Here is the daily technology #threadcast for 3/4/25. The goal is to make this a technology "reddit".
Drop all question, comments, and articles relating to #technology and the future. The goal is make it a technology center.
Here is the daily technology #threadcast for 3/4/25. The goal is to make this a technology "reddit".
Drop all question, comments, and articles relating to #technology and the future. The goal is make it a technology center.
This Handheld is Total Overkill. And I Love it.
The Ayaneo Pocket Evo is a high-end, premium Android handheld that exceeds expectations in terms of power, design, and features. With its 7-inch frameless OLED screen, 165Hz refresh rate, and top-of-the-line Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 processor, this device is a dream come true for retro gaming enthusiasts.
The reviewer praises the device's comfortable design, excellent controls, and stunning screen quality, making it an ideal choice for playing retro games. However, the high price point may be a deterrent for many, with the top-end model costing $645.
Longer Summary ->
The GBA of your dreams
The speaker discusses their love for retro handheld consoles, particularly those that resemble old video game systems. They introduce the RG34XX, a handheld console that mimics the original Game Boy Advance (GBA) in design and feel, but with modern features.
The speaker praises the device's authenticity, citing its accurate shape, ergonomics, and button layout. They also appreciate the 3.4-inch screen with a 3:2 ratio, which allows for pixel-perfect GBA scaling. The speaker notes that the device has some shortcomings, such as a slightly dim screen, but overall, they are impressed with the Thick Bizzle (their nickname for the device).
Longer Summary ->
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Investors and analysts warn that economic uncertainty could keep its hold on bitcoin throughout March, with the crypto industry absent a specific catalyst. With the idea of a U.S. reserve holding crypto largely priced in, regulatory clarity through clear legislation may be the more likely catalyst to jump start prices in a meaningful way.
"The lack of information on the amount of crypto the U.S. government will buy, and how the purchase will be funded, coupled with fears of a market retreat if expectation does not meet reality, means that the likelihood of high volatility in the crypto markets will continue," said Deutsche Bank analyst Marion Laboure said in a note Tuesday.
Investors this week will keep an eye on the inaugural White House Crypto Summit, which is scheduled to take place this Friday, for updates on the details of the reserve, as well as the administration's plans to support the industry.
"In the smartphone world, Apple is shifting from a single device sale to additional services that can be provided throughout the life of that device," Walter-Range said. "So for a car, it's the same deal. You know, once you sell that car, are there additional revenue streams that you can get by providing services? Some of those services can be delivered from space."
One model is charging subscriptions for advanced driver assistance systems. General Motors' Super Cruise uses cameras, sensors and real-time location and map data from GPS satellites to allow the vehicle to do things like automatically steer and keep the car centered in a lane. In the company's fourth-quarter earnings report, GM CEO Mary Barra said the company expected that within the next five years, Super Cruise would bring in about $2 billion in annual revenue for the company.
By the fall of the Republic there were hundreds of corporations selling shares to investors. Manufacturing and trades flourished: including furniture making, leatherwork, weaving, metalworking, stoneworking, and food processing.
American Factions
I talked in the last post about Roman factions, and it is interesting to compare the Roman experience with that of the United States in the years after the Constitution was ratified. The United States began, as the Roman Republic, with no political parties – only different political philosophies. The main opponents were Hamilton (traditionalist/for strong central government) and Jefferson (government by the people/Republican).
Hamilton perceived early on that one of the keys to government was to forge an alliance between the government and men of wealth. In his mind democracy was unworkable because it would always lead to anarchy. Hamilton despised public opinion and told Washington that he considered it “of no value.” By the time the revolution ended he had arrived at his architecture of government which included strength supported by wealth which would be sustained, if need be, by a standing army.
A Waymo car drives along a street on March 01, 2023 in San Francisco, California. Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving car division, announced that it has laid off over 135 employees in a second round of layoffs this year.
"With Waymo's technology and Uber's proven platform, we're excited to introduce our customers to a future of transportation that is increasingly electric and autonomous," Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement.
Alphabet-owned Waymo, which has pulled far ahead of self-driving car competitors in the U.S., is currently serving over 200,000 paid trips per week across San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix, according to the company.
Waymo's Austin expansion also sets up the company for a potential clash with Elon Musk-led Tesla later this year.
David Sacks, U.S. President Donald Trump's "AI and Crypto Czar", speaks to President Trump as he signs a series of executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on Jan. 23, 2025 in Washington, DC.
By going well beyond bitcoin, the critics say, Trump would be using U.S. taxpayer money to buy much riskier assets that have unproven value and have the potential to bolster the net worth of a select few investors who own the coins. That's all the more problematic to those who want to axe government spending by trillions of dollars, in support of Elon Musk's cost-cutting mission at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
"Taxation is theft," wrote Joe Lonsdale, founder of venture firm 8VC and a vocal Trump supporter, in a post on X. "It should be kept to a minimum. It's wrong to steal my money for grift on the left; it's also wrong to tax me for crypto bro schemes."
Pei appears to be gunning for the same kind of appeal with Nothing. In the leadup to Phone (3a)'s launch, Nothing put out a video that depicted a humanoid robot — made by Norwegian startup 1X — unboxing the device and holding it up.
'Sea of smartphone sameness'
Ben Wood, chief analyst at market research firm CCS Insight, applauded Nothing for "trying to do something different" to combat what he called the "sea of smartphone sameness."
"Bottom line, if you want to sell phones in this more affordable segment, you have to have something that stands out from the crowd," Wood told CNBC.
Although Washington was sympathetic to the philosophy of the Federalists he was essentially a president without party. The election of 1796, however, pitted the Federalist Adams against the Republican Jefferson. Adams won the presidency and for the only time in American history the vice-president, Jefferson, represented a different party. Jefferson openly opposed the policies of Adams so strongly that the Federalists passed the Alien and Sedition Act of 1798 as an attempt to control criticism of government. The backlash from this law swept Jefferson and the Republicans into office in 1800 and destroyed the Federalist Party forever.
Wood argues that Nothing will have to be "extremely price competitive" given how much it's targeting the Indian market, too. In January, Pei said Nothing was now the fastest-growing smartphone brand in India, achieving 557% year-over-year growth in 2024.
Notably, Nothing said that its pricier Phone (3a) Pro model won't be available for orders in India. The company's co-founder Akis Evangelidis plans to move to India to head up operations there later this year.
The charges also come after Reuters reported in late January that the U.S. Commerce Department is looking into whether Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has been using U.S. chips that are not allowed to be shipped to China.
Citing a person familiar with the matter, Reuters said "organized AI chip smuggling to China has been tracked out of countries including Malaysia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates."
Zafrul told CNBC that Malaysia will be checking the chips' destination, but added, "what I can say today [is] the chips are not meant to be in Malaysia in the first place. So the question is, why is it going out of Singapore?"
Russia and Iran have not publicly confirmed or denied the request, and the White House did not immediately respond to Bloomberg's request for comment.
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, while responding to questions sent by the outlet, that "Russia believes that the United States and Iran should resolve all problems through negotiations."
He added that Moscow "is ready to do everything in its power to achieve this."
Esmaeil Baghaei, a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, said it is "natural" for countries to offer to help, given the significance of the matters.
Ukraine's Osadchuk to Newsmax: Zelenskyy Has Ukraine's Support
Ukrainian Parliament Member Andrii Osadchuk says President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hasn't lost the support of the Ukrainian people.
Ukrainian Parliament Member Andrii Osadchuk says President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hasn't lost the support of the Ukrainian people.
"I wouldn't say so," Osadchuk told Newsmax's "National Report."
"And again, it was a big manipulation with the [approval] figures. When President [Donald] Trump was saying about 4% support of Zelenskyy, which is not correct at all, based on all information which we currently have, President Zelenskyy has more than 55% support in Ukraine and, in fact, all different parties, despite opposition or coalition, has consensus that during this stage of the war, it's simply impossible to conduct elections in Ukraine," he added.
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Capturing the Schlieren images was a challenging feat, requiring perfect conditions, precise timing, and expert piloting.
If successful, this technique reveals the invisible — the change in air density around the aircraft at supersonic speeds.
Boom’s Chief Test Pilot, Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, skillfully maneuvered XB-1 to a specific point over the Mojave Desert. This allowed NASA to photograph the shock waves as the jet flew in front of the sun at supersonic speeds.
The key here is the way the nitrogen ions migrate from the material. Their movement begins at the bottom of the nanodot (closest to the electrode) and proceeds upward, creating a growing ferromagnetic layer from the bottom up.
As this ferromagnetic layer thickens, the magnetic moments spontaneously arrange into a vortex state, consisting of magnetic moments rotating around a central core. This configuration, which the researchers named a vortion, allows for precise, energy-efficient control of magnetic properties.
Precise control over magnetic properties
The magnetic properties of a vortion aren’t fixed. The longer a voltage is applied, the more ions move out, and the thicker the magnetic layer becomes.
To test its magnetic properties after formation, the researchers apply external magnetic fields of varying strengths. They discovered that voltage application time creates measurable, distinct differences in magnetic properties.
Each of the magnetic properties can hold information in multiple states. For example, if researchers can reliably distinguish between 8 different magnetization strengths by precisely controlling voltage application time, then a single nanodot could effectively store 8 different values (instead of just 0 or 1).
“The voltage actuation procedure, instead of using electric current, prevents heating in devices such as laptops, servers, and data centers. It drastically reduces energy loss,” noted Dr. Irena Spasojević, first author of the study, in a press release.
The Carthaginian army followed the Rhone River and proceeded to what is now Grenoble, France during fourth week in October. Snow was already on the ground, and the prospects for the 46,000 infantry and cavalry were not good. Because of a missed turn and harassing attacks from the native tribes, Hannibal was forced to cross the Alps by an unconventional route. It took nine days to reach the highest point and six more days to descend into western Italy near Torino (Turin). The Carthaginian army lost 20,000 men in its trek over the Alps, although his 37 elephants survived. Even with these losses, Hannibal was able to prepare for battle and won his first great victory over the Romans at Trebbia on December 21st, 218 B.C.
In 217 B.C. Hannibal moved into the Italian peninsula hoping to get the Roman allies to defect to his cause but was unable to do so. He stayed until 203 B.C, harassing the Romans until he was recalled to Carthage to help oppose a Roman invasion. Hannibal was defeated by Scipio Africanus at the battle of Zama in 202 B.C, ending the second Punic War.
Senior Project Manager Brett Wheeler highlighted the meticulous planning behind the project, stating, “The long-running decommissioning project has involved 10 years of planning and preparations in the lead-up to ARPANSA’s license approval.”
Since its shutdown in 2007, HIFAR has been maintained in a safe state, with ANSTO removing the reactor fuel, control arms, and heavy water within the first year of closure.
The project’s current phase involves dismantling only the internal infrastructure and radioactive components within the 21-meter-tall facility.
“The white exterior shell of HIFAR won’t be going anywhere soon. There are no plans to dismantle the exterior structure until much further down the track,” Wheeler said.
The “gun” compresses hydrogen gas, which smashes a piston through a metal seal. This fires a projectile at 4.3 miles (6.9 km) per second into a vacuum chamber, hitting a falling nuclear fusion fuel pellet.
Inspired by the pistol shrimp, the process produces the conditions required for nuclei to fuse together. First Light Fusion’s technology has passed several key tests, including breaking a pressure record last year.
Will this be a trend for the wider fusion industry?
Despite the potential of its relatively low-cost method, First Light Fusion has restrategized to drive revenue.
In a press statement, it explains that “advancements in First Light’s proprietary amplifier technology, combined with progress in the wider inertial fusion energy (IFE) sector, has provided an opportunity for the company to shift its business strategy, to capitalize on the huge IFE market opportunities enabling earlier revenues and lowering the long-term funding requirement.”
3,000-year-old silk weaving inspires China’s next-gen stealth radar-absorbing tech
The team believe this could be used to solve some of the long-term maintenance issues associated with stealth coatings.
Chinese researchers have allegedly found a novel way to solve long-term stealth coating integrity with an ancient silk-weaving technique called “jacquard weaving.” This method could, they claim, help solve issues with degradation of stealth coatings on aircraft in extreme environments like deserts or high humidity.
According to a paper released by the team, stealth fighters like the F-22 suffer from delaminating radar-absorbent coatings over time. This material is typically made of layers of special coatings and paints to deflect radar signals.
However, they can chip away when exposed to environmental stress or physical abrasion. This can even occur during high-speed flight, especially in desert sandstorms.
An ancient solution to a modern problem
Using a similar technique, Jiang and her colleagues embedded radar-defeating geometries directly into RAM textile’s matrix. Quartz fibers create a dielectric base layer, while stainless steel yarns form resonant circuits that dissipate electromagnetic energy as heat.
According to the researchers, each conductive thread is carefully arranged to guide and trap signals, similar to how ancient weavers positioned silk threads to depict dragons or clouds.
Lab tests showed remarkable mechanical advantages. The composite material was found to withstand a tensile stress of 93.5 megapascals in the longitudinal direction, which is more than ten times stronger than traditional coatings.
This durability comes from the knit’s anisotropic structure, where the load-bearing yarns align with the aircraft’s stress vectors, resembling the axial strength of Han-era brocades.
In 262 B.C, the Romans laid siege to Acragas, officially starting a war that would last twenty-one years. After taking the city, the Romans leveled it. Both armies were exhausted and unable to prepare for battle until the next year, but the Romans now realized that driving the Carthaginians out of Sicily was going to be more difficult than they anticipated. They also knew their success was in doubt without a navy, so the Senate approved he funds for construction of war ships.
Rome had no coastline (60 miles inland), no navy, no merchant marine, and no history of trade or knowledge of sailing practice in the Mediterranean, yet they went ahead and built 500 ships in 60 days!
Slavery was fundamental to the early Romans because Rome was an agrarian society, and there was always a need for farm labor. Not all Roman slaves were the defeated enemy: some were purchased at auction, others were freemen enslaved through their own misdeeds. Until 325 B.C, Roman citizens could be placed in servitude if they were unable to pay their debts.
It is estimated that Rome had 17,000 slaves in 475 B.C. and 40,000 by 325 B.C. Those numbers pale beside the 55,000 captured Carthaginians brought back from Africa at the end of the Third Punic War in 146 B.C. By then, slavery had become a significant problem for the Republic, as slaves took the jobs of freemen in the city, displaced them as farm labor, and began to serve in the army.
Roman Law and American Law
When the Roman Empire in the West collapsed in 476 A.D, the Empire in the East continued on. It survived for three reasons: the population was larger and more urbanized than the West, making it more difficult to invade, its government was located at the fortress of Constantinople, which was almost impregnable, and its leaders were better at running government than those in the West. Perhaps the greatest Eastern Emperor was Justinian, who ruled from 527-565 A.D. Well educated and inclined toward the structure of law, Justinian believed it was his mission to codify the law of the Roman Empire. He engaged the greatest legalists of his time to prepare the new code based on rationality, coherence, equity, and the furtherance of imperial power. This Roman Civil law, also called The Justinian Code, was completed in 534 A.D.
The Justinian Code swept through Europe, influencing the legal systems of every country with the exception of England. Ahead of Europe in legal thinking, Henry I and Henry II had modified the old Germanic legal system into a code of Common Law that was strong enough to withstand the influence of the new code. The Common Law system of England became the legal system of the United States after the Revolutionary War in all states except one. Louisiana adopted the Justinian Code, because the state's legal system was established during the time when the territory was under French rule.
Today most of the world uses The Justinian Code, with the exception of England and its former colonies.
The battle was a disaster because the shear volume of men in the Gallic force was more than the defenders could handle and the Roman position was easily flanked. Half of the army was killed and the survivors retreated to Veii, on the other side of the Tiber.
Now the city was defenseless and open to plunder. The Vestal Virgins and priests gathered up the sacred relics and fled to Caere, while the remnants of the senate and army retreated to the top of the Capitoline Hill, prepared to resist any Gallic attempt to storm the citadel. The Gauls entered the city, plundered it, and set it on fire. They seemed content to let those on the Capitoline starve, and only tried to attack it on a couple of occasions. For seven months they occupied the city.
Rome created its Republic when the last Etruscan king was expelled in 509 B.C. The king had relied on a group of men to advise him, called patres (fathers) -- later designated as the social class called Patrician. As the Republic began, the Fathers became the Senate, a people’s assembly was continued, and a pair of executive magistrates were created (Consuls). This system was weighted toward the aristocracy because the consuls were nominated by the Senate and were also in control of the judicial system.
Like Gaul, Rome began with a highly disproportionate distribution of wealth: the Patrician class in control and the Plebian class subservient. In 200 B.C, the adult male population of Rome was 270,000 and the value of all property about $ 3 billion. It’s easy to imagine the wealthiest 1% of the population controlling 50% or more of this wealth. Scipio Africanus, the great general, who died in 183 B.C, left an estate of $ 600,000. His relative by marriage Aemilianus Paulus left an estate of $ 250,000.
As time went on in the Republic, there arose two great forces impacting the distribution of wealth: booty from war and the emergence of the Equestrian class (Knights). The former tended to enrich the generals (Caesar, Pompey and others) and move them up the wealth ladder, while the Knights became rich through their own efforts. Since the ruling class was prohibited from trade because it was seen as a low profession, the Knights became the businessmen the state needed to make the Republic work. They formed their own corporations and engaged in tax collection and public works. Over time, the wealth accumulated by the Knights, lowered the percentage of wealth controlled by the ruling class.
ung's Intelligence was bloody terrifying- This is a concise excerpt from the full video titled "Biblical Series VIII: The Phenomenology of the Divine," available on Jordan Peterson's YouTube channel. The original lecture was delivered on July 27, 2017. Jordan Peterson, a Canadian clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Toronto, finds Carl Jung's intelligence to be "bloody terrifying." Born on June 12, 1962, Peterson's work focuses on religious and ideological belief psychology, personality, and performance improvement. He is the author of "Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief," published in 1999. This video is used under Fair Use for educational purposes and participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program to earn affiliate fees through links.
This personal protector role expanded over time and Tribunes eventually acquired a powerful role in government. They were given the power to block legislation, call meetings of the Senate, or compel Consuls to comply with decrees of the Senate. In 286 B.C, the law Lex Hortensia was passed which gave the Plebian class, through its own assembly, the right to pass laws binding on all of Rome. Tribunes were elected by the Plebian Assembly and presided over its meetings.
But the aristocratic class came to regret what they had done in giving the lower class so much power, so they sought ways to influence the behavior of Tribunes on their behalf. By pressure or bribery, the rich began to induce the Tribunes to veto legislation they were opposed to. This problem came to a head during the Tribune of Tiberius Gracchus (133 B.C.) when he removed another Tribune from office for vetoing a land bill favored by the people but opposed by the Senate. Tiberius was later assassinated by the Senate for trying to accumulate power. This single event incited the Plebian class against the Senate, beginning the process of the decline of the Senate as an institution and the end of the Republic.
Bitcoin erases all of its gain that followed Trump's crypto reserve announcement
Bitcoin failed to recover the $85,000 level, where it traded before President Donald Trump's announcement of a U.S. crypto reserve sent it soaring.
The price of bitcoin failed to recover the $85,000 level – where it traded before President Donald Trump's announcement of a U.S. crypto reserve sent it soaring – after a sell-off driven by tariff concerns knocked it down.
Bitcoin was last lower by 2% on Tuesday at $83,508.78, according to Coin Metrics, and off its all-time high by 23%.
Ripple-related XRP and Cardano's ADA, two of the smaller cap coins mentioned in Trump's surprise announcement, were still holding onto some of their gains from the rally. Solana's SOL token also fully reversed its gain.
#crypto #bitcoin #trump #economy
Bitcoin before and after Trump's crypto reserve announcement
Shares of Coinbase, Robinhood and Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, were all lower in premarket trading.
Risk assets including cryptocurrencies suffered steep declines on Monday as traders grappled with concerns that proposed tariffs were on track to take effect. That overshadowed the exuberance around Trump's so named U.S. "strategic crypto reserve," which some traders had hoped would pull bitcoin out of a slump. After reaching its record in January, it posted its worst month since 2022 in February.
Why automakers including Honda and Toyota are pouring millions into rockets and satellites
As cars are becoming more connected, automakers see access to space as an important investment.
In January, Toyota said its mobility software subsidiary "Woven by Toyota" was investing $44 million into Japanese rocket maker Interstellar Technologies. Rival Honda has been developing a proprietary reusable rocket since 2019 to launch low-earth orbit satellites to space. Chinese automaker Geely Holding Group, a Tesla competitor, has invested $326 million to manufacture its own satellites.
#toyota #honda #rockets #satellites #space
"What are those satellites going to be used for and what are they already being used for?" said Micah Walter-Range, president of consulting firm Caelus Partners. "Some of it is for improving navigation services for cars. Some of it's for mapping. If you think about what's going to be needed a little further down the road for autonomous vehicles, having full awareness of what's going on on the road is incredibly valuable."
Cars today use satellite connectivity for tracking and location, software updates and entertainment like satellite radio. But as cars become more and more connected, automakers need the infrastructure to make that possible. That's where satellites, and the rockets needed to launch them, come into play. One recent report estimates that by 2030, connected vehicles could be a $742 billion annual revenue opportunity for automakers and suppliers.
!summarize #ai #researchers #exponential
!summarize #ev #sales #automotive
Waymo, Uber begin offering robotaxi rides in Austin ahead of SXSW
Austin will be Waymo's fourth market after San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles.
The launch sets up Waymo to showcase its driverless technology during Austin's annual South by Southwest festival that kicks off Friday. Approximately 300,000 people descend on the Texas capital to attend SXSW on average each year, according to the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau.
"We can't wait for Austin locals and visitors alike to experience Waymo One via the Uber app starting this week," said Nicole Gavel, Waymo's head of business development and strategic partnerships, in a statement.
Waymo previously said it would be launching in Austin, among several other U.S. cities, in 2025.
#waymo #uber #automotive #robotaxi #austin
Austin is the first market where Uber will manage and dispatch a fleet of Waymo vehicles. Riders in Phoenix can book Waymo rides through the Uber app, but the ride-sharing company does not manage the Waymo fleet in that market. The two companies' partnership will expand to Atlanta later this year, where Waymo employees have already begun taking fully autonomous trips across the city, the company said Tuesday.
Uber sold off its autonomous vehicle, or AV, unit in 2020 after a string of earlier safety incidents including one fatality. The two companies have not disclosed how they split revenue for Waymo rides booked through the Uber app.
Pro-Trump techies enraged by president's crypto reserve announcement, causing early rift
Some of President Trump's most vocal supporters in tech took to social media to slam his latest proposal for a crypto strategic reserve.
President Donald Trump counted on crypto execs and investors for a hefty portion of his 2024 campaign funds. He promised to reward them handsomely if elected by slashing regulations and by turning the U.S. into "the crypto capital of the planet and the bitcoin superpower of the world."
The president got off to a quick start, signing an executive order calling for the establishment of a working group on digital assets and pardoning Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht. The SEC also dropped its years-long probe into Coinbase.
#crypto #president #reserve #techies
While those moves were lauded by the most vocal techies who backed Trump's candidacy, over the weekend the president took it a step too far in their view. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump announced the creation of a strategic crypto reserve for the U.S. that would include not just bitcoin but several other digital currencies — ether, XRP, Solana's SOL token and Cardano's ADA.
For the most part, Trump's crypto backers all wanted a strategic bitcoin reserve. Such a move would entail using cash to buy bitcoin, which is widely viewed by crypto enthusiasts as a smart way to deploy capital into a decentralized currency that's an alternative to hard money. As Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong wrote on X, bitcoin offers a "clear story as successor to gold."
Smartphone startup Nothing tries to stir market out of 'sea of sameness' with $400 phone
Nothing's new Phone (3a) features different shapes and so-called "Glyph" lights on the back that light up to preset ringtones and notification sound effects.
BARCELONA — British smartphone startup Nothing on Tuesday debuted a new handset it hopes can shake the mobile industry out of a perceived innovation slowdown.
Nothing launched its new Phone (3a) device, a budget phone that comes with an unusual design featuring multiple different shapes and so-called "Glyph" lights on the back that light up to preset ringtones and notification sound effects.
#smartphone #nothing #technology #communications
The Phone (3a) will retail at a starting price of £329 — or about $414 — while Phone (3a) Pro, a souped-up version of the device with better camera features, will start at £449.
The Nothing brand was founded in 2020 by Carl Pei, a co-founder of Chinese smartphone brand OnePlus, with the aim of bringing some "warmth" back to consumer tech products.
"In the past, people were so optimistic about technology. But now people are indifferent. And there must be a way of breaking the cycle," Pei told CNBC in an interview in 2021.
Pei's old company OnePlus gained something of a cult following in its early days, thanks to its focus on designing slick and affordable Android handsets and garnering buzz through unconventional marketing tactics.
Malaysia will take 'necessary action' if its companies are involved in Nvidia fraud case: Trade minister
Malaysian says its authorities are discussing the issue with the data center companies and checking if the chips have gone to the right parties.
Malaysia said it will take "necessary action" against Malaysian companies if they are found to be involved in a fraud case linked to the alleged movement of Nvidia chips from Singapore to China.
That comes after Singapore Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam reportedly said on Monday that the servers in the fraud case may have contained Nvidia's artificial intelligence chips which were then sent to Malaysia.
On Feb. 27, Singapore charged three men with fraud, with local broadcaster CNA saying it understood the cases are linked to the alleged movement of Nvidia chips.
#malaysia #nvidia #fraud
"The question is whether Malaysia was a final destination or from Malaysia, it went to somewhere else, which we do not know for certain at this point," Shanmugam told reporters.
He said such servers are imported by data center companies such as Microsoft, AWS and Google.
Singapore's Shanmugam had said Nvidia's chips were embedded in servers supplied by Dell and Supermicro to Singapore-based companies, before they went to Malaysia. He added that "there may have been false representation on the final destination of the servers."
!summarize #china #huawei #trifold #sales #expansion #smartphone
NASA captures XB-1’s supersonic shockwave as it breaks the sound barrier
US company Boom Supersonic collaborated with NASA to obtain specialized photographs of the supersonic test.
An XB-1 aircraft’s shock waves created during a supersonic flight have been captured using specialized ground-based photography.
January saw XB-1 make history as the first privately developed civil supersonic aircraft to break the sound barrier in the United States.
On February 10th, it achieved another successful supersonic flight.
US company Boom Supersonic collaborated with NASA on the second flight to obtain specialized photographs of the supersonic test.
A ground-based NASA team used Schlieren photography to capture and visualize the shock waves created by XB-1’s supersonic flight.
#nasa #xb1 #supersonic #soundbarrier
NASA also gathered acoustic data from XB-1’s flight. Interestingly, the analysis showed that no sonic boom was audible on the ground during the supersonic flight.
“This image makes the invisible visible—the first American-made civil supersonic jet breaking the sound barrier. Thanks to Geppetto’s [pilot] exceptional flying and our partnership with NASA, we were able to capture this iconic image,” said Blake Scholl, Founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic.
“We also confirmed that XB-1 made no audible sonic boom, which paves the way for coast-to-coast flights up to 50% faster,” Scholl added.
Vortion: New magnetic state can mimic biological synapses, improve data storage
Researchers develop voltage-controlled ‘vortion’ for energy-efficient data storage, mimicking biological synapses for neuromorphic computing.
A ccording to estimates, 2.5 quintillion bytes of data is generated every day, indicating the need for highly efficient data storage solutions.
Researchers have now developed a voltage-controlled magnetic memory as an energy-efficient alternative. The research led by scientists from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) introduces a new magnetic state called a magneto-ionic vortex, or “vortion.”
#vortion #magneticstate #synapses #biology #datastorage
Modern data storage relies on magnetic materials to store data, with information encoded on the magnetic moments of the atoms in the material. Magnetic moments are like compass needles and can point in two directions, representing bits (0 or 1).
The magnetic moment direction is manipulated and read to store and retrieve data using electric currents. This generates a lot of heat, resulting in significant power loss.
The vortion addresses this problem by using voltage instead of current to control the magnetic moments.
!summarize #agi #voice #technology #ai
I like the phrase "'Her' is here" I assume it's a reference to the movie!
Valve Shuts Down Rumors Of A Steam Deck Pro Releasing Anytime Soon
The latest Steam Deck news video covers various topics, including the debunking of rumors about a Steam Deck Pro. Valve's Pier Lupe confirmed that there are no plans for a Steam Deck Pro, despite speculation about a new APU. However, the host remains hopeful that an upgrade to the Steam Deck's APU might still happen in the future.
Other news includes a new Steam Deck accessory, a wall mount called Mech Lock, and a fanatical bundle deal with various games. Additionally, the game Split Fiction has been verified for the Steam Deck, and an estimated 3.7 million Steam Decks have been sold since its launch. A massive game bundle deal is also available, with 187 games for $10, supporting the California fire relief.
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Australia’s first nuclear reactor retires after powering science for 70 years
ANSTO begins decommissioning Australia’s historic HIFAR reactor, marking a milestone in nuclear history after nearly 70 years.
Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has embarked on a major decommissioning project for the country’s first nuclear research reactor.
Located at Lucas Heights, HIFAR was opened back in 1958 by Australian Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies. It remained operational for nearly 50 years before being replaced by ANSTO’s current research reactor, OPAL, in 2007.
The commencement of the decommissioning project follows a license issued in late 2024 by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) for the initial stages of dismantling.
#nuclear #reactor #closure #energy #australia
ANSTO CEO Shaun Jenkinson reflected on the significance of HIFAR, stating, “Australia’s nuclear age was formally ushered in with the commissioning of HIFAR, which has remained an iconic landmark on ANSTO’s campus.”
“The distinctive white circular steel frame of the HIFAR facility has been a prominent fixture of Lucas Heights and across the valley here in southern Sydney for nearly 70 years,” he added.
Decommissioning nuclear reactor
The decommissioning of HIFAR is a complex, multi-stage process that will be carried out in line with international best practices.
ANSTO’s extensive experience in radiation protection, safety, and engineering will play a crucial role in ensuring safe and efficient decommissioning.
UK nuclear fusion gun startup pivots to space tech after ditching reactor plans
First Light Fusion’s strategy shift creates a “capital-light, high-margin business that will generate revenue from this year.”
Oxfordshire-based startup First Light Fusion has announced a big shift in its nuclear gun strategy. The company will no longer develop a proposed ignition demonstration plant called Machine 4.
Instead, it aims to commercialize its technology for various applications within the defense and space sectors.
In 2022, the company announced its prototype, the Big Friendly Gun (BFG). This technology would allow it to achieve nuclear fusion without relying on lasers and powerful magnets.
#uk #nuclear #fusion #gun #spacetech #reactor
First Light Fusion’s nuclear fusion ‘gun’
First Light Fusion claims it has shifted its strategy to start making revenue as soon as this year. Nuclear fusion famously has the potential to alter the energy landscape completely. The method produces power using the same method as the Sun and the stars.
Fusion occurs when two atoms slam together to form a heavier nucleus, releasing vast amounts of energy.
However, fusion companies require much investment to make incremental steps towards this ultimate goal. They also rely on the promise of fusion becoming a reality in the not-too-distant future.
First Light Fusion claims its pistol shrimp-inspired technology could cut costs by removing the need for powerful magnets required to control the fiery plasma for the nuclear fusion process. The company’s Big Friendly Gun (BFG) is a massive £1.1 million ($1.27 million) steel gun that fires a high-velocity piston with 6.6 lbs of gunpowder.
Make Portable Gaming Great Again
The video takes a nostalgic look at portable console gaming, reminiscing about the good old days of Game Boy, PSP, and Nintendo DS. The host recalls how these handheld consoles provided endless entertainment during childhood, allowing kids to escape into virtual worlds like Donkey Kong, Final Fantasy, and Pokémon.
With Sony and Microsoft confirming their plans to release new portable consoles and Nintendo expected to announce a Switch successor, the host is excited about the potential for innovation in the handheld market. They express hope that Sony will create a console that combines the PS5 controller's features with the creativity of games like Astro's Playroom, and that Nintendo will continue to experiment with unique gameplay experiences.
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Stuff at CES I Would Actually Buy
The video showcases various products from CES that caught the creator's attention. One of the products is the Mecha Comet, a portable mini Linux machine designed for tinkerers. It has a 1.8 GHz processor, 4 gigs of RAM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 32 gigs of flash storage.
The creator also checked out the Atari Game Station Go, a handheld console with a 720p display, USBC charging, and an HDMI port. Additionally, they visited the XR booth, which featured AR glasses with a 100in theater screen experience. The creator also saw the ulone booth, which showcased insanely durable phones with long battery life, and the Cotus Mind 2, a mini PC with a battery that can be docked and used as a portable PC.
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