Tag: expensive

We Tried the World’s Most Expensive Racing Simulator

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date May 9, 2024
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But to convince F1 teams to abandon their own super-expensive bespoke in-house simulators and also persuade car manufacturers to use Dynisma’s tech to hone potential road cars, Warne and his team had to develop a sophisticated driving simulator that could drastically reduce latency to a point where the brain cannot distinguish any lag at all.

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Using, among other developments, super low-friction struts and motors, Dynisma’s has pushed its simulator latency down from the usual 50 milliseconds to as low as 3 milliseconds. The effect is that your brain feels things as they actually happen. Such speed also means that the sensation of road hits, such as kerb strikes, are provided faster than even 240Hz projectors are able to keep pace with.

Bandwidth is the other major improvement for Dynisma. Aeroplane sims don’t require very high frequency inputs (unless the flight is going very wrong indeed), but cars encounter speed bumps, rumble strips, sawtooth kerbs, cat’s eyes, and so on. This means the sim needs to vibrate at very high frequencies with that ultra-low friction and no recoil to be a realistic as possible.

Thanks to the stiffness of Dynisma’s drive mechanism, the lack of friction, and even the weight of the base of the simulator, its system’s bandwidth goes up to 100Hz, supposedly 50 percent better than competitors. This thing can even convey oversteer realistically, in real time, allowing drivers to sense when the back end of the car is about to step out, and not just after it happens.

The result is the definition of cutting edge. A new type of driving simulator that is so good, and so realistic, it is now the one used by Ferrari’s F1 team. But such innovation does not come cheap. Costs of a Dynisma rig venture up to more than $12 million if you check everything on the spec list, including a wraparound 360-degree 240 fps 4K LED screen with audio package to match. We tested the almost entry-level $2 million package.

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Tags expensive, Racing, simulator, Worlds

Featured

Here’s one good reason you may want to ‘downgrade’ your SSD and lose capacity in the process — cheap QLC SSD can be transformed into expensive SLC to improve endurance but it’s not for the fainthearted

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We love crazy tech projects here at TechRadar Pro – Some of our recent favorites include an enthusiast getting ChatGPT to run on a NAS, and the person who transformed AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X3D processor into a storage device with read-write speeds to rival some of the best SSDs.

The latest idea to cross our desks comes from Gabriel Ferraz, a computer engineer and TechPowerUp’s SSD database maintainer, who turned a 512GB QLC SATA III SSD into a 120GB SLC one.

You probably know this, but just as refresher, SLC NAND holds one bit of data per cell, resulting in faster data writing, lower power consumption, and higher cell endurance than QLC NAND which stores four bits per cell. QLC NAND is denser and cheaper, but with the downside of compromised longevity and speed.

3000% endurance increase

Ferraz’s idea was to trade capacity for massively improved performance and endurance. He took 512GB a Crucial BX500 SSD which has a Silicon Motion SM2259XT2 controller and NAND flash dies from Micron. Using an app called MPtools for the Silicon Motion SM2259XT2 controller, he identified the precise die used in the SSD and inputted in new die reference numbers.

Was it worth it? Well, while Ferraz lost a lot of drive space, he says “the SSD endurance jumps to 4000 TBW (write cycles), which is about a 3000% increase. Additionally, performance increased as well.”

Ferraz explains his process here, and you can also watch him perform his clever trick in the video below, which includes benchmarking results.

Trek Fetch+ 2 Review: A Solid, Though Expensive, Cargo Ebike

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 19, 2024
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One of the things that can be intimidating about buying a cargo ebike is how unfamiliar they feel. Whether a bike is designed with weird geometry and wheel sizes or odd features for heavy hauling, every ride can feel unfamiliar.

For traditional cyclists who want to haul a grocery store trip’s worth of groceries home but don’t want to mess with technology they’re unfamiliar with, the Trek Fetch+ 2 is a decent option. It’s more expensive than some of our favorite alternatives, but it has an easy-to-ride step-through design, well-made components, and great plastic buckets (and other accessories) for storage.

There are bikes with more advanced features for the money, but even after I spent a summer riding the Fetch+ 2, it barely needed a tune-up. For a modern cargo ebike with a classic cargo bike maintenance schedule, it might be worth spending a bit more cash.

On the Road

The Fetch+ 2 is the smaller of Trek’s two latest cargo ebikes, which includes the box-fronted Fetch+ 4 ($8,500), which is more oriented toward toting around dogs and children in between groceries and beer.

The Fetch+ 2 instead is a more traditional step-through cargo bike that employs a myriad of attachments, most notably two plastic panniers that hang off an extended rack on the rear. You can get a padded seat cover for the rear to let friends hold on and ride, or mount a couple kids’ seats behind you, but I’d still probably use this bike more for errands than transporting little ones.

Side view of black and silver bike with 2 containers attached near the rear wheel and 2 containers attached near the...

As an objet d’art, the bike is simple and unassuming, which is ideal for a bike this expensive. The battery is integrated into the frame, but a sizable bulge means nobody will fail to notice it’s an ebike. You can get it in three colors. I liked the black of our review unit, but the bright blue would probably be my choice if I was buying one.

While much of the bike will be familiar to anyone who has ever seen or contemplated a cargo bike, Trek really gets the geometry and style of this bike correct as far as making it very usable for many tasks. Even the dual-sided kickstand pops up and down with remarkable ease (shockingly rare on other large ebikes I’ve used). I particularly enjoyed using the rear panniers for hauling flats of berries and other easily squished items that tend to rattle around in softer panniers.

The panniers fit a ton of stuff; I was able to get four full-size grocery bags spread between the two black plastic totes. I like that they had little plugs in the bottom that you could feasibly use a plastic bag to cover and then fill them with ice and drinks.

Trekkin’

I spent a couple months using the Fetch+ 2 as my primary bike, and came away much more impressed than anticipated, given the specs and the price.

On paper, this is an expensive ebike to have pretty standard mid-drive cargo bike specs. The 85 Nm Bosch motor and 500-wH battery are good for 20-plus miles a day loaded down in any city, but they’re not better than models like the larger Xtracycle Stoker, which has the same torque and a 630-wH battery for $4,999. The Trek also doesn’t have a carbon belt drive and variable transmission, which we consider the best (and easiest to maintain) shifting mechanism for cargo bikes.

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Tags Cargo, ebike, expensive, Fetch, Review, Solid, Trek

Computers

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 Review: Too Dang Expensive

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 31, 2024
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Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon line dates back to 2012, and now, in its 12th incarnation, the laptop has reached a level of maturity few other brands can boast. Today’s X1 Carbon has been honed to a fine point—yet it would be legitimately difficult to distinguish from the original. I’d know, because I reviewed it for WIRED way back when.

Side view of black laptop opened completely flat and floating at an angle with abstract screensaver

The song writ large remains the same as ever. This is Lenovo’s flagship ultralight, the business laptop designed to kill all others. It retains the same size 14-inch LCD (with 16:10 aspect ratio, now at 2,880 x 1,800 pixels) that it has always had, with the weight now hitting 2.2 pounds— exhibiting a healthy and steady weight loss over the years.

I measured the thickness at 21 millimeters, largely owing to a sizable rubber foot that runs along the back of the base to prop the keyboard up a bit. The current chassis, in Lenovo’s words, is made from “recycled aluminum, magnesium, aerospace-grade carbon fiber, as well as post-consumer materials that are used throughout its construction.”

Many other innovations here are incremental at best. I mean, when the brand starts talking about “new tactile markings” on the keyboard—those little bumps on the F and J keys—you know we’re getting close to an innovation terminus. There’s also a small ridge that juts out at the top of the screen where the webcam (featuring a manual shutter) appears, plus a relocated fingerprint reader, but any other cosmetic changes are tough to suss out.

Threequarter view of black laptop open with abstract screensaver and a menu on screen

The big news is under the hood, with the inclusion of the new Intel Core Ultra CPU, this model featuring an Ultra 7 155H chip running at 1.4 GHz. A small brigade of manufacturers is dropping machines with Ultra chips this month, with the big pitch being around artificial intelligence performance, better power efficiency, and improved integrated graphics. AI-driven benchmarks are still a new thing, so until I have a decent base of results to draw from, I’m reporting on my standard battery of tests that mix various business apps and graphics benchmarks.

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Tags Carbon, Dang, expensive, Gen, Lenovo, Review, ThinkPad

Featured

‘Wean itself off Nvidia’: Samsung signs $750 million agreement with South Korea’s largest online platform — Naver wants to replace Nvidia’s super expensive AI GPU with the more affordable Mach-1 chip

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In a move to cut its dependency on Nvidia‘s high-cost AI chips, Naver, the South Korean equivalent of Google, has signed a 1 trillion won ($750 million) agreement with Samsung.

The deal will see the tech giant supply its more affordable Mach-1 chips to Naver, by the end of 2024.

The Mach-1 chip, currently under development, is an AI accelerator in the form of a SoC that combines Samsung’s proprietary processors and low-power DRAM chips to reduce the bottleneck between the GPU and HBM.

Just the start

The announcement of the Mach-1 was made during Samsung’s 55th regular shareholders’ meeting. Kye Hyun Kyung, CEO of Samsung Semiconductor, said the chip design had passed technological validation on FPGAs and that finalization of SoC was in progress.

The exact volume of Mach-1 chips to be supplied and prices are still under discussion, but The Korea Economic Daily reports that Samsung intends to price the Mach-1 AI chip at around $3,756 each. The order is expected to be for somewhere between 150,000 and 200,000 units.

Naver plans to use Samsung’s Mach-1 chips to power servers for its AI map service, Naver Place. According to The Korea Economic Daily, Naver will order further Mach-1 chips if the initial batch performs as well as hoped.

Samsung sees this deal with Naver as just the start. The tech giant is reportedly in supply talks with Microsoft and Meta Platforms who, like Naver, are actively seeking to reduce their reliance on Nvidia’s AI hardware.

With the Naver deal, Samsung is also looking to better compete with its South Korean rival SK Hynix, which is the dominant player in the advanced HBM segment. Samsung has been heavily investing in HBM recently and at the start of March announced the industry’s first 12-stack HBM3E 12H DRAM. This reportedly outperforms Micron’s 24GB 8H HBM3E in terms of capacity and bandwidth and is expected to begin shipping in Q2 this year.

1200TB SSD modules are in the pipeline thanks to Pure Storage — but you definitely won’t be able to plug one in your workstation PC and it will be shockingly expensive

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In March 2023, we reported that Pure Storage planned to sell 300TB SSDs within three years.

While 300TB is unquestionably an impressive amount of storage, the company has revealed that it expects to be able to deliver 1200TB SSD modules… eventually.

Shawn Rosemarin, Pure VP for R&D, explained to Blocks & Files that the limitations of DRAM prevent commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) SSDs from exceeding 30TB capacities. Typically, he said, 1GB of DRAM is needed for every 1TB of raw NAND capacity, which means a 30TB drive would require 30GB of DRAM. The problem arises when considering larger capacities, as the amount of DRAM required matches or even exceeds the amount found in current servers.

300TB and beyond

Rosemarin highlighted three main issues with using more DRAM. Firstly, DRAM fails more frequently than NAND. Secondly, DRAM is significantly more expensive. Lastly, DRAM’s energy efficiency is much lower, leading to higher energy consumption.

DRAM is required for the Flash Translation Layer (FTL) software, which serves as firmware in the SSD’s controller. It allows incoming data to be written to different physical flash pages regardless of the intended logical block. The DRAM holds the FTL mappings and metadata for this process, making it crucial for SSD operation.

However, as SSD capacities increase, the cost of DRAM becomes a larger portion of the overall SSD cost.

Pure Storage’s solution to this problem is its Direct Flash Modules (DFMs), which do not rely on DRAM at the drive level. Instead, the FTL is done at the system-wide level in Pure’s controller and its software. This method, Pure claims, DFMs to increase capacity much faster than off-the-shelf SSDs.

The company plans to release 150TB DFMs in 2025 and in its roadmap it says “by the time the industry is widely shipping 25-30TB HDDs and 30-60TB SSDs in 2026, we expect to ship 300TB DFMs.”

That’s just the start. Although he didn’t even hint at a timescale for it, Rosemarin told Blocks & Files, “We have every intention to scale beyond 300, to 600, and even to 1.2 petabyte per DFM.”

It won’t be cheap of course. Last year, the firm said the price-per-gigabyte of its 300TB drive would be “less than” $0.15/GB. Doing some simple calculations, and not taking into account inflation and everything else that might occur before it even comes to market, a 1.2PB drive would be priced well north of $180,000.

Santa Cruz Skitch Review: A Light, Versatile, and Expensive Electric Bike

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 9, 2024
No Comments on Santa Cruz Skitch Review: A Light, Versatile, and Expensive Electric Bike

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I stopped monitoring the range after about 30 miles, but the battery indicator on the top tube said that I still had about 30 percent of the battery left. (I weigh 115 pounds, so your mileage may vary.) You can also select drop handlebars if you plan on doing more bike commuting, or add suspension to a setup with flat bars if you want to ride more rocks and bumps. My tester also had a dropper seat post, which lets me raise or drop the seat as I come to stoplights or go up hills. I am pretty sure every bike (commuter, mountain, everything) should have one.

Too Hot to Handle

Photograph: Will Matsuda

There is one major drawback to having a gorgeous, expensive bike that can go anywhere and do anything. When your bike is your primary mode of transportation, you do things like leaving it locked up in front of the Grocery Outlet (known locally as “the Gross Out”) to run errands. Even with all the best security measures, I really cannot make myself do that with a $7,000 bike. If you’re going to use it as a bike commuter, you are probably biking 12 miles to an office with a locked, indoor bike garage, then straight home to your own garage. You are not taking it as a car substitute to karaoke night at the dive bar.

I have also read on Reddit that people have concerns about the Fazua system, as it’s much less common here in the United States and harder to fix. You could go with a Bosch or a Shimano, but it won’t be as light. I have decided not to care about this. In general, you’re probably going to have to go directly to the manufacturer or dealer to get an electric bike fixed, anyway.

The app is just meh. It’s not pleasant to look at or navigate, and it’s always telling me to update, urgently, in a process that’s much less intuitive than Specialized’s Mission Control. Mission Control is also a little more useful, as it will automatically adjust the power output to help you make it home. However, the Skitch is light enough that it doesn’t really matter if you run out of battery. The app may also improve dramatically in the upcoming years, as Santa Cruz has direct and continuing input on the app’s development.

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Tags Bike, Cruz, Electric, expensive, light, Review, Santa, Skitch, Versatile

News

Budget vs Expensive Android smartphones compared (Video)

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date November 14, 2023
No Comments on Budget vs Expensive Android smartphones compared (Video)

Budget vs Expensive Android smartphones

There is a big difference in price between budget Android smartphones and expensive Android smartphones, but is there really that much of a difference in their usability, a new video from Mrwhostheboss compares two handsets side by side.

In the video below the Xiaomi Rdmi Note 13 which costs $349 is tested side by side with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra which costs $1,379, the aim of the video is to work out if flagship phones are worth their high price compared to budget models that claim to offer similar features.

Build Quality and Design

Both the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra showcase impressive build quality. The S23 Ultra stands out with its latest Gorilla Glass and armor aluminum construction, offering a slightly more premium feel. In contrast, the Redmi, while using slightly less advanced materials, still holds up well, making the difference in build quality minimal for the average user. Notably, the Redmi package includes a case, USB-C cable, and a 120W fast charger, whereas Samsung opts to provide only a cable.

Display

When it comes to display, both smartphones boast a 120Hz OLED screen, with minor variations in color tint and resolution. The Samsung device offers higher resolution and brightness potential, but these advantages aren’t always noticeable in default settings. The Redmi’s display, surprisingly comparable to the Samsung’s, offers a similar user experience, making it a standout feature for a budget phone.

Battery and Charging

The Redmi takes the lead in charging speed with its 120W charger, although it lacks wireless charging capability. The Samsung, with its advanced battery technology and efficient power management, edges out slightly in terms of battery life. This difference could be a deciding factor for users prioritizing longevity over charging speed.

Software and Updates

Both phones run on Android 13 and provide smooth user experiences. The Redmi offers customization options that many users appreciate. However, as a flagship phone, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra typically receives more prompt and longer-term software updates, which can be crucial for keeping your device up-to-date with the latest features and security patches.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra shines in performance with a more powerful processor and faster storage. This difference becomes noticeable in app responsiveness and gaming. While the Redmi handles basic tasks competently, the Samsung excels in more demanding applications, making it a better choice for power users.

Camera Quality

Both smartphones feature a 200MP main camera, but Samsung’s camera is slightly superior, especially in terms of advanced features and additional lenses like zoom. The Redmi performs admirably in various lighting conditions but can’t match Samsung’s advanced stabilization and video processing capabilities.

Overall Experience

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus offers a remarkably close experience to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in many aspects, especially in general quality-of-life features. However, for those who need extra power, battery longevity, and superior camera capabilities, Samsung stands out as the more suitable of the two Android smartphones for power users.

Flagship phones like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra have their place in the market, especially for users who demand advanced features and performance. However, budget phones like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus are closing the gap, delivering much of the flagship experience at a fraction of the cost. This comparison reveals that the choice between a budget and a premium smartphone often boils down to individual needs and preferences, with both segments offering compelling options.

Source & Image Credit: Mrwhostheboss

Filed Under: Android News, Mobile Phone News

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Tags Android, Budget, compared, expensive, smartphones, video

News

Why is Apple’s USB-C cable so expensive?

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date November 5, 2023
No Comments on Why is Apple’s USB-C cable so expensive?

Why is Apples USB-C cable $130 while others are priced at $12

During its recent press conference Apple unveiled a number of new additions to its range of iPhones, MacBooks and accessories. One of which was a new Thunderbolt 4 USB‑C Pro Cable available in 1m, 1.8m and 3m lengths. However as you would expect much more expensive than most USB-C cables on the market. Why is this? You will pleased know that Adam Savage has delved deeper into the design and technology incorporated into Apple’s USB-C cable providing more insight into its capabilities and manufacturing processes. As well as some fantastic x-ray imagery showing the internal workings.

Wireless connectivity allows devices to interact without physical connections, has significantly changed our interaction with technology. However in some circumstances a wireless connection perhaps might not be fast enough your needs. This is where cables, such as the Thunderbolt 4 cable, come in. This hardware interface allows the connection of external devices to a computer, cleverly combining PCI Express (PCIe) and DisplayPort (DP) into two serial signals. It also provides DC power, all within a single compact cable. You can learn more about USB-C cables and the different types available in a previous article.

Combining PCI Express (PCIe) and DisplayPort (DP)

The intricacy of these cables is often underestimated. Consider the Thunderbolt Apple cable, which costs around $130. This cable has a complex chip, two power supplies, and a large processor. It also has a self-checking mechanism and multiple channels. This complex design is not just for aesthetics; it serves a vital function. It is designed to filter out interference and manage power, ensuring high-speed data transmission without any loss or distortion. Apple explained a little more about the design and features of its Thunderbolt 4 (USB‑C) Pro Cable.

“Featuring a black braided design that coils without tangling, this 1-metre cable supports Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 data transfer up to 40Gb/s, USB 3 data transfer up to 10Gb/s, DisplayPort video output (HBR3) and charging up to 100W. Use this cable to connect a Mac with Thunderbolt 3 or 4 (USB-C) ports to Thunderbolt (USB-C) and USB displays and devices such as Studio Display, Pro Display XDR, docks and hard drives. You can also use this cable to connect iPhone 15 Pro to Mac.”

On the other hand, the Amazon Basics USBC cable, priced at about $12, is less intricate. It has fewer pins than the Thunderbolt and lacks active components. While this simplicity makes the cable more affordable, it also limits its capabilities. For example, it may not handle high-speed data transmission as effectively as the Thunderbolt cable.

The significant price difference between these cables is largely due to the engineering and manufacturing expertise involved in their production. The Thunderbolt cable requires a Ball Grid Array (BGA) processor, a type of surface-mount packaging used for integrated circuits. This processor is more costly than the simpler components used in the Amazon Basics USBC cable.

Why is Apples USB-C cable so expensive?

Other articles you may find of interest on the subject of USB-C and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity:

USB-C Thunderbolt 4 technology

The Thunderbolt cable is designed to handle differential signals, a method of transmitting information where data is sent on two complementary signals. This requires a more complex design and manufacturing process, contributing to the higher cost. It also uses advanced power management technology. This technology manages the power used by specific hardware components, ensuring that the cable can handle the electrical load without overheating or causing damage.

Additionally, the Thunderbolt cable is designed to reduce electromagnetic interference, a disturbance that affects an electrical circuit due to electromagnetic induction or radiation from an external source. This is achieved through shielding, the practice of enclosing a part of a circuit in a conductive material to reduce the electric and magnetic fields within.

The manufacturing process of these cables also involves complex procedures such as soldering, a process where two or more items are joined together by melting and putting a filler metal into the joint, and over molding, a process where a single part is created using two or more different materials in combination.

While the cost of cables like the Thunderbolt Apple cable may seem high, it is justified by the advanced technology, complex design, and intricate manufacturing processes involved in their production. These cables offer superior performance and durability, making them a worthwhile investment for those who require high-speed, reliable data transmission. They are a testament to the technological advancements and engineering achievements of our time, and their value extends far beyond their price tag.

If you would like to learn more about how to use your iPhone, iPad or MacBook. It might be worth your while jumping over to the official Apple support website. Or booking an appointment with an Apple Genius Bar representative who will provide further advice in person.

Filed Under: Apple, Guides, Top News

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Tags Apples, Cable, expensive, USBC