news and current affairs.
AI storage demand sparks shortage of MicroSD Express cards for Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 owners face potential difficulty acquiring compatible storage expansion as artificial intelligence enterprises deplete global memory card inventories. The upgraded console requires MicroSD Express technology rather than standard cards used in the original system, and retailers report complete stock depletion of high-capacity models. Japanese technology vendors told IT Media that data center operators purchasing storage products for AI applications have created severe supply constraints across hard drives, solid-state drives, and memory cards. One shop operator explained that inventory disappears immediately despite rising prices, perpetuating the shortage cycle. Consumer preference shifting toward larger capacity...
Apple flaunts iPhone 17 Pro's new vapor chamber for cooler chips
Apple has published promotional material showcasing thermal management technology in the iPhone 17 Pro, featuring creative imagery of the A19 Pro processor as an athlete managing intensive computational workloads. The video emphasizes evaporative cooling capabilities within the device's laser-welded aluminum chamber containing deionized water. The system absorbs thermal energy from internal components, converting liquid into vapor that migrates away from heat sources before condensing against the outer frame and repeating the cycle. Combined with an aluminum construction that transfers heat more efficiently than titanium alternatives, the architecture enables higher processing speeds and power consumption levels. Performance testing of...
TSMC faces massive chip demand, and supply is unable to keep up
TSMC chief executive C.C. Wei acknowledged at an industry awards ceremony that semiconductor orders currently exceed manufacturing capabilities by threefold, creating bottlenecks expected to persist through multiple upcoming quarters. The Taiwanese manufacturer dominates advanced chipmaking processes such as 5nm and 3nm nodes, attracting customers ranging from NVIDIA and AMD to Intel and specialized suppliers like Broadcom and Marvell. Existing long-term agreements with major clients absorb substantial production allocations, leaving smaller companies facing extended delays despite aggressive facility expansion across Taiwan, America, and Japan. The sustained imbalance presents potential openings for rivals Samsung Foundry and Intel...
Bloodlines 2 was never meant to be Bloodlines 2, says ex-creative director
Former Creative Director Dan Pinchbeck revealed in a video interview that The Chinese Room actively resisted using the Bloodlines 2 title when rescuing the troubled project from cancellation. The studio inherited severe time and budget limitations after publisher Paradox Interactive severed ties with original developer Hardsuit Labs, making a true sequel impossible. Pinchbeck steered development toward a concentrated Dishonored-style experience rather than attempting to recreate the ambitious but flawed original from 2004. He argued that modern gaming standards would not tolerate the technical imperfections players once accepted, making faithful recreation a path to universal disappointment. The team instead prioritized delivering a...
CD Projekt Red promises innovative open worlds, but no Baldur's Gate 3 copy
CD Projekt Red acknowledges drawing inspiration from Baldur's Gate 3 but will maintain its signature open-world approach for upcoming titles rather than adopting Larian Studios' gameplay framework. Joint CEO Michał Nowakowski confirmed the studio aims to enhance environmental interactivity while preserving the expansive design seen in The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, though specific innovations remain undisclosed. The developer recognizes how Baldur's Gate 3 excelled through dynamic world responsiveness, with Nowakowski praising Larian's execution of player-environment interactions. The Witcher IV will incorporate these lessons while avoiding departure from established open-world conventions that defined previous CD Projekt releases...
Nintendo offers rare Black Friday discounts on top Switch games
Nintendo has slashed prices on select first-party titles ahead of the shopping holiday, marking a rare departure from the publisher's typically rigid pricing structure. Super Mario Odyssey leads the promotions at a 50 percent reduction to $39.99, with full compatibility across both Switch generations, making the acclaimed platformer accessible to new players. Additional markdowns cover Splatoon 3, Princess Peach: Showtime, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom through Amazon's storefront. Given Nintendo's historical resistance to sustained discounting and the company's track record of maintaining premium valuations across product lifecycles, consumers face minimal likelihood of deeper cuts emerging...
Apple cracks foldable design with crease-free iPhone Fold
Apple engineers have successfully eliminated the visible crease found in competing foldable devices, with the company's first folding smartphone advancing to engineering validation and pre-production phases. Samsung will supply the internal screen while Apple collaborates with Shin Zu Shing and Amphenol on bearing technology that prevents fold lines when integrated with the panel. Foxconn has established a dedicated manufacturing line for the device, which will feature liquid metal hinge components priced between 70 and 80 dollars per unit. Largan Precision, Shin Zu Shing, and Chi Hong stand to gain from component orders. The foldable handset is expected to debut alongside the 2026 lineup, which will exclusively feature Pro variants...
FromSoftware's The Duskbloods could redefine PvEvP gameplay
FromSoftware has dedicated exceptional development resources to The Duskbloods, its Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, with Chinese journalist Ziostorm revealing the project received approval before Sekiro marketing began and represents the studio's most extensive gameplay prototyping effort. The PvEvP title features mechanics the team considers groundbreaking enough to potentially reshape action gaming as profoundly as Sekiro's parry system influenced the genre. Ziostorm also indicated three promotional videos for Elden Ring Nightreign expansion, The Forsaken Hollow will arrive before its launch, highlighting new characters, Scholar and Undertaker. While early footage prompted Bloodborne comparisons, the multiplayer-focused approach marks a...
Samsung copies Apple’s AI strategy for Galaxy S26 launch
Samsung plans to combine its Bixby assistant with Perplexity AI capabilities for the Galaxy S26 lineup, mirroring a strategy Apple already employs with Siri. A credible industry source indicates the Korean manufacturer will delegate complex operations to Perplexity models while reserving basic functions like alarms and settings adjustments for its native assistant. The arrangement follows Apple's current architecture, which handles straightforward requests through onboard processing and routes sophisticated queries to ChatGPT. Reports suggest Apple intends to deploy a customized Gemini model containing 1.2 trillion parameters for an enhanced Siri experience, vastly exceeding its existing 1.5 billion-parameter cloud infrastructure. The...
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