Latest Tech News

Intel appears to have quietly killed off its open source RISC-V developer environment, Pathfinder. 

The news may come as a shock to many SoC architects, software developers, and product research teams, primarily because Pathfinder was only announced in August 2022, however to others, it may have been an expected move.

The company reported a catastrophic end to 2022, with its Q4 alone accounting for $661 million in losses, and has pulled the plug on a number of its other operations. Besides this, 544 of its California-based workers are at risk of redundancy, with the potential for more layoffs globally as the company gears up to what it calls a “meaningful number” of job cuts.

Intel Pathfinder

The 2022 press release unveiling Pathfinder details the number of RISC-V-focused initiatives that have rolled out over the years, indicating Intel’s commitment, however just months later, users began to report that it had been cut.

Intel has since updated its website with a statement that reads:

“We regret to inform you that Intel is discontinuing the Intel Pathfinder for RISC-V program effective immediately.”

Read more

> These are the best laptop for programming picks

> Intel and Microsoft are operating in Russia once again

> Intel sees huge drop in profits as PC and server markets fall

The web page directs users to “promptly transition” to alternative RISC-V software tools, highlighting that bug fixes have also been stopped.

The program was designed to help its users develop RISC-V chips using industry-standard toolchains and as such had been supported by a number of RISC-V companies. It was split into a Professional Edition, and a more stripped back Starter Edition for hobbyists looking to give it a go.

Vijay Krishnan remained general manager for RISC-V ventures at the company for over a year and a half until it shut its doors this month, pushing him into a new role as general manager for new initiatives, indicating that Intel is turning its back on its RISC-V operations for now.

TechRadar Pro has asked Intel to confirm its decision to stop the Pathfinder program and whether it plans to continue investing in RISC-V in the future.

• These are the best servers for small businesses

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/6SLPDFO

Latest Tech News

A new cyberattack that appears to be targeted at Ukraine and is designed to overwrite crucial Windows files has been spotted by security firm ESET.

“On January 25th #ESETResearch discovered a new cyberattack in Ukraine. Attackers deployed a new wiper we named #SwiftSlicer using Active Directory Group Policy. The #SwiftSlicer wiper is written in Go programing language. We attribute this attack to #Sandworm," a Tweet by the firm read.

Also known as Unit 74455, Sandworm is allegedly a group of Russian cybermilitary hackers working for the General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). The group is also credited with a number of other attacks in Ukraine, including a 2015 attack on the power grid, though these claims are currently unsubstantiated.

Sandworm SwiftSlicer cyberattack

“Once executed it deletes shadow copies, recursively overwrites files located in %CSIDL_SYSTEM%\drivers, %CSIDL_SYSTEM_DRIVE%\Windows\NTDS and other non-system drives and then reboots computer," ESET added in a further tweet.

Read more

> The best malware removal tools

> Russia's quest to seize control of the internet in Ukraine

> Russia hacker group hijacks USB attacks by other criminals

Go, the programming language that underpins the attack, is said to be valued by threat actors for its versatility (via Bleeping Computer), and is used by a number of genuine companies for legitimate reasons, including Google, Twitter, and PayPal.

According to Ukraine’s Computer Emergency Response Team, Sandworm has been busy launching a number of other attacks in the country, including five data-wiping attacks on the National News Agency of Ukraine - Ukrinform.

One strain found in the new agency attack, CaddyWiper, has been observed in a number of attacks on Ukraine, indicating a link back to Sandstorm.

If Sandstorm is indeed an arm of the Russian military, then it’s clear that the multifaceted war is continuing to wreak havoc on the lives of so many Ukrainian companies and citizens.

• Here’s the best endpoint protection software and best firewalls to advance your computer’s protection

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/QVvJzHy

The 2024 iPhone SE 4 May Already Be Canceled - CNET

As its Pro line rises in popularity, Apple may forget about its budget option.

from CNET https://ift.tt/UL0SNHO

Seriously, Hold Off on Buying a Samsung Galaxy S22 - CNET

The Galaxy S23 should be coming this week, so it's best to wait for an upgrade or swap.

from CNET https://ift.tt/3HfEPX1

NASA Looks Down at Mars, Sees Adorable Bear Face Staring Back - CNET

But what, exactly, created the funny face?

from CNET https://ift.tt/SajV83Q

NFC Championship Game: How to Watch, Stream 49ers vs. Eagles on Sunday With or Without Cable - CNET

The Eagles host the 49ers, with a trip to Super Bowl 57 on the line.

from CNET https://ift.tt/hMFXNxf

Best Foldable Phones in 2023: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, Z Flip, Moto Razr - CNET

Foldable phones might be rare, but there are some great options you can buy right now.

from CNET https://ift.tt/KvQXnf9

WWE Royal Rumble 2023: Results, Live Updates and Match Ratings - CNET

The Royal Rumble is live on Peacock right now.

from CNET https://ift.tt/gm3S4oy

11 Hidden iOS 16 Features That Will Make Using Your iPhone So Much Better - CNET

Your iPhone can do more than you know.

from CNET https://ift.tt/7z13pPa

'The Last of Us' Release Schedule: When Is Episode 3 Out on HBO Max? - CNET

HBO's adaptation of the post-apocalyptic PlayStation video game runs until March.

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

The Absolute Best Sci-Fi TV Shows on HBO Max - CNET

Don't worry, Station Eleven is in here.

from CNET https://ift.tt/dmcUlvB

Manchester United vs. Reading Livestream: How to Watch FA Cup Soccer From Anywhere - CNET

Championship outfit Reading will be looking to cause an upset as they travel to Old Trafford to face the Red Devils in this fourth round match.

from CNET https://ift.tt/9Ep5dGy

Low-Carbon Energy Investments Matched Fossil Fuels in 2022, Report Says - CNET

Investment in the energy transition hit $1.1 trillion in 2022, matching the investment in fossil fuels for the first time, according to research group ​​BloombergNEF.

from CNET https://ift.tt/YEeNCp7

Robot Wearing Live Insect Antennae Becomes Sniffing Cyborg - CNET

So far, the bot out of Israel can successfully "smell" things like whiskey, marzipan and lemons.

from CNET https://ift.tt/bqKFd8C

Latest Tech News

High-res audio. That has a nice ring to it, right? Yet most people are content to listen to regular-res audio on streaming services or via some physical format like CD or vinyl LPs. These folks are blissfully unaware that an opportunity exists to step things up to high-res.

Several of the best music streaming services offer high-resolution audio alongside their standard (uncompressed CD-quality) and compressed (reduced quality) streams. On some services, Tidal for instance, you’ll need to pay a higher price to access a high-res tier, while others like Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited bundle it into their standard-price plan. Yet others – we’re pointing our finger at you, Spotify – don’t offer high-res audio at all!

Accessing high-res audio isn’t exactly a walk in the park, but it’s now become a bit easier. The new CS1 Endpoint Network Streamer from Canada-based NAD Electronics is a compact device that you can add to your stereo or home theater system to take advantage of the high-res audio offerings on music streaming services. Just plug it in, connect it to your receiver or integrated amp, link up to your home’s Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet network, and you’ll be ready to rock out. 

The affordable (US$349 / £299 / CDN$499) CS1 supports dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay for streaming. But what really sounds neat about it is that you can use Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect to stream directly and control playback using the Tidal and Spotify apps. MQA support is onboard to enable playback of high-res Master quality music from Tidal, and the CS1 is a Roon endpoint. You’ll  also be able to use Chromecast to cue up music from compatible apps, and the CS1 will take it from there, streaming tracks in standard or high-res format to its 24-bit/192kHz-capable Texas Instruments’ PCM5141 DAC. 

As for connections, the CS1 sports analog RCA and both optical and coaxial digital outputs. The analog jacks allow for hookup to a wide range of gear old and new, while the digital outputs permit connection to the latest generation of powered speakers, or even a soundbar system.

(Image credit: NAD)

Analysis: High-res audio doesn’t need to be expensive – or complicated

There are low-cost ways to get into high-res music, but many of those options are for listening with headphones. And while there’s nothing wrong with pursuing audio bliss via the best headphones route, some people – me, for instance – prefer listening to music using a good, old-fashioned stereo speakers-plus-amplifier setup. 

The high-end audio marketplace is filled with integrated amplifiers that are capable of streaming high-resolution audio over a Wi-Fi network from compatible services like Tidal or Qobuz. But many of those components are pricey, and they also require use of a custom, brand-specific app to facilitate streaming, with some apps doing that job much better than others.

Music fans wanting to add both streaming and high-res audio capability to an existing stereo setup that lacks those features might find their choices to be limited. One good option is the Node streaming DAC from NAD’s sister company Bluesound. The Node offers all of the same features as the CS1, but adds on an analog input, an HDMI eARC output, and, most significantly, app-based control using the company’s excellent BluOS control app. But even though the Bluesound Node is very much worth the money given all it does, at $599 / £549 / CDN$699  it still costs more than many people will want to spend.

For such folks, the lower-cost CS1 will come across as a more approachable option for adding streaming and high-res audio capability to an existing system. It’s true that you won’t get to use the BluOS control app used in the company’s pricier streaming-capable products, but not everyone will need the high level of features that app provides (multiroom streaming to multiple components, for instance). With the CS1, you can just fire up Tidal on your phone, tap play, and you’re off and running in high-res.

The NAD CS1 Endpoint Network Streamer will be available in March.

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/9PtWKcC