Ookla introduced Speedtest Pulse on Monday, a network diagnostic device enabling internet service providers and enterprises to validate and troubleshoot connectivity using smartphone-based measurements. The tool addresses growing challenges in managing Wi-Fi quality as connected devices proliferate and networks become increasingly complex, particularly for large enterprises overseeing hundreds of locations.
The device operates through Active Pulse mode, which allows technicians to immediately assess new installations or identify network problems through single guided tests that distinguish whether issues originate from internet service, local Wi-Fi, or individual client devices. Continuous Pulse mode, scheduled for 2026 release, will...
Minisforum launched the MS-R1 on Monday, positioning the device as the first Arm-based mini workstation globally to feature UEFI boot capability alongside multi-system virtualization support. The compact 1.7-liter system operates on a CIX CP8180 processor delivering 12 cores at 28 watts thermal design power while providing 45 trillion operations per second for artificial intelligence tasks, including 28.8 TOPS through neural processing unit acceleration for inference and edge computing applications.
The workstation accommodates up to 64 gigabytes of LPDDR5 5500 megahertz memory with error-correcting code functionality and supports storage expansion from one terabyte to eight terabytes via PCIe 4.0 interfaces. Connectivity features...
Advanced Micro Devices published documentation for its Zen 6 processor architecture that introduces advanced vector extensions enabling 16-bit floating point calculations on mainstream desktop chips, according to the instruction set manual released to developers and businesses. The additions include AVX512_BMM for bit matrix operations, AVX512_FP16 for native half-precision arithmetic, and AVX_VNNI_INT8 for integer neural network acceleration, capabilities previously limited to server-class processors from Intel.
Open-source compiler patches submitted to the GNU Compiler Collection confirm support for the new instructions, which particularly benefit artificial intelligence workloads through accelerated matrix manipulations and local...
Sandisk increased its contract pricing for NAND Flash memory by 50 percent during November to reflect shifting market conditions, according to DigiTimes. The adjustment prompted several module manufacturers, including Transcend, Innodisk, and Apacer Technology to temporarily suspend shipments while reassessing pricing strategies and customer obligations. Transcend halted new quotations and outgoing deliveries beginning on November 7, with company officials anticipating the supply shortage will continue for an extended duration before prices stabilize.
Memory product manufacturers have experienced substantial financial gains from heightened demand driven by artificial intelligence applications and data storage requirements. Transcend...
Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28000 on Monday, representing the 26H1 update that primarily aims to support upcoming processor architectures rather than introduce major feature enhancements or interface modifications. The company stated the release contains platform adjustments for specific silicon, requiring no customer intervention, and will deliver through an enablement package similar to the deployment method used for version 25H2.
The update focuses on optimizing compatibility with forthcoming Windows-on-Arm hardware, including Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite chips and NVIDIA N1 and N1x systems-on-chip developed with MediaTek. Microsoft indicated 26H1 users will receive minor operating system refinements and...
The Jacob Zuma Foundation accused South African authorities of politically motivated prosecution as Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, appeared in Durban High Court on Monday to face charges related to social media posts during the July 2021 civil disturbances. The two-week trial centers on allegations that Zuma-Sambudla incited terrorism and violence through online activity during unrest that killed hundreds and damaged the economy in KwaZulu-Natal province.
Prosecutors filed three counts against Zuma-Sambudla, including incitement to commit terrorism and violations of the 1956 Riotous Assemblies Act prohibiting illegal gatherings intended to provoke riots. The state contends she unlawfully encouraged...
A 27-year-old man from the Chief Masunda area died following a machete attack during a violent confrontation over mining rights at Devon 86 Mine in Mashava, Zimbabwe. Monashe Mache sustained injuries to his back and right wrist on Tuesday, October 28, around 11:00 p.m., when approximately 300 artisanal miners clashed with a group arriving at the site with heavy equipment, according to Masvingo Province Deputy Police Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Masauso Patinyu.
The dispute began after the miners discovered gold deposits on October 15 and started operations. Rodrick Mombire, 46, of Mashava, subsequently arrived claiming ownership of the registered mine and proposed a profit-sharing arrangement. Tensions erupted when Mombire returned...
Apple has discontinued nearly all manufacturing of the iPhone Air after the ultra-slim device captured only 3 percent of total iPhone sales during September, according to three people familiar with internal operations. Assembly partner Foxconn will cease its remaining production lines by month's end, while second assembler Luxshare already stopped making the model in October. Suppliers have reduced capacity for the device by more than 80 percent.
The company will not release an iPhone Air 2 alongside the iPhone 18 series in fall 2026 as originally planned, though development work continues on the successor model bearing internal designation V62. Apple allocated just 10 percent of production resources to the Air variant in anticipation...
Samsung introduced HDR10 Plus Advanced on Monday, a royalty-free high dynamic range format that supports peak brightness levels reaching 5,000 nits and incorporates several technological enhancements designed to compete with Dolby Vision 2. The standard includes ambient light adaptation that adjusts image quality based on room conditions, genre-specific optimization for content types including movies and sports, and metadata enabling motion smoothing control with improved tone mapping precision for local dimming.
The electronics manufacturer plans to implement the format in its 2026 premium television models, with Amazon Prime Video currently positioned as the first major streaming service to support the technology. Industry adoption...
