Latest Tech News

AMD may scrap the high-end options of its next generation of Radeon gaming GPUs to divert scarce resources into building GPUs for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) instead – a segment that’s undergoing something of a boom.

When AMD launches its RDNA 4 family of GPUs, possibly next year, there won’t be an AMD Radeon RX 8800 or 8900, according to TechSpot. This will give its rival Nvidia a clear run at manufacturing the best GPUs to meet the high-end gaming market, but could also serve to constrain supply and spike prices.

The line-up will resemble the RDNA 1 family of AMD GPUs, according to sources speaking to the publication, where the most powerful entry was the RX 5700 XT GPU. Subsequent generations included higher-end units such as 6800, 6900, and 6950 in RDNA 2, and 7800 and 7900 in last year’s RDNA 3 series.

AMD wants in on the AI boom

This rationale is simple. There’s a rush for hardware and components to service generative AI workloads – alongside a limited supply of resources and manufacturing capacity – and AMD wants to get in on the action.

Indeed, this is a segment in which there’s currently a shortage, with chipmaking giant TSMC lacking the capacity to ramp up production from vendors like Nvidia to meet industry demand.

Nvidia’s A100 and H100 chips, incidentally, currently lead the way in an AI servers market that’s reportedly set to surge to $150 billion by 2027, with AMD hoping to be a part of it. The main reason is Nvidia is enjoying profit margins of 823%, according to sister site Tom’s Hardware, on its H100 GPUs.

Rather than diverting semiconductors into its high-end consumer GPUs, the firm will focus on field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and general-purpose graphics processing units (GPGPUs). This is according to Brits and Chips - Eng.

The circuitry of the former is highly suited to machine learning and deep learning, while the latter are GPUs that also handle computational workloads normally undertaken by the best CPUs. They’re both ideal to meet the rising demand for GPUs for AI.

With constrained supply, however, does does mean we may see a return to the shortages and spiking prices for GPUs that we last saw in 2020. With fewer options, gamers may find themselves paying above the odds when building PCs, for example.

More from TechRadar Pro

• We've rounded up the best GPUs you can buy today
• Read our guide on the best AMD graphics cards you can find at the moment
• These are the best 4K graphics cards for gamers and creatives

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/tUVPB3s

Starfield: Xbox Game Pass, Mods and Everything Else You Should Know - CNET

Get ready for a galactically huge adventure.

from CNET https://ift.tt/zLJZapv

Latest Tech News

Quantum computers have shown amazing promise in recent years, with companies from IBM to Google building increasingly powerful machines that are expected to many areas fundamentally, from encryption to medical research.

Quibits – quantum bits that occupy a superposition of both 1 and 0 at the same time – are the building blocks of quantum machines. But today’s most powerful quantum computers are hugely inefficient due to a phenomenon called ‘quantum error’. This affects more than 1,000 qubits for every single unaffected ‘logical’ quibit.

Now, French startup Alice & Bob are testing a new kind of quibt that’s designed to withstand quantum error – by taking a leaf from the original Shrodinger’s Cat experiment around which the theory of quantum superposition is based.

Investing in the power of 'cat state' qubits 

Rather than encoding qubits by using varying energy levels, for instance, Alice & Bob’s strategy involves establishing two diametrically opposed states – such as the state of life or death experienced by the aforementioned cat. Specifically, they’ve used superconducting microwave resonators that fluctuate between two oscillatory states.

The researchers say using a quantum computer to break RSA-2048 encryption would need roughly 22 million normal quibits, but just 350,000 of its ‘cat state’ qubits. And, for every single logical qubit, Alice & Bob would need just 40 quibits. Such is the powerful nature of this reserach, Amazon has also started work on its own ‘cat state’ quibits.

“When we first learned that Amazon was working on cat qubits, obviously our first reaction as a young startup was to sweat heavily,” Peronnin told the Institute of Electronic Engineering’s (IEEE) Spectrum publication. 

“But then we slept on it and realized that it might be the best thing to have happened to us. We’re not competing about who’s going to win; it’s cat qubits versus the rest of the possible technologies, so for us, it’s great external validation.”

These 'cat states' are highly resistant to bit flip – which means a qubit’s state flips from 1 to 0, or the other way around. They do, however, tend to be more vulnerable to phase flip, in which quibits flip between one of two opposing phases, but the researchers said one kind of error is easier to resolve than two.

The company hope to have created a 14-qubit system by the end of 2023, but the startup will need a further six months to calibrate it, so stya tuned for more information soon.

More on quatum from TechRadar Pro

• Major quantum computing breakthrough could mean the revolution is here
• Sorry, quantum computing isn’t as mind-blowing as you think
• The quantum apocalypse: Preventing a cryptographic breakdown

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/angKH2f

8 Best Yoga Poses to Add to Your Bedtime Routine for Better Sleep - CNET

Help your mind wind down before bed with these gentle yoga stretches. Here's why you should add yoga to your nighttime routine.

from CNET https://ift.tt/C2T9Ejo

Latest Tech News

I recently attended IFA 2023 in Berlin, and as at any good tech expo there was plenty of weird and wonderful stuff to see. But I’m a computer nerd at heart, and one of the best things – by my own personal metric – at the show was this ridiculously tiny liquid-cooled gaming PC.

Tecno is a Shenzhen, China-based tech company that currently operates virtually everywhere except the United States, although that really ought to change. I saw some pretty nifty hardware on its stand at IFA, but the highlight for me was the MegaMini G1 gaming desktop – a liquid-cooled concept PC with a ridiculously small footprint.

According to the spec sheet I was shown, the MegaMini G1 features an Intel Core i9-13900H, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an RTX 4050 – not exactly the best graphics card you can buy right now, but it still boggles my mind that Tecno was able to fit all that inside this device. The case is just 13 square centimeters at the base and 25 centimeters tall, making it massively smaller than my previous favorite compact PC, the Corsair One.

With that level of grunt (if anything, I’d say the i9 processor is slightly overkill for the rest of the build), you need serious cooling, and the MegaMini offers this in the form of a built-in liquid loop with a single large fan. It looks fantastic; the cooling tubes are sheathed in addressable LED sleeves that shift with RGB lighting to mimic the flow of coolant. Combined with its solid metal casing and additional LEDs on the fan and pump block, it’s perhaps one of the best-looking compact PCs I’ve ever seen.

Little box of wonders

I didn’t get exact pricing details on the MegaMini G1 (since it’s still in the development phase), but it’s unlikely to be super-expensive; while Tecno isn’t a budget brand, it operates primarily in the Asian, South American, and Eastern European markets, where affordability is often vital.

With the right pricing, this dinky Windows gaming desktop could be worthy of standing among the best computers out there – though it does have fierce competition in the tiny computer space, thanks to Apple’s powerful 2023 upgrade of the Mac mini.

The MegaMini G1 has a solid port selection too, with two USB-Cs, two Ethernet ports, and six USB-A ports. (Image credit: Future)

As for whether the MegaMini G1 will be available in North America, the Tecno team wasn’t able to give me a definitive answer – but it should be noted that you can already buy some Tecno products (including wireless routers and earbuds) on Amazon in the US. It looks like the brand is testing the waters in the American market right now, and I’m hopeful we’ll see more of its products surface across the Atlantic.

I say this because not only was I impressed with the sheer compact scale of the G1, but Tecno’s Megabook S1 – a sleek laptop that wouldn’t look out of place among the best ultrabooks. The company’s thinnest laptop yet, a special edition of the S1 was on display at IFA, featuring a pearlescent finish with hidden branding that glows under UV light. Pointless? Maybe. Cool? You bet.

You might also like

• Microsoft September event – 7 new launches we expect to see
• 7 top new iPhone 15 features
• Intel Arc GPUs just got a huge creative performance boost

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

Best Budget 3D Printer: 8 Great Printers at a Price You'll Love - CNET

The best 3D printer is the one you can afford. These are printers to suit folks on a tighter budget.

from CNET https://ift.tt/X9vI302

I Used My Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for Beyoncé Tickets and Scored Two Flights in Return - CNET

Three of my friends helped me earn this card's large welcome bonus in a matter of minutes.

from CNET https://ift.tt/IWaMUbK

Get a Better Look at the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro - CNET

Take a look at the new iPhone 15 models and see what new features have been added.

from CNET https://ift.tt/XGvyznZ

Latest Tech News

Honda is resurrecting an old scooter and bringing it into the modern day now sporting a suitcase-esque design called the Motocompacto.

Directly inspired by the MotoCompo from the 1980s, the new electric scooter is compact measuring 21.1 H x 29.2 L x 3.7 W inches when folded allowing it to easily fit in the back of a car. It even has a leather strap on top for easy carrying although you may have a tough time lugging it around. 

The Motocompacto clocks in at 41.3 pounds putting it on the heavier side among the best e-scooters out there. When you’re ready to ride, you can pop out the handlebars, seat, wheels, and a few other components, and unfolding it increases the overall size to 35 H x 38.1 L x 17.2 W inches.

Additionally, the handlebars feature an integrated LED screen displaying the speedometer next to the battery level, according to The Verge. 

Features

As a vehicle, it’s not going to take you very far. The company describes the Motocompacto as a “fun-to-ride ‘first and last mile’ solution”. In other words, you’re meant to use the scooter to help get around your neighborhood. Its 490W electric motor has a top speed of 15 mph with a maximum range of up to 12 miles. Also it can accelerate to 15 mph in seven seconds. You won’t be able to go across town, however if you need a quick ride from point A to point B, the Motocompacto can get the job done.

There is, however, one potentially problematic aspect to Honda’s scooter. It will take 3.5 hours to fully charge so your next ride will take a while. But when compared to the other e-scooters like the NIO KQi3 Pro which has a charge time of six hours, three hours isn't all that bad. Plus, the Motocompacto comes with a 110v plug which is your standard three-pronged input Americans will be most familiar with. You can just plug the scooter into any old outlet to charge.

Availability

The Motocompacto e-scooter launches this November in the United States for $995 where it will be available for purchase online or at select “Honda and Acura automobile dealers.” The company does have plans to release a “clever phone app” that’ll let riders adjust the personal settings, lighting configuration, and ride modes via Bluetooth, though no release date for the app has been given. 

From what I've seen of it, the Motocompacto is a pretty cool scooter even if it is a little silly looking, but its meant to be fun, not flashy. What’s more, the blank white sides leave it open for all sorts of customization options like stickers, decals, and the like. As seen in the official trailer, you can do a lot with its blank canvas-like sides.

It doesn't look like the Motocompacto will be going international, unfortunately. A company representative told TechRadar that since the scooter was an "American Honda-led development", it's only going to be available in the US. They have no plans for "other markets at this time."

While we have you, we recommend checking out TechRadar’s list of the best electric scooters for students in 2023 as the school year starts to pick up

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

• Formula E's new e-scooter substitutes race car speed for comfort and stability
• Riley Scooters RS3 review: e-scooter of the future or the precursor to one?
• How to ride an electric scooter safely

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/liecvo3

Best Budget Earbuds for 2023: Cheap Wireless Picks - CNET

Here are our current favorites from among the many budget true-wireless earbuds we've tested and reviewed. You don't need to spend a fortune to get surprisingly good sound quality and features.

from CNET https://ift.tt/VEhIr0Z

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Specs vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, Garmin - CNET

Here's how Apple's rugged smartwatch stacks up to the competition.

from CNET https://ift.tt/54dMmwf

Latest Tech News

Acer recently revealed a brand-new gaming monitor for the Chinese market, which boasts an incredibly high 540Hz refresh rate.

The Acer Nitro XV242F has been listed on Chinese retailer Taobao and, as reported by TFTCentral, has a 24.1-inch screen with a TN Film panel, FHD resolution, and 1ms gray-to-gray response time. Judging from the high-end specs, this monitor is for professional gamers and is clearly meant to compete with Asus’s 500Hz+ monitor, the Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP.

According to the Nitro XV242F’s third-party listing, both it and the ROG Swift Pro PG248QP share specs, including an AU Optronics display panel with 400 nits of brightness, a 1000:1 contrast ratio, 99% sRGB and 90% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, and a 10-bit color depth. But, the Acer monitor doesn’t have a Nvidia G-Sync processor unlike the Asus one, instead describing it as being Nvidia G-Sync compatible.

Besides the Asus monitor, the Acer Nitro XV242F would also be in direct competition with Alienware’s own 500Hz refresh rate gaming monitors: the Alienware AW2524H 500Hz and the just released Alienware AW2524HF. The former is easily one of the best gaming monitors out there, scoring four out of five stars from us, and the latter seems to be of similar quality but at a cheaper price point.

Smart pricing will be the key to victory 

Pricing is probably going to be the most important factor in determining the Acer Nitro XV242F’s success. According to the current listing, it’s priced at CNY 4999 (around $700 / £550) but this is unofficial until it launches, which means it could be cheaper. Meanwhile, there’s no official pricing for the Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP, the Alienware AW2524H 500Hz is $829.99 (about £680 / AU$1,236), and the Alienware AW2524HF is at $649.99 (about £525 / AU$1,010).

Acer was already late to the proverbial 500Hz display punch, beaten out by two other competing manufacturers, so it needs an edge in order to undercut them. The easiest price point to mimic would be Alienware's $649.99 one, as its specs are quite similar. The fact that the Acer monitor has a higher refresh rate would make it more attractive to buyers looking for the best deal and would also greatly undercut the more expensive $829.99 AW2524H monitor.

Finally, it would preemptively undermine Asus, which hasn’t even released a price for its own offering as of now. Acer’s path is clear, but it’s up to the manufacturer to take advantage of its biggest advantage.

You also might like

• Is there actually any point in a 500Hz gaming monitor?
• Dell's new gaming monitor offers 500Hz refresh rate
• Asus announces ROG Swift 500Hz Nvidia G-Sync Esports gaming monitor

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/yMERL4F

Giant SpaceX Starship Could Fly Again in October - CNET

An investigation into April's explosive test flight has closed, opening the door for another attempt.

from CNET https://ift.tt/0pN1BFh

Best Pillows for Back Sleepers in 2023 - CNET

Back sleepers need the right amount of support from their pillow. Here are the best supportive pillows for back sleepers -- tested and reviewed.

from CNET https://ift.tt/61R2PKS

Latest Tech News

Bose has today launched three brand-new models in its acclaimed QuietComfort series of headphones. Despite the fact that they remain well-regarded and competitive, the QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, the QuietComfort Earbuds II and the QuietComfort 45 are no more. Say hello to the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and, um, the QuietComfort Headphones. 

Each new pair of headphones feature Bose’s brand-new ‘Immersive Audio’ technology. This is a variation on the established ‘spatial audio theme’. Bose has deployed Inertial Measurement Units along with some proprietary digital signal processing software in an effort to conjure a ‘layered’ and ‘multi-dimensional’ effect from any old source material. The company suggests that rather than presenting music as extremely close ‘left’ and ‘right’ channels, ‘Immersive Audio’ lays a recording out to sound as if it’s in front of you. ‘Still’ and ‘motion’ modes mean sound should either remain in a fixed position or respond to your movements.

All three new offerings are also compatible with Bose SimpleSync technology. This means they can pair with appropriate soundbars and speakers for a personal listening experience – volume control is independent, naturally, so the speaker can be silent while the headphones are as loud as you prefer. And like the best Bose headphones, all three are compatible with the Bose Music control app.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones: key features and specifications 

(Image credit: Bose )

The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are now the flagship of the Bose wireless headphones range, which we rank among the best headphones. Thoroughly reworked over the model they replace, the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones feature a sophisticated microphone array intend to improve what was already impressive active noise-cancellation. 

The beamform arrangement they form is also supposedly able to be able to differentiate the sound of your speech from 360 degrees-worth of ambient sound. Super-clear, dependable call quality and voice-assistant interaction ought to be the result. Battery life is a claimed 24 from a single charge, and Bose suggests the array of physical controls is the most intuitive and reliable it’s ever developed.

This new model features the Snapdragon Sound Technology Suite, so sturdy connectivity to premium Android devices should be assured. Google Fast pair maximises ease-of-use, and wireless connectivity is via Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Adaptive codec compatibility.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: key features and specifications

(Image credit: Bose)

The new QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds take over from the very accomplished QuietComfort Earbuds II, and Bose is claiming this new model improves on what was already widely acknowledged to be the best active noise-cancellation available in any pair of earbuds. 

Newly developed dynamic mic mixing works with adaptive filters to improve far-field call quality, and the shinily slippy design has been moved upmarket thanks to some metallic treatment on the body of the earbuds themselves. 

Battery life is six hours from a single charge, according to Bose, and the company is ready to sell you a silicone charging-case cover that makes wireless charging possible. The slip-case is also compatible with the outgoing QuietComfort Earbuds II.

Also, like the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones above, this earbuds equivalent also features the Snapdragon Sound Technology Suite, Google Fast pair, Bluetooth 5.3 and aptX Adaptive codec compatibility.

Bose QuietComfort Headphones: key features and specifications

(Image credit: Bose )

The new QuietComfort Headphones, meanwhile, intend to replicate the excellent noise-cancellation and competitive sound quality of the model they replace while adding a few welcome flourishes. 

Adjustable active noise cancellation with custom options, for example. Bluetooth 5.1 with multipoint wireless connectivity, too. Battery life that’s claimed to be 24 hours from a single charge.

How much does Bose' new QuietComfort headphone range cost? 

The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are on sale from early October, and preorders begin today at bose.com. They’re both available in either ‘black’ or ‘white smoke’ finishes and cost £449 and £299 respectively. 

Meanwhile, the QuietComfort Headphones are on sale now. In addition to ‘white smoke’ and ‘black’ finishes, they’re available for a limited time in a ‘cypress green’ alternative, and they’re priced at £349.

You might also like

• Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 leaked, and it’s the design I’ve been waiting for
• The best noise-cancelling headphones 2023: top ANC headphones for every budget
• The best cheap noise canceling headphone sales and deals for September 2023

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/k45w6RZ