All posts tagged: upgrades

US and UK to deliver m ST40 spherical tokamak upgrades

US and UK to deliver $52m ST40 spherical tokamak upgrades

Published by skeptic

The United States Department of Energy (DOE), the United Kingdom’s Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), and private fusion firm Tokamak Energy Ltd. (TE) have unveiled a groundbreaking plan to upgrade the ST40 spherical tokamak. This $52m initiative is poised to propel fusion research closer to realising commercial fusion energy, a game-changing source of carbon-free, sustainable power. Speaking on the major collaboration, Kerry McCarthy, UK Minister for Climate in the DESNZ, said: “Fusion has the potential to be a clean and sustainable energy source, transforming how we power our country and countries around the world. “This strategic partnership between the UK and US governments is therefore crucial to develop this new and exciting technology and bring it into use quicker, and is a vote of confidence in the skills and expertise of those working in this innovative new field in the United Kingdom and the United States.” A collaborative leap towards fusion energy The ST40 spherical tokamak is set to undergo significant enhancements under a joint sponsorship by the DOE, DESNZ, and TE. The …

Affordable Third-Party Mac Studio Storage Upgrades Coming in 2025

Affordable Third-Party Mac Studio Storage Upgrades Coming in 2025

Published by skeptic

French company Polysoft has successfully reverse-engineered Apple’s proprietary storage modules for the Mac Studio and plans to offer more affordable upgrade options starting in January 2025, following a successful Kickstarter campaign. The company’s “Studio Drive” modules will be available in 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities, with pricing starting at €399 ($420) for 2TB, €799 ($843) for 4TB, and €1,099 ($1,158) for 8TB – roughly half of what Apple charges for comparable storage upgrades at the time of purchase. Unlike traditional SSDs used in PCs, Apple’s storage modules require specialized engineering because the actual storage controller is built into the M1 and M2 chips rather than being part of the removable module. To develop compatible modules, Polysoft conducted extensive reverse engineering, sacrificing an original Apple module for detailed analysis. The company removed all its small components one by one using a laser station, inventoried them and measured their characteristics, then scanned every layer with a flatbed scanner. From this work, the company then made its own schematics and designed different boards, using the same Kioxia and …

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: The Upgrades You NEED to Know About

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: The Upgrades You NEED to Know About

Published by skeptic

The iPhone 16 introduces a range of notable upgrades over its predecessor, the iPhone 15, offering enhanced design, improved performance, and a more user-friendly experience. These key improvements make the iPhone 16 a compelling choice for those looking to upgrade their device or invest in a new iPhone. The video below gives us a detailed look at the two handsets, let’s dive into the details of what sets the iPhone 16 apart from the iPhone 15. Design and Aesthetics: A Fresh Look and Customizable Features The iPhone 16 brings a breath of fresh air to the device’s aesthetics with its new, vibrant color options. These brighter hues add a touch of personality and style to the iPhone, allowing you to express your individuality. In addition to the eye-catching colors, the iPhone 16 features a redesigned camera bump that not only enhances the overall look of the device but also provides better protection for the camera lenses, ensuring their longevity and maintaining the phone’s sleek appearance. One of the most exciting additions to the iPhone 16 …

Hands-On With Apple’s New iPads: My Take on the Fancy New Upgrades

Hands-On With Apple’s New iPads: My Take on the Fancy New Upgrades

Published by skeptic

After a whole year where Apple had no iPads at all, 2024 now has four new iPads all at once. The newest iPad Pro and iPad Air models are here, and I’ve tried them all hands-on. Over a few hours at a series of meetings with Apple in New York, I got an early preview of the new iPads, and after spending time with them, I really appreciate their hardware. They also have a totally new, gyroscope-equipped, vibrating Pencil Pro accessory too. Even though Apple’s new iPads are lovely, fancy and expensive, I can’t say they’re any closer to being your Mac. That’s because, well, Apple doesn’t want them to be.  The iPad Pro is, by all measures, a superior piece of hardware. It’s very likely the device I’d choose to be my future Mac. But it’s not a Mac yet, it’s an iPad. And even though iOS and MacOS are getting closer every year, they’re still quite different. We’re only a month away from the Worldwide Developers Conference, where Apple will announce new versions …

Kuo: Apple Watch Ultra to Get ‘Almost No’ Hardware Upgrades This Year

Kuo: Apple Watch Ultra to Get ‘Almost No’ Hardware Upgrades This Year

Published by skeptic

Just over six months ago, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the likelihood of a new Apple Watch Ultra being released in 2024 was “decreasing,” but it now sounds like there will be an Apple Watch Ultra 3 this year after all. In a direct message shared with MacRumors today, Kuo said that while the Apple Watch Ultra will be updated this year, the new model will have “almost no” hardware upgrades compared to the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Kuo did not reveal any specific changes planned for the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which will presumably launch in September. A third-generation Apple Watch SE is also a possibility this year if Apple sticks to a two-year upgrade cycle for that model, but the successor to the Apple Watch Series 9 is not entirely clear. Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman previously reported about a redesigned “Apple Watch X” with a thinner case and magnetic bands, but he said it would be released “in 2024 or 2025,” so it is not clear if it will launch this year …

New Pixel 8a leak suggests major upgrades in almost every way

New Pixel 8a leak suggests major upgrades in almost every way

Published by skeptic

Kerry Wan/ZDNET If you’re considering a new Pixel phone, you might want to wait a few months. The Google Pixel 8a is set for release, or at least a reveal, at the company’s I/O 2024 conference in May. Thanks to a new leak, we know the phone’s likely specs, which might just give you pause about the more expensive Pixel 8. The leak comes courtesy of Android Authority, which cited “a source inside Google.” Also: Google Pixel 7a review: Meet the new best sub-$500 Android phone First up is the display, which appears set to have a 120hz refresh rate and 1,400 nits of HDR brightness. That’s a significant leap over the Pixel 7a, which is at 90hz and 1,000 nits, and more impressively matches the Pixel 8. At least in terms of the display, it’s an even race. The Pixel 8a’s screen size will also be the same as the Pixel 7a, at 6.1 inches, which is slightly smaller than the Pixel 8. That’s good news if you’re not a fan of big phones. …

Hitachi Energy invests .5B to make more transformers for grid upgrades

Hitachi Energy invests $1.5B to make more transformers for grid upgrades

Published by skeptic

Photo: Hitachi Energy Hitachi Energy is investing $1.5 billion to ramp up transformer production to support electrification efforts worldwide. Transformers enable efficient transmission and distribution of electricity. They’re a crucial component for integrating renewables, grid interconnections, electrifying transportation, and decarbonizing energy systems. Hitachi Energy’s latest investment will gradually expand its global transformer capacity by 2027. The $1.5 billion is in addition to the $3 billion the company announced in October 2023 for transformer manufacturing. Today, the Zurich-headquartered company also announced an investment of around $180 million in a new 30,000-square-meter (322,917-square-foot) transformer factory in the Vaasa region, Finland. It will come online in 2027.  I asked Hitachi Energy about its US expansion plans, and Steve McKinney, senior VP & head of Hitachi Energy’s transformer business in North America, said: The investments announced today are part of an overall effort to strengthen and optimize our manufacturing footprint, both globally and within North America. Hitachi Energy’s transformer facility expansions include the ongoing project in South Boston, Virginia, and other recently completed projects at Jefferson City, Missouri, and Bland, Virginia, among others, and …

PS5 Pro vs. PS5: 3 biggest expected upgrades

PS5 Pro vs. PS5: 3 biggest expected upgrades

Published by skeptic

PS5 Pro vs. PS5 is the showdown you’ll want to stick around for to determine whether the PS5 Pro will be worth the upgrade. Rumors have been flying around about a potential “PS5 Pro” for months. This supposedly more powerful variant of the PS5 is not a new console, but rather an enhanced re-release similar to 2016’s PS4 Pro. It would play all the same games, but not all at the same level of graphical performance. The question is, what will the PS5 Pro offer that the PS5 doesn’t? Although the PS5 Pro isn’t even out yet, we’ve got an idea. SEE ALSO: PS5 Slim vs. PS5: What are the differences? PS5 Pro vs. PS5: 3 rumored new features We don’t know yet what the PS5 Pro looks like, how much it costs, or when it will come out. But based on solid reporting around the internet, here’s what to expect in terms of tangible upgrades if and when it comes out. Much faster GPU In terms of raw numbers, word on the street is …

Six Rumored iPhone 16 Camera Upgrades Coming This Year

Six Rumored iPhone 16 Camera Upgrades Coming This Year

Published by skeptic

As anticipation builds for Apple’s upcoming iPhone 16 series, the rumor mill has highlighted some potential camera upgrades that could change how we use our iPhones for photography. The camera system has always been a cornerstone of Apple’s iPhone, and this year Apple appears set to push the envelope even further. As the iPhone 16 launch in September approaches, all eyes will be on how the following changes might maintain Apple’s competitive edge in an increasingly crowded market.1. Vertical Camera Layout iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Plus Apple’s iPhone 16 base models will feature a vertical camera arrangement with a pill-shaped raised surface, instead of a diagonal camera arrangement like the iPhone 15. The new camera bump features two separate camera rings for the Wide and Ultrawide cameras. The vertical camera layout is expected to enable Spatial Video recording, which is currently limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models.2. Ultra Wide Lens Upgrade iPhone 16 Pro & iPhone 16 Pro Max The iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to feature an upgraded 48-megapixel Ultra Wide …