Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Latest Tech News

Rumors and leaked reports have been coming out for months on Intel’s preparation of its new line of Core i9 series of processors, called the Raptor Lake refresh. The flagship model’s newly leaked Geekbench score in particular proves how promising its performance might be.

The flagship model, the Core i9-14900K processor, managed to score a Geekbench score of over 3.1K for the single-core test. This puts it at a 6% increase over the previous model, the 13900K. Also, keep in mind that there are several variables involved in testing, including a more limited data set, the motherboard not being fully optimized, and the processor being paired with DDR5-4800 memory which could impact performance as well.

Its key specifications are eight P-cores and 16 E-cores and, according to VideoCardZ, it is only the second Intel processor to exceed a clock speed of 6 GHz thanks to its Thermal Velocity Boost technology. Testing was done using the Biostar Z790 SILVER motherboard, which has the added benefit of proving compatibility with other similar, soon-to-be-released motherboards.

Intel could be on to something, as long as the price is right 

Plenty of rumors concerning the Core i9-14900K have been making their way through the tech grapevine, including other benchmarks and pricing.

There was a previously leaked CrossMark result for Intel’s Core i9-14900K and the Core i7-14700K. The Core i9-14900K recorded an overall score of 2,265, with the Core i7-14700K hitting 1,980. Thus it can be concluded that the 14900K is around 14% faster than the 14700K, at least going by this single result. Judging by these scores, we can see the potential of how well the flagship and even the i7 processor can perform.

However, according to a leak from well-known leaker @momomo_us, the pricing of the Intel Core i9-14900K, Core i7-14700K, and Core i5-14600K are all set to increase by about 15%. This would raise the price of the 14900K flagship to $695 in the US which, considering the smaller boost in performance compared to the previous models, would hardly be worth the price of entry. Then again, considering all the caveats that come with the currently leaked benchmarks, we could be seeing even better performance results once the processor officially launches.

As for that launch date, previous leaks point to an October 2023 release while VideoCardZ states that the flagship will be coming out this September.

You may also like



from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/0bludU9

Best Mesh Routers for 2023: Top-Tested Systems for Whole-Home Wi-Fi - CNET

The best mesh Wi-Fi routers carry a strong internet connection to every corner of your home. We’ve tested the top models to help you pick the right one.

from CNET https://ift.tt/uiHbnl4

Latest Tech News

Sony is taking photography to the sky as the tech giant reveals a new small camera that’s been specially designed to be placed into drones: the ILX-LR1.

While the name may not be super catchy, it does exemplify the idea of big things coming in small packages. The camera measures approximately 100 x 74 x 42.5 mm (about 4 x 3 x 1.7 inches) and weighs 8.6 oz. Despite its tiny stature, the ILX-LR1 is quite powerful as it’s capable of shooting videos up to 60FPS. Sony explains its device can shoot content up to 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels) thanks to its 1.38-inch Exmor R CMOS image sensor. This hardware gives the ILX-LR1 “extraordinary sensitivity, resolution, and dynamic range” so it can capture the “finest details”. Additionally, it sports a BIONZ XR processor to deliver low-noise photographs with, Sony promises, “realistic colors”.

Sony goes on to say the camera has a wide ISO range from 100 to 32,000, allowing the ILX-LR1 to “operate in most daylight conditions.”

Stripped away

To make the lightweight design a reality, Sony stripped away a lot of the basic features you’d expect to see on a camera. There’s no viewfinder of any kind, no rear LCD screen, or handgrip – it doesn’t even have a battery. The company explains “the lower weight means longer flight times”. Plus, the compact body allows it to fit “into smaller drones”. In order to power the device, users will need to connect it directly to a drone’s power supply. 

Front and back of Sony ILX-LR1

(Image credit: Sony)

This same connection can be used to control key aspects of the camera. On the same day that Sony revealed the ILX-LR1, the company announced new changes to its Camera Remote SDK (Software Development Kit), introducing “enhanced function for drone applications.” These include “expanded menu settings” to more easily control the device at a distance and notifications for certain events like when a recording starts or stops.

The patch is split into two. Version 1.10 releases on September 13 with the first set of features. Version 1.11 is set for November 2023, bringing its own set of upgrades to video shooting applications.

Other notable features of the ILX-LR1 include support for a wide variety of E-mount lenses. If you’re not familiar with the tech, it brings the lens close to a camera’s sensor so the hardware can be “smaller and lighter without compromising quality. 

Availability

It’s unknown when the ILX-LR1 launches although some online reports claim it’ll release this December for a whopping $2,950 in the US only. We should mention Sony is marketing their latest gadget to a professional audience. To buy one, it looks like you'll have to contact Sony directly.

ILX-LR1 in a drone flying

(Image credit: Sony)

It may be worth the trouble, though. With the right drone, the ILX-LD1 could – if Sony's promises are accurate – provide nearly unmatched drone photography.

We reached out asking if it plans to release the camera internationally. This story will be updated if we hear back.

Be sure to check out TechRadar’s list of the best Sony cameras for 2023.

You might also like



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

Save $50 on the OnePlus Pad Tablet and Get a Free $100 Stylus - CNET

At $430, this is one of the overall best Android tablets you'll find in this price range.

from CNET https://ift.tt/gWoHaAp

Monday, September 4, 2023

Find Hidden Netflix Treasures With This Simple Trick - CNET

Outwit the Netflix algorithm with a little keyboard sorcery.

from CNET https://ift.tt/Y72EXvU

Best Smart Soundbar of 2023 - CNET

A smart soundbar adds music streaming and voice capabilities to any TV with an HDMI port. These are our favorites.

from CNET https://ift.tt/36t1KCl

Latest Tech News

The upcoming iPhone Ultra model could have a key Apple Vision Pro feature – the ability to take “spatial photos and videos”, using the phone’s camera. 

At least, that’s what the latest rumors are suggesting. According to a recent report from MacRumors, the spatial photo support could allow people to “record immersive 3D content” using the smartphone’s “outward-facing cameras”. The content could then, in theory, be uploaded and viewed on the Vision Pro. 

Judging from the rumors, which came from an unnamed Weibo account with an apparently good track record for iPhone predictions, it doesn’t appear that the iPhone Ultra itself (or whatever the future device is called) will let you view the spatial photos. Instead, you'd need to have the headset to enjoy the 'immersive' content on a big floating, VR screen.

Notably, the rumor is bold enough to say this update will “lead the market to rethink what kind of photos and videos a mobile phone should take.” But it might be a while before we get to find out if that's the case – according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the rumored iPhone Ultra (which has been tipped to sit above its Pro models) won't be arriving until 2024 at the earliest.  

What are spatial cameras?

We first learned about spatial photos and videos back at WWDC 2023 during the Vision Pro's reveal. The idea behind this tech is to let people relive important life moments; to make it feel like you’re there again. 

For example, as Apple showed in its Vision Pro demos, you could relive your daughter’s birthday party or your kids playing in the backyard. The tech giant said that spatial recording is such a core aspect to the Vision Pro experience "that the device [even] has a dedicated mechanical button on the top to activate it.”

A 3D video of a child's birthday being replayed in a living room on the Apple Vision Pro

(Image credit: Apple)

The main issue with recording video on a VR headset is the fact that you’re recording video on a VR headset. The hardware isn’t exactly inconspicuous. Plus, there’s the off-chance it could get irreparably damaged taking it outside. 

But put the same tech on an iPhone, or an iPad, and you won't have that issue. Now you'll be able to subtly record the high-end content on a smartphone without having to take photos on a VR headset, or worrying about your $3,499 hardware getting damaged.


Analysis: Remaining skeptical

A Lidar laser beaming out from the back of an iPhone 12 Pro

(Image credit: Apple)

As interesting as this rumor may be, we’re going to remain skeptical for several reasons. 

For one: the source is dubious, in our opinion. MacRumors says it got the scoop from a supposedly reputable Weibo account. Apparently, this Weibo user has a “proven track record for disclosing information about Apple’s plans.” However, the site doesn't link to the original post, which we found strange.

Also, the jury is still out whether or not there's enough room on an iPhone for a spatial camera setup. As the developers of 3D scanning apps told us back in June, you'd likely need an extra camera that's far enough away from the main cameras (around the distance between our eyes) to get the necessary depth. 

The developers behind the popular iPhone photography app Halide also recently stated that smartphones will need "a significant improvement in terms of processing power and sensor fidelity and quality" to shoot proper spatial captures. This all means that these next-gen camera setups are arguably more likely to arrive first on an iPad first.   

Lastly, the iPhone Ultra is a rumor itself. The phone could potentially come out next year as the high-end option for the iPhone 16 line. But the problem is that there's no official confirmation that this model is even in the works.

So while spatial photos and videos are certainly a fascinating concept, it remains to be seen if the tech is even possible on a smartphone. For now, we recommend taking all this info with a large grain of salt.

You might also like



from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/509Eudc

8 Back-to-School College Essentials to Keep in Your Backpack - CNET

Get advice from a real college student and grab these everyday essentials for your backpack.

from CNET https://ift.tt/FORdm83

Latest Tech News

Criminals have been targeting Okta’s clients in an attempt to gain access to accounts with administrator privileges.

"In recent weeks, multiple U.S.-based Okta customers have reported a consistent pattern of social engineering attacks against IT service desk personnel, in which the caller's strategy was to convince service desk personnel to reset all multi-factor authentication (MFA) factors enrolled by highly privileged users," the company confirmed in a blog post.

The campaign was active between July 29 and August 19 2023, it was added. 

Muddled Libra

Apparently, the attackers (whom Okta did not want to name) have already obtained the target accounts’ username and password combination. However, as these accounts were protected by MFA, the threat actors had no other choice but to try and trick their way into resetting the tool.

If the attackers had succeeded, they would be granted the ability to assign higher privileges to other accounts, reset authenticators for other people, and even remove two-factor authentication if needed.

While Okta did not say who was behind the campaign, the media came to its own conclusion, based on the information provided. Thus, The Hacker News argues that this could be the work of Muddled Libra, an activity cluster partly overlapping with the likes of Scattered Spider and Scatter Swine. Google’s Mandiant tracks the group as UNC3944. They’re basing their conclusion on the fact that the group uses a commercial phishing kit called 0ktapus. Unit 42, on the other hand, argues that multiple groups are using 0ktapus, which means it’s not 100% certain Muddled Libra was behind the campaign. 

Muddled Libra is a threat actor known to target organizations in software automation, BPO, telecommunications, and technology industries. Between mid-2022 and early 2023, Unit 42’s researchers investigated “more than half a dozen” incidents related to this threat actor.

Via: The Hacker News



from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/L5UdWb2

Latest Tech News

Supermassive Games has confirmed that Little Nightmares 3 will not feature couch co-op in order for players to be able to experience the game's true horror. 

In a recent interview with GamesRadar+, it was revealed that although the development team did toy around with the idea of introducing a couch co-op mode for the next installment in the series, it ultimately decided not to go ahead with the fan request because it would take away from the game's "atmosphere and immersion."

"Co-op was the most requested feature from our fans, so it was really important for us to give them that," said Bandai Namco producer Coralie Feniello. "I do think that it will add a layer to the game as well, by letting you experience it with a friend. 

"But at the same time, we really want the player to experience it as they want. So that's why we kept single player, so if you don't play online co-op you would be able to play with AI with you."

So for fans who were looking to play with a friend beside them while they explore the horrors of Little Nightmares, unfortunately, you'll have to go it alone.

"We've been asked questions about online versus couch co-op," said game director Wayne Garland. 

"Couch is something that we considered, but again, when you come back to the atmosphere and the immersion that we're trying to elicit through Little Nightmares, I think it was important for us that we stuck to our online co-op only rather than traditional more party aspects."

Little Nightmares 3 was announced during Gamescom 2023 with a haunting first trailer. This time around, the game is being developed by the team behind The Dark Pictures Anthology instead of the original creator Tarsier.

The game is set for a 2024 release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC

For more, here's our list of the best horror games you can play right now, as well as our essential guide to every upcoming console and PC game release



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

Sunday, September 3, 2023

Latest Tech News

It's time for your daily dose of Quordle hints, plus the answers for both the main game and the Daily Sequence spin off. 

Quordle is the only one of the many Wordle clones that I'm still playing now, around 18 months after the daily-word-game craze hit the internet, and with good reason: it's good fun, but also difficult.

What's more, its makers (now the online dictionary Merriam-Webster) are also keeping it fresh in the form of a new variant called the Daily Sequence, which sees you complete four puzzles consecutively, rather than concurrently. 

But Quordle is tough, so if you already find yourself searching for Wordle hints, you'll probably need some for this game too. 

I'm a Quordle and Wordle fanatic who's been playing since December 2021, so I can definitely help you solve Quordle today and improve your game for tomorrow. Read on for my Quordle hints to game #588 and the answers to the main game and Daily Sequence. 

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #588) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). 

Quordle today (game #588) - hint #2 - total vowels

What is the total number of vowels in Quordle today?

The total number of vowels across today's Quordle answers is 7.

Quordle today (game #588) - hint #3 - repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #588) - hint #4 - total letters

How many different letters are used in Quordle today?

The total number of different letters used in Quordle today is 13.

Quordle today (game #588) - hint #5 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #588) - hint #6 - starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 3.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #588) - hint #7 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• R

• R

• R

• F

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #588) - the answers

Quordle answers for game 588 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #588, are…

(And yes, I failed again. Those were some TOUGH words.)

  • RIPER
  • ROWER
  • RUMBA
  • FJORD

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.


Daily Sequence today (game #588) - the answers

Quordle daily sequence answers for game 588 on a yellow background

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #588, are…

  • FERRY
  • EXULT
  • EXERT
  • RELAX

Quordle answers: The past 20

  • Quordle #587, Sunday 3 September: SLUMP, CROOK, REVUE, MUSKY
  • Quordle #586, Saturday 2 September: REVUE, FIGHT, BINGO, SERIF
  • Quordle #585, Friday 1 September: BLOCK, SULKY, VOCAL, IDEAL
  • Quordle #584, Thursday 31 August: FINAL, VOICE, HATCH, TWANG
  • Quordle #583, Wednesday 30 August: MOUNT, SLEET, SCAMP, SAVOY
  • Quordle #582, Tuesday 29 August: BRASS, PASTE, WIDER, PIXIE
  • Quordle #581, Monday 28 August: PAINT, ALLOY, FORTY, FIBER
  • Quordle #580, Sunday 27 August: VOWEL, BLUNT, STOKE, SHADY
  • Quordle #579, Saturday 26 August: LEASH, SMEAR, BASAL, BRIEF
  • Quordle #578, Friday 25 August: CHAMP, CLACK, PIVOT, BOOTH
  • Quordle #577, Thursday 24 August: TAWNY, JETTY, PESTO, PRUNE
  • Quordle #576, Wednesday 23 August: DITTY, BARGE, CANON, GOLLY
  • Quordle #575, Tuesday 22 August: COAST, AWOKE, CLOTH, ANNEX
  • Quordle #574, Monday 21 August: FILTH, TRACE, STONY, FOLIO
  • Quordle #573, Sunday 20 August: WIMPY, PLUNK, FORAY, SHAKE
  • Quordle #572, Saturday 19 August: STIFF, QUOTH, MUCKY, WEDGE
  • Quordle #571, Friday 18 August: EXPEL, ROGUE, PATCH, MINTY
  • Quordle #570, Thursday 17 August: OLDEN, HASTY, ADULT, OLIVE
  • Quordle #569, Wednesday 16 August: BOOST, QUARK, ADULT, ANGST
  • Quordle #568, Tuesday 15 August: IONIC, DAUNT, BRIBE, NORTH

Quordle FAQs: Everything you need to know

What is Quordle?

Where Wordle challenges you to guess a new five-letter word each day, Quordle presents you with four puzzles to solve. And rather than complete them in turn, you do so simultaneously. You get nine guesses, rather than the six for Wordle, but the rules are otherwise very similar. 

It's played online via the Quordle website and you can also get to it via the Merriam-Webster site, after the dictionary purchased Quordle last year

As with Wordle, the answers are the same for every player each day, meaning that you're competing against the rest of the world. And also as with Wordle, the puzzle resets at midnight so you have a fresh challenge each day.

The website also includes a practice mode - which I definitely recommend using before attempting the game proper! - and there are daily stats including a streak count. You also get Quordle Achievements - specific badges for winning a game in a certain number of turns, playing lots of times, or guessing particularly hard words.

Oh, and it's difficult. Really difficult.

What are the Quordle rules?

The rules of Quordle are almost identical to those of Wordle.

1. Letters that are in the answer and in the right place turn green.

2. Letters that are in the answer but in the wrong place turn yellow. 

3. Letters that are not in the answer turn gray…

4. …BUT the word you guess appears in all quadrants of the puzzle at the same time, so an A could turn green in one square, yellow in another and gray in the final two. 

5. Answers are never plural.

6. Letters can appear more than once. So if your guess includes two of one letter, they may both turn yellow, both turn green, or one could be yellow and the other green.

7. Each guess must be a valid word in Quordle's dictionary. You can't guess ABCDE, for instance.

8. You do not have to include correct letters in subsequent guesses and there is no equivalent of Wordle's Hard mode.

9. You have nine guesses to find the Quordle answers.

10. You must complete the daily Quordle before midnight in your timezone.

What is a good Quordle strategy?

Quordle needs to be approached in a different way to Wordle. With four puzzles to solve in nine guesses, you can't blindly throw letters at it and expect to win - you'll stand a far better chance if you think strategically.

That's the case in Wordle too, of course, but it's even more important in Quordle.

There are two key things to remember. 

1. Use several starting words

Firstly, you won't want just a single starting word, but almost certainly two or three starting words. 

The first of these should probably be one of the best Wordle starting words, because the same things that make them work well will apply here too. But after that, you should select another word or possibly two that use up lots more of the most common consonants and that include any remaining vowels.

For instance, I currently use STARE > DOILY > PUNCH. Between them, these three words use 15 of the 26 letters in the alphabet including all five vowels, Y, and nine of the most common consonants (S, T, R, D, L, P, N, C and H). There are plenty of other options - you might want to get an M, B, F or G in there instead of the H, maybe - but something like that should do the trick.

If all goes well, that will give you a good lead on what one or sometimes two of the answers might be. If not, well good luck!

2. Narrow things down

Secondly, if you're faced with a word where the answer might easily be one of several options - for instance -ATCH, where it could be MATCH, BATCH, LATCH, CATCH, WATCH, HATCH or PATCH - you'll definitely want to guess a word that would narrow down those options. 

In Wordle, you can instead try several of those in succession and hope one is right, assuming you have enough guesses left. It's risky, but will sometimes work. Plus, it's the only option in Hard mode. But in Quordle, this will almost certainly result in a failure - you simply don't have enough guesses.

In the scenario above, CLAMP would be a great guess, as it could point the way to four of the seven words in one go.



from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/cv6Q0Nl

The 15 Coolest Features in iOS 16 You Don't Even Know About - CNET

The current version of iOS has tons of great features many iPhone users miss.

from CNET https://ift.tt/YmCsTKE

Latest Tech News

Have you ordered Mortal Kombat 1's Premium Edition? Lucky you – that means you'll get five extra days to get in some practice before the game formally releases on Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PS5, and Xbox Series X on September 19, 2023. 

That's right – players who've pre-order the fighting game's pricey premium edition – called the Premium Edition, predictably enough – will get an exclusive five-day early-access period that lets them start fighting from 10am PDT (1pm ET / 6pm UK time) September 14. 

As Mortal Kombat 1 modder reverse engineer Thethiny explains on X/Twitter, up until now, we only had the word of some customer service reps that an early access period was available, but updates made to the fighting game's online store listings on Steam and Xbox have confirmed what had only been rumors before this point.

See more

Interestingly, Thethiny also discovered that Mortal Kombat 1's in-game currency will be called Dragon Krystals, and they'll be used to "purchase comestic features for your fighter such as skins, palettes, gear, and more".

Still undecided? Take a look at our Mortal Kombat 1 preview to find out more.

"The Kameo system is phenomenal, but it’s an extra level of strategy on top of an already complicated game that has made me absolutely sure that I’m going to be terrible at it," we said. 

"Often, whenever I tried to get Sonya in to assist me in a ground-based scrap, I’d instead merely make her fly overhead like a Red Arrow, giving us a cheery wave as she flew past us whilst we traded blows on the ground."

In related news, Tekken 8 director Katsuhiro Harada recently revealed that the "silly threats" some purported fans send to him and other team members have a significant impact not just on morale but also on costs and even the inclusion of some characters.

Mortal Kombat 1 remains one of the most anticipated upcoming games of 2023 - but what else is on the list?



from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/CM75YHb

Prime Video: The 37 Absolute Best TV Shows to Watch - CNET

Here are some highly rated series you should try, plus a look at what's new in September.

from CNET https://ift.tt/Fv02gs3

Saturday, September 2, 2023

What Color are Your Sunglasses? It Matters for Your Eye Health - CNET

Pick the perfect lenses tint for you. Here are the benefits of each color of sunglasses and why you might want to switch.

from CNET https://ift.tt/I0yZCah

Latest Tech News

Some TV shows are like comfort food, and for me, there’s no show more comforting than Peep Show. The British sitcom from the early 2000s h...