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July 16
- Tariff fears caused a surge in entry-level 3D printer sales — Chinese companies accounted for 95% of entry-level machines shipped globally
➀ Entry-level 3D printer shipments surged 15% YoY in Q1 2025, with Chinese companies dominating 95% of the global market.
➁ Bambu Lab's sales grew 64% YoY, while Creality retained a 39% market share despite a slight decline.
➂ 3D printing is increasingly used for finished product manufacturing in medical and automotive industries, beyond just prototyping.
- Intel releases new tool to measure gaming image quality — AI tool measures impact of upscalers, frame gen, others; Computer Graphics Video Quality Metric now available on GitHub
➀ Intel released CGVQM, an AI-driven metric for objectively evaluating real-time gaming image quality, addressing distortions from upscalers and frame generation;
➁ The tool combines a new human-rated dataset (CGVQD) and a 3D-CNN model, outperforming existing metrics in tests;
➂ It generalizes well to new videos and could standardize image quality analysis in game development.
- HP OmniBook X Flip 14 review: Speedy and spicy
➀ The HP OmniBook X Flip 14 delivers strong performance with AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 and 32GB RAM, outperforming Intel-based rivals in benchmarks.
➁ Its 14-inch OLED display offers vivid colors but has moderate brightness, while the lattice-free keyboard may require adaptation for typing accuracy.
➂ Despite ample ports and a premium build, the laptop suffers from short 7.5-hour battery life and noticeable heat under heavy workloads.
- Firefox dev says Intel Raptor Lake crashes are increasing with rising temperatures in record European heat wave — Mozilla staff's tracking overwhelmed by Intel crash reports, team disables the function
➀ Mozilla's Firefox crash reports surged due to Intel Raptor Lake CPU instability worsened by European heatwaves;
➀ Intel's microcode updates only mitigate, not fix, the physical degradation issue, with latest patch 0x12F causing renewed instability;
➁ Intel extended warranties for affected CPUs to 5 years, but AMD gains market share with competitive Ryzen chips.
- Fraunhofer IPMS and DIVE Optimize Semiconductor Processes with Innovative Measurement System
➀ Fraunhofer IPMS and DIVE imaging systems GmbH developed the DIVE VEpioneer® optical metrology tool, reducing semiconductor manufacturing control wafer usage by 25% and cutting CO₂ emissions by 118,000 kg/month in a 28nm production scenario;
➁ The system combines spectral imaging and AI for non-destructive wafer inspection, enabling rapid defect detection (20 seconds per wafer) across multilayer structures while saving water, chemicals, and energy;
➂ Installed at Fraunhofer's cleanroom, the solution will undergo further automation upgrades and benefit from DIVE's acquisition by PVA TePla AG to enhance industrial applicability under the Green ICT initiative.
- Fraunhofer IPMS and DIVE Optimize Semiconductor Processes with Cutting-Edge Measurement System
➀ Fraunhofer IPMS and DIVE developed an optical measurement system (DIVE VEpioneer®) to streamline quality control in semiconductor manufacturing, reducing control wafer usage by 25% and CO₂ emissions by 118,000 kg monthly;
➁ The system uses spectroscopy and AI for non-invasive wafer inspection, enabling faster defect detection and enhancing production efficiency;
➂ The collaboration, part of the Green ICT initiative, aims to advance sustainable semiconductor manufacturing, with further plans for automation and integration improvements.
July 15
- Perseids Meteor Shower: How To Catch This Year's Epic Stargazing Event
➀ The Perseids meteor shower, known for its swift, bright meteors and frequent fireballs, is set to occur again this year, promising an unforgettable celestial show.
➁ Originating from the dusty remnants of Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, the meteors create streaks of light when they collide with Earth's atmosphere.
➂ The shower is expected to peak overnight from August 12 to early morning hours of August 13, with up to 100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions.
- Nintendo Switch 2 Restock: Best Buy Confirms When And Where
➀ Nintendo Switch 2 console is in high demand;
➁ Best Buy confirms restock for Donkey Kong Bananza launch;
➂ In-store only, limited quantities available on July 17.
- Electrical Engineering Day: Future Technologies in the Spotlight
➀ Students at THWS showcased innovative projects, including an AI-powered autonomous robot for weed elimination using high-voltage pulses and a wind turbine demonstrator with adjustable rotor angles for energy efficiency;
➁ A collaborative project with U.S. universities developed a passive radar system leveraging existing radio signals to detect drones cost-effectively and stealthily;
➂ The event highlighted international academic collaboration and emphasized the practical application of electrical engineering in sustainability and technology.
- G.Skill Sets DDR5 Overclocking World Record At A Blistering 12,872 MT/s
➀ G.Skill 与专业超频者 bl4ckdot 合作，刷新了 DDR5 内存频率的世界纪录；
➁ 新纪录为 12,872MHz，使用 G.Skill Trident Z5 DDR5 内存单条 24GB 模块，并采用液氮冷却；
➂ 该成就展示了 G.Skill 对内存超频性能的承诺，并在 HWBOT 领跑者榜单上领先于 Corsair 的 Vengeance RAM。
- Noctua NH-P1 Review: For those who demand silence
➀ Noctua NH-P1 is a fanless CPU cooler offering silent operation and robust thermal performance for non-overclocking users;
➁ Compatible with Intel and AMD systems but faces GPU slot limitations on AMD platforms;
➂ Includes premium accessories like NT-H2 thermal paste and supports optional fan upgrades for enhanced cooling.
- Meta is building AI data centers in tents and isn't slowing down — Zuckerberg reveals plans for 'several multi-GW clusters,' including one called Hyperion that's almost as big as Manhattan
➀ Meta accelerates AI infrastructure with 'tented' data centers to reduce costs and deployment time, aiming for gigawatt-scale clusters like Prometheus (1GW) and Hyperion (5GW);
➁ Plans include eliminating backup power redundancy and leveraging on-site natural gas plants, despite risks of extreme weather;
➂ Zuckerberg positions Meta as a future AI compute leader, potentially pivoting to infrastructure services amid competition from NVIDIA and xAI.
- UK Nintendo Switch 2 owners can grab PNY's 256GB microSD Express card for £59, finally back in stock
➀ PNY's 256GB microSD Express card for Nintendo Switch 2 is back in stock at Amazon UK for £59;
➁ Delivering SSD-level speeds up to 890MB/s read with PCIe Gen3x1 NVMe tech;
➂ Doubles the console's internal storage amid ongoing supply shortages for Switch 2 accessories.
- Nintendo Switch 2 account bans continue — Content creator with over a million subs issues warning after buying an old copy of Bayo 3 on eBay
➀ Nintendo Switch 2's aggressive anti-piracy measures led to a console ban for YouTuber Quinn Nelson after using a second-hand Bayonetta 3 cartridge flagged as pirated;
➁ The ban restricts all online services access while retaining offline gameplay functionality, highlighting Nintendo's hardware-level DRM enforcement;
➂ Controversy arises as critics question consumer rights violations, with some pointing to Nelson's past use of MIG Flash cart for legitimate game backups as possible contributing factor.
- Nvidia to resume H20 sales in China — says U.S. government has promised to grant licenses, deliveries to start soon
➀ The U.S. will allow NVIDIA to resume H20 AI GPU sales to China after a $5.5B export ban loss, with licenses pending approval;
➁ NVIDIA’s China-specific H20 faced prior restrictions under both Biden and Trump administrations, despite CEO Jensen Huang's lobbying against export controls;
➂ The move follows U.S.-China trade talks and rare earth/EDA concessions, though H20 sales remain conditional, pushing NVIDIA to develop compliant alternatives like RTX Pro GPUs.
- TU Wien and Harvard Invent Novel Laser
➀ A compact infrared laser with tunable wavelengths, requiring no movable parts, was jointly developed by TU Wien and Harvard University;
➀ It utilizes semiconductor ring structures to enable precise wavelength selection and stable emission across a broad spectrum;
➂ Applications include medical diagnostics and gas analysis, with the technology already patented and potential for expansion into telecommunications and visible light.
- Four Wins: New Semiconductor for the Chips of the Future
➀ Researchers from Forschungszentrum Jülich and Leibniz-Institut für innovative Mikroelektronik (IHP) developed CSiGeSn, a novel four-element semiconductor alloy compatible with CMOS processes;
➁ The material enables precise tuning of electronic and photonic properties for applications in optoelectronics, quantum circuits, and thermoelectric energy conversion;
➂ Achieved using industrial-grade CVD equipment, the breakthrough paves the way for scalable integration of photonic and quantum devices in silicon-based chips.
- Lightning-Fast and Highly Reliable: Sharing Data via Photonic Integrated Circuits
➀ The PUNCH project, led by Fraunhofer IZM and IMEC, develops photonic integrated circuits (PICs) to enable ultra-fast, low-latency data transmission, targeting applications in data centers and traffic networks;
➀ PICs combine optical signaling with electronic chips using Fan-Out Wafer Level Packaging, boosting network speeds from 200 Gb/s to 1.6 Tb/s while reducing energy consumption and costs;
➂ Supported by EU Horizon Europe funding, the project involves collaborations with NVIDIA, Ericsson, and the University of Cambridge and aims to finalize a scalable solution by 2026.
- Optically Integrated Circuits Enable Highly Reliable and Delay-Free Data Transmission
➀ The PUNCH project, coordinated by IMEC and led by Fraunhofer IZM, aims to develop optical switches to accelerate data networks, achieving 8x faster transmission than conventional methods for applications in data centers and traffic networks;
➁ Researchers integrate photonic integrated circuits (PICs) with electronic chips using heterogenous Fan-Out Wafer Level Packaging (FOWLP), boosting network speeds to 1.6 Tb/s and improving scalability for mass production;
➂ The technology promises reduced latency, lower energy consumption, and guaranteed service quality, with potential use cases in automotive communication and video streaming.
July 14
- Concerned AI Will Take Your Job? Here's What NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Had To Say
➀ The debate over whether AI will lead to mass unemployment is ongoing;
➁ Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, offers a nuanced perspective;
➂ Huang believes that human ingenuity is key to AI creating jobs rather than destroying them.
- ASUS ROG Gives The GeForce RTX 5090 A $540,000 Gold Makeover
ASUS ROG has unveiled a gold-themed GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card, the ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 Gold Edition, at the Bilibili World 2025 convention. The card weighs over 7 kilograms and features a 24K gold-themed frame and back panel, making it worth approximately $539,692.90 in gold alone. This is a collaborative effort with a content creator at Bilibili named Cai Qian. The card is a one-off design and is not expected to be widely available.
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000WX CPUs Listed Early At Major US Retailer
➀ A major US retailer is preparing to accept preorders for AMD's Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000WX processors, which are based on Zen 5 architecture and were announced nearly two months ago.
➁ The listings for four of the six unreleased chips are partially up at B&H Photo, with preorders set to open on July 23, 2025.
➂ The processors range from 96 cores to 24 cores, with clock speeds ranging from 2.5GHz to 5.4GHz and TDPs of 350W.
- Google Gemini crumbles in the face of Atari Chess challenge — admits it would 'struggle immensely' against 1.19 MHz machine, says canceling the match most sensible course of action
➀ Google Gemini backed out of a chess match with a 1.19 MHz Atari 2600 after realizing its overconfidence, citing potential struggles despite previous boasts of evaluating millions of moves.
➀ The AI’s hesitation mirrors similar behavior from ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, raising questions about LLMs’ limitations in strategic games despite advanced language capabilities.
➀ Experts highlight that LLMs excel in linguistic tasks but lack specialized chess algorithms, as demonstrated by the Atari’s 128-byte RAM outclassing complex AI models in this niche challenge.
- TensorWave just deployed the largest AMD GPU training cluster in North America — features 8,192 MI325X AI accelerators tamed by direct liquid-cooling
➀ TensorWave deployed North America's largest AMD GPU cluster with 8,192 MI325X accelerators using direct liquid cooling;
➁ MI325X features 256GB HBM3e memory, competes with NVIDIA H200 at lower cost but faces scaling limitations;
➂ TensorWave plans MI350X integration, signaling AMD's growing foothold in AI infrastructure.
- Snot-filtering tech could be the answer to a dust-free PC — Korean scientists turn to nature to improve air filtration
➀ Korean scientists developed a bio-inspired dust filter mimicking nasal mucus-coated hairs, with 2-3X longer effectiveness than traditional filters, capturing more particulate matter (PM);
➁ The ‘PRO filter’ uses biocompatible silicone oil as a mucus substitute, minimizing particle redispersion and allowing reusable washing/reapplication;
➂ Target applications extend beyond PCs to air conditioners, data centers, and hospitals, offering cost-effective industrial air purification.
- Amazon's $8 billion Anthropic investment rumors suggest it would rather sell AI infrastructure than compete with ChatGPT and Gemini
➀ Amazon reportedly plans an additional $8 billion investment in Anthropic, aiming to dominate AI infrastructure through AWS rather than consumer-facing AI products;
➁ AWS generates $30 billion in Q1 2025, leveraging its cloud infrastructure to power AI development while rivals like Google and Meta focus on consumer chatbots;
➂ Amazon develops custom AI chips for inference workloads, positioning itself as an "AI shovel seller" in the Nvidia-dominated market.
- TUM Develops Robot Fitness Certification System: Establishing a Robotics Quality Label
➀ The AI Robot Safety & Performance Center at TUM MIRMI created a standardized testing system ("Tree of Robots") to evaluate robot sensitivity, safety, and performance, categorizing robots into classes like Industrial Robots and Cobots;
➁ The system uses 25 tactile metrics and radar charts to visually compare capabilities, enabling users to assess a robot’s suitability for tasks requiring precision, force, or human interaction;
➂ The framework aims to establish an industrial certification standard, supporting safer and more efficient robotic applications in healthcare, manufacturing, and mobility.
July 13
- Nvidia's new driver update finally brings Smooth Motion to RTX 40-series GPUs, works like AMD's Fluid Motion Frames and claims to double your FPS with a single click in any game
① NVIDIA's 590.26 Preview Driver enables Smooth Motion on RTX 40-series GPUs, mimicking AMD's Fluid Motion Frames to double FPS via AI-generated interpolated frames;
② The driver-level solution works universally across games without developer integration, achieving 82→164 FPS boosts in titles like World of Warcraft with minimal latency;
③ Currently a developer preview requiring Nvidia Profile Inspector tweaks, the feature shows promise despite potential artifacts, offering a free alternative to third-party upscaling tools.
- Holographic ribbon aims to oust magnetic tape with 50-year life span and 200TB capacity per cartridge — HoloMem says optical ribbon-based carts work with some components of existing systems, reducing fricition
➀ HoloMem introduces holographic ribbon storage with 200TB capacity and 50-year lifespan, surpassing LTO-10 magnetic tape's 18TB and 5-year benchmarks;
➀❷ The system uses low-cost components like $5 laser diodes and polymer ribbons, enabling seamless integration with legacy tape libraries;
➂ Competitors like Cerabyte and Microsoft Project Silica face higher costs and technical barriers, while HoloMem secures Intel Ignite backing and prepares real-world testing in UK data centers.
- McDonald's McHire bot exposed personal information of 64M people by using '123456' as a password in 2025
➀ Security researchers exposed vulnerabilities in McDonald's McHire chatbot using password '123456', compromising 64 million applicants' data;
➀ The breach revealed names, contact details, work preferences, and authentication tokens through API flaws;
➂ Paradox resolved the vulnerabilities within a day after disclosure, highlighting systemic security failures in enterprise systems.