Brian Fagioli

If we are lucky, Artificial intelligence might one day help scientists understand the human brain the same way language models predict the next word in a sentence. And now, that future is closer to becoming reality thanks to a new project from Google Research, Harvard University, and HHMI Janelia. You see, these teams have introduced the Zebrafish Activity Prediction Benchmark, better known as “ZAPBench,” which could help researchers create more accurate models for predicting brain activity.

ZAPBench isn’t just another dataset, folks. Actually, this new tool is based on two hours of brain recordings from larval zebrafish, capturing how roughly 70,000 neurons fired in response to different virtual reality scenarios. These tiny fish were shown various environmental changes, including shifting light patterns and moving water currents, while researchers recorded brain activity at an impressively detailed scale.

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Most Linux users assume their security tools will catch bad actors before damage is done -- but sadly, new research suggests that confidence may be misplaced. You see, ARMO, the company behind Kubescape, has uncovered what could be one of the biggest blind spots in Linux security today. The company has released a working rootkit called “Curing” that uses io_uring, a feature built into the Linux kernel, to stealthily perform malicious activities without being caught by many of the detection solutions currently on the market.

At the heart of the issue is the heavy reliance on monitoring system calls, which has become the go-to method for many cybersecurity vendors. The problem? Attackers can completely sidestep these monitored calls by leaning on io_uring instead. This clever method could let bad actors quietly make network connections or tamper with files without triggering the usual alarms.

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Roku is going in a new direction with its latest smart home products, stepping away from the rebadged Wyze cameras it offered in the past. This time, the company is rolling out security cameras designed entirely in-house. The new Roku Battery Camera and Roku Battery Camera Plus promise easier installation, longer battery life, and deep integration with the Roku ecosystem.

These weather-resistant cameras are built to work indoors or outdoors, and because they run on rechargeable batteries, there’s no need to mess around with power cables. Roku also plans to offer a solar panel accessory, giving users the option to keep the batteries topped off without manual charging. According to the company, the standard Battery Camera can last up to six months per charge, while the Plus model could go as long as two years before needing to be recharged.

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If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your front door with a smart lock but don’t want your data floating around in the cloud, TCL may have the perfect solution. You see, the company has officially launched its D1 Fingerprint Smart Lock, a product designed to make home security both simple and private -- and yes, it is available to buy right now from Amazon for $89.99.

One of the big selling points is speed. The D1 uses a Swedish-made FPC fingerprint sensor with 508 DPI resolution, unlocking your door in just 0.3 seconds. TCL also worked an AI self-learning algorithm into the mix, which means the lock is supposed to get better at recognizing your fingerprint over time, even if your fingers are wet or dry.

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ThinkPad computers are absolutely legendary, and today Lenovo is expanding its lineup with a fresh batch of laptops and mobile workstations. The company has announced updates across several models, including the ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 AMD, ThinkPad P16s Gen 4 AMD, new L Series business laptops, and additional configurations for its X1 Aura Editions.

Leading the charge are the new ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 AMD and P16s Gen 4 AMD mobile workstations. These machines aim to offer a balance of power and portability, with the P14s weighing in at just over 3 pounds and measuring 16.13mm thin.

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The folks behind OpenMandriva have officially released version 6.0 of their Linux distribution. This is the fixed-point “Rock” release, and not the rolling edition, so it is all about stability rather than chasing the latest experimental packages.

KDE Plasma 6 is the star of the show here, serving as the default desktop environment. Users can choose between X11 or Wayland sessions, but there’s a catch. If you plan to run OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 in VirtualBox, X11 is strongly recommended. The team warns about problems with Wayland on VirtualBox’s emulated GPU, though things work fine on real hardware or in QEMU with KVM. For VirtualBox, don’t forget to set VMSVGA to avoid boot issues.

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Acer has officially launched the Chromebook Plus 516 (CB516-1H), a brand-new ChromeOS laptop that delivers a large display and Intel Core performance. To clarify, this is not the Chromebook Plus 516 GE model built for cloud gaming -- this is an entirely new machine.

The CB516-1H-31UE configuration currently available comes equipped with a 13th-generation Intel Core i3 1315U processor, featuring six cores with a boost clock up to 4.5GHz. The laptop pairs that CPU with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB of UFS storage. This combination should be fine for typical Chromebook workloads like web browsing, document editing, and video streaming.

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When it comes to portable storage, it is easy to get overwhelmed by all the choices nowadays. Thankfully, a new addlink solid state drive is something that stands out from the pack. You see, the company’s new P30 USB 4.0 Super-Speed Magnetic SSD is here, and it offers a mix of speed, portability, and a clever design.

Thanks to USB 4.0 technology, the P30 is capable of impressive transfer speeds up to 4000MB/s. To put that into perspective, you can move a 10GB file in about 2.5 seconds. That kind of speed can be a godsend, especially for those working with large 4K video files, raw photo collections, or massive game libraries.

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Well, folks, it could be GAME OVER when it comes to scoring affordable handheld emulators from overseas. You see, Anbernic (a wildly popular manufacturer amongst retro gaming enthusiasts) has announced it will no longer ship products from China to the United States -- effective immediately. The company cites recent changes in American trade policy, which conveniently lines up with President Donald Trump’s renewed push for aggressive tariffs on Chinese imports.

For now, Anbernic is urging customers in the U.S. to buy only from its domestic warehouse, which isn’t yet affected by these tariffs. But the selection may be limited, and pricing could shift as inventory tightens. This is a clear warning for gamers who’ve grown used to budget-friendly devices packed with retro gaming power.

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Earth Day is tomorrow, and it is a time to reflect on how we treat the planet we all share (until Elon Musk colonizes Mars, at least). While some people mark the day by picking up trash or planting a tree, there’s another simple yet powerful way to help the environment that you might not have considered -- install Linux on your aging computer instead of tossing it in the trash!

Old computers don’t have to die. In fact, most of them still have plenty of life left in them -- if you’re willing to ditch bloated operating systems that no longer support them. That’s where Linux comes in. Unlike Windows 11, which demands modern processors and fairly high-end specs just to boot, many Linux distributions run smoothly on older hardware. Whether it’s a decade-old laptop collecting dust or a desktop with a failed Windows installation, Linux can breathe new life into machines that would otherwise end up in landfills.

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Google is hitting back at the Department of Justice over a proposed plan that could force massive changes to how the company operates. The DOJ, which sued Google back in 2020 over search distribution practices, is now pushing for remedies that Google says go way too far -- and could end up hurting American consumers, innovation, and even national security!

In a new blog post, the search giant says the proposed changes are not only unnecessary but also dangerous. At the heart of the issue is how Google partners with phone makers and browsers to make its search engine the default. According to Google, people use its search because they want to -- not because they’re forced to. The company says blocking these deals would just make it harder for people to get to the services they prefer, with alternatives like Microsoft’s Bing being pushed on users instead.

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TrueNAS 25.04, codenamed “Fangtooth,” was recently released (download here), and with it comes a full embrace of Linux as the underlying base. While previous versions of TrueNAS were confusingly split between CORE (built on FreeBSD) and SCALE (built on Linux), this release finally pushes the project further into its beautiful Linux future.

This version builds on the foundation laid by TrueNAS 24.10 “Electric Eel.” That version brought improved performance and Docker support, and Fangtooth expands on it with more than 1,000 changes, including over 150 bug fixes. The update is being offered as a release version, but iXsystems is still recommending it for early adopters only -- at least for now.

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Want to hear something absolutely insane? Apparently, Jack in the Box has decided it wants to be more than just a place to grab curly fries at midnight. You see, the fast food chain is now venturing into the world of Fortnite with something called “Jack’s CEO Minigames.”

Wait -- what exactly is that? Well, it is a very strange gaming experience where players compete in several challenges for the chance to become… CEO of Jack in the Box. No, seriously. This is really happening.

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ASUS is bringing some much-needed excitement to the Chromebook market with its newly announced CX14 and CX15 series computers. These new ChromeOS laptops deliver a fresh mix of style, performance, and environmental awareness. These 14-inch and 15.6-inch laptops are built for everyday users but with enough polish to appeal to professionals and students alike. What sets them apart isn’t just the design, but more importantly, the surprising variety of configurations. Not to mention, there is optional support for Google’s Chromebook Plus platform, which includes a year of Google One AI Premium at no extra cost.

The CX14 and CX15 models come in seven different color choices including Misty Green, Cream Pink, Rock Grey, Fabric Blue, and Quiet Blue. There are also three distinct finish types: Crystallice, Washi, and Paint. Believe it or not, the finishes are more than just for looks. For instance, the Paint version is mixed with diamond and stone particles, giving it 2.5 times the abrasion resistance of traditional coatings. ASUS clearly wants these Chromebooks to look good for the long haul, and the company is using 30 percent post-consumer recycled plastics in the chassis to help reduce environmental impact. Very cool, ASUS!

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When it comes to mobile storage, speed and reliability can be absolutely crucial -- especially if you’re a content creator. Recognizing this growing need, ADATA today unveiled a trio of new products designed specifically to keep up with the demands of creative professionals and on-the-go users. We’ve got the Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express memory card, UE720 USB flash drive, and the EC680 M.2 SSD enclosure.

The Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express memory card isn’t your typical memory card by any means. It’s equipped with a PCIe Gen3 x2 interface, delivering insanely fast read speeds up to 1,600MB/s and write speeds up to 1,200MB/s! Folks, that’s twice the speed of SD Express 7.0 and an astounding twelve times faster than those old-school UHS-I cards you’ve probably got lying around. Heck, it’s even faster than many external SSDs!

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