Wall Street overlooks modest Nvidia guidance, lift price targets ahead of strong Blackwell ramp
Wall Street overlooks modest Nvidia guidance, lift price targets ahead of strong Blackwell ramp
Investors shouldn’t let a smaller-than-expected guidance beat overshadow tailwinds from Nvidia’s looming Blackwell graphics processing unit rollout come January. Shares of the chip behemoth rose about 1.6% before the bell despite beating Wall Street’s top-and-bottom line estimates as it signaled a slowdown in revenue growth from prior quarters. Shares of the chipmaker are up 195% this year. Many industry analysts lifted their price targets on the AI chip darling, saying there are signs that the launch of its Blackwell chip has been strong and demand will likely outweigh supply well into 2025. NVDA YTD mountain Shares this year “This was never the quarter that NVDA was going to ***** out numbers, and we are not overly concerned with any of the issues on this call as we see increasing beats as Blackwell ramps and still a path above $5 of EPS next year,” said Jefferies analyst Blayne Curtis. “The name will always struggle with elevated expectations, but business momentum should accelerate from here as Blackwell ramps and that has historically been the time to own the stock,” he added. Citi’s Atif Malik lifted the firm’s price target to $175 and opened a positive catalyst ahead of the consumer electronics show in January. He anticipates a raise in Blackwell sales expectations during the event and commentary from management regarding a “robotics industrial demand inflection.” Wells Fargo’s Aaron Rakers moved to a $185 price target, reflecting 27% upside from Wednesday’s close. He urged investors to take advantage of any pullback in the stock, citing confidence in Blackwell’s launch, which should top calls for “several billion” shipments next year and exceed supply for several quarters in 2026. Bernstein’s Stacy Rasgon boosted his target to $175, overlooking concerns of the smaller guidance beat and a decline in margins in Blackwell’s early days. He expects demand for the latest AI chips to outweigh supply, further supporting the company’s strong competitive advantage over its competition. Meanwhile, JPMorgan’s Harlan Sur lifted his price target to $170 a share, saying that margins should improve toward the mid-70s range in the second half of 2025 as Nvidia streamlines costs. “Bottom line, the team continues to maintain a 1- 2 step lead ahead of competitors with its silicon/ hardware/software platforms, and a strong ecosystem and the team is further distancing itself with its aggressive cadence of new product launches and more product segmentation over time,” he wrote. What’s next for the stock Despite strong Blackwell expectations, some analysts warn of potential near-term volatility. “Expect stock to churn near-term as investors digest lack of ‘sizzle’ but we continue to like the stock on its ‘substance,'” wrote Bank of America’s Vivek Arya. Barclays analyst Tom O’Malley referred to Nvidia’s modest outlook and commentary surrounding ****** margins as the “perfect thread the needle guide,” while Loop Capital’s Ananda Baruah views the pullback as the “pause before the next leg up.” Cantor Fitzgerald’s C.J. Muse said the ******* heading into Nvidia’s GTC conference in March are “goldilocks months,” implying that investors have a lot of news to look forward to in the months ahead. “Blackwell constraints are likely to be a major factor for at least a year, but we continue to see a strong Blackwell cycle as a driver for the stock for several quarters,” said Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore.
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#Wall #Street #overlooks #modest #Nvidia #guidance #lift #price #targets #ahead #strong #Blackwell #ramp
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BBC Children in Need chair resigns over grants to scandal-hit charity
BBC Children in Need chair resigns over grants to scandal-hit charity
The chair of the BBC’s Children in Need charity has resigned, after reports that she protested over grants awarded to an LGBT youth charity, whose former chief had been involved in a child ****** scandal.
Rosie Millard, a writer and broadcaster, accused the charity of “institutional ********” in her letter of resignation shared with the Times.
Millard objected to £466,000 being awarded to LGBT Youth Scotland (LGBTYS) , a charity which supports young gay and transgender people.
Its former chief James Rennie was convicted in 2009 of child **** assaults. The grants from Children In Need began seven months later, when the charity had new management in place.
BBC News has not seen Millard’s resignation letter.
A BBC spokesman said: “Nothing is more important to us than the safety of all children and young people.
“When allegations were made in relation to LGBT Youth Scotland their grant was immediately suspended with the full support of the board and a review began. In order to do this thoroughly and fairly the review took three months and culminated in the decision to withdraw funding.”
Rennie, who had been chief executive of LGBTYS from 2003 to 2008 and is also a previous SNP adviser, was jailed in 2009 after being revealed as a member of a paedophile ring.
He was given a life sentence for ********* assaulting a three-month-old child and for conspiring to get access to children in order to ****** them. He was ordered to serve a minimum of 13 years, later reduced to eight on appeal.
Children in Need suspended grants to the charity in May 2024, after Millard says she alerted them to his case. It withdrew funding around three months later following a review.
However, Millard, who used to be an arts correspondent for BBC News, criticised Children in Need for what she said was a lack of due diligence.
She accused chief executive Simon Antrobus of failing to respond “with the necessary level of seriousness” and hesitating to take action.
She alleged that he eventually cut funding to the charity only because of ***** of negative publicity.
BBC News has contacted Millard for comment.
Antrobus, who has been chief executive of Children In Need since 2016 and previously held senior positions at Parkinson’s *** and Scope, has not publicly commented.
Another man, who contributed to schools guidance put together by LGBT Youth Scotland, was convicted this year of sharing indecent images of children including some of newborn *******.
Andrew Easton was a young person who attended services of LGBT Youth Scotland in the 2000s, and, as a result, contributed to a 2010 guide for young people about coming out. However, he was never an employee of the charity.
He pleaded guilty in September to communicating online with someone he believed to be a child, downloading indecent images of children and distributing indecent images of children.
He was sentenced to a community order, ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, put on the **** offenders register for three years and told to take part in a **** offenders programme.
In 2022, two men said that they were groomed at LGBTYS around the time Rennie was chief executive. In response, LGBTYS suspended a staff member and referred itself to the police.
A BBC spokesman said: “The Children in Need board of trustees are supportive of the actions taken by the CEO and senior leadership team and stand by the decisions made.
“Rosie at all times retained the board’s support. In the wake of her resignation, in order to ensure any lessons learnt are captured, the trustees have instigated a review of ways of working between the board and executive in which Rosie has kindly agreed to participate.”
Mhairi Crawford, chief executive of LGBTYS, said that Millard’s resignation letter “demonstrates the ideologically driven nature of her attacks on our organisation”.
Crawford said: “We are pleased to see confirmation that Children in Need’s investigations into the work of LGBT Youth Scotland found nothing to report.
“Time and time again, those with anti-inclusivity motives point to historic allegations in attempts to ******** our reputation. Allegations that have been investigated and cleared by Police Scotland, and proven to have had no link to our work.”
Tim Davie, the BBC’s director general, praised Millard on Wednesday for her “significant impact on countless children”. Children in Need raised more than £39 million in its annual broadcast on Friday.
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#BBC #Children #chair #resigns #grants #scandalhit #charity
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Cane and Perenara set for All ******* farewell in Turin
Cane and Perenara set for All ******* farewell in Turin
New Zealand’s former captain Sam Cane and scrum-half TJ Perenara will get the chance to play for the All ******* for a final time after being picked in the matchday squad to face Italy at the weekend.
The Test in Turin on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) marks the end of the November tour for New Zealand, who edged England and Ireland in their opening two matches but lost 30-29 to France in Paris last weekend.
The veteran pair of Cane and Perenara are moving to Japan to play club rugby.
Cane, who has 103 caps, will line up on the open side of the scrum in a switch to the loose trio with Samipeni Finau out with concussion. Ardie Savea moves back to No. 8 with Wallace Sititi now on the blindside.
Perenara, with 88 caps, has been named as replacement halfback and will surely get a run out to mark the end of his All ******* career.
New Zealand coach Scott Robertson had been expected to ring the changes and give opportunities to several fringe players but has put out a strong side against Italy, who lost heavily to Argentina in their opening November international and had a struggle to get the better of Georgia last week.
There are a total of five changes in the All ******* line-up from the narrow loss in Paris last Saturday.
Loosehead prop Ethan de Groot, not used since being suspended for breaching team protocol ahead of the first Test on tour against England, has been chosen in place of Tamaiti Williams, who suffered a neck injury against France last Saturday, while Patrick Tuipulotu replaces Tupou Vaa’i in the second row.
Jordie Barrett, who was set to have a scan on his knee, is replaced by the experienced Anton Lienert-Brown, while Mark Tele’a is back on the right wing after a hand injury, replacing Sevu Reece in the two backline changes.
“This Italy team has made a real impact on the international stage this year, with a strong showing in the Six Nations,” Robertson said in a statement naming the team.
“We know the passion this team will bring, so we are preparing for a physical and motivated Italy for our final test of the tour.”
Team:
15-Will Jordan, 14-Mark Tele’a, 13-Rieko Ioane, 12-Anton Lienert-Brown, 11-Caleb Clarke, 10-Beauden Barrett, 9-Cam Roigard, 8-Ardie Savea, 7-Sam Cane, 6-Wallace Sititi, 5-Patrick Tuipulotu, 4-Scott Barrett (capt), 3-Tyrel Lomax, 2-Codie Taylor, 1-Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Tupou Vaa’i, 20-Peter Lakai, 21-TJ Perenara, 22-David Havili, 23-Damian McKenzie.
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#Cane #Perenara #set #******* #farewell #Turin
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Star Wars Outlaws Is Dropping Forced Stealth, So You Can Start Blasting Your Way Out Of Trouble
Star Wars Outlaws Is Dropping Forced Stealth, So You Can Start Blasting Your Way Out Of Trouble
As part of its ongoing overhaul, Star Wars Outlaws will be dropping forced stealth sections from “almost all” parts of the game with its new patch. In a blog post, developer Massive Entertainment outlined these changes, which will allow players to blast their way out of danger when they’re discovered by enemies. Frank Reynolds would be proud.
“We know many of you enjoy the stealth approach, so it was important to us to preserve that playstyle while also giving you the freedom to decide how to tackle each mission,” Star Wars Outlaws’ creative director Drew Rechner wrote in a blog post. “Ultimately, you’ll have the choice to sneak, go in combat-first, or–my personal favorite–sneak until you’re caught and then blast your way out.”
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Stealth missions were one of the more divisive parts of Star Wars Outlaws, as a combination of temperamental ****** AI and poor checkpoints made it frustrating for some. Rechner added that these changes will also apply to the formerly stealth-only syndicate sections of the game and that players will be able to pick up and keep weapons they find in the field for longer.
To keep the action exciting, players will also be able to target specific ****** body parts and exploit vulnerabilities when they enter combat. “The addition of positioning and timing tactics will also make combat scenarios more dynamic. Our goal is to let you play the way you want to play,” Rechner explained. For more details, you can check the full patch notes here.
After a slow start, Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment have continued to work on Star Wars Outlaws. Several stealth missions have also been redesigned to be less frustrating and several “key areas” of Outlaws have become a major point of focus for Massive Entertainment since the September launch of the game. If you’re interested in checking the game out for yourself, Star Wars Outlaws is on ***** for $50 during ****** Friday.
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#Star #Wars #Outlaws #Dropping #Forced #Stealth #Start #Blasting #Trouble
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Amazon’s ****** Friday ***** is officially here, and the SteelSeries Alias USB microphone’s price and feature set have me tempted to make a move for it
Amazon’s ****** Friday ***** is officially here, and the SteelSeries Alias USB microphone’s price and feature set have me tempted to make a move for it
The weeks leading up to Amazon’s ****** Friday ***** saw a barrage of enticing deals on headsets and microphones ideal for content creators and gamers – but I’ve just found the best deal yet. The fantastic SteelSeries Alias USB Mic for PC is now available on Amazon in the US for just $139.99 (was $179.99), and has an even better deal on Amazon in the *** for just £109.99 (was £179.99).
With prominent features such as a triple-size capsule for greater voice clarity and quality compared to some other mics, AI noise-canceling via Sonar (SteelSeries’ audio software), and LED level monitoring, the Alias holds the coveted position of ‘Best Premium Microphone’ in our best microphones for streaming guide. SteelSeries has consistently produced top-quality headsets and microphones over the years, and the Alias USB mic is a prime example.
Not in the US or ***? Scroll down to see the best SteelSeries Alias USB mic deals in your region!
Today’s best SteelSeries Alias deal in the US
Today’s best SteelSeries Alias deal in the ***
I’m considering diving into more content creation for gaming and hardware reviews – I could get lucky by opting for a cheaper mic in hopes that it will offer great audio quality, but with the £109.99 ***** price, it would be painful to take that risk and miss this offer, while knowing what I’ll be getting here (believe me, SteelSeries’ mics are very reliable).
Similar to the Lewitt Ray Autofocus XLR Condenser Mic ($349 / £349 / around AU$439) already on my wishlist, the Alias provides LED level monitoring – the Lewitt Ray uses the LED display to show your distance from the mic and mutes itself when you’re far away, while the Alias narrows its focus on LED monitoring to simply indicate whether your voice is being picked up by the mic.
Considering the high pricing of the Lewitt Ray, it’s a no-brainer to go for the SteelSeries Alias right now if you’re simply looking for a great-sounding microphone that allows you to keep a close eye on how loud you may be when on a call or streaming. It won’t work in the same manner as the Lewitt Ray since it utilizes an in-house sensor-based technology known as ‘AURA’, but the Alias will give you a close enough experience at a far more reasonable price.
More of today’s ****** Friday sales in the US
Amazon: TVs, smart home & air fryers from $12.99
Apple: AirPods, iPads, MacBooks from $89.99
Best Buy: $1,000 off 4K TVs, laptops & headphones
Cheap TVs: smart TVs at Best Buy from $69.99
Christmas trees: top-rated trees from $54.99
Dell: best-selling Inspiron & XPS laptops from $279.99
Dreamcloud: mattress deals from $349 + free shipping
Holiday: decor, lights, Christmas trees & PJs from $10.99
Home Depot: 40% off tools, appliances & furniture
Lowe’s: holiday decor, appliances & tools from $17.31
Nectar: up to 50% off all mattresses
Nordstrom: 46% off boots, coats, jeans & jewelry
Samsung: $1,500+ off TVs, phones, watches & appliances
Target: save on furniture, tech & clothing
Walmart: cheap TVs, ****** vacs, furniture & appliances
More of today’s ****** Friday sales in the ***
Amazon: up to 68% off toothbrushes and TVs
AO: savings on games consoles and appliances
Argos: up to 50% off toys, Lego, TVs and gifts
Boots: up to 50% off Dyson, *****-B and Philips
Currys: early deals on TVs, appliances, laptops
Dell: laptops, desktops, monitors from £299
Dyson: up to £150 off
Ebay: up to 50% off refurbished tech
EE: up to £600 off Samsung and Apple
John Lewis: up to £300 off appliances and TVs
LG: £1,000 or more off TVs and appliances
Samsung: up to £600 off TVs, phones and tablets
Very: up to 30% off phones, appliances & clothing
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#Amazons #****** #Friday #***** #officially #SteelSeries #Alias #USB #microphones #price #feature #set #tempted #move
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Thursday’s biggest analyst calls like Nvidia
Thursday’s biggest analyst calls like Nvidia
Here are Thursday’s biggest calls on Wall Street: Goldman Sachs reiterates Nvidia as buy The firm raised its price target on the stock to $165 per share from $150 following earnings. “We reiterate our Buy rating on NVDA (which is also on the Americas Conviction List) and highlight the rich catalyst path ahead.” Morgan Stanley initiates UMB Financial as overweight Morgan Stanley said the commercial bank has a “differentiated ******** base.” “We see UMBF as one of the best ways to play lower rates among the Midcap Banks.” Rosenblatt upgrades Palo Alto Networks to buy from neutral The firm upgraded the stock following Palo Alto earnings on Wednesday. “The company delivered another strong quarterly performance, driven by successful ********** of its platform strategy.” William Blair downgrades Ulta to market perform from outperform William Blair said it sees a “drawn-out recovery category” for shares of Ulta. “We are downgrading shares of Ulta to Market Perform from Outperform. Our downgrade is predicated on the view that coming off a hard reset of expectations at the analyst day, October 16, consensus 2025 comp and operating margin appear still optimistic and embed expectation of an early-2025 inflection in the beauty category, which we believe is unlikely.” Goldman Sachs downgrades XPeng to neutral from buy Goldman downgraded the China EV company mainly on valuation. “With at least four new model launches in the pipeline in 2025, we continue to see strong volume growth of +81% yoy for XPeng . On the other hand, we remain cautious on the competitive environment going into 2025, especially in the first quarter which has historically seen intensifying price cuts.” Wells Fargo initiating GE Vernova as overweight Wells said it sees an “AI power surge” for shares of the electric and renewables company. ” GEV is a primary beneficiary of projected LT growth in power demand driven by the AI data center buildout, US reshoring, & electrification trends.” Bank of America reiterates Netflix as buy Bank of America raised its price target on the stock to $1,000 per share from $800. “Last weekend, 60mn households (65mn concurrent streams at peak; 108mn global live viewers from opening to closing bell) watched the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson boxing match on Netflix.” Morgan Stanley reiterates Dell as overweight The firm said it’s sticking with Dell ahead of earnings next week. “We like this story for 2025 and would therefore be buyers of any post-earnings weakness, remaining OW with $154 PT.” Citi upgrades DT Energy to buy from neutral Citi said the natural gas pipeline company has “best-in-class” growth. “Additionally, DTM is now > $10bln in market cap, which should attract attention from a wider investor base, including international investors.” Goldman Sachs reiterates Chevron as buy Goldman raised its price target on the stock to $170 per share from $167. “For Chevron, we reiterate our constructive view on the stock, where we see ~10% total return to our updated PT of $170/sh.” Barclays upgrades Royal Bank of Canada to overweight from equal weight Barclays said it likes the Canada bank’s “scale and diverse business model.” “We are upgrading RY to Overweight from Equal Weight.” Goldman Sachs initiates Merus Therapeutics as buy Goldman said the biotech company has “best-in-class” potential. “We are initiating coverage of MRUS (Merus N.V.) with a Buy rating and a $73 12-month target price.” Goldman Sachs reiterates Snowflake as buy The firm said it likes the company’s “strong **********” following earnings on Wednesday. “We reiterate our Buy rating and $220 Price Target on Snowflake (on conviction list) following impressive F3Q results that augment our conviction the company can sustain mid-20’s revenue growth at a $4B revenue scale while delivering 25% FCF margins…” Bank of America reiterates Tesla as buy Bank of America said the stock is best positioned heading into next year. “Tesla appears well-positioned for growth in 2025 given latest commentary provided during the earnings call, which includes: soaring production volumes in the range of 20-30% YoY, the start of production of the Cybercab, the launch of a public ride-hailing app, deliveries of batteries from the Shanghai factory, and further progress of FSD (full self-driving) capabilities.” JPMorgan reiterates Palo Alto Networks as overweight The firm said it’s sticking with Palo Alto following earnings on Wednesday. “Platform progress with healthy results for what is typically a seasonally softer quarter.” Bank of America reiterates TJX Companies as buy Bank of America called the stock a “resilient share gainer” following earnings on Wednesday. “Despite some unfavorable weather impacts, TJX delivered comps of at the high end of guidance (+3%), driven by increased traffic across all banners.” Goldman Sachs reiterates Salesforce as buy Goldman said it’s sticking with shares of Salesforce. “We reiterate our Buy rating and raise our PT to $360 (vs $325 prior) following Agentforce World Tour, where conversations with partners and customers left us with greater conviction in Salesforce’s AI strategy **********.”
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Fortnite x Juice WRLD Update Details Revealed Ahead of Release
Fortnite x Juice WRLD Update Details Revealed Ahead of Release
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November 21, 2024
Fortnite leakers have revealed that a Juice WRLD update has been confirmed for tomorrow. A lot of the content expected in this update has also leaked beforehand.
Reliable Fortnite leakers ShiinaBR and HYPEX have provided players with several details about the Juice WRLD update. We now know that Juice WRLD is receiving multiple skins, a POI, a *******, emotes and more.
Starting with the skins, Juice WRLD will seemingly have two skins in Fortnite; one of them will be a cell-shaded version and will be free for all players to claim. Regarding the new POI, Juice WRLD will have an in-game tribute where players can spot the late artist next to the battle royale map. This landmark will also play Juice WRLD’s music when you are around the area.
Juice WRLD will receive an Exotic Chug Cannon as the new ******* in this update. Coming to the Juice WRLD Emotes in Fortnite, players can expect three of them tomorrow. The first one has been revealed: the ‘Lucid Dreams’ emote. This emote will have players dancing to the artist’s popular song while mimicking his moves. The other two emotes haven’t been revealed, but we know one will be with Eminem, and the other will feature Juice WRLD’s unreleased music.
Moreover, Juice WRLD’s upcoming album cover was also leaked with these files, “The Party Never Ends” album is set to release on November 29.
In other news, Fortnite’s Nike and Jordan Kicks update is also going live today. Also, the game will receive a first-person mode on December 11. What are your thoughts on Fortnite’s Juice WRLD Update? Let us know in the comments or our new community forum!
For more information from Insider Gaming, read about Stalker 2 receiving mixed feedback. Don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter.
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#Fortnite #Juice #WRLD #Update #Details #Revealed #Ahead #Release
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MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 1300W PSU Review
MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 1300W PSU Review
In today’s review, we are taking a look at MSI’s first ATX 3.0 compliant power supply, the MEG Ai1300P PCIE5. A beefy, 1300W PSU that is designed to be fully compliant with the ATX 3.0 specification, the Ai1300P is a look at what’s to come for the future of high-end PC PSUs, as the market slowly-but-inevitably incorporates ATX 3.0 compliance in order to feed ever more power-hungry video cards and other PCIe devices.
MSI claims that their unit also is the first ATX 3.0 Ready PSU on the market – and although that may be true by some small margin, it does not really say anything about the product itself. The specifications of the MEG Ai1300P PSU that we are reviewing today are extremely impressive, as expected from the flagship product of a premium brand. So for this review we’ll be examining its overall performance, reliability, and of course, taking our first stab at checking for ATX 3.0 compliance.
Specifications and Design
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Power Specifications (Rated @ 50 °C)
RAIL
+3.3V
+5V
+12V
+5Vsb
-12V
MAX OUTPUT
25A
25A
108.33A
3A
0.3A
Row 2 – Cell 0
130W
Row 2 – Cell 2
1300W
15W
3.6W
TOTAL
1300W
1300W
1300W
1300W
1300W
AC INPUT
100 – 240 VAC, 50 – 60 Hz
100 – 240 VAC, 50 – 60 Hz
100 – 240 VAC, 50 – 60 Hz
100 – 240 VAC, 50 – 60 Hz
100 – 240 VAC, 50 – 60 Hz
PRICE
$360
Row 5 – Cell 2
Row 5 – Cell 3
Row 5 – Cell 4
Row 5 – Cell 5
In the Box
MSI supplies the MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 in a large, sturdy cardboard box that provides ample shipping protection to the product inside it. The artwork on the box is rather simplistic and based on a picture of the unit itself. Information on the specifications and certifications of the PSU can be found on all sides of the box, with the logos at the front advertising its ATX 3.0 support.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Instead of cable ties or straps, MSI supplies a number of plastic wire combs. These are quite a bit tedious to install but the outcome is visually superior to basic tied wires. Inside the box, we also found the typical AC power cable and four ****** mounting screws.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 PSU is a fully modular design, allowing for the removal of every DC power cable, including the 24-pin ATX connector. Most of the cables have individually sleeved ****** wires and ****** connectors. Only the 16-pin PCIe 5.0 12VHPWR cable and one cable with two PCIe 8-pin connectors have ****** wires but are wrapped in a single sleeve.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Swipe to scroll horizontally
MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 1300W
Connector type
Hardwired
Modular
ATX 24 Pin
–
1
EPS 4+4 Pin
–
1
EPS 8 Pin
–
1
PCI-E 5.0
–
1
PCI-E 8 Pin
–
8
SATA
–
16
Molex
–
4
Floppy
–
1
External Appearance
MSI is one of the few companies that has invested so much in the external appearance of PSUs, especially with the MEG series. Most of the chassis is covered with embossed geometrical shapes and triangular patterns, with a few golden parts. The satin ****** paint is very smooth and resistant to fingerprints. The fan finger guard is entirely custom and part of the chassis itself. Despite the massive power output, the PSU is just 160 mm long, making it compatible with practically any ATX-compliant case.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The sticker with the unit’s electrical certifications and specifications covers about half the top side of the PSU. Decorative golden and ****** metallic plates can be found on the sides of the unit, which plates are magnetically attached and can be flipped to match the installation orientation of the PSU.
Image 1 of 1
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
A typical on/off switch can be seen at the rear side of the unit right next to the power connector. The front side of the unit is entirely covered by the numerous connectors for the modular cables. A golden legend is printed on the chassis. The tiny Mini-USB connector sits right above the large ATX 24-pin connectors, with the G.I. (i.e. Gaming Intelligence) legend printed right over it.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Internal Design
The 120 mm cooling fan of the MEG Ai1300P is made by PowerLogic for MSI. It features a hydro-dynamic bearing and, as MSI calls them, “liquid-crystal polymer” fan blades that are supposed to be better balanced and more durable than normal blades. MSI probably could not use a 135 mm fan due to patent restrictions and 140 mm fans do not fit in 160 mm bodies with vertical connector daughterboards, so they had to stick to the 120 mm fan instead.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The OEM behind the creation of the MSI MEG Ai1300P is Channel-Well Technologies, or CWT. They are a very popular and reputable manufacturer of mid-to-high-performance PC PSUs. This platform can be described as a hybrid, as it essentially is a standard analog platform but with extra digital electronics added to it. The digital electronics allow for the monitoring of the unit’s basic performance figures, as well as limited control (fan cooling profile, OCP limits, etc) via the USB interface. What really does stand out is the heatsinks, which do have plenty of dissipation surface but are also designed to be aesthetically appealing – an odd (but not unwelcome) design choice considering they should not be visible to the end user.
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Electronic circuitry aside, the platform that the MEG Ai1300P is based upon is quite standard and proven. The filtering stage begins on the rear of the AC switch, with six Y capacitors, two X capacitors, and two filtering inductors. It is more than what specifications require but not overly large for such a design. The filtering stage leads to two large rectifying bridges, which are placed on their own heatsink.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The passive components of the APFC circuitry are two beefy 400V/680μF APFC capacitors made by Nichicon, followed by two filtering coils. The active APFC components are on the longest heatsink of the unit. Four transistors can be found on their own heatsink and these form the full-bridge inversion topology at the primary side of the unit. The output of the main transformer is connected to six power MOSFETs that generate a single 12V rail. The 3.3V and 5V lines are being generated via the DC-to-DC conversion circuits. All of the secondary capacitors, electrolytic and polymer alike, are made by Rubycon and Nippon Chemi-****.
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Overall, one quick takeaway from this is that while ATX 3.0 does require more reliability and performance out of high-end PSUs than past versions of the standard, it’s not a ******** difference. Consequently, neither are the first designs for ATX 3.0 PSUs. MSI’s MEG Ai1300P is still built more or less like any other high-end PSU, for both the good and the bad. Thus while there is certainly room for innovation and optimization here, making an ATX 3.0-compliant PSU does not mean OEMs will have to throw out the rule book on PSU design – at least for units above 1000 Watts.
Cold Test Results
Cold Test Results (25°C Ambient)
For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts.
Image 1 of 5
(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 efficiency of the MSI MEG Ai1300P does meet the 80Plus Platinum certification requirements when it is powered from an 115 VAC source. However, when the main’s voltage is 230 VAC, the efficiency is raised by an average of 1%, which is not enough to meet the 80Plus Platinum requirements for that input voltage. The average nominal load efficiency (20% to 100% of the unit’s capacity) is 92.1% with the unit powered from a 230 VAC source, and drops down to 91.3% if the unit is powered by a 115 VAC source. It is also interesting to note that its efficiency under very low loads is quite high, at above 83% for a 5% load.
The fan of the MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 is thermally controlled by default, with the unit keeping it disabled until the load was over 430-440 Watts. Regardless, the internal temperature of the PSU is quite low considering the massive power output. Once the fan does start, it is very quiet at first but then speeds up very quickly as the load increases, making the Ai1300P clearly audible when the load is greater than 800 Watts.
Hot Test Results
Hot Test Results (~45°C Ambient)
The resistance of the MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 unit to adverse ambient conditions is astonishing, with the unit hardly affected at all while operating inside our hotbox. There is a practically negligible efficiency degradation of 0.2-0.3% depending on the load, a figure four to six times lower than other similar designs. There is very little additional degradation under heavy loads, suggesting that the components of the MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 are not thermally stressed at all.
Image 1 of 5
(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)
Despite the exceptional resilience of the PSU against high ambient temperatures and its 80Plus Platinum efficiency levels, the losses of a unit this powerful sum up to over 100 Watts under high loads. These losses do increase the internal temperature of the PSU significantly but the cooling system of the MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 proves to be more than adequate, as the temperature of the critical components does not get anywhere near critical levels during our testing. As a matter of fact, the MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 delivers lower temperature figures than many units with significantly larger bodies and fans do.
The sizable heatsinks of the MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 seem to be collaborating excellently with the 120 mm PowerLogic fan at keeping the temperature of the critical parts low. With the PSU inside our hotbox, the fan started quicker and sped up even faster, reaching its maximum speed while the PSU was at just 70% load. Regardless, the internal temperatures of the unit kept rising almost linearly and were kept within safe levels.
PSU Quality and Bottom Line
Power Supply Quality
The electrical performance of the MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 1300W PSU is very good overall. Our instruments recorded a maximum ripple of 32 mV on the 12V line with a recommended design limit of 120 mV, an excellent figure for a PSU with that kind of power output. The filtering of the minor voltage lines is even better, with a maximum of 12 mV and 14 mV on the 3.3V and 5V lines respectively. Voltage regulation on the minor lines is very tight, with both lines staying within 0.8% across the load range. Strangely, especially for the CWT platform, the voltage regulation of the 12V line is much *******, at nearly 2%. This still is a very good figure but uncharacteristic of the particular OEM or class of this PSU.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Main Output
Load (Watts)
264.41 W
Row 0 – Cell 2
659.2 W
Row 0 – Cell 4
975.71 W
Row 0 – Cell 6
1297.87 W
Row 0 – Cell 8
Load (Percent)
20.34%
Row 1 – Cell 2
50.71%
Row 1 – Cell 4
75.05%
Row 1 – Cell 6
99.84%
Row 1 – Cell 8
Amperes
Volts
Amperes
Volts
Amperes
Volts
Amperes
Volts
3.3 V
2.32
3.37
5.79
3.37
8.68
3.36
11.58
3.35
5 V
2.32
5.06
5.79
5.05
8.68
5.03
11.58
5.02
12 V
20.07
12.2
50.16
12.17
75.24
12
100.33
11.97
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Line
Regulation (20% to 100% load)
Voltage Ripple (mV)
Row 0 – Cell 3
Row 0 – Cell 4
Row 0 – Cell 5
Row 0 – Cell 6
Row 0 – Cell 7
Row 1 – Cell 0
Row 1 – Cell 1
20% Load
50% Load
75% Load
100% Load
CL1 12V
CL2 3.3V + 5V
3.3V
0.85%
10
10
12
12
10
14
5V
0.90%
12
12
14
14
14
14
12V
1.90%
18
26
28
32
30
26
As part of our standard testing, we test the primary protections of all PSUs we review (Over Current, Over Voltage, Over Power, and Short Circuit). The MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 successfully passed all of the tests, generally reacting timely when needed and shutting down to protect itself and the components it is powering. The OCP protection is a little slow but does kick in when necessary – probably a side effect of the high power excursion figures dictated by the ATX 3.0 standard.
Bottom Line
The MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 marks a lot of milestones for MSI – it is their first ATX 3.0 compliant unit, the world’s first ATX 3.0 compliant unit, and ******** their flagship PSU product to this date. Needless to say, the MEG Ai1300P has to meet very high expectations, both by the users and by MSI themselves.
MSI placed a lot of effort into the uniqueness of the MEG Ai1300P in terms of appearance. The company went with a fully customized chassis and metallic side decorations, using contrasting body colors but not fancy lighting, for a seamless and elegant look. From a practical point of view, the chassis of the massively powerful unit is just 160 mm long, making it compatible with any ATX-compliant case. The odd point here is the two cables which are fully sleeved instead of having individually sleeved wires like the rest of them.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
In terms of electrical performance, the MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 does deliver. Keeping its massive power output in mind, the MEG Ai1300P manages outstanding power quality, with excellent voltage regulation and remarkable filtering. MSI’s engineers did not neglect the minor voltage lines either, which often are not as well filtered as the main 12V line. The efficiency of the MEG Ai1300P barely meets the 80Plus Platinum certification standards but it is extremely stable and practically unaffected by high ambient temperatures. It also is very efficient at very low loads, which is important for a unit with a very high-power output.
The use of a 140 mm fan was not possible due to the small chassis, forcing MSI’s engineers to resort to a 120 mm fan. Although the quality of the fan is exceptional, its smaller size of it inevitably means that it needs to spin faster in order to create the required airflow. This does not necessarily mean that all 135/140 mm fans would be quieter but most quality products would generate at least a little less noise for the same amount of airflow. Ultimately, the fan of the MEG Ai1300P does a great job at keeping the internal temperatures of the PSU very low but it does get noisy when the load and/or the ambient temperature are very high.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
To summarize, the MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 is a powerful PSU, very well made and with very good overall performance. Currently, its primary selling point is the ATX 3.0 compliance and the new 12VHPWR/PCIe 5.0 connector, which is in our opinion a necessity for anyone who is going to purchase a graphics card that uses it. While many older PSUs can handle the power requirements of such a card, there are frequent issues with the 12VHPWR adapters and it is counterintuitive to risk damage to a $1000+ card for the price of a great PSU.
When it can be found in stock, the MEG Ai1300P currently retails for $310, which is quite high for a PC PSU, yet not unreasonably high considering the current state of the market and the features it offers. Builders who do not currently intend to use an NVIDIA RTX 4000 series card card but also frequently upgrade should also consider the MEG Ai1300P, as it should last them for many years and endless system changes/upgrades without having to swap a PSU again.
MORE: Best Power Supplies
MORE: How We Test Power Supplies
MORE: All Power Supply Content
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4 Reasons Why Bitcoin Won't STOP at $100K and is Headed Much Higher
4 Reasons Why Bitcoin Won't STOP at $100K and is Headed Much Higher
4 Reasons Why Bitcoin Won't STOP at $100K and is Headed Much Higher
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#Reasons #Bitcoin #Won039t #STOP #100K #Headed #Higher
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International ********* Court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and ****** officials
International ********* Court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and ****** officials
The International ********* Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for ******** Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and ****** officials, accusing them of war ******* and ******* against humanity over the war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks that triggered *******’s offensive in the ************ territory.
The decision turns Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects and is likely to further isolate them and complicate efforts to negotiate a cease-***** to end the 13-month conflict. But its practical implications could be limited since ******* and its major ally, the ******* States, are not members of the court and several of the ****** officials have been subsequently ******* in the conflict.
Netanyahu and other ******** leaders have condemned ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s request for warrants as disgraceful and antisemitic. U.S. President Joe Biden also blasted the prosecutor and expressed support for *******’s right to defend itself against ******. ****** also slammed the request.
“The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity,” the three-judge panel wrote in its unanimous decision to issue warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant.
The court also issued a warrant for the arrest of Mohammed Deif, one of the leaders of ******. The ICC chief prosecutor had also sought warrants for two other senior ****** figures, Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, but they were both ******* in the conflict.
The ******** Foreign Ministry said in September that it had submitted two legal briefs challenging the ICC’s jurisdiction and arguing that the court did not provide ******* the opportunity to investigate the allegations itself before requesting the warrants.
“No other democracy with an independent and respected legal system like that which exists in ******* has been treated in this prejudicial manner by the Prosecutor,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein wrote on X. He said ******* remained “steadfast in its commitment to the rule of law and justice” and would continue to protect its citizens against militancy.
The ICC is a court of last resort that only prosecutes cases when domestic law enforcement authorities cannot or will not investigate. ******* is not a member state of the court. The country has struggled to investigate itself in the past, rights groups say.
Despite the warrants, none of the suspects is likely to face judges in The Hague any time soon. The court itself has no police to enforce warrants, instead relying on cooperation from its member states.
Even so, the threat of arrest could make it difficult for Netanyahu and Gallant to travel abroad, although Russian President Vladimir ******, who is wanted on an ICC warrant for alleged war ******* in Ukraine, recently showed he could still visit an ally when he traveled to Mongolia, one of the court’s member states, and was not arrested.
Khan sought warrants in May, accusing Netanyahu and Gallant of ******* including *******, intentionally attacking civilians, and persecution.
In a statement at the time, Khan alleged that ******* “has intentionally and systematically deprived the civilian population in all parts of Gaza of objects indispensable to human survival” by closing border crossings into the territory and restricting essential supplies including food and medicine.
At the same time, he accused three ****** leaders — Sinwar, Deif and Haniyeh — of ******* linked to the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, when ******-led militants stormed into southern *******, ******** some 1,200 people and abducting another 250. The three leaders are accused of ******* including *******, extermination, taking hostages, ***** and ********.
“The Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Deif, born in 1965, the highest commander of the military wing of ****** (known as the al-Qassam Brigades) at the time of the alleged conduct, is responsible for the ******* against humanity of *******; extermination; ********; and ***** and other form of ******* *********; as well as the war ******* of *******, cruel treatment, ********,; taking hostages; outrages upon personal dignity; and ***** and other forms of ******* *********,” a statement says.
Prosecutors withdrew their request for a warrant for Haniyeh, who was assassinated in what was believed to be an ******** strike in Iran in July. ******* also claims to have ******* Deif, but ****** hasn’t confirmed his ******. Sinwar, who was promoted to succeed Haniyeh as ******’ leader, was ******* in a chance front-line encounter with ******** troops in October.
Human rights groups have applauded the decision, which came more than six months after Khan made his initial request.
“The ICC arrest warrants against senior ******** leaders and a ****** official break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law,” the associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, Balkees Jarrah, said in a statement.
*******’s opposition leaders fiercely criticized the ICC’s move.
Benny Gantz, a retired general and political rival to Netanyahu, condemned the decision, saying it showed “moral blindness” and was a “shameful stain of historic proportion that will never be forgotten.”
Yair Lapid, another opposition leader, called it a “prize for *******.”
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International ********* Court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and ****** officials
International ********* Court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and ****** officials
The International ********* Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for ******** Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and ****** officials, accusing them of war ******* and ******* against humanity over the war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks that triggered *******’s offensive in the ************ territory.
The decision turns Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects and is likely to further isolate them and complicate efforts to negotiate a cease-***** to end the 13-month conflict. But its practical implications could be limited since ******* and its major ally, the ******* States, are not members of the court and several of the ****** officials have been subsequently ******* in the conflict.
Netanyahu and other ******** leaders have condemned ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s request for warrants as disgraceful and antisemitic. U.S. President Joe Biden also blasted the prosecutor and expressed support for *******’s right to defend itself against ******. ****** also slammed the request.
“The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity,” the three-judge panel wrote in its unanimous decision to issue warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant.
The court also issued a warrant for the arrest of Mohammed Deif, one of the leaders of ******. The ICC chief prosecutor had also sought warrants for two other senior ****** figures, Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, but they were both ******* in the conflict.
The ******** Foreign Ministry said in September that it had submitted two legal briefs challenging the ICC’s jurisdiction and arguing that the court did not provide ******* the opportunity to investigate the allegations itself before requesting the warrants.
“No other democracy with an independent and respected legal system like that which exists in ******* has been treated in this prejudicial manner by the Prosecutor,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein wrote on X. He said ******* remained “steadfast in its commitment to the rule of law and justice” and would continue to protect its citizens against militancy.
The ICC is a court of last resort that only prosecutes cases when domestic law enforcement authorities cannot or will not investigate. ******* is not a member state of the court. The country has struggled to investigate itself in the past, rights groups say.
Despite the warrants, none of the suspects is likely to face judges in The Hague any time soon. The court itself has no police to enforce warrants, instead relying on cooperation from its member states.
Even so, the threat of arrest could make it difficult for Netanyahu and Gallant to travel abroad, although Russian President Vladimir ******, who is wanted on an ICC warrant for alleged war ******* in Ukraine, recently showed he could still visit an ally when he traveled to Mongolia, one of the court’s member states, and was not arrested.
Khan sought warrants in May, accusing Netanyahu and Gallant of ******* including *******, intentionally attacking civilians, and persecution.
In a statement at the time, Khan alleged that ******* “has intentionally and systematically deprived the civilian population in all parts of Gaza of objects indispensable to human survival” by closing border crossings into the territory and restricting essential supplies including food and medicine.
At the same time, he accused three ****** leaders — Sinwar, Deif and Haniyeh — of ******* linked to the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, when ******-led militants stormed into southern *******, ******** some 1,200 people and abducting another 250. The three leaders are accused of ******* including *******, extermination, taking hostages, ***** and ********.
“The Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Deif, born in 1965, the highest commander of the military wing of ****** (known as the al-Qassam Brigades) at the time of the alleged conduct, is responsible for the ******* against humanity of *******; extermination; ********; and ***** and other form of ******* *********; as well as the war ******* of *******, cruel treatment, ********,; taking hostages; outrages upon personal dignity; and ***** and other forms of ******* *********,” a statement says.
Prosecutors withdrew their request for a warrant for Haniyeh, who was assassinated in what was believed to be an ******** strike in Iran in July. ******* also claims to have ******* Deif, but ****** hasn’t confirmed his ******. Sinwar, who was promoted to succeed Haniyeh as ******’ leader, was ******* in a chance front-line encounter with ******** troops in October.
Human rights groups have applauded the decision, which came more than six months after Khan made his initial request.
“The ICC arrest warrants against senior ******** leaders and a ****** official break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law,” the associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, Balkees Jarrah, said in a statement.
*******’s opposition leaders fiercely criticized the ICC’s move.
Benny Gantz, a retired general and political rival to Netanyahu, condemned the decision, saying it showed “moral blindness” and was a “shameful stain of historic proportion that will never be forgotten.”
Yair Lapid, another opposition leader, called it a “prize for *******.”
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Amy Hennig Revealed Why Uncharted Couldn’t Have a Female Lead That’s Nothing to Do With ‘Anti-Woke’
Amy Hennig Revealed Why Uncharted Couldn’t Have a Female Lead That’s Nothing to Do With ‘Anti-Woke’
The Uncharted series is one of gaming’s most iconic franchises, and Amy Hennig has been at the helm of this success. For a franchise that would become similar to Tomb Raider at the time, the decision to make Nathan Drake the protagonist wasn’t random. It was a choice shaped by the industry’s dynamics and cultural influences.
Amy Hennig with Troy Baker and Nolan North. Image Credit: @CouchSoup on YouTube
As the creative mind behind the iconic game, Hennig explained why the lead character couldn’t be female. And it’s not what many might assume. The decision had nothing to do with avoiding controversy or being “anti-woke.” It was simply to not be a “Dude Raider.”
Amy Hennig Was Always Thinking 2 Steps Ahead
During Uncharted‘s development, comparisons to Tomb Raider were inevitable. Hennig and her team wanted to carve out their unique space in the adventure genre, avoiding the perception of simply replicating Lara Croft’s legacy and success. Speaking to Games Beat in an interview, she said,
No. It was nothing we could even consider, because Tomb Raider was a thing. So we deliberately chose to have a guy, not a woman, because it would feel like we were invading that territory.
Instead of competing directly, Uncharted redefined the genre with a more relatable hero to blend the charm of Indiana Jones with a touch of vulnerability.
She was this aspirational, acrobatic, James Bond character, so we made ours a little hapless, a little clumsy, more like Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones. Right at the limit of his ability a lot of the time. On his heels.
This choice also reflected the shifting portrayal of masculinity in media. Nathan Drake stood apart from hyper-masculine action heroes by being fallible and self-aware.
While Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft embodied an aspirational, almost superhuman figure, Drake was designed to be someone who often stumbled his way through predicaments.
His simplistic qualities, combined with Amy Hennig’s meticulous storytelling, made him both endearing and memorable. His casual demeanor and reluctant heroism were key to making Uncharted stand out in a saturated market full of competitors.
In a Way, Nathan Drake Became Her Answer To Lara Croft
She would’ve made an excellent Tomb Raider game. | Image Credit: Eidos-Montréal
Hennig’s creative journey was shaped by her past experiences. Before joining Naughty Dog, she worked at Crystal Dynamics, where she aspired to create an adventure series with a strong female protagonist.
Comment byu/Rabbidscool from discussion inTombRaider
In many ways, Uncharted was her answer to being denied the chance to work on Tomb Raider, creating a dialogue between the two franchises. Despite the success of Uncharted, Hennig acknowledged the challenges of leaving the series behind after her departure from Naughty Dog.
When you live with these characters… They feel like children or something. It’s very hard… it’s like if you split up with your spouse and they have the kids. You wish them well… It was hard for a while, because there was something distant about it for me.
Hennig’s legacy extends beyond Nathan Drake or even Uncharted. Her work ***** the foundation for deeper, more cinematic experiences in games. And because of her, we know today that complex characters and rich stories can coexist with blockbuster action.
Had Hennig’s original ambition to work on Tomb Raider succeeded, the gaming industry might never have experienced Uncharted. Just think of how crazy that sounds.
Hennig’s work underscores the importance of thoughtful storytelling and character development in gaming, regardless of gender.
Today, she is working on the upcoming Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra set to release in 2025. She is also working on an undisclosed Star Wars project.
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Fujitsu snubbed on private sector deal with Centrica due to Post Office scandal backlash
Fujitsu snubbed on private sector deal with Centrica due to Post Office scandal backlash
Fujitsu has lost out on a contract with British Gas owner Centrica after the company’s board, fearful of reputational damage, blocked it, despite the troubled supplier being the preferred bidder.
Sources also say the recent termination of a contract with the Northern Ireland Education Board was down to implementation problems, not the Post Office scandal backlash.
Fujitsu’s public sector sales have collapsed this year, but the snub by utilities firm Centrica could signal future difficulties for the company in the *** private sector.
The ********* supplier was the preferred bidder for an end user computing contract at Centrica, worth about £45m, sources told Computer Weekly. Contract teams were preparing for negotiations, before Centrica’s board put a stop to it.
Since the broadcast of ITV’s dramatisation of the Post Office Horizon scandal, there has been a huge public backlash against Fujitsu, the supplier of the error-prone software at the centre of the scandal.
When approached by Computer Weekly, Centrica said it doesn’t comment on speculation, but it stressed that it uses Fujitsu for internal solutions only, such as providing laptops and IT helpdesk support, and that the supplier doesn’t provide customer-facing services.
Fujitsu has already seen its public sector sales fall after a self-imposed ban on bidding for new government contracts. According to figures from public sector IT market watcher Tussell, from 1 January to 20 November 2024, Fujitsu was awarded seven public sector contracts worth a total of £1.38m. This is in contrast with the 18 contracts worth over £154m it was awarded in the same ******* in 2023.
Centrica is a private company. Unlike in the public sector, contracts are not published in the private sector, so the effect of the scandal on Fujitsu’s private sector *** business is less known.
Fujitsu had provided no response to Computer Weekly’s questions when this article was published.
Separately, Computer Weekly has learned that the Northern Ireland Education Board’s (NIEB) decision to drop Fujitsu from a deal to supply IT to schools was due to implementation issues rather than its association with the Post Office scandal. The deal was listed as being £500m, but was actually worth about £230m according to sources, who said the implementation problems saw it labelled red, the highest level of risk in its red, amber, green rating.
When Computer Weekly put this to the NIEB, a spokesperson said: “Following extensive negotiations, the Education Authority of Northern Ireland and Fujitsu Services Limited have mutually agreed, on a no-fault basis, not to continue with the EdIS Strategic Partner and School Management System contract.”
Fujitsu released an identical statement, but added: “Fujitsu would like to thank the Education Authority for its support and partnership over the past 11 months.”
Computer Weekly first exposed the Post Office scandal in 2009, revealing the stories of seven subpostmasters and the problems they suffered due to Horizon accounting software, which led to the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British history (see below timeline of Computer Weekly articles about the scandal since 2009).
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Trump and Fed Chair Powell could be set on a collision course over rates
Trump and Fed Chair Powell could be set on a collision course over rates
Jerome Powell and President Donald Trump during a nomination announcement in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017.
Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images
President-elect Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell could be on a policy collision course in 2025 depending on how economic circumstances play out.
Should the economy run hot and inflation flare up again, Powell and his colleagues could decide to tap the brakes on their efforts to lower interest rates. That in turn could infuriate Trump, who lashed Fed officials including Powell during his first term in office for not relaxing monetary policy quickly enough.
“Without question,” said Joseph LaVorgna, former chief economist at the National Economic Council during Trump’s first term, when asked about the potential for a conflict. “When they don’t know what to do, oftentimes they don’t do anything. That may be a problem. If the president feels like rates should be lowered, does the Fed, just for public optics, dig its feet in?”
Though Powell became Fed chair in 2018, after Trump nominated him for the position, the two clashed often about the direction of interest rates.
Trump publicly and aggressively berated the chair, who in turn responded by asserting how important it is for the Fed to be independent and apart from political pressures, even if they’re coming from the president.
When Trump takes office in January, the two will be operating against a different backdrop. During the first term, there was little inflation, meaning that even Fed rate hikes kept benchmark rates well below where they are now.
Trump is planning both expansionary and protectionist fiscal policy, even more so than during his previous run, that will include an even tougher round of tariffs, lower taxes and big spending. Should the results start to show up in the data, the Powell Fed may be tempted to hold tougher on monetary policy against inflation.
LaVorgna, chief economist at SMBC Nikko Securities, who is rumored for a position in the new administration, thinks that would be mistake.
“They’re going to look at a very nontraditional approach to policy that Trump is bringing forward but put it through a very traditional economic lens,” he said. “The Fed’s going to have a really difficult choice based on their traditional approach of what to do.”
Market sees fewer rate cuts
Futures traders have been waffling in recent days on their expectations for what the Fed will do next.
The market is pricing in about a coin-flip chance of another interest rate cut in December, after it being a near-certainty a week ago, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch. Pricing further out indicates the equivalent of three quarter-percentage-point reductions through the end of 2025, which also has come down significantly from prior expectations.
Investors’ nerves have gotten jangled in recent days about the Fed’s intentions. Fed Governor Michelle Bowman on Wednesday noted that progress on inflation has “stalled,” an indication that she might continue to push for a slower pace of rate cuts.
“All roads lead to tensions between the White House and the Fed,” said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM. “It won’t just be the White House. It will be Treasury, it’ll be Commerce and the Fed all intersecting.”
Indeed, Trump is building a team of loyalists to implement his economic agenda, but much of the success depends on accommodative or at least accurate monetary policy that doesn’t push too hard to either boost or restrict growth. For the Fed, that is represented in the quest to find the “neutral” rate of interest, but for the new administration, it could mean something different.
The struggle over where rates should be will create “political and policy tensions between the Federal Reserve and the White House that would clearly prefer lower rates,” Brusuelas said.
“If one is going to impose tariffs, or mass deportations, you’re talking about restricting aggregate supply while simultaneously implementing deficit finance tax cuts, which is encouraging an increase in aggregate demand. You’ve got a basic inconsistency in your policy matrix,” he added. “There’s an inevitable crossroads that results in tensions between Trump and Powell.”
Avoiding conflict
To be sure, there are some factors that could mitigate the tensions.
One is that Powell’s term as Fed chair expires in early 2026, so Trump may simply choose to ride it out until he can put someone in the chair more to his liking. There’s also little chance that the Fed would actually move to raise rates outside of some highly unexpected event that would push inflation much higher.
Also, Trump’s policies will take a while to make their way through the system, so any impacts on inflation and macroeconomic growth likely won’t be readily apparent in the data, thus not necessitating a Fed response. There’s also the chance that the impacts might not be that much either way.
“I expect higher inflation and slower growth. I think the tariffs and the deportations are negative supply shocks. They hurt growth and they lift inflation,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. “The Fed will still cut interest rates next year, just perhaps not as quickly as would have otherwise been the case.”
Battles with Trump, then, could be more of a headache for the next Fed chair, assuming Trump doesn’t reappoint Powell.
“So I don’t think it’s going to be an issue in 2025,” Zandi said. “It could be an issue in 2026, because at that point, the rate cutting’s over and the Fed may be in a position where it certainly needs to start raising interest rates. Then that’s when it becomes an issue.”
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Redmi K80 Series Launch Set for November 27; Design Officially Revealed
Redmi K80 Series Launch Set for November 27; Design Officially Revealed
Redmi K80 series is all set to hit the ******** market next week. The Xiaomi sub-brand, via its official website, has confirmed the arrival of the new K series smartphones in its home country. The lineup will include the regular Redmi K80 and K80 Pro. The company has posted official images revealing the design of the Redmi K80 series. They are already confirmed to ship with Android 15-based HyperOS 2.0 and boast 2K resolution displays.
Redmi K80 Series Design
The Redmi K80 series will be launched on November 27 in China at 7:00pm local time (4:30pm IST). The company is teasing the design of the phones via its Weibo handle and its China website. The Redmi K80 Pro is confirmed to be available in the Snow Rock White colour (translated from ********) option with a dual-tone design. It is teased to come with a 1.9mm thick profile.
The official renders show the Redmi K80 Pro with a *****-punch display. It has a circular rear camera unit, resembling the camera modules of Xiaomi’s Civi series phones. The camera setup includes three sensors and a horizontal LED flash strip is placed outside the camera island.
Additionally, GizmoChina has shared alleged images of the Redmi K80 and Redmi K80 Pro that appeared on a ******** retailer platform. They indicate ******, blue, grey, blue, and green options for the standard model and ******, green and grey shades for the Pro model.
The Redmi K80 and Redmi K80 Pro are already confirmed to ship with Android 15-based HyperOS 2.0 and 2K resolution displays. Previous leaks suggest that the Redmi K80 Pro will feature the newly announced Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC. The standard Redmi K80 could run on the last generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. Both models are expected to feature 6.67-inch displays with 120Hz refresh rate. They could also come with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
The Redmi K80 Pro is expected to offer 120W wired and 50W wireless charging, while the vanilla model will have 90W wired charging support and 30W wireless charging support. The Redmi K80 Pro and Redmi K80 may launch in global markets as Poco F7 Pro and Poco F7 Ultra, respectively.
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Oppo Announces Android 15-based ColorOS 15 Globally with Find X8 Series: Compatible Models
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Which is Better?
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Thousands of customers worldwide report login issues
Thousands of customers worldwide report login issues
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Payment app PayPal is encountering issues worldwide, it has confirmed.
It said in a post on its service status page it was experiencing “a system issue” that may be affecting multiple PayPal Products – including account withdrawal and express checkout.
“Our technical teams are actively working towards resolving the issue,” it adds.
Thousands of customers globally have reported being unable to log in to their accounts or experiencing problems making payments.
Platform outage monitor Downdetector had received more than seven thousand reports from users as of 12:12 GMT.
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#Thousands #customers #worldwide #report #login #issues
Pelican News
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*****.io marketplace now requires asset creators to disclose their use of generative AI
*****.io marketplace now requires asset creators to disclose their use of generative AI
Creators who sell assets on *****.io will now have to be a lot more upfront about using generative AI. The marketplace for independent digital creators has introduced a new rule that requires users to label their projects if they were produced using generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT and Midjourney. Users will see an AI generation disclosure box when they upload their projects. If they confirm that their project contains AI-generated output, they’ll be required to indicate what kinds of content were made with generative AI, whether they’re graphics, sounds, text and dialogue or code.
If they have a public asset page, they’ll see a dialog box when they access their dashboard, making it easy to bulk tag their projects. They’ll be able to select multiple projects from their list and then indicate whether they contain AI-generated content or not. All assets with AI output will get the “AI Generated” tag, while those without will be tagged as “No AI.” Each content type will have its own sub-tag, as well.
*****.io requires all assets that used AI in any way, even if the creator had hand-edited it, to be tagged as AI Generated. And if it finds any untagged work that used artificial intelligence tool, it will make that asset ineligible for indexing so that potential buyers could no longer find it. However, it’s unclear what measures the marketplace is taking to police its website. While *****.io’s new policy may not be enough for those who’d rather ban AI content altogether, the tags will allow buyers who don’t want AI assets in their work to filter them out.
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#*****.io #marketplace #requires #asset #creators #disclose #generative
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Redmi K80 Series Launch Set for November 27; Design Officially Revealed
Redmi K80 Series Launch Set for November 27; Design Officially Revealed
Redmi K80 series is all set to hit the ******** market next week. The Xiaomi sub-brand, via its official website, has confirmed the arrival of the new K series smartphones in its home country. The lineup will include the regular Redmi K80 and K80 Pro. The company has posted official images revealing the design of the Redmi K80 series. They are already confirmed to ship with Android 15-based HyperOS 2.0 and boast 2K resolution displays.
Redmi K80 Series Design
The Redmi K80 series will be launched on November 27 in China at 7:00pm local time (4:30pm IST). The company is teasing the design of the phones via its Weibo handle and its China website. The Redmi K80 Pro is confirmed to be available in the Snow Rock White colour (translated from ********) option with a dual-tone design. It is teased to come with a 1.9mm thick profile.
The official renders show the Redmi K80 Pro with a *****-punch display. It has a circular rear camera unit, resembling the camera modules of Xiaomi’s Civi series phones. The camera setup includes three sensors and a horizontal LED flash strip is placed outside the camera island.
Additionally, GizmoChina has shared alleged images of the Redmi K80 and Redmi K80 Pro that appeared on a ******** retailer platform. They indicate ******, blue, grey, blue, and green options for the standard model and ******, green and grey shades for the Pro model.
The Redmi K80 and Redmi K80 Pro are already confirmed to ship with Android 15-based HyperOS 2.0 and 2K resolution displays. Previous leaks suggest that the Redmi K80 Pro will feature the newly announced Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC. The standard Redmi K80 could run on the last generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. Both models are expected to feature 6.67-inch displays with 120Hz refresh rate. They could also come with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
The Redmi K80 Pro is expected to offer 120W wired and 50W wireless charging, while the vanilla model will have 90W wired charging support and 30W wireless charging support. The Redmi K80 Pro and Redmi K80 may launch in global markets as Poco F7 Pro and Poco F7 Ultra, respectively.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.
For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.
Oppo Announces Android 15-based ColorOS 15 Globally with Find X8 Series: Compatible Models
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Which is Better?
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#Redmi #K80 #Series #Launch #Set #November #27Design #Officially #Revealed
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Manchester City urged to cut ties with footballer Natasha Harding
Manchester City urged to cut ties with footballer Natasha Harding
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Natasha Harding, now Allen-Wyatt, played for Manchester City in 2015
Manchester City FC has been urged to part ways with footballer Natasha Harding, who is facing allegations she took thousands of pounds from teammates, parents and businesses that she did not pay back.
The former Wales international, who now uses her married name Allen-Wyatt, often appears as a pundit and commentator for Manchester City on their women’s games.
She is facing claims including that she took money for one-to-one coaching with children that she did not deliver.
Ms Allen-Wyatt said she had to cancel “some sessions” due to circumstances outside of her control, and apologised to those affected.
Since the BBC reported the allegations from parents, teammates and businesses who sponsored the Tash Harding Academy, a number of others have been in touch alleging they also lost money.
Reports have been made to a number of police forces in Wales and England, some of which have also been passed on to Action ******, the BBC has been told.
Action ****** said at least one report is “currently being assessed” by the National ****** Intelligence Bureau.
The BBC understands while Ms Allen-Wyatt is not a direct employee of the club, she has been working for them on a freelance basis until very recently.
She last appeared as a pundit on Manchester City’s Matchday Live programme on 8 November alongside ex-England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley, who now manages the Manchester City Women FC Academy.
The club’s website also states that she commentated on the Women’s Super League (WSL) match between Manchester City and Chelsea on 16 November.
Ms Allen-Wyatt, who won 103 caps for Wales, also played for Manchester City in 2015 before moving to Liverpool, Reading and Aston Villa.
Manchester City FC have been approached for comment.
Getty Images
Former Wales teammates, parents and businesses have come forward with allegations about Natasha Allen-Wyatt
Steve Lloyd, who chairs a grassroots club that claims to have lost £650 after investing in the Tash Harding Academy earlier this year, said he felt the club had a “moral and ethical duty” to cut ties with Ms Allen-Wyatt.
He praised Manchester City, whose women’s team are currently sitting second place in the WSL behind Chelsea, for being a “massive supporter of the ******’ and women’s game”.
But he said he felt they needed to speak out.
“To be getting the exposure that Manchester City gives [Ms Allen-Wyatt], I think it’s a moral and ethical duty for them to stop her freelance employment,” he said.
He added he felt they should, “speak out in support of the people who have been making these allegations, rather than brushing it under the carpet”.
Dreigiau Dâr FC in Aberdare is run by volunteers and aims to provide free coaching for children from all backgrounds.
They said they paid £650 to Ms Allen-Wyatt in return for 20% of her academy’s profits and 12 coaching sessions with the club.
Only two sessions were held and the club received no profit from the academy.
Steve and another parent also paid for blocks of one-to-one coaching sessions for their children, that were also only partially fulfilled. They said they had asked for refunds but had not received any money back.
Steve Lloyd
Steve Lloyd and his daughter Eliza, 10, had hoped Eliza would be trained by Ms Allen-Wyatt
Steve’s 10-year-old daughter Eliza said she had hoped to play for Wales one day but had been left feeling “sad” when the sessions ******* to materialise.
Speaking on Radio Wales Breakfast on Thursday, Steve said: “As we all know now, there is a ***** of a lot more parents, companies and other individuals who are out there who have suffered the same heartache as well.
“Ideally in the grand scheme of things it would be fantastic if everyone was to get their hard-earned money back, but it’s going to be a long and difficult process.”
Ms Allen-Wyatt did not respond to the allegations made by her former teammates or by businesses.
She said the cancellations were due to circumstances including “my car being written off and the second car breaking down” and that refunds had been paid to some parents and agreed with others.
She said she set up the academy to provide low-cost, “detailed technical coaching” to give children “the opportunities that I never had”.
She said she was still operating it and “delivering local sessions”.
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*****.io Now Requires Creators To Disclose AI-Generated Content
*****.io Now Requires Creators To Disclose AI-Generated Content
Creators and consumers are tangling with the use of generative AI in everything from games to TV-show opening sequences, and the sentiment on AI seems to be shifting. To help consumers make decisions about which games to buy, game storefront *****.io now requires all creators to disclose the use of generative AI in games, *****.io founder Leaf Corcoran announced in a forum post to the site.
The text of the post itself is fairly straightforward, directed primarily at the creators who will have to disclose this information.
*****.io’s generative-AI disclosure
“We’ve deployed a new field to project edit pages called ‘Generative AI disclosure.’ This field asks if your project contains the results of generative AI. If you select yes, then we also ask what kinds of generative AI you utilize, including Graphics, Sound, Text & Dialog, and Code,” Corcoran wrote. Selecting Yes will give your project an “AI Generated” tag, while selecting No will give it a “No AI” tag.
Importantly, though, Corcoran notes that “Assets comprised of generative AI (even if modified afterwards) that are not tagged will no longer be eligible for indexing on [*****.io’s] browse pages.” The project won’t be removed, but will not show up when browsing, and must be discovered through search or a direct link.
Corcoran is careful not to make a moral judgment of the use of AI, and *****.io’s Content Creator Quality Guidelines state that “we are strictly enforcing disclosure for all game asset pages due to legal ambiguity around rights associated with Generative AI content.”
As ***** takes this measure, many game developers and publishers are moving to clarify their stances on the technology, including Remedy, Microsoft, Netflix, and others.
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Bing Wallpaper app arrives on Microsoft Store in Windows 11, and it’s free – but there could be hidden costs here
Bing Wallpaper app arrives on Microsoft Store in Windows 11, and it’s free – but there could be hidden costs here
Bing Wallpaper app has just arrived on the Microsoft Store
The VP of Bing noted that it’s free, unlike some rival wallpaper apps
Digging into the app suggests it stealthily gets up to all manner of ****** tricks
Microsoft has made its Bing Wallpaper app available on the Microsoft Store for Windows 11 users, but has seemingly opened up a can of controversy when doing so.
Windows Latest spotted the release of the app on the Microsoft Store, and in some ways, it’s rather odd that we didn’t see the software arrive here before now, considering Bing Wallpaper has been around since 2020 (as a download direct from the Microsoft website).
The release was announced by Michael Schechter, VP of Bing at Microsoft, who included a swipe at other wallpaper apps which charge for their services, pointing out that Bing Wallpaper is free.
The Bing Wallpaper app is now in the Microsoft Store, and it does not cost $50 per year [Hidden Content] 18, 2024
If you’re not familiar with the application, it’s a simple enough affair that automatically sets your Windows wallpaper to the daily Bing image (and some of these pics are really impressive, and provided in 4K too).
While the app is certainly free, there’s an apparent hidden cost, as some people have pointed out on X and other online forums.
Windows Latest highlights a complaint from Rafael Rivera, a developer and Microsoft MVP, who observes that the wallpaper app also installs “Bing Visual Search and has code to peruse and decrypt your Edge and Chrome cookies.”
Rivera then adds that applies to Firefox cookies, as well, before providing a list of extensions for IT admins to block in order to curtail said activity.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Rivera also provides an example of one of the ****** tricks the Bing Wallpaper app can get up to, and as you can see in the post from X below, it pushes the Microsoft Bing Search extension for Chrome, for those using Google’s browser. It does this by opening a new tab advertising that extension when you start up Chrome.
Windows Latest also discovered that there’s a ‘BGAUpsell’ process run in the background – BGA stands for ‘Bing Growth Apps’ as Rivera points out on X – and this shows a screen asking users to switch to the Bing search engine in Chrome.
Here’s an example of one of MANY ****** tricks Bing Wallpaper employs.After some time passes, and you close your non-Edge default browser, Bing Wallpaper fiddles with it and open this tab on start. pic.twitter.com/nnuzYCRgVbNovember 19, 2024
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Analysis: Big thumbs-down to the Bing Upsell
While we can’t confirm the info shared here, it’s clearly worrying, and both Rivera and Windows Latest appear to have dug up some concrete details. There’s no response from Microsoft or the Bing team on X to these revelations, and frankly, it seems like the Bing Wallpaper app is best avoided by those who are worried about privacy – and not getting hassled to use Microsoft’s products – on their PC.
As another post on X makes clear in the above thread from Rivera, there’s not really a need to install the wallpaper app anyway, considering that Windows Spotlight deliver the same functionality. (Turn it on in Settings > Personalization > Background > Personalize your background > Windows Spotlight).
Okay, so we’re not sure if this is identical to the Bing Wallpaper app, but if not, the built-in option here sounds close enough. We’d install Bing Wallpaper to try it out and check, but frankly – we don’t want to, reading all this.
Other reports on Reddit indicate that the app wasn’t always like this, but was recently changed. A Redditor notes: “It [Bing Wallpaper app] used to be great and never gave popups for Bing, but over the past few months it has become a bit aggressive with recommending Bing and since it is the only Microsoft app I have that I installed on my own, that is the only possible culprit.”
Again, take that assertion with some ******** seasoning – and the rest of this – but there’s some consistency around the chatter here, and we’re definitely not liking the themes being raised around this app.
You may also like…
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