Recent content by Shawn Knight

<h5><strong>In brief:</strong> A slim and light version of the iPhone is expected later this year but a rival handset maker out of China could beat Apple to the punch. Tecno Mobile has announced its Spark Slim, an ultra-thin concept smartphone set to debut at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona...

<h5><strong>In context:</strong> The PlayStation VR2 debuted at an eye-watering $549, which was more than the PlayStation 5 itself. Shortly after launch, Sony said it had sold <a href="https://www.techspot.com/news/98810-sony-psvr-2-outsold-predecessor-during-first-6.html">600,000 headsets</a>...

<h5><strong>The big picture:</strong> Nvidia has reported record fourth quarter earnings of $39.3 billion for the three-month period ending January 26, 2025. That's an increase of 12% compared to the third quarter and up 78% versus the same period a year earlier. Nvidia's data center business...

<h5><strong>In brief:</strong> Amazon has introduced a generative AI-powered version of its popular Alexa digital assistant. Alexa+ is driven by large language models from Amazon Bedrock, opening up a whole new range of capabilities, and will be available to try out in the coming weeks...

<h5><strong>In a nutshell:</strong> Framework has introduced its first desktop PC, a mini-ITX system running AMD's latest Ryzen AI Max family of processors. The aptly named Framework Desktop ships with your choice of an AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 (eight core / 16 thread) or AI Max+ 395 (16 core / 32...

<h5><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Sigma has introduced a new full-frame mirrorless camera designed for those that prefer to focus on shooting rather than fiddling with excessive buttons, dials, and settings. The new Sigma BF features a 24.6-megapixel full-frame back-illuminated CMOS sensor...

<h5><strong>In a nutshell:</strong> Canadian security researcher Eric Daigle recently discovered a security deficiency associated with control panels used to restrict access to apartment buildings across the US and Canada. In short, some operators never bothered to change the system's default...

<h5><strong>Cutting corners:</strong> Researchers at Imperial College London say an artificial intelligence-based science tool created by Google needed just 48 hours to solve a problem that took them roughly a decade to answer and verify on their own. The tool in question is called...

<h5><strong>Bottom line:</strong> Advances in battery technology combined with more efficient hardware and smarter software have allowed smartphones to reach impressive runtime milestones. To borrow a phrase from the automotive world, however, "there's no replacement for displacement" – meaning...

<h5><strong>The big picture:</strong> Apple has introduced a redesigned version of its entry-level iPhone that is also debuting new branding. The iPhone 16e is based on the flat-edge design that Apple reintroduced with the iPhone 12 and comes packed with modern hardware and software capabilities...

<h5><strong>In brief:</strong> Chinese researchers have developed a synthetic diamond that is significantly harder and more resilient than those that occur naturally here on Earth. If commercially viable, the new diamond could be a boon for industries that rely on the hardened material...

<h5><strong>What just happened?</strong> One of the world's largest PC makers has warned that prices for laptops sold in the US will soon be going up in response to Trump administration tariffs. Longtime Acer CE Jason Chen told The Telegraph that his company would have to adjust the end-user...

<h5><strong>In a nutshell:</strong> Spotify is preparing to launch its long-awaited high-fidelity streaming service later this year. Sources told Bloomberg that the Swedish music giant could charge as much as $5.99 per month for access – and that's on top of the standard monthly fee that premium...

<h5><strong>The big picture:</strong> Apple is said to be revisiting a plan to monetize its Maps app through advertising. The company considered baking search ads into Maps years ago but ultimately shelved the idea. The integration would reportedly mirror what Google does with its Maps app...

<h5><strong>In a nutshell:</strong> The New York Times is giving its editorial and product staff the green light to use select generative AI tools to enhance their work and make their jobs easier. However, just because the tools are available doesn't mean they will be adopted en masse...