Latest Tech News

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• A watered-down Nvidia RTX Pro 6000 is still potent enough to keep China’s AI ambitions alive
• Nvidia’s workaround isn’t top-tier, but it could still flood China’s data centers
• Export rules slow performance, but they can’t stop parallelized AI scaling by Chinese CSPs

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In response to US export restrictions introduced in April 2025, Nvidia is reportedly preparing a special edition of its RTX Pro 6000 GPU for the Chinese market.

A report from TrendForce claims this new version will switch from high-bandwidth memory (HBM) to the slower but more accessible GDDR7.

The switch will allow the chip to comply with new regulations that prohibit GPUs with HBM-level memory bandwidth or advanced interconnect capabilities, resulting in a scaled-down GPU, but not one lacking power.

Not the best, but enough for decent AI work

The RTX Pro 6000 is a potent chip. Even after being watered down, TrendForce estimates its performance will fall between Nvidia’s older L40S and the L20 China edition. This places the chip well within the range of GPUs capable of meaningful AI workloads.

What’s driving interest is not just availability, but capability, even with the downgrade. Critics have pointed out that a cut-down version of a very powerful card is still extremely capable, especially if it's priced more affordably.

As a result, Chinese cloud service providers (CSPs) are expected to scale horizontally, buying more units and optimizing for larger node deployments.

Yes, this approach will be more expensive and consume more power, but that’s just a numbers game - CSPs will need to increase infrastructure investment and manage higher power demands. The downside, of course, is that such workarounds are inherently inefficient.

Nonetheless, if the price per unit is right, the aggregate performance could still meet, or even exceed, current needs.

It may not be the fastest setup in traditional terms, but in parallelized environments, the performance gap could narrow. That said, Chinese chipmakers like Huawei and Cambricon are working to fill the gap left by restricted access to top-tier Nvidia GPUs.

If the special edition RTX Pro 6000 succeeds, it might delay the domestic adoption of homegrown alternatives. If it fails, it could accelerate them.

Nvidia’s strategy may help it navigate current U.S. restrictions, but it remains an open question whether that will be enough in the long run.

A weaker chip could still be one of the fastest GPUs on the market, and too powerful to ignore, especially when the line between compliance and capability is so finely drawn.

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Latest Tech News

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• Meta signs 20-year deal to prop up Illinois nuclear energy facility
• Clinton Clean Energy Center was set to close in 2027
• Facility will provide 1,121 megawatts of "emissions-free nuclear energy"

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Meta has revealed a deal to prop up a nuclear power plant over the next 20 years in what it says is a bid to power the continued demand for AI.

The Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois, owned by Constellation Energy, was due to be mothballed in 2027, but will now stay open thanks to Meta's support.

The 20-year deal will see the facility provide 1,121 megawatts of "emissions-free nuclear energy", with additional incremental capacity of 30MW if needed.

Nuclear power for Meta AI

The deal will mark only the second US site to host a nuclear reactor built entirely this century, following Plant Vogtle, built in 2023 near Waynesboro, Georgia.

"As we have embarked on understanding and helping to grow nuclear energy in the U.S., we have heard from across the ecosystem that existing nuclear power plants will not be able to stay online indefinitely without partners and investments that help extend existing operating licenses and increase generation capacity," Meta said in a statement.

"It’s clear that there are many nuclear power plants serving the U.S. that need long-term support to help our electricity grids remain reliable as energy needs grow."

"Keeping an existing plant operating will have the same positive effect as adding new clean energy to the grid, and avoid the disruption that has occurred when other nuclear units have retired prematurely."

(Image credit: Constellation Energy)

Built in 1987, Meta says the Clinton Clean Energy Center support will also preserve over 1,100 local jobs and contributes $13.5 million annually in tax revenue.

The plant had been facing closure as long ago as 2017 due to financial pressure, but Illinois passed its Future Energy Jobs Act in 2016, which extended its operations via a zero-emission credit (ZEC) program. This was due to expire in 2027, but Meta's support should now see it operate long past this.

“We are proud to partner with Meta because they asked that important question, and even better, they figured out that supporting the relicensing and expansion of existing plants is just as impactful as finding new sources of energy," noted said Joe Dominguez, president and CEO, Constellation.

"Sometimes the most important part of our journey forward is to stop taking steps backwards.”

A March 2025 report commissioned by the firm and carried out by The Brattle Group claimed shuttering the Clinton plant would have led to 34 million metric tons of additional carbon pollution over 20 years - the equivalent of an additional 7.4 million gas-powered cars coming onto the road for one year - as well causing as Illinois’ GDP to drop by $765 million annually.

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Latest Tech News

Samsung may have quietly handed the smackdown to Apple and whatever super-slim phone the Cupertino crew might be cooking up.

That's because in a recent video interview with our sibling publication Tom’s Guide, Blake Gaiser, director of smartphone product management at Samsung Electronics America, touted the efforts and innovations the South Korean company made to bring the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge to fruition.

Describing it as a “Goldilocks” of smartphones to Global Editor-in-Chief Mark Spoonauer, Gaiser championed how the Galaxy S25 Edge is a true high-end phone that could create a whole new category of smartphone.

“We do consider it to be a flagship. It is a new innovation piece that we're bringing forth where we're taking out so much weight, so much thickness of this device, while not compromising on the things that are really important to our customers, such as durability, the performance of the chipset, having that flagship 200MP camera,” explained Gaiser.

“And so we do believe that this is that kind of Goldilocks for so many of our customers that is going to give them everything they want and not give them the things that they're not looking for.”

Gaiser went on to discuss more aspects of the Galaxy S25 Edge, from its design to its cameras and AI.

But what resonated with me, as a tech journalist with copious amounts of experience writing about and handling some of the best phones, is that Samsung may have seriously thrown down the gauntlet at Apple and what it might do with the rumored iPhone 17 Air.

I feel Apple will need to bring something special to the table in order to somewhat clap back at Samsung, while also being seen as forging its own path.

As it stands, the iPhone 17 Air exists in the realms of rumor and speculation, but I’d place a favourable bet that Apple will look to slim down its next-generation iPhones; as much as I love the design of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, I’m not against it getting a nip and a tuck.

Check out the full interview in the video above and then let me know in the comments whether you think Samsung has created something special here or if it's more of a gimmick.

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I Tried the ChatGPT 'Dream Day in the Life' Trend. Here's What Happened

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Latest Tech News

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• The most productive people now rest for nearly two and a half hours in an eight-hour day, report claims
• In-office work may naturally support better mental recovery
• DeskTime’s productivity metric is role-specific, which brings in subjectivity

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The long-held belief that working longer hours leads to higher productivity is facing increasing scrutiny, after new research claimed quite the opposite.

A new study by DeskTime challenges this conventional wisdom, revealing shorter work sessions combined with longer breaks may correlate with higher levels of output.

The study found the most productive employees now follow a 75/33 work-to-rest ratio, working for 75 minutes followed by a 33-minute break. This represents a significant increase in rest time compared to DeskTime’s original 52/17 ratio reported a decade ago.

Productivity is subjective, not universal

This means that in an 8-hour workday, current-day productive employees will need about two hours and twenty-seven minutes (147 minutes) of rest.

The rest time is higher than the 118 minutes given to productive employees for the same workday ten years ago.

This revelation may not sit well with employers who equate productivity with endurance rather than efficiency. However, the shift to a 75/33 cycle in 2025 may reflect how hybrid or in-office work fosters more balanced work habits.

“When DeskTime conducted the work/break ratio study back in 2021, we saw that working from home had immensely impacted workers’ ability to draw a line between work and life,” said Artis Rozentals, CEO of DeskTime.

“Now, our latest productivity research shows we’re returning to more balanced working habits. Given the prevalence of hybrid work, the new 75/33 ratio may be linked to working in-office again.”

Indeed, in-office work naturally introduces more breaks through informal interactions and social moments. These may appear counterproductive on the surface, but could be essential for mental rejuvenation.

“The hybrid model is the Goldilocks choice, as it best leverages both the in-office social dynamic and the deep focus afforded by remote work,” Rozentals added.

As a result, companies using employee monitoring software may need to reconsider how they define “productive behavior.”

To identify top performers, DeskTime analyzed the top 10% of users with the highest ratio of time spent in productive applications. This group - comprising 6,000 individuals - served as the benchmark for the study’s findings.

Unlike many metrics that rely on generalized definitions, DeskTime’s approach to productivity is more tailored. The software allows users to define which applications are considered productive based on their specific roles.

However, since the data is based on software-tracked activity, it raises questions about the nuances such tools may overlook.

Platforms that offer quantitative insights, like task management platforms, often fail to capture the full picture, especially when so-called “idle” time includes thinking, strategizing, or informal collaboration.

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Keep an eye on your blood pressure from the comfort of your home with these doctor-approved blood pressure monitors.

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Latest Tech News

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• Microsoft has new rules to ensure more consistency with USB-C ports
• This means every USB-C port will offer data, power, and display support
• Previously, you weren’t guaranteed to get all of those basic elements if laptop makers cut corners with their connectors

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Going forward, the USB-C ports on Windows 11 laptops will be held to more consistent standards that mean users can expect a minimum amount of functionality with any given connector.

Tom’s Hardware noticed Microsoft’s blog post explaining a fresh update to the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (WHCP) that’s designed to end confusion around USB-C ports. The broad idea is to ensure every single one of these connectors deliver certain key features in terms of data transfer, power delivery (charging), and running an external monitor.

Currently, while the USB-C specification encompasses all those separate elements – and a lot of versatility for the port therein – parts can be missing with connectors on some laptops, as it’s not mandatory to include everything.

Microsoft has changed this with its new way of working, observing that: “While the USB specifications give PC manufacturers the ability to choose which optional features the port supports, we set out to establish a minimum bar for USB-C port capabilities on PCs.”

That baseline bar means that with Windows 11 laptops (and tablets), all USB-C ports must provide display support (to connect a monitor), PC charging support (power), and of course data transfer (which all USB connectors do, of course) at a certain speed.

Furthermore, Microsoft notes that any port which supports USB 40Gbps will work fine with both USB4 and Thunderbolt 3 peripherals.

These updated WHCP requirements have come into play with Windows 11 24H2, and notebooks running 24H2 will already support them.

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Analysis: Consistency with connectors

(Image credit: Microsoft)

With the old way of working, the practicality of USB-C ports is that you might buy a laptop which comes with a few of these connectors, and be quite happy chugging along using them for USB sticks or charging. Then, one day, when you plug in a monitor, you’ll suddenly find out that your ports don’t support a display, because the laptop maker produced these USB-C connectors without that particular capability (to save a bit of money).

The problem is there’s no clear labelling on a USB-C port, and you may not find out about any missing pieces of the functionality puzzle until you come across them in this way – and it’s too late at that point.

With the new minimum standard in place, all USB-C ports on WHCP-certified Windows 11 laptops will definitely support all those three basic pillars: power, display, and data transfer.

Now, note that there are still variations in the specs of USB-C ports, in terms of how many displays they may support, or how much power the USB cable will deliver, and the speed of data transfers (all of which should be made clear in the notebook’s spec).

See the screenshot above for the details, but the central point is that from now on, you know that all three of the fundamental bases are covered with at least some level of functionality when you’re buying a new Windows 11 laptop – with every single USB-C port on-board the device – which has to be a good thing.

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Hints and answers for Connections for June 2, #722.

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Latest Tech News

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• Nord Quantique promises quantum power without the bulk or energy drain
• Traditional HPC may fall if Nord’s speed and energy claims prove real
• Cracking RSA-830 in an hour could transform cybersecurity forever

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A quantum computing startup has announced plans to develop a utility-scale quantum computer with more than 1,000 logical qubits by 2031.

Nord Quantique has set an ambitious target which, if achieved, could signal a seismic shift in high-performance computing (HPC).

The company claims its machines are smaller and would offer far greater efficiency in both speed and energy consumption, thereby making traditional HPC systems obsolete.

Advancing error correction through multimode encoding

Nord Quantique uses “multimode encoding” via a technique known as the Tesseract code, and this allows each physical cavity in the system to represent more than one quantum mode, effectively increasing redundancy and resilience without adding complexity or size.

“Multimode encoding allows us to build quantum computers with excellent error correction capabilities, but without the impediment of all those physical qubits,” explained Julien Camirand Lemyre, CEO of Nord Quantique.

“Beyond their smaller and more practical size, our machines will also consume a fraction of the energy, which makes them appealing for instance to HPC centers where energy costs are top of mind.”

Nord’s machines would occupy a mere 20 square meters, making them highly suitable for data center integration.

Compared to 1,000–20,000 m² needed by competing platforms, this portability further strengthens its case.

“These smaller systems are also simpler to develop to utility-scale due to their size and lower requirements for cryogenics and control electronics,” the company added.

The implication here is significant: better error correction without scaling physical infrastructure, a central bottleneck in the quantum race.

In a technical demonstration, Nord’s system exhibited excellent stability over 32 error correction cycles with no measurable decay in quantum information.

“Their approach of encoding logical qubits in multimode Tesseract states is a very effective method of addressing error correction and I am impressed with these results,” said Yvonne Gao, Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore.

“They are an important step forward on the industry’s journey toward utility-scale quantum computing.”

Such endorsements lend credibility, but independent validation and repeatability remain critical for long-term trust.

Nord Quantique claims its system could solve RSA-830, a representative cryptographic challenge, in just one hour using 120 kWh of energy at 1 MHz speed, slashing the energy need by 99%.

In contrast, traditional HPC systems would require approximately 280,000 kWh over nine days. Other quantum modalities, such as superconducting, photonic, cold atoms, and ion traps, fall short in either speed or efficiency.

For instance, cold atoms might consume only 20 kW, but solving the same problem would take six months.

That said, there remains a need for caution. Post-selection - used in Nord’s error correction demonstrations, required discarding 12.6% of data per round. While this helped show stability, it introduces questions about real-world consistency.

In quantum computing, the leap from laboratory breakthrough to practical deployment can be vast; thus, the claims on energy reduction and system miniaturization, though striking, need independent real-world verification.

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This Horror Duology Is Still My Favorite One-Two Punch on Netflix

Reinventing the found footage genre, the semi-comedy horror film Creep starts with a gruesome trap and then pulls a U-turn in its sequel.

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Latest Tech News

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• Seagate’s HAMR roadmap could deliver 150TB hard drives - but not before 2035
• Mozaic platform now enables 4TB platters, paving the way to 10TB disks by 2028
• Mozaic 4 to ship in 2026, while Mozaic 5 aims for late 2027 qualifications

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At Seagate’s recent 2025 Investor and Analyst Conference, CEO Dr. Dave Mosley and CTO Dr. John Morris outlined the company’s long-term roadmap for hard drive innovation.

This hinted at the possibility of 150TB hard drives, the largest HDD ever, by groundbreaking 15TB platters, but cautioned that this milestone remains at least a decade away.

The foundation of this future lies in Seagate’s HAMR (Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording) technology, currently being deployed through the company’s Mozaic platform.

10TB per platter on track for 2028

“We have high confidence in our product roadmap through Mozaic 5. And notably, the design space for granular iron platinum media that's in Mozaic 3 looks very viable to get us up to 10 terabytes per disk,” said Dr. Morris

That 10TB-per-disk benchmark is expected to be reached by 2028. “We do have confidence that we can provide a path to 10 terabytes per disk in roughly this time frame,” Morris added, explaining that spin-stand demonstrations of new technologies typically take five years to reach product qualification.

Looking beyond 10TB, Seagate is exploring how to extend the capabilities of its Iron Platinum media.

“We believe that there's another level of extension of that granular iron platinum architecture that could theoretically get as high as 15 terabytes per disk,”

Such an achievement would pave the way for 150TB hard drives by stacking 10 platters per unit. However, he warned, “beyond 15 terabytes per disk is going to require some level of disruptive innovation.”

Seagate’s CEO, Dave Mosley, echoed this long-range vision, noting, “We now know how we can get to 4 and 5 and beyond. As a matter of fact, we have visibility... beyond 10 terabytes of disk with the HAMR technology.”

“It’s not going to be easy, but I’m convinced that’s going to keep us on a competitive cost trajectory that no other technology is going to supplant in the next decade, probably beyond.”

The company’s confidence is backed by recent milestones. Mozaic 3, which delivers 3TB per platter, is now in volume production, and Mozaic 4 (4TB per platter) is scheduled to enter customer qualification next quarter.

Seagate expects to begin volume shipments of Mozaic 4 drives in the first half of 2026. Meanwhile, Mozaic 5, targeting 5TB per platter, is planned for customer qualification in late 2027 or early 2028.

Still, Seagate made it clear that 150TB drives based on 15TB platters are not imminent. As Morris emphasized, “This is just one other element in the work that we do to underpin our strategy... it will take time. There’s still a lot of work in front of us to get there.”

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Latest Tech News

In our list of the best streaming services we crowned Paramount+ as the best platform for classic movies, and it still is – however, it's broadening its library of 21st century features in its list of new titles for June 2025.

With over 80 new movies landing on June 1, among the list of new Paramount+ movies lies modern titles that over time have earned modern classic status, starting with No Country for Old Men (2007) – a western thriller from the Coen brothers starring Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin.

But that's not all and, if anything, the drama never ends. Joining the Coens' thriller is Steve McQueen's Best Picture winner 12 Years a Slave (2013), Tarantino's Pulp Fiction (1994), and four movies from the Indiana Jones franchise. The thrills are endless.

Everything new on Paramount+ in June 2025

Arriving on June 1

3:10 to Yuma (movie)
12 Years a Slave (movie)
Bad News Bears (movie)
BlacKkKlansman (movie)
Boogie Nights (movie)
But I'm a Cheerleader (movie)
Call Me By Your Name (movie)
Carol (movie)
Carriers (movie)
Center Stage (movie)
Changing Lanes (movie)
Chasing Amy (movie)
Cloverfield (movie)
Crawlspace (movie)
Daddy Day Camp (movie)
Dance Flick (movie)
Dog Day Afternoon (movie)
Double Jeopardy (movie)
Eagle Eye (movie)
Elf (movie)
Enemy at the Gates (movie)
EuroTrip (movie)
Everybody's Fine (movie)
Extract (movie)
First Blood (movie)
Heatwave (movie)
How She Move (movie)
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (movie)
Imagine That (movie)
In & Out (movie)
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (movie)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (movie)
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (movie)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (movie)
Jawbreaker (movie)
Kinky Boots (movie)
Law of Desire (movie)
Layer Cake (movie)
Light of My Life (movie)
Like a Boss (movie)
Marathon Man (movie)
Masterminds (movie)
Military Wives (movie)
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (movie)
No Country for Old Men (movie)
Orange County (movie)
Overdrive (movie)
Pretty In Pink (movie)
Pulp Fiction (movie)
Racing with the Moon (movie)
Rambo III (movie)
Rambo: First Blood Part II (movie)
RED (movie)
Reservoir Dogs (movie)
Risky Business (movie)
Road Trip (movie)
Run & Gun (movie)
Saturday Night Fever (movie)
Save the Last Dance (movie)
School Ties (movie)
Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (movie)
She's All That (movie)
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (movie)
Stand By Me (movie)
Teen Titans GO! To the Movies (movie)
The Autopsy of Jane Doe (movie)
The Crossing Guard (movie)
The Dictator (movie)
The Fighting Temptations (movie)
The Gambler (movie)
The General's Daughter (movie)
The Girl Next Door (movie)
The Godfather (movie)
The Godfather Part II (movie)
The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (movie)
The Hunt for Red October (movie)
The Ides Of March (movie)
The Kings of Summer (movie)
The Last Samurai (movie)
The Lovely Bones (movie)
The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear (movie)
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (movie)
The Nice Guys (movie)
The Other Woman (movie)
The People vs. Larry Flynt (movie)
The Running Man (movie)
The Shootist (movie)
The Space Between Us (movie)
The Untouchables (movie)
Tigerland (movie)
Tommy Boy (movie)
Tootsie (movie)
Total Recall (movie)
True Grit (movie)
Whiplash (movie)
Without a Paddle (movie)
xXx (movie)
Zola (movie)

Arriving on June 4

SpongeBob SquarePants season 14 (TV show)

Arriving on June 5

Lions for Lambs (movie)

Arriving on June 8

The 78th Annual Tony Awards (TV show)

Arriving on June 11

The Really Loud House season 2 (TV show)

Arriving on June 15

In Bloom: Everybody’s Fight (TV show)

Arriving on June 22

Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (TV show)

Arriving on June 25

The Patrick Star Show season 3 (TV show)
Ice Airport Alaska season 5 (TV show)
The Last Cowboy season 5 (TV show)

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