MacBook Air refresh with M4 silicon might arrive within a week
MacBook Air refresh with M4 silicon might arrive within a week
A new version of MacBook Air powered by Apple’s M4 processor is right around the corner, it seems, and might be launched within a week. “Apple is preparing to make a Mac-related announcement as early as this coming week,” reports Bloomberg, adding that the reveal is imminent.
The current-gen MacBook Air with M3 silicon was announced in the first week of March in 2024, and it seems Apple is sticking with its refresh schedule rather strictly for its popular entry-level laptop. The machine will likely arrive in 13-inch and 15-inch formats, just like its predecessor.
The most significant tweak on the upcoming laptops, of course, will be the implementation of the M4 silicon, which elevates the raw processing capabilities and improves its energy efficiency metrics, as well.
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The M4 chip serves a configuration of ten CPU cores, four of which are high-performance cores while the remaining six are optimized for efficiency to handle less demanding workloads. The graphics engine is a 10-core GPU cluster, an upgrade over the previous-gen Apple silicon.
The M4 has already appeared inside the MacBook Pro, and more powerful variants — M4 Pro and M4 MaX — are already on the shelves. Interestingly, as per alleged benchmark runs, the M4 chip inside MacBook Air will go toe-to-toe with the MacBook Pro.
Apple claims that the M4 silicon achieves a performance level roughly 1.8 times higher than the M1, and further notes that it is capable of delivering a speed enhancement of up to 3.4 times when handling resource-intensive operations, such as graphics rendering within the Blender software.
Luke Larsen / Digital Trends
The next-generation neural processing unit, or NPU, shipping with the M4 stack is also touted to offer a threefold increase in speed. However, do keep in mind that the MacBook Air isn’t quite on the same footing as the MacBook Pro with the same base M4 processor.
That’s primarily because the MacBook Air lacks a fan, which means thermal throttling kicks into action rather quickly. My own experience with the M3 MacBook Air suggests that it can clock high on the benchmark tables, but can’t quite handle sustained load.
Not much is going to change from a design perspective, as rumors suggest that the MacBook Air’s M4 iteration will look roughly the same as the M3 variant. It would be interesting to see if Apple adds some new colors to the lineup. We’re not quite sure about the pricing situation yet, but if Apple doesn’t take the price hike route, we’re looking at a minimum ask worth $1,099 for the 13-inch model.
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Chaos and Cash: Finding Opportunity in Volatility
Chaos and Cash: Finding Opportunity in Volatility
Volatility in the stock market is often seen as a risk to be avoided by cautious investors. However, for those who understand it, volatility can present opportunities for profit. Significant price fluctuations can be leveraged with the right strategies. When reviewing the current market, Reed’s Inc (OTC:)’s and Oil States International (NYSE:) are examples of stocks exhibiting high volatility.
These companies are from different sectors, but they demonstrate the dynamic price movements that appeal to traders looking to capitalize on market swings. With a focus on risk management, investors can leverage targeted trading strategies to potentially profit from volatile stocks.
Reed’s Company-Driven Volatility
Reed’s Inc. (REED) is a player in the natural beverage sector, and the company operates as a micro-capitalization stock traded on the OTC market. This combination inherently predisposes it to a higher degree of volatility compared to large-cap, more established equities. Examining its 52-week trading range, from a low of $0.51 to a high of $2.42, immediately reveals the magnitude of price fluctuation experienced within a single year. Recent trading data further exemplifies this erratic behavior.
For example, on February 24, 2025, Reed’s stock price surged by an impressive 15.56%, only to be followed by a decline of 8.50% just two trading days later on February 26, 2025. Such dramatic daily percentage changes are not uncommon for REED, underscoring its unpredictable price action.
Adding to this volatility is the low average trading volume typically observed for Reed’s stock. Lower liquidity can amplify price movements, as fewer shares being traded can lead to larger percentage swings in response to buy or sell orders.
Reed’s stock is highly volatile due to several factors. Company-specific news, such as recent earnings reports for Q3 2024 showing declining sales and operating losses, leadership changes, and financial health updates, can cause rapid price adjustments.
The speculative nature of micro-cap stocks, often driven by sentiment and momentum, amplifies these fluctuations. Limited analyst coverage can also influence the stock’s behavior, making it susceptible to significant and unpredictable price swings.
Oil States and External Volatility Drivers
Oil States International (OIS) is a mid-cap company operating in the energy sector. In contrast to Reed’s, OIS is a mid-cap company operating within the energy sector. Oil States’ beta of 2.62 indicates that its stock price is significantly more volatile than the overall market. This means that for every 1% change in the S&P 500, Oil State’s stock price is likely to change 2.62% in the same direction. However, during market downturns, OIS will also experience amplified losses.
Although Oil States is a larger and more established company, it is still subject to significant volatility due to industry-specific factors and broader market sensitivity. Recent price action reflects this heightened volatility. On February 24, 2025, Oil States’ stock price jumped by 13.5%, demonstrating its capacity for rapid upward movement.
Examining daily trading data reveals consistent price fluctuations, although perhaps less erratic than Reed’s on a day-to-day percentage basis. The average trading volume for OIS is significantly higher than REED, indicating greater liquidity. However, this increased liquidity does not insulate it from volatility; instead, it facilitates more significant swings in absolute dollar terms as more shares change hands.
Oil States’ volatility is primarily attributed to the energy sector’s inherent cyclicality. The sector’s performance is tied to fluctuations in oil prices, global economic conditions, and geopolitical events. Any shifts in these macroeconomic factors can quickly translate into significant price movements for energy stocks like OIS.
Broader market sentiment towards the energy sector as a whole further influences OIS’s stock. Positive outlooks on future energy demand or rising oil prices can create upward momentum. At the same time, negative sentiment or concerns about the global economy can trigger sell-offs, all contributing to price volatility.
Victory from Volatility: Strategies to Capitalize
Investors can use specific trading strategies to take advantage of volatile markets and price swings. These strategies can help convert market fluctuations into profits and can be applied to volatile stocks in several ways.
Earnings Uncertainty: The REED Straddle Strategy
The straddle options strategy is well-suited for volatile stocks like Reed’s, where a significant price movement is expected, but the direction is uncertain. This strategy involves buying a call and a put option with the same strike price (near the current market price) and an expiration date shortly after a major event, such as an earnings announcement. If the stock price moves significantly after the event, one of the options will profit, potentially offsetting the cost of both and resulting in a net gain.
Wider Nets, ******* Gains: The OIS Strangle Play
Like a straddle, the strangle strategy targets significant price volatility but uses out-of-the-money options. For Oil States, a strangle could be used when expecting a significant energy sector move, perhaps due to OPEC meetings or shifts in oil demand. A trader might buy a call option with a strike price above OIS’s current price and a put option with a strike price below, with the same expiration. Cheaper than a straddle, a strangle profits if Oil States’ price moves substantially beyond either strike price.
Downside Insurance: The OIS Protective Put Strategy
Long-term Oil States holders concerned about downturns can use protective puts for downside defense. Buying put options on OIS while owning the stock acts as insurance. If Oil States’ price falls, put option gains offset stock losses, limiting downside. The put option premium is the cost of this protection.
Swing Trading REED: Catching the Short-Term Waves
Due to its frequent price swings within a specific range, swing traders can profit from Reed’s stock. By identifying support and resistance levels, traders can buy near support (e.g., $1.00) and sell near resistance (e.g., $1.40) to capture short-term price movements. However, this strategy requires active chart monitoring.
Taming the Turbulence: Risk Management
Managing risk is crucial when trading volatile stocks. Implementing tools such as stop-loss orders can help limit the downside during volatile market swings. Additionally, utilizing proper position sizing by taking smaller positions in volatile stocks helps manage capital at risk per trade. Diversifying your portfolio can further mitigate risk by preventing overconcentration in volatile stocks and balancing with less risky assets. These risk management strategies are essential for navigating the stock market’s inherent volatility.
Reed’s and Oil States demonstrate that volatility offers substantial risk and significant opportunity. Both stocks experience substantial price swings, driven by unique catalysts. With a thorough understanding of these catalysts, targeted strategies, and risk management, investors can potentially leverage market fluctuations to generate profit.
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Adrien Brody’s Gum Toss Ahead of Best Actor Speech Gave Oscars a Memorable Moment
Adrien Brody’s Gum Toss Ahead of Best Actor Speech Gave Oscars a Memorable Moment
Adrien Brody was en route to the stage at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday night to collect his Oscar for best actor when it appeared to dawn on him that he had forgotten to do something — something important.
So, halfway up the staircase, Mr. Brody paused and removed a piece of chewing gum from his mouth. But what to do with it? He turned to locate his girlfriend, Georgina Chapman, who stepped forward from her position in the front row as Mr. Brody readied himself to make a softball-style underhanded pitch to her.
It was not a perfect toss. Ms. Chapman had to wheel to her right to catch what briefly became the most famous wad of chewed-up gum in the world. But she delighted in her feat, raising her arms in triumph as she returned to her seat just in time to see Mr. Brody accept his award from Cillian Murphy, last year’s winner in the category.
Mr. Brody was not asked about the gum toss during his backstage interview after his win, so no further details were available about the type of gum it was, or how he decided against simply swallowing it.
It was an unscripted moment for Mr. Brody and Ms. Chapman, whose relationship has drawn its share of tabloid attention. It also served as a bit of levity before Mr. Brody delivered a lengthy speech that focused, almost exclusively, on his hard path back to Hollywood pre-eminence thanks to his role in “The Brutalist,” for which he won the award.
Mr. Brody’s win — for playing László Tóth, an architect and Holocaust survivor who emigrates to the United States — came 22 years after he received the best actor award for his role as the Holocaust survivor Wladyslaw Szpilman in “The Pianist.” That win, at 29, made him the youngest winner for best actor in Oscars history, but it preceded a difficult ******* in his career in which he failed to capitalize on the success.
“Acting is a very fragile profession,” he said, adding: “It looks very glamorous, and in certain moments, it is. But the one thing I’ve gained, having the privilege to come back here, is to have some perspective. And no matter where you are in your career, what you’ve accomplished, it can all go away. And I think what makes this night most special is the awareness of that and the gratitude that I have to still do the work that I love.”
Mr. Brody’s speech went on — and on. And he refused to be cowed when the show’s producers cued some music in an attempt to play him off the stage.
“I’m wrapping up — please, please, please,” he said. “I’m wrapping up. I will wrap up. Please turn the music off. I’ve done this before. Thank you. It’s not my first rodeo.”
Mr. Brody spoke for another 90 seconds before he heard the music again. This time, he got off the stage.
Among viewers, Mr. Brody’s speech was polarizing, as was his gum toss, which was mostly skewered on social media as being tacky or gross — though it had its defenders as well.
In any case, Mr. Brody made sure to seize the spotlight after his protracted absence from awards season. Before the show started, Halle Berry approached him on the red carpet and, after apologizing preemptively to Ms. Chapman, gave him a big smooch — a re-creation of their famous onstage kiss at the 2003 Oscars.
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Inside the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscars Party – The New York Times
Inside the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscars Party – The New York Times
Inside the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscars Party The New York TimesOlivia Wilde Goes Nearly Naked (but Avoids Baring Her Nipples) in Sheer Dress at 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party PEOPLESee Every Outfit From the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Red Carpet Vanity FairSydney Sweeney & Hunter Schafer Are Euphoric in Oscars Photos Yahoo EntertainmentOscars 2025: Jessica Alba, Kim Kardashian, Sofía Vergara and More Stars Turn Heads at After-Parties – E! Online E! NEWS
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Classic ZX Spectrum and C64 game Head Over Heels is coming to PC and Switch
Classic ZX Spectrum and C64 game Head Over Heels is coming to PC and Switch
An enhanced version of ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 favourite Head Over Heels is coming to PC and Nintendo Switch.
The 1987 isometric adventure game was originally created for the ZX Spectrum Next computer, and is now being ported to Steam this Thursday, March 6, with a Switch version coming later in the year.
Although there was already a version of Head Over Heels released on Switch back in 2021, that was more of a remake whereas this is an enhanced take on the original.
This new version, titled Head Over Heels Deluxe, features updated visuals, redesigned controls that “feel snappy and precise”, as well as a new soundtrack by Danish composer Space Fractal.
Players who want a more nostalgic experience can access an optional Classic Mode which restores the graphics and sound to something that more closely remembers the original release.
The remaster also adds an improved save system, a new hint system for players who get stuck, and various other quality of life updates “that never compromise the game’s classic challenge”. For those who know the original inside-out, a new area has also been added, along with new enemies and objects.
Head Over Heels was originally created by Jon Ritman and Bernie Drummond, who had previously enjoyed success with a home computer version of Batman. The game used a similar isometric viewpoint to Batman, but replaced the Caped Crusader with two dogs called Head and Heels.
Head can jump higher, can change direction in the air and can stun enemies by shooting donuts at them, while Heels can run faster, climb staircases and carry objects in her bag.
Eventually players can merge Head and Heels by stacking them on stop of each other, combining their abilities.
The game was critically acclaimed at the time, with CVG giving the Spectrum version 93%, Your Sinclair giving it 9/10 and Zzap 64 giving the C64 version 98%.
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Samsung showcases 500 Hz OLED monitor and foldable gaming handheld at MWC 2025
Samsung showcases 500 Hz OLED monitor and foldable gaming handheld at MWC 2025
Earlier this morning, Samsung Display announced and previewed its participation in Mobile World Congress 2025, where it will be going all-in on showcasing its OLED technology across a wide spread of screen sizes and potential use cases. Among the highlights included a 500 Hz QD-OLED monitor, 240 Hz OLED laptops, a foldable OLED handheld, flexible OLEDs, and the “Seamless Color Studio” – an advancement only made possible by further improvements made to OLEDs at smaller screen sizes.
Looking at the “world’s first 27-inch 500 Hz QD-OLED monitor” first, this device promises gamers a superfast refresh, ultra responsive, and color-rich gaming experience. We first heard about this awesome display from Korean sources back in November, last year. Hopefully with this showing at MWC, it is now much closer to retail.
Samsung’s “Seamless Color Studio” exhibit, pictured below, uses an OLED smartphone and large monitor on both sides, but highlights how an LCD-based laptop display on the left can’t keep consistency with the surrounding displays even when calibrated with the same color accuracy as the OLED laptop display on the right.
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Samsung)
(Image credit: Samsung)
This wouldn’t be possible if Samsung hadn’t further refined its OLED manufacturing capabilities to allow for truly high-brightness (1,000 nit) OLED panels at handheld (6.7-inch) screen sizes, as highlighted in the second slide.
For those unfamiliar, OLED panels are commonly agreed to offer the best visual quality of any modern panel type, but particularly in comparison to IPS (which suffers from poor contrast despite great color accuracy and viewing angles), TN (which shares great responsiveness with OLED, but cheap and with horrendous color compared to higher-end contemporaries), and VA (a technology which benefits from great contrast, but doesn’t look as vibrant as IPS or OLED).
Aside from concerns of burn-in and high prices, OLED has long been considered the ideal panel type for gaming monitors, media consumption, and pro work, so long as you get one correctly calibrated for your needs. It’s rather impressive that Samsung has managed to get this degree of OLED parity across its range of devices, and its work on flexible and bezel-less OLEDs also looks quite interesting for the future of the market.
Highlighting these advancements in bezel-less and flexible OLEDs, we’ve included three key images below. There’s a Samsung “Flex Gaming” handheld that’s fully bendable, a “Flexible Cabinbag” foldable OLED briefcase with a total screen size of 18.1 inches, and bezel-less “OLED Tiles” creating a single display from the use of ten 6.8-inch OLED tiles attached together.
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(Image credit: Samsung)
Of the concepts showcased, we do think the Samsung Flex Gaming concept may hold the most promise, since folding these devices would certainly make them more portable. However, the nightmarish ring design for the D-Pad and face buttons shouldn’t have even made it this far into prototyping.
Nobody wants some of the most important inputs on their handhelds turned into strange, empty holes in a foldable shell…please just be normal about this specific thing, Samsung. A foldable OLED handheld gaming PC is an awesome idea. A foldable OLED handheld gaming PC with (haptic?) holes instead of a D-Pad or face buttons is a strange nightmare, at best.
(Image credit: Samsung)
(Image credit: Samsung)
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1 Value, 1 Growth, and 1 Momentum Stock for Diversification
1 Value, 1 Growth, and 1 Momentum Stock for Diversification
Early in 2025, value stocks emerged as a popular choice among investors seeking market-beating returns. However, factor-based investing strategies can be notoriously difficult to predict future trends. For this reason, some investors might opt to diversify their portfolios not only through individual names, industries, and sectors but also according to different factors.
Three stocks with Strong Buy ratings from analysts may be particularly enticing for investors looking to explore a diversified factor-based approach. Doubledown Interactive (NASDAQ:) is a South Korean digital game developer offering a compelling case as a value prospect; end-to-end B2B e-commerce firm GigaCloud Technology (NASDAQ:) may be a strong small-cap growth opportunity; and up-and-coming cybersecurity name Supercom (NASDAQ:) could attract attention from momentum investors.
When combined in a single portfolio, these leading stocks also provide geographical and sector diversification.
DoubleDown’s Cash Flow and iGaming Growth Highlight Undervalued Potential
DoubleDown offers a variety of casino and cash-me-out games through third-party platforms. The firm’s trailing P/E ratio of 4.0 and forward P/E ratio of 4.5 are both lower than many rivals in the gaming industry, thanks in part to DoubleDown’s share price decline of about 19% over the past year as of February 278, 2025.
In the fall of 2023, DoubleDown expanded its operations into the iGaming space—online betting on a host of different events and games—through the acquisition of SuprNation. Since that time, it has grown this segment significantly, as SuprNation revenue in the fourth quarter of 2024 reached $9 million, the highest quarterly performance since DoubleDown’s acquisition.
This figure is also about 30% higher than DoubleDown’s estimate of SuprNation’s potential quarterly run rate prior to buying the company. However, with consolidated revenue of $82 million companywide during the quarter, SuprNation has yet to keep pace with DoubleDown’s legacy casino gaming business.
DoubleDown’s cash flow capabilities are generally strong, as the company generated a cash flow of over $148 million last year. However, free cash flow growth has not been steady. Otherwise, however, DoubleDown’s financial health seems excellent, with earnings consistently beating predictions except for the latest quarter. Investors are optimistic about its ability to continue building on SuprNation’s iGaming base and will likely find the company undervalued.
GigaCloud’s Strong Growth Prospects Tempered by Stock Volatility and Tariff Concerns
GigaCloud’s share price history over the last several months has been puzzling—the firm’s stock dropped by almost 49% over the past year as of February 28 despite a series of solid earnings beats. To take the most recent quarter as an example, the company noted more than $303 million in revenue, a 70% year-over-year (YoY) improvement, as well as record-high net income of $40.7 million, up over 68% YoY.
So, what is behind the bumpy stock performance for this company with otherwise outstanding growth prospects? It could be that investors have shied away due to concerns about the impacts of tariffs and increasing procurement risks on GigaCloud’s business.
However, the company’s international business is thriving, and expanded partnerships with several furniture makers, announced in early February, may help mitigate the negative impact of future tariffs. Investors willing to wait out the volatility may find that GigaCloud’s fundamentals continue to drive growth.
SuperCom’s 143% Gains and Expanding Contracts Signal Momentum Despite Recent Dip
Digital identity services firm SuperCom’s 143% gains in the last year make it enticing as a potential momentum pick. Notably, while shares have nearly tripled in the last six months, they have more recently dipped, shedding more than 26% in the month leading to February 28. While this may indicate a portion of the investor base that feels the stock is overhyped, SuperCom’s rapidly expanding customer base might suggest otherwise.
In 2025 alone, SuperCom has announced major new contracts for a national domestic violence monitoring project in the EMEA region, more than 200% growth in units of its PureTrack GPS for an unspecified European government in the last year, a new multi-year contract with a northern European government, and a slew of new contracts and expansions with various U.S. state governments and agencies.
Maxim Group reiterated its Buy rating for SPCB shares in January and boosted it price target by 50% to $18 per share, more than double the price of shares as of February 28. Based on this estimate, it would seem SPCB’s rally may just be getting started.
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Deadline for National Insurance top-ups softened
Deadline for National Insurance top-ups softened
Kevin Peachey
Cost of living correspondent
Getty Images
A looming deadline for people to plug gaps in their National Insurance record, to ensure they get the full state pension, has been softened.
Concerns over a rush of last-minute enquiries mean anyone who requests a call back from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on the issue will not be regarded as having missed the 5 April deadline.
People can currently make voluntary extra contributions to plug National Insurance gaps back to 2006.
But, after April’s deadline, this will be limited to the previous six years only.
Some people may have spaces in their National Insurance record if, for example, they have lived abroad or taken time off for caring responsibilities.
In general, people need 35 years of qualifying contributions to get the full state pension.
Top-ups have been permitted, as part of the transition to the flat-rate state pension, which was introduced in 2016.
Currently, these can go back for nearly 20 years, but are due to return to the normal six years after April.
Complications
Pensions experts say that extra contributions may not suit every individual in these circumstances, so it is important to check whether it is worthwhile for their finances.
There is complexity about when and whether to top-up, which has meant many people have called the DWP’s Future Pension Centre or Pension Service to discuss their options.
Worries about the clogged phonelines mean two earlier deadlines were extended.
Although this April’s deadline still stands, there will now be some leeway for anyone who struggles to get through on the phone.
Anyone who is unable to make contact with the DWP ahead of the deadline can use an online call-back request form.
People who submit a call-back request by the 5 April deadline will still be able to pay voluntary National Insurance Contributions back to April 2006, after the deadline has passed.
Anyone in this position should save a screenshot of their call-back confirmation message. A return call should come within eight weeks.
Checking service
A spokesman for the DWP said an online tool would mean that people would be able to make top-up payments after the 5 April deadline, provided they complete the call-back request form ahead of that date.
“This will enable us to ensure no one misses out, and to suitably manage demand as the deadline approaches,” he said.
Steve Webb, partner at consultants LCP and a former pensions minister, said: “After the chaos in the run-up to previous deadlines, it is good that the government has planned ahead to make sure that people do not miss out simply because they cannot get through on official phonelines to discuss state pension top-ups.”
Anyone can look at their National Insurance record and obtain a state pension forecast without charge to decide if making a voluntary contribution is a good decision for them.
People should also be alert to scams, from unsolicited messages relating to the issue, in the run-up to the deadline.
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Pokémon Champions Release—Platforms & Everything we Know
Pokémon Champions Release—Platforms & Everything we Know
Whisper it, but the release of Pokémon Champions instantly gives a Pokémon Stadium feeling. The Pokémon Company surprised everyone with its announcement, but now it’s out in the wild, it’s time to prepare yourself for battle.
Older Pokémon fans will remember the glory of Pokémon Stadium 1 and 2. The larger-than-life titles focused on the series’ core combat and head-to-head encounters. Exhilarating battles brought to life in huge arenas with flashy visuals and sizzling sound effects. The last 25 years have seen a slew of Pokémon titles, but none similar to Stadium.
Say hello to Pokémon Champions—a seemingly spiritual successor to the Stadium years. It’s an entirely new AAA release, and its launch might surprise you for a couple of reasons.
Do we Know When Pokémon Champions is Coming Out?
Stadium vibes. Credit to The Pokémon Company.
Pokémon Champions doesn’t have a release date or an estimated window. All we know for sure is it’s “Now in Development,” and updates on its progress will arrive as and when they are ready.
The February 2025 Pokémon Presents showcase is where we first learned of Pokémon Champions. A new Pokémon title was rumored to be shown off during the presentation. But it was expected to be another remake or perhaps a remaster.
Instead, a full trailer for Pokémon Champions was revealed—showing off its glitz, glamor, and gameplay. You can check out the debut announcement trailer right here.
All Pokémon Champions Platforms
Pokémon Champions is a multi-platform release for Nintendo Switch and mobile.
It’s not just an exclusive Nintendo release and that’s it. Pokémon Champions is also coming to mobile platforms too. The official YouTube trailer announcement’s description confirms as much.
“Look forward to cross-platform battles alongside your favorite Pokémon on Nintendo Switch and mobile, with a variety of different modes available for your desired experience,” it says.
For now, we presume it’s the Nintendo Switch, but a Switch 2 release is likely on the cards as well.
What is Pokémon Champions?
Even though a lot of the content is quite cryptic, there’s a definite Pokémon Stadium feeling with big-time battles in large arenas again. It also looks like Pokémon can turn into Tera Types too.
It’s also confirmed Champions “Will feature familiar mechanics such as Pokémon types, Abilities, and moves, creating an environment conducive to rich and varied strategies for new and experienced Trainers alike.”
We’re sure we’ll learn much more about Pokémon Champions as time passes.
What are your initial impressions of Pokémon Champions? Does The Pokémon Company have another winner on its hands? Is it another Gym badge to pin up somewhere for the company? Can Champions capture the feeling of what made Pokémon Stadium so magical? Drop a comment below.
For more Pokémon content, check out the latest on Pokémon Legends Z-A and the secret mission list for Pocket’s Triumphant Light set.
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Sci-fi thriller Dissolution smartly interweaves time travel and memory
Sci-fi thriller Dissolution smartly interweaves time travel and memory
Time travel stories often trap characters in loops for our enjoyment
Virgilio Ferreira/Millennium Images, ***
Dissolution (Nicholas Binge (Harper Collins (***, 27 March); Penguin Random House (US, 25 March))
Time travel is, of course, a staple of science fiction. The means of travelling through time may differ – from a 1960s police box to a set of ancient standing stones – but time shifting generally leads to all kinds of problems with “timelines” and important things being erased from or added to them. Our heroes can also get stuck in loops, doomed to repeat themselves endlessly for our pleasure unless…
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How to change Apple Intelligence settings: take control of Apple AI
How to change Apple Intelligence settings: take control of Apple AI
Apple Intelligence is finally here (or at least most of it is), with Siri due an upgrade later this year. Still, what’s here is a great foundation, offering features like ChatGPT integration with Siri, Writing Tools, and the controversial Notification summaries feature.
While Apple’s advertising has likely shown you all of that, you might not know just how to customize the experience. But fret not, TechRadar is here to help you out.
Below, we’ll cover how to access Apple Intelligence, and how to tweak settings to get the AI experience you want on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
How to turn on Apple Intelligence
(Image credit: Future / Apple)
In case you’ve not engaged with Apple Intelligence yet, you’ll need to have an iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max, or iPhone 16 (any) model for your iPhone to use it. iPad users will need the A17 Pro chip or an M1 or later model, while Macs with M1 or later get Apple’s AI features.
If your device can run it, head to the Settings app on iPhone or iPad, or System Settings on Mac, and opt-in via the Apple Intelligence option.
On your device of choice, head into Settings and ‘Apple Intelligence & Siri’, then request access by tapping ‘Get Apple Intelligence’.
Doing so will download the model, and enable it on your Apple device.
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Check out this guide for more in-depth steps on how to enable and turn off Apple Intelligence.
Apple Intelligence Settings Explained
(Image credit: Apple)
Siri settings are now tied into Apple Intelligence, but don’t be confused — Siri’s ‘brain transplant’ is coming later this year, which will give it improved contextual awareness.
That means this Apple Intelligence & Siri section is where you can adjust Siri’s trigger phrase (or turn it off), and trigger shortcuts for Siri.
The latter one is ideal, since Siri can now be interacted with without needing your voice, and can link out to ChatGPT (more on that shortly).
On Mac, that means you can now double press your right CMD key to type directly to Siri in the top corner of the screen, but the same also applies to double-tapping the bottom bar on your iPhone or iPad to type to Siri.
On iPhone, Apple Intelligence also manifests itself in Spotlight Suggestions, letting you drag down on your Home Screen to search for files, apps, contacts, and more.
This isn’t new, but it’s now handled in this hybrid menu where users can turn on and off various suggestions for Spotlight.
Finally, at the bottom of the page on iPhone you can select ‘Apps’ and adjust each application’s Apple Intelligence features independently of one another.
Want Summarized Notifications for Messages but not WhatsApp? Here’s where you can make those distinctions, as well as potentially turn off the ‘Learn from this App’ toggle so Apple’s machine learning can’t assimilate data from how you use the app to help make its app suggestions.
Logging into ChatGPT, and why you might want to
(Image credit: Apple)
ChatGPT is arguably the front-runner in the current AI race, and it can be set up to work directly from within Apple Intelligence-enabled Siri.
Apple will always warn you if it needs to lean on ChatGPT, so even if the service is toggled on, don’t expect all of your data to go to OpenAI’s servers every time.
If you do want to use ChatGPT with Apple Intelligence, you can do so without an account. If you’re already using it elsewhere, however, it can be helpful to create an account or log in.
If you have a ChatGPT Plus account, you’ll be able to enjoy a higher limit of requests, but it’s worth noting Apple won’t tell you how far under your limit you are, whichever plan you’re on. It’ll only tell you you’re ‘Under Limit’ until the limit is reached.
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Firefly’s Blue Ghost spacecraft makes second ever commercial landing on the moon
Firefly’s Blue Ghost spacecraft makes second ever commercial landing on the moon
Blue Ghost took a photo of its shadow on the lunar surface, with Earth in the sky above
Firefly Aerospace
A Texan company has achieved the second commercial landing on the moon – and the first that didn’t topple over on touchdown. The success comes amid a flurry of private and state lunar exploration.
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander launched on 15 January atop a SpaceX rocket and spent 45 days travelling to the moon. It landed on 2 March at 8.34am GMT, settling in a spot at Mare Crisium, a smooth basin formed by volcanic eruptions three billion years ago.
Blue Ghost used thrusters to slow from an orbital velocity of 1.7 kilometres per second to just 1 metre per second, then landed on shock-absorbing legs within 100 metres of its target. Jason Kim, Firefly’s CEO, told CNN that the craft’s short stature was key to a safe landing: “It’s a successful design, and you look at past designs and past designs that were successful, [they] look very similar — short and squatty.”
Blue Ghost is around 2 metres tall, 3.5 metres wide and carries 10 scientific instruments as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services programme that uses the private sector to carry out a range of experiments ahead of planned crewed missions.
These include the Lunar PlanetVac, which uses blasts of compressed gas to stir up and collect samples of moon dust, tests on radiation-hardened computer chips and the Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment, which picks up signals from the GPS and Galileo navigation satellite constellations orbiting Earth in order to provide location and timing data on the moon.
The lander will operate for a lunar day – about 14 Earth days – before falling into darkness and shutting down around 16 March. The freezing lunar night will probably be the end for the mission, although other landers have unexpectedly survived the harsh conditions before.
In February last year, Texas-based Intuitive Machines landed its Odysseus spacecraft on the moon, making it the first private company to achieve a feat previously only accomplished by national space agencies. Odysseus toppled onto its side during landing, but still managed to perform surprisingly well.
A host of lunar missions are under way or in planning. Also on board Blue Ghost’s launch rocket was another commercial moon mission, ispace’s Resilience lander, which aims to touch down in April. Around a dozen landers are expected to reach the moon in 2025 alone.
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Lenovo’s new take on foldable screen laptops quite literally stands tall
Lenovo’s new take on foldable screen laptops quite literally stands tall
Lenovo continues experimenting with unique computing designs, bringing a new concept to Barcelona for Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025. The brand has showcased a proof of concept called the ThinkBook Flip AI PC concept, which is essentially a 5-in-1 laptop, with five distinct display modes of function.
Many are familiar with 2-in-1 devices, that function as a standard clamshell computer, and swivel on a 360-hinge to stand in an easel style, for reading, creativity, and productivity functions. However, the ThinkBook Flip AI PC takes advantage of several of Lenovo’s developments over recent years, including foldable and rollable technologies. The device includes a dual hinge feature that supports the five usage modes– and can be used for display optimization, productivity, multitasking, and collaboration.
Lenovo
The device can take on a standard clamshell mode, with a 13.1-inch 16:10 OLED display. It can then extend up into a vertical mode, with an 18.1-inch 2000 x 2664 resolution 3:4 OLED display.
The third share mode folds outward with the panel 13.1-inches and the outer panel 12.9 inches, dual 16:10 aspect ratio, enabling multiple users to access the device. In read mode, the outer display panel folds flat against the device cover, with a 12.8-inch 2000 x 1258 16:10 display. The device is closed in tablet mode, leaving only the folded panel visible, with a 12.9-inch 2000 x 1258 16:10 display.
Lenovo said the ThinkBook Flip Al PC is intended to provide “AI-enhanced workflows and dynamic work environments” and eliminate “the need for external monitors.”
Hardware on the ThinkBook Flip AI PC includes the Intel Core Ultra 7 processors, 32GB LPDDR5x memory, and PCIe SSD Storage, in addition to Thunderbolt 4 ports and a fingerprint reader. The device has 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.7 dimensions and weighs 3.1 lbs. The device is also one of Lenovo’s Copilot+PCs, making its AI functionalities built-in.
The ThinkBook Flip AI PC takes inspiration from former concepts turned products, including the ThinkPad X1 Fold series and the rollable ThinkBook Plus Gen 6, the latter of which is scheduled to release in June. While there is no word on whether this is a product that could ever come to market, Lenovo is a brand that enjoys showcasing concepts in general. The brand demonstrated its futuristic transparent display laptop during WMC in 2024. It also showcased its voice-controlled Auto Twist AI PC during IFA 2024.
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Davante Adams landing spots: Best fits for WR with Jets set to release him if they can't find a trade partner – CBS Sports
Davante Adams landing spots: Best fits for WR with Jets set to release him if they can't find a trade partner – CBS Sports
Davante Adams landing spots: Best fits for WR with Jets set to release him if they can’t find a trade partner CBS SportsJets expected to release Davante Adams if they can’t work out trade NFL.comJets won’t find a trade partner for Davante Adams NBC SportsPittsburgh Steelers have another superstar wide receiver to pursue PennLivePackers ‘looking’ for veteran WR, and Davante Adams is now available Packers Wire
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Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit Review | TheXboxHub
Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit Review | TheXboxHub
“The Gothenburg-based (Sweden) indie games publisher Thunderful Publishing and the Vilnius-based (Litauen) indie games developer Tag Of Joy, today announced with great joy and thrill that their intriguing hand-painted adventure game, “Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit“, is coming to the Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo Eshop on September 28th, 2023.” – Jonas Ek, TGG.
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Does milk and other dairy really reduce the risk of colorectal *******?
Does milk and other dairy really reduce the risk of colorectal *******?
Genetic evidence suggests milk may be particularly beneficial
Hafiez Razali/EyeEm Mobile GmbH/Getty Images
Need an excuse to tuck into a cheeseboard? A handful of studies have recently suggested that dairy reduces the risk of colorectal *******.
Also known as bowel *******, this is the third most common type of the disease worldwide and the second leading cause of ******* deaths. If dairy can be protective, it might seem a no-brainer that we up our consumption, but is it so simple?
What clouds the…
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I really want the handy Ninja Blast Portable Blender and it’s finally on *****
I really want the handy Ninja Blast Portable Blender and it’s finally on *****
We all know that eating fruit and vegetables, along with generally hydrating more, is good for you. How do you make that easier to achieve in life? I’ve spotted the deal that will help.
Today, you can buy the Ninja Blast Portable Blender at Amazon for £39 (was £49.99), which is the first time this blender has been discounted at the retailer. The 22% discount comes just in time for warmer and better weather – aka the time when you’ll want to make more smoothies and drink more too.
The Ninja Blast Portable Blender is a cordless blender that you can use anywhere, bringing with it the high quality you would expect from Ninja. It has a rechargeable USB-C base which gives you more than 10 blends on a single charge, all with up to 2 hours of battery life. It’s perfect for use at the gym, work, or even the park.
Today’s best Ninja blender deal
When you think of the best blenders, you think of something hefty and only suitable for your kitchen. The Ninja Blast Portable Blender makes all that possible without needing a permanent home. Our Ninja Blast Portable Blender review explains that it continues the trend of Ninja offering high-end products.
We don’t recommend it for making soup, but the Ninja Blast Portable Blender is “great at breaking down fibrous fruits and vegetables, and decent at crushing ice”. It also has a “great to-go lid with a handle” while the whole thing is “lightweight”. Its capacity could maybe be a little ******* but for one person, it should suffice. I’m already thinking how it could be just what I need to save money on my expensive smoothie buying habit.
Ninja is better known for its many great air fryer deals so you might want to check those out while you’re treating your body like the temple it is. There are some great NutriBullet deals around as well.
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Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini back in Swiss court in Fifa fraud case
Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini back in Swiss court in Fifa fraud case
Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter and French football legend Michel Platini are back in court in Switzerland to face accusations of fraud.
In 2022, the pair were acquitted in a trial over a payment of 2m Swiss francs (£1.6m) made to Platini and authorised by Blatter in 2011.
Both men denied wrongdoing and said the transfer was belated payment for Fifa advisory work by Platini, who formerly led European football’s governing body Uefa.
But the Swiss federal prosecutor appealed against the decision. The new trial is expected to last until Thursday, with a verdict due on 25 March.
The pair appeared before an appeals court in Muttenz, near Basel, on Monday. Blatter, 88, reaffirmed that he was innocent.
“When you talk about falsehoods, lies and deception, that’s not me. That didn’t exist in my whole life,” he told the court.
A lawyer for Platini, 69, said the lower court that acquitted the pair in 2022 had been “right to find that the disputed payment of 2m francs was lawful”.
Platini had an illustrious playing career and is a three-time winner the Ballon d’Or – Europe’s highest individual football award.
He captained France to victory at the 1984 European Championship and won the 1985 European Cup with Juventus. He went on to coach the French national team and became Uefa president in 2007.
In 2015, prosecutors accused the pair of deceiving Fifa about payments made to Platini.
In his testimony at the first trial, Blatter said that he had asked Platini to work as his adviser in 1998. He added that at the time, Fifa could not afford the 1m Swiss francs annual fee requested by Platini.
They instead settled on partial payment, with the outstanding balance to be paid at a later date. Platini said during the trial: “I trusted the president, and knew he would pay me one day.”
He stopped working for Fifa in 2002 but initially did not pursue the payment as he told the court he had not needed the money at the time, and – according to Blatter – Fifa was “broke”. In January 2011, however, Platini felt he was in a position to send an invoice and the money was paid after approval by Blatter.
Following an investigation launched in 2015, Swiss prosecutors accused Blatter and Platini of forgery and fraud.
Also in 2015, Fifa suspended both men from football for ethics breaches – originally for eight years, although their exclusions were later reduced.
In 2022, Switzerland’s federal criminal court in Bellinzona cleared the two after accepting their account of a “gentlemen’s agreement” for the payment.
Swiss businessman and sports administrator Blatter joined Fifa in 1975, became general secretary in 1981 and then president of world football’s governing body in 1998.
He remained in the role for 17 years until resigning amid corruption investigations. Platini later withdrew his own candidacy for president.
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*** says ‘number of options’ on table for Ukraine peace
*** says ‘number of options’ on table for Ukraine peace
The United Kingdom, France and other countries are looking at a number of options to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, a spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer says, after French President Emmanuel Macron proposed a limited initial one-month truce.
Macron said on Sunday that his idea was for a one-month ceasefire in the air, at sea and on energy infrastructure.
“There are clearly a number of options on the table,” Starmer’s spokesman said on Monday when asked about that proposal.
“I’m just not getting into a running commentary on the options.”
But Starmer is clear that any peace deal “must be lasting, it must be durable, it must ensure that Ukraine has got significant defensive capabilities,” he said.
Starmer convened a summit of European leaders over the weekend as allies scramble to find a way forward following the Oval Office row between US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
“Every nation must contribute to that in the best way that it can, bringing different capabilities and support to the table, but all taking responsibility to act, all stepping up their own share of the burden,” he said.
Starmer said he had worked with France and Ukraine on a plan to end the war and that the group of leaders – mostly from Europe – had agreed on four things.
The steps toward peace would keep aid flowing to Ukraine, maintain economic pressure on Russia, make sure Ukraine is at the bargaining table and any peace deal must ensure its sovereignty and security and also continue to arm Ukraine to deter future invasion.
*** armed forces minister Luke Pollard also said various options are on the table but insisted no plan has been agreed.
Asked whether *** troops could be sent to Ukraine with or without a US guarantee, Pollard said: “Military deployments are possible. But the point is, we want a durable and lasting peace.
Ukraine is fighting for the normal and safe life it deserves, for a just and reliable peace. We want this war to end. But Russia does not, and continues its aerial terror: over the past week, more than 1,050 attack drones, nearly 1,300 aerial bombs, and more than 20 missiles have… pic.twitter.com/OkZMY9hhgT— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 3, 2025
Zelenskiy said that a deal to end the war between Ukraine and Russia “is still very, very far away,” adding that he expects to keep receiving US support despite his recent fraught relations with Trump.
“I think our relationship (with the US) will continue, because it’s more than an occasional relationship,” Zelenskiy said.
“I believe that Ukraine has a strong enough partnership with the United States of America” to keep aid flowing, he said at a briefing in Ukrainian before leaving London.
Key to the discussions, led by the US and France, has been an insistence on the inclusion of a US backstop as part of any peacekeeping deal in order to deter future Russian aggression.
The US has not yet committed to providing any such security guarantee, which the *** sees as essential to ensuring a “durable and lasting” ceasefire.
*** Defence Secretary John Healey is expected to visit the US later this week to move discussions forward, with military delegates and other officials also due to fly over to the country.
with PA and AP
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7 Best Platform Fighters (Not Called Smash), Ranked
7 Best Platform Fighters (Not Called Smash), Ranked
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Experience the Star Wars magic in Brawlhalla! Join Han Solo, Chewbacca, Kay, Nix, The Mandalorian, Grogu, and explore the Mos Eisley map in this epic crossover.
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Amazon, Google, Microsoft race for first in quantum computing
Amazon, Google, Microsoft race for first in quantum computing
When the AI frenzy fades, quantum computing will likely become the next big thing in technology, with Amazon, Google and Microsoft striving to stay at the forefront.
Each of the three companies has released research papers detailing the steps they’ve taken to make the fundamental unit of quantum computing, the qubit, a reliable data carrier. The companies are striving for an error-correction technique that would be workable across the hundreds of thousands to millions of qubits needed in a large-scale, practical quantum computer.
“Error correction is the puzzle piece that needs to be solved for these quantum systems to be able to scale and to be used to solve real-world problems,” said Heather West, research manager for quantum computing at IDC. “Until this is solved, these systems are only useful for small-scale experimentation.”
Last week, Amazon became the last of the three companies to unveil a quantum chip, which Amazon dubbed Ocelot. Microsoft introduced its chip, Majorana 1, the week before, and Google launched its processor, Willow, last December. All the chips are prototypes.
None of the error-correction techniques used to develop the chips solve the problem completely, West said. Nevertheless, they are essential incremental steps toward building enterprise-class quantum computing systems that could one day assist in drug discovery, provide a more complete understanding of climate change, and help create materials for construction and manufacturing.
“I would keep it in perspective that this is still a marathon. It’s not a sprint,” West said. “There’s still a long way to go.”
Microsoft’s advancement is ahead of Amazon and Google because the company created a unique state of matter to make qubits that carry data reliably, analysts said. Amazon and Google used different techniques but also claimed relatively high reliability rates. Amazon claims its technique in Ocelot reduced errors by up to 90%.
The three companies are hell-bent on developing quantum chips to avoid having to shell out billions of dollars for the technology in the future, said David Nicholson, senior vice president and global technology adviser at The Futurum Group. The generative AI craze, which started with OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in late 2022, forced Amazon, Google and Microsoft to pay Nvidia billions for the only GPUs available to train large-scale AI models in their respective clouds — AWS, Google Cloud and Azure.
For the fiscal year ending Jan. 26, Nvidia revenue was more than $130 billion, half of it from its cloud provider customers.
“These companies are saying they won’t be caught with their pants down [with quantum],” Nicholson said. “They’re not going to follow. They’re going to lead.”
In five years, the first quantum systems from cloud providers will lower the cost and increase the performance of the enterprise services they provide today, West said. Larger, more advanced quantum systems could make new services possible in 10 years.
The timeline is short enough for enterprises to start planning for the quantum era now, West said. They can consider where to get the skills necessary to take advantage of the technology, whether through in-house training, hiring specialists or leveraging third-party consulting agencies.
“That will take a little bit of time, so it’s definitely something to start planning toward, as well as trying to figure out what you want to do with [quantum],” West said.
Organizations talking to IDC today are not looking at only cloud providers for quantum computing, West said. Enterprises that need to know the intricacies of the systems are using the cloud of quantum hardware vendors, including IBM and startups.
Startups in the space include QuEra Computing, Rigetti Computing and SpinQ.
Antone Gonsalves is an editor at large for Informa TechTarget, reporting on industry trends critical to enterprise tech buyers. He has worked in tech journalism for 25 years and is based in San Francisco. Have a news tip? Please drop him an email.
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How to edit gear appearance in Monster Hunter Wilds
How to edit gear appearance in Monster Hunter Wilds
There are tons of resources to use for getting helpful tips and tricks in Monster Hunter Wilds for things like customizing your radial menu or using the wishlist, but it is up to you to make your hunter look good. Changing your appearance is one thing, but your armor is going to be covering the majority of your character. Some armors look great, while others are strong but might be a bit of an eyesore. Thankfully, Monster Hunter Wilds lets you completely edit your gear’s appearance without forcing you to lose those stats. Here’s how it works.
How to change your gear appearance
Capcom
To change what gear your character will wear regardless of what armor is equipped, head into the Base Camp and go into the Appearance section on the far right and choose Equipment Appearance. Here, you have a host of options to mess with. You can select whether or not you want different parts of your gear to appear at all, set what gear you want to appear visually on each slot, and even alter the colors. Each piece of gear has up to two color pigments you can freely tweak to make the most stylish hunter possible.
Once you reach High Rank and start unlocking layered armor, even more options open up as you start forging more designs. Until then, you will be limited to just a few appearances.
Unfortunately, at least for now, there is no way to edit the appearance of any weapons. Despite there being a ton of variations on weapon designs, you are stuck with whichever one you currently have equipped.
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MWC 2025: AI is the new mobile UI for Qualcomm
MWC 2025: AI is the new mobile UI for Qualcomm
On-device artificial intelligence (AI) will be a game-changer for tomorrow’s mobile industry across all enterprise applications, with AI being the crucial element in establishing new user paradigms and experiences, says Qualcomm Europe senior vice-president and president Enrico Salvatori.
Opening up at MWC 2025 about his company’s broad offer of new modems set for 5G networks and internet of things (IoT) applications, in addition to fixed wired access scenarios and general mobile infrastructure, the executive stressed just how quickly AI was scaling at the network edge to drive a number of key benefits. These include improvements in cost, performance and efficiency, privacy and security, immediacy, reliability, personalisation, and user interfaces and experiences.
In essence, said Salvatori, the mobile industry is moving into the era of a hybrid AI model, whereby model training is carried out using centralised cloud resources and the inference is done on the device using processors, principally an integrated Hexagon neural processor unit (NPU), Oryon central processing unit (CPU) and Adreno graphics processing unit (GPU). This, he said, will provide the cornerstone of edge AI leadership.
“Our vision [concerns] the impact on the device [and] the fact that the AI is introducing a new UI [user interface]. AI is moving from, or complemented by, the traditional cloud AI, also with the AI at the edge… We can provide much more NPU power to the device overall architecture … connected with fibre, Wi-Fi, etc. [More inference done on the device] offers benefits, first of all, because privacy and security of data are in the device.”
In terms of specific MWC announcements, Qualcomm unveiled its X85 5G Modem-RF eighth-generation 5G modem-to-antenna solution and fourth-generation AI-powered 5G connectivity system. The X85 is designed for the next generation of connected and AI-enabled applications, delivering faster speeds for seamless streaming, downloads and uploads, and is claimed to offer improved network reliability in congested areas, extended battery life and enhanced location accuracy for an overall superior user experience.
Shipping on Android smartphones, it is also engineered to support 5G Advanced capabilities in a multitude of other devices, including PCs, fixed wireless access points, automotive and XR headsets.
The X85 5G Modem-RF also has AI integrated, offering a number of previously unavailable performance benefits, said Salvatori. “The AI processor is optimising performance in terms of speed, in terms of coverage, and that is contributing coverage in terms of the environment. It is giving performance that you cannot achieve with a traditional CPU.”
Another key announcement was that the Dragonwing Cellular Infrastructure platforms for 5G Open RAN (O-RAN) solutions have been adopted by operators NTT Docomo and Viettel. The latter is Vietnam’s largest mobile network operator, which has deployed a live 5G O-RAN Massive MIMO network using Dragonwing Cellular Infrastructure platforms. Docomo is using Dragonwing X100 Accelerator Cards for its nationwide 5G vRAN network deployment across Japan.
The Dragonwing Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Gen 4 Elite Platform, powered by the X85 5G Modem-RF, is said to be the world’s first 5G Advanced FWA platform, delivering what Qualcomm confidently expects to be “ultra-fast and most advanced” wireless mobile broadband experiences with integrated AI capabilities enhancing network performance and usher in an era of “unprecedented” generative AI innovation at the network edge.
Available immediately, the FWA platform design features a quad-core processor, dedicated hardware acceleration, integrated 5G Modem-RF, GNSS, Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 and broad carrier middleware support.
Qualcomm also announced that it was introducing three modem products to address the industrial internet of things (IIoT) – the E41, E51 and E52. These have 4G capability for entry-level performance, but with integrated RF, and the E51 and E52 have integrated GPS to boost modem connectivity.
As he set out the AI vision, Salvatori noted that AI models are evolving to small language models (SLMs) working with significantly reduced numbers of parameters. In a stark example of this evolution, he showed test results showing how AI capabilities on-device today equal that of last year’s on-cloud. He quoted research showing that the index level of model quality in March 2023 of the GPT 3.5 Turbo 175 billion parameter large language model was equalled in July 2024 by Llama 3.1 (SL) with eight billion parameters. Since then, other SLMs have produced similar, if not better, quality indices.
“There are more exports on the software side in designing new SLMs that can leverage increased hardware capacity into the device. It’s a kind of positive virtual circle, because we can optimise software so the machine is working in the right direction from our perspective. The device contains our data, our apps, and we can 1741011576 do more and create this new UI and user experience.
“An AI agent creates an overlay for the user, interfacing all apps, all the data available in the device, and next, through the language model multi model information. It can extract data from the internet, from the network, and all together, delivering the richer user experience. We no longer have to select which app, data file, or video to use – everything will be done by the AI agent.”
Another element the executive stressed was that the technology for these new experiences is already commercially available for an array of PC and smartphone partners, as well as a growing developer ecosystem. Driving this, he said, will be the Qualcomm AI Hub, which comprises a device farm, marketplace and centre for services, tools and models.
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Ramp secures $13 billion valuation in secondary deal
Ramp secures $13 billion valuation in secondary deal
Eric Glyman and Karim Atiyeh, cofounders of corporate card startup Ramp
Financial technology startup Ramp is letting some employees and early investors cash out in a new deal that values the company at $13 billion.
The New York company announced the $150 million deal Monday. Khosla Ventures, Thrive Capital and General Catalyst were among the entities that bought shares in the round. The financing marks a step up from Ramp’s peak valuation of $8.1 billion in 2022. Ramp also raised a so-called down round that pegged the company’s price closer to $5.8 billion in 2023. The rebound in value shows some renewed investor appetite for high-growth startups, even in an era of higher interest rates.
The deal is also the latest in a string of private companies letting employees cash out shares and lowering the pressure on themselves to go public.
Stripe last week announced a tender offer that valued the company at $91.5 billion, helping its valuation rebound close to its peak of $95 billion. Co-founder and President John Collison told CNBC that Stripe has “no near-term IPO plans.” DataBricks and OpenAI have also announced major secondary rounds in the last six months.
Ramp is a financial software company that uses AI. The company issues credit cards and automates expenses and accounting. It competes with Brex, American Express and Concur in some arenas. CEO Eric Glyman said a bulk of Ramp’s customers are trying to cut overhead expenses in an era of corporate belt-tightening.
“Our core value proposition is helping businesses achieve more with less and spend less, which went from a-nice-to-have to truly the difference between whether you would exist or not in 2022 and 2023,” Glyman told CNBC.
The company serves 30,000 businesses in the U.S. including Anduril, Barry’s and Poshmark. Ramp plans to focus on enterprise expansion going forward, Glyman said.
Ramp is using artificial intelligence to automate a lot of its technology, Glyman said. The startup now powers over $55 billion in annualized purchase volume across card transactions and bill payments, up from $10 billion in January 2023, according to Glyman. Ramp makes money off of interchange fees on credit cards plus higher-margin software subscriptions.
As for an initial public offering, Glyman said there isn’t a “timeline in place.” But it is “something we’re thinking a lot about.” He said the company was burning less than $2 million per month on average last year, reducing its need to raise new capital.
“There isn’t what you would typically see with a strong need for the capital infusion an IPO would provide,” Glyman said. “That said, companies that are seeking to stand the test of time often pursue going public.”
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