Internet & Websites - Page 2

The exponential growth fueled by the demand for even more sophisticated artificial intelligence-powered models has resulted in supporting technologies getting an upgrade as well.

One of those sectors is networking, as these AI models need consistent, low-latency communication capabilities, fast data transfer speeds, and programmable features. AMD has unveiled a new solution to this growing problem, and it's called the Pensando Pollara 400. This fully programmable Ethernet-ready network interface card (NIC) is capable of pushing 400 Gbps and is specifically designed for AI cluster networking, which predominantly comes in the form of large-scale large language models (LLMs).

Unfortunately, the expansive, power-hungry nature of AI systems is outpacing the developments of Ethernet, meaning manufacturers are now turning to AI-tailored networking solutions such as the Pensando Pollara 400. According to AMD, its new NIC is designed around GPU-to-GPU communication and is tailored for data transfer within AI networks. Moreover, AMD believes its Pensando Pollara 400 will be capable of providing buyers with up to sixfold performance boost for AI workloads.

Streaming services have become an essential part of how we consume entertainment. Whether it's catching the latest episode of your favorite TV show, binging on an entire season in a weekend, or listening to music on demand, subscriptions power much of our everyday digital activities. From Netflix and Hulu to Spotify and Apple Music, these services offer unparalleled convenience and endless options.

It's not just entertainment either - news outlets, fitness apps, software, and even grocery deliveries have entered the subscription model. At first, it seemed like an exciting way to get everything you wanted, whenever you wanted it. But for many people, what began as a handful of convenient services has snowballed into a mountain of subscriptions. With the average person juggling multiple streaming platforms, productivity tools, and other recurring payments, it's no wonder people are starting to feel the weight of this overload.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of subscription services you're paying for - or maybe even forgot you were subscribed to some - you're not alone. This phenomenon, known as subscription fatigue, is increasingly common as people manage more and more digital services.

The latest study from the CTIA - The Wireless Association, a non-profit trade organization that represents the wireless communications industry, found wireless data usage across the United States increased the most it ever has in a single year in 2023.

The association published its 2024 Annual Wireless Industry Survey, which states Americans consumed an astonishing 100 trillion megabytes of wireless data throughout 2023, which is 100 billion gigabytes for those who don't want to manually do the conversion. The CTIA states in its survey that last year was the single largest increase it has seen in wireless data usage over a year, with Americans consuming 36% more data compared to the year prior, and nearly double the data in 2021.

The CTIA also found there was a sharp increase in the number of devices that are 5G compatible, which the association attributes to the skyrocketing rise in wireless data usage. According to the survey, nearly 40% of all wireless devices had a 5G connection in 2023, an increase of 34% compared to 2022. In total, there are 558 million wireless connections in the US, which means for every single American, there are 1.6 wireless connections. How? Wireless connections can count for devices such as smartphones, watches, tablets, etc

Google Search is about to get a fantastic improvement through a new partnership between Google and The Internet Archive, a non-profit research library that preserves large portions of the Internet for future accessibility.

The new partnership announced via an Internet Archive Blog explains that Google Search will now list archived versions of web pages with a simple link to the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. A user can access this feature by performing a normal Google Search, navigating to a link and the three dots located next to the link, and selecting the "More About This Page" option. After selecting this option, a user will be presented with a Wayback Machine link that showcases previous versions of a webpage.

The new feature will be available starting today, and it will, at its most fundamental, add historical context to webpages, enabling more thorough research to be conducted on topics and, ultimately, Google Search results to be more valuable. The Internet Archive celebrated the new integration, writing the new partnership "underscores the importance of web archiving."

Technology has evolved at a breakneck pace over the past few decades, transforming from clunky computers to powerful smartphones and from basic internet connections to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and smart devices. For older generations, like Baby Boomers, the analog world was the norm for most of their lives, with rotary phones, snail mail, and typewriters shaping their daily routines. Meanwhile, Millennials grew up during the tech boom, embracing new tools like email, instant messaging, and social media with ease.

The shift toward a hyper-connected, digital world has been more natural for Millennials, who saw the birth of smartphones, Wi-Fi, and social media in their formative years. In contrast, Baby Boomers, who had to adapt later in life, often find technology more daunting. Despite this gap, both generations are now fully immersed in the digital landscape, but their comfort levels and usage patterns reveal some striking differences.

A recent survey from ExpressVPN sheds light on the vast generational gap in tech familiarity. The survey, which included respondents from the U.S., UK, France, Spain, and Italy, reveals that while Millennials generally have a solid grasp of technology, Baby Boomers struggle to keep up.

It's nearly impossible to imagine life without digital devices in today's day and age. From smartphones to laptops, screens are integral to how we work, play, and communicate. But as our digital lives expand, a growing number of people are advocating for something different: digital minimalism. This trend, which focuses on reducing screen time and being more intentional with technology use, is gaining traction worldwide. Yet, despite its benefits, cutting back on screen time is often easier said than done. Let's explore why.

Digital minimalism, a term popularized by author Cal Newport in his book "Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World," is all about simplifying our digital lives. The core idea is to use technology in ways that enhance our well-being rather than detract from it. Digital minimalists advocate for decluttering our digital spaces, limiting screen time, and focusing on activities that genuinely enrich our lives.

This philosophy is becoming more popular as people seek to reclaim their time and mental space from the constant demands of digital devices. The ever-present notifications, the pressure to be always available, and the endless scrolling can lead to stress, anxiety, and a sense of being overwhelmed. As a result, more individuals are choosing to prioritize meaningful, offline experiences over digital ones.

Titan's Hypercasket is described as the world's toughest casket, with a design inspired by the Tesla Cybertruck. Yes, you read that correctly - the Hypercasket is a coffin with a design reminiscent of the Cybertruck. As far as Cybertruck products go, this will probably be the strangest we've encountered.

The similarities are so close that the Hypercasket product page carries a disclaimer that states it's "an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or in any way connected to Tesla, Inc., or Elon Musk." Adding, "Any similarities in design elements are for creative expression and do not imply any association or partnership."

Built from 12 gauge steel, it's apparently three times thicker than a standard casket and 'impact resistant' - not that you'd need a casket to stop bullets. As grim as the concept is, there's a definite sense of fun surrounding Hypercasket's marketing and design. Titan Casket's Creative Director, Elan Gale, says that part of the goal with the Hypercasket and the company is to "normalize conversations about death."

Lawmakers will soon be voting on the implementation of an internet "kill switch," which will bolster the nation's effort to enhance digital security.

The lawmakers pushing the new legislation are from Malaysia, and according to a recent statement from Minister Azalina Othman Said, the proposal contains provisions that are designed for the "the procedure and enforcement of the kill switch." Said didn't specify the powers of the kill switch and what it was linked to, or in this case would be used to block, nor did the minister elaborate on the circumstances when such a technology would be used.

Said did take a jab at social media platforms for what the minister considers a lack of responsibility for the crimes that are committed on their platforms. Said stated the Malaysian government wants social media platforms to do more to prevent crimes such as fraud, child sexual abuse material, sexual harassment, and solicitation, along with bullying.

If you don't use Google as your search engine, then you won't get the full benefit of the experience of Redditors when it comes to search results.

This is due to a new agreement between Google and Reddit, and it means that Bing, and other search rivals, will no longer get to plug into Reddit and flag up useful posts on the platform as answers to search queries - or at least not recent posts. Only older content (like 2+ years old, from what we can tell via Bing) will be surfaced from Reddit when using any search engine save for Google, according to a report from The Verge.

It's an important move, because Reddit is a useful source of tips and advice, plus, shall we say, lively debate (mind you - where on the web isn't, these days, when it comes to the latter).

Google has announced that it will no longer continue with its plan to completely phase out third-party cookies on its Chrome browser and will instead take a more user-friendly approach.

Google's Privacy Sandbox VP Anthony Chavez wrote the announcement and explained Google has received concerns from developers, privacy advocates, regulators, publishers, and others about the removal of third-party cookies. Google has heard this feedback and has come up with a new plan that won't include the complete removal of third-party cookies, which allows companies to serve targeted advertisements to users based on the activity of the user around other parts of the internet.

Notably, Google said back in 2020 that it was working toward blocking all third-party cookies in 2024, and the company even tested the removal in January when 1% of Chrome users had all third-party cookies blocked. The concerns from regulators come from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority, which is likely concerned Google will favor its own profits in advertisements if third-party cookies are blocked.