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Earlier today, some reports fired up enthusiasm around the possibility that Microsoft might have accidentally let slip the release date for Windows 11 24H2, and that the update was imminent - but that isn’t the case.

This originally came from Ghacks, which noticed a blog post written by Microsoft intended for IT professionals on the topic of enhanced data protection with Windows and Copilot. 

In that post, Microsoft said that Copilot-related updates will “align with the annual Windows 11 feature update release,” which clearly enough means Windows 11 24H2. And we were told that those Copilot updates would arrive in preview on September 24, 2024, with the full release following on October 8.

So, the conclusion was quickly (and understandably) reached that the Windows 11 24H2 update should also arrive on October 8, if the release of both 24H2 and these Copilot-related updates aligned as Microsoft told us. All very straightforward, right? Well, no...

(Image credit: Future) Mistakes were made

Microsoft has just updated the blog post to spell out in no uncertain terms: "The dates conveyed below are for our regular monthly servicing updates for supported versions of Windows 11 and unrelated to when Windows 11, version 24H2 will be generally available."

The mention of aligning with the annual update for Windows 11 has been stripped out of the post, so clearly, Microsoft made a mistake here (though it doesn’t directly admit that).

When it eventually arrives, Windows 11 24H2 will bring in a number of new features, including Wi-Fi 7 support (which will only be useful if your PC’s hardware, and router, also supports it), and some nifty changes on the AI front. That includes Copilot becoming an app, allowing you to resize its window and move the assistant around the desktop.

Head here for a deeper dive into all the incoming features Microsoft is packing into 24H2, which could still turn up in October, perhaps – just not on October 8, apparently.

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Valve’s Steam Deck, one of the best PC handhelds, has a massive library of the best PC games that it can tap into due to the sheer number of titles on the Steam storefront. But now, those with Amazon Prime subscriptions can get their hands on even more.

Amazon is currently offering over 40 free of the best Steam Deck games to its 200 million members, all of which can be played on the Steam Deck. As long as you have an active subscription, you can simply download the titles for free — just make sure to download them before time runs out. Two of them have already expired as of September 18: The Invisible Hand and Maneater.

There is one caveat, though: even though these are all Steam titles, you aren’t able to download many of them directly through the storefront. Instead, you’ll need to acquire them through Epic Game Store, Amazon Games Store, or GOG.

However, the Heroic Games Launcher is a handy tool that allows you to link all these accounts through the Steam app, simplifying the process of downloading and launching the games on Steam Deck. You can also create shortcuts on the Steam Deck to avoid constant switching between portable and desktop modes.

Below is a full list of games that you can download on your Steam Deck:

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A cybercriminal claims to have breached Temu and stolen millions of customer records, but the ecommerce giant is vehemently denying the claims.

A hacker with the alias ‘smokinthashit’ took to BreachForums, one of the most popular underground forums out there, and advertised a new database, allegedly stolen from the company.

“Temu company database for sale. +87M lines. Source: temu.com. The data has never been sold before. Only one copy will be sold,” the ad reads.

It's all false, says Temu

The ad also came with a small sample, as proof of the database’s authenticity. The sample apparently contains usernames and IDs, IP addresses, full names, birth dates, gender, shipping addresses, phone numbers, and hashed passwords. Should the archive prove to be authentic, it would put many people at risk of identity theft, wire fraud, and more.

But whether or not the archive is authentic remains to be seen. In a statement given to BleepingComputer, Temu denied claims of data theft, saying that nothing in the database belongs to the firm:

"Temu's security team has conducted a comprehensive investigation into the alleged data breach and can confirm that the claims are categorically false; the data being circulated is not from our systems. Not a single line of data matches our transaction records," Temu told the publication.

"At Temu, the security and privacy of our users are paramount. We follow industry-leading practices for data protection and cybersecurity, ensuring that consumers can shop with peace of mind on our platform."

Temu is right to be dismissive, especially if the claims indeed are false. Sometimes, even the mention of a company in context of a data breach, is enough for consumers to stay away and thus hurt the firm’s bottom line. And with an up-and-coming e-commerce platform such as Temu, a pristine image is pivotal to success.

Temu is an online marketplace that offers a wide range of products, from clothing and electronics to home goods, at highly competitive prices. It is a Chinese company, with a global presence, and sources products directly from manufacturers. The platform is designed to appeal to budget-conscious consumers looking for deals across various categories. Since its launch, Temu has grown rapidly, leveraging a model similar to other discount e-commerce platforms.

Via BleepingComputer

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee has announced plans, via X/Twitter, to retire its Summit supercomputer in November 2024. After six years of service and over 200 million node hours of research, Summit’s decommissioning marks the end of the road for what was, in 2018, the world’s most powerful supercomputer.

Summit's infrastructure includes 9,216 IBM Power 9 processors and 27,648 Nvidia Volta GPUs. With a peak performance of 148.6 petaflops, it has since been surpassed by newer technologies and now ranks ninth globally.

Its successor, Frontier, has already claimed the title of the world’s first exascale supercomputer, significantly outpacing Summit's computational power. Although it is currently ranked number one in the world, Frontier itself faces stiff competition from several challengers, including Oracle and Elon Musk's xAI.

Goodbye, Summit!Attendees gathered on the final day of the 2024 OLCF User Meeting to sign a piece of @ORNL's Summit #supercomputer.After almost 6 years providing over 200 million node hours to researchers around the world, Summit will be decommissioned in November. pic.twitter.com/7bnsPy6bwxSeptember 11, 2024

Not for sale?

Originally scheduled for retirement earlier in 2024, Summit’s life was extended to support additional scientific initiatives. During its final year, it played a key role in over 100 research projects, including contributions to the National AI Research Resource initiative.

ORNL has not confirmed whether it would consider selling Summit, but for those with the financial resources, acquiring the supercomputer could be an attractive opportunity. There is certainly a precedent for such systems being sold. The Cheyenne supercomputer, formerly housed at the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center (NWSC) in Cheyenne, Wyoming, was ranked as the 20th most powerful computer in the world in 2016. It was sold through the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) in May 2024. Despite maintenance issues and significant operating costs - thousands of dollars per day - Cheyenne drew 27 bidders and eventually sold for $480,085, plus the costs of dismantling and relocating it. Summit, however, would likely come with a much higher price tag.

The supercomputing landscape has evolved massively since Summit's debut, especially with the rise of AI-driven data centers. This shift has increased demand on energy resources, with data center electricity consumption projected to reach 6.8% of total US power generation by 2030, up from 4% today.

Frontier is both the world's fastest and most energy efficient supercomputer, but ORNL thinks it can do better. Looking ahead, the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF) is already planning successor to Frontier, named Discovery, which is set to debut by 2028.

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Intel has announced plans to establish a new Intel Foundry Services (IFS) spinoff – with the foundry business set to become its own standalone subsidiary.

The announcement, made by company CEO Pat Gelsinger, is said to align with three of Intel’s main goals, enhancing its foundry operations, cutting costs and focusing on its core x86 technology.

Gelsinger’s news also serves as confirmation of decisive action made by the company following its second-quarter earnings call.

Intel Foundry Services subsidiary

In its most recent three-month period, Intel reports $12.8 billion in revenue, marking a minor 1% decrease over the same period of the preceding year.

Announcing a major $10 billion cost-reduction plan, Gelsinger stated: “Our Q2 financial performance was disappointing, even as we hit key product and process technology milestones.”

Splitting off its foundry business will enable the newly formed IFS to have greater financial transparency as well as more flexibility. Gelsinger summarized the change, “provides our external foundry customers and suppliers with clearer separation and independence from the rest of Intel.”

No changes have been made to the leadership team, who continue to report to Intel’s CEO, however a separate operating board will be established.

In the announcement, Gelsinger also touched upon further changes that will apply to Intel in order to address many of the concerns raise following the most recent quarter.

Despite pausing facility projects in Germany and Poland, Intel will continue to build in Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico and Ohio in order to expand its US manufacturing footprint. These projects are backed by billions of US dollars as part of the CHIPS Act.

Gelsinger thanked Intel’s workers for their understanding, revealing the true scale of the change: “As I’ve said before, this is the most significant transformation of Intel in over four decades. Not since the memory to microprocessor transition have we attempted something so essential.”

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As Cillian Murphy prepares to reprise his role as fearsome gangster Tommy Shelby in the upcoming Netflix Peaky Blinders movie, his intense performance in the trailer for new movie Small Things Like These is just as goosebump-inducing.

After Murphy's well-deserved Oscar win for his performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan's explosive biopic Oppenheimer, his next intense role comes in the form of historical drama Small Things Like These. Based on Claire Keegan's novel of the same name, Murphy showcases his character Bill Furlong in the haunting and gritty trailer (see below) that is a far cry from Oppenheimer.

In the trailer, quiet and melancholic Furlong is working in the coal mines and blends into the dark, bleak surroundings. However, when he sees a young woman being forcibly delivered to a convent, his disturbing discovery of abuse in the rural Irish community forces him to confront his own past traumas and risk upsetting the town by exposing the exploitation. 

It's definitely not a light-hearted watch and tackles painful themes as Murphy takes center stage in a movie that looks to be intoxicating and emotional, which I think could earn him his next Oscar win.

Small Things Like These takes on big things

Small Things Like These is an adaptation of Claire Keegan's best-selling novel which tells the story of Bill Furlong, a hard-working coal merchant and father who grapples with his traumatic past when he discovers secret abuses happening inside his local convent in the small Irish town of New Ross. 

These ordeals are inspired by the real-life history of the Magdalene Laundries, a set of workhouses and asylums run by the Catholic Church where 'fallen women', such as unmarried mothers and orphans, were physically and mentally abused in horrific conditions.

Furlong struggles with combatting the powerful and corrupt institution and his own past suffering as he thinks about the death of his mother, as well as the life of his daughters following such a barbaric revelation.

Produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's company Artists Equity, Murphy told Vanity Fair of how he convinced Damon to take on the project: "I gave the script to Matt [Damon] when we were shooting, and he loved it. I remember saying that it’s a different film, but it would share some thematic crossover with Manchester by the Sea, which Matt also produced…. It was like I was pitching between Manchester by the Sea and Doubt.”

Small Things Like These also stars Eileen Walsh as Furlong's wife Eileen, Michelle Fairley as Mrs. Wilson, Emily Watson as Sister Mary, and Clare Dunne as Sister Carmel.

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