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Since Apple connected its PCs with smartphones and tablets using its MacOS and iOS operating systems to provide a seamless user experience some 10 to 15 years ago, multiple attempts have been made to replicate similar capabilities with Windows-based PCs. One such attempt is Intel’s Unison app, which was released in early 2022 and will be discontinued this June, reportsNeowin.
“Intel Unison will soon be discontinued,” reads a statement by Intel in Apple’s AppStore,Google’s PlayStore, andMicrosoft’s Store. “The first step in its wind-down process is ending service for most platforms at the end of June 2025. Lenovo Aura platforms will retain service through 2025.”
Intel’s Unison allows users to make phone calls, send text messages, get notifications, and transfer files and photos between Android and iOS handsets andWindows 11PCs. The app is a part of Intel’s Evo program to improve the user experience with premium Windows 11 PCs running its 12th-Gen Core processors or newer. However, the company no longer sees the app as one of its competitive advantages.
Intel did not disclose why it decided to discontinue its Unison app. Perhaps this is a part of the company’s broader cost-cutting strategy, and if so, we could see Intel dropping support for other software efforts in the coming months. Recently, Lip-Bu Tan, Intel’s new chief executive, said that the company planned to can or spin off operations that no longer fit its core strategy, and apps like Unison barely do. While it certainly improves the user experience with Intel-based PCs, it is not an exclusive app, and maintaining a large fleet of software costs money that Intel wants to preserve for developing its core products.
This is perhaps because Intel’s Unison is not a unique app, as multiple programs connect smartphones with Windows PCs. Microsoft offers Phone Link, and Samsung has its own version called Flow.Dellhas tried to offer its own Mobile Connect app, but it did not work flawlessly with iPhones, so it discontinued it somewhere along the line, clearing the road for Intel’s Unison and Microsoft’s Phone Link. Although Intel’s Unison could be a fine app, Microsoft’s Phone Link has better compatibility as it works with virtually all PCs running Windows 10.
Intel’s Kevin O’Buckley, Senior Vice President of Foundry Services, announces progress on the company’s 18A process node on stage at the Vision 2025 conference.
At its Vision 2025 conference, Intel announced today that it has entered risk production of its 18A process node, a crucial production milestone signifying that the node is now in the early stages of low-volume test manufacturing runs.
Intel’s Kevin O’Buckley, the Senior Vice President of Foundry Services, made the announcement as Intel nears the full completion of its “five nodes in four years” (5N4Y) plan, which was originally set in motion by ex-CEO Pat Gelsinger as part of the company’s quest to retake the semiconductor crown from rival TSMC. The conference also marks the first time thatnew CEO Lip-Bu Tanhas taken to the stage as the new leader of Intel.
Intel originally announced itsfour-year planin June 2021, and despitecanceling high volume manufacturing of the 20A nodeas a cost-cutting measure, Intel is on the cusp of reaching the finish line with its 18A node. Notably, Intel’s 5N4Y plan hinged on the process nodes beingavailablefor production rather than actively being in the final high volume manufacturing (HVM) stage.
“Risk production, while it sounds scary, is actually an industry standard terminology, and the importance of risk production is we’ve gotten the technology to a point where we’re freezing it,” O’Buckley explained. “Our customers have validated that, ‘Yep, 18 A is good enough for my product.’ And we have to now do the ‘risk’ part, which is to scale it from making hundreds of units per day to thousands, tens of thousands, and then hundreds of thousands. So risk production [..] is scaling our manufacturing up and ensuring that we can meet not just the capabilities of the technology, but the capabilities at scale.”
Risk production is one of many steps on the long road to fielding a new process node and indicates that the company believes the node is nearly ready for HVM. Intel has already produced plenty of 18A test chips/shuttles, typically wherein multiple different designs are prototyped on a single wafer.
In contrast, risk production consists of pressing wafers full of a single chip design into low-volume manufacturing as the company tweaks its manufacturing flow and qualifies the node and Process Design Kit (PDK) in real-world production runs. Intel will then scale production up to higher levels in the second half of the year. This step of bringing up a semiconductor process comes after the R&D, design, and prototyping stages of development.
There is some ‘risk’ to risk production, though, as yields and functionality (parametric yields, etc.) can be sub-par as the company refines its manufacturing techniques and optimizes its tooling as it works up the learning curve. As such, customers typically use risk production to manufacture qualification or engineering samples, and the customers aren’t given as stringent yield targets/guarantees as they are with nodes fully qualified for HVM.
However, some customers are willing to assume those risks to get the payoff of gaining significant time-to-market advantages through early access to the node, which then allows them to adjust and perfect their designs before competitors even begin production.
Intel hasn’t yet specified if the 18A risk production is for its own Panther Lake processors, which it says will arrive on schedule later this year, or if the production runs are for its external foundry customers. However, Panther Lake, Intel’s first 18A processors, will enter mass production later this year. As such, the Panther Lake chips are likely the risk production subject; this schedule generally aligns with our expectations for a typical risk production-to-HVM timeline for Intel.
Although Intel pioneered several new technologies on its cancelled 20A node, the 18A (1.8nm) chips will be the first productized chips with bothPowerVia backside power deliveryandRibbonFETgate-all-around (GAA) transistors. PowerVia provides optimized power routing to improve performance and transistor density, and RibbonFET also provides better transistor density along with faster transistor switching, but in a smaller area.
>>>GH5AD-03-17-4S1P-0 Battery for Intel NUC23 X15 AC57 X15 LAPAC71H Intel also continues to work on its broaderfoundry roadmap, which includes the follow-on 14A node, Intel’s first to utilize High-NA EUV lithography. Numerous node extensions to other nodes will further expand Intel Foundry Services’ portfolio to a broader range of applications.
These developments come during turbulence at Intel Foundry as the company adjusts to changing macroeconomic factors. Intel recentlydelayed the build-out of its Ohio operations until 2030, for example. However, the announcement of 18A risk production mirrors the positive reports that Intel is running itsfirst 18A wafers through its Arizona fabs.
AMD Ryzen AI 300 series and Intel Core Ultra 200V PCs are getting Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator.
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Microsofthas announced that severalWindows 11Copilot+ AI features aregraduatingfrom Snapdragon X exclusivity toAMD Ryzen AI 300 seriesandIntel Core Ultra 200VPCs. On Monday it began its expanded roll-out of features like Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator – so they will be available on modern AMD and Intel systems, as well as PCs packingQualcomm Snapdragon X(SDX) series processors.
Live Captions will also translate from 27 languages into Simplified Chinese(Image credit: Microsoft)
One of the most welcome additions to Windows 11 for those embraced by the expanded Copilot+ feature compatibility is probably Live Captions. Microsoft says that this feature “offers real-time translations in English for audio and video content during virtual meetings, podcasts, or video playback.” This feature, which Microsoft claims can live translate from 40 languages to English, has been around a while for SDX PCs, and is “coming soon” for those with a Ryzen AI 300 or Ultra 200V PC.
Another new Copilot+ addition which Microsoft characterizes as an accessibility feature is rolling out to Qualcomm SDX machines soon. Voice Access delivers better descriptive and flexible language interaction with Windows. AMD and Intel system owners with NPUs will have to wait until “later this year” for this one, though.
Cocreator in Paint is now ready for modern AMD and Intel processor owners. Here, Microsoft’s AI can help you create imagery from prompts or analyzing and improving on your badly drawn scrawl.
With Copilot+ smarts introduced to Microsoft’s Photos app, Windows 11 users with the requisite AMD and Intel chips get two ‘AI’ features to play with. Restyle Image is an AI-driven photo-filter style feature which can make existing works look something like an oil painting, sketch, or so on. Image Creator does what it says from your simple, or complex, text prompts.
Give your idle NPU something to do(Image credit: Future)
March non-security preview release update is required, for now
Microsoft says to make sure you switch on ‘Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available’ in your updates control panel. If you are eager to try some of the features outlined above, that unfortunately means opting to install the March non-securitypreview release. You must also ensure the host apps (Paint, Photos etc) are up-to-date via the Microsoft Store. Remember, the expanded feature rollout availability will also vary based on your location and language selection.
Considering x86 PCs withNPU-packing processors have been available for months, Microsoft has been rather tardy in breaking its most attractive Copilot+ features out from their Qualcomm-only rut. According to our editor-in-chief, you all haven’t been missing much, though. Not long after launch, the Copilot+ featureswere judgedto be “a bad joke.” Moreover, the much heralded Recall feature remainsin (re)developmentafter all the security and privacy concerns that were raised.
In a recent email, users of Fitbit wearables were given a new deadline for transferring to a Google account. Users now have a little more time to make the switch via the app. The company states that users who do not make the move in time will no longer be able to access Fitbit services and could have their account and associated data deleted.
A recent Fitbit customer email reminds customers that they must switch to a Google account. (Image source: Fitbit)
Fitbit has pushed back the deadline by which its smartwatch and fitness tracker users must switch accounts to continue using the brand’s service. Many customers havereporteda recent email from Fitbit informing them that they now have until February 2, 2026, to switch their Fitbit account to a Google account. This is an extension on the original 2025 deadline.
Email says:
“If you want to keep using Fitbit, you must move to a Google Account by February 2, 2026.”
“If you do not move to a Google Account by the deadline, you will not be able to continue using the Fitbit service. Your historical data will not be retained beyond February 2, 2026 (except as needed to comply with laws), and your account and data will be deleted.“
As a reminder, Google acquired Fitbit in early 2021, and it has already made other moves to streamline its smartwatch portfolio. For example, all Fitbit wearables including the Charge 6 are now sold from the Google store, and it has closed down the Fitbit website. In the latest communication, Google made it clear that this account change affects all customers, even if they are currently using a Gmail account to log in to Fitbit. In addition to not being able to use the Fitbit platform, the email states that users who do not transition will also lose their historical data, with both the account and data deleted at some point after the February 2 deadline.
If you want to transfer your Fitbit account to a Google account, you can do so via the Fitbit app. In the settings a specific move Fitbit to your Google Account action is listed. The company notes that users might need to update the app before they can complete this action. Google also reminds users that they can download or delete their Fitbit data anytime before the deadline. While you can choose to merge your Fitbit account with an existing Google account, you could alternatively set up a new account if you do not want this data to be linked.
OnReddit, many customers have expressed their frustration and disappointment with the move, saying they feel forced to share this data with Google. Some also expressed concerns that this data could be used for targeted ads. In an older statement, Google indicates that Fitbit data is not linked to advertisements. It is unclear whether there could be any benefits from transferring your data ahead of the February 2026 deadline; there appear to be no immediate differences.
If you’ve just bought a new graphics card, you’ll probably be wondering exact whatAMDFSR is. It stands for FidelityFX Super Resolution and it’s a software-based upscaler that helps you to achieve higher framerates than would otherwise be possible through native performance.
You can think of AMD FSR as a rough equivilent forNvidia’s DLSS, but made with the company’sbest graphics cardsin mind instead. While launched as an upscaler, the tech now incorporates Frame Generation and some other new functionality to make it a viable option for PC gamers preferring Team Red over Team Green.
Originally launched in 2021 with the company’s RX 5000 and RX 6000 graphics cards in mind, the technology has been updated several times over the years, becoming more advanced, even later requiring specific hardware for its AI-powered iteration.
There’s a lot of ground to cover with what AMD FSR is, what it does, and whether you should use it, so let’s get straight into the details.
AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution is an upscaling tool for the company’s graphics cards that renders video games at a lower resolution and uses software to blow them up to a higher resolution.
By using FSR, weaker graphics cards are able to achieve playable framerates in 1440p and even 4K, but the technology also allows for higher-end GPUs to play even the most demanding games in high refresh rate 4K (and even 8K in recent years).
Upscaling has become a major component of PC gaming since 2020 with the adoption of real-time ray tracing, which is incredibly hardware-intensive and extremely difficult to do without some form of help.
By lowering the natively rendered resolution to a generated higher resolution, the goal is to give players the best of both worlds: playable framerates and pleasant visuals, meaning you won’t necessarily have to choose between quality and performance – at least in theory.
As touched upon above, AMD FSR was launched in 2021 but has undergone several revisions as new graphics card generations have hit the shelves. FSR 2 rolled out with the release of Deathloop (May 2022) before going open-source a month later.
By this point in time, over 100 games had support for the software; however, things would become more competitive with Nvidia’s DLSS when FSR 3 launched in September 2023. This update launched with RDNA 3 graphics cards (RX 7000) and required a baseline of 60fps natively before use for the best results.
That’s because it rolled in Frame Generation, which interpolated generated frames between native ones for up to four times higher frame rates when compared to pure native performance. It evolved from AFMF (AMD Fluid Motion Frames) and prioritized 4K for supported video cards at its top end.
It brings us to today, with the recent release of RDNA 4 graphics cards (such as the RX 9070 andRX 9070 XT) and FSR 4, which is exclusive to the two GPUs at the time of writing. Unlike the previous versions of FidelityFX Super Resolution, which was driver-based and open-source, FSR 4 is AI-powered and uses machine learning for vastly improved picture quality, smoothness, and performance options.
It’s fundamentally changed what FSR can do and what it is in pursuit of competing closer with Nvidia’s midrange models (such as theRTX 5070 TiandRTX 5070), which it largely does.>>>L22M4P71 Battery for Lenovo ThinkPad P16V G1 2023
How does AMD FSR work?
Before FSR 4, AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution worked by rendering frames at a lower resolution and then using open-source upscaling algorithms to produce a higher-resolution image when compared to native rendering.
That’s quite different from the hardware-driven Nvidia DLSS (which is exclusive to Nvidia’s RTX hardware). In contrast, just about any graphics card on the market can use FSR, even those made by Intel and Nvidia if you so choose, instead of utilizing XeSS and DLSS tech.
Depending on the game, AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution can be anything from a mild boost to achieve 60fps to a sweeping shot in the arm that can double (even triple) the frame rates under the right circumstances. This is done through the different FSR modes that are available for supported games: Performance, Balanced, Quality, and Ultra Quality.
Performance prioritizes more frames over visual fidelity, Balanced is an even mix of both, Quality puts more of a focus on visuals over frames, and Ultra Quality tries to be as close to native as possible.
The different FSR modes will also utilize varying levels of sharpening, which is applied to the upscaled image to fix blurry, fuzzy, or jagged images. As FSR has developed over the years from its first version to FSR 3.1, the quality of the upscaling has improved massively, but it’s not always perfect.
Being open source and (primarily) relying on software to blow the image up to size can have its imperfections. In the battle ofNvidia DLSS vs AMD FSR, we sided primarily with the former, however, a lot has changed in the upscaling world since mid-2023.
That’s because FSR 4 is now AI-powered, utilizing machine learning much in the same way as Nvidia’s DLSS, and also doubles down with improved Frame Generation for higher frame rates than before. While the frame rates may be slightly lower than what you’ll see from FSR 3.1, the quality is an out-and-out improvement in terms of clarity, sharpness, and smoothness when compared to its predecessor.
However, FSR 4 is only supported by two graphics cards right now, the RX 9070 and theRX 9070 XT; adopters will enjoy superior performance compared to previous versions of FSR, but you may be disappointed if you’re running an older RX 6000 or RX 7000 line card.
There are around 200 games that have supported for AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution in its various forms. While the bulk of these games are supported with FSR and FSR 2, the list of FSR 3 games is a little narrower.AMD has confirmedthat over 75 games feature FSR 3 support, such as Starfield, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Frostpunk 2, God of War Ragnarök, and Silent Hill 2.
While FSR 4 is still in its infancy with the recently launched RX 9000 graphics cards,AMD has statedthat 30+ games will have support for the AI-powered version of the upscaling technology, including Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Civilization 7, Marvel Rivals, FragPunk, and The Last of Us: Part 2 Remastered, among others. More games are said to be supported throughout 2025, so it seems as though more developers are adopting the tech as soon as it rolls out now after four years of market availability.
Is AMD FSR good?
While AMD FSR has a reputation for being worse than Nvidia’s DLSS, the technology has come a long way in the past four years and now offers a much better product than it did back in 2021. You are not going to have the best experience if you’re using it as a crutch for ageing or lower-end graphics cards, however, FSR paired with AFMF in 4K can be genuinely game-changing. It will ultimately depend on the supported games, the presets used, and the hardware you’re running, which will dictate your experience.
FSR 4 has just been released, but the adoption of machine learning (and exclusive hardware) has resulted in superior image quality and smoothness against previous iterations. Fundamentally, FSR is a free-to-use product for your AMD graphics card and you do not risk anything in switching it on and trying it out. Does it entirely live up to DLSS? It’s arguable on a case-by-case basis, but it can be the tech that doubles (or triples) your frame rates or makes 4K gaming a reality for you.
For this reason, we recommend using it and seeing how it compares to native performance; if you find that the trade-off image-wise isn’t for you, then you can disable it without worry, but it could improve your gaming experience threefold.b
You’ll soon be able to lend your digital Nintendo Switch games
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Nintendo held what appears to be one of the last Nintendo Direct showcases dedicated solely to the Nintendo Switch, as theSwitch 2 unveilinglooms.
The Direct served as a reminder for a number of games coming to the original Switch and included a few interesting reveals as well. There were also some highlights including Metroid Prime 4 and Pokémon Legends Z-A.
One of the more interesting bits revealed in the trailer fest were Nintendo’s new “Virtual Game Cards.”
These new cards basically turn your digital games in to “game cards” that you can lend to family group members for up to two weeks at a time.
The new feature also enables you to move games across Switch systems. Basically, Nintendo finally has a library that you can take with you where you “eject” digital games from one system and can play them on another. We imagine this will come in handy if you want to transfer your library from the Switch to a new Switch 2 system.
Virtual Game Cards are coming in April via an update and they’re going to be available on both the original Switch and the Switch 2.
Beyond Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and the next Pokemon title, the Direct showcased a number of new games from remasters and remakes to indie titles and sequels.
The big two are expected at some point in 2025, though Nintendo didn’t provide a more concrete date than “late 2025” for Pokemon Legends Z-A. Metroid Prime 4 is still listed as just “2025.”
There was also the Nintendo Today! app meant to let you find the “latest news, videos, and comics of your favorite Nintendo games and characters from select franchises.” This app is supposed to be available starting today and requires a Nintendo Account to use.
For many years, purchasing a laptop usually meant deciding between a Windows and a Mac. The popular old Apple ad campaign called “Get a Mac” personified the two types of computers and clearly showed the distinctions between them (well, with an obvious bias towards Macs).
They’ve always been seen as geared towards specific personas for specific purposes, which gave both companies a distinct audience.
In 2011, however, Google launched the Chromebook, targeting the education market. After all, they were part of a pilot testing program in schools in the US to analyze their compatibility with institutions and remote work.
Soon enough, they became a viable option for students and businesses because of their seamless features and simplicity. This turned down the volume on the Windows vs. Mac debate, as there were (finally) other choices on the market.
While Macs are in their own niche, Chromebooks are often compared to Windows because of their potential audience and price range.
Macs are considered some of the most expensive laptops on the market, with the highest-end models costing well over $3,000. Windows has a much broader range, with budget models starting at just a few hundred. Meanwhile, you can get a Chromebook from $100 to $250.
But other than price, what else would encourage someone to pick a Chromebook over a Windows-based laptop?
While Windows laptops rely on a robust operating system, Chromebooks have minimal hardware requirements, which is one of their biggest advantages. Without having to think too much about whether you have enough RAM, storage space, or processing speeds to tackle all the tasks you need to handle, Chrome OS doesn’t demand a heavy load in the first place.
That means you can browse the web, watch videos, check your email, do some light gaming, access a casino that is a big name in CA online gambling, and complete many productive tasks smoothly without worrying about extra processes in the background.
Thanks to this, you enjoy faster performance and a no-frills experience, perfect for those who aren’t particularly tech-savvy or who don’t need a laptop for mammoth tasks like video editing or 3D rendering. As a bonus, the need for less powerful hardware means Chromebooks come at a much lower cost than Windows laptops.
As a Google-made device, Chromebooks naturally integrate with the entire Google ecosystem, making them a great choice for users who already use its suite of services. Rather than disrupting or disconnecting from your existing workflow, all your documents and files can automatically sync across your devices and platforms.
Just like Apple has its own proprietary apps and software in its own ecosystem, Chromebooks let you seamlessly access Google apps from your laptop and other Google devices. Google Assistant is also built into the laptop, letting you use your voice to do anything from setting reminders to navigating the internet.
What’s particularly appealing about Chromebooks, in contrast to Windows laptops, is the overall user experience. Windows interfaces can often be cluttered and intricate, exposing many of the backend processes that most users don’t need access to.
Chromebooks cut out that noise and focus on a minimalist experience that caters to a wider range of age groups and a more casual audience. With the essentials readily available and a highly visual experience, users can get right into their tasks without dealing with complex navigation.
Chromebooks have a familiar Windows-esque interface featuring the classic taskbar and desktop and the simplicity of macOS.
However, they stand out because they leverage a limited operating environment, Chrome OS, which is designed to handle essential tasks efficiently. Users don’t have to worry about viruses either, as it boasts sandboxing, isolating each app and process from each other for extra protection.
They Have a Cloud-Based Focus
Chromebooks also come with a cloud-based experience, revolving more around web and cloud-based apps rather than built-in apps. This reduces the burden on your local storage, which contributes to the minimal hardware piece mentioned earlier.
Google’s services have long been reliant on the cloud, which can make managing digital files a lot easier. Rather than store everything locally, the cloud-based approach lets you access everything from any device, so if your laptop dies or a file gets deleted from your desktop—you’ve got your backup ready to go at any time.
Every document gets updated and saved in real time, giving you the peace of mind you need, especially when dealing with important files. If you happen not to have access to the internet at the moment or it gets cut off, most Google apps have offline capabilities that allow you to sync back up once you’re reconnected.
These features are a real asset when it comes to work, school, and personal projects, which is why so many in that target audience turn to Chromebooks.
They Provide Android App Support
Speaking of apps, you’re not only limited to what’s pre-installed or available on the Chromebook when you purchase the laptop.
Chromebooks can run Android apps downloaded from the Google Play Store, which means you can explore a variety of third-party apps to enhance your workflow, whether in the creative or productivity genre. Already have existing apps you use on another Android device?
You can download these onto your laptop too, and sync your experience across devices. Transitioning from your tablet or smartphone to your laptop is convenient, with cross-platform capabilities to help you stay connected.
MSI’s PSUs appear to have been engineered with the RTX 40-and RTX 50-series GPUs as the primary target.
(Image credit: MSI)
Since the16-pin connectorwas introduced and later revised, melting adapters and PSU/GPU-side connectors on some of Nvidia’s mainstream GeForce gaming GPUs have been rampant. Two of MSI’s recently launched high-wattage PSUs interestingly feature two12V-2x6connectors while providing only one standard 8-pin connector (viaOC3D). Unless you get a 12V-2×6 to 8-pin adapter, these PSUs are incompatible with most modern-day GPUs from AMD, Intel, and even Nvidia (RTX 30 and prior), apart from a fewspecific variants.
The industry (or, more specifically, Nvidia) made the shift towards 16-pin connectors to reduce cable clutter and meet the ever-increasing power demand of new GPUs. After the first GPU meltdown wave hit, the 16-pin standard was revised with pin length changes and is now known as 12V-2×6.Reports of meltingRTX 50-series GPU connectors and adapters have been making rounds on the internet, even with the improved standard. This time, it is believed Nvidia’s power delivery design might be partially responsible.
It seems the industry is catching on to the 16-pin standard, even at the cost of reduced compatibility with other GPUs. MSI’s MPG A1000GS and MPG A1250GS power supplies, targeted at high-wattage GPUs, include two native 16-pin connectors and only a single 8-pin (6+2) connector. If you buy an additional 6+2 connector separately, you can only use a single 8-pin for the CPU, potentially hamstringing CPU performance.
Theoretically, a 225W TGP GPU or lower, like theIntel Arc B580,can easily be powered by one 8-pin connector. However, AMD’sRadeon RX 9070series cannot, as these GPUs typically require two or three 8-pin connectors.
To be clear, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen such an implementation.Galax’s GH1300also shipped with a dual 16-pin design, but that PSU was a one-off and unleashed to tame theRTX 4090 HOFthat could quickly chug up 1kW of power. As of writing, there isn’t any RTX 50 series GPU with multiple 16-pin connectors, so the full potential of these PSUs remains untapped. Nvidia recommends a 1,000W (minimum) PSU for theRTX 5090. This raises concerns about the MPG A1000GS, which is borderline on recommended specs yet ships with two 12V-2×6 connectors.
All things considered, equipping PSUs with multiple 16-pin connectors is counterintuitive for most consumers, especially given the standard’s original goal to simplify cabling. For maximum user flexibility, a PSU design should include one 12V-2×6 connector alongside multiple 8-pin connectors to accommodate high-power GPUs from either brand.
Toshiba has opened a new lab for advancing HDD tech
(Image credit: Toshiba)
Toshiba’s new European HDD Innovation Lab can improve storage tech
Lab offers architecture testing, proof-of-concept setups, and benchmarking
Toshiba claims combining dozens of HDDs can boost overall performance
Toshiba Electronics Europe has opened a newHDD Innovation Labat its Düsseldorf site, expanding its storage evaluation services across Europe and the Middle East.
The new facility (it already has a smaller one in Dubai) is designed to support customers and partners in optimizing hard disk drive configurations for a range of applications, including cloud storage, surveillance systems, and NAS environments.
Toshiba’s lab will focus on assessing HDD setups for broader IT systems such as storage area networks (SAN), providing a space where hardware configurations can be tested and refined. It will be able to evaluate customer-specific architectures and offer a platform for proof-of-concept testing and performance benchmarking.
“This new HDD Innovation Lab represents a significant leap forward in providing bespoke solutions and advancing HDD technology,” said Rainer Kaese, senior manager for HDD business development.
“It demonstrates Toshiba’s commitment to drive the industry forward and support customers and partners with technical expertise and resources. We look forward to strengthening existing collaborations and exploring the future business opportunities the new facility will bring.”
To carry out these evaluations, the lab brings together servers, JBoDs, chassis, controllers, cables, and a variety of software tools. It also includes equipment to accurately measure energy consumption.
While SSDs have a clear speed advantage over HDDs, they are expensive and, according to Kaese viaBlocks & Files, “The flash industry is not be able to manufacture enough capacity to satisfy the growing demand, and still will not be for a significant while.”
The solution to that problem, Kaese suggested, is to bunch HDDS together.
“We have demonstrated that 60 HDDs in ZFS software defined storage can fill the entire speed of a 100GbE network,” he said, adding, “[We] found that a typical configuration of four HDDs (ie. in small Soho NAS) can fill the 10GbE networks. 12 HDDs match the 25GbE of Enterprise networks, and 60 HDDs would require high end 100GbE network speed to unleash the full performance of the many combined HDDs.”
Beyond technical testing, the HDD Innovation Lab aims to support knowledge sharing. Insights from evaluations will be passed directly to customers, and Toshiba says it will conduct its own internal assessments of its HDD product lines, publishing the findings as whitepapers and lab reports.
In today’s gaming world, multi-platform titles are becoming the standard. Some players are now using Boosteroid to stream PlayStation exclusives on Xbox consoles. Only purchased PC ports are compatible with the cloud gaming service.
PS5 logo shown on Xbox using Boosteroid cloud gaming (Image source: Xbox Wire, Sony PlayStation)
Microsoft loyalists may feel betrayed as more Xbox titles becomeplayable on the PS5. However, some gamers are gaining revenge by playing former PlayStation exclusives on Xbox consoles. TheBoosteroidcloud gaming service allows streaming select PlayStation games in the Edge browser. Of course, there are caveats, like needing to own a PC port of any PS4 or PS5 title.
Just asXbox Gaming has gone cross-platform, Sony has increased its presence on PCs. Titles, includingGod of War Ragnarok,Last of Us Part 1, andHelldivers 2, are available on Steam or the Epic Games Store. Still, Sony has tried to prevent any cloud gaming service from streaming these titles on Xbox consoles.Nvidia GeForce Nowhas an Xbox app, but the service doesn’t offer PlayStation exclusives.
God of War Ragnarok playing on Xbox console (Image source: screenshot, Console Gaming subreddit)
Instead of an app, Boosteroid relies on the Edge browser, accessible on Xbox consoles. Gamers must subscribe to the service for $7-$10 monthly and own the PlayStation game on Steam or another compatible marketplace. With a fast enough internet connection, gamers can play titles likeGod of War Ragnarokin 4K and up to 120 fps. Some gamers have postedsuccess stories on Reddit, reporting reasonable latency.
Critics may argue that using Boosteroid on an Xbox isn’t that appealing. Gamers still need to buy a PlayStation exclusive on PCs and a monthly subscription, so they aren’t saving much in costs. Also, the selection of compatible titles doesn’t include console-only games likeGran Turismo 7. Nevertheless, for cloud gaming supporters, it bypasses the need for a powerful gaming PC.
Considering the GeForce Now restrictions, the above workaround may not work much longer. Until then, the Xbox Series X|S has unexpectedly become more versatile.
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