Disc matter: Scalpers, scammers and cybercriminals are at their best as purchasing consumer electronics becomes increasingly difficult. Even the humble, theoretically old Blu-ray Disc format is now being exploited by fraudsters. Now the emulation community is trying to put things right. Developers of the PS3 emulator RPCS3 recently released a warning about the latest scams … Read more
Two tiny satellites have joined an orbital fleet designed to measure greenhouse gas emissions from hundreds of kilometers above Earth. The 33-pound spacecraft launched Oct. 1 aboard SpaceX’s Transporter 18 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Their arrival brings the number of satellites developed for GHGSat to 13. The space probes are equipped … Read more
80 While the Fairphone 6 Plus isn’t competitively priced, it promises to be an environmentally friendly phone – and one that’s primarily available in the US. Some nice design features and a sturdy build are highlights, but the specs on offer here are relatively mid-range and fall short of the competition. The Fairphone 6 Plus’s … Read more
Toyota has opened a nearly $50 million battery research center in Michigan that will test and develop batteries for electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen-powered vehicles. The 30,000-square-foot Toyota Battery Center of North America in Saline will serve as the automaker’s central North American center for battery development and evaluation. The facility will function across … Read more
Winners and Losers: Like many consumer electronics products today, the PlayStation 5 Pro is facing significant shortages in parts of the world. In Japan, Sony is resorting to a lottery system to sell its newly manufactured consoles to real gamers while keeping criminals and speculators out. Despite the significant backlash over its plan to stop … Read more
Northrop Grumman has unveiled a new gallium nitride chip designed to handle demanding high-frequency workloads with less hardware. The FORTITUDE™ chip can combine signal switching and filtering in a single device. According to Northrop Grumman, it delivers three times more power and 20 times better signal quality. This performance could be important for systems operating … Read more
The takeaway: Payments organizations have launched a new joint venture to promote Europe’s sovereignty in the payments industry. The European Payments Network (ENP) aims to improve interoperability between competing networks and build a common EU infrastructure that, in theory, should make it very difficult for Visa, Mastercard and other US-based giants to operate on European … Read more
The race to build cheaper, longer-range electric cars has taken a big step forward in central Tennessee. Ultium Cells has announced that it will produce prismatic lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) battery cells at its facility near Nashville. The company is a joint venture between General Motors and South Korea’s LG Energy Solution. Once operational, the facility is … Read more
What we know so far: Flock’s AI-powered surveillance cameras have already sparked widespread controversy, even as authorities have fully disclosed their use. Communities across the U.S. are terminating contracts with the company due to concerns about privacy and police abuse. However, in some areas, officers have found more cameras than permitted and don’t always know … Read more
US researchers have demonstrated a way to convert powdered eggshells into stronger, harder magnesium alloys by using waste material to replace traditional calcium ingredients from mined ores. The proof-of-concept study uses friction stir extrusion to incorporate eggshell powder into magnesium. The process creates calcium materials during manufacturing and bypasses the separate ore processing step. Magnesium … Read more