There’s no shortage of startups pushing technology that could one day prove pivotal in AI computing and memory infrastructure.
Celestial AI, which recently secured $175 million in Series C funding, is looking to commercialize its Photonic Fabric technology which aims to redefine optical interconnects.
Celestial AI’s foundational technology is designed to disaggregate AI compute from memory to offer a “transformative leap in AI system performance that is ten years more advanced than existing technologies.”
Lower energy overhead and latency
The company has reportedly been in talks with several hyperscale customers and a major processor manufacturer, about integrating its technology. Though specific details remain under wraps, that manufacturer is quite likely to be AMD since AMD Ventures is one of Photonic Fabric’s backers.
As reported by The Next Platform, the core of Celestial AI’s strategy lies in its chiplets, interposers, and optical interconnect technology. By combining DDR5 and HBM memory, the company aims to significantly reduce power consumption while maintaining high performance levels. The chiplets can be used for additional memory capacity or as interconnects between chips, offering speeds comparable to NVLink or Infinity Fabric.
“The surge in demand for our Photonic Fabric is the product of having the right technology, the right team and the right customer engagement model”, said Dave Lazovsky, Co-Founder and CEO of Celestial AI.
“We are experiencing broad customer adoption resulting from our full-stack technology offerings, providing electrical-optical-electrical links that deliver data at the bandwidth, latency, bit error rate (BER) and power required, compatible with the logical protocols of our customer’s AI accelerators and GPUs. Deep strategic collaborations with hyperscale data center customers focused on optimizing system-level Accelerated Computing architectures are a prerequisite for these solutions. We’re excited to be working with the giants of our industry to propel commercialization of the Photonic Fabric.”
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While Celestial AI faces challenges in timing and competition from other startups in the silicon photonics space, the potential impact of its technology on the AI processing landscape makes it a promising contender. As the industry moves towards co-packaged optics and silicon photonic interposers, Celestial AI’s Photonic Fabric could play a key role in shaping the future of AI computing.
Wish you could find affordable componments to build up mighty home-theater sound? Two trusted names in home audio — Klipsch and Onkyo — just teamed up to give you that with the new Klipsch Flexus Sound System.
The lineup of soundbars, wireless speakers and subwoofers starts at $349.
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Klipsch Flexus Sound System
The Klipsch Flexus Sound System (“powered by Onkyo”) is a modular and scalable audio setup that allows users to customize their home-audio environment, especially for home-theater use. But they’re great for music, too, of course.
You can start with one of two soundbars, the 28-inch Core 100 ($349; 100 watts) or the 44-inch Core 200 ($499; 200 watts).
Both soundbars feature Dolby Atmos spatial audio, though Core 200 adds upward-firing speakers to intensify the effect. That model also ups the number of 2.25-inch aluminum drives from two to four. Both models include two 4-inch subwoofers for bass.
Hardcore audio enthusiasts can add wireless speakers and subwoofer to this Klipsch Flexus Core 200 soundbar. Photo: Klipsch
To the soundbar you can add Flexus Surr wireless speakers with Dolby Atmos ($249). Their advanced audio processing technologies deliver clear sound with depth and precision. You can place them strategically to maximize your sound.
Complementing the Surr speakers, if you like, is the Flexus 10-inch subwoofer ($299). It fills out the low end — even more than the subs built into the soundbars — ensuring you feel every low-frequency rumble and thumping beat.
All of these Klipsch Flexus Sound System components quickly and easily connect with Klipsch Transport technology, the company said.
And you can operate the system using the Klipsch Connect Plus app for iOS or Android. It lets you access equalizer presets or your own custom EQ, volume control and features like Night Mode and Dialogue Boost. Klipsch said it will add more features, too.
So you can spend $349 on one soundbar or max out the system for $1,050.
Samsung has kicked off a new monitor sale, part of its “High Resolution Week,” which is set to run through the end of the week. During this event you’ll find discounts on 4K and 5K Samsung monitors, including the popular ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor and Smart Monitor M8, as well as storage, audio, TVs, smartphones, and home appliances.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
As with previous sales, the highlight of the new event is the 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor for $899.99, down from $1,599.99. At $700 off this a match of the previous all-time low price on the 2023 display, which has a matte display, modular 4K SlimFit camera, and support for Thunderbolt 4.
Samsung’s 27-inch Smart Monitor M8 is also being discounted during this sale, available for $399.99 in multiple colors, down from $699.99. Colors available include Spring Green, Warm White, and Sunset Pink. This is a 4K smart monitor with a design that looks similar to the iMac line, and this is a solid second-best price.
While the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are still months away from launching, there are already over a dozen rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped new features and changes expected for the devices so far. These are some of the key changes rumored for the iPhone 16 Pro models as of April 2024:Larger displays: The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be equipped with large…
Apple agreed to pay up to $14.4 million (CAD) to settle a class action lawsuit in Canada that alleged the company secretly throttled the performance of some iPhone models (“batterygate”), and eligible customers can now submit a claim for payment. Apple’s settlement received court approval on March 4, and the claims period began today, according to law firm Rochon Genova LLP. To submit a…
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook this week sold 196,410 shares of the company’s stock, which had a total value of approximately $33.2 million based on the average sale price of the transactions, according to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing. After taxes, Cook netted nearly $16.4 million from the sales. Cook received all of the shares that he sold this week as a performance-based stock…
While rumors have been focused on new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, some Apple customers are wondering when the next iPad mini will be released. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said new iPad mini and entry-level iPad models will be released in late 2024 at the earliest. “The company is also working on new versions of the low-end iPad and iPad mini, but those…
This weekend, Best Buy has a sale on MacBooks, including the previous generation 15-inch MacBook Air and the M3 MacBook Pro. As usual, Best Buy’s sale covers far more than just Apple products, and you’ll also find solid discounts on TVs, video games, and more during the event. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a…
Following a few notable discounts on MacBooks yesterday, Best Buy today introduced a sale on the 10th generation iPad, including numerous all-time low prices on the tablet. Prices start at $349.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model, and include $100 markdowns on both Wi-Fi and cellular devices. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may…
It has been nearly 18 months since Apple last updated its iPad lineup, and customers are anxiously waiting for new models to be announced. For months, there have been rumors about new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, but the estimated timeframe for their release has been repeatedly pushed back from March to April to May. In defense of these rumors, it does sound like Apple has experienced…
A few times a year, Sephora discounts nearly its entire stock, and that includes some of our favorite hair straighteners, blow dryers, and hot brushes. The caveat? You need to be a Sephora Beauty Insider, which is free to join, and the percentage off the sale price is based on which membership tier you fall into. Some brands aren’t included in the sale, like MAC and The Ordinary, and there are some limitations, like how you can buy only one Dyson and one Shark product.
Be sure to enter code YAYSAVE at checkout or mention it in-store. All the prices listed here are 20 percent off for the Rouge portion of the sale. We’ll update it when the next tier discounts start. Here are the details on the various tiers:
Insider members: This is the base tier, which doesn’t require you to spend any money. You’ll get 10 percent off from April 9 through 15.
VIB members: This is anyone who spends $350 in a year. You’ll get 15 percent off from April 9 through 15.
Rouge members: If you spend at least $1,000 per year, you’ll get 20 percent off from April 5 to 15. This means you also get first access to the sale.
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Dyson has mastered air manipulation, and WIRED writer Brenda Stolyar loved the Airstrait (8/10, WIRED Recommends), saying it halved the time she spends on her hair routine. Instead of hot plates, the Airstrait uses air flow to dry and straighten hair in one go—you can lock the plates closed and use it as just a hair dryer, but it shines in its straightening abilities. You may need to play around with it to see whether it works best on wet or damp hair, which will vary depending on your hair type. It’s also available in a really cute limited-edition rose-gold color.
T3 makes great hair tools, and this flat iron is among them. It uses what T3 calls HeatID Technology to set temperature based on hair texture, length, and whether it’s color-treated. Refresh Mode lets you touch up already straightened hair at a lower temperature based on the previous settings. It’s a small but mighty feature.
I’ve been testing this flat iron for the past few weeks, and it’s become one of my favorite straighteners. It’s a classic that I somehow had never tried before, but it seriously straightens my course curls quickly. There are five heat settings, but the buttons are right where my hands want to rest, so I often accidentally change the temperature.
GHD Platinum+ Styler Flat Iron
Photograph: Amazon
You’ll either love or hate this iron from popular tool brand GHD. There’s no heat control, so it’s always at 365 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s great for some hair types—it straightened one writer’s hair in one pass—and prevents people from needlessly frying their locks, but courser or curlier hair might be a struggle.
Like Dyson’s Airstrait, the GHD Duet uses air to dry and smooth hair, and some hair types will get pin-straight styles from just this step. But if you need more help to straighten it, you’ll still need to turn on the hot plates once your hair is totally dry. That means it might take a little longer than the Dyson, but it also cuts out having to have two tools.
WIRED contributor Victoria Woollaston-Webber says this is one of the best dryers she has tried, quickly getting her hair dry and shiny without burning her scalp. But the buttons are exactly where you want your hand to go, so you may end up changing the settings while styling.
The Dyson Supersonic is a solid hair dryer with accessories like a wide-tooth comb and flyaway smoother. It may even cut your drying time down. But no one needs to spend $400 on a dryer unless you really won’t miss the money. Like the Airstrait, it’s also available in a pretty rose color.
Photograph: Sephora
The version for curly and coily hair is discounted to the same price. This model took a bit longer to dry my hair than the brand’s HyperAir, but it worked and takes up less room. Its RapidGloss Finisher attachment did the impossible and actually tamed some of my frizz.
We haven’t tested this dryer, but it’s included here because we typically love and trust T3 tools. I tried the Aireluxe, which was super light and worked well but was lacking a diffuser. This one looks nearly identical but is more compact and has the diffuser I missed, plus other attachments. If you need something light, it may be worth a try.
T3 Switch Kit Wave Trio Interchangeable Curling Iron
Photograph: T3
T3’s Switch Kit tops of list of best curling irons. It’s one handle with three barrels for achieving different styles. This one comes with half-inch and 1.25-inch wands and a 1.5-inch clip barrel. If you don’t need something as small as the half-inch, the Wave Trio swaps it out for a 1-inch wand.
We have cheaper wand recommendations, but we like the SinglePass because its tapered barrel goes from 0.75 inch to 1.3 inches. It gives long hair nice beachy waves and allows you to make smaller curls around your face.
If you’re a GHD fan, you’ll like this curling iron with a 1-inch barrel that works for short and long hair. It uses a clamp, which takes some getting used to if you primarily use wands, but our writer suggests testing it out while it’s off so you can become accustomed to the movement. It also has a cool tip that’s larger than others we’ve tried, so you can safely control the tool without singeing your fingers.
Blow-Dry Brush and Multi-Tool Deals
Shark FlexStyle Multi-Styler
Photograph: Shark
If you’ve been eyeing the Dyson Airwrap but can’t fathom spending the money, you simply don’t have to. Shark’s FlexStyle (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is nearly identical, letting you dry your hair, blow it out, or curl it. The Airwrap barrels attracted hair a little better, but for the money saved, it was manageable. The curly and coily hair bundle comes with a diffuser.
Want to stick with Dyson instead of the Shark? This set comes with the new barrel that can create curls in both directions instead of the need for two—it’s the bigger one for longer hair. It also has other curl tools like a comb and diffuser. There are other bundles and accessories available, including the long barrel without the curly tools and a regular set in rose gold and blue and orange.
I have too much hair to figure out how to efficiently use a blow-dry brush, but people love them. This one comes from a brand we like and has both a paddle brush and round brush attachment for whatever style you’re trying to achieve.
GHD Rise Thermal Hot Brush
Photograph: GHD
This hot brush made our list of best curling irons because even though it’s meant to lift your roots for volume, it made effortless waves and tight curls, too. Like other GHD products, its only setting is 365 degrees.
You’ve probably seen Revlon’s blow-dry brush all over social media. The newest version is great for a fraction of this price, but our tester found that the Double Shot gave her smoother, straighter hair. It just required a little bit more work given the smaller air-flow openings.
Samsung has solved that issue with an update to Good Lock’s LockStar module.
LockStar can be used to manually set the brightness of the AoD mode
A few days ago, Samsung revealed that it will bring manual brightness settings for the AoD mode for phones running One UI 6.1. The company has released that update now. The new version (6.1.0.11) of LockStar (46.4MB) is now available in the Galaxy Store and you can install it on Galaxy phones running One UI 6.1. It brings the option to adjust the brightness of the AoD mode manually.
The new functionality requires the device to have version 8.7.99.11 (or later) of the Always On Display app. If you don’t find it on the Galaxy Store or the Google Play Store, you can find it on APKMirror or other safe sources.
This change of moving manual brightness settings for the AoD mode to LockStar was reportedly done due to the use of different APIs in Android 14 compared to Android 13. The newer version of Android uses a new security architecture and requires regular maintenance work for all the Good Lock modules.
You can watch all the changes and improvements introduced with the One UI 6.1 update in our in-depth video below.
There are some new improvements out for Apple’s iWork suite. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple updated its iWork suite of productivity applications on Tuesday with improvements related to shared documents, HEIC photos and iPad keyboards.
The collection includes Pages, Numbers and Keynote, which are all available for Mac but an also iPad and iPhone.
iWork 14 is out for Apple computers
Apple’s iWork applications don’t include all the advanced features of Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel and Powerpoint). But Apple’s suite is free, and it offers basic and mid-range capabilities for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations. Plus, Apple keeps improving it, like it did with Tuesday’s updates.
All of the major changes in Pages 14.0, Numbers 14.0 and Keynote 14.0 are the same, no matter the application. According to Apple’s release notes, these are:
Streamlined in-app notifications inform you when a person joins a collaborative document for the first time
On iPad, press and hold the Command key on a connected keyboard to select noncontiguous words, sentences, or paragraphs using a trackpad or mouse
Preserve file format and full quality when adding HEIC photos taken on iPhone or iPad
Additional stability and performance improvements
Obviously, these are mere tweaks. This suite of productivity applications has been out since 2005 and have long since acquired all the standard features.
That said, it’s possible version 15 could be a game-changer. Apple has committed to adding AI to a range of its products starting later this year, and Pages is a particularly obvious potential beneficiary.
The new Elgato Facecam Mk.2, successor to the company’s popular Facecam webcam for creators and streamers, just came out. Improved picture quality, a new privacy shutter and other enhancements appear to make it a worthy upgrade. And that’s especially true because it carries a lower price than Facecam did at its launch.
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Elgato Facecam Mk.2
Compared to the original Facecam, released in July 2021, Elgato Facecam Mk.2 adds high dynamic range (HDR) technology. That gives it more vibrant color and detail in various lighting conditions. And Mk.2 adds more lighting sensitivity over Facecam for better performance in dim conditions.
Also new with this model is a built-in privacy shutter. That helps ensure users can block the lens with a simple swipe when not in use. That adds an extra layer of privacy and security.
And like its predecessor, Elgato Facecam Mk.2 incorporates a 1080p Sony sensor that delivers good image quality with vibrant colors and sharp details for gameplay, video calls and streaming.
Additionally, the camera supports a maximum frame rate of 60 frames per second, ensuring smooth video capture. It can take slow-motion video in 720px quality.
This new model slots in between the original Facecam and the premium Facecam Pro.
This model’s privacy shutters improves security. Photo: Elgato
Advanced low-light performance
One of the standout features of the Facecam Mk.2 is its low-light performance. Equipped with a large sensor and advanced image-processing algorithms, the camera can capture clear and noise-free footage even in dimly lit environments.
Versatile mounting options
Elgato Facecam Mk.2 offers a range of mounting options to accommodate different setups. It comes with a versatile multi-mount that enables easy positioning on monitors, tripods or desktop stands.
Integration with Elgato ecosystem
With its simple integrationwith Elgato’s ecosystem of content-creation tools, Facecam Mk.2 is compatible with popular streaming software like OBS Studio and XSplit.
It also works with Elgato’s Stream Deck controllers, allowing creators to control various camera functions with a single touch.
Elgato Facecam Mk.2: Pricing and availability
You can pick up Facecam Mk.2 on Amazon for $149.99, which is $20 more than Facecam’s current price but less than its original price ($199). Facecam Pro goes for $299.99.
This full HD webcam for streaming, gaming, video calls and recording is HDR enabled, includes a Sony sensor and PTZ control, and works with OBS, Zoom, Teams, and more, for Mac and PC.
Earlier this year, Samsung unveiled its 2024 lineup of home appliances at the CES 2024 expo. Now, the company has launched those home appliances in South Korea. It is holding a promotion where newly-wed customers or those starting a new phase of life can get various benefits if they buy these new home appliances during the promotional period.
Newlyweds or people moving into new homes can get benefits while buying Samsung home appliances
From April 1 to May 31, qualifying customers can benefit from Samsung’s ‘New Spring with Samsung AI’ promotion. Across Samsung Stores in South Korea, people can buy the company’s new ACs, air purifiers, dryers, refrigerators, washers, TVs, and vacuum cleaners and get benefits and offers. Those who buy two more products can get Samsung Electronics Membership points or cashback of up to 5 million won.
Customers moving into new homes and buying Samsung appliances worth KRW 6 million will get a gift worth KRW 50,000 ($37). They would need to display proof of moving and get themselves enrolled into ‘Bespoke Wedding Club’ or ‘Bespoke Moving Club.’ Samsung wants to be the biggest AI home appliance brand. It added AI features to Bespoke AI Combo, Bespoke Grande AI, Bespoke Jet AI, and Bespoke Refrigerator.
What’s new with Samsung’s new home appliances
The Bespoke AI Combo has a 7-inch touchscreen display and can be operated from a smartphone. It also displays smart home controls for ease of use. The Bespoke AI Family Hub+ Refrigerator has SmartThings AI Energy Saving mode, AI Vision Inside (internal camera for food item tracking), and SmartThings Hub.
The Bespoke Cube Air Infinite Line can preemptively clean the room by checking indoor and outdoor pollution levels. Other AI-equipped home appliances from Samsung, including the Bespoke Grande AI, Bespoke Jet AI, and Bespoke Windless Air Conditioner, have upgraded AI features.
A Samsung Electronics official said, “We prepared this event to provide more benefits to consumers as the wedding and moving season involves purchasing multiple products at once. I hope you will see changes in your daily life.”
Samsung added several new features and optimizations with the One UI 6.0 update. However, it removed one crucial feature for phones and tablets with OLED screens: screen burn-in protection. It promised to bring that feature with a software update, and the company seems to delivered on that front with the One UI 6.1 update.
One UI 6.1 brings back OLED screen burn-in protection to older Galaxy phones
The folks at Toranji have tested One UI 6.1, and the screen burn-in protection feature works as intended. As you can see in the GIF image above, the UI elements in the status bar and the navigation bar on the Galaxy S23 Ultra move slightly every few minutes.
While this feature has been tested only on the Galaxy S23 series as of now, it isn’t clear if it is also present on the Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Z Fold 5, and Galaxy Tab S9 series. However, we don’t have a reason to doubt that Samsung would have included this feature in the Galaxy S23 but not other devices.
Watch our in-depth videos below to see all the new features that One UI 6.1 brings to older Galaxy devices.
An M1 Ultra Mac Studio is one of the great deals you can score with Woot. Photo: Apple
You may not want to spend top dollar on a new Mac or iPad, but how about bargain-basement deals on older Apple gear? That’s what Amazon bargain site Woot! asks with its latest sale on 40 items.
As the site says: “Apple iMacs, MacBooks, and iPads: Whether you need a big-screen powerhouse, a portable productivity partner, or a tablet to rule them all, we’ve got the iDevices you crave.”
You’ve got a little over a week to shop a wide range of Apple computers, some rather old (and really cheap) and some not so long in the tooth. The sale ends at 10 p.m. Pacific on April 6. See some highlights below.
And if you’re in the market for new Apple accessories, Woot! also offers $3 off with promo code APPLEBITE (although that sale ends March 31.)
Woot sale on Macs and iPads brings bargain-basement deals
Woot’s sale through April 6 covers 40 Macs and iPads (and a few accessories, like iPad keyboards). The oldest Mac dates back to 2014 (!), but much of the gear hails from 2020 through 2023.
And just one product is sold out so far — a 2022 13.3-inch M2 MacBook Pro. That leaves 27 MacBooks, three iMacs, one Mac mini, one Mac Studio, three iPads and two iPad keyboard folios for you to check out.
See some Woot sale on Macs and iPads highlights below.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
