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Amazon’s Rufus AI Shopping Assistant Now Lets Some Shoppers Check Price History

WIRED Top Stories - Thu, 10/10/2024 - 12:39
Is a deal really a deal? Amazon’s ChatGPT competitor, a chatbot it calls Rufus, will now answer some user questions on price changes.
Categories: Technology

sfc bug detected in new Windows 11 24H2 update - Microsoft sure to issue a patch

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/10/2024 - 12:32

Another bug in the Windows 11 24H2 update has been found, which causes sfc /scannow to detect corrupt files on every run.

Many users will know the incantation sfc /scannow. You type it into your Windows Terminal, and it runs for a very long time, reporting on corrupt or missing files it finds, and whether it was able to repair or replace them.

The new bug causes sfc to find corrupt files, fix them, and then when it is run again, find another “corrupt file” and “fixes/replaces it” again. It doesn’t matter how many times you run it, Windows File checker will repair something.

This indicates that the problems found are false positives. Users use sfc to perform system maintenance, so seeing recurrent corrupt files on every scan will cause confusion, and cause them to keep trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist.

Users first flagged up the issue in Microsoft’s Windows 11 Feedback hub posts.

One user wrote:

"With the latest Windows 11 updates, when I try to do SFC /scannnow, it shows errors every time even though it should have fixed them already."

Another wrote:

"SFC Scan on the new 24H2 shows errors and does not correct itself despite repeated attempts to correct it. Each time I run the SFC Scan, it shows “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.

Windowslatest.com ran tests to see the bug in action. After running sfc /scannow, they were met with this message:

"Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. For online repairs, details are included in the CBS log file located at windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For offline repairs, details are included in the log file provided by the /OFFLOGFILE flag."

When they ran the scan again, the same message, saying the exact same thing popped up again.

It’s not unusual for large software updates like this to experience bugs. In the Windows 11 22H2 update, File Explorer had a bug that would frequently cause freezes or crashes. And we’ve previously reported on two bugs found so far in the Windows 11 24H2 update: the first, disappearing cursors; the second, an undeletable 8.63 GB update cache.

Microsoft is aware of the bugs and is probably working on some patches as we write. So, keep your eyes peeled.

Categories: Technology

This has to be one of the weirdest PCIe cards ever sold — Japanese firm fuses antiquated parallel port with PCIe slot, and promises it is compatible with Windows XP

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/10/2024 - 12:32

In what must be one of the more unusual PCIe cards we’ve seen recently, Japanese company Kuroutoshikou has introduced a PCI Express adapter that adds an antiquated parallel port to modern PCs.

Named the 1P-LPPCIE3, this device allows users to connect older parallel port devices, such as legacy printers, through a PCIe x1 slot.

Despite its vintage functionality, the card is surprisingly compatible with a range of Windows operating systems, from Windows XP up to Windows 11.

Insert the CD-ROM

Spotted by PC Watch, the 1P-LPPCIE3 is equipped with the ASIX AX99100 chipset and features a single external D-sub 25-pin female port (IEEE 1284) for parallel connections - a common standard for older printers like the HP LaserJet series and various dot matrix models. It has dimensions of 82 x 67 x 14 mm and weighs approximately 70 grams.

While PCIe cards are generally associated with high-speed data transfer and advanced capabilities, the 1P-LPPCIE3 stands out by reviving a nearly obsolete standard. For those who’ve held onto an old printer in the loft for two decades, this PCIe card might be the perfect excuse to finally dust it off - just don’t be surprised if the ink has long since dried up.

The driver for the card comes on a CD-ROM - a nostalgic throwback to an era when software was commonly distributed this way. For users who don’t have an optical drive, which is pretty much everybody now, drivers can also be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.

The card is on sale now, with an expected retail price of around 4,000 yen (approximately $27). The package includes a low-profile bracket, making it suitable for slimline PCs, and the device comes with a one-year warranty.

We can’t imagine the 1P-LPPCIE3 becoming a best seller, but Kuroutoshikou clearly believes there is enough demand in Japan for a card that bridges the gap between modern and legacy tech, likely in industrial or niche applications that still rely on older hardware.

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Categories: Technology

Your cat and its secret life can’t hide from Ring’s powerful new AI video search feature

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/10/2024 - 12:27

Home security cameras are no longer content to sit in the background and watch for burglars – they want to be your family video cameras, and Ring has just announced a Smart Video Search feature to track down special moments in your Ring video history.

Naturally, the feature is AI-powered and only available to those with a Ring subscription (specifically those on the priciest Ring Home Premium tier, which costs $19.99 / £15.99 a month), because otherwise recorded clips aren't available. But if that includes you, it certainly looks like a helpful addition to the security cams – if you're happy with the camera nosing into your home life.

Smart Video Search is apparently powered by Visual Language Modeling (VLM), which can quickly match text queries to images. If you tend to scroll through your footage a lot, the benefit is potentially saved time – and maybe some helpful reminders about where you left your keys or the cat might be hiding.

Ring's example use cases show that the feature is clearly aimed at those who use the best home security cameras as a broader family camera rather than a burglar deterrent. It suggests you could use it to "figure out who ate the last of the ice cream" or to work out "why the garbage cans are knocked over."

If those sound a little niche, Ring also suggests searches like "red bicycle in the driveway" to track down the moment your kid first learned to ride a bike. Again, the real benefit is going to be for those who are happy to sacrifice privacy for searchable memories.

The Smart Video Search function is rolling out now in public beta to "select customers" and works with all Ring video doorbells and cameras. A wider rollout will occur from November 5 when Ring says it's launching a "revamped subscription service" called Ring Home. That new service will bring features including Smart Video Search and 24/7 recording to Ring Home Premium subscribers, initially only in the US.

Nudging ahead of Nest

While Google beat Ring to announcing AI-powered video search for its Nest home security cameras back in August, Ring has become the first to roll out the feature – if only to a select few beta customers.

Google previously said it would preview a similar feature for Nest later this year ahead of a full release in 2025, so the two rivals are on a roughly similar timeline. Yet the popularity of the feature might depend on how many see value in a searchable family video history.

AI-powered search is being pushed as a powerful replacement for our ailing memories across everything from Google Photos (with its new 'Ask Photos' feature) to Apple Intelligence (like its Memory Movies feature).

That puts these features in a controversial, sensitive spot that could leave many weighing up the potential benefits with the undoubted privacy invasion. Clearly, the tech giants see AI-powered search inside our personal photos and videos as a subscription cash cow, but we'll find out how popular they are when the likes of Ring's Smart Video Search and Google's Nest equivalent get proper rollouts later this year.

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Categories: Technology

Not Hearing Sound in One AirPod? There's an Easy Fix

CNET News - Thu, 10/10/2024 - 12:03
These troubleshooting tips may save you some frustration.
Categories: Technology

28 Amazing Gift Cards for Everyone on Your Holiday List

CNET News - Thu, 10/10/2024 - 12:00
There's no shame in giving a gift card -- your giftee will be able to get exactly what they want. We rounded up a list of our favorite gift cards to give for the holidays for you below.
Categories: Technology

Apple TV Plus Is Now an Add-On Subscription on Amazon Prime Video

CNET News - Thu, 10/10/2024 - 11:41
The retail giant is adding Apple's streaming service to its growing stable of add-on subscriptions.
Categories: Technology

Prime Video will soon offer Apple TV Plus as a subscription add-on and this could be our biggest hint of an eventual bundle

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/10/2024 - 11:25

While Apple and Amazon compete in the world of earbuds, smart speakers, and streaming set-top boxes, the two technology behemoths are partnering on the best streaming services. Later in October 2024, Apple TV Plus will be available through Prime Video as an add-on subscription at $9.99 a month (USD).

That’s the same price as a subscription to Apple TV Plus, but the addition to Prime Video is a big one. Amazon’s streaming service and application is already home to a boatload of its own content, but the big appeal – and the company’s hope – is that it’s the one-stop shop for all of your streaming needs. You can already add on subscriptions for Showtime, Max, or Paramount Plus, among others, so Apple TV Plus is a welcome addition.

Prime Video already has subscription add-ons for more than 100 streaming services, so from a billing perspective, it all happens in one place and in one application. Meaning that, if you’re setting up a new TV or traveling, you don’t need to worry about downloading several apps. The big appeal is that it’s all housed within Prime Video, allowing you to have one destination to find the content you want and start streaming quickly… regardless of who’s hosting it.

(Image credit: Apple)

In the accompanying release, Apple’s SVP of Services, Eddy Cue, states: “We want to make Apple TV Plus and its award-winning library of series and films from the world’s greatest storytellers available to as many viewers as possible.” Considering Prime Video and Apple TV Plus are both available in a large area, this seems more about convenience. For folks already in Amazon’s ecosystem, it could be easier to get subscribers streaming Ted Lasso, Shrinking, or The Morning Show – if you’re new to Apple TV Plus, check out our seven top picks to start with on Apple TV Plus here.

Mike Hopkins, Senior Vice President and Head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios said in a statement, “As we continue to expand our offering and make it easy for customers to personalize their streaming experience directly in one app, we are proud to welcome Apple TV Plus and its popular and critically-acclaimed shows, films and events to Prime Video.” He also called Prime Video “a first-stop entertainment destination offering a wide selection of premium programming,” both from Amazon’s own studios, streaming live events like Thursday Night Football, and from partners like Apple TV Plus – and that has us thinking about the future.

Could Prime Video be preparing a bundle or super bundle?

(Image credit: Future)

We’ve seen countless bundles emerge in the world of streaming services – the ‘mega Disney bundle gives you Disney Plus, ESPN, and Hulu, while Comcast’s StreamSaver gives Netflix, Apple TV Plus, and Peacock, but it’s only available for select folks. You can even get Disney Plus and Max together. Suffice to say it’s a cluttered space.

But with Apple TV Plus joining Prime Video as an add-on and Amazon clearly aiming to court all of the streaming services into one place, redesigning the app to focus on letting you find the content you want when you want it all while reducing buffering and continuing to harness the power of its infrastructure and backbone – a hat tip to AWS – we have to wonder if a bundle, set of bundles, or even a super bundle is on the horizon.

Prime Video could offer a plan at potentially any price – maybe $15, $25, or $30 a month – giving you access to the larger libraries of Apple TV Plus as well as Max, Paramount Plus, Discovery Plus, Showtime, and Stars. It might not be that far-reaching, but imagine bundling ‘Channels’ – the name Amazon dubs its add-on streaming services – for a compelling price, all available in one app that’s on all the major platforms. Pretty sweet.

There is no guarantee that’s the case, but Amazon’s Prime Video continues to be one to watch as it brings more Channels to the table in a move that seems to aim at increasing convenience and lowering confusion. Either way, it’s nice to see Apple TV Plus joining Prime Video, and it should let you watch Ted Lasso, catch a Thursday Night Football game, watch Messi on MLS Season Pass, and then maybe try out the musical show Schmigadoon!

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Categories: Technology

Mous Day backpack: a lightweight but still impressively protective tech-friendly backpack

TechRadar Reviews - Thu, 10/10/2024 - 11:23
Mous Day backpack one-minute review

The Mous Day Backpack is the brand’s latest addition to its newest line of products – tech-first backpacks – and it’s a fantastic option for commuters who also want a bag that’s both relatively rugged and stylish. 

Whether you’re a tech fanatic or simply in need of a solid backpack to get you to and from work with your laptop, the best backpack should be lightweight while still offering solid protection, keeping your back cool on busy public transport, but also displaying some stylish flair. I’ve been using the Mous 25L backpack for about a year now, and it’s been a real boon for traveling. Unfortunately, though, it’s just a bit too bulky and heavy for day-to-day use – so I was thrilled to learn the brand was introducing the slightly smaller 20L Day Backpack that’s a bit lighter at just 1kg. 

Priced at $149.99 / £149.99 / roughly AU$240, the Mous Day Backpack arrives in four color options: Sage (green), Marine (blue), Stone (gray) and Midnight (black). I opted for the Sage colorway, which with its contrasting gray accents, offers a stylish yet understated finish. 

(Image credit: Future)

The materials are all water-resistant (420D recycled nylon and coated 600D polyester), meaning any contents will be protected from light rain and showers. The bag has an adjustable, sewn-in strap with a minimum strap length of 22 inches / 56cm and a max of 32.67 inches / 83cm, plus the back panel is padded to offer a comfortable experience all day long; however, this does mean it can get a little hot.

The Day Backpack’s greatest asset is its inclusion of nine compartments – although, of course, this doesn’t compare to its older sibling’s seventeen. You’ll find three on the outside, two zipped compartments on the outside of the case (one on its right-hand side at the front, and the other at the back), plus a water bottle pouch.

Open up the G-hook lid fastening and unzip its central base-to-lid YKK zip to reveal the main bag and the remaining compartments; two sleeves and a zipped pocket with two slip pockets sewn in. According to Mous, the laptop sleeve, which is the back-most pocket, is 14.9 x 11.6in / 380mm x 295mm (H x W), while the tablet pocket is 13.38 x 10.4in / 340mm x 265mm.

(Image credit: Future)

To protect your kit further, the bag has an elevated base, meaning that the edge of your device remains 1.18in / 30mm above ground, offering some drop and impact protection. However, unlike the Mous 25L backpack, there’s no AiroFoam, meaning extreme drops could still pose a risk of damage to any tech within – so no launching this bag down any stairwells.

The zip, it appears, isn’t for everyone. Personally, I love it – not having to rummage around from the neck of my backpack to the bottom every time I need to find my charger or whatever other odds and ends I’ve haphazardly launched into my bag is a huge boon.

However, whenever I opened my backpack on public transport, people looked on with a mix of horror and amazement as I practically gutted my bag. Among my friends and colleagues, there was a similar mix of intrigue, enthusiasm and disturbance – but most agreed that, at the very least, it’s a useful mechanism and that the discrete lining concealing it also retains the backpack’s overall stylish appearance. It will come down to personal taste, but I love it.

In my experience, the only slight design flaw is that, when more full, the Day Backpack’s embedded side panel magnets aren’t strong enough to snap the lip of the lid closed tightly, meaning that if the bag tips over, it’s possible smaller or loose contents may spill out. That’s only happened to me once, and in fairness, I was really pushing that 20L capacity to its limits – but it’s worth highlighting.

Mous 25L backpack: Specs Should you buy the Mous Day backpack? Buy it if...

You need a tech-focused commuting backpack, but not necessarily a rugged one

Rugged protection is often above and beyond what the average tech-fanatic will need, but if you still want some of the thoughtful design and protection inclusions, the Mous Day Backpack is an excellent choice. 

You want both form and function from your backpack

In all four color options, the Mous Day Backpack is chic and simple, while still offering great functionality thanks to its nine compartments.

You hate rummaging around in your bag

While drawing and quartering your backpack may feel a little odd at first, the full-length zip is an excellent addition if you often find yourself fishing around for loose items in your bag.

Don't buy it if...

You want to regularly fill it to the brim

Personally, I don’t trust the magnets and lid to fully protect all of my kit from slipping out of the sides when it’s full, so I’d say the capacity of the bag is more like 18L than 20L. 

Mous Day backpack: Also consider How I tested the Mous Day backpack
  • I used the Mous Day backpack for a month
  • I made several long-haul journeys, as well as everyday trips, with it
  • I dropped it with my laptop inside... more times than I'd like to admit

I used the Mous Day 20L backpack for a month as my main commuting backpack, as well as my main travel bag for conferences and creative getaways. Inside, I stashed my laptop, iPad, various cables, headphones – name a gadget, it was in there – and I found its protections and compartments to be robust and useful.

During testing, I encountered various weather conditions from heatwaves to torrential rain, meaning I was able to test the bag’s environmental protections, too. To test its capacity and utility, I filled it with 2-3 days' worth of clothes while travelling, which is roughly the amount I’d expect a 20L backpack to be able to hold.

First reviewed October 2024

Categories: Reviews

Qobuz proves once again it's the hi-res music lovers' choice with DSD audio downloads

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/10/2024 - 11:22

Any time I try to explain the merits of Qobuz to a friend who's not quite so obsessed with music quality as I am, I keep coming back to this: Qobuz does things in hi-res for everyone, and it has been doing things a little differently since 2007 (although it didn't choose to branch out into the US until 2019 I grant you – see 'differently' in my point above). 

And now Qobuz has added Direct Stream Digital (DSD) and Digital eXtreme Definition (DXD) audio formats to its high-fidelity download platform. Beginning today (Thursday, October 10) listeners can enjoy more than 22,500 tracks now available mainly in DSD format, adding to the more than 100 million songs already available on the streaming service.

Yes, that emphatically makes Qobuz one of the best music streaming platforms I know for hi-res audio. Spotify is the popular choice, of course, but popular taste doesn't always echo that of the connoisseur, does it? Qobuz doesn't go in for AI DJs or Wrapped-style roundups. But unlike the big green streaming machine, it does offer hi-res music in abundance, along with human-curated playlists, a download store you don't have to be a member to use (although you get up to 60% discounts if you do have a subscription), and an online community forum called Qobuz Club that's nearly 18 months old filled with actual humans giving each other advice, kudos and tips.

Intrigued? Excellent, feel free to discover Qobuz' DSD catalog and its DXD catalog DXD catalog – you're very welcome. 

Why you need DSD audio in your life

We've got an audio file format explainer if you need further clarification, but in a nutshell, DSD and DXD are high-resolution audio formats that are distinctly different from the traditional PCM system used in formats like WAV, FLAC, ALAC, and AIFF. Why? Sony and Philips actually co-designed DSD in the 1990s as an archival format (imagine warehouses of cassette tapes, all gradually going back to nature) based on 1-bit Sigma Delta Modulated (SDM). 

So where CD-quality is often said to refer to "16-bit recordings", DSD only ever uses "single-bit" values, at a sampling rate of 2.8224 MHz. This is 64 times that of 44.1 kHz, aka CD audio sampling rate, but with 1-bit samples instead of 16-bit. DSD is the format used for Super Audio CD (SACD) releases (hey, they were big for a moment), and many CD players support SACD now – although not all. 

Other high-resolution audio formats, like PCM, sample sound at rates up to 192,000 times per second (192 kHz). DXD pushes this even further, sampling at 352,800 times per second, offering even greater detail. However, DSD goes beyond both, with an astonishing 2.8 million samples per second. So, it's good quality? Yes, although it also can make for pretty big file sizes – and I love the detail I hear in them. 

If you've got (or are considering getting) one of the best hi-res audio players to make the commute easier, you'll want to get the most out of it with some hi-res music. Prefer to listen at your desk? A good headphone DAC plugged in to your laptop and a set of the best wired headphones or best wired earbuds is the way to go. Cue up a hi-res Qobuz album and boom, you're ready to unlock the joys of audio as you've rarely heard it – and if you're downloading, there's no need to worry about wi-fi. 

Know this: for the music portion of this recipe, I cannot recommend Qobuz's hi-res catalog highly enough.

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Categories: Technology

Intel announces Core Ultra 200 series desktop CPUs, the first desktop AI processors on the market

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/10/2024 - 11:18

Intel announced its newest desktop processors this week, the Intel Core Ultra 200 series, which is the first desktop processor with a built in NPU for AI workloads.

The new processor series, previously known by its codename, Intel Arrow Lake, has been entirely rearchitected to focus on efficiency and performance-per-watt and features the same multi-module die architecture as Intel Meteor Lake laptop processors.

The new processors are a major change for Intel's desktop portfolio, featuring new performance and efficiency core architecture.

The new Skymont efficiency cores have a claimed 32% instruction-per-clock (IPC) increase over the previous generation Gracemont cores featured in Intel Raptor Lake and Raptor Lake Refresh.

Intel also says that its Lion Cove performance core architecture has a 9% IPC uplift over its previous-gen Raptor Cove performance cores.

In addition to the new P-core and E-Core architecture, the new Core Ultra 200 series processors will feature Intel Xe-LPG graphics architecture, the same architecture that powers Intel's Arc Alchemist graphics cards.

This gives the CPU's integrated GPU powerful new hardware-accelerated ray tracing support, as well as Intel XeSS support built right into the CPU.

While this won't replace the best graphics cards in a desktop system, for more budget-oriented desktops or all-in-one PCs, the new Core Ultra 200 series processors will bring significantly better graphics performance than the iGPU found in Intel Raptor Lake processors currently on the market.

The Core Ultra 200 series will also be the first desktop processors to feature integrated neural processing capabilities that previously required a dedicated graphics card. And while the 13 TOPS NPU in the Intel Core Ultra 200 series isn't as powerful as the recently released Intel Lunar Lake laptop processors, for AIO desktops, this NPU will empower a number of new features that simply aren't possible on a previous-gen Intel desktop chip.

The entire chip architecture is capable of 36 TOPS spread across the CPU, NPU, and iGPU, and the sky is the limit when you factor in dedicated GPUs, which have much more powerful neural network capabilities.

The new processors will go on sale on October 24, with five SKUs available at launch.

Significantly improved power efficiency without sacrificing performance

(Image credit: Intel)

One of the biggest issues with the past few generations of Intel desktop processors has been their relatively high power consumption. The Intel Core i9-14900K, the best processor of the previous generation, regularly pulled down more than 300W of power during intensive workloads.

While this translates into best-in-class performance (as well as record-breaking speeds in excess of 6.0 GHz out of the box), for many this level of performance wasn't worth the extra investment needed in terms of cooling and PSU support.

In terms of performance, recent benchmark leaks have shown that the new Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor likely won't beat the gaming performance of the previous-gen Core i9-14900K, but it will come within a hair of that previous-gen performance at a substantially lower TDP.

Intel says that the new flagship Core Ultra 9 285K processor will deliver about 8% better single-core performance over the Core i9-14900K, and about 4% better performance than the recently released AMD Ryzen 9 9950X.

In terms of multi-core workloads, the new Core Ultra 285K will deliver up to 15% faster performance over the 14900K, and up to 13% better performance over the Ryzen 9 9950X. The latter is especially notable as the 9950X features two threads per core, compared to the single thread per core of the Intel Core Ultra 200 series.

Intel says it will be able to deliver this performance at substantially lower power. For lightly-threaded workloads like Zoom calls, the new Core Ultra 9 285K will use up to 58% less power, with up to 42% less power on intensive single-core tasks like video and 3D rendering (as tested in CineBench R24).

Intel says that the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K will be able to deliver about 95% of the gaming performance of the Intel Core i9-14900K with up to 188W lower power consumption and about 15° C lower temperature, meaning a quieter system with a smaller cooling solution.

A new chipset means a new motherboard socket

(Image credit: Intel)

While there is going to be a lot of excitement around the new Intel Core Ultra 200 series processors, there is also going to be some pain for those hoping to upgrade from a previous-gen system.

The new Core Ultra 200 series processors will require the new Intel 800 series chipset on LGA 1851 socket motherboards, which are going on sale this month from major manufacturers like NZXT, MSI, Asus, and more.

If you have a 12th-, 13th-, or 14th-Gen Intel system, you'll need to buy a new motherboard as well as the new processor. And since the new chip design will require different CPU cooler mounting, your existing CPU will need new mounting hardware to ensure that it is cooling the chip effectively.

What you get for the new chipset, however, is more maximum memory capacity (192GB, with support for 48GB DDR5 RAM modules, integrated WiFi 6E and Thunderbolt 4 support (with WiFi 7 and Thunderbolt 5 support as discrete add-in components), and enhanced overclocking with 16.67MHz stepping for more precise tweaking and stable performance.

Can the Intel Core Ultra 200 series keep AMD at bay?

(Image credit: Intel)

The Intel Core Ultra 200 series processors come at a good time for Intel, as the new processors will be able to blunt any residual momentum AMD built up with its earlier Ryzen launch a couple of months ago.

AMD's recent Ryzen 9000-series launch also wasn't the best, as the new chips have been met with some disappointment, especially from enthusiasts who were hoping for significant performance gains over the well-received Ryzen 7000-series processors.

Those same enthusiasts will likely be just as disappointed with the Intel Core Ultra 200 series, and Intel is already tempering performance expectations.

Users shouldn't expect 15-20% better performance gen-on-gen as we saw with the 13th-gen Intel Raptor Lake chips, but I've extensively tested, retested, and tested all of these chips yet again for old time's sake, and the only people who would even notice the performance improvements from the last-gen processors are people like me who are obsessing over CPU benchmarks.

(Image credit: Intel)

For everyday users, the performance of the Intel Core Ultra 200 series will be more than enough for their needs, and the energy efficiency of these new chips—assuming they live up to Intel's claims—will make smaller form factor PCs more powerful and make larger desktop systems more efficient, which will ultimately save users money in long-term energy costs.

I've long argued that AMD, Intel, and Nvidia needed to call a truce on the performance race (which was far more about industry bragging rights than actual value for customers) and focus more on making their products more efficient and practical.

While I am just now finishing up my Ryzen 9000-series reviews, I can tell you that AMD's latest chips won't blow the roof off your PC any more than the Ryzen 7000-series will performance-wise, but the new Ryzen chips deliver better performance at a much lower power draw.

Intel's Core Ultra 200 series, then, is making the right move at the right time, since Intel would have been ill-served by releasing even more power-hungry chips that delivered more high-end performance that very few people would actually need, even for very resource-intensive workloads like video editing or gaming.

With the Intel Core Ultra 200 series, along with the recent launch of Intel Lunar Lake, Intel has an opportunity to stem some of its financial bleeding that has been dominating the news in recent months, giving it a stable foundation to try and claw itself back to its previous position as an industry leader. Whether it will succeed remains to be seen, but if the Intel Core Ultra 200 series delivers on its promise, Intel will be off to a good start.

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Categories: Technology

Nintendo has released the day-one update and patch notes for its new alarm clock

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/10/2024 - 11:13

Nintendo has released a day-one update for its adorable new device, the Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo.

Earlier this week, instead of announcing the long-rumored Nintendo Switch 2, the Japanese company unveiled its new hardware, an interactive alarm clock that detects movement and plays sounds to make waking up more bearable.

Now, Nintendo has released the device's first software update, which aims to add improvements to the system. With Version 2.0.0, Alarmo now features a brand-new mode called Moderate Mode, a new Records feature that will display if you go to bed on time, as well as a new max distance of 50cm for King/Super King size beds.

Nintendo noted that the users will receive a notification if a system update is available. All they have to do is press the 'Notification Button' when the envelope icon is displayed on Alarmo to see recent notifications. You can check out the full patch notes below.

Alarmo is now available to purchase for $99.99 / £89.99. If you're thinking about getting your hands on one, you can check out our Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo buying guide.

Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo - Version 2.0.0 Patch Notes

  • Added Moderate Mode as a new mode option.
  • Added Movement Records as a new Records feature.
    - This data will automatically display in Records if you go to bed within your set bedtime.
    - You can set this to On or Off in the Records menu on the clock.
  • The clock's distance from the bed can now be set to 50cm max for King/Super King size beds.
  • When a sensor zone check is run, an estimated position of movement will now be displayed.
  • General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.
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Categories: Technology

I desperately want this Opera AI feature to come to Chrome and fix my tabs nightmare

TechRadar News - Thu, 10/10/2024 - 11:12

Google and Microsoft may be pushing AI advancements with their Gemini and Bing chatbots, but when it comes to web browsers Chrome and Edge might be trailing behind a lesser known alternative following a new content drop. We’re of course talking about Opera One, which just got a new AI tab management tool to help those of you who currently have far too many open.

The Opera One assistant Aria can be used like other AI chatbots – using prompts to generate written responses like a content plan for your next stream or an on-the-fly DnD character – and it can also help manage your actual web browsing. Which is where the newly added Tab Commands come in.

You can ask Aria to help group your tabs so they’re better organized, linking together tabs based on the website, or you can ask Aria to close all but certain tabs – like those long-forgotten pages you haven’t visited in a day.

And best of all, Opera says these new tab commands won’t sacrifice your privacy if you try them out. According to Opera only the prompt is ever processed by servers, no information about the tabs themselves leaves your device.

(Image credit: Opera) How to use Opera AI tab management

Unfortunately the new feature isn't available in the public or mobile release of Opera One, but it's not too much hassle to give it a try today if you don't want to wait for it.

You’ll need to download the developer stream of Opera for desktop. Just head to official page and hit the button, you don't need any developer credentials to give it a whirl.

Once you’ve installed the Developer version of Opera One you can access the AI tab management tools either by opening the Command Line (by Ctrl + / on Windows and Cmd + / on Mac) or right clicking a tab and selecting ‘AI Tab Management’ if you have five or more tabs open.

There's no word yet on when similar abilities will make it to Opera's rivals, but given that AI is the main focus for so much oif the tech industry we wouldn't be surprised if other entires in our best web browser list started to follow Opera One's lead.

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