see the next-gen Valve Source engine-powered version of the game eventually take over from CS:GO.

And the benchmark is weird because it compares PC latency between three GPUs - the RTX 4070, RTX 3060, and the GTX 3060. Well, maybe not odd, as these older GPU options represent some of the most popular graphics cards according to the latest Steam Hardware Survey. And CS:GO is one of the most popular games on Steam, so the comparison here makes sense.

The April Madness Sale at software activation keys provider SCDKey.com continues, with remarkably great deals on Microsoft Windows, Office, and more. Don't miss out on your chance to save big on Microsoft software.

Savvy TweakTown readers who refuse to pay full price for Windows 10 and more can click on the links below to snag rock-bottom prices on legit software. (As a bonus, Windows 10 comes with a free upgrade to Windows 11.) To get the absolute best savings, enter promo code TT25 at SCDKey.com. That will slash an additional 25% off the site's low, low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro, and more.

25% coupon code: TT25

You may purchase a second-hand Android phone or use a friend's or relative's phone for the time being but encounter an issue to bypass the Google account verification after resetting. And if you cannot recall your Google ID details, you may get trapped on the 'Verify your account' page.

So is there a feasible method for Samsung FRP bypass? Logging in with your correct email ID or phone is probably the only manual solution available. But what if you forget it? In this case, stay tuned to get hold of the finest FRP bypass tool and unlock your Android devices in no time.

Earlier, all Android devices were exposed to security and privacy issues as anyone could quickly get hold of your phone and bypass Google account verification after resetting. So whether you used a PIN or pattern lock, it was effortless to bypass your Google account after the reset.

Microsoft has cracked down even harder on emulation and has consistently removed RetroArch uploads at a rapid pace to discourage gamers from downloading the emulator suite.

The Xbox Series X/S is the ultimate emulation machine. Or it was, until Microsoft started removing emulators from the Microsoft Store. Up until now, RetroArch frontend creator gamr13 was able to re-upload the emulation suite as a private app under a different name. Microsoft is now instantly removing the uploads and re-uploads of RetroArch, meaning gamers can't get the app that's required to emulate old-school titles.

The Series X/S consoles have two modes: Retail Mode, and Dev Mode. Through clever obfuscation, gamr13 was able to skate around Xbox store enforcement and release versions of RetroArch that run in Retail Mode, which makes full use of the Xbox Series X/S hardware.

Microsoft has signed multiple 10-year deals to bring Call of Duty to cloud and console competitors, including a drafted PlayStation deal that Sony has yet to sign. Even still, Sony does not trust that Microsoft will not make Call of Duty exclusive--or at least, pull it from PlayStation platforms.

Sony has reiterated its belief that Microsoft has a large incentive to make Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox and remove the franchise from PlayStation at some point. In a new response to the CMA's recent report, Sony legal counsel makes a case that Microsoft's exclusionary conduct following its $7.5 billion merger with ZeniMax is indicative of how Microsoft will also treat Activision-Blizzard games and content.

Microsoft has announced that multiple ZeniMax games including Redfall, Starfield, and The Elder Scrolls VI will be exclusive to Xbox platforms, and Sony believes that Microsoft could also do the same with Call of Duty.

A bit ago, the CMA determined that Microsoft has no ability or incentive to foreclose Sony in regards to the Microsoft-Activision merger. Now Sony has delivered a response to the CMA's findings, calling the agency's data modelling into question.

The CMA recently filed its own Provisionary Findings Addendum that concludes Microsoft has no incentive or ability to foreclose Sony using Call of Duty exclusivity. This determination is based on what is called an LTV model, or a system that attempts to quantify the lifetime value of a video game player, which was used to estimate how Call of Duty exclusivity would affect both Microsoft and Sony. The model attempts to gauge the implied lost or gained value from consumers switching from PlayStation to Xbox if Call of Duty were to become exclusive. Based on the CMA's findings, Microsoft has no real motivation to withhold Call of Duty on PlayStation, thus one of the CMA's theories of harms--the partial or full foreclosure of rivals in the console gaming segment--has been squashed.

Predictably, Sony did not approve of this assessment, and the CMA has published Sony's response to the new findings. Sony Interactive Entertainment legal counsel has identified four errors with the new PF (Provisionary Findings) report.

A report from earlier in the week claimed that Apple was working on a new software update that would address some big bugs that it introduced to iPhone users with its last one. Now, a new report claims to have confirmation that Apple is indeed testing that update ahead of a public release.

That report comes via MacRumors which says that it can independently confirm that testing is underway internally, although there is no beta that has been handed over to either developers or those who are on the public beta program.

The update, which is likely to be iOS 16.4.1 - that's the version number that MacRumors is giving it - could be released within the next couple of weeks, although no information on a specific release window has been leaked so far.

If you're in the market for a new iPhone and don't want to be tied to any specific carrier, Best Buy is now the place to go. Depending on which model you want to pick up, that is.

Best Buy will now sell you an unlocked iPhone, allowing you to use it on any carrier you choose. That's the first time that Best Buy has offered an unlocked phone, but you won't be able to buy an unlocked iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro, unfortunately.

That's because Best Buy is only offering specific models as part of this change. The unlocked phones available include the iPhone 12, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, and third-generation iPhone SE. That means that those looking to get their hands-on Apple's latest and greatest models will still need to go to Apple if they want to get an unlocked handset.

Microsoft tells UK regulators at the Competition and Markets Authority that it will not make Activision games and/or content exclusive to Xbox if the merger passes.

Today UK antitrust regulators published Microsoft's response to the CMA's provisional findings addendum--a document that officially satisfied one of the CMA's biggest worries about the Microsoft-Activision merger. In the new document, Microsoft says something very interesting: The company apparently has no plans to make Call of Duty or any other Activision games and/or content exclusive to Xbox.

"Microsoft has been clear since the announcement of the Merger: it has no intention to withhold or degrade access to Call of Duty ("CoD") or any other Activision content on PlayStation. Such a strategy would be in direct contrast to the interests of gamers in the UK and around the world. Rather than limit choice or access, Microsoft intends to use the Merger to bring more games to more people on more platforms and devices," reads Microsoft's response.

That AMD's Zen 5 processors will be much faster than current-gen Zen 4 (Ryzen 7000) chips is something we've heard before, but this time around, the spinning of the rumor mill comes from a fascinating source: Jim Keller.

In case you weren't aware, Keller is a renowned processor guru, and in fact led the development of the original Zen architecture at AMD way back in 2012.

He left Team Red three years later and is now CEO of Tenstorrent, but clearly he knows a thing or two about the Zen microarchitecture - and he's provided a pretty impressive guestimate of how effective it might be.

Sony has filed an interesting new controller patent that could lead to a next-gen DualSense controller with incredible levels of haptic feedback and input registration.

Note: The following is based on a patent, not a final consumer-ready product. There is a possibility this patent will not lead to an actual product, and the patent does not guarantee that Sony is working on such a device.

Sony's latest PlayStation controller patent is so radical that it sounds like something Nintendo would make. The patent, which was filed in 2020 and only now just published in English, outlines a thermally-reactive controller that has lots of implications for immersion and haptic feedback in PlayStation 5 (or possibly even PlayStation 6) games.

NVIDIA's RTX 4070 is rumored to be priced at $599 in the US, and part of the reasoning behind that lower-than-expected price tag pertains to the potential MSRPs of RTX 4060 models - which may also be pitched more affordably than we'd previously anticipated.

As you may have seen, YouTube leaker Moore's Law is Dead (MLID) has just published a new video exploring NVIDIA's apparent behind-the-scenes shenanigans with RTX 4070 pricing, and we cover that in full here.

In the clip, though, MLID brings up the issue of RTX 4060 pricing as it relates to the imminent RTX 4070 and the rest of the existing Lovelace range, drawing some interesting conclusions, all of which require a hefty dose of salt (throw in some pepper, too, we reckon).

NVIDIA's supposedly imminent RTX 4070 graphics card has been the subject of more leakage which reasserts that the previously rumored $599 price is correct - but there's a sting in the tail here.

The latest video from YouTuber Moore's Law is Dead (MLID) discusses the RTX 4070 in some depth, going into more detail on the pricing and also the potential performance levels of some of these graphics cards (which is the aforementioned sting).

At the end of last month, the grapevine was suddenly alive with chatter of a $599 recommended price (in the US) for the GeForce RTX 4070, and we were pretty surprised to see the MSRP theoretically pitched at that level. Particularly when previous rumors suggested NVIDIA could be looking at a much higher price tag, closer to the RTX 4070 Ti (indeed, $750 was one idea floated).

Astronomers have detected signals from an Earth-sized exoplanet that is just 12 light years away from Earth, according to the results of a new study published in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy.

The exoplanet astronomers have identified is called YZ Ceti b, and it orbits a red dwarf star within the constellation Cetus. NASA notes on its website that this exoplanet is a rocky world that's approximately the size of Earth with a mass of 0.7 Earths. Other notable features of YZ Ceti b are its orbit which is the time it takes for it complete one full rotation around its host star. According to the space agency and the astronomers in their paper, YZ Ceti b only takes two Earth days to complete one orbit of it star.

The team behind the paper detected multiple repeating radio signals from YZ Ceti b, which leads researchers to suggest that this exoplanet may have a magnetic field, and by extension, perhaps an atmosphere. It should be noted that detecting an exoplanet's magnetic fields has proven quite difficult for astronomers, which is unfortunate considering it's a vital element in how life has managed to survive and thrive on Earth.