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The machine is confident. That doesn't mean it's right.

• AMD has described its RDNA 4 launch as "unprecedented"
• Demand has outpaced supply significantly
• The company has promised restocks as "priority number one"

AMD has described its RDNA 4 graphics card launch as "unprecedented" in a new interview, promising that restocks of the two current GPUs are "priority number one".

In an hour-long video interview with AMD's David McAfee, Corporate VP and General Manager via HotHardware, the company made its mission statement clear: "The biggest thing we are doing quite honestly is ramping supply of Navi 48, very aggressively the demand we saw on day one was really unprecendented and unprecendeted across all the price points in the RDNA 4 product portfolio".

Despite promising "wide availability" during the announcement of RDNA 4 hardware at the end of February, RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT stock has been fleeting since the first day they hit the shelves. Current stock is dry in the US, usually reserved to just bundles, and options available in the UK can be well above the aggressive sticker price set by AMD, something claimed to be "limited time" by some retailers.

"We want to make sure that users are able to buy cards at the prices they expect to see in the market" McAfee later adds in the interview, "We're doing everything that we can to make that happen" for "retailers as well as our board partners are doing their part to help ensure that there's plenty of supply at those price points".

AMD did not produce a reference model for either the RX 9070 nor the RX 9070 XT, meaning that the design, features and price point (to some extent) could be dictated by third-party AIB models. As such, it falls on the company's partners to ramp up production to meet demand in "making sure that they have all the components that they need to build the widest assortment of cards that they can".

While the current offerings of RDNA 4 hardware are firmly placed in the midrange market, with respective MSRPs of $549 and $599, respectively (being roughly on par with the RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti), McAfee expressed that AMD may still attempt to compete at the higher-end as well.

"We certainly have aspirations to cover the entire gamut of gaming solutions that are out there in the market, and maybe one day we'll get there". It's unclear whether this comment pertains to a potential higher-end RNDA 4 card or whether RDNA 5 will offer RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 rivals in the future.

A commitment to consumer demand

We've been impressed with the current RDNA 4 lineup since it launched earlier this month, citing the RX 9070 XT's near-RTX 4080 performance for the low price of $599 as a particular highlight. This is to say nothing of FSR 4, the latest version of the upscaling and Frame Generation technology, which is now AI-powered, being a step closer in quality, smoothness, and performance to Nvidia's ever-evolving DLSS, too.

Given the sheer price-to-performance afforded by both the current RDNA graphics cards, it's not surprising to see that their availability has been limited (seemingly) far beyond AMD's expectations - hence the shortages.

Traditionally, Team Red has played second fiddle behind Team Green, but the aggressive pricing (and powerful performance) of its latest cards have meant that it's occupying a niche in the midrange space that PC gamers can get behind. This is especially true given the lackluster RTX 5070, which we gave a 3-star write-up.

It's been just over a week since the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT went on sale, and they've been hard to find ever since, selling out in minutes from major retailers across regions like the US and the UK.

AMD's promise of restocks and backing its partners as they ramp up AIB production is an encouraging move. We're hopeful that AMD keeps to its word and that more PC gamers will be able to see what's possible with a GPU under $600, while its major competitor is more concerned with pushing performance boundaries (and prices) in the other direction.

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• Wix announces a new native integration with Printful
• It promises benefits to businesses of all shapes and sizes
• The offering is now available in English, with new languages coming soon

Wix, one of the best website builders on the market, has announced a new integration that will allow users to operate their print-on-demand and dropshipping fulfillment services without needing to leave the platform.

In a press release shared with TechRadar Pro earlier this week, Wix said it is expanding its features to include print on demand by partnering with Printful.

Wix claims that all businesses will benefit from this latest announcement. New businesses, looking to start from scratch and build a brand, can benefit from a streamlined approach. Small businesses can create merchandise in a way that is “typically inaccessible to small businesses on the market today”. Established businesses can benefit from the integration by generating a new revenue stream.

Regardless of business size, all users will be provided access and control over “critical touchpoints of the print-on-demand and dropshipping solution”, as well as the ability to customize merchandise with brand logos and other art. They will also be able to adjust, or change the design of a product, and with a solution that fulfills orders individually, business owners can avoid upfront inventory costs.

Wix expands platform features

Finally, since Printful prioritizes locally-produced products (through its network of fulfillment centers), distribution is faster, and shipping costs are lower, while the on-demand operation model helps eliminate overproduction and remove the need for storage.

This offering is available in English, with plans to expand the availability to other languages “in the near future”, Wix concluded.

Lately, Wix has been hard at work, adding new features and offerings to its platform. In mid-January, it announced teaming up with YouTube Shopping, to give store owners a new and popular avenue to sell products online.

By the end of the month, the company released Business Launcher, a new AI-powered tool designed to help entrepreneurs create new business initiatives, from concept to execution.

If you’re interested in further reading, make sure to check out our in-depth Wix review.

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Is work religion, or is religion work? Both.

• Computing power and Unity Game Engine provide slick user experience
• Imax format movies can be viewed in glorious surround sound
• MBUX Virtual Assistant is empathetic and reacts to emotions

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its latest Classic model, which is the first in a family of new vehicles which has been designed to be electric first. The headline stats are impressive: the CLA 250+ with EQ Technology (annoying name, I know) manages a range of almost 500 miles thanks to learnings from the Vision EQXX record-breaking car.

Thanks to the ability to charge at a rate of 320kW, it can add 180 miles of range in just 10 minutes, but the German company says charging stops will be infrequent thank to the large 85kWh battery pack in range-topping vehicles and a target efficiency rate of over five miles per kWh.

Considering many modern EVs struggle to hit three miles before guzzling a kilowatt of electrons, that’s seriously impressive.

But aside from the sleek profile, low stance and hundreds of illuminated stars (142 on the front grille alone) that adorn the front and rear, it is the infotainment and computing offering that arguably ushers in a bold new era for Mercedes-Benz.

The marque says it is “the cleverest” car it has ever made, with a proprietary AI-enhanced fourth generation Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MBOS) that powers an all-new Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX).

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

Initialism overload aside, it has allowed the company to introduce a mighty array of touchscreen displays, driver screens and head-up displays for an unrivaled entertainment and information offering.

Unlike rivals that cover their front passenger screens in a coating to minimize driver distraction, Mercedes-Benz has incorporated camera technology and eye-detection software that will automatically warn and then eventually shut down the display if it feels the driver isn’t paying attention to the road.

It’s a wise choice, as the MBUX Superscreen, which consists of three separate screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, feels more like a premium smart TV experience than anything typically found inside a car. it’s very tempting to let the eyes wander.

IMAX format movies can be enjoyed thanks to Sony’s Ridevu app, complete with 3D surround sound courtesy of an awesomely powerful Burmester audio system.

Both driver and passenger can link Bluetooth gaming controllers and partake in Fortnite or Triple-A gaming sessions thanks to the Boosteroid app, while the entire home screen and the way it is organized can be fully customized with intuitive, tablet and smartphone-like gestures.

The power of speech

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

While it is perfectly possible to jab and prod at screens to access the feature you need, Mercedes would prefer it if you trial its latest MBUX Virtual Assistant that uses generative artificial intelligence to either change the settings or get the answer you need.

Harnessing the power of multiple agents, such as ChatGPT-4o, Microsoft Bing search and Google Gemini, Mercedes’ latest virtual assistant is capable of handling all manner of queries in a relatively natural way.

I asked it what I should buy my wife for her birthday, it suggested something that we could do together, like a spa day. So I then prompted it to give me some suggestions in the local area and it did. From there, I could call the establishment and book a date, or ask the assistant to come up with cheaper or more expensive ideas. You get it.

The MBUX Virtual Assistant is activated with a “Hey Mercedes” exclamation but it takes the form of a star avatar (yes, more stars). Its default color is blue, but it will change its hue depending on the mood it detects from the driver.

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

If it picks up happy or excited vibes, it will get a little more animated and its tone of voice will be bubbly and welcoming. If it detects anger or sadness, it color changes to orange and it will keep its answers shorter, more direct and less irritating.

This is one of the first integrations of Gemini on Google Cloud for in-vehicle navigation and it works well, allowing users to enquire about the best dog-friendly restaurants in the area, or even ask it the best place to watch the sunset… with cheap parking.

Plus, the deeper partnership between Google and Mercedes-Benz means route-planning takes into account topography, route, ambient temperature, speed, as well as heating and cooling requirements, to give a much more accurate picture on range estimations and whether there will be a need to stop and charge on the way.

Prepping for an autonomous future

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz CLA )

Mercedes has long been at the forefront of autonomous driving, being one of the very few manufacturers to offer true SAE Level 3 hands and eyes-off driving in very select markets and scenarios, but there’s always room for greater capabilities.

The CLA will arrive with MB Drive Assist, the name of its SAE Level 2 autonomous driving system, as well as MB Drive Assist Pro, which the company says requires two additional cameras to it can offer advanced autonomous driving systems in urban environments.

Currently, China and the US are the only two markets that have the legal framework to allow the so-called Level 2++, which allows for automatic lane changing and lets the vehicles make turns without driver input. Think Tesla Full Self-Driving.

A new feature in the CLA seems to hint at more advanced autonomous driving capabilities. Dubbed MBUX Surround Navigation, the digital offering integrates with the driver assistance view on a small display in front of the steering wheel.

It creates a 3D picture of the vehicle’s current surroundings, including game engine-enabled digital representations of the buildings, as well as bicycles, motorcycles, pedestrians and other road users.

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

Tesla and Volvo offer something similar in their vehicles but it is no way near as detailed as this, with Mercedes able to also overlay intuitive route guidance instructions over the top of this digital world.

It makes it easier to navigate in busy urban areas, with a clear 3D view of taller building and landmarks making it simpler to select the right turning or side street. What’s more, it gives a good insight into the type of UX we can expect when a vehicle is in a highly autonomous mode.

While you might be engaged in answering emails or digesting the latest series of The White Lotus, the MBUX Surround Navigation allows the driver to see what the car is seeing in real-time, potentially offering some peace of mind that the car has everything under control.

The CLA has always been a model that Mercedes-Benz feels attracts a younger, more tech-savvy audience into the brand, and that’s clear with the impressive array it will offer hone it goes on sale in the coming months.

However, with such a large battery pack, powerful enough to electric motors and a dearth of screens, it’s not going to be cheap.

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