Victoria Fox's Blog, page 152
December 28, 2023
Seasonic recommends blow-drying 12VHPWR cables before bending – Update: advice removed
Original message 12/24/2023, 9:17 AM –
Seasonic recommends that you preheat 12VHPWR cables before bending. At least the part of the cable that you want to bend, for example with a hair dryer.
It is one of the recommendations that the power supply manufacturer makes on its information page about the 12VHPWR and newer 12V-6×2 cables. You are also requested to press the plug firmly, not to bend the cable after connecting the plug and preferably to watch a half-hour YouTube video about possible dangers of the 16 pin cable.
Not bending too close to the plug is also advised.
This concerns the infamous melting of 12VHPWR connectors on Nvidia’s RTX 4090 video cards, of course; something that still seems to happen regularly. Coincidentally, CableMod issued a recall the day before yesterday for its angled 12VHPWR adapters, which can loosen and melt despite being upgraded with 12V 6×2 plugs.
Update 28-12-2023, 10:31 –A few days after the first messages about this advice, Seasonic seems to have quietly removed it from its manual for the 12VHPWR cables. Although the page still indicates that it is wise to bend the cables before plugging them in, this is no longer mentioned in the step-by-step plan at the bottom of the page.
It is likely that Seasonic has updated the page after last week’s sudden media attention. It may be that the information was mainly intended for experienced computer builders and that it now reached too broad an audience. Less experienced users could damage their cables, or worse, following these instructions. There are also several solutions that generally make the tight bending of these cables unnecessary. Although these products also have their share of problems.
Sources: Seasonic, Reddit (photo), Tom’s Hardware
Chinese Xiaomi wants to build a better car than the Porsche Taycan
Xiaomi, a Chinese company that produces consumer electronics and is often inspired by Apple, wants to enter the automotive industry. This morning in Beijing, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun introduced the Speed Ultra 7, a luxury sedan that competes with the Porsche Taycan and the Tesla Model S.
While it is not new that the company is expanding its activities into electric cars – they announced this more than 3 years ago – Lei’s big ambition is to be in the top five of the automotive industry within 20 years. According to Lei, building a car is not that challenging. You put together a team of 300 to 400 people, invest over a billion dollars and take a model you like and completely disassemble it and then reverse engineer your own variant. They are certainly very adept at this in China.
Attracting experienced designers such as Tianyuan Li and James Qui, who have respectively contributed to the development of cars such as the BMW iX and the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX, also contributes to Xiaomi’s endeavor. Chris Bangle, who is considered by many as the person who made BMW’s design less attractive, also works as a design consultant. Xiaomi will not build the cars itself; this is done by the Chinese BAIC. Time will tell how far Xiaomi will go in the automotive industry.
The SU7 comes in two configurations: a rear-wheel drive model and another with two motors and all-wheel drive. The rear-wheel drive model has a 400-volt, 73.7 kWh battery and a range of 668 km according to the Chinese government testing program. With 296 hp and 400 nm of torque, this model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds.
The AWD model comes with a heavier 101 kWh battery pack that runs on 800 volts, allowing the car to charge much faster. This package gives the car a range of 800 km, again according to the same test; It remains to be seen what this will yield in practice. The twin-engine model of the SU7 has 663 hp and 838 nm of torque, which is not modest. The batteries come from CATL, but the motors are developed in-house. These, called V6s, outperform what Porsche or Tesla offers on a power-to-weight ratio or speed basis, reaching a maximum speed of 21,000 rpm and generating 6.76 kW/kg (compared to 6.22 for Tesla and 5. 29 kW/kg for Porsche).
Xiaomi also supplies the software for the car. Like the Sony Afeela EV, the SU7 syncs with all your other Xiaomi gear, plus mobile apps and streaming media. Of course, this car can also drive independently; it is equipped with lidar on the roof. During the presentation, a video was shown of the car driving and parking independently. At this time, there are no details available on pricing or when this car will be available in the US or Europe.
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Xiaomi EV Technology launch keynote – source: Xiaomi
Source: ArsTechnica
Intel's largest investment of $25 billion in a chip factory will be in Israel
Intel will build a new $25 billion chip factory in southern Israel. The Israeli government is also investing $3.2 billion in the project. This is the largest investment in a manufacturing facility ever, with the aim of strengthening global semiconductor supply chains and reducing dependence on Taiwan. The new factory, to be named Fab 38, will be built next to the existing Fab 28 facility in Kiryat Gat. Construction of the facility has already begun and is expected to be completed in 2028. The chip factory will be active until 2035. Intel expects to create a thousand jobs.
Existing Fab 28 facility in Israel.
In addition to the subsidy that Intel receives from the local government, they receive a reduced corporate tax rate of 7.5%, with the condition that they purchase locally. This is all happening during the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group, Hamas.
Despite this, and because Intel has been present in Israel for some time, the country appears to be maintaining its economic priorities. The main processor technology is designed in Israeli laboratories. The expansion in Kiryat Gat is in line with Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger’s strategy to implement product diversification through investments in the US, Europe and Israel. They also recently made a $20 billion investment in a factory project in Ohio, USA. Intel is strategically using significant government support to increase its market dominance against rivals such as AMD and Nvidia by scaling production. Intel’s new facility in Israel will complement Intel’s range of leading technologies and help maintain Israel’s reputation as a global semiconductor hub.
Source: TechPowerUp
December 27, 2023
Artificial Intelligence: "New York Times" files lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft
The US newspaper New York Times has sued the software company OpenAI and Microsoft for violating their copyrights. The companies used the data from several million New York Times articles to feed their chatbot ChatGPT and build a business, the indictment says. The paper is the first major American newspaper to sue OpenAI.
A related New York Times article goes on to say that the indictment “does not contain a specific monetary demand.” However, the defendants would have to be “held responsible” for the factual and legal damages estimated at several billion dollars. The companies are also being asked to stop using the content and to destroy the data that has already been collected.
Not the first lawsuit against OpenAIIn addition to violating its copyrights, the newspaper sees AI programs like ChatGPT as potential competitors in the news industry. If users asked chatbots about breaking news, they could generate answers based on past New York Times articles. There are concerns that ChatGPT could “poach readers” and thus data traffic and advertising revenue on the website could collapse.
With this lawsuit, the New York Times is clearly taking action against the use of its journalistic work by chatbots. However, it is not the first lawsuit of its kind: emerging AI companies are currently facing a wave of lawsuits for using Internet content to build their generative AI systems without consent. Among others, several authors such as Jonathan Franzen, John Grisham and George RR Martin have already sued OpenAI.
However, other large media groups such as the German Axel Springer publishing house have so far held back from bringing similar lawsuits or are negotiating agreements with the AI companies. It cannot be ruled out that a successful lawsuit by the New York Times could lead to further lawsuits from the media industry.
The US newspaper New York Times has sued the software company OpenAI and Microsoft for violating their copyrights. The companies used the data from several million New York Times articles to feed their chatbot ChatGPT and build a business, the indictment says. The paper is the first major American newspaper to sue OpenAI.
A related New York Times article goes on to say that the indictment “does not contain a specific monetary demand.” However, the defendants would have to be “held responsible” for the factual and legal damages estimated at several billion dollars. The companies are also being asked to stop using the content and to destroy the data that has already been collected.
Kaspersky: Cell phones hacked with invisible text messages
The attack turns an iPhone into the perfect surveillance device. It comes via an invisible text message and secretly gives the attacker access to, among other things, chat messages, the location of the device, the stored photos and the microphone. Whoever is on the other end can hear everything being said near the infected device.
People were eavesdropped on like this for months, maybe even years. Not just any people, but employees of Kaspersky, a company that sells anti-virus software to private individuals and protects corporations from cyber attacks. Managers, researchers working on sensitive topics. A disaster. And yet Boris Larin can hardly hide his euphoria. “Imagine discovering a sophisticated cyberattack that targets your colleagues’ iPhones and has incredible capabilities,” he says. For him, the whole thing is the success story of his career.
Chaos Communication Congress: The Previous Owner's Ride
A screen shows video clips from seven Tesla cameras. You can see in detail and from all perspectives how the driver stops and starts again at traffic lights, what is happening around his car. Other vehicles, road markings and buildings can be seen, among other things. According to reconstructions by ZEIT ONLINE, it is a street in San José south of San Francisco. The car drives past a gas station, a workshop, a snack bar.
These camera images are recordings that three researchers at TU Berlin reconstructed from a used Tesla circuit board – video material that has actually already been deleted but not yet overwritten. On Wednesday at the CCC Congress in Hamburg, they demonstrated how they managed to gain these partly private insights into the past life of the actually strictly secured circuit board, which they had obtained and evaluated for research purposes.
Microsoft Copilot: AI assistant now also available as a free Android app
Microsoft has quietly released a standalone Copilot app for Android. The free app, which appears to have been released on the Google Play Store a week ago, should bring all sorts of AI-related functionality to users who don’t feel like installing the Edge browser or other Microsoft apps.
Copilot for Android offers access to various OpenAI models: it is possible to generate images via DALL-E-3, create documents or emails or simply chat with ChatGPT. Users can also use GPT4 for free, the latest model that you have to pay for at OpenAI.
Anyone who wants to get started with the app can find it on the Google Play Store (link). There is currently no variant for iOS, so it is not known if and when it will be available. In the meantime, iPhone and iPad owners can turn to the Bing app to try out Copilot’s features.
Sources: Techosarusrex (Twitter), Neowin, The Verge
OnePlus Sharge Pouch combines power bank, charger and cable in one solution
Sharge has unveiled the Pouch, a portable power bank that comes with a charger and a cable. The power bank manufacturer developed the device in collaboration with the OnePlus Community, which means that the brand name of the smartphone manufacturer is also mentioned on the product.
Sharge was formerly known as Shargeek.
The battery has a capacity of 10,000 mAh and has two USB Type-C ports. With support for protocols such as Quick Charge (3 and 4), Power Delivery (2 and 3) and SuperVOOC, it should be possible to quickly supply all kinds of devices with injections. The power bank is magnetically attached to the charger, which has an additional type-c connector on board. This allows up to three devices to be charged simultaneously.
Thanks to input from OnePlus users, the manufacturer has also paid attention to the included cable. This can easily be clicked onto the device, so that it can be quickly replaced in the event of a defect. In addition, the connectors of the cable should last longer thanks to some protective caps.
The Sharge Pouch initially surfaced on the OnePlus Community website, where users can register like a Kickstarter to get a discount. However, a release date or suggested retail price will not be discussed for the time being.
Source: OnePlus
First Look: Huawei Watch GT 4. Stylish smartwatch for an attractive price
Smartwatches are a product segment in which Apple dominates with its Watch. The Cupertino company has the largest market share. In addition, Samsung, Google, many Chinese smartphone brands and sports-oriented brands such as Garmin are competing for market share. China’s Huawei is one of these players.
Huawei is plagued by sanctions and therefore has a much less extensive program in our region than before. It was once one of the biggest players in the smartphone market. Because it can no longer supply phones with a full-fledged version of Android, its popularity has decreased considerably. It is still an important player in other markets.
The Watch GT4 is a stylish watch.
Huawei recently launched the Watch GT 4. This new watch is available in two sizes, namely 41 and 46mm. The watch is sold in different versions: gold, silver and with different straps. This way it fits with every outfit.
The watches use the company’s own HarmonyOS, which is also used on Huawei’s phones and other products. The round design makes the Watch GT 4 look more like a traditional watch, more so than, for example, the square Apple Watch. This makes this model less noticeable. HarmonyOS is somewhat more limited than Google’s WearOS and Apple’s WatchOS. That is a disadvantage. Many well-known apps are not available, although the watch itself offers quite a bit of functionality.
The Watch GT 4 has an AMOLED screen with 466×466 pixels. That’s more than enough for a device that mainly sits on your wrist.
TechnologyThe GT4 has many sensors on board. This not only tracks your location (GPS) and heart rate, but also your sleep rhythm. You can also keep track of your eating behavior, among other things. Of course, Huawei also focuses on athletes. Although the watch has a chic appearance, you can swim with it.
The interface on the watch is clear. It works together with the Huawei Health app on your phone. In addition to HarmonyOS, Android and iOS are supported. The app is not available in the Play Store. You must download the app directly from Huawei, or via Huawei’s App Gallery.
For those who are not very proficient in Android, this can be a challenge. iOS users can simply find and download Huawei Health in the App Store.
Huawei Health is not available on the Play Store.
Some smartwatches need to be charged often. Huawei indicates that this watch only needs to be charged once every two weeks. On average, the Watch GT 4 needed a new charge of energy after a week. That is considerably less often than, for example, an Apple Watch. We had the screen brightness set to 80 percent. Fully charging takes about two hours.
ConclusionThe Huawei Watch GT 4 is a stylish watch. It is available from 249 euros, which is a relatively low price. For that money you get a usable device. The disadvantages are that installing the app in Android is quite a hassle, and that the range of apps for this watch is more limited than the competition.
At the bottom of the line, the question remains whether this is a good purchase. We wouldn’t buy the Watch GT 4 for the extra apps. Can you get by with the standard functionality and do you like it? Then it is a great choice.
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Show all products (8)Samsung postpones mass production of first American 4nm fab to 2025
Samsung Electronics has announced that mass production of its new chip factory in Taylor, Texas will start in 2025. This is a significant shift from the original planning: when the investment was announced in 2021, the start of mass production was estimated for the second half of 2024.
The initial investment would amount to US$17 billion.
According to Business Korea, it is possible that this delay is deliberate. The South Korean manufacturer would need more time because the Chips Act subsidies will be provided later than expected. In addition, Samsung reportedly fears that the US government will prioritize homegrown companies (such as Intel) for subsidies.
Currently, it looks like the Taylor facility should be good for around 5,000 12-inch 4nm wafers per month. That is relatively modest compared to the recently built Pyeongtaek P3 site in South Korea, which can process up to 28,000 wafers per month. Moreover, it remains to be seen how relevant 4nm will be in 2025, as significant competition from Intel (18A) and TSMC (2nm) is expected by then.
Sources: Business Korea, TechPowerUp
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