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US trade restrictions have created significant obstacles for Chinese companies, limiting their access to advanced AI hardware needed to remain competitive globally.

Nvidia’s H20 GPUs, scaled-down versions of the powerful H100, were developed to meet export control requirements but still come with a hefty price tag of around $10,000 per unit.

Even at that price, the availability of these GPUs is limited, compounding the difficulties Chinese companies face. This shortage has fueled a thriving black market for Nvidia’s high-end chips, such as the H100 and A100, where prices continue to rise due to overwhelming demand. However, global companies, particularly ByteDance - the parent company of TikTok, already under intense scrutiny in the US - cannot afford the legal and reputational risks associated with engaging in such illicit markets.

Two AI chips

ByteDance has made significant investments in AI, reportedly spending over $2 billion on Nvidia's H20 GPUs in 2024, and now according to The Information, the company is looking to develop its own AI GPUs to reduce dependency on Nvidia.

The report adds these chips will include one designed for AI training and another for AI inference, and both will be produced using TSMC’s advanced N4/N5 process, the same technology used for Nvidia’s Blackwell GPUs.

Broadcom, recognized for its AI chip designs for Google, will reportedly lead the development of these GPUs, which are expected to enter mass production by 2026. While several Chinese companies have developed their own AI GPUs to reduce reliance on Nvidia, most still depend on Nvidia’s hardware for more demanding tasks. Whether ByteDance can fully transition to its own hardware - and whether it would want to - remains to be seen.

The move will certainly not be without challenges. As Tom's Hardware notes, “The company now relies on Nvidia's CUDA and supporting software stack for AI training and inference. Once it goes with its AI GPUs, it must develop its software platform and ensure its software stack is fully compatible with its hardware."

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Sonic Characters Will Become DC Superheroes in New Sega Partnership

Sonic as the Flash, and Shadow as Batman?

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Popular gaming hardware manufacturer Razer has announced a batch of new products at its annual RazerCon event.

The headlining products are the Razer Kraken V4 Pro and the Razer Freyja. The former is a seriously premium addition to the brand's gaming headset lineup, while the latter is described as "the world's first HD haptic gaming cushion." 

That right, it's a vibrating seat cushion for your gaming chair.

The Kraken V4 Pro joins the headset's fourth-generation lineup alongside the standard Kraken V4 and the wired Kraken V4 X which Razer revealed last month. The Pro model looks like quite the step up in terms of features (and price, but we'll get to that). Razer's bespoke Sensa HD haptics are included here, causing the headset to react to in-game activities with directional haptic feedback.

A handful of games will directly support the technology, including Final Fantasy 16, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and Silent Hill 2. I got to test the haptics for myself at a Razer briefing last week and they definitely felt like an improvement over the Razer Kaira Pro's HyperSense feedback, feeling much more nuanced and, well, less like you had a bee in your headset.

The Kraken V4 Pro also includes a PC-compatible OLED Control Hub that allows for on-the-fly tweaks to your settings as well as the monitoring of volume, battery life and other metrics. You're getting customizable Chroma RGB on the ear cups, dual audio support and instant switching between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth (handy if you need to take a quick call while gaming), 40mm drivers supported by THX spatial audio and a retractable mic. 

The Razer Kraken V4 Pro is available to buy now from Razer's website and other retailers, but it doesn't come cheap. Expect to pay $399.99 / £399.99 which is a pretty giant step up from other models in the Kraken V4 lineup. Still, it's in with a chance of landing in our list of the best PC gaming headsets with its stacked feature set and intelligent Sensa HD haptics.

(Image credit: Razer)

The other major reveal from this year's RazerCon is the all-new Razer Freyja. This is a seat cushion that'll fit any of the best gaming chairs that, much like the Kraken V4 Pro, is powered by Sensa HD haptic feedback. That means the chair's multi-directional haptics (with six motors: four behind you, and two where you sit) react to everything from light drizzles to sword slashes and chunky explosions.

Testing this at the Razer briefing last week, I found the default settings to be a little intense. Thankfully, you are able to adjust the haptics' strength on the fly, which made the experience much more tolerable. That said, the Freyja is certainly going to have niche appeal. It doesn't really offer anything to your play session aside from some neat haptics. It is at least very comfy, but I did notice the haptics here were incredibly loud. 

If you live with family or housemates, you might want to consider investing in some soundproofing for your room if you're buying the Freyja. It's also available now from Razer's website for $299.99. The product is unfortunately not available for purchase in the UK at this time.

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With macOS Sequoia, Apple introduced a feature whereby users are asked to regularly approve access for apps to be allowed to record their screen - which has not gone down too well with some folks, although there’s now a solution (albeit a third-party one).

From Apple’s perspective, this move was made to improve security in apps like Zoom where you might share your screen (or indeed screenshot utilities). The recurring permission requests for such apps first started appearing early in beta testing macOS 15, and they were introduced on a weekly basis initially, but later (following many complaints) Apple revised that to monthly prompts. 

And to be fair, I could still see these pop-ups being bothersome, even on a monthly basis, and you might prefer not to see them at all (or just the once, rather, when you first use the app). Luckily, there’s now a workaround that MacRumors spotted in the form of an app called Amnesia.

Once installed, Amnesia can be used to stop the monthly screen recording permission requests on an app-by-app basis. The software is pay-what-you-want, so you can give the developer whatever you feel is an appropriate payment for the convenience of the app.

(Image credit: Future)

There's another potential workaround - but will Apple do something itself?

The original version of Amnesia was for macOS 15 only, but since that release, support for macOS 15.1 (beta) has been introduced. You can check out Amnesia’s changelog (a record of updates made to the app) to see all the recent additions and adjustments for the software.

Alternatively, if you’re a little more of a techie, as MacRumors points out, you can also achieve the same result as Amnesia via the Terminal app by following instructions provided by tech blogger Jeff Johnson. Just as with Amnesia, this workaround makes it so that the screen recording reminders are turned off on an app-by-app basis.

I hope Apple considers revising this repetitive request for permissions. I’m not saying that the company has to get rid of it entirely, but maybe give macOS 15 users the option to switch to quarterly or biannual requests instead. I understand that Apple is trying to cover itself and its customers from a security perspective, but I think there’s more give here in terms of striking a balance that satisfies keeping macOS a safe environment, while annoying users less.

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Samsung says it has begun the mass production of its 1Tb quad-level cell (QLC) 9th-generation V-NAND, an industry first. The development follows the company's production of triple-level cell (TLC) 9th-generation V-NAND earlier in 2024, and reflects a broader industry shift from TLC to QLC technology to meet the growing demand for higher-capacity and more efficient storage solutions.

The new QLC V-NAND incorporates innovative technologies such as Channel Hole Etching, which enables a higher layer count through a double stack structure, resulting in approximately 86% higher bit density compared to the previous generation of QLC V-NAND. Samsung says the increase in density allows for greater storage capacity in the same physical space, addressing the needs of applications that require large amounts of data storage.

Designed Mold, Predictive Program, and Low-Power Design technologies boost reliability by 20%, double write performance, improve input/output speed by 60%, and reduce power consumption during read and write operations by up to 50%.

A shift from TLC to QLC

The industry is experiencing a shift from TLC to QLC NAND flash memory, driven by the need for higher storage capacities and cost efficiencies. QLC NAND stores four bits per cell instead of three, effectively increasing storage density. This transition enables manufacturers to produce SSDs with larger capacities at potentially lower costs, which is particularly important for data centers and AI applications that require vast amounts of storage.

“Kicking off the successful mass production of QLC 9th-generation V-NAND just four months after the TLC version allows us to offer a full lineup of advanced SSD solutions that address the needs for the AI era,” said SungHoi Hur, Executive Vice President and Head of Flash Product & Technology at Samsung Electronics. “As the enterprise SSD market shows rapid growth with stronger demand for AI applications, we will continue to solidify our leadership in the segment through our QLC and TLC 9th-generation V-NAND.”

Applications of the QLC V-NAND will start with branded consumer products before extending into mobile Universal Flash Storage (UFS), PCs and server SSDs for customers, including cloud service providers.

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Considering that the Google Pixel Watch 3 launched on September 10, 2024, in two sizes, new Fitbit integrations, and running Wear OS 5, it was likely only a matter of time before some of its software features began to trickle down to previous Pixel Watches.

Like clockwork, Google has announced that the latest Pixel Watch Update brings Wear OS 5 to the original Pixel Watch and the Pixel Watch 2. The update is just beginning to roll out now and is being done in phases, so you may not see it immediately available as an over-the-air update. 

It also brings with it more than just bug fixes and security patches. 

Wear OS 5 arrives on the Pixel Watch 1 and 2

Google’s latest version of WearOS isn’t necessarily a redesign or a rethinking, but it brings a few changes that Pixel Watch wearers can take advantage of. Beyond bug fixes, you can expect new colors for watch faces and more widgets – aka complications – to pick from. You can also put different data metrics on the watch face from the developer side.

Like the Pixel Watch 3, the new app grid launcher will arrive on the first- and second-generation, making it easier to find and view all the apps. Better Camera Controls are arriving, so you can use your Pixel Watch as a viewfinder for your connected smartphone's camera. It becomes more practical and less of a gimmick. Pixel Recorder will also arrive on the wrist.

Google promises many quality-of-life improvements in WearOS 5, such as squashing bugs and ‘performance updates.’ To be eligible to receive the WearOS 5 update, you’ll need to ensure that the first-generation or second-generation Pixel Watch is running either Wear OS 3.5 or Wear OS 4.

WearOS 5 is housed within the September 2024 update, which is now rolling out in waves, so it might appear immediately. If you’re inclined to check, you’ll swipe down from the watch face on the Pixel Watch and tap Settings. From there, navigate to System then System Updates to check for an update. If one is found, you can install it and wait as the Pixel Watch goes through the motions of downloading, installing, and restarting. 

No matter how you get WearOS 5, it's great to see Google continuing to support its previous generation Pixel Watches.

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New research involving 26,000 participants has revealed the vital importance of movement for office workers, confirming that continuous desk work can have a drastic impact on your mental health. 

A new study commissioned by ASICS, dubbed 'State of Mind,' has revealed "a strong connection between sedentary behavior and mental well-being with State of Mind scores declining the longer individuals remain inactive." 

We all know that sitting behind a desk can get pretty tiring and draining after a while, but just how bad is the problem? Turns out it's pretty bad. The research concluded that "after just two hours of continuous desk work State of Mind scores begin to drop and stress levels rise." 

And after four hours of uninterrupted desk work, workers' stress levels increased by nearly 20%. Help is at hand, though, thanks to a new Desk Break experiment. 

15 minutes of movement is all it takes

Dr. Brendon Stubbs from King's College London has conducted a study examining the impact of movement on the mental well-being of office workers. Participants took daily 5-minute movement breaks and 15 minutes of exercise after three to four hours of work. 

After just one week of movement breaks, State of Mind scores went up by more than 22%, with confidence increasing as well as anxiety and perceived stress levels dropping by double digits. It's not just a feel-good factor, either. Just 15 minutes of exercise during the workday boosted productivity by fully one-third, and focus by more than 28%. 

"We have shown previously that just 15 minutes of exercise in leisure time can result in a meaningful improvement in people's State of Mind scores," Dr Stubbs concluded. "But what surprised us with the Desk Break experiment was how powerful the 15-minute movement breaks were in improving well-being and reducing stress. It even changed people's perceptions of their workplace for the better."    

If that's too many numbers after a long day at the office, just watch ASICS new 'The Desk Break' public service announcement, starring an angry Brian Cox. (Above)

ASICS is calling for office-based employees around the world to take a Desk Break for their mental health. Luckily, there's plenty of tech on hand to help you get a head start. 

One of the best standing desks on the market might help you with mobility, posture, and overall activity, but part of taking a desk break is leaving your workspace to help clear your mind. Many of the best smartwatches on the market, such as the Apple Watch Series 10, come with built-in 'time to stand' reminders that can remind you to get up and stretch your legs. 

On a lunch break, why not use Garmin Connect to put together a quick 25-minute walk or run over lunch? You could even try Hugh Jackman's 7-minute workout (twice, preferably) or a quick Apple Fitness Plus activity. You'll also get some benefits from an under-desk treadmill, which can be handy during calls, meetings, or training, but remember actually to get away from your screen at some point, too. 

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The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added an Apache HugeGraph-Server vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, signaling that the bug is actively being exploited in the wild.

The addition also forces federal agencies to apply a patch before the October 9 deadline, or stop using the vulnerable product altogether.

The bug in question is a remote command execution flaw in the Gremlin graph traversal language API. It carries a severity score of 9.8, and affects all versions of the software prior to 1.3.0. It is tracked as CVE-2024-27348, and it was patched months ago - in April.

Four more bugs

Besides installing the patch, users are also recommended to use JAva 11 and enable the Auth system. Furthermore, they should enable the “Whitelist-IP/port” function, since it improves the security of the RESTful-API execution, it was added.

In mid-July this year, the Shadowserver Foundation said it found evidence of the flaw’s exploitation, adding that the PoC code has been public since early June.

“If you run HugeGraph, make sure to update,” the organization said at the time.

Apache HugeGraph is an open source graph database system, supporting the storage and querying of billions of vertices and edges. Implemented with the Apache TinkerPop3 framework, it is fully compatible with the Gremlin query language, allowing for complex graph queries and analyses.

Besides the RCE flaw, CISA added another four flaws to the KEV catalog - a Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Remote Code Execution vulnerability (CVE-2020-0618), a Microsoft Windows Task Scheduler Privilege Escalation vulnerability (CVE-2019-1069), an Oracle JDeveloper Remote Code Execution vulnerability (CVE-2022-21445), and an Oracle WebLogic Server Remote Code Execution vulnerability (CVE-2020-14644).

Adding these bugs to the catalog doesn’t necessarily mean they are currently being exploited, BleepingComputer reports, it just means that they were being exploited at some point in the past.

Via BleepingComputer

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