A new update has added the Xbox Series console navigational sounds to Xbox Ally handhelds, making the third-party gaming system feel more like its first-party console counterpart.
Ahead of its launch, 2XKO seemed to have decent support, replete with officially endorsed, fan-hosted competitive events, but as revealed in a new blog post from Riot Games, the developer of the League of Legends spin-off, 2XKO hasn't quite reached the heights the game studio was expecting. The game's executive producer, Tom Cannon, revealed Riot Games will be down-sizing the 2XKO team, explaining that, while there is a passionate core audience, 2XKO simply doesn't have the momentum "needed to support a team of this size long term." Riot assures 2XKO players that the game will not be discontinued, despite the rocky launch, and that the smaller, more focussed support team will "dig in and make key improvements to the game," including addressing some common community requests.
According to Game Developer, Riot Games confirmed that it would be laying off roughly 80 workers from the 2XKO team globally, which is roughly half of the game's development team. Riot says that the plans for the 2026 Competitive Series and its partnerships with community tournament organizers will remain unchanged, but that the changes made to the development team were ultimately necessary for sustainability of the game. Riot says it will help affected employees through the layoffs, providing them assistance to look for other opportunities within the studio where possible "and providing a minimum of six months of notice pay and severance where it's not possible.
Bing Webmaster Tools now shows publishers how often their content is cited in Copilot and AI-generated answers, with page-level data and grounding queries.
Discord will be the latest social media platform asking for government identification or a facial scan in order to access content deemed not safe for minors. In a new blog post, Discord has announced "teen-by-default" settings, which will go into effect in "early March 2026." The new settings will set all existing and new Discord accounts to the "teen-appropriate experience" mode, which will filter out all content inappropriate for minors. Discord users who wish to access age-gated content will need to go through an age verification process, which will involve uploading a scan of a government-issued ID or by scanning their faces to verify age. This policy has already been in place in the UK and Australia since 2025, but this move will see the change roll out globally. This may not be necessary for all users, since the social media platform will also be implementing its age inference model, which will analyze user accountsβlooking at the types of games users play, the amount of time users spend on Discord, and what time they are activeβto determine whether they belong to adults. Discord claims the new system is being implemented in the name of "giving teens strong protections while allowing verified adults flexibility."
Discord says that the selfie video used for age verification never leaves the user's phone, and that all processing is done locally. ID documents, on the other hand, are processed by a third party service provider, and documents are "deleted quicklyβin most cases, immediately after age confirmation." Discord divulged in a support page that it uses k-ID for age verification, and even in the short time that the age verification system has been a requirement, there have already been reports of privacy breachesβin one instance, up to 70,000 user profiles (emails, names, and other contact information), along with government IDs and credit card information were reportedly accessed by hackers in October 2025. This age verification system mirrors the system adopted by Roblox not too long ago, and the online response has been similarly pessimistic.
Omnara is a mobile and web-based command center for AI coding agents like Claude Code. It decouples the agent from the local terminal, allowing developers to monitor progress, review changes, approve steps, and intervene in live coding sessions running on their local machine or started directly in the cloud, from anywhere.
With seamless session handoff across local and cloud environments and optional voice input, Omnara enables asynchronous workflows for long-running agent tasks, so ideas, fixes, and architectural decisions donβt have to wait until youβre back at your desk.
BIOS is an AI Scientist that ranked #1 on BixBench for biological data analysis. It offers human-in-the-loop checkpoints to steer investigations mid-flight or fully autonomous mode for uninterrupted deep researchβyou choose how much control to keep. Four specialized agents handle orchestration, literature review, data analysis, and novelty detection. A free tier is available, and academic users with .edu emails get full access free.
Riot has announced that the 2XKO team, which just celebrated launching the new League of Legends-based 2v2 tag fighter out of early access less than a month ago on January 20, will lose 80 members of its development team in a round of layoffs. The news was confirmed in a blog post from the game's executive producer, Tom Cannon, who cited that despite the game doing well with its "core audience," the "overall momentum hasnβt reached the level needed to support a team of this size long term." While the statement itself doesn't cite the exact number of developers who [β¦]
In just a couple of months, consumers who were hunting for a boatload of deals quickly began βpanic buyingβ because the DRAM crisisΒ has forced manufacturers to introduce price hikes that have never been seen before. Even Lenovo, which is the largest notebook maker in the world, has urged customers to head out and make hardware upgrades as quickly as possible. However, what about those seeking an M5 MacBook Pro? Well, you can rest easy because these machines are going in the completely opposite direction, with two configurations sporting up to 24GB of unified RAM and a 1TB SSD going for [β¦]
MindsEye, from UK developer Build a Rocket Boy (BaRB), was arguably the worst game to come out in 2025. It was the worst game of last year by Metacritic's standards, reaching only a 37, and was called out ruthlessly for the broken state it arrived in on launch. While the studio has made several strides to update and fix the game and save the studio, a new report from GamesIndustry.Biz digs into whether that's even possible. According to some former members of BaRB staff, the answer is a resounding no. To say MindsEye and Build a Rocket Boy have had [β¦]
To mark Safer Internet Day in the UK, weβre highlighting the ways students, parents and educators can work together to ensure safe, effective learning.From setting screeβ¦
PlayStation 6 leak suggests HUGE memory capacity upgrade, but not much more bandwidth Thanks to KeplerL2, new PlayStation 6 specifications have leaked online, revealing the memory capacities of the systemβs handheld and home console versions. The PS6 handheld will reportedly feature 24GB of LPDDR5X memory, while the PS6 console will feature 30GB of GDDR7 memory. [β¦]
Insider Shinobi602 claims Starfieldβs next major update and long rumored PS5 port could be revealed soon, with March 2026 tipped for an announcement.
We have found a 32% discount on the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra Pro, an Xbox and PC controller we rated highly for its superb controls, comfort, and customization. Here's why we think you should own in 2026.
Arrowhead has confirmed it has "ambitious plans" to expand the scope of Helldivers 2 and its Galactic War meta game as players push to invade Cyberstan.
Amazon is offering a 31% discount on the Samsung Galaxy Book 5 360 laptop for a limited time. Here's why you should consider purchasing this now, a more affordable 2-in-1 laptop if you need hardware to complete workflow tasks and art projects with great efficiency.
Blizzard Entertainment's ongoing early 2026 showcaseβand 35th anniversary celebrationβhas not produced many big surprises, although Overwatch 2's recent absorption into the larger/overall "Overwatch" brand has raised an eyebrow or three. Looking further ahead, new IP announcements could be made during September's BlizzCon 2026 event. Naturally, the North American company's dormant StarCraft franchise will be the topic of renewed online speculation. A 2017 remaster of Blizzard Entertainment's original title (1998) was not deemed substantial or good enough for a lot of the sci-fi RTS IP's fan base. The final tranche of StarCraft II DLC arrived back in late 2016; as the "Nova Covert Ops" single-player mission pack. According to a dnews report from a week ago, Blizzard and Nexon are co-operating on a "reimagination" of StarCraft as a "shooter experience." The South Korean news publication believes that "full-scale development" has commenced on a "new game utilizing the StarCraft IP (intellectual property)."
Going into further inside track detail, Nexon has allegedly completed preliminary preparations (aka a pre-production phase) in the recent past. According to an unnamed industry insider, a content development agreement was given the thumbs up by Blizzard leadership, last year. This "cooperation contract" could lead to the creation ofβas phrased by the dnews articleβa "megaton project capable of shaking the global gaming market." Nexon has reportedly assigned this highly important undertaking to their internal "Shooter Division" studio. Arc Raiders (2025) is a notable hit for the South Korean/Japanese video game developer and publisher, although Sweden's Embark Studios was responsible for the development of this popular PvPvE extraction shooter.
The infamous Intel Software Defined Silicon initiative appears to be dead β or at least, Intel has no plans to continue developing it. The US chipmaker first unveiled SDSi in 2021 as a software-based solution that could selectively block or unlock certain CPU capabilities depending on the end customer's budget.
According to tipster Jaykihn, the 900-series platform will have five PCH variants: Z990, Z970, W980, Q970, and B960. All five are expected to appear on next-gen LGA 1954 motherboards, set to launch alongside Nova Lake-S later this year. The chipsets will reportedly differ in several areas, including the number of...
This Anker portable charger, which is small enough for everyday carry, has become my go-to travel accessory for keeping phones and other devices powered on the move.
OpenAI faced a backlash late last year when it tested app suggestions that looked like unwanted ads. Still, the AI company needs to generate revenue from its popular chatbot to cover the costs of developing its technology and growing the business.
A couple of months ago, independent developer Chaos Manufacturing unveiled its debut game, a sci-fi action roleplaying game titled SOL Shogunate. The game is quite different from your average science fiction setting: the developers describe it as a "samurai space opera". Essentially, the developers have imagined an alternate future in which humanity has colonized the Solar System, but society has somehow retained feudal Japanese culture. The game takes place primarily on the Moon, where the way of the sword is law under the rule of a powerful Shogunate. The Moon features artificial gravity-creating cities, each designed as an homage to [β¦]
The Ampinel GPU power adapter finally goes on sale following a three-month delay, bringing real-time six-channel load balancing and meltdown prevention features
Rumors have sprung up that Nexon, the developer behind The First Descendant, Dungeon & Fighter, and Blue Archive, is working on a new game with the StarCraft IP.
Discord has announced an early-March rollout for its new "Teen-by-Default" stance, which requires all users around the world to prove their age using facial scans or ID checks.
After only five months of use, my Β£800 ASUS ROG Ally X has completely died. Between the "troubleshooting" hurdles at UK outlet Currys and ASUS admitting to "high repair volumes" in the UK, my journey to get a repair (RMA) is off to a rocky start.
The First Descendant has surged 167% on Xbox following its addition to Xbox Play Anywhere and launch on the Xbox PC app. Increased visibility and cross progression may be driving renewed interest.
Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. has launched MY HERO ACADEMIA: All's Justice, the super-powered 3D arena fighter based on the global anime phenomenon My Hero Academia. The game features multiple modes where players are thrust into unforgettable battles set in the My Hero Academia universe, including an explosive Story Mode set during the climactic Final War arc. Players experience "ONE LAST SMASH" through iconic battles, exclusive new stories and missions, and action-packed PvP that showcase the series' legendary Heroes and Villains in their final and most powerful forms. MY HERO ACADEMIA: All's Justice is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam in Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate Editions.
As the news cycle approached Christmas (2025), rumors emerged of other smartphone chip manufacturers considering an adoption of Samsung's intriguing "Heat Path Block" (HPB) technology. By the middle of January, the Fixed-focus digital cameras Weibo account surmised HPB being picked up by "many chip manufacturers that commonly use Android chips." Earlier today, a leaked "SM8975" packaging set of schematics seem to show Qualcomm's integration of a Samsung-designed Heat Path Block into a next-gen Snapdragon mobile chipset. The latest findingβagain, courtesy of Fixed-focus digital camerasβindicates the speculative Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro model borrowing a key piece of heatsink technology from Samsung's soon-to-be-launched Exynos 2600 SoC.
By the end of last week, multiple news articles claimed that Qualcomm was borrowing the HPB design from an arch-rival. The San Diego, California-headquartered fabless semiconductor specialist's recent flagship processors have enjoyed high placements in terms of benchmark results, but these cutting-edge chips have seemingly hit thermal limit barriersβeven when combined with expensive vapor chamber-based cooling solutions. Samsung Foundry's HPB is placed over and in contact with the chipset die, without any blockage (unwantingly) enabled by a layer of DRAM. Instead, the latter aspect is moved to the side (refer to the fourth image below). Reports from late last year mentioned Qualcomm and Apple being the two main (external) frontrunners of HPB adoption, outside of Samsung pioneering the way with its 2-nanometer Exynos 2600 application processor.
In a frontier where lawlessness and legend walk side by side, a new ARPG is revealed today. The Dark West is an occult Action RPG from the new independent studio Black Hand, a team of ARPG enthusiasts determined to restore the genre to its former glory. The Dark West takes place in a frontier where faith has worn thin and something sinister has seeped into the soil. Combat is brutal and quick. Define your builds through skills, itemization, and a poker-style deck system where forming familiar hands unlocks powerful effects.
"We made The Dark West because we love ARPGs and wanted to create the kind of game we have always wanted to play. From the start, we've included the community in every step of development. Their feedback is shaping the combat, the story, and the world. This is a game made with players, not just for them," said the Game Director at Black Hand.
One of the defining traits of the Gothic franchise has always been its living world. A dynamic ecosystem full of creatures, NPCs, and critters that carry out their daily routines, whether the player is watching or not. This self-sustaining environment has long been key to Gothic's unmistakable atmosphere, turning the Valley of Mines into more than just a backdrop; it's a breathing, believable place that feels alive.
In the fifth entry of their ongoing Making Of series, the developers at Alkimia Interactive take players behind the scenes to show how this hallmark feature has been faithfully reimagined for the new generation. Every area, landmark, and character has been rebuilt from the ground up, carefully balancing authenticity with fresh detail and modern technology.
During a recent interview with Taiwanese television channel CTS, Taiwan Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun said she made it very clear to Washington that the country couldn't move 40 percent of its semiconductor manufacturing capacity to the US.
For years, Torvalds has managed kernel versioning with a lighthearted logic: increase the major number only when he can no longer keep count on his fingers and toes.
Helpmaton provides simple workspaces to create, run, and govern AI agents across your team. Agents remember conversations, schedule tasks, and connect to Gmail, Google Calendar, Drive, Notion, Slack, and Discord. It includes features such as document search, memory, web search, webhooks, per-agent budgets, and built-in analytics to track usage. You can quickly launch on the hosted service or self-host the source-available code when necessary.
Discord has announced that it's rolling out age verification checks globally from March, and the decision has sparked fury from many privacy-conscious users.
One of the best OLED TVs of 2025 is on sale at Best Buy. I already own one and can recommend you jump on this one fast and save even more money than I did.
Last week, Embark Studios announced a few changes coming to Expeditions in ARC Raiders to help players be better prepared to send off their Raiders into the unknown. Now, as we near the end of the first Expedition, the team has confirmed the next event that'll start tomorrow and bring players to the end of the month. Firstly, Embark is bringing back the Cold Snap map condition as part of the regular rotation of map conditions players can experience starting tomorrow, February 10, 2026. It was a fun map condition for the winter season, and added an interesting layer of [β¦]
As per Colorful, the new X3D AI Turbo feature can deliver a noticeable boost in gaming performance when users use Ryzen X3D chips. Colorful Announces X3D AI Turbo Mode, Delivering Nearly 8% Higher Average and 16% Higher 1% Low FPS on CVN 800-Series ARK Motherboards With the launch of Ryzen 7 9850X3D, a new gaming benchmark has been set, and motherboard makers are now designing special features to squeeze more performance out of the chip. AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D remains a competitive CPU that delivers nearly identical gaming performance to the 9850X3D, and considering millions of users already have 9800X3D [β¦]
Now that we're roughly one year away from the planned launch of EXODUS, the Mass Effect-inspired sci-fi action RPG in development at Archetype Entertainment, the developers are starting to share more about the game. Speaking with Gamesradar, Narrative Director Drew Karpyshyn (who wrote the first three Mass Effect games while at BioWare) stressed that side content in EXODUS will always feel tied to the companions and the game's overarching themes, rather than being tacked on as in some roleplaying games. We don't want things to feel tacked-on. We definitely don't want you to feel like you're doing it because you're [β¦]
Last month, Blizzard Entertainment announced that it would host four showcase events for its biggest ongoing franchises, to update players on what's next for each series. We've already seen the showcases for World of Warcraft and Overwatch, with today's Hearthstone presentation coming next, followed by a Diablo showcase later this week. But you might have noticed that one major franchise is missing from that list: StarCraft. In fairness, it's not surprising that StarCraft was left out of getting a showcase to start the year, only because it's been years since we've seen a new entry in the StarCraft series. When [β¦]
The HBM markets are now seeing a shift in momentum following the validation and production stages of HBM4, and it appears Korean memory giants will be in the spotlight this time. Micron Faces Validation Challenges With HBM4, Giving Ample Room For Samsung to Snatch Market Share With Vera Rubin and the Instinct MI400 series, major chip manufacturers have shifted their focus to integrating HBM4. This technological leap combines logic and memory into a single package, delivering higher performance benefits. We won't go into much depth. However, from an industry POV, the HBM market share, primarily distributed between SK hynix, Micron, [β¦]
We take a look at the Ultra Ethernet 1.0.1 specification in a bid to find out what has changed compared to the traditional Ethernet β and how it will change tomorrow's data-center connectivity.
Linux Torvalds confirms that the Linux kernel 7.0 is almost ready with multiple performance improvements. We could see it in April with Ubuntu 26.04 LTS.
Eighty million people use Reddit search every week, Reddit said on its Q4 2025 earnings call last week. The increase followed a major change: Reddit merged its core search with its AI-powered Reddit Answers and began positioning the platform as a place where users can start β and finish β their searches.
Executives framed the move as a response to changing behavior. People are increasingly researching products and making decisions by asking questions within communities rather than relying solely on traditional search engines.
Reddit is betting it can keep more of that intent on-platform, rather than acting mainly as a source of links for elsewhere.
Why we care. Reddit is becoming a place where people start β and complete β their searches without ever touching Google. For brands, that means visibility on Reddit now matters as much as ranking in traditional and AI search for many buying decisions.
Redditβs search ambitions. CEO Steve Huffman said Reddit made βsignificant progressβ in Q4 by unifying keyword search with Reddit Answers, its AI-driven Q&A experience. Users can now move between standard search results and AI answers in a single interface, with Answers also appearing directly inside search results.
βReddit is already where people go to find things,β Huffman said, adding the company wants to become an βend-to-end search destination.β
More than 80 million people searched Reddit weekly in Q4, up from 60 million a year earlier, as users increasingly come to the platform to research topics β not just scroll feeds or click through from Google.
Reddit Answers is growing. Reddit Answers is driving much of that growth. Huffman said Answers queries jumped from about 1 million a year ago to 15 million in Q4, while overall search usage rose sharply in parallel.
He said Answers performs best for open-ended questionsβwhat to buy, watch, or tryβwhere people want multiple perspectives instead of a single factual answer. Those queries align naturally with Redditβs community-driven discussions.
Reddit is also expanding Answers beyond text. Huffman said the company is piloting βdynamic agentic search resultsβ that include media formats, signaling a more interactive and immersive search experience ahead.
Search is a βbig oneβ for Reddit. Huffman said the company is testing new app layouts that give search prominent placement, including versions with a large, always-visible search bar at the top of the home screen.
COO Jennifer Wong said search and Answers represent a major opportunity, even though monetization remains early on some surfaces.
Wong described Reddit search behavior as βincremental and additiveβ to existing engagement and often tied to high-intent moments, such as researching purchases or comparing options.
AI answers make Reddit more important. Huffman also linked Redditβs search push to its partnerships with Google and OpenAI. He said Reddit content is now the most-cited source in AI-generated answers, highlighting the platformβs growing influence on how people find information.
Reddit sees AI summaries as an opportunity β to move users from AI answers into Reddit communities, where they can read discussions, ask follow-up questions, and participate.
If someone asks βwhat the best speaker is,β he said, Reddit wants users to discover not just a summary, but the community where real people are actively debating the topic.
OpenAI confirmed today that itβs rolling out its first live test of ads in ChatGPT, showing sponsored messages directly inside the app for select users.
The details. The ads will appear in a clearly labeled section beneath the chat interface, not inside responses, keeping them visually separate from ChatGPTβs answers.
OpenAI will show ads to logged-in users on the free tier and its lower-cost Go subscription.
Advertisers wonβt see user conversations or influence ChatGPTβs responses, even though ads will be tailored based on what OpenAI believes will be helpful to each user, the company said.
How ads are selected. During the test, OpenAI matches ads to conversation topics, past chats, and prior ad interactions.
For example: A user researching recipes might see ads for meal kits or grocery delivery. If multiple advertisers qualify, OpenAI shows the most relevant option first.
User controls. Users get granular controls over the experience. They can dismiss ads, view and delete separate ad history and interest data, and toggle personalization on or off.
Turning personalization off limits ads to the current chat.
Free users can also opt out of ads in exchange for fewer daily messages or upgrade to a paid plan.
Why we care. ChatGPT is one of the worldβs largest consumer AI platforms. Even a limited ad rollout could mark a major shift in how conversational AI gets monetized β and how brands reach users.
Bottom line. OpenAI is officially moving into ads inside ChatGPT, testing how sponsored content can coexist with conversational AI at massive scale.
Googleβs AI Mode isnβt more likely to cite content that appears βabove the fold,β according to a study from SALT.agency, a technical SEO and content agency.
After analyzing more than 2,000 URLs cited in AI Mode responses, researchers found no correlation between how high text appears on a page and whether Googleβs AI selects it for citation.
Pixel depth doesnβt matter. AI Mode cited text from across entire pages, including content buried thousands of pixels down.
Citation depth showed no meaningful relationship to visibility.
Average depth varied by vertical, from about 2,400 pixels in travel to 4,600 pixels in SaaS, with many citations far below the traditional βabove the foldβ area.
Page layout affects depth, not visibility. Templates and design choices influenced how far down the cited text appeared, but not whether it was cited.
Pages with large hero images or narrative layouts pushed cited text deeper, while simpler blog or FAQ-style pages surfaced citations earlier.
No layout type showed a visibility advantage in AI Mode.
Descriptive subheadings matter. One consistent pattern emerged: AI Mode frequently highlighted a subheading and the sentence that followed it.
This suggests Google uses heading structures to navigate content, then samples opening lines to assess relevance, behavior consistent with long-standing search practices, according to SALT.
What Google is likely doing. SALT believes AI Mode relies on the same fragment indexing technology Google has used for years. Pages are broken into sections, and the most relevant fragment is retrieved regardless of where it appears on the page.
What theyβre saying. While the study examined only one structural factor and one AI model, the takeaway is clear: thereβs no magic formula for AI Mode visibility. Dan Taylor, partner and head of innovation (organic and AI) at SALT.agency, said:
βOur study confirms that there is no magic template or formula for increased visibility in AI Mode responses β and thatΒ AI Mode is not more likely to cite text from βabove the fold.β Instead, the best approach mirrors whatβs worked in search for years:Β create well-structured, authoritative content that genuinely addresses the needs of your ideal customers.
ββ¦the data clearly debunks the idea that where the information sits within a page has an impact on whether it will be cited.β
Why we care. The findings challenge the idea that AI-specific templates or rigid page structures drive better AI Mode visibility. Chasing βAI-optimizedβ layouts may distract from work that actually matters.
About the research. SALT analyzed 2,318 unique URLs cited in AI Mode responses for high-value queries across travel, ecommerce, and SaaS. Using a Chrome bookmarklet and a 1920Γ1080 viewport, researchers recorded the vertical pixel position of the first highlighted character in each AI-cited fragment. They also cataloged layouts and elements, such as hero sections, FAQs, accordions, and tables of contents.
A newly discovered settings panel offers a first detailed look at how ads could work inside ChatGPT, including how personalization and privacy controls are designed.
Driving the news. Entrepreneur Juozas KaziukΔnas found a way to trigger ChatGPTβs upcoming ad settings interface. The panel repeatedly stresses that advertisers wonβt see user chats, history, memories, personal details, or IP addresses.
What the settings reveal. The interface lays out a structured ad system with dedicated controls:
A history tab logs ads users have seen in ChatGPT.
An interests tab stores inferred preferences based on ad interactions and feedback.
Each ad includes options to hide or report it.
Users can delete ad history and interests separately from their general ChatGPT data.
Personalization options. Users can turn ad personalization on or off. When itβs on, ChatGPT uses saved ad history and interest signals to tailor ads. When itβs off, ads still appear but rely only on the current conversation for context.
Thereβs also an option to personalize ads using past conversations and memory features, though the interface stresses that chat content isnβt shared with advertisers. Accounts with memory disabled wonβt see this option active.
Why we care. This settings panel offers the clearest view yet of how ad personalization and privacy controls could work with ChatGPT ads. It points to a system built on strict privacy boundaries. The controls suggest ads will rely on contextual signals and opt-in personalization, not deep user tracking. That shift makes creative relevance and in-conversation intent more important than traditional audience profiling for brands preparing for conversational ad environments.
The bigger picture. The discovery suggests OpenAI is building an ad system that mirrors familiar controls from major ad platforms while prioritizing clear privacy boundaries and user choice.
Bottom line. ChatGPT ads arenβt live yet, but the framework is coming into focus β pointing to a future where conversational ads come with granular privacy and personalization controls.
First seen. KaziukΔnas shared the preview of the platform on LinkedIn.
The invasion of Cyberstan will soon begin in Helldivers 2, with the infamous Cyborgs from the first game returning to fight alongside their bot comrades.
Following a mid-January PlayStation 6 chipset leak, Kepler L2 has predicted memory configurations for Sony's next-gen home console (sometimes codenamed "Orion"), as well as a futuristic handheld system. This past weekend, the experienced tech soothsayer outlined key points of interest via the NeoGAF discussion board. In a thread mostly focused on a "next-gen Xbox," a slight deviation into PlayStation territories produced a notable prediction of "up to 30 GB of GDDR7 memory" for the PS5's rumored successor. When answering queries about this impressive dollop of system RAM, Kepler L2 believes that this maximum provision is achievable through the use of 3 GB GDDR7 memory modules in an unusual clamshell configuration.
Commenters did not think that this would be possible with "only 4 GB (GDDR7) modules on a 160-bit bus." In theory, a total bandwidth of 640 GB/s could be enabled, even with a reduced bus (from 256-bit down to 160-bit)βleading to an 11% higher figure than the PS5 Pro's main transfer credential (576 GB/s). Additionally, Kepler L2 believes that the Sony PlayStation engineering team will be bunging (up to) 24 GB of memory into the speculated "PS6 Portable" (aka "Project Canis") handheld gaming console. Previous leaks have suggested the implementation of premium low-power DRAM (LPDDR5X), an expected selection for manufacturers of high-end mobile devices. This memory spec could place the PS6 handheld within the region of ASUS ROG's Xbox Ally X model. Currently, the main caveat of generous/impressively large pools of system memory boils down to pricing and availability. An ongoing supply crisis has already driven fresh rumors of Sony delaying its next-gen gaming systems beyond a proposed 2027 launch window.
A free trial for Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection lets you get a taste of the game before its March 13, 2026 release. In addition to jumping right into the beginning of the story, you'll be able to customize your character, try out the battle system, and start collecting equipment and Monsties just like in the full version. You can transfer your save data to the full version and continue playing where you left off.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted ReflectionβTrial Version
The trial version has only one save slot (the full version will have three). You can only advance to level 10 in the trial version. You can continue playing upon reaching the level cap, but you will no longer gain any experience points. The amount of Trade Points and Monsties you can accumulate are also capped. In order to carry over your progress to the full version, you must use the same account, with the save data on your PC.
Intel's oft-leaked Core Ultra 200 Plus "Arrow Lake Refresh" processor series is expected to launch in March or April, according to rumors floated just after the conclusion of CES 2026. This past weekend, HXL/9550pro weighed in with a more focused timeframeβthey propose that Team Blue will lift an important review embargo on March 23, at a very specific 6 a.m. (PST) morning slot. Evaluations of incoming Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, Ultra 5 250K, and Ultra 5 250KF desktop models are reportedly due for publication on that Monday. Oddly, the latest leak does not allude to an imminent embargo lift affecting "-HX" variants for the laptop/notebook market. Many Intel enthusiasts were looking forward to a major "Arrow Lake Refresh" unveiling at last month's CES trade show, but company leadership decided to go all-in with the introduction of "Panther Lake-H" mobile chips.
Throughout early 2026, Team Blue has kept quiet about forthcoming "Arrow Lake-S Refresh" desktop processors, but an official mid-January announcementβcourtesy of the ASUS social media accountβindicated a readying of BIOS support updates, in advance of an eventual retail launch. Up until recently, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus model has been the most mysterious of Intel's "ARL-S Refresh" partsβa sudden increase in pre-release benchmarking activity and premature e-tail listings has occurred in parallel with whispers of a non-arrival of its flagship sibling. Late last week, two anonymous sourcesβin correspondence with VideoCardzβposited that Intel had removed the 24-core Ultra 9 290K Plus SKU from its near future "Arrow Lake-S Refresh" launch lineup. This past weekend Tom's Hardware (via momomo_us) spotted prematurely published pricing information, regarding the remaining Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, Ultra 5 250K, and Ultra 5 250KF models. An unspecified webstore listed price tags of $357.12, $245.92, and $227.38 (respectively).
Intel's upcoming Core Ultra Series 2 "Arrow Lake Refresh" desktop processors are confirmed to bring CPU E-core count and L3 cache uplifts at their given price-points, recent benchmark leaks confirm. The series was originally rumored to consist of three SKUs, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, and the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus. The company was later reported to have cancelled the 290K Plus, and will proceed to launch the 250K Plus and 270K Plus very soon (details in our upcoming article).
The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is significantly spruced up from the current Core Ultra 5 245K. The company has given this chip a 6P+12E core configuration, up from 6P+8E of the 245K. With three "Skymont" E-core clusters at its disposal, the chip also gets an increase in L3 cache, now increased to 30 MB, from the 24 MB of the 245K. There's also a nominal increase in frequency, with the P-cores boosting up to 5.30 GHz, a 100 MHz increase over the 245K. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is essentially a downclocked Core Ultra 9 285K. It maxes out the "Arrow Lake-S" silicon, enabling all 8 P-cores, all 16 E-cores, and the entire 36 MB L3 cache present, but has clock speeds resembling the Core Ultra 7 265K, with a maximum P-core boost frequency of 5.50 GHz, compared to 5.70 GHz of the 285K. The 270K Plus could also lack Thermal Velocity Boost available in the 285K. The 270K could come at an attractive price-point below that of the 285K.
Detective Jack Foster rejoins the police department after a traumatic incident to take over the investigation of what appears to be mere political blackmail. Soon, however, he's faced with the discovery of a gruesome ritual murder that took place in a sealed room, from which no one could have gotten in or out without being seen. Along with his new partner, Harvey Whitman, an expert on cults, Foster dives deep into the shadows of the city of Arkham.
The case will get even darker when they find out it is related to three witches that escaped the Salem trials in 1693, and a conspiracy that could put an end to the world as we know it.
Are you ready for another round? Iceberg Interactive and Luminous are thrilled to circle back to their favourite ring-shaped RTS franchise with Circle Empires 2 - now available on Steam with a 15% launch discount! Conquer a world of interconnected circles, with vicious foes (or your friends) to conquer and precious loot to plunder! Strengthen your armies, vanquish enemy bosses, and adapt to ever-changing circular worlds that make each playthrough feel unique.
In Circle Empires 2, Estonian developers Luminous grabbed the strongest elements from the previous games in the series and added new core mechanics for unit customization, town layout planning, a mount system, improved unit physics and much, much more! Whether you're a seasoned veteran of circular carnage or it's your first time around, Circle Empires 2 will keep you coming back for round after round after round.
Chinese firm M5Stack has released its new AI Pyramid series, a small-form-factor edge AI PC aimed at developers and makers working with local inference workloads that stands out with its unique pyramid shape design. The lineup consists of two variants: AI Pyramid and AI Pyramid-Pro. Both models are built around the Axera AX8850 SoC, which combines an octa-core Arm Cortex-A55 CPU running at up to 1.7 GHz with a 24 TOPS INT8 NPU. The platform targets fully local AI processing, covering use cases such as computer vision, multimodal input, and on-device model inference, without depending on cloud acceleration.
Memory configurations differ between the two versions, with the standard AI Pyramid shipping with 4 GB of LPDDR4x, while the Pro model offers 8 GB. Storage is provided by 32 GB of onboard eMMC. The AX8850 supports hardware-accelerated H.264 and H.265 encoding and decoding at resolutions up to 8K at 30 FPS, as well as up to 16 concurrent 1080p decode streams. The specs are completed with dual Gigabit Ethernet and USB 3.0 ports, HDMI output, with the AI Pyramid-Pro adding HDMI input support. The device also integrates onboard audio hardware, an OLED status display, RGB lighting, and an active cooling solution. Pricing starts at $199 for the 4 GB AI Pyramid Computing Box, with the 8 GB Pro variant listed at $249 on the M5Stack website.
The Cyber Security Agency (CSA) of Singapore on Monday revealed that the China-nexus cyber espionage group known as UNC3886 targeted its telecommunications sector.
"UNC3886 had launched a deliberate, targeted, and well-planned campaign against Singapore's telecommunications sector," CSA said. "All four of Singapore's major telecommunications operators ('telcos') β M1, SIMBA Telecom, Singtel, and
Starting in January 2026, Microsoft will no longer distribute new "official" printer drivers through Windows Update. First announced back in 2023, the move is meant to improve the reliability and security of Windows printing by pushing the platform toward a single, unified driver standard. Despite early warnings about an extinction-level...
Discord is rolling out age verification worldwide, requiring a face scan or ID for full access starting next month. New and unverified accounts will move to a "teen" setting by default. That means tighter content filters, and safer DM handling with warnings and separate inboxes for messages from unfamiliar users.
LLM API unifies access to over 100 language models with an OpenAI-compatible endpoint, allowing for a single integration that lets you switch providers without code changes. It manages API keys, routes requests to cost-effective models that meet quality targets, and offers semantic caching to reduce costs.
The dashboard lets you track tokens, costs, errors, and reliability by model and provider. You can invite your team, issue per-user keys, and monitor performance and usage across projects while keeping keys secure.
The new Lyft service comes with a number of guardrails. Only a parent or guardian can create a teen account and drivers who are matched with these underage passengers must meet additional criteria and pass yearly background checks.
According to TechCrunchβs ongoing tally, including the most recent data spill involving uMobix, there have been at least 27 stalkerware companies since 2017 that are known to have been hacked, or leaked customer and victimsβ data online.Β
The company raised $13 billion in equity funding just five months ago, but intense competition between frontier labs and the ongoing cost of compute have made them eager to raise as quickly as possible.
Founded by former Google Japan leaders, InfiniMind is building enterprise AI to turn vast, unused video archives into searchable, actionable business intelligence.
With its new "Arrival Notifications," users can now set one-time or recurring alerts for locations beyond their home, providing an automatic way to share when theyβve arrived at their destination.
Callum Vinson, who you might recognize from the Chucky TV series or the recent mini series, Long Bright River, has been tapped to play Atreus in Amazon's God of War TV series, a new report from Variety has confirmed. It's the latest major casting announcement for the show, with Vinson joining the likes of Mandy Patinkin, Teresa Palmer, Max Parker, Danny Woodburn, and Γlafur Darri Γlafsson, to name a few. That said, we'll mostly see Vinson alongside Ryan Hurst, who is set to lead the show as Kratos. The official character description and logline for the show, included in Variety's [β¦]
Lenovo's official has spoken about the state of the PC supply chain, revealing that channel partners and consumers should secure hardware with the utmost urgency. Lenovo's VP Says that "Pricing Sensitivity" With the AI Buildout Is High, Making Current Prices the Most Attractive Well, 2026 isn't a great year for gamers at all, considering the shortages we are seeing across multiple component segments, and, more importantly, there isn't a clear direction for consumers. Given that many of us are involved in the usual 'upgrade cycle', there is uncertainity about how the PC market will evolve moving forward, or whether there [β¦]
AI might not be as big a cause of layoffs and redundancies as the companies enacting them might claim, and even when they are, it might be too much and far too soon, according to new bodies of research collated by Sherwood.
ASRock releases fresh AM5 motherboard updates with βno-bootβ fix ASRock has just released a new wave of beta BIOS versions that upgrade their AMD/AM5 motherboards to AGESA 1.3.0.0a. This new BIOS revision delivers βoptimised memory compatibilityβ and resolves βno-bootβ issues on ASRock motherboards. This can resolve boot failures on ASRock AM5 motherboards βon certain CPUsβ. [β¦]
Tossing out 64GB of usable RAM is wasteful any day, but it seems preposterous during the ongoing memory squeeze that's seeing prices skyrocket. This PC hobbyist lucked out on a recent trip to the landfill.
Romeo is A Dead Man is coming to Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC (Steam/Windows) on February 11, 2026! In this third-person, action adventure, players will assume the role of Romeo Stargazer, a man trapped in the space between life and death created by a mysterious time paradox. In his new role as FBI Space-Time Agent "Dead Man", Romeo will uncover a wild, unpredictable story with intense battles, hunt down some of the universe's most dangerous fugitives, and search for his missing girlfriend, Juliet. There's a lot of weird and wonderful themes at play inside Romeo is A Dead Man, and so, I sat down with Executive Director Goichi Suda (Suda 51) and Director Ren Yamazaki to find how it all came together.
The game is pretty chaotic right off the bat. How'd it end up like that? Suda Goichi (Suda 51): The opening in particular is full speed ahead, yeah. If we're gonna cause some ruckus right off the bat, we might as well equally get the player in the thick of the action as fast as possible so they don't have to think too long about it. I'm just glad if they can enjoy the action right from the start.
InHand Networks, a global provider of industrial and enterprise networking solutions, today announced the unveiling of the CR602 5G Wi-Fi 7 Router, a next-generation connectivity solution designed to deliver high-speed, reliable, and flexible network access for modern business environments.
As businesses increasingly rely on cloud services, video collaboration, digital payments, and connected devices, the demand for stable, high-performance networking has never been greater. The CR602 addresses these challenges by combining ultra-fast 5G cellular connectivity with next-generation Wi-Fi 7 technology, enabling seamless communication across diverse professional scenarios.
Last Friday, an Overclocking.com article made an extremely bold claim about a new RTX 5000-series graphics card model arriving at some point later on in 2026. The France-based publication cites unnamed sources of inside information; mostly gathered during last month's CES trade show. The rumor-heavy report insists that the mysterious "Blackwell" gaming range-topper exists as a separate entity; distinct from Team Green's supposedly postponed GeForce RTX 50 "SUPER" refresh family. According to Overclocking.com's CES 2026 ground team, three unnamed brand representatives had whispered about "a new RTX card for 2026." Additionally, another OCC staffer heard of similar theoriesβfrom a "different set" of company repsβduring a recent trip through Asian. After gathering sufficient evidence from industry contacts, Overclocking.com proposes that a "model positioned above" NVIDIA's current "Blackwell" flagship gaming cardβthe GeForce RTX 5090 32 GBβis on the way. The French site even sent a tip-off to VideoCardzβlatterly, the highly-popular graphics card news specialist has not picked up on similar gossip from its own network of board partner moles.
The Overclocking.com news piece posits that Team Green could be working on a "Founders Edition-only" release, marked down for launch during the "Back to School" period (Q3 2026). A current-gen "TITAN-esque" design or a "GeForce RTX 5090 Ti" SKU are listed as possible candidates to dethrone the venerable GB202-300-A1 GPU-based GeForce RTX 5090 model. Over a year ago, ChipHell presented a curious sneak peek of an NVIDIA "GB202-200-A1" ASICβat the time, this "more capable" GPU was linked to a hypothetical GeForce RTX TITAN "Blackwell" card design. Given present-day component supply problems, bringing a possibly extremely expensive brand-new gaming product to market seems to be a tall task. GeForce RTX 5090 cards are often used for AI tasks, rather than for entertainment purposes. Allegedly, Intel has pivoted away from deploying its largest "Battlemage" GPU in Arc B-series gaming lines; instead favoring upcoming Arc Pro workstation solutions.
Following CES 2026 and the broader conversation around the role of AI in gaming, Razer is sharing more about how we think about AI, how it fits into the future of gaming, and the principles shaping our development efforts. These ideas reflect what Razer CEO and Co-founder Min-Liang Tan discussed during his appearance on The Verge's Decoder podcast.
Razer CEO Dislikes GenAI Slop in Gaming
"As gamers⦠what we're unhappy with is GenAI slop. When I play a game, I want to be engaged. I want to be immersed. I want to compete. I don't want to see characters with extra fingers or shoddily written storylines." said Min. AI has played a role in gaming for decades, evolving from the predictable patterns of early arcade titles like Pac-Man into the adaptive NPCs and procedural systems of modern open worlds. What has changed recently is the rise of generative AI tools that can create large volumes of content quickly, sometimes at the expense of quality. For Razer, the question has never been whether AI belongs in gaming, but how it should be used to strengthen the craft of making games.
A week ago, Sapphire Technology's social media account started to tease a forthcoming Crimson Desert collaborative product. A few days later, the Hong Kong-based computer hardware specialist unveiled an officially redecorated variant of its current flagship RDNA 4 graphics cardβthe NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB model. In the time gap between Sapphire's two preview posts, web sleuths managed to find early retail listingsβpre-release info included the product code (11348-10-20G), GTIN/EAN number (4895106297623), and a full product nameβSapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 9070 XT OC Crimson Desert. Across a smattering of prematurely published Austrian and German webstore pages, possible placeholder pricing seems to be hovering around β¬970 - 980. Currently, the PCO Computer Handels GmbH online shop is advertising "in stock" availability.
Surprisingly, Sapphire's recent release of TRIXX v11.0 contained patch notes that mentioned the "Crimson Desert Version" special edition, as well as the PhantomLink spin-off. Crimson Desert, a single-player open-world fantasy action-adventure, is due to launch on multiple platforms next monthβspecifically March 19. The AMD x Sapphire Nitro+ x Pearl Abyss collaboration could bear fruit in the run-up to the Black Desert Online prequel's international arrival. Sapphire's promotional render shows a fairly typical Nitro+ RX 9070 XT card design that sports Crimson Desert livery; mainly on the backplate. Additionally and subtly, the triple-fan array features a different set of stickers, when compared to the standard model. Semi-recently, TechPowerUp's W1zzard was impressed by the high quality print present on ASRock and Capcom's Radeon RX 9070 XT Monster Hunter Wilds Edition cardβa more mid-range-type design. Hopefully, Sapphire has applied a similarβor superiorβlevel of treatment onto its premium-tier creation.
Microsoft has revealed that it observed a multiβstage intrusion that involved the threat actors exploiting internetβexposed SolarWinds Web Help Desk (WHD) instances to obtain initial access and move laterally across the organization's network to other high-value assets.
That said, the Microsoft Defender Security Research Team said it's not clear whether the activity weaponized recently
Need a new laptop? Best Buy's huge Presidents' Day sale is already live and it features excellent price cuts on laptops from Asus, Acer, Dell, and Apple.
The Lenovo ThinkVision P27Q-40 is a reliable 27-inch QHD Panel with decent colors, great blue light filtering, a spectacular variable refresh rate, built in USB-C hub, and integrated fleet management for IT pros to have a handle on their suite of devices
Proton VPN users on Windows no longer have to choose between convenience and security. A new update allows the app's three most powerful tools to run simultaneously.
The Chuwi CoreBook Air is a 14-inch mid-range Windows laptop designed for everyday work, students, and business professionals. Itβs a powerful yet affordable workstation that will keep up with the demands of the modern office, from productivity to some light content creation.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties supplies cathartic combat and a whole lot of new content, but can it live up to the high standards that RGG Studio set with its previous remakes?
More than half-a-million people who bought access to phone surveillance and social media snooping apps had their email address and partial payment card numbers published online.
The deal will see Uber paying $335 million at the outset to purchase Getir's food delivery business. Uber will also pay $100 million for a 15% stake in Getir's grocery, retail, and water delivery business.
The university's team reports that their approach centers on controlled "softening" of the material rather than complete melting. The process, known as hot-wire laser irradiation, reshapes tungsten carbide while maintaining its exceptional hardness and minimizing defects β an achievement that could transform how cutting, drilling, and construction tools are manufactured.
The firm analyzed data from more than 22,700 vehicles across 21 models and found a striking pattern: batteries subjected to frequent charging sessions above 100 kilowatts degraded at roughly twice the rate of those primarily using lower-power options such as Level 2 chargers.
Apple recently launched the AirPods Pro 3 with a single marquee feature, one relating to Apple Intelligence. However, if the latest tidbit pans out, the device's next iteration would be all about spatial perception. A tipster declares that the next AirPods Pro will be able to "see around you" For the uninitiated, Apple's newΒ AirPods Pro 3Β feature smaller earbuds that offer a better fit, an improved spatial listening experience, up to 2x more effective noise cancelation, live translation powered by Apple Intelligence, a heart rate sensor, an 8-hour long battery, and IP57 sweat and water resistance, all for just $249. However, [β¦]
As promised, ASRock has started rolling out the latest BIOS for improving overall system stability on its AM5 motherboards. ASRock Rolls Out Beta BIOS Version 4.0.7.AS01 on 600 and 800-Series Motherboards; Aims at Resolving Boot Failure and Optimizing Memory Compatibility ASRock has started rolling out new BIOS updates for several of its AM5 motherboards as promised in a recent statement. After acknowledging Ryzen 9000 CPU failures on its AM5 motherboards, the company said it has started investigating the issues alongside AMD to mitigate CPU failures. We have been seeing numerous CPU failure reports surfacing almost daily, and sometimes as many [β¦]
Streamlining Kiryu's retirement down to a thirty-hour adventure cuts away so much of the original Yakuza 3 charm and replaces it with poor casting choices.
As predicted by reliable insider NateTheHate two weeks ago, Sony has announced that it will host a State of Play event this coming Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 10pm BT. Unlike Nintendo's recent Partner Showcase Direct, which only featured announcements from third-party games, this showcase promises to feature "eye-catching third-party and indie games headed to PS5, along with the latest from teams at PlayStation Studios." That's from the PlayStation Blog post announcing the event, which also adds that this showcase will last for over an hour when it's all said and done, with "60+ [β¦]
NVIDIA has been in a race to source DRAM for its AI accelerators and memory products, but the real edge, of course, is Jensen's unique relationships with Korean memory giants. NVIDIA's CEO Just Met With SK's Chairman In a "Fried Chicken" Dinner, Discussing SOCAMM & HBM4 DRAM is proving to be essential for AI chip manufacturers that have been in severe shortages for several quarters now. This is mainly driven by hyperscaler demand, the sudden rise in demand for general-purpose DRAM products such as LPDDR, DDR, and GDDR. More importantly, NVIDIA and others see HBM as an integral part of [β¦]
ARC Raiders has a lot of threats its players need to contend with. Other players are, of course, near or arguably at the top of that list. Everything else on that list, however, is the ARCs. The robots that come in various shapes and sizes, some more difficult to destroy than others, all of them dangerous, and all of them, to some degree, annoying to deal with. This guide will take you through the most annoying ones, most of which are also the ones you'll have to deal with practically every time you go Topside, and how to deal with [β¦]
Generative engine optimization (GEO) represents a shift from optimizing for keyword-based ranking systems to optimizing for how generative search engines interpret and assemble information.Β
While the inner workings of generative AI are famously complex, patents and research papers filed by major tech companies such as Google and Microsoft provide concrete insight into the technical mechanisms underlying generative search. By analyzing these primary sources, we can move beyond speculation and into strategic action.
This article analyzes the most insightful patents to provide actionable lessons for three core pillars of GEO: query fan-out, large language model (LLM) readability, and brand context.
Why researching patents is so important for learning GEO
Patents and research papers are primary, evidence-based sources that reveal how AI search systems actually work. The knowledge gained from these sources can be used to draw concrete conclusions about how to optimize these systems. This is essential in the early stages of a new discipline such as GEO.
Patents and research papers reveal technical mechanisms and design intent. They often describe retrieval architectures, such as:Β
Passage retrieval and ranking.
Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) workflows.
Query processing, including query fan-out, grounding, and other components that determine which content passages LLM-based systems retrieve and cite.Β
Knowing these mechanisms explains why LLM readability, chunk relevance, and brand and context signals matter.
Primary sources reduce reliance on hype and checklists. Secondary sources, such as blogs and lists, can be misleading. Patents and research papers let you verify claims and separate evidence-based tactics from marketing-driven advice.
Patents enable hypothesis-driven optimization. Understanding the technical details helps you form testable hypotheses, such as how content structure, chunking, or metadata might affect retrieval, ranking, and citation, and design small-scale experiments to validate them.
In short, patents and research papers provide the technical grounding needed to:
Understand why specific GEO tactics might work.
Test and systematize those tactics.
Avoid wasting effort on unproven advice.
This makes them a central resource for learning and practicing generative engine optimization and SEO.Β
Thatβs why Iβve been researching patents for more than 10 years and founded the SEO Research Suite, the first database for GEO- and SEO-related patents and research papers.
Why we need to differentiate when talking about GEO
In many discussions about generative engine optimization, too little distinction is made between the different goals that GEO can pursue.
One goal is improving the citability of LLMs so your content is cited more often as the source. I refer to this as LLM readability optimization.
Another goal is brand positioning for LLMs, so a brand is mentioned more often by name. I refer to this as brand context optimization.
Each of these goals relies on different optimization strategies. Thatβs why they must be considered separately.
The three foundational pillars of GEO
Understanding the following three concepts is strategically critical.Β
These pillars represent fundamental shifts in how machines interpret queries, process content, and understand brands, forming the foundation for advanced GEO strategies.Β
They are the new rules of digital information retrieval.
LLM readability: Crafting content for AI consumption
LLM readability is the practice of optimizing content so it can be effectively processed, deconstructed, and synthesized by LLMs.Β
It goes beyond human readability and includes technical factors such as:Β
Natural language quality.
Logical document structure.
A clear information hierarchy.
The relevance of individual text passages, often referred to as chunks or nuggets.
Brand context: Building a cohesive digital identity
Brand context optimization moves beyond page-level optimization to focus on how AI systems synthesize information across an entire web domain.Β
The goal is to build a holistic, unified characterization of a brand. This involves ensuring your overall digital presence tells a consistent and coherent story that an AI system can easily interpret.
Query fan-out: Deconstructing user intent
Query fan-out is the process by which a generative engine deconstructs a userβs initial, often ambiguous query into multiple specific subqueries, themes, or intents.Β
This allows the system to gather a more comprehensive and relevant set of information from its index before synthesizing a final generated answer.
These three pillars are not theoretical. They are actively being built into the architecture of modern search, as the following patents and research papers reveal.
Patent deep dive: How generative engines understand user queries (query fan-out)
Before a generative engine can answer a question, it must first develop a clear understanding of the userβs true intent.Β
The patents below describe a multi-step process designed to deconstruct ambiguity, explore topics comprehensively, and ensure the final answer aligns with a confirmed user goal rather than the initial keywords alone.
Microsoftβs βDeep search using large language modelsβ: From ambiguous query to primary intent
Microsoftβs βDeep search using large language modelsβ patent (US20250321968A1) outlines a system that prioritizes intent by confirming a userβs true goal before delivering highly relevant results.Β
Instead of treating an ambiguous query as a single event, the system transforms it into a structured investigation.
The process unfolds across several key stages:
Initial query and grounding: The system performs a standard web search using the original query to gather context and a set of grounding results.
Intent generation: A first LLM analyzes the query and the grounding results to generate multiple likely intents. For a query such as βhow do points systems work in Japan,β the system might generate distinct intents like βimmigration points system,β βloyalty points system,β or βtraffic points system.β
Primary intent selection: The system selects the most probable intent. This can happen automatically, by presenting options to the user for disambiguation, or by using personalization signals such as search history.
Alternative query generation: Once a primary intent is confirmed, a second LLM generates more specific alternative queries to explore the topic in depth. For an academic grading intent, this might include queries like βGerman university grading scale explained.β
LLM-based scoring: A final LLM scores each new search result for relevance against the primary intent rather than the original ambiguous query. This ensures only results that precisely match the confirmed goal are ranked highly.
The key insight from this patent is that search is evolving into a system that resolves ambiguity first.Β
Final results are tailored to a userβs specific, confirmed goal, representing a fundamental departure from traditional keyword-based ranking.
Googleβs βthematic searchβ: Auto-clustering topics from top results
Googleβs βthematic searchβ patent (US12158907B1) provides the architectural blueprint for features such as AI Overviews. The system is designed to automatically identify and organize the most important subtopics related to a query.Β
It analyzes top-ranked documents, uses an LLM to generate short summary descriptions of individual passages, and then clusters those summaries to identify common themes.
The direct implication is a shift from a simple list of links to a guided exploration of a topicβs most important facets.Β
This process organizes information for users and allows the engine to identify which themes consistently appear across top-ranking documents, forming a foundational layer for establishing topical consensus.
Googleβs βstateful chatβ: Generating queries from conversation history
The concept of synthetic queries in Googleβs βSearch with stateful chatβ patent (US20240289407A1) reveals another layer of intent understanding.Β
The system generates new, relevant queries based on a userβs entire session history rather than just the most recent input.Β
By maintaining a stateful memory of the conversation, the engine can predict logical next steps and suggest follow-up queries that build on previous interactions.
The key takeaway is that queries are no longer isolated events. Instead, theyβre becoming part of a continuous, context-aware dialogue.Β
This evolution requires content to do more than answer a single question. It must also fit logically within a broader user journey.
Patent deep dive: Crafting content for AI processing (LLM readability)
Once a generative engine has disambiguated user intent and fanned out the query, its next challenge is to find and evaluate content chunks that can precisely answer those subqueries. This is where machine readability becomes critical.Β
The following patents and research papers show how engines evaluate content at a granular, passage-by-passage level, rewarding clarity, structure, and factual density.
The βnuggetβ philosophy: Deconstructing content into atomic facts
The GINGER research paper introduces a methodology for improving the factual accuracy of AI-generated responses. Its core concept involves breaking retrieved text passages into minimal, verifiable information units, referred to as nuggets.
By deconstructing complex information into atomic facts, the system can more easily trace each statement back to its source, ensuring every component of the final answer is grounded and verifiable.
The lesson from this approach is clear: Content should be structured as a collection of self-contained, fact-dense nuggets.Β
Each paragraph or statement should focus on a single, provable idea, making it easier for an AI system to extract, verify, and accurately attribute that information.
Googleβs span selection: Pinpointing the exact answer
Googleβs βSelecting answer spansβ patent (US11481646B2) describes a system that uses a multilevel neural network to identify and score specific text spans, or chunks, within a document that best answer a given question.Β
The system evaluates candidate spans, computes numeric representations based on their relationship to the query, and assigns a final score to select the single most relevant passage.
The key insight is that the relevance of individual paragraphs is evaluated with intense scrutiny. This underscores the importance of content structure, particularly placing a direct, concise answer immediately after a question-style heading.Β
The patent provides the technical justification for the answer-first model, a core principle of modern GEO strategy.
The consensus engine: Validating answers with weighted terms
Googleβs βWeighted answer termsβ patent (US10019513B1) explains how search engines establish a consensus around what constitutes a correct answer.
This patent is closely associated with featured snippets, but the technology Google developed for featured snippets is one of the foundational methodologies behind passage-based retrieval used today by AI search systems to select passages for answers.
The system identifies common question phrases across the web, analyzes the text passages that follow them, and creates a weighted term vector based on terms that appear most frequently in high-quality responses.Β
For a query such as βWhy is the sky blue?β terms like βRayleigh scatteringβ and βatmosphereβ receive high weights.
The key lesson is that to be considered an accurate and authoritative source, content must incorporate the consensus terminology used by other expert sources on the topic.Β
Deviating too far from this established vocabulary can cause content to be scored poorly for accuracy, even when it is factually correct.
Patent deep dive: Building your brandβs digital DNA (brand context)
While earlier patents focus on the micro level of queries and content chunks, this final piece operates at the macro level. The engine must understand not only what is being said but also who is saying it.Β
This is the essence of brand context, representing a shift from optimizing individual pages to projecting a coherent brand identity across an entire domain.Β
The following patent shows how AI systems are designed to interpret an entity by synthesizing information from across its full digital presence.
Googleβs entity characterization: The website as a single prompt
The methodology described in Googleβs βData extraction using LLMsβ patent (WO2025063948A1) outlines a system that treats an entire website as a single input to an LLM. The system scans and interprets content from multiple pages across a domain to generate a single, synthesized characterization of the entity.Β
This is not a copy-and-paste summary but a new interpretation of the collected information that is better suited to an intended purpose, such as an ad or summary, while still passing quality checks that verbatim text might fail.
The patent also explains that this characterization is organized into a hierarchical graph structure with parent and leaf nodes, which has direct implications for site architecture:
Patent concept
Corresponding GEO strategy
Parent Nodes (Broad attributes like βServicesβ)
Create broad, high-level βhubβ pages for core business categories (e.g., /services/).
Leaf Nodes (Specific details like βPricingβ)
Develop specific, granular βspokeβ pages for detailed offerings (e.g., /services/emergency-plumbing/).
The key implication is that every page on a website contributes to a single brand narrative.
Inconsistent messaging, conflicting terminology, or unclear value propositions can cause an AI system to generate a fragmented and weak entity characterization, reducing a brandβs authority in the systemβs interpretation.
The GEO playbook: Actionable lessons derived from the patents
These technical documents arenβt merely theoretical. They provide a clear, actionable playbook for aligning content and digital strategy with the core mechanics of generative search. The principles revealed in these patents form a direct guide for implementation.
Principle 1: Optimize for disambiguated intent, not just keywords
Based on the βDeep Searchβ and βThematic Searchβ patents, the focus must shift from targeting single keywords to comprehensively answering the specific, disambiguated intents a user may have.
Actionable adviceΒ
For a target query, brainstorm the different possible user intents.Β
Create distinct, highly detailed content sections or separate pages for each one, using clear, question-based headings to signal the specific intent being addressed.
Principle 2: Structure for machine readability and extraction
Synthesizing lessons from the GINGER paper, the βanswer spansβ patent, and LLM readability guidance, itβs clear that structure is critical for AI processing.
Actionable advice
Apply the following structural rules to your content:
Use the answer-first model: Structure content so the direct answer appears immediately after a question-style heading. Follow with explanation, evidence, and context.
Write in nuggets: Compose short, self-contained paragraphs, each focused on a single, verifiable idea. This makes each fact easier to extract and attribute.
Leverage structured formats: Use lists and tables whenever possible. These formats make data points and comparisons explicit and easily parsable for an LLM.
Employ a logical heading hierarchy: Use H1, H2, and H3 tags to create a clear topical map of the document. This hierarchy helps an AI system understand the context and scope of each section.
Principle 3: Build a unified and consistent entity narrative
Drawing directly from the βData extraction using LLMsβ patent, domainwide consistency is no longer a nice-to-have. Itβs a technical requirement for building a strong brand context.
Actionable advice
Conduct a comprehensive content audit.Β
Ensure mission statements, service descriptions, value propositions, and key terminology are used consistently across every page, from the homepage to blog posts to the site footer.
Principle 4: Speak the language of authoritative consensus
The βWeighted answer termsβ patent shows that AI systems validate answers by comparing them against an established consensus vocabulary.
Actionable advice
Before writing, analyze current featured snippets, AI Overviews, and top-ranking documents for a given query.Β
Identify recurring technical terms, specific nouns, and phrases they use.Β
Incorporate this consensus vocabulary to signal accuracy and authority.
Principle 5: Mirror the machineβs hierarchy in your architecture
The parent-leaf node structure described in the entity characterization patent provides a direct blueprint for effective site architecture.
Actionable advice
Design site architecture and internal linking to reflect a logical hierarchy. Broad parent category pages should link to specific leaf detail pages.Β
This structure makes it easier for an LLM to map brand expertise and build an accurate hierarchical graph.
These five principles arenβt isolated tactics.Β
They form a single, integrated strategy in which site architecture reinforces the brand narrative, content structure enables machine extraction, and both align to answer a userβs true, disambiguated intent.
Patents and research papers from the worldβs leading technology companies offer a clear view of the future of search.Β
Generative engine optimization is fundamentally about making information machine-interpretable at two critical levels:Β
The micro level of the individual fact, or chunk.
The macro level of the cohesive brand entity.Β
By studying these documents, you can shift from a reactive approach of chasing algorithm updates to a proactive one of building digital assets aligned with the core principles of how generative AI understands, structures, and presents information.
If youβre relying on GA4 alone to measure the impact of AI SEO, youβre navigating with a broken compass.
Donβt misunderstand me. Itβs a reasonable launch pad. But to understand how audiences discover, evaluate, and ultimately choose brands, measurement must move beyond the bounds of Googleβs tooling.
SEO is a journey, not a destination. If you optimize only for attributable visits, large parts of that journey disappear from view.
Sessions are an outcome. They canβt contextualize consideration sets increasingly shaped by algorithms and AI well before a visit ever happens.
Donβt lose potential customers in the Bermuda Triangle of traditional SEO measurement. Harness the power of share of voice to steer user intent. Guide them to you by mapping your brand visibility in AI analytics.
Measuring AI visits with GA4
Links are becoming more prevalent in AI systems. Traffic is climbing. GA4 makes it easy to set up a custom report to track these sessions.
Create an exploration with βsession source / mediumβ as the dimension and βsessionsβ as the metric. Then apply this regex filter on the referrer:
Donβt be concerned if the output report is messy. Thatβs normal. Many AI systems send multiple sets of partial referral information. Some send none at all, so sessions appear as dark traffic.
This report is an easy first step. But donβt be fooled into thinking it can measure the impact of AI on your brand on its own.
The most viewed AI outputs β Googleβs AI Overviews and AI Mode β canβt be seen here. They are attributed to either βgoogle / organicβ or β(direct) / (none),β depending on how the user accessed Google.
With these limitations, looking only at GA4 traffic from generative AI is not a holistic enough data source to understand the reality of usage by your target audience and the impact on your brand.
Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools donβt separate AI queries
Bing Webmaster Tools technically reports Copilot data. But in the most Microsoftesque fashion, chat is combined with web metrics, obscuring the chat data and making the report ineffective for understanding the impact of generative AI.
This approach laid the foundation for Google Search Console to do the same. AI Overviews and AI Mode impressions and clicks are lumped in with Search, and the Gemini app is not included at all.
What you can do is look for more conversational-style queries using a Google Search Console regex, such as:
But this is becoming less valuable as query fan-out becomes the standard, making synthetic queries indistinguishable from human queries while inflating impression numbers.
Worse, both GSC and BWT will become increasingly myopic as websites are bypassed by MCP connections or accessed directly by AI agents.
Both Google and ChatGPT offer AI agents that can browse and, with permission, convert on a humanβs behalf.
When an AI agent uses a text-based browser, it canβt be tracked by cookie-based analytics.
If the agent switches to a visual browser, it often accepts cookies, 78% of the time in my testing. But this creates problems in GA4:
Odd engagement metrics. These are agent behaviors, not human ones.
An unnatural resurgence of desktop traffic. Agents use desktop browsers exclusively.
An uptick in Chrome. Agents run on Chromium.
On the plus side, agentic conversions are recorded, but they are attributed to direct traffic.
As a result, many SEOs are turning to bot logs, where AI agent requests can be identified. But those requests are not a headcount of humans sending agents to complete tasks.
When an agent renders a page in a visual browser, it fires multiple requests for every asset. CSS. JS. Images. Fonts. A bloated front end equals inflated request counts, making raw volume a vanity metric.
The insight lies not in totals, but in paths.
Follow the request flow through the site to the conversion success page. If there are plenty of requests but none reach the conversion path, you know the journey is broken.
Traditional SEO reporting isnβt up to the task of tracking AI
To track the impact of AI SEO, you need to reassess your reporting.Β
Its benefits extend beyond the bounds of GA4, Google Search Console, and log file analysis, all of which assume the user reached your website directly from an AI surface. Thatβs not required for brand value.
Many SEO tools are now adding AI tracking, or are built entirely around it. The methodology is imperfect, with chat outcomes that are probabilistic, not deterministic. Itβs similar to running focus groups.
With an unbiased sample, unbiased prompts, and regular testing, the resulting trends are valuable, even if any individual response is not. They reveal the set of brands an AI system associates with a given intent, forming a consensus view of a credible consideration set.
But AI search analytics tools are not all created equal.
Make sure your tool tracks not only website citations, but also in-chat brand mentions and citations of brand assets such as social media profiles, videos, map listings, and apps.
These are no less valuable than a website link. Recognizing this reflects SEOβs growth.
As an industry, we are returning to meaningful marketing KPIs like share of voice. Understanding brand visibility for relevant intents is what ultimately drives market share.
Itβs not SEOβs job to optimize a website. Itβs to build a well-known, top-rated, and trusted digital brand. That is the foundation of visibility across every organic surface.
Weβve all been there. A client wants to scale their Google Ads account from β¬10,000 per month to β¬100,000. So, you do what any good PPC manager would do:
Refine your bidding strategy.
Test new ad copy variations.
Expand your keyword portfolio.
Optimize landing pages.
Improve Quality Scores.
Launch Performance Max campaigns.
Three months later, youβve increased ad spend by 15%. The client isβ¦ fine with it. But you know you should be doing better.
Hereβs the uncomfortable truth: Most pay-per-click (PPC) optimization work is sophisticated procrastination.
What the theory of constraints teaches us about PPC
The theory of constraints, developed by Eliyahu Goldratt for manufacturing systems, reveals something counterintuitive. Every system is limited by exactly one bottleneck at any given time.
Making your marketing team twice as efficient wonβt help if production capacity is the constraint. Similarly, improving your ad copy click-through rate (CTR) by 20% wonβt move the needle if your real constraint is budget approval or landing page conversion rate.
The theory demands radical focus. Identify the single weakest link and treat everything else as less important.
Applied to PPC, this means: Stop optimizing everything. Find your number one constraint. Fix only that and then move on.
In my years of managing PPC accounts, Iβve found that almost every scaling challenge falls into one of seven categories:
1. Budget
Signal: You could profitably spend more, but youβre capped by client approval.
Example: Your campaigns are profitable at β¬10,000 per month with room to spend β¬50,000, but your client wonβt approve the additional budget. Sometimes itβs risk aversion, but other times itβs a cash flow issue.Β
The fix: Build a business case demonstrating profitability with a higher spend. Show historical return on ad spend (ROAS), competitive benchmarks, and projected returns.
What to ignore: Avoid ad copy testing, keyword expansion, bidding optimization, and new campaigns. None of this matters if you canβt spend more money anyway.
Signal: Youβre already capturing 90%+ impression share and canβt buy more traffic.
Example: Youβre targeting a niche B2B market with only 1,000 relevant searches per month.
The fix: Expand to related keywords or use broader match types. Alternatively, enter new geographic markets or add complementary platforms like Microsoft Ads or LinkedIn Ads.
What to ignore: Donβt worry about bidding optimization, since youβre already buying almost all available impressions.
3. Creative
Signal: You have high impression share but low CTRs, resulting in a premium cost per click (CPC).
Example: Youβre showing ads on 80% of searches, but CTR is 2% when the industry average is 5%.
The fix: Aggressively test ad copy, better message-market fit, and more compelling.
What to ignore: Avoid keyword expansion. Your ads are already visible, they just arenβt getting clicks.
4. Conversion rate
Signal: Youβre generating strong traffic volume and acceptable CPC, but terrible conversion rates.
Example: Youβre getting 10,000 clicks per month. But you have a 1% conversion rate when you should be getting 5%+.
The fix: Optimize landing pages, improve offers, and refine sales funnels.
What to ignore: Donβt launch more traffic campaigns. Youβre already wasting the traffic you have.
5. Fulfillment
Signal: Your campaigns could generate more leads. But the clientβs sales or operations team canβt handle more.
Example: Youβre generating 500 leads per month, but sales can only process 100.
The fix: This is a client operations issue, not a PPC issue. Help them identify it, but know that the solution lies outside your control. Do more business consulting for your client while maintaining the current PPC level.
What to ignore: Pause all PPC optimization, as the system canβt absorb more volume.
6. Profitability
Signal: You can scale volume, but cost per acquisition (CPA) is too high to be profitable.
Example: You need β¬50 CPA to break even, but youβre currently at β¬80 CPA.
The fix: Improve unit economics through better targeting or creative optimization. Alternatively, help the client rethink their pricing or improve customer lifetime value (LTV).
What to ignore: Set aside volume tactics until the economics work at the current scale.
7. Tracking or attribution
Signal: Attribution is broken, so you canβt confidently scale the campaign.
Example: Youβre seeing complex multi-touch customer journeys where you canβt definitively prove PPCβs contribution.
The fix: Implement better tracking and test different tracking stacks (e.g., server-side, fingerprinting, or cookie-based). You can also update your attribution modeling or develop first-party data capabilities.
What to ignore: Avoid scaling any channel until you know what actually drives results.
Identifying your constraint requires methodical analysis rather than gut feeling. Hereβs how to uncover whatβs holding your account back.
Run an audit
Start by benchmarking critical metrics:
Impression share: If youβre capturing less than 50% of available impressions, your constraint is likely budget or bids preventing you from competing effectively.
CTR: Performance below industry benchmarks signals a creative constraint where your messaging isnβt resonating with searchers.
CPC: Unusually high CPCs often indicate a Quality Score constraint, which reflects poor ad relevance or landing page experience.
Conversion rate: If this metric lags compared to historical performance or industry standards, your constraint is the landing page.
Search volume: If youβve already captured the majority of relevant searches, your constraint is inventory exhaustion.
Donβt overlook operational metrics either. Check fulfillment capacity by determining how many leads your clientβs team can handle per month.
Finally, document your approved budget against what you could profitably spend. If thereβs a sizable difference, budget approval is your primary constraint.
Ask the critical question
With your audit complete, resist the temptation to create a prioritized list. Instead, force yourself to answer one question: βIf I could only fix one of these metrics, which would unlock 10x growth?β
That single metric is your constraint. Everything else, regardless of how suboptimal it appears, is secondary until youβve broken through this bottleneck.
Apply radical focus
Once youβve identified your primary constraint, itβs time to change your entire approach. This is where marketers tend to fail. They acknowledge the constraint but continue hedging their efforts across multiple fronts.
Why constraints are dynamic (and why thatβs good)
Understanding constraint theory means recognizing that bottlenecks shift as you scale.
Consider a typical scaling journey. In month one, youβre stuck at a β¬10,000 monthly budget despite profitable performance metrics.
Your constraint is budget, so leadership wonβt approve more ad spend. You build the business case, secure approval, and immediately scale to β¬30,000 monthly spend.
Success, right? Not quite. Youβve just revealed the next constraint.
By month two, youβre capturing 95% of core keyword inventory. Your new constraint is impression share, as youβve exhausted available traffic in your primary audience.
The fix is to expand to related terms and broader match types to bring new searchers into your funnel. This expansion takes you to β¬50,000 per month.
Month three presents a new challenge. Your expanded traffic converts at 2% while your original core traffic maintains 5% conversion rates. Your constraint has shifted to conversion rate.
The broader audience needs different messaging or a modified landing page experience. So, you focus exclusively on improving the post-click experience until conversion rate recovers to 4%. This lets you scale to β¬80,000 per month.
By month four, your sales team is drowning in 500 leads per month, which more than they can effectively manage. Your constraint shifts from the PPC account to fulfillment capacity. The client hires additional sales staff to handle volume, and you scale to β¬120,000 per month.
Each new constraint is proof youβve graduated to the next level. Many accounts never experience the problem of fulfillment constraints because they never break through the earlier barriers of budget and inventory.
Common traps to avoid when scaling PPC
The βoptimize everythingβ approach
When you try to optimize everything, you might spend:
10 hours optimizing ad copy (+0.2% CTR)
10 hours improving landing page (+0.5% CVR)
10 hours refining bid strategy (+3% efficiency)
After investing 30 hours, you only achieve 5% account growth.
Instead, identify the primary constraint (e.g., conversion rate).Then, invest all 30 hours in landing page optimization. Continue to monitor your conversion rate.
Shiny object syndrome
Say your budget is capped by the client at β¬10,000 by client. But you spend 20 hours testing Performance Max because itβs new and interesting.
After running those tests, you achieve zero scale. And your budget is still capped at β¬10,000.
Instead, recognize that your primary constraint is budget approval. Build a business case, secure approval, and start scaling immediately.
Analysis paralysis
If you wait for perfect Google Analytics 4 tracking before scaling,Β competitors may move forward with good enough attribution.
This can mean losing six months with no scale.
Aim for 80% accurate tracking. Perfect attribution is rarely the actual constraint.
How to implement the theory of constraints in your agency or in-house team
For your next client strategy call
Donβt say: βWeβll optimize your campaigns across multiple dimensions, bidding, creative, targeting, and see what drives the best results.β
Instead, say this: βBefore we optimize anything, I need to diagnose your constraint. Once I identify it, Iβll focus exclusively on fixing that bottleneck while maintaining everything else. When itβs resolved, weβll tackle the next constraint. This is how weβll reach your goals.β
For your team
Implement a Constraint Monday ritual. Every Monday, each account manager identifies the primary constraint for their top three accounts. The team focuses the weekβs efforts on moving those specific constraints.
On Friday, review the results. Did the constraint move?
If yes, whatβs the new constraint?
If not, you had the wrong diagnosis. Try again.
From tactical to strategic PPC scaling
The difference between a good PPC manager and a great one isnβt technical skill. Instead, itβs the ability to identify constraints.
Good PPC managers optimize everything and achieve incremental gains. Great PPC managers identify the one thing preventing scale and fix only that, achieving exponential gains.
When you master the theory of constraints, you stop being seen as a tactical campaign manager and start being recognized as a strategic growth partner.
Youβre no longer reporting on CTR improvements and Quality Score gains. Youβre diagnosing business constraints and unlocking growth that seemed impossible.
Thatβs the shift that transforms PPC careers and accounts.
Intel reportedly cancels its Arrow Lake Refresh flagship over value concerns Intel has reportedly axed its Core Ultra 9 290K PLUS CPU, the flagship of the companyβs upcoming βArrow Lake Refreshβ lineup. The long-rumoured CPU has reportedly been cancelled due to value concerns. With Intelβs Core Ultra 7 270K PLUS featuring the same CPU core [β¦]
Benchmarks from Hardware Canucks show just how well the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite chip can compete with the latest from Apple, Intel, and AMD.
Meet the G7 Pro 8K PC, a wireless esports controller engineered for competitive PC gaming. Featuring ultra-responsive 8K Hz wired and 2.4G wireless polling, every movement and action is captured with lightning-fast precision, delivering a true competitive edge. In collaboration with Aimlabs, the well-known FPS training software, it combines pro-level performance with striking, software-inspired cyan aesthetics, earning its status as an officially licensed Aimlabs accessory.
With an 8000 Hz polling rate over both wired and 2.4G wireless connections, the G7 Pro 8K PC delivers smoother control and instant response, ensuring every input is registered with esports-grade precision. Designed for pro-level performance, the G7 Pro 8K PC features second-generation GameSir Mag-Res TMR sticks. Compared to the first generation, the Gen-2 TMR sticks continue to use magnetic technology to eliminate physical contact, delivering long-lasting anti-stick drift reliability. At the same time, with 8K Hz polling, they provide smoother, more linear control and ultra-low power consumption, ensuring precise and responsive gameplay for competitive gamers.
Intel's upcoming Core Ultra 5 250K Plus desktop processor has appeared in the Geekbench database, according to a post by Benchleaks on X. The CPU is part of Intel's Core Ultra 200S Plus "Arrow Lake Refresh" lineup, which is expected to launch next month. The Core Ultra 5 250K Plus features an 18-core configuration with 6 Performance cores and 12 Efficiency cores, up four E-Cores from the Core Ultra 5 245K 6P+8E layout. The processor runs at a 4.2 GHz base clock and 5.3 GHz boost. Cache specifications include 6 MB of L2 cache and 30 MB of L3 cache. Compared with the 245K, the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus keeps the same power ratings with a 125 W base power and a 159 W maximum turbo power, despite the higher core count and slightly increased boost clocks. P-core turbo frequencies are up by 100 MHz compared to the 245K, while E-core clocks reportedly remain unchanged at up to 4.7 GHz.
The test system used an ASUS PRIME Z890-P WIFI motherboard with 32 GB of memory. The processor scored 3,113 points in the single-core test and 15,251 points in the multicore test. As with most early database entries, performance may improve with final firmware and retail silicon. Intel is expected to position the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus in the sub-$300 segment, offering a modest upgrade over the Core Ultra 5 245K, which currently sells for around $200-215. The processor will be compatible with LGA 1851 motherboards and is part of what is expected to be the final CPU family for the socket, ahead of Intel's transition to LGA 1954 with the upcoming Nova Lake architecture later this year.
Cyber threats are no longer coming from just malware or exploits. Theyβre showing up inside the tools, platforms, and ecosystems organizations use every day. As companies connect AI, cloud apps, developer tools, and communication systems, attackers are following those same paths.
A clear pattern this week: attackers are abusing trust. Trusted updates, trusted marketplaces, trusted apps, even
Lenovoβs Yoga 7i 16-inch 2-in-1 laptop is now just $649 for Presidentβs Day β save $400 on a Core Ultra 7, 16GB, 1TB touchscreen convertible at Best Buy.
Calling Pre-Series A founders: nominations for TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 are open. Compete in the worldβs most iconic pitch competition at Disrupt 2026 from October 13 - 15.
Gather AI has closed funding from former Salesforce CEO's firm Smith Point Capital. Its warehouse AI system doesn't just scan. It seeks out specific data.
Kris Marszalek bought AI.com from an unknown seller ahead of the Super Bowl, so an ad for the site could air during the game. Unfortunately, shortly after the ad ran, many noticed the website was down.
The work, reported in Optica by scientists from Tianjin University and Nanyang Technological University, marks the first experimental realization of skyrmions that can be actively toggled between electric and magnetic configurations.
PhasedTech notes that a number of people have turned their consoles into gaming PCs, but these usually relied on external power bricks and integrated graphics.
Intel appears to have secured a second major customer, this time for its bleeding-edge 14A process, with a wild rumor identifying MediaTek and its Dimensity chips as a source of marginal strength for Intel's still-fledgling advanced node. After Apple tentatively tapped its 18A process, Intel appears to have secured MediaTek as a major customer for the bleeding-edge 14A process We already know that Apple might opt for Intel's 18A-P process for its lowest-end M-series chips that are expected to ship in 2027, as well as non-Pro iPhone chips in 2028. In fact, GF Securities recently went a step further by [β¦]
The variable aperture has been absent from Samsungβs smartphone camera arsenal for years, but given that Apple has been reported on multiple occasions to bring the technology to its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, the company has little choice but to respond. As for the lineup thatβs expected to receive the upgrade, the Galaxy S26 series could be the obvious recipient, but plans can change in the blink of an eye. Multiple generations of Galaxy S flagships have remained stagnant in camera technology; variable aperture could be the first step from Samsung towards reviving innovation Samsungβs Electro-Mechanics [β¦]
Even though Alan Dye, the architect of Apple's Liquid Glass UI, has left for greener pastures, a new report asserts that Apple will not abandon its new design language with the upcoming iOS 27. Apple's upcoming iOS 27 update will focus on AI enhancements and stability improvements rather than implementing a comprehensive UI overhaul When Dye left Apple for Meta in December 2025, many expected Apple to tone down its Liquid Glass UI or abandon it altogether. After all, Apple's design language has attracted its fair share of criticism over the past few months, especially on legibility concerns, with critics [β¦]
Taiwan authorities have no problems with TSMC investing in the U.S. as long the bulk of its fabs and leading-edge process technologies remain in Taiwan.
Another chip from Intel's upcoming Arrow Lake refresh lineup has leaked online, this time appearing on the Geekbench platform with solid scores. The Core Ultra 250K Plus, the company's next desktop midranger, posted 3,113 points in the single-threaded results and 15,251 points in the multi-threaded test.
Cursor, an AI-assisted development environment, essentially an IDE, is being used by Nvidia internally to boost coding efficiency. Cursor says the Green Team's internal code commits have tripled since its implementation while the bug rate has stayed flat, leading to increased productivity across every phase of the development lifecycle.
Chiplset details leak for Intelβs 900-series motherboards Later this year, Intel is expected to launch their next-generation Nova Lake CPUs, and with them will come the companyβs new 900-series chipset. This chipset will power the next generation of Intel motherboards, with B960, Z970, Z990, Q970, and W980 models. For consumers, Intelβs new Z990 chipset will [β¦]
Why do SOC teams keep burning out and missing SLAs even after spending big on security tools? Routine triage piles up, senior specialists get dragged into basic validation, and MTTR climbs, while stealthy threats still find room to slip through. Top CISOs have realized the solution isnβt hiring more people or stacking yet another tool onto the workflow, but giving their teams faster, clearer
Team Cherry has released an update for Hollow Knight that will make it compatible with Steam Deck and Legion Go S 16:10 resolutions, while also including some quality-of-life improvements. Here's the patch notes.
Microsoft has officially ended support for its Office Lens app as of February 9, 2026, meaning it'll no longer be available on the App Store or Google Play Store.
HiBy has officially announced the latest member of W Series, the HiBy W4. It is a brand-new DAC/AMP with portable and fashionable design, like an all-around swingman with dual modes, playing back Hi-res music in wired & wireless. With W4's release, HiBy aims to merge the convenience in wireless and high-fidelity in wire together.
To cover the scenarios, HiBy W4 features a flexible design with clip-on and magnetic attachment. Clip it anywhere for on-the-go. And the magnetic design fits to some smartphones or phone cases, used as a "MagSafe" accessory. The Uncharge Mode which is implemented in HiBy Digital Audio Player, isolates power supply from the smartphone, prevents draining phone's battery, and reduces interference. It builds in a 1500mAh battery to ensure a longer playing time.
Imec - a world-leading R&D center in advanced semiconductor technologies - today inaugurated a 2,000 mΒ² cleanroom expansion at its Leuven headquarters, marking a pivotal milestone in the deployment of Europe's NanoIC pilot line. The event was attended by European EVP Henna Virkkunen, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele, and ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet, alongside representatives from the European high-tech ecosystem - including industry and startups - the NanoIC pilot line consortium, and policymakers from the EU, Belgium, and Flanders. With a capacity of over 12,000 mΒ², imec's cleanroom plays a crucial role in the European Chips Act's ambitions to position Europe at the forefront of next-generation semiconductor innovation and manufacturing; a strategy that will be instrumental in reinforcing the continent's industrial fabric in the AI era, while safeguarding a climate of sustained economic growth, security, and prosperity for decades to come.
"Since announcing in May 2024 that imec would host the NanoIC pilot line, we've moved at full speed - accelerating tool acquisition and launching a comprehensive recruitment program. Today, that effort culminates in the inauguration of a 2,000 mΒ² cleanroom extension at the imec premises. It will house a best-in-class toolset, including ASML's next-generation High NA EUV scanner that is scheduled to arrive mid-March," said Luc Van den hove, CEO of imec.
The moment you've been waiting for is here! YUNZII is thrilled to unveil the C98 Cake Meow keyboard, the numpad version after C75! This is a delightful fusion of sweet aesthetics, versatile performance, and creamy typing bliss. Designed to charm your desk and elevate your daily touch, the C98 Cake Meow is now officially available for pre-order. Be among the first to experience this masterpiece and enjoy an exclusive pre-order price plus a complimentary gift. Your perfect slice of typing heaven is ready.
Pink / Beige / Purple
Choose your perfect slice of keyboard paradise. Will it be the sweet, playful allure of Pink? The warm, timeless elegance of Beige? Or the deep, imaginative whisper of Purple? Each C98 Cake Meow is a statement piece, crafted to bring personality and delicious style to your workspace. Select the hue that matches your vibe.
D-Link Corporation (TWSE: 2332), a global leader in networking solutions, announced the launch of its DGS-1250 Series Gigabit Smart Managed Switches. Developed to address the growing demand for greater network visibility and control without the cost and complexity of fully managed solutions, the DGS-1250 Series empowers organizations to scale their networks with confidence while maintaining operational simplicity.
Positioned between unmanaged switches and advanced Layer 3 platforms, the DGS-1250 Series delivers a balanced combination of Gigabit performance, enhanced security, and intuitive management. It is designed for businesses seeking to modernize their network infrastructure with smarter capabilities while keeping deployment and ongoing operations efficient and straightforward.
Ayaneo has officially launched Next 2, its newest Windows gaming handheld, following initial announcements and teasers from last year. The device succeeds the original Ayaneo Next, which was introduced in early 2022. It features a redesigned chassis with larger grips, and it is equipped with a 9.06-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2400 Γ 1504. The panel supports switchable refresh rates of 60 Hz, 120 Hz, 144 Hz, and 165 Hz, along with up to 1155 nits peak brightness, 5280 Hz PWM dimming, and full DCI-P3 color coverage.
On the hardware side, the handheld is available with AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 or Ryzen AI Max 385 processors. The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is a 16-core, 32-thread processor based on AMD Zen 5 "Strix Halo" architecture, manufactured on TSMC 4 nm process, with boost clocks up to 5.1 GHz. Graphics are handled by the integrated Radeon 8060S GPU based on RDNA 3.5 with 40 compute units clocked up to 2.9 GHz. The chip also integrates an XDNA 2 NPU for up to 126 TOPS of AI performance.
Bambu Labβs P1S is now $300 off, down to $399 for a fast, fully enclosed CoreXY 3D printer with up to 20,000 mm/sΒ² acceleration and simple, out-of-the-box setup.
The implications of the breakthrough could ripple through multiple industries. A better understanding of how superconductivity behaves at quantum scales could accelerate the development of room-temperature superconductors, radically improving electrical grids, quantum computers, and magnetic levitation systems.
The lawsuit in question involves Christopher Cordova, who runs the Denver Metro Audits channel, and Jonathan Huneault, creator of the Frauditor Troll channel.
Apple has a habit of introducing newer colors with every annual βProβ model launch, but the company went the extra mile when it adopted the highly embellished Cosmic Orange finish on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. To say that this model was popular was a gross understatement, but even better was the fact that Chinese consumers pounced on this version like thereβs no tomorrow, resulting in a 38 percent sales surge compared to last year. Now, why would customers be so fixated on just one color? It turns out that Cosmic Orange isnβt just any finish; [β¦]
While Nioh 3 is sensibly easier than previous games, it is still challenging. Human enemies tend to block a lot, while Yokai only stagger with attacks when they are out of Ki. Depleting an enemy's Ki has always been the core of the Nioh experience, but getting to do so at the start of the game can be difficult, as both your knowledge of the game's mechanics and weapons is limited, and you can't access many Martial Arts that deal solid Ki damage in a short amount of time. The only workaround to this issue is slowing the enemy down, [β¦]
Samsung Display, one of the primary suppliers of OLED screens to Apple, is gearing up to accommodate the upcoming increase in the number of foldable iPhones, spanning the iPhone Fold and the colloquially called iPhone Flip. Samsung Display is reportedly increasing its investment in Apple's foldable OLED equipment at its A4 factory According to ET News, Samsung Display is currently deliberating over increasing its CapEx on foldable OLED equipment for its A4 factory that is located in Asan, South Chungcheong Province of South Korea. The planned investment, which might materialize as soon as Q2 2026, will reportedly focus on increasing [β¦]
You can grab this Asus ROG Strix gaming monitor, offering dual-mode refresh rate support with 4K at 160Hz and 1080p at 320Hz, at a record-low $337.99 on Amazon right now.
A superb typing experience and plenty of oomph for gaming. Kailh Glaze Jellyfish Pro linear switches are at the heart of this fantastically priced keyboard.
The thrill of owning one of the best multicolor 3D printers has come at an unexpected price - overflowing bins of wasted filament and scrapped prints. Here are five machines that promise to turn failed prints back into fresh filament.
The threat actor known as Bloody Wolf has been linked to a campaign targeting Uzbekistan and Russia to infect systems with a remote access trojan known as NetSupport RAT.
Cybersecurity vendor Kaspersky is tracking the activity under the moniker Stan Ghouls. The threat actor is known to be active since at least 2023, orchestrating spear-phishing attacks against manufacturing, finance, and IT
Nvidiaβs reportedly building a new βvery high-endβ GPU According to a new report from Overclocking.com, Nvidia is building a new βvery high-end RTX 50 seriesβ graphics card. The GPU is reportedly due to launch in Q3 2026. This GPU is reportedly unrelated to Nvidiaβs RTX 50 SUPER series, which has reportedly been cancelled/paused due to [β¦]
FSR 4 support remains limited to RDNA 4 graphics cards, at least for now When AMD launched FSR 4 last year, it was game-changing for Radeon. AMD released a version of FSR that finally delivered image quality on par with Nvidiaβs DLSS. However, FSR 4 had a major downside: it was limited to RDNA 4 [β¦]
NordVPN warns that QR code attacks are escalating, with a staggering 26 million individuals already potentially exposed to 'quishing.' Here's how to stay safe.
Toward the end of 2026, Intel will debut its next generation Core Ultra Series 4 "Nova Lake-S" desktop processors, introducing new CPU core IP and a significant uplift in CPU core counts, besides special SKUs with large L3 caches to take the fight to AMD's X3D processors with 3D V-Cache. Much has been reported on the processors, but not much about the platform and chipsets, until Jaykihn dropped a new leak. We are now hearing that Intel could take a similar approach to AMD in differentiating its desktop chipsets, with two enthusiast-segment chipset models, and a mainstream model, besides the usual chipset models for commercial desktop and workstation segments.
This approach would see the introduction of the new Z970 chipset positioned a notch below the flagship Z990 chipset that succeeds the current Z890. There will not be an "H970," as Intel has seen consistently low demand for such a chipset, and there's no "H870" in the current generation. The Intel 900-series "Nova Point" chipset family will begin with the B960 mainstream chipset succeeding the current B860. Positioned above this will be the new Z970, offering enthusiast features such as multiplier-unlocked CPU overclocking when paired with K-series processor models. Above this, is the flagship Z990 with significantly more platform I/O features. The Q970 will be the commercial desktop chipset from this generation, while W980 will cater to workstation platforms powering Xeon W-series processors based on "Nova Lake-S."
Microsoft's next-generation Xbox console is reportedly taking an unconventional route by running on a customized version Windows 11 OS instead of the specialized console OS that typically powers these devices. According to Windows Central, the system will function essentially as a gaming PC that boots into an Xbox interface by default. This UI is likely similar to what the current Xbox Full Screen Experience looks and feels like, and will likely provide the same performance boost. We have already seen that Xbox FSE mode brings about a 9.3% reduction in RAM usage and about an 8.6% higher FPS due to the smaller system overhead. Users could exit that interface to access the full Windows 11 operating system, meaning the hardware would support Steam, EPIC, and other competing game stores, as well as standard PC applications alongside Xbox games.
This is Microsoft's first radical departure from the walled-garden approach that has defined console gaming for decades. What it could translate to is the first hybrid system that serves multiple purposes, from traditional gaming to running productivity suites of Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, and others, all from the same system. Teams from the Windows and Xbox divisions are reportedly collaborating closely to adapt the operating system for living room use. Microsoft is also working with hardware partners like ASUS to create multiple devices at different price points rather than releasing a single standard console. Plans for a first-party handheld device are still under consideration, though the traditional console appears to be the main focus.
ASRock has maintained close and long-term collaboration with AMD, and continues to carefully review recently discussed CPU-related issues across online communities, while optimizing BIOS functionality and further enhancing overall system stability. Following multiple rounds of collaboration, AMD has provided AGESA 1.3.0.0a to improve overall platform compatibility. ASRock has completed the corresponding integration and has released the Beta BIOS version 4.07.AS01, featuring AGESA 1.3.0.0a, on its official website.
The BIOS update includes the following highlights:
1. Update AGESA to ComboAM5 PI 1.3.0.0a.
2. Optimized Memory Compatibility.
3. Resolve a boot failure occurring on certain CPUs.
According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, worldwide chip revenue hit $791.7 billion in 2025, up 25.6 percent year over year. The surge reflects an unprecedented wave of capital spending as tech giants race to build out AI infrastructure in data centers around the world. Rather than a narrow spike in...
It's been almost five years since the PlayStation 5 launched. That means its successor, the PlayStation 6, isn't far away, so the rumors are starting to arrive thick and fast.
Qualcommβs lofty ambitions of hitting high clock speeds on its flagship chipsets like the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5Β come at the cost of increased heat generation. To alleviate this massive trade-off, the company has been rumored to switch to the same cooling solutionΒ that Samsung has employed on its Exynos 2600, which is Heat Pass Block (HPB). With this inclusion, chipsets like the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro can achieve frequencies of 5.00GHzΒ without hitting a thermal wall, and we have some excellent news for you. In what could be the biggest leaks of the year, we get our first look [β¦]
Intel's next-generation 900-series chipsets have leaked, and include Z990, Z970, W980, Q970, and B960 for upcoming Nova Lake-S Desktop CPUs. Intel Preps Two Premium 900-Series Chipsets For Nova Lake Desktop CPUs, Z990 & Z970 - W980 For Entry Workstations, Q970 For Businesses & B960 For Mainstream Intel's 900-series chipsets will be replacing the existing 800-series family, which was featured on the LGA 1851 socketed motherboards for Arrow Lake and Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs. The 900-series chipset will be featured on the next-gen LGA 1954 motherboards, which will support Nova Lake-S Desktop CPUs in late 2026. According to Jaykihn at X, [β¦]
A few days ago, during AMD's Q4 earnings call, CEO Lisa Su shared some comments on the launches of Microsoft's Xbox Next Gen console and Valve's Steam Machine. When it comes to the Steam Machine, she said Valve was on track to launch it in early 2026; however, in the span of a few hours, Valve told Steam users that it had to delay finalizing the shipping schedule and pricing due to the ongoing RAM shortage. Regarding the Xbox Next Gen hardware, Lisa Su stated that it was tracking well for a launch at some point next year. However, it [β¦]
The announcement of the highly anticipated Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag remake won't be at this week's State of Play broadcast, according to insider shinobi602, but it will be relatively soon, and the same goes for the game's release; both are "not too far off". It's now been more than two and a half years since we first heard that Ubisoft was crafting an Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag remake. The original rumor came from Kotaku, which also reported that Ubisoft Singapore, the studio behind the Black Flag-inspired game Skull and Bones, was likely involved in the development. The next [β¦]
Cybersecurity researchers have called attention to a "massive campaign" that has systematically targeted cloud native environments to set up malicious infrastructure for follow-on exploitation.
The activity, observed around December 25, 2025, and described as "worm-driven," leveraged exposed Docker APIs, Kubernetes clusters, Ray dashboards, and Redis servers, along with the recently disclosed
FinRiskAI helps you see how risky your stock and ETF portfolio really is. You add your holdings, and it provides a single risk score plus a brief explanation of whatβs driving it, such as positions taking up too much space, holdings moving together, or the portfolio being more volatile than expected. It also monitors for changes and flags when risk is increasing, not just when prices move. You can quickly identify which positions and sectors are responsible, allowing you to focus on what matters without digging through charts.
Q1 2026 has so far seen memory and NAND prices surge by over 90%, and another 20% hike is expected in the coming quarter of Q2. Both PC & Server Memory+NAND Prices Shot Over 90% In Q1 2026 (So Far), & Latest Reports Suggest Even More Hikes For Q2 According to a report published by Counterpoint, both memory and NAND prices saw a 90% price surge in Q1 2026, with more on the way. The report is based on the research firm's own memory price tracker & showcases the current situation of the PC and server markets affected by vast [β¦]
A comprehensive and robustly integrated supply chain should enable Apple to continue shipping its hardware at a lower price, outdoing the competition. The companyβs low-cost MacBookΒ is right around the corner, with one of its major selling points being significantly more affordable compared to what rivals are churning out. It has been reported that this portable Mac will contribute to Appleβs growth in 2026, with a new report stating that this version alone will account for 25 percent of all Mac sales recorded for last year. The upcoming portable Mac is estimated to record shipments between 5.5 million and 7.9 million [β¦]
Intel's mainstream Core Ultra 5 250K Plus CPU has leaked out in Geekbench, showcasing the performance of 18 cores clocked at 5.3 GHz. Intel's Core Ultra 5 250K Plus Boasts 18 Cores, 5.3 GHz Clocks & Decent Performance In Sub $300 Pricing Intel's Arrow Lake Refresh or Core Ultra 200S Plus CPUs are now scheduled for launch next month, and while we still have to wait some time to see them on retail shelves, the leak spree continues with Intel's Core Ultra 5 250K Plus being the latest to appear at Geekbench. Its bigger sibling, the Core Ultra 9 290K [β¦]
BeyondTrust has released updates to address a critical security flaw impacting Remote Support (RS) and Privileged Remote Access (PRA) products that, if successfully exploited, could result in remote code execution.
"BeyondTrust Remote Support (RS) and certain older versions of Privileged Remote Access (PRA) contain a critical pre-authentication remote code execution vulnerability," the company
Noiz delivers lifelike text-to-speech, expressive voice modeling, and multilingual video dubbing that preserves timing and emotion. Choose from a vast library of voices or clone your own, and control tones like happy, sad, or dramatic to fit your story. Integrate quickly via API to power e-learning, audiobooks, meditation apps, and assistants with watermark-free exports and priority rendering on paid plans.
Intel has quietly deprecated its Software Defined Silicon initiative (SDSi), known as "Intel On Demand," according to a report from Phoronix. The company has archived the official GitHub repository for SDSi for Xeon, an effort intended to enable optional features on Intel's server processors that could be unlocked for an extra fee. Intel had hoped enterprises would pay to enable these features, but the initiative never gained mass traction and was only sporadically maintained. Because hyperscalers operate at massive scale, paying an additional fee to enable a feature on silicon they had already purchased made little sense, contributing to Intel's decision to abandon the project. Subscription services are similar in concept, but they generally apply to software on a monthly basis rather than one-time hardware activations.
Originally, Intel planned to make Quick Assist, Dynamic Load Balancer, and Data Streaming Accelerator available as On Demand features, alongside Software Guard Extensions and the In-Memory Analytics Accelerator. These were described on the Intel On Demand website as a "one-time activation of select CPU accelerators and security features." The Intel On Demand site has since been reworked to remove most information, leaving only a few documents and paragraphs. Thankfully, the idea of putting hardware features behind a paywall has not gained traction for now, leaving the paywall model to traditional software. At one point enthusiasts wondered whether Intel On Demand would trickle down to consumer CPUs, but with the project apparently dead, that possibility seems unlikely in the near term. Intel Upgrade Service existed in a similar format back in early 2010s, but was also short-lived.
AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 technology, now known simply as FSR 4, is currently supported in many games, but not across all AMD RDNA GPU generations. In response to an inquiry from Hardware Unboxed, AMD mentioned that it is still uncertain whether official FSR 4 support will be extended to the Radeon RX 7000 series and older GPUs, as the company reportedly has "no updates to share at this time." AMD official product separation stems from its RDNA 4 architecture and the support for 8-bit floating point instructions. While the latest RDNA 4 hardware supports Wave Matrix Multiply Accumulate in FP8 format, older RDNA generations like RDNA 3 and RDNA 2 lack this hardware instruction support and can't process 8-bit floating point data in this format.
However, older Radeon GPUs can instead rely on the 8-bit integer (INT8) data formats, which Radeon RX 7000 series fully supports. AMD accidentally leaked FSR 4 INT8 on its AMD GPUOpen platform, showing that FSR 4 on older GPUs is a possibility, which is just kept hidden for now. Later on, ComputerBase tested this leaked library, finding that FSR 4 offers a balance between native image quality and FSR 3.1 performance on both RDNA 3 and RDNA 2 hardware. In tests with Cyberpunk 2077 in 4K on Ultra settings using the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, FSR 4 delivered 11% faster performance than native, but was 16% slower than FSR 3.1. Interestingly, performance may be the reason why AMD is holding these INT8 FPR 4 libraries back, but another point could be product separation.
Super Bowl 2026 sees the New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks. Here's everything you need to know to watch Super Bowl LX full-game replays and highlights.
jotty.pro brings privacy-first voice transcription and note-taking to your browser. It records meetings and personal thoughts, processes audio locally with WebGPU, and lets you bring your own keys to use providers like OpenAI, xAI, Gemini, Mistral, Groq, DeepSeek, and more.
Organize and search your notes with templates, semantic search, and webhooks for integrations. Capture audio, generate transcripts, and structure insights without installing anything. Data stays on your device by default, with the best support on Chrome and Edge.
Moti helps you learn a language through short, daily journal entries. Write in your target language, switch to English when stuck, and get helpful corrections, natural phrasing upgrades, and insights into your progress. It surfaces everyday expressions from what you wrote and tracks growth across 10 languages. Available on iOS, it supports beginners through advanced learners who want a light, consistent habit.
Intel is preparing to give its next-generation Core Ultra Series 4 "Nova Lake-S" desktop processors not one, but two enthusiast-segment desktop motherboard chipsets, the Z990 and Z970. The new processors introduce Socket LGA1954, which will require a motherboard upgrade. The idea behind segmenting Z990 and Z970 to succeed the current Z890 is to probably bring enthusiast features such as CPU overclocking to a wider market segment.
There is no word on how the Z990 and Z970 are differentiated, but VideoCardz reports that the Z970 is based on a physically smaller chip resembling the mid-tier B960 chipset that succeeds the current B860. The difference between the two could hence be I/O. The Z990 could feature a larger number of platform PCIe lanes, and have a wider 8-lane DMI chipset bus, whereas the Z970 could have fewer PCIe lanes, and a 4-lane DMI bus, just like the B960, but with the added CPU overclocking capability. This chipset would hence be suitable for those who want enthusiast features but don't need an elaborate I/O. We still don't know the exact PCIe lane counts of Intel's 900-series chipset, so we can't tabulate them.
Ghostfile is a secure legacy management app that helps you organize your essential information and ensure the right people can access it when you pass away. You can add investments, your will, account details, notes, and personal files, then choose a Trust Circle that gains access after youβre gone. Build and update your vault anytime, swap contacts as life changes, and rely on encrypted storage and confirmation safeguards so nothing unlocks early. If someone mistakenly reports you, you can confirm youβre alive and keep the vault locked.
Qualcomm is expected to adopt a slightly different flagship chipset launch strategy this year, with the company rumored to introduce two versionsΒ called the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6. One of the biggest differences between the two SoCs is that the top-end one will provide LPDDR6 RAM and UFS 5.0 storage support, but hereβs the interesting bit. The latest rumor claims that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro will be compatible with older memory and storage standards, helping reduce component costs for Qualcommβs partners. Looking at the DRAM crisis, this is a welcome [β¦]
CISA has ordered all civilian federal agencies to identify and remove "end-of-support" hardware and software that vendors no longer patch or maintain. The new directive, known as Binding Operational Directive 26-02, is part of an aggressive overhaul aimed at closing one of the most persistent security gaps in federal IT:...
Fizzly AI is a creative studio for generating images and videos with AI. Use engines like Flux, SDXL, GPT-Image 1.5, and Kling to produce portraits, art, and motion, then refine with face swap, upscaling, relighting, and an AI image editor. Train custom LoRA models to build consistent characters and run workflows across apps. Explore community creations, access a library of tools, and monetize photo packs as you grow your audience.
The Snapdragon X EliteΒ was just the start for Qualcomm as the company made a killer statement by entering the Windows-powered laptop space with its first flagship chipset. The San Diego firm had previously introduced the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme and Snapdragon X2 EliteΒ last year, with the less powerful SoC taken through its paces in a series of CPU and GPU benchmarks. Whatβs surprising about the results is that, in some cases, Qualcommβs Snapdragon X2 Elite ends up beating the M5 while running circles around its immediate predecessor. Whatβs even more impressive is that the Snapdragon X2 Elite beats the M5 [β¦]
A Guatemalan family recently stunned Samsung by trading in their 39-year-old "workhorse" CRT TV for a new LCD βand started a journey that's seen the set become an exhibit at the company's HQ.
All the ways to watch Super Bowl 2026 halftime show live streams for FREE from anywhere, with Bad Bunny performing at the Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.
Winter Rebirth Island in Call of Duty: Warzone brought with it some new secrets to find, like these two old blueprints brought back. You can't keep them, but they're easy to get every match.
KIRO is a tech-enabled chiropractic membership redefining physical care in New York City. Built for people who sit, travel, commute, and work long hours, KIRO offers consistent, doctor-guided care without insurance friction or confusing pricing. Members receive all their chiropractic care for one simple monthly price in modern, open-concept studios, fully managed through the KIRO mobile app. No front desk, no paperworkβjust care that fits real life.
The method, described in Advanced Materials, replaces the slow, multi-step molding and casting process that traditionally defines soft robotics. Researchers have figured out how to 3D-print structures that twist, curl, or bend exactly as programmed, just by pumping air into their built-in channels.
Meet your new personal photographer. Portraius isn't just another headshot generator; it is an AI-powered studio dedicated to your authentic self. By training a custom "Digital Twin" engine on your unique features, we eliminate the uncanny valley and deliver high-fidelity portraits that actually look like youβonly more vibrant.
Whether you need a polished profile picture or a cinematic editorial spread, Portraius lets you curate professional aesthetics instantly. Forget the sterile, plastic look of standard AI; explore curated styles like "Golden Hour" or "Autumn Set" to produce consistent, art-directed photography that elevates your personal brand without the studio session.
NVIDIA's consumer GPU plans are looking pretty interesting now, as a new report claims the company plans to extend the RTX 50 series with a new addition. NVIDIA's Next GPU Could be the GeForce RTX 5090 Ti, Boasting Higher Performance For Its 'Dearly' AI Customers Team Green hasn't talked too much about gamers at all this year, apart from DLSS 4.5, but we won't go into that. In terms of gaming GPUs, well, at CES 2026, we didn't see anything from NVIDIA at all, despite expecting the RTX 50 SUPER series. According to a recent report, the company has no [β¦]
Intel's 18A process was a breakthrough for the foundry division, especially with a successful Panther Lake launch, but here's why external adoption is limited for now. Intel's PowerVia Technology Paves The Way Towards Future Customer Commitments, But Not Right Now Intel Foundry has been struggling with customer commitments for several years now, but the division has worked extensively on the 18A process, with foundations laid by ex-CEO Pat Gelsinger. The node has seen recent success with its integration into the Panther Lake lineup, and given how Intel's latest APU platform has turned out, experts are optimistic about Intel Foundry's progress. [β¦]
Amazon is celebrating the Super Bowl today by offering stunningly low prices on big-screen TVs from brands like Samsung, Sony, LG, and TCL, starting at just $349.99.
The negotiations, which took place last year, signal how deeply automation is beginning to influence professional services markets that have long been defined by human labor. For decades, audit pricing has reflected time, expertise, and regulatory complexity. Now, tools powered by machine learning and generative AI are changing that calculus.
AI Person ID introduces a universal, sovereign digital identity designed for both humans and artificial intelligences. Unlike traditional IDs, it combines identity, inbox, email, and a digital wallet into a single interoperable layer. It enables secure communication, authentication, and transactions without relying on centralized platforms. Built for a future where humans and AIs coexist, collaborate, and transact with trust by design.
The X50 combines eye-catching curved aesthetics with practical features like extensive fan support, large GPU clearance, and excellent noise-normalized thermal performance.
The Heat Pass Block first appeared in Samsung's 2nm Exynos 2600, reportedly delivering a 16 percent improvement in thermal resistance. It's a copper-based layer built directly onto the processor die, providing a direct pathway for heat to dissipate before it can radiate through surrounding components.
Clarity is a Digital Life Manager for Mac, not just another photo app. Organize over 100,000 files with AI face recognition, find duplicates instantly, protect sensitive content in an encrypted vault with Face ID, and remove hidden metadata for GDPR compliance. Built by a solo developer over 12 months, it has over 100,000 lines of Swift code. Everything runs 100% offlineβyour files never leave your device. It's a one-time purchase with no subscription.
Apple is gearing up for a veritable product launch galore in the next few weeks, which could see the debut of the iPhone 17e, the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro, and the iOS 26.4 update cycle - bringing with it the revamped Siri, replete with enhanced AI capabilities. Apple iPhone 17e launch is "imminent" According to Mark Gurman's latest Power On newsletter, the launch of the iPhone 17e appears "imminent." This aligns with our recent reporting on the topic, where we noted that, as per the rumors circulating within Apple's case and accessory manufacturing circles, the Cupertino giant [β¦]
Nvidia is pushing back against claims that it trained AI models on pirated books, telling a federal court that alleged contact with Annaβs Archive doesnβt amount to proof of copyright infringement.
All the ways to watch Liverpool vs Man City live streams online and from anywhere, with Pep Guardiola's side looking to secure their first win at Anfield in the Premier League since 2003.
A pair of lawmakers in New York wants to put a pause on new data centres in the state for the next three years and ninety days, for the state to be able to assess the impact on water, electricity and gas usage. New York would follow in the footsteps of Georgia, Maryland, Oklahoma, Vermont and Virginiaβaccording to Wiredβwith Florida also considering legislation.
New York state has at least 133 data centres, with most being located in New York City and Buffalo, followed by Albany and Long Island, which according to National Grid New York President Sally Librera will see the electricity demand jump to 10 GW over the next five years. Common among all the states is that the cost of electricity and other utilities have increased, with electricity prices by around 13 percent in 2025. Some of the states want the data centres to "pay their own way", although considering the time it takes to build the infrastructure needed, this might end up being a problem with the current growth rate of new datacentres. With an increasing number of US states considering moratoriums for new datacentres, the current AI boom might have hit a snag that none of the companies involved can get around.
Rather than delid the $12,000 workstation chip, the team reverse-engineered its heat spreader to design a replacement from scratch. They borrowed an integrated heat spreader (IHS) through Asus China's general manager Tony Yu and then used older Ryzen Threadripper 1900X chips as test subjects.
ViewFi is a video advertising platform where users earn rewards per view using the ViewFi P token, with transparent USD-based pricing. Users log in to watch curated videos across Web3, games, art, and culture, and earn tokens that can be exchanged for USD. Advertisers can directly reach crypto-native and highly engaged users.
In our 'eagle's view' of the RAM market, we have noticed that the price trend has become more consistent over the past few days, but the reason isn't optimistic. Memory Prices Are Reaching Stability, But Suppliers Are Still Looking to Reap More Profits We all hope that memory modules will become affordable for consumers, but recent price trends and supply chain conditions suggest prices will only increase in 2026. While looking at RAM price trends on PCPartPicker, we noticed that both DDR4 and DDR5 were 'flattening out'. There are many reasons behind such a price movement, but calling the memory [β¦]
There's probably nothing that stops AMD from releasing FSR 4 for non-RDNA 4 GPUs, but it just keeps avoiding it. AMD Says "No Updates to Share at This Time" in Response to Whether it Will Release FSR 4 for Previous-Gen RDNA GPUs It has been proven multiple times that AMD's latest FSR 4 upscaler works on older RDNA GPUs such as RDNA 2 and RDNA 3. This isn't something new, as we have been seeing users finding workarounds to turn on FSR 4 on RX 6000 and RX 7000 GPUs using the leaked files. When AMD accidentally released the INT8 [β¦]
The AM4 platform has been constantly dominating in the mainstream market, and despite AM5 being the most popular platform, AM4 still has the best-selling chipsets. AMD B550 Chipset Motherboards Remain the Best-Selling Motherboards in NA and EU Regions It doesn't surprise us to see AM4 making a comeback since the eye-watering DDR5 RAM prices and expensive AM5/LGA 1851 platform have made building a decently fast computer insanely difficult. While DDR4 prices have been rapidly increasing at almost the same rate as DDR5 RAM kits, the overall cost for DDR4 platforms is still comparatively lower than DDR5 platforms due to several [β¦]
G.Skill unleashed a big 128GB memory kit from its Trident Z5 Neo RGB lineup, explicitly designed for AMD Ryzen CPUs. Is it worth your hard-earned cash?
How to watch Super Bowl in Canada for free, as the Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots in the NFL championship game on Sunday, February 8
Dell resurrected its XPS 14 and XPS 16 for 2026, and they arrive with an all-new design and new performance hardware. I can help you choose the right laptop for your needs based on design, performance, display, and more.
Welcome to the second week of February and another packed week of new releases, even though none of them are AAA titles. The major release this week comes from the creators of Little Nightmares and to no surprise, we're talking a co-op horror adventure. The week kicks off with a bad bout of the Monday's, followed by some artifact hunting and a trip to Japan. Next up we have some motorcycle racing, followed by a sequel of a rather crazy game on alien planets. On top of all of that, we have a few extra games that didn't quite make the list, but that we reckon some of you might be interested in.
Reanimal / This week's major release / Friday 13 February
The original creators of Little Nightmares & Little Nightmares II have returned to take you on a more terrifying journey than ever before. In this co-op horror adventure game, you play as a brother & sister who go through hell to rescue their missing friends. Exploring by boat and on land, you must use your wits to survive, work together to escape the hellish island, and the dark secret that haunts you. Steam link
AMD has an easy win sitting right in front of it, yet it's choosing not to take it. FSR 4 already works on older Radeon GPUs, so why is AMD still holding it back?
JobScoutly is a free resume builder and job board that helps you create ATS-optimized resumes and find roles that fit your experience. Paste a job description, and its AI suggests targeted improvements, formats your resume with ATS-friendly templates, and lets you download PDFs instantly. You can upload your resume to get matched with fresh listings pulled from verified company career pages, including remote, entry-level, and internship opportunities. Build unlimited resumes and apply with confidence.
Play the Event streamlines planning for everything from birthdays to corporate gatherings. You can create events with dates, locations, and descriptions, send invitations, and track RSVPs in real-time. Manage guest lists, seating, dietary preferences, and collaborate with others.
Build timelines with reminders, use interactive maps for venues, and monitor budgets with cost splits and expense reports. View analytics and forecasts to stay on schedule and on budget while focusing on your guests.
Slingshot is a personal finance platform for modeling retirement and other financial questions. It projects portfolio value, spending, and net worth over time using fixed or variable strategies and inputs. Slingshot provides your retirement income taxable source over time and Monte Carlo simulations, going beyond other free tools. Your personal financial data never leaves your device.
The model is completely transparent, with every technical assumption and calculation rationale clearly outlined, so you can trust the numbers. You can explore the interactive charts or download the raw CSV to verify the data yourself!
OpenClaw (formerly Moltbot and Clawdbot) has announced that it's partnering with Google-owned VirusTotal to scan skills that are being uploaded to ClawHub, its skill marketplace, as part of broader efforts to bolster the security of the agentic ecosystem.
"All skills published to ClawHub are now scanned using VirusTotal's threat intelligence, including their new Code Insight capability,"
Saddle Data is a visual, developer-friendly data pipeline platform designed to bridge the gap between brittle custom scripts and overpriced enterprise tools. We help engineering teams move data from sources like Postgres, Stripe, and HubSpot to warehouses like Snowflake and BigQuery without the maintenance burden of coding it yourself or the unpredictable bills of volume-based vendors. Saddle Data handles the heavy lifting of ETL by automatically detecting schema changes, enforcing types, and managing incremental upserts, ensuring your pipeline doesn't break when your app updates. You get the reliability of an enterprise stack with the simplicity that modern startups demand.
Marina Trace is a private maritime intelligence network for vetted marina operators. It delivers early operational awareness about vessels, helping you reduce surprises and protect revenue. You can search by HIN, VIN, state registration, or USCG documentation to see whether a boat has crossed paths with other participating marinas. The network is anchored to a national HIN reference dataset of over 6 million U.S. vessels, used solely for compliant verification and matching. There are no owner profiles or public accessβjust actionable information to support your intake decisions and day-to-day operations.
Rentixt collects honest reviews from people who have lived in a property, so renters can see what a home is really like before moving in. You can check real experiences about maintenance, noise, and landlord behavior and share your own review to help others make better decisions.
Rentixt also adds helpful local details, such as nearby schools and transit, so you get a better sense of the neighborhood too. Our goal is simple: to give renters the transparency theyβve always needed so moving to a new home feels much less like a gamble.
LayoverLink helps flight crews make the most of layovers with time-smart recommendations tailored to your available hours. Discover curated local eats, quick attractions, and hidden gems, then search, save, and plan quickly. Connect with fellow crew members, swap tips, and explore cities together between flights. LayoverLink streamlines decisions so you can turn downtime into memorable experiences.
The company that started the entire wave of AI infrastructure and development is now enjoying the fruits of its work. NVIDIA has deployed generative AI tools across its company to an astonishing 30,000 engineers. In a partnership with San Francisco-based Anysphere Inc., the company is getting a customized version of the Cursor integrated developer environment, which focuses on AI code design. This is important to note as NVIDIA's engineers are now reportedly producing as much as three times the code compared to the previous development pipeline, and we are now probably using NVIDIA's products or services that have been designed by AI guided by humans.
NVIDIA offers a range of mission-critical products that cannot afford to be as error-prone as most AI-generated code tends to be. This includes GPU drivers that support everything from basic gaming to large-scale AI training and inference operations. The company is likely enforcing strict guidelines for its newly generated code, with an extensive range of tests required before the code is deployed in production. This isn't the first time NVIDIA has utilized AI-assisted workflows in its products. The company has already implemented a dedicated supercomputer that has been continuously enhancing DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) for several years, and some chip designs have been optimized using the company's internal AI tools.
In an exclusive report for VideoCardz, Intel is reportedly targeting an LPDDR5X memory speed of 8,533 MT/s for its upcoming Core Ultra G3 series of "Panther Lake" chips arriving in the second quarter for handheld gaming devices. After we learned that Intel is imposing certain memory mandates on its OEM partners, it seems like the Core Ultra G3 will face similar mandates from the company to prevent OEMs from "cutting corners" and implementing slower LPDDR5X memory. For the new handheld-tuned Core Ultra G3 and G3 Extreme, that specification is now set to 8,533 MT/s, which is slightly below its flagship "Panther Lake" Core Ultra X SKUs that can support LPDDR5X memory running at 9,600 MT/s.
Presumably, Intel will require OEM partners and makers of the next-generation handheld consoles to use this 8,533 MT/s memory on both SKUs. These chips will feature a 14-core CPU configuration, including two P-Cores, eight E-Cores, and four LPE-Cores. A key selling point of these SoCs is the Arc integrated graphics, with the G3 Extreme offering 12 Xe3 cores and the standard G3 featuring 10 Xe3 cores. The G3 Extreme plans to run the Arc B380 iGPU with 12 Xe3 cores at 2.3 GHz, just 200 MHz below the flagship Core Ultra X9 388H's Arc B390. Essentially, G3 Extreme handhelds can expect gaming performance similar to that of the flagship SKU, albeit with two fewer P-Cores and a slightly lower GPU clock speed. The regular G3 maintains its CPU capabilities, but the GPU is reduced to a 10-core Xe3 IP called Arc B360, with a GPU boost frequency of 2.2 GHz, resulting in a notable decrease in both gaming performance and TDP.
Chetmail delivers a daily email digest of updates from across the web. You can add websites, blogs, or RSS feeds and filter by keywords to include or exclude what matters. Set your delivery time, view rich previews, and receive search notifications to ensure you never miss mentions or competitor moves. Chetmail respects your privacy by processing sources and deleting data after sending.
[UPDATE - February 8, 2026] Epic Games Senior Communications Manager Brian Sharon reached out to Wccftech to provide Epic's official response to Santa Ragione. You can find it below in its entirety. Our team played the game and found it violated the Epic Games Storeβs Content Guidelines, specifically the βInappropriate Contentβ and βHateful or Abusive Contentβ policies. We did a secondary check by filling out the ratings questionnaire for the game ourselves and the content got an Adults Only (AO) rating β which we do not allow on the Store. Because this wasnβt an official submission, we do not have [β¦]
Learn With Meko creates personalized learning paths and detailed lessons tailored to your goals. In seconds, its AI generates complete syllabi and schedules semester-length courses with progressive modules, study sessions, and milestone projects. You can track progress, learn at your own pace, and move from beginner to expert across subjects from Python to guitar.
Well, everyone is concerned about what tech giants are doing when it comes to AI spending, but apparently, the NVIDIA CEO doesn't feel the investments are something 'surprising'. NVIDIA's Jensen Huang Calls the AI CapEX Bumps 'Sustainable', Rejecting the Overspending Claims The AI frenzy is evolving with aggressive momentum heading into 2026, as we have seen the first indication that the technology is approaching an 'inflection' point, following quarterly earnings from Amazon, Google, and Meta. It appears Big Tech is in a race to spend more on AI, which is why CapEx figures have grown to levels no one would've [β¦]
Optimum Tech has shown the faintest burn-in on its OLED monitor after 3,000 hours of use over two years, primarily from close to 500 hours of Overwatch. All that gameplay burned in the player card and health bar in the bottom-left corner, only really visible on specific colored backgrounds if you pixel peep.
Nesmith, a veteran designer whose career stretches from early Apple II titles to leading work on Bethesda's open-world RPGs, noted in a recent interview that for roughly 15 years, a full-price boxed or digital release held at $59.95 in the United States, with no adjustments for inflation or rising development costs.
Verity Workspace is a dedicated writing tool for fiction authors who need more than just a word processor. It combines manuscript editing with deep world-building tools, allowing you to track characters, locations, factions, magic systems, and timelines all in one place.
Whether you're drafting a standalone novel or managing a multi-book series, Verity keeps your story bible organized and your creative vision consistent. Focus Mode strips away distractions, while features like the Continuity Tracker and Relationship Network ensure nothing slips through the cracks as your world grows.
Microsoft is preparing a significant change to how printers are supported in Windows 11, ending support for drivers that primarily support older hardware.
Intel XeSS 3 Frame Generation is shown to work effectively, even on entry-level GPUs. Cyberpunk 2077 increased from 55 to 60 FPS to as high as 140 FPS with MFG enabled.
New leaks point toward a March 23 embargo lift for review of Intel's upcoming Arrow Lake refresh. However, this batch appears to include only three chips, with the Core Ultra 9 290K Plus absent from the lineup. Early pricing for these three processors has also leaked out, showing reductions across the board.
Waymo's chief safety officer, Mauricio PeΓ±a, recently noted that when the company's robotaxis encounter unusual situations, they may switch control to the remote drivers. While some of the contractors work in the US, many operate from other countries, such as the Philippines.
Material won a $1.25β―million contract from the US Air Force to validate the 3D-printing technology earlier this year. The 18-month project aims to demonstrate how printed, conformable batteries could transform design freedom for defense and aerospace hardware.
Google has rolled out version 50.0.23 of the Play Store, continuing its steady cadence of under-the-hood updates. As usual, this release focuses on stability and performance rather than flashy new features. You can check your current version under Settings > About in the Play Store app, and if you're behind, you can download the latest build right here.
Commissioned offers fine-tuning as a service, allowing you to turn your conversations, documents, or codebases into high-performing LLMs. Upload your data and it handles cleaning, formatting, and deduplication, then trains and deploys to providers like OpenAI, Gemini, or open source in minutes. A free tier lets you start without infrastructure or ML expertise, reducing integration work and avoiding vendor-specific data formats.
If you want to risk frying your GPU, you may try the newly leaked 1000 Watt BIOS, specifically designed for the MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z. RTX 5090 Lightning Z 1000W BIOS Uploaded on Techpowerup Database, Allowing Users to Flash it on Different RTX 5090 Models from Non-MSI Vendors If the 800W leaked BIOS wasn't enough, users can now download the 1000W BIOS file from TechPowerUp for their GeForce RTX 5090 GPU. NVIDIA RTX 5090, which is usually capped at 600W, can now pull significantly higher power using the latest BIOSes, which are specifically made for the latest MSI GeForce [β¦]
That Apple is able to leverage its heft and the resulting economies of scale to negotiate a fairly reasonable price point for the iPhone batteries won't give anyone a pause in this day and age. However, Apple's phenomenal margins on battery replacements likely will. A 5,088mAh battery that powers the iPhone 17 Pro Max reportedly costs Apple just $12 In an X post discussing the de-merits of silicon-carbon batteries, the tipster SchrΓΆdinger has shared a valuable nugget of information: the 5,088mAh battery that powers the iPhone 17 Pro Max costs Apple $12, while a 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery typically costs $18, [β¦]
Best Buy has a special 20% discount for the ASUS ROG Strix G16, an incredible AMD laptop for gaming that's now become one of the cheapest ways to get your hands on an RTX 5070 Ti laptop.
Macworld reports that Apple is set to launch the iPhone 17e this spring, possibly as soon as late February. Likely keeping its predecessor's $599 starting price, the entry-level phone is expected to be a cut-down version of the iPhone 17, with several upgrades over the iPhone 16e.
Asus leads the way with its reference standard ProArt PA32KCX. Itβs an 8K 7680x4320 pixel Mini LED 32-inch professional monitor with 4,032 dimming zones, 1,200 nits peak brightness, and support for every major color spec.
Canada-based VPN company Windscribe says that Dutch law enforcement took their server in Europe without a warrant, claiming that law enforcement will return it after they "fully analyze it."
The move would represent a notable change of course for Apple. Until now, Siri has been the only voice assistant allowed to operate within CarPlay's interface. Opening the system to external AI models would let drivers access chatbots for everything from restaurant suggestions to quick research, all through a spoken...
Connect4Patients helps patients and caregivers stay informed, connected, and confident in every decision by making health information simpler, smarter, and easier to access.
OneScan lets you scan any product barcode and instantly compare prices across Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, eBay, and Kroger. You receive real-time price updates, deal alerts, and curated daily deals so you always buy at the best price. Track your scan history and price trends, then jump to the cheapest retailer with a tap to save time and money on every purchase.
Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (aka Bundesamt fΓΌr Verfassungsschutz or BfV) and Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) have issued a joint advisory warning of a malicious cyber campaign undertaken by a likely state-sponsored threat actor that involves carrying out phishing attacks over the Signal messaging app.
"The focus is on high-ranking targets in
OpenAI is chomping at the proverbial bit to bring its first consumer AI device, bearing the internal codename Sweetpea, to the market by the second half of 2026. However, the device is now expected to chronically underdeliver on its promised potential, if the latest tidbit from a source pans out. OpenAI's Sweetpea, which will reportedly go on sale under the consumer name Dime, is already falling victim to the ongoing memory crisis While speaking at the Axios House Davos event of this year's World Economic Forum, OpenAI's Lehane chose to disclose that the startup's first consumer AI device constituted one [β¦]
Three SKUs from the Refresh lineup will have their reviews published officially next month, while the whereabouts of one SKU remain unknown. Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and Core Ultra 5 250K/KF SKUs Review Embargo Reportedly Lifts on March 23; Core Ultra 9 290K Plus Reportedly Gets Cancelled Intel has yet to announce Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs, and despite seeing numerous leaks, we don't have a specific date from the company when we can expect these chips in the market. However, given that some motherboard vendors have started preparing their new BIOS updates to support Arrow Lake Refresh, including [β¦]
Appleβs low-cost iPhone launch strategy lived on with the arrival of the iPhone 16e, with the company quickly moving to unveil the iPhone 17e, its immediate successor, in the coming weeks. Naturally, to save up on production costs as much as possible and in light of the DRAM shortage, there isnβt expected to be much of a cosmetic difference, but you might be interested in whatβs underneath the hood. Hereβs everything you need to know about the iPhone 17eβs launch, features, and specifications. Design and display A transition to the Dynamic Island instead of a notch is about the only [β¦]
Intel's answer to AMD's handheld dominance was teased at CES 2026 with reports pointing toward a Q1 2026 launch, but new info says the release has been pushed back to Q2 2026. The alleged "Core G3" series will feature two SKUs, both 14-core configs, with new iGPUs: Arc B360 with 10 Xe cores and Arc B380 with 12 Xe cores.
A Linux enthusiast has ported the Windows version of Thermalright's AIO cooler control center software to Linux. Linux users can now control their AIO cooler screens directly from Linux.
WeryAI is a free all-in-one platform for generating videos, images, and music. It aggregates leading models like Kling, Google Veo, Sora, FLUX, and Wan AI in one dashboard, letting you switch styles and get high-quality results quickly. You can use text-to-video, image-to-video, and text-to-image, then refine your content with tools like face swap, lip sync, background removal, subtitle eraser, and 4K upscaler. Creators, marketers, and developers can animate photos, transfer motion, and export in HD or 4K without complex editing.
mnf.ai is an AI screenwriting platform for writers and filmmakers to draft, refine, and pitch scripts. It co-writes with you while preserving your voice, formats to industry standards, and offers alternate takes, character notes, genre awareness, mood matching, conflict builders, and inline edits. Collaborate in real time with teams, translate scripts for global festivals, and auto-generate pitch decks. Protect authorship with blockchain-backed attribution and monetize finished work through its creators marketplace.
hybrED.ai is an AI-powered tutoring platform that transforms how students use artificial intelligence. Instead of providing answers like ChatGPT, hybrED uses the Socratic Method to guide students through problems step by step, promoting real understanding instead of digital dependence. It supports K-12 students across all subjects with features such as homework camera scanning, gamified learning, and multi-LLM intelligence.
Parents stay informed with built-in safety monitoring and progress alerts, while educators receive a tool that reinforces classroom teachings.
Noctua has earned itself a reputation in the enthusiast space not only for its highly efficient air coolers, but also for its free mounting upgrade kit policy, which allows buyers of Noctua coolers to request a new mounting kit when a new motherboard socket from AMD or Intel launches, even years after they've purchased their original cooler. The company recently announced that it has shipped 500,000 of these free mounting upgrade kits since the project started way back in 2006 with the AMD AM2 socket. Noctua also promises that "as new sockets and architectures appear, we will continue to provide free mounting or upgrade kits where technically feasible."
Noctua explains that the ethos behind the program is to "ensure that a quality product remains useful for many years," and, in the blog post celebrating the achievement, it explains that change in approach meant rethinking the design of its coolers. New coolers designed by Noctua from 2006 onwards would need to be modular and standardized to maintain support across different platforms and generations. Noctua elaborated that part of the justification for the past and ongoing commitment to the free upgrade program is as much about the environment as it is about customer service and technical compatibility. Theoretically, 500,000 mounting kit upgrades means that up to 500,000 perfectly functional CPU coolers were kept out of the e-waste pile, conserving raw materials and cutting down on waste.
Intel's Arc graphics solutions initially had a rough start to life on the Linux side of things, but it seems as though the tide is changing. Phoronix recently tested the new Panther Lake Intel Arc B390 iGPU in the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, comparing the new iGPU to the venerable Radeon 890M in the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, and, surprisingly, Intel's iGPU consistently outpaces the Radeon iGPU, which isn't a surprise if you've been keeping track of early benchmarks on Windows. The publication tested the new Xe3 integrated graphics in an MSI Prestige 14 running the latest Mesa 26.0 drivers on Linux Kernel version 6.19 on Ubuntu 26.04.
When it comes to gaming, the only games in which the Xe3 iGPU was bested by the AMD competition were Counterstrike 2, running at 1920Γ1200, and Quake II RTX. In every other game, the Intel Arc B390 beat both the AMD competition and the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and Core Ultra 7 258V significantly. Depending on the game and in-game settings, the Arc B390 was anywhere between 15% and upwards of 50%. Hitman 3 was a particularly impressive outlier, with the B390 managing to get over 50% more FPS than the nearest competitor and 64% more FPS than the Radeon 890M at 1920Γ1200 and low settings, with similar gains at medium quality settings, and a slightly less impressive performance improvement when bumping up to ultra settings.
On episode 340 of PPC Live The Podcast, I speak toΒ Amanda Farley, CMO of Aimclear and a multi-award-winning marketing leader, brings a mix of honesty and expertise to the PPC Live conversation. A self-described T-shaped marketer, she combines deep PPC knowledge with broad experience across social, programmatic, PR, and integrated strategy. Her journey β from owning an gallery and tattoo studio to leading award-winning global campaigns β reflects a career built on curiosity, resilience, and continuous learning.
Overcoming limiting beliefs and embracing creativity
Amanda once ran an gallery and tattoo parlor while believing she wasnβt an artist herself. Surrounded by creatives, she eventually realized her only barrier was a limiting belief. After embracing painting, she created hundreds of artworks and discovered a powerful outlet for expression.
This mindset shift mirrors marketing growth. Success isnβt just technical β itβs mental. By challenging internal doubts, marketers can unlock new skills and opportunities.
When campaign infrastructure breaks: A high-stakes lesson
Amanda recalls a global campaign where tracking infrastructure failed across every channel mid-flight. Pixels broke, data vanished, and campaigns were running blind. Multiple siloed teams and a third-party vendor slowed resolution while budgets continued to spend.
Instead of assigning blame, Amanda focused on collaboration. Her team helped rebuild tracking and uncovered deeper data architecture issues. The crisis led to stronger onboarding processes, earlier validation checks, and clearer expectations around data hygiene. In modern PPC, clean infrastructure is essential for machine learning success.
The hidden importance of PPC hygiene
Many account audits reveal the same problem: neglected fundamentals. Basic settings errors and poorly maintained audience data often hurt performance before strategy even begins.
Outdated lists and disconnected data systems weaken automation. In an machine-learning environment, strong data hygiene ensures campaigns have the quality signals they need to perform.
Why integrated marketing is no longer optional
Amandaβs background in psychology and SEO shaped her integrated approach. PPC touches landing pages, user experience, and sales processes. When conversions drop, the issue may lie outside the ad account.
Understanding the full customer journey allows marketers to diagnose problems holistically. For Amanda, integration is a practical necessity, not a buzzword.
AI, automation, and the human factor
While AI dominates industry conversations, Amanda stresses balance. Some tools are promising, but not all are ready for full deployment. Testing is essential, but human oversight remains critical.
Machines optimize patterns, but humans judge emotion, messaging, and brand fit. Marketers who study changing customer journeys can also find new opportunities to intercept audiences across channels.
Building a culture that welcomes mistakes
Amanda believes leaders act as emotional barometers. Calm investigation beats reactive blame when issues arise. Many PPC problems stem from external changes, not individual failure.
By acknowledging stress and focusing on solutions, leaders create psychological safety. This environment encourages experimentation and turns mistakes into learning opportunities.
Testing without fear in an changing landscape
Marketing is entering another experimental era with no clear rulebook. Amanda encourages teams to dedicate budget to testing and lean on professional communities for insight.
Not every experiment will succeed, but each provides data that informs smarter future decisions.
The tasmanian devil who practices yoga
Amanda describes her career as If the Tasmanian Devil Could Do Yoga β a blend of fast-paced chaos and intentional calm. It reflects modern marketing: demanding, unpredictable, and balanced by thoughtful leadership.
WorkPage delivers real-time alignment monitoring for product teams and AI agents. It surfaces miscommunication and spec mismatches, alerts you before rework, and shows who needs to sync to keep delivery moving. Connect Figma, Jira, Slack, Confluence, GitHub, Notion, and Linear to gain operational intelligence across your lifecycle. Track multi-project alignment, enforce specification compliance, and analyze ROI trends while reducing meetings and context switching.
Lifestylo is an AI-powered life journal that turns your notes, activities, and vital signs into a coherent story. It chats with you, tracks your mood and routines, and surfaces patterns that shape your wellbeing. Use Oracle, its adaptive companion, to set goals, build habits, and get tailored advice. Reflect on past entries, make sense of the present, and act on insights to create a happier, more balanced life.
Apple compromised on its principles by partnering with Taboola, a veritable fount of scammy and untrustworthy ads, and Apple's consumers are now having to contend with the result: a deluge of shoddy advertisements on Apple News. Apple News ads appear to be deteriorating by the day in terms of quality The veteran tech journalist, Kirk McElhearn, has just penned an interesting post, titled "I Now Assume that All Ads on Apple News Are Scams." For the benefit of those who might not be aware, Apple struck a deal with Taboola, one of the largest ad-tech companies in the world, back [β¦]
Investors Email helps founders book investor meetings through managed cold email outreach that protects your domain reputation. It provides pre-warmed sending domains, an AI-matched database of over 200,000 verified VCs and angels, and personalized messages at scale. The platform handles warmup, scheduling, deliverability, and bounce filtering, then forwards real investor replies to your inbox so you can continue from your own domain, with analytics on opens, clicks, and replies.
All the ways to watch Winter Olympics cross-country skiing 2026 live streams for FREE, as the world's best skiers try to stop Norway from dominating the podium.
Apple continues to keep us in suspense as the M5 Pro and M5 Max launches remain in limbo, with the only concrete details available to us being that these chipsets will arrive in the first half of 2026. Recently, evidence of only the M5 Max and M5 Ultra was referenced in iOS 26.3 Beta, with the M5 Pro strangely missing. This led us to believe that Apple may add it later in the code, but one YouTuber had an βEurekaβ moment when he said that the βmiddle of the packβ SoC is just another rebranded M5 Max that utilizes the [β¦]
After the colossal success of ARC Raiders, dev Embark Studios has "long-term security," and has two new games in the works that "we hope to finish someday."
Intel's "Arrow Lake Refresh" has not even been released, but the company has already canceled its flagship SKU planned for this refresh cycle, according to a report from VideoCardz. Two sources close to the media note that Intel's flagship Core Ultra 9 290K Plus might not roll out at all, despite the massive hype and leaked benchmarks indicating that Intel is releasing this CPU SKU as part of the "Arrow Lake Refresh" generation expected to arrive in March or April. Reportedly, Intel will instead focus on delivering value with its Core Ultra 7 270K Plus SKU, which carries 8 P-Cores and 16 E-Cores and a 5.5 GHz maximum turbo boost. For individual boosting frequency, P-Cores top out at 5.4 GHz, while the base runs at 3.7 GHz. For E-Cores, the boost frequency is set to a maximum of 4.7 GHz, while the base is set at 3.2 GHz.
As for a possible reason why Intel would cancel this SKU, the sources close to VideoCardz note that product overlap is the main issue, as the flagship Core Ultra 9 290K Plus would have the same core configuration as the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, just with slightly higher clock speeds. Additionally, Intel already maintains a Core Ultra 9 285K SKU from the regular "Arrow Lake" family, meaning that the company would have three similar SKUs at the very top of the stack. This way, it would only have to maintain two products, which would simplify manufacturing and supply chain logistics, allowing Intel to spend more time preparing for the next-generation "Nova Lake" launch later this year.
The company shared results from a new set of experiments with TechCrunch, suggesting that it could eliminate one of the most expensive and complex components of its fusion process β the laser preheating system β by making subtle adjustments to the machinery that ignites the reaction.
The mysterious businessman pitched Jeffrey Epstein on numerous mobility startups in an era when the sector was white hot, according to TechCrunch's review of hundreds of documents released by the Department of Justice.
The acquisition could mark the beginning of consolidation in the carbon-removal market since removal costs remain higher than buyers would like to pay.
Login
To mark Safer Internet Day in the UK, weβre highlighting the ways students, parents and educators can work together to ensure safe, effective learning.From setting screeβ¦ 
Around the world, people of all ages β including young people β are using AI to learn. A few easy steps can help you do so more safely. 
Google shares an update on its work and suggestions for how policymakers can help everyone be more secure in the Quantum Era. 
