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May 6
- Renewable Energy: Achieving 100% Autonomy with RESAT
➀ The Universität der Bundeswehr München developed RESAT, an interactive tool for analyzing and optimizing renewable energy systems to achieve cost-effective 100% energy autonomy;
➁ RESAT enables users to visualize configurations, compare technologies (e.g., photovoltaics vs. wind power), and assess impacts of storage systems and cost changes;
➂ The tool serves citizens, municipalities, businesses, and educators, with plans to expand to heat and other consumption areas in the future.
May 5
- Windows 11 24H2 update is now automatically downloading on some PCs
➀ Microsoft has entered the final phase of rolling out Windows 11 24H2, automatically pushing the update to unmanaged Home and Pro edition devices;
➁ Users can manually check for updates, but many will face automatic downloads with limited control over installation timing, potentially causing issues for storage-constrained devices;
➂ Despite Windows 10 still holding a 52.94% market share, Microsoft is aggressively promoting Windows 11 through ads and update prompts ahead of Windows 10's end-of-support in October 2025.
- Samsung Galaxy S26 May Usher In Another Silicon Chip Strategy Change
➀ Samsung may reintroduce its Exynos silicon into the Galaxy S26 flagship phones for 2026;
➁ The move is driven by significant financial losses from using only Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processors in the Galaxy S25 phones;
➂ The Exynos 2600 rollout may be limited to Europe due to low production yield of the 2-nanometer GAA process.
- Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7 Battle Pass LTM Paywall Rumor Sparks Gamer Outrage
➀ The trend in gaming in 2025 is that everything is getting more expensive, including the popular Call of Duty franchise.
➁ There are rumors that Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will have more expensive changes to its Battle Pass system.
➂ Some items, such as higher value rewards and loot, will be available only to Battle Pass owners, and Limited-Time Modes will be locked behind an additional fee.
- ASUS TUF Gaming T500 PC Goes Hybrid With A Laptop CPU And Desktop RTX GPU
➀ ASUS has introduced a new hybrid gaming PC, the TUF Gaming T500, which combines a mobile Intel Core i7 or Core i5 processor with a desktop NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti GPU.
➁ The system features a compact design suitable for small spaces like bedrooms and dorm rooms.
➂ It includes dual-channel DDR5 memory, PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and a 500W power supply.
- Microsoft finally retires Skype after 22 years of service
➀ Microsoft retires Skype after 22 years, urging users to migrate to Microsoft Teams by January 2026;
➀ Skype's journey from 2003's revolutionary PC-to-PC calls to its $8.5B acquisition by Microsoft in 2011, peaking at 40% global call market share;
➂ Teams' dominance post-pandemic (300M users) eclipsed Skype's decline (36M users), leading to Microsoft's strategic consolidation.
- US Bill Aims To Crack Down NVIDIA AI Chip Smuggling To China With Boot Locks
➀ Chip smugglers have found creative ways to sneak semiconductors into China, such as hiding them with live lobsters, inside fake baby bumps, and other means designed to evade customs and import/export restrictions.
➁ A U.S. lawmaker is pushing for a bill to require NVIDIA and other chip companies to equip their semiconductors with tracking technology.
➂ The bill aims to track chips more generally, allowing NVIDIA and the U.S. government to determine if advanced AI semiconductors are finding their way to China, and also introduces a kill switch to prevent chips from booting if they evade export controls.
- Nvidia RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell appears online with an eye-watering price tag of over $11,000
➀ NVIDIA's RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell workstation GPU, priced over $11,000, targets professionals in AI, HPC, and 3D rendering with 24,064 CUDA cores and 96GB GDDR7 memory;
➁ Despite higher specs than the consumer-grade RTX 5090, early benchmarks show it slightly trailing in performance, likely due to unfinished drivers and power limitations;
➂ The GPU's niche appeal lies in enterprise applications, with its cost justified by specialized workloads rather than consumer gaming.
- Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition review: a blue-chip convertible
➀ The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 features a premium build, a vibrant 14-inch OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, and impressive 12.5-hour battery life for a Windows ultrabook.
➁ While it excels in productivity and multimedia performance, it struggles with excessive bloatware, difficult repairability, and a divisive keyboard layout.
➂ Competitively priced at $1,499 with 32GB RAM, it offers strong value against the HP OmniBook Flip 14 and Apple's non-convertible MacBook Pro.
- Expanding access to advanced chip design capabilities: Launch of the EU Chips Design Platform
➀ A consortium of 12 European partners, coordinated by imec, launches the EU Chips Design Platform under the EU Chips Act to support fabless semiconductor startups and SMEs with cloud-based design resources, training, and funding;
➁ The platform offers access to EDA tools, IP libraries, fabrication pilot lines, and mentorship programs, aiming to reduce costs and accelerate time-to-market for chip innovations;
➂ Integrated with Europe’s broader semiconductor strategy, the initiative complements national competence centers and pilot lines like APECS and WBG, strengthening the continent’s industrial competitiveness through 2028.
- 10% surge in Taiwanese currency vs US dollar could hurt PC and components pricing
➀ The Taiwan Dollar (TWD) has surged 10% against the USD, marking its strongest appreciation in over 30 years, raising concerns about rising costs for electronics exports;
➁ Major Taiwanese tech firms like Acer, Asus, and TSMC face margin pressures, with semiconductor companies potentially absorbing 1.5% gross margin impacts per TWD appreciation;
➂ Taiwan's Central Bank intervened to stabilize the currency, attributing the surge to speculative trading and denying U.S. influence over exchange rates.
- Sensor-Based Waste Sorting Reduces Number of Battery Fires in Recycling Plants
➀ Fraunhofer IIS developed a sensor-based sorting system using X-ray and AI to detect and remove hazardous lithium-ion batteries from waste streams, addressing the root cause of 80% of fires in German recycling plants;
➁ The system employs high-speed X-ray imaging and AI algorithms adapted from autonomous driving to identify concealed batteries, followed by compressed air nozzles to isolate them;
➂ A prototype is undergoing testing and will be deployed at waste company LOBBE in June 2025, supported by German federal funding to advance AI-driven circular economy solutions.
- Fewer Battery Fires in Recycling Plants Thanks to Sensor-Based Waste Sorting
➀ Researchers at Fraunhofer IIS developed a sensor-based sorting system using X-ray and AI to detect and remove lithium-ion batteries from waste streams, reducing fire risks in recycling plants;
➁ The system combines high-speed conveyor belts, real-time X-ray imaging, and AI adapted from autonomous driving technology to identify batteries, followed by air nozzles for precise separation;
➂ Funded by the German government, the project is part of a broader initiative to advance AI applications in resource-efficient circular economies for plastic packaging.
- Buzzkill Nintendo Files Suit Against Genki For Switch 2 Mockups
➀ Nintendo has filed a lawsuit against Genki for displaying unauthorized mockups of the Switch 2 at CES;
➁ The lawsuit claims Genki violated Nintendo's trademarks and trade dress;
➂ Genki's early release of the Switch 2 mockups was seen as a questionable strategy.
- Google Is Developing Android Desktop Mode To Compete With DeX
➀ Companies often adopt or iterate on popular features from rivals to bring their products up to feature parity or to keep users in their ecosystem.
➁ Google's development of the 'inactivity robot' mirrors a feature already found on Apple's iOS 18.01.
➂ Now, Google is developing Android Desktop Mode to rival Samsung's DeX.
May 4
- Amazon lists the unannounced WD Black SN8100 with 14.9 GB/s reads for $225 (1TB)
➀ The WD Black SN8100 PCIe 5.0 SSD, with unannounced 14.9 GB/s read speeds, appears on Amazon Germany for $225 (1TB);
➁ Likely equipped with Silicon Motion's SM2508 controller and 218-layer TLC NAND, it outperforms competitors in sequential speeds but lags in random writes;
➂ Priced at 22.5 cents per GB, it targets enthusiasts despite higher costs compared to PCIe 4.0 alternatives.
- MSI Roamii BE Lite Wi-Fi 7 mesh router review: Affordable dual-band with class-leading long-range performance
➀ The MSI Roamii BE Lite is a budget-friendly dual-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh router offering wide coverage up to 5,800 sq. ft. but excludes the 6 GHz band, limiting full Wi-Fi 7 compliance;
➁ Despite using dual-band, it delivered stable long-range 5 GHz performance and outperformed competitors like TP-Link Deco BE5000 and Amazon Eero 7 in congested 25-foot tests;
➂ Priced at $225, it lacks 2.5 GbE LAN ports (only 1 GbE) and prioritizes affordability over cutting-edge specs, making it suitable for budget-conscious users.
- Brain interface used to edit YouTube video — paralyzed Neuralink patient also uses AI to narrate with his own voice
➀ Bradford Smith, a paralyzed ALS patient, used a Neuralink brain-computer interface (BCI) to edit and narrate a YouTube video solely with his thoughts, marking a groundbreaking advancement in assistive technology.
➀ The Neuralink BCI, implanted in his motor cortex, connects to a MacBook Pro via Bluetooth and uses tongue gestures to control a cursor, enabling seamless computer interaction without physical movement.
➁ AI voice synthesis reconstructed Smith’s natural speech using pre-diagnosis recordings, allowing him to narrate the video independently. Meanwhile, global BCI competitors like China’s Neucyber highlight the rapid pace of innovation in the field.
- Apple iPads Are Selling For Wonderfully Low Prices On These Deals
➀ Amazon recently announced its next Prime Day sales event, scheduled for July;
➁ Several Apple iPad models are on sale at Amazon, starting at $299 for the latest models;
➂ The latest 11-inch Apple iPad (128GB, Wi-Fi) is available for $299, featuring an A16 chip, USB-C connectivity, and 12-megapixel cameras;
➃ The 13-inch iPad Pro (512GB) is on sale for $1,299, with a more powerful M4 processor and advanced features like Thunderbolt and USB4 support.
- Glorious Series 2 Pro Wireless Review: Ultra-light and slightly smaller
➀ The Glorious Series 2 Pro Wireless is a 55g ultra-lightweight gaming mouse with symmetrical design and 8K polling rate, delivering smooth tracking performance;
➁ Its side buttons and scroll wheel suffer from average tactile feedback, and the design lacks differentiation compared to other similar mice;
➂ Priced at $129.99, it faces competition from cheaper alternatives like the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless.
- More compact Arm variants of Microsoft Surface Pro and Laptop lines leaked
➀ Microsoft will unveil compact 12-inch Surface Pro 11 and 13-inch Surface Laptop 7 with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chips at its May 6th event;
➁ Both devices feature UFS storage (up to 512GB), 16GB LPDDR5x RAM, and limited ports without bundled chargers;
➂ Specs differ from existing models with smaller displays, lower refresh rates, and ARM-based architecture targeting mobile productivity.
- Intel Arc Celestial Xe3 GPUs Confirmed Ready For Tape-Out Soon
➀ Intel's third-generation Celestial GPUs are confirmed to be on the way;
➁ The chips are currently in pre-silicon validation phase, with Intel working on power and voltage management;
➂ The Xe3 IP is designed to scale across various power classes, and the team is optimizing the frequency and power curves.
- Microsoft Amps Up War On Passwords With A Key Change To New Accounts
➀ Microsoft is enhancing its efforts against passwords by introducing a key change for new accounts;
➁ Existing users are encouraged to switch to passkeys;
➂ The company aims to auto-detect the safest login method for users.
May 3
- Dynatron coolers support up to 660W for Intel Diamond Rapids and AMD Venice CPUs
➀ Dynatron发布三款新型散热器，最高支持660W功耗，适配英特尔Diamond Rapids和AMD Venice下一代服务器CPU；
➁ AMD Venice将基于台积电N2工艺和Zen 6架构，采用SP7插槽；英特尔Diamond Rapids则采用18A工艺和Foveros Direct 3D堆叠技术，使用LGA 9324插槽；
➂ J24/J25散热器针对AMD平台设计，C21散热器专为英特尔平台打造，暗示两家公司服务器平台将迎来重大升级。
- Minecraft runs on 8MB of VRAM using a 20-year-old GPU
➀ A YouTube channel successfully ran Minecraft on a 20-year-old GPU (3D Phantom XP-2800) with only 8MB VRAM using an Athlon 64 CPU and Windows XP;
➁ The project required downgrading to Minecraft Alpha 1.2.6, custom SiS drivers, and extreme settings like 8x8 textures and disabling visual effects;
➂ The experiment highlights retro gaming enthusiasts pushing hardware limits, though performance remained at ~1 fps in later versions.
- Intel Arc Xe3 Celestial GPU enters pre-validation stage
➀ Intel's Xe3 Celestial GPU has entered pre-silicon validation, testing architecture via software models with OEMs and BIOS vendors;
➀ Employee profiles reveal progress in power management and firmware development, indicating advanced preparation for system integration;
➂ The GPU is on track for potential release in 12-18 months, though Intel remains silent on higher-end Battlemage models.
- Montech Century II Gold 1050W ATX 3.1 power supply review
➀ Montech Century II Gold 1050W offers ATX 3.1 compliance and 10-year warranty with excellent ripple suppression;
➁ Delivers 90%+ efficiency and hybrid fan mode, but limited connectors and unproven OEM raise minor concerns;
➂ Priced at $110, it balances performance and affordability for mainstream gaming/workstation builds.
- How To Find An Xbox Series X Or S Before Microsoft’s Price Hike
➀ Microsoft recently announced significant price hikes for its Xbox hardware lineup, including the Xbox Series X and S.
➁ The Xbox Series S (512GB) in Robot White is still available for $273.99 at Walmart, 28% below the new MSRP.
➂ The Xbox Series S (1TB) can be found for $347 at Walmart, 19.3% below the new MSRP.
➃ The Xbox Series X (1TB) is becoming scarce at the old price point, but can still be found for $449 at Sams's Club.
➄ Some accessories like the Xbox Elite Series 2 Core Controller and Full Controller are also available at reduced prices.
- Windows 11 won't let you shut down? Change this setting right away!
➀ Windows 11 prevents shutdown if apps are open, even without unsaved work;
➁ The feature is a safety measure but can be bypassed via registry edits;
➂ Adjusting AutoEndTasks and timeout settings forces apps to close faster during shutdown.
May 2
- Heads Up, A Dead Soviet-Era Spacecraft Is Hurtling Towards Earth
➀ A three-foot module from the failed Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482 is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere uncontrolled in about a week;
➁ The spacecraft malfunctioned and broke apart in 1972 during an attempt to launch into Venus transfer trajectory;
➂ The module is predicted to make reentry around May 10, with an uncertain landing location between 51.7 degrees north and south latitude.