Amazon's latest warehouse robot can feel items that it handles
Vulcan has already processed 500,000 orders in pilots
It'll work alongside workers to boot efficiency and safety
Amazon has unveiled a brand-new warehouse robot that it's calling Vulcan, and it's a step closer to being human than many humans might feel comfortable with, but for good reason.
Vulcan has the ability to 'feel' the objects it interacts with using force sensors and tactile feedback, which means Amazon can improve precision and reduce errors in its warehouses.
The (thankfully not humanoid) robot uses two separate arms, one for rearranging items in compartments and another, equipped with a camera and suction cup, to be used for item retrieval.
Amazon Vulcan robot can "feel" objects
The company noted Vulcan was trained using physical data, including force and touch feedback, and it's already capable of picking about three-quarters of the ecommerce giant's inventory, having already processed over 500,000 orders in pilot deployments across Spokane, Washington and Hamburg, Germany.
Vulcan is also capable of self-improvement, learning from experiences much like a human child would do.
Because of this ability to learn combined with touch sensors and tactility, Amazon says Vulcan mimics human dexterity, allowing it to manipulate tightly packed compartments without damaging items.
It's also able to identify when it cannot currently handle an item, calling on a human for assistance.
Notably, in highly-stacked shelves and taller warehouses, Vulcan is able to access items more quickly than humans because it doesn't need to use a ladder, improving safety and efficiency. It's also said to work at speeds comparable to humans.
"Vulcan works alongside our employees, and the combination is better than either on their own," Amazon Robotics Director of Applied Science Aaron Parness explained.
Amazon now has more than 750,000 robots already in use across its warehouses, which it stresses are there to support and collaborate with human workers rather than replace them. Other projects include Sparrow, Robin, Cardinal and Proteus – the company's first autonomous robot.
"Our vision is to scale this technology across our network, enhancing operational efficiency, improving workplace safety, and supporting our employees by reducing physically demanding tasks," Parness concluded.
Anker announces Soundcore Liberty 5 wireless earbuds
They launched today: May 7, 2025
They cost $129.99 / £99.99 / AU$169.99 but boast premium features
Anker has just launched a brand new pair of affordable wireless earbuds: the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5, and just like their predecessors they look like a cheap way to access premium features.
The Liberty 5 buds boast some useful features including active noise cancellation, an 12-hour battery life with active noise-cancellation (ANC), which can be extended up to 32 more hours with their charging case.
The new buds also offer improved bass performance thanks to dual bass-enhancing tubes that amplify the low frequencies resonance while increasing air flow, which according to Anker leads to more powerful, yet balanced, bass reproduction.
What’s more if you’re using an Android device you can access higher quality audio transmission via LDAC – so you should find your audio sounds more complete than it does on non-LDAC earbuds.
If you like the sound of these new earbuds they’re available to buy right now on Amazon.com, Soundcore.com, and from select retailers for $129.99 / £99.99 / AU$169.99.
We haven’t been able to test these earbuds yet, but previous Anker audio products scored well; we gave the Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro three-and-a-half stars, and the older Anker Soundcore Liberty Air buds earned four stars – though both could have been better.
The more recent Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 buds (which we haven’t tested) appeared to score well with reviewers, though you may find you’ll want to wait and see how well the latest Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 buds fare before you buy them – or maybe wait for a discount to make their $129.99 / £99.99 / AU$169.99 asking price is even more affordable.
Chuwi MiniBook X folds like a tablet, weighs under 1 kg, and still has 12 GB of RAM
Includes 512 GB user-replaceable SSD - rare for small laptops
Intel N150 chip limits performance but handles everyday tasks
A new iteration of Chuwi’s MiniBook X, a lightweight 10.5-inch convertible laptop, has been released, bringing back some of the charm once associated with netbooks - tiny, practical, and highly portable.
Powered by an Intel N150 processor paired with 12th Gen Intel UHD Graphics, its performance is limited compared to mainstream CPUs. However, the inclusion of 12GB of DDR5 RAM and a 512GB user-replaceable SSD gives it enough capability for basic computing tasks.
Measuring just 17.2mm thick and weighing 920g, the MiniBook X is a small Windows 11 Home laptop. It features a space gray chassis and a 10.51-inch IPS display with a 1920×1200 resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio.
A portable laptop for basic tasks
One of the lightest laptops on the market, it features a 360-degree hinge that allows users to fold the screen behind the keyboard for tablet-style use.
It supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax1) and Bluetooth 5.2 and includes two Type-C ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and M.2 expansion slots. However, the absence of USB-A ports may limit compatibility with some accessories.
Power is delivered via USB-C at up to 36W, and the internal battery is rated at nearly 29Wh.
While the processor limits overall performance, the MiniBook X’s compact size, full keyboard, and touchscreen provide flexibility. It may appeal to those looking for a budget-friendly laptop for note-taking and document editing - such as students or mobile professionals.
The MiniBook X is priced at $352 through Chuwi’s online store, but a promotional discount running through May 7, 2025, brings the price down to approximately $314.
I recently had the opportunity to review the flagship model in the Epson’s new ‘Premium Residential’ Q Series of projectors, the QL7000. I had plenty to say in my Epson QL7000 review, but the highlight was undoubtedly its unmatched brightness.
You see, projectors generally provide low brightness compared to the best TVs, and any ambient room light will lessen the dynamic range of pictures, blunting the impact of highlights and raising black levels so that shadows end up lacking detail.
For most owners of the best projectors, watching a movie, TV news and sports means dimming the lights or darkening the room completely.
Home theater enthusiasts go to great lengths to create ‘blackout’ conditions for viewing, painting rooms a dark gray and adding treatments to walls and windows to prevent any stray light from reducing the contrast of the projected image.
The Epson QL7000, in contrast, has a specified 10,000 lumens brightness, a level that you typically see in professional projectors used for large entertainment venues.
Yes, the QL7000 is the brightest projector I’ve ever tested, and by a significant margin, with its projected image easily viewed in daylight. So surely it's a home run, right?
The benefits – and limits – of brightness
The Epson QL7000(Image credit: Future)
As I noted in my review, “Even when watching in a bright room with light streaming in from windows, the crisp, clear 4K image beamed by the QL7000 had a true window-on-reality quality.”
That’s not something I’ve ever come close to being able to say about any other projector I’ve tested, and the QL7000’s stunning brightness made watching the NBA basketball playoffs on the big screen an incredible treat.
Bright as it may be, the Epson QL7000's black levels and shadow detail came up short in my testing. Although the projector’s powerful brightness elevated its contrast ratio to 68,000:1 (with its laser light output set to 30%) – a great result – shadows lacked the inky quality you can get from top home theater projectors, and that ultimately made movie watching less satisfying than sports viewing.
I haven’t personally reviewed the JVC DLA-NZ800 projector mentioned above. But I have seen it, plus its even more expensive NZ900 big brother demonstrated at trade shows, and the deep, well-defined shadows both models deliver set a very high home theater projector bar.
In TechRadar’s JVC NZ800 review, this section struck me as particularly apt: “Moving on to HDR, the NZ800 proves to be a stellar performer, delivering all the specular highlights of the sun-bleached desert landscapes of Dune Part Two, pulling out every detail in shadows during the nighttime action of The Crow, and reproducing the rich and saturated colours of La La Land, helping to replicate the Technicolor musicals to which it pays homage.”
Of course, if you were to watch those same movies on the NZ800 in a bright room rather than the fully optimized, blacked-out conditions I experienced it in, the picture would quickly lose the powerful contrast that brought out detail in blacks, and made La La Land’s colorful costumes pop on the screen. And sports? Forget it.
Picking nits
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JVC DLA-NZ800(Image credit: Future)
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Sony Bravia Projector 8(Image credit: Future)
Brightness isn’t everything when it comes to picture quality – contrast and black detail are equally important.
The recent DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives, a motion picture and theater industry trade group) HDR specification calls for theater projection systems to provide a peak brightness of 300 nits. That level is substantially less than what the Epson QL7000 is capable of (I measured 1,005 nits on a 10% white HDR pattern in Natural mode with 100% laser light output setting, and 1,340 nits in Dynamic mode).
If a movie theater projection system were to meet the DCI specification (many don’t), it would provide around the same peak brightness as top home theater projectors from Sony and JVC. So, even with a projector designed for home, you’re getting an equally bright, and in many cases brighter, image than what you get in a movie theater.
But brightness isn’t everything when it comes to picture quality – contrast and black detail are equally important.
In an optimized home theater setting, fastidiously controlling the environment allows for the light emanating from the projector to be the only source of light hitting the screen, which maximizes black levels and perceived contrast.
This gives home projectors another leg up on theater projection systems, where contrast is necessarily limited by the mandatory lighted exit signs located near the front of the room.
The Epson QL7000's super-bright picture makes it an impressive projector that's uniquely suited for daytime viewing of sports. However, for movie fans, contrast and shadow detail are arguably of greater value when it comes to getting the best overall picture quality.
And, given the right viewing conditions, even a projector with an average brightness level can get you pretty close to perfection.
Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro has officially completed Pokémon Blue
The game ran as a livestream experiment by an independent engineer
Gemini played the game with some light developer intervention, but mostly on its own
Google's Gemini AI may not have passed the Turing test yet, but it would be very popular in the schoolyard three decades ago after winning a game of Pokémon Blue. The Gemini 2.5 Pro is now both Google's most advanced AI model and a Pokémon Master, as demonstrated in a Twitch livestream called “Gemini Plays Pokémon” run by an engineer unaffiliated with Google named Joel Z. Even Google CEO Sundar Pichai joined the celebration, sharing a clip of the victory on X.
What a finish! Gemini 2.5 Pro just completed Pokémon Blue!  Special thanks to @TheCodeOfJoel for creating and running the livestream, and to everyone who cheered Gem on along the way. pic.twitter.com/E2pn3tpfEbMay 3, 2025
You might wonder why an AI model beating a thirty-year-old game drew so much attention. It's partly because of the spectacle, but also because of AI model rivalry. Back in February, Anthropic showcased the progress its Claude model was making in beating Pokémon Red. They used the game to show off Claude’s “extended thinking and agent training” and launched a “Claude Plays Pokémon” Twitch stream, inspiring Joel Z.
Before crowning Gemini as the one true AI Ash Ketchum, it’s worth noting a few caveats. For one, Claude hasn’t technically beaten Pokémon Red yet, but that doesn’t automatically make Gemini better, as they employed different tools, known as “agent harnesses.” The models don’t play the game directly like a human with a controller would. Instead, they’re fed screenshots of the game environment along with overlays of key information, then asked to generate the next best action. That decision is then translated into an actual button press in the game.
And Gemini hasn’t been going it entirely alone. Joel admitted he occasionally stepped in to make improvements, though he has made a point of doing so only to improve some of Gemini's reasoning. He also plans to continue working on the Gemini Plays Pokémon project to make further improvements.
Pokémon AI
(Image credit: Sundar Pichai/X)
What makes this more than a quirky internet stunt is what it implies about where AI is headed. Playing a game like Pokémon Blue isn’t about fast reflexes or memorizing controller inputs. It’s about long-term strategy, adapting to surprises, and navigating ambiguous challenges. These are all areas where AI usually needs improvement. That Gemini could not only hold its own but finish the game (with minimal nudging) suggests that models like it are getting better at extended strategy.
It's also the kind of milestone the average person can understand. You can intuitively understand what the AI is doing when bumbling through Lavender Town or misreading a battle tactic, and compare it to the choices you'd make in that context. Of course, you shouldn't overstate what this means. AI can now finish a game you probably beat in middle school, but it also highlights how much human effort still goes into making AI seem autonomous.
Whether or not Claude or Gemini become true Pokémasters doesn't matter so much as what they're playing means for AI's development. Showing that AI won't just crunch numbers or generate spam emails could change how people think of what AI can do, even with help. And if this is how AI models start learning how to operate in unpredictable, open-ended environments, well, beating Mewtwo might just be a stepping stone to something a lot more profound. Or at least, a bit more productive.
Nvidia’s RTX PRO 6000 offers 96GB of memory, enough for giant AI models and datasets
With 24,064 CUDA cores, this GPU dominates deep learning, rendering, and scientific simulations
At $8,200, this card is not for gamers; it’s built strictly for serious professionals
In the evolving world of professional computing, PNY Technologies has launched what might be the most powerful workstation GPU to date: the Nvidia RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Workstation Edition.
Directdial reports the card is priced at a staggering $8,200, making it firmly aimed at professionals working in AI development, simulation, or high-end content creation rather than casual users.
At the heart of the GPU is Nvidia’s latest Blackwell architecture, delivering 24,064 CUDA cores to accelerate demanding workloads such as deep learning, real-time rendering, and scientific computing.
Blackwell architecture delivers massive power and memory
The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell supports a record-breaking 96GB of GDDR7 memory, operating over a 512-bit bus with a bandwidth of up to 1.75TB/s.
This is achieved using 3GB modules configured as 16×2×3GB, enabling the vast memory pool necessary for handling massive AI models and ultra-high-resolution assets. ECC memory is also onboard to improve stability in mission-critical tasks.
Despite its performance, the card maintains a relatively modest 300W TDP and is considered energy-efficient for its class.
The GPU supports a wide range of APIs, including Vulkan 1.3, DirectX 12, and OpenCL 3.0.
Early PCB images suggest the absence of a 12V-6x2 connector, possibly pointing to a rear-mounted power input design more commonly found in servers or Max-Q setups.
However, a single 16-pin connector supports the current desktop version, which uses a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface and fits into a standard dual-slot, full-length layout.
Though technically a workstation GPU, the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell opens new possibilities across a range of specialist fields. It can support up to four 8K displays and is engineered to meet the demands of professionals in VFX, CAD, and AI training environments.
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Over 7 million pixels of SDQHD resolution will make your old monitor look ancient
Not 5K or 8K, but the JapanNext vertical monitor is perhaps what your desk needs
If you code, write, or edit all day, this monitor should be your new friend
JapanNext has expanded its unique lineup of business monitors with the release of the JN-IPS276SDQHD-HSPC6-CMS, a new 27.6-inch SDQHD display boasting over 7 million pixels – a viable option that could enhance your office or work-from-home setup.
Much like the Alogic 28-inch vertical monitor, this nearly square display offers a 2,560 x 2,880 resolution with a rare 16:18 aspect ratio.
It's particularly well-suited for coding, working with lengthy documents, and editing spreadsheets or web layouts, as the elongated format, similar to LG's DualUp monitor, reduces scrolling and helps improve focus.
A new shape for modern work
The screen features a matte IPS panel that covers 100% of the sRGB spectrum and 97% of DCI-P3, making it a strong option for color-sensitive tasks. It offers a peak brightness of 300 cd/m², a contrast ratio of 1,000:1, and wide 178° viewing angles in all directions.
For comfort during extended use, the monitor includes flicker-free backlighting, blue light filtering modes, and HDR support.
Targeting hybrid workers, the JapanNext monitor integrates a retractable webcam and microphone at the top edge of the panel, supported by dual 5W built-in speakers.
Connectivity is extensive, including HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, USB Type-C with 65W power delivery, and a USB-A hub.
Productivity features such as Picture-by-Picture (PBP), Picture-in-Picture (PIP), and an integrated KVM switch add further utility for users managing multiple systems.
All of this comes in a chassis weighing approximately 6.2kg, with 100mm height adjustment, 45° swivel range, full pivot support, and VESA 75x75 compatibility.
The JN-IPS276SDQHD-HSPC6-CMS is priced at 109,800 yen (around $765), offering strong value compared to higher-end 5K and 8K monitors.
A review sample of this device is expected to arrive on our desk very soon.
Most CFOs say they still can't make money from AI yet
Traditional pricing fails in a usage-driven artificial intelligence economy
AI monetization now sits firmly on the boardroom's priority list
Artificial intelligence is transforming every industry, but a new report has claimed many companies are failing to capture its financial value.
A global study of 614 Chief Financial Officers conducted by DigitalRoute found nearly three-quarters (71%) said they were struggling to monetize AI effectively, despite nearly 90% naming it a mission-critical priority over the next five years.
Only 29% of companies currently have a working AI monetization model, and the rest are either experimenting or “flying blind,” according to the data, and over two-thirds (68%) of tech firms say their traditional pricing strategies are no longer applicable in an AI-driven economy.
Second digital gold rush?
“AI is in the second digital gold rush,” said Ari Vanttinen, CMO at DigitalRoute. “But without the usage-level visibility, companies are gambling with pricing, profitability and even product viability. Our data shows CFOs urgently need real-time metering and revenue management to turn AI from a cost line into a genuine profit engine.”
Boardrooms are taking notice - nearly two-thirds (64%) of those surveyed say AI monetization is now a formal board priority, yet just one in five businesses can track individual AI consumption, leaving finance teams with limited tools for accurate billing, forecasting, or margin analysis.
70% of CFOs cite pricing complexity as the biggest barrier to scaling AI, and more than half report misalignment between finance and product teams.
Legacy systems are also a challenge: 63% of companies are investing in new revenue management infrastructure, acknowledging that traditional quote-to-cash systems aren’t fit for usage-based AI pricing models.
The study also highlights regional differences. Nordic countries lead in implementation but struggle with profitability, while France and the UK are showing stronger early commercial returns. The US remains a global leader in AI development, but the data suggests a slightly more cautious approach to monetization at the organizational level.
Although American businesses clearly understand the importance of AI, many are still developing the internal frameworks needed to scale effectively.
The US scores highly on perceived significance but lags slightly behind the UK in terms of perceived criticality, indicating a broader, more experimental AI culture that has yet to fully transition to commercial execution.
The report recommends three steps for success: first, meter AI consumption at the feature level; second, model value-based and usage-based pricing before launch; and third, align product, finance, and revenue teams around shared data.
As Vanttinen puts it, “Every prompt is now a revenue event. When businesses can see, price and bill for AI usage in real-time, they unlock the margins the market expects.”
Researchers set new wireless data record over 4.6km with infrared
Data beams allow many parallel high-speed connections without interference
Researchers believe this can bridge future 5G and 6G network connectivity gaps
Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) have transmitted data between the TU/e campus and the High Tech Campus over a 4.6km distance using infrared light.
This feat happened at the astonishing rate of 5.7 terabits per second, the equivalent of streaming 1.9 million Netflix shows in HD simultaneously, making it the fastest wireless data transmission ever demonstrated over this big a distance in an urban setting.
The record-breaking connection was established using advanced optical antennas from Aircision, a spin-off of TNO based at the High Tech Campus. These antennas transmit data through invisible infrared beams instead of cables or radio signals. This technique, known as free-space optical (FSO) communication, enables ultra-fast, interference-free data transmission.
Paving the way for its future applications
“We need new ways to meet the increasing demand for fast and reliable connectivity,” said Vincent van Vliet, a TU/e PhD researcher involved in the project. “Infrared wireless communication combines the high data speeds known from optical fibers with the flexibility of wireless communication systems.”
The team used the Reid Photonloop testbed to achieve the breakthrough. This permanent set-up allows experiments with high-speed wireless communication and uses cutting-edge technology to combine multiple wavelengths in a single transmission.
“Because the transmitted infrared light is highly focused, an almost unlimited number of communication links can exist side-by-side without interference, allowing wireless network capacity growth at an unprecedented scale,” Van Vliet explained.
The Reid Photonloop testbed, named after the late John Reid, a driving force behind the project who passed away before its realization, stretches between the Flux building at TU/e and Building 37 at the High Tech Campus, a distance of 4.6km across Eindhoven.
"This facility will allow us to refine high-speed wireless communication and optimize its reliability and availability in all weather conditions,” said Chigo Okonkwo, Associate Professor and head of TU/e’s High-Capacity Optical Transmission Lab.
Aircision sees future applications for this technology in connecting 5G and 6G antennas where laying fiber is impractical.
“We are redefining how data is transmitted over the air. This record-breaking achievement proves that our technology is ready to make high-speed internet accessible to millions of people faster than ever before,” said Luis Oliveira, co-founder of Aircision.
The findings were presented at the Optical Fiber Communications (OFC) Conference 2025 in San Francisco.
