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Carlo Ancelotti set to leave Real Madrid to become Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti set to leave Real Madrid to become Brazil coach Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is set to leave the Spanish club at the end of the season to become the new national team coach of Brazil. The 64-year-old Italian is poised to officially take charge of Brazil after the conclusion of the La Liga season on 26 May. He leaves the Santiago Bernabeu as one of the club’s most successful managers. Ancelotti won 15 trophies across two spells as Real manager and last season led Los Blancos to a Champions League and La Liga double. Source link #Carlo #Ancelotti #set #leave #Real #Madrid #Brazil #coach Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cyber Stan Is Getting Out of Hand, Triggering General Brasch’s Personal Intervention Cyber Stan Is Getting Out of Hand, Triggering General Brasch’s Personal Intervention The Helldivers 2 community has once again proven that no amount of bug splatter or bot dismantling can stop their meme-making capabilities. While Super Earth’s finest continue their valiant struggle against the Automaton forces, a new threat has emerged from the depths of Reddit that makes even the most hardened veterans question their sanity: Cyber Stan. This isn’t your average Automaton. No, this mechanical menace appears to be the bot equivalent of the legendary John Helldiver—a perfect counter to Super Earth’s greatest champion. And he’s bringing reinforcements that nobody saw coming. The clash of the century: John Helldiver vs. Cyber Stan The situation on the bot front in Helldivers 2 has escalated beyond High Command’s wildest nightmares. What started as a routine push toward Cyberstan has morphed into something far more sinister. According to intelligence reports (read: Reddit memes), Cyber Stan has emerged as the Automatons’ champion, forged in the “Deep Mantle Forge” with the sole purpose of forcing “socialist ideals” upon liberty-loving citizens everywhere: The threat is so severe that General Brasch himself—Super Earth’s oldest and most grizzled war hero—has personally intervened. Known for his catchphrase “BRASCH TACTICS! Use ’em or die tryin’!” the General isn’t taking any chances with this mechanical monstrosity. His disappointment with recent Helldiver failures has pushed him to take matters into his own hands. Comment byu/TotallyRelevantGuy from discussion inHelldivers Not to be outdone, Super Earth has “unthawed” their greatest asset: John Helldiver. The fact that he’s been “unthawed” rather than “thawed” suggests our hero will be orbital dropped while still frozen solid—yet somehow still capable of spreading managed democracy with extreme prejudice. That’s the kind of dedication to liberty that makes Super Earth proud. Comment byu/TotallyRelevantGuy from discussion inHelldivers The community’s creativity doesn’t stop with Cyber Stan. Recent developments in the actual game have seen players pushing back against Automaton forces, with the real Cyberstan potentially becoming a battleground soon. Freddy Fazbear joins the Automaton forces Those bots are outsourcing terror now?! | Image Credit: Scott Cawthon Just when you thought the situation couldn’t get more absurd, reports indicate that Cyber Stan has recruited an unlikely ally: Freddy Fazbear. Yes, that Freddy Fazbear. The animatronic terror has apparently joined forces with the Automatons, creating what military analysts are calling “a nightmare scenario for democracy”: Comment byu/TotallyRelevantGuy from discussion inHelldivers The psychological impact of seeing Freddy Fazbear descending from an Automaton dropship cannot be overstated. Several Helldivers have reported symptoms of extreme terror, followed by hysterical laughter, followed by more terror. It’s a devastating combination that threatens Super Earth’s war effort: Comment byu/TotallyRelevantGuy from discussion inHelldivers High Command has classified these sightings as “definitely not hallucinations caused by extended exposure to bug acid,” insisting instead that they represent a new psychological warfare tactic by the Automatons. The sight of Freddy being airlifted into battle has already become the stuff of nightmares for frontline troops: Comment byu/TotallyRelevantGuy from discussion inHelldivers While some might dismiss this as mere community brain rot, others see it as the ultimate showdown. As one fellow diver put it: Comment byu/TotallyRelevantGuy from discussion inHelldivers With the actual Cyberstan update likely looming on the horizon and new enemy types like the Iron Legion and Assault Striders appearing in game files, the community’s meme-fueled anticipation continues to grow. Whether Cyber Stan and Freddy Fazbear will make official appearances remains to be seen. Have you encountered Cyber Stan or his animatronic ally in your missions? Share your most ridiculous Helldivers 2 meme encounters in the comments below! Source link #Cyber #Stan #Hand #Triggering #General #Braschs #Personal #Intervention Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Freepik launches new enterprise AI plan – but is it enough to tackle Adobe’s dominance in the field? Freepik launches new enterprise AI plan – but is it enough to tackle Adobe’s dominance in the field? Freepik unveils new AI plan for enterprise users Unlimited users and legal protections among benefits It seems to me, the company’s trying to take on Adobe’s own “commercially-safe” AI generation Freepik, the creative design suite, has unveiled a new plan aimed at attracting large B2B teams to its platform – and comparisons to Adobe’s own approach to AI tools for business users is hard to miss. Dubbed Freepik Enterprise, the plan offers a range of benefits to business users, including rights over their AI-created assets, third-party integrations with the likes of Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Adobe Creative Cloud, and that all important legal indemnity. On the face of it, this looks to me like the company is starting to park its tanks on Adobe’s lawn. As adoption of Adobe Firefly rises, Freepik will be keen to move some of its 64 million users over to the new enterprise plan with a host of business-centric features and benefits. You may like What can users expect from Freepik’s enterprise plan? According to Freepik, this new tier is designed for those who need “secure, scalable creative tools,” with the company aiming to attract teams across media, marketing, and technology who want to integrate AI into the wider workflow. With this in mind, users are being offered, among other things, free reign to create on-brand assets, training AI with internal assets, single sign-on (SSO), and greater legal protections. Centralised management is also part of the package, with the company claiming this will help streamline account and asset administration. Arguably, the most attractive benefit is the unlimited aspects, where users will have full access to the AI suite for generating images, video, and content. Expect no user limits here, as Freepik states this plan is “built for real teams.” Firms will also own the rights over AI-generated content, with the option to use and modify what they create across the board, covered by legal indemnity, protecting users against possible lawsuits when deploying them in a commercial setting. What I especially like is the guarantee that neither Freepik, nor its third-party providers, will re-use enterprise subscribers’ AI-generated assets or data for future AI training. Support forms a large part of the offering. The company says it intends to deliver guidance, training, and legal assistance around IP and copyright – one of the chief concerns around AI usage in the workplace. Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Given this is targeting corporations, security and compliance are also topping the bill, where GDPR, ISO/IEC 27001 and 27002, SOC 2 Type II are built into the service. Speaking about the new plan, José Florido, Chief Market Development Officer at Freepik, said: “It’s no longer just about downloading visual assets. Large companies are looking for solutions that help them integrate AI across all their processes, offering scalability, legal compliance, and deep customization of their resources. Freepik Enterprise directly addresses that need.” You can check out Freepik Enterprise by clicking here, and the company is currently giving users a three-month trial before an annual subscription is required. You might also like Source link #Freepik #launches #enterprise #plan #tackle #Adobes #dominance #field Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pamphlet criticising planned development of park near hospice in Western Suburbs called ‘outrageous’ Pamphlet criticising planned development of park near hospice in Western Suburbs called ‘outrageous’ Opponents of a park planned to brighten the view of terminally-sick kids at Perth’s first children’s hospice have been slammed for suggesting it could cost locals access to the beach. Source link #Pamphlet #criticising #planned #development #park #hospice #Western #Suburbs #called #outrageous Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple could soon fix Wi-Fi access woes across all your devices Apple could soon fix Wi-Fi access woes across all your devices Table of Contents Table of Contents Why does it matter? How is Apple fixing the situation? One of the biggest hassles while traveling is the hunt for a decent internet connection, and then getting it to work across all your devices. The conundrum is now mainstream across hotels, lodges, and coffee shops — essentially all the establishments a person is supposed to spend a few hours of their day, but needs to fill a web form first before they can get internet access. Apple will soon put an end to those Wi-Fi registration struggles. According to Bloomberg, the company is working on “a system that can synchronize captive Wi-Fi access details across the iPhone, iPad and Mac.” Why does it matter? A lot of people these days prefer to work from coffee shops or libraries. Over time, these establishments have shifted from offering unlimited Wi-Fi to a limited data packet per customer, one that works after registering your phone number or email address in order to get an OTP before you get access. Yugandhar Bonde / Pexels The situation gets even more complicated with hotel chains and hostels, where you are required to fill in more details. The higher you go on the premium accommodation scale, the more frustrating it gets, thanks in no small part to the lengthy customer forms that require filling out across all devices. These Wi-Fi portals also have a high rate of failure, so I don’t even bother with my other devices and simply go with the initial registration on my phone. For the rest of my devices, a mobile data hotspot handles my work, even though it reflects on my inflated carrier bills each month. How is Apple fixing the situation? With the upcoming feature, Apple will save the user’s details when they fill out a captive Wi-Fi form and sync it across all their devices. Think of it as your web browser saving all your details, such as name, address, and even preferred payment mode, so that you don’t have to fill it all in again. Timothy Hales Bennett / Unsplash Of course, it’s an opt-in system, but it saves a lot of time. Instead of taking a web-based approach, Apple is implementing the convenience across hardware. “This new feature will let you enter that information on one device and have it sync to your other products,” says the Bloomberg report. It seems this feature could arrive with the upcoming iOS 19 update, which is going to be unveiled at Apple’s WWDC event in June. The Wi-Fi detail syncing tool is quite useful, though not entirely surprising. Apple has built a robust cross-device syncing ecosystem with tools such as Universal Control, Handoff, cross-device clipboard, and more — all of which are tied to a single account. In addition to Wi-Fi form syncing, Apple is also said to be prepping a desktop mode system for iPhones. For its tablets, the company is hoping to bring a more macOS-like makeover to iPadOS. Source link #Apple #fix #WiFi #access #woes #devices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Flight reduction planned at Newark airport amid another outage and technical issues Flight reduction planned at Newark airport amid another outage and technical issues For the third time in fewer than two weeks, there was a system outage at the Federal Aviation Administration facility handling flights at Newark Liberty Airport. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says airlines will reduce flights in and out of the airport for at least a few weeks and is pledging to make needed upgrades at Newark as technical problems continue, causing staffing problems and customer concern. Source link #Flight #reduction #planned #Newark #airport #outage #technical #issues Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Corsair Vengeance RGB CUDIMM DDR5-8400 C40 2x24GB Review: Shiny and speedy but on the pricey side Corsair Vengeance RGB CUDIMM DDR5-8400 C40 2x24GB Review: Shiny and speedy but on the pricey side Why you can trust Tom’s Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test. The Vengeance RGB CUDIMM DDR5-8400 C40 appears to possess the capability to compete with the best RAM. The DDR5 memory standard has significantly evolved since its introduction about five years ago. Starting from humble beginnings at DDR5-4800, DDR5 has advanced past DDR5-10000. While several manufacturers have validated ultra-fast memory kits that exceed the mythical threshold, these options are unavailable to the public in the meantime. Retail DDR5 memory kits currently max out around DDR5-9000, but make no mistake: faster offerings are on the way. With the Vengeance RGB CUDIMM DDR5-8400 C40, Corsair wants to provide enthusiasts with a middle ground between DDR5-8000 and DDR5-9000. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Vengeance CUDIMMs share the same design as the standard Vengeance DDR5 memory modules, but Corsair introduced subtle adjustments to set them apart. The key distinctions in the CUDIMMs lie in the color scheme and finish. The Vengeance RGB CUDIMMs feature a silver aluminum heat spreader with an attractive, glossy finish. The recurring pattern of small triangles is still present, but the mirrored surface causes the triangles to shine vividly when light strikes the heat spreader. Corsair Vengeance RGB CUDIMM DDR5-8400 C40 at Newegg for $339.99 Corsair offers its Vengeance CUDIMMs in both standard and RGB versions. The standard version stands 1.38 inches (35mm) tall, while the RGB version is taller at 1.74 inches (44mm). The RGB CUDIMMs feature a light bar with ten-zone dynamic lighting. Although Corsair’s RGB lighting is compatible with most motherboard systems, you’re still stuck with the brand’s iCUE software if you want complete control over the illumination and effects. You may like Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) This 48GB memory kit includes two 24GB DDR5 modules featuring a single-rank design. The custom ****** PCB accommodates eight SK hynix H5CGD8MGBDX021 (M-die) integrated circuits (ICs) arranged on one side. Each 24GB module contains M-die ICs with a capacity of 3GB each. The power management IC (PMIC), MPSB5431CS03, is provided by Monolithic Power Systems (MPS), while the client clock driver (CKD) is the DR5CKD1GC0 from Rambus, integrated into these Vengeance CUDIMMs. It is important to note that AMD’s current 800-series platform does not fully support CUDIMMs. They will operate, albeit in bypass mode, which results in the loss of the CKD functionality. The default settings for the Vengeance CUDIMMs are DDR5-5600 with 48-48-48-90 timings. These memory modules are intended for Intel platforms, which means they only support XMP 3.0. The DDR5-8400 profile will adjust the CUDIMMs to operate at 40-52-52-135 with a DRAM voltage of 1.4V. Interestingly, Corsair has not included backup profiles, a feature typically found in its high-end memory kits. See our PC Memory 101 feature and How to Shop for RAM story for more timings and frequency considerations. Comparison Hardware Swipe to scroll horizontally Memory Kit Part Number Capacity Data Rate Primary Timings Voltage Warranty G.Skill Trident Z5 CK F5-8800C4255H24GX2-TZ5CK 2 x 24GB DDR5-8800 (XMP) 42-55-55-140 (2T) 1.45 Lifetime Corsair Vengeance RGB CUDIMM CMHC48GX5M2X8400C40 2 x 24GB DDR5-8400 (XMP) 40-52-52-135 (2T) 1.40 Lifetime TeamGroup T-Force Xtreem FFPD548G7200HC34ADC01 2 x 24GB DDR5-7200 (XMP) 34-42-42-84 (2T) 1.40 Lifetime G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB F5-7200J3646F24GX2-TZ5RK 2 x 24GB DDR5-7200 (XMP) 36-46-46-115 (2T) 1.35 Lifetime Corsair Dominator Titanium First Edition CMP48GX5M2X7200C36FEW 2 x 24GB DDR5-7200 (XMP) 36-46-46-116 (2T) 1.40 Lifetime Today’s best Corsair Vengeance RGB CUDIMM DDR5-8400 C40 deals Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Intel system comprises the Core Ultra 9 285K and the MSI MEG Z890 Unify-X (7E20v1A41 firmware). In contrast, the AMD system employs the Ryzen 9 9900X and MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi (7E49v1A23 firmware). The Corsair iCUE Link Titan 360 RX LCD CPU liquid cooler effectively maintains the operating temperatures of both the Arrow Lake and Zen 5 processors under optimal conditions. The MSI GeForce RTX 4080 16GB Gaming X Trio addresses the more graphics-intensive workloads, ensuring that our gaming RAM benchmarks do not have a graphics bottleneck. TeamGroup’s A440 Lite PCIe 4.0 SSD balances performance and storage capacity, with 2TB of high-speed storage up to 7,400 MB/s for our Windows 11 24H2 installation, benchmarking software, and games. Meanwhile, the Corsair RM1000x Shift ATX 3.0 power supply delivers a reliable and ample power source to our test systems, directly feeding the GeForce RTX 4080 with a native 16-pin (12VHPWR) power cable. Finally, the Streacom BC1 open-air test bench accommodates all of our hardware. Swipe to scroll horizontally Component Intel System AMD System Processor Intel Core Ultra 9 285K AMD Ryzen 9 9900X Motherboard MSI MEG Z890 Unify-X MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi Graphics Card MSI GeForce RTX 4080 16GB Gaming X Trio MSI GeForce RTX 4080 16GB Gaming X Trio Storage TeamGroup A440 Lite 2TB TeamGroup A440 Lite 2TB Cooling Corsair iCUE Link Titan 360 RX LCD Corsair iCUE Link Titan 360 RX LCD Power Supply Corsair RM1000x Shift Corsair RM1000x Shift Case Streacom BC1 Streacom BC1 Intel Performance Image 1 of 23 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Vengeance RGB CUDIMM DDR5-8400 memory kit demonstrated commendable performance in our benchmarks. It presently holds the third overall position among the 48GB (2x24GB) memory kits we’ve reviewed. In addition to its superior performance in the Microsoft Office benchmark, Corsair’s memory kit excelled in the 7-Zip workloads, taking home the crown in both compression and decompression tests. Regarding gaming, the Vengeance RGB CUDIMM DDR5-8400 memory kit ranks alongside the Trident Z5 CK DDR5-8800, establishing both as the fastest 48GB memory kits available for gaming purposes. AMD Performance Regrettably, DDR5-8800 exceeds the limitations of our Ryzen 9 9900X sample. The integrated memory controller (IMC) of the 12-core Zen 5 processor cannot accommodate memory of this speed. Consequently, our system would not post with DDR5-8800 memory. Unfortunately, AMD’s existing platform doesn’t fully leverage CUDIMMs’ potential. Although we had better luck with the Ryzen 7 9700X sample, our system remained unstable and frequently encountered BSOD errors. Due to the extent of the system instability, the Ryzen 7 9700X could not satisfactorily complete our benchmarking tests. Overclocking and Latency Tuning Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) SK hynix M-die ICs are always a pleasure to overclock, and the Vengeance CUDIMMs are no exception. Increasing the DRAM voltage from 1.4V to 1.45V easily achieved DDR5-8800 while maintaining the exact 40-52-52-135 timings as DDR5-8400. The M-die ICs might have additional overclocking headroom, which would require sacrificing memory timings. DDR5-8800 with a CAS Latency (CL) of 40 cycles is quite good, so we opted not to pursue higher overclocks. Lowest Stable Timings Swipe to scroll horizontally Memory Kit DDR5-7200 (1.45V) DDR5-7200 (1.5V) DDR5-7600 (1.45V) DDR5-7800 (1.45V) DDR5-8800 (1.45V) DDR5-9200 (1.50V) G.Skill Trident Z5 CK DDR5-8800 C42 N/A 40-52-52-134 (2T) N/A N/A N/A 42-55-55-140 (2T) Corsair Vengeance RGB CUDIMM DDR5-8400 C40 38-50-50-128 (2T) N/A N/A N/A 40-52-52-135 (2T) N/A Corsair Dominator Titanium First Edition DDR5-7200 C36 34-42-42-82 (2T) N/A N/A 36-46-46-116 (2T) N/A N/A TeamGroup T-Force Xtreem DDR5-7200 C34 N/A N/A 36-46-46-86 (2T) N/A N/A N/A G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-7200 C36 34-42-42-84 (2T) N/A 36-46-46-115 (2T) N/A N/A N/A While M-die ICs generally show excellent overclocking potential, they do not perform as effectively with tight timing configurations. With the same 1.45V DRAM voltage as before, we tried to achieve the lowest possible timings at DDR5-8400. The outcome did not disappoint us. The memory ran fine with 38-50-50-128 timings, a few clock cycles lower than the advertised DDR5-8400 profile. The configuration was borderline stable, and with M-die ICs, you take anything you can get. Bottom Line The Vengeance RGB CUDIMM DDR5-8400 C40 doesn’t have many weak points. The usual disclaimer applies to CUDIMMs and AMD’s current platform. The primary limitation, not with the memory kit but instead processor support, is its design orientation towards Intel Arrow Lake processors; consequently, getting the memory to work stably on an AMD platform poses a significant challenge since CUDIMMs aren’t fully supported. If you look past this impediment, you will see that the memory kit encompasses all the characteristics one would anticipate from a premium DDR5 memory kit. The standard retail price for the memory kit is $349.99, which will deter many potential buyers. The Vengeance RGB CUDIMM DDR5-8400 C40 faces considerable challenges in competing, particularly considering that comparable memory kits in this segment commence at $249.99. Additionally, the Trident Z5 CK DDR5-8800 C42, which provides superior performance, is priced $30 lower than the Vengeance memory kit. Corsair Vengeance RGB CUDIMM DDR5-8400 C40: Price Comparison Source link #Corsair #Vengeance #RGB #CUDIMM #DDR58400 #C40 #2x24GB #Review #Shiny #speedy #pricey #side Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

U.S. and China to ease tariffs significantly for 90 days, White House announces U.S. and China to ease tariffs significantly for 90 days, White House announces The U.S. and China have agreed to a temporary but significant easing of the tariffs imposed over the last couple months, the country’s said in a joint statement shared by the White House, heralding significant success in trade negotiations that ramped up over the weekend. In the joint statement released early Monday morning, the two sides said they had agreed that ongoing “discussions have the potential to address the concerns of each side in their economic and trade relationship,” and that “moving forward in the spirit of mutual opening, continued communication, cooperation, and mutual respect,” both parties had committed to a 90-day suspension of most of the levies imposed since early April. “We have reached an agreement on a 90-day pause,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters in Geneva, Switzerland, where he spent the weekend in meetings with ******** counterparts. He said Washington and Beijing would reduce their reciprocal tariffs by 115 percentage points for three months to give the negotiations room to move forward. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (R) and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer hold a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland, May 12, 2025, to give details of “substantial progress” following a two-day closed-door meeting between U.S. and ******** officials aimed at ending a tariff war. FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Bessent said the temporary reductions would effectively reduce the level of U.S. tariffs still in place on ******** goods to about 30%, while China was reducing its levies on American imports to 10%. The White House’s imposition of levies amounting to some 145% on all goods imported from China, and Beijing’s retaliatory tariffs of 125% on American imports, had cast a long shadow over global financial markets as the world’s two biggest economies spent the early spring appearing to entrench in a trade war. The high tariffs had virtually frozen trade between the U.S. and China, with major American ports reporting a drastic drop in traffic. “The consensus from both delegations this weekend is neither side wants a decoupling,” Bessent told reporters in Geneva on Monday. “And what had occurred with these very high tariff… was an embargo, the equivalent of an embargo, and neither side wants that. We do want trade. We want more balanced trade. And I think that both sides are committed to achieving that.” In another sign that the U.S. may be ready to relent on its protectionist trade policies, President Trump on May 8 announced a pact with the United Kingdom under which the U.S. will lower tariffs on British cars from 27.5% to 10%, while also scrapping levies on steel and aluminum. Stock market boost Commodities and currency markets in Asia and beyond were buoyed significantly on the news of a breakthrough in the negotiations on Monday. Stock futures in the U.S. also soared, with the Dow gaining more than 1,000 points ahead of trade opening in New York on Monday, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite jumped 3.2% and 4%, respectively. Speaking Sunday, Bessent said there had been “substantial progress” in the talks between U.S. and ******** officials in Geneva, while Greer teased that an agreement had been reached but offered no details. “It’s important to understand how quickly we were able to come to agreement, which reflects that perhaps the differences were not so large as far as maybe thought,” Greer told reporters on Sunday. Despite the cooldown, some Wall Street analysts questioned whether the truce will last and if the sides are committed to forging a more permanent agreement to ease tensions. Bessent “stated that neither the U.S. nor China wants decoupling. We are skeptical,” Wei Yao, head of research Asia Pacific at Societe Generale Group. “To us, the thinking on reducing reliance on China for the supply of critical material seems more permanent, even though the U.S. may not mind continuing to buy clothes, toys or even iPhones from China.” More from CBS News Tucker Reals Tucker Reals is CBSNews.com’s foreign editor, based in the CBS News London bureau. He has worked for CBS News since 2006, prior to which he worked for The Associated Press in Washington, D.C., and London. Source link #U.S #China #ease #tariffs #significantly #days #White #House #announces Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

KindlyMD merging with Trump crypto advisor David Bailey’s Nakamoto KindlyMD merging with Trump crypto advisor David Bailey’s Nakamoto People walk past an advertisement feature Donald Trump with Bitcoin in Hong Kong. May James | Lightrocket | Getty Images Shares of KindlyMD skyrocketed 600% Monday after the healthcare company announced a merger with Nakamoto Holdings, a bitcoin investment company founded by David Bailey, a key cryptocurrency advisor to President Donald Trump. The newly formed company has secured $200 million in convertible debt and $510 million in fresh capital through a private investment in public equity (PIPE) deal, offering shares at $1.12 each. The raise drew support from more than 200 investors, including Actai Ventures, Arrington Capital, BSQ Capital Partners, Kingsway, Van Eck, and Yorkville Advisors. Read more about tech and crypto from CNBC Pro The roster of individual investors reads like a who’s who of bitcoin — cryptographer Adam Back; Balaji Srinivasan, a former Coinbase executive; Jihan Wu, co-founder of Bitmain; and Ricardo Salinas, the ******** billionaire who has become one of bitcoin’s most vocal supporters. Bitcoin was trading above $104,000 Monday morning. The price of the crytocurrency lept above $100,000 on Thursday for the first time since February. Shares of KindlyMD will continue to trade under the “KDLY” ticker. The combined company expects to be renamed and will get a new ticker symbol. Nakamoto, led by Bailey as CEO, will focus on acquiring and holding bitcoin — a strategy that has become popular among investment firms seeking to turn their stock into a direct bet on the cryptocurrency’s price. “We believe a future is coming where every balance sheet – public or private – holds bitcoin,” Bailey said in a press release. Bailey isn’t the first to chase this model. Michael Saylor’s Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) transformed itself from a software company into a bitcoin holding firm in 2020, converting its cash reserves into bitcoin and watching its stock skyrocket as bitcoin’s value surged. But KindlyMD’s foray into crypto is even stranger, given that the company built its brand around combating opioid addiction with holistic health services. “This merger represents a strategic leap for KindlyMD, allowing us to expand our mission,” said Tim Pickett, CEO of KindlyMD. “Nakamoto brings in a team with deep expertise in Bitcoin strategy and unparalleled access to the leading experts in bitcoin treasury management.” Pickett, who will continue to oversee KindlyMD’s healthcare operations, insisted that the clinics will maintain their focus on treating opioid addiction and offering patient-first care. “It’s a bold new vision that will drive long-term value for our shareholders,” added Pickett. WATCH: How Trump was ‘orange-pilled’ by three bitcoiners in Puerto Rico Source link #KindlyMD #merging #Trump #crypto #advisor #David #Baileys #Nakamoto Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Goku Is Single-Handedly Stopping a 4-Year-Old Guilty Gear Game From Imploding Goku Is Single-Handedly Stopping a 4-Year-Old Guilty Gear Game From Imploding For years, fans have joked that Goku can do anything. He can beat Superman, bend the laws of physics, and now apparently, he’s been holding the entire Guilty Gear game together with nothing but his metaphorical (and maybe literal?) Saiyan strength. Players recently uncovered that Goku, or rather a mysterious in-game file cheekily named after him, is acting as a load-bearing file preventing the four-year-old Guilty Gear Strive from collapsing into a digital ****** hole. And honestly? Fans couldn’t be happier. The Saiyan patchwork holding Guilty Gear Strive together In what might be one of the strangest, most delightful discoveries in recent fighting game history, data miners and modders have found that Goku is the loading bearing file in Guilty Gear Strive. Yes, you read that correctly, the Saiyan (or at least the file named after him) is crucial to the game. If players remove or modify the file, the game starts stuttering, menus vanish, and combos misfire into oblivion. It turns out Arc System Works, knowingly or not, created the most powerful character cameo in the game without even putting him on the roster. What’s even wilder is that while various fan-made mods over the years have allowed players to swing fists and toss Kamehamehas as Goku in Guilty Gear, nobody realized that the Saiyan was already baked into the game files themselves. Until now. All this time, without our knowledge, he was silently serving as the backbone of the code, the unseen champion making sure the frame data didn’t crumble into dust like a poorly timed Instant Kill. While the Saiyan has no official presence, this spiritual load-bearing cameo feels perfectly fitting. After all, who else but him, the anime character who once held back the literal collapse of universes in Dragon Ball Super, could be the glue keeping a beloved fighter upright in its fourth year? Fans are charging their Spirit Bombs in celebration He isn’t just fighting… he’s debugging as well. | Image Credit: Arc System Works Rather than being concerned about one file being able to break the entire game, the community has practically thrown a party. Memes and fan art are flooding the internet, depicting Goku in everything from Guilty Gear stages to being literally chained to the game. It’s a quirky, joyous celebration that only a fandom as passionate as Guilty Gear’s could pull off. More importantly, players are treating this discovery as a badge of honor. Some fans even joked that this is the closest we’ll ever get to Goku in an ArcSys fighter, considering how many years fans have been begging for him to appear in the game officially. Whether this was intentional wizardry by Arc System Works or just a hilarious accident of old code, one thing is clear: the Saiyan is, once again, saving the universe. So the next time your combos land perfectly and the rollback netcode holds steady, just say “Thank you, Goku.” Source link #Goku #SingleHandedly #Stopping #4YearOld #Guilty #Gear #Game #Imploding Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft Expands Copilot Pages to All Users, to Offer a Collaborative Space for Creative Projects Microsoft Expands Copilot Pages to All Users, to Offer a Collaborative Space for Creative Projects Microsoft is expanding Copilot Pages to all users globally. Announced last week, the new artificial intelligence space is a multiplayer collaborative space where the chatbot and humans can work together to edit and create content and documents. Copilot Pages was first introduced in September 2024 as part of the Microsoft 365 Copilot for enterprises. The Redmond-based tech giant is now expanding it to all signed-in users of the platform globally. It is available on both mobile apps as well as on desktops. Microsoft Pages Now Available to All Users In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), the official handle of Microsoft Copilot announced the new feature for the chatbot. Pages is not a new feature. Both OpenAI and Google have rolled out a feature dubbed Canvas that does the same thing as Pages. However, there are a few subtle differences. Gadgets 360 staff members were able to access Copilot Pages. Unlike in ChatGPT or Gemini, where users can select Canvas even before sending the prompt, Copilot Pages requires users to first write a prompt and get a response, and then activate the collaborative space. Pages offers a larger variety of formatting options compared to its rivals, and you will find options to increase indents, change text colour, and add a collapsible headline or a callout. Copilot Pages Photo Credit: Microsoft The pages are also visually better looking, and different options are easy to find. However, because of this rich interface, pages are also slower to load compared to Canvas in ChatGPT and Gemini. On several occasions, we had to wait upwards of 30 seconds to open a page (this was more frequent when navigating from one page to another). Copilot Pages also comes with options to add a table, a checklist or bullet points. Since it is a collaborative space, the user can highlight a sentence, a paragraph, or even a word and ask the chatbot to refine it. The users can ask Copilot to elaborate the text, shorten it, change its tone, make it simpler to understand, and so on. Same way, users can also share pages with other users and collaborate with them over projects. Source link #Microsoft #Expands #Copilot #Pages #Users #Offer #Collaborative #Space #Creative #Projects Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

British couple die after Ferrari plunges into river in Spain British couple die after Ferrari plunges into river in Spain A British couple have died in northern Spain after the sports car they were travelling in came off the road and landed in a river. The accident happened in a mountainous area in the region of León. The Civil Guard said the victims, a 78-year-old man and a 58-year-old woman, were driving through a rural area near the town of Boca de Huérgano when the Ferrari plunged into the Yuso river. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the families of a British man and woman who died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.” Source link #British #couple #die #Ferrari #plunges #river #Spain Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi 16 With Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 SoC Tipped to Launch in September Xiaomi 16 With Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 SoC Tipped to Launch in September Xiaomi 16 is expected to be unveiled in China later this year. The handset will likely come with some upgrades over the current Xiaomi 15, which was introduced in China alongside a Pro variant in October 2024. A tipster has shared the probable launch timeline of the purported handset and suggested some of its key specifications. It is expected to maintain the compact size of the preceding model. Notably, the company launched the base Xiaomi 15 and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra variant in India in March. Xiaomi 16 Launch: All We Know The Xiaomi 16 is expected to launch in China in September, according to a Weibo post by tipster Smart Pikachu. The purported handset is tipped to feature a small screen. An older leak claimed that the phone will sport a 6.32-inch display, slightly smaller than the Xiaomi 15, which carries a 6.36-inch 1.5K 8T LTPO screen. The tipster added that the Xiaomi 16 will likely be the first handset to launch with a Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 SoC. Qualcomm has not yet announced this chipset, although it is rumoured to offer 30 percent GPU and 25 percent CPU improvements over the existing Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. The anticipated chip is said to come with increased 16MB GPU cache as well as LPDDR6 or LPDDR5X RAM. An earlier leak suggested that the Xiaomi 16 is expected to pack a ******* battery than the Xiaomi 15, which has a 5,400mAh battery in China with 90W wired and 50W wireless charging support. The new leak claims that the rumoured handset may be backed by a larger 6,800mAh cell with 100W wired fast charging support. The Xiaomi 16 is said to come with a thin and light build. For optics, it may get a Leica-backed 50-megapixel triple rear camera setup, including a telephoto camera, similar to the current Xiaomi 15 handset. The anticipated smartphone could run on HyperOS 3 out-of-the-box, which will likely be based on Android 16. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. Source link #Xiaomi #Snapdragon #Elite #SoC #Tipped #Launch #September Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Russia faces sanctions if truce ignored, Germany says Russia faces sanctions if truce ignored, Germany says Germany warns Russia that “the clock is ticking” on abiding by a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine or else European countries will hit Moscow with new sanctions. Source link #Russia #faces #sanctions #truce #Germany Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft Expands Copilot Pages to All Users, to Offer a Collaborative Space for Creative Projects Microsoft Expands Copilot Pages to All Users, to Offer a Collaborative Space for Creative Projects Microsoft is expanding Copilot Pages to all users globally. Announced last week, the new artificial intelligence space is a multiplayer collaborative space where the chatbot and humans can work together to edit and create content and documents. Copilot Pages was first introduced in September 2024 as part of the Microsoft 365 Copilot for enterprises. The Redmond-based tech giant is now expanding it to all signed-in users of the platform globally. It is available on both mobile apps as well as on desktops. Microsoft Pages Now Available to All Users In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), the official handle of Microsoft Copilot announced the new feature for the chatbot. Pages is not a new feature. Both OpenAI and Google have rolled out a feature dubbed Canvas that does the same thing as Pages. However, there are a few subtle differences. Gadgets 360 staff members were able to access Copilot Pages. Unlike in ChatGPT or Gemini, where users can select Canvas even before sending the prompt, Copilot Pages requires users to first write a prompt and get a response, and then activate the collaborative space. Pages offers a larger variety of formatting options compared to its rivals, and you will find options to increase indents, change text colour, and add a collapsible headline or a callout. Copilot Pages Photo Credit: Microsoft The pages are also visually better looking, and different options are easy to find. However, because of this rich interface, pages are also slower to load compared to Canvas in ChatGPT and Gemini. On several occasions, we had to wait upwards of 30 seconds to open a page (this was more frequent when navigating from one page to another). Copilot Pages also comes with options to add a table, a checklist or bullet points. Since it is a collaborative space, the user can highlight a sentence, a paragraph, or even a word and ask the chatbot to refine it. The users can ask Copilot to elaborate the text, shorten it, change its tone, make it simpler to understand, and so on. Same way, users can also share pages with other users and collaborate with them over projects. Source link #Microsoft #Expands #Copilot #Pages #Users #Offer #Collaborative #Space #Creative #Projects Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Perfect’ girl dies months after appendix surgery ‘Perfect’ girl dies months after appendix surgery A mother has described how her six-year-old “perfect daughter” became seriously ill with sepsis and died seven months after having her appendix removed. After Ruby Trussler, from Harlow, Essex, felt unwell in October 2024, doctors at Princess Alexandra Hospital discovered abdominal adhesion, where a band of scar tissue sticks organs or tissues together. Ruby’s parents switched off her life support after her condition worsened, describing it as “the hardest thing we’ve ever done”. Sharon McNally, chief nurse and deputy chief executive at the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, said: “We offer our deepest condolences on the sad loss of Ruby and our thoughts continue to be with her family.” An inquest into Ruby’s death is due to open at Essex Coroner’s Court on 15 May. Her mother Emma Trussler, 45, said Ruby had surgery to remove her appendix in March 2024. Months later, in October, Ruby started complaining of stomach pains and had begun vomiting. Staff at Princess Alexandra Hospital then found the abdominal adhesion, which is listed by the NHS as a possible, although rare, complication of surgery for appendicitis. Ruby’s cause of death was listed as multiple organ failure caused by sepsis [Collect/PA Real Life] Ruby was transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge the following morning as her condition had worsened. Surgeons there tried to remove the adhesion, but found it had blocked blood flow to Ruby’s left leg, which was then amputated. The six-year-old was also found to have sepsis and never regained consciousness following the amputation and a procedure on 10 October to relieve pressure and drain fluid from her stomach. As her condition further worsened, she was also struggling to breathe. “They’d tried everything and we thought we couldn’t do this to her anymore,” Ms Trussler said. “Enough was enough. We had to make that decision.” On 11 October, her parents chose to withdraw life support. “The whole family was able to say goodbye to her,” Ms Trussler said. “It was the hardest thing we’ve ever done. She was the perfect daughter.” Doctors listed her cause of death as multiple organ failure caused by sepsis. Ruby was initially treated at A&E in Princess Alexandra Hospital [Collect/PA Real Life] The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust’s Ms McNally said: “We are unable to comment on individual cases, however, we have fully investigated the circumstances surrounding Ruby’s care and treatment at our hospital and with our partner organisations. “We are committed to ensuring that learning from any incident is part of our focus on continuous improvement.” Following Ruby’s death, a friend set up an online fundraiser to raise money for a family trip to Disneyland Paris. “Ruby’s dream was to go to Disneyland,” Ms Trussler said. “It’s so sad she’ll never go, but our whole family is going on her birthday in November this year to remember her.” Since Ruby’s death, Ms Trussler has raised more than £18,000 for Sepsis *** and, in May, she will be attempting the Three Peaks Challenge. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this storyRelated internet links Source link #Perfect #girl #dies #months #appendix #surgery Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Forget the Nintendo Switch 2 – MSI’s surprise new Steam Deck rival could be the handheld gaming device to get without costing a fortune Forget the Nintendo Switch 2 – MSI’s surprise new Steam Deck rival could be the handheld gaming device to get without costing a fortune MSI has a new Claw 8 AI+ model ready to ship for consumers on July 15 The Polar Tempest Edition features a new snow-white color scheme, and an optional 2TB of storage It will be available at $999 / around £990 / AU$1,890 MSI has quietly revealed a new model of its recent handheld on its main site, which features more powerful and beneficial specifications over the Nintendo Switch 2 – and it’s coming shortly after the console’s launch on June 5. As highlighted by VideoCardz, the new MSI Claw 8 AI+ Polar Tempest Edition features a new snow-white color scheme and an optional 2TB of storage available at $999 (around £990 / AU$1,890). It will reportedly ship to consumers on July 15. The base model starts at $900 / £899 / AU$1,799, and provides fantastic performance across several games using Intel’s Core Ultra 7 258V processor. It’s also worth noting that battery life is key with the Claw 8 AI+; it uses an 80 WHr battery and can still yield high frame rates at only 17W power usage. You may like This could likely be significantly better than the Switch 2’s 5220mAh battery, which should be roughly around 20 WHr. While the Claw 8 AI+ is undoubtedly the more expensive option, it’s likely going to outperform the Switch 2 in every region in terms of hardware and game performance. In a world of inflated GPU prices, consumers looking to dive into PC gaming could potentially be spending over $1,000 for hardware parts alone – and that’s without mentioning the cost of a pre-built system – and MSI’s handheld seems to be in a league of its own versus competitors like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally X. The only issue is that the base model already seems scarce in terms of availability in the US, and there’s a chance the same could happen to this new Polar Tempest Edition. Even worse, it could see a major price jump due to US tariffs. (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) If US tariffs affect the MSI Claw 8 AI+ price, then I’ll take back everything I’ve said Without sugarcoating it, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is a very expensive piece of hardware – and it’s quite possibly the only reason I wouldn’t recommend it for most gamers. It’s potentially only going to get worse if US tariffs impact its price; the 90-day pause on tariffs is keeping things steady for now, but if this changes, I’ll eat my words. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. However, compared to buying parts for a desktop gaming PC, it’s much cheaper, and its $450 (or more, depending on the configuration) higher cost over the Switch 2 is worth it considering the greater gaming performance capabilities. Traditionally, PC games are also cheaper to buy (especially since Nintendo revealed Switch 2 games could cost as much as $70), so if you want a large library, it could save you money in the long run (though, of course, you’ll be missing out on Nintendo’s first party exclusives, which could be a deal breaker). The Switch 2 is using Nvidia’s T239 chip, which will give users access to DLSS upscaling, but it’s hard to see this being enough to power demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, let alone compete with other handheld gaming PCs. I won’t pretend that $900 / $899 / AU$1,799 isn’t much, especially for most gamers on a budget, but if I had the choice of buying a Switch 2 or saving for an MSI Claw 8 AI+, I’m picking the latter. You may also like… Source link #Forget #Nintendo #Switch #MSIs #surprise #Steam #Deck #rival #handheld #gaming #device #costing #fortune Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump to sign most favored nation drug pricing order Trump to sign most favored nation drug pricing order President Donald Trump on Monday will revive a controversial policy that aims to slash drug costs by tying the amount the government pays for some medicines to lower prices abroad, White House officials said. “For too long, foreign nations have been able to free ride off of the American people, and American patients forced to pay for too much for prescription drugs,” one official told reporters on Monday. Trump will sign an executive order including several different actions to renew that effort, known as the “most favored nation” policy. But White House officials did not disclose which medications it will apply to. They said Monday’s announcement will be broader than a similar policy that Trump tried to push during his first term, which only applied to Medicare Part B drugs. It’s unclear how effective the policy will be at lowering costs for patients. In a social media post on Monday, Trump claimed drug prices will be cut by “59%, PLUS!” The order directs the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce to crack down on “unreasonable and discriminatory policies” in foreign countries that “suppress” drug prices abroad, the officials said. It also directs the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to encourage “most favored nation prices.” Within 30 days, the secretary will also have to set clear targets for price reductions across all markets in the U.S., according to the officials. It is Trump’s latest effort to try to rein in U.S. prescription drug prices, which are two to three times higher on average than those in other developed nations – and up to 10 times more than in certain countries, according to the Rand Corporation, a public policy think tank. The order is a blow to the pharmaceutical industry, which is already bracing for Trump’s planned tariffs on prescription drugs. Drugmakers have argued that the “most favored nation” policy would hurt their profits and ultimately, their ability to research and develop new medicines. But the policy could help patients by lowering prescription medication costs, which is an issue top of mind for many Americans. More than three in four adults in the U.S. say the cost of medications is unaffordable, according to a KFF poll from 2022. The industry also lobbied against similar Trump plans during his first term. He tried to push the policy through in the final months of that term, but a federal judge halted the effort following a lawsuit from the pharmaceutical industry. The Biden administration then rescinded that policy. White House officials initially pressed congressional Republicans to include a “most favored nation” provision in the major reconciliation bill they plan to pass in the coming months, but the policy would have specifically targeted Medicaid drug costs, Politico reported earlier this month. Several GOP members opposed that measure. The industry’s largest trade group, PhRMA, estimated that Trump’s Medicaid proposal could cost drugmakers as much as $1 trillion over a decade. Some health policy experts have said a “most favored nation” drug policy may not be effective at lowering medication costs. For example, USC experts said the policy “can’t undo the basic economics of the global drug marketplace,” where 70% of pharmaceutical profits worldwide come from the U.S. “Facing a choice between deep cuts in their U.S. pricing or the loss of weakly profitable overseas markets, we can expect many firms to pull out from overseas markets at their earliest opportunity,” experts said in a report in April. That will leave Americans paying the same amount for medciations, drugmakers with lower profits and future generations of patients with less innovation, they said. “In sum, everyone loses,” the experts said. Other experts have said another legal fight with the pharmaceutical industry could prevent the policy from taking effect. But even if the drug industry pushes back on Trump’s executive order, his administration still has another tool to push down drug prices: Medicare drug price negotiations. It’s a key provision of the Inflation Reduction Act that gives Medicare the power to negotiate certain prescription drug prices with manufacturers for the first time in history. Trump last month proposed a change to that policy that drugmakers have long sought. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle could be receptive to the idea, which proposes changing rules that differentiate between small-molecule drugs and biologic medicines. Trump last week said he plans to announce tariffs on medicines imported into the U.S. within the next two weeks. Those planned levies aim to boost domestic drug manufacturing. Drugmakers, including Eli Lilly and Pfizer, are pushing back on those potential duties. Some companies have questioned whether the tariffs are necessary, given that several of them have already announced new U.S. manufacturing and research and development investments since Trump took office. Still, Trump last week doubled down on efforts to reshore drug manufacturing. He signed an executive order that streamlines the path for drugmakers to build new production sites. Caplan noted that even if the drug industry pushes back on the executive order, the administration still has another tool at its disposal: Medicare drug pricing negotiations. Source link #Trump #sign #favored #nation #drug #pricing #order Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I found an app that overhauled my Mac’s audio, and I wish I found it sooner I found an app that overhauled my Mac’s audio, and I wish I found it sooner Table of Contents Table of Contents Power at your fingertips Sounds serene Apple’s macOS is a brilliant operating system, but there’s one thing it handles pretty poorly: audio. It’s such a fundamental part of any computing experience, yet it’s left me feeling disappointed, despite going through a ton of macOS updates over the years. Sure, macOS has some audio controls, but they’re fairly basic. There are sliders for volume and left/right balance, options for which speakers to play sound effects out of … and not a huge amount more. As well as that, everything except the actual volume level is hidden away in the System Settings app. You can mute the volume or turn it up and down using keyboard shortcuts, but every time you want to make more than just a small adjustment, you have to dig around in the settings. It’s not exactly optimal. Digital Trends If you find yourself frequently adjusting the volume of your Mac — or you just want a bit more power over how input and output sounds are handled on your computer — this whole situation is far from satisfactory. Luckily, I’ve found an app that fixes the audio on my Mac once and for all. It’s called SoundSource, and it’s developed by Rogue Amoeba, who also make other apps designed for audio nerds and tinkerers. SoundSource gives you a level of control over your Mac’s audio that Apple could only dream of. And it does this all while stowing away neatly in your menu bar, where it’s both out of the way and just a click away when you need it. Since I started using SoundSource, I’ve been amazed at how much easier it’s made managing my Mac’s audio output. It’s quickly become one of the best Mac apps around, and I install it on any new Mac I get. Simply put, I couldn’t do without it. Power at your fingertips Digital Trends Let me explain how SoundSource works. Once it’s installed, click the app’s menu bar icon and you’ll see a pop-out window filled with various audio options. There are sliders for output, input and sound effects, letting you control (or mute) them all individually. That’s good if you’re watching a movie, for instance, and still want to be able to hear your Mac’s alerts, but without them drowning out the action on-screen. You can also pick an output device for each option — like sending your music to a heavy-duty speaker set but keeping system sound effects on-device. Click the down arrow on the right-hand side and you’ll also find options for left/right balance, equalizers and effects. There’s plenty more power when you need to find it. It doesn’t end there — one of SoundSource’s real strengths is how it works with apps. Choose an app from the Add Favorite button at the bottom of SoundSource’s window and it’ll be pinned in place every time you open SoundSource, giving you access to adjustments with a quick click. Each app can be controlled independently of the overall output slider. That gives you a lot of power to rein in an overly loud app or boost the volume of a very quiet one without affecting overall system sound. An app’s output can also be sent to whichever speaker or output device you want — again, regardless of how you’ve set up the output and sound effect sections. Sounds serene Digital Trends All this means that SoundSource really provides a lot of power for people who want to make their audio behave the way it should. It’s ideal for power users who aren’t content to sit by and let subpar audio rule their Mac. Yet despite that, it’s not an intimidating app. All of its options are easy to understand and there’s no information overload, despite the ease with which that could happen. It displays just the options you need, all neatly presented and organized. SoundSource has a free trial, but you’ll need to pay to unlock all of its functionality. Yet if you decide to do that, you just have to pay a one-off purchase, so there’s no recurring payment to worry about. I’ve been so impressed by SoundSource that using a Mac without it feels strangely backward, as if even Apple’s default software isn’t up to scratch. That, surely, is a sign that SoundSource is doing something right. Source link #app #overhauled #Macs #audio #sooner Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Israel prepares to receive American hostage ***** Alexander from ****** – The Washington Post Israel prepares to receive American hostage ***** Alexander from ****** – The Washington Post Israel prepares to receive American hostage ***** Alexander from ****** The Washington PostHamas to release US-Israeli captive Al JazeeraTrump says last living American hostage ***** Alexander will be released by ******: ‘Coming home’ Fox NewsTrump ramps up hostage talks: Witkoff to address cabinet, delegation to head to Cairo The Jerusalem PostDonald Trump Scores Four Diplomatic Victories Newsweek Source link #Israel #prepares #receive #American #hostage #***** #Alexander #****** #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

4 things I’m excited about in the new Microsoft Surface laptops 4 things I’m excited about in the new Microsoft Surface laptops Table of Contents Table of Contents Better battery life Upgraded NPU to 45 TOPS Sleek new design with OLED display option on Surface Pro 11 New Snapdragon X Plus and Elite: Big performance shift for Surface The bottom line Microsoft’s new Surface laptops have arrived, and they’re more than just routine refreshes. According to Microsoft, powered by Snapdragon X processors and built for the Copilot+ AI experience, they promise significant battery life, performance, and usability improvements. After reviewing the key updates, here are four standout features that make Microsoft’s latest Surface laptop worth the upgrade. Better battery life Digi / Digital Trends One of Microsoft’s biggest promises with its new Surface laptops is vastly improved battery life, a long-standing request from Windows users. According to Microsoft, the 13-inch Surface Laptop can deliver up to 23 hours of video playback or 16 hours of web browsing, while the larger 15-inch version delivers up to 22 hours of video or 15 hours of browsing. For the more portable Surface Pro 11, Microsoft claims up to 16 hours of video playback and 10 hours of web use. That’s a notable jump compared to previous Intel-based models, which often struggled to hit double digits in real-world use. If these claims hold up, it could mean a full day’s work or travel without scrambling for a charger. That reliability is a game-changer for students, commuters, or anyone who works away from a desk and needs to go longer between charges. It’s one of the first real signs that Windows laptops may finally catch up to Apple’s M-series MacBooks in terms of battery efficiency. Upgraded NPU to 45 TOPS Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends One of the most significant upgrades inside Microsoft’s new Surface laptops is the inclusion of more powerful Neural Processing Units (NPU), a key requirement for Copilot+ features. For those unfamiliar, an NPU is a dedicated chip designed to handle AI tasks much faster and more efficiently than traditional processors. According to Microsoft, the new Snapdragon X processors include NPUs capable of delivering up to 45 trillion operations per second (TOPS). This is a noticeable increase from the 40 TOPS offered in some ARM-based Windows devices and previous-generation NPUs. This jump in processing power enables advanced AI features to run locally without depending on the cloud. Microsoft says this will allow for faster performance in tasks like Windows Studio Effects, real-time translation, and the highly anticipated and controversial Recall feature, which indexes your past activity for quick retrieval. It helps prepare these devices for the growing demands of generative AI apps in Windows 11. Sleek new design with OLED display option on Surface Pro 11 Mi Microsoft’s new Surface Pro 11 sticks to the familiar 2-in-1 design but introduces a few noticeable refinements. The device is slightly slimmer, with softer edges that give it a more modern look without compromising the kickstand or keyboard compatibility. Microsoft is offering an optional OLED display alongside the standard LCD version for the first time. According to Microsoft, the OLED panel delivers richer colors, deeper *******, and better contrast than previous Surface screens. This display supports a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate and Dolby Vision IQ, improving everyday use and creative tasks like photo editing or video streaming. However, the OLED option is only available on the Surface Pro 11 tablet. The new Surface Laptop models continue to use LCDs, but Microsoft has improved their brightness and color accuracy. New Snapdragon X Plus and Elite: Big performance shift for Surface Microsoft This year’s Surface lineup also marks a significant shift under the hood. Instead of the usual Intel or AMD chips, Microsoft’s new Surface laptops, including the X Plus and the higher-end X Elite, are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series processors. The 13-inch Surface Laptop comes equipped with the Snapdragon X Plus, while the 15-inch Surface Laptop and select configurations of the Surface Pro 11 feature the X Elite. Both processors use Qualcomm’s new ARM architecture, which delivers faster multitasking, lower power consumption, and quieter operation than previous designs. According to Microsoft, the Snapdragon X Plus and X Elite include the same upgraded Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of 45 trillion operations per second (TOPS). The X Plus typically features a 10-core CPU, though some devices use an 8-core version. Meanwhile, the Elite steps up to a 12-core CPU. It is expected to offer better sustained performance and faster boost speeds—ideal for heavier workloads like video editing, design software, or AI-enhanced apps. The switch to Snapdragon X brings other practical benefits. Arm-based processors typically extend battery life and reduce heat, leading to longer usage between charges and less fan noise, two of the most noticeable improvements for everyday users. At the same time, Microsoft made these chips to handle the increasing demand for on-device AI tasks that power Microsoft’s Copilot+ experience, including features like Windows Studio Effects and Recall. For many Windows users, this is the first time Arm-based chips are becoming a mainstream option without the compromises seen in earlier attempts. If Microsoft’s and Qualcomm’s performance claims hold up, these new processors could finally make Arm-powered PCs a viable choice for a broader range of users. The bottom line Microsoft’s new Surface laptops introduce the most meaningful set of upgrades the lineup has seen in years. Between longer battery life, faster on-device AI performance, improved displays, and a shift to more efficient processors, the latest models offer real benefits for casual users and demanding multitaskers. One detail that might fly under the radar is that the 13.5-inch Surface Laptop drops the microSD card slot found in some older models—a helpful feature for creators and frequent file transfers. Also, while both models ship with Windows 11 Home, users who rely on BitLocker or virtualization tools will need to upgrade to Pro. While the final verdict will depend on real-world testing, these upgrades suggest Microsoft’s Surface lineup is finally catching up with its competitors and offering Windows users a more efficient, AI-ready option going forward. Source link #excited #Microsoft #Surface #laptops Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

A museum opens at a former factory in the Czech Republic where Oskar Schindler saved 1,200 Jews A museum opens at a former factory in the Czech Republic where Oskar Schindler saved 1,200 Jews BRNENEC, Czech Republic (AP) — A dilapidated industrial site in the Czech Republic where ******* businessman Oskar Schindler saved 1,200 Jews during the World War II is coming back to life. The site, a former textile factory in the town of Brněnec, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) east of Prague, was stolen by the Nazis from its Jewish owners in 1938 and turned into a concentration camp. This weekend it welcomed the first visitors to the Museum of Survivors dedicated to the Holocaust and the history of Jews in this part of Europe. The opening was timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. It was also in May 1945 that Schindler received a golden ring from grateful Jewish survivors, made with gold taken from their teeth. The ring was inscribed with the Hebrew words from Talmud, saying “Whoever saves one life saves the world entire.” Schindler’s story was told in Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning movie, “Schindler’s List.” Daniel Löw-Beer was a driving force behind the project. His predecessors lived in this part of Czech Republic for hundreds of years, acquiring the plant in Brnenec in 1854 and turning it into one of Europe’s most important wool factories. “We had to flee for our lives, lost a bit of our history, so putting a little bit of history back to a place and hopefully bringing out as well the history of Oskar Schindler and the village is what we’re doing today,” Löw-Beer told The Associated Press. Today, his family members are scattered around the world. “I’m pleased to put a little bit, of course emotionally, of my family back in the place because they were survivors. My grandfather lived here, my father lived here, and then the world was shattered one day in 1938,” he said. Glass wall separates past and present The museum, housed in part of a renovated spinning mill, displays the history of Schindler, his wife Emilie, the Löw-Beer family and others linked to the area, together with the testimonies of Holocaust survivors. It includes a space for exhibitions, lectures, film screenings and concerts, as well as a café. A transparent glass wall between this part and the *******, still ruined area behind it separates the present and history. “It’s a universal place of survivors,” Löw-Beer said. “We want those stories to be told and people to make their own opinions.” In 2019 Löw-Beer set up the Arks Foundation to buy the warehouse and turn it into a museum, investing money and renewing a partnership with the local community to revive the neglected site. The regional government contributed funds, while a grant from the European Union brought children from five European countries to Brněnec to come up with ideas that helped shape the museum design. The official opening on the weekend completed the first step but a lot remains to be done. The remaining buildings are still waiting to be fully restored. They include Schindler’s office where the town hall plans to create an information center, the barracks of the SS troops, which will provide more exhibition spaces, and the entire building of Schindler’s Ark where the Jewish prisoners lived and worked. Currently, the museum is not open on a daily basis and focuses on education activities for schools. Previous projects to restore the site failed due to a lack of funds. In contrast, the Arks Foundation took a step-by-step approach. When skeptical local residents could see something was really happening this time, they offered help. A firm came with a big truck loaded with bricks, dropped them and just went off, Löw-Beer said. “We wanted to show that you have to do something for something else to happen,” said Milan Šudoma of the foundation. If organizers had waited until they had secured all the necessary funding, nothing would likely be done by now, he said. “Oskar and Emilie Schindler are proof that one person can make a difference,” the museum quotes Rena Finder, one of the Schindler’s Jews, as saying. “Everybody said there was nothing I could do. And that’s a lie because there is always something you can do.” A man of contradictions who saved hundreds of lives Schindler, an unlikely hero, was born in the nearby town of Svitavy (Zwittau in *******) in what was then the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia, with a *******-speaking majority and a substantial Jewish population. A Svitavy museum said Schindler was a mass of contradictions: a troublemaker, a womanizer, a spy for the Germans, a Nazi but also a man who saved people from the Holocaust. After the war broke out in 1939, Schindler moved from Svitavy to Krakow, now Poland, where he ran an enamel and ammunition plant and treated Jewish workers well. With the Red Army approaching in 1944, he created a list of Jewish workers he claimed were needed to resettle the plant in Brněnec. When a transport with 300 women was diverted to the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz, Schindler managed to secure their release. Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial center in Jerusalem, said it’s the only known case “that such a large group of people were allowed to leave alive while the gas chambers were still in operation.” In another bold act, Emilie Schindler led an effort to save more than 100 Jewish male prisoners who arrived at a nearby train station in sealed cattle wagons in January 1945. In 1993, Yad Vashem recognized Emilie and Oskar Schindler as Righteous Among the Nations, the honor awarded to those who rescued Jews from the Holocaust. Source link #museum #opens #factory #Czech #Republic #Oskar #Schindler #saved #Jews Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gigabyte GPUs are ‘leaking’ — here’s what you need to know Gigabyte GPUs are ‘leaking’ — here’s what you need to know Table of Contents Table of Contents Thermal gel vs. pads Gigabyte’s response and manufacturing updates Continued reports and impact on use Practical advice for consumers Gigabyte’s RTX 50-series graphics cards are facing an unusual manufacturing defect where the pre-applied thermal gel is leaking out of the heatsink. The first known report came from Quasar Zone, a popular Korean PC forum, where a user found their one month old Aorus Master RTX 5080 leaking gray putty-like material after light gaming of two hours per day. Notably the user mentioned that the card was mounted vertically via a riser kit. The problem was quickly recognized as affecting multiple Gigabyte RTX 50 models in the same forum thread with various owners seeing the thermal compound oozing out of the heatsink onto the PCB and PCIe slot area. The issue was confirmed to be affecting Gigabyte’s Gaming OC, Windforce, and Aorus Master variants. Gigabyte had launched the RTX 50 series with a special thermal conductive gel in place of conventional rubber/silicone pads, touting it as “better heat dissipation efficiency without shifting for long-term usage.” In practice, however, the vertical mounting of some rigs appears to have made the semi-soft gel more prone to movement under gravity. According to Gigabyte’s official statement on April 25, the RTX 50 and Radeon RX 9000 series cards indeed use a specially engineered thermal gel compound between the heatsink and the VRAM/MOSFET sections. Gigabyte said that this gel is an insulating, deformable putty that can withstand temperatures up to 150 °C before melting. The company further acknowledged that early production batches received a slightly higher volume of gel to ensure thermal coverage. The excess material “may cause the gel to appear more prominent, extended, and potentially separated from the designated area,” leading to the cosmetic leakage seen by users. Importantly, the company emphasized that the leakage is merely cosmetic and it “does not compromise performance, stability, or product lifespan.” To address the issue, Gigabyte said that it has reduced the gel volume in subsequent production runs, and encouraged affected users to contact customer support if they have any concerns. Quasar Zone Forums Thermal gel vs. pads Gigabyte’s choice of thermal gel reflects an industry trend toward more conductive interface materials. Unlike traditional thermal pads, Gigabyte is using a server-grade thermal conductive gel which is designed to provide better contact across uneven component surfaces. The company applies this gel using a fully automated process to reduce human error and ensure consistent coverage compared to standard thermal pad applications. In principle, it can fill microscopic gaps and improve heat transfer under heavy loads. The gel is non-metallic and electrically insulating, so it shouldn’t short-circuit components if it escapes. The company also claims it subjected the gel to rigorous tests including thermal and multi-axis drop tests in both vertical and horizontal orientations to ensure it remains stable in normal use. In practice, however, users found that with heavy heatsinks and vertical mounting, the gel’s semi-fluid nature allowed it to creep or slip out over time, especially in early units where excess gel was applied. The RTX 50-series cards in question use large triple-fan coolers with thick aluminum fin stacks that cover the entire mainboard, including the VRAM and MOSFETs. For instance, in Gigabyte’s Aorus Master Ice design, the heatspreader covers rows of memory and voltage regulators placed around the GPU die. The thermal gel is placed between those chips and the metal conductive plate inside the cooler. With GPUs mounted horizontally, this setup should not be an issue. However, several affected owners noted their cards were in vertical position, which likely let gravity pull the soft gel downward over weeks of operation. Early batches of cards may not have accounted for this use case fully. The result is that gel occasionally slid down from different parts towards the PCIe slot or PCB edges. Note that this gel is not electrically conductive, so it shouldn’t short things out, but it can leave visible residue on the board and, in rare cases, onto the connector. Gigabyte’s response and manufacturing updates After initial public reports, Gigabyte’s Korean importer and other distributors stepped in. They acknowledged on forums that Gigabyte was “aware of the thermal gel issue” with RTX-50 cards and was “currently discussing” it with headquarters. Soon thereafter, Gigabyte issued its official statement (cited above) blaming over-application of the thermal gel in early production. The company stressed that this was a cosmetic defect as performance and temperature tests showed no change in stability or lifespan. Gigabyte said it has adjusted the gel application process in newer card runs so that the material stays within its intended area. As today, all new Gigabyte RTX-50 and Radeon RX 9000 GPUs should have this fix. In practice, Gigabyte decided not to recall already-shipped cards, likely due to the ongoing demand for GPUs in general. Instead, customers with any concerns were advised to contact Gigabyte support or their place of purchase. Continued reports and impact on use Despite Gigabyte’s assurances, some owners continue to report issues around the thermal gel leaks. For example, one user posted that an RTX 5080 he’d used for only a week was already leaking gel, and he vowed he “never want to have any other product” from Gigabyte. Another user noted that the gel “didn’t even appear melted, just completely slipping out of position”. In all these cases, owners observed no overheating or loss in performance. So far, no confirmed case has shown the card failing or running significantly hotter after the leak. In other words, the problem is mostly cosmetic. Gigabyte and reviewers agree that the GPUs operate normally as benchmarks have not changed and no Blackwell-specific failures have been linked to the gel. Having said that, long-term reliability is still uncertain. If gel gradually migrates away from the VRAM chips, those chips could see slightly higher temperatures under heavy load. No one has reported component damage yet, but it’s a potential concern. At minimum, leaked gel can trap dust or impede full contact if it dries unevenly over time. Because of this, owners are advised to monitor their cards for any performance drops or temperature spikes. Practical advice for consumers Inspect and clean. If you own a Gigabyte RTX 50-series or even an Radeon RX 9000 (especially an early batch), periodically check under the heatsink and around the PCB for any white or gray residue. If you see leaked gel, gently clean it off with isopropyl alcohol and a soft cloth. Only do this when the PC is powered off and unplugged. If you have your GPU in a vertical mount or case, be aware that gravity can exacerbate this issue. If possible, install your GPU horizontally until you’re sure the thermal gel has settled. At least during the first month of use, you might run benchmarks or stress tests with monitoring to ensure temperatures stay normal. While Gigabyte has not offered a broad recall, they may handle individual RMA cases if a customer is concerned. If your card exhibits large amounts of leakage or any unexplained thermal problems, contact Gigabyte support or your retailer. Keep in mind that under normal conditions (as Gigabyte notes), performance should be unaffected. Documenting photos of the leak when contacting support can help. If you are planning to buy a new Gigabyte-branded GPU, know that the latest production runs have the gel application adjusted. Try to buy from a retailer that received stock after late April/May 2025. If buying used, ask the seller if the card has ever leaked or been opened. Alternatively, consider models from other manufacturers if you want to avoid this particular gel-based cooler design altogether. Remember, even with this issue, the cards have run well for many users. Several reports emphasize that even with the leaked thermal gel, the GPU still passes stress tests and gaming benchmarks. Gigabyte and independent reviewers have not seen any accelerated wear or failures directly caused by the gel. Nonetheless, the discovery of any defect in a high-end, expensive component is understandably frustrating. Being informed and proactively checking your card is the best way to ensure long-term peace of mind. Source link #Gigabyte #GPUs #leaking #heres Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bessent sees tariff agreement as progress in ‘strategic’ decoupling with China Bessent sees tariff agreement as progress in ‘strategic’ decoupling with China Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that the trade agreement reached over the weekend represents another stage in the U.S. shaking its reliance on ******** products. Though the U.S. “decoupling” itself from its need for cheap imports from the China has been discussed for years, the process has been a slow one and unlikely to ever mean a complete break. However, Bessent said there are now specific elements of decoupling in place that are vital to U.S. interests. The U.S. imported nearly $440 billion in goods from China in 2024, running a $295.4 billion trade deficit. “We do not want a generalized decoupling from China,” he said during an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “But what we do want is a decoupling for strategic necessities, which we were unable to obtain during Covid and we realized that efficient supply chains were not resilient supply chains.” When the pandemic struck in 2020, demand in the U.S. shifted from one reliant more on services to a greater focus on goods. That meant greater difficulty in obtaining material for multiple products including big-ticket appliances and automobiles. The technology industry, with its reliance on semiconductors, was also hit. What followed was an inflation surge in the U.S. not seen in more than 40 years. The details of the U.S.-China pact are still sketchy, but U.S. officials have said so-called reciprocal tariffs will be suspended though broad-based 10% duties will remain in effect. “We are going to create our own steel. [Tariffs] protect our steel industry. They work on critical medicines, on semiconductors,” Bessent said. “We are doing that, and the reciprocal tariffs have nothing to do with the specific industry tariffs.” The agreement between the two sides is essentially a 90-day pause that will see reciprocal duties halted though the 10% tariff as well as a 20% charge related to fentanyl remain in place. Bessent expressed encouragement on the fentanyl issue in which ******** officials “are now serious about assisting the U.S. in stopping the flow of precursor drugs.” Bessent did not indicate a specific date when the next round of talks will be held but indicated it should be in the next several weeks. Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO Source link #Bessent #sees #tariff #agreement #progress #strategic #decoupling #China Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I tried Asus ZenBook A14. Now I can’t imagine using a different Windows laptop I tried Asus ZenBook A14. Now I can’t imagine using a different Windows laptop Table of Contents Table of Contents It’s a breath of fresh air A nice dose of practicality Delivers where it matters Over the past four years, the MacBook Air has been the primary driver of my computing duties. My prerequisites for finding a light, powerful, and reliable laptop that suits my digital nomad lifestyle often led me to the Apple Store, despite testing my fair share of Windows laptops over the years. Things started to look promising when I tested my first Windows on Arm machines powered by the Snapdragon X series processors. After spending some time with the stunning Dell XPS 13 and Asus ProArt PZ13 tablet, I switched to the Asus ZenBook A14. It’s the best anti-MacBook Air I’ve come across so far. But this stunning laptop has a lot going for it besides eyeball-grabbing looks. In fact, it eclipses the Apple rival in a few practical areas that make or break buying decisions. Plus, the price tag attached to the laptop in my home market is even lower than Apple’s machine, so there’s that crucial advantage. It’s a breath of fresh air Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends By far, the best-kept virtue of the ZenBook A14 is its fantastic build and featherweight bulk profile. The ZenBook A14 is over 23% lighter than the MacBook Air. That’s no small feat, but you really need to hold this laptop in your hands to realize the sheer engineering excellence here. You almost don’t feel the weight of this laptop in a backpack. It’s so thin and light that I exclusively carried it like a notebook everywhere I went. Asus has experimented with some bold laptop designs over the years, but for the ZenBook A14, it has taken a unique route to minimalism. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends Complementing the looks is the material and the one-of-a-kind surface finish. The material is called Ceraluminum. Technically, a specialized alloy of Magnesium, this material is 30% lighter than aluminum, but nearly thrice as strong. I was worried that this lightweight laptop wouldn’t be able to take mechanical stress or accidental bumps. I am particularly concerned about this aspect due to my on-the-move workflow. Moreover, every MacBook I have owned so far has suffered flattened corners, scratched paint, and scuff marks. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends With the ZenBook A14, I haven’t seen any such battle scars so far. And I am sure it will fare a lot better owing to its US MIL-STD-810H military-grade build. The surface finish is another standout aspect. The trim I used had a beautiful cardboard-like color with a lovely matte texture over it. It does a better job of avoiding smudges than my MacBook Air in its light blue shade. Asus says it performed a test entailing 18,000 sessions of rubbing to ensure that the surface color doesn’t fade off, so there’s that assurance. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends Overall, this is one of the nicest-looking laptops out there, which also happens to be extremely light, yet surprisingly resilient. There is nothing quite like it in the laptop ecosystem out there. A nice dose of practicality One of the biggest wins that Asus landed with the ZenBook A14 is the focus on practicality. Despite its slim waistline, the laptop offers a pair of USB-C (v4.0) ports, a USB-A port with 10 Gbps output, and an HDMI 2.1 port. The Apple competition restricts users to a pair of USB-C ports. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends It’s not just the number of ports that matters here, but also the versatility. I recently found myself in a situation where I had to plug in a much larger dock so that I could use my wireless mouse and keyboard while the MacBook Air was connected to an external device. With the ZenBook, two of the most common types of peripherals — external screens and 2.4GHz wireless input — are independently covered. That means even if one of the USB-C ports is permanently occupied for power draw, the other one is still vacant for hooking up more devices. I also love the keyboard. The keys are well spaced out, offer a springy feedback, and offer a decent amount of travel. In fact, I managed to hit a higher typing speed on the ZenBook A14 than I have achieved on my MacBook Air, the 13-inch Magic Keyboard, or even the Satechi SM3 Slim mechanical keyboard. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends I just wish the button layout were a bit different, with just one Ctrl key in the far left corner. However, I quickly got used to this format within a day. The touchpad is also spacious and offers a proper physical click experience across each half. Then we have the Windows Hello authentication system powered by an infrared camera array. It works just as well as the Face ID system on Apple hardware. I actually find it more convenient than having to reach out for a fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends I rely heavily on Passkeys for all my web log-ins, and some of the native Windows features, such as Recall, are also now locked behind biometric authentication. Even in a completely dark room where my face was lit only by the display at nearly 40% brightness, the face unlock worked flawlessly. Delivers where it matters The strongest leg-up that the Asus ZenBook A14 has over its Apple rival and a bunch of other x86-based Windows laptops is the screen. The laptop offers a 14-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. It’s a gorgeous screen, also happens to be less reflective than the IPS LCD panels on machines such as the MacBook Air. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends It produces beautiful colors, deep *******, and offers wide viewing angles. Thankfully, the bezels flanking it are also quite slim, and there is no notch to contend with. I only wish this were a faster panel, but for my day-to-day work, a 60Hz refresh rate works just fine. Talking about workflow, this machine handled mine smoothly. All the apps that I require on a daily basis work without any stutters across the Microsoft 365 portfolio and Google Workspace ecosystems. Irrespective of whether they are now native on Arm or run atop the Prism emulation layer, the performance was usually without any red flags. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends The dual-fan design definitely lends a hand, especially when Chrome was aggressively eating into the memory, while other apps such as Slack, Teams, Trello, Outlook, and Copilot were running in the background. Compared to the MacBook Air or the Snapdragon X Elite-powered Dell XPS 13, the Asus machine ran cooler Single-core performance, thanks to the Oryon cores, is quite impressive. Under sustained load, however, the multicore performance takes a dip. The Snapdragon X Plus and X Elite fare much better, though their graphics performance still has some catching up to do. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends Editing tasks across the Adobe suite run fine, and you won’t have much trouble editing full-HD clips across AV1 and H. 264 codecs. Technically, you can go up to 4K 60fps decoding and encoding at 30fps, but the system memory starts becoming a bottleneck and creative effects addition show signs of fatigue. I tried editing a few short clips for social media, and things were mostly smooth. However, for some reason, Da Vinci Resolve kept crashing when I installed it for heavier workloads. An overwhelming majority of Adobe’s apps are now running natively on Windows, so you’re covered on that front. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends What I loved the most was that the internal fans run pleasingly quiet in the default mode. Battery life is another aspect that I love about the laptop. I was able to easily get eight hours of sustained work, and idle power draw is also on the lower side. For its target audience, this machine can easily last a full day. Asus also provides a neat battery care mode that limits charging to the 80% mark. Apple offers this battery health convenience on its newer iPhones, but not on the MacBook lineup. Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends On the software side, this is a Copilot+ machine, so you are getting meaningful benefits such as Live Captions, image generation and editing, native AI-assisted search, to name a few. Asus also offers its own set of touchpad and related shortcut customizations within the MyAsus app that come in handy., Overall, there is a lot to like about the Asus ZenBook A14. For my workflow, which is heavily dependent on the web and cloud-based applications, it got the job done without any major hiccups. But it’s the phenomenal build and breezy weight profile that truly won me over. And to such an extent that every other Windows laptop now seems boring to me. Source link #Asus #ZenBook #A14 #imagine #Windows #laptop Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]