Best MacBook for 2025

With M1, M2 and M3 versions of the MacBook Air and M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max versions of the MacBook Pro, it can be hard to choose. Our experts will help you find the right MacBook.

from CNET https://ift.tt/mJxXTO0

Latest Tech News

• Oscar Nuñez will reprise his beloved The Office role in Peacock's new series
• The series doesn't have a name yet
• It is believed that producers wanted to keep Nuñez's appearance a surprise, but it was leaked

---

The Office was an absolute masterclass of comedy, and I consider it one of my favorite shows. I'll admit, I did feel a little apprehensive when I found out it was getting a Peacock spin-off show, but then again, it can't be as bad as the disastrous Prime Video attempt at The Office, right? Anyway, my interest in the new series has been piqued because it has just been revealed that Oscar Nuñez will be reprising his role as Oscar Martinez, and I'm so excited to see that character back again.

When it comes to Oscar's return, we know that he won't be the central character, so don't expect any Michael Scott style antics, we'll be seeing someone new in that role. Sadly, if you were hoping to see the likes of Pam, Jim, and Dwight, it seems Oscar is the only one returning to the office, and he'll be joining a new line-up of actors. As we understand it, this spin-off is set in the Office universe, but it's not a direct sequel.

According to Variety, producer Greg Daniels felt he "told a complete story for most of the characters — but if there was one character he’d like to revisit and explore, it would be Oscar.

Variety added: "It’s believed that producers were hoping to keep Nuñez’s involvement a surprise, but the news first leaked Wednesday via newsletter The Insneider."

What do we know about Peacock's The Office spin-off?

Right now, we don't know much! It doesn't even have a name and is currently known as the 'Untitled Daniels/Korman Project' (referencing the two producers Greg Daniels and Michael Korman). Hopefully we'll start to see some more details over the coming months though, as I am curious about this one.

We do have a loose plot, however, which is that we'll follow the staff of a dying Midwestern newspaper whose publisher is trying to revive it with volunteer reporters. So while it's not Dunder Mifflin, we've still got the paper connection, and it's going to be set up like a documentary using the same crew who filmed The Office. So this could explain why Oscar has found himself here, whether he's working for the new company or he's simply got experience being a documentary subject.

You might also like

• I'm obsessed with these fan-made Severance title sequences that parody The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Succession
• 4 horror movies on Peacock with 85% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes
• Wicked conjures up a March streaming release date on Peacock, and I'm sad that I won't be able to watch it before the 2025 Oscars

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/aC3YQvn

Best Internet Providers in Tempe, Arizona

These are CNET's top picks for broadband service providers in Tempe.

from CNET https://ift.tt/lF5ULNu

Latest Tech News

---

• Solidigm 122.88TB SSD provided the storage for a test involving Nvidia's Nano Super
• The system was used to run DeepSeek and although it worked, it wasn’t fast
• The Gen 4 PCIe SSD’s speed was restricted by the Nano Super’s Gen 3 connection

---

At the end of 2024, Solidigm added a 122.88TB QLC SSD to its product line. The D5-P5336 will be available in U.2 15mm to start and then in E1.L later in 2025, meaning it won’t fit in a typical consumer PC. Its price is expected to exceed $10,000 anyway, so you’d need deep pockets if you want to buy one.

If you’re wondering how such a giant-capacity SSD might perform, we have the answer - sort of - but it doesn’t come in the form of a traditional review.

StorageReview tested the Jetson Orin Nano Super - Nvidia’s compact AI single-board computer for edge computing - to see how it performed on AI development tasks, specifically LLM inference. The Nano Super comes with a 6-core Arm CPU, a 1024-core Ampere GPU, and 8GB of LPDDR5 memory. At $249, it is an affordable choice for AI developers, but its limited VRAM presents a challenge for running LLMs.

Not smooth sailing

“We recognized that onboard memory limitations challenge running models with billions of parameters, so we implemented an innovative approach to bypass these constraints,” the site explained. “Typically, the Nano Super’s 8GB of graphics memory restricts its capability to smaller models, but we aimed to run a model 45 times larger than what would traditionally fit.”

Doing this involved upgrading the Nano Super’s storage with Solidigm’s new U.2 drive, which has a Gen 4 PCIe x4 interface and promises sequential read/write speeds of up to 7.1 GB/s (read) and 3.3 GB/s (write), along with random performance of up to 1,269,000 IOPS.

The Nano Super has two M.2 NVMe bays, both of which offer a PCIe Gen3 connection. The team connected the SSD to an 80mm slot supporting a full four PCIe lanes using a breakout cable to get the most bandwidth and used an ATX power supply to deliver 12V and 3.3V to the SSD.

While the full potential of the drive was limited by the Jetson’s interface, it still managed up to 2.5GB/s of read speeds. Using AirLLM, which loads model layers dynamically rather than all at once, the site managed to run DeepSeek R1 70B Distilled, an AI model 45 times larger than what would traditionally fit on such a device.

Processing speed turned out to be a major bottleneck for the experiment. Running smaller models worked well, but generating a single token from the 70B model took 4.5 minutes. While not practical for real-time AI tasks, the test demonstrated how massive storage solutions, like the D5-P5336, can enable larger models in constrained environments.

You can see how the test was achieved, and the problems that were encountered and overcome along the way, in this YouTube video.

You might also like

• These are the fastest SSDs you can buy right now
• And these are the largest HDDs and SSDs on the market at the moment
• Solidigm exits consumer SSD market as it prepares to go big on enterprise SSDs

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/bn9FuK5

Best Headsets for Working From Home in 2025

You'll need a reliable headset for work that has top voice-calling performance and audio quality. We tested quite a few options and here are our top picks.

from CNET https://ift.tt/XYdZMeL

Latest Tech News

---

• Lonestar plans to offer disaster recovery services from the Moon
• It successfully tested a lunar software-defined data center in 2024
• Its next mission, launching soon, will test a physical data center (kind of)

---

We all know how important it is to back up our personal data in case of a disaster - I certainly learned that lesson the hard way years ago when a hard drive malfunctioned and fried my desktop PC. As devastating as that was for me personally, for businesses, the loss of data can be catastrophic, as while files and folders can be backed up in many ways, including to the cloud, offsite data centers, tape storage, and NAS, some solutions take the idea to the extreme.

One such example is the Arctic World Archive (AWA), which stores data-filled containers inside a sealed chamber within a decommissioned coal mine in Svalbard, between mainland Norway and the North Pole. If that isn’t safe and remote enough for you, well, there’s always space.

Florida-based Lonestar Data Holdings was founded by Chris Stott in 2021 to provide data services such as Disaster Recovery and Resilience-as-a-Service from Earth’s ultimate backup location - the Moon.

A RISC-V venture

Lonestar successfully tested the world’s first software-defined data center on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2021 and 2022, then conducted a full data storage test from the Moon's surface last year.

Working with its lunar access provider, Intuitive Machines, Lonestar completed its first mission to the Moon (called "Independence") with a proof-of-concept demonstration after the IM-1 Odysseus Nova-C lander touched down on the lunar south pole last February. It wasn’t a complete success, as the vehicle ended up on its side.

Lonestar’s next mission, again with Intuitive Machines (this one called "Freedom"), will be a test of its first physical “data center” (a RISC-V processor with a Phison SSD running Ubuntu) sent off-planet. That mission is set to launch on February 26.

Writing about Lonestar, Blocks and Files says, “The Freedom IT unit has a 3D-printed casing designed by BiG, an architecture and design group led by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels. The exterior is said to ‘reflect the silhouettes of NASA astronauts Charlie Duke (Apollo Moonwalker) and Nicole Stott (Space Station Space Walker).’

It is somewhat unexpected that a small computer system in a lunar landing vehicle would have resources devoted to a casing that, once enclosed in the Athena vehicle and loaded into the SpaceX launch rocket, will never be seen again. Presumably, Lonestar wants to capture people’s imagination with the idea.” As far as marketing stunts go, it’s a good one.

Assuming everything goes to plan, Lonestar hopes to begin continuous commercial services in 2026.

You might also like

• These are the best cloud backup services you can get now
• And these are the best cloud storage services available
• A video of GitHub's extraordinary deep-freeze archiving project has emerged

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/7B3EQCJ

Premier League Soccer: Stream Brighton vs. Bournemouth From Anywhere

The Seagulls look to make it three EPL wins in a row as they welcome the Cherries to the Amex.

from CNET https://ift.tt/4w6dYs1

Latest Tech News

Amazon's next big Alexa event is imminent, and it's set to be a major one for all things Echo and smart home. The device-focused event, which will take place on February 26 at 10AM ET in New York City, marks the company's first Alexa announcement since September 2023. That was when the Echo Pop Kids smart speaker and its second-gen Echo Show 8 were unveiled. This time, Amazon is likely focused on the Alexa voice and could announce a big change for its smart assistant.

While Amazon hasn't officially revealed what's in store for its Alexa event, it hasn't been afraid to drop little hints here and there in the build-up to the next device launch. So far, we can venture a safe guess that the Alexa voice assistant will be the prime focus of the event, which is said to receive a significant AI upgrade, followed by the announcement of a new Echo smart speaker and possible Fire TV updates.

Therefore, we have a solid idea of what we expect next from the tech giant, but as we've said, nothing has been set in stone. We won't know for sure until Amazon makes it official during its event, so you can bet our eyes will be peeled for all the latest announcements during our live blog, which we'll update regularly throughout the event. Still, before that, these are the announcements we're expecting to see at tomorrow.

A next-gen Alexa

(Image credit: Getty Images)

At Amazon's last device event in September 2023, the company teased us with a brief look at Alexa AI, an AI-powered version of the voice assistant with ChatGPT-style functions. This could include an advanced ability to interpret context and distinguish natural speech, conducting multiple requests in a single voice command, and a possible monthly subscription fee.

There's no doubt that Alexa AI will be the star of the show at Amazon's event. However, as recent leaks have pointed out, the AI revamp may be slightly delayed before access is granted.

We've recently reported that an anonymous source informed The Washington Post ($/£) that the AI-revamped Alexa voice had been experiencing inaccuracies when asked questions. As a result, its release date could now be pushed back to March 31, but it will still be announced at Amazon's Alexa event tomorrow.

New Echo smart speakers

(Image credit: Future)

There's a chance we could see a brand new Echo speaker join Amazon's seemingly never-ending lineup of smart home devices that make up some of the best smart speakers. The last time the company unveiled a new Alexa speaker was the Amazon Echo 4th Gen in 2020.

Despite skipping its Alexa event last year, Amazon didn't starve us of some fresh Echo devices in its other smart home device ranges. Most notably, the Echo Show 21, which reigns as its largest Echo device, and its Echo Spot smart alarm speaker both made their debuts.

Given the near five-year time gap since Amazon's last Echo speaker hardware update, an announcement isn't completely unrealistic. A new smart speaker would also be handy for pairing with the AI-integrated Alexa voice.

Alexa subscription tiers

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

As we know, Alexa AI is likely to appear during Amazon's big Alexa event. However, we believe that the revamped voice assistant will offer limited free use before introducing a monthly subscription fee. Thankfully, though, this will likely not impact the classic Alexa we all know and love.

We've been aware that Amazon has been toying with the idea of implementing a fee for its new Alexa voice which could cost you between $5 to $10 a month. Considering that Amazon has fallen behind its AI competitors ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Apple Intelligence and has yet to ride the AI train, from a business perspective, charging a monthly fee makes sense. However, from a consumer perspective, we're still not entirely convinced that this will be worth splurging on, given its numerous delays and reported inaccurate responses.

Updates for Fire TV, and maybe a new device

(Image credit: Amazon)

While its Alexa voice assistant will be the main focus, it's likely that Amazon speak about its Fire TV device range. Amazon's 2023 device event revealed features for its Fire TV devices, including an improved Alexa voice search function and AI screensavers. Following Amazon's Android TV update, we believe the company could introduce new Fire TV devices alongside updates to the abovementioned features during its event.

Mentions of new Fire TV hardware were spotted on one of Amazon's developer pages, stating the following; “Android 14-based Fire TV is based on API level 34. The following sections explain some of [the] important changes that you should consider when you build apps for Android 14-based Fire TV". This gives a strong indication that new Fire TV devices will be one of the star announcements at tomorrow's event.

This leak has come at an awfully convenient time with the Alexa event due to happen tomorrow, adding to our suspicions that Amazon could expand its Fire TV line. With the lack of mentions of specific hardware models, we're unable to pinpoint what exactly this will entail, but we'd expect it to be the announcement of a new smart TV or streaming stick.

You might also like

• I love my 10-year-old Echo and am terrified Amazon's new Alexa is gonna brick it
• Amazon drops unsubtle hints that Alexa AI is landing soon – 3 things to expect from the new voice assistant
• Echo Spot (2017) vs Echo Spot (2024): how do the old and new Amazon Alexa smart speakers compare?

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/VmPSIbt

Best Solar Batteries of 2025

The best solar batteries store energy produced by your solar panels, helping to protect your home from blackouts. Here are CNET's top picks.

from CNET https://ift.tt/PUETlBa

Latest Tech News

---

• Microsoft unveils a quantum chip with a Topological Core for stable and scalable qubits
• Majorana 1 features eight topological qubits, aiming for a million-qubit scale
• Breakthrough is comparable to how semiconductors revolutionized modern computing

---

Microsoft has unveiled Majorana 1, a quantum chip built on a Topological Core architecture, marking a huge step forward in its quantum computing efforts.

The company says this new chip, which positions the tech giant alongside rivals Google and IBM in the race for large-scale quantum computing, will lead to devices capable of solving industrial-scale problems in years rather than decades.

The chip is based on a topoconductor, a newly-engineered material that can observe and control Majorana particles - a discovery Microsoft represents no less than a new state of matter, which it has used to create a more stable and scalable qubit in a breakthroughit compares to how semiconductors transformed modern computing.

A clear path for scaling

“We took a step back and said ‘OK, let’s invent the transistor for the quantum age. What properties does it need to have?’” said Chetan Nayak, Microsoft technical fellow. “And that’s really how we got here – it’s the particular combination, the quality and the important details in our new materials stack that have enabled a new kind of qubit and ultimately our entire architecture.”

Microsoft adds Majorana 1 offers a clear path to scaling quantum systems. For now, it has eight topological qubits on a single chip, marking the first step toward its goal of reaching one million qubits. Achieving this scale will be essential if quantum computing is to drive advancements in industries such as healthcare, environmental science, and manufacturing.

“Whatever you’re doing in the quantum space needs to have a path to a million qubits. If it doesn’t, you’re going to hit a wall before you get to the scale at which you can solve the really important problems that motivate us,” Nayak said. “We have actually worked out a path to a million.”

The chip is built using a materials stack made from indium arsenide and aluminum, designed and fabricated atom by atom. The Topological Core architecture resists errors at the hardware level, making it more stable than current approaches.

You might also like

• 2025 is when quantum computing moves from physical qubits to logical qubits
• Google says it just made a huge step forward in quantum computing
• Microsoft and Quantinuum partnership advances logical qubit development

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/TtG7jBm

Keep Your Air Fryer Away From Extension Cords—Here's Why It's Dangerous

Using extension cords with appliances that have heating elements can cause fires, according to an expert.

from CNET https://ift.tt/z6tV5RF

Peak Eye Health Comes From These 6 Vitamins and Supplements

Healthy eyes aren't out of your reach. These are the vitamins and supplements you need to do it.

from CNET https://ift.tt/zADl8jw

Latest Tech News

---

• Dell is close to securing a $5 billion AI server deal with Elon Musk’s xAI
• The servers, featuring Nvidia GB200 chips, may support xAI’s supercomputer
• Analysts predict Dell’s AI server revenue could hit $14 billion by 2026

---

We recently reported HPE had beaten Supermicro and Dell Technologies to win a $1 billion contract to supply servers optimized for AI work to Elon Musk’s X, potentially to power Grok, the social network’s AI chatbot.

At the end of 2024, X announced it was rolling out Grok-2 to all users for free, and losing out to HPE would have been a big blow to Dell, which, along with Supermicro, did bid to supply the equipment but was ultimately unsuccessful.

However, if a new report from Bloomberg is accurate, the iconic computer maker could be on the verge of winning an even bigger contract from one of Musk’s other ventures, xAI.

Memphis bound?

The report says that Dell is close to finalizing a deal worth over $5 billion to supply AI-focused servers equipped with Nvidia GB200 chips. Some aspects are still being worked out, sources familiar with the discussions told the news site, but if all goes ahead – and it surely will - the servers are set to be delivered later in 2025.

Elon Musk previously said, “The table stakes for being competitive in AI are at least several billion dollars per year at this point,” and he's obviously paying to play.

Quite what the servers are for isn’t reported, but it’s very likely that most, if not all of them, will be for xAI’s supercomputer project, known as "Colossus," which is being built in Memphis using a mix of Dell and Supermicro servers. By all accounts, Dell has been very keen to supply the rest of the servers to finish the job.

This deal with xAI will “firmly establish the company as a leading AI-server provider and boost sales, though the impact on profitability is less clear,” Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Woo Jin Ho noted.

“Analysts expect Dell will have shipped more than $10 billion of AI servers in the fiscal year ending last month and project that value will jump to $14 billion in the fiscal year ending in January 2026,” Bloomberg added, noting Dell is set to to report its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings on February 27.

You might also like

• Elon Musk raises $6 billion for xAI’s Memphis data center
• xAI cluster is now the most powerful AI training system in the world
• HPE may have beaten Supermicro and Dell to win a $1bn AI contract

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/rwqXn8e

Latest Tech News

---

• Western Digital plans to produce 100TB+ HDDs within a decade
• It will do this using HAMR and HDMR heat assisted technologies
• The company is also investigating long-term storage, like ceramics and DNA

---

Western Digital and Sandisk have begun the process of splitting into separate companies, with the former focused on HDD and platform development, and the latter now all-in on flash products. Both companies recently held investor days, and while Sandisk teased a 1PB SSD and a flash replacement for HBM at its event, WD’s focus was on how it intends to supercharge hard drive capacity within a decade.

The company’s roadmap to the future of HDD technology shows a clear progression from energy-assisted Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (ePMR) to Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) and ultimately to Heat Dot Magnetic Recording (HDMR), targeting over 100TB capacities.

By 2026, Western Digital says its HDD capacity will reach 36TB-44TB thanks to HAMR technology which uses laser heating to temporarily reduce disk coercivity. This allows for smaller magnetic grains, improving data stability and density while reducing interference, so HDDs can store more data per platter with long-term reliability.

(Image credit: Western Digital)

Enter HDMR technology

Western Digital isn’t the only drive manufacturer banking on HAMR to supercharge the capacities of hard drives.

Its big rival Seagate recently debuted a 36TB drive while revealing a 60TB model is coming, and in especially bad news for WD, it also launched a bid to acquire HAMR specialist Intevac whose sputtering machines are used on over 65% of the world’s hard disks. Although Seagate is Intevac’s main customer, WD also uses the company’s tech.

By the 2030s, Western Digital expects HAMR to be superseded by HDMR (also known as bit-pattern recording), which will lead the push for 100TB+ HDD capacities. The tech, which is reported to be quite costly, uses nano-patterned magnetic media with discrete magnetic "dots" to boost data placement, reduce noise, and improve areal density.

Western Digital isn’t only focusing on traditional hard drives, it’s also exploring new growth opportunities. In AI compute, the company is investigating advanced computational models such as Boltzmann and Ising, as well as neuromorphic computing, which could enable more efficient, brain-like processing architectures for AI workloads.

The company is also looking into long-term DNA and ceramic storage, two emerging technologies that have the potential to offer extremely durable and high-density data preservation for archival needs. In the medtech sector, the company is considering developing magnetic biosensors and nanopore technology, which could have significant applications in biomedical diagnostics and personalized medicine.

You might also like

• These are the fastest hard drives you can buy right now
• And these are largest SSDs and HDDs on the planet
• WD told it has a week to pay massive $500 million patent infringement fine

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/pPWBCUH

Best Internet Providers in Rochester, New York

Rochester residents have plenty of internet service providers to choose from. Explore CNET’s picks of top internet plans in the city.

from CNET https://ift.tt/e8Ls13y

White vs. Brown Noise: This Is the Best Soothing Sound for Your Sleep

If you've been struggling to sleep, white or brown noise might be your solution.

from CNET https://ift.tt/9zmLtcW

Latest Tech News

---

• Intel is currently without a CEO and its future looks unclear
• TSMC and Broadcom are interested in separate areas of the chip maker’s business
• Any deal faces big hurdles - government rules, factory retooling, and political pushback

---

Although it debuted some super-fast AI chips in 2024 in a bid to match its rival AMD, Intel isn’t the powerhouse it used to be.

While Nvidia is the second-largest company in the world (behind Apple) by market cap, worth $3.4 trillion, and AMD is in 80th place, worth $183.27 billion, Intel, currently without a CEO following Pat Gelsinger’s departure in December 2024, is languishing in 173rd place at $102.18 billion - placing it between Rio Tinto and Airbnb.

This has led to all sorts of rumors surrounding Intel's future, including speculation it could merge with AMD's former foundry, GlobalFoundries, in a potential multi-billion-dollar deal. But now, perhaps the saddest news of all comes from a new Wall Street Journal report, which says Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and Broadcom are separately considering deals that could split the iconic chipmaker in half.

Big hurdles to overcome

The report claims Broadcom has been "closely examining Intel’s chip-design and marketing business", and, according to people familiar with the matter, has, "informally discussed with its advisers making a bid but would likely only do so if it finds a partner for Intel’s manufacturing business, the people said.”

At the same time, TSMC is considering taking control of Intel’s chip plants (either some or all) - a move that was apparently suggested by the Trump administration. However, the WSJ was told by a White House official that the president is “unlikely to support a deal that involved a foreign entity operating Intel’s factories,” so make of that what you will.

The WSJ stresses Broadcom and TSMC haven’t teamed up to carve Intel in two - these are unrelated possibilities - and all of the talks so far are “preliminary and largely informal.”

There are a couple of hurdles standing in the way of such a deal. The 2022 Chips Act created a $53 billion grant program to boost domestic chip production, with Intel receiving the largest share - up to $7.9 billion. As a condition of the funding, the chipmaker must retain a majority stake in its factories if they are ever spun off into a separate entity. The U.S. government would also have to approve any deal involving TSMC or other investors taking control of Intel’s facilities.

The WSJ also notes that any deal faces operational issues, noting Intel’s factories have largely been set up to produce Intel chips, and the company has only started trying to make chips for external customers in the past few years. "Retooling Intel factories to make advanced chips TSMC’s way would be a significant and costly engineering challenge," it adds.

You might also like

• Rumor has it that Intel could merge with AMD's former foundry
• Intel is looking to match AMD as it debuts super-fast AI chips
• Intel slams Nvidia and AMD, claims chip giants have security flaws

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/x2uMqkL

5 Foods I'll Never Buy at the Store Again Thanks to My Immersion Blender

I used this simple tool to make oat milk, pesto and more at home. But did I save any money?

from CNET https://ift.tt/0Zh4W7r

Latest Tech News

---

• The Bapaco is a portable Windows PC disguised as a mechanical keyboard
• Its 12.3-inch ultrawide touchscreen tilts 90 degrees, and can function as a second display
• Crowdfunding on Kickstarter, it’s powered by a 12th-gen Intel i5 with up to 32GB RAM

---

The Bapaco (try saying it three times fast - it’s oddly satisfying) is a portable computer that’s unlike anything else on the market. At first glance, it looks like a compact mechanical keyboard, but it actually packs an entire Windows PC into its slim frame.

The device stands out from traditional laptops or compact PCs because instead of being a clamshell, it’s a flat, board-like device with a 12.3-inch ultrawide touchscreen that tilts up to 90 degrees. Its unusual 16:6 (1920x720) aspect ratio reminds me of Toshiba’s widely mocked Satellite U845W ultrabook from 2012, which featured a 21:9 display meant for widescreen movie viewing. It’s also similar in design to the Maxfree K3, a compact 82-key mechanical keyboard which has an integrated 13-inch touch screen.

Currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter, the Bapaco is designed to function as both a standalone Windows 11 computer and also as an external keyboard and display for Windows, Mac, and Android devices.

(Image credit: Bapaco)

Gorgeous mechanical keyboard

Under the hood, Bapaco runs on a 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor with 10 cores and 12 threads, paired with up to 32GB DDR4 RAM. Storage options include an M.2 NVMe PCIe X4 SSD and an M.2 SATA 3.0 SSD. The attractive 68-key RGB backlit mechanical keyboard is fully customizable, featuring hot-swappable switches and multiple lighting modes. There’s no touchpad though.

The device also includes dual 3W speakers, Bluetooth 5.2, and a range of ports, including USB 3.0, USB 2.0, Type-C DP 1.4, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Its 5000mAh battery provides up to six hours of video playback, long enough for a The Brutalist and Paddington in Peru double-bill.

If you want a Bapaco, there’s still over two weeks to go on its Kickstarter campaign. At the time of writing, it has received $27,248 of pledges, well above its tiny $642 funding goal. For a super early bird pledge of $624 (27% off the $856 MSRP) you can get a model with no RAM and no SSD. Should you wish to have a full working Bapaco you can pledge an additional $79 for 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, or $249 for 32GB RAM and 2TB SSD.

The creators behind the device say they intend to begin production in March 2025, with the aim to start shipping in May. As always, it’s worth pointing out that crowdfunding comes with risks. While projects like Bapaco can be exciting, backing a campaign is not the same as buying a finished product. Delays, design changes, or even cancellations can happen, so be warned.

You might also like

• These are the best laptops for gaming and work you can buy right now
• $4299 laptop comes with 128GB RAM by default plus an AMD Ryzen AI 9 APU
• With a pair of OLED screens, GPD Duo may be the best mobile workstation ever

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/sIahWmv

How to Watch 2025 ICC Champions Trophy Cricket Live From Anywhere

The ninth edition of cricket's "mini World Cup" takes place in Pakistan and Dubai over the next three weeks.

from CNET https://ift.tt/Vprb80X

Latest Tech News

---

• GoPro refreshes the Max 360-degree camera with modest hardware updates
• New 360 modes added to GoPro's Quik app, including object tracking
• A big price drop lowers the list price to $349.99 / £349.99 / AU$599.95

---

GoPro has announced a 360-degree camera, but it's not the Max 2 that we've been waiting years for. No, it's a refreshed Max with a couple of hardware tweaks – and a very welcome price drop.

The new camera has an upgraded mounting system for compatibility with all 1/4-20 tripod mounts, plus GoPro's latest Enduro battery for improved battery life – and that all that's new. However, the 'new' Max comes with a sizable price drop, with a new list price of $349.99 / £349.99 / AU$599.95.

It has the same image-making skills as the original Max, including 5.6K video from its twin lenses with complete 360-degree coverage. However, GoPro has improved its Quik app for the Max with new 360-degree features, including a neat-looking AI-powered object tracking that keeps your selected subject in the center of the action.

We haven't tried the new modes in the app yet, but 360-degree video edits can be a time sink, so any smart features that simplify the process are welcome.

Refreshing a five-year-old camera with minor hardware tweaks, amid the backdrop of a much delayed successor, feels like a puzzling decision on the part of GoPro. So what are we to make of the Max relaunch?

The original Max was launch in 2020 and is long overdue a successor if GoPro is to challenge new market leader Insta360. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Will we ever see the GoPro Max 2?

The biggest news here is the price drop compared to the original Max – a drop of around a third. GoPro's hand was forced here, because its dated Max camera previously cost the same as the superior-in-every-way Insta360 X4 – the best 360-degree camera available with powerful features including 8K video.

We're keen to give the improved Quik app a spin – in addition to smart object tracking, it also offers keyframing to set precise views, CameraFX for cinematic camera movements, smooth auto transitions between clips, edits to single clips, and a frame-grab tool for exporting stills from your video clips. Combined, these new skills could provide an Insta360-beating editing experience.

However, refreshing the Max only serves to heighten the question – where is the Max 2? It's been delayed time and again, and we're wondering if it will ever materialize.

I'm still hoping that we'll see GoPro's all-new and improved 360-degree camera in 2025 – and at this point it will need to be a big upgrade, with 8K video and more in order to effectively rival Insta360's X4. The leading action camera maker typically saves its most exciting launches for September, so that could be a realistic scenario – we'll be sure to share any Max 2 updates as and when we get them.

You might also like

• Best 360 camera 2025: the finest choices for capturing every angle
• The leaked DJI Osmo 360 looks like very bad news for the delayed GoPro Max 2
• Forget 8K video, the GoPro Hero 13 Black’s swappable lenses are a masterstroke and the future of action camera design
• GoPro Max 2 hit by further delays – 2025 is the earliest we'll see the 360-degree action cam

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/AWSdMBw

Apple Kills Small Phones, Home Buttons and Lightning Ports in One Swoop

The iPhone 16E marks the final death for small phones

from CNET https://ift.tt/ZF3XlUu

15 Essential Questions You Need to Ask Before Installing Solar Panels

To get the right answers and the right experience with your new solar installation, it helps to know the right things to look for in a contract and the right things to ask the solar installer offering it.

from CNET https://ift.tt/TMP9qzt

Latest Tech News

---

• Wicked Part One has finally conjured up a streaming release date on Peacock
• The Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-starring musical movie will arrive on March 21
• That means fans of the hit film won't be able to watch it at home before the 2025 Oscars

---

Get ready to sing your lungs out, everyone, because Wicked has finally landed a streaming release date.

That's right, Universal Pictures' hit film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical of the same name is set to be released on Peacock in the US next month. Indeed, it'll make its streaming debut on the NBCUniversal-owned service on Friday, March 21. At the time of this article's publication, that's just over a month from now.

Holding space for March 21. #WickedMovie will be streaming exclusively on Peacock. pic.twitter.com/xvlWvhmPQtFebruary 19, 2025

That's the good news. The bad news is that Wicked – or, to give its full title, Wicked: Part One – won't be available to watch at home before this year's Academy Awards ceremony. The 2025 Oscars are set to take place on Sunday, March 3, meaning almost three weeks will have passed before one of 2024's best movies is released on one of the world's best streaming services. If you were hoping to catch the multi-Oscar contender before the glitziest event of the year, then, you're bound to be disappointed.

In some ways, it makes sense that Wicked wouldn't be available to stream on Peacock before the 97th Academy Awards take place. Wicked has been nominated for 10 Oscars following its November 2024 theatrical debut, and I'd be very surprised if its cast and crew don't walk away with a few gongs on the night. There'll be more than a few fans who'll want to check it out on Peacock if (or, rather, when) it's won an award or four. That said, the timing of its streaming debut is a bit strange. Interest in Wicked is likely to be at its highest in the week before and after the 2025 Oscars. To me, then, it would be more logical for it to be released on Peacock on February 24 or March 4.

Anyway, if you're interested in watching any of this year's Best Picture Oscar nominees from the comfort of your own home, check out our guide on where to stream The Substance, Conclave, Anora, The Brutalist, and Wicked's other Academy Award competitors.

Where can I stream Wicked in the UK and Australia?

UK and Australian viewers will need to rent or buy Wicked from a digital store if they want to stream it (Image credit: Universal Pictures)

Unfortunately, there's no word on when Wicked will be available to stream for 'free' – that is, by way of owning a subscription to a streaming platform – on British or Australian shores. The only way you can currently watch it at home is by renting or buying it from online retailers, such as Amazon, Apple TV, Microsoft, and Sky.

If you're planning on doing so, you'll need to be quick. The Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-starring movie won't be around for much longer on Amazon and Sky in the UK. As of this article's publication, it's leaving these platforms in three days so, if you're reading this after February 22, you'll be out of luck. Australian audiences only have five days to rent or buy it on Amazon down under, too, so you've got until February 24 to see what all of the fuss is about.

Thankfully, it seems that the Apple and Microsoft stores will still allow you to purchase Wicked permanently or temporarily. Anyone who wants to belt out 'Defying Gravity' from their couch between now and March 3, then, will be able to do so. Just don't be surprised if you get a knock at the door from your slightly annoyed neighbor if you do!

You might also like

• Nosferatu is getting a streaming release on Peacock and I'm so excited to watch the extended cut
• Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has finally raced its way onto Paramount Plus, and I'm gutted that I won't be able to stream it
• Daredevil: Born Again has an unusual Disney+ release schedule for a Marvel TV show, but I think I know why

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/TBcR3CK

Be Careful With the Data You Give DeepSeek... and Every Other AI

DeepSeek's China connection is worrisome. How users can take care to protect their data when using it or any other AI model.

from CNET https://ift.tt/8YBCEqy

Latest Tech News

---

• A new SDR module is coming for Framework 16, fitting the GPU slot
• Designed for C-UAS, it’ll detect, track, and possibly neutralize rogue drones
• It packs serious processing power with custom cooling for FPGA and DSP chips

---

We’re big fans of Framework’s modular laptops - as while many notebook makers have shifted towards soldered components, making even simple upgrades all but impossible, Framework’s approach lets you get the laptop you want and make whatever upgrades you need to the hardware.

You can choose the processor, mainboard, RAM, and even components like the webcam, screen, keyboard and expansion cards. The company even offers a RISC-V mainboard, created by DeepComputing, and most recently, Framework announced its Laptop 16 device can now support up to 26TB of superfast Gen4 SSD storage.

In 2024, the company open-sourced 3D CAD designs for its Laptop 16, giving users the ability to 3D print custom components. Over on X, Lukas Henkel at Open Visions, which designs and develops innovative hardware solutions, announced he is taking advantage of this flexibility by making a Software-Defined Radio (SDR) module for a customer in the Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) sector.

(Image credit: Lukas Henkel)

Taking down drones

This new product will fit into the Framework 16 GPU module form factor, resulting in what Henkel describes as a “nice, fully enclosed solution with lots of processing power and a very high-bandwidth link between the radio and the host system.”

In a later post, Henkel explained he needs to “customize the heat pipe and heat spreader for the Framework Laptop SDR module in order to cool both the FPGA and DSP” because the reference implementation is “designed for only a single heat source.” Fortunately, he reports, “the form factor provides enough Z-height for these kinds of modifications.”

Although Henkel doesn’t go into detail about what the SDR module will be used for or how it will work, being in the C-UAS sector, we can assume it will detect, track, and potentially neutralize unauthorized or hostile drones. This kind of technology is often used in military, law enforcement, and security applications, but it's the first time we've seen it being integrated so smartly into a laptop in this way.

I'm developing an SDR module for a customer in the C-UAS sector. The system will fit into the Framework 16 GPU module formfactor resulting in a nice fully enclosed solution with lots of processing power and a very high bandwidth link between the radio and the host system. The… pic.twitter.com/oyHyfjr6GBJanuary 3, 2025

You might also like

• These are the best laptops for work and gaming you can buy right now
• You can now 3D print your own laptop components thanks to Framework
• Framework adds support for Intel Core Ultra processors, 9.2-megapixel webcam

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/rMkjmG2

Best Internet Providers in Largo, Florida

The home internet options are a bit limited in Largo, but there are still some great providers offer fast speeds and affordable plans.

from CNET https://ift.tt/1ckNJQH

Latest Tech News

---

• South Korea privacy watchdog has temporarily halted downloads of DeepSeek
• DeepSeek is working with authorities to get compliant
• Latest in a series of privacy concerns raised about AI chatbots

---

South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) has temporarily halted new downloads of Chinese-owned AI chatbot DeepSeek.

Reports from TechCrunch confirm the app is still up and running for those who have already installed it, and that the decision won’t affect usage of the app - but new downloads will be halted until the Chinese firm complies with Korean privacy laws.

South Korea isn’t the first to ban new downloads of the chatbot, with the model disappearing from the Italian App store and Google Play Store in late January 2025 after the country’s data watchdog filed a privacy complaint and asked for information on how DeepSeek handles users’ personal information.

Recurring concerns

DeepSeek has since appointed a local representative to work with authorities in South Korea, but the data protection agency has said it ‘strongly advises’ current users to refrain from entering personal data into DeepSeek until a final decision is made - here’s everything we know so far.

The restriction is temporary whilst the PIPC assesses the use and storage of data by DeepSeek, but the agency confirms the model will be available for download once it is compliant.

The PIPC found DeepSeek had transferred the data of South Korean users to ByteDance - TikTok’s parent company. TikTok, as many will remember well - was briefly banned in the US over privacy and security concerns.

DeepSeek isn’t the first AI model to come under scrutiny for privacy concerns. The nature of Large Language Models is a bit of a privacy minefield since they scrape every corner of the internet for data to train their models - without the consent of the owners/authors/creators of the media they use.

Further than this though, OpenAI has never asked people for permission to use their data, and it’s not possible for a person to get confirmation of what data has been used or stored - or for it to be deleted. This contradicts an important facet of GDPR laws, which protect the right to be forgotten and should guarantee individuals the ability to have their personal data erased upon request.

As the new kid on the block, DeepSeek is in the spotlight for a number of reasons - and there have been legitimate concerns about how the platform collects and stores your personal information like your email address, name, and date of birth, as well as the data you enter into the chatbot, and the technical information of the device you’re using, like IP address, OS, etc.

Using AI safely

So is DeepSeek safe to use? And can it be used whilst maintaining your privacy? Well there are things you can do to mitigate the risks.

As with all LLMs, if you’re concerned about data privacy, using AI is probably not a good idea. LLMs scrape data from the internet without permission, and will use your interactions to add to the pool of data the model is trained with, and that’s not something you can opt out of, DeepSeek included.

If you’re in South Korea or Italy and still want to download DeepSeek, even the best VPN services will need a little extra help - as they don’t spoof your App store location, so you’ll need to download it from elsewhere. This is something we usually advise against, as it can be a really easy way to be tricked into downloading malware - so do so with caution.

In terms of the cybersecurity risks, there have been reports DeepSeek is ‘incredibly vulnerable’ to attacks, and failed to block any harmful prompts when tested, severely underperforming against its rivals.

You should be wary when using these chatbots - especially on a company device or if you work in an industry that has national security connections - there’s a reason both Australian and Indian government departments have blocked the use of DeepSeek from work devices.

A general rule is that users should be especially careful with the information you give to a chatbot. Don’t enter your health information, financial data, or anything that you wouldn’t want a third party to know. Monitor your accounts for any suspicious activity regularly, and flag anything you see as soon as you see it.

You might also like

• Check out our list of the best firewall software around today
• “This is a wake-up call" - the DeepSeek disruption: 10 experts weigh in
• We've also rounded up the best malware removal software on offer right now

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/qvfi463

Best Home Security Cameras With Floodlights in 2025

Combining a doorbell camera and a floodlight is an effective way to deter troublemakers from your home. Here are the best ones on the market.

from CNET https://ift.tt/5dfFsVA

Latest Tech News

---

• Need massive storage? Seagate’s Exos 28TB HDD is the current king
• Recertified models are popping up cheap - but they’re not exactly fresh out the box
• Some might’ve worked hard in crypto farms before, so check before you buy!

---

If you’re looking for a high-capacity hard drive, Seagate’s Exos range will definitely appeal to you. The largest internal drive you can buy in retail right now is Seagate's Exos 28TB HDD - when launched in 2024 it overtook the previous record holder, the Western Digital Gold, which maxes out at 24TB.

Seagate doesn’t disclose pricing for the Exos 28TB HDD, but we’ve noticed refurbished versions of the drive on sale for a fraction of what you might expect to pay. This isn’t the first time these cheaper CMR drives have appeared online, and the same warnings we issued about buying them before apply now.

The drives that you’ll find online at the likes of Amazon ($379.99), ServerPartDeals ($364.99), eBay in the UK (£578), as well as other third-party retailers, are all recertified models. That means they are either previously used or customer returns that have been inspected, tested, and restored to full working condition by either Seagate or an authorized third party. In other words, they aren’t brand new, but they have been verified to meet functional standards.

Linked to the Chia scandal?

In the case of Seagate's recertified Exos 28TB, it means you’re getting a tested and refurbished enterprise-grade HDD at a significant discount, but with potentially lower warranty coverage. The drives we’ve found on sale have “Factory Recertified” printed on them, so you know what you’re getting, and (depending on where you buy from) they could come with up to a two-year warranty. That’s interesting, as Seagate does offer an official data sheet for the recertified Exos 28TB drive, which states it only offers a limited six-month warranty.

There’s no question the recertified drives available to buy are attractively priced, and they should be absolutely fine, but if reliability is your top priority, you might be better off picking up a brand-new unit.

Quite where all these recertified drives have come from is something of a mystery, but it wouldn’t surprise us if at least some – if not most – of them originated in China.

Heise.de recently reported a number of its readers had purchased Seagate drives that were supposedly new but had, in fact, been used previously - potentially for thousands of hours. Further digging suggested at least some of the drives originated from Chinese cryptocurrency mining farms that used them to mine Chia several years ago. We’re not suggesting that the recertified Exos 28TB drives have been used for crypto mining, but it’s always a possibility.

When drives are refurbished and factory-certified by Seagate, the Field Accessible Reliability Metrics (FARM) usage time is reset to zero. Heise.de reports that some readers with recertified drives discovered their purchases had been used for at least 15,000 hours, which, as Tom’s Hardware points out, suggests “that these drives were used, refurbished by Seagate, used again, and then resold as freshly refurbished models.”

If you do decide to buy one of the recertified Exos 28TB HDDs, make sure you buy from a reputable reseller, even if it means paying a little extra.

Towards the end of January 2025, Seagate added the 36TB Exos M model to its growing family of data center hard disk drives, making it the largest HDD currently available, albeit not one that you'll be able to buy (for now). Seagate's CEO, Dave Mosley, also revealed at the time that the company had successfully trialed platter capacities of over 6TB, meaning 60TB drives could be on the horizon.

You might also like

• We found the best external hard drives you can buy right now
• Need for speed? These are the fastest hard drives
• Seagate smashes largest HDD world record with 36TB hard drive

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/bi5YEOx

Latest Tech News

---

• A report claims that Apple has stumbled with Siri’s big AI rollout
• The company is apparently facing ‘engineering problems’ and bugs
• Ironing all this out may mean the revamped Siri doesn’t make the seemingly intended cut for iOS 18.4

---

Apple is reportedly struggling with its much-awaited major revamp of Siri and may have to push back the upgrade until iOS 18.5 in May.

That's according to seasoned Apple watcher Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, who claims "engineering problems and software bugs" may further delay the overhaul, which was set to give the assistant more far-reaching AI powers driven by Apple Intelligence.

If you cast your mind back to WWDC 2024, Apple revealed a huge AI upgrade for Siri, some of which came into play last year, but other more complex abilities are still in the works.

Citing "people with knowledge of the matter", Gurman reports that this functionality is proving more difficult to implement than expected and that some of these in-depth features are apparently not working consistently enough. That includes some of the more impressive powers demonstrated by Apple previously, such as having Siri scour across emails and text messages to find a relative’s flight and lunch reservation plans, to pick a specific example highlighted by Gurman.

More broadly, Gurman’s sources paint a picture of Apple’s engineers “racing” to finish these AI features. The original plan was supposedly to launch the upgraded Siri in iOS 18.4 – an update rumored for April 2025 (the beta should be imminent, in fact) – but now, that might be pushed back to May (in iOS 18.5 seemingly), or even later.

Some, or all, of these heavyweight AI powers for Siri might be held back, so we could potentially see a smattering of new abilities in iOS 18.4 – but it’s sounding very up in the air still, especially considering this is a relatively close timeframe now.

Gurman also theorizes that another option for Apple could be to include the new AI features for Siri in iOS 18.4, but switched off by default – presumably a ‘use at your own risk’ kind of scenario. Apple might then choose to fully enable them (by default) in the next release of iOS, when any final gremlins are ironed out, presumably.

One way or another, it sounds like Siri getting fully upgraded with all the AI features Apple promised is looking a shakier prospect in the nearer-term – assuming Gurman's sources are accurate, of course.

---

(Image credit: Future)

Analysis: Apple device owners are running thin on patience

What are these AI powers, you might be wondering? To recap on the WWDC reveal, they include some major pieces of the puzzle to really power up Siri, including awareness of what’s on the screen of the device (to use this info in context, when interacting with the user), and deeper integration with apps to facilitate better control over this software.

A more personal experience and a whole bunch of new tricks should be possible, including the ability described by Gurman above pertaining to the relative’s reservation plans.

The problem is that some Apple fans are increasingly eager to actually try out some of the compelling features for Siri that were demonstrated by Apple the best part of a year ago now. Just in the past week, we've written about how the iOS 18.4 beta promises to include the Siri upgrade we've been waiting for and that iOS 18.4 could be the biggest iPhone upgrade ever.

So far, we’ve been treated to a smart new interface for the assistant, and those ChatGPT chops, but there’s nothing that heralds the arrival of the all-new, much more powerful AI that we were promised by Apple at its big developer conference last year.

The danger is that if iOS 18.4 turns up, and Siri is again left standing still on the AI front, people will start to lose patience here. And not only that, but a sluggish deployment of these AI features will reinforce the impression of Apple as lagging behind the rest of the tech industry in the artificial intelligence field.

To be fair to Apple, when it revealed Siri’s new AI functionality at WWDC last year, for the more complex features, the company didn’t promise anything in terms of delivery beyond a rollout over the course of 2025.

That tentativeness may itself have been a hint that Apple wasn’t confident in a delivery timeframe, and realized the complexity of actually implementing all this stuff so it works well.

As ever, this is just chatter from the rumor mill, so take it with some skepticism, although Gurman is certainly one of the more reliable journalists out there when it comes to insider info from Apple. We'll presumably find out soon, with a new iPhone tipped for release next week and possibly some iOS news around the same time.

You might also like

• Is your iPhone listening to you for ads? Apple confirms Siri data has ‘never been sold to anyone’
• How to use Siri with ChatGPT
• Apple to pay $95 million after Siri “unintentionally” recorded private convos

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/gHZmYeJ

Forget the Scale. Here's How to Lose Fat and Gain Muscle at the Same Time

Body recomposition is an effective way to reduce fat and increase muscle mass. This is how it works and why you should stop weighing yourself.

from CNET https://ift.tt/4O8PEVs

Latest Tech News

---

• HP’s $4299 EliteBook X G1a packs 128GB RAM, Ryzen AI 9, and Radeon 890M
• Offers AI-ready power, security features, and enough memory for massive models
• It's a Windows powerhouse for those who don't want a Mac

---

HP has quietly introduced a new $4299 laptop that comes with a whopping 128GB of LPDDR5x-8533 RAM.

The EliteBook X G1a (or, to give it its full name, the HP EliteBook X G1a 14 inch Notebook Next Gen AI PC Wolf Pro Security Edition) is powered by an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 processor featuring 12 cores and 24 threads with a maximum boost clock of 5.1 GHz.

It includes AMD Radeon 890M graphics and a 1TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe TLC SSD. This makes it powerful enough for even the most intensive tasks, like running a 70B-120B parameter LLM locally.

(Image credit: HP)

Solid choice for Windows users

The 14-inch laptop has a 2.8K OLED touchscreen with 100 percent sRGB color accuracy, IPS technology, BrightView, and a brightness rating of 400 nits. It also features HP Eye Ease for reduced blue light exposure. Audio is handled by Poly Studio, with quad stereo speakers that include discrete amplifiers, along with integrated dual-array microphones.

Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, two Thunderbolt 4 ports with USB-C at 40Gbps, one USB Type-C at 10Gbps, an HDMI 2.1 port, a USB Type-A port, and a headphone/microphone combo.

As you can guess from its name, it comes with HP Wolf Pro Security Edition (for three years), with security features such as HP Sure Platform, HP Tamper Lock, and a fingerprint sensor.

The system is powered by a 74.5Wh battery and comes with a 100W USB-C slim adapter. The chassis measures 12.29 x 8.45 x 0.36 inches at the front and 0.52 inches at the rear, with a starting weight of 3.3 pounds.

One of the key challenges in AI computing, and large-scale data processing in general, is having enough memory to keep up with the increasing demands of complex models. Most consumer laptops max out at 64GB RAM, often pushing users toward workstations. HP’s portable powerhouse addresses this gap while looking good doing it.

With its 128GB of fast memory, a capable processor, and speedy storage, HP’s new laptop looks to be a solid rival for Apple’s highest-end 14-inch MacBook Pro. While I personally think Apple’s product just about wins the battle, the EliteBook X G1a will be a great choice for anyone who prefers Windows.

You might also like

• These are the best business laptops you can buy right now
• And these are the best laptops for gaming and work
• GPD Duo may be the best mobile workstation ever for creatives

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/7jyHVTQ

Best Weightlifting Shoes for 2025

The best weightlifting shoes have a wide toe box, providing a stable base that lets you plant your feet firmly and lift safely.

from CNET https://ift.tt/dIYg125

Latest Tech News

Year in and year out, increasingly more people worldwide turn to VPN software to claim back their privacy online and bypass internet geo-restrictions. Not all services are made equal, though. Now, Obscura VPN, a new provider on the market, has thrown a challenge to the whole industry and promises to "set the standard for the next generation of VPNs."

Obscura VPN officially launched on February 11, 2025, and essentially vows to do two things better than its competitors: to be "private by design" and "outsmart internet restrictions."

The VPN is only available for macOS at the time of writing. Support for other platforms is set to be added in the future.

Two VPNs, better than one?

According to Obscura VPN's founder, Carl Dong, today's VPN industry comes with some considerable flaws, the biggest being around providers' trust.

In a blogpost he said: "Fundamentally, the biggest flaw of existing VPN companies is that they act as your primary man-in-the-middle – seeing both your personal info (connecting IP, email, billing address, etc.) and your browsing history."

In Dong's opinion, not even no-log VPNs are a complete solution as, even a provider that keeps true to its promise, "can suffer a security breach and be compromised."

We asked Dong for more clarifications on these points as well as for his take on independent no-log audits but are still awaiting a response at the time of publication.

What's important to know for now is that Obscura VPN decided to take a different route to be more "private by design." VPN traffic gets rerouted through two different hops. Yet, unlike traditional multi-hop VPNs, each of these servers are managed independently by two different VPN providers.

Today we are announcing a partnership with Obscura VPN, a newly launched two-party VPN service that uses our WireGuard VPN servers as its “exit hop”. Read more here: https://t.co/BxWn9hOuh5February 11, 2025

To do so, Obscura VPN has partnered with one of the most secure VPNs on the market, Mullvad VPN.

Obscura's servers act as the entry hop that encrypts your internet connection via the WireGuard protocol for later relaying it to Mullvad-operated exit servers. It's then the second VPN provider (Mullvad) that technically connects you to the internet.

"This splits 'who you are' from 'what you do,' meaning neither party can tie your identity to your browsing," Dong explains.

Obscura VPN claims, in fact, that it can never decrypt your traffic. On its side, Mullvad should not be able to see your personal information linked with your account, either.

Additionally, Obscura VPN doesn't require your name, email, phone address, or any credit card info to sign up, reducing the amount of users' data collected.

A new censorship-resistant tech

As previously mentioned, Obscura VPN also promises to be better than its competitors in bypassing censorship and evading VPN blocks. To achieve that, it employs QUIC (Quick UDP Internet Connections), a newer internet protocol designed for maximum security and speed.

According to Dong, QUIC is better than current VPN obfuscation technologies as it blends with normal internet traffic while avoiding performance issues that might affect TCP (transmission control protocol) connections.

Beyond the technicalities, many VPN providers keep investing in their censorship-resistant features to stay ahead of the game against ever-sophisticated censors' tactics.

NordVPN, for example, has recently released its new censorship-resistant NordWhisper protocol that uses web tunnel technology designed to mimic normal web traffic. Proton VPN also unveiled a few major updates to its service over the summer to double down on its fight against censorship, including expanding support for its very own Stealth VPN protocol on Windows.

While only time will tell if Obscura VPN can really outsmart tough censorship better than its competitors, it's definitely interesting to see yet another solution developing in this space.

Today is the day: Obscura VPN is NOW AVAILABLE!@obscuravpn is the first VPN that:- CAN'T log your activity by design- Outsmarts network filtersWe believe Obscura sets the standard for a new generation of VPNs, and hope you’ll check it out!👇 Links + more in thread pic.twitter.com/biQBwXhAvmFebruary 11, 2025

Currently, Obscura VPN only offers its provider as a Mac VPN – this means if you're using different devices you'll need to wait a bit longer before you can test it out.

The server network is quite slim, too, when compared to other VPN providers. These include a few locations between Canada and the US, some European countries (France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the UK), and less than a handful in Asia (Japan, Singapore, and Turkey). Again, the team is said to be working to add more locations soon.

You can subscribe at a discounted rate right now of $6 per month, instead of the regular cost of $8.

While it's too early to say if Obscura will eventually gain its spot among the best VPN apps, it's worth mentioning that the software is fully open-source. This means that anyone with some technical knowledge will be able to lift up the hood and take a look at its code to see if it really does what it claims to.

from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/8rdpfEK