Network and Beyond NaB

Now that Samsung has pointed it out, it sounds strange to say that we hand over our phones, with all their sensitive data onboard, to repair shops with the password on a slip of paper. Many minor repairs don't require the phone to be unlocked, but those that do present... https://www.techspot.com/news/95477-samsung-tests-smartphone-feature-hides-data-repair-shops.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Jacob Wayne John Keen, 24, was arrested for allegedly selling a trojan virus named Imminent Monitor to cyber criminals, domestic violence perpetrators, among others from as many as 128 different countries. The tool allowed users to target unsuspecting victims to steal their personal data, track information entered into documents, and... https://www.techspot.com/news/95479-brisbane-man-arrested-distributing-spyware-thousands-cyber-criminals.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Originally expected at the beginning of this year, Analogue's 1.1 firmware beta release expands the Pocket's feature set and includes several additions focused on extending the capabilities of 3rd party developers. These additional capabilities provide developers with OS-level tools, settings, and configurations required to successfully create and deploy new cores... https://www.techspot.com/news/95474-openfpga-initiative-looks-preserve-video-gaming-history-through.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Meta has released a new WhatsApp beta with updates to message reactions, an increase to group participants up to 512, and max file size limit to 2GB. https://www.techspot.com/downloads/6877-whatsapp-beta.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Data 9to5Mac found in the iOS 16 beta concerning how it handles wallpapers corroborates rumors that the iPhone 14 Pro will include an always-on screen. The beta references the technology in other areas as well. https://www.techspot.com/news/95473-ios-16-wallpaper-modes-hint-iphone-14-always.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The patch notes don't detail each and every controller that is supported, so The Verge reached out for clarification. Valve spokesperson Kaci Aitchison Boyle confirmed that the Switch-specific NES, SNES, Sega Genesis and Nintendo 64 controllers are all compatible with Steam. https://www.techspot.com/news/95468-steam-adds-support-nintendo-switch-online-classic-controllers.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Intel released its second-quarter earnings report for 2022 on Thursday. The company's revenue dropped by 22 percent year-over-year to $15.3 billion, ending the quarter with a $454 million net loss, a 109 percent drop compared to the $5 billion in profit reported in Q2 2021. https://www.techspot.com/news/95462-intel-lost-half-billion-dollars-last-quarter-confirms.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

In its latest earnings report, Sony lowered its profit forecast for the year by 16 percent from the 305 billion yen ($2.3 billion) it predicted in May to 255 billion yen ($1.9 billion). Part of that comes from the $3.7 billion acquisition of Bungie, but it's also the result of... https://www.techspot.com/news/95464-sony-lowers-profit-forecast-playstation-5-game-sales.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Regular Twitter leaker momomo_us often makes the news over his graphics card reveals. While their latest tweet does relate to an AMD product, it's not a piece of PC hardware; this is the PL4500 AMD Edition gaming chair. https://www.techspot.com/news/95463-you-can-now-buy-549-amd-branded-gaming.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

This week, Intel announced that active software support is now only for 11th generation CPUs and newer. It is moving its 6th through 10th generation CPUs to legacy software support. So, aside from critical fixes and security patches, older processors will get updates less frequently than newer ones. https://www.techspot.com/news/95460-intel-moves-6th-through-10th-generation-cpus-legacy.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Microsoft Edge on Windows now automatically compresses disk cache for improved performance and a reduced disk footprint. For more details check out the release notes. https://www.techspot.com/downloads/7158-microsoft-edge.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Games that support a higher native resolution like 4K might benefit from improve anti-aliasing through supersampling down to 1440p. Notably, variable refresh rate on the PS5 only works at 1080p and 4K; 1440p resolution is not supported. https://www.techspot.com/news/95455-ps5-beta-system-update-adds-1440p-support-gamelists.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Going from user feedback, it sounds like many are planning a final AM4 upgrade and you may be most interested in going all out on the 5800X3D, which we know is a cracking good gaming CPU. https://www.techspot.com/review/2502-upgrade-ryzen-3600-to-5800x3d/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The Senate yesterday voted 64 - 33 in favor of passing the $280 billion Chips and Science Act, $52 billion of which will go toward subsidies for chip makers. There will also be an investment tax credit for chip plants estimated to be worth $24 billion. The incentives do come... https://www.techspot.com/news/95450-us-senate-passes-chips-act-boost-us-manufacturing.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

In its annual Cost of a Data Breach Report, IBM Security said the global average cost of a data breach is $4.35 million. That's an increase of 2.6 percent from $4.24 million last year and is up 12.7 percent from $3.86 million in the 2020 report. Worse yet, 60 percent... https://www.techspot.com/news/95446-average-data-breach-costs-reach-all-time-high.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

To create the "Ultimate" Steam Deck, Linus Sebastian and crew started by adding a 1TB SanDisk Extreme memory card to the handheld. They also managed to get their hands on a 30mm Micron 2TB NVMe SSD engineering sample. Micron said they weren't sure if it would even work in the... https://www.techspot.com/news/95443-modded-steam-deck-ultimate-gets-gobs-storage-enhanced.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

This week, Kaspersky researchers revealed a new firmware rootkit dubbed "CosmicStrand," which is believed to be the work of an unknown group of Chinese malicious actors. https://www.techspot.com/news/95425-years-gigabyte-asus-motherboards-carried-uefi-malware.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Microsoft Office has been the industry standard for productivity for over 30 years. Right now you can get the full Office Professional suite with a lifetime license for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote for just $39.99. We've promoted this amazing deal before, but now it's an extra 20% off... https://www.techspot.com/news/94997-microsoft-office-suite-39-no-subscription.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The streaming video giant is working with German audio specialist Sennheiser on the rollout, and will use its AMBEO technology to convert standard stereo audio into an immersive surround sound-like experience. Netflix is the first streaming platform to use the tech, we're told. https://www.techspot.com/news/95230-netflix-teams-sennheiser-spatial-audio-rollout.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The Robocop: Rogue City trailer gives us a look at the FPS that's set for release in June next year for the PC, PS5, and XBOX Series X/S. There are plenty of nods to the original movie in the gameplay clip, including Robocop's lock-on targeting overlay, ED-209, and the "can... https://www.techspot.com/news/95227-check-out-new-robocop-terminator-games-development.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

TechSpot is actively looking to hire writers that are driven and enthusiastic about technology. If you are a TechSpot reader, then you know the job requires profound understanding of technical matters and the ability to write about them with authority and accuracy. https://www.techspot.com/news/93148-techspot-hiring-tech-news-writers.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

A hydro battery is comprised of two large bodies of water at different heights – in this instance, they are located nearly 2,000 feet below ground between the Emosson and Vieux Emosson dams in Valais. https://www.techspot.com/news/95219-swiss-water-battery-20-million-kwh-capacity-finally.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

TechSpot is actively looking to hire writers that are driven and enthusiastic about technology. If you are a TechSpot reader, then you know the job requires profound understanding of technical matters and the ability to write about them with authority and accuracy. https://www.techspot.com/news/93148-hiring-techspot-looking-tech-news-writers-how-guide.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

TrendForce (paywalled, via The Wall Street Journal) said the average contract price of DRAM fell by 10.6 percent in the second quarter compared to the same period a year earlier. According to the market research firm, it's the first year-over-year decline in two years. Further declines are expected in the... https://www.techspot.com/news/95216-dram-pricing-continues-slide-suggesting-demand-boom-electronics.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman writes that the rugged version of the Apple Watch will feature a "nearly 2-inch display" (diagonally), about 7% more screen area than the largest current Apple Watch. It will also come with a bigger battery for longer life and a larger resolution than its predecessor— 410 x... https://www.techspot.com/news/95214-sports-focused-apple-watch-rumored-feature-larger-screen.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

GoodSync allows you to sync and backup your files between PCs, drives, or remotely through different secure protocols free of charge. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux and mobile. https://www.techspot.com/downloads/2444-goodsync.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

From today, Amazon Prime members in the US can activate a free, one-year membership to Grubhub+. The service, which normally commands $9.99 per month plus tax, grants unlimited access to $0 delivery fees on orders over $12 from participating restaurants. Members can also score other discounts and earn rewards including free food. https://www.techspot.com/news/95203-amazon-latest-prime-perk-free-grubhub-food-delivery.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

If you have a desktop PC, you may not want to put it on the floor. Case in point, there are short PC cases that are more suitable than most for use on a desk. Here are some of the best of them. https://www.techspot.com/bestof/cases-on-desk/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

We first saw the S55U back in May. The monitor follows in the footsteps of similar products that mix gaming and home entertainment features. In this case, the 54.6-inch VA panel offers a 4K resolution, 96% DCI-P3/140% sRGB color gamut coverage, 1,500 nits of peak brightness, a 120Hz refresh rate,... https://www.techspot.com/news/95199-gigabyte-launches-546-inch-gaming-monitortv-hybrid-android.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The Ryzen 5 5500 certainly works well, but realistically if you're on a budget yet remain a performance-minded enthusiast, this CPU should be avoided even at $140. https://www.techspot.com/review/2494-amd-ryzen-5500/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

A sensor in the center of the ball, meanwhile, broadcasts inertial data 500 times per second. https://www.techspot.com/news/95190-fifa-use-cameras-sensors-ai-automate-offside-calls.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

"We're moving to a zero data center, zero mainframe environment that's more flexible, secure, and cost-effective," Carter said. https://www.techspot.com/news/95189-fedex-close-all-data-centers-transition-cloud-within.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Sources have told Moore's Law is Dead that the flagship models of the upcoming Intel Z790 motherboards will feature PCIe Gen 5 M.2 SSD compatibility, but not the mainstream variants. Among AMD's approaching AM5 boards, the M.2 slots for the X670 Extreme, X670, and B650 will be PCIe 5.0. https://www.techspot.com/news/95181-flagship-intel-z790-motherboards-expected-support-pcie-50.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The non-fungible token, created by Nick Sullo (aka xsullo), depicts a lime-green Corvette Z06 screeching through a cyberpunk-style city. It's a nice picture, as NFTs go, but what separated this from other expensive digital tokens was that it came with a real version of the car in the image. https://www.techspot.com/news/95185-chevy-nft-auction-included-free-corvette-z06-gains.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Learning Microsoft Word's ins-and-outs can be very rewarding, making you more productive, plus your colleagues will also appreciate a Microsoft Word guru by their side. https://www.techspot.com/article/2477-microsoft-word-hacks/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Auslogics Duplicate File Finder scans your drive and lets you decide which identical files to remove. It allows you to search by name, date, or type for free without limitations. https://www.techspot.com/downloads/6666-auslogics-duplicate-file-finder.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Ubisoft has announced that it plans to decommission the online services for 15 games on September 1. Users won't be able to play the multiplayer and co-op modes in these games anymore, linking accounts and online features will stop working, and worst of all, players will outright lose access to... https://www.techspot.com/news/95177-ubisoft-disable-online-features-15-games-gamers-lose.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

In a statement tweeted yesterday, the UK's Ministry of Defence Press Office said it was aware of a breach of the Army's Twitter and YouTube accounts and was investigating the matter. "We take information security extremely seriously and are resolving the issue. Until the investigation is complete it would be... https://www.techspot.com/news/95175-british-army-twitter-youtube-accounts-hacked-crypto-scammers.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Gaudi2 is made for Intel by Habana Labs, an Israeli company that it acquired at the end of 2019 for $2 billion. Habana actually makes two types of specialized accelerators: some for training neural networks, like Gaudi2; and others for running (i.e., "inferencing") them, such as Goya and Greco. https://www.techspot.com/news/95172-intel-gaudi2-accelerator-more-than-match-nvidia-a100.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Everyone likes to talk about Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) as some frontier technology that is going to 'disrupt' or even 'revolutionize' the technology landscape. Marketing teams invoke AR/VR in quasi-mystical ways – "the future," with lots of hand waving. And they almost always get linked together as... https://www.techspot.com/news/95125-opinion-thinking-about-arvr-wrong.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The TikTok blackout challenge—aka the fainting game, game of choking, or speed dreaming—follows the long trend of viral challenges on the social media platform that have the potential to cause severe injury or death. This one involves users trying to asphyxiate themselves, sometimes by pressing their palms into their necks,... https://www.techspot.com/news/95173-tiktok-sued-parents-children-who-died-participating-blackout.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

During the session, Zuckerberg bluntly told the Meta workforce that "...some of you might decide this isn't the place for you, and that self-selection is OK with me." https://www.techspot.com/news/95168-zuckerberg-meta-staff-there-probably-bunch-people-company.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

According to analyst Gus Richard, AMD's desktop and laptop CPU revenue will decline by 6 percent year-over-year in 2023, while consumer GPU sales will be down by 7 percent. In total, this market segment will net the company about $675 million less than this 2022. https://www.techspot.com/news/95169-amd-cpu-gpu-consumer-sales-expected-drop-next.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The letter from TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was sent to nine U.S. senators to explain how the company will keep all information stored in U.S. based Oracle data centers. The data would be periodically audited by a U.S.-based security team. https://www.techspot.com/news/95171-tiktok-sends-us-lawmakers-plans-keep-us-user.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Several recent reports have shown that Windows 11 is slowly but surely making gains on its predecessor, and more Steam users are embracing the newer operating system with its gaming-focused features: Windows 11 was found on 19.59% of users' PCs in May, a figure that climbed to 21.23%, or more... https://www.techspot.com/news/95170-latest-steam-survey-shows-1-5-participants-now.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

EVGA's RTX 3090 Ti Kingpin is now available, three months after the launch of Nvidia's flagship Ti model GPU. This graphics card is the company's highest-end SKU designed mainly for extreme overclocking, as evidenced by the onboard voltage monitoring headers and a BIOS switch with Normal, OC, and LN2 settings. https://www.techspot.com/news/95166-evga-rtx-3090-ti-kingpin-launches-two-16.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

According to a recent article by The Information, more than two dozen Azure data centers, including key centers in Washington, Europe, and Asia, are currently operating at reduced capacity. This reduction in capacity, attributed to several contributing factors, can result in customers experiencing an inability to use any Azure-based infrastructure... https://www.techspot.com/news/95164-microsoft-data-centers-around-world-experiencing-capacity-resource.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

For people who have a soft spot for first-person shooter games and hardware hacking, the first question that pops into their mind when stumbling upon any piece of technology is, "Does it run Doom?" People have gotten the classic FPS to work on anything resembling digital technology, including a humble... https://www.techspot.com/news/95160-someone-loaded-doom-onto-mcdonald-self-order-kiosk.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Bethesda hired one of the Folon Team's lead developers to work within its studios. Lead Technical Advisor Ryan Johnson is leaving the fan-based Fallout modding group to work on unspecified projects at the Microsoft-owned company. The departure comes just as the team's magnum opus, Fallout: London, is entering the final... https://www.techspot.com/news/95162-modding-team-behind-fallout-london-good-bethesda-keeps.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Google announced several new features for its password manager this week that will let users more easily generate strong, unique passwords while accessing them faster across multiple devices. https://www.techspot.com/news/95161-google-significantly-updates-cross-platform-password-manager.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger