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Beats Solo 4 review: a solid update to an iconic pair of wireless headphones, but the competition is now too hot

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Beats Solo 4: Two-minute review

The Beats Solo 4 are long-awaited on-ear wireless headphones that aim to improve on the company’s 2016 Solo 3 with an increased battery life and additional features, including a USB-C port for simultaneous charging and lossless hi-res audio playback, and Spatial Audio – as well as some new color options.

When wearing the Beats Solo 4, I was pleasantly surprised at how well isolated I was from my immediate environment, despite the lack of active noise cancellation (ANC). The claimed 50-hour battery appeared to hold true during my tests too, which is great for such comparatively small and light headphones.

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No ‘independent chip makers and system makers and storage makers’: Industry expert paints bleakest picture of future of IT — insatiable tech appetite of Google, Microsoft and other hyperscalers could kill off competition forever

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In IDC’s own words, its Worldwide Quarterly Enterprise Infrastructure Tracker: Buyer and Cloud Deployment is “designed to provide clients with a better understanding of how enterprise infrastructure technologies (server, external enterprise storage systems, purpose-built appliances: HCI and PBBA) are being deployed in cloud environments and what type of buyers are acquiring them.”

The Next Platform has been following these trackers as they are released every quarter, and noticed that while hyperscalers, cloud builders, and other service providers who “build datacenter infrastructure and sell capacity on it” surpassed 50 percent share of the combined server and storage revenues in the first quarter of 2020, by the close of 2028, if IDC is right, that figure will have jumped to 69.7 percent.

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‘A game of chicken’: Samsung set to launch new storage chip that could make 100TB SSDs mainstream — 430-layer NAND will leapfrog competition as race for NAND supremacy heats up

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NAND-based storage devices are a fiercely contested sector, one in which Samsung has held the lead since 2002, but its rivals are gaining ground.

The South Korean electronics giant has announced plans to commence mass production of its newest 290-layer ninth-generation vertical (V9) NAND chips, aimed at AI and cloud devices as well as large-scale enterprise servers. These utilize Samsung’s double-stack technology, rather than the triple stack method typically used.

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Business Industry

Samsung XR headset to face stiff competition as Meta opens Horizon OS for other brands

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Apple was the first big-name consumer electronics brand to launch a mixed-reality headset. Samsung is expected to launch its own mixed-reality headset later this year. However, by the time Samsung launches its device, it might face stiff competition from brands like ASUS, Lenovo, and even Microsoft.

Meta opens up Horizon OS for third-party AR/MR/VR headsets

Meta Horizon OS Logo

In a major move, Facebook owner Meta has renamed the Android-based operating system used on its Quest MR/VR headsets to Horizon OS. Moreover, it has opened up the operating system to third-party brands. Horizon OS will now be used on MR/VR headsets from ASUS ROG, Lenovo, and Microsoft.

Lenovo VR Headset Horizon OS

ASUS is building multiple performance gaming headsets, while Lenovo is developing a mixed-reality headset for entertainment, learning, and productivity. Meta is collaborating with Microsoft to build a Quest headset inspired by Xbox.

Meta is also calling Google to bring the Play Store to Horizon OS. Moreover, it plans to promote apps made using Quest App Lab on the Horizon Store. Meta is also building a spatial framework to let mobile app developers build mixed-reality apps for headsets using Horizon OS.

Samsung’s XR headset could use Android OS optimized for mixed-reality

Samsung has already announced that it is building an XR device (likely a mixed-reality headset) in collaboration with Google and Qualcomm. It will likely use a version of Android that is optimized for mixed-reality headsets and a Qualcomm processor from the Snapdragon XR series.

It is said to feature the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor. It is a 4nm chip with an octa-core CPU and a powerful Adreno 740 GPU that can drive two 4.3K screens at 90Hz. It can handle up to 12 cameras simultaneously. It has 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity.

Author’s Note: Some rumors claimed that Samsung’s XR headset is a high-end device that is priced lower than Apple’s Vision Pro. Its success will depend on the number of apps and games that are available on the platform and how well it integrates with Android smartphones, tablets, and Windows-based computers and laptops.

In comparison, Meta’s Horizon Store already has plenty of games, and it is already a great gaming platform. So, headsets from ASUS and Lenovo will have access to all those games on launch day. Samsung and Google have an uphill task ahead of them.

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Competition under threat as cloud giants selectively invest in startups, watchdog says

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In a recent address at the 72nd Antitrust Law Spring Meeting in Washington DC, UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) CEO Sarah Cardell delved into the potential impact of the current AI landscape on competition and consumer protection.

Emphasizing AI’s transformative benefits, Cardell implied that tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have been selectively investing in specific startups.

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Entertainment

Logitech’s tiny G Pro X 60 gaming keyboard has some big competition

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Logitech has unveiled the G Pro X 60, its latest mechanical gaming keyboard. Similar to the peripheral maker’s G Pro X TKL from last year, this is a wireless model aimed at competitive-minded gamers first and foremost. Unlike that device, it has a smaller 60 percent layout, which means it lacks a dedicated function row, number pad, arrow keys and nav cluster but takes up much less space on a desk. This can be a boon for games because it leaves more room to flick a mouse around while retaining the most common action keys. Naturally, it’s also more portable.

The G Pro X 60 is up for pre-order today for $179 in the US or €229 in Europe. It’s available in three colors (black, white or pink) with either the linear or tactile version of Logitech’s GX Optical switches. The company says it’ll be available at major retailers in “late April.”

I’ve had the keyboard on hand for a few days prior to today’s announcement and have mostly been impressed, though I’d have a hard time calling it a great value.

Let’s start with the good: This thing is well-built. Its aluminum top plate is surrounded by a plastic frame, but it all feels sturdy, with no real flex or give when you press down. Its doubleshot PBT keycaps are pleasingly crisp and should avoid any of the shininess that’d develop with cheaper ABS plastic over time. The legends on the keycaps are neatly printed and transparent, so any RGB backlight effects you set will come through cleanly. All the keys are angled comfortably, and there’s a set of flip-out feet on the back.

A woman in a gray sweater holds up a white Logitech G Pro X 60 gaming keyboard up to the camera with her left hand.A woman in a gray sweater holds up a white Logitech G Pro X 60 gaming keyboard up to the camera with her left hand.

Logitech

I’m not crazy about the side-mounted volume roller — once you’ve blessed your keyboard with a full-on rotary knob, it’s hard to give up — but it’s easy to reach with your pinky, so you can adjust volume without having to lift your other fingers during the heat of a game. There’s also a dedicated switch for flipping on Logitech’s “game mode,” which deactivates keys you might otherwise hit by accident; those include the Windows and Fn keys by default, but you can add others through Logitech’s G Hub software.

The keyboard can connect over a detachable USB-C cable, Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz wireless dongle. Per usual with Logitech gear, the latter’s connection is rock solid; I’ve had none of the hiccups or stuttering I’ve seen with some wireless keyboards from less established brands, particularly when waking the device from sleep. There are buttons to swap between Bluetooth or the 2.4GHz connection built into the board, as well as a handy compartment for stashing the adapter itself. You can also connect the G Pro X 60 and certain Logitech mice simultaneously using one dongle. Logitech rates the battery life at up to 65 hours; that sounds about right based on my testing so far, but the exact amount will fluctuate based on how bright you set the RGB backlight.

The best thing about the G Pro X 60 might have nothing to do with the keyboard at all — it’s the fact that Logitech includes a hard carrying case in the box. More companies should do this! It makes the device much easier to transport.

Alas, this probably isn’t a keyboard you’d want to take to the office. The linear GX Optical switches in my test unit feel totally pleasant: They’re fast enough for gaming, and they come pre-lubricated, so each press goes down smoothly. Since they’re optical, and thus not reliant on any physical contact points, they should also prove durable over time.

The side profile of a white Logitech G Pro X 60 gaming keyboard, with its dedicated Game Mode switch in view.The side profile of a white Logitech G Pro X 60 gaming keyboard, with its dedicated Game Mode switch in view.

Logitech

But they aren’t exactly quiet. Logitech has fit a couple layers of silicone rubber inside the board, but there isn’t the wealth of sound-dampening foam you’d find in some other options in this price range. To peel back the curtain a bit: I received the G Pro X 60 just after testing a bunch of mechanical keyboards for an upcoming buying guide, so I’m a little spoiled on this point. Some people may like the obvious clack of each press here, too. I can’t imagine their coworkers or roommates being as thrilled, though, and some modifier and nav keys like Alt, Ctrl and Tab sound hollower than others.

Besides that, my issues with the G Pro X 60 are more about what’s missing than anything the keyboard does wrong. For one, its switches aren’t hot-swappable, so you can’t easily remove and replace them without desoldering. Yes, this is a niche thing, but so are $180 gaming keyboards as a whole. Being able to pop in new switches isn’t just a plus for long-term repairability; it’s half the fun for some keyboard enthusiasts in the first place. Swapping keycaps is straightforward, though.

Taking a step back, a growing number of the G Pro X 60’s peers have some sort of analog functionality, which means they can respond to varying levels of pressure. The top pick in our gaming keyboard buyer’s guide, the Wooting 60HE+, is a good example: Its magnetic Hall effect sensors let you set custom actuation points, so you can make each key extra sensitive while playing a fast FPS, then make them feel heavier and more deliberate while typing. They also enable a “rapid trigger” feature that lets you repeat inputs faster, which can be helpful for, say, strafing back and forth during an in-game shootout. Other models from Razer and SteelSeries provide similar functionality. But the G Pro X 60 lacks any sort of adjustable actuation or rapid trigger mode. That’s probably not a dealbreaker for most people, but the people who would use those features are the kind of hardcore gamers Logitech is targeting with this device.

Three Logitech G Pro X 60 keyboards -- one white, one pink, and one black -- sit stacked on top of one another against a white background.Three Logitech G Pro X 60 keyboards -- one white, one pink, and one black -- sit stacked on top of one another against a white background.

Logitech

What is here is a new remapping system called “Keycontrol.” Through G Hub, this allows you to assign several different commands or macros to each key, with three separate control layers. This is a convenient way to get around some of the design’s missing keys: I made it so holding Alt temporarily turns WASD into arrow keys, for example. But it also lets you base different actions on whether you press, hold or release a key, so you could tie complementary actions in a game — casting a couple of buffs in an RPG, perhaps — to one press. Some of the analog keyboards noted above can work like this, too, and you need to have G Hub open for some bindings to stay active. Still, it’s better to have this sort of flexibility than not. Logitech says more of its keyboards will receive Keycontrol support in the future but declined to give more specific details.

All of this makes for a keyboard that’s solid in a vacuum but faces some stiff competition. Rival gaming keyboards like the Wooting 60HE+ and SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless are a little richer with performance-focused features, while a slightly larger option like the ASUS ROG Azoth sounds better and offers more customizable hardware for keyboard geeks. There are plenty of great non-gaming keyboards that cost much less, too. But the G Pro X 60 isn’t a bad choice if you want something compact and wireless, so it might be worthwhile during a sale.

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Samsung confirms next generation HBM4 memory is in fact Snowbolt — and reveals it plans to flood the market with precious AI memory amidst growing competition with SK Hynix and Micron

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Samsung has revealed it expects to triple its HBM chip production this year.

“Following the third-generation HBM2E and fourth-generation HBM3, which are already in mass production, we plan to produce the 12-layer fifth-generation HBM and 32 gigabit-based 128 GB DDR5 products in large quantities in the first half of the year,” SangJoon Hwang, EVP and Head of DRAM Product and Technology Team at Samsung said during a speech at Memcon 2024.

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Life Style

Show off your science in Nature’s photo competition

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Nature’s 2024 photo competition is now live, providing a chance to celebrate the diverse, interesting, challenging, striking and colourful work that scientists do around the world.

Now in its fifth iteration, the competition is open to anyone who isn’t a professional photographer. It’s looking for images that showcase the work that scientists do — anywhere in the world.

To enter, e-mail your favourite picture to [email protected]. You can also use this address to ask any questions. And feel free to share your entry on social-media platforms X or Instagram with the hashtag #WorkingScientist. All entries must reach us by 00:01, UK time, on 28 March 2024.

Winners will be chosen by a panel of Nature staff, including representatives of the art and design team. Winning entries will appear in an April print issue and online. As well as being featured, winners will receive a full, year-long personal print and online subscription to Nature, plus £500 (or equivalent in a different currency) in Amazon vouchers; alternatively, we will make a donation of the same amount to a registered charity of your choice.

We need photos that are of sufficient quality to print — as a general rule, they should be at least 2,000 pixels on their longer edge.

If you need help or advice, read this feature on how to take great photos, written by one of Nature’s media editors (see ‘Capture the moment’). And check out Nature’s award-winning Where I Work section, a series of photo-led profiles of researchers in their workplaces.

Capture the moment

There are no hard and fast rules for taking great photographs, but professional photographers and media editors have some general advice for those who are new to working with a camera.

• Establish a connection with your subject. Make them feel comfortable for a candid shot.

• Understand the environment’s light. Use it to bring out detail in the scene.

• Capitalize on colours. Look for chromatic contrast, union and metaphor in colours.

• Use a tripod. Tools such as these stabilize your camera and will help to avoid blur or framing mistakes.

• Find a clean background. A busy background can distract from the subject.

• Play with camera angles and perspective. Try to be inventive, and look beyond standard ‘stock photography’ images.

• Photograph at the golden hour when shooting outdoors. A low angle of sunlight often creates warm, diffuse light and interesting shading.

• Remember the rule of thirds. Split your frame into thirds, and fill some — but not all — of them with your subject.

• Keep the subject’s eyes in focus. They’re often the best way to bring a viewer close to the subject.

• Shoot, check, re-compose, re-shoot. Take many photos using different angles and ideas to catch the best one.

More inspiration might come from the winners of our 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022 competitions.

Full terms and conditions can be found in the Supplementary information.

Good luck, and we look forward to seeing your photos.

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News

Astro Pi Mission Space Lab coding competition launches once again

Astro Pi Mission Space Lab

The team over at Raspberry Pi have once again launched the Astro Pi Mission Space Lab competition enabling young people all over Europe a chance to have their code for a science experiment run in space on the International Space Station (ISS). So if you are think you are up for the challenge this year’s Mission Space Lab, astronauts from the European Space Agency are setting young people a task : to write a computer program that runs on the ISS and calculates the speed at which the ISS is orbiting planet Earth. Participation in Mission Space Lab is completely free.

The Astro Pi Mission Space Lab is a unique initiative that offers young people an unprecedented opportunity to contribute to space exploration. This program invites participants aged up to 19 years to write a Python program for the Astro Pi computers onboard the International Space Station (ISS) with the goal of calculating the speed of the ISS.

Other articles you may find of interest on the subject of Raspberry Pi range of mini PC systems :

 

Participants engage in this project in teams of 2 to 6, working under the guidance of mentors who help them navigate through the process. The Mission Space Lab program is designed to be inclusive and accessible to all levels of programming experience. For beginners, a guided project is available to provide a roadmap for the mission. Meanwhile, more experienced teams are encouraged to create their own innovative solutions.

Raspberry Pi Astro Pi

The Astro Pi, the heart of this program, are Raspberry Pi computers equipped with a High Quality Camera, a Sense HAT add-on board with sensors, and a Coral machine learning accelerator. The Astro Pis are not just ordinary computers; they are specifically designed to withstand the harsh conditions of space and function effectively in the ISS environment.

In this program, participants are encouraged to use sensor data from the Astro Pis in creative ways to calculate the ISS’s speed. This requires not only programming skills but also an understanding of physics and mathematics. The combination of these disciplines provides a rich and challenging learning environment for participants.

Certificate of achievement

All participants whose programs successfully run on the ISS will receive a certificate of achievement, adding a noteworthy accomplishment to their portfolio. In addition, they will have the chance to attend a Q&A webinar with an ESA astronaut, a rare opportunity to interact directly with a professional in the field of space exploration. They will also receive data from the ISS based on their programs, providing them with a unique dataset for further analysis and learning.

Astro Pi Guides

To support the teams in their mission, the Astro Pi Mission Space Lab provides a mentor guide and a creator guide. The mentor guide includes tips on structuring the mission and assisting the team in problem-solving. It serves as a valuable resource for mentors to effectively guide their teams. On the other hand, the creator guide is designed to help participants design and create their Python programs. It provides insights into the technical aspects of the mission, guiding participants through the process of program creation.

Furthermore, a project guide is also provided as part of the resources. This guide showcases one way to complete the task by writing a program that calculates the ISS speed using photos taken by the Astro Pi’s camera. This guide serves as an example and inspiration for participants, showing them what is possible with the Astro Pi and Python programming.

The Astro Pi Mission Space Lab is a groundbreaking program that combines space exploration with coding, offering young people a unique opportunity to contribute to real-life space missions. It not only enhances their programming skills but also fosters a deeper understanding of space science, making it a truly enriching experience.

For more details and to apply to enter the new Astro Pi Mission Space Lab  jump over to the official Raspberry Pi Foundation website.

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