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Officials said they would now exempt people who apply for Medicare and disability benefits, as well as supplemental income help for the poor, from having to prove their identity in-person.

(Image credit: Saul Loeb)

• Samsung Magician 8.3.0 boosts SSD speed, security, and overall performance
• Easily erase SSD data securely with Magician’s fast SecureErase feature
• The new Magician update improves UX, adding chatbot and help center

Samsung has released version 8.3.0 of its Magician SSD optimization software for the best portable SSDs and largest SSD models with firmware updates, benchmarking, and system fine-tuning.

this software supports SecureErase, which can permanently delete all data on a drive in under a minute, making it a reliable solution for users who need to securely wipe their storage.

The software also includes automatic OS optimization, adjusting Superfetch and DIPM for peak efficiency while allowing users to check SSD health, update firmware from Samsung’s servers, and benchmark performance over time.

A free software that allows you to finetune your Samsung SSDs

Samsung Magician 8.3.0 supports a wide range of the company's SSDs, including the 470, 750, 830, 840, 850, 950, 960, and the newer 970, 980, and 990 Pro & EVO series.

The 213MB update improves user experience with a refined interface, while a new help center and chatbot have also been added to allow users to get troubleshooting assistance quickly, alongside a notice board for tracking software and firmware updates.

Magician is not an option for those using the best external HDDs, as it is designed exclusively for SSDs; instead, they may need to rely on Hard Disk Sentinel or CrystalDiskInfo.

Via Guru3d

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Online tech retailers worldwide have started offering Nvidia’s flagship professional graphics card, the RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell Workstation Edition, for preorder for as little as USD 7,673, far below PC Connection’s USD 8,435, a not-so-insignificant discount of 9%.

B2B specialists Tech-America and Directdial (presumably sharing the same database) have posted listings for Nvidia’s most expensive video card ever launched.

The less powerful but more frugal RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell Max Q Workstation Edition is also available for the same price. Both models are sold in retail packaging at a slight premium.

PC Connection (and Mac Connection) entries have been removed for now but Provantage, ITCreations, Exxact Corporation in the US and Indes, ITSupplies, Gegeka in Europe have pages up for the RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell Workstation Edition, some with pricing, some without.

Fresh RTX Pro stocks available soon?

Nvidia debuted three versions of the Nvidia RTX Pro 6000 video card last week at its annual GPU Technology Conference (GTC) in San Jose, California.

The server version is unlikely to ever go on sale, as it will almost certainly only be sold as part of a server system.

The Max-Q iteration delivers 10% less performance with a reduction of 50% in the power consumption, making it ideal for systems where multiple cards will be deployed.

With up to 4000 AI TOPS performance, the plain vanilla RTX Pro 6000 BWE is the most powerful Nvidia GPU ever launched.

It has twice the memory size (and power consumption) of its former performance champion, the RTX 6000 and 3x that of RTX 5090, the best GPU on the consumer market.

Other than Nvidia, PNY, Leadtek and Elsa are the other graphics card manufacturers that will stock the RTX Pro series.

Nvidia RTX Pro shaping out to be a bargain?

At the time of writing, there’s a price difference of about USD1,100 between the current flagship and the former one, the RTX 6000 Ada Generation, but there’s more to it than just pricing.

I managed to track down another four RTX Pro cards, including the unannounced RTX Pro 2000 with 8GB of GDDR7 memory and a 115W TDP.

On paper, this is the only card that seems to have regressed compared to the previous generation as it has half the memory of its predecessor, the RTX 2000 Ada Generation.

For the other three (4000, 4500, 5000), I reserve my judgment, but on paper, it looks quite promising.

The RTX Pro 4000 has the same amount of memory as the one step up from the previous generation (RTX 4500 AG), has a 33% lower power consumption, and a much higher CUDA core count and memory bandwidth.

Given that the RTX 4500 AG costs $2,139 and the RTX Pro 4000 costs $1,407, there’s no obvious reason to choose the former over the latter.

Compared to the RTX 5000 AG, the RTX Pro 4500 has a much lower power consumption (20%) and a much higher memory bandwidth but also fewer CUDA cores.

However, these are 4th-generation ones, and I expect both cards to have broadly similar performance.

In terms of pricing, the RTX Pro 4500 costs USD 2,268, while the RTX 5000 AG retails for USD 3,742, 65% more expensive, making it very hard to justify buying the latter.

There’s a similar pattern between the RTX Pro 5000 and the RTX 6000 AG when it comes to CUDA cores, memory bandwidth, and amount.

However, their TDP (300W) is the same, while the RTX 6000 AG is about 62% more expensive than the RTX Pro 5000.

Curiously, Nvidia hasn’t disclosed the performance metrics (Floating-point performance single precision and FP4 AI TOPS with sparsity) for these four cards for obscure reasons.

That prevents us from making head-to-head comparisons, which may leave stocks in the channel unsold and cause retailers a lot of headaches.

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• The Opera One web browser has released a new AI Tab Commands feature
• The tool enables the Aria AI assistant to manage tabs using natural language prompts
• Users can ask Aria to group, close, or organize tabs directly from the command line

Web browser Opera One is offering new hope for those of us with a hundred or more open tabs on a dozen topics. Opera's new AI Tab Commands can simply take care of it with some basic prompts.

As the name implies, AI Tab Commands connects your requests to organize or close tabs in your browser based on the topic or website. You might use it to “close all Wikipedia tabs” and see them all vanish or “group my TechRadar tabs” and have all the articles you're excited to read put in a row.

The feature employs Opera's AI assistant, Aria, to handle the requests. It's a new realm for Aria, which has been kept in chatbot form for answering questions until now.

Aria is now an 'AI agent,' joining the growing number of AI tools able to carry out tasks instead of just absorbing and sharing information. It complements the more comprehensive Operator agent released earlier this year by OpenAI.

It’s a small change in theory, but one that could feel pretty huge for anyone who’s ever found themselves swimming in a sea of half-read articles, abandoned shopping carts, open spreadsheets, and at least one tab playing music you can’t locate.

Aria doesn’t just recognize specific websites; it understands the context. Tell it to group “all my work tabs,” and it’ll figure out which tabs you meant. You no longer have to play forensic detective to figure out what you were doing before lunch.

You can try out AI Tab Commands through Opera's built-in command line. Hit Ctrl + / on Windows or Cmd + / on Mac, then type what you want Aria to do with your tabs. If you’ve got five or more tabs open, as far too many people do, you can also just right-click on any one of them and click on AI Tab Management from the dropdown menu.

“After being the first one to introduce tabs 25 years ago, we are continuing to improve this core feature of the browser," Opera product director Joanna Czajka explained in a statement. "With this step, we keep pushing the border of what can be achieved with these new technologies in a web browser.”

Opera's AI crescendo

There’s something deeply cathartic about offloading your tab anxiety onto an AI assistant, like hiring a virtual Marie Kondo for your digital workspace. And if you're worried about the privacy of your browsing history, you can relax.

The only information sent to Opera’s servers is the text of your command. The list of open tabs and other details stays unseen on your device. So unless you're oddly explicit in detailing anything you'd rather not share in your request, Aria won't know anything about it.

Many Opera users are probably becoming very used to the company's infusion of AI throughout its browser. Over the last couple of years, the company has been gradually rolling out new tools for Aria. That includes the aforementioned Operator agent, image creation, voice output, and bringing Aria to its mobile app.

Aria has also brought on other upgrades to go with the AI Tab Commands, including a "Writing Mode" that lives in the command line, letting users draft emails and other content without ever leaving the browser. You can also now interact with Aria directly from a browser tab, not just through the sidebar or command line.

It’s part of Opera's efforts toward making Aria feel like a native, integrated part of the experience rather than a separate thing you must remember to use. The AI's training has also been upgraded to offer better answers about shopping, recipes, and gaming.

These more subtle improvements and features all work together to make traversing the web more frictionless and may be just the thing for Opera to encourage more people to turn to them when they want to go online, or at least when they can't stand the sight of so many tabs splattered across their screen.

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All PS Plus subscribers can play these games in April.

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals panel denied the Trump administration's push to restart deportations of alleged gang members under a rarely used wartime authority known as the Alien Enemies Act.

(Image credit: Handout)

Virginia Beach might not have much choice when it comes to internet providers, but our experts have rounded up the best values and best speeds where the bay meets the Atlantic.

President Trump has signed an executive order requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. Voting rights advocates are expecting lawsuits to challenge the order.

The president's latest action on trade enacts a 25% tariff on cars made outside of the U.S., continuing his trade policies focused on boosting American manufacturing.

(Image credit: Mandel Ngan)

• Phison’s SSD strategy slashes AI training costs from $3 million to $100,000
• aiDAPTIV+ software shifts AI workloads from GPUs to SSDs efficiently
• SSDs could replace costly GPUs in massive AI model training

The development of AI models has become increasingly costly as their size and complexity grow, requiring massive computational resources with GPUs playing a central role in handling the workload.

Phison, a key player in portable SSDs, has unveiled a new solution that aims to drastically reduce the cost of training a 1 trillion parameter model by shifting some of the processing load from GPUs to SSDs, bringing the estimated $3 million operational expense down to just $100,000.

Phison's strategy involves integrating its aiDAPTIV+ software with high-performance SSDs to handle some AI tool processing tasks traditionally managed by GPUs while also incorporating NVIDIA’s GH200 Superchip to enhance performance and keep costs manageable.

AI model growth and the trillion-parameter milestone

Phison expects the AI industry to reach the 1 trillion parameter milestone before 2026.

According to the company, model sizes have expanded rapidly, moving from 69 billion parameters in Llama 2 (2023) to 405 billion with Llama 3.1 (2024), followed by DeepSeek R3’s 671 billion parameters (2025).

If this pattern continues, a trillion-parameter model could be unveiled before the end of 2025, marking a significant leap in AI capabilities.

In addition, it believes that its solution can significantly reduce the number of GPUs needed to run large-scale AI models by shifting some of the processing tasks away from GPUs to the largest SSDs and this approach could bring down training costs to just 3% of current projections (97% savings), or less than 1/25 of the usual operating expenses.

Phison has already collaborated with Maingear to launch AI workstations powered by Intel Xeon W7-3455 CPUs, signaling its commitment to reshaping AI hardware.

As companies seek cost-effective ways to train massive AI models, innovations in SSD technology could play a crucial role in driving efficiency gains while external HDD options remain relevant for long-term data storage.

The push for cheaper AI training solutions gained momentum after DeepSeek made headlines earlier this year when its DeepSeek R1 model demonstrated that cutting-edge AI could be developed at a fraction of the usual cost, with 95% fewer chips and reportedly requiring only $6 million for training.

Via Tweaktown

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The legal fight could have far-reaching implications for the media and artificial intelligence industries.

(Image credit: Michael Dwyer)

Vice President JD Vance will travel to Greenland this week, including a stop at Pituffik Space Base, the U.S. Defense Department's northernmost installation and its only outpost on the island.

(Image credit: Thomas Traasdahl)

Hiense unveils four new ULED TV ranges that feature better processing and higher refresh rates.

Hisense has announced its 2025 ULED mini-LED lineup, with all-new models across its U9, U8, U7, and U6 series TVs.

Hisense has been responsible for some of the best mini-LED TVs we’ve seen in recent years, and the company manages to keep its prices low, even for top-tier models. Last year’s Hisense U8N currently ranks as the mid-range pick in our best TVs guide, and the Hisense U7N and Hisense U6N are also among our best budget TV picks.

The new models announced today range in size from 55 to 100 inches, and are “powered by next-generation AI processing that works effortlessly behind the scenes to deliver smarter, more intuitive picture enhancements—without the need for manual adjustment,” according to the company.

The new top series, the U9, uses the company’s Hi-View AI Engine X processor, which is derived from its high-end ULED X lineup. Two other series, the U8 and U7, use a Hi-View AI Engine Pro processor.

According to Hisense, both processors "automatically fine-tune contrast, color accuracy, and motion clarity in real-time, ensuring lifelike images and fluid motion across all content types."

Google TV will remain the smart TV platform for the U9, U8, and U7 series, while, in a surprising change, the entry-level U6N series will use Amazon’s Fire TV platform.

The 2025 Hisense ULED TVs are scheduled for availability later this year. Pricing has not yet been announced.

U9 Series

The new U9N series expands upon 2024's Hisense U9N with a new 65-inch model to accompany the 75- and 85-inch screen sizes. Its advanced chipset is packed with AI picture-enhancing features, including AI 4K Upscaler, AI Super Resolution, AI Noise Reduction, AI LocalDimming, AI HDR Upscaler, and AI Depth Enhancer.

Other picture-improving features of the U9 series include an Ultra LR panel to reduce screen reflections and an ultra-wide viewing angle to retain contrast over a wider seating range. Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, IMAX Enhanced, and Filmmaker Mode are all supported.

For gaming, the U9 series has been upgraded to a 165Hz native refresh rate and supports FreeSync Premium Pro. A 4.1.2-channel built-in speaker array conveys Dolby Atmos soundtracks, with a 5.1.2-channel array used on the 75- and 85-inch models.

U8 Series

(Image credit: Hisense )

Available in 55- to 100-inch screen sizes, the U8 series uses the company’s Hi-View AI Engine Pro processor, which taps AI to automatically optimize picture settings in real-time.

According to Hisense, U8 series TVs can deliver brightness levels up to 5,000 nits and have expanded local dimming zones for 2025. Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ are supported here, plus the TVs are IMAX Enhanced certified.

Gaming support will get a boost on the new U8 series with a native 165Hz refresh rate. Audio, too, will get a boost from the U8N series’ 2.1.2-channel built-in Dolby Atmos speaker array up to 4.1.2 channels.

U7 Series

(Image credit: Hisense)

The Hisense U7N series was among our favorite budget TV options in 2024, and the new U7N will keep its budget status with models available for under $1,000.

Screen sizes for the U7N series will range from 55 to 100 inches, and the TVs will feature an AGLR-Antiglare low reflection panel that “ensures glare-free visuals from any seat in the house," according to Hisense.

Despite being budget TVs, the U7N series is packed with gaming features, including 165Hz, Game Booster 288Hz, Dolby Vision gaming, and FreeSync Premium Pro support. The U7N series TVs also feature a built-in 2.1.2-channel, 60W speaker array.

U6 Series

(Image credit: Hisense)

The entry-level series in the new mini-LED lineup is the Hisense U6N, which is available in 55- to 100-inch screen sizes. As mentioned earlier, this series uses Amazon’s Fire TV smart interface instead of Google TV, and the sets come with an Alexa Voice Remote.

Otherwise, the U6 series TVs have a 2.1-channel speaker array with a built-in subwoofer. Gaming support includes a 144Hz native refresh rate and FreeSync Premium.

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Some car owners couldn't claim the EV tax credit for vehicles purchased in 2024 because dealers skipped a key sales reporting step. The IRS is now offering a fix.

(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 185, for Thursday, March 27.

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Season 3 reintroduces the original Warzone map, old mechanics and a new event.

• Ninkear MBOX 8 Pro delivers performance but with unconventional design choices
• Magnetic hard drive bay raises concerns about heat management
• High-end specs meet unconventional storage in this unique mini PC

The Ninkear MBOX 8 Pro is a modular mini PC with a detachable docking station for a 3.5-inch hard drive, offering expandable storage but raising concerns about its practicality, especially when compared to the best portable SSDs.

Per Androidpc (originally in Spanish), the MBOX 8 Pro design includes a magnetic external hard drive bay with four USB ports, integrating a traditional hard drive instead of relying solely on internal SSD storage that suits the best video editing computers.

However, hard drives generate heat and are more prone to mechanical failure than SSDs, so placing one in an enclosed, magnetically attached base may impact thermal management, making their integration into a mini PC debatable.

A bold storage experiment

The MBOX 8 Pro stands out for its ability to drive three 8K monitors via HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB4 Type-C, with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and dual Gigabit Ethernet.

It features a 4nm AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor, an octa-core APU with 38 TOPS AI acceleration, paired with up to 32GB DDR5 RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD.

Combined with the Radeon 780M iGPU, this mini PC delivers performance that rivals some desktops, handling demanding applications and even 1080p gaming with ease.

Priced at around €586, the Ninkear MBOX 8 Pro provides a unique take on the mini PC market, though its unconventional design choices may not suit everyone, particularly those who rely on SSDs for speed and stability in video and photo editing PC workflows.

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Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle No. 389, for March 27.