CES 2025 has come and gone with no official confirmation of the possible AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT flagship graphics card, though there is somewhat of a confirmation of RDNA 4 graphics cards.
Though AMD didn't have time to properly elaborate on RDNA 4 during its 45-minute CES 2025 keynote, according to Frank Azor (AMD’s head of consumer and gaming marketing), we know now that the tech is coming.
This especially applies to the RX 9070 XT, which most likely will compete with Nvidia's RTX 5070. It'll be exciting to see what this card has to offer in terms of performance and official pricing. But for now, we'll keep an ear to the ground for the latest news and rumors, and bring them all in one place to keep you up to date on the latest developments.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT: Cut to the chase
(Image credit: YouTube / Michael Quesada)
What is it? The possible AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU
How much does it cost? Unknown at this time, as it hasn't been officially announced
When can I get it? This has also yet to be officially announced, though there are rumors of a late January pre-order date for RDNA 4 cards.
While there's no concrete news concerning a release date for the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, there are rumors of a general RDNA 4 pre-order date set for January 23.
The dates allegedly came from B&H Photo putting up early listings for some Asus RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards (TUF and Prime models). Luckily the listings were screenshotted by longtime hardware leaker @momomo_us before they were removed.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT: Specs
(Image credit: AMD)
There haven't been any clear cut leaks, rumors, or reports about the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT's performance, or the performance of RDNA 4 in general. We can surmise, however, that the card won't be a 4K powerhouse thanks to its price point range.
The previous hope was that the flagship RDNA 4 GPU would be slightly faster than the 7900 XT. However, it seems to be slightly slower according to All The Watts (though take that with a grain of salt).
While it sounds rather risky in the face of Nvidia's own high-end 5000-series cards, not targeting that market makes sense from a business standpoint as the vast majority of gamers are playing on 1080p resolution, with some gaming on 1440p. Instead, AMD could be reaching for an overall much larger target audience by scaling back on the performance and therefore the price.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT: What to expect
Right now there isn't much concrete news on the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card and on the RDNA 4 at large, due to AMD not having the time to elaborate on it during its CES 2025 conference.
While there are plenty of rumors and a few scant official details including a possible preorder date - the latter thanks to an interview and retailer leaks - we don't have a clear picture as to what this card will be like right now in terms of exact pricing, specs, and performance.
Hopefully AMD will give us the low down on the RX 9070 XT and any other RDNA 4-powered graphics cards in the future.
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Researchers say criminals are hiding malware in images hosted on reputable websites
At least two different groups were seen deploying two types of infostealers
The campaigns abuse an ancient Excel flaw, HP Wolf Security claims
Hackers are hiding malware in website images to go unnoticed and compromise as many computers as possible, experts have warned.
A new Threat Insights Report from HP Wolf Security, based on data from millions of endpoints, claims there are currently large campaigns active spreading VIP Keylogger and 0bj3ctivityStealer. Since the same techniques and loaders are used in both, the researchers suspect two groups are using the same malware kits to deliver different payloads.
“In both campaigns, attackers hid the same malicious code in images on file hosting websites like archive.org, as well as using the same loader to install the final payload,” the researchers explained. “Such techniques help attackers circumvent detection, as image files appear benign when downloaded from well-known websites, bypassing network security like web proxies that rely on reputation.”
Throwing GenAI into the mix
The attack starts with a phishing email pretending to be an invoice, or purchase order. The attachment is usually an Excel document designed to exploit CVE-2017-11882, an ancient bug in the Equation Editor, to download a VBScript file.
Alex Holland, Principal Threat Researcher in the HP Security Lab, said phishing kits, paired with Generative AI (GenAI) tools, have significantly lowered the barrier to entry, exacerbating the ever-present risk of malware: “This allows groups to concentrate on tricking their targets and picking the best payload for the job – for instance by targeting gamers with malicious cheat repositories.”
Discussing GenAI, the researchers said miscreants are using it to create malicious HTML documents. They also identified an XWorm remote access trojan (RAT) campaign initiated by HTML smuggling, which contained malicious code that downloads and runs the malware.
The loader was quite obviously written by an AI, they added, since it included a line-by-line description and the design of the HTML page.
Both VIP Keylogger and 0bj3ctivityStealer are infostealer malware which record, and exfiltrate, sensitive information such as passwords, cryptocurrency wallet information, sensitive files, and more.
Minisforum N5 Pro is unlike anything I've seen before: a powerful mini PC and expansive NAS
It has a 10Gb + 5Gb LAN not unlike the MS01 I covered a while back
Add in an OCuLink port and a PCIe x16 slot and you've got a pretty capable workstation PC
One of my favorite mini PC makers, Minisforum, best known for its compact workstation systems like the MS-01 and MS-A1, is expanding into the NAS market with the introduction of the N5 Pro, a 5-bay desktop NAS designed for performance and scalability.
NASCompares, which went hands on with Minisforum’s new device at CES 2025, says the N5 Pro is the first of three planned NAS devices expected to launch this year.
The N5 Pro is powered by an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 (Strix Point) processor, equipped with 12 cores and 24 threads, running at a base clock of 3.5 GHz and capable of boosting up to 5.2 GHz. Built on AMD's Zen 5 architecture, the processor includes an integrated AI engine delivering 50 INT8 TOPS for enhanced data processing. The NAS supports up to 96GB of DDR5 ECC memory across two slots, providing the sort of reliable error correction commonly found in enterprise solutions.
Modular motherboard
As you’d expect, storage options are extensive, with five hot-swappable SATA bays supporting up to 22TB drives each, suitable for both hard drives and SATA SSDs. The device also features three M.2 NVMe slots - one PCIe 4.0 x2 and two PCIe 4.0 x1 - along with U.2 SSD support for expanded capacity and faster performance. RAID configurations are software-driven, with compatibility for platforms such as TrueNAS and Unraid.
One particularly welcome touch is the N5 Pro’s modular motherboard, which can be removed with a simple button press. This approach, which follows Minisforum’s design for the MS-01 workstation, simplifies upgrades and maintenance, making it easier for users to access and replace memory modules, storage, and PCIe expansion cards.
The N5 Pro offers a solid range of connectivity options, including a 10Gbps Ethernet port and a 5Gbps Ethernet port for dual high-speed wired connections. Additional ports include three USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports, one internal USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A port, a USB 2.0 port, and two USB4 Type-C ports with 40Gbps transfer speeds. The system also supports an HDMI 2.0 output, two USB-C ports with DisplayPort 2.0 Alt Mode, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Expansion options are further boosted with a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (operating at x4 bandwidth) and an OCuLink 4i port, allowing for external GPU support or additional storage.
With its powerful hardware, flexible storage options, and Minisforum’s usual clever, user-friendly design, the Minisforum N5 Pro is unquestionably a versatile NAS choice for both home and professional environments. Pricing and availability have not yet been revealed, but it should be available soon.
Doro has revealed three new feature phones designed for seniors
The Leva series features one candy-bar style phone and two flip phones with clear audio, an emergency alert button, and 4G connectivity
The phones are expected at retailers and networks at the end of January
Doro has revealed a new lineup of feature phones designed with senior users in mind, comprised of three 4G-connected models.
The Doro Leva L10, Leva L20, and Leva L30 all feature large, tactile keyboards that offer audio confirmation with each keystroke. The phones also have a built-in camera, adjustable font size, an FM radio, and weather forecasting. All three of the phones are rated at IP54 for dust and water resistance, meaning they’re functionally dust-resistant and can survive splashes of water.
The candy-bar-shaped Leva L10 features a 2.8-inch display, while the flip-phone Leva L20 and Leva L30 have a 2.4-inch display. The Leva L30 also comes equipped with an external display for notifications and caller ID.
The phones also feature a technology that Doro calls HD voice, which clarifies the sound of phone calls while boosting the volume. Additionally, all three of the new models are compatible with hearing aids.
Furthermore, the phones all feature Doro’s signature assistance button on the back of the device. When pressed, this button sends an alert, with GPS location, to as many as five trusted friends or relatives – a nice addition for those who like extra peace of mind.
The phones are expected to launch at the end of January – that’s as specific a timeframe as we have at the moment. The Doro Leva L10 will launch at £79.99, the Doro Leva L20 will launch at £99.99, and the Doro Leva L30 will launch at £109.99. Doro has confirmed that the phones will be available from retailers and networks as well.
We've reached out to Doro to confirm pricing and availability for the US and Australia, and will update this article once we have confirmation.
As a family of feature phones, the Doro Leva series has no support for external apps – you won’t find Facebook, WhatsApp, or YouTube on these devices, so if that’s important for you or the intended recipient, you may want to check out our lists of the best phones for seniors and the best cheap phones instead.
However, these Doro handsets are refreshingly minimal for those specifically looking for something simple. After all, while feature phones like the Leva series are no doubt a great choice for seniors or other tech-averse people who’d like to stay connected, feature phones are by no means limited to these groups.
Feature phones, or dumbphones as they are sometimes called (a light-hearted play on a smartphone, not a jab at the userbase), were something of a hot-ticket item in 2024, as companies like HMD continued to divert marketing from seniors to increasingly phone-sick young people, with a new focus on the "joy of missing out," colorful designs, and even a Barbie collaboration.
The Doro Leva series is more intentionally targeted towards seniors, but these affordable feature phones will be available for anyone who should like one at the end of January.
Hulu has released the official trailer forA Thousand Blowsgiving us a better look at what to expect
The all-star cast includes Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, and Malachi Kirby
The series will be released on Hulu and Disney Plus on February 21
If you were a fan of the hit period drama Peaky Blinders, you won't want to miss Steven Knight's latest series which now has an official trailer. Actor Stephen Graham gave quite a memorable performance as Hayden Stagg in the beloved series, and he looks like he's about to showcase another brilliant role if this trailer is anything to go by. Here, he plays a criminal kingpin and notorious boxer, and honestly, I'm already a little scared of him!
The series will debut on Hulu in the US and elsewhere on Disney Plus on February 21. With the trailer already hooking me in, I won't be surprised if we need to update our best Disney Plus shows and best Hulu shows round-ups, giving A Thousand Blows a space. It's still too early to say, of course, so for now, just sit back and enjoy this very gritty trailer. Warning, there's a lot of violence!
What do we know about A Thousand Blows?
The gritty new series follows two friends from Jamaica, who find themselves thrust into the criminal underbelly of 1880s London's East End so you can expect plenty of action scenes just like Knight's other work! Previously, we noted that the series stars a Black Mirror actor who looks unrecognizable as well as some other great names like Erin Doherty who starred as Princess Anne in Netflix's royal biopic The Crown, and Francis Lovehall from the Apple TV Plus series Masters of the Air.
We don't have long to wait until the new series arrives, but if you are looking to make the most of your Hulu or Disney Plus subscriptions, we've put together the best Hulu movies and best Disney Plus movies you can enjoy right now.
A more expensive Raspberry Pi may not please everyone, so I looked for an alternative x86 model
The Pi is still great for tinkerers and for enthusiasts
But I feel that RPi did "An Apple" - 50% more expensive for 2x RAM is quite unexpected
The Raspberry Pi Foundation recently introduced the Raspberry Pi 5 with 16GB of RAM, with the increased memory set to benefit heavyweight distributions such as Ubuntu for desktop use cases. But the new model is priced at $120 - nearly twice as expensive as the 8GB one, and very pricey for a single-board computer, which raises the question: could a better device be found for the same price? The answer is a resounding yes.
The Dreamfyre Mini PC (DR02) offers a competitive x86 option with superior specifications and an actual case for $120 on Amazon. Designed for home, educational, and professional use, it is powered by a 12th Gen Intel Celeron N95 processor, capable of reaching speeds of up to 3.4GHz.
The mini PC, which comes with Windows 11, measures 116 x 116 x 46mm, weighs only 0.5kg, and is equipped with 16GB of LPDDR4 RAM and a 512GB M.2 SSD. You can expand the storage to up to 2TB if you need extra capacity. The inclusion of a silent fan cooling system ensures solid performance with minimal noise when under load, making it ideal for quiet environments like offices or study spaces.
No flashing lights
The device can drive three 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) screens via its triple HDMI 2.1 ports. There are three USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a single USB-C port, a 1000MB/s LAN port and a headphone jack. The fuss-free design of the mini PC omits distracting LED lights, making it suitable for professional settings. Wireless connectivity is provided via Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.
While the Dreamfyre Mini PC is clearly not a direct alternative to the Raspberry Pi 5 - lacking the Pi's GPIO pins and extensive community support essential for hardware projects, prototyping, and educational use - it is a versatile and powerful alternative for those seeking an affordable mini PC for general computing tasks, and it looks good.
There are only two reviews for the Dreamfyre Mini PC on Amazon at the moment, but both are five-star.
TikTok could shut its app for US users on Sunday, January 19
New report suggests TikTok app will show a pop-up ban message
This would be more drastic and immediate than previously thought
The clock is ticking on TikTok's proposed US ban – and a new report suggests the social media giant is planning to shut the app immediately to its 170 million US users this Sunday, January 19, unless the Supreme Court moves to block the ban.
According to Reuters, TikTok is actually planning to go beyond the actions mandated by law. The ban would only affect new TikTok downloads on iOS and Android, which would mean fans could continue to use existing installs. But it seems TikTok could go further and shut its app completely in the US from Sunday.
How would it do this? According to Reuters' sources, anyone attempting to open the app in the US "will see a pop-up message directing them to a website with information about the ban". Presumably, this will prevent US fans from using the app immediately, which would mean the ban could have a more drastic impact than initially thought.
While the move might sound odd in theory, there is a potential motivation behind it – as Reuters reports, "if the ban gets reversed later, TikTok would be able to restore service for U.S. users in a relatively short time".
So how should you prepare for the imminent TikTok ban? Here's everything you need to know in one handy place.
Is TikTok really getting banned in the US?
Yes. At the time of writing, TikTok will be banned in the US from January 19 – unless the Supreme Court intervenes and declares the ban as unconstitutional.
If that doesn't happen, new users won't be able to install the app in the US, and existing users won't be able to update the app via their phone’s app store. There are also rumors that US users will see a pop-up message in the app from January 19, effectively stopping them from watching videos and directing them to more information on the ban.
(Image credit: Photo by Jaque Silva/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
This means you'll be unable to access any content in the app, even if you still have it installed unless you use a service like one of the best VPNs to set your location to somewhere outside the US.
Will the TikTok ban get delayed?
We're still waiting for the US Supreme Court ruling on whether or not the TikTok ban should be delayed or allowed to take effect from January 19 – that decision could happen at any time.
The ban takes effect just one day before President-elect Donald Trump is due to be sworn into office. Back in December, Trump urged the US Supreme Court to delay the TikTok ban while he worked on a "political resolution."
(Image credit: Photo Illustration by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Trump wouldn't have the power to overturn the law, but the Department of Justice could also not enforce it. Recently, Senator Edward Markey said he also planned to introduce a bill to delay the TikTok ban deadline.
As things stand, there will be no delay to the TikTok ban, unless the US Supreme Court makes something of a U-turn. Even if the Supreme Court doesn’t pause the ban, Trump could still potentially undo it later, which is perhaps what TikTok's owner ByteDance is now banking on.
How will the TikTok ban affect you?
If recent rumors are true, the TikTok ban could be more immediate and drastic than we initially thought. Initially, it looked like a US ban would simply involve the Apple App Store and Google Play Store blocking downloads in the region, which would have left existing free to continue using it for a time.
However, according to Reuters, TikTok plans to immediately shut the app to all US users from Sunday, January 19, if the ban is upheld. It will apparently do this using a pop-up message in the app.
The report adds that the app's owner, ByteDance, also plans to give you the "option to download all their data so that they can take a record of their personal information."
(Image credit: TikTok)
With TikTok no longer available on app stores, the app wouldn't be able to get updates – which would mean increased bugs and security loopholes that hackers could exploit.
In theory, you may be able to use one of the best VPNs to get around the TikTok ban, although this is far from foolproof – and you may still be presented with a screen saying the app isn't available in the country.
With the TikTok ban looming, many #TikTokRefugees are looking to alternatives – even though nothing can exactly take its place.
Rapidly climbing up the App Store charts are RedNote and Lemon8. The problem with the latter is that it's also owned by ByteDance, so it could also be part of the ban conversation.
RedNote has its share of imposters and memes(Image credit: Future)
We've tried RedNote, and while it works in much the same way as TikTok, we also concluded that "there's nothing remotely American about this app or the company running it, Xingi."
The app could be a temporary life-raft, but ultimately, the primary beneficiaries of this mess could be Instagram and YouTube, whose Reels and Shorts features were built to compete with TikTok.
Are Elon Musk or Mr Beast going to buy TikTok?
In the past few days, Bloomberg reported that ByteDance was weighing up a possible sale of TikTok to Elon Musk, but that seems to have now been dismissed as "pure fiction" by the TikTok owner.
Naturally, some more outlandish potential suitors have thrown their hats into the ring. The YouTuber Mr Beast joked "okay fine, I'll buy Tik Tok [sic] so it doesn't get banned," then followed it up with, "unironically I’ve had so many billionaires reach out to me since I tweeted this, let’s see if we can pull this off."
Okay fine, I’ll buy Tik Tok so it doesn’t get bannedJanuary 14, 2025
While Mr Beast does have over 100 million followers on TikTok, this does still seem one to file next to the Elon Musk rumors as "highly unlikely."
Then again, it's hard to predict exactly what twists the TikTok ban debacle will take in the coming days.
Micron is teaming up with Pure Storage for the 150TB DirectFlash module
Micron's G8 QLC NAND has been qualified for production, alongside Kioxia
This chip is used in Micron's own rival 60TB SSD
Pure Storage has announced an expanded collaboration with Micron which will see the American semiconductor company’s G9 QLC NAND integrated into the storage firm's future DirectFlash Module (DFM) solutions for use in hyperscale data centers.
This move builds on a decade of cooperation between the two companies, spanning seven generations of NAND integration which includes the Micron G8 QLC NAND, which has been qualified for production in Pure Storage’s 150TB DFM expected later in 2025 (Pure Storage has previously said it plans to ship 300TB DFMs by 2026).
Micron already uses this NAND chip in its own 60TB SSD.
Addressing performance and efficiency needs
DFM technology promises faster data transfer rates, low latency, and high reliability for data-intensive workloads. The module also reduces energy consumption compared to traditional HDD-based solutions, lowering both operating costs and carbon footprint. The use of NAND with higher areal density (bits per square millimeter) allows for greater storage capacity in smaller physical footprints, contributing to more efficient rack usage and scalability.
“Pure Storage’s collaboration with Micron is another example of our significant momentum bringing the benefits of all-flash storage technology to hyperscale environments," said Bill Cerreta, General Manager of Hyperscale at Pure Storage.
"With Micron’s advanced NAND technology, Pure Storage can further optimize storage scalability, performance, and energy efficiency for an industry with unparalleled requirements.”
Jeremy Werner, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Micron’s Storage Business Unit, added, “Micron’s advanced NAND technologies, combined with Pure’s innovative storage solutions, enable data center operators to address the increasing performance, efficiency, and scalability needs for today’s hyperscale data centers, Built on trust and thriving on innovation, our collaboration with Pure Storage consistently offers cutting-edge storage solutions for hyperscale and enterprise environments.”
The announcement follows that of Japanese memory giant Kioxia, which, like Micron, has a longstanding relationship with Pure Storage. Last year, Kioxia reported it had begun sampling shipments of 2Tb QLC devices, featuring its eighth-generation BiCS FLASH 3D flash memory technology, which Pure Storage also uses in its all-flash storage products.
Australian Open 2025 is underway – which means it's time to figure out the best (and possibly cheapest) way to watch live tennis from Melbourne from 12–26 January.
The first Grand Slam tournament of 2025 featuring defending champion Jannik Sinner is expected to be watched by a global TV audience of 25 million, with over one million fans through the gates over three weeks.
Tennis fans can watch the Australian Open for free on the local 9Now streaming service, and on major sports networks such ESPN and Eurosport, as well as via their respective apps.
Ready to see the world's greatest tennis players on court? Stick with us for all the latest on the Australian Open including the draw, start times and highlights...
Traveling outside your home country and can't access your regular streaming service? No problem. A VPN will help unblock your usual service no matter where you are in the world. Sign up, install the app, choose the country of your regular streaming service and watch your usual stream.
Jannik Sinner won the first major of what promises to be a storied career 12 months ago, coming from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in the final. Sinner became the first Italian, male or female, to win the Australian Open.
Aryna Sabalenka retained her women’s singles title, overwhelming Zheng Qinwen for the loss of just five games in the final. Both Sabalenka and Sinner went on to win the US Open, to take both Grand Slam titles held on hard courts last season.
Where is the Australian Open 2025 being played?
Melbourne Park will again play host to the Australian Open in 2025, just as it has done since the venue first opened for the 1988 tournament.
Previously played on grass, the Aussie Open has been a hard-court tournament since its move to Melbourne Park 37 years ago. The Rod Laver Arena, the site’s biggest stadium and venue for each day’s biggest matches, holds up to 15,000 people, with the John Cain and Margaret Court Arenas able to accommodate 10,500 and 7,500 spectators respectively. Each has retractable roofs.
When does the order of play land each day?
Set your watches for 6pm AEDT / 2am ET / 11pm PT (-1 day) / 7am GMT for details of the schedule for the following day’s play.
Remember, there’s no set time limit for a tennis match, so you’ll need to keep an eye on how matches progress before your favorite player will make it onto court.
(Image credit: Robert Prange/Getty Images)
Will AI be calling the lines at the Australian Open 2025?
It’s not necessarily AI, but electronic line judges will again be in use at Melbourne Park. Back in 2021, the Australian Open became the first Grand Slam to employ technology on every court to call the lines and do away with human line judges for good.
Each match will still have the regular chair umpire, while players continue to have three challenges per set (plus a fourth in the event of a tiebreak) to dispute a contentious call, using Hawk-Eye technology.
9Now will be showing over 300 hours of live AO tennis (not to mention every upomcing Grand Slam), so it's a great option for those who don't want to pay to watch the tennis Down Under.
In the US, there's also the option of signing up for a 7-day free trial to the Tennis Channel to catch some of the tournament. Subscriptions cost $10.99 a month or $109.99 a year when the trial ends.
The tournament takes place every day from midnight UK time (7pm ET) each day on the outside courts and 1am (8pm ET) on the show courts.
Jan 12-14 – First Round (Women and Men)
Jan 15-16 – Second Round (Women and Men)
Jan 17-18 – Third Round (Women and Men)
Jan 19-20 – Fourth Round (Women and Men)
Jan 21-22 – Quarter-finals (Women and Men)
Jan 23 – Women's semi-finals
Jan 24 – Men's semi-finals
Jan 25 – Women's final (8.30am GMT / 3.30am ET)
Jan 26 – Men's final (8.30am GMT / 3.30am ET)
Which player should I watch on Day 1?
Aryna Sabalenka vs Sloane Stephens is the biggest match of the Australian Open 2025’s opening day, with the two-time defending champion facing the former major winner first up in the night session on Rod Laver Arena at 7pm AEDT / 3am ET / 12am PT / 8am GMT.
Big-hitting French wild card Lucas Pouille faces men’s second Alexander Zverev immediately afterwards.
Elsewhere, Aussie wild card Li Tu will look to get the home crowd in his favor as he faces 24th side Jiri Lehecka in the first match of the night session on Margaret Court Arena (same times as above). Earlier in the day, sixth seed Casper Ruud takes on Jaume Munar in what could be fascinating encounter, second on Laver.
What's happened so far at the Australian Open 2025?
Local battler Destanee Aiava has been the undoubted star of qualifying. One of the 16 players to make it through to the women’s main draw after four gruelling rounds, the 24-year-old drew plenty of praise for her performances, plus sartorial points for old-school outfits first made famous by Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic she had sourced second-hand from online retailers.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go so well for fellow Aussie, 16-year-old Cruz Hewitt – son of former world number one Lleyton – who lost in the opening round of qualifying. Rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca reached the main draw of a major for the first time, while Hady Habib will become the first Lebanese male player in the Open era to appear in a Grand Slam men's singles main draw after saving three match points in his final round.
On Rod Laver Arena, Brit hopeful Emma Raducanu beat 2022 Wimbledon Elena Rybakina in a competitive practice set to prove her credentials, while Andy Murray has been running the rule over new charge Novak Djokovic in similar conditions, the Serbian besting Carlos Alcaraz 7-5.
How has the Djokovic-Murray coaching team looked?
Pretty good. The recently retired Scot admitted to being surprised at his former foe asking him to join the Serbian’s coaching team, but the pair have always been friendly off court and grew up together – they were, after all, born seven days apart.
Murray was recently asked how he’d deal with Djokovic’s frequent outbursts directed at his own player’s box.
“I would think that I’d be one of the people that would maybe hopefully understand that side of things,” said Murray, whose ire was often directed to his nearest and dearest in his career. “I know it’s not easy out there, and it’s stressful, and at times he’s going to want to vent towards his team and his box. Provided that he’s giving his best effort and trying as hard as he can, I’m absolutely fine with him expressing himself how he wants.”
Day 3: Aussies, Americans and a teen sensation...
Lots of all-American match-ups coming your way! First up, eighth seed Emma Navarro faces Peyton Stearns at the Rod Laver Arena.
Then world No.4 Taylor Fritz opens his AO 2025 account with a match against Jenson Brooksby on the John Cain Arena.
Over on the Margaret Court Arena, 16-year-old wild card Emerson Jones will face No.6 seed Elena Rybakina. A daunting task for the Wimbledon junior finalist.
Daniil Medvedev and Lorenzo Musetti will also be action on Day 3 of the Australian Open, so make sure you know how to watch it live – from anywhere in the world.
Day 4: More Djokovic-Murray chats and can Habib make more history?
Novak Djokovic's era with Andy Murray in his coaching corner extends to a second match, as the 10-time Australian Open champion faces Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria second on Rod Laver Arena in Wednesday's day session.
Aryna Sabalenka is first up on the show court as the two-time defending women's champion takes on Jessican Bouzas Maneiro. Game of the day could be third seed Coco Gauff against resurgent Jodie Burrage, one of a record six Brits in the second round at Melbourne Park.
In the last match on John Cain, home favorite Thanasi Kokkinakis takes on 15th seed Jack Draper eyeing an upset after the latter went five sets in the first round.
Carlos Alcaraz and Paula Badosa will also be action on Day 4 of the Australian Open, so make sure you know how to watch it live – from anywhere in the world.
from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion https://ift.tt/sCmA9Le
The Comet is a blend of Raspberry Pi, Simputer and Project Ara with a hint of Game Boy
Its standout feature is the use of hardware extensions that can be quickly removed
It launches on crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter, very soon
Developed in India in the early 2000s, the Simputer, (Simple Inexpensive Mobile computer) was a groundbreaking handheld Linux computer many people believe inspired the Apple iPhone (and by extension, Android devices). It featured a touch interface, stylus input with handwriting recognition, an accelerometer, and a USB master port - all innovations well ahead of their time.
I mention the Simputer now because I’m reminded of it looking at a brand new modular handheld computer set to debut on Kickstarter soon - the Mecha Comet is a portable Linux device aimed at developers, makers, and tinkerers.
Running on open source software, the device features a magnetic snap interface for swappable extensions, which currently include a game controller, keyboard, and GPIO breakout board. Users can also design and build their own extensions using Mecha’s open-source design files and community support.
Mechanix OS
The Mecha Comet is powered by a 1.8 GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor with 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage.
Its 3.4-inch IPS LED touchscreen provides a compact yet functional display for various tasks. Connectivity includes dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz/5.0 GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, two USB 2.0 ports, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. The device also includes a 5 MP camera with autofocus, dual digital microphones, and an HD speaker.
Running Mechanix OS, a Debian-based operating system, the Comet is compatible with over 60,000 software packages from the Debian repository. Users can also port other Linux distributions. Mechanix Shell, built in Rust, supports GPU rendering on Wayland.
Mecha envisions the Comet as a versatile tool for diverse applications, such as a DIY Linux phone, drone launchpad, AI assistant, nanosatellite controller, car diagnostics tool, radio transceiver, DIY robot controller, and even a Tricorder inspired by Star Trek. Some of those ideas might just be wishful thinking, however.
The Comet, which measures 150mm x 73.55mm x 16mm and weighs 220g, has a 3000mAh battery charged via USB-C and includes a gyroscope, real-time clock (RTC), and analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for expanded project possibilities. Its security features include a Trust Anchor with CC EAL 6+ certification and accelerated cryptographic capabilities.
Kickstarter backers will be able to benefit from super early-bird rewards when the project goes live shortly, with pricing for the Mecha Comet starting from $159.
WhatsApp is seemingly testing a new look that brings AI front and center to the messaging app, as first discovered byWABetaInfo. The new look, as seen on a beta version of the Android app, gives AI its own tab and is clearly aimed at encouraging users to play with Meta's many AI tools.
The WABetaInfo team found the AI tab lists features such as “Popular AI characters” you can chat with and bots organized by topic, like a bizarre dinner party where everyone’s a robot. There are also AI-generated stickers, images, and a Meta AI-powered search engine.
If these sound familiar, that's because these AI tools already exist in WhatsApp – you just may not have noticed them, because they’re buried under the Chats tab. This redesign looks to make AI more visible and, presumably, more used. Whether that happens is anyone’s guess, but Meta seems to be betting on AI being the next big thing in messaging. The changes also affect the Communities tab, which no longer has its own space and which will instead live within the Chats tab.
AI WhatsApp
WABetaInfo also found that Meta is experimenting with custom AI bots that users can design within WhatsApp. By baking this feature into WhatsApp, Meta is making it more convenient than turning to the AI Studio in Instagram, though it’s still unclear how many people actually want to build their own chatbots. They may prefer the pre-built ones provided by the platform or to just chat with actual humans.
The upcoming changes to WhatsApp fit with Meta's efforts to embed AI in all of its platforms, particularly in encouraging the use of the Meta AI assistant. If it can entice even a small portion of the more than two billion WhatsApp users to start engaging with its AI products, Meta will be thrilled.
It does somewhat go against WhatsApp's streamlined and simple style, but that may not matter if people want to use AI for whatever purpose. Still, there’s a fine line between enhancing a platform and overloading it, and Meta is balancing right on that line.
There's no date for the revamp, though the beta-testing suggests a wait of a few months is likely. That said, if the integration of ChatGPT on WhatsApp proves as popular as OpenAI hopes, you might see the AI-focused WhatsApp come out even sooner than that and be copied across Meta's whole ecosystem.
