Sunday, April 21, 2024

What Do Your Dreams Mean? Sleep Experts Reveal Common Interpretations - CNET

Our weird and wacky dreams can be open to interpretation, but they might actually mean something. Here are common dream themes explained by sleep experts.

from CNET https://ift.tt/Wn8e7sI

Which Size Heat Pump Is Right for Your Home? - CNET

Improve your heat pump's quality and efficiency by ensuring you install the proper size pump for your home.

from CNET https://ift.tt/sEjpLGQ

Latest Tech News

AMD is introducing two new adaptive SoCs - Versal AI Edge Series Gen 2 for AI-driven embedded systems, and Versal Prime Series Gen 2 for classic embedded systems.

Multi-chip solutions typically come with significant overheads but single hardware architecture isn’t fully optimized for all three AI phases - preprocessing, AI inference, and postprocessing. 

To tackle these challenges, AMD has developed a single-chip heterogeneous processing solution that streamlines these processes and maximizes performance.

Early days yet

The Versal AI Edge Series Gen 2 adaptive SoCs provide end-to-end acceleration for AI-driven embedded systems, which the tech giant says is built on a foundation of improved safety and security. AMD has integrated a high-performance processing system, incorporating Arm CPUs and next-generation AI Engines, with top-class programmable logic, creating a device that expertly handles all three computational phases required in embedded AI applications.

AMD says the Versal AI Edge Series Gen 2 SoCs are suitable for a wide spectrum of embedded markets, including those with high-security, high-reliability, long lifecycle, and safety-critical demands. Purposes include autonomous driving, industrial PCs, autonomous robots, edge AI boxes and ultrasound, endoscopy and 3D imaging in health care.

The processing system of the integrated CPUs includes up to 8x Arm Cortex-A78AE application processors, up to 10x Arm Cortex-R52 real-time processors, and support for USB 3.2, DisplayPort 1.4, 10G Ethernet, PCIe Gen5, and more.

The devices meet ASIL D / SIL 3 operating requirements and are compliant with a range of other safety and security standards. They reportedly offer up to three times the TOPS/watt for AI inference and up to ten times the scalar compute with powerful CPUs for postprocessing.

Salil Raje, senior vice president of AMD’s Adaptive and Embedded Computing Group, said, “The demand for AI-enabled embedded applications is exploding and driving the need for solutions that bring together multiple compute engines on a single chip for the most efficient end-to-end acceleration within the power and area constraints of embedded systems. Backed by over 40 years of adaptive computing leadership in high-security, high-reliability, long-lifecycle, and safety-critical applications, these latest generation Versal devices offer high compute efficiency and performance on a single architecture that scales from the low-end to high-end.”

Early access documentation and evaluation kits for the devices are available now. The first silicon samples of Versal Series Gen 2 are expected at the start of next year, with production slated to begin late 2025.

More from TechRadar Pro



from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/qnF3WtI

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Prime Video: The 32 Absolute Best TV Shows to Watch - CNET

Here are some highly rated series to try, plus a look at what's new in April.

from CNET https://ift.tt/ynGktLq

Beat the Sneezes: Tips and Apps to Tackle Seasonal Allergies Head-On - CNET

Allergens can be found in spots you don't often think about. Follow these tips to beat seasonal allergies like a pro.

from CNET https://ift.tt/ohifNV7

Latest Tech News

We're set to hear much more about what's coming with macOS 15 when Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) gets underway on June 10 – and one app in particular is rumored to be getting a major upgrade.

That app is the Calculator app, and while it perhaps isn't the most exciting piece of software that Apple makes, AppleInsider reckons the upcoming upgrade is "the most significant upgrade" the app has been given "in years".

It's so substantial, it's got its own codename: GreyParrot (that's said to be a nod towards the African grey parrot, known for its cognitive abilities). Part of the upgrade will apparently include the Math Notes feature we've already heard about in relation to a Notes app upgrade due in iOS 18.

It sounds as though Math Notes is going to make it easier to ferry calculations between the Notes and the Calculator apps. A new sidebar showing the Calculator history is reported to be on the way too. This might well get its own button on the app, AppleInsider says.

Currency conversions

Calculator for macOS

Currency conversions currently require a pop-up dialog (Image credit: Future)

A visual redesign is also apparently on the way, with "rounded buttons and darker shades of black" to match the iOS Calculator. Users will also be able to resize the Calculator app window, with the buttons resizing accordingly, which isn't currently possible.

Unit conversion is going to be made more intuitive and easier to access, AppleInsider says, with no need to open up the menus to select conversion types – at the moment, it's necessary to select currencies in a pop-up dialog.

The thinking is that Apple wants to better compete with apps such as OneNote from Microsoft, and the third-party Calcbot app for macOS. It's been a long time since the Calculator app was changed in any way, and its rather basic feature set means it's lagging behind other alternatives.

According to AppleInsider, there's no guarantee that Apple will go through with this Calculator upgrade, but it seems likely. Expect to hear much more about macOS 15, iOS 18, and Apple's other software products at WWDC 2024 on June 10.

You might also like



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

Friday, April 19, 2024

Earth Day Deals 2024: Save Some Green on Eco-Friendly Tech and Home Products - CNET

Earth Day is on April 22, so you only have a couple more days to take advantage of these environmentally conscious offers.

from CNET https://ift.tt/kXRiD0p

Latest Tech News

It’s been rumored for a while now that Google is considering charging users for AI powered results, especially concerning the idea of a premium search option which leverages generative AI.

Whether that will happen remains to be seen, but Google is ending the era of free access to its Gemini API, signaling a new financial strategy within its AI development.

Developers previously enjoyed free access to lure them towards Google’s AI products and away from OpenAI’s, but that is set to change. OpenAI was first to market and has already monetized its APIs and LLM access. Now Google is planning to emulate this through its cloud and AI Studio services, and it seems the days of unfettered free access are numbered.

RIP PaLM API

In an email to developers, Google said it was shutting down access to its PaLM API (the pre-Gemini model which was used to build custom chatbots) to developers via AI Studio on August 15. This API was deprecated back in February.

The tech giant is hoping to convert free users into paying customers by promoting the stable Gemini 1.0 Pro. “We encourage testing prompts, tuning, inference, and other features with stable Gemini 1.0 Pro to avoid interruptions," The email reads. “You can use the same API key you used for the PaLM API to access Gemini models through Google AI SDKs.”

Pricing for the paid plan begins at $7 for one million input tokens and rises to $21 for the same number of output tokens.

There is one exception to Google’s plans - PaLM and Gemini will remain accessible to customers paying for Vertex AI in Google Cloud. However, as HPCWire points out, “Regular developers on cheaper budgets typically use AI Studio as they cannot afford Vertex.”

More from TechRadar Pro



from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/yjbUn3t

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Latest Tech News

Honda has revealed a new line-up of slick, sporty and decidedly future-thinking electric vehicles that comprises of two SUVs and a low-slung four-door GT that packs a racing-inspired cabin… but there’s a catch.

The Ye Series, which will be joined by a further three concepts in the very near future, is only destined for China and will be fully unveiled in the flesh at the Beijing motor show next week.

Honda says the models are a joint venture between itself and Dongfeng Honda and GAC Honda, two companies that operate in the Chinese domestic market. Despite looking like concept vehicles, the P7 and S7 SUVs are due on sale towards the end of the year.

The pair of sharply-styled crossovers ride on a newly developed dedicated platform and are designed in pursuit of the "joy of driving," according to the slightly clunky press release that a companied the announcement.

Honda Ye Series

(Image credit: Honda)

They will be offered in either a one-motor rear-wheel-drive or dual-motor four-wheel-drive option, and have been specifically engineered to serve up "sporty and crisp handling", although the company doesn’t mention anything about battery capacity, range and charging times.

Compared to the e:Ny1 and the Prologue, which is due to arrive in the US later this year, they are altogether more futuristic, with cameras replacing conventional wing mirrors and longer, wider and lower stances on the road.

To rub further salt into the wounds of Western customers, Honda has also said it plans to offer a production version of the low-slung and rather attractive GT Concept, which the Japanese company claims has a “race driver” seating position and "dynamic performance". 

There’s no word on the interiors of all three models (we will have to wait for the Beijing motor show for those), but Honda has said that these China-bound EVs will feature AI-powered assistants, oodles of space inside and funky LED lights that can be personalized with specific lighting patterns.

Analysis: Is this proof that hybrids still rule in Europe and the US?

Honda Ye Series

(Image credit: Honda)

Honda's decision to offer arguably its most exciting models since the innovative and stylish E exclusively to Chinese customers could be a good indication that it believes that hybrids and - dare we say it - combustion engines are still the powertrain of choice for the majority of customers everywhere else.

China is already leagues ahead of the rest of the world in terms of EV uptake, with a staggering 7.7 million units sold in 2023 alone. The country accounts for nearly 60 per cent of EV sales worldwide and more than half of the electric cars on the road today are found there.

So, it appears that if we want to see the results of Honda’s exciting and experimental new design language, we need to start buying more battery electric vehicles. Otherwise we're stuck with the distinctly safe e:Ny1, Prologue and a handful of plug-in hybrids.

You might also like



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

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Latest Tech News

For a month now, hackers have been mounting a large-scale credential stuffing attack against multiple Virtual Private Network (VPN) instances around the world. At the moment, it’s hard to say who is behind the attack, or what the motives are, but researchers have some clues.

As reported by Ars Technica, Cisco’s Talos security team recently warned of an ongoing campaign in which attackers keep trying more than 2,000 usernames and some 100 passwords against different VPNs. Some of the products in the attackers’ crosshairs include Cisco Secure Firewall VPN, Checkpoint VPN, Fortinet VPN, SonicWall VPN, RD Web Services, Mikrotik, Draytek, and Ubiquiti, however others could be targeted, as well.

The victims are scattered all over the world, and operate in various verticals, prompting the researchers to conclude that the attackers don’t have a preferred target, but are rather casting as wide of a net as possible.

Growing in strength

“Depending on the target environment, successful attacks of this type may lead to unauthorized network access, account lockouts, or denial-of-service conditions,” the researchers said in their report. “The traffic related to these attacks has increased with time and is likely to continue to rise.”

While the evidence is inconclusive, the researchers believe this could be the work of the same threat actor that targeted Cisco a few weeks back. They are basing this assumption on the facts that there are “technical overlaps” in how the attacks were conducted, and that in both instances, the same infrastructure was used. In the Cisco campaign, the goal was reconnaissance, so the speculation is that it’s the same this time around.

The IP addresses found from the previous attack were already added to Cisco’s block list for its VPN, and organizations worried about these attacks are advised to do the same, for any third-party VPN they have deployed.

More from TechRadar Pro



from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/y6EDUWO

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Best TV Deals: Save Over $1,000 on Top Brands, Like LG, Toshiba and Fire TV - CNET

If you’re in the market for a new TV, here are some great options that come with some great savings.

from CNET https://ift.tt/RmLVAeD

Latest Tech News

A super-powerful all-in-one PC has been unveiled by Alafia AI, a startup specializing in advanced imaging appliances. 

The Alafia Aivas SuperWorkstation is a medical imaging behemoth powered by an Ampere Altra Max 128 ARM v8.2+ 64-bit CPU running at 3.0GHz, and Nvidia GPUs.

The SuperWorkstation sports a 27-inch 4K touch-sensitive rotating display and comes with 2TB DDR4 memory and an 8TB SSD expandable up to 72TB.

Won't run Windows

Alafia AI claims the GPUs have up to 28,416 cores, but we’re not entirely sure of the setup. Tom’s Hardware says the device has Nvidia RTX 4000 and RTX A3000 GPUs but the latest specs revealed at Embedded World 2024 say only that it’s powered by a single Nvidia RTX card, with AI acceleration provided by the "three Nvidia Tesla Ada Architecture Tensor Core GPUs". Nvidia retired the Tesla brand in May 2020. We've asked Alafia AI for clarification.

The SuperWorkstation doesn’t run Windows, instead it has a custom OS (ALAFIA OS 24.04 LTS) for AI inference and medical healthcare. The workstation reportedly features a custom cooling solution to manage its 700w power consumption efficiently.

The machine has two Intel X550 RJ45 (10GbE) one Intel i210 (1GbE) RJ45 ports and can drive three additional screens via HDMI, DP and miniDP ports, at up to 8K. There are also USB-C 3.2 and USB-A 3.2 ports, and connectivity is provided in the form of Wi-Fi 7 802.11be and Bluetooth 5.4.

The company plans a Q2 2024 hardware release, and as you might expect there’s no actual published pricing – potential buyers will need to contact the company directly for that.

More from TechRadar Pro



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

Monday, April 15, 2024

Best Mattresses for Heavy People for 2024 - CNET

Our picks of the best mattresses with optimal support and comfort for heavier bodies, as tested by our mattress experts.

from CNET https://ift.tt/3kfZCa1

Latest Tech News

Pimax has unveiled two new VR headsets with the top of the line Pimax Crystal Super seemingly set to put the best VR headsets to shame – even the Apple Vision Pro – with some phenomenal specs. It also has one of most unique display features we’ve ever seen: you can swap between an OLED and QLED display engine to get the most out of your virtual experience.

Are you playing a frightening horror adventure that has you exploring dark spaces filled with monsters? Then an OLED screen’s excellent dark contrast will be just what you need. If you’re instead kicking back with a vibrant VR social app then you could swap in the QLED screen to be dazzled by the colors it can produce. 

No matter which screen type you choose, the Pimax Crystal Super will deliver 29.5 million pixels across its dual, 3,840 x 3,840 pixels per eye displays, each with 200 nits of brightness. The QLED display system has a max refresh rate of 120Hz and uses glass aspheric lenses, while the OLED one has a 90Hz max refresh rate and uses less bulky pancake lenses.

You’ll also find neat features like eye-tracking, dynamic foveated rendering, and inside-out tracking – so there’s no need for lighthouses.

As you'd expect, this swappable display design doesn’t come cheap. If you want a Pimax Crystal Super with both the OLED and QLED display engines you’ll be paying $2,399 (around £1,925 / AU$3,700) for the headset. Alternatively if you’d rather get just one type of display the QLED model will set you back $1,799 (around £1,450 / AU$2,800 ) while the OLED version costs $1,999 (around £1,600 / AU$3,100). 

No precise release date has been given yet but Pimax estimates the Crystal super will launch in Q4 2024 (so October, November or December).

The Pimax Crystal Light in a purple and blue room, it's lying on the floor, switched off

The Pimax Crystal Light (Image credit: Pimax)

If this is all still too much to pay for a VR headset – especially one that requires you to have a similarly high-end PC gaming rig so you can get the most out of your headset’s capabilities – or you want a headset that’ll arrive sooner, you could instead opt for the Crystal Light.

The crystal light boasts less sharp displays – boasting just 2,880 x 2,880 pixels per eye – though its QLED screen can get up to 120Hz. However, it uses aspheric lenses so will be bulkier than headsets using pancake lenses, and it lacks eye-tracking, and dynamic foveated rendering capabilities.

The upshot is it’s a heck of a lot cheaper starting at just $699 (around £550 / AU$1,100) and it should launch in May according to Pimax.

As impressive as these news Pimax headsets sound, I'm disappointed that they’re locked into the PCVR ecosystem, and aren’t at least adopting Pimax’s own wireless tech.

Analysis: Several steps forward, several steps back

A big issue with PCVR headsets are the cables that tether you to a PC – or a console in the case of PSVR 2 – that limit your movement, and that you can catch yourself on as your flail about in virtual reality. 

However, as we’ve seen from the displays in Pimax’s headset, the advantage of PCVR is you can enjoy a super high level of graphics and performance that outshines standalone devices – like the Meta Quest 3 and even Apple Vision Pro (provided you have a great PC, that is).

This is where a wireless module can come in like the Pimax Crystal 60G Airlink device as they allow you to enjoy PCVR without being tethered. We’ve known that this device has been coming for a while – it was demoed at CES 2024 already – but we finally know exactly what the Crystal 60G can do with official specs straight from Pimax.

Specifically it boasts wireless PCVR with a 2,880 x 2,880 pixel resolution per eye, 90Hz max refresh rate, and “ultra low latency” – though exactly what this means hasn’t been revealed.

The Pimax Crystal 60G Airlink system including a module for your PC and another for your headset

The Pimax Crystal 60G Airlink module (Image credit: Pimax)

Unfortunately, neither of Pimax’s new headsets – the Crystal Super or Crystal Light – will support the 60G Airlink module.

What’s more, they strip out the batteries and Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 chipset that the base Pimax Crystal headset included, which allowed it to support both wireless PCVR and a standalone VR experience.

To this end, you might find the base Crystal model is the better option for you – or a non-Pimax model like a Quest 3 or Apple Vision Pro – thanks to the versatility offered by a standalone headset. Not only are you freer to use the headset wherever you want but also, with the exception of the Vision Pro, you can very easily use these headsets for wireless VR and for wired PCVR – giving you the best of both worlds.

This versatility is one of the reasons why Quest headsets have been topping the Steam VR usage charts for years.

Considering how impressive Pimax’s machines are I’d love for it to have kept pushing into the world of standalone VR. Improving its software catalogue or partnering with a company with a great VR OS to jumpstart its app store – ideally the amazing Quest ecosystem, though are others out there from the likes of HTC – would also have been great.

I’ll have to try the latest Pimax headset out for myself before giving my final verdict, but as it stands I don’t think these are VR gadgets I can see most people using – nor do I think most people should use them. Which is a real shame because otherwise I feel Pimax’s machines could be a slam dunk on pricey competitors like the Vision Pro – for now, though, I feel relative newcomer Apple has Pimax’s Crystal Super beat, on paper.

You might also like



from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/cDW95e2

Sunday, April 14, 2024

The 3 Best Juicers of 2024, Tested by CNET Editors - CNET

We tested the best juicers on the market to find out if the juice is worth the squeeze. Check out our top picks.

from CNET https://ift.tt/YAcWvnf

Heat Domes and Surging Grid Demand Threaten US Power Grids with Blackouts

A new report shows a sharp increase in peak electricity demand, leading to blackout concerns in multiple states. Here's how experts say ...